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A TOP official of Panay Electric Co. (PECO) said refunds to consumers brought about by differences in power rates more than 10 years ago is not a reason for a corporate takeover of the distribution utility.
Mikel Afzelius, PECO corporate communications officer, said the P638-million (not P631 million) refund to consumers was for the generation charge or payments to their power supplier which is Panay Power Corp. (PPC) from February 1996 to July 2005.
Afzelius said the refund was triggered by subsidies to the National Power Corp. (Napocor) which lowered power rates beyond the viable price or “true cost of power” charged by suppliers to distribution utilities.
At that time, Afzelius said PPC was owned by Mirant Philippines Corp.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) then directed PECO to renegotiate its contract with PPC to keep up with lower power rates.
“Mirant sued the ERC but lost their case. It was then that ERC ordered a refund which we have been implementing since 2010 at P0.1595 per consumer every month,” Afzelius said.
Citing their data, Afzelius said the remaining refundable amount is P124 million as of September 2017. They expect to complete the refund in less than two years or even less.
“As a matter of fact, PECO is just a middleman here. The refund is for the generation charge, it’s not a penalty on PECO,” he added.
Afzelius also pointed out that PECO worked to spare Iloilo City consumers from additional charges for subsidies to the debt-saddled Napocor.
“PECO wrote the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation asking not to charge our consumers for power subsidies that was never availed by Iloilo City. Which is why there is a refund also. It was a proactive move by PECO in order to avert a rate increase and have a rate reduction instead in generation charges,” he added.
The refund issue is being used by a group of consumers to stage a “corporate raid” of PECO.
The group seeks to convert the refundable amount to company stocks which will allow the more or less 60,000 consumers to partly own the distribution utility.
Afzelius said the refund cannot be converted into company stocks “because it is for the generation charges.”
“We are just collectors in this situation. And the prevailing trend nowadays is that cooperatives are being gobbled by private outfits due to financial woes,” he added.


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LOS ANGELES -- The all-new 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas – the only factory-built, CNG-powered car produced in America – was named 2012 Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Nov. 17. The annual award, presented by the editors of Green Car Journal, recognizes outstanding environmental performance.
The Civic Natural Gas beat out four other Green Car of the Year award finalists: the 2012 Ford Focus Electric, 2012 Mitsubishi i, 2012 Toyota Prius v, and 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI. The Green Car of the Year award recognizes vehicles that become available by Jan. 1 of the award year.
"The Civic Natural Gas is not only a great vehicle, it also demonstrates Honda's commitment to provide a variety of alternatives to gasoline," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing at American Honda Motor Co. "The Civic Natural Gas and the all-new Fit EV that we introduced yesterday at the Los Angeles Auto Show are the latest additions to a rapidly expanding family of alternative energy Honda vehicles aimed at cutting petroleum use and reducing our carbon footprint."
Honda is expanding its network of Civic Natural Gas retail outlets to 200 dealers in 36 states. Previously, retail sales of the natural gas-powered Civic had been limited to four states – California, New York, Utah and Oklahoma. The 2012 Civic Natural Gas went on sale on Oct. 18 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price starting at $26,155.
With multiple benefits including lower fuel costs and extremely low smog-forming emissions, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas currently qualifies for a state-issued decal allowing single-occupant access to High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) "carpool" lanes in California and several other states.
The Civic Natural Gas engine produces almost zero smog-forming emissions and is the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Tier-II, Bin-2 and ILEV certification as of August 2010).
Honda Manufacturing of Indiana LLC (HMIN) produces all Honda Civic Natural Gas models.

domain: news


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Each year, 4 million computers and 3 million TVs are sold in Australia replacing old gadgets – and according to CleanUp Australia, 88 per cent of them will end up in landfills.
Fewer than 1 per cent of TVs and around 10 per cent of PCs and laptops are recycled in the country – even though 98 per cent of their components can be.
Sydney-based social enterprise Arnies Recon has been launched to help prevent such old gadgets from being discarded by giving old tech devices a second life. The company wants to avoid them ending up in landfill or what it describes as “the home gadget graveyard” – that drawer or cupboard in most Aussie homes where cables and retired phones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices, cameras and TVs get stored because their owners do not know what to do with them.
Lisa Saunders, co-founder and CEO of Arnies Recon, said the company has already saved more than 4700 tonnes of appliances and electronics from landfill. But that’s a fraction of the 140,000+ tonnes of electronic waste generated by Australians every year, a volume growing at three times the rate of any other waste stream.
She said Arnies Recon was founded on the premise that consumers can enjoy gadgets and then give them a second chance when they’re done with them. The company offers free electronics recycling to consumers, businesses, government organisations and schools, providing a more responsible way to dispose of old gadgets.
Arnies Recon has partnered with shopping centre giant Westfield to provide collection days at some of its shopping centres around Sydney, starting with Bondi Junction, Chatswood and Warringah malls. The partnership will be extended to other locations next year. The company also organises community collections to make it easy for consumers to drop off their small electronics and cables to be recycled at a convenient location in their own neighbourhood.
“With tech devices, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure and people can feel less guilty about replacing their old tech devices with the knowledge that they will be given a second life,” said Saunders.
Once Arnies Recon receives an electronic device, the team tries to find the most efficient way to recycle it. One way is to find new homes for items as they are, which could include collectors or refurbishers who recycle with the lowest footprint possible.
“Recycling saves old gadgets from being dumped into landfill or confined to a drawer for just-in-case. People can give their old devices and tech a second life while enjoying their new gadgets without guilt,” said Saunders.
“We find people who refurbish and reuse the items as they are or as parts to make whole units. We even locate collectors in Australia and overseas who are excited by retro electronics and want to own or restore old items with nostalgic value.”
Saunders said Arnies Recon has evolved into one of the world’s most sophisticated, holistic and comprehensive recycling models, deploying 10 distinct recycling methods, resulting in more than 85 product lines.


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Publisher Eidos has confirmed that it has ordered the closure of Championship Manager Online, the web-based version of the long-running popular fantasy football franchise. “We can confirm that CM Online, a joint initiative with Jadestone in Sweden, will be closing from 30 April 2010," the company said in a statement today. News …
When will el-reg get rid of this mandatory title nonsense?
Hardly surprising; the joy of the game is the fact you are managing a team, building them up, with the actual matches themself minimally important, hence the semi-rubbish graphics.
I never did see this one working in the long term on the online sphere.
Championship Manager has been ChampMan in name only.
Eidos retained the name but the team behind it moved on.
Football Manager is the /real/ ChampMan, and all the fans on the original series know it, so it's hardly surprising to see 'Championship Manager' stutter.
- Review This is why we CAN have nice things: Samsung Galaxy Alpha
- MEN: For pity's sake SLEEP with LOTS of WOMEN - and avoid Prostate Cancer
- Ex-Soviet engines fingered after Antares ROCKET launch BLAST
- Hate the BlackBerry Z10 and Passport? How about this dusty old flashback instead?
- Apple spent just ONE DOLLAR beefing up the latest iPad Air 2


