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We have known for a while the incredible potential Instagam has in generating revenue from ads and Facebook revealed that from their latest quarterly earnings. They introduced sponsored posts which are basically ads that seamlessly integrate with the timeline and it is actually my favourite in app ad integration among the various social networks. This system has become successful thanks to integration with Facebook and from that, Instagram now has over 200,000 advertisers, which is a lot by any measure.
Instagram still has potential to generate even more revenue from the company and its mother company, Facebook seems has plans in order to achieve that. According to TechCrunch, the latest build of the Instagram app has an interesting addition to its code which hints that they will offer a way to boost posts.
The specific build in question (ver. 8.1.0) code was decompiled and here is a screenshot of some of the content which includes that specific inclusion of “boosting posts.”
As you can see, there is the [can_boost_post] option in the cod which is currently under the false state. If activated, it will allow people to boost posts to be seen with a bigger audience,which is exactly what we see on Facebook. On Facebook, Page admins can boost specific posts with specific amounts so that they can obtain a higher engagement thanks to the post being beamed to more Facebook users.
This move also goes well with Instagram’s latest push towards businesses where they want people to place ads to the over 400 million people who have registered with the network. Recently, they added three new additions to the profile that mimic Facebook Pages and adding to the boost post news, expect more ads being pushed to your timeline.


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Huntly Hails Fiver Fest Success
By Experience Huntly on 25/06/2021
Huntly based businesses have hailed the recent Fiver Fest campaign a success as it draws to a close this weekend.
The national initiative, established by Totally Locally, invited independent businesses to promote £5 offers over a two-week duration to encourage shoppers to spend locally.
The campaign has been well supported by the local business community, with 23 independent businesses taking part since it launched on 12 June. Participants have commended Fiver Fest for increasing footfall in the town centre and highlighting the importance of supporting small businesses by spending locally.
Laura Gardner, owner of The Larder on Gordon Street, commented, “We have found Fiver Fest to be very busy, it’s been really good. Both existing and new customers have visited the shop to take advantage of the deals we have offered, with many shoppers buying other items during their visit too. It has been a real success for us.”
Owner of Elegant Nails & Beauty, Elizabeth Barlow, added, “It has been a great experience taking part in this year’s Fiver Fest, we have welcomed an extra 28 customers into the salon over the past two weeks who have taken advantage of our offers. It was a fantastic last-minute decision for us to take part and we can’t thank Experience Huntly for the nudge to do it, along with the social media coverage, and of course thanks to all our customers for supporting local, it truly means a lot to a local small business.”
The local effort has been coordinated by Vivien Rae, marketing manager for Experience Huntly, who has also recently launched the Experience Huntly website and app for the town.
Ms Rae said, “Some local businesses have taken part in Fiver Fest before, but this year there was a co-ordinated effort to increase the uptake and bring businesses together to really showcase what Huntly has to offer. To get 23 businesses in the town signed up and taking part has been fantastic, and the feedback has been really positive. The launch of the Experience Huntly website and app during Fiver Fest has also really helped to put the spotlight on Huntly and all there is on offer in the town.”
Helen Kings, Treasurer of the Huntly Business Association, also welcomed the response to Fiver Fest from businesses and shoppers, commenting, “Encouraging people to visit and spend in the town centre is important at all times, but particularly following the challenges and hardships which are evident as a result of Covid-19 implications. We really want to continue to support our business community and will maximise the success of Fiver Fest, as well as actively seek to take part in other shop local initiatives this year.”
Sights are now set on engaging with the Scotland Loves Local campaign, alongside efforts driven by Aberdeenshire Council and Visit Aberdeenshire, to continue to promote local shopping and tourism appeal in and around Huntly.
The Experience Huntly app is available to download for free from the Google Play and Apple stores and provides a comprehensive directory of information for Huntly and the surrounding area as well as local news, deals and events.

domain: news


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Thieves Rob Postal Worker for His ‘Arrow’ Key
In New Jersey, a postal worker goes flying as he is ambushed by two thieves. It's the latest robbery involving postal workers. In many cases, the robbers are not going after cash but a key. Arrow keys are universal keys that open every mail receptacle in a given zip code. According to U.S. Postal Inspection Service, 496 mail carriers were robbed last year, which is up a disturbing 78%. Inside Edition's Steven Fabian has more.


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Kmart – Black Friday 2016 Predictions
Kmart is famous for starting their Black Friday sale earlier than most stores. Last year, the retailer’s first round of doorbusters started at 6:00am!
The start time isn’t the only impressive Black Friday fact about Kmart. In 2015, they offered deals on over 3,000 items and a free goodie bag to the first 1,000 shoppers at each store. It’s a deal hunter’s dream!
Read more Here https://BlackFriday.com/articles/1940-kmart-black-friday-2016-predictions


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Yes, you’ve heard about it. Yes, you’ve likely now seen pictures of it. There is a new LEGO Store in London, but not just a new LEGO Store…the biggest LEGO Store in the world.
Located in Leicester Square, opposite M&M World and the Nickelodeon store (and isn’t that going to be a hive of tourism and excited kids?), the brand-new LEGO Store, covering 9,800 square feet over two floors and containing all the LEGO sets you can think of and want to purchase. Oh, and of course, the astonishing six meter LEGO replica of Big Ben. Grabbing your attention as soon as you walk into the store – hell, it grabs your attention as you’re walking past the store – it has over 300,000 bricks, weighs in at over a tonne, and took a dedicated team of people around 2,280 hours to construct, layer by layer, before stacking it up and moving it into its new permanent home in Leicester Square. It features a fully-working clock face and even chimes on the hour like its real-life counterpart.
The in-store attractions do not end there, however; across the other side of the ground floor of the store sits a truly superb LEGO replica of a London tube carriage. Consisting of 637,902 bricks and standing at 2 meters high, it also offers a great photo opportunity for customers to get their snap while sitting in between LEGO versions of a William Shakespeare and a Grenadier Guard. Elsewhere, visitors to the store will also be able to try out the LEGO Minifigure Scanner, a new interactive feature that allows users to find out what minifig they are. There is also an oversized model, all ready for the photo opportunities, of the new store mascot Lester, complete with his bowler hat and umbrella.
As you head up to the first floor, you are confronted with a HUGE wall mosaic of the London skyline, which took some unfortunate souls around 90 hours to put together. And speaking of mosaics, that brings me to one of the store’s biggest features, and a world’s first, the LEGO Mosaic Maker; a photo booth that allows shoppers to take a picture of their face in LEGO, and out comes, already boxed, the bricks required to build a physical LEGO mosaic of yourself. It doesn’t come cheap, retailing at £99.99, however based on the enthusiastic response from virtually everyone that witnessed the Mosaic Maker at work, this is going to prove a very popular and worthwhile venture for LEGO, one that I will not be surprised to see pop up in other major stores around the world.
Away from the new features and sights, there is also a Pick & Build wall and a play area where kids (and adults too!) can put together small themed sets that they can take away. On the back wall downstairs there is also a video wall that shows off various LEGO sets, as well as behind-the-scenes videos of the Big Ben and Tube carriage being constructed. A look up the ceiling, meanwhile, will allow you to see a big brick version of Brickley the dragon, a construction that took 725 hours.
This new store took two years to complete, and the level of detail put into this store coming to fruition is startling. The Mosaic Maker will grab the headlines, and deservedly so, but the rest of the store should not be downplayed. With every set you can think of, from the flagship brands such as Star Wars and Marvel, to the Architecture range – including the store-exclusive London skyline that we have reviewed here – and the popular LEGO Ideas series, there is so much choice for shoppers, it is impossible for anyone to walk into this shop and not find something that they will inevitably leave with.
LEGO Store Leicester Square is open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 22:00 and Sunday 12:00 to 20:00.


