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Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.
Today we have some cheap Chinese earbuds lined up to compare with Apple's AirPods, and you might need to save that money -- fulfilling wishlists made from Amazon's price-less holiday toy catalog could get expensive.
Xiaomi's latest budget offering is a pair of true wireless earbuds that cost around $28 (depending on the exchange rate). They're dubbed AirDots, which sounds confusingly (or intentionally) similar to Apple's $159 AirPods. To further fuel the comparisons, they also come in white and tout a minimal design, and they have a plastic case that'll also charge the tiny things. For now, the buds are set to launch in China, with no word on a global launch.
Verizon (owner of Engadget's parent company -- you know you're reading Engadget's newsletter, right?) is shaking up its prepaid plans with an emphasis on better value at the high end. Responding to competition from T-Mobile's Metro, the price of Verizon's unlimited plan has effectively dropped by $10 to $65 when you set up Auto Pay -- it's still more expensive than Metro, but closer. You'll also get an extra gig with the $45 plan.
You can have up to 10 lines on your account instead of the earlier five, and you can add both tablets and hotspots to your account at the same prices as adding smartphone lines. That said, the Metro unlimited options start at $50 with Google One perks, and AT&T's unlimited prepaid tiers are also less expensive at as little as $45.
The PlayStation Classic, slider phones, the resurrection of Palm. What's next? The return of the toy catalog. Kind of. Amazon will be sending out a toy catalog, minus prices, ahead of the holidays, containing bonkers gift ideas for the Richie Richs of this world, and Fire 10 HD tabs for the rest of us. This isn't an iPad, Mom. It's not the same.
Nintendo and Universal's Mario anime is still a few years away from release, but the big question is how to make a movie better than the 1993 flick. According to its producer, the answer is putting his creator Shigeru Miyamoto "front and center" throughout the process. We'll see if that works.
Waymo has admitted in a blog post that one of its test vehicles hit a motorcycle in Mountain View. The company defended its technology in the post, though, clarifying that the event was caused by human error. Apparently, the test driver took control of the vehicle after seeing a passenger car to the left moving into their lane.
As far as Waymo is concerned, while the situation challenged the test driver, the data suggested its autonomous tech could see the situation developing thanks to 360-degree sensor vision and would've responded safely.
But wait, there's more...
- AMD's first 7nm GPUs aren't made for gaming
- Leica's Q-P is a pricey full-frame camera with subtle refinements
- Google's Pixel Slate is available to pre-order
- You can only buy Hublot's $25,000 watch with Bitcoin
- Netflix has six new animated films and series in the works
- Microsoft's Bitlocker is undercut by bad SSD encryption
- Facebook's cluelessness helped amplify Myanmar tensions
- 8BitDo's Bluetooth mod kits put retired controllers back to work
- A weekend with the new MacBook Air
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Pakistan’s first ever automated dispenser unit is going to be unveiled next month for providing purer and cheap milk, as informed by Saira Iftikhar—Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board Chief Executive Officer.
On Tuesday while talking to the members of the Agriculture Journalists Association (AJA), Saira explained that this automated milk dispensing machine was built in Pakistan at a price of rupees six lacs. The main idea behind launching this machine is to promote dairy farmers to sell milk via the vending machine. The present distribution scenario of milk in the country is giving rise to many questions and needs an intervention by the public sector to introduce new dairy businesses as a trial.
Explaining details Saira Iftikhar said that nearly two thousand litres of milk is being produced from the Sahiwal cow breed at the farm of Khizerabad near Sargodha which would be sold through the automated dispensing machine at one of the markets in the provincial capital of Punjab in the Township area. The milk would be sold at a price of rupees of seventy-five per litre.
She added that the consumers could themselves see the milk being packaged after they pay the purchasing amount. She further informed that the milk comes from the local-elite cow breed being raised at green meadows, along with other healthy minerals without any harmful substances like aflatoxins or impurities being fed to these poor animals.
She claimed that the milk contains 4 percent fats and 3.6 percent proteins and there are no additives present in the milk. The milk is labelled the A2 type, which makes the milk more digestible, healthier and nourishing than the other cow’s milk currently available in the market.

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U.S. youngsters are projected to spend $211 billion this year, says market research firm Harris Interactive. And their favorites might be setting the consumer products agenda for years to come.
The 2012 Harris Poll Youth EquiTrend study asked more than 5,000 Americans from age 8 to 24 to rate hundreds of consumer brands.
Click on the photo above for a slide show of 10 of their favorites.
“Youth of today have spending power and they also have loyalty to brands. Some of this comes from their parents, but they also make their own decisions,” said Harris spokeswoman Regina A. Corso. “Brands who tap into this loyalty when a consumer is a tween, and nurture it through the teen years, will have an extremely loyal customer by the time the customer is a young adult. Companies need to remember that consumers do not magically appear at age 18.”
Apple dominates this market in several technology product categories, Harris reports. And brands owned by Coca Cola are winners in several beverage categories.
In the computer category, Apple brand has the strongest brand equity with the 13- to-24-year-old group, followed by Hewlett-Packard Computers and Sony.
For tablets, iPad rates highest among U.S. youth, followed by Motorola Xoom and then Blackberry PlayBook.
And in the important cell phone category, Apple wins the youth vote again with iPhone, followed by HTC and Samsung.
Jeni Lee Chapman, Harris executive vice president for brand and communication consulting, said, “This is very good news for Apple and indicates that their master brand is very strong. To have this kind of significant edge among 13-24 year olds signifies that Apple has built a powerful equity base among their customers of today and their customers of tomorrow.”
Americans under 25 have specific products that are most interesting to them, but comfort foods – cookies and candy – are universal, Harris says. TV is also important. ABC received the highest youth rating, followed by Fox Television Network then CBS.
For kids programming, Nickelodeon outscored Disney Channel and Cartoon Network.
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For centuries men and women have sought ways to conceal the ravages of the aging process. It was that passion that drove Spanish explorer Ponce de León to spend several months in 1513 searching the northern Caribbean for the legendary fountain of youth. People have used face powders, corsets and wigs to mask reality and, more recently, face-lifts, hair transplants and tanning salons. Now, two new prescription drugs are the latest aids to vanity. One purports to grow hair on bald spots and the other claims to reduce skin wrinkling caused by the sun.
The hair-growing product, Rogaine, contains minoxidil, a drug that was developed to treat hypertension. But in 1986 The Upjohn Co. of Canada turned that drug’s most persistent side effect— unwanted hair growth—to advantage by marketing Rogaine as a hair lotion. According to Upjohn spokesmen, companysponsored research shows that after 12 months of treatment 48 per cent of 619 patients tested had reported “moderate or dense” hair “regrowth.”
Because federal law prohibits advertising prescription drugs in lay publications, Upjohn launched a national campaign last October that, without naming Rogaine, proclaimed, “If you are facing baldness, you should know the facts.” The ad notes the development of new treatments for common baldness and urges people who are concerned to talk to their doctors. In medical and pharmaceutical journals, Upjohn names the drug whose success in the first quarter following its introduction raised the
price of the parent company’s stock by 25 per cent.
Douglas Squires, vice-president and assistant general manager at Upjohn Canada’s Toronto head office, said that various scientific studies in Canada, the United States—where the Food and Drug Administration has not yet cleared Rogaine as a hair restorer—and Europe “indicated that topical application twice a day grew hair on between 30 and 40 per cent of balding patients.” But Dr. Walter Unger, a University of Toronto dermatologist, said that in recent yearlong trials he conducted on 42 male patients at Upjohn’s request, only 10 per cent “grew hair that was more
than fuzz.” However, he said that about half of the patients “thought they were losing less hair.”
Still, Unger said that he is not entirely skeptical about Rogaine’s value. “There’s very little to lose—a bit of money and a bit of time,” he said. “It does work to some extent on some people.” But treatment costs of about $75 per month were too high for Dr. Eric Grafstein, a 28-year-old emergency department physician at Ontario’s Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital. Grafstein said that he had used Rogaine for six months last year and that he could not decide if it had arrested the thinning of his hair. Declared Grafstein: “I would be still using it if I could get a free supply.”
Although Squires would not divulge sales figures for Rogaine, he said that consumer demand for the product had been encouraging. According to Gerald Ziedenberg, the owner of a Shopper’s Drug Mart franchise in Toronto, Rogaine “is a very big item.” He added that many of his customers were U.S. citizens who had bought Rogaine on prescriptions they had obtained from Ontario doctors.
U.S. residents have no such problem obtaining the new antiwrinkle cream Retin-A, manufactured by Ortho Pharmaceutical Corp. of Raritan, N.J., and sold as a treatment for acne. The drug is produced in Canada by Rorer Canada Inc. of Toronto under the brand name Vitamin A Acid (VAA) and by Stiefel Canada Inc. of Montreal, which calls it StieVAA. Including a pharmacist’s typical dispensing fee, a oneounce tube of the cream sells for about $17. But medical opinion about tretinoin—the active ingredient in all those preparations—is as mixed as it is about Rogaine.
In Vancouver, Dr. Stuart Maddin of the University of British Columbia’s faculty of medicine said that he had been prescribing VAA for about three years and that it made “small wrinkles caused by sun damage certainly less obvious.” For his part, Montreal dermatologist Dr. Théodore Arsenault said that VAA may cause redness and irritate the skin. Although he has prescribed it to reduce wrinkles, he said that it was still too early to judge the product’s effectiveness.
Obviously, neither drug represents the fountain of youth. But for the drug manufacturers, chemicals that grow hair and reduce wrinkles are profitable signs on the trail of Ponce de León.
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Chicago, Jan. 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- How can consumers save money on Valentine’s Day? Easy: buy a thoughtful present.
In a new survey commissioned by fintech firm OppLoans, an overwhelming percentage of Valentines — 88 percent — said that it’s more important for a present to be thoughtful than expensive. Forty-one percent said a thoughtful present could cost $0 and they’d still be happy with it.
The survey polled 1,400 American adults who plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their romantic partner. The results were released today through OppU, the financial education arm of OppLoans.
According to the survey, a thoughtful present would need to cost, on average, at least $39.16 to make a Valentine happy. A thoughtless present, on the other hand, would need to cost $71.70 to please a Valentine — an 83-percent premium.
While many people are happy to receive less expensive gifts, the survey suggests that a large percentage of Valentines nonetheless enter the holiday with high expectations.
Given the emotional buildup, it might not be surprising that many Valentines splurge on their celebrations. However, a significant percentage have used credit cards and loans to finance purchases they couldn’t afford, and a shocking number admit financial infidelity.
“Valentine’s Day is a time to show loved ones you care,” said Matt Pelkey, who led the research for OppLoans. “But breaking the bank to do it is risky, and it isn’t what Valentines want.”
The full survey results — as well as a shareable infographic — are available on the OppU blog.
OppLoans is one of the highest-rated online lenders and service providers in the industry. With fast funding, total transparency and unmatched customer service, OppLoans provides non-prime borrowers a reliable source of short-term funding. OppLoans has been listed on the Inc. 500 three years in a row and was ranked 86th on Deloitte’s 2018 Technology Fast 500™.
Matt Pelkey OppLoans 312-212-8079 ext. 909 firstname.lastname@example.org


