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USA / Global
volkswagen bluesport concept Articles
Volkswagen says no to a BlueSport production version, compact sports car not considered
A Volkswagen official told Autovisie that a production version of the BlueSport concept is not being considered.
Feb 19 2014
Volkswagen still considering a compact roadster - report
Volkswagen design chief Walter de Silva has revealed the company is still considering a roadster like the BlueSport concept.
May 02 2013
Volkswagen BlueSport still under consideration - report
When Porsche CEO Matthias Müller halted plans for an entry-level roadster, many of us assumed the Volkswagen Bluesport was dead in the water. However, that doesn't appear to be the case according to a recent report.
Feb 03 2012
VW Roadster scheduled for 2014 launch - report
According to a recent report, the production version of the Volkswagen BlueSport concept will be launched in early 2014.
Nov 01 2010
VW Test Mules Spied: Golf VII and BlueSport Coupe?
Volkswagen was out testing two prototypes. Is one the Volkswagen Golf VII? Is the other the two-door Volkswagen Golf Coupe? Details inside.
Sep 30 2009
Mystery VW Test Mule Spied - Possible BlueSport Concept?
A yellow Volkswagen Group mule has been spied on the road. The car is dressed like a Golf V GTI but is obviously not. Are we seeing a production version of the 2009 BlueSport concept?
Apr 08 2009
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U.S. consumer price growth eased somewhat from January to February, but it still points to a high inflation rate, which poses a problem for the Federal Reserve at a sensitive time for the financial system.
Prices increased 0.4% last month, the government said on Tuesday, slightly less than January’s 0.5% rise. However, after excluding volatile food and energy costs, the so-called headline prices increased 0.5% in February, just above the 0.4% gain seen in January.
The Fed pays special attention to core measures as a measure of potential inflationary pressures. Even with prices rising at much higher rates than the Fed wants, some economists are expecting the central bank to pause a run of rate increases at its meeting next week.
With the failures of two major banks since Friday raising concerns about other regional banks, the Fed might for now be focused more on building trust in the financial system than its longer-term quest to curb inflation.
That is a dramatic change from just one week ago, when Chairman Jerome Powell suggested before a Senate committee that the Fed might increase the benchmark rate by a significant half-point at a meeting on March 21-22, unless inflation cooled.
When the Fed increases its key interest rates, that usually leads to higher rates for mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and many commercial loans. Measured relative to prices one year ago, inflation has been falling for eight months.
In February, consumer prices were up 6% compared with 12 months ago, less than the 6.4% increase compared with January, and far less than the last spike in June, which was 9.1%. Yet that remains far above the Fed’s goal of 2% annual inflation. Core prices rose 5.5% in February compared with 12 months earlier, slightly below the 5.6% pace seen in January.
Nearly three-quarters of the increase in prices in the past month was due to rising housing costs. But most economists expect that rising rent costs will be slower in coming months, as more multifamily units are built and more new leases are signed at lower prices. Such a drop may slow inflation even further. Prices continued to rise last month in the vast services sector of the economy.
Restaurant prices rose 0.6% from January to February. Auto insurance rose 0.9%, and hotels were up an impressive 2.3%. Air travel, after being on the decline for months, skyrocketed 6.4% just in February, a 27% increase over the same period last year.
The Federal Reserve has been heavily focused on services, which are highly reliant on workers, and where rising prices are driven in large part by higher wages. Labor shortages in many service industries are driving up wages.
Clothing costs rose by 0.8% last month. New vehicle prices rose only 0.2%, a second consecutive month. Used car prices fell 2.8%, their eighth consecutive month of decline.
Consumers are getting some relief in grocery stores. Food prices rose 0.3% in February, their lowest monthly increase in almost two years, although still up over 10% year-over-year. The price of eggs, which had skyrocketed 55% compared with the same time last year, actually fell 6.7% just in February.
“These data support a quarter-point rate hike” at the Fed’s meeting next week,” Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, said in a research note. “The decision ultimately will depend not only on the economic data but also financial stability concerns, which could keep the Fed on the sidelines next week.”
Nationwide, persistently high inflation is still straining many consumers. Mani Bhushan, who owns four Taco Ocho restaurants in the Dallas area, has been struggling to keep up with sharply rising prices of eggs, chicken, flour and black beans. He has also had to increase wages about 30% in order to attract and retain the workers he needs. To pay for his higher costs, Bhushan raised some prices last week, after doing so four months ago.
“You get hit from every side,” he said. “We don’t make much profit anymore.”
He plans to increase prices again in May, if the price of food does not come down any more. For the Fed, it is unclear if it will continue raising rates in the upcoming session in order to fight inflation.
Jan Hatzius, a senior economist at Goldman Sachs, said Goldman now believes the Fed’s policymakers will stop raising rates next week. Goldman had earlier predicted a quarter-point hike. In his note to clients, Mr. Hazius noted the Federal Reserve appears even more focused at this time on keeping the banking sector and financial markets quiet than it is on fighting inflation.
“We would be surprised if, just one week after going to great lengths to support financial stability, policymakers risked undermining their efforts by raising interest rates again,” Hatzius wrote in a separate note Monday.
If the Fed really does suspend rate increases this month, Hatzius predicted, it is likely to resume them at the next meeting, in May. Ultimately, she still expected the Fed to increase its headline rate, which influences many consumer and commercial loans, to around 5.4% this year, from its current 4.6%. The Fed could receive some inadvertent assistance with its fight against inflation as a result of the effects of the failures of Silicon Valley banks and Signature Bank in New York. In response, many smaller- to mid-sized banks could scale back lending in order to strengthen their balance sheets. A slower lending rate may help to cool the economy and reduce inflation.
The following day, Powell testified before a House panel, warning that there was not yet a final determination on what the Fed would do at its March meeting.
Despite this, on Friday, the administration reported employers added a healthy 311,000 jobs last month.
That is a potentially strong indication that inflation is continuing its march upward, leading to predictions that a one-half-point increase will occur next week when the Federal Reserve meets. Later in the day, however, the failure of the Silicon Valley bank sent a whole new set of worries into the Fed.

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text: Throughout the day Pure Sole has given you exclusive looks at some upcoming Air Jordan releases that we spotted at a larger Jordan Brand Holiday 2014 Preview. Part of this massive showcase was the selection of new Air Jordan Retros, some never-before-seen Air Jordan XX9 releases, and the freshly unveiled Jordan CP3.VIII, but there’s a lot more in store on the apparel and footwear front. Jordan Brand’s key focus is on training during the colder months, so expect a lot of apparel suitable for layering (peep the 700-down jacket). On the lifestyle side, get ready for emphasis on the Air Jordan VII – silhouette that will celebrate 23 years in 2015. Get a first-hand look at all that went down during the Jordan Brand Holiday 2014 Preview and stay tuned to Sneaker News for the latest in Jordan Release Dates and much more.


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The search portal that boasts spam-free, filtered search results is putting its money where its mouth is; TechCrunch reports that Blekko has banned a number of spammy content providers from its search engine. Marketers should take this as a cue that it's time to invest in quality web content.
According to the source, Blekko, the slashtag search engine, has blocked the top 20 sites users have marked as spam. This is bad news for these sites, but good news for users – and the move may help draw more searchers to Blekko.
As Brafton has reported, Blekko is a rapidly rising search portal. It was handling more than 1 million queries per day in its first week of operation. Plus, the site just launched mobile apps, making it available to on-the-go internet users. Marketers who want their sites to be accessible to these slashtag searchers will need to up the ante with content this year, and quality content is increasingly important for high ranking in other leading search engines, as well.
Updating algorithms to maintain quality web content is becoming the search engine norm. Brafton reported just last week that Google updated its algorithm to reduce spam in search results. With this in mind, marketers must invest in quality, custom content development.
Businesses might consider adding industry-specific custom news content to their sites to maintain fresh, frequently indexed web pages. Unique, branded journalistic content may become mainstream this year. As Brafton has reported, B2B marketers suggest hiring journalists will help overcome their content marketing challenges in 2011.


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Wales is voting today on whether to make illegal the manufacturing and sales of plastic microbeads.
A British court has ruled in favor of Olaplex in an ongoing dispute over hair protectant.
Consumers want to align with brands that share their values — and sustainability is gaining as a priority.
To help celebrate the brand’s silver anniversary, Carol’s Daughter is launching the #NoApologies #BornandMade campaign.
Their agreement goes into effect on Jan. 1.
Under the scheme, employees will be able to buy 500,000 shares at a discounted rate.
The limited-edition capsule collection is due out starting in July.
Consumers are demanding radical transparency and one-on-one connections with brands.
The reports record the top 10 brands in cosmetics, skin and hair care with the most earned media value in March.
This is a new role at Coty Inc. and a new appointment to the executive committee.
The reports show salon services grew by two percent, salon hair care grew by 1.4 percent and blow-dry bars grew by 25 percent in 2017.
Hermès ceo Axel Dumas and Patrice Caine, chairman and ceo of Thales, will join the French beauty giant’s board.