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Portfolio May 27 2020
Berlin-based fintech scale-up Smava secures €57 million in financing to maintain growth through economic downturn
Berlin-based Smava, a credit comparison platform that offers cheaper loan options to consumers, has raised €57 million from Kreos Capital, along with existing investors Earlybird, Verdane, Vitruvian Partners and Runa Capital. The round includes a mix of capital and growth debt. The fintech platform offers an overview of 70 loans between €1,000 and €120,000 from over 20 banks and lending partners. Consumers select the loan that suits them and take it out directly. On average, smava borrowers pay about 35 percent less interest than the German national average. Founded in 2007, the company has raised several rounds of funding, most recently a €65 million Series D over two years ago. After that investment, business growth accelerated: from 2018 to 2019, smava’s brokered loan volume grew by 35 percent from around €2 billion to around €2.7 billion. In a press release, the fintech scale-up says that growth rate is increasing in the first quarter of 2020. Maintaining this trajectory through an uncertain post-pandemic economy is exactly why the company sought new financing. The package includes €35 million in growth debt from Kreos, who’s been working with the startup since 2014, and €22 million in capital from the other investors. “This enables us to continue our investments in digitalization and other product innovations and to maintain our growth course despite the worst economic crisis of the past decades caused by the corona pandemic,” said Alexander Artopé, CEO and co-founder.
Portfolio May 27 2020
Aircall raises $65m Series C
Aircall, a cloud-based phone system and voice platform helping companies across the globe manage millions of customer support and sales calls every day, today announced it has raised $65 million (€60 million) in Series C funding. The round was led by DTCP, with participation from new investors Swisscom and Adam Street, as well as existing UK investors including Balderton Capital and Draper Esprit, alongside eFounders and NextWorld. This latest round brings the company’s total funding to over $100 million. The European-headquartered scale-up has experienced tremendous growth in the last years. With the explosion of remote work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Aircall’s mission to seamlessly connect even the most distributed teams with their customers and prospects, has become essential. The company will use this injection of funding to broaden its global expansion, and aims to end the year with 100 new hires, notably with top engineering talent, in new and current markets, including the UK. Aircall will accelerate this expansion by adding to its growing list of integrations and revamping its API capabilities, as it continues to disrupt the telecoms industry. The company currently supports more than 5,000 businesses worldwide, 3,000 of which are based in Europe, including Natwest, Spareroom, Mindful Chef, Glovo or Soldo. Aircall’s goal is to double its European customer base over the next twelve months, as it continues its mission to become the world’s leading voice platform, taking on the $80 billion market. Jonathan Anguelov, Co-Founder and COO, Aircall commented: “More than ever, Aircall is proving how important voice is within the business ecosystem: in employee-client relationships, when approaching prospects, and when interacting with other team members. “The accelerating digital transition of companies around the world, the rapid increase in cloud usage and the new working methods that these imply are very promising for our development.” Thomas Preuss, Partner, DTCP said: “We’ve yet to see another company like Aircall that’s bringing such ease of use, flexibility, and seamless integration into the traditionally complex world of telephony. “They’ve done a brilliant job helping companies modernise their tech stacks, and we’re excited to collaborate with Olivier and the team as they usher in a new, modern era for today’s businesses.” Bernard Liautaud, Managing Partner, Balderton Capital said: “Since our initial investment five years ago, Aircall has consistently delivered on its commitment to providing a world-class voice solution and app ecosystem.” “In our current climate, it has never been more important to be connected, so we are proud to be supporting Aircall’s expansion plans as they lead the charge in transforming business communications.” Stuart Chapman, Chief Operating Officer, Draper Esprit, commented: “The challenges of recent months have highlighted the existing trend towards remote and distributed working. “Aircall has redefined the customer experience through its flexible and open platform. As it accelerates its growth, we’re excited to see businesses all over the world discover the incredible value of Aircall.”
Portfolio May 26 2020
Scandit raises $80m as Covid-19 drives demand for contactless deliveries
Enterprise barcode scanner company Scandit has closed an $80 million Series C round, led by Silicon Valley VC firm G2VP. Atomico, GV, Kreos Capital, NGP Capital, Salesforce Ventures and Swisscom Ventures also participated in the round — which brings its total raised to date to $123M. The Zurich-based firm offers a platform that combines computer vision and machine learning tech with barcode scanning, text recognition (OCR), object recognition and augmented reality which is designed for any camera-equipped smart device — from smartphones to drones, wearables (e.g. AR glasses for warehouse workers) and even robots. Use-cases include mobile apps or websites for mobile shopping; self-checkout; inventory management; proof of delivery; asset tracking and maintenance — including in healthcare where its tech can be used to power the scanning of patient IDs, samples, medication and supplies. It bills its software as “unmatched” in terms of speed and accuracy, as well as the ability to scan in bad light; at any angle; and with damaged labels. Target industries include retail, healthcare, industrial/manufacturing, travel, transport & logistics and more. The latest funding injection follows a $30M Series B round back in 2018. Since then Scandit says it’s tripled recurring revenues, more than doubling the number of blue-chip enterprise customers, and doubling the size of its global team. Global customers for its tech include the likes of 7-Eleven, Alaska Airlines, Carrefour, DPD, FedEx, Instacart, Johns Hopkins Hospital, La Poste, Levi Strauss & Co, Mount Sinai Hospital and Toyota — with the company touting “tens of billions of scans” per year on 100+ million active devices at this stage of its business. It says the new funding will go on further pressing on the gas to grow in new markets, including APAC and Latin America, as well as building out its footprint and ops in North America and Europe. Also on the slate: Funding more R&D to devise new ways for enterprises to transform their core business processes using computer vision and AR. The need for social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic has also accelerated demand for mobile computer vision on personal smart devices, according to Scandit, which says customers are looking for ways to enable more contactless interactions. Another demand spike it’s seeing is coming from the pandemic-related boom in ‘Click & Collect’ retail and “millions” of extra home deliveries — something its tech is well positioned to cater to because its scanning apps support BYOD (bring your own device), rather than requiring proprietary hardware. “COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on the need for rapid digital transformation in these uncertain times, and the need to blend the physical and digital plays a crucial role,” said CEO Samuel Mueller in a statement. “Our new funding makes it possible for us to help even more enterprises to quickly adapt to the new demand for ‘contactless business’, and be better positioned to succeed, whatever the new normal is.” Also commenting on the funding in a supporting statement, Ben Kortlang, general partner at G2VP, added: “Scandit’s platform puts an enterprise-grade scanning solution in the pocket of every employee and customer without requiring legacy hardware. This bridge between the physical and digital worlds will be increasingly critical as the world accelerates its shift to online purchasing and delivery, distributed supply chains and cashierless retail.”
Portfolio May 20 2020
8×8 selects GoCardless to manage recurring payments
UK-based fintech GoCardless has announced teaming with integrated cloud communications platform provider 8x8 to provide direct debit to its customers. 8x8 was looking to transition its direct debit offering to an online solution that would manage payments across multiple bank debit schemes and countries, to increase their visibility within the business and minimise payment failure rates. The company initially turned to GoCardless to collect its payments from customers in the Bacs and SEPA direct debit schemes and quickly extended the relationship to include payments from Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand. 8x8 is using the GoCardless API to integrate its payments with Salesforce.com and its billing engine, Gotransverse, to provide a seamless ‘quote to cash’ process to increase efficiency and provide a 360 degree view of payments within the business.
Portfolio May 19 2020
Contentsquare, the digital experience analytics platform scores $190m Series D
Contentsquare, the cloud-based platform that helps businesses understand how and why users are interacting with their app, mobile and web sites, has closed $190m in Series D funding. The round is led by BlackRock's Private Equity Partners team, with participation from previous investors. In addition, as part of this round, Sapiance Capital Limited is providing credit to the company. It brings total funding for Contentsquare to $310m. Previous backers include Canaan, Eurazeo Growth, GPE Hermes, Highland Euope, H14 and KKR, most of whom we're told participated in this round. The company's $60m Series C round took place in January 2019. Founded in 2012, Contentsquare wants to empower brands to create “better experiences”. Its SaaS analyses customer behaviour through billions of anonymous web, mobile and app interactions. It then provides recommendations, with the goal of helping companies increase revenue, engagement and growth. In other words, Contentsquare claims it can tell a company why conversion rates are low and, most importantly, what can be done to improve them. This can include making changes to specific page or content elements, or a combination of the two. To enable this, the software integrates a broad set of data including content, UX, product, pricing, acquisition channel and technical performance — spanning the entire digital customer journey. To date, Contentsquare says its platform is used by more than 700 enterprise customers including 30% of the Global Fortune 100. This includes large companies such as American Express, Best Buy, Dell, Ikea, LVMH, T-Mobile, Salesforce, Sephora and Toyota. “This investment during these uncertain times is a proof of the fantastic job done by our teams”, said Jonathan Cherki, founder and CEO of Contentsquare, in a statement. “It validates the strength of our vision for the next 5 years to further extend our global leadership in experience analytics at a time when these capabilities are critical to all businesses. Meanwhile, Contentsquare says the new capital will help it continue to invest in innovation, including “AI-based and predictive analytics”. It is also planning further expansion across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Middle East.
Portfolio May 19 2020
EGYM presents Corona gym solution, a solution package for the successful re-opening of fitness studios
Finally, the time has come: fitness and health facilities around the globe are gradually resuming operations. However, the world has changed fundamentally in recent weeks in the wake of the Corona pandemic: gyms need to adapt their processes and routines in order to remain successful in the "new normality". EGYM has therefore developed Corona Gym Solution within a very short time, a package of many intelligent solutions that meet both the new regulations and the increased safety and hygiene needs of members, and of course the business interests of operators. The aim of Corona Gym Solution is to quickly restore the studios to full functionality. The package contains a wealth of innovative components - from the brand new Immunity Boost training program to strengthen the immune system, to mobile training slot booking and hygiene checks. The Corona Gym Solution also takes local regulations into account, such as the disinfection of all equipment after each use, where the intervals in circuit training are automatically increased by ten seconds to allow sufficient time for this. The Corona Gym Solution from EGYM contains: Mobile Training Slot Booking - the EGYM Branded Member App allows operators to efficiently manage capacity with booking of time slots to ensure that members train safely while complying with all applicable guidelines and social distance measures. Members can view or book available training slots from anywhere via the app. It couldn't be more convenient and safe! Special training programs to strengthen immunity - especially strength training - are the key to reducing underlying diseases and strengthening the immune system. EGYM has developed the new Immunity Boost training program specifically for this purpose. Its granular intensity control ensures growth stimulation and effectiveness of the training, while avoiding over- and underloading. An easy-to-use mobile platform that enhances the gym with a free digital offer during the reopening phase. With the Member App, operators can also support their members outside the studio and provide access to virtual workouts to further promote involvement within the fitness studio community. The displays of the EGYM machines as well as the Branded Member App automatically and regularly remind the members to comply with the hygiene regulations; via App, the members in turn immediately give their personal hygiene feedback to their studio. Corona Gym Solution Marketing Kit - operators will find everything they need to ensure safe training for all members: from floor stickers that help members navigate and show them the correct running routes and starting and waiting points, to equipment stickers that draw attention to correct equipment (e.g. "No shoes", "No water bottles", "Only with towel, etc.), to posters and flyers for the new Immunity Boost training program. EGYM is offering the new features as well as EGYM+ (formerly EGYM Premium) free of charge to all fitness studios during the reopening phase to enable operators to make a successful restart under the current particularly challenging circumstances.


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Gods & Monsters News
And the Switch is receiving at least one
Ubisoft's latest financial call has revealed the French video game giant will be releasing a total of five triple-A games before April next year. Three will arrive in the third quarter of its next financial year (October through to December 2020), and the other two will be released in the fourth quarter...
Slips alongside upcoming Watch Dogs and Rainbow Six titles
An Ubisoft press release detailing the company's financial targets and release schedule for 2019-20 suggests that its multi-platform open-world adventure game Gods & Monsters has been pushed into the next financial year. Originally announced for release on 25th Februa
During an interview with GameIndustry.biz recently, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot spoke about how the company wanted to expand on its open-world game design, present in series such as Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs and even the recent release Starlink: Battle for Atlas. He was asked if there was any chance a game series like Assassin's...
From the creator of Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Move aside Kid Icarus - Ubisoft's 2019 E3 Press Conference has just revealed Gods & Monsters is coming to the Nintendo Switch and multiple other platforms next year, on 25th February. Here's the rundown, courtesy of Ubisoft's website: In Gods & Monsters, the Greek gods have fallen, and it's up...


