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Do you remember the first Out of the World Water and Music Festival (OOTW 1.0) organized by Genesis Entertainment in May this year? Well, good news peeps Malaysia’s Largest Water & Music Festival – OOTW 2.0 is going to bigger and better!
Mark your calendars for the spectacular dates of 19-21 January 2024 here in Kuala Lumpur , transforms into a hub of music, water, and unmatched entertainment. featuring a host of world class international, regional and local artistes from USA, UK, Hong Kong, South Korea and many more.
The OOTW 2.0 Press Conference officiated by Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Senior Deputy Director of Tourism Malaysia (Advertising & Digital Division) together with Dato Wira Dr Calvin Khiu (Founder of OE Edugroup), Dato Angie Ng (President of Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association (MICA) and Lens Chan & Summer Lau (Founder of Genesis Entertainment )
This event is also supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), and Minister Dato Seri Tiong King Sing was the opening guest of the first OOTW. This time, Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Senior Deputy Director (Advertising and Digital Department) of Tourism Malaysia also came to attend the press conference of OOTW 2.0. and was impressed with the opening gambit and the line up of world class celebrities that will make a mark in the world of music & water festival.
He said at the press conference, “The OOTW 1.0 held at the Sepang International Circuit in May this year welcomed 23,000 visitors in just three days. Next year, their goal is even more ambitious in planning to welcome 50,000 visitors. This going to increase the growth of our economy.”
He also shared the organizer will double the number of food stalls and staff on the day that going to bring more employment opportunities to our people. “Our department will also fully support this event. The next step is to let department offices at home and abroad promote this water music festival that only belongs to Malaysia to people of all countries, and try our best to attract more tourists to come to Malaysia.”
Lens Chan, Founder of Genesis Entertainment and Founder of OOTW, also announced at the press conference, “This event will be held in Bandar Malaysia (KL Base). The main purpose is to attract more foreign tourists through this event so that they can enjoy it and understand local ethnic cultures.”
He also hopes that all sponsors and businesses can increase exposure and business opportunities through this event, and at the same time gain the attention of local consumers and media.
The second water music festival OOTW 2.0 is an event that combines entertainment, tourism and art. Therefore, this year will also usher in more new concepts and elements to attract a wider audience. It includes a three-storey water theme park and maze, water slides, food stalls, cultural performances, fashion shows, music and more.
He also revealed another highlight of the event, that is, OOTW 2.0 will also cooperate with the Tastefully food exhibition to introduce 80 food stalls, which is double the 38 stalls of OOTW 1.0. “These stalls will present delicacies from all over the world to everyone, and will definitely attract food-loving consumers and tourists from home and abroad.”
Lens Chan also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with various sponsors and partners at the press conference, including Media Prima, Big Tree Outdoor Limited, AV Sense Limited, Tastefully, Instababe Malaysia, Bigo Live and Like Media.
You’re probably wondering of the tickets cost. For early birds, the tickets to Water Music Festival OOTW 2.0 are priced at RM299 (Normal price RM399). Better buy your tickets early to avoid missing out on this largest, most fun and hottest water music festival in Malaysia.


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Carrefour will be rewarding customers with paid-for shopping trolleys in an exciting spin-the-wheel lucky draw to celebrate its seventh year in the country.
To thank customers for their loyalty and support, Carrefour is surprising over 1,500 Carrefour customers with a free shopping trolley as part of its ‘Asante Mara Saba!’ campaign that will run from 24 May to 6 June across all Carrefour hypermarkets and supermarkets in the country.
Christophe Orcet, Regional Director of Carrefour – East Africa, Majid Al Futtaim Retail, said, “Since the introduction of our first store in 2016, our business has expanded greatly with a growing customer base, making Carrefour one of the leading retailers in Kenya. The ‘Asante Mara Saba!’ campaign gives us the opportunity to say thank you to Kenya for the successful seven years and to give back to our customers.”
Winners will be selected randomly at the cashier checkout counters. Carrefour staff will spin a wheel to pick the counter number every few hours and pay for the lucky customer’s shopping in full – with no limit to the winning transactions. There will be 110 winners every day.
As part of its anniversary celebrations, customers will also be provided with a chance to delight in daily offers and great discounts on various products including groceries, household items, personal care and hygiene, and electronics, in-store and online via the MAF Carrefour App.
The retailer has created over 2,000 direct job opportunities and contributing to the economy through its network of 700 local suppliers and partners.
Carrefour now operates 19 stores countrywide, with 15 located in Nairobi while Kisumu and Mombasa host two stores each.
To participate in the anniversary celebrations, customers can visit any Carrefour Kenya store, the MAF Carrefour App or its social media platforms.

domain: news


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Dream job alert! Ferrero is hiring 60 paid 'sensory judges' to move to Italy and taste-test products like Nutella and Kinder chocolate
- Ferrero posted the Italian-language job listing, which has since gone viral
- Those selected will move to Alba, Italy and take part in a paid three-month training course
- The group will be winnowed down to 20 who will get longer-term jobs
- Ferrero's other products include Ferrero Rocher truffles and Tic Tacs
Getting paid to taste-test chocolate all day is a dream gig for most people.
And moving to the picturesque town of Alba, Italy to do it? Well, that's just Nutella on the cake.
Ferrero, the company behind the popular chocolate-hazelnut spread, is currently hiring 60 'sensory judges' to taste-test its products, which also include Ferrero Rocher truffles, Tic Tacs, and Kinder chocolate candy.
Yum! Ferrero is hiring 60 'sensory judges' to taste-test its products, which include Nutella, Ferrero Rocher truffles, Tic Tacs, and Kinder chocolate candy
According to Travel & Leisure, Ferrero just listed the posting for 60 non-professional taste-testers to lend a sweet tooth to the production process.
All 60 people who are selected will have to relocate to Alba, where Ferrero's headquarters are located.
Starting in September, they'll take part in a paid training program for three months, during which they will get to sample products and learn about taste-testing practices.
At the end of the training, the 20 people found to be the best fit will be hired for part-time jobs with the company consisting of two days per week for two hours.
Sounds delicious! Those hired will relocate to Alba, where Ferrero's headquarters are located, and take part in a paid training course
The job ad was posted in Italian, meaning applicants may have to speak the language to qualify, though The Local says that the only requirements are that candidates have no allergies and can use a computer.
The news comes after a similar gig for barbecue lovers made the rounds on the internet earlier this week.
According to Thrillist, Reynolds Wrap announced that it is looking for a 'Chief Grilling Officer' to travel across the US and eat BBQ.
The lucky man or woman chosen will be paid $10,000 for the job (in addition to travel and lodging), and can even take a friend or significant other on the road. He or she will document his or her travels and food eaten.
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In recent years, the Air Jordan 13 has become a muse for player exclusives and retail renditions heavy on team vibes.
Following the “Lakers” 13s in 2019, it appears a “Celtics” rendition is coming in 2020 in the form of the Air Jordan 13 “Lucky Green” set to release.
Rendered above, the leaked color code sees heavy Celtics influence with one having to wonder just how close these will be to the Air Jordan 13 Ray Allen PE.
Nevertheless, an early attempt at what these may look like has these as a perfect foil to the Lakers 13s, styled in unison just like the Air Jordan 1s in purple and green earlier in 2019.
Look for the Air Jordan 13 Lucky Green to release on July 4, 2020. For more 2020 Air Jordan retro release dates click here.
Air Jordan 13 Lucky Green
Release Date: July 4, 2020


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79% smartphone users hooked to OTT apps like Hotstar, Netflix, Amazon Prime
- Hotstar is the most-penetrated OTT entertainment app
- Amazon Prime Video has slightly better penetration than Netflix in India
Gurugram: Seventy-nine per cent smartphone users in India are using over-the-top (OTT) apps for entertainment and as many as four out of five users have at least one OTT entertainment platform on their device, a new report said on Thursday.
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Christiana Fashion Center: Jared, Ulta, 2 others coming
Jewelry, beauty products, shoes and bison burgers soon will be coming to Christiana.
Jared, The Galleria of Jewelry, Ulta Beauty and DSW Shoes will round out the initial tenants at Christiana Fashion Center, a nearly 200,000-square-foot project under construction at I-95 and Del. 1.
Slated for completion in late September, the first phase of the shopping center also will include previously announced tenants Recreational Equipment Inc., or REI; The Container Store; Saks Off 5th; and Nordstrom Rack.
Six storefronts – including five smaller than 5,000 square feet – also are included in the first phase, but have yet to be leased, said Jim Oeste, vice president of real estate for shopping center owner Allied Properties.
"We've talked to some potential tenants, but it is unlikely those spaces will be open by the fall," he said.
Work has started on the second 200,000-square-foot phase of the shopping center.
That portion of the project will include another 25 retail spaces that will house shops, entertainment venues and restaurants.
The first tenant to sign on for the second phase is Ted's Montana Grill – a restaurant chain co-owned by media mogul Ted Turner that specializes in bison.
"I'm not sure there are too many places in Delaware where you can get bison right now," Oeste said. "It's just another example of the new merchants we're attracting to this market for the first time thanks to the addition of the Christiana Fashion Center."
While previously announced tenants in the initial phase of the Christiana Fashion Center will be opening their first Delaware locations, the final three shops have existing or planned locations elsewhere in the state.
Jared, one of 12 brands owned by Ohio-based Sterling Jewelers, operates a store at 5327 Concord Pike in Brandywine Hundred, while Illinois-based Ulta Beauty is planning to open a store at Dover Towne Center, a new shopping center under construction off U.S. 13.
The DSW Shoes store coming to Christiana Fashion Center will be moving from a 31,000-square-foot space at the Christiana Town Center – a shopping center less than 2 miles away also owned by Allied Properties.
The Ohio-based chain that operates more than 400 stores nationwide was looking to downsize the nearby storefront it has operated since 2004. It chose a smaller, 20,000-square-foot space at the new shopping center, Oeste said.
A spokesperson for the company did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment, and Oeste said he did not know when the existing DSW location would close.
REI – which sells camping, climbing, cycling, hiking and other fitness gear – is expected to be the first store to open in the Christiana Fashion Center with an anticipated start date in late September.
Based in Washington state, the company is organized as a co-op with 5.6 million members who paid a one-time $20 fee to receive an annual dividend check equal to 10 percent of what they spend on regular-priced merchandise in the prior year.
Seattle-based Nordstrom Rack, the discount brand of the upscale department store in Christiana Mall in 2011, will open Oct. 1. The store is in the process of hiring a staff of 73, a spokeswoman said.
The Container Store will open its 76th location and the first in Delaware on Oct. 17. The Texas-based company is planning to hire about 50 workers, including a full-time sales force that will make an average of $50,000 a year.
The company has promised to donate 10 percent of sales revenue from the new Delaware store's opening weekend to Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Rockland.
No definite opening dates have been set for the discount clothier Saks Off 5th, Jared, Ulta or DSW, although Oeste said he expects those stores to be open by mid-October.
Ted's Montana Grill is expected to open by early 2017 and employ about 50 people, a spokeswoman said.
Headquartered in Atlanta, the partnership between Turner and restauranteur George W. McKerrow opened its first restaurant in 2002 and today operates 45 locations, including the closest in Warrington, Pennsylvania.
A third phase of the shopping center is also planned. That 150,000-square-foot section, which will include up to five larger stores, is slated for completion in late 2016 or early 2017.
Contact Scott Goss at (302) 324-2281, firstname.lastname@example.org or on Twitter @ScottGossDel.