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Stats 2023: Laminate resurgence drives sales higher
The momentum that the U.S. laminate flooring category generated in late 2020 and throughout 2021 continued to positively impact segment sales in 2022. Floor Covering News research shows the U.S. laminate flooring market generated approximately $1.382 billion in sales last year at the first point of sale—an uptick of 6% over the year prior. In terms of volume, the category grew at a slightly slower rate (4.5%), reaching roughly 1.098 billion square feet. The disparity in growth rates, industry observers say, can be attributed to slightly higher costs related to production/shipping, as well as more of an emphasis on better quality goods—those in the 10mm to 12mm range versus activity at the opening price point associated with 7mm products.
Much like 2021, the laminate category in 2022 benefited from the surge created when access to alternative products such as WPC and SPC—much of which is still largely imported—was curtailed due to shipping challenges. Although many of those shipping delays have largely returned to normal in the past six to 10 months (Forced Labor Act issues notwithstanding), the residual bump the laminate flooring segment saw in the immediate aftermath of those challenges spilled over from 2021 and into the first half of 2022.
“Sales in 2022 were definitely up over 2021, although the market saw a significant reduction in the fourth quarter last year,” said Derek Welbourn, CEO of Inhaus. “Our estimates show the U.S. laminate market was up about 5% in 2022.”
But the growth wasn’t all organic; some of it had to do with increased costs that were passed on through the channels. As Welbourn explained: “Prices rose greatly as a result of higher container costs, inflation and raw material input costs. We estimate the increases exceeded 30%. It was a major spike that’s starting to subside now.”
Looking at the big picture, laminate maintained its share of the overall market. In 2022, the category accounted for 4.9% of sales—in keeping with the percentage from 2021. But in terms of volume, laminate represented 5.6% of the overall market—up slightly from 5.2% in 2021. By comparison, resilient grew its share of overall market sales to 34% (up from 31.6% in 2021), while hardwood’s share of sales slipped from 10% in 2021 to 8.6% last year. Tile, meanwhile, saw its share of total industry sales rise from 11.5% in 2021 to 12.5% last year. Carpet’s share slipped slightly from 30.7% in 2021 to 29.4% in 2022.
Although flooring sales at the nation’s largest home center were off slightly in 2022, that didn’t put much of a damper on the big boxes’ dominance of laminate flooring sales. Floor Covering News research shows the largest, full-service home centers (Home Depot, Lowe’s and Menards) collectively accounted for more than 62% of laminate sales last year, representing market shares of 33%, 21.5% and 8%, respectively. Home Depot’s overall flooring sales were relatively flat, with Lowe’s up about 2%. Although a fraction of the size of its larger competitors, Menards, with 350 locations across 15 states, saw its laminate sales market share rise slightly to 8%, up from 6% in 2021.
But that doesn’t mean the specialty retail sector didn’t hold its own. In fact, Floor Covering News research showed the portion of the pie attributed to specialty flooring retailers grew slightly from roughly 13.4% in 2021 to about 15% last year. This is supported by anecdotal information that showed more independent flooring retailers went with laminate (especially domestically produced flooring) as a bona fide option in 2022 when faced with supply chain issues surrounding some imported resilient flooring products.
Another key channel for laminate flooring in 2022 included design centers and flooring-specific home improvement centers. This segment, which includes the Floor & Decors and IKEAs of the world, accounted for approximately 16% of laminate sales last year, up slightly from 14% in 2021. Rounding out the list of key channels for laminate flooring are mass merchants, warehouse clubs and discount outlets, which, according to Floor Covering News research, collectively accounted for 6.5% of sales—up from 4.6% in 2021.
The vast majority of laminate flooring sales moves through the home center/big box channel. It’s no accident that most laminate products sold within this particular channel are geared toward the opening price point of laminate and generally reside in the 7mm realm. At the same time, the category saw the average wholesale price tick up a bit from $1.24 per square foot in 2021 to $1.26 last year. Note: In 2012, the average square foot price for laminate (wholesale) was $1.04.
“I think there’s positive movement everywhere,” said David Moore, senior product director, wood and laminate, Mohawk. “Residential remodel jobs at specialty retail is probably the best performer, just based on what we’re seeing. But we’re also seeing a strong builder business and home center sales.”
Inhaus’ Welbourn estimated the market did even better last year than most estimate. “We believe that specialty retail’s share was more likely 20% by volume and correspondingly higher in terms of sales,” he told Floor Covering News.
Driving that activity, industry observers say, are strides made at the manufacturing level. “Modern manufacturing techniques have greatly improved the aesthetics of laminate flooring, allowing it to closely mimic the appearance of natural materials like hardwood, stone or tile,” said Randy McKellar, marketing manager, Lions Floor. “Its durability and wear resistance make it ideal for high-traffic areas, while its affordability appeals to budget-conscious consumers. The ease of installation, low maintenance requirements, and advancements in moisture resistance have further contributed to its appeal. These qualities have led to the renewed popularity of laminate flooring among homeowners and commercial spaces alike.”
Peter Barretto, president and CEO of Torlys, agreed. “We’re seeing all levels of laminates doing better as waterproof features dominate the headlines. On the higher-end side, the wide/longer/pressed bevels with deeper EIR visuals are all getting exponentially better.”
Specifically, Barretto said he sees robust laminate activity in the ever-important multi-family sector. “We have been seeing both the low- and high-rise builders migrating over to laminates as well as property management/apartment buildings. It’s a ‘push-pull’ scenario given the consistent high performance of laminates and challenges with certain low-price SPC.”
The market shift that we saw in 2021 relative to lower shipments from China continued in 2022. Floor Covering News research shows China’s share of U.S. laminate sales fell markedly from an estimated 38% in 2021 to about 28% last year. This is due primarily to not only ongoing issues surrounding duties and tariffs, but also because more Chinese flooring manufacturers have pivoted to production of SPC and other resilient flooring products.
“We definitely saw less volume coming from China, while regions such as Southeast Asia—especially Vietnam—increased their laminate production,” Inhaus’ Welbourn stated.
Indeed, this shift presented opportunities for countries in Southeast Asia to fill the void—in much the same way they are doing on the hardwood flooring side of the business. Ditto for Germany, which doubled down on its efforts to service the U.S. market, resulting in a 35% share of laminate imports to the U.S.—a slight increase over its 32% market share in 2021. In that same vein, it is estimated that laminate flooring imports from Canada increased significantly—up from a paltry 2% market share in 2021 to nearly 7% last year.
“Imports from China fell in 2022 vs. 2021, and they were replaced by material from Europe and the U.S.,” said John Hammel, senior director of hardwood and laminate, Mannington. “I estimate that U.S./Canada supply accounts for most of the material sold in the U.S., with Europe being the largest for imports.”
Looking at the big picture, the U.S. market remains an important sector for European producers of laminate flooring. According to data provided by EPLF, total shipments of laminate flooring to North America was nearly 400 million square feet. Although that translates into a 12.7% reduction in European laminate exports to the U.S. (and a whopping 36.8% decrease in European laminate exports to Canada compared to 2021), the total volume exported to North America exceeds shipments by EPLF member companies to Asia, Latin America and Africa combined.
The key end-use sector for laminate flooring in the U.S. has been—and remains—the residential replacement market. Accounting for nearly 80% of laminate flooring sales, this segment represents the bastion of laminate flooring consumption due to its low cost, ease of installation and consistent supply. The new home construction market, by comparison, accounted for approximately 16.5% of laminate sales. Although new home construction in the U.S. market experienced a bit of a setback in 2022, it remains a desired market for laminate flooring producers. Contract commercial and Main Street commercial applications round out end-use consumption, representing 1.3% and 3.2%, respectively.
“Although residential replacement accounts for about 80% of the laminate market, we’re seeing some home builders make the switch to laminate away from products containing PVC due to some quality issues,” Inhaus’ Welbourn stated.
Other major suppliers are also seeing laminate gain share among consumer segments. “No matter where I travel around the country, I continue to hear about the migration back to laminate,” said Ted Rocha, executive vice president, SLCC Flooring. “I credit the fact that laminates have caught up to the resilient category with the waterproof/water-resistant story. Also, the visuals have become so sophisticated and realistic.”
Share of hard surface
While laminate has certainly remained a respectable category—consistently generating more than $1 billion sales at the first point of distribution for at least the past 15 years—it has struggled to transcend beyond its high-water mark of $1.384 billion back in 2006. Moreover, the category’s share of the overall flooring market in terms of sales seems to have plateaued at 4.5%-5%. Last year, laminates accounted for 4.9% of total sales and 5.6% of overall volume.
That disparity is even more evident when looking at laminates’ market share with respect to hard surfaces. In 2022, the laminate flooring category accounted for roughly 8.1% of total hard surface sales and nearly 10.3% of total hard surface volume. Ten years ago, laminate accounted for approximately 10.2% of hard surface sales and just over 15% of volume. And 15 years ago, laminate represented 15.6% of hard surfaces sales. Point being—while sales of laminate flooring have remained consistent, much faster growth rates in other hard surface categories (namely resilient) have kept laminates’ overall growth at bay.
While it’s true that laminate flooring enjoyed a sustained surge when importers were having difficulty obtaining steady shipments of LVT and SPC, some of that hyperactivity surrounding laminates has come back down to earth now that those shipping issues have subsided. “That’s one of the things that helped laminates during the downturn—there was plenty of domestic production and availability, so it did not get caught up in the container issues at the ports or COVID-19 shutdowns in China,” said Jeff Striegel, president of Elias Wilf.
Another aspect that played into laminates’ favor in 2022 was the level of improvement the category witnessed with respect to water resistance. This on top of its already well-known attributes in the durability department. But with the head start that competitive categories such as waterproof SPC and WPC gained on laminate over the past, say, 10 years, it wasn’t enough to move the needle.
“Although the laminate category is still evolving, at the end of the day, it still represents only about 4% to 5% of the business,” Striegel explained. “It’s a wonderful category; it offers great performance, the most realistic visuals, exceptional scratch resistance—all the attributes you would want in a product. I think most people would agree it offers the most authenticity in terms of looking like wood. But the growth we’re seeing in other categories like LVT just isn’t there. It ain’t LVT and that’s where the RSA’s love affair is.”


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SAIC Motor-CP, the producer and distributor of MG automobiles in Thailand, is planning to export autos to ASEAN international locations, together with Vietnam, Indonesia in addition to Malaysia, in accordance to a report by Manager Daily.
Zhang Haibo, president of SAIC Motor-CP and MG Sales (Thailand), informed the publication that gross sales of MG automobiles will start in Malaysia this 12 months, though it wasn’t acknowledged which firm will likely be representing the model right here, nor was there any point out of the preliminary mannequin(s) coming our approach.
In the previous, the MG ZS EV was tipped to come our approach, initially scheduled to be marketed and sold here by MG Berjaya. While that deal was stated to have fallen by some time again, we have been just lately informed that one other social gathering is in the midst of negotiating a deal to deliver the electrical B-segment SUV in, and primarily based on Zhang’s assertion, we’ll discover out extra about this in due time.
The all-electric B-segment SUV has been offered in Thailand since 2019 and is considered one of a number of MG fashions on sale in the nation, with others being a non-EV variant of the MG ZS, the MG 5, MG 3, MG HS (together with its PHEV variant), MG EP Plus and the MG Extender pick-up vans. It is actually a main debut mannequin for the return of the MG brand in Malaysia, particularly in gentle of our authorities’s choice to exempt electric vehicles (EVs) from import and excise duties this year.
This 12 months, SAIC Motor-CP plans to launch three fashions in Thailand, together with the facelifted MG ZS EV (seemingly for us) and MG HS, together with the MG One that’s positioned between the B- and C-segment fashions. Which fashions will likely be made obtainable to us stays to be seen, though moreover the ZS EV, the HS has been spotted on our roads earlier than.
The Chinese automaker has invested closely in Thailand over the previous a number of years, hinting at exports throughout that point as effectively. In a current announcement this week, the corporate will sink in 2.5 billion baht (round RM316 million) to set up a battery plant to help the home manufacturing of EVs in 2023.
“We already have a battery production facility for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Chon Buri, but we want to expand production capacity to produce BEV batteries to support exports,” stated Zhang was reported as saying by the Bangkok Post.


