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Welcome to NJ Cannabis Insider
Happy MLK Day weekend, everyone!
Apropos to King’s dream for a diverse America, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission offered a report on its progress for creating a diverse market.
In his presentation today, Diversity Director Wesley McWhite III underlined how two-thirds of the approved licenses are diversely-owned businesses, and that 25% have social equity designations.
Executive Director Jeff Brown noted in his report how the CRC already has more than 1,500 applications in, the majority of which are retail (866). It caught my eye that the CRC already has five Wholesaler, 10 Distributor and 12 Delivery applications among that total. (See what our Weed Prof. has to say about that.)
McWhite also reiterated the state’s launching of the Cannabis Technical Assistance Program and Training Academy — out of the New Jersey Business Action Center — which is designed, in part, to help social equity applicants, including legacy operators.
I’ll highlight here, the Business Action Center has signed on as a partner for our networking event on Wednesday (Jan. 18). Attorney and advocate Jessica Gonzalez, who will run the assistance program for several months, will be among our featured speakers. Read more below.
Inside, find fresh takeaways from today’s cannabis board meeting from Susan K. Livio, and analysis by Jelani Gibson in his Reporter’s Notebook.
And in case you missed, it, we named the 23 people, places and trends to watch this year. Many familiar faces, others new. Read the full list here.
In his State of the Sate Address this week, Gov. Phil Murphy mentioned cannabis as an emerging market that will help many. “We are growing an entirely new and broad-based adult-use cannabis industry — an industry that is making room for women and minority small business owners,” he said, later asking cannabis entrepreneur Darrin Chandler Jr. — one of our 23 to watch — to take a bow for the work he’s done in the space.
We’d love to hear who you’re watching. I’ve already gotten a good tip to follow an emerging organization that made some splashes last year, and is on track to do much more this year.
Also, we are already designing the programming for our March 8 conference in Newark. We want to build on the success of the fall program, going deep one pressing issues, like raising capital, working with towns and navigating the real estate market.
If you’re interested in speaking or sponsoring or both, please reach out ASAP. I’ve made appointments with potential speakers at Zeppelin Hall next week, during our meetup.
Hope to see many of you there.
Take care and until next time…
— Enrique Lavín
Inside this issue
- The Lead: CRC touts ‘diverse market taking shape,’ 56 more business win conditional, annual licenses
- Reporter’s Notebook: Data, conditionals and takeaways from this month’s CRC meeting
- Prof. Mejia’s Weed Corner: More wholesaling and distribution licenses can make market competitive
- Guest Column: Legislative crossroads for N.J.’s cannabis industry
- Industry: Ex-worker sues Ascend Wellness for racial discrimination
- Event: Networking event Jan. 18 to feature Jersey City councilman, state business agency, power players to kick off new year
CRC touts ‘diverse market taking shape,’ 56 more business win conditional, annual licenses
A small but growing number of people with previous marijuana convictions received preliminary approval to operate cannabis businesses in New Jersey, one of several signs that “diverse and inclusive market is taking shape,” according to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission.
During its monthly meeting on Friday, the commission announced that 247 aspiring cannabis business owners with prior convictions have earned at least conditional approvals to grow, manufacture or sell recreational weed products. These applicants include one that now holds an annual license, eight who have successfully converted their conditional license to an annual license, and 153 others with hold conditional or provisional licenses.
Conditional licenses are good for 120 days and may be extended with state permission while the applicant leases a building or and secures local land use approvals.
The 247 of the would-be weed business owners represent 26% of the total 947 applicants to get this far in what many complain is a glacially slow, complicated and expensive process of building an anticipated multi-billion cannabis industry in the Garden State.
There are just 30 licensed dispensaries in New Jersey — 21 of which sell weed to medical card-holders and recreational users 21 and older, and nine which cater strictly to the state’s 114,000 registered patients. Nearly all are operated by large companies that dominate the legal weed market across the country. Recreational weed sales, which began on April 21, generated $196.5 million from April through September, according to the commission.
The commission’s job is to promote three classes of cannabis license holders: those who are diverse — defined as minorities, women, disabled veterans; people from “impact zones” who come from communities disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs, and social equity applicants, who have been convicted of marijuana offenses or are from economically disadvantaged areas.
The most recent applicant data shows “that a diverse and inclusive cannabis market that looks like the diversity of New Jersey is already taking shape,” said Wesley McWhite III, CRC director for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
One-third of all applicants fall into the social equity category, and two-thirds of all applicants are “diversely owned businesses” — women, disabled veterans or minorities, McWhite said.
The law legalizing the cannabis industry expects that minorities, and women and disabled veterans will each account for 15% license holders. McWhite said he was proud to announce that 34% of awardees have come from minority-owned businesses, while 39% are from women-owned entities.
“This is great, great work so far but we certainly want to see these numbers rise,” he said.
The commission has issued 1,500 licenses for the adult-use market, all in various stages of the planning and vetting process. None of these have opened their doors yet. The operational businesses began from the medicinal market which began a decade ago.
In other business, the commission also voted to allow 56 applicants to move forward in the licensing process: Eight annual licenses — five for retailers, two for growers or cultivators and one manufacturer of cannabis products; six graduating from the conditional phase to an annual license and 42 conditional licenses.
The recipients may be found on the commission’s website.
— Susan K. Livio | NJ.com
Data, conditionals and takeaways from this month’s CRC meeting
A lot of data was dropped at the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s January meeting, showing some increased demographics for the cannabis market.
The largest takeaways included 67% of the awardees are diversely-owned and 28% being are designated Social Equity applicants. The commission also pointed to an increase in Disabled Veteran applications.
Now that the data has been established, a lot of attention is going to be paid to those numbers on the state level. That also brings up the conversation on what data is going to look like on the municipal level.
Thus far, Jersey City has been the highest profile municipality to talk about putting their data out there.
Additionally, data on where the money is going from cannabis tax revenue have been consistent talking points at the multiple feedback sessions that the Cannabis Regulatory Commission has been holding.
Expect that conversation on data to also be a lot more high stakes in other cities with large populations that were affected by the War on Drugs, such as Paterson, Elizabeth, Atlantic City, and of course Newark.
Another data piece that’s going to be important to look at in addition to employee data is salary data, which may be a harder sell — but consider this: California just recently passed a law that requires pay ranges to be reported, and even larger companies to report data to the state’s civil rights office regarding pay disparities on race and gender.
Whether the Cannabis Regulatory Commission takes on that role or whether it’s going to be a larger debate in the legislature for all industries is something to monitor.
Colorado, New York City, Washington and other cannabis states have some form of a similar requirement. Jersey City is currently the only municipality that has similar requirements, making their cannabis data all the more of a richer debate.
The price for a lot of cannabis coming out of the stores still remains significantly high
New York’s advantage?
They converted a lot of pre-existing hemp farmers into the cannabis business.
More than likely, more cultivators, wholesalers and distributors could contribute to getting those New Jersey prices down.
Cresco and Columbia
Columbia Care getting bought out by Cresco Labs seems to be a rather straightforward affair.
What’s going to be the most interesting, however, is seeing whether or not the company is going to offer any new products within New Jersey as a result of the merger.
That merger puts it on par now with the other nation’s behemoth, Curaleaf.
Commissioner Maria Del-Cid Kosso did commend Cresco on keeping the collective bargaining agreements that Columbia Care had in place.
“I’m pleased that Cresco Labs is going to honor the labor peace agreement and is going to continue the relationship with labor unions,” she said. “I’m also pleased they’re going to be honoring and continue to move forward with the Columbia Care social equity plan.”
How they plan to expand in the Garden State is going to be something to see.
The conditional license process being streamlined for more individual context was a point that was also highlighted during the meeting.
Municipal approval, real estate and zoning continue to be among the hurdles that cannabis businesses often have to clear.
A lot of prognosticators in the industry have been warning for some time that the cannabis space can expect a large portion of the conditional applicants to get lost at the local level when the rubber hits the road.
There was also talk of having the ability to waive the 365 day operational deadline to get places open.
“It’ll make it easier for us to move on these in a timely manner and hopefully reduce the need to do blanket extensions and focus in [on] more granular [and] specific details,” said Executive Director Jeff Brown.
There were two lines of foul play that were talked about by some folks during the public comment part of the call.
One was about the diversity categories being finessed and the other was one about municipalities engaging in backroom deals, specifically with zoning directors.
One public commenter, Aggrie Byas, described what was going on as an “old mafia shakedown.”
“There are people that make zoning laws that’s plugging in their own friends and cutting other people out,” he said.
“I feel like there is a conflict of interest between zoning officers who are allowing their friends to set up shop, kick other people to the side and using diverse minorities as cover-up and asking for money and percentages on their business,” Byas said.
This has been a recurring complaint with applicants, many of whom are afraid to put their names on record due to the threat of municipal retaliation.
We’ve already talked about an inevitable wave of litigation that can take place over stuff like this, but many applicants lack the capital and the time. As we all know in the cannabis space, lawsuits entail both.
Expect this to be a continuous breaking point in the industry.
Our publication is also dealing with multiple allegations with specific municipalities and we are currently in the process of putting an article together to address many of the same things that were mentioned on the call.
We highly doubt it will be our last.
As more licenses get approved, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission is going to continue to build out. Its data infrastructure will increase and we’re going to start seeing a lot more operators get operational.
That data infrastructure may also eventually force calls on the local level to make sure that the same data is available to residents when it comes to their own community.
The conditional extensions continue to be a point of monitoring. Who will and won’t make it past municipalities, as always, will continue to define a large aspect of the cannabis space.
Eyes continue to be peeled for consumption lounges, wholesalers and distribution licenses, all of which can have an effect on the entertainment value and pricing for cannabis in New Jersey.
— Jelani Gibson
Prof. Mejia’s Weed Corner
More wholesaling and distribution licenses can make N.J.’s market competitive
By Rob Mejia, a regular contributor to NJ Cannabis Insider, is a teaching specialist at Stockton University n Cannabis Studies. He is also the author of “The Essential Cannabis Book” and “The Essential Cannabis Journal.” His cannabis education company is called Our Community Harvest.
In your last visit to a dispensary did you notice that cannabis products from other New Jersey operators were being sold there? For example, looking at the online page of one of New Jersey’s major cannabis operators it is noted that they are also carrying 14 different products from 3 competitors. These products include loose smokable flower, pre rolls, and ingestibles (aka edibles).
Wait. How are they selling and sending cannabis products to another retailer? Isn’t this type of operation supposed to be governed by wholesaling and distribution licenses?
The short answer is yes, but these classes of licenses have not even been announced by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, yet. (Note: In the January board meeting, the commission noted that a handful of these license applications were already in-hand, without much more detail.)
In essence, our market has given MSOs (multi-state cannabis operators) de facto wholesaling and distribution licenses.
It feels like a loophole that these license classes are yet not widely available. And it has given the MSOs another way to expand their market and increase their revenue stream. In essence, their only warehousing and distribution competition is coming from other MSOs.
Recently, we witnessed the long-anticipated opening of an independent medical cannabis retailer. Because this licensee cannot cultivate or process their own product they have to buy from MSOs.
So, again, even the independent cannabis retailers who open up in the short term will be forced to secure and sell product from the established New Jersey cannabis market.
But there are measures that can be taken now. First, the CRC should start processing wholesale, distribution — and for that matter, delivery licenses now. Second, they should mandate that MSOs pay the application and yearly fee for these license classes and should even consider if these fees should be applied retroactively.
Third, a mandatory percentage of these licenses should go to social equity applicants. Finally, it makes sense to combine these two license classes as other states have done.
As the New Jersey cannabis market evolves, we may find that these license classes will be a key to our future. Wholesaling and delivery licenses will provide new opportunities in the cannabis business. When federal legalization happens, New Jersey can provide a large market to cultivators from California, Oregon, Colorado, and beyond.
There will also be strong international demand for classic strains/cultivars such as Acapulco Gold, Panama Red, Jamaican Lamb’s Bread, Malawi Gold, Columbian Gold, and Thai Stick.
The bottom line is that our indoor cannabis cultivators will face real challenges from other mainly outdoor growers who can offer lower prices and unique strains and products. Processors from other states and nations can offer products that are not yet here in New Jersey such as nasal sprays, transdermals, and suppositories.
All of this activity will be a gain for consumers but a test for our cannabis industry.
We do have a small window where we can get in front of some of these issues. One remedy that can be implemented now is to open warehousing and distribution licenses now. It is the fair and right thing to do.
Prof. Mejia’s Weed Corner is a regular column for NJ Cannabis Insider, focusing on news, trends and innovation in the local cannabis market. Reach out to him at email@example.com
Legislative crossroads for N.J.’s cannabis industry
Cannabis is booming in the Garden State.
In the first 10 weeks of adult-use sales, New Jersey generated nearly $80 million in total sales; there are now adult-use dispensaries in 13 of the state’s 21 counties, and myriad bills aimed to support budding entrepreneurs are moving through the state legislature.
To maintain this trajectory, the state must find creative ways to foster innovation in the cannabis industry. Here’s a look at the key crossroads for the state’s industry and what needs to be done to move the space forward:
While the demand for cannabis products throughout the state is overwhelmingly high, supply is meager: just 18 annual licenses have been awarded by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission as of Dec. 2, with more than 900 conditional licensees awaiting approval. For a state with over 9.2 million residents, it’s hard to see how diversity and small businesses can be prioritized with only 18 suppliers.
To meet consumer demand, expand the adult-use market, and crowd out the legacy market, many feel the CRC would be well served if it approved additional annual licenses and streamlined the process of converting conditional licenses to annual licenses.
Opportunities for investments into minority-owned businesses
New Jersey’s cannabis businesses have limited options in securing capital due to the restrictions imposed by federal law. The state should certainly prioritize assisting people with diverse backgrounds to enter the market. Still, without sufficient opportunities for funding, entry is almost impossible for all but the largest brands with existing access to capital, be it through private investors or revenue generated from other legal states.
The state must maintain its commitment to social justice by allowing small minority entrepreneurs a chance to participate.
As the “innovation state,” New Jersey must provide opportunities for investments in minority businesses. One example of positive movement in this direction is S2766/A4151, sponsored by state Sen. Troy Singleton and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, which would make much-needed capital available to women, minorities, and veteran entrepreneurs. The legislation was passed by the Assembly, received in the Senate, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Dec. 15.
During its December public meeting, the CRC approved legal requirements and fee structures for establishing public consumption areas. After the 60-day public comment period ends, the state may opt to move forward with the new rules. New Jersey would join 10 states with regulations that allow social consumption.
Banking protections and regulations
Multiple bills in the state Legislature would secure banking protections for cannabis businesses, which continues to be crucial for their survival. These include:
- A4263, which would protect financial institutions and insurers doing business with the cannabis industry from being penalized by state regulators. The bill was released from the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee in December.
- A3946, which would decouple the corporation business tax from the federal income tax provision that prohibits deductions and credits for cannabis businesses and decouples S-corporation income under the gross income tax from the federal provision. New Jersey’s gross income under the state code “shall be determined without regard to section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code.” The bill passed through the Assembly in October.
Congress is looking to pass legislation to include provisions of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which would protect financial institutions from repercussions should they work with regulated cannabis businesses. Last month, lawmakers attempted to add SAFE banking language into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was undone by Republicans opposed to the measure.
The SAFE Banking Act would also feature restorative justice components, including expungement for nonviolent crimes and reinvestment in communities disproportionally impacted by the war on drugs. Advocates continue to push for federal legislation, but chances are slim for a vote in the near future.
The lack of federal progress toward cannabis banking regulations underscores the need for New Jersey to enact safeguards for its industry. Businesses throughout the state need this reform to ensure their ability to participate in the market.
Ex-worker sues Ascend Wellness for racial discrimination
A former employee of Ascend Wellness Holdings is suing the multi-state cannabis operator, claiming she was harassed and discriminated against by management because of her race and unfairly fired.
The ex-employee, who is Black, filed the lawsuit in Passaic County against Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc., its subsidiary New Jersey Management Group LLC, and two employees. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of harassment and discrimination during the woman’s time employed as a packaging associate at Ascend facilities over the course of approximately one year.
An attorney representing Ascend and its co-defendants did not respond to requests for comment.
In court documents, the defendants deny all allegations and claim to be “without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations.”
Ascend Wellness Holdings is a heavy hitter in New Jersey’s cannabis market and operates three stores — in Fort Lee, Rochelle Park and Montclair — selling medical and adult-use cannabis. The company has operations in four other states: Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts and Ohio, according to its website.
In her lawsuit, the ex-employee says her termination and “the hostile work environment she experienced, were motivated in whole or in part by their (the defendants) implicit and explicit biases against Black people” and violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination and harassment based on actual or perceived race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, and other protected characteristics.
Upper-level managers at Ascend “knew or should have known about the violations” and allowed the discrimination to happen and participated in it, the suit alleges.
The lawsuit details alleged discriminatory conduct by white members of the management team against the former employee. She was insulted and demeaned by managers and followed to the bathroom and break rooms, the lawsuit alleges.
The former Ascend employee also claims she was unjustly targeted for alleged violations of the company’s attendance policy and dress code policy.
The dress code policy, in particular, was disproportionately enforced against black women, the lawsuit claims.
The defendants “only cared about micromanaging and controlling the image created by, and associated with, its Black employees and their cultural and/ or stylistic preferences,” the lawsuit said.
The woman was terminated after two written warnings for violations of the attendance and dress code policies, the lawsuit claims.
The complainant is seeking damages in an unspecified amount, in addition to attorneys’ fees.
Ascend Wellness Holdings is also being sued by an ex-employee in Chicago, Illinois, who alleges she was sexually harassed by another employee for months, terminated unfairly and then denied access to the company’s dispensaries for her prescribed medical cannabis.
That case was in mediation late last month, according to court documents.
— Jackie Roman | NJ.com
Networking event Jan. 18 to feature Jersey City councilman, state business agency, power players to kick off new year
New Jersey’s most influential cannabis entrepreneurs, local lawmakers and a state business agency will help kick off the year for the cannabis industry at a serious networking session on Jan.18 at Zeppelin Hall in Jersey City. Use subscriber discount NJCISUB to register.
Jersey City has emerged as one of the state’s budding cannabis capitals, trying to get in as many entrepreneurs as possible.
Jersey City Councilman Yousef Saleh, who has been one of the city’s most outspoken supporters of the industry, will answer questions during Q&A at the networking event, hosted by NJ Cannabis Insider, the state’s premier B2B publication and events group.
Saleh has said the importance of helping the city’s unlicensed cannabis market transition into an opportunity where they could put their skills to use legally.
“We should reach out to people or have intermediaries to show them the process,” he said. “There’s going to be a struggle, but the city needs to put together an effort.”
This year, industry insiders and outsiders alike are wondering what the market is going to look like now that the infrastructure has been set in place.
Cannabis attorney, educator and advocate Jessica Gonzalez, who was recently named by the New Jersey Business Action Center’s Cannabis Technical Assistance Program and Training Academy, will also speak.
“My hope is we do matriculate a lot of students out of this program who are going to be better equipped to make good decisions on whether they want to enter the cannabis space and what kind of business they want to be in,” she told NJ Advance Media late last month.
In addition, Ed DeVeaux, president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, the state’s defacto Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, will speak about what his trade group sees as opportunities and challenges for 2023.
Vendors and partners:
- Cannaspire (formerly CannaBeSecure), a certified woman-owned business, was founded in 2018 by leading business, cannabis, and Wall Street veterans with over 80 years of combined experience. Starting as a cannabis security service, Cannaspire expanded its offerings and team to meet the growing needs of the market at large for dispensaries, process-manufacturers, grows, and state & local policymakers.
- Insign, a turn-key solution for retail environments, is a family-owned and operated for over 30 years in New Jersey. From Design to fabrication and installation all under one roof, Insign delivers unmatched levels of quality thanks to an experienced and talented design team, as well as a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.
- Stender is a family owned, promotional products supplier to the cannabis industry. While Stender is a new company, its parent company SHC Holdings recently celebrated its 50th year in business. Stender’s global sourcing, along with its fun and creative SWAG aims to leave an impression on anyone who receives a branded product.
- New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, the Garden State’s largest trade group, operating as the state’s cannabis chamber of commerce.
- New Jersey Business Action Center, which was founded 40 years ago, has helped a range of businesses, from wineries, apparel manufacturers and medical device suppliers. With its new Cannabis Technical Assistance Program, it will now work on helping entrepreneurs in the space.
- Stockton University, the interdisciplinary minor in Cannabis Studies offers students a foundation for understanding the burgeoning cannabis industry. Stockton recently opened The Cannabis & Hemp Research Institute, which will research hemp cultivation and develop lab testing.
- Cannabis Insider Jobs, in collaboration with NJ Cannabis Insider, is dedicated to helping individuals find a career in the cannabis industry, leveraging its digital presence through NJ.com’s parent company Advance Local.
Saleh and Gonzalez will be among the speakers invited to talk, starting at 6 p.m., about the industry’s most pressing issues. Networking and the vendor space will open from 7-10 p.m. Price of admission includes two drinks and happy hour eats. Tickets are $125. The meetup takes place at Zeppelin Hall Beer Garden, 88 Liberty View Drive.
There are a limited number of tickets. For more information or to register for the event, go here.
Cannabis Insider Jobs
Immediate hiring needs or planning ahead?
Let’s talk strategy and build your candidate pipeline along with your employer brand!
Contact Deneen Wright, Cannabis Recruitment Specialist, firstname.lastname@example.org or call 201-324-5092.
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Jelani Gibson is the lead reporter for Cannabis Insider. He previously covered gun violence for the Kansas City Star.
Susan K. Livio is a Statehouse reporter for The Star-Ledger and NJ.com who covers health, social policy and politics
Jonathan D. Salant is Washington correspondent for The Star-Ledger and NJ.com.


