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Rubber prices at 8-year high; likely to increase
Rubber prices in India are at an eight-year high, and trends indicate that they will rise further.
On August 18, the RSS-4 rubber variety was priced at Rs 178.50/kg. Rubber prices peaked at Rs 196 in July 2013, after which they began to fall.
Prices are expected to rise in the range of Rs 180 to Rs 185. The rainy season disrupts the rubber tapping process, and as a result, rubber sheets do not reach the markets, resulting in high prices. Similarly, many cultivators are hoarding stock in anticipation of high prices. Farmers have high hopes after the government announced a base price of Rs 170. They believe that interest rates will remain stable.
Meanwhile, the price of rubber latex has reached an all-time high of Rs 180/kg. People selling latex are also in high demand right now. Similarly, exports have been hampered for a variety of reasons, contributing to higher prices.
On Wednesday, the price of RSS-3 rubber (equivalent to RSS-4 in India) was Rs 143.74/kg in Bangkok, where international rates are determined. Despite the fact that traders in the export business rely on block rubber, they must pay freight and export duty. This process is also hampered due to a lack of containers. As a result, they are also obtaining small amounts of rubber from the country.


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Alphabet‘s Google will start experimenting with promoting inside search outcomes powered by generative synthetic intelligence, the tech large introduced on Tuesday, because it seeks to fend off rival Microsoft within the profitable search advertisements market.
Over the previous few months, Google and Microsoft have supercharged a race to alter how folks seek for data by infusing their search engines like google and yahoo with generative AI, which may present conversational written responses to queries, synthesize data on-line and floor related web sites.
The AI capabilities may even alter how advertisers attain shoppers by search engines like google and yahoo, a market that’s estimated to develop to $286 billion (roughly Rs. 23,65,700 crore) this yr, in accordance with analysis agency MAGNA.
For instance, customers can search “mountaineering backpacks for youths” on the brand new model of Google and the AI may reply with an advert for a selected backpack, together with ideas for a way to decide on the most effective backpack for a kid, Google stated.
“This can be a new, less complicated and useful strategy to work together with Google search,” stated Jerry Dischler, vice chairman and common supervisor of advertisements, in an interview. “It will be an excellent alternative to ship a pleasant consumer expertise that may result in new business alternatives sooner or later.”
Google unveiled the brand new model of its search engine earlier this month, known as Search Generative Expertise, which is able to roll out over the approaching weeks through a wait record.
The corporate will check the brand new advert placements utilizing present advertisements that seem on conventional Google searches, Dischler stated.
Throughout its annual Google Advertising Reside occasion on Tuesday, Google additionally introduced a brand new conversational chatbot that may help manufacturers with the method of making advertisements.
Advertisers can enter their web site and the AI chatbot will suggest headlines, particular key phrases and pictures to incorporate in an advert to seize a shopper’s consideration, Google stated.
The tech large already gives a device that may routinely generate advertisements for manufacturers. That device will now have generative AI capabilities and may create advertisements based mostly on the context of a consumer’s question, Google stated.
If a shopper searches for merchandise for dry and delicate pores and skin, Google may routinely create an advert for a skincare model with the headline “soothe your dry, delicate pores and skin,” the corporate stated.
Whereas Google is the chief in search promoting, its new options come as Microsoft has moved rapidly to be a challenger.
Microsoft has already begun testing advertisements in its Bing AI-powered search engine and held conferences with advert businesses as early as February.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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With growth comes change. Assai is therefore pleased to announce that its new website has been launched at www.assai-software.com.
It is Assai’s mission to promote the concept of document control to engineering and construction projects and companies worldwide by becoming the industry standard. We hope that the launch of this fresh, new, easily accessible website contributes to our mission introducing you to the strong, worldwide used and reliable AssaiDCMS software.
On this new website, the solutions that Assai offers for Document Control and Document Management are explained short and simple and the benefits of using AssaiDCMS are summarised.
The new website has been designed with a transparent look-and-feel, provided with a user-friendly navigation and will be updated frequently with latest information on our products and services.
At the right top you can find a search box to search the contents of this website, which makes it even easier for you to find the information you are looking for.
We hope you will enjoy our new website, finding the information you are looking for and we look forward to delivering document control and document management solutions to you.


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Attendify, a Palo Alto, CA-based SaaS mobile event technology platform, raised $1.7m in venture capital funding.
The round, which consisted of a bridge investment as well as the acquisition of an equity stake from an early private investment, was led by Digital Future, with follow-on participation from an existing investor.
The company intends to use the funds to further expand its sales and marketing teams while increasing product development efforts.
Led by Michael Balyasny, CEO, Attendify is an event app platform delivering branded, social-first apps to thousands of meeting and event planners worldwide.
The company is now opening a new office in Phoenix, Arizona to accelerate hiring for its sales and customer success teams, while continuing to invest in product innovation with several updates forthcoming as it is expanding its platform to serve new stakeholders including sponsors and exhibitors.
Attendify has been used by organizations like Google, Bloomberg, AstraZeneca, Chrysler, Phillips, and AOL.


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The Power and Importance of Instagram
As I re-entered archived newsletters into the new ChefsTech site (yes, manually, that’s a story for another day), mentions of one company stood far and above the rest: Instagram. Surprised? Me neither, but nothing like re-tagging three years’ worth of archives to drive home the point that the photo-centric social network has made a massive difference in the way we talk about, write about, recommend, and interact with restaurants. It’s undeniable. (I’m still hung up on Twitter’s biggest critics from years ago who just couldn’t understand why anyone cares “what you had for lunch.”)
Instagram does “from my perspective” better than any other platform, though, and with the power of Facebook behind it for a few years, has a reach far and wide and niche and involved. This week, a poignant reminder of that in the form of an Atlantic piece displaying Instagram images posted from food deserts. The images, to someone used to looking at well-composed restaurant meals and plates full of California produce, are sobering. In fact, Instagram is so good at telling us what people are eating that researchers at Georgia Tech are using the platform to do research. Their findings, after analyzing 3 million food-related images:
“In every region of the United States, the foods shown in Instagrams posted from food deserts had higher cholesterol, sugar, and fat than the posts from non-food deserts. Popular foods differed by region: In the southeast U.S., food-desert dwellers posted a lot of bacon, brisket, and grits, while non-food-desert dwellers posted more peaches, beans, and collard greens. In the Midwest, food deserts were full of hamburgers, hot dogs, and the generic descriptor “meat,” while kale, turkey, and spinach were more popular outside of food deserts.”
How to Be a Reviewer when Everyone’s a Reviewer
This New Yorker piece isn’t about food criticism (it’s about books, film, and art), but it might as well be. It asks, “What’s the point of a reviewer in an age when everyone reviews?”
The piece does a better-than-anyone-ever job at articulating the difference between a professional and an armchair reviewer with phrases like, “We’ve reached peak criticism; a peacock spread of hermeneutic attention has become our basic greeting for creative work. What are the professionals doing for us today?”
Criticism is, like everything else, an evolving form in a digital, increasingly fragmented world. As niche content proliferates online, “mainstream” becomes less relevant and following your friends — or just those who hold similar opinions as you do — becomes the most efficient way of receiving information. (I promised myself I wouldn’t talk about the election… but you see the parallel, right?)
At any rate, the old way isn’t necessarily the best way, and the new way isn’t necessarily wrong, just different. But this piece, which is sort of a state-of-the-review-machine, will become a great resource as the age of the everyday critic continues.
Real-Time Ask-and-Answer’s Where It’s At
What’s better than the social internet? The real-time internet! Just today, two giants in the world of online food content promoted live ask-and-answer sessions: a Reddit AMA from Serious Eats and a Facebook live Q&A from Epicurious.
In many ways, the social internet contributed to the popularity of these live events from big brands: readers/viewers/fans/followers want to see the faces behind the big names; and the big names sure do want to tout their staff as accessible professionals, not just worker bees toiling away behind computer screens. In my magazine editorial past, part of the magic of the glossy final products was getting to know the names and personalities of the names on the masthead; digital connectivity has ushered in a new wave of this, giving the ability for aspirational and service-driven brands like Epicurious or Serious Eats or any other big name to offer real-time interaction with those who need it. Expect more of this!
*I would be wrong to not mention how awesome Noma’s Rene Redzepi has been on Periscope lately as he and his team put on their Australia pop-up. Check it out!
Companies Fast Company Overlooked
I’m very happy to have contributed to Din co-founder Emily Olson LaFave’s recent post about innovative food companies that should have made it onto the recent Fast Company list.
With so much change for good and innovation in the space, do companies like Taco Bell, Domino’s, and McDonald’s deserve to take the top spots… in innovation? With the stellar input of some other food-minded thinkers, this is a list we’d rather see in print. (And in digital.) Thanks, Emily!
Are You Going to Austin Next Week?
I am, and I’m speaking on a panel (stay tuned for more about that.) I’m also looking forward to meetups and parties and other panels (and Anthony Bourdain!) Here’s where you’re likely to find me, but please get in touch if you’ll be there. I’d love to say hello.
- Listen: Are delivery services bad for restaurants — TechBites on Heritage Radio Network
- The unfortunate rise of the word “foodie,” quantified — Washington Post
- UberEats launches a standalone app in Los Angeles — EaterLA
- Put your phones down! It’s the Chick-fil-a cell phone coop — Delish


