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Daily Business Report — Feb. 4, 2011
Bruce Reznik Heads Sustainable San Diego
Bruce Reznik, former executive director of San Diego Coastkeeper, has been named the director of Sustainable San Diego, a nonprofit collaboration of local, regional and statewide groups promoting sustainable practices. Reznik has been involved in environmental activities for nearly 20 years and spent 11 years with San Diego Coastkeeper before his resignation last November. “Bruce made Coastkeeper the leading voice on coastal protection in the region during his tenure there, and demonstrated a strong ability to bring different constituencies together to effectively advocate for the common good,” said Susan Riggs Tinsky, executive director of the San Diego Housing Federation, which serves as the fiscal agent for Sustainable San Diego. “We are thrilled to add someone with such a strong reputation and record of accomplishment.”
Sustainable San Diego said its mission is dedicated “to creating a vibrant and more equitable future for the San Diego region by strengthening and integrating land use, housing, transportation, environmental, health, social equity and economic development policies.” It was formed over a year ago to advocate for the implementation of a bill, now law, calling for the creation of regional growth plans. “I have long been interested in working to address the underlying policies that impact our environment and quality of life,” Reznik said. “I am incredibly fortunate to have an opportunity to work on the intersection of these policies for Sustainable San Diego as we develop and advocate for a shared vision for future development in our region that will transform San Diego into a model for sustainability.”
Judiciary Committee Approves Battaglia Court Nomination
The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved President Obama’s nomination of Magistrate Judge Anthony Battaglia to serve as a U.S. District Court judge for the Southern District of California, which covers San Diego and Imperial counties. The president first nominated Battaglia last year and the Senate Judiciary Committee approved his nomination unanimously in December. However, Senate Republicans blocked his confirmation before the end of the last session. The Senate must confirm Battaglia’s nomination. Battaglia has served as a magistrate judge in the Southern District of California since 1993, where he handles trials, preliminary criminal proceedings, misdemeanor pleas and sentencing, felony guilty pleas and other matters in San Diego. Before becoming a judge, he was a litigator in private practice. Battaglia is the immediate past president of the Federal Magistrate Judges Association. Battaglia earned his bachelor’s degree from the United States International University, which is now Alliant International University. He received his law degree from the California Western School of Law.
Fish & Richardson Elevates Three to Principals
Attorneys Andrew Abrams, Michael Amon and Michael Rosen have been named principals of the law firm Fish & Richardson, whose Southern California office is in San Diego. Abrams will continue to focus his practice on trademark prosecution and representing clients in litigation matters. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in 2000. Amon focuses his practice on patent infringement and business litigation. He received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law, his master’s degree from the University of San Diego and his bachelor’s degree from Trinity University. Rosen’s specialty is IP litigation in the areas of medical devices, computer software, telecommunications, consumer electronics and biotechnology. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College.
Somaxon Names Business Development V.P.
Somaxon Pharmaceuticals Inc. has appointed Robert Cutler as vice president of business development. Cutler has 13 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He previously was senior director of business development for Biogen Idec Inc. and associate general counsel of that company. Cutler spent over five years in private legal practice, where he completed numerous capital raising and strategic transactions for life science clients.
University Town Center Office Buildings Sold
MIG Real Estate of Newport Beach has acquired two office buildings in University Town Center in an all-cash transaction whose terms were not disclosed. The buildings total 138,000 square feet and are at 4110 and 4224 Campus Point Court. The multi-tenant office properties will be marketed to tenants with space requirements of 40,000 square feet or more. Louay Aldesak, Evan August, Chris Pascale and Mike Hoeck of CB Richard Ellis represented the seller in the transaction. MIG Real Estate did not have broker representation.
Caffe Calabria/Whole Foods Market Fundraising Party
Caffe Calabria in North Park and Whole Foods Market Hillcrest will sponsor a Feb. 28 “A Hand Up” fundraising party to benefit the Whole Planet Foundation, which provides microcredit loans to woman-owned, home-based businesses in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The 6 p.m. party at Caffe Calabria, 3330 30th St., will have live music by local singers and musicians, a silent auction and sales of local wines, beer, specialty coffees and small plates at reduced prices. Caffe Calabria has made a commitment to support villages where it buys its coffee beans. The café will feature $2 specialty coffee drinks and pizza slices from the just completed Italian brick oven. Other local selections include $3 pints, $4 wines, $2 empanadas assorted vegetarian and vegan plates and desserts. All proceeds will go to the foundation. Additional participating sponsors include the San Diego County Vintners Association, South Coast Winery, Ballast Point Brewery and The Finest Food Empanadas. For more information, or to make an auction donation, call Ray Kau at Whole Foods Market (619) 294.2800.
Remodeled Office Depot Store Now Open
Office Depot on Thursday opened its newly remodeled store at 4428 Convoy St. and accompanied it with the donation of 100 new children’s book bags along with essential school supplies and $100 to each of three local nonprofit organizations — the Miracle League of San Diego, the YMCA of San Diego County and Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County. John Robles, store manager, said the store made several upgrades, including carpeted floors, a simple-to-navigate floor plan and the grouping of products in strategically located “pods,” with core office products on one side of the store and consumer electronics on the opposite side. The furniture area has been updated with additional product lines and assortments, and is located in the back of the store. The store employs six full-time employees and 10 part-time employees. Hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The telephone is (858) 569-9971.
Small Business Workshops
Upcoming SCORE San Diego Workshops:
• Feb. 8 – Internet Marketing 304: Cost-Effective Internet Marketing Tools – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• Feb. 8 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; No charge – please pre-register).
• Feb. 9 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Feb. 9 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92009; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door).
• Feb. 10 – Tax Considerations for Small Business – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• Feb. 11 – Legal Issues for Small Business: Organizational Structure – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• Feb. 12 – Introduction to Starting Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Feb. 14 – Customer Service: The Key to Business Success – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).
• Feb. 15 – Financial Statements: What They Mean, How to Use Them – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• Feb. 15 – Marketing for Nonprofits – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).
• Feb. 16 – Internet Marketing 303: Social Media for Small Businesses – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• Feb. 18 – Financing Your Business – 9:30 a.m. to noon at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92009; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• Feb. 23 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Winning Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92009; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).
• Feb. 25 – QuickBooks Advanced – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Feb. 25 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; No charge – please pre-register).
• Feb. 28 – Restaurant 201 – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
The Business & Entrepreneur Center and the Small Business Development Center at MiraCosta College will offer free upcoming workshops to help businesses succeed. The workshops will be held at Vista City Hall, 200 Civic Center Drive, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the following dates:
March 1: Increase Sales Using Social Media: Learn how to incorporate social networking into a business.
April 5: Financing Options for Businesses: Direct lenders and the SBA will discuss financing options for a business.
May 3: Ways to Market A Business: Learn to identify the “right” customer for a business and easy ways to market your business to them.
June 7: Marketing A Business Using Google Tools: Learn how to use Google tools such as ad words, ad sense, Google trends and more.
Bring a lunch to the workshops. Drinks will be provided.
The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of SD METRO, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.


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Seeking to employ the advantages of the blockchain to disrupt the insurance industry, Vernam is having a crowdsale to raise funds to implement its grand vision in the European Union. As a first-mover using blockchain technology in the industry, Vernam is positioning itself as a platform that will give users greater options and benefits compared to traditional methods of buying or selling insurance. Though at first the platform will focus on Europe, its progress — and those of similar projects globally — could be a harbinger for things to come to other parts of the world, including the United States. The blockchain revolution will be so vast and disruptive that within a few years no nation will be left unaffected.
The Vernam platform will run on top of the Ethereum blockchain. The Ethereum blockchain is a second-generation blockchain with a vast and growing community of users and developers. As more decentralized applications (Dapps) such as Vernam build on top of the blockchain, and as the number of its users swells, Ethereum is continuously being upgraded to meet the demands of the market. For Vernam, Ethereum provides security and smart contract capabilities, thus allowing transactions to take place between users without the need for brokers or other third parties. Moreover, the immutable nature of transactions on the blockchain means that they cannot be manipulated or reversed once the parties have authorized a transaction, an appealing feature that deters fraud. Given that Vernam aims to be the first zero percent commission insurance platform, Ethereum is the ideal blockchain on which to build. Besides auto insurance, Vernam will be a platform to buy and sell life, health, travel, and other types of insurance.
Using the blockchain, Vernam will save consumers the cost of intermediaries that are paid high commission and add nothing to the product. Instead, the platform will reward buyers with VRN tokens, which are the native tokens of the platform. The incentivizing of buyers with rewards will encourage them to use the platform, in turn attracting insurance providers to a growing ecosystem that rewards all parties. Though VRN tokens, which are ERC20 compatible, are not required for transacting on the platform, all transactions will involve the use of VRN tokens as a means of settlement. Another cost-saving service provided by the platform is the ability of buyers to decide the terms they want on a plan and initiate a reverse-bidding process whereby providers can compete with one another to win the customer.
The Vernam crowdsale is taking place from May 8, 2018 to June 18, 2018, according to the whitepaper. In total, no more than 1,000,000,000 VRN will be minted. 15 percent of the tokens will be allocated to the founders, with an 18 month vesting period to ensure commitment to the project. Cryptocurrency enthusiasts interested in a bold insurance project with the potential to disrupt its industry may find this platform appealing.
To learn more about Vernam:

