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Robos Eye Big Prize: $500B Advisor Market
Beware the siren's call: the alluring market for advisors needing a robo solution is still largely untapped and potentially lucrative, but navigating a path to market share remains fraught with peril.
"The land grab for a piece of the advisor market is going on now, but the competition is intense and the path to success is narrow," says Alois Pirker, research director for Boston-based Aite Group.
To be sure, the prize is a glittering one: the market for robo platforms used by advisors could reach close to $500 billion by 2020, according to a report by Cerulli Associates. And the prospects are plentiful: only 5% of advisors have made the decision to launch a digital advisor service, according to an Aite survey taken last fall.
Not surprisingly, this kind of upside potential has attracted a swarm of attention, ranging from corporate financial service giants to mid-size industry stalwarts as well as plucky start-ups.
Invesco, the Atlanta-based investment manager with around $775 billion in assets, is the newest entry in the crowded field, having acquired eight-year old robo advisor Jemstep for an undisclosed sum in January.
Going forward, Jemstep and its new corporate parent face difficult challenges — and potential rewards — that epitomize the gauntlet robos competing for the advisor market are confronting.
For starters, there's the formidable size and quality of the competition.
BlackRock, the largest U.S. asset manager with approximately $4.5 trillion, acquired robo firm FutureAdvisor last year, and has already nailed down digital deals with RBC Wealth Management and BBVA Compass, one of the country's largest banks.
Charles Schwab, the industry's largest custodian, began offering Schwab Institutional Intelligent Portfolio to advisors last year. While the company doesn't break out institutional numbers, it already has over $5 billion on its combined advisor-based and retail robo platforms.
Not coincidentally, Morgan Stanley just lured away Naureen Hassan, one of the chief engineers of Schwab's robo efforts. Morningstar also has a digital offering and Merrill Lynch and LPL Financial are both expected to unveil digital platforms for their advisors this year.
Mid-tier players competing in the B-to-B market include Envestnet, which acquired robo pioneer Upside last year and Financial Engines, which gave itself a bricks-and-mortar presence in 2015 with its purchase of The Mutual Fund Store.
Smaller stand-alones and start-ups offering digital platforms to advisors include SigFig, Trizic, Invessence, and Advisor Software.
And of course there's Betterment, one of the largest and most generously funded robo advisors, which has over $3 billion on its retail robo platform and over 200 advisors already signed on to its institutional digital offering.
BUILDING A BETTER MOUSETRAP
"There's a lot of competition, but Invesco's resources puts Jemstep in a good position to compete with BlackRock," says Sean McDermott, an analyst with Corporate Insight's Consulting Services. "Also, by being one of the early leaders in the robo advisor space, they've had time to work out the kinks on their platform and prove they know what they're doing with actual live customers."
Nonetheless, Jemstep must prove to advisors that they've not only been able to "build a better mousetrap," but also champion open architecture, says Pirker.
"Buying Jemstep makes sense for an asset manager like Invesco to compete with BlackRock and Schwab, but advisors live and breathe integration and they're going to want to make sure those companies aren't just one product shops," he explains.
Jemstep Advisor Pro will remain an open platform, says the firm's president Simon Roy. "Open architecture is one of our core tenets."
Drawing comparisons to Schwab and Betterment, which also have retail platforms, Roy says Jemstep is "committed to the advisor model… which gives us a differentiated position in the marketplace."
Jemstep has also been able to work with a variety of advisors with a range of clients — "not just the mass affluent," Roy points out — on TD Ameritrade's VEO Open Access platform, which was on display last week at the custodian's annual conference in Orlando.
ADVISORS WANT TRANSPARENCY
Transparency is also "a major driving force" for advisors, who don't want to see Invesco products favored on the Jemstep platform, McDermott says.
Asked how he would reassure financial advisors that Invesco wasn't getting special treatment, Roy said it wouldn't be in the company's interest.
"Invesco is dedicated to servicing advisors, and technology is a critical component to help them meet their needs," Roy says. "By providing a suite of services including investments, consulting and a field sales force, Invesco will strengthen their relationship with advisors."
Jemstep and other robos vying for advisors business will also have to compete on cost, guarantee that client data is protected and go beyond investments to offer software for client acquisition, digital account openings and client relationship management, according to McDermott.
Customizing a client's front-end digital experience for advisors will also be critical, Pirker adds.
"A robo offering a one-size-fits-all for an advisor's white label solution will have a hard time," Pirker says. "If they want to work with big firms they will need to be nimble."
BUILDING THE BRAND
Brand recognition is also an important consideration for advisors, argues Tom Kimberly, general manager for Betterment Institutional.
Indeed, Kimberly, the co-founder and CEO of Upside who joined Betterment late last year after his company was sold to Envestnet, says he is currently overseeing a strategic branding review at Betterment Institutional.
Thought leadership, event marketing, public relations, online marketing and social media will be included in the company's branding strategy, he says. Betterment will pitch itself as a "fully integrated digital solution" Kimberly says, while reminding advisors that it is also a custodian.
The B-to-B market for robos has tightened up, Kimberly argues, with increasingly less room for companies seeking a "second mover advantage."
Roy, not surprisingly, disagrees.
The South African-born executive sees "a long road ahead" for digital firms seeking to stake out market share.
"Are there a significant number of digital solutions available for advisors? Yes," Roy says. "Are there digital advice platforms that can serve the needs of large organizations? Very few."


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In May of this year, the Scottish government will introduce a minimum price per alcoholic unit. This will focus on the cheapest and strongest alcohol in shops and shouldn’t impact prices in pubs or clubs. The legislation aims to reduce binge drinking and alcohol-related deaths.
A 50p minimum price per unit will be enforced. This will raise prices of 4 cans of lager to at least £4. Currently, 4 cans of lager can be bought from ASDA for as little as 90p. More expensive drinks will not be affected as they already meet the 50p per unit minimum.
Scotland is known for our drinking culture. Alcohol is heavily embedded in our history and lifestyle, however, some argue that it this is causing more harm than good. The legislation was passed five years ago but could not go ahead because of challenges from Scottish drinking organisations. In 2016 there were 1265 alcohol-related deaths in Scotland, suggesting that we need to look at how we drink as a society. It’s difficult to compare statistics with other countries and predict how the change will impact us, as Scotland will be the first country to introduce a minimum price for alcohol.
The legislation has been criticised for targeting the poor. Because only the price of the cheapest alcohol will be changed, it will mostly affect those buying that type of drink: the working class and young people. Middle and upper-class drinkers will not be impacted and will still be able to drink what they want and how much they want. Some argue that alcoholics and binge drinkers won't drink less because of this. Instead, they will just spend more, risking the increase of poverty and debt. Some have also pointed out that this may increase theft of alcohol and a rise in an illicit trade.
Forcing poor people to spend more on alcohol seems unfair. It is unjust to suggest that the working class cannot enjoy alcohol responsibly and ignores the issue of alcoholism in all classes and backgrounds.
The minimum alcohol pricing will begin on May 1.

domain: news


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The Changing Face of Canada's Home Improvement Retailers
by Jim Adair
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Could big box home improvement stores be on their way out?
Canada's largest home improvement retailer, Rona Inc., recently announced plans to turn 13 big-box stores into new, smaller "proximity" stores that will decrease the sales area by 30 to 50 per cent.
Competitor The Home Depot has not opened any new big-box stores for a couple of years, leaving only Lowe's in big-box expansion mode. With 31 stores in Canada, Lowe's is sticking with its plan to eventually open 100 Canadian stores.
Rona CEO Robert Dutton recently said that big-box stores are "not the right concept" for the future in the Canadian market. "For a number of years, Rona has foreseen the emergence in the market of proximity stores that meet the demands of consumers who want a higher level of service," the company says. "Rona pioneered in this area by reinventing the proximity store in the early 2000s, and these stores have been a great success."
Luc Rodier, executive vice-president of Rona, says the stores, with an average area of 35,000 square feet, "will give consumers a completely new shopping experience." He says the stores "emphasize service, with more experienced staff and a central service counter that forms the heart of the store and is visible as soon as you enter, along with a more user-friendly layout, a regionally based offering and an optimal choice of products in key categories."
Rona has more than 800 corporate, franchise and affiliate stores of various sizes and formats, ranging from big boxes to small storefront hardware stores. During the last 20 years, Rona purchased many well-known smaller home improvement retailers across the country, including Cashway, Lansing, Revy and Totem. It also serves the professional plumbing and HVAC market, with a network of almost 60 sales outlets and four distribution centres.
Recently the company has been losing money in the competitive home improvement market, prompting it to unveil its New Realities, New Solutions business plan.
The plan includes rolling out a new website "to orient different types of consumers in their maintenance and renovation projects and support all of our retail operations."
The proximity store concept will be used for about 20 per cent of the network, with sales volume from 10 big-box stores being redeployed to 15 new proximity stores and 10 new satellite stores. The big-box locations will then close.
In the 13 stores that are being transformed into proximity stores, the extra space will be rented out. The company also plans to convert 20 Totem stores in Alberta to the new proximity store standards.
"The primary objective of the plan is to bring us closer to consumers, which means being either just a click away, or no more than 10 minutes distance from a Rona store that perfectly meets their needs," says Dutton.
After the announcement of the new plan, rumours began to surface that Rona was for sale, and that Lowe's was the most likely purchaser. Rona issued a statement that it "is not for sale, and that it is not presently of the view that a combination with another corporation would be in the best interests of Rona and its stakeholders…"
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says that more than $22.8 billion was spent on home renovations in 2010 across 10 major centres in its survey. It says that 42 per cent of homeowner households did some sort of renovation work, spending an average of just under $13,000. Remodelling of rooms, painting or wallpapering and hard-surface flooring and carpeting were the most popular renovations.
A recent survey conducted for RBC says that 83 per cent of Canadians would rather renovate their homes than find a new place to live. The survey found that bathrooms and kitchens were the rooms that most people are planning to renovate, and just under half of those surveyed plan to do the work themselves. Most plan to spend less than $10,000.
Dutton says that he believes other retailers will soon be following Rona's example and moving toward smaller stores. Canadian Tire, which opened some big-box stores a few years ago, is now focusing on smaller stores, says the industry trade publication Hardlines Home Improvement Quarterly. In the U.S., even Walmart is opening smaller "express" stores, it says.
All Rights Reserved