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Easyship’s platform plugin and integrations enable stores to print labels, automate international paperwork, and display real-time courier rates
Hong Kong-based Easyship raises US$4M Series A [press release]
Easyship, a shipping platform for active SMBs to simplify and automate logistics, announced today it has raised a US$4 million in Series A round of funding from a slew of investors, including Maximilian Bittner, ex-CEO & Founder of Lazada and Senior Advisor of Alibaba Group; and Richard Lepeu, ex-CEO of global luxury giant Richemont and board member of Yoox Net-A-Porter Group.
Existing investors Lamivoie Capital Partners and Richard Lepeu, as well as Rubicon Venture Capital, One Way Ventures, Kima Ventures and Picus Capital, have also co-invested.
The startup was founded in 2015 by Tommaso Tamburnotti and Augustin Ceyrac (both formerly worked at Lazada), and Paul Lugagne Delpon. Easyship’s cloud-based platform helps e-commerce merchants ship worldwide. Its platform plugin and integrations enable stores to print labels, automate international paperwork, display real-time courier rates, and offer their customers dynamic tax and duties at checkout.
The startup has offices in New York, Singapore, Netherlands, Australia, and Hong Kong.
Singapore’s GIC backs EV charging network ChargePoint’s US$240M funding [DealStreetAsia]
Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC has joined a group of investors backing the US$240 million Series H funding in ChargePoint, a California-headquartered electric vehicle charging network, according to an announcement.
ChargePoint claims to have more than 57,000 independently owned public and semi-public charging spots and thousands of customers.
Other investors in the round include American Electric Power, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Chevron Technology Ventures, Clearvision and Daimler Truck & Buses. Quantum Energy Partners was the lead investor.
Korea’s blockchain casino project MECA Casino raises investment from ICON [press release]
South Korea-based blockchain project ICON has made a strategic investment in MECA Casino, a blockchain casino project.
MECA Casino is a DApp (Decentralised Application) of ICON and it is a reverse ICO project by Crypto Meca. MECA Casino has been developing casino games for more than three years and is ready to launch blackjack and baccarat table games. MECA Casino plans to open ‘the largest decentralised casino platform’ including sports betting solution by Q4 of 2019.
‘Master System’ of MECA Casino enables users to become ‘master’ who is an operator of casinos to be profitable from casino operation. ‘Masters’ can upgrade their casinos to attract more players, gain higher profits, and trade casinos with other potential Masters. Players can exchange MECA Coin (MCA) with MECA Chip (MCC) to play games in MECA Casino or trade casinos.
Revolut is ready to launch in Singapore and Japan [TechCrunch]
Fintech startup Revolut has been teasing Asian market expansions for more than a year, but it sounds like it might finally happen. The company has secured licenses to operate in Singapore and Japan. It now expects to launch its service in Q1 2019.
In Singapore, the company was granted a Remittance License by the Monetary Authority and a Stored Value Facility approval — these two things combined let Revolut users hold money as well as send and spend money. In Japan, the company has been authorised to operate by Japan’s Finance Service Agency. __ yahoo news
Samsung to invest $115 billion in its foundry business by 2030
Samsung is earmarking $9.5 billion a year for Samsung LSI and Samsung Foundry.
Samsung Electronics is one of the largest semiconductor players around, and the manufacturer is investing $115 billion (133 trillion won) over the next 12 years to take on Qualcomm and Intel. Samsung says its goal is to become the world leader in semiconductors and logic chips, and the company will invest $9.5 billion a year from now through 2030.
Samsung will invest $63.4 billion (73 trillion won) toward domestic R&D — where it is looking to add 15,000 jobs to “bolster its technological prowess” — and spend $52 billion (60 trillion won) toward production facilities that will make the logic chips. Samsung has long been the dominant player in the memory business, but with that market shrinking the South Korean manufacturer will be looking to diversify.
While the $115 billion seems like a staggering amount at first, it’s in line with what Samsung has been spending in recent years. Just last year alone Samsung invested over $15 billion in R&D, and Intel also spent over $10 billion toward developing new products.
Apple will start selling AirPods 3 by the end of 2019
Apple is expected to start selling third-generation AirPods by the end of 2019. One big difference is that the new wireless headphones will have a noise canceling feature. At the level of the companies that will be involved in this project, we have Inventec, from Taiwan, that will be responsible for the production of the AirPods 3, while Luxshare Precision, also from China, will also receive part of the orders.
AirPods 3 arrive until the end of 2019 with new functionalities
Apple has dominated the wireless headphone market and will continue to do so. Statistics show that this company sold 35 million AirPods in 2018, which translates into a 75% global market share. As we said, the AirPod sales boom is expected to continue, with annual shipments for distribution rising to 50 million devices by 2019.
Of course, when a market becomes profitable, competition arises. Inspired by rising sales of AirPods, many brands like Huawei, Xiaomi and even companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are betting on wireless headphones to meet strong demand.
To meet the challenges of rivals, Apple and its partners want to raise the bar.
That said they will add new features to AirPods 3, including the noise canceling function. However, do not think this is an easy task.
Noise canceling technology consumes a significant amount of battery. Since AirPods are not the king in this field, the runtime may be even more affected.
It is not known now what Apple could do and if it is even going to consider a change in design. Because considering the integration of new features, it may be necessary to increase the size of the battery. This requires more space. However, the solution may also involve shrinking the other components to accommodate the larger battery.
However, in addition to the design change, Apple may also be considering adding new colors to AirPods 3.
Verizon’s new activation fees cost more in-store, less in-app
It’s adding an extra $10 on top of in-person and over-the-phone upgrades and activations.
Verizon has simultaneously slashed and increased its activation and upgrade fees, depending on how you process the transaction. According to CNET and reports posted online, you now only have to pay $20 if you upgrade your device or activate a line on the carrier’s website or the My Verizon app. That’s down $10 from the previous $30 fee for either service. However, if you walk into a store or call the company’s phone line for upgrade or activation, you’ll now have to pay $40 instead.
A Verizon spokesperson described personal and over-the-phone transactions to CNET as a “full-service experience,” perhaps suggesting that those channels deserve the extra $10. The company is probably hoping to discourage people who can do things on their own from engaging customer service and sales reps, though what the fee adjustments mean for employees remains to be seen. The Redditor who posted the news on the website claimed to work for an indirect store and said employees aren’t getting a pay upgrade despite the higher fees. We’ve reached out to Verizon for confirmation and will update when we hear back.
Samsung harps on picture quality, smart apps in new OLED TV
What Apple’s products could look like without Jony Ive leading design
For World Emoji Day, the Unicode Consortium redesigns its site to be more user-friendly
Instagram will now hide likes in 6 more countries
Twitter launches the ‘Hide Replies’ feature, in hopes of civilizing conversations
How Apple factory workers steal pieces of new iPhones — and sometimes get away
Microsoft wows Inspire crowd with language-translating HoloLens hologram
Microsoft is starting to force-update Windows 10 machines from version 1803 to 1903
iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 developer beta 4 are now available to download
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Jun 10, 2014
Gameloft has just announced an upcoming collaboration with Marvel in the name of Spider-Man: Unlimited. The game will be a 3D web-runner based on the iconic comic character.
The game promises to have all off the Spider-Man basics framed in New York, with the Formidable Sinister Six serving as main villains. According to the press release, different Spider-Man incarnations will also make appearances, and fans can play around with 23 of them. Other villains also show up.
Both Gameloft and Marvel are clearly excited about the group effort. â€œGameloft is once again honored to be working with the timeless super-hero universes created by Marvelâ€ says Karine Kaiser, Gaeloft’s VP Marketing & Licensing. â€œWith Spider-Man Unlimited, players can expect a faithful recreation of the Spider-Man comics through an incredible narrative runner experience.â€
â€œGameloft has done a great job of creating a true to character Spider-Man experience for mobile gamers,â€ says Javon Frazier, Marvel VP of Games Marketing. â€œFans of all ages will enjoy the endless action of running, swinging and fighting through villains across New York City.â€
Spider-Man: Unlimited is due out on multiple platforms in the Fall of 2014.