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Americans saw their paychecks shrink in January. The reason: A temporary cut in Social Security withholdings expired at the end of last year, which pushed payroll taxes back to 6.2 percent from 4.2 percent.
The expiration of the payroll tax cut, according to Capital Economics chief U.S. economist Paul Ashworth, likley contributed to what could be a 3.5 percent month-over-month slump in personal disposable income in January.
“We expect any decline in real consumption to be pretty modest, however, with households absorbing the loss of income by lowering their saving rather than spending,” Ashworth said in a note to clients.
Nevertheless, for the first quarter of 2013 as a whole, real consumption growth is likely to be only 1 percent annualized, with gross domestic product growth a little stronger at 2 percent, he added.
One of the most common tools used by policymakers over the past half-century to revive sluggish demand during recessions has been cutting taxes. This usually takes the form of either a tax rebate, or a reduction in tax rates.
Policymakers rely on households to spend these extra funds in the short term to boost aggregate spending and help bump the economy out of a recession.
In a new study, economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that lowering the withholding rate (the method used in the Obama administration’s 2011 and 2012 payroll-tax cuts) led workers to spend a bigger chunk of their extra income -- and to spend more overall -- than they intended to.
The economists, Grant Graziani, Wilbert van der Klaauw and Basit Zafar, surveyed workers in early 2011 and then in December 2011 to gauge the effects of the two-percentage-point payroll tax cut, which put an additional $1,000 a year in the pocket of the average household earning $50,000 annually. It affected nearly 155 million workers, who saw a total increase of $112 billion in their 2011 paychecks. The provision was not renewed in the fiscal cliff deal.
The Fed researchers found that while workers on average said they planned on spending only about 14 percent of the additional cash, they reported months later they actually had spent 36 percent -- more than twice as much.
The expiration of the payroll tax cut, coupled with the impact of a likely drop back in dividend payments in January, means that last month probably saw a sharp drop in U.S. personal income.
December’s 2.6 percent jump in personal incomes -- the largest monthly gain since December 2004 -- revealed a massive spike in special dividend payments at the end of last year as firms brought forward payouts scheduled for 2013 because of the risk that dividend taxation rates could rise sharply at the start of this year.
The nearly $400 billion annualized spike was bigger than Microsoft Corp.’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) special one-off payment back in late 2004.
Accelerated bonus payments, made ahead of the increase in marginal tax rates for high-income earners, probably added another $15 billion annualized to December's incomes.
Americans decided to stash away most of the extra income as the savings rate jumped to 6.5 percent -- its highest since May 2009.
January’s consumption level likely remained unchanged, as consumers dipped into their savings to boost spending.
“The upshot is that the savings rate could drop from 6.5 percent to as low as 3.5 percent" in January, Ashworth said.
From what we already know, the U.S. auto industry showed surprising strength in January. Overall, the industry sold more than 1 million vehicles last month, a 14.2 percent gain over the same month a year earlier, according to Autodata Corp.
All three domestic manufacturers -- General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM), Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) and Chrysler Group -- reported double-digit gains. Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203) and Honda Motor Co. Ltd (TYO:7267), the two biggest Japanese brands, also posted strong sales.
In a new analysis released on Tuesday, the Congressional Budget Office projected that the U.S. economy will grow just 1.4 percent this year if $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts take effect as scheduled on March 1.
The unemployment rate, now 7.9 percent, is projected to stay above 7.5 percent through next year. That would be the sixth straight year above that level, the longest period of such high unemployment in 70 years, the report said.


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Just minutes after offering a touching tribute on Monday night to late actor Bob Saget, who passed away over the weekend, late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel got back to his regular shtick of mocking Americans for thinking differently from himself and his Progressive Hollywood friends.
The liberal television personality took a shot at COVID-19 vaccine skeptics with a parody advertisement for an “anti-vax Barbie” during Monday night’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!.”
“There’s so much stuff to sell to these anti-vaxxers and the folks at Mattel are no dummies,” Kimmel joked Monday night during his show. “They made a mint over Christmas with a twist on what is probably America’s all-time favorite doll.”
Over the next 60 seconds, Kimmel’s show poked fun at a range of controversial claims surrounding COVID-19 vaccines by pitching an anti-vaccine version of America’s favorite doll.
“There’s a new doll in town and the fun is contagious,” a narrator is heard saying as two giggling girls play with the Barbies. “It’s anti-vax Barbie. She’s strong. She’s independent. She doesn’t trust science.”
The two girls then take over the fake commercial, going back-and-forth reciting claims allegedly made by anti-vaxxers.
“Bill Gates is the antichrist,” one girl said while holding a Barbie wearing a shirt that said, “I call my own shots.”
“Vaccines have Satan’s blood,” the other girl added.
“Says here Moderna turns your teeth Jewish,” one girl said while the Barbie doll sat in front of a computer wearing a shirt that said, “I am not your lab rat.”
The narrator then stated that buyers can take their Barbies anywhere from the grocery store to the horse stables before the ad cuts to a pretend grocery store where a masked Barbie employee tells an unmasked Barbie customer that she can’t be in the store without a mask on.
“I have a medical condition,” the unmasked Barbie responded before launching into a fight with the store employee as a third Barbie recorded the incident on her phone.
At the stables, the ad mocked using Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 as a Barbie thanked her horse for sharing its medicine. Ivermectin — prescribed by some doctors to treat the disease and famously used by likes of Joe Rogan and Aaron Rodgers — has been slandered as nothing but a horse dewormer by left-leaning media outlets such as CNN.
Near the end of the fake ad, the narrator joked that the Barbie is available for purchase only in the Republican states of Florida and Kentucky.
Certainly, since the start of the pandemic, numerous unfounded conspiracies about vaccines and COVID-19 treatments have circulated online. Some may be worthy of mocking. But Kimmel’s intentions are clear: He wants to lump all vaccine skeptics into one boat and shame them.
You can watch the full sketch below starting at the 10-minute mark:


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Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) March 26, 2010
With the advantage of the Federal Home Buyer Tax Credit, and many buyers finally feeling like the economy is stable enough to make a move again, the 2010 selling season has kicked off with a flurry of activity at Renaissance Bay Condominiums.
Judie Todd, Sales Manager at Renaissance Bay, said there has been an increase in the number of people coming in who are seriously looking for a home instead of people who are “just looking.”
“People interested in making a move have been waiting and watching the economy,” Todd said. “We believe adjusting our pricing has helped Buyers become interested in taking another look at us, but the fact that they are more confident in the economy has resulted in a readiness to make a commitment.”
According to the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors, the total Indiana sales volume increased 18 percent and average and median sale prices increased 10 and 14 percent, respectively, during November 2009 to January 2010.
The excitement at Renaissance Bay is not only about the increase in traffic. Renaissance Bay has been hosting numerous Broker Open Houses and is participating in the 2010 BAGI Parade of Homes in April. Plans to host a Boat Show in June are being formulated. More information about the Boat Show will be forthcoming.
About Renaissance Bay Condominiums
Renaissance Bay Condominiums is the new Destination for Luxury Condominium Living on the north side of Indianapolis, Indiana. The community is wrapped around a 12-acre bay and is bounded to the east and the south by White River. It is tucked into a waterfront setting and is only minutes from shopping, dining, commerce and I-465. It’s an easy drive to the Fashion Mall, Broad Ripple, Nora and Downtown Indianapolis. The community is offering an intimate cluster of three story townhomes and single floor flat style units with elevator access. Renaissance Bay is fast becoming the most prestigious address in Indianapolis. For more information, visit our website at http://www.RenaissanceBay.com.
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A Transformative Journey with Friendship Colours of the Chars through upcycling of preloved clothing
by Tamim Khan and Syed Abu Sinjan Saadat
August 24, 2023
In a harmonious blend of conscientious choices and profound change, Friendship Colours of the Chars stands for sustainability, tradition, and community empowerment. As the world increasingly recognises the negative environmental impact of fast fashion, this pioneering slow fashion brand in Bangladesh has been a consistent name in the realm of sustainable fashion, and it does so this August with a remarkable initiative that intertwine its values and narratives.
August: A Month of Sustainability and Empowerment
As August unfolds its vibrant tapestry, Friendship Colours of the Chars (FCOC) welcomes all patrons and change advocates to embark on a transformative odyssey. A celebration not confined to fabric but deeply rooted in responsible choices, this brand introduced a special prelude to Secondhand Wardrobe Day on August 25. The slow fashion brand invited patrons to turn in their cherished used items to participate in a sale of “preloved” FCOC clothes.
Throughout the month of August, the reselling initiative took centre stage, stirring a ripple of positive change for the environment and society. By reselling preloved FCOC items, patrons could participate in a movement that significantly reduces textile waste and curbs the demand for new production. Each resold piece contributes to a smaller carbon footprint, resource conservation, and a kinder planet, while also letting these items continue to weave stories and narratives in new realms.
Setting a Trend
The Friendship Colours of the Chars campaign to purchase and sell second-hand items aimed to not only give customers a chance to refresh their wardrobe sustainably, but also to extend the lifespan of products. By providing a platform for customers to sell items they’ve previously purchased from the store, the brand encourages a circular economy, enhancing the value of each product and reducing its environmental footprint. Reusing eliminates the need for new production, thereby setting an example of sustainability and longevity.
On August 25, patrons were welcome to peruse the submissions from other patrons, perhaps seeing their own preloved items finding new owners, as they, in turn, gave a new home to someone else’s.
Bangladesh has long been a hub for the fashion industry, but the concept of sustainable fashion is still relatively new. FCOC, through its celebration of Secondhand Hand Wardrobe Day, is leading the way by establishing a trend that promotes responsible consumption and production. The brand’s initiative is a significant step forward in redefining the fashion landscape of the country.
Awakening Consciousness in Customers
Patron Farhana Rashid Tonu, an architectural designer, expressed her excitement, calling the initiative a remarkable way to foster sustainability and create an ecosystem that aligns with her values. She also pointed out that it also brought down prices. “This is an opportunity to take home those exquisite Nokshi Kantha pieces that usually cost an organ,” she said.
The celebration of Secondhand Hand Wardrobe Day by Friendship Colours of the Chars signifies a crucial step towards sustainable fashion practices in Bangladesh. By offering an innovative platform to buy, sell, and prolong the life of fashion items, the brand pioneers an eco-friendly approach that goes beyond the norm. As customers and enthusiasts embrace this initiative, the momentum for sustainable fashion gains ground, setting the stage for a more responsible and conscientious fashion industry.