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Southern N.H. retailers 'turn critical corner,' report says
CONCORD — More of southern New Hampshire's mid-range retail spaces are finding tenants, but so far that lowered vacancy rate hasn't trickled down to the region's smallest empty stores.
That's according to a new retail report, released by Keypoint Retail Partners LLC, a Burlington, Mass.-based commercial real estate firm, which found that total vacant retail space declined by 15 percent in southern New Hampshire from last May to this May.
Southern New Hampshire 'turned a critical corner' during the period, with a total retail vacancy rate dropping from 11.4 percent to 9.5 percent, according to the annual report, which analyzed changes in retail activity in 39 cities and towns in the southern part of the state between May 2010 and 2011.
This came on the heels of two 'punishing' years in which total vacancy in the region had swelled by 57 percent, it said.
'Southern New Hampshire had been adversely impacted by a slew of big-box vacancies during the past two years,' the report reads, 'but has rebounded due to general improvement in the economy and positive sales trends from scores of retailers.' Over the study period, total retail supply increased by 366,000 square feet -- or 1.3 percent -- to 28.9 million square feet, which it largely attributed to the construction of Lowe's and a Market Basket in Salem.
Unoccupied space concurrently declined by 498,000 square feet, meaning the region experienced a net absorption of 864,000 square feet -- its first positive absorption rate since 2007, according to the report.
The only retail segment that did not lower its vacancy rate during this period were stores of less than 5,000 square feet. These smaller retailers -- particularly independent mom and pops -- continued to struggle, seeing an increase in vacancy of 46,300 square feet, or 3.8 percent.
But aside from the smallest of retailers, all other segments saw an improvement in vacancy rates.
The greatest improvement came for stores in the 100,000 to 199,999 square-foot range, which went from 5.2 percent vacancy to full occupancy, thanks to the new Dick's Sporting Goods at the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua and the forthcoming Lord & Taylor at The Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem.
Of mid-range stores, improvement varied: the 10,000 to 24,999 square-foot bracket fell from 13.6 percent to 10.7 percent; the 25,000 to 49,999 square-foot bracket dipped from 13 percent to 9.9 percent; and the 50,000-99,999 square foot bracket from 8.2 percent to 7.4 percent.
Of all the towns included in the report, Merrimack had the highest vacancy rate, 18.3 percent, largely attributed to the Shaw's Plaza on the Daniel Webster Highway, which comprises 44 percent of the town's vacancy. Plaistow had the second-highest vacancy at 15 percent and Manchester was third with 13.1 percent.
Towns with the lowest vacancy rates were Bedford, at 3.1 percent, Londonderry, at 5.1 percent, and Amherst, at 5.3 percent.
With its acquisitions of Ocean Bank and River Bank, People's United Bank led the way in new store count with 14, while Great Clips trailed behind with the addition of three new stores. Meanwhile, Blockbuster Video closed four stores and Curves for Women and Quizno's Subs closed three stores each.
Even though the region showed a 'vast improvement' during the past year, the report warns that the trend is not guaranteed to continue into the future.
'The economy has exhibited a recent stall, spreading an uncertain cloud over the retail outlook for the balance of the year,' according to the report.
To view a copy of the report, visit keypoint.partners.com


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Is March madness about to repeat itself?
As we spring into March and new plates hit the road, it’s hard to resist the latest offers available from our favourite car manufacturers.
At the time, March 2015 was the best month this century for car sales with nearly half a million cars registered – a rise of 6% from the year previous, according to the SMMT.
But while car buyers can get excited about new plates and new models how can the more astute automotive lovers who know that there is far more value to be found in a used car, make sure that an older model is a sound purchase? If you’re someone who’s not prepared to pay for a brand new car but still like the idea of a nearly new vehicle, think about models that are about to be replaced. For example, 2016 will see Volvo launch the S90 as a replacement for the S80. Dealerships up and down the country will be keen to offer great deals on models that will see a newer version turn up in the not too distant future.
Plate changes happen in both March and September. Again, car dealers are keen to shift stock at these times to make way for new plates so deals can be had. The AA tell us that if you do 10,000 miles a year, the average new car will have lost around 60% of its value by the end of its third year. If you’re looking to update your car to a newer model but still looking at a vehicle that’s a few years old, it’s key to get some reassurance that the car you have your eye on is a sound purchase.
Here at Zuto, we provide free vehicle valuations and history checks on any vehicle you’re considering purchasing. We’ll also send you a list of test drive tips before you take something for a trial spin.


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Microsoft unearths long-lost Atari ET landfill
Microsoft has managed to locate and unearth the long-lost landfill where Atari disposed of the many unsold ET cartridges they were lumbered with back in the eighties.
The ET video game on the Atari 2600 has long-since slipped into gaming legend as one of the worst games of all time and part of the reason for the death of the company as a platform-holder in the games crash that happened in the 1980s.
As part of a new documentary, entitled Atari: Game Over, due to come to Xbox Live later this year Fuel Entertainment, the production company behind the documentary, managed to locate the fabled landfill and began excavating it this weekend.
Interestingly enough, it's not just ET that was found in the landfill. The excavation team also found copies of Centipede, Space Invaders and Asteroids.
- Watch Bungie play Destiny's new Prison Of Elders mode live here tomorrow
- Fan remake of Half-Life, Black Mesa arrives on Steam Early Access
- Microsoft's acquisition of Minecraft devs Mojang was motivated by Hololens
- id Software wanted to pay modders for their work back in 1995 says John Romero
- Jason Voorhees arrives as DLC for Mortal Kombat X and he's all about the machete
- Project CARS finally pulls up to the starting grid
- Shadow Of Mordor: Game Of The Year Edition hits retail this week
- Wolfenstein: The Old Blood arrives today
- Bungie and CCP run their own campaigns to aid the earthquake survivors of Nepal


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OSF Digital Acquires Kolekto
OSF Digital, a provider of digital transformation services, has acquired Kolekto, a Brazil-based digital B2B commerce and CRM company with expertise in Salesforce Customer 360 and multicloud project implementations for clients in the automotive, energy, and manufacturing industries. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"I am proud to continue to develop our capabilities in Latin America and beyond with the addition of the Kolekto team," said Gerard Szatvanyi, CEO of OSF Digital, in a statement. "The acquisition of Kolekto will bring us a team of highly experienced and talented CRM professionals to drive innovative Salesforce multicloud solutions to better serve our customers in industries such as automotive, manufacturing, energy, transportation, and financial services."
"We are excited to execute Kolekto's internationalization strategy with a company with the same values and mission as OSF Digital and look forward to joining the dynamic global team at OSF Digital," said Carlos Vicente, founder, co-CEO, and director of business and marketing at Kolekto, in a statement.
"Joining a leading digital transformation company will maximize the reach of our innovative products and services while continuing to serve our valued customers in Latin America," said Hugo Medrado co-CEO and technology and services director of Kolekto, in a statement.
In the past 11 months, OSF Digital acquired Adept Group, Relation1, Werise, Paladin Group, FitForCommerce, Datarati, and netnomics.


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It's likely to go by without any public acclaim but April 20 will represent the one-year anniversary of the first meeting of Lexington's Itinerant Merchant Task Force.
In that year this group of dedicated people, led by Councilwoman Peggy Henson, has made significant progress on reaching agreement about how the city should deal with merchants who set up shop on public property to sell non-food goods (t-shirts, for example, these days) throughout the community.
The work has bogged down, though, over the topic of food trucks or carts, particularly in Lexington's downtown. Despite months of trying to develop a pilot program, there's a real likelihood that another warm weather season could go by without a chance to buy something other than a hot dog or nacho cheese on the streets of downtown Lexington.
That would be a shame.
There are a host of health regulations that present hurdles but that's not the problem. The true conflict is over how mobile food vendors would affect established brick-and-mortar restaurants already operating downtown. Many restaurant owners, who have invested enormous time, effort and capital into their establishments, are understandably wary about inviting food merchants with much lower overhead into the area as competitors.
That's a legitimate reason to think carefully about how, where and when mobile food merchants would operate — as the task force has — but it's not a compelling argument to keep them out of downtown altogether. More important to Lexington, to downtown and ultimately to the business people who have invested there is creating a lively, inviting street scene that will attract people throughout the day and the week. It's in the interest of everyone to find a compromise that can bring street food to Lexington this summer.
This has worked in "foodie" cities like Seattle (where the information about food carts, interestingly, is found on the city's economic development page) and Austin, and it can work here.
There's also a basic question about whether it would even be possible to stop food trucks or carts. Right now, any that pass muster with the health department can get a license to do business and set up on private property. In El Paso the city repealed restrictions on where and how mobile food vendors could operate after they were challenged in federal court.
Back in Lexington, the task force is considering a pilot program that would allow food carts and trucks after 10 p.m. to cater to the bar crowd after restaurants have closed their kitchens. We'd take that a step further and suggest some regular daylight hours on weekends for those too old or too young to enjoy the late-night scene. It could help dispel the eerie quiet that can settle over downtown Lexington on summer weekend days.
The task force has worked hard and it's time to present a pilot program that the full council can endorse to allow more and better food on downtown streets this summer.