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“Road House” director Doug Liman isn't happy about the studio refusing to release his film in theaters… and he's making that point very, very clear.
Call us eternally optimistic, but we're hopeful that the upcoming Road House remake will be a fun time.
Jake Gyllenhaal takes on the role of the late, great Patrick Swayze and while he will undoubtedly bring a different energy to the role, there is no doubt that Gyllenhaal has what it takes. The curiosity factor also works in its favor: UFC icon and headline magnet Conor McGregor's acting debut is another draw, as is director Doug Liman's involvement, as you never really know what you're going to get when you sit down go and watch one of his films.
Only this time, Amazon really knows what it's getting, at least according to Liman.
The director has published a guest column on Deadline in which he claims that test results for Road House are “through the roof” and that the press reaction to the film is “the best since.” [Amazon] bought MGM.'
Given these claims, Liman is upset that the studio is refusing to release the film in theaters, especially (presumably) because it has clearly adopted such a strategy with several of its other releases over the last year.
Here is Liman's opinion:
“We made Road House a huge hit – Amazon's words are not mine, by the way.” Road House tested better than my biggest box office hit, Mr And Mrs Smith. It tested better than Bourne Identity, which spawned four sequels. I'm told the press response at Amazon was the best since the MGM purchase.
“Road House has a strong connection to the UFC, which has an enthusiastic and loyal fan base that has generated over 1.5 billion social media impressions for the film, and marketing has not even begun yet.”
Liman continues to attack Amazon over its decision, openly accusing the studio of misleading him and all of us with its supposed support of the theater business:
“What else could I have delivered to the studio? Nothing, as it turns out. Because contrary to their public statements, Amazon has no interest in supporting cinemas. Amazon will stream Road House exclusively on Amazon Prime. Amazon asked me and the film community to trust them and their public statements supporting movie theaters, and then they turned around and used Road House to sell plumbing fixtures.”
Liman continues to express his sympathy for the people at Amazon, who approved the decision not to release the film in theaters, instead blaming it on the tech company's over-reliance on technology.
The excerpts shown above are part of a much longer diatribe that is worth reading. Clearly not a happy man, Liman has announced that he will be boycotting the film's SXSW premiere ahead of its general release in March.
We're not entirely sure how this came about, but we do know that the Road House remake was announced in 2022, the same year Amazon bought MGM. Perhaps the proximity of these two events meant that the film's release strategy was not clearly defined, although our initial coverage of the film's public announcement makes it clear that it was intended for Prime Video.
Of course, Amazon has significantly changed its release strategy in the years since, and since he has the data to back up his claims, Liman has every right to demand a theatrical release when other filmmakers have been extended the same favor.
However, it doesn't look like his wish will come true, and coupled with the news of Netflix canceling The Mothership, the finished Halle Berry film, this is a pretty bad week for the streamer's image in the industry. Two high-profile exchanges like this might make other filmmakers think twice before shaking hands with a streaming platform.
Road House is out March 21st, not in theaters – despite Doug Liman's best efforts.


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PayPal chief executive officer Peter Thiel resigned. Matt Bannick, eBay's senior vice president of global online payments, will take over Thiel's role.
PayPal enables businesses and consumers to send and receive credit card and bank account payments via the Internet and e-mail. It will replace eBay's Billpoint payment system in the first half of next year.
The online payment company will continue to operate as an independent brand and provide its Web Accept online payment processing service to online merchants. However, PayPal's online gaming business will be phased out.


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Anyone with children will know that boarding a plane can be a hit or miss experience – especially if your kids aren't in the best moods.
Luckily, flight attendants and travel experts are often on hand to share handy tricks for flying with kids, from dealing with tantrums to finding the best seats on the plane for families.
However, it turns out there's one drink you should avoid giving your kids onboard if you want a stress-free experience.
Travel experts Mark and Jocelyn Wolters, who have travelled the world with their kids for 16 years, told the Sun that you should never give children orange juice while on a plane.
They explained that "kids get upset on a plane because they're dehydrated, so it's important to keep them hydrated," before adding, "it's a no to orange juice and fizzy drinks because they can cause dehydration".
That's not to say orange juice doesn't provide any hydration.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Health Sciences in 2020 found that drinking 100% orange juice contributed to hydration just as well as water did.
Dr. Dawn Emerson, Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas and lead on the paper said: “The study showed that people consuming 100% orange juice were hydrated as well as the participants consuming a sports drink or water.”
It is important to note that the study only analysed adults and not children.
You may find that switching to drinking water only helps your children to be happier and better behaved when travelling.
Alternatively, try diluting their juice with water or opting for a freshly squeezed juice rather than one with added ingredients.
Fingers crossed it will make your trips easier to handle before you finally get to relax.
As for adults, there are also some drinks that you may want to avoid during your flight.
One flight attendant previously admitted cabin crew get frustrated when people order cups of water, while another said that coffee could be a difficult drink because people often change their mind about how they want it.
However, cabin crew member Kat Kamalani has warned passengers to avoid certain drinks for "disgusting" reasons.
Sharing various tips for holidaymakers, she opened up about the drinks on board in a video, explaining: "Rule number one – never consumer any liquid that is not in a can or a bottle.
"The reason being is those water tanks are never cleaned, and they are disgusting.
"So talk to a flight attendant, we rarely, rarely drink the tea or coffee, they come from the same water tank and so when you're drinking that coffee and tea it comes from that hot water and it's absolutely disgusting."
Cost of passports to rise next month with adult postal service priced at £93
Couple who booked 28-day holiday say it's cheaper than bills at home
Lesser known passport rule that could stop your travelling to Europe on holiday
Source: Read Full Article


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Ever since the Lady Gaga/Bradley Cooper up close and personal performance of shallow at the Oscars, social media has been on fire claiming the two are romantically involved. Last night on Kimmel, Lady Gaga set the record straight, saying that is false! Yes, it’s just a love song… but it makes you think!
The folks at Lays are planning to release 3 new chip flavors inspired by different genres of music. Flavors include: Wavy Electric Lime and Sea Salt (pop), Flamin’ Hot and Dill Pickle (hip hop), and Kettle Cooked Classic Beer Cheese (rock). Beer Cheese? Strange! But you can judge for yourself when they hit store shelves next month.
Finally a lot of controversy about the upcoming Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland…where allegations of Jackson’s inappropriate behavior surfaced. Jackson’s brothers stand by Michael and say he is innocent, but recently a former maid of Jackson’s has come forward saying that she witnessed children in bed with the king of pop. Leaving Neverland airs this Sunday and Monday on HBO.


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It may be Turkey Day on Thursday, but nobody wants to look like one.
When everyone gets back from this week’s Thanksgiving break, many observers are expecting there to be some progress on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s investigation of Google’s alleged anti-competitive activities.
The crucial issue right now is whether the FTC decides to legally challenge Google on “search manipulation” — that is, whether Google manipulates its search rankings to give preference to its own sites, while also pushing down competitors’ rankings.
But, according to people intimately involved in the case, the FTC is hesitating on whether it is willing to go to bat on that particular and critical point, as Google has persuasively argued to some of the FTC commissioners — specifically Tom Rosch — that search is shifting from delivering text links to other Web sites to delivering robust and helpful information on the spot.
For example, when someone searches for an address, instead of providing a list of links to pages on various mapping sites, such as for AOL’s MapQuest, Google surfaces a clickable image of the map itself from its own mapping service.
The company is asserting that this is a better experience for consumers, even if it disadvantages other sites. The center of its argument is that it is doing what’s best for users — and it just so happens that it’s also good for Google properties.
While that might be selfish, it might not be illegal, and it is a difficult legal task for the FTC to prove otherwise, especially since damages to consumers are not clear.
Read more on the FTC vs. Google at AllThingsD.com.


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Post-ghost, the redux
Thinking through some shared characteristics of the next phase of ghost kitchen evolution
I wrote Expedite’s first post-ghost post about two years ago. Now, the next step for the business has come into clear view.
First, here’s some fun ghost kitchen-adjacent news:
Sam Nazarian is acquiring assets from shuttered Kitchen United to pad his roster of restaurant concepts and important brand relationships.
I spoke to him in an exclusive interview for Fast Company — posted this morning — and he explained, multiple times, that the value in building a restaurant business at massive scale comes from its IP, intellectual property, which includes the brand and often the influencer or celebrity behind it. Also, he explained that the best virtual brands aren’t actually virtual; they have a physical presence, too.
Nazarian, a notable hotelier, nightclub owner, and restaurateur as founder and CEO of SBE, became a loud voice in the digital restaurant space when he launched C3 just before the pandemic. It was a new home for SBE’s restaurant brands, from longtime favorites like Umami Burger and Katsuya to newer concepts like Krispy Rice and Sam’s Crispy Chicken. Over a few years he refocused efforts on physical spaces, opening a pair of food halls in New York and Atlanta to showcase the brands. Then his voice got louder in the space when he acquired Nextbite, which developed and ran virtual brands out of partner restaurant kitchens. Nextbite once raised over $100 million from Softbank before it split in two and sold itself.
Now Nazarian is bullish about what he’s building, starting with a new name for a bigger restaurant group: Everybody Eats. And thanks to a decades-long and successful career, he has the channels to fill with restaurant IP, as he calls it, including a January deal with Wyndham hotels, strategic investment from public companies and hospitality operators, major celeb partnerships, and, now, the connections forged by the companies he’s acquiring (or partially acquiring, as it were).
This is the new future for the ideas formerly known as ghost kitchens: strong brands, virtual connectivity, physical spaces. It’s a trend that’s come to the surface recently:


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Whether it's new hardware products like Google Glasses or Chromebooks, or the company's other business such as advertising, YouTube, and or mobile, the company has built an empire of products and services that bode well for the company, as well as investors.
(Read More: Google Launching Delivery Service to Take on Amazon)
Google's stock soared to an all-time high on Wednesday at $831.38.
Arora said he doesn't really think about what the company's stock is doing.
"I don't pay attention to our stock price. I used to do that for a living and I decided to stop paying attention," he said.
Instead, he is focused on staying ahead of the latest technologies and on improving Google's current products and services.
"We want to stay relevant in our existing products, that means we have to innovate twice as fast in areas like search, areas like YouTube and areas where people use our services," Arora said.
"You have to make sure we don't miss the next trick. We have to make sure that as consumers keep adapting new technology, new ideas, we have to be there in the forefront. ... And I think we have to keep doing interesting things to change the world," he added.
Even though the company continues to evolve, the core of its revenue still comes from advertising.
Arora said that most advertising revenue still comes from the mature markets, but growth in developing countries is picking up as web access continues to grow.
(Read More: Google Controls Too Much of China's Smartphone Sector: Ministry)
"We should not take away from the fact that there are lots of parts of the world where the Internet is still a huge growth phenomenon, a lot more people are coming on to the Internet, there are lots of business coming on to the Internet," he said. "It's a balance between strong revenue and mature markets and growth of more users on the web, more business on the web, causing more and more advertising to come on."