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ShopBack, an Rakuten-backed ecommerce loyalty platform, today announced it would acquire Hoolah, a buy now, pay later startup. Both companies are located in Singapore and have operations in Southeast Asian markets. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
ShopBack will acquire all of Hoolah. However, the BNPL brand, app, and website will remain in operation after the merger closes. Henry Chan, ShopBack's founder and chief executive officer, told TechCrunch. ShopBacks platform will get new features as a result of the merger. It will no longer be a loyalty app that allows e-commerce purchases but it will now allow transactions with BNPL options.
ShopBack also acquired Ebates Korea and Seedly, a personal finance community.
ShopBack has raised $126 million from investors such as Rakuten and Temasek Holdings. EV Growth, EDBI, East Ventures, and EV Growth. It is currently used by approximately 30 million shoppers at 8,000 merchants across nine Asia-Pacific countries.
Hoolahs was founded in 2018 by iGlobe Partners and Accelerasia Ventures. Genting Ventures is Maximilian Bittner (the founder and former chief executive of Lazada Group). The BNPL service allows shoppers to pay for their purchases in three installments without interest. It is currently available at 2,000 merchants in Singapore and Malaysia, and Hong Kong.


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2019 Bentley Continental GT First Glimpse Revealed Ahead Of Frankfurt Debut
All new Bentley 2019 Continental GT has been spotted ahead of Frankfurt debut. The upcoming luxury car looks more than ready to take on the rest of the luxury grand tourer segment.
Visually, the 2019 Bentley Continental GT hasn't changed all that much. It's got the same basic look as the outgoing model, only sleeker and more refined from the previous models. However, there is an updated headlight and new taillights, there's a lot more going on. The 2019 Bentley Continental GT has a wheelbase 5.3 inches longer than the previous Continental, as reported by Motor Trend.
Inside of 2019 Bentley Continental GT, there's a sea of leather, wood, and metal finishes like in any ultra-luxury coupe. Bentley claims that each cabin uses more than 100 square feet of wood and it takes nine hours to hand-fit the inlays. The car has 20-way adjustable seats, which are covered in leather and get a "diamond in diamond" quilting pattern that reportedly took 18 months to develop.
According to CNET, tech-wise, the 2019 Bentley Continental GT comes with a 10-speaker sound system and 16-speaker or 18-speaker systems are also available. The instrument panel in the car is a giant screen and there is also Apple CarPlay that ridiculous rotating touchscreen, however, it doesn't appear Android Auto came along for the ride.
2019 Bentley Continental GT, under the hood, carries a 6.0-liter W12 that puts out 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. In combination with a new all-wheel drive system, it'll hit 62 mph in 3.6 seconds and keep going until 207 mph. A new electric power steering system makes the Continental GT to be equipped with active safety systems.
The 2019 Bentley Continental GT will be on official display at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. However, the pricing and specific release-date information are still not revealed.
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Kolkata, Dec 30 (IANS) Grilled marinated chicken tikkas and smoking seekh kebabs from Pakistan and rice dishes from Bangladesh with Ilish (hilsa fish) are not only tasty but healthy too, according to chefs from the two countries who are here for a fair.
Two stalls from the neighbouring countries are not only rustling up delicacies at the ongoing 27th Industrial India Trade Fair here, but also dispelling myths about traditional foods.
Be it the warm platters of aromatic Sindhi Dum Biriyani, or the slow cooked chicken or mutton Nahari stew, the 15 dishes served at the kiosk of Pakistan’s Warsi chain of restaurants are much in demand.
Despite the rich creamy texture, the items are surprisingly high on nutrition, said chef Md. Arif of the Warsi restaurant that has outlets in Karachi, Lahore and Faizabad.
“The cooking techniques that we use across the border, such as grilling and slow cooking, ensure that the nutritive properties of poultry and vegetables are retained,” Arif, a resident of Karachi, told the media here.
Arif also swears by the combination of spices used.
“The garam masala that we use is very different from the Indian version. When mixed in proper proportions with powdered dry fruit, it doesn’t heat up the body too much.”
“In fact, in the chilly winter, spices and dry fruits are necessary. Our families have been surviving on this for generations without any side-effects,” the 49-year-old Arif said about his family’s secret spice mix.
At the other end, the smell of oil squeezed out from the prized Hilsa fish has been a big draw.
From Ilish biriyani to Ilish pulao and Ilish khichdi, the fish reigns supreme at the Bangladeshi food outlet.
“We use all parts of the fish in our cooking. While the khichdi and pulao have boneless fish pieces, the biriyani has pieces with bones but no eggs. The oil that is used is also derived from the fish,” said Atanu Pandit of the Bangladeshi food stall.
This ensures no extra oil is needed during the cooking, and the fish in itself is nutritious due to the presence of Omega-3 fatty acids.
“Ilish is very good for the brain and nervous system. The fusion of rice and fish is healthy. For the set-up here, we have used the Ilish caught in Bangladesh rivers,” said Pandit.


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Brocade products are introduced at the press conference.
The 3-day event will introduce the culture and tourism potential of Dak Nong to visitors.
An exhibition of brocade products and cuisine, a seminar on Vietnamese brocade culture, a street festival, and a brocade fashion show will be held.
Addressing a local press conference on Tuesday, Ton Thi Ngoc Hanh, Deputy Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee, said: “The festival is part of provincial efforts to revive and preserve the traditional culture. We’ll look for ways to apply traditional brocade patterns to modern fashion so that designers can make clothes that will be accepted by consumers. We want to combine economic development with preservation of local traditions.”
A Dak Nong investment promotion conference will announce investment decisions and deliver business licenses representing a total capital of more than 4.3 billion USD.


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Virgin Mobile has suprised the telco market announcing double data on its $60 and $90 plans, including for those that bring their own devices.
Telstra has been fined more than $10,000 after a massive data breach in which the information of more than 15,000 customers leaked online. It is not the first time.
Telstra is ramping up its strategy designed to make it a dominant player in the digital marketplace with CEO David Thodey announcing today that the telco will extensively change the way it interacts with its customers through significant investment in new digital technology over the next three years.
New customers are being added to the satellite service because NBN Co hasn't rolled out fibre to the area because[…]
Might I respectively suggest that this is probably another survey designed for feel good results and as such was a[…]
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Returning for one week only between June 10 and 16 in the exclusive setting of London’s bustling business district Canary Wharf, Motorexpo’s revolutionary show format is a real fan favourite, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. With more brands exhibiting this year than ever before, visitor numbers are expected to exceed the record 460,000 who attended last year’s event.
Commenting after more details were released of the brand new Panamera E-Hybrid, the German manufacturer confirmed that all brand new vehicles, including the 911, will be fitted with a next generation hybrid drive module as standard, which combines both an electric motor and clutches in a single unit.
Struggling against the burden of ever-increasing maintenance and motor insurance costs, taxi firms the world over are looking for more effective ways to save money.
Whilst some are choosing to implement new smartphone technology to their taxi services, others are now looking to introduce electric cars to their fleet.
Car manufacturer Nissan are one company benefiting from this, with its all-electric LEAF model increasingly being used as a taxi car, with its cheaper running costs comparing favourably to standard petrol and diesel vehicles. Continue reading
Aiming to continue the four-door saloon’s dominance of the luxury car market worldwide with its combination of comfort, space, efficiency, safety, quality and connectivity, Mercedes boss Dr Dieter Zetsche has already described the car as “the best automobile in the world.”
“We worked hard on the proportions to give a high level of true and perceived quality,” stated Vidal; with a clean, sculpted look inside and out, the key to the new car’s appeal is its quality.
“We’ve reduced what we call the ‘sideways overhang’ between the windows and the wheel arch edge, and have worked on the width and muscle of the car, too.” Continue reading
It’s never been a better time to be a car buyer. As an ever increasing number of car manufacturers are offering reduced deals to potential customers, new car sales in the UK are continuing to boom. But with so many deals now on offer to the customer, identifying the very best deals has become even harder.
With the release of the Fast And Furious 6 movie now on the horizon, car enthusiasts the world over are once again drooling over the prospect of seeing a startling array of high powered machines put through their paces on the big screen.
Excitement is steadily mounting in the car world for the official unveiling of the BMW i8 supercar. As the finishing touches are made on the vehicle, the German automobile manufacturer has recently revealed design details of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle which is due to release next year.
Ferrari’s latest supercar has been shrouded in secrecy for quite some time now, so when it was finally revealed at the 83rd International Motor Show in Geneva this week there was more than a hint of excitement amongst the motoring fraternity.
You may be thinking right now: “The What?” SsangYong is a South Korean car manufacturer which has been about since 1954 but its models are not common in the UK. Since having 70% of its shared acquired by Indian company Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd in 2011 however, it has been working on some new and ambitious cars.


