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Facebook's Offices. Facebook may be planning video ads for its newsfeed. Image credit: Olivier Garamfalvi / FacebookIt looks as though the new video ads will play automatically, which is bound to annoy more than a few Facebook users. On the up side, Facebook is expected to limit videos to 15 seconds, which is pretty short compared to video ads on other websites. Video ads could appear in a news feed and expand when playing. Facebook is touting the variety of devices that people use throughout the day as a way to reach them multiple times: if you use Facebook on a PC, tablet, and phone, you might be treated to the same ad three times.
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Written by AARON CASTREJON
DUARTE - A suspect or suspects burglarized a small Duarte business March 21, taking a cash register, security box and the money within.
The burglary occurred at Cowboy Mex International, 1318 Duarte Rd. The estimated loss to the store was $8,675, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.
Deputies did not specify how entry was made into the business.
There is no suspect description available.

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SAMRIDDHA SAHA (Gl1tch_mast3r)
Sony announced that Ghost of Tsushima is PS4’s fastest-selling, first-party original IP debut. Within three days of availability, it sold over 2.4 million units sold globally. The game has seen stock shortages in Japan with Sony suggesting folks purchase it digitally until more stock can arrive at retail. It was also the best-selling game last week in the region with 212,915 sold in three days.
With Ghost of Tsushima‘s latest achievement, this makes two exclusive games in two months, for PlayStation, that broke fastest-selling records. Last month, The Last of Us Part II became the fastest-selling exclusive, with four million copies sold in three days. As for Sucker Punch, the samurai slasher has become the fastest-selling title in its history. Their first PS4 title, Infamous: Second Son, sold over one million copies after nine days of release.
Right above Ghost of Tsushima on the list of fastest selling PS4 exclusives, Spider-Man and God of War have similar numbers, with 3.3 and 3.1 million copies sold in three days, respectively. The former fastest-selling, back in 2016, Uncharted 4 now takes fifth, with it selling 2.7 million in one week.
Ghost of Tsushima pre-sales data in Japan had suggested that the game could be on the verge of becoming the best-selling first-party game in Japan and this is turning out to be the case so far. As per an official tweet by PlayStation Japan, Ghost of Tsushima has exceeded sales expectations and the publisher is working to get more copies out in retail stores.
Here’s the list of the 3-day sales records of select PS4 exclusives:
The Last of Us Part 2 – 4 millions units
Final Fantasy VII Remake – 3.5 millions units
Marvel’s Spider-Man – 3.3 million units
God of War – 3.1 million units
Ghost of Tsushima – 2.4 million units
While the game’s 2.4 million 3-day sales record may not reach the heights of Final Fantasy VII Remake and The Last of Us Part 2 which sold over 3.5 and over 4 million units respectively, Tsushima’s record is still impressive given that it’s an original IP debut. To give you some perspective, it took Horizon Zero Dawn two weeks to reach the 2.6 million units sold milestone.
The game’s sales record can be attributed to the fact that there are now more people with PS4 units compared to when Horizon was released. Even with that in mind, Sucker Punch Productions should be very happy with their latest title.


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October 17, 2023
JACKSON, Wyo. — Greybull Stewardship (“Greybull”), a private investment firm of experienced operators dedicated to helping small, growing businesses realize their full potential, today announced its acquisition of RTCM Holdings (“RTCM”), a family of textile recycling and distribution companies. Financial terms were not disclosed. Additionally, Greybull has named Craig McAndrews as CEO of RTCM.
Through its operational expertise, Greybull plans to help RTCM scale by entering new markets and expand its automation capabilities across the business. RTCM has operated in the growing reclaimed textile space for over three decades and encompasses three distinct businesses including: Reclaimed Industrial Cleaning Clothes, Recycled Shoes & Clothing and World Wear Project. Together, these businesses bring new life to a range of textile products.
“We are pleased to announce our investment in RTCM, an industry leader in the highly fragmented recycled textiles market. Over its history, RTCM has helped keep millions of pounds of textiles out of landfills and we’re proud to support this environmental mission. RTCM’s rich heritage and expertise coupled with its loyal base of customers makes it a strong player in the space, and we’re looking forward to supporting the organization as it scales operations,” said Sasha Kovriga, Partner at Greybull. “We’re also excited to welcome Craig McAndrews as President and CEO to the RTCM team. Craig is a seasoned executive who brings a wealth of B2B and direct to consumer experience to RTCM.”
“I am thrilled to step into the role of CEO and join a talented team that is dedicated to making the world a better place,” said Mr. McAndrews. “RTCM is strategically positioned to expand and strengthen its market presence. I look forward to collaborating with the Greybull team to harness the growth opportunities that are ahead.”
To date, Greybull has focused primarily on investing in companies within business services, franchising, education, and SaaS, though the firm also has a successful track record applying its strategy of adding operational expertise to small businesses across other sectors. The firm’s hands-on approach will help RTCM establish a dedicated sales network, increase procurement opportunities, and invest in automation.
About Greybull Stewardship
Greybull Stewardship is a private investment firm comprised of experienced operators, dedicated to helping small, growing businesses realize their full potential. Decades of operational experience and financial acumen enable Greybull to empower entrepreneurs with the expertise, resources, and patient capital they require to elevate their businesses from small to scalable. Founded in 2010, Greybull is headquartered in Jackson, Wyoming, with team members located throughout the U.S. to effectively support its investments and uncover opportunities within local markets. To learn more about Greybull, visit www.greybullstewardship.com.


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SiriusXM buys Pandora to step up streaming music wars
By Rob Lever
Washington (AFP) Sept 24, 2018
Satellite radio titan SiriusXM unveiled plans Monday to acquire online rival Pandora for $3.5 billion, ramping up competition in the streaming music market dominated by Spotify and Apple.
The all-stock deal creates "the world's largest audio entertainment company," with some $7 billion in revenues, according to a statement from the two firms.
SiriusXM, the leader in subscription radio in the United States serving mainly motorists with music and news channels, sees the acquisition as an opportunity "to significantly expand its presence beyond vehicles into the home and other mobile areas," it said.
The move could create a strong competitor to streaming music leaders Spotify and Apple.
"We have long respected Pandora and their team for their popular consumer offering that has attracted a massive audience, and have been impressed by Pandora's strategic progress and stronger execution," said SiriusXM chief executive Jim Meyer.
"We believe there are significant opportunities to create value for both companies' stockholders by combining our complementary businesses."
The merger agreement includes a "go-shop" provision allowing Pandora to seek a better offer from another party.
The companies said they expect to close the deal in early 2019 and that there would be no immediate change in listener offerings.
Roger Lynch, CEO of Pandora, said the combined firm would be "better positioned to take advantage of the huge opportunities we see in audio entertainment, including growing our advertising business and expanding our subscription offerings."
Analyst Mark Mahaney of RBC Capital Markets said the tieup appeared to be a positive move that could help Pandora compete in streaming.
"We view this as a logical strategic step for Pandora," Mahaney said in a note to clients.
"Synergies between its very strong in-home US presence and SiriusXM's very strong in-car presence should be generatable over time."
- Fighting the streaming war -
Pandora is one of the oldest online music operators and recently reported it had some six million paying subscribers, along with more than 70 million "active users."
But it has been overtaken by Swedish-based Spotify, with 83 million paying subscribers worldwide and Apple, with more than 50 million.
SiriusXM charges users monthly subscription fees while Pandora offers free music streaming with advertisements or monthly ad-free paid subscriptions for $4.99 and $9.99.
SiriusXM has some 36 million subscribers across North America and 23 million trial listeners -- mainly from automobile buyers who get a free trial subscription.
Pandora, launched in 2000, designed itself as a radio network with stations based on genre and, more recently, automatically personalized around listeners' selections.
But it was forced to evolve as customers gravitated to the on-demand model led by Apple and Spotify.
In 2016, Pandora said it would launch an on-demand subscription platform following the model of Spotify in letting users select any song at any time.
Pandora has struggled in recent years and in 2017 co-founder Tim Westergren stepped down as chief executive and from the board of directors as SiriusXM invested $480 million as part of a strategic partnership.
On-demand streaming has reshaped the music industry and now accounts for some 75 percent of overall US revenues, according to a report this month from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Revenues in the first half of 2018 from streaming music grew 28 percent year-over-year to $3.4 billion, led by paid versions of Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Tidal and others, according to RIAA.
Other major players included ad-supported, on-demand streaming services such as YouTube, Vevo and Spotify.
Chinese institute's virtual ground stations serve 10 countries
Beijing (XNA) Sep 21, 2018
The Institute of Aerospace Information Research has helped 10 countries install virtual ground stations, it said in a report Tuesday. The report was released at the fourth International Symposium on Earth Observation for Arid and Semi-Arid Environments, which began in Xining, capital of China's northwestern Qinghai Province, on Monday. The 10 countries are Mongolia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Thailand and Belgium. The institute's self-develope ... read more
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The transition to the new Rhinelander plant will take place in the second half of next year. With the additional capacity created by the new Rhinelander plant, it will be necessary to close Printpack’s Hendersonville, NC plant and transition that business to the new facility in Rhinelander.
“The decision to close Hendersonville was very difficult for us. However, our goal has always been to provide our customers competitively priced, high quality packaging materials, utilizing the best technology available. This new investment will enable us to continue to meet this goal,” said Dennis Love, President and CEO.