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Last week, the Supreme Court of Mississippi handed down an opinion in Fitch v. Wine Express Inc., No. 2018-SA-01259-SCT. A state court decision on the rather dry subject of personal jurisdiction often merits little comment, but the Fitch opinion features an emphatic rejection of the legal theory relied upon by many direct-to-consumer retail alcohol sellers today.
As a “control” state for wine sales, Mississippi law generally prohibits the importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages (a term that includes wine) outside of the state’s monopoly control system. And, as in virtually every state, the retail sale of wine to consumers is reserved to state licensees and, in the case of control jurisdictions, the state itself.


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Nationally, it appears the manufacturing sector's glass is half full, not half empty. Statistics boasting healthy growth in the industry in 2003 bode well locally, officials said.
The Institute for Supply Management reported recently that its manufacturing index finished 2003 with its most robust month of growth in 20 years. A limited survey of Seacoast-area manufacturers indicates a guarded but positive view of the immediate past and potential for future growth.
"We're looking optimistic," said Stephen Foss, president of the Hampton-based Foss Manufacturing.
After an overall loss of more than 30,000 manufacturing jobs statewide, state and local officials said the report may be a positive indicator for future trends.
"I don't think there is anywhere to go but up," said Peter Hamelin, president of the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce.
"Manufacturing was hardest hit (in recent years), so it's good to hear there's been growth in the industry," he said. "Hopefully, it's an indicator for the future."
Hamelin said the Seacoast needs to create new manufacturing jobs. "The creation of well-paying manufacturing jobs would enhance our economic diversity," he added.
The manufacturing index nationally jumped to 66.2 in December from 62.8 the previous month. The reading marks the sixth consecutive month of expansion in manufacturing and was higher than the 61 points forecast by analysts. Economists said the index shows that, while the beleaguered factory sector still has much ground to make up, it is now firmly in recovery mode, helped along by low interest rates and a falling dollar that makes U.S.-produced goods cheaper overseas, according to the Associated Press.
Here in New Hampshire, manufacturing growth faces an uphill climb but there's anecdotal news of improving conditions, according to Stuart Arnett, the director of the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development. Arnett reported some growth in the areas of telecommunications and technology.
"There seems to be a reinvesting in technology," he said. On the downside, he said he's seeing continued contraction of some of the traditional manufacturers, such as Tyson Foods in Manchester and a recent announcement of layoffs.
Arnett said the ISM Report's indicating growth in new orders to factorys could bolster the state's numbers in business to business capital spending.
"We're also seeing New Hampshire companies doing what they're good at doing - innovating," said Arnett. He added that opening up to new, international markets may be a key to future growth.
The N.H. Manufacturing Extension Partnership, affiliated with the federal Department of Commerce, is working to help create new markets and help smaller businesses crack into bigger ones, according to it's Department of Operations Director, Marty Vincent. Overall, Vincent expects to see more positive changes in manufacturing this year.
"Everybody is starting to see it coming around," he said. Things are getting better," said Vincent.
Bob Nadeau is the plant manager for Hutchinson Sealing Systems in Newfields, which employs 530 at the local plant. He said the plant has acquired new business from the nation's major auto makers. The company's New Hampshire plant is launching two new platforms for DaimlerChrysler.
While the company did not disclose any details of past or future revenues and jobs, commenting as a member of the state's Business and Industry Association, Nadeau said it would be difficult to create new manufacturing jobs in 2004.
"I've been involved with the BIA for years, and we've talked about the significant loss of manufacturing jobs in New Hampshire," he said. That job loss has a number of roots, including the high cost of energy and labor.
"I don't see how we can significantly grow manufacturing in New Hampshire with the high costs; however, businesses can grow. ... One way is entrepreneurial - create new things nobody else is doing and you can hire people to do that until the thing you invented becomes a commodity," he said. The second is with using automation to make businesses more efficient."


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Lesley Maxwell, 63, isn’t your stereotypical grandma.
The bodybuilding grandmother-of-three has washboard abs that she’s been sculpting for the past 40 years.
She has managed to maintain her incredible figure for the past four decades and still works out as much as she ever did.
Lesley, from Melbourne, now shows off her ripped physique while performing fitness challenges on her Instagram.
Her account boasts over 26.9K followers and fans can expect to see pictures and videos of her toned body as she proves that age is just a number when it comes to being fit.
Even though gyms are currently closed, the grandmother-of-three is keeping herself active by working out at home.
Recently, Lesley filmed herself flawlessly performing bodyweight squats while wearing stiletto heels.
Lesley, who previously worked in promotions and as a makeup artist, has won almost 30 fitness titles for her incredible physique.
She started her bodybuilding journey well into her late 40s after coming across a TV advertisement for a fitness competition where glamorous women paraded around in heels and bikinis.
Feeling inspired, Lesley decided to become a personal trainer at the age of 48 and won her first fitness competition a year later.
Lesley puts her ageless looks down to her gruelling fitness regime and works out five times a week doing deadlifts and squats.
She says she gets approached by men who are decades younger than her and feels better than ever.
However, Lesley doesn’t do diets and instead focuses on eating nutrient-dense food high in protein and saturated fats – and her favourite meal is whole organic eggs, sauerkraut salad, and sprouted grain bread.
We can only dream of looking as good as Lesley in our 60s.
Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Share your views in the comments section below.
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Sri Lanka’s pioneering sustainable seafood farming company; Taprobane Seafood Group (TSG) clinched three top honours at the ‘National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) Awards 2018’heldrecentlyat the Main Ballroom of Hotel Shangri-La, Colombo.
Marking its trailblazing presence at the grand ceremony, TSG claimed the coveted Fisheries Sector Extra Large Category Award and two other Special Awards in recognition of its immense contribution to sustainable development efforts in the Northern Province through the EGLR (Employment Generation and Livelihood through Reconciliation) project implemented in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), as well as for creating employment opportunities for the differently-abled in predominantly war-torn areas.
TSG initiated such employment since 2012 in partnership with the Disability Network of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) and was facilitated by ILO’s Local Empowerment through Economic Development (LEED) project back then and successfully continue to empower them.
Taprobane Seafood Group was founded in 2011 by Timothy O’ Reilly and Dilan Fernando with the shared vision of reaching the highest standards of sustainable seafood farming.
Through a commitment to community empowerment, TSG has always been in the forefront of ethical labour practices in the industry and over the past few years, it has paid a great deal of attention to the working and living standards, well-being and sustainable development of its employees attached to eight processing facilities throughout Northern and Northwestern Provinces. In 2014, TSG clinched the Presidential Award for the Highest Foreign Exchange Earner in the seafood sector.
Interestingly, one of TSG’s largest projects is a voluntary code of conduct with the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) to become Asia’s pioneer in certified sustainably-sourced Sri Lankan blue swimming crab.
Another noteworthy initiative by TSG is the launching of a smartphone application jointly with the Colombo University to enable GPS and GPI tracking. This platform gurantees factual information dissemination to facilitate those involved in fisheries management. TSG is the first Sri Lankan entity to receive the most prestigious certification for food standards (FSSC-22000). The company has come to be known for producing pasteurized crab meat, frozen and fresh tuna and various other seafood products for some of the world’s most respected brands. At present, its clientele is largely based in the United States, Japan and the European Union (EU).


