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Spider-Man is finally becoming a full-fledged member of the Avengers – in the gaming world, anyway.
The web-slinger will be added to Marvel’s Avengers as part of the 2.2 PlayStation patch that’s coming at the end of the month, according to Sony. The update will also add a new Raid, a power cap increase and a “friendlier” method of unlocking cosmetics, Sony reveals.
— PlayStation new (@PlayStationnew1) November 4, 2021
The 2.2 patch for Marvel’s Avengers will be available on November 30th.
What other Marvel characters would you like to see added to games?


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- Central bank adoption of Bitcoin can push prices higher
- At least 18 central banks have plans to develop digital currencies
- Bitcoin is “winning the adoption race”, Bloomberg analyst notes
The list of central banks that have initiated or have already developed plans to issue a digital currency continues to grow. According to the latest research, at least 18 central banks have publicly acknowledged the development and/or launch of their own digital currency.
Central bank adoption: The latest updates
The People’s Bank of China (PBoC), the nation’s central bank, has announced that the development work around its digital currency is almost complete. In a statement released this week, the PBoC stated that the “processes of top-level design, setting industry standards, developing potential functions and integration testing,” are “almost complete”.
The PBoC initiated the process of developing a state-controlled digital currency and established the Research Institute of Digital Currency in 2014. The media outlets reported that Facebook’s plans for its own digital currency project have made the PBoC speed up its plans of completing the infrastructure around the nation’s digital currency.
Accordingly, the Chinese digital currency has major technical features such as the ability to process transactions offline on mobile phones.
Similarly, the new Governor of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, wants the bank to take a more active approach in the development of the central bank digital currency.
“ECB will continue to assess the costs and benefits of issuing a central bank digital currency that would ensure that the general public remains able to use central bank money even if the use of physical cash eventually declines.”
“We are working on all aspects of CBDC, with in-depth analysis of costs and benefits of such a new form of central bank money. It will take a while before we will communicate on our conclusions.”
Even in her previous role, as the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Lagard was advocating for an “open approach” towards digital currencies.
Will increasing adoption lead towards higher prices?
Many analysts believe that the increased adoption for cryptocurrencies will take bitcoin to another level. Recent surveys note a surge in crypto adoption. The Yougov report shows that 36% said cryptocurrencies would be widely accepted for legal purchases, which is an increase compared to previous numbers.
According to Mike McGlone, senior commodity strategist for Bloomberg Intelligence, Bitcoin should move higher in 2020 on increased adoption and fixed supply.
“Bitcoin is winning the adoption race, notably as a store-of-value in an environment that favors independent quasi-currencies. In 2020, Bitcoin supply should increase about 2.5%, an all-time low on the way to zero growth.”
Whether Bitcoin moves higher this year remains to be seen. However, the surge in worldwide adoption of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies can only help Bitcoin prices. Furthermore, the adoption of cryptocurrencies as a means of payment from the side of central banks will provide a major boost to Bitcoin’s price, according to many analysts.
Bitcoin currently trades at $8060, which is more than double compared to the same time last year, when it traded around the $3600 mark.

domain: news


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British chef, restaurateur and television personality Gordon Ramsay is officially crossing the pond, having just snagged a $6.75 million luxury mansion in Los Angeles, Calif.
The famously hot-tempered "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef" star's new 7,413-square-foot home is located in the prestigious guard-gated compound of Bel Air Crest. The stunning mansion sits on a one-acre lot and boasts remarkable canyon, city and ocean views. It was built in 2003, designed by award-winning "starchitect" Ken Ungar and features five bedrooms, six bathrooms, generous living spaces, a swimming pool and a state-of-the-art luxury kitchen (naturally).
Given Ramsay's current line-up of U.S.-based projects, the move is actually a natural one. "MasterChef," filmed in Los Angeles, will soon be kicking off its long-awaited third season. Plus, with Ramsay having just started filming episodes of his new reality television show, "Hotel Hell," at New York's Cambridge Hotel, it makes perfect sense for him to establish a home base in the United States.
In addition to his rapidly expanding television career, Ramsay will also be launching his new restaurant, Gordon Ramsay Steak, in the Paris Las Vegas Resort in Nevada this spring. On top of developing and selling his new line of Kmart kitchen products (in stores now!), we wonder when he even had the time to go house-hunting.
See more images of Ramsay's new digs below. Here's hoping that some California sunshine and some down time by that new infinity pool of his will put him in a better mood.


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The Madras High Court ordered shut Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) shops across the state, two days after allowing them to operate in non-containment zones. This, after the court noted that physical distancing norms to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were not adhered to. The decision to reopen TASMACs was slammed by Opposition parties and activists who warned that it would lead to overcrowding.
On Friday, the court permitted the sale of liquor through online ordering and home delivery only.
Several petitions had been filed against the opening of TASMAC, the first by lawyer B Ramkumar Adityan and others including former IPS officer AG Maurya and actor-politician Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam party. On Thursday, Kamal had written a letter, slamming the AIADMK government for reopening TASMAC, calling the move 'hairbrained' and 'bordering on genocide'.
After the court's pronouncement, Kamal Haasan tweeted, "The judgement has yet again proved that belief and promise of the court will always win. We have got a judgement for the people. This is not a victory for MNM alone."
On Wednesday, a division Bench of Justices Vineet Kothari and Pushpa Sathyanarayana allowed the reopening of TASMAC stores after six weeks of lockdown. The court had imposed restrictions including one bottle (750 ml) per person as well as sale of liquor only once in three days per individual.
The court had warned, however, that it would order the closure of shops if precautions were not followed and social distancing norms were flouted. Chennai and neighbouring districts were not allowed to reopen liquor stores.
On opening day, hundreds thronged TASMAC stores in the state. According to some reports, 20 lakh litres of alcohol worth Rs 170 crore was sold. However, physical distancing norms went for a toss and scores were seen without masks.
The opening of TASMAC shops on Thursday witnessed widespread protests from Opposition parties including the DMK, CPM and VCK. Leaders of these parties wore black badges and showed black flags in front of their homes for 15 mins.
Tamil Nadu Opposition Leader MK Stalin, along with DMK Youth Wing Secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin and wife Durga held a black badge protest in front of his house at Alwarpet.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan released a video from Puducherry to express his condemnation of reopening liquor stalls.
Apart from this, many women held protests against the opening of TASMAC shops across Tamil Nadu, following which certain TASMAC shops were closed.


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Apple will highlight the contributions of women to society in many ways during Women’s History Month, including suggesting relevant outstanding books, podcasts and apps. It also plans virtual Today at Apple sessions led by female creators.
Plus, there’ll be an International Women’s Day Apple Watch Activity Challenge for March 8, and there’ll be other ways of observing this day.
“Apple is further amplifying female voices that drive culture and change by bringing to the forefront untold stories, exclusive content, and curated collections across all of its services,” said Apple on Thursday. “Available beginning in March, these offerings celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of all women who accelerate the conversation around gender equality.”
Apple commemorating Women’s History Month in myriad ways
Apps are an intrinsic part of the iPhone experience, and in March the App Store will provide exclusive interviews of female developers, and offer a curated Apps Made by Women collection. There’ll also be an App of the Day and Game of the Day from a woman creator, and a collection of games from Apple Arcade starring female characters.
Apple Music will offer curated playlists from artists and influencers. On March 8, Apple Music radio and Apple Music TV will feature female voices, stories and musicianship for 24 hours.
Apple Books will celebrate with country-specific collections that feature women’s voices — from both literary icons and newcomers.
There’ll be curated topic groups on Apple News that highlight figures from the past and present, lesser-known stories about women’s history and top journalism on women’s issues.
Today at Apple is a series of free training sessions. In March, there’ll sessions featuring illustrator and designer Sara Andreasson, photographer and filmmaker Camila Falquez and documentary photographer and filmmaker Bethany Mollenkof. Sign up on Apple’s website.
Starting on International Women’s Day, Apple Fitness+ subscribers can enjoy a collection of 24 workouts featuring full playlists made up entirely of female artists. The workouts will celebrate women with either a full theme, such as persistence, equal opportunity and breaking through barriers, or by including inspiring and motivating songs from great women artists across all music genres.


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NewKadia is Giving Away $30,000 in Comics in September
NewKadia.com has decided it’s launching the biggest comic giveaway in history. The “world’s largest online comic store” is giving away $30,000 worth of comics away in September.
NewKadia will select 300 people (10 per day) at random to win a $100 Gift Card. The card can be used for any of NewKadia’s 698,000 back-issue comic books. No purchase is necessary. You can find the full contest rules at the website.
The contest launched to celebrate the website’s 10 millionth shopper to NewKadia.com, who visited August 18, according to NewKadia’s CEO, Jim Drucker, citing data provided by Google Analytics and Alexa, a subsidiary of Amazon.com.
The privately held NewKadia.com, Inc. opened January 1, 2000 and its website, www.NewKadia.com is now the world’s most visited online-only comic book store. Among comic book stores without a brick and mortar store, NewKadia is the longest operating comic book retail store on the internet. Over 1.1 million people shop at NewKadia.com each year.
NewKadia’s 698,000 comics weigh 43 tons. If piled on top of one another, they would reach 6,013 feet high — four times the height of the Empire State Building. If placed end to end, they would stretch 110 miles, the distance from New York to Philadelphia.
NewKadia has 9,200 different titles and 110,000 different comic books for sale. They include most issues from the Silver age, Bronze age and Modern age of comics. The best-selling comic book is Amazing Spider-Man comic books. X-Men comic books, Fantastic Four comic books, Mad Magazine, Batman comic books, Avengers comic books Classics Illustrated comics, Daredevil comic books, Superman comic books and Wolverine comic books round out NewKadia’s top seller list.