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They could find themselves back in the sweat-shop
conditions of the last century.
Critics claim it will be too humid to play football in Qatar but the region is so wealthy even the sweat-shops
have air conditioning.
Three-quarters of Midland office workers are working in virtual sweat-shops
and left to suffer chronic health issues such as headaches, backache and eye fatigue because of indifference from their bosses, new research suggests today.
, and How Women Changed Their Role in the American Workforce.
The archdiocese will no longer do business with clothing and athletic vendors who produce their goods in sweat-shops
that violate fair labor practices, exploit workers and pay less than the minimum wage.
Over the past two years, it has allocated quotas based on past performance, which favours larger firms and used free pool distributions through a capacity qualification, which encourage mergers among small sweat-shops
and their assimilation into the medium tier of companies, optimizing the quotas.
The people who Messent cruelly and unnecessarily dehumanises are the abandoned English working class, surplus to requirements now our manufacturing is farmed out to third world sweat-shops
When people have to work in sweat-shops
, breathe polluted air or live in fear of their neighbours, it is time to change the rules,' NEF says.


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The South African launch of the Wii U is set to take place on the same day as Europe.
The announcement was made by Nintendo South Africa on their Twitter account (PrincessPeachSA)
"South Africa! We can confirm that the #WiiU will be launching alongside Europe on 30th November 2012..." read a tweet on their account.
Nintendo's new console stands out thanks to a new GamePad controller, which features a 6.2-inch touchscreen in addition to traditional console controls.
The console also features extensive online connectivity, along with video-streaming services.
The machine will launch in two variants, a cheaper Basic bundle and a more expensive Premium bundle.
The Basic bundle features 8GBs of storage and no pack-in game, while the Premium version has 32GBs of space and the Nintendo-Land title. Storage can be expanded via the USB ports.


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Electric vehicles in China and Europe – not a race against each other, but toward their own climate targets
BY HUI HE
Hui He, China regional director for the International Council on Clean Transportation, explores the similarities and differences of the Chinese and European EV markets.
Both China and Europe can proudly claim leadership in the global electric vehicle market, in two different ways. Last year, China sold the most electric vehicles in the world, nearly 3.5 million, and that’s more than the sum of the rest of the world combined (Figure 1). Europe, however, led by a large margin in terms of electric vehicle (Electric vehicles include battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles) market penetration: 19 per cent of new cars sold in Europe were electric, three percentage points higher than the value in China and double the world’s average (Figure 2).
Even based on this obvious data, it is still not easy or straightforward to say which region is ‘winning the race’, because the two regions are not simply racing against each other, but their own decarbonisation targets.
Both regions set their carbon neutrality targets – Europe by 2050 and China by 2060 – in different ways. China’s pledges were made by its president at a United Nations conference (General Assembly), while Europe wrote into law the 2050 goal set by the European Green Deal. This is called the European Climate Law and it additionally requires the transportation sector to reduce its carbon footprint by 90 per cent by mid-century compared with the 1990 baseline. The sector-specific target drives various transportation policy actions in the Fit for 55 package. China has not yet set any binding climate targets for transportation, but did announce that it would peak transportation oil consumption by 2030 in its national action plan for peaking economy-wide carbon emissions.
The two regions have also used different regulatory approaches for driving zero-emission transportation. In Europe, vehicle CO2 standards play a pivotal role. Triggered by the Fit for 55 package, the European Commission proposed a fleet-wide CO2 emissions target of zero for all new cars and this will essentially phase out internal combustion vehicles by 2035. The Commission is currently working on a revised CO2 regulation for heavy-duty vehicles that aims to accelerate adoption of zero-emission technologies.
China’s policies are rather piecemeal and short term. Its overall electrification target was set in the nation’s automotive industry development plan, which seeks to build a vigorous and competitive auto industry, and currently it is electric vehicles as 20 per cent of new sales by 2025. To meet this goal, China’s industrial ministry mandates that car manufacturers generate a certain amount of electric vehicle credits. Modelled after California’s landmark Zero Emission Vehicle Program, the credit requirements can translate into sales share targets after being divided by the per-vehicle credit based on the electric vehicle’s electric range and other technical features. Since the rule took effect in 2018, China has raised the credit requirement from the initial ten per cent to 18 per cent in 2023. These targets were set incrementally to align with the above near-term target and are reflective of where the industry, market and technology development are already trending.
Heavy commercial vehicles were excluded from China’s targets. The development of electric commercial vehicles was mainly driven by the nation’s anti-air-pollution campaigns. A three-year Blue-Sky Defense Plan, in place beginning in 2018 and led by the Chinese environmental ministry, required the most air-polluted regions and industries to use clean transportation. This helped transform China’s Hebei province, traditionally known for being home to many heavy industries and very poor air quality, into the leading electric heavy truck submarket in the nation. In 2021, the province sold 3,900 electric dump trucks and semi-tractor trucks, more than half of
the nation’s total (Figure 3). Highlighting this is not meant to neglect that China adopted fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks, but those regulations have been too weak to have any significant impact on electrification.
A striking difference
Despite the variety of policies in China to drive electric vehicles, these policies are missing a critical link to the nation’s decarbonisation target. This is perhaps the most striking difference from Europe.
Because of the EU’s electric vehicle market development in the past three years, during which there was dramatic growth from three per cent of new sales in 2019 to 19 per cent in 2021, an increase of eight percentage points each year, the region can simply keep its current pace of electrification to meet the scenario that limits warming to 2°C.
China saw a similar increase wherein electric vehicles went from five per cent of new sales to 15 per cent during the same three years. To align with a 2°C-compatible pathway, though, China needs to raise its current annual electric vehicle sales growth from five to six percentage points per year (Figure 4).
Solid, enforceable policies will be the key to materialising these growth paths. In Europe, the proposed zero-CO2 emissions standard for cars holds a lot of promise, but the region still needs to develop interim or annual targets to ensure that manufacturers continuously work toward that long-term goal. The regulation also needs to take into consideration the real-world use pattern of plug-in hybrid vehicles so as not to over-credit this partial zero-emission technology. The EU is also considering revising its heavy-duty vehicle CO2 standard to further incentivise the production of electric trucks and buses.
China is going to further lift its passenger car electric vehicle credit target requirement to 38 per cent in 2025 and is also considering a similar credit policy for commercial vehicles. But, as said previously, these goals are industry-driven and too shortsighted. The nation can learn from Europe and develop enforceable CO2 standards for cars and trucks that are driven by broader industrial decarbonatisation goals.
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By Terry Rogers
Garrett Grier always knew he wanted to open a second location after the success of his Milford Duck In Car Wash. He wanted a market that was around 30 to 45 minutes away from Milford but with a similar demographic.
“The Seaford market seemed to make sense in that it was about 30 miles away in an area that was lacking a full-service car wash,” Mr. Grier said. “I found a site on Route 13 North that was being taken back by the bank and presented an attractive purchasing opportunity. The City of Seaford was extremely helpful in investing in infrastructure expansion which allowed utilities to reach the site I eventually purchased.” Seaford Duck In Car Wash opened on June 25, 2014, celebrating their third anniversary this month.
Mr. Grier says that the Seaford location washes approximately 45,000 cars each year, not quite as many as Milford is currently but more than Milford was washing at the three-year mark.
“The reception from Seaford and the surrounding communities has been great,” Mr. Grier said. “I’m extremely grateful for all our loyal customers.”
Mr. Grier developed the idea of a full-service car wash while working at a similar business while attending Elon University in North Carolina. It was there he learned what he calls “the tricks of the trade” from his boss and mentor. When he returned home to Milford, he saw that there was a car wash in the town but it did not offer the same services that the one in North Carolina offered. He created a business plan, found a partner and opened the Milford location in October 2006 with the Seaford location following in 2014.
Currently, Mr. Grier says that he has no plans to add additional Duck In locations, although it is never completely out of the question. “I’m not opposed to doing another project,” Mr. Grier said. “I just need to be presented with the right opportunity. In looking for another location, I would want to focus on a market that has a growing population with an available piece of real estate in an area with a high traffic count. I would also want to pick a location that does not have a full-service car wash currently.”
Both the Milford and Seaford locations offer inside and outside detailing using Armor All products as well as the best chemicals on the market to clean vehicles. Both locations offer underbody washing as well, something that people often cannot do on their own.
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No injuries were reported as of Sunday, and it was too soon to determine the cause, said Assistant Chief Roman Clark of the city fire department. The fire was put under control about 3:30 a.m., Clark added.
Fire crews lingered at the scene Sunday morning, and firefighters pulled away sections of roof above a vacant storefront to hose off the interior. As they worked, they attracted the gazes of stunned passersby, some of whom had come to pick up prescriptions or shop at the Family Dollar.
Some of the impacted storefronts had been displaced by a fire in November 2019 that knocked out a large section of the shopping center, impacting 10 businesses.
That fire began in the roof above the kitchen of the Lake Trout restaurant and was fueled by a natural gas line that was ruptured when the roof collapsed, officials said after an investigation.
Carl Harrison, an employee at T.I.M.E. Organization, an outpatient mental health clinic, said his space was largely spared this time, although the smell of smoke lingered.
The clinic used to operate out of one of the storefronts destroyed in 2019, he said.
The owner of Fashion Town, a clothing and shoes store in the shopping center, said there was water damage to his space, and he could smell smoke from beneath his mask as he walked through the store.
Firefighters got the call at about 10 p.m. Saturday, Clark said. They saw heavy smoke and flames showing through the roof when they arrived.
Firefighters encountered some problems with water pressure while fighting the blaze, Clark said, but it was resolved quickly. Baltimore County’s fire department assisted city firefighters, as did the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company.
As a precaution, Baltimore Gas and Electric shut off gas service to 12 businesses in the shopping center about 12:25 a.m., said Nick Alexopulos, a spokesman for the utility company. The company also de-energized electric equipment near the shopping center about 12:30 a.m., which affexted 305 customers in the area. But electric service was back up and running for the other customers around 5 a.m.
Between 2 and 3 a.m., a driver rode over a fire house and other equipment on the scene, Clark said.
“The fact that he ran over the hose was problematic for us because it was a supply line hose,” Clark said, adding that the incident “did not dampen” the effort to put out the blaze.
City Councilman Kristerfer Burnett, who visited the fire scene Saturday night, said he was thankful that no one was injured, but worried for the business owners, who have also been affected by the pandemic.
“It’s extremely unfortunate that this is occurring again in such a short period of time,” Burnett said.
The center, once a landmark destination for West Baltimore shoppers, opened in 1947 to much fanfare. The row of shops once included a movie theater and a bowling alley. But in recent years, it has fallen on hard times. In September 2008, a four-alarm fire caused an estimated half-million dollars worth of damage.
Working to improve the shopping center has been an “ongoing battle,” said Monique Washington, president of the Edmondson Village Community Association.
The association has pushed for upgrades to the facility and enhanced security measures, Washington said.
“What do we have to do to get a better shopping center?” Washington said. “We’ve got a new development across the street — the Uplands project — and people come in to look at those homes, and you look across the street and you see this.”
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The shopping center’s owner, Ira Miller, said he was in talks with potential new tenants for the center, including a potential grocery store that would fill the gap left by the 2019 fire. He was also gearing up to make aesthetic improvements, like banners and murals honoring leaders of the civil rights movement, Miller said.
“Basically, a year of work and planning, and we get to the home stretch and then I get a call at midnight that a fire had started,” Miller said.
The aging center could be hamstringing the community association’s efforts to bolster homeownership, Washington said.
“We want to see little cafes where you could go in, sit down at the little table and eat and have Wi-Fi,” she said.
When Washington heard from a neighbor on Saturday night that the center was on fire again, she was in disbelief.


