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PBC tourism leaders boost efforts to attract gay and lesbian travelers
Discover The Palm Beaches, the county’s official tourism marketing organization, has created a new committee to help boost the number of gay and lesbian tourists who visit the area each year.
The LGBTQI subcommittee will meet for the first time this afternoon. The committee’s membership includes tourism industry leaders who identify themselves within the LGBTQI spectrum. Discover officials say the group will to help promote the area as a tourist destination for gay and lesbian travelers.
“By aligning ourselves with advocates in the LGBTQI community, we can properly connect our message to all visitors of The Palm Beaches as a welcoming, inclusive destination,” said Ashley Svarney, director of public relations and communications for DTPB. “Our new subcommittee will help us to increase awareness among LGBTQI tourists, and the county businesses that support them in their travels here. Our goal is to become a top destination for all travelers.”
As part of its marketing plan, which was unveiled last year, Discover said it planned to market to a more diverse group of visitors — including millennials, families, African-Americans, and gays and lesbians.
“Our brand promise in The Palm Beaches is that ‘genuine hospitality is a way of life,’ and that’s more than just a catchphrase for us,” said Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO for DTPB. “Every guest, regardless of lifestyle, race or original, is valued and respected.”
Discover has been marketed to the gay and lesbian community for several years, but recently increased its efforts. The organization this year launched a year-round LGBT advertising the campaign. It has also increased the amount of money it spends on those efforts by about 25 percent, officials said.
In December, a Discover staffer attended the CMI Conference on LGBT Tourism & Hospitality as part of the new marketing effort.
Tourism leaders point to a number of key LGBT events in Palm Beach County, including International Gay Polo League, The International Gay Polo Tournament and Lake Worth Pridefest.
Research focusing on LGBT visitors in Palm Beach County over the last five years shows:
- 58% are Gay Men, 32% Lesbian
- 9% have Children
- About half plan and book 1-3 months out and one-quarter 4-6 months out
- LGBTQI visitors to The Palm Beaches tend to participate in cultural tourism more than LGBT visitors to the rest of Florida (same difference as non-LGBTQI)
- Specifically live theater is of significant interest
- The beaches are significantly less of a travel interest compared to non-LGBTQI interests – LGBTQI visitors prefer more relaxing and exploring and less beach time.
- Perception of being safe for LGBTQI is critically important


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The BT Group said today that it would reduce the price of high-speed connections to the Internet, a move seen by some analysts as a signal that the new management team is ready to attack some problems that have long plagued the company.
BT said that starting on April 1 it would lower the price it charged other phone companies for the use of its network to £14.75 (about $21) a month, from £25 to £30. These phone companies then resell the service, called broadband, to individual customers. Consumer prices are most likely to drop below £30 a month from the current £40 as a result, analysts predicted. (BT also offers its own broadband service directly to consumers through its BTopenworld subsidiary, which also must pay to use the BT network.)
So-called alternative carriers like Energis and the Colt Telecom Group have long complained that the fees they must pay to BT to use its network are prohibitively high.
BT has said that upgrading its network to offer these services has been costlier and more difficult than forecast.
But analysts have long suspected the company of dragging its feet in an attempt to protect its monopolistic position.
Within the last year, BT has replaced its chairman and chief executive. And some analysts said today that the announcement of lower prices indicated an important change of attitude.
''The company has gone through a significant restructuring over the last year, and it is starting to address customer needs and shareholder value,'' said Mark Davis, an analyst with WestLB Panmure.
The price cuts will initially have little impact on BT's bottom line. But the effects are expected to ripple through the industry, providing a boon to alternative carriers that must buy network capacity from the company and to consumers, who are expected to benefit from the lower prices.
High costs have so far been an impediment to the swift rollout of fast Internet access in Britain. To date, only 400,000 people in Britain have high-speed Internet access, less than 1 percent of the population. That compares with more than 2 million people in Germany, or 2.5 percent of the population there. Deutsche Telekom has moved more quickly to upgrade its network and pave the way for the introduction of these new services, analysts said.
BT has slowly worked to reduce costs, finally enabling it to lower prices to a level alternative carriers deem fair. In December, for example, it introduced a version of broadband that customers can install themselves, by buying a modem and plugging it in, reducing the number of service calls BT engineers must make.
''Through substantial reductions in the cost of providing service we can set prices that will stimulate the market strongly,'' said Ben Verwaayen, chief executive of BT since December.

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Fire guts 2 shops in Champasari
Siliguri, 24 Mar:
A ration shop and a mobile shop burned down in a fire mishap in Champasari, Siliguri, today. The shops were located next to each other. According to the families, a burning diya inside the shop might have caused the fire which resulted in four cylinder blasts one after another. No casualties have been reported so far.


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Now, men can buy their own male branded cosmetics, and say good-bye to the days of stealing their sister’s makeup. It wasn’t that long ago that music icons like David Bowie and Boy George were dubbed as groundbreaking for their flamboyant, gender bending makeup designs. Mac Cosmetics was a pioneer for using RuPaul as the face for VivaGlam, but even this was never taken mainstream. However, today the known the presence of men in makeup is prevalent and seen in Vanity Fair, TV, YouTube, and Instagram pages.
We, at Style Station, love that makeup is for everyone and available across genders. Major makeup brands are now turning to male models to sell their products. Making news is Milk Makeup, which targets the millennial generation of trendy artsy hipsters, who recently launched their campaign featuring New York male model, Matt Davidson, sporting their holographic pigments.
Eyebrow guru and high-end cosmetic line, Anastasia Beverly Hills, hired a bevy of sexy, tatted, male models to market their new glow kit of highlighters. You may think this type of progressive advertising is only for the avant-guard or professionally inspired brands – but not so! The game really changed when iconic Covergirl appointed Instagram star, James Charles, as their new brand ambassador. James, now ranks among such beauties as Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift, while taking the the title as the company’s first ever male ambassador.
Check out Style Stations’s product picks to create your own male inspired make-up look.


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QuikTrip's Wichita Switch
After vowing to wait for better beer law, chain building anyway; expects change
WICHITA, Kansas -- QuikTrip Corp. is getting ready to break ground on its new store at in Wichita, Kansas, reported The Wichita Business Journal. The company recently closed on the purchase of nine parcels of ground at a Wichita intersection, where it plans to build one of its 5,700-square-foot "Generation 3" stores, its newest prototype.
In April, Tulsa, Okla.-based QuikTrip told the newspaper that plans to build at least three of these stores in the Kansas City market by the end of 2012. The stores will be about 20% larger than the company's previous prototypes [image-nocss] and will offer outdoor seating and full beverage service to compete with Starbucks and other coffee shops (click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage.)
Demolition work on houses in that area is expected to begin during the next couple of weeks, QuikTrip spokesperson Mike Thornbrugh told the Business Journal. The store is slated for a January opening.
QuikTrip is building the store in anticipation of eventually being able to sell full-strength alcohol there. The state legislature this year contemplated opening the state's liquor laws to allow the sale of strong beer in grocery and convenience stores. Nothing passed, but Thornbrugh said that the issue will not go away.
"I really think it stands a good chance next year or the following year," he told the paper. "People get it."
The Generation 3 stores have plenty of room for new product, if it became available for QuikTrip to sell, Thornbrugh said. Previously, he said that the chain would not build stores in Wichita while the liquor laws were in flux (click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage.)
But that has changed, the report said.
Thornbrugh said that the company opted to go with a Generation 3 store in Witchita in anticipation that the state legislature eventually will amend the state's liquor laws.
Kansas is one of just a handful of states with two classifications of beers. Some of those states--Oklahoma is one--have seen legislation pushing for change, said the report.
"There's a movement across the country," Thornbrugh said.


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FedEx Express announced that it has selected Abdul Latif Jameel Group, a conglomerate that provides logistics services, as a new global service provider in Saudi Arabia. The partnership will help facilitate the operation of FedEX Express’s international inbound and outbound services to and from 220 countries and territories.
“Abdul Latif Jameel Group is proud to be selected as the global service provider of the globally renowned FedEx Express brand in Saudi Arabia. Our Group’s 60 years of logistics experience, combined with our customer-centric approach, are the pillars that will support FedEx Express in becoming the premier transportation provider in the country, and a vital contributor to the Saudi Arabian economy,” said Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, Chairman and President of Abdul Latif Jameel Group.
“This strategic relationship with Abdul Latif Jameel Group aligns with our ‘customer first’ philosophy that defines our commitment to make every FedEx experience outstanding,” said David Ross, Senior Vice-President of FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa operations.
The world's largest collection of global supply chain intelligence


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As a pregnant woman in the fall of 2012, the only thing I could stomach for two straight weeks was a heaping dish of the Mizithra cheese pasta with browned butter from Old Spaghetti Factory. Perfection, that Mizithra. Which is why I am calling attention to all Old Spaghetti Factory fans of Seattle! You might want to hop on over to the downtown location while it’s still open!
Nitze-Stagen and Meriwether Partners purchased the historic warehouse near the waterfront and its parking lot for $9 million from the Dussin family, the owners of the Portland-based Old Spaghetti Factory chain.
The salmon-packing warehouse was built in 1902 across from Pier 70, and has worn many hats since. It housed Frederick & Nelson’s department store merchandise, operated as a waterproof-glue manufacturing company and finally in 1970, became home to the Old Spaghetti Factory.
The developers have not yet stated whether or not they will keep the iconic restaurant open. “We are just at the beginning stages of exploring our design options. But whatever we do, it will connect to the public spaces, honor the historic building, and be a high-quality project,” said Joel Aslanian of Meriwether Partners. But if it does indeed close, don’t worry too much–there’s another one in Lynnwood.
For the full article, click here.