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So you want to get your hands on the shiny new iPhone 7. Great! It’s faster than its predecessor, has a better camera and comes with more storage space to boot. But if you’re in India, be prepared to pay more than the asking price Apple announced on stage – a whole lot more.
The 32GB variant of the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 will cost $649 in the US; in India, it’ll set you back by Rs. 60,000 ($903). That means you’ll have to pay about 40 percent more than its sticker price in the country.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the higher price in India is a result of Apple taking local sales tax into account (US prices announced on stage were before sales tax). Plus, Apple sells its products through third-party retailers in India, and so it has to include a margin for them to make a profit. There’s also the matter of a price buffer to account for movements in the value of the Indian Rupee.
It’s worth noting that India is not the only country where the iPhone 7 will be more expensive than the US; customers in the UK will have to pay about $80 more than the ticker price for the 32GB variant, owing to a significant drop in the value of the British Pound.
Hopefully, this will be the last time you pay a significantly higher premium for the latest iPhone when you buy it in India. A recent foreign direct investment ruling in the country will allow Apple to open its own local retail stores, negating the need to sell through other retailers and mark up its prices.
The company is reportedly considering opening 10,000 sq. ft. stores in major cities like New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai by the end of 2017. Apple hasn’t shared any new information in this regard since; we’ve contacted the company to learn more and will update this post if there’s a response.


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Mothercare customers now benefit from self-service online facilities High-street retailer Mothercare has introduced self-service capabilities as part of a web site refresh aimed at improving customer...
Attackers placed Brewery job ads on recruitment sites worldwide to provide cover for their phishing emails
Worldline CIO Ryan Bryers has been on a mission to build a high quality offshore DevOps team at low cost
James Kitching, Solicitor - Corporate, Coffin Mew, examines the phenomenon of decisions being made by machines in the justice system
The company has 30 days to audit its data practises, or face the maximum £17 million fine


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In Nigeria, there are more than 40 million micro-businesses underserved in some form or another regarding banking services. Although some of these businesses have registered bank accounts, gaps exist in how banks use the data available to serve the needs of each business.
With banks, presenting a series of transactions as statements is all these businesses require. They care less about providing them with insights and growth opportunities around their customers and products.
A fintech startup, Prospa wants to change that and has begun to tap into this market. In March, the company was one of the 10 African startups participating in Y Combinator’s winter batch. A few months past graduation, the startup, combining both worlds of banking and business management tools for micro and small businesses, has closed a $3.8 million pre-seed round.
Prospa was founded by Frederik Obasi, Chioma Ugo and Rodney Jackson-Cole. As a serial entrepreneur running businesses in tech and media, Obasi experienced how tough running operations and banking his business simultaneously was in Nigeria.
Banks only concerned themselves with providing some financial services so people like Obasi had to look for software or personnel to cater to the operational parts of their businesses.
For someone who runs a large business with a considerable influx of cash, it is easy to assign staff or buy software to delegate tasks. But it can be expensive and a daunting task for smaller businesses; that’s why most of them struggle.
Sensing an opportunity, Obasi and his team launched Prospa under the premise that they would cheaply solve the needs of these small business owners in banking and software.
“When I left my last business, I wanted to do something really big and something that I knew the problem inside out. That’s why I started Prospa,” Obasi told TechCrunch over a call.
The founders built the product between June and September 2019 and went live in October. Since then, the company acquired customers in stealth even when they got into YC. Obasi explains that he wanted Prospa to have organic traction void of the growth driven by hype and media noise.
“We like to think a really long-term game. We really wanted to really test the hypotheses, build an actual business with revenue and understand what we were doing. Then the COVID period came and we started seeing enough traction,” he added.
But when the company began to get some buzz, the typical description people had about Prospa was “a neobank for small businesses.” Over the call, CEO Obasi is quick to dispel that notion. Alongside providing banking services, he says Prospa offers invoicing tools, inventory management, employee and vendor management, an e-commerce store, and payroll features.
“Banking is just a little part of what we do. We know we’re put into the neobank category, but we see our product as 10% banking and 90% software. So the experience is very much different from what you’d get from a neobank and the use case for Prospa users is quite different,” he added.
Prospa focuses on freelancers and entrepreneurs, acting as the “operating system” for their businesses.
Registered businesses on the platform get access to an account number and other features Prospa provides. For unregistered businesses, Prospa takes them through a process of formalizing their business and providing bank accounts. However, in the grand scheme of things, this segment is more of an inroad into an upsell.
Talking on traction, Obasi says the company has tens of thousands of businesses and is growing 35% month-on-month. And from a non-banking perspective, Prospa has managed over 150,000 product catalogs while small businesses have sent out 360,000 invoices on the platform.
Then pricing depends on the business’ turnover. For instance, a business with a turnover of ₦100,000 (~$200) is not expected to pay Prospa any subscription fee. But businesses with turnovers exceeding ₦100,000 pay fees between ₦3,000 (~$6) and ₦5,000 (~$10) monthly.
This past year, African VC has seen incredible numbers from all corners of the continent at different stages of investment. Prospa’s pre-seed investment, for instance, is the largest round of its kind in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa at the moment. In Africa, only Egyptian fintech Telda has raised a larger round.
Obasi believes the company’s understanding of the market and what it wants to achieve was the main reason it could command such a price which, according to him, was almost four times oversubscribed.
The investors in the round include VCs like Global Founders Capital and Liquid 2 Ventures. Founders of global fintechs like Mercury’s Immad Akhund, Karim Atiyeh of Ramp, and executives from Teachable, Square, Facebook and Nubank also participated in the round.
Seeing the likes of Akhund and Atiyeh on Prospa’s cap table might suggest to some that Prospa was backed because the company is building a replica of those businesses in Nigeria. However, Obasi says while there are similarities, Prospa is not building a product for startups.
“There’s a massive startup ecosystem in the U.S. where you can basically grow a billion-dollar company just serving YC companies. We don’t have that here. We’re really building for the backbone of the economy, which is small and micro-businesses. Speaking to and being able to build relationships with investors, one of the things we made clear is that we’re not an American copycat,” he said when asked if Prospa could be likened with Mercury and other U.S. startup-focused financial product.
Prospa plans to use its new capital to double down and expand with acquisition strategies to get more customers. In addition to that, the company plans to hire more talent, especially in product and engineering.


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The New Zealand Shippers’ Council welcomes the Government’s decision to green light the Manawatū Gorge replacement road and urges the government not to take its eye off other important roading investments that support the efficient movement of freight across the supply chain.
While supportive of the recent PGF announcement that will see $95 million going to the upgrading of the North Auckland rail line, the Council stresses the importance of maintaining investment in roads.
“Although we’re pleased to see investment in rail that builds capability and contributes to efficiencies across freight corridors – it’s critically important that the Government continues to invest in roads”, says Simon Beale, Chairman of the NZ Shippers Council.
“Freight is the life blood of the economy and roads are still the main mode of transportation for 90% of the freight volumes moving around the country. We look to the Government to ensure that there is continued investment in quality roading infrastructure across the total supply chain.”
For further comment:
Chairman, NZ Shippers Council Telephone: 021 390 578
About The New Zealand Shippers’ Council
The New Zealand Shippers’ Council represents the supply chain interests of major New Zealand cargo owners, with members across all sectors including importers, exporters, ports, freight forwarders, road and rail.


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New construction in New York might be a hot topic in development and investor circles, but the real meat and potatoes for agents and clients is in Manhattan's hot resale market. According to data released from Brown Harris Stevens (BHS), average sale price for apartments in Manhattan has climbed double digits since last year. Although apartments sold in the second quarter actually stayed on the market for more days than last year (88-day average, up 6 percent from 2015), the median price set a record high of $950,000. This is due to the low inventory in the area, the report says, and the high demand for studio and one-bedroom units. "Much of the new inventory coming on the market are more condos positioned for the higher income buyer looking for larger units," said Charles L. Ruoff, licensed associated broker at BHS. "The smaller apartments were not constructed as they did not meet the financial objectives of the developer. The sales market was skewed, and the studio and one-bedr...
- The median sales price for resale studios in Midtown increased 19 percent.
- Apartments in Manhattan spent an average of 88 days on the market.
- Of the 2,115 units sold in Manhattan during the second quarter, 1,600 were resales.
Future-Proof: Navigate Threats, Seize Opportunities at ICNY 2018 | Jan 22-26 at the Marriott Marquis, Times Square, New York


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April 10, 2012 Alex Woodie
VAI last month announced a new release of S2K, its line of IBM i-based ERP software. S2K Enterprise Release 5.0.4 brings dozens of enhancements and fixes across all functional areas of the package, including order entry, purchasing, warehouse management, and CRM. The New York company has also signed the Complete IT Store as its latest reseller.
S2K Enterprise Release 5.0.4 (or PTF04 for Release 5.0) is the fourth minor release since VAI shipped the monumental S2K version 5.0 back in 2008. With a brand new GUI, a new portal framework, and support for smart phones, version 5 marked a major


