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AFP.- They can cost thousands of euros on real stock exchanges that have spread from the United States to China. Out-of-the-ordinary sports shoes have created a multimillion-dollar market, between speculative fever and the fight against imitation.
In the early 90's, this market was reserved for a few passionate collectors, but resale
"About 10 years ago, we were about fifty or one hundred each time a new pair was released. We are now almost 10,000 ”in France alone, says Julien Ogea, also known as Larry Deadstock, one of France's leading Parisian sneakers.
Proof of this is the latest Air Jordan, born of a collaboration between Nike and American rapper Travis Scott, which arrived in stores in mid-October. They were sold for € 250 to a handful of randomly selected boutique people in Paris, and a few hours later they were resold to more than € 900 on the US StockX platform.
Faced with this explosion of price, for counterfeiters the "temptation" is big, "admits Scott Cutler, who directs this" bag "for resale, valued at more than $ 1
StockX now plans to launch in the full-scale Chinese market.  The Chinese Poizon resale platform, for example, has an annual turnover of 15,000 million yuan (just over 1,900 million euros), according to the specialist company iiMedia Research.
that the Shanghai branch of the Chinese central bank warned in October of the risk of excessive speculation.The profit on resale of a particularly desirable pair of shoes could reach 5,000%.
"The stock market is risky and the real estate market is frozen, so investors are turning to speculation with consumer
This is the case with Nike's "Air Jordan" or Adidas's "Yeezy" with rapper Kanye West.
Against these amounts, the operators of these "shoe bags" are very aware of the risk of fake models breaking into their platform.
"Our image depends on our ability to maintain trust with buyers," said Cutler, who says he identifies several thousand false models each year.
StockX has set up five certification offices in the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, where hundreds of employees track imitations.
Identifying Imitations  To identify counterfeit products, check the boxes, seams, labels, soles, links and some specific details of each brand. The smell of leather and plastic is sometimes checked.
In China, Poizon and Nice, another well-known platform, also employ specialists. According to Nice Vice President, Sun Qi, only 0.01% of the models sold on his platform are copies.
In a sign that this trade is booming, the US-based investment firm Cowen recently wrote a note that was published in US media, saying it could represent $ 6,000 million in 2025 in North America, compared to 2000 million today.
In France, Rakuten's sales platform explains that it receives visits from "big brands" who share production secrets to better identify counterfeit products.
Imitations are also encouraged eventually by some users. "Some people don't mind using imitations, but others don't know how to differentiate them," says Tex Lacroix, a Nike collector and former consultant.


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Acson brings home-grownair conditionersto Asia's hot spots
With Asia-Pacific leading in the world market for air conditioning, accounting for 58 per cent of global sales last year at US$56.5 billion, the outlook for Malaysian air con brand Acson looks bright. Since its incorporation in 1984, Acson has evolved from a home appliance business into one of Malaysia's three largest air con brands and a leading international provider of quality Malaysian-made products.
"Our people are key to our success and the reason behind our tripled turnover in the past 10 years," says general manager Lee Nam Chuan. "Our service-oriented mindset and emphasis on human resources differentiate us from the competition. The market has many good brands and products, but Acson focuses on what Malaysia truly needs."
Acson supplies unitary air conditioning units such as wall-mounted residential air con types and light ceiling cassette types for commercial use. Innovation-driven and grounded on its Malaysian brand philosophy, the company maintains a high level of customer service - with 80 per cent of client concerns resolved within eight hours.
In a move that has enhanced its global scope as a premium brand with top-notch product quality standards, Acson was acquired in 2006 by leading Japanese air con manufacturer the Daikin Group. With over 80 worldwide production bases and global air con sales in more than 140 countries amounting to US$10 billion, Daikin is a true industry heavyweight that values the cumulative growth of its members as the driving force behind the brand's development.
Late last year, the company expanded into applied air conditioning units under the Daikin brand - used for centralised cooling in high-rise buildings such as shopping malls. Acson celebrated its 30th anniversary early this year through a new venture with Daikin Applied - a member of the Daikin Group specialising in advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning technologies such as magnetic-bearing chillers. Daikin is the pioneer and has 20 years' experience in magnetic-bearing chillers technology.
Acson products are designed to be fast-cooling with a strong airflow. Products in development include air conditioning units controlled by Wi-fi and customisable skins for aesthetically discerning consumers. As part of its commitment to the Malaysian business community and to its growing regional foothold across Asia-Pacific, Acson is open to partnerships of all kinds - specifically with companies in the air con industry that can provide complementary services.
"Our motto is 'we share, we care'," Lee says. "We aim to provide total market solutions and are open to partners who share our mindset."

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The Supreme Court may have allowed India’s central electricity regulator to consider reopening the power supply contracts of the loss-making generating stations of Tata, Adani and Essar in Gujarat, but it does not mean that the matter of compensatory tariff for these plants has been settled. Far from it.
Consumer forums can still continue their legal battle all the way up to the apex court to challenge grant of compensatory tariff for these plants, which would entail additional burden of Rs 1.29 lakh crore on consumers over a 30-year period.
“We make it clear that our judgment will not stand in the way of maintaining such applications. We also make it clear that each of the consumer groups, who had appeared before us and who have appeared before us today, will be heard on all objections that they may make to the proposed amendments to the power purchase agreements (PPAs), after which, it will be open to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to decide the matter in accordance with law,” said Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman in his October 29 order while disposing of Gujarat government’s petition.
“Given the conclusions in the high power committee report, we are of the view that the CERC should decide this matter as expeditiously as possible, and definitely within a period of eight weeks from today,” the order added. Read More


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Burger King will get 100% of it's food from completely cage-free animals by 2017. It costs an extra 25 cents to 40 cents per dozen to produce cage-free eggs.
It’s no secret that animals destined for the dinner plate are generally not treated very well. This is largely thanks to various campaigns to illuminate this subject, and now the push is for better treatment.
Burger King is taking a huge step to increase the living conditions of animals.
They currently get 9% of their eggs and 20% of their pork from cage-free animals. Burger King isn’t the only fast food chain to use cage-free products, but they are taking it further than anyone else. The plan is to be 100% cage-free by 2017.
This doesn’t come without cost to Burger King. They will be spending an extra 25 cents to 40 cents per dozen to produce cage-free eggs. Multiply that by the literally billions of dozens of eggs they use every year and you can see that they are taking a significant financial hit in order to do the right thing and cater to those who demand humanely produced food.
Farms now have the option to switch to cage-free production, but without their customers pushing for it, they have no reason to. It will cost them money as well.
"Our attitude is our producers believe in consumer choice and if that's what their consumers want to buy, they'll produce cage-free eggs for the marketplace provided the customer is willing to pay the additional cost," said Gene Gregory, chief executive of the farm group United Egg Producers.


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Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has cut ties with the company and its parent Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL). Schmidt served as Google’s CEO from 2001 to 2011. After stepping down as Google’s CEO, he transitioned into the role of executive chairman of the board.
Schmidt served as Alphabet’s executive chairman until 2017 when he stepped down. Google and Alphabet retained Schmidt as a technical advisor after he left the chairman role. According to CNET, Schmidt quietly exited his role as a Google and Alphabet technical advisor in February.
Schmidt’s departure continues exit of Google’s old guard
Amid Schmidt’s departure, Google’s early executives continue to exit as fresh blood takes over. In December 2019, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin stepped back from their top roles to make room for Sundar Pichai. Alphabet’s longtime legal chief David Drummond also stepped down last year.
Schmidt led Google to its successful IPO in 2004. Google priced its IPO at $85 per share. In 2015, Google reorganized its corporate structure and Alphabet became its holding company. Notably, at $1,384 per share right now, Alphabet stock has risen over 1,500% since the Google IPO.
Alphabet felt the heat in the past few months at the height of coronavirus infections in the US and globally. Since then, the company has rebounded from the coronavirus sell-off. Alphabet spots nearly a 40% gain over its pandemic lows.
Although Schmidt has cut management ties with Google and Alphabet, he’s still a shareholder in the company. His stake in Alphabet stock is valued at more than $5.0 billion.
YouTube acquisition and pursuit of video advertising dollars
Google acquired YouTube during Schmidt’s time as the CEO. The company has become a successful online video business. Google bought YouTube in 2006 for $1.65 billion. Notably, Google defeated Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Viacom (NASDAQ:VIAC), and News Corp (NASDAQ:NWSA), which were also interested in acquiring YouTube. Since then, News Corp has become one of Google’s most prominent corporate critics. News Corp has called for the breakup of Google. Recently, the company launched a rival online news service to challenge Google News.
Through YouTube, Google sells online video ads and takes advantage of cord-cutting. The YouTube business generated over $4.0 billion in advertising revenue for Google in the first quarter of 2020.


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Wyse Technology has started shipping the X90cw, a new thin client that is an Intel Atom-based netbook, it said on Wednesday.
Wyse already offers larger-sized thin client laptops, but users have been asking for more lightweight products with longer battery life, according to David Angwin, Wyse’s director of marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The X90cw costs US$699, which makes it more expensive than most netbooks. For that price, buyers get a portable Intel Atom Z520-based thin client that weighs 1.45 kilograms, has an 11.6-inch display and an eight-hour battery life. Wyse is also promising better hardware quality, which the device needs to handle the wear and tear of shared usage, according to Angwin.
The X90cw is based on Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Standard 2009 and can access server-based applications via Wi-Fi, 3G or a wired Ethernet connection. It is compatible with desktop virtualization platforms from Citrix, Microsoft and VMware, according to Wyse.
Equipping mobile workers with thin clients improves protection against the loss of sensitive information when a laptop is stolen or misplaced, since the device itself doesn’t store any data, according to Wyse. Everything is stored in a data center, which also simplifies management, Wyse said.
The new thin client is being demonstrated this week at the BETT (British Education and Training Technology) Show in London, which is the world’s largest educational technology event, according to its organizers.
Schools typically look for IT that is very easy to manage, according to Angwin. At the same time, students are increasingly working in small groups and portable thin clients give them the option to sit anywhere on campus and work, he said.
At the show, Wyse also introduced TCX Suite 4.0, which adds Flash video support. It is also compatible with desktop virtualization platforms from Citrix, Microsoft and VMware, according to Wyse.
The aim is to reproduce the experience users get with a standard PC, so that more users can make the switch from a PC to a thin client, said Angwin.


