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Earlier this afternoon, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to approve drafting an ordinance to ban fur sales in the city.
Other cities such as West Hollywood, Berkeley and San Francisco already have fur bans. However their regulations vary in specifications from city to city. For example, animals that are legally trapped under state law are exempt from the fur trade laws in West Hollywood.
Despite other cities in California beating Los Angeles to the punch, “Los Angeles is one of the fashion capitals of the world, and if we can do it here, we can do it anywhere and hopefully we will be an example for the rest of the country and the rest of the world,” Councilman Pual Koretz said during a news conference near the steps of Los Angeles City Hall before heading into the chamber for the vote.
“The potential fur ban could end up including some exemptions, including furs of animals trapped by California Fish and Game license holders and fur items worn or used for religious purposes, such as fur hats worn by Hasidic Jews on a variety of religious occasions.” (NBC Los Angeles)
The economic effect of this ban is not yet clear as the city does not currently keep track of fur sales. It should be pointed out that this ban would not forbid the sale of used fur products. And let’s face it, banning fur in a city where the average high temperature in December is 68 degrees is not exactly political bravery.
While the proposal now heads to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti for final approval, with his signature, there would be a two-year phase in period. The decision puts L.A. on track to become the largest city to ban fur.
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Koei Announces Zill O'll PS2 Remake
10.22.04 - 3:46 PM
Koei has announced a remake of Zill O'll for PlayStation 2. The RPG was originally released for PlayStation One in Japan five years ago. Despite its reasonable popularity in Japan, the game was never released abroad. Titled Zill O'll Infinite, the new title will feature a free scenario system, remade visual and sound effects as well as additional scenarios and events. In the game, players will assume control over an adventurer who travels the Byancian continent.
Zill O'll Infinite will be available in Japan sometime in spring 2005 for 6,800 yen ($63.29 US).

domain: news


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Representatives of Lesta Games spoke about patch 12.2 for the military multiplayer game "World of Ships." It will open access to Pan-American warships, boost the economy, add a new ship to the Admiralty, and change the game's balance.
In honor of April 1, players will have to choose one of six rubber ducks and confront other players in a huge hot tub. Each duck has a different weapon – seething mines. They are not as heavy as depth charges, and they do not explode after a certain period.
Ducks may also fire armor-piercing or high-explosive droplets, as well as fizzy torpedoes. Because the "ships" are made of rubber, impact or accidental collisions will not affect their health.


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League of Angels has added two other heavenly beings to its angelic arsenal. Amora and Nyssa join the list of angels players can select to take on their adventures. R2Games also announced that the game is now officially official, noting that all previous releases of the game were still beta. This full release also includes a marriage system and new ranking tables.
R2Games also revealed the four cosplayers who will be representing some of the free-to-play game's angels in a live action shots: Maridah, Ginny McQueen, HezaChan, and Riki LeCotey, who plays Riddle in Heroes of Cosplay. Fans who sign up for the official LoA newsletter will see these exclusive shots as well as get further game news and updates.
[Source: R2Games press release]


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A key promise of digital currencies is lower transaction costs, but that may not be possible with central banks getting into the game.
An increasing number of African countries are considering the launch of central bank digital currencies, CBDCs. In October 2021, the Nigerian government launched eNaira, making it the second country in the world to have made CBDCs available to the public. Meanwhile, South Africa and Ghana have initiated pilot programmes to test their own CBDCs, and ten other African countries are currently researching its viability.
In addition, the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) is proposing the introduction of a CBDC for members of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), made up of Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, both Congos and Gabon. This follows the introduction of Bitcoin as a legal tender by the Central African Republic last month.
CBDCs are not to be confused with other cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, which are driven by markets. It refers to money that is essentially a digital version of traditional money, which is a liability of the central bank and is regulated by central banks. Accordingly, CBDCs will be prone to the same vulnerabilities and strengths as traditional currencies.
The rise in interest in cryptocurrencies and the potential emergence of new digital currencies by big tech firms have been critical drivers of CBDCs in many parts of the world. Both central and commercial banks realise that ignoring the rapid growth of cryptocurrencies while not offering a more secure alternative is not an option.
Between September 2019 and June 2021, the cryptocurrency system grew 230 times, according to UNCTAD, with new entrants emanating predominantly from developing countries. Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria feature among the top 20 economies with the largest share of digital currency ownership with 8.5%, 7.1% and 6.3% of their respective populations in 2021.
Additionally, governments worldwide have expressed their apprehension over the emergence of privately issued digital currencies by tech giants such as Meta (Facebook) that already have a vast network of users.
In 2019, Facebook announced its plans to launch its digital currency, Libra. The stablecoin, backed by low-volatility assets in stable currencies, was expected to improve financial inclusion and would have been easily exchanged against fiat currency.
Not so fast
However, following harsh criticism from policymakers and regulators worldwide in 2020, Libra was replaced by Diem, which was supposed to be less ambitious in scope. However, it met with a similar wave of pushback with firms such as Mastercard and Visa – that once backed the idea – pulling out.
The then German Finance Minister, Olaf Scholz, described Diem/Libra as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Earlier this year, Diem wound down and was sold to Silvergate Capital, a Californian-based firm operating in the FinTech and cryptocurrency sphere.
Aside from such threats, many governments are considering introducing CBDCs for the advantages to local economies. Their adoption is expected to provide greater monetary stability with the same level of control that central banks had with traditional currencies.
CBDCs are also expected to offer numerous opportunities for businesses and society, including:
- Lowering the costs of transactions: Currently, most transactions conducted through commercial banks incur a transaction fee. The fee can vary depending on the business type or the payment method. With the introduction of CBDCs, commercial banks and other financial institutions can settle transactions easily in real-time.
In Mauritius, for example, faced with rising petrol prices and high merchant fees, many fuel stations stopped accepting payment by card, stating that the fees represent at least 30% of their profit margins.
- Facilitating Cross-Border Transactions: Currently, the cost of cross-border transactions at the continental level is highly elevated, hindering trade opportunities. A significant share of businesses in Africa finds such transactions very expensive.
This is caused by a complicated and outdated payment landscape, with transactions sometimes taking days. CBDCs and regional payment platforms that can transact in those currencies are being rolled out to avoid costly traditional payment frameworks.
Cross-border transactions in Africa are significantly more expensive than in other parts of the world. In June 2022, the World Bank’s Remittance Prices Worldwide indicated that remittance costs in sub-Saharan Africa amount to nearly 8% of the remittance value sent.
Coupled with initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the introduction of CBDCs can ease and lower business costs between African countries. They can reduce transaction costs and time undertaken to effect payment by reducing reliance on the US dollar as a common currency, reducing the number of intermediaries and improving competitiveness in the private sector.
CBDCs can also facilitate cross-border transactions. The Chinese government, which is currently testing its digital renminbi (e-CNY) in several provinces, has announced that it could connect its CBDC system to its trade partners. The digital currency is already technically ready for cross-border use.
- Improving financial inclusion: Many CBDCs are being developed to serve those who are currently unbanked. This is because they can improve access by allowing individuals to make monetary transactions without requiring a bank account and, in certain instances, even without internet access.
So, many businesses can extend their services to a range of previously inaccessible markets and a broader client base. Businesses need to work with their respective governments to ensure that the design of the CBDC system is conducive to such purposes.
Given that such transactions are traceable, business owners in the informal sector can also produce records of their financial history so they may benefit from loans and credit, which may allow them to expand. That said, further investments in digital infrastructure and network connectivity will be required across Africa in order to reach underserved communities.
There are also numerous risks associated with digital currencies issued by central banks. One primary concern to businesses is the implications resulting from the disintermediation of commercial banks, which could reduce access to finance.
Faced with disintermediation, commercial banks may resort to increasing the cost of loans and credit, and introduce stricter eligibility requirements when providing funds. This is significant for the continent, especially when more than 80% of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are underserved.
Moreover, private-sector financial institutions developing solutions such as mobile money, digital wallets and e-transfers may equally be at risk as the central bank may co-opt these services. For instance, the e-Naira allows consumers to make peer-to-peer payments or effectuate transactions such as purchasing airtime or data from network services.
But in Ghana, there is currently no recognition of cryptocurrencies as legal tender, meaning it comes at the owner’s risk.
There will undoubtedly be some teething problems associated with CBDCs. It will disrupt the opportunities of other digital currencies, especially lowering the value of holding stable coins (equivalent to CBDCs but issued outside the central bank’s purview).
Nonetheless, CBDCs could bring significant benefits to the continent, and businesses need to reconsider their payment model to take advantage of the changes it will bring about.
Paul Baker is the CEO of International Economics Consulting, with over 25 years of experience as an economic adviser to several G7 and G20 economies. He regularly serves in expert groups at UNESCAP and the World Economic Forum. He is a visiting professor at the College of Europe and a lecturer at the University of Mauritius.
Zahraa Beeharry is a Policy Researcher at International Economics Consulting, engaged in conducting research linked to the political economy of trade and investment policies. She graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science with a BSc in Politics and International Relations.
This article has been published on Inc.Africa.


