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Get paid for recycling with new doorstep collection service
No one likes lugging bags of recyclables down to the bins but that chore is about to get easier thanks to a new scheme.
A doorstep collection service has been set up for people living in certain Woodlands estates as part of a pilot programme by SembCorp Industries to make recycling more convenient.
Households with postal codes starting with 73 can now book a collection date and time for recyclables through SembCorp's ezi mobile application, which was launched yesterday. There are two collection dates a month for every postal code and three to five time slots for each date.
Someone must be at the apartment for the collection.
Residents will also be paid for their recycling efforts - 10 cents a kilo for paper products such as newspapers, magazines and cartons and household items made of metal, 20 cents a kilo for clothing and 50 cents a kilo for aluminium cans.
Payment is made within two weeks of a collection.
There is no payment for plastic items like detergent bottles.
Residents are encouraged to accumulate at least 5kg before booking a collection and should clean and dry the items.
SembCorp plans to roll out the service to other residential zones by the end of next year.
Madam Lee Choon Hong, 65, lives at Block 671 Woodlands Drive 71, one of those eligible for the doorstep collection.
She said: "I don't think it's inconvenient to take the recyclables downstairs, but at least this app allows me to recycle clothing."
Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, said the ezi app shows how organisations can work together to undertake collective action for the environment.


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Amazon Studios agreed to make a pilot for “Maker Shack Agency,” the sixth pilot for kids programming announced in the last two months.
Amazon, which is using crowdsourcing techniques to change the way programs are made, plans to make the programs available on Amazon Instant Video early next year, and ask customers to provide feedback.
“Maker Shack Agency,” which will be produced by Electus Studios, will follow a 13-year-old inventor, Angus Wolfe, who in each episode comes up with new inventions with his buddies, Jo and Merle, to solve problems of their clients. The production company will work with Applied Minds, a research and development firm, to design the gadgets featured in each show.
In April, Amazon Studios released its first set of pilots, 14 shows of which five were chosen to be produced as series. Those programs, two series and three kids shows, are set to debut on Prime Instant Video later this year and in early 2014.
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Jay Greene: 206-464-2231 or email@example.com. Twitter: iamjaygreene

domain: news


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While online bookstores have changed how many students shop for textbooks, the Apple iPad may soon signal a change in the format of the textbooks themselves.
Apple Inc. recently announced that it will be adding a tablet computer — the iPad — to its line of digital devices, which will be available for purchase in March. Recent news suggests the company will be working with textbook publishers to develop course materials for the iPad.
Some textbook publishers have contracted ScrollMotion, Inc. — a company that has already developed applications to read magazines and newspapers on the iPhone — to create textbook and study guide applications for the iPad, according to The Wall Street Journal.
W. Russell Neuman, John Derby Evans professor of media technology at the University, said he is skeptical that the iPad will be as popular as the iPod and iPhone, but thinks e-books, in general, have a promising future on the new platform.
“In the next few years, e-books will probably largely replace ink on paper as the medium of communication, using a technology like the iPad,” he said.
iPad competitors like the Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader and Barnes & Noble’s new Nook already have a variety of textbooks available for download, and publishers like The McGraw-Hill Companies and Houghton Mifflin directly offer e-textbooks of their own.
Neuman said students will eventually read textbooks on laptops, phones and specialized e-readers. He added that being able to search for text on a single device, rather than using an index, is one of the chief advantages of digital books over printed texts.
“Who wants to carry around textbooks at seven pounds a piece?” he said.
Local textbook retailers may already be losing business to digital course materials. Shaman Drum Bookshop was forced to close last June, and officials there pointed mainly to online developments in the textbook market for the store’s trouble.
Ulrich’s Bookstore and Michigan Book and Supply have created online rental programs to compete with online textbook service Chegg.com.
Jade Roth, vice president of books at Barnes & Noble College Bookstores, said the company sees digital textbooks as just another option for students who would rather rent than buy printed copies.
“As college booksellers, we don’t choose the content — that’s chosen by the professor,” she said. “What we try to do is provide students with as many choices as possible from a format and price perspective.”
Barnes & Noble has sold digital textbooks since 2003 and has made efforts to apply them to electronic devices, Roth said. She added that, despite their availability, digital textbooks might take a long time to be adopted by the reading public.
“If I’m reading a textbook, I want to interact with the material, do exercises, rely on color and graphics, take notes and have those dump out into a study guide; in essence I want to consume content,” she said. “When I look at the (e-)readers that are on the market today, they don’t really fill the need at that point.”
Representatives from Ulrich’s and Michigan Book and Supply declined to comment on the issue of digital textbooks.
With stores offering different textbook options, students said they have varying opinions on whether they would actually buy a digital textbook or whether they would use one on an iPad.
LSA junior Sandhya Simhan said she already uses digital materials for some of her classes and would use more if they were available.
“If iTunes suddenly had textbooks, that would be pretty damn cool, at least in my opinion,” she said.
Simhan said that though digital textbooks would be convenient, she doesn’t see the iPad as the best device for viewing text given its touch-based interface.
“I like the idea of buttons, because I know exactly where I am,” she said. “It’s very sci-fi to use your fingers…but even if I am the Internet generation I’m not as comfortable with (it).”
Kinesiology sophomore Zachary Salt said he still prefers printed versions of text over digital ones even if the downloadable textbooks were made readily available.
“Personally, I like to read hard copies of things and it wouldn’t be that much use to me,” he said. “But for people who like to stay organized and like to keep everything all in one place, it would definitely be a useful tool.”


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DreadfulGrape writes "ESPN.com reports on how video iPods are being used increasingly by baseball players to study opponents' game footage. In fact, Houston Astros' pitcher Jason Jennings credits the device with improving his game last summer. From the article:
"Eventually, more than two-thirds of the roster had piled on and turned this team into baseball's official iSquad. Every player gets his own custom set of videos loaded onto his personal iPod, sorted by date, hitter, pitcher and opponent — and updated every week or so."" top
DreadfulGrape writes "Apple Computer today applied for a patent for a method of saving media from various digital media sources to the iPod for later purchase. According to the article from Orbitcast: "It's an ingenious method of grabbing snippets of audio, identifying the song and allowing the user the option to purchase that song. This patent is to date the most solid information yet that Apple actually might be considering integration with satellite radio.""


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The vast majority of air cargo users claim that the air cargo services do not meet the requirements and expectations of their customers. According to the European Shippers’ Council (ESC), companies feel they are not being heard by the air freight industry.
In order to close the gap between shippers and the air cargo industry the ESC, representing the freight transport interests (by all modes of transport) of business in Europe, created the whitepaper ‘Airfreight 2020 and beyond’. The whitepaper informs the air cargo industry on the wishes of the cargo owners by beginning a dialogue on how to improve this transport mode.
In 1995 the ESC also published a similar white paper, entitled ‘Airfreight 2000 and Beyond’. Based on the previous whitepaper, the ESC concludes that not much has changed in the air cargo industry over past 20 years. The new ‘2020’ document aims to reopen discussion on improving air cargo services. According to the ESC, shippers want to see the traditional airfreight industry evolve into a more reliable, transparent and door-to-door seamless logistic solution. Information, for example on the reliability, costs and performances, is key to achieve this goal. The ESC states the industry and the shippers community should work together to achieve a standard goal for airfreight security or more efficient regimes on trade facilitation. … (Read more)


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American International Group Inc. News
What's in CNBC's List of Stocks That Can Beat Rate Hikes
The basket includes Boeing, Exxon Mobil, News Corp., ConocoPhillips, Mosaic, Oneok O’Reilly Automotive, Chevron and AIG.
RBC Chooses Amazon, M&T, UnitedHealth as Top 2022 Stocks
'Our U.S. equity strategy team expects 2022 to be a year of solid but more moderate returns relative to 2021,' RBC said.
Blackstone Posts Record $684 Billion in Assets Under Management
Blackstone tops analysts' earnings and revenue estimates for the second quarter.
Premarket Movers Thursday: AIG, Netflix, GameStop
Stocks moving in premarket trading Thursday include American International Group, Netflix, GameStop, Morgan Stanley and Cinedigm.
AIG Jumps on Deal to Sell Life and Retirement Business to Blackstone
American International Group jumps after it agrees to sell a stake in its life and retirement business to asset management giant Blackstone.
Ford Makes a Major Change
The legacy automaker has just made a decision that will affect consumers buying its electric vehicles via a lease.
Tesla Q2 Deliveries Slump To 254,695 As Shanghai Shutdown, Supply Chain Snarls Take Toll
Tesla said it had a record rate of production in June, but supply chain disruption and the closure of its Shanghai gigafactory triggered a slump in Q2 deliveries.
Coinbase Faces A New Scandal
The platform denies selling proprietary customer data and announces it is expanding into several European countries.