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When it comes to clean energy, one of the best-performing countries in the world is Germany. In fact, clean energy powers 47% of the country’s electricity. And by 2030 around 65% of Germany’s total electricity demand is set to be powered by renewables.
Renewable energy continues its oil-free drive across the country as wind power makes up 27.2% of all energy, 10.5% from solar power, and 9.4% from biomass.
One of the largest energy companies in Germany is LichtBlick, which has over 600,000 customers across the country. So when it decided to go all in on digital when it came to its customer service and sales operations – with a particular focus on the mobile experience – the company decided to completely renovate its digital infrastructure.
“Our website wasn’t really scalable or flexible enough,” said Philip von Pless, product owner for LichtBlick’s websites. “We had too many separate systems, and the whole complex was slow. We had lots of analog processes, and we ran on-premise solutions for our service portal, contract and customer management.
“Our website was built on a Typo3 CMS, which we had to tweak a lot to serve as an ecommerce solution. We also faced performance problems.”
As the tool of innovation, LichtBlick grabbed the content management system Contentful, which would lay the new foundations of its digital infrastructure.
Within just eight months, the energy company launched its brand new site as well as a new tariff structure. And within the first couple of months, the amount of new contracts doubled when compared to the same time the year before. And daily sales rose by 52%.
Things are even better for its new desktop website as well as the new mobile site. The conversion rate for its desktop website increased 33% while its mobile conversion rate shot up 122%.
Its Core Web Vitals were also refreshed and quickened; its page speed increased by 30% while time on page stretched by 24%.
“All the numbers show we have chosen the right track,” emphasised Philip. “Now we have a scalable base to continue getting more people to adopt green energy.”
To the cloud
The team at LichtBlick took the decision to shift its systems from on-site premises and release them to the cloud. In addition, the website had to be built with an API-first approach.
That was when Contentful was determined to be the best platform for the right digital solutions. It was a natural fit after all, as it provided LichtBlick a number of vital functions:
- Contentful integrates with APIs so it works with almost any tech stack. “Our STK is quite diverse,” added Aye Cofalka, technical consulting director at the consultancy that worked with LichtBlick, “ranging from Node.js to ASP. Not having to think about integration issues was a huge plus for us.”
- Contentful’s API architecture makes it easy to build fast, and build fast pages. “We didn’t have to struggle with any restrictions that come with larger templating engines and enterprise CMS systems,” added Aye. “We could just build a fast front end on top of Contentful.”
- Content can be developed within Contentful more freely. “When you can treat content as code,” said Aye, “you compile content and code together in one file, and deliver those pre-compiled contents much faster to the user.”
- Because Contentful is cloud-native, it lets LichtBlick focus on constructing a powerful website instead of putting time and energy into infrastructure issues.
- Again, with Contentful’s API approach, the ability to enhance functionality is faster. So the team doesn’t have to do work on complicated content management systems.
“Contentful gives you the ability to treat content as code,” said Aye. “You compile content and code together in one file, and deliver those pre-compiled contents much faster to the user. This is an advantage only Contentful can deliver, and it was a big factor in the success of LichtBlick’s mobile site.”
Being able to develop and publish content without needing the help of a developer is a huge benefit both in the short term and long term. This new dose of liberty allowed the marketing team at LichtBlick to concentrate on results elsewhere, testing out new ideas, iterations, etc.
“The great results that our marketing department achieved with Contentful have encouraged others in the company to follow our path,” said Philip, “and innovate products that can be delivered online in a very short time.”
This pathway to experimentation now is part of the culture, serving the company as it continues to grow in the ever-increasing market of green energy.
LichtBlick’s success on its new and improved website has had knock-on effects in other areas. “They feel the speed,” exclaimed Philip, “and the power we have to reduce time to market. We’ve created a good basis for acting on user needs and experiences, getting feedback and driving future innovation throughout the company.”


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LAS VEGAS >> Neil Moffitt wants everyone — and he means everyone — to have a good view of his new 75,000-square-foot megaclub inside Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace that includes an open-air deck, LED screens rigged with motion sensors and cocktail waitresses who descend from the ceiling to deliver some patrons’ drinks.
He hopes his latest club, Omnia, attracts not just VIPs but also regular customers.
Nightclubs — and more recently dayclubs — have become major lures for Las Vegas hotels and an increasing source of revenue as the casino industry diversified to add fine dining and shopping to supplement what it takes in on the gambling floor.
But as the industry has grown, these hot spots have become the definition of the haves and have-a-little-less: Those on the guest list and those not. Those who pay handsomely for a table (and with it, bottles of booze at $350 and up), and those who remain perched on two feet with nothing to prop them up.
Moffitt wants Omnia to bridge that gap. Though it will have a separate entrance for the well-heeled, custom booths for VIPs and you still need to pay extra for a table, the club will offer broad access and a layout that allows for freedom to move and see the action for those paying general admission.
“Here, there’s no cheap seats,” said Moffitt, the 48-year-old CEO of Hakkasan Group, which has more than three dozen nightclubs, day clubs and restaurants.
Adam Carmer, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas professor of food and beverage in the school’s hospitality program, said the concept of a more cost-effective club experience is ahead of the curve.
“I think there’s nobody serving that customer, and certainly no one saying they’re serving that customer,” he said.
Though Moffitt says he wants regular customers to come to Omnia, it still won’t be cheap to get in. Women can expect to pay about $30 for admission, men at least $50 — reasonable by Las Vegas club standards. A beer will cost $10. A cocktail might run $16.
Moffitt’s club has 17 fewer VIP tables spread around a larger nightclub space than the company’s five-level 80,000-square-foot namesake Hakkasan nightclub, which also includes a restaurant. The company won’t say how much Omnia cost.


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New Jersey’s online and retail sportsbooks quickened their record-setting pace in November, becoming the first state to produce more than $100m in revenue in a single month off of nearly $1.3bn in wagering.
The third consecutive month of jaw-dropping results by both sports betting and online gaming pushed the state past even more milestones, including a lifetime sports betting handle of more than $20bn, according to PlayNJ, which tracks gaming developments in the state.
In total, New Jersey’s online and retail sportsbooks handled $1.26bn in wagers in November, the third consecutive month with wagering over $1bn. Betting volume was up 35.2% from the $931.6m generated in November 2020. But November’s handle fell just short of October’s $1.3bn record, a product of one less day in the month and one less weekend of football.
“The key to New Jersey’s consistency and its advantage over most every other market is its ability to draw interest on such a wide variety of sports,” said David Danzis, an analyst for PlayNJ.com. “We’ve seen over the last three years that when football and basketball converge, as they did in November, it produces a groundswell of bettor interest for sportsbooks.”
Sportsbooks won a remarkable $114.8m of November’s bets, though. That shattered the previous record — for the state and for the U.S. — of $84.2m that was set in October. Year-over-year, revenue was up 127.1% from $50.6m in November 2020. In all, that revenue generated $17.3m in state and local taxes.
New Jersey sportsbooks have now taken in $20.9bn in wagers, which has yielded $1.55bn in revenue, since the market first opened in June 2018. New Jersey is the only state to cross $20bn in wagers and $1.5bn in revenue over that time.
“New Jersey helped open the floodgates to legal sports betting in the US when it launched in 2018, and no state has done it better,” said Eric Ramsey, an analyst for the PlayUSA.com Network, which includes PlayNJ.com. “The Garden State remains the most lucrative market in the country, more than delivering on its early promise.”
In the last three months, New Jersey sportsbooks have generated a whopping $3.6bn in wagers and $281.4m in operator revenue. With a comparably strong December, operators will have produced more handle and revenue over four months than in all of 2019, when they recorded $299.4m in revenue on $4.6bn in wagers.
Football is a key reason for the boom in action over the last three months, but a full month of the NBA and the start of college basketball is a bigger boon for New Jersey sportsbooks than most anywhere else in the US.
With one less weekend of games, football betting slowed to $401.3m in November from $499m in October. Meanwhile, basketball spurred $399.7m in betting, up from $159.6m in October.
For the year, basketball has attracted $2.3bn in bets, the most of any sport. Football is second with $1.6bn in wagers this year.
Online sportsbooks accounted for $1.1bn in wagers, or 90.9% of the state’s handle in November. FanDuel/PointsBet/SuperBook continued their dominance of the online market with $59m in gross revenue, up from $39.6m in October.
Meanwhile, retail sportsbooks generated $114m in November handle, down from the record $124.2m in wagers in October. Meadowlands/FanDuel led the retail market with $5.4m in revenue.
New Jersey’s online casinos kept up a blistering pace with $118m in gaming and poker revenue, but fell short of the record $127m generated in October. November’s revenue was up 28.5% from $91.8m in November 2020.
The pace slowed to $3.9m in revenue per day over the 30 days of November from $4.1m per day in October. But revenue was up from $3.1m per day in November 2020. Online casinos and poker rooms have now produced $1.2bn in revenue for the year.
“Online casinos and online sportsbooks have created a rising tide that continues to benefit both,” Danzis said. “The question ahead is how much more can online casinos grow? I don’t think they have reached their collective ceiling yet, but the growth in 2022 will most likely taper off somewhat compared with what we’ve seen over the last two years.”