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MORE than a quarter of shops and a fifth of hotels are at serious risk of going out of business in the next year, according to the trade body for insolvency professionals.
Research by R3 found 274 retail businesses and 30 hotels had a high risk of going bust within the next 12 months.
Analysis showed there are a further 1238 retailers and 137 hoteliers who are vulnerable to failure over the same period.
This means that 26.15 per cent of retail businesses and 17.99 per cent of hotels in Scotland are at some risk of failure.
Scottish R3 spokesman Iain Fraser said: "It is not likely to surprise anyone that the retail and hospitality sectors are vulnerable.
"Retail, as has been widely reported, is suffering both from a lack of consumer confidence coupled with systemic changes to the way in which people buy products.
"The shift to online purchasing is greatly affecting retailers, many of which have not effectively moved online.
"Whilst there will always remain high street retail outlets, their composition, offerings and delivery have changed dramatically over the last ten years and will continue to do so.
"Those retailers that do not respond to these changes will, unfortunately, cease to exist."
He added: "There also remains the extremely difficult economy which, even for those businesses that are successfully adopting new technologies, poses a challenge for all businesses.
"There remains some way to go before the economy recovers and, until that time, retailers offering niche or non-essential products will face troubling times."
In the hospitality sector, hotels also face challenges in maintaining room bookings without just slashing prices, Mr Fraser said.
He added: "Equally, the hospitality sector remains vulnerable to the economic gloom.
"Leisure travel can easily be curtailed and business travel remains subdued, therefore hotels face the difficult challenge of maintaining reasonable occupancy levels without simply heavily discounting rooms.
"Given that operational costs remain high this is a tricky balancing act facing many hotels and, unfortunately, given the high capital costs involved in the hotel sector, it is likely that many businesses will continue to go under until the market recovers."
The research was compiled using the Bureau van Dijk Fame database. Businesses classed as "at risk of failure" are defined as having a QuiScore below the normal band of 37-56.
The QuiScore, ranging from 0 to 100, is a measure of the likelihood of failure in the 12 months following the date of calculation. Companies with a high risk of failing would fall in the 1-18 band.


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No require to spend lots of money to treat the skin to make it more beautiful. Only by eating tomatoes, it can make the skin more beautiful. Based upon research conducted in Britain, tomatoes could provide the best defense to keep the skin looking young and is safe from sun damage.
Tests showed that eating tomatoes can help protect the skin against the sun and aging skin. That’s because the lycopene in tomatoes is a natural pigment that makes tomatoes red, helps protect skin from sun exposure.
The researchers compared 20 women’s skin. Half of them were given five tablespoons of tomato paste plus 10 grams of olive oil daily for 12 weeks. The result, the researchers found a significant increase in skin’s ability to protect itself against ultraviolet rays.
Additionally, the skin of volunteers after the trial showed increased levels of procollagen, a molecule that gives structure and loss of skin that causes skin aging and lack of elasticity. The researchers calculated that the protection offered by tomato paste is equivalent to a sunscreen with an SPF of 1.3.
“Eating tomatoes perhaps useful for sun protection like sunscreen,” said Mark Birch-Machin, a dermatologist from Newcastle University, UK.


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First, let me be clear about one thing: Despite a recent TechRadar report that Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is preparing to stream video games, a Netflix spokesperson has since clarified that no such thing is happening. Instead, the company is expanding its interactive videos business and licensing Stranger Things for a video game that will appear on Telltale’s platform, not Netflix’s platform.
So let’s put the rumors to rest. You’re not going to see a Netflix video games section any time soon … but the company absolutely should get into games.
The “Netflixification” of video games is coming. It is called cloud gaming, and big video game publishers like Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) are pouring a bunch of money into making the Netflix-like video games a reality.
Netflix shouldn’t get caught up in trying to make the Netflix of video games. EA and others will probably be better at doing that, anyway. But Netflix should create video games based on its rapidly growing and high demand original content portfolio, and lock those games behind a “Netflix Video Games” subscription paywall.
Doing so could add billions of dollars of value to the company. Here’s a deeper look:
The Netflix of Video Games Is Coming
Make no mistake about it. The Netflix of video games is coming soon to a smart TV near you.
Video game publisher EA recently revealed its vision for what they call “cloud gaming”. That vision includes a Netflix-like app installed on smart devices which allows you to stream and play games from any smart device. No bulky hardware. No video game purchases. Just an app and a subscription.
It truly is the Netflix of video games.
And it will be met with as much demand and find as much success as Netflix.
Even back in their golden era, movie DVDs never fetched more than $30. But today, video games are priced at over $50. And while people did buy more DVDs back in 2008 than they bought video games, total video game sales were actually greater than total DVD sales in 2008.
And that was before Netflix arrived with streaming.
Thus, the Netflixification of the video game industry provides a huge, $100 billion-growth opportunity over the next several years.
Original Video Games Are a Multi-Billion Opportunity for Netflix
Netflix would be wise not to try to build the Netflix of video games, despite the huge growth opportunity the market presents. Video game publishers like EA will likely be far better suited to deliver such a service, as they own a majority of the video game content out there.
But one way for Netflix to participate in this market without outright building the Netflix of video games is by creating its own games.
The strategy is pretty straightforward. Netflix has developed a robust and still rapidly growing portfolio of original content which consumers clearly love. A lot of that content translates well into a video game story-line, such as Stranger Things. Thus, Netflix should start creating video games based on its original content, lock those video games behind an additional paywall called “Netflix Game”, and let consumers decide if they want to pay for those games.
Chances are high that they will. Netflix’s original shows have generated a lot of buzz. Video games of the same name would generate just as much buzz.
This could be a multi-billion dollar opportunity for Netflix. Here’s the math:
- 120 million TV households in the U.S.
- 63% of households in the U.S. have one frequent gamer.
- (120 million households) x (63% gamer rate) = 75.6 million gamer households
- Netflix is already in 50% of TV households in U.S. with nearly 60 million streaming subs.
- A similar 50% penetration rate among gamer households implies 37.8 million Netflix Game subs.
- At $10 per month, Netflix Game could generate $4.5 billion in incremental revenue in the U.S. alone.
Bottom Line on Netflix Video Games
Netflix isn’t jumping head-first into the video game market … yet. But it should. Not in the sense that Netflix should create the Netflix of video games. But rather, in the sense that Netflix should create video games based on its original content, and lock them behind a subscription paywall. Is it a reason to buy NFLX stock? Not yet. But if Netflix gets serious about producing video games in the same way that they got serious about producing original content, then Netflix stock could roar higher.
As of this writing, Luke Lango was long EA stock.


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- About Donna
Another Crispy Fry TV commercial has just been released. Donna Cruz with her kids Cian and Belle are in the new TV commercial. Six months ago, it was Donna with her youngest son Gio. Watch the new TVC: More…
Abbott Nutrition released on their Youtube page a great behind the scenes video of the shooting of the Similac Gain TV commercial (“Nourishing your Child’s Senses”) which stars Donna Cruz.
Donna Cruz is the new endorser of Similac Gain School milk powder from Abbott Nutrition. The “Nourishing your Child’s Senses” campaign theme was also sang by Donna Cruz.
Donna Cruz and kids attend the 35th year anniversary of Jollibee, the leading Philippine fast-food chain as it celebrates in Ayala Center, Cebu with an exhibit called “Buhay Pamilya” (translation: Family Life).
It’s all set for the SM 2 SM Run Marathon, organized by Run for Sight foundation (Donna’s husband Yong Larrazabal’s foundation), and SM Prime Holdings.
Donna Cruz stars with her kids, Belle and Cian Larrazabal for a Jollibee TV Commercial. Donna is a certified “Jollibee baby”, she likes Jollibee and her first TV commercial endorsing the fast food chain was when she was 17, followed by another one when she was 19. More…


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Gas drives consumer prices up 0.7 percent
WASHINGTON – A spike in gas prices drove a measure of U.S. consumer costs up in February by the most in more than three years. But outside the gain in fuel costs, inflation was mostly modest.
The consumer price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent last month from January, the Labor Department said Friday. It was the biggest monthly rise since June 2009.
Still, three-fourths of the increase in the index reflected a 9.1 percent surge in gas prices. That was also the largest monthly gain since June 2009.
Gas prices had fallen in the previous four months. Since last month’s increase gas price have started to decline again.
For the 12 months that ended in February, prices increased 2.0 percent. That’s in line with the Federal Reserve’s inflation target.