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April 30, 2009
Verizon Wireless is seeking some more time to divest wireless assets it acquired when it purchased Alltel.
By purchasing the majority of Alltel for $28.1 billion last year, Verizon became the largest U.S. carrier, with about 80 million subscribers. Government agencies approved the deal with the requirement that Verizon divest in certain markets where its wireless assets overlapped. The company's deadline was originally May 9, but Verizon has asked for an additional 60 days to complete the process. "Although the company has diligently managed the divestiture process, the sheer size and complexity of the divestiture coupled with the current economic conditions have forced bidders to conduct far more due diligence than usual," Verizon said in an official filing. "This has made it impossible to complete the divestitures within the initial 120-day period." Alltel is not finished as an independent carrier, though, as it will continue to provide wireless services to about 2.2 million customers in 22 states. It continues to grab new cell phones and smartphones, and it recently picked up the clamshell BlackBerry Pearl Flip. With about 80% of U.S. customers already having cell phone service, the carriers are finding it increasingly tough to have organic subscriber growth. This may lead to more acquisitions, as the Alltel deal was a key factor in Verizon's strong first-quarter results because it added more than 13 million new subscribers. Many are expecting U.S. Cellular to be the next major acquisition, as it has more than 6 million customers and is reportedly facing pressure to sell. Because it uses the CDMA technology for its network infrastructure, it could be an attractive target for Sprint Nextel or Verizon Wireless.
InformationWeek has published an in-depth report on the use of business software on smartphones. Download the report here (registration required).
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Update – Xiaomi has today unveiled the new Mi Mix 3 in China, read on.
Xiaomi is launching many new phones both in India and China; as these are the two most important markets for the brand. Previously, the company launched the flagship Mi8 series in China which is yet to release in India.
But what about the phones that are yet to launch?
Let’s Explore some of the upcoming phones that Xiaomi will launch in India or China in October, November and December 2018:
Let’s start with the new Mi Mix 3 which the company has unveiled on 25th October 2018 and will first launch in China (in November) and maybe can come to India at a later date.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 – Worlds First 5G and 10 GB RAM Mobile
Last year in September, Xiaomi launched its all-screen phone – Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 – which came with almost no bezels and a selfie camera at the bottom chin. This was less than ideal placement for the selfie camera, due to odd angles for taking a selfie. This year’s Mi Mix 3 fixes that, and have many more exciting upgrades.
After almost a year, the company has now launched the Mi Mix 3 in China. The new Mi Mix 3 is the worlds first 5G smartphone, and also boasts of 10 GB Ram. Notably, it is the first mobile to come with 10 GB of Ram.
Another big highlight of the Mi Mix 3 is the sliding front cameras. The phone comes with a Dual Front camera setup which is mounted on a mechanical slider, unlike the Automatic slider that we have seen on the Oppo Find X.
The Mi Mix 3 comes with a 6.39 Inches FHD+ 1080×2340, 19.5:9 aspect ratio display. Apart from that, the phone will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 CPU onboard along with 10/8GB RAM and up to 256GB inbuilt storage option.
There are dual rear cameras with 12 Megapixel resolution with f/1.8 aperture and the second telephoto lens comes with f/2.4 aperture. Additionally, at the front, there are Dual cameras with 20 MP (f/2.2 aperture) + 2 MP resolution.
What’s more, the camera has received an overall score of 103 on the DXOMark signifying that the cameras are top notch on this Xiaomi device.
The phone comes with face unlock technology. Additionally, it has a fingerprint scanner at the back. The phone has a 3200 mAH capacity battery that doesn’t seem to be big enough, however, comes with 10Watts fast Wireless charging support.
For the operating system, it is not tough to guess that the phone will run with the MIUI 10 skin on top of Android Pie operating system.
The Mi Mix 3 with 5G support will be available in early 2019 while rest of the models will start shipping from 1st November.
The base model with 6 GB ram and 128 GB storage costs CNY 3299 or Rs. 34,500 in terms of India price. The 10 GB Special Edition model “Forbidden City Palace Museum” costs CNY 4,999 or Rs. 54,000.
You can read a more detailed article about Mi Mix 3 here.
Xiaomi Mi Max 3/Mi Max 3 Pro
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 is a mammoth phone. And the new Mi Max 3 is no different. The Mi Max 3 was launched in China a couple of weeks back and comes with a massive display and battery capacity.
The phone comes with a dual-camera rear setup which looks very similar to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro and also has a similar configuration (12+5) MP lenses. At the front, there is a more humble 8-megapixel camera that comes with
The Mi Max 3 will likely come with an enormous 6.9-inch Full HD+ (2160 x 1080) IPS LCD screen along with a modern 18:9 aspect ratio. It doesn’t have a notch like most phones launching in the recent weeks.
Apparently, Xiaomi may launch another variant – Mi Max 3 Pro – after the launch of Mi Max 3. This is in relation with the posts that made rounds on Chinese social networking website, Weibo.
Interestingly, the Mi Max 3 came with the tried and tested Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa-Core processor with Adreno 509 GPU. Additionally, the mobile has a massive 5500 mAh battery. It is not clear, but rumors suggest that the PRO variant can come with the Snapdragon 670 or the 710 processor.
The phone comes with 4 GB Ram and is available in 64 GB storage versions.
Xiaomi Mi A3 (Likely Launch in Early 2019)
Mi A3 is going to be the successor to the unsuccessful Xiaomi Mi A2. The Mi A2 has many drawbacks such as lack of expandable storage. A huge camera bump,
The Xiaomi Mi A3 will come with a 5.99-inch LTPS IPS LCD screen having an FHD+ (1080 x 2160 pixels) resolution along with a modern 19:9 ratio and 403 PPI pixel density. Also, the display has a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection from scratches.
Powering the mobile is the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 chipset coupled with Adreno 612 GPU to take care of the graphics. Additionally, the phone will runs on Android Pie 9.0 with the MIUI 10 skin on top.
For photography, there is a 12 MP (f/1.8) + 20 MP (f/1.8) dual camera with PDAF and LED flash at the back. Whereas, a 20-megapixel (f/1.8) front-facing camera clicks the selfies.
Talking about the device’s storage, Mi A2 comes in 64GB/ 128GB inbuilt memory variants with 6GB of RAM.
Strikingly, the phone has a USB Type-C port like its predecessors, and will also come with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone is likely to pack a 3650 mAH battery that comes with Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging technology.
The Xiaomi Mi A3 may launch in early 2019 with a rumored price of Rs. 20000.