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What Makes the Perfect Road Trip for African American Families?
Style Magazine Newswire | 11/17/2017, 10:06 a.m.
In time for holiday travel, Chevrolet and Harris Poll asked parents about road trips and what makes them great. The holiday season can be stressful – celebrations and parties, cooking, gift shopping and much, much more. Getting there does not have to be the worst part.
“The vehicle is the new family dinner table, where memories are created and bonds grow strong,” said Steve Majoros, director of marketing, Chevrolet Cars and Crossovers. “As families prepare to hit the road this holiday, to spend time with friends and family, they can depend on crossovers like the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse and Equinox to meet their needs - from storage space to USB outlets, available 4G LTE Wi-Fi and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.”
The Harris Poll uncovered various preferences of African American parents as it relates to road trips including the ideal length, favorite ways to past time, and choice of vehicles.
Ninety-nine percent of African American parents surveyed said they enjoy road trips. But what is it about road trips they love? Almost all who took road trips growing up said they have many fond memories from childhood that took place on a road trip. Continuing this tradition for families can be a great way for parents to spend time with, connect and enjoy the holidays with their children, they said.
Is there a “perfect” road trip length?
The survey showed African American parents believe six hours is the perfect road trip length. Whether taking a winter vacation or traveling to visit families, 86% of parents said their favorite way to pass time during the trip is by listening to music as a family, followed by talking (81%) and watching or listening to a movie or TV show (52%). With the amount of technology and infotainment within vehicles today, both parents and children have plenty to do, which allows for longer road trips.
A look at the love for the family road trip
Chevrolet wanted to know: what are parents’ favorite part of holiday road trips? Almost all those surveyed said their favorite part is spending time with family (92%). Other favorites were exploring and stopping at interesting locations and destinations and unplugging from everyday life. Outside of the day-to-day, it is important for families to unplug and spend time with one another and as indicated, this happens when families take road trips.
What kind of vehicles are best?
When asked what made the ideal road trip vehicle, the majority of respondents indicated they would prefer an SUV over any other vehicle, followed by a large SUV with three rows. Vehicles like the Chevrolet Traverse and Equinox allow for comfortability when taking road trips with children and also incorporate advanced technology and infotainment within the vehicle to make the drive enjoyable along those six hours.
Technology and its impact
Chevrolet asked respondents what is on their wish-list for better road trips and as traffic levels are projected to increase during the upcoming Thanksgiving travel week, African American parents indicated that in-vehicle technologies can improve the family road trip experience. Parents said that in-car Wi-Fi and internet connectivity would make holiday road trips more enjoyable for the family. Technology offered in vehicles like the all-new Chevrolet Traverse can give parents added peace of mind when hitting the road.


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OnePlus is preparing to release a new modelsmart watch called OnePlus Watch 2. Well-known insider Max Jambor shared information that the new product will have a round design, and its release is expected in 2024.
One interesting tidbit is that OnePlus is rumored to opt for Wear OS for its new watch.
This will be a significant difference from the first modelOnePlus Watch, which ran its own OS and was perceived by many as an "improved smart bracelet." Because of this, its sales were unsuccessful, and the company stopped producing the device back in 2022.
If OnePlus does decide to use Wear OS, it will likely be the latest version of the system - Wear OS 4 - which is already used in the Pixel Watch 2 and Samsung watches.


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Former Snitch Busted in Largest Identity Theft Case in U.S. History
Just another reason of why snitch testimony should require corroboration and is inherently unreliable in my view. The AP reports on a huge identity theft indictment returned today in New Jersey:
Federal prosecutors on Monday charged a Miami man with the largest case of credit and debit card data theft ever in the United States, accusing the one-time government informant of swiping 130 million accounts on top of 40 million he stole previously.
[Albert] Gonzalez is a former informant for the U.S. Secret Service who helped the agency hunt hackers, authorities say. The agency later found out that he had also been working with criminals and feeding them information on ongoing investigations, even warning off at least one individual, according to authorities.
Gonzalez, who is already in jail awaiting trial in a hacking case, was indicted Monday in New Jersey and charged with conspiring with two other unnamed suspects to steal the private information. Prosecutors say the goal was to sell the stolen data to others.
Gonzales goes by the online name "soupnazi."
The Justice Department said the new case represents the largest alleged credit and debit card data breach ever charged in the United States, based on a scheme that began in October 2006.
Gonzalez allegedly devised a sophisticated attack to penetrate the computer networks, steal the card data, and send that data to computer servers in California, Illinois, Latvia, the Netherlands and Ukraine.
Today's indictment is here. I'll bet it has some relationshop to the case of individuals from the Former Soviet Union busted in Denver last week I wrote about here, where the FBI raided a medical marijuana dispensary located in the same building as businesses for which it had search warrants in the bank fraud/credit card scamming case. The New Jersey indictment says:
It was further part of the conspiracy that those who purchased batches of the Stolen Data would further distribute the Stolen Data throughout the United States and elsewhere, where it would be used to make unauthorized purchases at retail locations, to make unauthorized withdrawals from banks and financial institutions, and to further identity theft schemes.
The Colorado case involves alleged credit card fraud of $80 million through use of 700 straw buyers.
This is all related to a scam under investigation since October, 2007 by people from the Former Soviet Union who came here on visas. The complaint alleges a criminal enterprise is behind their actions. It alleges they formed phony businesses, got credit cards and loans and didn't pay them back. It was a "bust out scheme."
Back to Gonzalez, how did he allegedly pull it off?
According to the indictment, Gonazalez and his two Russian coconspirators would hack into corporate computer networks and secretly place "malware," or malicious software, that would allow them backdoor access to the networks later to steal data.
As to his other cases: The DOJ press release today says:
Gonzalez is currently in federal custody. In May 2008, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York charged Gonzalez for his alleged role in the hacking of a computer network run by a national restaurant chain. Trial on those charges is scheduled to begin in Long Island, N.Y., in September 2009.
In August of 2008, the Justice Department announced an additional series of indictments against Gonzalez and others for a number of retail hacks affecting eight major retailers and involving the theft of data related to 40 million credit cards. Those charges were filed in the District of Massachusetts. Gonzalez is scheduled for trial on those charges in 2010.
The charges announced today relate to a different pattern of hacking activity that targeted different corporate victims and involved different co-conspirators.
Here's his 2008 indictment in Mass.
I wonder how many people went to jail because of his testimony as an informant.
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Modula – MaineBiz – September 28, 2015
Modula, an Italian manufacturer of automated picking and storage solutions for factories and warehouses, recently established its North American headquarters by opening a new factory in Lewiston. The company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at the facility, which covers more than 102,000 square feet of production and engineering space and houses 50 people, according to the company. Modula said it expects the facility to provide better lead time for customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. It invested $6 million in new equipment at the Lewiston facility.


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UK tour operators are already selling summer 2022 and the latest market reports indicate that Turkey is proving the most popular destination.
In the meantime the tour operators are tightening the screws on Balearic hoteliers to freeze their rates for next season to fight off mounting competition from the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa and Portugal - will the hoteliers give in or will they risk pricing themselves out of the market? Time will tell.
As it is, despite encouraging occupancy figures released yesterday with an apparent average of 65 percent in general across Mallorca and 91 percent in the Playa de Palma - I doubt it will prove enough. I have to say those figures are way higher than what a leading hotelier told me this week and also contradicts the fact that an increasing number of hotels are planning on closing earlier than planned and not hang on for late winter tourism.
Considering there are a number of hotels in the large resorts which have not opened for the second consecutive year, those hotels which are open should be doing well.
But, now the Germans have gone back to school and the clock is ticking for British families with the new term just a few weeks away, Mallorca’s potential market is going to shrink very quickly. Now it’s time to start planning for next year.


