text:
Logitech Transitions its Video Collaboration Portfolio to Recycled Plastic and Next Life Materials
Logitech has announced that all video collaboration devices that run on the CollabOS operating system will now be manufactured with next-life plastics, helping enterprise customers support their sustainability objectives. Existing products– Rally Bar, Rally Bar Mini, Tap IP, Tap Scheduler, and Scribe– are being refreshed with materials that lower the carbon impact of each product. This provides organizations with a partner that in turn helps position them to better manage their carbon footprint.
“By transitioning our portfolio of conference room devices to a lower product carbon footprint, we are helping other companies navigate their sustainability challenges,” said Prakash Arunkundrum, Chief Operating Officer at Logitech. “We’re not only designing and manufacturing new products with recycled plastic and other lower-carbon materials but refreshing existing products to provide IT leaders with a new way to evaluate their workplace technology investment in conference room systems – one that includes people and planet. We do this without increasing prices or compromising the highest quality and performance companies expect from Logitech.”
Efforts to reduce negative environmental impact have rapidly become a business imperative. In a recent survey of IT professionals by analyst firm Frost & Sullivan, 65% say that becoming a leader in environmental, social, governance and sustainability practices is a critical or very important business objective in the coming year.
Applying Design for Sustainability (DfS) principles to Logitech’s video collaboration portfolio means that Logitech customers can outfit entire conference rooms– including Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms–with technology designed with sustainability in mind. This development expands on the progress already achieved with personal workstation peripherals such as webcams, headsets, mice, and keyboards.
Design for Sustainability (DfS)
A key tenet of DfS is the use of circular materials that can be recovered from the waste stream and given a second life, including post-consumer recycled plastics (PCR) that Logitech calls “next-life plastics.”
Newer conference room products like Logitech Sight use:
- Minimum of 50% certified recycled plastic
- 21% reduction in carbon footprint
- 1,400tCO2e avoided carbon per 100,000 units (enough to drive around the Earth approximately 131 times)
Additionally, Logitech video conferencing products have:
- Low-carbon aluminium is made with renewable energy rather than fossil fuels
- Packaging from FSC-certified forests and other controlled sources
- 100% recycled fabrics in the Rally Bar family
- Option to collect and recycle old video conferencing equipment via Logitech Select
- Power saving modes that can potentially reduce Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini’s carbon impact by 1.65 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
Opening Access for Greater Impact
Logitech has decreased its Scope 3 emissions by 21% in 2022 to remove more carbon than it creates by 2030. To drive carbon reduction at an even bigger scale and stimulate industry-wide progress, Logitech is offering to openly share its DfS principles, tools and its knowledge of how to incorporate more sustainable materials in the manufacturing process with any organizations in the consumer technology industry interested in increasing their sustainability efforts.
Transparency and Accountability
As more companies hold themselves accountable for measurably reducing their carbon impact, they increasingly seek out technology vendors who provide transparency via key performance indicators, reporting, and third-party certifications. Logitech is on track to achieve its 2025 target of having a product carbon footprint for every product in its portfolio, making it easier for company technology buyers to make informed decisions about–and report on– the scope of their impact when outfitting their global workforces for meeting rooms, personal workstations, and flex desking. Logitech annually reports on its progress toward its Climate Action goals in the 2023 Impact Report.


text:
Americans spent cautiously in May despite stronger income growth, a weak performance that indicates the economy is struggling to expand in the first half of the year.
Personal spending, reflecting what households pay for everything from groceries to doctor visits, rose 0.2% in May from a month earlier, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The rise was entirely linked to higher prices and came after a flat reading in April. Adjusted for inflation, spending dipped.
ASOS Coupon 20% off over $50
Extra 30% off - SHEIN coupon
Sign up for emails and get 20% off PrettyLittleThing discount code + $1 shipping
- American Eagle Outfitters:
Get 15% off American Eagle promo code with text alerts
Up to 15% off + free shipping at Wayfair
Kohl's coupon - 30% off sitewide for Rewards members

domain: news


text:
Viraj Gandhi, managing director and CEO, The Medicine Shoppe India, has said the company is planning to be 200 store-strong by end of this year. The immediate expansion ambit is the country’s western region. Subsequently, the northward expansion will be scheduled. At the moment, the company has 120 stores.
Pharmacy-chain Medicine Shoppe International (MSI) is part of $75-billion Cardinal Health Inc. MSI is present in India through its master franchisee, The Medicine Shop India, managed by licensee Melrose Trading Co. Private Limited


text:
The Art Market
By Carol Vogel
Published: May 14, 1993
There's no making sense of this spring's auctions in New York. Even the experts, trying to analyze the sales of Impressionist, modern and contemporary art in the last two weeks, are baffled. Taken as a whole, the sales at Sotheby's and Christie's were a four-night roller-coaster ride on which the highs rose beyond anyone's expectations and the lows hit with a resounding thud.
Instead of one solid auction market, this spring's sales, which ended on Wednesday night, showed a market divided. The difference between a weak market for contemporary art and a strong one for Impressionist and modern art was glaringly apparent, what with an utterly disastrous sale of Andy Warhols at Sotheby's one week and a record $28.6 million price for a Cezanne at the same house the next.
In contrast with the Impressionist and modern buyers, the players in the contemporary-art marketplace are a totally different and larger group who follow trends more closely. Even in more consistent times, it has historically been a more volatile segment of the market. Contemporary art saw the greatest inflation in the boom years of the late 1980's and the most violent crash in the slump that began two years ago. And judging by the results of the sales at both Christie's and Sotheby's last week, the contemporary-art market is still struggling.
To compare sales totals is to notice the difference between the two markets. Sotheby's sale of contemporary art totaled $15.4 million, while Christie's auction made $14.3 million. By contrast, Sotheby's Impressionist and modern auction made $86.84 million, and Christie's brought in $59.9 million. The Champion: Impressionism
The strength of the Impressionist and modern sales was by far the biggest surprise. At moments in both auctions, it felt like 1989 again, that golden year of record highs and bidding wars, when even paintings deemed hard to sell by the experts were fought over. This season, estate property, the bread and butter of the auction houses, was scarce, and many collectors who didn't have to sell preferred to hold off, waiting for a clear signal that prices were on the rise. But both Sotheby's and Christie's were able to secure a few great paintings. And each brought great prices.
By far the star of the last two weeks was Cezanne's "Still Life With Apples," from 1890-94, which sold for a staggering $28.6 million at Sotheby's on Tuesday night, setting a record for the artist. (The previous record for a Cezanne was $17.1 million paid at Christie's in London in November 1989, at the top of the market.) The price was particularly amazing when you consider that two years ago Sotheby's entire spring sale of Impressionist and modern works made only $18 million. The painting was sold by George Embiricos, the Greek shipping magnate who had bought it for $252,000 at a sale of the well-known Jakob Goldschmidt collection in 1958 at Sotheby's in London. "I don't think there was anyone who would have guessed the Cezanne would go that high," said Diana D. Brooks, Sotheby's president and chief executive. "It means a picture can bring more than $25 million again, and that's very encouraging."
Also encouraging for Sotheby's were results from several other top works up for sale that night. Among them was Matisse's "Fatma the Mulatto," from 1912, which sold for a healthy $14.3 million, just $200,000 shy of a record for the artist. The price surpassed Sotheby's estimate of $10 million to $13 million. "Fatma," one of the artist's great Moroccan figure paintings, was sold by the heirs of Josef Muller, a celebrated collector from Solothurn, Switzerland.
Perhaps the painting's price was a sign that the Matisse fever seen in November isn't over. Last fall's auctions coincided with the Museum of Modern Art's Matisse retrospective, an event that experts say helped inflate prices for the artist's works. Two works in particular, "Asia" and "Harmony in Yellow," sold in November for $11 million and $14.5 million, respectively. At Christie's on Tuesday night, a beautiful, though less important, Matisse fared well, too. "Laurette With a Cup of Coffee," from 1916-17, estimated at $800,000 to $1 million, was bought by the New York dealer Richard Feigen for $1.04 million. The Middle Ground
While Christie's sale on Wednesday night had no $20 million-plus paintings, the auction clearly rode the crest of Sotheby's success the night before. Its blockbuster work, Monet's "Jetty at Havre," sold for $9.6 million, just below Christie's high estimate of $10 million. The painting was being sold by Motoaki Ishizuka, a Japanese inventor who is an active collector. Another high price was paid for Degas's "Russian Dancers." from 1895, estimated at $2.5 million to $3.5 million. After a round of particularly aggressive bidding it finally brought $6.2 million, nearly double its pre-sale estimate.
"There was more bidding than at any sale I can remember, even at the top of the market," said Christopher Burge, president of Christie's in New York. But he warned that estimates should remain conservative. Indeed, while basking in the week's success, experts at both auction houses are cautious, pointing out that except for the top works, general price levels have fallen back to 1987-88 figures. "It's still a very tender market," Mr. Burge added. "But the fact that we saw more activity is an encouraging sign."


text:
Despite releasing in 2015, it would seem as though Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege is more popular than ever. In the lead up to Operation Void Edge’s release date, the team-based tactical shooter saw its concurrent players on Steam peak to an all time high of 178,000. Since the start of 2020, Siege has seen a surge in players, with Operation Void Edge’s upcoming release likely to affect this even further.
We recently reported that Rainbow Six: Siege had hit 55 million registered players. In the the wake of that, Ubisoft announced that the shooter would be supported on next generation systems, and that crossplay was currently in consideration. Furthermore, the publisher announced Siege’s next big update: Operation Void Edge. With the update expected to be released some time in the beginning of March, it would appear as though the excitement has boiled over, leading to the Steam concurrent players hitting an all time high.
With 178,419 players, this beats the previous concurrent record of 176,208 back in March 2018. PC concurrent figures are likely even higher, with the game also available on Ubisoft’s own Uplay launcher – although figures are not publically available.
Rainbow Six: siege is currently 60% off on Steam (£6.79). Alternatively, the Ultimate Edition is 45% off (£39.04), which gives access to the Year 1, 2, 3 ,4 and 5 pass – which includes the upcoming Operation Void Edge. It’ll be interesting to see where the concurrent players land when Operation Void Edge releases next month.
KitGuru says: Do you still play Rainbow Six: Siege? Are you looking forward to Operation Void Edge? How many concurrents do you think the game will hit come the release of Void Edge? Let us know down below.