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Agro-exports are the second generator of foreign currency, after mining and followed by tourism.
The Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Eduardo Ferreyros, announced that in the first half of this year Peru will launch a brand of coffee and cocoa to further promote its consumption in international markets, wrote Andina News Agency.
“Our office, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, has in its agenda the development of a brand for coffee and cocoa in Peru, which will be launched in the first half of this year 2018,” he said to Andina.
This information was revealed during the XIX Agroexportador Lunch that brought together the main entrepreneurs of the sector in the country.
Ferreyros also said that agricultural exports in 2017 amounted to $5,900 million US dollars, a figure higher by 6% compared to 2016. This amount also represented 13% of the total exported last year, which was $44,200 million US dollars.
These numbers confirm that the agro-export sector is the second generator of foreign currency to the country, right after mining and followed by tourism, the minister said.
On the other hand, Ferreyros told Andina that the products related to the “Superfoods” achieved exports in 2017 for $3,461 million US dollars, a 9% growth compared to 2016.
Finally, he reiterated that by 2018 it is expected to achieve $50 billion US dollars of total exports, which will be a historical record.


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Hyundai used the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to unveil its new dedicated fuel-cell car, called NEXO. Despite ridicule and even rage from electric vehicle fans — including Tesla CEO Elon Musk himself — Hyundai, Honda, Daimler, General Motors, Toyota, and other automakers keep promoting fuel cells as the potential future of cars.
This isn’t Hyundai’s first time around the block with fuel cell tech. While the Tucson FCEV was interesting, this car was built from the ground up to run on hydrogen. It weighs less, is more efficient, accelerates faster, and can go 370 miles without refueling. Hyundai claims the vehicle is just as durable as internal combustion models, if you’re concerned about that.
NEXO does more than use hydrogen as fuel. Hyundai says it’s the “technological flagship” of the company’s eco-friendly vehicle lineup, and it has the equipment to back that statement up. The Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) pushes Hyundai further along on the autonomous drive journey. Among the new features is a blind-spot monitor that gives live video footage from the side and rear of the vehicle. Does that make you safer? Hyundai seems to think so. You can also get out and have NEXO park itself, or it can pull out of a spot before you get in.
No word yet from Hyundai about when NEXO will launch, but I’d bet it’s closer to fall 2018. Expect it to be available in California and a few other markets where there are hydrogen fueling stations.


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Many area restaurants are open for carry-out, delivery or pick-up services despite the COVID-19 virus.
VisitChillicothe has released a list of open restaurants in Chillicothe offering carry-out, delivery or curbside pick-up.Applebees, 660-707-1222, delivery, car side or pick-up, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., everyday. Blackwater Steakhouse, 660-707-0712, delivery and curbside to-go, 11 a.m.,-7 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.,-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday. Boji Stone Café, 660-646-9939, delivery and carry out. Monday-Friday 7 a.m., -3 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.,- 3 p.m. China Garden Buffet, 660-707-1200, carry out. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Downtown Nutrition, 816-617-2647, Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.,- 2 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.,- 2 p.m.,, Sunday 12-3 p.m. El Toro Mexican, 660-646-5427, carry out. Open daily. HyVee Kitchen, 660-646-3638, carry out and to-go. Open daily. Jersey’s Sports Grill, 660-646-8535, carry out. Wednesday, Thursday 4-7 p.m., Friday - Saturday 11 a.m., - 7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m., - 4 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Murray’s Buffet and Grill, 660-646-0047, carry out. Nico’z, 660-707-0868, delivery and carry out. Lunch hours, Tuesday-Friday, PC’s Elkhorn Steakhouse, 660-646-2804, carry out. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Shooter’s Taproom-Kitchen, 660-240-5028, carry out. Open daily. Sliced Bread Market - Deli, 660-646-2583, carry out. Open daily.
Fast food and drive-thru options include:Casey’s, 660-646-1610, carry out and delivery. Dairy Queen, 660-707-1500, drive-thru and carry out. Domino’s Pizza, 660-646-9800, carry out and delivery. Donut Palace, 660-646-2100, drive-thru, Tuesday- Sunday 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hick’s Hometown Drive-In, 660-646-1008, car side, carry out and delivery. McDonald’s, 660-646-6446, drive-thru and carry out. Pizza Hut, 660-646-3500, delivery and carry out. Sonic Drive-In, 660-646-6255, car side, carry out and delivery. Subway, 660-646-1110, carry out. Taco Bell, 660-646-1140, drive-thru and carry out.


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DALLAS -- Food Distributors International said its board of governors voted last week to become part of the Food Marketing Institute.
The board's decision, which proposes to make FDI the wholesale component of FMI, came during a meeting held immediately prior to FDI's annual business conference here. FDI members will be asked to vote on the FDI-FMI consolidation in the next 60 to 90 days.
The next step in the consolidation process will be a vote by FMI's board on May 4, a day prior to the start of FMI's annual convention in Chicago, Karen Brown, FMI senior vice president, communications, told SN.
Both associations said the target date for the two associations to combine is Jan. 1, 2003.
The decision by FDI, Falls Church, Va., to join Washington-based FMI will not constitute a merger, nor will a new association be formed to accommodate members of FMI and FDI, as had been speculated prior to the vote, an FDI spokesman told SN last week. "The board decided the best idea was to keep the FMI structure and to ask FDI members to become part of that structure," he explained.
Under the new structure, wholesalers will join retail chains and independent retailers as the three components of "a single umbrella organization," according to FDI.
However, as previously reported, the food-service arm of FDI -- the International Foodservice Distributors Association -- will not remain part of FDI when it consolidates with FMI but will become a stand-alone association. IFDA said last week it will continue to operate as part of FDI until the FDI-FMI combination is completed.
According to John Gray, IFDA president, "Food-service distributors have felt an increasing need to be able to more sharply focus on their own business issues and alliances, which often are quite different from [those of] the wholesale channel."
FDI said it will begin mailing ballots to members within the next few weeks. Al Plamann, president and chief executive officer of Unified Western Grocers and FDI's immediate past chairman, said he expects the voting to be completed by mid-June.
He also said he expects FDI members to approve the consolidation "because we've touched enough bases to deal with all significant issues and concerns that exist out there. And although we have not polled the membership, the board members have been very supportive of this process, and if they are representative of their constituencies, then we could get a strong yes vote," Plamann said.
The decision was made to become part of FMI, rather than create a new association that would encompass FDI and FMI, Plamann explained, "because FMI has tailored itself to accommodate different industry segments, so it really didn't require any reformatting. Wholesalers will be able to continue to do what they want while becoming stronger within the FMI structure."
Rich Parkinson, a member of FDI's board of governors and president and CEO of Associated Food Stores, Salt Lake City, said some concerns were raised at the board meeting about whether the views of smaller wholesalers would get the same kind of attention they get within the FDI structure in an organization as large as FMI.
"But the answer to those concerns is, the wholesale component of FMI would have a warehouse advisory board composed of the same types of companies as the board of governors FDI has now," Parkinson explained. "In addition, wholesalers will gain up to 10 seats on FMI's board of directors -- in addition to the eight they have now -- that would include some smaller wholesalers.
"But it's important to note that the people who raised those concerns were still positive about the move to join with FMI -- they just wanted to make sure those concerns would be considered," Parkinson said.
He said questions were also raised during the FDI board meeting about what would happen if there were a difference of opinion between wholesalers and other FMI members on various governmental issues, "but those questions were resolved when it was pointed out such differences would be rare and probably inconsequential," Parkinson explained.
"Wholesalers will be able to go forward with our own government issues and our productivity issues, and we will continue to have business meetings that will probably be expanded to include retailers as well.
"And it will all be encapsulated within FMI as it is now within FDI, with the ability to eliminate redundant support functions and to be members of just one organization instead of two, which will streamline the association and make representation more efficient."
Jay Campbell, an FDI director and president and CEO of Associated Grocers, Baton Rouge, La., told SN the decision to combine FDI with FMI will be beneficial for all companies.
"In this industry, we have a considerable amount of duplication in meetings, so any collaboration by organizations to try to do things at the same times and the same places is a positive thing. And if we can do that and eliminate redundancy of services, and if we can control the costs of doing it collaboratively and still meet the needs of members, then that's a good justification for consolidation.
"And if a combination of two associations produces greater benefits to members, then the cost of admission to that association is worthwhile," Campbell said.
According to the FDI spokesman, FDI's board did not vote on a formal proposal for the two organizations to combine. Instead, the sense of the board became clear in a series of motions at the meeting, he said.
Among those motions:
That FDI members already in FMI maintain those memberships and those who are not members join FMI.
That John R. Block, FDI president and chief executive officer, become executive vice president of FMI in charge of the association's wholesale component.
That FDI members be represented within FMI by a wholesale advisory board and be given an unspecified number of additional seats on FMI's board of directors.
That FDI's food-service component -- the International Foodservice Distributors Association -- form a new stand-alone trade group, headed by John Gray, IFDA president and FDI executive vice president and general counsel.
According to Block, discussions of combining FDI and FMI into a single organization have been under way for several months.
Block said FDI will continue all of its previously scheduled activities through the end of this year. All of IFDA's 2002 programs will also proceed as scheduled, Gray noted.