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Tag: five years
The App Store is about to turn 5 years old, and Apple is kicking off a new promotion to celebrate this milestone. Earlier today, we noticed the prices on several popular apps dropped to free and thought Apple has something up its sleeve. Now that sale has been made official with a new "5 Years of...
It's what we thought... until the Wall Street Journal told us we were wrong. It's what USA Today originally reported, although nobody else was ever able to confirm it... until now. Nilay Patel at Engadget has unearthed some 2008 filings in a 2007 class-action lawsuit that clarify the matter: the...
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Thai President Foods to buy Hungarian plant
Thailand-based Thai President Foods, hoping to take advantage of Europe’s general economic malaise, seeks to buy an unnamed extant Hungarian base of operations for up to THB 300 million (approximately €7.1 million/HUF 2.1 billion) by January 2014.
Company president Suchai Ratanajiajaroen was quoted in India-based media as explaining that “Because of the economic slowdown in Europe, we will be able to purchase the plant at a good price,” but that “the most important issue is whether we will be able to export instant noodles from our plant in Hungary to other markets in Europe … We have already exported instant noodles to those European markets from Thailand, but faced many difficulties, including high transport and freight costs, high import duties and currency fluctuation.”
Thai President Foods Hungary was established in May 2013 with capital of HUF 2.35 billion.
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From the Editor: Food Freedom Day was early this year
March 14, 2008 By Dave Harrison
Food Freedom Day was early this year
hough accompanied by little fanfare, Canadians celebrated Food Freedom Day quite early this year. By Feb. 3, the average Canadian had earned enough income to pay their grocery bill for one full year. It took just 34 days to cover those costs. Food Freedom Day in 2007, by comparison, was celebrated on Feb. 6.
In 2003, Canadians spent, on average, about 10.5 per cent of their personal disposable income on food, compared to 12.4 per cent in 1998.
Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Geri Kamenz notes that energy, hired labour, machinery and chemical costs, along with taxes, have increased anywhere from 10 to 73 per cent since 1992. This has put a lot of pressure on farm families, particularly when the money they receive for their food products is not increasing at the same level. “In fact,” says Kamenz, “the average cost of food has increased 13 per cent while the increase in the price farmers receive is just two per cent. That means the prices paid by consumers increased six times more than the prices farmers received.”
Food Freedom Day serves to remind consumers of the contributions made by Canadian farmers, and to also serve as a reminder of the value, safety and quality of Canadian-grown food.
The Centre for Rural Studies and Enrichment at St. Peter’s College in Saskatchewan recently completed a comprehensive study entitled, The Farmers’ Share: Compare the Share, Update 2006. It was a followup to the original Compare the Share report compiled in 1991 by MP Ralph Ferguson and his staff. Among his conclusions, Ferguson said that “current prices for farm commodities do not allow for sustainable agriculture” in Canada. The 2006 report, authored by Diane J.F. Martz, notes that “the statistics presented in this update clearly show that the prices received by farmers for their products have not increased significantly over the past two decades. At the same time, the retail prices of farm products have increased, in some cases considerably.”
The farmers’ share of wheat going into a loaf of bread remained constant at 11 cents from 1981 to 2004. A 450-gram box of crackers in 1982 retailed at $1.26, and six per cent, or eight cents, went to the farmer. In 2005, that same box of crackers cost $2.01, but the farmers’ share actually declined to four per cent, or seven cents. When it comes to processed foods, growers are not sharing in the bounty.
Adequate farmgate pricing levels continue to be a challenge, and the greenhouse sector is no exception (both flowers and vegetables). It’s difficult to raise prices sufficiently each year to cover costs of production and comply with new market requirements. Premium products should attract premium prices.
Research into new production systems, pest/disease management strategies, and breeding has helped improve yields and reduce crop losses. This work has helped more farmers remain in the industry despite woefully sluggish prices.
Cheap food prices are cause for consumer celebration. They’re glowing testimonials to the efficiency of Canadian farmers. Yet, having marginally higher food prices, primarily for the benefit of producers, would be even greater cause for celebration. Surely, we can have cheap food and a vibrant ag industry at the same time.
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By customer affair reporter Liz Hobday
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An investigation by market class preference have discovered going out with software Tinder are getting charged some Australians a great deal more than others for usage of their premiums provider Tinder benefit.
- Solution accuses Tinder of certainly not advising individuals their particular data would be accustomed established pricing
- The consumer crowd made use of 60 secret customers to opt-in to Tinder’s top quality software
- City-based direct boys over 50 happened to be recharged around five times greater than youthful queer women
Alternatives put 60 secret consumers to join Tinder, immediately after which contrasted the knowledge on the shape webpages because of the rates these were offered for Tinder Plus.
They learned that queer women aged under 30 were recharged the smallest amount of, at only $6.99 per month, while city-based right men over 50 comprise recharged essentially the most, at $34.37 four weeks.
It found out that queer ladies outdated under 30 are charged the very least, at just $6.99 every month, while city-based right men over 50 are billed one, at $34.37 a month.decision also discover the value assortment for folks under 30 ended up being in general a lot less than for folks over 30.
The under-30s are billed between $6.99 and $16.71 as over-30s paid between $14.99 and $34.37.
What are a lot more about this story? Email firstname.lastname@example.org
Choice investigators could hardly come a sample that would give an explanation for variance within age ranges.
“Nowhere on Tinder’s websites, privacy, or in the terms will the firm state that it will eventually charge you a different expenses considering your individual records,” decision’s Erin Turner mentioned.
These days solution enjoys need the client watchdog, the ACCC, to swipe placed on the organization and investigate whether Tinder possess broken Australian buyer guidelines.
Choice alleges Tinder’s terms of utilize may not be adequately transparent, because Tinder consumers will not be assured their particular personal data enables you to set pricing.
A Tinder spokesperson said since bulk of Tinder members used the app without having to pay for it, its discount could range considering countless points.
“Most people manage offer a range of membership suggestions and settled a le carton properties which is designed to allow the customers be noticeable and match with new people better,” the spokesman claimed in a statement.
Tinder didn’t react to the ABC’s questions regarding their terms of need disclosures, rather than did it respond to claims the organization was a student in break of Australian buyers statutes.
It stated it often offered inexpensive marketing charge and frequently analyzed new features and transaction solutions.
Terms not just dependant on gender: Selection
It’s actually not initially costs has been problematic for Tinder.
They discussed a $US17.3 million type actions arrangement for age discrimination in California early just the past year.
The experience ended up being filed by Tinder owner Lisa Kim, whom advertised she or Tinder customers happened to be becoming charged double the amount because they comprise avove the age of 29.
But choices alleges Tinder’s rate isn’t only based upon years, but is furthermore impacted by venue, sex, and sex.
“based around all of our secrets specialist, recognize that Tinder is utilizing era to set different costs,” Ms Turner believed.
“But actually within age https://swinglifestyle.reviews/interracialcupid-review/ groups, most of us noticed different rates, demonstrating that there are other factors at gamble that Tinder is actually nevertheless to go into detail.
“it’s really with regards to that people are clueless just what information regarding north america Tinder is applying to find out these personalized prices.”


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Kleinberg Kaplan Represents Joint Venture in Acquisition of The Parker New York Hotel
Firm News | January 25, 2019
Premier boutique law firm Kleinberg Kaplan has represented Elliott Management Corporation and GFI Capital Resources Group, in a joint venture to acquire The Parker New York hotel.
In one of the most significant hospitality transactions during the past few years in New York City, affiliates of Elliott Management Corporation (“Elliott”) and GFI Capital Resources Group (“GFI Capital”), one of the nation’s leading hotel developers, today announced the acquisition of The Parker New York which overlooks Central Park along the famed “Billionaires’ Row” corridor in Manhattan. The new owners have committed more than $100 million to revitalize the hotel and will add a mix of new luxury residential condominium units, led by renowned designer Thomas Juul-Hansen, who will mastermind the interior finishes. The condos will boast floor-to-ceiling windows, and offer an array of unique hotel services and amenities. GFI Capital has previously worked with Elliott in multiple instances including The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel, & Residences in Lower Manhattan. Hyatt will operate The Parker New York immediately as a Hyatt-affiliated hotel, while GFI Capital prepares the property for its full renovation expected to begin in 2020. The hotel will remain open during construction, and will be relaunched as the newest flagship Thompson Hotel in 2021.
Kleinberg Kaplan’s deal team, which represented the joint venture in the purchase and financing of the property, included real estate group partners Ross Yustein, Chris Terry and Euchung Ung, and associates William Pena and Logan Wyman. Also working on the deal were tax partner Jim McCann and associate Deborah Taeid.
The 42-story Parker New York, located at 119 West 56th Street, currently boasts 729 rooms, 9,000 square feet of meeting and event space, four restaurants – including the ever-popular Norma’s, Burger Joint and Indian Accent – five retailers and a full-service fitness facility and spa.


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April 28, 2023
Daniela Riccardi has resigned Keringadministrative Council. The top Italian executive submitted her resignation as director of the French luxury group at a board meeting held after the group’s annual general meeting on April 27. Her duties were confirmed. renewed last year and will end in 2026.
The announcement was made through a press release, which did not state the reason for her departure. “The Appointment and Governance Committee will evaluate the alternative [Riccardi]and begin the succession process in the coming weeks,” Kering said simply, explaining that, as it stands, “the composition of the various committees remains unchanged and will be revised after an appointment in future.” As a result, Riccardi is expected to remain on Kering’s Sustainability committee of which she is also a member.
Riccardi is fluent in French, English, Spanish and Italian, and joined the luxury giant’s board in 2014, contributing his solid management experience. François-Henri Pinault and the board thanked her “warmly” for her “participation and contribution to the work of the board.”
Riccardi graduated in political science and international relations from the University of Rome La Sapienzaand worked for 25 years for a US consumer goods multinational Procter & Gambling, where she held various international management positions. After a 10-year tenure in various Latin American markets, she became vice president of Eastern Europe, based in Moscow, and was later appointed president of Procter & Gamble Greater China, based in Guangzhou.
In 2010, she moved to the fashion field, in charge of Diesel oiland became the first outside manager to run a jeans label, a successful founder Renzo Rosso. Three years later, she left Diesel to take the helm of the crystal maker baccarat cards about seven years. In 2020, Riccardi joins Moleskine as chief executive officer.
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Beginning in April, PepsiCo's Aquafina brand bottled water will be available nationwide in the new Eco-Fina Bottle, the lightest 0.5-L bottle of any nationally distributed bottled water brand in the market, according to PepsiCo. At a weight of just 10.9 g, the Eco-Fina Bottle is made with 50% less plastic than the 0.5-L Aquafina bottles produced in 2002, eliminating an estimated 75 million lb of plastic annually.
In addition to light-weighting the 0.5-L bottle, Aquafina is driving additional environmental benefits by producing the package right at Aquafina purification centers where filling occurs and by eliminating cardboard base pads from Eco-Fina Bottle 24-packs, which will contribute to saving 20 million lb of corrugate by 2010, says PepsiCo.
“The Eco-Fina Bottle represents more than simply innovative packaging design. It showcases our commitment to develop best-in-class products, packages, and manufacturing processes while acting responsibly in everything we do,” says Rick Gomez, chief marketing officer, hydration brands at Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages. “We're excited to answer the call of our consumers by offering the same great-tasting, pure water in a much lighter and more eco-friendly 100% recyclable bottle.”
The new Eco-Fina Bottle features an eye-catching “rippled web” design that goes beyond aesthetics, ensuring its structural soundness and functionality. New, contemporary shrink-wrap packaging graphics, featuring the Eco-Fina Bottle logo, will further enhance the brand's on-shelf presence.
“Consumer research confirms that we achieved our desired objective, which was a ‘sustainable design trifecta' – a bottle that looks better, functions better, and is better for the environment,” says Robert Le Bras-Brown, vice president of packaging innovation and development at PepsiCo. “The new design leverages structural engineering that allows the Eco-Fina Bottle to support 50 times its weight in water while offering consumers a contemporary, attractive package that meets their needs.”
Related sustainability initiatives
PepsiCo reports that it continues to explore newer ways to achieve optimal efficiency in the use of natural resources in the development, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of all of its products. The company has committed to lowering its environmental impact by reducing the use of water and energy by 20% and the use of fuel by 25% by 2015.
In 2007, the company conserved nearly 5 billion liters of water across its global operations compared to 2006 through technological improvements in global manufacturing operations and resource conservation programs. Last year, PepsiCo took nearly 6 million kilograms of packaging per year out of its system globally and reduced greenhouse emissions by 18,000 metric tons annually by introducing a new 0.5-L bottle for Aquafina flavored waters.
PepsiCo is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index and the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index.