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Under the first year of Biden’s administration, Americans have been paying much more for steak dinners, fried chicken and other American culinary staples. Why? Because, according to CNBC, meat prices have risen drastically over the past year, with chicken prices up 8.8 percent, pork prices up 14 percent and beef prices up a whopping 20 percent.
In order to combat these rising prices, on Jan. 3 the Biden administration announced an aggressive $1 billion plan to tackle the issue. The plan seems to place the blame for high prices on big business and the failures of free-market capitalism.
A number of economists, experts and even one rancher currently serving in Congress disagree with this assessment, however. In their view, the blame for higher meat prices can be placed squarely on the shoulders of Biden’s government.
The White House plan correctly notes that a handful of large meat and poultry processors control the majority of their markets. The administration then goes on to berate these companies as “dominant middlemen” that seek only to “increase their own profits” at the expense of farmers and consumers.
In order to correct this, the White House will spend $1 billion in taxpayer funds on “independent processing projects” and other resources that will introduce more competition into the meatpacking industry.
Suggesting a lack of competition has caused rising prices is ridiculous, in one economist’s view, considering that the current level of competition has existed for decades.
That economist — James Mitchell, the assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas — spoke with CNN Business regarding the issue and Biden’s proposed solution.
Furthermore, the administration’s analysis of why an apparent “lack of competition” exists in the meatpacking industry is misinformed at best.
Economist Walter Block contends that “concentration ratios are being misused as competition.” In other words, just because four companies control 85 percent of the beef processing market does not necessarily imply a lack of competition, as Biden claims.
Block is the Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar and professor of economics at Loyola University New Orleans.
Block illustrated this notion with an example.
“If there is only one grocer in a small town, he has control over 100% of the grocery industry,” Block told The Western Journal via email. “Mainstream economists would unduly deduce from that fact that there is lack of competition.”
Block did note, however, that “to the extent that there is any lack of competition in the meatpacking industry,” that lack competition is due to government regulation enforced by Biden’s government. These regulations make it “more difficult for new firms to enter this industry,” Block explained.
According to the Acton Institute, a pro-free-market think-tank, when it comes to meat packers, the cost of following federal U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines and various other federal rules is so high that only the most powerful processors can stay in business, essentially creating an “artificial oligopoly” — a market structure in which only a few firms dominate.
So, more regulation leads to less competition in the processing sector, which does have an effect on rising prices.
This phenomenon was exacerbated by the Biden administration’s strictly enforced COVID regulations. According to Mitchell, COVID restrictions at meatpacking facilities — social distancing measures, for instance — are “slowing the line speeds as well as increasing the costs for meat processors.”
Those costs are then being passed on to consumers.
Biden could redress the cost-inducing excesses of federal regulations. Instead, the president has chosen to distribute a whopping $1 billion in an attempt to stop the issues they cause.
If Biden were to pursue a solution that does not involve $1 billion in taxes, such a plan already exists. Legislation that has been sitting in Congress for roughly six years — the PRIME Act — would accomplish the same goal by cutting back unnecessary federal regulations.
As a rancher himself, Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky and the author of the bill, understands these issues intimately. In his view, Biden’s plan “is over the target.”
We all agree: the solution is to promote competition.
Biden advisors recommend antitrust lawsuits against the big packers and subsidies for the little guys.
There’s a better answer though that’s free: Roll back crippling regulations on the little guys and they will flourish.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) January 3, 2022
Among other things, the PRIME Act would allow local farmers to sell meat in local grocery stores. These smaller processors would still adhere to some regulations, just not the exorbitantly expensive ones currently enforced by Biden’s government.
Massie agrees with Biden’s assessment about competition but also notes that “there’s a better answer though that’s free.”
That answer is “rolling back crippling regulations on the little guys.”
Via The Western Journal.


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The all-new Austral SUV, the replacement for the Renault Kadjar, will be sold in the UK in 2023, Autocar has learned.
The model, which was previously confirmed for a launch in Europe, will bring bold new styling, a drastically enhanced kit list and all-electrified powertrains in a bid to "win back" buyers in the crucial crossover segment.
Prices for and specifications for UK sales have not yet been confirmed, but deliveries will start from the middle of next year.
Positioned as a rival to the Ford Kuga and Toyota RAV4, it's the first Renault to use the new third-generation CMF-CD platform, co-developed with Alliance partners Mitsubishi and Nissan, which can accommodate a range of electrified drivetrains.
The Austral will be sold with a choice of two full-hybrid systems, pairing a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor for combined outputs of 157bhp and 196bhp.
Renault claims this set-up can muster as much as 61.4mpg on the WLTP combined test cycle while emitting just 105g/km of CO2.
There's also a mild-hybrid petrol option that Renault posits as a "genuine alternative to diesel", given that it's claimed to be capable of 53mpg. This pairs the same engine with a 48V battery and a belt-integrated starter-generator for an electric boost under load and thus reduced petrol consumption.
Opening the line-up is a pair of 12V mild-hybrid petrols, which use a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine to produce 138bhp and 157bhp and crack 45.6mpg.
Renault says the new platform makes the Austral "a true joy to drive", hailing its rigidity and "optimised" suspension set-up as factors that give the potential for "true driving pleasure".


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On Monday, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told employees that the company would lay off about 9,000 more people, according to CNBC.
“I am writing to share that we intend to eliminate approximately 9,000 more positions in the coming weeks,” Jassy wrote in a note that was also posted online.
“This was a difficult decision, but one that we believe is best for the company in the long term,” he added.
Related: Amazon to lay off 18,000 employees, biggest cut in company history: ‘We’re going to be inventive, resourceful and cheeky’
Amazon announced in early January that it would lay off about 18,000 employees. As Bloomberg noted, the layoffs began in late 2022, but were initially reported to be job cuts of only about 10,000 people.
This additional cut of 9,000 comes amid waves of layoffs at other big tech companies such as Google and Meta as they grapple with changes in consumer habits following the pandemic.
Related: ‘Make lists’ of people to let go, Meta tells CEOs ahead of another mass layoff: Here’s when it’ll happen
Jassy said the company had decided “to be more streamlined in our costs and staffing” due to the “uncertain economy”.
The CEO also said this round of layoffs was not included in the January announcement because teams were still finishing their analysis.
“The affected teams have yet to make final decisions about which roles will be affected,” he added.
The roles being eliminated should be completed by the end of April. Amazon will provide employees with things like “severance pay, transitional health insurance benefits and outside job placement support,” the memo said.


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The oil giant warns it won't be able to deliver on some contracts as the fire rage on.
Donald Trump's new national finance chair was sued in 2010 for $US3.2 million in fake profit from his mother's account with Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff.
Last week, it was fined for misleading consumers about its Nurofen painkillers, now Reckitt Benckiser is under fire again.
Adidas says it will actively seek a buyer for its TaylorMade, Adams and Ashworth brands and will instead focus on golf footwear and apparel sales.
Tesla Motors says its production is on track this year and it will produce half a million cars in 2018.
The investment banking giant's first-quarter profit missed analysts' estimates, hurt by weak dealmaking and trading revenue.
Weeks after its final show, the company behind the former blockbuster franchise has filed for bankruptcy protection.
Jeff Bezos' net worth rose to $78 billion, making him the world's 4th richest person, as the online retailer's shares jumped.
Forget personal computer doldrums and waning smartphone demand. Google thinks computers will one day cease being physical devices.
The online travel giant's boss Darren Huston quits after a relationship with an employee. Now the former CEO is back in charge.
Watching his back around the clock, the Facebook CEO's bodyguards are overseen by Barack Obama's former US Secret Service agent.
He finished school at 16 and was a doctor at 23. Today, biotech entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong is making a killing.
In this season of great earnings expectations, all the big tech names so far have disappointed - save one.
He's been called the "Steve Jobs of yoghurt". Having turned an old factory into global dairy business, it's now not just his yoghurt that's rich.
The cost to Britain if it leaves the EU "would be a pure deadweight loss ... with no economic benefit , OECD head says.
Pariah status and a punitive tax might be just what big sugar needs.
Saudi Arabia is a country near-synonymous with the oil industry, but now the kingdom is moving to end what it calls its "addiction to oil" with a new plan.
Improper testing goes as far back as 1991, deepening a crisis that has already wiped out half of the company's market value.
Massive fines for Indonesian importers could 'kill' export industry.
Pirates, power plays and boatloads of carbon emissions: a new interactive map of global shipping routes offers a fascinating glimpse of Australia's reliance on shipping for imports and exports and the political ties forged through trade.
Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince said he expects the value of Aramco to exceed $2.6 trillion as the kingdom prepares to float a small stake.
The Gannett Co has offered to acquire the owner of The Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune newspapers for about $US815 million ($1.06 billion).
The situation at Theranos offers a stark reminder of the perils of investing in Silicon Valley.
Fiat Chrysler is recalling more than 1 million vehicles over a fault that can cause cars to roll away after the driver gets out.
By almost any measure, Scott Scherr makes a lot of money. But is he worth it?
The emissions scandal is only going to grow, destroying the capital and credibility of car makers in the US, Europe and Asia.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has a plan to convince sceptical Germans to back a trade deal with the US - and it involves beer.
Halliburton said it's booking a $US2.1 billion expense in the first quarter for cutting jobs and writing off assets.
Uber will pay up to $130 million to drivers who had sought to be classified as employees.
Volkswagen reported a record loss for 2015 as it set aside more than $23 billion to cover the cost of fines, legal claims and recalls related to diesel emissions cheating.