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Bicycle commuting is a great way to keep in shape, but pedaling up a steep hill on the way to the office may be a bit more exercise than you want before the workday begins.
Enter the battery-powered Copenhagen Wheel from Cambridge startup Superpedestrian, which turns almost any standard bike into a hybrid e-bike. The Copenhagen Wheel was developed at MIT’s SENSEable City Laboratory, designed to replace a bicycle’s regular rear wheel. It kicks in when a rider needs a boost — like on that incline before the office.
“How many of us have bikes in the garage that we walk past on the way to the car?” said Superpedestrian founder Assaf Biderman. “People don’t want to arrive to work sweaty. Overcoming this problem with a motor is kind of an obvious thing.”
The idea is not to turn a bicycle into a motorcycle. The Copenhagen Wheel adds power to the work a rider is already doing. The wheel monitors a rider’s output and can be programmed to turn on the juice when the wattage dips below a threshold.
The rest of the time, it functions just like any other bike wheel. But it quietly captures and stores energy during gliding and braking.
With a top speed of 20 miles per hour, the Copenhagen Wheel is good for 1,000 charging cycles.
At $799, it is no cheap ride. But the price includes additional high-tech features, such as a wireless connection to a smartphone app that lets riders track their routes and lock their bikes. The wheel is also less expensive than fully electric bicycles, which can cost thousands of dollars.
After planning to deliver its first Copenhagen wheels this spring, Superpedestrian said it received several thousand preorders on its website — many more than expected. Now it’s in the final stages of establishing a production line to meet the demand and put wheels on the road in the near future.
The Northborough-based pizza chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, citing seven years of sliding sales and revenue.Continue reading »
The store has a well-known tradition of classic style. But nearby retailers say ongoing construction in Harvard Square has decreased their revenue.Continue reading »
It’s taken several years, but Natick is finally getting its own Wegmans supermarket this month.Continue reading »
It’s quicker to pay upstairs at the Downtown Crossing Roche Bros. Market, but you may end up paying sales tax on items that, under the law, are simply not taxable.Continue reading »
The ABCC ruling is the latest setback to the state’s efforts to crack down on inducements in the beer industry.Continue reading »
The Irish drug maker, which has most of its operations in Massachusetts, rejected an offer that would have made Japan’s Takeda one of the biggest drug makers in the world.Continue reading »
Twenty-two percent ‘neither support nor oppose’ the company’s campus being located here, and 13 percent say they haven’t heard anything about it.Continue reading »
David Solomon spends his days as a buttoned-up COO in New York. But on the weekends, he becomes DJ D-Sol.Continue reading »
The Embr Wave functions like a personal thermostat, to cool you off or warm you up.Continue reading »


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Netflix and Ubisoft Sept. 10 announced plans to bring three mobile games from popular game franchises to Netflix, starting in 2023.
First announced at Ubisoft’s annual digital event Ubisoft Forward, the three games will expand on the “Valiant Hearts,” “Mighty Quest” and “Assassin’s Creed” universes and will be available exclusively on mobile to Netflix members around the world with no ads or in-app purchases.
A new “Valiant Hearts” game, sequel to Ubisoft’s game Valiant Hearts: The Great War, is directed by the original core team and “will retain the same DNA while featuring a new story,” according to a Netflix press release. It will be available to Netflix members in January 2023. After The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot mobile game, “The Mighty Quest” will come to Netflix in 2023 with a new game. “This time, the game will draw inspiration from the roguelike genre to deliver an experience that celebrates the series’ premiere hack-and-slash combat in a fresh and highly replayable format,” according to the press release.
“Assassin’s Creed” fans will be able to immerse themselves in the universe on Netflix in more than one way: in addition to the previously announced live-action series, an all-new mobile game is being developed exclusively for Netflix.
“We’re thrilled to work with Ubisoft, whose track record creating memorable worlds for fans is unmatched,” Mike Verdu, VP of games for Netflix, said in a statement. “This partnership will provide our members with exclusive access to some of the most exciting game franchises as we continue to build a catalog of great mobile games for our members around the world.”
“As we continue to create great experiences on all platforms, we’re glad to be partnering with such an innovative and creative partner as Netflix,” Jean-Michel Detoc, chief mobile officer for Ubisoft, said in a statement. “I believe that this partnership will be a great opportunity for Netflix members to further explore our worlds and universes on mobile.”
Ubisoft Jan. 5 announced it plans to add its Ubisoft+ video game subscription service to the Xbox platform. The software publisher also plans to offer Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction, a tactical first person-shooter (FPS) title, to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass members when the game launches on Jan. 20.
Ubisoft+ offers more than 100 Ubisoft games, including the latest releases, DLC and classic games, rewarding users with customization items, boosters and other in-game perks. Ubisoft+ is currently available on PC, Stadia, and Amazon Luna.
“We’re demonstrating that we believe in the value and choice that game subscriptions offer to players,” Chris Early, SVP of strategic partnerships and business development at Ubisoft, said in a statement. “Rainbow Six Extraction for Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass members is just the beginning. Ultimately, we will offer the Ubisoft+ subscription service to Xbox owners so that they can enjoy the full extent of our Ubisoft+ game library, including new releases, on their consoles.”
Rainbow Six Extraction builds on all the tactical gameplay elements introduced in Rainbow Six Siege. Ubisoft shared that Siege also will be available for PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members starting January 20 and will see its availability on Xbox Game Pass extended.
“With Rainbow Six Extraction, Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass members are getting another blockbuster added to their library on the same day the title launches,” said Sarah Bond, corporate VP, Game Creator Experience and Ecosystem at Xbox. “And because Rainbow Six Siege will be on both Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass as well, the Rainbow Six community and fans of tactical shooters will have plenty to look forward to playing together, no matter where they play.”
Ubisoft’s subscription service has become Ubisoft+ and has added a multi-platform model, beginning in beta in the United States this November with Amazon Luna and by end of year with Stadia.
Formerly known as UPLAY+, Ubisoft+ offers subscribers unlimited access to a catalog of more than 100 games on PC for $14.99 per month. Ubisoft+ includes premium editions, new releases such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion and Immortals Fenyx Rising, classic titles and additional content packs.
“With Ubisoft+, our vision is to provide more options for our players to access their favorite Ubisoft games, wherever they are and whenever they want,” Alexia Brumé, associate director of subscription, said in a statement. “This beta period with Stadia and Amazon Luna is just the beginning. We’re excited to offer subscribers the chance to check out the premium editions of our fall lineup so they can pick up and play across multiple platforms, all with one subscription.”
Starting Nov. 10, the beta will begin for subscribers in the United States. Once subscribers request and receive an invitation to Amazon Luna early access, they can link their accounts and start playing. By the end of the year, they will also be able to play select Ubisoft games on Stadia (no Stadia Pro subscription required). During this beta, players can enjoy Ubisoft games across their devices and benefit from cross-platform progression for upcoming titles, including Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on day one.
Netflix has entered into an agreement with Ubisoft to develop content based on the video game franchise “Assassin’s Creed.”
The first series in development is slated to be a genre-bending live-action adaptation. Ubisoft Film & Television’s Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik will serve as executive producers.
Under the agreement, Netflix and Ubisoft will tap into the video game’s stories with “global mass appeal” for adaptations of live-action, animated, and anime series, according to Netflix.
“For more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ brand into an iconic franchise,” said Jason Altman, head of Ubisoft Film & Television, Los Angeles, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to create an ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series with Netflix and we look forward to developing the next saga in the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ universe.”
“We’re excited to partner with Ubisoft and bring to life therich, multilayered storytelling that ‘Assassin’s Creed’ is beloved for,” Peter Friedlander, VP of original series at Netflix, said in a statement. “From its breathtaking historical worlds and massive global appeal as one of the best selling video game franchises of all time, we are committed to carefully crafting epic and thrilling entertainment based on this distinct IP and provide a deeper dive for fans and our members around the world to enjoy.”
Since it first launched in 2007, the “Assassin’s Creed” series has sold more than 155 million games worldwide.
The Division, a feature to be based on Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy video game, is coming to Netflix.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain will star in and produce the project.
Rafe Judkins, who is creating the upcoming series “Wheel of Time” based on the fantasy novels for Amazon, will adapt the screenplay. David Leitch (Deadpool 2) will direct.
In the film, set in the near future, a pandemic virus is spread via paper money on Black Friday, decimating the city of New York and killing millions. By Christmas, what’s left of society has descended into chaos. A group of civilians, trained to operate in catastrophic times, are activated in an attempt to save who and what remains.
At launch, The Division quickly became the fastest-selling new IP in video game history and currently has more than 20 million players, according to the Netflix release.
The Division 2 launched in March 2019. During E3 June 10, Ubisoft announced it would offer the game free to play June 13-16 on Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Players have the option of purchasing it at a discount through June 24, keeping progress made during the free period.
As expected, Google is entering the $140 billion video game business with hopes its cloud-based Stadia service will rival industry benchmarks Xbox (Microsoft), PlayStation (Sony) and Switch (Nintendo) among consumers.
Google announced the new service March 19 at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. The search behemoth, which plans to roll out the service and cost details later this year, says Stadia would enable users to play games from major developers on most devices via YouTube.
“Our ambition is far beyond a single game,” Phil Harrison, VP and GM at Google, told attendees. “The power of instant access is magical, and it’s already transformed the music and movie industries.”
Harrison, who previously held executive positions at Xbox and PlayStation, said Google tested the service (Project Stream) last fall with Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey that enabled users to play/stream the triple-A game via Google’s Chrome browser on any applicable device – including smart TV.
“We finally get to share Google’s vision of games,” Harrison said. “Our vision for Stadia is simple. One place for all the games you play.”
In a statement, Yves Guillemot, the co-founder/CEO of Ubisoft, said Google’s global expanse would give “billions” unprecedented opportunities to play video games.
“We are proud to partner with Google on Stadia, building on what we’ve learned with Project Stream via Assassin’s Creed Odyssey,” Guillemot said. “This is only the beginning, and we can’t wait to continue collaborating closely with Google on what’s next for Stadia.”