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Saturday, October 1, a similar scene is playing out everywhere in France: the definitive closure of the Camaïeu shops.
Hugs between vendors and customers, tears, guards of honor, chocolates, flowers and champagne are legion.
The crowd and the emotion came to win the 511 stores spread across France: a true declaration of collective love for the 2,600 or so employees, who will be abandoned to their fate the same evening.
Several videos relayed on TikTok - seen hundreds of thousands of times for some - show long queues at the checkout, crowds, favored by the attraction of the clothes on sale, but also the desire to "help" the sellers through a revenue pool dedicated to financing severance pay.
In three days, it raised 25 million
Internally, we are talking about figures never recorded over this period of time.
A consequence of the liquidation of Camaïeu, decided seventy-two hours earlier by the Commercial Court of Lille.
Long described as the flagship of French clothing, the northern brand, created thirty-eight years ago by four former executives of the Mulliez group, had made a special place for itself in the hearts of French women who had designated it as their "favorite clothing brand" in the 2010s, ahead of H&M, Zara and Comptoir des Cotonniers.
In video, the fashion industry in 12 figures
Cruel irony of fate, it was on a day of Paris Fashion Week that the sign with the pink and flowery logo definitely lowered its curtain.
Yet often used as a banner for societal or geopolitical causes (the last mobilization dates from March 2022, in favor of Ukraine, with parades evoking the conflict and demonstrations of support for the country), the unmissable event for the industry of fashion has not echoed this subject.
No statement deploring a social drama and the disappearance of Camaïeu, a name that marked the landscape of clothing in France for nearly forty years.
The mid-range brand, which has gained its popularity by selling basic clothing at affordable prices (between 20 and 40 euros on average) while playing the proximity card,
is gone for good, in the indifference of his peers.
But not in that of his clients whose numerous testimonies in the press deplore the end of a "family".
Read alsoCamaïeu liquidated, 500 shops closed, 2,600 jobs cut
Strengthened by this close and loyal relationship built up with its customers, Camaïeu started out with a competitive advantage in the world of mass-market fashion.
However, the end clap was anticipated in recent months due to the financial difficulties that the brand had been going through for several years.
Already weakened by digital competition, the brand has not recovered from the Covid years.
Forced to close the doors of the shops during the pandemic, the management refused to pay its rents despite a call to order from the courts, which had the effect of aggravating an already substantial debt.
Which did not settle with the cyberattack suffered by its online sales site in June 2021.
Read alsoAccessible fashion brands are the favorites of the French
And the multiple changes of hands since 2016 have not made it possible to raise the bar.
More comfortable in the field, with physical stores (the fashion brand was the one with the largest number of stores in France) than in the online business strategy, the brand paled in comparison to the offers in permanent ultra fast fashion discounts.
His clothes had become too expensive for a young generation fed with constant renewal, at prices still very attractive.
Designed on the fringes of trends, without any real positioning, they also took the opposite direction to that of a sector claiming to make a more ethical or inclusive shift.
Added to this is a degraded brand image.
In particular in 2013, following the collapse of Rana Plaza, in Bangladesh, which killed 1,138 people: in the middle of the rubble of this textile factory, labels and Camaïeu pants were found.
Then, in January 2022, due to a campaign, on the e-commerce site, made of images of women with bruises on their faces.
The goal ?
Raise awareness on the issue of violence against women.
Result: a flood of criticism for the brand, accused of “washing feminism” and caricatural representations.
The end of Camaïeu probably says a lot about the changes in consumption patterns.
Brands no longer exist just to tell us how to dress, but to integrate environmental, societal and economic concerns into the design of their clothes.
Should we nevertheless ignore this social drama that is being played out in the clothing industry?
At a time when the sector is weighed down by in-store sales which have plummeted since 2020, an entire industry is indeed concerned.
Just like the human gaze that we cast on its actors.