text:
Wearable gadgets like smartwatches have seen a lot of hype but little commercial success. An obvious obstacle is that teensy touch screens can make these devices difficult to control.
At Google's I/O developer conference this year, wearable devices and self-driving cars took a backseat to virtual reality, machine learning and phones that have a freakishly deep level of awareness. These were the five things at I/O you need to know about.
Swatch Group, the world's largest watchmaker, will launch its own Internet-enabled smart-watch in two countries this summer, Chief Executive Nick Hayek said.
Google this week will make a renewed push for developers to work with Android for wearable devices, Internet-connected TVs, cars and virtual reality at its I/O conference.
Pebble’s simple take on the smartwatch trumps Google’s best—so far.
Movado Group Inc. said its profit halved in the first quarter, as the luxury watchmaker was hurt by slowing growth in the watch industry and the stronger dollar.
See photos of the pop star’s famed property, which is now on sale.
HAX will now match $200,000 in seed funding for founders who raise capital beyond the initial $100,000 that the accelerator invests in them.
Daniel Matte thinks smartwatches have advantages over both smartphones and tablets. Kevin McCullagh just sees a niche product.
Bojangles, the southeastern chain known for its chicken ’n biscuits, priced its IPO at $19 a share, at the high end of expectations.
A support page on Apple’s website confirmed that some tattoos can disrupt the Apple Watch heart-rate sensor.
A research firm took apart the Apple Watch Sport and calculated the cost of parts and assembly at $83.70, or 24% of the retail price.
The Apple Watch arrived with plenty of fanfare. It's less clear how many people will buy it. Do you think smartwatches will be a hit? Take our poll.
Some facts about Nidec Corp., the little-known motor maker that has emerged as a key parts supplier for the Apple Watch.
A key component of the Apple Watch made by one of two suppliers was found to be defective, causing limited availability of the highly anticipated new product.
Intel Corp. is reorganizing operations responsible for helping move it into new products, a move expected to change the role of a prominent executive who led the chip maker’s push into wearable devices.
The Apple Watch doesn’t appear to be as profitable as some expected, at least at the outset. But that hasn’t cooled Wall Street’s hopes for the device.
Apple Watch may not be as profitable as some had hoped. But Wall Street still has high hopes pinned on the company's first smartwatch.
Some analysts detected a lack of enthusiasm in Apple CEO Tim Cook's answers to questions about sales of the Apple Watch during a conference call Monday.
A new version of Google Glass is in the works and will be out soon, the chief executive of Italian eyewear maker Luxottica said Friday.


text:
Kingdom Hearts 4 and Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link were officially announced at the series’ 20th anniversary celebration.
The footage shows an artistic style that is very similar to the previous games, but this time in a more realistic look.
Square Enix has also confirmed that the game is in “early development,” so the wait can be tough.
Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link is a new iOS/Android game that features familiar 3D action from mainline entries and has a closed beta test planned for later in 2022.
It is set within the realm of Scala Ad Calum and will allow players to “attach”. Discover more of a new, original story in an exciting battle against the Heartless.”
It was also announced that the final chapter of Kingdom Hearts Dark Road will be released in August 2022 as a free update to the Kingdom Hearts Union – Dark Road app.


text:
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has launched the Swavlambh Bharat Abhiyan aimed at making India self-reliant, particularly in employment generation. The ambitious project has been taken up by the highest decision-making body of the RSS, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha. The aim is not to be dependent on the government largess, but to augment village economy and create jobs.Unemployment and migration forced by job search, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic, were among the key issues on which the Opposition had targeted the BJP in recently concluded Assembly elections, especially in Uttar Pradesh. The RSS project aims to ensure that India returns to the “golden days of being the entrepreneur” and strengthen manufacturing to give a fillip to the local economy. The TeamThe nodal body for the abhiyan is the Swadeshi Jagran Manch and includes RSS affiliates like Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Laghu Udyog Bharti, Sehkar Bharati, Grahak Panchayat and Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad. The program is being mentored by Dr Krishna Gopal, Sah Sarkaryawah, RSS. The ModelThe RSS has decided to rope in all of its affiliates, especially those engaged in economic activities, to spearhead the coordinated effort to create employment locally and market local products. Sources said that in boosting local economy, the producers — women from self-help groups, farmers and artisans — will also get share in profits generated from marketing and sale of the produce. The plan is to seek help from private entrepreneurs, small businesses, government agencies (central and state) and to help start-ups and self-help groups financially. ALSO READ | After Winning Historic Second Term, Yogi Govt Embarks on Dream of $1 Trillion Economy by 2027“Bharatiya economic model needs to be human-centric, labour-intensive and stresses on equitable distribution of benefits,” reads the statement issued by the RSS in Ahmedabad. In order to ensure that unemployment will not be an issue in political discourse, the RSS is working on an elaborate plan which seeks to ensure that people in villages and cities get a skill upgrade and are not dependent on the government to provide them with the jobs. Simply Desi, launched by Sahakar Bharti to bring the cottage industry on a global platform by involving self-help groups, was unveiled by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. “Self-help groups have been involved in this project and the incentive is not just to help them market their produce but also give them share in the profit,” the RSS statement adds.The PlanThe RSS believes that the Indian economy used to be based on small-scale and micro-economy that had cooperative movement at the core of it. With the government focusing on MSMEs and now having a separate ministry of co-operatives, it hopes to aid the government and be aided in return. There will be coordinated efforts within the Sangh and its affiliates, and also organisations that are working in the society. The plan also aims to encourage the industries to become a partner. One of the first steps would be to change the mind-set of the young generation. This is where the RSS student wing, the ABVP, comes in. “ABVP will work on broadening the mind-set of school and college students. There would be motivational lectures on campuses by those who have become first-generation entrepreneurs and are success stories. The new national education policy has all this included in it,” said a senior RSS functionary.Another RSS functionary explained, “This is an effort in a direction where we need to change the mind-set of how the young generation thinks. They need to start thinking about becoming an employer than an employee.”Laghu Udyog Bharti and others will work on small businesses and start-ups as well.“We have women working at home. We call it the invisible economy. We will ensure that the project gets converted into product and women are centric to such initiatives that are being planned,” stated the RSS functionary quoted above. Initiatives will include encouraging small groups of people to start co-operatives and avail loans. Efforts will revolve around finding the produce, refining the product and tying up with the industry or government departments for packaging and marketing of such products, sources said. “It is important to build an environment in the society conducive for those who would want to venture into the world of entrepreneurs,” said the source.The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh will focus its energy on developing modules on agri-related industries and helping farmers. Uttar Pradesh’s ‘one district, one product’ is being cited as a model example.“There will be committees in every district and no one will be untouchable to seek support, be it politicians, youngsters or students. We will build an eco-system where employment is generated organically. Even to the extent of providing platforms for start-ups that face many problems while securing loans,” stated Ashwini Mahajan, national co- convenor, Swadeshi Jagran Manch.The Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram will focus on tribal communities and rural economy. According to Atul Jog, Akhil Bhartiya Sangathan Mantri of the affiliate, there are approximately 12 crores tribal people in the country. “The minor forest produce of every village can be processed and marketed to contain migration from villages to the cities. FPOs can play a major role in generating employment in villages,” added Jog. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch will concentrate on boosting manufacturing. According to Mahajan, ever since China came to the WTO in 2001, India’s manufacturing has been hit. “Our manufacturing was 16% of the GDP that could have been taken to 25%. However, our growth pattern shifted from manufacturing to services over a period of time. Employment was hit as a result. If we want to remove unemployment, we need to promote manufacturing in a big way,” stated Mahajan, adding that, “We manufactured PPE kits to ventilators during Covid.” A senior functionary of Kisan Sangh said the idea is to start manufacturing in villages as well. “There can be so much manufacturing in villages or food produce, be it mushroom farming, dairy processing or marketing products of local artisans.” The Sangh believes that Bharat has been a country of entrepreneurs since the ancient times. “Today, we are thinking of making India self-reliant where we will be producing arms and semi-conductors and solar units and much more. We have dedicated organisations to take care of dedicated sections of the society,” stated Mahajan. “We have called it Indo-centric economy because big industries were never our model. We always had a sustainable model that helped us survive over the centuries. We witnessed Covid and have to ensure that such an event won’t hurt us economically. We have manpower. There should be balance between technology and manpower, and making it world-class is our target,” said a senior RSS functionary. Read all the Latest News , Breaking News and Ukraine-Russia War Live Updates here.
RSS Launches Abhiyan to Make India Self-Reliant, Reduce Dependence on Govt for Jobs, Build Village Economy


text:
NASH COUNTY, N.C. - An 8-year-old North Carolina boy is out of the hospital after his family said peanut butter tainted with salmonella made him very sick.
Nate Lebron is able to bike around his Nash County neighborhood now.
The health department thinks he got sick from peanut butter his family bought at Trader Joe's, either in Raleigh or Chapel Hill.
His family is suing the store and the factory.
They said they don’t want this to happen to any other family.
“Peanut butter is America’s favorite. One of American’s favorite food right?” said Lebron.
Lebron was one of 30 people believed to be sickened in several states.
The recall has been expanded to several other stores, brands and more than 100 products.
Read the complete explanation of the recall, including what products are included here.
8-year-old boy out of hospital after salmonella poisoning
Charlotte 49ers QB threatened to kill, sexually assaulted accuser,…
Police: High school senior shot, killed during party in south Charlotte
UNC Charlotte wide receiver, former Big 22 player, robbed at gunpoint
Fatal crash in SC may be connected to drive-by shootings


