text:
Binance NFT announced critical changes to its platform. As of September 26, 2023, at 06:00 (UTC), the platform will halt The Sandbox NFT Staking Program. This move results from a strategic decision to optimize the Binance NFT Marketplace’s product line-up.
According to the details provided:
Staking LAND NFTs, currently hosted on the Polygon Network, for daily SAND rewards will be suspended from 2023-09-26 06:00 (UTC).
All LAND NFTs staked on the platform will undergo an automatic unstaking process on September 27, 2023 (UTC). Users can expect the return of their staked LAND NFTs to their Binance accounts by September 28, 2023, at 02:00 (UTC). Furthermore, the final distribution of daily SAND rewards will transpire post this time.
Binance NFT also revealed another significant update concerning the Polygon Network. Starting from September 26, 2023, at 06:00 (UTC), the platform will cease support for the Polygon Network. Consequently, Binance NFT Marketplace users holding NFTs on the Polygon Network are advised to complete their withdrawals by December 31, 2023, at 23:59 (UTC). More specific guidance for affected users will be dispatched subsequently.
Post this deadline, activities such as buying, depositing, offering, or listing NFTs from the Polygon Network on Binance NFT Marketplace will be restricted. Simultaneously, any existing listings linked to the Polygon Network will be automatically nullified at 2023-09-26 06:00 (UTC), with the related NFTs being returned to the users’ accounts by September 28, 2023, at 02:00 (UTC).
While Binance NFT extended its apologies for any potential inconvenience, users seeking further clarity can direct their queries to Binance’s Customer Support or consult the platform’s guides.
Disclaimer & Copyright Notice: The content of this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial advice. Always consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. This material is the exclusive property of Blockchain.News. Unauthorized use, duplication, or distribution without express permission is prohibited. Proper credit and direction to the original content are required for any permitted use.
Animoca Brands, a leading figure in the realms of digital entertainment and blockchain technology, has unveiled its financial performance for the year ending 31 December 2022, providing a comprehensive insight into its achievements and future prospects.
The company’s financial health appears robust, with bookings escalating to a commendable A$594 million (approximately US$402 million). This figure represents a significant uptick from the A$428 million (around US$291 million) reported in the previous year. Such bookings are not just mere numbers; they encapsulate the company’s diverse ventures, including token sales, NFT (Non-Fungible Token) sales, and other activities that don’t necessarily fall under the blockchain umbrella.
Diving deeper into their financial reservoir, Animoca Brands has showcased a strong liquidity position. Their cash and stablecoin reserves are pegged at A$286 million (approximately US$191 million). Furthermore, the company’s liquid digital assets, which comprise reserves of the SAND utility token used predominantly in The Sandbox platform, are valued at a substantial A$690 million (roughly US$469 million). Such figures not only highlight the company’s financial prowess but also underscore its strategic investments in digital assets, which are becoming increasingly pivotal in today’s digital age.
Another noteworthy mention is the off-balance sheet token reserves associated with Animoca Brands’ majority-owned Web3 subsidiaries. These reserves have reached a staggering A$2.4 billion (about US$1.6 billion). This includes an array of tokens such as PROS, ASTRAFER, QUIDD, PRIMATE, REVV, TOWER, GMEE, and several others, reflecting the company’s diversified approach in the rapidly evolving blockchain space.
In terms of business expansion, 2022 was a landmark year for Animoca Brands. The company strategically acquired six firms, broadening its portfolio and fortifying its position in the market. These acquisitions include industry players like Grease Monkey Games, known for its prowess in game development, and PIXELYNX, a unique music metaverse gaming platform. Such acquisitions are a testament to Animoca’s vision of integrating diverse digital platforms to offer unparalleled user experiences.
The introduction of Web3 services by Animoca Brands in 2022 is a significant stride towards bridging the gap between traditional web platforms (Web2) and blockchain-based platforms (Web3). With this venture, the company aims to guide other businesses in seamlessly integrating tokens and NFTs into their existing models. This initiative alone contributed a whopping US$120 million to the total bookings for the year, underscoring its success and potential for future growth.
On the leadership front, the company has infused fresh talent into its senior management. The induction of industry stalwarts like Alan Lau, Minh Do, and Jared Shaw is expected to steer the company towards newer horizons.