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Co-op Group hit again as Midcounties director Reid quits board after Myners vote
One of the most powerful members of the Co-operative movement has quit the board in the wake of a landmark vote on the future of the troubled mutual.
Ben Reid, the boss of the largest independent Co-op society Midcounties, resigned yesterday morning after sitting on the board for 14 years.
The move came less than 48 hours after Co-op members voted unanimously in favour of four principles, including establishing a more experienced plc-style board and giving more power to the mutual’s 7.6 million ordinary members.
Exodus: Ben Reid, who was a member of the Co-op board for 14 years, is the latest to walk away from the troubled organisation
involve disbanding the existing 20-strong board, which includes a
self-employed plasterer and a psychiatric nurse.
The proposals broadly echoed a series of recommendations put forward by former City minister Lord Myners, who has clashed with Reid.
initially led opposition to Myners, declaring it would reject the
peer’s recommendations, but later had a dramatic change of heart.
relationship has soured between Myners and Reid, who is thought to have
had designs on the chief executive role at the Co-op Group.
the Treasury Select Committee earlier this month he was ‘astonished’
that Reid sat on the board. Reid sat on the audit committee of the Co-op
Bank while it ran up a £1.5billion shortfall in its capital.
He first indicated he wanted to leave the board earlier this year. But he was urged by the Midcounties to stay on the board during the reform process.
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KARACHI: Karachi Administration Thursday announced to fix retail milk price at Rs 80 per liter and decided to implement it effectively.
This was announced by Commissioner Karachi Syed Asif Haider Shah in presence of representatives of Dairy Farmers Association, Milk Wholesalers Association and Milk Retailers’ Association and mediamen, said a statement.
He said that the milk price will also be implemented at the levels of dairy farmers and wholesalers.
The City Administration has announced that no one would be allowed to sale milk in violation to the notified prices.
The milk price at farmer level is Rs 70 per liter, at wholesale level at Rs 75.35 per liter, while retail price at Rs 80 per liter. The Commissioner Karachi Office has also issued notification in this regard.
The representatives of milk wholesalers, dairy farmers and retailers associations have also assured to cooperate with the administration in this regard.
Among other Additional Commissioner, Aslam Khoso and deputy commissioners concerned were also present.


text: Sales of Mercedes Benz cars in China in the first three months of the year rose 86% from a year earlier, significantly outstripping a 9.1% gain for the overall market, Reuters reported. For the full year, Daimler AG (DAI.ETR) expects sales to grow 20% year on year – a “conservative estimate,” Ulrich Walker, chairman and chief executive for Daimler Northeast Asia, said. The company sold 147,670 Mercedes-Benz cars in China in 2010. This was up 115% from the previous year but lagged behind the overall sales of competitors like Volkswagen AG’s (VOW.ETR) Audi, with 227,928 units, and BMW (BMW.ETR), with 168,998 units. Daimler said late last year that it aims to sell 300,000 Mercedes-Benz cars per year in China by 2015. Reports earlier this week said that China automakers had reported slower annual growth in car sales in the first quarter due to the rising price of oil and the expiration of tax incentives for small vehicles at the end of 2010.


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Consistency in Government for the sake of our skills
Last week, the Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap election; that’s all well and good, but what does it mean for UK businesses who are facing a massive skills shortage in the coming years?
In February, the Government announced its Government Transformation Strategy; it outlined that by 2020, the public sector will use digital services to transform the relationship between citizen and state. It highlighted how digital transformation can help the government reduce the cost of services, while at the same time improving them.
It was an important move and a demonstration to other sectors which perhaps consider themselves non-digital and are now having to transform to adapt to the modern world; most Government departments have, for decades now, outsourced complex IT to external experts, rarely nurturing the skills internally. The same goes for other sectors; look at retail which has had to rapidly revolutionise, not just adapting to e-commerce, but to emerging concepts such as the removal of POS tills and consumers paying virtually via their smartphones.
The UK, in its bid to create smart cities and fully digitalised industries, will fall behind if the commitment at Government level is diluted in any way.
Whatever manifestos and pledges emerge in these coming weeks, we must remember that the next Government will be the one needed to help UK businesses meet the 2020 target of 745,000 digitally skilled workers – something we aren’t yet on track with as a nation.
We are already behind on plugging the skills gap; just last week, the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) released a worrying report that revealed more than 75% of businesses face a digital skills shortage. Having surveyed almost 1,500 UK businesses, the BCC also found that more than half said the skills shortage increases workload on their existing colleagues, while almost a third (28%) said it caused difficulties in meeting customer requirements.
We’ve got to get a grip back on this; organisations like Rethink – especially our Digital Gurus and RTM brands – are working hard to realise the evolution of a digitally skilled workforce for clients. We’re helping them recruit great tech workers and advising them on training and development for the greater good of their businesses, however the real impact’s going to come from greater relationships between businesses and the Government – whoever’s in power on June 8th must realise the cost to businesses if this doesn’t happen.
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The Nintendo 3DS has launched in America at $250. The 3DS has dual screens similar to older Nintendo DS models and the top screen is able to display 3D images without the need for glasses.
The device launched in Japan on February 26, 2011 for 250,000 Yen (307 USD). The initial batch of 400,000 units has sold out and according to Media Create the Nintendo 3DS has been the top selling console since launch.
According to the International Business Times several features will be included, such as Netflix, Internet Access, an online store called eShop, access to Hollywood movie trailers in 3D and free access to more than 10,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots.


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THE inaugural Malaysian AdCongress 2003 in Langkawi on March 27-30 will discuss issues faced by the industry in an increasingly changing economic environment.
According to organising chairman Peter Das, the industry is now at the crossroads of a difficult transitional period.
Our principal aim is to get the collective views of the industry leaders and act as a unified force in coordinating marketing communications in energizing growth.
The objective is to deal with the issues while motivating marketers to build brands and grow the business, he said in a statement
Heads of multinational companies, including Datuk Ramli Abbas, group chief executive officer of Celcom (M) Bhd, and David Wethey, chairman of Agency Assessment International Europe, will address the congress' theme, What's next for you, your brand, your market, your industry?.
The Malaysian Advertisers Association, which is hosting the congress, said from a global standpoint, Malaysia, with its plural communal makeup, often finds itself wrestling with more critical issues than its neighbours.
Some of the key challenges to be debated include the shift from protectionism to globalisation and the threat of global brands; dealing with discerning and demanding customers; channels of distribution; new and emerging technologies; and the increasing number of media choices.
Those interested in attending the congress are advised to call Karen at (603) 7864-4494, or e-mail email@example.com
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F1 2020 update 1.19 will soon roll out for PS4, PC and Xbox One players. According to F1 2020 1.19 patch notes, the upcoming update brings changes to both McLaren and Renault liveries. Apart from this, the new update also includes fixes and optimizations.
Previously, an update was released with a new DLC and quality of life improvements. Unfortunately, players are still experiencing several issues when trying to play the game. Today’s patch will fix a few of these issues.
Check out more details below.
Download links for F1 2020 update 1.09 will be available soon on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.


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A Healthcare Staffing Agency Required Employees to Stay at the Company For 3 Years or Pay Back Wages, Department of Labor Says in New Lawsuit
03/31/23 8:15 PM
One employee said he was asked to pay back more than he ever made at the company.
Amazon Fined For Exposing Warehouse Workers To Ergonomic Injuries
01/18/23 3:11 PM
Repetitive bending and lifting at a fast pace have led to a high injury rate at the online retailer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said.
Amazon To Lay Off Another 9,000 Employees
03/20/23 11:25 AM
CEO Andy Jassy said the second phase of the company's annual planning process completed this month and led to the additional job cuts.
Amazon’s Anti-Union Consultant Broke The Law, Judge Rules
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At Least 102 Kids Were Working In U.S. Meatpacking Plants, Labor Investigation Finds
02/17/23 12:02 PM
The Labor Department says Packers Sanitation had children cleaning "back saws, brisket saws and head splitters."