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H&M: to expand to Central America through franchising
(CercleFinance.com) - Swedish budget fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz said on Friday that it had signed a deal to expand in Central America, with a first store set to open in Panama at the end of 2020.
H&M said that it has sealed a franchise agreement with Hola Moda, which already operates international fashion brands in 15 countries across the region.
"Central America holds great potential," said H&M CEO Karl-Johan Persson.
Copyright (c) 2020 CercleFinance.com. All rights reserved.


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Although many public service announcements about sugar-sweetened beverages emphasize that the drinks are high in sugar and calories, most parents already know that, so public health campaigns that take this approach to curtailing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages are likely to be ineffective, a study of Philadelphia parents has found.
But parents do believe that sports and energy drinks are healthier than other the other sugary drinks. So public service ads seeking to curtail the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages should try to reduce the belief that those drinks are healthy, too, according to the study, which was led by Michael Hennessy at the Annenberg Public Policy Center.
“Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption by Adult Caregivers and Their Children: The Role of Drink Features and Advertising Exposure,” was published online in March by the journal Health Education & Behavior. The study was based on a 2012 representative telephone survey of 371 Philadelphia parents in households with children between the ages of 3 and 16, and was led by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
The study evaluated parents’ attitudes toward sugar-sweetened beverages and the relationship between their attitudes, their consumption, and their children’ consumption. The study noted that sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda add an average of more than 200 calories a day to the diet of children and adolescents.
For more about the study, click here.


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BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukraine on Saturday welcomed the European Union’s hard-fought deal to keep farm exports flowing into and through the bloc to world markets, saying that the Middle East and Africa would specifically stand to benefit from it.
Late Friday, the 27-nation EU ended a damaging internal standoff over a destabilizing glut of Ukraine farm imports by granting five eastern member countries the right to temporarily ban the most problematic produce while allowing all farm products to transit onward.
Resolving the issue allows the EU to maintain a unified stance in the face of Russia’s invasion of its neighbor. “We welcome that we resolved this issue,” Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko said at a meeting of EU finance ministers in Stockholm.
Under the deal, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania can keep four farm products that make up the overwhelming mass of exports from Ukraine out of their local markets but must guarantee unfettered access to the rest of the bloc.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine hampered Black Sea shipments of Ukrainian agricultural products, using the 27-nation bloc as a transportation route has been essential to getting the nation's prized cereal production on to the world.
"We found a wise decision that would help Ukraine to export necessary commodities, food commodities towards African countries, which is so necessary for them,” Marchenko said, adding Middle East nations would equally profit.
Under the deal, the bloc would basically accept the national bans on four of the five main products — wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds — that account for most imports. The EU would also assess whether other products, including sunflower oil, should also be included.
As an added sweetener, the EU provided 100 million euros ($113 million) more in special aid on top of on an initial support package of 56.3 million euros to help farmers in the affected countries.
On Friday, EU nations also tentatively agreed to lift tariffs on Ukraine's grains for another year. The EU lifted duties on Ukrainian grain to facilitate its transport to Africa and the Middle East by other routes after a Russian blockade kept cargo from leaving Ukraine's ports.
Overall, there was acceptance that the lifting of import tariffs had seriously skewed the local markets in nations closest to Ukraine. In Poland, wheat imports went from 2,375 tons in 2021 to 500,008 tons last year. Maize went from 5,863 tons to more than 1.8 million over the same period.
Similar huge increases were also evident in Hungary, Slovakia and Romania.


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There never seems to be a shortage of scams online.
As speculation grows that Activision’s next installment in the Call of Duty series will be “Modern Warfare 4”, the number of fake sites will grow that prey on people hoping to get an invite to the beta version of the game.
This week, the so-called “social network 4 gamers” website that goes by the shortened name “Sn4gamerrs”, launched a fake Modern Warfare 4 Beta website on the matching domain name: ModernWarfare4Beta.com.
The fake Beta site has been set up to do nothing more than deceive users and drive up Sn4gamers’s Facebook likes and views on their other social networking accounts.
A link was posted Friday to their Facebook page (which has since been deleted) telling people they could download the free MW4 code.
ModernWarfare4Beta.com was registered this month to a Rhode Island resident according to WHOIS records, not to Activision Publishing.
When you enter the fake web site, you are instructed to follow 3 easy steps in order to download the code, as shown in the screen shot below. As you can see from the instructions, the goal is to trick unsuspecting users into spreading the information on social networks.
When you scroll to the bottom of the page, a message warns you that you must complete all steps before getting your “code”, but of course, there’s no need.
If you click the link at the very bottom of the web page that says, “Click Here to Get Your Free MW4 Beta”, a new web page appears that allows you to choose a platform.
The scam by Sn4gamers continues on with a fake code and then finishes off, laughably enough, with Sn4gamers asking people to take a survey because, “…it’s the least you can do to support us so we can continue to give out free betas.”
Despite the obvious and absurd claims by many scams, fake Beta sites continue to be a problem and people continue to be duped.
In the case of the fake MW4 beta site, using “Modern Warfare 4” in the domain name is a desperate attempt to trick and confuse even more visitors.
As I wrote about last September, Ubisoft took ownership of a web address used in a Ghost Recon Beta scam. Also in 2012, Microsoft took control of the domain names Halo4Beta.biz and Halo4Beta.net, after filing complaints against their owners.
While Activision did confirm last month that it will release a new Call of Duty in 2013, it’s not even official yet as to which game in the Call of Duty series it will be.
My guess is the person behind Sn4gamers may receive a strongly worded letter from Activision’s lawyers in the near future, that, or a complaint will be filed over the domain name.
Activision won rights to the domain ModernWarfare3.com in 2011, bringing a saga that dragged on for months to a close.
The company doesn’t own ModernWarfare4.com. I spoke to the owner of the web address in 2011 by email, who made headlines in 2009 after launching a website that threatened to hurt a clown if the game development studio behind Modern Warfare, didn’t play ball the ransom demands.
UPDATE 1 March 4, 2013 6:29PM EST – It appears the folks behind ModernWarfare4Beta.com, have gotten the message, after a number of news outlets and gaming blogs picked up this story. The fake beta site was taken down in the past hour and a blank WordPress blog now appears on the home page.
Talking about this story: Examiner.com, VG247, PC Games, IGN Boards, gameswelt.de, Product Reviews, OnlineWelten.com, GameZone, playNATION.de, GameSpot.com, EGMNOW, Softpedia, Gamesaktuell.de, Power Unlimited, Gamekapocs and gamona.de


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Google’s Pixel 6 series may be the first appearance of Android 12 on high-end phones, but Android 12 (Go version) also plans
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Bloomfield Hills, Michigan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TriMas (NASDAQ: TRS) today announced that it has recently signed an agreement


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Canada Goose, the Toronto-based retailer of luxury parkas loved by celebrities, now has a market value of about $2.3-billion (Canadian).
The company debuted on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges Thursday in an initial public offering of $17 a share, which were gobbled up by hungry investors, closing at $21.53 in Toronto. It opened at $18 on the NYSE, closing at $16.08.
The IPO, by all measures, was wildly successful pumping millions into the company.
What a day! Thanks for being with us on this journey 🇨🇦🇺🇸 #GOOS pic.twitter.com/7CYocnq0He
— Canada Goose (@CanadaGooseInc) March 16, 2017
But it was also controversial.
The purveyor of the pricey parkas has long faced criticism from animal-rights activists over the use of coyote fur as decorative trim on the hood. Complaints focus on how the animals are trapped and killed.
And, those activists didn’t stand by quietly as Canada Goose started trading in New York and Toronto.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ended up buying about $4,000 in stock, the organization told CNBC.
“The shares purchased will be the minimum amount required to give PETA the right to attend and speak at annual meetings, and to submit shareholder resolutions asking for the company to stop using coyote fur trim and down in its jackets,” the group said in a statement.
And, supporters around the globe were on hand to protest the occasion.
#DropTheFur. ‘Coyotes’ take over the #NYSE & #TSX as cruel @CanadaGooseInc goes public. pic.twitter.com/9jJrbeQwrR
— PETA (@peta) March 16, 2017
Winter-wear brand Canada Goose uses fur taken from coyotes trapped and killed in this way.https://t.co/PvusGbkR0A pic.twitter.com/kRmyuzXkUw
— PETA UK (@PETAUK) March 15, 2017
TODAY in London: Activist shows how wild coyotes are trapped for Canada Goose fur-trimmed jackets.https://t.co/PvusGbCspa pic.twitter.com/xfu9TMjFtw
— PETA UK (@PETAUK) March 14, 2017
The company, which started in a small warehouse in 1957, has defended its practises.
In its IPO filing the company said it only buys from humane suppliers:
“We are committed to the sustainable and ethical sourcing of our raw materials. We have introduced comprehensive traceability programs for fur and down throughout our supply chain which we expect will be fully in effect during the spring of 2017. We only use down that is a byproduct of the poultry industry and we only purchase down and fur from suppliers who adhere to our stringent standards regarding fair practices and humane treatment of animals.”
After the IPO, the Toronto Star reported that Chief executive officer Dani Reiss said the company won’t bow to pressure.
“We’re not looking to change our plans (to use fur) in response to a loud but vocal minority,” Reiss said, adding that the company also makes jackets without fur.
“We know that wearing different products is a personal choice and we offer products for everybody,” the newspaper reported.
Photos PETA, PETA UK


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Why aren’t vets recommending raw diets more often, if raw has helped improve the health of so many pets?
There is sufficient evidence that dogs can survive on vegetarian and even vegan diets. But whether or not a dog…
Many of the benefits of green tripe are overstated, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider adding green tripe into your dog’s diet.
A rare condition in dogs that can result in paralysis was blamed on raw chicken in an Australian study. Does this mean raw chicken causes paralysis in dogs?