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(Bloomberg)—Amazon.com Inc.’s deal to buy Whole Foods Markets Inc. was a catastrophe for countless stocks, as concern about market disruption wreaked havoc on retailers and REITs. But for holders of a newly listed technology stock, it’s adding fuel to an already-stellar run.
Impinj Inc., whose so-called radio-frequency identification technology allows users to tag and track data on products, is widely speculated to be part of the Amazon Go automated store experiment. Shares have more than tripled since its initial offering last July, making it the best performer in the Bloomberg IPO Index over the past 12 months.
“Connecting everyday items just has to be the next step for the Internet,” Impinj CEO Chris Diorio said in a phone interview. “At some point in the future you will be able to get information about an item you own or want to buy and you can get it directly.”
While other companies like Zebra Technologies Inc. make tracking software and NXP Semiconductors NV makes the so-called endpoint chips that go on products, Impinj offers a complete system. Apparel retailers are currently the biggest users of Impinj’s products. Diorio estimates there are about 80 billion connectable items a year sold in that industry, with current penetration by Impinj and others around 5 to 10%.
The holy grail of Diorio’s vision is food. “Once we get to connecting food items, the number is truly astronomical,” he said. That may help to explain why Impinj’s stock soared 19% on June 16, the day Amazon announced an agreement to buy Whole Foods for $13.7 billion.
Analysts say that Amazon already uses Seattle-based Impinj’s technology in its bricks-and-mortar bookstores. Diorio and an Amazon representative declined to comment on the companies’ relationship.
“All signs point to Amazon Go utilizing RFID in some capacity,” said Brad Erickson, a KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. analyst who covers Impinj. “Under that type of scenario, I would think that Impinj would be involved.”
Amazon, No. 1 in the Internet Retailer 2017 Top 500, is part of the RAIN Alliance, a group co-founded by Impinj which promotes the universal adoption of ultra-high frequency RFID. The two companies are co-hosting the group’s next meeting in Seattle beginning Tuesday where investors will be looking for hints. Diorio said his public session will focus on the benefits of connecting everyday items to the Internet and the architectural principles that the Internet-of-Things may use to support trillions of connected items.
Mitch Steves, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets Corp. in San Francisco, doesn’t expect to get any clarity on the relationship between the two companies at the event. Instead, he’ll be looking for clues from the health-care panel on Wednesday.
“It’s a difficult industry to penetrate but the health-care opportunity is a big one,” said Steves, who has an outperform rating on Impinj. “Tagging syringes or medical devices in a hospital, you could potentially save lives by making sure you have everything you need.”
Impinj’s $1 billion market value suggests that a lot of optimistic assumptions are already priced into the stock. The Seattle-based company had $112 million in revenue in fiscal 2016 and a GAAP net loss of $1.7 million. The stock is up 276% since its July 20 initial offering.
The company’s rapid appreciation prompted KeyBanc’s Erickson and Morgan Stanley’s Craig Hettenbach to downgrade their ratings to the equivalent of hold last month.
“It’s very plausible to see a world in just a few short years where you’ve got several tens of billions of items getting tagged,” and Impinj is a “dominant player,” Erickson said. “But it’s going to obviously take some time to where the volumes can build out to fit where the stock already trades.”
That gap is probably on the minds of short sellers. Short interest as a percentage of the free float, or shares available to trade, is about 22%, down from a high of 28% in April, according to data from IHS Markit.
For RBC’s Steves, typical valuation metrics don’t apply to Impinj, which is still defining its market opportunity. “The real value is in gaining verticals,” he said. “They’re in a room with 50 doors and each door they can open, the better they’ll do.”


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The number of UK Insolvencies has grown by around 20 per cent since record lows in 2015, according to the latest Government data.
The Insolvency Service figures show that insolvency procedures in the UK rose by the end of 2018, to sit at 17,439.
In comparison, insolvencies in the UK fell by 39 per cent between 2009 and 2015, despite a small rebound in 2011.
The number of insolvencies continued to decline into the first three months of 2016, before sharply rising from 3,591 in Q3 2016 to a high of 5,541 in Q4 2016.
Since then the number of insolvencies has continued to steadily increase with monthly figures failing to fall below 3,500 insolvencies per quarter, while 2018 consistently saw around 4,000 insolvencies every three months – far higher than in the period running up to the record lows experienced in 2015.
Several factors are thought to be behind this recent increase in insolvencies, including the growing uncertainty surrounding Brexit and changes in consumer attitudes.
In fact, the Government’s own report highlights consumer confidence due to a lack of wage growth, product and service price inflation and growing import costs as the biggest factors behind this trend.
The one positive in its report was that higher employment had helped to reduce the impact of insolvencies, but recent studies suggest that businesses are now limiting recruitment and investment in staff due to Brexit.
Further analysis of the data shows that the UK has seen the use of a greater diversity of insolvency procedures, with only receivership appointments experiencing a sharp decline in use.
The greatest rise though has been in the use of Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs), which have helped businesses to restructure and avoid administration. These forms of insolvency have been particularly popular among retailers struggling with the pressure of the high street and online shopping.


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NEW DELHI: Mobile handset company Intex Technologies plans to invest about Rs 1,500 crore to develop a manufacturing facility spread over eight hectares in Uttar Pradesh, a day after Samsung signed an initial agreement with the state government for expanding its existing facility.
Intex has already allocated about `650 crore for the first phase of construction at the Greater Noida site, company representatives said on Tuesday. Operations are expected to begin in early 2017.
A company news release didn’t directly give the expected capacity of the facility, but cited a Counterpoint Technology Research report that said it projected the annual capacity at 35 million handsets by the end of next year.
The facility, the company’s sixth in India, would manufacture phones, LED TVs, washing machines and mobile accessories.
“Intex is associated with manufacturing in India since 2001, and the company is manufacturing about 2 million phones per month presently,” said Amitabh Khurana, head of manufacturing.
“By mid of 2016, up to 30-40% of components used in the production of mobile phones will be manufactured in India via technical JVs (joint ventures).
The target is to manufacture the complete unit of a mobile phone, including components, in India in a year’s time.”
Three of its five current manufacturing facilities are located in Noida, while the other two are at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu.
The move will help to streamline, simplify, and standardise ways of working and operations, while diversifying the overall digital footprint, it added. Besides Bengaluru, Ikea Retail has GBO in Poznan (Poland), Shanghai (China) and Baltimore (the US).
The acquisition of Future Group's 2,000 retail stores and Big Bazaar grocery chain will help Reliance, which sells everything from groceries to electronics through 11,000-plus stores, to broaden its extensive reach across the country.


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3D printing is quickly reshaping the medical device landscape
As news of the latest advancement in experimental 3D printing of tissue and organ regeneration gains attention, it would be easy to believe that 3D printing in the medical field only happens in the lab. However, new equipment and devices are being 3D printed now and in real world settings.
After years of feasibility studies, 3D printing for medical equipment and prostheses is becoming reality.
Reports have continually shown that 3D printed devices are both practical and less expensive than traditional options. For example, a University of South Florida study related to prosthesis molds found that “Owing to the similarity of the 3D printed materials and the traditional materials, the 3D printed molds are easily integrated into current processing procedures.” And a UK study observed that 3D printed sensors added onto a prosthesis could help medical professionals increase comfort levels for the prosthesis wearer. In addition to better comfort, these sensors improved overall patient care. Continue reading “3D printing is quickly reshaping the medical device landscape”
Global 3D bioprinting market is expected to reach USD 1.82 billion by 2022, according to a new report by Grand View Research Inc.
Rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) which demands kidney transplantation is expected to boost the market growth, as 3D bioprinting is convenient and cost effective substitute for organ transplantation. Continue reading “Global 3D bioprinting market is expected to reach USD 1.82 billion by 2022”
The FDA’s approval of the first 3D-printed drug could lead to complicated product liability and intellectual property issues, attorneys told Bloomberg BNA recently.
The 3D printing of drugs products could lead to problems with identifying the patented drug product and with identifying who is considered the manufacturer for product liability purposes, the attorneys said. Continue reading “3D printing of medicines could lead to problems with identifying the patented drug product, attorneys warn”
A year and a half ago, Dr. Albert Chi, a surgeon at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and an expert in prosthetic devices, was talking to a group of parents whose children suffered from congenital limb loss. He told them that prices don’t make it feasible to fit children with advanced prosthetic devices — kids will outgrow them in months, and more money will have to be spent upsizing a prosthetic hand or limb. That’s when one parent challenged Chi: Hadn’t he heard of 3-D printing? Continue reading “Bioprinting: Ushering in a new era of medicine”
Pharma Interest in 3D Printing.The notion of tailor-made drugs, which are customised to an individual patient’s needs, has seen remarkable progress of late. This has culminated in the achievement of recent ground-breaking pharma innovation in the area of technology known as three dimensional (3D) printing.
The progression within the industry in the potential use of this technology is obvious, with the recent announcement of the first 3D printed drug in the world to gain approval from a regulator, in this case the FDA’s green light for Aprecia’s Spritam (levetiracetam). Although 3D printing has already been incorporated in other medical fields such as prosthetics, it is the first time technology of this kind has been adopted and approved for the production of drugs for human use. Continue reading “Pharma Interest in 3D Printing”
How Does 3D Medicine Work?The pharmaceuticals industry turned over a new leaf earlier this month when the US Food and Drug Administration gave the go-ahead for production of a 3D-printed pill. The step marked the emergence of ‘3D medicine,’ a new term that will categorically shape the future of pharmaceuticals. Intrigued? You’re not alone. The approval made global headlines however not everyone is 100% clear on what 3D medicine means, and how it will impact the pharmaceuticals industry as we know it. Here’s our explanation: Continue reading “How Does 3D Medicine Work?”
Universities and governments the world over have been launching state-of-the-art 3D printing facilities to drive the growth of cutting edge research. The latest is definitely one to be excited about, as it involves a fascinating leader in the field of advanced 3D printing research, the University of Nottingham. Continue reading “New University of Nottingham Lab to 3D Print Medicine, Electronics, & More”
As the pharmaceutical industry shifts from mass manufacture towards personalised medicine, 3D printing could become part of the drug production line. Continue reading “3D printing: the future of manufacturing medicine?”
There’s one thing you may have begun to notice about digital design and 3D printing: whatever you think might happen in the future is probably going to advance far beyond whatever you envisioned or thought might be a cool idea. Continue reading “Italian Researchers Expect 3D Printed Eyes by 2027, Providing Enhanced Vision & WiFi Connection”
3D printing (3DP) or additive manufacturing (AM) is used to convert a 3D model into a three dimensional object and the material used for this purpose is called 3DP material. 3D printing has begun to flourish in various application areas in healthcare such as dental, medical, implants, drug manufacturing and so on. Continue reading “Tissue Engineering and Dental Implants Set to Boost 3D Printing in Healthcare to a $1.2 Billion Market by 2020”


