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- State Minister Jayantha Samaraweera sets ambitious target of $ 100 m for this year
- Commends industry for outstanding performance with minimal support from Govt.
- On industry request, a regulatory body will be established by end-2022
- New shipyard will be built in Trincomalee Port to further support industry
- Industry suggests more water transport methods, leisure activities to promote SL as a top marine vessel manufacturer
Boat and ship building industry has recorded a 90% increase in its export earnings to $ 82.64 million last year, despite COVID-pandemic challenges.
“With the limited support the State extended, the boat and ship industry has shown its knowledge, expertise, competitiveness, and resilience last year. We are ambitious to reach a $ 100 million export target for this year,” Warehouse Facilities, Container Yards, Port Supply Facilities, and Boats and Shipping Industry Development State Minister Jayantha Samaraweera told journalists.
He said boat and ship building could become a strong export industry in Sri Lanka and stated his desire to position the country as a top manufacturer of boats, yachts and ships.
“The industry has already achieved so much with minimal support extended to it by the Government. They won international bids to build boats and vessels worth. It signifies the potential, quality and competitiveness of this industry. Our intention is to further facilitate and extend State support for industry to reach its true potential. I thank all the workers and companies involved in this sector for their commitment to develop our manufacturing and exports,” the State Minister added.
As per Samaraweera, the industry comprises 10 private companies and vessel engineering giant – Colombo Dockyard PLC.
Following requests made by industry stakeholders, Samaraweera said a regulatory authority would be established by the end of this year, where initial steps have already been taken.
“The industry had zero attention or support from successive governments. Recognising the importance and potential of the boat and ship building industry, for the first time in our history President Gotabaya Rajapaksa established this State Ministry in 2019. Prior to that only the Export Development Board (EDB) was looking after the industry. The stakeholders had to go from pillar to post to get approval for their projects. The one-stop-shop (OSS) for the industry was their request, which will come into effect by the end of this year,” he said.
The State Minister also said that steps had been taken to build a shipyard in Trincomalee port to further expand the facilities available for the sector. The initiative is also supported by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Colombo Dockyard.
“Despite having 22 harbours around the country, the stakeholders had to undergo so much of red tape to put those vessels in the waters. The cost incurred for that was more expensive than building one,” he pointed out.
In addition, the State Ministry, in collaboration with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, conducts continuous discussion with foreign envoys to create awareness on the manufacturing potential and to expand the export markets.
The stakeholders said these were all collective efforts and achievements of the industry and appreciated the support extended by the State Ministry to boost exports.
They also pointed out that more awareness on water transport and increased leisure activities would be helpful in garnering the attention of international markets to put Sri Lanka in the spotlight as a top-class marine vessel manufacturer.


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As Brexit seems to be a huge problem, it becomes unarguable that whoever thinks up solutions will be successful. And who can reposition for success than flexible micro businesses?
Small Business Opportunities in Brexit Britain
Amid uncertainty and the overwhelming concerns arising from the impending UK’s independence from the European Union, experts reel off Brexit opportunities for SMEs. From all indications, this political and economic divorce could lead to unprecedented good fortune for small-size local businesses. Consider the following.
- Training the human capital for up-skilling and cross-skilling
One forecast of the impact of Brexit is that the unemployment rate will increase. This will be caused by the looming uncertainty which negatively affects investors. To withstand what may become a harsh business environment, big brands will cut expenses or even relocate to a different country. Businesses which are ready to solve the unemployment problem by exploring the human capital development industry will have a lot of work to do.
- EU responsibilities revert to UK Citizens
The analysis of the effect of Brexit on the public sector shows that all the public sector tasks that are handled by EU officials will be handled in Britain. As a small business owner, consider breaking into this sector to supply goods and services. The government will be looking for British firms to fulfil certain needs left open by European businesses, so be sure to exploit these wherever you can.
- Increase in demand for local variants of popular EU products
Since there will be an increase in the cost of imported goods and services, consumers will prefer to buy local products. This is a good prospect for micro establishments and businesses that pride themselves on British-made produce. Any opportunity to take advantage of this situation within your own business should be looked at.
- Expansion into global markets
The internet and the teeming e-commerce platforms give small businesses the opportunity to expand and achieve even more than they could have done before. The pounds’ devaluation makes UK products more affordable to international buyers.
- Change and adaptability management
There will be a high demand for change and adaptability coaches as businesses grapple with the new reality. If you are in a position to offer some form of management consultancy to a business that is struggling with the new market conditions by Brexit, make yourself known as a lot of work will likely come your way. The reality is that we are likely to see a lot of companies tightening their belts to deal with the uncertainty, so bear this in mind when making your approach.
Freelancers will be in high demand. Business owners who do not want to commit to the cost and risks of keeping full-time employees will use expert independent contractors to complete their jobs. We are likely to see this type of short-term contract work go on the rise, regardless of how Britain’s relationship with the EU looks after the conditions of Brexit have been formalised.
SMEs in Britain should approach Brexit with a sense of festive creativity because there are massive opportunities for micro establishments in post-Brexit Britain. The survival of the UK economy will depend on how innovative businesses will be able to overcome the challenge of existing in a marketplace that doesn’t have the same benefits as those enjoyed by operating in the EU.
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The Hyundai stand at the Geneva motor show is set to be even busier than normal. In addition the newly-launched ix35 crossover, the company is revealing a host of new models and a stunning concept car.
i-flow – Hyundai’s family future
Making its global debut at the Geneva Show, the Hyundai i-flow concept car carries forward the company’s evocative new form language, ‘fluidic design’. The flowing, elegant lines not only create a
Hyundai’s ix35 will cost from just £16,495 when it goes on sale on March 25th, making the stylish crossover a real alternative for buyers considering a conventional hatchback.
In fact, a combination of the low purchase price, economical running costs and high residuals mean that the ix35 is likely to cost less to run than mainstream family cars and MPVs with comparable engines.
Despite the price, the ix35 range has equipment levels that no rival can even dream of matching. This makes it
Hyundai Europe has revealed the first image rendering of its future family saloon vehicle, the Hyundai i-flow concept. Undoubtedly athletic and stylish, the all-new D-segment ride will make its first official appearance at the 80th Geneva International Motor Show next month.
True carrier of the brand’s latest styling language (fluidic sculpture), the i-flow combines naturally sleek design, mean stance, expressive flowing lines and advanced technology features. Hyundai has teamed up with the chemical company BA
Hyundai Motor America has released the pricing for the recently announced 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The fully restyled 2011 Sonata is boasting best-in-class fuel economy, remarkably spacious interior, 198 horsepower power unit and a starting price of $19,195 for the well-equipped GLS model. The 200-horsepower SE model is price tagged at $22,595 and the top-of-the-line Limited model is available for $25,295.
“With the 2011 Sonata, our focus was a no-compromise engineering approach that would allow Sonata owners to h
2010 Hyundai Tucson continues the evolving of the brand’s line-up. Presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2009, the re-styled CUV now offers even more space, economy and technology. Undoubtedly, its visual styling carries the company’s modern “Fluidic Sculpture” design language.
The sleek Tucson benefits fr
Los Angeles Auto Show hosted the North American debut of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. For 2011, the all-new Sonata shines out with Hyundai’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language and an all four-cylinder engine lineup. The vehicle’s production will start later this month at Hyundai’s U.S. plant in Alabama with market sales beginning in January.
The 2011 Sonata strikes with modern vision combined with luxury features and advanced four-cylinder engines. The exterior vision of the newly developed Sonata is long
The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe will offer to its owners better equipment, better engine at even lower price. These are the main targets, which Hyundai aimed at.
The new 2.2 litre aluminium four-cylinder direct-injected diesel engine now has a class leading specifications. It develops 194bhp and 420 N/m of torque. The im
Courtney Mason will paint White Street Concepts Genesis sedan live at 2009 SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center November 3th to 6th. Mason will use special paint pens to place her signature stamp on the car. This event will mark the eighth consecutive year Hyundai has partnered with Street Concepts.Courtney Mason is a co-founder of Studio Jellyfish, so she has worked with clients such as Nokia, Motorola, Sony BMG, VH1 and Rockstar Games,
At this year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, Hyundai Motor America, Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) and the Tuner School will unveil their carbon fiber-wrapped, matte black Genesis Carbon Coupe. Designed with striking European vision, the Hennessey Genesis Carbon Coupe also boasts an ama
The Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec will be exhibited for the first time at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show 2009 in the Las Vegas. The show will be held from November 3 to 6th. Booth 24387 is specially reserved for Hyundai, where they will show the R-Spec to the audience.
The R-Spec package for Hyun
Another ultimate vehicle revealed ahead of the next month’s SEMA Show in the Las Vegas. The GReddy X-Gen Street Genesis Coupe is a tuned with specially manufactured high-performance parts Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Designed to fulfil even the greatest demands of the race enthusiasts, the modified Genesis Coupe’s special Greddy parts are planned to be released as a production kit available everywhere.
The new Greddy tuning kit not only increses the performance of the engine, but also improves the handling and bra
Hyundai EQUUS, the most luxurious car in the brands lineup is now available in long wheelbase version. Named Hyundai EQUUS stretch edition, the new addition offers several upgrades from the normal sedan version, including refined exterior design and longer overall length. The engine and other functions have been reinforced to attain first-class performance, safety, comfort and convenience.
The Luxury Flagship’s lenght is longer than the major competitors by as much as 310 mm, with backseat


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Israeli researchers have uncovered three vulnerabilities in the Samsung Knox security platform for Android smartphones, reported The Register.
Both smartphone market leader Samsung and Apple lost market share in the first quarter of 2016, according to the latest stats from market research firm Gartner.
Samsung's recent patent application details how a tiny projector in a smartwatch would be able to project a device display image on the back of your hand (or anything else), reported eWEEK.
The U.S. International Trade Commission is investigating seven smartphone companies for patent infringement of certain media player technology in response to a complaint filed by Singapore-based Creative Technology.
Enterprises and developers may be pleased to know Samsung took an even deeper dive into the Internet of Things with the release of its ARTIK Cloud platform this week.
Tablet shipments fell 10 percent year-over-year to 46.5 million units during the first quarter of 2016, the lowest level since the third quarter of 2012, according to the latest stats from market research firm Strategy Analytics.
Samsung has been granted a patent in South Korea for a smart contact lens that is equipped with a tiny display, camera, antenna and sensors that detects movement and eye blinks, according to a report by TechNewsWorld.
The Supreme Court said Monday that it will hear Samsung's appeal in its patent dispute with Apple over Apple's allegations that Samsung infringed three iPhone design patents.
Samsung's Galaxy TabPro S tablet running Windows 10 and packing an Intel Core m3 processor goes on sale Friday for a hefty $900 with mobile workers in mind.
Samsung has begun shipping its 15.36TB monster of a solid state drive, which it first unveiled at the 2015 Flash Memory Summit. This release comes amid predictions that SSDs could outsell hard disk drives by 2017, despite reports of high failure rates.