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Amazon's Botched PlayStation 5 Deliveries To Be Investigated By BBC Show
Featured Image Credit: Resetera user Kyonashi, Sony
The BBC's show Watchdog will be helming an investigation into the reports that PlayStation 5s from Amazon were swapped for random objects while in transit.
Successfully completing an order for either of the new next-gen gizmos - the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S - was a serious challenge, owing to the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the global economy. SIE CEO Jim Ryan is pretty proud of the PlayStation 5's performance so far, but he recognised that it hasn't been smooth sailing. "Of all the things that I've learned this year, one is that I wouldn't plan on doing another big console launch in the midst of a global pandemic, and I wouldn't recommend it to anybody else," said Ryan in a recent interview.
"It's been difficult, it's been challenging from the production side, not being able to get anybody into the factories in Asia... Before we started production, we had to do all the manufacturing preparation by camera remotely. I mean, just imagine that for a precision device like the PlayStation 5," explained Ryan, though he is thrilled that "absolutely everything is sold" and the console secured the biggest launch in the company's history. After the stress and worry attempting to check-out with a PlayStation 5 at any one of the online retailers whose sites collapsed under the traffic, at least you'd be able to put your feet up and wait for the console to arrive at your door.
Or... not. Sadly, a not-insignificant number of people unboxed their deliveries to discover that the console had been swapped for air fryers, cat food, bags of rice, and other doodads. Others had their consoles show up to be "delivered", but they themselves were empty-handed, meaning that the courier had run off with the PlayStation 5. One person managed to record CCTV footage of this happening, and brought it before Amazon, and the company then confirmed that this was one of their employees and that they would be sacked as a result.
"We have very high standards for our delivery service providers and how they serve customers," said the company in a statement to the Oxford Mail, and added that it would "put... right" the problems that have occurred. In the meanwhile, the BBC's consumer issues show Watchdog is asking for Amazon customers to come forward with their reports that their PlayStation 5 order failed to be fulfilled. Already, presenter Matt Allwright has had an "amazing response" to the call.
"I'll be working through everything with the team and seeing how we can take things forward," he continued on Twitter, and added that stories of failed Xbox Series X and Series S orders also count in the documentary. "People need a bit of escape and hope right now. I don't underestimate the positive effects that gaming can have. A big question also to be asked about launching both so close to Christmas."


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By Ovunc Kutlu
ISTANBUL (AA) – Brazil’s central bank kept its interest rate stable at 13.75%, in line with market expectation, the bank announced late Wednesday.
The rate has been the highest since January 2017.
Banco Central Do Brasil last made a rate hike of 50 basis points on Aug. 3, carrying the interest rate to 13.75%, which is significantly up from the record low of 2% in March 2021.
"The global environment remains adverse and volatile, marked by prospects of below-potential global growth for next year, high volatility of financial assets and an inflationary environment that remains under pressure," the bank said in a statement.
The central bank said the third quarter gross domestic product suggested a more moderate growth rate, and added that consumer inflation remains high despite its recent reduction, especially on items which are more volatile and affected by tax measures.
Gain in Brazil's annual consumer inflation rate slowed down in October for the third consecutive month. The consumer price index rose 6.47% in October year-on-year, but it was a sharp decline from annual gains of 7.17% in September, 8.73% in August, and 10.07% in July.


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The Isle of Man has become the first part of the British Isles to encourage businesses to round prices to the nearest five pence amid the declining use of coppers.
The Crown Dependency stopped minting Manx pennies and two pence pieces in 2016 due to the spiralling cost of production and the increasingly cashless society.
The island’s currency, the Manx pound, is not legal tender in the UK, but sterling coins and notes are accepted there.
Read more: The end of the one and two pence coin? The Isle of Man becomes the first place in Britain to encourage businesses to round their prices to the nearest five pence amid declining use of coppers


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100,000+ Ka-Bajajs in eight (8) years! Do you believe it? It simply goes to show that Bajaj is the number one three-wheeler in every Filipino’s heart!
TriMotors Technology Corporation, the sole distributor of Bajaj Three-wheelers in the Philippines, recently reached its most significant milestone: 100,000+ sales. In honor of this occasion, they introduced a new variant of the Bajaj Three-wheeler:
BAJAJ BLACK BIDA EDITION
The Bajaj Black Bida Edition is a limited-edition variant of the Bajaj RE and Bajaj Maxima Z. With a “Sleek Black” colorway, a metal-plated “100K Ka-Bajaj” insignia, and a die-cut “World’s Number 1 Three-wheeler” sticker commemorating the 100K sales milestone for Bajaj Three-wheelers. Bajaj RE and Bajaj Maxima Z Black Bida Edition will be limited to 500 units countrywide, with SRPs of Php 304,888 and Php 329,888, respectively.
More than 100,000 Filipinos have already demonstrated the vehicle’s cost-efficiency, durability, and comfort in the eight (8) years since its initial distribution here in the country. After using the Bajaj Three-wheeler, Filipinos discovered their key to success.
For further information, please visit www.bajaj.com.ph or send an inquiry at https://bit.ly/inquirebajajthree-wheelernow.


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Crypto Custody Firm BitGo to Sue Galaxy Digital for Abandoning $1.2B Merger Agreement
BitGo said Galaxy owes it a $100 million breakup fee.
Cryptocurrency custody company BitGo said Monday it plans to sue Galaxy Digital for backing out of the firms' $1.2 billion merger agreement.
BitGo, which is one of the biggest custodians in the crypto industry, said it will seek $100 million in damages from Galaxy. In a press release, it said Galaxy is refusing to pay this previously promised breakup fee.
“The attempt by Mike Novogratz and Galaxy Digital to blame the termination on BitGo is absurd,” said R. Brian Timmons, a partner with Quinn Emanuel, the law firm BitGo has retained. Novogratz is Galaxy's CEO.
In the press release, Timmons pointed to Galaxy's recent losses, which he said range in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
"Either Galaxy owes BitGo a $100 million termination fee as promised or it has been acting in bad faith and faces damages of that much or more,” Timmons said.
A spokesperson for Galaxy told CoinDesk that the company believes "BitGo's claims are without merit and we will defend ourselves vigorously. As previously stated, BitGo did not provide certain BitGo financial statements needed by Galaxy for its SEC filing. Galaxy's Board of Directors then made the decision to exercise its contractual right to terminate."
UPDATE (August 15, 19:41 UTC): Added response from Galaxy.
The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.
Learn more about Consensus 2023, CoinDesk’s longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.


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Functional beverage brand Wow has debuted a new design that will roll out across its range of drinks, as it seeks to appeal to a growing number of health-conscious consumers.
The brand’s range of chia seed drinks, activated charcoal drinks and new probacteria water line, totalling 12 different products, will feature the brand’s new logo which symbolises a pair of glasses.
The overhaul is part of a the brand’s ambition to attract more millennials, and more mainstream consumers, into the health and wellness beverages category. The new design will also see the products have consistent styling across the range while the new brand identity will extend across all touchpoints, including digital, social and out-of-home activity.
Wow, which was recently announced as a finalist in the World Food Innovation Awards, worked with branding agency Jones Knowles Ritchie for the new look. It has been working towards a redesign since 2017.
Co-founder Oliver Dickinson said: “Wow wanted to be bold and think originally while remaining transparent and authentic within the functional drinks sector. We have seen a noticeable shift towards healthier purchase decisions amongst millenials in particular. However we feel that other drinks on the market are failing to communicate to this demographic, preferring a static and almost medicinal approach to packaging and brand identity with little excitement.
“We had this in mind when designing our new branding to appeal to a greater market beyond those who are purely health-conscious, yet remain current and inclusive with our tone of voice and styling. Each of our products contains one hero ingredient that provides a genuine health benefit to the consumer and we communicate this functionality clearly but in an engaging and entertaining way.
“Following the growth we’ve seen from our activated charcoal drink since its introduction last autumn; the increasing demand for our chia seed drink and the popularity of our Probacteria Water in France, we believe we can educate consumers on functional drinks and be leaders in the sector with our new brand identity. We are building a future-proof portfolio with great-tasting, exciting products that are in demand.”
The launch will be supported by in-store activity, trade shows, digital activity and work with social influencers.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024


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March 30, 2017 -- /BUSINESWIRE/ -- MeetMe, Inc. (NASDAQ: MEET), a public market leader for social discovery, today announced the beta launch of Live in its popular MeetMe applications. Live is a one-to-many video feature that allows users to broadcast themselves, watch other users’ broadcasts, and chat in real time. The feature is currently available to MeetMe’s beta community, and the company plans to begin to roll out to more users on MeetMe over the coming weeks.
Broadcasts in Live will be moderated through a combination of algorithmic analysis and manual review. After the initial rollout is complete, MeetMe intends to launch new freemium products within the video streams to help monetize the broadcast-viewing experience and encourage its broadcasters to produce high-quality content. The company also expects to bring the feature to its Skout mobile applications in the second half of the year.
“We believe Live will be a popular feature for connecting our millions of users,” said Geoff Cook, CEO of MeetMe. “If you think of MeetMe as the neighborhood bar, as we do, then video is the live entertainment meant to keep people engaged and give them something more to talk about. We believe chat will keep users coming back to the app, and video will extend the time they spend in the app, forming a powerful product mix. We believe video will also open the door to increased revenue with new advertising placements and in-app purchases through a gifting mechanism popularized by Momo, Live.me, and others.”
About MeetMe, Inc.
Through its portfolio of brands, MeetMe (NASDAQ: MEET) is meeting the universal need for human connection. Using innovative products and sophisticated data science, MeetMe keeps its approximately two million daily active users engaged and originates untold numbers of casual chats, friendships, dates, and marriages. MeetMe offers advertisers the opportunity to reach customers on a global scale with hundreds of millions of daily mobile ad impressions. MeetMe utilizes high user density, economies of scale, and leading monetization strategies to maximize EBITDA. MeetMe’s apps are available on iPhone, iPad, and Android in multiple languages worldwide. For more information, please visit meetmecorp.com.