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Citroen Plans To Launch C5 Aircross Facelift In India, Here’s When
The facelifted SUV will likely continue with the same 2-litre diesel engine and 8-speed AT
It’s the first midlife update for this C5 Aircross.
Citroen globally debuted the facelifted SUV in January 2022.
The existing model was launched in India in April 2021.
The facelifted C5 Aircross gets revised lights and an updated centre console.
Feature updates include a 10-inch touchscreen and a 360-degree camera.
Expected to be priced at a premium over the existing model (Rs 32.24 lakh to Rs 33.78 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi).
At the onset of 2022, Citroen revealed the facelifted C5 Aircross in Europe. Now, the French carmaker has confirmed that the updated SUV will be launched in September here.
With its first midlife refresh, the midsize SUV has got a sharper fascia than the pre-facelift model. The SUV gets revised LED headlights connected by a new gloss black grille, new alloy wheels, tweaked bumpers and LED taillight elements.
Its cabin sees updates too in the form of a new 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, revised centre console and repositioned AC vents, as well as gear lever and traction control mode knob.
Citroen even offers the Europe-spec facelifted C5 Aircross with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and a 360-degree camera while retaining features such as a 12.3-inch digital driver display and dual zone climate control.
The pre-facelift model was launched in India only in April 2021 and was the French carmaker’s debut product here. Like the current version, the facelifted C5 Aircross is expected to continue with the same 2-litre diesel engine (177PS/400Nm), mated to an 8-speed AT.
We expect the facelifted C5 Aircross to be priced at a premium over the existing model (Rs 32.24 lakh to Rs 33.78 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi). It will continue to rival the Volkswagen Tiguan, Jeep Compass, and the Hyundai Tucson.
Read More on : C5 Aircross diesel
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Multiplex drama: What’s the fair price of popcorn?
Sales of food and beverage items are the second largest source of revenues for PVR and Inox, after net box office revenues
Shares of multiplexes PVR Ltd and Inox Leisure Ltd fell on Friday, plummeting as much as 13% and 5.4%, respectively.
What caused the panic?
Ravindra Chavan, minister of food and civil supplies in the Maharashtra government, said in the state legislative council that movie watchers in the state would be allowed to take outside food into multiplexes. He added that food stalls at multiplexes would have to sell packed products at the maximum retail price (MRP).
If this gets implemented, it would bite into the revenues that multiplex firms generate from selling food and beverage (F&B) items. F&B sales are the second largest source of revenues for PVR and Inox, after net box office revenues. Both companies have a substantial presence in Maharashtra.
According to their March quarter earnings presentation, PVR had 157 screens in Maharashtra out of a total 625 screens. Inox had 118 screens in Maharashtra out of a total of 492 screens.
How much is at stake here? For fiscal 2018, the proportion of revenues from the F&B segment in the total pie for PVR and Inox is 27% and 22%, respectively. However, the impact on profitability is meaningful as the segment’s net contribution (gross margins) is about 75%, pointed out Karan Taurani, vice-president-research, Dolat Capital Market.
“If consumers are allowed to bring their own food or if F&B prices take a knock owing to regulatory changes due to the current case, then there can easily be a risk of up to 20% downgrade in forecasted earnings for both companies,” said Taurani.
That is why investors are worried.
The trigger for the government’s announcement is a public interest litigation (PIL) case filed in the Bombay high court (Jainendra Baxi vs. State of Maharashtra) stating there were no provisions that banned people from taking personal food items into movie theatres. Thus, by preventing outside food in theatres, multiplex owners are able to charge exorbitant prices for F&B items sold on their premises.
If multiplexes are eventually pushed to sell food products at relatively cheaper prices, says Abneesh Roy, senior vice-president, Edelweiss Securities, then multiplexes could make tickets more expensive, to lower the impact.
But if ticket prices are increased, then investors must watch the impact on occupancies. “There can also be a scenario over the long term, wherein occupancy may move up significantly if outside food is allowed and F&B prices in the multiplex premises are a little lower,” says Taurani.
It’s worth noting that the Maharashtra government has not yet issued a circular regarding this. The government is expected to introduce a policy after considering the grounds raised in the PIL and suggestions made by the multiplex association. The next hearing on this matter is on 25 July.
Importantly, if pricing gets affected as a result of this case, it would raise a number of questions of principle.
What signal will such price control send to the business community at large? Is it contradictory to the much-flaunted ease of doing business? What about security and cleanliness issues inside the multiplex premises if consumers were allowed to take food inside? After all, consumers do have a choice of watching content on over-the-top platforms such as Netflix.
The verdict on this matter can potentially be a strong precedent for other states as well. Ultimately, it boils down to who decides what the fair price of popcorn is.
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Oppo Find X series, as the top flagship product of the Oppo brand, has always attracted the attention of users.Now, a new generation of Oppo Find X3 series is coming.
The Oppo Find X3 Pro has now been certified by the FCC, according to prominent source @DigitalChat.
According to the certification information, Oppo Find X3 Pro will be equipped with Snapdragon 888 processor, built-in 4500mAh dual-cell solution, supporting 65W wired fast charging, and it will also introduce high-power wireless fast charging, to make up for the previous generation of the regret.
Oppo Find X3 Pro will also continue with its previous high-spec display, featuring a 2K+120Hz Samsung OLED display and Samsung’s adaptive refresh rate scheme, which provides a smooth screen experience while significantly reducing the power performance of high-brush, high-resolution screens.
In the past, the Find X2 Pro has been praised for its impressive 3K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, contrast ratio of 5 million to 1 and peak brightness of 800 nits.
Oppo Find X3 Pro is set to go one step further with Samsung’s new E4 luminescent material, which will once again increase the screen brightness to an unprecedented 1,500nits, while also providing better color accuracy, contrast and visual enhancement.
In addition, the Find X3 Pro will feature a new dual primary camera solution with Sony’s customized IMX7XX sensor, as well as an initial full-link color management system.
Read Also: Update Daily: Xiaomi Coupon Zone Collection From Gearbest, Cheaper than Flash Sale Price
As previously reported by @DigitalChatter.com, Oppo Find X3 will also feature an Off-Light lens module and a ring flash around the lens. It will have a higher lens magnificence than existing phones, and can capture even the pixels on the screen, making it as good as a microscope.
Oppo has previously announced that the Find X3 series will debut in March, so look forward to it.
The post Oppo Find X3 Pro Certified: Snapdragon 888+2K/120Hz Top Screen appeared first on IGeeKphone China Phone, Tablet PC, VR, RC Drone News, Reviews.


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The Italian sparkler that's out-fizzing champagne: And with Prosecco as cheap as £7.49 there's LOTS to celebrate!
Out-fizzed: Prosecco sales are bubbling over this summer - while champagne may have lost its fizz
Prosecco sales are bubbling over this summer — while champagne may have lost its fizz.
Waitrose and Sainsbury’s say they’ve sold almost 70 per cent more prosecco than this time last year, Tesco has sold four million bottles since March and Morrisons has sold 20,000 more bottles than usual in the past week alone.
Meanwhile, the Co-op has already shifted more prosecco this year than for the whole of last year, and at Christmas it sold more prosecco than milk.
Figures from internet shopping experts mySupermarket show the total volume of prosecco sold has more than doubled since last year — and the number of people buying it has increased at twice the rate of champagne.
Prosecco is made from grapes called Glera in the Veneto region of north-east Italy. As well as being popular by itself, it’s an essential ingredient in this summer’s most fashionable cocktail, the Aperol Spritz — mixed with Aperol, a herbaceous, orange- flavoured aperitif similar to Campari, but less bitter and lower in alcohol.
The increasingly popular Bellini cocktail also uses prosecco, mixed with peach puree.
At M&S, sparkling wine sales are beating champagne hands down. The retailer’s champagne and sparkling wine buyer Dror Nativ says: ‘Nearly three bottles of sparkling wine are sold for every bottle of champagne. Twelve months ago, the ratio was two to one.
‘Prosecco is the biggest driver of this, but we’ve also seen an increase in sparkling wine from other countries and regions. Customers are gaining the confidence to branch out and experiment rather than relying on just champagne.
‘During the World Cup, we sold more than 3,000 bottles of Brazilian sparkling wine!’
Prosecco’s growing popularity is not just because it’s cheaper than champagne. Many people think it is also easier to drink — being lighter, more citrusy and less dry than its French rival.
In its native Italy, prosecco is known as a springtime drink and it is meant to be drunk young, rather than left to age. Last year, 307 million bottles were sold globally, while champagne sales lagged behind at 304 million.
In Britain, 38 million bottles of prosecco flew off the shelves, and sales are set to be higher this year.
Scroll down for video
Sainbury’s champagne and sparkling wine buyer James Heller says: ‘Prosecco is the big success this year — up by 69 per cent compared with last year — with the star being our award-winning Taste The Difference prosecco.’
British sparkling wine is also seeing a huge rise in popularity — Waitrose has seen sales rise by 367 per cent compared with last summer.
Waitrose’s master of wine Ken Mackay says: ‘The nation’s thirst for great-value fizz continues to grow, with prosecco sales up 66 per cent year on year and accounting for two-thirds of all sparkling wine sold at Waitrose last week.
TEN GREAT DEALS THIS WEEK
Savvy Shopper has teamed up with mySupermarket to dig out the best bargains...
Finest Belgian chocolates, 200g, usually £6, reduced to £3, until August 3.
New Salad Meal Deal for £6. Choose a meat, fish or cheese option, a bag of salad, a salad dressing and a topping (eg crispy bacon, beetroot and red onion or mixed olives).
Hipp Organic baby food jars, 125g, were 85p each, now ten for £5, including My Organic first Sunday dinner.
Award-winning Extra Special El Meson Rioja Gran Reserva, was £13.08, now £9.
For a quick bite, Dolmio Original Lasagne Meal Kit (807g), was £3.99, now £1.99.
Johnson’s baby products, buy one get one free, including Baby Powder, Baby Bath and Baby Oil, usually from £2.49 each.
Two for £5 on ice creams and lollies, including six-pack of Pineapple, Coconut & Lime Lollies (usually £3).
Hauck Go S Buggy, £18.99. From six months to three years. Lightweight, so perfect for summer holidays.
Children’s shortie pyjamas, Hello Kitty or Spiderman designs, £3.99.
Duchy Organic baby wash & lotion in camomile and lavender, reduced from £4.99 to £3.74, until August 12.
This is a particularly impressive feat, as we sell only half a dozen proseccos versus 60 different champagnes.’
Prosecco is increasingly being consumed as an everyday drink, according to Charlie Craven, sparkling wine buyer at Tesco.
‘We are seeing a fantastic response to our sparkling wine selection, with our Finest Prosecco proving to be particularly popular,’ he says.
‘With affordable pricing and great-tasting products, fizz is no longer limited to special occasions.’
Boots puts free UV lenses in all specs
Did you know your eyes are ten times more sensitive than your skin to the sun’s rays? That’s why Boots opticians has begun putting UV lenses in every pair of glasses it sells and is urging other High Street opticians to do the same.
With three million people going blind each year from conditions linked to prolonged UV exposure, the chain is making its Boots Protect lenses available to all customers at no extra cost.
In the past, they cost £40 as an optional extra and only 40 per cent of customers opted to pay for this protection when buying prescription glasses for themselves and their children.
Youngsters are particularly susceptible when it comes to UV damage, with evidence suggesting 80 per cent of your lifetime exposure to UV eye damage happens before the age of 18.
It can lead to cataracts, damage to the delicate skin around the eyes causing premature ageing, and glare when driving or using computers, tablets and mobile phones.
‘Ultraviolet rays are absorbed at the front of the eye and can cause damage to the surface of the eye, leading to irritation and redness,’ says Robert MacLaren, Professor of Ophthalmology at Oxford University.
‘This damage may become permanent after years of exposure to UV light, leading to cataracts or age-related macular degeneration. Protection from UV in your everyday glasses gives you the best opportunity to avoid eye health issues in the future.’
Victoria O’Connor, eye health condition manager at Boots Opticians, adds: ‘We recognise the complicated pricing structure of glasses on the High Street has left customers confused when making choices to protect their eye health.
‘Between 30 and 40 per cent of UV penetrates through the clouds on an overcast day, so we want to protect the nation’s eyes as standard.
‘We’ve simplified our prices and added UV lenses to our most basic package — eye health shouldn’t be an added extra.
‘We believe all-round UV protection should be available to all customers at an affordable price on their local High Street.’
Save up to 20 per cent on every shop at www.mysupermarket.co.uk
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Starbucks is well known for changing its menu seasonally, providing us with fall flavors in the fall, fun festive flavors in the winter and fruity iced teas in the spring and summer.
This year they’ve added a twist to their usual fall and winter lineup, however, with a cold seasonal drink for the winter season. According to a Starbucks press release, the new cold beverage, called the Spiced Sweet Cream Nariño 70 Cold Brew is slow-steeped for 20 hours, then spiced with cinnamon, anise, nutmeg and vanilla before being doused with a float of house-made sweet cream. Not only does that sound delicious, but it sounds festive as well, even being cold.
“We know our customers are looking for even more options in cold coffee,” said Yoke Wong from Starbucks' beverage development team. “Although we’ve offered iced and blended versions of our holiday espresso beverages before, this is our first time creating a cold coffee holiday beverage.”
Not only will those who live in warmer climates like Texas and Florida appreciate this new cold brew, but there are plenty of us who prefer iced coffee year-round too, and we’ll be thrilled for this new menu addition. The drink is available starting Nov. 3 for Starbucks Rewards members, and then the rest of the United States and Canada can begin ordering the drink later in November.
If you want to enjoy your cooler months with a festive hot beverage, you’re clearly not alone, since most of the Starbucks favorites are returning. You don’t have to sip on the Sweet Cream Nariño 70 Cold Brew to enjoy a taste of fall and winter spices.
According to Delish, the Caramel Brulee Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, Eggnog Latte, Gingerbread Latte and Peppermint Mocha are all returning. If you can’t find anything you like from all of these options, then maybe fall and winter are just not your cup of tea (or coffee). And don’t forget, you can get all of these in a cold variety as well!
Keep an eye out at your local Starbucks for these fun festive flavors, and also the returning red cups!