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Google may have sold off its Motorola Home division, but that doesn't mean the search engine giant is giving up on its strategy to penetrate the living room in new ways. Google TV is alive and well and LG Electronics plans to introduce an extended lineup at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
LG says its new Google TV models, GA7900 and GA6400, deliver an intuitive user experience at various sizes that meet changing consumer demands. For example, Google's latest platform and LG's redesigned Magic Remote with QWERTY keyboard work together to offer more-effective voice search and a PrimeTime quick guide.
Meanwhile, an updated Smart Home interface now offers what LG calls streamlined access to video on demand, YouTube and more apps. The idea is to make it easier for consumers to access more content. The premium LG Google TV models will even offer a Cinema Screen design for a more modern look and feel.
Hyping Google TV
Havis Kwon, president and CEO of LG Electronics Home Entertainment, said in the product announcement that the latest version of Google TV offers a "stellar user experience" and is "groundbreaking in its simplicity."
The TVs' new Smart Home interface offers varied types of "cards" that act as folders for apps and other content. The new My Interest Card can display information such as real-time weather and customizable news.
A redesigned Magic Remote, which combines a complete QWERTY keyboard with the benefits of the Magic Remote's point-and-click control, lets users navigate the interface. And the enhanced natural language recognition augments Google's search functionality. LG said the voice-based capabilities multiply the effectiveness of the PrimeTime quick guide to make browsing through the more than 100,000 available movies and TV episodes on LG Google TV easier.
Faster Internet Experience
LG Smart TV's dual-core CPU means faster Internet browsing and video streaming than previous models. The additional processor power also allows the TruPicture XD Engine to process images quickly. That, LG said, means richer colors, deeper contrast and greater overall picture clarity.
LG has applied its advanced Cinema Screen design to the premium model to offer a sleek, modern look. This design works to minimize width of the bezel, giving the TV a streamlined appearance while creating the impression of a borderless display.
The LG Smart TV with Google TV offers connectivity options and can connect to a variety of devices wirelessly. With the latest YouTube app update for Android, for example, smartphones and tablets can be automatically paired with Google TV over the same home network via Wi-Fi, making it easy to send videos from your device to your TV.
Finally, LG is betting gamers will tap the OnLive app that's pre-installed. The app turns the TV into a gaming platform without a console, making hundreds of high-quality video games available instantly from the cloud. The LG TV also offers Cinema 3D TV functionality and employs technology to give movie buffs and gamers a 3D effect without the distracting flicker.


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By: Candess Zona-Mendola of MakeFoodSafe
Mushroom lovers watch out! The FDA, the CDC, and state and local partners are investigating an ongoing multistate outbreak of Salmonella Stanley infections linked to wood ear mushrooms imported by Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. of Santa Fe Springs, CA.
As of today, 41 people in 10 states are linked to this Mushroom Salmonella outbreak. Four of these cases have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
So far, those from restaurant clusters reported eating wood ear mushrooms or ramen with mushrooms. The California Department of Public Health collected a sample of wood ear mushrooms, imported by Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc., from one of the restaurants where ill patients reported eating. The sample was positive for Salmonella.
On September 23, 2020, Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. recalled Shirakiku brand imported dried fungus. The product was distributed in six packs of five-pound bags to restaurants in AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NV, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, and WI.
The investigation is ongoing.


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Using two PlayStation Move motion controllers Fire up Iron Man's repulsor jets and blast into the skies with an arsenal of iconic Iron Man gear at your fingertips. face off against one of Iron Man's greatest foes in high stakes, action-packed battles. upgrade Tech in Tony stark's garage to customize Iron Man's sleek armor and awesome abilities.
One of Marvel's biggest heroes is coming to PlayStation VR this summer. After a few release date delays, Iron Man VR will finally launch for PSVR on July 3, and if you're thinking about buying the virtual reality system just to play the game, you've now got a great option for doing so. Sony announced a brand-new Iron Man PSVR bundle will release alongside the game in July, and it includes.
Marvel’s Iron Man VR has been subject to a few delays since it was announced. First, the PSVR exclusive title was scheduled to be released on February 28th. It was then delayed to May 15th as at.
Iron Man VR Pre-Order Guide: PSVR Bundle, Pre-Order Bonuses, And Digital Deluxe Edition After a series of delays-- most recently alongside The Last of Us Part 2 --PlayStation's Iron Man VR finally.
After a series of delays--most recently alongside The Last of Us Part 2--PlayStation's Iron Man VR finally has a release date. The PSVR exclusive will now launch on July 3, and if you want to be ready for its release, you can pre-order Iron Man VR now from a number of different retailers. If you need to buy a PSVR system, a new Iron Man PSVR bundle is available now and includes everything you.
On top of that, Sony have also unveiled a new Marvel’s Iron Man VR PlayStation VR bundle. The bundle includes a physical copy of the game, a PSVR headset, 2 PS Move controllers, a PS Camera, and.
The PSVR exclusive will now launch on July 3, and if you want to be ready for its release, you can pre-order Iron Man VR now from a number of different retailers. If you need to buy a PSVR system, a new Iron Man PSVR bundle is available now and includes everything you need to play. There’s also a pre-order bonus for securing your copy early and a digital special edition if you’re looking.
PS4 Vertical Charging Stand with Cooling Fan, PSVR Headset Storage Stand, Docking Station Charger Dock for Move and DualShock 4 Controller, PlayStation 4 Classic, PS4 Pro, PS4 Slim, PS VR bundle 4.0 out of 5 stars 279.
Pre-order Iron Man PSVR bundle. PlayStation VR Iron Man bundle. In Iron Man VR, the PlayStation Move motion controllers are used to control Iron Man’s Repulsor Jets as he blasts through the sky toward his next mission, and you’ll also use them to control the arsenal of Iron Man gear at your fingertips. In the game, you’ll also be able to upgrade Tony Stark’s tech, customize Iron Man.
Download and play the Marvel’s Iron Man VR demo and you will unlock the Molten Lava Armor Deco when you purchase the full game! As one might surmise, yes, you need a PSVR in order to play the demo. If you still don’t have one, Sony has announced the PSVR Iron Man VR bundle! This bundle includes the game, a PSVR unit, two Move controllers.
Thanks to Iron Man VR releasing this week on PS4 you no longer need to be a billionaire to fly around in a suit of armor and fight bad guys. After playing a bunch of Half-Life: Alyx not that long.
Marvel’s Iron Man VR, the PSVR game that we are eagerly anticipating, was offered for sale as a set. Those who want to pre-order brought the stocks to the point of exhaustion. Marvel’s Iron Man VR, which Iron Man fans have been talking about a lot lately, is getting ready to meet its waiting on June 3. Marvel’s Iron Man VR Bundle, already available as a pre-sale as a set, seems to be a.
PlayStation 4; Iron Man VR Free Demo out Today, New PSVR Bundle Announced.
They're hard to come by these days, but luckily there's a neat Iron Man VR bundle -- in the UK, at least. Whether you're in the US or the UK, check out all the links you need below.
I was a late adopter to PSVR, having bought a bundle during Black Friday of 2019, and part of the reason besides the insane bundle and price, was my excitement for Iron Man VR. Donning the armor of Iron Man would only be second to that of pulling on Batman’s cowl. Interestingly enough, Camouflaj and Rocksteady (maker’s of Arkham VR) couldn’t have taken a more different path.Yesterday I started playing the demo for Iron Man VR and I was just blown away. The demo was good and the flight and combat challenges are super fun. I feel like this was what VR was made for. The vibrations on the moves, flying and boosting, punch landing. I felt exactly like Tony Stark. I was pretty hyped for Iron Man VR but now I can't wait. I hope the story is good and all that.If you're in North America, the platform holder has prepared a pack that includes the PSVR headset, a PlayStation Camera, two PS Move controllers, a PSVR demo disc, and a copy of Marvel's Iron Man.


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Reader’s view: All propane users need price-protection plansI am one of the owners of Superior Fuel Company. After reading the Feb. 2 article, “Propane price gouging raises concerns in Minnesota,” I was a little concerned and upset.
By: Ryan Gunderson, Duluth News Tribune
I am one of the owners of Superior Fuel Company. After reading the Feb. 2 article, “Propane price gouging raises concerns in Minnesota,” I was a little concerned and upset.
At Superior Fuel we serve customers who own their tanks as well as customers who lease tanks from us. Unfortunately, the article had it backward. Customers who own their tanks typically refuse to enroll in the price-protection plans we offer because they believe they will save by shopping around. When customers do not enroll in a plan, they are stuck paying the market price, no matter how high that price goes. At Superior Fuel, customers who enrolled in our price-protection plans — whether they lease or own a tank — are not paying the high prices.
We encourage all customers, no matter their tank-
ownership status, to enroll in pricing plans. It is a free insurance policy to protect consumers from price spikes like we are seeing now. These high prices hurt our customers, my company and our industry.