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Textiles & Apparel / Garment
Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer opens next week
New trend ideas forges boundless opportunities
The fair is sectioned into eighteen theme zones addressing various needs of the fashion industry, while facilitating an efficient matching of buyers and exhibitors. Always evolving, Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer adds Fashionable Sportswear and Urban Clothing to its zones lineup in this edition.
Accessories for matching
The debut World of Fashion Accessories will cover a consortium of accessories-related zones, including Accessories, Bags, Footwear, Leggings & Socks, Gloves, Scarves & Shawls for buyers to source matching accessories at ease. Titane Group (Hong Kong) Limited (Booth no.: 1B-C21), exhibitor from the Accessories zone, will be presenting the HOTITLE Speed Racer titanium cufflinks inspired by the rim of sports cars. The series is light-weighted, durable and so finely crafted that even the tiny inner brake system is well elaborated. On top of that, the rims are interchangeable to complete looks of different styles.
Function meets fashion
Consumers nowadays not only look for quality apparels, but also clothing with functionality. The buoyant demand in the market gives rise to a variety of functional clothing, which is backed by producers’ adoption and development in functional fabrics. The Woolmark Company (Booth no.: 1B-B01), global authority on wool production, developed the wool denim that preserves the look and style of traditional cotton denim, but goes beyond the possibilities it can offer by adding traits such as softness, warmth-keeping, wrinkle-free and quick-drying. The company will also share the latest technology applied in wool denim and wool sneakers at a seminar. On the other hand, Hyperbola Textile Co., Ltd. (Booth no.: 1C-D02), who focuses on combining fashion, aesthetics and technology to deliver high-performance outdoor clothing, will exhibit smart and practical products such as durable wind- and water-proof windbreakers at the new Fashionable Sportswear zone.
Fashion tech drives industry development
Rapid development of electronic technology has generated broad applications. With people heavily relying on electronic apps in their everyday lives; the fashion industry has found its niche within it. HopIN Digitech Company Ltd (Booth no.: 1B-E34) will showcase a mobile fashion app at the Fashion Tech zone. The app allows easy browsing of digital catalogues, as well as trying on the clothes in real time by uploading photos of oneself. This innovative user experience boosts customers’ buying incentives, providing an effective alternative for industry players to promote their products.
A round-up of global designers
International Fashion Designers’ Showcase will return again this year to house designers from around the world, with Indonesia, Japan and Thailand hosting group pavilions to flaunt the alluring local designs. Among them, Indonesian designer PRISCILLA LISTIA (Booth no.: 1C-DS20), who attended the Vancouver Fashion Week, will present her women’s wear brand Mia Amica which is acclaimed for employing the Indonesian Batik that has been acknowledged as an intangible world heritage product. The collection is executed with superb craftsmanship, modern silhouettes and charming embellishments such as embroideries and sequins.
Unveiling fashion trends and market information
Aside from being an outstanding sourcing and marketing platform, Hong Kong Fashion Week also presents opportunities for networking and acquisition of the latest market intelligence with its exciting event line up.
A series of fashion shows and parades will be staged across the first three days of the fair, participants include the exotic Indonesian brand Neusa, Macau haute couture and bridal designer brand Chavin, Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre, School of Continuing of Professional Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as exhibitors from the Chinese mainland, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) will also host graduation shows and a lingerie show.
Alongside, seminars and forums will be held. The internationally renowned trend forecaster Fashion Snoops will shed light on the upcoming trends for Autumn & Winter 2018/19 for women’s and men’s wear. With wearable technologies becoming increasingly popular, a seminar co-organised with Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) on the latest development and application of wearable technologies will also be organised. Other seminars will cover hot industry topics such as testing and certification for textiles and garments, and fashion E-tailing strategies.
Wearable Technology woven into fashion industry’s future
The growth of wearable technologies is revolutionising the way people connect through smart devices, which will also greatly impact the fashion industry. According to a study by Allied Market Research, the wearable technology market was valued at US$19.6 billion in 2015, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 16.2 per cent to reach US$57.7 billion by 2022. The forecast highlights the sector’s potential to boost the overall fashion industry.
The topic will be examined at an 11 July seminar entitled “Wearable Technologies for Future Fashion.” Jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, the session is part of a seminar series to be held at the 24th Fashion Week for Spring/Summer, which will run 10-13 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Wearable technologies in focus at seminar
Industry leaders will offer insights about upcoming trends in wearable technologies. Dr Raymond Chu, Chairman of textile machinery agent Chemtax Industrial Co Ltd, will speak on the topic “Future Knitting with Wearable Technologies.”
“Predictions of huge demand in the smart and wearable textile sector will lead to a 40 per cent annual growth, worth US$2.5 billion by 2021. We are likely to see the biggest growth among sports fashion brands,” said Dr Chu.
“Going forward, sophisticated sensors, heating elements – even battery chargers – will be added to fabrics using high-tech knitting machines for sport, leisure, the military, hospitals and emergency services. Such devices will be able to measure a person’s vital signs, such as heart rate, breathing, skin temperature – even perspiration levels,” he added.
The health benefits of wearable technologies will also be highlighted by Dr Roy Cheung, Associate Professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, who will speak on “Modifying the Fingerprint of Gait with Wearable Sensors.”
“Sensors used in wearable devices could have health benefits, such as rehabilitation for patients with physical impairments and functional disabilities, and injury prevention for people at risk,” Dr Cheung said. “Advances in technology, including muscle and motion sensors, mean that wearable devices will be able to provide increasingly useful data to accurately estimate a person’s biomechanics. We can use the knowledge gained, along with widely used products, to launch tailor-made training or prevention.”
Stanley Kwok, Director of Senty Ltd, which produces knitted grounding products, will discuss “The Health Concerns in Wearable Tech.” He emphasised the importance of addressing concerns surrounding the use of wearable technologies. “Most wearable technological devices worn close to the body transmit data to smartphones. They use frequencies of between 450MHz and 2700MHz, while peak power levels are between 0.1 Watts and 2 Watts, which have been proved safe for humans.”
Jason Ho, Vice-President of Intertek Testing Services Hong Kong, an assurance, testing, inspection and certification agency, will speak on the topic “Total Quality Assured.” He said that all wearable technologies had to be carefully tested to ensure they met strict manufacturing requirements. “The quality of smart clothing must meet both the necessary electronic and high-performance textile requirements. Such devices are specially developed and tested so they are made to the highest standards, with advanced performance features, and are safe to use,” said Mr Ho.
Other seminars to be held at Fashion Week for Spring/Summer also spotlight major industry trends and topics, including “Visionary Trends for Autumn/Winter 2018/19 for Women’s and Men’s Wear” presented by Fashion Snoops, “The Woolmark Company Presents: New Generation of Merino Wool Innovation – Wool Denim Wear and Wool Sneakers,” “Tips on Marketing Your E-tailing Business,” and “Testing and Certification Services for Textiles and Garments”. Buyers are welcome to register online (www.hktdc.com/hkfashionweekss) for these free seminars to learn about the latest developments and applications.


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Confused Colorado stoners will have an easier time determining whether their chocolate bars, cookies, and iced coffee contain marijuana.
The new stamp required on all edible products sold in Colorado
State officials started enforcing a new rule in October that requires a stamp on all edible products to distinguish them from traditional food. All products must now contain a diamond-shaped stamp with the letters “THC” on both the packaging and the edibles themselves.
That means, for example, that a cannabis chocolate bar would come with multiple single-dose squares (usually 10 milligrams of THC per square), each with its own stamp. The rule took effect Oct. 1 and applies at every pot shop and medical marijuana dispensary across the state.
Lawmakers adopted the requirements in response to reports children were unwittingly eating marijuana-laced food they mistook for real treats. Parents complained there was no way to distinguish the two.
First state to require product stamping
Colorado is the first state to impose such a regulation. Marijuana is also legal for any use in Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia.
The new stamps are designed to make it easier for parents to know if their children are using cannabis, intentionally or otherwise. Edibles must include the stamp not only on each product, but on each dose of each product. That should make it harder for students to sneak even small amounts.
It should also make it easier for parents to identify THC-laced food without tasting or smelling it. The rule only affects legal sales, so children may still be able to get their hands on unstamped edibles, but the new regulation makes that less likely.
New rules were widely supported
The requirement drew little opposition when lawmakers adopted it in 2015. Even the legal cannabis industry supported the legislation, with many business owners saying tighter protections for children would improve their reputation and make their shops more appealing to adult customers.
The stamp requirement took effect along with several other major regulations, including labeling and packaging rules such as childproof containers and warnings to keep the products away from kids. Users are also warned not to drive after eating marijuana and not to use it while pregnant or nursing.
“We want to ensure that people genuinely know the difference between a Duncan Hines brownie and a marijuana brownie, just by looking at it,” said state Rep. Jonathan Singer, who sponsored the legislation.
Accidental consumption of cannabis edibles remains rare, even in Colorado. A recent study of pediatric admissions at a Denver-area hospital in the years since legalization found more children have been hospitalized after eating cannabis, but it is one of the least common types of poisoning. Far more children are treated in emergency rooms after ingesting household cleaning products.
The most common reason for unintentional marijuana overdoses, the study found, was “poor child supervision or product storage.” But lawmakers hope the new packaging and labeling rules will cut down on the problem.
Leave a comment below: Do you think edible stamps like this are necessary to protect children? Is it worth the extra cost to consumers?


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Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Schjeldahl on Klimt
Is she worth the money? Not yet. Paintings this special may not come along for sale often, and the hundred and four million dollars spent for a so-so Picasso, “Boy with a Pipe,” two years ago indicated that irrational exuberance could be the booming art market’s new motto. But Lauder’s outlay predicts a level of cost that must either soon become common or be relegated in history as a bid too far.
And the identity of the artist gives pause. The price paid is four and a half times the previous high (already a stunner, in 2003) for a Klimt; until a few years ago, the artist ranked as a second-tier modern master both at auction and in the estimation of most art critics and historians....The purchase of “Adele” tests the possibility—ever less to be sneezed at, these days—of rewriting art history with a checkbook.
Here's CultureGrrl on the art market's irrational exuberance.
Coming Soon: A further examination of the Neue Galerie and its collection.