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christian louboutin outletFans of famed footwear designer christian louboutin outlet helped fill a Manhattan courtroom yesterday for the latest battle in the legal war over his trademark...
Fans of famed footwear designer christian louboutin outlet helped fill a Manhattan courtroom yesterday for the latest battle in the legal war over his trademark scarlet-soled high heels.
Dozens of young women — some sporting Louboutin heels — were among the spectators at the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals, along with Louboutin himself and fellow fashionista Diane von Furstenberg.
“In the fashion industry color serves ornamental and aesthetic functions vital to robust competition,” Marrero ruled.
In court yesterday, presiding Judge José Cabranes asked if the designer wanted to trademark “the color red,” as suggested by YSL.
“We don’t claim basic red,” said louboutin outlet lawyer Harley Lewin, who insisted the designer only wanted to protect “a particular color, in a particular place, on a particular item.”
Judge Chester Straub — who made YSL lawyer David Bernstein remove a “distracting” red shoe from his table — asked the lawyer whether he thought a color could be trademarked.
I have to agree that I was intrigued when I first heard about this case. The idea that a designer believed he could trademark a color seemed outrageous, at first. Then I began to think about how his red has become a well-known and iconic symbol of his shoes. I do not think that it is a bad thing to trademark it (based upon a specific place, color, and item).


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One in five small business owners are worried about cybercrime – heaping on additional pressure alongside concerns like bankruptcy and competition.
The survey commissioned by internet content security firm Trend Micro reveals that 20 per cent of UK IT decision-makers are concerned about either personal details or confidential company information being stolen.
Meanwhil e, 39 per cent feared bankruptcy and 21 per cent were mostly worried about strong competition.
When asked about electronic crime specifically, one in four respondents said their business had been disrupted by a virus over the last 12 months, while 14 per cent recognised that company data had gone missing.
In addition to data loss, one in ten respondents recorded the theft of mobile devices, such as laptops, mobile phones and BlackBerries.
“The survey suggests that we need to do much more to better inform and help the small business community about the new generation of security threats that are attacking their IT infrastructure and with potentially devastating effects to their reputation and finances,” James Walker, product marketing manager at Trend Micro, said.
The survey also highlighted concerns about the ability for small businesses to apply web access policies.
On average, IT decision-makers felt happy for their colleagues to spend 36 minutes looking at non-work related websites.
While the majority prevent staff from browsing pornographic and gambling sites, the rules around online behaviour seemed more relaxed when concerning the use of social networking sites and online shopping.
Reports from TrendLabs, Trend Micro’s global research centre, show that social engineering techniques deployed by cybercriminals thrive in uncertain times and predictions point to a dramatic rise in security breaches through Web2.0 platforms like social networking sites as well as an increase in data-stealing malware, geared towards stealing login credentials and credit card information - details used across online banking and shopping sites.
Trend Micro suggests a number of tips on how small businesses can protect their assets, their customer information and, most importantly, their reputation:
n Ensure that all employees use effective passwords and, when possible, stronger authentication technology. Encourage passwords that are comprised of different upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters (such as £ %@) and change them frequently
n Discourage employee downloads from non-trusted sources such as peer-to-peer.
n Protect your network; by ensuring that PCs and laptops are protected by firewalls, anti-virus software and web threat protection both within the office network as well as when mobile working
n Keep all operating systems and software up to date as, without updates, your systems will not be well-protected against new threats
n Create and manage back-ups. It is best to store secured copies off-site and use encryption to protect sensitive records about employees, suppliers and customers
n Maximise encryption. You should protect customer data wherever possible, consider using email encryption.
n Don’t leave sensitive data saved on a handheld or mobile device, in case it is stolen or lost
n Keep in mind that your company will grow, and shop for security solutions that will grow with your business’s pace
The research was carried out by Opinion Matters/Tickbox.net from May 8 to 15, with a sample of 252 IT decision-makers.


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More people should be given vitamin D tablets to counter a hidden epidemic of deficiency, a report says.
The NHS advisory body, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), says 10 million people across England could be deficient, and many are unaware.
Its report says children should get free supplements and calls for supermarkets to sell low-cost tablets.
Deficiency can result in rickets and brittle bones.
Action of sunlight
NICE focused on groups most at risk of having low levels of the vitamin.
The chief medical officer in England has already urged doctors to prescribe tablets to these populations, and similar advice has been issued in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
But experts are concerned many are still not getting the Vitamin D they need. Official estimates suggest one in five adults and one in six children in England may have low levels.
People get most of their vitamin D from the action of sunlight on their skin. But the amount in food is small, unlike many other vitamins.
The low level of sunlight during winter months means people in the UK must rely on stores built up during the summer.
Professor Mike Kelly, who was involved in producing the NICE guidelines, said: "Around 10 million people in England may have low vitamin D status and so could be at risk of health problems - and they may not know it.
"People with darker skin are particularly at risk - during winter months nearly 75% of adults from Asian or African and Caribbean backgrounds may have low vitamin D levels."
People at risk include:
- Children and babies
- Pregnant women
- People with darker skin, including many people from African, Caribbean and Asian backgrounds
- People who don't get much exposure to the sun, such as those who cover up their skin for most of the year
- People who are housebound.
Free of charge
The NICE report sets out a number of measures, including encouraging local authorities to provide tablets free of charge to children.
The advisory body also urges manufacturers to ensure supplements are sold at the recommended dose - 10 micrograms a day for adults.
And NICE recommends supermarkets stock low-cost vitamin D tablets and promote them to those at risk.
Doctors and other health workers are encouraged to take every opportunity to discuss and record vitamin D intake with any patients who are at risk.
Professor Susan Jebb, who was also involved in developing the guidance, said: "It is really important health professionals are aware of the problem and that everyone understands that for those at risk of deficiency, a good diet alone will not solve the issue.
"People who are at risk can get supplements over-the-counter or speak to their GPs."