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Samsung demonstrated earlier today that when it comes to smartphones, they know when to fold ’em. At their developer conference, they showed off their first folding display that is actually likely to hit the market. It should be in phones as early as next year. In a piece called, “Samsung’s ‘Infinity Flex Display’ demo shows future of foldable smartphones,” Apple Insider confirms many of the details that appeared first as rumors.
“Teased for weeks and unveiled at Wednesday’s Samsung Developer Conference, the Infinity Flex Display potentially allows for the creation of a mobile device that is the size of a tablet, but can be resized by the user depending on their needs. The on-stage demonstration for the prototype showed the device was able to be folded in half, with the screen ending up inside the fold. “
Many early folding phone demos showed phones being folded in the opposite direction, with the folded screen on the outside. This eliminated the need to include an additional display. On modern smartphones, Pixel dense OLED displays are among the most expensive components. The article mentioned that there is no designated time for release.
“Samsung did not advise when the first smartphone using the display will be available, but it is claimed the South Korean tech giant can start mass production of the Infinity Flex Display “in a matter of months.”
It is clear from the demonstration that there are still details to be worked out. Samsung had the stage dimmed during the demonstration so that gathered reporters could not adequately see the device. They didn’t want it to be closely analyzed by the press. The Verge photographers did note that the device had large bezels, and was clearly a work in progress.
Samsung wanted to be the first to announce such a product. But they were beaten to the punch by a Chinese manufacturer. The Royole FlexPai went up for pre-order earlier this week and is set to ship later this year.
Samsung did reveal a few more details about their version of a folding tablet. In tablet mode, it will measure 7.3″ diagonally but there is no word on the size of the phone display when folded.
On the software side, Samsung has come up with a few of their own solutions. But in a separate announcement, Google has acknowledged that they are working on including foldables into the Android OS. They have been working closely with Samsung on the software.
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Shop during your commute with the MTA’s new pop-up series
The transit authority is debuting a series of month-to-month retail shops in subway stations across the city.
Thu Oct 17 2013
Photograph courtesy MTA
Remember when the Newsstand launched in Williamsburg's Lorimer St–Metropolitan Ave station back in June? Turns out the indie shop was part of an MTA pilot for a new concept of underground pop-up shops. Today, a teeny Uniqlo—to occupy a space in the 14th St–Union Sq station—opened its doors as the series's first official store.
The MTA plans to bring more of these subway pop-up shops by arranging month-to-month leases with independent businesses, online retail outfits and major brands. “Pop-up stores will provide a fresh and beneficial element to our stations while also improving the image and desirability of retail space in the subway,” said the authority's Thomas Prendergast in a press release.
What stores would you like to see during your commute? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter.
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Editor: Marley Lynch (@marleyasinbob)


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Having been a cofounder of Microsoft, Bill Gates is a total icon in the tech industry. He made his billions creating computers, computer software, and other consumer electronics. He’s also a leading philanthropist, helping people all over the world. But aside from all that, here’s how Bill Gates spends his money treating himself.
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The start-up plans to open offices across Europe and the US throughout 2019.
Fintech start-up Curve have announced it has reached the milestone of 300,000 customers in 10-months.
Curve consolidates its users’ credit and debit accounts into one card, reducing their wallet clutter. The numerous accounts can then be accessed through a single smart app where the user decides which card to make the payment with. The app also includes a patent-pending feature which enables the user to change what card to charge after already completing a transaction.
More than 100,000 customers actively use the card, spending on average £1,500 each month, according to Curve.
Curve has relied on word-of-mouth for 80 per cent of its growth. To continue its development, the London-based company plans to expand through Europe in 2019, opening offices in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain. Curve also plans to expand globally, opening offices in the US by the end of next year.
Shachar Bialick, Curve founder and CEO, said: “We're on a mission to simplify the world of money in a way that's never been done before and to ensure everyone can choose the financial services they want, when they want and have the power to change those choices whenever they want to.”
The UK's oldest and best-loved conference for fintech and alternative finance insiders returns for its sixth iteration at etc.venues. We'll showcase the best of the UK's digital banking, online lending and digital wealth sectors through a series of uniquely in-depth discussions and presentations. Open Banking will be in full flight, just over a year on from its launch, and will be a central theme at the event.


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The iconic sign for the Drake Hotel in Chicago is changing to energy efficient LEDs from its neon lights.
The hotel's 20 foot display is one of the most recognizable outside commercial lighting displays in the city. Soon, the shining landmark will recycle the old neon lights that had been in use for nearly 70 years to make way for the LEDs. LED lighting systems offer superior color rendering and offer high lumens per watt of energy. The Drake will be able to save on their energy costs and maintain their position as a historic sight on the shores of Lake Michigan.
A study by the Lighting Research Center found that LEDs could use 20 to 60 percent less power than neon lights at the same light output in signage applications. The Drake's sign used pink light to illuminate the Chicago skyline, and the LRC's research suggests a comparable drop in energy consumption based upon the color similarities.
As with any commercial lighting system, the business owners want to cut costs. In the case of the Drake Hotel, they also want to make sure that their sign remains a quintessential piece of Chicago. LEDs have the best color quality of any lighting option, so they can expect an even brighter position on Lakeshore Drive.


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One of the biggest concerns in skin care is combating the effects of aging. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone get screened at least once for HIV, but you should definitely get checked if you’ve had unprotected sex with multiple partners have sex with men, have injected drugs or just to play it safe.
Limit or completely avoid caffeine and alcohol until you have established a healthy sleep pattern. Talking to focus groups, Adewumi and Ponce also gauged the interest of beauty care workers and consumers in moving toward healthier hair salons with greener products.
To explore these philosophical theories in the new study, Pelli and Aenne Brielmann asked 62 people to indicate how much pleasure and visit their website they felt while they saw an image, tasted a candy, or touched a soft teddy bear. They administer public health departments that, among other things, operate public health clinics and provide vaccinations.
But most days, at least a few ideas will come to me out of nowhere while I’m walking. Charcoal is having a major moment in the beauty world because of its detoxifying properties. For more healthy eating tips, here’s how to snack like a nutritionist when you travel!
Bloggers are all experts in a particular area of fitness, nutrition, health and/or weight loss. Still, at least two Republican senators Sunday appeared to reaffirm their intention to vote against the procedural motion if it involved the latest version of the GOP’s repeal-and-replace bill.
It is our hope that everyone in the community will benefit from exploring these tips, recipes and exercise suggestions. All that walking around you’re bound to do when discovering a foreign land can boost your cardiovascular health. Jess has been a keynote speaker on health topics at Health Further and a panelist at Create & Cultivate and Digital Hollywood.
The Green Beauty Guide says this treatment is not suitable for pregnant women because parsley is high in estrogen and may cause an hormonal imbalance. But now beauty vloggers are mixing it with glue to make a face mask that they say gets rid of blackheads.
Between 2008 and 2013, funding for the services dropped by 5.4 per cent in real terms so that in 2012/2013, only 6 per cent of the NHS’ total mental health budget was spent on these services. FOS, naturally found in breast milk and such plants as onion, chicory, garlic, asparagus, banana, artichoke and others, is food for the probiotic bacteria.
And research supports variety in healthy food groups, showing that eating a variety of nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables is associated with numerous positive health outcomes, such as increased longevity and decreased chronic disease risks.


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From Home Furnishing Business
Young America Closure Impacts Stanley 1Q
In the first quarter last year, the company posted a net loss of $2.1 million.
The loss includes restructuring costs of $1.2 million related to the company's move to shutter its Young America line of youth furniture.
Net sales for the quarter dropped 16 percent to $21.9 million compared to first quarter sales of $26 million reported last year.
“The decision we announced on April 1, 2014 to no longer pursue our long-term goals associated with the Young America brand was painful for both us and our customers, representatives and associates who have dedicated themselves to the brand over the past several years," said Glenn Prillaman, president and CEO. "We made great strides towards building a business model that would successfully compete in a quickly changing consumer marketplace but concluded we could not ultimately achieve profitability within an acceptable amount of time."
During the second quarter, Stanley expects additional restructuring charges as it ceases production, announces termination dates for impacted employees and other impairments. The company said it will likely have an additional $500,000 to $900,000 restructuring costs in the third quarter from severance and other termination costs.
Stanley's property, plant and equipment used to produce Young America is all for sale and has an estimated value of $18 million.


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For the first time in 15 years, Seabourn is offering an Alaskan cruise, set to sail away come the summer of 2017.
Long overdue, the cruise line is launching what they are dubbing as the ‘Ultimate Alaskan Voyage’, which is docking from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The cruise will be 11 days, however a series of 11, 12, as well as 14-day voyages are launching from Anchorage (Seward), Vancouver, and Alaska will give guests the opportunity to see areas of Inland Passage. Ventures by the cruise line will also offer guests the option of Zodiac and guided kayak tours.
Richard Meadows, Seabourn President commented on the Alaskan Voyage stating that much like their guests, Seabourn has been counting down the days to this. He goes on to note that the company will be providing an experience in Alaska with zero compromises; including luxurious hospitality, mixed in with off-ship adventures. Meadows also added that the cruise line’s return to Alaska gives Seabourn the opportunity to share highlights of an amazing destination to travelers – from glaciers and mountains, to frontier towns, guided tours, and onshore experiences.
Travelweek reported that these Alaskan cruises will also encompass visits to locations rarely seen, such as Klemtu and Alert Bay, a town with a population of less than 500, which is part of the Kitasoo Native Band. Cruise-goers will also bear witness to the incredible forests within the Inland Passage, get to see humpback whales swimming in Kenai Fjords, as well as visits to more common ports like Sitka, Ketchikan, and Juneau.
The 11-day cruise will also provide four sailings to Glacier Bay National Park, which has no roads leading to it and can only be accessed via air or water. The park also possesses a designation as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the biggest internationally protected areas in the world.
Sounds like a must-do cruise for those travel enthusiasts who have already participated in traditional sails and are looking for something a little more adventurous and different!