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Square Enix recently announced the upcoming launch of Dive In, a new cloud gaming service that brings its back catalog of games to Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Android devices.
Dive In is similar to PS Now, Sony's (NYSE:SONY) cloud gaming platform that streams last-generation PlayStation games to the PS3, PS4, PS Vita, PlayStation TV, and certain Bravia televisions. Since streamed games are essentially interactive videos, cloud gaming is primarily dependent on bandwidth rather than a device's processing power.
Dive In will launch on Oct. 9 in Japan with three titles: Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy XIII, and Season of Mystery: The Cherry Blossom Murders. Other upcoming titles include Final Fantasy VIII and The Last Remnant in November, Final Fantasy XIII-2 in December, and Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns next year. An international launch date for the service hasn't been announced yet.
Like Sony's ongoing beta version of PS Now, Dive In uses a complicated tiered pricing system instead of a flat subscription rate. Players can play a free demo for 30 minutes, after which they can buy rental blocks of three days, 10 days, 30 days, or a full year. Each game also has a different flat rate: Final Fantasy VII costs 200 yen ($1.90) to stream for three days, but Final Fantasy XIII costs 250 yen ($2.35). Renting Final Fantasy VII for a full year costs 1,429 yen ($13.45).
However, just as Sony stated that it intends to eventually decide on a flat subscription rate for PS Now, Square Enix will likely to do the same for Dive In. Does this mean gamers and investors can expect more cloud-based games to hit mobile devices soon?
The business of cloud gaming
Sony is currently the undisputed leader in cloud gaming. Ever since it acquired cloud gaming pioneer Gaikai in 2012, it has planned for a future in which PlayStation games can be played on any device with an Internet connection. There are three main reasons to pursue this strategy:
Wireless and cellular speeds will considerably improve over the next decade, making it possible to stream huge games like interactive YouTube videos.
Cloud gaming platforms would give companies such as Sony full control over their software libraries, like a Netflix for video games, and instantly solve the problem of backward compatibility.
If handheld consoles are eventually consumed by mobile devices, adding cloud gaming services to such products would keep console makers relevant.
However, cloud gaming also must overcome three big hurdles:
Net neutrality, paid peering, and Internet providers throttling connection speeds could make cloud gaming unrealistic.
Renting cloud-based games is sometimes more expensive than buying a physical copy of the game.
Gamers are not likely to completely give up on owning physical and locally stored digital games.
While it makes sense for Sony to expand into the cloud to prepare for the post-PlayStation era, it's an unusually bold move for Square Enix -- which already has multiple titles on PS Now -- to launch a competing mobile service.
Will Square Enix pressure Sony to bring PS Now to mobile devices?
I believe Sony will eventually launch PS Now for its smartphones. First of all, the company recently pulled the plug on PS Mobile, a cross-platform effort for Android devices and PS Vita. It followed that up by introducing Remote Play for Xperia devices, which allows gamers to stream their PS4 games to their smartphones and tablets.
The next logical step would be to launch a PS Now app for smartphones and tablets. Sony could already do this -- 4G LTE connections can provide the 5 megabits per second connection that PS Now requires for smooth game play. However, mobile data caps are the problem -- streaming a game would consume a whopping 2.3 gigabytes of data per hour. That's why Square Enix's Dive In will probably mainly be used over Wi-Fi instead of cellular connections.
Therefore, I think Square Enix is getting a bit ahead of itself with Dive In, while Sony is simply waiting for the right time to introduce PS Now for mobile devices.
A Foolish final thought
Japanese companies are clearly much more excited about cloud gaming than their American counterparts. Whether cloud gaming is the future of video games is unclear, but Sony's bold efforts to dominate this fledgling market are certainly admirable.
Square Enix's Dive In is likely to offer gamers a preview of what PS Now could be like in the future, but it's not really a disruptive threat to Sony. There are still too many unknowns about mobile cloud gaming, and Square Enix's back catalog -- while impressive -- is still nowhere near the size of Sony's PS Now library.


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I’ve been having conversations with some of my customers recently around how they are preparing their business for the future. Most have said they are focusing on cost-cutting, increasing optimisation, and up skilling their current employees - which in light of the COVID-pandemic makes perfect sense.
COVID has given businesses the chance to reinvent themselves and where they stand in their market. It’s also giving workers the chance to have a say in where, when, and how they work in the future. And across every industry, the pandemic has given businesses the opportunity to redefine what work looks like.
As businesses continue to think about how they prepare for the future, and how they prepare for the possibility of being forced to duck in and out of different COVID-levels and restrictions, one of the biggest questions I believe business should be asking themselves is this:
How do we work smarter, not harder?
If businesses are smart about it, they have the opportunity to thrive, not just survive, in a post-COVID world. Xero recently conducted a survey of small Kiwi businesses and found that 85% of them thought that Kiwi businesses needed to learn how to work smarter, not harder, in order to successfully rebuild New Zealand’s economy.
The same survey also found that since New Zealand went into it's first lockdown, almost two-thirds of businesses were wanting to increase their businesses productivity - with 42% of businesses wishing that they had had better processes and procedures in place pre-lockdown.
So how can businesses start to work smarter?
It’s all about enabling productivity for your teams - no matter where, when, or how they are working. The old phrase “working hard, but hardly working” seems to be ringing true for a lot of remote workers at the moment. One survey found that while 80% of office workers felt they were working as hard, or harder at home compared to in the office, over half felt that although they were working as hard, or harder, they were not actually being more productive.
To unlock your remote workforces at-home productivity, it’s vital that businesses start leveraging the right mix of technology for their workforce, in order to better support them - and increase their productivity.
Lots of businesses have already been leveraging cloud-based technology solutions in order to support their remote workforces, as well as to gain more insight and data about their business operations -allowing them to increase productivity, and make better business decisions.
There’s also the opportunity for businesses to be leveraging IoT technology as well, in order to ensure their remote workforces productivity. All industries - whether it’s healthcare, construction, manufacturing or others - can benefit from IoT technology, and its ability to help facilitate the new normal of remote work. IoT technology enables workers to perform tasks that they would normally do on-site, off-site and virtually - providing more freedom and flexibility when it comes to how these day-to-day tasks are carried out.


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Zwilling, the company that owns the Henckels knife brand, is taking a 25.1 percent ownership stake in guided cooking startup, Cuciniale, the two companies announced today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Cuciniale system uses a combination of induction cooktop, temperature sensor and app-delivered instructions to digitally assist people each step of the way through the cooking process.
Both Zwilling and Cuciniale are based in Germany, and the partnership will provide the literally centuries-old Zwilling with the technology to move beyond standard housewares and into the intelligent cooking space. At the same time, Cuciniale will get a boost from the global reach and brand recognition of Zwilling.
This deal isn’t the first partnership for Cuciniale. At the Eurocucina fair in Milan last month, Italian kitchen hood manufacturer Elica showed off a demo of a smart induction cooking system powered by Cuciniale’s technology.
As digital recipes become the center of the action in a connected kitchen, guided cooking will become increasingly important. Once you have all the ingredients, you’ll want to make sure everything is prepared correctly, which is where companies like Cuciniale come in.
But they aren’t the only ones. The Zwilling/Cuciniale announcement follows a number of partnerships between big brands and startups to deliver guided cooking to home kitchens. Whirlpool bought and integrated Yummly’s software platform into its devices. Electrolux will equip some of its home appliances with Innit’s cooking software. LG is adding both Innit and SideChef for similar integrations. And the smart cooking division of Meyer, Hestan Smart Cooking, has started injecting its cooking smarts into high-end appliances such as induction and gas cooktops.
You can be sure I’ll be asking what this new Zwilling partnership means for Cuniciale when its CEO, Holger Henke is on stage with me at our Smart Kitchen Summit in Dublin on June 11. Get your ticket today to hear what he has to say, and to rub shoulders with all the important food tech players from around the world.


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According to the latest news, Tesla (TSLA.US) has received final approval for its mega-factory in Grünheide, a suburb of Berlin, Germany, and German Brandenburg Chancellor Dietmar Woidke will comment on the details of the approval decision at a press conference on Friday, according to media cited by WisdomTree. The plant, which is reportedly designed to eventually produce batteries and up to 500,000 cars a year, will give Tesla a manufacturing base in one of the world's most competitive car markets.
Just late last month, news broke that Tesla would open a new factory in Shanghai, which Tesla would not comment on. However, the source noted that once the new plant is fully operational, Tesla's expanded Shanghai plant will be able to produce up to 2 million vehicles per year. The new factory will be located near Tesla's Shanghai production base, namely Lingang in Pudong New Area.
In 2021, Toyota produced 1.6 million vehicles in China, while GM and its major Chinese partner SAIC produced a combined 1.4 million vehicles. As Tesla's new factory gets closer to production, its pace of breaking through capacity constraints is accelerating, and the dynamic of new energy competition is set to escalate.


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EOS is a blockchain and smart contract platform with a focus on speed, scalability, and user experience. EOS uses delegated proof of stake (DPoS) and a “token ownership as bandwidth” model to achieve high throughput and zero transaction fees. The EOS open-source software is currently being developed by Block.one, a Cayman Islands company. Block.one is conducting a year-long token sale for an ERC20 token called EOS. This token is merely a placeholder until the free software is released on June 1, 2018. At that time, the EOS community will be able to use the software to launch a proprietary blockchain, honoring the distribution of the EOS ERC20 token at the genesis block.
Blockchain Startup Wants to Build an Indestructible Pirate Bay
Is blockchain the savior of the music industry? According to some, the advantages of using blockchain technology are endless. The technology could allow for an unprecedented level of transparent accounting and 'smart contract' fulfillment. On streaming music services, for example, artists and producers could enjoy total accountability, with splits pre-determined and instantly paid.
A Crypto Card Game Is Testing Magic's Records – And It Hasn't Even Launched
An ethereum-based trading card recently flirted with Magic: the Gathering's record, selling for $60,000 at auction.
Join in on the conversation with Alex Masters Lecky when you subscribe to CRYPTONICLES.