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The purchase price for the Acquisition consists of US$2,125,000 payable in cash. In addition, the Company paid expenses relating to the Acquisition of approximately US$112,000.
NevWa’s cultivation and extraction license, based out of Sparks, Nevada, allows for the distribution and sale of products across the state of Nevada, including in Las Vegas and Reno. Medical marijuana is currently legal in Nevada, and the state’s recreational market is scheduled to launch in July 2017. Nevada’s medical market also enables reciprocity for patients, whereby patients from other states can legally use their medical marijuana cards in Nevada, opening the medical market to the state’s more than 40 million yearly visitors.
In connection with GLH’s strategic acquisition program as previously announced, the closing of the Acquisition is expected to drive financial and shareholder value. It allows the Company to gain first mover advantage by receiving a prized license in Nevada to grow, process and distribute branded marijuana products. In addition, GLH obtains access to a highly sought after Las Vegas market and high volume dispensaries supported by a global tourism hub. The Company expects to leverage distribution in dispensaries and export GLH’s brand portfolio of new and existing products to Nevada. Finally, the Company believes it will develop new market penetration to drive further brand equity and awareness of GLH’s products.
Both locations expand access to the state’s widest-ranging inventory of medical cannabis products for Central Florida patients
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) (“Trulieve” or “the Company”), a leading and top-performing cannabis company based in the United States announced today the opening of two brand-new Central Florida dispensaries. The new Clearwater and Tampa locations mark the Company’s 81 st and 82 nd nationwide, respectively, widening patient access to Florida’s largest and broadest assortment of high-quality medical cannabis products.
Philip Young, CEO and Director of Lobe, stated, “We are honored to welcome Bart to our Advisory Board. His first-hand experience on and off the field are tremendously valuable as we continue our research involving mild traumatic brain injuries and PTSD. These issues are prevalent in contact sports and we believe that athletes will play a prominent role in the continued acceptance of psychedelic medicines as legitimate treatment. We look forward to working with Bart as we seek to forge long-term strategic relationships.”
HempFusion Wellness Submits Novel Foods Dossier to the United Kingdom’s Regulatory Food Safety Agency
HempFusion Wellness Inc. (TSX:CBD.U) (OTCQX:CBDHF) (FWB:8OO) (“HempFusion” or the “Company”), a leading health and wellness CBD company utilizing the power of whole-food hemp nutrition, is pleased to announce that it has submitted its dossier to the United Kingdom’s Regulatory Food Safety Agency (the “FSA”).
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210303005322/en/


text: While most of us are swapping our SLR cameras for the latest digital models, photography enthusiasts will be clamouring to be one of the lucky owners of a Leica Oskar Barnack jubilee-edition camera. To celebrate the 125th birthday of Oskar Barnack (1879-1936) - designer of the first 35mm Leica camera - and in recognition of his contribution to photography, the brand has released 1,000 of the Leica 0 series Prototype 2, the second camera Barnack developed. The camera is a fully functioning replica of the original, which took considerable expertise to operate. With each camera, the buyer has a choice of one of 10 limited-edition prints of photographs taken during Barnack's career, hand-printed in the Leica laboratory on baryta paper and mounted on acid-free board. Also included is a DVD of unreleased film taken by Barnack in Wetzlar, Germany, in the early 1920s. Slices of history don't come cheap and this camera will cost $25,000. To place an order, call 2507 0369.


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According to a tweet and a quote to Engadget, the Xbox One has outsold the PlayStation 4 for the month of August. While the NPD Group, who track and compare monthly sales for numerous products, hasn’t released the August details yet, Aaron Greenberg took to Twitter with the news.
— Aaron Greenberg (@aarongreenberg) September 8, 2016
This comes on the heels of Xbox Live being rated highest for both speed and reliability by leading industry research firm IHS Markit in an independent study. In addition, Xbox Marketing CVP Chris Nichols had this to say to Engadget:
“Thanks to our fans and their excitement for new Xbox One games and the recently launched Xbox One S, which is the only console available this holiday with built-in UHD 4K Blu-ray, 4K video streaming and HDR for video and gaming, Xbox One was the best-selling console in the U.S. in August, according to NPD Group.”
Of course, the mention of UHD 4K Blu-ray support was a direct shot fired towards Sony who announced the PlayStation 4 Pro with 4K support yesterday, but for some reason it didn’t get 4K Blu-ray support. The next few months should be interesting, with some great Xbox exclusives coming out (ReCore, Forza Horizon 3, and Gears of War 4) — all of which are Xbox Play Anywhere games meaning they are playable on both the Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs. November will be the telling month though when the PlayStation 4 Pro finally goes on sale.
Do you think the Xbox One can make it three months in a row outselling the PlayStation 4? Let us know in the comments below, or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.[button link=”https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/08/xbox-one-s-sales-august-npd-ps4/” icon=”fa-external-link” side=”left” target=”blank” color=”285b5e” textcolor=”ffffff”]Source: Engadget[/button]
Last Updated on September 8, 2016.


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Finsbury predicts profit increase as sales improve
Finsbury Food predicted annual profit would rise as it reported improving sales performance in the first few months of the year.
The FTSE 250 cakemaker said sales fell 3.4% from a year earlier in the first four months of the financial year compared with an 18.9% drop in the final quarter of the previous year.
The revival was driven by strong sales to retailers, partly offset by weaker UK foodservice trading. As long as schools and take-away channels stay open foodservice performance will be "robust", Finsbury said in a trading update before its annual general meeting.
A crackdown on costs and waste has yielded major improvements, the company said. Finsbury, whose licensed brands include Disney and Weight Watchers, sells cakes, bread and snacks to customers including UK retailers, schools and takeaway outlets.
"The group has proven itself to be resilient throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, responding quickly to deliver a robust trading performance in what has been a period of unprecedented demand swings," the company said.
"Given the strong trading and wider operational performance in the first four months of the new financial year, and assuming that an effective Brexit deal can be reached, the board expects to deliver further sales and profit growth in the current financial year."
Finsbury shares, down by a third in 2020, rose 2.8% to 66.3p at 09:00 GMT.


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DigiTimes Reports AU Optronics to Begin Producing 1.6-inch AMOLED Panels in Q4 for Wearable Devices
Supply chain sources say AU Optronics (NYSE: AUO) will begin producing 1.6-inch AMOLED panels for wearable devices in Q4 2014, according DigiTimes. Samsung Display (OTC: SSNLF) currently has a global 90% market share for small- to medium-size OLED panels.
View full article http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20140813PD201.html
© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


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Well-off shoppers have stopped spending.
As investors in upmarket department store David Jones lick their wounds after a disastrous mid-year sales season, the entire retail sector is bracing for more bad news.
It's not just families paying off their mortgages and lower-income earners who have tightened the purse strings.
Plummeting confidence among all consumers is now likely be a major theme when retail companies release their full-year profit results in August.
While economists believe investment in mining and energy projects will eventually turn sentiment around, there's no sign the situation will improve any time soon.
In June and July, spending among higher-income earners dried up, contributing to David Jones' worst sales records began.
And it came as consumer confidence dived to its lowest level since the height of the global financial crisis.
"People are wanting to save rather than spend," Citigroup economist Paul Brennan told AAP.
"That demographic would be middle age and closer to retirement, which reflects that superannuation savings have been affected by what's happening in sharemarkets."
Shaky stock and housing markets were affecting sentiment among higher-income earners who were generally older and more exposed to the floods levy and carbon tax.
"It's hard to see why they would start to spend any time soon," Mr Brennan said.
"I can't really see what's going to turn it around."
Mr Brennan said activity in the retail and housing sectors would be slow and the economy could grow by as much as four per cent once capital expenditure was made in the resources projects.
"We're going to see a continuing tough operating environment for retailers and (that) the acceleration that we're looking for in the economy over the next 12 months will have to come from other areas."
Despite a small uptick over Easter, the retail sector has been largely floundering since November last year.
On Wednesday, David Jones reported a record drop in sales following an "unprecedented and rapid deterioration" in trading conditions.
The company's chief executive Paul Zahra said his company experienced flat sales growth in April, slightly negative sales in May followed by a "sharp decline" in June/ July.
Mr Zahra said the aspirational customer had stopped shopping.
"We are experiencing exceptionally tough times, tougher than we've ever experienced before."
RBS Morgans analyst Richard Ivers said the consumer spending downturn was affecting retailers in all income categories.
"The report by DJs on Wednesday night was a real lightening-rod moment when everyone really appreciated how weak it is out there," he said.
"The company's commentary was particularly bearish and concerning in the fact that the weakness was so broad based."
Mr Ivers said there was bad news ahead for the sector.
Apparel, electronics and home entertainment were particularly weak, with stores like JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman struggling with electronics sales, particularly televisions.
"Retail is likely to stay weak for some time, and if it does improve there's the potential for the RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) to increase interest rates," he said.


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Entries in 'sale' (110)
The PS3 and Vita versions of FIFA 14 can currently be had for half price on PSN.
A possible sell-off for the Xbox brand by owner Microsoft has been touted for a second time.
Former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop is being tipped to replace outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Activision’s proposed buyout from current owner Vivendi has been blocked following a lawsuit filed in a Delaware court.
Remember the days when getting hold of a game early was as easy as popping down to your local indie? These are not those days.
After what can only be described as a very tough year so far, Blackberry has finally admitted that the end may be close.
An attempt by an ‘activist shareholder’ to force Sony into an entertainment spin-off has been rejected by Sony.
All of Warner Bros iOS titles and selected Android ones have seen their prices slashed as part of the publisher's summer mobile sale.
A six-day digital PC game sale has this afternoon begun at online retailer Green Man Gaming.
Having failed to find an outright buyer, Atari is to sell off its IPs individually.
Just 1.58m boxed games were sold last month in the UK, as the number of major launches dwindle.
How low will retail go in an effort to shift its Wii U stock?
The financial terms of the final round of THQ’s IP auctions has been divulged.
Deloitte has confirmed that it has completed the sale of Blockbuster for an undisclosed sum.
A recent retail promotion that saw Wii U drop to an all-new low price has been extended.
UK distribution Gem has launched a new promotion that gives retailers the chance to bid for cut-price games, consoles and accessories.
A number of big releases will this week enjoy significant discounts on Nintendo’s Wii U eShop digital game store.
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Games on Demand sale continues apace with recent release Resident Evil 6 cut to a staggeringly low price.
Xbox Live is making a rare move by taking on High Street pricing in what Microsoft has dubbed the ‘Xbox Ultimate Game Sale’.
The PlayStation Vita is one year old in the UK. Hoorah!
Investors led by the Cherit Group have agreed to buy Sony’s 37-story US headquarters for $1.1bn.
HMV has downplayed speculation over discounting after an ITV business reporter suggested a blue cross sale might be a way of raising funds ahead of debt deadlines.
Creditors of bankrupt publisher THQ have won their fight to block the company's sale to Clearwater Capital.
THQ will not be allowed to complete its pre-pack sale to Clearlake Capital, opening the door for a possible swoop by Warner Bros.
Creditors of troubled publisher THQ have filed complaints about the proposed sale to Clearlake Capital Group.