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Nissan Crossovers and SUVs Recalled
According to Reuters, Nissan Motor Co. has issued a recall on 768,000 vehicles for various problems. Models recalled include the Rogue crossover and Pathfinder SUV.
About the Nissan Motor Co. Recalls
Rogue vehicles have been recalled due to moisture seeping through the driver side floor. This can cause and electrical short and potential fire. About 552,135 of these cars have been recalled. An estimated 468,815 are registered in the United States.
The Pathfinder SUVs and Infiniti JX35 have been recalled for hood latches. About 170, 664 of these vehicles are registered in the U.S. The problems are more prevalent in rental vehicles when drivers unintentionally dislodged the secondary hoof latch. No reports of injuries; however, vehicles have been damaged due to the defect.
52,312 Rouge crossovers, 15,972 Pathfinder and JX35 SUVs will be recalled in Canada. Nissan also reported that the Rogue would be recalled in three countries and the SUVs in 30 additional countries.
Model Years Affected by the Recall
Nissan’s recall covers the following model year vehicles:
- 2008-2013 Nissan Rogues Crossovers
- 2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinder SUVs
- 2013 Infiniti JX35


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The Boppy Company has recalled over three million newborn loungers after the product was linked to eight infant suffocation deaths.
The infant deaths occurred between December 2015 and June 2020, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday.
The newborns reportedly suffocated "after being placed on their back, side or stomach on the lounger and were found on their side or on their stomach."
Around 3.3 million Boppy loungers were recalled across the United States, along with another 35,000 in Canada. The exact products in question are the Boppy Original Newborn Loungers, Boppy Preferred Newborn Loungers and Pottery Barn Kids Boppy Newborn Loungers.
"We are devastated to hear of these tragedies," a spokesperson for Boppy said in a statement on Thursday. "Boppy is committed to doing everything possible to safeguard babies, including communicating the safe use of our products to parents and caregivers, and educating the public about the importance of following all warnings and instructions and the risks associated with unsafe sleep practices for infants."
The spokesperson added that the product was "not marketed as an infant sleep product and includes warnings against unsupervised use."
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Anyone with these products is encouraged to stop using the recalled loungers and contact the company for a refund.
Along with the recall, the CPSC issued a warning about safe sleep for infants.
"CPSC continues to emphasize that the best place for a baby to sleep is on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet, or play yard," the agency wrote. "Parents and caregivers should never add blankets, pillows, padded crib bumpers, or other items to an infant's sleeping environment. Babies should always be placed to sleep on their backs."


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Boat industry seeks buoyancyPUBLISHED: 16 Apr 2012 00:01:48 | UPDATED: 16 Apr 2012 05:42:19PUBLISHED: 16 Apr 2012 PRINT EDITION: 16 Apr 2012
Boating manufacturers have compared themselves with the car industry and say they are feeling the pressure of the high Australian dollar, but have seen no assistance from the state or federal governments.
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Kids Making Money Online CLARKS is giving parents a guarantee that their kids’ shoes will fit until next year. The shoe shop has said that if you go. To help your children become financially savvy, teach them to save early, spend within their means, and the difference between good and bad debt, Bitcoin Price Equivalence Relation Bitcoin has crossed
New York Coin is open-source code that was published at Github by an unknown developer(s) back when New York regulators were targeting the Bitcoin community and aggressively prosecuting Charlie Shrem,
BitWhisk is a new Bitcoin mixing service designed to defend your privacy.
Would you be interested in seeing BitWhisk source code?
Chaincode Labs researcher Clara Shikhelman has been studying mathematics in university since she was 14 years old. Now, as.
Since its inception, the use of open source code in modern software has become nearly ubiquitous. It makes perfect sense.
14 Feb 2020.
From the report: Helix functioned as a Bitcoin mixer (Bitcoin tumbler), a type.
The "thousands of transactions" aren't meant to obfuscate the source of each.
violate: Title 18. united States code, Section 1956(a)(l)(A)(i),
Foundation Devices aims to provide sovereignty and privacy protection with a hardware technology stack, led by its new bitcoin wallet.
Energy markets, such as Oil, have recently seen growing demand by crypto traders who are seeking new trading opportunities.
31 Jan 2020.
The only things that need to be trusted are the source code (which can.
For Bitcoin mixers, you have to trust that they can keep their data safe.
Cryptocurrency tumbler or cryptocurrency mixing service is a service offered to.
funds with others, so as to obscure the trail back to the fund's original source.
14 Jul 2020.
Bitcoin mixer BestMixer delivers anonymity levels not available.
They can also be sure that they are obtaining their coins from a reliable source.
the Alpha pool and decreases it to 0.5% when a cumulative code is used.
The recent downtime also resulted in a considerable decline in the number of Bitcoin (BTC) transactions that could.
Bitcoin Price Equivalence Relation Bitcoin has crossed $10,000 the first time since June as tensions between US and China increase. China and US ordered tit-for-tat. Que Es Bitcoin Y Como Funciona Pdf PDF | Bitcoin es un sistema de dinero digital descentralizado que está amenazando el uso del dinero. que: como medio de cambio, funciona como una. Qué es
7 Dec 2018.
of the mixer (about additional 2.4K source lines of code (SLoC) to the trusted computing base; see Section 5.2) is open-sourced and available.


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…as lawmakers link protests to Nigeria’s border closure
Leke Baiyewu, Abuja
The House of Representatives has condemned the attacks on Nigerian traders in Ghana, saying it is a transfer of aggression by Ghanaians over the closure of Nigeria’s land borders.
The House, at the plenary on Wednesday, urged the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate the attacks.
The House also mandated the Committees on Diaspora Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Treaties, Protocols and Agreements to “consider and investigate the recent developments among traders in Ghana and ensure that another xenophobia attack on Nigerians is prevented.”
The move followed the unanimous adoption of a motion sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, titled ‘Recent attacks on Nigerian Traders in Circle Market, Ghana.’
READ ALSO: Reps raise 2020 budget to N10.6tn
Moving the motion, Akande-Sadipe recalled that on Sunday, over 600 shops belonging to foreign traders, particularly Nigerians, at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Ghana, were locked up by members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association.
The lawmaker said, “The House is also informed that this is not the first time the quest to rid the Ghanaian market of foreign traders, who are engaging in retail businesses, has occurred. There was a case last month where Ghanaian traders at Opera Square in Accra locked up shops belonging to foreign nationals involved in retail business. Most of the shops were believed to belong to Nigerians.
“There was also a case in August last year when the Inter-Governmental Task Force constituted by the Government of Ghana, in its bid to regulate retail trade, arrested and detained 37 Nigerian traders and locked up about 10 shops in Tip Toe Lane at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Ghana, due to the failure of the traders to regularise their business concerns as prescribed by the local law and the inability to provide necessary documents such as passports, resident/work permit, among others.
“The House is concerned that the recent attack on Nigerian traders would become another xenophobia attack with loss of lives, as GUTA have decided to take laws into their hands because, according to them, the government had failed to enforce the GIPC Law 865 Articles 27 and 28, which bars foreigners from doing retail business in Ghana.”
Akande-Sadipe also recalled that in 2018, the enforcement of the quit notice initiative commenced and it was properly communicated by the Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor-Botchwey, that the law would not affect Nigerians or other ECOWAS citizens.
The lawmaker further recalled that the National Association of Nigerian Traders warned the minister, that the law could spark xenophobic attacks from ignorant persons.
She said, “On December 2, 2019, the Ghanaian police, in the bid to control the mayhem, were pelted with stones by some of the traders, this act resulted to a repel attack by firing shots to control the crowd. Some arrests were made and detainees are currently undergoing further investigations at the police headquarters.
“According to the President of Nigeria Union of Traders in Ghana, Mr Chukwuemeka Levi Nnaji, Nigerian traders were physically attacked on December 2, 2019. The claim is that GUTA used the Ghanaian police force to lock the shops on the night of December 1, 2019, and when the Nigerian traders realised on the morning of December 2, 2019, that their shops were locked and decided to break the padlocks, the Ghanaian traders were agitated and started attacking Nigerians with all manner of weapons, including woods and iron.”
Akande-Sadipe further said, “The House is concerned that these attacks on Nigerians could be as a result of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration in August on the closure of all land borders in order to prevent any import or export of products via road as a way of combatting illegal goods in our market.
“According to other Economic Community of West African States members, the move goes against favourable trade provisions set out by ECOWAS, which promotes the movement and trade across the region’s borders. Traders in Ghana want the Ghanaian government to hit back at Nigeria with financial measures and basic law enforcement.
“The House notes that the recent attacks have resulted in three or four persons being injured and six persons arrested. The Ghanaian officials and police force have called on all traders to call off the forced closures and blockades in the streets, believing that any clampdown could cause more havoc and strain the relationship with Nigeria.”
Several lawmakers who seconded the motion warned against another xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in Ghana as being experienced in South Africa.


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To celebrate the launch of The Start Up List in the Sunday Times, business editor Dominic O’Connell sat down with the government’s small business minister Anna Soubry to discuss the most challenging issues facing small businesses in the UK. Our very own Phil Mottram Enterprise Director of Vodafone UK opened the event and talked through the opportunity that digital and technology now presents to small businesses. The audience packed full of start-ups and entrepreneurs also got a chance to ask the minister about the policies that are directly affecting their businesses.
Some of the top concerns amongst the small business crowd were about the lack of access to talent and developing workplace skills. One member of the audience asked the minister ‘what start-ups can do to attract and engage with students before they start working?’ This is because smaller businesses seem to lose this pool of fresh talent to bigger more established corporates with well-structured and advertised graduate schemes. Strategies to address this were discussed such as small business focused recruitment fairs and giving small businesses a voice into local school and college networks enabling them to tap into fresh pools of talent.
Funding was a big theme with the audience voicing that although big banks claim to be there to support them, advice and assistance from a bank manager isn’t always available and there is a huge need for this kind of service. The Minister talked through the growth in alternative finance options for small businesses and there was much discussion around the need to better educate small businesses of the alternative means to seek funding for their business.
Small Businesses in attendance also expressed a need for tailored support from the Government with things like Growth Hubs. They are desperately in need for advice and guidance to help them grow their local businesses.
Set ups like UKTI, working with businesses based in the United Kingdom to assist their success in international markets, are a classic example of what’s needed, but they need to make businesses more aware of their presence.
Obviously, the Governments support of small businesses is crucially important for sustained growth in the UK, but there are several challenges ahead. Their concentrated support is a necessity to help them grow, and will in turn affect the growth of the nation’s economy. Something we believe Anna Soubry is well aware of, and sees as her major challenge as a minister.
Watch highlights from the day here:
Along with some of the conversation from twitter:
— Workspace (@WorkspaceGroup) November 17, 2015
— Cat Stokes (@CatStokes) November 17, 2015
What impact is cost of housing having on small business attracting talent? #ReadyBusinessBritain
— Roisin Miller (@roisinmiller) November 17, 2015
Is Crowdfunding etc a financial scandal waiting to happen? Soubry: "I don't think so, the regulation is about right." #ReadyBusinessBritain
— Method (@MethodAtNews) November 17, 2015
— Kelly Smith (@KellyJS) November 17, 2015
.@Anna_Soubry: Small business commissioner will be able to name and shame on late payment and that will be in the Enterprise Bill
— FSB (@fsb_policy) November 17, 2015
Minister Anna Soubry chats to @dominicoc: "I wish we could return to the days when businesses had a great relationship with their bank."
— SundayTimes Business (@ST_Business) November 17, 2015
— Michael Mercieca (@M_Mercieca) November 17, 2015
— Simon Devonshire (@simondevonshire) November 17, 2015
— Your Ready Business (@ReadyBusiness) November 17, 2015


