[ { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/B79D/production/_129750074_gettyimages-1236193308.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A former Apple engineer has been charged with stealing the company's self-driving car technology, almost five years after he fled to China. Prosecutors accuse Weibao Wang, 35, of stealing thousands of files containing proprietary information while secretly working for an unnamed Chinese company. Six counts of theft or attempted theft of trade secrets are in the indictment. This is the third time an ex-Apple employee has been accused of stealing autonomous tech secrets for China. The justice department alleges Mr Wang stole documents containing the source code for the software and hardware behind the self-driving systems. Mr Wang joined Apple in March 2016 as a member of the team that developed technology for autonomous systems, the justice department said. He signed a confidentiality agreement about the project, which was at the time known to very few people within the company. Mr Wang left Apple on 16 April 2018, the indictment said. Unbeknownst to the firm, he had accepted an offer more than four months earlier to work as an engineer at another company developing self-driving cars, said US prosecutors. That company, unnamed in the indictment, is based in China, said prosecutors. Law enforcement searched Mr Wang's home in Mountain View, California, in June 2018 while he was there. He told authorities he had no plans to leave the US. That same day, he bought a one-way ticket from San Francisco to Guangzhou, China, the justice department said. An analysis of the devices seized from Mr Wang's home showed he had stored large quantities of Apple data on self-driving car technology. In a press conference, the US Attorney for the Northern District of California, Ismail Ramsey, said Mr Wang remained in China. If he were ever extradited and convicted, he could face 10 years in prison for each of the six charges. Apple did not respond to BBC's request for a comment. Two other former Apple employees have previously been charged in similar cases involving the theft of trade secrets. Xiaolang Zhang pleaded guilty last year in a court in San Jose, California. He was arrested in 2018 as he tried to board a flight to China. Another ex-Apple employee, Jizhong Chen, faces similar charges.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/11/30/guiding-optimism-in-the-face-of-challenges-in-the-journey-the-global-energy-transition/", "title": "Guiding Optimism in the Face of Challenges in the Journey the Global Energy Transition", "text": "The oil and gas industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by the global energy transition. Despite being a hydrocarbon-producing industry, many companies have made declarations about their plans for net-zero targets and incorporating ESG metrics into corporate performance assessments. Regulations, financial return, and brand considerations are factors driving CO2 reductions. Data access is a significant hurdle to CO2 reduction plans, but companies with superior digital competencies are likely to be leaders in the energy transition. Achievability of targets remains uncertain, but industry leaders view many of these challenges as achievable yet challenging. The future is now for the industry, and oil and gas leaders need to embrace the transformation.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AMeyers_Oil-_-gas-Blog-11.30.22_Featured-Image-copy.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5B81/production/_129752432_bills-top-getty.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The number of adults struggling to pay their bills and debts has soared to nearly 11 million, new figures show. Some 3.1 million more people faced difficulties in January than they did in May last year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said. It found that 11% of adults had missed a bill or loan payment in at least three of the previous six months. The FCA encouraged people to ask for help as household budgets were squeezed by the rising cost of living. \"Our research highlights the real impact the rising cost of living is having on people's ability to keep up with their bills, although we are pleased to see that people have been accessing help and advice,\" said Sheldon Mills, its executive director of consumers and competition. \"We've told lenders that they should provide support tailored to your needs,\" he added. What do I do if I can't afford to pay my debts?What can I do if I can't pay my energy bill? Energy, food and fuel prices have jumped in the last 18 months, putting pressure on personal finances. Prices for most things have been rising and inflation, the rate at which prices go up, is at 10.1%, meaning goods are more than 10% more expensive on average than they were a year ago. Researchers found that 29% of adults with a mortgage and 34% of renters had seen their payments increase in the six months to January this year. The team also saw signs that some people had reduced or cancelled their insurance policies as a way of easing the pressure on their budgets. The FCA said it had repeatedly reminded firms of the importance of supporting their customers and working with them to solve problems with payments and bills. But Helen Undy, chief executive of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said the regulator needed to do more by cracking down on \"aggressive\" debt collection practices and limiting the number of times lenders could contact people who had missed a payment. \"Those actions would go a long way in mitigating the mental health impacts of the crisis, and could even save lives,\" she said. The FCA said its survey suggested around half of UK adults (about 28.4 million people) felt more anxious or stressed due to the rising cost of living in January than they did six months earlier. The body said it had reminded 3,500 lenders of how they should support borrowers in financial difficulty and added it had told 32 lenders to \"make changes to the way they treat customers\". The FCA said this work had led to \u00a329 million in compensation being secured for over 80,000 customers. UK Finance, the trade association for the UK banking and finance industry, said lenders were contacting customers and would \"always work with them to find the right solution for their particular needs and circumstances\". It urged people worried about their finances to contact their lender, and said discussing options would not affect a person's credit rating. The FCA released its latest figures after gathering more than 5,000 responses as part of a UK-wide survey of people aged 18 and over.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/0F08/production/_128984830_gettyimages-1229810647.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "UN officials are in last-ditch negotiations to make sure a deal which allows Ukraine to export grain by sea is renewed before it expires on 18 May. Thanks to the agreement between the UN, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia, more than 30 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs have been shipped out of the Black Sea through a safe corridor. However, Russia is threatening to pull out of the deal because it says Western sanctions are hampering its own agricultural exports. Ukraine is a major global exporter of sunflower, maize, wheat and barley. When Russia invaded in February 2022, its naval vessels blockaded Ukraine's ports, trapping some 20 million tonnes of grain. That sent global food prices rocketing. Food supplies were particularly threatened in Middle Eastern and African countries which rely heavily on Ukrainian grain. The UN says prices of staple foods rose across these regions by an average of 30%. It warned that 44 million people in 38 countries were facing \"emergency levels of hunger\". \"UN officials were worried about the Horn of Africa, where drought was already pushing countries towards famine conditions, and a lack of grain was making things worse,\" says Richard Gowan from The International Crisis Group, which works to prevent conflict. Ukraine grain deal needed to feed world \u2013 WFP head The arrangement is meant to be extended for 120 days at a time, and was last renewed on 18 March. However, Russia only agreed to a 60-day extension,and is now threatening to pull out altogether. It wants Russian producers to export more food and fertiliser to the rest of the world, but says Western sanctions are getting in the way. There are no specific sanctions against Russian agricultural exports, but Moscow argues other restrictions mean international banks, insurers and shippers are reluctant to do business with its exporters. UN officials are trying to broker a compromise. Russia previously withdrew from the deal in November 2022, accusing Ukraine of launching a \"massive\" drone attack on its fleet in Crimea from vessels in the safe shipping corridor. However, it rejoined a few days later. On 22 July 2022, Russia and Ukraine signed the Black Sea Grain Initiative, with the support of the UN and Turkey. It let cargo ships pass safely through the Black Sea to and from the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi. The first grain shipments started in early August, using a corridor 310 nautical miles long and three nautical miles wide. According to the UN's Joint Coordination Centre (JCC), which oversees the scheme, more than 30 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs have been shipped from Ukraine, as well as fertiliser. These extra supplies were a major factor in lowering world food prices. Prices started falling in spring 2022, ahead of an expected deal, and are now lower than they were before Russia's invasion. Ukraine is exporting 30% less food that it did before the Russian invasion, according to its agriculture ministry. This is partly because farmers are producing less, due to the fighting across large parts of the country. However, Ukraine's government says Russia has been delaying cargo ships heading to ports to pick up produce. Under the deal, Russia has the right to inspect ships to make sure they aren't bringing cargo into Ukraine, such as weapons. \"Ukraine has accused it of being overly picky with the inspections,\" says Bridget Diakun, from the shipping journal Lloyds List. \"There is usually a queue of about 100 ships in the entrance to the Black Sea.\" Only about a quarter of Ukraine's food exports have been going to the world's poorest countries, according to UN figures: 47% has gone to \"high-income countries\" including Spain, Italy and the Netherlands 26% has gone to \"upper-middle income countries\" such as Turkey and China27% has gone to \"low and lower-middle income countries\" like Egypt, Kenya and Sudan Russian president Vladimir Putin has criticised Ukraine for not exporting more of its foodstuffs to developing countries. However, the UN says the exports have benefited needy people around the world because they calmed international food markets, bringing food prices under control. In 2022, more of half of the wheat grain procured by the United Nations World Food Programme came from Ukraine. Between August 2022 and the end of the year, it sent 13 ships from Ukraine carrying a total of over 380,000 tonnes of wheat to Ethiopia, Yemen, Djibouti, Somalia and Afghanistan. Pictures provide evidence of Russian grain theft Correction 17 March 2023: A reference to the volume of the WFP's wheat grain procurement was amended. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1176F/production/_129753517_gettyimages-1442569992.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A court has ruled that disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes must report to prison while she appeals against her fraud conviction. Holmes, 39, had asked a judge to remain free while she fought against her jail sentence for a blood-testing hoax. She was sentenced to over 11 years in prison after a jury last year found her guilty of defrauding investors. In a separate ruling, US District Judge Edward Davila also ordered Holmes to pay $452m (\u00a3363.8m) to victims. She will split the multi-million dollar payment with her former romantic and business partner, ex-Theranos boss Ramesh \"Sunny\" Balwani. A judge will set a new date for Holmes to go to prison. The BBC has reached out to Holmes' attorneys for comment. Balwani was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted on 12 counts of fraud and conspiracy last year. He began serving his sentence in April after losing his own attempt to remain free while appealing against his conviction. The court has recommended Holmes serve her time behind bars at a federal minimum-security women's prison in Bryan, Texas. Elizabeth Holmes: From tech star to convicted fraudsterThe prison experience Holmes is desperate to avoid Holmes had asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to delay her sentence days before she was supposed to report to prison in April. The Theranos founder had said that she would raise \"substantial questions\" about her case that could warrant a new trial, an argument that Mr Davila had rejected. \"Contrary to her suggestion that accuracy and reliability were central issues to her convictions, Ms Holmes's misrepresentations to Theranos investors involved more than just whether Theranos technology worked as promised,\" he said at the time. Holmes' attorneys also argued she should remain free while appealing against her case to care for her children. The mother of two has been living in San Diego, California, with her partner, hotel heir William Evans, as well as their one-year-old son William and three-month-old daughter Invicta, Once hailed as the \"next Steve Jobs\", Holmes was said to be the world's youngest self-made billionaire. She started Theranos after dropping out of Stanford University. During her time leading the company, Holmes was able to raise millions of dollars from high-profile investors, including media mogul Rupert Murdoch, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Oracle founder Larry Ellison. But the start-up crashed in 2018 after investigations revealed its technology did not work. The blood-testing device was purported to be able to run a multitude of tests from just a few drops of blood. The company's infamous downfall was documented in a TV series, an HBO documentary and a podcast.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/0915/production/_129752320_gettyimages-1231657307.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The world's largest collection of original Banksy artworks is set to go on display once again. Featuring more than 110 pieces from the anonymous Bristol-based artist, The Art of Banksy will open at 84-86 Regent St, London, in July. The artworks include some of his best-known pieces such as Girl With Balloon and Flower Thrower. The exhibition, which is not authorised by the artist, has toured across the world. It has welcomed visitors in Melbourne, Chicago, San Francisco, Sydney, Washington DC, Boston, Tel Aviv, Auckland, Toronto, Miami and Gothenburg. In 2022 it was also on show in Salford in a purpose-built structure. Rude Copper, which depicts a policeman holding up his middle finger, will also be included in the display. Rising to fame by creating stencilled designs around his home city of Bristol in the early 1990s, despite worldwide following, Banksy's identity remains unknown. The exhibition, which has not been authorised by the graffiti artist, with all the works included having been loaned by private collectors, will also include art that is going on display for the first time. Organisers say the London exhibition will, for the first time, see close associates of the artist share their personal stories and give unique insight into some of the famous images. The anonymous testimonials will also share details of how the street art stunts were devised. In 2022 Banksy hinted his fans should shoplift from clothing store Guess in Regent Street, after he accused the company of using his art on their garments without permission. Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/177C8/production/_129700269_nandos.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A restaurant chain is using waste heat generated from its kitchen to heat water and buildings following trials. The success of the year-long trial at Nando's Didsbury branch in Manchester has been rolled out to 14 other stores. The system created by Lancashire energy firm Dext Heat Recovery uses a heat exchange - a box on the roof which collects the heat produced by cooking. Instead of releasing it into the atmosphere, the heat is filtered and recycled. Prof Karl Williams, director of the centre for waste and resource management at the University of Central Lancashire, said he was excited about ways to recover energy to combat the climate emergency. \"There's lots of technology out there to recover energy for example from sewers, but every bit helps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels,\" he said. Prof Williams added: \"The main challenge I see with this is cost, to have a real impact it needs to go into smaller businesses on our high streets because there are a lot more of them than big chains. \"They'd find it difficult to invest as it would take them longer to get payback as they don't generate as much heat as larger chains.\" The amount of heat produced in the average Nando's kitchen a year is enough to heat more than 30 homes for a year. Dext has been working with Nando's since 2009 when they started collecting the heat from its grills to heat water- a system which is now used to save energy in 300 branches. Director of Dext Heat Recovery Neil Bracewell said he believed it could be a game changer for the restaurant industry. \"We work with Sheffield Hallam University where we developed and researched the heat exchanger to cope with dirty air from restaurant kitchens. Wind is main source of electricity for first timeGreen energy projects worth billions stuck on holdIs the UK on track to meet its climate targets? \"Nando's have helped us financially and by allowing us to test our equipment.\" He added it was still a \"learning curve\", but they were \"saving money and reducing CO2 emissions\". Mr Bracewell said their systems currently start at about \u00a320,000 but estimated the outlay could be made back in 18 months depending on the size and use of the kitchen. Sam McCarthy, Nando's head of sustainability for the UK and Ireland, said they were keen to share this technology with other restaurant chains. \"We have a net zero target of 2030 and this new technology is proving to be a success reducing the impact on the planet and saving money on energy bills which we want to reinvest in the future of our restaurants. \"We're always looking to trial new technology to help us with this and it's great to support and work with a small business like Dext.\" Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/09/16/why-you-should-add-location-to-your-data-strategy/", "title": "Why You Should Add Location to Your Data Strategy", "text": "Location and geospatial intelligence should be part of every enterprise's strategy as it adds value to software and the enterprise overall. Recent research shows that 74% of data buyers use location data, and at least 25% of enterprises are using more location data than they did 1-3 years ago. Fit for purpose tools are needed to turn this data into insight, and more database vendors are including geospatially compatible structures at no additional cost. SaaS buyers are willing to pay more for applications that include location and/or geospatial capability. The context of where something is happening unlocks greater value by unlocking meaning that hadn't been taken into consideration previously.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Blog_Image_Hed-FA-copy-2.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/08/26/evolving-current-economic-scenario-and-its-impacts-on-asia-pacific-technology-spending/", "title": "Evolving Current Economic Scenario and Its Impacts on Asia Pacific Technology Spending", "text": "Global risk of recession is increasing due to central banks raising interest rates to control inflation. A recent poll by IDC of 100 CIOs globally indicated that 79% expect a recession in their countries or important buyer countries next year, but mostly mild or moderate. Inflation, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and weakening local currencies contribute to \"Storms of Disruption.\" Japan's economy is doing the opposite of other developed economies by not increasing interest rates. IT leaders in APeJC are concerned about inflation and timely access to products/services due to supply chain disruptions. Consumer IT spending has slowed, while enterprise IT spending remains stable. Investments in digital infrastructure resiliency programs appear at the top of enterprises' priority list.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/MicrosoftTeams-Header-image.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/E5DB/production/_129734885_genie1.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Food banks are having to buy groceries at high prices because donations fail to meet demand from families in need. The Trussell Trust said 13% of food in emergency parcels was bought, compared with none before the pandemic. Organisers say some shoppers are now splitting multipacks of cans because they cannot afford to donate it all. But new software may be helping solve the dilemma, by telling people exactly which items are running low in their local food bank. Paul McMurray, from North Shields, has created Donation Genie - a website that displays the items that are most needed at each specific food bank across the UK. Visitors to the site simply enter a postcode or name of the area and it will show the addresses of the four nearest food banks and which items are top of their list of requirements. The service does not ask for, or make, any money. It is similar to some other services, but draws on public data, including information provided on individual food bank's own websites. That means they do not need to sign up to benefit. \"Food banks are already busy. We don't want to give them extra things to do,\" said Mr McMurray, a software engineer at Accenture, who used company's charity days to develop the idea. \"We want to use the simplicity of technology and kindness of people, then join them together to direct the right food to the right people.\" That could lead to \"less hunger, less waste, and less food poverty\", he said. The need is clear from data in his area. There was a 54% rise in food parcels handed out in the North East of England in 2022-23 compared with the previous year, among a record three million across the country, according to The Trussell Trust - the UK's largest food bank provider. Close to Mr McMurray, the network of 36 food banks in County Durham and Sunderland provided food to 2,000 people at the start of last year. By this March, that had risen to more than 4,000 individuals, with children accounting for more than a third of them. Rising demand for help and fewer donations are the result of food prices rising at their fastest rate for 45 years, having gone up by 19.1% in a year, according to official statistics. Those trends shows no sign of stopping, despite predictions of a slowdown in price inflation, according to Paul Conlon, distribution manager for Sunderland and County Durham food banks. \"Food prices have really affected donations,\" he said. \"Month-on-month, donations are decreasing - less food is coming in to the warehouse from the public. At the same time, the number of people using food banks is increasing.\" It is the same story at the other end of the country. In Bromley, south east London, the Living Well food bank spent more than \u00a35,000 in April on produce to give out. Before Covid it ran on donated food alone. Among those who need it now are families with working parents, included one who has three jobs. Elsewhere, figures from surveys by the Charities Aid Foundation show that financial donations to food banks peaked in the run-up to Christmas, then slumped in February, although there has been some recovery since. Food banks told the charity that donated supplies had been \"erratic\" at best. Mr Conlon, from the Durham food banks network, said any donations were welcome but, in general, there was a greater need for toiletries, as well as tinned meat and fish. People were more likely to drop pasta, cooking sauce and tins of beans in the collection baskets at supermarkets and churches. Evidence of the mismatch was all around him in a warehouse where a team of volunteers were sorting items primarily given by the public. The solution, he said, was to think more creatively. Human-centric technology like Donation Genie is one example of that, community spirit is another. Warning prices to be higher for longer as rates riseHow much are prices rising for you? Try our calculator A few miles away in Gateshead, some of the residents of Bensham Court are playing bingo. Hot dog sausages and tins of coffee are the prizes, signalling the shift in what may be considered a lucky luxury as prices soar. In this sheltered accommodation, one flat has been converted into am emergency food bank. It is a lifeline for some of the 135 residents, all of whom are aged over 50. However, there is such togetherness, that they are planning to top this up with food grown in a new allotment in the grounds of the 1960s tower block. According to Julie Bray, social prescribing link worker at the local GP practice, such activities are bringing health as well as financial benefits. Both have been affected by Covid lockdowns and the rising cost of living. \"That keeps them away from their GPs, it stops them from taking medication, and is making them resilient again.\" Poonam lives here, has struggled financially, but said she had received vital help and support since she moved in, making her feel part of a family - and that was priceless. Look at your cupboards so you know what you have alreadyHead to the reduced section first to see if it has anything you needBuy things close to their sell-by-date which will be cheaper and use your freezer Read more tips here", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/04/26/the-negative-impact-of-inflationary-pressures-on-cloud-roi/", "title": "The Negative Impact of Inflationary Pressures on Cloud ROI", "text": "Companies are increasingly turning to cloud computing to overcome macroeconomic pressures, with those with existing cloud deployments benefiting the most. The COVID-19 pandemic and inflationary pressures have further led to increased adoption of cloud services. However, increasing costs are impacting the value businesses receive from their cloud services, with many companies overspending on cloud services in the last year. Late adopters of cloud are seeing an increasing role being played by the company's finance department in signing off on early cloud deployments. Cost and savings are now the second-highest area of concern for organizations dealing with increasing macroeconomic pressures.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blog-Social-Media-Tile-Sustainability.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50646523&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "SaaSPath 2023: Banner Books for CPQ, Digital Commerce, Employee Experience, Facility Management, Field Service Management, PIM/PXM, and Procurement", "text": "IDC Pivot Table banner books contain data for IDC's SaaSPath 2023 program, covering 7 of the 23 application categories, including digital commerce, CPQ, employee experience, facility management, field service management, PIM/PXM, and procurement. The coverage includes various aspects such as adoption, deployment models, budget plans, purchasing preferences, packaging options, pricing options, vendor reviews and ratings.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-02-f1543fb2defcb4468860f88523406767.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/01/12/top-4-effective-changes-a-budget-conscious-it-organization-can-make-in-2023/", "title": "Top 4 Effective Changes A Budget-Conscious IT Organization Can Make In 2023", "text": "IDC suggests improving software development with a limited budget. Shift focus to creating new business value, analyze tasks for improvement, prioritize features for value, get insight into portfolio dependencies, and facilitate team sharing of common building blocks. These steps can lead to increased predictability, better use of resources, and cost savings. Organizations can also benefit from standard building blocks and decreased security vulnerabilities.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Blog-Social-Media-Tile-15.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/AB07/production/_129338734_castleview5.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Plans for a 5G mast which conservationists said would \"damage\" an iconic view of Edinburgh Castle have been scrapped following a backlash. More than 320 objections were lodged against the proposed 17m (56ft) structure on Johnston Terrace, which passes below the castle. Mobile network Three UK originally said the mast would not spoil the view. However it has withdrawn its application following a review and said it was trying to find a suitable site. Plans for 5G mast in Edinburgh 'will damage iconic castle view' A spokesperson for Three said: \"We want to offer a great network experience in the area and our planners determined that a new site was required to deliver it. \"Following a review, we have withdrawn our application and are working with the city planning team to try to find a suitable location for the mast.\" The firm added that 5G rollout is vital for residents, visitors and businesses in the centre of Edinburgh. The mast was proposed by CK Hutchison Networks to help provide coverage for Three UK's network. It proposed to build the structure on Johnstone Terrace at the top of Granny's Green Steps - which is just below the castle rock. Historic Environment Scotland, which manages Edinburgh Castle, said it had not been consulted about the plans. Many city tours stop in the Grassmarket area so visitors can capture the view looking up at the landmark. Terry Levinthal, director of Scotland's oldest conservation charity the Cockburn Association, welcomed news of the plans being withdrawn. He previously told the BBC it was \"unacceptable\" to erect a mast in such a significant location. On Tuesday, he said: \"It has to be appropriate for the place. Some places have 5G masts that are not necessarily pretty, but are not having an impact - but in some places, it is. \"There is is a duty in any planning application to make sure any proposal preserves the character and appearance of the area. \"What we hope for in future is for operators, the city council and other interested parties to sit down and begin thinking of the best way of doing this and what are the sensitive areas.\" Mr Levinthal added he was happy to have discussions with companies who wanted to develop in conservation areas. In Edinburgh alone 50 areas have been granted the status, which recognises parts of special architectural or historic interest.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50619923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC Market Note: 2023 OCP Regional Summit Prague", "text": "The 2023 OCP Regional Summit in Prague showcased various technology demos and announcements related to IT ecosystem, edge, security, chiplet, and datacenter infrastructure. It featured participation from vendors, datacenter owners, and other organizations.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1956/innovationaccel-12-0ddc55e93ed0a9b2bb38e23db74ac292.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/20/four-impacts-of-the-national-digital-plan-on-the-acceleration-of-digital-businesses-in-china/", "title": "Four Impacts of the National Digital Plan on the Acceleration of Digital Businesses in China", "text": "China has revealed its plan for digital development, outlining 13 key goals to be completed by 2025 and 2035. The plan will promote digital businesses and provide opportunities for ICT vendors, while also supporting the building of a modern socialist country. The framework of \"2522\" guides the development of the economy and society, with specific guarantee measures in place. The plan will be used as a reference for evaluating leading officials' performance.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CMS_Social-Tiles-5.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/38D0/production/_129744541_gettyimages-1247310019.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Facebook parent company Meta has begun rolling out a paid verification service in the UK. Similar to Elon Musk's Twitter Blue, the service gives Facebook and Instagram users a blue tick from \u00a39.99 per month. Subscribers must be at least 18 years old and submit a government ID to qualify. The feature is already available in the US, Australia and New Zealand. People who registered interest in Meta Verified will receive a notification when it becomes available to them. It is rolling out to others in the UK in the coming weeks. Those approved by Meta will get a verified badge, which the tech firm says will give them more protection from impersonation, in part because it will monitor their accounts to check for fakers. It says verified users will also get \"access to a real person\" if they have any issue with their account. The move comes after Mr Musk implemented the premium Twitter Blue subscription in November 2022. The service proved controversial at the time as it replaced the previous system, where blue ticks were used to verify that high-profile accounts belonged to the people they claimed to be. Mr Musk removed what became termed \"legacy\" verification ticks from account holders on 20 April - reserving the \"verified\" blue badge for those who had paid for Twitter Blue, and authenticated their phone number. The blue tick removal process led to mass confusion as high-profile users like Hillary Clinton lost their verification badges and subscribers were able to edit their own username to impersonate them. Twitter later chose to return blue ticks to a number of celebrities, governments and organisations for free. Both Facebook and Instagram already have a verification system for notable figures, and Meta does not appear to be planning to scrap this anytime soon. According to the support pages for the platforms, as well as subscribing to Meta Verified, users can still apply for a verified badge if they are \"a public figure, celebrity or brand and meet the account and eligibility requirements\". The decision to add a paid-for verification system amounts to a change of direction for Facebook and Instagram, which have previously both been free to use in all circumstances since they rose to prominence. The services have relied on advertising income, which makes up the vast majority of Meta's revenue. While both can still be used for free, the decision to add a paid tier which increases prominence is an attempt to find other ways of monetising the platforms. It comes six months after the company announced 11,000 job losses as a result of what it said was over-investment during the pandemic. At the time, Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg said he had predicted an increase in the company's growth but that ultimately had not happened.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49961323&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC Market Glance: Future of Work \u2014 Space/Place, 2Q23", "text": "IDC Market Glance shows current state of Future of Work technology landscape for \"space/place\" pillar, which will account for 60% of FoW spending in 2023. Organizations invest in on-premises workplaces and intelligent digital workspaces to support hybrid workforce and work culture. \"Space\" vendors include hardware, software, and service providers as well as IaaS and enterprise hardware vendors. Expect new players, M&A activity, and evolving platforms to meet employee needs.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1880/digitaltransformation-12-6d54e01912490fefe484c67024b5fab5.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/8A8C/production/_129586453_gettyimages-875574598.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "At Prime Minister's Questions, Rishi Sunak described Labour as \"a party that stands for higher council tax\". Earlier in the day, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat told BBC News: \"[Council] tax in Labour areas... is about \u00a380 more than in Conservative areas\". But Labour is running a tweet in which it claims: \"Conservative councils already charge \u00a3345 more than Labour ones.\" They are talking about council tax rates in England, where many areas are holding elections in May 2023. There are also elections due in Northern Ireland, but they have a separate domestic rating system, not council tax. So which is correct? It is very difficult to say, as other organisations have concluded in the past. There are several questions to answer if you try to do this sort of calculation, which have considerable impact on the answer. Council tax: What is it and how much has it gone up by?Local elections 2023: When are they and who can vote?Have the Conservatives increased council tax by 15%? The first question is whether you are only including councils in which one party has an overall majority. Many councils do not, in which case sometimes one party will try to run it with a minority administration and sometimes there will be a coalition. We asked the Conservatives about their calculation and they told us they were only looking at councils with an overall majority that are up for election in May 2023. We asked Labour for their methodology and they did not get back to us. But they told the Telegraph that if the Conservatives had looked at all council areas then Labour would have turned out to be cheaper. In that article, the Conservatives also claimed that Tory-run councils charge \u00a321 less than ones run by the Liberal Democrats. We asked the Liberal Democrats to comment and they told us: \"Liberal Democrats have long called for more powers and funding for local authorities, yet year after year, out-of-touch Conservative ministers have slashed budgets and left people with no choice but to raise council tax.\" The Conservatives are comparing the bills paid by people living in a Band D property. In England, bands are based on the value of a property in April 1991 - the higher the value the higher the band and so the higher the council tax. The Band D comparison for a household with two adults is widely used as a way of comparing what people in similar circumstances across different areas are paying. But it is not a typical bill because that would be affected by the housing stock in an area, for example. To take that into account, some people instead compare the average bill per household. There are different types of councils: town or parish councils, district councils, county councils and unitary authorities. It is important to compare like with like. The Conservatives have averaged the taxes across these tiers. But there are considerable difficulties in this. Consider, for example, someone living in St Albans. For every \u00a31 they pay in council tax: 77p goes to Hertfordshire County Council, which has a Conservative majority9p goes to St Albans City and District Council, which has a Liberal Democrat majority11p goes to the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner, who is a Conservative 3p goes to parish councils, which are not necessarily political. So, in this case, while the majority of the charges on the council tax bill will have been set by Conservatives on the county council, some will also have been set by Liberal Democrats on the district council. Some parts of a council tax bill may also go to fund adult social care or a mayor, for example, and crucially they may be set by members of a different party to the one that sets your main council tax. So how do you allocate these parts of the bill? The decisions you take about any of these questions can make a big difference to the answer, which means you cannot say definitively which party has the cheapest council tax. What claims do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=EUR150526323&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Process Manufacturing Execution Systems 2023 Vendor Assessment", "text": "IDC MarketScape's report on MES software providers serving process manufacturing subindustries, part of a four-report series. Asset-intensive producers face challenges from raised energy costs, regulations, and customer pressure. Factory leaders should evaluate their future MES to make the best decisions.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-12-17345d5ecc3b01c0b77f67d3f81e1c63.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50480223&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "U.S. Business Use Smartphone Forecast, 2023-2027", "text": "IDC's study forecasts the growth of corporate-liable device shipments by 8% over the next five years, indicating a growing dependency on mobility in the enterprise.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-05-dcd28b1b6c9a65c3669c8f62eefb03d9.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50483723&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Smartphone Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC study predicts 1.19 billion smartphone shipments globally in 2023, with a CAGR of 2.6% till 2027. Q1-Q2 of 2023 will see a dip in sales, followed by growth in Q3-Q4 due to flagship launches.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-03-1cbabc187f4957f7506e86a1d7ab5a6a.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/E5E2/production/_129605885_creditnaraward.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Nara Ward says keeping track of her kids' spending when they are playing their favourite computer games is a full-time job. Ms Ward lives in Barbados with her husband and sons, Finn, 14, and Leif, 12. When Leif started playing Roblox, he began asking for robux - the game's currency - that allows players to upgrade their character or buy virtual items. So his grandparents gave him $200 (\u00a3159) Apple credit for Christmas. \"To my shock, he spent all of it in a matter of days,\" says Ms Ward. \"After that, I gave him no more than $10 worth of robux per month. He quickly became frustrated and bored with the game.\" Leif moved on to World of Tanks, which also requires players to upgrade their weaponry using PlayStation credit. \"However, this game has the option to watch ads to gain credit,\" says Ms Ward. \"He would do that out of desperation when he had used up his monthly gaming allowance.\" Ms Ward says her younger son has yet to learn self-control or money-sense. \"It's something that I have to police constantly.\" Rather than profiting from the initial sale of a video game, many of today's gaming companies rely on revenue generated by in-game purchases, or microtransactions. The content purchased can be purely aesthetic - dance moves, skins or clothing. Alternatively, in-game purchases can provide a tactical advantage to the gameplay - extra lives, character upgrades or weapons - providing a lead over players who did not purchase the additional content. The global online microtransaction market is forecast to grow from $67.94bn in 2022 to $76.66bn in 2023. However, there are signs of a backlash from experts and consumers alike. Also, some companies are promising new releases that are in-game purchase-free. Gaming companies use behavioural psychology to manipulate users into spending, says Prof Sarah Mills, and the link between gaming and gambling is becoming \"increasingly blurred\", she explains. Ms Mills is professor of human geography at Loughborough University. Her research found gambling techniques make gamers play for longer and spend more money, and drive repeat buying. Vicki Shotbolt, chief executive of Parent Zone, an organisation which helps parents navigate the digital world for their children, is more specific about how games incentivise players to part with their money. By spending players can \"avoid the grind\" - where making an in-game purchase means you avoid hours of monotonous gaming to progress to another level. \"Fun pain\" is where you risk losing something important if you don't make a purchase. Meanwhile, \"obfuscation techniques\", like in-game currencies, make it hard to see how much you're really spending. Another tactic is the use of \"loot boxes\". Players buy a box without knowing what's inside. It could contain a game-changing item - but more often than not the prize is nothing more than a mediocre customisation. \"Young people recalled senses of shame when they reflected on the amount they spent trying to gain a rare item, even if they were successful,\" says Prof Mills. And - despite many children saying they dislike in-game purchasing - spending money on microtransactions has become an expectation. While spending on games has risen, some argue that playing games can benefit young people and fears are exaggerated. Gaming as a form of play has been found to relieve stress, help develop cognitive skills and combat loneliness. As a teenager Zhenghua Yang, from Colorado, spent two years in hospital. \"I played a lot of video games. The single-player games made me feel like a hero. The multiplayer games connected me to other people. I made life-long friends all over the world.\" In 2014, Mr Yang founded Serenity Forge, a gaming company on a mission to help others. To date, more than 20 million people have played the firm's games. \"We are in the business of expanding people's horizons,\" says Mr Yang. Serenity Forge does not use microtransactions but, says Mr Yang, that could change in the future if they found them to contribute to \"meaningful, emotionally impactful games that challenge the way you think\". The impact of microtransactions, says Mr Yang, depends on the vulnerability of the user. \"Like a credit card can be dangerous for someone in an inappropriate context, so too can microtransactions. However, credit cards can also serve an important function and in-game purchases can be important to a gamer engaging with their favourite game.\" Sarah Loya's son Andrew, 14, spends almost all his pocket money on gaming but, she says, that isn't a problem and gaming makes him happy. \"He plays daily, after school and on the weekends. I don't really see much of a negative. He's a smart kid and knows the difference between reality and fantasy.\" Ms Loya lives in Texas with Andrew, and his brother Rex, 6. \"My bank account is linked to Andrew's subscription, so I would see if he purchased something without permission,\" says the 43-year-old, \"but he always asks me before making a purchase.\" More technology of business: Teaching robots to blink is hard but importantWhy there is serious money in kitchen fumesThe tech entrepreneur betting he can get youngerHow LinkedIn is changing and why some are not happyThe remote Swedish town leading the green steel race While it can be difficult for parents to keep track of registered emails, passwords and payment cards across various platforms and devices - there are ways that you can protect your teen and your bank account. Child accounts and parental controls can be used to disable purchases or set a spending limit. Parents can set up email notifications to flag purchases, and use gift cards rather than credit cards. Perhaps most importantly, adds Mr Yang, talk to your child. \"In my experience, friction stems from a lack of parental presence,\" he says. \"I now have two kids and, instead of using games as a babysitting tool, I make sure I'm present in their lives as they consume media.\" Back in Barbados, Ms Ward has set up screen time limits and passcodes to keep Leif gaming safely. \"My password is needed to make any purchases and if he wants money added to his account he has to ask me. Microtransactions are annoying but this is a life lesson.\" If parents are worried about a young person struggling with gaming or potential gambling-related harms, please visit the Parent Hub website by YGAM (Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust) for support and resource.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/123A9/production/_129256647_le_2023_index_promo_lookup_v1-nc.png", "label": 0, "text": "Voters across Northern Ireland go to the polls on 18 May to choose new councillors for the first time in four years. The elections give people the chance to decide who is responsible for a range of local issues - such as leisure services, bin collections and the rates bills paid by every household. A total of 462 seats will be contested in all of Northern Ireland's 11 councils. The elections have been pushed back by two weeks due to the coronation of King Charles III on 6 May. To find out who is standing in your area, type your postcode into the bar below. The elections use the single transferable vote (STV) system, the same as is used for elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Voters mark the ballot paper in order of preference - with a 1 beside their favourite candidate, a 2 beside their second-favourite and so on. Voters choose councillors in their district electoral area (DEA). Each DEA is represented by five, six or seven councillors. There are three ways to vote: In person at a polling station (often in places such as schools and community centres)By postal voteBy nominating a proxy to vote on your behalf You will get a polling card before election day telling you where your polling station is. You do not need this card to vote. Voters must be: Aged 18 or overRegistered at an address in the area where they want to voteA British citizen, an Irish or EU citizen or eligible Commonwealth citizenNot legally excluded from voting You need photographic ID to vote, such as a passport or driving licence. A full list of acceptable ID is available on the Electoral Office website. The big story of the 2019 local elections was the rise in support for the Alliance Party, which gained 21 seats across all councils to claim a total of 53. It remained the fifth-largest party overall but closed the gap on the Social Democratic and Labour Party, which dropped by seven seats to 59. The Democratic Unionist Party won 122 seats - a drop of eight - to remain the largest party while Sinn F\u00e9in was second with 105, unchanged from the previous election. The Ulster Unionist Party was third with 75 seats - a drop of 13. Smaller parties the Greens and People Before Profit both gained four seats each while the Traditional Unionist Voice dropped by seven to hold six overall. Council elections are also often used by voters to give their opinion on the various political parties, even on issues which are not directly related to councils, so the results can often be a sign of things to come. For example Alliance's strong performance was followed by its success in European, Westminster and Stormont elections over the course of the following three years. Councils are responsible for a range of services, including: Leisure servicesCemeteriesWaste collection and disposalLocal planning Dog control They also look after some local tourism, off-street parking and elements of heritage such as managing conservation areas. These services are paid for by rates. Every council votes each year on what the district rate will be in their area, which is added to the regional rate set by Stormont and sent out to every eligible household as a rates bill. The elections will decide the make-up of each council, which has an impact on their approach to the services run by each local authority. Earlier in the year, all 11 councils agreed their highest rate rises since local government reform in 2015, so the upcoming election will be a chance for voters to give their views on that, as well as on candidates' plans for rates in the future. Voters may also use the elections to give a verdict on the parties' approaches to the Windsor Framework - the amended Brexit deal for Northern Ireland. Animals - apart from assistance dogs - are not usually allowed in polling stations. However, as dogs aren't specifically mentioned in UK electoral law, they are admitted to polling stations at the discretion of the local authority. Voters are encouraged to bring children to polling stations to help educate them about democracy, but they are not allowed to mark your ballot paper. Counting of the votes begins on Friday 19 May, the day after the election. In 2019, counting continued past midnight and into the next day.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50483923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Business Use Tablet Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC predicts a slowdown in business tablet deployments due to device life cycle increases and reprioritization of mobility software spending by IT departments.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-01-3c423eb8cdb6046a87ce187aadb47871.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/52F9/production/_129614212_turbineconstruction_2.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Billions of pounds' worth of green energy projects are on hold because they cannot plug into the UK's electricity system, BBC research shows. Some new solar and wind sites are waiting up to 10 to 15 years to be connected because of a lack of capacity in the system - known as the \"grid\". Renewable energy companies worry it could threaten UK climate targets. National Grid, which manages the system, acknowledges the problem but says fundamental reform is needed. The UK currently has a 2035 target for 100% of its electricity to be produced without carbon emissions. Last year nearly half of the country's electricity was net-zero. Where does the UK get its energy and electricity?Wind generated a record amount of power in 2022 But meeting the target will require a big increase in the number of renewable projects across the country. It is estimated as much as five times more solar and four times as much wind is needed. The government and private investors have spent \u00a3198bn on renewable power infrastructure since 2010. But now energy companies are warning that significant delays to connect their green energy projects to the system will threaten their ability to bring more green power online. A new wind farm or solar site can only start supplying energy to people's homes once it has been plugged into the grid. Energy companies like Octopus Energy, one of Europe's largest investors in renewable energy, say they have been told by National Grid that they need to wait up to 15 years for some connections - far beyond the government's 2035 target. There are currently more than \u00a3200bn worth of projects sitting in the connections queue, the BBC has calculated. Around 40% of them face a connection wait of at least a year, according to National Grid's own figures. That represents delayed investments worth tens of billions of pounds. \"We currently have one of the longest grid queues in Europe,\" according to Zoisa North-Bond, chief executive of Octopus Energy Generation. The problem is so many new renewable projects are applying for connections, the grid cannot keep up. The system was built when just a few fossil fuel power plants were requesting a connection each year, but now there are 1,100 projects in the queue. Torbay Council has been hit by the delays. The diggers are already clearing the ground for a 6-hectare solar plant it is building in Torquay. It is due to be finished next year. The council plans to use money raised from selling the energy to help fund local services, but it has been told the plant will not be connected for five years. And even that date is not certain. \"Worryingly, there are some indications that that could slip into the mid 2030s\", said Alan Denby from Torbay Council. \"That's a real problem for the council in that we declared that we wanted to be carbon neutral by 2030.\" With projects unable to get connections, construction is either being paused or projects are being completed but are unable to produce any power. National Grid, which is responsible for moving electricity across England and Wales, says it is tightening up the criteria for projects to apply so only the really promising ones join the queue. But a huge new investment is also required to restructure the grid so it can deal with more power sources, says Roisin Quinn, director of customer connections. \"Fundamental reform is needed,\" she told the BBC. \"More infrastructure is needed. We are working very hard to design and build at a faster pace than we ever have done before.\" Energy Networks Association represents the UK's network operators, such as DNOs, which connect people's homes to the main system owned by National Grid. It says that the government needs to speed up the planning process so electricity infrastructure can be built more quickly. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: \"We have connected the second highest amount of renewable electricity in Europe since 2010 but we recognise the challenge of connection delays.\" The government is due to announce a new action plan for speeding up connections later this year. The energy regulator, Ofgem, which oversees the operators, said that all stakeholders were playing catch-up with the government's targets. Rebecca Barnett, director of networks at Ofgem, said: \"The targets have been increasing in the last two or three years dramatically and there is a long lead in investment time that is needed to commit, develop, and deliver these really big assets. \"I think that has caused a real problem; we definitely need to catch up. The incremental approach of the past is not fit for purpose.\" Ofgem says it has agreed to allow the National Grid to raise an additional \u00a320bn over the next 40 years from customer bills to pay for the huge upgrades the grid needs. Customers have seen household prices soar over the last year following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and a run-on gas. But Ms Barnett said this new investment will have a minimal impact on customers bills and will help shoulder the burden of some of the volatile energy prices. \"The future is for green, more secure and in fact cheaper energy. We know there is some investment cost needed to get us there, but in the long run it is going to be cheaper for us all,\" she said. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50483023&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Business Use Smartphone Forecast, 2023-2027", "text": "This IDC study presents the five-year forecast for the worldwide business use of smartphone shipments by operating system (Android and iOS) and user type (consumer, individual liable, and corporate liable). It is part of IDC's continuing research on mobile devices. Findings in this document are based on information gathered from primary and secondary sources during the past six months.\"Business use smartphone shipments are expected to remain stable over the forecast period, with a five-year CAGR of 2.9%, and YoY volumes will only see a modest 1.0% reduction worldwide,\" said Bryan Bassett, research manager, IDC's Enterprise Mobility: Workspace and Deployment Strategies program. \"Despite the impacts of geopolitical stress and global inflation, businesses remain increasingly dependent on mobile-centric workflows, making smartphones pivotal to the ongoing success of global business strategies.\"", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-10-da7e846e4336387f07848c4f50ea7ca3.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50476323&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Mobile Phone Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "Mobile phone shipments worldwide will reach 1,403 million units in 2023, down 2.4% from 2022, but will grow to 1,516.6 million units by 2027. The decline in 2023 is a recovery from the painful decline in 2022. The first and second quarters of 2023 will see a drop of 9.3%, but there will be a nice turnaround with 4.6% growth in the second half of the year due to new flagships and holiday sales.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-11-ed30186d21498d784b7c142d23b81c28.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/78FE/production/_129747903_radio1dancenominations-051222_creditamyheycockweb-6176.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A music festival has been cancelled less than a month before it was due to take place, with the organisers blaming \"spiralling\" costs. Detonate was due to be held at Colwick Park in Nottingham on 10 June, headlined by a DJ set from electronic duo Chase & Status. Some people who have already booked hotels have complained on social media about the festival being cancelled. The organisers said they were \"gutted\" to \"postpone\" the festival. They have said it \"will be back soon\", despite also saying that costs of putting on the festival have increased. A statement posted online said: \"We're completely gutted, but a number of factors mean that it now feels impossible for us to put on the festival to the expected standard. \"Everything that's needed to put on a festival has gone up massively, and costs are continuing to spiral as we get closer to the event. \"We're unable to pass these costs on to ticket buyers in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.\" The organisers said refunds would be given to all those who had bought tickets. \"This isn't a decision we've taken lightly, and we know it's disappointing for the thousands of you that have tickets,\" the statement said. The festival is held every year at Colwick Park. Organiser James Busby told BBC Radio Nottingham they had no plans to stop but changes may need to be made for future events. \"What we need to do at this point is find a more sustainable model that works for how things are now. \"What we've been doing is the same model as pre-pandemic, which perhaps is no longer a workable thing,\" he said. In 2016 a Halloween Detonate event was shut down three hours ahead of the scheduled end time due to health and safety fears. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=EUR150615823&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC PlanScape: Digital Sovereignty for Policymakers", "text": "The IDC PlanScape guides policymakers in deciding the level of sovereignty to mandate, involving stakeholders, investments, and risks. Digital sovereignty strategies require consideration of all attributes and collaboration with the industry for effective regulations, according to Massimiliano Claps, IDC EMEA research director.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-08-92dacd143662def4d2228c0b9eea847b.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/12CB6/production/_129628967_gettyimages-1249172249.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Vietnam has recorded its highest ever temperature, just over 44C (111F) - with experts predicting it would soon be surpassed because of climate change. The record was set in the northern province of Thanh Hoa, where officials warned people to stay indoors during the hottest times of the day. Other countries in the region have also been experiencing extremely hot weather. Thailand reported a record-equalling 44.6C in its western Mak province. Meanwhile Myanmar's media reported that a town in the east had recorded 43.8C, the highest temperature for a decade. Both countries experience a hot period before the monsoon season but the intensity of the heat has broken previous records. In Hanoi, climate change expert Nguyen Ngoc Huy told AFP that Vietnam's new record was \"worrying\" given the \"context of climate change and global warming\". \"I believe this record will be repeated many times,\" he said. \"It confirms that extreme climate models are being proven to be true.\" The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments make steep cuts to emissions. In Vietnam's central city of Danang, farmer Nguyen Thi Lan told AFP the heat was forcing workers to start earlier than ever and finish by 10:00. Vietnam's previous record temperature of 43.4C was set in central Ha Tinh province four years ago. Further west, the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka recorded its highest temperature since the 1960s while Indian authorities said parts of the country were experiencing temperatures that were three or four degrees above normal. In April, Spain recorded its hottest-ever temperature for that month, hitting 38.8C at Cordoba airport in the south of the country. In March climate scientists said a key global temperature goal was likely to be missed. Governments had previously agreed to act to avoid global temperature rises going above 1.5C. But the world has already warmed by 1.1C and now experts say that it is likely to breach 1.5C in the 2030s. In its report, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said \"every increment of global warming will intensify multiple and concurrent hazards\".", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/8DE5/production/_129752363_newproject-9.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A mother says she watched her terrified seven-year-old son ride a rollercoaster without the safety bar down. Emma Underhill said she was unable to sleep after watching James ride the Nessi rollercoaster at the Rhyl Family Fun Fair in the Children's Village. Ms Underhill, 27, said she was horrified when she realised James was not strapped in. A Rhyl Family Fun Fair spokesperson said an internal investigation was ongoing. It was not the family's first time at the park, but it was the first time James had been allowed on the rollercoaster by his mother. Once off the ride, Ms Underhill said her son was \"shaking and petrified\". Theme park's 'sadness' over rollercoaster injuries \"He said: 'Mummy, I thought I was going to fall out and die',\" the mum from Greenfield, Flintshire, said. \"I can't sleep. I'm getting upset talking about it. I can still see his face on that ride now. I had to watch him go around that whole track once, knowing he wasn't strapped in. As a parent who has always kept my children safe, it was terrifying.\" The theme park said it was treating the complaint \"very seriously\", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed the matter was passed to their concerns team and North Wales Police said they attended the incident. Ms Underhill, was at the theme park on 13 May with her partner Daniel Badrock, 28, James and their other son George, two. She said: \"It was Daniel's birthday, so we thought we'd take the children out. James wanted to go on the Nessi rollercoaster on his own. He was very excited, thinking he was brave. Bless him. \"James sat on the rollercoaster waiting to go. We were watching when he screamed: 'I'm not strapped in'. \"My partner and I were literally screaming to the ride operator that James wasn't strapped in, and he replied: 'Yes, he is',\" Ms Underhill claimed. \"I watched petrified as the rollercoaster moved. The ride goes around twice, but the operator didn't stop it until after the first lap, and it was then he noticed the safety bar wasn't down on James. \"James had just been holding on to a handrail the whole way around with no safety bar. I ran up and got James off the ride. I was in a panic, and James was screaming the whole time around. \"There are signs on the rollercoaster saying the safety bar will be put down immediately, but there was no safety-bar check. It's not a slow rollercoaster - it has some speed to it.\" \"He's lucky there were no physical injuries, but psychologically our anxiety has gone through the roof,\" she said. A Rhyl Family Fun Fair spokesperson said: \"There was a complaint that was brought to our attention on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Although there were no injuries sustained, we have launched an internal investigation which is currently ongoing.\" They also said due to the investigation they could not comment further, but that the park has health and safety measures including safety checks. It said they were taking the complaint \"very seriously\". The family are waiting for a call back from the doctor on how to manage James' stress levels, his mother said. She also reported the matter to Denbighshire County Council and the HSE. She said there was \"no apology from the ride operator or the owner\". \"We are meant to be going to Thomas the Tank Engine Land in a couple of months. James has said he doesn't want to go on a rollercoaster for the rest of his life.\" Ms Underhill said the incident had left them \"angry and upset\". A police spokesperson said: \"We were called shortly after 1pm on Saturday, May 13 to report a dispute in the Children's Village area of Rhyl. Officers attended the area to speak with those involved as well as staff members at the site.\" The council said fairground safety concerns were the responsibility of the HSE.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/138CE/production/_119387008_gettyimages-1321310203.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Scotland's national clinical director said the easing of face mask rules in care homes and healthcare settings was a \"good thing\". Prof Jason Leitch said Covid would be treated like any other respiratory disease. The return to pre-pandemic guidance comes more than three years on from the start of Covid face mask restrictions. Some individual health and social care settings may still ask people to wear masks for infection control reasons. The change comes two weeks after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Covid-19 no longer represents a \"global health emergency\". Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Prof Leitch said the move allowed countries to make risk-based choices. \"One of the things we had was extra rules about face coverings for Covid - now we're going back to standard rules,\" he said. \"Everyone is fatigued with a global pandemic. \"But I've been in environments where alcohol gel has re-appeared. Vaccination numbers would suggest that the country still cares enough to know that the principal protective route is available and people are still staying off a bit more when they're sick. \"We're downgrading the use of face coverings [in healthcare settings]. That's a good thing for communication, for families and for most people.\" Covid: Law on wearing face masks in Scotland is liftedCovid global health emergency is over, WHO saysFace coverings now compulsory in Scotland's shops Face coverings were first recommended in healthcare settings in June 2020. The requirement to wear them in other places, such as on buses and in shops, was then introduced later as the country opened up after Covid lockdown measures. This legal requirement ended in April last year but guidance for health and social care settings was kept in place. Now staff, patients, service users and visitors will no longer be routinely asked to wear face masks in these settings. The BBC has heard from people with health conditions who have concerns about the latest relaxation of the rules. Brian Keeley, from Aberdeen, had a heart transplant in 2013 and takes medication every day to suppress his immune system and prevent organ rejection. Although he expects medics in immunotherapy settings will continue to wear masks, Brian frequently has appointments in other healthcare settings where he fears people may not be as careful. He said: \"I go to clinic every six months, but I also have to go to the GP, to respiratory appointments, local clinics to give blood samples, vaccinations clinics that are full of people. \"These are things we have to do anyway and nobody there knows the level of vulnerability of people. \"I was at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary recently and everyone there was wearing face masks. It was all very safe and reassuring but from today that may not be the case.\" Brian said he felt things were moving on without consideration for people who are still \"effectively shielding\" given the prevalence of Covid. The latest Public Health Scotland figures show one in 40 people have Covid - which is down from a peak of one in nine in March. \"I think we've got used to the fact that in settings where people have a choice then the majority of people are well vaccinated,\" said Brian. \"It's great that vaccination has been so successful. \"But for those of us where vaccination has a limited effect, we still have to live our lives as if we've never been vaccinated. \"It's a lonely place to be.\" First Minister Humza Yousaf said the change to rules on face masks was an \"evolution of the guidance\" but stressed that \"Covid isn't over\". He added: \"People may themselves have had Covid recently or had a family member have Covid recently. \"It's really important we follow all of those guidelines in order to keep ourselves safe and the public safe.\" Chief nursing officer Alex McMahon added: \"Due to the success of vaccines in protecting people, and the availability of treatments, now is the right time to revise the advice on wearing masks in health and social care settings and return to pre-pandemic guidance.\" While he said some staff \"may have concerns\" about the change, Mr McMahon said organisations would carry out individual occupational health assessments and risk assessments as appropriate. He added: \"We continue to be vigilant in our response to Covid-19 and encourage everyone to make sure they are up to date with the boosters available to them.\" Officials at the WHO said the status of Covid had changed after the global estimated virus death rate dropped from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 on 24 April. But the organisation warned the removal of the highest level of alert did not mean the danger was over and said the emergency status could be reinstated if the situation changed.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/04/12/how-important-is-web3-and-decentralization-to-industry-ecosystems/", "title": "How Important Is Web3 and Decentralization to Industry Ecosystems?", "text": "Web3 is a collection of open technologies supporting decentralized data, knowledge, and value. It utilizes DAOs, blockchains, NFTs, and smart contracts to establish immutable transactions. Web3 can serve as the foundation for industry ecosystems and the metaverse. While interest in Web3 and the metaverse is strong, IT investments have not followed suit. Organizations are still figuring out how to implement it, but there are opportunities for every enterprise to incorporate it as a complement to their existing way of working. Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) present an opportunity for existing organizations to enhance their operations. By 2028, consortium-based DAOs will be the standard for industry ecosystem ventures. IT investments for industry ecosystems are still at a fundamental stage. Organizations see the value in finding optimal use cases across industry that complement the current Web2 approach of centralized control of data and applications.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/FoIE-Blog-Header-April-2023.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49161123&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide and U.S. Hosted Application Management Services Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC predicts spending on hosted application management services will increase from 2022-2027, with cloud and hybrid cloud models becoming more common. Organizations will choose service providers based on scalability, speed, data security, and cost reductions.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-06-eae149f04829c51d0bafd1f7e9c7cfaf.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50542323&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide DRAM Demand and Supply Forecast, 4Q22\u20134Q23 and 2023\u20132027: Down Cycle Extends", "text": "IDC study predicts a market correction for DRAM industry due to an inventory surplus causing pricing to fall below cash cost, leading to players struggling for survival. The correction is expected to continue for a year, with the next upcycle starting in 2025.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-11-974ddcbcc360373574dec8f2bf7f9ff2.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/2048/cpsprodpb/68f7/live/562c6760-f413-11ed-8949-1194038a033d.png", "label": 0, "text": "A mayor who denied there was \"industrial-scale corruption\" at a multimillion-pound redevelopment has said he would support a full investigation being carried out.Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has faced concerns over the transfer of millions of pounds of assets at Teesworks to private developers.Labour shadow secretary for Levelling Up Lisa Nandy said there were \"serious questions\" that \"remained unanswered\".Mr Houchen said: \"I want this nipped in the bud once and for all\". It followed reports land, potentially worth millions of pounds, at the former steel works site in Redcar were handed to private investors for \u00a3100.Middlesbrough Labour MP Andy McDonald had accused developers of financially benefitting from land that had seen millions of pounds of taxpayer investment.Tees Valley mayor denies Labour MP's Teesworks corruption claimsMs Nandy said the Labour Party had called on the National Audit Office to investigate. She cited the Financial Times, which she said \"raised questions about the use of public money, the oversight, transparency and accountability of public money\".\"We're calling on the NAO to launch an investigation to ensure those decisions are being taken for the benefit of the people, and not just used to line the pockets of a small handful of people\", she said.Ms Nandy said she believed there had been a breakdown of \"local scrutiny arrangements\". Mr Houchen maintained claims of wrongdoing were \"untrue\" and the site was being \"smeared.\"He said : \"What they [Labour] are trying to do is pull down work that, not just me, but my officials and the team have done to deliver those jobs.\"I am quite happy to put all that to bed and allow the Labour Party to have an investigation\".Mr Houchen later submitted a letter to the NAO, which does not currently have the remit to review decisions made at the site, asking for an exception to allow them to investigate. The government previously said the allegations were false and independent audits of accounts had \"not raised any concerns\".The NAO previously said it had made inquiries into the government funding that was within its remit, and found funding had been used as intended.It said it would be liaising with relevant government departments and that no decision on whether to conduct a more detailed audit had yet been taken. Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/16643/production/_129751719_weighingmachine.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Police officers in the Indian state of Assam are being asked to lose weight in a few months or leave the force. A top state police official said that the body mass index (BMI) of all officers will be \"professionally recorded\" starting mid-August. Officers in the \"obese\" category will then be given time until November to reduce weight or voluntarily retire. People with medical conditions will be exempted, said GP Singh, Assam's director general of police. Mr Singh said in a tweet that he would be the first in the force to get his BMI recorded. A few weeks ago, Assam's chief minister had said that around 300 police personnel in the state would be asked to retire early because they were \"habitual drinkers\" and \"physically unfit\". He said it was part of an exercise to \"cut the deadwood out of the police force\". Heavy drinkers told to leave India police force Studies have found that Indian police officers often work long, irregular hours without proper rest or breaks. In 2018, reserve police officers in Karnataka state were also asked to lose weight or face suspension. A top official had told the BBC at the time that the decision was taken because several officers had died due to \"lifestyle-related diseases\" such as cardiac problems and diabetes in the past 18 months. BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight by the square of their height, and is used by many doctors, health service providers and insurers around the world to decide whether an individual is healthy, overweight or obese. But its is also highly controversial - several experts have argued that using BMI as a measure of health is flawed as it is inaccurate, unscientific and and designed for white, European men. BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features. To kiss or not - the taboo around public affection in IndiaThe officer accused of asking for bribe from Shah Rukh KhanThe remarkable reinvention of cricket icon Dhoni at 41 Dozens held in India after Islamic State film rowThe life of India's gangster-politician killed on live TV", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/642F/production/_128874652_gettyimages-1265235793.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Greggs says sales have gone up nearly a fifth compared to this time in 2022, saying its food remains \"compelling\" to customers in the cost-of-living crisis. The bakery chain, which opened its first shop in Newcastle in 1951, opened 63 new shops this year and extended some opening hours. The company said hot food like chicken goujons, wedges and pizza were popular, adding total sales were up 17% on 2022. But it said inflation and pressures on incomes remained challenging. It said though it was confident its \"outstanding value proposition continues to be compelling\". In the past year Greggs has opened the new shops but closed 25 franchises, leaving it now with more than 2,360 outlets. The rise in 2023 was partly because the beginning of last year was impacted by the Omicron variant of coronavirus, Greggs said. The bakery announced in March plans to open 150 shops and extend opening hours. Greggs' chief executive Roisin Currie said customers were \"loving the versatility\" of hot and cold options. \"It's all about offering that choice, so people can come in more frequently,\" she said. \"They can come in time and time again and try lots of different things, as well as they favourites that they love.\" The company said sales growth was likely to \"normalise\" throughout 2023 if inflation started to ease. But it said it was still expecting cost inflation to reach about 9% to 10% this year, driven by staff pay pressures and higher energy costs. The national average price of its takeaway sausage roll is currently \u00a31.20, up from \u00a31 at the start of 2022. The company is increasingly targeting busy commuter areas, with new shops opening in London's Canary Wharf station and Cardiff and Glasgow airports. Ms Currie added the company had launched another two new Tasty cafes in Primark stores, including Bristol, to attract customers \"on the go\". The group is also currently choosing a location to trial a 24-hour drive thru, she added. Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/A9DC/production/_129748434_markgatiss2.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A host of celebrities have joined an art campaign that supports palliative care nurses. Run by Sobell House Hospice Charity, the My Lovely Postcards project uses art from creatives and well-known figures to raise money in memory of an Oxford woman who died of bowel cancer. Beth's Bursary Fund was set up in memory of Beth Foreman who died aged 32 in 2016. Celebrities involved include Judi Dench and Mel Giedroyc. The project has more than 180 original artworks, including those by well-known figures. They will feature in an exhibition and be available to buy via an online auction. Veronica Brooks, who was a friend of Ms Foreman, said they wanted to \"appropriately honour\" the fashion design graduate's creativity, describing her as \"such a lively, creative young woman\". The money raised will go towards helping to pay for additional skills training for specialist palliative nurses and palliative care staff. Jonas Foreman, Beth's brother, said that the fund will help nurses access vital training courses that they would otherwise have to pay for themselves. He said: \"Whilst being at the hospice, we discovered how tough it is for nurses to access the training they want to do to develop. \"If we can increase the chance of someone else getting access to the kind of care that Beth got, then that is a small win for life in general.\" Mary Walding, Lead Specialist Nurse for Palliative Care, at Sobell House Hospice Charity said there is \"stiff competition\" for funding. The exhibition will take place at St John the Evangelist Arts in Oxford on 20 and 21 May and from 24 to 28 May. Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/07/19/how-intelligent-automation-services-help-organizations-improve-enterprise-intelligence/", "title": "How Intelligent Automation Services Help Organizations Improve Enterprise Intelligence", "text": "Intelligent automation is becoming increasingly important for enterprises seeking to improve their overall intelligence. This requires a variety of technologies and solutions, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and business process modeling. IDC research suggests that investment in AI/ML-based automation is a nascent but highly differentiating part of enterprise intelligence initiatives. However, organizations must overcome challenges such as data quality and management issues, lack of support and maintenance resources, insufficient skills or willingness of employees to use intelligent automation technologies, and unclear use cases or business benefits. Successful engagement with an intelligent automation services provider requires ten key attributes, including expertise in strategy, architecture, process optimization, and change management.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MicrosoftTeams-image-3.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50589823&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC PlanScape: Future IT \u2014 Security Resource Optimization", "text": "IDC PlanScape advises CIOs to exercise caution and adopt security resource optimization practices to avoid negative impact on profitability, reputation, customer relationships, and employee well-being.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-01-608ac20df563813a5836347478294c0b.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=lcUS50689123&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "", "text": "Sorry, there is no text provided for me to summarize. Please provide me with a text to summarize.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/default/default-img11-eb7d4a34d78dd153c6a7465a8218ddc5.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/4BEB/production/_112953491__108802839_624_transparent-nc.png", "label": 0, "text": "Saltivka, in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, has been relentlessly bombarded by the Russians. Among the ruins, a few residents are trying to survive. When Russian shells began raining down on Saltivka in February, life in the neighbourhood's numbered apartment blocks became a lottery - one block hit, the next spared. Inside each building, the residents of each apartment survived by their own luck - one apartment turned to ash, the next untouched. As the bombardment of Kharkiv went on - March, April, May, June - fewer and fewer buildings in Saltivka were spared. Now the neighbourhood is a ghost town. Everywhere you look, deathly black burn marks rise up from the windows where shells hit. There are multi-storey gashes in the sides of the buildings. There are neat circular holes in the roofs where shells punched through but didn't detonate. There are personal possessions strewn over the pathways between the buildings - ejected from the flats above with terrible force. And the shells are still falling. When they land they shake the ground and send a boom bouncing off the buildings and echoing across the empty green spaces and playgrounds. The different shells and rockets have distinctive sounds and leave distinctive pieces of shrapnel that locals have become adept at recognising. They include remnants of widely banned cluster munitions and unguided rockets. None of the weapons are precisely targeted, so nowhere in the neighbourhood is safe. When there is no shelling, Saltivka falls silent. \"Saltivka is like Chernobyl now,\" said Serhiy Khrystych, 44, as he washed his face with water from a plastic bottle, in building 80. \"Of course there was the radiation in Chernobyl, but it was not destroyed. We do not have the radiation but everything here is destroyed,\" he said. \"It is impossible to live.\" Yet there are people living here, eking out an existence in buildings with no gas or water, in some places just one or two residents in a block of 60 or more flats. The electricity has been switched back on in some buildings in the past week, and a few people have returned from the metro stations or other shelters. But it is still a tiny fraction of Saltivka's pre-war population. At its height, the neighbourhood - a Soviet era development for the city's industrial workers and their families - was home to somewhere between 500,000 and 800,000 people. It was full of family life. \"It was a beautiful area, there was a beautiful park and there was light in the park, and benches and a fountain,\" said Tamara Koneva, a 70-year-old pensioner living on the ground floor of a half-destroyed building. \"Now there is nothing left,\" she said. Tamara's husband died in March, a month after the invasion. \"Because of the stress,\" she said. So she is mostly alone in their apartment, and nearly alone in the building. \"I miss him,\" she said. \"I don't even have the desire to go outside.\" There is one other person in Tamara's part of the building - a 53-year-old car mechanic called Valeriy Ivanovych, who has lived here for 20 years. His flat has been spared, so far, save for small pieces of shrapnel that broke his windows and punctured his washing machine, kitchen cupboard and bedroom wall like bullets. \"Barely anybody lives in this building anymore, there is only one couple, a man, a woman and me,\" Valeriy said. \"People sometimes come to collect belongings but they don't stay.\" The flats on Tamara and Valeriy's side of the stairwell were relatively undamaged, but a shell hit the other side directly and the apartment opposite Valeriy's was only ash, collapsed concrete and charred possessions. \"Maybe the building will have to be destroyed, because the second part of it is destroyed and the third part is very much destroyed,\" Valeriy said. He has no work now and nowhere else to go. He shrugged. \"This is my home, I have lived here all my life,\" he said, staring out his kitchen window over the trees. \"It will be a great sadness if all these houses are destroyed because I am very used to this place.\" With no utilities available in their apartments, some of the residents still living in Saltivka have created makeshift outdoor kitchens where they cook food and sit together for company. Once a day, volunteers from the food charity World Central Kitchen make their way around the neighbourhood and hand out meals in styrofoam boxes. \"Saltivka is a desert now,\" said Leon Petrosyan, a 50-year-old engineer who was carefully navigating a beaten-up black Volga around shell craters and debris, in order to hand out the food. \"The people who are left here have nowhere else to go,\" he said. \"They are trapped.\" Leon stopped for a break and lit a cigarette. The food deliveries are a lifeline for the few residents in Saltivka. There are no shops open here now and for many it is the only meal they eat each day. Serhiy Zhuravliov, a 51-year-old, lifelong Saltivka resident who was helping deliver the food, said he had stayed in the neighbourhood throughout the invasion and the worst of fighting nearby, when Ukrainian troops were stationed in the residential buildings and the frontline was on the doorstep. \"At first we felt fear. Later, we got used to the sound of the shelling,\" he said. \"Now we can't go to sleep without it.\" Looming over Leon and Serhiy as they smoked was a 16-storey tower gouged and burned by direct hits. Up on the 16th floor, Larisa Enina looked out carefully from her hallway on to the high open air, through a gap where part of the wall used to be. There were about 15 people left in the 143-apartment building, Larisa said. The apartment she shares with her husband and daughter was relatively undamaged, save for shrapnel holes in the windows. \"The apartment near ours burned down completely and ours remained intact,\" she said. \"It is a miracle.\" But Larisa was worried about something else. There were big cracks in the walls on the 11th floor, she said, and she thought the building could collapse. \"It is a risk even to stand on the balcony now,\" she said. It's also a risk to stand below. The shell hits dislodge slabs of concrete the size of cars from the top floors that slam into the pavements below with terrifying force. If you look up from the ground, you can see slabs that have been loosened but not fallen, and they sit precariously above the remaining residents. Directly outside the entrance to one building, a massive slab had gone through four feet of pavement and earth and smashed a thick water pipe below. Roman Grynchenko, a 48-year-old car mechanic who has lived in Saltivka for 20 years, was stepping around the water-filled crater as he went in and out of the building. Roman eats one free meal a day now and, like most people here, gets by on government assistance - \u00a355 per month for him, \u00a355 for his wife, and \u00a383 for their daughter. \"I've been living here for 20 years,\" Roman said. \"Saltivka was a peaceful district ...\" A deafening crack cut him off - the first of three shells landing nearby. \"Now there is a war,\" he said. \"You hear explosions.\" The Russians attempted to seize Kharkiv in the early days of the invasion and Saltivka bore the brunt of the assault. The invaders were eventually pushed back, and the frontline now sits about 12 miles from the city centre. But Saltivka remains well within Russian artillery range, a reality made impossible to ignore by the daily shelling. At the edge of the neighbourhood, there are still trenches where the Ukrainians dug in for the defence of the city, and chewed curbstones where their tanks mounted the pavements. They used the residential buildings for rest and for sniper positions, residents said - turning the neighbourhood into a target. Few residents seemed to begrudge their presence. The soldiers went from building to building at the beginning asking those with children to evacuate, said Claudia Chubata, a 65-year-old resident of 33 years. \"They are our soldiers,\" she said. \"They needed to do something here for the war and they needed somewhere to rest.\" But Kharkiv is just 20 miles from the Russian border, a traditionally Russian-leaning, Russian-speaking city, and there are pockets of sympathy towards the invaders. \"Where there is no Ukrainian military, the Russians do not shoot,\" said Boris Rustenko, a 63-year-old glass miller, born in the Soviet Union, whose building was badly damaged and burned. \"If Russia had not attacked Ukraine, Ukraine would have attacked Russia, Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk,\" Boris said. \"It is very simple, Russia is just ahead.\" Boris, like many residents of Saltivka, has relatives in Russia. In cities like Kharkiv, the Russian-backed violence that began in 2014 and the recent invasion have created smaller conflicts among family and friends. \"This is Russia, we were brothers,\" said Oleksiy, a 69-year-old builder, who didn't want to give his last name. \"We don't understand why they invaded. We have relatives there, and now what?\" Russia alone was not to blame, Oleksiy thought. The West should \"stop giving Ukraine weapons\", he said, because it was only prolonging the war. As Oleksiy was talking, another resident standing next to him started to cry. \"We were so happy to have flats here,\" said Halyna, a 62-year-old pensioner. Her windows, directly above where she stood, were smashed. \"We were told to replace them ourselves,\" she said. The repairs would cost five times her monthly pension. Less than 10 miles away from where Halyna stood was the frontline. There are fears that Russian troops might return to Kharkiv. Vadym Denysenko, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister, said on Sunday that Russia was once again \"trying to make Kharkiv a frontline city\". Outside Halyna's building, a few neighbours from buildings nearby were coming up to collect their daily free meal from a bench. It was late afternoon. Halyna looked on, a tear still under her eye. \"How many have been killed now?\" she said, shaking her head. \"And just boys, 18 years old. They had only just begun to live.\" Rita Burkovska contributed to this report.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/E7D1/production/_129754395_darfur.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Accountant Mohamed Osman has been forced to pick up an AK-47 rifle for the first time in his life to defend his neighbourhood as the conflict in Sudan escalates, inflaming racial tensions between Arabs and other groups in the country's volatile Darfur region. Mr Osman lives in El Geneina, historically a symbol of black African power in Darfur, that has been shelled, burnt and looted by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab militiamen. Their notoriety has earned them the nickname Janjaweed, an Arabic word for \"devils on horseback\" . \"I've never seen such a thing in more than 20 years of war in Darfur. It's awful,\" Mr Osman, 38, said. We have changed his name for his own safety. \"Whenever there is an attack by the Janjaweed here in El Geneina, their fellow tribesmen come with their arms from across the border in Chad on motorbikes and on horsebacks to assist them,\" he told the BBC from his home in the northern Ardamata neighbourhood. Mr Osman's office, in the city centre, is a burnt-out wreck. \"I can't go there, let alone work,\" he noted, in a matter of fact way. Another resident, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the city had been taken over by the RSF and Janjaweed, with snipers positioned in buildings and gunmen on streets. \"They're just shooting every place. If you go outside you'll be killed. You can't move, even 200 or 300 metres,\" Mr Ibrahim told the BBC. His name has also been changed. Medics reported that at least 280 people have been killed and 160 have been wounded in El Geneina in the last few days alone. The latest violence is seen by analysts as a clear breach of the 11 May Saudi-brokered agreement between the RSF and the Sudanese army to alleviate the suffering of civilians, while talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire continue in Jeddah. Mr Osman said that as the fighting advanced closer to Ardamata in recent days, he and many other men in his neighbourhood got AK-47 rifles and began carrying out 24-hour patrols in shifts. This was something he never imagined doing, as his life used to revolve around keeping track of the finances of his clients. \"We have no choice but to arm ourselves and defend our city,\" Mr Osman said, pointing out that he could not risk exposing his family - including his mother, sisters, nieces and nephews - to the much-feared paramilitaries and militiamen. Asked how he acquired his Soviet-made Kalashnikov rifle, he replied wryly: \"The cheapest thing you can buy here is a weapon.