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The Auto Care Association said Tuesday it has told a Massachusetts legislative joint committee it was “concerned” by the absence of responses from eight OEMs on whether they’d meet an impending “Right to Repair” deadline.
This alleged inactivity could have ramifications outside of Massachusetts, as automakers are committed to similar terms nationally.
Seeking to stave off 50 competing laws following Massachusetts’ 2013 adoption of right to repair, the OEMs in the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and Association of Global Automakers in 2014 signed a historic memorandum of understanding with aftermarket trade groups.
The document granted similar “right to repair” terms to all 50 states by 2018, according to the National Automotive Service Task Force Executive Director Skip Potter, who described his organization as a “go-between” for independent repairers and the OEMs on mechanic and body shop requests for information.
A dispute resolution panel is tasked under the national MOU with enforcing complaints of OEM noncompliance; in Massachusetts, that enforcement is the purview of the state superior court or federal district court.
The Auto Care Association said it testified Tuesday on behalf of itself and the Committee for Auto Repair Equality during a hearing on Massachusetts House Bill 2784, which seeks an investigation by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation into compliance with R2R. A report would be due Aug. 1 to the Legislature under the measure.
In January, CARE and the association wrote to 18 OEMs asking whether they’d be prepared to comply with an impending 2018 model year deadline related to diagnostics. Under the memorandum and Massachusetts law, all diagnostics software must be available online and shops be able to connect with a car’s on-board diagnostics system through an industry standard like J2534, J1939 or ISO 22900.
OEMs already had to make ensure independent repairers could access the same repair information — such as collision repair procedures — available to dealerships for model years 2002 and newer.
“Many car companies are doing a ‘good job’ in meeting the current Massachusetts Right to Repair requirements,” Auto Care Association government and regulatory affairs Senior Vice President told the committee, according to the Auto Care Association.
However, only 10 of the 18 responded to the association and CARE’s letter about the 2018 rules.
“I want to be clear that while we are not implying that the eight remaining companies are not in compliance, with the model introductions a month away, we are concerned by their lack of response despite our multiple attempts to reach them,” Lowe said, according to his organization.
The association didn’t list any of eight OEMs that evoked such concern — except one. Lowe specifically called out Tesla — who isn’t a signatory to the national MOU but is bound by the Massachusetts law.
“While we have a lot of respect for the technological innovations spearheaded by Tesla, I want to take this opportunity to publicly ask Tesla to take action to ensure that their customers are not forced to patronize the small number of repair facilities for repair and maintenance of their expensive vehicles,” he said in a statement.
Tesla’s failure to provide OEM repair procedures to uncertified auto body shops outside of Massachusetts is also problematic since the automaker implies such shops could still perform cosmetic collision repairs on its vehicles. Tesla doesn’t restrict nonstructural parts, but an uncertified repairer trying to install those parts or repair cosmetic damage without such procedures would be flying blind.
But on the whole, the association seemed pretty happy with private passenger OEMs — at least in Massachusetts.
“While not everything is perfect, the forward-thinking actions of this legislature and of the people of Massachusetts have, for the most part, led to the successful implementation of the legislation ensuring competition in the vehicle repair market,” Lowe said, according to the association. “Our organizations are proud of the Right to Repair effort, and also of the level of cooperation we have received from many manufacturers.”
Heavy-duty manufacturers were another story, according to the organization, which asked lawmakers to revise HB 2784 and expand the proposed compliance report to include heavy-duty OEMs.
Heavy-duty OEMs face the same terms under the Massachusetts Right to Repair law, although their repair information demands start with the 2013 model year, not the 2002 model year. Heavy-duty OEMs have also signed a right to repair memorandum of understanding at the national level which keys that requirement off of the 2010 model year.
“Unlike the light-duty manufacturers, compliance reports we have received have led us to the conclusion that some companies in the heavy-duty industry do not appear to be taking these commitments seriously,” Lowe said, according to the association. “We therefore request that this committee amend this legislation to include the heavy-duty industry in the Right to Repair compliance study.”
Be heard: Massachusetts legislator contact information can be found here.
Auto Care Association, June 6, 2017
Featured image: The Massachusetts Legislature is shown. (vivalapenler/iStock)


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Jennie-O donates food to Second Harvest Heartland
Published 11/06/2012, West Central Tribune
WILLMAR — Supporting food shelves to fight hunger is an important priority of Jennie-O Turkey Store. On Oct. 22-23, Jennie-O Turkey Store donated more than 4,300 cases of turkey products (approximately 73,000 pounds of food) to Second Harvest Heartland.Word count: 157
The full article is available to newspaper subscribers. If you are a subscriber please log in to continue reading.


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Corporate executives can breathe easier with the recent decision by the Securities and Exchange Commission not to prosecute Netflix CEO Reed Hastings for using Facebook. The risk of going to jail for disclosing accurate information is a relic of a regulatory approach that makes no sense now that digitally distributed information is easily accessible by all.
Since the 1930s, regulators have limited the speech rights of corporate executives in the name of leveling the information playing field for investors. Regulators micromanage what companies can and cannot say to whom, as well as how and when they can say it. The SEC has "quiet period" limits on what can be said during a public offering process. It tightly controls what information can be disclosed in securities filings and to analysts. Executives begin presentations by disavowing the "forward-looking statements" investors most want to hear. Uncertainty about using social media even led a company to fire its chief financial officer last year for posting on Facebook: "Board meeting. Good numbers=Happy Board."
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Applicants checking out employment opportunities at a recent job fair in Beijing. [China Daily]
BEIJING - Hiring plans by mainland employers surged to a six-year high on growing optimism about the nation's economic expansion, even as analysts warned of more labor shortages in first-tier cities.
More than 30 percent of mainland employers plan to increase their workforce in the third quarter, making China one of the most promising job markets in the world after India and Brazil, according to a report released by employment service provider Manpower Inc on Tuesday.
The figure was only around 10 percent for the same period of last year.
The Manpower survey interviewed over 3,607 companies in the mainland. Only 4 percent of employers said they plan to reduce their headcount during the period.
Employers in the services sector seemed more likely to add jobs compared with other sectors like the wholesale & retail trade, finance, insurance & real estate, manufacturing, and transportation & utilities, largely due to the demand triggered by the Shanghai World Expo.
"The remarkable improvement could be due to more orders and growing demand from export-oriented and labor-intensive companies," said Yuan Jianhua, managing director of Manpower China. Demand for labor has also increased as more and more foreign companies are expanding into second- and third-tier cities.
Liu Jianhui, an analyst with the State Council's Development and Research Center, said the current scenario bucks the cooling down trend in jobs during the third quarter, after a peak in the second quarter.
Yuan said the economy seems to be recovering quickly, and many companies are in urgent need of employees to cope with the increased demand. That in turn, may also aggravate the labor shortage in regions like the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta.
According to an earlier survey by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, workforce demand rose by 15 percent after the Spring Festival holiday this year compared with the same period last year.
A serious labor shortage was reported in the Pearl River Delta at the beginning of the year, where it is anticipated that factories may need at least 2 million more employees to meet demand.
Employees, on the other hand, are frustrated by the poor pay and high living costs in big cities and would rather work in emerging cities near their hometowns, said analysts.
Liu said the recent spate of suicides at electronics manufacturer Foxconn and the strike at Honda units were extreme cases reflecting the tight labor situation.
"Unless there is a substantial increase in pay and working conditions, the problems could worsen given the robust hiring demand," he said.
The labor shortage problem will also continue in the long term as hiring demand will surge continuously, said 51job, a well-known online employment service company in China.
According to one of its polls in 63 major cities, the ratio of vacant positions to applicant numbers reached 0.98 in April this year from 0.85 in 2009.
"The labor shortage, together with the contradiction that many businesses cannot find employees when many are jobless, would become a permanent phenomenon in our society," said Zhang Juwei, professor and director of the labor and social security research center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
He said the increased hiring enthusiasm in the third and fourth quarter of this year would widen the gap, considering that the nation's economy is recovering rapidly and the new workforce pool is decreasing.


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MILAN — It’s a homecoming of sorts for Emilio Pucci.
This past weekend, the fashion company known for its bold prints opened a new boutique in Capri, the exclusive Italian island considered the jet-set destination par excellence, and where Emilio Pucci himself kicked off his career in 1951.
The new boutique on tony Via Camerelle replaces the original store in the beach area called La Canzone del Mare, a store that closed in the early Nineties, as it was no longer strategic in that location.
“It’s always moving to come back to Capri, but especially now. It’s such a joy to see the brand here once again,” said Laudomia Pucci, Emilio Pucci’s daughter and the image director of the house.
“It was part of our original plans to open a store here,” said Pucci, whose company is now controlled by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
The 324-square-foot boutique maintains the building’s original high, vaulted ceilings and arches, and to make the most of the space, Plexiglas, metallic and wood furniture has been inserted into preexisting niches in the walls to display clothing and accessories. The dominant color is turquoise, which contrasts with the bright colors of the carpet lit up by Pucci’s famed Vivara print, inspired by the island’s sea and sunrise. Vintage photos of the designer on the island and drawings by Pucci embellish the wall on the left side of the store.
Catherine Vautrin, chief executive officer of Pucci, said it was a “dream come true — we are returning to our roots, the starting point of the company in this highly symbolic place.”
While not providing sales estimates, Vautrin said she expects the new boutique’s revenues to be at the level of the Saint-Tropez boutique.
While Italy and the U.S. are the brand’s strongest markets, accounting for about 60 percent of sales, the company is expanding around the world. Last year it opened two freestanding stores and two shop-in-shops in Japan, and this spring Pucci opened boutiques in Seoul and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. There are currently 22 brand boutiques in the world.
LVMH does not break down figures by individual brands, but market sources estimate Pucci’s sales at about 30 million euros, or $36 million at current exchange.The latest store brings to 18 the total number of Pucci units worldwide. Laudomia Pucci took on the job of keeping his vision intact following her father’s death in 1992. The business still operates from the family’s ancestral palazzo in Florence, with Christian Lacroix as creative director of the Pucci collections. Laudomia Pucci said his arrival has provided “what we need right now: amazing talent and strong vision.”
She added that the main focus over the past 13 years has been “maintaining my father’s creativity.”
“The growth of the collections was inevitable,” she said. “We are growing in ways he would have wanted. In addition, my father really wanted me to be involved in the business. For Italians, in particular, family businesses are still very important.”
The U.S. was the first market Pucci entered after Italy, and today the brand is distributed in stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, Pucci said, adding that they see the American market as key to the brand’s future growth.
Pucci currently operates four stores in the U.S. — two in New York, at 24 East 64th Street and at 701 Fifth Avenue, as well as one in Las Vegas at The Forum Shops at Caesars and one in Palm Beach, Fla., at The Esplanade.
“We have not ruled out other locations, such as Beverly Hills, which could be a possibility,” Pucci said. “But as we grow, we’ll also strive to keep our niche and remain special by offering the customer that one collectible Pucci scarf.”
@tradesy is turning the concept of a showroom upside down with its new space in Santa Monica. Here, the company plans to hold events, art exhibits and a showcase rare fashion pieces like this Louis Vuitton boxing set. Get all the details on Tradesy’s first showroom on WWD.com. #wwdnews
Spotted last night at the @erdem x @hm launch event: Kate Bosworth, Rashida Jones, Kirsten Dunst and Selma Blair. The party, which took place in LA, also marked the opening of their pop-up shop. “I was interested in creating a collection that wasn’t in any way disposable. It was about pieces you’d create and keep forever, things that have a permanence to it,” designer Erdem Moralioglu said. #wwdeye (📷: Katie Jones)
Renee Zellweger in yellow in 2001 and again in 2017. Chosen as one of the 12 @pantone Leading Spring Colors (and dubbed “Meadowlark”), it only makes sense that the bright hue stands the test of time and is making a resurgence this season, seen already on stars like @blakelively and @gigihadid. (📷: Donato Sardello & @rexfeatures) #wwdfashion #tbt
Dior’s 70th anniversary celebration continues with a new exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. “Christian Dior,” which is scheduled to run through March 18, takes a look at the founders tenure from 1947 to 1057 and feature 40 designs. Pictured here is an evening gown from the Ailée, fall 1948-49 haute couture collection. #wwdfashion (📷: Brian Boyle)
As one of the most recognizable models in the world, Christy Turlington Burns has an insider’s view of the fashion industry and the allegations of sexual harassment swirling around it. “I can say that harassment and mistreatment have always been widely known and tolerated in the industry. The industry is surrounded by predators who thrive on the constant rejection and loneliness so many of us have experiences at some point in our careers,” Turlington told WWD, along with her suggestions for how the modeling world should protect younger women and men. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: Tony Palmieri) #wwdnews
@asics America has tapped a new brand ambassador: famed DJ/record producer @steveaoki. This initiative is intended to set the tone for the new brand identity and philosophy and will include partnerships with influencers and in-store and off-line activations that will continue into next year. This is Asics’ most significant marketing effort in two decades, and is expected to attract younger consumers to the brand. #wwdfashion
24-year-old Jean Prounis is redefining the rules of jewelry. Formerly a studio assistant to Jemima Kirke and a design apprentice at Ghuran, she focuses on handcrafted subtleties and ancient goldsmithing techniques. “There was a really sterile feel in the environment and I wanted to have jewelry with character that shapes how you wear it everyday,” Prounis said. Each piece is hand made in New York, either by Prounis or three other jewelers in the district. #wwdfashion
“These collections continue to build on that vision, empowering differently abled adults to express themselves through fashion,” said @tommyhilfiger of his line of adaptive apparel, which launches today. The line consists of 37 men’s and 34 women’s styles based upon the pieces from the spring Tommy Hilfiger sportswear collection. #wwdnews