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The French government has sold off a 4.7 per cent stake in Renault for 1.21 billion euros ($1.4 billion).
France had owned a 19.7 per cent stake in the local carmaker but this move reduces its stake to 15 per cent. In total, 14 million Renault shares have been sold, 1.4 million of which were purchased by the company and will be offered to employees.
French President Emmanuel Macron spearheaded the stake purchase in April 2015 as economy minister. Following his election as President, Marcon promised to reverse the move. It is hoped that doing so will ease tensions between the French government and Renault chief executive Carlos Ghosn.
The country increased its stake in Renault to secure double voting rights and to prevent Nissan from having a say in its alliance partner. Despite the sale of 4.7 per cent of its stake, France still remains Renault’s largest shareholder, slightly ahead of Nissan.


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Africa-Press – Lesotho. From today it will cost you more to keep the lights on. The Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) has increased power tariffs by 7.9 percent. The new tariffs were approved by the Lesotho Water and Electricity (LEWA) yesterday.
The increase would be on both energy and maximum demand charges across all customer categories for the Financial Year 2022/23. The increase is bad news for consumers who are already struggling to keep up with the surging prices of basic goods and services.
The prices of basic commodities have been galloping over the past two years. So has the cost of fuel, education and transport. Meanwhile, salaries have largely remained stagnant or marginally increased.
Thousands have lost their incomes after being retrenched in the textile factories where several companies have either shut down or scaled down. Yet the news from LEWA could have been worse because the LEC wanted a 41.3 percent increase which it claimed would fund its proposed budget of M1.4 billion.
In its application, the LEC said its proposed tariffs were based on cost drivers like bulk supply, labour, financing, licence fees, repairs, maintenance and operations.
The LEWA said it assessed the LEC’s application for compliance with Regulatory Instruments 1 and it was found to be materially non-compliant and the authority communicated this decision through a letter to the LEC on May 12.
The LEC then submitted a Modified Tariff Review Application on September 19. “As a standard practice, the Authority conducted public consultations to solicit comments and inputs from the stakeholders,” LEWA said.
“The general opinion emanating from public consultations was that the Company’s tariff increase should be within the range: 0% to 8%.
LEWA’s board eventually settled for 7.9 percent which would generate M1.128 billion which the authority said “will not only be adequate to cover the company’s prudently incurred costs but will also ensure affordability of electricity by the consumers”.
The increase is on both energy and maximum demand. LEWA said it considered several factors including low economic performance and high inflation resulting from lingering negative effects of Covid-19 pandemic and the on-going Russia-Ukraine war.
LEWA also decided that charges for connection, wiring testing, wiring re-testing, survey, re-survey, licensing for wiring, meter testing and house extension for the Financial Year 2022/23 will remain similar to those that applied in the Financial Year 2021/22.


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|NOTE: Since initial publication on February 1, this resource has been updated to reflect significant policy developments in the following states:
If 2021 was a big year for state taxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. reform and relief, 2022 may give it a run for its money. Among the 46 states holding legislative sessions this year, there has been a flurry of activity on taxes, with arrows almost invariably pointing toward tax reform and relief.
With 7,383 state legislators and about 100,000 bills introduced each year, it’s possible to find introduced legislation doing almost anything, and sometimes in the early stages of session, it can be difficult to determine which proposals should be taken seriously and which will fall by the wayside.
But now that nearly three months have passed, several major tax changes have already been enacted, while others are moving rapidly through legislative bodies, and others have died for the year.
As we head into April, we have compiled a list of major state tax changes that have been enacted, legislation that is still advancing, and recent proposals that are worth keeping an eye on.
No such list could possibly be exhaustive—any given state likely has more introduced bills on tax-related subjects than are covered in this entire review—but here’s what we’re following as we head into April.
Income tax rate reductions remain a popular trend this year. So far in 2022, individual income taxAn individual income tax (or personal income tax) is levied on the wages, salaries, investments, or other forms of income an individual or household earns. The U.S. imposes a progressive income tax where rates increase with income. The Federal Income Tax was established in 1913 with the ratification of the 16th Amendment. Though barely 100 years old, individual income taxes are the largest source of tax revenue in the U.S. rate reductions have been enacted in Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, and Utah, and a bill to flatten and reduce Mississippi’s individual income tax is awaiting the governor’s signature. Serious proposals to reduce individual income tax rates are still being considered in Colorado (ballot measure), Missouri, Nebraska, New York (lower rates only), Oklahoma, and South Carolina. Additionally, corporate income taxA corporate income tax (CIT) is levied by federal and state governments on business profits. Many companies are not subject to the CIT because they are taxed as pass-through businesses, with income reportable under the individual income tax. rate reductions have been enacted this year in Idaho, Iowa, and Utah, and are still being considered in Colorado (ballot measure), Missouri, and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, one state—New Mexico—has enacted a permanent sales taxA sales tax is levied on retail sales of goods and services and, ideally, should apply to all final consumption with few exemptions. Many governments exempt goods like groceries; base broadening, such as including groceries, could keep rates lower. A sales tax should exempt business-to-business transactions which, when taxed, cause tax pyramiding. rate reduction.
Several other states are considering proposals to permanently reduce (Kansas) or temporarily suspend (Illinois, Oklahoma, and Tennessee) the sales taxes on groceries. Proposals to permanently remove groceries from the sales tax baseThe tax base is the total amount of income, property, assets, consumption, transactions, or other economic activity subject to taxation by a tax authority. A narrow tax base is non-neutral and inefficient. A broad tax base reduces tax administration costs and allows more revenue to be raised at lower rates. have lost momentum in several states, but the possibility remains on the table in Virginia.
Many other states have enacted or are considering various temporary tax relief measures. Connecticut, Georgia, and Maryland have enacted gas tax suspensions, and legislation awaits the governor’s signature to do the same in Florida. Other states appear poised to follow, although one such proposal was rejected in Massachusetts. Similarly, a new sales tax holidayA sales tax holiday is a period of time when selected goods are exempted from state (and sometimes local) sales taxes. Such holidays have become an annual event in many states, with exemptions for such targeted products as back-to-school supplies, clothing, computers, hurricane preparedness supplies, and more. has been enacted in Connecticut, and two new sales tax holidays await the governor’s signature in Florida. Income tax rebates, a comparatively more efficient temporary tax relief approach (though still of mixed benefit in an inflationInflation is when the general price of goods and services increases across the economy, reducing the purchasing power of a currency and the value of certain assets. The same paycheck covers less goods, services, and bills. It is sometimes referred to as a “hidden tax,” as it leaves taxpayers less well-off due to higher costs and “bracket creep,” while increasing the government’s spending power. ary period), have been enacted in Georgia and Idaho and are being considered in multiple states.
Thus far, meaningful efforts to raise taxes—excluding proposals for net tax cuts which have partially offsetting rate increases elsewhere—have been proposed in only two states, Hawaii and Massachusetts. Given robust revenue growth (state tax collections rose 21 percent last year) and projections of significantly higher revenue for the foreseeable future, most states are exploring ways to return some of their increased revenue to the taxpayers.