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Asia-Pacific’s resilience to be tested
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum leaders met in Bali, Indonesia this month to build upon the progress made so far by the World Trade Organization to reduce tariffs in the region’s least developed countries. The promising theme was “Resiliant Asia-Pacific, Engine for Global Growth.”
in the NewsPanjiva says trade fundamentals are strong, despite concerns over tariffs NEXT Trucking and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines partner to service SMEs Solving the Labor Shortage Crisis: The Four Benefits of an Automated Warehouse CBRE research points to expected gains in cold-storage warehouse space AAR reports annual carload and intermodal gains for week ending March 10 More News
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum leaders met in Bali, Indonesia this month to build upon the progress made so far by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to reduce tariffs in the region’s least developed countries. The promising theme was “Resiliant Asia-Pacific, Engine for Global Growth.”
One would assume that United States’ leadership in this effort would be supremely evident, but that hardly proved to be the case. In fact, we barely showed up. With the government shutdown still underway, President Obama stayed in Washington, sending Secretary of State John Kerry instead.
The message was not lost on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, who noted that the talks risked collapse: “We are now at the 11th hour to put the negotiating function of the WTO back on track.”
Many trade analysts feel that the Obama administration has another agenda, however. It has been championing the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership, (TPP) – a group of 12 countries comprising what would be the largest trade deal in the world. Government analysts say this could generate an estimated $28 trillion per annum in goods and services. To put that in perspective, consider that The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) – currently the largest trade area – produces an estimated $17 trillion.
Only one major problem, though. The TPP does not include China. Understandably, that huge player has proposed its own trade grouping – the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
TPP advocates say “good luck with that,” noting that their trade agreement would be a platform for economic integration and government deregulation for nations surrounding the Pacific Rim and facilitate free trade to counter China’s financial influence. The negotiating parties include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States. Japan also announced its intention to join the agreement last spring.
Because the TPP is intended as a “docking agreement,” other Pacific Rim countries could join over time, and the Philippines, Thailand, Colombia, and others are already expressing interest.
So where does that leave APEC? Analysts agree that the WTO’s influence is on the wane, and stands little chance of advancing if the U.S. does not show greater interest in the cause.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and the U.S Secretary of State say they would both work with countries to boost investment and trade. Kerry also seeks to offer reassurance that the U.S remains committed to its “Asia pivot” – one of our government’s central foreign policy initiatives
This comes at a time when the Asian Development Bank has revised its regional forecast to a four-year low in 2013, reflecting economic contractions in China and India.
Meanwhile, APEC leaders look to shore up trade ties and economic volatility threatens emerging markets. Indeed, President Yudhoyono is stridently calling for growth that is sustainable and inclusive.
“In view of the scarcity of our finite resources, we agreed to cooperate in enhancing regional food, energy and water security,” he says. “This effort is also aimed at responding to the challenge of population growth and the adverse impact of climate change. At this Bali Summit, we began to look at this matter in a holistic manner.”
About the AuthorPatrick Burnson, Executive Editor Patrick Burnson is executive editor for Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management Review magazines and web sites. Patrick is a widely-published writer and editor who has spent most of his career covering international trade, global logistics, and supply chain management. He lives and works in San Francisco, providing readers with a Pacific Rim perspective on industry trends and forecasts. You can reach him directly at [email protected]
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Nana Aba Anamaoh took social media by storm after she received a Range Rover gift to complete her lavish 42nd birthday.
Nana Aba had earlier posted before her birthday that she wanted a Range Rover as a birthday gift, something that was fulfilled to her by an anonymous donor.
The gift itself generated lots of controversies online as the car came with a fake number plate.
A new video has surfaced online in which Nana Aba Anamoah was seen struggling trying to open the door of the expensive car.
watch the video below.


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Cynthia McKay was in business for more than a decade before her food basket company received a dreaded Better Business Bureau complaint in 2003. She assigned the blame, in part, to her sometimes overzealous plan to go global.
Le Gourmet Gift Basket Inc., which has 510 franchises, including 25 outside the United States, expanded into Hong Kong in 2002. The initial experience was no picnic for Ms. McKay, the chief executive. Last year, a customer ordered a basket to be sent to an American worker who had been transferred to China. So, Ms. McKay had her Hong Kong franchise make up a basket and send it to the homesick expatriate -- but she underestimated the cultural divide. The client had ordered an American-themed basket but the basket delivered contained pickled octopus and rice cakes instead of smoked salmon and potato chips.
''The client came back to me, threatened a lawsuit and went to the Better Business Bureau,'' said Ms. McKay, whose company is based in Castle Rock, Colo. ''Even though my contract with the franchisee says they are responsible for their own behavior, good will was involved.'' Ms. McKay mailed another basket overnight at a cost of $160 and sent a letter of apology to the customer. The complaint, the company's only one so far, was subsequently resolved.
For all the cultural misunderstandings and challenges ranging from currency fluctuations to language barriers that she has encountered since expanding abroad, Ms. McKay says she has no regrets. After moving first into New Zealand in 1999 and then into Australia, Canada and Hong Kong, her company is projecting $90,000 in international revenue this year. Her company has its sights on South Africa, the Philippines, Thailand and eventually Saudi Arabia, as well as Europe.
Big franchise players like McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts have long seen the world as a business opportunity, but an increasing number of smaller franchise companies are now sharing this vision. Last year, 56 percent of franchise operators were in markets outside the United States, up from 46 percent in 2000, according to a survey of its 810 members by the International Franchise Association. ''Much of that growth is attributed to the small and mid-sized firms,'' said Marcel Portman, the group's vice president for global development.
Experts say the main factors driving the trend are the Internet, the improved technology that allows a company to do satellite conferencing and produce low-cost training videos for foreign franchisees, a saturated domestic franchise market, growing international acceptance of franchising and a surge in international franchise shows.
''Two years ago we asked, 'Where is our future?' and we realized it was international,'' said Bill Powers, vice president and chief operating officer of Realty Executives International, a residential real estate franchise company based in Phoenix. It has franchises in Thailand, South Africa, Australia, Israel, Canada and Mexico. The company, he said, is close to running out of regions at home.
Smaller franchise companies should tread warily, however. Mr. Portman recites a catalog of pitfalls involving cultural hurdles, economic uncertainty (including the core question of whether local consumers will pay for the product), foreign-exchange instability, the difficulty of checking the financial backgrounds of potential franchisees and obstacles to securing intellectual property rights in countries with weak trademark laws. ''Or maybe someone already trademarked your name or concept and is waiting for you to come down and pay for it,'' he said. ''This is known as trademark piracy.''
But large or small, American companies can find it tough to sell their franchise concepts abroad, especially in countries where English is not spoken and in those with unfamiliar laws and customs. In such places, recruiting competent local franchisees is crucial. ''I tell my clients, especially those that have never gone overseas, to make more than one visit if you want to develop a market,'' said William Le Sante, the managing director of franchising consultancy for Le Sante International, a consulting firm in Miami. ''You might get off a plane and say, 'Oh my gosh, this is not our market.' ''
Mr. Le Sante offered an example of a fast-food company based in the United States that ran into trouble in Latin America by giving its international partner a free hand in the selection of locations, products and a distributor for its outlets. The partner signed leases the operation could not afford, resulting in a big financial loss to the company and damage to its image in its new market.
Gary Salomon, chief executive of Fastsigns International Inc., a company based in Carrollton, Tex., that makes signs and graphics for businesses, says he made the mistake more than once of expanding abroad without sending in an advance team to investigate conditions. In Colombia, for example, the company ''had problems with security, political stability and a motivated working class that was reasonably well educated.'' The company left Colombia in 1996.
And while he has remained in other Latin American countries, both Mexico and Argentina have been plagued by currency devaluations and economic turmoil, he said. And Brazil, though it has a large middle class and a strong work ethic, is saddled with ''tremendous inflationary problems and currency stability issues,'' he said.
Even Europe can throw a curveball at entrepreneurs in the United States. Initially, Fastsigns had difficulty with some British franchisees who balked at making aggressive sales pitches, Mr. Salomon said. ''It's not the personality of a Brit,'' he said. But the company sent an operations team and continues to hold training sessions in Britain to make sure the local owners stay on track.
Fastsigns has 65 international franchises and aims to have 120 within three years, with most of the growth coming in Britain, Australia and Canada.
For all the perils of venturing into unknown territory, there can be pleasant surprises. When Partyland Inc. of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., went into Saudi Arabia in 1998, the company worried that consumers in that conservative Islamic society would not be receptive to its Barbie-theme party goods, said Kevin Pike, the company's assistant vice president franchise services. But the Barbie products sold well, as did whoopee cushions. Balloons are a staple; a Saudi prince recently ordered 4,000 of them at a Partyland store for his daughter's birthday. The company now has two stores in Saudi Arabia and two in Kuwait.
Partyland, which has 350 units in 20 countries, has had to tweak its format to take account of local circumstances. To beat the exorbitant rents in Singapore, the company created boutique-style shops rather than use the usual warehouse design. In tropical St. Lucia, the company permitted tile floors as well as the standard carpeting.
Many companies, including Fastsigns and Partyland, use what they call master developers or master franchisers when they enter a country. These entities, which act as middlemen between the company and the franchisees, are invaluable for their understanding of the local customs, but they do not come cheap.
Ms. McKay, a former lawyer, decided to do it all on her own, figuring any mistakes she made early on would cost her less than a master developer's fees. And she has learned from those mistakes. A prospective franchisee in the Philippines wanted to include a local meat pastry called siopao in the company's gift baskets. With the memory of the pickled-octopus fiasco in Hong Kong fresh in her mind, Ms. McKay knew the last thing she needed was a newspaper story about food poisoning linked to her company.
''I was trying to explain to them that we don't transport meat or anything perishable,'' she said. ''I could just see it: 'We killed three people with tainted meat.'''
Photo: Cynthia McKay's food basket business has established franchises around the world. (Photo by Kevin Moloney for The New York Times) Chart: ''Getting It Right'' Seven questions to ask before franchising overseas. 1. Will local consumers buy the product? 2. How tough is the local competition? 3. Does the government respect trademark and franchiser rights? 4. Can profits be easily repatriated? 5. Can needed supplies be purchased locally? 6. Is commercial space available and are rents affordable? 7. Are local partners financially sound, possessing a basic understanding of franchising? (Source by William Le Sante, managing director of franchising consultancy for Le Sante International, Miami)