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The Battle Continues
Determined to help conserve diminishing fish stocks from around the world, last year Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall made it his mission to delve into the depths of the British fishing industry.
Fish Labels Debunked
Are you supermarket savvy, or do you fall for the labels hook, line and sinker?
Where to Buy Sustainable Fish
British supermarkets have taken measures to make sure their stock is ethically sound
TTV's response to claims made in Hugh's Fish Fight
The findings from Ghana have been put to TTV Limited, the tuna fishing company referred to in Hugh's Fish Fight
Once a delicacy, now our favourite everyday fish; but is salmon sustainable?
Cod may be close to the nation’s heart but, as Ewen Cook discovers, these days it isn’t caught close to home.
Our beloved tuna is a sustainability labyrinth
Sustainable Seafood, the Norwegian Way
Just what makes skrei the catch of the day?


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Dubai: In his opening comments to the KP Intersessional 2016, at Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah, Ahmad Bin Sulayem said the UAE had agreed to all conditions set by the World Diamond Council, acting as moderators between the CSC and the UAE, but that had not satisfied “self-appointed leader” of the CSC, Alan Martin, as per a report in gulfnews.com.
Pointing out Martin’s absence, Bin Sulayem said, “I urge Mr. Martin in the strongest possible terms to get back to work.” He also “strongly refuted and rejected” allegations from the CSC, made up of 11 rights groups, about the UAE’s suitability to chair KP. It is the first Arab nation to chair the group, which aims to regulate the international diamond industry to keep so-called “blood diamonds” or “conflict diamonds” off the market.
Saying that negotiations with Venezuela and the Central African Republic are in progress to rejoin the KP group, Sulayem hoped that it could be achieved this year with UAE’s KP chair.
Earlier, UAE Minister of Economy Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri outlined the importance of the diamond trade to the UAE.
Kimberley Process chair Ahmed Bin Sulayem said the valuation of rough-shaped diamonds remained a concern for the group, but it was beginning to work with industry leaders and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to resolve it.
“Rough diamond valuation is a challenge that is not limited to one country, one diamond centre, or the Kimberley Process — it is a critical challenge for the entire diamond industry,” he said. “In particular, it is a top priority for the diamond exporting countries in Africa, which are looking to get the best value from their mineral resource wealth.”


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By Kate Salkin, Digital Art Director
April 15, 2015
Nearly all of us have been to tradeshows before. “Excuse me Ma’am,” says the overly confident man behind the booth. “Have you heard of [insert product here]”? You listen to the sales pitch. Your eyes browse the one sheet. But ultimately the experience can feel very monotonous. “Don’t forget to grab a keychain,” he notes as you slowly slither away.
But as I walked into this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) tradeshow, I instantly discovered that this was unlike any show I had been to before. This was a different song and dance. In fact, it was different because sales reps were coming out from behind the booth to sing and dance in an effort to show anxious tradeshow goers the capability of their wearable products. Everywhere I looked, someone was putting something on to demonstrate its technological capabilities.
As I walked out of the bustling Austin Convention Center that day, I instantly thought one thing: wearables are officially here.
Ultimately, this fact shouldn’t come as a surprise. Consumers are increasingly comfortable with technology making their everyday lives easier, better, more streamlined. In fact, according to Forrester Research VP and Principal Analyst Julie Ask, one-third of consumers are ready to buy wearables today. Additionally, 40 percent of people in the U.S. are tired of pulling out their smartphone. That’s right. That device that was once seen as instant access to the world in the palm of your hands is now considered a nuisance.
People want their tech more instantaneous. According to Business Insider, the Apple Watch is slated to sell 40 million units in the first calendar year of its release alone. We have reached an intersection where tech companies possess the capability to provide fascinating wearable products and consumers are ready and excited to consume them.
Now what does this mean for marketing?
The worst thing we can do for a brand is entertain the thought of developing something to cater to the technology itself. For example, just because Apple Watch is coming out soon doesn’t mean brands should be developing products for the Apple Watch. In other words, objective first, platform second.
If there is a particular problem that can be solved or an objective that can be met via the immediacy and intimacy that an Apple Watch can provide, then developing an app for the Apple Watch is something that should be explored. But if we focus on the idea that we should develop for a technology simply because it exists, we are setting ourselves up to fail.
And this same idea can be applied to brands that may want to adjust their existing technology for wearables. “Let’s push our mobile app to the Apple Watch,” says the misguided marketer. But it is important to remember how different a mobile experience is compared to the instantaneous experience one gets from a wearable device. What is a user’s motivation to use your app via a smartphone? How would this same user’s motivation differ for an app tied to a wearable product? And how should that motivation influence the user’s experience with your app in a wearable environment? These are all questions a marketer must consider as we dip our feet into these new technological opportunities.
If you are still skeptical of the potential of wearables, here is just a peek at some of the fascinating products that were trending at this year’s SXSW:
- Lechal Shoes: Haptic footwear for runners or bikers. These shoes sync with Google Maps to provide directions to you via foot vibrations while you’re on the move. Right shoe vibrating? Turn right at the next block.
- Kinetic: A waistband and watch duo that helps prevent workplace injury for manual laborers. Employers can instantly see an employee’s safety analytics and alert them if there is a concern that they are lifting items in a way that is physically harmful.
- WonderWoof: Wearables aren’t just for humans. This wearable comes in the form of a bowtie that is attached to a dog’s collar. Dog owners are able to track their dog’s location, behavior and activity or even set up a doggie play date with nearby WonderWoof users via the bowtie’s Bluetooth capabilities.
- MultiSense Memory Patch: A smart Band-Aid that measures vitals and sends results to your computer. Developed by the U.S. Agency for International Development, this Band-Aid can last for 7-10 days and is seen as a pivotal tool to help in the treatment of Ebola patients.
Pretty cool, huh? It is hard to deny how some of these products make someone’s life easier, better, more streamlined. And no longer is wearable technology exclusively for the likes of James Bond or the Jetsons. Technology is now more accessible and mobile than ever before; but for marketers, the challenge is making sure we are conscious of leveraging technology in the right way for our brands. With a strategic understanding of trending technologies, the rising capabilities in tech and the increasing consumer demand for wearables, the Internet of things presents a vast new world in providing intimate brand experiences for our product or service’s core audience.