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Gamescom, the world’s largest gaming expo, is only a few hours away from opening their doors to the masses. To kick things off, NVIDIA is hosting a special GeForce gaming event today in Cologne, Germany that most everyone suspects will feature the launch of the company’s latest flagship GPUs, the RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti.
If you’re in Cologne, you can actually get into the event, which Nvidia says via a blogpost will be “loaded with exclusive, hands-on demos running on the hottest upcoming games, presentations from some of the world’s biggest game developers and some spectacular surprises.”
NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang will be delivering a keynote at the event.
The event begins at 6:00 PM CET (local time here), and if you’re not going to be able to make it, you’ll be able to check out the livestream below.
We have feet on the ground at Gamescom 2018, so check back for all of the VR/AR news and hands-on articles of this year’s up and coming games.


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Intelligent home product provider Lumary has introduced RGBAI – meaning red, green, blue, artificial intelligence – smart recessed light with gradient auxiliary night light.
The company said this is “the world’s first up-and-down recessed light developed with RGBAI technology. With the launch, the company hopes to introduce a new era of ambient lighting and smart living.”
The latest smart recessed light, with ample light coverage, offers four modes: Main Light mode, auxiliary light mode, RGB atmosphere mode and RGBAI colorful mode.
It's supported by up-and-down lighting, adjustable brightness and 16 million colors, and is compatible with smart voice control, which can work when you connect the light to a WiFi connection, said the company.
Lumary said its RGBAI technology can control the color of every LED light guide in the recessed light with precision, so that it not only can emit multiple colors at the same time to deliver a cool, rainbow-like lighting effect, but also offer a much wider range of lighting functions, such as turning on/off every section separately and one-click color change.
“We are confident that this product will pioneer a better indoor lighting experience satisfying various consumer demands and push forward the development of the smart lighting industry," said Johnny Wu, founder and CEO of Lumary.


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Friday, 26th September, 2014
Last night, the fast-growing online shopping website business Mighty Ape was awarded the Supreme Business Excellence Award at the Westpac Auckland Business Awards 2014 – North, after winning the Excellence in Customer Service Delivery award earlier in the evening.
The Supreme Award is recognition of the phenomenal growth and strong customer service values in a business that started as a retail gaming store and website, and evolved into Mighty Ape – one of New Zealand’s most popular retail websites – in 2008.
Said Mighty Ape: “We believe that providing great service and keeping customers happy is the best way to encourage word of mouth advertising and to achieve low cost growth.”
Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Michael Barnett congratulates Mighty Ape and all the North awards category winners which represent the diversity of Auckland’s economy in size, management style and innovative business strategies.
“From global and well-established companies to new local enterprises that started in the founders’ garage or basement, all the winners contribute to the thriving North business community and to Auckland’s economic success,” said Barnett.
“We look forward to seeing more of what these businesses – particularly the standout businesses identified by our judges – have to offer to the wider Auckland business community in the near future as they innovate, grow and prosper.“
Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) partners the Chamber to present the Awards. ATEED chief executive Brett O’Riley said: “Congratulations to last night’s winners, which epitomise the excellence, skill level and innovation we see so often in our engagement with businesses in the North region.
“Like all of last night’s finalists, we believe in the future growth potential of business in the North, which is why we work with partners on initiatives such as the Massey University e-centre and our two iTEC clusters to help transform the region’s economy.”
Simon Power, Westpac GM Business Banking, Private Wealth and Insurance said: “A huge congratulations to the Supreme and Business Excellence category winners at the Westpac Auckland Business Awards 2014 North.”
“Westpac is extremely proud to be associated with a programme that recognises the outstanding achievements of businesses across New Zealand, including the Auckland North region.
“We wish the 2014 award winners all the very best for their future business endeavours and, if history is anything to go by, we’re sure they will continue to excel.”
The North Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony was a glittering occasion held at Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna, attended by more than 300 guests.
Westpac Auckland Business Awards 2014 – North winners
Supreme Business Excellence sponsored by Westpac
Best Emerging Business sponsored by Spark Business
SleepDrops International Limited
Excellence in Strategy and Planning sponsored by RSM Prince
Pita Pit NZ & Australia
Excellence in Business Leadership sponsored by Partners Life Limited
Andrew Turner, Archgola NZ
Excellence in Innovation sponsored by Massey University
Excellence in Customer Service Delivery sponsored by Babcock (NZ) Limited
Excellence in Exporting sponsored by Ports of Auckland
Excellence in Marketing sponsored by Soar Printing
Password for downloading photos: wba2014


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Three decades ago, Costa Rica outlawed cultivation of the robusta coffee bean in order to promote production of arabica, the variety prized by high-end roasters around the world.
Now, however, with warmer temperatures and disease threatening arabica production, the world's 14th-largest coffee producer is looking back to robusta — just as the more bitter, higher-caffeinated bean is gaining favor around the world.
The National Coffee Congress for Costa Rica, a group of industry and government representatives that sets national coffee policy, is set to gather in an extraordinary session Saturday to consider whether the 1988 decree against robusta should be dropped. Its decision is binding on the government, said Luis Zamora, the agriculture ministry's national manager for coffee.
Zamora said the meeting shows that the calculus around robusta is changing. "In the case of the quality and the price, robusta coffee, as a result of free trade deals, has demand," he said.
Costa Rica's reconsideration of the once-taboo bean also illustrates how climate change is affecting crop production.
While global demand for coffee is rising, both main species, arabica and robusta, are climate-sensitive and under threat over the long term.
By 2050, the area suitable for growing coffee worldwide is expected to shrink by as much as 50 percent, with arabica endangered by rising temperatures and robusta by increasing climate variability, according to a study published last year in the journal Climate Change.
In Guatemala, some growers have planted robusta trees in place of arabica that was stricken by roya, a leaf rust disease made more virulent by heat.
In Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador, arabica farmers, particularly at lower altitudes, have switched to warm-weather crops, including cocoa, tomatoes and chilies.
In Costa Rica, the turn toward robusta is not without controversy. In spite of a nascent robusta makeover, some fear it would dilute Costa Rica's reputation as a producer of premium arabica.
"The great name is one of the concerns," said Ronald Peters, president of Costa Rica's largest trade group, the Coffee Institute (ICAFE).
Despite the worries, ICAFE last month recommended that robusta no longer be considered an agricultural outlaw. It also forecast a 7 percent decline this year in production of arabica, a prestigious but small part of the country's economy, involving more than 47,182 registered producers.
Allowing robusta production would reduce the need to import the bean for domestic consumption, a practice that picked up as arabica production declined. It also could improve the livelihoods of farmers outside the country's arabica-suited highlands.
To avoid tainting Costa Rica's premium arabica beans, ICAFE recommended robusta be cultivated in separate zones. Still, a decision in favor of robusta is anything but certain, Peters said.
"There are voices in favor and against," he said.
A growing taste for coffeehouse brews, as well as instant, among the emerging middle class in the developing world is driving up global coffee consumption. That appetite can't be met by arabica alone, said Andrew Hetzel, a consultant with Coffee Strategies in Hawaii.
"There is no way," he said, "we as an industry can produce enough arabica coffee to satisfy their demands."
Discovered in Ethiopia and now grown largely in Latin America, Africa and Asia, arabica has long dominated production and commands about 60 percent of the world's coffee output.
But its susceptibility to frosts, droughts and warmer temperatures has caused supply shocks and volatile prices. In 2014, for instance, a drought and high temperatures struck Brazil, the world's biggest coffee grower, when the arabica cherries were developing, a potentially devastating time.
Supply fears caused futures prices to nearly double within four months to around $2.15 per lb.
Robusta — grown mostly in Vietnam, Brazil, Indonesia and Uganda — has higher yields, lower input costs and is more resistant to roya. Some roasters have looked to robusta as a more reliable and less expensive bean, helping to double its share of global output over the past 50 years to 40 percent. Robusta also has begun attracting some interest from the specialty coffee market as producers improve cultivation and processing techniques.
One new niche application is high-end Nespresso's roasted blend launched with robusta from South Sudan.
Central America's arabica crops are on the front lines of climate change. The tree had long thrived in the relatively cool temperatures and rich volcanic soil of the region's mountain slopes.
But, in 2012, an outbreak of roya began spreading — aided by warmer temperatures — to elevations that had previously not been susceptible to the airborne fungus. Growers pruned trees and replanted with rust-resistant varietals where they could.
Some growers abandoned farms and migrated to cities and to the United States, said Rene Leon-Gomez, executive secretary of Central American coffee industry group Promecafe.
Almost a fifth of Central America's coffee workforce, about 374,000 people, lost jobs amid the roya crisis in 2012 and 2013, according to the Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation.
In Costa Rica, roya contributed to the decline in area planted with arabica to 84,000 hectares this year, down from 98,000 in 2011 before the outbreak, according to reports by an agricultural specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's foreign service.
Production fell to 1.4 million 60-kilogram bags last crop year, down from 1.9 million in the crop year that ended in 2008.
The Costa Rican government responded by making $42 million available to help growers rehabilitate farms with fungicides and technical assistance.
Roya was a climate change wakeup call. Even as growers work to recover from the immediate crisis, experts say other climate-driven threats loom, including the coffee berry borer, an endemic beetle that is more active — and destructive — in warmer temperatures.
Earlier this year after a small farmer asked permission to grow robusta, the agriculture ministry decided to look more broadly at whether the ban on the bean still made sense in light of market and climate changes.
Jose Manuel Hernando, who heads the Chamber of Costa Rican Coffee Roasters and participated in the study committee, said robusta now represents a "great opportunity" and should no longer be treated as an outlaw.
"The taboo is falling down," Hernando said.