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BANGLADESH: New Alliance board members commit to driving safety
Industry executives named to the board of advisors for the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety have been tasked with guiding the group's efforts to improve factory safety and monitoring its progress.
The Alliance has appointed 12 industry leaders to the board of advisors, comprising government, labour and international development heads.
Founded in July 2013 by a group of North American apparel companies, the initiative is a binding, five-year undertaking to improve safety in Bangladeshi ready-made garment factories.
Board members now include Rick Darling, executive director of government and public affairs for Li & Fung; Mohammad Hatem, VP for the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association; Heather Cruden, Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh; Sirajul Islam Rony, president of the Bangladesh National Garment Workers Employees League (BNGWEL); and Avedis Seferian, president and CEO of Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP).
"We are honored to welcome these esteemed global leaders to our board of advisors," said independent chair of the Alliance and former US Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher.
"The combination of their individual perspectives and breadth of expertise across government, women's issues, labor and global development will help us implement our comprehensive commitment to a safer ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh."
Nearly a year to the date of the Rana Plaza factory collapse on 24 April that killed over 1,100 workers, campaigners have been stepping up their calls for brands to pay into funds to compensate workers and their families involved in the disaster.
There has also been criticism over the slow progress on inspections. The goal, the Alliance has said, includes inspecting 100% of its listed garment factories by July.
"To-date, the Alliance is making good progress towards these goals," it said yesterday. "More than 40% of factory inspections have been completed, training programs are underway, the worker helpline will roll out to 50 factories this month, and the foundation has been built to provide important technical support and oversight of the remediation process so that factories can be upgraded and improved."
Companies: Li & Fung Limited
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Deezer has entered another podcast distribution deal, this time with Blubrry. Under the terms of their arrangement, Blubrry will begin distributing its roster of shows to the streaming service this week. This library will join the catalog from Libsyn on Deezer, thanks to a deal announced last week, along with the French company’s lineup of Deezer Originals.
“We touch in excess of 75,000 shows and have 150 million downloads a month across all of our customers,” Blubrry CEO Todd Cochrane said.
Blubrry has secured multiple new partnerships so far this year, including a deal with short-form audio tech company Audioburst and an arrangement with Stagepass to help members monetize by auctioning off unique fan experiences.


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One day I will attend. Those that have attended the Shizuoka Hobby Show in Japan have all mentioned how bonkers it is. Then again, "bonkers" might describe anything toy or hobby related in Japan. I'd go to take it all in, cars or whatever. But obviously there would be a few booths I would make … Continue reading Here is what Tomica Limited Vintage teased at the 2019 Shizuoka Hobby Show in Japan
Lots of TLV news this week. Tomytec announced its June Release, highlighted by a new Nissan GT-R Police car and a new Nissan Gloria casting: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt01_J_lqsa/ We are still waiting to see more Ferraris, which are hopefully coming soon, but these models are all well embedded in TLV's roots. A utility truck, a modern classic, … Continue reading Tomica Limited Vintage announces the June 2019 Release; May now available for pre-order at Japan Booster
Long blog post title. Maybe appropriate considering Tomica Limited Vintage has released the fourth version of one its largest models, the Hino 5-car Transporter. And that, along with the rest of the February 2019 Release is available now at Japan Booster. Tomica Limited Vintage at Japan Booster The Transporter ain't cheap, but worth the price. … Continue reading The latest Hino 5-car Transporter and the rest of the Tomica Limited Vintage February 2019 Release is now available at Japan Booster
Haulers have become a must for us 1/64 nerds. There is just something about seeing our favorite cars on the back of a truck. Lots of brands have put out haulers, and there are a ton of really nice releases. But nothing surpasses the Nissan Atlas Hauler by Tomica Limited Vintage. Ultra-realistic, perfect 1/64 scale, … Continue reading Still trying to get a TLV Nissan Atlas Hauler? The third version is out with the January release.
Tomytec released this video on their YouTube Channel in late December, and I thought I would share. I have said, and will continue to say, that there is nothing like TLV. They are expensive, but worth it. You don't need to have a lot either, just pony up for the replicas that you really want. … Continue reading Try not to drool while watching this video celebrating Tomica Limited Vintage’s 15th Anniversary
Just get it done now. Don't take a chance and miss out when they are released. I have already professed that the release of the Tomica Limited Vintage Ferraris is one of the biggest events of 2019 in our 1/64 world. TLV unveiled the first three last week, due in March, and now this week … Continue reading The first release of Tomica Limited Vintage Ferraris are available to order now at Japan Booster
I've been known to hype a model or two. I'll take that, but let's mostly blame the models. There has been so much good stuff from so many brands, and I just like to show it. But yeah I am guilty of dropping a little hyperbole. So if you don't like it, I will just … Continue reading Here are the first images of the Tomica Limited Vintage Ferraris. They do not disappoint.
Another month, another great release from Tomica Limited Vintage. Tomica Limited Vintage at Japan Booster The highlight of this batch is sure the fourth and fifth releases of the Mazda RX-7. These also introduce new rims as well. Beyond those, two more Prince Glorias and another Isuzu Bus. If you don't have the first three … Continue reading The Tomica Limited Vintage December Release is now available at Japan Booster
Now that the frenzy of the Damaged Box Sale is over, let's talk about what else is at Japan Booster that is worth snagging. I mean, the whole store is on sale, and free shipping on all orders $50? Start looking folks! Always start with Tomica Limited Vintage, but look at Kyosho, Tomica Premium, and … Continue reading You – I mean kids – are going to love the new Tomica 4D line, with real engine sounds.
It has become a Lamley tradition. I know because a ton of you have asked me about it: "Is Japan Booster doing the TLV Damaged Box Sale this year?" First off, yes they are. Second, if you haven't heard of this sale, you really want to pay attention. Let's start with putting the links right … Continue reading The Japan Booster Tomica Limited Vintage Damaged Box Holiday Sale starts Friday at 5pm PST, and it is better than ever.


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Hardware industry executives and analysts said that global demand for laptops and desktops in 2020 has reached a level not seen since the iPhone debuted in 2007.
Manufacturers are still months away from fulfilling pending orders, as remote learning and work have turned the PC market upside down during the coronavirus pandemic.
This led to an increase in smart phone sales with increased interest in larger devices, which became an afterthought for the “iPhone” and “Android” devices over the past decade.
“The entire supply chain has been strained like never before,” said Greg Prendergast, head of operations for North, Central and South America at device maker Acer.
Some analysts now expect 2020 to end at around 300 million shipments, a 15% increase from last year.
Tablets are witnessing the fastest growth, and the number of computers and tablets in use may reach one billion and 770 million by the end of 2021, up from one billion and 640 million in 2019, according to the research company, “Canalys”.
Analysts said that it is difficult to obtain components, including screens and processors, as there are many factories that have been closed due to the Corona virus.
Some of the computers that will be introduced to the market during the next few months meet the new needs.
Analysts said it features better cameras and speakers for video conferencing, and more models contain a cellular chip, which helps users who can access 4G or 5G networks, but not the traditional wireless network.
Sam Board, an official at Dell, a manufacturer of computer equipment, said that the renaissance of the industry may soon bring devices that include artificial intelligence to simplify tasks, such as logging in and turning off cameras.
Dell’s online orders from consumers rose 62% in the third quarter of this year, compared to last year.


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WITH a single post on Instagram, Yusaku Maezawa announced not only his purchase of a US$110.5 million Basquiat masterpiece, and his place in auction history, but arguably signalled a new era for art in Japan.
The price, a record for the artist, is reminiscent of 1980s Japan...


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Aerion Supersonic, which had plans to build silent business jets that would travel twice as fast as most commercial airplanes, is shutting down operations. First reported by Florida Today, Aerion, which had backing from Boeing, said it was unable to raise the money to build its AS2 supersonic jet.
“The AS2 supersonic business jet program meets all market, technical, regulatory and sustainability requirements and the market for a new supersonic segment of general aviation has been validated with $11.2 billion in sales backlog for the AS2,” the company said in an statement emailed to The Verge on Saturday.
“However, in the current financial environment, it has proven hugely challenging to close on the scheduled and necessary large new capital requirements to finalize the transition of the AS2 into production. Given these conditions the Aerion Corporation is now taking the appropriate steps in consideration of this ongoing financial environment.”
Aerion CEO Tom Vice said in January 2020 that the AS2 would likely cost about $4 billion for the company to develop, CNBC reported. At that time, it had already spent $1 billion to develop the AS2’s engine. And in April 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Aerion was relocating its headquarters from Reno, Nevada to Melbourne, Florida, at a plant to be built at Orlando Melbourne International Airport.
Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported Aerion was in talks to go public via a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. Those talks apparently did not come to fruition.
The company’s AS2 was intended to travel at around 1,000 miles per hour, and its patented “boomless cruise” technology would have allowed it to fly without creating a sonic boom. The company had planned to fly its first AS2 by 2024, and begin commercial flights by 2026.