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Motor vehicle enthusiasts are up for an extraordinary treat during the first weekend of July. Come Saturday, July 6, the Durban Dash will be driving through Newcastle.
The Durban Dash was created several years ago and sees participants drive from Randburg to Scottburgh for the Scottburgh Classic Car Show.
What makes the Durban Dash unique is that all forms of vehicles can participate in the event. With no rules on the type of vehicles allowed to enter the Durban Dash, the event promises to be a must-attend day out.
After all, the term vehicle covers any form of motorised road transport, from motorbikes and cars to tractors.
However, only pre-1975 vehicles can enter the Scottburgh Classic Car Show.
Before the Durban Dash participants depart and head to the Scottburgh Classic Car Show, they will be showcasing their cars at Amajuba Mall parking lot from 8 am until 10 am on July 6.
A truly unique event, the Old Hooters Club will be showcasing their vehicles alongside the Durban Dash participants.
The Newcastle community is invited to show their support and admire the various motor vehicles which will be on display.


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Cherrywood Interiors are proud to announce the arrival of their new website. Our new site provides details all of our services for new kitchens, bathrooms and fitted bedrooms. There are countless types of kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms with all manner of combinations for style, finish, appliances and accessories and it would be impassible to show all of then on our website. We have however, chosen a few of our favourites to highlight the high quality work we can deliver for a new kitchen, bedroom or bathroom.
We will also be posting our latest Company News on the site which will be a place to catch up not only on news at Cherrywood, but information on new products and innovations in the industry.


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Around one third of staff working in guest houses, hotels, restaurants and pubs are now employed on zero hours contracts, according to the latest Travel & Tourism Survey conducted by MHA, a UK-wide association of chartered accountants and business advisors.
Yet, despite the flexibility that this arrangement offers employers, more than 60% of these staff regularly work 20 hours or more – with more than three quarters of these routinely employed for 40 hours per week.
The survey paints a picture of an industry starting to benefit from an upturn in trading conditions, with 56% reporting improved profitability in the last 12 months and 58% predicting that 2014 will be better still.
However, 50% cited turnover either stagnant or growing by less than 5% over the last 12 months.
The association's head of travel and leisure, Andrew Burnham, said: “The travel and tourism sector is emerging from a sustained period of low growth, but with discretionary spending improving across the economy as a whole, the hope is that – weather permitting – the year ahead will see the return of profitability capable of supporting future investment plans.
“One indicator of this growing confidence is the number of employees working extended hours on zero hours contracts – this sector was always going to be an adopter of this employment option, but the numbers working what might be considered a ‘standard’ working week suggest that this arrangement is working for both parties.”
Almost a quarter of the operators covered by the survey look set to increase investment this year in premises refurbishment, while 16% will be spending more on marketing – particularly social media – to support business development.


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NEW YORK, N.Y. – Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Friday on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market:
Aeropostale Inc., down $1.11 to $3.41
Even in the dismal landscape that is the retail sector, the teen clothing store’s outlook caught many industry analysts off guard.
GameStop Corp., up $1.55 to $38.43
Despite the entry of retail giant Wal-Mart on its turf, the videogame seller continues to surprise investors with big profits.
Foot Locker Inc., up 75 cents to $48.92
Profit margins are improving and the shoe store’s quarterly results topped Wall Street expectations.
Lennar Corp., up $1.55 to $40.54
Americans are house hunting again after a pause, sending sales up 6.4 per cent last month and pushing homebuilder shares higher.
The Fresh Market Inc., up 45 cents to $29.15
The supermarket outperformed its peers in a rough consumer climate and it matched diminished first-quarter earnings expectations.
FireEye Inc., up $1.10 to $33.39
A nearly 30 per cent decline the network security company’s stock price elicits an upgrade from analysts at Barclays.
TiVo Inc., up 26 cents to $12.19
Brean Capital believes that the company is on the verge of better things after booking a very strong first quarter.
PTC Therapeutics Inc., up $4.71 to $20.03
The company’s drug Translarna for treating a type of Duchenne muscular dystrophy moved closer to approval in the European Union.


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Oculus has announced that they are considering adding mobile support for Rift, their upcoming Virtual Reality headset.
Speaking with Edge Online, CEO Brendan Iribe had this to say, “It’s the innovation, and how fast cellphones are now improving.
“Where we’ll be with the next Galaxy or the next iPhone compared to where consoles are. Those things are almost doubling every year, compared to a console that’s just stuck it out for eight years. It just makes us very excited.”
Iribe also recently expressed his hopes for Sony and Microsoft to enter the virtual reality race, “There’ll be other people that end up doing VR, it’s not like Oculus is going to be the only VR provider – and I think there is a lot of innovation still to come.
“This is one year in, right? Imagine where we go in the next eight to ten years. It’s going to accelerate so quickly, with the resolution, positional tracking, hand tracking – you should be able to be in there and see your hand without any latency in the future, and you should be able to look at other avatars in the game and see mouth tracking without any latency tied to voice.”
The Oculus Rift developer kits are currently out with a consumer-oriented version called "Oculus Rift 2.0" currently in development and slated for a 2014 release.
What do you think?