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For immediate release
MediaCorp operates 8 media screens at Bugis Street
Singapore, 19 May 2011 - MediaCorp has been appointed as the exclusive media partner to market and manage eight media screens in Bugis Street, the largest street shopping location in Singapore. This latest addition will enhance MediaCorp's existing retail digital screen network in ION Orchard and Orchard Central shopping malls.
Out of the eight screens, four will be located outdoor with two at Queen Street and one each at Victoria Street and Cheng Yan Place. The rest are situated indoor with two at Level 3 which will only be operational in Q3 2011. All eight media screens will feature news, lifestyle, fashion, dining and entertainment content from MediaCorp, as well as live broadcast of national events such as The National Day Parade.
Bugis Street, which is managed and developed by Bugis Street Development Pte Ltd, has undergone an extensive upgrading project which includes refreshing its facade with large LED screens and new LED signages in response to Urban Redevelopment Authority's plan to inject vibrancy into the Bugis Street precinct.
Mr. Thomas Ang, Head of MediaCorp OOH Media said: "We are very happy to work with Bugis Street Development. We look forward to bring a whole new dimension to the vibrant street shopping experience here. Not only are shoppers able to enjoy snippets of entertainment news while shopping, the latest tips on fashion and bargain deals will also be shared via the screens."
Mr. Terentius Loh, Chairman and CEO of Bugis Street Development, said: "We are glad to have the opportunity to collaborate with MediaCorp for the marketing of our outdoor media space. MediaCorp's wide network of contacts with potential advertisers has given us confidence in the prospect of a very successful collaboration. Our extremely high foot traffic will provide value-for- money advertising to advertisers. We look forward to a mutually beneficial and rewarding cooperation with MediaCorp in this new and exciting outdoor advertising media venture".
Issued by MediaCorp OOH Media
For more information, please contact:
Marketing Communications Manager
Bugis Street Development Pte Ltd
DID: +65 6338 9513
Fax: +65 6339 3776
Head, OOH Media
MediaCorp Pte Ltd
DID: 6350 3039
Fax: 6253 8860
About MediaCorp OOH Media Division
OOH Media, a MediaCorp enterprise, is the outdoor advertising arm which handles all Out-Of-Home advertising business. It was appointed the exclusive media partner to manage and market all digital screens in ION Orchard, Orchard Central and Bugis Street shopping malls. Transit media advertising is also a staple offering, with Singapore's first mobile truck and a fleet of taxis and coaches. In April 2011, OOH Media was awarded the contract by the Singapore Land Transport Authority to operate the advertisement panels of some 1,300 bus stops island-wide.
MediaCorp is Singapore's leading media company with the most complete range of platforms, spanning television, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies, digital and out-of-home media. Winner of numerous international awards and accolades including Asia Television's Broadcaster of the Year, MediaCorp continues its progress towards becoming Asia's top media company by delivering valued content to the world.
For more information on MediaCorp OOH Media, please visit www.mediacorp.sg
About Bugis Street Development
Bugis Street Development Pte Ltd is the developer and management company of Bugis Street, an unique shopping location well known for its vast and interesting product mix at competitive prices that cater to tourists and locals. Recent additions to Bugis Street are , an incubator for home-grown fashion labels, as well as which caters to classy and sophisticated shoppers. Bugis Street is successfully established internationally as "the Largest Street Shopping Location In Singapore"
Bugis Street houses more than 600 shops offering a wide variety of products. The exciting selection of items and interesting ambience that Bugis Street evokes makes it a compelling attraction for shoppers. The shopping concept of Bugis Street has proven to be successful as it has attracted an increasing number of tourists and a very high traffic flow averaging almost one million shoppers monthly.
For more information on Bugis Street Development, please visit www.bugis-street.com


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Fro-Zone to bring Thai rolled ice cream to Brady St.
Trendy Thai rolled ice cream will make its Milwaukee debut this summer when the shop Fro-Zone opens at 1320 E. Brady St.
Mike Kaid said he'd seen images of the rolled ice cream on Instragram and videos of it on YouTube. "I just thought it was really cool," he said.
When he googled Thai rolled ice cream in Milwaukee and Wisconsin, "nothing came up," he said. "That's how I knew I could do something with it."
He expects the shop to open June 1, he said, depending on final city inspections. The shop's co-owner is Ahsan Sikander Gondal.
The rolled ice cream is made by pouring a creamy, flavored base with a customer's chosen add-ons onto a surface that's minus 15 degrees. In about 30 seconds, Kaid said, the cream base starts to freeze; it's then scraped into compact rolls with two spatulas, piled in a dish, garnished with more toppings.
The ice cream will come in five flavors to begin with, including vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, and 20 toppings, with more to be added later. Fruit, M&Ms and doughnut pieces are some of the toppings, Kaid said.
The rolled ice cream, a popular street food in Thailand, gained steam across the U.S. in 2016 a number of the rolled ice cream shops opened.
Kaid said the bowls of ice cream will be sold in one size with unlimited toppings for $6.95. The price is comparable to rolled ice cream shops elsewhere.
Kaid is a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student; his business partner is a Marquette University student. Kaid is the brother of Bobby Kaid, also a UWM student, who's planning to open Donut Squad at 2264 N. Prospect Ave. about the same time that Fro-Zone will open.
The brothers both cited retail experience they picked up working in family businesses operated by their father, Zach Kaid, including Circle K Pantry in the Third Ward.
Mike Kaid said the Brady Street location (which at one time was home to frozen yogurt shop Berry Me) appealed to him because of the mix of customers on the street — young and old, families and singles.
He plans to keep the shop open later on the weekends; hours likely will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Kaid said the shop also will sell beverages — milk, chocolate milk, water, soda and bubble tea. It will have up to 50 seats inside, and sidewalk seating, as well.
The shop's name was inspired by the character Frozone in the animated movie "The Incredibles," whose superpower is the ability to freeze liquids.


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A recently published image on Twitter appears to have revealed the what is believed to be the Samsung Galaxy S8's front bezel, or at least that's what was initially thought.
The image, which was picked up by several publications upon being posted, actually shows tempered glass screen protectors for the forthcoming flagship and not glass cover panels.
The screen protectors, as reported by Android Police, were produced by a third-party manufacturer for the Galaxy S8, designed ahead of the phone's launch.
Galaxy S8 Front Panel
Despite the leaked image turning out to be simply screen protectors, looking at its design actually reveals an overall preview of what the Galaxy S8 looks like. If the screen protectors turn out to be legitimate, then the Galaxy S8 will indeed have curved screens, lining up with previous rumors. Additionally, the Galaxy S8's screen-to-body ratio looks definitely larger than the Galaxy S7 or S7 edge's, with the front panel featuring a behemoth display bookended by thin strips of bezel on the upper and lower parts of the device.
The image's author, however, is neither responding to queries about the screen protectors' origin nor offering any kind of contextual narrative as to bolster the legitimacy of the object in question.
Sources say, however, that the screen protectors are the closest representation of the Galaxy S8. Looking at the upper bezel, one can see that there's an extra sensor window where the iris scanner will presumably be placed, lining up with previous rumors touting that exact feature.
Galaxy S8 Rumors
A goldmine of Galaxy S8 rumors has filled the web quite proficiently in the past few weeks, especially with the reveal of the flagship becoming and more and more imminent.
Like the leaked image suggests, the Galaxy S8 is rumored to come rocking a near-bezel-less curved screen manufactured under the Y-OCTA display technology. It could also have a fingerprint scanner under the display, which, judging by the absence of the home button on these recent leaks, will be the case. It will feature a 3.5 mm headphone jack, rumors suggest, and it will feature a Continuum-esque ecosystem found on the HP Elite x3. It's also reportedly going to come with Bluetooth 5.0 technology, Harman stereo speakers, and a 3D touch-like screen functionality. In terms of power, the phrase "beast mode" is being thrown around of late, which could allude to the phone's very powerful internals.
Galaxy S8 Release Date
Samsung will reportedly peel the wraps off this device come late February during this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. With so many rumors festering the web, however, there's probably not much more to reveal. The Galaxy S8 will be released mid-April, according to rumors.
Anyhow, the important thing is that the Galaxy S8 succeeds where the Note 7 horribly failed. Last year, Samsung recalled and eventually halted the production of Note 7 devices due to concerns over random explosions of the handset. Widely believe to be a battery flaw, Samsung is poised to disclose the official results of its investigation before this month comes to a close.
Care to share your predictions about the Galaxy S8? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!


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The team at Snowcastle Games have drastically revamped and rebuilt Earthlock from the ground up.
Things have changed so much that the new version of the game is now simply called Earthlock, rather than Earthlock: Festival of Magic. Earthlock is expected to launch on Switch in Q1 2018 (the Wii U won’t be getting it though) and is currently undergoing localization and QA testing.
Details on what’s changed can be found below.
- Story: It’s massively changed. Almost from the start. We have added more depth, humor and character to the story and things that did not make sense before now do
- Crafting: At Plumpet Island, we are happy to report that all buildings on Plumpet now have some kind of functionality
- Side Quests: Yes, there are now side quests – as initially intended
- Mini Games: Like treasure hunting
- New scenes and characters
- New and better animation
- Improved cut scenes
- Highly performance optimised
- And much, much more


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General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and the United Auto Workers union are pouring millions of dollars into a lobbying campaign for a taxpayer bailout.
The money devoted to influence peddling in Washington would be better spent on improving quality and finding ways to reduce a bloated cost structure, but both management and UAW have decided that fleecing taxpayers is a better option.
A taxpayer bailout would be a terrible mistake. It would subsidize the shoddy management practices of the corporate bureaucrats at General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, and it would reward the intransigent union bosses who have made the synonymous with inflexible and anti-competitive work rules.
Perhaps most important, though, is that a bailout would be bad for the long-term health of the American auto industry. It would discriminate against the 113,000 Americans who have highly-coveted jobs building cars for Nissan, BMW and other auto companies that happen to be headquartered in other nations.
These companies demonstrate that it is possible to build cars in America and make money. Putting them at a competitive disadvantage with handouts for the U.S.-headquartered companies would be highly unjust.
A bailout also would be bad for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. The so-called Big Three desperately need to fundamentally restructure their practices. More specifically, the car companies need to endure some short-term pain in order to restore long-term viability. But that won’t happen if politicians raid the treasury.