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(AP) -- Yahoo still has credibility issues, even after casting aside CEO Scott Thompson because his official biography included a college degree that he never received.
As Yahoo tries to head in a new direction, the fate of the struggling Internet company's Asian holdings remains in limbo.
Yahoo! on Tuesday announced a boardroom shakeup to breath fresh life into a pioneering Internet firm that has been struggling to re-invent itself and appease disappointed investors.
Volkswagen's "dieselgate" crisis turned personal this week, as the German auto giant's patriarch and ex-boss Ferdinand Piech implicated his successors in the cheating scandal.
It turns out the old saying that "It's not what you know, but who you know" still holds a measure of truth in corporate America.
Samsung Electronics said Monday it would buy US auto parts maker Harman International Industries for $8 billion in a bid to enter the growing market for automotive technology to produce "connected" cars.
Yahoo averted a proxy battle for control of the company with a compromise Wednesday that adds four new board members, including a hedge fund chief who has been critical of management.
His reputation scorched by Edward Snowden, the former director of the National Security Agency is heading a cybersecurity startup that aims to shortcircuit data leakers, cyber warriors, terrorists and thieves.
The board of directors at construction and engineering company Parsons Corp. needed to fill a seat two years ago.
While women sitting on company boards remains a much-discussed topic, there is something new waiting to take a seat at the table: artificial intelligence, computers with company voting rights.


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Good news in the feeder cattle world - prices and volume improved this week. Feeder cattle numbers jumped higher with 26,900 head at the test auctions, which was 1000 more than the previous week. The feeder cattle prices were easily $3-5 higher on yearlings as well as calves with much more active bidding.
The slaughter cow numbers at the auctions continue to increase and slaughter cow prices were $1-3 higher even though the cow meat prices are still slipping lower. The big items now is that the cow meat prices are considerably higher than last year. The 90% trimming prices on Wednesday were $222.45 per cwt which was $.64 cents lower than the previous Wednesday. Just a note, last year on the same day it was only $195.34.
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For decades, Japan has churned out misinformation and propaganda on whales and whaling in order to support a dying whaling industry that only continues thanks to government subsidies. Fear-mongering is largely centred around the popular refrain of ‘too many whales, eating too many fish’ and dire warnings of the catastrophic crash of fish stocks that will result if whales are not managed.
Multi-millionaire fin whaler, Kristjan Loftsson, just got richer. According to a recently-published annual report for the year to September 2013, his fin whaling company, Hvalur Ltd., made a good profit last year, with almost a billion ISK (986 million ISK, around £5.1 million) paid out in dividends to shareholders.
WDC, working with NGOs including AWI (Animal Welfare Institute), EIA (Environmental Investigation Agency) and ProWildlife, approached major retailers and seafood suppliers in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, asking them to audit their supply chain for the presence of HB Grandi seafood and to state clearly whether they opposed commercial whaling.
The 2014 Icelandic minke whale hunt has killed less than 10% of their self-allocated quota. RUV, Iceland state broadcaster, reports that Iceland's Whale hunters have failed to reach even a small percentage of their qouta, making it very likely that there will be a shortage of whale meat in Iceland this winter.
Our colleague Vanessa wrote some months ago that it was highly suspicious that the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries has overidden health officials to allow the sale of whale beer in Iceland.
It is shocking enough to hear that this year’s IWC meeting has given permission for Greenland to annually kill nearly 200 whales – including humpback and bowhead whales - for the next four years but there is another gruesome activity that doesn’t apparently require any international discussion, agreement or quota - the brutal killing of thousands of Greenland’s smaller whales and dolphins.
Kitty Block, Vice President of Humane Society International has contributed to a piece in Livescience.com asking for the United States to give serious consideration to stepping up its game against commercial whaling ‘through a more aggressive foreign policy approach’.


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Grow Home, Twisted Metal and more coming to Playstation Plus next month
Grow Home joins the Playstation Plus lineup for September after winning the very first Vote To Play shortlist.
Sony has announced the Playstation Plus lineup for September, and it seems we are in for a treat next month.
After launching their “Vote To Play” campaign last month, Playstation gamers decided upon Grow Home as their free PS4 title for September, a title previously only available on PC.
If the title you voted for didn’t make the cut, don’t panic! Sony has made it clear that Playstation Plus members will be entitled to a 30% discount on both titles until September 15.
Other games in the September line-up include Super Time Force Ultra,Twisted Metal and Xeodrifter.
You can check out the full list below:
- Grow Home (PS4)
- Super Time Force Ultra (PS4 and PS Vita)
- Xeodrifter (PS4 and PS Vita)
- Teslagrad (PS4 and PS Vita)
- La-Mulana (PS Vita)
- Twisted Metal (PS3)
Keep in mind that this is also your last chance to take advantage of this month’s offerings, so grab them from the Playstation Store whilst you still can.
Related: Best PSN Games 2015
Here’s a quick reminder of last month’s lineup, which will be available until early September:
- Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (PS4)
- Limbo (PS4)
- God of War Ascension (PS3)
- Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (PS3, PS4, PS Vita)
- Castlestorm Complete Edition (PS Vita and PS3)
- Sound Shapes (PS3, PS4, PS Vita)
It will be interesting to see how long it will take Sony to reveal the next candidates for its Vote To Play programme, and whether it will continue to populate it with new indie releases.
Sony recently announced that it will be giving players who sign up the option to beta test future firmware updates, something Microsoft has been doing for months with its Dashboard Preview Programme


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GMCR to Offer Krispy Kreme Packs for Keurig Brewers
February 10, 2014,
Krispy Kreme K-Cup packs
WATERBURY, Vt.-Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR), parent of the Keurig brand, has reached a multiyear agreement with Krispy Kreme which will bring Krispy Kreme signature coffee to K-Cup packs for the Keurig brewing system.
The agreement calls for Krispy Kreme coffees, smooth and decaffeinated, to appear in K-Cup packs by the end of this year. The new packs will be available at keurig.com and krispykreme.com, as well as in participating Krispy Kreme shops grocery, retail and away-from-home channels throughout the United States. Krispy Kreme has more than 800 shops in more than 20 countries.
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Today the Australia’s car industry is practically dead. The planned exit by Toyota from the country has hit the final nail in the coffin of Australia’s car industry. Prior to their demise, Ford and Holden (Australia’s car manufacturer) have also stopped from making cars. This is despite more than USD 1.2 billion financial aid from the Australia’s government.
For those who understands very well the impact of automotive industry towards country’s economy will surely know thousands of jobs would be affected. Beyond that, USD21 billion will be wiped out from the economy and most likely the country will go into recession.
Well, what happened and what can we learn?
Due to the strong Australian dollar and high costs of manufacturing, the Australian products are not competitive even in Australia. Together with Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Australia is one of the most open automotive markets in the world and this further aggravate the situation as foreign goods (cars) flood the Australian market without Australian goods penetrating foreign markets. Ultimately, this leads to outflow of funds, contributing to deficits.
Malaysia is no less different than Australia. We too have our own national car in a highly competitive automotive industry. Attempts to denigrate Malaysia’s national car, Proton reflect how shallow some Malaysians are from what the Proton represented and what was its real objective.
Firstly, it must be pointed out that Proton is our launchpad in acquiring engineering knowhow and consequently propelling nation to a developed industrialised country.
However in the name of liberalisation and the obsession of making foreign cars cheaper, we need to ask ourselves whether do we want to preserve our automotive industry that employs more than 550,000 workers and contributing nearly RM30 Billion to country’s GDP or do we want to open up our tiny market to cheaper foreign cars so that our consumer could have more choice?
Some may argue we can close down Proton and do the Thailand and Indonesia’s way. Yes, we can. But being a mere a assembler won’t make us a developed country. Just look at these countries- were they developed?
In fact, we can’t compete with them simply because our cost of labour is higher. Or are we suggesting we pay our workers a pittance? Then, we can kiss goodbye to a high income economy.
What happened in Australia is an interesting case study. When we liberalise our market too much, the shrinking market for local cars may result in the cessation of production locally. Thousands of jobs generated by the national car industry will be lost. Not only we lose much of our engineering capability, we can’t create more high income jobs as engineering-based industries cannot fund skilled workers. Then, expect more serious brain-drain problem.
Buying cheaper foreign cars must result in outflow of funds. As a trading nation, we must balance our export and import sheet. Australia is lucky to have large reserve of iron ore to export to China. But for how long Malaysia can rely on Petronas’ money to offset the deficit caused by our import? Already we have to rationalise subsidies in order to reduce our deficit.
Admittedly Malaysians pay more for their car. But the high car prices is not without justification. It may be old-fashioned to say this but that’s the price we have to pay for our country to be developed, to be well-equipped with technology, to be a trading powerhouse, to be industrialised, to produce highly skilled workers and to reduce country’s deficit.
United States of America knows this very well. That’s why they spent RM150 billion to bail out General Motors (GM). Not because they are anti free market but market is not ‘really free’ when you have your own product.
Korea and Japan take half of century or three generations to be at where they are today. Proton needs some protection but it will be removed gradually.
Hopefully we may not ended up like Australia, UK and Detroit.


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Geodis brings in Jürgen Adler to lead expansion into automotive vertical
French logistics provider Geodis has appointed Jürgen Adler (pictured above) as its new head of ...
Newbuild spend for Vehicle Carriers (LCTCs / PCTCs / PCCs) smashed past $3.2 billion last week, following big volume orders from Eastern Pacific and Zodiac.
An astonishing amount of money for a niche sector, exceeding the previous 6 years total combined. If we include options, a whopping $4.4 billion has been agreed year to date.
Japanese shipyards have raised tariffs to $100 million for dual fuel LNG 7000 CEUs, up by a staggering $10 million compared to last year.
Chinese yards have ...