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latest news releases from the newsroom
Nicodrops Featured in Upcoming In-Store Sales Circular From Walgreens
LA MESA, Calif., June 10, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Nicodrops, Inc. (Pink Sheets:NCDP), developer of the drug-free, non-nicotine smoking alternative, herbal dietary supplement, LOZENGE(i), today announced it will be featured in an upcoming in-store sales circular from Walgreens. The in-store sales circular is a weekly promotional piece specifically promoting a number of the better selling products sold at the more than 4,700 Walgreens locations. Nicodrops will be featured in June 12-18 circular at Walgreens. Nicodrops is currently retailing at Walgreens for $9.99. In addition, the Nicodrops ad scheduled to appear in The National Enquirer can be found in the June 20th, 2005 issue on sale NOW and can be seen on page 21.
Wi-Fi TV Inc.
Wi-Fi TV Offers First Internet One-Page, One-Click TV and Phone Calls
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 10, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Starting today, Wi-Fi TV Inc. (Pink Sheets:WFTV) is offering what it believes to be a Internet first: One-Page, One-Click(tm) free and unlimited access to place calls to telephones (local, long distance, and worldwide for calls placed from PCs in the United States and select other territories) and to watch TV (initially 200 stations from around the world and accessible globally). The service requires no registration and no purchase of any additional hardware or software and can be found at www.wi-fitv.com.
SmallCap Sentinel: Potential Impact of Stem Cell Restrictions Questioned
IRVINE, Calif., June 10, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- "Limitations on domestic stem cell research may have an impact on major biopharmaceutical companies as well," stated SmallCap Sentinel analyst, D.R. Clark. "It will be interesting to see if the proposed restrictions of stem cell research in the United States eventually impact large pharmaceutical firms, either positively or adversely."
XRG Inc. Completes Reorganization and Secures Additional Financing
PITTSBURGH, June 10, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- XRG Inc. (OTCBB:XRGI), a provider of truckload freight and logistics services, today announced the completion of the reorganization initiated in April with the securing of additional funding. Barron Partners LP has agreed to advance XRG up to an additional $1.6 million for working capital and to satisfy outstanding financial obligations. XRG has reached definitive agreements with certain of its operating divisions and details are contained within 8K filings of XRG.
Human Monoclonal Antibody Against West Nile Virus Shows Promise in Animal Studies
LEIDEN, Netherlands, June 10, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. (Euronext:CRXL) (Nasdaq:CRXL) today announces the discovery of a monoclonal antibody for protection against West Nile virus. Study results have demonstrated that the fully human monoclonal antibody, derived from patients who survived West Nile infection, effectively neutralized the virus in cell culture and fully protected mice from an otherwise lethal infection.
SALE OF MICRO COMPLETED
Bilia's agreement involving the transfer of operations in Micro included terms
relating to the possible transfer of rental agreements to the purchaser. All
the terms of this agreement have now been fulfilled and the deal has been
completed. The day on which possession was taken was 1 June 2005.
Göteborg, 10 June 2005
Bilia AB (publ)
For further information, please do not hesitate to contact Bilia's managing
director and CEO, Jan Pettersson, on +46 31709 55 00.


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In coming weeks, the felled “Murder Kroger’s” beefier, urbanized successor is slated to debut between Ponce de Leon and North avenues, in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood.
After that, the concrete commercial office building standing above, 725 Ponce, is expected to welcome its first tenants.
Exactly how those projects fit into the changing landscape where Poncey-Highland, Old Fourth Ward, and the Atlanta Beltline converge is becoming clearer by the day.
At the massive, $200 million mixed-use development by New City, construction crews are getting closer to wrapping up. The site has already become a major artery connecting patrons of the Beltline and Ponce City Market with Midtown and other Poncey-Highland restaurants and retail attractions.
Once complete, 725 Ponce, a glassy 12-story—177-foot—office stack will span 360,000 square feet, lording over the Beltline’s most popular leg, the Eastside Trail.
The grocery store—replacing the demolished one that had a checkered, sometimes tragic criminal history—will span 60,000 square feet atop a buried parking complex.
New City reps have yet to respond to inquires about when specific components will open. But 725 Ponce topped out last summer, and it’s secured leases with downtown-based consulting company McKinsey & Co., coworking giant WeWork, and BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm, which will claim more than 120,000 square feet, according to Bisnow.
New City is also working to woo Starbucks to take over the remaining office space, according to the publication.
The Kroger—which, if the developer has anything to say about it, will be known as “Beltline Kroger”—is now adorned with fresh signage fronting both Ponce de Leon Avenue and the Eastside Trail.
Beltline patrons can now utilize the pedestrian-friendly plaza—decked out with new trees, garden boxes, and seating—linking the multi-use trail with what will eventually be the parking lot for the soon-to-open grocer, and later the development’s second phase.
Take a peek below at what the construction site looks like today.


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Dutch consumers want milk produced from grazed grass
Consumers in the Netherlands have made it clear that they strongly prefer milk produced from cows that have extensive access to grazed grass, according to Dr. Theun Vellinga.
“There is also a growing public backlash to the practice of removing dairy calves from their mothers as day-olds.
“The milk industry in the Netherlands is also under severe pressure because of the perceived landscape damage it is causing,” the Dutch Livestock Research Scientist said.
Vellinga was a speaker at this week’s Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Stakeholder Conference at the Dunadry Hotel, Co Antrim .
He confirmed that the Netherlands will undertake a radical dairy cow culling policy, in order to ensure the country can become compliant with the terms of the EU Nitrates’ Directive.
Dutch Phosphate Limit
According to Vellinga, a three-pronged approach has been proposed to the Dutch government to reduce phosphates from 2017.
The plan would see a reduction in the dairy herd (with compensation), penalties for those producing more milk than a predetermined reference quantity and reducing the levels of phosphorus in compound animal feeds.
The combined effect of this is expected to lead to a total reduction of 8.2m kilograms.
A reduction in Dutch cattle numbers – in the order of 175,000 head – is envisaged. This would lead to an 11% reduction in annual milk output
“The pig and poultry sectors are not under the same level of scrutiny from Brussels at the present time,” he said.
However, we are now seeing a greater emphasis placed on the development of manure processing plants in many regions of the Netherlands.
“Phosphate extraction will be a clear focus for these businesses. There is also a greater requirement for the Dutch livestock sectors to export slurry and manures out of the country,” Vellinga said.
He added that growing environmental pressures were forcing the Dutch pig industry to re-think its business model.
“Increasingly, weaned pigs are being shipped to countries such as Romania in Eastern Europe for finishing.”


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Restaurants hold out hope for $120B federal aid package
A new bill is working its way through Congress to help struggling restaurants hit hardest by COVID-19. It comes as encouraging news for many eateries around the region that have found other federal response efforts didn't fit the bill.
Vermont is opening back up and more people are working and spending. But many restaurants are continuing to bleed cash because of capacity limits. That includes Honey Road on Church Street in Burlington.
"You see your savings account going down, where it was already kind of like wavering to begin with in the restaurant industry," said Cara Chigazola-Tobin, Honey Road's owner.
The Vermont Legislature is days away from passing a plan funneling $90 million to restaurants and other small businesses, but state leaders admit that won't be enough. Congress is now working on a $120 billion stimulus package designed just for restaurants.
"We have to respond according to the specific conditions of these industries that have meant so much to the vitality of the state of Vermont," said Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vermont.
Locally-owned restaurants would be eligible for grants covering the difference in revenue generated last year and this year. It's unclear how much money Vermont or individual restaurants would receive. Though restaurants can open to 50 percent capacity and outdoor seating, the window for outdoor dining is closing fast.
"These outdoor seating spaces are seasonal -- we're going to lose these. If we continue to see restrictions on indoor dining -- which is very possible -- we're going to need programs like this to supplement ourselves economically," said Matt Birong, the owner of 3 Squares Cafe in Vergennes.
Welch says he plans to work around Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has lately been resistant to more virus federal assistance. He also says there's bipartisan support for the bill and he believes President Trump will sign it. "Everybody in this country loves their local restaurants. It's not a Republican or Democratic thing," Welch said.
But until the cash starts flowing from the Legislature or Congress, restaurants are operating in the red and the clock is ticking.
"I think that people don't really understand. They think we just cook food and people show up and eat it. It's much more than that," Chigazola-Tobin said.
This program is in addition to the federal paycheck protection program. But many restaurants said that the PPP loans would hurt more than they would help because of the repayment requirements.


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Since mid-March, Principia has tracked the effect of COVID-19 on building products demand and construction activity. Recently, Principia held a webinar providing data and analysis on the level of projected building and construction activity in 2020 and the effect on building products demand and the supply chain.
Key takeaways discussed during the webinar included:
- The overall impact on residential new construction and repair and remodel activity
- Which areas of the country likely more or less affected by Stay at Home or Shelter in Place restrictions
- Assess enforcement rate of ordinance restrictions on construction activity
- Determine impact on demand for selected building products covered by Principia
For those unable to attend the webinar, a recording of the full discussion — including the Q&A session is available here . Principia will continue to share and update COVID-19 coverage.
Learn more about Principia’s COVID-19 coverage here.


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Here’s a first look at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood
We’re just a few short months away from the long-awaited opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. The real-life interpretation of Harry’s world is set to open at Universal Studios Hollywood this coming spring, and to get us even more excited, Universal Studios has released a video giving us major FOMO.
The video features the Hogwart’s Express conductor gives us a tour of Hogsmeade Village, guiding us through familiar location such as Ollivander’s Wand Shop, Three Broomsticks and Honeydukes. We definitely can’t wait to finally try butterbeer, yum.
According to Mashable, the park appears to be set up almost identically to the Orlando location. However, the Hollywood location will feature include an all-new attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey in 3D, for the first time in the United States. There will also be a new family-friendly coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff, in which muggles will have tame the magical beast before they can ride.
If the video doesn’t give you enough of a taste, you can check out their online HQ to hold you over until next spring. Universal Studios has promised “a series of virtual videos” to roll out ahead of the opening, so you can look forward to more sneak peeks!
(Image via Youtube)