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Oh oh - It’s Magic.... and were aren’t talking about the ELO song – but Staffordshire based textile design and manufacturing experts – Magic Textiles –
Magic Textiles have teamed up with Football Trade Directory (FTD) in the past 12 months and it has helped them develop new income streams.
Marketing manager at Magic, Chris Shaw explains:
‘We have used contacts supplied by FTD and developed new relationships through their networking events.
‘We are delighted that this has resulted in a range of new contracts, including Premier League football clubs, rugby union and various license owners.
John Booth adds:
‘The success magic Textiles have seen through our work for them has been very pleasing.
‘We work with a whole range of companies in the sports supply chain – and it is gratifying to know our contacts and networking days offer new business opportunities for our supporters.’
You can meet Magic Textiles at the upcoming Football Networking Day at Bolton Wanderers’ Macron Stadium on Thursday 9th November.


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DUNWOODY, Ga. — Got floppy disks hanging around? How about those VHS tapes you’ve been meaning to toss, or that collection of mismatched Tupperware lids? Don’t toss them — recycle them.
The Georgia State University sustainability team will be on Dunwoody Campus in front of the Student Center, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday, April 20, and will be accepting a wide variety of items for recycling — including floppy disks and VHS tapes.
Items accepted include:
- Power strips and cords
- Binders and presentation materials
- Packing peanuts
- Clean polystyrene coolers
- Solo cups or other rigid #6 plastic cups
- Candy and snack wrappers
- K-Cups and other coffee pods
- Clothing and shoes
- Latex paint
- Plastic bags
- CDs, VHS Tapes, Floppy Disks and DVDs .
“Our office will be sorting items afterwards and putting things like clothing that is in good shape aside for Panther’s Pantry, said Jennifer Asman, Georgia State’s sustainability program manager. The rest will be recycled using the following vendors:
- M&M Recycling — power strips and cords.
- Terracycle — binders, solo cups, candy and snack wrappers, k-cups and coffee pods, Tupperware, CDs and other media material.
- CHaRM — glass, latex paint, plastic bags.
- USAGAIN — clothing and shoes.


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The Coeliac UK logo will be promoted as the industry standard for gluten-free products in Europe.
Currently, multiple logos adorn gluten-free goods within the EU, which Coeliac UK says can be confusing for consumers.
Crossed Grain symbol
Coeliac UK CEO Sarah Sleet told BakeryAndSnacks.com that her organisation’s Crossed Grain symbol made it easier for coeliac consumers to choose safe products and gave manufacturers commercial advantages in a growing and competitive gluten-free market.
“The coeliac community would like to see a single standard,” she said.
“Virtually all consumers across Europe will recognise our symbol.”
In the UK, around 90 companies have adopted Coeliac UK’s Crossed Grain symbol, including bread manufacturer Warburtons and supermarket chain Asda.
The symbol also has a presence in continental Europe, particularly in Italy, Austria and Germany.
Many supermarkets chose to adopt their own logo, but Sleet said that her organisation had been approached by supermarket chains.
“Following the pan-European agreement we expect to see a rapid rise in the amount of manufacturers using the symbol,” said Sleet.
She hoped to see the symbol become the European standard in the next two to three years.
Coeliac UK charges an annual licence fee to use its symbol, which varies depending upon the turnover of the gluten-free products listed in the licence.
Sleet was asked whether it was a requirement of the license to place the symbol on the front of the packaging.
While she said it was not a prerequisite, she said that her organisation would like to see it in a place of prominence.
She added that the logo was a value-added symbol that could help manufacturers promote their products. Therefore it could be within a manufacturer’s interest to make the symbol highly visible on packaging, she said.
Coeliac UK has also recently trademarked its symbol in the US.
A multitude of gluten-free logos exist in the US, but Sleet said Coeliac UK was in discussion with organisations such as the Gluten-Free Interest Group over potential synergies.
However, she said that a universal system worldwide would be a challenge as the US threshold for what constitutes a gluten-free product was considerably lower than the EU and world standard.
According to new European regulations on gluten-free products that were introduced on 1 January 2012, a product may bear the term ‘gluten-free’ if the gluten content does not exceed 20 mg/kg. (Commission Regulation (EC) No 41/2009)


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After 15 years in the country, Africa’s biggest retail company, Shoprite has disclosed that they will discontinue their operations in Nigeria and are now considering to sell its major stakes. The group made this known in a formal Operational and Voluntary Trading Update of the company.
This announcement is coming after the South Africa-owned company saw an immense decline in sales in the Nigerian market from June 2019 to June 2020.
Reactions have trailed the announcement —which many have considered both sad and good news. Good news, in that the exit of the foreign company will open more opportunities for the local counterparts which will directly affect the economic growth of Nigeria: this bears to the sad news; the disclosure has exposed further that the Nigeria economy is continually receding and is suitable for some businesses to thrive.
There Is also the resulting effect of unemployment as the company, whose workforce in Nigeria is almost entirely Nigerians, will have to relieve the employees of their duties. This definitely will render thousands of Nigerians jobless, heaping on the rising statistics of unemployment rate in Nigeria.


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Company says future mobility is both inclusive and impassioned
Carmaker to display “production-ready” model at Tokyo Motor Show
We drive the Toyota Supra, yes. But we also learn the story behind it
Toyota conference in Manila highlights the brand’s and Lexus’s electrified future in the country
©2023 Calibre Magazine, C! Publishing and Media Group, Inc., Philippines. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


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When Phones4u went into administration in 2014, John Whittle, John Morris and Steven Lloyd were just three of the senior managers who lost their jobs.
Two years later and few people could have predicted the turn of events that would see the trio running a new business that aims to turn the phone industry on its head.
But that’s precisely what they’re doing with Manchester-based disrupter UNSHACKLED.com.
In simple terms they’re offering a one-stop shop that lets consumers split the phone and the SIM purchase – thereby saving money on expensive contracts.
Whittle is the CEO of UNSHACKLED.com having spent 14 years at Phones4U, where he ended up working as the chief commercial officer.
He says the current industry is broken and customers are being ripped off by expensive contracts.
“There’s no value for the customer,” he says.“Unfortunately it’s a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to assessing customers’ credit worthiness when they apply for a contract in the current market.
“Either you pass or you fail. It means that, on one hand, you could end up paying huge generic APRs. On the other, you might never have the opportunity to get a contract at all.”
Whittle says half of mobile phone new contract applications are rejected, forcing many people into eBay and other markets. He says there’s also evidence that some mobile phone retailers are selling customers contracts with more minutes, texts and data than they actually need.
“UNSHACKLED.com is readdressing this injustice by putting the customer, not the networks, first,” he says.“It’s a new way to buy your phone on a personalised payment plan (with illustrative APR as low as 9.7 per cent) and split with a SIM separately which saves you money.
“We are unique in that we sell every phone, every SIM and most importantly, we are the first truly independent mobile phone company.
“With no ties to any network, we’re free to find you the best deals.”
It’s a complicated sector and Whittle gives a simple analogy that compares a phone to a cooker and the SIM card to the gas that powers it.
“You wouldn’t feel obliged to buy your cooker and gas from the same supplier but people feel compelled to get their handset and SIM from the same retailer because they think they’ll get the best deal.
“It’s just counter intuitive to a customer right now not to think that by buying a contract package with their network provider would not be the most cost effective route,” explains Whittle.
“Customers upgrade all the time and don’t think about how much they can save. We simply want to educate customers that they can save more by splitting them and getting the best deal.”
Sitting behind UNSHACKLED.com’s offer is technology that links the products with personalised payment rates and plans.
“We assesses customers’ individual credit ratings to provide real-time, personalised loans for phones,” says Whittle.
“The result is fairer rates which reflect customers’ specific financial circumstances.”
Whittle points out that UNSHACKLED.com’s APRs range from 9.7 per cent to 24.9 per cent – substantially lower than the upwards of 50 per cent rates of some rivals.
“We’ve also created MobileWatch, which scans the market for the best SIM deals if we find one which is better value, we let the customer know,” he says.
He adds that he and his former Phones4u colleagues John Morris and Steven Lloyd are chasing the same thing.
“We simply want UNSHACKLED.com to counteract the industry’s bad practice and transform the way consumers buy mobile phones,” he says.
The start-up has been backed by John Caudwell, the billionaire founder of Phones4U.
“We pitched the UNSHACKLED.com concept to John as an investment opportunity and we were delighted that he chose to invest,” explains Whittle.
“We are not at liberty to disclose the amount of the investment but the day to day running of the business is left to the management team.”
Launched in May 2016 from Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Whittle says business is going “really well” but insists they’ve got no contracts or obligations to sell a certain volume of phones or SIM cards.
And he denies suggestions that the last few years can be summed up as poacher turned gamekeeper.
“UNSHACKLED.com is borne out of the experience of industry experts from Phones4U, who recognised that there are too many historic contracts controlling the mobile marketplace and not allowing customers true choice,” he says rather emphatically.