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BTCC Brands Hatch preview video
Heading into the last round of the 2012 BTCC at Brands Hatch, the championship could still go four ways
Jason Plato dominated proceedings at Silverstone this weekend, during the penultimate round of the BTCC. The former champion took two wins in his MG6, with Mat Jackson fighting hard to take the third.
Heading to the final round at Brands Hatch on 21 October, the championship is still wide open, with Gordon Shedden, Plato, Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan all with a shot of being crowned.
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Toyota GR Yaris revealed in full – return of the homologation special
One of most sought after hot hatchbacks of 2020 has finally been revealed: the Toyota GR Yaris
10 Jan 2020
New 2020 Honda Civic Type R makes debut at Tokyo Auto Salon
Honda has released the first images of the revised Civic Type R that’s being shown for the first time in Tokyo
10 Jan 2020
BMW X3 M 2020 review – the right ingredients in a very wrong package
The first BMW X3 M previews the next BMW M3’s all-new powertrain, let's hope it doesn’t preview anything else
8 Jan 2020
Hyundai i30 N versus Hyundai i30 TCR
Can Dickie Meaden beat Steve Sutcliffe in a straight(ish) race? We sent them to the Circuit Nuvolari with a pair of Hyundai i30 Ns to find out.
20 Sep 2019


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Skoda Auto At The Shanghai Motor Show
Škoda will have its official launch of the Superb Hao Rui at the Shanghai Motor Show this week. Škoda's flagship will become the third model to be produced by the Shanghai Volkswagen plant following the introduction of the Octavia Ming Rui and the Fabia Jing Rui.
Superb Hao Rui is another major step to Škoda's expansion in the Chinese market, using the growth strategy of launching one new model every year. Offering a number of innovative solutions including the Twindoor boot system, the Superb Hao Rui will be available in 1.8 TSI (six-speed manual or automatic transmission) and 2.0 TSI (six-speed automatic transmission) engines.
Octavia Ming Rui GreenLine, the more environmentally-friendly trim, will be presented at the Motor Show with a 1.4 TSI engine and DSG transmission. Since its launch to the Chinese market in June 2007, the Octavia Ming Rui has become a popular choice, with last year's sales totalling nearly 60,000 vehicles.
Fabia Jing Rui, China's second Škoda model, will be presented at the Motor Show with elegant white roofs as well as an attractive concept Sport Edition. The winner of many prestigious awards, Fabia Jing Rui was launched in China late last year and has been chosen by more than 2,500 customers over the first three months of 2009.
With a network of more than 200 dealers and service partners, Škoda delivered 59,284 vehicles in total to its customers in the Chinese market last year. The extending portfolio is likely to increase the company's sales significantly.
Škoda Auto Board of Directors Chairman, Reinhard Jung stated: "Last year was another record-breaking year for us; we delivered almost 675,000 vehicles to our customers which is 7 % more than 2007. We also continued developing the brand to become a strong international player; Škoda is now in over 100 markets worldwide. The Chinese market keeps growing in importance for Škoda Auto because despite the current global economic crisis it has great potential for growth."


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Even though gold has grown in prominence and value during the past four years of economic turbulence, there’s still a lingering gap between investors who want to own physical gold and those who actually do.
Continue Reading Below
This divide can largely be chalked up to the pitfalls of owning a precious metal that requires expensive security, insurance and delivery for it to hold its value. Traditional assets like stocks and bonds are just easier to keep in an investor’s portfolio.
According to a survey of 1,000 individual investors released this week by Gold Bullion International, 63% of investors would prefer to own a physical asset like gold rather than a non-physical asset like equities or mutual funds.
However, that same poll reveals that just 2% of those surveyed actually own institutional-quality gold.
Difficult to Purchase?
“We know the primary reason is how difficult it is historically to buy physical gold,” said Steven Feldman, CEO and co-founder of Gold Bullion International.
Forty-four percent of investors said they didn’t know enough about physical gold to invest, 37% felt it was too difficult to purchase and 22% didn’t realize buying physical gold was even possible.
Up until the mid-1970s, investors couldn’t legally own physical gold or even buy or sell it on electronic exchanges.
“I traded one of the first gold contracts,” said George Gero, a precious metals strategist at RBC Capital Markets (NYSE:RY). That early trade took place in December 1974 on the shared trading floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange and Commodity Exchange (COMEX), both of which are now owned by CME Group (NYSE:CME).
Even though the legal hurdles have been removed, there are still a number of downsides with owning physical gold.
For starters: “Where do you keep it?” said Gero.
He noted that gold buyers often have to go through a cumbersome process of delivery, redelivery and recertification. “All of that is time consuming and expensive for the average person,” said Gero.
That’s why many investors who want exposure to gold go through popular exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, such as the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD) and the iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:IAU).
Safe Haven Asset
“The path of least resistance for the average person who wants to own physical gold is to buy an ETF [that] translates to physical delivery if desired,” said Gero.
Investors who bought gold prior to the crash on Wall Street generated very healthy returns. Valued at just under $900 an ounce in April 2008, gold settled as high as $1,888.70 in August 2011 and closed at $1,608 on Wednesday.
The surge in valuation is largely due to gold’s unique role as a safe haven hard asset, one that investors worried about the value of paper currency and the reliability of the financial markets turn to during times of stress.
Of course, an investor who only owns gold on paper through an ETF might be out of luck if a calamitous event shuts down major financial markets like the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks did.
New Way to Obtain Physical Gold
That’s where Feldman’s Gold Bullion International enters the fray, attempting to live in a middle ground of deliverable gold that is easy to store as well as buy and sell.
Based in New York, GBI says it is the first company that specifically allows financial advisors, wealth-management professionals and investors to buy, sell and store gold and other metals like silver and platinum through its technology platform.
In the past, most investment banks would “turn away” an affluent individual seeking to buy physical gold, leaving he or she to be “caught in the morass of online dealers with gigantic markups,” said Feldman, a former Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) partner.
Unlike dealers, GBI matches buyers and sellers through an auction process and can be integrated technologically with wealth managers.
GBI stores the physical gold in insured vaults in major cities like New York, London and Zurich. The company charges a storage fee that includes audit and insurance and is equivalent to the asset-management fee charged by ETFs. GBI also gives investors the option to deliver it for a nominal fee.
“You own it. You can take delivery of it. You can move it around. You have access to it,” said Feldman. “If the market were to close like post-9/11, you can still make a trade and buy and sell it.”
Founded in 2009, GBI already has a deal to provide precious metals to one large broker dealer in the U.S. -- reportedly Bank of America’s (NYSE:BAC) Merrill Lynch -- and Feldman said the company is in talks with two other large broker dealers and two large custodial banks that he wouldn’t identify.


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The LG C900 is LG's Windows Phone 7 effort due out later this year and it, like other handsets, has broken cover on Friday thanks to someone who, most likely, has a bevy of handsets on their desk and is keen to share with the world.
The LG smartphone will come with a four-row keyboard, the defacto three-button Windows Phone 7 configuration (this time two touch sensitive and one hard), and a large screen waiting to be pressed if you can't be bothered to pull out that keyboard.
The images show AT&T, which could suggest that the US operator has created either a dedicated app or, as Pocket-lint broke earlier in the year, an entire hub for people to access a plethora of AT&T information from.
The good news, from a UK perspective, is that if this is on AT&T then chances are the LG C900 will be heading to the UK as it's likely, although not confirmed, to be Quad-band when it comes to dialling in to your favourite network.
We will keep you posted.


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Shares of video game retailer GameStop plunged nearly 20% to $36.50 in afternoon trading after releasing a mixed report on holiday sales.
The company reported total global sales of $3.15 billion, up 9.3% from the same time last year. However, sales of new video game software dipped more than 22% compared to the same time last year.
The slump in software was offset by hardware sales that were nearly double that of the 2012 holiday, thanks to the arrival of Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One.
Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia says the dip in new video game software -- which consists primarily of games on older systems -- and surge in hardware signals that "people are moving on to the next gen faster."
"It's a classic transition time," says Bhatia.
Both the PS4 and Xbox One have gotten off to strong starts at retail. Sales of the PS4 reached 4.2 million worldwide, while the Xbox One has topped 3 million. The combined 7.2 million in sales is ahead of an expected 6 million in sales, Bhatia says.
Last week, GameStop shares were hit after Sony announced a new cloud-based gaming service that would allow users to either rent individual titles from the PlayStation, PS2 and PS3 libraries, or start a subscription for greater access.
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @bam923.