\" In contrast, food has become scarce and prices have rocketed as the RSF and Janjaweed set markets ablaze. \"They even burnt the food and flour that was stored in the markets, as if they want the survivors of bullets to die of hunger,\" said Ishaq Hussein, a former worker at a non-governmental organization in El Geneina. The BBC has been unsuccessful in attempts to reach the RSF for comment. With a population that was put at around 170,000 in the last census in 2010, El Geneina is the traditional capital of the Massalit kingdom, making it a target for the Janjaweed. They have long been accused of ethnic cleansing against non-Arab groups in Darfur. \"The Janjaweed are killing all the African people starting with the Massalit,\" Mr Ibrahim said. Conflict first erupted in Darfur in 2003 when mostly non-Arabs took up arms against the government, complaining about discrimination and a lack of development. The government retaliated by mobilising the Janjaweed, and later welding them into an estimated 80,000 to 100,000-strong paramilitary force that has now turned on Sudan's military ruler Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the army he commands. The RSF launched an assault on the capital Khartoum on 15 April, with the military retaliating with daily air strikes in a bid to regain control of the city. But in El Geneina, there is no attempt to fight back against the RSF and the Janjaweed. \"There's a zero presence of the army or any other government body to protect the civilians,\" Mr Ali said. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) estimates that about 100,000 people have fled their homes in the city, and remain \"at the mercy of the relentless violence, with settlements once again being reduced to ashes\". \"We are still unable to deliver emergency aid,\" NRC added in a statement. Mr Ibrahim said that water supplies had also been cut. \"Water is a big problem for everyone, even for the donkey,\" he said. He made a desperate plea for international help, saying the city has been under attack for 23 consecutive days. \"A lot of injured people don't have any type of treatment, more than hundreds and hundreds and hundreds,\" Mr Ibrahim said. He added that he was alone at home, having sent his wife and family to safety. \"I have kids and it's difficult for them to be hearing these guns every day. That's why I sent them out,\" he said, pointing out that families tend to leave in guided groups before sunrise, when the risk of being confronted by the RSF and Janjaweed is less. Mr Osman said that if the security crisis deepens, he too will flee to Chad to live in make-shift camps. \"If this does not stop by the mercy of Allah, I will take my family and run to Chad to stay in a shelter built with our clothes rather than being killed here,\" he said. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50601523&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Video Surveillance Camera Market Shares, 2022: Increasing Competition and a Focus on Business", "text": "IDC's study on the 2022 worldwide video surveillance camera market shares shows that market growth is driven by business analysis applications rather than safety and security. The market has major competitors and smaller ones, with Chinese vendors occupying less of the overall market.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-01-ffe1ae240bc93aec07c31feeebcd55bc.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/8C01/production/_129514853_gettyimages-1252193778.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Hundreds of British nationals have been evacuated from the fighting in Sudan. But when she was asked whether the UK was going to \"start looking at safe routes for refugees from Sudan [who are not British nationals]\", Home Secretary Suella Braverman replied: \"We have no plans to do that.\" The prime minister confirmed the government's current priority was getting British nationals out. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick was later asked in Parliament what \"safe and legal\" routes to the UK would be available to a young person wanting to flee the conflict in Sudan. He said: \"The United Nations is operating in most, if not all, of the countries surrounding Sudan,\" adding that \"the best advice clearly would be for individuals to present to the UNHCR. We already operate safe and legal routes with them.\" The UNHCR is the UN's refugee agency. But the SNP's Alison Thewliss pointed out that the UNHCR had earlier issued a statement saying: \"There is no mechanism through which refugees can approach UNHCR with the intention of seeking asylum in the UK.\" Mr Jenrick rejected her comments: \"Whatever the honourable lady may be quoting from her iPhone, I would prefer to take at face value what I have heard in discussion with the assistant commissioner [of the UNHCR].\" Mr Jenrick and Ms Thewliss were both referring to the UNHCR's resettlement scheme. Under this, the UNHCR identifies refugees who are considered to be \"particularly at risk\" in the countries to which they have initially fled. These are people who cannot integrate in the country where they have initially sought refuge but also cannot return home. These \"refugees at heightened risk\" are then resettled in partner countries such as the UK, but it is UNHCR officials who recommend where they should go. That route is only available to about 1% of refugees worldwide. \"Although a critical and lifesaving mechanism, resettlement is not a solution for most refugees, and does not replace the right to seek asylum itself,\" the UNHCR said. Seeking asylum generally involves going to a country and claiming asylum once you are there. Resettlement involves moving people from the first country where they sought refuge to another country that is more suitable. Refugees generally have to be registered with the UNHCR to be considered for resettlement. But the UNHCR told the BBC that the UK is only currently accepting Afghan nationals for resettlement. This means that registering with the UNHCR would not provide a route for anyone else to come to the UK. So Mr Jenrick's suggestion that people in Sudan wanting to escape to the UK should \"present to the UNHCR\" was not correct. What are the legal routes to the UK?Migration bill passes as Tory rebellion defused We asked the Home Office about the UNHCR statement and the government's current position on safe and legal routes from Sudan. We were pointed towards the comment from Ms Braverman quoted above, and told there was no further comment at this point. According to UK statistics, last year 218 people from Sudan came to the UK under the UNHCR resettlement scheme, but almost all of those came from pre-pandemic applications. What claims do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50604523&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Unified Communications and Collaboration Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC study shows customer spend estimates on UC&C technologies, which benefits employee and customer experience, delivers cost-effectiveness and agility in business activities, and enables flexible work. Future-proofed solutions that support interoperability with major UC collaboration environments and future AI innovations will be the most successful.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_431/software-02-4d398403b63211f15e521e1d01f6362a.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=lcUS50678923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "", "text": "", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/default/default-img7-0a1ede9df656235923e42f897ba21623.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/6ADA/production/_123245372_abuse.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A man who witnessed his mother being abused by his father as a young child has welcomed a new initiative to support child victims of domestic violence. Paul - not his real name - is now 28 years old, and some of his earliest memories include hearing arguments between his parents. When he was six he witnessed his father hit his mother for the first time. Paul said he struggled at school trying to deal with what he had experienced. A scheme to support young children who witness domestic violence at home will now be extended to schools across Northern Ireland. Operation Encompass enables police to tell school staff if a pupil has been affected by domestic abuse. The partnership between the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Education Authority (EA), the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland and schools was launched in 60 County Down schools in 2021. It was later extended to cover 400 other schools in County Down, County Armagh and County Tyrone. It has been in operation in police forces in England and Wales for a number of years. Police said that since the start of the 2021 school year, officers attended 2,121 domestic incidents with 3,774 children affected. A total of 3,160 referrals have been made by officers to the designated teacher at the relevant school as a result. From Wednesday, the scheme will be rolled out in all of Northern Ireland's 1,162 schools. If an officer attends a domestic violence call out where children are present, they will contact the child's school before 09:00 the following morning to share this information with the school's safeguarding team. This is to ensure the correct support can be put in place. Paul said the scheme would have helped him when he was younger. \"To know as a child that a teacher was aware of it - if I am having a real issue then I could go and speak to them - that would have been great,\" he told BBC News NI. \"Whereas back then it was just me, no-one else knew, I hardly told any of my friends.\" Despite attempts from his mother to shield him from the violence, Paul remembers the fighting between his parents from a young age. \"I've loads of memories of loads of yelling. \"I remember one time coming into the kitchen and seeing him throw a cereal bowl at her and her trying to make a joke out of and [that] it was just an accident. \"Parents convince themselves that the kids don't know, but we do, but I didn't comment on it or anything like that. \"I would find a spot somewhere and just sit...frozen, having to listen to it - and then there was always the disconnect when my mum would have tried to make light of it or I'd be pretending I didn't hear it.\" Det Supt Lindsay Fisher said police responded to about 90 domestic abuse calls each day and children were often present. \"Operation Encompass really recognises children as unseen victims of domestic abuse,\" she said \"We know the impact of the trauma that children experience from seeing, overhearing or coming back into a house where there has been a domestic abuse incident. \"The scheme allows us to share information with schools in quick time so that we can best protect and support children through times that are incredibly difficult for them.\" She said the support and understanding that teachers could provide should never be underestimated.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/134BB/production/_129753097_gettyimages-1233742899usethis.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A Chinese comedy troupe has been slapped with a 14.7m yuan ($2.1m; \u00a31.7m) penalty over a joke about the military that invoked a slogan from President Xi Jinping. The quip, which likened the behaviour of a comedian's dogs to military conduct, irked authorities. They said Shanghai Xiaoguo Culture Media Co and comic Li Haoshi had \"humiliated the people's army\". The company accepted the penalty and terminated Mr Li's contract. The offending remark was made during a stand-up performance in Beijing on Saturday, when Mr Li alluded to two canines he had adopted which were chasing a squirrel. \"Other dogs you see would make you think they are adorable. These two dogs only reminded me of... 'Fight to win, forge exemplary conduct',\" said Mr Li, whose stage name is House. The punchline is part of the slogan that President Xi unveiled in 2013 as a goal for the Chinese military. In an audio recording of the performance shared on China's Twitter-like platform Weibo, audience members can be heard laughing at the joke. But it was much less welcome on the internet, after a member of the audience complained about it. Beijing authorities said they launched an investigation on Tuesday. They then confiscated 1.32m yuan of what was deemed to be illegal income, and fined the company another 13.35m yuan, according to Xinhua. Shanghai Xiaoguo's activities in the Chinese capital have also been indefinitely suspended. \"We will never allow any company or individual use the Chinese capital as a stage to wantonly slander the glorious image of the PLA [People's Liberation Army],\" said the Beijing arm of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism Bureau. The audio went viral, with some nationalists saying they were deeply offended and state media also piling on. But others questioned if the reactions were over the top. \"I am patriotic and really don't like others to humiliate our country... But I really don't like this atmosphere where every word about politics is sensitive,\" reads a post liked 1,200 times. Mr Li apologised to his more than 136,000 Weibo followers. \"I feel deeply shamed and regretful. I will take responsibility, stop all activities, deeply reflect, learn again.\" His Weibo account has since been suspended. The incident sheds light on the challenging climate for Chinese comedians, who have been targeted by authorities and netizens alike. In late 2020, stand-up comedian Yang Li was accused of \"sexism\" and \"man hating\" after making jokes about men. A group claiming to defend men's rights also called on netizens to report her to China's media regulator. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/04/21/five-cost-management-tips-for-it-leaders/", "title": "Five Cost Management Tips for IT Leaders", "text": "IT leaders must prioritize cost-saving measures to maximize efficiency and enable investment in innovative technology solutions. This can be achieved through a Cloud Center of Excellence, implementing FinOps, benchmarking IT costs, conducting staffing assessments, and addressing technical debt. By doing so, IT leaders can identify cost-saving opportunities and become business enablers and innovation drivers instead of just cost centers.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IDCMetri_ITSCM_CostManagementTip_April212023_HeaderImage-scaled.jpeg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/13/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-sustainable-organization-in-an-esg-regulated-asia/", "title": "What Does It Mean to be a Sustainable Organization in an ESG-regulated Asia?", "text": "IDC research suggests that stricter regulations and more supportive policies for Environmental, Social, Governance commitments are emerging in the Asia Pacific region. Countries are categorized as Pacesetters, Emerging Leaders, or Watchers based on their sustainability maturity level. Sustainability/ESG reports will become a regular part of business operations, with specific disclosure of information, standard metrics, and third-party audits. Organizations must establish commitments towards environmental and social development goals and report on progress made annually. Greater incentives to comply with public sector sustainability standards will lead to the adoption of green procurement and greater demand for green suppliers. Organizations will need to invest in upskilling existing personnel to take up wider roles related to sustainability.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AP-Sustainability-Regulations-1st-Blogpost-Header.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/17C8D/production/_129712479_gettyimages-1469401572.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Elon Musk has named a new chief executive of Twitter, just over six months after his controversial takeover of the social media company. The billionaire said Linda Yaccarino, the former head of advertising at NBCUniversal, would oversee business operations at the site, which has been struggling to make money. He said she would start in six weeks. Mr Musk will remain involved as executive chairman and chief technology officer. \"Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app,\" he wrote on Twitter, confirming the decision a day after he had stoked speculation by writing that he had found a new boss without revealing their identity. Mr Musk - who bought the social media platform last year for $44bn - had been under pressure to find someone else to lead the company and refocus his attention on his other businesses, which include electric carmaker Tesla and rocket firm SpaceX. With fewer than 10% of Fortune 500 tech companies headed by women, Ms Yaccarino will become that rare example of a woman at the top of a major tech firm, after rising steadily through the ranks of some of America's biggest media companies. Ms Yaccarino was raised in an Italian-American family. After graduating from Penn State, she worked at Turner Entertainment for 15 years before joining NBCUniversal, where she oversaw roughly 2,000 people, and was involved with the launch of its streaming service. Her work has been marked by close collaborations with big brands, finding opportunities for product placement and convincing them to advertise alongside television shows - even ones with a reputation for edgy content, such as Sex and the City when it first launched. She has also built relationships in new media with the likes of Apple News, Snapchat and YouTube. A 2005 profile in an industry publication portrayed her as a busy, married mother-of-two children, then aged 13 and 9. \"I have absolutely no hobbies,\" she said at the time. Business Insider's Claire Atkinson has followed Ms Yaccarino's career for two decades and said her background in advertising could help Twitter, which has seen its ad sales drop sharply since Mr Musk's takeover. \"If Twitter are looking to monetise better than they have been, then that would be the place to start and Linda would be the ideal person to make that happen,\" the chief media correspondent said. \"She's the kind of person that I can imagine Elon Musk needs,\" Ms Atkinson added. \"She won't be rolled over.\" Indeed, her negotiating style within the industry earned her the nickname the \"velvet hammer\", according to the Wall Street Journal in 2012. Ms Yaccarino will face the challenge of running a business that has struggled to be profitable, while facing intense scrutiny over how Twitter handles the spread of misinformation and manages hate speech. When Mr Musk first started discussing his plans for Twitter last year, he said he wanted to reduce the platform's reliance on advertising and make changes to the way it moderated content. He also said he wanted to expand the site's functions to include payments, encrypted messaging and phone calls, turning it into something he called X. But Mr Musk courted controversy when he fired thousands of staff upon his takeover, including people who had been tasked with dealing with abusive posts. He also overhauled the way the service authenticates accounts, charging for blue ticks in a move critics said would facilitate the spread of misinformation. Some of the changes raised concerns among advertisers, worried about risks to their brands, who subsequently halted spending on the site. Mr Musk has acknowledged \"massive\" declines in revenue, though he told the BBC last month that companies were returning. At an advertising conference last month Ms Yaccarino interviewed Mr Musk and pressed him on what he was doing to reassure firms that their brands would not be exposed to risk. \"The people in this room are your accelerated path to profitability,\" she said. \"But there's a decent bit of sceptics in the room.\" There has also been some instant scepticism at Ms Yaccarino's appointment on social media, where many were looking for clues to her politics, which reportedly lean conservative. Her work for the World Economic Forum, an organisation viewed negatively as \"globalist\" by those on the right, has not been well-received in some quarters along with her role in a coronavirus vaccination campaign featuring Pope Francis. Others on the left have questioned her political involvement in a White House sports, fitness and nutrition council under former President Donald Trump. Mr Musk, who has also put women in senior positions at SpaceX and Tesla, is known to be a notoriously unpredictable and demanding boss. Even the announcement unfolded in an unusual manner, after media reports sparked by Mr Musk's post that identified Ms Yaccarino appeared to catch her bosses at NBCUniversal off guard. As of mid-Friday in the US, Ms Yaccarino had still not commented publicly on the move. Industry watchers will be curious to see how the relationship develops between the New Yorker and the until now hands-on Mr Musk. Ms Atkinson said the two Twitter executives would be facing \"difficult conversations\" about how to handle moderation, especially with the 2024 presidential election approaching in the US. \"How long Linda can last under these tricky management situations is anyone's guess,\" Ms Atkinson said. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/4A78/production/_129746091_2fqkfl0i.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "An art show raising awareness of men's mental health has opened. Life by Numbers includes work from six artists and will be spread across the walls of the Arnolfini Caf\u00e9 in Bristol throughout May. Street artist Stewy said the exhibition was about the importance of talking and \"not hiding away\" from mental health issues. Prints and merchandise of the pieces will be on sale, with proceeds going to Bristol charity Talk Club. The charity - which was launched in Bristol in April 2019 and now has more than 70 groups worldwide - encourages men to speak openly about their feelings. Stewy said he wanted to raise awareness of men's mental health after witnessing his father \"go in and out of mental health institutions\" as a child. \"It manifested itself more as depression as we know it now. Very quiet, very thoughtful, it wasn't happy but I didn't know anything else,\" he said. The 50-year-old told BBC Radio Bristol he hoped his work would show children who may be witnessing their parents struggling that it is \"not their fault.\" \"There's nothing to be ashamed of,\" he said. Stewy believes street art has helped his mental health and his work includes paintings of Bristol-based punk band Idles and local legend DJ Derek. Artists Big Jeff, Tozer, Farrah, Sickboy and #DTFE are also taking part in the exhibition. Alongside their pieces, biographies of the artists involved will also be at the exhibition, including information about how they have been affected by mental health. Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/2048/cpsprodpb/b961/live/b5ab5790-f3ec-11ed-adb8-e344a187a16f.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A new play will transform a community centre in an area synonymous with 1990s rave culture into a nightclub and take audiences on a night out.Club Revolution tells the story of two young people growing up in Luton from 1997 to the present day. It will be staged by Revolution Arts, external at Marsh House Community Centre in Marsh Farm from Thursday to Saturday.\"The audience are going to be at the centre of the action,\" assistant director Tiarnan Doherty said. The venue has been chosen because it is the area of town that served as a base for the Exodus Collective - a community movement and sound system formed in 1992 that organised parties and raves.It was the subject of a BBC Radio 1 documentary, external.However, the comedy drama centres around the lives of two young people, Lu and Tone, who went through school and university in an era after the explosion of rave culture in the late 1980s and early 90s.\"They both have these big dreams and it's about exploring the idea that people who come from Luton or towns like Luton are often told the narrative that they maybe can't achieve those dreams,\" said Doherty. \"I think it's really going to resonate with young people.\"The play was written by James McDermott who spoke to young people from Luton during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns, including Doherty.\"James learnt about what our experiences were like growing up in Luton and then, from our responses, he would then take bits and pieces of those and he crafted them all into this story,\" said the assistant director.\"The story is very literally taken from the direct experiences of people like me.\" Marsh House Community Centre will be transformed into \"Club Revolution\" for the play.Mr Dohety said: \"The idea is that we take the audience on a club night out.\"The audience will come in and they'll be on the dance floor with the characters dancing with them, interacting with them and they will follow us on this journey.\"That's what's unique about it because people can come and see the show and they'll get a totally unique experience compared to maybe a different audience member.\" Find BBC News: East of England on\u00a0Facebook, external,\u00a0Instagram, external\u00a0and\u00a0Twitter, external. If you have a story for us, email\u00a0eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/496A/production/_129749781_florencecourtgreenhouse.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A kitchen garden which once produced food for the Earls of Enniskillen is now providing food for the soul. The garden at Florence Court in County Fermanagh has been restored to its former 1930s glory with the help of a team of volunteers. Two glasshouses which were demolished in the 1970s have been reinstated by the National Trust. They will be used to grow soft fruits and provide a space to nurture an interest in horticulture and heritage. The walled garden was created during the late 18th century and was once the heart of the Florence Court estate, the home of the Earls of Enniskillen. It was at its most productive from the late 1890s up to the Second World War, with 12 full-time gardeners cultivating fruit, vegetables and flowers. However, it fell in to decline following the departure of the last head gardener in 1947. After the estate was gifted to the National Trust in 1995, parts of the two-acre garden were restored, including the rose garden and apple orchard. The senior gardener at Florence Court, Ian Marshall, said the kitchen garden project is \"about building a community as much as a garden\". There are just over 30 volunteers who work in the garden for a day or two each week. \"They are a hard-working and dedicated bunch, and without them the garden wouldn't exist,\" said Mr Marshall. \"I think we have the peace, the tranquillity, but also the craic in here.\" One of the volunteers Deirdre McSorley believes working in the garden is \"better than going to the gym\". \"It's a learning exercise, it's also very therapeutic, and you are getting exercise,\" she said. \"I've got a garden at home with very little growing in it, so I'm learning here. \"So when you do something like propagate seeds I know to do it at home,\" she added. Mr Marshall said new volunteers are always welcome. \"It's a great social activity, you're meeting great people, great weather, though not all the time, and also you build up a bit of knowledge. \"That's what I think people are here for, they come to learn new skills but they also come to meet new people and have a bit of fun.\" The two new glasshouses were installed following an award of \u00a3410,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore the garden to its original character and atmosphere. One will be used to grow fruits and plants and the other will be a community hub for hosting lectures, training workshops and skill-sharing.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50554623&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "U.S. Virtual Reality Market Shares, 2022: Meta Claims Nearly 100% Market Share", "text": "IDC reports that the U.S. virtual reality market faced challenges in 2022, resulting in double-digit declines for most companies, including Meta. Continued macroeconomic headwinds may prevent a stronger recovery in 2023.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_433/consumer-05-edc777e23b7a8528c14e45968ed6a397.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49435422&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Discrete Manufacturing Execution Systems 2023 Vendor Assessment", "text": "IDC MarketScape examines software providers in MES for discrete manufacturing. The focus is on creating experience ecosystems that transform the product into a platform for new digital products and services. The importance of the factory remains crucial. Companies must develop necessary production capabilities to compete in the digital economy.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-02-e7c578624801e8c365fc7191df648e06.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/29/5-questions-about-chatgpt-answered/", "title": "5 questions about ChatGPT, answered", "text": "ChatGPT is a language tool that uses unsupervised machine learning to generate new text similar to existing data. It can boost productivity, content creation, and conversational interaction. It can automate tasks like scheduling meetings, generating event reminders, and responding to emails and reviews. It's limited to the information it has been trained on but can be used for research and generating ideas. It's a great tool for employee training and was recently updated to prevent hallucinations.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ChatGPT-header.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50567923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "U.S. Smart Earwear Market Shares, 2022: Apple Maintains Leadership", "text": "The U.S. smart earwear market in 2022 has shifted from new users to replacement opportunities, which brands should be mindful of due to cost concerns amidst the challenging macroeconomic environment. This is according to a study by IDC.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_433/consumer-04-a39e7de65d971261081e894c209d73d7.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/16707/production/_128211919_gettyimages-157230551.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "To help tackle climate change, the UK has pledged to reach \"net zero\" - where no further planet-warming greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere - by 2050. To achieve this, much less energy needs to be generated by fossil fuels and much more needs to come from renewable sources and low-carbon technologies. Experts say increasing the use of renewables would also improve the UK's energy security. Energy is used for various purposes, including heating and powering homes, businesses, transport and industry. In 2022, the majority of the energy (79.1%) used within the UK came from fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas). This is down from 87.2% in 2012, mainly due to the declining use of the dirtiest fossil fuel, coal. Around one-fifth (20.1%) of UK energy use was from \"low-carbon\" sources in 2022 - up from 12% in 2012. \"Low-carbon\" includes renewables (wind, solar, hydropower and bioenergy) and nuclear. Nuclear is not considered renewable, but is classed as low-carbon because power stations do not directly release greenhouse gases during their operation. The output from nuclear energy has actually fallen by around a third in the past decade due to ageing reactors. Electricity generation accounted for around a third of the UK's total energy use in 2022. Of the electricity generated in the UK in 2022: 40.8% came from fossil fuels56% from low-carbon sources - including 41.4% from renewables and 14.6% from nuclear By comparison, of electricity generated in 2012: 67.6% came from fossil fuels30.7% came from low-carbon sources, including 11.3% from renewables and 19.3% from nuclear. In particular, power generation from coal has fallen sharply, although natural gas usage remains high. The use of both wind and solar power has increased rapidly. In the first three months of 2023, for instance, for the first time wind generated more electricity than gas. To meet the UK's legally-binding target to be \"net zero\" across the economy by 2050, the government has said that all electricity should be generated from \"clean\" sources by 2035. Remaining non-electric energy use will have to be net zero by 2050. Since electricity can be generated by low-carbon sources rather than fossil fuels, demand for it is expected to grow by 40-60% by 2035. Ensuring electricity is generated as cleanly as possible will therefore be increasingly important to meet the overall net zero goal. The government has announced various ambitious targets to decarbonise energy and electricity. These include increasing the capacity of offshore wind, nuclear, carbon capture and hydrogen, all of which are low-carbon technologies. It is also encouraging people to use electric heat pumps instead of gas boilers, and will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. Green energy projects worth billions stuck on hold Recent reports by the government's independent climate advisers the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the National Audit Office and a cross-party group of MPs have all warned that the UK risks missing its 2035 \"clean\" electricity target without increased effort from Whitehall. Key recommendations include: reducing natural gas usage more quicklyimproving homes' energy efficiencychanging planning laws to speed up renewable projectsreforming the electricity grid to pass on the cheaper running costs of renewables to consumers Is the UK on track to meet its climate targets? In 2022, the UK imported about 37% of its energy. That represents a drop from nearly 50% in the early 2010s, but the figure is still higher than in the late 1990s, when the UK was a net exporter - meaning it sent more energy abroad than it imported. The UK imports proportionally less of its electricity - typically about 5%. In 2022 it was a net electricity exporter for the first time in 44 years, but this was largely because of French nuclear plant maintenance. The importance of energy security was highlighted when Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted the gas market. The reduction in Russian supplies increased demand for other countries' gas resources, causing global prices to soar, and pushing up consumer bills. Former Prime Minister Liz Truss opened applications for new North Sea oil and gas exploration licences, which the government said would boost the UK's energy security. Rishi Sunak has not confirmed whether he backs his predecessor's plan. The International Energy Agency and other bodies warn that any new oil and gas projects would go against existing commitments designed to avoid the most harmful impacts of climate change. The CCC and environmental think tanks Green Alliance and the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit argue that the best way to lower bills for customers and boost energy security would be to cut fossil fuel use. This is not least because North Sea supplies are dwindling, and gas from any newly granted licences would not enter the market until around 2050. By contrast, they say a decarbonised electricity system would be more reliable, secure and cost-effective by protecting the UK from volatility in fossil fuel prices. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/EE06/production/_126643906_deborah6.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Court orders to protect domestic violence victims from their attackers are \"not worth the paper they're written on\", the BBC has been told. Survivors have called for tougher measures, including electronic tagging, saying a lack of enforcement means orders provide little deterrent. BBC analysis of government data showed prosecutions for breaching some orders have fallen by 40% in recent years. Senior police officers have apologised, saying: \"We want to do better\". Victoria, not her real name, was forced to move counties to get away from her violent ex-husband. During their six-year marriage she was isolated from her family and friends and subjected to physical attacks, one of which led to a miscarriage, she said. At one point, she was \"only eating three digestive biscuits a day\" to try to fulfil her husband's idea of what her body shape should be. When she finally left him in 2016, she had three non-molestation orders (NMOs) put in place consecutively. But, she said, the orders were \"absolutely pointless\" with her abuser repeatedly turning up at her house. \"It took a lot of courage to leave him. I had to uproot my life and move. I shouldn't have to do that, I should be protected,\" she said. \"There's been no support from any professionals and police didn't take the orders seriously.\" Victoria said when her ex appeared in court after being arrested for a breach he was told by the judge not to do it again and freed. That set the tone for a string of breaches, which went unpunished, she said. Restraining, non-molestation, and occupation orders are all civil orders designed to protect victims from their abusers. It is a criminal offence to breach the terms of these orders. A domestic violence protection notice (DVPN) is issued by police to provide immediate protection while police officers apply to the magistrates for a domestic violence protection order (DVPO). However, a breach of a DVPN or a DVPO is a civil rather than a criminal offence. When granted by a court, terms can include bans like stopping an offender contacting a person or being within a certain distance of their home or workplace. The Home Office is set introduce a two-year pilot scheme for a civil Domestic Abuse Protection Order in 2023, to replace the DVPN and DVPO in a bid to \"provide longer-term protection for victims\", the government said. Under the scheme, electronic monitoring or tagging could be imposed to monitor a perpetrator in complying with certain terms of the order. Kath, also not her real name, left her husband following nine years of physical and coercive abuse and has had an NMO in place since December, which he breached, she says. \"That non-molestation order isn't worth the paper it's written on,\" she said. \"It don't make any difference whatsoever because it's certainly not made him stay away.\" She also cited a lengthy wait for legal aid funding as one of the obstacles in obtaining the order promptly. Deborah Jones, from Barnsley, who set up support group Resolute to help survivors, said the orders were failing victims because there was \"no deterrent at all for a perpetrator to breach them numerous times, over and over again\". \"They get clever and very aware of the legal system,\" she said. \"They know that there's no real consequences to breaching them. \"Things need to change. There needs to be tougher consequences if an order is breached, perpetrators should be tagged.\" According to data gathered by the BBC, figures from the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and the Ministry of Justice show: About a quarter of DVPOs issued have been breached every financial year between 2018/19 and 2020/21.Convictions for breaching domestic violence-related NMOs have dropped by 7% in the last five years, despite the number granted rising by 48% in the same period.There has been a year-on-year drop in prosecutions, convictions and sentences for breaches of restraining orders between 2017 and 2021. The Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) charity said many survivors felt breaches \"are not acted upon\", which in in turn undermined their confidence in the police and prevented further breaches from being reported. IDAS's Carmel Offord said a 2018 review led by the charity found the way authorities worked left \"significant safeguarding black holes\". The charity has been working alongside North Yorkshire Police on a pilot scheme, which allows officers to record orders centrally on the police national database and access relevant details when breaches occur, says Ms Offord. \"I think it really comes down to everybody working in collaboration with the safeguarding of victims, survivors and their children at the heart,\" she said. \"We can't just assume that a perpetrator isn't high risk because there isn't violence or they haven't done something that we would deem to be risky.\" Emma, not her real name, said she was subjected to \"seven years of absolute cruelty and torment\" by her ex-husband. She had a DVPO and then an NMO put in place from 2017 but, she says, he repeatedly breached them. She said \"nothing was done\" when she reported the breaches to police and he even rented a flat as close as he could get to her home without breaking the terms of the NMO. \"My ex-husband had made threats to kill me,\" the mother-of-two said. \"I was just constantly looking over my shoulder all the time. \"Pulling into a car park, if his van or car was there, I would have to drive away. Just constantly living like that. \"We were just petrified, fearing for our lives. We didn't feel safe whatsoever. We were just waiting for something to happen.\" The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) lead for domestic abuse, Louisa Rolfe, said she was sorry that victims \"have not had a service they should expect and deserve from policing so far\". \"But we are working on this. It is a priority, and we want to get so much better at it,\" she added. Ms Rolfe, an assistant commissioner with the Metropolitan Police, said forces were using DVPOs effectively and a domestic abuse training programme meant officers nationally were being equipped to understand and \"identify high-risk behaviour\". Breaches required a multi-agency approach, including the Crown Prosecution Service, she said. \"We want to support victims. We want to ensure their safety. This is a huge priority for policing, and we are really clear that we expect officers to take positive action.\" If you've been affected by the issues raised in this report, details of organisations offering information and support are available via BBC Action Line. However, the Centre for Women's Justice (CWJ) said they had seen little improvement from UK forces following recommendations it had put forward since lodging a super-complaint in April 2019. The action addressed alleged failings by police in their use of protective measures to safeguard victims and was subsequently upheld by three policing bodies. The charity has asked Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs to approach all police and crime commissioners (PCC) to hold forces to account. Ms Jacobs said she was \"very concerned about poor enforcement of protective orders\". The CWJ is also calling for improved data gathering around breaches. When the BBC submitted freedom of information (FOI) requests to all 46 UK police constabularies, of the 34 who provided data each responded with differing or partial information. The NPCC said the use of different IT systems by police forces meant collating statistics was a \"challenge\" but added that there was a \"move to a more digital justice system\". Nogah Ofer, a solicitor at the CWJ, said there was also a lack of \"measurable outcomes\" and police training on domestic abuse did not include protection orders. \"It's not really apologies that we're looking for,\" she said. \"We're just looking for improvements on the ground and for victims to get a better service.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/04/19/will-political-and-economic-uncertainty-derail-growth-of-consumer-content-creation/", "title": "Will Political and Economic Uncertainty Derail Growth of Consumer Content Creation?", "text": "Political and business developments are putting independent content creators' revenue at risk, with a potential ban on TikTok and Meta discontinuing its Reels Play Bonus Program payouts. However, independent content creation is expected to experience continued user growth worldwide, with the number of people creating content increasing at a CAGR above 12% from 2021 to 2026. While this creates concern for creators, it also creates opportunities for other platforms and app developers pursuing the next big thing. Platforms that offer revenue and exposure opportunities hold a competitive advantage for attracting creators, and IDC's CMM can help identify emerging opportunities in the digital economy.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/FC-Content-Creation-Blog-Banner.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/05/05/generative-ai-mitigating-data-security-and-privacy-risks/", "title": "Generative AI: Mitigating Data Security and Privacy Risks", "text": "Generative AI is becoming increasingly popular, with $2.6 billion invested in start-ups last year. There are various foundation models available to improve different aspects of your business, but it's important to mitigate potential data security and privacy risks. When fine-tuning or prompt augmenting an existing model, ask providers about their support for opt-in/opt-out options, the ability to delete data, who has access to the data, and how it's used. If creating a proprietary model, ensure adherence to corporate policies to mitigate data privacy and security risks.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Generative-AI-Mitigating-Potental-Risk-Blog-Header-1.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50598623&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Enterprise WLAN Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC study analyzes trends in enterprise WLAN market with high growth rates for two years. Wi-Fi remains important technology for enterprises and consumers. WLAN will continue to be important for enterprise wireless connectivity initiatives to meet digital and network transformation goals.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-09-b965375a3dac92a8c240813793d711dd.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49162423&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide and U.S. IT Outsourcing Services Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC forecasts worldwide and U.S. IT outsourcing services spending for 2023-2027, taking into account changing buyer needs, exogenous events, and public cloud providers becoming the locus of IT services. Managed SPs must create a robust governance structure, utilize an intelligent multicloud management platform, build a new operating model, implement an integrated matrix in using public cloud partners, and structure the ecosystem of partners into a cohesive and integrated system to succeed in this disruptive age.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-04-d50750b9356e66f5c3472db1228c564b.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/01/the-future-consumer-is-emerging-right-before-our-very-eyes-are-you-ready/", "title": "The Future Consumer is Emerging Right Before Our Very Eyes \u2013 Are You Ready?", "text": "The pandemic and the habits of Gen Z and Millennials are driving massive changes in the consumer technology marketplace. Businesses must anticipate and understand these changes to find growth opportunities, or risk being left behind. Online shopping, content creation, and tech-enabled income generation are on the rise, with consumers increasingly connecting previously separate areas of their lives. The younger generations' attitudes towards food, travel, and healthcare are also reshaping the marketplace. Companies that understand and meet their needs will cultivate their trust and build relevance, while those that do not risk becoming stagnant or irrelevant.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MicrosoftTeams-image-14.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/DD0D/production/_129598565_cj.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "An autistic and deaf man has been recognised by the Royal Photographic Society for his talents with a camera. CJ Ware, 30, from Paignton took up photography 13 years ago and has now obtained a Licentiate qualification from the society. He had three heart attacks as a teenager and requires a wheelchair much of the time. Mr Ware said: \"I feel I hide behind my camera - it's like a comfort blanket\". \"It's sort of my safety net. \"If I am getting a bit uncomfortable somewhere I will get the camera out, take some photos, and it helps me feel a bit more relaxed and calm.\" To achieve a Licentiate, a photographer must submit 10 photos that reflect their ability, using a variety of techniques. About 13 years ago he teamed up with professional photographer Clive Figes, who mentored him and quickly noticed his talent. \"I learned to treat CJ as a human being, a human being with gifts that I haven't got. \"To treat him like a decent person, to show interest in him\", Mr Figes said. Mr Ware explained his photographic style: \"I like to do weird imagery. I spot things that people often overlook.\" Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/10/24/navigating-through-the-storms-of-disruption/", "title": "Navigating Through the Storms of Disruption", "text": "IDC categorizes the current economic environment as a storm of disruption, with high inflation, a tumbling stock market, and a potential global recession. Tech buyers are anticipating a recession and may adjust their spending accordingly. IDC expects IT spending to grow 4% in 2023, compared to the current forecast of 6.3%, with buyers being selective about where they cut. The previous recession playbook may not be as effective as technology becomes more service-oriented and digital business models become more prevalent.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Cityscape-header.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/10/12/the-problem-potential-and-promise-of-a-data-revolution-in-agriculture/", "title": "The Problem, Potential and Promise of a Data Revolution in Agriculture", "text": "Agriculture has always had a data problem, but the invention of writing and accounting provided a solution to this issue. Today, Agriculture 4.0 has increased the amount of data being harvested from fields, with farmers generating 500,000 data points every day. However, not all of this data is valuable and much of it goes unused or is simply wasted. The process of analyzing this information is too cumbersome for the average farm, meaning most data is either not collected or goes unused sitting in data silos losing value. The value of the information gathered on farm can be increased by associating it with the physical product itself, allowing farmers to distinguish their product and target premium markets. Increasing data collection and sharing will benefit every stage of the supply chain, increase efficiency, lower costs, and reduce waste. The carbon offset market may be a tipping point for data in agriculture as it decouples farm data from crops and gives it intrinsic value. As more primary producers realize the economic benefits of collecting and sharing data those industry partners that understand the potential of data will be the next winners in the agriculture 4.0 revolution.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Header-image_FA.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/4BEB/production/_112953491__108802839_624_transparent-nc.png", "label": 0, "text": "", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/8F9C/production/_129646763_chrismorrisbutterfliesresized.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A selection of your pictures of Scotland sent in between 5 and 12 May. Send your photos to scotlandpictures@bbc.co.uk. Please ensure you adhere to the BBC's rules regarding photographs that can be found here. Please also ensure you take your pictures safely and responsibly. Conditions of use: If you submit an image, you do so in accordance with the BBC's terms and conditions. Please ensure that the photograph you send is your own and if you are submitting photographs of children, we must have written permission from a parent or guardian of every child featured (a grandparent, auntie or friend will not suffice). In contributing to BBC News you agree to grant us a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to publish and otherwise use the material in any way, including in any media worldwide. However, you will still own the copyright to everything you contribute to BBC News. At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe the law. You can find more information here. All photos are subject to copyright.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/07/27/how-can-agriculture-support-more-than-5-billion-people/", "title": "How Can Agriculture Support More Than 5 Billion People?", "text": "The Fourth Agricultural Revolution (Agriculture 4.0) is incorporating IoT, automation, data collection, and analysis into food production systems at scale. This revolution is enabling food producers to do more with less and create new digital commodities, revolutionizing the way we produce and distribute food. The Fourth Agriculture Revolution will be the collection, movement, processing, packaging, and marketing of data at scale, resulting in better, cheaper, and environmentally friendly foods. Technologies like computer vision, autonomous machinery, and data analysis are being incorporated at every level of food production to reduce food waste, improve production practices, and fight climate change. The potential for building a better world has agriculture and technology companies hungry to work together.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IDC_Blog_Header_Image_ACory_07.27.22.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/03/it-outsourcing-pricing-trends-and-labor-inflation-for-technology-buyers/", "title": "IT Outsourcing Pricing Trends and Labor Inflation for Technology Buyers", "text": "IT buyers need to plan for the impact of inflation and recession on demand and supply. IDC's research shows that labor rates for outsourced IT services have been impacted by inflation and price reductions have reduced substantially. Digital transformation initiatives continue to grow, increasing demand for DX skills. Labor is a key element of any IT managed service deal, but tools and automation are also important. Professional services costs continue to rise due to high demand and IT skills shortages. Technology buyers should expect prices to continue rising, but service providers can offset the impact with offshoring, automation, and efficiencies from standard offerings.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SM-LinkedInTwitter-Tile-Podcast2-CB-9.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/4ABE/production/_129743191_250e5739fd6a439385959187afe98881.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Twenty three beaches in Devon and Cornwall have achieved the internationally recognised Blue Flag award for 2023. A total of 77 sites around the UK were awarded the Blue Flag award this year. Oddicombe beach in Torbay has scooped the award every year since it was launched 36 years ago. Torridge District Council looks after Westward Ho! and said the award from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy was considered the \"gold standard\". Westward Ho! beach has won the award for more than 20 consecutive years. Summerleaze beach in Cornwall and Beer beach in East Devon were first-time Blue Flag winners this year. Keep Britain Tidy describes the Blue Flag Award as an \"international award presented to well-managed beaches with excellent water quality and environmental education programmes\". Sean Kearney, head of communities and place at Torridge District Council, said the beach and the burrows at Westward Ho! offered a \"fantastic location for recreation and connecting with nature\". Mr Kearney said: \"We're very lucky in Torridge to have such a fantastic beach right on our doorstep. \"Right next door Northam Burrows forms an integral part of North Devon's Unesco Biosphere Reserve and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.\" To qualify for the Blue Flag award, beaches must satisfy standards in four categories with 33 individual targets covering environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, and safety and services. Blue Flag beaches also have to run a minimum of five educational activities each year making people aware of the importance of looking after the natural environment. Keep Britain Tidy's chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton said: \"Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag or Seaside Award can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards.\" Ms Ogden-Newton said the Blue Flag was the \"world's most recognised award for beaches and marinas\". She added: \"We'd therefore like to recognise and applaud all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular beaches. \"The collective efforts of beach managers, volunteers, residents and businesses all contribute to the success of these sites in achieving the incredibly high standards demanded.\" Speaking about six Torbay beaches receiving the award, Carolyn Custerson, CEO of English Riviera BID Company Ltd, said: \"These awards highlight the outstanding quality of the English Riviera as a destination and the exceptional visitor experience, they offer. \"As one of the most scenic coastlines in the UK, with 22 miles to explore by land or from the sea there's plenty to discover and enjoy all year round. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the English Rivera this summer.\" Carbis Bay - Cornwall Crooklets - Cornwall Gyllyngvase - Cornwall Porthmeor - Cornwall Polzeath - Cornwall Porthtowan - Cornwall Trevone Bay - Cornwall Widemouth Bay - Cornwall Summerleaze - Cornwall Beer - Devon Exmouth - Devon Seaton - Devon Sidmouth Town - Devon Dawlish Warren - Teignbridge Breakwater Beach - Torbay Broadsands - Torbay Meadfoot Beach - Torbay Preston Sands - Torbay Oddicombe - Torbay Torre Abbey Sands - Torbay Westward Ho! - Torridge Croyde Bay - Devon Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/07/15/it-as-a-value-adder-instead-of-a-cost-center/", "title": "IT As A Value Adder Instead Of A Cost Center", "text": "Organizations often complain about IT costs and struggle to demonstrate their value. To show value, IT should distinguish between \"run\" and \"change\" parts of the budget, simplify technology, and improve user satisfaction. Engaging employees through logistical processes like on-site support and onboarding can also add value at no additional cost. A transparent dialogue about costs can shift the relationship from cost-based to value-based.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IDCMetri_ITSCM_JulyBlog_TopGraphic_FA.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/10330/production/_129725366_mikekeen1.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A man has embarked on a 3,000km (1,864 miles) kayak voyage in icy waters as part of a \"poo-centric expedition\". Mike Keen, from Suffolk, is almost a month into his three-month paddle from Qaqortoq in the south of Greenland - to Qaanaaq in the north. Along the way, he is collecting poo samples from sea mammals to check the levels of microplastics. He is also only eating a Greenlandic diet - food that can foraged or hunted - as part of a microbiome study. Mr Keen, who set off on 20 April and expects to complete his journey at the end of July/early August, described his mission as a \"poo-centric expedition\". He said the \"tough bit\" so far had been the cold. The 53-year-old chef, from Holton St Mary, near East Bergholt, has been rough camping and relying on the generosity of locals along the way. \"Getting up in the morning, putting all your wet gear on for an eight-hour paddle in a kayak is pretty tough going but once you're out on the water it's OK,\" he said. He said he has had to haul his kayak across frozen fjords as he makes his journey up the west coast of Greenland. The high fat and protein diet of fish, seal, shrimp and reindeer also \"took some time getting used to,\" he said. The samples of sea mammal poo he is collecting will be sent back to laboratories in Greenland's capital - Nuuk - to be analysed for microplastics. Samples of his own faeces will be sent back to a team of microbiologists to see what effect the diet has on his gut microbiome, his physiology and mental wellbeing. Murals aim to inspire climate change actionGreenhouse farmers call for support for homegrownCouple complete Atlantic charity row challenge Mr Keen said he was not looking forward to the sea ice as he continues to head north - and added that he \"may need to think up a plan B\" for getting through it. He said he wanted to raise awareness of climate change in the Arctic and the two scientific research projects he would be carrying out were \"important\". Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/7854/production/_129440803_tinubu1.png", "label": 0, "text": "A BBC investigation has found evidence suggesting some results from Nigeria's presidential election may have been manipulated. The winner Bola Tinubu is due to be inaugurated on 29 May but the opposition is challenging this. The BBC has uncovered significant anomalies in Rivers state, a key battleground, although not sufficient to change the overall national outcome of the election, which took place in February. There are also questions over the identity of an election official who read out some of the unexplained results. On 25 February, Nigerians cast their votes at thousands of polling stations across the country. At each polling station, the votes for the party of each candidate were publicly announced and the results sheets taken for collation first at the ward level, then at local government (LGA) centres. An election official from each LGA then travelled to the state capital, where these results were officially declared. For the first time in a Nigerian election, photographs of the polling station results sheets were published online by the electoral commission. This made it possible to add up all the polling station sheets and to compare them with the results declared at the state level. We added up the voting tally sheets from over 6,000 polling stations in Rivers state, where many of the opposition complaints had been made. While the official result in this state gave a clear majority to Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), our tally suggested that Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) had actually received most votes in the state by a wide margin. We found an increase of just over 106,000 in Mr Tinubu's vote in the official declaration when compared with our polling station tally - almost doubling his total in the state. In contrast, Mr Obi's vote had fallen by over 50,000. It's important to make clear that although we searched through the election website for every single one of the 6,866 polling stations in Rivers state, we were not able to obtain results from all of them. Some were incorrectly uploaded, others were missing, even after a month from the date of polling. For about 5% of polling stations, the photos of tally sheets were too blurred for us to read. It's reasonable to assume that the official count would have included these as they would have had the original documents. In another 17%, there were no results at all. Many of these would have been places where no voting took place due to security issues or the non-arrival of voting materials. Others had technical problems preventing officials uploading the documents. So there clearly would have been more polling stations included in the final official results that weren't included in the BBC investigation. However, these additional tally sheets would have increased the totals for each party, not decreased them. And what we found was that the votes for Peter Obi's Labour Party had decreased sharply in Rivers state. So how can the sharp fall in votes for Peter Obi - in the official result - be explained? Two areas stood out. The first was the Oyigbo local government area, where we found: The vote for Bola Tinubu was six times larger in the officially announced results compared with the BBC's polling station count Peter Obi's votes had been cut in half The second local government area where we found major discrepancies was in nearby Obio/Akpor: The official result for Mr Tinubu was 80,239 votes, but we counted just 17,293 votes from polling station talliesThe count for Mr Obi was announced officially as just 3,829 votes, but the BBC counted 74,033 votes for him on the tally sheets As explained earlier, all the polling station sheets are collated at local government (LGA) headquarters. We found an official election document with these collated votes for the Oyigbo area, signed by an election official and some of the party agents. Several different photographs had been taken of it and uploaded on social media accounts. The numbers in this document closely matched our own tallies for the two leading candidates (Obi and Tinubu). This would have been one of the 23 collation sheets from LGAs in Rivers state taken to the state capital, Port Harcourt, for the official declaration. Broadcast live on television on 27 February, in front of a bank of microphones, Oyigbo election official, Dr Dickson Ariaga, announced his name and that he worked for the Federal College of Education in Omoku. On the recording, the word \"Omoku\" is indistinct, but there is only one Federal College of Education in Rivers state. Dr Ariaga then read out the results for each party in alphabetical order, including for all the smaller parties. They all matched those on the collation sheet the BBC had obtained. But when he reached Mr Tinubu's APC, instead of saying 2,731 as written on our photograph of the sheet, he read out \"16,630\". Then for Mr Obi's party (LP) the figure changed again - instead of the 22,289 seen on the sheet, he announced \"10,784\", more than halving his vote. We asked the electoral commission if we could speak to Dr Ariaga, but they would not give us his details or reach out to him for us. We spoke to the election official seated next to Dr Ariaga, but she told us she wasn't authorised to talk to the press. So we sent a reporter to the Federal College of Education in Omoku, about two hours drive north of Port Harcourt, where he'd said he worked when introducing himself. The Deputy Provost Moses Ekpa told the BBC: \"From our records, both from our payroll and from our human resources, there is no such a name in our system and we don't know such a person.\" We tried tracking him down on social media and eventually came across another Facebook account for someone in Port Harcourt, whose profile details had the name Dickson Ariaga. When we compared an image from this account to the television pictures of Dr Ariaga using Amazon Rekognition software, we achieved a match of 97.2%, indicating a very high probability they're the same man. Dr Ariaga did not respond to messages sent by us to this account. By reaching out to his Facebook friends we did finally manage to speak to a man who said he was a relative, who was at first willing to help us but then didn't return our calls. We put these findings to Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec). Johnson Sinikiem, Inec's regional spokesman in Port Harcourt, told us that due to a \"gross shortage of time and personnel\" they had needed to take on some people without verifying their identity documents. Referring to Dr Ariaga, he said: \"If he had presented himself as a lecturer from [the college in Omoku] and it's otherwise, then he is dishonest.\" We also approached Inec's headquarters in Abuja for a response to our findings of discrepancies in the results in Rivers state. We were told that they were unable to comment due to ongoing legal challenges. This is just one case in one state in southern Nigeria where the evidence points to the results having been manipulated. On their own, these altered results would not have decisively swayed the outcome of the presidential election. Bola Tinubu won the national presidential vote by 1.8m votes over his nearest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP. We're still looking for Dr Ariaga to respond to the findings in this report. Additional reporting by Liana Bravo, Jemimah Herd, Jake Horton and Kumar Malhotra Edited by Dan Isaacs", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/12/02/idc-futurescape-worldwide-future-of-intelligence-2023-predictions/", "title": "IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Intelligence 2023 Predictions", "text": "Several companies, including UPS, Con Edison, Michiana Hematology Oncology, and Texas Department of Transportation have invested in enterprise intelligence programs and have seen positive business outcomes. IDC's benchmarking research shows that top-performing companies in enterprise intelligence are more likely to experience strong revenue growth and accelerated time to market for new products and services. Investing in enterprise intelligence can make companies more digitally resilient, agile, innovative, and dynamic. The article includes 10 predictions for the future of enterprise intelligence.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FutureScape-FoIt-Blog-Banner-Image.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/04/07/scaling-empathetic-customer-experience-outcomes-profitably-using-zero-and-first-party-data/", "title": "Scaling Empathetic Customer Experience Outcomes Profitably Using Zero- and First-party Data", "text": "Delta Airlines offered free WiFi as a value-add to the onboard customer experience. Customers are required to sign up for their loyalty program to access the service, providing Delta with firsthand information about their flyers. The use of zero- and first-party data allows for more contextualized offers and services, but it is crucial for enterprises to maintain customer trust and treat customer data as a currency. Owned customer insights based on zero- and first-party data enable organizations to innovate in a profitable manner and achieve customer empathy at scale.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/FoCx-Zero-First-Party-Data-Blog-Header-April-2023.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/06/08/it-inflation-where-it-is-headed-and-what-to-do-about-it/", "title": "IT Inflation:\u00a0 Where it is Headed, and What To Do About It", "text": "IT hardware, software, and services prices have been increasing dramatically due to COVID supply chain disruptions, shortages of certain raw materials, and the war in Ukraine. The price rises differ greatly depending on hardware and software category, vendor, IT service supplier, geographic region, and volume. IT procurement professionals can manage these increases by extending replacement cycles for end-user and data center hardware, monitoring prices on a deal-by-deal basis, rationalizing software estate, practicing brutal prioritization of IT and software dev projects, checking alignment with current market rates and quality levels of existing outsourcing agreements and internal service provision. They can also optimize IaaS cloud deployments to avoid overspend with effective tools and an actionable roadmap. IDC expects 18 to 24 more months of elevated rates of IT inflation followed by a moderation to slightly below average rates in the 2 to 3 years following that.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/GettyImages-494940062-scaled.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49316822&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC Innovators: Integration and API Management Tools and Technologies, 2023", "text": "IDC Innovators study profiles five emerging integration and API management vendors with innovative approaches to a rapidly growing market. The study outlines each vendor's strengths and challenges, including embedded event-driven API capabilities and platform pricing flexibility.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-04-31afd80d4fe27436400b1636c40ffa9d.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50545023&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "U.S. Augmented and Virtual Reality Hardware Forecast, 2023-2027: CY 2Q23", "text": "IDC study forecasts steady growth for U.S. AR/VR hardware market from 2023 to 2027 after a dip in 2022.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_433/consumer-05-edc777e23b7a8528c14e45968ed6a397.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/7E6C/production/_129746323_co2.png", "label": 0, "text": "Industrial sites in Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire are aiming to set up a network of pipes to collect carbon dioxide emissions and pump it to be stored under the Irish Sea. The \"Peak Cluster\" group is made up of five cement and lime plants plus a waste power plant near Northwich. The aim is to have the pipelines up and running by 2030 with units set up at those sites to capture the emissions. It could cut three million tonnes of emissions each year, the group claimed. Progressive Energy, the firm behind the project, said it would help the UK achieve \"net zero\" greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The cement and lime plants in the Peak District and Staffordshire Moorlands are owned by Tarmac, Breedon, Lhoist and Aggregate Industries. The would be joined by the Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant plant in Cheshire, due to become operational in 2025. The underground pipes will feed into one of two existing storage sites in the Irish Sea, at locations which once held natural gas. Project director John Egan from Progressive Energy said the scheme was still in its early stages, but would make a \"crucial contribution\" to driving down harmful emissions. Seabed sites for storing captured carbon, to remove climate damaging gases from industrial sites, are seen by many scientists as important in reducing emissions to net-zero. But there have been warnings about the potential for CO2 leakage if the correct sites are not chosen. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/117BA/production/_104401617_mediaitem72911983.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Tidal flood defences must be raised 15 years earlier than expected as sea levels rise, the Environment Agency says. An updated plan is designed to ensures communities in London and the wider Thames Estuary are ready to adapt to the impact of climate change. It sets out how it will protect more than 1.4 million people and \u00a3321 billion of property from tidal floods. The plan says defences must be raised upstream of the Thames Barrier by 2050. The Environment Agency has assured Londoners that the Thames Barrier continues to operate reliably and effectively as part of the wider flood defence system. It expects the barrier to continue to protect London until 2070. However, to further protect the capital it has committed to deciding an end-of-century option by 2040. The plan also calls for riverside strategies to be embedded into local planning frameworks by 2030 to ensure that new developments factor in future flood defence requirements. Julie Foley, the Environment Agency's FCRM Strategy & National Adaptation Director, said: \"Sea levels are rising at an accelerated rate across the Thames Estuary, and it is therefore essential that we act now to respond to the changing climate. \"Our updated plan recognises that defence raising needs to start earlier than originally thought - by some 15 years. \"Alongside, the plan also requires greater investment in habitats and natural flood management to support nature recovery. \"We cannot deliver the ambitions of the updated Thames Estuary 2100 Plan on our own. \"That is why we will continue to work with many partners to deliver a green and resilient estuary.\" Wandsworth Bridge to close to vehicles for 10 weeksThames Water told to fix leaks by Environment AgencyThames flood defence scheme 'to be built by 2027' Last summer over 1,000 properties across London were severely flooded during intense storms. A report found that Thames Water was slow to respond to the floods because it had struggled to understand what caused them and their impact. It added that the company did not plan for the storms properly, gave customers unclear messages about what to do, and failed to update local councillors and MPs about what was happening. Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/F0E2/production/_129666616_mediaitem129659374.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Firefighters who were involved in a fifth convoy to Ukraine have returned home. Avon Fire and Rescue Service joined its first convoy by sending two former fire engines and six members of staff on the journey. The members of the convoy transported essential kit and medical equipment to aid firefighters in Ukraine. Ross Larner, a firefighter from Clevedon Fire Station, said there was a \"great sense of camaraderie\". The six firefighters embarked on their five-day journey from Avonmouth to the Ukrainian border in Poland on 2 May. Prior to leaving the country, they met with other members of the convoy from around the UK. In total, 25 vehicles and 80 crew members transported 8,000 pieces of equipment across the continent. Mr Larner said the team were told that more than 70 men had been killed on the front line and more than 350 fire stations and 1,500 trucks had been destroyed as a result of the conflict. He added that although the convoy was not directly helping, their donations would help keep civilians safe. Mr Larner said he and his colleagues felt a \"great sense of achievement\" when they met the Polish and Ukrainian fire services at the border. \"You do get very run down and tired and it's not the greatest conditions to be in, but it is worth it - and it's nothing compared to what the Ukrainians are going through\", he added. Mr Larner said that he would \"definitely\" be open to joining a similar scheme in the future. \"I feel quite privileged to have had the experience,\" he said. \"A few people have been on previous convoys which is a testament to what a good experience it is.\" Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1705B/production/_125699249_sallycusworthnow.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A teacher who found her daily tipple had turned into three bottles of wine is one of the increasing numbers of professionals seeking help for addiction. During the pandemic, rehab and recovery services said they saw an increase in white-collar workers turning to them for support. BBC News spoke to the people who have received treatment and those trying to break the cycle of addiction. \"I couldn't cope for a day without alcohol,\" says Sally Cusworth. \"The harder I found my job, the worse it got.\" The 46-year-old former teacher from Leeds had always enjoyed a glass of wine or two but she noticed her social habit had become a daily distraction. \"The more I got promoted, the more pressure I was under regarding Ofsted. And it's that building-up of anxiety that I really struggled with,\" she said. \"I drank throughout my career, but I was trying to control and monitor it.\" Ms Cusworth's alcoholism spiralled into self-destruction when she took sick leave in 2019. She became physically dependent on alcohol, eventually being diagnosed with stage four fibrosis of the liver and near to death. The former secondary school head of department was caught up in a daily cycle of buying bottles of wine as she headed home from work, only to \"drink in isolation\". \"I was slowly committing suicide really. It's a slow suicide on the sofa.\" Ms Cusworth was among the 3,500 people who accessed addiction charity Forward Leeds' service during the first year of the pandemic. Entering rehab in June 2020, she thought it was \"for down-and-outs, kind of like criminals\" but two years on and she is now working with charities to help others. Photos of her past are a pertinent reminder that \"I don't have that choice to drink alcohol because that's where I will go back to\". Ruth Bradford, from Forward Leeds, said alongside alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and ketamine users were contributing to the \"substantial rise in individuals needing support\". Meanwhile in Doncaster, staff at Aspire Drug & Alcohol Services said referrals to their centre in the city had increased by more than 200% over the past two years, with demand from white-collar workers \"going up\". Aspire chief executive Tim Young said: \"There's still high demand for our services despite people going back in the office after the pandemic. \"What we're seeing is people who wouldn't normally come to our service, so we're working with employers across all industries.\" For former sales executive Neil Firbank, a sense of purpose, hope and acceptance are the underlying principles of recovery. Mr Firbank's recreational use of cannabis, MDMA and amphetamine developed into a heroin addiction after a conscious decision to try the opiate. His urge for a 'hit' resulted in him \"turning up at my dealer's house, still wearing my suit\" straight from work. He eventually lost his job, home and family as his dependency on the drug spiralled out of control. The 46-year-old now supports others to get back on track at Aspire, where he was treated more than 20 years ago. Rehabilitation service UK Addiction Treatment (UKAT), which runs residential centres in England, said 65% of all admissions to its eight facilities last year were middle class users. Nuno Albuquerque, a senior treatment consultant at UKAT, said almost two thirds of the 3,507 people admitted for treatment in 2021 were professionals, ranging from teachers to managing directors and CEOs in industries such as finance and healthcare. In 2020, half of the 2,872 referrals were from white-collar professions, he said. Forward Leeds and fellow addiction charity We Are With You painted similar pictures in Leeds and Lincoln. Shaaron Jackson, from Guiseley, West Yorkshire, says she has been an alcoholic for \"most of my life\" with her addiction stemming from childhood trauma. The 54-year-old former actress says recognising the issue is the hardest step in getting help. \"I think it's because still, even now, we see it as a failing. We see it as a weakness and that's how it's still viewed by society. \"I think that's why this kind of misuse is going on behind closed doors. People are afraid to talk openly about it. \"In recovery, we have very honest conversations. But then, if you go out into the rest of society, it becomes difficult.\" Ms Jackson was drinking \"two litre-bottles of vodka a day\" before the death of her mother and a suicide attempt sparked her wake-up call in 2020. Latest government figures show 275,896 adults were using drug and alcohol services between April 2020 and March 2021, compared to 270,705 the previous year. However, there was a drop in those entering treatment with 130,490 in the pandemic period of 2020-2021 down from 132,124 in 2019-2020. The view from the ground suggests the opposite. Mr Firbank said: \"On average 40 new people approach us each week for issues with both drugs and alcohol, more than double the numbers presenting pre-pandemic.\" The pandemic has also changed how people are able to access addiction support. Ruth Bradford from Forward Leeds said they had \"had to adapt.\" \"We're being very much more flexible to the needs of the individuals who come to our service. \"When they're on their lunch break we can have a telephone or a Zoom intervention with them, and we know that it's been as effective as having these face-to-face consultations. \"It's helped them to engage more with us and complete their treatment journeys.\" While the move to digital support services has encouraged user numbers, the stigma of people accessing support still exists, says Dan Hunt, a community engagement coordinator at the We Are With You charity. \"There's a lot of work still to be done around drug and alcohol and I think we've got to start treating it as a health condition. \"There's such a stigma attached to drug and alcohol services about a specific type of people accessing them, that people are afraid to come in or seek the help because they don't feel they belong to that same group of individuals.\" Ms Jackson backed this view up saying: \"People view addiction [as though] it's somebody on the streets begging or they look dishevelled and they think, 'that's the face of addiction'. Actually it's not. \"Addiction doesn't discriminate, that's the thing. It's not just poor people who are living on the breadline, it goes right to the very top.\" If you, or someone you know, have been affected by the issues covered in this article the BBC Action Line has details of organisations which may be able to help.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50545123&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Smartwatch Forecast, 2023\u20132027: CY 2Q23", "text": "The worldwide smartwatch market will see slower growth in the coming years due to macroeconomic challenges and the market transitioning from connecting new users to replacement opportunities for returning users. Brands should focus on retaining their user bases with sticky experiences and ecosystems.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_433/consumer-04-a39e7de65d971261081e894c209d73d7.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/758/cpsprodpb/cc59/live/264de8d0-f340-11ed-ad5f-c71f20f67103.png", "label": 0, "text": "A residential home for elderly and vulnerable people is to close amid \"unsustainable\" pressures and the cost of living crisis.Shotley Park Care Home in County Durham has called in liquidators after it was \"unable to meet its financial obligations\".The privately-run site, in Shotley Bridge near Consett, is home to almost 40 residents and more than 60 staff.Durham County Council is taking \"immediate steps\" to ensure residents are \"offered alternative\" housing. The home, which is due to close in the coming weeks, has informed residents and staff.It said its owners, who are in their 80s and 90s, had tried to keep the business running for years but had been unable to do so.This included through failed attempts to seek external investment and efforts to sell the business.\"The directors have put in a tremendous effort to keep the home open over the years,\" Martyn Pullin of liquidator FRP said.\"Unfortunately, the pressures on Shotley Park\u2019s finances have become too great and unsustainable and the business simply can\u2019t continue trading any further\".It said that it is working with the Care Quality Commission and council to \"ensure a smooth transition\" for residents. Neil Jarvis, the council's senior commissioning delivery manager, said it was supporting residents and staff.He said its teams had started work on finding alternative accommodation for those who required it.Meanwhile, he said it would be supporting affected staff who may wish to work at remaining locations in the sector. Mr Pullin added: \u201cWe understand that this will be a difficult time for residents and their loved ones, but also the dedicated staff at Shotley\". Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=lcUS50716623&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "", "text": "Please provide the text you want me to summarize.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_431/software-14-8989f22a61c6c9f5aefe5c4811333566.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/14276/production/_129705528_gettyimages-97002748.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "At the end of last year, the lease on Eva Teh's flat in central Singapore came up for renewal. The Singaporean and her husband were expecting their monthly rent to rise. What they weren't prepared for was the 60% hike proposed by their landlord. \"We immediately went to search for available apartments. What we found gave us another shock. Rents have soared,\" she tells the BBC. \"The thought of not being able to afford a roof over our heads terrified us,\" she adds. \"It felt like doomsday.\" Ms Teh says she had little choice but to negotiate with her landlord for a better deal. Now, they pay S$2,900 ($2,185; \u00a31,732) a month for their one-bedroom home, up from S$1,950 before the rent hike. How a tote bag sparked a class debate in Singapore'Revenge partying' in strait-laced Singapore \"To cope with the increase in rent, I'm forcing myself to work harder so I can make more money,\" Ms Teh, who is a media freelancer, says. \"In months where I can't make ends meet, I will have to dip into my savings. Fortunately, we have an emergency fund for days like this.\" She is not alone. Surging rents have become a major issue in the South East Asian country. Private housing rents, which rose last year at the fastest pace in over a decade, have continued to climb in recent months. Prices are rising across the city-state's property market, with rents for properties in public housing blocks and high-end homes heading higher. According to real estate consultancy Knight Frank, Singapore now has the fastest rising luxury property rents, after overtaking New York. Rents have jumped as the pandemic delayed building projects and brought more locals into the market, the country's Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) tell the BBC. \"Rental demand has also increased as non-residents are returning to Singapore to work amidst the robust recovery from Covid-19,\" they add. The country's rental market has long been dominated by foreigners. This is because the majority of Singapore's 5.6m residents have bought long leases on subsidised public housing. Traditionally, Singaporeans would not leave their family home until they got married, but that's now changing. There is an increasing trend for younger Singaporeans choosing to rent, Tan Tee Khoon from the PropertyGuru real estate portal says. \"They wish to have their own space and live among a like-minded community. For that reason, co-living has become a more popular choice in recent times,\" he adds. When Singapore's pandemic restrictions were in place in 2021, Pearlyn Siew moved into a co-living property, where she had her own room and shared amenities, including bathrooms, a kitchen and laundry facilities. \"I needed space from my family after being in the same house throughout Covid. It felt really suffocating,\" she tells the BBC. \"My parents were not agreeable and we were on pretty bad terms,\" she adds. \"But my relationship with them improved after I got the space to take care of my own mental well-being. I was able to connect with them with a healthier nervous system.\" Meanwhile, Asher Chua moved out after struggling to work from a flat that he shared with his parents and three siblings. \"When your siblings are not working and you're living in the same room, your schedules tend to conflict. It becomes quite tough to live together when you are not in the same life stages,\" he says. Both Asher and Pearlyn are unmarried and under the age of 35, which means that they do not yet qualify for public housing. \"The eligibility rules limit access to affordable housing for singles, regardless of the individual's aspiration to have a place of one's own,\" says sociologist Chua Beng Huat. \"Families have a greater need for housing than single individuals, when the HDB is always trying to catch up with demand,\" Mr Chua adds. The rent increases have also hit the LGBT community, who make up a significant portion of renters. Same-sex marriages are not recognised in the country. It only recently repealed the controversial 377A law which banned sex between men. \"While housing policies which affect singles also affect the LGBT community, the community has its own set of problems,\" real estate agent William Tan says. \"Many people are not able to stay at their family home because of an unfriendly, dangerous or toxic environment. This forces them to rent,\" Mr Tan adds. There is some good news though, as rents are expected to fall with \"a significant housing supply coming onstream over the next few years,\" HDB and URA says. Close to 40,000 public and private homes are scheduled to be completed this year. That is the most in five years, according to official estimates. Another 60,000 homes are expected to be completed by 2025. \"As the supply comes onstream, Singaporeans who are temporarily renting while waiting for the completion of their new homes will vacate their rental units, and help ease the rental market,\" HDB and URA adds. \"The government will continue to monitor the property market closely and adjust our policies as necessary.\" However, Ms Teh will have to keep renting until her public housing apartment is ready in three years time. \"We talked through every single option that we had. Moving in with our family was not an option because our parents live overseas,\" she says. \"I'm hopeful that rents will go down as more new flats are completed. I think nobody could have prevented this from happening, because nobody could stop Covid from spreading.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/999/cpsprodpb/122F9/production/_129698447_x1_overallwinnerandstreetfood_jonenoch_thecandyman_lorescredited.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The Candy Man, by UK photographer Jon Enoch, has won the overall prize at the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition this year. The photograph was taken in the streets of Mumbai and is part of a wider series of images of the sellers who display the candy in a variety of ways in the hope of attracting a buyer. \"I'm ecstatic to receive this award, it's a real honour to get this recognition in such a prestigious competition laden with wonderful imagery,\" says Enoch. \"The winning image was part of a personal project - a huge amount of time and thought went into capturing it so it's great to be recognised by such an esteemed panel of judges. Ever since I first saw the candy floss sellers I was drawn to the shapes, colours and juxtaposition of the candy and the urban environment.\" Here are some of the competition category winners, with descriptions by the photographers. \"When I arrived at Lap An Lagoon, the storm came. \"The people who were with me were very afraid of lightning, but I stayed to witness the change of the storm when Heaven and Earth seemed to be connected by wind and water. \"I tried to stay calm, to forget my fear and shoot this moment.\" \"Adua's kitchen is part of a journey down memory lane of an 86-year-old woman who had to leave her lifelong home during the Covid pandemic.\" \"Girl resting after emptying a vat after the fermentation of the grapes in a vineyard in Burgundy. \"Physical and tiring work.\" \"This image was taken from my visit to Shwe Gu Orphanage monastery in Old Bagan, Myanmar, in 2018. \"I visited this monastery for three days and observed their daily routines. Most of these children have lost their parents and have no family. \"They are training to be Buddhist monks.\" \"This year's persimmons are harvested, peeled and dressed, and hung under the eaves in bunches, waiting for the persimmons to soften and freeze, hoping they will bring a good price in the New Year.\" \"Spag bol is always a winner in our house and the leftovers are enjoyed for lunch the next day, as my youngest daughter demonstrates in this image.\" \"A sow taking a nap in a hole, meanwhile her piglets feed themselves in the hot weather of Palenque, close to Cartagena, Colombia.\" \"This image is one of several in the collection Beauty in Destruction.\" \"Saturday afternoon street food in Galle Fort, Sri Lanka.\" \"The process of pulling sugar is a local specialty. \"This process is very skilful and the master appears to be dancing when pulling the white sugar.\" \"After the campaign of the Syrian regime on Idlib and the departure of the Syrian forces from the city of Nayrab, the people of the city found all its houses destroyed. \"That was in the month of Ramadan in the year 2020. Neither the war nor the destruction prevented the people from holding a group breakfast, an important tradition for them during Ramadan.\" \"An imaginative scene that could be somewhere in the dense Amazonian jungle made out of food.\" \"One of my favourite summer fruits, photographed under a tree in our garden.\" The exhibition of all the finalists can be seen at The Royal Photographic Society in Bristol from Saturday 20 May until Sunday 11 June. All photographs courtesy Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2023", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/F413/production/_129738426_5b3bb7b0-3000-4268-b548-daeab43f4ac0.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A professional musician says she had no choice but to leave her flat after a council handed her a noise abatement notice. Fiona Fey received the notice two weeks ago after a string of complaints from one neighbour in Lewisham, south London The notice prohibits her from playing all instruments at home at any time. Lewisham Council said: \"We do not make decisions like this lightly and tried to avoid enforcement.\" It added: \"When we tried to explore reasonable offers and solutions to find a balance, the tenant refused to engage and we received multiple further complaints.\" Ms Fey, a member of classical choir Mediaeval Baebes, told the BBC she started to receive noise complaints from a neighbour downstairs after two months of living in her flat. She agreed to compromise with the neighbour and said she \"stopped playing almost all of my instruments other than a guitar and a low whistle that is the same volume as a vacuum cleaner\". \"When my neighbours got nasty, I contacted the council to find out if I was breaking the law.\" She said that the council told her \"you sound guilty to me or you wouldn't be calling\". Ms Fey decided to move out of her flat after she was issued with a noise abatement notice that prohibits her from playing any instruments. She said that the council warned that if the notice was broken it could force entry into her property, confiscate instruments and issue a fine of up to \u00a35,000. She added: \"This has had a taken a huge emotional toll and placed an enormous financial strain on me. \"I was made to feel self conscious and anxious every time I played my music. \"I had almost finished recording an album but now I can't use my recording equipment as it is in a storage unit. \"I am currently living with friends and I don't know how I will find a new place to live as there's nowhere I can afford.\" Fans asked to help save venue after concert deathsWoman hurled cement at neighbours in bitter feudNeighbours share potato-cooking duties to cut costs Lewisham Council said: \"We have been aware of noise issues at a residence since November 2022 involving loud music, playing of instruments and singing, resulting in numerous complaints. \"The tenant refused to agree to a good neighbour agreement or rehearsal times to prevent further concerns. \"Lewisham Homes instructed a professional witness who attended the complainant's home in February 2023. \"The report confirmed that the music from the residence was audible within the complainant's home and was at an unreasonable level.