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The next Halo game has a tall task to sell the new Xbox console while keeping fans happy. The development team at 343 tell how they took inspiration from the 2001 original
If you experienced a sensation of deja-vu when watching the recent live stream introducing Halo Infinite’s gameplay, do not adjust your set. It was entirely deliberate on behalf on the development team working on the new Halo, which is due for release around November in conjunction with the Xbox Series X console.
Halo has always acted as a battering ram, a poster child, a totem of Microsoft’s next generations, just as the original Combat Evolved did for the first Xbox, back in 2001.
Almost two decades on, the team at 343 Industries – the company Microsoft set up to bring forward the Halo franchise – are unabashed about their intentions with Infinite. At an online press event to dissect the eight-minute gameplay trailer a couple of hours after it was broadcast, the leads at 343 reinforced their intention to deliver a new Halo that’s a lot like the oldest Halo.
“We built this to be a love letter to Halo for all the fans – we hope that everyone gets that,” says Paul Crocker, associate creative director for the game at 343.
The gameplay trailer plucks a chunk from the middle of the game but was chosen deliberately to echo the opening of Combat Evolved as you crash-landed on an alien ring planet.
“One of the expressions we've used a lot is spiritual reboot,” says Crocker. “Everyone remembers when they first played Combat Evolved when they first crashed onto the mysterious Halo ring from the Bumblebee escape pod, and how they felt as they looked around that world. And that to us is the feeling, the emotion that we wanted players to experience again. We want it to feel different and new and fresh. But we really want to bring back that sense of wonder and mystery and hope.”
That theme of recognisable but fresh is picked up by Chris Lee, the studio head at 343 in charge of Infinite. “It's really important that as we look at that spiritual reboot concept, we want to create something that's familiar but different,” says Lee. “That’s something we talk a lot about on the team.”
Lee pauses to pull up the tactical map of the ring and it appears to be huge. “This gives you an idea of the size and scale and some of the objectives that you will find in Infinite and it's the most open expansive environment we've ever created in a Halo game. It's several times larger than our last two campaigns put together. It gives players a lot of choice and freedom as they play through the world.”
The interview took place just as the internet worked itself up into a frenzy about the perceived bland, flat look of the Infinite characters and backgrounds, particularly in the cut-scenes but also in the gameplay locations.
At the time, 343 talked up just how much horsepower was being poured into the visual update of this next instalment. “On Xbox Series X, you'll be able to run at a solid 60 frames per second, and up to 4K resolution,” says Lee. “And we're bringing the highest fidelity experience that we've ever created. We're able to do more than 10 times the processing power per pixel that we were able to do in Halo 5, which just allows us to create this experience that's unlike anything that we've had in Halo before.”
Since then, 343 has held up its hands to the fans and insisted the graphics will get better before launch, a tall ask with just three months to go. A blog post from 343 community manager Unyshek tried to address the issues, insisting the simpler designs were deliberate all along.
“Based on our learnings from Halo 4, Halo 5, and Halo Wars 2 – along with strong community feedback – we decided to shift back towards the legacy aesthetics that defined the original trilogy,” Unyshek writes. “With Halo Infinite, we’re returning to a more ‘classic’ art style which was a key message going back to the very first reveal that garnered enthusiastic and positive responses. This translates to a more vibrant palette, ‘cleaner’ models and objects with less ‘noise’, though it doesn’t mean less detail.
However, Unyshek admits some feedback around lighting and detail has merit: “We do have work to do to address some of these areas and raise the level of fidelity and overall presentation for the final game.”
This is the first time Halo has gone open-world, with the main objectives driving the story and a host of side-quests that provide upgrades and secrets.
“We're trying not to restrict the player in any way,” says Crocker. “Master Chief shouldn't be locked down in any way. We do have a story that you work through – it's Master Chief's adventure. But there is a lot to find along the way – just look at the tactical map, you can see how much stuff is out there in the world. You can look at that image and wonder how that connects to the story we’re telling to the player experience. The simple answer is yes, there are additional things you can do across the world, but there is also a rich story.”
Chris Lee echoes that sentiment, hinting at a deeper world off the beaten path: “We want to reward players for taking their time and looking and discovering the secrets of this ring. So throughout the game, we will have this kind of story that Paul talked about. But you'll be able to deviate from that if you choose along the way and find some of these upgrades and equipment that give you more strategic options.”
Infinite has the difficult task of showing off the sheer grunt (pun intended) of the forthcoming Xbox Series X console but it must also be playable on older Xboxes dating to 2013. That’s not going to be easy and the 343 team admits there will be no differences between the versions beyond a cosmetic layer.
Chris Lee waxes lyrical about the how great Infinite will look on the new machine: “The fidelity we've been able to achieve in Halo Infinite is something that was unattainable previously. We've really harnessed a lot of advanced rendering techniques but also the immense power of the Xbox series X.”
Obviously, 60fps at 4K is not to be sneezed at and won’t be available on the Xbox One version. But when pushed, the team confirms there will no gameplay upgrades – no new enemy AI, no special extras, no additional weapons – to convince the potential buyer to shell out for a new Series X.
And that is the dilemma posed by Microsoft’s decision to make Infinite cross-platform. Will Infinite be sexy enough on Series X – after its graphical touch-up – to sell consoles? Or will be just a lively but derivative homage to Combat Evolved? We have only a few months to wait and find out.
* Since this article was published, Microsoft subsequently delayed the release of Halo Infinite into 2021.


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Litcoin Cash has announced that the countdown has begun towards the release of a new cryptocurrency that will be born from a hard fork of Litecoin (LCC).Bitcoin Clashic is the continuation of the Bitcoin project as peer-to-peer digital cash.
“Bitcoin Jesus” Still Bullish on Bitcoin Cash After Hard ForkWe have already seen a number of important forks happen - SegWit, Bitcoin Cash and.
Timeline and Support — Bitcoin Segwit2x and Bitcoin Gold
[ANN] Bitcoin Cash - Pro on-chain scaling - Cheaper feesCome November 13, 2017 Bitcoin Cash will hard fork to make a few performance adjustments to the BCC protocol.
A November Hard Fork Is Expected For Bitcoin Cash
So what is a Bitcoin Gold Fork? - Yahoo Finance
Bitcoin Cash is soaring as traders ready for another hard forkBitcoin Cash (BCH) is a proposed fork of Bitcoin (BTC) scheduled for August 1st. (Update: the fork occurred shortly after 11am Pacific Time.) At this time, Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Cash - ambcrypto.com
We have seen a lot of controversy as far as the Bitcoin Cash EDA was.Welcome to Crypto Daily News, this news piece "News Of Bitcoin Cash Hard Fork Continues To Drive Prices,." is breaking news from the Crypto sector.
By Kevin Helms The Bitcoin ABC development team has announced its plans for the November 13 Hard Fork upgrade of Bitcoin Cash.
Bitcoin Core is a term often used by Bitcoin Cash enthusiasts concerning Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency in the world.
A 32 MB hard fork is being scheduled for Bitcoin Cash [BCH
There are services that allow any noob to create their own Bitcoin fork now.
Bitcoin Cash Approaches $1,000 Ahead Of Hard ForkWe know Bitcoin Cash is important for you as it is for us, and we know that currently there are some issues.
The Litecoin Cash fork will be one of the first Litecoin forks in recent.The cryptocurrency was originally launched as an attempt to solve the bitcoin.The Bitcoin ABC development team has announced its plans for the November 13 Hard Fork upgrade of Bitcoin Cash.This Bitcoin Cash hard fork is a continuation of the idea the token was founded on.
Bitcoin Cash (BCH): Market Heats Up Ahead of Hard ForkRoger Ver is still bullish on Bitcoin Cash despite its steady decline in price over the month going into yesterdays hard fork.However, Bitcoin Cash has recently fixed the EDA issue, which we.BCash, BCH, BCC or sometimes called Bitcoin Cash is a digital currency that has been created using a fork of the Bitcoin Network.Bitcoin Cash Price Analysis - Upcoming fork tackles erratic network L. Bitcoin Cash Price Analysis. and is a fork of the Bitcoin.
Why I'm Not Buying Into The Bitcoin Cash Hype - BitcoinA group of miners unhappy with scaling proposal Segwit2x have created Bitcoin Cash, an alternative that could fork the bitcoin network on Aug. 1.
With Bitcoin Cash on the rise, details have already been prepared to repair the difficulty adjustment interrupted with a hard fork on next November 13.A hard-fork of the currency is expected May 15, which will form Bitcoin ABC.
A Beginner’s Guide to Claiming Your “Bitcoin Cash” (and
IRS May Consider Bitcoin Cash Fork Taxable Income ThisBitcoin Press Release: Litecoin Cash has announced that the countdown has begun towards the release of a new cryptocurrency that will be born from a hard fork of.
Bitcoin Cash Hard Fork Upgrade Causes No Major Problems. BITCOIN CASH HARD FORK.
Bitcoin Clashic - Satoshi's True Vision
Bitcoin Cash to Undergo Hard Fork on November 13th
Bitcoin Cash Hard Fork Plans Updated – New DifficultyWhile the price of Bitcoin Cash was on the rise over the weekend, plans were consolidated to repair the broken difficulty adjustment with a hard fork on November 13.A few notes on why an investment in Bitcoin Cash is warranted.
Bitcoin Cash Plus Review - BCP Bitcoin Hard Fork As P2P


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Research Shows Strong Trust In U.S. Farmers
U.S. farmers are the most trusted members of the supply chain when ensuring its safety, a recent study by the United Soybean Board (USB) discovered. Seventy-eight percent of consumers placed farmers in the top spot.
Sam Butler of Madison County represents Alabama on the USB, along with Dallas County farmer Wendy Yeager. Butler said the study shows the importance of transparency with consumers.
“Soy is the second-largest crop grown on U.S. soil,” Butler said. “It’s also the most widely used edible oil in the U.S., which means consumers interact with our product almost daily. It’s a relief to know they trust the practices we put in place to grow a healthy, nutritious, sustainable crop. It also shows that promotions implemented through the soy checkoff work.”
Key takeaways are:
- The majority of consumers, 79%, have a very/somewhat positive view of U.S. farmers who grow crops, including soybeans.
- Consumers are united in support for domestic agriculture, with 70% saying it’s somewhat/very important to purchase food made with U.S.-grown crops.
- Soy is seen as healthy (60%) or neutral (26%) by most consumers, but less than half (44%) are aware the soybeans used to make their favorite products are grown sustainably.
View a checkoff-funded promotional video featuring Alabama soybean farmers here.