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General Motors has a smoking red-hot winner on its hands with the Chevy Volt. The extended-range electric vehicle is sending shock waves through the car – buying market.
Already, 250,000 potential buyers have expressed interest in the first 10,000 Volts GM plans to build in the next year. Some dealers have so many customers beating on the doors they plan to add a premium on to the sticker price. Last week, a Volt donated by GM to a Detroit Public Schools science program garnered $225,000 at auction. Thatâ€™s Rolls Royce territory.
Just a few years ago, a previous generation Cadillac failed to recapture its sticker price when auctioned off at a [auth] local charity ball. Ther eâ€™s oppor tuni ty her e for GM beyond the initial sales. It can use the intense demand for the Volt to shake off any r emaining Government Motors threads from its image. Anticipating that the price of such vehicles would be prohibitive because of technology costs, the federal government and many states, including Michigan, offered subsidies to buyers that amount to roughly $7,500.
That takes the Voltâ€™s sticker to the $35,000 range. Itâ€™s obvious now that the high price tag isnâ€™ t a deter r ent to sales, and that would-be buyers donâ€™t think $42,000 is out of range. The premiums being tacked on by some dealers bring the out-thedoor cost of the Volt closer to the original price point, and still buyers are lining up.G M has proven it can build an electric car that excites the market. And consumers are showing they are willing to pay a very rich price for the opportunity to drive that vehicle. Itâ€™s the law of supply and demand at its finest.
The government can and should step away now and let the market establish the sticker price. With demand outpacing supply by 25 to 1, thatâ€™s likely to be a price point very satisfying to GMâ€™s profit prospects. Buyers find the Volt worth the money, and likely believe the savings in fuel costs make the premium sticker still a bargain. Early indications are that GM would have no trouble selling out its inventory at the full $42,000 sticker price. The government subsidy gives the Volt a stigma it doesnâ€™t deserve, and the kickin isnâ€™t necessary to move the product. That money would be better spent, if spent at all, on developing a charging infrastructure for an electric fleet.
General Motors has done a remarkably good job of opening this new era of the automobile industry. With the reception the Volt is receiving, everyone should be confident that the free market can sustain it.


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‘Netflix with Ads’ Plan Won’t Allow Offline Downloads: Report
Back in July, Netflix announced it had picked Microsoft to power its upcoming ad-supported tier. This discounted tier would make up for its cheaper price by showing ads within shows and movies within the streaming service.
Now, it appears this ‘Netflix with Ads’ tier will lack a major feature of regular subscriptions: offline downloads.
According to The Tape Drive, code within the Netflix iOS app indicates offline downloads won’t be allowed with the ad-supported tier.
“Text found in Netflix’s app reveals that the new plan will not allow content to be downloaded for offline viewing. This is not a surprising move given that many other streaming services only work online,” writes developer Steve Moser.
“Downloads available on all plans except Netflix with ads,” reads the code within the Netflix iOS app.
Moser writes the Netflix app will also let customers set up their “ad experience” within the app, requiring some details so “the most relevant ads” will be shown.
Back in April, Netflix saw its first subscriber loss in over 10 years, which sent its shares plunging 25% at the time. A cheaper ad-supported plan looks to retain customers and attract new ones.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported Netflix was looking to renegotiate deals with Hollywood studios, to show ads next to popular shows. Studios are apparently seeking a premium of 15-30% over existing deals for Netflix to show ads during their flagship content.


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Poughkeepsie Journal to cease Saturday print publication, expands digital access
The Poughkeepsie Journal in March will cease print publication on Saturdays — for our home delivery and single-copy editions.
Instead, we will provide subscribers with a full digital replica of the newspaper on Saturdays. This E-newspaper will be filled with the same local, regional and national news, high school and professional sports, advertising and features such as comics and puzzles that you would find in print on Saturdays.
Home-delivery customers will continue to receive newspapers delivered to their homes all other days for which they subscribe. These delivery times will not change. Newsstand sales will be offered daily Sundays through Fridays.
“For some time now, in addition to being a daily newspaper, poughkeepsiejournal.com has been a digital site, a mobile app, social media service, multimedia provider and more,” Executive Editor Mary Dolan said, noting that with each passing year more subscribers have accessed news content on mobile phones and other digital devices.
“We appreciate that for many of our readers print is a cherished tradition, but it is time to make a strategic change that reflects the new ways most of customers and advertisers access media,” Dolan said. “We’ve taken care to ensure that our subscribers will continue to be provided with the content that they look forward to every day, and that we remain a vital part of the fabric of our community.”
The change takes effect March 12. News and sales staffing at the Poughkeepsie Journal will not change.
The E-newspaper, or E-edition, has existed seven days a week for many years. It has the same look as the printed newspaper, along with some features possible only on digital devices. These include the ability to clip and share articles and to adjust the text size.
As a bonus, Poughkeepsie Journal subscribers will also now have access to the USA TODAY’s network of e-Editions of newspapers from across the country, plus ad-free access to the USA TODAY crossword puzzle. The Poughkeepsie Journal is part of the USA TODAY Network, and the change being announced today also is taking place at more than 130 other publications in the network.
All print subscribers have full digital access, meaning they may read news updates throughout the day, subscriber-only stories, watch videos and listen to audio features, among other benefits. Subscribers also have 24/7 access to obituaries, legal notices, and classifieds on poughkeepsiejournal.com.
“Our commitment to local news remains steadfast,” Dolan said.
Anyone with questions about the change can access their account at help.poughkeepsiejournal.com/subscription-services or call customer service at 1-877-424-4341.


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LOS ANGELES — Flush with cash and eager to learn about the entertainment industry, the Japanese are starting to invest in Hollywood.
Some of Japan`s largest companies have been financing feature films, including last spring`s ``Bright Lights, Big City,`` starring Michael J. Fox, and the current ``Betrayed,`` with Debra Winger.
A number of Japanese corporations and partnerships are expected to buy stock in major motion picture and television studios or perhaps to buy a studio outright.
The Sony Corp., which is widely rumored to be interested in such an acquisition, has started its own division that produces and distributes American-made movies.
Sony already has a major presence in the American entertainment business through its $2 billion purchase of CBS Records last year.
The Japanese companies see leisure-time activities as among the healthiest industries in the world.
They think that the worldwide appetite for feature films and television programming is rising steadily and that the dominance of American companies is still largely unchallenged.
From Hollywood`s perspective, the Japanese have arrived on the scene at just the right time.
Wall Street, burned by the collapse of several aggressive entertainment companies in the past several years, has grown increasingly wary of the industry, making film financing more uncertain.
The appearance of Japanese companies with seemingly limitless cash has excited those who peddle scripts and seek financing.
``We can`t handle all the interest,`` said Pamela Landesberg, a spokesman for Sony`s film operation in New York. ``We`ve got a conference room full of scripts.``
Hollywood always has welcomed newcomers willing to finance its version of artistic vision, and the Japanese for the most part have been the kind of investors the film industry likes most-passive, with no managerial or creative input.
But some industry executives think that American entertainment companies should be prepared in the long run to have their new Japanese partners and competitors exert a major influence on their business.
``If you look back 10 years from now at the impact of the Japanese on the motion picture industry, the impact will be strikingly similar to what happened in the automobile industry,`` said David Puttnam, the former head of Columbia Pictures, who is now an independent producer.
``There are precise parallels in the Detroit of the mid-`70s and the Hollywood of the mid-`80s,`` said Puttnam, a frequent critic of the Hollywood establishment.
``They both see themselves as the center of the world and invulnerable to challenge.`` Puttnam said the Japanese influence could strengthen the film industry by reducing that insularity and challenging entrenched ways of doing business, much as it did in Detroit.
Other executives think the Japanese influence will be less dramatic and dismiss the automobile analogy, saying that manufacturing cars is a far cry from the creative nature of Hollywood`s endeavors.
But no one in the industry seems to question that the Japanese presence in the industry will steadily increase for some time.
``Over 10 or 15 years, it could become a very important factor,`` said William A. Shields, the president of New World Entertainment`s international division.
Most of the Japanese pioneers in Hollywood freely admit that some of their initial deals have been money-losers and that they remain baffled by the workings of an industry that often seems strange even to its most experienced American practitioners.
The CST Communications Co., a joint venture of C. Itoh & Co., Suntory Ltd., and Tokyo Broadcasting Systems Inc., has invested $15 million with the MGM-UA Communications Co. to help make three movies. But CST`s deal seems destined to lose money.
The first two films, ``Bright Lights, Big City`` and ``Fatal Beauty,``
with Whoopi Goldberg, were flops, at least in the United States. The verdict is not yet in on the third, ``Betrayed,`` but it certainly is not a smash hit. Besides CST, a consortium called Sogovision, composed of advertising agencies, broadcasters, commercial banks, trading companies, and other investors, has a $7 million film deal with New World. New World`s films, most of them low-budget pictures, have not done well, either.
The Japanese, however, appear undeterred by early setbacks. The Fujisankei Communications Group said recently that it would invest $10 million to back films being produced by Puttnam`s new London-based production company, Enigma Productions. Executives of the Nippon Steel Co. are talking to MCA Inc.`s Universal Pictures studio about a production deal. (MCA already is building a version of its Universal Studios tour in Japan in conjunction with Nippon Steel.) Sony has released several low-budget horror films, is distributing a new film called ``Warsaw`` and is producing its first major picture, ``Summer Job,`` for release next year.


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The much-awaited first-ever McDonald’s TV Commercial of the AlDub love team “might” air on Friday, Sept. 11th.
AlDub fans are super excited about it and are curious on how the commercial will go.
McDonald’s Philippines have gained a lot of Twitter followers, after the announcement of the AlDub’s first TVC for McDonald’s.
They’ve featured teasers on their Twitter account starting September 7th.
The suceeding teasers showed pictures of the famous AlDub split screen pakilig gestures, the pinky swear and heart sign.
A lot of the fans are planning to go to McDonald’s branches to celebrate the AlDub love team’s first TV commercial.
Many are hoping there will be AlDub standees and collectibles.
Let’s see if McDonald’s Philippines can cope with the demands of concerned citizens of the AlDub nation.