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The Summer of 2016 seems like forever ago but Pokemon Go is still here, and Niantic has made some adjustments for players who still want to capture Pokemon while sheltering-in-place.
They have doubled the rate at which Pokemon appear and halved the amount of time it takes for eggs to hatch; anyone wanting to fight at a gym can probably do so from their house. The range at which gyms are accessible has increased greatly.
Pokemon Go has changed heavily since it’s viral beginnings but the COVID-19 outbreak has breathed new life into it, as well as the rest of the video game industry.
The timely releases of Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Id Software’s Doom Eternal have led to record breaking sales for two long-running series; the American sales totals are not yet available but Nintendo estimated they sold around 3.5 times more copies of this Animal Crossing than the preceding title on the 3DS.
Doom Eternal’s publisher, Bethesda, told Gamespot that Eternal doubled the launch sales of their previous 2016 Doom reboot, with 100,000 active daily players on the PC version, tracked using Steam, an online game store that sells digital copies and doubles as a launcher for games.
Doom Eternal was also released on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, with a Nintendo Switch port coming later.
Minecraft has already gained popularity with both children and educators since its release in 2011, has moved upward yet again, with 112 million players.
Minecraft was already the best selling video game of all time, selling 180 million copies across all platforms, a number that has since grown since it was widely reported in May 2019.
These aren’t the only series cleaning up because of COVID-19, either: League of Legends, a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game, has 80 million active daily players.
cod.tracker.gg, an Activision-run website that tracks how many players are online in their own games and of their competitors, said in an April 10 article that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s new free-to-play Warzone game mode has reached more than 50 million players, matching Apex Legends and passing Fortnite, which is still seeing more players, hovering at 20 million.
Official sales data by title is not yet released, as companies will typically only release specific numbers when they are required to report to stockholders. For example, Nintendo is required to report their sales numbers on May 7, according to their website.
Sales have been up across the board, according to VGChartz.com. The Nintendo Switch has sold 396,497 for the week ending April 4, with the PlayStation 4 lagging behind at 159,783: Total console sales are up 155% from this time last year, while physical game sales are up 82% and digital are up 52%.
Another factor driving these sales increases are price cuts: PlayStation 4’s lead seller, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare has been sold at a 20% discount on the PlayStation store and fairly recent releases like Dragonball: Kakarot and Borderlands 3 have been sold at a 20% discount across all digital platforms.
EA Sports titles like NHL 20, FIFA 20 and Madden 20 are all being sold at a 60% discount.
While some games have reached historic lows, price-wise, others are reaching a peak. With the cancellation of sports seasons, the final installments of both the NCAA Football series, which released in 2014, and the NCAA Basketball series, which last released in 2010, have skyrocketed in price on the secondary market. NCAA Football 14 is selling for between $60 and $100 on Ebay currently, and NCAA Basketball 10 is going for around $45 for a 10 year old game.
In the search to fill the sports void, Twitch viewership has jumped from 1.1 million viewers in December 2019 to 2.3 million viewers this month. ESPN has started filling primetime television with professional athletes playing NBA 2K20 and Major League Baseball teams each have a player representative playing through a competitive season on MLB the Show 20.
NASCAR has began playing its season using NASCAR Heat 4.
With the stay-at-home order extended until April 30 and the likelihood of it being extended beyond, according to Governor JB Pritzker’s Thursday news conference, it is likely to see video games continue to be used as an escape route for those stuck at home.
Source: The Daily Chronicle


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The TPA, Household Debt and Inflation
My good friend’s at the TPA have responded to my False Economy post on household debt. Leaving aside the sniping (I’m a ‘hack’ apparently), their key argument is that the higher household debt forecasts are due to higher inflation (’the colossal elephant in the room’).
Fair enough, although the basic problem with this argument is that the OBR haven’t really revised their inflation forecasts by all that much.
Since their June pre-Budget forecast they have revised up the 2011 CPI forecast from 1.6% to 4.2% and the 2012 forecast from 2.0% to 2.5%. They have made no changes to their forecasts for inflation in 2013, 2014 or 2015. The ‘elephant in the room’ isn’t really so large.
It seems unlikely, to say the least, that a relatively minor (and temporary) increase could cause such a large increase in the household debt forecast.
But then ‘inflation’ is the right’s new best friend – household debt rising? Blame inflation. Government borrowing an additional £45 billion? Must be inflation.
As Chris Dillow wrote two weeks ago this excuse, in relation to higher government borrowing, is ‘drivel’.
For what it’s worth I’ve emailed the OBR asking for more detail on their household debt forecasts and the reason for the increase. But let’s remind ourselves – back in June they forecast that household debt/income would fall every year until 2015, now they expect it to rise every year. It seems unlikely that two years of higher inflation could cause such a large effect.


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By 2026 there will be 658,900 Australians over the age of 85 and by 2046 this number will spill over into the millions, with 1,439,000. That will be equivalent to 4.4 per cent of the total population, up from the 1.6 per cent in 2006.
With this in mind, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) has pledged to scrutinise not only practices that target older Australians, but the actual ability of Australia’s ageing population to engage in “complex financial decisions, including the associated risks”.
According to an ASIC roadmap, the regulator has “formed an internal working group to better co-ordinate the work [ASIC] will undertake to address issues affecting older Australians”.
These issues include:
- The use of financial services and products by older Australians, such as financial advice during the transition to retirement
- The ability of older Australians to undertake complicated financial decisions and the associated risks
- Products that target older Australians, like reverse mortgages, and the selling practices that target this group.
A reverse mortgage allows home owners to use the equity in their home as a source of credit and free up cash flow.
The watchdog will also contribute to the International Organization of Securities Commissions for work on senior investor vulnerability.
It’s part of ASIC’s plan to focus on industry behaviours that “pose the highest risks to good investor and consumer outcomes” and more generally, inappropriate products being sold to vulnerable consumers and people “buying products they do not adequately understand”.
In addition to reverse mortgage product and selling practices, the fee and disclosure performance practices of superannuation and managed fund trustees and responsible bodies will also come under the spotlight.
What does ‘good’ look like?
There are four keys to good conduct, product and disclosure practices for superannuation and managed fund providers, ASIC said. These are:
- Members and investors need to be treated fairly, and their interests prioritised
- Providers need to “develop and sell a range of products and services that are transparent” while being aligned with members’ and investors’ needs and delivering “value for money”
- The “balance between innovation and risk to meet fund objectives” needs to be struck
- And investors should be “fully compensated” if and when losses come about as a result of poor conduct.
“The financial system plays an important role in the lives of all Australians,” ASIC said. “Therefore, we need to ensure it is resilient, fair and competitive to promote good investor and consumer outcomes.”


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After images of what appeared to be the new-generation Previa were leaked over a month ago, Toyota has officially revealed the 2016 Previa minivan. Also called Estima, the updated Previa receives a heavily restyled front end, a tweaked cabin and a new transmission that replaces the old 4-speed automatic.
Beginning with the design, the Previa's front end now follows the brand's 'Keen Look' philosophy. It gets slimmer LED headlights, black trapezoidal grill with a chrome fixture on top and daytime running lights that extend upwards on the bumper. Moving towards the side, high-end models get chrome door handles, along with additional brightwork on the lower section of the van. Rounding up the exterior revisions are the new alloy wheels, slightly redesigned taillights, reshaped rear bumper and optional two-tone paint finish.
Stepping inside, a new 3-spoke multifunction steering wheel greets the driver, along with new dashboard trim and leather seats. Gone is the 2-DIN audio system as it has been replaced with a new touchscreen infotainment system. The climate control system has been updated as well and now features soft-touch controls along with new aircon vents. The signature instrument panel has been retained but now has a 2.6-inch multi-information display.
The 7-seat layout has been carried over but those looking for more seating capacity can opt for the traditional 8-seater variant. In addition, there is also a model available that allows easier ingress and egress for disabled passengers.
Powering the 2016 Previa will still be the carried-over 2.4-liter AZ-FE which produces 170 PS and 224 Nm of torque. The 4-speed automatic gearbox has been succeeded by a new Super CVT-i which drives the front wheels.
In terms of safety, the 2016 Previa is fitted with Toyota Safety Sense C pacakge across the lineup. With it, the refreshed minivan gets pre-collision safety system, lane departure alert and automatic high beam. Better handling, on the other hand, comes courtesy of a front performance damper which is also standard on all models.
There is no word yet if Toyota Motors Philippines will bring the 2016 Previa.


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Scientists at Europe's CERN research centre said they may be able to definitively announce in March that they have discovered the elusive Higgs boson.
Summer is the breeding season for many household pests, but one of the most worrying is the global pandemic of bed bugs which has already hit Hong Kong.
After attacking mining colonies on the PlayStation 3, the carnivorous Insectocytes are now invading the Sony PlayStation Portable in Savage Moon: The Hera Campaign.
Is creepy the new beauty? The autumn and winter styles of British accessory brand Mulberry, presented in a show last Thursday at Elements with creative director Emma Hill in attendance, offered...
The third edition of The Amazing Race Asia begins on the AXN channel on Thursday. From what we've seen, most of the teams now consist of perfectly shaped models, actors and beauty queens. Included...
A large part of the widely shared phobia of creepy-crawlies has to do with them turning up in unsuspected places, such as shoes or plates of food.
Although a potential millennium bug crisis was avoided last year, experts warn that some errors in computerised systems still need to be rectified.
THE economic costs of the damage caused by the Love Bug virus are truly staggering.
One essential element of news is that it is, just that, new. But one of the biggest stories of the year falls outside that definition.
Bugs, La Cremeria, Fringe, April 21 (until Saturday, April 24) Modernity might be everyone's goal as the millennium approaches, but it is a double-edged sword.
THEY creep, they crawl, they fly by day and bite by night - love them or loathe them, you can't ignore insects. For most people in Hongkong, insects are the cockroaches which scuttle across the...