\" Another semi-professional musician living in Lewisham also told the BBC the council had issued him with a community protection notice that stops him from playing any instrument in the house at any time of the day. He said: \"It's heart-breaking, music is my livelihood and the fact I can't even play my instruments for five minutes in my house is draconian.\" The musician, who has taken to practising in his shed, wants the council to have a clear policy on how musicians can practice. \"Lewisham was the borough of culture last year and we want them to recognise that not everyone is rich enough to live in a detached house or own their own recording studio,\" he said. \"There needs to be a policy that finds a realistic middle point so it's not just neighbours being pitted against each other.\" Colin Stuart, the Independent Society of Musicians head of external affairs, said: \"Musicians contribute so much to our cultural life and the economy. \"Fundamentally, musicians must have the right to practise for professional work or for leisure. \"The ISM supports members when faced with noise complaints regularly, and reasonable solutions between local authorities, neighbours and musicians can usually be found with dialogue. \"Noise Abatement Notices can be devastating and it's simply wrong to use them to effectively ban musicians from practising at home at all.\" Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/08/08/so-now-you-have-an-intelligent-digital-workspace/", "title": "So\u2026Now You Have an Intelligent Digital Workspace", "text": "The Intelligent Digital Workspace (IDW) is a concept that emerged from the collective efforts of companies to provide relief for inefficient processes and technical challenges in the workplace. Over 70% of companies have already deployed it without realizing it. The IDW ecosystem includes management tools, team collaboration and workflow tools, and intelligent service management. The complexity of this ecosystem requires outside vendors and AI/ML to reduce operational load. Enterprises need to assess their existing environments and rapidly fill in any missing capabilities while vendors need to assess their offerings and coordinate with partners to solve emerging problems and lower operational burdens. The IDW is now a permanent feature of the enterprise that will continue to expand.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FoW-Blog-Image-August-2022-1200-\u00d7-900-px.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50554523&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide IDC Global DataSphere Forecast, 2023-2027: It's a Distributed, Diverse, and Dynamic (3D) DataSphere", "text": "IDC study forecasts worldwide IDC Global DataSphere for five years, measuring data creation, capture, replication, and consumption across segments including consumer/enterprise, region, data type, location, and cloud/noncloud. DataSphere is 3D: distributed, diverse, and dynamic.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1956/innovationaccel-06-b08a2d7ef8b9f6cf7ec6ff825224389e.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/3215/production/_129712821_9e300292-4a0d-4212-a503-87b303c7d7bc.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A selection of the best photos from across Africa and beyond this week: Images subject to copyright. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/AE69/production/_129694644_5ff90aa9c87fa6d36090bfc27fb38fa70c7c528a-1.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Russian communities across Europe have been polarised by the Ukraine war - and that threatened to spill over in Berlin this month when they marked the defeat of Nazi Germany. Given how much Vladimir Putin uses the Soviet victory over fascism in 1945 to justify Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there was no avoiding the war here in the German capital. Many German-based Russians clearly believe the president's reasons for the war, with some views in Berlin virtually indistinguishable from the narratives promoted by Russian state TV - but others are just as vocal in opposing it. The commemorations in Berlin started on 8 May, as Germany marked the 78th anniversary of its liberation from fascism, and groups of Russians visited the Soviet war memorial in Treptower Park. One, Alexander, who is originally from Russia but has lived in Germany for more than 20 years, said he believed Russian forces were \"defending Donbas, Crimea, Kherson, and Odesa against fascists\" - listing places in south-eastern Ukraine. \"They belong to Russia! Russia is taking back what belongs to it,\" added Anna, another Russian living in Germany. Alexander then showed me a cigarette holder and a tobacco box he had decorated by taping portraits of President Putin to them. But the events that matter most to Russian speakers were held the following day, 9 May - marked in Russia as Victory Day. They kicked off with the Russian ambassador laying flowers to the imposing statue of a Soviet soldier in Treptower Park. Again, the event mostly attracted supporters of the Kremlin's policies and rhetoric. One of them, a young Russian called Yevgenia, told me that \"the collective West, particularly America\" were fanning the flames of neo-Nazism in Ukraine. Yevgenia was sporting the St George's Ribbon - a Kremlin-backed symbol often used by Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. Like many at the rally, she and her friend held aloft a Soviet flag, as Russian flags were banned. But not everyone supported such views. The monument to the grieving mother at the other end of Treptower Park was the meeting point for those who wanted to honour the victims of fascism without supporting Mr Putin's claims that he is fighting \"fascists\" in Ukraine. And many of the people who gathered there were Russians. One of them, Kirill, told me he fled Russia last October to avoid being drafted into the army and being sent to fight in Ukraine. \"I do not want to become a murderer for Putin. I do not believe the lies I'm told by TV,\" he said. \"I was very afraid, but I attended anti-war rallies. I did all I could do,\" Kirill told me, standing alongside a poster about political prisoners in Russia. Kirill fled Russia after being arrested, fined and beaten for attending anti-war rallies in St Petersburg. Another young Russian in this corner of Treptower Park, an activist called Alexandra, thought President Putin had turned Victory Day into a propaganda tool. \"It is an absolute sacrilege for us,\" she told me. Her friend Ekaterina chimed in: \"It is important for me to show that not everyone from Russia supports what is happening in Ukraine or what this day has turned into. \"The way it is marked now is a one big reason why this war started on 24 February last year.\" At another important event held by Russians in Berlin on Victory Day, dozens gathered at the Brandenburg Gate for what is known as the march of the Immortal Regiment. Even though such marches are encouraged by the Kremlin, the one held in Berlin seemed less overly political than the events in Treptower Park, with dozens of Russians solemnly carrying photographs of their ancestors who fought in World War Two. A group of anti-war Russians demonstrated against Victory Day being turned into a propaganda tool - but their event was outnumbered by the rally sporting Kremlin-encouraged symbols such as St George's ribbons or Soviet flags. But what do Germans think of all this? I was able to find the whole spectrum of opinions among them. Many came to Treptower Park on 8-9 May to offer thanks for the Soviet army liberating Germany from fascism, and were less concerned with the present. \"What Putin is doing in Ukraine now doesn't change the fact that [Russia did liberate Germany],\" one of them, Wolfgang, told me. Another German demonstrator, Kristina, was against weapons deliveries to what she described as the \"fascist regime\" in Ukraine. But a young man, Janek, said it was \"shameful\" that President Putin was using the defeat of Nazism as a foreign policy tool. \"They say they want to free Ukrainians from the Nazis there - but it's just not true, it's propaganda,\" he said.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/CB1C/production/_98569915_christopheralder.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "More than a decade after his death in police custody, the body of former paratrooper Christopher Alder was discovered lying in a mortuary. At the same time, in a grave bearing his name lay the body of a 77-year-old woman. No-one has ever been held responsible for either incident. Ahead of the 25th anniversary of his death, Mr Alder's sister, Janet, spoke to the BBC about the psychological toll of her battle for truth and accountability. Christopher Alder was arrested on 1 April 1998 after an altercation outside a nightclub in Hull. Within a matter of hours, he was dead on the floor of Queen's Gardens Police Station. In the moments before his death, CCTV footage taken from the custody suite showed laughing officers making monkey noises as they stood around the 37-year-old choking in a pool of his own blood. It was more than 10 minutes before he received any help from those charged with keeping him safe. A quarter of a century on, and after countless efforts to get to the truth of what happened, Janet Alder continues to feel anger and frustration. \"I've been on an emotional roller coaster for years,\" she says. \"I've spent a lot of my years feeling rage and I'm just questioning myself - whether it's really happened - or questioning my sanity. \"I feel isolated from the world out there.\" In August 2000, an inquest jury ruled that Christopher had been unlawfully killed. No-one has been held accountable for his death, with five Humberside Police officers being cleared of manslaughter and misconduct in a public office charges at a criminal trial two years later. After burying who she thought was her brother in November 2000, Ms Alder discovered Christopher's heart had been left in the South Yorkshire mortuary where his post-mortem had taken place. She says years later her solicitor gave her more details. \"It [his heart] was found in a dirty bucket in Sheffield,\" Ms Alder recalls. However, South Yorkshire Police (SYP) told the BBC it had no evidence Christopher's heart had been stored incorrectly at the mortuary. In 2011, the family discovered that Christopher's body had not been laid to rest at Hull's Northern Cemetery as they thought. Instead, a 77-year-old woman, Grace Kamara, had been buried following a mix-up at the Hull mortuary where Christopher's body had been taken back to after the examination in Sheffield. Ms Kamara's funeral had been delayed for a decade due to her family, who were from Nigeria, being unable to get visas to arrange and attend her service in the UK. An investigation commissioned by Humberside Police, but led by SYP, into the body mix-up found there was \"no realistic prospect\" of conviction on misconduct grounds or the charge of prevention of a lawful burial. SYP said a ledger detailing the movement of bodies in and out of the mortuary in Hull had not been filled in for her brother. That meant no-one was sure when Ms Kamara's body was released and thus, did not know who was responsible. However, a document obtained by Ms Alder's solicitor has the date and time funeral staff were due to collect the body. When the BBC asked about this, for the first time SYP revealed it had identified and interviewed someone it believed should have been considered for prosecution for misconduct in public office. In its statement, which also covers questions asked of Humberside Police, it says the investigation related to the person who permitted the collection of the body from the mortuary. The statement adds: \"The individual was interviewed under caution and a file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). \"The CPS determined there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and the criminal investigation concluded. \"On this basis, their identity will not be shared.\" When the BBC told Ms Alder about this, she says it left her \"absolutely shocked\". \"That's the first I've ever heard of them actually finding the person that had released the wrong body. \"As far as I knew, the reason why they couldn't prosecute anybody is because they didn't know who released the wrong body. \"I was told that in a meeting with South Yorkshire Police. \"I'm still in disbelief.\" \"I'd like those responsible to be held accountable,\" she added. Ms Alder believes that SYP's inquiry was flawed and serious questions remain unanswered. Reports reveal that before the mix-up was identified it was likely that dozens of police officers may have had sight of Christopher's body as part of a training programme to prepare trainee officers in dealing with corpses. In its statement to the BBC, SYP says \"a number\" of trainee officers may have seen a body in the mortuary, citing \"common practice at that time\". The force admits \"no evidence of any family consent for the same was ever identified\". A court order made in 2015, following a civil case brought by Ms Alder against the local authority and NHS trust, has so far prevented her from disclosing further details. She says she has had to wade through 8,000 documents, describing the papers as a \"jigsaw\". \"Nothing made sense. \"There was nothing telling us how Christopher had come to be in that mortuary or anybody that was responsible. \"It was just made out that it was just an accident and an error type of thing. \"Over a period of time, I read the documents and just found lots of things, to me, that showed they were well aware it was Christopher in that mortuary all them years and I were gagged with a gagging order. \"I couldn't speak to anybody about it. So it's played on my mind and caused me lots of anxiety, isolation, pain and horror. \"[It's] had a psychological effect on me.\" Ms Alder claims she was told during a November 2013 meeting with SYP that Humberside Police trainees were \"possibly shown\" the Falklands veteran's body after his supposed burial. Notes taken by her solicitor and shared by Ms Alder with the BBC state they were told at the meeting that seven officers had visited the mortuary just before Mr Alder's funeral. Those officers had given various accounts, some \"either being told about Grace Kamara, others told about Christopher Alder. Others just see the body bag\". \"After the burial, police are shown a body, we don't know whose. It's a possibility they were shown Christopher Alder described as Grace Kamara,\" the notes record an officer telling them. Ms Alder, who a tribunal heard was subject to surveillance by police during her brother's inquest, also alleges: The bag containing her brother's body at the mortuary may have been opened as late as 2007. That was one of 10 opportunities to identify him between 1999 and 2011, according to her solicitor's notes of the 2013 meeting. She says this was not investigated properly by SYP.SYP's inquiry lacked independence as, among other things, a file obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Ms Alder, revealed the force would be \"working under the direction of\" a senior Humberside Police officer, but the Humberside force \"will be accountable\". Ms Alder, whose story will be turned into a book and film to be released next year, says the prospect of another independent inquiry into the mix-up is \"very slim\". However, she does not rule out approaching the CPS and police again for answers. \"There should be accountability because justice is justice,\" she says. \"It's not something I am expecting though.\" Hull City Council, which ran the city's mortuary before 2011, says it \"very much regrets\" the mistakes made with the body of Mr Alder. It says it recognises the \"terrible upset and concern\" the errors have caused. The authority says the SYP investigation highlighted \"a number of failings\" which it had worked to put right. Humberside Police has previously apologised for its failure to \"treat Christopher with sufficient compassion\". That apology came years after a 2006 report by the police watchdog which said four of the officers present in the custody suite were guilty of the \"most serious neglect of duty\" and \"unwitting racism\". For his sister, who will thank supporters at a special event at Hull's Afro-Caribbean Centre on Saturday, that is nowhere near enough. \"I've had an experience that's kind of taken me from what I believed was the world out there [to] somewhere completely different and dark. \"It's nearly killed me. \"I just really didn't expect any of this when Christopher had died. I just expected the right thing to be done.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50484023&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Tablet Market Shares, 4Q22: Tablet Market Grew by 15% QoQ Driven by Apple's Impressive Performance", "text": "IDC analyzed vendor performance in the 4Q22 tablet market. Consumers are making sound decisions based on specs and budget. Competition in the detach tablet segment is increasing with Apple and emerging brands.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-03-9008fdcf9fcfa262ac5d90cc683de6b8.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/7E5F/production/_129415323_43cc14e4-bfa9-4613-921b-fb38179075ec.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Russia's Wagner mercenary force is accused of having various commercial and military ties to Sudan, but the group denies any involvement in the current conflict in the country. Its founder, Yevgeny Prighozin - who has close links to President Vladimir Putin - has said that \"not a single Wagner PMC [private military company] fighter has been present in Sudan\" for over two years. We've found no evidence that Russian mercenaries are currently inside the country. But there is evidence of Wagner's previous activities in Sudan, and Mr Prighozin's operations in the country have been targeted by both US and EU sanctions. In 2017, Sudan's then President Omar al-Bashir signed a series of deals with the Russian government during a visit to Moscow. These included an agreement for Russia to set up a naval base at Port Sudan on the Red Sea, as well as \"concession agreements on gold mining between Russian company M Invest and the Sudanese Ministry of Minerals\". The US Treasury alleges that M Invest and a subsidiary group, Meroe Gold, are fronts for the activities of the Wagner Group in Sudan, Africa's third-biggest gold producer. \"Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his network are exploiting Sudan's natural resources for personal gain and spreading malign influence around the globe,\" said then Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in 2020. Both M Invest and Meroe have been specifically targeted by US sanctions. According to an investigation by CNN, gold has been transported overland to the Central African Republic (CAR), where Wagner is known to operate - exports not recorded in Sudanese official trade data. Significant amounts of gold have also been smuggled out via a network of military airports, according to a report last year in the Daily Telegraph. Since 2017, Russian and international sources have published images that appear to locate Russian mercenaries inside Sudan. These are said to show them acting in various roles, including training Sudanese soldiers or allegedly helping the security forces crack down on protests. The BBC has not independently verified these images. In 2021, a Wagner-linked Telegram channel published images featuring an unnamed top Wagner commander awarding Sudanese soldiers memorabilia at a ceremony held two years earlier. And in July 2022, this channel distributed a video allegedly showing Wagner mercenaries conducting parachute-landing exercises for Sudanese forces. The same source linked to the Instagram profile of an anonymous Russian mercenary, calling himself a \"freelancer\" and sharing stories of his exploits in Sudan in posts from August and October 2021. In a 2020 Wagner propaganda action film, Sudan was featured as one of the countries where the mercenaries operate. The US Treasury says the Wagner Group has conducted \"paramilitary operations, support for preserving authoritarian regimes, and exploitation of natural resources\". \"Initially, in 2018, they had about 100 men actively training Sudanese military forces, and the relationship has grown from there,\" says Dr Joana de Deus Pereira of the UK-based Royal United Services Institute. Sudanese media reports says that figure grew to about 500, and they were mainly stationed in the south-west near Um Dafuq, close to Sudan's border with the Central African Republic (CAR). The Sudan Tribune reported that when President Bashir faced popular protests in 2019, \"Russian fighters\" were deployed to observe anti-government protests alongside Sudanese intelligence and security services, although this was denied by the Sudanese authorities. The Wagner Group devised its own media campaigns to help President Bashir stay in power, says Dr Samuel Ramani, author of a book about Russia's activities in Africa. \"Prigozhin was calling for\u2026 the protestors to be accused of being pro-Israel and anti-Islamic,\" he says. This caused friction with the president's own security forces, and so Wagner switched its support to the man who ousted him - General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. \"While the Foreign Ministry in Moscow was against the coup, Prigozhin and the Wagner Group actually welcomed al-Burhan's takeover,\" says Dr Ramani. According to Dr Ramani, it was in 2021 and 2022 that the Wagner Group increased its connections with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which is currently fighting Sudan's regular army, led by Gen Burhan. Mr Prigozhin was interested in sourcing more gold through mines recently acquired by the RSF's leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti. Last year, Hemedti visited Moscow, saying he hoped to bolster ties between Sudan and Russia. However, Kholood Khair of Confluence Advisory, a think-tank on Sudanese affairs, believes the Wagner Group is not choosing sides in the current conflict. \"Wagner has had links to both General al-Burhan's enterprises and to Mr Hemedti's enterprises to different extents and in different ways,\" she says. Wagner fighters have widely reported to have been in the Central African Republic (CAR) for several years, guarding the country's diamond mines, as well as in Libya and Mali. A BBC investigation in 2021 found evidence of their involvement in Libya's civil war from a digital device left behind by a Wagner fighter and from speaking to Libyan soldiers and civilians. In Mali, the government has turned to Wagner to help battle Islamist militants, although it has never officially acknowledged the group's presence. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Russian mercenaries of serious abuses, both in CAR and Mali, including torture and killings. Additional reporting by Beverly Ochieng, Thomas Spencer and Daniele Palumbo", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/08/05/do-you-know-about-the-agile-control-maturity-model-acmm/", "title": "Do You Know About the Agile Control Maturity Model (ACMM)?", "text": "Senior managers understand that adopting Agile teams is necessary for delivering value faster in a changing business environment, but it is not a guarantee for success. Many organizations struggle with monitoring progress and making corrections due to a lack of objective management information. The Agile Control Maturity Model (ACMM) helps senior management assess the control level over their Agile teams and the value they deliver. Most organizations are on low maturity levels (0 or 1) where predictability is low, but as they move to higher maturity levels (3, 4, or 5), they gain more control and benefits such as higher productivity. IDC Metri provides a checklist to help manage and measure Agile teams' performance.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IDCMetri_AVM_August2022Blog_TopGraphic.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50446623&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC Innovators: AI for Parametric Climate Insurance, 2023", "text": "IDC Innovators features five vendors in the AI for parametric climate insurance market: Understory, FloodBase, Arbol, Descartes Underwriting, and Kettle. Their solutions offer valuable climate risk insights and allow for personalized parametric insurance policies. This emerging industry has specialized and wholistic offerings with varying capabilities. Parametric insurance is disruptive, automated, data-driven, and offers faster and more certain payouts compared to traditional insurance.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-11-2937592e2ad8c0abec9f3c0d8e515a60.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/937/cpsprodpb/1225/live/a6182190-f361-11ed-b22f-011c83173b35.png", "label": 0, "text": "A council has issued a warning after several new cases of measles were confirmed.There have been three known cases in north-east England and one in the North West, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.Colin Cox, director of public health for Cumberland Council, said measles, mumps and rubella remained \"highly infectious\" conditions.He issued a reminder that the vaccine provided \"safe and effective protection\". He said those who had not had two doses, including children and adults, should have arranged to have their course completed with their GP.\u201cGetting vaccinated is important as these conditions can spread easily amongst unvaccinated people and lead to serious problems including meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy,\" he added.Cumberland Council said residents could check their vaccination records at their GP.The UKHSA said an uptake in routine childhood vaccinations had fallen during the Covid pandemic.Dr Sam Ghebrehewet from UKHSA North West said this was leaving people vulnerable to outbreaks \"especially as people travel abroad for summer holidays to places where measles is more common\".He said: \"It\u2019s important to remember that measles is not just a childhood illness and it\u2019s never too late to have the vaccine.\"Measles can be more severe in young people and adults, often leading to hospital admissions.\"Symptoms can often start with cold-like symptoms, developing into a rash., external Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/10219/production/_127737066_external-landscapenov22.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A board set up to oversee the closure of a 135-year-old theatre and its legacy is set to be the anchor tenant for a new theatre. Oldham Coliseum shut its doors in March after losing all its funding from Arts Council England (ACE). The theatre was unable to come up with a rescue plan despite a campaign to save it backed by actress Maxine Peake. Oldham Coliseum Board said it would work with the council on the new \u00a324m theatre and its cultural programme. An emotional night of performances and tributes led by Peake and actor Christopher Eccleston brought down the final curtain on the Coliseum. Oldham Council had said the playhouse building was not fit for purpose and had a \"litany of problems\" including asbestos as it unveiled plans for a new theatre supported by the ACE which has pledged almost \u00a31.85m for performing arts in the borough. Oldham Coliseum Board said on its website: \"We've agreed to be the anchor tenant for Oldham Council's new purpose-built theatre, scheduled to open in 2026 on Greaves Street.\" \"At the same time, we've taken up a seat at the table of the council's Performance Space Partnership Board with a view to supporting the development of the new space and its inner workings. \"We've also been working closely with Oldham Council on supporting the development of their proposal to Arts Council England for the \u00a31.84m funding to deliver a cultural programme across the borough between now and the opening of the new building, which the Coliseum will lead.\" It said it had \"started considering how a new venue could operate in Oldham, how we could commission and produce new work and how we could collaborate with other arts organisations and community groups\", adding it was \"exciting as there's so many opportunities\". It said once the funding for the cultural programme was confirmed and discussions with other key stakeholders had taken place, it would announce \"what part we will play in that offer\". Oldham Council said plans for the new theatre, set to be finished by 2026, would be submitted in the summer. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/C687/production/_129732805_gettyimages-1237824824.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "EU regulators have approved Microsoft's $69bn (\u00a355bn) attempt to purchase Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard. The European Commission (EC) said Microsoft had addressed their concerns on competition issues. It comes three weeks after the UK blocked the deal over worries it would hurt competition in the emerging cloud gaming business. The proposed takeover is poised to be the biggest deal in gaming history but has split global regulators. In order for the deal to go through Microsoft and Activision need approval from regulatory bodies in the UK, EU and the US. The US Federal Trace Commission filed a lawsuit in December to block the deal - a judge's decision is unlikely before the end of the year. Microsoft's big deal - what you need to know The EC have approved the acquisition, saying that Microsoft's offer of 10 year free licensing deals - which promise European consumers and cloud game streaming services access to Activision's PC and console games - mean there would be fair competition in the market. \"The commitments fully address the competition concerns identified by the Commission and represent a significant improvement for cloud gaming as compared to the current situation,\" the EU competition watchdog said in a statement. It said an in-depth market investigation indicated that Microsoft \"would not be able to harm rival consoles and rival multi-game subscription services\". And it said cloud game streaming service providers \"gave positive feedback and showed interest in the licences\", with some having already entered into agreements with Microsoft based on their proposals. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) shock veto of the deal last month had experts warning the deal now faces significant hurdles in order to be successful. Microsoft and Activision filed an appeal and have reportedly hired high-powered lawyers who have previously represented British Royals to fight that decision. On Thursday the CMA dealt a further blow by restricting Microsoft and Activision Blizzard from acquiring stakes in each other without \"prior written consent\". Reacting to the European Commission's statement, CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said they stood by their decision. \"Microsoft's proposals, accepted by the European Commission today, would allow Microsoft to set the terms and conditions for this market for the next 10 years,\" she added. \"They would replace a free, open and competitive market with one subject to ongoing regulation of the games Microsoft sells, the platforms to which it sells them, and the conditions of sale. \"This is one of the reasons the CMA's independent panel group rejected Microsoft's proposals and prevented this deal.\" The deal is important for Microsoft who are trying to play catch-up with its main competitors Sony. They have been the more successful of the two in recent years when it comes to sales in the console market. However, this attempted massive investment from Microsoft can been seen as a play for the future of games rather than its present. Microsoft is betting big on its Game Pass service, which can be described as a Netflix of games. They think the future lies in players having subscriptions to libraries rather than making one off purchases - which is the predominant way of accessing games at the moment. Their Game Pass offering is compelling but lacking the volume and calibre of new titles to fully transform the way most people play. This deal would give it control of some of the world's most popular games such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Overwatch. Being in charge of titles like that could be a big boost to the service. Cloud gaming is an extension of that principle allowing people to stream their game on any device they own - form a phone to a console or high-end PC. Just like watching Amazon Prime or Disney+ but with video games. Currently this is a small and emerging part of the games industry because of the technological requirements of making it work. It is however seemingly growing with the number of people playing this way in the UK having tripled between 2021 and 2022 according to the CMA. Microsoft have invested in this space and so combined with its Game Pass offering it is in a good position to lead the way, should cloud gaming go on to become a significant part of the industry. That is why the CMA decided to block the decision in the UK, arguing it would put Microsoft in too dominant a position in this up-and-coming sector. However many within the games industry have disagreed with their analysis - especially given how small the cloud gaming sector is in the grand scheme of things and given it is not be guaranteed to become the dominant way of accessing games in future. The American technology giants have not taken the setback in the UK quietly. Microsoft President Brad Smith said the CMA decision was \"bad for Britain\". \"It does more than shake our confidence in the future of the opportunity to grow a technology business in Britain than we've ever confronted before,\" he said in an interview with the BBC last month. \"There's a clear message here - the European Union is a more attractive place to start a business than the United Kingdom.\" The drama is far from over and there is a lot of money on the line. Activision Blizzard, for example, will still get $3bn from Microsoft if the deal fails. The EU taking an opposing position on the mega-deal could be read by some as a reflection of post-Brexit frictions with the UK. It is believed that Microsoft's recent 10-year licensing agreements with cloud streaming rivals Nvidia's GeForce Now, Ukraine's Boosteroid and Japan's Ubitus, played a role in the EC decision. Nintendo and Sony are also being promised access to keep Call of Duty on their gaming consoles - the Switch and PlayStation. This non-exclusivity for the Activision Blizzard game has helped smoothed the path. But the Xbox-maker hasn't agreed a compromise with Valve Corp which owns the world's largest video game distribution platform Steam, however it's boss Gabe Newell said he didn't need to sign a deal as he trusted their intentions. For more gaming content, go to Press X to Continue, the BBC Sounds gaming Podcast.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=lcUS50675823&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "", "text": "Please provide me with a text to summarize.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/default/default-img11-eb7d4a34d78dd153c6a7465a8218ddc5.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/2048/cpsprodpb/3bf0/live/cefe0050-f3e0-11ed-82e3-b5e4b2cf9588.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A new leader is being recruited for two hospital trusts providing services on the north and the south banks of the River Humber. In 2022 the boards at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) agreed to move towards a group leadership model. A new joint executive team, led by a joint chief executive will oversee the management of the two organisations. Recruitment for the position \"is well under way\" said HUTH, but the current bosses of both trusts will not be contenders after announcing they were leaving their positions earlier in the year. Chris Long, chief executive of HUTH announced hw will retire from the NHS later this year.Mr Long said: \u201c This has not been an easy decision but I feel that at the age of almost 63 I will not be able to provide the longevity in post that leading the transition of our two Trusts into a single group will require.\" NLAG chief executive Peter Reading has also announced he will be leaving his position. \"Working at NLAG has been both a personal and professional pleasure,\" he said.\"I have seen our staff achieve many amazing things in the past six years and they should be incredibly proud of that; I know I am. \"Their dedication to their roles, their ability to do them with humour and, when appropriate, with challenge, is as strong as any I have seen anywhere in the NHS throughout my career.\"Sean Lyons, chair at both HUTH and NLAG, said: \"We are continuing with our plans to create a Group structure with Hull University Teaching Hospitals and we expect to confirm the appointment of a Group Chief Executive to lead both NLAG and HUTH in the near future.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/10257/production/_129753166_0eb33a9300b554cffd790bb68d7a16ce7041624e.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has lost his appeal against a prison sentence for corruption. However, the Paris appeals court ruled that he could serve his time at home wearing a tag instead of going to jail. In 2021 Sarkozy was sentenced to three years in prison - including two suspended - for trying to influence a judge in a separate case. The 68 year-old was the first former French president to get a custodial sentence. Following Wednesday's ruling, Sarkozy's lawyer said she would launch a new challenge with the Court of Cassation, one of France's highest jurisdiction. \"Nicolas Sarkozy is innocent,\" lawyer Jacqueline Laffont said. \"We will take this all the way.\" The former president was convicted of attempting to obtain information about a case in 2014 - after he had left office - by suggesting he could secure a prestigious job for the judge. He has been banned from holding public office for three years. It is one of several corruption cases involving Sarkozy, who denies any wrongdoing. Earlier this month, prosecutors requested that he should face trial over to allegations that the Libyan government illegally contributed to his 2007 presidential bid. But investigating magistrates have the last word over whether a case should go to trial. Nicolas Sarkozy served one five-year term as president, until 2014. He adopted tough anti-immigration policies and sought to reform France's economy during a presidency overshadowed by the global financial crisis. Critics nicknamed him \"bling-bling\", seeing his leadership style as too brash, celebrity-driven and hyperactive for a role steeped in tradition and grandeur. France's Nicolas Sarkozy: 'Bling' and legal woes", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/11/16/idc-futurescape-worldwide-future-of-trust-2023-predictions/", "title": "IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Trust 2023 Predictions", "text": "The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on computing and the future of trust. Organizations are incorporating more technologies and digital identities into their everyday experiences, while consumers are becoming more aware and sensitive to data breaches. Data-driven insight is essential for privacy, security, compliance, risk, and ESG. Trust is a prerequisite for consumers to share personal data required for generating high-quality organizational insight.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FutureScape-FoTr-Blog-Banner-Image.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1659/production/_129712750_311c4c901bd03c99ea5ccb5d84f432b8233694f1.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A selection of powerful news photographs taken around the world this week. All photos subject to copyright", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/8204/production/_129748233_777e9dde-b705-461b-bf46-f9edae8aae44.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "BBC journalists in England will stage a 48-hour strike after rejecting revised plans on cuts to local radio. Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) will walk out on 7 and 8 June. They will also work to rule, which includes refusing to act-up to more senior roles. The BBC said it would continue to engage with the union in an effort to minimise the impact on its staff and audiences. The dispute centres on the BBC's plans for its 39 local radio stations to share more programmes. Some concessions were made in talks brokered by the conciliation service Acas but they did not go far enough, according to the union. BBC local services disrupted by 24-hour strikeGovernment 'concerned' by BBC local radio cutsBBC announces local radio programming cuts NUJ members working for BBC Local first walked out on strike on 15 March, in a move which disrupted some programming. A second strike planned to coincide with the local elections on 5 May was called off while members were balloted on the BBC's revised proposal. The union said the revised deal removed the risk of redundancy from 300 journalists and would see three extra pairs of weekend breakfast shows. But it has been rejected by members and those working in local radio, regional TV and online in England will strike in June. Paul Siegert, NUJ national broadcasting organiser, said: \"Many of our members who have had to reapply for their jobs and face redundancy have had a very bruising and upsetting time. \"This fight is about the heart of the BBC's public service remit. \"Local news is vital not just so people can be informed to be able to participate in local democracy, it binds communities together and for the many who will not be able to access local news digitally they will lose the familiar presenters who have become their friends. \"Local radio is not expensive in terms of the BBC's budget and we believe that the BBC could easily solve this dispute.\" A BBC spokesperson said: \"We're obviously disappointed with the result of the NUJ ballot. \"We will continue to engage with the union as we have done over the last few months in an effort to minimise the impact on our staff and our audiences. \"We have a plan to modernise local services across England - including more news journalists and a stronger local online service - which will see no overall reduction in staffing levels or local funding. \"Our goal is a local service across TV, radio and online that delivers even greater value to communities.\" Separately, members of the NUJ who work across BBC Northern Ireland are planning to strike on 19 May for 24 hours. They oppose plans to close 36 posts in an attempt to make \u00a32.3m in savings and invest more money in online services. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=lcUS50679923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "", "text": "Please provide the text that needs to be summarized.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-07-1f407c2954b57ce20b3f4657daae6fa2.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/08/10/why-real-time-is-imperative-for-enterprise-intelligence-and-a-better-customer-experience/", "title": "Why Real Time is Imperative for Enterprise Intelligence and a Better Customer Experience", "text": "The author discusses the inconvenience of having to update subscription billing information after receiving a new debit card due to a data breach. They highlight the importance of real-time experiences for customers and the benefits to businesses in terms of revenue growth, innovation, and customer experience. The article recommends investing in digital-first technologies, such as change data capture, for real-time streaming data to improve customer experience and drive business insights at scale.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FoIt-Blog-Image-August-2022-1200-\u00d7-900-px.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/02/22/the-era-of-finops-focus-is-shifting-from-cloud-features-to-cloud-value/", "title": "The Era of FinOps: Focus is Shifting from Cloud Features to Cloud Value", "text": "Cloud cost optimization is becoming a top priority for organizations due to tighter budgets and efficiency pressures. Up to 30% of cloud spend is categorized as \"waste\" spend that can be optimized. FinOps is a powerful methodology focused on people and processes that helps with visibility, strengthens cloud governance capabilities, fosters a culture of collaboration, and makes all users take responsibility for cloud costs. It is not an excuse to cut cloud use but rather a strategy critical for cloud success. Organizations can start small but start soon, explore FinOps enabling tech, adhere to industry standards, and remember that FinOps is a shared responsibility.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Blog-Social-Media-Tile-22.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49362223&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide and U.S. Business Consulting Services Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC predicts that the business consulting services market will continue to thrive due to global economic and political uncertainty. Providers will focus on efficiency, innovation, and growth solutions through combined tech and people solutions for their client needs.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_982/services-10-0db4217e072edb7cc7fa99fbdae24a2f.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/B698/production/_129744764_gettyimages-947535526.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A proposed holiday park in Cumbria would create hundreds of jobs without affecting one of the few UK habitats of a rare toad, its developer says. A planning application for around 450 lodges on the shore of the Duddon Estuary in Furness has been submitted. However, more than 4,000 people have signed a petition opposing the scheme at Roanhead Farm near Askam. Conservation groups have also expressed concerns about the impact on natterjack toads. Cumbria Wildlife Trust fears it will have \"unacceptable impacts\" at Duddon Estuary and Sandcastle Haws where it says one-quarter of the UK's population of the rare toads breed. If approved by Westmorland and Furness Council, the scheme would include a restaurant, gym, pool and children's petting farm. Andrew Coutts, chief executive of developer ILM Group, told BBC Radio Cumbria the \u00a3100m scheme would have a \"considerable economic impact\" and that environmental concerns were addressed by the plans. \"The investment is in excess of \u00a3100m. In terms of employment, the projected number of full-time employees is just over 270. \"The additional impact of resort guests in terms of numbers of people will be minimal. It isn't to say there won't be additional people, of course there will be. \"[And] we're very experienced in environmental impact assessments processes. Our ecologist worked with us for six months to understand the local habitats of different species.\" Mr Coutts said the creation of new habitats on the site, including breeding ponds for the toads, was being explored with council planners set to spend three months examining the overall plans. The authority has requested further information from ILM before details of the scheme are made available online and a consultation process can begin, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50668123&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Why Does Integration Remain Immune to Budget Reductions?", "text": "IDC survey finds integration investments resilient despite economic challenges, with high ranking due to its critical role in unlocking automation and AI projects.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1251/globalit-04-1854f8d484aad0532bf88c29729876bd.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/75E4/production/_129608103_0011_jjward_0011.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A collection of photographs shows how a city celebrated the coronations of kings and queens going back more than 100 years. Early images from the Coventry Digital collection show crowds gathering in the city centre to celebrate the coronation of George V in 1911. Others capture people coming together for the 1937 Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, as well as the ceremony to crown Queen Elizabeth II 16 years later. The online archive, run by Coventry University, celebrates the city's heritage and encourages people to upload their personal collections to its website. All photos, which are available to view on the Coventry Digital website, are subject to copyright. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/01/30/oracle-java-subscription-changes-what-is-the-impact-to-customers/", "title": "Oracle JAVA Subscription Changes \u2013 What Is the Impact to Customers?", "text": "Oracle has replaced its Java SE Subscriptions with a new Java SE Universal Subscription that requires customers to purchase licenses based on the total number of employees, regardless of whether they use the software or not. Customers with a high number of employees but few software installs could face bills in the millions per year. The new terms apply immediately for new customers and may apply at renewal for existing ones. Customers should assess their employee and partner counts and processor requirements to estimate future needs and consider third-party alternatives to Oracle JAVA.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SAS_OracleJavaBlog_January302023_HeaderImage-scaled.jpeg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/7E1B/production/_129738223_uploader-arlene-woodland.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Join us as we take a few moments every day to relax and enjoy the beauty of England through the stunning images you send us. Upload your images or email us at england@bbc.co.uk Upload your images or email us at england@bbc.co.uk. For inspiration, view some top tips from three of England's Big Picture photographers. When emailing pictures, please make sure you include the following information: The full name of the person who took the pictures (as this person owns the copyright)Confirmation that the copyright holder gives permission for the BBC to use their pictures across all its outputsThe location, date and time the pictures were takenYour telephone number so we can get back to you if we have any further questionsAny other details about the pictures that may be useful for us to know Please note that while we welcome all your pictures, we are more likely to use those which have been taken in the past week. Email your photographs to our colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Pictures can be found on Instagram, on the hashtags #BBCEngland and #EnglandsBigPicture and on our England's Big Picture board on Pinterest. If you submit a picture, you do so in accordance with the BBC's Terms and Conditions and the BBC's privacy policy. In contributing to England's Big Picture you agree to grant us a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to publish and otherwise use the material in any way that we want, and in any media worldwide. It's important to note, however, that you still own the copyright to everything you contribute to England's Big Picture, and that if your image is accepted, we will publish your name alongside. The BBC cannot guarantee that all pictures will be used and we reserve the right to edit your comments. At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws while collecting any kind of media.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/08/02/idc-cio-sentiment-survey-2022-the-future-cio-is-not-the-same-as-todays-cio/", "title": "IDC CIO Sentiment Survey 2022: The Future CIO Is Not the Same as Today\u2019s CIO", "text": "To discover more strategies CIOs will need in order to plan for contingencies and technologies, to create a dependable infrastructure that enables fault tolerance, read IDC\u2019s new eBook, CIO Sentiment Survey: Finding the North Star in a Turbulent Environment. The adage \u201cthe only constant is change\u201d is truer than ever in today\u2019s disrupted world \u2013 a world where the velocity, intensity, and frequency of change continues to push us to new heights, compelling IT to change itself and revisit how CIOs must lead this transformation.The IDC CIO Sentiment Survey 2022 was conducted in July 2022 (with 289 worldwide respondents) and revealed the extent to which digital business is accelerating and the global IT landscape transforming. The survey found that many CIOs face vital challenges in achieving their goals in these turbulent times. The good news is that many organizations are responding to these changes with agility, creativity, and innovation. But how are they doing it? How did they move from being reactive to proactive? What are some of the best practices for survival and success?The percentage of business coming from digital products, services, channels, or digitally driven improvement to operations has reached 50% of total business in 2022 and is similar in each region of the world \u2014 demonstrating that digital business is a rising global phenomenon.Today, IT teams compete globally for talent and can expect a comparable impact on their organization\u2019s business. On average, each full-time IT employee supports $13.29 million in revenue \u2014 a data point that is relatively consistent worldwide, with $14.70 million in North America; $13.96 million in Europe, Mideast, and Africa; and $12.39 million in Asia-Pacific.\u00a0It\u2019s not just the revenue generated per IT employee \u2014 it\u2019s about how they add value to product or service offerings by enabling digital business, improving customer experience, or making internal operations more efficient. IT is clearly the core engine for the success of a digital business.But beware of your perceptions. Our survey found that most CIOs overestimate their performance and how much others appreciate them. For example, when looking at their business process performance, 77% of IT executives estimate their overall performance as somewhat better or much better than the competition. This is significantly above the normal 50% average and highlights a clear, statistically demonstratable overestimation of performance.But responsibilities are increasing. Fifty-five percent of CIOs apply influence they gained during the pandemic to expand their role by adding new responsibilities in areas such as intelligence, privacy, innovation, transformation, safety, sustainability, or resilience.A minority of CIOs have established a stronger relationship with their CEO (16%) or have gained recognition as a business leader (18%). As the digital revolution accelerates further intertwining of business and IT, rising to a business leader is the only path forward for most CIOs.CIOs have constantly sought to deliver the largest and most numerous contributions from IT activities but, more than ever, they must now choose their battles and focus their efforts on helping the business deliver differentiated business outcomes.The IT group\u2019s most important business impacts across the organization are enabling it to respond more quickly to change (cited by 85% of respondents) and taking the business online, virtual, and contactless (84%). To do this, the IT organization must apply that differentiated approach in the current context of uncertainty and volatility:For Future CIOs, navigating the winds of change requires a new approach \u2014 no longer is more and faster a viable approach. Now, a focus on high-impact initiatives with discerning business outcomes is the key:IDC\u2019s CIO Sentiment Survey 2022 has disproven the old age, \u201cThe more things change, the more they stay the same.\u201d Digital business has demonstrably become a worldwide phenomenon with opportunities and inevitable challenges, for customers, employees, and organization leaders \u2014 but none more so than CIOs. To discover more strategies CIOs need to plan for contingencies and technologies to create a dependable infrastructure that enables fault tolerance, read IDC\u2019s new eBook, CIO Sentiment Survey: Finding the North Star in a Turbulent Environment. Click the button below to download the eBook now.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/SFindling_CIO-Sentiment-Blog_Featured-Image-1.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49402723&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Content Delivery Networks Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC predicts major transformation of the CDN market with enhanced security services portfolio, investment in edge computing infrastructure and services, and expansion of appeal to developer community. The traditional CDN market is now secure edge application delivery.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1956/innovationaccel-06-b08a2d7ef8b9f6cf7ec6ff825224389e.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/108A6/production/_128205776_mediaitem128205775.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "On 9 January 1923 Edith Thompson and her lover Frederick Bywaters were executed for the murder of her husband, even though there was no evidence she knew he would be stabbed. Why was she convicted, and how does the case still resonate a century later? The hangman and his assistants arrived promptly at the condemned cell of London's Holloway Prison on what was an icy Tuesday morning. Before them 29-year-old Edith Thompson lay slumped, barely conscious following days of injections of a powerful sedative. She let out a moan as the execution team moved in. \"Come on, it'll soon be over,\" one of the men tells her as he raises her by the waist. Edith's arms and ankles are bound and she is carried towards a shed where a gallows and trapdoor await. Within seconds, she is dead. Half a mile away in Pentonville Prison, and at the same time, her 20-year-old lover suffered the same fate. Three months earlier Freddy Bywaters had repeatedly stabbed Edith's husband Percy as the married couple made their way home from a trip to the theatre. Freddy always insisted it was an attack his lover did not know was coming. Edith's crime was to be attractive, independent, working class and unfaithful - the victim, according to one expert on the case, of a societal intolerance of women who did not obey the moral codes of the day. As the prolific novelist and screenwriter Edgar Wallace put it: \"If ever in the history of this country a woman was hanged by the sheer prejudice of the uninformed public, and without the slightest modicum of evidence to justify the hanging, that woman was Edith Thompson.\" Edith Graydon was someone who wanted a life that was different from the one working-class women were expected to accept. Born in the east London suburb of Manor Park on Christmas Day in 1893, she was the first of five children. As the eldest, Edith would help her mother look after her sister and three brothers. Once her schooling was complete, the ambitious and intelligent young woman headed into the City for work, joining wholesale milliners Carlton & Prior. She quickly rose within the ranks to become the firm's chief buyer. \"She was a sort of so-called ordinary woman who wanted to be extraordinary,\" says author Laura Thompson, who has written two books about the case. In January 1916 Edith married shipping clerk Percy Thompson. They bought a house at 41 Kensington Gardens in Ilford, not far from where both had grown up. Edith earned more than her new husband - and also her father - and contributed more than half the \u00a3250 cost of the property, although the deeds had to be in Percy's name. As a newly married young woman she would have been expected to settle into domestic life and motherhood, but Edith had other ideas. An excellent dancer, she enjoyed nights out at London's finest hotels and dance halls - places not intended for people of her social standing - and evenings were often spent with friends at West End theatres, cinemas and restaurants. \"I find her such a modern figure, she's a sort of Grazia girl,\" says Ms Thompson, who is not related to Edith. \"She's a girl about town. She's ambitious, she's aspirational. She wanted to own her own home which she did even though it had to be in her husband's name.\" Unwilling to be bound by the conventions of the time, Edith was not an ordinary wife. What is more, she had a lover, a handsome and charming man more than eight years her junior. Frederick Bywaters knew the Graydon family as he was in the same class at school as one of Edith's brothers. At the age of 13, Freddy left London to join the Merchant Navy. During a visit home in June 1921 he was invited to the Isle of Wight for a weeklong holiday with Percy, Edith and her sister Avis Graydon. By the end of the trip a furtive romance had begun between the teenager and Edith, which only flourished when Freddy was invited to move in with the Thompsons for a few weeks. He would end up leaving 41 Kensington Gardens following a confrontation with Percy, who was sometimes abusive towards his wife. During the argument she was thrown across the room by Percy, leaving her badly bruised. With Freddy often away, the lovers wrote to one other frequently in letters Edith instructed must be destroyed after reading. \"They're remarkable documents,\" says Ms Thompson, whose new book examines the letters in detail. \"They're so expressive, they're sort of her other self poured on the page.\" In one letter, Edith jumps from describing the mundane ins and outs of daily life to expressing thoughts about sex, abortion and suicide. She would often flit between fact and fantasy; on occasion there was content that was seemingly rather sinister. Edith, an avid reader of fiction, would sometimes imagine herself as a character from a novel and in doing so would hint at wanting to be rid of Percy, perhaps by adding small pieces of glass to his food. In one letter she wrote: Yesterday I met a woman who had lost three husbands and not through the war, two were drowned and one committed suicide, and some people I know can't lose one. How unfair everything is. Bess and Reg are coming to dinner Sunday. Another said: I was buoyed up with the hope of the 'light bulb' and I used a lot - big pieces too - not powdered - and it had no effect - I quite expected to be able to send you that cable - but no - nothing has happened from it. University College London professor Ren\u00e9 Weis, who has studied the case for decades, believes the letters show no more than the \"workings of an overwrought romantic imagination\". For Edith, these fantasies would prove to be deadly. On 3 October 1922 Edith and Percy spent the evening watching the comedy The Dippers at the Criterion Theatre near Piccadilly Circus. After the show they boarded a Tube to Liverpool Street before catching a train to Ilford. As they walked along Belgrave Road towards their house, a man barged into the couple. He set upon Percy, who within seconds was lying motionless on the ground. The 32-year-old shipping clerk had sustained several knife wounds to his neck. Daylight would reveal his blood splattered along a 44ft (13m) stretch of the road. A murder investigation was soon under way. Percy's brother told police they should speak to Freddy. The 20-year-old's room in his mother's home was searched and the first of Edith's love letters was found. She too was now under suspicion. In a corridor at Ilford police station, detectives arranged it so that Edith and Freddy would set eyes on one other, in the hope she would incriminate herself. After this encounter, she wailed: \"Why did he do it? I didn't want him to do it. Oh God, oh God, what can I do? I must tell the truth.\" His cabin on his ship, the Morea, was searched and more letters were discovered locked in a box, including those that mentioned Edith's apparent desire for Percy to be out of the picture. Freddy did not deny stabbing Percy, but claimed the older man had struck out at him and he had acted in self-defence. When he was told that Edith was also to be charged with murder, Freddy replied: \"Why her? Mrs Thompson was not aware of my movements.\" Details from the letters were splashed across the newspapers in reports of the pre-trial hearings. The defendants found themselves at the centre of a storm. \"They were glamourous. They had an almost film-star air to them,\" Ms Thompson says. \"He looked like a Rupert Brooke figure, almost, and she must have had a huge erotic charge about her.\" On 6 December 1922, Edith and Freddy were led into a packed courtroom at the Old Bailey for their murder trial. Crowds had massed early outside the famous London court, with a place in the public gallery the premium seat in the capital. Towards the end of the nine-day trial, unemployed men were lining up outside the building each night and then selling their places in the queue the next morning for more than the average weekly wage in Britain. For writer Beverley Nichols, who was a young reporter at the time and was present throughout the trial, the case had the air of \"the days of the Roman Empire when the Christians were thrown to the lions\". Speaking on a BBC radio programme in 1973, he described how the Old Bailey \"had the atmosphere of a first night\". \"You had all these people who might be in the dress circle or the stalls; a great many society women, sensation-seekers, and they were all treating it as if it were a thing for which they paid for their seats.\" Artists from Madame Tussauds were also in courtroom number one, sketching the two latest villains the attraction hoped to install in its Chamber of Horrors. As crucial evidence for the prosecution, extracts from the love letters were read out in court. Such was the vocal reaction from the public gallery, the jurors were instructed to read the passages to themselves. \"The horror of having them read out in court, that's what kills me - those private, intimate words and the public gallery behaving like crazed lunatics listening to this private, private stuff - it's like trying to torture someone, I think,\" says Ms Thompson. The timing of the case, in the aftermath of World War One, seemed to add to a brewing sense of hatred towards Edith, as Prof Weis explains. \"The narrative went that Britain was full of war widows and here was an uppity and selfish young woman, from a modest background at that, who had everything - looks, a lovely house, money, a good husband, dinners, dances, theatres. And look what she did. One good man wasn't enough for her. \"The public came to admire Freddy and intensely dislike Edith, a siren who had seduced a young man and thus set in motion a chain reaction that resulted in one man's death and the certain execution of a 'lad',\" Prof Weis says. The public's dislike of Edith was evidently shared by the judge, Mr Justice Shearman, who would repeatedly interject on the side of the prosecution. During his summing up, he told the jurors - whom he would only address as gentlemen even though two were women - how he felt about Edith's adultery: \"I am certain that you, like any other right-minded person, will be filled with disgust at such a notion.\" The evidence against her was at best flimsy. Percy's body was tested for poison and traces of glass but nothing incriminating was found. Witness accounts supported Edith's assertion she had been taken by surprise on the night her husband was stabbed. The book that sank on the Titanic and burned in the Blitz'Mum was embarrassed about her WW2 bravery medal'The Sierra Leonean airman shot down over Nazi Germany Despite her barrister's desperate pleas, Edith took to the stand to give evidence. \"That to me was a sign of innocence, that you would be so adamant that you would want to do that,\" says Ms Thompson. But Edith had made a dreadful mistake. The prosecution manipulated what she had written in the letters, finding false narratives and giving misleading time periods \"to tie her up in knots\". On 11 December the jury went out; a verdict was reached after two hours of deliberations. A terrified Edith was half-carried back into the courtroom to be told she and Freddy had been found guilty of murder. \"The jury is wrong. That woman is not guilty,\" cried out Freddy amid a commotion in the courtroom. A black cap was placed over Mr Justice Shearman's wig as he sentenced them to death. Edith let out a guttural cry as she was taken down to the cells. A petition to spare Freddy from the hangman's noose received more than a million signatures. Edith, though, seemed not to inspire much sympathy. \"Women disliked her because they feared her; she was one of those women that other women think men fancy, and she was troubling and she couldn't be pitied,\" says Ms Thompson. \"She really never stood a chance.\" Opinion pieces appeared in the newspapers, the majority of them scathing. \"There were no circumstances in the case to evoke the slightest sympathy,\" the Times wrote. \"The whole case was simple and sordid.\" Self-proclaimed feminist Rebecca West wrote that Edith \"was, poor child, a shocking little piece of rubbish\". After the execution, women would write to Home Secretary William Bridgeman thanking him for defending the honour of their sex by not allowing the death sentence to be commuted. Edith wrote letters from prison, highlighting the anguish of a woman facing obliteration. In one note to her parents she remarked: Today seems the end of everything. I can't think - I just seem up against a blank, thick wall, through which neither my eyes nor my thoughts can penetrate. It's not within my powers of realisation that this sentence must stand for something which I have not done, something I did not know of, either previously or at the time. Every woman sentenced to death during the previous decade had been reprieved, yet pleas on Edith's behalf were rejected. \"When you see the contortions which the Home Office underwent to ensure that she was executed, it's really quite terrifying,\" says Ms Thompson, who believes Edith's adultery was seen as \"an attack on morality\" - the sort of behaviour that risked \"destroying the institution of marriage and destroying all that was good\". In September 1923 an auction of the Thompsons' household goods was held at the marital home, attracting huge interest. One of the auction staff described how \"the privet hedge was left bare of every leaf because the people who attended wanted to say to their friends they had something from the house\". The waxworks of Edith and Freddy were the top attraction at Madame Tussauds, the fascination with the case seemingly inexhaustible. They were removed from the Chamber of Horrors in the 1980s. The figures are today in storage; their wax degrading, the paint peeled away. Prof Weis has for many years fought to have Edith pardoned. In 2018 her body was reburied alongside her parents at the City of London Cemetery in Manor Park. \"I was hoping to fulfil her mother's dying wishes,\" he says. \"Now at least she is home with them.\" For Ms Thompson, Edith's fate remains relevant, even though it is more than 50 years since capital punishment ended in Britain. \"It's important to remind people nothing changes, prejudice always exists; it just shape-shifts. \"There is an awful warning in this story: check your worst impulses towards people to whom you feel prejudice. We live in a cancelling culture - she was literally cancelled - and it's a very, very dangerous impulse but society finds it hard to resist.\" Story edited by Ben Jeffrey Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/11ECD/production/_129712437_cambridge_electric_bus_atstagecoach_east_976.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Thirty new electric buses costing almost \u00a3500,000 each have joined a fleet taking passengers around Cambridge. Stagecoach East is introducing the new double-deckers across routes from Sunday. Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), which helped fund the fleet, said they would \"help tackle pollution\" and encourage bus travel. The bus company already has two electric vehicles, introduced in 2020. The new fleet has been funded by the CPCA, Greater Cambridge Partnership, Stagecoach East and the Department for Transport, following a successful bid to the government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme. The combined authority said the buses \"emit 72% less well-to-wheel CO2 emissions than an equivalent-size diesel bus\". The introduction of the new vehicles means 31% of Stagecoach's Cambridge bus fleet will be electric. Cambridge congestion charge: Your viewsReferendum on city congestion charge rejected The Swedish message to UK congestion charge cities The Labour Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, said it was \"marking a turning point for public transport in the region\". \"Removing 30 diesel buses from our historic city and replacing them with these new vehicles will not only have a positive impact on the health of our region by reducing air and noise pollution, but will also help in the broader fight against climate change as we embrace these new and exciting technologies,\" he said. He said the authority aimed to have \"all buses and taxis operating within the area [with] zero emissions by 2030\". Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50583123&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide and U.S. Custom Application Development Services Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC forecasts spending for custom application development services from 2023 to 2027, with advice for providers and analysis of key trends, drivers, and inhibitors. The market was mixed in 2022, with growth in the Americas and challenges in Europe and APAC due to economic fluctuations. Future opportunities will shift from operational efficiency to enabling innovation, driving profitability, and enhancing efficiency.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-10-5cb156b2517294d4dcc732d209cdaafa.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49161723&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide and U.S. Business Process Outsourcing Services Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC study forecasts stable growth for the worldwide BPO services market from 2023 to 2027, with many providers seeing solid revenue growth despite challenging macroeconomic conditions. Reductions in budgets are expected in professional services over managed services or consulting.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_431/software-04-e422844a69ba55c0747c05354dd5001d.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/0C2C/production/_129661130_beau-runsten-mr-n67xjthg-unsplash-edit2.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "If you are a marathon runner in search of a personal best, your body shape could be just as important as your training, analysis suggests. A study of 170 Ironman contestants found tall, leggy runners performed better in warm climates, while shorter, stockier people had the upper hand in colder temperatures. But the effect is seen in men only, the researchers say. Natural selection probably means the fastest men became the best hunters. Study author Prof Ryan Calsbeek, a professor of biological sciences, at Dartmouth College, in the US, said his research was among the first to suggest human physiology may be adapted to climate to optimise physical performance. \"Global patterns of temperature and climate may have shaped human body types to look and perform the way they do,\" he said. So even before athletes leave the starting line in Ironman triathlons, marathons and other endurance events, some men may be better suited than others to racing - based on their body type and the temperatures they are running in. Daily walk prevents one in 10 early deaths - studyPumping weights could help you live longerExercise addicts urged to build in rest days Humans, it turns out, may be just like animals, with cold-adapted species tending to be burlier with thicker, shorter limbs to limit heat loss. And in hotter climates, sleeker human (and animal) physiques are built to keep cool efficiently. The research, published in the journal PLOS ONE, analysed 171 triathletes who had competed in at least two Ironman events - one in a hot location, the other in a cold one - and used software to measure the athletes' physiques, based on photos from the competitions. Ironman participants have to: swim 3.8km (2.4 miles)cycle 180kmrun 42.2km Triathletes were chosen for the study because their event is a perfect way of studying how the size and shape of the human body affects performance. \"There is one event, running in particular, that we know to be important in the evolution of humans and two events - swimming and cycling - that are not,\" Prof Calsbeek said, which made comparisons very useful. He found the greatest difference in performance based on physique came in the running section. Endurance athletes are urged to think about which climates their body shape and type might be naturally suited to, while not taking their eye off the ball on training and motivation either. \"People attempting a personal best time can think about race locations and average temperatures, to pick a venue based on how their body type is adapted to perform,\" Prof Calsbeek said.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/08/designing-a-sales-training-program-fit-for-todays-market-challenges/", "title": "Designing a Sales Training Program Fit for Today\u2019s Market Challenges", "text": "A training program for sales teams should include strategic priorities of business buyers, key industry knowledge, and consulting-based framework. The program should go beyond product features and benefits and broaden to what is expected of the sales and marketing teams. The most enabled teams have a deep understanding of their product, industry, and customers, including their pain points and desired business outcomes. They can confidently map solutions to customer's business priorities and KPIs with validated data. IDC provides a content framework for building an empowered sales team. Contact them for help.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SE_training_blog.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/10/24/how-to-overcome-the-agitators-and-win-the-digital-content-marketing-challenge/", "title": "How to Overcome B2B Digital Marketing Challenges", "text": "Good content marketing needs to provide personalized and relevant content to drive leads and shorten the sales cycle. It must also offer a unique perspective, address specific concerns of target personas, and be delivered in high-production digital formats. IDC's content marketing services can help provide market intelligence and insights to enhance your strategy. IDC's research-based assets engage and educate target audiences through the buyer's journey. Content bundles are available to fill your calendar quickly and effectively.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/content-marketing-professionals-around-table-content-planning-scaled.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49472823&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Home Video Game Console Market Shares, 2022: Xbox Shined Digitally While Nintendo Switch Slid", "text": "The IDC study compares major video game consoles' market share from 2013-2022, with a focus on 2021-2022. The study tracks global market shares for several platforms and briefly examines the impact of digital-only microconsoles, streaming media players, and smart TVs supporting gaming services. Microsoft's Xbox outperformed its size in digital game-related spending in 2022. Nintendo Switch showed its age in hardware shipment/sales, while Sony's PlayStation remained on top but started slipping in some key metrics relative to 2021.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_433/consumer-02-233218da3bc968a6c95726412141e15f.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/53F3/production/_129719412_mediaitem129719410.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "An outdoor exhibition revealing the hidden life of hill farming has gone on show in Upper Teesdale. Photographer Joanne Coates spent a year documenting life on Herdship farm in the North Pennines, capturing tenant farmers Paul and Jen Johnson. The resulting photographs are being exhibited in the field at the Langdon Beck Hotel until 4 June. \"I hope it shows the hard work that hill farmers are doing to try and farm in a sustainable way,\" Joanne said. The photographer, who has worked as a farm labourer and still occasionally milks cows, said it was important to tell stories close to her and to show the challenges of working in agriculture. \"Hill farmers are custodians of the land and put an immense amount of care into what they do,\" she said. \"It is not only for today that they farm, but for the future. This isn't often understood, and it was a really important element for me, to showcase this story of one who cares for the land.\" While the collection spans the seasons, one photograph which resonates with the photographer is of Paul in winter, stood on the snow-covered fell tops, looking out over the landscape. \"He is wearing the same jacket he is wearing in autumn, on a sunny day, on a windy day,\" explained Joanne, who is based in Swaledale, North Yorkshire. \"I asked him what it means to be a tenant farmer and what it would mean if hill farming wasn't possible any more. \"He just looked out over the landscape and it was the way he was looking, it spoke with that emotion and it was a real quiet moment - what would his life look like, what would his community be like, if farming wasn't there any more?\" Just 20 photographs were chosen from a catalogue of 400, showing life, work and the natural year, and have been mounted on posts which will be repurposed for tree guards at the end of the Herdship exhibition. Paul Johnson said looking after nature was \"part of our everyday business\" and he and his wife took part in the project because they wanted to show the work that goes into a hill farm, and \"the nature-friendly way\" they farm, working with wildflowers and birds. The free exhibition is part of the Tees-Swale: naturally connected programme, delivered by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Duncan Peake, chief executive of the Raby Estate, where the farm is located, said: \"Upper Teesdale is a special place for people and nature, but this hasn't happened by accident. \"Farmers such as Paul and Jen Johnson have adapted their farming methods to create the right conditions for wildlife to thrive, and this way of farming with nature is at the heart of the Tees-Swale programme.\" All images subject to copyright Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=AP50532623&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC MarketScape: Asia/Pacific Manufacturing Execution Systems 2023 Vendor Assessment", "text": "IDC MarketScape evaluated 15 solution providers in the Asia/Pacific MES market using a comprehensive framework. MES solutions improve production efficiency and require customization and integration support from solution providers to achieve organizational goals.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-06-eae149f04829c51d0bafd1f7e9c7cfaf.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50499123&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Tablet Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC study forecasts global tablet shipments from 2023-2027. Consumers are making more informed decisions based on budget and needs.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-02-06ac15209fabc1991d33e47e8c62e044.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1D5A/production/_129741570_6424554b-6a6e-4b3e-8a9c-d06c8150f20a.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Vodafone will axe 11,000 jobs over the next three years as the new chief executive sets out her plans to \"simplify\" the telecoms giant. The cuts equal around a tenth of its global workforce and will affect its UK headquarters and other countries. Margherita Della Valle, who is also Vodafone's finance director, said its \"performance has not been good enough\". Vodafone has 12,000 staff in Britain, based in seven offices including at its UK headquarters in Berkshire. The firm, which had 104,000 staff worldwide last year, has already outlined plans to cut jobs in some areas. The UK telecoms giant has struggled with higher energy bills which are driving up costs and impacting its profits. It has also seen weaker sales in Germany, its biggest market, as well as Italy and Spain where it has struggled to keep pace with rivals. \"Part of that can be tied to falling customer satisfaction levels in those regions,\" said Matt Britzman, an analyst at investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown. Vodafone's broadband service in the UK was the second most complained about of any major provider in the three months to December, according to the industry watchdog Ofcom. It also faced embarrassment in April when a problem knocked out its broadband services for around 11,000 UK customers. \"To consistently deliver, Vodafone must change,\" said Ms Della Valle, who was appointed as Vodafone's new chief in January, and is serving as its interim finance director until a replacement is found. \"My priorities are customers, simplicity and growth. We will simplify our organisation, cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness.\" It announced the job cuts after reporting a small rise in full year sales to \u20ac45.7bn (\u00a339.7bn) and a fall in pre-tax profits. It also posted a sharp drop in cash flow and forecast earnings would be \"broadly flat\" for the current financial year. Vodafone's former boss Nick Read stepped down in December following concerns over the company's performance. During his four years in charge the firm's share price fell sharply. Mr Britzman agreed with Ms Della Valle's assessment of Vodafone's business, describing it as \"lacklustre\" in recent years. He said her honesty about the challenges Vodafone is facing is \"refreshing\" but investors were yet to be convinced she could turn things around. Shares in the telecoms giant fell by 5% on Tuesday. Victoria Scholar, from Interactive Investor, the share trading platform, said Ms Della Valle had a tough task ahead with shares \"languishing at lows not seen since the late 1990s\". \"She needs to continue to focus on cutting costs, the turnaround plan in Germany and M&A [merger and acquisition] opportunities in the UK and abroad to bolster the firm's market share, find efficiencies, and improve its pricing power.\" Do you work for Vodafone? Is your job at risk? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSayUpload pictures or videoPlease read our terms & conditions and privacy policy If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/94E3/production/_129751183_gettyimages-1231180553.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Eight out of 10 South African school children struggle to read by the age of ten, an international study has found. South Africa ranked last out of 57 countries assessed in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, which tested the reading ability of 400,000 students globally in 2021. Illiteracy among South African children rose from from 78% in 2016 to 81%. The country's education minister blamed the results on school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic. Describing the results as \"disappointingly low\", Angie Motshekga also said the country's education system was faced with significant historical challenges, including poverty, inequality and inadequate infrastructure. In many primary schools \"reading instruction often focuses solely on oral performance, neglecting reading comprehension and making sense of written words\", she added. The study showed that 81% of South African children could not read for comprehension in any of the country's 11 official languages. Alongside Morocco and Egypt, South Africa was one of only three African countries which participated in the assessments to monitor trends in literacy and reading comprehension of nine- and 10-year-olds. Based on tests taken every five years at the end of the school year, the new study places countries in a global education league table. Singapore secured top spot in the rankings with an average score of 587, while South Africa ranked last on 288 points - below second-last Egypt's average of 378. The scores are benchmarked against an international average of 500. The study also showed that overall, girls were ahead of boys in their reading achievement in nearly all of the assessed countries, but the gender gap has narrowed in the most recent testing round. South Africa's struggles with its education system are longstanding, with significant inequality between black and white students a consequence of the segregation of children under apartheid. Education is one the single biggest budget expenses for the government, which can lead to disappointment over poor performance in studies like this. A lack of suitable reading materials and inadequate infrastructure in schools, often things like toilets, have contributed to the crisis.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=lcUS50676023&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "", "text": "I'm sorry, I cannot summarize without any text provided. Please provide the text you would like me to summarize.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1956/innovationaccel-01-5602b1ae50f269fd073f8fabd452c5c8.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/09/02/macroeconomic-challenges-for-smbs-and-how-they-are-responding/", "title": "Macroeconomic Challenges for SMBs and How They Are Responding", "text": "Small and medium-sized companies are facing multiple challenges in today's turbulent business landscape, including inflation, supply chain disruptions, recession, rising energy costs, and political unrest. SMBs need to apply technology smartly to weather the economic storms and focus on efficiency, cost savings, productivity, and automation. The specific concerns of SMBs vary by region, with APAC SMBs concerned about economics such as inflation and exchange rates while North American and European SMBs rank energy costs as top concerns. Supply chain concerns rank high in North America while SMBs in Europe and APAC note that the conflict in Ukraine is causing more business and IT supply chain disruptions. COVID-19 has impacted SMBs worldwide but the impact is 20 percentage points greater in APAC than other regions. Smaller SMBs say supply chain issues are leading to a lack of IT equipment/materials while larger SMBs report that supply chain disruptions are extending the time it takes to complete IT projects. Two-thirds of global SMBs report that they are currently impacted in some way by inflation. To boost resiliency, SMBs need to move to technologies that will power their businesses for growth before they become entrenched with legacy systems and processes that are difficult to replace.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/SMB-blog-header-image-FA.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/12/14/idc-futurescape-worldwide-future-of-operations-2023-predictions/", "title": "IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Operations 2023 Predictions", "text": "IDC has developed the Data-Driven Operations framework and maturity model to help organizations improve operational performance. However, achieving operational excellence and resilience remains challenging due to supply chain disruptions, rising energy costs, talent constraints, and pressure to improve sustainability metrics. Becoming a data-driven organization requires an honest assessment of the current state and a willingness to embrace changes. The next five years will be transformational as organizations find new and more effective ways to manage, analyze, and collaborate around their operational data. IDC's top 10 predictions explore the timeline and implications of major aspects of DDO.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/FutureScape-Blog-Banner-No-Text.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/02/03/5-key-actions-to-recession-proof-your-business-with-data/", "title": "5 Key Actions to Recession-Proof Your Business with Data", "text": "The current economic climate presents challenges such as a tumbling stock market, interest rate hikes, and an emerging recession. However, economic downturns can also present opportunities for companies that use data to maintain and improve their strategies and services. To navigate an economic slowdown, it's important to use reliable, up-to-date data to make informed decisions about forecasting, understanding customers, and balancing cutting costs with investing in growth. Enriching first-party data with external sources can also provide valuable insights and help companies stay relevant. Companies that balance cutting costs with investing in growth are more likely to flourish during and after a recession. Programs like IDC's Emerging Vendor Solutions can help increase market awareness and find prospective clients.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Blog-Social-Media-Tile-18.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/10D10/production/_129708886_percypigicecream.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "An ice cream parlour that renamed a product after a letter from Marks and Spencer said it \"couldn't keep up\" with the positive messages it had received. Fabio's Gelato, based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, was asked not to use the name Percy Pig in its ice cream. Owner Fabio Vincenti said it was a case of two companies that \"came together and came up with a good solution instead of arguing\". \"There wasn't any negativity, it was just well thought out,\" he said. Marks & Spencer said the Percy Pig name, which started life as a bag of sweets in 1992 but has since evolved to other ranges, could only be used on \"official M&S products\". Mr Vincenti posted a picture of the ice cream on social media last week and three days later he received a \"polite and fair\" letter from M&S asking for the name change. It said he could continue to use the sweets, but not the name of the product. After the letter was posted on social media and featured in the news, he said: \"I couldn't keep up with messages and notifications from friends and family and just messages from customers. \"I reckon 99% were positive, [they were] really chuffed to see it on TV, on the news, and saying 'well done'.\" 'Frantically making more' The ice cream has now been renamed \"Notorious P.I.G\", following an appeal on social media for a new moniker. Based on the rapper the Notorious B.I.G., Mr Vincenti said it was \"pretty funny, it made us laugh\". \"We saw another really good one - Hog'n Dazs - which was brilliant, but we said, 'we just can't use that',\" he said. Why are Percy Pigs a headache for M&S? He said since it had been on sale the flavour had \"gone down really well, we're frantically making more\". Mr Vincenti said he had to buy more sweets to make the ice cream \"so I'm still funding M&S\". He believed other parlours could recreate the ice cream and \"hopefully it'll be the flavour of the summer\". Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or get in touch via WhatsApp on 0800 169 1830", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/E6EB/production/_129751195_ff6f11235e8ad286b4fd5915598f05b6de7a00be.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Former prime minister Liz Truss has made a personal plea for Rishi Sunak to brand China as a \"threat\" to UK security during a visit to Taiwan. The ex-prime minister challenged Mr Sunak to deliver on pledges he made last summer to clamp down on China. Ms Truss made the speech in Taipei City on Wednesday, making her the first former prime minister to visit Taiwan since Margaret Thatcher. The Chinese Embassy called Ms Truss's visit \"a dangerous political stunt\". It added that the visit \"will do nothing but harm to the UK\". In the speech, Ms Truss urged the West not to work with China, warning that totalitarian regimes \"don't tell the truth\". She drew comparisons between the tensions between China and Taiwan, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. During the Conservative party leadership contest, Ms Truss pledged to take a firm stance against the Chinese government, and wanted to declare China under Communist Party rule a \"threat\" to national security. But after her short-lived time in No 10, her plans were never realised. Her successor Rishi Sunak, also declared China as \"the biggest-long term threat to Britain\", and promised to close all 30 of Beijing's Confucius Institutes in the UK. Confucius Institutes, which teach Chinese language and culture, came under fire after critics and charities accused the centres of being used by the Chinese government to spread propaganda under the guise of teaching, interfere with free speech on campuses, and even spy on students. While Mr Sunak has not closed the institutes, the UK government is expected to promise that it will stop funding Mandarin teaching at the centres. In her speech, Ms Truss said Mr Sunak was \"right\" to make those pledges. \"We need to see those policies enacted urgently,\" she added. The prime minister updated the UK's integrated review on foreign and defence policy in March to describe China as representing an \"epoch-defining and systemic challenge\". In her speech, Ms Truss said the review needed to be amended to \"state clearly that China is a threat\". She called on the UK government to support Taiwan joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement - and for it to block China from joining. UK agrees to join Asia's trade club - but what is it? The former prime minister also called for the development of \"an economic Nato\", which \"supports freedom and proper free enterprise\". She suggested countries including the G7 nations, members of the EU, South Korea and Australia could join this kind of group. Ms Truss said: \"We cannot rely now on the UN security council, which was recently chaired by Putin's Russia. \"We cannot rely on the World Trade Organisation to make sure fair trade rules are in place. That's why we need other alternatives to get things done.\" Ms Truss made the speech at the invitation of the Prospect Foundation, a think tank. It forms part of the former UK leader's five-day visit to the country. Last week, senior Conservative MP Alicia Kearns accused former Prime Minister Liz Truss of \"Instagram diplomacy\" over her planned visit to Taiwan. Ms Kearns, who chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs committee, told the Guardian the trip was \"performative, not substantive\". But Ms Truss accused her Tory colleague of \"misusing\" her position \"to engage in petty political attacks\", and said her visit aimed to show \"solidarity\" with Taiwan. Taiwan and China split in 1949 following a civil war that ended with the Communist Party in control of the mainland. China views Taiwan as Chinese territory. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50604323&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide and U.S. Enterprise Network Consulting and Integration Services Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "The IDC study discusses the importance of network consulting and integration services for enterprises in the 2023-2027 forecast period due to the increasing complexity of networks and their critical role in digital business success.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-06-716b5f74cf3ce2831f6ce911625635d3.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/d6a6/live/5a4aca10-f3e3-11ed-92cc-b3a9bf1f67e9.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Testing of a new television transmitter could have a \"minor\" effect on reception, its owners have said.The previous Bilsdale mast was destroyed in a fire in August 2021 leaving about a million people in Teesside, North Yorkshire and County Durham without TV coverage.Arqiva said there was a \"small possibility of minor interruptions to TV services\" as its replacement was checked.The company had written to affected households but the majority of viewers would notice no difference, it said. The antenna on the new mast uses the same channels and frequencies as the 80m temporary tower.Most viewers in the region are receiving signal from the interim structure and so may not need to retune when the new 984ft (300m) tall mast goes live. Fewer than 5,000 households may not automatically receive signals from the new mast and have been told what to do if this happens.Other viewers experiencing problems are advised to visit the restoration project's website, external for information. Some households may lose HD services but these will return when additional antenna are installed on the mast, Arqiva said.Work to reinstate heather cleared to make way for the new mast base has also been completed, the company said. The moorland site sits within a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) which required the protection of the heathland habitats and wildlife. Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2576/production/_129709590_5ef52b12b76ee85c2d0c5f3f979b091db2dfe46b.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A volunteer who helped transport almost 350 tonnes of aid to the front line in Ukraine has been paralysed in a moped accident while on holiday in Spain. Darius Linkus and wife Saule - who was his passenger - both broke their necks, with Mr Linkus losing the use of both legs. Friends of the pair, from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk, are fundraising for an accessible wet room. \"I just thought I had to help; he kind of inspired me,\" said Oliver Horsman. The husband and wife, both 41, have three children who are being looked after by a relative. The pair are in rehabilitation, with Mrs Linkus suffering a broken right shoulder and the loss of some mobility in her arm. Mr Horsman said that after the crash in September, Mr Linkus was on the phone from his bed, trying to arrange for generators to be delivered to people near front lines. \"It was a bit of a frog in throat moment,\" said Mr Horsman. \"He knew he was paralysed at that point but he was like, 'I've got to do something'. \"It's pretty crazy that he now needs other people's help really - pretty tragic.\" Mr Horsman said Mr Linkus, who works in import and export, was quick to help after war broke out in Ukraine last year. Within three days of the war starting their Facebook post asking for aid had been shared thousands of times. \"It went insane,\" said Mr Horsman. \"It ended up generating about 350 tonnes worth of aid. \"Through Darius's connections he managed to sort out all the import/export paperwork, get all the fixers on the borders for these vans that were going over. \"He ended up doing four or five trips himself and we facilitated 50 or 60 further trips to get that stuff over the border.\" The aid they took to Ukraine included surgical and first aid kits, incubators and military boots, and they also helped pick up and drop off refugees. After a \"manic\" few months, the couple had a weekend break in Spain and hired a moped, Mr Horsman said. \"His front wheel hit a rock in the road,\" he added. \"Both wearing helmets, within the speed limit, nothing silly. \"It was just how they fell.\" He said he wanted to fundraise for the wet room \"so at least he can have a quality of life\", as they had no income. \"He's a very proud man, super giving, will literally give you the shirt off his back,\" he added. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/14538/production/_129665238_comp_2panel_976x549.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The issue of photo manipulation on social media has long been a concern for many, but with the technology now increasingly extending to videos, should authorities intervene? Krystle Berger insists that she is \"not drastically changing my features\" when she posts photos and videos across Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. \"I'm really just digitally giving myself the perfect make-up and lighting,\" she says. A young mother from the US state of Indiana, Ms Berger pays to subscribe to an app called FaceTune that has been downloaded more than 200 million times around the world. The app allows users to both make subtle changes to their facial appearance, such as smoothing over wrinkles, or alternatively - completely transform how they look. For example, they can narrow their face, change the shape and size of their eyes, or give themselves a digital nose-job. Originally only able to work on photos, two years ago FaceTune launched a version for short selfie videos that has increasingly grown in its effectiveness since then. Meanwhile, another popular app that allows users to alter their social media photos - Perfect365 - is due to launch its video version later this year. FaceTune is owned by Israeli-firm Lightricks and two years ago the company was reported to have a valuation of $1.8bn (\u00a31.4bn). Lightricks' founder Zeev Farbman says that \"the name of the game\" is making the app work as easily as possible. \"You want to give people 80% of the power, with 20% of the complexity of professional software. That's the game we are trying to play.\" But it has long been argued that such tools are unhealthy, in that they promote an unrealistic view of beauty that can be dangerous, particularly for impressionable children and young adults. For example, 80% of teenage girls said they had changed their appearance in an online photo by the age of 13, according to a 2021 survey by skincare brand Dove. While no-one is calling for the tech to be banned, there have been increasing moves to force social media advertisers and influencers - people who are often being paid to promote products in a more informal way - to admit when they have altered their physical image. Norway introduced a law in 2021 that requires these two social media groups to indicate whether a photograph has been retouched. France is now going one stage further, and is in the process of demanding the same requirement, but for both photos and videos. Meanwhile, the UK is now looking at the same issue, as the government's Online Safety Bill continues to make its way through Parliament. However, it remains to be seen whether the law will target just adverts on social media, or influencers as well. A spokesperson for the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: \"The government recognises the threat that digitally manipulated content can pose, and takes the issue very seriously.\" Conservative MP Luke Evans has long campaigned for advertisers and influencers to admit when they have altered an image on social media. He wants to see the new law \"contain future proofed regulation\", so it also requires the same admission for altered videos, and any other tech developments. \"It's imperative that we have wider awareness and increased transparency surrounding these new technologies,\" he says. \"For me this is all about honesty.\" New Tech Economy is a series exploring how technological innovation is set to shape the new emerging economic landscape. Mr Farbman's response is that while \"this conversation was always there... over time the acceptance of these tools just grows\". He adds that it is a free speech issue. \"It's always kind of weird to me that a company will decide to limit the expressive freedom of its users, because of aesthetic or ethical sensibilities.\" Sean Mao, the chief executive of San Francisco-based Perfect365, urges people to use its app \"in a safe and ethical way\". He adds: \"We encourage people to use the app to express their creativity and not to use the app with malicious intent to deceive others or misrepresent themselves.\" Psychologist Stuart Duff, a partner at UK practice Pearn Kandola, says that some social media influencers will always be tempted to use tricks to improve their online appearance - because being good-looking sells. \"Physical attraction has a very strong but often unconscious influence on our decisions when it comes to buying products and services from others,\" he says. \"When asked what matters most, we consciously talk down the importance of physical appearance and talk up qualities such as intelligence, values and personality, yet psychological research consistently reveals a strong positive relationship between a person's attractiveness and their ability to sell to us.\" One social media influencer who goes by the name of Brandon B has 5.6 million subscribers on YouTube. He takes the view that photo and video manipulation apps should be seen in a positive light. \"I'm glad these apps exist, because I think there are a lot of people who are not body positive enough to present on social media, so they might feel left out,\" he says. \"These tools help them get on social media.\" However, Dr Shira Brown, an emergency physician at South Niagara Hospital, in Ontario, Canada, says that \"distorted perceptions of body image\" appear to be being \"exacerbated by common social media practices\". She adds: \"We see the urgent mental health consequences of social media in our departments on a daily basis, such as anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and depression.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/408B/production/_129732561_caitlinconducting.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A young carer says working with a professional orchestra has given her confidence and self belief. Caitlyn Newble, 19, from Wiltshire, is one of hundreds of carers who has been involved in the project run by Bath Philharmonia. The project helps young people build confidence and supportive relationships, by writing and performing their own music. Ms Newble joined the project as a child and will start university in September. \"When I first started the project, I was very shy, I didn't have any confidence in myself and in my social skills.\" said Ms Newble, who sings in the orchestra. \"I really struggled just being able to get out of bed in the mornings, so the project has given me an incredible amount of confidence and self-belief.\" Ms Newble added that the support she received has helped her to choose a career path, and said she is excited to start a degree in music this year. Bath Philharmonia reaches more than 12,000 people each year through a combination of concerts and projects in communities. Run by music director Jason Thornton, the orchestra has been working with young carers in the South West for 13 years. \"The young carers just love it and we're the only orchestra in the country to do this kind of work, which I'm very proud about but also ashamed about in our sector,\" said Mr Thornton. In 2023, The Children's Society and Children's Commissioner said there are at least 800,000 young carers aged between five and 18 that care for an adult or family member in England. Mr Thornton said that music is a healing tool that can help people build confidence. \"It helps people feel part of something bigger than themselves, it helps people overcome, just for a little while, the situations that they are in,\" he said. \"It's amazing for families to see their amazing young people. Being a young carer can be very isolating, so to get them doing music in a live concert is an amazing thing for parents and families.\" Caitlyn and her peers will perform at a concert at the Bath Forum on 18 May. Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/17056/production/_129749249_eggs3.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Shoppers may see egg shortages on supermarket shelves for another year, a farmer has warned. Llyr Jones, whose 32,000 hens supply Tesco, said factors including soaring energy prices last year meant some farmers left the industry. He said it would take time for it to return to \"normality\" now farmers have started re-stocking flocks. Farming union NFU Cymru warned that egg production \"is not a simple switch on, switch off system\". Mr Jones' hens currently produce just over 31,000 eggs per day from Derwedd Farm in Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Conwy. Last year his feed bills rose from \u00a330,000 a month to \u00a350,000 due largely to the invasion of Ukraine, which is a major producer of the corn used for bird feed. Mr Jones said a rise in energy bills, the outbreak of bird flu, and the desire for less caged hens have also proved obstacles. He said the supermarkets were initially reluctant to pay farmers more for their eggs, which made some quit the industry, while others chose not to re-stock their flocks. Mr Jones said: \"A lot of farmers decided not to re-stock and that then put pressure on the market and the price of eggs was forced up. \"Now, this year, egg prices have increased for us as farmers and thankfully our costs have started to fall a bit, so we're having to recuperate the money that we lost last year.\" Egg shortage warning as chicken feed price doublesWhy is there an egg shortage?Asda and Lidl limit egg sales after supply issues Although farmers who decided not to re-stock were now putting in orders for new hens, getting hens back on farms takes nearly eight months and then another two months to get them producing eggs. \"So, you're nearly a year until a farmer, from when he's empty, to when he can produce eggs. Now egg prices have gone up, some farmers are buying hens in now, but those eggs won't be on the market for another year,\" he said. \"So, just bear with us for a bit.\" Customers may start seeing more white eggs because some farmers replaced their flocks with white hens, he said, which are more productive than brown egg-laying hens. But Mr Jones said customers should not notice a difference in quality or taste. \"An egg is an egg. It doesn't matter what colour it comes in,\" he said. Mr Jones said that adding to a shortage was that egg consumption is growing in the UK by about 3% a year. \"We're in a cost of living crisis so eggs are one of the cheapest proteins you can buy at the moment,\" he said. On Tuesday, about 70 leading members of the food industry, including farmers and supermarket bosses, met the prime minister and his colleagues to talk about how the UK can improve the way it produces and sells food. The UK government pledged to put greater emphasis on farmers' interests in future trade deals and said it would review horticulture and egg supply chains to \"ensure farmers get a fair price for their produce\". Recent Defra figures show egg production is down by 2.9% in England in Wales in just three months - to 121 million dozen. Production is down by nearly a quarter compared to the first three months of 2022 (24.6%). This is the lowest amount produced on record, according to the Defra figures, which cover January to March 2023. Meanwhile, egg imports are up 11% compared to the same period last year. Geraint Hughes, agri-food consultant for Lafan Consulting, said: \"Maybe what this has shown is the lack of flexibility within the supermarkets to react quickly to sudden increases in cost. \"We've had decades of small inflationary pressures in the food industry\u2026 which allowed supermarkets to do 12 month contracts. Well, now these sudden increases in costs means they should really respond within a matter of days and weeks. \"That's a big structural challenge for the industry.\" Mr Hughes said part of the answer was to try and deliver policies and mechanisms to encourage shoppers to buy more local, so the industry was less reliant on \"global factors\". Brendan Markland, who is on holiday on Anglesey with his son Jonathan, said they had brought eggs with them all the way from Shropshire to have for their breakfast on Tuesday morning. \"So if that doesn't tell you there's a shortage, nothing does,\" he said. Margaret Hall, from Amlwch, said: \"In Amlwch they're very scarce. I've always lived on a farm and I always had my own chickens, so it's handy.\" Her daughter-in-law Sandra Hall, said: \"There's been a great shortage for some reason and we don't know why. We don't use that many, but when you need eggs you need eggs.\" NFU Cymru policy adviser Dafydd Jarrett said egg producers were at the mercy of wholesalers and retailers to signal that they required their products. \"Egg production, like any food production system is not a simple switch on, switch off system,\" he said. \"Any disruption to primary producers in the food supply chain, as has happened recently, takes time to readjust.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50569223&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "U.S. Smart Home Device Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC's study predicts a volatile market for U.S. smart home devices, due to factors such as high installed bases, underutilization, supply chain disruptions, logistics issues, high inflation, and record-high credit card debt. This is expected to negatively impact market growth through 2027.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-09-2583a88511bddf67fb8efc840af2e135.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/05/12/are-you-listening-digital-world-customers-depend-upon-technology/", "title": "Are You Listening?\u00a0 Digital World Customers Depend Upon Technology", "text": "Customers are crucial to businesses as they bring in revenue and enable growth. However, only 12% of enterprises connect customer data between departments to improve the customer experience. There are over 30 channels where customers can make purchases and each channel holds important customer data. Inferred data can be used to understand customer sentiment without requiring surveys or reviews. Voice of the Customer (VOC) programs must listen, analyze, and act on direct, indirect, and inferred feedback to build trust and loyalty. Customer data platforms (CDPs), generative AI, and low code/no code options can help analyze data and uncover insights for positive customer experiences. Organizations must shift how they use customer data with innovative technology to compete and gain competitive advantage.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CX-Digital-World-Blog-Header-May-2023.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50464223&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled P2P Applications 2023 Vendor Assessment", "text": "IDC's study assesses SaaS and cloud-enabled procurement software solutions, highlighting the challenge for entities to choose among many attractive options. The document emphasizes that companies should seek value in their quest to effectively manage their spend and suppliers, considering factors like full suite versus best of breed, implementation, and ongoing support. The study also notes that procurement application providers are innovating and adding enhanced capabilities to help buyers manage their spend.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-01-46c8771546b669ee6727ef1777518687.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/04/14/sustainability-is-now-an-integral-part-of-business-in-asia-pacific-are-you-maximizing-the-opportunities-it-offers/", "title": "Sustainability is now an integral part of business in Asia Pacific. Are you maximizing the opportunities it offers?", "text": "Have you ever wondered why sustainability has become such a buzzword lately? From our conversations within the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) industry, IDC discovered that this is one part due to pressures from stakeholders (e.g. investors, regulators, end-user, eco system partners and clients) and the other due to the opportunities sustainability initiatives can offer. In fact, an IDC survey conducted in 2022 has seen these drivers of sustainability initiatives as a 50/50 split among enterprises worldwide.Companies that have chosen to proactively integrate sustainability into their business strategies and operations have not only reduced waste and optimized costs, but also improved cost effectiveness and efficiency in operations, created new revenue streams for sales, helped human resources attract and retain talent and drove and enabled product and services innovation.In the Asia Pacific region, enterprises that have undertaken sustainability initiatives have seen the most benefits in the people dimension of business operations. This includes attracting and retaining talent, driving innovation and increasing productivity. The people dimension is a fundamental yet often elusive key factor for success in the execution of strategies. The link between sustainability and people dimension means that organizations can leverage on sustainability initiatives to enhance outcomes from other existing strategies especially transformative ones that cut across various aspects of an organization\u2019s operations, such as the case in digital transformation strategies.An Opportunity for Human Resources Sustainability\u2019s ability to influence a person\u2019s choice of employment is important for organizations in the region because of the widespread skills shortages in the ICT workforce. According to a 2021 study of the International Labor Organization (ILO) on The Future of Work in ICT, the shortage of talent in Asia Pacific is partly attributable to rapid changes in technology, the prominence of digital transformation strategies in companies since the pandemic, and technology\u2019s impact on work and the skills to do certain jobs. An IDC report sees IT skills shortage affecting 60-80% of Asia Pacific organizations.Sustainability\u2019s capacity to produce positive outcomes in recruitment and retention stems from altruism. Sustainability principles are founded on the United Nation\u2019s Sustainable Development Goals (previously called Human Development Goals) that are fundamentally connected to what matters most to a person. It is human nature to gravitate towards a community of people or entity (as in the case of companies) that shares the same values as the person.\u00a0 In a 2021 Global Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Business Services Buyer Value Survey, IDC noted that younger generations such as Millennials and Generation Z value all three pillars of ESG as important and are factors for their decision-making in associating themselves with a particular brand or an organization.An Opportunity to InnovateA value derived from sustainability is its capacity to ignite creativity and innovation in organizations.\u00a0 Sustainability initiatives centered on circularity for instance require companies to revisit and reconfigure product designs to accommodate the requirements of reduce, recycle, or repurpose value of parts and packaging materials. An example of the impact of circularity in product design is the emergence of eco-smartphones such as those sold by tech startups like Nothing, Fairphones, Teracube, and Shift and specific brand models of Apple and Samsung. There are also eco-SIM cards deployed by telecoms company, Globe, in the Philippines which is made from 100% recycled materials, including the plastic waste from refrigerators.Another prime example of product design innovation ignited by sustainability is the reengineering in datacenters and reimagining of how they are built. Apart from the sector\u2019s shift to cleaner sources of fuel for power and cooling, and the use of recycled and recyclable parts, the more innovative datacenter designs include the underwater \u201cclouds in the ocean\u201d\u00a0 of Microsoft that can reportedly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by around 40%.For service companies, sustainability presents an opportunity to innovate how they deliver services to clients.\u00a0 Sometimes defined as the future of work this could mean automation of mundane and repeatable tasks to free up resources for faster, high-value customer service, digital delivery of services to reduce carbon footprint, or the application of hybrid work, green workspaces and SMART buildings.An Opportunity for Demand GrowthProbably the most obvious opportunity brought by sustainability is its impact on market demand.\u00a0 Sustainability initiatives inevitably lead to demand for new tools and services that can specifically meet its requirements.\u00a0 Just on data alone, sustainability has created a need for ESG-related professional business services such as carbon footprint measure, ESG data security, audit, and reporting.\u00a0Sustainability has also expanded the use cases of existing technologies. Blockchain technology for example is now used to verify sustainable sourcing. In the energy sector for instance, Blockchain technology is used to confirm renewable energy utilization sources in enterprises for eligibility on carbon credits, financing and for ESG reporting. This use of Blockchain in energy attribution tracking is done in Singapore from utilities provider SP Group. Other expanded uses cases emerging from sustainability are digital twins, used for sustainability simulations, or AI, used for human rights tracking.Clearly, sustainability can be an opportunity for companies to enhance their human resource strategy, accelerate product and service innovation and expand the scope of their market.If you have any questions on how solutions providers like you can maximize the opportunities that sustainability brings, we are here to help. Find out more today and learn how IDC research and services on sustainability can help you.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/AP-Sustainability-Opportunities-2nd-Blogpost-Header.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/11/28/the-universal-content-model-a-new-way-to-think-about-managing-business-content/", "title": "The Unified Content Model \u2013 A New Way to Think about Managing Business Content", "text": "Digital transformation is an ongoing journey that seeks to leverage digital capabilities for new value creation. To achieve this, organizations need a new category of technology solutions for managing content. IDC proposes a Unified Content Model that supports a common set of content-related services and eliminates content silos and duplicative applications. By adopting this model, organizations can increase operational efficiency and productivity, as well as improve customer and employee experiences. To get started, evaluate current workflows, stakeholders, and applications, and develop a plan to architect a solution based on the Unified Content Model.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Header-image.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/45D1/production/_115537871_019539222.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Problems in the planning system are jeopardising the environment, the economy and employment in Northern Ireland, according to a renewable energy organisation. RenewableNI says the system needs \"radical reform\". It claims the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) is functioning at only about 75% capacity and is experiencing significant resourcing pressures. The organisation said a member received a letter from the PAC confirming this. A Department of Justice spokesperson said PAC was a tribunal non-departmental public body but the department was responsible for providing resources and services. They added that the department was running recruitment competitions to fill vacant posts. Director Stephen Agnew said renewable energy for 85,000 homes has been held up for more than three years. Northern Ireland has a target of 80% of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030. RenewableNI said the letter stated the PAC did not have the resources to allocate a commissioner to a review of a renewable electricity development. The letter cited \"significant resourcing pressures\", with \"a major conjoined public inquiry\" currently using all of them. It also suggested that only a single inquiry could be held at a time. Mr Agnew said RenewableNI previously had concerns about the PAC's ability to work at pace when operating at 100% capacity. He added that this was a \"substantial impediment\" to all developers and the system was \"unfit for purpose\". NI's wind turbines generate controversyOffshore wind farms would boost jobs - reportHalf of NI's electricity was renewable in 2022 \"To reach 80% by 2030, we need to double our renewable capacity and we're not developing those projects. So if business as usual continues, you will get nowhere near those targets. \"If we reach our 80% renewable target by 2030, that could bring over \u00a35bn of new investment to Northern Ireland and create 1,500 plus jobs. So that's the potential. \"We just need to have a system that facilitates that.\" There are concerns that some renewable energy investments could be withdrawn from Northern Ireland without reform. \"There is a huge risk that investment will be lost in Northern Ireland and we will not reach our 80% targets,\" said Tamasin Fraser, UK director of the German green-energy company ABO Wind. \"In order to get to those targets it's going to take a \u00a35bn investment in Northern Ireland. In other countries across the world they are making significant strides to actually push forward with planning to ensure that the projects are achieved. Here, we're not able to do that.\" She added: \"So the question for me is, are we willing to stand by and watch \u00a35bn of investment go to our neighbours and further afield? \"Or are we prepared to now step up, take action and make tangible change so that we can secure that investment for the good of Northern Ireland and to bring about better energy security in Northern Ireland and address the energy crisis?\" For another company, the ease of the planning process in the Republic of Ireland has already proved much more attractive. Strategic Power Projects has more than \u20ac1bn (\u00a3870m) worth of projects in the pipeline, with one project taking just five months from application to approval, in accordance with the time limits of the Republic's system. The solar and battery-storage specialist's managing Director Paul Carson said such certainty was not available in Northern Ireland. \"There is no timeline in Northern Ireland; we just don't know,\" said Mr Carson. \"So when a developer is taking an investment decision, the developer will always go to where the certainty is, where the confidence is. \"At the minute, we don't have any certainty or confidence in the planning system in Northern Ireland because we just don't know when we would get the decision. And you can't run a business on that basis - you need to have certainty on timeline. \"But we are also working on new projects for Northern Ireland. And if we can see a change in the way planning is dealt with in Northern Ireland, we will have those projects are ready to submit, because we all have a task to do here to try to get [to] 2030 targets,\" Mr Carson said. Speaking on Friday, Mr Agnew said the renewable electricity industry had accepted a fees increase, despite Northern Ireland already having the highest planning application fees of anywhere in these islands. \"However, we insist the increased fees should be value for money and the system resourced to meet the needs of users,\" he added.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50197923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC PlanScape: A Case for Kubernetes Security", "text": "IDC study examines importance of Kubernetes security for protecting containerized applications, enterprise reputation, and customer trust.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-07-9fde39b9764147f0f722b07b8081592c.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5fe0/live/caf4a5f0-f0d3-11ed-af9e-cde41dc3e3c6.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A \u00a342.9m project to refurbish the flood defences in an seaside port town has been completed.Nearly 4km (2.5 miles) of flood walls in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, have been updated.The upgrade should provide protection from tidal flooding to more than 2,100 homes.Tom Stanley, project manager for the Epoch 2 scheme, said: \"We are already seeing the impacts of climate change in the UK and around the world, which is why urgent action is needed to adapt the impacts of climate emergency.\" Great Yarmouth has a history of flooding, including the 1953 east coast tidal surge, and more recently, in December 2013 and January 2017.The work, which started in September 2019, saw 40 flood defence walls refurbished at locations across the town, which should extend their lifespan by up to 30 years, the Environment Agency said.It said less material, lower carbon materials and hybrid power reduced the project's carbon footprint, and it also created a new inter-tidal saltmarsh to boost biodiversity in the area.The project was not delayed by the World War Two bomb which exploded in Great Yarmouth in February, the Environment Agency said.A business case is currently in development for the next stage of the project. Find BBC News: East of England on\u00a0Facebook, external,\u00a0Instagram, external\u00a0and\u00a0Twitter, external. If you have a story for us, email\u00a0eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2321/production/_129639980_img-8085.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "As conservatives rally around social issues, the Republican Party is clashing with corporate America. Will the fights break its longstanding alliance with big business? At the home of Sarah Fields, a conservative activist and mum-of-three from Texas, some of America's biggest brands are no longer welcome. She cut out Disney first, turned off by children's shows featuring gay couples. Her boycotts of Olay skin products and beers from Bud Light-maker Anheuser-Busch began more recently, after she learned they had worked with transgender social media star Dylan Mulvaney. \"My thing is protecting kids and the very first time I ever saw corporations pushing any kind of LGBTQ or any kind of trans ideology towards kids is when I really started to pay more attention,\" the 36-year-old says. \"There are so many different ones [now], I can barely keep track.\" Sarah became politically active during the pandemic, protesting against lockdowns. Now a delegate to her state's Republican Party, she is one of the players pushing the party to rally around social issues such as gender identity and take on \"woke\" firms in corporate America. Companies have been caught in the crossfire of America's culture wars before, as the country grows more polarised and firms face pressure from staff, customers and shareholders on the left and right to pick a side. But legislative moves targeting firms mark a new frontier for Republicans, who have traditionally been allied with big business over matters like lower taxes and light regulation. In Florida, state lawmakers voted to remove Disney's power over a district including Walt Disney World theme park, after it criticised a law that banned discussions of gender and sexuality in schools. In Georgia, lawmakers threatened to remove a tax break from Delta Airlines, after its chief executive called changes to voting laws \"unacceptable\". Meanwhile dozens of states are considering proposals aimed at stopping government from doing business with financial firms that consider environmental, social and governance factors when making investments - moves that had cost one of the major targets of the campaign, BlackRock, more than $4bn in customer funds as of January. The measures have been controversial, including among Republicans, some of whom say the proposals go too far to interfere with private business. Proponents are unapologetic. \"My job is to protect taxpayers and my constituents from overreach, regardless of where it comes from,\" says Blaise Ignoglia, one of the Florida state senators who sponsored the Disney legislation - a fight that has now evolved into a legal battle over free speech. \"They turned their backs on parents and children when they decided to support sexualising our most vulnerable youth.\" Mr Ignoglia says he is not worried about taking on Disney, which has supported him in the past and wields major economic and political heft in Florida. To the contrary, he says, \"I live in the second reddest district in the state. My constituents are of the same mindset.\" Big business has lost its grip on the Republican Party, as the party shifts right and picks up support from voters without university degrees, while losing ground among the college educated, says Prof Mark Mizruchi, a sociologist at the University of Michigan. In 2022, the share of Republicans saying that large corporations have a positive impact was 26% - on a par with Democrats and less than half of what it was three years earlier, according to Pew. But Prof Mizruchi says politicians' attacks on companies for being woke are \"mostly a smokescreen\", noting that on issues like unionisation, taxes and regulation corporate America and Republican leaders remain tightly aligned. In the 2022 election cycle, the majority of official corporate political donations went to Republicans, as they have for nearly three decades, according to data from OpenSecrets. \"Republicans have to play this very careful game of supporting the wealthy and big business behind the scenes, but making it appear to the public that they're on the side of the little person,\" he says. \"That's why going after the wokeness is a good way to do it - because that's not a bread and butter issue [for corporations].\" The financial impact of the conservative backlash appears to be relatively limited so far. At BlackRock, lost funds amounted to less than 2% of its portfolio. The Bud Light sales decline in the first three weeks of April reflected only 1% of Anheuser-Busch overall volumes. But the outcry has altered the mood, says Martin Whittaker, chief executive of Just Capital, a non-profit that ranks firms based on issues such as worker pay and environmental impact. Though many companies are still moving forward with initiatives internally, he says public discussions have become quieter. \"You're not seeing CEOs stick their necks out.\" Disney, which spoke out on the Florida bill under pressure from its employees, has taken legal action against Florida. But other firms appear to be in retreat. In BlackRock's annual letter this year, risks from climate barely got a mention, though the firm acknowledged challenges due to opinions \"diverging across regions\". Credit card firms have said they would delay changes that activists had hoped would help track gun purchases, citing legal uncertainty. And some big financial firms including Vanguard have backed out of initiatives aimed at climate change, pointing to \"confusion\" about their views. Will Hild is the executive director of Consumers' Research, a group that since 2021 has spearheaded multi-million dollar ad campaigns targeting firms such as Nike, American Airlines, Major League Baseball and Levi's for putting \"woke politics above consumer interests\". \"People forget that in the spring of 2021 you had companies coming out and getting involved in election integrity discussions at the state level in Georgia and Texas,\" he says. \"You haven't seen that in the years since and for us, that's an indication that our campaigns have been successful.\" Last month, after weeks of attacks from conservative pundits and politicians for its partnership with Dylan Mulvaney, Anheuser-Busch put two executives on leave and released a spate of Bud Light ads studded with imagery of American flags and horses galloping across open country. The company, which did not respond to a request for comment from the BBC, said it did not mean to be \"a part of a conversation that divides people\". Decried by some on the left, the about-face was seen by Sarah as a victory. \"What happened with Bud Light is an amazing start and it should be that way for all corporations,\" she says. \"We need to be less fearful and we need to start using our voice more.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50185923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "U.S. Managed Network Services Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC forecasts growth for the U.S. managed network services market from 2023 to 2027 due to increased adoption, which offers enterprises a strategic advantage in a competitive, digitally driven landscape. Service providers' expertise can help enterprises adapt quickly to changing network demands while ensuring optimal performance, security, and cost-effectiveness.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-02-f1543fb2defcb4468860f88523406767.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/24/portfolio-insight-for-cios-to-highlight-your-business-value/", "title": "Portfolio Insight for CIOs to Highlight your Business Value", "text": "This blog discusses how to create a good portfolio insight to prioritize your IT spending wisely. By segmenting your portfolio over two angles, you get four quadrants to objectively prioritize your portfolio. Data on business and technical value can be analyzed using a survey campaign or tooling. The tooling can help take a closer look at certain aspects of applications. Within weeks, IDC Metri's data-driven insights can provide the portfolio insight needed to make guided decisions on IT spending.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IDCMetri_PortfolioInsight_Blog_March2023_HeaderImage-copy.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/4935/production/_126414781_9f114a25-dae3-4ab0-b66a-539fc828f552.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Yordanos Brhane was 15 years old when she fled Eritrea, crossing Africa and Europe in the hope of finding a better life and re-uniting with her family. Years later, the long and difficult journey brought her to the UK, where she was fatally stabbed just months after settling. Yordanos's sister has spoken about how a young woman's dream of security ended in tragedy. Deeply religious and with a flair for languages, Yordanos Brhane had just started to build a life for herself in Birmingham. She, along with six of her siblings, left Eritrea, one of Africa's poorest countries and one where people regularly flee political persecution and forced conscription. \"Yordanos was a very quiet girl, she was polite, courteous, she was on the quiet side rather than very active,\" Kisanet Brhane said of her younger sister. \"She was happy, she was learning the language very quickly, she was very good with languages. She had made friends from Eritrea and I sensed she was settling in nicely.\" Her family, when they came to the shared house in Unett Street after her death, found she had joined the city's library and had got herself a provisional driving licence. She had also found herself a job, helping out at a nearby shop where her manager, Sogi Omrani, said she was a beautiful and honest person who was always happy and smiling and all about helping her family. \"She was a nice worker. She had only been here a short amount of time but she talked so nicely. She was very good at English,\" he said. \"All our customers, when they heard she had died, they were crying. I cried too, it was very bad.\" Kisanet was seven years older than her sister, but the two had a close bond. 'Obsessed' killer jailed for stabbing teen refugee \"From the day that she left Eritrea until two days before she died, every day we were in contact, we were very close and every day I was speaking to her. \"The last two days of her life I hadn't spoken to her.\" Kisanet lives in Norway, having left Eritrea in 2014, aged 19. Since moving there, she has studied, worked in care homes and recently gave birth. Her own journey, which took her through the African countries of Ethiopia, Sudan, Libya and then the European countries of Italy, Germany, Sweden and Norway, took her a year. Became independent from Ethiopia in 1993 but is plagued by repression at home and tense relations with its neighboursBordered by Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti, it occupies a strategically important area in the Horn of AfricaEritrea is a one-party state and a highly-militarised society, which the government has sought to justify by citing the threat of war with EthiopiaProlonged periods of conflict and severe drought have adversely affected Eritrea's agricultural economy and it remains one of the poorest countries in AfricaBy UN estimates, hundreds of thousands of Eritreans have fled the country in recent years, making the perilous journey across the Sahara and the Mediterranean to Europe Source: BBC Monitoring \"The journey was very, very difficult, especially when crossing the Sahara Desert in Libya, it was the toughest, it was very, very tough, its not easy at all - you risk your life to go through this journey,\" she said. In March 2017, aged 15, Yordanos began the same arduous journey. Her journey was similar to her sister's but took longer. She was in Libya for seven month where, her sister says, it was a miracle she got out alive. \"She didn't have a good time there it was very, very dangerous, very bad, she experienced really bad things,\" she said. Yordanos and her fellow travellers slept on floors in warehouses, among hundreds of people, with no privacy, a scarce amount of food and no access to medication or sanitary hygiene, she said. The threat of violence and rape was always prevalent. Kisanet believes it was only because by then Yordanos was so weak and ill she was not assaulted. By the time Yordanos got into Europe, she was very ill indeed, arriving into Italy on a stretcher. She had been rescued by the authorities after the boat she came across on, via smugglers, stopped working in the middle of the ocean. \"Her illness was mainly due to malnourishment and very bad scabies infections in her skin which had given her a fever. She had bad problems with her chest, her heart was beating very hard,\" Kisanet said. \"She was really weak by the time she arrived in Italy. We didn't find out straight away she was in Italy - two weeks later we found out she was in hospital where she was getting treatments to get her energy back and help her survive.\" But as she was being given treatment to get her better, other problems were about to begin. Yordanos managed to make it to Norway where she was allowed to spend time with Kisanet as well as living in a camp. However, while going through the process it was discovered she had been 'fingerprinted' in Italy. According to regulations, the first country an asylum seeker enters is ultimately responsible for the individual's asylum application. In effect, officials could tell her first EU country of entry was Italy and could be the one she would be returned to. And that is what happened - the authorities in Norway decided to return her to Italy. The sisters were shocked. \"She had been really happy, she was in a safe environment where human right is protected,\" Kisanet said. \"She was really serious about her education and she improved her language so well. I have lived here two years ahead of her, I couldn't speak better than her. \"She was really optimistic about life and she didn't expect to be sent back to Italy.\" The news was hard for them both to take in. \"Especially as her age, she was only 16, I was older than her, I could have taken care of her, I was her family, her sister. What they did was wrong. She was only 16. To be separated from her family at that age.\" Yordanos was taken back to Italy within the week, leaving the family with little chance to appeal. After a few days living rough and begging for food, she made the journey to Belgium and made contact with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which, because of her age, picked up her case and began to argue she should be able to return to Norway. Norway accepted her return, while her case was being resolved, and again she stayed with her brother, who lived in a different part of Norway, and also in a camp. \"After three months the charity gave her the letter to take to police to say she is back from Italy and she has this letter to say she should have her case looked at properly,\" Kisanet said. \"But the police put her in prison for two months. They would not let her go. They said they did not accept it and that she should go back to Italy. She was forced to return to Italy. \"It was the same situation, she was left to fend for herself at such a young age. It was very distressing for her.\" Her lawyer in Norway, Andre Mokkelgjerd, said the Dublin Regulation, which regulates which country is responsible for processing an asylum application, does have discretionary clauses which made it possible for Norway to consider allowing her to remain - particularly as she was a vulnerable young woman alone in Europe with family in Norway. \"Unfortunately, our arguments along these lines were not given decisive weight, and the general rules were applied strictly as they often are in these cases,\" he said. Yordanos went back to Belgium, living rough, for seven months; although Kisanet says she did get help from some Belgian charities. And when she eventually made it to the UK, on the back of a lorry, the charity workers stayed in contact. \"They were really nice, very close to Yordanos, and they were happy she came to a safe country. They came to visit her twice,\" Kisanet said. After a year in the UK, Yordanos was granted to leave to remain with refugee status. She was 18 when she arrived. The family found out she had died through social media. \"I didn't know what happened, it was my sister who contacted me, she had seen something on Instagram. \"She said 'what am I hearing - have you spoken to Yordanos?' and I said 'no I haven't spoken to her for two days, what happened?'\" Kisanet and her husband were able to contact some of Yordanos's friends. They heard Yordanos was no longer alive, there had been an accident. They later had to come over to the UK to identify the body. \"With the shock of the news, we quickly arranged for three siblings including myself to come to the UK to identify the body. \"When we arrived, there were a lot of Eritrean community helping us out. They prepared accommodation where we could stay and they were very helpful to us,\" she said. She was unable to make the journey for Yordanos's killer's court case. Halefom Weldeyohannes, from Sheffield, has been jailed for at least 21 years for her murder. But the family said 21 years was not enough. Yordanos's older brother Gezae Birhane Kibedom said: \"I am not happy, Yordanos was a nice girl. He hurt my sister, he took a life, it's not enough.\" He had been in contact with Yordanos three days before she died. She told him she had started to learn to drive and also her plans for the future. \"She wanted to go back to school, she wanted to become a doctor or a nurse and then ultimately she wanted to go back to Eritrea where, depending on the government, she would try to help our family and other young people. \"Yordanos was so young but old for her age.\" Additional reporting by Allen Cook Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/12/09/idc-futurescape-worldwide-future-of-digital-infrastructure-2023-predictions/", "title": "IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Digital Infrastructure 2023 Predictions", "text": "Digital businesses rely on digital infrastructure, which includes on-premises data centers, public cloud services, compute, storage, network, infrastructure software, automation, AI/ML analytics, security software, and ecosystem partners. According to IDC research, 80% of decision makers worldwide recognize the importance of digital infrastructure. Optimizing multicloud and hybrid digital infrastructure environments can lead to higher levels of operational resiliency, security, revenue growth, and productivity at scale. The IDC FutureScape presents the top 10 predictions and key drivers for the next five years.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/FutureScape-Blog-Banner-No-Text.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49326723&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide and U.S. Outsourced Document Services Forecast, 2023-2027", "text": "IDC analyzed the outsourced document services market, which includes production print, mailroom, print procurement, and document archival services. Revenue from centralized services in managed print and document services contracts is excluded. The market remains stable despite challenges, with organizations investing in digital transformation for productivity and a hybrid workforce.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1880/digitaltransformation-05-3cc95eae5246f81c9855c0b6b50f9381.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/CE63/production/_129753825_gettyimages-1247426205.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Gunmen in south-eastern Nigeria have attacked a US convoy, killing four people, local police say. They say two of the victims of Tuesday's attack in the Anambra state were US consulate employees, while the other two were police officers. The attackers kidnapped three other people, and set their vehicle on fire. Washington says no US citizens were in the convoy, which was travelling in the state plagued by violence and separatist insurgency. Nigerian police say the attack happened on the Atani-Osamale road in Ogbaru region. Police spokesperson DSP Ikenga Tochukwu says security forces were currently carrying out a rescue and recovery operation. In a statement to the BBC, the US confirmed that \"there was an incident on 16 May in Anambra state\", adding that Washington was working with Nigerian security services to investigate the attack. \"The security of our personnel is always paramount, and we take extensive precautions when organising trips to the field,\" the US state department said. The Nigerian authorities often blame violent attacks in the region on the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra movement (Ipob). The group has so far made no public comments on the issue.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49324423&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "U.S. Printer and MFP Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "The US printer and multifunction peripheral market opportunities are analyzed in detail in this IDC study, with data from 2017-2022 presented and projections for 2023-2027. Supply chain challenges will limit shipments until mid-2023, after which the market will be demand-driven and gradually decline. However, growth opportunities exist for vendors catering to the needs of post-COVID-19 workplaces and remote workers.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-12-30cab995dba22d7856033f31fda60e25.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=lcUS50676223&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "", "text": "I'm sorry, there is no text provided for me to summarize. Please provide me with some text.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/default/default-img10-fa3657a1adc36af877f9d8db60b5e228.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/04/28/leadership-in-a-changing-digital-world-five-mandates/", "title": "Leadership in a Changing Digital World: Five Mandates", "text": "IDC surveyed CEOs and identified five mandates to help them scale their digital businesses in a rapidly changing digital world. The mandates include redefining VUCA, investing strategically, building trust, reskilling and augmenting the workforce, and optimizing cloud investments for business outcomes. CEOs are focusing on growth and technology investments to deliver advanced customer experiences and revenue-generating activities. As CIOs take on more responsibilities, they are becoming more involved in business strategy and working with the entire C-Suite. Technology suppliers can play a key supporting role by helping organizations execute these mandates and achieve quantifiable business outcomes.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Leadership-Digital-World-Header-Image.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/166CD/production/_129735819_img_1166.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Adrienne Alher and Okan Aslan have spent almost 11 years growing their east London business. But it's more than that for them. Their vision was to create a shop that was sustainable and green, selling products sourced from suppliers who paid their staff a decent wage, and offering organic produce that didn't need packaging. Customers bring their own jars and bags and can stock up on everything from pasta and porridge to peanut butter and detergent. Stone Mini Market, in Leytonstone, grew from a small off-licence with a few refill stations to four times its original size as the demand for a greener way of shopping grew. But the owners say that, almost overnight, everything changed. Rising inflation among other global factors had a big effect on this small business. \"We became almost a luxury shop,\" Ms Alher said. \"The organic food became too expensive for 70% of our customers.\" Not all of the products Stone Mini Market sells are more expensive than you'd find in a supermarket, but suppliers' prices shot up with inflation, as did energy bills, by about 30%. The couple say sales are down by 60% and if the trend continues into the summer, they will have to close. Adrienne says theirs is one of the last shops of its kind left in the area. She added: \"We know of at least seven shops that have had to close.\" Organic food has a shorter shelf life than other food so if they don't sell it quickly, it is wasted. \"If there's no demand for what we do, then we are not proving we are sustainable and we have to stop,\" Adrienne says. She explains that customers are still coming in, but are buying less. \"Organic food became more expensive, and people are buying more of the cheaper, unethical food because of having no choice. \"People are choosing to buy from bigger, cheaper companies than smaller shops like ours where we had to put the prices up.\" She says she understands this and doesn't blame her customers. \"We all have to make choices,\" she adds. Last year, environmental organisation City to Sea commissioned a survey which suggested that 50% of people are doing less to reduce the use of single-use plastic than they were six months ago, as a result of increases in household bills. Steve Hynd, the policy manager at City to Sea, says people do still want to make changes for the sake of the planet. \"Plastic pollution is still a major issue for consumers,\" he says. \"They're trying to do the right thing; they're trying to make eco-choices.\" Why are prices rising so much?How easy is it to be green on a budget?Five hacks to help save money on your food shop But, he says, the cost of living is making it very difficult to do that as budgeting is the main priority. \"They're having to downgrade essentially how they shop and where they shop, and this often means going to supermarkets and buying products that are covered in plastic.\" The cost of living is now a bigger concern than climate change for many people, according to the Office for National Statistics. Its research found that cost \"is one of the largest barriers people face when making changes to help tackle climate change\". The \"eco-friendly\" delivery service Milk and More says it believes people will still try to be green, if it's also convenient. The business uses a fleet of electric vehicles to deliver produce in refillable containers to its 300,000 UK customers. It says it has also seen customers make different choices because of inflation. CEO Patrick Muller said: \"We saw a certain route from organic to basic products, so if people usually buy organic milk, now they're buying standard milk. These are the kind of moves we're seeing.\" He says the company was \"cautious\" about passing on rising costs to the customer and \"wanted the smallest amount of price increase as possible\". Back at the mini-market, Adrienne and Okan have had to be resourceful to keeping their business open - at least for now. It's currently being run as a community interest company, hosting sewing classes and other events. Adrienne says she hopes this will help them stay open, adding that they're grateful for the \"good community support\" they've been getting in Leytonstone. \"We're betting everything on it,\" she says. Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/9E4A/production/_129722504_gettyimages-1254573709.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Fans from across the globe were treated to a Eurovision Song Contest feast in Liverpool. The winners of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, Kalush Orchestra performed on stage at the start of the final. UK entry Mae Muller took part in the flag parade as the proceedings began, and Marco Mengoni carried the Pride flag as well as the Italian one. Alesha Dixon, Julia Sanina, Hannah Waddingham and Graham Norton were all on stage for the start. Mimicat representing Portugal, Teya and Salena for Austria, Loreen from Sweden and Andrew Lambrou for Cyprus were among the first performers. Czechia entrant Vesna's braids drew attention, as did the performance of Finland's Kaarija. Ukraine, last years winners, were represented by TVORCHI. Let 3 from Croatia had a controversial performance. The UK's Mae Muller was the final act. Duncan Laurence and other past Eurovision acts joined the presenters on stage after the performances. Loreen hears that she has won after a tense voting count. In the Eurovision Village, crowds sang their hearts out as they watched all the musical drama on a big screen. HMS Mersey was illuminated in the colours of Ukraine. Irish duo Jedward were among the acts who entertained fans in the Village zone earlier in the day. All photographs subject to copyright. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/8479/production/_129731933_xp2302_095522cl_xe_scot_1305-55-1000x1000.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "An old coal mine in southern Scotland was the site of an electric off-road rally at the weekend. The Extreme E series held its Hydro X Prix at Glenmuckloch in Dumfries and Galloway. Teams backed by the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button competed over two days. Previous sites to have hosted the series have included Greenland, the Atacama Desert, Saudi Arabia and Senegal. All images are copyrighted.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50484823&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Hard Disk Drive Market Shares, 2022: Enterprise Segment More Critical than Ever to Share Growth", "text": "The global HDD market saw a 23.4% decline in revenue in 2022 due to high inventories caused by COVID-19 safety stock inventory building. Western Digital gained share, Seagate slightly increased its share, and Toshiba lost share.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-07-1f407c2954b57ce20b3f4657daae6fa2.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/65BC/production/_129744062_fishandchipspic1.png", "label": 0, "text": "The price of fish and chip takeaways has increased by 19% but it has nothing to do with profiteering, the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) says. In Somerset a portion of fish and chips can cost as much as \u00a314 - the UK average is \u00a39 according to the ONS. Factors including the cost of living crisis mean outlets are raising prices in order to survive, NFFF said. Stuart Devine, area director for the NFFF, said fish and chip shops were facing \"a perfect storm\". In the year to March 2023 the price of takeaways rose by 13% in the UK and fish and chip meals saw the highest increase of 19%, representing a rise of about \u00a31.44 to \u00a39 on average for one portion, the Office for National Statistics said. Mr Devine said food inflation, energy and fuel costs, as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, had driven up the cost of ingredients and the power to cook them. How much are prices rising for you? Try our calculatorCost of living tips: Your personalised money guide \"Cost are soaring. You either put your prices up or you risk going out of business,\" Mr Devine said. \"There's no profiteering happening in fish and chip shops. \"I run six fish and chip shops, employing 150 people, and we are finding it very tough. \"Small, independent fish and chip shops may survive because their overhead costs are less, but it really is at a critical point.\" Steve Gibbs, who runs Howards Fish and Chip Shop in Taunton, said he feared rising prices would deter customers. \"It's the price of cooking oil. Then Brexit and the war in Ukraine because most of the fish comes from Russia. So now the fish is Norwegian. \"It's just so expensive. We have to pass [on the costs] to customers.\" But his wife and co-owner Sue said fish and chips were still good value and added: \"We try not to put our prices up if we can help it.\" In a statement, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: \"We recognise that many businesses are struggling with the impact of higher prices, which is why we remain committed to our plan to halve inflation this year. \"That's why we have held down non-domestic energy bills, slashed business rates bills by 75% and recently set out a range of policies that will bring over 100,000 people into the labour market - ensuring businesses have access to the skills they need.\" Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/DCB8/production/_129740565_gettyimages-1487983057.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Elon Musk has been subpoenaed by the US Virgin Islands in a lawsuit accusing a Wall Street bank of enabling Jeffrey Epstein to sex traffic women. It calls on the Tesla boss to hand over any documents showing communication between him, JP Morgan Chase bank and Epstein, who died in 2019. Mr Musk is not accused of any wrongdoing in the case. On Monday, he also reiterated denials of suggestions that Epstein had provided him with financial advice. Jeffrey Epstein died in jail in New York in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The Virgin Islands is suing JP Morgan Chase for allegedly helping enable Epstein's alleged crimes. Its case alleges trafficked women were sexually abused by Epstein and others on Little St. James, his private island in the territory. The Virgin Islands government has accused the bank of not acting on warning signs about the alleged crimes. The bank has denied the allegations. As part of the case, a court filing on Monday revealed the territory's authorities had tried to serve Mr Musk, the multi-billionaire owner of Twitter, with the subpoena but had been unsuccessful. \"The Government [of the US Virgin Islands] contacted Mr. Musk's counsel via email to ask if he would be authorized to accept service on Mr. Musk's behalf in this matter, but did not receive a response confirming or denying his authority,\" the filing said. The Virgin Islands also asked a Manhattan federal court judge to allow it to serve Mr Musk with the subpoena with Tesla's registered agent. Mr Musk may have been referred to the Wall Street banking giant by Epstein, according to the court filing. However, the Virgin Islands did not provide further explanation for its interest in obtaining documents from Mr Musk. Epstein, a financier, had been a client of JP Morgan from 2000 to 2013. Mr Musk was also been a customer - with JP Morgan in charge of Tesla's commercial banking business for several years. Mr Musk tweeted on Monday that the suggestion that he taken advice from Epstein was \"idiotic\" and called the late financier a \"dumb crook.\" Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor, moved in social circles that included Prince Andrew and former presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as many key figures of the business world. Prosecutors in 2019 accused him of running a \"vast network\" of underage girls for sex. JP Morgan Chase has denied knowing about Epstein's crimes.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/fa3a/live/241ce380-f3fa-11ed-92cc-b3a9bf1f67e9.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "An MP has described proposals to build hundreds of homes - which have already attracted more than 650 objections - as \"undesirable and unnecessary\".Stockton North Labour MP Alex Cunningham called for the plans for Wynyard to be rejected.\u201cNever before have I had so many contacts from local residents sharing their concerns about a development,\" he said.The scheme's designers said they wanted to develop Wynyard Estate \"in a considerate and measured way\". The proposals for up to 700 homes also include a community centre, medical facilities, play spaces, cycleways and golf course improvements.A spokesperson for Cameron Hall Developments and Jomast Developments said the location was \"identified for growth\" in the area's local plan.However, Wynyard Parish Council said the \u201cvague and disjointed\u201d plans were contrary to the local plan and would remove natural habitats. Hartlepool Council also said the large-scale development was contrary to both the 2019 Stockton Local Plan and the 2019 Wynyard Masterplan, although the latter was not a rigid blueprint, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.Mr Cunningham said the decision \"to lump all manner of things\" into one application \"does the applicant no favours\".It appeared to be \"an attempt to win approval for a huge housing development on the back of some important elements which are I suspect needed within the community\", he said.\"I am surprised that there has been no comprehensive public consultation exercise by the developers,\" he added. Historic England recommended taking the golf course extension out of the application while the Woodland Trust said it should be deferred until the ancient woodland status of adjacent trees had been determined.Cameron Hall Developments and Jomast Developments said more detailed proposals would be forthcoming and a consultation was planned.\"It is our goal that our aspirations for new amenities for the village align with those of current residents,\" a spokesperson said. Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/AB47/production/_115574834_gettyimages-1228011464_1200.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Funding for schools to bring pupils from different religions and backgrounds together is to be cut by 50% from September. Shared education sees pupils from different schools and backgrounds meeting for classes and activities. Hundreds of schools which take part face getting only half of the funding they received during 2022/23. A letter from the Education Authority (EA) said the 50% cut was due to the \"financial climate\". The letter to principals also said there was no funding available for shared education from the Department of Education (DE) after April 2024. According to the most recent DE figures, about 700 schools and pre-schools had received funding for shared education projects as of June 2021. The aim is to bring pupils from Catholic, Protestant and other backgrounds together on a regular basis for joint classes, activities or trips. It is different to integrated education. One of the longest-running partnerships is between Limavady High School and St Mary's High School. The two schools are also set to share Northern Ireland's first completed shared education campus - a new building used by pupils of both. The department provided funding of about \u00a35m a year for schools working together in Shared Education partnerships. That paid for trips, resources, activities and things like the cost of buses to transport pupils between schools. But in the letter from the EA, which has been seen by BBC News NI, principals were told education budget pressures \"have unfortunately impacted on the budget available to support mainstreamed shared education (MSE) for the next academic year\". Funding for education was cut in the recent budget from the Northern Ireland secretary. The shared education money for schools will be about 50% less than the budget provided in 2022/23, the EA letter said. \"We recognise that this will be detrimental to the level of activity that can be provided to children and young people,\" it added. Schools in shared education partnerships will be told the exact funding they will get in the coming days. The EA letter said that \"due to the current significant financial pressures\" funding to schools for shared education could not yet be confirmed beyond Easter 2024. \"It is hoped that further resourcing will be made available thereafter but at this time we are unable to make any further commitments beyond that timeframe,\" it said. The department has already cut funding for numerous schemes, mainly aimed at helping disadvantaged pupils, to save money. Funding for others, like the early years programmes the Pathway Fund and Sure Start, has not yet been confirmed beyond June. Why are there so many cuts? The Executive Office has suggested cuts to numerous groups in response to what it calls \"the most challenging budget in recent history\". With a percentage of funds already allocated for designated purposes, the department says front-facing funding cuts are inevitable. Stormont officials believe they will need to find \u00a3800m in cuts and revenue-raising measures in the wake of last month's budget announcement, which was set by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. The task was put upon Mr Heaton-Harris in the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive as the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) continues its boycott of devolved government until concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements are resolved. Mr Heaton-Harris, who has denied setting a \"punishment budget\", warned that government departments face difficult decisions in order to live within the funding available. The news about shared education cuts comes as the Equality Commissioner for Northern Ireland has said its funding is at a \"critical stage\". Required funding for the year ahead has been reduced by about 11% (\u00a39.5m). That is despite extra expenditure on areas like the Homes for Ukraine scheme and the Identity and Language Act. Equality Commission chief commissioner Geraldine McGahey told BBC News NI the commission had been subjected to successive year-on-year cuts for more than a decade. She said its budget had been reduced by nearly 40% in that period with staffing numbers currently half its establishment figure, despite taking on new responsibilities. \"This further proposed 10% budget reduction just compounds this situation further,\" she said. \"The level of funding is now at a critical stage and impacting significantly on the nature and scale of the work we can do to improve people's lives through addressing inequalities and tackling discrimination.\" This was particularly disappointing following the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement which established the commission as one of its safeguards, she added. The Executive Office has been allocated \u00a3182m for the year ahead - this is despite an increase in financial pressures related to both loss of income sources and new spend commitments. These new spends include: The Covid-19 inquiryThe Homes for Ukraine schemeAn increasing number of asylum seekers choosing to make their home in Northern IrelandPreparations for the establishment of three new bodies mandated by fresh Irish language and Ulster Scots legislation. The department said \u00a3106m of this year's budget has already been earmarked toward schemes such as truth recovery and victims' payments. These funds can only be used for their designated purposes and not at the discretion of the department. With a baseline budget requirement of \u00a385.2m for additional spending, the department now faces a reduction equating to \u00a39.5m. Some 37% of TEO's budget is spent by its arm's-length bodies (ALB) focused on areas such as equality, community relations and institutional abuse. An equality impact assessment on potential decisions - which now faces a 12-week consultation period - includes a model of how a 10% budget cut would impact some of these ALBs. Bodies impacted could include: Equality CommissionCommunity Relations CouncilCommission for Victims and SurvivorsAttorney General for Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland Judicial Appointments CommissionCommissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse An analysis of information held by TEO indicates ALB reductions are anticipated to have a negative impact on good relations between people of different religious beliefs, political opinions or racial groups. The department says budget cuts could also have significant and adverse impacts on children, women, people with disabilities, those with mental health problems, refugees and migrants. TEO said it had identified potential areas for mitigation by prioritising projects where the safety of a group is at risk. Further money-saving measures could include continuing a temporary suspension of recruitment and a reduction in Good Relations work - reducing delivery to district council schemes by about 50% compared with last year. The department stressed these were not recommendations that would be made by officials under normal circumstances, but were actions required as a consequence of \"an extremely constrained\" budget allocation.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49401323&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Solid State Drive Market Shares, 2022: Rapidly Evolving Dynamics Shape the Year", "text": "The SSD market share for 2022 declined by 3.9% due to macroeconomic headwinds and inventory adjustments, resulting in a revenue of $36.9 billion.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-07-1f407c2954b57ce20b3f4657daae6fa2.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50209423&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Data Privacy Compliance Software Market Shares, 2022: OneTrust Continues to Hold Its Large Lead Over the Market", "text": "IDC study analyzes the data privacy compliance software market, focusing on data discovery and mapping as the most talked about functionalities. The study also highlights the difficulty end-users face in adopting more advanced privacy-enhancing techniques without first mastering the basics of data management.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/default/default-img3-1aa00694e19355acff8c89da46c10e53.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/05/17/why-do-so-many-brands-fail-to-develop-deeper-relationships-with-consumers/", "title": "Why Do So Many Brands Fail to Develop Deeper Relationships With Consumers?", "text": "The importance of developing deep relationships with consumers is often overlooked by brands who focus solely on product or technology. Trust and relevance are essential for building brand loyalty and increasing profitability. Brands that fail to expand their relevance risk shallow, transactional relationships with consumers. Market and personal relevance are key factors in meeting consumer needs, and companies must empathetically ask questions to deepen the relationship. Companies must avoid focusing too narrowly on one set of consumer needs, marking a presence without playing to win, having a \"white space\" mentality, or refusing to embrace obvious opportunities. Apple dominates the consumer tech marketplace due to its deep relationships with consumers, while other brands focus primarily on the enterprise market.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FC-May-Blog-Banner-Image.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/10/17/data-operational-advantage-or-strategic-imperative/", "title": "Data: Operational Advantage or Strategic Imperative?", "text": "The world has gone digital in both personal and work lives. Data is necessary for tech companies to make critical business decisions, improve efficiency, and become more competitive. Reliable data helps identify sales opportunities, prioritize product roadmaps, generate leads, retain customers, and optimize partnership strategies. Data-informed branding and messaging can help businesses stand out in the market. Analytics also provides insights for implementing intelligently conceived pricing strategies and identifying areas of weakness for adjustments. IDC's Data & Analytics Solutions provide clients with critical IT data for business success.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/data_analytics_1200x800.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/09/26/an-introduction-to-video-marketing-for-emerging-tech-vendors/", "title": "An Introduction to Video Marketing for Emerging Tech Vendors", "text": "Video usage has increased by 32% since the pandemic began. Video is preferred over other content types and is commonly used for research. 86% of businesses use video as a marketing tool, but most are not impactful. Before creating a video, consider the reason, respect, and rationale behind it. Define your target audience, set a timeline and budget, choose the best hosting platform, develop messaging, and decide on metrics to track success.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/3rd-party-content-blog-copy.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/111F6/production/_129743107_neckpain_gettyimages-1301977723.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The number of people not working in the UK due to long-term sickness has risen to a new record, official figures show. More than two and a half million are not working due to health problems, the Office for National Statistics said. It blamed an increase in mental health issues in younger people and people suffering back and neck pain, possibly due to home working, for the rise. Typically, for every 13 people currently working, one person is long-term sick. Since the start of the Covid pandemic, there were \"well over 400,000 more people outside of the labour market due to ill health,\" Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at the ONS, told the BBC's Today Programme. As well as an increase in mental health conditions and back and neck pains, Mr Morgan said there had also been \"an increase in the category that includes post-viral fatigue, so perhaps long Covid having an impact\". Who are the millions of Britons not working?Are wages keeping up with inflation? One of the reasons why the UK economy has been doing less well than other developed nations has been the case of the missing workers, after millions stopped working during the pandemic. Getting these people back to work is a key part of the government's plan to get the economy growing again with changes to the rules around health-related benefits and universal credit in the March Budget aimed at helping to address the shortage of workers. The latest figures show mixed progress on this front. Significant numbers of students, carers and even some retired people have started looking for work again, pushing the inactivity rate - the key measure of people not in work - down to 21% - the lowest level in three years. However, the rise in the number of people too ill to work is likely to worry policymakers. \"We should be concerned by the high number of people who are economically inactive because they are sick, and progress on tackling inactivity overall is too slow,\" said Neil Carberry, chief executive at the industry body the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. \"It is a year since the ONS reported on high worklessness, labour shortages and high inflation and too little has changed. This is holding the economy back by constraining companies' ability to grow.\" By Michelle Roberts, digital health editor Sitting with proper posture is one of the best things you can do to prevent back and neck problems. So it is easy to see how spending long hours sitting at a desk, hunched over a laptop could be bad for you. The latest data from the ONS suggests musculoskeletal issues are on the rise, and likely linked to the shift to home working that happened to many of us during the pandemic. If you use a home workstation, the advice is to make sure the top of your computer screen is level with your eyes and about an arm's length away from you. You should be able to relax your shoulders when you are typing and keep your elbows at 90 degrees. Take regular breaks too to stand up, stretch and move around. If you have neck or back pain, chat with your doctor or see a physiotherapist. Employers are also required by law to protect the health and safety of their workers Ian, 48, from Manchester used to work in software support, but back and leg problems forced him to leave his job, and he's now waiting for surgery on his back. He told the BBC he's \"frustrated\" but hopes he can return to work at some point. However, he thinks he will be at a disadvantage when applying for jobs. \"The tone changes in the interview,\" he says, when you tell a potential employer that you have health problems. James, 39, from Durham has been given time off work after having problems with his eyesight. He was recently diagnosed with diabetes and says working from home has led to an unhealthy lifestyle. \"My eyesight was badly affected because blood sugar levels were so high. I couldn't really look at screens, so couldn't do work properly.\" He also says it can be difficult to set up a work desk correctly at home. \"In an office, someone sets up the chair properly, they have screens that protect eyes. There are more precautions.\" The latest ONS figures also showed the squeeze on pay remains, with wage increases failing to keep up with rising prices. Growth in regular pay, which excludes bonuses, was 6.7% in the first three months of the year, and pay growth in the public sector was 5.6% - the highest rate since 2003. However, when price rises are taken into account, regular pay fell by 2%. The latest figures from the ONS also showed: the employment rate edged up to 75.9% between January and March, helped by more part-time employees and self-employed workersthe unemployment rate also rose slightly to 3.9%the number of people on employers' payrolls dropped in April, the first decline in more than two yearsjob vacancy numbers fell for the 10th consecutive period, although there are still more than one million unfilled poststhe number of working days lost to strikes rose to 556,000 in March 2023, mainly due to walkouts in the health and education sectors. In response to the latest figures, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, said: \"It's encouraging that the unemployment rate remains historically low but difficulty in finding staff and rising prices are a worry for many families and businesses.\" But shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the government was a \"drag\" on the economy with family finances \"being squeezed to breaking point by a further fall in real wages\" and with fewer people in employment than before the pandemic. Additional reporting by Victoria Park and Emily Roberts", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5ECE/production/_125807242_gettyimages-149126013.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The view, from the top of a condemned tower block in east London, was to die for. Lund Point, on the Carpenters Estate in Stratford, was our window to the spectacle of London 2012 - a superb vantage point overlooking the Olympic stadium. The tower was the hub of an ambitious BBC broadcasting operation. Some flats were still occupied by residents, others were converted into TV and radio studios, newsrooms, broadcast galleries, and even a canteen. But it was about much more than sport. For several heady weeks this is where all the news came from, too. The BBC's flagship six and ten o'clock news programmes were broadcast from here - 57 live bulletins in all. And then, on Sunday 9 September 2012, the late BBC news wrapped up with a montage of the best Olympic moments, and it was over. For broadcasters, viewers and athletes, it was the conclusion of a glorious sporting summer. But for those who had lived here it signalled the imminent demolition of their homes - and the prospect of indefinite dislocation. But a decade later, it's as if time stopped. The tower still stands. The Carpenters Estate is a short walk from what's now called the London Stadium and the other venues created at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This is the landscape reclaimed at a cost of billions of pounds, transforming its grimy industrial past into its current state of throbbing with construction activity. Housing, university blocks and a cultural quarter are taking shape. Yet the Carpenters Estate has been passed by. Its shoddiness is highlighted by the new steel and glass towers that surround it - but from which it is completely disconnected. Is that surprising? It's not as if some didn't predict it. In 2012, as the Games began, Warren Lubin lived on the 20th floor of Lund Point. During the Olympics he was interviewed by the Evening Standard. He told the paper: \"Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Olympics and the thrill of bumping into the likes of George Alagiah, Huw Edwards, Riz Lateef in the lift on the way to my flat, but the reality is that in a few weeks the Games will be over and what we will be left with is a disgraceful situation of people being forced out of their homes.\" A decade on, like the tower, Mr Lubin's home - a one-bedroom flat at the top of Lund Point - is unchanged. He is the only council tenant left. He's not alone in the building, but almost. In a block of 121 flats, fewer than 10 are occupied. The other residents are people renting privately from leaseholders who bought their homes. \"Nothing has happened. Absolutely nothing at all. It's shocking and embarrassing. \"It's been strange. Weirdly, I am used to it now. I like the quiet. But there's been no upkeep and all these flats which could have been used are empty.\" The estate and community were left in limbo when, in the mid-2000s, Newham council started moving tenants from this block and its high-rise siblings, Dennison Point and James Riley Point. Together they were the landmarks framing the estate's identity and skyline. They were a little dilapidated, and in need of some tender loving care. But, say residents, there was nothing wrong at their heart. Solid concrete. Structurally sound. Soon nearly 400 flats had been emptied, the estate drained of almost half its population and the community hollowed out. It was a wrong, unlawful decanting process, claims Mr Lubin, because there were no firm plans to redevelop before it happened. He says if more tenants had known their rights, they, like him, would have stayed. Mr Lubin's theory is rejected by Sir Robin Wales, the former mayor of Newham, who set the process in motion, He said he was clear in his plan to knock down and completely redevelop the estate. \"We were going to build thousands of new homes, both here and elsewhere in the borough. If you want housing, you have to develop. We had a plan. \"Sometimes people don't want to listen.\" It led to today's situation, where the buildings remain but people are few and far between. The lights have been kept on, the electricity and water remain connected, basic maintenance has been done, and since 2017 - after the Grenfell fire - wardens and security guards have been on duty round the clock in each block. \"It's costing the council huge amounts to keep them running even though there are only a few of us here,\" said Mr Lubin. Newham Council refused to tell the BBC just how much, but once you factor in the loss of rent and council tax, and the cost of housing the estate's former tenants elsewhere, the bill could be tens of millions of pounds. In the 23-storey Dennison Point, the 11th floor has several boarded-up flats, and one with a door and a protective metal grille. It is home to 79-year-old June Benn. She was one of the first tenants to move in when the estate was completed in the late 1960s and is one of only a dozen residents left in this block. She says many residents didn't want to leave but were forced out. But she is a leaseholder and she wouldn't budge. Ms Benn accepts it is a strange existence. \"The place has gone downhill. I used to know everyone. Now I don't see anyone. But why would I want to leave? I have told them I am comfortable here and am staying. \"My family don't like me being here because I am on my own and I am isolated but as far as I am concerned I will stay unless I am offered something suitable, which has to be near here. \"They made me an offer a few years ago to get me out but it wasn't enough to buy a garden shed.\" There are two groups in this story about a community frozen in time: those who stayed and those who left. Among those who left were Pat Hamid and her husband Abdul who were decanted from Dennison Point in 2011, a few months before the Olympics. They had lived there for 29 years. Mrs Hamid said: \"There was nothing wrong with our flat. Big rooms, nice kitchen. I was on the fifth floor. But they told us they had plans to redo it all.\" The couple were moved to a sheltered housing block on the other side of Stratford called Holden Point. The Hamids were unfamiliar with their new location. \"I never knew anything about this end of Stratford. I had only known my area around the Carpenters,\" said Mrs Hamid. Although they did not want to leave Lund Point, they were reassured because it was guaranteed they could come back - a \"right to return\" when the estate was rebuilt. As it does, real life intervened. Mr Hamid became unwell. By the time he died in 2020 they had given up any thoughts of returning, had settled in their sheltered block with wardens who could be summoned for help at the press of a buzzer. Mrs Hamid is shocked her old block has not been knocked down and no regeneration work has even begun. \"Of course it's good you've got council tenancies for people who need housing but at the end of the day they seem to think you are a commodity. They think 'if we want to do something we'll do it'. \"But they haven't done anything. That's the problem. Why were we moved? Older tenants like me won't go back now. Of course not.\" She's heard the latest plans are for a redevelopment that could take at least 15 years to complete. \"In 15 years I will be older than 100. Maybe I can go back and haunt it.\" Residents say this has been a terrible failure of legacy. It is a story of protest and politics, suspicion and distrust. But most of all, inactivity. Aidan White, founder of the online newspaper Newham Voices, said: \"It's been a wasted decade. There's a huge sense of a loss of a community. They really do feel that loss.\" The Carpenters became a tasty piece of real estate the moment the Olympics came into view. When the Games were awarded to London in 2005, land values started rising. This site, perfectly situated just a short walk from the centre of Stratford, was of considerable interest to developers. There was to be a huge new shopping centre and the Stratford international rail station was being completed. Progress was heavy going, though, stalled by residents suspicious of the mayor's intentions who had fears of gentrification, being priced out and forced away. Or as Sir Robin puts it: \"That's what you get with the hard left, when the 'rent-a-Trots' get involved. If you oppose development, you're opposing housing. \"I am careful to make a distinction here. I absolutely sympathise, I did absolutely sympathise with the people who didn't want to move. \"But against that I wanted to create thousands more homes and most importantly jobs too. There has to be a balance.\" In 2009, plans were drawn up by the estate's tenants group. It involved some demolition but retained the basic character of the estate. Those plans were rejected. In 2013, a proposal by University College London to create a new campus was withdrawn after noisy protests from tenants backed by some of its own students and lecturers. It is now building in the Olympic park itself. Two years later a group of single mothers occupied a low-rise block on the estate in a protest campaign highlighting the lack of affordable housing in east London. Newham, one of London's poorest boroughs with more than 25,000 people on the housing waiting list, was getting a bad reputation. The object of growing hostility, Sir Robin threw the dice again, producing plans involving a joint venture with a developer or housing association. He continues to defends his efforts. \"If I had still been there, we would have been building long ago. We would have had spades in the ground.\" Then in 2018 events took an unexpected turn, the consequence of local Labour infighting, and the machinations of politics in Newham. After 16 years as mayor, Sir Robin was overthrown by a fellow Newham councillor, Rokhsana Fiaz, voted in by a huge influx to the local party of supporters of Jeremy Corbyn and the Momentum activist movement that backed him. She stood on a platform which included a new approach to housing, though Sir Robin said the Carpenters debacle did not have an impact. \"Not a jot,\" he says. His successor said she opposed demolition of the Carpenters, and pledged more affordable homes and engagement to make it a \"community-led\" regeneration project. However, over the first four years of her mayoralty, progress was painfully slow as she tore up her predecessor's policies but struggled to come up with her own. Finally, last December a fresh masterplan for the estate was produced and put to a ballot. It suggests tripling the number of homes to more than 2,000, with half at social rent levels and a large proportion of the rest for private sale. As things stand now, two of the three tower blocks condemned by Sir Robin will survive. Of the 345 people who took part, 252 voted \"yes\" - a 73% share. This process brought further controversy. Some raised questions, including the protest groups which also opposed Sir Robin's plans, and the Greens' Sian Berry, chair of the London Assembly's housing committee. \"It's hard to explain what happened,\" says Pauline Clarke, landlady of the Carpenters Arms pub which sits in the shadow of Lund Point. \"Everyone I spoke to said they voted 'no'. You can't find people who wanted this.\" The explanation may actually be simple. The tenants who moved from the estate years previously and still retained the right to return were also given a vote. And they had nothing to lose by voting in favour - and the possibility of returning to a refurbished estate In Stratford, although with no obligation to do so. For Ms Fiaz it heralded a breakthrough just before she sought re-election this month. At last, the first tentative steps had been made towards an Olympic housing legacy. She also took a swipe at her Labour predecessor: \"After years of false promises and the failures of the past, I am over the moon that residents on the Carpenters Estate, including those who have a right to return, have decisively voted to support this people-powered masterplan.