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What has been happening around Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrencies this week? The most relevant local and international developments as well as appealing background reports in a pointed and compact weekly review.
Stablecoins, blockchain tokens tied to the value of a FIAT currency, represent a critical pillar in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Mostly pegged to the dollar, they are an integral part of countless tradable currency pairs on exchanges as well as decentralized lending platforms. Ultimately, stablecoins serve to bypass volatility-prone cryptocurrency exposure without having to leave the blockchain ecosystem. However, because these tokens can be exchanged 1:1 for the respective FIAT currency, its issuers hold a role that was previously reserved exclusively for central banks and the banking system. Accordingly, stablecoins have repeatedly been perceived by regulators as a threat to monetary sovereignty. Just a few months ago, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called for a complete ban on the sector. This week, however, a Biden administration working group advocated for an integration into the existing legal system. By putting stablecoin issuers on an equal playing field with regulated banks, the Treasury hopes to increase transparency, control, and security without strangling significant innovation in the process.
Bitcoin comes with a clearly predefined monetary policy that is equipped with a decreasing inflation rate. This clearly differentiates the cryptocurrency from common fiat currencies. In an environment of rising inflation rates, the digital currency is therefore increasingly coming onto the radar of institutional investors as an inflation hedge. Recently, companies have begun to include the asset as an asset on their balance sheets. Among the best-known pioneers is MicroStrategy. CEO Michael Saylor likes to compare Bitcoin to digital gold, but believes the cryptocurrency is a better option than the precious metal. Similarly, Paypal co-founder and venture capitalist Peter Thiel believes that cryptocurrency price trends prove that existing inflation fears are real. Thiel’s company Palantir is now considering a foray into crypto by adding the digital asset to its balance sheets. The company has also already started accepting Bitcoin as a payment method from customers.
In developed nations that have an accessible and intact financial system, cryptocurrencies are often perceived as nothing more than a pure speculative tool. However, a look at poorer regions of the world reveals the actual potential of the technology. Large parts of the world’s population are still denied access to the banking system. In developing countries, Bitcoin is increasingly serving as the only way to gain a gateway into the economic system. At the same time, it provides inflation protection against the often strongly depreciating local currency. Africa’s example is a powerful demonstration of how businesses and individuals are benefiting from Bitcoin. Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria, already fully regulated and legalized cryptocurrencies and issued guidelines for companies. Following the full Bitcoin implementation in El Salvador, other African and Latin American countries could subsequently consider the crypto alternative.
If Bitcoin is used as a payment method, alternative solutions are necessary due to the limiting network properties of the cryptocurrency. Centralized services such as PayPal and Visa offer hybrid solutions for fast Bitcoin payments, but this comes with compromises in terms of security and decentralization. The Lightning network, on the other hand, is a multi-tiered, decentralized solution built on the Bitcoin blockchain as the settlement layer. By using payment channels, the second-layer solution stays true to Bitcoin’s original vision as a peer-to-peer network. The integration of the Lightning network into the Salvadoran economy led to explosive growth in terms of deposited Bitcoins and effective user numbers.
In addition: Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were particularly popular in the art industry in their early days. Unique images with proof of ownership on the blockchain were immediately popular and are currently traded with weekly volumes in the triple-digit millions. However, the use cases of NFTs go far beyond digital image trading. In addition to the gaming industry, the technology also has the potential to disrupt the music industry. With the emergence of streaming services like Spotify, the industry has already gone digital. This trend is paving the way for new innovations related to NFTs. The unique tokens have the potential to significantly change the traditional business field of music artists. Moreover, NFTs can serve as a tool to build closer and more exclusive relationships between artists and their most passionate fans.


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The proof-of-work (PoW) algorithm which is being used by bitcoin and various other cryptocurrencies is not something to depend upon in the long-term and this will need a replacement soon, claimed a new study from the Bank of International Settlements (BIS).
BIS is considered to be the central bank of central banks and this bank, on Monday, went on to publish a research report stating that PoW, which is being used by Bitcoin and many more crypto-companies, uses a network of powerful computers with the help of which, it secures the network, but this is “extremely expensive” and the only alternative is to “stop/quit” using such an algorithm.
The author of the research report is Raphael Auer, who is a principal economist for the monetary and economic department at the BIS who went on to say that there were two fundamental economic limitations of the PoW algorithm. The first one being that bitcoin is vulnerable to double-spending or 51 percent attacks, which means it will need “extremely expensive” protection which would be based on PoW. The second reason being, when the system stops awarding bitcoin as rewards to miners, the algorithm won’t have the ability to generate transaction fees which would be in line with the goal of guaranteeing payment security.
He further suggested- “Simple calculations have suggested that once block rewards become zero, it might take months before a bitcoin payment is finalized and unless new technologies are deployed to speed up this payment finality method, bitcoin will not be of much use.”
Auer went on to say that blockchain tech developments need to speed up their payment finality and this will help them keep the liquidity of cryptocurrencies intact.
He added- “Second-layer solutions like the Lightning Network might prove to be of some help, but the only fundamental remedy to this problem would be to quit adieu to proof-of-work, and this would apparently require a better form of social coordination or institutionalization. But the lightning network is also not ideal and has its cons. For example, it can be seen that there will be a trade-off between efficiency and centralization in the presence of a scaling solution. Such solutions are no magic bullets since they have their own scaling issues.“
The research paper stated that, as of Jan. 3, 2019, a total of 362 committed bitcoins out of 544 committed bitcoins had been associated with a single website, which meant two-thirds of the lightning capacity at the time was being controlled by one entity.
Auer stated that he believes that it is essential to look at the bigger picture and answer how the crypto ecosystem might be able to complement and improve over the existing monetary and financial ecosystem instead of replacing it.
He concluded thus- “The current technology doesn’t seem to replace the current monetary and financial infrastructure. Instead of focusing on this, the question is how technology might be used/tweaked to complement the existing arrangements.”
In September, the BIS published a report on crypto markets which indicated that “their valuations, transaction volumes, and user bases reacted substantially to news related to regulatory actions” since they have largely remained unregulated.


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Manchester retail and leisure destination intu Trafford Centre has welcomed high-end accessories brand Coach, with the luxury retailer’s first standalone store in the north west.
Coach is the latest high-profile brand to choose intu Trafford Centre which already offers the widest choice of leisure and retailing in the north west. Luxury children’s designer clothing retailer Kids Cavern recently opened at the centre, stocking over 120 of the world’s biggest designer brands including Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, and Givenchy. Selfridges also completed a refurbishment of its accessories hall this year with new brands and services including Aspinal of London, The Restory, FROG and Astrid and Miyu.
Work is currently underway on the £75 million transformation of intu Trafford Centre’s Barton Square which will add another 110,000 sq ft of space to the popular retail and leisure destination.
Colin Flinn, regional managing director, said: “Coach is the perfect addition to the centre’s unrivalled line up of retail and leisure. Nowhere else in the UK outside of London can draw on such a large and affluent population so we know Coach will thrive here.
“Our work at intu Trafford Centre is focused on helping all our customers flourish, and creating a destination with a ‘wow factor’ that will bring more brands and unique experiences to make our visitors smile. We’re investing millions of pounds to enhance the centre’s retail and leisure offering by transforming Barton Square and creating 110,000 sq ft of additional space for new brands.”
Coach has a long-standing reputation built on quality craftsmanship. Defined by a free-spirited, all-American attitude, the brand approaches design with a modern vision, reimagining luxury for today with an authenticity and innovation that is uniquely Coach. All over the world, the Coach name is synonymous with effortless New York style.
The transformation of intu Trafford Centre’s Barton Square will also add a new glass-domed roof and a fully redesigned interior under intu’s plans to expand and refresh that area of the centre. It will open in Spring 2020.


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Great news Seinfeld fans, an earlier announcement that Seinfeld would be coming to Hulu now has a date set in stone.
Hulu just announced that they will premiere the entire Seinfeld catalog through their service starting June 24th:
Premiere date: Entire series streaming Wednesday, June 24
Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards
Synopsis: One of the most popular, most award-winning and longest-running comedy series of all time will be available to stream – in its entirety – for the first time ever on Hulu beginning June 24th. Jerry Seinfeld stars as a stand-up comedian whose life in New York City is made even more chaotic by his quirky group of friends who join him in wrestling with life’s most perplexing, yet often trivial questions. Often described as “a show about nothing,” Seinfeld mines the humor in life’s mundane situations like waiting in line, searching for a lost item, or the trials and tribulations of dating.
This was one of the most expensive distribution rights purchases for any streaming service thus far, dwarfing the Netflix purchase of the rights to stream Friends in 2014.
All nine seasons of the world’s most famous show about nothing will be streaming for Hulu’s paying subscribers exclusively.