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Thehas long stood for big luxury, and for its next act, it's getting a big ol' screen.
The luxury brand teased a massive 38-inch-plus screen set for the. Not only is this a massive display by automotive standards, it's going to check the box off for first application of a curved OLED display in a vehicle. OLED is the hottest thing in screen technology, and unlike typical LED screens, screens don't require a backlight. Instead, every pixel illuminates itself.
That, needless to say, lends to an incredibly crisp picture. The screen also has twice the pixel density of a typical 4K-resolution screen, Cadillac says, though it doesn't specify its resolution. Cadillac said the Escalade's screen will show off perfect black tones and an incredibly wide range of color.
In the video embedded above, we're presumably treated to the startup animation drivers will be graced with when plopping down inside the big SUV. The Cadillac shield logo is front and center, while the "Escalade" name appears to the right. Everything else is largely shrouded in shadows, but as we learned last week, the newhighway autopilot system will be available at launch. In the video, the familiar light bar embedded in the steering wheel quickly flashes to life.
Even with the big screen, we see there are still a layer of buttons below, so not every function will be sent to the display.
Aside from the display news, Cadillac has kept quiet about its arguably most important vehicle. It'll likely gain a lot of the improvements from theand (like an ), but how much it'll share with its more pedestrian siblings remains to be seen.
The sheet will come off on Feb. 4 in Beverly Hills -- a fine place for an Escalade to make its grand entrance.


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Last week, Ferrari unveiled their slick new £1.5 million supercar. The Ferrari F60 will go from from 0-60mph in 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of more than 200mph.
The highly anticipated F60 America exhibited at an event in Beverly Hills, California, and its striking red, blue and black appearance did not disappoint.
The car was produced exclusively for the U.S., Its name a homage to 60 years of Ferrari selling their cars in the country. This means that we are going miss out on the F60 in the UK unless someone sneaks one out. Either way, what a great looking car.


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Your company’s success begins with the words you choose to reflect your values.
A story ran in the Wall Street Journal on October 20 about a Swiss private-equity firm that banned the word ‘deal.’ The article says that David Layton, the CEO of Partners Holding AG, held an all-employee town hall meeting in June and announced that partners caught using the D-word would be “fined” for each violation in the form of a $1,000 donation to the firm’s charitable arm.
It didn’t take long for the rest of the team to realize that it wasn’t a game. During the partners’ annual retreat, one speaker said “deal” three times in his opening presentation. He was fined $3,000 Swiss francs.
Layton knew the new policy would elicit eye rolls from many employees, so he made the ban voluntary—it would be up to the person who made the transgression to donate to charity. But Layton did have a serious intent in calling for the ban.
“How we communicate is how we behave,” Layton posted to the company’s internal message board alongside photos from the partners meeting. By showing pictures from the meeting where the firm’s most senior leaders paid the fine for using the D-word, it proved that Layton and the others were walking the talk, literally.
According to the story, “Layton says the word ‘deal’ reduces the ownership of a company—which has executives, employees, a strategy and a mission—to a one-time event. He wants the employees of his firm to act like they are owners of businesses, not merely the doers of deals.”
Since the announcement, people at the firm have started replacing ‘deal’ with ‘stewardship’ or ‘investment.’ While it’s too early to tell if Layton’s strategy will make an impact at his firm we do know that, for many organizations seeking a culture shift, words do, indeed, matter.
While I was preparing to deliver a keynote to a conference in Dubai hosted by one of the world’s most prestigious consulting companies, one of the top partners at the organization gave me a primer on organization’s use of language. I realized that they were serious about the words they chose because those words influenced behavior.
“We are a professional firm, not a commercial business,” the partner said. Although the popular media refers to the company and its peers as a consulting ‘business,’ the organization has found that when team members act like they are part of a profession and not simply a transactional business, it enhances their relationships with clients. It also leads to changes in other words—and behaviors.
For example, I learned that the firm’s consultants don’t make pitches; they submit proposals. They don’t take jobs, they undertake engagements. They don’t work for their clients, they work with their clients. Making a pitch to win a job fails to convey the depth of the long-term relationship the firm’s consultants are attempting to make with their clients.
At this consulting firm, words mattered. And they mattered so much, even outside speakers like me were required to learn the lingo—and I was glad to do it.
When I was writing a book about the Apple Store, I discovered an extraordinary example of the power of word choice. During the development of Apple’s first retail locations, Steve Jobs took a hands-on role to make sure the store wasn’t just another computer retailer.
“We’re not in the business of selling computers,” Jobs told his staff. “We’re in the business of enriching people’s lives.”
A store that enriched lives looked very different than a store that just “moved boxes” or “sold stuff,” Jobs explained. For example, a store that enriched lives would have to leave customers with a memorable experience—that’s why the Apple Store avoided commission-based salespeople. The experience was all that mattered, whether or not the customer made a purchase that day. Enriching lives meant that customers could touch and play with the devices, and they could have access to in-store classes to learn how to use the systems.
All of these features in the original Apple Stores were very different than traditional computer retailers at the time—and it began with finding the right words to convey the company’s vision.
“Enriching lives” did not start organically. It started at the top—with Steve Jobs. Only after hearing it repeatedly and knowing that Jobs was serious did everyone else get the message.
Pay attention to the words you use as a leader. Are they the best words to explain your company and its role in people’s lives? Are you walking the talk and using the words consistently in your conversations and presentations?
Words matter because words lead to action.


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A previous investigation revealed Facebook personnel had direct knowledge children were spending large sums of parents’ money on in-app purchases without parental knowledge or permission
Washington (June 27, 2019) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, today sent a letter to Facebook urging the company to institute policy changes in light of evidence that third party game developers manipulated children into spending their parents’ money. Previous reporting by the Center for Investigative Reportingdemonstrated that Facebook personnel had direct knowledge that children were spending large sums of their parents’ money on in-app purchases without parental knowledge or permission. New evidence now reveals that Facebook has still not instituted key policy changes to address this issue. Senators Markey and Blumenthal initially wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about this topic in January.
In their latest letter, the Senators express concern about Facebook’s policies on what it considers an acceptable “chargeback rate,” the percentage of charges from in-app purchases that a credit card company disputes at the request of Facebook users. Recent reporting suggests that Facebook’s payment policies continue to allow an individual developer to maintain a chargeback rate of up to five percent before potentially penalizing it, well above the standard recommended by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The Senators are urging Facebook to reduce from five to one percent (or lower) its acceptable chargeback rate for third-party developers.
“Facebook’s actions thus far have failed to demonstrate a commitment to ending friendly fraud on your platform,” write the Senators in the letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “Permitting a chargeback rate of as much as 5% runs contrary to industry standards and suggests that Facebook is unwilling to address the problem of young users spending their families’ money without parental awareness or consent. Profiting off the mistakes and deception of children can never be considered fair.”
A copy of the Senators’ letter can be found HERE.
The Senators ask Facebook to respond to questions that include:
In October 2018, Senators Markey and Blumenthal called on the FTC to investigate whether Facebook violated the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act after it was found that apps were accessing children’s sensitive information without providing notice or obtaining the required consent.