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Turkish cold rolled coil (CRC) producers have held domestic prices steady for the fourth consecutive week to encourage sales from cautious consumers.
Small tonnages have been sold at $790-800 per tonne exw for May production and delivery, a level unchanged since mid-April
, according to Metal Bulletin pricing archives.
Demand for Turkish CRC remains scant and buying activity has been slow due to a lack of demand from end-users in the automotive and white goods sectors.
“Buyers are holding off from purchasing CRC this week,” one trader said. “Everything comes down to demand, and it’s not there right now.”
There is more demand for hot rolled coil purchased from local producers such as Colakoglu, Erdemir, MMK and Toscelik rather than for CRC, Metal Bulletin was told.
Turkish market participants expect a revival in Turkish CRC sales in one or two weeks’ time, with consumers likely to return to the market to replenish stocks.


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Japan’s economic aftershock
Struggling to recover from the massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown that began on March 11, government officials and many owners of Japanís small and medium enterprises have fanned out across Asia in recent weeks, seeking new locales for their manufacturing operations.
But more than a simple response to a disaster, the moves could accelerate long-term changes in the industrial supply chain. Beyond killing an estimated 25,000 people and displacing 160,000 others, the March events, now termed 3/11, could have an impact on Japan’s manufacturing sector that goes beyond a temporary disruption. Acceleration of the offshoring of manufacturing is set to hollow out Japan’s industrial base.
“They are not out of business, they are still running,” said Masaki Uehara, a government official in the Tokyo ward of Oto, home of many manufacturing firms. “But they are thinking of what their next move should be.”
The aftershocks the March earthquake delivered to the global supply chain have rattled multinationals, which can no longer rely on single suppliers for key components in Japan, Uehara said. Thus, suppliers are looking to base their operations in other countries in Asia.
The disaster is only one reason for the changes. A confluence of other factors include the persistently high yen as well as high labour costs, environmental restrictions to combat global warming and rising energy costs exacerbated by what may be long-term restrictions on power generation.
Japan’s nuclear industry looks to be permanently damaged. At last count, 44 of Japan’s 54 nuclear plants remain closed, either because of direct damage or for maintenance. The electricity supply has been cut by 25 per cent – and no one knows how long that will last. “The hollowing out of Japanese industry was launched 15 years ago,” Uehara, said in an email. “The recession has continued for 15 years and with the bad effect of the strong yen for these years. But the earthquake was one of the triggers for Japanese companies to invest overseas. I expect that more companies will go out of Japan in the next three years.”
Uehara himself led a delegation of company officials to Thailand in mid-September in a hunt for possible new locations. He was not alone. In India, Tadashi Okamura, the chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India, accompanied a visiting business delegation to Tamil Nadu to encourage investments by Japanese small and medium enterprises, or SMEs, according to Business Line. In Hong Kong, Daniel Shao, the managing director of the Van Yu Group of Companies in Hong Kong, said he has been working to assist Japanese SMEs wanting to move to China, mainly Dalian in northern Liaoning Province. Thus the projected SME exodus is happening with the assistance of Japanese government officials.
Yukio Tada, president of Sojitz Research Institute in Tokyo, said in a telephone interview that as many as a third of the SMEs in Japan are thinking of ultimately departing for other countries, primarily to Southeast Asia. Just how deep the migration will go or where it will concentrate is uncertain. Tada’s estimate of a third of SMEs – of which there are hundreds of thousands in Japan – probably is high. These are family-owned companies typically with 50 to 100 employees. Given family ties and other issues, moving them offshore would theoretically be much more wrenching than for the multinationals.
The current migration follows the previous departure of manufacturing operations of Japanese multinational car and electronics companies to elsewhere in the region that began in the mid-1980s following the Plaza Accord that effectively revalued the yen, making Japanese products more expensive. “Japanese firms lost their price competitiveness and responded by shifting labour-intensive assembly operations to other Asian countries,” write Willem Thorbeck and Nimesh Salike in a recent research paper.
In fact, the Plaza Accord helped drive down the value of the US dollar against the yen by 51 per cent between 1985 and 1987. The effect of the mid-1980s migrations to Southeast Asia was dramatic. At that time the region was mired in an economic downturn. The arrival of the first-line Japanese companies, particularly in Singapore and Thailand, sparked the first “miracle” development in Southeast Asia. Although the earthquake may have hastened the current round of departures, SMEs for two decades have been following the multinationals offshore because of the necessity of being close to the companies they supply – with components, car parts, sheet metals, specialised chemicals and more.
The question is what happens to Japan itself. Will its industrial base wither, hollowing out the economy, as has happened in the United States? In the US, manufacturing as a percentage of GDP has fallen from 21 per cent in 1980 to just 11.7 per cent in 2010, according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. In Japan, manufacturing as a percentage of GDP has fallen from 28 per cent to around 20 per cent today, according to the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
“Japanese industry still has much deeper or higher technology than other countries,” said Masaki Uehara, the Tokyo ward official. “I believe that the number of Japanese companies will decrease more but the level of Japanese technology will remain with the higher and highest companies being successful.”
As with Germany, Japanese industry depends on quality and high technology, said Sojitz’s Tada. Its technological development is largely ahead of the world in consumer electronics, optical fibers, optoelectronics, car manufacturing and many other high-quality technologies that other countries so far cannot match. Given that technological lead, both Uehara and Tada say that Japan will continue its industrial mastery. Tada describes the departing companies as “obsolete” in terms of the R&D Japan will need for the next leap up the technological ladder.
“We have been counting on this as long ago as 1963,” Tada said. “There will be a new trend. It may take a bit of time, but in five years you will see a new face of Japan. In Japan, 90 per cent of R&D is by the private sector. There is a huge effort now underway.”
So the country may well make the leap without an unknown number of SMEs opting to go overseas. Those currently departing for elsewhere may spur still more growth in already dynamic regions. Perhaps Japan has one more miracle up its sleeve.
John Berthelsen is the editor of the Asia Sentinel, an online journal covering news, comment and analysis of politics, business, economics and other affairs across Asia. © 2011 Yale Center for the Study of Globalisation
Plenty of research suggests that making goals public is the best way to achieve them, if only to avoid the shame of failure.
Eliminating burdensome regulations anda cumbersome controls is far easier than establishing a few systems.
The UN is still a force for the greater good and it must step in to block any hasty escalation between the US and Iran.
No doubt the cleaning staff are the real heroes behind the scene, but seeing the waste on the ground on the new year's eve...
Some 5,200 US soldiers are stationed across Iraqi bases. READ MORE
Car owners with affected models will be contacted. READ MORE
If cities were ranked on their celeb appeal, Dubai would surely be... READ MORE
Lactation consultants provide personalised assistance to mothers and... READ MORE


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According to a recent Daily Livestock Report, 2010 marked the fourth year in a row that meat consumption declined in the United States and the fifth decline within a six-year period. Now, a new report shows this trend is expected to continue in 2012. Although the biggest drop is expected for beef, poultry and pork consumption are also expected to decline dramatically. All of this despite the fact that the US population continues to grow.
While some people may be switching from beef to chicken, an action that actually causes more animals to suffer since it takes many more chickens to equal the meat from a single cow, it appears that, on average, Americans are eating less meat, including chicken, and cooking more meat-free meals.
What is responsible for this trend? Certainly the ailing economy is prompting many consumers to tighten their belts and look for less expensive vegetarian meal options. After watching the hit documentary Forks Over Knives, or hearing about how former President Bill Clinton has reversed his heart disease, many are also looking to improve their health by adopting a healthy, vegan diet. But some reports also indicate that Americans are ditching meat, dairy and eggs after learning about how animals are raised and killed for food.
Whether to help farmed animals, improve their health, or save money, Americans are slowly but surely losing their taste for meat. Replacing meat with tasty vegetarian dishes is an inexpensive and effective way of reducing suffering on factory farms and in slaughterhouses. Please visit ChooseVeg.com for delicious, cruelty-free recipes and tips on transitioning to a healthy and humane vegan lifestyle.
US Meat Consumption Expected to Plummet in the New Year
by - December 27, 2011


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For the first time ever, this year’s World Circular Economy Forum will take place in Africa. WCEF2022 will be hosted jointly by the Republic of Rwanda, the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) and The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, with international partners. The main event will be hosted by Rwanda, one of ACEA’s founding members. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Europe-Africa Business Forum today.
“The circular economy can be a game changer for Africa’s development. WCEF2022 is an opportunity for Rwanda and the continent as a whole to showcase our traditions of environmental stewardship, and to explore ways of making the transition to a fully circular economy a reality” said Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, during her keynote address at a high-level event on business co-operation for the circular economy organized today by the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) and the European Commission.
The event highlighted the long-standing economic partnership between Africa and Europe and discussed how the circular economy can be further embedded into regional co-operation to promote sustainable development. ACEA is a government-led coalition whose mission is to spur Africa’s transition to the circular economy through policy development, business scale-up as well as leadership and advocacy.
“Africa is a vast continent and plays a crucial role in the circular economy also globally. Finland supports the global transition towards circularity, and hosting WCEF2022 in Africa is a natural step for this global collaboration arena”, says Sitra’s President Jyrki Katainen, former European Commission’s Vice President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness and former Prime Minister of Finland.
The upcoming WCEF2022 will be organised jointly by the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, in close collaboration with selected international partners. The forum will represent the aspirations of the African continent and its position in the global economy. While the programme has not yet been released, the forum will explore major themes relevant to Africa’s development, in which circularity could play a big role. The themes to address include climate and nature, youth, infrastructure, entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as trade and value chains.
WCEF2022 will also present some of the world’s best circular economy solutions. It will examine how businesses from Africa and elsewhere can seize new opportunities and gain a competitive advantage in the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies. It is expected to take place in early October in Kigali and online. The forum programme and dates will be announced later.