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November 13, 2008, 4:29 AM — As the economic crisis appears to peak, more banks will fail. This has experts predicting that new phishing scams will arise targeted at the customers of those banks, and the agencies helping those customers may be actually encouraging such attacks. For example, IceSave, the British arm of an Icelandic bank, failed last week, cutting off over 200,000 customers from their deposits. The UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme is coordinating refunds for those affected.
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As Novo Nordisk works to get a handle on sales of illicit semaglutide, British and European drug authorities are warning that they've discovered falsified Ozempic pens on their home turf.
The U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Wednesday confirmed that pre-filled pens falsely labeled as Novo’s Type 2 diabetes med Ozempic (semaglutide 1mg) were identified at two local wholesalers. All relevant pens have been recalled and accounted for, with none of the illicit drugs making it to U.K. patients, the MHRA said in a release.
After investigating the issue, the MHRA has determined that the products were brought in from legitimate suppliers in Austria and Germany.
Now, the U.K. drug regulator says it’s working closely with regulatory partners in other countries to maintain the security of the wider supply chain.
Europe's drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), confirmed in a separate release that the falsified pens indeed came from wholesalers in Austria and Germany.
Despite the fact that the bunk Ozempic pens appeared to have authentic German packaging, the MHRA says there are “substantial differences” versus legitimate pens.
The issue is now being investigated by EU drug regulators and the police, EMA added. In the meantime, German and Austrian authorities have issued statements of noncompliance to the relevant wholesalers for not following required procedures.
Novo's anti-counterfeiting efforts
Novo Nordisk, for its part, has seen a “significant increase” in illegal online sales of semaglutide, a company spokesperson said over email.
“We work with a third party specialized in monitoring and taking down of illegal online offers to specifically address this, and have further reinforced this activity in 2023 to ensure an even broader reach,” she added.
That said, Novo recognizes there are limitations to this approach, so the company is running physical investigations where they’re warranted.
“Concretely, this means that, on certain cases, we work on the ground with specialized firms to identify the perpetrators of these crimes, ideally trying to identify the original manufacturer of the counterfeit products to ensure we can report this to the authorities for their enforcement,” the spokesperson said.
She noted patients can protect themselves from counterfeits by only buying medicines from legitimate sources with a prescription.
The case of falsified Ozempic pens in the U.K. is just the latest issue in an ongoing counterfeit odyssey.
Back in late May, the FDA warned of illegal knockoffs of Novo’s Ozempic and Wegovy. Five weeks after that, Novo filed a wave of lawsuits against pharmacies in the U.S. that are producing the copycats. Specifically, the Danish drugmaker accused four companies of making compounded versions of its products that are not approved by the FDA.
In October, meanwhile, the U.S. FDA sent warning letters to Semaspace and Gorilla Healing to stop selling online versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide, Eli Lilly’s rival diabetes med that’s also angling for an approval in obesity this year.


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Ewes and lambs selling to a top of £255 at Ratfriland Co-Op
Tuesday evening (March 14) saw a good show of stock and lambs selling to a good trade.
Fat ewes selling to a good trade this week again.
Kilkeel farmer topped the sale at £5.14 a kilo for 22kg at £113.
Fat ewes topped at £250 for a Texel ewe from a Newry farmer.
More ewes over the £195 mark this week with plainer ewes from £140 to £180.
Kilkeel farmer 39.2k at £134, Castlewellan farmer 27.4k at £130, Newry farmer 25.4kg at £130, Katesbridge farmer 30.2k at £129.50, Cabra farmer 27k at £127. Newry farmer 28.8k at £126, Ballyward farmer 26.6k at £125, Banbridge farmer 25.3k at £125, Ballela farmer 27.4k at £125 and Dromara farmer 24.9k at £125.
Newry farmer at £250, at £245, at £234, Banbridge farmer at £208, Rathfriland farmer at £190, Banbridge farmer at £186, Ballymartin farmer at £181, Rathfriland farmer at £172, Rathfriland farmer at £164 and Rathfriland farmer at £161.
Ballyroney farmer at £126, Banbridge farmer at £120, Hilltown farmer at £118, Ballela farmer at £114, Hilltown farmer at £106 and Poyntzpass farmer at £96.
Ewes and lambs
Kilcoo farmer at £255, Ballyward farmer at £250, Kilcoo farmer at £235 and Portadown farmer at £190.
Foster ewes £250 and £245
Online bidding available via martbids.ie.


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Several companies in Seychelles are showcasing their sustainable products and services at the professional trade show being held at Savoy Resort and Spa in the northern Mahe district of Beau Vallon.
The two-day trade show is being organised by Oceanika, a non-profit organisation, where the products and services on show are focused on sustainable development.
Oceanika has offices in Geneva and Thailand and has recently established one in Seychelles, and its aim is to look for the fishing aggravating devices (FADS) stuck in the coral and dive to remove them.
“Our aim with this expo is to showcase the expertise of local businesses in sustainable products and solutions because it is no longer acceptable to hear from certain industries that Seychelles lacks solutions for responsible growth,” said the president of Oceanika Seychelles, Olivier Manault.
The expo features about 15 companies, showcasing various products and services, such as electric vehicles and solar panels, organic foods and beverages, recycled products, as well as sustainable management consulting services.
The fair was officially opened by the Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Jean-Francois Ferrari, on Thursday.
“I want to thank the organisers of this event, as in Seychelles, it is not often that the private sector organises such events. Most of the time, it is left up to the government,” said Ferrari, who added that this is a great initiative.
Among the participants at the event are Brikole, a company that is recycling waste found at sea, such as FADs, nets and ropes, ASD Professional products, which produces skin care products from organic materials, Pop Sey producing organic popsicles and ACM chartered accountants, offering sustainable management consulting services.
The organisers of the event are getting help from the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
SCCI’s chairperson, Oliver Bastienne, explained that while they were not at the forefront of organising the event, they found it important to get the businesses involved.
“I think this event needs to be used to continue encouraging more collaboration between the government and the private sector, as the climate is not only a global issue and not only concern one party,” he said.
The event will also be open on Friday, for other businesses looking for sustainable solutions.
Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, is recognised by the international community for its work on environmental protection. It has worked for a long time with partners to put in place sustainable solutions that will minimise the impacts on its environment and ocean territory.


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HIGH TIMES partners with APCO MED for Cannabis Cup Oklahoma 2019
OKLAHOMA CITY, July 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — APCO MED, the largest dispensary in the state of Oklahoma, and HIGH TIMES magazine, the world’s most well-known cannabis brand, have entered into a partnership for the High Times Cannabis Cup Oklahoma 2019 in beautiful Oklahoma City.
APCO MED will serve as the official ingest partner for the Cannabis Cup competition, as well as an official sponsor of the event. Official entries will be distributed at APCO corporate headquarters and flagship store location on 313 NW 23rd street in Oklahoma City’s revitalized Uptown district.
Ford Austin & Shayna Marino, founders of APCO MED said, «Partnering with such a longstanding leader in the cannabis industry as HIGH TIMES not only helps us move in the right direction, but also helps us increase the visibility and professionalism of the legal cannabis industry in Oklahoma overall.»
The High Times Cannabis Cup is the world’s foremost cannabis festival. Originally founded in 1988 in Amsterdam, the Oklahoma event will allow hand-selected judges from around the state to sample and vote on their favorite marijuana products across 20 categories. Thousands of Oklahomans are expected to turn out and root for their favorite brands, strains and concentrates.
The High Times Cannabis Cup Oklahoma will be held at Lost Lakes Amphitheater on Saturday August 24th & 25th from 12pm-8pm. Everyone 18+ is welcome to attend, though you’ll need an Oklahoma medical card to access the cannabis exhibitor village. For more information on the event and to get involved visit http://www.hightimes.com
APCO MED Dispensary Store & Meditation Center is an entirely new company founded by Ford Austin & Shayna Marino to cultivate, process, dispense and market cannabis products in the state of Oklahoma. They originally founded APCO MED as a tribute to their great grandfather J. Steve Anderson’s pioneering spirit. 100 years ago J. Steve Anderson co-founded his oil company Anderson Prichard Oil Corporation which led to the creation of APCO Oil Corporation which is in no way connected to APCO MED.
«We are proudly using capital from our Anderson family oil interests to produce our new 100% ‘positive impact’ cannabis products for a new generation of customers. We feel this is the best way to carry on the J. Steve Anderson spirit.»
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/high-times-partners-with-apco-med-for-cannabis-cup-oklahoma-2019-300887159.html
SOURCE APCO Media