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NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks reversed course and moved mostly higher Tuesday, breaking a four-day losing streak.
The gainers included retailers and media companies. Strong quarterly results from D.R. Horton boosted shares of homebuilders.
Health care stocks including drug companies also made gains, while Apple dragged down the technology sector. Analysts at Credit Suisse said a slowdown in the company’s orders for components suggests demand for the new iPhone 6 is weak.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 27.73 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,758.21. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index added 3.14 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,081.72. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite gave up 12.06 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,083.24.
Stocks spent most of Tuesday in the red, then turned positive in the last hour and a half of trading. The S&P 500 had fallen 1.5 over the previous four trading days. Most of that loss came on Monday, when the index took its biggest dive in six weeks.
Botox maker Allergan was one of the biggest gainers in health care. The Irish company, which has held talks with competitor Pfizer about a potential sale, rose $9.88, or 3.3 percent, to $306.70. Drugmakers Perrigo, Endo and Mallinckrodt all traded higher.
Apple lost $3.80, or 3.2 percent, to $116.77. The world’s most valuable company reported record earnings just two weeks ago, boosted by surging sales in China. Apple gets more than two-thirds of its revenue from iPhone sales, and some investors are worried that Apple won’t be able to maintain its growth as worldwide smartphone sales slow down.
Apple’s loss weighed down tech stocks. Tech stocks have had a strong year, rising more than 6 percent, the second-best industry gain in the S&P 500.
While tech and health care stocks have performed well this year, some companies could have a rougher road ahead. With the Federal Reserve poised to raise interest rates, the dollar could get stronger. That would be a source of pain for semiconductor makers and drug companies, said Jack Ablin of BMO Private Bank.
“The types of companies that could get hurt are the ones that rely on exports for their growth and profits,” he said.
Chipotle Mexican Grill’s restaurants in Washington state and Oregon could reopen in a few days after. A total of 43 locations were closed because of an E. coli outbreak, and tests for the bacteria at Chipotle restaurants came back negative. Shares of Chipotle rose $19.59, or 3.2 percent, to $628.88.
Homebuilder D.R. Horton rose $2.38, or 8.3 percent, to $31.35 after its fiscal fourth-quarter results surpassed analyst estimates. That lifted shares of its competitors: PulteGroup rose 63 cents, or 3.6 percent, $18.19 and Lennar added $1.60, or 3.4 percent, to $49.40,
Gap lost 40 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $27.29 after the retailer posted disappointing results for October, including lower overall sales. Earlier in the day its stock fell as much as 6 percent.
Industrial equipment and software maker Rockwell Automation fell $3.61, or 3.4 percent, to $104.18 after its earnings came up short of what analysts were looking for.
Bond prices didn’t move much. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note dipped to 2.33 percent from 2.34 percent a day earlier.
Benchmark U.S. crude rose 34 cents, or 0.8 percent, to close at $44.21 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, picked up 25 cents, or 0.5 percent, to close at $47.44 a barrel in London. Heating oil rose 0.9 cents to $1.487 and wholesale gasoline slipped 0.9 cents to $1.362 a gallon. Natural gas rose two cents to $2.32 per 1,000 cubic feet.
The dollar rose to 123.19 yen from 123.11 yen on Monday. The euro slipped to $1.0721 from $1.0758.
Gold inched up 40 cents to $1,088.50 an ounce. Silver fell 5.7 cents to $14.36 an ounce. Copper fell 1.25 cents to $2.2175 a pound.


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May 12, 2010
- How to Not be Hated by Your Server A reaction to Ron Lieber’s piece in the New York Times on getting kicked out of a restaurant. [True/Slant]
- Starbucks’ Roy Street: A visit to one of the brand’s latest cafe concepts in Seattle. [YumSugar]
- Cakespy Shop in Seattle: Photos from the grand opening! We are there in spirit, Cakespy. [NotMartha]
- FarmVille Ice Cream: Spotted in San Diego at a 7-Eleven. [x.imnotadoctor.com via Foodit]
- New Site to Watch: Josh Levin and our own J. Kenji Lopez-Alt launch GoodEater Collaborative.
- Food Allergies: Many who think they have them actually don’t, according to new research. [NYT]
- Taco Bell’s New Tortado: “It’s really a Taco Bell Quesadilla or Crunchwrap that hit the gym and bulked up.” [Houston Chronicle]
- Baltimore’s Food Czar: The city’s first one is named to improve eating habits among the poor. [Baltimore Sun]
- Slice: Pickle Pizza?!? Dhorst Goes There!
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The index is at its lowest level since June 2009, during the Great Recession.
Corporations have almost $10 trillion in debt on their balance sheets, equivalent to 47% of the entire U.S. economy. Peaks in corporate debt levels have historically coincided with recessions.
This is the fourth month in a row the manufacturing sector has been in contraction.
Piketty argues billionaires are harmful to economic growth and calls for a 90% wealth tax on those worth more than 2 billion euros.
Stocks went down after Nixon impeachment but up after Clinton’s.
The tech mogul’s net worth is estimated at over $96 billion. Gates was also the richest person in the world from 1995 until 2008 when he was surpassed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
The data which cover the years 1989 through 2018 reveal a consistent trend of widening wealth inequality.
Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase’s billionaire CEO, is concerned about wealth inequality.
The government’s top antitrust official warned large technology companies they could be pursued for antitrust law violations.


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Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Friday said it has commenced bookings for the updated version of its multipurpose vehicle Innova Crysta.
The model now comes with a 2.4-litre diesel powertrain mated with a five speed manual transmission across four trims.
It can be booked for Rs 50,000 at company dealerships or online, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said in a statement.
The opening of bookings for the new Innova Crysta comes on the heels of the launch of the Innova HyCross (available in Gasoline and Strong Hybrid Electric powertrains).
"This vehicle (Innova Crysta) is a perfect choice for customers preferring a rugged and practical vehicle, well known for its unparalleled comfort and safety," TKM Vice President, Sales and Strategic Marketing Atul Sood stated.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Published: Jan 27 2023 | 1:40 PM IST


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Norwood shops get an Arcadia makeover
The first of the new look stores
Norwood hopes to become a bigger player on the high street through the makeover of its eight charity shops by a team of experts from Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group.
The first refit was at one of the two stores in Golders Green Road, effecting what Norwood chief executive Elaine Kerr described as “a remarkable transformation”.
It would be the template for the facelift the other north London and Redbridge stores would receive over the next three months and Ms Kerr believed the new look would also improve the appearance of the balance sheet.
With no special promotion, takings were up five-fold, from £400 to £2,000, on the first day of trading after the refit. The redesign was marked formally with a ribbon-cutting by Barnet Mayor Councillor Brian Schama.
“If you walk down Golders Green Road, there are half-a-dozen charity shops, so you need to stand out,” Ms Kerr said. “The Norwood store now doesn’t look like a charity shop in the display, signage and marketing. There are posters on the wall telling people what Norwood is about. Even the hangers say ‘Norwood’.”
The charity had approached the retail giant for assistance and Ms Kerr “could not have expected more” of Arcadia, which has taken on the project as part of a social responsibility programme. Next up for a refit will be the second Golders Green Road outlet.
Other than a store manager, the shops are staffed by volunteers, including Norwood clients with learning disabilities who are gaining invaluable experience of the retail world.
“The community is really good at supporting us,” Ms Kerr added. “And we get a real cross-section of people through the doors.”
Norwood’s stores have been bringing in £200,000 annually.
The target for the year ending in March is £250,000, but this is likely to be upwardly revised following the makeover programme.