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"There's nothing we can do to keep fuel prices down," he said in an interview. "What we need to work on is our ability to include that in our pricing."
Historically, the airline industry has been able to increase fares to offset higher fuel costs. But with air travel demand still way below pre-pandemic levels, such moves carry risk.
Delta's shares fell 3.2% at $42.14 in opening trade.
The Atlanta-based carrier said its revenue has recovered to two-thirds of 2019 levels on the back of a continued improvement in travel demand.
Bastian said company revenue is estimated to reach 75% of the pre-pandemic levels in November and December, thanks to strong holiday demand and an improvement in international and corporate travel. He expects company revenue to recover to 2019 levels in 2023.
U.S. airlines are buoyed by the Biden administration's decision to reopen transatlantic routes in November, which accounted for up to 17% of 2019 passenger revenues for the big three carriers.
Bastian said Delta saw a 10-fold increase in bookings for the transatlantic flights to the United States immediately after the White House's decision to ease restrictions on air travel.
"As the restrictions are lifted, we're going to see considerable demand," he said. "There's high interest and high demand, not just for consumers, but also for business coming into the U.S."
As a result, Bastian expects 2022 to be a good year for the recovery after the coronavirus pandemic plunged air travel into its worst ever downturn.
Delta, the first major U.S. airline to report third-quarter financial results, forecast adjusted fuel prices per gallon of between $2.25 and $2.40 in the current quarter, up from $1.94 in the quarter through September.
Citi analyst Stephen Trent, however, reckons that the pace of demand recovery, especially on the transatlantic corridor, should ease Wall Street's concerns about the fuel cost pressure.
"Moving into 2022, continued revenue recovery seems more relevant than fretting about oil prices," he said.
Adjusted profit for the quarter came in at 30 cents a share, beating analysts' average estimate of 17 cents per share, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.
(Reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru and Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Editing by Anil D'Silva, Jane Merriman and Steve Orlofsky) ((firstname.lastname@example.org; +1-313-484-5370; Reuters Messaging: email@example.com))


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The Fair Trade Commission said Thursday that it has fined Zespri International Ltd. 427 million won ($375,615) for hindering the domestic sale of kiwis from Chile.
The antitrust regulator found that Zespri signed a sales contract with E-Mart on condition that the nation’s No. 1 supermarket chain would not sell cheaper Chilean kiwis.
The exclusive exporter of kiwis from New Zealand also inked a similar deal with Lotte Mart, the No. 3 market player, in April.
Zespri may have been concerned about price competition with Chilean kiwis whose prices are being lowered in phases following the free trade pact signed in 2004, the FTC explained.
“After cheaper Chilean kiwis were withdrawn from E-Mart outlets in 2010, the price of Zespri’s green fruit increased 13 percent from 614 won in 2009 to 696 won this year on average,” said a FTC official.
The domestic kiwi market reached 127.4 billion won last year, with Zespri being the market leader with 56.9 percent market share.
“This is the first case related to the nation’s free trade pact with a foreign country. The distribution of cheaper Chilean kiwis at major retail chains would prompt price competition within the industry,” said the official.
By Lee Ji-yoon (firstname.lastname@example.org


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TORRANCE, Calif. – Honda has released its first 2015 models, including the radical NM4. It is the only brand-new model in the group, which includes updated versions of the PCX150 scooter, CRF110F and CRF50F.
NM4 ($10,999): Honda has given us models in the past that elicit strong reactions. Love it or hate it, the NM4 has been one of those models since the concept bikes were unveiled last year. In the company's press release, Honda says the NM4 is designed to “attract a whole new segment of forward-thinking riders to motorcycling.”
The 670cc parallel-twin engine has an automatic dual-clutch transmission and ABS. The seat sits just 25.6 inches off the ground, and the passenger seat flips up to turn into a backrest for the rider. The backrest can be set at three different angles and has four settings for sliding back and forth.
A 200mm rear tire has a wide stance for the saddlebags, and there is additional storage built into the fairing. For those who like choices, the display can be illuminated in any of 25 color choices.
The NM4 is available only in black metallic, and it will be available in June.
PCX150 ($3,449): The updated PCX150’s low-friction Enhanced Smart Power 153cc engine is, according to Honda, more efficient than previous models. The larger fuel tank now holds 2.1 gallons. Other highlights include a new seat design, LED lights and turn signals and a 12-volt accessory socket.
The 2015 model will be available in July, with color options in black or white.
CRF110F (Price TBD): First introduced in 2013, the entry-level CRF110F has an electric start, automatic clutch and a four-speed transmission. There is also a throttle limiter for those who are still getting the hang of riding. Available in June, the CRF110F is available in red only.
CRF50F (Price TBD): Like its 110 counterpart, the CRF50F has been the beginner motorcycle for many a child. (Or, for adults, a popular choice for mini bike racing.) The 2015 model has the characteristics of previous models: a 49cc engine, automatic clutch and three-speed gearbox. Also like the 110, it comes in red and will be on showroom floors in June.
Media images courtesy of American Honda.


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World of Warcraft: Cataclysm breaks PC sales records
Cataclysm, the third expansion for World of Warcraft, has set new records when it comes to PC game sales.
Blizzard has said that based on internal company estimates, the expansion has shifted over 3.3 million copies in its first 24 hours on sale. That would make it the fastest selling PC game of all time.
It comfortably beats the sales tally set by the previous Lich King expansion, which managed a paltry 2.8 million units during the first 24 hours on sale.
Over 10,000 game stores across the globe organised midnight openings when the game went on sale last Tuesday, so keen fans could play it as early as possible.
Mike Morhaime, CEO and Co-Founder of Blizzard, commented: “We had to bring Azeroth to the brink of destruction in Cataclysm, but the result was our best expansion yet. We want to thank all of our new, existing, and returning players throughout the world for their incredible enthusiasm and support, and we look forward to hearing what they think about all the new content.”
Despite the big sales figures, in the UK Cataclysm only managed third position in the weekly all-format game chart, still losing out to the big console franchises. Call of Duty: Black Ops held at number one, followed by FIFA 11 at number two.
Apparently Warcraft now has in excess of 12 million players across the world, a number not to be sneezed at (optionally, you can cough lightly).
There are no comments yet. Why not be the first to speak your mind.
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>> Apple on the verge of making history Wednesday, within striking distance of becoming the first US company valued over a trillion dollars. Apple has been hovering over this record for months, but it was a strong earnings report for the third quarter and an upbeat outlook released Tuesday that propelled the stock over $200, an all-time high.
Reuters correspondent Steven Nellis.>> The reason that Wall Street is still so bullish on Apple, even though the smartphone market is pretty much flat in terms of units, and almost two-thirds of the company's revenue comes from smartphones, is that they're also growing this services segment. Wall Street thinks that, that can become a bigger piece of the pie in the long run.
Apple is already beating analysts' expectations on this services revenue. Just from things like Apple Music and iCloud, they haven't even started to make money off of their video efforts. So there's still a big unknown and a big potential money maker, even with all of the growth you already see right now.
>> It all started 1976 when buddy Steve Jobs and Steven Wozniak launched Apple Computer in Palo Alot, California, creating a personal computer, the Apple One. Those were followed by updated models that were equal parts technology and design. Eventually, that led to the Mac computer, the iPod, and the iPhone.
Jobs, the creative genius behind the company, died of pancreatic cancer in October 2011. Just prior to his death, Jobs handed over the reigns to Tim Cook, who has led Apple since August 2011.


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BHUBANESWAR, FEBRUARY 1, 2021
India’s largest integrated power utility Tata Power today said that it has received the Letter of Intent (LOI) from the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) for the distribution and retail supply of electricity in the north eastern part of the state.
The company has received the LOI from OERC for Odisha’s five circles of NESCO constituting the areas of Balasore, Bhadrak, Baripada, Jajpur and Keonjhar, Tata Power said in a regulatory filing.
As per conditions of Bid Documentation, Tata Power will hold 51 percent equity with management control while state-owned GRIDCO will have the remaining 49 percent equity stake in the company.
With the inclusion of additional distribution utility of Odisha, Tata Power shall now serve the entire population of Odisha with nearly 9 million consumers experiencing uniform processes and synergies in operations across the State.
This expansion is expected to enhance Tata Power’s consumer base to nearly 12 million from the present base of 9.6 million across Mumbai, New Delhi, Ajmer, and central, southern and western parts of Odisha.
With this takeover, Tata Power’s distribution circles will expand to the North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Ltd (NESCO) with geographical spread of more than 27,500 sq km and shall serve over 1.9 million consumers with annual input energy of 5450 MUs (million units).
Commenting on this occasion, Tata Power CEO & MD Dr. Praveer Sinha said, “We are committed to provide reliable, affordable and quality power supply along with superior customer service, backed by innovative technology. We are thankful to the Odisha Government and Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission for giving us this opportunity and reaffirming Tata Power’s commitment of ‘Lighting up Lives’ for the people of Odisha.”


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The expedition was organized by Leonard, the VINCI Group’s foresight and innovation hub.
CES – the International Consumer Electronic Show – features products from all facets of tech, including augmented and virtual reality, 3D printing, sensor technologies, autonomous vehicles, 5G communications, artificial intelligence software, drones and robotics. Many of these technologies are here already or are just over the horizon and will bring new opportunities to our UK business.
Among the innovations at the show was AheadM – a safety helmet attachment with Bluetooth functionality that creates an inductive speaker straight to the head, meaning operatives can communicate without removing ear protection.
Also on show was Valeo Xtraview camera system, which makes trailers virtually transparent, meaning the driver doesn’t need a banksman, and a retrofitted stand-alone device fitted to traffic signals, which can detect vulnerable pedestrians and automatically allow them more crossing time.
Yogesh said: “We are not just looking at emerging technologies, but more importantly how we can implement these it to improve our business and create new opportunities. Exhibits ranging from connected and automotive vehicles to exoskeletons that could be used to improve the safety for our workforce carrying out repetitive activities were demonstrated. These are exactly the types of new technology we want to use to improve the services we offer our clients in the coming years.”