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This Colorado Tourist Hotspot Isn’t Actually Worth a Visit, Study Says
It's no secret that Colorado has a lot to offer to residents and visitors alike — a 2021 survey from YouGov even ranked the Centennial State as the second-best in the country.
However, that doesn't mean Colorado doesn't have flaws. There are rumblings on the Internet that the Centennial State doesn't totally reach its reputation, particularly regarding tourist attractions.
Some say hotspots like Garden of the Gods and the Four Corners Monument don't live up to the hype, and now, a recent study from HawaiianIslands.com has discovered the most overrated tourist attraction in Colorado.
No, it's not the aforementioned destinations. According to the website, Colorado's most overvalued feature is Indian Hot Springs, a relaxation resort located in Idaho Springs.
But why? HawaiianIslands.com took to TripAdvisor to see which popular tourist attractions had a high amount of negative reviews. A look at Indian Hot Springs' TripAdvisor page shows that their research isn't entirely wrong — there is a fair portion of not-so-nice feedback.
Some of the reviews mentioned frustrations with reservations and a new bathing suit policy (clothing used to be optional). Still, there are positive reviews to match, so perhaps you'll just have to check out Indian Hot Springs for yourself — or pay a visit to Colorado's most underrated tourist attraction in Colorado Springs.
Not all of Colorado is overrated. Read on to see the best ski resorts in the Centennial State in the gallery below.


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THOUSANDS of fake Olympic flags have been prevented from reaching the streets of London after border officers at Heathrow intercepted a package.
About 10,000 flags and pieces of bunting emblazoned with the Olympic rings were stashed into a consignment, valued at about £100,000.
The items which went through checks with Locog revealed they were counterfeit, and are expected to be destroyed.
The goods came through a consignment from China and were destined for an importer in Norwood, south London. It is not thought that the importer knew they were fakes.
The officers made the discovery during checks on freight on July 10.
Border Force Heathrow director Marc Owen said: “Counterfeiting is not a harmless crime, it is a huge criminal business estimated to cost the UK economy about £1.3billion a year. For the gangs behind it, it is low-risk and high-reward.
“In the run-up to the Olympics we have been working closely with Locog to thwart those who would seek to illegally profit from the Games and protect UK consumers from the fakers.”
Locog commercial director, Chris Townsend said: “Fake products not only undermine our ability to raise the revenues needed to stage and host the London 2012 games, but the goods are likely to be of inferior quality and not meet the stringent safety and sustainability standards.”


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Several cryptocurrency businesses are now the target of a significant supply chain attack, according to cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab. An email spam attack is being used to carry out the incident, which aims to deceive victims into installing a harmful software upgrade that can steal personal information.
According to Kaspersky, the assault, which has been taking place since at least May 2022, is extremely complex and seems to be intended to break into the targeted firms’ private networks. The hackers behind the assault have gained access to the targeted organizations’ software supply chain, enabling them to disseminate harmful updates to a selected group of users.
Kaspersky has not yet identified the precise businesses that were attacked. The company said that just a few businesses in the Bitcoin sector had been impacted by the hack. The software employed in the assault, according to Kaspersky, is a BazaLoader trojan type. This trojan is popular for its capacity to avoid recognition by antivirus software and is frequently used in phishing scams. The virus may steal passwords, login credentials, and other private data after it has been deployed on a victim’s machine.
Companies in the cryptocurrency industry have been encouraged by Kaspersky to exercise caution and take precautions against the ongoing attack. To reduce the likelihood of a successful assault, the company advises businesses to deploy antivirus software, intrusion detection systems, and personnel training. The current wave of high-profile supply chain hacks has included some high-profile attacks against Bitcoin firms.
In December 2021, a breach in SolarWinds’ software supply chain resulted in a massive compromise of business and government networks. Similar vulnerabilities were found in Kaseya’s software supply chain in February 2022, which resulted in a ransomware assault that hit hundreds of firms. The recent rash of supply chain assaults shows how important it is for businesses to be more proactive with cybersecurity. Businesses should safeguard their software supply chain in particular and keep an eye on their networks for any indications of prospective attacks.


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Honda Recycles Rare Earths from Hybrid Cars
While hybrid cars and vehicles save on non-renewable fossil fuels, their powertrains are complex and utilize an enormous amount of precious resources, especially materials like rare earths. Well, Honda, which manufactures several hybrids including the Honda Civic Hybrid, Insight, and the CR-Z as well as the upcoming Acura ILX hybrid, aims to conserve such shrinking resources. Honda and Japan Metals & Chemicals recently announced they will be extracting rare earth materials from the batteries used in Honda's hybrid vehicles. According to Honda, the two companies have managed to successfully stabilize the extraction process used in pulling rare earths from the batteries. Rare earths pulled out in the process have a purity level equal to refined materials or newly mined, says the automaker. More than 80 percent of the rare earths found in hybrid vehicle's batteries can be successfully extracted with the system. Honda states it will utilize the rare earths extracted for a wide variety of purposes besides new batteries. Eventually, the automaker hopes to extract and process other rare earths from other car and vehicle parts in addition to the hybrid batteries.Automotive.com's take: We applaud Honda' continued efforts in environmental issues. The automaker has, for example, virtually eliminated all plant wastes from its U.S. manufacturing plants; the Honda Civic GX has been awarded numerous green accolades, and the fuel cell-powered Honda FCX Clarity won the 2009 World Green Car. We also admire Honda taking action against China, which currently has a hold in the rare earth market worldwide and sending rare earths prices skyrocketing. Source: Honda Worldwide
GM has spent much of the past several months prepping for the debut of the all-new 2013 Cadillac XTS luxury...


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– hhgregg said it grew its second-quarter profits 46 percent by increasing
sales, lowering costs and maintaining gross margins.
Net income was $4.9 million on net sales of $332.2 million for
the three months, ended Sept. 30. Net sales rose 3.7 while comp-store sales
fell 9.4 percent.
“We are pleased with our quarterly operating performance and our
ability to drive growth in earnings and operating cash flow by preserving
margins and managing expenses, all while continuing to add new stores,” said
president/CEO Dennis May.
In a conference call, May said he was optimistic about the
holiday season and the post-holiday quarter based on improving traffic and
sales trends. He also projected a return
to “normal growth” in the appliance business next year, and a stabilization in
average TV selling prices as consumers gravitate toward large-screen models
with advanced features like LED backlighting, wireless connectivity and 3-D
He added that the company has already secured 40 leases in the Mid-Atlantic States and will begin an aggressive rollout
in that region by February. The expansion will be fueled by a recent stock
offering that raised $78 million for the retailer’s war chest.
The chain added seven news stores during the quarter and opened
its first Mississippi
location this month, bringing the current store count to 126.
The retailer attributed the quarter’s 9.4 percent comp decline to
weak demand for video and appliance products. Comps fell 16 percent in video
and 7.5 percent in appliances during the three months, but increased by the
triple-digits in computers.
Comp declines in TVs were largely due to lower selling prices as
customers opted for smaller screen sizes. In contrast, sales “significantly
improved” in appliances despite continued comp-store declines.
- 2019 TWICE Top 100: Watch List - May 23, 2019
- 2019 TWICE Top 100: Consumer-Direct Sales Dominate The Charts - May 22, 2019
- 2019 TWICE Top 100: Best Buy Keeps The CE Crown, But Barely - May 21, 2019


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Linnworks has an enviable insight across the world of online retail. In reality, few organisations are better placed to foresee the opportunities and threats presented to online retailers in the year ahead.
With access to so much online retail insight, we were delighted to sit down with Simon Lye, Linnworks’ Commercial Partner Manager, for the second in our series of future gazing articles for the Frooition blog. These articles, which will be published throughout December, have been written to help us better understand where online retailers should focus their efforts in 2022 and the years ahead.
eCommerce Priorities for 2022
According to Simon, driving efficiencies through the implementation of best-in-class retail technology continues to be a priority for 2022.
“Retailers should implement the technology that allows them to achieve effective and rapid growth,” says Simon. “Having everything in one place, with an inventory and shipping management system, so you are not switching between multiple platforms, is going to be key to success in 2022.”
Simon believes that only when the right inventory management automation technology is in place will retailers be best able to embrace the marketplace in 2022 and beyond properly.
“Consumers feel empowered by marketplaces by factors such as choice and price,” says Simon. “It’s important to know that direct-to-consumer should be at the core of a retailer’s selling strategy with online marketplaces built-in.”
As retailers continue to adjust to life in the “new normal”, they are increasingly looking towards new marketplace opportunities.
“In a recent research study by Linnworks, 96% of retailers said the pandemic accelerated adoption of new sales channels,” says Simon.
Building a sustainable future for your retail business
Another priority for retailers in 2022 should be sustainability and reducing the impact their business has on the environment.
“In that same Linnworks survey, 44% of respondents said their companies already ran sustainable operations in some or all areas of their business,” says Simon.
Investing in a sustainable future isn’t just based on the principle of taking a stand and doing the right thing for the planet. It makes real commercial sense.
“64% of the retailers that have a sustainability strategy or ‘brand promise’ that is accessible to the general public did so in response to customer demand, says Simon.
Linnworks is a leading commerce automation platform that enables the world’s major brands and retailers to manage their omnichannel inventory, orders and fulfilment from a single dashboard while providing deep insights across operations. By equipping brands and retailers to conduct commerce wherever their customers are, Linnworks powers businesses to drive growth and boost brand success. As both Amazon and eBay’s largest European commerce partner, Linnworks processes over $9 billion GMV each year globally and serves some of the world’s largest, most recognizable brands. For more information, please visit www.linnworks.com.