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The analysts forecast the Aseptic Packaging Market in Europe to grow at a CAGR of 7.33% during the period 2017-2021.
Aseptic Packaging Market in Europe 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.
The latest trend gaining momentum in the market is increasing consumer awareness of health and wellness. Manufacturers worldwide are working to raise awareness related to consuming unprocessed milk, and to promote the benefits of packed milk. In some markets, consumers still buy loose, unpacked milk, which is poured into plastic bags.
The consumption of product is unhealthy, as loose milk is contaminated and high in bacteria.
One of the major drivers for this market is growing pharmaceutical and healthcare industry in Europe. The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most competitive industries in Europe because of its substantial investments in research and development(R&D). This industry is an asset to the European economy, and a key source of growth and employment.
It is estimated that the industry generated a revenue of more than $210 billion in 2016. According to our analysis, the R&D investments in this industry have led the pharmaceutical industry to grow in Europe.
- Reynolds Group Holdings
- Tetra Laval
Other prominent vendors:
- Greatview Aseptic Packaging
- Sealed Air
- DS Smith
- SIG Combibloc
Key Topics Covered:
Part 01: Executive summary
Part 02: Scope of the report
Part 03: Research Methodology
Part 04: Introduction
Part 05: Market landscape
Part 06: Market segmentation by end-user
Part 07: Market segmentation by type of packaging
Part 08: Decision framework
Part 09: Drivers and challenges
Part 10: Market trends
Part 11: Vendor landscape
Part 12: Appendix
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9j2m7x/aseptic_packaging


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Co-Founders of TransferWise Sell Partial Stake that Now Values the Company at $3.5 Billion
One of the industries that have grown exponentially over the past half a decade or so is financial technology or better known as Fintech. Hundreds of such companies have opened up all over the world which are engaged in using cutting edge technology in order to provide their users with the convenience of payment services, and one of the most successful companies in that regards is TransferWise, which primarily operates in Europe. The cross-border payments company was launched back in 2011, and over the course of the last eight years; it has become a significant part of the payments network in Europe. In a new development, the company’s co-founders and some of the individuals who had invested early have decided to liquidate their stakes. The stake sale now values the company at $3.5 billion, which also makes it the most valuable Fintech company on the entire continent.
The founders, Kristo Kaarmann and Taavet Hinirkus, have sold less than 20% of their holdings. Both founders are from Estonia, and according to a report last year, they had a combined net worth of 500 million Euros. They had founded the company after both of them got upset at the crippling costs of sending money from London to Estonia, and since then the company has grown steadily. In fact, it is profitable. However, co-founders selling a portion of their stake is not often looked upon kindly by investors since it could mean that the company could be facing troubling times in the future.
The founders dismissed any such concern. Hinrikus stated that due to the stake sale, they will not be able to invest heavily in improving the product and making it even more profitable in the future. In addition to that, the private offering of shares has also assuaged early investors who might have been pressuring the founders to go for an initial public offering. The sale of shares, which raised 292 million Euros, was bought by Lead Edge Capital, BlackRock and Vitruvian Partners. On the other hand, other key investors like Anderssen Horowitz actually raised their stakes. Hirinkus stated that the company will eventually go public. He said,
I still believe eventually we’ll be a public company, but this proves there’s no rush. We’re a profitable company, we’re fully in control — maybe two years from now we’ll realise there’s so much more we could do.


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Peru will host the Ginger Week 2023, which will take place online as a free event on May 31, June 1 and 2, 2023. Kristel Camargo, General Manager of Elisur Organic commented: "We are convinced that, to promote agro-exports, the action of the entire living environment of the chain is needed to work for a better collective future, with practices that balance their development for their ongoing support over time."
Due to the importance of ginger in the central jungle of Peru, the third edition of Ginger Week opens, an event specialized in ginger and turmeric, founded by Elisur Organic, in search of the sustainability of ginger and its biodiverse environment. This year, through the co-organization of ADEX (Association of Exporters of Peru) it will bring together the key players in the ginger sector in Peru and present a unique platform for the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and market perspectives. Lectures will be given by national and international experts.
Peru is the 4th largest exporter of ginger in the world, after China, the Netherlands, and India, according to ADEX. Since the pandemic, ginger has captured the world's attention with its spicy flavour and remarkable medicinal properties.
Factors that impacted the ginger season
However, overproduction, increased maritime tariffs and economic reactivation affected the price in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons, reaching the lowest price peaks recorded in the last 10 years. This is one of the main factors behind why farmers in Peru reduced their planted area for the 2023-2024 season, which is about to begin.
Since the opening of the new season in China, with a lower supply compared to previous years, January 2023 witnessed a growing trend in demand for Peruvian ginger in the main importing markets. A 200% increase in volume was registered compared to April 2022, exceeding expectations on the export side. This increase in demand drove prices to recover at the end of the season, generating hopes of a positive return for farmers who bet on continuing with their production for one more season. The new Peruvian season will start with the first ginger harvests in June.
“The ginger sector in Peru is a sector that has been getting more important in recent years. It is one of the main products exported from the central jungle of Peru, so we must work to strengthen this chain to continue being well positioned in the world,” concludes Camargo.
Register for free at the following link:
For more information:
José Flores Palomino
Tel: +51 933 130 095


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As rumours swirl that Phoebe Philo is set to depart from Céline after almost 10 years, we remember the most iconic pieces and the most memorable catwalk moments that will define her legacy at the label. From statement shoes to campaigns that truly broke the mould, we dissect her 10 best moments.
2. Joan Didion: The campaign star
Phoebe Philo made headlines by choosing none other than iconic American writer Joan Didion to be the star of Céline’s spring/summer 2015 campaign. Philo broke the mould by making the 80-year-old its campaign star – and other luxury fashion brands soon followed suit in embracing mature women, including Saint Laurent with Joni Mitchell.


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Sex and the City has been revived, here’s the good news
But unfortunately Kim won’t be making a comeback. According to HBO Max, the long awaited but previously rumored revival of the iconic sitcom is officially greenlit. The network confirmed over the weekend along with posts from Carrie and the other two that in their typical fashion “And Just Like That” will premiere sometime later this year. The series is set to begin filming this Spring in New York City.


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Fortunately is that as of today RadioShack. Radioshack Pro-2044 Upc… has officially been bought by Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), providing the struggling company a brand-new lease on life. The downside, a minimum of for folks like us, is that there are no immediate plans to return the renowned electronics seller to its brick-and-mortar roots. As the name implies, REV focuses on online retail, having actually previously revamped the Web existence of other bankrupt services such as Pier 1 Imports and Dressbarn.
While journalism release does not outright preclude the possibility of new physical RadioShack locations, it’s clear that REV thinks the future of retail isn’t to be discovered in your regional strip mall. As the United States mulls even more lockdowns in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s hard to disagree. There will be millions of bored kids and grownups trying to find something to do during the long winter season nights, and an electronic package or two delivered to their door might be just the important things.
REV says they plan to relaunch the rather outdated RadioShack site in the nick of time for the business’s 100th anniversary in 2021. As of this writing the site presently states that sales have actually been temporarily stopped to enable inventory restructuring, though it’s unclear if this is directly related to the buyout or not. Getting a precise count of just how much product the company still has on hand after shuttering most of their physical areas in 2017 certainly sounds like something the brand-new owners would wish to do.
Like most of you, we have fond memories of the Golden era of RadioShack, back before they believed offering televisions and phones was in some way a great concept. To their credit, they did attempt and revive their relationship with hackers and makers by asking the neighborhood what they ‘d wish to see in their stores. However we all know how that story ended. While it doesn’t look like this news will get us any closer to having an area shop that stocks resistors, there’s a certain comfort in understanding that RadioShack books and kits will still be around for the next generation.
RadioShack’s shambling remains were offered another shock of life today when they were bought by another business that plans to relaunch the once-great retailer as an online-focused brand.
The shop’s remains were acquired by Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), a start-up founded in 2019 that’s been scooping up brands from other faded retail giants as well, consisting of Pier 1, Modell’s Sporting Goods, Dressbarn, and more. REV states RadioShack’s site already has “strong existing sales and sales potential,” and the company is “positive” it can further raise awareness of the brand globally.
REV declares it’s successfully reversed other business it’s launched as online brands. The Wall Street Journal reported that Dressbarn more than doubled its profits between the 2nd and very first quarter of 2020.
RadioShack was founded in 1921 and became a retail staple in the ’80s and ’90s for anybody looking to get tech basics. REV didn’t say whether those RadioShack licenses would stick around. Radioshack Pro-2044 Upc
REV says it will “quickly relaunch” RadioShack’s website. So for those of you still clinging on to fond memories of the shop, there’ll be a familiar sufficient location to go when you wish to buy overpriced HDMI cable televisions and knockoff earphones.


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Mumbai, April 4 : Reliance Jio has launched ‘Jio Cricket Play Along — the worlds largest live mobile game where participants can plan and win prizes; and ‘Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan Live — a first of its kind show where the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket meets comedy.
The Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan Live: Never ‘Run-Out’ of Laughter will be premiered exclusively on MyJio app, available free to both Jio and non Jio subscribers, on April 7, with original Live episodes, releasing every weekend.
Hosted by comedian Sunil Grover and sports anchor Samir Kochhar, every episode will feature cricketers and celebrity guests.
The Jio Cricket Play Along: Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan game will be accessible to all smartphone users in India and can be played in 11 Indian languages.
Jio is also introducing a cricket season pack that will allow cricket lovers to get access to live matches on mobile and stream almost every Live match throughout the duration of 51 days (Available at Rs 251 only, offering 102 GB Data).