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Online payments firm Checkout.com has become Europe's top privately-held tech company.
The London company has secured a $15bn valuation at its Series C round, bringing in a fresh $450m fundraise from investors, which includes Tiger Global Management — also an investor in Checkout.com's rival Stripe.
Checkout.com has nearly tripled its valuation since June, when it raised $150m at a $5.5bn valuation. Just two years ago Checkout.com was worth less than $1bn, first rising to prominence in May 2019 with a record breaking Series A round.
The fintech's dramatic rise over the past year is partly a result of the boom in online payments triggered by the coronavirus lockdown, when Checkout.com said its transaction volumes increased by 250% year-on-year, with small businesses rapidly moving online.
The company has made a name for itself powering online commerce for thousands of merchants like Deliveroo, and is already profitable.
Checkout's new crown as Europe's most highly valued startup is also a testament to its global ambitions. The company is already making inroads in the Middle East and Asia, with 50% of its transactions now occurring outside the EU and the UK.
The next big focus is likely to be the US, where the startup has already opened small offices in Boston and San Francisco; taking on competitors like Stripe on their home turf. Checkout.com is also rumoured to be considering an IPO.
Any IPO would see it follow in the footsteps of Dutch competitor Adyen, which now has a market value of over $65bn. “We’re the next Adyen,” Checkout.com chief executive Guillaume Pousaz told the Financial Times in 2018.
Checkout.com is now the fourth most valuable fintech startup globally, leaping ahead of fellow payments firm Klarna, which was last valued at $11bn.
From banks to bitcoin, get all the gossip and analysis in your inbox.
Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, London-based fintech Curve said it had raised $95m in a funding round led by IDC Ventures, Fuel Venture Capital and Vulcan Capital.
Checkout.com fact sheet
- Checkout.com was bootstrapped for its first seven years by Pousaz, who is Swiss but is based in the UAE
- Checkout.com is unusual in that none of its main investors are European, having opted instead to seek international backers — often associated with higher valuations. For instance, its Series B funding was led by US hedge fund Coatue, while other big investors include Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund GIC
- The company has now raised $830m in just under two years
- It has also begun investing in other fintech via a venture division, as first reported by Sifted


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Demand for U.S.-made goods is surging. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is projecting a record $157 billion in farm exports during the fiscal year 2021.
“In 2020, beef exports equated to roughly $270 per head. In 2021, taken at USDA’s number, it equates to more like $280 to $300 per head,” said Billy Schmitz, who works as a risk manager at a feedlot in Colorado.
The lot where Schmitz works, Five Rivers Cattle Feed, cares for 80,000 cattle. Based on his projections, the increase in exports could mean anywhere from $800,000 to $2.4 million of extra in revenue this year.
“Things have very much improved [since COVID first began],” he said.
Experts say much of the bump comes from China’s involvement in the U.S. market. In 2018, China only committed to purchasing $9.1 billion in exports from the United States, but this year, they have committed $38 billion after former President Donald Trump signed a phase one trade deal with the country in January of 2020.
“We kind of had these adverse conditions [because of COVID] that led to government support,” said the USDA’s chief economist, Seth Meyer. “[We’re] exchanging those for market-based dollars.”
Exports affect multiple parts of the economy. Not only does it contribute to the Gross Domestic Product, but it increases spending among consumers: helpful to small businesses that endured hardships throughout the pandemic.
“It provides us with a bit of relief, not only as cattle producers, but as farm and ranch families, too,” said Schmitz.
2021’s projection marks a steep increase from years of fluctuating export numbers, as well as the highest surplus since 2017.
In 2015, the USDA reported $139.8 billion in exports, $129.6 billion in 2016, $140.2 billion in 2017, $143.4 billion in 2018, $135.5 billion in 2019, and $135.7 billion in 2020.


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Date of start of sales a crossover of Honda Breeze] is calle
Honda published start date of sales new model of a midsize parketnik of Breeze. At official dealers car will appear on November 30...
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Thursday, January 29, 2015
Allstate unveils same-day digital claims payment service
The idea is to disburse payments quickly using an email address or mobile phone number to policyholders willing to be paid utilizing Allstate’s "Fast Mobile e-Payment" service. According to Allstate, this solution eliminates snail mail and lost checks and is faster than all electronic funds transfers and other existing methods.
"We are proud to be one of the first banks to offer this electronic business-to-consumer payment solution," says Bank of America Merrill Lynch Head of Global Payments Ather Williams. "Allstate and their customers may benefit greatly from the speed and convenience this solution provides."
To participate, customers have to agree to be paid by the Fast Mobile e-Payment service and Allstate will send their contact information to Bank of America Merrill Lynch. After confirmation and registration, the consumer will automatically receive payments into their account.
With this new service, the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate” slogan is setting the standard for digital claims payments.
This website follows the latest technology and gadgets while also delivering a dose of interesting lifestyles about people, places, and things,as well as national and world news from across the U.S. and around the world. Earnest Hart is a technology enthusiast and all-around news tracker.


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Bitcoin: Japan makes Bitcoin a legal currency now more popular than ever. Submitted by newsbot on Tue, 11/07/2017 - 12:02pm. up. 0 users have voted. Log in or register to post comments. hottest stories. I accidentally killed it. - devops199 #thugLife · A kid just accidentally nuked $180m poking around Ethereum. bitcoins wild ride shows the truth Feb 25, 2016 Japan is debating changes to make the virtual currency Bitcoin legal tender, a move which could change the future of the cryptocurrency in the country. The country's current governors, the Liberal Democratic party, is planning to propose changes to the legal system which would define virtual currency such Jan 7, 2018 In April, Japan passed a law recognising bitcoin and other virtual currencies as legal tender -- while also stressing the need for transparency and financial Some well-known Japanese businesses have started accepting payment in bitcoin and one firm made waves when it said it would pay part of its bitcoin usd exchange history Dec 16, 2017 Traders in Japan said to account for up to half of trade in cryptocurrency as volatility creates arbitrage opportunities; many see boom has further to go despite The Japanese government in April granted cryptocurrencies legal status as a means of settlement and in September officially recognised 11 digital Apr 4, 2017 Japan makes bitcoin legal payment method. While bitcoin has recently suffered some defeats in the U.S. at the hands of the SEC, not all news has been bad news. In a major move for bitcoin legitimacy, Japan has recognised bitcoin as a legal payment method on April 1. As part of the new law that has
Jul 24, 2017 Along with their bitcoin merchant service providers, Japanese retailers and restaurants that accept bitcoin payments also stopped accepting the cryptocurrency during that time. NHK reported on the 23rd that along with bitcoin exchanges, “at restaurants and other places where payments can be made with bitcoin red airdrop Apr 30, 2016 As Kevin Cruz explains in Bitcoin Magazine, “In March of 2014, the Japanese government made a cabinet decision on the legal treatment of Bitcoin.” Cruz adds, “The decision did not rule bitcoin as currency nor as a bond; this prohibited banks and securities companies from dealing with bitcoins.” In the end Oct 1, 2017 Japanese trading took off after the government approved legislation in April that creates the first national licensing program in the world for virtual currency Ethereum includes a virtual currency, Ether, but it is also software that allows parties to enter into what are essentially legal agreements, or smart canadian to bitcoin Sep 13, 2017 This comes after April's changes to the country's fund settlement law, which made bitcoin payments legal. Japan is now considered a leader in digital assets, helping to foster innovation in the country. This accommodating regulatory apparatus comes just a few years after the largest bitcoin exchange at the
Japan Makes Bitcoin Legal Payment Method / Cryptocurrency news
2 days ago A pedestrian walks past a bitcoin currency poster at the entrance of an electronics retailer in central Tokyo, Japan. “The reality is that bitcoin is here to stay and with many youngsters having made a good return on their investment in cryptocurrencies, they now want to use this digital cash to invest in their current bitcoin price gbp Apr 8, 2017 While some are excited over the fact that bitcoin is now officially recognized in Japan, many believe that the new law goes too far and may negatively impact bitcoin startups in Japan. The chief concern of critics of the new law is that the regulations make it too costly for companies to register as a bitcoin Feb 25, 2016 Japan may become the first country to certify Bitcoin as “legal tender.” The governing Liberal Democratic Party plans to submit legislation reclassifying virtual currencies, which are currently considered commodities in Japan and the United States, to Japan's Parliament by June. The new designation would bitcoin instant confirmation Download this stock image: Bitcoin and judge gavel laying on flag of Japan. Bitcoin legal situation in Japan concept. 3D rendering - KKFGG4 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.
May 24, 2017 Meanwhile, it also has ordered several government bodies to assure that transactions in Bitcoin are carried out only in legal terms. In fact, the Bitcoin in the UK: The UK Financial Conduct Authority is favoring the cryptocurrency and plans to advance its regulatory framework to make it more Bitcoin-friendly.Oct 30, 2017 One of the most durable claims of cryptocurrency skeptics is that "governments will ban bitcoin once it threatens their fiat currency or their control." Ben Bernanke recently gave voice to this claim as if it was received wisdom. Sorry, crypto-skeptics: Japan just killed the "bitcoin will be banned" meme. Japan May 2, 2017 Investors in Japan will have an easier time trading virtual currencies like bitcoin as more exchanges crop up. TOKYO -- More than 10 Japanese companies are launching exchanges for bitcoin and other virtual currencies, with an eye to tap growing demand after legal changes that make such trades bitcoindark vs bitcoin menerima bitcoin
Jun 14, 2017 Some recent events may have convinced investors that these currencies are here to stay — including a move from the government of Japan to make bitcoin legal. But that only explains part of the rise, cryptocurrency experts say. Investors have been clamoring for a slice of the virtual market based on On April 1st, 2017, Bitcoin Japan regulation was officially announced as the digital currency is finally recognized as a method of payment. This Bitcoin legal classification will set a boom in its adoption as retailers will be able to accept the most popular digital currency. In 2016, Japanese officials ended the 8% consumption Bitcoin will soon be legally recognized as a method of payment in Japan. The bill with provisions for cryptocurrencies has recently passed through the. mt gox bitcoin scandal Yang  makes a very strong case that Bitcoin can be considered a security under U.S. law, particularly because the definitions of a . forced to file for bankruptcy in Japan after hackers allegedly managed to get into their system and steal US$446 million worth of bitcoins . energy consumption bitcoin People are increasingly using virtual money, like Bitcoin, that's not backed by any government. Many central banks have cautioned against it. But most authorities take a hands-off approach.
Oct 12, 2017 According to various market data providers including CryptoCompare, Japan accounts for 57,.89 percent of global Bitcoin trades, recording a daily In 2015, George Frost, executive VP and chief legal officer at Bitstamp, revealed the high costs and lengthy process involved with applying for a BitLicense:. Download this stock image: Bitcoin and judge gavel laying on flag of Japan. Bitcoin legal situation in Japan concept. 3D rendering - KKFGFM from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. bitcoin under investigation May 27, 2015 Some countries like Canada and Australia are still deliberating on what to do about Bitcoin, legally. And the many others have already made their decision against digital currency as a whole, and bitcoin, in particular, so here we'll list the ten places you'll find the most trouble using bitcoin. Keep in mind not can you buy fractional shares of bitcoin Apr 27, 2017 You see, on April 1, a new payments law went into effect in Japan. And what's That's why it's so surprising that Japan has become the first country to recognize bitcoin as a legal method of payment. If this new research is correct, it's going to make Donald Trump the #1 U.S. president of all time…
1 day ago After consolidating in a $ 2000 narrow range almost throughout the last week, Bitcoin, the world's most renowned cryptocurrency, started a new week on the back foot, confined within the familiar range near $ 11,500 levels, as the reports of the Japanese crypto exchange hacking incident weigh down on the Feb 25, 2016 By Richard Smart for Guardian,. Proposed changes would bring bitcoin, dogecoin and other cryptocurrencies under definition of currency. Japan's governing Liberal Democratic party is planning to propose legal changes that would define bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as currencies. The changes bitcoin qt upgrade examines what the bill means and how it could affect Bitcoin with Special Counsel at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Ken Kawai, who has held numerous speaking engagements on the legal issues of virtual currency regulations in Japan. Since Bitcoin's inception, its legal position in Japan has not been clear.Japan is debating changes to make the virtual currency Bitcoin legal tender, a move that could change the future of the cryptocurrency in the country. The country's current governors, the Liberal Democratic party, is planning to propose changes to the legal system which would define virtual currency such as Bitcoin, bitcoin exchange poloniex Apr 29, 2016 After several hurdles, Bitcoin and digital currencies are starting to gain legal recognition, the most recent being in the European Union and Japan. So Bitcoin's making a comeback in a big way, finally jettisoning an overly ambitious scramble for immediate gains for a steadier, more incremental approach