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Dell Tech World 2023 held in Las Vegas, perspectives and two common themes on the strategic shifts showcased at Dell
Speed, Convenience and Power: Making Hybrid Work Easier
Many of Microsoft's business units had explosive growth in the three months through December, riding their momentum into 2021.
After COVID-19 hit, many companies made cuts to their marketing budgets, but a comeback is underway and tech companies are leading the way.
Dell Technologies 5G story is growing as the company is building everything from the software defined networks to the virtualization of network functions.
As competition in the hybrid cloud space continues to heat up, Dell Technologies continues to expand its offerings to address shifting IT architectures whil
Dell Unveils Dell Technologies Cloud, Altice acquires Cheddar, iPhone sales down, Tesla’s Plan for Robo-Taxis ... Futurum Tech News 5-3-2019
Dell's opportunity to become the market leader in PCs through an increased involvement in Esports is a no-brainer. Here's why.
It’s clear that big things are happening as Dell Technologies World kicked off on Monday. Here are some of the items that made headlines this week.
This past week Meg Whitman made rumors about Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) spinning off its non-core software assets in a deal with Micro Focus worth aro...


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Xiaomi could easily be called the MVP of the affordable smartphone market in India. With devices like the Poco F1, the company is trying to lure customers with higher spending limits. On its home turf, Xiaomi is already contending for the pole position by launching smartphones like the Mi Mix 3, which despite having an awkward design, is a head-turning smartphone for features such as 10GB RAM and 5G connectivity.
But the company has its root down in other areas of tech. From smart toilet seats and electronic toothbrushes to electric scooters and wellness products, Xiaomi has a wide catalog. One of its popular categories consists of Mi Wi-Fi routers.
A new device to be added to this list soon is a new Wi-Fi router which might have SIM card support. As per GizChina, the VP of Xiaomi’s Ecological Chain, Tang Mu, shared an image of the new Mi Wi-Fi Router on Weibo, suggesting that Xiaomi is testing the new product.
While he did not share an exact release day to look forward to, the executive did take note of popular customer demand of “new routers scheduled to launch in 2018 (translated from Chinese)“. We’re already in the last month of 2018 so if Xiaomi actually launches the new router, it could be an exciting buy in the holiday season.
As for the specifications of the new Mi Router, we can only tell you that it sports two LAN ports and a clearly labeled SIM card slot – although it doesn’t say anything about the supported network. While it is pretty clear that the router should support 4G LTE connections, 5G connectivity remains a possibility given that other Xiaomi executives are boasting images from 5G trials on social media. It would also make sense considering this will be the 5th generation of Mi Router.
We can also see at least three antennae, although there is a possibility of more which might not be visible in the image. The Wi-Fi router has a design language similar to the Mi Router 4C, which can be called one of the best-selling Wi-Fi routers made by Xiaomi.
Check out this little teaser from one of our co-founders Lin Bin @binlin_xiaomi .
— Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) November 30, 2018
In India, however, you can only buy the Mi Router 3C, which can be bought for as less as Rs 949 and we hope Xiaomi brings the new product to India.


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What is Health Technology? Definition, Benefits, Challenges
Today, more enterprises are implementing new technologies as part of their overarching business transformations. However, a new report from Third Stage Consulting indicates that a lack of agility is delaying this digital shift.
A "shake up" for ERP
According to the report, there is going to be a "shake up" in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. As professionals seek to manage their business rather than their ERP platform, the most popular ERP software could experience a decline.
Overall, companies that completely outsourced their deployments to an ERP system integrator, VAR, or reseller were more likely to experience challenges. On the other hand, those that took more active ownership of their transformations experienced less difficulties.
As a result, companies are more likely to use most approachable tool, such as those offered by Salesforce or Workday. Although many enterprises traditionally perceive these systems as CRM platforms, these tools delivered better business value on average.
Traditional ERP will become obsolete
Traditional ERP and human capital management (HCM) implementations will also become increasingly obsolete. While the report ranks the top ERP and HCM systems, it also predicts that it is the end of ERP as we know it.
"Implementing ERP like it’s 1999 didn’t work then – and it’s definitely not working now," the report claims. In 2019, however, more companies will find success by broadening their overall view of enterprise technology.
Traditionally, the report states that companies view ERP and HCM as a way to automate back-office functions or inefficient business processes. However, it added that more innovative organisations "will find success by breaking with the status quo."
Digital transformation failures increase
This year, cloud ERP will also reach a "tipping point" in terms of adoption rates. Apparently, software vendors and the entire ERP ecosystem are investing far too much in their flagship cloud products.
While most digital transformation predictions tend to be optimistic, the report insists that some trends could bring challenges. There are a "number of reasons" why digital transformation failures are on the rise.
For example, customers are being forced off of their legacy on-premise systems while vendors teams are "focusing too much" on technology. Moreover, the company's ERP expert witness practice has seen a marked increase in demand.
As a result, it is likely that 2019 will see more ERP failures. However, organisations will hold their ERP system integrators accountable for their results by leveraging effective (and independent) third parties.


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Cross The Ages is pleased to welcome Square Enix as a new investor. In this lineup, Square Enix joins Ubisoft and Animoca Brands.
News in a Glimpse:
- Square Enix has officially become a strategic investor in the Cross The Ages Universe project.
- The company joins the ranks of other investors such as Ubisoft and Animoca Brands.
- Square Enix’s inclusion on the project’s investor list will significantly aid in the program’s successful development, talent retention, and go-to-market efforts.
- The Cross The Ages Universe is a free-to-play-and-earn metaverse gaming platform based on seven fantasy and science fiction novels.
- According to Square Enix’s Director of Business Development, the future of Web3 gaming is dependent on rewarding players who want to contribute to the games.
- Cross The Ages: Trading Card Game’s beta version and early access have already begun in early October.
Square Enix has officially joined the Cross The Ages Universe project as a strategic investor, according to Cross The Ages, a well-known blockchain gaming company. One of the newest investors in projects, Square Enix joins a group that already includes Ubisoft and Animoca Brands.
The inclusion of Square Enix on the project’s investor list, per the report, will significantly aid in the program’s successful development, retention of gaming talent, and go-to-market efforts for CTA’s first fun-to-play blockchain game with mainstream gamers.
Cross The Ages Universe prides itself on being a free-to-play-and-earn metaverse gaming platform, making it unique in its field. According to reports, it is based on seven freely downloadable novels that were published in five different languages.
A Glimpse of Cross The Ages
The Cross The Ages Universe is based on seven fantasy and science fiction books that have been translated into various languages, as was already mentioned. The collectible card game in question is a dystopian clash of worlds designed exclusively for mobile devices.
According to reports, the game is based on blockchain technology and offers a full value cycle, starting with mobile gaming and moving on to desktop gaming before ending with physical collectible cards that make use of near-field communication technology.
Players are said to be competing both individually and as a team in this game, with the possibility of winning valuable NFTs while undertaking quests in the Metaverse, where they are sure to find easter eggs buried in the books.
Cross The Ages’ Investors
In addition to its focus on IP like “Dragon Quest” and “Final Fantasy,” Square Enix is renowned for offering a variety of high-quality entertainment products and services, including but not limited to games, amusement, publishing, and merchandising.
The future of Web3 gaming, in the opinion of Square Enix’s Director of Business Development, Hideaki Uehara, depends on rewarding the players who want to make contributions to the games they enjoy playing. She went on to say that they are thrilled to be a part of the project because their vision aligns with Cross The Ages’ for this game.
She went on to say that Sami’s goal for Cross The Ages is to create a more avant-garde and multifaceted entertainment format. In which participants can take part however they choose, including through video games, physical and NFT collectible trading cards, and books.
The beta version and early access of Cross The Ages: Trading Card Game have already started in early October, according to Sami Chlagou, co-founder and CEO of Cross The Ages. In which about 500,000 NFT cards have already been printed. She continued by saying that they had received a lot of positive feedback from their community, including comments from players who said the game was entertaining and addictive.
She also expressed gratitude for Square Enix’s assistance, saying that the company’s knowledge of gaming and marketing techniques had been extremely helpful. She is confident that the game will continue to advance with the assistance of the business.
Over 100 international artists who have previously contributed to well-known films and television shows are currently a part of the 180-member-strong Cross The Ages team, which is still expanding. This includes, but is not limited to, Josu Salano, who worked on Lord of the Rings, Sandra Duchiewitcz from Marvel Entertainment, and Andreas Rochas, who worked on Harry Potter. Joshua Cairos also contributed to Game of Thrones and Star Wars.
Along with having well-known people as its members, Cross The Ages is also led by Sami Chlagou, known as the proprietor of Pixel Heart, a studio that has created over 55 video games for various platforms, including Android, Nintendo, Sony, Xbox, and Steam. Guns of Mercy, Pocket Bravery, Androdunos, Okinawa Rush, Finding Teddy, and Playroom Racer are just a few of the games the company has created.C