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09 Jan Three Small Business Tech Trends for 2016
Technology can help level the field for small business, allowing them to compete with the bigger companies in their industry. Social media, e-commerce, desktop virtualization, and other online applications have helped mom and pop shops stay alive and thrive in a hypercompetitive business climate.
To keep taking advantage of the opportunities offered by technology, small business entrepreneurs need to stay on top of tech trends. Here are some of the top trends for 2016:
- Automated marketing – New automation software can help small businesses market their companies without having to devote substantial labor resources or hire a marketing agency. New applications will help manage CRM, web optimization, and related services.
- Easy app creation – Programs such as Appy Pie and Microsoft’s PowerApps will allow even technological novices to create helpful apps that their customers can use. Providing methods for consumers to connect with businesses via smartphone apps is essential, as these devices have become nearly ubiquitous in our society.
- New payment options – To provide convenience, small businesses need to adopt mobile payment solutions like Apple Pay and Google Wallet. In time, these convenient payment solutions will be as common as credit card terminals in businesses, so it’s wise to get ahead of the curve.
CyberlinkASP provides a variety of information technology services, including managed hosting, hosted virtual desktops, and outsourced maintenance and software services. In business for nearly two decades, CyberlinkASP is the provider banks, hospitals, and other businesses trust for cloud and related services. To learn more, call (972) 262-5200.


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Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts Paul Fletcher.
The Federal Government has committed to a staged process of media regulation reform, ultimately culminating in what it says will be a “platform-neutral regulatory framework covering both online and offline delivery of media content.”
Within its immediate focus in 2020 is looking at the content obligations on free-to-air broadcasters and whether there should be local content requirements imposed on SVOD services like Netflix and Stan; a move welcomed by industry bodies such as Screen Producers Australia and networks alike.
The government has also prioritised a uniform classification framework across all media platforms and “other aspects of the policy framework to support Australian film and television content”.
As part of the first stage of reform, Screen Australia and ACMA will release an options paper in early 2020 that will look at how to best support Australian stories in a modern, multi-platform environment.
The government will then lead into a second phase which will include a review of advertising rules across platforms, mechanisms to monitor and enforce the regulatory framework and measures to “remove redundant legislation and implement a coherent legal framework for consumers and for industry participants.”
The government’s announcement comes as part of the overall response, handed down today, to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)’s Digital Platforms Inquiry, which looked at all aspects of the media, including news and journalistic content.
More broadly the Morrison Government has also committed to establishing a unit within the ACCC to monitor and report on competition and consumer protection in digital platform markets. It will also address bargaining power concerns between digital platforms and media businesses through a code of conduct.
Organisations like SPA have been pushing government to review content regulation on streaming services for years. In that sense, it is no surprise that they welcomed the government’s response.
While acknowledging the reform was difficult, SPA CEO Matthew Deaner urged government not waiver, arguing it was well overdue and necessary in order for the Australian screen industry to be sustainable. He added that he hoped the departmental restructure, which has seen the Department of Communications and the Arts folded into a new portfolio that also includes infrastructure, transport and regional development, would not delay progress.
Deaner said: “One of the clear themes of the report is the lack of data transparency when it comes to digital platforms. This will be a major challenge in designing a framework that is fit for purpose. For example, a recent study by RMIT academics has estimated that 9 per cent of content on Stan and 1.7 per cent of content on Netflix is Australian. But this information is not provided by the SVOD services themselves, or indeed by any streaming services. Without key data, it will be difficult to come up with an effective regulatory regime.”
Seven West Media CEO James Warburton said the broadcaster welcomed that the government had supported a majority of the ACCC’s recommendations, and was particularly pleased by the announcement it would address “out of date” content requirements.
“We encourage the Government to move quickly to provide certainty to industry and put in place a new framework for content that better reflects commercial realities and the changed viewing patterns of Australian audiences,” he said.
“The urgent need for regulatory equality between foreign digital platforms and Australian companies has been recognised by the Government. We see this as a real turning point, as for too long legislation has lagged well behind technological evolution, disadvantaging Australian companies and providing foreign digital platforms with a free ride.”
Network 10 CEO Paul Anderson said: “It’s great the Government is making a serious attempt to address the deep-rooted dominance of the online tech and streaming giants.
“On Free to Air content regulation, the issues are clear and the answers are already there. We just have to get cracking and get it done.”
Nine CEO Hugh Marks called the government’s announcement “much needed” and “timely.”
“It provides a clear timeline and platform for our industry to be able to engage with the social media platforms on a basis we ultimately believe will be a win win not only for our industry and the people that work in it, but the social platforms as well. We congratulate the Prime Minister, Minister Fletcher and the Government on its bold statement and look forward to the next steps in achieving recognition of the value that our content and our journalism means to the social platforms and their audiences.”


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Maryland began the sale of medical marijuana on Friday, ending years of delays.
Dozens of people stood outside a licensed dispensary, Potomac Holistics, where owners began making sales soon after receiving their first shipment Friday afternoon, according to the Associated Press. William Askinazi, one of the owners, said people who work at the store were euphoric that the day had finally arrived.
“You can tell there’s a buzz, and we’re excited for so many reasons,” Askinazi said. “We’re giving care to people who need it.”
A long line of people cheered late Friday as sales began.