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Electric flying taxi company Wisk Aero has raised $450 million from aerospace company Boeing in a new funding round. The startup said that new investments make Wisk “one of the best funded” companies in this area.
Wisk Aero was established in 2019 and is a joint venture between Boeing and Google co-founder Larry Page’s Kitty Hawk. The startup is developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flying taxi. The device will be unmanned.
According to available data, Wisk plans to use the attracted investments to accelerate growth by expanding the staff, which currently consists of approximately 350 people. The company also plans to launch a manufacturing process that will lead to a full-scale commercial flying taxi service in the next five years. After the launch of the commercial offer, the company expects to operate about 14 million flights annually in 20 major markets around the world.
There is a long way to go before Wisk and other similar startups can launch commercial flying taxi services. After creating an aircraft and conducting a series of flight tests, companies need to obtain a certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other state industry regulators in the markets of presence. Currently, the US regulator has not certified any eVTOL aircraft for use in commercial passenger transportation.
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According to yet another unsourced story in "The Wall Street Journal," a Microsoft decision on Yahoo! is "imminent" and could occur as early as today. And in related news, recently revealed court documents show that Microsoft would set aside at least $1.5 billion to retain key Yahoo! employees should the purchase be consummated.
For those not keeping score at home, Microsoft made a hostile, unsolicited $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo! back in February but has been repeatedly rebuked by Yahoo!'s board of directors, who claim that the bid undervalues the company. Weeks ago, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivered an ultimatum to the Yahoo! board, giving the company until this past weekend to agree to the purchase. That date came and went without any action from either company.
Conventional wisdom suggests that Microsoft faces two choices: It can simply walk away from Yahoo! and face its online future alone or it can seek to oust the Yahoo! board and replace it with one that is more amenable to a purchase. But a third option has emerged in the middle: Microsoft could nominate a proxy board of directors to replace the current Yahoo! board, but then at least temporarily remove its offer to buy the company, giving shareholders a chance to let their voice be heard. It's possible that a majority would simply prefer a merger with Microsoft anyway.
Meanwhile, in recently revealed court documents, a lawyer representing Yahoo! mentioned that Microsoft had said that it would earmark at least $1.5 billion to retain key Yahoo! employees in the event of a successful purchase of the company. Microsoft had previously said publicly only that it would do everything it could to retain key Yahoo! employees.


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Mrs Atha’s Leeds: Customers ‘gutted’ as city centre coffee shop closes temporarily due to mounting costs
and live on Freeview channel 276
The owner Mrs Atha’s in Central Road, Leeds city centre, said rising costs and building work on the street has “decimated” weekday trade as they prepare to shut up shop this evening. The coffee shop will temporarily close at the end of the day.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, owner Warren Jones said: “I don’t think it’s any secret that the hospitality industry is suffering right now. I’m sure many of our regulars have chatted with me over the last few months and heard me say how we are struggling with how much it’s costing us to run the shop.
“I’m also sure you have all noticed the building works currently going on on our street. It’s having an almost ruinous effect on us. Our weekday trade has been absolutely decimated.
“We are on the brink. If this shop didn’t mean so much to me personally and I wasn’t so emotionally invested in every single aspect of it then I believe I would have already called it a day. But I’m not doing that, I’m fighting with everything I have to stay here and keep things moving.
“Everyone knows how much this place means to me. My grandma’s name is above the door. I love doing what I do. I love the people. Our amazing loyal customers. I love this city.”
Warren praised his team and their commitment to the coffee shop, and added that while it was a “sad day”, it was not the end for the business.
He said: “We promise you that we will do everything in our power to come back stronger and better than ever, but for now all we can do is say thank you to every single one of you for your ongoing support.”
Support from hundreds of customers poured in following the announcement on Monday. One said: “Leeds would never be the same without you guys.” Another added: “So gutted to hear this Warren. Sending love to you guys.”


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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Amcor completed its acquisition of Bemis Tuesday, according to a Bemis media representative and a press release from Amcor on Tuesday.
In August of 2017, the companies announced Australian-based packaging company Amcor was acquiring Bemis in an all-stock combination.
“The acquisition of Bemis brings additional scale, capabilities and footprint that will strengthen Amcor’s industry leading value proposition and generate significant value for shareholders.” said Amcor Chief Executive Officer Ron Delia. “We are delighted to welcome our new employees, customers and shareholders. This is the first day of an exciting and even stronger future for Amcor and all of our stakeholders.”
Amcor makes responsible packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home- and personal-care, and other consumer products. The combined company will now operate as Amcor Plc (Amcor), trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “AMCR.”
News 10 has reached out to representatives with Bemis and Amcor to learn more about any possible local changes of the merger. This story will be updated with any future responses.


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SINGAPORE – Singaporean officials have shared updates on the long-anticipated Food Safety and Security Bill, an initiative first introduced in 2021.
This comprehensive legislation, aimed at regulating novel food innovations, including cultured meat, while intensifying efforts to prevent foodborne illnesses, represents a pivotal moment in Singapore’s commitment to food safety and security.
Singapore, known for its progressive approach to emerging technologies, is at the forefront of embracing novel food innovations.
The proposed bill, slated to merge eight existing food provisions into a single food safety act, aims to provide legal clarity for advancements like cell-based meat and gene-edited crops.
With this legislation, the nation sets a precedent for the regulation of innovative foods, ensuring consumer safety while fostering groundbreaking technologies.
Central to the bill’s objectives is the enhancement of food safety systems and processes, both for novel and traditional foods.
By bolstering requirements and standards, Singapore intends to create a robust framework that safeguards the nation’s food supply.
Additionally, the bill aims to increase food security by mandating rice suppliers to maintain stockpiles of this essential staple, a strategic move to ensure a stable food supply chain.
National Center for Food Science
Singapore’s commitment to food safety is further exemplified by the establishment of the new National Center for Food Science.
Unveiled at the opening ceremony by Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, this state-of-the-art facility consolidates the efforts of the Singapore Food Agency’s existing food safety and science labs.
By streamlining operations and enhancing accessibility for inspectors, the center promises efficient sample testing, critical for ensuring food safety standards.
The National Center for Food Science is set to play a pivotal role as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Food Contamination Monitoring.
Embracing advanced technologies such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), the center aims to proactively prevent and manage foodborne illness outbreaks.
Additionally, the center’s commitment to testing seafood imports from Japan for radioactive contamination underscores Singapore’s dedication to global food safety standards, especially in light of recent concerns regarding wastewater release from a closed nuclear plant in Japan.


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Sony confirms another fifth installment for God of War, though the fourth installment has not been released yet. Sony also confirmed that Norse mythology setting will be the main theme of the game for the fifth installment.
In an interview with Finder, Sony senior online community strategist, Aaron Kaufman confirmed that
“It’s not that we’ve forgotten our Greek past, but we want people to feel like this is a new experience. It’s a new beginning. You don’t have to have played a previous God of War game to start in this game and move forward on it. Even if you’re a hardcore God of War fan, we take for granted that you can theorize about what happened between God of War III and this game. There’s a lot of stories to be told there, but we don’t need to tell them to you right now.”
Sony Confirms God of War
He revealed that Kratos will continue to compete and fight with the Norse gods in the fifth installment. God of War will introduce a new chapter which includes Kratos, son Atreus and there have also been speculations and rumors that Sony could do the unimaginable by destroying Kratos who has been the main lead for the game for a while now. But we should expect the unexpectable in God of War 4, even though there have been rumors about the Norse mythology coming to an end and there will be the introduction of Egyptian and Mayan mythology.
The fourth franchise of the game will also involve battles with Thor and Odin, but the fifth installment promises more surprises because most fans of the game are used to the Norse adventure, and Sony wants to take a bold new adventure by creating little fur which would make the game longer and interesting as it always been during the PlayStation 2 era. God of War 4 will be released on April 20, 2018, and is likely to be one of the hottest 2018 video games.