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Op-Ed: Hero-pay raises are the least we can do for frontline workers
Note: this op-ed originally ran in the Edmonton Journal on December 9, 2020.
Written by Sydney Sheloff and Brett Lambert
When the COVID-19 pandemic caused lockdowns for much of Canada’s economy back in March, an interesting thing happened. The contributions of those working minimum wage or low-income jobs – whether they were grocery store cashiers, delivery drivers, warehouse workers fulfilling online shopping orders, aides in long-term care facilities, among others – were now considered essential. It became immediately clear that their work needed to continue in order to make sure food and other goods were readily available to the public. The only problem? Their essential work did not provide them with a living wage that allowed them to sufficiently provide for themselves, their families, and reach basic financial security.
In order to address this disparity and to make sure these workers still showed up in the face of tremendous risk, workers at major grocery chains such as Loblaws, Save-on-Foods, and Safeway were given a temporary pay raise – usually $2 per hour – in acknowledgment of their hard work.
This increase – often called “hero pay” – was a boon for these workers. Many reported feeling greater financial security, being able to afford their bills without having to choose which ones to pay, and worker morale improved with a sense they were more appreciated by their employer. However, by the summer time, the grocery chains phased out their bonus pay as the economy started to re-open and active cases of COVID-19 were declining.
Now that Canada and much of the world is experiencing a brutal second wave of infections that has surpassed the worst of the first wave, it is time for hero pay to be brought back to the table.
The Edmonton Social Planning Council’s latest edition of Tracking the Trends keeps track of short-term and long-term trends in Edmonton’s social well-being. The evidence is clear that normalizing a living wage for essential services is long overdue, especially during a public health emergency like this.
An average of 117,300 employed persons were earning less than the living wage in the Edmonton area, which we have calculated to be $16.51 per hour as of 2019. Almost two-thirds of these workers are women. The cost of living in Edmonton continues to increase steadily over time with inflation increasing by 17.8% and food costs rising at double the rate of inflation over the last 20 years. With the pandemic requiring everyone to isolate, many are turning to food delivery services to remain safe and as a result, they are burdened with additional fees for delivery. These trends suggest these living costs will not be improving anytime soon.
Keeping wages stagnant does not serve those who are literally risking their lives to make sure food is stocked on store shelves. The added stress of dealing with the uncertainty of customers complying with public health measures – such as wearing a mask – makes their work environment that much more stressful.
To their credit, the grocery chain Sobeys has wisely decided to reinstate this bonus pay to their workers in parts of Manitoba and Ontario where lockdown measures are in place. This indicates they understand the pressures these workers are under. We would strongly encourage other grocery stores – big and small – to show that they value their workers’ contributions by bringing back their own hero pay nationwide, including Edmonton where new emergency measures are in place. Once the pandemic subsides and a vaccine is readily available, this bonus pay should be made a permanent part of their workplace policies as everybody should be able to make a livable income.
After all, do we want these workers to continue to make difficult decisions on whether to pay their heating bill or forgo other expenses? If we are sincere in lauding their work as heroic, these pay raises are the bare minimum we can extend to them.
Sydney Sheloff is Research Officer for the Edmonton Social Planning Council.
Brett Lambert is Community Engagement Coordinator for the Edmonton Social Planning Council.


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Back in May of 2015, Steve Aoki released his track “Heaven On Earth” featuring Sherry St. Germain on his most recent full-length album ‘Neon Future Odyssey.' The track was quoted as being one of the “best songs of Tomorrowland 2015.”
Now Steve Aoki is proud to announce his brand new ‘Heaven On Earth Remix EP' featuring remixes by Blasterjaxx, Ookay, Rickyxsan and South Central. The remix EP is out everywhere in stores this Friday.
Take a listen to both Blasterjaxx and Ookay's remixes below:


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This site is designed to inform and promote the safe use of baby, nursery and childcare products to consumers and the industry in general.More about the BPA...
More than 60 members of the Baby Products Association returned to the UK with full order books, potential new distributors and lots of new industry contacts after a hugely successful exhibiting experience in the UK Pavilion at Kind und Jugend in September.
The UK Pavilion is the largest country specific pavilion at the show and has become an established feature in Hall 11.1 attracting visitors from around the world. The eye-catching union flag branding could not be missed; and free UK branded bags acted as magnets to everyone entering the halls and proved an extremely effective marketing tool as visitors proudly carried them not only in Koelnmesse, but around the streets of Cologne too.
Robert Anslow, managing director of the trade association, said: “Every year the UK Pavilion at Kind und Jugend goes from strength to strength and we received a number of requests from British companies exhibiting outside of the UK Pavilion to join us next year. We also received some extremely nice complements from international colleagues who were impressed with the Baby Products Association’s effort.”
Mike Edwards of Snugglebundl Ltd, who has participated in the UK Pavilion for a number of years, commented: “This was our best show ever. We had really good quality leads which will be very lucrative if they come to fruition. Last year we took £14,000 in the first month after the show – I expect to more than double that this year!”
However, whilst obtaining new international business is the main objective of those participating in the UK Pavilion, the chance to meet and share information with fellow exhibitors is hugely valuable too. Gavin Reay of And Design said: “We found being in the UK Pavilion a great networking opportunity and have formed one or two good joint promotion plans with other UK exhibitors which we hope will help to maximise our marketing budgets in the next few months.”
The Baby Products Association looks forward to welcoming existing and new members to join it in the UK Pavilion at Kind und Jugend from 14th to 17th September 2017.


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Meta had a big news week last week – it reported its first revenue decline and 36 percent profit drop, is being charged with a new FTC lawsuit to block its virtual reality deal, and slowly overhauling its original vision for Facebook.
Everyone is taking notice – Zuckerberg seems to be deeply fearing the looming threat of TikTok, and is moving towards a platform in which feeds are largely filled with algorithmically recommended content, diverting from its popular “friends and family” model. The pivot is unsurprising – Meta’s profit margins are thinning and so as expected, it will double down on its core profit-driver: surveillance advertising. Mark Zuckerberg literally admitted it last week:
"As our AI finds additional content that people find interesting, that increases engagement and the quality of our feeds. Since we're already efficient at monetizing most of these formats, this should increase our business opportunity over that period as well."
Last week, Instagram rolled out and then rolled back a substantial platform update. The update involved an overhaul of the platforms’ user experience (flooded with dark patterns – design that manipulates or heavily influences users to make certain choices) with new design changes that control how users experience content. On Thursday, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri announced the updates were so unpopular (thank you, Kardashians!) that the company is now either scrapping or pausing the updates to figure out how to make it more appealing for users, but the announcement gave important insight into the direction Meta seems to be headed:
- Infinite scroll: If implemented, Instagram’s home feed would mirror that of TikTok (with content and ads taking up the full display), so users have no alternative but to stop at every piece of content on their feed.
- Ad metric inflation: Ads would take up the full display, and users have to tap the screen to dismiss (instead of being able to scroll past it) forcing us to engage with every ad. This will inflate ad metrics, increasing Meta’s reliance on its surveillance ad business model.
- Content mixing: In an infinite, continuous feed, it is now significantly harder to discern content from people you follow, accounts that are suggested to you based on your profile, and ads. Before, Instagram would have a “suggested for you” tag on content from people you didn’t follow.
- Sound on: By default, videos would also be unmuted. This would add significant friction to the user experience, placing more burden on the user to not engage with unwanted content.
Instagram’s business model is built on monetizing human emotions – platforms curate content users see based on data they’ve gathered, keeping you hooked, serving you ads, and mining you for more data. These proposed changes will only further entrench the Big Tech business model of mining users for data for profits. Earlier last week, Meta also announced it would tweak Facebook’s home tab to create for space for video:
“[It] will feature a feed with photos, looping videos and status updates from a mix of friends and family. The Home tab will also show a variety of posts from people and pages unconnected to a user’s network, labeled “Suggested for You.”
While Instagram temporarily paused its latest update, Meta will continue to find ways to profit off the attention economy. It is interesting to note the immense criticism Instagram received with this update. Platforms like Instagram have gained popularity largely because of content creators like the Kardashians, and when they forcefully oppose updates such as this one, what does that mean for the future of the platform? Even as platforms begin to integrate live video, the algorithm still favors highly popular video content from creators like the Kardashians – as revenues tank, the last thing Instagram needs is a loss of its creator class.
With so many worrisome effects from social media, design tweaks and other policy changes could have a huge impact on our collective well-being, people’s mental health, and the integrity of our information ecosystem. Big Tech will continue to morph to keep its business model alive – it’s a race to the bottom.