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BEGE 2016 Welcomes a Long List of Newcomers and Long-time SponsorsPublished November 5, 2016 by Lee R
The Eastern Europe gaming market continues to develop rapidly.
As the trendsetter in the Eastern Europe gaming industry for the last nine years, leading exhibition BEGE Expo continues to attract a steady stream of new operators to Sofia’s Inter Expo Center in Bulgaria, while maintaining effective and rich relationships with long-term partners.
New Exhibitor Highlights
Many first time exhibitors are on tap for this year, and BEGE couldn’t be happier to welcome them November 22! The list of new ambitious exhibitors splashing down at BEGE 2016 is extensive to say the least.
As official distributor of Zuum brand and products for the Bulgarian market, Imperia Games Ltd’s primary activities include import and distribution, sale, rent of gaming equipment: and service and maintenance.
Zuum Zuum Zuum
Slovenia’s Zuum d.o.o. is an acclaimed manufacturer of innovative gaming systems. The company focus is rooted in development, production and marketing of electronic gaming equipment, including roulette, bingo, lotto, baccarat.
Meanwhile, Merkur Gaming is bringing its intriguing new HD machine Avantgarde Trio to BEGE. The multi-national company specializes in sales and distribution of slot machines, AWPs and VLT/SBG systems, with emphasis on multigame systems.
Info-kod & Moniko will exhibit their approved thermal coating in use protecting the printing systems of major slot machines, while Roulette 73 will usher in the renaissance of the roulette wheel with revised number layouts and enhanced number sequences that increase betting options, payouts, and chances to win.
Returning Major Partnerships
Long-term exhibitors also coming back include Advansys d.o.o, BetConstruct, Nоvomatic, and NYX, with the full list available at BEGE's site.
A sponsorship opportunity highlight is the glamorous Miss Gaming BEGE Contest taking place on the first day of BEGE Expo: sponsors can display a company logo on the contestant of their choice, with iGaming luminaries such as Luxor Gaming Club and Sofia Princess Casino already slated to promote their brands in this lively fashion.
Concurrently within BEGE Expo, the Eastern European Gaming Summit (EEGS) will take place at Inter Expo Center to provide the Eastern European take on industry trends and global regulatory developments.
The interest from customers and visitors has traditionally been overwhelming at BEGE, and the 2016 version promises surprises, insights and unique networking to get a line in on this vast market yet still emerging region.


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Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced the return of the Datsun brand as Nissan’s third global brand, alongside Nissan and Infiniti. Nissan had phased out the brand in 1986. Nissan will target Datsun models on “optimistic up-and-coming customers” in high-growth markets, he said. Datsun vehicles will start sales in India, Indonesia, and Russia from 2014.
Ghosn made the announcement during remarks on a trip to Jakarta, Indonesia to announce measures to strengten Nissan’s production base and sales presence there.
Nissan’s total capacity will increase to 250,000 annually there by 2014, with the workforce expanding to 3,300, and sales outlets are planned to increase to 150 by 2015.
The new plan will make Nissan’s Cikampek site, located 80 kilometers outside of Jakarta, one of the largest production facilities in the ASEAN region for Nissan.
In 2011, 890,000 vehicles were sold in Indonesia, for the first time making the nation ASEAN’s largest car market. Nissan is in line to achieve its sales objectives of 60,000 units for fiscal year 2011. Indonesia total industry volume is estimated to increase nearly double by 2017 compared to 2010, largely driven by the introduction of the Green Car program now being drafted by the Indonesian government. Nissan strongly supports the program and looks forward to its speedy ratification.
On 19 March, Ghosn met Indonesia president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and reiterated Nissan’s commitment to the nation’s motorization.


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Tired of paying higher prices for groceries? Don’t expect your weekly bill to be cheaper.
Grain prices are expected to rise even higher if Russia invades Ukraine. If that were to happen, Sal Gilbertie, president and chief investment officer at Teucrium Trading, expects price increases for the three big grains: wheat, corn and soybeans. The price of cooking oil would also be affected, he adds.
“The situation between Russia and Ukraine could disrupt an important global source of wheat and corn exports for an unknown period of time,” Gilbertie said.
Wheat would be the most affected food commodity, says Arlan Suderman, chief commodity economist at StoneX. Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter and Ukraine is also a major exporter. Together, the two countries account for 29% of world wheat trade.
“A protracted military conflict that disrupts trade could make much of this wheat unavailable to the export market,” he says.
Many commodities have already been hit due to the risk of what could happen, Suderman adds. Suderman estimates that about 80 cents per bushel of risk premium is already in wheat prices, which would be a little more than a penny for a loaf of bread. “We could see the cost of wheat in each loaf of bread increase by another [one to three] cents if war breaks out,” he said.
The cost of rising energy prices probably adds even more. He notes that most of the cost of a loaf of bread is related to production, packaging and transportation costs, which have also been affected by geopolitics. The price of oilfor example, hit a more than seven-year high on the prospect of war.
Pasta and flour prices will also be affected, Gilbertie says. Given that the global wheat supply has been strained over the past two years, the impact for consumers is likely to be immediate, he adds.
Ukraine is one of the countries in the world main exporters of cereals and vegetable oilsand a major maize exporter.
Rising corn prices affect soybean prices because they compete for the same cultivated land. “Soybean supply is rapidly tightening due to bad weather in South America, meaning corn and soybean prices will have to compete (through price increases) in order to ‘buy’ more acres this spring in the northern hemisphere,” Gilbertie said. Higher prices for these two products would affect many packaged foods, which contain corn and soy oils, he adds.
Consumers have faced high food costs since the start of the pandemic. Food prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, rose 3.4% annually in 2020 and 3.9% in 2021, a significant increase from the 1.9% gain recorded in 2019. Food prices are expected to increase by 2-3% this year, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Wheat and corn futures prices, as well as soybeans, have climbed in recent years, with 2021 marking a fifth consecutive year of gains for wheat. Corn futures have climbed for four straight years so far, and soybeans have posted three straight years of gains. Prices for all three commodities hit multi-year highs last year, with wheat and soybeans reaching their highest settlement prices since 2012 and corn at its highest since 2013.
Wheat futures are already up nearly 4% year-to-date. Corn futures gained more than 10% and soybeans traded more than 17% higher.
Write to [email protected]


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The third Kellogg executive to make the jump to cannabis..
Surterra Wellness, a fast-growing marijuana company based in Atlanta, on Tuesday announced it hireda highly paid executive from Kellogg Co. as chief financial officer.
He earned total compensation of roughly $3.1 million in 2018 before leaving Kellogg for Surterra, which recently closed on a $100 million share offering.Fareed Khan, the latest Kellogg exec to leave the Fortune 500 company for the cannabis sector, will be in charge of corporate finance, investor relations, taxes and shared services for Surterra.
Khan replaces current Surterra CFO James Whitcomb, who will take over the firms’ executive director of corporate development.
Khan is the third major executive to join the cannabis industry from Kellogg, a consumer packaged goods (CPG) firm that has a market cap of about $18.6 billion.


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Verishop, a shopping website and brand incubator launched earlier this year by former Snap exec Imran Khan and his wife, has struck a deal with U.S. mall owner Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to open 14 stores through next year. That will include a mix of pop-up shops and permanent locations, the companies said.
Verishop’s first space, for its own skin-care brand Ghost Democracy, opened in October at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles. Other stores, which will be for a variety of Verishop’s in-house brands, are slated to move into Westfield World Trade Center, Garden State Plaza and San Francisco Centre, among other properties. . . . more


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Porsche has unveiled the Mission X…
A new EV concept designed to be the fastest road-legal vehicle ever to do a lap around the famous Nürburgring racetrack.
But this is yet another automaker playing catch up in the EV race.
A race that Elon Musk is not only winning by leaps and bounds…
But that he will probably continue to do so by implementing THIS.
Porsche celebrated its 75th anniversary of making sports cars.
At the event, the automaker unveiled its new electric hypercar concept.
The name of the car is Mission X – and it will look like this:
The new EV has an “ultra-high performance, electric powertrain.”
And one of its main goals is to beat the Tesla Model S Plaid at Nürburgring Nordschleife, a famous and incredibly difficult racetrack.
The track has been the battleground of a rivalry that started in 2019…
… where Porsche and Tesla have locked horns to see whose EV is the fastest around the track.
And while Porsche has managed to beat Tesla last year…
Tesla reclaimed the EV lap record a few days ago with a whopping eight-second difference.
Frankly, it wouldn’t surprise me if this is part of Elon Musk’s new Master Plan 3.0.
After all, he wants Tesla to continue to be the undisputed leader in the EV race.
Meanwhile, there’s a group of undiscovered stocks that could surge dramatically very soon BECAUSE of Musk’s new Master Plan.
See, Tesla wants to produce 20 million EVs per year…
And one thing that Tesla needs is batteries to reach that goal.
That’s why the automaker is already sparking a massive battery metal “land grab”…
… and why every automaker including Tesla, Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota are rushing to secure critical partnerships to produce millions of batteries.
They’re signing deals with undiscovered stocks.
And the size of these deals is massive:
- $186 million deal to acquire 80,000 pounds of cobalt per year
- $1.7 billion agreement to buy nickel from a midwestern mining stock
- $5.1 billion agreement to buy lithium from an Australian company
Dozens of new deals could be announced in the coming weeks.
And once they’re announced – shares can quickly jump 132%… 548%… 614%.
In fact, that’s how much some stocks have jumped after an announcement.
As always, investors who act BEFORE these deals hit the news are the ones who have the chance of the biggest gains. The question is…
What’s the NEXT stock inking a billion-dollar deal?


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Valley View Mall celebrates 38th anniversary
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — La Crosse’s Valley View mall is celebrating an anniversary.
Mall staff were joined by members of the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce to recognize the mall … which opened 38 years ago Tuesday.
To mark the occasion, the mall had a ribbon cutting today, something skipped when the mall first opened in 1980.
As changes are impacting the retail landscape, mall officials say they remain a big piece of the local economy.
“We go through changes and I think we’re always going to be here, it’s just we’re going to look different than what we did in 1980, what we did in 1990 or the year 2000,” said Valley View Mall General Manager Jeff Odom.
The mall’s general manager says the organization is still looking at options to fill the Herberger’s location which will close later this year.
COPYRIGHT 2023 BY NEWS 8000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Major companies are already gearing up for the holiday season.
UPS announced Thursday that they will be hiring 1,400 people in the Nashville area.
The company said they will have a combination of seasonal and permanent jobs. They will have 920 package handling and 540 driver-helper jobs available.
Seasonal and part-time jobs have served as a foot in the door for UPS careers for years.
For more information or to apply go to www.upsjobs.com.