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Leading Electronics Retailer Teams with Nation’s Most Comprehensive Rechargeable Battery Recycling Program
ATLANTA, April 21, 2006 – Circuit City Stores, Inc., one of the nation’s leading providers of consumer electronics, and the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a nonprofit, public service organization dedicated to recycling used rechargeable batteries and old cellphones, announced today a new relationship that integrates RBRC’s recycling program, Call2Recycle, into Circuit City stores throughout the U.S. RBRC spokesman Richard Karn, current host of Family Feud, and formerly “Al Borland” on TV’s Home Improvement, helped celebrate the relationship at the Circuit City headquarters in Richmond, Va., where he spoke about the importance of rechargeable battery and cellphone recycling.
The Circuit City/RBRC program makes the recycling of rechargeable batteries and cellphones accessible and convenient for everyone. Starting May 1, consumers can drop off their used rechargeable batteries and old cellphones in RBRC collection boxes located in all Circuit City stores nationwide. Circuit City will recycle used rechargeable batteries commonly found in cordless electronic products such as: cordless phones, laptop computers, PDAs, digital cameras, and cellphones.
“We are pleased that Circuit City has decided to integrate RBRC’s rechargeable battery and cellphone recycling program into its stores,” said Ralph Millard, executive vice president, RBRC. “We hope this relationship will help consumers understand the simple and easy ways they, too, can protect the environment, not just on Earth Day, but every day.”
“At Circuit City, we are committed to offering the latest technology and electronic solutions. Now we can also provide an opportunity for our customers to help protect the environment,” said Ron Cuthbertson, senior vice president of supply chain and inventory management at Circuit City. “RBRC’s Call2Recycle program has made it easy for our customers to recycle while shopping in our stores- it is another service we are proud to offer.”
About Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Circuit City Stores, Inc. (NYSE:CC) is a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics. The domestic segment operates through 627 Superstores and seven other locations in 158 U.S. markets. The international segment operates through more than 950 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada. Circuit City also operates Web sites at www.circuitcity.com and at www.thesourcecc.ca.
Call2Recycle is the industry’s first and only product stewardship program for rechargeable batteries. The nonprofit program is administered by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a public service organization dedicated to rechargeable battery recycling. There are more than 30,000 Call2Recycle drop-off locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. More than 175 manufacturers and marketers of portable rechargeable batteries and products show their commitment to conserve natural resources and prevent rechargeable batteries from entering the solid waste stream by funding the Call2Recycle program. In pursuit of its mission, Call2Recycle also collects old cellphones, which are either recycled or refurbished and resold when possible with a portion of the proceeds benefiting select charities. For more information, call 877-2-RECYCLE or visit www.call2recycle.org.


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Supermarket giant Coles has posted a video on YouTube to explain its position on milk pricing.
The video, published today, is part of a social media campaign, and has already prompted much discussion on the brand’s Facebook page.
The video is also being distributed via Twitter, with no plans to run it on television.
The video was created by visual communications specialist Guy Downes.
Coles spokesman Jon Church told Mumbrella in a statement: “We know that lower retail prices have helped Australian families save money but we are often asked by customers what this means for Australian dairy farmers.”
“We wanted to provide clear information in a way which is engaging and easy to understand. The video and website graphic contain important messages we think our customers will be interested to hear but are frequently overlooked in the reporting of the milk price story.”


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Britain’s weather no longer holds fears for fashion from land of the rising sun
It took time for Uniqlo to master the market, but now it is puffed up and ready to grow
The fashion industry, it seems, is in the genes. Both Tadashi Yanai, the founder of Uniqlo, and Takao Kuwahara, the chain’s European chief executive, had fathers who were tailors and who were instrumental in their sons’ careers.
Mr Yanai took over his father’s stable of stores before launching Unique Clothing Warehouse in 1985, while Mr Kuwahara’s parent “was a retailer of clothing and sold only men’s smart suits, jackets and shirts. He recommended Uniqlo strongly when I was a student.
“Of course I had a choice, but my father really recommended this company. He liked it because it was ambitious and had already started the big challenge of making a new business model in this industry in Japan.”
So Mr Kuwahara started out on a


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3 things that could save J.C.Penney
J.C. Penney has lost half its market value in the past 12 months, as its stock price has mirrored a string of mostly negative headlines.
There’s little doubt after last week’s disastrous earnings report that J.C. Penney is, at best, in critical condition.
But despite the body blows the 111-year-old department store chain has sustained, analysts and retail strategists aren’t ready to write Penney’s obituary quite yet. They identify three keys to a successful turnaround: Having enough cash. Completing the update of stores and the merchandise mix. Winning back shoppers.
Success is important not just to the company and its shareholders, but to Dallas. The Plano-based company, North Texas’ 20th-largest employer in 2012, has laid off at least 1,000 people at headquarters in the past year. As recently as Feb. 28, spokespeople were unable to provide current employment figures.
More than a year ago, Penney hired CEO Ron Johnson and set out to forge a new identity. Johnson, who created the concept for Apple’s retail stores and was vice president of merchandising for Target Corp., aimed to transform Penney into a hipper, more upscale and less coupon-and-sales reliant place to shop.
That hasn’t worked.
Last week, J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) reported a $985 million loss for fiscal year 2012. Same-store sales dropped by nearly a third year over year. Johnson, a spokeswoman told the Dallas Business Journal March 5, would be unavailable for an interview until 2014.
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85°C Bakery Cafe, Taiwan’s most popular bakery chain and it’s U.S. cult followed locations is treating all of their guest to a sweet deal of 15% off their entire purchase on Sunday, August 5, 2018 as part of its yearly “85 Day” promotion. For its namesake brand 85°C Bakery Cafe has declared an annual celebration of customer appreciation every August 5th of the year also known as 85 Day (8/5). This annual celebration and promotion is offered at all participating worldwide locations to commemorate the brand’s namesake heritage.
“We’re excited to continue celebrating 85 Day though our annual 15% Off promotion, we hope everyone may look forward to this day yearly as a big thanks to all of our guests and support”. Said Emily Hu, Marketing and P.R. Director of 85°C Bakery Cafe USA. “Halfway into the year we offer this sweet deal to everyone as a reminder of our humble beginnings to our first location in Irvine, 2008 to over 1000 locations worldwide today.”
What Day is 85 Day 2018?
85 Day is always on August 5th of every year annually because the month and day abbreviation is (8/5), this year 85 day falls on a Sunday.
What time is 85 Day 2018?
85 Day 2018 lands on a Sunday this year, the sweet deal of 15% off the entire purchase is valid for all locations and their respective business hours.
Can Everyone take advantage of the 85 Day promotion?
Yes! The 15% off your entire purchase is valid for anyone’s total purchase.
Will 85°C Bakery Cafe run out of products during 85 Day 2018?
Possibly? All products (Bread, Cakes, Drinks) offered at 85°C Bakery Cafe are available at a first come, first serve basis at all participating 85°C Bakery Cafe locations. 85°C does try to accommodate everyone and their requests during this annual celebration.
*Gift card purchases are excluded from the 85 Day promotion.