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Thursday’s Stock Market Losers: Prestige Brands, Amedisys, Allied Nevada, Gentiva, Almost Family, LHC Group
Among the biggest losers in Thursday’s early trading are Prestige Brands (NYSE: PBH), Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED), Gentiva (Nasdaq: GTIV), Almost Family (Nasdaq: AFAM) and Allied Nevada (NYSE: ANV).
|Top Percentage Losers — Thursday, May 13, 2010|
|Company Name (Ticker)||Intra-Day Price||% Loss||52-Week High||52-Week Low|
| Prestige Brands |
|Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED)||$52.30||-7.0%||$64.28||$28.90|
|Allied Nevada (NYSE: ANV)||$20.44||-6.0%||$22.92||$5.69|
|Gentiva (Nasdaq: GTIV)||$28.20||-5.2%||$30.88||$14.50|
|Almost Family |
|LHC Group (Nasdaq: LHCG)||$35.49||-1.7%||$37.49||$20.69|
|*Table includes companies with minimum market capitalizations of $200 million and three month trading volumes of at least 100,000 shares. All percentage returns are listed as of 11:10AM Eastern Standard Time. Click on ticker symbols for up-to-the-minute price quotes and percentage gain data.|
Prestige Brands Pushing Hard to Stay in Place
Product managers must often wrestle with how much to spend on advertising to support their products. If you spend too much, then profits could disappoint. And if you underspend, sales may suffer. Management at Prestige Brands (NYSE: PBH) had little choice, as sales for its line of cleaning and personal care products have barely budged in recent years. But heavy spending on ads and promotions in its fiscal fourth quarter (ended in March) more than offset any sales gains the company could conjure. Though sales may have exceeded forecasts by a small , per-share profits slumped badly, roughly 30% below the consensus, to $0.15 a share. Shares, which had been near the 52-week high, are off more than -15% in this morning’s trading.
#-ad_banner-#This is a troubling sign for a company that has been unable to meaningfully boost sales in recent years. Don’t blame the recession. Prestige’s products are not recession-sensitive. By trying to boost sales through marketing and promotion efforts, Prestige only managed to reduce annual profit without showing a meaningful top-line gain. This raises the question of whether sales for the fiscal year that ended in March (and which were released this morning), would have shown more severe drops had spending efforts not been so robust.
At this point, Prestige Brands is simply a “cash cow” and not a growth stock. So is it a value play on that cash generation? The company is generating $59 million in annual free cash flow, and sports an enterprise value of $693 million. In other words, it is trading for around 12 times free cash flow. That’s twice the multiple typically garnered by mature cash cows. Unless Prestige Brands has some new, as yet unforeseen growth drivers up its sleeves, shares may be overvalued by half, even after today’s sell-off.
Healthcare-waste Scrutiny Weighs on these Companies
Shares of Almost Family (Nasdaq: AFAM), Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED), and Gentiva (Nasdaq :GTIV) are all off more than -5% this morning on news that lawmakers are looking at their books to see if they unlawfully boosted the number of home visits their staffs made to house-bound patients simply to inflate their Medicare billings. As we saw in the recent healthcare debate, waste and unnecessary spending are big factors behind our unsustainably expensive health care system. If lawmakers conclude that Amedysis, Almost Family, Gentiva and LHC Group (Nasdaq: LHCG) defrauded Medicare, they may be liable to pay back erroneous claims, pay out hefty fines and reduce forward revenue expectations.
Indeed, the bi-partisan group of Senators examining the issue may look to make a lesson out of these four firms. In that vein, you may want to sell your stakes in these companies as the Thursday morning stock drops could just be the beginning. This isn’t likely to have a deep-lasting impact on these businesses, which provide vital services. But shares can easily fall another -10% to -20% as the hearings continue.
Dilution Concerns Pressure Allied Nevada Gold
You can’t blame Allied Nevada Gold (AMEX: ANV) for getting while the getting’s good. The company’s shares have been on a tear since April 28 on the heels of a powerful rally in the price of gold, and management quickly lined up investors on Wednesday to buy almost $300 million of freshly-issued stock. Shares are off more than -5% in Thursday trading in a knee-jerk reaction to dilution fears. But since the stock was issued at an all-time high for this gold exploration firm, the pain of dilution was greatly minimized. Put another way, if the company had raised the capital last fall when gold was first rallying, then the company would have had to issue 26 million shares instead of the 13 million that were actually issued. Investors should also be pleased that the deal was priced just a tick below Wednesday’s closing price.
The fresh cash should enable Allied Nevada to more quickly tap its various gold and silver mines. The company is sitting on more than two million ounces of unmined gold and 32 million ounces of unmined silver. With expectations of further spikes in precious metals prices in the quarters and years to come, an expedited mining approach makes sense.


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Right now, the U.S. economy is almost at full employment. Unfortunately, as the economy hits its stride, Americans’ financial health hasn’t followed suit. Forty percent of Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency and 80 percent of workers still live paycheck to paycheck.
Financially anxious workers could mean trouble for a business. Research shows that financial stress actually decreases employee productivity, which, in turn, costs businesses money.
That’s bad news in any economy. It’s even worse in a recession – and some economists predict that the next one might happen soon. So what can you do now, while times are good, to ensure your employees are performing at the top of their game (and therefore your business as a whole is as well)?
Make sure they’re protected from a financial shock so their stress doesn’t become your company’s loss. Here, we’ll explore why financial pressure can be destructive in the workplace, and how financially healthy employees can boost a company’s bottom line.
Money troubles make employees less productive
Even if your employees haven’t voiced their financial concerns, those concerns may still exist and have more of an impact than you realize. Almost half of all workers are financially stressed and they bring that tension to their job. One in three employees report that monetary stressors are a distraction at work. Employees who are worried about money also miss work three times as often as non-financially stressed employees.
Beyond attendance issues, workers who have money troubles are more likely to be dissatisfied, which makes them more likely to leave their jobs. Replacing employees can cost up to 200 percent of an annual salary – not the kind of unexpected cost a business wants during a recession.
Financially healthy employees are more engaged
As we’ve mentioned, companies that consider their employees’ financial health can boost productivity and morale. Both of these aspects are part of engagement, the emotional connection an employee feels toward their job.
Companies with highly engaged workers report almost five times the revenue growth of their counterparts, according to a study by Kenan-Flagler Business School. The study also notes that businesses with highly engaged workers report lower turnover. Profitability and performance were both key to how (and which) companies survived the Great Recession that lasted from 2007 to 2009. So if you want to keep your company strong, even through an economic slump, investing in employee financial health might be the way to go.
Financial wellness programs help recruit and retain top talent
Though job growth slowed early this year, the number of openings still exceeds the number of job seekers. Because Americans currently have their pick of any number of jobs, employers need to stand out. Given that a high percentage of workers (especially younger people) are worried about their finances, offering a comprehensive financial health program that extends beyond a 401(k) can make your job offer more attractive.
According to SHRM, three-fifths of HR professionals say financial benefits will become more important for recruiting highly skilled employees. Offering financial wellness benefits would also place you on the right side of benefits history with companies like Aetna and Suntrust, who are already using incentivized financial programs to help employees learn money management skills.
Congress is also considering ways to make it easier for companies to offer rainy day savings as a benefit with its Strengthening Financial Security Through Short-Term Savings Accounts Act of 2018. Introduced in July 2018, this proposed bill would allow employers to enroll employees in short-term savings programs that automatically contribute a portion of their paychecks into a company-matched savings account that’s available to them at any time. Outside public policy, private companies are already offering similar solutions for employers to help workers build their financial nest eggs.
Most importantly, companies that look out for their employees’ finances will have an easier time attracting talent that will stick with them even in a tighter economy.
Companies with financially healthy employees are more likely to survive a recession
Even though, as previously stated, the economy is robust right now, recessions are part of the business cycle and experts say there might be one sooner rather than later. Taking an active interest in supporting your employees’ financial health could prevent money woes from becoming a distraction down the line and hurting your company. In short, your employees’ money is your business.


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- Liberty and Finance
Are gold and silver markets manipulated? It’s debated. Learn more: https://is.gd/gold_manipulation
“When people run for the exits to get out of the system in a Dollar crisis,” says Robert Kientz of http://GoldSilverPros.com, “physical precious metal inventory to the retail investors is not going to last past a few days to a week.” Regarding recent price action, the recent price decline in gold and silver does not seem entirely natural market movement. He explains why manipulation is an answer to why metals have fallen recently.


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Equifax data breach impacts 12 million Texans
ABILENE, Texas - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a consumer alert following the Equifax breach that affects nearly 143 million Americans, including 12 million Texans. The data breach was announced Sept. 7. Cyber criminals had access to client ' s personal information from social security numbers to driver ' s licenses. Attorney General Paxton said his office is working to get to the bottom of how the massive data breach occurred. "We will do what's necessary to hold Equifax accountable," he said. "In the meantime, I encourage Texans to educate themselves about how to best protect their personal information and to file a complaint with my office if they have any concerns about this breach." The AG's Consumer Protection Division published tips for Texans who are at risk of identity theft.


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By Cody Lee on May 20, 2013
It’s been a big day for the folks over at Tumblr. Earlier this morning, the microblogging network confirmed the weekend’s speculation that it is has agreed to an acquisition deal with Yahoo!, said to be worth over $1 billion.
And shortly after the news was revealed, an update for Tumblr’s iOS app posted in the App Store. The update, which brings the app to version 3.3.2, includes a handful of bug fixes and improvements, and a shiny new interface… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on May 20, 2013
Yahoo’s recently-minted CEO Marissa Mayer has gone on a shopping spree. After the troubled Internet giant in March bought mobile news startup Summly for $30 million, and having snapped up the iOS/Android task management service Astrid earlier this month, Yahoo this morning announced a definitive agreement to acquire Tumblr for $1.1 billion. Yahoo promised “not to screw it up” and operate Tumblr independently as a separate business, keeping its founder David Karp as the CEO.
More than fifty billion posts (75 million more arriving each day) are hosted on Tumblr so this acquisition is bound to significantly bolster Yahoo’s content empire… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on Apr 24, 2013
Tumblr is the home to over a hundred million blogs that have published nearly 50 billion posts. In between blogging for a living here on iDB, checking out new gadgets and just leading an ordinary life, I have little time to maintain a personal blog. But if I did, I’d definitely consider Tumblr as my blogging platform of choice. If you run a Tumblr blog, updating your posts on the go has just become a tad easier as a new version of the official Tumblr iOS app has been released on the App Store with a couple noteworthy additions… Read More
By Cody Lee on Mar 12, 2013
Users of the popular blogging site Tumblr will be happy to hear that a fairly significant update for the iOS app has just posted. The update includes an all new camera interface and a handful of new features.
Perhaps the most notable addition is the ability to create Photosets from within the app. Tumblr released a standalone app for Photosets last fall, and it’s finally decided to roll the feature into its official client… Read More
By Cody Lee on Dec 20, 2012
Good news today for all of you Tumblr users. The popular microblogging platform has finally updated its iOS app to work natively on the iPad. Previously, if you wanted to access your Tumblr blog, or view the work of others, from your tablet, you either had to use the website, a third-party application, or the official iOS app in 2X mode. But not anymore… Read More


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After getting hit with several lawsuits over the use of the word "natural" to brand many of its products, PepsiCo has officially changed its tune. Now the company is boasting that its products are "Simply" instead. According to the Associated Press
, some of the products affected are the previously "Simply Natural" line of Frito-Lay chips. Now they go by monikers like "Simply Cheetos Puffs" and "Simply Ruffles." "Natural Quaker Granola" will now be called "Simply Quaker Granola." Pepsi reportedly said that the change is just a marketing update, but many companies are currently facing legal issues over the definition of the world "natural." The FDA still doesn't have a super specific definition of "natural"; it currently says that any product that doesn't include "added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances" can be defined as such. Until a clearer explanation is made public, it looks like major companies are shying away from the implications of the calling something "natural."
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U2, Foo Fighters, Elton John Tapped for T. Rex Tribute Album
Published Oct 26, 2018T. Rex is set to be honoured with a star-studded tribute album and documentary next year.
According to Variety, Marc Bolan and co. will be toasted with a new compilation album featuring contributions from the likes of U2, Foo Fighters, Elton John, Joan Jett, Nick Cave, Perry Farrell, Soft Cell, Kesha and Børns.
The set is reportedly being produced by Hal Willner, and while an official tracklisting has yet to be revealed, U2 are rumoured to be tackling T. Rex's biggest hit, "Bang a Gong (Get It On)."
The album and film package is slated to arrive next year via BMG, though the company has yet to announce specific details or a release date.
Hopefully the label got permission for the covers album; Sony was sued last year for failing to get the proper licence to use "Debora" in Baby Driver.