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This is part of an occasional series examining why the average person spends more on food than they would if they didn’t eat.
The price tag for broccoli is staggering.
According to the USDA, it costs around $1.70 per pound in the U.S. alone, and the USDA estimates that broccoli accounts for up to 75 percent of the total calories in a single serving.
That means the average American spends roughly $1,300 on broccoli every year.
It is the most expensive food on the planet, but the cost is well worth it, according to experts.
“The more broccoli you consume, the more it costs,” said Dr. Michael E. Willett, a professor of nutrition at Harvard University and an author of the new book, “Crocodile Oil.”
“If you want to eat a lot of broccoli, the cost of it is not very high.”
Willett has been studying the economics of broccoli for decades, and he said it’s important to look beyond the number on a box and realize the real cost of broccoli.
“What people think of is the cost per pound of broccoli or the cost for the entire plant,” he said.
“But it’s a lot more than that.”
For example, the USDA notes that the broccoli plant is one of the fastest growing food crops in the world.
So if the broccoli you buy costs $1 per pound, the plant is likely growing broccoli at about 50 times its usual rate of growth.
Willett said that even the most healthy, plant-based diet is unlikely to provide enough broccoli to meet people’s needs.
“The reason is because you’re eating a lot less of broccoli than you used to, and then you’re also getting more of the food from the plants that produce it,” Willett said.
This is a topic Willett discussed on his recent episode of The Feed.
He said he found that some people, like himself, eat as little as a cup of broccoli a day and don’t consider the cost to be worth it.
The average American eats less than a cup (about 1 ounce) of broccoli per day, Willett noted.
“If we were going to say that we can cut our intake of broccoli by 30 percent, that would mean we would have to cut the consumption of all the other foods in the diet by 30.
We’d have to eat more foods, including fruits and vegetables,” Willet said.”
We’re all eating a little bit more broccoli than we used to,” he added.
The cost of a single cup of cooked broccoli is around $0.70.
But for a bowl of roasted cauliflower, the price is around 80 cents, and for a cup, it’s $0 to $1 (depending on the size).
To help offset the cost, Willet suggests eating a wide variety of healthy food, such as: fresh fruits and veggies, beans, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and fish.
The USDA also notes that there are many other ways to reduce the cost.
You can buy broccoli at a local grocery store, at farmers markets, and in specialty grocery stores, for example.
Willet also said it can be cheaper to buy broccoli directly from the farmer or in bulk from a local farmer.
For more information on how to reduce your food bill, visit The Feed on ABC.


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With Bitcoin soaring to new all-time high (ATH) beyond $22,000 level, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase files for initial public offering (IPO). If successful, Coinbase will be the first major Bitcoin-focused company to test the public markets.
Coinbase has confidentially submitted a draft registration for a public offering to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The application will become effective after the SEC completes its review process, Coinbase announced in a blog post on Thursday. Also, it said the offering would be subject to market conditions and other considerations.
Coinbase’s Confidential IPO
The filing positions Coinbase to be one of the first big IPOs of 2021. Coinbase has never disclosed any profit or revenue figures. However, under the confidential IPO application, relevant information is limited to Coinbase’s announcement.
Coinbase, founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam, is one of the most recognizable names in the industry. It currently has about 35 million users, more than Charles Schwab’s platform. It has raised $547 million, and has a market valuation at $7.7 billion in 2018, according to Crunchbase. Investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Union Square Ventures, BBVA Ventures and USAA.
Bitcoin Rally to New ATH
The cryptocurrency industry has been waiting for Coinbase’s IPO for some time. However, rigors of SEC registration have stalled that process.
Controversies have surrounded the exchange in 2020. Amid nationwide protests in the US, Armstrong published a blog post saying Coinbase wouldn’t engage in societal or political issues. Hence, Coinbase offered buyouts to employees who disagreed with the stance.
Coinbase’ IPO announcement comes after Bitcoin soared beyond $20,000 for the first time in history. As of the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $23,147, up 6.4% in the last 24 hours. It slipped 2.3% from the new all-time high at $23,624.


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Pune, India -- The ceramic tile market is projected to reach $320.06 billion by 2023, according to a recent study by MarketsandMarkets. The Ceramic Tiles Market size is estimated to grow from $227.89 billion in 2018 to $320.07 billion by 2023, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.03%. The market is projected to witness steady growth in the next few years, due to the rise in new construction activities resulting from rapid industrialization and urbanization. Increase in investments in the construction industry, the rise in population, and growing focus toward interior decoration will also boost growth.
The floor segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. Due to its high durability, water-resistance, low maintenance, and reliability, ceramic tile has become the top flooring solution for high traffic areas such as shopping malls and corporate centers. Ceramic tile offers cost advantages in terms of price as compared to other premium flooring materials, owing to its minimal maintenance requirements and high durability. Such factors contribute toward its increased application in the corporate, hospitality, healthcare, and other commercial sectors.
The residential segment dominated the market in 2017, and this trend is projected to continue through 2023 as a result of the demand for aesthetic ceramic tiles and growing trend toward interior decorating. Housing renovation and maintenance have increased steadily in the recent past and are expected to further increase in the coming years, owing to the increasing disposable income of the population. All these factors are expected to fuel the demand for ceramic tile in the residential sector.
Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing market for ceramic tile during the forecast period. The growth in the region can be attributed to the growing construction industry, supportive government policies and plans, and rapid urbanization. Among all countries in the Asia Pacific region, India is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The Middle Eastern and African market is projected to grow at the second-highest CAGR between 2018 and 2023.
Key players operating in the ceramic tiles market include Mohawk Industries (U.S.), Siam Cement (Thailand), Kajaria Ceramics (India), Nitco Tiles (India), Grupo Lamosa,(Mexico), China Ceramics (China), Johnson Tiles (UK), Ceramica Saloni, (Spain), Florida Tile (U.S.), and Ceramiche Atlas Concorde (Italy). These players have an extensive product portfolio and a wide geographical presence. New product launches, expansions, mergers and acquisitions, and partnerships are some of the major strategies adopted by key players operating in the market.
For more information, visit www.marketsandmarkets.com.


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LGO's mission is to create a fully regulated platform to buy, sell and trade crypto assets. Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), also called Token Generation Events (TGEs), are a key component of this space because they have become the first step for many investors to become involved with blockchain projects.
On June 6th, our article " We're on the right track " indicated that we are working on an extensive upgrade to our exchange as well as updates to our rich application design. In a high frequency trading environment, we have to provide the means for an optimal trade flow with a high level of performance.
More than $1 billion worth of digital currency has been stolen in just the first six months of this year. This amount isn't far off of the $1.3 billion in losses from all internet crime throughout 2016, according to the FBI. Cryptocurrency exchanges are the biggest targets.


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Conquer Casino runs an impressive marketing campaing that results with spoiling its players with multitude of promotions.
Worldwide gaming entertainment leader IGT has secured an impressive 100 percent slot floor share and an inclusive systems deal at Grey Rock Entertainment & Casino in New Brunswick, Canada.
Net Entertainment, the popular game developer and casino software provider, has just publish the company’s financial results for 2014.
Coingaming.io, the top-notch platform provider that specialises in the provisioning of Bitcoin cryptocurrency solutions for the iGaming sector, has announced that it is the first ever licensed Bitcoin only gaming platform to offer Microgaming Quickfire games.
World Match, the Maltese leading Online Gaming provider, decided ICE 2015 is a good place to share its slot releasing plans.
JETBULL Casino has recently launched a set of new slots in order to provide its customers with the top quality entertainment.
IGT confirmed that the company’s shareholders have agreed to merge with GTECH.
Britain’s gambling industry can do much more to make gambling safe. That’s the main message from the Gambling Commission as it introduces new rules to protect players, young people and others who are at risk of gambling-related harm.


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Apple has its iPhone, and now phones are 'Made by Google' too. For years, the Nexus mobile range has been synonymous with a "pure" Android experience. No more. Google just announced the Pixel and Pixel
The company is adopting a far more Apple-like approach to handset creation. Google's Pixel and Pixel XL aren't just a pair of handsets that Google's mobile division is producing with a third-party, like
Its adapter and software will even carry over your iMessages. We've seen many attempts at helping you switch from one smartphone platform to another, but Google is kicking things up a notch with its Pixel
Google's 5.5-inch phone is a lot like its little sibling, but how do its specs stand up to other large handsets? Once more, Google is giving us two flagship phone sizes to choose from. But this time, company's
Kicking off the show at its hardware launch, Google CEO Sundar Pichai touted the shift from mobile to artificial intelligence that allowed for two-way conversation and natural dialogue. He described Google’s
That unplanned stop at the ATM might be costing you more than you think. The average fee of using an out-of-network ATM is now $4.57, according to Bankrate. This is the tenth straight year of increases.


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One restaurant ordering and delivery platform is aiming to expand with the acquisition of a fellow food deliverer.
Waitr Holdings will purchase Minneapolis-based Bite Squad for $321.3 million, the buyer announced Wednesday.
As a result of the deal, Waitr said its reach will grow to more than 500 U.S. cities.
“We have followed Bite Squad’s growth and success for many years and believe their mission, business model and growth profile share many similarities to Waitr,” Chris Meaux, Waitr CEO, said in a statement. “We believe that a small fraction of the U.S. restaurant industry’s sales are from off-premise online transactions and this is evolving rapidly.”
Bite Squad, which was started in 2012, has a network of over 11,000 restaurants and around 889,000 diners, according to a news release.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.