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September 17, 2019 – Troy, MI-based promotional marketing company Entertainment has been acquired by Afin Technologies in a deal that will see a giant of the North American couponing market reinvigorated with fresh investment and a 21st-century approach to a traditional American pastime.
Entertainment is the leading provider of local and national discount promotions throughout the US and Canada. The deal means Afin Technologies will take over operation of the company, which connects businesses to consumers with promotional offers via physical coupons in its flagship Book, and through its Entertainment mobile app.
As part of the deal, Afin will also take on fresh investment from Deepbridge Capital in the UK, and investors in the US. This will support the creation of 50 new jobs in Troy, MI, and 10 new jobs in Stockport in the United Kingdom. Entertainment currently employs 77 people in the USA.
The deal follows the US launch of Afin’s app Buxbo, which offers a fresh take on the popular American pastime of ‘couponing,’ by aiming at a young adult audience, with a social gaming approach where users team up to earn the best discounts. Buxbo is a digital marketing platform that allows brands to help influence consumer buying decisions by putting their logo and an offer on the most used screen in a consumer’s life — the phone.
Buxbo complements Entertainment’s traditional coupon-based discounts by offering targeted promotions. It puts the right offers to the right hands, at the right place and time, to help restaurants and retailers develop more loyal customer bases. Buxbo lets a business launch a new offer within seconds, and run it for as little as a day, or as long as a year or more.
In one example with a well-known restaurant chain, 75% of the offers presented to Buxbo users were used, helping drive larger average transactions and increase awareness over new menu items. Someone redeems an offer on Buxbo every 10 minutes.
By acquiring Entertainment, Afin consolidates its place in the mobile couponing market. Meanwhile, Entertainment will be reinvigorated by new management with a fresh, modern approach
Afin Technologies was founded in Stockport, UK — initially under the name SurveyMe — before expanding to open an office in Newport Beach, CA, where founders Lee and Nicola Evans are now based. Afin’s chief commercial officer, Mike Stolarski, previously worked at Entertainment for 15 years, and will be based at Entertainment’s HQ in Troy.
“Technology has moved on from the coupon books of the past, but American consumers are still passionate about saving money,” said Afin Technologies CEO, Lee Evans. “We’re looking forward to connecting businesses with the right customers in a way that benefits them both.”
Ian Warwick, managing partner at Deepbridge Capital, commented: “We are delighted to continue to support Afin Technologies on this next step of their journey. The acquisition of Entertainment promises to be great news for both parties, with the creation of new jobs and the introduction of a dynamic approach to the coupon market.”
For more information contact Martin SFP Bryant at Big Revolution: email@example.com


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According to Agence France-Presse, France has officially launched a plastic restriction order from New Year's Day in 2022. 30 types of fruits and vegetables, including cucumbers, lemons and oranges, are prohibited from being packed in plastic bags, except for fruits over 1.5 kg.
In addition, fruit merchants and supermarkets have six months to use existing plastic bags. In order to allow businesses to find alternatives to plastic bags, the law is expected to extend to all fruits and vegetables until 2026. According to reports, 37% of French fruit and vegetable products are packaged in plastic bags, and the government stated that the plastic restriction order can reduce 1 billion plastic bags each year.


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Updated: April 15, 2021 1:32:11 pm
Talala, the hub of Kesar mango, and several other towns in Saurashtra entered voluntary complete lockdown on Wednesday in view of rising Covid-19 cases.
Talala, the town in Gir Somnath district, with population of around 35,000, remained completely shut after local traders’ body gave a call to go for complete lockdown for five days. “Our friends in health department confided in us that the number of antigen tests returning positive in Talala town was much higher than official figures and suggested that going for a complete lockdown can help break the chain of infections. We agreed to the suggestion at our meeting held on Monday evening, and decided that all traders would voluntarily remained closed for five days beginning from Wednesday. All the members of our body have cooperated and therefore, the town remained shut today,” Mukesh Tanna, vice-president of Talala Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an association of around 700 traders of Talala town, told The Indian Express on Wednesday.
Only shops selling essential items and medicines remained opened during the day.
Harsukh Jarsaniya, secretary of Talala APMC agreed the infection rates are very high but expressed hope that the situation will improve in time for the beginning of Kesar mango season. “Presently, our APMC yard in Talala records arrival of vegetables only and we are planning to start auction of mangoes in the last week of this month. While it is true Covid-19 infection has spread in Talala town as well as in villages in the mango belt, we are hopeful of the situation improving over the next few days and starting auction of mangoes,” said Jarsaniya.
The mango marketing season usually starts towards the end of April and goes on for around six weeks.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Gir Gadhda and Una also joined Talala in entering voluntary lockdown. “Una town is recording average 100 fresh infections of Covid-19 every day even though it is a different matter that official figures quote much smaller numbers… Therefore, we decided on Saturday that we shall enter voluntary lockdown for six days from Wednesday,” Ishwar Jethwani, president of Una Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said.
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- The Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a global service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards.


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Crypto investors are always on the hunt for promising breakout coins and differentiating which newcomers will take off or tank can be challenging.
One coin that has been quietly but steadily gaining momentum, is RBIS, the token behind the ArbiSmart project. It has now caught the attention of analysts, who are projecting a massive 20,000% jump in value in 2022. In fact in just the last couple of days it has already risen by 275%!
Awareness of the Token Is Growing
In late January, RBIS was listed on a crypto exchange for the first time and the process has been snowballing since then. Already available on tier-1 exchanges like SushiSwap, and Uniswap, RBIS is gaining momentum, with each major listing significantly increasing liquidity and trading volume while improving name recognition, as the coin gets introduced to new exchange communities. Every premier listing makes RBIS more attractive to other top-tier exchanges, further increasing exposure to the token, as it gains credibility.
With RBIS also powering a large number of new utilities, scheduled for launch in the months ahead name-recognition is set to increase further in tandem with a rapid growth in token demand.
The project is about to expand massively
However ArbiSmart is in the process of evolving into an end-to-end crypto hub, offering a vast selection of EU authorized financial services and this quarter is expected to be a game-changer for the project. To kick off, ArbiSmart is introducing its own interest-bearing digital wallet, which will support both FIAT and crypto.
For storing your capital with ArbiSmart you will receive impressive rates of up to 49% on all currencies, other than RBIS, which will generate interest of up to 147%. Simultaneously, a mobile wallet is being introduced, with the same functionality, enabling users to deposit, withdraw, buy, exchange and store funds via their IOS and Android devices.
Next month will be equally busy, as ArbiSmart launches Smart Yield Farm, a decentralized yield farming service that will allow users to stake in ETH/RBIS, WBTC/RBIS and USDT/RBIS liquidity pools. Rewards include 0.3% of the fees on each trade and up to 190,000% APY.
Q2 will also see the introduction of a collection of 10,000 unique digital artworks and an NFT marketplace, where users can buy and sell non-fungible tokens using RBIS.
All these new RBIS utilities in the pipeline for the weeks ahead are set to send token demand soaring. Meanwhile, the amount of RBIS that can ever be created is capped at 450 million, and as more people buy RBIS so they can use the expanding range of services in the ArbiSmart ecosystem, the limited supply will shrink. Once demand outstrips supply the RBIS price is set to rise significantly.
Apparently, the development team isn’t taking its foot off the gas pedal in the latter half of the year. In H2, ArbiSmart is launching a cryptocurrency exchange. In addition, it has already upgraded its authorizations to enable it to offer crypto banking, and later this year will be introducing crypto IBANs, debit cards and payment service solutions.
Another RBIS utility scheduled for launch in the second half of 2022 is a metaverse, where participants will be able to buy, develop and sell virtual plots of land, explore new digital environments, play games and make in-game purchases.
The ecosystem is completely interconnected
Another way in which ArbiSmart is driving liquidity and pushing up demand for the RBIS token is the way in which all the utilities in the ecosystem are integrated, meaning that use of one product or service will earn the user preferential terms when using another. So, an ArbiSmart NFT can be used as an in-game item in the ArbiSmart metaverse, and just holding an NFT will be rewarded with higher annual yields in ArbiSmart’s decentralized yield farming program.
With ArbiSmart on the verge of huge expansion, it is unsurprising that analysts are projecting that the token will rise to 200 times its current value in the months ahead. Any investor hoping to make serious capital gains on an up-and-coming altcoin need look no further than RBIS, although the window of opportunity is closing. To get hold of RBIS right now, click here
The post RBIS coin is about to spike x200, rising faster than Ether, Apecoin, or Cardano appeared first on The Cryptonomist.


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ECONOMIC IMPACT OF RAIL LINE
MICHAEL Warner runs the Activity Chest toy shop, in Chalfont St Peter, and deals with customers from across Bucks and beyond.
Despite the report’s predictions, however, he does not believe that HS2 is anything for business owners in the Chilterns to be worried about.
“Certainly, in places like Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross and Amersham, the line is too far away from the centre of the towns to make any difference,” he says.
“I can’t see business here being disrupted by it. People talk about the economic impact of it, but I don’t think it will be at all negative for businesses here.
“I personally think that HS2 is a fantastic piece of 21st century infrastructure.
“It has so much opposition, but once it is up and running, people will praise it and will see the benefits that it will bring.
“I do feel for people who are living very close to it, or people who will have to move, but in this area I don’t think it will cause problems.”
Mr Warner said that he believes that the project could bring economic benefits to the area while it is being built, despite the report’s findings.
He said: “The construction workers could well be using village shops and pubs, so while it’s being built it will actually bring some positives.
“I don’t go along with everyone who says it will be a huge problem.”
LOOKING POSITIVE: Michael Warner, owner of Activity Chest, says the impact will not be all negative


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Intuitive Code CEO, Alex Vieira, became convinced of a potential Tesla buyout after the company reported earnings although he referred to it ahead of earnings to subscribers. Today, Elon Musk announced that Tesla is going private at $420, safe deal, funds are secured. There are only two persons in the world who could have known about this matter.
You are about to make millions of dollars investing in Tesla, or losing all your money. Don’t complain later on. You were warned!
I know that you are used to listening to how great is Warren Buffett as a long-term investor in the markets, but the greatest investors in the world have exposed him. The fact is that experience tells us the true idiot does repeat the same mistake all the time.
Never seen stocks so cheap in my life. I have been buying so much that I am on full margin. The profits are staggering except for those morons listening to Wall Street crooks – these are bankrupt. The fact is that stocks are undervalued by 500%
Attend Autonomous Trading free conference calls for investors in the markets. Therein, its CEO reveals the best companies to invest in long-term. Recently, I doubled my investment position in Hubspot.
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We raised the highest capital ever selling Nvidia to retail investors to sell short hyped companies ahead of the crash as Hertz and Tesla. Learn how common and professional investors are using Autonomous Trading AI BOT to beat anyone in the investment industry. Tesla Prominent investors have bailed out of Tesla leaving retail investors holding the bag. Nothing good is coming since Elon Musk is an insider trader.
We got rid of overbought and hyped stocks as Tesla raising a large amount of cash to invest in value investing buying a large stake in Micron after dumping them on retail investors at new all-time highs for the benefit of our dear subscribers as reported in the Live Blog.
I was here telling investors when to add to their Apple investment as well as when to take some profits off the table in real-time on Twitter. These artificially intelligent real-time trade alerts on Apple are rather important because they prove the following.
Nowadays that everyone seems more interested in Tesla than anything else out there, I decided to go with Warren Buffett doubling my stake after-hours at $168 as soon as Apple reported earnings.