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From the 2024-25 season onwards, Adidas will become the official kit partner of Newcastle United for the first time since 2010.
The news was revealed in the Amazon Prime documentary ‘We Are Newcastle United’ and will see the return of the Germany-based sports apparel brand on Newcastle kits.
The news of Adidas’ return to St. James’ Park will see Newcastle’s current deal with Castore Sportswear end once the 2024-25 season commences.
Peter Silverstone, Newcastle United’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are delighted to have agreed to a new multi-year partnership with adidas from summer 2024. The history and heritage between the two brands is obviously very compelling and exciting.
“This partnership will help us to deliver on our ambitious brand and commercial strategy. Importantly, it will allow us to rebuild a direct retail relationship with our current, and future, local and global fanbase. We know our fans will support us on this exciting journey.”
Adidas was the kit sponsor of The Magpies between 1995-2010 where it was on full display during some of the Premier League club’s most exciting times during manager Kevin Keegan in the 1990s.
Newcastle-Adidas kits were also worn the last time the club competed in the UEFA Champions League, which conversely, sees the side return to the competition this season for the first time in over 20 years.
Newcastle have been drawn in the fabled ‘Group of Death’ alongside Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan for the side’s return to the competition, which begins with a trip to the San Siro against Milan.
The Adidas deal falls in line with the Premier League side’s revamp of its online and in-store retail operations, both locally and globally across the course of the 2023-24 season.
Nick Craggs, Global Football General Manager, Adidas, added: “We are excited to announce that Adidas and Newcastle United have once again joined forces in a new partnership that aims to drive excitement both on and off the pitch.
“This collaboration brings together two iconic names known for their history, innovation, and commitment to excellence within football.
“As Newcastle United embarks on a new chapter for the men’s and women’s team, Adidas is honoured to provide them with cutting-edge sportswear technology. Our previous partnership delivered some of the most iconic kits of the 90s and we look forward to creating many more unforgettable moments, inspiring fans and players alike.”


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Wuhan coronavirus spread is impacting the airline industry.
As the coronavirus continues to spread the travel industry is among those most severely affected. Airlines,such as British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Air Canada have announced their suspension of flights to and from China.
Hong Kong airport remains one of the threat areas for the virus to spread. Many countries have expanded their screening process at airports to identify possibly infected passengers and so curb the spread of the disease.
Airport retailers are among the businesses most likely to be impacted by the outbreak.
GlobalData’s new Coronavirus Influencer dashboard, analyses the latest Twitter postings from key individuals and companies to helps readers identify the latest trending keywords, hashtags, mentioned companies and countries,enables users to track breaking developments and Twitter activity around the outbreak in near real-time.
GlobalData’s Coronavirus social media dashboard uses a key list of influencers, which includes CEO’s, Technologists, Physicians, Aviation and other sector experts, actively sharing their views and opinions on twitter.
For Data organisation – A series of keywords (related to coronavirus) are passed through the universe (of shortlisted influencers) of tweets to identify and display the most recent and most popular once. Using AI techniques such as NLP, the count of relevant hashtags, keywords, companies and countries are generated for the selected timeline.
The top influencers sections displays the influencers based on the number of relevant tweets around the topic. The list is dynamic and keeps refreshing on its own.


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The growing number of dicamba pesticide drift complaints prompted Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn to temporarily halt all sales and use of dicamba pesticide products labeled for agriculture uses.
According to the order, Chinn found "probable cause" that dicamba containing pesticide products are being used in violation of state law. Older dicamba products not labeled for in-crop post-emergent use on dicamba tolerant cotton or soybeans are currently being used. The order also states that users are not applying the new pesticide technologies according to the labels by adhering to warnings not to apply during a temperature inversion or allow drift.
These use violations prompted the Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order, which requires that all distributors and retailers immediately cease sales and offers of sales of all dicamba-containing products including Xtendimax with VaporGrip Technology, Engenia Herbicide, and FeXapan Plus VaporGrip.
The order also directs all certified commercial and private applicators to stop in-crop post emergent use of dicamba products.
The Facebook announcement came on the heels of a University of Missouri field day that focused on the issues surrounding dicamba drift in Missouri. During a dicamba panel, Missouri Department of Agriculture Pesticide Program Administrator Paul Bailey and University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley outlined the extent of the drift injury. Bailey said the state has 134 complaints of dicamba injury, but expected that number would grow. The complaints represent 66,384 total production acres, of those 59,862 acres are soybeans.
However, after polling companies and extension agronomists, Bradley reported the number of soybean acres with dicamba injury at 203,000. In Missouri, dicamba injury is moving out of the Bootheel and into the northern portion of the state. There are reports of injury to 8,000 acres from the Mississippi River to the Missouri River.
Missouri is not alone. Other states are seeing similar complaints--Arkansas with 500, Mississippi at 55 and Tennessee at 77. And this is not just a Mid-South problem. Bailey said that in the last two days Iowa farmers logged 12 complaints of dicamba injury, Kansas saw 30 and Nebraska posted 20. "All four states in the EPA Region 7 now have dicamba injury," he said. "That is a big chunk of the Midwest." Arkansas officials have also issued a ban on dicamba.
Halt for how long
Chinn asked the makers of the approved post-emergent products and farmers to work with her department to determine how to allow applications to resume this growing season. "As soon as we've completed this process," she said, "we plan to issue a special label and resume applications." However, the statewide order will remain in effect for all other dicamba containing products until Dec. 1.
Missouri Farm Bureau president Blake Hurst called on companies to "work with the Department to find a way forward that protects both farmers at risk of losing their crops to weed infestation and those farmers' neighbors." The organization supports a "temporary pause" in the use of dicamba to allow all parties to work toward a solution, he said.


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Road warriors with depleted digital devices at the Consumer Electronics Show may want to check out a 15-minute battery recharging demonstration by Rayovac Corp., which is running a battery first-aid station at the show.
The company expects to ship by September new fast-charging versions of AA and AAA batteries, which power many digital cameras, music players, and personal digital assistants like those also on display.
New Material, Tactic
The new batteries use I-C3 technology Nickel Metal Hydride, says Jerry Albright, Rayovac's divisional vice president of marketing. He says the new batteries can last up to four times longer than standard single-use alkaline batteries in certain applications, and are expected to be rechargeable up to 1000 times.
Until the I-C3 technology, the battery charger itself, including Rayovac's, controlled the speed of the recharging, Albright says. However, the I-C3 NiMH technology puts that control directly into the battery top, which allows for a faster charge. The system monitors the charge in each individual battery for safety, speed, and reliability.
"Rechargables are the fastest growing segment of our market over the past couple of years as more and more consumers have more devices that use batteries," Albright says. The rechargeable-battery industry is a US$5 billion market.
If you currently own a Rayovac recharging system, you need to buy a new charger to take advantage of the new batteries.
Rayovac isn't the only battery maker at the show. Lenmar Enterprises is announcing its The Mach 1 SpeedCharger line, which uses microprocessor control to deliver a rapid charge, without overcharging, by continuously monitoring and conditioning the battery.
The company says this extends battery life up to five times that of most charging systems, and substantially improves battery performance. It says the Lenmar Lithium-Ion camcorder and digital camera batteries will recharge in less than 30 minutes, three times faster than traditional chargers.


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You “die in real life if you die in the game,”
Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus and a defense contractor, claims to have created a VR headgear that, should the user’s avatar die in a game, explodes their head with “explosive charge modules.” Ha ha. Cool…
“The idea of tying your real life to your virtual avatar has always fascinated me,” Luckey wrote in a blog post about the dark prototype. “You instantly raise the stakes to the maximum level and force people to fundamentally rethink how they interact with the virtual world and the players inside it.” Only the fear of major repercussions may make a game seem genuine to you and everyone else in the game. Boosted visuals might make a game look more realistic.
He wrote, repeating a well-worn cliché, “If you die in the game, you die in real life.”
There are many things to consider in this situation, and we may not give someone else who made the same allegation much credence. However, Luckey isn’t your typical coder. He is largely regarded as the founder of contemporary VR. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook and self-proclaimed deity, is presently using technology he created as the basis for his metaverse. How do you reconcile his VR prowess with the fact that he now produces pricey guns for a living?
Add to that the fact that he has long expressed a desire to see something like this come to pass, and he has an uncommon amount of credibility in this specific field.
According to Luckey’s blog, the gadget is an homage to NerveGear, a deadly VR gear from the well-known VR-themed manga book “Sword Art Online,” which uses microwaves to burn wearers’ brains if they fail to leave a virtual world where they have been captured by a crazy doctor.
He said that the success of both he and Oculus depended on the series. It appears that his supposed new creation serves as both a sick thank you and a self-serving rush of adrenaline.
Particularly in Japan, which swiftly developed into our second-largest market, “the popularity of [Sword Art Online] led to tremendous otaku excitement for Oculus,” he added. A narrative that had been created in a world where virtual reality was a dead technology was now directly out of the gamer excitement headlines as a result of the Rift’s availability.
Luckey joked that the murder portion of the gadget is already functional but that the VR component still requires improvement, which may be another jab at Mark Zuckerberg’s efforts to turn his platform into a unified commercial product.
The good news is that a real NerveGear is halfway made, he wrote. The bad news is that I have only so far discovered the portion that actually kills you. The perfect-VR component of the equation won’t be available for many years.
He claims that the explosive charges are “[connected] to a narrow-band photosensor that can detect when the screen flashes red at a certain frequency” and are located within the headset.
He said, “When an appropriate game-over screen is presented, the charges ignite, instantly killing the user’s brain.”
The headset, according to Luckey, is still too unpredictable for him to have “the balls” to really put it on.
As workplace decor at this stage, it serves as a sobering reminder of uncharted territory in game design, according to Luckey. It is also the first non-fiction instance that I am aware of of a VR gadget that may really kill the user. It won’t be the final one.