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The Amman International Book Fair Encourages International Cultural ConnectionsSharjah Book Authority participates in the Amman International Book Fair, fostering culture and cooperation in Arab publishing.
on Sep 26, 2023
Sharjah Book Authority attends the conference to demonstrate its continuous commitment to fostering culture and cooperation in the Arab publishing community.
The 22nd edition of the Amman International Book Fair in Jordan runs from September 21st to September 30th, with approximately 400 publishers from 22 nations in attendance.
The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) participates in the 22nd edition of the Amman International Book Fair in Jordan, demonstrating its passion and commitment to assisting the publishing sector both in the area and abroad through its pavillion.
The pavilion also provided as a venue for a series of discussions with directors of Arab book fairs and publishing firms to discuss career options in the creative industries.
During her participation, Fadel Hussein Bussaim, Director of SBA in Sharjah's eastern region, presented a copy of the book "The Inquisition Manuscripts" by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to Her Excellency the Jordanian Minister of Culture, Haifa Najjar. In addition, the director of SBA handed out a copy of His Highness The Ruler of Sharjah's book "My Early Life (Sard Al That)" to His Excellency Dr. Atef Abu Saif, the Palestinian Minister of Culture.
The Sharjah Book Authority group met with Haitham Younis, Director of Egypt's Central Administration for Exhibition Affairs, Bashar Jassim, Director of the Bahrain International Book Fair, and Mukhtar AlKhalidi, Director of the Algiers International Book Fair. They addressed exhibition partnership potential as well as the Authority's future participation in the Cairo International Book Fair and the Bahrain International Book Fair during their discussion.
In addition, the delegation from the Authority met with numerous representatives of emerging publishing houses in the Arab cultural landscape, inviting them to participate in the Sharjah International Book Fair 2024.
SBA's pavilion included notable works from Emirati institutions and publishers. The presentation underlined SBA's continued effort to elevate Sharjah's standing as an important cultural centre in the Arab world. It also emphasised the authority's responsibility in assisting the book industry, promoting a culture of reading and learning, and encouraging regional and global cooperation among publishers.
The Sharjah Business Association put light on Sharjah's investment in the publishing business, providing possibilities for publishers to improve their work. The Authority's team invited exhibitors to the upcoming 42nd Sharjah International Book Fair, the world's largest platform for buying and selling publishing rights, which will take place in 2021 and 2022. The Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, which brings together professionals, specialists, authors, and illustrators from around the world, has also been asked to participate by the authorities.
"Our presence at the Amman International Book Fair solidifies Sharjah's cultural initiative and the emirate's prominent position on the Arab cultural landscape, thanks to the vision and guidance of His Highness," said Fadel Hussein Bussaim, Director of SBA in Sharjah's eastern region, of their participation. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed AlQasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah , in elevating the function of books and knowledge in the development path."
"SBA is committed to participating in international book fairs to strengthen cooperation with our publishing industry partners, share experiences and insights, and provide premier opportunities to Arab and international authors and publishers," he added. We welcome them to participate in Sharjah's cultural events, taking advantage of our advanced creative infrastructure to explore new paths for expanding their reach into global markets."


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Destination Maternity Celebrates Grand Opening in Liberty Place
Listen up, expecting mamas: Destination Maternity has relocated from its Walnut Street shop into a new 2,300-square-foot storefront in Shops at Liberty Place. To celebrate the big move, the shop is having a grand opening event this Saturday, November 22nd. And it’s totally worth checking out.
The shop is home to maternity favorites like A Pea in the Pod, Motherhood Maternity and Jessica Simpson Maternity. You’ll also find a super-impressive array of designer denim brands like J Brand, Hudson, Joe’s Jeans, AG Jeans, Isabella Oliver and 7 for All Mankind—all of which make elastic-band denim look incredibly tempting. (Even those of us who aren’t pregnant want to wear them.)
Swing by the store’s new address at 1625 Chestnut Street starting at 9:30am Saturday morning for special gift giveaways for the first 50 moms-to-be. The brand’s style director, Olivia Capone Myers, will be there doling out timely styling tips for the holiday season along with general maternity dressing know-how. To top it off, 10 percent of net sales from opening day will benefit CHOP’s Center of Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment.
Click through the slideshow below for a look at the store.


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Although most beer consumers can distinguish among different bitter tastes in beer, this doesn’t appear to influence which beer they like, according to a new study.
It seems they just like beer, regardless of the source of the bitterness, the researchers say.
The researchers conducted multiple studies with more than 150 self-identified beer drinkers to see if they could differentiate bitterants in beer. But the question of whether humans can discriminate between types of bitterness remains controversial, says John Hayes, associate professor of food science at Penn State.
“Given that countless craft breweries around the country have been very successful in selling a near-endless variety of India pale ales—better known as IPAs—we wanted to move past testing bitter chemicals in water to see if consumers could differentiate different bitters in a real food such as beer,” he says.
To determine beer drinkers’ ability to distinguish between bitter chemicals, study participants in blind taste tests were given commercially available nonalcoholic beer spiked with hop extract Isolone, quinine—the ingredient that makes tonic water bitter—and sucrose octaacetate, a food additive so bitter it has been used as a nail-biting and thumb-sucking deterrent.
Participants, about half men and half women, most in their 30s, took part in three experiments. In the first, researchers asked subjects to rate the amount of bitterness and other beer flavor attributes in samples using an intensity scale, to ensure the beer samples were equally bitter.
In the next experiment, beer consumers rated how samples differed from a reference on a seven-point scale. Then, to understand how each sample differed from others, participants checked attributes on a list of 13 descriptors to describe the samples.
In the final experiment, beer consumers tasted the beer samples, rated how much they liked each sample, and provided a forced-choice ranking for best-liked to worst-liked.
According to Hayes, who is director of the Sensory Evaluation Center in the College of Agricultural Sciences, most participants were able to discern differences in bitterness—even though the samples had been matched for bitterness intensity.
“But our results also show that, despite being able to differentiate between the different bitter chemicals, they were not able to verbally describe these differences, even when provided a list of attributes,” he says.
“Further, we found no consistent effect on liking or preference. The source of bitterness did not influence which beers they liked.”
In the sampled beers, researchers attempted to match the flavor profile of a pale ale style beer, in which high bitterness is not only accepted but desired by consumers, notes lead researcher Molly Higgins, who will receive her doctoral degree in food science this August.
Higgins explains that she recruited regular beer consumers because they are more likely to be aware of the various flavor profiles of beer and respond positively to the bitter qualities of samples during testing.
“What we found was unsurprising in hindsight—beer consumers simply like beer,” she says. “So, it seems that for consumers who drink IPAs, a beer just needs to have a bitter profile. For them, it’s about bitterness in general, not the specific bitter quality—if it’s there, they will like it.”
Higgins suggests that this finding may help in quality assurance at breweries. “Beer consumers may be more forgiving than previously believed when it comes to small variations across batches,” she says.
Higgins noted that some breweries use highly trained expert tasters to evaluate each batch. If these experts detect any off notes or flaws in the final product, they may throw out an entire batch. “When breweries can establish an acceptable range for sensory attributes for their final products, they can make better decisions about how much variation is tolerable,” she says.
However, there are many segments of beer consumers, Higgins adds, and within the craft beer market there is a unique subgroup of consumers who are devoted to their IPAs. Those beer drinkers, she explained, doubtlessly pick up on more of the finer bitter notes created by novel blends of hops. Those consumers patronize craft breweries and are willing to try many different beers.
The bitter beer tasting study, recently published in Nutrients, was part of a larger research project that Higgins conducted at Penn State for her dissertation. Because of its sensory complexity and wide acceptance by many consumers, she contends, beer is a good model food to explore the capacity of people to perceive bitter taste.
Higgins says when people ask her why she would do this kind of a study, she points out that it’s not about beer.
“The overall goal of my dissertation research was to learn more about bitterness and bitterness perception, and to better understand how individuals learn to like bitter products,” she says.
“We hope that understanding bitterness can guide further research that helps people incorporate healthy bitter foods into their diet. The overall goal is to look at more complex bitter foods, such as kale and broccoli, and figure out ways to increase their consumption and liking.”
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative administered by the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture supported this work.
Source: Penn State


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Summary List Placement
After the freeze, comes the thaw. For the US economy, the pandemic era stopped the all-important service sector in its tracks. Now a spring thaw is emerging in more ways than one.
The Institute for Supply Management’s index of service businesses rose to 63.7 last month from 55.3, according to a Monday release. The level surpasses the previous record set in October 2018 and implies the fastest rate of expansion since data collection began in 1997. The reading also beat all estimates from economists surveyed by Bloomberg.
Readings above 50 indicate industry expansion, while those below the details ⇒
BusinessMediaguide.Com portal received this content from this noted web source: BusinessInsider.Com


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The organizers of the Philly Bike Expo announced yesterday the dates for the next show — and they aren’t in 2023. The next time the bike world gathers in the City of Brotherly Love will be March 16 and 17, 2024.
“It’s a bold step and a great move for us! There is so much energy for a springtime kickoff to the cycling season; we’re all really excited to move to March,” Philly Bike Expo director Bina Bilenky said in a press release. “We’ve been thinking about a spring date for a long time, and now is the right time to make this move.”
When March 2024 rolls around, attendees can expect all the same seminars, clinics, workshops, events, and activities as usual. Registration for exhibitor booths will open in late March 2022 (the specific date is unknown as of this writing.) The Expo will remain at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
While this news will disappoint bike nuts hoping to get their Philly fix this year, Bilenky remains upbeat.
“Industry interest in the Expo is getting stronger every year, and there’s growing excitement about the PBE Squad, an inclusive cycling movement we’re supporting which was founded on PBE-sponsored athletes and ambassadors,” she said.
If you’re feeling bummed and thirsty for Philly Bike Expo goodness, never fear. BikeRumor! has a deep catalog of Expo coverage to hold you over. Start with Ron Frazelle’s photographic summary of 2022’s event. If that’s still not enough, take some time to browse our Road to Philly bike Expo series: a collection of interviews that gets down and dirty with the country’s most innovative frame builders.
See ya in 2024!