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Looted Items from War Zones Seized From Geneva Freeport
Some of the antiquities were shipped from Qatar.
Swiss prosecutors have revealed that they discovered looted artifacts, including objects from Palmyra in Syria, as well as from Yemen and Libya, stored at the Geneva Freeport in 2013.
According to Swiss authorities the items traveled from Qatar to Switzerland and were then deposited in the Geneva Freeport in 2009-10. It was years later, in 2013, that suspicions as to the origin of the objects were first raised during a customs inspection, according to AFP.
Customs then contacted the Swiss cultural authorities in Bern whose expert confirmed that the items were indeed genuine. The goods—which included objects from the third and fourth Centuries—were seized and criminal proceedings followed.
To highlight their efforts to become more transparent regarding freeports—where people store items tax free with few questions asked—the Swiss prosecutors have now announced the case and released images of the recovered items.
A number of incidents of fraud and scandal have been linked to items stored in freeports recently have meant the Swiss authorities have had to become more open than they have been in the past.
The selling of looted items has been estimated to serve as a major source of income for groups such as ISIS who held and publicly looted and damaged the ancient city and UNESCO world heritage site of Palmyra from May 2015 until March 2016.
The confiscated objects include a head of Aphrodite from Libya, two funereal bas-reliefs and a head of a priest stemming from Palmyra, and five artifacts from Yemen.
The United Nations placed the ancient sites of Sanaa and Shibam in Yemen on their list of endangered World Heritage sites in 2015 after Sanaa sustained considerable damage during conflict between Iran-supported rebels and the Saudi-backed government of Yemen.
Ahead of being returned to their countries of origin the objects will go on public view at the Geneva Museum of Art and History.
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Investigation：Fraudsters GEM Digital and 5ire using fake news Pump and Dump：How they cheat Coindesk and other medias?
We are authorized to publish
At a time when the crypto market is weak and VCs are slowing down their investment frequency, one emerging venture capital firm that is attracting a lot of attention with its high investment rate and exaggerated investment amounts is GEM Digital, which has invested in at least 16 crypto projects in the last six months (and its related fund GEM Global Yield), including Venice Swap, Naetion, KaJ Labs, Unizen, Unizen, H2O Securities, etc. The single investment amount exceeds $100 million, and the cumulative committed investment amount exceeds $1.6 billion, which is probably more than any other crypto venture capital institutions.
GEM Digital once again announced that it had signed an investment commitment worth $35 million with Travel Coin, a blockchain travel eco-project. Why would GEM Digital invest $35 million in such a market cap project?
This phenomenon is not isolated. It has been the case with several of GEM Digital’s previous investments. For example, on May 18, KaJ Labs announced a $400 million investment commitment from GEM Digital Limited, but the total diluted market cap of the project’s token, LITHO, was only $4.7 million. This is also true for projects such as Peculium and Energi.
At the same time, most of GEM Digital’s investments have very low industry visibility and no obvious highlights in terms of business models. Moreover, almost all of GEM Digital’s investments have been made individually, not to mention in partnership with well-known venture capital firms, which is quite a strange style.
So, is GEM Digital just too rich for its own good? Why did GEM Digital spend a lot of money to invest in a project whose market value was far below the investment amount? The fishy thing is the word “investment commitment”.
In contrast to most funding news, in which an investment institution directly announces an investment in a project, GEM Digital is basically announcing in the news that it is issuing an investment commitment. Literally, an investment commitment is a promise by the project owner to invest a specific amount in the project, but not necessarily to actually fund the project. In one GEM Digital investment news release, the project side had stated that the investment was not a direct investment, but would be based on milestones and performance to ensure that the use of funds was fully optimized.
But according to an interview with the head of a crypto project by Chain Catcher, the so-called “investment commitment” has a lot of jaw-dropping undercurrents. The project leader said that GEM Digital had contacted the project via email and promised to invest $50 million, but when she signed the investment contract, she found that the organization stated in the contract that it would not make direct payments, but would fill the investment with the profits made after the tokens were sold. In other words, GEM Digital’s investment agreement is more like a cooperation and sharing agreement, where both parties sign a so-called huge investment agreement, create good news in the market, and then collaborate to make profits and share them. Judging from the performance of GEM Digital’s past investment projects, this is basically the case, and it is the users who ultimately pay for the investment.
According to Coinmarketcap data, the price of the LITHO token quickly rose from around $0.008 to $0.016 after the funding announcement, but fell to around $0.0013 10 days later. Other tokens followed a similar trend.
“This is actually using the media to manipulate the community,” said the aforementioned project leader, “I feel like a project with them would be miserable.” Most of the news about GEM Digital’s investment has been published on platforms such as Yahoo Finance and PR Newswire, but it has also been reported by mainstream crypto media such as Coindesk and Cointelgraph, and it can be said that half of the crypto media community has been kept in the dark due to the actual insider’s bizarre and outlandish nature. GEM Digital did not actually originate the scheme, but rather from its parent company, Global Emerging Markets (GEM), which is officially described as a $3.4 billion alternative investment group that manages a range of investment vehicles focused on global emerging markets and has completed more than 500 transactions in 72 countries, with offices in with offices in Paris, New York and the Bahamas.
Specifically, the firm’s investments include minority investments and control buyouts in many traditional sectors, including environmental technology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy, and real estate development, but none of the portfolio companies are well known, and several Chinese companies have been named, including China Timber Resources Group Ltd, China PetroTech, Heng Xin China Holdings Limited, all of which are poorly documented after a search, with Hengxin China having been mandatorily delisted years ago. Of course, GEM’s investment style is equally large, with most investments ranging from tens of millions of dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars, and its cumulative investment amount far exceeding the claimed $3.4 billion, while the word “investment commitment” appears in most investment news.
On July 15, CoinDesk reported that 5ire, a layer blockchain network, raised $100 million in Series A funding from Sram & Mram on the same day, valuing it at $1.5 billion.
5ire’s official Linkedin shows a link to its own Crunchbase, a database of startup founders, employees, funding information and more. 5ireChain’s Crunchbase page shows that 5ireChain’s Series A funding was announced on February 14, 2022, by The Global Emerging Markets Group (GEM) and MH Ventures with a funding round of $100M. This figure does not match the investor and date of the Series A funding round announced to be completed on July 15.
Continuing to search for news of 5ire’s funding in February, PANews found that THE ECONOMIC TIMES reported on February 15 that 5ire announced on that day that it had received a $100 million “investment commitment” from GEM Global Yield (formerly GEM) and This claim was also verified on 5ire’s official blog, which on February 18 posted an article titled “5ire Raises $100 Million from GEM Global Yield LLC,” which did not mention that the investment was an investment commitment. The article did not mention that the investment was an investment commitment.
This shows that 5ire’s Series A funding was reported in February and now in July this year by different investment institutions. And as a public chain project, it also seems bizarre that it is seeking an IPO even though it has not yet officially launched.
The above information suggests that 5ire may have been “pigeonholed” by GEM once, or put on a joint “show”, and in the cooperation with GEM, 5ire’s official blog does not state that this is an “investment In the cooperation with GEM, 5ire’s official blog does not state that this is an “investment commitment” and has not been modified as of July 18, which is suspected of releasing false good news.
The official Twitter feed of Sram & Mram, a solutions and services company, is not reported on its website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, etc. Sram & Mram’s official Twitter feed has only 120 followers. Is this another show?
5ire has already reached out to retail investors. Every time PANews logs on to 5ire’s official website, a pop-up window to request an investor whitelist appears. If the $100 million financing is true, 5ire has no need to be in such a hurry to raise funds from retail investors through this marketing tactic.
The link to the token model remains on the whitelist application on the project’s official website, and the contents therein do not match the announced funding amount and valuation. As shown in the chart below, according to the relevant content, 5ire plans to raise a total of about $22 million. 5ire tokens total 1.5 billion and are valued at about $126 million if calculated at the last round price of $0.0843 before the public offering, and about $450 million if calculated at the third round public offering price of $0.30. This is completely different from the valuation reported by the current media.
There are many contradictions in the official information of 5ire and the financing news reported by the media.
Keep looking for information about the project on the official website. Compared to other blockchains, 5ire is characterized by sustainability and is able to meet the UN’s sustainability goals. 5ire’s consensus mechanism has sustainability as one of the most important components, and its consensus is called SPoS, where the weight of nodes packing blocks depends on four factors: pledge, reliability, random voting and sustainability score, and the node with the largest score will be responsible for the subsequent 12 hours of block packing. This can be thought of as a variation of the existing PoS consensus mechanism, with the addition of a sustainability score. So, how is 5ire’s sustainability score calculated?
As described in the whitepaper, the sustainability score consists of an environmental, social and governance (ESG) score. Initially, this score will be assigned based on data obtained from trusted institutions. After the 5ire ecosystem is stabilized, there will be a decentralized mechanism to assign and update the sustainability score, allowing nodes to periodically update the sustainability scores of participants. The following table shows the ESG judging factors.
In addition, 5ire introduces the concept of nested chains, similar to parallel chains, to address scalability issues. Nested chains are created according to the network load requirements and once created, they will remain on the nested chain to continue outgoing blocks until the chain is added to the blocks of 5irechain. The structure of a nested chain is shown in the diagram below. Each chain corresponds to a pool of transactions, which is split into two pools once the number of transactions in the pool exceeds a threshold. When the number of transactions in the pool decreases, it can be merged into one chain again.
Because of the concept of sustainability, 5ire calls itself the “fifth generation of blockchain”, corresponding to the “fifth industrial revolution”, which focuses on guiding technology to serve humanity, and 5ire can build a user-centered sustainable ecosystem by addressing environmental sustainability. 5ire can build a user-centered sustainable ecosystem by addressing environmental sustainability. In our understanding, the industrial revolution corresponds to technological breakthroughs and can lead to efficiency gains. 5ire, on the other hand, only introduces the concept of sustainability and threatens to call itself the next industrial revolution.
In terms of technology, the concept of parallel chains has been applied in Polkadot. Because the number of chains in 5ire is variable, this scheme may be more difficult to develop than the current common scaling schemes.
In the official 5ire blog, there are numerous articles devoted to basic concepts such as the interstellar file system, data security, DeFi, and how the Merkle tree works, and nothing related to 5ire is mentioned in these articles at all.
The partners and investors announced on the official website contain 68 logos, but the logos related to Sram & Mram and The Global Emerging Markets Group mentioned in the above funding news are not found, while DAOStarter, ARDURA and other logos are repeated. This not only increases the possibility that the funding news is fictitious, but also appears to be very inattentive on the part of the project.


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The worldwide mobile phone market shrank in the second quarter of this year, with sales falling by 2.3 percent compared to the same quarter a year ago, according to research company Gartner.
Research In Motion's upcoming operating system, BlackBerry 10, could soon be made available for non-BlackBerry devices, according to the company's chief executive, Thorsten Heins.
Heins told Bloomberg that QNX, the software that BlackBerry 10 is based on, is "already licensed across the automotive sector... we could do that with BlackBerry 10 if we chose to."
"The platform can be licensed," he added -- but did not confirm the software would be licensed. Samsung, which was recently rumored to be considering using BlackBerry 10, said last week it had not considered buying any licenses for the software. … Read more
If you take CEO Thorsten Heins' word for it, the next Research in Motion operating system -- BlackBerry 10 -- isn't intended just for mobile devices, and is already drawing interest from other industries.
In an interview with CNET, Heins said businesses in the health care and smart-grid fields have already expressed interest in using the operating system. The company likes to tout that QNX, the software BlackBerry 10 is based on, powers a number of different systems, including cars.
Eventually, BlackBerry 10 will power devices and equipment in multiple industries, Heins said. For instance, he said, the auto … Read more
Research In Motion is trying to find suitors for a cloud-services provider it bought back in October, according to a report.
According to Reuters, citing sources, RIM is trying to find buyers that would take NewBay off of its hands. NewBay, which RIM acquired back in October for a reported $100 million, offers cloud services to operators and device makers trying to deliver multimedia to handsets, PCs, tablets, and televisions. Reuters' sources didn't say how much RIM might be trying to fetch in a sale.
RIM's reported NewBay move is just the latest rumor to fly about its … Read more
Research In Motion has been approached by IBM to discuss a possible sale of the BlackBerry maker's enterprise-services division, a new report claims.
IBM has so far held informal discussions about picking up RIM's enterprise-services division, which includes the network that powers its e-mail platform, among other software, Bloomberg is reporting today, citing sources. According to Bloomberg's sources, IBM has made it clear to RIM that it doesn't want to acquire the entire company.
RIM has said publicly that it believes it can turn things around, despite plummeting device sales and rampant delays that have pushed … Read more
Research In Motion has succeeded in getting overturned a verdict that would have forced it to pay $147.2 million in patent-infringement damages to mobile device management company Mformation.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has overturned a trial verdict and granted RIM's "motion for judgment as a matter of law." According to RIM, the court found that the evidence in the case did not adequately support the jury's verdict.
"We appreciate the judge's careful consideration of this case. RIM did not infringe on Mformation's patent and we … Read more
Research In Motion could be attempting to hold discussions with Samsung over the prospect of the handset maker licensing its BlackBerry 10 operating system.
In a note to investors today, Jefferies analyst Peter Misek said he believes that "RIM is attempting to revive discussions with Samsung regarding a BB10 licensing deal," according to All Things Digital, which obtained a copy of the note. Misek didn't say if discussions have kicked off yet and if so, how far he believes they have gone.
Rumors have been swirling for some time that Samsung and RIM have been holding talks. … Read more
Citing a recent survey of 200 developers (from a sample set of 4,300) by Baird Equity Research, Paczkowski wrote that developer interest in working on BlackBerry OS versions 7 and 10 are at a n all time low.
Baird researchers polled developer sentiment towards all major mobile platforms based on a 10-point scale with 10 marked as "excellent" and … Read more
Troubled BlackBerry maker Research In Motion faced shareholders at its annual meeting today, where it voted to keep its existing board of directors. But the company also confirmed that it's using a professional search firm to help it find more-qualified board members.
RIM Chairwoman Barbara Stymiest answered a question from RIM shareholder Vic Alboini, CEO of Jaguar Financial, asking whether RIM has hired a search firm to help it find better-qualified board members. Stymiest confirmed that the company is conducting a search.
RIM shareholders approved the 10 members of the board who were currently standing for re-election. But shareholders &… Read more