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Anyone looking for a budget ski trip should choose a last-minute deal to the United States, as the dollar has hit a low against the pound and the euro a high.
Although package deals to the US are generally more expensive than those to Europe, the strong euro and weak dollar mean that food, lift passes and equipment are all cheaper across the Atlantic. If you can find a good deal on flights, an American ski holiday can work out cheaper than the Alps.
Foreign exchange specialist Travelex (0845 300 1100) calculated that this time last year the dollar was $1.55 to the pound and the euro €1.56 to the pound. Now at $1.71 or more, the pound gets more dollars than it has for the past five years, and the euro is nearly the most expensive it's been at €1.30 to the pound.
A spokesman for US ski specialist Ski Independence (0870 555 0555) said: 'Our prices won't change in the brochures, but food, clothing, equipment and anything you buy in the resort will be cheaper.'
He said transatlantic bookings were up by 15 per cent this winter on the year before. North American resorts have a reputation for being more snowsure than many of their European counterparts.
Simon Philips, director of retail for Travelex in Europe, said: 'It pays for travellers to spend a little time keeping an eye on how currencies are shifting.'
Six nights' accommodation in three-star hotel Beaver Creek West (00 1 970 949 4840) in Vail would have cost £820 in December 2002 compared with £752 now. Last year a six-day lift pass would have cost £228; now it is £209, making a total saving of £87.
Six nights in the three-star Weisses Rossl hotel (00 43 5356 625410) in Kitzbühel, Austria, would have cost £802 last year compared to £910 this year, while a six-day lift pass has gone up from £102 to £116. Total increase: £122.


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Luxembourg: Latest beverage news & analysis
SPI Group, the Stolichnaya brand owner and parent of Stoli Group, has announced a change of CFO, and a new CEO for Stoli Group.
SPI Group has consolidated its presence in the Baltic states with the creation of Amber Beverage Group, a holding company based in the region.
SPI Group has sold its Kremlyovskaya vodka brand to Classic International Group.
SPI Group has announced itself open to acquiring businesses that would boost its global wine portfolio.
SPI Group has announced another change of regional director in Asia Pacific – its third in 15 months.
SPI Group has pulled out of the race to buy Central European Distribution Corp (CEDC).
SPI Group has declined to comment on whether it is still interested in buying Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) after CEDC accepted a rescue package from another shareholder.
The owner of the Stolichnaya vodka brand, SPI Group, has confirmed that it is considering make a move for embattled spirits producer Central European Distribution Corporation.
Stock Spirits Group has announced the aquisition of Slovak spirits company Imperator and ethanol manufacturing business Novel Ferm, both for undisclosed sums.
Red Bull has lost a challenge at the European Court of Justice over an alleged breach of its trademark by Frisdranken Industrie Winters.
- AB InBev, SABMiller - Here's what'll happen next
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- SABMiller formally rejects AB InBev's offer
- The IWSR Duty Free/Travel Retail Summary Report 2015
- Future growth opportunities for global spirits
- Global gin insights - market data, product innovation and consumer trends research
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- Global Scotch whisky insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends research


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Swedish fuel operator OKQ8 has launched a new beverage solution from Coca-Cola at a store in Stockholm – ahead of a possible national roll-out.
The concept enables the customer to fill Coca-Cola products in reusable beverage containers.
Collaboration With CCEP
OKQ8 customers can choose between Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta or Sprite, or create their own mix-and-match flavour combinations.
As many as 60 different flavour combinations are available for those who want to try something new.
The reusable containers used to refill the beverage keep it both cold and carbonated.
“Packaging that is not collected and recycled is a contributing factor to both littering and increased CO2 emissions, so it has been lots of fun to commence this collaboration with Coca-Cola,” commented Karin Hellgren, communications manager at OKQ8.
“Being the first in the industry to offer a sustainable packaging solution for beverage consumption that does not compromise on quality and taste is completely in line with our sustainability goals.”
Elsewhere, Lisa Wahlström, communications and sustainability director at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, said, “We know that today’s consumers are making increasingly conscious choices, and that sustainability is becoming increasingly important.
“We are therefore very pleased that such a large player as OKQ8 is now investing in a packaging solution that enables our beverage to be consumed as sustainably as possible.”
The concept will initially be available at the OKQ8 Globe at Arenavägen 86, in Stockholm.
If successful, the concept will be rolled out to more OKQ8 stations in the future.


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ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced GR8 II, a 4-liter gaming PC with full gaming desktop performance to cater to any gamer’s requirements. It is currently the world’s smallest gaming PC that is designed for VR, and has the most advanced graphics in its class with full-size custom
Corsair, a world leader in enthusiast memory, high-performance gaming hardware and PC components today announced the immediate availability of the new CORSAIR HX series and CORSAIR TX-M series of enthusiast power supplies, as well as a major update to its CORSAIR Bulldog small form factor barebones kit, Bulldog 2.0.
Posted by owikh84
on 5 Jan, 2017
In Desktop, Events, Gadget, Gaming, Headset, Laptop, Mainboard, Mobile Device, Mouse, Networking, News, Speaker
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today revealed its complete lineup of gaming gear at CES® 2017 and introduced the first ROG router designed specifically for gamers, Rapture GT-AC5300. The latest additions and refreshes include laptops and motherboards upgraded with or ready for the brand-new 7th Generation Intel® Core™ (‘Kaby
ASUS today announced that the ASUS G11 gaming desktop is now available with the latest 7th Generation Intel® Core™ processors. This gives G11 the processing performance required to run the latest games smoothly at the highest graphics settings. G11 can be specified with up to an NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX
ASRock products are honored with the prestigious 2017 Taiwan Excellence Award once again! Hold by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, a total of 1188 products from more than 500 manufacturers participated this time, yet only 528 products were awarded after 4 months of rigorous selection. Among them, a handful


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By R. Jai Krishna
NEW DELHI--Bharti Airtel Ltd. (532454.BY) has announced further changes to its senior management team, just weeks after naming Gopal Vittal chief executive of its core Indian operations.
In a statement Thursday, India's largest telecommunications company by users said it has appointed Ajai Puri as director for market operations in India, effective March 1.
Mr. Puri, currently Bharti's director for northern and eastern Indian operations, also oversaw the company's Bangladesh unit. He will report to Mr. Vittal.
Mr. Vittal, who will also be joint managing director, officially takes on his new roles March 1.
Raghunath Mandava will become director for customer experience, and Najib Khan chief executive of Bharti's home and offices business. Both will report to Mr. Vittal.
The latest appointments at Bharti Airtel--about 32% owned by SingTel
Last week, Bharti Airtel posted a worse-than-expected 72% fall in third-quarter net profit as a foreign-exchange loss and weak results at its African unit dented its performance. The Indian operations contribute about 70% to Bharti's total revenue.
The company also named K. Srinivas director for special projects with effect from March 4, a position currently held by CEO-designate Mr. Vittal.
Mr. Srinivas "would be responsible for evaluating potential investment opportunities and developing business case across various lines of business," and will report to Sunil Mittal, Bharti's founder-chairman, the statement said.
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires


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Brewers Association Data Reveals Craft Beer Continued Growth in 2019 … But Can it Possibly Continue?Photos via Brew Drink News craft beer
First, the good news: According to data collected by the Brewers Association, the Colorado-based trade association for “small and independent” American craft breweries, 2019 was ultimately another year of growth for the “better beer” industry. Throughout the year, small and independent brewers (as defined by the BA) produced 26.3 million barrels of beer, which was a volume growth of just under 4%. This continued the trend of slowing overall rate of growth as the segment matures, but likewise continued craft beer’s growth as a percentage of total beer market share. That number went from 13% in 2018, to 13.6% in 2019, a not-insignificant increase. Also increasing: Retail dollar value, which rose 6% to $29.3 billion, which is 25.2% of the beer market share. Craft breweries also provided more direct jobs than ever, with the new mark of 160,000 representing a 7% increase from 2018.
“Small and independent brewers continued to serve as job creators, strong economic contributors, and community beacons in 2019, while craft maintained a fairly stable growth rate in 2019 and continued to gain share in the beer market,” said Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association in the group’s annual release of the statistics.
Other significant numbers include the following: There were 8,275 craft breweries in operation in 2019, a number that skyrocketed throughout the decade, with 942 new brewery openings and 294 closing in 2019. As recently as 2015, there were only 4,670, according to the same Brewers Association data.
Now, the likely cause for alarm: It can probably be assumed that 2019 will go down in the books as the last year of consecutive, steady volume increases as far as craft beer is concerned. Between changes to the beer market, changes in brewery ownership, and the devastating effects of coronavirus/COVID-19 on the hospitality industry, we should likely be expecting 2020’s numbers to look quite a lot different. The BA’s release essentially acknowledges as much.
“Although craft brewers entered 2020 on a solid foundation, the beer landscape is dramatically different today than it was just a few months ago,” said Watson. “Breweries will be facing new realities due to the pandemic with extended closures, tight cash flow, societal shifts, and other economic variables in play. These 2019 figures will allow us to see how much COVID-19 affects small brewer production and jobs.”
Even without the pandemic, however, 2020 might have been the first year in ages that saw an overall negative growth rate for beer produced by BA-defined craft brewers. One reason why would be the 2019 acquisition of New Belgium by Kirin, which ended nearly 30 years of the brewery qualifying as a “craft brewer” via the BA definition. And as the #4 largest American craft brewer according to the BA’s data, that loss of more than 800,000 barrels from the official data might well have been enough to lead to a negative year all on its own. Factor in the thousands of breweries hurting without their all-important taproom sales during the pandemic, and things begin to look rather grim for those end-of-year 2020 numbers.
The test, one has to think, will come in 2021. Will the industry be able to bounce back from the inevitable closings that will come from the pandemic-related interruption in business? Will interest in craft beer prove to be dampened or strengthened when social distancing measures are loosened? The answers to these questions will likely determine the health of the overall craft beer industry for the foreseeable future.
In the meantime, you can see the BA’s graphic of the 2019 data below.