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That’s right you heard it here first: after endless mind maps, mood boards, spider diagrams and cups of tea the team at Trinity News is proud to announce the re-launch of our website, trinitynews.ie, and what a site it is!
Crucial to the redesign of the website has been an emphasis on accessibility of content and ease of comment. That’s why when you visit the site you’ll not only have access to news and views around college as and when they happen; but you’ll also be able to comment on them, to have your say and get your voice heard.
So if that article about gay rights got you riled, if you don’t agree with that one on internships or if you just want to rant about something you read in the paper hit trinitynews.ie and comment away.
Oh, and don’t forget, Trinity News is completely independent so we won’t edit or block your comments – what you say is what gets posted.
As well as all the top quality student journalism that you find in our print edition, our website will also be home to oodles of unique content.
The beauty of our new site, and the team dedicated to updating it, is that you don’t have to wait a full fortnight to find out what’s happening in college.
We’ve spent the last few months interviewing top celebrities and opinion makers from around the world and you can read all of them first online – from comedy legends Stephen Merchant and David O’Doherty, to international superstars such as Clive Owen and world-famous thinkers like Alain De Botton trinitynews.ie is the home of the interview.
Aside from our brilliant news, sports, features, opinion, science and business sections the new website will also hold a myriad of blogs. When it comes to sex, relationship and lifestyle advice our agony aunt Jamie Elder will be on hand to offer her unique blend of factual information and no-nonsense advice.
For those of you with concentration spans shorter than the girls’ skirts at Coppers we have created our Procrastination Station.
Here you’ll find videos, articles and online games that will help you whittle away boring hours in the library all of which will be updated daily.
Our team of Professional Procrastinators are already busy trawling the web to find the latest and funniest viral videos – so sit back and relax: we’ll get a 2:2 so you don’t have to!
We at Trinity News HQ (a little room above the SU shop) have also cottoned-on to the fact that no-one’s got any money at the moment which is why we’ve teamed-up with the guys at Vavavouch.com to offer unique Dublin-wide deals.
Accessing a deal couldn’t be easier – simply hit-up our site, cruise the available deals, click on the one you want and print-off the voucher. We have made it so simple you don’t even need to sign-up!
We’ve made huge progress with the site, but we’ve got even more plans and you can find out the latest developments by following us on Twitter (@Trinity_News) and by finding us on Facebook.
If you want to get involved with our exciting new website just ping an email to [email protected].


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Data and Competition regulation have been traditionally delineated, with the European Competition Commission [“the Commission”] consistently holding that data privacy issues would be subject to combination regulation only to the extent that they would hamper competition. Similar sentiments were echoed when Google acquired DoubleClick, an advertisement platform that specialized at targeted advertisement monitoring advertisement performance. The combination sought not only to merge Google’s presence in the search engine sphere but also to merge the vast troves of personal, sensitive data that both entities had amassed from their users. The Commission noted that any privacy concerns that emerged from such a merger would have to be governed exclusively under relevant data protection laws.
Such an approach stems from multiple reasons: First, as questionable as the data privacy policies of companies like Google may be, they ultimately enrich consumer experience. Second, if consumers do not like the way that their data is being handled, they are not restricted from seeking out alternatives that are more privacy-friendly. Finally, modern data economies lack the conventional price aspect, aptly being described as “zero-price” markets, in which consumers do not pay a monetary value for the use of these services. The data that they generate, both while using these platforms and otherwise, becomes the price paid to avail these services. Consequently, there are no price rises that affect consumer welfare.
This article will demonstrate why these reasons must be revisited, by demonstrating that the aggregation of data in combinations does result in harm to competition, in line with the dual goals of conventional competition regulation: Consumer welfare and promoting competition.
Network effects: A stumbling block for conventional competition regulation
The above-mentioned view taken by the Commission in Asnef and DoubleClick continued to be unconditionally accepted until 2016. The reason that such an approach is harmful is that it does not address the problem of “network effects” in digital platforms. Simply put, the network effect is a phenomenon in which consumers are seemingly free to choose from any number of alternatives, but are actually restrained to using the platform with the most users, due to costs of migrating, and there being no means of cross-platform communication between those users who choose a privacy-friendly platform and those who choose the platform that is most popular.
To demonstrate the actual harm of not addressing network effects, there is a benefit to be had in examining the Commission’s decision to clear Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014. The Commission noted that “any privacy-related concerns flowing from the increased concentration of data within the control of Facebook as a result of the Transaction do not fall within the scope of the EU competition law rules but within the scope of the EU data protection rules.”
The above is a case-in-point illustration of how data privacy interests have been neglected in pursuing effective competition regulation until recently.
Loss of control over data: A market failure
In a seminal development, the German Competition Commission supplied the nexus for regulating data within competition law. It was laid that the harm to consumers was not in the form of price rises but in the loss of control over data, which was the natural consequence of Facebook abusing its dominant position. The decision elucidated that illusory consent to data policies, which a consumer may provide simply to conclude the contract, does not equate to effective consent, and borrowed heavily from Article 6(1a) of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679. This decision is seminal because it breaks away from the norm of using price as the determining factor in assessing abuse, highlighting the argument that financial or economic harm is not the sole manifestation of abuse.
Recommendations and Conclusion
Notwithstanding such debate, the immediate way forward to address tangible harms for both consumers and market players is clear. As regards harms for consumers, a single institution that would regulate competition with data concerns is recommended. The impetus arises from divergent opinions taken by Data and Competition regulators. For instance, when Google sought to acquire FitBit, the European Data Protection Authority issued statements highlighting the privacy concerns of the merger. However, the Commission stated that its assessment of the acquisition will not include privacy concerns.
With regards to harm to the competition that arises from the concentration of data, structural separations are recommended. For instance, the U.S. House Report on Antitrust demonstrated various ways in which data concentration stifled competition. Google, for example, had near-perfect real-time market information that it could use to its advantage, stemming from the fact that competitors had to rely on the Google Play Store to capture a market share. Its tie-ups with smartphone manufacturers lead to Google apps being pre-installed in every smartphone that uses the Android OS, further aggravating network effects. Further, companies like Google utilize super-profits that are characteristic of the data economy to subsidize their entry into adjacent platforms. In this regard, the U.S. House Report suggested structural separations of businesses and prohibition from the acquisition of adjacent lines of businesses.
The author is a fifth-year student at Symbiosis Law School, Pune
[i] Maria Wasastjerna, Competition, Data and Privacy in the Digital Economy: Towards a Privacy Dimension in Competition Policy? (Kluwer Law International 2020) 152.


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microsoft - search results
If you're not happy with the results, please do another search
Because the US government is making this deal happen, Donald Trump believes it should be paid for its hard work.
The company has confirmed to the Trump residency that it is indeed looking to purchase the social media platform.
The collaboration will see Mastercard Labs serve as a platform to bring more ecommerce innovation to the fore.
Don't like the Microsoft Store or Xbox Game Pass? Good old Steam will also sell Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Tarsus Distribution says it is working with Microsoft Distribution Managed Partners and limited retailers to bring the products to market from August onward.
South Africans will be able to access a unique course by Microsoft and its partners next year.
Following last week's webinar, we asked Microsoft SA a few more questions on how it plans to deliver on its global digital skills initiative locally.
We look at Microsoft's new global skills initiative, the social engineering that led to a Twitter hack, and the impressive Ghost of Tsushima in this week's africast.
Following its global skills initiative announcement at the end of June, Microsoft SA has unpacked what will be happening locally to deliver on the objectives.
With a new console set to be released later this year, Microsoft is halting production of the Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition consoles.
If you have money to burn, and you live in Europe, consider this throwback version of Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Following on from an announcement that Microsoft Surface hardware is finally coming to SA, we now know which two devices will be first.
A new Together mode, Dynamic View and other features have been added to the mix for Microsoft Teams.


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Love them or hate them, there is no denying that Lady Gaga and Cyndia Lauper are two of the world’s most, well, colorful performers. Accordingly, they are right at home as the ambassadors for MAC’s latest Viva Glam campaign. Established in 1994, the Viva Glam program supports men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDs globally—each and every penny raised as part of the campaign goes towards the MAC AIDs Fund. Earlier this year, the campaign released two lipsticks—Viva Glam Gaga (a light blue pink) and Viva Glam Cyndi (a light coral red)—and now, the campaign is launching lipglasses and makeup bags.
The Viva Glam Lipglasses come in two similarly stylish shades: Viva Glam Gaga is a light blue pink; Viva Glam Cyndi is a mid-tone dirty coral. The lipglasses will be available through March 2011. As for the makeup bags, pick your favorite pop star and you’ll get a lip-shaped pouch emblazoned with their autograph.
The Viva Glam Lipglasses ($14.50) and Makeup Bags ($28) will launch in MAC stores and select department stores, as well as online at MacCosmetics.com, on September 2.
Images: MAC Cosmetics