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Hays in £107m chemicals sale
LOGISTICS group Hays, recently at the centre of takeover speculation, today sealed the £107m sale of its chemicals distribution and manufacturing division.
The group, whose shares traded recently at a four-year low after analysts cut profit forecasts, has struck a deal with a chemicals sector management buy-in team, Albion Chemical Partners.
Hays aims to sell off non-core businesses to focus on its commercial, personnel and logistics operations.
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Android handset owners tired of waiting for Facebook availability can seize some good news now. The release of the latest beta version of the Facebook SDK for Android revealed at Google I/O in San Francisco has been announced.
Users can look forward to flaunting their glamorous Android phones as developers enhance the applications with the infused Facebook Platform. The official Facebook Developer blog claims that over a 100 million people use Facebook on their mobile phones each month.
Including this Facebook SDK, empowers developers to make requests to the new Graph API. It allows publishing stories back to Facebook via Feed forms and cherishes a strong authentication by using OAuth 2.0.
This tool can be easily downloaded and is claimed to be simplified as it encompasses just a few lines of Java to make the application social. Developers should be able to exploit the Android platform allowing users to meet friends in just one touch, thanks to Facebook SDK.
The Facebook SDK for Android is available and can be downloaded from GitHub.


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Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has boosted his personal fortune by £106 million after selling a 2.7% stake in his Sports Direct business.
Mr Ashley's share sale comes less than a year after he raised £100 million by offloading a 4% holding in Sports Direct, sparking speculation over his plans for the cash haul.
The move was announced a day after recent FTSE 100 Index entrant Sports Direct reported yet more robust trading figures, with a 15.1% sales surge in the nine weeks to September 29.
He is not the only retail boss to cash in after managers at online fashion firm ASOS sold 1.88 million shares worth £94.1 million - 2.3% of the company - in the wake of a 37% jump in annual profits.
ASOS chief executive Nick Robertson, finance director Nick Beighton and other executives sold shares from a 2009 share incentive scheme, while Mr Robertson also separately raised £42 million from selling shares from another bonus plan.
But Sports Direct saw its stock price fall as much as 9% at one stage today after Mr Ashley's sale of 16 million shares for 662.5p, before recovering a little to stand 5% lower.
Mr Ashley still has a 61.7% holding in Sports Direct, down from around 68% at the start of the year.
Rumours had swirled around his share sale earlier this year, with fears that Mr Ashley was calling the top of the share price.
But the stock has continued to surge since February, up more than 70% so far in 2013 and earning the group promotion into the FTSE 100 Index last month.
Independent retail analyst Nick Bubb said: "T here was a lot of fuss about him cashing in, but these moves only help to improve liquidity over time and the sale yesterday... seems to have been taken more calmly."
Mr Ashley caused ill-feeling in the stock market after Sports Direct shares plunged following its flotation in February 2007, which saw him sell a 43% stake for more than £900 million.
Having listed at 300p, the shares went as low as 33p after a string of profit warnings.
But a reliably strong performance since then has helped the group gain the City's confidence as Sports Direct benefits from the demise of rival JJB Sports and a recovering retail sector, as well as ongoing investment and the positive impact on employees of a lucrative bonus scheme.


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Fitbit, San Francisco, reported fourth quarter 2018 revenue of $571.2 million and year-end revenue of $1.51 billion, representing an increase of less than 1 percent and a decrease of 6.7 percent, respectively, according to a Feb. 27 financial report. This marks Fitbit's third consecutive year of revenue decline.
Fitbit sold 13.9 million devices in 2018, a decrease of 1.4 million devices sales year-to-year. Device sales during the fourth quarter increased year-over-year by 200,000, with 5.6 million total sales. New devices including the Fitbit Versa, Fitbit Ace and Fitbit Charge 3 represented 79 percent of the fourth quarter's revenue and 57 percent of the full year's revenue.
Company CEO James Park said he was proud of Fitbit's overall 2018 performance and specifically lauded the 9 percent increase in its active user base (totaling 27.6 million users as of Dec. 31, 2018).
"[O]ur results demonstrate that our strategy is the right one, placing us on a path back to growth and profitability," Park said in the report. "We grew our active users 9 percent to 27.6 million, became the No. 2 player in the smartwatch category in the U.S., and grew the number of devices sold in the fourth quarter. In 2019 we’re committed to offering more affordable devices with engaging health and fitness features, making the health benefits of being on Fitbit even more accessible. As a result, we are forecasting active users, devices sold and revenue to grow in 2019. We expect our Fitbit Health Solutions revenue growth to accelerate to approximately $100 million and to grow non-device consumer revenue.”
For the fourth quarter, Fitbit reported a net income of $15.4 million, versus a loss of $45.5 million year-over-year. For the full year, the company reported a net loss of $185.8 million, as compared to a 2017 loss of $277.2 million.
On the heels of its financial report, Fitbit also announced four new products: Fitbit Versa Lite Edition, Fitbit Inspire HR, Fitbit Inspire and Fitbit Ace 2. Park said the Fitbit app will soon be unveiling a major redesign as well.
“With our newest products, we’re delivering high-quality, easy-to-use wearables that are more affordable, so getting healthy can be accessible to people of all ages and activity levels–even those who have never tried a wearable,” Park said in a media release. “Bringing more users to the wearables category and growing our community of active users is a critical part of our strategy. We will continue to build on the Fitbit platform to provide a more personalized and valuable experience for our users through a paid premium service expected to launch later this year.”


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Digital Payment Trends In Latin America For 2023
As the world continues to rapidly adopt digital payment methods, Latin America is not left behind in this trend. In fact, the region has become a fertile ground for fintech innovation and growth. In this article, we will explore the digital payment trends that are likely to shape the Latin American market in 2023.
The Rise Of Contactless Payment
Contactless payment has been on the rise in Latin America for the past few years, but 2023 is expected to be the year it reaches a tipping point. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of contactless payment methods due to the need for reduced physical contact. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 as consumers become more comfortable with this payment method. Banks and fintech companies will also continue to invest in contactless payment infrastructure to meet the growing demand.
Mobile Wallets Will Gain Traction
Mobile wallet adoption is on the rise in Latin America, especially among the unbanked and underbanked population. In 2023, mobile wallets are expected to gain more traction as more consumers see the convenience of using them for transactions. Fintech companies and telcos are already investing in mobile wallet solutions to cater to this market segment. The adoption of mobile wallets is also expected to be fueled by the increasing use of smartphones and the growing e-commerce market in the region.
Digital Currencies Will Emerge
Central banks in Latin America have been exploring the possibility of creating their own digital currencies, and 2023 may be the year that we see these currencies emerge. The Central Bank of Brazil has already announced plans to launch its digital currency in 2022, and other countries in the region are expected to follow suit. Digital currencies have the potential to reduce transaction costs, increase financial inclusion, and provide greater security compared to traditional payment methods.
Biometric Authentication Will Increase Security
As digital payment methods become more prevalent, security will be a top concern for consumers and businesses alike. Biometric authentication, such as fingerprint and facial recognition, will become increasingly important in ensuring secure transactions. Fintech companies and banks will invest in this technology to provide a seamless and secure user experience.
Increased Collaboration Between Banks And Fintech Companies
Banks and fintech companies will continue to collaborate to provide innovative digital payment solutions in 2023. Traditional banks will increasingly partner with fintech startups to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving digital payment landscape. Fintech companies, on the other hand, will continue to leverage the established banking infrastructure to scale their operations.
The digital payment landscape in Latin America is rapidly evolving, and 2023 is poised to be a transformative year. Contactless payment, mobile wallets, digital currencies, biometric authentication, and increased collaboration between banks and fintech companies are just a few of the trends that will shape the market. As these trends continue to gain momentum, Latin America is set to become a global leader in fintech innovation and digital payment adoption.


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The price of Bitcoin (BTC) has risen to a high of $32,850 after a strong surge above the $29,400 support level. Today, the cryptocurrency is consolidating above the $32,000 support for further upside momentum.
Monobank, a virtual bank founded in 2017 with over 2.5 million users, is doing everything possible to get the green light from Ukraine's National Bank (NBU) to allow a legal rollout of its first-ever bitcoin debit card before the end of July 2021. If approved, the new BTC debit cards will be available in the near future.
There is an opinion that the Chinese ban is actually good for the bitcoin price in the long run. The ongoing crackdown on bitcoin mining and trading could boost bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in the future.
The story of the gaming industry begins more than 80 years ago. Initially perceived as a curious but strange concept, it lacked interest and was considered to be a one-time sensation that would spark like the flame of a match and then disappear. Today, gaming has become a billion dollar sector. What was the journey that the industry came through to become so successful today?
The p2pb2b.io exchange continues giving away USDT 30,000 exclusively to PACT token stakers. Three stages that distributed a total of USDT 6,000 have already been completed. The fourth stage is coming soon. On 27 May, the exchange will give away USDT 6,000.