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Itel Mobile has today announced a new give away promotion dubbed the i-Buy Shopping Festival. Through the campaign, the company plans to reward instore customers on top of running weekly online campaigns throughout October.
Starting Today (1st October) to 31st October 2020, customers who buy any of the brand’s latest A56, P36, and P15 Smartphones at Itel Mobile promotional shops will receive instant gifts as purchase rewards of the i-Buy festival.
On top of the current promotion, new smartphones come with free Airtel data based on the release date. Commonly the Itel P36, and A56 unbox with 3GB of free monthly data for the first months. Hence, customers will a Win-Win when they activate the free Airtel data and still qualify for in-store raffle draws.
How to Participate in the Itel Mobile i-Buy Promo
For Starters, Customers have to buy any of the qualifying Smartphones from any Itel Mobile Store (Shop), then enter into an Instant raffle draw where lucky entrants will emerge as winners on a daily timeframe.
Online, the promotion runs on the brand’s social media pages with a chance for instore customers to double up their chances by uploading their instore selfies on either Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #iBuyBonanza.
Every Friday, lucky Winners will be announced on the brand’s pages notably @itelmobileuganda. Top prizes include Smartphones, mobile internet bundles, airtime, then smart accessories like Bands, and Smart Watches.
According to the brand representatives, the i-Buy Festival serves in line with the company’s goal to bring budget-friendly smartphones in a competitive tier. Hence, the need to spice up customer behavior vows in as an extra spicer with instant gifts up for grabs to enhance their day to day lifestyles.
So, throughout the month of October 2020, Itel customers will be treated to free prizes when they purchase any of the brand’s eligible smartphones. At the moment, the promotion serves as an initial teaser to expect more budget-friendly releases including a lineup of Smart LED TVs in Q3 of 2020.


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Tommy Aquino, also known as “The Picasso” of the New Generation and a prize-winning international artist, was recently given another international award by the Leaders Protagonists of Art at Washington, which Francesco Saverio Russo and Salvatore Russo curated. Aquino was born in Malate, Manila, on January 14, 1958.
Aquino had previously won numerous international awards from renowned curators worldwide!
Along with this composition, his other well-known masterpieces include “The Heart, Body, and Soul” and “Sunflower Field.” He is also acknowledged as one of Europe’s up-and-coming painters, inspiring many eager art buyers to acquire his masterpieces.
Pablo Picasso inspired Mr. Aquino’s unique style and method, attracting the attention of numerous notable art collectors, curators, politicians, celebrities, the business world, and the media.
As a prominent international artist, Mr. Aquino’s works have been exhibited all over the world, including in Austria, Busan, Korea, Florence, Italy, Lisbon, the Philippines, Shanghai, the Saatchi Gallery in London, and most recently, New York City, where two of his well-known pieces, “The Blond Hair Woman” and “Mother and Child,” were among the highlights of some prestigious events.
According to the artist, invites from other countries, including Dubai, Canada, Moscow, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Monaco, to exhibit his paintings are still being processed.
As a philanthropist, Mr. Aquino always assists the needy, particularly the homeless children who live and sleep on the streets of the Philippines and other countries.
Mr. Aquino was recently officially recognized in Austria as one of the international artists of the renowned auction house, DOROTHEUM AUSTRIA. In January 2020, two of his pieces were successfully auctioned off. Along with his other accomplishments, some of Mr. Aquino’s iconic masterpieces are now produced under his brands, including AQUCHAR on Shopify and TOMMY AQUINO BRAND on Etsy.
- hpascua/pictures: Tommy Aquino
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Audi introduces the A3 Clubsport Quattro concept.
Read This Article
The red carpet is set to be rolled out at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, with contrast-stitched S-logo badges, if Audi can get its hands on it.
When Audi announced pricing and details on the 2012 TT RS last week, four additional new 2012 models also debuted, ranging from the mainstream to the exotic.
There’s no denying the Audi TT RS’ appeal.


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I'm trying to tie up my bisphenol-A article today for ICIS Chemical Business' March 29 issue and hopefully will have more time to blog.
Before my bioplastic article will come out on March 22, here's an update from Metabolix about their bioplastic joint venture business, Telles, with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). The company announced it has already started operations of its new 110 million lbs/year polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-based resins plant in Clinton, Iowa. Construction of this plant has been ongoing for four years and start-up has been constantly delayed since its first announcement in May 2008.
According to Metabolix, capacity utilization levels at Clinton are still expected to remain relatively low for the next few quarters but it is expected to increase as production processes are optimized and as demand increases through acquisition of new customers.
More on this post...


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News Byte: McDonald's Creates Chief Digital Officer Post
McDonald's Creates Chief Digital Officer Post
McDonald's Corporation has hired former Amazon and Yahoo executive Atif Rafiq as the company's first chief digital officer, effective October 21.
Rafiq will oversee McDonald's global digital strategy with a focus on e-commerce growth and a modernized restaurant experience, the company said in a statement.
In that statement, McDonald's Chief Brand Officer Steve Easterbrook—to whom Rafiq will report—pointed out the omnichannel way in which customers interact with the brand, and the growing importance of digital. "Atif will lead a more coordinated and comprehensive digital strategy for our global organization as we deepen our connection with our customers,” Easterbrook said. “His cutting-edge thinking, background and expertise will help us drive even greater innovation in this arena."
The creation of the chief digital officer post at McDonald's underscores the growing necessity for brands to create seamless experiences across multiple digital channels.
Rafiq's previous background is firmly in technology. His working experience includes stints as the general manager of Kindle Direct Publishing at Amazon and, before that, as head of global product marketing and strategy at Yahoo's Y! News Division.


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FoundersCard has confirmed it is rolling out a host of new perks to add to its growing line-up.
The membership program, which brings executive-style perks to entrepreneurs, currently offers discounts on a number of products and services.
These include elite statuses on airlines, discounts with Apple, AT&T, UPS, StubHub, TaskRabbit, and a number of hotel hotels.
New offers include:
- Up to 25 per cent at Bonobos and exclusive personal shopping hours.
- Up to $200 off a first order of $500 at Mr. Porter, and VIP access including a personal shopper and early access to new items.
- Up to $100 of free money towards a first order at Trunk Club.
- Elite status with Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa.
- Up to 50 per cent off of Retrofit‘s weightloss programs
- Up to 15 per cent off with Barker Black.
The company was created by serial entrepreneur Eric Kuhn.
FoundersCard, which celebrated its second birthday in January, also hit 7,500 members as of this week.


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Alternative medicine tends to elicit strong opinions. Some people swear by natural remedies while others insist that traditional medicine isn’t effective and, at worst, can be dangerous. Alternative treatments are gaining popularity in the U.S., where around 50 percent of people say they have used them, but despite the billions of dollars spent on these remedies each year only a third of them have ever been tested.
As USA Today reports, many American consumers cite distrust of big pharmaceutical companies as one of the main reasons they lean towards using traditional therapies. But a new book by Paul Offit, chief of infectious disease at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, argues that the alternative medicine industry is just as focused on profit and business as it is on healing.
In his book, Offit paints a picture of an aggressive, $34 billion a year industry whose key players are adept at using lawsuits, lobbyists and legislation to protect their market.
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who has long fought for stricter regulation of supplements, says the alternative medicine industry is “as tough as any industry I’ve seen lobby in Washington. They have a lot of money at stake. They want to maximize their profits and they want as little regulation as possible.”
There’s even a Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus, composed of legislators who look favorably on the industry.
Moreover, USA Today continues, only about one-third of alternative therapies have ever been tested for their safety and efficacy. In other words, the people selling those supplements, powders or teas can’t really say whether the treatments actually improve a patient’s ailments, and they can’t guarantee their products’ safety, either.
For the most part, people are free to take whatever alternative therapies they want, but Offit wants consumers to know that they are contributing to a profit-driven industry and may be investing in nothing but empty promises, and in the worst case, could wind up in the hospital.
More from Smithsonian.com:


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Social Security Minister Ardalan Shekarabi is facing backlash from casino operators in Sweden after he proposed restrictive measures on gambling.
Swedish automaker Volvo and its Chinese parent company Geely Group have plans underway to set up a new independent company, for merging their efforts in developing and producing internal combustion
In a recent announcement, Polestar -- the electric car subsidiary of Volvo and Geely -- has revealed the final list prices for its Polestar 2 electric car in the European markets where the vehicle
In a recent announcement, Volkswagen Group (VW)’s commercial vehicle subsidiary Traton has revealed that it will make a EUR 1 billion investment in e-mobility by the year 2025.
For the ‘EVolution Road’ research project in Sweden, a Solaris Trollino trolleybus -- manufactured by Poland-based bus and coach maker Solaris -- will be test driven on a special electric-vehicle (
Swedish automaker Volvo has confirmed the specifications and pricing of the new, forthcoming model in its XC line-up -- the XC40 T5 plug-in hybrid SUV -- for the UK market.
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Starting Wednesday for travel on or after Sunday, customers making reservations will see Japan Airlines’ code on JetBlue-operated flights, the airlines said.
The agreement coincides with the Japanese airline starting flights between Boston and Tokyo with the new Boeing 787 aircraft.[dmc-related-post-wp numitems="3" title="Also read"]
Japan Airlines also currently offers daily nonstop service to Tokyo from New York.
Customers can also book tickets for combined travel on the two airlines through Los Angeles, where they can catch Japan Airlines flights to several major Asian cities, the companies said.
Travelers flying to or from Tokyo through Boston will be able to connect to JetBlue flights to 13 U.S. cities, while travelers flying through New York can transfer to 16 U.S. destinations.
JetBLue shares rose 1 cent to $4.84 in midday trading.
More breaking news
- Court strikes down Oyster Bay day laborer law
- Cuomo calls NY Common Core ‘broken,’ calls for reform
- Priciest home sales in Islip
- LI execs must pay $30M in paving stone fraud case
- Judge sides with Brady, NFL promises ‘Deflategate’ appeal
- NY earns D grade for small business friendliness: Survey
- Applications for US jobless aid rise to still-low 282,000
- US markets rebound a day after big plunge
- 1-800-Flowers.com grows food sales with Harry & David
- Funeral services set for Paul Hansen


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Jan 6, 2023
8 benefits of automation in the food and beverage industry
With 62% of manufacturers planning to implement automation in 2023, find out the eight benefits...
Dec 14, 2022
COLUMBUSCAST: Futureproofing sustainable manufacturing with ENOUGH Food
In this episode of ColumbusCast, we are joined by Jim Laird, CEO of ENOUGH Food to see how food...
Nov 24, 2022
How technology can improve profit margins in the food and beverage industry
With food manufacturers facing increased challenges to maintain profitability and stay ahead of the...
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Jun 30, 2022
3 technologies shaping the future of the food industry
Customers want more out of their food products, placing pressure on businesses to adapt their...
Jun 8, 2022
The return of food to go
Despite the recent economic setbacks, the food to go market is recovering quicker than expected. We...
Apr 27, 2022
COLUMBUSCAST: What strides is the food sector taking to reduce waste?
It’s said 70% of transformations fail because companies don’t clarify the value they want to...