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Intellian has released the latest model in its NX Series of VSAT antennas. It’s called the v130NX, and it’s being marketed as the world’s first Ku-Ka convertible VSAT terminal with a 1.25-meter reflector.
The Intellian v130NX is designed for superyachts and other vessels that cruise offshore. In addition to supporting Ku- and Ka-band networks, it is compatible with GEO, MEO and LEO satellite constellations.
Installation is intended to be easy, with a single cable that combines Tx, Rx and DC power. A new AptusNX interface lets the antenna connect to any network, and provides remote access.
“With lower total cost of ownership and incredible performance, the v130NX offers the quality and reliability that our customers demand for better crew and guest connectivity, as well as digital vessel operations and fleet management,” Eric Sung, CEO of Intellian, stated in a press release.
What else is new at Intellian? The company unveiled a matching dome concept that lets yachts with NX Series antennas of any size fit the same dome to their Intellian satellite TV antennas, for better aesthetic symmetry.
For more information, visit: intelliantech.com


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— Erik Voorhees (@ErikVoorhees) January 22, 2019
“It is difficult to ignore the huge amount that investors, including some of the most sophisticated global investors, have poured into digital currencies in recent years. The invention itself is a tremendous demonstration of genius and creativity, and it deserves an opportunity to find a sustainable future in our economy. We would argue that two key ingredients to establishing a practical utility and a more stable value are governance and regulatory clarity – both of which are antithetical to the original intent as a decentralised, ungovernable global currency. And yet, as with exchanges, transparency and fairness are the keys to trust, and without some level of oversight and regulation, it is not possible to demonstrate a level of transparency and fairness that will build trust.
At Nasdaq, we are working to help cryptocurrencies gain investors’ trust by offering our technology for trade matching, clearing, and trade integrity to startup exchanges. We have also invested in ErisX, an institutional marketplace for cryptocurrency spot and futures. While this year will be another proving ground for cryptocurrencies, we believe digital currencies will have a role in the future. The extent of its impact will depend on the evolution of regulation and broader institutional adoption.” Adena Friedman, President and CEO, Nasdaq
L2 Central banks
L3 Commercial banks
L4 Payment processors
Makes no sense to compare transaction throughput or settlement speed of layer 1 of bitcoin to existing systems.
Our fiat system hasn't had a layer 1 in a long time.
— Dave Bradley (@BitcoinBrains) January 22, 2019
“The increasing number of financial entities under supervision, the rapid development of new products, the evolving regulatory environment and the tightening of the labour market have put the Malta Financial Services Authority under considerable strain.” IMF
Deutsche Bank & Danske Bank are accused of laundering $200+ billion.
The media calls it a “money laundering scandal.”
It’s not a scandal. It’s a crime. The people involved are criminals.
The language we use is important.
Let’s start calling these crimes what they are.
— Pomp ? (@APompliano) January 23, 2019
“The emerging cryptoasset market is seeking regulatory clarity and the FCA’s proposals are an important first step. The categorisation of different types of cryptoassets, the definitions applied and the examples given all help address ambiguity in this emerging area.
It is clear the FCA is looking to move fast, with final guidance expected in the summer. This is understandable as there have been challenges and the paper highlights the potential harms associated with cryptoassets. However, there are also a lot of positives. In particular, tokenisation is set to grow and the UK has an opportunity to play a pivotal role here. Some questions remain unanswered, including whether certain unregulated cryptoassets should be brought under the FCA’s jurisdiction to further protect consumers, and whether the existing regulatory framework is appropriate given the unique features and risks associated with these products.
ESMA has recently suggested some aspects of relevant EU legislation may require amendments to reflect this. The regulator’s plans should help to reduce the perceived reputational risks for issuers and firms involved in the cryptoasset market, allowing those who wish to move into this space to do so more confidently.” Steve Davies, PwC’s blockchain leader
“Future success of digital assets will be driven by each asset's use case and regulatory clarity. We don't need thousands of coins—each must have a legitimate reason for existing." – @ericvanm, SVP Global Operations, at @EventBinance #BinanceBlockchainWeek pic.twitter.com/3C8qWwTkpC
— Ripple (@Ripple) January 22, 2019
“Lack of regulation in the cryptocurrency industry is a hindrance to innovation and the growth of legitimate business. Blockchain and cryptocurrencies have enormous potential to transform the financial world but, without supportive regulation, the space will likely struggle to gain credibility. Until such time when governments, regulatory bodies, and traditional industry actors fully embrace and support the cryptocurrency industry through regulation, investors should look for fully compliant crypto projects, which advocate for sustainable regulation, when seeking to enter into this new digital economy.” Frank Wagner, CEO and Co-founder, INVAO
“Simple calculations suggest that once block rewards are zero, it could take months before a Bitcoin payment is final, unless new technologies are deployed to speed up payment finality. Second-layer solutions such as the Lightning Network might help, but the only fundamental remedy would be to depart from proof-of-work, which would probably require some form of social coordination or institutionalisation.” The Bank for International Settlement (BIS)
Well $AVA isn't a blockchain operating system. It is an all travel related booking platform. On average 15% cheaper from Bookingcom and immutable reviews because of the blockchain. Fiat payment is coming this month and $ETH is already a payment option. @VitalikButerin ?
— Iman (@H0DLKING) January 21, 2019
“The suggestion that the global blockchain ecosystem isn’t ready for regulation doesn’t take into consideration the significant strides that have been made on the regulatory front over the last 12 months, and the impetus for such advances. The benefits of adopting the right regulatory approach continue to be showcased here in Gibraltar, where the technology’s ascent in our economy has been accelerated since the implementation of the world’s first purpose built DLT regulatory framework. Regulation, informed by the needs of industry, is the key to unlocking the boundless potential of blockchain technology, as a mechanism to improve business operations and the daily lives of citizens.” Nick Cowan, Managing Director and Founder, Gibraltar Stock Exchange Group
Is it still an "appeal to authority", or is this more an "appeal to myself" logical fallacy? ?https://t.co/PxlqD0xIrd
— Josiah [Not interested in Bank-Coins] Spackman (@dgb_chilling) January 22, 2019
“I’m not so worried about cryptocurrencies. They fail the basic tests of financial services. They’re not a great unit of exchange, they don’t hold value, and they’re slower.” Huw van Steenis, adviser to Bank of England Governor Mark Carney
— Alistair Milne (@alistairmilne) January 19, 2019
“Even in extreme scenarios such as a recession or financial crises, there are more liquid and less-complicated instruments for transacting, investing and hedging (than crypto and blockchain).” JPMorgan analysts
It's truly fascinating how many men believe in the transformative power of blockchain but will need to see more evidence before deciding on climate change.
— Davos DeVille (@DavosDeville) January 23, 2019
“Despite its small market size, cryptocurrency regulation at this early stage is constructive to laying the foundation for a robust digital economy. As opposed to FX or capital markets where the assets and the infrastructure are separate, crypto markets and the blockchain technology it rides upon are inextricably linked. It is for this reason that regulation at the early stages is necessary — it guides not only the market construction, but helps to order the infrastructure as well.” Nydia Zhang, Chairman and Co-founder, Social Alpha Foundation
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author should not be considered as financial advice. We do not give advice on financial products.