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Steel is just as capable of delivering the required weight savings to support new fuel efficiency legislation as other materials and is more cost effective and environmentally friendly, said Lakshmi Mittal, CEO of the world's largest steelmaker, ArcelorMittal.
Speaking at the recent Steel Success Strategies conference in New York, Mr Mittal said: “Steel can provide all the weight reduction that auto producers require to satisfy the new fuel efficiency standards: for all types of vehicle.”
He added that: “Essentially we need to deliver a 25% reduction in the weight of structural components and closures, in other words the body-in-white. Steel can already do this; and we can do it in a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner than any other material.”
ArcelorMittal claims that its advanced and ultra advanced high strength steels developed in recent years are up to the job and Mr Mittal said that the steel industry is in a constant state of 'technological revolution'.
“Steel’s strength has multiplied 10 times over the past 20 years from 170 to 1700 megapascals. These are phenomenal changes. And we don’t know where the limit is in terms of product development. Every day we open up new frontiers and do things which yesterday didn’t seem possible. We understand there is a challenge from other materials, but no-one should doubt that steel remains the material of choice.
“Generally speaking the auto sector operates global platforms,” Mr Mittal said. “This means they will increasingly make cars exactly the same way in China as they do in the United States. Being able to work with the same supplier in different markets is, therefore, clearly an advantage as they are guaranteed exactly the same product, produced to exactly the same quality standards.”
ArcelorMittal recently celebrated the start of production at its newest plant producing high-strength automotive steel, a joint venture with Hunan Valin Iron & Steel Co called VAMA, in China. “We are very excited about this plant,” said Mr Mittal, “because for the first time ArcelorMittal will be producing high-strength automotive steel in China, the world’s largest and fastest growing automotive market. Our customers will be global brands – such as Volkswagen, GM, Ford, PSA, Daimler-Benz, Toyota, Honda, Renault, Fiat and Nissan – as well as leading domestic manufacturers.”
Speaking about the global economy, Mr Mittal said that “the key difference between now and two years ago is that the developed markets are on a much stronger footing. 2014 is expected to be the strongest year for the OECD since 2010. This is certainly positive for ArcelorMittal as two thirds of our shipments are in the developed world.”
He called for greater investment in infrastructure, saying that 'many developing economies are held back by poor infrastructure that makes the cost of managing logistical challenges too expensive to support business investment. When interest rates are so low it makes sense to take advantage and address urgent infrastructure requirements that support growth.'


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Update: Ford contacted Autoblog after the story went live. The configurator went up early. Pricing isn’t finalized, though Ford says both pricing and the full configurator will go up next week. Ford also says there will be no regular cab available for the 2019 Ranger.
The 2019 Ford Ranger was revealed earlier this year at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. Since then, details on the new truck have been scarce. We’ve had plenty of spy photos, including some of a bright red Ranger Raptor and one of a window sticker, but full options and pricing have remained a mystery. Thanks to some expert sleuthing by Off-Road.com, it seems there’s a full Ranger configurator live and hidden on Ford’s website. You can check it out here, though we’re not sure how long the link will remain active.
... read more at: https://www.autoblog.com/2018/08/07/2019-ford-ranger-configurator/


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Match Group, the company behind popular dating apps like Tinder, Match and OkCupid, is suing Google over its restrictive billing rules on the Play Store. In its complaint, Match Group claims that Google “illegally monopolized the app distribution market” on Android by forcing apps to use Google’s own billing system and then taking part of the payment.
Match Group’s complaint builds on an earlier lawsuit filed by Epic Games against Apple in 2020, alleging that Apple engaged in “anti-competitive” behavior by demanding a 30 percent commission on in-app purchases in the iOS store, among other allegations. Although the final verdict was mixed, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rodgers was particularly skeptical of claims for a payment monopoly, saying Apple has the right to license its intellectual property for a fee and that “it achieves that goal in the easiest and most direct way” with its payment system.
Although Google says it has always required certain types of in-app payments to be made through its billing service, the company made it clear in 2020 that it wanted to all applications that sell digital goods to use their billing system. This, of course, allows Google to collect up to 30 percent commission. Google, however, cut that percentage to 15 percent for the first million dollars the developer earned in March 2021, and later did the same for music streaming and subscription apps last October. Nonetheless, Match Group accuses Google of using “bait and switching tactics” for allegedly misleading developers about its payment policies.
“Google has lured app developers to its platform with guarantees that we can offer users a choice of payment methods for the services they want,” the Match Group complaint reads. “But after monopolizing the Android app distribution market with Google Play by taking the tops of the most popular app developers, Google tried to ban alternative in-app payment processing services so it could take a share of almost every transaction within the Android app.”
Match Group further claims that Google wants to impose a so-called “tax” on app stores, which it says “comes out of the pockets of consumers in the form of higher prices and revenue that app developers would otherwise have to earn from selling their service.” It also claims that Google also benefits from “monopolizing the payment processing market within the app” because it allows the company to retrieve user credit card information and identities that it can use to its advantage.
The Match Group is part of the App Fairness Coalition, a group of companies that includes Spotify and Tile, among others. Its goal is to fight policies it considers anti-competitive, such as the Apple and Google policy that prohibits developers from using third-party payment processors. In March, Google announced it would begin testing the way Android developers can use their own payment systems, starting with Spotify. However, it is unclear whether Google will continue to charge a commission on those sales and, if so, how much it will charge.
Google spokesman Dan Jackson made the following statement in response to a Match Group complaint:
This is just a continuation of Match Group’s self-interest campaign to avoid paying the significant value they get from the mobile platforms on which they have built their business. Like any company, we charge for our services and like any responsible platform, we protect users from fraud and abuse in applications. The Match Group is currently raising concerns with regulators over things like deceptive subscription practices, and with this report they continue to put money ahead of consumer protection. Match Group apps are eligible to pay only 15% on Google Play for digital subscriptions, the lowest rate among major app platforms. But even if they don’t want to comply with Google Play rules, Android’s openness still gives them multiple ways to distribute their apps to Android users, including through other Android app stores, directly to users through their website, or as a consumer-only app.
The Match Group’s complaint comes at a time when both Apple and Google are facing a review of companies and government agencies around the world. U.S. lawmakers are addressing the issue of in-app payments with the Open App Markets app, part of a bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee in February. If the law is signed, it will allow developers to use their own billing systems, as well as change other potentially anti-competitive behavior by Apple and Google, such as punishing the developer for offering his app at a better price elsewhere.
Outside the U.S., South Korea passed a law last August requiring Apple and Google to allow developers to use other billing services in their apps. In addition, the Netherlands is still in a seemingly endless legal battle with Apple over its rules blocking third-party payment processors for Dutch dating apps.
Update: May 9, 7:47 PM ET: Updated to add a Google spokesperson statement.


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Ahead of Juneteenth, Apple Music is celebrating the holiday with a new compilation of original songs and covers entitled Juneteenth 2022: Freedom Songs.
Featuring 16 tracks from artists across a wide array of genres, the project is now available via a playlist on the streaming service. Denzel Curry, 6LACK, Alex Isley, Brittney Spencer, Moliy, Lupe Fiasco, Koryn Hawthorne, Bun B, and Elena Pinderhughes are among those to contribute to the release.
“As the awareness and mainstreaming of Juneteenth continues to rise, our team at Apple Music is committed to commemorating the holiday while ensuring that its historical significance is not lost,” said Ebro Darden, Apple Music’s Global Editorial Head of Hip-Hop and R&B. “We continue our annual efforts with a new collection of Black Music and stories from artists across an array of genres aimed to amplify the conversation, inspire reflection, and celebrate freedom.”
“It’s an accomplishment to make it through the first quarter of my life. Especially as a Black man in America,” added Curry, who contributed “1ST Quarter” featuring Reason to the project. “You could celebrate anything. Sometimes it just feels frivolous. But legacy is set in stone. Do what you do, do what’s right, be legendary, and leave your mark in life.”
Listen to Juneteenth 2022: Freedom Songs via Apple Music below.