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Insulation, Stability, Distributions, And Growth
If there is one thing that is certain about the investing environment right now it is that virtually everything is uncertain. We are certainly on track for an economic rebound, the earnings outlook for most companies is improving, but there are still risks. The number one is pandemic. The pandemic is ebbing globally but seems to keep persisting here at home. There have already been a number of re-closings in hard-hit states, if the spread isn’t contained there could be another full-scale economic shutdown.
Now, I don’t think we’re going to have another economic shutdown but I do think investors should be prepared for volatility. The next year or so is going to be tough for the markets which makes stock-picking of utmost importance. In today’s times, investors looking for yield, especially high-yield, need to be focused on companies insulated or boosted by the pandemic with stable revenue and distributions, just like these two.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) - A 4.75% Yielding Utility
Honestly, I can’t really understand why the market isn’t more interested in the Utility Sector right now. Aside from its safe-haven appeal, the sector has the most stable outlook for revenue and earnings growth of any sector in the market. While most sectors will see revenue and earnings fall in 2020 and then rebound in 2021, the Utility Sector is expecting mid-single-digit growth both years. Along with this is a tendency to pay better-than-average dividends which means high-yields for us today.
When I say high-yield I’m talking in the range of 5.0%. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK), perhaps the best-in-breed among a field of winning stocks, is paying about 4.75% at today’s prices with an expectation for future increase. The company has been increasing the payout for 9 years consecutively with only one red flag, the payout ratio is a bit high compared to the average mainstream S&P 500 companies. However, the fact real assets companies and utilities, in particular, tend to pay out large portions of their earnings to shareholders helps mitigate any risk suggested by the ratio.
On a technical basis, shares of Duke have been moving sideways since recovering the post-pandemic bottom. The new trading range, between $88 and $92, might be breaking down but, if it does, it will only mean higher yields in the days to come. Longer-term, the stock is well-supported in the $72 to $80 range so any pull-back in prices is likely to be met by eager buyers.
Kraft-Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC) - A 5% Yield Lagging Its Peers
Kraft-Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC) is one of the nation’s largest and leading consumer staples companies. One reason it is lagging the group, a group boosted by the pandemic, is because it has struggled with growth since the merger. A little over two years ago the company decided to cut its distribution to save money, money since used to pay down debts, which is another reason its share prices have been wallowing.
That story has changed though. Now, years later, the company is well on the way to achieving its leverage goals with sustainable revenue growth in the forecast. In evidence of this, Bank of America just reiterated its buy rating citing factors like near-term trends, margin improvement, capital allocation, and the improved balance sheet.
At today’s prices, the stock is yielding a little over 5.0% which is well above its peers. If you are looking for dividend growth don’t, the company is still focused on paying down debt, but that doesn’t matter. The distribution is in little danger of suspension or cuts ensuring investors a healthy payout over the next few years.
On a technical basis, the stock is in the process of breaking out to new highs but the move may not take off until after the next earnings report. Price action is moving upward but resistance at the pre-COVID highs is capping gains. Based on today’s report from Conagra Brands (a solid top and bottom-line beat) I am expecting good news from Kraft. The current consensus calls for a slight increase in revenue and modest decline earnings, a bar I think Kraft will easily beat.
Companies Mentioned in This Article
8 Retail Stocks to Own For the Long Haul
There are more than 500 national retailers traded on the NYSE and the NASDAQ. Given the sheer number of big box stores, warehouse clubs, restaurant chains and other retail stores listed on public markets, it can be hard to identify which retailers are going to outperform the market.
Fortunately, some of Wall Street's top analysts have already done most of the work for us.
Every year, analyst issue approximately 4,200 distinct recommendations for retail companies. Analysts may not always get their "buy" ratings right, but it's worth taking a hard look when several analysts from different brokerages and research firm are giving "strong buy" and "buy" ratings to the same retailer.
This slide show lists the 8 retail companies that have the highest average analyst recommendations from Wall Street's equities research analysts over the last 12 months.
View the "8 Retail Stocks to Own For the Long Haul".


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Blackstone Labs discontinues its real food formula Fast Food
Two years ago Blackstone Labs launched the real food formula Fast Food which promotes itself as a mass gainer as well as a meal replacement. It features ingredients like brown rice protein, sweet potato powder, and yams, and provides an even balance of 20g of carbs, 10g of protein, and 5g of fat per serving.
This week Blackstone Labs has announced that it is officially discontinuing Fast Food and its one flavor, Candied Yams. The brand has said that “it moved slower than anything else” and is now completely clearing out the 300 4.4lb tubs it has remaining through the online store on its website.
Blackstone Labs has also discounted Fast Food by 30%, dropping it from its usual price of $74.99 down to $52.49. Any regular coupon codes you use do work on top of that 30%, including the ongoing “SAVE20ATCHECKOUT”, which discounts Fast Food even further down to $42 per 56 serving tub.


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All Articles Tagged "minority owned business"
A new study confirms what many women- and minority-owned businesses had learned to cope with ages ago — they operate on less financing. Non-technology businesses owned by African Americans, Latinos, and women simply work with less capital, says a report issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy. Called the Access to Capital among Young Firms, Minority-owned Firms, Women-owned Firms, and High-tech Firms, the report examines how the changing financial environment affects new firms.
The study’s author, Alicia Robb, finds that minority firms in particular rely more on their own funds and have less capital to start up and develop. In fact, African American and Latino owners of young firms are less likely than others with similar credit scores to have access to bank financing. “During the financial crisis, women and minority owners of new startups were less likely to apply for credit, fearing loan denial,” according to a SBA press release.
“We know that startup businesses with access to financing drive innovation, job creation, and economic growth,” said Dr. Winslow Sargeant, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. “Policies that help close the financing gaps for minorities and women and for high-tech startups will benefit the whole economy.”
According to Forbes, recession or not minority business enterprises (MBEs) always have a problem funding funding. “MBEs rely more heavily on financial institutions for loans than all other borrowing sources combined. However, when compared to white-owned firms, MBEs typically encounter higher borrowing costs, receive smaller loans and see their loan applications rejected more often,” reports the magazine. “Black- and Latino-owned MBEs are the most likely to experience such negative results.”
The U.S. Small Business Administration has teamed up with the U.S. Black Chamber to help minority-owned small businesses gain access to opportunities that will lead to federal contracts. That includes networking with larger businesses and in-person meetings.
“During several scheduled forums, small businesses will learn how to market themselves to the federal government and go after federal contracting opportunities,” reports Black Enterprise. “The forum also will offer help with strategic alliances, joint venture opportunities, and mentor-protege arrangements within the [SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program].”
The two organizations kicked off their partnership with an event on October 10 at the Carnegie Library in Washington DC, the National 8(a) Training, Business Matchmaking and Awards Ceremony.
(St. Louis American) — Federal spending with Small Disadvantaged Businesses (which includes small minority-owned businesses) was up for Fiscal Year 2010, with $34.39 billion (7.95 percent of federal contracts) for 2010 over $33.48 billion (7.57 percent) for FY 2009.
(Chicago Tribune) — A city agency that oversees hundreds of millions of dollars worth of construction projects “grossly overstated” the amount it paid certified minority contractors in 2009, according to a report issued Wednesday by the city’s top internal watchdog. The Public Building Commission reported paying $89 million to certified minority-owned businesses two years ago, but a review of actual payments and certifications indicates those payments were overstated by nearly 40 percent, the report concludes. Inspector General Joseph Ferguson also found that the commission overestimated payments of $16.1 million to certified women-owned businesses by 3 percent. And he alleged that the commission was not complying with its responsibility to allow him to probe all projects involving city money.
(Wall Street Journal) — There are more Hispanic-owned businesses than Asian-owned businesses. Likewise, there are more black-owned businesses than Asian-owned businesses. But the total sales at Asian-owned businesses exceeds the combined sales at black-owned and Hispanic-owned businesses. Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau released a detailed report on the growth of businesses owned by people of Asian origin between 2002 and 2007 – an analysis that is conducted every five years. In that time, the number of Asian-owned firms increased more than 40% to 1.5 million, while the sales at those businesses hit $507.6 billion.
(The Pilot) — The “GWG” in GWG Wig Boutique in downtown Southern Pines stands for Gail Withers George and, she adds, “Go with God.” Gail has gone many places with God. In fact, the fashionista retailer with a brilliant smile owns a CV that reads like an African-American history timeline, beginning with her grandmother’s domestic employment and culminating in Winston-Salem’s Best Small Business award in 1993. That business, Temp Options, placed ex-convicts in construction jobs. When one didn’t show, Gail put on jeans and boots, reported to the work site at Baptist Hospital, donned a hard hat and demolished bathrooms.
“I love being an entrepreneur,” George says. She also loves independence. All of Gail’s businesses were opened with her own savings, not bank or other financing. Gail, an only child, was born in Salisbury but moved around. Her father was in the Air Force, and her mother worked for Honeywell. Gail calls her grandmother’s domestic employment a self-owned enterprise. As a student she held a variety of summer jobs, discovering that “you can’t make money working for $1.25 an hour.” Gail studied speech pathology at Boston College but itched to get out on her own.
Sean “Diddy” Combs has become quite the businessman. What started out in 1993 as a record company that was home to hip-hop and R&B artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans and Craig Mack has grown into a worldwide conglomerate that was recently selected by Crain’s New York Business as the third largest minority-owned business in New York City.
According to Crain’s, for a business to qualify, it must be privately owned and headquartered within the New York area. The New York area includes New York City and Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties in New York, as well as Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties in New Jersey. The business must also be at least 51 percent owned by minorities.
Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group is responsible for managing artists, recording music, fragrances, restaurants, apparel, advertising, marketing, TV and film production. Bad Boy rakes in an estimated $300 million annually and has an estimated 600 employees on its payroll.
Bad Boy falls behind Palladium Equity Partners, a private equity company that landed the number two spot and pulled in $1.2 billion in revenue in 2009. Goya Foods Inc., the Hispanic-owned food company, took the number one position and generated $1.5 billion in revenue in 2009.
(The Business Review) — Using a downtown Buffalo coffee shop that’s owned by an African-American woman, New York Gov. David Paterson signed a new bill into law that encourages more investment in minority and women-owned businesses across the state. The bill, championed by Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo, now ensures that minority and women-owned businesses will have an equal shot at bidding on state contracts. The law actually was signed by Paterson in June, but he came to the 2nd Cup coffee shop Buffalo in what may be his final local stop before leaving office next month, for a ceremonial “signing” on Peoples-Stokes’ home turf.
(Small Business Trends) — The Census Bureau recently trumpeted news about growth in Black and women-owned businesses. With the press release bearing the headline of “Census Bureau Reports Minority Business Ownership Increasing at More Than Twice the National Rate,” the Census’s Press Office gave the impression that the 2007 Survey of Business Owners unearthed a boom in minority entrepreneurship. The press release explained that the number of “black-owned businesses in 2007 [was] up 60.5 percent from 2002….The number of white-owned businesses increased by 13.6 percent…. The number of women-owned businesses … [was] up 20.1 percent from 2002. By comparison, men-owned businesses … [were] up 5.5 percent from 2002.” By comparing White and Black entrepreneurs and male and female ones, the Census Bureau gave the impression that Black and female entrepreneurs did better than White, male ones between 2002 and 2007.
(The Network Journal) — The news is good—and bad—for minority business. According to a recent report issued by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of minority-owned firms increased by 46 percent to 5.8 million between 2002 and 2007. But while the numbers have increased, the “economic parity remains elusive,” said MBDA’s National Director David A. Hinson in a press statement.