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Anyone worried that a global recession is looming will take no comfort from the trading update issued today by AP Moller-Maersk.
The Danish company, the world's biggest name in container shipping, is usually a reliable indicator of what is happening - or about to - in global trade.
And its message today was not encouraging.
Soren Skou, the company's chief executive, said it was clear that, following an exceptional period of trade, freight rates had peaked and had begun to normalise during the last three months. He said this was driven by both decreasing demand and easing of supply chain congestion.
Mr Skou added: "With the war in Ukraine, an energy crisis in Europe, high inflation, and a looming global recession - there are plenty of dark clouds on the horizon. This weighs on consumer purchasing power which in turn impacts global transportation and logistics demand."
His warning sent shares of Maersk, which more than doubled in value between the end of January last year and the middle of January this year, down by more than 7%. The company, the second largest on Denmark's blue-chip OMX 20 index after the drug-making giant Novo Nordisk, has seen its stock market valuation fall by two-fifths since it peaked on 13 January.
Mr Skou went on: "As a result of increasing inflation and economic slowdown, demand for ocean shipping began to decline in August and this was clearly observed in both rates and volumes."
He said Maersk now expected full-year contract rates to be slightly lower than it was expected earlier in the summer - largely due to volumes on east-west ocean routes seeing a 10% decline in volumes year on year.
The comments from Maersk, which employs more than 80,000 people worldwide and which has a 17% share in the market for ocean-bound freight, are an ominous indication that trade is slowing globally.
Mr Skou said the company had been "anticipating normalisation" for quite some time and was ready for it.
He went on: "We are pulling back our outlook for the industry and expect global container demand to decline by 2-4% in 2022. From the global market data we can all observe, it should be clear that the risk [to that forecast] is to the downside going forward."
Patrick Jany, the chief financial officer, said that freight rates in shipment were expected to suffer a "pronounced deterioration" in the coming months.
He said it would be prudent to assume that new contracts would be on lower terms going forward but said costs could be expected to come down as congestion at ports around the world - caused partly by Chinese COVID-related lockdowns - begins to recede. Unfortunately, he added, this would be matched by ongoing inflationary pressures.
The irony is that Maersk was reporting record quarterly results, with pre-tax profits for the three months to the end of September coming in at $9.17bn (£7.9bn), an increase of 62% on the same period last year.
It was the 16th consecutive quarter in which the company had reported a rise in earnings. During the first nine months of the year, Maersk made pre-tax profits of $24.9bn (£21.6bn), just over double what it achieved in the same period in 2021.
Sales in ocean shipping, the biggest part of the business, were up by 38% while in the land-based logistics and services arm, the next biggest division, they were up by 61% although that was partly flattered by acquisitions.
Mr Skou said the positive aspect of normalisation in shipping conditions was that global supply chains would begin to improve and would also help Maersk deliver a more reliable service in ocean shipping.
He said that shipping companies were starting to respond by taking capacity out of the market and this was likely to continue.
He added: "Every carrier will do what they think is right but I note that both in the Pacific trade and Asia-Europe trade, 15% of capacity has come out now so one could expect to see more capacity adjustment to meet demand in coming quarters - at least that would be our strategy."
The Maersk CEO said the company was not defining itself by its volumes and was not aiming to win market share in ocean shipping - rather it was looking to gain a greater share of spending from its existing customers.
He went on: "It's not half a percentage point of [extra] market share that is going to get us very excited."
Those comments underline that the shipping industry is getting rather better at responding to prevailing economic conditions than it has been at times in the past. There was once a time when, rather than reduce capacity, shipping operators preferred to engage in futile price wars that simply resulted in a collapse in industry profits.
Signs that lessons had been learned came when, at the start of the pandemic, Maersk and others took a disciplined approach to withdraw capacity in response to an expected collapse in global trade.
In the event, the industry was pleasantly surprised, with demand surging as households subjected to COVID lockdowns spent money that they would have done on going out on consumer goods instead. That, along with previous capacity reductions and ongoing congestion in ports, means shipping containers around the world remain costlier than it did prior to the pandemic.
But it feels as if that boom is now over.
As Mr Skou put it in his concluding remarks to investors and analysts this morning: "We have a challenging year, or years, ahead of us as the world faces a combination of geopolitical uncertainty and inflationary pressure that we have not seen for decades."


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You probably don’t see too many people walking around with drones in Tokyo. But once you get out of the city just a few minutes, you’ll see all sorts of businesses and people using drones in Japan.
Photography and weddings are two areas that have been saturated by drone usage in Japan. I don’t see any industries outside of those that have started consistently using (or even considering) drones as part of their services or to enhance their services. Rather, most companies and individuals using drones exist in small pockets around Japan, mainly because of the strict drone regulations.
But this has not stopped individuals and businesses from using them. While things are not quite booming yet, they are definitely starting to bubble.
Here are a few use cases that caught my eye.
Drones are being used by the travel industry in Japan in tandem with virtual reality (VR). One spot near the Mozu Tombs used drones to film hard-to-access areas around a mountain and then displayed that footage through a VR headset. Not only does this allow for greater convenience but also people with disabilities to see sights that they otherwise couldn’t.
Nice one Japan, hope to see more of this.
# 2 Government
The Japanese government is doing everything it can to attract more tourists to Japan in light of Prime Minister Abe’s goal to attract 40 million travelers by 2020. This marks a significant date because of the Olympics. Prefectures across Japan have been given a hefty budget to accomplish these goals.
Naturally drone footage is more engaging than the old photos from the 1980’s that are plastered across Japanese tourist websites. Companies like Dron-E-Motion are partnering with the government to capture footage which they then share across social media. Individual cities and villages have their own Facebook page in hopes of showing off their attractions from high in the sky.
Also, Intel has joined as an official partner of the Olympics and will be using a mix of VR, drone tech (videos, I assume) and AI.
Nighttime drone footage of Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Nagasaki
# 3 Vlogging
The tech savvy crowd in Japan are always going to be early adopters of new tech, especially when they can use it to get better photos and videos. Many Japanese vloggers and Youtubers are doing entire videos centered around flying drones or have started to use drones to add oomph to their content. The “Honeymoon Traveler” video of a Japanese couple traveling the world by drone basically set off the movement.
Here are a few more:
Kazu’s Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIu910ImlF8
Hikakin TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZLI6BDhQX0
# 4 Farming
You know those cute snow monkeys that are always photographed bathing in Japanese hot springs? To Japanese farmers they are seen as menacing creatures that devour figs, oranges, and other fruits vegetables.
With a little bit of ingenuity— and perhaps a few Johnnie Walker whiskeys — farmers have decided to stand up for their rights and take matters into their own hands. Farmers in Oita prefecture Japan have started strapping fake life-size monkeys to drones, equipped with audio devices that make screeching monkey noises, and fly them over heard their crops to ward off the preying monkey pests.
Despite the declining birth rate in Japan, people are still getting married and spending lots of money on weddings. The average wedding in Japan costs $30,000 USD. The wedding industry is still massive in Japan any many of them take place on resorts or villas out in the countryside. Wedding agencies that I have spoken to either hire drone photographers or buy drones and teach their existing photography team how to use drones.
There are about 2,400 golf courses in Japan. For now, most of these golf courses don’t allow hobbyists to bring their own drones because it might be disruptive to other golfers. Also your drone might get hit with a golf ball…
But many golf courses are using drones to survey their land on a weekly basis. Something like 30% of golf course costs are maintenance related. With apps/tools like Pix4D now you can construct 3d and 2d maps of the course to determine what trees need to be removed, how to make the course more efficient, and to make better courses. Also courses can use the 3d models to share with customers for marketing purposes.
Japan’s golf ranges are controlled by 3 main companies that pull the strings, so once of them falls then we’ll probably see the rest follow suit.


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January 25, 2021
Farmers in the Mettupalayam area next to Coimbatore have demanded the setting up of a curry leaves factory to produce and sell the ingredient as a value-added product.
Curry leaves are the main crop in about 2,500 acres in Mettupalayam, Karamadai, Sirumugai and the surrounding villages of Coimbatore.
The produce that grows in this area is very fragrant and delicious. Curry leaves are cultivated and harvested at four intervals.
Curry leaves seeds are also being sent to neighbouring states like Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh from Mettupalayam, Karamadai and Belladi areas.
In areas including Mettupalayam, Sirumugai and Karamadai, curry leaves are the next major agricultural crop after banana and sugarcane.
It has been a long-standing demand of the farmers in the area that a factory be set up in the area to convert the produce into a value-added product for sale.
According to the farmers, curry leaves are harvested four seasons a year but is only profitable for during the working season. Farmers will not get much benefit from the price it is available now, they say. The desperate farmers will have to uproot the crop and set up a factory in the area to convert the produce into value-added products to address this, they add.
The Mettupalayam farmers said that the election promise to set up a factory in Mettupalayam was made a few years ago, but so far the plan has not been implemented. There are more than a thousand farmers and workers. The leaves go to other states like Kerala and other districts like Chennai and Erode, they said.


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Skechers stock falls after analyst action
Skechers (SKX) stock fell 7.9% to $26.42 on September 12 after Susquehanna analyst Sam Poser lowered his fiscal 2018 and 2019 EPS estimates for the company, citing margin pressure. The analyst also lowered his price target on Skechers by $1 to $25. Poser said Skechers’s operating margin might get impacted by currency headwinds, rising investments, and weakness in the Korea, Japan, and Latin America businesses.
Susquehanna believes that while the footwear maker should be able to achieve low double-digit growth in its top line, it might not witness leverage in SG&A expenses at least over the next one year. Skechers’s deteriorating profitability and rising operating expenses have bothered analysts for some time now. Operating expenses increased at almost twice the rate of sales during the second quarter of 2018, resulting in a 120-basis-point deterioration in operating income.
Skechers saw the following downgrades after it posted weak second-quarter results in July:
- Argus downgraded the stock from “buy” to “hold.”
- Wells Fargo downgraded the stock from “outperform” to “market perform.”
- Susquehanna downgraded the stock from “positive” to “neutral.”
What’s Wall Street’s take on Skechers?
The average target price from the 13 analysts that cover Skechers is 2.2 on a scale where one is a “strong buy” and five is a “strong sell.” The stock’s ratings have deteriorated over the past six months, as more analysts have turned bearish on the stock. The company was rated a 1.7 in July before second-quarter results and 1.5 in April.
Eight analysts rate Skechers as a “buy,” while five analysts rate the company as a “hold.” There still aren’t any “sell” recommendations on the company.