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NoLibs site trades for $16M, clearing the way for Amazon grocery store and apartment complex. MPN’s Ken Mallin , who facilitated the deal, started working on this complex project in February 2016.
RREI LLC, a Philadelphia real estate company run by father-and-son duo Neal and Victor Rodin, has purchased a site at 5th and Spring Garden streets in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia for $16.05 million, clearing the way for it to develop a new apartment building.
It’s been a long and arduous process to get to this point for the developer. Though the project has received required city approvals, acquiring the 100,000-square-foot parcel that takes up an entire city block at 501-535 Spring Garden St. was complicated, complex and took five years to complete.
The property was owned by a series of 11 different condominium entities involving six different people.
“I started on this deal in February 2016 and it was a very difficult and challenging on multiple levels and it takes a while to put a deal like this together,” said Ken Mallin of MPN Realty Inc. who arranged the transaction. “The initial challenge was to get everyone on the same page with individual values.”
Some owned segments that had frontage on Spring Garden while others owned other portions. An analysis was done to figure out what each was worth. Once that was finally determined, Mallin approached several prospective buyers and multiple offers were made. The seller decided to go with the Rodins, Mallin said.
While the sellers and buyer were patient with the protracted process, the pandemic compounded matters. The deal was expected to close last year but the coronavirus slowed it down by several months. The transaction closed May 18.
“Most deals we work on tend to be complicated,” said Victor Rodin. “We are not merchant developers where volume of deals is the strategy. We only do a large deal like this one once every couple of years. We spend the time and the effort to maximize value.”
The developer plans to construct a 13-story building with 382 apartments and underground parking with 206 spaces. Victor Rodin said that the company has executed a lease with a national retailer and declined to disclose who it was. However, the Philadelphia Business Journal earlier reported that it is Amazon.com Inc., which has leased 40,000 square feet of 60,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space for a grocery store. The company declined to disclose project cost.
RREI developed a similar project in 2016 called Rodin Square. That $160 million development has a 10-story apartment component called Dalian on the Park at 500 N. 21st that has 293 rental units as well as a 500-vehicle parking facility. The 85,000-square-foot retail component of that development is leased to Whole Foods.
This will be the first major project the real estate company has taken on in Northern Liberties.
“Born and raised in the city, I have spent my whole life here. I love Philadelphia,” Victor Rodin said. “Being from here, I have a good sense of when neighborhoods are evolving. Northern Liberties is one of those neighborhoods right now.”
Victor Rodin said among the attributes that he likes about the location includes the size of the site, its access to public transportation and major highways such as I-676 and I-95 and the development activity underway that continues to reshape the neighborhood.
“Northern Liberties, specifically the southern end of Northern Liberties, is really taking off,” he said. “Northern Liberties has always had a great neighborhood feel with cool restaurants and beautiful homes but now you have million-dollar town homes being sold there now… And it is only going to continue to take off as Spring Garden Street continues to be developed.”
The Rodins like to incorporate grocery stores into their developments and this project is no different. It is seen as an amenity not only for the residents of an apartment complex but the neighborhood as well.
Construction is expected to begin within the next 60 to 90 days.


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Chennai: IIT Madras-based space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos unveiled its full-scale second-stage engine – Agnilet at IAC held during Expo 2020 in Dubai. Agnikul also inked multiple pacts with various stakeholders which will directly catalyze its efforts of launching in 2022.
Agnilet is claimed to be the world’s first single-piece 3D printed engine fully designed and Made in India. Angikul Cosmos successfully test-fired the engine Angilet in early 2021. The space tech startup had showcased this engine at IAC (International Astronautical Congress) 2021 – the space tech gathering in the world.
“The unveiling of Agnikul’s Agnilet engine at a global stage such as the IAC, allowed us to showcase the capabilities of Indian space tech startups to the international community. And allowed us to forge agreements with multiple commercial players such as NPC Spacemind and Precious Payload,” said Moin SPM, Co-Founder and COO – Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited.
“We are humbled and excited to present ourselves in the India Pavilion of the Dubai World Expo 2021 with 194 countries participating,” added SPM.
Also, the space tech startup signed an MoU with Italy based NPC Spacemind to provide end-to-end solutions for its customers. NPC manufactures advanced satellite subsystems and small satellites deployers.
“We are thrilled to sign MoU with Agnikul – a company focusing on the design of modular launch vehicles exceptionally based on customer’s requirements. This MoU poses the bases for future collaborations between NPC and Agnikul. Looking forward to launching with Agnikul soon,” said Niccolò Benini, NPC Spacemind’s Business Development Manager -NPC Italy.
Additionally, Precious Payload signed a pact with Agnikul to get global access to customers.
“We have been tracking several interesting small satellite launch projects, and Agnikul is one of them. We are happy to add Agnibaan, a customizable and scalable rocket, to our launch schedule and put this NewSpace team in front of our international customers,” said Andrew Maximov, CEO and Co-Founder – Precious Payload.
Agnikul also signed an agreement with India-based Asaco which will help the startup realise various structural subsystems of Agnibaan.
“This endeavour is a combination of ASACO’s decades of experience in machining complex assemblies and Agnikul’s bold vision for the next chapter in Indian space. We are proud to support a privately funded indigenous spacecraft and prove to the world that India has the capability to deliver on its vision,” said Rajesh Kothapalli, CEO – ASACO.
Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM and Prof. SR Chakravarthy (from IIT Madras) founded Agnikul founded in 2017. The space tech startup is building India’s first private small satellite launch vehicle – Agnibaan, a rocket that enables plug-and-play configuration and is capable of carrying up to 100 kg payload to low earth orbits.
It’s an on-demand, fully-customised and affordable rocket to meet the customer’s needs. Agnikul’s diverse team of rocket scientists, engineers, and investors are working on the vision of making space accessible and affordable. The IIT Madras incubated startup is looking to complete its first mission sometime next year.
In December 2020, Agnikul Cosmos became the first company in India to sign an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the IN-SPACe initiative to have access to the space agency’s expertise and its facilities to build Agnibaan.


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By Patrick Avenell
The launch of the new Whitfords of Five Dock showroom has been well-received, with more space to showcase products and the introduction of two new brands.
Now into its 90th year of business, Whitfords has remained a family affair, with Liz Whitford telling Current.com.au that the new showroom and online retail site both attracting good responses.
“The response to the new showroom has been overwhelmingly positive — the guests at the launch all had a good time and we are planning a second event for later in the New Year,” she said.
“Our supplier partners have been incredibly supportive in our plans to focus our core business on the notion of being cooking specialists. This has been demonstrated with their help in the installation and remodelling of the kitchen showrooms downstairs.”
Whitford said Gaggenau and Neff, both distributed by Sampford IXL, are now being sold in the showroom, while consumers are also invited to check out and Whitfords’ new website, which went live this week.
“The online business has only just launched so it is very early days but so far it looks promising. The beauty of our website is that we also are in the position to offer those who have a fear of purchasing online the tangible experience of shopping in store.”
In order to generate interest in its new website, Whitfords is running a competition with a first prize of a holiday to Hamilton Island. The first 100 customers to spend $500 or more on the site will be entered in the draw. As with all competitions, interested parties should check out the official terms and conditions.


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Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift or just a little something extra to show mom you care?
Mount Clemens has you covered.
Plenty of gifts will be available at the Mount Clemens Farmers Market on Saturday and the Made in Michigan Artisan and Vendor Show taking place Friday-Saturday in the city’s downtown area.
The Farmers Market officially opened for its 44rd season last Saturday with a variety of goods — ranging from hanging baskets to honey jams — for sale.
“The Market is full of lively conversations where farmers and customers chat about the products, farms and sometimes even secret family recipes,” officials said on the facility’s website.
The market is one of several Macomb County venues to offer fresh and locally grown produce, cultivated by farmers throughout Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, and St. Clair counties.
Officials say farmers have been busy preparing their certified home-grown products for the early weeks of the season including baked goods, bedding plants, coffee and coffee beans, eggs, jellies, pasta, and table decorations.
The market’s roots date back to 1958 when the city welcomed an array of farmers with the first Mount Clemens Farm City Week. Over the years, the market moved twice before finally settling at its current location at the city’s Park & Ride lot and the big red barn at the entrance.
Market hours are 7 a.m.-1 p.m. through Nov. 18 at the Park & Ride lot, 141 North River Road, between Gratiot Avenue and Interstate 94.
Meanwhile, the annual Made in Michigan Show returns to the downtown section.
The festival not only features dozens of vendors from around the Great Lakes State but also has free live entertainment, unique gifts, and a Kids’ Business Fair. There will be bath products, soy candles, birdhouses, custom wood, beach glass art and plenty more.
Festival hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.
The National Weather Service says expect partly sunny skies with a high near 74 degrees.
Other Farmer’s Market in Macomb County include:
- Armada Flea and Farmers Market, 25381 Armada Ridge Road in Richmond, opened in April. Hours are 6 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Fraser Fresh Farmers Market, 33000 Garfield Road in Steffens Park, begins its season Saturday. Hours are 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- New Baltimore Farmers Market, 50976 Washington Street between Main and Front streets, opened for its16th season this past Sunday. It will run 9 a.m.-2 p.m. through Oct. 29.
- St. Clair Shores Farmers Market opens May 21 with a food truck rally and beer area. Market days are held 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on the fourth Sunday and second Thursday of the month, from May-October, at Blossom Heath Park, 24800 Jefferson Avenue, south of 10 Mile Road.
- Shelby Township Farmers Market, 49965 Van Dyke Avenue, plans to open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 20 through Oct. 14. on the front lawn of the Packard Proving Grounds. Rain or shine.
- Sterling Heights Dodge Park Farmers Market, 40620 Utica Road, will run every Thursday June 1 until September 28. Hours are 3-8 p.m.