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Elon Musk’s new plan to buy Mercedes will destroy the industry: Have you heard about the discussion about Elon Musk buying Mercedes? Surprising, right? But let me tell you that it’s not new. Musk reportedly said at a 2020 conference that he was open to the idea of a deal with another carmaker. But at that time no one ever thought of this deal.
So, why are they trying to buy Mercedes, and what are the advantages of Tesla acquiring Mercedes? Is it really happening, or Musk is just teasing just like every time.
Well, during Tesla’s early development phase, Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler AG offered some assistance. Mercedes gave Tesla a 50 million investment, which equaled 10% of the company, and now Tesla is repaying the favor by buying Mercedes outright.
There were reports that a Tesla-Daimler merger would take place shortly, and that Tesla would swallow Mercedes-Benz’s parent company, Daimler. Due to this investment, Mercedes engineers saw how Musk would release a technology that wasn’t perfect, then continuously improve it via software updates. And this collaboration made the organization stronger.
In May 2009, at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla announced they were forming an alliance to “accelerate the development of Model S and ensure it meets the highest quality standards”.
According to the plans, Mercedes will use Tesla battery solutions to power an electric version of the Mercedes-Benz B-Glass that it intends to release in the near future. Tesla is expected to release its Model S by 2012.
Within two years, an electric version of the B-Glass was introduced in showrooms. So, with this new method, software design, and electrical architecture, Tesla was able to implement improvements faster than its rivals, prompting people to draw parallels between Tesla and Apple.
Even Mercedes engineers helped Tesla with the Model S premium vehicle in exchange for access to Tesla’s partially assembled battery packs. But when Daimler sold its shares in 2014, they did it due to concerns about Tesla’s scalability.
Right now Tesla has a market cap of more than $1 trillion which is more than 100 times that of Daimler, which is worth $88 billion. Although Mercedes-Benz alone sold 9,35,089 cars in the first half of 2020, that’s still a lot more than Tesla sold — 1,79,050 cars.
Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, appears at the bottom of the list of automobile companies ranked by their market capitalization, with a market share of less than ten percent of Tesla. It might seem weird for an organization that’s been around for decades to outperform a startup just starting out.
In terms of investments, Daimler hasn’t always followed this strategy. In 2012, when the company invested $50 million in Tesla, the company bought 10% of the company. It was enough for Daimler to get a board seat. Daimler will make a lot of money when it sells its Tesla stake for $718 million.
But if Daimler had held on to his shares for less than five years, the firm would have been worth more than the entire institution, which is approximately $100 billion dollars. Elon Musk said Daimler was a pioneer in the field of sustainable mobility and pouch-cell batteries. So, does Tesla have a plan to build an electric empire?
Well, Tesla would be considered one of its biggest acquisitions since it bought SolarCity for $2.6 billion in 2016. Obviously, such a deal would change everything about Tesla-but not everyone is convinced by what they’ve heard so far.
The billionaire businessman aims to beef up his automotive empire with a majority stake in Mercedes. Just when you thought Tesla couldn’t get any weirder, Elon wants to tie in Mercedes’ incredible reputation as a high-end carmaker. But when you think about it, Musk would have total control over 2 of the biggest automakers on earth.
After all, he has just 33% ownership in Tesla, but if he bought out Daimler he would have 60% ownership in 2 car companies that each make millions of cars every year. It’s hard to find a better example of too much power than buying out Mercedes.
According to a report published by The Times, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has put forward a plan of buying the stake that Daimler (Mercedes) owns in Tesla; that stake is worth $2 billion. Clearly, this is crazy on so many levels, but it could have incredible implications for consumers and potentially change everything about Tesla’s business model. But how will this affect the company?
Well, by buying an existing auto company, he has immediate access to production processes and infrastructure worth billions of dollars which he would otherwise have to spend years building from scratch.
And by doing this, he will have access to more consumer data, which is essential for increasing sales and growing his customer base as quickly as possible – something that no other electric vehicle maker has been able to do to date.
Moreover, by buying an existing auto company, he gets access to billions of dollars worth of production processes and infrastructure that he’d otherwise have to build himself. The deal gives him access to more consumer data, which is critical for getting sales up and growing his customer base as quickly as possible – something no other electric vehicle maker has been able to accomplish.
There might be a massive change coming for Tesla, and it could change everything we know about cars. Even though people are convinced of Elon’s good intentions with his purchase like SolarCity Corp., as well as numerous other deals in the green energy sector, some are skeptical about how he’ll handle a company like Daimler AG.
So, for both companies, this could mean big things-like making Mercedes products more affordable for America’s middle class while simultaneously pushing Tesla sales higher. Overall, it looks like they’re on their way to changing everything you think you know about sustainable cars.
However, what will happen after Tesla purchases this? Well, first of all, it’s a big risk. You can see what happened when Tesla bought SolarCity-it didn’t go exactly as planned. In addition, by buying Daimler, Tesla would be taking on a lot of debt.
So, investors would think twice about backing an automaker with that much debt without changing its overall business model. Matter of fact, Tesla took a while to become profitable even though Model 3 production exploded in 2018. But if Tesla shareholders stand to make any real money from buying Daimler, it might be worth looking into.
However, as you probably know, Elon Musk is a genius and business mind who has revolutionized every industry he’s entered. But many people are still asking, “What makes him believe that he can purchase Daimler-Benz?”
Well, as mentioned before, Tesla has a market value of $1 Trillion and almost everyone has heard about Tesla – but Volvo and Toyota offer electric cars too. So, it’s also worth noting that 21% of cars sold in America last year weren’t even powered by gasoline. That means Tesla Motors has huge room for growth – they already have a 90% market share in affordable EVs.
When you put it all together, it’s easy to see why Elon thinks buying out these companies will be successful, and it’s pretty obvious. In fact, I do think that once we get into mass production, we’re going to find out just how hard it is to succeed.
However, one more question arises as to why this acquisition is so important to both companies. Well, when you look back at Tesla and its accomplishments over such a short time frame, it really puts things in perspective – especially when it comes to manufacturing technology.
If we look at Tesla’s Gigafactory and Daimler-Benz’s Tuscaloosa factory, there are some big differences there. One thing’s for sure, no matter what you look at, these two factories are just too different in scale and there’s just no comparison.
Elon’s goal here, I believe, is not so much to build sustainable cars as it is to make sure that everyone can have access to affordable electric cars. If we had enough time (and money! ), those goals would probably be compatible so I’m excited to see what could happen here…my fingers are crossed!
While many people will try/claim that there are other reasons why neither company will benefit from a merger, I honestly can’t seem to find any solid evidence to prove such a claim.
Anyways, what do you guys think about this? Tell us in the comments.
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Information Source: Youtube/Genius’s Guide


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Smartphones in the midrange category are a huge hit in most emerging countries. Some of these devices are proven to be good alternatives to the flagship offerings as they pose great value for the price.
So, in an attempt to get a piece of the pie, LG is pushing to release new products under this price category. We just saw the Q Stylus series last June. But now, the company is back at it again with the LG Q8 2018.
This new one is a follow-up to the Q8 of last year. And just like its predecessor, the 2018 version is poised as the budget option to the, now, V35 ThinQ.
It highlights a 6.2-inch FullView display, with a 2160 x 1080 pixel resolution. It is then being powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 octa-core processor, with 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage.
The camera setup was also been drastically downgraded from the V35 ThinQ. With the LG Q8 2018, we’re only getting a 5-megapixel selfie camera and a single 16-megapixel rear shooter.
On the upside, the handset gets to have IP68 water resistance and is MIL-STD 810G compliant. These kind of durability features are starting to become a norm to LG devices. Also, the Q8 2018 has DTS:X 3D sound and Quad DAC for the ultimate listening experience.
LG Q8 2018 Specs
- Android 8.1 Oreo
- Single/Dual SIM
- 6.2-inch FullView IPS display, 2160 x 1080 pixel resolution, ~389ppi
- 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 octa-core processor
- 4GB RAM
- Adreno 506 GPU
- 64GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 2TB
- 5-megapixel front camera
- 16-megapixel rear camera, PDAF, LED flash
- Fingerprint scanner
- IP68 dust/water resistant, MIL-STD 810G certified
- DTS:X surround sound, HiFi Quad DAC
- HSPA+, 4G LTE
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
- Bluetooth 4.2
- GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
- FM Radio
- USB Type-C
- Dimensions: 160.1 x 77.1 x 8.4mm
- Weight 172g
- Colors: Aurora Black, Moroccan Blue
- 3,300mAh Li-Po non-removable battery, Quick Charge 3.0
The LG Q8 2018 retails in South Korea for KRW539,000 (~Php25,400). Official pricing and availability for the global market, especially here in the Philippines, are yet to be announced.
Source: LG Korea


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By Ashley Nix
TRUSSVILLE, AL (WBRC) - Air conditioning service was cut to several businesses because of some busy thieves. The string of crimes all happened in Trussville, and now police are looking for the crooks.
The outage caused quite an inconvenience for businesses and customers.
You consider hot temperatures, coupled with no air conditioning, and at least one salon with hot hair dryers, you've got a pretty miserable situation. Whoever did this has several business owners heated, in more ways than one.
At Color Splash, the talk is all about hair. But lately, it's been about stolen air conditioner units, making conditions pretty miserable. "We have a shop with 10 stylists, it was 105 degrees in there all day. The air conditioning people worked as fast as they could, but the temperatures have been almost unbearable," said Heather Holmes, owner of the salon.
It's the same story at Urgent Care. "No air conditioner for 2 days," says Dr. Bob Gilbert, who says the conditions made it less than appealing for his staff and patients. "We just kept the doors open and kept fans on. We apologized to the patients, but it was pretty warm."
In all, 7 units were ripped apart just off Camp Coleman Road.
"You really see it when the price of copper goes up at the scrap yards, and prices of aluminum," says Todd Gooch of Hastings Heating & Air. "As they rise, you see more theft."
Thanks to Gooch and others, new units have been installed, all thanks to thieves who got away with little in return.
"They probably got about 15 dollars worth of copper and aluminum out of it," Gooch said. "It costs the customer betweens $8000-$9,000 per unit."
Holmes says she wishes whoever did it would be caught, so no other businesses would have to go through the hardship, "The first few units they stole was over $30,000 to replace, then they came and stole 4 more."


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As the pandemic surged and companies moved from offices to working at home, they needed tools to ensure the continuity of their business operations.
When Salesforce announced it was acquiring Vlocity for $1.33 billion in February, it was a deal that made sense for both companies. Today, the
In spite of a positive quarter with record revenue that beat analyst estimates, Salesforce stock was taking a hit today because of lighter guidance.
As we move deeper into the pandemic, it’s clear that the way we conduct business is changing, maybe forever. That means that business has
Tax policy is surely a complex beast, and depending on your political leanings, you probably have some strong feelings about how it should be
AWS today launched Amazon AppFlow, a new integration service that makes it easier for developers to transfer data between AWS and SaaS applications like
LinkedIn has no plans to make COVID-related layoffs until at least June 2020, the professional network has confirmed to TechCrunch. This announcements comes after
When you look at the most successful companies in the world, they are almost never just one simple service. Instead, they offer a platform
Okta, the popular identity and access management service, today used its annual (and now virtual) user conference to launch Lifecycle Management Workflows, a new
It’s easy to think, as we find ourselves in the midst of a truly unprecedented situation, that the rules of building a successful business