text:
|Future SmartPhone Market Share|
GigaOm has produced some nice graphs on the march of Android towards the world domination in the smartphone arena. Just this morning I was focusing on Mobile phone market share and this is welcoming information.
Android phones are very data friendly and the current market share must make Google happy and generate Apple envy.
|Rise Of The Android|
It seems, it is advertisement friendly as well, that cuts the bill, for the forward march.
|Android VS. Apple App Stores|


text:
Corbion expands team on success of AlgaPrime DHA sales
Corbion has expanded its management team as it successfully expands sales of its alternative aquafeed ingredient AlgaPrime DHA.
The Gorinchem, The Netherlands-based firm, which is a global market leader in lactic acid and its derivatives, and a leading supplier of emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals, vitamins, and algae ingredients, had sales of EUR 976.4 million (USD 1.1 billion) in 2019. Corbion acquired TerraVia, the maker of algae-based fish feed AlgaPrime, in 2017.
Among its three new hires are Ruud Peerbooms as president of algae ingredients, Geir Ivar Lanes as senior business development manager, and Paula Arriagada Strodthoff as senior business development manager.
“The expanded team will continue to lead business development and innovation with our customers and farmers internationally,” Corbion said in a press release. “With the proven success of AlgaPrime DHA's adoption in the salmon industry, the new team will continue to drive commercialization of omega-3 ingredients in the shrimp, marine fish, pet and livestock markets.”
In his new role, which also includes a position on Corbion’s executive team, Peerbooms will drive strategic initiatives to expand Corbion's algae business, and will oversee the company's partnerships for the development of algae ingredients. Peerbooms joined Corbion in 2014 as senior vice president of food and serves as chairman of the Ingredients for Food Innovators (IFFI), a Dutch business network of food ingredient producers that focuses on the development of healthy, sustainable, and affordable foods.
Geir Ivar Lanes will lead the application of Corbion's AlgaPrime DHA ingredient in salmonid feed, an initiative that picked up steam last year with the company’s securing of a contract to sell AlgaPrime DHA to the Salmon Group, which represents 44 fish farmers collectively producing 12 percent of the total salmon raised in Norway. Previously, Lanes worked for the past 21 years as managing director of Havbrukskontroll AS, a consultancy for aquaculture farmers and suppliers on broodstock, smolts, enclosed systems, and sea cage production.
Paula Arriagada Strodthoff will expand the company’s work with salmon farmers and feed companies in Chile. Paula was formerly head of nutrition and technology for EWOS Chile, where she was responsible for developing field trials and nutritional solutions for salmonids.
"We're thrilled to have Ruud, Geir Ivar, and Paula on our team as they are committed to driving change within the sustainable aquaculture industry and beyond," Corbion CEO Olivier Rigaud said. "Their expertise and commitment to innovation will undoubtedly expand AlgaPrime DHA's footprint within key aquaculture markets and beyond into additional markets."
Photo courtesy of Corbion


text:
NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited fashion retail chain Forever 21 for exposing employees to safety hazards at its stores in Paramus, N.J., and Manhattan.
OSHA inspected both stores in July after receiving complaints alleging violations and proposed $236,500 in penalties. Inspectors cited the company for four repeat violations at the Paramus store, located in the Garden State Plaza mall, including obstructed exit routes, a fire extinguisher that was not mounted and readily accessible, stored material that was not secured against sliding or collapse, and fluorescent lights that had no cover to prevent accidental contact or breakage.
Inspectors issued citations for two repeat violations to the Manhattan store, at 1540 Broadway, including obstructed exit routes and fluorescent lights with no covers. OSHA also issued what’s known as a serious citation because the store was not kept clean and orderly.
“It is unacceptable for Forever 21 to continue repeating these violations, which are common among retailers and put workers at serious risk,” said Robert Kulick, OSHA’s regional administrator in New York. “Retail managers have a legal responsibility to inspect their stores, identify potential hazards and quickly eliminate them to ensure worker safety and health.”
A repeat citation is issued when a substantially similar violation is found at any of an employer’s facilities in the U.S. within five years of a previous citation. The company was previously cited for these violations in 2012. OSHA issues a serious citation when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.
Forever 21 has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet informally with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Both citations were dated Jan. 2.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.
@chanel and @pharrell dropped what’s being dubbed as the world’s most exclusive sneakers yesterday. The Adidas Originals NMD Hu, which Williams designed in collaboration with Chanel and @adidasoriginals, has a waiting list of over 120K people who pre-registered online at chanelatcolette.fr –– and only 500 pairs are on sale. The singer predicted the resale value of the shoes could reach $40K. Read the full interview on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdfashion (📷: Dominique Maître)
@imanshumpert is diving deeper into his creative endeavors and relaunching his clothing line, Post 90s, and is helping to raise money for the hurricane victims in St. Maarten with a jersey he’s designed with his brother. The Cleveland Cavaliers player talked to WWD about kneeling during the national anthem, working with fashion brands and how he wants to be more than an @nba player. Read the interview on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)
Not only does #TheProfit return to CNBC tonight, but @marcuslemonis has launched @shopmarcus, a new shopping and lifestyle retail experience in Aspen and Chicago, with more locations to come. The retail stores offer in-store stylists and a variety of contemporary womenswear selections.
“It’s life, I’m going to face it,” @mingxi11 sighed. “I fell, but you know, I think the most important thing is that I get back up. I had the love, the help from my sister — the girl next to me Gizele [Oliveira] — she’s so nice. When I went backstage everybody was trying to comfort me like ‘Oh Ming, it’s OK.’ I’m really, really touched. I think it’s them who gave me the courage to go back on stage for the finale,” Xi told WWD of her fall at the @victoriassecret fashion show. (📷: David Fisher) #wwdfashion #vsfashionshow #victoriassecret
@louisvuitton tapped @therealpeterlindbergh for its latest city-centric photo book, which is part of a series called Fashion Eye. The primarily black and white book captures the spirit of Berlin in 57 images shot between 1989 and 2019. “Berlin is an inspiration for me, more than a city. I mean @millajovovich is simply Berlin!” said Lindbergh. #wwdfashion
“You know, I think audiences expect a certain performance so I have to deliver to them what they’re expecting to a certain degree. But I’m also a different actor and a different person, I have my own spin on the character,” says @noahegalvin of his takeover of the leading role in “Dear Evan Hansen” following the departure of @bensplatt, who originated the role. Read WWD’s interview with the 23-year-old actor on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
For pre-fall 2018, @etro created richly-colored wonderland, using tapestries, textiles and wallpapers from the Eastern world at large. The line featured floral and graphic prints and jacquard motifs, like this two-piece look featured here. #wwdfashion (📷: Giovanna Pavesi)
@kith is moving into children’s. The men’s and women’s streetwear brand has launched Kidset, a Kith kids line located in New York at 64 Bleecker Street. The line includes mini versions of staple Kith pieces like the Astor bomber jacket and the Kith box logo sweatshirts, along with a wall that can display up to 120 pairs of shoes from @adidas, @newbalance, @timberland and more. #wwdfashion
“I just wanted to create this fully rounded character, but I do think what excited me most was just the opportunity to give a group of people representation that I feel needs it. I like to do characters in projects that stand for something and Karolina definitely does, so that was really exciting to me,” @ginnygardner says of her new role in @hulu’s “The Runaways.” Gardner plays Karolina Dean, a queer superhero, which is a rarity for @marvel. Read more about Gardner’s character on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @dandoperalski)


text:
COMPUTER virus destroyed your hard drive? Don’t worry, some day bacteria might build you a bigger and better one.
Hard drives store data on discs coated with a metallic film divided into tiny magnetic regions, each of which stores a single bit – the more regions you can squeeze on to a disc, the bigger the capacity. Now, a team at the University of Leeds, UK, have borrowed a trick from nature to build a new kind of hard drive.
Certain strains of bacteria absorb iron to make magnetic nanoparticles that let them navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field. The team have extracted the protein behind this process and used it to create magnetic patterns that can store data. “We’re using and abusing nature because it’s had billions of years to do all of its experiments through evolution, so there is almost no point in us starting from scratch,” says Sarah Staniland, who led the research (Small, vol 8, p 204).
Hard drives are usually made by “sputtering”, in which clouds of argon ions are fired at a sheet of magnetic material, knocking off particles which are deposited as a thin film on a disc. Groups of these particles, called grains, form the magnetic regions on the drive, with around 100 grains corresponding to one bit.
Instead of granular media, Staniland’s team produce bit-patterned media. They start with a gold surface coated in chemicals in a chessboard pattern so that one set of squares binds proteins and the other repels them. They then apply the magnet-producing protein and coat the surface with an iron solution, which the protein-covered squares convert into magnetic material.
As the name suggests, each magnetic square in bit-patterned media can store one bit. Each square Staniland’s team have so far produced is around 20 micrometres wide, far too bulky to store data with a density comparable to today’s hard drives. She says they now plan to test out nano-sized squares, 1000 times smaller and much closer to existing drive density.
Eventually, she hopes to create a hard drive with a single iron particle per square, which will store as much as 1 terabyte of data per square inch – far beyond the capability of most hard drives.
“They’ve done nice work showing how you can make particles on a surface,” says Thomas Thomson, who studies data storage at the University of Manchester, UK. “But it is some distance away from what you would need if you were seriously contemplating it as a product.”