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By 2021, Uzbekistan intends to increase export of agricultural products to $5 billion, Kun.uz correspondent reports with reference to Foreign Trade Minister Jamshid Khodjayev.
“From 2000 to present, Uzbekistan’s agriculture sector has been growing steadily at a rate of 6.6% annually, which is much more than the world average of 2.8%. In addition, by 2021 it is planned to increase exports of agricultural products to $5 billion,” said the Minister, speaking at the Forum of Nutrition and Agriculture in Berlin.
The forum was organized within the framework of Germany’s largest event in the agro-industry - Green Week 2019. An official opening of the Uzbek stand took place there on January 18, where a presentation of agricultural and horticultural products of Uzbekistan, as well as the national cuisine and tourist potential of the country was organized. The work of the stand will last until January 27.
In addition, the delegation of Uzbekistan held talks with the Minister of Agriculture of Germany, Julia Klöckner, during which the parties discussed the possibility of expanding bilateral cooperation in the field of agro-industry.
It should be noted that Uzbekistan’s export of food products in 2018 amounted to a little over $1 billion (a growth of 25.3%), of which $730 million accounted for the CIS countries.


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Pilates is a method of body conditioning. It’s a unique system of stretching and strengthening exercises that work the entire body. Strengthen your core muscles, increase flexibility, firm buttocks/thighs, and improve your posture.
FREE opening weekend to celebrate launch of brand new gym and sports complex Everybody @ Alderley Park!
Everybody Awards 2019 Winner Announcement
Paralympic Athlete Megan Giglia MBE announced as Keynote Speaker for The Everybody Awards
‘One You Cheshire East’ Re-tender Outcome - Everybody Sport and Recreation
The Everybody Awards 2019 Shortlist
Everybody Leisure awarded contract extension to deliver chronic joint pain classes.


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Tuesday — there will be a wine tasting at Leavitt & Sons in Falmouth.
Wednesday — the last Monument Square Farmers Market of the year is taking place (the Saturday market is planning to extend its calendar until the Winter Market opens), and there will be scotch tasting at The Salt Exchange.
Thursday — it’s Thanksgiving. See the visit the PFM Thanksgiving Resource Guide for a list of restaurants serving dinner on Thursday.
Friday — Otto is scheduled to open its new location at 225 Congress Street.
Saturday — Rabelais is hosting a launch party for From The Land, Maine Farms at Work at the Quimby Colony, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.


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Some of the buzz around cryptocurrency is for it being a currency that wrests back the power of money from governments and centralized bodies and hands it back to the people. But it’s not as simple as it sounds.
Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, intended for anybody to be able to mine bitcoin from the comfort of their computer. But as the crypto increased in popularity and thousands more flooded the scene, it became harder to do so.
Electroneum is a crypto and blockchain project that hopes to revive the original dream of cryptocurrency – making the revolutionary power of blockchain accessible to anyone anywhere. As long as you have a smartphone and internet connectivity, you can start mining Electroneum coins right in your phone.
This has not gone unnoticed by the “founding father of blockchain” – Scott Stornetta – the most quoted person in Satoshi’s Bitcoin whitepaper. He has described the project as having “a long-term goal that is more than profit-maximizing, but that is actually a collective better” while praising it for being a real solution to “people that have yet to experience the benefits of cryptocurrency.”
This article is an in-depth exploration of this groundbreaking cryptocurrency.
What is Electroneum?
Electroneum is a mobile-oriented cryptocurrency designed for mass adoption, and one of the few to emerge out of the UK. The Electroneum team believes cryptocurrency is a great idea, but the actual acquiring of it is incredibly hard. As such, they want to enable cryptocurrency to be accessible to the average person with as little hassle as possible.
A lot of people want to possess cryptocurrency, but they are not exactly ecstatic about surrendering their personal information to some random websites they know next to nothing about. There’s also the issue of having to link to the bank account and having to shell out extremely high fees for transactions. In short, Electroneum wants to break down the barriers that countless people encounter while trying to access cryptocurrency.
In its words: “Current cryptocurrencies are new (relatively!) and exciting but beyond the reach of your everyday person. To access cryptocurrencies, you have to make or buy a GPU mining rig or send copies of your passport and personal documents to a website that you have probably never heard of. Electroneum has all the great security and anonymity of leading crypto coins, but it’s controlled by a free, easy to install, app, which gives instant access to Electroneum with no card details or ID.”
History of Electroneum
Electroneum was conceived by Richard Ells, whose interest in cryptocurrency started in 2015 while he was building GPU mining rigs. While Bitcoin was not even yet profitable, Ells knew that the underlying technology was transformative, and he wanted to make it easy for more people to benefit from it.
In August 2015, he enlisted members of his Retortal company to start working on a cryptocurrency. In July 2017, Ells raised the necessary initial capital to launch the cryptocurrency. These efforts led to the creation of Electroneum Ltd in July 2017. In September 2017, Electroneum conducted an ICO – which drew in 115k+ investors. In the end, the sale raised $40 million worth of Bitcoin and Ethereum.
How Does Electroneum Work?
Electroneum (ETN) is built off the code for Monero, a privacy-oriented cryptocurrency. Like Monero, Electroneum also has privacy features. One of the criticisms with Bitcoin is its totally transparent transactions whose public addresses can be used to track down the real-life identity of a transacting party. Electroneum solves this with the use of stealth addresses and a one-time public key that prevents any connection between the funds and the wallet.
As well, a one-time private key is created once funds are detected and received by the wallet. The use of stealth addresses means that only the recipient can spend the funds with the single-use private spent key.
The use of a mobile app to get more people to use the currency is one of Electroneum’s biggest differentiator from other cryptocurrencies. The app is currently available for Android and iOS. The app allows you to have access to a wallet where you can store as well as be able to send and receive coins. As a further security measure, you also have the option to generate a paper wallet. At the time of writing, the app has been downloaded 2, 555, 518 times, according to Electroneum’s website.
Through the app, users can also generate new Electroneum coins. Once you install the app, it will allow your phone to start simulated mining. And this will happen without your phone overheating or gobbling up huge amounts of data. It also won’t make your phone lose significant battery life. Though the mining will not add new blocks on the blockchain, you’ll still be up for mining rewards for contributing to the computing power of the network.
Another of Electroneum’s goals is to replace in-game currencies, such as Linden Dollars for the Second Game, Project Entropia Dollars for Entropia Universe, or WoW gold for the World of Warcraft, with ETN.
This would change the gaming landscape in several good ways. For instance, players would have an even better reason to play, thanks to the ability to actually cash out on their completed quests and sold items. Gaming platforms could also gain from the transactions that are taking place in its ecosystem. Also, for gaming companies, using ETN as the in-game currency would be a marketing tool on its own.
Again, the Electroneum team hopes to promote the adoption of ETN in gambling. While many sites are accepting Bitcoin and other cryptos, it’s still a complicated and time-consuming process to obtain it. In the majority of countries where gambling takes place, local exchanges charge exorbitant fees. Electroneum wants to make it easy for players and gambling platforms to interact with cryptocurrency in a more frictionless fashion.
The Electroneum Team
The Electroneum team is led by founder and CEO Richard Ells. Else is the founder of two other successful digital companies; SiteWizard and Retortal.
Nick Cook is the head of operations. Cook has more than 20 years working for automobile companies such as Aston Martin, Bentley, and Land Rover.
Barry Last is the head of tech development. He has 15 years of experience as a solutions architect.
The team has also onboarded David Bull, CEO of UNICEF UK. Bull has 32 years in the charity sector. Bull’s experience is fitting with Electroneum’s mission to bring cryptocurrency to the people.
During the ICO, 4.4 billion of ETN went to investors. Another 20 million went to individuals who shared news about the ICO and explained things to the crypto community. A further 20 million went to the project’s core team. Currently, the coin has a circulating supply of 10 billion out of the maximum supply of 21 billion.
The supply of 21 billion coins was done for psychological reasons. The team figured that it would be more satisfying for users to generate full coins as opposed to decimal points associated with other cryptos such as Bitcoin.
Tokenomics of ETN
As of May 30, 2020, ETN traded at $0.009053, while ranking at #67 and with a market cap of $91, 587, 678. The coin has a 24-hour volume of $1, 015, 774, a circulating supply of 10, 116, 967, 882, a total supply of the same value, and a maximum supply of 21, 000, 000, 000. ETN’s all-time high was $.0 236234 (Nov 02, 2017) while it’s all-time low was 0.001428 (March 13, 2020).
Where to Buy and Store Electroneum
If mining the coin is not exactly your speed, you can grab it from an exchange. Some of the popular exchanges offering ETN include TraderONE, KuCoin, Liquid, Coin Bene, Biki, Huobi, SistemKoin, HitBtc, bitbns, Coin Deal, Trade Ogre, Simple Swap, and more.
For storage, Electroneum strongly recommends keeping your ETN in its app wallet or its generatable paper wallet. At this time, the crypto is most compatible with user favorites Trezor and Ledger.
Electroneum is a bold leap towards mass accessibility of cryptocurrencies. It’s truly a way for more people to access, interact, and benefit from the technology – and all in a safe and hassle-free way. People who are fans of blockchain and crypto but feel it’s too complicated or not for them can start seeing it in a better way. Electroneum is an exciting and promising project and one that the crypto community will be watching closely.