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Iris scanners on smartphones are slowly becoming mainstream features. With that, fans can expect that 2017 will see more smartphones making use of such a high-tech feature. If you're looking forward to getting a phone with an iris scanner, here are some of this year's upcoming phones rumored to sport the high-tech identity recognition system.
Samsung's Galaxy S8 And Galaxy Note 8 Devices
Last year's Galaxy Note 7 device sported an iris scanner along with a fingerprint scanner. With that said, there's a really good chance that the 2017 Note device will also be packed with that same features. The Galaxy S8, on the other hand, is now getting rumored to have an iris snapper of its own. It was said that the device will come with an 8 MP front camera with an iris scanner beside it.
Motorola Moto Z 2017 Smartphone
According to a report from Phone Arena, Motorola has filed a patent application for the use of an iris scanner. The source says that this could be for the 2017 Moto Z device. This phone is actually expected to be one of the premium devices bound for a 2017 release. The Moto Z 2017 could be powered by the fastest and the latest Qualcomm chipset that's the Snapdragon 835 and it could also be running Android Nougat from the box.
LG's Upcoming 2017 Flagship Smartphone
The LG G6 is yet another flagship phone that's expected to arrive this year. As per Android Authority, this phone could come with a 5.7-inch display and a waterproof body. Rumor has it that the LG G6 will also have a dual camera system and a front cam that will double as its iris scanner. Needless to say, this phone is still on its rumor phase but fans need not wait longer for confirmation. LG will be holding a press con on February 26 at the 2017 MWC trade show.


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The Breakthrough diet supporting behavioural rehabilitation at Woodgreen
A partnership between Woodgreen Pets Charity and Breakthrough Dog Food is helping to give dogs with complex behavioural needs a second chance at happiness. Every year since 2016, Breakthrough has donated food worth more than £2,500 to Woodgreen. The specially formulated product range can make a real difference to dogs’ behaviour, with amino acids and vitamins that help overcome stress.
Woodgreen and Pets at Home offering Lifelines to pets in need
An ongoing partnership between Woodgreen Pets Charity and Pets at Home’s Huntingdon store is supporting vulnerable pets in times of crisis. Through multiple fundraising campaigns and their VIP Lifelines scheme, Pets at Home has donated £86,000 to Woodgreen since 2016 – helping the charity to be there for even more pets and owners.
Woodgreen and ProtectaPet in collaboration to support FIV+ cat wellbeing
Since lockdown began, there has been an influx of cats coming into Woodgreen Pets Charity with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Since these cats have more specific needs than non-infected cats, including access to enclosed gardens, it takes significantly longer for them to be rehomed.
Show loved ones you care whilst supporting pets in need
Sending letterbox treats to friends and family members is a novel way to support Woodgreen Pets Charity thanks to a partnership with Norfolk-based online cake company Sponge.
Woodgreen’s pet fostering success in Peterborough
Woodgreen Pets Charity is celebrating 50 volunteers joining their foster network in just one year thanks to a new scheme in Peterborough.
Woodgreen returns to the small screen in Channel 4’s ‘The Dog House’
Woodgreen Pets Charity will once again feature as the location of a primetime television show this March. Set in Cambridgeshire at Woodgreen’s 52-acre centre, series two of ‘The Dog House’ will continue to follow how homeless dogs are matched with hopeful new owners by the charity’s team of expert handlers and advisors.
Beautiful Joe’s helps Woodgreen give high-end need dogs a second chance
Woodgreen Pets Charity rehomes an average of 700 dogs each year from its centre in Cambridgeshire. Whilst many of these are matched with new homes within an average of 35 days, the charity specialises in ‘high-end need’ dogs that require more intensive behavioural rehabilitation.
Woodgreen and Burgess Pet Care in partnership for 2021 to feed pets in need
Cambridgeshire-based Woodgreen Pets Charity has secured support from one of the UK’s leading pet food manufacturers, Burgess Pet Care, for the 12th year running.
Young cat with ruptured hernia saved by Woodgreen
Woodgreen Pets Charity is regularly called upon to collect vulnerable cats and small pets from North London* – a vital service that has given a second chance to a number of pets in need. One of these pets is Fred, a young cat from Haringey, whose owners were unable to afford his veterinary treatment until Woodgreen stepped in.


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Bishop’s Lodge is all about community during the holidays.
The Santa Fe property, which is part of the Auberge Resort Collection and was named the No. 1 resort in the West by Travel + Leisure this year, is hosting its first-ever holiday market on Friday, Dec. 2.
Meghan Godin, area experience curator at Bishop’s Lodge, explained that the resort saw success last year from its tree lighting ceremony and it sparked the idea to expand the festivities.
“We had a nice gathering of the local community as well as our guests, so it’s a fun way to get everyone together,” she said. “It just felt like it might be nice to extend and start the party a little bit sooner.”
Dixon Rand has taken over the property’s retail space temporarily and will highlight a list of vendors, which also includes Matt Campos of Sacred Visual Arts. Maria Samora Studio, Modern Palmist, All The Clay Horses, Loam and Scott Horn from The Unsaddled will also be participating.
Godin said that they decided to keep the market small as a new event and focused on local vendors that have current relationships with the property.
“I reached out to a couple that we’ve worked with in the past, some that we already sell some of their products and a few new faces,” she said.
She added that in the future the resort would like to make the market larger.
There will be plenty of food and live music as well, featuring acclaimed Albuquerque guitarist Gustavo Pimentel. It all leads up to the tree lighting ceremony, which will be accompanied by carolers. The event is free and not limited to guests at the resort. Everyone is welcome.
“We really encourage a lot of locals to come,” Godin said. “I really tried to make it inclusive to the local community; I think that’s kind of the spirit of Santa Fe, or New Mexico in general.”
The holiday market begins at 1 p.m. and the tree lighting ceremony will commence at 4:30 p.m. Afterward, a reception at SkyFire will take place. The reception will not be complimentary. The restaurant and bar will offer food and beverage options capturing the taste of the Southwest.
There will be a rate special of $299/night Friday through Sunday for locals if they would like to make a small staycation out of the event – or if they have a little too much fun at the reception.
The holiday season is full of other events for in-house guests at Bishop’s Lodge. The resort offers holiday cooking classes where guests will learn how to make bizcochitos and tortillas. There will also be a wine tasting experience on Dec. 26.
Custom ski packages to Ski Santa Fe and Ski Taos are also available for in-house guests to purchase.
When it comes to the holiday market, Godin said, “We have a great community behind us. … We’re certainly hoping for a good turnout.”


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What it takes to develop a Filipino video game – as told by Ranida Games
Ever wonder what it would take to create a Filipino video game?
As Told By… takes a closer look at today’s issues, as told by those impacted the most. Today, we’re looking at what makes a truly Filipino game, as well as what local game developers have to say about it.
There are some games that are inextricably tied to their country of origin. The most obvious of these would be games from Japan. But outside the land of the rising sun, games such as The Witcher (Poland) or Metro (Russia) have identities inextricably linked to where they came from.
With this in mind, we couldn’t help but wonder how a game taking inspiration from Filipino history would look like. Luckily, we here at Variable were able to talk with a game company that’s keen on doing just that in our latest episode of The EXP Show with Franz and Bea: Ranida Games.
A game of Philippine heroes
Variable featured Ranida before. In a previous article, we talked about Bayani, the fighting game featuring characters based on Filipino historical heroes.
As the story goes, Bayani was inspired by a social media post by actor Epi Quizon on how he had to explain to students why his character in the film Heneral Luna never got up in his chair. The team realized that the students were not aware that Quizon’s character, Apolinario Mabini, lost the use of his legs due to polio.
This eventually led to the team at Ranida—with help from artist Anthony Dacayo II, who created the initial character designs—creating Bayani. The idea is that people can become more familiar with heroes from Filipino history by playing the game.
To this end, all of Bayani‘s characters are creative takes on Filipino heroes from our Spanish colonial past. Indeed, future updates to the game promise to expand its coverage even more. The team shared with us details on a character inspired by Lapu Lapu and another representing American colonization.
Over the years, many games have shown off the culture and history of their country of origin. For example, CD Projekt RED’s The Witcher series, based on the books of the same name, borrow heavily from Polish and Eastern European folklore.
Then there’s the myriad of Japanese games, such as Yakuza, Nioh, Samurai Shodown, Sekiro and more, that put the country’s culture and history front and center.
That said, there’s one thing that these games have that locally developed games, such as Ranida’s Bayani do not—a budget.
The big hurdle faced by Filipino video games
Games cost money to make—both for big triple-A games like the Witcher 3 and indie Filipino video games like Bayani. Sadly, there isn’t much investment in locally developed video games yet. As such, very few local studios can go about developing their own IPs, let alone create one that celebrates our culture and history.
Most locally developed games like Bayani are smaller, indie titles whose developers often have to scrounge for money and do odd jobs for other companies to get their games out the door.
Ranida is no stranger to this, having developed a game for the Philippine Basketball Association, PBA Basketball Slam: Arcade Edition, before working on Bayani. In addition, the members of the team are also doing other jobs, albeit at the cost of Bayani‘s development.
It’s this issue of funding that has held local game development studios back.
To address this, Ranida partnered with other indie studios to form the Philippine Independent Games Initiative, or Project PIGI for short. This project hopes to take up-and-coming indie developers and show them the ins and out of independent games development. This, of course, includes the business side of things, including how to look for funding for their games.
Should the initiative be successful, we might finally see a Filipino video game that can match something like the Witcher 3, an expansive role-playing game that draws from local culture and history.
Ranida has already said that such an RPG would be their dream game.
But in the meantime, Ranida is plugging along doing smaller games. They’ve just launched the open beta for Fighting Pride: The Manny Pacquaio Saga, a mobile game based on the life of the famed boxer turned politician’s career.
Hopefully, the games like these can continue to get the studio’s name out, eventually letting them work on bigger projects.
You can learn more about the challenges faced by local video game developers by listening to our latest episode with Ranida Games.
If you like reading our content, why not show your appreciation by treating us to a cup of coffee? (or two, if you’re feeling generous)