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The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas last week produced some of the best and wackiest innovations in tech to date.
We saw foldable phones, roll-up TVs, indestructible pantyhose and wireless charging phone cases to name just a few.
But at the end of the convention, some unlikely guests stole the show.
Impossible Foods, a plant-based food company backed by Bill Gates, won three ‘Best of CES 2019’ awards and beat all other tech companies by being awarded the ‘Best of the Best’ title.
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you’re likely already aware of Impossible Foods and the marvels of their food engineering. And if you’re not, you soon will be.
Back in 2016, the company launched the ‘Impossible Burger’ which is a vegan alternative to a traditional beef patty. It looks, tastes and cooks like a regular beef patty, but with none of the health downfalls or environmental impacts.
Their original burger was instantly a hit with consumers on supermarket shelves and restaurants. But according to those who tasted the ‘Impossible Burger 2.0’ at CES, their tweaks have brought the patty even closer to the real thing. Demand has been so high since the launch in fact, that Impossible Foods will be rolling out the burger earlier than expected — distributing it to thousands of restaurants within the next few weeks.
Although some may consider it odd for a company known predominantly for burgers to be at a technology show, when it comes to the future of food, innovation is essential.
As the chief communications manager Rachel Conrad confirmed in a speech at the convention:
‘In fact, food is the most important technology on our planet. It’s literally required for life. It’s also been failing to innovate for about 10,000 years. That’s when humans started killing animals and cooking them as a cheap source of protein.’
The Impossible Burger’ Source: Impossible Foods
A meat-lovers hell
According to The Economist, with the world’s population set to hit 10 billion by 2050, we will need to increase our food production by about 60% to cope.
This is a daunting prospect, as the environmental impacts of agriculture are already straining our Earth’s resources to the limit. The current food system is responsible for 60% of all greenhouse gas emissions, uses approximately 70% of all fresh water resources and takes up around 40% of the Earth’s land surface.
The livestock and dairy industries are particularly detrimental, taking up 83% of farmland while only providing 18% of calories.
According to the largest study done to date on reducing the damage farming does to the Earth, avoiding meat and dairy is the single best thing you can do to reduce your footprint.
Published in the Science Journal in June 2018, the research conclusively found that if the world was to give up animal products we could reduce farmland use by more than 75% (an area equivalent to China, the US, Europe and Australia combined) while still having enough food. This would not only save wildlife that are going extinct due to mass deforestation, but ensure our water levels are sustainable and climate change is kept at bay.
As head researcher of the study Joseph Poore confirmed:
‘A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use…it is far bigger than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car.’
The study also found that even the most sustainable meat production causes double the environmental harm of the least sustainable vegetable and cereal farming. This is a reality that is very difficult to change, as Poore reiterated: ‘Converting grass into [meat] is like converting coal to energy. It comes with an immense cost in emissions.’
The widespread media coverage of this study is great news for Impossible Foods. In December, The Economist even dubbed 2019 the ‘Year of the Vegan’ thanks to the push for a healthier, more humane diet picking up steam in the mainstream.
It seems that people are finally waking up to the fact that our current agricultural system is unsustainable. And looking for alternatives to the cruelty and environmental impacts that come with consuming a diet high in animal products.
Impossible Foods founder, and former Stanford biochemistry professor, Pat Brown was also confident in the company’s ability to make waves in the meat industry. After the resounding success of their Impossible Burger 2.0 launch, the company is now working on creating a realistic mock-beef steak:
‘If we can make an awesomely delicious world-class steak…that will be very disruptive not just to the beef industry, but to other sectors of the meat industry.’
If there’s anything to take away from the CES show, it’s that there are plenty of innovative companies with true potential still out there. In the wake of all of the market crashes and uncertainty around Brexit and the US-China trade war, many people are wary about investing in anything, let alone technology stocks. But as we’ve seen, there’s still hope. Even if it comes in the form of a burger and fries.
This week in Money Morning
New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez believes we should keep interest rates at zero. I know what you’re thinking. How can we do that and not have crippling runaway inflation? Well to quell inflationary pressure, Cortez believes once in a while we should just tax people…A LOT. But as Harje wrote on Monday, this is a terrifying proposal…
To learn more, click here.
Do you find yourself eating out and ordering food more often? Food delivery is now so popular there are warehouses filled with dark kitchens (restaurants set-up for the sole purpose of online orders). And as Harje wrote on Tuesday, this is a sign that were moving further and further into a localised service economy.
To find out what that means for the future of home cooked meals, click here.
As the Second World War came to an end, everyone started to rebuild. For Japan, that rebuild was one of the greatest periods of growth…ever! But fast-forward to 2019 and Japan struggles to grow their economy by more than 2% a year. And as Harje wrote on Wednesday, this is all a result of unsustainable manufacturing growth.
To read the full story, click here.
In the past few months Netflix has seen a rising share price, rising subscriber numbers and a recent US subscription price hike. All these factors scream buy right now. But is that the right move? As Harje wrote on Thursday, buying Netflix stock right now could be a short-sighted decision…
To learn more, click here.
For countries, advantages come in the same two ways. They can create advantages through investment and hard work, or they are just gifts from God. Australia is a good example of the latter. We have so much iron ore, coal and copper that we export it in the hundreds of billions. Japan on the other hand is a case of the former. They’re resource poor, but savvy when it comes to manufacturing. But what happens when one country gets jealous of another country’s advantage?
To learn more, read Harje’s Friday article here.
All the best,
Editor, Money Weekend
PS: How to get in on these high-risk tech plays with massive potential. Find out here.


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The Future Cost of Online Shopping
Many Australian retailers have been shutting up shop in a failure to compete with the online shopping phenomenon, but they may finally have something to smile about. This week, the Australian Government announced it will consider lowering the tax-free threshold for products purchased online by March, 2014. The proposal comes after a meeting in Canberra between state and territory treasury officials on Wednesday, November 27. The officials met with Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey to discuss the nation’s options for changing the current system, which Aussie retailers say is unfair. Rather than only taxing goods purchased from online overseas retailers and worth more than $1,000, the Australian tax-free threshold could soon be reduced to items valued at $20 or more. Have a listen to Emma Watson’s report to find out more.
More by Panorama
Data released last month from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed Melbourne’s population growth is continuing to soar. Shannon Schubert reports on […]
Around 400 young people attended the Victorian Parliament’s inaugural Youth Summit at Melbourne’s MCG on Friday. Panorama reporters Alain Nygugen and Dona Malaish caught the passionate […]


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Applications will be accepted from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Interested applicants may also apply online at http://careers.walmart.com.
Through Walmart’s Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, the company will offer a job to any qualified veteran who has been honorably discharged within the past 12 months.* Interested veterans may find out more at http://walmartcareerswithamission.com.
According to store manager Summer Covington, the store will be hiring both full- and part-time associates. “This relocation is exciting for our community, and I am looking forward to meeting potential associates who will make the customer experience even better,” said Covington.
The majority of new associates will begin work in September to help prepare the store for its grand re-opening.
Police say Herrera began physically fighting with the officers. The…
Potter County Memorial Stadium's future is in question now that…
13 hours ago


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INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR COLOGNE is the most influential exhibition in the hardware sector for market participants from all over the world. The exhibition is held every two years and this year sees a totally new logo and name—Internationale Eisenwarenmesse Koln, aiming to make the exhibition more specialized in the hardware sector.
The totally new logo
Visitor Registration Counter
During these two days, China Fastener Info’s booth was crowded with lots of overseas visitors. Some even brought with samples and inquiry forms. Representatives of CFI were quite pleased to recommend suitable Chinese suppliers to them and provide them with the current information about China’s fastener industry.
What's more, many visitors showed keen interest in China Fastener Directory (CFD). Some even read it in earnest on site. In addition, representatives of CFI invited visitors to the upcoming 7th Fastener Trade Show Chengdu (May 25-26, 2012, Chengdu Century City New International Convention & Exhibition Center) and 8th Fastener Trade Show Suzhou (Nov. 1-2, 2012, Suzhou International Expo Center).
According to the recent pattern of the business transformation, we can see that the global financial powerhouse is moving to Asia. However, the experienced industrial knowhow and technical competence still reside strongly in Europe. It will, therefore, need wise political decision to ensure that Europe can come through the current crises as before.
As to the dumping issue, it was reported that the European Union and China have agreed the reasonable timetable for the EU to implement the recommendations and rulings of WTO concerns?on the fastener dispute between these two parties.
Based on the agreement, the reasonable period of time expires on October 12, 2012.
Some visitors from Europe also noted that “Everyone is waiting for the cancelation of antidumping which EU has to do within 15 months from final decision of WTO.”
Heaven & Earth Hardware
Shanghai Biaowu High-Tensile Fasteners
Ningbo Chaoxin Rivet
The concurrent small forum
Special booths at a glance


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Just days after he officially unveiled his Nike SK Shox TL "Bloody Chrome" release, details have emerged about a potential new collaboration from Skepta. According to reports, the London MC will continue his Nike relationship with the launch of an Air Max Tailwind V collaboration to drop in Spring 2020.
No imagery of the sneaker has arrived yet, but reports indicate that it will be dressed in a "Black/Chrome" colorway and will come complete with Skepta's SK branding. Keep an eye out for more details about Skepta and Nike's next collaboration ahead of the reported Spring 2020 release date.
Continue Reading at https://hypebeast.com/


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Sunday, April 24, 2011
With three OG colors returning this year, Jordan Brand has decided to give us a new colorway. Nothing is know about the sneaker other that the colorway is made up of grey/black carbon/white. You'll have to stay tuned for updates.
Images: Sole Patrol
Everyone's favorite asshole, Kanye West, was spotted in London's airport after the Coachella Music Festival in his unreleased Nike Air Yeezy 2. Nothing else can really be sad about the shoe, as no information is not about the upcoming release. This is however possibly the clearest image of the Kanye wearing the shoe since its debut in "The Black Mamba" movie; which was posted a month ago. Although really nothing is known about the shoe, thanks to all the photos that have appeared since, its almost certain the new Air Yeezy 2 will have a black upper in a patent leather and mesh with a lime green outsole, possibly translucent or glow in the dark. In addition, what looked to be Nike Air unit from Nike Air Tech Challenge II. But of course, that's just a guess, who knows what the finished product will look like.
The highly anticipated "Year of the Rabbit" Jordan VII has an official release date, but the exclusiveness just went up a few notches. Although the Jordan Brand still has kept with the original release date of May 7th, there is a slight twist up the Brand's sleeve. The sneaker will launch next weekend in China, as the Jordan Brand will bring the “lucky colorways” sneaker lovers across the Pacific the following Saturday, May 7th, with NikeStore.com being one of the retail outlet. With its run being extremely low (China will only have 300 pairs to serve its 1+ billion residents), thus building an even builder hype around the shoe. More detailed information about its availability to come in the next few weeks.
May 1st, 2011 (Sunday) – China
May 7th, 2011 (Saturday) – U.S.


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In celebration of their ten year anniversary, Vancouver-based menswear label, wings+horns
KNOWSHOW, Canada’s premiere lifestyle trade show presents it’s latest fashion preview for the winter season.
A Vancouver man’s Tumblr photo project of dressing up like Gap store mannequins is gaining global virality.
It’s rare for a clothing store to gain such media attention even before its doors are open, but Savant Store is doing just that.
Today, our street scouting ground is Victoria – a city filled with ultra humble, easy-going individuals. On these laid-back sidewalks, we admittedly didn’t expect the fashion to be plentiful, but […]
Canadian born-and-bred Judith & Charles is making another mark in the Vancouver market with plans to open a new stand-alone store in Kitsilano this spring. The new store will occupy […]
The Vancouver Animal Defense League protest in front of Brooklyn Clothing began Nov. 6, 2013, and two months later it is still ongoing.
The undisputed vintage kings F as in Frank are currently stocking their popular camouflage joggers.