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MANILA - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) warns the public against so-called love scams online.
According to the BOC, at least 44 people in Manila this year have reported that they fell for the scam, wherein they were befriended online by the suspects and then promised packages containing gifts and even cash.
These, in exchange for payment of supposedly Customs duties and taxes.
The BOC said most of the victims are women, and most of the email senders supposedly come from Australia, United Kingdom and United States.
"Perpetrators usually get in touch with prospective victims online via chat or dating websites. After constantly communicating online for several weeks or even months, the perpetrators would send a message to their victims through email, promising to send gifts ranging from luxury bags, jewelry, laptop computers and other electronic gadgets via international door-to-door parcel," it said.
The unsuspecting victims would then be given a tracking number and invoice for the supposed shipment.
A few days after, they would receive an email allegedly coming from the BOC, informing them that packages would be sent to them after they pay duties and taxes to be deposited in a designated bank account or money transfer service.
However, after depositing the money, the victims would never get their packages.
"Please be advised that the Bureau of Customs does not give assessments and computations of duties and taxes by email. These are computed and written on official BOC document. Customs duties and taxes due payable only to the Bureau of Customs and not through any bank," the BOC said.
The BOC advised the public to inquire first through their public assistance contact channels before depositing any money -- landline: +632 9173201, email: [email protected], and Twitter: @CustomsPH.
Internet scammer nabbed
Alleged Internet scammer Herminia Castillo. Photo courtesy of BOC
One woman believed to be involved in the scam was arrested in Mabalacat, Pampanga on Thursday morning, according to the BOC.
The suspect was identified as Herminia Castillo, 29.
Castillo was arrested after she claimed the money remitted by a scam victim, identified as Arneth Calma.
The entrapment operation was conducted in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Intelligence Service, AFP (ISAFP).
Calma, who has filed a complaint before the BOC's Intelligence Group, said she has been corresponding through email and chat with a supposed male foreigner who befriended her online for several months and promised to send her a gift package.
She said she then received an email purportedly from the BOC, informing her that her package was being held for non-payment of duties and taxes amounting to P35,000.
She was instructed to send payment to Castillo, who pretended to be a BOC employee, through money transfer.
After paying P35,000, however, Calma received a second email, claiming that she needed to pay an additional P20,000 because an examination revealed that high-value goods were concealed inside her package.
This, she said, already prompted her to seek assistance from the BOC.
Castillo is now facing swindling and estafa-related charges.
Follow-up operations are ongoing against other perpetrators of the Internet love scams.
"We are not certain as to how many people are involved in these internet scams but we will not let our guard down, especially as they are using the name of the Bureau," Customs Commissioner John Sevilla said.


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The Nutcracker in Norfolk
Richmond Ballet’s beloved holiday tradition is set to come alive in Norfolk for the sixth consecutive year, as Stoner Winslett’s full-length The Nutcracker will be performed December 7 – 9, 2018, at Chrysler Hall.
The Nutcracker in Richmond
Stoner Winslett’s The Nutcracker shines brighter than ever with redesigned costumes, heavenly new scenery, and brand new characters— including an elegant Swan Sleigh—all added to the 2015 production of the Richmond Ballet holiday classic. Join us at the Dominion Energy Center December 14-23, 2018.


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It’s been quite some time since Samsung first introduced the Galaxy Note 10.1. The company reportedly delayed the tablet so that it could reconfigure the internals to add some more horsepower, and it looks like that’s the case now that the Note 10.1 has broken cover. The Brave Post has gotten its hands on the tablet and spent some quality time with it, revealing that Samsung has equipped its latest tablet with a quad-core processor and bumped the RAM for good measure.
The Galaxy Note10.1 now features 1.4Ghz quad-core Exynos processor and 2GB of RAM, up from the previously announced dual-core CPU and 1GB of RAM. Otherwise the tablet hasn’t undergone much of a change, featuring a similar design, a 1280×800 resolution screen, and Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. Most notably, Samsung has added a new feature that sees the tablet serving as a large speaker for your smartphone. Users will also be able to send and receive messages via phones from the tablet.
There’s still no word on when we can finally see the tablet make its debut, although Samsung is holding an event on August 15th that will showcase a new device. Some believe that it may be the Galaxy Note II, but the signs point towards an IFA reveal for that device. Now that we’re seeing more information and pictures of the Note 10.1 leak out, it’s more and more likely that we’ll see it officially launch on August 15th.
[via The Verge]