text:
The owner of a $1.3 million McLaren P1 which was wrecked in Hurricane Ian has been grieving his loss.
Known as only Ernie, the poor guy has been posting shot after shot of the supercar which he eventually found on top of a toilet in the middle of the street after it was swept away in the floods.
Photos of the destroyed supercar are a stark contrast to those he was posting just one week ago when he first bought the car.
READ MORE! $6.8m of James Bond memorabilia sells at auction including the Aston Martin DB5
Ernie, who goes by the moniker Lambo9286 on Instagram, was so excited about his new purchase that he posted 12 photos of it between the time he bought it and Hurricane Ian hit.
“Only 300 miles on it, time to add to it!” he said.
CHECK THIS OUT!
The enthusiasm continued, with Ernie posting photos of the P1 back in his garage next to a white Rolls-Royce.
The McLaren then featured in multiple places around town, captioned “dinner night”, “whole foods run” and “a beautiful weekend, definitely love driving it in Race Mode”.
So, at least he got some use out of it while he could?
The final happy (and somewhat ironic) post showed the car filled with bags alongside the caption “my hurricane supply car”.
The very next day Ernie took to Instagram to update everyone with a picture of the P1 sitting in a meter of flood water in the middle of the street.
“Car went [through] the garage,” he said.
The current was obviously so powerful it dragged the car out of the garage and out onto the street.
Ernie didn’t just lose his P1 to the hurricane, his brand new Rolls-Royce also fell victim.
Ernie posted a picture of the Rolls-Royce sitting in a meter of water in his garage before updating everyone with a picture of it on top of another car and a pile of torn-down branches.
Ernie’s losses have since gone viral, with hundreds of supercar lovers flocking to his page to pay their condolences.
While some described the situation as “heartbreaking”, others tried to see some comedy in the darkness.
“I guess the new ceramic coating really keeps the water off then,” one guy said, while another told him to “put it in rice” like a water-damaged phone.
Only 375 examples of the P1 were ever made.
When new, they were priced at $1,350,000 but now sell for as much as $2.9 million.


text:
Marja Konttinen, Marketing Director at Hatch Entertainment, dives into what’s happening in the kids category of mobile games in her keynote speech
February 26, 2021
Comments are closed.
marja at brutalgardenerDOTcom
© 2023 brutalgardener — Powered by WordPress
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑


text:
BoxLock started in 2017. The technology allows delivery drivers to press a lock on the box, which then scans the package’s tracking number. Packages with the correct delivery destination unlock the box, which notifies the owner that their package has been delivered to the box.
According to the company, it helps reduce the number of lost or stolen packages.
“At-risk individuals – whether by age or those who have a weakened immune system – are now relying more than ever on secure, contact-free deliveries of their meals, groceries and other critical supplies,” said Brad Ruffkess, CEO and Founder of BoxLock, said in a statement. “This program eliminates the interaction between the individual and driver, and ensures that these essential deliveries are safe upon arrival. “
If you or someone you know wants to apply for the program, details can be found here.


text:
Gaining knowledge and insight represents the key criterion for any conference, seminar, or event in which we want to invest our time and money. How much we as social beings are ultimately controlled by direct interpersonal contact to achieve the best possible creativity and effective consensus, we now know for sure after a large number of recent encounters were conducted at a distance, virtually.
After a Pre-Convention in November 2020 – which due to the pandemic was inevitably held purely digitally – the IAF and EURATEX again invited registrants to participate in events in person at their annual international summits at the beginning of November this year. Needle's Eye International Senior Correspondent Yvonne Heinen-Foudeh was onsite and reports.
Wisely and contemporarily orchestrated in a hybrid format – ergo the option to participate in person or via streaming – both associations representing the interests of the global textile and apparel industries were able to score points in every respect.
Industry’s “new normal” will require a transition in the fashion business on all levels from design to production – from operations to sourcing. And there is consensus among stakeholders from all levels, in light of ever-growing demands and decreasing prices, there will be more emphasis on quicker processes to support a more customer-centric organization with speed. The awareness already pre-pandemic was aimed towards various structural problems that the industry faces.
Yet as per demand from societies, from consumers, and the planet’s ecosystem to act sustainably and in a climate-saving manner, it is rather obvious that change has to happen briskly.
So once again, the IAF “hit the nail on the head” with the guiding theme of the World Fashion Convention 2021 event that was dedicated to the theme “Transition of the Global Fashion System”.
Brisk and mindful one wants to add, the International Apparel Federation, the world association of the apparel industry, came up with an agenda covering precisely those perspectives with top-notch keynotes, inspirational experts, and user panels.
Deep dives into what works – or at least could work – food for thought and reflection supplied to around 300 delegates from all over the world with a significant delegation from Bangladesh and also delegates from the UK, Switzerland, the US, Morocco, and Pakistan enjoyed mingling onsite.
Synergistic Industry ConvergenceAntwerp, a fashion metropolis and worldwide leading diamond center since the 16th century, and an important logistical hub with Europe’s second-largest industrial port was the venue of choice for the 36th IAF World Fashion Convention on November 8.
The synergistic event concept for holistic thinking decision-makers – same site, next day – EURATEX (the European Apparel and Textile Confederation) held its 9th Convention back-to-back with the IAF’s. Comprehensive content was transferred with interactive sessions covered by experts, institutional, and industry representatives along the theme “A New Paradigm for the European Textiles and Clothing Industry”.
Whereas the IAF conference viewed industry transition through the lens of global supply chain collaboration, the EURATEX conference took a more legislative perspective because of the comprehensive package of rules on sustainability and labor conditions – with a large effect on the apparel industry that will be coming from Brussels on the part of the EU Commission – in the coming years.
In a nutshell Major takeaways from Antwerp for all stakeholders can be summarized in two essential aspects:• Executives believe that sector players need to join hands to move from transactional relationships to business partnerships.• The industry’s transition to a more efficient, sustainable, and transparent industry hinges on the adoption of technology, the collaboration in the supply chain, and a switch to future-oriented business models.
Vivek Ramachandran, CEO of HSBC-founded supply chain solutions provider SERAI brought it to the point when saying, “…as an industry we need one global platform for everybody to access.” Such a database needs to be fed with valuable, real-time data.
Only 15% of apparel companies that took part in a survey conducted by KPMG China and SERAI have full traceability of their supply chain, which includes all of the materials and components used in a product from their origins through each step of processing and manufacturing (traceability).


text:
GURUGRAM: Nearly two years after 46 workers were suspended from Bridgestone India Automotive Parts Ltd
, Manesar, for starting the process of forming a trade union, the management has decided to take all the workers back in batches, starting this January. However, Bridgestone
workers have not yet managed to put a trade union in place.
According to trade union workers, who have been following the negotiations between the company management and the workers, the decision is significant at a time when workers from many other factories in the Gurgaon-Manesar industrial belt are facing similar struggles over trade unionisation.
“We are happy that the workers will now get their jobs back. It will be a major motivation for many other workers fighting similar battles. Ramesh Ahuja, the labour department official who helped in the negotiations, had also been reponsible for sorting out a similar issue at Bellsonica Auto Components
,” said Anil Pawar
from All India Trade Union Congress
Officials said the matter had been pending for over two years. The high court had ruled against the suspended workers but they approached the labour department looking for some respite.


text:
Foton plans to sell over four million vehicles globally in 2020
Foton exports over 40000 vehicles in 2012
Beiqi Foton, China’s largest commercial vehicle enterprise, announced that it exported over 40,000 vehicles in 2012, Beijing Business Today reported today. The amount represents year-on-year growth of 17 percent for the manufacturer, making it the country’s second largest automobile exporter last year.
The Ministry of Commerce-published International Business Daily newspaper voted Foton as China’s most competitive exporter in 2012. Foton, whose headquarters and key research and marketing operations are located in Beijing, possesses branches in countries all across the world. To date, Foton has established subsidiary research centers in Japan, Germany and other countries, as well as business departments in India and Russia. Furthermore, the manufacturer has set up knockdown factories in over 20 countries. Foton vehicles are sold in over 90 different countries and regions worldwide, with the manufacturer possessing over 240 official sales networks, 980 individual dealerships and 770 service centers across the globe.
Foton plans to sell over four million vehicles globally in 2020, with exports accounting for over 30 percent of its total sales. The manufacturer also aims to become one of the world’s top ten automobile enterprises by that time.
Chinese products account for 11 percent of all exports worldwide in 2012, making the country the world’s fifth largest exporter for the year.


text:
Dow Jones, S&P 500 Forecast: Prices at Risk as Retail Traders Go Long Once More
Dow Jones, S&P 500, Retail Trader Positioning, Technical Analysis – IGCS Wall Street Update
- The Dow Jones and S&P 500 have been falling recently
- Retail traders responded by boosting upside exposure
- Is that a warning sign that more pain might be ahead?
In recent days, Dow Jones and S&P 500 futures have been taking cautious losses. This followed a solid US non-farm payrolls report last week and strong ISM services data on Monday. That helped boost hawkish Federal Reserve policy expectations. Looking at IG Client Sentiment (IGCS), retail traders have been responding by selling equities. IGCS tends to function as a contrarian indicator. With that in mind, is more pain ahead for Wall Street?
Dow Jones Sentiment Outlook - Bearish
The IGCS gauge shows that about 38% of retail traders are net-long the Dow Jones. Since most traders are still biased to the downside, this hints prices may continue rising. However, upside exposure has increased by 14.39% and 22.81% compared to yesterday and last week, respectively. With that in mind, recent changes in positioning hint that the price trend may soon reverse lower.
Dow Jones Daily Chart
Dow Jones futures broke under the 20-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) after establishing resistance between 34246 and 34707. A confirmatory downside close could open the door to extending losses towards the 50-day SMA. Getting there entails clearing immediate support which is the 33169 – 33434 inflection zone. Pushing back above resistance would place the focus on the uptrend since October, exposing highs from April.
S&P 500 Sentiment Outlook - Bearish
The IGCS gauge shows that about 51% of retail traders are net-long the S&P 500. Since most traders are now biased higher, this hints that prices may continue falling. Upside exposure has increased by 14.40% and 9.41% compared to yesterday and last week, respectively. With that in mind, overall positioning and recent changes to exposure offer a stronger bearish contrarian trading bias.
S&P 500 Daily Chart
S&P 500 futures are testing the floor of a bearish Rising Wedge shortly after prices were unable to push above falling resistance from the beginning of this year. The wedge has been brewing since October and a breakout lower could open the door to extending losses. In such an outcome, the index could revisit lows from October. Otherwise, clearing the falling trendline from January would place the focus on the December 1st high at 4110.
*IG Client Sentiment Charts and Positioning Data Used from December 6th Report
--- Written by Daniel Dubrovsky, Senior Strategist for DailyFX.com
To contact Daniel, follow him on Twitter:@ddubrovskyFX
DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.