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As we said at the time, and today we can confirm that Huawei is, without a doubt, the brand which has grown the most in recent years in terms of sales and popularity is concerned. The chinese firm has managed to carve a niche among the largest thanks to its ability to bring to the market devices that are competent in each and every one of the price ranges.
And as every effort has its reward, today, thanks to GSMArena, we know that Huawei has achieved the amazing figure of 100 million devices sold in the year so far, 2016, a quantity of the very few companies today can be proud of to have achieved.
The growth of Huawei continues to be unstoppable
Has been in the event that Huawei has made in China to unveil its new smartphone Nova in the asian country, where the company has held this large number of sales, and where it has been indicated that two months of the year 2016 end, has already achieved over 100 million sales around the world, exactly the same figure that Huawei got in total last year 2015.
therefore, and not to be that the sales of Huawei will stagnate completely until the end of the year —an event that is completely unlikely— we can confirm that the firm would have set a record for itself in terms of sales, that they put to this brand of chinese origin to the height of the kings of the mobile phone.
If, in addition, we break down the data offered by Huawei, we can see that the Huawei P9, the current top-line of the signature before the arrival of the Matte 9 in the next month of November, has sold more than 6 million times around the world, while your little brother, Honor 8, has achieved the enviable figure of one and a half million units sold.
Without a doubt, this is one of the greatest achievements of the firm in its entire history, but considering the unstoppable growth that is getting in recent times, it is more than likely that in coming years, the figure of 100 million is in a simple story.


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While many other handset makers are expected to launch a 5G smartphone this year, Apple is expected to hold off until 2020. Now according to a report from Reuters, it seems that we might be able to expect Apple’s 5G iPhones to source modems from either Samsung or MediaTek, and this is straight from Apple’s mouth.
Poaching is illegal but yet many seem to do it anyway, and the problem is that once it’s done, there’s no way to “reverse” it. Now we have seen technology being used to help stop poaching, such as using 3D printed rhino horns to drive down prices, or using AI to help analyze sounds of animals.
The touch activated dual-display Yoga Book C930 is a “one a kind” computing device that cannot be categorized under any existing market segment since it is neither a laptop nor a tablet and cannot be viewed only as a note-taking product or a 2-in-1 tablet. That is why, unlike our typical reviews, it is difficult to compare it to any mobile computing product currently available.The successor of the first Yoga […]
Apple is generally known as a company that largely likes to rely on itself for both hardware and software, which is why they design their own phones, their own chipsets used in their own phones, their own software that runs their phones and their computers, and so on. This is why it never really surprised us to hear that they might want to make their own modems.
Wheelchairs are used by people who cannot get around normally, like walking. It can also be used by those who are severely paralyzed. Now in the past we have seen some research done where our brains could be harnessed and used to control a wheelchair, and now it seems that Intel and Brazil-based Hoobox Robotics are turning to the use of AI.
In recent years we’ve seen how companies such as Intel have explored non-traditional methods of computing by launching devices like the Intel Compute Stick, which basically puts computer components into a small USB-sized stick that can connect to displays, such as TVs, via the HDMI port.
Intel today announced its new XMM 8160 5G modem which it’s going to release to manufacturers in the second half of next year. The company says that this new modem brings very clear improvements in size, power, and scalability in a package that’s smaller than a U.S. penny. The XMM 8160 5G modem will have support for the 5G New Radio, Standalone, and Non-Standalone modes in addition to 4G, 3G, […]
Apple had recently announced its new MacBook Air which according to the company, would feature 8th gen Intel Core i5 chipsets. While this is technically true, it should be noted that there is a subtle difference and that not all Core i5 chipsets are made the same because upon further digging, it was discovered that the new MacBook Air laptops are actually more specifically powered by Intel’s Amber Lake CPUs.
Intel unveiled its new 9th Generation Core processors today and also followed through on a promise. The company had said back at Computex that it would be unveiling a bonkers 28 core CPU and it has done just that today. The Xeon W-3175X is that 28 core CPU that’s even more specialized of a chip than Intel’s 18 core X-series released last year.
The new Intel 9th generation processors have been officially unveiled today. Even though the company is calling them 9th generation chips, they are actually based on the company’s existing 14nm process technology. It has been used by the company going as far back as the 5th generation chips that were released back in 2014. The particular process technology being used for this generation is called 14nm++ and Intel introduced it […]
Apple’s 2018 MacBook Pro refresh was an impressive one, where the company has significantly boosted the performance of their latest laptops, as well as finally introducing the ability for users to configure up to 32GB of RAM if they wanted. However for those holding out for the next refresh, you’ll be pleased to learn that it’s almost a guarantee that they’ll be powered by Intel’s 8th gen processors.
Apple’s MacBook lineup of computers are by no means affordable, with its cheapest model possibly being the MacBook Air. However there have been rumors that Apple could be planning the launch of a new entry-level 13-inch MacBook that could potentially replace the MacBook Air as an entry-level model.
A lot of companies rely heavily on ARM and their chips. This is because for the most part, a lot of companies use ARM’s architecture for their chips that can be found in plenty of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. In fact earlier this year, companies such as Lenovo launched laptops that are powered by ARM-based chips.
Intel has unveiled what it claims to be the “world’s densest, totally silent solid state drive.” While SSDs have been around for a very long time, the form factor that this drive is based on is not only unique but it also enables Intel to cram an absurd amount of storage in a device that’s roughly the size of a 12 inch ruler. Intel’s first ruler SSD has 32TB of […]


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CHARLOTTE, NC - News out of Chiquita keeps rolling in, with the appointment of former Vice President & General Manager for Chiquita Brands North America Craig Stephen as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Fresh Express. In his new position, Craig will be responsible for overseeing Fresh Express' sales, marketing and customer service operations, as the company continues to provide expanded category offerings in retail value-added and private label salads.
“Craig is highly regarded and respected by all stakeholders across the fresh produce industry,” said Brian W. Kocher, Chiquita’s Chief Operating Officer. “We are confident that his extensive operational experience, coupled with his leadership and industry insights will help us consistently deliver superior customer service as we continue to profitably grow our Fresh Express business.”
Paired together with the release of Chiquita's preliminary Q3 earnings numbers, this news certainly paints the picture of a strong company ready to continue growing. According to a press release, net sales for this most recent quarter were approximately $739 million and Chiquita stated it expects operating income on a U.S. GAAP basis to be between $0-$2 million, compared to U.S. GAAP operating income of $1 million during Q3 in 2013. These numbers beat analyst expectations, who only expected $731 million in net sales, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Perhaps spurred on by these strong showings from Chiquita, the Cutrale/Safra Group which has been the main competition to Chiquita's proposed merger agreement with Fyffes, upped its buyout offer to $14/share for all of the company's outstanding stock. As AndNowUKnow covered in a previous story, the Cutrale/Safra group had previously offered Chiquita $13/share, or roughly $610 million, a move which Chiquita rejected in favor of the Fyffes merger. This new bid amount would bring the total value of the proposed takeover offer to $658 million. Chiquita has not yet released an official reaction to Cutrale/Safra's new offer, although the company did officially acknowledge receiving the offer.
When Chiquita does come to a decision about this matter, you can count on AndNowUKnow to bring you the news first. Until then, we would like to congratulate Craig on his new position with Chiquita!