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Ford ramps up China production
Search Driven for vehicles for sale
Ford boosts SUV and EV production in China
Ford has outlined the next phase of its China expansion strategy, focused on SUVs, electric and connected vehicles, a streamlined business structure and closer connections to Chinese customers.
The Executive Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Jim Hackett revealed the plans while in China this week to meet employees, customers, dealers and government officials.
"China is not only the largest car market in the world, it’s also at the heart of electric vehicle and SUV growth and the mobility movement,” said Bill Ford. “The progress we have achieved in China is just the start. We now have a chance to expand our presence in China and deliver even more for customers, our partners and society.”
Ford executives outlining the company's China strategy this week: (left to right): Jason Luo, Chairman and CEO, Ford China, Jim Hackett, CEO, Ford Motor Company, Bill Ford, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company, Peter Fleet, Group Vice President and President, Ford Asia Pacific. Picture/Supplied.
To enable future growth in China, Ford will contain structural cost in the region throughout 2018, aiming to generate greater efficiencies, become more operationally fit and deliver additional value to shareholders.
Ford planned to increase its revenue from China by 50 per cent by 2025, and was focussed on delivering more smart, connected vehicles, closer connection to Chinese customers and a streamlined business structure.
More Smart, Connected Vehicles
The company plans to offer more than 50 new Ford and Lincoln vehicles in China by 2025.
The expansion would reflect a stronger emphasis on SUVs, with eight new utilities, and more electric vehicles.
The company would launch at least 15 new electrified vehicles from Ford and Lincoln. And a new Zotye-Ford joint venture will deliver a separate range of affordable all-electric under a new brand, pending regulatory approvals.
“From luxury Lincolns, to Ford cars and SUVs, to an all-new electric vehicle brand, we will meet the growing desire and need in China for great new energy vehicles,” said Jason Luo, chairman and CEO, Ford China.
“Each of them will be safe, efficient, fun to drive and backed by an ecosystem that makes charging, sharing and servicing easy.”
By the end of 2019, all new Ford and Lincoln-badged vehicles in China would be connected through either embedded modems or plug-in devices.
Ford is one of the founding members of the Board of Baidu’s Project Apollo, building on the agreement signed earlier this year. The Apollo Open Platform accelerates the development, testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles. Ford’s participation supports the company’s robotics and artificial intelligence research efforts and provides an opportunity to contribute to a platform that will be key to developing autonomous vehicles in China.
“We are responding to the rapid pace of change by delivering increased connectivity and working to improve and simplify mobility for everyone,” Hackett said. “This builds on our commitment to deliver smart vehicles for a smart world, helping people around the world move more safely, confidently and freely.”
Closer to Chinese customers
In 2019, the company would start producing five additional Ford and Lincoln models in China for Chinese customers, including a new Lincoln premium SUV, and the company’s first global fully electric small SUV.
Producing vehicles locally speeds time to market, while providing greater opportunities to fully leverage the local supply base. It also allows Ford to further tailor vehicles to more closely meet the needs of Chinese customers.
“Some of our most advanced manufacturing and innovation facilities are here in China,” said Peter Fleet, group vice president and president, Ford Asia Pacific. “Producing more vehicles for China locally allows us to improve the benefits for our customers, our partners and our bottom line.”
Ford last month opened the Nanjing Test Center, which would increase product development capability and innovation in China.
The test center – which included close to 80 different types of real road surface conditions, a three-kilometre test track and a sophisticated emissions testing facility, would help Ford speed-up development of new products, services and technologies to meet the driving requirements of Chinese customers.


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In the coming years, besides JioMart will cover more cities, customers, and expand to more categories besides strengthening collaboration with more brands, businesses, and entrepreneurs. Reliance retail would be inducting global partners in the next few quarters who has granted strong investments from strategic and financial investors,
The Chairman Mukesh Ambani said on Wednesday, “This seamless connection will provide a huge boost to India’s consumption which in turn will strengthen country’s existing manufacturing capacity as well as enable new start-ups, and over time, India can be a large manufacturing hub for meeting our own growing consumption needs.”
The partnership with Facebook-owned WhatsApp has provided JioMart with a user base of about 400 million in India. This has given the company the needed edge to increase its network for consumer reach and kirana stores, As told by some analysts, before partnering with Watsapp, JioMart had been facing some issues while getting merchants and customers, but now, JioMart is totally focussed on scaling its delivery capabilities and geographical reach.
Reliance Retail merging the capabilities of kirana stores has provided them with a pan-India network that consists of 12,000 stores, this giving them the platform to reach every consumer in a better manner. This has given our domestic Giant an advantage over the worlds giants that include Walmart-backed Flipkart and Amazon.com. While according to the sources, RIL is also expected to take over Future Groups that owns the chains of BIg Bazaar chain of stores.
While, according to the CMD at Technopak, there is enough room for all the three players - Reliance Retail, Walmart-backed Flipkart, and Amazon.com - to co-exist and grow their business in India.
Singhal highlighted, “JioMart is fundamentally different as an idea and does not come in direct or indirect competition with Flipkart or Amazon — both are pure-play online players and have got significant restrictions because of FDI policy which Reliance does not have.”


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The free prize draw was held to celebrate DVLA’s 25th anniversary of selling personalised registrations and its 150th auction. Anyone who registered to bid at the 150th auction or the auction in Twickenham Stadium in September was entered into the prize draw.
The Mini One, which has low emissions and is manufactured in the UK, was provided by DVLA’s auctioneers at no cost to the taxpayer.
The 150th auction held at the Vale of Glamorgan resort in South Wales, saw a new record paid for a registration number. 25 O sold for £518,000, the highest amount paid for a number sold by DVLA.
Other top selling numbers were:
- 250 L - £130,328
- WJP 1 - £27,296
- CU11 ENS - £26,648
- 964 RS - £26,259
In total, the 150th auction raised around £4 million for HM Treasury.
The next auction
The next auction will be held at the Nottingham Belfry, Nottingham from 25 February to 27 February 2015. There are also millions of personalised registrations available to buy online on the DVLA Personalised Registrations’ official website.


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A top executive of the U.S.-based Target department stores says the company is speeding up new technology to stop credit card fraud.
At a U.S. Senate hearing Tuesday, Target Chief Financial Officer John Mulligan apologized for last year's security breach that allowed hackers to steal credit and debit card information from about 40 million customers.
Mulligan said the stores are rapidly installing technology that can read chips imbedded in cards, making it difficult to steal information.
Such devices are widely used in Europe and Asia, but not in the United States because of the cost.
Most U.S. credit cards use a magnetic strip that makes them more open to fraud.
An executive of the Neiman Marcus chain told the senators that those who stole customer information last year used highly sophisticated technology that was nearly impossible to detect.
Major U.S. retailers along with consumer groups have called on banks and other financial institutions to support the move away from magnetic strips on credit cards in favor of the imbedded chip.


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14 July 2016: Celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, Germany-based SEW-EURODRIVE will unveil a range of new products
at Electra Mining Africa 2016 from 12-16 September at Expo Centre Nasrec in Johannesburg.
SEW-EURODRIVE MD Raymond Obermeyer highlights that the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) has had a presence at this flagship
exhibition since the 1980s. "Electra Mining is the largest exhibition of its kind in Africa. Therefore as a market leader,
it is important for us to be there."
New products to be unveiled include the new DRN series of asynchronous motors, which complies with all of the requirements
for European energy-efficiency class IE3. The new motor range is fully downward-compatible with all of SEW-EURODRIVE's existing
Another new product is the X-Series agitator, based on a modular concept that incorporates many parts from the standard product
platform. Features include an integrated extended bearing distance (moderate or heavy-duty), integrated drywell sealing and
pressure lubrication and a thermally-optimised housing.
SEW-EURODRIVE will also launch its Movitrac LTP-B Eco HVAC unit for mining, industrial and commercial applications. This comprises
a total HVAC solution from fans to pumps and motors.
Citing Electra Mining Africa 2016 as a valuable platform to showcase SEW-EURODRIVE's ongoing innovation and technological
development, Obermeyer comments: "We see this as an opportunity to welcome existing and potential new customers to our product
range and our brand."
Commenting on the ‘The Future Starts Now' campaign that will underpin its presence at Electra Mining Africa 2016, Obermeyer
stresses that innovation, tradition and customer focus are the cornerstones of SEW-EURODRIVE.
"That was the case when our company was founded 85 years ago, and it still holds true today. Thanks to a range of customer-orientated
service modules, we offer our customers added value and measurable benefits. This is made possible by powerful drives, high
quality standards and customised solutions," Obermeyer concludes.
Visit SEW-EURODRIVE in Hall 6 J20 at Electra Mining Africa 2016. For more information, visit www.electramining.co.za.