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Having suffered the indignity of having to grow moustaches in November (Movember), quit the fags in October (Stoptober) and knock the booze on the head in July (Dry-ly), the squirrel population in Wivenhoe is now being forced to go on an emergency diet as its weight spirals out of control following a particularly gluttonous Christmas period.
The problem has come to light as overweight squirrels have been causing havoc falling through windows, knocking trees over, snapping branches and wobbling around the woods like fury Weebles jacked up on sherbet.
As Wivenhoe Environment Agency undercover officer Theresa Green explains: “Forget Squirrel Nutkins, Wivenhoe has become infested with Squirrel Gutkins. Our studies have revealed that instead of hibernating and occasionally dipping into their store of harvested nuts, this year the squirrel community spent most of Xmas slumped in front of the telly eating chocolate selection boxes, Ferrero Rochers and After Eights by the crate. The result is that they’ve gone a bit James Cordon – and I don’t mean annoying, but in America now.”
The Environment Agency has been working with concerned volunteers to distribute special emergency weight reduction food parcels to our furry friends consisting of a delicious yet healthy acorn-flavoured shake that they have twice a day instead of a meal, before tucking into regular Findus Crispy pancakes and Vienettas at tea time. It’s hoped that by losing weight they will destroy less trees, resulting in Wivenhoe Woods native elks, beavers and bears once again returning to their habitat.


text: All hail the new reigning monarch of mileage, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime. Sleek bodywork makes this hatchback appear like a future sedan, and whether in all-electric mode or hybrid drive, the Prius Prime has the efficiency to back up its spaceship look. It's no performance slouch either, outrunning the GR86 sports car in a 0‒60 sprint. On electric power alone the Prius Prime XSE trim achieves EPA estimated efficiency ratings that best many purely electric vehicles, and the less encumbered SE trim goes even further than that. That said, the Prius Prime's regenerative braking isn't as capable as those of other EVs it otherwise situationally embarrasses, and while comfortable, its ergonomics can be puzzling. But those are small prices to pay for up to 44 miles of EV range, without the need to rely on the charging network for road trips.


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J&J Forecasts Sales of $3.5 Billion for Its COVID-19 Jab in 2022
Though it’s the least-administered COVID-19 vaccine of the three approved in the U.S., Johnson & Johnson (J&J) said it believes global sales of its COVID-19 vaccine will reach $3.5 billion in 2022.
That would represent an almost 50 percent spike over 2021, during which sales of the jab hit $2.39 billion, short of the company’s $2.5 billion goal.
The company said it expects manufacturing problems surrounding the vaccine to abate and for demand to rise.
Still, sales of the vaccine aren’t expected to be a large part of the company’s overall bottom line as J&J sells it at a not-for-profit price.


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The Happy Hills Farm has received a $5,000 FedEx grant to help sustain its operations through the COVID-19 crisis.
“It was amazing to find out that we got the grant. We’re completely shocked to be honest,” said farm co-owner Miche Warwick.
“This kind of thing doesn’t happen all too often and this is a really great year to receive a financial boost.”
Warwick filled out an application for the grant back in July, explaining how her businesses has been impacted by COVID-19 and how she would improve her business with the grant.
The grant will now help the the farm deliver more fresh and local produce to the public, according to Warwick.
“We’ll use the grant to help develop and grow our new physical farm store,” said Warwick.
“We also want to improve online ordering and contactless delivery to local businesses with our online store.”
The farm store opened last month and offers herbs, berries, microgreens and other produce in Rossland.
Hiring one more employee and expanding the farm store’s hours are other things Warwick is looking at doing with the grant.
Warwick said the grant will also ensure fresh produce for everyone if demand increases for it during the COVID-19 crisis.
The farm was just one of 30 small businesses across Canada to receive the grant.


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Short Pump Ruritan Club seeking crafters for its 25th annual craft show on Oct. 17
October 17 2015 - Short Pump Middle School, ,
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 125 to hold a Yard Sale at Post 125 in Lakeside
October 17 2015 - Table rental is $10 each, 8 a.m.,
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 125 will hold a Yard Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Post 125, 1401 Hilliard Rd. Table rental is $10 each. Funds will go to ALA Unit 125 Veteran Projects. For details, call (804) 513-8237 or (757) 639-0747.
Regency to celebrate 40th birthday Oct. 17
October 17 2015 - , 10 a.m., Free
Saint Gertrude Alumnae to present “Holly Spree on Stuart Avenue” Nov. 20-21
November 20 2015 - Over 40 local vendors will be selling items including wreaths, jewelry, scarves, baby clothes and more, Hours vary,
The Saint Gertrude Alumnae Association Board will present the “Holly Spree on Stuart Avenue” from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 20 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 21. Over 40 local vendors will be selling items including wreaths, soaps, Christmas items, pet items, jewelry, scarves, hats, baby clothes, doll clothes, frozen casseroles and more. Tickets for the “Pre-Spree” on Nov. 20 are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. On Saturday, admission is free and there will be pictures with Santa and a trip through Santa Land. For details, visit http://www.saintgertrude.org/hollyspree
Are you old enough to remember when gas was 31 cents a gallon and you could buy a new car for $2,650? How about paying rent of $118 a month? You could have been cruisin’ down Mountain Road in a new Dodge Charger, or riding a new skateboard to Mr. Allen’s Market. That was the year – 1965 – that the world was introduced to contact lenses, Spirograph, Bounty, Get Smart, Lost in Space, Gatorade, Apple Jacks, and Spaghetti O’s.
It was also in 1965 that the Glen Allen Ruritan Club was founded – and today the Ruritans are still going strong. The Ruritans are the folks that have cleaned up Mountain Road; raised money for scholarships at local high schools through the Healy Gala; supported local schools and charities such as Lamb’s Basket, St. Joseph Villa, the Henrico Christmas Mother and the juvenile jail by cooking their locally famous barbeque; and put on Glen Allen Day for the last 19
years. > Read more.
West Broad Village and its parent company, Excel Trust, recently donated more than $13,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Virginia. The money was raised during the community’s Summer Concert Series.
Pictured above, Philip Hopkins (front) accepts a $13,480.50 check from Tammy Philblad, Excel Trust regional property manager. Joining the presentation (back row, from left)are Melody Thomas, Excel Trust administrative assistant; Kendall Rumsey, Excel Trust director of marketing; Terri Q. Quinan, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Virginia Chapter executive director; and Philip’s mother Catherine Hopkins. > Read more.
Growlers to Go has opened its second area location – in Short Pump, next to Trader Joe's.
Unlike the flagship store on the Boulevard in Richmond, this location is equipped with a Tasting Room, offering customers the opportunity to drink pints or tasting wheels as well as order snacks on premises. > Read more.
ClassifiedsWrap up your Holiday Shopping with 100 percent guaranteed, delivered-to-the-door Omaha Steaks! SAVE 68 percent PLUS 2 FREE GIFTS - 26 Gourmet Favorites ONLY $49.99. ORDER Today 1-888-691-0979 use code… Full text
CalendarThe Shepherd’s Center continues its Open University four-week fall lecture series “Lunch and Life” at 12:30 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 9505 Gayton Rd. Dr. Jim Somerville, storyteller and… Full text