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Casio, a Japanese manufacturer of watches, will introduce its G-Shock series to the metaverse, starting with a non-fungible token set. The NFTs, called G-Shock Creator Passes, will allow holders to join an official Casio Discord where they will take part in co-creation projects, shaping the future of the G-Shock watches in virtual worlds. The drop will occur in two waves:
- September 23rd-26th: For users with a CASIO ID
- September 26th-29th: Public mint
All told, there will be 15,000 initial G-Shock Creator Passes, and they will be free to mint. For the drop, Casio has partnered with Polygon Labs, a company that runs the Polygon blockchain, known for its fast speeds and low transaction costs. The design of the Creator Pass will vary:
- Minters of the 15,000 will receive artwork containing an early prototype of the G-Shock
- Minters of later drops will receive art that has the original G-Shock, the DW-5600
Minting will be limited to residents of the following countries: Japan, USA, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, Portugal, Australia, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Roadmap for the Casio NFT Project
The Roadmap for the G-Shock NFT project is simple and follows the pattern of other major companies launching collections in the Web3 space. According to the Casio virtual G-Shock website, there are currently four steps outlined:
- Open a Discord server on September 5th
- Hold the initial G-Shock Creator Pass mint
- Launch experience projects and allow the community to contribute to designs
- Debut a second collection of G-Shock NFTs, with these being in 3D
For the project, Casio has set up a dedicated website for information about the G-Shock NFT drop. In addition, it has created an X account, which currently has less than 200 followers. However, the Discord appears to be popping, with many reactions to the initial message from Casio. Keep in mind that the message is not in English.
A Senior General Manager at Casio Explains More
Takahashi Oh, senior general manager at Casio, said that the company is launching this collection to create points of contact for previously unreachable fans of the brand. The move comes in conjunction with a stronger global interest in decentralized virtual worlds, otherwise known as the metaverse.
According to Oh, the goal is to establish the trend of people outfitting their avatars with watches, which so far has not really occurred. The company would like to realize a world in which more avatars wear wristwatches, including the G-Shock. Of course, sparking this trend could lead to more revenue and exposure for the company as well.
So, why Polygon?
Oh said that the virtual G-Shock was meant to be accessible, innovative, and inclusive. Therefore, the minting experience needs to be “frictionless and simple.”
Casio will join a bevy of companies that have launched projects on the Layer 2 sidechain, including Starbucks, DraftKings, and Meta. Polygon, with its fast speeds and low transactions costs, is often the natural choice for companies that want a seamless Web3 onboarding experience for their customers.
Watchmakers Take to Web3
While it may seem unusual that a watch company is entering Web3, Rarity Sniper has seen differently. Over the past two years, many watchmakers have debuted NFT collections or filed trademarks to build in the next iteration of the internet. The allure of a producing watches that don’t need raw, IRL materials seems strong. Plus, Web3 has no limits.
Here are some of the stories:


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Asian-focused games distributor QTech Games has announced stellar growth and success in Q3 following a number of sustainable incremental gains throughout 2019.
Financial figures released for the period has shown that the firm has seen gaming turnover in Asia increase year-on-year by 105 per cent in August, with 120 per cent YoY being recorded in September to round out the third quarter.
This increase in annual turnover has seen QTech comfortably outstrip the consensus-projections from industry analysts, the firm stressed in the report.
QTech emphasises that rises reported are premised on the viability of the new partnership model for European operators who are looking to secure their place in Asia. The company has offered to operate the Asian side of the business, where they will house operator staff or manage localised customer-service needs.
QTech Games CEO, Markus Nasholm, commented: “These fantastic results didn’t happen overnight, they are the result of targeted planning and execution from our talented team. So, it’s a wonderful validation of their combined hard work over this past year.”
The Asian game operator boasts a broad gaming portfolio, which has been localised for each region. It comes with native mobile apps and powerful reporting and marketing tools.
“We’ve long witnessed an emerging trend whereby European operators feel a pressing urgency to establish a presence in Asia,” Nasholm continued.
“However, they encounter obstacles to entry – from regulatory and business reasons to specific market know-how across Asia’s patchwork quilt. Where once there were barriers, though, QTech Games is now building a bridge.
“Outsourcing customer service and admin has been a staple in all other industries for the past 20 years or more, and QTech has now applied the process to igaming. With our extensive industry experience and expertise, we have been running a progressively successful platform business in Asia for years from an established and well-resourced headquarters in Manila.”
Living by a mantra of “one integration for all the emerging and growth markets,” QTech states that it now harnesses the “largest knowledge-base” for emerging Asian markets. Through this, they deliver support which is accessible for any operator who is bidding to enter these territories.
“We can assist in three basic ways,” Nasholm says. “QTech can run a full-service operation in Asia (including product, promotions, CS and legals) but the site still sits on the operator’s platform. We can run the brand on an Asian white-label format – i.e. acting as a distinct unit on behalf of the operator. Or we can just run the customer services and admin.
“At QTech, our mission has always been reassuringly straightforward: To secure the best online games in the world and distribute them to a burgeoning portfolio of global operators. Mobile games remain the core focus and that’s naturally indicative of the escalating smartphone adoption rates, affordability and internet connectivity across Asia.
“If you are not present in rapidly developing markets such as China, India, and Japan, you’re missing a box of tricks. The volumes here are megalithic and appear to maintain growth in double-digit (even triple-digit) increments year-on-year. This pattern is established – you can either resist it, or embrace it.”


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Aiming to avoid a conflict with a brewer of another sort, a local coffee maker has changed its name as it prepares to expand its grounds nationally.
Confluence Coffee Co. has rebranded to Convergent Coffee Co. The Richmond-based brewer, which specializes in canned nitro cold-brewed coffee, is preparing to expand its distribution footprint to the west, where it came across a business with a similar name.
CEO Steve Ball said the company was contacted earlier this year by Confluence Brewing Co., a Des Moines, Iowa-based craft beer-maker.
“They sent a letter saying, ‘Hey, we have this trademark,’” Ball said. “I think they did us a favor. If we scaled nationally with the name ‘Confluence,’ it’d have been a bigger issue.”
Ball said neither company went to court over the matter. In early August, his company debuted as Convergent Coffee. Its logo remains the same.
“We’re happy with where the name is now … The branding’s been very strong on the design side,” Ball said.
Convergent filed an application to trademark its name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which Ball said it expects to receive in early 2018. Local law firm Graybill, Lansche & Vinzani has been assisting the company in the process.
Convergent’s 2018 plans aren’t limited to locking down its name. Ball said its distribution will cross the Mississippi River and begin scaling nationally. The firm currently distributes to 350 locations in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Midwest.
“We’re already lined up to double the store count we’re at now,” Ball said.
He said Convergent has brought in outside investors and is completing a Series A round of financing, but did not disclose details about the capital raise.
“That capital will allow us to (expand),” he said. “Our investors are from all over, with a number in Richmond.”
The company was launched via Kickstarter in 2015. In 2016, it leased 10,000 square feet of warehouse space near The Diamond. Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Co. supplies its beans. The coffee is made without sugar or dairy products.
This year, Ball said, Convergent doubled its revenue and staff. In October, it opened a Denver office that he said will help distribute westward. The company has seven employees in Richmond, which Ball expects to reach 12 by the end of 2018.
Ball said Convergent plans to expand its offerings in 2018. It currently produces three flavors: house blend, mocha and coconut.
“We’re looking to do additional flavors,” he said, adding that the first may hit shelves in March.
Where Convergent sidestepped a potential issue with a brewery, another local coffeemaker teamed up with one. In April, Black Hand Coffee Co. announced Nitro Cold Brew, a joint venture with Richmond-based Triple Crossing Brewing.