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Pushed by the tight supply constantly facing dealers, by the time the first quarter is over, used-vehicle values could spike by as much a 3 to 5 percent, according to Kelley Blue Book.
Then during April, used values are expected to plateau and stay consistently high for months, explained KBB’s Alec Gutierrez, senior market analysts of automotive insights, in the latest Blue Book Market Report.
The projected gain is fairly common for this time of year. Last year, used prices climbed 4.1 percent in the first quarter, KBB’s data indicated. Though up only 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2010, used prices jumped 3 percent in the same period of 2009.
“According to seasonal patterns, values typically are flat in January before starting to rise more aggressively in February and March, as dealers stock up on inventory in anticipation of the spring selling season. We expect this year to be no different,” Gutierrez said.
“Beyond the first quarter, we expect used-car values to stabilize beginning in April, and they likely will remain elevated into late summer,” he added.
Expected to show increases slightly higher than the market average are the compact and subcompact car segments. Their gains should be, at the most, 2 percent or 3 percent stronger than the industry. That said, if “speculative inventors” are spurred by the Iranian situation and oil prices go up, the spike could be higher, he pointed out.
Gutierrez went on to emphasize that while used values will be higher, one shouldn’t expect to see the same “volatility” that was spotted in 2011. In the first half of last year, values jumped 10 percent thanks largely to compact and hybrid cars, which were up more than 20 percent amid nearly $4 per gallon gas.
“We are expecting fuel prices to remain below the highs hit last year, but there is risk surrounding mounting tensions with Iran that could drive oil and fuel prices well beyond current projections,” Gutierrez noted. “If this scenario were to play out, expect significant volatility in values of fuel-efficient vehicles at auction, similar to what occurred in 2008 and 2011.
“As of now, oil prices have been kept in check on fears of a drop in oil demand from Europe due to its sovereign debt crisis, but things could change at a moment’s notice. We recommend dealers and in-market consumers pay close attention to fuel prices as the situation in Iran continues to unfold,” he continued.
Possible Gas Peak
As to what peak gas prices will reach, Gutierrez assuaged fears that $4 per gallon fuel would be the “new norm,” noting that 2012 gas prices are likely to average $3.48/gallon, according to the Energy Information Administration. This would actually be $0.05/gallon less than a year ago.
Right now, they average $3.40, which is 35 cents ahead of this time in 2011.
“In the long term, this is a definite possibility, but unless you live in California or a handful of other metropolitan areas, don’t expect $4.00 per gallon gas to become the new norm,” he said.
“Oil prices have remained stable thus far; however, the risk of further price increase remains high. Iran has threatened to shut the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S. and European Union sanctions, and the U.S. appears to be prepared to intervene if Iran was to deliver on that threat,” Gutierrez went on to add. “If the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf were to be disrupted, we could face oil prices in excess of the $140 per barrel high established in 2008.”
Should that happen, compact cars and hybrid cars will likely see their values skyrocket.
What Gutierrez called the “worst case scenario” would be if another recession comes out of a fuel-price hike. That, of course, would curb car sales and prove “disastrous” for the auto business.
“We are hopeful that the situation with Iran will be resolved through diplomatic channels; however, we will be monitoring the news out of Iran closely in the coming months to determine what impact, if any, it will have on the industry,” he continued.
Sharing some market insight from the first month of the year, Gutierrez found that used values showed their first monthly gain since June, though climbing a “modest” 0.1 percent.
However, they still have jumped 4 percent year-over-year.
Low supply has been pushing auction prices up since 2009, and that is likely to continue in 2012 thanks to the off-lease dynamic.
With the leasing market falling off close to 50 percent 2008 and 2008, the availability of lease returns for dealers at the auction is substantially lower.
Not only that, Gutierrez noted another accelerant to the off-lease supply: consumers will have more incentive to keep their vehicles when the lease is up instead of returning it.
“With values at near-record levels, many consumers will find that the value of their vehicle exceeds their residual contract, giving them the option to either hold onto their vehicle or sell it privately for a better return,” he explained. “With this in mind, we are advising dealers to purchase inventory whenever and wherever available.”
Hot Car Report
Next up, KBB shared its Hot Used-Car Report, noting some positive news for the Big 3.
Of the 10 used vehicles seeing the most month-over-month shopping activity growth on Kbb.com, eight were from the Big 3, including the top four gainers.
At the top of the list was the 2005 Chevrolet Uplander Passenger, which was up 49.6 percent. Following closely behind was the 2006 Pontiac Solstice (up 49.2 percent).
Third was the 2005 Ford F-350 Super Duty Super Cab (up 38.6 percent), and No. 4 was 2005 Chrysler Sebring (up 33.2 percent).
Interestingly enough, the Solstice represents another group found to be very popular: discontinued models, which also represent eight of the top 10 models for growth.
“This shift to retired domestic vehicles is the result of abundant inventory, which caused a lower price point for these vehicles,” explained Arthur Henry, who is the manager of market intelligence and a market analyst for KBB’s analytic insights division.
“The majority of the vehicles on display was over-produced in the tail-end of their product cycle and highly penetrated with fleet sales,” Henry added. “Dealers should be experiencing an increase in domestic inventories, but they should be able to move them as demand continues.”


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TTH Selected as One of Five Sites to Roll Out Advanced CLIP 3D Printing Technology
By Business Wire News
The Technology House (www.tth.com), an integrated prototype and manufacturing firm, is one of just five sites in the country selected to offer the innovative new Carbon CLIP 3D printing machine. TTH has just installed its third production capable additive manufacturing machine from Carbon (www.carbon3d.com) at the Company’s Streetsboro facility, according to company president Chip Gear.
“We’ve worked closely with the engineers at Carbon during the past year to pilot its new technology with a variety of design suggestions to improve its performance in the field,” Gear said. “It represents a dramatic improvement for an engineering team and removes a variety of significant barriers product designers used to face, enabling them to design without restrictions of the past.”
The CLIP (Continuous Liquid Interface Production) technology is an important advance in 3D printing capability in speed, quality and materials:
- It represents a significant improvement in production speeds of up to 10 times faster than traditional 3D printers.
- Unlike other prototype methods, CLIP is able to produce production-level quality parts that are similar to what’s achieved with injection-molded components, with much smoother finishes and far greater consistency than previously achieved. CLIP is able to produce components that can be accepted by even the most demanding industry applications such as automotive, medical and consumer electronics.
- CLIP allows design engineers to select from the entire range of polymer materials, while other technologies force more limited choices. Some materials provide high elasticity while others provide greater temperature and strength properties, so the designer is able to match material properties to the application more effectively.
Carbon describes CLIP as a photochemical process that rapidly transforms 3D models into physical objects.
“Since we unveiled CLIP early in 2015, the demand for the technology has been immediate and strong throughout a seemingly limitless variety of applications,” said Joseph DeSimone, CEO and co-founder of Carbon. “With its long history in rapid prototyping, TTH has been a tremendous partner for our company in helping to move CLIP from an exciting idea on the drawing table to something that can be a true game-changer for designers and manufacturers.”
Carbon is working at the intersection of hardware, software and molecular science to deliver on the promise of 3D printing, enabling creators to think beyond the limitations of convention to design the parts and products that will drive the businesses of the future. Carbon’s Continuous Liquid Interface Production technology (CLIP) was introduced simultaneously at TED 2015 and to the scientific community on the cover of Science Magazine (Science, March 2015). To date Carbon has received $141 Million in funding. For more information please visit Carbon3D.com or follow Carbon on Twitter @Carbon3D
About The Technology House
The Technology House (www.tth.com) is a leading provider and full service design through production team blending additive manufacturing, cast urethane, plastic injection molding, multi-axis CNC machining; turning today’s ideas into tomorrow’s products. The Technology House serves a growing range of businesses in the medical, aerospace, defense, industrial, energy and consumer products markets.
The Technology House
Greg Cebular, 440-248-3025


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Salt reduction and labelling efforts need to go further
2,000 tonnes last year, says research, but specialists insist
consumption continues to exceed recommendations.
To mark Salt Awareness Week 2008 this week, the Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) has released condemning results from its own study, showing many UK foods can still contain more than half the daily maximum limit for a six-year-old in a single serving. "We want to see all manufacturers doing everything they can to reduce the salt they put in children's food," said Graham MacGregor, CASH chairman and professor at St George's Hospital. "If they really cannot reduce the salt content in food eaten by children to reasonable levels, perhaps they should consider ceasing production." However, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) released new research by TNS Worldpanel on the nutrition labels of 100,000 food and drink products, which demonstrated efforts made by the industry to cut salt content. It found UK consumers are consuming an average of 0.3 per cent less salt in the past 12 months. High salt intake has been linked to high blood pressure, leading to heart attacks and strokes. A high-salt diet has also been related to stomach cancer and osteoporosis, and can aggravate the symptoms of asthma. CASH's findings According to the UK government Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, four to six year-olds should eat no more than 3g of salt a day, half the adult limit. The CASH research found that some savoury foods by leading firms such as Kraft, Tesco's and Batchelors contain over 1g of salt per serving, which is equal to a third of a six-year-old's daily maximum limit and half the daily salt limit for a three year old. For example, it found a meal containing beans and a burger could contain as much as 4.2g of salt, which represents far more salt in a single meal than children up to the age of six should consume in a whole day. Jo Butten, nutritionist for CASH, said: "We want to see clear front of pack labelling, including information on how much of a child's daily limit the food supplies, on all foods eaten by children." Butten claimed many parents are unaware that some sweet foods contain high salt levels, and they seem confused about the relationship between salt and sodium. She said: "Labels giving only sodium levels will lull these parents into a false sense of security as they try to find lower salt foods for their children. Parents deserve more support from manufacturers." Betty McBride, director of policy and communications for the British Heart Foundation said: "Shoppers' problems are compounded by confusing food labelling that can make it difficutlt to quickly choose lower salt options for their families at the supermarket." Efforts from the industry Food manufacturers do take the issue of salt content seriously. According to the FDF, the UK food and drink industry is widely seen as leading the world when it comes to reformulating products. Since 2004, the formulations used for at least £15bn (€20bn) worth of foods have less fat, sugar and salt. The sectors that experienced some of the biggest reductions in salt content included crisps, breakfast cereals, bread, home cooking products and canned goods. In the crisps category, the recent research confirms that products bought by consumers last year contained the equivalent of 200 tonnes less salt than those purchased the previous year. A similar decrease has been seen in the bread sector, a category where salt reduction started in the 1980s. The salt content of savoury home cooking products bought by shoppers was down by 1,200 tonnes, while canned goods saw an equivalent reduction of 106 tonnes year-on-year. Julian Hunt, FDF Director of Communications, said: "This research provides an important 12-month shapshot of the work that retailers and manufacturers have been doing to reduce the salt content of their products. These efforts have been sustained over many years, which is why our industry is widely recognised as leading the world when it comes to reformulation."According to the FDF, easily recognisable GDA labels are now used by 58 companies and feature on the front of more than 20,000 product lines. This accounts for over half of all food packs sold in the UK. Hunt continued: "Industry's reformulation efforts are underpinned by the widespread use of front-of-pack nutrition labels using Guideline Daily Amount information to educate consumers that they should aim to consume no more than 6g of salt a day." Last week, the UK government unveiled the first steps it will take in its national strategy to fight obesity, earmarking £372m (€501m) for the cause. Its labelling proposal, called for a "single, simple and effective" food labelling system, which will be developed in partnership with the food industry. It is designed to provide consumers with consistent information, following concerns that the three different labelling schemes in use today could be leading to confusion.