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Dylan Sprouse brings Shake Shack burgers to the Victoria's Secret show for his model girlfriend, while Kelsea Ballerini, The Chainsmokers and Rita Ora talk performing and model friends. (Nov. 9)
NEW YORK – Just months after giving birth, models Candice Swanepoel and Behati Prinsloo showed off their fabulous post-baby bodies at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
The annual fashion show made its return to New York City on Thursday, marking the emotional end of the road for Adriana Lima as well as the return of two new moms.
Swanepoel strutted down the runway only five months after the birth to her second son, Ariel, with fiancé Hermann Nicoli in June.
The 30-year-old South African supermodel looked like she didn’t miss a beat, rocking a black bra and thong encrusted in sequins, paired with a shimmering cage corset and spiky “wings.” For another look, she sported a colorful set of pink and yellow wings, pink and gold brocade high-waisted corset underwear and a VS T-shirt tucked in.
South African model Candice Swanepoel walks the runway at the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 8, 2018 at Pier 94 in New York City. – Every year, the Victoria's Secret show brings its famous models together for what is consistently a glittery catwalk extravaganza. It's the most-watched fashion event of the year (800 million tune in annually) with around 12 million USD spent on putting the spectacle together according to Harper's Bazaar. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1AP1ON (Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP/Getty Images)
She wrote about her excitement to return to the Victoria’s Secret catwalk, posting on Instagram Tuesday: “Slightly excited…! So happy the @victoriassecret show is back in NYC!”
View this post on Instagram
Slightly excited…! So happy the @victoriassecret show is back in NYC! ? what was your favorite show?
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Prinsloo walked the runway nine months after giving birth to her second child with husband and “The Voice” star Adam Levine.
Behati Prinsloo walks the runway during the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at Pier 94 on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) ORG XMIT: CAPM109 (Photo: Evan Agostini, Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
The 30-year-old model is back after a three-year hiatus from the show to focus on her children with the Maroon 5 front man, 2-year-old Dusty Rose and 7-month-old Gio Grace. She gave birth in February 2018, last walking the show back in November 2015.
Prinsloo posted about her triumphant return on Wednesday, writing on Instagram: “Felt like i never left, i love my @victoriassecret family so much, my first show was 2007 it’s crazy to think about how time flies. I’m nervous and more grateful for all of it then ever. LETS DO THIS.”
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Felt like i never left, i love my @victoriassecret family so much, my first show was 2007 it’s crazy to think about how time flies. I’m nervous and more grateful for all of it then ever. LETS DO THIS. @10magazine @monica.mitro #edrazek #girlpower
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24 Jun Network from the comfort of your home – Northamptonshire’s first Business Online Showcase
An events expert from Northamptonshire is launching the county’s very first Business Online Showcase – an exhibition-style networking event set to take place in July.
Kerry Bate, who runs Polka Dot Events, has planned this interactive event to bring businesses from around the UK together into an online space.
Kerry, owner of the events management company, said: “Since COVID-19 swept the globe many of us have become used to meeting and chatting via the likes of Zoom and Skype. This is totally different though.
“This showcase will use technology that will enable visitors to take charge of where they go, who they talk to and what they see. Visitors will log in, receive a floorplan and there will be 20 exhibition rooms, two keynote speakers and even a virtual cafe – which people can pop into to see what chat is being had over a cuppa.”
This Business Online Showcase will take place on Wednesday, 29 July. There will be two sessions: 10am to 12noon and 1pm to 3pm. There is a £5 entrance fee, all of which Kerry is donating to the charity AGE UK.
Kerry added: “This is all about bringing businesses back to business. I love bringing people together which is why I am so passionate about events. So many small businesses are struggling right now and can’t physically go out to promote themselves. Coronavirus has forced so many of us to work differently and think creatively so I wanted to design an event to help businesses interact, chat, exchange business cards and support each other.”
Five people will be able to enter a room at any one time, with Kerry managing the itinerary and flow of the event from the comfort of her home office.
A maximum of 120 delegates will be able to attend each session and there will be 20 companies exhibiting.
Already lined up to exhibit are a design company, marketing specialist, social media expert and project planning company. More exhibitors are sought (it is £40 to sponsor a room) but Kerry is keen to stress that she is seeking a wide range of different businesses, from varying sectors – to guarantee there is something for everyone who attends.
Supporting and helping to promote this event is PR and social media company Pilkington Communications. Director Jessica Pilkington explained: “It is so inspiring to see fellow business owners thinking so innovatively and out of the box. This type of networking – where a visitor has control over where they go, who they talk to and when they arrive and leave – is a refreshing alternative to the usual online networking calls.
“We are proudly supporting this event and look forward to meeting, albeit in an online world, many businesses from across the country.
To find out more and to register to attend this event visit:
Business ONline Showcase – 10am-12pm: https://businessonlineshowcase-morningsession.eventbrite.co.uk
Business ONline Showcase 1-3pm https://businessonlineshowcase-afternoonsession.eventbrite.co.uk
- If you are keen to find out more – about exhibiting or attending – you can contact Polka Dot Events directly by emailing firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Arbitration giants shift cases to court
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Kai Ryssdal: Here’s something you’re probably aware of but just figure is the cost of having a credit card. When you sign up for an account, you usually have to sign away your right to sue if there’s a dispute. Instead, you agree to arbitration. The credit-card companies demand it, so consumers knuckle under. Now, though, two of the biggest firms in the arbitration business are getting out. Marketplace’s Jeremy Hobson reports from New York.
JEREMY HOBSON: If you believe that going before a judge will give you a better chance of winning your case than being judged by an arbitration firm hired by the company you’re fighting, then you’ll agree with Taylor Lincoln of Public Citizen.
TAYLOR LINCOLN: It’s kind of a good day; it’s not just kind of, it is a very good day for consumers.
Lincoln worked on a study about credit-card arbitrators and found that in 94 percent of the cases, the credit-card companies won in arbitration.
LINCOLN: It’s the sort of thing that any fifth grader could look at it and see that all the incentives are lined up on one side and that the arbitrator and the arbitration company have no real common-sense reason that they would be completely impartial.
The two arbitration firms getting out of the business are doing so because they were sued by the Minnesota Attorney General for hiding their financial ties to the credit-card companies.
You’d think that’s good news for consumers. But it goes deeper than that, according to David Robertson of the trade journal The Nilson Report.
DAVID ROBERTSON: Over time it could be that the credit-card companies are fighting, you know, thousands and thousands of lawsuits. It would be like having little spot fires in the forest that you’re trying to fight.
And the cost of that firefighting, he says, will inevitably fall on consumers.
ROBERTSON: There is going to be a rise in the cost of credit. Litigation is going to be extremely expensive.
And arbitration firms that testified today on Capitol Hill say moving the disputes into the courtroom probably won’t change the outcomes. The majority of consumers, they say, don’t even participate in their own cases.
In New York, I’m Jeremy Hobson for Marketplace.
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Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Maple Syrup Producers Association will meet Saturday, May 20 for their annual meeting and maple competition.
The event will take place in Glenville, at the Gilmer County Recreation Center in Shawnee Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The morning session features educational training, including a visit from Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt.
“Maple Syrup is burgeoning business in West Virginia. From new producers just getting their operations off the ground to seasoned maple makers who are moving into new markets, the industry continues to expand,” stressed Leonhardt.
A pot luck lunch will begin at noon. Those attending are asked to bring a dish to share. The annual Maple Competition and Awards will follow. Producers can enter their maple products, from syrup and cream to candy and sugar, to be named best in West Virginia. The judges will be looking for flavor, color and appearance.
The event will wrap up with the WV Maple Syrup Producers Association annual meeting. You can sign up to become a member during the morning session and will be eligible to become a voting member.
All are welcome to attend the meeting whether you’re a seasoned maple producer or just interested in exploring the maple industry. For more information, contact Cathy Hervey at 304-737-1889 or email@example.com.


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Strong sales of cancer drugs and a turnaround in its baby care business helped Johnson & Johnson's third-quarter earnings and revenue outpace estimates.
Here's how Johnson & Johnson reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv:
J&J reported third-quarter net income of $3.93 billion, or $1.44 per share, up from $3.76 billion, or $1.37 per share a year earlier. Excluding items, J&J earned $2.05 per share, above the $2.03 expected by analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.
Net sales rose 3.6 percent to $20.35 billion, surpassing expectations of $20.05 billion.
J&J's pharmaceuticals segment posted $10.35 billion in revenue, beating analysts' estimates of $10.02 billion. Medical device sales totaled $6.59 billion, missing expectations of $6.64 billion. The consumer business reported $3.42 billion in sales, above the $3.34 billion Wall Street anticipated.
Shares of J&J rose about 2 percent on Tuesday. They're now down about 2 percent this year.
"It was a strong quarter across all three of our segments of the business," J&J's chief financial officer Joe Wolk said Tuesday in an interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box."
J&J tweaked its full-year forecast to between $8.13 and $8.18 per share, up slightly from the previously guided $8.07 and $8.17 per share. Wall Street anticipates full-year earnings of $8.15 per share, according to Refinitiv. The company predicts revenue in the range of $81.0 billion to $81.4 billion. Analysts had expected $81.21 billion.
In the quarter, worldwide sales of cancer drug Darzalex reached $498 million, missing analysts' estimates of $538.7 million from Street Account.
Sales of Stelara, an immunotherapy treatment for plaque psoriasis, reached $1.31 billion, exceeding analysts' expectations of $911 million.
Earlier this month, J&J inked an agreement with Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals to develop its gene-silencing Hepatitis B treatment and take a minority stake in the company. The deal could potentially be worth more than $3.7 billion.
"Pharmaceuticals, I just can't say enough about that division for us," Wolk said. "It continues to just generate new products in a profound way that's transformational to the current state of care, and that's led the growth of our company for many quarters now."
The consumer business' increase in sales comes, in part, thanks to revamping its iconic baby care line. The company relaunched the line in August after losing ground to niche upstart brands and facing a 20 percent sales decline since 2011. In the quarter, U.S. baby care sales increased 20 percent to $120 million, up from $100 million in the same time last year.
J&J reformulated its products, cutting the number of ingredients in half, eliminating dyes and sulfates and replacing ingredients like mineral oil with coconut oil, Trisha Bonner, associate director of research & development at J&J Consumer, told CNBC in May. The company also redesigned packaging, adding pumps to many of its products to make it easier for parents to use while holding a baby.
"It's much more receptive to the needs of millennial moms and dads in terms of the formulation and packaging," Wolk said.
-CNBC's Meg Tirrell contributed to this report