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No products in the cart.
Last week Samsung released its software camera fix for the Exynos-powered Galaxy S20 series and now the is making its way to more regions and is also arriving to Snapdragon units in the US. The Samsung Camera app will now boast the latest 10.0.01.98 build number.
The S20 Ultra’s autofocus and skin tone problems were addressed by the OTA update that is now seeding to S20 Ultra, S20+ and S20 users in Germany and the US on both carrier locked and SIM-free units.
The update carries the same G98xxXXUxATCH build number where “xx” will vary depending on which S20 device you own and “U” signaling carrier-locked devices while “U1” being carrier unlocked phones. The update ranges between 366MB and 415 MB depending on the unit and also brings device stability and other bug fixes.


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UC Berkeley innovations speed up 3D bioprinting
More than 113,000 people are currently on the national transplant list. And with a shortage of donors, this means that about 20 people will die every day while waiting for an organ, according to the U.S. Department of Health.
But this could change thanks to researchers at UC Berkeley, who have developed a device that may be key to the viability of bioprinting, an extension of 3D printing that allows living tissue, bone, blood vessels and even whole organs to be printed on demand. A paper on this work was recently published in the Journal of Medical Devices.
Currently, there are two major hurdles standing in the way of organ printing. Because living cells and functioning organs require specialized temperature and chemical conditions to survive, cells deteriorate during the actual 3D printing of a large organ because the process is too slow. And even if the organ can be printed in 3D, the logistics of transporting it requires storage, which has always been a bottleneck for transplants.
To minimize cell death during the 3D printing of an organ, the Berkeley researchers developed a technique that employs parallelization, in which multiple printers produce 2D layers of tissues simultaneously. These 2D layers are then stacked layer-by-layer to form 3D structures.
To overcome the storage problem of these manufactured organs, the team relied on seven decades of knowledge and techniques for preserving single cells. Their technique freezes each 2D layer immediately after it is merged into the 3D structure, and this process of freezing a single layer of cells provides optimal conditions for surviving the process of freezing, storage and transportation.
“Right now, bioprinting is primarily used to create a small volume of tissue. The problem with 3D bioprinting is that it is a very slow process, so you can’t print anything big because the biological materials will deteriorate by the time you finish. One of our innovations is that we freeze the material as it is being printed, so that the biological material is preserved, and we can control the freezing rate,” said Boris Rubinsky, professor of mechanical engineering and co-author of the paper.
Rubinsky also noted that by printing tissues in 2D first and then assembling them into a 3D object at a different station, his team significantly sped up production by essentially eliminating printing time. After the assembly line of bioprinters creates in parallel multiple 2-D layers of tissue, a robotic arm—augmented by master of engineering students—picks up the layer and carries it to another station. There, the tissues are stacked together to create a 3D object and fused via freezing.
“As each layer is stacked to form a 3D structure, one of the innovations we implemented was to dip the 3D structure into a cryogenic bath to freeze it rather than having the bath fill up to meet each layer,” said Joseph Sahyoun (Meng ’18, ME) and co-author on the paper. “This method allowed us to control the freezing rate more accurately.”
In addition to organs, another potential application for this technology is food. Layer-by-layer printing and assembly allows manufacturers to explore different textures of food. It also allows them to develop food that is responsive to the needs of sick people.
“Dysphagia is very common among the geriatric population. Because these patients have difficulty swallowing, they are being fed food that is basically mush, so they don’t have an appetite, and the problem exacerbates,” said Rubinsky. “But if you can create food with texture, this may be more appetizing. Then as they chew, the food will melt in their mouth so they can swallow and get the nutrients. Our technology allows you to do that with any kind of food.”
He notes that the technology also allows for the development of industrial scale manufacturing of frozen food, where the structure of ice crystals in the food is meticulously controlled at the single cell layer throughout the product.
“This is important because the size of the ice crystals and the homogeneity of the ice crystals are a central element in the quality of the frozen food,” said Rubinsky.
Although the concept of stacking thin layers to create a 3D object isn’t new to manufacturing, it’s novel to do so with biological materials.
“There is a big difference between materials used in conventional lamination – like paper, plastics, ceramics and metals – that are rigid, even in thin layers, and biological matter consisting mostly of liquid that are much less so.” said Gideon Ukpai, a graduate student in Rubinsky’s lab and lead author of the paper.”
So, the team used of judiciously designed hydrophilic and hydrophobic rigid surfaces on which the 2D layers are printed. These specially designed layers allow the 2D layers to be transported across distances, regardless of the direction of gravity, for placement onto a 3D object.
In addition to research, Ukpai also served as a mentor to the master of engineering students, who are all listed as co-authors on the paper. For future research, Ukpai and a new cohort of masters of engineering students from the Fung Institute will work to better optimize this process, characterize the products and determine the appropriate scenarios that present the most advantages.
Learn more: Mass producing biomaterials
The Latest on: 3D bioprinting
via Google News
The Latest on: 3D bioprinting
- Meat has been 3D-printed in space, showing ‘slaughter-free’ beef can be produced anywhereon October 15, 2019 at 5:59 am
The printer itself was developed by 3D Bioprinting Solutions, a Russian laboratory for biotechnological research (which was founded by Invitro, the largest private medical operation in Russia).
- Startup 3D Prints Meat In Space, But The Taste Needs Workon October 14, 2019 at 1:41 pm
A 3D bioprinter, developed by Russian company 3D Bioprinting Solutions, finalizes it by assembling the tissue. The successful experiment that took place on Sept. 26 "serves as an essential growth ...
- Russian Tech Company Behind Space Cultured Meat Wants To Make Food More Sustainable On Earthon October 13, 2019 at 1:18 pm
Moscow-based 3D Bioprinting Solutions, the R&D subsidiary of Vivax Bio, is primarily focused on developing the whole range of the hardware, materials, technologies and products comprising the 3D ...
- 'One small nibble for man': 3D printer makes meat in spaceon October 12, 2019 at 10:13 pm
The creators say it is the first to create a small amount of artificial meat in conditions of weightlessness. “It's one small nibble for man, one giant bite for mankind,” said Yusef Khesuani of 3D ...
- Beef 3D printed in space for the first time | IDTechEx Research Articleon October 11, 2019 at 9:30 am
3D Bioprinting Solutions, Meal Source Technologies, Aleph Farms and Finless Foods complete the first cultured meat biofabrication experiment on board the ISS. For more information see the IDTechEx ...
- Meat in space: Crew 3D prints synthetic beef on International Space Stationon October 11, 2019 at 7:33 am
Aleph Farms is an Israeli company that is working with 3D Bioprinting Solutions in the effort to reduce the need to kill actual animals to produce the world’s protein needs. As part of that effort, ...
- In a first, astronauts 3D-print meat in spaceon October 10, 2019 at 11:28 pm
When the vials arrived at the station, Russian astronauts inserted them into a magnetic printer from the Russian company 3D Bioprinting Solutions. The printer then replicated the cells to produce ...
- BIOLIFE4D CEO Says Firm ‘One Step Closer’ to 3D Printing a Viable Human Hearton October 10, 2019 at 12:45 pm
An Illinois-based biomedical technology firm, BIOLIFE4D, reached a watershed moment last month after successfully 3D bioprinting a miniaturized human heart. While not intended for human transplants, ...
- The World Market for 3D Bioprinting (2019-2024): Growing Demand for Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Research Presents Opportunitieson October 9, 2019 at 12:28 pm
DUBLIN, Oct. 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "3D Bioprinting Market by Component (3D Bioprinters (Microextrusion, Inkjet, Laser), Bioink (Natural, Synthetic, Hybrid)), Material (Hydrogel, Living Cells), ...
- Astronauts 3D-Print Beef on the International Space Stationon October 9, 2019 at 6:26 am
The next step might be to generate real meat with the aid of bioprinting. Israeli startup Aleph Farms has partnered with several 3D printing companies to conduct an experiment on the International ...
via Bing News


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The world’s top blockchain ecosystem and infrastructure provider for cryptocurrencies, Binance, has teamed up with Virtuzone, the leading provider of business formation and corporate services in the UAE, to make Binance Pay the first cryptocurrency payment method for business setup in the country. By facilitating cryptocurrency payments for company establishment, Virtuzone, a leader in the early adoption of cryptocurrencies, aims to lower obstacles to entrepreneurship and provide opportunities for foreign companies to engage with the vibrant startup scene in the country.
In addition to advancing the usage of blockchain and cryptocurrencies in the nation through the strategic alliance, Virtuzone also hopes to play a significant part in the Web 3.0 movement in the United Arab Emirates.
Neil Petch, Chairman and Co-founder of Virtuzone, stated:
“The partnership we have forged with Binance reflects our commitment to continue our pursuit of innovative solutions that will positively impact the UAE startup community, whilst expanding the future possibilities and opportunities for Virtuzone and its clients.”
Contactless, international, and secure bitcoin payments and transfers are made possible by Binance Pay, a company-developed cryptocurrency payment mechanism. It allows for user-to-user payments, a variety of cryptocurrencies, and instant international money transfers. As a result, there are no longer any costs or delays related to transactions handled by middlemen or other third parties.