text:
FTSE CLOSE: Stocks fall sharply as investors are spooked by China's 'rare earths' threat; Tesco outperforms rest of Big Four; Losses deepen at Stobart
- The FTSE was deep in the red after the bell, down 0.7 per cent at 7,219
- Southend Airport owner Stobart Group reported a £42.6m full-year loss
- Telford Homes said Brexit uncertainty cooled house sales in the capital
The blue-chip index took a tumble on Wednesday as traders struggled to find anything other than the US-China trade war to focus on.
In company news, Southend Airport owner Stobart Group said its losses widened to £42.6million last year after it was hit by rising aviation costs and discontinued operations.
And housebuilder Telford Homes said it saw profits slide 13 per cent to £40million last year as it battled against a 'subdued' London market amid Brexit uncertainty.
Flashing red: The FTSE 100 is sharply lower at the open as traders struggle for fresh catalysts
Fiona Cincotta, an analyst at City Index, said: 'The FTSE nose-dived on Wednesday, joining the global trend, which has seen markets in Asia, Europe and the US tumble lower.
'With China threatening to take the trade war a step further and the bond market sounding recession alarm bells, traders jumped out of riskier assets.
'China plans to use rare earth exports as leverage in the trade war. Fears over the impact of the increasingly lengthy and messy trade dispute on the global economy are sending investors in search of safe havens.
‘Macro data has been showing signs of strain and the full impact of the most recent US tariff hikes is yet to kick in. Citi’s global surprise index, has been negative for over a year, which doesn’t bode well.
'Whilst risker assets such as equities are rapidly being dumped, flows into the Japanese yen, gold and US bonds are all on the increase.’
The major indices are all in the red as the trade tensions are felt on Wall Street.
'The suggestion from Beijing that they might look to restrict rare earth minerals to the US has sent a shockwave through the markets, and given that China accounts for roughly 70% of global output of the minerals, the US government needs to take the threat seriously,' says CMC Markets.
SpreadEx says: 'The FTSE was down around 100 points, remaining trapped the wrong side of 7200, with its commodity stocks the main culprits.
Tesco played its part, however, the mega-supermarket falling 5% as the latest Kantar figures revealed that its dominance – and it is, still, undoubtedly the sector-leader – had been dealt a blow across the 12 weeks to May 19th.'
The City watchdog has banned a former broker from financial services over the Libor-rigging scandal, 10 years after it took place.
Terry Farr, who formerly worked at Martin Brokers, was judged 'not fit and proper' to be involved with any regulated activity, the Financial Conduct Authority said.
The ban relates to nine so-called 'wash trades' - risk-free trades that cancel each other out - which were arranged by Mr Farr between September 19 2008 and August 25 2009.
The purpose of the wash trades, according to the FCA, was to obtain unwarranted brokerage payments for Martin with no legitimate commercial purpose.
The firm received £258,151.09 as a result of the actions, thereby increasing the bonus pool available to Mr Farr and his colleagues.
Mark Steward, executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: 'There was no legitimate reason for Mr Farr to make these trades and his actions were motivated by greed. His actions mean he has no place in financial services.'
The competition watchdog has launched a probe into Non-Standard Finance's £1.3billion hostile takeover bid for doorstep lending firm Provident Financial.
Provident has branded the bid 'dreadful' and 'shambolic', while NSF has already admitted the proposed deal would lead to reduced competition in the home credit sector.
The Competition and Markets Authority has confirmed it is considering whether the deal would lead to a 'substantial lessening of competition'.
'The threat of a new element – or should that be mineral, given Beijing’s rare earth threat – being introduced to the US-China trade war not so much suppressing investors’ appetites, but causing them to vomit up whatever rebounding gains were made at the end of last week,' says SpreadEx.
'With Brent Crude also getting in on the action – the black stuff fell 1.7%, dragging BP and Shell along with – the FTSE’s losses only intensified as the day went on.
'The UK index shed 100 points, returning it to 7170, its worst price in over a fortnight and only 40 or so points above the 2 month lows struck in mid-May.
'Inevitably the Dow Jones, already troubled by falling 10-year Treasury yields, is going to add a bit more gore to trading when it opens this afternoon.
Given that Trump will be waking up soon, investors may be keeping an eye on their twitter feeds to see how the President responds to the rare earth speculation.'
Brexit 'paralysis' is continuing to take its toll on Britain's service sector, the Confederation of British Industry has warned.
Optimism, profits and work levels continued to fall in the last quarter, as uncertainty tightens its 'stranglehold' on the country's economy, the CBI said.
Business and professional services firms, which includes law firms, accountancy companies and marketing groups, said their profitability fell at the fastest pace since November 2011 over the period.
The embattled Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) has seen sales recover rapidly in the early part of this year as it emerged from a dramatic restructuring plan, the brand's parent company said.
The burger restaurant's South African owner, Famous Brands, said on Wednesday that like-for-like sales in the last 12 weeks have risen 8.1%, well ahead of the wider market.
Last year, the group executed a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) to close 17 restaurants.
It was one of several chains forced to shutter locations amid a casual dining crisis last year, with fellow burger outlet Byron among those affected.
Following the release of Poundland's first-half figures, Amy Higginbotham from GlobalData said: 'Despite its position as a mature retailer in the UK market, Poundland achieved a 3.2% uplift in sales in its Q2 to 31 March.
Growth was boosted by the opening of 20 new stores during the six month period as the retailer took advantage of 'locations released by the failure of a competitor business', likely Poundworld.
The introduction of its own-brand beauty range, #6, in August last year helps differentiate Poundland from other value players such as Wilko and B&M.'
XTB explains: 'There’s been some notable selling in stock markets this morning with European bourses trading firmly lower and US futures are pointing to a red open on Wall Street with some disappointing employment data from Germany and fading hopes of a US-China trade deal at next month’s G20 summit weighing on risk appetite.'
Fiona Cincotta, an analyst at City Index, said: 'It hasn’t been a good morning for the retail sector and supermarkets in particular as research showed that though the overall market grew by 1.3%; sales of summer staples such as beer, ice cream and sun cream declined sharply as temperatures remained on the south side of 20 degrees.
'Marks & Spencer is in a particularly precarious position as it could end up losing its spot among FTSE 100 stocks next week when index provider FTSE Russell undertakes its quarterly review.
'This morning’s 5.5% decline will not help the company’s case as its market capitalization is now close to GBP4 billion. EasyJet is also sailing close to the wind and like M&S could be downgraded into the FTSE 250 but this morning’s decline in its shares has been less pronounced.'
Southend airport owner Stobart Group slumped to a £42.6million loss in the last year, down 199 per cent from a year earlier.
The group said it spent over £5million on a protracted legal dispute with former chief executive Andrew Tinkler.
Stobart also made a £15.5million loss on discontinued operations during the period, including Stobart Air and its aircraft leasing business Propius, which it sold to the Connect Airways consortium in February.
With SpreadEx analyst Connor Campbell...
'With investors flocking to US 10-year Treasury bonds on Tuesday night – yields are at a 20-month low – the European markets resumed their fearful performance on Wednesday.
The catalyst for the latest round of losses was a thinly veiled threat from China over its willingness to throw around its rare earth weight in its battle with the US.
Following comments from a National Development and Reform Commission official, Global Times editor-in-chief Hu Xijin tweeted that based on what he knows, Beijing is ‘seriously considering restricting rare earth exports to the US.'
WHSmith has blasted a Which? annual survey which, for the second year running, has ranked it as the UK’s worst high street shop.
Respondents said WH Smith was poor value for money and criticised the 'cramped and messy' stores.
But WH Smith came out fighting. A spokesperson said: 'This survey accounts for the views of only 586 Which? subscribers and is neither statistically relevant nor meaningful relative to our loyal customer base.
'Every week we serve three million customers in our 600 UK High Street stores and have maintained our presence on the high street where many other retailers are closing stores.
'We work hard to improve customer experiences and continue to invest in new and existing stores.'
The latest monthly Kantar/Nielsen grocery market share figures are out today.
The report flags that the cooler weather this May (compared with the start of the heatwave last year) meant that sales of beer and lager, ice cream and sun care were all lower.
Britain's competition watchdog has launched a review into Non-Standard Finance's hostile takeover bid for doorstep lending rival Provident Financial.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) confirmed that Non-Standard Finance (NSF) had offered to demerge its home credit business as part of the deal to address potential concerns.
The CMA is now asking for comments on the proposed offer, as it considers whether the deal will lessen competition and if NSF's demerger plans will be enough to address any issues.
Read more about the merger here...
Rail app business Trainline has confirmed plans to raise £75million in capital to fund its expansion plans when it floats on the London Stock Exchange next month.
The firm, owned by US private equity giant KKR, confirmed its initial public offering (IPO) on the stock market in a move it said was 'expected' to take place in June.
Housebuilder Telford Homes has reported a 13 per cent fall in annual profits as it battled against a 'subdued' London market.
It said Brexit uncertainty had held back the individual sale market in the capital and was also hit by two build contract delays, including a key project at City North in Finsbury Park.
In its annual results, it said the London sales market would remain lacklustre throughout 2019.
Southend Airport owner Stobart Group has plunged to a £42.6million annual loss after it was hit by aviation costs, legal costs and a £16million write-down.
Sales jumped 39 per cent, however, to £146.9million as its airport saw passenger numbers rise.
Stobart also said its bottom line was dented by £5.2million of legal costs largely related to its shareholder dispute in which former chief executive Andrew Tinkler attempted to oust current chairman Iain Ferguson.
The pound is still down in the dumps, currently buying £1.2648 or €1.1338.
SpreadEx said: 'Brexit’s war of attrition with the pound continued on Wednesday, without a way forwards, and with the Tory leadership circus set to swallow up valuable political oxygen in the next month or so.'
The footsie is in the red in early trading today after falling sharply at the bell. In the first 15 minutes of trading, the index sunk 0.9 per cent to 7,201.47.
Most watched Money videos
- Ray Massey gets exclusive access to the new green Rolls-Royce Spectre
- RM Sotheby's has sold a Mercedes for a record £115million
- Ford tests traffic light tech that could change the commute forever
- Watch the BANNED Land Rover ad that 'misrepresented' parking sensors
- Land Rover unveils its new £80,000 Range Rover Sport
- Bentley brings the comfort of a limo to their popular SUV
- 1990's advert for the Vauxhall Cavalier Turbo 4x4
- Renault previews new family car powered by a hydrogen-electric system
- A rare 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR Coupe being driven at Goodwood
- Ford unveils electric version of Britain's best-selling vehicle
- Dreams come true at a price. Most expensive cars ever auctioned
- Rustbucket Mercedes-Benz roadster sells at auction for almost £40k