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Dovey Wan is a partner at Primitive Ventures, a crypto asset investment fund.
Contrary to what many think, China does not oppose blockchain technology.
Rather, it takes issue with bitcoin and other privately issued cryptocurrencies, which it fears may facilitate financial fraud and capital flight. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has, in fact, had an initiative for issuing a blockchain-based digital renminbi (RMB) since 2014. The project has already generated 71 patents and has initiated a trial operation for an interbank digital check and billing platform.
If successful, this digital RMB project could expand the central bank’s influence over both the domestic and international economy. It has broad implications for the geopolitics of money and for the future of private cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. To understand the PBOC’s motives, we must first distinguish between the digitalization of fiat currency and digital fiat currency. They are not the same thing. Each has a very different impact on the money supply and on the power balance between central banks and commercial banks.
The digitization of currency, which stems from the advent of electronic payment/clearance and mature interbank IT systems, allows commercial banks to more efficiently and independently generate the credit flows that expand broad
money supply, or M2. By contrast, digital fiat currency, enabled by blockchain technology, affects the base currency measure known as M0.
Traditionally, central banks directly control base money creation/destruction but have only indirect power over the broader, credit flow-driven monetary supply. Now, with digital fiat currency, they have the potential to bypass commercial banks and regain control of currency creation/supply end to end, thereby structurally centralizing their power in policymaking.
The PBOC’s interest in this solution comes as highly advanced digital payment systems like Alipay and WeChat have created a cashless and cardless economy. This is a form of currency digitalization, built upon a network of commercial bank accounts, operating at the M2 level of money supply.
By contrast, a digital RMB would be integrated into M0, thus restoring control and influence to the PBOC. As the Vice President of PBOC Fan Yifei put it in a public interview: “With the help of technology innovation, we can gradually transit into issuance and circulation of digital RMB and impose effective supervision of in the private sector."
High M2 supply and massive shadow banking
From 2007 to 2017, China's M2 supply grew from 40 trillion RMB to 170 trillion RMB ($25.5 trillion), with an average annual growth rate of 15%, far outpacing the 10 percent nominal GDP growth rate over the same period. This massive expansion is largely due to the excessive issuance of commercial bank loans, primarily for real estate development, local governments’ infrastructure projects, and state-owned enterprises.
It has led to a highly leveraged banking system and left a huge debt risk hanging over the Chinese economy.
What’s more, the measurement of M2 underestimates the real currency growth rate in China due to shadow banking. High-yield “wealth management products” and structural deposits offered by banks, as well as internet financing such as P2P lending, make up a separate financial industry that’s worth 70 trillion RMB.
Wealth management products alone have grown from a 0.5 trillion RMB industry in 2007 to a whopping 30 trillion in 2017. These are not counted as M2 and are often hard to track due to their being hidden from bank balance sheets, making it even harder for the PBOC to manage the Chinese economic cycle. Current attempts to address the problem largely consist of more stringent reporting and regulation, but this merely chases behind the problem rather than stamping it out.
To get ahead of it requires a new financial system altogether. That’s what’s intended with the Digital RMB, a project that’s conceived of as a means of reasserting monetary control in the interests of financial stability.
While the PBOC is still considering different possibilities for network design, it seems likely to be a permissioned network in which nodes are controlled by the PBOC and major Chinese banks. This suggests transactions will be visible to the banks and government, but not to the public.
According to Yao Qian, the head of PBOC Digital Currency Research Center, the designated PBOC digital currency system has a few key elements:
- A PBOC-managed private cloud as the IT infrastructure
- A database on the private cloud to allow the PBOC to exercise full control over monetary issuance and ledger management
- A reserve database accessible by commercial banks, which can either reside on the PBOC private cloud or on banks’ own private cloud
- A digital RMB wallet client, published and maintained by the PBOC that’s used by all entities and individual
- A verification center where the PBOC can manage institutional and user identity information
- A registration center which records the registration of currency ownership and keeps the ledger of digital currency generation, circulation, and inventory management
- A big data analysis center used for anti-money laundering, payment behavior analysis, and analysis of regulatory signals.
Some might wonder why blockchain or distributed ledger technology (DLT) is needed at all if nodes are not highly decentralized. The answer is that a blockchain model offers a better coordination paradigm compared to traditional currency supply management, which is heavily dependent on bookkeeping. Blockchain’s tamper-proof nature and private-key cryptography prevent false transactions and counterfeiting, while also making it much easier for the PBOC to manage the circulation flow.
Domestic impacts and beyond
The issuance of a digital RMB will not only make cash and coinage obsolete (which is already happening in China), but also make commercial banks and M2 easier to control. It means the PBOC can more effectively control and regulate an
overextended debt market. Thanks to blockchain’s traceability and programmability, it will become much more difficult to hide banking products and services from balance sheets.
This also allows for easier execution and more accurate assessment of monetary policy, and makes the measurement of currency supply, circulation speed, currency multipliers, and distribution much more accurate. PBOC can write rules at the code level regarding where digital RMB can and cannot flow to. If it wants to cool down the housing market, for example, it can simply set a program preventing digital RMB from entering the real estate sector.
As for policing individuals, a person’s spending history and assets balance are immediately evident on the blockchain, making it much easier to accurately assess creditworthiness, detect money laundering, and prevent tax evasion and capital flight. This is, of course, is likely to strengthen privacy advocates’ already mounting criticisms of China’s social credit score model, It’s not clear that such criticism is having any influence over the government’s thinking on such matters, however.
A digital RMB could even strengthen China’s influence overseas. If the One Belt One Road initiative succeeds, a digital, borderless, stable currency could facilitate international trade among its 60-plus member countries. This, coupled with the fact that China is the biggest creditor to Venezuela and it holds over 14 percent of African countries’ sovereign debt, would position it to offer a digital RMB as the next reserve currency of emerging-market economies.
This would require those countries to confer to China some degree of influence over their monetary conditions. Would they prefer that to their current dependency on the U.S. Federal Reserve’s dollar?
It’s an open question. But it will be highly synergetic with China’s rigorous effort of de-dollarization: reducing US dollar asset in both its foreign exchange reserve, largely increasing its gold reserve and selling off US Treasury debt. Either way, these moves could increase tensions between US and China and might even force the U.S. to pursue a similar digital model for the dollar.
We still have a little time before such questions become pressing. Even so, change is coming. According to people working on this initiative, adoption will come with a great deal of observation and adjustment over the course of 10 years or more, with experiments in various use cases starting in “special economic zones” like the city of Shenzhen. Eventually, the plan is to use incentives such as increasing the transaction cost of cash to push people towards using digital currency.
Cash is expected to disappear almost entirely.
The next question is: what does this mean for private, decentralized cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin?
It may seem incongruous that blockchain technology, initially introduced under the ethos of censorship-resistance, is now being used by central banks to further centralize their financial power. But from the perspective of the Chinese government, it’s not hard to see why. Over the long term, a digital RMB has the potential to make global trade more efficient and money laundering more difficult.
Yet, given worldwide concern over surveillance by centralized institutions – both public and private – and the perennial risk that monetary policy mismanagement could foster a currency collapse akin to the Venezuelan bolivar, there’s no reason to believe such programs will kill private cryptocurrencies. On the contrary, it could boost demand for them. Anonymous, non-sovereign currencies like bitcoin or privacy coins become increasingly important in an environment where government money is closely surveilled and controlled.
What’s more, a programmable fiat digital currency could provide a seamless fiat-to-crypto on-ramp. Ironically, projects such as China’s, in which governments aim to concentrate control over money, could foster greater competition from private systems of money such as bitcoin.
Yuan and dollar image via Shutterstock
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Learn more about Consensus 2023, CoinDesk’s longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.