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The official reason for getting an EV is saving the planet. At least, that’s what we tell ourselves to justify purchasing a car that is usually thousands more expensive than the petrol or diesel-driven equivalent. But the real reason why many of us have taken the plunge and gone electric is that the technology is really cool, and in many cases actually better than what fossil fuels can deliver. EVs are frequently faster than fossil, the connected tech is more advanced, and many of the new companies involved have thrown the rulebook out the window where design is concerned. So here, in no particular order, are the 10 most exciting electric vehicles around today, or very close to being around today.
No self-respecting list of exciting EVs could miss out Tesla, as everything the company makes has broken new ground at launch. The original Roadster pioneered the idea that EVs could be exciting at all, and successive releases have taken the concept further mainstream. For the 2020 Roadster, Tesla is promising a 0-60 time of just 1.9 seconds, a top speed over 250mph, and a 620-mile range – but presumably not if you’re driving at the maximum velocity. To put this in perspective, a Bugatti Chiron takes 2.4 seconds to hit 62mph, although the Super Sport 300+ variant has managed to hit over 300mph. Amazingly, Musk is claiming Tesla will sell the new Roadster for $200,000, which seems like a lot until you look at how much fossil fuel cars with this kind of performance cost. The aforementioned Chiron is around $2.8 million. There’s even talk of the new Roadster having Space X rockets and the ability to fly, but we’ll believe this when we see it.
It’s fitting that the next on our list is from legendary British sportscar manufacturer Lotus, since the original Tesla Roadster was based on a Lotus Elise. The Evija will boast 1,972hp, making it the most powerful production road car when it arrives. It promises a sub-3 seconds 0-60mph sprint and top speed over 200mph, with a 215-mile range. However, unlike the Tesla Roadster, this will be a hypercar for hypercar money – around £2 million ($2.6 million). You may be asking – why not get a Roadster? But Lotus knows a thing or two about handling, so the Evija is much anticipated for the driving experience it is likely to deliver. Lotus has also stated that its next generation of cars will be its last fossil-fuel ones, after which the company will be going EV-only.
EV West Electraliner
Electric cars have acceleration nailed compared to fossil fuel, thanks to the instant torque delivery of the motor technology. But they generally can’t compete on top speed. EV West and Hickey Speed have been designing a vehicle called the Electraliner that the company hopes will smash the electric land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats during Speed Week 2020. The E2 class record currently dates back to 1997, when Ed Rannberg achieved a 213mph average over two runs in the Lightning Rod. The E2 class specifies a weight range between 1,100 and 2,200 pounds. The overall electric land speed record is held by the Buckeye Bullet 3, which achieved 341mph in 2016, but in a car weighing 3.5 tons. The Electraliner will integrate a re-geared Tesla drive unit to hit a theoretical 337mph, although the real speed achieved will probably be quite a bit less than that.
While we’re on the subject of Bonneville, in 2019 another EV tried to broach 200mph on the Salt Flats, although at around 1,600kg not in the E2 class. The Palatov D2EV is a monster electric version of the company’s D2 bespoke racing car. In tandem with Cascadia Motion, Palatov fitted 1,300hp of electric motors to achieve 0-60mph in under 2.4 seconds. Due to slushy conditions at Bonneville, the car only managed 197mph in 2019, but could achieve 265mph under better circumstances, according to company owner Dennis Palatov. It had also placed overall 9th in the Pikes Peak 2019 hill climb just a month earlier.
Rimac is somewhat infamous now for the horrific crash The Grand Tour’s Richard Hammond had when driving its Concept One EV in 2017. Luckily, Hammond escaped with a fractured knee and was driving again just two months later. The C_Two is the Croatian company’s successor to the Concept One. Rimac claims a gob smacking 0-60 of just 1.85 seconds and a 258mph top speed, so the C_Two could be a real Tesla Roadster competitor, with a 402-mile NEDC range. The car shares a platform with the Pininfarina Battista, which would be on this list too if we had space. No word on price yet, but we don’t expect it to be Tesla Model 3 money.
That’s enough of million-dollar hypercars. Let’s look at what is likely to be the most important EV release of 2020, although sadly not currently lined up for sale in the USA. As I reported in June, the Volkswagen ID.3 is the car that the company hopes will change its fortunes after the dieselgate fiasco. This Golf-sized vehicle is the first arrival on the MEB platform, which has been engineered from the ground up for EVs. It looks almost as futuristic as a Tesla, but with German build quality and luxury rather than the American company’s somewhat dubious attention to detail. Offering a range of up to 342 miles, this is a real contender that could put a European dent in Tesla’s Model 3 sales, although the starting price of around £38,000 ($50,000) has garnered considerable criticism. Nevertheless, the ID.3 and other cars that will arrive on the MEB platform show that at least one German manufacturer has woken up to the threat from Tesla and EVs, even if others continue to drag their heels.
If the ID.3 is the most hotly anticipated new EV in Europe of 2020, the Polestar 2 comes a close second, with some calling it a Tesla Model 3 beater. Polestar is the result of a collaboration between Swedish Volvo and Chinese Geely. The company’s first car, the Polestar 1, is a pricey $180,000 hybrid with 600hp. The Polestar 2, on the other hand, is a mainstream all-electric vehicle and starts at a much more affordable $63,000 or £49,900 in the UK, putting it somewhere between the Tesla Model 3 Long Range and Performance. Its capabilities are in the same ballpark as well, with 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds and a 292-mile WLTP range. With none of these stats, or the price, being far off a Tesla Model 3, and the design being far more in keeping with what owners of regular cars rather than early adopters are looking for, the Polestar 2 shows that there is EV life beyond the Californian brand.
While we’re on the subject of Tesla contenders, next up is the Fisker Ocean. Henrik Fisker originally designed a plug-in range-extended car called the Karma (see below). But after Fisker Automotive filed for bankruptcy in 2013, Henrik Fisker himself moved on to reform his operations as Fisker Inc. The Ocean is the Fisker Inc. model everyone is talking about. This is an SUV, and Fisker is directly targeting the Tesla Model Y. A hot version is slated to be able to hit 60mph in under 3 seconds, faster than the Model Y, and the entry level will be a starting price of $37,999, or $29,999 after tax credit, which is considerably lower than the Model Y’s $49,990. Range should be 250-300 miles, similar to the Model Y. It also looks amazing and is packed with tech. If Fisker can pull all this off, the Ocean will be a real contender when it arrives, which is currently set for 2021.
After all these beautiful EVs, you might be wondering why this somewhat childish-looking car has been included. Well, it’s because this is the cheapest EV currently available outside China, costing just $12,499 with federal grants deducted. There are cheaper EVs in China, such as the Ora R1, which costs around $8,600. But you can’t buy that anywhere else yet. The K27 promises around 100 miles from its 17.59kWh battery and a top speed of just 63mph, but this is fine for city usage and it has four doors, so could transport a family. The K27 is a sign of where things could be in a few years as EV pricing drops, mostly thanks to lower battery costs.
Karma Revero GTE
Since we’ve been talking about Henrik Fisker, it makes sense to end with a car that he designed the first version of – the Karma, which was originally the vehicle’s name but is now the brand name since Fisker sold the tooling to Wanxiang in 2014 after going out of business. The Revero GTE is a pure electric version of what was previously a hybrid, and has some impressive statistics, with up to a 400-mile range and 0-62mph in less than 3.9 seconds. But the main thing is the design. Just look at it. Absolutely gorgeous.
I’ve called this list the 10 most exciting EVs, but it was hard to choose what made the cut and what to exclude. There are so many exciting EVs on the horizon. The Porsche Taycan is highly stimulating, the NIO EP9 is decidedly epic, and umpteen possible invaders from China could really bring prices mainstream in just a few years. So these are really just some of the most exciting EVs right now. The fact that there are so many more shows just how fast-moving and vibrant the EV market is now. It’s positively electrifying.


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Notice of Extended Exhibition: November 20, 2021 – January 29, 2022
December 11, 2021
KOTARO NUKAGA is pleased to announce the current exhibition ‘After Dark’ by Keita Morimoto has been extended to Saturday, January 29 (Sat).
Morimoto extends the motif of “light” not only to natural and sacred phenomena, but also to the objects that attract people in today’s consumer society, such as vending machines, fast food restaurants, or electric signs in parking lots.
In this exhibition, which is held for the first time in his home country, Keita Morimoto is showing his 21 new artworks.
We look forward to seeing you at the exhibition.


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Google suspended the popular BabyBus apps from the PlayStore after the Federal Trade Commission warned that the Chinese-based developer appeared to be violating children's privacy laws.
BabyBus, which markets dozens of apps for toddlers and young children, appears to violate the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting precise geolocation data from users, according to the FTC. The app developer also transmits that data to ad networks and other third parties, the FTC says.
"We recommend that you review all of your applications with respect to the online collection of personal information from children in light of COPPA's legal requirements," Maneesha Mithal, associate director in FTC's division of privacy and identity protection, says in a letter to BabyBus (Fujian) Network Technology Co., based in Fuzhou City. The letter, dated Dec. 17, was made public last week.The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act prohibits Web site operators, app developers and online ad networks from collecting personal information from children under 13 without their parents' consent. The FTC recently defined personal information to include precise geolocation data, like GPS coordinates.
Until last week, BabyBus offered its apps through Google's PlayStore, Apple's iTunes and Amazon's Appstore for Android. By Monday morning, the apps were no longer available through Google Play.
A Google spokesperson confirmed that the developer's account is now suspended, but didn't elaborate on the reasons.
BabyBus says in a statement on its English-language site that it will bring its apps into compliance with U.S. laws. The company also said that GPS information was only gathered from users of the Android app; BabyBus attributed the data collection to “Android's third-party statistics software plug-in.”
BabyBus, which says it received the FTC's warning letter on Christmas Eve, adds that its products already “have been corrected and are ready to be released.