text:
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
A.T. Faust III
| July 3, 2012
Parent-Like Italian Regulator Threatens Apple With Fine, Time Out
Apple's ongoing dispute with Italy's AGCM competition and marketing authority is finally coming to a head. The company is in trouble for failing to comply with the Italian government's previous order to stop promoting the warranty-extending Apple Care service in lieu of the country's required two-year coverage on consumer electronics products. Reuters explains Italy's stance this way:
The AGCM alleges that information provided by Apple about an extra guarantee scheme encourages customers to buy the service without clearly explaining that the company is obliged to offer a two-year free warranty...Of course, Apple Care is not merely a warranty-extender, which is undoubtedly the distinction Apple is trying to make to Italian authorities. Instead, the service offers a number of other valuable features that aren't part of Apple's standard (or Italy's required) warranty against hardware defects, including over-the-phone troubleshooting, 24-7 customer assistance, and full hardware and software support. Is it really Apple's implied duty to inform Italian customers of their country's various consumer-protection laws while at the same time neglecting the promotion and sale of its own completely legal supplementary services? Apparently, though, that question -- and the logical reasoning behind it -- has fallen on deaf ears. Should Apple continue to ignore the AGCM's request, the Cupertino company faces a 30-day suspension of all Italian business operations and up to $377,500 in fines. Cook and company have 30 days to respond. Source: Reuters


text:
Google is expected to soon launch an affordable version of the Pixel 4 series in the form of Pixel 4a. A few months later, the internet search giant will unveil the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 5 XL. These are Google’s flagship phones, but they won’t be using flagship processors this year.
Google’s upcoming smartphone, the Pixel 5, is said to miss out on Project Soli and the Motion Sense feature that debut with the Pixel 4 smartphones. They are not the only Pixel phones to drop an interesting feature. Even the Pixel 4a series will lack Active Edge, something that has been on Pixel phones since the original Pixel.
Google’s Pixel smartphone lineup, which is known for its stellar still imaging performance, expanded to the mid-range price segment last year with the Pixel 3a and the Pixel 3a XL. The two mid-range smartphones met with a decent amount of success, thanks to relatively affordable price tags and good camera experience. This year, Google has planned to follow up with the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 4a XL.
The US government barred Huawei and ZTE last year from doing any business with US-based firms. This was a massive blow to the companies as they were stopped from launching new phones with GMS (Google Mobile Services) and supply network equipment to US network carriers. Huawei had hoped that the ban would be lifted sometime this year, but that won’t happen until at least mid-2021.
Chromecast is around for quite some time and it has changed the way we access media on our television. According to the latest report, Google is working on releasing a streaming device that resembles Chromecast. The biggest difference being that the new device will offer a full-fledged Android TV experience.
Earlier this month OnePlus pulled the wraps from the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. According to rumor mills the company was expected to launch a mid-range device, however, that didn’t happen. Fresh rounds of rumor say that the OnePlus Z will be released in summer this year.
Google had announced Pixel Buds 2 way back in October last year. Today Google has finally launched the Pixel Buds 2 priced at $179 in the U.S. The Pixel 2 Buds are true wireless earbuds and will rival the likes of Apple AirPods.
It is no secret that Google is working on a call recording feature for its phone app. Apparently it seems like the company is ready with the feature. A Nokia user in India has shared screenshots of call recording features including the ones that show off user interface.
Earlier this month Google released Android 11 Developer Preview 2.1. This was more of a minor update based on Android 11 Developer Preview 2 and arrived with a bunch of bug fixes. Today Google has announced Developer Preview 3 for Android 11. The latest preview comes with five major changes including Tweaks to Android 11 exit reasons API which helps understand why and how the apps are exited.
Last month we had leaked billboard images for Pixel 4a. The latest leak shows off the Pixel 4a in full glory and this includes the packaging. As far as packaging is concerned it is similar to previous Pixel devices, however, you do get a look at the device.