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APX makes a start with two listings
Source: Australian Financial Review By: Shaun Drummond
Asia Pacific Exchange became the latest of a number of tiny competitors to the Australian Securities Exchange when trading of its first two stocks began at 11am on Thursday.
Diet supplement maker Australia Samly Holdings Limited raised $4.6 million and parcel and packaging firm ZhongHuanYun Holdings Group $3.5 million, but the exchange’s management said they expect up to another 10 to list this year.
Both companies listed above their issue price, but fell well short of what they were looking to raise. Australia Samly wanted to raise up to $10 million and ZhongHuanYun $6.6 million.
The exchange is targeted at Australian and Chinese companies and investors.
It will allow share purchases to be made using Chinese renminbi or Australian dollars.
“Our vision is to be a vibrant marketplace with direct investment capability in both Australian dollars and Chinese renminbi by both Australian domiciled and Chinese domiciled investors,” said APX chief operating officer David Lawrence.
“We look forward to establishing a market in which investors will be able to both trade and settle in RMB.”
The Australian Securities Exchange launched an Australian dollar/Chinese yuan settlement service with the Bank of China in February.
In the same month, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and several major Australian banks announced an Australian dollar/yuan trading service.


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— Kathy Vrabeck to head up Legendary Pictures’ games division?: Variety reports that the *Activision* and EA vet is in “final negotiations” with The Dark Knight movie studio to oversee its push into video games and digital entertainment; Vrabeck resigned from her post as head of EA’s casual games division late last year. Details about Vrabeck’s official title and core responsibilities are still unclear, but if Legendary does make the hire, it’s a sign that they’re serious about gaming — as she’s one of the industry’s most successful female execs.
— PS3 price cut soon?: The speculation continues. This round comes from Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey, whose research note told investors that *Sony* needs to slash PS3 prices by $100 to move more units off the shelves. If not, publishers could end up shifting resources away from developing games for the console — which would be its death knell. “We believe the market is expecting a PS3 price cut in April or by June at the latest,” Hickey wrote, per GamesIndustry.biz.
— Gold’s Gym gets in the game with Ubisoft: The fitness chain is releasing Gold’s Gym: Cardio Workout for the Wii; Ubisoft is publishing the title, which hits stores on March 31. The game utilizes the Wii Balance Board accessory — clearly a push to capitalize on the success of Nintendo’s Wii Fit, which was one of the top five best-sellers last year.
— Linden Labs launches Eureka blog: The new blog aims to give Second Life newbies (and long-time users) a better read on where events like live concerts, fashion shows and RPG tournaments are happening in-world; writer Blue Linden will also include links to other blogs and resources that cover various in-world events (via Eureka). The idea is to keep members involved and active, since the lack of user interaction and “things to do” have been some of the main criticisms of Second Life as of late.


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Tag / LMJ
Blog posts • Dec 09, 2016 10:05 GMT
Could 3D printing herald a new era of lean supply chains? This is the title of a recently published article of the Lean Management Journal (LMJ) that highlights Panalpina’s ongoing research into the global supply chains of the future. The article's authors, Panalpina's Hrishikesh Pawar and Fevos Charalampidis, are convinced that the trend towards truly lean supply chains is about to accelerate.


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Bitcoin price sees a 2% increase following Hong Kong’s announcement to allow retail trading of some crypto assets from June 1, but Hong Kong remains a tough jurisdiction for crypto in many ways, partly due to pressure from mainland China.
Bitcoin saw a modest bump following the latest information that Hong Kong will be relaxing cryptocurrency trading. Nonetheless, so far, the OG digital currency looks set for a less-than-exciting May.From a regulatory standpoint, Hong Kong is still a tough jurisdiction for cryptocurrency in numerous ways. Partly because of pressure from mainland China.
BTC’s price has pumped in reaction to the latest information that Hong Kong is taking a pro- cryptocurrency direction, reports by a CNBC report. On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission announced it will allow retail trading of some cryptocurrency assets from June 1.
Hong Kong Drives Rally
Bitcoin pumped from around $26,800 at 1:10 a.m. UTC to $27,384 just over two hours thereafter. An increase of over 2%, reports by CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin (BTC) has been struggling to break the $27,000 mark since last Thursday.
The world’s oldest digital currency has followed negative trends for most of May. Despite the fact that it is still well over the approximately $16,500 it entered the year with.
Bitcoin (BTC) likewise did not see a much-anticipated “Pizza Day” spike. Pizza Day celebrates the yearly anniversary of the 1st ever real-world transaction using Bitcoin, where 10,000 units were exchanged for two pizzas on May 22, 2010.
Still Bitcoin (BTC) is still seeing a prolonged period of dominance compared to other digital currencies, sitting over 45 percent since the beginning of March.


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A Silicon Valley-based investment firm is launching a new $600,000,000 metaverse fund in its latest push to embrace crypto assets.
In a new company blog post, venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz is announcing the launch of the Games One Fund, a fund dedicated to supporting innovation in the gaming industry and building the underlying infrastructure of the metaverse.
Andreessen Horowitz says it plans to use the fund to invest in game development studios, consumer applications that offer support games and the framework of the metaverse itself, which the firm believes is the future of gaming.
“Long term, we believe games infrastructure and technologies will be key building blocks of the metaverse…
As games evolve into virtual worlds and online services, the demand for tools and services needed to build great games is skyrocketing. Not only is this infrastructure important for games in its own right, we also believe that the coming metaverse will be built by games companies, using games technologies.”
According to the company, video games have gone through a radical transformation over the last decade, becoming social media-like networks that can utilize Web 3.0 digital assets.
“Over the past decade, games have undergone a radical transformation, from simply being packaged entertainment to becoming online services that more closely resemble social networks and scale like consumer technology companies…
Furthermore, games are also driving innovation across the entire consumer ecosystem, pioneering best-in-class mechanisms for user engagement, retention, and monetization, such as microtransactions, battle passes, and Web 3.0 tokens.”
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Vehicle sales dropped by nearly 66 percent in March from the level in the same month a year ago, a joint report of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and Truck Manufacturers Association showed on Friday.
Sales dropped by 65.7 percent in March this year to 11,029 units from 32,173 units sold in the same month a year ago, data showed.
This brings first quarter sales to 64,542 units, down 24.4 percent from the 85,388 units sold in the comparative period last year.
Campi president Rommel Gutierrez attributed the decline to the shutdown of dealerships in the second half of March when Luzon was placed under an enhanced community quarantine.
“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was already felt as early as March. We will continue to assess the impact of the quarantine on the industry,” he said.
“The industry remains hopeful the virus would be contained the soonest possible time,” he said.
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Small Malaysian container line and regional feeder operator PDZ released its full-year results, and once again the destructive impact of weak freight rates was evident in the financials despite the line posting a pre-tax profit.
Zim Integrated Shipping Services entered the final stages of a debt restructuring programme after posting a mixed set of first quarter results where the carrier managed to reduce the size of its loss despite falling revenue.
Cosco Container Lines (Coscon) is placing an order for five 14,000 TEU vessels as it continues with an aggressive tonnage scrapping programme to revitalise both its fleet and its flagging profits.
North American vehicle production is on the rise amid strong demand for vehicles in the NAFTA countries and foreign markets.
Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with grain handlers in the Pacific Northwest, ending a two-year battle between the two parties.
Chilean container line CSAV cut back its losses in the second quarter, losing $58.5 million ahead of its merger with German carrier Hapag-Lloyd.
The Clementine Maersk will skip the port of Vancouver, British Columbia, in its current rotation, citing congestion and “significant” delays following the CMA CGM Attila’s striking of the dock two days ago. The Maersk Line vessel will shift cargo bound for the Canadian gateway to the CMA CGM La Scala.
Rickmers Group said “strained” markets, currency exchange and weak charter rates contributed to revenue and profit declines in the first half of 2014, and that conditions will remain difficult through the rest of the year.
NYK Line in May took delivery of the first post-Panamax car carrier built in Japan. Dubbed the Aries Leader, the new pure car carrier not only boasts a capacity of 7,000 vehicle units, but also a wide range of energy-saving technologies not found on other such vessels.
At least two ocean carriers are cutting intermodal fuel surcharges for dry and refrigerated shipments to and from the United States, effective Oct. 1, as a result of falling diesel prices.