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|Young customers can easily buy funky balloon at bars.— Photo tienphong.vn |Viet Nam News
QUẢNG NINH — The northern province of Quảng Ninh’s Drug Criminal Investigation Police Department in co-ordination with Hạ Long City police this week seized 221 tanks of nitric oxide (N2O), a gas often inhaled through a balloon.
On Wednesday night, policemen inspected Trần Bình pawn shop at Hạ Long Street, Bãi Cháy Ward.
The shop’s owner couldn’t present any invoice of origin of the goods so police seized all these goods to make a record of the administrative violation.
Nitric oxide is a stimulant gas commonly injected into a balloon, called a “funky balloon”. The excessive use of the balloons can lead to depression or even death, according to some doctors.
According to a Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper source, the Trần Bình pawn shop was a warehouse for the sale of nitric oxide to Bãi Cháy and Hạ Long cities.
The warehouse was reportedly providing supply for funky balloons for karaoke bars. The price of a funky balloon was from VNĐ30,000 (small-size) to VNĐ150,000 (big-size).
The inhalation of funky balloons has become common among young people in Hạ Long City, where it’s easy to buy funky balloons at an outdoor bar or karaoke joint. — VNS


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Novell last week announced the release of a free Digital Certificate Server (DCS) designed to improve the flexibility and security of e-business directory services. DCS is a free upgrade to the PKI technology...
Nearly 22 per cent of consumers who had never done any online grocery shopping before the pandemic are now doing so
Companies are challenging Amazon in retail and cloud
Cosmetics firm is undergoing a top-to-toe tech refresh with GDPR compliance thrown in
DFS resorts to cloud to help handle spikes in online demand
Economy and business performance not a problem, reckon small firms


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Singapore Games Week 2021 to launch in October with a lineup of activities
The event runs from Oct 11 to Oct 31 and will include highlights such as the SGW Virtual Village and the Asia Games Awards.
The Singapore Games Association (SGGA) will launch its first Singapore Games Week (SGW) this October, in celebration of the local gaming industry.
In conjunction with Gamescom Asia, the festival showcases Singapore’s vibrant gaming industry to both the local and international gaming communities.
The event, which runs from Oct 11 to Oct 31, will feature a lineup of activities and highlights such as the SGW Virtual Village and the Asia Games Award.
Among the highlights of the SGW is its Virtual Village, which kicks off on Oct 11. The virtual event will allow participants to create their online avatars and explore the village. They will then play host to several Singapore-based game companies and communities that are part of the local games scene.
Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in AlterCulture Studios’ game design workshop, The Paper Playground, Gank’s community activities and a Treasure Hunt to win some prizes. There will also be daily online screenings of gaming-themed documentaries and films.
The SGW Virtual Village is free and will open until Oct 31.
Fans can also look forward to the B2B Singapore Pavillion at Gamescom Asia – the first Asian satellite event of the world‘s biggest computer and video games conference.
A hybrid Singapore Pavilion will be held at Gamescom Asia on Oct 14 and Oct 15. All Singapore-based gaming and esports startups and SMEs such as game development studios and esports production companies are invited.
Organised by the SGGA in partnership with Gamescom Asia, the Asia Games Awards will also be held virtually on Oct 17, marking the culmination of the festival. Awards are given to the best in Asia’s games scene in areas such as games, events, gaming, esports, or achievements in esports.
In addition, a virtual networking session will be held via SGGA’s Discord channel during SGW 2021. Those who are interested in the gaming industry are welcome to attend.
“We conceptualised SGW as a celebration of the business aspect of the Singapore games industry, as well as give its awesome communities a platform to reach out to the masses. This year’s event will be held online.
“We hope SGW can grow into an annual experiential opportunity for both industry players and the general public to better understand our local games industry,” said Gwen Guo, chairperson of the SGGA.
Interested participants can find out more about the event here.


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ESPRIT GETS MOONSTONE
Byline: Karen Parr
NEW YORK — Esprit de Corp has purchased the brand and selected assets of Moonstone Mountaineering, a manufacturer and distributor of technical outerwear and sleeping bags.
Moonstone, based in Arcata, Calif., will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Esprit and will shift headquarters to San Francisco. The firm had been in Chapter 7.
Esprit chairman and chief executive officer Jay Margolis said he believes Moonstone can grow from a $13 million business to $100 million in the next four or five years. He declined to comment on details of the acquisition.
With Moonstone, Margolis intends to use some of the same strategies he used to rebuild Esprit, such as strengthening the production systems, warehousing, financial systems and customer service.
He intends to keep Moonstone distributed in specialty retail stores such as Paragon — a sporting goods and activewear specialist here — and will not sell to department stores.
“This is not a sportswear company — this is about high-performance gear,” he said. “Our goal is to be the most technically advanced in this group.”
Marketing plans for building the Moonstone brand include sponsorships of elite climbers and backpackers, hikers and other extreme-sports people, Margolis said. Esprit has also named Ed Schmults president of Moonstone. He was formerly chief operating officer and chief team leader of Patagonia.


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With a staggering $1.4 billion price tag and set to debut this December, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas is the most expensive cruise ship in the world. With that title, some may argue it’s also one of the biggest gambles in the world.
Oasis of the Seas isn’t only the most expensive cruise liner, it’s also the tallest and largest – stretching 1,184 feet from stem to stern. The 18-deck cruise ship will have a crew of roughly 2160, and will accommodate 5,400 passengers.
“It’s in the DNA of our company, about every 10 years, to take more or less a fresh sheet of paper and create the greatest cruise ship in the world,” Adam Goldstein, the CEO of Royal Caribbean International told Forbes.
Ticket prices are also higher for the Oasis of the Seas; the average ticket price is $1000 per person for seven nights, which is over double the line’s overall average of $490.
Building a ship of this magnitude is a huge gamble in this slumping economy, though it’s hard to remember a ship that has garnered this much attention and admiration in the travel media. While that will undoubtedly provide an initial boost to ship’s bookings, it could be challenging to keep 5400 people booked every week at $1000 each.


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For the first time in its 25-year history, the Red Stick Farmers Market will begin offering an afternoon option to help attract new shoppers.
Starting with the April 19 market, the organization’s Tuesday market at the East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library on Goodwood will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 pm, says Darlene Rowland, executive director of BREADA, which runs the Red Stick Farmers Markets. An expanded number of vendors will set up in the courtyard in front of the library’s entrance, where patrons can enjoy shade, seating and regular family friendly programming.
“We reevaluated as a staff about how to reach more people with our markets,” Rowland says. “They’ve all taken place in the morning, and we wanted an option for working families and for people who can’t attend the other times.”
Previously, the market took place in the library’s parking lot with only a handful of vendors. Now the market will move to the interior plaza with 11 farmers and producers, including many who participate in the Thursday morning market at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
BREADA’s farmers markets are held year-round on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fifth and Main Streets, and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. The Tuesday market is held seasonally.
While the majority of farmers markets nationwide are held in the mornings, some take place in the late afternoon to reach different patrons. New Orleans’ Crescent City Farmers recently shifted its Thursday Mid-City market at Lafitte Greenway Plaza from morning to 3 to 7 p.m. About 30 vendors attend. Rowland said she met with organizers for tips on making the Tuesday market time change.
The Main Library has hosted the Tuesday Red Stick Farmers Market for many years, and its location in the center of town is promising for capturing more families on the go, and residents from surrounding neighborhoods, Rowland says. It’s also near the BREC Independence Park soccer fields and a number of schools and businesses. “We think it’s a good fit for an afternoon shift,” she says.
Plus, Rowland believes the library location reinforces the market’s goal of building community.
“It’s a great place for people to gather, and that’s what the farmers market is all about,” Rowland says. “You have access to a place to sit, bathrooms, the library, which is amazing. We also plan to do some programming there, like cooking demonstrations. And it’s a safe place for kids to run around.”
Here’s who you’ll find at the new Tuesday afternoon market:
Look for raw, varietal honeys and natural comb honey produced in Baton Rouge and surrounding area. The local company also sells skincare and bath products, including lotions and soaps made with brulee honey, beeswax, goat’s milk and other natural ingredients.
What started as a microgreens operation now also features kimchee made from microgreens and fresh radishes. The artisan food company’s Fried Chili Oil and Crunchy Garlic Oil are perfect for tossing on everything from proteins to veggies to noodle bowls, and its Asian Chicken Cajun Fry Mix is great for making hot chicken at home.
Culinary Institute of America-trained chef Daniel Thompson sells a variety of party dips, shrimp salad, pimento cheese and wildly popular chicken salad with dried cranberries, smoked almonds and scallions.
A number of restaurants in New Orleans and Baton Rouge have fallen in love with this local miller’s stone ground products, including grits, polenta, cornmeal, corn flour, rice flour, fish fry and crimped oatmeal. It also sells preserves and pepper jelly, a signature seasoning blend and fresh baked cornbread.