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This story was originally published on Lianhe Zaobao on 17 November 2019.
Mainland peninsula Malaysia lies just across the Straits of Johor. In the past, when local companies wanted to venture abroad, their first choice was to venture into Malaysia. However, is the Malaysian market still as attractive today? With the rise of the middle class, what kind of business opportunities does the consumer industry present to Singapore companies? In this issue of “Businesses in ASEAN”, we zoom in on Malaysia to focus on the latest trends and developments in this market.
Malaysia is a close neighbour of Singapore and has traditionally been the preferred location for local companies, especially manufacturing ones, to go global.
However, in recent years, the economies of Indonesia and Vietnam have grown rapidly and attracted many companies. In contrast, the pace of Malaysia's economic growth has slackened due to the oil crisis a few years ago.
On closer inspection, Malaysia's economy is achieving a healthy improvement. According to data released by the Malaysian government for its 2020 Budget, the economy was expected to grow by 4.7% in 2019 and 4.8% in 2020.
Apart from the manufacturing industry, Malaysia's consumer industry and digital economy offer potential business opportunities too.
Snapshot of Malaysia. Graphic: Lianhe Zaobao
Proximity offers greater ease in management
For Singapore companies, what is most attractive about Malaysia is undoubtedly its geographical proximity and the affinity in language and culture.
"Malaysia's proximity and cultural similarities to Singapore have made it a natural first stop of investment and expansion for many Singapore companies, especially the SMEs. It has been among Singapore's top three trade partners for many years,” Mr Neoh Yi Liang, Enterprise Singapore's Regional Director (Kuala Lumpur) said in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao.
He added that Malaysia's consumer industry has become a sector with huge potential in recent years. With a population of 32.6 million, the country's middle class is expanding rapidly, and there is considerable demand in retail, food and beverage, health care, education and e-commerce.
According to CEIC data, in March 2019, Malaysia's private consumption achieved nearly 60% share of the country' economy, which is the highest level ever. Private consumption is expected to be the main driving force for economic development, and the consumer industry presents huge business opportunities.
Chan Weiwen of Singapore company Chan Yew Leathers guides a worker in its workshop. Photo: Lianhe Zaobao
In September 2019, Singapore company Chan Yew Leathers opened a store and workshop in Kuala Lumpur. The company focuses mainly on bag repair, restoration and tailor-making of leather goods such as watch straps and belts.
Mr Chan Weiwen, who is the third-generation at the helm of the company, told Lianhe Zaobao that as the income of Malaysians is on the rise, the demand for leather goods such as designer bags has also grown. This has augmented the demand for repair services.
In Singapore, the company has established partnerships with many internationally renowned brands. They leveraged on this to drive their expansion in the Malaysia market.
The 2,000 square feet store cum workshop at Sunway Velocity Mall currently employs a manager, an administrative executive and three artisans. Mr Chan shared that the workshop can accommodate up to 10 artisans, and the company intends to acquire more manpower as the business and customer base grow.
As for the reason for selecting Malaysia as their first choice for overseas expansion, Mr Chan explained, "Similarities in culture and language between the two countries and geographical proximity make it convenient for us to provide weekly training for our employees here." Currently, Mr Chan and his father Mr Chan Siew Wen take turns to travel to Kuala Lumpur every week to manage the local business. In addition, Singapore companies can set up wholly-owned subsidiaries in Malaysia and have full management control, whereas in Indonesia and Thailand, they will need to find local partners.
Mr Chan plans to open more stores in a year or two, and the workshop in Kuala Lumpur will focus on meeting and processing orders.
Increasing willingness from the middle class to spend on F&B
The rapid development of the middle class has also created opportunities for restaurant operators.
Four years ago, Creative Eateries brought its Japanese barbecue brand Rocku to Kuala Lumpur through franchise. In September 2019, it opened its third outlet at Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall, which occupies an area of 4,000 square feet. A fourth branch is expected to open in 2020.
"Malaysians are very willing to spend on F&B, and business during weekends is also brisk," Mr Anthony Wong, CEO of Creative Eateries said.
He disclosed that the first store had achieved positive results in its first month of operation.
Rapid development in e-commerce
Rental in Malaysia's shopping malls is also reasonably priced and labour costs are relatively lower. Compared to operating in Singapore, restaurants in Malaysia can reap higher profit margins.
The group's Japanese hotpot brand Suki-Ya entered the Malaysian market through a joint venture.
Similarly to Singapore, Malaysia's e-commerce has also achieved rapid development.
According to Mr Sam Cheong, Head of Group FDI Advisory and Network Partnerships, Group International Management, United Overseas Bank (UOB), 36% of Malaysia's population is young and this drives the development of e-commerce, leading to a double-digit growth in the logistics sector.
Singapore e-commerce and logistics companies that have entered the Malaysia market include Ninja Van, Shopback and Shopee.
Ninja Van's delivery vans in Malaysia. Photo: Lianhe Zaobao
Ninja Van first ventured beyond Singapore to Malaysia in 2015. Mr Lai Chang Wen, co-founder and CEO of the company, said that when the company started in 2014, e-commerce was already expanding rapidly. "There were many e-commerce companies, but reliable delivery services were few and far between."
After the company gained a foothold in Singapore and noticed that the region faced similar issues, it decided to expand into the Southeast Asian market.
Ninja Van's warehouse in Malaysia. Photo: Lianhe Zaobao
In April 2019, Ninja Van launched Ninja Box at 95% of the light rail stations in Klang Valley, and became the largest parcel locker operator in Malaysia. The company also started to offer B2B services to equip corporate customers with first-mile/last-mile logistics solutions.
In terms of challenges faced, Mr Lai commented that due to Malaysia's vast area, the company has more often than not encounter middle mile delivery issues. Sometimes, they would have to deliver to locations further than expected, or have trouble locating destinations via Google.
Each postal code in Malaysia covers wide grounds, and many addresses in different states look similar too. The company has hired locals to overcome this challenge.
ShopBack, a platform which provides users with cash rebates, also entered Malaysia in 2015. Chief Commercial Officer Ms Candice Ong told Lianhe Zaobao that their partnered businesses such as Zalora, Lazada, Expedia, Agoda and Foodpanda have operations in Malaysia, and local consumers are also familiar with online shopping.
Physical retail landscape remains active
The rise of e-commerce has not led to the downturn of physical retail stores. Many Singapore companies continue to invest in storefronts, offering experiential shopping experiences and unique creative products.
A Nike store in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Lianhe Zaobao
Singapore integrated enterprise SUTL Global acquired Malaysia's largest Nike-only store operator Sportsland in 2019, running eight Nike stores in Malaysia.
When interviewed, Mr Arthur Tay, SUTL Global Chairman and CEO said that the retail industry in Malaysia has grown steadily and physical retail is also flourishing. In the second quarter of 2019, the retail industry grew 4.5% year-on-year and is expected to grow by 4.4% for the entire year.
Mr Tay pointed out that Singapore and Malaysia share similarities in culture and lifestyle, consumers are keen to visit malls and they also enjoy experiential shopping.
Naiise's branch in Kuala Lumpur which opened three years ago. Photo: Lianhe Zaobao
Naiise, a Singapore creative design store, opened a branch in Kuala Lumpur three years ago. Founder Mr Dennis Tay observed that as Malaysians become more affluent, consumers hope to buy more uniquely creative products and not mass market ones.
He indicated that the market demand is huge, and there are only one or two similar competitors, which means that there is a lot of room for their development.
In addition, as going green is more emphasised, Naiise is also looking to incorporate more environmentally friendly concepts into its products to cater to consumers' tastes.
Besides introducing the local market to products designed by Singaporean talents, Naiise also works with the local community to discover designers with potential.
Manufacturing industry still one of the most important facets of the economy
Mr Neoh pointed out that Johor, Penang and Selangor's manufacturing industries have grown steadily while Kedah, Sembilan and Pahang are also ideal as bases for certain types of manufacturers.
In 2012, Food Empire shifted its coffee production plant to Klang in Selangor to take advantage of the lower production costs there. They established a new factory which is better equipped in order to meet global demands.
At the same time, the company decided to expand into food ingredients and snack production, so they set up a creamer and snack production plant in Iskandar's industrial estate.
As creamers are essential in 3-in-1 coffee mix, the addition of a creamer plant has helped the vertical integration of the business. Malaysia is a major exporter of palm oil, which is one of the main ingredients for producing creamers.
Businesses must adapt to lower bureaucratic efficiency
General feedback from businesses on operating in Malaysia is that processing and approval of applications are relatively slower. Businesses have to adapt and adjust accordingly.
For example, it took an entire year before Chan Yew Leathers could officially launch in Kuala Lumpur. In the lead up to their launch, they had to apply for permits from various departments.
Mr Alvin Lee, Head of Group Wealth Management and Community Financial Services at Maybank Singapore told Lianhe Zaobao that meeting Malaysian regulatory requirements may subject merchants to additional legal costs, which is also time consuming.
He reminds companies to consider the impact of the minimum wage and possible re-implementation of a goods and services tax (GST) on their business.
Malaysia removed the GST in 2018, but the media recently reported that the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research has called on the government to re-introduce the 3% GST because revenue from the sales and service tax is not sufficient to make up for the difference after the removal of GST.
In addition, Mr Lee suggests that companies developing their business in Malaysia can leverage on the free trade zone to obtain tax benefits, including tax breaks and flexible trade regulations. Companies in certain priority sectors are entitled to tax holidays, including reduced import tariffs.
Scoot currently flies to 7 locations in Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang. There are a total of 22 direct flights each week between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
SMEs in urgent need for financing
In recent years, more Singapore tech start-ups are exploring business opportunities in Malaysia. The local SME sector is large and the demand for financing is strong, but traditional financial services cannot satisfy this demand.
Mr Neoh said that because smartphones and digital applications are used more commonly, Singapore tech companies and start-ups have ventured to Malaysia to explore business opportunities, test their solutions or provide services in areas such as electronic payments, B2C urban commuting, and B2B financial technology.
Finaxar, a financial technology company that funds SMEs, entered the Malaysia market in 2018. “We do know the challenges of SMEs in Singapore are echoed by SMEs in Malaysia, and may be to a greater extent than in Singapore,” said Mr Vihang Patel, co-founder and CEO of Finaxar.
SMEs account for as much as 98.5% in Malaysia, and their contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) is growing steadily. This figure is expected to increase from 33% in 2012 to 41% in 2020.
According to a 2016 report from Deloitte, banks can only meet the financing needs of about 50% of local SMEs. SME Corp, the central coordinating agency of Malaysia, estimated that the financing gap for SMEs is about RM80 billion (S$26.3 billion).
Mr Patel feels that the companies operating in Malaysia need to pay more attention to the impact from politics, currency and economic changes, and tailor a risk model from there.
Singapore securities crowdfunding platform Fundnel has doubled its trading volume in Malaysia in the past year. Fundnel's co-founder and CFO Ms Sng Khai Lin said that since the launch of securities crowdfunding by the Malaysian Securities Commission in 2015, the sector has raised a total of RM67 million in funding, but it is only the tip of the iceberg compared to the funding gap faced by SMEs.
She noticed that Chinese investors generally hope to receive documents in Mandarin. "This, in particular, was a point we undermined because we presumed that our platform in English, as a universal language, would suffice."
There are different criterias in Singapore and Malaysia to become an Accredited Investor. To be an Accredited Investor in Singapore, the individual must have a net personal asset in value exceeding $2 million, or has an income of not less than $300,000 in the past 12 months. The requirements for being an Accredited Investor in Malaysia are more achievable, where an individual's net personal asset in value is a minimum of RM3 million (S$1 million) or has an income of not less than RM300,000 (S$100,000) in the past 12 months.
As income and affluence grow, the increasing demand for wealth management services had attracted startup Welnvest to seek out business opportunities in Malaysia. They are currently working with major banks on launching digital wealth management services.
Welnvest founder Mr Bhaskar Prabhakara shared that, in contrast with other countries, some of the local major banks' spending on digital wealth management are relatively low. As Malaysia prepares to issue digital bank licenses in 2020, technology companies such as Grab, Touch 'N Go and Boost are likely to apply. This will spur reforms in the banking industry, quickening the pace for digital services.
Mr Cheong from UOB said that as the digital economy continues to develop in Malaysia, it will create more opportunities for B2B players to provide more services for the local government and companies.
Take for instance Singapore company Aptiv8 IT, which is now assisting a Malaysian public agency to digitise approval procedures. Mr Sam Tay, CEO of Aptiv8 IT expressed that local real estate development, infrastructure, resources and energy construction are flourishing, and these industries need to improve productivity with the use of technology. As such, the company decided to expand into Malaysia after a feasibility study.
Survivor's guide for business owners in Malaysia
By Mr Neoh Yi Liang, Regional Director (based in Kuala Lumpur), Enterprise Singapore
- Learn more about market and business practices, including regulations, consumer preferences, human resources etc. For instance, some companies pay salaries on a weekly basis.
- When communicating with government agencies or business partners, do not assume that email is the only communication channel. After sending an email, follow up with a call or text. People are more inclined to reply with WhatsApp. Understanding official procedures and applications will often make face-to-face meetings more effective.
- Different states have different business practices and consumer behaviours, hence flexibility in management is essential. For instance, Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu have adopted a workweek from Sunday to Thursday, while the working days in other states are from Monday to Friday.
- Pay attention to opportunities beyond Johor and Kuala Lumpur, such as Kedah, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak, where potential exists in industries such as agrifood and tourism.
Source: SGSME © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.
UOB makes no representation or warranty as to, neither has it independently verified, the accuracy or completeness of the information in this article. Any opinions or predictions reflect the writer's views as at the date of this article and are subject to change without notice.