text:
Enjoy the best On Demand experience, the most WiFi coverage for your home1, and unlimited nationwide talk and text when you switch to XFINITY from Comcast.
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- South Carolina
- West Virginia
Moving to everett, washington?
Here are some helpful links to get you started.
About: everett, washington
Located about 28 miles north Seattle, Everett is home to the largest public marina on the west coast of the U.S. It is also home to Boeing's assembly plant for the 747, 767, 777, and the new 787 in the largest building in the world by volume at 116.5 million cubic feet. Everett is also home to the Port of Everett, an international shipping port that brings trade, commerce, jobs and recreational opportunities to the city.
Local Newspapers: The Everett Daily Herald
Local Sports Teams: Seattle Seahawks (NFL) Seattle Mariners (MLB) Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) Seattle Storm (WNBA) Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Local Colleges: Everett Community College
Zip Codes associated with everett, washington:
98201 98203 98204 98205 98208
Towns/Cities near everett, washington : Marysville Snohomish Mukilteo Lochsloy Machias Glacier View Pine Hurst Mill Creek Silver Firs Cathcart
Council bans safe injection sites in unincorporated Snohomish County
Photo courtesy of Insite: The Snohomish County Council has passed a ban on safe injection sites in unincorporated portions of the county. The Snohomish County Council voted unanimously to ban safe injection sites following a public hearing in Everett on Wednesday.Nor'easter cancellations linger into Wednesday, but are easing
Flight schedules were returning to normal in New England, though fliers faced one more day of uneven operations after the latest nor'easter there. Nor'easter cancellations linger into Wednesday, but are easing Flight schedules were returning to normal in New England, though fliers faced one more day of uneven operations after the latest nor'easter there.My Deplorable Uber Driver
On a recent Nor'easter-tinged odyssey from Boston to Seattle, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and back home to Boston, I took quite a few Uber rides. All of my drivers across three cities were immigrants from either Ethiopia or Somalia, with two exceptions: a Bangladeshi and a while male in his 30s.Owner of Mexican restaurants in King, Snohomish counties charged with $5.6M tax theft
Prosecutors say the owner of a chain of Mexican restaurants in King and Snohomish counties used sales-suppression software to avoid paying $5.6 million in state taxes. The Daily Herald in Everett reports that 57-year-old Salvador Sahagun, of Bothell, is facing felony theft charges in Snohomish County Superior Court.WSU to close downtown Spokane store - Wed, 07 Mar 2018 PST
Lauren Hopkins adjusts a clothing display with store manager Bobbi Cypher, left, at the WSU Connections store in downtown Spokane on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. The WSU Connections stores in Everett and Spokane will close in May. Washington State University will close its WSU Connections store in downtown Spokane by May 19, saying the decision was based on changes in customers' shopping habits.Village Theatre Announces 2018-2019 Season: A Collection Of Inspiring And Magical Shows
Village Theatre is excited to announce its 2018-2019 Season with a collection of inspiring and magical shows. The lineup includes: The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, a World Premiere musical comedy about an average man stuck in a musical world; Roald Dahl 's Matilda the Musical, an award-winning musical that will feature a talented and local young cast and incredible visual stage-magic; I Do! I Do! a classic romantic musical about marriage; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a powerful show about a 15-year-old boy with a unique mind that is out to solve a mystery; and Million Dollar Quartet, the homegrown rocking hit that premiered on Village Theatre 's stage 12 years ago.Snohomish County's homeless children widespread
Whether in a tent in Granite Falls, an Everett shelter, or a friend's couch in Arlington, more than 3,000 Snohomish County children will go to sleep tonight in a makeshift bed. As of February, an estimated 3,300 public school students are experiencing homelessness according to a Tribune survey of the county's 15 districts.Washington student detailed 'mass murder' plot at high school in journal, officials say
Washington student's grandmother turned him in after reading concerning journal entries about his plans to kill people at his school. A student in Washington state who was arrested after his grandmother reported "upcoming and credible threats" of a plot in his journal to attack a high school previously dressed up as one of the shooters from the Columbine massacre, according to court documents filed Friday.Fluke Ti450 SF6 Gas Leak Detector is honored in Utility Products 2017 Product of the Year Awards
EVERETT, Wash: The Fluke Ti450 SF6 Gas Leak Detector was recognized as one of the top products in the Utility Products 2017 Product of the Year Awards. The awards highlight the new products which received the most response from the magazine's readers in 2017.It will fill more than 7,000 square feet and serve as the anchor...
Alivia Broady, 3, gives her mom, Shauna, a look after being offered a piece of artisanal cheese along with her brother, Bronson, 6, during Farms Market's grand opening celebration in Everett on Thursday. Located on Grand Avenue in downtown Everett, Farms Market will be a year-round market offering goods from local farmers.Lindenhurst plant, scheduled to close, will remain open
Vaupell Inc. said it has reversed a plan to shutter the facility, and instead will be hiring additional engineering staff. Vaupell Inc., a maker of plastic and composite parts for the aerospace industry, has decided to keep its Lindenhurst facility open, reversing a plan to relocate operations to Everett, Washington, an executive said Thursday.Airlines already waiving change fees for Friday nor'easter
A coastal storm forecast to roar across the Northeast later this week is expected to be so strong that airlines are waiving change fees days in advance. Airlines already waiving change fees for Friday nor'easter A coastal storm forecast to roar across the Northeast later this week is expected to be so strong that airlines are waiving change fees days in advance.Water line work leaves some South Snohomish County neighbors dry...
EVERETT, Wash. - The City of Everett's Public Works Department said anyone who gets their water off Transmission Line 5, will be in a temporary outage.'Entourage' to Antarctica: See 'cool' new Air New Zealand safety video
Betty White . Gandalf the Grey . The "All Blacks" New Zealand rugby team . Sports Illustrated swimsuit models .Air New Zealand is 1st to get Boeing's new 'stretch' 787-9 Dreamliner
Swipe-able media reside in headrests in Air New Zealand's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner as seen July 9, 2014, at the Boeing site in Everett, Wash.Balancing act sought on downtown methadone clinic talks
City Council members hunted for a middle ground last week on whether to allow a methadone clinic downtown in a debate that so far has put public health needs at odds with business community concerns. Council members faced a decision whether to let such a clinic for opioid addicts in - alienating business owners tense to the idea - or to arbitrarily exclude any new medical clinics from opening in the central business district.Everett considering letting more marijuana stores open up
The city's planning commission is revisiting how many marijuana retailers can operate within city limits and where, with a possible recommendation for more lax regulations to hand over to the City Council as early as this spring. In 2015, the state Liquor and Cannabis Board determined Everett should have 10 stores, but a 2016 City Council ordinance restrained the number to five.Catherine Jean Roenneburg Karmum
Catherine Jean Roenneburg Karmum earned her angel wings on Friday, February 16, 2018 in Everett, Wash. Born to Darlyne Roennenburg Maiurro and Allen Roenneburg on Feb. 14, 1958, she was known for her free spirit and laughter.Lawsuit settled over 2016 warehouse fire on Everett riverfront
The property at 101 E. Marine View Drive, situated between Everett Engineering and Highway 529, makes up more than 7 acres of Everett's industrial riverfront. The location had a history of code enforcement violations long before a warehouse caught fire in June 2016.Helen Jackson, widow of Sen. Henry Jackson, dies at 84 - Mon, 26 Feb 2018 PST
Helen Jackson, Henry "Scoop" Jackson, center, and their son Peter are seen in 1977. Helen Jackson died Feb. 27, 2018, at the age of 84. EVERETT, Wash.
XFINITY Bundles are available in Everett, Washington. You can now bundle your digital TV, high speed Internet and Home Phone services into one package, and enjoy great discounts and the convenience of just one monthly bill. XFINITY offers residents of Everett, Washington the chance to save big while enjoying the latest digital home service technology. If you're in the market for Internet, TV and Phone and live in Everett, you can take advantage of XFINITY deals. Search and compare XFINITY offers in Everett and start saving on digital home services today. With XFINITY TV, residents of Everett, Washington can access all the latest entertainment, including an extensive On Demand service with thousands of programming options. Catch up on reality TV shows, movie classics and all the latest family-friendly TV entertainment. XFINITY Internet lets you surf and stream the way you want to. Residents of Everett can enjoy buffer-free Internet access and even watch live TV. There are a number of high speed internet packages available. Plus, XFINITY Internet is reliable and secure. XFINITY Home Phone service is a great addition to XFINITY TV and Internet bundles, allowing Everett residents to talk more for less. What's more, XFINITY Home Phone comes with unlimited nationwide text, a feature that saves you money on cell phone messaging. When you bundle all three digital home services, you enjoy bigger savings and all the benefits of XFINITY TV, Internet and Phone.
XFINITY High Speed Internet service is available in Everett, Washington. With XFINITY Internet it's more affordable than ever before to stay connected, surf, stream and game without breaking the bank or worrying about Internet Security. Residents of Everett, Washington can sign up for XFINITY Internet and enjoy fast speeds, big savings and the comfort of Internet Security software. What's more, XFINITY High Speed Internet service enables Everett residents to select the Internet Package that best suits their needs. Whether you and your family simply require a basic connection to surf the web and check email, or you like to stream, game and watch TV online, XFINITY Internet service has the package for you. Plus, With the freedom to choose a great Internet package and the peace of mind of knowing that your connection is secure, XFINITY Internet offers Everett a great Internet product, for less.
Entertainment for less from XFINITY TV is available in Everett, Washington. XFINITY TV packages bring Everett residents all the latest shows, sports and hit movies, directly to their own home. Gone are the days when you wait weeks if you miss an episode of your favorite series, or you can't find anything to watch - XFINITY TV has a wide selection of programming for the whole family, as well as an extensive On Demand service with thousands of entertainment options. Whether you enjoy classics, reality TV, blockbuster movies or just want to keep your kids entertained, XFINITY TV service has something for you. Residents of Everett, Washington can now pick the XFINITY TV package that meets their entertainment needs, and enjoy advanced technology including TV apps, while saving.


text:
Meta has announced that it is launching a designer digital clothing store, allowing users to buy clothing for their avatars in its Metaverse. The company believes that clothing and other accessories will become an important part of users’ identity expression, which will entice them to pay for digital clothing that can be worn across all Meta apps, including Facebook and Instagram.
Meta sells Metaverse clothing
With the rise of virtual worlds (another way of digitizing our world), companies have begun to incorporate industries such as clothing to capitalize on the benefits of virtual world users’ expressed needs.One of these companies is Meta, which recently Announce Launched a digital clothing store called “Meta Avatars Store”, allowing users to purchase clothing from different brands to dress up their Metaverse avatars.
Launching in different markets this week, the store will feature digital designs created by Balenciaga, Prada and Thom Browne, and will feature Meta’s avatars on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. The price of each available garment has not been announced.
Meta’s Digital Bet
Meta’s bet is simple: the company believes that the metaverse will become so large in the next few years that demand for these digital items will grow with it. That’s why the company pivoted to a metaverse-driven business earlier this year. Regarding the relevance of these projects, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said:
Digital goods will become an important way of expressing yourself in the virtual world and a big driver of the creative economy. I’m excited to add more brands and bring them to VR soon.
For VR, Zuckerberg may be referring to horizon world, Meta’s flagship Metaverse app, only available to owners of Meta’s Quest, a line of VR headsets. Users of the platform will likely be able to wear these digital items in Horizon World as well.
However, according to experts, Meta’s journey to attract users to Metaverse has not been smooth sailing. Zuckerberg has realized that this early move to Metaverse will cost them. He said in May that the change would cost the company “a huge amount of money” over the next three to five years.
What do you think of Meta launching its digital clothing store? Let us know in the comments section above.
Image Source: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons
Disclaimer: This article is for reference only. It is not a direct offer or an invitation to buy or sell, nor is it a recommendation or endorsement of any product, service or company. Bitcoin Network Does not provide investment, tax, legal or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned herein.


text: Attorneys for Walgreens are seeking an emergency injunction to stop San Francisco from banning the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies. In July, San Francisco became the first city in the nation to ban the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies such as Walgreens and Rite Aid, saying sick people getting their prescriptions filled shouldn't be faced with cancer-causing products sitting nearby. But the ban, which is scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, doesn't extend to grocery stores or big-box stores that also have pharmacies. That's why the company wants the plan stopped, said Walgreens spokeswoman Tiffani Bruce. "Our position is based solely on being fair across different types of retailers," she said, noting that smokers will just buy their cigarettes at another store down the block. "Our pharmacists are trained to counsel smokers on smoking cessation products and how to go about kicking their habit," she added. "This ordinance will discourage smokers from coming to a place where they can have this type of access." But Mitch Katz, director of the city's Department of Public Health, wasn't buying Walgreens' logic. "It's one thing to say you're doing it for the convenience of your customers, but to actually sue? To say this is your right to sell the substance associated with the No. 1 cause of preventable death?" Katz said. "It's unbelievable to me." Attorneys for Walgreens will be in San Francisco Superior Court today to get a hearing on their request for an emergency injunction to block the ban. San Francisco's ban seems to be finding favor elsewhere. Boston health officials gave preliminary approval last week to ban cigarette sales in pharmacies, as well as on college campuses, cigar bars and hotels. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote today on another piece of anti-smoking legislation that would restrict lighting up in a wide array of public places.