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Find out what our Tako release date prediction is with this guide. TikTok has already started testing out its new AI chatbot, Tako, with a select group of testers in the Philippines. But, when will our chance come to play around with this new AI addition?
Well, it is not completely clear when TikTok will release Tako to the public. However, some fans have already been granted early access to the chatbot suggesting that Tako could be widely available in a couple of months.
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Tako is set to be the latest addition to the TikTok app. According to developers, Tako is designed to help fans with “search and discovery” on the platform. So what does this mean?
Well, Daniel Buchuk from Watchful Technologies revealed what this chatbot can do in an early access post. According to Buchuk, Tako acts like a personal assistant helping you discover new content on the platform. Or in his own words: “If I’m watching food videos and ask for a recipe, I’ll get related TikTok videos for the recipe, or if I ask for good art exhibitions in Paris, it’ll show videos alongside a list of suggestions in the answer”. This will truly revolutionize the platform making it much easier to find relevant videos.
How to use TikTok’s Tako
From early release screenshots, it seems as though Tako will fit nicely along the right-hand bar on the TikTok interface, just above your profile icon. Thanks to a few users sharing their sneak peeks, it looks as though Tako will embody a ghost. Similar to other AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, you can chat with Tako asking the AI any question on any topic. It should then respond to you in a conversational manner recommending videos that match your prompt.
Many fans are anticipating the release of TikTok’s latest addition, Tako. At the moment, Tako is still in its testing phase and unfortunately, the social media giant has not officially announced when this AI chatbot will become widely available.


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BT’s announcement that it will be switching off its ISDN and PSTN services by 2025 is a bit of a landmark moment in telephony services. This has been the fundamental technology underpinning landlines for decades and its end is just part of our further transition into a fully digital age. So, what does this mean for businesses?
Communicating via the internet
The business world has been increasing its uptake of VOIP phone system steadily over the last 15 years. It started with video conferencing over Skype. The promise of video conferencing and the ability to make free calls over the internet was compelling, but poor image and sound quality kept it to the fringes.
Things have changed remarkable since then. Whether using Skype, FaceTime, Google Duo or any other online communications tool the internet offers a fast, effective and affordable way to communicate with multiple people no matter where they are based in the world.
It is a true revolution for business. A company based in the Midlands, for example, can now open itself up to a mobile and international talent pool of professionals around the world. You can have someone based in London holding a conference call with professionals in Mumbai, Hong Kong, New York all at the same time.
This is how businesses increasingly communicate. Voice, text and video communication can happen at a touch of the button via a desktop computer. Files can be shared and updated instantly, dramatically improving productivity.
Best of all, this all comes at a fraction of the cost of a traditional phone call. Using a landline, it would have been costly and time-consuming to arrange conference calls. Now it can happen instantly and cheaply.
Most of these services, though, occur alongside conventional landlines. They may be used as an additional feature or a back-up in the event of an interruption to existing phone services, but BT’s move is a realisation of an ongoing trend, that people and businesses are walking away from landlines.
In the US, only half of households still have landlines according to a report from Statistica. Here in the UK we’re somewhat more attached to our landlines with most households still having one. However, a recent survey found that 95% of people said they would not miss their landline if it was gone.
Businesses are moving the same way. PwC recently decided to scrap their landlines. Staff were put on notice that they would have to conduct their communications via their mobile phones. Most had already done so which made the company’s decision less a specific move and more a recognition of the status quo.
The same can be said of BT. As recently as 2009, they were trying hard to salvage the fortunes of the landline with a nationwide advertising campaign entitled ‘if a conversation is worth having, use your landline’. Now, though, it appears to have waved the white flag and is positioning itself to be at the forefront of change.
The benefits of VOIP
VOIP, then is not coming to replace landlines, it’s coming to bury them and it’s not hard to understand why. Installing a telephone system for a business is an extremely cost-intensive exercise. Even a relatively small installation can cost thousands of pounds. On top of that, maintenance costs can be high and cause significant disruption to the business.
For businesses struggling to cope with a more competitive landscape in which profit margins are being continually squeezed, that cost can be a heavy burden – all the more so when it seems employees are taking the initiative and using alternative measures. Many employees already have a mobile phone and routinely use online communications instead of their office phones.
VOIP, on the other hand, costs a fraction of the amount and requires only a handset which can be plugged into the network. It is light on maintenance and will be as reliable as your internet connection.
The advent of new technology, meanwhile, allows most VOIP services to deliver a comparable call quality to ISDN. However, it can also add a host of additional features. By combining multimedia communication, it fits in with the modern age and offers much more flexibility for users.
Users can benefit from a collection of additional features including call recording, and automated assistance. When operators aren’t available to take a call, users can be transferred to an automated service which answers a collection of frequently asked questions. It can also be programmed to call multiple devices before determining that an individual is truly unavailable and forwarding the caller onto an answerphone.
The ability to provide phone access across multiple devices liberates professionals from their desks. As such, this is very much a technology for the modern age. Workers can be truly mobile making calls from the same number regardless of what device they are calling on.
They are helped by dramatic improvements in mobile phone networks. 3G has long been replaced by 4G and 5G is already on the horizon. With each step forward it becomes cheaper, easier and faster to make calls over the internet.
Completing the switch
Moving to VOIP, of course, will not come without its hurdles. Call quality depends on the speed of the network within a business. Businesses routinely use connection speeds which would have been unthinkable only a few years ago, but VOIP communications devour bandwidth. Estimating bandwidth requirements can be challenging and it is all too easy to underestimate requirements.
Businesses will have to think long and hard about how many phone users they have in the organisation and how many of them will want to use the phone at the same time. Add to that the way in which staff use the internet and you’ll have a rough idea of how much capacity you will need.
The long and the short of it, though, is that you will have to significantly boost connection speeds. With businesses pushing up beyond 100 Mbps towards 1 Gbps, they are developing the level of bandwidth required to deliver a smooth and high quality VOIP experience.
BT, then, is going where the rest of us are heading. Slowly but surely the landline is losing its attractiveness. The age of VOIP will soon be fully upon us.


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Queensland-based hardware and communications company, Powertec Telecommunications, has developed a brand-new range of outdoor fixed wireless devices that will be sure to ignite the 4G broadband plans of mobile operators.
Cellferno is a revolutionary product, brand new to the Australian market, developed using innovative mobile technology which delivers high-speed data for basic internet access to mission-critical applications.
An extension of the company’s current mobile broadband product offering, the fixed wireless solution is taking on the NBN, or inadequate broadband connections, across many residential and commercial areas across Australia.
Launched this month, the latest innovation by Aussie connectivity innovator, Powertec, has been designed with speed in mind, offering high-speed mobile internet for commercial, IoT and residential applications with speeds up to 600Mbps.
Powertec General Manager, Samantha Clifton, said that in this current climate of wireless dependency due to the COVID-19 crisis, Cellferno delivers the ultimate high-speed internet connectivity solution, especially where cable-based internet is not available.
“Cellferno can provide users with super-fast internet speeds and connectivity, with the single box design containing multiple antennas and a built-in modem to capture the best possible signal outdoors,” she said.
“The device continues to impress with its simple and easy installation, putting the customer in command by simply allowing them to use the sim card provider and mobile data plan of their choice.”
Connectivity is fast becoming the new currency in light of the global pandemic, with connectivity solutions like Cellferno critical for consumers and businesses in order to digitally navigate COVID-19 restrictions.
“The need for better connectivity has never before been so critical, with more people staying at home, organisations setting up pop-up work zones, businesses using online tools or platforms, and the necessity of web-based learning.”
With a single ethernet cable powering the Cellferno device, it can be connected directly to a computer, network switch or a WIFI access point to provide high-speed internet to devices within range.
“Due to the Cellferno’s focus on speed, it can act as a primary internet source or secondary wireless backup for a corporate customer’s NBN service,” Ms Clifton added.
“Cellferno is an extension to Powertec’s current mobile broadband product offering, providing an additional high-speed connectivity solution to our product portfolio.”
Cellferno is available now in two different models, M600 featuring Cat6 2×2 MIMO technology, capable of speeds up to 300Mbps and M1200 Cat12 4×2 MIMO technology, capable of speeds up to 600Mbps. Supported by all mobile operator bands.
Designed to stand harsh Australian conditions, Cellferno can operate in temperatures of up to 65 degrees Celsius due to its rugged steel casing, IP67 protection and in-built heater for clearing ice.
By developing this innovative product, Powertec Telecommunications continues to channel the company’s passion for a world where everyone can communicate and be connected no matter where they may be.
Cellferno will be available for purchase from 2 April 2020. For more information about the Cellferno product series, visit www.powertec.com.au.
ABOUT POWERTEC TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Australian-born, global hardware and communications company, Powertec Telecommunications, is optimising connectivity far and wide with its low-cost, smart technology solutions. From humble beginnings in 1995 on the Gold Coast, the company has grown into an international operation with offices across Australia and New Zealand.
Through a commitment with its partners and manufacturers, Powertec has secured exclusive distributorship in Australia and New Zealand for many complementary products that have attracted over 1,000 resellers and retailers, as well as internationally.