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In the internet economy, Asia is often a harbinger for new services such as messaging apps or mobile payments.
It’s now way ahead on another trend — more people in Asia have installed software on their mobile phones to block web advertising than anywhere else in the world.
The upshot for media firms that rely on online advertising: Stop overloading pages with intrusive ads and learn to live with lower revenues while experimenting with new methods on charging for content.
About 21% of the world’s 1.9bn smartphone users have installed an ad blocker, a level that has nearly doubled in the past year, according to a new study from PageFair, a company that works with web publishers to fight ad-blocking software.
It’s most popular in China, India, Pakistan and Indonesia, where many people access the web on their phones and not on computers but is poised to spread to the US and Europe as well.
Somewhat ironically for an e-commerce company that relies on ad revenue itself, China’s Alibaba makes the world’s most popular ad blocking tool -- its UC Browser is used by about 400m people.
Last year, analysts estimated ad blocking had cost web publishers nearly $22bn (€19.7bn) in lost ad sales, compared with $160bn in online ad sales glob ally.
Things could get worse if ad blocking gets integrated with mobile networks.A few telecom operators, like Digicel in the Caribbean, have begun offering it as a service to customers, cutting out pitches before they even reach phones.
Hutchison’s Three plans to trial the technology in Britain in June and may later roll it out to the six other European markets where it operates.
Beyond networks, Germany’s Eyeo, which makes the Adblock Plus software, has teamed up with Asus to manufacture 30m handsets with ad blockers pre-installed.
Media companies have failed to eradicate ad blocking via the courts so far, despite multiple suits brought by Axel Springer, the German publisher, and German broadcasters RTL and ProSieben.
© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved


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Charter carrier Monarch Airlines is in talks with the three leading GDSs about a return to distributing through them as it announces a restructure to become a largely scheduled carrier.
The revamp will reduce charter flying to just 20% of its business next summer as it introduces a “build your own class” concept.
Conrad Clifford, Monarch Group chief executive, confirmed Monarch is poised to return to Amadeus by the end of June and is in talks to return to Sabre and Travelport by the end of the year.
Under Monarch’s new structure every passenger will get an assigned seat, but have the choice of paying for extra leg-room, a hot meal and lounge access.
However, the extras will be relatively cheap – six inches of extra leg-room will cost just £9.99 on short-haul flights and £24.99 on long-haul.
The carrier has also dropped charges for debit card bookings from this week in a move designed to emphasise its simple pricing and pressure rivals to follow. There is a flat fee of £10 per booking for credit card payments.
The moves are backed by a marketing campaign on local radio and in print from this week.
Monarch group chief executive Conrad Clifford said: “There is absolutely no justification for advertising one fare and then stinging consumers with hidden charges.” He said the carrier was in talks with credit card companies to cut fees further.
The shift to a predominantly scheduled strategy reverses Monarch’s past model when 80% of its flying was charter. Clifford said: “We’re a scheduled airline and we want people to know that.” Campaign material will stress the fact with the slogan: “Fly your way, every day.”
Clifford said: “The [extra] charges are cheap – that is the point. You don’t have to pay for lounge access or a meal rolled up into a business class.”
He promised “extensive expansion of scheduled routes”, adding: “We’ve swapped from charter to scheduled on some routes and are giving operators block allocations on those flights.”


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Russia’s most popular social media platform is considering to develop its own cryptocurrency. VKontakte, best known as VK, hasn’t officially revealed any plans yet, but the news comes from an anonymous source at the Russian news outlet RNS. Every users of the platform would automatically get a cryptocurrency wallet.
One of the ways users would earn the VK cryptocurrency, would be by spending time on the platform and being active. Earned coins can be spend for goods or converted to fiat via VK Pay, which is a cashless money transfer service that can be used inside chat applications. Users would also be able to tip others if they like certain content.
VK has tens of millions of registered users, and is currently one of the most popular websites in Russia. VK’s founder Pavel Durov is also the man behind the privacy-oriented chat application Telegram. Interestingly enough, Telegram might be launching its own blockchain network as well, after receiving a $1.7 billion investment in a private token sale.
VK would not be the first social media platform to embrace blockchain technology or incorporate cryptocurrencies. Facebook is also considering to launch its own coin, which would also be used inside mobile chat app Whatsapp. While China – already a forerunner in terms of blockchain adoption – has many mobile projects involving crypto and blockchain. Two weeks ago the Korean app Kakao Talk announced to make the jump to the blockchain.
Also published on Medium.


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A full recovery across the gaming and leisure divisions has been lauded by Inspired Entertainment, which has seen the group eye sustained long-term growth and profitability.
A “full recovery” across land-based enterprises, aligned with a record performance across the virtual sports segment, has seen the company report a 166 per cent revenue rise to $60.6m (2021: $22.8m).
This latter division rose 84 per cent to $11.6m (2021: $6.3m) during the three months ending March 31, 2021, driven by growth from existing customers and an increase in recurring retail virtuals.
Interactive revenue secured a slight two per cent growth to $5.3m (2021: $5.2m), with the segment impacted by a re-deployment of resources to new market launches.
Gaming service revenue increased 202 per cent to $23.2m (2021: $7.7m) inspired by a return to pre-COVID performance as well as a newly acquired lottery systems contract in the Dominican Republic, and partly offset by a $2.2m decrease in VAT-related revenue.
The leisure division increased to $19.6m from $500,000 year-on-year, with all customers’ retail venues closed during the prior year. Revenue from pubs, holiday parks and motorway services was higher as a result of increased travel within the UK.
“We continue to be encouraged by the trends and demand in our online and land-based businesses and remain extremely excited about our North American strategic growth initiatives,” explained Lorne Weil, Executive Chair of Inspired.
“While this focus resulted in a slight delay in new content introductions, we believe this investment will lay the foundation for significant future growth, beginning in the current quarter as content has resumed its previous pace of introduction and we have seen a corresponding impact on results.
“Our virtual sports business continues to establish record performance with retail venues returning to operation and online well ahead of a year ago, as Ontario is proving to be our best North American market to date for virtual sports.
“The North American online market remains a tremendous opportunity for Inspired, and we expect to continue to progress on the same growth trajectory with the continued addition of new customers and markets in the second half of the year.
“In addition, our Valor terminal consistently impresses in North America as was evident in our recent 720-unit Valor terminal award from Western Canada Lottery Corporation.”
Furthermore, the first quarter also saw the company report that net income swung to $1.5m from a loss of $16.7m one year earlier, in addition to a 418 per cent increase in adjusted EBITDA to $20.1m (2021: $3.9m).
“We are pleased with the overall progress of our business and are confident in our long-term growth prospects,” Weil added.
“Our higher margin virtual sports and interactive segments delivered 48 per cent of our combined segment adjusted EBITDA, in a strong retail quarter, and we believe this will continue to be a tremendous driver of revenue growth, margin expansion and asset utilisation.
“With our enlarged digital business, growing position in North America and our ongoing focus on delivering superior content, we believe our business remains in good standing for the future.”


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Bangladesh businessmen want controlled Hilsa export, Bangladesh government 'don't'
Dhaka, March 14, 2021: Traders want controlled hilsa exports but Bangladesh government has so far said 'no'
In this situation, traders want to export hilsa in a controlled manner during the season. There are fears that allowing the export could lead to its misuse and a crisis in the country's market for hilsa. Therefore, the government has not decided to allow the export of hilsa.
On August 1, 2012, the government banned the export of all types of fish, including hilsa, during Ramadan. Later on September 23 of that year, the Ministry of Commerce lifted the ban on the export of all fish except hilsa. Since then, the ban on hilsa exports is still in force.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock did not give any permission to the Ministry of Commerce to open the export. Hilsa is a favorite of all of us. Just as it would not be right to keep exports open, it would not be right to keep them completely closed again. There may be some export as per the need
Traders associated with fish exports have said that there is a demand for Bangladeshi Hilsa in different countries of the world. If they could be given a small amount of hilsa, the export of other fish would also increase.
A few days ago, the Commerce Ministry sought the opinion of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock on whether the export of hilsa could be allowed in response to the traders' application. The Ministry of Fisheries agreed not to allow the export.
Kazi Belayet Hossain, president of Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association, an association of exporters of frozen products, said, "Give me a ton of hilsa, give me half a ton of hilsa or 500 kg of hilsa." Add boal, shing, shoal, kai, pabda and shrimp. These are mixed containers. Such an invoice is one and a half crore rupees. The price of hilsa is 5-6 lakh rupees. When we say we can't give hilsa, then this order is canceled completely. It moves to another country. But we are losing Rs 1.5 crore due to not being able to give hilsa. '
He said, "When 1.5 lakh, 2 lakh tonnes of hilsa was produced, we used to export hilsa. At present, 6 lakh tonnes is being produced but exports are being stopped. 'He added,' If exports are misused, the government should impose strict controls. Even if hilsa is exported in a controlled manner, our fish export will increase further. Our exports are declining. If we can export a little hilsa, the export of other fish will also increase. '


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COVINGTON — Elmet Technologies has announced that its Covington facility is fully operational and will expand employment from about 25 to between 75 and 100 in the next two to three years.
The industry’s 99,000 square foot facility has been located in Lochridge Industrial Park since 2011. It was previously announced under the name Vestar Technologies. Elmet is the parent company of Vestar.
Production has been slowly increasing over the last six months and the plant is now fully operational, said Marketing Manager Arthur Stowe. The facility is the largest, fully integrated refractory metal crucible manufacturing plant in North America, according to a press release issued by Elmet.
The raw elements tungsten and molybdenum are processed at the Covigton facility into a variety of products, including crucibles, which are used in the synthetic sapphire manufacturing process for LED light manufacturing, high performance glass for mobile devices and military-grade windows, among other applications.
The facility also manufactures sputtering targets used in flat panel displays and mobile device screens, components and sputtering targets for semiconductor manufacturing and products and materials for high temperature furnace, nuclear and other applications.
“With both the demand and applications for synthetic sapphire rapidly increasing, Elmet Technologies is positioned to support the growing demand for precision-formed furnace products used in sapphire growth furnaces,” said Sandeep Jain, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Elmet Technologies. “We have unique capabilities on which the sapphire industry can capitalize to keep up with the demand for their products.”
Job opportunities at the Covington facility can be found at www.elmettechnologies.com/about-elmet/covington_operations.