text:
The counterfeit goods market: a place to trade fake luxury items, at not so luxurious prices.
In an era where your identity is determined through the brands you display on Instagram, it’s not surprising that the counterfeit goods market is growing profoundly fast. But what are the economic implications of trading or buying counterfeit goods? Who are the victims of this illegal trade? And what is the future outlook for the market?
Studies conducted by the OECD indicate that the market has grown to 3.3% of world trade or $509 billion USD as of 2016, and expect further growth due to the fast pace of globalisation and swelling demand (OECD, 2019). By 2022, the OECD forecasts that the total international trade in counterfeit products to reach $991 billion. From a macro perspective, more damaging problems reveal themselves. The trade of counterfeit goods and the disregard for intellectual property hurts innovators, consumers and the global economy. The total economic impact of this particular black market was estimated to be as high as $898 billion in 2013 and forecasted to more than double to $1.87 trillion by 2022.
This global phenomenon has been facilitated through e-commerce websites, which are often able to protect vendors through anonymity. 18% of Aliexpress transactions, 15% of Facebook marketplace transactions and 13% of Amazon transactions include counterfeit goods, indicating how globalisation has paved the way for distribution. Of these illegal transactions, 18% are imitation footwear, 15% electronics and 13% eyewear. Perhaps more concerningly, medical equipment makes up 5% of illicit trade. The existence of unregulated medical equipment in the market is just one example of how counterfeit goods may yield wider negative externalities, that may otherwise have gone unnoticed.
The ethics surrounding counterfeit goods is intensely debated, as economic benefits may only be presented to those who give the good a higher perceived value. However, for those that unknowingly consume counterfeit products, the effects can be disastrous. Incentives exist for firms to take advantage of industrial substitutes for many substances used to produce food, medicine, and chemical products, and use lax protocols to bump up production. Criminal networks are often found to trade lethal drugs that are poorly manufactured, substandard medicine and sanitation packages which can lead to health issues and contamination for the users.
These issues are most evident in the primary market, where consumers remain unaware of the nature of the product, as opposed to the secondary market, where consumers knowingly purchase counterfeit goods. Primary stakeholders considered here are rights holders (original producers), consumers, and the government. These are identified as ‘counterfeit trademark goods’, which are goods “without authorisation a trademark which is identical to the trademark validly registered in respect of such goods”. Common traits of counterfeit pharmaceuticals may include correct ingredients in incorrect quantities or composed according to a wrong formula, non-active substances altogether, toxic substances, or correct content but in fake packaging. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals mainly affect developing countries without proper drug regulatory control, lack of effective intellectual property rights protection and cultures that support this, and uncontrolled distribution chains. As a result, the industry has responded by establishing the Pharmaceutical Security Initiative (PSI), which was created in 1996 and operates from Rome.
Concerns to the safety of consuming counterfeit products still remain a critical issue, however, advancing technology such as blue dot tracking systems and nanotechnology may help companies identify dilution of products and protect them from product liability. These issues have relatively improved with the increasing difficulty in production, and the industry has overall remained focused on apparel, computer accessories, media, and other normal goods in all top 5 counterfeit producing countries.
The primary producer of counterfeit goods is China, responsible for 52% of all seized counterfeit products according to US customs. The lack of governance and the use of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in countries like China and India has facilitated the illegal trade, essentially adding protections for producers of illicit goods. The OECD found that the share of fake goods from economies using FTZs is 20 times that of countries that host no FTZs. This indicates potentially negligent policy, and that lawmakers should be held accountable.
Effective strategies for the government to mitigate the negative effects of counterfeit goods may be to establish independent bodies that enforce data-collection and supervision of product quality, raise awareness of consequences, and develop rigorous peer review and examination processes. OECD outlines lack of information as one of the main reasons why regulatory bodies and companies fail to maintain oversight on counterfeit products, which has been partly fuelled by the difficulty in implementing cost-effective strategies for data collection.
Moreover, the counterfeit industry maintains strong growth, where the biggest losers are often media and software companies, and governments who lose out on tax benefits. In the long run, changing demographics remain the primary predictor of the future of counterfeit goods, where consumer demand for counterfeit goods is only more effectively contained through increased awareness of the magnitude of the issue. However, it is essential for policy-makers and businesses to work together in developing strategies to combat these issues.
The CAINZ Digest is published by CAINZ, a student society affiliated with the Faculty of Business at the University of Melbourne. Opinions published are not necessarily those of the publishers, printers or editors. CAINZ and the University of Melbourne do not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of information contained in the publication.


text:
Onboard Web2 and Web3 players to your game with Babylon Wallet.
Balthazar CEO John Stefanidis Debuts on CNBC: Gaming as a New Use Case for Crypto
“BALTHAZAR IS LOWERING THE BARRIER TO ENTRY FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO PLAY TO EARN” – MANDY DRURY, CNBC
Balthazar’s CEO John Stefanidis debuted on CNBC Street Signs Asia on December 22, 2021, discussing the explosion of NFT gaming, how it’s set to disrupt the video game market and how Balthazar is lowering the barrier to entry for people wanting to play to earn.
Co-hosted by Mandy Drury and Tanvir Gill, John explained the rise of NFT games and why it’s having such a massive impact on regions including South East Asia particularly the Philippines, India and South America.
There are over 170 play-to-earn (P2E) games currently live, according to L2Y, and we’re seeing hundreds of millions of dollars being invested into these games and NFT gaming platforms.
Trading volume for blockchain-based games grew 762% in Q3 2021, to US$2.32 billion, according to Dappradar. It also reports that Axie Infinity accounted for over US$2 billion or ~90% of total trading volume.
John mentioned that the blockchain gaming NFT market is estimated to be worth just under US$10 billion. For context, it’s about 6% of the US$173 billion gaming industry.
A sustainable stream of supplementary income
John explained the new ecosystem that’s being created where more and more people will play these games, companies will start to invest in marketing and advertising to these people, games are generating revenue from taking a fee for in-game purchases of NFT assets, and depending on the utility of the token for each game, there are different ways that gamers will make money in the games such as breeding their characters and using them to sell or battle.
People are earning money that is not tied to their local economy, which also has a significant benefit in countries with unstable economies and hyperinflation.
NFT platforms removing the barrier to entry
NFT gaming platforms are investing in these game NFT assets and lending them to people to be able to use them to play the games and earn money. This is what we’re doing at Balthazar, which offers scholarship programs for players who can’t afford the upfront cost to buy the NFTs needed to play.
Balthazar has over 1,000 scholars playing with NFTs and over 30,000 on its waitlist who want to play. Balthazar also launched a rent-to-earn service where people with NFTs can rent them to Balthazar and it will lend them to players.
It’s a very exciting space and Balthazar is looking forward to partnering with more P2E games and building the best community of gamers to help more people access opportunities in the metaverse.
Watch the full interview here.
To join the Balthazar community on Discord click here, and click here to learn more about Balthazar.
- Michelle Hutchison
- +61 403 192 994
Balthazar DAO secures further US$2 million in Private Round Token Sale, US$60 million valuation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2022, Sydney, Australia – NFT gaming platform Balthazar DAO has secured a further US$2 million (AU$3.01 million) in its Private Round Token Sale, with a fully diluted valuation of US$60 million (AU$90.3 million). The funds will be used to accelerate its software development kit (SDK), Babylon, including the pioneering technology […]
Balthazar announces partnership with Block Born
NFT gaming platform Balthazar DAO is excited to announce a new partnership with Web3 gaming platform Block Born. The partnership includes Block Born’s esports integration featuring their inbuilt Battle Pass and Tournament software for games in the Balthazar ecosystem, as well as offering Block Born customers Balthazar’s Web3 technology. It also includes several key services […]
Register for Token Sale
Balthazar is launching it’s token to the public very soon! Join our waitlist for exclusive benefits and instructions on how to participate!
Connect with our community.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Apple e-book price-fix trial set for May, hundreds of millions at stake
- Vincent Lara-Cinisomo, Web contributor
A federal judge on Tuesday set a trial for next May to determine the damages against Apple -- which could be in the hundreds of millions -- in an e-book price-fixing case.
The Cupertino company was widely expected to appeal the ruling from U.S. District Judge Denise Cote when she ruled last month it was guilty of illegal e-book price fixing. It is unclear if that happened.
"The plaintiffs have shown that Apple conspired to raise the retail price of e-books and that they are entitled to injunctive relief," Judge Cote wrote in her opinion.
Federal prosecutors argued Apple used the launch of the forthcoming iPad to break up Amazon’s grip on the e-book market. Up until that point, Amazon sold e-books through a traditional retail model, buying copies of the e-book from publishers at wholesale prices, and then choosing their own prices at the retail level—just like a traditional bookstore. Amazon would often sell new releases at a loss, to promote the Kindle.
Apple proposed the so-called “agency model,” where book publishers would be able to set retail prices on their own. Prosecutors claimed that switch cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars in unfairly high prices for e-books.
The five publishers originally implicated in the case settled out of court.
Apple argued that it’s negotiations were completely legal, and followed industry standards.
The judge is also considering injunctive relief to prevent Apple from engaging in another price-fixing conspiracy, Reuters reported.
Click here to subscribe to the Silicon Valley Business Journal's free daily newsletters.
- Most popular
- Tesla's down, so is it time to jump ship or get on board?
- Major tech land sale in San Jose's Edenvale
- Kleiner Perkins wins in sexism, retaliation suit after bizarre twist
- First look at Facebook's new, Frank Gehry-designed building (photos)
- Can the Hyperloop beat high-speed rail?
- Intel is in talks to buy Altera, WSJ reports
- What to expect when buying an Apple Watch
- WrestleMania shatters attendance records at Levi's Stadium (Slideshow)
- Tesla Model X spotted in the wild; how the crossover looks on the road
- google salary
Senior Electrical Engineer Snelling | San Jose, CA
Senior Java Engineer CyberCoders | Palo Alto, CA
Crew Member ( Entry Level Food Service / Customer Service ) Chipotle Mexican Grill - Corporate | San Jose, CA
MANAGEMENT CONSULTING - SENIOR BUSINESS ANALYST Global Resources | San Jose, CA
SW Project Manager and Technology Coordinator Bosch | Palo Alto, CA


text:
A WA company with an innovative drug delivery system will raise up to $1.9 million through a share placement to fund ongoing research.
OBJ Ltd, which aims to develop and commercialise its drug and cosmetic transdermal systems, today said it will place up to 85 million shares through a private placement at 2.3c a share - including one free option for each two ordinary shares.
In addition, OBJ will proceed with a fully underwritten non-renounceable rights issue on a one-for-nine basis, also issued at 2.3c/share with a one-for-two option.
The Leederville-based company said the rights issue was expected to raise about $2.1 million and, when combined with the private placement, would boost company coffers by about $4 million.
``The proceeds for the placement and rights issue are to be used to assist funding working capital, business development activities, international collaborations and additional research and development,'' the company said.
The share placement and rights issue come a month after OBJ announced it had entered into a materials transfer agreement with 3M Corporation of the US to evaluate OBJ's eM-patch technology for transdermal drug delivery. Trial results are expected in February.
OBJ develops low-cost, high-performance patch and applicator products.
It will focus on developing new products for supply or licencing and provide feasibility assessments, patch formulations, testing and intellectual property development services to partner companies.