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Cinema shares rose on Wednesday after a report that on-line retailer Amazon plans to spend $1 billion a 12 months on theatrical film releases.
Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, reported that Amazon plans to launch 12-15 movies theatrically, with the push into the native multiplex starting in 2023. An Amazon supply recounts The Hollywood Reporter that planning is simply starting for the theatrical effort, and the precise variety of titles has but to be finalized.
The transfer follows the e-commerce big’s acquisition of MGM Studios for $8.45 billion. MGM is residence to franchises on the large display, together with the james bond sequence, which is a part of the studio’s library of 4,000 movie titles. Amazon at all times needed MGM to maintain making films.
Film shares jumped on information of Amazon’s push for films in theaters. Shares of Cinemark rose $1.47, or 12%, to $13.74 late Wednesday afternoon. The world’s largest chain, AMC Theaters, noticed its share worth rise 40 cents, or simply over 5%, to $7.72. And shares of Imax rose $1.04, or 7%, to $15.48, whereas shares of Cineplex rose 45 cents, or 4.5%, to $10.38.
Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob stated THR on November 10, the cinema chain was in talks with on-line gamers, together with Amazon and Apple, to deliver their movies to its screens.
Plans for a brand new movie effort from Amazon recall Amazon Studios’ push almost a decade in the past to enter the movie business underneath a management regime headed on the time by Vice Chairman Roy Value. and head of inventive growth Ted Hope.
However after an early backlash from exhibitors in opposition to Netflix and different on-line video giants making temporary releases of their film titles in theaters earlier than shifting to streaming companies, main film chains are stepping up negotiations with streamers. as they embrace cinema home windows.
Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video have used film theaters to market their upcoming film streaming releases, and exhibitors need to Netflix to more and more comply with their lead.
Supply : https://information.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmhvbGx5d29vZHJlcG9ydGVyLmNvbS9idXNpbmVzcy9idXNpbmVzcy1uZXdzL2FtYXpvbi1wbGFucy10aGVhdHJpY2FsLXB1c2gtMTIzNTI2OTA3MS_SAWVodHRwczovL3d3dy5ob2xseXdvb2RyZXBvcnRlci5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvYnVzaW5lc3MtbmV3cy9hbWF6b24tcGxhbnMtdGhlYXRyaWNhbC1wdXNoLTEyMzUyNjkwNzEvYW1wLw?oc=5


text: FCA Suspends Wirecard Subsidiary, Locking Up Crypto Card Users’ Funds ByAli RazaPRO INVESTOR Updated: 27 June 2020 The UK’s financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has officially suspended the license of Wirecard Card Solutions (WCS) on Friday. This stands as a unit of the ever-troubled company, Wirecard AG, which itself stands responsible for issuing Visa cryptocurrency debit cards. Big Repercussions Occurring What this means for the public at large, is that some card users, like the Mco visa debit card from Crypto.com, or the Tenx visa debit card, will no longer be guaranteed to have access to their funds, at least for the time being. Both these crypto-enabled debit cards were issued by WCS, which itself is based within Newcastle. The FCA went public in stating that WCS is no longer permitted to conduct any form of regulated activities within the country, including that of disposing of any asset or funds it has available to it. According to the FCA, this decision was made to protect the money of the company’s customers at large. Insolvency Causes Ripple Effect The FCA explained that there are current events happening within Germany in regard to the companies that have been closely linked to Wirecard. The Germany-based parent company of Wirecard, Wirecard AG, is the current subject of interest of the country’s law enforcement, as well as being busy with insolvency proceedings. This all comes from the statement the FCA had made regarding the matter at large. Public Assurances And Workarounds Crypto.com and Tenx, the crypto card operators, has already explained to customers that their respective funds were kept safe. The CEO of crypto.com, Kris Marszalek, gave a public statement as well. He said that the FCA had all but shut down the UK branch of Wirecard. As a result, the European card users will no longer be capable of using their cards until this matter has been fully resolved. According to Marszalek, the EU/UK cards will cease its functioning. However, all customers have been promised to receive 100% of their credit back to their respective wallets, according to Marszalek. He further assured that this would occur within the next 48 hours, as well. He went further, explaining that Crypto.com is taking steps to transfer the card program to a new provider. Should this be achieved, Marszalek explained, the card-issuing within the UK and Europe will be allowed to resume, and will further allow its existing customers, as well as new ones, to benefit from the program once more.


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Indian cricket team opener Shikhar Dhawan, on Tuesday, took to social media to flaunt the new jersey of Team India for the Australia tour. The kit is based on the 1992 World Cup India jersey.
Finer details of retro kit included coloured stripes on the shoulder; exactly as it was in the 1992 India jersey.
India team's new jersey, however, sports the new principle sponsors Byju’s and kit sponsors MPL. The trend of bringing back the retro kit was brought in by the Australian cricket team when they wore a retro jersey against India in January last year. The likes of England and New Zealand soon followed suit.
The Men in Blue will don the new jersey for the three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals before taking on Australia in a four-match Test series. Dhawan took to social media to unveil the first look and said, “New Jersey, renewed motivation, Read to Go.”
New jersey, renewed motivation. Ready to go. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/gKG9gS78th— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) November 24, 2020
After Nike decided to part ways with India, ending its long-term association with the team in September, MPL got the rights for three years. It was later confirmed that the new kit sponsor cannot copy the ‘design’ used by Nike, and thus the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to consult the team for the new design. The squad eventually selected the 1992 kit.
Former India wicketkeeper Kiran More, who was a part of India's 1992 World Cup squad, took to Twitter to express his delight and said he was surprised that the new boys decided to go retro.
Look what I found myself! The original jersey of the 1992 @ICC @cricketworldcup, still fits me very well. It brought back all the fond memories, what a tournament it was, as the great Richie Benaud would say on air: simply superb! #cricket pic.twitter.com/puqpXauUk5— Kiran More (@JockMore) November 25, 2020
“I come across many people who agree that this was the best jersey of the Indian team. The colour is amazing and it is still fresh in people’s minds. It was the first time we played a World Cup in coloured clothing and with the white ball. Ask any cricketer from my generation and they will say the 1992 World Cup jersey is the best. We had played in coloured clothing earlier but not at a World Cup,” More told The Indian Express.
The fan, on their part, were in split as some thought it was a good idea to go retro, some voiced their concerns over the sponsors' logos.
About time we start demanding some basic aesthetic standards from BCCI. Those jerseys for IPL teams and Team India are starting to look like Billboards. Just have one kit sponsor on the jersey and limit the size of the logo. You can earn from selling jerseys if you do them right.— cricBC (@cricBC) November 24, 2020
1992 jerseys were remembered fondly because a) first time most Indians saw coloured Jerseys, b) they were clean, before sponsors took over all ad spaces....— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) November 24, 2020
Now Byjus and MPL (what is that?) look set to ruin that memory
There will come a time when the only thing new about a Team's jersey will be the amount of logos and their placement.#changingtimes #AUSvIND— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 24, 2020
I was so looking forward to the new India kit. Thought nobody could spoil it. But turns out, it is hideous with two huge fonts that overshadow the team's logo. Club teams make better kits these days. This looks pedestrian.— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) November 24, 2020
Scam 1992. pic.twitter.com/NjyidFwXLP— Manya (@CSKian716) November 24, 2020
1992 World Cup jersey replica. Perhaps the best Indian jersey ever. Certainly very high recollection that being the first CWC telecast in India at high quality by private TV channels. https://t.co/9woWlFjfhr— Aashish Chandorkar (@c_aashish) November 24, 2020
New Team India jersey... proper throwback to the 1992 World Cup in Australia.— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 24, 2020
Not sure if it’s only for ODIs or all white-ball cricket. #AusvInd #INDvAUS
Pic credit: @SDhawan25 IG. pic.twitter.com/Dur9azSpXZ
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @SDhawan25