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All your questions on Facebook Libra Coin answered in this 1600 page guide!
Whether you are a crypto follower or not, you must have come across the term ‘Facebook Libra’ in the past few months. Well, to say that it is a controversial topic would be an understatement.
There have been wild discussions on the pros and cons of Facebook Libra. If you want a peek at these debates, head over to Reddit and you will see the range of different opinions.
The article isn’t another debate on Libra. We are going to help you understand the purpose of this cryptocurrency, its members or association, working protocol, and implementation.
Facebook Libra Coin
The first blockchain initiative by Facebook started in 2017. In mid-2018, David Marcus, heading facebook messenger, moved to lead this initiative. Following this, soon the rumors of Facebook launching a cryptocurrency started making rounds.
Initially, the cryptocurrency was known as ‘Global Coin’ or ‘Facebook Coin’.
Finally, on June 18, 2019, Facebook officially announced Libra- a cryptocurrency based on blockchain technology.
Facebook has already released white paper of Libra and if everything goes well, the public launch of the cryptocurrency is set in 2020.
According to its white paper:
” Libra’s mission is to enable a simple global currency and financial infrastructure that empowers billions of people.“
The rising global remittance industry and billions of unbanked people are mentioned as the two main reasons (in its whitepaper) for introducing a cryptocurrency.
While the number of people having smartphones and internet access is rapidly increasing per year, there are still 1.7 billion people who do not have access to a bank account.
Furthermore, the global remittance industry, which is now worth billions of dollars annually, is also growing at a much faster pace. Even today, it costs anywhere between 3-9% to send money from one part of the globe to another.
Libra Coin is meant to address two of these main issues. One by connecting the unbanked into a formal financial inclusion system. Another, by offering accessible financial transfers with zero or negligible transfer fees, across any part of the world.
As it states in its white paper “deliver a giant leap forward toward a lower-cost, more accessible, more connected global financial system.”
What is Facebook Libra Coin
Simply put, libra coin is a cryptocurrency which will allow people to buy things and send money with zero transfer fees. It is built on a blockchain platform.
Just as a dollar sign is denoted by $, a libra coin is going to be denoted by three wavy vertical lines.
So, basically you cash in your dollars to get Libra, spend it (just like dollars)- just much faster, in clicks and without any big transaction fees. But, there is so much to that story. Keep on reading!
According to its white paper, the Libra blockchain is going to be based on the following 3 requirements
- Able to scale to billions of accounts, which requires high transaction throughput, low latency, and an efficient, high-capacity storage system.
- Highly secure, to ensure the safety of funds and financial data.
- Flexible, so it can power the Libra ecosystem’s governance as well as future innovation in financial services.
Libra Coin Partners
Even though everyone keeps referring it as facebook libra coin, it is not just Zuckerburg’s game (at least on the surface). The association of Libra Coin presently consists of major hotshot organizations.
Libra coin partners scale from payments field (Mastercard, Paypal, Visa, etc) to Technology (Uber, Spotify, Lyft, Facebook, etc) and even some from emerging blockchain space (Coinbase, Xapo Holdings Limited, etc).
Suffice to say, it is already backed by powerful corporations around the World.
Facebook wants to expand the current 28 member partner to 100 members before its official launch in 2020. Of course, the particular ‘club’ isn’t meant for everyone. In order to become a member of Libra association, companies must pass certain conditions. Some of these contingencies include businesses must hit two of three thresholds of a $1 billion USD market value or $500 million in customer balances, has to be recognized as top 100 industry leader and so on and so forth. You get the point.
Additionally, according to its whitepaper, the Libra blockchain will act as a separate entity altogether. Facebook or any of the other founding associations of Libra Blockchain does not have any direct connection to Libra.
But, the waters are rarely as clear as they appear to be!
Facebook does intend to launch ‘Calibra’- a digital wallet which stores Libra cryptocurrency. It intends to provide its facebook users a means to send, receive and store Libra through this digital wallet. Alongside, the launch of Libra Facebook will also launch Calibra- which is going to be available on Facebook messenger, Whatsapp as well as a standalone app. The executives of Facebook have stated that Calibra will not share account holder’s purchase information without authentication (but again it is Facebook, right!). A search function can enable the account holders transaction history with Facebook account.
Libra Coin Price
One of the greatest flaws of bitcoin is its volatility. The price fluctuations in bitcoin make it impossible to use it for daily transactions.
Libra coin intends to up the game of cryptocurrency and take it mainstream such that people can use it as easily as dollars. So, the price of a libra coin is largely meant to be stable. Currently, the coin is not set to any value as such. However, it mentions that the value of the coin is tied to a basket of currencies (like dollars, euro, and pounds) and short-term government securities. The value of this basket determines the price of Libra.
How does Facebook Cryptocurrency Libra Work
One of the crucial factor which helped bitcoin garner so much attention is the fact that it is built on a completely decentralized blockchain platform. No central entity, banks or government have a say in how bitcoin operates. Each transaction is monitored and validated by millions of nodes scattered across the planet.
Though the libra coin is built on a blockchain platform it is not as decentralized as it wants to make us believe. If in our present financial system banks and governments act as central entity responsible for validating transactions, in case of Libra it is going to be the members of Libra blockchain.
Each member and this includes Facebook, gets one vote in the Libra Association. Each member has equal obligations and power in the association. All the members are at equal peers to each other and hence have the same influence onto the blockchain.
Each payment on the blockchain is operated and vetted by the members of the association. Thus, it is known as a ‘permissioned blockchain’. The consensus or the validity of any transaction is reached after two-thirds of the nodes (or members) give an approval. But, unlike bitcoin, only the members of Libra Association are allowed to validate any transaction. Thus, at least for now, the members of Libra act as a centralized organization or entity. This point has been a subject of many debates in the past few months. ‘Just how decentralized is the Libra blockchain’?
The Libra Whitepaper states that in its coming years it will try to change the ‘permissioned blockchain’ into ‘permissionless blockchain’.
Each payment or transaction carried out will be stored and written on Libra blockchain. Alike bitcoin, the public ledger database is protected by cryptography.
One of the reasons for a permissioned blockchain cited in its whitepaper is that it is designed to handle more transactions. Since libra is permissioned, it can handle up to 1000 transactions per second. Bitcoin (a permissionless blockchain) handles up to 7 transactions per second.
The blockchain uses a new programming language known as ‘Move’. It is meant to provide enhanced security and safety. So, in future, all the Smart contracts built atop Libra Blockchain will use this particular coding language.
The transactions or data written on Libra cannot be reversed. It is permanently embedded on the public ledger. There is a minimal fee while carrying out transactions on Libra. It is meant to help deter bad actors from spamming the blockchain.
Well, after its recent launch, not everyone seems to be too keen about Libra cryptocurrency. Governments and countries around the world have expressed concerns. Chairperson of United States Financial Committee has even asked Facebook to halt the development and launch of Libra.
The French government has cited that such a cryptocurrency promoted terrorism finance and money laundering. Recent reports also suggest that members of the Libra Association are already backing out due to increasing pressure from regulators around the World.
The one thing for sure is that it is a powerful step towards blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Some of the most powerful corporations around the world are backing the project. It also means that cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have started gaining quick attention.
Will Facebook help other cryptocurrencies become mainstream too? Or is Libra just a facade and will give rise of a corporate conglomerate? Will Libra ever get a chance to kick off amidst the regulations? Will Libra ever become a decentralized permissionless blockchain?
There are far too many questions surrounding the project. Only time can give answers to!


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BoA Merrill Poll Ranks Payment Priorities in Asia Pacific
Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA Merrill) said that the latest in a series of webcasts the bank is hosting this year on global payment trends tackled the most pressing questions companies have on doing business in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
In a poll conducted during the Asia Pacific webcast, participants were asked to identify which key business objectives this year will impact their payments activity in the region. The results, from 76 of the bank’s APAC clients were as follows:
“While there’s continued debate about improving speed in the US payments system, from our clients’ point of view, it’s not speed but rather the transition to electronic payments and improving remittance information that will alleviate the biggest pain points,” said Ather Williams, head of global payments in the bank’s global transaction services (GTS) group.
Percy Batliwalla, global head of GTS sales, added: “Asia can be viewed as a complex region to make payments, given how each country has its own distinct regulatory framework and clearing systems. Furthermore, with the consolidation of clearing systems and the evolution of paper to electronic, it is essential that banks operating in the region have direct memberships with the various clearing platforms to effect seamless payments across multiple markets.”
BofA Merrill said that a webcast on Europe is scheduled for next quarter and will include a discussion on the single euro payments area (SEPA) and other payment developments.