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Locally roasted coffee increasingly popular
Coffee drinkers are growing up. So is their beverage of choice.
Baby boomers and seniors are the biggest coffee consumers in the United States, according to the National Coffee Association.
An increasing number of Vermont companies are hoping that baby boomers’ desire for locavore products will lead them to purchase coffee that is roasted close to home. They import their beans from a variety of sources and provide high-end coffee for those who have cultivated a taste for their caffeinated beverage of choice.
As is the case with craft beers and craft spirits, Vermonters are showing an affinity for locally roasted, small batch coffees. For some, the country of origin is the most important selling point. Others search for esoteric flavoring or the recognition that the coffee beans are Fair Trade or organic..
Mané Alves of Vermont Artisan Coffee and Tea in Waterbury said while some people drink coffee only for the caffeine, many others are developing a more sophisticated palate for the beverage.
“The previous generations may not have cared that much,” he said, “but I think that has evolved. We’re not at the wine model yet, but we’re moving toward it. ... In a restaurant, you’re likely to ask for a cabernet or pinot, rather than just a red wine. People are starting to order coffee based on the varietal or country of origin.”
Vermont Artisan Coffee and Tea is among a growing number of Vermont companies dedicated to coffee roasting, some of which are doing very inventive things like infusing cold coffee with nitrogen or using coffee for meat rubs.
Alves, a native of Portugal, worked in the wine industry in California, but moved into the world of coffee when he followed his future wife to Vermont. Sensing a void in the field of coffee education, he said, he founded Coffee Lab International in 1995.
“I was lucky because I came from wine country and had the sensory background which could be applied to the coffee industry,” Alves said. “At that time, there was no place people could go to learn, but these days, the Specialty Coffee Association of America and other organizations in Europe have established a curriculum where we can teach about brewing, cupping, roasting, and being a barista. It’s almost like professional development classes.”
Alves is putting the finishing touches on a new building, which is tentatively scheduled to open in early January. It will include a larger space for teaching and a coffee bar. It will be the first fully certified facility on the East Coast.
“We only roast coffee when we have an order, so people have to order ahead,” he said. “This way, I can sell by the cup.”
The cupping and tasting classes Alves will offer will follow the curriculum of the nonprofit Coffee Quality Institute, while the roasting classes will be of his own design.
Alves has developed a new product line, Caff-Draft; a nitrogen-infused cold coffee. The product is poured from a tap and resembles a dark ale, but tastes like coffee.
“It’s very refreshing,” he said “and we’ll have different types that we’ll put on the market seasonally.”
The new café will have two or three different spigots for Caff-Draft. Additionally, Alves is planning some mixed coffee drinks using local brewed alcohol.
Customer loyalty matters
Like Alves, Sandy Riggen came to the world of coffee via a circuitous route. A former caterer and private chef, Riggen bought Brown and Jenkins Coffee 10 years ago with her husband, Rich Williams. The company is one of the state’s older coffee roasters, dating back to 1984.
Riggen said baby boomers continue to favor percolated coffee over more modern single-serve options. The majority of her sales are online, with a subscription business of nearly 2,000 people. The company also has commercial and personal accounts and sells its coffee at the Vermont Maple Outlet on Route 15.
“Our demographic is over 50, well-traveled, well-educated and worldly,” Riggen said. “I know a lot about my customers and they tend to be more loyal than millennials.”
Baby boomers are interested in learning more about what they drink, Riggen said, so she has begun providing more background material about her coffee on the company’s website.
Brown and Jenkins has 72 different types of coffee, including 14 single origin beans, a designation which indicates that all the beans come from the same location.
Riggen said coffee can be used in a variety of foods and she offers coffee rubs as part of her product line. It was only after she had purchased the company that she learned one of the secret ingredients in her grandmother’s signature gravy was coffee.
Boomers want better coffee
A relative newcomer to the field of gourmet coffee is Tony Basiliere, the 63-year-old owner of Earthback Coffee Roasters in South Burlington. Basiliere said he thinks baby boomers are drinking less coffee than they did in their youth, but are gravitating to better coffee.
“They are enjoying coffee more for its flavor attributes,” he said, noting that young people are following suit. “Being into coffee as a young person is a hip thing, which I think is fantastic.”
Earthback Coffee can be purchased online and at locations in Washington and Chittenden counties. It is the exclusive coffee served at Tight Squeeze in Burlington.
Baby boomers and their millennial counterparts are part of what is known as the third wave of coffee, Basiliere said, a movement which considers coffee to be an artisanal product similar to wine rather than being treated as a commodity.
But Basiliere said he thinks, in some cases, that wave is being pushed a bit too far by those who make coffee overly light in order to accentuate the flavor characteristics, but lose body as a result.
Basiliere has been in business since 2011 and his beans are certified by the Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade or USDA Organic. He said baby boomers are particularly interested in the organic label for health reasons.
“We’ve beaten ourselves up and we want to take better care of ourselves now,” he said, “but the reality is that specialty grade coffees, even those without an organic certification, don’t have anything bad in them.”
The name Earthback comes from Basiliere’s commitment to a healthy ecosystem.
“My philosophy in business,” he said “is awareness of the environment, constantly seeking ways to lessen the impact or footprint.”
Basiliere makes his deliveries with recycled banana boxes and only a tiny percentage of the company’s waste goes to a landfill. He recently purchased a Loring coffee roaster which he described as the most energy efficient on the market, using one-fourth the energy of a conventional roaster with no emissions.
After years of medical warnings about the effects of coffee, Riggen said she is pleased that current studies show that there are benefits to drinking it.
“Coffee is universal,” she said. “It connects the world.”
Check them out
Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Company
80 Commercial Drive
Brown & Jenkins
P.O. Box 280
Earthback Coffee Roasters
11 Simpson Court


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According to the Association of Japanese Animations, the sales of the anime video media in Japan have increased for the first time in five years while the number of TV anime titles has been dropping since 2007. The recovery of the video media sales is attributed to the successful transition of the anime market to Blu-ray, which is more expensive than DVD.
Mainichi Newspaper reported that the Blu-ray sales are vital for the success of core-fan oriented anime, which are usually aired after midnight. One of the major anime producers said "Even if the rating of a midnight anime marks 10%, it's doesn't matter for us." Another producer said a TV anime can be regarded as a hit if sales per volume are more than 10,000 copies. dtshyk: this "10,000 copies" means the sales to the retailers, not to the individual customers.
Recent Major Hit Titles
Blu-ray 42,625 (DVD 10,326)
Blu-ray 27,052 (DVD 13,390)
Blu-ray 58,098 (DVD 23,234)
Blu-ray 38,452 (DVD 3,981)
Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai
Blu-ray 21,911 (DVD 5,093)
IS: Infinite Stratos
Blu-ray 27,064 (DVD 9,068)
Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica
Blu-ray 52,944 (DVD 9,097)
One volume of TV anime Blu-ray usually costs 5,000 - 7,000 yen ($62 - $88) for two or three episodes. If you collect all the volumes of one season, it will be around $400 - $500. The high purchasing power of core anime fans has been supporting the TV anime market.
Sudo Tadashi, the president of Anime!Anime!, said TV anime produced by popular anime studios like SHAFT and Kyoto Animation sell well because the Blu-rays of their anime are not simple video media but communication tools among the fans. The TV airing of such anime arouses enthusiasm among the audience and stimulates energetic discussions online. People purchase the Blu-ray as a souvenir of the whole excitements.


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Helping our clients succeed in the streaming age
More than ever before, our customers are asking us how they can tap into the streaming boom and continue to reach new audiences.
Our answer is simple: Today, streaming and TV are one and the same. And YouTube can help advertisers reach more of their audiences on the big screen.
YouTube accounts for over 50% of ad-supported streaming watch time on connected TVs among people ages 18 and up.[7ebbc0]And over 35% of YouTube CTV viewers ages 18 and up can’t be reached by any other ad-supported streaming service, according to Nielsen.[e2981d]
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) NewFronts and the Upfronts — the annual marketplaces for digital video and TV ad sales — are the most important moments to reach advertisers and agencies as they plan their media strategies. We feel this is the right time to help our customers bridge the gap between linear TV and digital, which is why YouTube will have a presence at both events this year.
For the first time, we’ll host YouTube Brandcast, our annual advertiser showcase, during the week of the Upfronts. The live show — taking place on May 17 at 8 p.m. ET in New York — will feature top creators and music talent. Advertisers will be able to tune in via live stream.
We’re also proud to be the principal sponsor of the IAB NewFronts, where we’ll share insights with advertisers throughout the week. We’ll kick off with an event in partnership with MediaLink on Monday, May 2, featuring industry leaders and creators discussing the future of content and the role of the creator economy.
“As a founding member of the IAB NewFronts, YouTube has been with us on a decade-long journey to architect the streaming future,” says David Cohen, CEO, IAB. “That future is here, and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with them again to bring their content, creators and community to the NewFronts audience.”


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EMI adds that in many countries Viva La Vida beat X&Y's first-week sales and has already been certified gold or platinum in 31 countries, including double platinum in the UK and Canada.
As previously reported, Viva La Vida set the record for the highest first-week album sales on the iTunes Store worldwide, as well as being the biggest album pre-order in iTunes' history.
The album has since become the best-selling digital album to date in the US.
Coldplay launch their ...
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So, for the first time in Target history, the company has had to layoff some of its employees! That’s some kind of scary shit right there!
Some 600 of them!
Times are tough… Obama, please fix it! 😉
Here’s the story (Scooped from the Los Angeles Times–because they had the most info, you guys):
Target to cut 9% of headquarters staff, close distribution center
New York — Discount retailer Target Corp. said Tuesday that it would cut 9% of its headquarters staff, close a distribution center and reduce planned store openings as it battled the weak economy.
The staff cuts include 600 employees and 400 open positions, mostly in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota where Target is based. This year the company also plans to close its Little Rock, Ark., distribution center, which employs an additional 500 people.
Other cuts include a salary freeze for senior management, stopping share repurchases, tightening consumer credit-card underwriting and credit granting, improving store productivity and reducing planned store openings.
The changes will cost about 3 cents a share and be recorded mainly in Target’s fiscal fourth quarter, which ends Saturday.
Like most retailers, the Minneapolis company has suffered as consumers limit spending and shop mainly for necessities. Discounters in general have done better than specialty retailers, but Target has fared worse than rival Wal-Mart Stores Inc. because more than 40% of Target’s revenue comes from non essentials such as clothing and housewares.
Target shares rose 19 cents to $33.34.