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It's only fitting that in a bizarro new normal, the news that passes for positive is either conflicting, reflexive or, well, simply bizarre. Last night was no exception as the "good" news came in the form of speculation that in order to promote its consumption tax hike, the Abe government would consider a corporate tax cut. How that helps the country with the 1 quadrillion yen in debt is not exactly clear, or how it makes consumer tax hikes any more palatable in a nation in which more people than anywhere in the world are retired and elderly, and thus removed from the corporate lifecycle, is just as nebulous. But the market liked it. Just as it liked the good ole' European cop out, of posting a surge in consumer confidence, or relying on reflexive indicators to represent an improvement in the economy, when in reality the only thing "improving" is the stock market. This happened when the German ZEW Economic Sentiment survey soared from 36.3 to 42.0 on expectations of a 39.9 print. So one must buy futures, or that's what the GETCO algo programming says.
So to summarize:
- German ZEW Survey (Economic Sentiment) (Aug) M/M 42.0 vs. Exp. 39.9 (Prev.36.3) - highest since March 2013.
- SP/GE 10y spread narrowed to tightest level since August 2011 at 270bps and IT/GE 10s narrowed to tightest level since July 2011 at 256bps.
- Japanese PM Abe called for a study on lowering the corporate tax rate as a confidence-boosting counterweight to a consumption tax hike.
Ridiculous news aside, far more importantly today we get the US retail sales which will help determine the Fed's September tapering agenda. In terms of market expectations, Bloomberg median estimates are for+0.3%mom on the headline which is not too far from the average monthly rate in Q2 and slightly lower than June’s 0.4%. Expectations are for slightly higher +0.4%mom gain for retail sales ex-auto and gas. In addition to today’s retail sales data from the US Census Bureau, retail bellwethers Macy’s and Walmart will be reporting their quarterly earnings and outlook commentaries tomorrow and Thursday respectively. This will add further clues about trends in consumer spending.
Overnight news bulletin via BBG:
- Treasuries fall for a second day as JPY declines, global stock markets rise amid report Japan’s Abe is considering a cut in corporate taxes.
- Germany’s ZEW index of investor and analyst expectations rose to 42 from 36.3 in July. Economists predicted 39.9, according to the median of 42 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey
- With data this week predicted to show the euro area is growing again after an unprecedented six quarters of crisis-driven contraction, economists say such stabilization will restore the region as a prop, if not a powerhouse, for international demand and financial markets
- China’s one-year interest-rate swap rose by the most in three weeks after the central bank cut the amount of cash it injected into the economy via reverse-repurchase operations
- German Social Democratic chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrueck said he’s going to have to clean up the mess created in Europe by Angela Merkel’s “one-sided” solution to almost four years of crisis in the euro region
- Bruno Iksil, the former JPM trader who became known as the London Whale because of his trading book’s size, has been cooperating with the FBI and the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office for months in their probe of the bank’s biggest trading debacle ever, said three people with knowledge of the matter
- Sovereign yields higher; EU peripheral spreads narrow. Nikkei gains 2.6%, leading Asian stocks higher, as JPY falls toward 98 level. European stocks, U.S. equity index-futures gain. WTI crude, gold, copper eases
The full Market Re-Cap courtesy of RanSquawk
Stocks traded higher since the get go this morning, as market participants reacted positively to press reports overnight that Japanese PM Abe has called for a study on lowering the corporate tax, which in turn saw the Nikkei 225 index gain 2.57%. Consequent risk on sentiment weighed on Bunds, with the curve steepening ahead of this Wednesday’s 2023 Bund auction by Buba, roughly equivalent to 30k Sep-Bund contracts. The risk on sentiment was also supported by the release of yet another encouraging German macroeconomic data, with the ZEW survey (economic sentiment) coming in at its highest level since March 2013. Furthermore, ZEW noted that a rate hike is likely from the ECB in the next 6 months. Going forward, market participants will get to digest the release of the latest US Retail Sales, Import Price Index and the release of the weekly API report.
Japanese PM Abe called for a study on lowering the corporate tax as a confidence-boosting counterweight to a consumption tax hike.
BoJ Minutes from the July 10th-11th meeting says members expect Japan economy to recover moderately.
According to the minutes, members said CPI is likely to turn positive, whilst a few members said that the CPI rise might come to a pause after summer.
EU & UK Headlines
German ZEW Survey (Economic Sentiment) (Aug) M/M 42.0 vs. Exp. 39.9 (Prev.36.3) - highest since March 2013.
German ZEW Survey (Current Situation) (Aug) M/M 18.3 vs. Exp. 12.0 (Prev.10.6)
- First signs of end of recession in important Euro Zone countries may have contributed to indicators rise.
- Economic optimism is supported by German domestic demand.
- 83% of respondents expect no change in short-term interest rates in next 6 months.
Germany trims planned 2014 bond sales according to a budget draft. Says Germany plans to sell EUR 216.5bln of bonds in 2014 compared EUR 240bln this year which includes EUR 107.6bln with maturity of at least four years compared with EUR 114.5bln this year. Sales of debt with a maturity less than four years including bills will be cut to EUR 108.9bln from EUR 125.6bln.
UK CPI (Jul) Y/Y 2.8% vs. Exp. 2.8% (Prev. 2.9%)
UK CPI Core (Jul) Y/Y 2.0% vs. Exp. 2.2% (Prev. 2.3%)
UK PPI Input NSA (Jul) Y/Y 5.0% vs. Exp. 5.5% (Prev. 4.2%, Rev. to 4.0%)
UK RPI (Jul) Y/Y 3.1% vs. 3.2% (Prev. 3.3%)
UK PPI Output NSA (Jul) Y/Y 2.1% vs. Exp. 2.1% (Prev. 2.0%)
UK ONS House Price (Apr) Y/Y 3.1% vs. Exp. 3.5% (Prev. 2.9%) - biggest rise since December 2012, London house prices +8.1% Y/Y.
SP/GE 10y spread narrowed to tightest level since August 2011 at 270bps and IT/GE 10s narrowed to tightest level since July 2011 at 256bps.
Of note, Spanish newspaper Expansion reported this morning citing Spanish Treasury chief that monthly volume of debt sold will fall 30% from September.
Norwegian wealth fund's largest bond holding was in US Treasuries.
Stocks traded higher since the get go this morning, as market participants reacted positively to press reports overnight that Japanese PM Abe has called for a study on lowering the corporate tax, which in turn saw the Nikkei 225 index gain 2.57%. On the sector break down, basic materials and utilities outperformed, while in spite of credit spreads tightening, financials were seen as the worst performing sector this morning.
USD/JPY trended higher overnight in Asia, primarily underpinned by reports that Japanese PM Abe has called for a study on lowering the corporate tax. The price action was also evident in Europe this morning, that’s in spite of the fact that the release of much better than expected ZEW survey prompted broad based EUR strength, which in turn saw the USD index move back to unchanged.
Press reports indicated that China is considering opening up its crude import market to more refineries outside its dominant state giants, with quotas of at least 10 million tonnes being discussed for new entrants in 2014.
Libya's deputy oil minister says workers and local authorities at Es Sider crude oil terminal have reached an agreement to end the strike. The official expects Es Sider crude oil terminal to resume exports around August 15th or 16th and added that the ports of Ras Lanuf, Zueitina, Marsa Al Hariga are still closed.
UBS sees silver price relative to gold rising in next few years.
India raised excise duty on refined silver bars to 8% from 4%, refined gold bars to 9% from 7% and silver to 10% from 6%.
The US commodities watchdog has subpoenaed companies including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Glencore as it ramps up its probe into the metals warehousing industry. The subpoenas come amid a barrage of criticism in the US of banks’ activities in commodity markets.
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DB's Jim Reid recaps the balance of overnight news
Today US retail sales starts us on the next set of data points which will help determine the Fed's September tapering agenda. In terms of market expectations, Bloomberg median estimates are for+0.3%mom on the headline which is not too far from the average monthly rate in Q2 and slightly lower than June’s 0.4%. Expectations are for slightly higher +0.4%mom gain for retail sales ex-auto and gas. In addition to today’s retail sales data from the US Census Bureau, retail bellwethers Macy’s and Walmart will be reporting their quarterly earnings and outlook commentaries tomorrow and Thursday respectively. This will add further clues about trends in consumer spending.
Looking at overnight markets, Asian equities are trading with a strong tone led by the Nikkei (+1.6%). In Japan, PM Abe is reportedly considering a corporate tax rate cut as a counterweight to an increase in sales taxes, the Nikkei newspaper said, citing government sources. On the data front, Japanese machine orders for June have come in better than expected (+4.9%yoy vs +2.6% forecast) which have also buoyed Japanese equities and dollar yen (+0.4%) this morning. The latest BoJ minutes revealed little new information, but some have argued that the minutes are on the dovish side given commentary around the uncertainty in global economies and expectations that CPI rises would pause after the summer.
Elsewhere in Asia, there is a continuation of the constructive price action that we saw in the region yesterday fuelled by further signs of policy easing in China. The Hang Seng (+0.73%) and ASX200 (+75%) indices are both trading moderately firmer. There are reports that the Chinese city of Wenzhou has relaxed restrictions on property purchases to allow some people to buy second homes, the first in the country to ease controls, though analysts say other mainland cities are not expected to follow suit (SCMP). There are also reports that China’s cabinet has unveiled plans to set up more private banks to boost financial support for smaller firms who have been unable to access traditional forms of credit. The Australian dollar is 0.2% lower against the USD (91.3X) and the S&P500 futures is trading a touch firmer (+0.1%) at 1689.
Returning to yesterday, in what was a very rangebound day perhaps the most interesting news came from Apple. The company’s stock gained more than 2.8% after it was reported that the company is preparing the latest version of the iPhone for release this autumn, together with a newer, thinner iPad. The news helped drag the S&P500 (-0.12%) back up from the early lows. Coincidentally, Apple’s competitor, Blackberry gained 10.5% yesterday after saying that it was reviewing ways to enhance Blackberry’s competitiveness including potentially through a sale of the company. Foreign hardware makers such as Lenovo have been cited as potentially interested bidders (Bloomberg).
Away from equities, we noted that companies have raised more than $295 billion in the U.S. loan market this year, on pace to top the record $387 billion in all of 2007, according to Bloomberg, who cite S&P LCD data. At the same time, the number of cross border deals (non-US borrowers) has surpassed $45bn which is ahead of the $41bn record set in 2012. And despite the taper fears over the past several months, there have been a number of articles suggesting a return of capital to the investment grade and high yield bond funds, while strong inflows continue into the US leverage loans sector ($2bn last week according to Bloomberg).
In emerging market credit, there was some disappointment over the Mexican President’s plan to open up the country’s energy sector to foreign investors for the first time in 75 years. Mexico’s 10yr bonds sold off 4bp to 5.88% yesterday after the government said that the plan would limit foreign companies to profit-sharing contracts that provide less control over oil production. Turning to the day ahead, the focus in the European time zone will be on Eurozone industrial production data, German/Spanish inflation and the ZEW survey. In the UK, the latest CPI report is due. Across the Atlantic, retail sales and business inventories data are the highlights. The Atlanta Fed’s Lockhart will be speaking today on the economic outlook towards the latter half of the US trading session – Lockhart said last week that Fed tapering could come as early as September so this will be an interesting accompaniment to the retail sales release.