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SEOUL (Bloomberg) – The U.S. and South Korea have restarted a stalled free-trade agreement between the two countries that includes car imports.
On Friday, the U.S. agreed to end its 2.5 percent tariff on automobiles in five years, instead of immediately or after three years, as was previously agreed.
South Korea will cut its 8 percent tariff on U.S. automobile imports to 4 percent immediately, instead of eliminating it entirely, according to a White House fact sheet.
With almost $68 billion in trade between the nations, a deal would be the U.S.'s largest since the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, and would help President Barack Obama meet his goal of doubling American exports in five years.
The trade accord is a “win-win for both our countries,” Obama told reporters in Washington. It will level the playing field for automakers, boost U.S. exports by as much as $11 billion, support job growth and enhance the U.S. partnership with South Korea, Obama said.
The U.S. will maintain a 25 percent tariff on truck imports for eight years instead of beginning to phase it out immediately. In addition, each U.S. automaker will be able to send South Korea 25,000 cars a year that meet U.S. safety standards. They would be exempt from separate South Korean standards.
Deal is 'humiliating'
South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party said the deal is “humiliating” and vowed to block its passage in the National Assembly.
“The unfair revisions would open our domestic market wider while allowing the U.S. to close theirs,” the Democratic Party, said Sunday on its Web site. The ruling Grand National Party, which controls the National Assembly with 171 seats, welcomed the deal, however.
“The free trade deal with the U.S. will bring huge economic benefit to both countries,” South Korean President Lee Myung Bak said in a statement.
Lee said the agreement will also help the alliance between the two countries move a step forward, according to the statement. The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association estimates South Korean car sales in the U.S. will reach 950,000 this year, including 500,000 shipped from South Korea and 450,000 produced in U.S plants.
“The agreement will remove uncertainty, helping boost sales and competitiveness of South Korean cars in the U.S.,” the industry group said in an e-mailed statement.
U.S. manufacturers lagging behind Europe
U.S. market share in South Korea slid to 10.1 percent of imported car sales last year, from 11.3 percent in 2008, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association. European cars held a 62 percent market share in 2009, with Japanese brands on 28 percent.
“Korean consumers prefer premium sedans from Europe and Japan, or small Korean-made cars to U.S. brands,” Song Won Gun, a senior research fellow at the Korea Economic Research Institute in Seoul, said before the announcement.


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The ramifications of CES 2014 are still being felt in everything from TVs to processors to wearables. CES 2015 promises to be an even bigger show, full of the innovative, the inspiring and the impossible.
We've put together a list of what we want to see at CES 2015, so read on for our hopes and best guesses for the show. And don't forget to let us know what you're pining for come January, too.
1. TV innovation beyond the bend and curve
CES 2014 was all about the curved TV screen for big guns Samsung and LG - who could make it bigger, thinner and curvier without folding? The problem was, was there even a problem for these concave couch curlers to solve?
As Dan Grabham asked in his CES hands on review of the 105-inch curved Ultra HD TV from LG, "do we really need curved TVs?"
The answer, from looking at the market, is no. Yes, there was an awe factor when unveiling these futurist devices in front of ravenous consumer-tech crowds, but when the lights faded and everyone went home, we weren't buying these sets.
Instead of trying to lure us in with more bends and curves, we want Samsung, LG and others to announce more 4K content and a viable system to deliver it to consumers at CES 2015. We know it's not the sexiest subject, especially since we've already seen 4K-and-beyond TVs, but why not give us stuff to actually watch on the growing field of ultra high-res screens?
There's currently no reason for the average person to buy a pricey 4K TV because there simply isn't that much 4K content to watch on them. If Samsung, LG, et al can come up with the content and fast, reliable ways to get it to consumers, we may leave Las Vegas truly impressed and excited for the living room screen's future.
Update: LG gave us a taste of what its future TV innovation has in store. In mid-July, the company posted a YouTube video of its flexible 18-inch OLED display. It's a neat trick and one that could have actual benefit to consumers, like fitting larger screens in unconventional spaces. Might we see the tech at CES 2015? We'd sure like to.
2. Stop the 4K TV price madness
It's no secret that 4K TVs are astronomically expensive, but on July 22 Samsung took it to a whole new level by revealing the price of the 105-inch curved 4K TV it showed off during CES 2014. The damage? A whopping $120,000 (about £70,333, AU$127,732).
Talk about going from wow factor to ow factor.
We understand the parts for these high-res beasts are expensive, but it'd be fantastic if Samsung, LG and other makers of 4K TVs could lower the price of their products in addition to giving us stuff to watch on them.
It may take years before 4K TV prices are within most people's budgets, but the movement could start at this upcoming CES. We want to see top-tier TV manufacturers like Samsung reduce the price by one digit with a $999 price tag for a 50-incher.
This may be wishful thinking, but it's not unreasonable to want TV makers to begin to bring down the prices of the technology it carts out to amaze us.
3. More than just more tablets from Samsung
Director Michael Bay's meltdown was the most memorable moment of Samsung's CES 2014 press conference. Unfortunately for the Galaxy tablets also wheeled out during the presser, they were upstaged. Hard.
Samsung has unveiled even more tablets since CES, leading us to plea, "Enough!" We're heading into the pre-CES months hoping Samsung can cook up a mobile device (yes, just one) that will hold its own next to celebrity implosions and smart laundry machines.
The Korean firm intrigued with its Youm flexible phone screens during CES 2013 - perhaps it will be ready to unveil a consumer-ready foldable phone or tablet during 2015's dance? With LG revealing roll-up displays (destined for TVs, to be sure), Samsung may be feeling the heat to bring a bendy phone/tablet to market.
4. Steam Machine pricing and availability
Valve hasn't kept quiet; since January, the company held a developer conference, showed off its VR headset and, in not so good news, announced Steam Machines won't arrive in consumer homes until 2015. It's the last point we want addressed at CES.
While at least one non-Valve Steam Box - the Alienware Alpha - should be out this year, we want the release date and price questions resolved for everyone else. In other words, we want CES 2015 to be brimming with Steam Machine news, including word of a truly affordable one.
Aside from Alienware, the rest of the pack, led by Valve, should get its act together by CES 2015. Of course, anyone familiar with Gabe Newell's crew knows speed is not their calling card, so while we can hope, we won't hold our breath.
5. LG and Huawei deliver standout smartphones
It's a long shot to think LG will actually unveil a smartphone during CES as it hasn't the last two years and typically saves such unveilings for MWC. Nevertheless, this is a list of what we want to see, right?
Along with Huawei, LG could use CES to gain massive exposure with a knockout smartphone. The LG G3 isn't chopped liver, but perhaps LG could put its foldable display tech to work bending like a Cirque du Soleil performer?
As for Huawei, the Chinese firm is trying mightily to break into the US market. What better way to re-re-introduce itself to US buyers than with a carrier-backed, affordable and better-than-average phone announced in Sin City? Hell, trot out AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega or, better yet, T-Mobile CEO John Legere to say a few words. Even better, bring them both onstage and see what happens.
We digress, but the point is CES has become stagnant on the smartphone announcement front. We'd love to see LG and Huawei liven up the proceedings with a phone that makes us drool.
Techradar's coverage of the future of tech at CES 2015 LIVE is brought to you courtesy of Currys PC World. Keep up to date with all the latest hot tech at Currys here
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Michelle was previously a news editor at TechRadar, leading consumer tech news and reviews. Michelle is now a Content Strategist at Facebook. A versatile, highly effective content writer and skilled editor with a keen eye for detail, Michelle is a collaborative problem solver and covered everything from smartwatches and microprocessors to VR and self-driving cars.


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Latest News Headlines
The ALD’s Michael Northen Awards 2018 Offer Students Vital Opportunity and Experience
UK – The Association of Lighting Designers’ annual Michael Northen Awards launched this week. The awards are a vital opportunity for students just leaving their college or university course to gain practical skills and experience in creating a portfolio which sells their design ideas.
Entry is now open, and all submissions must be received before midnight on Wednesday 31st October.
“What better accolade with which to enter the industry than with a lighting design award?” stresses Johanna Town, chair of the ALD. “The Michael Northen Bursary scheme (MNB) is a great aide to developing a lighting designer’s abilities in communication. To be able to sell your ideas and passions for a design to other industry leaders, is as important a skill, maybe even more so, as the design itself. For this reason, this particular award entry is so important to a designer’s future.”
Jess Bernberg won last year’s Francis Reid Award, which is one award within the MNB scheme. She explains: “The MNB is a fantastic opportunity for recognition and exposure for a collection of work. Often once a show has closed, its legacy can be slightly lost, save a few production shots and reviews, so to have a panel of top lighting designers look into your process for its creation it is highly valuable. The ability to create a portfolio is a vital skill so often overlooked or forgotten, but hugely important to the way we make theatre.”
Again this year, a total of four awards will be presented under the Michael Northen Bursary (MNB). All students with an interest in lighting design and production, as well as affiliate members of the ALD, should apply. Award entry is not limited to students on vocational theatre courses, any student wishing to advance in theatre lighting production should apply.
The awards are a celebration of imaginative and creative lighting and video design and represent a chance for young designers to showcase their talent, bringing their work to the attention of experienced lighting and video designers, as well to the wider reach of industry professionals. Awards are presented to those who demonstrate strong, imaginative and creative lighting or video designs.
The four awards for 2018 are:
The Michael Northen Award – named in honour of the first credited lighting designer in the UK and his work on “The Mousetrap” which can still be seen in London’s West End today. The winning lighting designer of this award will be presented with a cheque for £500 and a copy of Michael’s book, “Northen Lights”.
The ETC Award – ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls), specialists in lighting solutions and control equipment for theatre, film and TV studios, architectural spaces as well as entertainment industries, sponsors the £350 award for excellence in lighting design.
The Francis Reid Award – Reid was a founding member of the Association, playing a key role in establishing the practice of stage lighting design and the role of the lighting designer in the UK. He was described as “a theatre-maker who did lighting, rather than a lighting man who did theatre”. The lighting designer who receives this prize will be presented with a cheque for £250.
Excellence in Video Design Award – Presented alongside a cheque for £250, the winner of this award will be recognised for their artistic distinction in the growing art of video design in live performance.
An esteemed panel of judges will deliberate over submissions to decide the deserving winners. Awards will be presented at the annual “Lighting Lunch” held in London in December 2018.
The full criteria, including checklists, for submission to each award can be found on the ALD website: https://www.ald.org.uk/awards/michael-northen-awards
The awards are open now and all submissions must be received before midnight on Wednesday, 31st October, 2018.
In picture: Celebrating success and recognition in lighting design: 2017 Michael Northen Bursary (MNB) Award winners, Hector Murray, Jess Bernberg and Jack Coleman.
6th August 2018
© 1999 - 2021 Entertainment Technology Press Limited News Stories