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In response to criticism that Amazon doesn’t pay its workers a livable wage, Jeff Bezos announced beginning November 1, 2018, all U.S. and U.K. Amazon employees will earn a $15 an hour minimum wage. Amazon will also lobby to make $15 an hour the federal minimum wage. At the same time, Amazon also eliminated stock awards and bonuses for hourly employees.
Depending on which options you choose, using an online marketplace like Amazon can make the fulfillment process easier for new and small businesses. Not only can Amazon interact with customers on your behalf, saving you time while protecting your personal and private information, but it can also handle the entire shipping process, including returns. As a result, owners can concentrate on building their businesses.
While Amazon was expanding into streaming video, hardware, and cloud computing, it simultaneously maintained an aggressive push into even faster shipping and all new retail formats. The company started its same-day shipping initiative, Prime Now, in New York City in 2014, and it’s since expanded it to dozens of cities around the world. Around the same time, Amazon began a program called AmazonFresh to stock and ship groceries — including vegetables and refrigerated and freezer products — that it used as a way to stay competitive with traditional big-box retailers like Walmart and Target and Uber-like logistics newcomers like Instacart. The company now sells its own line of meal kits through Fresh to rival ready-to-cook options from companies like Blue Apron and Plated.
Yet the more monumental retail push occurred last summer, when Amazon purchased grocery chain Whole Foods for $13.7 billion and proved, yet again, that Bezos is willing and able to buy his way into a new market when it’s unfavorable to start from scratch. Amazon now uses Whole Foods’ grocery pick-up and delivery perks and in-store discounts as a way to reward its Prime subscribers. It’s also using its massive resources to lower Whole Foods prices, making it more competitive with Kroger, Target, and Walmart. In response, Walmart has begun investing heavily in e-commerce and grocery delivery to protect its turf from Amazon, setting the stage for an unprecedented retail war.
The difference is that Amazon has data to prove what’s popular and easy to sell, and free shipping to get people to buy it online instead of in the store. (That’s gotten the attention of the European Commission, which is looking into whether Amazon is harming competition by using data from its sellers to develop its own products.) You can now buy Amazon-produced electric kettles, toasters, office chairs, knife sets, neoprene dumbbells, comforters, suitcases — name a product you’d find in a Walmart, and it’s probably already made and sold under the AmazonBasics name. Earlier this month, the company started selling its own mattress, striking fear in the direct-to-consumer mattress startup market dominated by Casper and Tuft & Needle.
On the logistics side, Amazon has for years been building out a network of delivery workers, fulfillment centers, trucks, cargo planes, and freighters to move products from manufacturers to customers at speeds once thought impossible. The company is now facilitating sea freight shipments, leasing Boeing cargo planes, building a $1.5 billion air cargo hub in Kentucky, and expanding its own UPS and FedEx competitor called Shipping with Amazon, or SWA. All of this is an effort to establish a global logistics network that no one company will be able to compete with.
As you come across items you want, click "Add to Cart" to save them. If you're undecided, add it anyway and you can always take it out of the cart later. When you're done, click the "Cart" button at the top of any Amazon page and select "Proceed to Checkout." Your first purchase includes creating an account. When Amazon prompts you to log in, enter your email address, choose "I Am a New Customer" and fill in your personal info. You'll also need to enter a credit card to complete your purchase. If you haven't shopped online before, the prospect of giving out your card number might seem intimidating, but online stores use encryption to prevent hackers from stealing your information. To stay safe on Amazon, just as with any other site, never give out your password, keep up-to-date anti-virus software on your computer and watch your bill for unexpected charges. Some credit card companies also provide one-time use numbers for shopping online -- check your card company's website to see if it offers this feature.
Brilliance Audio is an audiobook publisher founded in 1984 by Michael Snodgrass in Grand Haven, Michigan. The company produced its first 8 audio titles in 1985. The company was purchased by Amazon in 2007 for an undisclosed amount. At the time of the acquisition, Brilliance was producing 12–15 new titles a month. It operates as an independent company within Amazon.
Use apps to check prices in real-time. “The app ShopSavvy is really useful when you’re out shopping in stores because you can scan the barcode on items and see if there is a better deal elsewhere,” says Palmer of Nerdwallet. Woroch is also a fan of ShopSavvy, as well as Flipp, which provides circulars all in one place so you can quickly compare to plan your shopping trip strategically.
World-famous action movie and television star Chuck Norris has stood behind the Total Gym exercise machine for more than 30 years. The Total Gym provides a complete exercise experience in one simple product. Because the product is able to fold out to become different machines, this gym allows a person to stay in peak physical condition without wasting a lot of money. Norris himself is world famous for his physique and has used the Total Gym for decades to maintain that condition.


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Postage rate increase may encourage electronic bill paying
Monday, July 8, 2002
NEW YORK -- With the price of a first-class stamp up to 37 cents, many consumers are taking a fresh look at reducing their mailing costs by paying their bills electronically.
The average American pays about a dozen bills a month, so a postage increase of 3 cents per letter isn't going to break the bank. Still, experts say, it might be the final nudge for many to shift to e-payment options.
A phone survey conducted for the Direct Marketing Association found that more than one-third of respondents indicated they would look for bill paying alternatives to first class mail. Fully 42 percent of those 25 to 34 said they would seek alternatives.
DMA economist Peter Johnson said it bodes poorly for U.S. Postal Service efforts to increase its revenues.
"This is the first generation that can say, 'I don't like your 3-cent increase. I don't like standing in line to buy stamps. I'm going to move my bill paying online, and I don't care what happens to your finances,"' Johnson said.
The quickest way to reduce the cost of paying bills is, of course, to cut down the number of bills you pay each month. That generally means getting rid of unneeded credit cards or paying insurance premiums quarterly or annually rather than every 30 days.
William Nelson, executive vice president of NACHA-The Electronic Payments Association, said there has been tremendous growth in the use of electronic payment since last year, when the grounding of jets after Sept. 11 and the anthrax scares interfered with mail delivery.


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Suppose you could take an old engine concept discarded in the 1970s, add modern fuel metering and injection control hardware and software, and offer a compact powerplant that cuts the fuel consumption of today's diesel truck engines by a third.. That's the promise of Achates Power, which has been working for a decade on its horizontally opposed two-stroke diesel truck engine. Now, it says, the company expects to announce its first pilot program with a global engine or vehicle maker within 18 months--almost surely outside the U.S. And it hopes to have a large-scale production contract with a...
China To Build EcoMotors' Efficient Opposed-Piston Engines
History makes fools of us all sometimes, none more so than when we dismiss certain ideas out of hand, only for them to come back years later and eat our words. That's why we're always intrigued by companies claiming to reinvent the engine. One of them might well do so, given the right resources...Antony Ingram
Bill Gates Backs EcoMotors’ New OPOC Engine With $23.5 Million Investment
Throughout the history of the internal combustion engine there have been a multitude of scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs shouting claims about revolutionary new engine designs promising greater efficiency, more power, fewer emissions and lower production and running costs. However, to this...Viknesh Vijayenthiran


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2011 CLS spied undisguised
Is the next-generation CLS going to hurt the Porsche Panamera’s sales with its more sharply contoured sheet metal? Spy photographers have caught the 2011 CLS almost completely undisguised at what appears to be a photo shoot in preparation for the car’s launch later this year. Read more about the car’s new styling at AutoExpress. Some pictures below.
Provided by duPont REGISTRY


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• The crypto industry has been trying to launch a Bitcoin ETF since 2013.
• In 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved the first bitcoin futures ETF, sparking hope that a spot bitcoin ETF might soon follow.
• Recently, major financial giant BlackRock filed an application for a spot Bitcoin ETF, signaling that the time may be coming when this product is approved by the SEC.
The History of the Bitcoin ETF
The crypto industry has been trying to launch a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) since 2013 when Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss first filed for one. Despite numerous attempts, no spot Bitcoin ETF has yet been approved in the U.S. However, in 2021 the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) did approve the first bitcoin futures ETF which opened up the possibility of other similar products being approved in future years.
BlackRock’s Entrance into The Race
A few weeks ago, major financial giant BlackRock filed an application for a spot Bitcoin ETF which spurred excitement that it could be approved by the SEC eventually after all these years of anticipation from industry experts. Since then several other applications have been filed for similar products as well so it appears that there is more optimism than ever before about this becoming reality soon enough.
The Potential Impact Of An Approved Spot Bitcoin ETF
If such an investment vehicle were to be approved it would open up access to retail investors who wouldn’t have to go through all of the trouble associated with setting up wallets or dealing with finicky crypto exchanges in order to invest in bitcoin as an asset class. Furthermore, sophisticated investors like multimillion-dollar family offices would also gain access to regulated (and therefore “safe”) investment vehicles linked to Bitcoin as well so there is potential for widespread adoption if this comes into fruition soon enough.
The Regulatory Hurdles
At this point however there are still many regulatory hurdles left before such a product can come into existence due to concerns over market manipulation and other issues related to price volatility among other things so it remains unclear at this point how soon we will see an actual approval for a spot BTC ETF on American soil if ever at all given some established resistance from regulators thus far on matters related to cryptocurrencies like these ones in particular specifically speaking here now today still unfortunately at least not yet anyway anyway sadly yes still no just not yet though either way unfortunately still nothing yet anyways but hopefully something very soon somehow someday though yes maybe someday sooner rather than later possibly even hopefully likely surely but only if everything goes exactly right with absolutely no changes whatsoever along whatever path chosen regarding any type of cryptocurrency regulations or whatever else involved here yes indeed regardless anyway yes nonetheless still nothing quite yet officially anyway sadly either way either case unfortunately again too bad but hopefully something good sooner rather than later too maybe soon even definitely perhaps sure why not? Definitely possible!


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KUALA LUMPUR: Asia-Pacific has a long way to go in becoming a cashless region, though it has been leading the way in innovation and adoption of new channels to pay for goods and services digitally.
HSBC Malaysia said cash was still the predominant method of paying for goods in most Asia-Pacific countries, with 55% of personal spending by cash and cheque.
In a statement today, head of retail banking and wealth management Tara Latini said the deployment of cashless technology in Asia still faced the challenge of working across multiple countries and adhering to local regulations.
“While the growth in digital wallets in Asia has been phenomenal, only a handful are able to provide users with services in more than one Asian country, let alone on an international basis,” she said.
However, she noted that being in the most dynamic region in the world for digital payments can also be a source of opportunity.
“Companies and service providers with a strong foothold in Asia-Pacific are perfectly positioned to export their technology and capture a global lead, as the challenges of developing systems that can work across borders and currencies are solved,” Latini said.
HSBC noted that the government and regulatory authorities have been taking steps to speed up the transition to a cashless society.
Under the Financial Sector Blueprint, Bank Negara Malaysia targets to increase the number of e-payment transactions per capita from 44 transactions to 200 transactions and reduce cheque payments from 207 million to 100 million per year.