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Its shares eased back during the morning and were up 16 per cent at midday.
The company has posted some impressive monthly results as tech product sales have surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cellnet Group does the distribution, warehousing and logistics for of the world’s leading vendors and has centres in Australia, New Zealand and China.
November revenue was $14.7 million, up 27 per cent on last year.
Its year to date net profit before tax is $2.79 million, an increase of $2 million on last year.
It said there was continued momentum in the market for iPhone12 and console gaming accessories.
Chief executive Dave Clark said Cellnet was positive about the current financial year and the business was performing well across all categories and strong demand continued in the lead-up to Christmas.
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At the time of writing, at least 1,450 BTCs (stolen by one user, antimalware firm Malwarebytes and Electrum) had been stolen in phishing attacks that faked Electrum upgrade tips, with a total value of approximately $11.6 million.
This isn't the first time Thatectrum has appeared in a fake version, with hackers developing a fake encrypted wallet, Electrum, in December, resulting in the theft of nearly 250 bitcoins worth about $1 million. In January, GitHub discovered a fake Electrum wallet called "Electrvm" designed to steal users' money. In February, users of encrypted wallets Electrum and MyEtherWallet reported that they were facing phishing attacks. (Stationer's House)
Electrum wallets have been hacked in recent days and nearly 250 bitcoins have been stolen, according to blockchain security team Devi Security Labs. This attack, confirmed by Electrum, involves creating a fake version of the wallet to trick users into providing password information. Electrum responded on Twitter that "this is an ongoing phishing attack on Electrum users and advised users to download wallet apps from the official website." Mars Finance reminds users not to install electrum wallets from unknown sources.
Electrum Litecoin Wallet review: Lightweight Litecoin customers.
You can download electrum Bitcoin Wallet on the official website "electrum.org". Electrum is also available to users of Ledger Nano S, KeepKey, and TREZOR hardware wallets.
The UB team has now developed Core, Core-QT, Electrum Wallet (where Electrum is a lightweight wallet that supports multiple signatures) and released a complete blockchain browser. More than 18 trading platforms around the world support UBTC trading.
Electrum hackers pre-empted a large number of "normal" electrum servers on the P2P network.
the electrum group
When an Electrum wallet queries a third-party Electrum server, the server can link two transactions together and know which address is a zero address.
The Electrum team has also been developing other features. Electrum Wallet users can view the full release notes here.
Lightweight Bitcoin Wallet Electrum announced that the next version will support Lightning network payments, implemented with Python, an electrum network node where wallet users do not need to run Lightning network nodes themselves to make payments, and electrum's Lightning network nodes have now been merged into the Electrum master branch.
Electrum is another popular Bitcoin wallet that has been around for nearly a decade. Electrum Bitcoin Wallet has been available for all devices since 2011 and was one of the most widely used wallet applications before other alternatives emerged. There are still a lot of people who are still swearing at the Electrum wallet.
In a forum post on Bitcointalk, website administrator Theymos explained: "If at any time in the past you've logged in to Electrum without a wallet password and opened a web page, your wallet might have been stolen." Particularly paranoid people may want to send all bitcoins (BTCs) from their old Electrum wallets to the newly generated Electrum wallet. "
Lightning support in Electrum has been around for a long time. Thomas Voegtlin, the founder of Electrum, first told CoinDesk last summer that Lightning would take it to the next version.


text: Is the Sharing Economy dead? A recent Fast Company post said so – driving home the point with the tag “We Killed It.” We’re not so sure. The sharing economy, based on transactions whose participants share access to services and products rather than owning them individually, may have its share of individual misses. But the ethos behind it – namely, that people want alternatives to the buy-it-all, seize-the-profit approach of decades past – still seems solid. Rachel Botsman, coauthor of The Rise of Collaborative Consumption, predicts the Sharing Economy will bring in $110 billion in revenues this year. A full 65 percent of consumers believe society would be better off if people owned less and shared more, according to Havas. And 78 percent of Millennials indicate they’d rather spend money on experiences than products. So maybe sharing isn’t dead. What’s more likely is that the sharing economy is taking time to find its way. Is this really surprising? As any three-year-old will tell you, sharing is hard. And if that’s true in principle, then making a business out of sharing is surely harder – fraught with miscommunication; logistical and inventory problems; and the unavoidable potential for bad actors. Thus, the social tool-sharing networks that first symbolized this movement have fallen on hard times. Fast Company reports that seven of eight early players in that space are now gone, including Ecomodo, Crowd Rent, Share Some Sugar, Thingloop, OhSoWe and SnapGoods. Gone too are a slew of other hotly-conceived sharing sites that pioneered the sharing economy. Meanwhile, even big names like Über and Airbnb must fight regulatory battles in order to continue operating. What’s our takeaway? Sharing is still a winning idea, but it’s only as good as its bones. If your car-sharing concept can’t minimize the risk of someone driving off with your clients’ beloved vehicles, it’s not going to sustain critical mass. Are people eager to lend their hard-earned funds to neighbors in need of a little money? Perhaps. But in this context, wouldn’t infrastructure be reassuring? Wouldn’t one like to see, say, legal paperwork that spells out obligations and consequences? Sharing economy champion Lisa Gansky – author of The Mesh: Why the Future of Business Is Sharing and THINK 15 alum – observes that credit unions could be the ultimate hybrid of sharing and structure. While credit unions don’t require members to warm up to a new, touchy-feely brand of banking, they do offer a true alternative to profit-driven banks. That’s good, because if the sharing economy is going to survive, it’s going to have to meld with the old-school notion of feasibility. Sharing isn’t dead: It’s iterating.


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Many of you know Chegg as being one of the first online textbook rental companies. Jim Safka, former CEO of Ask.com became the CEO of Chegg in early June. With Safka now on board, that freed up some time for Chegg co-founder Osman Rashid to focus on other ventures.
Specifically, Rashid is trying out a new venture called Kakai. Kakai has even raised $1.1 million according to an SEC filing. Kakai is currently in stealth mode, but they describe themselves as a brand for ?portable electronic devices for receiving, displaying, reading and playing electronically published materials,? according to paidContent.
Rashid remains as Chegg’s Chairman and Kakai may actually be linked to Chegg. Considering that Chegg is textbook rental and Kakai is possibly developing an e-book reader, there may be a way to connect the two that we don’t know about yet.
One of Chegg and Kakai’s angel investors is Eric Di Benedetto. Another Kakai co-founder is Babur Habib, a previous manager at consulting firm Exponent. Habib has about 8 years of experience in electronics technology which will be instrumental for the development of an e-reader.


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This week will be a filled with new surprises and announcements that will feature new edible treats from the parks, Halloween planning tips, digital wallpapers and spooky treats we can all get excited for!
Day one (Monday) features new edible delights that will be available at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. This includes a new Jack Skellington Popcorn bucket, Hocus Pocus Hot Chocolate Bombs and cakes and more. You can check out all of todays sweet treat reveals right here.
Day two will see a new Halloween planning guide being revealed followed by a huge live Twitter event on Wednesday, which will feature new surprises and a watch party of Hocus Pocus. The entire weeks theme is Hocus Pocus, with the Disney Parks page revealing new social media images and even a small teaser video featuring a magical theme and the Sanderson Sisters themselves.
Thursday Disney also announced the return of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party and you can find out all of the details right here.


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"our investment in Lime and our cooperation with the company, "this is another step towards our ideal of building a one-stop service to meet all transportation needs," said Rachel Holt, Uber's vice president, in an email statement. "Lime has a footprint all over the world. "We are excited to be able to integrate their electric scooter service into the Uber app so that consumers can have another quick, inexpensive urban travel option, especially for easy access to the public transport system."
As electric scooter sharing services enter more and more American cities, this service has become a controversial topic. Regulators are eager to enact laws for this new mode of transportation, and many users say they are happy to use electric scooters in crowded cities. However, some residents complain that electric scooter users do not obey the traffic rules, and they use scooters on the sidewalk, which poses a risk to pedestrians.
Bird has become the fastest-growing startup, and its valuation has reached more than $1 billion in the latest financing round, becoming a "unicorn" company. Today, Lime has also joined the "club" of the Unicorn Company. As of now, Bird has raised a total of 418 million US dollars, and Lime has raised 467 million US dollars. Both companies were founded in 2017.
Travis Vander Zanden, CEO of Bird, had a complex relationship with Uber and Lyft. He founded Cherry, an on-demand car wash startup, which was acquired by Lyft in 2013. Through the deal, he became Lyft's chief operating officer (COO). A year later he was poached by Uber, triggering a scandal when Lyft sued him for stealing classified information. By June 2016, the two sides have reached a settlement. Van der Janden then left Uberin in September 2016.
Uber did not disclose the company's investment in Lime, but Lime said its investment scale is "quite large." After a strategic partnership between Uber and Lime, the latter's electric scooter will use both companies' brands and provide services to users through Uber applications. In January of this year, Uber and the pile-free bicycle sharing service Jump also reached a similar cooperation, and then finally acquired the latter in April.
Although Lime and Bird are leading the field of electric scooters, several other companies are also engaged in this business. Like Uber, Lyft also said it is focusing on providing electric scooter rental services. Other companies offering such services include Scoot, Razor, Ofo, Ridecell, Uscooter, Skip and CycleHop.
Lime's services are now available in more than 70 cities in the US and Europe, and after completing a new financing round, the company said it plans to continue expanding its business. Company co-founders Toby Sun and Brad Bao said in a statement: "As we continue to push the boundaries of urban transport to the outreach, we are excited to be able to work with new partners and will bring a new chapter to this emerging field. ”