\" For Aidan White, of Newham Voices, it was the result of a \"fantastic amount of fatigue\". \"People just to want to move on. There's a feeling of resignation that this is now the only option. If the council is saying 'it's this way or no way', there's not much you can do about that.\" For some it feels like the last resort. \"We are just desperate to see some life restored to the place,\" said Adeel Nauyeck. \"It's been a joke. We've been completely ignored and the estate has been allowed to decline.\" Mr Nauyeck, a former chef, has lived here for 30 years. In 2012 he moved, with his mother, wife and three boys, from a flat in Dennison Point into a four-bedroom house at the heart of the estate. An estate that he's watched crumbling bit by bit. He believes one of the reasons there's been so little progress is tension between the council tenants, like him, and the leaseholders who have different priorities. \"When Stratford got the Games, suddenly there were leaflets coming through people's doors, telling them the value of their homes had gone up and how much they would get if they wanted to rent them out. A lot of leaseholders took the opportunity and rented them out and moved away. That led to this becoming a rental market with a regular turnover of tenants. \"The estate never settled. There was no longer a community.\" His children went to the local primary school and are now at one of the new academies created on the Olympic Park. Their friends are in the area and Mr Nauyeck is determined to stay here. But for others, there is uncertainty and anguish they feel is undeserved. The bulldozers are coming after all. Dennison Point and most of the low-rise blocks and houses are to be demolished. Joan Hunnibale, 84, moved into her three-bedroom house back in 1969 and purchased it under right-to-buy in the 1980s. It is now due for demolition. She wants clarity about when it will happen. \"It's just been allowed to deteriorate here. You can run down a place for so long. In the end, people get fed up and agree to go,\" she said. Doreen Ward, 87, is far less stoic. She lives in a four-bedroom house with a garden she loves in a street she says is \"the nicest on the whole estate\". She is determined to live out her days in the home she has been in for more than half a century. \"People try and interest you in somewhere smaller and more suitable. But I tell them I don't want to do that when I've got 16 members of my family coming for Christmas dinner. \"I can walk to the shops from here. It's so convenient. I've got a sister in Billericay, and one who's ill in Herne Bay. I don't drive but it's so easy for me to get there by train.\" She has objected to every proposal for the estate so far, and voted against this latest one. \"You get the feeling they want to make it so ugly and unliveable that eventually they get their own way and flatten it all,\" she said. Mr Lubin \"reluctantly\" voted in favour of the plans. He is not happy with the prospect of the amount of housing tripling. \"Something has to happen. If the vote was 'no' what would that mean? Would it mean another 10 years of doing nothing?\" Under Ms Fiaz, there is seemingly a more optimistic face to the impending upheaval. The estate's green spaces are being spruced up and the street railings painted. There is a community drop-in called The Dovetail, inside which is a model of the plans for the estate. There are yoga sessions, art classes and other activities. Updates on the plans and messages from the mayor are posted on a bright and cheerful website and in a regular newsletter. Will these plans survive the upcoming upheaval? The viability of building affordable housing tends to depend on how much cash can be raised from building homes for private sale on a development site. That income subsidises the affordability, enabling more flats at social rent. The question is how the council makes the sums add up - and how long this drags out the regeneration. The local authority has set up its own housing company to deliver the project, which will be exposed to the same risks as any developer: economic downturn, rising inflation and interest rates, spiralling energy costs. Advice in council papers is clear that the initial pledges on timescale, design and the mix of tenure could change. Nothing is set in stone. Mr Lubin has just learned, via a newsletter, that refurbishment of Lund Point will not be completed until 2026. Work is due to start this autumn, with the refurbishment of James Riley Point. Over the past few years, the cost of renewing this one block has been steadily rising. It is now estimated at \u00a335m. Another big impediment for the council is four families, leaseholders who still live in the block. They will need to be bought out - and moved out - before the renovation can start. For well over a decade, they have been the only occupants in a block of 130 flats. Some children have spent all their lives calling this home. Now they are feeling the pressure to move - with the progress of the whole redevelopment laid at their door. Negotiations are taking place to try to avert compulsory purchases, which would be even more costly and time consuming. There is now only one shop on the estate, next door to The Dovetail, the centre of community engagement. The proprietors do not know when to expect demolition, or whether they will be offered new premises. With footfall so greatly reduced, business has been poor over the past, lost decade. But an unlikely saviour has emerged, clad in claret and blue: West Ham United fans. They stream through the estate on their way to matches at the London Stadium, which the club now leases, stopping for drinks and snacks. It is an economic upside to weigh against the complaints of some residents that fans urinate in their gardens. The Carpenters Arms, as the pub closest to the stadium, is now very much a Hammers' local, packed out on match days. West Ham's prolonged run in the Europa League, reaching the semi-final, meant extra paydays - but landlady Pauline Clarke is another who has no idea how long she's got here. Hours before each match she and her staff erect fencing around the pub, and there is a heavy presence of security guards to prevent trouble with rival fans. The state of paralysis which has gripped the Carpenters Estate has made it a curiosity for academics. Masters dissertations are freely available to read, addressing various different themes. Pupils from a nearby secondary school visit, filling out questionnaires on the streetscape and urban environment, as their teacher reminds them to be careful about the noise and to \"remember people live here\". Those people would of course rather be studied as an exemplar of what the Olympic Games can do to transform communities. But nearly a quarter of a century will have passed since those heady days of London 2012 - and all the promises of transforming the fortunes of people in east London - by the time regeneration work here is completed. Jamie Jensen, a former member of the neighbourhood forum, said: \"If back in 2009 Newham had done what they now propose, rather than leaving the estate vacant for the past 10-plus years, hundreds of people could have spent the past decade living in decent homes.\" Sir Robin said he was \"in despair\" at the lack of housing. \"We would have built. We had a great opportunity and the people who have paid the price are those who haven't got homes.\" He won't criticise Ms Fiaz by name, but said: \"In the end, whoever is running the council has to take responsibility for this.\" Mr Lubin believes hundreds of lives have been affected for the worse. \"This was a chance to come up with a model Olympic regeneration everyone could point to and be proud of. \"Instead, what have we got?\" At least the view, from the top of a previously condemned tower block in east London, is still to die for.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/B0ED/production/_129339254_zelensky.png", "label": 0, "text": "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on world leaders to respond after a video emerged apparently showing a Ukrainian soldier being beheaded by a Russian serviceman. \"Everyone must react. Every leader. Do not wait for this to be forgotten,\" he said in a video address. Ukraine's SBU security service said it was investigating the \"war crime\". The Kremlin said the video was \"awful\" but its authenticity had to be checked as well as who was behind it. The grainy and extremely graphic video appears to have been filmed on a mobile phone, and possibly during the summer months. It shows a man in military uniform wearing a yellow armband - frequently worn as identifying symbols by Ukrainian soldiers. The perpetrator and other men visible in the clip have white bands on their legs, which Russian soldiers are known to wear as a means of identification. They can also be heard to speak Russian, although that is not conclusive as many Ukrainians speak Russian too. During the short video, the victim with the yellow armband is beheaded by a man with a large knife who is wearing a white band around his leg. At one point, one of the men holds up body armour with a trident mark - the state symbol of Ukraine. The colours and shape of the trident badge are similar to the insignia of the Ukrainian ground forces. The body armour also features what looks like the Punisher skull symbol (a comic-book character), which in the current conflict has been spotted being worn by fighters on both sides. A green passport-like booklet is also visible on the ground. It's upside down in the video (highlighted below) but its appearance matches that of the standard-issue Ukrainian military ID in its colour, the presence of a Ukrainian trident symbol and the layout of the writing. There has been speculation online that the video was filmed near the city of Kreminna in eastern Ukraine. The BBC has been unable to verify these claims as the video's surrounding features offer too few visual clues to identify its location, such as buildings or specific landscape points. It also remains unclear when the footage was filmed. It looks as if it's from the current conflict, where white and yellow armbands have been used by opposing sides as identification. The leaves in the video are bright green which suggests that it may have been from late spring or summer last year. Some social media users have suggested it may have been filmed in July but we cannot verify this. The footage began circulating on Telegram late on Tuesday, after a popular pro-Kremlin blogger shared it with his nearly 300,000 followers. He later claimed he was not the original source of the video and that the footage had been on Telegram before he posted it. We have been unable to find any earlier versions. The video has since spread to Twitter. Exiled Russian journalist Vladimir Osechkin says Andrey Medvedev, a former Wagner Group commander who sought asylum in Norway, told him after watching the video that he could recognise the perpetrators as Wagner fighters. \"He says he can unambiguously identify his former Wagner colleagues by their characteristic call-signs, by how they talk,\" Mr Osechkin told the YouTube channel of exiled ex-oligarch and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that \"in the world of fakes that we inhabit, we need to check the veracity of this footage\". Another video purporting to show the bodies of two beheaded soldiers has also been circulating on social media in recent days. The video shows what appears to be a destroyed M113 armoured personnel carrier, mainly used by Ukrainian forces. A man filming the scene says in Russian that it had driven over a mine. At least two bodies without heads and hands can be seen lying on the ground nearby. A yellow armband is visible on the right arm of one of the bodies, suggesting the victims had been fighting on the Ukrainian side. At least three other soldiers can be seen standing over the two bodies. Social media comments have suggested the video was filmed near Bakhmut, where Russian forces - including the Wagner private military company - have been battling Ukrainian troops for control of the city. However, the BBC has been unable to verify the location of the video. Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has put out a statement saying that he has \"not found\" any evidence that the events in the video had happened near Bakhmut or involved Wagner fighters. Many gruesome videos have been posted online since the war began. Bucha satellite image contradicts Russian claimsDoes video show Russian prisoners being shot? Last month President Zelensky promised to find the Russian soldiers who apparently shot dead an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war named Oleksandr Matsiyevskiy. EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali reminded Russia it had to abide by humanitarian law and added that the EU was committed to holding to account all perpetrators of war crimes committed during the war.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/929B/production/_129013573_gettyimages-1243508849.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Hundreds of young footballers have been left in limbo after the FAW withdrew licences for five academies and downgraded others. Taff's Well, Risca, Cwmbran Celtic, Llandudno and Cefn Druids all lost out. They will no longer be able to provide academy football for players aged 12 to 16. Other clubs will have fewer teams after being downgraded. The FAW said a review had been ongoing since December 2021 and clubs had been consulted at each stage. The clubs have a right of appeal. After children chose between grassroots and academy football last year, parents fear they will struggle to find a new academy and may not have a grassroots team to return to. Clubs pay hundreds as weather hits grassroot clubsWales' children doing less sport outside school - surveyWRU: Wales' sport body 'cannot investigate sexism allegations' The clubs have accused the FAW (Football Association of Wales) of being heavy handed. Taff's Well FC chairman, Lee Bridgeman, said it felt like \"a real kick in the teeth\" and the club should be judged on its record of producing players. \"Parents and children are devastated by this decision,\" he said. \"Thirty of our players have gone to Cardiff City, Swansea City or Newport in the last three years.\" Mr Bridgeman said the news was a shock. \"Every problem we were made aware of by the FAW we put right,\" he said. \"This seems like a draconian measure not to even give us an action plan or support to improve the academy. \"To just withdraw the licence just doesn't make sense.\" Cwmbran Celtic academy had 134 registered players. One of them, Evan, was disappointed. The 15-year-old said: \"There's going to be really good players who can't get a team. \"It's just going to be a waste of a good player.\" The FAW said it was widening access and opportunity for talent. Risca United are appealing the decision and the club's under-15s head coach, Mark Hayward, believes the FAW could have been more supportive. \"We're all volunteers, none of us gets paid, not at Risca anyway. \"It's going to be extremely difficult to take, for me as a coach and for the boys, with the amount of hard work that's gone in, just to shut the gates.\" The FAW said it reviewed the academy structure to ensure high-quality provision throughout the country. Last May clubs were told what was expected for them to be successful in their applications, it said. In June, clubs were invited to apply for one of three academy categories based on the criteria they could meet and in October, funding was provided to help them. The FAW said it undertook visits to clubs and gave feedback, but in March more than half of clubs were told they could lose their licences completely. It said clubs that did not get a licence failed because of problems with safeguarding, coaching, competitiveness and facilities. The association also claimed Wales' population was too small to support 25 academies while England had only 50.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/3774/production/_127569141_bronson.png", "label": 0, "text": "Known by many as \"Britain's most violent prisoner\", Charles Bronson has spent almost 50 years in jail. The armed robber turned artist, now 70, is awaiting a decision by the Parole Board on whether he can be freed. One man who knows him better than most is former prison officer Roy Kirk, who was assigned to look after him for almost a decade. The first time the 21-year-old officer clapped eyes on Charles Bronson, the well-built prisoner was clad only in his underpants and smeared with faeces while snarling at a small army of guards. Roy Kirk had been sent to collect Bronson from a segregation unit at a prison in Liverpool and transport him across the country to his new home in HMP Hull. But, as ever with the former bare-knuckle boxer, things were not always as simple as they could be. Mr Kirk said the group of officers, clad in riot gear and using protective shields, had managed to lever open the door to Bronson's cell, extricate him and guide him to a shower. \"There wasn't an inch of the walls that never had faeces everywhere,\" Mr Kirk said of the mid-1980s encounter. \"I said to him, 'you don't need to be living like an animal for the rest of your life - you can make changes, you've still got time to do that'.\" The officer immediately got a taste of Bronson's unpredictability. \"He winks at me, turns around and pulls the full shower fitting out of the wall - it's about 4ft long - and then he threw it on the floor and laughed, and said, 'get me in the van'.\" When the pounding of Mr Kirk's heart abated, he was at the start of what would become one of the prison system's most unusual friendships. Born Michael Peterson in Luton, Bedfordshire, in December 1952, Charles Bronson took the name of the Death Wish movie actor in the 1980s. By the time he got to HMP Hull, Bronson, who changed his surname to Salvador in 2014, was on the way to becoming notorious in the jail system. But Mr Kirk said he saw a different side, describing the man who reportedly did 2,000 push-ups a day as \"always pleasant, polite\". During the time Bronson, who was played by Tom Hardy in the eponymous 2009 film, was in Hull he learnt basic skills such as cooking and washing, while sharing his physical training knowledge. Mr Kirk recalled his charge as having a sense of humour which was \"second to none\". \"We got on like a house on fire. I stuck up for him when I felt necessary.\" Mr Kirk spent time in the gym with Bronson, with the pair boxing and lifting weights together. \"I'd sit on his shoulders with his head between my legs and he'd do 50 press-ups as a warm-up with me sat on his back. I always used to think, 'he's like a machine'. \"I've never been as fit because he was like a mentor in the gym,\" the now 58-year-old former officer recalled. Bronson was first jailed aged 22 in 1974 for armed robbery and wounding. He has spent most of his life in jail since, as a result of attacks on staff and inmates, violent protests as well as a series of nine hostage-takings which involved a total of 11 victims. At one of his trials, he described himself as a \"very nasty man\" in the past. Mr Kirk recalled how, shortly after teaching him to cook, Bronson asked prison staff for their opinion on some chips he had prepared. His fellow officers, wary of the prisoner's volatile persona, declined to tell the truth and attempted to placate him with praise. \"They all said it were great and he came to me last and said, 'what do you think?' \"I spat it out and said, 'they're absolutely awful'. After thanking Mr Kirk for his honesty, Bronson confronted the same staff \"screaming and shouting and frothing in their faces for lying to him\". \"It was those types of behaviours that kept people on their toes,\" Mr Kirk, who now runs a children's home in Hull, remembered. While Bronson could have a wicked sense of humour and get along with people, the other side of his personality manifested itself in one terrifying incident. In April 1994, Bronson took the jail's deputy governor, Adrian Wallace, hostage. Mr Kirk said as a result of good behaviour, Bronson had been told he could see family and friends in London. The visit never happened, leaving the atmosphere around Bronson \"extremely heightened\". Following a brief exchange of words, he dragged Mr Wallace out of the kitchen into a TV room with reinforced glass, \"carrying him by the throat in one hand, with his feet off the floor\". \"I ran across, got probably within about 10ft of him,\" Mr Kirk said. \"Charlie put his hand on the side of his head - [deputy governor's] still off the floor - and said, 'one more step and I'll just snap his neck here and now'.\" Mr Kirk tried negotiating with Bronson, who had lashed the terrified official to a chair with his own key chain. The deputy governor was repeatedly attacked by Bronson, who punched him in the face and then picked him up by his hair. As the room crackled with tension, Bronson, surrounded by guards and a special \"intervention\" squad, issued a ransom demand of a helicopter and two portions of fish and chips. \"He was walking up and down with the radio on talk-through, marching like a soldier, singing at the top of his voice, 'now the end is near and we draw the final curtain' like he was going to kill him at the end of the song. \"You're stood there the whole time, heart in your hand. You don't know what to do for the best.\" Five hours later, Mr Kirk had an opportunity to tackle Bronson who, while wearing a shield fashioned from curtains and cushions, fell over debris as he dragged his victim to another room. Within seconds of the intervention, the deputy governor was saved - but Mr Kirk was injured. \"I was knelt on him, hitting him, trying to hold him until people arrived, but he got to his feet. Then we fell to the floor. \"Sadly, in that time my leg had been snapped. He rolled over and fell through my knee. I was staggered at the power.\" Mr Wallace was off work for five weeks due to the injuries inflicted by Bronson. Mr Kirk believed it was Bronson's volatile behaviour coupled with the prison service's \"false promises\" that fuelled the violent siege. Looking back at his time in the system, he said despite the inmate's extreme violence he had also been failed by the prison service at times. \"He's always going to be volatile. \"He'll always have that side. But you could say that about other offenders. \"They're still a risk in society.\" The question of whether Bronson should be freed on parole is one Mr Kirk is happy to answer, but recognises the differing views. He said offenders like Bronson should be supported - though accepted it would be \"extremely difficult for him\" to be reintegrated into society. \"I was very close to Charlie, like I would be with anybody I've worked with daily, [I] kept professional distance and boundaries. But we'd become very good friends,\" he added. Mr Kirk said he was thinking of writing a book about his experiences and hoped to once again meet Bronson, who is currently at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes. \"I hope he does get released. I'd like to go and see him if at all possible.\" Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50604223&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide SD-WAN Infrastructure Market Shares, 2022: Growth Continues, Driven by Cloud and Security", "text": "IDC study shows market shares of SD-WAN vendors worldwide for hardware and software revenue. SD-WAN market grows fast due to enterprises optimizing connectivity from edge locations to cloud and other destinations. Vendors improve offers with new features, functionality, and go-to-market strategies, resulting in a dynamic market for enterprises and service providers.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-01-46c8771546b669ee6727ef1777518687.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/3FC5/production/_103152361_albertbridge.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A popular County Antrim coastal path has been closed to the public after \"significant rockfall\" raised concerns about safety. Blackhead Path in Whitehead was shut last week after heavy rain led to the rockfall. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said it had to close the path to assess the damage. In a Facebook post, the council apologised and urged people to heed warning signs and keep safe. The path was previously closed between August 2018 and July 2020 after engineers found it was at risk of collapse. In 2022 it was given Local Nature Reserve status by the council. It features a wide variety of bird life on and off shore including fulmar, curlew, lapwing, purple sandpiper, oystercatcher, dunlin, snipe, redshank and eider. The council has been contacted for comment. During a previous rockfall on the County Antrim path, some people ignored warnings informing them that the route was not safe.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/27/the-2023-ceo-agenda-tech-to-drive-growth-in-a-downturn/", "title": "The 2023 CEO Agenda: Tech to Drive Growth in a Downturn", "text": "CEOs prioritize growth and technology spending despite economic pressures and digital business execution gaps. They expect CIOs to focus on achieving better business outcomes, improving business agility, and leading DX to create new revenue streams. CEOs prioritize spending on security and compliance, infrastructure and operations, and workplace solutions. They also recognize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in driving innovation. The digital skills gap is a pressing challenge for the C-Suite and attracting and retaining the best talent is a priority for 39% of CEO respondents in 2023.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CMS_Social-Tiles.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/F019/production/_125556416_eatonvalleyprimaryschoolwestbromwich.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "It once had the unenviable title of the most inactive area in England, but Sandwell is managing to make big leaps in improving the fitness and health of its residents. The BBC went to find out how. \"They're always doing something, they're always on the go.\" The doors open and the boys rush in. The nets are taut, the court floor freshly polished and water bottles line the wooden benches. Emma Withey has brought her three sons Lewis, 16, Charlie, 12, and Jake, 10, to play badminton. They've arrived at the Hadley Stadium in Smethwick early, champing at the bit to play with their friends from the Sandwell Special Olympics group. After lockdown ended, the Withey family stepped up their weekly physical exercise routine so they combine an hour on the courts with football, a swimming class and walking their dog. It's the balance Emma, from Smethwick, has been striving for. Her boys have learning disabilities and she told me she has found it hard to find activities that excite them, hold their attention and keep them fit. \"It just burns all the crazy energy off the boys,\" she said. \"They love it and it's like a great big family here. It's just finding the time to fit it all in with tea and bedtime routines, it is quite hard.\" The Witheys are among a growing number of families in Sandwell seeking out physical exercise and it's making a real difference to wider public health. For the first time in years, the six towns that make up Sandwell no longer have the least active children in the Midlands. The area is finally shedding the tag of what some have called - rather unkindly - the Black Country's fat capital. A major study of physical activity by Sport England looked at how much exercise an adult gets each week. If it's more than 150 minutes, that's considered 'active' but if it's less than 30 it's considered an 'inactive' lifestyle. The bad news for the Black Country is that, taken as a whole, it remains the most inactive area in England - with 35 per cent of adults working out for less than half an hour a week. But Sandwell has moved from being the most inactive local authority area in England to 14th in the space of a year. There is nothing sluggish about this improvement. \"Sandwell is one of those places where a sense of community is absolutely crucial,\" the area's director of public health told me. Lisa McNally says the local authority is working harder and offering more grants to grassroots sports organisations. \"It's not about telling them what they should be doing,\" she adds. The council has delivered funding grants to dozens of grassroots sports organisations from football, to dancing and tennis. And with the Sandwell Aquatics centre being a focal point of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Smethwick, the authority has pledged to continue to offer free swimming lessons for children in local pools. Ongoing access to sport must consider the cost of living for families, says Dr McNally. \"We have high levels of financial deprivation,\" she said. \"A lot of our residents struggle with money and that can be a big barrier towards accessing physical activity and sport.\" The Albion Foundation invited me to see some of their sports coaching in schools. The charity's goal is to deliver 10m hours of sport in the next decade and \"make a difference to 100,000 lives\". At Eaton Valley Primary in West Bromwich, year three pupils were limbering up on one of the warmest days of the year. Katie Grainger and her team were leading a tennis session for one group while pupils with special educational needs were trying out the long jump. Crucially, they've found that 91 per cent of children they coach during school hours are also joining their sessions after school and at weekends. \"Since Covid, the obesity levels have been quite high coming out of it so I think that has helped with the mindset shift as well,\" says Katie. \"I think it is really important to encourage not just physical activity but healthy lifestyles as a whole.\" Volunteers are an important part of the shift in attitudes. Norma Hyde has been a volunteer for Sandwell Special Olympics for 40 years. The organisation has just been awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. Ms Hyde says the young adults missed sport and exercise during the pandemic and it increased their isolation. \"They've missed it for quite a long time and they began to become unfit and it also affected their mental health,\" she said. \"A lot were getting so isolated and depressed, they needed something to belong to. We're trying to keep them active and keep the momentum going.\" The devil, as they say, is in the detail but really it's in the data. In Sandwell last year, NHS England reported a nine per cent drop in hospital admissions directly attributable to obesity. Taken with the Sport England survey, it's understandable why there is a renewed confidence that families like the Witheys are engaging with sport. For a decade, I have reported on the difficulty families in the Black Country have faced to stay fit, eat healthily and access sport. I have spoken to countless health experts, frustrated directors of public health who all had sensible plans but when fresh data emerged, it was clear progress was much harder to achieve. Dr McNally says the Commonwealth Games could \"stimulate a lot more interest in being active\u2026which could bring such a boost to what we are trying to achieve here\". Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49435722&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide High-Tech and Electronics Manufacturing Execution Systems 2023 Vendor Assessment", "text": "IDC MarketScape evaluates software providers in the MES market for high-tech and electronics manufacturing subindustries. The report emphasizes the importance of delivering innovative products quickly while maintaining quality and cost in the high-tech sector. Factory leaders are advised to evaluate their future manufacturing execution systems with expert information.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-05-2d72bc2731a0b21cf3b7892cff11531c.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/16909/production/_129752429_crypto-index-getty.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "MPs have urged the government to treat retail investment in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin as a form of gambling. Their value could change dramatically and consumers risked losing their entire investment, characteristics closely resembling gambling, the Treasury Select Committee found. It also criticised abandoned plans for the Royal Mint to create a non-fungible token (NFT). The Treasury told BBC News it did not support using gambling regulation. The risks posed by crypto were \"typical of those that exist in traditional financial services and its financial services regulation - rather than gambling regulation - that has the track record in mitigating them\", a Treasury official told BBC News. Trade association CryptoUK strongly rejectedthe committee's findings, saying MPs' observations about cryptocurrency were \"unhelpful, false, fundamentally flawed and unsubstantiated\". The committee said \"unbacked\" crypto assets - typically cryptocurrencies with no fixed value - exposed \"consumers to the potential for substantial gains or losses, while serving no useful social purpose\". \"These characteristics more closely resemble gambling than a financial service,\" the MPs added. Gambling helpline charity GamCare told the BBC that, in the past two years, it had heard from more than 300 people who said they were struggling with investing in cryptocurrency and other forms of online financial markets. Research cited by MPs found 40% of new Bitcoin users were men under 35, commonly identified as the most risk-seeking segment of the population. Castle Craig, a rehab clinic specialising in treating people with addictions, put us in touch with a young man who had lost heavily on crypto. The former gambling addict told BBC News that, although he had given up gambling, he had turned to crypto. \"In my head, I just thought this isn't gambling it's just an investment, but clearly it wasn't,\" he said. He said he had lost about \u00a3150,000 investing in crypto, including money he had borrowed, and that checking his phone to see how the market had moved had become an obsession. \"There was no break at all, I was just I was on my phone constantly watching it and just couldn't sleep,\" he recalled. He said he supported the approach of the committee. \"Crypto stuff is gambling,\" he said. \"You can lose everything you've got.\" Former sports minister and gambling campaigner Conservative MP Tracey Crouch welcomed the report. \"At the moment, crypto feels like a Wild West town with no sheriff,\" she said. \"However, I'm sure, if properly resourced, the Gambling Commission could bring some order into this complex, risky and often confusing area that has unwittingly sucked in consumers by marketing to them via sports such as football, giving a pretence to fans and others that they are safe and protected.\" Crypto sponsorship has been widespread among football clubs, but those in the Premier League recently agreed to end gambling sponsorship on the front of their shirts from the start of the 2026 season. This was a voluntary move and not required by regulation. The report gives little detail on what gambling regulation applied to crypto might mean. MP Harriett Baldwin, chairwoman of the committee, said the report recommended \"that the sort of speculative luring of people into buying particular cryptocurrencies\" was treated like gambling. She said the committee had heard a lot of evidence of how \"football clubs are using this as a way of taking money off their loyal supporters\". In February, the government asked people to comment on proposals for the financial regulation of crypto assets. But the committee said the government plans to regulate cryptocurrencies as financial services would create a false impression they were as secure as traditional investments - a \"halo effect... that leads consumers to believe that this activity is safer than it is or protected when it is not\". The committee's report noted surveys suggesting about one in 10 people in the UK hold crypto assets, most investing in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. The most mentioned reason for holding crypto assets was they were a \"fun investment\". Cryptocurrencies are just one type of asset. More generally, MPs said, while they supported innovation, the potential benefits from crypto asset technologies remained uncertain. \"In the meantime, the risks posed by crypto assets to consumers and the environment are real and present.\" The government has been excited by the potential of crypto. While chancellor, Rishi Sunak announced his ambition to make the UK a global hub for the technology. The Treasury believes crypto offers opportunities, but said it was \"robustly regulating the market, addressing the most pressing risks first in a way that promotes innovation\". CryptoUK's Ian Taylor said the finance industry was embracing crypto: \"Professional investment managers see Bitcoin and other crypto assets as a new alternative investment class - not as a form of gambling - and institutional adoption of unbacked crypto assets has increased significantly.\" Recognising the potential risks and rewards, the committee recommended a balanced approach, but suggested government avoid spending public resources on projects without a clear beneficial use. \"The government's recent foray into seeking (and subsequently abandoning) the production of a Royal Mint non-fungible token is a case in point,\" the MPs wrote. \"It is not the government's role to promote particular technological innovations for their own sake\". NFTs are \"one-of-a-kind\" digital assets that can be bought and sold like any other piece of property - they are often associated with digital images. The committee will examine central bank digital currencies in a separate report.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/AB6F/production/_127078834_kim1blur.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A sex abuse survivor has been paid a substantial sum after claiming school staff failed to protect her when she was raped by her mother's partner. Kim Fawcett became pregnant by Robert Stuart McClelland at 14 while she was a pupil at independent Ellesmere College. She contacted the school more than a decade after the truck driver was jailed in 2004, to see if more could have been done to stop her abuser. The Shropshire college confirmed a payment had been made by insurers. This story contains details of child sexual abuse Miss Fawcett, a human rights lawyer, said multiple teachers and support staff had known about the allegations of abuse and also claimed her mother's partner had been able to drive on to school premises where he raped her in his van. She fought to access school records which showed at least one member of staff was aware McClelland was sending lewd text messages to the teenager in 2002 when she was 13 . A handwritten note recorded that he had texted to say she was \"so beautiful\" adding \"your mom won't be home tonight, we will be all alone\". \"When you sit on my bed you don't know how it makes me feel,\" the text message added. The existence of the text messages was never disclosed to social services, Miss Fawcett discovered. In correspondence seen by the BBC, the school and its lawyers vigorously challenged her claims against Ellesmere College, saying many were unsubstantiated and the school had done nothing wrong. Miss Fawcett, who has waived her right to anonymity to speak to the BBC, said initially she had had no intention of taking legal action against the school, which charges fees of up to \u00a335,000 a year. But she said repeated rebuttals from longstanding headmaster Brendan Wignall, who told her the school had nothing to apologise for, had forced her to singlehandedly fight on. In letters seen by the BBC, Mr Wignall told her the signs of abuse were \"too subtle\", adding: \"I do not believe the college would act differently if similar events were to happen today.\" Miss Fawcett said she could not believe a child in her situation now would be treated the same way. \"I only ended up issuing [starting legal action] because I wanted them to take me seriously,\" Miss Fawcett said. \"I wanted them to listen. \"It was really important to me that lessons were learnt.\" Miss Fawcett got a scholarship to the school in 1999, with her fees topped up by her maternal grandparents. She was described by her teachers as quiet, conscientious and hard-working. But her home life was complicated and when her mother began a relationship with McClelland it was not long before he began grooming the teenager. She was 13 when he raped her for the first time at his home in Oswestry. Evidence given during his trial heard Miss Fawcett's abuser scratched the date of the assault into a bottle of Smirnoff Ice he had plied her with beforehand. The abuse continued for months and, aged 14, Miss Fawcett discovered she was three months pregnant. McClelland forced her to have an abortion, when she also learned she had contracted a sexually transmitted infection. The schoolgirl told a family friend and eventually found the courage to go to police, who discovered the bottle and text messages McClelland had sent the teenager when they raided his home. Miss Fawcett, by then 15, gave evidence in his trial at Chester Crown Court and he was jailed for six years, of which he served two. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this story, information and support can be found via BBC Action Line. In the years that followed, she suffered severe mental health problems as the scale of her ordeal took its toll. A counsellor helping her heal from post traumatic stress disorder, when Miss Fawcett was in her 20s, asked where all the adults in her life had been at the time. She said she had decided to contact her former school \"to better understand what had happened\". Miss Fawcett thought she would get answers easily, but what followed was an almost three-year fight. The college said it could not find her nursing records, she was told, and so could not verify her recollection of being treated at the infirmary when she self-harmed. It also said staff members, a number of whom have remained in post since Miss Fawcett was a student in the early 2000s, did not recall her reaching out to ask for help. It did have a record of her missing weeks of lessons, but said this had not raised concerns as her grades had remained good. The college also recorded concerns raised by a friend's mother about the messages and rumours circulating around the school that Miss Fawcett was being raped. Social services was contacted, but regarding a separate matter. The college made no mention of concerns around her mother's partner and documents show social services closed the case the same day. Social workers only became involved again the following year as part of the police investigation. Miss Fawcett's case against Ellesmere College hinged on the argument that if staff and teachers had fulfilled their safeguarding responsibilities, their intervention could have spared her months of abuse and a lifetime of mental health issues. In 2003, the school's own child protection policy dictated staff should be alert to signs of abuse, with particular attention paid to attendance and changes in behaviour, and that accurate records needed to be kept in a secure place. Between 2017 and 2018, Ms Fawcett wrote to the college looking for answers, often waiting months for a response. She said correspondence had felt \"as if they were dealing with some unfortunate individual making an embarrassing scene\". Eventually, she contacted the Information Commissioner to get her records. As well as the notes about the texts, they included a letter from McClelland to the school in which he claimed Miss Fawcett was \"sorry for wasting your time\" after telling a \"few little white lies\" - another reference to staff being aware of what was happening. Miss Fawcett issued the start of legal proceedings, outlining her claims concerning the college in full. In response, the college described her allegations as \"vague\" and said other agencies such as her GP and social services had failed. The college's legal team also wrote to Miss Fawcett saying: \"We do not accept that our client's alleged failure to report to social services your uneasiness with McClelland or the text messages which he allegedly sent you, resulted in abuse taking place. \"The abuse would have occurred anyway,\" they said. \"This is clearly a very sad matter,\" lawyers concluded. \"We accept that you want to find retribution, and that you wish to hold to account the adults who, you say, failed to protect you as a child... but consider that your allegations against [the college] are misplaced.\" Elite swimming club to close after damning reportSchool 'ghost children' storing up trouble says MPI won't let my abusive dad win any more, says Scott Eventually in 2020, the college's insurers settled out of court - without an admission of liability - and paid Miss Fawcett an undisclosed sum. In response to questions from the BBC, the college said its investigation had \"found no grounds to support the suggestion that the college could have done anything differently at the time\". \"The college was desperately saddened to hear about the terrible abuse that Kim Fawcett had suffered, and carefully and thoroughly investigated her complaint as soon as it was received,\" it added. Miss Fawcett described her dealings with the college as akin to gaslighting and said she felt de-humanised. \"I felt that the school's approach was that if a child was displaying signs of distress, it was because the child was weak or somehow defective,\" she said. In recent years she has built a network with fellow survivors and said a document produced by her friend, design researcher Sophia Luu, which details how people can find the strength to speak out about abuse, could be a lifeline for many. \"I try and tell myself, with the MeToo movement and so much work going on around women's rights, that things are changing,\" Miss Fawcett said. \"But institutions still exist that protect these people and that's devastating. \"There are still children who are lost and alone out there and have no-one to turn to.\" Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/08/26/weathering-the-data-disparity-storm/", "title": "Weathering the Data Disparity Storm", "text": "Healthcare organizations recognize the importance of value-based care, but face challenges in infrastructure, technology, interoperability, and data transparency. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations on price transparency and interoperability standards further complicate the landscape. Data is essential for success in a value-based care model, but only 18% of providers are using data to drive decisions. To overcome these challenges, organizations must acknowledge limitations and invest in a technology solution and infrastructure design that facilitates meaningful insights. Those who strategically plan and execute value-based care initiatives will be at the forefront of the evolving healthcare ecosystem.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/JEaton-Blog_Healthcare_Featured-Image-scaled.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/09/30/how-market-intelligence-data-accelerates-decision-making-and-drives-growth/", "title": "How Market Intelligence Data Accelerates Decision Making and Drives Growth", "text": "Market intelligence helps organizations understand customers, competitors, and markets. Leveraging data can lead to accelerated innovation, identifying key adjacencies, and better understanding market size and growth opportunities. Best-in-class organizations utilize total addressable market forecasts and market share data to create a single version of market truth for critical business decisions. Regularly updating this data set is crucial for success. Market intelligence tools assist with business and investment management, product and market feasibility, and competitive strategy. The right tool should map the technology world and provide extensive, insightful data customized for decision-making.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Market-Intelligence-Blog-Header-FA.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/183BE/production/_129626299_mediaitem129626297.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Alberta has declared a state of emergency after wildfires spread across the western Canadian province, driving nearly 25,000 people from their homes. Faced with more than 100 wildfires, Alberta's Premier Danielle Smith called the situation \"unprecedented\". Residents of Edson, a town of more than 8,000, were told to leave immediately. Ms Smith said a hot, dry spring had created \"so much kindling\" and some 122,000 hectares (301,000 acres) had burned so far. Many of the fires are burning out of control, fanned by strong winds. The worst-hit areas include Drayton Valley, about 140km (87 miles) west of the provincial capital Edmonton, and Fox Lake, some 550km north of the city, where 20 homes were consumed by fire. Firefighting helicopters and air tankers have been brought in and the federal government has offered assistance from Ottawa. Edmonton Expo Centre is accommodating more than 1,000 evacuees and in the town of High Level a curling rink is being turned into a temporary shelter. Alberta is a major oil-producing region, but so far oil facilities do not appear to be in immediate danger.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=lcUS50676623&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "", "text": "There is no text provided to summarize. Please provide the text for me to summarize.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-07-1f407c2954b57ce20b3f4657daae6fa2.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50489323&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC PlanScape: Digital Deal Management Platforms to Improve Efficiency", "text": "IDC PlanScape suggests using virtual hubs for efficient and resilient dealmaking. Digital collaboration tools can improve outcomes and streamline activities, while modern deal management platforms can reduce administrative burden and elevate professional standards.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-01-608ac20df563813a5836347478294c0b.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50525123&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide High-Performance Computing Server Forecast, 2023\u20132027: Enterprise Will Overtake HPC Labs", "text": "IDC predicts strong growth for the worldwide HPC server market from 2023-2027, driven by enterprises investing in HPC due to the importance of performance-intensive computing for business success, particularly in the AI field.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-06-716b5f74cf3ce2831f6ce911625635d3.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/53D3/production/_119795412_gettyimages-1219625701.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A 'farm-to-fork' summit is aimed at addressing food insecurity in Britain, in response to farmer pressure, sharply increased prices and supply shortages. In a wider context, United Nations reports show more than quarter of a billion people were facing severe food insecurity last year - an increasing number whose inability to get sufficient food put them in immediate danger. If one response is to divert valuable grain from resource-intensive livestock farming, there is some reassurance for livestock farmers - the United Nations food agency reckons many women and children need more meat, dairy and eggs in their diet, but warns that farmers have to clean up. Out of the frying pan and onto the political hotplate: rising prices, war in Ukraine and disruption of trade with Britain's nearest neighbours have together put the heat under food insecurity. Rishi Sunak is convening a summit on food supplies at Downing Street on Tuesday, to look at inflation issues, the resilience of supplies after winter months of some empty fresh vegetable shelves, and export opportunities. When the meeting was announced, fulfilling a leadership campaign promise to farmers, Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Union, said: \"The past 18 months have been a stark reminder of how vulnerable the nation's food security is. \"It has been a wake-up call for the importance of a secure domestic supply of food, and it is vital that the summit delivers actions, not just words.\" On the even of the summit, Downing Street announced measures to tackle disruption in the horticulture and egg sector, using legal powers already deployed with pork and dairy. There are additional funds for promoting exports, including seafood, and tackling obstacles to export in foreign markets. The prime minister's words make a big promise to producers on future trade policy. \"Farmers' interests will be put at the heart of trade policy,\" Mr Sunak says, \"through a new framework for trade negotiations, committing to protect the UK's high food and welfare standards and prioritise new export opportunities.\" Even one former Conservative agriculture secretary, George Eustice, says their interests were not protected adequately in the post-Brexit trade talks with Australia and New Zealand. Farmers are warning that cheaper imports through those Pacific trade deals, plus a lack of clarity about the future subsidy regime (and this responsibility in Scotland falls to the Scottish government) make us more reliant on imported food, and undermine the job agriculture is doing to look after the countryside. Meanwhile, the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, on Monday exhorted us to become agricultural workers, rather than rely on migrant labour to pick British berries and post-Brexit non-Brussels sprouts. Of course, food is traded globally and few places, if any, can be entirely self-sufficient. So while we may be rightly concerned about the 19% inflation rate for our grocery food basket, maybe it's time to get some perspective. First, to point out that we're not alone. Some European countries, including Germany, have even higher food price inflation, but the average for the OECD, the rich country club is lower, at around 15%. The US and Canada are close to 10% food price inflation. As with energy, most people in such countries are able to switch their spending from non-essentials to cover the extra cost. Even while spending more on food, the average British household is buying less food by volume, with significantly less spending on non-food retail. Some of that shift is to cheaper cuts of meat or down-market 'value' brands. Some of it could lead to less waste of food. A minority don't have that flexibility in relatively well-off countries. But what about poorer countries, where huge numbers lack the flexibility to absorb higher food prices? The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations is a useful source of data and insights. It has recently published several reports of note. One was with a warning about the number of people and countries facing a severe increase in food cost and insecurity. It said the number of people in that position, and requiring urgent food, nutrition and livelihood assistance, last year increased for the fourth consecutive year. Over a quarter of a billion people were facing acute hunger and people in seven countries were on the brink of starvation. This does not include the many people with chronic malnourishment. Instead, it is a measure of a person's inability to consume adequate food, so that it puts their lives or livelihoods in immediate danger. The Global Report on Food Crises, produced by the Food Security Information Network, found that around 258 million people in 58 countries faced acute food insecurity, up from 193 million people in 53 countries in 2021. There is a statistical health warning. Some of this growth may reflect an increase in the population analysed. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned: \"More than a quarter of a billion people are now facing acute levels of hunger, and some are on the brink of starvation. That's unconscionable. \"It is a stinging indictment of humanity's failure to make progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2 to end hunger and achieve food security and improved nutrition for all.\" These goals were agreed through the United Nations in 2015, with a goal for achieving them by 2030. Among the worst affected countries, and with 40% of those in the most at-risk category, were Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, 21 states within Nigeria and Yemen. War, including civil conflict, plays a part in driving up food costs and disrupting agriculture, and was the main driver for an estimated 117 million people facing food insecurity. The FAO has since published a separate report warning that a particularly worrying type of locust has arrived in Afghanistan, deepening its troubles. Other acute problems exist in Somalia, Haiti, Burkina Faso and South Sudan. In 30 of the world's worst hit crisis areas, over 35 million children under the age of five suffered from wasting or acute malnutrition, with 9.2 million of them suffering from severe wasting, the most life-threatening form of undernutrition and a major contributor to increased child mortality. Extreme weather was the main cause of food insecurity for 57 million people, including those facing drought in the Horn of Africa and southern Africa, with devastating floods in Pakistan and cyclones in other countries. A major cause of food insecurity far from the battlefront was war in Ukraine, estimated as the main cause for 84 million people in 27 countries. It sharply pushed up prices of traded grains and cooking oil, and while that hit relatively well-off nations, the poorest countries were at the end of the queue for scarce resources. The FAO has an index of traded food commodities, which soared just after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and then fell every month until last month, when it ticked upwards again. Compared with April last year, the FAO food price index was 19.7% down, but it was still 5.2% higher than in April the previous year. This is where the news looks less grim. With Ukrainian grain able to enter world markets through safe passage in the Black Sea, the disruption is seen as being less of a problem. And although the cost of fertiliser rose steeply last year, much of it coming from Russia, the impact of its reduced use on crop yields does not seem to be disrupting world markets as much as some had feared. This year's wheat harvest is forecast to reach 785 million tonnes, the second highest on record, beaten only by last year's crop. Maize is expected to see a bumper harvest in Brazil, not so much in Argentina, while South Africa's output is looking strong. The sugar price index was up nearly 18% in April, reaching its highest level for 12 years due to reduced expectations of harvests in Asia and the European Union. In the UK, the Office for National Statistics says the price of retailed sugar is up by 42%. That is caused by dry weather conditions, and is also pushed higher by a rise in the international price of crude oil. Crude oil!? Yes, when that price goes up, there's a stronger financial case for diverting sugar production into the manufacture of ethanol as a substitute for oil. Before long, the world's aviation industry is also going to be competing for agricultural grain output to fuel aircraft, and reduce its carbon footprint. The global meat price index also rose last month, driven by pig and poultry prices, as Asian demand increased and animal health worries curbed some production. Beef prices rose as the number of cattle being sold for slaughter fell, especially in the USA. While other major commodities continued to decline in price, the FAO says one to watch is rice - a staple for many of the world's poorest people. Harvests were hit by higher input costs and adverse weather, as Asian import demand increased. Under pressure, some governments choose to limit or ban food exports, contributing to a forecast fall in internationally traded rice of more than 4% this year. The FAO's chief economist, Maximo Torero said: \"The increase in rice prices is extremely worrisome and it is essential that the Black Sea initiative (allowing Ukrainian exports) is renewed to avoid any other spikes in wheat and maize\". One answer to food shortages and insecurity is to redeploy a lot of grain and fishmeal from producing meat, with the argument that it is a highly resource-intensive and inefficient way to get the protein people need and so many millions of people lack. It's a subject that gets livestock farmers riled up, notably in places - including much of Scotland - where there's not a lot you can do with land other than put sheep on it. That's where another recent FAO report comes in. Published late last month, it addresses the question of whether meat, dairy and eggs are required in the human food chain. The report claims to be the most comprehensive analysis so far of the benefits and risks of consuming animal source food, drawing from more than 500 scientific papers and 250 policy documents. The reliability of the source of such papers is open to dispute, where vested interests in the food industry have a lot of influence. But the conclusion is that \"meat, eggs and milk offer crucial sources of nutrients which cannot be obtained from plant-based foods\". Or to be more precise, they cannot be obtained in sufficient quality and quantity. This is particularly important during pregnancy, lactation, childhood, adolescence and older age, the study claims. Iron, zinc and vitamin A are notably absent from too many children and pregnant women, it says, affecting more than half of pre-school children and 1.2 billion women of child-bearing age. Three-quarters of these children live in south and east Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific. The report demonstrates how widely varied is the use of meat and dairy in diets. A person in the Democratic Republic of the Congo consumes on average only 160 grams of milk a year, while someone in Montenegro consumes 338 kilograms. A person in South Sudan consumes 2 grams of eggs on average each year, compared to an average 25kg for a person in Hong Kong. The average person in Burundi consumes just 3 kg of meat a year, compared to 136 kg for someone living in Hong Kong. Not such good news for meat producers is the conclusion that processed red meat, even in small quantities, is linked to increased risk of chronic disease and early death. But unprocessed red meat, in moderation, has not been shown to carry those risks. Better news still for the world's livestock farmers is the FAO conclusion that evidence of links to common life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, strokes and hypertension are inconclusive for milk and not significant for eggs and poultry. But the critics of meat production get more support on other fronts, with reminders that the industry has big challenges if it is to reduce the environmental impact of deforestation to clear land for grazing, of greenhouse gas emissions from animals, of unsustainable water and land use, and of pollution from intensive farming. The list goes on: concerns about overgrazing and poor animal welfare, the problems for human and animal health from overuse of antibiotics, and the risk of transferred disease from animals or from the food they produce, which may have led to the Covid-19 pandemic and could do likewise again. There are also social issues, of the fairness of a food production system that uses so much to make protein for richer countries, while others find grain prices getting out of reach. Food insecurity is rarely a problem of insufficient food. It is more often a problem of affordable food, and how it is distributed\u2026 which brings us round the world and back - with some more perspective, I hope - to that \"farm-to-fork summit\" of government leaders and food producers in Downing Street.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2A8B/production/_129519801_barbara-out-img20230417153121_01.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A couple who have spent two years fighting a no-fault eviction notice on their home of more than 20 years said they were \"poised for panic\" as they awaited bailiffs to finally move them out. Barbara Smathers and her partner Les were first issued the Section 21 eviction order in 2021, which means a landlord does not need to give a reason for ending the tenancy. Since then they have spent more than \u00a31,000 in court fees defending their case, but in April were handed their final eviction notice. They are not alone. The number of Section 21 eviction notices handed to tenants in the Midlands is the highest it's been in the past five years, according to the latest government data. In 2022, more than 1,720 no-fault claims were issued by private landlords to tenants which saw a 172% increase on the previous year - up from 635. Barbara, 69, who lives in Audley, Staffordshire, spoke to BBC News after receiving their first eviction notice and said their lives had \"overwhelmingly been consumed\" by the fear of where they would live. She said: \"You go to bed worrying about it. You go to sleep and wake up thinking about it: 'I've got to find somewhere else to go - what am I going to do?'\" Barbara has 12 therapy horses which need to relocate with her, making the search for a home even harder. \"I didn't know anything about this [Section 21 evictions] until a couple of years ago,\" she said. \"It feels like people look at you and judge you. Anyone in private rental is at risk of this and there's nothing you can do.\" Rent prices: How much have they gone up in your area?'I couldn't sleep, eat or function after eviction stress'What are your rights when you're renting? The BBC has approached the landlord for comment. The sharp increase of Section 21 evictions and notices has been felt by thousands, following the eviction ban which was lifted in May 2021 after the outbreak of coronavirus and a subsequent backlog in the courts. Alex, 27, was living in central Birmingham with a friend when she was unexpectedly issued a Section 21 notice in February, weeks after complaining about mould throughout the house. As well as not needing to give a reason for eviction, the tenant can be forced out of their home in as little as two months' time. Fortunately, Alex was able to leave before going to court, however it's come at a cost - her new flat is \"significantly more expensive, smaller and in a less convenient location\". \"But it was a matter of not being able to deal with the stress and uncertainty of an eviction process to play out,\" said Alex, who does not want to be identified because of the stigma attached to evictions. \"Even though logically it isn't my fault, there is this sense that if you're evicted it's because you're bad and did something wrong. It made me feel insecure about the future.\" Susan has been served a Section 21 eviction notice at the house she has rented for more than 30 years in Stoke-on-Trent. Her landlord died and their family want to sell. \"It's making me ill - physically sick,\" she said, as she faced up to the prospect of \"starting all over again\" at 58. Currently paying \u00a3400 in rent, she said she was unable to afford a similar sized property without paying \u00a3200 more a month. In Stoke-on-Trent, the Citizens Advice Bureau said it had seen a \"a huge increase\" in its workload, with 70% of the housing support team now helping tenants with Section 21 cases. \"It is completely phenomenal. We've never known anything like that before,\" says Jude Hawes, head of the service specialist and equalities teams. The team are seeing a variety of reasons for the evictions, from private landlords selling up and leaving the market - to dramatically increasing rents. In the courts, judges may hear up to 20 cases a week. They include \"heart-breaking\" situations, said Jude, leaving many children \"unsettled and distressed\" as they are moved across the city and made to join new schools. \"The worst case I've seen is when a lady who was terribly ill and didn't have long to live,\" said Mr Hawes. \"She'd lived in the property for more than 20 years and there was nothing we could do. The woman was out of her home and in homeless accommodation and I suspect she will die in homeless accommodation.\" Ramona Hirschi is an estate agent in the city and also a landlady herself with five rental properties. \"Most landlords don't wake up in the morning and think, 'hey, let me kick my tenant out and I'll have no rent and bills paid',\" she said. It is a \"last resort\" for many reputable landlords and agents, said Ramona, who manages about 270 rental properties across Stoke-on-Trent. \"When a house goes up for rent we have 30-40 enquiries, that is the level of under supply and over demand in Stoke and that's not going to improve if there is no support for landlords,\" said Ramona. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities insisted it would bring forward a Renters Reform Bill by the end of this Parliament. However Romana said: \"We need more enforcement - not regulation. \"If you don't catch the bad guys [landlords] there is no point enforcing more and more, because the good guys [landlords] are already doing everything,\" she added. Mark Pickman is known as an \"accidental landlord\" after inheriting his late father's home and deciding to rent it out. Over the past 15 years, he's bought three more properties in the Cannock area to build up a pension pot, but the highs and lows of property management have made him think again. \"From a personal perspective, I wouldn't do it again if I had the opportunity of an inherited property, knowing what I know now. I would sell it,\" said Mark. The number of landlords who are planning to cut the number of properties they own has almost doubled in a year in the West Midlands. Almost four in ten (38%) said they wanted to reduce the number they let, according to research carried out on 750 members of the National Residential Landlords Association. Mark is paying more than 6% interest rate on one mortgage and with rising maintenance costs in recent years, it's been \"difficult\" to pass on rent increases in line with inflation to tenants. \"When you see someone on the news talking about 'bad landlords' - we all get lumped in, because we're private landlords tarnished with the same brush and it's simply not right.\" A spokeswoman for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: \"We remain absolutely committed to delivering a fairer deal for renters. \"We will bring forward a Renters Reform Bill in this Parliament, abolishing 'no-fault evictions' so that all tenants have greater security in their homes and are empowered to challenge poor conditions and unreasonable rent rises.\" Stay in touch with your landlord or agentYou may be eligible for emergency housing or a discretionary housing paymentYou can only be evicted if your landlord has followed the proper stepsFind your local Citizens Advice Bureau which can give you tailored advice Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49435622&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Engineering-Intensive Manufacturing Execution Systems 2023 Vendor Assessment", "text": "IDC MarketScape report on MES software providers for engineering-intensive manufacturing subindustries (aerospace, defense, naval, train, and industrial equipment). Complex manufacturing requires advanced skills and compliance with regulations. Factory leaders need expert information to make the best decision for future MES systems.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-04-31afd80d4fe27436400b1636c40ffa9d.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/46B4/production/_129600181_carolynlefley-walled.cringes.unlocking.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "An exhibition featuring 'Slow time' photographs during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 has opened. Led by artist Janette Kerr, the six-month project featured 150 pinhole cameras scattered across Somerset. John Gammans, who worked on the project, said the cameras made out of recycled drink cans, gave a \"very unique snapshot of what was going on in Somerset at that time\". The exhibition will run until 21 May at East Quay in Watchet. The cameras featured light-sensitive material, eventually creating long-exposure photographs of the Somerset landscape. Each camera can captured light waves as they travelled through the air, passing through a pinhole and then onto black and white photographic paper. The photos were then processed months later by scanning the paper, uploading it onto a computer and then manipulating it using a photo editor. Dr Kerr said the idea first started after she made and gifted her friends and neighbours pinhole cameras for Christmas in 2020. \"Everyone got excited about it and then I happened to mention it to Somerset Art Works and they asked me if I could extend it to the whole of Somerset,\" she said. Eventually over 100 participants took part, with each camera pointed at a different viewpoint, in places including Glastonbury, Minehead, Frome, Taunton and Stoke Sub Hamdon. \"I think that because it was lockdown and because people weren't travelling so much, the emptiness of the landscape reflected that time because there was an absence of people,\" she added. While 170 images were captured and will be shown on screen during the exhibition, only 36 were selected to be printed, with Dr Kerr asking those that were chosen to write something to accompany their image - from what their experience of lockdown was to how the image made them feel. Mr Gammans, who works as an artist and helped coordinate the project said it was \"lovely to see people's faces light up with curiosity on how it was all going to work\". \"The images themselves provide a really unique viewpoint - given the fact it was a very odd time where you could go out your front door and not hear cars, not see people, people were more aware of birdsong, you noticed how clear the sky was - it was a very very strange time and the little cameras encapsulated that perfectly,\" he said. Calling them \"little time cameras\", Mr Gammans said they managed to record their own perception of time. \"We don't sort of notice the movement of the sun and we also take for granted everything moving around us,\" he said. \"I do equate it to if a tree had any perception of what's going on around it.\" Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/60AF/production/_129715742_gettyimages-474401450.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A company that supplies airbag parts to about one-quarter of US vehicles has rejected a request to recall its defective product. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said ARC Automotive's airbag inflators had ruptured and caused injury on several occasions due to a safety defect. It urged the parts maker to immediately withdraw 67 million of its inflators. ARC replied that the agency's findings did not support a large-scale recall. Concerns over airbag inflators that explode and hurl shrapnel at passengers have long plagued the motor industry. ARC's products are used by several top car makers, including BMW, General Motors, Hyundai and Kia. GM on Friday agreed to recall almost one million vehicles. The driver of a GM-made SUV sustained facial injuries from a ruptured airbag this March. That incident is one of nine, dating back to 2009, that was cited by the NHTSA in a letter to the parts supplier that presented the findings of an eight-year investigation. \"An airbag inflator that ruptures when deploying in a vehicle is plainly defective,\" wrote Stephen Ridella, director of the NHTSA office of defects investigation. Recommending an immediate recall for safety reasons, he warned the defect had created \"an unreasonable risk of death and injury\" to front-seat passengers. The company wrote back on Thursday that it \"strongly disagrees\" with the NHTSA's findings. \"ARC takes any potential issue with its products very seriously,\" said Steve Gold, ARC's vice-president of product integrity. But, he said, investigators had failed to identify any \"systemic or prevalent defect\" in the inflators, instead relying on incidents that resulted from \"random \"one-off\" manufacturing anomalies\" that have already been addressed. The stand-off is likely to tee up a legal battle if the two parties cannot reach an agreement. The spat is reminiscent of the years-long recall of more than 100 million defective inflators sold by Takata Corporation. The sprawling recall was the largest in the history of the US motor industry and ultimately led the Japanese parts maker to file for bankruptcy.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2336/production/_129741090_wankhedeshahidshaikh.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A year after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son was cleared of all charges of possession and consumption of drugs, the case is once again making headlines in India. An officer in charge of investigating the case against Aryan Khan - who was arrested in November 2021 - has been charged for corruption and extortion. Sameer Wankhede has been accused of asking for a bribe of 250m rupees ($3.04m, \u00a32.4m) from the actor's family. On Monday, he was among the five people named in a complaint filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India's leading investigation agency. The CBI said that Mr Wankhede had allegedly allowed his aides to threaten Aryan Khan's family, saying he would be framed in a drugs case unless they paid the amount. \u2018Excessive\u2019 media gaze on star son after drug bust Mr Wankhede has denied the allegations and said he is being \"rewarded for being a patriot\". There was no immediate comment from Aryan Khan or his family. Mr Wankhede was one of the three officers who led the October 2021 raid on a cruise in which the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) claimed to have seized drugs from Aryan Khan and 19 others, and arrested them. Aryan Khan was taken off a cruise ship that was on its way from Mumbai - the city where his family live - to Goa. The NCB said Aryan Khan and the others were detained under laws \"related to possession, consumption and sale of illegal substances\". The case made headlines in India and globally. The Bollywood actor's son spent nearly three weeks in jail and was later released on bail. A twist came in November when Mr Wankhede was criticised for mishandling the case and was transferred from his position as the chief of NCB's Mumbai zone. Nawab Malik, a politician belonging to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which was part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra at that time, accused Mr Wankhede of several irregularities, including extortion. Shortly after, the case against Aryan Khan - along with six other pending investigations - was taken away from Mr Wankhede and handed over to a special investigation team. Mr Wankhede's tenure with the NCB ended in December and five months later, he was moved to a tax department in the southern city of Chennai. Reports, however, said that he continued to spend most of his time in Mumbai on leave. In the meantime, the drugs agency cleared Aryan Khan of all charges in May 2022. Girlfriend on 'media trial' in Bollywood star's death In August, the case was back in the news after Mr Wankhede filed a police complaint, alleging that he was receiving death threats on social media. In another complaint the same month, Mr Wankhede alleged that he was being harassed by a top NCB official, who was investigating the irregularities in the drugs case. The CBI says it began investigating Mr Wankhede and four others after an NCB official accused them of impropriety under Mr Wankhede's supervision. It said that a special enquiry team of the NCB found several irregularities in the manner in which Mr Wankhede conducted the investigation. The names of 17 suspects had been dropped from the official documents filed in connection with the case, the agency said in its complaint. It added that Mr Wankhede allowed two civilians - KP Gosavi and his aide Sanvile D'Souza - to accompany the team of NCB officials on the raid as \"independent witnesses\", but gave the suspects the impression that they were NCB officials. \"Gosavi was even allowed to come to the NCB office after the raid, which is against the norms for an independent witness,\" the complaint registered by the CBI said. \"He also clicked selfies and recorded the voice note of an accused.\" According to the enquiry team, this allowed Mr Gosavi to demand 250m rupees from Aryan Khan's family as he threatened them with accusations of drug possession against their son. The amount was brought down to 180m rupees and a token amount of 5m rupees was taken as bribe by Mr Gosavi and Mr D'Souza. A part of this was later returned by them, the CBI said. Aryan Khan's family has not commented on the allegation. Why a film star's death trumped India's Covid story The CBI complaint also alleged that during the investigation, Mr Wankhede had failed to provide \"satisfactory proof\" of his assets against his declared income. On Monday, CBI officials raided Mr Wankhede's home along with 28 other locations in Mumbai city in connection with the case. Mr Wankhede denied the allegations against him and said he was being \"rewarded for being a patriot\". \"They found 23,000 rupees and four property papers in my house,\" he told reporters after the raid . \"These assets were acquired before I joined the service.\" On Tuesday, his wife said the allegations against him were wrong. \"We are fully cooperating in the CBI proceedings. We have faith in law and order, and we are ready to cooperate with the investigating agency as a responsible citizen,\" Kranti Redkar Wankhede told news agency ANI. BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features. The life of India's gangster-politician killed on live TVTo kiss or not - the taboo around public affection in IndiaThe remarkable reinvention of cricket icon Dhoni at 41 'I lost 11 family members in Kerala boat accident'Broken dreams and burnt homes after India ethnic clashesIndia\u2019s booming population needs more women at workDeaths raise fresh fears over cow vigilantism in India", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/02/10/3-harmful-mistakes-companies-are-making-in-the-cloud-and-cloud-cost-management/", "title": "3 Harmful Mistakes Companies Are Making In Cloud Cost Management", "text": "Public cloud has been around since 2006, but some lessons learned are still not applied today. Lifting and shifting applications is not ideal as it also shifts past mistakes and rubbish, and costs 30% more. A cloud migration should be thoroughly prepared with an application-based approach. Public cloud makes it easier for application teams to manage the full application stack, but organizations may experience their cloud costs running out of hand due to a missing control mechanism. To address this, new practices are needed such as making application teams responsible for their cloud costs, creating guardrails by policies restricting them on instantiating overly expensive resources, and creating alerts that warn them when costs are getting out of hand. The Cloud Center of Excellence (CCoE) is critical in managing the cloud optimally by assisting and watching application teams, monitoring the cloud costs on an organizational level, managing discount schemes, and bringing knowledge on cloud billing, pricing models and governance.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CMS_Social-Tiles-2.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50568323&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Hard Disk Drive Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC has updated their Worldwide Hard Disk Drive Forecast through 2026, integrating IT hardware and consumer electronics forecasts through 2027. Assumptions regarding HDD technology transitions affecting HDD areal density growth, product transitions, and HDD price-per-gigabyte declines are underpinning the forecast. COVID-19 safety stock inventory accumulations and macroeconomic impacts of inflation and interest rate hikes are negatively impacting near-term HDD demand into 1H23. However, critical demand drivers remain in place to support above-trend growth for enterprise and video surveillance HDDs in 2024.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-03-9008fdcf9fcfa262ac5d90cc683de6b8.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50545223&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "U.S. Smartwatch Forecast, 2023\u20132027: CY 2Q23", "text": "IDC predicts a decline in smartwatch shipments in the US due to inflation and economic pressure, but expects a recovery shortly thereafter.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-03-1cbabc187f4957f7506e86a1d7ab5a6a.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/04/24/customer-data-the-revenue-engine/", "title": "Customer Data: The Revenue Engine", "text": "Customer experiences that create loyalty are becoming smarter and more dynamic, fueled by customer data. The shift towards collecting more zero- and first-party data is replacing unreliable third-party data, requiring a new approach to managing the customer data supply chain. Establishing a trusted relationship with customers and using technology to share and scale in real-time are key foundations. To increase the value of the customer data relationship, businesses should activate data using AI/ML and redefine KPIs that reflect the customer's point of view. This approach leads to benefits for both customers and businesses, including higher revenue growth.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CX-VOC-Blog-Header-May-2023-.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/DF1E/production/_129581175_09b83f80-c90c-4566-b1c3-086a7cb32b05.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Businesses are having to move while flood defences are installed on Wales' coastline over the next 18 months. A seafood stall is among those relocating when the work in Mumbles, Swansea, starts this month. Gower Seafood Hut owner Chris Price called the timing \"a concern\" as the cost of living has already meant tough times for businesses. The Welsh government-funded project aims to protect business and homes threatened by climate change. Mr Price runs the seasonal seafood pop up between March and September, along with his partner, Sarah. But he said sales were down on previous years and is worried that having to move for the installation of flood defences may further affect sales. Climate anxiety to be eased with \u00a3214m flood fundsDoctor spends thousands defending home from floodsFears 9ft-high flood defences will destroy privacy \"We don't get footfall of the promenade anymore,\" he said. \"And with the land train and bike rack also being moved, it's causing concern.\" Mr Price said he recognised that the work was required due to climate change and rising tides, but was disappointed with the timing. \"Businesses in the Mumbles are so reliant on the summer. Starting the work at the beginning of the season is not ideal.\" The work, which is due to end in 2024, will see 0.8 miles (1.3km) of flood defences rebuilt along the coastline. Another business, coffee van Bibby's Beans, has also been moved. Owner Marc Bibby said the move had been \"disrupting\" but he was \"quite confident\" about sales during the summer. \"There's a lot of engineering going on and we appreciate that. \"If they don't do it, Mumbles is going to disappear, so we understand.\" The Welsh government is set to spend \u00a3215m on managing flood risk over three years. Last year, \u00a371m was spent, which increased to \u00a375m this year. About 250,000 properties are at risk of flooding across Wales. In Mumbles, the defences will protect 120 homes. Natural Resources Wales operations manager, Ioan Williams, said the investment was a \"step in the right direction\" to protect homes, commercial developments and major road infrastructure. He added: \"There's a conversation that we need to have here with governments, with local authorities and with communities around planning policy. \"Where we build properties, where we build schools, hospitals, other infrastructure to make sure that they are resilient for the future.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/12B57/production/_126213667_gettyimages-1227547065.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A long-serving Conservative MP said NHS dentistry was at risk of \"collapse\", during a debate at Westminster Hall. South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon was opening a discussion on dental services in the East of England. No dental practices in Suffolk, Norfolk, North Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire were accepting new adult NHS patients last year, according to BBC research. The government says it has started to reform UK dentistry services. \"I don't think the collapse of NHS dentistry is a phrase too extreme when we're seeing what's happening,\" said Mr Bacon. \"We're talking about such piffling sums of money compared with the overall costs of the NHS that it's simply incomprehensibly we wouldn't deal with this.\" Mr Bacon claimed the \"collapse\" dated back 25 years to the \"withdrawal of funding\" under the New Labour government and was aggravated by the 2006 dental contract. The reforms were intended to simplify charging and make it easier to find an NHS dentist. \"It will continue to get much worse unless the government decides to take a decisive step change and then matches that decision with the right resources, in the right places, within a contractual framework that incentivises the right behaviour,\" he added. The British Dental Association, which represents NHS dentists in the UK, has blamed the access problems on under-investment from government. NHS dental treatment is not free for most adults, but it is subsidised. Research by the Association of Dental Groups, published last year, suggested there were 38 NHS dentists per 100,000 people in the former Norfolk and Waveney clinical commissioning group area, and 44 in West Essex and Thurrock. NHS tooth care like a 'dental desert', MP says Patients in pain amid struggle to find dental careAre cut-price reality TV teeth worth it? The Conservative MP for South West Bedfordshire, Andrew Selous, said he had confidence in health minister Neil O'Brien to make reforms, but said: \"This is urgent, it matters, please deliver.\" Waveney Conservative MP Peter Aldous also added: \"East Anglia is probably the largest dental desert in the UK and what we do need to be doing, metaphorically at least, with immediate effect, is bringing in the irrigators and sinking the bore holes.\" Labour shadow public health minister Andrew Gwynne said: \"You guys have had 13 years to fix that dental contract and it is of deep frustration that in the course of a decade and three years that has not happened.\" He said a Labour government would provide the staff, equipment and modern technology to bring down waiting lists and \"ensure patients get the care they deserve\". Tory health minister Mr O'Brien, speaking at the debate, said dentistry reform was the \"number one issue\" he was working on and the issues were most \"acute\" in the East of England. He said dentists had responded positively to the package of \"initial reforms\" introduced by NHS England in July and that the number of NHS patients had increased by nearly a fifth year-on-year. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1652/production/_129741750_gettyimages-1255057071.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The powerful cyclone that hit Myanmar on Sunday has killed at least 40 people, locals have told the BBC, and the toll may rise further. Cyclone Mocha was one of the strongest storms to make landfall in the region this century, packing winds of about 209km/h (130mph). Most confirmed deaths are in Rakhine state, in central Myanmar, others in Sagaing and Magway regions. The military have announced 21 deaths nationwide. Unconfirmed reports put the death toll much higher, especially in camps where the internally displaced Rohingya minority live. It is thought those casualties are not being counted by the military junta which seized power in a 2021 coup. Hundreds of homes and shelters have collapsed. Communication has been difficult in the country, and people are still missing, so death toll estimates vary. In Sittwe, the capital city in Rakhine state, where many people live in low-lying coastal areas, roads have been blocked by uprooted trees and fallen power pylons. In other, less peaceful, areas of the country there are also reports of military attacks on locals following the storm. Thousands of people have fled their homes in the north-western Sagaing region as the army entered villages under cover of the cyclone. \"It has been raining since 12 May, we had run from the overflowing streams,\" a resident in the region's Kani township told the BBC. \"The soldiers also punched. [Residents are] fearing the danger of the soldiers more than the danger of the storm.\" Locals who the BBC spoke to estimate that some 15,000 residents from the Kani and Khin Oo townships have been affected by military attacks in the last two days. They said a four-year-old boy in Inpa village was receiving medical treatment after being hit by a bullet. \"Myanmar is facing a storm on many fronts, with reports that the Myanmar army attacked villages in other regions while Cyclone Mocha unfolded in Rakhine state. The needs of families continue to be great,\" NGO Partners Relief & Development, which works in the cyclone-hit Rakhine state, said in a Twitter post on Tuesday. Communities in Sagaing have put up some of the strongest opposition to the military. The division also houses a large number of anti-coup militias, known as the People's Defence Force. There were no immediate reports of casualties in neighbouring Bangladesh, but the category five storm crushed thousands of shelters in the world's largest refugee camp at Cox's Bazar. It is home to one million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. About 750,000 people fled low-lying areas ahead of Mocha's landfall last Sunday. It came 15 years after one of Asia's deadliest cyclones, Nargis, smashed into Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta and claimed 140,000 lives. Cyclones are the equivalent of hurricanes in the Atlantic and typhoons in the Pacific. Scientists say these storms have become stronger and more frequent due to climate change.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/09/13/winning-the-war-on-talent-with-it-service-cost-management/", "title": "Winning The War For Talent With IT Service Cost Management", "text": "Organizations in all industries are struggling to attract IT talent, but benchmarking employee expenses can help retain employees. Salary isn't the only motivator, as satisfaction comes from working on cutting-edge technology. Optimizing existing employees and outsourcing are also options, but require a sourcing strategy and cost considerations. Rationalizing and consolidating the IT environment can reduce unnecessary complexity and size. IDC continues to help organizations navigate this challenge.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IDCMetri_ITSCM_September2022Blog_TopGraphic-FA.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/12/12/idc-futurescape-worldwide-future-of-industry-ecosystems-2023-predictions-draft/", "title": "IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Industry Ecosystems 2023 Predictions", "text": "Partnering across industries has become critical for organizations to achieve growth and stability. Ecosystem partners offer flexible resources and capabilities that are essential for innovation and meeting customer needs. In today's complex and disruptive landscape, no organization can thrive alone, making collaboration with industry ecosystems crucial for digital transformation. IDC predicts the top 10 trends for the future of industry ecosystems in 2023. For more information, watch the on-demand webinar, IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Industry Ecosystems 2023 Predictions.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/FutureScape-Blog-Banner-No-Text.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50562923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Smartwatch Market Shares, 2022: Apple Leads as Market Slows Down", "text": "IDC's study of the smartwatch market in 2022 shows slower growth and increased competition. Apple remains dominant with over two-thirds of total value.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_433/consumer-03-e21c2a171dacc6419e69ee98d0c0a745.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1808C/production/_129744489_mediaitem129744488.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Pupils left heartbroken when thieves broke in and stole their budgies have welcomed a new flock to their school. Brentry Primary School in Bristol has been given 20 replacement budgies along with a new aviary thanks to community fundraising after the school break-in. Two thieves were spotted on CCTV in March raiding the bird house at night and capturing the flock. \"I was heartbroken, but now to have the chirping every morning again will bring a smile to my face,\" said Sasa, age 11. Speaking in March, Business Manager Hannah Jack, said they just wanted their budgies to be returned because they did not have a great monetary value but held \"massive sentimental value\" for the children and school community. The school took in its first budgie seven years ago, when pupils cared for a sick bird found stuck in one of the drains on site. Staff and pupils nursed the bird back to health and built an aviary for it to live in. Other budgies owned by a neighbour were rehomed at the school and they began to breed, growing to a population of 20. \"We had them for quite a long time,\" said Minnie, 11, \"they were part of our school, so it's really nice to have some more. It completes the school.\" The Year Six pupils take responsibility for the budgies, by feeding them daily and cleaning out the aviary. \"It brings a smile to hear that morning tweet and to look at their lovely feathers,\" said Eliza, age 11. \"It's nice because sometimes you see them playing and they're clumsy and it makes you laugh,\" she added. Ms Jack said: \" It's the familiarity and the noise which is just so lovely, hearing the chatter as you come up the school drive. \"We are so grateful to everyone for their kind messages and generosity supporting our fundraiser,\" she added. Avon and Somerset Police said there had been no significant update on the stolen birds. Anyone with information about the stolen birds is asked to call the police 101 non-emergency number. Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/12/14/macroeconomic-impact-on-cloud-adoption-for-businesses/", "title": "Macroeconomic Impact on Cloud Adoption for Businesses", "text": "IDC Cloud Pulse surveys cloud consumers on their response to macroeconomic trends. The addition of questions related to inflation, energy costs, and recession reveal the challenges businesses have faced. Companies are becoming more pessimistic about the business environment, impacting budgets. Inflationary pressure has led to budget constraints across IT, resulting in increased costs for professional services and application software subscriptions. Companies are migrating towards public cloud or Software-as-a-Service to find reductions in spend across their cloud estates. Trustworthiness is now the most important company attribute sought by cloud consumers. Many companies are taking stock of their digital transformation agendas and application portfolios to create leaner, more efficient IT responses to current business needs.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AdobeStock_358503814.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/15889/production/_126310288_382a58510f38852ea4227b4dee567d2abce06805.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Nine months after he was was stabbed on stage, acclaimed author Salman Rushdie in a rare public address has warned that freedom of expression in the West is under threat. Rushdie, 75, delivered the video message at the British Book Awards on Monday, where he was awarded the Freedom to Publish award. The attack at a literary festival in New York left him blinded in one eye. Rushdie is best known for his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses. The book, which some Muslims have decried as blasphemous, was banned in several countries within months of its publication and ignited protests at bookstores around the world. Iran's leader also called for Mr Rushdie's assassination in 1989 and placed a $3m (\u00a32.4m) bounty on the author's head. Davina McCall and Sir Salman Rushdie win at British Book Awards As he accepted his award, Rushdie said he believes freedom of expression in the West is at a critical juncture. \"Now I am sitting here in the US, I have to look at the extraordinary attack on libraries, and books for children in schools,\" he said. \"The attack on the idea of libraries themselves. It is quite remarkably alarming, and we need to be very aware of it, and to fight against it very hard.\" The award-winning author also criticised the rewriting of older books in modern times to remove language deemed offensive, saying that books should \"come to us from their time and be of their time.\" \"And if that's difficult to take, don't read it, read another book,\" he said. He appeared wearing sunglasses with one tinted lens covering his injured eye, and looked thinner than usual. Before he was attacked on stage in New York, Rushdie was about to give a speech about how the US has served as a haven for writers exiled under threat of prosecution. The Indian-born, British-American writer was forced into hiding for nearly 10 years after The Satanic Verses was published. The British Book Awards recognised Rushdie with their Freedom to Publish award, which \"acknowledges the determination of authors, publishers and booksellers who take a stand against intolerance, despite the ongoing threats they face.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/05D5/production/_129739410_de27.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Imagine being in court and seeing your son - a government critic - sentenced to 25 years in prison. Elena Gordon knows exactly how that feels. Last month Elena stood beside the dock - a glass cage - in a Moscow courtroom. Locked inside it was her son Vladimir Kara-Murza. One of President Putin's most vocal critics, he was convicted of treason and other alleged crimes and jailed for a quarter of a century. Elena, who lives abroad, had flown to Moscow for the verdict. \"I was the only one from the family and friends to get into the courtroom,\" Elena tells me. \"Vladimir hadn't been aware that I would be there. So, he was a little bit shocked, but hopefully pleasantly surprised. I had been prepared [for this outcome], although I thought they would give him 24 years and eleven months, as a kind of an insult. In the end they decided to act blatantly. They gave him the maximum.\" Since her son's conviction, Elena has managed to secure two meetings or svidaniya with Vladimir in jail. \"He's become very thin,\" Elena says. \"I'm worried about his health. But he's brave, obviously, and he says his spirit is unbroken. \"He is surprisingly optimistic. He believes in the future of Russia, and he believes in his own role in the future democratic Russia. But in terms of his own immediate future he is realistic. He is getting ready to be transferred to a penal colony.\" \"What about you, his mother?\" I ask Elena. \"Are you optimistic or pessimistic?\" \"I not only hope, I believe that I will see Vladimir free,\" she replies, \"and I don't intend to wait twenty-five years for that.\" For more than a decade Vladimir Kara-Murza has been a high-profile opponent of the Kremlin. He helped persuade Western governments to impose sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, on Russian officials engaged in corruption and human rights abuses. Such persistent activism sparked anger in the corridors of Russian power. He survived two mysterious poisonings, which he and his supporters have linked to the Russian authorities. Kara-Murza's letters to the BBC from jail In the West he spoke out against political persecution at home and against the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last year, in a speech to lawmakers in the US state of Arizona, he condemned the \"dictatorial regime in the Kremlin.\" Soon after he returned to Moscow where he was arrested. \"Vladimir must have known he was putting himself in danger by returning to Russia,\" I suggest to his mother. \"Did you try to stop him coming back?\" \"I did,\" replies Elena. \"It's a painful topic for me, as a mother. I cannot distance myself and see him as a political figure only. He is first and utmost my son. \"I begged him not to go back to Russia. He promised to think about this. And as you see, the result of his thinking was negative.\" \"Has he expressed any regret to you that he returned?\" \"No, never. Never,\" says Elena. \"I regret it very much. I speak for myself. \"He has principles. He really believes that he must be with his country and with his people, and that he would have no right to have a say in the future democratic Russia if he had fled and stayed in security.\" Vladimir Kara-Murza's fate is a reminder of the danger in which politicians, activists, individuals who challenge the Kremlin are putting themselves. Most of Russia's leading opposition figures have either fled the country or are now in prison. \"I am afraid that Russia has turned into a dictatorship,\" says Elena Gordon. \"To me it all looks rather grotesque, actually - that in the 21st century we see around us what was described in the anti-utopias of the 20th century. It's a terrible regression. It's a shame.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/02/03/how-to-engage-with-buyers-today-your-questions-answered/", "title": "How Marketers Should Engage with Buyers Today. Your Questions Answered.", "text": "IDC introduced a new customer-centric marketing and sales approach called Adaptive Customer Experience (ACE), which replaces the traditional funnel model. ACE is circular and evolving, and it requires both marketing and sales to work together like an orchestra, rather than a relay race. IDC recommends implementing customer data platforms (CDPs) as enterprise capabilities and democratizing customer data. Companies should focus on building marketing data operations competencies in-house and creating interactive, immersive, and omnichannel content to meet B2B buyers' expectations.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ACE-framework-orchestra-image-content-marketing-services-copy.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/12/16/how-to-engage-with-digital-natives/", "title": "How to Engage with Digital Natives", "text": "Digital Native Businesses (DNBs) are cloud-driven companies that use modern technology, data, and AI to grow and disrupt industries, creating new markets and jobs. They have five defining characteristics: innovation, customer focus, scalability, technology-driven, and disruptive. DNBs are the engine of growth and a major source of innovation. Vendors who engage with DNBs need to take a holistic approach and identify the type of engagement they require. DNBs are the lifeblood of the future digital economy and should be on the radar of any tech provider.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Blog-Social-Media-Tile-12.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/111A2/production/_129605007_gettyimages-1252352153.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Falling birth rates are a major concern for some of Asia's biggest economies. Governments in the region are spending hundreds of billions of dollars trying to reverse the trend. Will it work? Japan began introducing policies to encourage couples to have more children in the 1990s. South Korea started doing the same in the 2000s, while Singapore's first fertility policy dates back to 1987. China, which has seen its population fall for the first time on 60 years, recently joined the growing club. While it is difficult to quantify exactly how much these policies have cost, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol recently said his country had spent more than $200bn (\u00a3160bn) over the past 16 years on trying to boost the population. Yet last year South Korea broke its own record for the world's lowest fertility rate, with the average number of babies expected per woman falling to 0.78. In neighbouring Japan, which had record low births of fewer than 800,000 last year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged to double the budget for child-related policies from 10tn yen ($74.7bn; \u00a359.2bn), which is just over 2% of the country's gross domestic product. Globally, while there are more countries that are trying to lower birth rates, the number of countries wanting to increase fertility has more than tripled since 1976, according to the most recent report by the United Nations. So why do these governments want to grow their populations? Simply put, having a bigger population who can work and produce more goods and services leads to higher economic growth. And while a larger population can mean higher costs for governments, it can also result in bigger tax revenues. Also, many Asian countries are ageing rapidly. Japan leads the pack with nearly 30% of its population now over the age of 65 and some other nations in the region are not far behind. Compare that with India, which has just overtaken China as the world's most populous nation. More than a quarter of its people are between the age of 10 and 20, which gives its economy huge potential for growth. And when the share of the working age population gets smaller, the cost and burden of looking after the non-working population grow. \"Negative population growth has an impact on the economy, and combined that with an ageing population, they won't be able to afford to support the elderly,\" said Xiujian Peng of Victoria University. Most of the measures across the region to increase birth rates have been similar: payments for new parents, subsidised or free education, extra nurseries, tax incentives and expanded parental leave. But do these measures work? Data for last few decades from Japan, South Korea and Singapore shows that attempts to boost their populations have had very little impact. Japan's finance ministry has published a study which said the policies were a failure. It is a view echoed by the United Nations. \"We know from history that the types of policies which we call demographic engineering where they try to incentivise women to have more babies, they just don't work,\" Alanna Armitage of United Nations Population Fund told the BBC. \"We need to understand the underlying determinants of why women are not having children, and that is often the inability of women to be able to combine their work life with their family life,\" she added. But in Scandinavian countries, fertility policies have worked better than they did in Asia, according to Ms Peng. \"The main reason is because they have a good welfare system and the cost of raising children is cheaper. Their gender equality is also much more balanced than in Asian countries.\" Asian countries have ranked lower in comparison in the global gender gap report by the World Economic Forum. There are also major questions over how these expensive measures should be funded, especially in Japan, which is the world's most indebted developed economy. Options under consideration in Japan include selling more government bonds, which means increasing its debt, raising its sales tax or increasing social insurance premiums. The first option adds financial burden to the future generations, while the other two would hit already struggling workers, which could convince them to have fewer children. But Antonio Fat\u00e1s, professor of economics at INSEAD says regardless of whether these policies work, they have to invest in them. \"Fertility rates have not increased but what if there was less support? Maybe they would be even lower,\" he said. Governments are also investing in other areas to prepare their economies for shrinking populations. \"China has been investing in technologies and innovations to make up for the declining labour force in order to mitigate the negative impact of the shrinking population,\" said Ms Peng. Also, while it remains unpopular in countries like Japan and South Korea, lawmakers are discussing changing their immigration rules to try to entice younger workers from overseas. \"Globally, the fertility rate is falling so it'll be a race to attract young people to come and work in your country,\" Ms Peng added. Whether the money is well spent on fertility policies, these governments appear to have no other choice.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1632D/production/_129752909_passportcontrolgetty.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Ministers are trying to work out what to do about immigration, and quickly. Next week, the latest migration statistics will be published for 2022. Net migration - those arriving minus those leaving - is expected to be at a record high. \"It'll be a challenging number,\" one government figure acknowledges to me, with understatement. In the year to June 2022, net migration was just over half a million people. Next week's number is expected to be bigger. UK net migration hits all-time record at 504,000Sunak considers foreign student restrictionsTrain fruit pickers to cut migration - Braverman There are so many questions for ministers to weigh up. How high is too high? How do you wrestle with the trade-offs - for the economy, public services, communities, society? And how do you justify your decisions, when you can't blame anyone else? One of the consequences of Brexit is that immigration policy is now entirely down to the government at Westminster. They can't blame anyone else - such as the European Union - any more. Opposition parties have nowhere to hide either: Labour's immigration policies will be keenly scrutinised too. The political backdrop is stark. In four consecutive Conservative election manifestos, big promises have been made on immigration - and four times they have been broken. David Cameron in 2010 and 2015, and Theresa May in 2017 promised to get net migration down to the tens of thousands a year. Neither managed it, or ever got that close. Boris Johnson in 2019 promised to get the number falling. Granted, it did, briefly, during the pandemic - but it has since rocketed. So what are ministers now considering? Take agriculture. The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has said the UK should train its own fruit pickers. The prime minister told Farming Today on Radio 4 the government was willing to expand the number of seasonal visas for agricultural workers. Then, there is education. International students are proudly welcomed by the UK: they bring in billions of pounds, help subsidise tuition fees for British students, and some in government argue, are crucial for the UK's soft power - leaving hundreds of thousands of young people with a lasting affection for Britain. So, there are some in government pretty sceptical about limitations here. One source said to me that 55 current world leaders were educated in the UK, and this is an influence to cherish. So ministers, including the home secretary, chancellor and education secretary, have been discussing what to do about it. It appears there is agreement to prevent those doing Masters degrees, which usually take around nine months, from bringing dependents with them. Discussion is ongoing about whether the restriction could be broader than that. But there is a resistance for it to include, for instance, PhD students, who tend to study for several years and whose qualifications and skills are more highly sought after in the jobs market afterwards. There has also been discussion about whether particular courses or universities could be valued more highly than others. But if you prioritise a particular course, you might incentivise poor providers to bump up supply. And if you prioritise institutions, on what basis do you rank them? Dilemmas abound. One final thought: to how many people is high immigration a problem? There is some polling evidence to suggest that since Brexit, the issue matters less to some people. And some want immigration to be higher. It is a mighty tricky policy issue for governments to get right - as the next week or so will illustrate. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/11/15/idc-futurescape-worldwide-future-of-connectedness-2023-predictions/", "title": "IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Connectedness 2023 Predictions", "text": "Connectivity is crucial for businesses, as it enables data to remain in motion and supports digital resiliency. With the pandemic driving changes to workforces and workspaces, companies are prioritizing connectivity programs to drive agility and revenue. These programs will leverage 5G, edge, and cloud infrastructure to automate processes and improve customer experiences while providing real-time insights. As networks evolve, enterprise network and IT departments must align systems and processes to ensure business continuity. IDC has made top 10 predictions for the Future of Connectedness in 2023.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FutureScape-FoCn-Blog-Banner-Image.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1655D/production/_129658419_norwich-getty.png", "label": 0, "text": "An appeal has been launched for photographs depicting scenes capturing a city's unique history and culture. Historic England wants to add images of Norwich, Norfolk, to its growing permanent archive collection. Three winning photographs will join 65 others in a national touring public exhibition - Picturing High Streets. Tamsin Silvey, of Historic England, said: \"The high street is an often overlooked part of our lives and it needs our support more than ever.\" Images of \"favourite hang outs\" and meeting places are also eligible for inclusion. The exhibition is part of a three-year project by Historic England and Photoworks, which the body said \"tells the stories behind our shopfronts\". It celebrates high street heroes, captures familiar scenes and invites audiences to consider the value and role of their local high street. The exhibition - which will take place by the Forum in Norwich from June - is part of Historic England's \u00a395m government-funded Heritage Action Zones scheme. Historic England said it was \"looking for people to photograph what makes Norwich special, from high street heroes to favourite hang outs and meeting places, and the historic features and buildings that give the city its unique character.\" England's high streets championed in photographs In other parts of England, budding photographers have been uploading pictures to Instagram since September 2022, creating an unofficial archive documenting a year in the life of the English high street. Isabel Johnson of the Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) said: \"As the city of stories, Norwich has so many tales to tell. \"This exhibition provides a vehicle for people who live and work in the city to tell those stories, for historical record. It has the potential to be both poignant and powerful.\" The Picturing High Streets exhibition can be seen in Norwich from 26 June to 5 July. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/0839/production/_129750120_ae5deac1-db8c-427d-a8cf-9654d9f3021d.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A dedicated ambulance response car for mental health emergencies has been launched by the NHS in Essex. The vehicle is staffed by an East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) clinician and a mental health nurse from the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT). It is the first of its kind for mid and south Essex and follows a similar rollout in Norfolk in 2021. The NHS said the team could triage patients to mental health services. Dan Phillips, interim deputy clinical director and consultant paramedic for the EEAST, said: \"This will also have the secondary benefit of freeing up ambulance crews faster and reducing pressure on emergency departments.\" 'I've got my daughter back after suicide attempts'Ambulances taking 90 minutes to get to 999 callsOn patrol with a mental health crisis team The car could be dispatched typically after a 999 call to the control centre. The NHS said the dedicated team would be ready for callouts between 13:00 and 01:00 seven days per week. Alex Green, chief operating officer at EPUT, said: \"I'm really pleased to be working with our partners to launch such a vital service for people experiencing mental health crisis.\" The car began operation earlier this month and the team met media on Tuesday for an official launch. Find BBC News: East of England onFacebook, Instagramand Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/9276/production/_129749473_western_bfi.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A Western movie, which was shot in Blackburn and believed to be the first, is to be celebrated with artwork. Kidnapping By Indians was filmed in 1899 in Lancashire by pioneering movie makers Mitchell and Kenyon. The artwork will feature 40 arrows embedded into the end of a terraced house where the film was made. A short film clip was found in a shop basement in Northgate in 1994. Artist Jamie Holman helped uncover the links between the film clip and Blackburn. He has now submitted the planning application with artist group Uncultured Creatives for the artwork which will be 19ft (5.7m) off the ground. Mr Holman said: \"We are proud to commemorate that the world's first Western was made here in Blackburn town centre.\" He added: \"It's an extraordinary story that I am proud to tell on behalf of Mitchell and Kenyon.\" Kidnapping by Indians follows the plot of a young girl being kidnapped by native Americans before being rescued in a gunfight. It was shot in fields close to Blackburn with local mill workers also used in the silent black and while film as well as local actors. Blackburn with Darwen Council's leader Phil Riley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: \"This was the starting point of what would become a key Hollywood genre.\" He added the artwork will be \"a lasting feature and a real talking point in the town\". Most film critics had cited Edwin S Porter's 1903 The Great Train Robbery, based on a real raid by outlaw Butch Cassidy, as the first Western before the Blackburn discovery. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/16146/production/_129583409_uploaderemmapownall.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Join us as we take a few moments every day to relax and enjoy the beauty of England through the stunning images you send us. Upload your images or email us at england@bbc.co.uk Upload your images or email us at england@bbc.co.uk. For inspiration, view some top tips from three of England's Big Picture photographers. When emailing pictures, please make sure you include the following information: The full name of the person who took the pictures (as this person owns the copyright)Confirmation that the copyright holder gives permission for the BBC to use their pictures across all its outputsThe location, date and time the pictures were takenYour telephone number so we can get back to you if we have any further questionsAny other details about the pictures that may be useful for us to know Please note that while we welcome all your pictures, we are more likely to use those which have been taken in the past week. Email your photographs to our colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Pictures can be found on Instagram, on the hashtags #BBCEngland and #EnglandsBigPicture and on our England's Big Picture board on Pinterest. If you submit a picture, you do so in accordance with the BBC's Terms and Conditions and the BBC's privacy policy. In contributing to England's Big Picture you agree to grant us a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to publish and otherwise use the material in any way that we want, and in any media worldwide. It's important to note, however, that you still own the copyright to everything you contribute to England's Big Picture, and that if your image is accepted, we will publish your name alongside. The BBC cannot guarantee that all pictures will be used and we reserve the right to edit your comments. At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws while collecting any kind of media.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US47118721&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Communications Service Provider Operations and Monetization Solution Forecast, 2023-2027", "text": "Communications service providers are investing in IT systems and network operations for their cloud-native journey. The market for communications software solutions is expected to grow, driven by 5G and digital transformation goals. To monetize 5G use cases, SPs need to invest in real-time provisioning, assurance, and monetization capabilities. Network operational insights and customer data are key to their success, requiring robust software assets and a programmatic approach to AIOps while being open to partner ecosystems.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-02-a84216d317bbb2479ca6ee5c673c1e98.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/13A59/production/_129737408_img_2958.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A surgeon is leading a campaign to bring cutting-edge assisted robotic surgery to Cornwall. Nick Battersby, a consultant at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust (RCHT), is helping organise a 5km (3.1-mile) swim across Falmouth Bay on 8 July to raise money for the technology. Robotically-assisted surgery involves the use of robotic arms to provide additional precision. Mr Battersby said RCHT's cancer unit needed a surgical robot to modernise. He said patients \"deserved\" modern surgical care without the need to travel out of the county. Across the UK, the technology has been credited with saving lives and helping cut hospital stays. Mr Battersby told BBC Radio Cornwall: \"Cornwall was one of the pioneers for minimally invasive surgery 20 years ago - but obviously technology has moved on. \"Of the top 20 highest-volume cancer units in the country, we're now the only unit that doesn't have this.\" After using a simulator, Mr Battersby said small robotic arms were \"much more like hands\" instead of the fixed instruments he normally uses. \"That's what really gives us the additional precision and the ability to give what's called traction and counter-traction, which is really what we need to operate with minimal tissue trauma,\" he said. The robot is expected to cost \u00a32.5m over a five-year budget and Mr Battersby aims to raise \u00a350,000 through community efforts. Karen Murrish, fundraising manager for Royal Cornwall Hospitals charity, said the initiative was the beginning of the project. \"Obviously to bring a robot of this nature into Cornwall is a huge investment, so there will be lots of other needs in terms of funding,\" she said. \"At the moment it's exciting - it's a start and something born from a passion from one of our surgeons.\" The 5km (3.1m) Swim across the Bay challenge will involve a pod of up to 50 open-water swimmers including Mr Battersby, leaving from Rosemullion Head and finishing at Pendennis Point in Falmouth. Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50583023&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide and U.S. Application Management Services Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC forecasts growth in spending for application management services market from 2023 to 2027, with service providers investing in automation and analytics to fuel growth. Despite varied economic challenges, the market is expected to rebound across all regions due to continued reliance on third parties for application management support.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-05-dfe74541f878027fa3eae53bc5b25b95.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/08/building-a-competitive-strategy-that-future-proofs-your-business/", "title": "Building a Competitive Strategy That Future-Proofs Your Business", "text": "The article discusses the importance of a robust competitive strategy that includes understanding core markets, product differentiation, and customer demand. It provides a workbook to guide the process and recommends utilizing research and data, including predictions and customized research from IT research firms. Understanding macroeconomic challenges and supply chain disruptions can also inform strategic planning. The article emphasizes the need for a deep understanding of customer demand and suggests combining existing research frameworks with customized insights to develop effective competitive strategies.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Blog-Social-Media-Tile-20.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/A34B/production/_129730814_vice1.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The company behind the websites Vice and Motherboard has filed for bankruptcy in the US and is set to be sold to a group of its lenders. Vice Media Group - which was valued at $5.7bn (\u00a34.5bn) in 2017 - could be taken over for $225m. The youth-focused digital publisher said it will continue to operate during the bankruptcy process. It added that it \"expects to emerge as a financially healthy and stronger company in two to three months\". Launched in 1994 as a fringe magazine called Voice of Montreal by Shane Smith, Gavin McInnes and Suroosh Alvi, Vice currently operates in more than 30 countries. It was once heralded as part of vanguard of companies set to disrupt the traditional media landscape with edgy, youth-focused content spanning print, events, music, online, TV and feature films. After a visit to the Brooklyn-based firm's office in 2012, media mogul Rupert Murdoch tweeted: \"Who's heard of VICE media? Wild, interesting effort to interest millennials who don't read or watch established media. Global success.\" Past credits have included My Journey Inside the Islamic State, in which a Vice journalist filmed alongside the terror group in Syria. It also followed basketball star Dennis Rodman and the Harlem Globetrotters team on a \"sports diplomacy\" trip to North Korea. More recent fare has included documentaries about controversial influencer Andrew Tate and a film about Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, by actor Sean Penn. Vice Media Group's investors include Fortress Investment Group, Monroe Capital and Soros Fund Management - the firm founded by fund manager and billionaire George Soros. The hope was that Vice would reap the financial rewards from attracting millions of younger readers through social media networks such as Facebook and Instagram. However, the company's revenues have been flat for some years and it has also struggled to turn a profit. Vice's plans to go public through a merger also failed. \"The issue with Vice and all similar websites is that they never really worked out a business model for free online journalism,\" Joseph Teasdale, head of technology at Enders Analysis, told the BBC. Websites like Vice came along at the same time as the first dotcom boom was in its infancy and technology start-ups were springing up. \"There was a tendency at the time to treat everything like software, where you do your investment up front, attract a bunch of users, and then eventually when you're big enough you become incredibly profitable,\" he said. \"But it turns out content doesn't work like that - if you want people to keep coming back to your website, or to reach new people in new markets, you have to keep spending to make new content.\" And some of Vice's content was \"pretty expensive journalism\", Mr Teasdale said, involving global trips. Last month, Vice announced layoffs after its flagship TV programme was shut down. BuzzFeed, another pioneering online platform, also recently announced that it was shutting down its news division and laying off 15% of its workforce amid serious financial challenges and a slump in advertising revenue. Vice Media has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a procedure which postpones a US company's obligations to its creditors, giving it time to reorganise its debts or sell parts of the business. Announcing the bankruptcy move, Bruce Dixon and Hozefa Lokhandwala, Vice's co-chief executive officers, said: \"This accelerated court-supervised sale process will strengthen the company and position Vice for long-term growth.\" Vice's lenders have approved $20m of funding to keep the firm going through the bankruptcy process. During this time, other firms can submit \"higher or better\" bids for the media company. If these offers are not successful, Vice Media's lenders will acquire the publisher for $225m. The sale process is expected to take about two to three months.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/A32C/production/_129727714_9756-88.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The UK's first full-sized driverless buses have started operating for passengers in Edinburgh. The autonomous vehicles, operated by Stagecoach, run across the Forth Road Bridge from Ferrytoll park-and-ride in Fife to Edinburgh Park station. Despite the \"driverless\" name, the buses operate with two staff on board. One will sit in the driver's seat to monitor the technology, and a so-called bus captain will help passengers with boarding and buying tickets. Stagecoach said the five single-decker buses have the capacity for about 10,000 passenger journeys per week. The vehicles have sensors enabling them to travel on pre-selected roads on the 14-mile route at up to 50mph. The AB1 service is the first registered autonomous bus route in UK. It is part of Project CAVForth, run by Stagecoach and funded by the UK government. Stagecoach worked with Fusion Processing Ltd and project partners Transport Scotland, Alexander Dennis, Edinburgh Napier University and Bristol Robotics Laboratory. The Alexander Dennis Enviro200AV buses can take on complex traffic manoeuvres such as roundabouts, traffic lights, and weaving between motorway lanes. The project has recruited 20 staff from Stagecoach East Scotland's existing driving team. Stagecoach UK managing director Carla Stockton-Jones said: \"We are excited to introduce the UK's first autonomous bus fleet in east Scotland. \"We are proud to be at the forefront of transport innovation with this project that marks a significant milestone for public transport.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/ED1D/production/_125610706_meghanandharry_get2.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "You may have heard the name and might know his legacy, but perhaps don't know who Terrence Higgins really was. He was a charismatic, fun-loving guy, loved by his group of close friends, yet it was only after his death that his name became known the world over. Few know of his unique \"wiggle legs\" dance, the astrology book he wrote and that his sexuality was behind his move to the city where he could be himself. Terry, as he was known, became famous for how he died, but he also lived. His name is now synonymous with the fight against HIV and Aids, because Terry was the first named person in the UK to die of an Aids-related illness. Sam Smith's HIV stories podcast starts with Terrence Higgins' life'My story helped inspire hit TV show It's A Sin''By 25, I'd lost 50 friends to Aids' No-one had heard of the virus HIV when he passed away aged just 37 at London's St Thomas hospital on 4 July 1982 - and very few people had heard of him. But those close friends who knew him so well were determined to not only change that, but also change the way the world dealt with an illness few then knew much about. Superstars and royalty now regularly support the charity that immortalises a man whose death became the unfortunate catalyst for medical research and subsequent treatment that now ensures the illness that ended Terry's life is no longer considered a death sentence. Within 10 years of Terry's death, proceeds of two musical anthems - Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me by Elton John and George Michael - were donated to the Terrence Higgins Trust. It's gestures and support like this, alongside work to help people with HIV and promote good sexual health, that has helped the organisation that carries Terry's name become a world-leading HIV charity. The journey began just before the end of World War Two, in June 1945 in west Wales. Terrence Lionel Seymour Higgins was born at the old Priory Mount workhouse in the market town of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, to Marjorie - Terry's dad wasn't on his birth certificate. It was in the town's dance halls as a teenager, that school friend Angela Preston remembers him. \"He would say to me and my friend 'come on girls, up you get', and he'd jive with two of us at the same time,\" she told BBC Sounds A Positive Life podcast, narrated by singer Sam Smith. \"He was brilliant. I can see him coming down the high street now and his trousers would be flapping. He had a dancer's walk. They have that airiness, that floating movement. \"To me, he was just Terry who I danced with on a Saturday night. \"He had this air about him, he wasn't repressed, he got on with life and seemed to enjoy everything he did - and by heck he had a lovely smile. He was a lovely boy. \"It was only when he died that I found out that he was gay. I was quite shocked because I didn't have an inkling.\" SAM SMITH PRESENTS STORIES OF HIV: From Terrence Higgins to todayBORN DEAF, RAISED HEARING: What it means to live in two different worlds When Terry was growing up in the 1950s, gay sex between men was illegal and you could be sent to prison. These laws only began to change in 1967 - even then only partially. \"We'd play out in a field which was part of the council estate and occasionally Terry would come down,\" said Billy Yabsley, a neighbour who lived on Terry's street Priory Avenue. \"I was, say 10 and he was 14. He wasn't really a mixer. It was very rare that Terry came out. \"We were rough and ready kids, cricket one minute and football the next, then falling out and fighting - but Terry never got involved with any of that, he was a quiet boy. \"I used to go to market hall and they'd turn it into a dance room and I can remember him dancing, he was out of this world. We were like farmers in boots but when he danced, he was light like a ballerina and used to sway his body.\" Terry also used to play the piano and Bill remembered \"he was a very talented boy\" who was a decent schoolboy athlete at the strict Haverfordwest Grammar Boys School, where he won the senior long-jump competition in the late 1950s. Terry started life in west Wales at a time when coming out as gay to friends or family could be considered a risky choice as attitudes towards homosexuality were different. \"I would have thought it would have been dreadfully difficult because there was such a stigma attached,\" Angela added. After finishing school in the early 60s, Terry left Haverfordwest to join the Royal Navy and lost contact with his old school friends - but not before donating his books and stationery to the school library. \"We would often get visits from Terry when he was in the navy,\" said Terry's cousin Annie Oakley, who now lives in Australia. \"I thought he was so handsome because he had very dark hair and had creases in his trousers because of how they used to fold them over when they were in the navy. \"My earliest memory was when he came to visit us and he was in the front garden, swinging us around... and letting us dance on his feet because he was always dancing.\" As far as Annie knows Terry - an only child - never came out to his family, but he did not completely hide his life from them. \"When I was about 14, I stayed at auntie Marj's and Terry was visiting and he had a friend,\" she recalled. \"It never occurred to me that he had sexual preferences and she said 'can you take this cup of tea up to Terry and his friend'. \"I walked in the bedroom and there were these two males in bed, Terry and his friend, and I just said 'here's a cup of tea'. I was oblivious.\" Terry returned to his home-town occasionally to see his mum before she died in 1974. HIV diagnosis at 16 was like 'a wake-up call''You can't catch HIV from hugging me''My HIV got my daughter kicked out of school' \"He didn't talk about his family much,\" said Linda Payan, one of Terry's few close friends from his life in London to return to Haverfordwest with him. \"His mother was a female version of Terry, you could see they were mother and son. Great fun and she had similar humour to Terry. \"She could be cutting and he could be quite rude to her, but she'd be rude back. They'd have that kind of relationship. It wasn't really close but they enjoyed each other's company.\" Linda said she imagined Marjorie knew her son was gay because she once went back to Terry's childhood home with him and his then boyfriend - but \"nothing was said\". \"She'd have kept that silent, it was a different time and wasn't an accepted thing,\" added Linda. \"It was very taboo.\" Terry had, by this time, made London his home where he'd enjoy dancing to disco music and felt free to live how he wanted - which could sometimes be like a wheeler-dealer. \"Terry was either with money or without money,\" added Linda, who first met Terry in a Wimpy fast-food restaurant after a night out in 1969. \"When he was without money, I'd see more of him because he'd have jewellery to sell. He'd say 'can you give me some money for them?' and it'd be a fiver or a tenner for all this silver. \"But he was very kind. Whenever he had any money, it was for everyone.\" Terry worked for newspapers and wrote for Hansard, the official report of every parliamentary debate in the House of Commons - meaning he worked in the place that had made his sexuality a crime. \"He was a bit paranoid about being found out to be gay,\" recalled Linda. \"Once he said 'I've got some people from work coming over for dinner, could you pretend to be my wife?' So I did.\" Terry, a Gemini, had an interest in astrology and wrote a book on the subject called The Living Zodiac and he loved socialising. \"I used to call him wiggle legs,\" added Linda. \"He had these wiggly legs when he danced and it always made me laugh... his legs never seemed to part but his knees were together. \"Life was so exciting for him, he was always looking for new adventures and was very funny. \"I said to him 'you're either going to be very famous or end up on a park bench'. He laughed his head off on that one. But Terry did become famous.\" It was in the gay clubs where Terry became friends with Rupert Whitaker and Martyn Butler - two men who would ensure the name Terrence Higgins would one day become famous around the globe. \"I liked him because he looked out and cared for people,\" said Martyn, who was 20 years younger than Terry. \"If you were misbehaving, he'd tell you off. He was a bit motherly like that.\" Rupert was 18 when he started a relationship with Terry and was enamoured with his streetwise nature in a time where their community felt marginalised. \"He didn't care about anything, he was completely unselfconscious,\" said Rupert. \"He had a very healthy attitude of scepticism towards any pretentiousness. \"I thought he was just gorgeous. This was the era of the clones... very short cropped hair, big moustache, strong five o'clock shadow, plaid shirts, tight jeans and builder's boots. \"It was a hyper masculine look and I completely fell for it.\" They all became a \"family\" in a community in London that already felt on the outside - and it was about to get even more tough. Both had HIV when they met, but neither were to know. While no-one knew it yet, the wave of this epidemic was about to hit. Within 18 months of their first meeting at Bangs nightclub on London's Tottenham Court Road, Terry had died. \"He never really talked about it,\" Rupert recalled. \"It was like he was a very passive witness to his own deterioration.\" In the spring of 1982, Terry's illness became much more serious and he collapsed in London's Heaven nightclub and was rushed to hospital. Game-changer: 'I didn't know HIV drug existed''I had death threats after posting about my HIV''We were all Aids deniers - then it got real' \"Only family could visit,\" said Rupert. \"I said 'he doesn't have any family, I'm his boyfriend' so the nurses were cool with that, but the physicians didn't talk to me. 'Gay cancer' \"At the time, a gay newspaper ran this report... about what was then gay cancer and pneumonia. We had an idea that this thing was in America but nobody had any idea it was in Europe. \"I was pretty sure that's what Terry had. He'd gone downhill so quickly.\" Rupert had been celebrating independence day with some American friends on 4 July 1982 when he popped in with some \"ice lollies, Lucozade and Tizer\" to see Terry. Those drinks remained undrunk. Terry died that evening. \"I knew very much that I had loved him - but I didn't know if he'd loved me,\" Rupert admitted. \"I had to ask a couple of his friends and they looked at me as though I was crazy because they said 'oh yeah, very, very much'. \"Just before he died, apparently he was calling out for me. It's a real regret that I was late. \"The impact that had on me for the rest of my life has been incredible - it changed my life. And hopefully I've done useful with it to help somebody else.\" At the time, doctors were unsure how to diagnose or treat the new illness while there was fear within the community and wider public as to what this condition was. Within weeks of Terry's funeral, a group of pals who had nowhere to channel their grief and wanted to help fight this unknown illness formed a trust in Martyn's front room in Limehouse in East London. \"I had this sense that I'm expected to be dead already,\" recalled Rupert. \"I am expected to die. I expect myself to do die. What do I do? Do I just sit around and wait for this to happen or do I actually do something with the time I've got.\" Personalising the trust in Terry's memory, they thought that would give their cause greater impact. The Terrence Higgins Trust has since helped thousands and provided sexual health services like HIV testing, making it one of the world's oldest and leading HIV and Aids charities. If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, the BBC Action Line has links to organisations which can offer support and advice", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/2048/cpsprodpb/1587C/production/_124788188_gettyimages-1239049123.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has been in the UK for talks with the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The visit came ahead of a Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces, expected to begin in the coming weeks. Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, the UK has been a major supplier of weapons and equipment to Kyiv, though on a much smaller scale than the US. So what exactly is being sent, and how much of a difference is it making? The UK confirmed that it had supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles earlier this month. The Storm Shadow cruise missile has a range of over 250km (155 miles), according to the manufacturer. By contrast, the US-supplied Himars missiles used by Ukraine only have a range of around 80 km (50 miles). Currently, Storm Shadow has the longest range of any missile available to Ukraine, and can therefore strike targets previously believed to be safe by Russian forces. Russia claims the system has already been used against its forces. The UK is the first country to supply cruise missiles to Kyiv. The UK also led the way in supplying Nato standard main battle tanks to Ukraine. In January the UK announced that 14 Challenger 2 tanks would be sent, alongside around 30 AS90 self-propelled guns. The Challenger 2 was built in the 1990s, but is significantly more advanced than Warsaw Pact standard tanks used by Ukraine. Following the UK's announcement, several others committed to sending tanks to Ukraine, including Germany with its Leopard 2 model. Many military analysts believe tanks, in co-ordination will other weapons systems, will be vital to any attempt by Ukraine to dislodge Russian forces from heavily fortified positions in the expected counter-offensive. On Monday, Downing Street said that it would supply \"hundreds\" of attack drones and air defence missiles. The statement did not reveal what kind of drones would be supplied, but it said they would have a range of over 124 miles (200km). It is anticipated they may be used to hit logistics and control facilities deep behind Russian lines. In 2022, the Ministry of Defence announced supplies of heavy lift drone systems to provide logistical support to isolated forces. Analysts say that drones can be very effective in getting supplies over the \"last mile\" to front line troops, particularly under threat of Russian artillery fire and in situations where there is a risk of encirclement. \"It's the sheer quantity of stuff needed by troops,\" says Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi). \"Every time you can use a drone instead of a soldier to get supplies forward is one less time someone is exposed to extreme danger.\" The donation of M270 multiple-launch rocket systems with M31A1 precision munitions to Ukraine was confirmed in 2022. The UK's M270 system is similar to the American Himars launchers. Jack Watling Rusi told the BBC: \"These systems are precisely what Ukraine needs. They allow the Ukrainians to out-range a lot of the Russian artillery systems and also to strike with precision.\" The UK has sent more than 5,000 next generation light anti-tank weapons, or Nlaw, to Ukraine. Nlaws are designed to destroy tanks at short range with a single shot. Crucially for Ukraine's armed forces who need weapons immediately, the missiles are easy to transport and simple to use. A soldier can be trained to use them in less than a day. Many analysts believe they had a major impact on the course of the conflict in the days following Russia's invasion. \"Nlaw was absolutely critical to the defeat of Russian ground thrusts in the early stages of the war,\" says Mr Bronk. The weapons have been \"particularly effective\" when used in combination with artillery, he says. Maritime Brimstone missiles were also sent to Ukraine in 2022. Brimstones can be used against tanks, artillery and some smaller vessels such as landing craft, according to Capt Chris Carlson, formerly of the US Navy. The missiles are normally fired from aircraft, but in Ukraine they are being modified to be fired from trucks. Launching them from the ground reduces their effective range, says Capt Carlson. When used as anti-ship missiles, Brimstones are far too small to sink larger vessels, but could cause substantial damage. \"It all depends where you hit,\" he says. \"If you went through an engine or near the water line, you could give an enemy some serious trouble.\" Britain has donated at least 120 armoured vehicles to Ukraine, including Mastiff patrol vehicles. Mastiffs were very popular among British troops in Afghanistan as they provide a high level of protection against landmines and improvised explosive devices. Analysts say that in an area which as been as heavily mined as the Donbas, Mastiffs are likely to be very useful. It is understood that both sides in the conflict have used landmines extensively. COUNTER-OFFENSIVE: Zelensky: We must wait before starting offensiveANALYSIS: What weapons is the world giving?READ MORE: Full coverage of the crisis Britain says it has donated at least six air defence systems, including Starstreak missiles. Starstreak is designed to bring down low-flying aircraft at short range. It ignores counter-measures such as flares and chaff deployed by many aircraft. \"From a pilot's point of view, Starstreak is a very unpleasant thing,\" says Mr Bronk. \"There's very little you can do about it.\" He says Russian forces may deem some operations too risky if they are aware that a weapon as deadly as Starstreak is on the ground. The UK has also supplied Stormer vehicles to act as a mobile platform for Starstreak missiles. Other equipment supplied by the UK includes: Javelin anti-tank missilesAnti-structure munitionsPlastic explosivesSmall-arms munitionHelmetsBody armourNight vision devicesElectronic warfare equipmentCounter battery radar systemsGPS jamming equipment Graphics by Gerry Fletcher.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/161F4/production/_129721609_f42f5e251bfc19abd8cbc9b88106074b42259a66-1.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Pope Francis has told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky he is constantly praying for peace after the two met privately at the Vatican. The pontiff also stressed on the urgent need to help \"the most fragile people, innocent victims\" of the full-scale invasion launched by Russia last year. Mr Zelensky earlier met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who assured him of Rome's support for united Ukraine. More than 1,000 police are deployed and a no-fly zone over Rome is in place. In a statement on Saturday, the Holy See said Pope Francis and President Zelensky \"discussed the humanitarian and political situation in Ukraine caused by the ongoing war\" during a meeting that lasted about 40 minutes. The Argentine pontiff and President Zelensky \"both agreed on the need to continue humanitarian efforts to support the population\". The statement added: \"The Pope has assured his constant prayer and continuous invocation to the Lord for peace - since last February\" - when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion. Pope Francis has often said that the Vatican stands ready to act as a mediator in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Earlier this month, he stated that the Vatican was working on a peace plan to end the war, saying that the mission was \"not yet public. When it is public, I will talk about it.\" But the relationship between Ukraine and the Vatican has sometimes been uneasy. A few months after the war in Ukraine began, the Pope said in an interview that Moscow's invasion was \"perhaps somehow provoked\". And last August, Ukraine's ambassador to the Vatican took the unusual step of criticising the Pope after the pontiff referred to Darya Dugina, the daughter of a Russian ultra-nationalist figure, who was killed by a car bomb, as an \"innocent\" victim of war. Earlier on Saturday, President Zelensky had talks with his counterpart Sergio President Mattarella and then met Ms Meloni for a working lunch. Italy historically has strong ties with Moscow. Silvio Berlusconi, leader of the conservative Forza Italia party, is an old friend of President Putin. They went on trips together and exchanged birthday gifts. Matteo Salvini, the deputy prime minister, has frequently voiced pro-Russian sentiments and criticised military assistance to Ukraine. President Zelensky is not expected to meet either Mr Salvini or Mr Berlusconi during his trip. At the news conference that followed the meeting between Mr Zelensky and Ms Meloni, the Ukrainian leader invited \"all the Italian political leaders and representatives of civil society\" to visit Ukraine. He said they would be able \"to see what a single person was capable of doing to us, what Putin was capable of, and you will understand why we are fighting this evil\". Ms Meloni stressed that the war would only end when Russia stopped its \"brutal and unjust aggression\" and withdrew from all Ukrainian territory. She also pledged Italy's support for Ukraine for \"as long as is necessary\". Meanwhile, the German government unveiled its biggest military aid package for Ukraine yet, worth \u20ac2.7bn (\u00a32.4bn). Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelensky, said the aid indicated that Russia was \"bound to lose and sit on the bench of historical shame\". Earlier this week, German media reported that President Zelensky was planning to visit Germany following his trip to Italy, although this has not yet been confirmed. In other developments: President Zelensky's visit came after Russia carried out a new wave of air strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnightMore than 20 people were injured in the western city of Khmelnytsky. Critical infrastructure, as well as homes and government buildings, was also hitExplosions were reported on Friday in the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk, about 90km (56 miles) behind the front line in eastern Ukraine. Russian-backed separatist forces in the region accused Kyiv of using Storm Shadow missiles, which the UK said it had supplied Ukraine with earlier this weekThere were also more reports of blasts in Luhansk on SaturdayA helicopter crashed in Russia's Bryansk region, on the border with Ukraine, injuring one woman. Footage circulating on social media purports to show an S-24 warplane also crashing in the region on Saturday - although the videos have not been verified.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50507923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Performance-Intensive Computing as a Service Forecast, 2023\u20132027: Strong Growth for Big Data Analytics, AI, HPC, and Engineering/Technical Workloads", "text": "IDC predicts the performance-intensive computing as a service market to reach $103.1 billion by 2027, with significant growth expected due to increasing demand for advanced technologies in Big data, analytics, AI, HPC, and engineering workloads.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1956/innovationaccel-10-936ad266ae3474a973fe7946ce87856d.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/11/18/idc-futurescape-worldwide-future-of-customer-experience-2023-predictions/", "title": "IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Customer Experience 2023 Predictions", "text": "Enterprises are facing new challenges such as inflation, economic instability, and flattening growth after COVID. To maintain customer-centric business resilience, enterprises need to move beyond transactional-level experiences and tie business outcomes to relationship-based experiences. Customer experience (CX) and operational efficiency are equally prioritized by enterprises globally. CX executives need to leverage technology such as customer data, AI/ML, and zero trust architectures to build empathetic customer outcomes. The future of CX innovation will be led by brands that improve value for the customer through empathy and delivering outcomes for customer success. IDC's top 10 predictions for the Future of Customer Experience in 2023 can be found in their on-demand webinar.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FutureScape-FoCx-Blog-Banner-Image.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50592723&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Enterprise-Class WLAN Market Shares, 2022: Strong Growth Driven by Wi-Fi 6 and 6E as Supply Chains Normalize", "text": "This IDC study reviews 2022 vendor revenue and shipments in the WLAN infrastructure market (excluding WLAN NICs) and shows the market's changes from 2021. Year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter changes are also shown. \"Wireless connectivity is a key technology for enterprises around the globe, and Wi-Fi remains one of the preeminent forms of enterprise communication infrastructure. The enterprise WLAN market has seen growth rates outside of historical norms for two years in a row now, underpinning the importance of WLAN in organizations' digital and network transformation journeys,\" says Brandon Butler, research manager, Enterprise Networks, IDC. \"Meanwhile, the enterprise WLAN industry is in the midst of a significant refresh to the Wi-Fi 6E standard, which opens up Wi-Fi for use in the 6GHz band. Combined with advanced automation capabilities and new use cases, the enterprise WLAN market continues to be strong.\"", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-02-a84216d317bbb2479ca6ee5c673c1e98.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/18061/production/_129710489_mediaitem129710488.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Care homes in Oxford have been harnessing virtual reality (VR) technology to help improve the wellbeing of their residents. Forty people have been taking part in the trial that has helped them \"walk\" up to 3km (1.8 miles) using VR headsets attached to seated treadmills. The headsets allow them to explore real places and even meet up with friends. The 17-month trial has been run by Oxfordshire County Council's Innovation Hub and Oxford start-up ROVR Systems. The scheme has been trialled at Fairfield Residential Home in Summertown and Auditcare's Mon Choisy care home in Kennington. DeeDee Wallace, of the Innovation Hub, said: \"It brings the world into them, making their world bigger - and if you think about dementia, they can access neighbours and unlock memories by having a VR experience.\" Charles King, CEO of ROVR Systems, said: \"We need to live longer better, not just live longer, so we need to be active and the way we do that is maintain physical activity and social connection.\" Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1FCE/production/_129624180_gettyimages-1252776126-1.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "People across Scotland have been celebrating the Coronation of King Charles. From big screen events to smaller gatherings, thousands turned out to mark the first occasion of its kind since 1953. BBC Scotland takes a look at a selection of images from a historic day. All photos are subject to copyright.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50475023&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide PC Market Shares, 2022 and 4Q22: -16.6% Marks Worst Annual Contraction Recorded", "text": "The PC industry struggled in 2022 due to poor macros and excess inventory, according to a study by IDC. The situation has not improved in 2023.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-09-b965375a3dac92a8c240813793d711dd.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/08/03/why-should-i-share-my-data/", "title": "Why Should I Share My Data?", "text": "Sharing data purposefully can make enterprises and their ecosystem partners stronger, more resilient, and better able to serve customers. More than half of US and Canadian enterprises are already sourcing data from partners, with potential benefits including improved innovation rates, business agility, and digital operation. Sharing data can take many forms and tools are available to assist with curation, governance, and entitlement. Collaboration with external stakeholders could pave the way for more effective internal collaboration. Governance, change management, and inertia have been barriers to data sharing, but solutions such as Data Clean Rooms can help preserve privacy and competitive information while benefiting multiple parties.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FoIE-Blog-Image-August-Lynne-S-2022-1200-\u00d7-900-px.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50433223&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC Assessment: Soroco Scout Task Mining Software", "text": "Soroco Scout is task mining software that aids automation and process improvement by specialist teams such as automation COE or process mining team. According to Maureen Fleming, program vice president in IDC's AI and Automation Research practice, Soroco outperformed in key areas of IDC's competitive assessment of task mining software.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-05-dfe74541f878027fa3eae53bc5b25b95.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/22/operationalizing-esg-how-can-organizations-move-up-the-sustainability-maturity-ladder/", "title": "Operationalizing ESG \u2013 How Can Organizations Move Up the Sustainability Maturity Ladder?", "text": "ESG is crucial for organizations to incorporate sustainability into every aspect, as vague promises and checkbox actions no longer satisfy stakeholders. Operationalizing material issues can enhance risk profiles, lower capital costs, increase operational efficiency, improve innovation potential, and attract talent. IDC assesses sustainability maturity across four dimensions critical for transformation towards sustainable models. Around 30% of organizations have embedded sustainability, with improvements in operational efficiency, brand perception, customer loyalty, and employee engagement. Climate change remains a top priority, but social topics are growing in importance, including human capital and social capital issues. IT plays a critical role in enabling sustainable transformation through data management strategies and technologies such as blockchain, digital twin, AR/VR. This is the first post in a series of sustainability research by IDC.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Sustainability-Maturity-Blog-Header-March-2023.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5E06/production/_129507042_mediaitem129499571.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The government has reached its target to recruit 20,000 more police officers in England and Wales. It has employed 20,951 more officers since 2019 so the total is now 149,572. This means the number of officers is about 3,500 higher than it was in 2010, when the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats began cutting police numbers. But there are concerns that the rise hasn't kept pace with the increase in population since 2010 and that many experienced officers have left. Many of the new officers are replacing the approximately 20,000 who left between 2010 and 2019. The new headcount of 149,572 officers in England and Wales (including part-time employees) is higher than the previous record of 146,030 in 2010. The recruitment target, pledged in the Conservatives' 2019 election manifesto, was set for March 2023. It has been reached after a big rise in the first three months of 2023 - 4,000 extra officers - by far the biggest quarterly jump since the government's police uplift programme started. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: \"We have delivered on the promise we made to the British people which means more police on the beat preventing violence, solving burglaries and cracking down on antisocial behaviour.\" Police taking over five hours to respond to priority calls in England'More than 50,000 new police officers needed'Met chief has concerns over rapid hiring of officers Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper tweeted: \"the Tories are trying to take country for fools on policing... they CUT 20,000 police officers\". That's a reference to the reduction in police numbers of about 20,000 between 2010 and 2019, after government funding was cut by 20%. Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: \"Suella Braverman's boasts will ring hollow for communities that have seen community policing decimated under this government.\" While the number of police officers is a few thousand higher than 2010 levels, the population has grown - by about 7% - since then. If the number of officers in England and Wales had risen in line with the population since 2010, there would need to be thousands more officers. Ms Braverman told BBC News that in 2019 \"we set that [20,000] target accounting for increases in population\". We have asked the Home Office how they did this. In the year to March 2022, the number of full-time police officers leaving the force reached a 20-year high of 8,117. Half of those leaving retired - police officers can claim their pensions in their 50s. However, an increasing proportion resigned - about 40% in 2021-22, compared with a third the year before. About 9% of newly recruited officers leave during their two-year probation periods, a report by the Public Accounts Committee, which examines government projects, found last year. Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, of Essex Police, said his force had received more than 900 new officers as part of the police uplift programme. However, he is concerned some will leave because of low salaries and the rising cost of living. \"You can't arrest your gas bill,\" he said. To keep new officers, he said he would \"speak up for them, and make sure they are trained and supported\". There are now fewer senior full-time police officers than in 2010. The number of inspectors is down 14% to 6,245. The number of superintendents and sergeants has also fallen. Currently, a third of all police officers in England and Wales have fewer than five years' experience where the length of service is known. This is more than double the number six years ago. The Public Accounts Committee has linked falling levels of experience with the government's drive to recruit new officers. Dame Meg Hillier, who heads the committee, said: \"The danger is if you go up and down with police numbers and then recruit very quickly, you end up with a larger number of more junior officers, without the experienced people above them.\" This could affect police force performance. In June 2022, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, the police watchdog, placed the Metropolitan Police in special measures. In a letter to the force, HM Inspector Matt Parr said systemic failures had been \"amplified by the presence of a relatively young, inexperienced workforce - a consequence of the [Met's] increased recruitment enabled by the police uplift programme\". The BBC has spoken to officers who joined a Met Police scheme to recruit graduates to be detectives without first serving in uniform. They describe being left to cope on their own with growing caseloads. One of them - who didn't want to be named - said he was given 12 cases on his first day in CID (Criminal Investigation Department). \"From that point,\" he said, \"I was swimming upstream.\" Another described his time as a detective as \"the worst year of my life\". He said his CID unit was staffed almost entirely by trainees and he was worried he might make a mistake that affected a case or a victim of crime. Both trainee detectives have now left the Met, and say about 10 of their 30 fellow recruits have done the same. The Met was the only police force that did not meet its recruitment target. It fell short of its 4,557 target by 1,089 officers. Additional reporting by Libby Rodgers", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49436123&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Retail Commerce Platform Service Providers 2023 Vendor Assessment", "text": "IDC MarketScape evaluates enterprise service providers for retail companies worldwide, assessing their ability to design and manage organizational change and implement a complete retail commerce platform, including core capabilities for customer experience differentiation, seamless commerce, operational efficiencies, profitability, and business model agility. Retail commerce platform technology service providers are expanding their offerings to include modern commerce frameworks, physical and digital integration, and AI capabilities to deliver seamless and personalized customer journeys that transcend channels.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-07-5693913c658ad68c635b63e0dfdb2001.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50498923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Hybrid IT Consulting and Integration Services 2023 Vendor Assessment", "text": "IDC conducted a study of the 2023 worldwide hybrid IT consulting and integration services market to evaluate vendors' success factors. The assessment covers various vendors, including equipment manufacturers and global systems integrators. The evaluation is based on a comprehensive framework, including the perception of hybrid IT consulting and integration services buyers. Hybrid IT operating models are complex, and professional services firms with defined methodologies, best-of-breed tools, and highly skilled resources help enterprises make sense of the complexity.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-01-608ac20df563813a5836347478294c0b.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49401623&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Solid State Drive Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC's study provides an updated outlook for the SSD market from 2023-2027. Despite challenges in the near term, long-term trends are favorable for SSD adoption, with a projected 30% CAGR growth in capacity from 2022-2027.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-10-1adb970c3f3f64d94c5096f2e9a3cdf8.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50450723&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide High-Speed Inkjet Press 2023 Vendor Assessment", "text": "IDC conducted a study evaluating providers of high-speed inkjet presses in the production print market. The assessment is based on market demands and expected buyer needs, highlighting key factors for success in the short and long term. High-speed inkjet is driving growth and replacing offset and toner-based devices, while also creating new market opportunities.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-03-1c92ecb3eef418bca835a72f3df650d3.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/8C22/production/_129747853_gettyimages-1488956114.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Cardiff is preparing to welcome thousands of Beyonc\u00e9 fans eager to see the singer perform on her world tour. Wednesday's Principality Stadium concert, in front of about 60,000 fans, kicks off the UK leg of her Renaissance tour. People are expected to travel from around the UK and as far away as the United States, Lebanon and Australia. Cardiff council is warning concert-goers to plan their journey in advance and arrive early. People were already queuing at 07:00 BST this morning. Stereophonics and Sir Tom Jones Cardiff concertEd Sheeran's third Cardiff concert \"I'm so thankful that this opportunity has come, that I finally get to see her,\" said George Crocker, 15, from Avoca Beach, New South Wales, Australia. \"She is a goddess, she's my mother. She is my absolute queen... she's just everything in a person. \"Everything about her is just perfect.\" A fan since the age of four, he has travelled with his mum Penny, and added: \"I'm just going to bawl my eyes out the whole time, I just know that for a fact.\" The Renaissance World Tour is 41-year-old Beyonc\u00e9's first solo tour in seven years, and many fans have travelled a long way to see her in Cardiff. Giovani Tana, 20, arrived in the Welsh capital on Saturday, after flying to London from Beirut and catching a train. \"It's my first time in the UK ever, so it's a great excuse to come,\" he said. \"I think London is fully sold out and I thought I would explore a different city.\" He is looking forward to connecting with other fans, adding: \"Her work is incredible. No-one puts on a show like she does. \"I respect her work and what she's doing for the queer community is truly incredible. \"For her to be on that stage representing a lot of different people is inspirational.\" It is not the singer's first time in Cardiff - she joined husband Jay-Z on the On The Run II Tour in the city in 2018. The show, which kicks off at 19:00 BST at Cardiff's Principality stadium and will end at 22:30 BST, follows appearances in Stockholm, Sweden, and Brussels, Belgium, in a tour that will end in the United States in September. The tour setlist includes 40 hits spanning Beyonc\u00e9's career as well as singles from the album Renaissance released in 2022, including Break My Soul and Cuff it. Over the next three weeks the singer will also play at venues in Edinburgh, Sunderland and London. Cardiff council has warned roads into the city will be \"very busy\". It has strongly advised people to plan their journey in advance and arrive at the stadium early. An Ed Sheeran concert in May 2022 saw 15-mile queues from the Prince of Wales Bridge towards Cardiff on the M4, causing some people to miss the event. Fans have been tweeting this morning as they take their place in the queue for the 19:00 BST show. South Wales Police have also said they will be using facial recognition in the city to help with policing. What to expect from Beyonc\u00e9's Renaissance tourBeyonc\u00e9 fans battle to snap up tickets Beyonc\u00e9's Renaissance debuts at number one By road There will be a full city centre road closure from 16:00 until midnight. Those attending are advised to use a park ride facility at Leckwith Stadium, or park and walk spaces at County Hall in Cardiff Bay. Train Trains are expected to be very busy after the event and a queuing system will be in place at Cardiff Central station. Great Western Railway are running extra services to Swansea, Newport, Bristol and Swindon afterwards. Passengers are being advised to check the GWR website before travelling as industrial action on 17 May is likely to cause \"some short-notice changes and cancellations\", the operator said. Over-running South Wales Metro engineering works also mean there will be no trains north of Pontypridd on the core valley lines of Treherbert, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. Gates open to the public at 17:00, while the box office will open at 13:00. Officials say all tickets have been issued digitally and should be downloaded and transferred through the relevant app before arriving at the stadium. People are also being warned not to screenshot tickets as this could invalidate them.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/15E47/production/_128217698_wmfsnip.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A music festival is going ahead thanks to donations from supporters. In January, the future of Whittington Music Festival was uncertain, after its bid for \u00a315,000 from the Arts Council was rejected. Following an appeal, about 80 people offered handouts and the performers agreed a reduced fee to keep it running. The event starts on Wednesday at Whittington Church and runs until Sunday. Ticket sales only account for a third of the cost of running the festival, which started in 2011, and organisers say funding for the event is reliant on grants and donations. Roderick Williams OBE, who sang at the coronation of King Charles III, is among the headliners set to perform. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5B13/production/_129751332_d3e4c271-a8df-4ad0-9c1b-122cdde28f82.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Australian police are investigating after at least 65 women received used condoms in the post. The letters, which also contained handwritten messages, were sent to addresses in south-eastern and eastern Melbourne. Police believe the victims are linked and part of a targeted attack. All of the women are believed to have attended the city's Kilbreda College private girls' school in 1999. The first victim came forward in March, and the most recent was reported on Monday, police said. Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper reported that the women suspect their addresses were obtained from an old school yearbook. Bree Walker told the paper she \"didn't sleep\" the night she received the letter, which contained a \"very graphic (handwritten) message\". She later contacted friends to see if they had received similar packages. Police believe that most of the women received multiple letters, all with used condoms enclosed. The investigation is ongoing, and police have urged anyone with information to come forward. They are expected to give an update on the case later on Wednesday. Kilbreda College, an independent Catholic girls school, was founded by the Brigidine Sisters in 1904 and has some 900 pupils enrolled.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1572E/production/_129745878_gettyimages-1490199975.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Twitter's decision to block certain content in Turkey the day before its presidential election was wrong, says the founder of Wikipedia. Jimmy Wales told the BBC his organisation had spent two and a half years in court to avoid similar demands made by Turkey in the past. He said he believed the tech sector should stand together in defending free access to information. Twitter's owner Elon Musk said Turkey had threatened to block the whole site. In 2014, Turkish President Recep Erdogan did exactly that, vowing to \"wipe out\" the social network after corruption allegations about his administration were shared on the platform. Wikipedia was also banned in Turkey for almost three years after refusing to delete articles that criticised the government. Turkey's election will be decided in a run-off later this month, after no clear winner emerged from this weekend's voting. In a tweet, Twitter said four accounts and 409 tweets had been identified by the Turkish government in a court order, which the firm had then blocked. Twitter added that it would \"continue to object in court\" to it. The content is still visible outside of Turkey. But Mr Wales said Twitter should have stood its ground. \"We have been blocked in various places around the world at different times, we have never given in to censorship and we never will,\" he told me on the BBC's tech podcast Tech Life. \"If governments around the world believe that in order to get political advantage they can control what their political opponents are saying online or prevent them from speaking online, then they will try that.\" He said Twitter's actions would put pressure on other websites to comply with future demands. \"I think people in the industry should really stand up and vigorously say no - actually an open internet, a free internet, the free sharing of ideas and knowledge is really crucially important,\" he added. Elon Musk has described himself as a \"free speech absolutist\" and has spoken at length about his commitment to giving everybody a platform to have their say. Twitter said it was told by the Turkish government that it was the only social network which had not complied with its court orders. The BBC has not been able to verify this. Wikipedia and Twitter are clearly very different services - there is no \"tell us what you think\" box on the online encyclopedia which Mr Wales said made moderation a lot less complex. Follow Zoe Kleinman on Twitter @zsk.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/779/cpsprodpb/2767/live/438207b0-f3c7-11ed-afa1-fd87d2219315.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Some children in Kent are waiting up to four years to be assessed for autism or ADHD.Over 10,000 children and young people were on a waiting list for referrals for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), NHS Kent and Medway said. The National Autistic Society (NAS) said that without assessment, people were \"left struggling\" without support.The Department of Health and Social Care said a \"timely diagnosis\" was \"vital\" and it was \"committed to reducing delays\". The increase in waiting times comes after referrals increased by about 80% in 12 months.Ella Pitt, senior policy officer at NAS, said many children were struggling \"at school, at work, [and] at home.\"Many go on to develop mental health problems,\" they added. The charity has called for more government investment in diagnostic services after a growth in ASD awareness in recent years. It said access to services was currently a postcode lottery, and that delays had been made worse by the pandemic. Beth Whatman, from Tenterden, said her five-year-old son Rufus could have to wait two years for an ASD assessment and four years for an ADHD appraisal. She told the BBC: \"It is very frustrating. We know he is autistic and we need that extra support.\"There is only so much you can look at online to try to find ways to help him. \" Charlotte Cornell, a Labour councillor at Canterbury City Council, said her youngest son was diagnosed with ASD after an 18 month wait. \"I sat in front of the paediatrician and said that I wasn't leaving without a diagnosis,\" she said.\"But I have other friends [who] are absolutely desperate and they are being fobbed off with online appointments\". A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: \"It is vital to have a timely diagnosis of autism and we are committed to reducing delays and improving access to support.\"The government invested \u00a32.5m last year to improve autism diagnostic pathways, he added. Follow BBC South East on Facebook, external, on Twitter, external, and on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/720/cpsprodpb/BCDC/production/_129384384_council_tax.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Labour tweeted about increases in council tax over the weekend. \"The Tories are raising council tax by up to 15%,\" it said. Some emphasis needs to be placed on the \"up to\" in that sentence. Only one council, Croydon, which has no party in overall control, has raised tax by 15%. The highest after that were two councils that raised it by 10%. These were Labour-controlled Slough and Conservative-controlled Thurrock. Croydon raised council tax by 15% after declaring bankruptcy because it realised it faced a \u00a3130m hole in its budget. Although the borough has an elected Conservative mayor, the Tories and Labour both have 34 councillors in total. The Green Party has two councillors and the Liberal Democrats one. The mayor has blamed \"the toxic debt and financial failures of the previous administration\" for the financial problems. These are partly due to the funding plans for the refurbishment of a concert hall. A report into the financial problems in Croydon found \"organisational dysfunction at the most senior level in the council\". The former leader of the council and its former cabinet member for finance, both of whom were Labour councillors, resigned from their roles as did its former chief executive. Labour councillors in Croydon have previously said that the government should be providing more funding instead of allowing the increase in council tax. They have also said the current administration inherited an underspend as well as a \u00a327m reserve. How much is council tax going up?Croydon approves council tax rise of 15% The government increased the amount councils were allowed to raise taxes without a referendum to 5% - if they have social care responsibilities - in November's Autumn Statement. Croydon, Thurrock and Slough councils were given special permission by the government to raise their taxes by more without putting it to a vote. Thurrock, which is Conservative-controlled, is putting up council tax by 10% after declaring bankruptcy. Leader of bankrupt Thurrock Council admits 'systemic weaknesses'Cash-strapped Slough Borough Council set to sell off housing land Slough, which is Labour-run, is also putting council tax up 10% having declared bankruptcy in 2021 as a result of property and land investments. Labour also said in its campaign tweet that Conservative councils charge \u00a3345 more than Labour ones. We asked Labour how it reached the figure but have not heard back. What claims do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/DD95/production/_129752765_electricvan.png", "label": 0, "text": "One of the world's biggest carmakers has called on the government to renegotiate part of the Brexit deal or risk losing parts of its car industry. Stellantis, which owns Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, had committed to making electric cars in the UK, but says that is under threat. It said it can no longer meet Brexit trade rules on where parts are sourced. The government is \"determined\" that the UK will remain competitive in car manufacturing, a spokesperson said. \"If the cost of electric vehicle manufacturing in the UK becomes uncompetitive and unsustainable, operations will close,\" Stellantis said. It is the first time a car firm has openly called on the government to renegotiate the terms of the Brexit trade deal. It called on the government to come to an agreement with the EU to keep rules as they are until 2027, and it also wants arrangements for manufacturing parts in Serbia and Morocco to be reviewed. Nissan warns costs must fall to make new electric cars in UK Just two years ago, the world's fourth biggest car maker said the future of its Ellesmere Port and Luton plants was secure. But now Stellantis has asked the UK government to renegotiate part of the Brexit deal amid a \"threat to our export business and the sustainability of our UK manufacturing operations\". In a submission to a Commons inquiry into electric car production, the firm said its UK investments were based on meeting the strict terms of the post-Brexit free trade deal. These rules state that from next year, 45% of the value of the electric car should originate in the UK or EU to qualify for trade without tariffs, later rising to 65%. Stellantis said it was \"now unable to meet these rules of origin\" after the surge in raw materials costs during the pandemic and energy crisis. Why rules of origin are a headache for manufacturersHonda workers in Swindon to face 'reality check' after it closes If the government cannot get an agreement to keep the current rules until 2027, from next year \"trade between the UK and EU would be subject to 10% tariffs\", it said. This would make domestic production and exports uncompetitive in comparison to Japan and South Korea, it said. \"To reinforce the sustainability of our manufacturing plants in the UK, the UK must consider its trading arrangements with Europe,\" Stellantis said. A government spokesperson said that Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch \"has raised this with the EU\". Ms Badenoch, who will meet with Stellantis executives today, \"is determined to ensure the UK remains one of the best locations in the world for automotive manufacturing, especially as we transition to electric vehicles,\" the spokesperson said. The government has set up a fund to develop the supply chain for electric vehicles, and in the coming months will take \"decisive action to ensure future investment in zero emission vehicle manufacturing\", the spokesperson added. But Labour's shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said manufacturers had been let down by a \"government in chaos\". He said that \"the jewel in the crown of British manufacturing is at risk without urgent action from the government\", promising that Labour \"will work with industry to build the gigafactories we need\". The deal on electric cars and batteries was one of the very last issues settled in Brexit negotiations between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen in 2020. The Stellantis document warns that uncompetitive electric vehicle costs will mean \"manufacturers will not continue to invest\" and will \"relocate manufacturing operations outside of the UK\". It then lists Ford, and BMW's electric Mini, as well as Honda's investment in the US after closing its UK site in Swindon. The core problem remains a lack of UK battery plants, and a domestic supply chain that should be being built now, but is being dwarfed by developments elsewhere. At a time of some uncertainty over UK trading arrangements, now the US, China and the EU are pouring subsidies into this market. The industry-wide fear is that the UK is missing out on a once-in-a-generation tidal wave of investment around the electrification of cars. Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Tesla's Elon Musk, who hinted he might invest in a gigafactory - which makes batteries - in France. The owners of the UK's biggest manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover, are currently being wooed by the Spanish government to host a gigafactory that had long been assumed to be being built in the UK. Andy Palmer, a former chief operating officer at Nissan and chairman of the battery start-ups Inobat and Ionetic, told the BBC \"we are running out of time\" to get battery manufacturing in the UK. \"It's basically impossible to meet those [EU] local content rules unless you're sourcing your battery from a plant in the UK or in the EU,\" he told Radio 4's Today programme. He added that the cost of failure was clear: \"It's 800,000 jobs [lost] in the UK, which is basically those jobs associated with the car industry.\" David Bailey, professor of business economics at the Birmingham Business School, agreed, saying: \"If we don't make batteries at scale in the UK, we won't have a mass car industry.\" He added that although the government under Boris Johnson wanted a \"gigafactory\" built in the UK, \"essentially there's no industrial policy to back that up\". The Brexit trade agreement allowed a \"phase in\" of the strict rules on the origin for electric vehicle parts. The first stage comes in next year, and some in the UK car industry hope that the EU itself may want to renegotiate, if its own manufacturers are struggling to meet the origin requirements. But the requirements are hard-wired into the UK-EU treaty. The rules are then due to tighten again in 2027, and insiders believe UK exporters will find it impossible to export cars tariff free at that point, without UK battery production.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/01/09/selling-to-c-level-buyers-and-todays-larger-buying-committee/", "title": "Selling to C-Level Buyers and Today\u2019s Larger Buying Committee", "text": "The tech buying committee consists of multiple personas with varying jobs and challenges. Sales reps struggle to communicate the value of their solutions to C-level buyers and finding qualified buyers. Value selling, which focuses on ongoing value generation, creates an iterative partnership between vendors and customers. Marketing and sales must work together using a persona-based approach for an ongoing relationship with buyers. A strategically crafted sales enablement strategy helps prepare teams for pre-sales, sales, and post-sales challenges. IDC offers tailored solutions from target market education to sales engagement.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AdobeStock_281210183-copy-scaled.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/10896/production/_124943776_hi073870675.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Bus maker Wrightbus has received a \u00a312m cash boost to produce green buses at its County Antrim factory. The NextGenZEBs project will develop battery-electric and fuel-cell-powered buses to replace diesel engines. It is part of a \u00a377m joint government and industry-backed funding to develop zero-emission vehicles. Meanwhile, it's been annouced two NI firms will split \u00a33.6m in government funding to cut down on their use of fossil fuels. FP McCann Ltd is getting \u00a33.39m to improve the energy efficiency of crushing and concrete manufacturing at its Craigall Quarry in Kilrea. Natural World Products in Dunmurry produces peat-free composts and soil conditioners.\u00a0 It will put almost \u00a3300,000 towards replacing diesel-powered equipment with electric-powered equivalents. The funding supports businesses which use high amounts of energy to clean up their manufacturing processes using low-carbon technologies. It's a portion of a wider pot of \u00a324.3m funding awarded through the UK government's Industrial Energy Transformation Fund. A Natural World Products spokesperson said the funding had \"allowed the company to make significant further greenhouse gas emissions savings at one of its key processing facilities\". Wrightbus will work alongside Queen's University Belfast and Translink to deliver its NextGenZEBs project. It is hoped that it will fill a gap in supply for zero-emission, multi-axle vehicles, as well as creating and safeguarding 883 jobs. Jo Bamford, Wrightbus executive chairman, said: \"When I took over the company, I was clear about my ambitions for it, both in terms of contributing to the UK's plans for net zero and in terms of supporting the British economy. \"We have always said that we will continue to drive forward with our zero-emissions vision.\" In February, Wrightbus announced it is planning to develop a green hydrogen production facility. Two months later, the Ballymena business secured an order to deliver 48 zero-emission buses for use in London by the end of this year. In Northern Ireland, Wrightbus already supplies Translink with battery and hydrogen powered buses, the first of which hit the streets in March 2022. The NextGenZEBs project is one of seven schemes across the UK with joint government and industry backing, ranging from work on green fire engines to a hydrogen fuel cell version of the Ford Transit van. A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson\u202fsaid: \"Zero-emission cars, vans and taxis are increasingly common but this cutting-edge work is going to mean clean, green vehicles designed and built in the UK can increasingly take on the toughest jobs too, from life-saving emergency services to haulage and public transport.\" The funding has been awarded through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) Collaborative Research and Development programme, which aims to build an end-to-end supply chain for zero-emission vehicles in the UK. More than \u00a338m of this investment comes from the government, backed by a further \u00a338.7m from the automobile industry - taking the total to just over \u00a377m.