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Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission has approved a plan to establish a TSM platform that the country’s financial institutions will be able to use to introduce mobile payments services, Want China Times reports. Financial Information Service Co, the National Credit Card Center of ROC and the Taiwan Clearing House will jointly create the platform. The partners aim to have the TSM service up and running in December 2014.
- Subway adds PayPal to mobile app
- Commonwealth Bank adds loyalty to mobile app
- Samsung and MasterCard prepare Europe for Samsung Pay
- Stripe gets access to Visa Token Service through strategic partnership
- Tech firms do “better job” than banks, say 24% of young Brits


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Douglas, Isle of Man – 12th December 2022 – In a partnership with Bitnob, CoinCorner customers can now “Send Globally” from the UK and Europe to Africa, using Bitcoin and the Lightning Network.
Send Globally will allow millions of people with British pound (GBP) or Euro (EUR) to transfer funds freely and instantly to Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana via the Bitcoin Lightning Network, starting with GBP or EUR and ending with Nigerian naira (NGN), Kenyan shilling (KES) or Ghanaian cedi (GHS) in a local bank account or mobile money wallet.
When a CoinCorner customer uses Send Globally, their pounds will be automatically converted into Bitcoin (BTC) and sent via the Lightning Network. Once the BTC is received at Bitnob, it will be instantly converted into the local currency – NGN, KES or GHS – and the recipient will receive the funds straight into their bank account or mobile money wallet.
Every year, approximately £12 billion is remitted from the UK and Europe to Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana, according to World Bank Open Data (1).
CoinCorner CEO, Danny Scott, said, “The remittance market is a huge opportunity for Bitcoin. The borderless nature of Bitcoin has always made it a great tool for sending money around the world, but now with the Lightning Network, sending Bitcoin is instant and very low cost.
By partnering with Bitnob to provide a seamless cross-border experience using Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, we hope to remove some of the friction and cost that customers experience when using traditional FX and money remittance companies.”
“For us at Bitnob, this is another leap forward in economic empowerment for Africans. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most expensive region to send money to, where sending $200 costs an average of 8.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 according to the World Bank (2). Bitnob is all about changing the status quo; allow cross border payment to happen instantly and at no fees into your local bank account or mobile money wallet. Bitcoin is powering the future of money and this partnership highlights a strong use case of what the future will look like.” says Bernard Parah, CEO Bitnob.
CoinCorner’s Send Globally service is available now – sign up for a CoinCorner account today at www.coincorner.com/register
CoinCorner is a global leader in Bitcoin and Lightning services. Founded in 2014, with the aim to make Bitcoin easy and accessible to everyone, CoinCorner is trusted by retail consumers and businesses around the world. For more information, visit www.coincorner.com
Bitnob is a leading bitcoin company with a vision to liberate Africans from the current status quo of how financial services are accessed. Bitnob powers cross border payments, and the ability to buy, sell, send, receive, pay and borrow bitcoin or stablecoin with solutions for individuals and businesses. Visit www.bitnob.com for more info.
Read more Bitcoin News and get the last Bitcoin Price on article source: CoinCorner partners with Bitnob to facilitate cross-border transactions from UK and Europe to Africa
- @ December 12, 2022 11:23 am


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United States – More demand for cured hides rather than wet-blue
Published: 24 Jul, 2020
As has been well documented, sales of cured hides have been strong in recent weeks, with suppliers able to keep most of their inventories low by constant selling. The prices generally have been at stable levels, helping to project revenues. But, the emphasis on sales has been towards the male hides of late, with both steers and heifers selling strongly. The cowhides have struggled somewhat, this is backed up by the offer lists of late last week and early this week, which are well populated with cowhides. It will be interesting to see if the sales pick up for these this week, and whether that has any bearing on the prices that are taken. The prices for many are already trading below economic levels - could a sales push force more grades to go this way? In recent times, Chinese tanners have not been overly keen on cowhides, and those that do require them seek the better quality hides from European suppliers, which are predominantly without brands. As has been pointed out by more than one tanner, why buy a hide with a large brand, and lose a large section of the hide when the world is full of offers of good quality hides at rock bottom price levels. While the numbers for cured hides have stayed high and roughly kept pace with the slaughter rates, the same cannot be said for wet-blue hides; each week the statistics show that less hides are being sold, bar the odd exceptional week. The recent prices for those that have concluded new business show that this commodity continues to be under pressure, and will probably remain this way all the time that tanneries have spare capacity within their own facilities. For further information click here.


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Planning to get a new broadband connection? JioFiber will be available next month
Reliance Jio is yet again introducing a breakthrough internet technology in the month of March. The company is expected to launch its 100Mbps internet service, Jio Fiber in the next month.
Indian customers have been waiting for the much-awaited super-fast broadband by Reliance Jio. Mukesh Ambani-owned company has revolutionized the Indian telecom market within just a few months of its lunch. The company is currently testing its fiber network in 10 cities as of now.
As per the report by telecomtalk, Reliance Jio is testing the services in 10 cities but initially, the service will be launched only in six cities that include Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi-NCR, Jamnagar, Vadodara, and Surat. The service was rumored to be launched towards the end of 2017.
The earlier reports suggest that JioFiber broadband plans will start from Rs 500 for 600GB of data. The higher packages will begin at Rs 2,000 per month for 1000GB data. All these plans will offer a bandwidth limit of 100Mbps. The company is laying FTTSH-based network for JioFiber services.
A JioFiber connection will bring more than the just high-speed internet. The company has bundled the JioMedia share device, smart set-top box, router and Power Line Communication (PLC) plug along with each new connection, which suggests that Reliance Jio might push its entertainment services platforms like JioTV, JioMusic, JioCinema to the customers. The company might give a major push to IoT (Internet of Things) in India with JioFiber.
Reliance Jio has recorded big success with its JioPhone devices. The company has partnered with Mobikwik wallet for the sales and distribution of the phone. Bikram Bir Singh, the Business Head of MobiKwik said, “We are proud to become the first mobile wallet to sell Jio phones in India. Users can book their phone in four easy steps and avail great benefits as well.”
- Rajat Kabade


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Battery storage firm Powervault looks set to smash its target in its latest fund raising drive. The company seeks to raise £750,000 through crowdfunding. Three days into the 30-day round, it had topped £500,000.
Last year, Powervault raised £1.4m via the Crowdcube platform, roughly double its target. Having announced trials with UK Power Networks and Marks & Spencer, as well as start-up energy supplier Tonik, the firm is offering significantly less equity this time around.
The company believes its 2kW to 6kW battery storage systems, aimed at the domestic and potentially community and small business market, can unlock value for those with installed solar PV.
It sees the mandated smart meters rollout and growing demand for electric vehicles as further market makers, with revenue opportunities increasing due to the need to balance an electricity system with 34.7GW of renewable generation, much of it intermittent.
According to its Crowdcube pitch, the company plans to launch a ‘next generation’ product later this year, which it claims will deliver return on investment greater than 15%. That suggests a payback period of under seven years. The company said it also plans to offer a ‘storage as a service’ product.
Powervault claims its technology can cut domestic electricity bills by 20% (up to 35% for those on time of use tariffs like Economy 7). But it says arbitrage opportunities via smart tariffs will enable “much larger” savings.
See the Crowdcube pitch here.
Battery storage: Finance and revenue uncertainty a challenge but businesses predict 3-7 year paybacks
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Ecotricity to build 2.5MW battery storage project ahead of colocation plans
As solar subsidies wane, investors plan 2.3GW of battery storage projects
As solar generation makes history, National Grid starts to feel the burn
UK Power Networks receives 12GW of storage applications
WPD launches DSR aggregator business
Government sets out smart grid vision
Limejump and Anesco partner to connect 185MW of capacity market battery storage
Centrica: Floodgates to open on storage in 2017
Vattenfall to build 22MW battery storage plant at south Wales windfarm
National Grid awards £66m of battery storage contracts
VLC Energy to connect 50MW of battery storage in 2017 after EFR contract win
Greg Clark calls for carmakers and energy firms to deliver battery storage
National Grid mulls rolling all frequency balancing services into one scheme
More than half of I&C firms mulling energy storage investment
Capacity market too low for large gas, but gigawatts of DSR, batteries and CHP win contracts
Battery storage: positive outlook?
National Grid must provide a plan for battery market, says SmartestEnergy
Who needs an EFR contract? Somerset solar site installs ‘grid scale’ Tesla battery
Ofgem: Energy flexibility will become more valuable than energy efficiency
National Grid says UK will miss 2020 targets, predicts big battery future
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