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China's largest publicly-traded developer is buying a majority stake in at 130 West 42nd Street, a 30-story office building for $125 million.
Real estate funds are receiving more investment from pension funds, endowments and institutional investors.
Madison Capital is buying a retail space encompassing at least 32,000 square feet at 549-555 and 557-559 Broadway in Soho for $400 million. Asking rent for the new ground-floor retail space will likely exceed $1,000 per square foot. Scholastic paid $25.5 million for the 10-story property at 557-559 Broadway in 2010, and $255 million for the 12-story property at 549-555 Broadway last year.
361 Central Park West - the developer's plans would see a gut renovation of the church's interior, plus the addition of windows and a penthouse to the property. Pending approval from the full community board, the developers would still need the city's Board of Standard of Appeals to sign off on the project.
A community board panel agreed to an exemption for a Manhattan developer's plans to convert a landmarked Upper West Side church into a condominium.
Following Gucci's sale of 685 Fifth Avenue last year for $460 million, Gucci is seeking about 70,000 square feet and weighing a possible relocation to Lower Manhattan. Gucci has already moved its retail store to 50,000 square feet in Trump Tower at 721 Fifth Avenue.
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation and 21st Century Fox are considering jointly developing a new 88-story skyscraper at the World Trade Center site, and moving their headquarters there. The developer Larry Silverstein has the rights to build the 3.1 million-square-foot 2 World Trade Center, the fourth and final office tower at the site. The proposed new skyscraper would complete the World Trade Center complex that was destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001. It removes any uncertainty that the new trade center would be a major economic engine and it validates the 15-year effort to rebuild the World Trade Center.
Peter Fine's $13 million purchase of a Lower East Side synagogue and nursing home will go before a judge soon, amid opposition from congregants who believe the synagogue president has ulterior motives. Fine has plans to develop the Home of the Sages at 25 Bialystoker Place, along with two adjoining lots, into housing. Because of the synagogue's nonprofit status, a judge must approve its sale. But congregants say that the trustee and president of Home of the Sages, obtained approval for the sale through a shadow board, none of whom attend the synagogue.
The owner of a Midtown office building filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to save the building from being auctioned off. The property at 315 West 35th Street is 63,000-square-feet. The office building is supposed to be converted to condominiums and was about to be sold for $40 million, which would cover the roughly $30 million owed to creditors. The property was bought in 2006 for $16 million.
Joseph Safdieh's Safka Holdings is suing Joseph Sitt's Thor Equities and General Growth Properties, claiming he was bilked out of purchasing a prime piece of real estate on West 57th Street. Safka is asking the court to terminate Thor's contract and is looking to get back into the deal. Safdieh claims in the suit that he planned to buy the landmarked, four-story property at 220 West 57th Street in 2013 for $65 million. The 22,000-square-foot building houses Lee's Art Shop and comes with 126,000 feet of development rights.
Vornado Realty Trust is looking to upgrade the area around Penn Station, by investing money in retail space, public plazas and infrastructure. Office buildings in the blocks surrounding the station are currently considered to be in a second-rate location, which causes them to bring in relatively low rents. Vornado, which owns about 9 million square feet in the area, is looking to invest hundreds of millions of dollars. If the REIT succeeds, it could add significant value to its properties, such as the 57-story 1 Penn Plaza.
The Moinian Group's 3 Hudson Boulevard, the proposed 66-story, 1.8 million-square-foot tower, has yet to receive official approval from the city, but is likely just months away from securing a key anchor tenant. There are no plans to start construction on the tower without the security of at least a 500,000-square-foot tenant.
Bank of China is readying to move into the nearly completed 7 Bryant Park, but contrary to what was previously expected, the bank will be occupying only 40 percent of the tower. The bank bought the 30-story, 471,000-square-foot property for a reported price of nearly $600 million at the end of last year. The deal is for a long-term leasehold, about 60 percent of that space will be up for lease, adding to Midtown's Class A vacancy. The figure makes sense given that Bank of China was initially in talks to be a flagship tenant occupying just a portion of the tower, before deciding to acquire the building.
A bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of RadioShack's estimated 1,700 stores to the electronics retailer's biggest shareholder.


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The man arrested outside the Liffey Meats plant in Ballyjamesduff yesterday has been released from Garda custody.
A Garda Spokesperson told Northern Sound that he was released without charge in the early hours of this morning.
Protests are continuing in Ballyjamesduff and Clones today. It comes as independent analysis shows farmers are getting 50 percent of the retail price of beef.
The slice a farmer is getting is central to the ongoing dispute, which sees increasingly heated protests outside meat factories.
Farmers claim they’re only getting 20 percent of the price, while factories claim they’re getting 63 percent.
Thia Hennessy is a professor in agri-food economics in Cork University Business School. She says research suggests neither figure is accurate:


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MasterCard has added NBS Technologies’ Xpressi Trusted Service Manager (TSM) platform to its list of approved products. Earlier this month, NBS announced that the platform has been chosen by an unnamed Turkish customer.
- HSBC and First Direct join Pay by Bank app
- Apple Pay in-store adoption is “growing nicely”
- Apple details Touch ID and PC-to-phone payment security features
- Samsung reveals S8 with multi-biometrics, Samsung Pay reaches quarter of a billion transactions and adds online payments
- Dunkin’ Donuts customers get mobile ordering through Google’s navigation app


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NEW DELHI: Korean smartphone maker Samsung topped LTE device shipments, with a 35% market share in 2015, a CMR finding Thursday said.
Chinese device vendors such as Lenovo and Xiaomi, according to the study, trailed with 21% and 10% of the pie in the LTE smartphone segment respectively. The CMR study ranks India's Micromax at fourth position with 4G shipment contributing to only 8%.
LTE or Long-Term Evolution is a standard for 4G communication technology.
The total LTE device shipments in the country reached 33 million in CY 2015, the Gurgaon-based research firm said in a statement.
The 4G device segment that CMR tracks include smartphones, tablets and data cards, representing 98%, 0.9% and 1.0%, respectively to the overall market during CY 2015.
“Contrary to 3G evolution, the 4G ecosystem provisioning has been much rapid,” CMR lead analyst Faisal Kawoosa said, adding that 4G has come at a very opportune time to give impetus to the growth of devices market resulting in such a high growth.
The study revealed that global and Chinese brands were strongly positioned in 4G technology segment while Indian brands contributing a mere 14% with Micromax being the only Indian brand at the fourth slot.
With all major operators embracing it, especially with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel’s full-blown 4G launch, the Indian market is heading towards a 4G era. The ecosystem is only expected to further catalyze the growth, Krishna Mukherjee, analyst at CMR Telecoms Practice said.
Vodafone's board was unhappy with Read's lack of progress in delivering growth and has tasked his interim replacement, finance director Margherita Della Valle, with accelerating "the execution of the company's strategy to improve operational performance and deliver shareholder value".
An official in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said BSNL, with some 111 million wireless subscribers, will aim to launch 4G services by December or January, and gradually roll out the network across the country.


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Larry Mathews, who earned a reputation as New York’s most wide-awake hairdresser by opening what seems to have been the city’s first 24-hour beauty parlor to serve insomniacs, talk-show guests, showgirls and other working women, died on Tuesday in Aventura, Fla. He was 86.
His family announced his death.
Mr. Mathews served the nocturnal need of those seeking teasing, frosting, cutting, waxing, eyebrow enhancement, nail coloring, blow-drying and more. Clients — who he said included Jacqueline Susann, Eleanor Roosevelt and Marilyn Monroe — were invited to play backgammon or sip a cocktail as their appearances became more pleasing.
The beautification enterprise belonged to an era when, at least in memory, more places seemed to be open much later in New York, if not all night. At 4 a.m., you could down a cheeseburger at the Brasserie in the Seagram Building, take a Turkish bath at Luxor Baths, shoot a game of pool at McGirr’s Billiard Academy. You could buy a coconut at a Ninth Street fruit stand or a potted palm on Lexington Avenue.
As Mr. Mathews saw it, his all-hours beauty parlors (he eventually had dozens) fulfilled an urgent demand.Continue reading the main story
“I’m sort of like a surgeon,” he said in an interview with The New York Times in 1976. “Not looking good is like a cancer. There’s a lot of pain in not being beautiful.”
At his peak in the early 1970s, Mr. Mathews had expanded his after-hours cosmetology concept across the nation to 131 salons, from Miami to Las Vegas to Hollywood. He sold the chain in 1974.
His commitment to convenience was shown by regularly sending a limousine to pick up a woman’s wig in the morning so his staff could set it and comb it, then deliver it in time for an evening engagement.
His beauty ventures also included a line of copies of famous French fragrances like Chanel and Joy. The perfume industry sued and lost.
By accident, when Mr. Mathews was trying to build a machine that would not burn women during waxing, he developed a cream for painless depilation. Called Hair Off, it became a staple in beauty parlors and later was sold for home use.
Mr. Mathews could wax eloquent on the subject of body hair.
“Women shouldn’t shave,” he said to The Times. “You shave and you’re growing a beard all over your body. You’re making stubble for yourself.”
Hair Off, by contrast, left only baby fuzz, he promised.
Mr. Mathews learned some photography in the Army and after his discharge set up shop as a studio photographer, specializing in publicity stills for aspiring starlets. Before he snapped the photographs, he liked to work on their eyes and mouths, which led him into theatrical makeup and cosmetics.
His clientele was showgirls at the Copacabana and the Latin Quarter, so a 24-hour beauty salon seemed a logical step. He opened his first in 1953 in the Great Northern Hotel on West 57th Street near Carnegie Hall, enabling him to cater to show-business people. He reasoned that a hotel was a nice location for all-night beauty parlors because there was someone protective in the lobby.
All his stylists were men who specialized in the exotic coiffures the Broadway-type customers requested. Free makeup consultations were available on the first visit if women wanted them.
Despite having many well-off customers, Mr. Mathews was provocatively populist when it came to the sacred cows of the beauty business.
“No haircut is worth $50,” he told The Times. “Every month you have to have it cut again. It’s ridiculous to spend $35 to have your legs waxed. It’s even more ridiculous to spend $100 for an ounce of perfume.”
His solution to the perfume question was his line of copies of French fragrances, developed in Switzerland and sold for $10 an ounce. As for hair, he said in an interview with The Times in 1961 that wearing wigs could cut a woman’s beauty bill by 40 percent. He said they remained set for as long as three months.
Asked who would buy them, he answered, “About half the regulars at the Copacabana.”
Mr. Mathews is survived by his daughter, B. Ryan, and three grandchildren.
John Leonard, in the 1976 “About New York” column in which Mr. Mathews was interviewed, summed up his achievement as a beauty magnate.
“In this town, at 2 o’clock in the morning,” he wrote, “you can’t get into most churches, but electrolysis and pedicures are a cinch.”Continue reading the main story