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One BC born cannabis retailer is taking strides in the digital world through the metaverse by becoming one of the first Canadian dispensaries to offer a virtual cannabis reality.
Seed & Stone has just bought a plot of land in a 3D virtual world platform. Seed & Stone owner Vikram Sachdeva’s goal is to revolutionize the cannabis retail perspective in a digital lifeform, so host users can enjoy their favorite products and strains with like-minded individuals while having flexibility in consumption that you cannot experience in the real world currently.
Sachdeva purchased the land in early February which is located near the Star Kingdom in a well-known digital platform, which can be found at www.decentraland.org. This land will be used to implement a virtual dispensary and consumption lounge where host users are invited to socialize and be a part of a community, with the ability to purchase cannabis products and merchandise. Host users will also find educational features where you can learn about legal cannabis and all it has to offer.
With the present-day regulations that Canadian cannabis companies face, they are limited to what they can advocate and offer consumers. Buying land in the metaverse allows cannabis companies to advance their offerings and provide consumers an interactive environment within a safe and controlled area.
“This is going to change the way users interact with cannabis,” said Sachdeva. “The space is 100% decentralized, so we can offer an out of world experience with no restrictions that the cannabis industry faces in the real world.”
With social media players like Facebook advancing into virtual reality, it demonstrates a clear example of how technology is evolving. The opportunities within virtual reality are endless, with younger audiences becoming more familiar in cashless currency, the more these purchasing habits will be applied to everyday transactions in the future.
“As a cannabis user, I would jump on this right away,” said Sachdeva. “A virtual reality that allows a consumer to effortlessly socialize with community members and elevate their consumption is something that is unparalleled. Some consumers are reluctant to physically visit a dispensary based on the societal views associated to cannabis, so entering the metaverse will help break down these barriers and give consumers a more convenient way to engage with cannabis with the option to bond with other users. This is the way technology is moving and I want Seed & Stone to be a part of this new and exciting evolution.”
Seed & Stone is a BC born Cannabis Boutique with 4 locations situated in Chilliwack and Victoria. In addition to 2 new stores in Delta and White Rock that are opening in the Spring of 2022, more locations in exciting areas will be announced in the next upcoming months. Seed & Stone is in partnership with the Songhees Nation of Victoria to support Indigenous initiatives throughout their stores, serving the cannabis community with passion and trust.
The Boutique offers a unique, custom buying experience providing high quality products including flowers, pre-rolls, concentrates, tinctures, edibles, topicals and many more CBD products with pickup and delivery options. Current products in addition to new products, merchandise, and delivery will be brought into the metaverse where consumers can enjoy cannabis related products in a virtual reality.


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How IKEA is Stepping Up its Digital Transformation
IKEA, the Swedish furniture company, has been steadily increasing its digital presence in recent years. Here are some of the ways in which the company is stepping up its digital transformation:
- Investing in E-commerce: IKEA has been investing heavily in its e-commerce platform, allowing customers to shop for furniture and home goods online.
- Augmented Reality: IKEA has developed an augmented reality app that allows customers to virtually place furniture in their homes to see how it will look before making a purchase.
- Smart Home Integration: IKEA has been incorporating smart home technology into its products, allowing customers to control their furniture and home accessories with their smartphones.
- Virtual Assistants: IKEA has been experimenting with virtual assistants in its stores to help customers with their shopping experience.
- Data Analytics: IKEA has been using data analytics to gain insights into customer behavior and preferences, allowing the company to better target its marketing efforts.
Overall, IKEA’s digital transformation efforts have been aimed at improving the customer experience and making it easier for customers to shop for and interact with its products. By investing in e-commerce, augmented reality, smart home technology, virtual assistants, and data analytics, IKEA is positioning itself as a leader in the retail industry.
What are the levels of digital transformation?
- Sure, here’s an answer to your question:
- IKEA’s digital transformation involves a range of strategies and initiatives aimed at leveraging technology to enhance the customer experience, streamline operations, and drive growth. Here are some key elements of IKEA’s digital transformation:
- E-commerce: IKEA has invested heavily in its e-commerce capabilities, enabling customers to shop online and have products delivered to their homes. This has become particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people have turned to online shopping to avoid going to physical stores.
- Mobile apps: IKEA has developed a range of mobile apps that help customers plan their purchases, visualize products in their homes, and navigate stores. The company’s flagship app, IKEA Place, uses augmented reality technology to allow customers to place virtual furniture in their homes to see how it will look.
- Smart home: IKEA has also invested in the smart home market, developing a range of connected devices and integrating with popular smart home platforms like Google Home and Amazon Alexa. This allows customers to control IKEA’s smart lighting, blinds, and other devices using voice commands or smartphone apps.
- Data analytics: To better understand customer preferences and behavior, IKEA has developed sophisticated data analytics capabilities. This allows the company to personalize marketing messages, optimize store layouts, and improve product development.
- Sustainability: Finally, IKEA has made a strong commitment to sustainability, and is leveraging technology to reduce its environmental impact. For example, the company has developed a circular business model that emphasizes recycling and reuse, and is investing in renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.
- By embracing these strategies and initiatives, IKEA is positioning itself to thrive in the digital age and meet the evolving needs of its customers.


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Animal Rights Group Collaborates With Iconic Bakery in Sweet Celebration of World Vegan Month
Australia – In celebration of World Vegan Month (November), iconic dessert chain The Cheesecake Shop is teaming up with animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to give away more than 6,000 delicious vegan fudge slices across 170 Australian locations on Saturday, 28 November.
The slices, which will be available in both Peanut Butter and Choc Almond flavours, join a Vegan Chocolate Cake and a Vegan Strawberry Choc Cake on The Cheesecake Shop’s menu, which is always growing to meet new consumer demand. In the spirit of sharing the animal-friendly love, PETA encourages vegans to help their non-vegan friends register for the giveaway and “give them a nudge with fudge” so they, too, can taste how delicious vegan treats are.
“Our delicious fudge slices prove that vegan treats don’t have to be bland. We encourage Australian vegans – and their non-vegan loved ones – to come along on 28 November to try a slice of vegan fudge heaven!” says The Cheesecake Shop Brand Manager Minu Kaneshakarnar.
“We’re thrilled to partner with The Cheesecake Shop to bring vegan fudge to the masses for free in a very sweet celebration of World Vegan Month,” says PETA Senior Outreach and Partnerships Manager Emily Rice. “Many Aussies grew up enjoying indulgent treats from The Cheesecake Shop, and its vegan options mean no one has to miss out!”
PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat” – notes that vegan treats help not only animals but also the planet, as opting for plant-based foods reduces your carbon footprint.
To redeem your slice, visit the event page here.


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Microsoft is going to start offering a 365 ongoing subscription service for Windows 10, Office 365, and other products. But don’t worry about consumer subscriptions just yet — there are some good reasons Microsoft is unlikely to take this step.
A new survey is claiming that up to 25 percent of the PC market could switch to Apple within the next 6-24 months, but data from independent analysis firms doesn’t back up that conclusion.
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The artist and influencer have already had a healthy following on Instagram. And like many other friends, the 31-year-old had dismissed TikTok as a teen app.
But the spread of the virus in New York City forced Tsui to wait for the pandemic at home, and she found herself with a lot of free time to try something new.
Tsui is not alone. In recent months, hundreds of millions of people around the world have downloaded the reduced-size video app as the United States, Europe and elsewhere impose strict restrictions in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
For many people, the app has become a fun escape from all the sad news about the virus and its budget.
TikTok has caught on to the problem at the moment, prompting optimistic hashtags like “#HappyAtHome”, which has seen many users tie their parents to making TikTok videos. It also promotes live streams of relaxing content: on a recent Wednesday, for example, one of these streams was broadcasting live footage from a Panda sanctuary.
He said TikTok approached his last year to join his platform. Richard, 31, thought it was a little too small for her.
So the coronavirus epidemic hit, and Richard found himself hooked on TikTok’s 15-second videos.
She also liked that more “older people, like my generation and older, joined it. And many songs are from my generation,” she said.
The record influx of new users is a big win for the owner of the ByteDance app, who has tried to capitalize on the worldwide appeal of TikTok. The app is the only social media platform created by a Chinese company to achieve significant traction outside of China.
But the success of the Beijing-based startup within China during the pandemic has also been enormous – and could provide clues to how TikTok hopes to become a major money maker in the future.
A record quarterly radius
ByteDance’s mobile apps grossed $ 157 million from January to March, according to Sensor Tower. Almost 90% of this amount came from China and was almost entirely led by Douyin, the Chinese version of the company’s killer app. It was a quarterly record for ByteDance, with a 423% increase over the same period of the previous year and a 50% increase over the previous quarter.
Bytedance did not respond to requests for comment for this article.
The first week of February was Douyin’s biggest week ever, with users spending more than 3 billion hours in the app, up 130% from the weekly average of 2019, according to analytics firm AppAnnie.
In China, live streaming is very popular. Influencers often make money by receiving virtual tips during live streams.
“In general, on Chinese apps, there is a habit of tipping content creators,” said Wiktoria Marszałek, account manager of Nanjing Marketing Group, a company that helps foreign companies grow their brands and their sales in China.
For example, he said, Douyin users purchase donuts or virtual hearts that they can give to content creators or influencers during live streams. All of this translates into in-app revenue for ByteDance.
The company still earns most of its money from advertising. Consulting firm R3 estimates that ByteDance made 50 billion yuan ($ 7 billion) of advertising revenue in the first half of 2019 alone.
But the in-app revenue they get from Douyin and TikTok users is more than just changes.
Douyin and TikTok’s revenue “is skyrocketing now,” said Randy Nelson, an analyst at Sensor Tower. Sensor Tower sees TikTok and Douyin essentially as the app itself, citing the similarities in branding, marketing and user experience.
Nelson said that the app’s success in user monetization places it in the same league as the top entertainment companies.
“It was on Disney +, it was on Netflix. And this is without Android in China,” he added. Sensor Tower can only track data from the App Store and the Google Play Store and the Play Store is prohibited in China.
Some influencers are betting on the TikTok post-pandemic
TikTok didn’t see a boon like Douyin, because it only started monetizing through advertising and live streaming last year, according to a TikTok spokesperson.
But Douyin provides clues to how TikTok hopes to emulate the financial success of its Chinese sister app. For example, TikTok made live streaming available to users with a number of followers last year.
It remains to be seen whether the functionality will take off outside of China.
Westerners “are not so used to the Chinese style of live streaming,” where influencers flow for hours just to mow goods, said Marszałek, of the Nanjing marketing team. “In China they sell, sell, sell,” he said.
Giving virtual money to content creators on social media isn’t even a common practice: Facebook has an in-app currency that it introduced so that users can tip content creators, but it never gained traction, according to Nelson , by Sensor Tower.
Like many other social media companies, TikTok predicts that the coronavirus will deal a serious blow to advertising revenue in the United States, Europe and other markets in which it operates.
He started to “donate” advertising credits to health organizations to publish updates on the pandemic. TikTok will offer more free advertising space to restaurants and small businesses when they start to reopen, the spokesman said.
Once companies start spending again, users like Tsui bet that TikTok will be the place to splash money.
Before moving to New York, Tsui lived in Hong Kong, where he earned around $ 1,500 per month collaborating with brands and advertisers to promote their articles to its 74,000 followers on Instagram.
Breaking up on Instagram in New York proved difficult. But now, “since everyone is talking about TikTok, brands are really targeting influencers and running ads on TikTok,” he said.
The native of New Zealand he is now trying to understand TikTok’s notoriously opaque algorithm in the hope of being able to develop a following strong enough to earn gains.
“I think TIkTok is the way to go in the future in terms of advertising and product promotion,” said Tsui.
Coffee enthusiast. Travel scholar. Infuriatingly humble zombie fanatic. Thinker. Professional twitter evangelist.