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/11/28/a-response-to-recession-warnings/", "title": "A Response to Recession Warnings", "text": "IDC predicts that a global recession and inflation will disrupt the ICT market, causing investments to dry up and supply chain issues. As companies shift towards subscription-based cloud and as-a-service options, targeted reductions in IT spend will look different from the past. There is a skills shortage, making cutting labor a less feasible strategy. Organizations are taking an average of 3.2 months to find the right talent. IDC has updated its scenario for worldwide IT spending, and it's important to understand spending pattern shifts and changing buyer behavior. Buyers will be selective about where they cut. Agile and flexible planning methods can help businesses thrive during economic storms.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AdobeStock_526530297-scaled.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50092623&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Managed Services Private Mobile Networks Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC predicts that managed services revenue for private 4G/5G networks will grow at a CAGR of 30.1% to reach $2.28 billion by 2027, with mobile operators targeting complex use cases and scaling initial deployments across additional sites.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-02-a84216d317bbb2479ca6ee5c673c1e98.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49474623&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide PC Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC predicts a continued slump in the PC market due to inventory issues and poor economic conditions in 2023, but sees strong growth potential in 2024 and beyond thanks to an economic recovery and Windows migration.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-02-06ac15209fabc1991d33e47e8c62e044.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1CC6/production/_126866370_gettyimages-1319183692.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A council has been reprimanded for not responding to the public on time when asked for information held about them. Norfolk County Council repeatedly failed to meet the legal deadline of one to three months, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said. It has instructed the council to take steps to ensure that information is sent out within the statutory period. \"We fully accept the findings and are working hard to ensure the backlog is dealt with swiftly,\" the council said. It pointed out that Subject Access Requests (SARs) to the council had almost doubled in the past five years. The ICO said it found the council had only responded to 51% of requests on time between April 2021 and April 2022, meaning that 251 residents did not receive a response within the legal timeframe. Director of investigations Stephen Eckersley said asking for information was a \"fundamental right\" and delays to the process could have a significant impact on people's lives. The council had recruited staff to tackle the requests but the reprimand outlines further steps to improve compliance with data protection law, the ICO added. It has asked for details of actions taken to address the recommendations within six months of the reprimand being issued. A spokesperson for the council said: \"As of the date of the reprimand, less than 12% of the SARs submitted during the period in question remain outstanding, and in line with ICO recommendations we had already increased the number of staff dealing with these requests and are grateful to the ICO for recognising and commending the progress we have made.\" Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50527122&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Finance and Accounting Business Process Services in the Cloud 2023 Vendor Assessment", "text": "IDC evaluated vendors offering cloud-based finance and accounting managed business process services. The assessment considered quantitative and qualitative factors to determine current market demands and buyer needs. Successful providers invested in process mining, advanced analytics, and proprietary platforms to drive transformation.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-11-44931d5b715ff486745e61fb2a014ca0.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/07/22/the-first-potential-recession-in-the-as-a-service-technology-world/", "title": "The First Potential Recession in the \u2018As-a-Service\u2019 Technology World", "text": "The US may already be in a recession due to the decline in GDP in Q1 and indicators pointing towards a further decline in Q2. However, economists tasked with labeling a recession are hesitant due to mixed data, including job growth and high inflation. The market is experiencing disruptions such as pandemic management challenges, supply constraints, skills shortages, cybersecurity threats, climate regulations, and digital sovereignty assertions. Business leaders are anticipating a significant economic slowdown, with the EU forecasting a similar situation by early 2023. IDC's recent poll shows that most CIOs expect a recession in their own country or important buyer countries within the next year. Cloud dominates tech spending, and IDC expects continued resilience in the enterprise space despite the uncertain demand climate.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/pexels-artem-podrez-5716016-3.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/56C6/production/_129741222_182bc6a894027b202cf483275263b4317f5d7783.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Ukraine says it shot down hypersonic missiles amid an \"exceptionally dense\" barrage fired at Kyiv on Tuesday. Kyiv said air defences intercepted six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, which Russia has claimed can overcome all existing air defence systems. They were among 18 missiles of different types fired at the city in a short space of time, officials said. Russia denies its Kinzhals were stopped and said one destroyed a US-supplied Patriot air defence system. Ukraine declined to comment. The BBC cannot independently verify the claims made by either country. Russia has stepped up its air campaign in recent weeks - bombarding the Ukrainian capital eight times so far this month - ahead of an expected Ukrainian offensive. On Tuesday evening Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow had not fired as many of the Kinzhal missiles as Kyiv had claimed to have shot down. However if Ukraine's claims are true, Moscow will be feeling frustrated that the finest weapons from its missile fleet are now able to be intercepted. This is in large part due to the arrival of modern Western defence systems, including Patriots. Russia continues to insist that the missiles, which it says can travel at more than 11,000kmh (7,000mph), cannot be destroyed by any of the world's air defence systems. The Kinzhal, or \"dagger\", is an air-launched ballistic missile. Most ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speed - five times the speed of sound, or just over 6,000 kmh - at some point during their flight. Kyiv said it shot down a Kinzhal for the first time last week. In the past few days, President Volodymyr Zelensky has been on a European tour in which he has been promised several billion dollars' worth of military equipment by Western allies, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President Emmanuel Macron of France. During Tuesday's barrage footage showed air defences destroying targets over the city. The head of Ukraine's armed forces, Valerii Zaluzhny, said Russia attacked Kyiv from the north, south and east and that 18 air, sea and land-based missiles had been used. Serhiy Popko, head of the Ukrainian capital's military administration, described the barrage as being the \"maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time\". Gen Zaluzhny said that also included nine Kalibr cruise missiles, which were launched from ships in the Black Sea, and three land-based missiles. Residents on Tuesday were warned to keep away from windows as debris from intercepted missiles fell from the sky. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said rocket debris had fallen in central districts, including on the city's zoo. No animals or workers were injured. Kyiv resident Kseniia told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she and her husband were asleep when they heard a \"series of very loud explosions\" above their building. She compared the intensity of the attack to a Star Wars film or an action video game. She also said that thanks to the support of its international allies, Ukraine is now capable of tracking down and destroying high calibre missiles. \"It's such a relief to know Kyiv is under such a strong defence right now\". Another resident, Yevhen Petrov, said Tuesday's attack was the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that his house had shaken from the force of an assault. Russia's resumption of strikes on Kyiv earlier this month came after a lull of over 50 days. The Ukrainian authorities believe Moscow's strategy is to exhaust the air defence systems, which have been extremely successful in intercepting most of the missiles and drones fired. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, thousands of civilians and combatants have been killed or injured, cities and towns have been destroyed in fighting, and 8.2 million Ukrainians have been registered as refugees in Europe with 2.8 million of them in Russia, according to data provided to the UN's refugee agency. Additional reporting by BBC weapons analyst Chris Partridge.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/04/03/advocating-for-proactive-cybersecurity-with-continuous-risk-based-posture-assessment/", "title": "Advocating for Proactive Cybersecurity with Continuous Risk-Based Posture Assessment", "text": "Organizations should view cybersecurity as a way to enable business growth, not just a cost center. Continuous risk management with proactive cybersecurity tools is crucial. The complexity of environments and growing number of vulnerabilities require a comprehensive approach to risk assessment. All risk exposures should flow into a singular system to prioritize efforts and maximize cyber-risk reduction across the organization. Consolidation of point solutions provides a weighted view of risk, simplifies automation, and reduces vendor management time. Cybersecurity risk management is a journey towards successful trust-building outcomes.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FoTr-Proactive-Cybersecurity-Blog-Header-April-2023.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/999/cpsprodpb/ED2E/production/_129581706_01.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "We asked our readers to send in their best pictures on the theme of \"three colours\". Here is a selection of the photographs we received from around the world. The next theme is \"springtime\" and the deadline for entries is 16 May 2023. The pictures will be published later that week and you will be able to find them, along with other galleries, on the In Pictures section of the BBC News website. You can upload your entries on this page or email them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. Terms and conditions apply. Further details and themes are at: We set the theme, you take the pictures. All photographs subject to copyright.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/10DB/production/_129751340_ncabortion12.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "North Carolina lawmakers have voted to override the governor's veto of a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks. The measure was passed by the state's Republican-controlled legislature in early May, but was vetoed by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper over the weekend. Republicans overturned the veto in back-to-back votes, prompting chants of \"shame\" from onlookers. The law, which cuts the window for abortion in the state down from 20 weeks, will now take effect on 1 July. On Tuesday, the state Senate voted 30-20 and the House by 72-48 to override the veto. A single Republican defector could have tipped the outcome the other way. \"Shame! Shame! Shame!\" protesters in the statehouse started shouting. Officially known as the Care for Women, Children and Families Act, it was passed by the state Senate along party lines on 4 May, a day after being passed by the state House of Representatives. The measure was vetoed by Governor Cooper at a rally on Saturday. He said the bill would stand \"in the way of progress\" and \"turn the clock back 50 years on women's health\". The legislation bans abortion at 12 weeks except in cases of rape, incest and medical emergencies. It mandates that any abortions taking place after that period be carried out in a hospital. The exceptions in the case of rape and incest are until 20 weeks of pregnancy, or in the event of a \"life-limiting anomaly\", up to 24 weeks. For Supreme Court, the abortion battle is just beginningWhat comes next for the abortion pill in the US? The law also restricts use of abortions pills after 10 weeks of pregnancy and puts in place additional requirements, such as an in-person consultation with a doctor ahead of the procedure. The law includes $160m (\u00a3128m) in funding for contraception, foster and childcare and paid parental leave. Republicans hold slim supermajorities in both chambers of the statehouse, giving them the ability to override a veto from the Democratic governor. The party gained its veto-proof supermajority last month after a Democrat who had previously vowed to protect abortion access switched her party affiliation to Republican. Congresswoman Tricia Cotham voted in favour of the ban after promising last year to \"continue my strong record of defending the right to choose\". Republicans hold exactly three-fifths of seats in both the Senate and House, meaning that just one party defector could have scuppered the vote on Tuesday, allowing the governor's veto to stand. The razor-thin supermajority led Mr Cooper to launch a last-ditch pressure campaign last week to try to convince any Republican to cross party lines. After the state Senate voted to override the veto on Tuesday, four female Republican lawmakers released a joint statement saying the new law \"brings to life a culture that cherishes motherhood and saves the lives of the unborn\". One of the four, Vickie Sawyer, accused Democrats of \"exaggerated and extremist objections\". But Democratic state representative Deb Butler said the law would make North Carolina a \"less hospitable place to live\". \"This regressive law will affect every single woman in the state for the entirety of her reproductive life,\" she said. Democratic state Senator Natasha Marcus said: \"This bill is a slap in the face. It is a muzzle over our mouths, and it is a straitjacket on our bodies.\" Near-total abortion bans have been passed by 14 states in the US since the Supreme Court ended the nationwide right to abortion last year. North Carolina saw abortions rise 37% in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, according to the Society of Family Planning, a non-profit that advocates for abortion rights and research. The increase was largely driven by women travelling to North Carolina from other parts of the southern US, where restrictions are now largely restricted. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/128B/production/_125374740_e4b97e66-7597-4746-8884-a661c170f1b6.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "For 40 years, the disappearance of Brenda Venables had been a mystery in the rural Worcestershire village where she had lived. Finally, her family have some answers after her husband - who was living a double life with his mistress - was found guilty of her murder. Brenda Bolton was 23 when she met the man who would become her husband at a young farmers event in Worcestershire. Both from rural communities, they connected straight away. She was kind, unassuming and \"good company\", David Venables would later tell the jury on his murder trial. They \"just got on well together\", he added. After that first meeting at Droitwich Winter Gardens, Mr Venables juggled his time seeing her at her home in the tiny village of Rushock, with work on his family's pig farm. He would stop in for breakfast on the way home from dawn trips taking produce from the farm to Birmingham wholesale market. They married in June 1960, before a honeymoon in Jersey, and later moved in together at Quaking House Farm in Kempsey. Mr Venables' father had given him the land to build their marital home, which the couple moved into a year later. There, Mr Venables farmed pigs and the pair enjoyed a \"magnificent view\" of the surrounding countryside. To outsiders, their life seemed simple yet idyllic. But on 3 May, 1982, Brenda Venables vanished. Mr Venables reported it to police the following day. The previous day, he said, had been perfectly normal, with them sowing potatoes. His wife had also \"seemed to be enjoying playing with the puppy\" on the hearth rug and he noticed nothing unusual in her mood that evening, or after they went to bed. \"I just woke up to find she had gone,\" he told a journalist from the Worcester Evening News. \"She has never done anything like this before and I haven't the faintest idea what has happened to her.\" He said he had been \"unable to sleep\" since she went missing, adding that his wife had been suffering from depression as a result of a recent bout of flu. The village of Kempsey was soon overrun as the search for Mrs Venables got under way. West Mercia Police used a helicopter to aid with the search and tracker dogs checked farm buildings and derelict properties, but no trace of her was found. Vicky Jennings, a friend of the couple, later recounted Mr Venables \"did not seem overly concerned\", and \"didn't appear to be actively searching for his wife\". David Harrison, now a councillor on Malvern Hills District Council, ran the Farmer's Arms pub on Bestmans Lane in Kempsey at the time. \"Everybody was surprised, it is the same with any person that goes missing, it becomes the talk of the village,\" he said. \"There was lots of speculation and lots of things put forward and lots of rumours.\" A police search, he said, lasted two or three weeks, covering a four or five-mile area around Kempsey up to the M50 motorway, including his own nine acres of land. \"[There was] a great deal of police, coming round searching everywhere to see if there was anything anywhere that would lead to finding her,\" he said. \"They cut back all the growth on the ditches to see if there was anything in the ditches.\" For almost 40 years, Mrs Venables' family was left without a single answer about what happened to her. Until July 2019, when human remains were found in a septic tank in the grounds of Quaking House Farm. The new owners of the farm - Mr Venables had moved out in 2014 - wanted the tank serviced. To the horror of engineer Alistair Pitt, he found a \"large clump of hair\" before uncovering a human skull. A pelvis and thigh bones were also recovered - although it was impossible to determine cause of death. Remnants of clothing including half a pair of knickers, a pair of tights, a bra, remains of some shoes and a sweater were also in the tank. At the time of the discovery, a search was ongoing just seven miles away for estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, who disappeared in London in 1986. A site near Pershore had been identified after new information arose following a search the previous year of a property in Sutton Coldfield, which once belonged to the mother of prime suspect John Cannan. But police said there was no link between the remains and Miss Lamplugh. It took more than a year until detectives announced the bones had formally been identified as those of Mrs Venables, and her husband, who was then 88, was charged with her murder. At his trial, details of his double life were revealed, as prosecutors told how he had been in a long-term on-off relationship with his mother's carer Lorraine Styles since around 1967. But even though Mrs Styles had died in 2017, a statement she had given to police in 1984 after Mrs Venables had disappeared was read to the court. She said the day after he reported his wife missing to police he had telephoned her. \"He seemed quite composed and suddenly told me his wife had disappeared the night before and he was phoning to let me know before I read it in the paper,\" her statement said. \"He called round about two weeks later but didn't mention it. \"I couldn't understand how he was so calm about the whole episode.\" Prosecutor Michael Burrows QC told jurors he wanted Mrs Venables \"out of the way\". \"He wanted to resume his long-standing affair with another woman,\" he said. \"He knew about the septic tank in its secluded location. It was for him almost the perfect hiding place. \"And for nearly 40 years, it was the perfect place and he got away with murder.\" West Mercia Police constable Peter Sharrock, who was among the search teams, told the hearing how the septic tank was apparently overlooked during the initial searches. \"At the time, it just looked like a pad of concrete and I didn't pay it any attention,\" he said. \"The word is hindsight, really.\" Mr Burrows had said it was \"beyond belief\" that Mrs Venables took her own life by climbing into the septic tank and \"somehow\" shifted the heavy lid and put it back in place above her \"so that there was no sign of any disturbance\". He also said it was \"preposterous to suppose\" Mrs Venables walked out of their house that night and was confronted by someone outside the house. Giving his evidence, Venables told how he regretted his affair. He also claimed he and his wife's relationship remained sexual and that they continued to share a bed until she vanished. But the court heard evidence from notes made by Mrs Venables' consultant psychiatrist, who she was seeing for treatment for depression in March 1982, saying the couple had not slept together since 1968 and had not shared a bed for three years. In police interviews, Venables even claimed murderer Fred West could have been responsible for killing his spouse. But jurors rejected his claims of innocence and convicted him of Mrs Venables' murder. Following his conviction, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said few people knew about the \"very secluded\" septic tank in 1982, and only two people had emptied the tank, Mr Venables and another worker who said it had been difficult to access. As such, the CPS added, it was its case that if anybody else had been responsible for Mrs Venables' death, they would not have known about the tank as a way of concealing her body and it was \"unbelievable\" she may have been killed somewhere else and her body returned home. Her family have said her disappearance had \"devastated\" them. \"She was kind and caring and has been greatly missed,\" they said. \"We, her surviving family, are thankful that Brenda was found and that we were able to lay her to rest with her parents in a place of security, calm and dignity.\" Marian Walters, who was a friend of Mr Venables' brother, said the trial puts an end to decades of angst. \"Nobody could imagine what it must have been like for the family, you know it can bring closure to all members of the family,\" she said. \"Until the news broke three years ago, you know it's been lying dormant really. \"The family can hopefully - it won't be easy - but they can move on, they can move forward.\" Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=EUR150615923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC PlanScape: Digital Sovereignty Decision Framework for IT Executives", "text": "IDC predicts that G2000 CIOs will have to shift staff, budgets, and operating processes for over 35% of IT and data assets due to sovereignty assertions in sustainability, resiliency, and asset residency by 2025. Digital sovereignty has become a key priority for policymakers triggered by EU policies and regulations. CIOs and CTOs embed digital sovereign requirements in RFI/RFPs to enhance security, resilience, reduce compliance risks, ensure trusted data sharing across jurisdictions and with partners. IDC PlanScape provides public and private sector IT executives with a framework to make strategic choices regarding the type of sovereign solutions they should select.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-01-46c8771546b669ee6727ef1777518687.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/15/leveraging-idc-data-and-insights-across-your-organization-to-reach-the-future-consumer/", "title": "Leveraging IDC Data and Insights Across Your Organization to Reach the Future Consumer", "text": "IDC's Future Consumer research identifies eight categories for analyzing the role of technology in a consumer's life. These categories include Entertainment, The Home, Travel and Dining, Personal Mobility, Money, Shopping, Lifelong Learning, and Wellbeing. The data and insights gathered can benefit a wide range of companies, not just those focused on technology. Key data points from each category are presented along with the types of companies that can use this data. For example, Gen Z and Millennials have a positive view of delivered food and value delivery services when it comes to dining. Mobility is multi-mode for most consumers, with micro-mobility services set to grow at a 26% worldwide five-year CAGR. Online transactions became the majority during the pandemic, with online grocery services set to grow at an 8% worldwide five-year CAGR. Online learning is popular among Gen Z and Millennials, with broad online services set to grow at a 15% worldwide five-year CAGR. Finally, home workout time has increased during the pandemic, with online fitness services set to enjoy a 19% worldwide five-year CAGR.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Future-Consumer-Blog-Header-March-15-2023.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50498023&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide DRAM Market Shares, 2022: Demand Collapse Started Deep Downcycle", "text": "IDC's study shows that the worldwide DRAM market revenue decreased by 14.5% in 2022 due to a demand-driven market correction, resulting in inventory soaring and market pricing falling below cash cost. Players in the market are struggling for survival.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-10-1adb970c3f3f64d94c5096f2e9a3cdf8.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=lcUS50669723&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "", "text": "I'm sorry, there is no text provided for me to summarize. Please provide the text you would like me to summarize.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_982/services-14-2a19eacfd22ac4bfa7923b576d8ffa12.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/073E/production/_129745810_tash1.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Wry smiles and sense of nostalgia aside, the appearance of crisp packets from the 1960s on a Norfolk beach is a potent reminder of the longevity of single use plastics. Can anything be done to prevent today's crisp packets returning to our shores 60 years from now? Chris Turner was staying at his holiday home in Scratby, near Great Yarmouth, when he started to find decades-old litter on the beach. His discoveries include pre-decimalisation packets of Golden Wonder crisps, marked with a price of 5d, and 2d Spangles sweets. According to Statista, the UK devoured 8.3bn packets of crisps in 2017. By 2030, the consumer data firm expects that number to rise more than 30% to 11.1bn a year. The volume of single use crisp packets has both environmental experts and the crisp makers themselves concerned. Tash Jones, of Fairfields Farm Crisps, near Colchester in Essex, said she found Mr Turner's discoveries at Scratby very \"disheartening\". \"Packaging is a difficult one and I don't think anybody has quite got there yet,\" she said. Fairfields, she said, was committed to finding ever more sustainable forms of packaging for its crisps. The company has tried a number of different packaging types in recent years, including a single ply wrapper which was found to reduce the shelf life too much to be economically viable. Its move from a three-ply packet to a two-ply bag using thinner film from a net-zero carbon packaging producer, however, has worked well, said Ms Jones. What about compostable bags? \"It is not a never,\" said Ms Jones. \"But a lot of local authorities will reject compostable packaging.\" The biggest issue, she said, was that while many crisp packets are recyclable, they are not actually recycled because many people will put bags in the bin rather than take them to a dedicated flexible plastic recycling facility. Laura Scudder created in the first sealed packet of crisps in the US in the 1920s using waxed paper bagsHowever, such packaging was not airtight, which led to crisp makers using plastic bags insteadIn the 1950s and 1960s, crisp packets were made from single-layer of plastic, often with a transparent section so the buyer could see the crisps insideToday's crisp packets often have a number of layers and are usually made from polypropylene or polyethylene with an aluminium coating The environmental charity WRAP agrees. \"There is still change that needs to take place for widespread roll-out of recycling collections at kerbside for plastic bags and wrappings,\" a spokesperson for WRAP said. \"The infrastructure to recycle this type material at scale, is not universally available. \"Every form of packaging leaves an environmental footprint, and packaging innovations must reduce these to be more sustainable.\" However, the organisation said consumers needed to do their bit too by taking their crisp packets and similar wrappers to recycling facilities at supermarkets across the UK. The charity said it understood the difficulties some people faced in recycling plastic wrapping but warned it was \"a critical step in the pathway to building the infrastructure at scale\". It said it would \"continue to work with industry partners to prepare for kerbside collections of plastic bags and wrapping\". The biggest crisp company in the UK is Walkers, which is owned by PepsiCo. \"We plan to eliminate virgin fossil-based plastic in all crisp and snack bags by using 100% recycled or renewable content in all packets by 2030,\" a spokesperson said. In the meantime, the company said it was finding ways to cut the amount of plastics used in its packaging and encouraging customers to recycle packets. The recycling issue is entirely bypassed by the Herefordshire-based company Two Farmers, which sells crisps in compostable packets. Co-founder Sean Mason said his packaging is made of cellulose and uses plant-based inks and glue. An extremely thin layer of aluminium is applied to the inside of the cellulose wrapper to keep the crisps fresh. \"The aluminium sprayed on the film is less than you would find in the soil and there is zero plastic,\" he said. The firm's bags will break down in a typical domestic compost set-up within 25 to 35 weeks. So why aren't all companies going down the compostable route? The first reason is price. A packet for a standard 40g bag costs independent crisp makers about 1.6p. A compostable Two Farmers bag costs 12.5p. \"We launched with it and gave consumers the choice - they knew we were more expensive from day one.\" For other makers suddenly to increase their packet price by 11p to cover the compostable packaging cost could kill their business, said Mr Mason. The second issue is shelf-life. A typical plastic and foil bag has a shelf life of six or more months while a cellulose packet is about 4.5 months, said Mr Mason. Crisp packet from 1960s found on beachOceans littered with 171 trillion plastic piecesHow many other Hemsbys are waiting to happen? Plastic kills fish and sea animals and takes hundreds of years to break down into less harmful materials. Two Farmers' cellulose packets, on the other hand \"completely break down in water\", the end product resembling a slimy goo. If they were eaten by a sea animal the bags, Mr Mason said, would \"break down in their digestive tract and pass safely through\". \"We don't want our bags littered anywhere, but if they were dropped at sea you wouldn't find our bags coming to shore from the water in a year's time never mind in 60,\" he said. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/08/12/web3-and-you-how-crypto-and-nfts-will-change-the-way-you-do-business/", "title": "WEB3 AND YOU: How Crypto and NFTs Will Change the Way You do Business", "text": "IDC's new eBook, Blockchain, Crypto, NFTs, and Web3 explores the use of open technologies and protocols to support the exchange of decentralized data, knowledge, and value. Web3 is built on Crypto and NFTs to exchange value for content between creators, platforms, and consumers. The use of NFTs allows the secure tracking and equitable compensation for digital content and data. Data marketplaces can offer accurate insights for businesses and compensate all participants in the value creation process. Expect a rise in the use of NFTs beyond art as any digital information can be securely recorded and exchanged on an NFT.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/PSilitschanu_Web3-Blog_Featured-Image-copy.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/11/11/digital-first-the-evolving-relationship-of-business-and-technology/", "title": "Digital-First: The Evolving Relationship of Business and Technology", "text": "The relationship between business and technology is evolving, with executives viewing technology as a strategic tool. Digital-first strategies are being adopted by a majority of organizations in Asia/Pacific, and digital initiatives are critical to achieving top business objectives. The use of digital channels has changed traditional sales and marketing economics, and businesses are leveraging data to improve customer experience. IoT, AI, and automation are democratizing data and facilitating better decision-making. However, only a small percentage of organizations have CEOs leading digital initiatives, and the C-suite must prioritize technology investments to succeed in the era of the digital business.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Blog-Banner_111122.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US49407522&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Service Provider Router Market Shares, 2022: Cisco Maintains Its Market Position, Juniper Shows a Strong Gain", "text": "The worldwide service provider router market for 2022 saw a steady YoY growth of 1.3%, driven by increased deployment of 400Gbps technology. North American service providers invested heavily in infrastructure to support growing bandwidth demand and surpassed other regions in router investment. Huawei and Cisco were the star performers in the market, aided by the buildout of 5G network infrastructure where their broader portfolios helped them gain share.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-02-06ac15209fabc1991d33e47e8c62e044.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/07/20/extending-digital-first-with-a-diverse-industry-ecosystem-of-partners/", "title": "Extending Digital-First with a Diverse Industry Ecosystem of Partners", "text": "The article discusses the importance of industry ecosystems and the benefits of expanding partnerships beyond the core industry. Many organizations do not collaborate with ecosystem partners, but expanding partnerships can lead to growth, resiliency, and meeting customer needs. The IDC MaturityScape model outlines different phases of ecosystem expansion and the supporting dimensions. Digital technology investments enable better communication, collaboration, data sharing, and innovation with partners. CEOs and executive leadership recognize the critical role of partners in ensuring business growth and stability. The next step is to incorporate partners from outside the core industry.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Future-of-industry-ecosystems_IDCBlog_July22.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/11/14/idc-futurescape-worldwide-future-of-digital-innovation-2023-predictions/", "title": "IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Digital Innovation 2023 Predictions", "text": "Enterprises transitioning to digital businesses need to innovate with differentiated and disruptive technologies, with data and analytics playing increasingly important roles. Organizations with excellent enterprise intelligence innovate 2.5x faster than those with poor intelligence. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the power of digital technology and innovation in delivering resiliency, revenue, and opportunity. The ability to scale development and delivery of digital innovation will be critical, with enterprises that deliver on such initiatives emerging as leaders in their market sectors. IDC has 10 predictions for the future of digital innovation.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FutureScape-FoIn-Blog-Banner-Image.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/2048/cpsprodpb/c87a/live/90e042f0-f346-11ed-9009-bfc614bb129d.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A pub in Cornwall has been crowned the winner of a competition set up to find the most nature-friendly beer garden.Eighteen tenanted St Austell Brewery pubs across Cornwall were in competition for the top spot.The owners of the St Kew Inn, near Bodmin, installed a pond and have grown a wildflower meadow to attract wildlife.Pub landlord Mike Masters said they also avoided cutting hedges and shrubs and have removed fences to attract hedgehogs. The competition was set up by researchers at the University of Exeter's Cornwall campus, St Austell Brewery and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.The idea was to get pubs to compete against each other in creating space for nature in their pub gardens.Mr Masters said: \"We've actually put in bird boxes, hedgehog boxes, ponds, various different trees.\"He said making the beer garden more nature-friendly was a \"win-win for everyone\". He said: \"If we can regenerate the biodiversity, it will effectively give our customers a better place to drink and eat their food.\"Speaking about the pub being crowned winner of the competition, Mr Masters added: \"We're very lucky, there's been amazing pubs that have entered it, we're lucky to come out on top.\"As well as winning the title, The St Kew Inn also received a small cash prize to spend on further environmentally-friendly measures, and a barrel of beer.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/380D/production/_129694341_bakhmut-index-reuters.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Ukraine says it has recaptured ground in Bakhmut, a rare advance after months of grinding Russian gains in the eastern city. Kyiv said its forces advanced 2km (1.2 miles) in a week. Russia said its troops had regrouped in one area. The claims signal a momentum shift in Bakhmut - but more widely, there is no clear evidence of a Ukrainian counter-offensive. However, two explosions were reported on Friday in Russian-occupied Luhansk. Images posted on social media, verified by the BBC, show a big plume of black smoke rising from the city, which lies about 90km (55.9 miles) behind the front line in eastern Ukraine. The blasts come a day after the UK said it had supplied Ukraine with long range Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Kremlin-appointed officials said six children in Luhansk were injured in a missile attack alongside Russian parliamentarian Viktor Vodolatsky. The authorities there have blamed the attack on Kyiv. Luhansk is beyond the reach of the Himars rockets Ukraine has previously relied on for deep strikes against Russian targets. But Russian-appointed officials in the region said they thought Ukrainian-made missiles were responsible, hitting administrative buildings of two defunct enterprises. Earlier Russia's defence ministry said Russian troops in one Bakhmut area had changed their position for strategic reasons. It said units of the southern group of Russian forces had taken up a better defensive position in the Maloilinivka area, something which took into consideration \"the favourable conditions of the Berkhivka reservoir\". However the head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin said what the Ministry of Defence was talking about \"is unfortunately called 'fleeing' and not a 'regrouping'\". As the intense, bloody battle has worn on, Bakhmut has become symbolically important - though many experts question its tactical value. In a post on Telegram, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar claimed Russia suffered significant troop losses as Ukraine gained 2km without losing any positions. Meanwhile Russian military bloggers reported Ukrainian advances or troop movements in several areas. The Institute for the Study of War also said Ukrainian forces had probably made gains of 2km in Bakhmut. The BBC has verified video of soldiers with Ukrainian-identifying markings posing in front of a gate and a tank in the distance, also with Ukrainian markings. The video, published on 11 May, has been located to an area around Bakhmut industrial college, until recently held by Wagner troops. Away from Bakhmut, the exiled mayor of Melitopol reported a large explosion on Friday morning in the centre of the south-eastern city, which has been occupied by Russia since the start of the war. It was not known what caused the blast, but the Ukrainian air force made 14 strikes on Russian forces and military equipment on Thursday, Ukraine's armed forces said. Alongside the air strikes, Ukraine said it destroyed nine Russian drones and carried out successful attacks on dozens of military targets - including artillery units, an ammunition warehouse and air defence equipment. After months of stalemate, a Ukrainian counter-offensive - helped by newly-arrived Western weapons - has been openly discussed. But Ukraine's president said on Thursday it was too early to start the attack. \"With [what we already have] we can go forward and, I think, be successful,\" President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview. \"But we'd lose a lot of people. I think that's unacceptable. So we need to wait. We still need a bit more time.\" Despite President Zelensky's words, pro-Kremlin Russian war correspondent Sasha Kots claimed the counter-offensive had begun. Ukrainian tanks were on the Kharkiv ring road heading towards the border with Russia, he said, quoting \"trusted\" sources. His claims could not be independently verified. \"There are low loaders in the columns carrying Western [tank] models among others,\" Kots added. \"In other words,\" he said, \"Kiev [Kyiv] has decided to aggravate the situation along the northern front in parallel with the start of offensive actions on the flanks of Artyomovsk [the Russian name for Bakhmut].\" Another Russian war correspondent, Alexander Simonov, wrote on Telegram that Ukrainian forces had broken through near the village of Bohdanivka, close to Bakhmut, taking \"several square kilometres\" of ground. Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Musivenko said Kyiv recognised that the anticipated counter-offensive might not necessarily defeat Russia \"in all occupied areas\". He told Ukrainian NV radio there was every possibility the war could continue into next year. \"It all depends on how the battles develop. We can't guarantee how the counteroffensive will develop,\" he said. An unnamed senior US military official told CNN that Ukrainian forces were preparing for a major counter-offensive by striking targets such as weapons depots, command centres and armour and artillery systems.. Ukraine's spring 2022 advances in the southern and north-eastern parts of the country were also preceded by air attacks to \"shape\" the battlefield. Daniele Palumbo and Richard Irvine-Brown contributed to this article Incident Room - Ukraine: How Will it End? Frank Gardner weighs up the possible outcomes for the war, as Ukraine prepares a counter-offensive against Russian forces. Watch now on BBC iPlayer (UK only)", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/12022/production/_129726737_4209012d4b8d19049caf8c0fb59f8bf49982e717-1.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Ukraine has no plans to hit targets in Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said in Germany, where Kyiv secured a big new defence aid package. \"We are not attacking Russian territory,\" he said after talks in Berlin with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. \"We are preparing a counterattack to de-occupy the illegitimately conquered territories,\" Mr Zelensky added. Mr Scholz vowed to back Ukraine \"for as long as it is necessary\", promising \u20ac2.7bn (\u00a32.4bn) worth of weapons. This includes advanced German Leopard tanks and more anti-aircraft systems to defend Ukraine from almost daily deadly Russian missile and drone attacks. President Zelensky described the new tranche as \"the largest since the beginning of the full-scale aggression\" by Russia in February 2022. The war has transformed Germany's attitude towards Ukraine, moving from being a reluctant supplier of military hardware to virtually doubling its contribution overnight, the BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin says. Russia accuses Ukraine of repeatedly hitting targets inside Russia, including a reported drone attack on Moscow's Kremlin earlier this month. Ukraine denies the accusations, while also stressing that it has a legitimate right to use force and other means to fully de-occupy its territories currently under Russian control. These include four regions in the south and east, as well as the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014. Later on Sunday, President Zelensky travelled to the western city of Aachen to receive the prestigious Charlemagne Prize awarded this year to him and the Ukrainian people. The honour is given for efforts to foster European unity. \"Ukraine incarnates everything the European idea is living for: the courage of convictions, the fight for values and freedom, the commitment to peace and unity,\" EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the award ceremony. Previous winners include Winston Churchill, Pope Francis and Bill Clinton. In other developments on Sunday: Ukraine's air force says it destroyed 25 drones and three cruise missiles launched by Russia in yet another massive overnight attackSix people were killed and another 16 injured in the past 24 hours in Russian shelling of Ukraine-held areas in the eastern Donetsk region, local officials saidOne person was killed in Sunday's Russian artillery attack on the southern Kherson regionMobile internet is temporarily suspended in the Russian-seized areas of the eastern Luhansk region because of increased shelling by Ukrainian troops, Moscow-installed officials said President Zelensky flew to Germany from Italy overnight, his plane escorted by two German Air Force fighter jets. In Rome, the Ukrainian leader met Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He also had a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The Argentine pontiff said he was constantly praying for peace in Ukraine. The Pope also stressed the urgent need to help \"the most fragile people, innocent victims\" of the Russian invasion. Meanwhile, Ms Meloni assured Mr Zelensky of Rome's support for united Ukraine. Later on Sunday, the Ukrainian leader arrived in Paris, where he went to the \u00c9lys\u00e9e Palace for a working dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50485823&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Mobile In-App and In-Game Advertising Forecast, 2023\u20132027: ATT Keeps Rocking the Boat as Privacy Sandbox Looms", "text": "IDC study reports on revenue from in-app and in-game ads, direct user spending on mobile games and nongame apps. Mobile ad revenue is broken down by format and OS for 2020-2022. The study predicts significant growth in mobile app-based ads through 2027 despite challenges with privacy regulations.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-12-fc93797a324edafe3943e8705ce2f462.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/12/07/the-importance-of-understanding-the-future-consumer-even-if-you-run-an-enterprise-focused-business/", "title": "The Importance of Understanding the Future Consumer (Even If You Run an Enterprise-Focused Business)", "text": "IDC emphasizes the importance of understanding consumers' mindset towards technology, as their experiences as human beings increasingly dictate what they want and need from technology. IDC has developed a Future Consumer Framework consisting of eight primary segments to provide a holistic view of how consumers use technology. IDC leverages this framework in three primary research areas: The Consumer Pulse, Consumer Market Model, and Future Consumer Agenda. The data-driven products are enhanced by analysts' insights and aim to equip tech companies, governments, NGOs, and others with insights that drive long-term strategies. Younger generations view and use technology differently from older ones and will drive significant sea changes in the consumer and commercial technology markets. IDC is dedicated to covering the consumer space and the changes they see coming.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SM-LinkedInTwitter-Tile-Podcast2-CB-8.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US48785822&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled Buy-Side Contract Life-Cycle Management Applications 2023 Vendor Assessment", "text": "The study evaluates SaaS and cloud-enabled buy-side CLM solutions and highlights the important criteria for companies to consider when selecting a system. CLM providers now offer more than authoring and repository tools, with buyers seeking risk assessment, exposure analysis, and future event prediction capabilities.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-03-79fbebb74fca383d8c5daf65b818e90e.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2B3D/production/_108196011_construction_site_nhs_getty.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Building work is yet to start for 33 of the government's 40 promised new hospitals in England, the BBC has found. Most are still waiting to hear what their final budget will be for the projects with a 2030 deadline. Only two are finished and open. Ministers aimed to have six ready for 2025 - but none of this group has full planning permission or funding yet. The government insists it remains committed to meeting the targets. Health leaders say they need urgent clarity. The BBC looked at the issue last year and since then there has been little progress. When the pledge was announced, in 2019, there was some controversy about exactly what counts as a \"new hospital\". What's happened to the 40 new hospitals pledge?NHS hospital buildings 'risky and need repair' NHS guidance says it can range from an entirely new building on a new site to a major refurbishment or alteration. By October 2020, the commitment was confirmed, with an initial budget of \u00a33.7bn. Of the 40 hospitals on the list, eight were projects already planned. BBC News contacted them all, asking for a progress report: 33 said they had not started the main building work yet Five are under constructionTwo, the Royal Liverpool and the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, are finished and open to patients Investment seems to be a factor: Eight said they had full fundingOne hospital did not want to answer31 said they did not yet have the money to start the core building work but had received some cash to get the project going One of the six due to be completed in 2025 is Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, near London. Some parts of St Helier's site look more like a derelict building than a functioning NHS hospital. A makeshift wooden roof at the back is held down with sandbags. One of the three intensive-care units has a problem with ventilation, so it can be used only as a storeroom. In another, staff are working around a leak. In winter, it is not unusual for entire corridors to flood. When we met Chief Medical Officer Ruth Charlton outside a condemned ward, she told us: \"It's not safe to enter - the foundations are crumbling and windows are falling out.\" She cannot see a new build happening by 2025. Her \"optimistic\" estimate is 2027. Ms Charlton would not be drawn on a realistic guess but was blunt about how sad and frustrated she felt. \"I'm frustrated on behalf of our patients, their families or staff that they can't receive healthcare in the sort of facility that I would want my family to receive healthcare in,\" she told us. As we talk, we can hear the sound of a maintenance crew drilling. The trust says its backlog maintenance - to bring buildings and equipment up to standard - will cost \u00a3130m. Across the NHS in England, backlog-maintenance costs have more than doubled, from \u00a34.7bn in 2011-12 to \u00a310.2bn in 2021-22. In other words, it has become twice as expensive just to keep the doors open. Health think tank the Nuffield Trust chief executive Nigel Edwards says the government started with a \"big and slightly vague promise - and it was never clear there was enough money available to do anything like the scale of construction that they wanted to\". And ministers hitting their 2030 target is \"extremely unlikely\". \"They've underestimated how long it takes to change the way they design, build, and plan hospitals,\" he says. \"It's a great ambition - but I think a bit of realism is now starting to sink in.\" In 2019, Boris Johnson assured voters he could build the 40 new hospitals but only \"because we're running a strong economy\". The government has never explicitly allocated a budget for this project - but it has undoubtedly become more expensive. Inflation means prices have gone up sharply, especially in construction. Institute for Financial Studies senior research economist Ben Zaranko says: \"Either the government sticks to that pledge and accepts it will need to spend more on hospital building or it decides it scales back the number and scope of hospitals.\" A Department of Health and Social Care official said: \"We remain committed to delivering all 40 new hospitals by 2030 as part of the biggest hospital-building programme in a generation.\" The logic here is the New Hospital Programme is developing a new national approach to building these hospitals across England - and a standard approach should mean more a rapid process. But there is another - potentially dangerous - complication. Several hospitals across England are at risk of collapse, with roofs propped up with scaffolding and posts, because they were built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) - a lightweight concrete with bubbles inside like \"a chocolate Aero bar\". The NHS has identified 34 NHS buildings in England containing RAAC planks - and it is believed about five need to be dealt with urgently. But only a small number of the hospitals with planned new builds are thought to be affected by RAAC, so it would make sense to expect new RAAC hospitals to be added to the list soon. Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trusts, wants clarity, ideally in the next few weeks. \"We are at a pivotal moment, a key point, where we cannot leave for much longer the scale of deterioration,\" he says. 'We need to know that if we delay too much longer, the scale of the problems in other hospitals and facilities will get to a critical level.\" Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he added there was an \"absolutely dire need for decisions to be made about making progress... and tackling in the longer term the ageing infrastructure\" of hospitals.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/11/07/accepting-the-reality-of-it-inflation-and-ways-to-cope/", "title": "Accepting The Reality of IT Inflation and Ways to Cope", "text": "IT prices have been steadily increasing due to various factors such as supply chain disruptions and high demand for remote work technology. While hardware prices have stabilized, they still remain costly. Software costs are not influenced by supply but by demand, and vendors have found ways to extend user acceptance of higher prices through subscriptions. Labor costs continue to rise due to a critical IT skills shortage. Cloud computing services have a history of average price decline but are now enacting price increases due to higher costs. Technology buyers should be selective on new installations, expansions, renewal terms, and projects to conserve IT budgets and hedge against unfavorable buying conditions. Investing in spend management tools that specialize in the cloud can help control cloud consumption costs. IDC's Sourcing Advisory Services provides clients with price benchmarking and sourcing expertise to help drive savings and efficiency across all technology purchases.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Brian-Clarke-Blog-Header-Image.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/D4B0/production/_129084445_h_01544595.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Hundreds more photographic images, saved from being dumped at a tip, have been unearthed and handed over to a city archive. Some of the glass negatives, rescued by former cameraman Ian Hollands, have lain unseen for more than 30 years. The collection, depicting the lives of people in Coventry as the city restored itself following the devastation of the blitz in 1940, was taken by Arthur Cooper. More information had also come to light about the photographer himself. Mr Hollands had previously sent thousands of the negatives he had rescued to publishing company Mirrorpix where they were digitised and made available to view as part of the Coventry Digital initiative. Following a BBC report highlighting the Coventry University scheme, Mr Hollands was prompted to hand over more boxes, containing about 500 negatives, to the project's director Dr Ben Kyneswood. Arthur Cooper, a freelance photographer, worked in the city from the 1930s to the 1960s, capturing weddings, award ceremonies and events as well as visiting celebrities and royalty for publications such as the Midlands Daily News and the Coventry Evening Telegraph. An \"early look\" at the collection showed it contained images similar to the 8,049 already digitised, Dr Kyneswood said. \"I was really hopeful that there was more out there,\" he added, \"so to find out that there was more out there and that they're in my office now - it's fantastic\". Keen photographer Mr Hollands, 75, said he had been alerted to the fact the valuable negatives were about to be taken to a tip some time in the late 1980s, and he had to act quickly to save them. He had retrieved the thousands of glass plates from the garden of Mr Cooper's widow, Marjorie, where they had \"just been chucked in rubbish bags\". \"I took them home and put them all in cardboard boxes, and they stayed on the shelf in my house for about 15 or 20 years,\" he explained. About ten years ago most of the collection he passed on to Mirrorpix via his son, Samuel Hollands, who worked for the Coventry Evening Telegraph at the time. \"One day a Ford transit van turned up and we loaded all the glass plate negatives into the back of this van and that's the last I saw them until I've heard about them now,\" he explained. \"I kept a few boxes back just so I could go through them, but they've been sitting around in my house ever since,\" he said, but had handed over the archive after being alerted to Dr Kyneswood's project. Samuel Hollands said he had been shocked to see the coverage of Arthur Cooper on the BBC. \"When I told my father he didn't believe me, he thought it must be something else,\" he said. \"But I just knew they were the ones that we'd given in all those years ago.\" \"I'm pleased I did something about it, because I could have just ignored it and they would have gone,\" his father added.\" More details had also emerged about the photographer himself, explained Dr Kyneswood. \"A family member had got in touch with some photographs of Arthur, and to say he had served in Egypt in World War Two, and detailed some of the military campaign medals he had won.\" Information from Mr Cooper's niece, 78-year-old Sandra Johnson, also revealed he had worked as a photographer to King Faisal II of Iraq when the ruler was just seven years old. He was also a Freeman of the city. He said since the story about Mr Cooper was published in January, about 100,000 people had viewed the photographer's images on the Coventry Digital website, which was \"amazing\". \"We've had some great stories come out, people being able to point out friends and families,\" he said. \"And they're able to tell me what they're looking at and give me some exceptional detail.\" The collection was significant because it gave people \"a chance to tell their stories, because they can see themselves, and their life in these pictures,\" he said. After scanning the latest negatives they would be driven to the Mirrorpix archive in Watford \"where they'll join the other Arthur Cooper archive negatives, and they'll be saved forever,\" Dr Kyneswood added. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5AE9/production/_129737232_whalefvvqfkcxwayofyh.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A 10-tonne beached sperm whale was so thin when it died its ribs were sticking from its side. The post-mortem examination on the mammal found at Porth Neigwl, Gwynedd also discovered it ate squid beaks. Experts said the whale was very poorly and underweight when it became stranded and had urged people to stay clear of the carcass. The adult female whale about 10.8m (35.4ft) long was the second to wash up on a UK beach in two days. It is only the second sperm whale to be recorded in Wales in the last century. The post-mortem examination was carried out by a team from the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme and marine biologist Rob Deaville said there were parasites at \"several sites\" but these were considered incidental to its death. He added that there was no evidence of recent feeding but the whale had consumed \"small numbers of squid beaks\". Mr Deaville said there was little evidence it had eaten plastic or other debris bar a \"few fragmentary pieces\". Sections of intestine were taken to be examined for microplastics. Two octopuses spotted walking on a Ceredigion beachDogs save tiny turtle from becoming gull's dinnerSailor spots 12ft shark lurking in sea off Tenby The marine biologist said on Twitter it was confirmed it was an adult female from \"scars on the ovaries and the appearance of the uterus\". It was, he said, in \"markedly poor nutritional condition\". \"We were concerned about a potential mass on its side,\" Mr Deaville said. \"Surprised to find on site that this was actually the ribs protruding.\" It had suffered significant muscle wastage and was \"the thinnest sperm whale I've ever worked on\". The age of the whale remains unclear. Mr Deaville said the interim findings were considered consistent with \"marked nutritional loss and live stranding\". The whale was far from home, he said, adding that more could be learned from further analysis. Mr Deaville said it was only the second sperm whale recorded in Wales over the last century and only the fourth female in the UK in the same period.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50544823&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Augmented and Virtual Reality Hardware Forecast Update, 2023-2027: CY 2Q23", "text": "IDC provides an updated forecast for the worldwide augmented and virtual reality hardware market for the 2023-2027 period, with a return to growth expected in 2023 due to new devices coming to market, including Sony's PSVR 2 and Apple's first virtual reality device. However, growth may be limited by the lack of a killer application.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_433/consumer-04-a39e7de65d971261081e894c209d73d7.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/04/10/grow-your-total-addressable-market/", "title": "How to Grow Your Total Addressable Market in Today\u2019s Economy", "text": "Understanding your total addressable market (TAM) is essential for setting realistic goals and making informed decisions about marketing and product development. Despite economic downturns, it's important to maintain advertising spend and take a data-driven approach to understanding your customer. To remain competitive, consider branching out to new markets or demographics and leverage digital marketing strategies like PPC and display ads. Partnering with an analyst firm can also help you achieve your goals efficiently and within budget.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Grow-TAM.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50488823&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide and U.S. IT Consulting Services Market Shares, 2021: Bouncing Back from COVID-19", "text": "IDC study ranks top IT consulting services vendors by global and US revenue, noting recovery from COVID-19 slowdown and clients adapting to post-COVID changes.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_982/services-13-f4b14552349696b603e603157cffb223.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/57F2/production/_129741522_gettyimages-1467404622.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Tom Hanks has raised the prospect of his career continuing after his death using artificial intelligence. The Forrest Gump and Cast Away actor said the technology could be used to recreate his image, ensuring he continued to appear in movies \"from now until kingdom come\". But he admitted the developments posed artistic and legal challenges. His remarks came as the Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant said AI could be used by musicians to complete songs. Hanks, 66, was asked about the legal ramifications of the new technology in the latest episode of The Adam Buxton podcast. \"This has always been lingering,\" he said. \"The first time we did a movie that had a huge amount of our own data locked in a computer - literally what we looked like - was a movie called The Polar Express. \"We saw this coming, we saw that there was going to be this ability to take zeros and ones from inside a computer and turn it into a face and a character. That has only grown a billion-fold since then and we see it everywhere.\" The Polar Express, released in 2004, was the first film entirely animated using digital motion-capture technology. Hanks said talks are being held in the film industry about how to protect actors from the effects of the technology. \"I can tell you that there is discussions going on in all of the guilds, all of the agencies, and all of the legal firms in order to come up with the legal ramifications of my face and my voice and everybody else's being our intellectual property,\" Hanks added. \"What is a bona fide possibility right now is, if I wanted to, I could get together and pitch a series of seven movies that would star me in them in which I would be 32 years old from now until kingdom come. \"Anybody can now recreate themselves at any age they are by way of AI or deep fake technology. I could be hit by a bus tomorrow and that's it, but performances can go on and on and on and on. \"Outside the understanding of AI and deep fake, there'll be nothing to tell you that it's not me and me alone. \"And it's going to have some degree of lifelike quality. That's certainly an artistic challenge but it's also a legal one.\" Similar technology has already been used in the latest Indiana Jones film, for which Harrison Ford, 80, was \"de-aged\" for the opening sequence. Filmmakers trawled archived material of the younger Ford before matching it to new footage, creating the illusion of Indiana Jones in 1944. Hanks acknowledged that the technological developments could lead to an AI-generated version of himself appearing in films he may not not normally choose. He said: \"Without a doubt people will be able to tell [that it's AI], but the question is will they care? There are some people that won't care, that won't make that delineation.\" Tom Hanks says he is not always Mr Nice GuyGrimes says anyone can use her voice for AI songsDrake and The Weeknd AI song pulled from Spotify AI is also posing dilemmas for the music industry, with conflicting reactions to its use to make music by artists. A song created using the cloned voices of Drake and The Weeknd was pulled from streaming services last month, but Grimes has encouraged musicians to use her voice to make music. Pet Shop Boys' singer Neil Tennant told the Radio Times he was excited about the potential of the technology. \"There's a song that we wrote a chorus for in 2003 and we never finished because I couldn't think of the verses, \" he said. \"But now with AI you could give it the bits you've written, press the button and have it fill in the blanks. You might then rewrite it but it would be a tool.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/13A68/production/_129388408_gettyimages-856895372.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The world's biggest storms, which whip the high seas into a frenzy or flatten buildings on land, have long daunted wind farm developers. But that is changing. Operators are increasingly adopting turbines designed to withstand tropical cyclones. One of the latest examples is a \"typhoon-resistant\" floating wind turbine, which will soon help to power an offshore oil platform in China. According to the manufacturer, MingYang Smart Energy, this 7.25 megawatt (MW) turbine can survive wind speeds of up to 134mph for 10 minutes. It has been installed at a facility 136km off the coast of the island province of Hainan. MingYang did not respond to a BBC request for comment but theirs is not the first turbine designed to face down such an onslaught. In 2021, US firm GE received typhoon-certification for its mammoth Haliade-X turbine. It is fixed, not floating, and has a capacity of up to 13MW. The blistering growth of the wind energy industry is pushing turbines to their limits and some question whether the pace of the rollout is wise. While components such as turbine blades are remarkably strong, they are not indestructible. And the forces of nature, especially out at sea, are notoriously unpredictable, meaning the pressure is on to prove that wind turbines really are hurricane-ready. Tropical cyclones - often called typhoons or hurricanes depending on location - are a familiar threat in certain parts of the world, including in the Gulf of Mexico or around much of Southeast Asia. Such storms can produce wind speeds well in excess of 100mph. The strongest one-minute sustained winds on record, of 215mph, were created by Hurricane Patricia in the Eastern Pacific in 2015. Despite the meteorological challenges in such regions, the expansion of wind energy is expected there in the coming years and decades. Today's turbines already put up with some powerful gales. Those positioned off the northeast coast of the UK in the North Sea operate in wind speeds of up to 50mph or so, after which point they are switched off, notes Simon Hogg at Durham University, who holds the \u00d8rsted chair at the university, which is funded by energy firm \u00d8rsted. Technically, such turbines are designed to survive even higher wind speeds. Leon Mishnaevsky of the Technical University of Denmark suggests that wind turbine blades are generally quite reliable. These days, they are made from strong but lightweight carbon fibre composites and automated manufacturing processes help to ensure the uniform placement of the fibres, which is important for the blades' robustness, he notes. Wind turbine makers also perform a range of stress tests on blades to ensure that they are up to scratch. This can include attaching large \"exciters\" to the blades, which bounce up and down, simulating the repeated stresses of winds on the structure. Giant blades are also sometimes bent to the point of breaking, says Prof Hogg, which helps to confirm the maximum loads they can bear. But the fallibility of turbines, especially the biggest ones, is becoming more apparent as time goes by. Insurer GCube notes in a recent report that offshore wind losses rose from \u00a31m in 2012 to more than \u00a37m in 2021. Plus, machines with capacities larger than 8MW can suffer component failures within just two years of installation, the firm says, more than twice as fast as 4-8MW devices. More technology of business: Why teaching robots to blink is hard but importantThe tech entrepreneur betting he can get youngerHow LinkedIn is changing and why some are not happyThe tiny diamond sphere central to a fusion breakthroughThe remote Swedish town leading the green steel race Some of the most dangerous forces to trouble turbine blades are torsion, or twisting, loads, says Find M\u00f8lholt Jensen, chief executive of Bladena, a firm that specialises in diagnosing and repairing large turbine blades around 60m in length, or longer. Repeated twisting of blades can induce difficult-to-spot fractures, he says: \"The damage cannot be seen from the outside.\" The longer the blade, the greater the risk, comments a spokesman for Bladena. Current testing and industry standards are not sufficient to prove that the largest turbine blades can withstand these stresses, argues Dr Jensen. New designs could help, though. In Japan, Challenergy has been working on a turbine with tall, vertical blades that spin around a central tower. While currently much smaller and less powerful than the biggest traditional, three-bladed turbines in operation today, Challenergy's device is intended to cope with very high winds. When a powerful typhoon called Hin Nam No struck the Philippines and Japan last August, it passed over two of the company's turbines. One of the devices, at Ishigaki City in Okinawa, recorded wind speeds of around 64mph. The turbine continued to operate without any problems, according to Challenergy. In the US, a research team has taken a cue from nature in their design of an alternative hurricane-resistant turbine. \"We were inspired by palm trees,\" explains Lucy Pao at the University of Colorado Boulder. \"In high winds they kind of go with the flow, they bend with the wind.\" She and her colleagues designed a prototype two-bladed wind turbine design with flexible blades. Plus, the rotor faces downwind rather than into the wind, as is common in traditional configurations, helping it to absorb the impact of strong gales. During tests at an onshore site in Colorado, the blade tips were observed deflecting by up to 600mm, more than half a metre. \"None of them snapped,\" says Prof Pao. Wind speeds in the area can reach 100mph in the wintertime, she adds. However, the wind energy industry has almost universally adopted the upwind, three-bladed design so selling a new concept is difficult, Prof Pao explains. Currently, her research in this area is on hold, pending further funding. She shares the concerns of other observers who question whether wind turbines are really ready for some of the strongest winds nature can hurl at them. \"The novel materials, they are stronger, they are pretty amazing, but I don't know that they've been tested out as thoroughly as maybe they should be,\" she says. Then there are the tricky economics of siting turbines in places where winds are especially variable. James Martin is chief executive at Gulf Wind Technology, a company exploring the deployment of turbines in the Gulf of Mexico. In this area, low wind speeds are common for most of the year - with the occasional hurricane blasting its way through. \"If you design that turbine to be strong enough to withstand the peak wind event, then you'll be carrying a lot of extra cost for the times that you've got light wind,\" notes Mr Martin. He declines to share details of the turbines or technologies his firm is considering. In the coming years, you can expect to see more and more turbines arriving in regions affected by cyclones, though. \"We need [turbines] there as much as we need them in any other area of the globe,\" argues Prof Hogg. \"I don't think we should shy away from it.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/171E1/production/_126498649_bobuse.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Scotland's councils have \"gone beyond the point\" where making savings is enough to balance their books, a spending watchdog has warned. The Accounts Commission said local authorities must radically change how they operate in order to maintain and improve the services they offer. Auditors warn budget constraints and cost pressures are putting councils' finances under \"severe strain\". Adult social care and housing are among areas of concern. These areas, along with environmental services and culture and leisure, are where a new Accounts Commission report concludes service performance was \"at risk or declining\". A \"new deal\" between the Scottish government and councils, which is aimed at allowing more long-term planning and could allow new local taxes, is \"long overdue\", the report adds. Tricky decisions as Scotland's councils face budget shortfallsCouncils say they face worst ever finance pressureExtra \u00a3100m for councils as tax-raising plans approved Council services across Scotland have been impacted by financial pressures in the last year. In Aberdeen, campaigners have been fighting the closure of libraries and a swimming pool, while in West Lothian a number of leisure centres are earmarked for closure. Tim McKay, acting chairman of the Accounts Commission, said local authorities need to have \"open and honest conversations\" with their communities and staff about how they will operate in the future. He added: \"Councils have gone beyond the point where making savings is enough. \"If the change needed doesn't happen now, some services will continue to get worse or deeper cuts will be made. \"This will impact communities and individuals that are already at crisis point with the effects of inequality and persistently high poverty.\" The Audit Scotland report highlights how 23% of council budgets were ringfenced or directed for national policy initiatives in 2021/22 - up from 18% in the previous year. This type of funding supports the delivery of key Scottish government policies but \"it prevents councils from making decisions about how funds can be used at a local level, to meet local need\", the report adds. Analysis by Audit Scotland shows spending on children's services and adult social care has been protected and increased because of Scottish government policy directives over the last decade. However, the remaining \"unprotected\" services have borne a \"disproportionate level of spending reductions\", according to auditors. The Scottish government has said it will review all ring-fenced funding as part of the delayed \"new deal\" for local government. The Audit Scotland report calls for councils to be more transparent with the public about scale of demand, the extent of backlogs and the need to ration access to services. It also calls for a more collaborative approach between public bodies. Shona Morrison, president of council umbrella body Cosla, said this was demonstrated during the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. She added: \"The report also recognises the huge challenges councils face due to budget constraints, increased cost pressures and demand, and increases in directed and ringfenced funding. \"As we have all seen, increasingly difficult choices are required about spending priorities and service provision, given reducing budgets coupled with growing demographic and workforce pressures.\" The Scottish Conservatives said urgent action was needed to avoid cuts to local services that would have a \"devastating impact on our most deprived communities and the most vulnerable people living in them\". The party called on the first minister to \"come good on his promise of a New Deal for local government as soon as possible\". Scottish Labour said the report \"lays bare the scale of the crisis facing local government after years of cuts and centralisation by the SNP and the Greens\" and said the government should stop \"robbing funding from communities\". Local government minister Joe FitzPatrick said: \"We recognise that the work of both local and national government is vital in delivering sustainable public services our communities rely upon. \"That is why the Scottish government is committed to working with Cosla to agree a 'new deal' for local government that promotes empowerment and provides greater flexibility over local funding with clear accountability for delivery of shared priorities and outcomes.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/15716/production/_122003878_gettyimages-1234734838.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The government has announced new funding to relocate more than 8,000 Afghans who are currently living in hotels in the UK. The government says this will help move refugees into permanent homes, but critics say it risks making some Afghans homeless. The government says that more than 24,000 people have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan as of December 2022, including British nationals. Of these, more than 21,000 have been resettled under Afghan refugee schemes. Most came as part of Operation Pitting, the British military operation starting in August 2021 to evacuate British nationals and Afghans from Kabul. About 2,000 came before Operation Pitting15,000 arrived during Operation Pitting 7,000 have arrived since In written evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee, Raphael Marshall, who previously worked on the Foreign Office's Afghanistan crisis response, estimated that between 75,000 and 150,000 people had applied for evacuation in August 2021. He estimated that 5% of these received assistance. The Home Office said another 1,400 former staff and their families had already been relocated since 2013 under an earlier scheme. In April 2021 - before the Taliban took control of Afghanistan - the government launched the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme. Under the scheme, Afghans who worked for the British military and UK government - for example, as interpreters - could apply to settle permanently in the UK, rather get five years' residency which was previously offered. The government also opened the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) in January 2022, which it says will allow up to 20,000 refugees to settle in the UK. This scheme focuses on women and children as well as religious and other minorities in danger from the Taliban. Immediate family members of those eligible under either the ACRS or ARAP schemes are also eligible for resettlement in the UK. In 2022, 4,629 Afghans were resettled under these schemes but most are people who worked for the UK before Kabul fell in August 2021. Only 22 were brought in because they were vulnerable or at risk refugees. As part of an initiative called \"Operation Warm Welcome\", local councils have been allocated funding packages of \u00a320,520 per person over three years. The funding will help refugees to enrol in education, find work and integrate in their new communities. The government is providing an additional \u00a310m in the first year for housing costs, then \u00a35m and \u00a32m in the two following years. The government has announced a new \u00a335m fund to help local authorities move around 8,000 Afghans out of hotels and into permanent homes across the UK. It will also add a further \u00a3250m to the local authority housing fund. The refugees will be given three months to vacate their hotels for relocation. The Refugee Council has expressed concerned that some Afghans may be left homeless by the new measures. The Home Office says that more than 9,000 Afghan refugees are still living in hotels while another 9,000 have either been moved to a permanent home or are waiting to move in. In February 2022, the Home Office said that accommodating Afghan refugees in hotels cost \u00a31.2m per day. Afghanistan evacuee 'feels stuck' in hotel room Afghan refugees in London hotel 'reject accommodation offers' They can come through the UK Resettlement Scheme which prioritises refugees from regions in conflict. In 2022, 36 Afghans came through this route. The other main way to settle is to seek asylum after arriving in the UK. However, proposed changes to the UK immigration system mean that people deemed to have arrived illegally could be sent to Rwanda for processing. The number of Afghans arriving in the UK on small boats having crossed the English Channel has increased sharply: In 2020, 494 crossed in small boats In 2021, 1,437 crossed in small boatsIn 2022, 8,633 crossed in small boats Home Office statistics also show that nearly 11,000 Afghans and their dependents applied for asylum in 2022. The US evacuated the largest number of people from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power. From 14 August to 28 August 2021, it got 113,500 people out. Other countries evacuated much smaller numbers over that period, according to official statements and press releases: Germany - more than 5,300Italy - more than 5,000Canada - more than 3,700France - around 3,000 Since August 2021, some countries have continued to carry out occasional evacuations. On December 3 of that year, France announced that it had evacuated 258 people from Afghanistan. There was also an increase in the number of Afghans who applied for asylum in some EU countries such as Greece, France and Germany.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/04/14/addressing-the-complexities-of-it-budgeting-key-issues-and-solutions-for-todays-it-management/", "title": "Addressing The Complexities of IT Budgeting: Key Issues and Solutions for Today\u2019s IT Management", "text": "IDC Metri consultants have observed that IT budgeting is challenging for organizations due to misclassification of costs, lack of domain knowledge, simplistic budgeting processes, shadow IT, and lack of consolidation. To address these issues, organizations should clarify definitions of IT and non-IT expenses, provide training to IT controllers, adopt agile budgeting processes, mitigate shadow IT by improving communication, and consolidate contracts with vendors. By addressing these issues, organizations can optimize resources and maximize the value of their IT investments.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IDCMetri_ITSCM_ITBudgeting_April2023_HeaderImage.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/8387/production/_129717633_c085e82e0d6fe37037598553c3bae81964a2e732.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Residents of a tiny Swiss village have all been evacuated because of the risk of an imminent rockslide. Brienz's fewer than 100 villagers were given just 48 hours to pack what they could and abandon their homes. Even the dairy cows were loaded up for departure after geologists warned a rockfall was imminent. Two million cubic metres of rock is coming loose from the mountain above, and a rockslide could obliterate the village. The development has raised questions about the safety of some mountain communities, as global warming changes the alpine environment. Brienz, in the eastern canton of Graub\u00fcnden, is now empty. The village has been judged a geological risk for some time and is built on land that is subsiding down towards the valley, causing the church spire to lean and large cracks to appear in buildings. As the minutes ticked towards the deadline to leave, even Brienz's dairy cows were being taken to safety. The residents, some young, some old, families, farmers and professional couples, had two days to abandon their homes. They were asked earlier this week to evacuate the village by Friday evening. Swiss villagers told to flee monster rockslide Switzerland's Alpine regions are especially sensitive to global warming - as the permafrost high in the mountains begins to thaw, the rock becomes more unstable. This particular mountain has always been unstable, but recently the rock has been shifting faster and faster. Days of heavy rain could bring two million cubic metres of loosened rock crashing down the mountainside onto the village, scientists warned. Now the villagers must wait, in temporary accommodation, for the rock to fall - and hope it misses their homes.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50471323&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Foldable Phone Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC's study forecasts a 50.5% growth in the foldable phone market in 2023, with 21.4 million foldable phones expected to be shipped. The total foldable shipments worldwide will reach 48.1 million units by 2027, resulting in a CAGR of 27.6% for 2022\u20132027. New models from current and new vendors are expected to continue driving demand in the market, which is likely to outperform non-foldable smartphones over the next five years.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1806/mobility-10-da7e846e4336387f07848c4f50ea7ca3.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/12/07/idc-futurescape-worldwide-future-of-work-2023-predictions/", "title": "IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Work 2023 Predictions", "text": "The future of work requires a unified approach to disruption and adaptable teams. Hybrid work is becoming a mainstay, improving productivity and driving improvements in talent acquisition and customer satisfaction. Skills development in the flow of work is crucial for success. Organizations that capitalize on disruptions will define the next future of work. IDC has released its top 10 predictions for the Future of Work in 2023.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/FutureScape-Blog-Banner-No-Text.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50624623&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Security Governance, Risk, and Compliance Software Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC study predicts growth in security governance, risk and compliance software market for 2022-2027 due to high investment in IT security. Despite budget tightening, organizations see value in these solutions.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/default/default-img8-ea591dfdb810a243483214cca7cd0e42.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/08/17/5-tips-to-make-the-most-of-your-third-party-content/", "title": "5 tips to make the most of your third-party content", "text": "Using third-party content can be a quick and effective way to create content and build trust in your brand's expertise. Tech buyers prefer content from trusted sources, and partnering with an established analyst can elevate your brand's position in the market. To make the most of third-party content, work closely with your partner to align with your marketing objectives and personalize your message when sharing. IDC's Thought Leadership Analyst Brief offers quality third-party content for tech vendors.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/3rd-party-content-blog.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/11BE6/production/_121587627_049977857.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "\"Covid vaccine passports\" introduced in Northern Ireland during the pandemic were lawful, judges have ruled. The Court of Appeal said the Covid certification scheme was a proportionate and legitimate response to the pandemic's impact on the health system. The passports were required to enter restaurants, bars and cinemas. Judges rejected claims this was a violation of civil liberties for unvaccinated people. They also rejected the argument that data protection rules were breached. On Tuesday, Lord Justice Treacy said the regulations were \"in accordance with the law and served a legitimate aim and were proportionate and justifiable\". In November 2021, the Stormont Executive brought in the certification scheme in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19. The measures - since scrapped - required proof of full vaccination status, a negative test, or proof of recovery from the virus to enter hospitality venues. Belfast man Risteard O'Murch\u00fa and Darren Williams, from Carrickfergus, County Antrim, brought separate challenges over the lawfulness of the scheme. Mr O'Murch\u00fa claimed the regulations were an unjustified and intrusive step which stigmatised and discriminated against those who did not get vaccinated. Mr Williams claimed there was a breach of data protection in how confidential personal information was obtained through scanning customer's QR codes. In February 2022, the High Court dismissed both challenges and ruled that the scheme was justified. Even though the passports are no longer required, appeals were mounted against that decision. Judges were told that there is still a power to reintroduce the step at any stage. Ruling on the cases, Lord Justice Treacy said there had been, unarguably, a legitimate aim behind the scheme which was backed by the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser. \"There was scientific evidence to support the argument that restricting access to vaccinated or non-infected persons in high risk settings has the potential to reduce transmission of the virus,\" he said. Any interference with Mr O'Murch\u00fa's human rights was limited and did not prohibit attendance at high risk settings, the court held. It was open to him to take the option of providing proof of a negative lateral flow test within the previous 48 hours. The tests were free and easily available then, the judge said. \"The appellant described this as an 'inconvenience' but that inconvenience has to be seen in light of and set against the legitimate and overwhelming aim of protecting public health,\" Lord Justice Treacy said. \"We consider it unarguable that the necessity/proportionality tests are not met.\" Dismissing Mr Williams' appeal, the judge said it was \"wholly academic, serves no utility and there is no public interest or good reason that this court can discern which would justify determining such a plainly academic matter.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/7941/production/_129714013_20230503_133020411_ios.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A rare copy of The Beatles' 1968 White Album raised more than \u00a32,000 at auction after being donated to a charity shop. The first edition of the album was handed in to The British Heart Foundation's Sutton Coldfield branch. Shop manager Natalie Langsford said a \"generous donor\" brought it in \"and it was just mixed in with other items\". After charity experts suspected its value, it was listed on eBay and sold for \u00a32,350 on Monday night. \"That's just an amazing amount,\" said the charity's area manager, Marcie Somel. \"We're delighted.\" The White Album, released in 1968 with a blank sleeve, was the Liverpool quartet's ninth studio album and is formally titled The Beatles. It is often said to be the band's best ever album and comprises 30 songs. The edition donated to the British Heart Foundation is thought to be incredibly rare, featuring a misprint unique to the first version of the record of which there are only 10,000 copies. Despite its age, it was also in good condition, complete with original inserts and a foldout poster. \"We were thrilled to have such a rare donation come into our shop,\" Ms Somel said. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/FFAE/production/_129645456_gpsurgery.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Health Minister Neil O'Brien spoke on 9 May about the state of the NHS on BBC Breakfast, which had earlier heard from a GP who said there was an urgent need for more doctors. Mr O'Brien said: \"We've got 2,000 more doctors working in general practice than we did in 2019 before the pandemic.\" Is he right? Mr O'Brien was talking about the number of GPs in England. Health is a devolved issue, which means that the UK government is only responsible for England's NHS. The usual way to compare numbers of GPs is to look at the number of \"full time equivalent\" GPs, which is provided by NHS Digital. Full-time equivalent (FTE) means that instead of counting the number of GPs regardless of the number of hours they are employed for, you count the number of contracted GP hours. That means, for example, that if you had two GPs contracted to work half the week each that would count as one FTE GP. We asked the Department of Health and Social Care which figures the health minister was referring to. We were told he was comparing December 2022 with December 2019 figures, when there were 2,167 more doctors in general practice. In December 2019, there were 34,519 FTE GPs working in NHS England. In December 2022, that figure was 36,686 - which is indeed 2,167 higher. But the numbers of GPs has since fallen, and in March 2023 (the latest available data) that number was 36,428 - an increase of 1,909 on December 2019, which is just under 2,000. In December 2019 the government promised that it would increase the number of GPs in England by 6,000 by March 2025. There are other ways of counting the number of GPs. The figures above include GPs who are not fully qualified and are still in training. Having lots of trainee GPs is a good thing if you're trying to increase GP numbers in the longer term. But trainee GPs don't see as many patients as fully-qualified GPs. Some of their time is dedicated to education and some of the appointments they carry out are supervised by fully-qualified GPs, taking them away from seeing other patients. If you exclude trainee GPs, there are 823 fewer GPs now than there were in December 2019. Antibiotics prescribed at pharmacies to free up GP timeThe areas with the fewest GPs revealedAre GP numbers going up or down? What claims do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/18638/production/_129269899_nhsbt.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Groups encouraging more black and Asian people to become blood and organ donors in the South East are to get a share of \u00a3685,000 government funding. The shortage of donors from black and Asian communities means those needing transplants can wait longer for organ transplants, the NHS says. People from the same ethnic background are more likely to be a donor match. Those from such groups make up a third of those waiting for a transplant due to the difficulties finding a match. The Community Grants Programme, managed by NHS Blood and Transplant, helps fund community, faith or belief organisations to deliver projects that encourage more black and Asian people to become donors. Carol Stewart, chair of the Medway African and Caribbean Association, said: \"We know that nationally there is a shortage of donors, which ultimately decreases the likelihood of treatment for black people in need of blood and organs. \"Increasing the diversity of donors will help to ensure that people of African and Caribbean origin have more access to compatible blood and organs when needed.\" NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) says it can only supply the best matched blood for those with sickle cell about half the time, and needs 250 donations per day to help treat those with the condition. Sickle cell, which is one of the fastest growing genetic conditions in the UK, is more prevalent in those from the black-African and black-Caribbean backgrounds, the NHS said. \"White patients have about 80-90% chance of finding a stem cell match from a stranger. However black, Asian and mixed race people can only find a stem cell match from a stranger around 30-40% of the time,\" an NHS spokesman said. Health minister Neil O'Brien said: \"It is important everyone has the best chance of receiving a potentially life-saving blood, organ or stem cell donation, regardless of their ethnic background and these organisations are helping to make a real difference. \"We're investing to encourage and increase education about donation among black and Asian communities.\" Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/10BB4/production/_129723586_00ab83cda91944b839001d2f32557057773a09a9.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Patients are not dying because nurses are striking, nurses are striking because patients are dying, the head of the Royal College of Nursing says. Speaking at the union's annual conference, Pat Cullen praised nurses' protests over pay and safe staffing. She told delegates she has been invited to have more discussions with Health Secretary Steve Barclay. The government confirmed the meeting but said a deal recently reached with other unions would \"not be reopened\". Instead the talks would focus on how the NHS can be made \"a better place to work\", sources said. They pointed out the pay deal in England - a 5% rise this year and a one-off lump sum worth at least \u00a31,655 to boost last year's 4% pay rise - was in the process being implemented, with the first payments expected in the pay packets of NHS workers in June. What is the new NHS pay offer? The deal does not cover doctors and dentists who are on separate contracts. Ms Cullen's speech came after her members rejected the pay offer from government, despite her recommending that they accept the deal. Nurses rejected it by 54% to 46%. It has put the RCN leader in a difficult position, but she was quick to praise her members, calling them an \"inspiration\". She urged them to vote in the forthcoming ballot on future industrial action, which opens next week and will give results in June. The union's previous mandate for strike action, which has seen them take part in eight days of walkouts in England so far in this dispute, expired earlier this month. She said the pay disputes in Wales and Northern Ireland were not over either, since no deals have yet been agreed on pay. She told members at the conference in Brighton: \"Patients are not dying because nurses are striking. Nurses are striking because patients are dying. It is as clear as that.\" She said the NHS was \"sailing close to the wind\", with staff shortages threatening patient safety. In the hall, her speech was well received by delegates - and there is certainly a lot of pro-strike sentiment among those attending. Nurses have taken to the stage during the week promising to fight until they win. But it must be remembered these sort of gathering tend to attract those with the strongest viewpoints. There are around 3,000 delegates in Brighton - around 1% of the RCN's membership. It is why those involved in the running of the strike ballot believe it is too close to call over whether a strike mandate will be achieved. For the vote to count, over half the membership has to vote - and a majority of those to back action. First time around this was only achieved in half of NHS trusts. As it was run as a series of local workplace ballots nurses in those trusts were able to strike. But this one is a national vote - essentially an all or nothing last throw of the dice to get ministers back to the negotiating table. It means if it fails to reach the required threshold the threat of industrial action disappears.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/119A4/production/_126100127_3wetlandse1-22.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "In a once-neglected corner of east London, a shiny new town has been born. Historically scarred by deprivation, this part of Stratford, in the borough of Newham, is now home to financiers, lawyers and creatives. East Village, as it's been branded, oozes with prosperity. It's Instagrammable. Its postcode, E20, is London's \"hippest\", according to its owner, Get Living. Just outside the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - the home of the 2012 Olympics - spartan accommodation blocks first built to house competing athletes are now hot property. Having been converted into flats in 2013, people began to make their homes here. Row after row of 60-odd almost identical mid-rise apartment blocks stretch from the aptly named Victory Parade to the north, and Anthems Way and Celebration Avenue to the east. A street lined with independent cafes and bars overlooks Victory Park, which dazzles with cherry blossom in the spring and is strewn with picnic rugs in the summer. \"It has a nice villagey feel, it's very neighbourly. Yeah, we love it here,\" says Fawn Hudgens, who rents a two-bedroom flat with her baby daughter and her partner, who runs a digital marketing company. \"Everything's on your doorstep, so it's very easy.\" London Olympics ten years on: Residents \"betrayed\" by broken housing promiseLondon Olympics ten years on: What have we learnt?London Olympics: What happened to the Carpenters Estate? In East Village, you can be at one with nature by taking a wetlands walk, tuck into some posh grub from the upmarket deli or gelateria, or indulge in the high fashion on offer at the nearby Westfield shopping centre. Perhaps more desirable still are the transport links offered by the newly opened Elizabeth line and Stratford International station, which have fast lines to the rest of the capital and beyond. A calendar of events including a weekly street food market, summer fete, book clubs, homework clubs, and fitness classes create opportunities for the 7,000 villagers to mix. \"Over time you start getting to know people, especially if you have kids; there's lots of stuff going on,\" said Ms Hudgens. \"And it's easy to make friends through that. \"I've got mum friends in the neighbourhood now, which is fantastic.\" This new neighbourhood even has its own village hall where Ms Hudgens takes her daughter to mother and baby groups. East Village has sprouted from seeds sown in the early 2000s, when plans were made to revitalise parts of east London left behind by redevelopment of London's Docklands in the 1980s and 90s. When the Olympics came to town, this site became a key focus for regeneration as part of a lasting legacy of the 2012 Games. Central to that was the idea it would deliver thousands of new homes. That, it has done - there are 3,800 new homes here with more to follow. But East Village is more than bricks and mortar - it is a large community built from scratch, says Get Living's chief executive officer Rick de Blaby. \"It was amazing vision and foresight to think you could do it on this scale,\" he said, \"because no-one had really done it before.\" What is happening here, he says, is \"placemaking\". According to Mr de Blaby, \"we don't have to ourselves build the community, we create the stage on which the people who live here build their own community\". The \"stage\" includes free kids' football coaching sponsored by Get Living. The company has also forgone retail rent by creating a low-cost community workspace, the E20 Lab, in one of its units. It's all part of vision to \"really create an environment in which people genuinely put down roots and thrive\", he said. It may not be organic, but, Mr de Blaby says, \"it's becoming organic\". But while Get Living curates many aspects of life here, it says its tenants are increasingly forming independent social groups. Dog-walkers, nature lovers, and LGBTQ+ residents are said to be bonding over common ground. However, most people who call East Village home haven't made long-term commitments to stay here. This is, in the main, a rental scheme, and the average length of tenure is 22 months, according to Get Living. The company, a partnership between real estate investment and advisory firm Delancy and Qatari Diar - the investment arm of Qatar's ruling family - bought the site from the UK government in 2011, and later promised to \"transform the way Londoners rent\". \"You would hear resident refrains around insecurity of tenure, and big fees and security deposits and poor repairs, and the distant landlord and lots of intermediaries, and the rest of it that wasn't working for renters,\" Mr de Blaby says. \"So the vision was to really disrupt that and give people a much better experience. And we've largely done that.\" Get Living says it offers renters three-year tenancies, charges no fees, provides free broadband, allows residents to keep pets and to redecorate. What's more, tenants are no longer required to pay large security deposits. That really turned heads, he says. For Mr de Blaby, East Village is a \"build-to-rent\" success story. \"It was an enterprising call to be able to do it. And, you know, it's come off brilliantly.\" The company, backed by pension funds, has just launched its latest builds, offering modern high-rise living across 524 flats. At 26 and 31 storeys high, the two new towers soar into the sky. As well as \"stunning\" apartments, the blocks have a cinema room, built-in wine dispensers, and an elevated \"sky bridge\", which is a \"leafy oasis of wellness\". These follow the arrival of the Victory Plaza in 2019 - 481 luxury flats spread across two imposing skyscrapers, which transformed the landscape of East Village, a previously mid-rise scheme. Here, tenants enjoy exclusive rooftop gardens, \"high-spec\" Danish-designed interiors, faster broadband than their mid-rise neighbours, and \"spectacular views\" from floor-to-ceiling windows. Creative types can take to the painting studio for a spot of art, while gardening tools are laid on for green-fingered residents in the communal potting shed. It does, of course, all come at a price. A studio flat in Portlands Place will set you back \u00a31,885 a month, while you'll need \u00a34,100 a month to rent a four-bedroom family home here. A two-bedroom flat in the former athletes' blocks can cost upwards of \u00a32,300 a month, while three-bedroom flats here are available for \u00a32,700 a month. Residents 'betrayed' over Olympics housing pledge For Ms Hudgens, cost could be a deciding factor in whether she and her family put down roots here. \"We'd love to stay in the neighbourhood, but I don't think it is long term. And a lot of people feel the same way. I know a lot of people are saying, 'If we want to have a bigger family, we need to move out a little further.'\" She believes the cost of living in East Village has created an exclusive neighbourhood that doesn't feel like the rest of Stratford, a historically deprived area. \"There's a definite divide. You can see that, you know, some people have been left behind on the other side of the railway bridge. \"Normal people have been priced out of this area. I know. It was very much promised to be, you know, a place for people who are from Stratford. And that hasn't happened. Which is a shame.\" An NHS worker living in East Village who gave his name as Steve told BBC London: \"It's not inclusive at all. \"It is full of young professionals, lots of tech. Lots of students that have some other funds coming from somewhere; I think they call it 'bank of mum and dad'. \"I think a lot of people are priced out of rentals.\" However, there is more to the East Village story than the luxury of the top of Victory Plaza. The East Village has delivered 675 social homes that have gone to families on the council housing list - this is more social housing than any other residential scheme to spring up as part of the 2012 Olympics legacy. A further 48 social homes are under construction. These are among the 1,379 homes in the affordable housing stock, managed by leaseholder Triathlon Homes, a joint public and private sector venture. Some are rented out at about 20% lower than the market rate and many are offered as part of a shared ownership deal. This has enabled people such as Nigel Godfrey, who runs a theatre company, to take their first step on to the property ladder. \"That was helpful for financial reasons, because theatre is not particularly well paid,\" said Mr Godfrey, who initially bought a 50% share in his flat, but has gradually increased that share to 100%. \"It meant I could live in London, it meant I could afford to have two bedrooms, which I needed for my family circumstances. And it meant that I was secure for a while: as long as I could keep paying my mortgage, I wasn't going to get turfed out by my landlord, as had happened multiple times over the preceding 10, 15 years.\" Mr Godfrey, who was one of the first people to move into East Village, added that while \"it's a good place to live\", it isn't the tight-knit community it started out as. \"At the beginning, when there was a tiny group of us, lots of people got to know each other. And that was good.\" But he said that \"now it feels more like a normal part of London\", because the village has grown. In the coming years, East Village is to expand further. Two more large towers will bring another 850 flats on to the rental market. Get Living hopes to develop a third tower of 520 student rooms and an exhibition space, to bring young creatives to live at East Village while they study at a campus planned by the London College of Fashion. And, Mr de Blaby hopes, that by creating the \"right environment\" for these people, they might stay for good. \"We've really gone on a mission to make this a hub for creative enterprise,\" he said. Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50470923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Multicloud Networking Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC predicts significant growth for multicloud networking due to traditional network models being obstacles to achieving a successful multicloud strategy for large enterprises.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-07-9fde39b9764147f0f722b07b8081592c.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/151A0/production/_129723468_ukrainegrab.png", "label": 0, "text": "The hometown of Ukraine's Eurovision act was hit by Russian missiles moments before the band took to the stage in Liverpool, officials say. The head of Ternopil regional state administration, Volodymyr Trush, confirmed two people had been injured. Ternopil mayor Serhiy Nadal said warehouses were damaged. Ukraine's foreign ministry accused Russia of attacking Kyiv and Ternopil regions before and during Tvorchi's Eurovision performance. Ten minutes before taking to the stage at the Liverpool Arena, Tvorchi posted on Instagram citing reports of Ternopil in western Ukraine being attacked. After performing, they added: \"Ternopil is the name of our hometown, which was bombed by Russia while we sang on the Eurovision stage about our steel hearts, indomitability and will. \"This is a message for all cities of Ukraine that are shelled every day. Kharkiv, Dnipro, Khmelnytsky, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Uman, Sumy, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Kherson and all others. \"Europe, unite against evil for the sake of peace!\" Tvorchi, made up of producer Andrii Hutsuliak and Nigeria-born vocalist Jeffery Kenny, hoped to defend the Eurovision title after Kalush Orchestra won last year in Turin. They performed \"Heart of Steel\" - a song about troops who led an ultimately unsuccessful resistance against Russian forces at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. The duo seeking Eurovision glory for Ukraine Liverpool is hosting the contest on behalf of Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict. At the end of their performance, Tvorchi held their fists in the air as acts from other nations were also seen waving the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine. The UK's ambassador to Ukraine Dame Melinda Simmons described Tvorchi's Eurovision performance as \"poignant\". Writing on Twitter, she added: \"Reminder that the reason why Ukraine could not host this event is because Russia continues to invade and the people of Ukraine live in continuing danger.\" Though Swedish act Loreen took the Eurovision crown after a nail-biting finish, there was praise for Tvorchi from Ternopil's mayor who thanked the band for supporting the city during their performance. Posting on Facebook in Ukrainian, Mayor Nadal wrote: \"It was at this time that our city was attacked by Russian missiles. \"Thank you, because your speech has become a symbol of not only the unity of the country, but of the whole world.\" He told the BBC the fire at the warehouse in Ternopil had been brought under control. \"Firefighters worked all night and continue to work,\" he said, adding that the two people who were wounded suffered minor injuries and were in hospital. Russia has not yet made any official comment. Earlier in the day, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Pope Francis at the Vatican and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. He has since flown to Germany, arriving in Berlin just before 01:00 local time.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/05/08/enterprise-intelligence-digital-differentiation-with-decision-velocity/", "title": "Enterprise Intelligence: Digital Differentiation with Decision Velocity", "text": "Business leaders, including the C-suite, are taking ownership of initiatives that address decision velocity. Formula One offers an instructive example of how teams extract and analyze data to improve performance. Turnover in the C-Suite is a leading indicator of new projects and initiatives, particularly ones that involve data analytics and artificial intelligence. Decision velocity requires a delicate balance between speed and control. Digitally mature organizations assign importance to both speed and control with twice the frequency of less mature organizations. Data waste is a common problem due to data silos, data quality, data analysis, and ultimately getting data to the right decision makers. Organizations must factor in three decision types \u2013 situational, scenario, and portfolio \u2013 and maximize decision velocity across decision types. Organizations need to invest in new technologies such as decision intelligence, knowledge networks, and enterprise digital twin technology to improve overall enterprise intelligence.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Decision-Velocity-Blog-Header-Image.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/874B/production/_129753643_pa.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Scotland's first minister has said there was nothing unusual in the timing of a warrant to search his predecessor's home. It emerged on Tuesday that police asked for permission to search Nicola Sturgeon's house and the SNP HQ during the party's leadership contest. The request was not granted by a sheriff until two weeks later - after the contest ended. Humza Yousaf said the government would \"never dream\" of interfering. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the first minister was asked whether a two-week gap between a warrant being requested and granted was normal. Police waited two weeks for SNP search warrantTimeline: The SNP finances controversy He replied: \"I suppose that would be a question for the Crown, not questions for government or ministers or the first minister. \"I don't believe there will be any particular reason out of the ordinary that it would take that time.\" Mr Yousaf added: \"We would never dream of interfering, neither in a live police investigation, but certainly not in a search warrant. \"I'm the first minister. I don't sign off on search warrants, I don't get involved in operational decisions for Police Scotland.\" The first minister also said he did not believe the Crown Office took decisions \"based on election contests or politics\". 15 February - Nicola Sturgeon announces she is to stand down as first minister and SNP leader 18 March - Ms Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell quits as SNP chief executive in a row over misleading party membership figures being given to the press 20 March - Police submit a draft warrant to the Crown Office seeking permission to search Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell's home and the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh 27 March - Mr Yousaf narrowly defeats Kate Forbes in the SNP leadership contest 3 April - The finalised search warrant is sent to a sheriff and is granted 5 April - Police raid the home of Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell and the party HQ and remove several boxes of evidence. Mr Murrell is arrested and later released without charge. See a full timeline of the two-year police investigation here. Sources close to the inquiry have denied that there was an undue delay in granting the warrant, which is reported to have included a long list of items the police wanted to seize as part of their ongoing investigation into the SNP's finances. BBC Scotland understands that prosecutors discussed the draft search warrant with police officers after it was submitted, with a sheriff signing it off on the same day it was finalised. Opposition parties have highlighted what they believe is a potential conflict of interest in the role of Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC, who heads the Crown Office but is also a Scottish government minister and sits in its cabinet meetings. Ms Bain did not respond when asked by Sky News on Tuesday whether the search warrant had been deliberately delayed until after Ms Sturgeon left office. A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said prosecutors always acted independently of political pressure or interference. He also said any case involving a politician was carried out without the involvement of the Lord Advocate or her deputy the Solicitor General. Details of the two-week gap between detectives submitting a request for a search warrant to the Crown Office and it being sent to a sheriff for approval were released by Police Scotland in response to a freedom of information request and first reported by the Scottish Sun. It showed that the Crown Office was told on 20 March that Police Scotland wanted a search warrant. It was not until 3 April - a week after Mr Yousaf, the SNP hierarchy's preferred candidate, narrowly won the SNP leadership contest - that the application for a warrant was approved by a sheriff. Officers searched the Glasgow home of Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell two days later. Mr Murrell, who had recently quit as the SNP's chief executive, was arrested before later being released without charge while further investigations were carried out. The SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh was also searched on 5 April and a luxury motorhome that sells for about \u00a3110,000 was seized from outside the home of Mr Murrell's mother in Dunfermline. Colin Beattie, who was the party's treasurer at the time, was arrested on 18 April before also being released without charge while further inquiries were carried out. He subsequently quit as treasurer. Alba MP Kenny MacAskill, who served as justice secretary in the SNP government led by Alex Salmond, called for a judge-led inquiry into the Crown Office's role in the granting of the warrant to search Ms Sturgeon's house and the SNP HQ. He said an inquiry would \"reassure the public that the decisions taken by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have not been influenced by political considerations\". Scottish Conservative MSP Russell Findlay told BBC Scotland that the case raised \"fundamental questions\" about the role of the Lord Advocate. He said it was \"not appropriate\" for the head of the prosecution service to also be a government minister, and that the roles needed to be separated. Police launched their Operation Branchform investigation almost two years ago after receiving complaints about how a total of \u00a3666,953 donated to the SNP by activists was used. The party pledged to spend the funds on a future independence referendum. Questions were raised after its accounts showed it had just under \u00a397,000 in the bank at the end of 2019, and total net assets of about \u00a3272,000. Last year it emerged Mr Murrell gave a loan of more than \u00a3100,000 to the SNP to help it out with a \"cash flow\" issue after the last election. The party had repaid about half of the loan by October of that year. It still owes money to its former chief executive, but has not said how much.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/02/21/3-concrete-steps-smbs-should-take-now/", "title": "3 concrete steps SMBs should take to survive an economic downturn, and thrive after", "text": "Small and medium-sized businesses are experiencing recession fears, with 46% already in a recession and others anticipating it in the near future. To survive and thrive during an economic downturn, SMBs should invest in digital capabilities, hire strong technology leaders, automate tasks, reinstate cost-saving measures, diversify supply chains, and track the ROI of each technology in their stack. It's important to develop a clear game plan to weather today's economic challenges and operate more efficiently in the future.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Header.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/17/what-companies-get-wrong-when-they-evergreen-their-it/", "title": "What Companies Get Wrong When They Evergreen Their IT", "text": "Evergreen IT is a new approach to managing IT that involves smaller, more frequent updates instead of large upgrade projects. This approach aligns with agile ways of working and supports DevOps. The challenges include managing end-user expectations and communicating changes with suppliers. Evergreen IT requires more automation, testing capabilities, and monitoring trends in technology. To start with Evergreen IT, companies need to focus more on standard solutions and align business processes accordingly. A business case should always be part of the assessment and decision making.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IDCMetri_ITSourcing_EvergreenIT_Blog_March2023_TopGraphic-scaled.jpeg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/07/take-another-look-knowledge-management-today-drives-better-business-outcomes-2/", "title": "Take Another Look:\u00a0 Knowledge Management Today Drives Better Business Outcomes", "text": "Organizations struggle to effectively capture, share, and use knowledge gained by employees. Formal knowledge management systems are necessary to transform knowledge into insights for better decision-making. IDC defines knowledge management as technologies and processes to capture, create, share, use, and access knowledge. Benefits of knowledge management include greater efficiency, innovation, data-driven decision-making, and higher customer satisfaction. Only 45% of employees at large companies that have implemented knowledge management are using it. Knowledge management systems address a wide range of organizational information, but there are still process and technology challenges to address. Managing organizational knowledge is critically important for maintaining information and remaining competitive. The time to adopt knowledge management is now to stay ahead of the curve.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FoW-Knowledge-Management-Blog-Header-March-2023.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/AEDA/production/_129726744_lukashenko_reu.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko has missed a major state celebration, further fuelling health speculation. The autocratic politician, 68, usually speaks publicly at the annual National Flag, Emblem and Anthem Day event but his prime minister read a message on his behalf on Sunday. Last week, Mr Lukashenko left Moscow soon after Victory Day parade, skipping lunch with President Vladimir Putin. Mr Lukashenko looked visibly tired, and his right hand was bandaged. He was last seen in public laying flowers in the capital Minsk during Belarus' own Victory Day celebrations on 9 May - a few hours after returning from the Russian capital. An opposition Telegram channel reported that Mr Lukashenko visited a presidential medical centre just outside Minsk on Saturday night - but this information has not been independently verified. Mr Lukashenko's office has so far made no comments on the issue. Often described in the West as Europe's last dictator, Mr Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994, suppressing any dissent. In 2020, he was proclaimed as the winner of presidential elections, which were denounced by the opposition as a sham. Thousand of people were later arrested and brutally beaten by riot police and KGB security service agents during mass anti-government protests that rocked the country. However, Mr Lukashenko managed to stay in power, backed by Russia. Last year, he supported President Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, offering Belarus as a launchpad for Russian troops to cross into Ukraine and allowing Russian war planes to carry out strikes from Belarusian soil.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/FB82/production/_127568346_gettyimages-617396986.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The closure of an elite swimming club amid allegations of bullying earlier this year caused turmoil in the sport that continues today. As swimmers say they feel lessons have not been learnt, governing body Swim England is facing questions about the protection of its young members. The medal haul that returned to Shropshire after last weekend's Short Course Regionals was impressive - 14 golds, 10 silvers and eight bronze. It was Ellesmere College Swimming Academy's first competition of the season, one which saw the young swimmers travel to Nottingham to compete. The vast majority of swimmers that train at the rural Shropshire school are now affiliated to City of Leicester Swimming Club, which is based more than 100 miles away in the East Midlands. The school-run academy has sprung up in place of Ellesmere College Titans, which, in April this year, was forced to disband by Swim England following a lengthy investigation into multiple claims of bullying and emotional abuse. Swimming's national governing body ruled it would not affiliate any club that was held at Ellesmere College in the future. Instead, weeks after Titans closed, the academy was set up by college bosses and more than 30 of its 45 young members affiliated to City of Leicester, along with three of Ellesmere's coaches. It seemed like the perfect solution - no \"club\", as such, would be based at the independent school, but swimmers could continue to compete, albeit for a club based in a different part of the country. But some of those who came forward to allege bullying at Titans have told the BBC it felt like the sanction of no affiliation had been \"circumvented\" and no lessons had been learnt. Danny Proffitt, one of two Titans coaches temporarily suspended as a result of the bullying investigation, is among the new City of Leicester coaches based at the school. \"It feels like a slap in the face because, when you take a step back, nothing has really happened,\" the woman, now in her 20s, told the BBC. \"Everyone that came forward had to dig up their trauma for something to actually be done, and it's like nothing ever happened. \"There have been no shockwaves - it is beyond deflating.\" A parent of a former swimmer who also alleged bullying said it felt like their experiences had been \"denied, buried and airbrushed\" by Swim England and the college. \"Years on we are still waiting for adults to stand up and do the right thing - the children have still never had an apology.\" The investigation at Titans, which included complaints by male and female swimmers stretching back several years, hit the headlines in 2021 when its director of swimming Alan Bircher, a 10-time British champion and world championship silver medallist, was suspended along with Mr Proffitt. The nature of the allegations was kept confidential by Swim England. But earlier this year, three ex-Titans swimmers told the BBC they had faced humiliating public weighing regimes that left more than one with an eating disorder, were made to swim despite injuries and illnesses and had a torrent of inappropriate comments made to them during training. Mr Proffitt and Mr Bircher, whose suspension prevented him from coaching Team GB's swimmers at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, have never commented publicly on the allegations. It sparked a debate on social media in which polar opposite views emerged - the requirement for young gifted swimmers to \"toughen up\" for what is often a brutal competitive environment on one side, with others pointing out that emotional abuse of children is not acceptable in any sport, school or workplace. Swim England, which has more than 100,000 members under 18, is now facing multiple questions over its attitude to safeguarding from parents, coaches and even some from inside the organisation itself. The BBC understands many coaches are leaving the sport, with claims of a growing \"toxicity\" in which they feel unsupported as they try to navigate the challenges of training children. Elite swimming club to close after damning reportSchool criticised over swimming club safeguardingSwimmers speak in support of suspended coach Sport England is also conducting an independent review into Swim England's own processes, including how it dealt with complainants in the wake of the Titans probe and a separate investigation into a row between coaches and the committee of City of Oxford Swimming Club. Furthermore, the organisation has come under fire from its recently-departed child safeguarding expert Keith Oddy, who left Swim England in summer shortly after filing a highly-critical report, seen by the BBC, which described a chaotic picture at the organisation. The former Metropolitan Police officer, who is a child safeguarding expert with British Equestrian and British Rowing, said it had failed to tackle a series of issues including the widespread taking of indecent pictures of children in changing rooms. Mr Oddy, who presided over hundreds of safeguarding cases during his tenure, said Swim England had been slow to conduct its own analysis of the Whyte Review into allegations of mistreatment in gymnastics, which would avoid a similar situation happening in swimming. He also stated workloads in the safeguarding team had become unmanageable after they were furloughed during England's coronavirus lockdowns, when swimming pools closed, and accused senior management of interfering in cases. The governing body had an \"obvious failure to put child protection at the heart of decision making\", he said. \"Swim England is heading for a situation where the protection and safeguarding of children will be placed at risk,\" his report concluded. Mr Oddy told the BBC he had not heard from the board since issuing his report. Parents of current Ellesmere swimmers told the BBC they welcomed Sport England's investigation. This was echoed by the parent volunteer-led committee of the Oxford club, where all five coaches quit in 2021 in a furious row with management. The committee had started investigating safeguarding complaints made by swimmers, but coaches claimed they were in fact being bullied by those in charge. Club chairman Nicola Brown said Swim England had given the committee no support despite being asked. \"At every point we asked for help and we never got it,\" she said. Swim England denied it did not take safeguarding seriously and said it had improved its team by appointing former Surrey Police detective Kevin Suckling as the new head of safeguarding. Investigative journalist Mark Williams-Thomas, also a former detective with Surrey Police and best known for helping to expose Jimmy Savile in an ITV documentary, is understood to be among a panel of investigators the organisation will utilise. In a statement, the organisation said: \"We have made significant improvements to our staffing structure and expertise of the team - including the appointment of a full-time head of safeguarding and welfare as well as establishing two further positions within the department. \"In addition, under our new structure we have a bank of experienced and highly qualified independent child safeguarding officers, whom we utilise, providing significantly more capacity in this area. \"All changes have been made with the safeguarding and welfare of our members at the forefront.\" It added an in-depth piece of work was in progress \"to assess the approach against the outcomes of the Whyte Review\" and added it \"strongly disagreed\" with suggestions bosses interfered in safeguarding cases. In response to coaches leaving the profession, Swim England said it would \"always endeavour to ensure that our coaches' voices are heard\" but that \"we hold our coaches accountable to the highest standards of safe and effective practice, thereby ensuring that our participants enjoy a positive and fulfilling sporting experience.\" \"We understand that people will move in and out of the profession and therefore we continually look for ways to ensure that aquatics coaching is a rewarding role.\" Regarding Ellesmere swimmers competing for City of Leicester, the governing body said all swimming clubs were free to accept new members, regardless of where they were based. It is understood the Shropshire college denies any suggestions it evaded sanctions. Sport England confirmed a review into Swim England was under way. \"[We have] been made aware of concerns raised in relation to how complaints were handled at a small number of swimming clubs. \"Safeguarding and welfare in sport is of paramount importance and if complaints are raised, they should be taken very seriously. \"Although we have no regulatory powers in sport, we can explore whether the right processes were followed, and are looking into this matter.\" Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/2048/cpsprodpb/a4bb/live/36ad9690-f3cb-11ed-bd4a-d516c3febef5.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A London council has been \"confiscating\" plant pots and garden ornaments from a housing estate, saying they pose a fire safety risk, residents say.Greenwich Council says the front gardens of Vanbrugh Park estate, south-east London, are impeding fire escapes from the building.Residents say the area is the only access they have to personal outdoor green space, and have begun a petition to halt the council's \"draconian\" actions.A meeting between councillors and residents is planned to \"ensure that their estate meets all fire safety requirements.\" In 2020, the council's fire safety report concluded the gardens posed no safety risk. But it says current measures are being reviewed in light of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which led to 72 deaths.A number of residents say clearing the area will reduce privacy, safety, and wellbeing.They also have concerns about a lack of shade with south-facing windows.Their petition, which has 1,500 signatures, says, \"the council has begun sending groups of men to the estate to confiscate pot plants, benches and other items kept in the gardens\".Alex Wheeler, chair of the Vanbrugh Park Residents Association, said council officers were \"waging an unnecessary war on garden gnomes and pot plants\".Mr Wheeler says he was shocked at the \"draconian treatment\" of residents and the council's \"refusal to work with our community to agree a sensible way forward.\" Building regulations state entrances should have a width of at least 90cm, but the residents say the council is demanding 360cm.Following the removal of plants, Richard Tacagni, an independent housing safety assessor, visited the site at the request of the residents.Mr Tacagni says \"there was no serious category one, or high-level category two, fire hazard caused by the presence of pot plants\".\"There was nothing that would justify enforcement action.\" Pat Slattery, cabinet member for housing, neighbourhoods and homelessness, said the safety of residents was \"our top priority\" and that \"we have an absolute duty of care\".Ms Slattery also confirmed the council would be meeting with residents to \"listen to concerns\" and answer questions. Follow BBC London on Facebook, external, Twitter, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk, external", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50568423&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide NAND Flash Demand and Supply Forecast, 4Q22\u20134Q23 and 2023\u20132027: Downcycle Extends", "text": "IDC presents a long-term NAND market outlook for 2023-2027. A demand-driven market correction started in 2H22, with inventory soaring and pricing falling below cash cost. The next upcycle will start in 2025, but consolidation may be necessary for a shorter correction.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_591/hardware-02-06ac15209fabc1991d33e47e8c62e044.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/7DEE/production/_129583223_mediaitem129583222.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "At least 130 people have died after floods and landslides hit Rwanda's northern and western provinces, authorities say. The rains hit at night when many people were asleep - an official told the BBC this is one reason why so many died. The five-year-old daughter of Claudette Nyiraneza was among them. \"We could not save my daughter under the rubble until morning,\" she told the BBC, adding that neighbours eventually helped retrieve her body. Local governor Fran\u00e7ois Habitegeko said many houses had collapsed on people. He said that main roads in the area \"are not usable because of landslides\". Rwanda's public broadcaster RBA reports that the casualty numbers are expected to increase as floodwaters continue to rise. Rwanda's president offered his condolences to those who have been affected. His statement also added that residents were being evacuated from \"affected and high-risk areas\". The government's main priority now is to \"reach every house that has been damaged to ensure we can rescue any person who may be trapped\", the Reuters news agency quotes Mr Habitegeko as saying. Relief efforts have already started, \"including helping to bury victims of the disaster and providing supplies to those whose homes were destroyed,\" a government minister for emergencies, Marie Solange Kayisire, told AFP Africa Live Page: For news updates from around the continent The heavy rains pounded Rwanda \"all night\" and more downpours are expected throughout the month, authorities say. Heavy rains and consequent damage and casualties between March and May are commonplace in Rwanda, but the deluge on Tuesday night was unusually strong and long-lasting. This is the worst flooding Rwanda has seen since May 2020 when around 80 people died. Deaths have also been reported in neighbouring Uganda, where six people have died after landslides, the Ugandan Red Cross says. Rwanda's weather authority is linking the unusual rains seen in recent years to climate change. Many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely. The world has already warmed by about 1.2C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50549523&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "U.S. Augmented Reality Hardware Market Shares, 2022: Nreal Storms into First Place as Microsoft Tumbles", "text": "IDC study shows smaller vendors gaining in the US AR market in 2022, while larger ones suffer. Nreal's entry brought attention to AR gaming, challenging commercial usage. Commercial users have pulled back slightly due to economic challenges. This trend expected to continue in 2023.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_433/consumer-08-277467c9cab774f564bf431a9d22d391.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/6DD6/production/_98581182_g1urk6hq.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The Bank of England's top economist has said he is sorry for using \"inflammatory\" language to suggest people must accept they are poorer. Huw Pill recently said people needed to stop asking for pay rises to keep up with soaring prices because this risked keeping inflation higher for longer. However, his remarks prompted criticism, including from his own boss. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said Mr Pill's \"choice of words was not right\". Mr Pill said: \"If I had the chance again to use different words I would use somewhat different words to describe the challenges we all face.\" He added: \"Although we have some difficult messages to bring. I will try and bring those messages in a way that is perhaps less inflammatory than maybe I managed in the past.\" Inflation - which measures the rate at which prices rise - remains stubbornly high at 10.1%, mainly due to food prices. People 'need to accept' they're poorer, says Bank economist\u2022Why are prices rising so much? Why does the Bank of England change interest rates? Part of the Bank of England's job is to keep inflation at a target rate of 2%. It can try and do this by raising interest rates, which makes the cost of borrowing money more expensive. This move, in theory, is supposed to make people reduce spending, so that demand for goods cools and price rises slow. However, if people keep asking for pay rises to keep up with inflation it could result in higher prices for a long time. Last week, Mr Pill said: \"Somehow in the UK, someone needs to accept that they're worse off and stop trying to maintain their real spending power by bidding up prices, whether through higher wages or passing energy costs on to customers.\" He added: \"What we're facing now is that reluctance to accept that.\" In response Mr Bailey said the Bank was very sensitive to all people facing higher inflation \"but particularly people on lower incomes\" because they spend more of their budgets on \"the essentials in life\" such as food and energy. At the time, he said: \"I don't think Huw's choice of words was the right one in that sense, I have to be honest and I think he would agree with me.\" The Bank has raised interest rates 12 times since December 2021 to 4.5%. It is aiming to bring inflation back to its 2% target in three years' time. On Monday, Mr Pill said that both he and the Bank of England \"recognise that we live in very difficult and challenging times and those challenges are particularly acute for some parts of society\".", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/B452/production/_129726164_sign.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A nature charity is rewarding gardeners who make space for wildlife. Somerset Wildlife Trust is giving plaques to people who allow wildflowers to bloom and cut out the use of weedkillers. It hopes it will inspire others, and this year it is also offering plaques for whole communities making a collective effort to support nature. Fellow charity Plantlife says it has already seen some bird species increasing thanks to wilder gardening. Bryony Slaymaker, of Somerset Wildlife Trust, said: \"The aim is to give people recognition and to say thank you because gardens are so important and if we all do a little bit it will make a huge difference. \"Behavioural science tells us that if one in four people visibly take action, that encourages everyone else to do things - it tips the balance.\" No Mow May, where gardeners do not use their lawnmowers or shears for a month, was launched by Plantlife in 2018, and has been steadily gaining traction. People can apply for a plaque by filling out a self-assessment survey on the Somerset Wildlife Trust's website with details of their garden's size and the different features they have added. Those with just a courtyard or window box can join in, and there is also a category for allotments. This year, for the first time a street, village or an entire town can try to earn a community plaque if enough people start managing gardens and green spaces for wildlife. Ms Slaymaker said: \"This is brand new, no one has got it yet - the plaques aren't even printed out but we would really love to see it.\" \"It is a big ambition, and it will take local people and community champions getting behind it.\" Sarah Shuttleworth, senior ecological advisor with Plantlife, says efforts by individuals and local communities can add up to real policy change. \"If people are changing the way they are managing their own gardens, they are going to start changing their values about how they feel about wildlife everywhere, and that definitely does make a difference,\" she said. \"If we have this idea of 'I can't do anything because it is such a small amount,' that is not the way we are going to change things in the biodiversity crisis.\" Ms Shuttleworth, who is based North Curry, manages some plots of land in the Somerset village and says she has already started to notice the difference. \"I have seen an increase in plant life and an increase in bird species, including predators such as sparrowhawks.\" Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk ", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50456323&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Video Platforms Software Market Shares, 2021: 1H22 Update", "text": "IDC study shows that the video platforms software market grew 22% in 2021, driven by the need to publish video for both external and internal use cases.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1264/cloud-05-dfe74541f878027fa3eae53bc5b25b95.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5D89/production/_125554932_katfam.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "It's having her children not crying every night and asking if they will be killed is why Kateryna Halenda knows it was the right call to flee Ukraine. Leaving a country torn apart by war may seem like an easy decision but husband Oleh had to persuade her to leave with their two young children because she didn't want to leave him behind. Kateryna now knows she and her kids are safe but still gets mobile phone alerts when air raids are happening back home. Her worries remain, hoping Oleh is ok. The 32-year-old teacher and her two sons Oleksander, nine, and four-year-old Artem are three of the more than five million refugees to have fled Ukraine while worried about the family they've left behind. But unlike many of the 60,000 Ukrainian refugees that have arrived in the UK since Russia invaded Ukraine, Kateryna and her boys have not been taken in by kind families wanting to help. They are one of 60 families who are in a unique Ukrainian community thousands of miles from their homeland in a specialist camp - offering a place to stay, food, education and advice - in the sanctuary of Wales. 'Children drank rainwater from puddles to survive''The war has destroyed three generations'Ukraine war could last for years, warns Nato chief \"It's like a big family here. we're all looking out for each other,\" said Kateryna. \"We were amazed when we came here. It's very new but they're now completely happy, they're playing with other children every day and going to school every day. And they feel safe here - and that's important.\" Kateryna is one of 222 Ukrainian refugees at the camp run the the Welsh youth organisation Urdd Gobaith Cymru and supported by the Welsh government where more than 100 children displaced from home can now play and learn safely. Yet while their parents and grandparents enjoy this haven from war, home and family is never far from their thoughts - and that explains why they didn't escape Ukraine sooner. \"We waited for 100 days because we didn't want to leave at first but my husband made us go,\" said Kateryna. \"It wasn't safe. We were just so often in our basement because of those air raid sirens all of the time, including at night when I had to wake up my kids. \"But we decided to leave just to find a safe place for my kids.\" Kateryna didn't know Olena Andrshchuk before they arrived at the centre in Wales two weeks ago. But now the mums have become friends and support each other with their husbands still back in Ukraine. How can I offer a UK home to Ukrainian refugees?Fears over lack of homes for Ukrainian refugees Olena's husband Pavlo also made his wife leave their home in the capital Kyiv for the safety of her and their two children. \"It's still not safe,\" said the 36-year-old website content writer. \"The very day we were leaving, very close to where we live I woke up in the middle of the night because of really big bombing. \"It still wasn't an easy decision to leave because I still had to leave my home town, my husband, everything I have - but I left for my kids.\" Ukraine war in maps: Battles raging in the east'Ukraine war means I'll miss my son's wedding''I keep telling them, time will come when we meet' Olena says she \"loves\" it in Wales and likens the centre to a \"holiday resort\" with lots of new friends with shared experiences - but the harsh reminders of what's happening at home aren't too far away. \"I have an app on my phone and I still get the alert for the sirens in Ukraine and they are quite frequent,\" said Kateryna, whose husband Oleh is a volunteer back in their home city of Ternopil in western Ukraine. \"So I know when to call my husband to ask how he is.\" The Urdd centre normally hosts Welsh schools but its Ukrainian children who have been living, learning, and laughing in this small corner of the Welsh countryside for the last two months - enjoying the fact they're free to simply play and have fun safely again. \"My kids didn't attend school for up to three months because it wasn't safe,\" said Kateryna. \"But now they're happy as they go to school every day and feel safe.\" Olena agreed as her youngest Leonard, aged four, struggled with a lack of social interaction with children of his own age because most were kept inside because people were \"too afraid\" to let them play outside with air raid sirens bellowing all around. \"It was a big problem for my little one back in Ukraine,\" she said. \"Now we've come here, the kids can socialise, communicate with each other and they're open to all kinds of activities, which they were missing for so long so they just they're happy. \"Of course they are missing their father and grandparents but this is the better reality than what we had in Ukraine.\" While the children enjoy there are daily lessons - in English and Welsh - and a world of activities, their parents can concentrate on finding work, accessing benefits and figuring out where they go next. All of that expert help for refugee families is provided on-site in a one-stop shop that also offered health checks to everyone that arrived - much to the delight of grandmother Marta Burak. \"I was so happy because my grandson was tested for an illness here that we were not able to do back at home,\" said the 64-year-old retired teacher. \"Now he's on three months medication. That was very important for me.\" New UK Army chief issues Russia rallying cryHow many Ukrainian refugees now have UK visas?Where have Ukraine's millions of refugees gone? While her daughter Khrystyna gets intensive English lessons provided by the local college, Marta, who is in her fifth week in the centre, is getting help and advice from on-site authorities to remain in the UK. \"While we are doing the necessary legal things to stay in the UK, we would love to stay here forever,\" she said. \"But one day, we'll have to move on.\" Yet Marta says \"while half of her heart is in Wales, half is left in Ukraine\". \"My son, my daughter-in-law and my son-in law remain in Ukraine and my grandchildren miss their father every day. \"They cannot properly speak with him because they start crying but we are safe here, that is the most important thing. \"Yesterday I got such sad news because the only son of my friend's family got killed and he was only 30. He was such a handsome, positive young man and it is sad young people are still dying in this war and this must be stopped.\" Home is never far people's thoughts but the support of locals draping Ukrainian flags in their windows gives the refugees hope. And in the camp car park there are a handful of cars with Ukrainian registration plates while one family had to drive through Russia in order to avoid fighting on the frontline before eventually finding their way to Wales. People in Wales have so far raised millions of pounds for the Ukraine humanitarian fund and Wales has housed more than 2,500 refugees, The Welsh government has directly sponsored nearly 3,000 people to come to Wales and most are yet to arrive but the scheme has been paused to allow people to move on from their 'welcome centres'. Mark Drakeford wants Wales to be a \"nation of sanctuary\" and to help Ukrainian refugees \"re-establish their lives\". But Wales' first minister acknowledged the \"challenge for the coming weeks\" is to help more people leave the centre and into more permanent placements so more refugees can be housed and helped. \"Our focus has been on the arrival of people but now we have 4,000 people wanting to come to Wales when we originally expected 1,000,\" he said on a visit to the camp. \"We've got to focus on people moving on from our centres so there are long-term prospects for people who are here temporarily.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f793/live/49002a60-f3f8-11ed-bfcd-db47ffdaa291.png", "label": 0, "text": "A crisis in mental health care is forcing police officers to divert from frontline duties, the Surrey police and crime commissioner (PCC) said.Lisa Townsend said two Surrey officers recently spent a week supporting one vulnerable person.Over the past seven years the number of hours the county's officers have spent with people in crisis has trebled, according to the PCC.It is hoped a new national scheme could help address the problem. Ms Townsend, the national lead for mental health for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: \u201cUnlike doctor\u2019s surgeries, community health outreach programmes or council services, the police are available 24 hours a day.\u201cWe have seen time and time again that 999 calls to help someone in distress spike as other agencies close their doors.\" Last year Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Police Commissioner, said for every mental health patient his officers dealt with, they would spend an average of 14 hours in A&E.In February Surrey Police officers spent 515 hours dealing with mental health incidents, the highest number for a single month the force has recorded so far.Ms Townsend said a new scheme, called Right Care, Right Person, and trialled in Humberside, external, could help save police time and get people the care they need quicker.It would see the NHS, local authorities, charities and other mental health providers work more closely together.She said: \u201cWhen there are concerns for a person\u2019s welfare that\u2019s linked to their mental health, medical or social care issues, they\u2019ll be seen by the right person with the best skills, training and experience.\"Other forces, including Cambridgeshire, Merseyside and Scotland, have trialled mental health workers going on patrol with officers. Follow BBC South East on Facebook, external, on Twitter, external, and on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/11EEA/production/_129705437_gettyimages-184875964.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "The Australian government has approved a new coal mine for the first time since it was elected - on a climate action platform - last year. The government was bound by national environment laws when considering Central Queensland's Isaac River coal mine, a spokeswoman said. Only one coal mine proposal has ever been blocked under those laws. Scientists have repeatedly warned that any new fossil fuel projects are not compatible with global climate goals. The Isaac River coal mine - which will be built near Moranbah, an 11-hour drive north of Brisbane - is expected to produce about 2.5 million tonnes of coal over five years. The mine will extract metallurgical coal, also known as coking coal, which is used in steelmaking. Although a small mine compared to others in the state, its production could amount to some 7 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in its lifetime, think tank the Australia Institute says. A really simple guide to climate change Environment groups had called on the government to block the new development, on the grounds it would increase global emissions and damage the habitat of endangered or vulnerable species like the koala, the central greater glider and the ornamental snake. But when Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek's proposed decision was announced on Thursday afternoon, the government said no-one had made submissions during the formal consultation period. \"The Albanese government has to make decisions in accordance with the facts and the \u00adnational environment law - that's what happens on every project, and that's what's happened here,\" a spokeswoman for Ms Plibersek said . The proponents of the mine, Bowen Coking Coal, will have the opportunity to respond to any proposed conditions on the development before it is formally approved - usually in a matter of months. Since it came to power in May 2022 after campaigning on greater climate action, Anthony Albanese's Labor government has enshrined into law a stronger emissions reduction target - of 43% by 2030 - and has negotiated the introduction of a carbon cap for the country's biggest emitters. But it has refused to rule out new coal and gas projects. And while it in February blocked a coal mine on environmental grounds for the first time in history, it did not consider climate in doing so. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says any new fossil fuel projects are not compatible with the aim of the Paris Agreement - limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. In fact, existing fossil fuel infrastructure must be urgently phased out, it says. Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said the decision demonstrated a need for reform. \"Australia's environment laws are clearly broken. Polluting projects are failing to be \u00adassessed for the emissions they create,\" she said.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/12/05/idc-futurescape-ww-sustainability-esg-2023-predictions/", "title": "IDC FutureScape: WW Sustainability/ESG 2023 Predictions", "text": "Sustainability is becoming a priority for businesses due to scrutiny from stakeholders. Business leaders see an opportunity to create competitive differentiation by increasing operational and financial performance through sustainable transformation. Technology is needed to automate ESG data capture, analysis, and reporting, but businesses must go beyond reporting and operationalize ESG. A holistic approach is needed for all material ESG topic areas, including social sustainability. IDC predicts enterprise-wide carbon footprint using quantifiable metrics will increase from 50% to 100%.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/FutureScape-Blog-Banner-No-Text.png", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/10D10/production/_129708886_percypigicecream.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "An ice cream parlour has changed the name of one its products after a \"polite\" request from Marks & Spencer. Fabio's Gelato, based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, only began making its Percy Pig ice cream last week. But the retailing giant sent the owner Fabio Vincenti a letter which said he could continue to use the sweets, but not the name of the product. \"It is what it is, they've got to protect Percy Pig,\" he said. Marks & Spencer said the name of Percy Pig, which started life as a bag of sweets in 1992 but has since evolved to other ranges, could only be used on \"official M&S products\". The ice cream parlour uses several different branded items for flavours, including chocolate bars, energy drinks and Marmite. Mr Vincenti said: \"We've done so many different brands of ice cream.\" He said the feedback was generally positive from the various companies but he \"wondered why no-one ever moaned and always knew someone might say something\". The \"polite and fair\" letter from M&S was received on Thursday, along with some packets of the swine-faced treat, he said. Mr Vincenti posted a copy of the letter on social media, saying he could continue to make the ice cream, but had to change the name to something such as \"Pig Faces or Pig Sweets\". The letter said: \"Percy Pig is one of our 'hero' brands and we own trade marks to protect it. \"We risk losing those trade marks (and more importantly to us, consumers will no longer be confident Percy Pig-branded products originate from M&S) if we do not take steps to stop others from using them without our permission.\" Mr Vincenti said the ice cream had already proved popular online and would, for now, be renamed \"Fabio's Pig\". An M&S spokesman said it was \"careful to only put [Percy Pig's] name on official M&S products\". \"It's flattering that he's inspired Fabio's new gelato and we hope they enjoy the treat we sent,\" he said. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50128923&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Worldwide Document Workflow Automation and Optimization Forecast, 2023\u20132027", "text": "IDC forecasts growth in the document workflow automation and optimization market between 2023-2027 due to increased adoption of digitization and the need to improve business process efficiency.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_431/software-01-ef9bb8e536d7942d5ab352278f40a1e6.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/5e66/live/ff86ee90-f3d5-11ed-932a-b54e764dc9b6.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "A parish councillor has described the removal of a flagpole from a village green as \"bizarre\" and \"depressing\".Jon Gambold said the pole, in Biddenham, near Bedford, bearing a Ukrainian national flag, has been vandalised three times since 31 December. He said the actions were \"very, very hurtful for the Ukrainian refugees we've got in the village and across Bedford\".Biddenham Parish Council was aiming to purchase a \"bigger vandal proof pole and a bigger Ukrainian flag\", at a cost of more than \u00a31,000, he added. Mr Gambold, who is also a Conservative councillor for Bedford Borough Council, said: \"We want to show solidarity with these people.\"I'm upset on their behalf and for them.\"He said he did not know who cut the pole down, but that he was aware of one person who had expressed unhappiness that an Ukrainian flag was being flown in the village. Councillor Gambold said he \"started to get worried\" after the flag was removed for a second time in March.\"I got a new cleat for the flag pole and put it higher up so that they couldn't get to it to vandalise it\", he said. He said the Ukrainian flag was replaced with the union flag for the King's Coronation, but \"on the Wednesday night or Thursday morning it had gone\".The incidents have left him \"shocked\", he said, adding: \"I thought we'd done what we could to stop it being vandalised and someone has still found a way to do it.\"Putting up a bigger flag is the sort of statement we're trying to make,\" he added.Bedfordshire Police said it was aware of a previous incident and has been contacted for comment. Find BBC News: East of England on\u00a0Facebook, external,\u00a0Instagram, external\u00a0and\u00a0Twitter, external. If you have a story for us, email\u00a0eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2022/09/23/cloud-infrastructure-for-open-and-resilient-capital-markets/", "title": "Cloud Infrastructure for Open and Resilient Capital Markets", "text": "Cloud infrastructure offers scalability and versatility, which are essential for sustained real-time connectivity and interoperability in capital markets. Collaboration around shared cloud native utilities is necessary to maximize the benefits of cloud. As firms adopt cloud infrastructure en masse, competition is expected to solidify with a few large firms competing on volume and smaller firms providing specialized services. Investment in non-differentiated business processes executed on the cloud will increasingly fail to provide a defensible competitive positioning. The adoption of distributed ledger technologies further enhances the openness and resiliency cloud architecture provides. Tomorrow's market structure is expected to exhibit markedly different competitive dynamics, and firms need to think critically about their current business models.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Blog-header-image_FA.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/15097/production/_128076168_h_01546445.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Images saved from a skip, showing the restoration of a city devastated by the blitz, have been identified and catalogued thanks to the work of volunteers. Thousands of photographs taken by Coventry photographer Arthur Cooper from the 1940s up to the 1960s have been digitized and released online by Coventry University. The archive, in the form of thousands of glass negatives, was found dumped on a Coventry street and returned to publishing company Mirrorpix. After sitting at the company's Watford archive for nearly a decade, the 8,049 rescued images have been made available to view as part of the Coventry Digital initiative. The archive had no information attached, explained the project's director Dr Ben Kyneswood, so he has called on community groups and organisations to help identify people and places to add metadata. \"As soon as I opened the files I thought 'this is just marvellous'. There were just thousands of images with no information on,\" said Martin Williams. The chairman of the Friends of Coventry Cathedral group has so far helped identify and caption about 700 of the pictures. \"It was when I saw early historic photos that I'd never seen before that I got very excited,\" he said. Images such as rubble from the blitz being cleared from the cathedral in 1948 were \"very important\", he explained. \"That's just one moment in the history of the cathedral\" that could have been lost. The pictures depict weddings, award ceremonies and festivals as well as visiting celebrities and royalty and were taken while the photographer worked for publications such as the Midlands Daily News, Birmingham Post and Mail and the Coventry Evening Telegraph. \"I've been involved with Coventry Cathedral since 1962 and so was at many events which Arthur covered as a freelance, so I got to know him,\" said Mr Williams. \"He was a lovely man, we just got on really well.\" Some time after Mr Cooper's death the thousands of glass plates were found in a skip. \"My understanding is the family were disposing of the archive some years ago, when someone recognised its worth and organised for its retrieval, \"explained John Mead, archive manager at Mirrorpix owner Reach PLC. \"We recovered about 10,000 glass plates, with the collection predominantly documenting the rebuilding of the city after the war.\" The negatives initially went to the Coventry Telegraph archive. Then, as the office closed down in 2012, they were passed to the archivist in Watford. \"But we couldn't identify who was in these pictures because there was no documentation whatsoever with the archive, all we knew was it was taken by Arthur,\" explained Mr Mead. The collection is a \"complete time capsule of history of a very specific location\", added Fergus McKenna, content sales director of Reach. The collaboration with Coventry Digital had enabled the company to \"give that collection back to the city and ask the community to engage with it\", he added. Dr Kyneswood said volunteers had \"loved\" getting involved in identifying people and places in the archive. More than 10,000 people a month had been accessing and sharing the images, he said, but the project was still working to identify thousands of other people in the collection. Some groups had been able to identify specific vehicles, sporting events and adding the stories behind the picture \"which is when it gets really interesting\", he added. \"There's a lovely story where the Godiva Harriers' archivist identified a race that ended on Binley School track and it was to allow Coventry runner Brian Kilby to qualify for the Olympics in 1964. \"He spotted somebody in there whose wife Pam connected him to his wife and he's still married to her 54 years later,\" he said. Users of the Historic Forum had also found some \"very particular stories\", he added. About a picture of a TVR car taken in 1963, the forum had \"identified the garage, they've identified the man who is standing next to the car - Peter Simpson - and then with a bit more digging they then found the car had just been renovated and so they posted online a picture of the same car\". Rob Orland, founder of the Historic Coventry Forum, said his group with thousands of members had \"risen to the challenge\" of being able to identify a photograph's location or year \"using fragments of what's visible in the picture\". \"I think most of us enjoy a bit of ancient detective work,\" he added. The work of the community in helping identify the pictures was \"very valuable\", explained Mr McKenna. The collaboration was helping make the archive searchable, he said. \"You're going from an asset that was in a dusty old loft to something now that's online and only going to get more discoverable and more shared and more used going forward.\" Arthur Cooper's collection was important as it had captured \"a social record of a time and a place that isn't there any more\", he added. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/D52E/production/_129747545_fruitpicker.png", "label": 0, "text": "More seasonal workers will be allowed into the UK if needed, the prime minister has said after the home secretary said migration must fall. Rishi Sunak told a gathering of farmers and other food producers an extra 10,000 visas will be made available for the agriculture sector. This would be on top of the current 45,000 allocated. But on Monday, Suella Braverman said there was no reason the UK could not train its own fruit pickers. At a speech, the home secretary said it was \"not racist\" to want to control borders and her aim was to reduce net migration. On Tuesday, Mr Sunak said the government was responding to the needs of farmers by offering the extra visas. Asked by Farming Today on BBC Radio 4 why the number of visas was not higher, Mr Sunak said: \"I think the number is appropriate. \"We haven't used the 45,000 allocation last year. Before we start saying we need more it's reasonable to extend the current numbers.\" The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the extra visa numbers were also offered to the agricultural sector last year. Around 70 leading members of the food industry, including farmers and supermarket bosses, met with the prime minister and his colleagues to talk about how the UK can improve the way it produces and sells food. It comes against a backdrop of continued high prices, and new research from the consumer group Which? that said the price of some goods had jumped by as much as 25% in April, compared with the same month last year. Dairy products such as cheese saw the biggest rise, the group said. Overall, in a survey of the UK's eight largest supermarkets looking at 26,000 products, it said food prices rose more than 17%. Supermarkets are starting to bring down the prices of bread and butter but Which? said prices remained at \"shockingly high levels\" compared with last year. It also found supermarket own-label budget items were up 25% in April compared with the same period 12 months ago. The consumer group said it was \"concerned the voices of millions of people\" struggling with soaring food inflation had not been heard at the summit. \"Families up and down the country are facing a daily struggle to put food on the table and it's clear the big supermarkets could...make available a range of healthy budget foods available in all shops,\" it said. Earlier on Tuesday, Tesco announced that it was cutting prices of vegetable and sunflower oil, as well as pasta by 15p. But a 500g bag of penne pasta is still 80p - in 2021, it was 50p. However, Bill Grimsey, the former boss of frozen food chain Iceland, warned: \"If anybody thinks prices are going to come down quickly anytime soon, well they're not.\" Farmers and businesses have been hit by rising operating costs, in part caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Other expenses such as shipping costs - which soared during the Covid pandemic - have since fallen but Mr Grimsey said shoppers are unlikely to see the impact of this on the prices they pay. The government also pledged to put greater emphasis on farmers' interests in future trade deals and said it would review horticulture and egg supply chains to \"ensure farmers get a fair price for their produce\". Many farmers have argued that supermarkets are not giving them a fair deal for certain goods, such as eggs. Ash Amirahmadi, managing director of the UK's largest dairy producer Arla Foods, attended the summit and told the BBC the meeting was a \"good start\", but added that the government needed to \"follow through\" on its commitment to prioritise the UK's food industry. Mr Amirahmadi said burgeoning costs in the sector were not unique to the UK and were about 40% up before inflation first started rising, though he cautioned against a return to the days of cheap milk. \"I expect when we fully come out of this prices will be higher than they were before,\" he added. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents retailers, has said they are \"doing all they can to keep food prices as low as possible\" and called on the government to streamline regulation around recycling, packaging and Brexit to try to bring down prices for consumers.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1862E/production/_125668899_niall.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "How would you feel if your child, or one you knew, was taken into care and ended up living in a B&B, a hostel, or even slept rough? What I'm talking about here is \"the care system\", the safety net we'd rely on if we couldn't look after our kids. I've been working on a BBC documentary which has found teenagers are still being placed in B&Bs and hostels - six years after the Welsh government said it wanted to \"eliminate\" it. Some of the stories have shocked me. With record numbers of children being taken into care in Wales and England, I've spoken to some young people who have been through the care system in an hour-long documentary, filmed over nearly three years, I've helped make for the BBC. \u2018Abuse, assault, profit\u2019 - childcare staff speak outHuge profits made from children's care - report'It's hard to parent when you're the grandparent' My question is: does the care system always \"care\" for children who can't stay with mum or dad? \"I know for a fact prison would have been better than where I was placed,\" Niall told my BBC Wales Investigates 'Lifting the lid on the care system' documentary. He says he grew up moving in and out of care between the age of 14 and 18 - and after a place in a children's home broke down just as he turned 17, he was placed in a B&B. \"People moved there that had just come out of prison and stuff,\" Niall added. \"So I got robbed a couple of times in there. You'd see people kicking down doors on a daily basis, there'd be people smashing windows, people carrying knives.\" Niall told me he was then moved into what he describes as a hostel, although his council insists it was supported housing as they tried to find him somewhere permanent to live. \"I was woken up by a punch basically,\" he recalled about one incident. \"So I had to start barricading my door which, obviously, they got through eventually. It was like they put all the troubled teenagers under one roof.\" The people in charge of Niall's care said they made every effort to find him somewhere else to stay and that his case was not straightforward, but Caerphilly council did not comment on the threats and violence. Hope was taken into care at 14 but ran away after her foster placement broke down when she was 16. \"I was a child in a tent with an adult who was over the age of 18, sleeping rough, where nobody knew where I was,\" Hope, now in her early 20s, told me. \"I was technically a child of the state. It wasn't OK... I was at risk.\" Those responsible for Hope's care said it could not comment on individual cases but Wrexham council said its services had been transformed and it would use Hope's comments to improve things further. In 2016, I presented a petition to the Welsh government to end the practice of children being placed in B&Bs and hostels. Ministers said they wanted to \"eliminate\" it - but six years on, it's still happening. Research by the BBC Wales Investigates team suggests dozens of teenagers like Niall and Hope are still being put in that position. Freedom of information requests to all councils in Wales showed at least 50 young people were placed in B&Bs, hostels and budget hotels in the past financial year, with at least 285 in other accommodation which is not regulated by the care watchdog. I don't want this to come across as an attack on social workers - because it's not. It is their job to look after these young people but they're working within a system that is, according to one report last year by those in charge of social services, facing a \"crisis\" to find suitable places for children to stay. While most children placed in such temporary accommodation are 16 or 17, our investigation found a small number are even younger. One example included an 11-year-old being housed in temporary accommodation with council staff, because there was nowhere else for them to go. SAM SMITH PRESENTS STORIES OF HIV: From Terrence Higgins to todayLIFTING THE LID ON THE CARE SYSTEM: A shocking insight into the lives of young people in care Gemma - not her real name - felt she was let down by the system that was supposed to keep her safe. She says she was exploited by older men when she was young before eventually being taken into care at 14, when she had become addicted to heroin. \"I'd moved house 12 times by the time I was 15,\" she said. \"I've never fully unpacked anywhere. Nobody ever keeps me very long anyway.\" Leaving care: 'I fell through the cracks'Almost 100,000 children could be in care by 2025Austerity blamed for children in care rise When she was 16 she was offered a hostel to stay in by social workers, which she said had a drug dealer staying there. \"I'd just spent nine months getting clean,\" Gemma said. \"They then placed me in this hostel where he was anyway. I was there less than a week before I was back on drugs.\" After meeting Gemma and hearing all she'd been through, I broke down because what she had experienced and what she told me was just devastating. No child should have to live that life. My personal view is that we shouldn't tolerate that some young people just disappear and the worst possible things imaginable happen to them. Children who, from the beginning and often through no choice of their own, find themselves in circumstances that already makes things harder for them than it does for anyone else. People in social care tell you those are the children who are most likely to end up homeless, most likely to end up with mental health issues, with alcohol and drug dependency issues and even being sexually abused. The group that represents Wales' 22 local authorities said councils in Wales were \"committed to doing their best in responding to the growing demands and increasingly complex challenges in children's social care\". The Welsh Local Government Association said it regretted the standard of care and support it wanted to achieve has not been met in everyone's case, and that it was keen to learn from young people's experiences. It also believes there is a need for additional funding to help children and families earlier, and that wider societal issues such as access to health services and ending child poverty are not things children's social care can solve alone. When I challenged Wales' deputy minister for social services on her government's record, she told me that while the majority of children in the care system grow up in loving families, she accepts that a minority of children do not have the experiences she would want them to have. \"What we really want to do is put as much support as we possibly can to parents and children at an earlier age, and stop so many numbers coming into care,\" said Julie Morgan MS. \"Crises do happen, placements break down, families break down... and the children have to be put somewhere... we don't accept that that should be the situation and we're trying to do things to stop that.\" She added there were plans for new specialist accommodation for children with complex needs across Wales and the government was investing more in foster care and providing support for those leaving care. \"We have got it at the top of our agenda here in Wales... which doesn't mean that things don't go wrong,\" Ms Morgan added. \"To hear these tales from young people - and that I've heard so many times - that break your heart, you think how could this have happened? \"I absolutely accept that, but we're doing our utmost to make sure that every young person in Wales has, you know, a happy fulfilling life.\" In England and Scotland, there has just been an independent review of the children's care system which called for earlier help for families too. Those in charge of social services departments there have long called for a \"system overhaul\" to address all sorts of issues The UK government said it had already banned under-16s staying in places that aren't inspected by the watchdog and will respond with more detailed plans later this year. But for everything the politicians are putting forward, based on what you'll see if you watch my BBC documentary, I wonder if you would be happy for the current care system to look after your child if you weren't around. If not, then don't we all need to consider whether that safety net - and the people who work within it - is being treated with the priority it deserves? Because if we continue to let these people down and continue to get this wrong, surely the consequences don't bear thinking about. Don't we feel we owe it to them - and society as whole - to sort this out? Michael Sheen: Lifting the lid on the care system is on BBC iPlayer now and on BBC One Wales at 21:00 Tuesday 5 July If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, the BBC Action Line has links to organisations which can offer support and advice", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/6BFA/production/_123824672_gettyimages-109438460.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Shell is selling its stake in the controversial Cambo oil field, it has been announced. The project - which is west of Shetland - is the second-largest undeveloped oil and gas discovery in the UK's North Sea. The oil major is looking for a buyer for its 30% holding. Cambo has been the focal point of many protests, and Shell has been rumoured for months to be looking for someone to take over its part. The remaining 70% of the field is owned by Ithaca Energy. Cambo in better position for go-ahead, say ownersWhy Cambo oilfield is a difficult gamble for ShellCambo oil field development to be paused Ithaca said the two companies had agreed on several possible outcomes. Shell might sell all of its stake, but if it only manages to find a buyer for a portion of the stake it could offload its remaining share to Ithaca. If a buyer wants to purchase more than Shell's 30% stake then Ithaca will sell up to 19.99% of its holding in the project, it said. Shell's senior vice president of UK Upstream, Simon Roddy, said: \"Following an internal review, we have decided to sell our 30% working interest in Cambo and have agreed a process with Ithaca Energy for the sale of Shell's stake in the field this year. \"We wish Ithaca Energy well in the future development of the field, which will be important to maintain the UK's energy security and to sustaining domestic production of the fuels that people and businesses need.\" Ithaca chief executive Alan Bruce said: \"Our agreement with Shell represents a meaningful step towards the development of Cambo, the second-largest undeveloped field in the UK continental shelf and a key asset in helping maintain the UK's future energy security.\" He added: \"Ithaca Energy remains committed to investing in the UK North Sea, however, the impact of the amended Energy Profit Levy and the fiscal instability it has created continues to constrain our ability to invest. \"We are actively engaging, in a constructive manner, with the UK Government in pursuit of the fiscal stability required to make critical investment decisions that will support the UK's long-term energy security.\"", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/157AB/production/_129497978_gettyimages-1248143728.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Leaders and representatives from across the Commonwealth are expected to come to London for the Coronation of King Charles III on 6 May. Some of these countries were previously in the British Empire, some are still British dominions, while others had no colonial links to Britain but have chosen to join the global club. Here are seven things you may not know about the Commonwealth. About 2.5 billion people - out of a global population of eight billion - live in the 56 Commonwealth countries. More than 60 per cent of the Commonwealth's population is aged 29 or under. Globally, a third of all young people aged between 15 and 29 live in Commonwealth countries. The biggest country by population is India, which accounts for about half of the total. Pakistan, Nigeria and Bangladesh are the next biggest countries by population, with the UK fifth. King Charles is the head of state in 14 Commonwealth countries - or realms - in addition to the UK. Most countries in the club are republics - with Barbados the last to remove the UK monarch as its head of state in 2021. Five countries - Lesotho, Eswatini (previously known as Swaziland), Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Tonga - have their own monarch. King Charles remains head of state in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, although for many years there has been an active movement in Australia in favour of becoming a republic. The country's central bank has announced that Charles will not feature on Australia's new $5 note. What does the King do? Rwanda and Mozambique became members in 2009 and 1995 respectively, although neither were colonised by the British. Rwanda was previously under the rule of Germany and Belgium. Former French colonies Gabon and Togo are the most recent joiners, becoming members in June 2022. Why ex-French colonies are joining the Commonwealth The club has also lost members. South Africa withdrew in 1961 after it was criticised by Commonwealth members for its apartheid policies. It became a member again in 1994. Pakistan was thrown out after a military coup in 1999, but was readmitted in 2004. Membership was suspended again between 2007 and 2008. Former president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe took his country out in 2003 after its membership was suspended amid reports of election rigging. It applied for re-admission in 2018, but no decision has been reached. The last country to leave was the Maldives in 2016, but it re-joined in 2020. The Commonwealth makes up a quarter of the world's land mass. The giant of the group is Canada, the world's second largest country by area. India and Australia are huge too. But many of the member countries are small - such as the Pacific island nations of Nauru, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, and Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica in the Caribbean. Thirty-three of the world's 42 small states are part of the Commonwealth. Prince Philip: The Vanuatu tribes mourning the death of their 'god' The UK is no longer the biggest economy in the Commonwealth, according to the latest GDP numbers from the International Monetary Fund, with India overtaking it for the first time in 2022. The combined GDP of the 56 members is more than $13tn (\u00a310.8tn). That's more than twice the size of Japan ($5tn, \u00a33.75tn), but some way behind the US at $23tn (\u00a317.2tn). Trade with the Commonwealth accounted for 9% of the UK's total trade in 2021 - around the same as the UK's total trade with Germany. The UK exported goods and services worth \u00a362.6bn to the rest of the Commonwealth, while imports from member states totalled \u00a358.2bn The modern Commonwealth was formed in 1949, after \"British\" was dropped from the name and allegiance to the Crown was removed. Only three people have been head of the organisation - King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III. It's not a hereditary role, although the Commonwealth accepted King Charles as its head in 2018, when he was Prince of Wales. The organisation is run from London by its secretary-general, currently Baroness Scotland. She was re-elected to a second term in June 2022, despite facing criticism from some member states over her performance. The other founding members were Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. The Commonwealth Charter was adopted in 2012, and commits members to the values of democracy, gender equality, sustainable development and international peace and security. The Commonwealth has been criticised for being a post-colonial club and for having little influence in the modern world. Supporters argue the benefits which membership brings include developmental support and co-operation on international goals. Russia and a number of other former members of the Soviet Union set up the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1991. It aimed to coordinate economic, defence, immigration and foreign policy across the bloc, although this proved difficult in practice. Georgia withdrew in 2009 after Russia seized part of its South Ossetia territory. Ukraine withdrew its membership in 2018. There is another group called the International Organisation of La Francophonie - an alliance of French-speaking countries which aims to promote the French language and increase mutual co-operation.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "imgURL": "https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5A6F/production/_129715132_uploadesandhyabhattaramr.jpg", "label": 0, "text": "Join us as we take a few moments every day to relax and enjoy the beauty of England through the stunning images you send us. Upload your images or email us at england@bbc.co.uk Upload your images or email us at england@bbc.co.uk. For inspiration, view some top tips from three of England's Big Picture photographers. When emailing pictures, please make sure you include the following information: The full name of the person who took the pictures (as this person owns the copyright)Confirmation that the copyright holder gives permission for the BBC to use their pictures across all its outputsThe location, date and time the pictures were takenYour telephone number so we can get back to you if we have any further questionsAny other details about the pictures that may be useful for us to know Please note that while we welcome all your pictures, we are more likely to use those which have been taken in the past week. Email your photographs to our colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Pictures can be found on Instagram, on the hashtags #BBCEngland and #EnglandsBigPicture and on our England's Big Picture board on Pinterest. If you submit a picture, you do so in accordance with the BBC's Terms and Conditions and the BBC's privacy policy. In contributing to England's Big Picture you agree to grant us a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to publish and otherwise use the material in any way that we want, and in any media worldwide. It's important to note, however, that you still own the copyright to everything you contribute to England's Big Picture, and that if your image is accepted, we will publish your name alongside. The BBC cannot guarantee that all pictures will be used and we reserve the right to edit your comments. At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws while collecting any kind of media.", "title": "", "url": "" }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50557523&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "IDC PlanScape: Digital Infrastructure Operations Staff and Skills Modernization for the As-a-Service Era", "text": "IDC PlanScape helps companies migrate to as-a-service solutions while modernizing infrastructure operations and adapting to automated services. Internal teams must manage service providers, optimize data integration and security, and collaborate with LOB technology leads. Modernizing staff and skills will help accelerate digital business initiatives while keeping budgets under control.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/4_1820/techbuyer-09-63c2c8102f0cfe8b8bd144248303e53f.jpg", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://blogs.idc.com/2023/03/31/maturing-industry-ecosystem-strategy-and-investments-for-enhanced-decision-velocity/", "title": "Maturing Industry Ecosystem Strategy and Investments for Enhanced Decision Velocity", "text": "Organizations can benefit from working with a variety of industry ecosystem partners, both within and outside their core industry, according to IDC's Future of Industry Ecosystems survey. While some have a standard value chain in place, half do not have a multi-faceted, expanded industry network to support their business operations. The goal is to establish a diverse industry ecosystem of partners that support and enhance decision velocity within and outside the organization. This can include classical design and supply chain partners, customers, end consumers, competitors, industry organizations, governmental entities, experts, and consultants. The next step is to incorporate partners from outside the core industry and add assets, resources, and knowledge that may not be present within their core industry.", "imgURL": "https://blogs.idc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FoIE-Blog-Header-March-2023.png", "label": 1 }, { "url": "https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US50669523&pageType=PRINTFRIENDLY", "title": "Cybersecurity Market Resiliency Among Digital Businesses", "text": "IDC's Survey Spotlight analyzes how digital businesses are reevaluating their security investments amid concerns of an economic recession and tightening budgets. The report provides insights for technology vendors to meet changing CEO priorities and serves as peer reference research for CEOs. The survey collected responses from 395 organizations across North America, Asia/Pacific, and Europe and compares spending and technology priorities based on region, industry, and organizational size.", "imgURL": "https://cdn.idc.com/RESOURCES/PROJECTS/research/images/dynamic-imgs/default/default-img6-b383e517c170b3fb192f2e4aae1814be.jpg", "label": 1 } ]