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A company that sells materials to Apple’s iPhone chip supplier has issued a warning about significant price increases that it has already been forced to undertake, in addition to the possibility of additional price rises in the near future.
As the $550 billion semiconductor sector faces an onslaught of economic issues, the warning comes from Japanese chemical supplier Showa Denko K.K. Showa Denko says it expects to boost its pricing even higher.
There have already been “at least a dozen hikes” this year due to the disruption of COVID-19, the conflict in Ukraine, and the depreciation of the yen, according to Bloomberg. The CFO of the company said in an interview last week that it is doubtful that the problem will be resolved before next year.
In an interview with Bloomberg, CFO Hideki Somemiya spoke to Bloomberg about the company’s financial results and strategy. He noted that the situation is unlikely to change considerably until at least 2023.
When Somemiya spoke about how the company was now charging clients “twice as much” as they had previously, she said it was because the company was compelled to “significantly increase the cost it passes on.”
According to Bloomberg, the supplier “expects to significantly boost prices and cut back on unproductive product lines.” Apple’s “Pro” customers are expected to see an increase in performance on their iPhone 14, which is expected to be powered by TSMC, one of Showa Denko’s suppliers, as well as the chips that power the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13.
All these price changes mean that corporations like Apple will eventually feel the pain, with higher supply and component costs for gadgets that may possibly be passed on to consumers.
In some markets, we’ve already seen the impact of this trend. Apple raised the prices of select iPhone 13 and iPad models in Japan by 20 percent or more last week in order to deal with the demands of the weakening yen.
Since there are no signs of a reduction in prices in sight, there is a genuine risk that these costs will be passed on to iPhone customers, maybe in the shape of more expensive gadgets for us consumers, which is always a bad bargain.
Prime Day iPhone discounts may be a more financially viable choice for many people who need an iPhone upgrade but are concerned about overspending.


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A judge made Amazon rerun the union vote at its Bessemer, Alabama warehouse due to the illegal strong-arm tactics it used against workers. The new vote is about to take place — and Amazon is still using the same methods.
On Friday, January 21, Isaiah Thomas, a shipping dock worker at BHM1, Amazon’s Bessemer, Alabama warehouse, was given a letter from management informing him that he had violated the company’s solicitation policy by discussing unionization with his coworkers.
“While we understand your activity may have occurred during your break time, you were interfering with fellow associates during their working time, in their work areas,” read the memo. “Amazon respects your right to engage in lawful solicitation in accordance with our lawful policy.”
The letter is the subject of the unfair labor practice (ULP) charge filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which is preparing for a second union election at BHM1. The NLRB ordered the election be rerun after finding that Amazon “hijacked the process” by getting a mailbox installed near the warehouse’s entrance, thus creating the appearance of surveillance and disturbing the “laboratory conditions” required during a union vote. The memo to Thomas could also count as a violation of Amazon’s settlement with the NLRB, which prohibits the company from interfering in organizing.


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New Ventura Harbor Village Entertainment & Restaurant Venue Features Artisan Menu, Beer, Wine & Entertainment Opening in 2023
A state-of-the-art family entertainment venue, managed by Aarmark Beer Gardens, Inc., will join the seaside attraction mix at the Ventura Harbor Village with the approval of a multi-year lease on January 19, 2022 by the Ventura Port District Board of Port Commissioners. The 5,736 square foot venue, with plans to open in 2023 and its official name still to be announced, will specialize in artisan food, top-rated international beers, a legendary wine list, and multitude of entertainment activities.
CEO of Aarmark Beer Gardens Inc, Aaron Running states, “Friends and family can leave their worries at the door as the new endeavor offers a wide array of entertainment options for all ages featuring multi-sport simulators, virtual reality, retro arcade games, a stadium seating sports viewing, and more.”
Aarmark Beer Gardens, Inc., currently operates four popular restaurant facilities including SB Biergarten in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, Fire & Vice in Moorpark and Santa Maria, and Copenhagen Sausage Garden in Solvang. CEO Running shares insight into the new waterfront menu highlighting wood-ﬁred pizzas, artisan sausage, grass-fed burgers, salads, giant pretzels, a full kid’s menu, plus some fun theme focused menu items. “Come for the food, stay for the fun – an experience like no other,” promises Running.
Ventura Port District, who manages the Ventura Harbor Village, plans to invest $725,000 in facade and infrastructure improvements to the building prior to turning the space over to Aarmark Beer Gardens, Inc. Aarmark will also invest an additional $651,500 towards tenant enhancements.
“This exciting and vibrant entertainment use will continue to expand upon offerings springing up at Harbor Village, joining many long-time favorites,” said the District’s General Manager, Brian Pendleton.
Members of the Board at the public Ventura Port District hearing shared their positivity for the business. “His location in Santa Barbara is lovely and I can’t wait to see Mr. Running bring that caliber of business with a strong focus on entertainment to our Harbor,” said Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners, Chris Stephens.
Ventura business and tourism leaders have also voiced their enthusiasm at the hearing for the new venue. Stephanie Caldwell, President and CEO of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, cited Running’s success in both Santa Barbara and Ventura counties stating, “His history and experience is exactly what we need more of in Ventura to elevate business and provide additional opportunities for residents and visitors alike.”
Marlyss Auster, President and CEO of the Visit Ventura praised the new Village endeavor. “The family entertainment, complemented with fresh restaurant offerings, add to the wonderful variety of options available at Ventura Harbor Village, and will encourage visitors to stay longer to enjoy its scenic setting,” said Auster.
The new Aarmark Beer Garden Inc, restaurant and entertainment center will be located at 1575 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 100 at the Ventura Harbor Village, present site of the Village Carousel & Arcade. The Port District thanks the Thames family for their years of arcade and carousel operations at Harbor Village. For more information on the seaside attraction, visit VenturaHarborVillage.com


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In just a few weeks, nearly $1 billion has been wiped from the market capitalisation of medical device manufacturer PolyNovo Ltd (ASX: PNV).
The PolyNovo share price reached new highs late last year, pushing over the $4 mark. Since then, the share price has tumbled more than 30%, with shares trading at $2.68 at the time of writing.
Is this a healthy pullback or the start of a downwards trend?
PNV share price chart
What’s caused the reversal in the PolyNovo share price?
Earlier this week, PolyNovo released a trading update for the first half of FY21. Although the update wasn’t disappointing, it wasn’t enough to meet investors’ expectations and continue the huge uptrend that it’s gone through over the last several months.
PolyNovo reported that over the last six months, sales were up 31% on the prior period and the company had opened 35 new accounts across all direct markets.
In the United States, however, sales only saw an increase of 16% in the second quarter of FY21 as a result of COVID-19 complications.
Management has stated that once hospitals do increase capacity, US and UK sales should start to accelerate similar to what has happened in Australia. However, with the pandemic still looming large over these areas, there’s an unknown element of just how long it will take for things to return to a state of normality.
Results aside, it’s important to remember that even excellent companies can go through volatile price movements from time to time.
Since September last year, the PolyNovo share price increased by over 80% in just three months. As a result, I think it would be reasonable to expect a correction after such a strong upwards run.
PolyNovo has been increasingly popular among short-sellers recently which could also explain a part of the recent price movements.
Despite a temporary slowdown in sales, not much has fundamentally changed within the company that would lead me to think an underlying thesis would no longer hold.
If you do hold a long-term outlook on PolyNovo, this may be a buying opportunity if you believe that shares now represent much better value than they did previously.
That said, PolyNovo is still a $1.7 billion company with revenue of $22 million in FY20. While shares may look cheap relative to where they were a few weeks ago, I think it’s important to get a rough sense of value in a broader sense, regardless of where they were previously.
For more reading on PolyNovo and another exciting ASX healthcare share, check out this article: 2 ASX medtech stocks to watch like a hawk in 2021.


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The Scary Side Of Skin Lightening Creams Isn’t Just Psychological
Skin-lightening creams might be controversial for their implications on race and beauty, but they’re also seriously dangerous, reports The New York Times. These creams are so strong that many users thin down their skin to a point that it bruises to the touch, exposes capillaries, and causes acne. The culprit? Steroids. (Eek!)
Oftentimes mislabeled, or not listed in the ingredients at all, many users are unaware that they’re putting such harmful products on their faces. And one shouldn’t even think for a second that steroids are commonly used in dermatological practices. Dermatologist Dr. Erin Gilbert tells the Times, “Clobetasol is the most potent topical steroid we make in dermatology … There’s almost no indication where you’d use it on the face. And it’s basically provided to people as cosmetic products. It’s illegal.” What’s more is that certain brands even use mercury in their mixtures, which can be a powerful poison.
Another concerning aspect: these lotions are no longer niche products. The Times suggests that the skin lightening cream demographic is unexpectedly wide, and according to one doctor, sufferers of side effects aren’t “necessarily immigrants,” but also “Ph.D.’s to women from corporate America, teachers to engineers — the entire broad spectrum of women of color.” Meaning, skin lightening creams are becoming just as popular for treating acne scars and other irregularities in skin tone. Problem is, there’s not a lot of truth in labeling when it comes to these products. [New York Times]