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Imagine it. Design it. Hold it in your hands. Technology first introduced in the 1980s is now open to a whole new market with 3D printers regularly available for less than $2,000.
It's creating a wave of innovation and new competition among entrepreneurs like Jerry Castanos. He just opened 3D Heights, a full-service printing lab in Washington Heights. Among his top clients are med students at nearby Columbia University.
"It gives them the ability to go from design to physical product within a day or so compared to several weeks," Castanos says.
That brings us into the basement at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. Dr. Paul Frisch, chief of the Biomedical Engineering Department, keeps a pair of the shiny new microwave-sized devices tucked away in a corner.
Three-dimensional printers work by turning computer models into solid reality. Think of it like a hot glue gun spreading layers of material like plastic, metal, or even living cells over and over and over again until those layers add up to the object.
Dr. Frisch believes that in the not so distant future bone and body parts could be printed in the bowels of a hospital. At the moment, having the machines means places like Sloan-Kettering can print and refine prototypes much faster than having to design and ship with an outside company. Dr. Frisch says it produces rapid results.
At the University of Missouri Health Center, 3D printers turn CAT scans into custom models of people's spines, hips, and knees. Daniel Hoernschemeyer, an orthopedic surgeon, says it's an invaluable hands-on blueprint.
"It makes it easier to understand, count vertebrae, understand where the abnormal anatomy is, what is present and then really guide us to what we wanted to accomplish with this young lady's surgery," he says, referring to a patient.
Meet Kylie Wicker, 9, of Illinois. She was born without fingers. Students from her school used a 3D printer to print a prosthetic hand for her by downloading and following instructions online. It is part of a worldwide effort known as the Robohand Project.
3D scanning and printing prosthetics is among the most popular applications of the technology at the moment. For example, a prosthetic hand can be created in a few hours on a printer that costs less than $1,500 for a cost of about $5.
What's coming next in 3D printing is much more ambitious.
Earlier this year, for the first time ever, doctors in the Netherlands replaced most of a human skull with a custom-fit plastic 3D printed one.
"It's really changing lives and saving lives," says Bre Pettis, CEO of Brooklyn-based Makerbot, one of the first companies to offer affordable 3D printers to the masses. He says the procedure in the Netherlands provides momentum to scientists already using living cells to print organs such as ears, livers, even heart valves. Many experts believe fully functional replacement body parts could be just a decade or two away.
"You can make a mold on your Makerbot to make a chocolate or you can make a mold on your Makerbot to mold bio material to make a liver or an implant or a new knee," Pettis says.
It is a new world of possibilities that could be printing up in a basement near you.


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Latest Ecommerce News - Inside FMCG
Staff will work alongside Amazon’s most advanced robotics technology to deliver a “smarter, faster and more consistent experience for its customer”.
Lion, Toll Group and government businesses have all experienced cyber attacks in recent weeks. How can businesses protect themselves?
As online shopping increasingly provides greater revenue streams for retailers, more physical store closures are also on the cards.
Automated and semi-automated distribution centres at Moorebank to replace three Woolworths sites across Sydney and Melbourne.
Winedepot CEO Dean Taylor optimistic of the impact trade deal will have on Australia’s wine export market.
The fulfilment centre will bring faster delivery to customers in Queensland.
This week’s top stories.
Suppliers big and small join Amazon’s wine, beer and spirits store.
Proposed reforms to consider creating a range of offences to ensure minors and intoxicated people can’t receive alcohol deliveries.
This week’s top headlines.


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Turns out that Cyberpunk 2077 It has more bugs than a bug museum, except that the first ones are alive and well, causing a great deal of trouble for players.
Cyberpunk 2077 It was released to great fanfare earlier this month, but it soon became apparent that Poland-based CD Projeckt Red’s action RPG contained numerous flaws, especially on legacy consoles, which made it virtually unplayable. on some platforms.
While the company has already been quick to make several fixes in an attempt to make Cyberpunk 2077 more playable, another issue has arisen that is apparently causing more frustration among those interested in playing the game.
It involves permanent corruption of saved files, which can occur if they exceed 8MB, according to Eurogamer.
The bug was initially thought to affect all platforms, but current player reports suggest that the issue is affecting the PC version of CyberPunk 2077as well as Google Stadia saves.
This has yet to be confirmed by CD Projeckt Red, so for now the advice is to keep a small number of articles and crafting materials on whatever platform you are playing on while we wait for more information.
Support site GOG.com, which is owned by CD Projekt Red, posted a note on their site regarding the failure, saying that if it occurs, you will see this message:
GOG said that corrupted saves cannot be recovered, adding: “Please use an older save file to continue playing and try to keep fewer crafting items and materials. If you have used the item duplication error, upload a save file that is not affected by it. The save file size limit might increase in one of the future patches, but corrupted files will stay that way. “
According to PC Gamer, the situation “probably has something to do with the game running out of allotted index space for created items due to players doubling, [for example], a few thousand grenades. Or spend all your time collecting a lot of trash and using it to make ‘hundreds’ of grenades. “
Whatever the reason, the company must solve the problem as soon as possible or risk losing the trust of more players.
As CD Projeckt Red shares take a beating, Sony made the unprecedented decision late last week to withdraw Cyberpunk 2077 from your PlayStation Store and offer customers full refunds.
Digital Trends has reached out to CD Projekt Red, but says it will not speak directly to the press until January at the earliest.
In a statement on December 14, the company apologized for the game’s disastrous release and promised to roll out “two big patches” in January and February.


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Valor Hospitality Europe, the management team behind Crowne Plaza Glasgow, has appointed Joanne Martin as director of sales and marketing at the hotel.
Joanne has over 26 years’ experience in the leisure and hospitality industry, having previously held regional positions for Radisson Hotel Group and Millennium and Copthorne Hotels with a strong focus on the Glasgow market.
In her new role, Joanne will work alongside Crowne Plaza Glasgow’s general manager, Jason Dombrower, to drive and develop sales and marketing strategies, ensuring the hotel is primed for recovery as Scotland prepares to ease leisure and hospitality restrictions connected to the pandemic.
Commenting on her new role, Joanne said: “I am excited to be part of the Crowne Plaza and the wider Valor team at what is such a pivotal time for the hospitality industry. It’s been a difficult year for everyone but I’m confident the sector will bounce-back.
“I’ve been aware of Valor for a long time and am looking forward to being part of a team which prides itself just as much on employee progression, as it does business growth. This is a great opportunity to rebuild and reposition the iconic Crowne Plaza Glasgow hotel and brand in the post-COVID market and I’m looking forward taking on this new challenge”.
Jason Dombrower, general manager of Crowne Plaza Glasgow, said: “With her extensive knowledge of the Glasgow hotel market, Joanne has quickly become an integral part of the team as we prepare to open our doors to the public again and a new state of normality is established.
“Having a strategic plan to help generate more revenue for the hotel has never been more important, so it is fantastic to have Joanne onboard to drive that forward.”


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Penrith local Chris Anastasi co-founded his active wear and supplements company in 2016 with no money, but a passion for health and fitness.
In five years, Muscle Nation has grown into a multi-million dollar business and now has products available in Coles supermarkets around the country.
The 37-year-old said that he and his business partner and best friend, Nathaniel Anthony used everything they could to fill a gap they saw in the market.
“I was working in marketing and had a second job pouring schooners and doing dishes at Panthers to save for the house my wife and I were building,” Mr Anastasi said.
“My wife was then on maternity leave, and my family were paying my mortgage because I needed money for the business but Nathaniel and I felt there needed to be a proud Australian brand with a sense of community.”
Building up an active community of followers on social media is one of the key factors Mr Anastasi said has contributed to their success.
“We started with active wear and just two years later we launched the supplements line but it is never just about selling something, but supporting our customers,” he said.
“Our protein bars and powder have been on the shelves in Coles for a few weeks and we’ve had to renegotiate ordering because our community has backed us and flooded in to buy them which we are so grateful for.”
While he has a team of over 50 employees at their headquarters in Brisbane, the proud Penrith resident said he is not planning on moving.
“We could move but our kids are in great schools, my wife Sophie works in Penrith and we love it here so I try to fly up every month to check on everything,” he said.
“I am involved with the team as much as I can and then Nathan is up there, along with his wife Demi who manages everything for us so we make it work.”
With a bright future ahead, Mr Anastasi said he encourages people to pursue their own dreams.
“We are very happy with how we are tracking but we will continue innovating our clothing and evolving our supplements…we will invest more to keep our employees happy and in the charities our brand supports,” he said.
“If people are ready to work hard, have some experience and the confidence to chase their dreams then they should jump in and give it a go.”
A graduate of Western Sydney University, Emily covers Local, State and Federal politics for the Weekender, as well as crime and general news.


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PS3 patch to address GTA IV problems
A new patch for the PlayStation 3 edition of Grand Theft Auto IV will be released today by Rockstar and Sony, we're told.
The patch is primarily aimed at the multiplayer side of the game, and it is said it'll improve connection stability and cut-down some of the interruptions the mode has suffered from since launch.
More generally, both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the new game have been blamed for a series of crashes, Rockstar offering PS3 instructions hinting that erasing game data and re-installing can help.
Take-Two chief Strauss Zelnick, meanwhile, has told CNBC there are no 'issues' with the game at all.
"No, none whatsoever. I’d say the only issue is that someone came up to me yesterday in a restaurant and said their thumbs were hurting from the weekend," he quipped.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 after all
- Tomonobu Itagaki's Devil's Third gets a release date
- Adr1ft is coming to PC and consoles at the end of the summer
- EA gives the new Mirror's Edge a name – Mirror's Edge Catalyst
- ZombiU PS4 and Xbox One port reportedly in the works
- Mike Bithell's Volume to be released this August
- Gearbox's new shooter Battleborn gets a pre-E3 trailer
- Steam Controller launches in October, Steam Machines arrive in November
- Gears Of War devs Black Tusk change their name to The Coalition ahead of E3


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‘But it’s so far out and I don’t have a car!’
If that’s been your chief gripe about farmers’ markets, say no more. Sprout 2018 – The Farm-to-People Festival, is billed as Singapore’s largest farmers’ market… in the city. Centrally located at Suntec Convention Centre, this is one farmers’ market you can check out in air-conditioned comfort.
Held over a weekend in July 2018, this maiden event featured over fifty exhibitors who offered artisanal, small-batch produced goods, drinks and delicious foods. Organizers say nearly 24,000 people visited Sprout, and they hope to make this “urban” farmers market a regular event.