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A new report by ResearchAndMarkets finds that the global online food delivery services market will grow from $115.07 billion in 2020 to $126.91 billion in 2021 at a CAGR of 10.3%. Major players in the market are Doordash, Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Domino’s, GrubHub and more.
Growth in food delivery is largely driven by companies resuming operations and adapting to the “new normal” that the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has created. Previous restrictive containment measures and closure of commercial activities resulted in operational challenges for a majority of 2020.
According to the report, “Online Food delivery Services Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Growth and Change to 2030,” the cost of supply chain and logistics is a key restraint for the online food delivery market as costs for order fulfillment, deliver, adjusting business resources to market demand and last-mile connectivity vary. Retailers could potentially lose up to 26% of their profits if they fail to adjust their supply chains to prevent spoilage.
- The market is expected to reach $192.16 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 11%.
- Smartphone users are the primary online shoppers for the F&B industry and an increase in the number of smartphone users reflects a potential increase in online shopping for food and beverages.
- Upgradation of the distribution network to a more decentralized system, Distribution 4.0, is trending in the food delivery services market. In Distribution 4.0, suppliers partner with multiple players for the best market coverage between urban and rural markets, focusing their efforts on marketing, branding, and in-store merchandising to create best-in-class shopper experience.


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Swipe Wallet Partners with Band Protocol; Lists BAND token
Binance-backed crypto wallet Swipe has announced a partnership with decentralized cross-chain oracle network Band Protocol. As a part of the partnership, Swipe will integrate Band’s oracle for launching SwipeFi, an all-new money market protocol built on the Binance Smart Chain network. Swipe has also listed the BAND token on the wallet.
A crypto wallet is a place where you can securely keep your crypto and choose the best crypto wallet to store your cryptocurrencies. A crypto wallet is an essential tool for buying, selling, and storing cryptocurrencies. Although, to know about crypto wallet in detail, you can read more here.
The BAND token will now be available on both, the Swipe Wallet and the Swipe Visa Card. This will allow users to buy, sell, and use the digital asset for payments at more than 60 million merchants across the globe.
SwipeFi is a multi-asset money market protocol to be launched on the Binance Smart Chain, the first of its kind for Binance Smart Chain. The protocol will include a wide range of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins and will implement Band’s data oracles.
Using Band’s oracles will allow SwipeFi to meet its requirements of gathering Binance Smart Chain compatible accurate price feeds in real-time, with low costs and technical requirements. Commenting on the integration with Band Protocol, Swipe CEO Joselito Lizarondo said,
Co-founder and CEO of Band Protocol, Soravis Srinawakoon, stated that the integration with Swipe allows them to provide highly decentralized oracles to ensure the launch of SwipeFi. He further added that the integration would also ensure the inflow of high-quality liquidation and credit ratio data in a decentralized manner.
Swipe is one of the leading multi-asset crypto trading wallets that allow users to buy and sell crypto using their Visa Debit Card. Band Protocol, on the other hand, is a cross-chain data oracle network, that facilitates connecting API and real-world data with smart contracts.


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Check Out The Last of Us: Left Behind’s Launch Trailer
The Last of Us‘ inauguraul DLC, Left Behind, will chronicle the life of Ellie and her best friend, Riley. Events in the story take place in the Boston quarantine zone, before she met up with Joel and before she was bitten. The DLC was first announced at the PlayStation 4 launch event this past November.
The Last of Us: Left Behind was developed by Naughty Dog and will be released tomorrow, February 14th, 2014 for the PlayStation 3.


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Steam is hosting the 2019 edition of its annual Winter Sale, and just like the previous year, there are a tonne of games that are up for grabs with some sweet discounts in tow. Acclaimed titles like Dark Souls III, Warhammer: Vermintide 2, and Call of Duty: WWII have been discounted by up to 75 percent. Steam is also offering discounts on multiple games in franchises like Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat, Star Wars, Tomb Raider, and Far Cry to name a few. Even freshly released games such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order have received a limited-time price cut during the ongoing Steam Winter Sale.
As for our best discounted game picks, Mortal Kombat 11 has received a 60 percent cut on its asking price and is now down to Rs. 539 on Steam. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ asking price has been slashed in half and it is now going for Rs. 499. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which came out last month, has been discounted by 17 percent and can now be purchased for Rs. 2,904. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which was also released earlier this year, is now down to Rs. 2,599 with a 35 percent discount.
The critically-acclaimed Monster Hunter: World has received a juicy 60 percent discount and is currently available at Rs. 1,199 during the Steam Winter Sale. Another well-received game, Red Dead Redemption 2, has also got a 20 percent reduction and is up for grabs at Rs. 2,559 on Steam. The notoriously difficult-to-complete Dark Souls III has received a hefty 75 percent discount and is now going for Rs. 1,074.
The Steam Winter Sale is live and will go on through January 2, 2020. Following are some of the best discounts on acclaimed games being offered during the Steam Winter Sale:
- Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey – Rs. 1,199 (60 percent off)
- Far Cry 5 – Rs. 749 (75 percent off)
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition Bundle – Rs. 1,181 (78 percent off)
- Far Cry New Dawn – Rs. 899 (60 percent off)
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – Rs. 2,904 (17 percent off)
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Rs. 2,599 (35 percent off)
- Monster Hunter: World – Rs. 1,199 (60 percent off)
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – Rs. 2,599 (20 percent off)
- Call of Duty: WWII – Rs. 2,599 (60 percent off)
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds – Rs. 499 (50 percent off)
- Dark Souls III – Rs. 1,074 (75 percent off)
- Devil May Cry 5 Deluxe Edition (with Red Orbs) – Rs. 2,244 (56 percent off)
- Wolfenstein: Youngblood – Rs. 1,339 (33 percent off)
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR – Rs. 899 (70 percent off)
- Mortal Kombat 11 – Rs. 539 (60 percent off)
- Resident Evil 2 / Biohazard RE:2 Standard Edition – Rs. 989 (60 percent off)


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According to the results of Central Banking’s inaugural CBDC survey very few central banks plan to issue CBDCs, in any form, within the next five years. Moreover, much-vaunted blockchain technology is viewed as having limited applications – despite the Libra Association sticking with a version using Byzantine algorithms. And the idea of a decentralised currency is a non-starter – centralised controls are essential from a public-sector perspective.
How digital payments can help countries cope with pandemics: lessons from China
Digital payments allow people to access goods and services while in quarantine or social distancing. SARS epidemic in 2003 expedited China’s path in launching digital payments and e-commerce in the country. A robust identification system, widespread, consistent internet access and trustworthy ways to get money into digital formats could be important for digital payments to thrive.
Bison Trails Announces Support for Celo Platform
Bison Trails has announced support for the Celo open network, which enables smartphone users to send crypto directly to a phone number instead of a blockchain address. The added support means that users will be able to transfer value using Celo’s stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar on the Bison Trails platform. The Celo tech system has three layers: Celo Blockchain, Celo Core Contracts, and Application, and uses Earned Value Management and the Go-Ethereum protocol for their underlying node system.
What Stellar’s Investment In Abra Means For The ‘Robinhood Of Cryptocurrency’
The Stellar Development Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the development and growth of the Stellar blockchain network announced a $5m investment in Abra, a leading cryptocurrency wallet and exchange application, as part of an overall strategic partnership between the two organizations.
Standard to Deal With FATF Travel Rule
The Joint Working Group for InterVASP Messaging Standards IVMS101 standard defines a uniform model for data that must be exchanged by virtual asset service providers alongside crypto-asset transactions. The standard will identify the pseudonymous senders and receivers of crypto payments, with such information “traveling” with each transaction.
Impossible Finance — The Cryptocurrency Bridging Currency
Many firms have tried to build international payments businesses based on the concept of transferring funds using crypto-assets as a bridging currency. The crypto-asset route is potentially cheaper for a payments provider because it cuts out the necessity of holding foreign currency balances. Progress by firms using the model has been limited, possibly because this logic does not factor in the costs of additional currency exchanges and liquidity provision.
New Report Explains Why XRP Takes Weekends Off
In its Flipside Crypto “4 Things To Know About XRP Money Flows”, Flipside Crypto analyzes the flows of XRP through the ecosystem and notes that activity for XRP drops significantly on the weekend. It theorizes that this is likely due to a lack of consumer or retail interest in the asset.
Posted from Diigo: https://www.diigo.com/user/kiffmeister/Fintech


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At an event at 10:30 a.m. PDT Wednesday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other executives respond to recent privacy criticism by making things a bit simpler.
A talk on vulnerabilities in the encryption within Apple FileVault was never submitted, according to officials of the security conference. But researcher Charles Edge begs to differ.
Having paid attendees vote on upcoming conference speakers is just one of the online improvements Black Hat hopes to make during 2008.
The World Wide Web Consortium held a conference in DC on Monday that it described as: "Conversations and results are public." Which is why it's a bit hypocritical to bar reporters from covering the event.
The NRC report says the United States should follow the European model of creating Yet Another Federal Bureaucracy.
Should Amazon.com be able to charge you more than someone else? The unfounded worry over price discrimination based on shopping history.
Canada may bow out of U.S. no-fly, selectee lists.
Meet Patricia Dunn, Tom Perkins and the other main characters in the investigation and its aftermath.
At a San Francisco conference, the W3C tries to establish the relevance of the Semantic Web, but skeptics abound.
CNET News.com's Declan McCullagh reports back after a week of hanging with cyberprivacy advocates who contemplate the prospect of life with Big Brother.


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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A person carries a television outside a Currys store in London, Britain, November 22, 2021. Picture taken November 22, 2021. REUTERS/May James
LONDON (Reuters) – British consumers should expect to pay more for electricals and technology products in 2022, the boss of Currys, the country’s biggest electricals retailer, said on Friday.
“One of the things that we do expect across the market in 2022 are some price rises, we think that’s inevitable,” Chief Executive Alex Baldock told reporters after Currys updated on Christmas trading.
“The direction is definitely inflationary. That’s one of the contributors … also to the uncertainty in the outlook because consumers are keeping a close eye on the cost of living at the moment,” he said.
Baldock added, however, that Currys would stand by its price promise to be the cheapest in the market.
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