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Tesla brings self-driving hardware to its entire fleet
All Tesla's will be self-driving if you want to pay for it.
Watch DARPA's autopilot system fly a turboprop plane
Next up: autopilot helicopters.
Tesla moves its 'unexpected' product unveiling to Wednesday
"Needs a few more days of refinement," says Elon Musk.
German officials: Tesla shouldn't say 'Autopilot' in its ads
The word is verboten, as far as the Federal Motor Transport Authority is concerned.
Germany urges Tesla owners to use extreme caution with Autopilot
The country is sending letters to owners, telling them Autopilot requires constant attention.
Tesla's major Autopilot update starts rolling out today
The semi-autonomous feature will start relying more heavily on radar.
Tesla: Mobileye tried to stop our in-house chip development
Mobileye bailed on Tesla over Autopilot safety concerns
CEO Amnon Shashua believes that Tesla is selling Autopilot as a driverless system, when it's more for keeping to a lane.
Tesla's next Autopilot update will rely more on radar
Vehicles will soon lock inattentive drivers out of semi-autonomy.


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As internet users have commented that it is inappropriate to showcase Japanese goods during this time, some YouTubers said they would refrain from posting content related to Japan.
A popular YouTuber surnamed Nam, who has 20,000 subscribers, reviews new cameras online.
He uploaded a video on his channel last Friday with the title "I am sorry, I use a Japanese camera," after his subscribers urged him to join the boycott.
He had been posting about new Japanese products despite the growing anger from Koreans over Japan's export ban on key chemicals to Korea in retaliation to the rulings that ordered Japanese companies to compensate surviving Korean victims of forced labor during WWII.
A number of comments posted on his recent videos read like: "I do not want to watch reviews on Japanese products for a while."
In his video, Nam emphasized that he loves his country as a Korean and he loves Korean products but there aren't many Korean cameras on the market.
Another YouTuber, who shares information on Japanese living goods, was also criticized for her videos, with subscribers saying they were uncomfortable watching videos encouraging purchase of Japanese products amid Japan's economic retaliation.
The YouTuber wrote that she thought over and over whether to post the videos.
"I posted them because I had earlier promised my subscribers I would. I will be more considerate and thoughtful with my reviews from now," she wrote.
Another YouTuber who reviews earphones and audio devices, many of which are Japanese, responded to his subscribers' criticisms by saying the boycott can backfire on small business owners who deal with Japanese goods.
"I was damaged by the boycott, too, because my uploading schedule was mixed up and I had to cancel my trip to Japan quickly, which resulted in a huge cancellation fee," he wrote.
"On my channel, it is almost impossible to not deal with Japanese goods at all, but I'll try not to for a while," he said. "I'll also campaign for promoting Korean products instead."
A Korean-Japanese couple sharing their daily lives on YouTube under the name of "Korean Japanese Couple" also said they will not upload videos filmed in Japan for a while.
"We think it is not right to post videos containing images of Japan at this time as we support Korea. From now on, we will make videos focusing on individuals rather than that of a particular country," the couple wrote on another social media account.
Meanwhile, local governments are also canceling their trips to and exchange programs with their sister cities in Japan.
Officials at Hoengseong County government in Gangwon Province said they are suspending exchange programs with Yazu, a town in Tottori Prefecture.
The county had been sending students to the neighboring country for field trips. However, it canceled 10 tickets to Japan scheduled from July 26 to 30. Japanese students will also not make their visit to Hoengseong that was planned for next month.
Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province is reviewing a plan to cancel a sports exchange program with their sister city Shibata scheduled for July 27 to 31.
Some 70 athletes were planned to visit Japan to play table tennis and have judo and kendo matches there.


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AirAsia has has come up with personal protective equipment (PPE) for its cabin crew which as well embraces airline's signature red-hot theme.
The low-cost carried designed the equipments in collaboration with Filipino fashion designer Puey Quinones, launched April 24 during a recovery flight from Bangkok to Manila.
The PPE have been approved by Philippines' Department of Health.
Flight attendants will be required to wear the PPE on all of the carrier's domestic and international flights.
Los Angeles-based designer Quinones has been involved in designing and manufacturing PPE suits for hospitals as well as brands such as AirAsia.
Airlines have been among the businesses hit hardest by the pandemic. Singapore Airlines recently announced the cancellation of 96 per cent of its scheduled flights until the end of June.
On April 17, AirAsia announced it is set to resume scheduled domestic flights commencing with Malaysia.


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Posts Tagged ‘E3’
Posted by DaRipp3r on December 18, 2014 under Euro, News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Today, Ubisoft announced that Escape from Durgesh Prison, a new piece of downloadable content for Far Cry 4, will be released on January 13th, 2015. In this challenging time trial players will race against the clock and other players to complete challenges for a spot atop the leader boards. In Escape from Durgesh Prison Ajay and Hurk wake up after being captured, tortured and stripped of their ... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on December 17, 2014 under Euro, News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
All players looking forward to Dying Light can now get a taste of the zombie-infested quarantine zone in “Test Your Survival Skills” – an interactive video based on actual Dying Light gameplay. This non-linear video lets you choose your own path through a mission that showcases the multitude of possibilities available in the open world of Dying Light. As a bonus, along the w... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on December 10, 2014 under Euro, Mac, News, PS4, Xbox One
Techland today unveiled the opening cinematic for the studio’s highly anticipated open-world action survival game -- Dying Light. After a thought-provoking story trailer released last week, players can now catch a glimpse of the events that set the game’s dramatic storyline in motion. The intro paints the background for a mysterious outbreak in the ill-fated city of Harran which the rest of... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on December 8, 2014 under Euro, News, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Konami Digital Entertainment, has shown the first footage of Metal Gear Online, while also confirming that the multi-player content will be released as part of the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Metal Gear Online is a dedicated multi-player mode that segues into elements of the main game and will be included with the single player campaign in Metal Gear Solid V: The... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on December 8, 2014 under Euro, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
As the rules that govern our civilization crumble, a new order of things is bound to emerge. In the latest trailer for Dying Light, Techland for the first time ever give a sneak peek into the storyline of their open-world, action survival game. Looking for inspirations for Dying Light, we delved into classics of international literature, such as Albert Camus’s The Plague and Joseph Conrad’s... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on December 3, 2014 under Euro, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Today Techland announced the Season Pass for Dying Light, detailing the line-up of three content drops that will deliver completely fresh and unexpected experiences to the players in the quarantine zone. Priced at $19.99, the Season Pass will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC, and will include exclusive missions, original weapons and outfits, and brand-new gameplay. The Dy... more.
Posted by STGuy1040 on December 1, 2014 under Euro, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
The Crew is finally here. With the massive re-creation of the United States now open for the exploring, drivers everywhere are stockpiling their new cars, customizing them and taking these beasts out for a ride. All the roads, missions and skill challenges lead to the Faction Wars, and everyone is taking sides. The Wolves in Detroit. The Bears in Los Angeles. The Eagles in New York. Watch the L... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on November 24, 2014 under Euro, News, PC, Portables, PS4
Avian-friendly Devolver Digital and Mediatonic announced today that Hato Moa’s Hatoful Boyfriend, the world's greatest pigeon dating story ever told, will arrive on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and PlayStation Vita in early 2015 for $9.99. A launch party is currently being planned in front of a bench in Central Park with a bar serving a range of high-end breadcrumbs. Media... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on November 20, 2014 under Euro, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Today, Ubisoft announced that The Crew open beta will take place from November 25th to November 27th for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The open beta will allow players to explore the entire United States and complete challenges in two of the five regions available in the game, the Midwest and East Coast. The PvP lobbies in these regions will also be accessible for players who want to pro... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on November 18, 2014 under Euro, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
BioWare, a division of Electronic Arts today announced that the epic role-playing game, Dragon Age: Inquisition is now available in North America. Dragon Age: Inquisition is the next-generation of RPG from BioWare that combines powerful storytelling and compelling characters with beautiful, expansive open worlds for players to explore. Dragon Age: Inquisition is set in an epic, dark fantasy wor... more.
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