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Apple on Tuesday announced a Feb 9. release date for its smart speaker called the HomePod – allowing the company that first popularised virtual assistants through its smartphones to finally enter the market for virtual assistants in the home.
The looming question for the company, though, is whether it is too late.
Apple is releasing its smart speaker nearly three years after the Amazon Echo and after the Google Home, which launched in 2016.
Apple also originally scheduled the HomePod to hit the market in December 2017 before the critical holiday shopping season.
But the device was delayed until early 2018, past the time for avid shopping and gift giving.
For those wondering whether they should buy Apple’s new thing-pre-orders are set for Friday.
By setting the price of the HomePod at $350, Apple appears to be hoping consumers will see it as a premium device. Apple hopes consumers will believe the HomePod is of much higher-quality than others on the market.
Снова о новинках!💯 В начале февраля американская компания Apple начнет продажу в США «умного» динамика HomePod с функциями домашнего помощника🔊🗣 Стоимость HomePod составит в США 349 долларов. Новинка от Apple принадлежит к разновидности так называемых «умных» колонок, которые подключаются к интернету, реагируют на голос и выполняют различные запросы пользователя — от включения бытовой техники до проигрывания музыки. HomePod будет интегрирован с голосовым помощником Siri и сервисами Apple, а также составит конкуренцию аналогичным продуктам. Отмечается, что устройство начнет поступать в магазины с 9 февраля в США, Соединенном Королевстве и Австралии. Источник: ura.ru http://ru-store.ru +7(978)7-88888-7 ____ #homepod #умнаяколонка #smartacoustic #rustore #рустор #iphone #simferopol #yalta #sevastopol #apple #техника #гарантия #сервис #надежно #выгодно
Apple has been able to sell devices at a premium price tag in the past. But it will be testing the value of its brand by asking consumers to spend hundreds more to buy its smart speaker.
Speaker: Apple has been playing up its audio quality as the biggest way its HomePod stands out from the pack. The company wants to remind you that this is a speaker and not just a box where Siri lives. Apple claims the device is also designed to make a variety of music sound good. That’s not always something its competitors can tout, though Google has touted the audio quality of the Home Max.
HomePod, like the Home Max, uses sound waves to map the room and adjusts its playback accordingly. For example, placing it on a table near the wall should make it play music differently than if you put it in the middle of the room.
The music lovers who will benefit most from HomePod, of course, will be Apple Music subscribers. Per Apple’s release, HomePod will be able to carry out lots of commands specifically from Apple Music’s 45 million song catalogue.
HomePod can handle conversational questions as well such as “Hey Siri, can you play something totally different?”
Still, HomePod will launch without an important audio feature: the ability to link HomePods together. That’s something Google and Amazon’s speakers can now do. Apple said this feature won’t be available until later this year.
What’s more, dedicated speaker companies such as Sonos are partnering with Google and Amazon to make smart speakers sound better. So Apple is facing plenty of competition as it tries to make a mark as a late entry into the market.
Intelligence: The HomePod should be able to do the things that Siri already does on your phone, such as set timers and check the weather. The speaker will have Apple’s connected home software built in, meaning it will be compatible with the light bulbs, thermostats and other devices that already work with your iPhone. It will also work with the Apple TV as a speaker for both music and video.
HomePod will also work as a speakerphone for your smartphone calls, either on speakerphone or using FaceTime’s audio chat.
But much of its intelligence will be connected to the abilities of Siri, which is already under fire for not being as conversational or versatile as Google’s Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa.
Then there’s another big question: How well will Apple play with others to make non-Apple devices and software work with the HomePod?
Both Google and Amazon have aggressively courted other companies to beef up skills (both useful and playful) for their speakers: playing trivia games, ordering pizzas, meowing like a cat, etc.
Apple announced that HomePod will work with a few popular services such as Evernote and WhatsApp. And it has strong ties with app developers thanks to its App Store.
But the company will have to round up those relationships to a new platform to make the HomePod worth its high price.


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There is an ongoing trade war between the United States of America and China. Since 2018, the US has imposed tariffs on Chinese imports. China has, in turn, imposed retaliatory tariffs on US goods. The trade talks between the US and China have remained unresolved so far.
1. Global economy:
The trade war threatens global economic growth. The imposition of trade tariffs have caused disruptions in the global supply chains and created uncertainty over global trade. The World Bank has lowered the global growth forecast to 2.6% for the year 2019. The IMF has reduced global growth forecast to 3.2% for 2019.
2. Global financial markets and gold as a safe-haven asset:
Global financial markets have primarily reflected trade uncertainty and impact on economic growth. Investors globally are faced with little or no gains from their stock investments. Also, global financial markets have been volatile, and equity investments have turned risky. Institutional investors and large fund houses have reshuffled their investment portfolios in various economies. In such circumstances, investors prefer to allocate a portion of their investment portfolios to gold.
Gold prices have gained about 18% in the year 2019, the highest gain in two years. Gold prices delivered negative returns in 2018. In 2017, gold prices rose by 13.1 per cent. Investors traditionally prefer gold as a safe-haven investment in uncertain times. Gold prices have remained firm after the recent rally in August 2019.
Here is a graph that captures the variations in gold prices from 2015 to 2019:
In an uncertain economic environment, investors would prefer safe-haven asset such as gold over equities. The returns on equities depend on good economic performance. US and China are carrying on trade negotiations to improve trade relations. But the outlook for global economic growth is bleak with little or no increase in exports.
The uncertainty of Brexit, United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union and US-Iran geopolitical tensions have contributed to trade uncertainties. These factors have also fueled the recent rally in gold prices.
Though the US and China are among the key economies of the world, even the US faces a weak economy. The US Federal Reserve has lowered the target range for its key interest rate by 0.25% to help the US economy. China too is facing a slowing economy. Many companies are relocating their manufacturing facilities out of China.
The global demand for goods has slowed down. The US is carrying on trade negotiations with key economies such as China, India, and Japan. The global economic environment remains uncertain for investors.
Thus, the investment prospects in gold continue to remain attractive. Amongst the various options, investors can consider investing in gold coins and bullion bars. Many economies are also promoting gold ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) in place of physical gold.
The units are available in the smallest size of 1 unit equal to 1 gram of gold. Due to ease of availability and small size of the investment, small investors too can invest in gold ETFs.
For any clarifications/feedback on the topic, please contact the writer at email@example.com
I am a Chartered Accountant by profession. I specialise in personal taxes and corporate income tax matters. I am an avid reader and track developments in financial markets, economy and other market developments.


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Thank you Complex for the article on VFSN!
Read full article here: https://www.complex.com/style/vfiles-shopping-network-relaunched-host-kemio
About eight years after debuting on YouTube, the online fashion series has relaunched with a new host, new look, and a new cause, as VFILES has transitioned from a for-profit retailer to a nonprofit organization. The original show was hosted by Danielle Greco and aimed to promote the items available at the VFILES SoHo boutique and online. It also featured then-rising designers like Telfar Clemens and Hood by Air’s Shayne Oliver.
Set to air multi-hour shows Thursdays at 5 p.m. ET live from VFILES’ Mercer Street location, the reboot will be hosted by 25-year-old influencer Kemio. It’ll continue to showcase up-and-coming talent across various creative fields, including art, music, and, of course, fashion. The set was designed by director/production designer Griffin Stoddard, who has worked with names like Kym Petrus, Comme de Garcons, Gucci, and Vogue.
Proceeds from the series will go toward the featured designers as well as the VFILES LAB program, a nonprofit incubator the benefits emerging creatives.


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For the last spring/summer 2020 show of the international fashion weeks, Nicolas Ghesquière called upon his coterie of Louis Vuitton ambassadors to join him in Paris. Front row regulars Alicia Vikander and Jennifer Connelly led the pack, while newer friends of the brand, including Ruth Negga, Laura Harrier, Stacy Martin, and Héloïse Adelaïde Letissier (aka Christine and the Queens) dutifully posed for pictures in the Louvre’s Cour Carrée.
Ghesquière’s surprise additions to the guest list were Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake, who suffered a minor setback en route to the glass tent, when a bystander grabbed the popstar’s leg. Undeterred, the couple took their seats in the sustainable pine wood set to watch the Ghesquière’s dandy-esque designs play out against an apocalyptic backdrop that matched the city’s inclement weather.
There was plenty for the occupants of the FROW to discuss: from the epic “It’s Okay to Cry” video featuring the artist Sophie wearing blood-red lip gloss that matched the models’, to Louis Vuitton’s ethical partnership with ArtStock to upcycle the décor. Offsetting the romantic edit that “transposed Art Nouveau onto clothing” were cult accessories in the making, too. Will Timberlake be toting the new Video Tape bag for spring/summer 2020? Perhaps a cattleya orchid on his lapel? Like Cardi B at Chanel earlier on the closing day of Paris Fashion Week, Timberlake and Biel were the joyous lift the industry needed to see out the season with smiles.
More from British Vogue:


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Derek S. Key, "derekskey" via Flickr
Bjorn Hanson considers himself the world's expert on hidden hotel fees. So it was a surprise when he found an unexpected item on his hotel bill a few years ago.
It was a housekeeping surcharge — a $12 fee added to his bill for keeping the room clean.
Hanson, divisional dean of the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management at New York University, contested the charge and, after a long process, had it taken off his hotel bill — something he says hotels are becoming less willing to do.
Fees and surcharges started emerging in the late 1990s, Hanson says. With the exception of 2001 and 2009, the amounts of fees have been increasing every year. The hotel industry introduced fees and surcharges before the airlines did.
"It is a significant source of revenue," Hanson says, "and an even more significant source of profit. It is unlikely that this will be anything but an ongoing, increasing trend."
Hanson's yearly survey on lodging industry fees and surcharges found a record $1.85 billion was collected in 2011. He forecasts that number will increase to $1.95 billion this year — in part due to a 3.5 percent increase in occupied hotel rooms. If the fees are a boon to hotels, they are also a bane to hotel guests who are not prepared for them. By understanding hotel fees, consumers can plan for or even avoid unexpected costs this holiday season.
Automatic and optional fees
There are a lot of ways for hotels to add on fees — both automatic and optional. Hotels can charge for grounds keeping, towels, a safe, bottled water, newspapers, air-conditioning (called an "energy surcharge"), shuttle service, baggage-holding, mini-bars (charges sometimes apply just by opening the refrigerator), parking, faxes, telephone, early check in, early check out and more.
The most common automatic charge is the "resort fee," sometimes called an "amenities surcharge." The fee can run from $8.50 to upwards of $60 per night.
Optional fees include things like room service. If a guest orders room service, there can be charges for the food and a tip. But there could also be a "service charge" or "tray charge" added on top.
The reason why hotels do not include fees and surcharges in their room rates is because travelers are very sensitive to the advertised room rate, Hanson says. "Two dollars difference on an average rate will cause a significant shift in market share," he says.
Joe McInerney, CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, agrees that competition on room rates keeps fees separate. Problems may arise, he says, depending upon where you make your reservations. He says the fees are more likely to be disclosed on the hotel's website than on third-party reservation websites.
Hanson says mandatory fees — such as resort fees — will be disclosed by hotels. It may take a little searching, but they should be on the website or on the reservation confirmation email. "Guest should do research," Hanson says.
For the optional fees, Hanson says people should read the guest services directory in the guest room or simply ask.
Hanson says guests should ask questions when making their reservations such as, "In addition to the room rate, are there any other taxes, fees or surcharges that I will be charged?"
The reservation specialist can then tell about sales tax, municipal occupancy taxes, resort fees, parking fees and the like.
"No others?" Hanson would ask.
"No, that is it," the reservation person will say.
Hanson says to then write down the name and/or number of the representative.
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Joni Meyer-Crothers from TLC's Extreme Couponing has put together a 11-hour,13-person plot to go ballistic on J.C. Penney's, Target, Costco, and a bunch of other stores tonight. She'll start at midnight and wind things up at around 11 am tomorrow, and you know what? The stuff isn't going directly into her basement stockpile. She'll wrap everything up and donate it to needy families.
In the video below, Joni explains why couponing is so important to her — and why she feels she must give back. "I'm an overachiever," she says. And: "Our family is about passing the blessing on."


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A BLETCHLEY opticians has raised £152 for Vision Aid Overseas.
The store in Queensway held a book sale on Saturday. The store also donated £1 from every eye test carried out to the charity.
Store director, Bhavesh Kotecha, said: ‘The work Vision Aid Overseas transforms the lives of people in developing countries by providing them with eyecare services.”
Since 2003, more than a quarter of a million glasses have been collected and recycled by Specsavers stores throughout the UK for the charity.


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As a soccer man, Jim Pallotta has become familiar with a small number.
Over his six-year ownership of Italian soccer team AS Roma, Pallotta has learned a lone breakdown can produce the amount of goals usually scored in a Serie A game.
“In football, a lot of times, it’s one play,” Pallotta said. “Just one play, one mess-up, makes it 1-0 and the game is over. That grabs you so much more. For me, it does.”
As a businessman, Pallotta is more familiar with bigger numbers. The 59-year-old is the founder of Raptor Group, an investment company headquartered on Congress Street. He is a former vice chairman at Tudor Investment Corporation. He is a part owner of the Boston Celtics.
As such, Pallotta is well-positioned to determine that neither his 90-year-old franchise nor European soccer is close to financial maturity. Pallotta, who purchased Roma in 2011 and became its principal owner the following year, envisions joining the ride on a sport that continues to accelerate. Pallotta, once a casual soccer fan, is proof that the sport’s beauty, drama, and competitiveness can produce consumer frenzy.
“If you now have 15 million followers on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter, your sponsorship dollars should be higher,” said Pallotta, explaining the impact of social media. “So instead of getting $5 million, you’re now getting $10 million from a particular sponsor. It’s all about viewership from social and regular TV. Then you have Champions League stuff, which could change, too, if there’s ever a Super League. Then it’s going to dramatically bring revenues up again. Then when you’re watching those games, now you have to remember it’s the middle of the night in Asia, India, and other places. They’re going to have to figure out…


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24 Aug 2018
Massilia Motors, sole distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Nigeria, has concluded plans to celebrate Mitsubishi Motors heritage in style.From August 27 to 31, its Lagos showroom will be transformed into a maze, taking visitors on a journey to celebrate the different milestones of the brand.
28 Apr 2017
To support the agenda of the World Health Organisation in eradicating malaria, CFAO group in Nigeria said it will offer free malaria tests and distribute mosquito nets to Nigerians to help fight the menace.
31 Mar 2017
Mitsubishi, through its Nigerian authorised dealer, Massilia Motors, is offering free professional check-up and diagnosis for all Mitsubishi vehicles from 2010 models and above.


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A new decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals highlights the risks brand owners face when adopting a new trademark that also happens to correspond to an Internet domain name already registered to someone else.
In what looks to be the first application of New Process Steel v. NLRB by a court of appeals, on June 23, 2010, the Second Circuit denied the NLRB's petition for enforcement of an order issued by the 2-member Board.
In Epistar Corp. v. International Trade Commission, No. 07-1457 (Fed. Cir. May 22, 2009), the Federal Circuit affirmed the ITC’s claim construction but reversed the ITC’s estopping Epistar Corporation (“Epistar”) from arguing invalidity of the patent-in-suit and remanded for reconsideration.
California has a strict code section that declares that covenants not to compete are unlawful except in limited circumstances.
The Federal Circuit recently weighed in on the ability of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to effect proposed controversial changes to the rules under which patent applications can be prosecuted.


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In early November 2013, the price of a single bitcoin passed $500 for the first time. By the end of the month, it had more than doubled, eventually peaking at $1,147 in early December. What happened next will be remembered as one of the biggest bursts of an economic bubble since Tulip Mania engulfed the Netherlands in the 17th century.
Almost exactly two years later, bitcoin is once again on the ascendency. Having fallen to below $200 at the start of 2015, its price is now rapidly approaching the $500 mark. Remarkably, most of those gains were made within the last few days, provoking fresh speculation that a new bitcoin bubble is forming. Some analysts have even predicted it could be greater than the last.
Bobby Lee, CEO of the Chinese exchange BTCC, believes previous market patterns point to another long price run for bitcoin. Lee told IBTimes UK: "Historically, bitcoin price rallies have always surpassed previous highs, and go on to set new record highs. This has been true in all of the years since bitcoin's inception in 2009. So if the pattern repeats, a big rally this time could indeed exceed the previous high set in late 2013."
Looking at more immediate market patterns, cryptocurrency consultant and NewsBTC analyst Sarah Jenn noted that bitcoin's current form has been unpredictable. Investors have pushed past the $400 and $450 psychological resistance levels and show no signs of pulling back. "There's still some room for more gains," Jenn said in a recent post, while also predicting that "a selloff from the current levels or the nearby resistance points could spur a retest of the double bottom neckline around $350-400."
What's driving the price of bitcoin up?
The price rise has been attributed to a variety of factors by analysts, ranging from positive news surrounding bitcoin to the tightening of capital controls in China. Some observers even predicted bitcoin's current surge as far back as August, with tech entrepreneur Kim Dotcom recommending his Twitter followers invest in bitcoin when its price was around $250.
The most cited reason for the price increase has been events in China, with bitcoin exchanges like BTCC leading the price rise – sometimes trading at $10/bitcoin higher than other exchanges around the world.
Observing this trend, some analysts have suggested traders in China have driven up the price in their efforts to get around capital controls. Individuals cannot send the equivalent of more than $50,000 out of the country, according to Chinese law, leading to individuals looking for creative ways to bypass such controls.
"The global economy is slowing and China is increasing its credit controls, thus forcing markets there to slow down even further," Colin Kwan, CEO of bitcoin financial services firm Magnr, told IBTimes UK. "The Chinese are entrepreneurial, family-oriented and well-networked, and are always looking to find innovative ways to maintain the value of their assets.
"This is also goes for the US as they look at further quantitative easing. Adding to this, the Global economy is slowing down, equities viewed as overweight, traditional markets all over are starting to wobble, and through all this, people are looking for other asset classes to invest in. Bitcoin is a simple and effective way of storing value."
The return of bitcoin volatility
Whichever way the price goes from here, one thing is for sure: volatility has returned to bitcoin. This might be great for canny traders, but it could put a big dent in bitcoin's chances of being seriously considered as an alternative currency.
Severe price fluctuations are one of the biggest obstacles to mainstream adoption for bitcoin. Today alone, bitcoin's price has registered a low of $399 and a high of $492, according to CoinDesk's price index.
Such dramatic price swings, common between 2013 and 2014, make using bitcoin as a day-to-day currency infeasible for the vast majority of consumers.
"Even 1% volatility is not tenable for the average person," Halsey Minor, technology evangelist and founder of CNet, told IBTimes UK recently. "Real people with bills to pay aren't going to roll the dice with their rent money."