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Published on July 3rd, 2015 | by admin
Xbox Newsbeat – 3 July 2015
The Forza Garage is Now Open! New Car List Confirmations for Forza Motorsport 6
Ten FIA Formula E cars making their debut in Forza Motorsport 6
Starting now and leading up to the release of Forza Motorsport 6 on Sept. 15, we’ll be revealing more details each week on the full car list for the game, including additional information on the new tracks being brought to the racing world.
The Forza Garage announcement kicks off with a bang with ten FIA Formula E cars making their debut in Forza Motorsport 6. The original 2014 Renault Spark SRT_01E made its worldwide debut in Forza Motorsport 5 as a DLC car – this time, the entire field of the 2014/2015 FIA Formula E season will be represented for the first time in a console racing game.
Take a look at some of the cars below:
- 2015 Formula E #55 Amlin Aguri Spark SRT_01E
- 2015 Formula E #11 ABT FE 01
- 2015 Formula E #10 Trulli Spark SRT_01E
- 2015 Formula E #99 NEXTEV TCR FE01
- 2015 Formula E #27 Andretti Formula E Spark SRT_01E
- 2015 Formula E #21 Mahindra M2Electro
- 2015 Formula E #9 e.dams-Renault Spark SRT_01E
- 2015 Formula E #6 Dragon Racing Spark SRT_01E
- 2015 Formula E #2 Virgin Racing VIR 01E
For all the latest Forza news and upcoming announcements around Forza Motorsport 6, please check the Xbox Wire.
New Xbox Features in Preview on Windows 10 and Xbox One
More fantastic features launching this month, have a look below.
Earlier this month, big announcements were made at E3 about bringing two highly-anticipated features to Xbox One preview program members—Xbox One Backward Compatibility and game streaming from your Xbox One to a Windows 10 PC. This month there are more new Xbox on Windows 10 features launching in preview this month.
Xbox on Windows 10
First up, new features for the Xbox on Windows 10 app:
- My Games – A key ingredient of the Xbox on Windows 10 app is making its initial appearance this month, enabling you to add and launch Windows games from the new My Games menu.
- Game hubs – You can now launch a local PC game from its game hub, view details about the game in the Windows Store, and find and follow People to Watch for a given game.
- Share with your friends – With this preview release, you can share your achievements to your Activity feed and Showcase just like you do on Xbox One.
- Xbox avatars – We renamed the Avatars app on Windows 10 to Xbox Avatars and the layout and iconography have been updated to final designs.
- Xbox account – In preview, you can sign in to Xbox on Windows 10 with any account, and create a new Xbox account if you do not already have one.
Xbox One Preview
Please continue sending your feedback on the two new features we launched in Xbox One preview earlier this month – Xbox One Backward Compatibility and game streaming. In addition, the team is continuing to test the Miracast functionality in the Wireless Display app and appreciates your patience while we iron out the kinks.
Stay tuned to the Xbox Wire to stay up to date with all the latest Xbox features coming your way.
Xbox at gamescom 2015
Details for the next big event!
In early August, the collective eyes of the gaming world will look toward Cologne, Germany for gamescom, the largest consumer gaming show on earth. Xbox will be there in full force for a variety of events, many of which you can watch online if you’re not able to make it to the show. It’s going to be a fun, exciting time in Cologne, so we really hope you can join us either in-person or online. See you in Germany!
gamescom 2015 Xbox Briefing
Wednesday, 5 August 2015 at 12:00 a.m. AEST
During our E3 2015 Xbox Briefing, we shared the first part of our vision for the future of Xbox gaming. That will continue when the Xbox Team takes the stage the evening before gamescom officially kicks off to share the latest on the games coming to Xbox One, including highly anticipated titles like Scalebound, Quantum Break, and Crackdown. We’ll take a closer look at those and other upcoming games, as well as share some exciting announcements. So tune in to the gamescom 2015 Xbox Briefing on Xbox One, Xbox.com, Xbox 360, and Windows Phone to get the latest news and see some hot trailers and demos.
The Xbox booth at gamescom
Wednesday, August 5 – 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. CEST (Note that this is for press/trade only)
Thursday, August 6 through Saturday, August 9 – 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. CEST
Sunday, August 10 – 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. CEST
gamescom is the world’s largest consumer video game show, giving fans who purchase tickets the chance to take a closer look at the future of gaming. Come join us in the Xbox booth on the show floor to go hands-on with the greatest line-up in Xbox history. From Halo 5: Guardians and Forza Motorsport 6 to Rise of the Tomb Raider, we’ve got some amazing titles for you to play in the booth and watch in our comfortable theatre. Get an early taste of the games you’ll be enjoying, both this holiday and in 2016.
If you’re in Cologne, come join us in the Xbox booth on the show floor to go hands-on with the greatest line-up in Xbox history.
We’ve got an amazing line-up planned for gamescom 2015 and can’t wait to share it with you. Stay tuned to the Xbox Wire for all the latest updates, and get ready for a year of awesome Xbox gaming!
Watch the MINECON livestream this weekend on Xbox with Twitch
It’s almost here!
MINECON will arrive this weekend and from July 4-5, players of all ages and all corners of the globe will gather in London to celebrate Minecraft and its community.
MINECON will host Minecraft-related discussion panels and gameplay sessions, as well as keynote speeches from members of the community, building contests, costume contests and exhibits, making this the biggest event yet.
The team at Mojang invites you to tune in to the show throughout the weekend through the official livestream, which will be hosted on Xbox One and Xbox 360 through the Twitch app and available on Twitch.tv.
In addition fans can see events as they happen on the Mojang YouTube Channel.
Three streams will be live at twitch.tv/minecon throughout the weekend:
- twitch.tv/mojang– The main MINECON stream, from the Studio in the Expo Hall (North Halls)
- twitch.tv/mineconstage– Dedicated Main Stage Stream (South Halls)
- twitch.tv/mineconpanel– Dedicated Panel Room 1 Stream (S1 & S2)
The full viewing schedule is as follows, all times are in AEST:
Saturday, 4th July
- 7:00pm Streams Live
- 7:30pm- 8:30pm AEST – Opening Ceremony (Main Stream and Stage Stream)
- 8:30pm Saturday – 4:00am Sunday – Day content from Studio, Main Stage and Panel rooms throughout the day (all streams)
Sunday, 5th July
- 4:30am – 1:00pm – Re-stream of content from the day (all streams)
- 7:00pm Streams Live
- 7:45pm – 8:00pm – Welcome! (Main Stream)
- 8:00pm Sunday – 2:00am Monday – Day content from Studio, Main Stage and Panel rooms throughout the day (all streams)
Monday, 6th July
- 2:00am Monday – 3:00am Monday- Closing Ceremony
- 3:30am Monday – 10:30am Monday – Re-stream of content from the day for global audience (all streams)
For all the latest Minecraft news and everything out of MINECON 2015, check out the Xbox Wire.


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There's a huge amount of growth to come from the interactive sector.
“Thankfully, business is well up on 2009, which was the worst year of most people’s careers. We are delighted to have survived the tough trading conditions by working very hard and thinking fast, to seize opportunities that did exist. The interactive sector has a huge amount of growth to come.
However, while the sector enjoys strong long-term underlying growth, as more new platforms emerge and more people start playing interactive games, it has not been immune to the recession. The console games sector in particular (PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox platforms) has seen faltering sales totals for boxed games at retail. However, they are buoyed by the key trend for games to become available by direct digital download and also by hardware technology innovation.
This chiefly comes in the form of the new motion sensor controllers for PlayStation and Xbox, which lend themselves to new game types and new licences.
The real excitement in the market at the moment centres around app stores, especially Apple’s for the iPhone and iPad devices. The business model of good revenue returns and reasonable development costs has seen thousands of apps being launched.
The challenge they all face is how to get noticed in the crowd by consumers, which happily for us, leads many developers and publishers to look for famous brand licences. There is also lots of activity in social media games – like Facebook’s Farmville and Pet Society – which have made impressively large revenues from selling ‘virtual goods’ through micro transactions.
Everyone knows that digital media is going to become more and more important, whichever industry they are in, retailer or not. Many companies struggle to get to grips with the transition from their traditional business models and methods. Happily, that leads to some of them asking us to lend them our expertise and find them specialist partners/licensees. The best example related to the merchandise licensing industry is the fact that new IP is emerging from new media and not from movies or TV. For example, LittleBigPlanet, Simon’s Cat and Gummy Bear.
Retailers can no longer play safe by relying on broadcast media exposure and viewer data. Yet, it remains very, very difficult to persuade a retailer to order stock of say, Gummy Bear, instead of just doing Winnie the Pooh again for the umpteenth year.
I think the rest of 2010 is going to turn out well for the sector. The recession still has everyone by one ankle, but business confidence is returning as individuals and companies realise that they have not suffered like those in other sectors. There is always something new happening in the interactive sector and it is a growing market, not mature or in decline like many merchandise categories.
For us, we have Gummy Bear, Me To You, Mr Men and Little Miss and Chris Hart’s How To Draw.
I see growth in our sector coming from market penetration of casual gaming devices and high speed internet.”


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By Nirmala Menon
OTTAWA--Canadian producer prices were flat in May as higher prices for petroleum and coal products offset lower costs for primary metal products and lumber, Statistics Canada said Friday.
The consensus call was for prices to edge up 0.1%, according to a report from Royal Bank of Canada.
Petroleum and coal products prices rebounded 1.1% after two consecutive monthly declines as a result of higher prices for gasoline, which rose 3.6% in the month. Prices excluding this group were down 0.2%.
Prices for primary metal products shrank 1.1% as prices of gold and gold alloys, silver and platinum fell. Nickel and aluminum products prices also dropped.
Lumber and other wood products prices declined 1.1%.
Meanwhile, prices for raw materials used by manufacturers rose 0.2% following two straight months of declines, driven mainly by higher costs for animals and animal products, as prices of hogs and cattle for slaughter increased.
The consensus call was for prices to rise 0.4%, according to the Royal Bank of Canada report.
Write to Nirmala Menon at firstname.lastname@example.org