Product development has also been in the limelight, with Blowfish Studios’ “Phantom Galaxies” making waves by securing US$19.3 million from its Planet Private Sale.
In conclusion, Animoca Brands, with its recognition from industry giants like Deloitte and the Financial Times, continues to shape the digital landscape. Its vast portfolio, strategic acquisitions, and focus on innovation position it as a formidable player in the digital property rights domain and the burgeoning open metaverse.
On August 4, 2023, Lookonchain, a Twitter account specializing in tracking on-chain cryptocurrency data, announced a substantial transfer involving The Sandbox’s ($SAND) tokens. The tweet stated, “We noticed that 127M $SAND ($51.32M) was transferred from #TheSandbox wallets 6 hrs ago.”
In addition, Lookonchain cited information from Token Unlocks, revealing, “According to @Token_Unlocks, 332.55M $SAND ($134.4M) will be unlocked after 10 days, 16.16% of the circulating supply.”
Earlier, on June 5, The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Binance, naming SOL, ADA, MATIC, FIL, ATOM, SAND, MANA, ALGO, AXS, and COTI as securities in the filing. This announcement led to a significant market reaction, with the $SAND price reaching its peak of 0.6151 on June 5, before plummeting to a low of 0.331 on June 10—a 50% decline within just six days.
On July 14, 2023, Spot On Chain drew attention to a resurgence in $SAND and $MATIC, highlighting that both were “up 10%+ over the past 24 hours after the US judge ruled $XRP is not a security! Amid the pumps, we noticed: The Sandbox may reduce their $SAND position soon. KOL @degentradingLSD took profit from a $MATIC deal he accumulated before the pump.” The $SAND price reached 0.4862 that day, marking the highest level in recent days. However, since then, the price has been on a continuous downward trend.
At the time of writing, the $SAND price stands at approximately 0.4, reflecting a 20% decrease from the recent high. The latest transfer of 127 million $SAND is significant and may exert considerable pressure on the $SAND price, adding further complexity to the market dynamics surrounding this cryptocurrency.
The Sandbox, a leading gaming metaverse, posted a mixed performance in the second quarter of 2023, according to a report released by Messari. The platform saw a robust 59% QoQ increase in NFT mints, primary sales were up 52% QoQ, and active buyers grew 22% QoQ. However, total revenue fell 15% QoQ, despite a 30% increase in non-LAND primary sale volume and an 18% rise in ESTATE volume.
The SEC’s lawsuits against Coinbase and Binance, where SAND was classified as a security, could herald a new era of crypto regulation in the U.S. A recent court ruling on XRP adds complexity to the regulatory scenario.
The Sandbox announced collaborations with brands like Paris Hilton, Warner Music, and others. The roadmap includes new features such as self-publishing experiences by the end of Q3 2023 and the ability to create and rent ESTATEs in Q4 2023.
Daily SAND staked grew 5% QoQ, but fell as a percentage of the circulating supply by 2% QoQ. SAND’s fully diluted valuation hovered between $2.1 billion and $1.1 billion, ending the quarter at $1.22 billion.
Despite facing a tough quarter marked by a fall in revenue, staking rewards, and SAND price, The Sandbox continued to facilitate new partnerships and grow in key areas. The platform faces regulatory uncertainty but is positioned for potential growth.
The Sandbox is a gaming metaverse where players and creators can monetize 3D assets and experiences via NFTs. Initially launched as a 2D mobile game in 2012, it rebranded as a 3D metaverse game in 2018.
McDonald’s Hong Kong has teamed up with The Sandbox, a decentralized virtual gaming platform owned by Animoca Brands, to create the first Web3 experience platform. This partnership has resulted in the launch of “McNuggets Land”, a unique metaverse gaming experience that marks the 40th anniversary of McNuggets.
Users of the game, which went live on July 20, 2023, may communicate with a variety of McNuggets-inspired game characters. Users can share their in-game experiences on social media platforms.
The game also includes a virtual art gallery where users can explore the 40-year history of McNuggets, and a virtual McDonald’s themed game where they can serve McNuggets to customers.
Participants in the McNuggets Land experience stand a chance to win a variety of digital and physical rewards. These include a share of a prize pool worth 100,000 SAND coins and a mystery gift box. Registered participants in Hong Kong can also share 10,000 McNuggets vouchers, with ten winners standing a chance to win the ultimate prize of “Free McNuggets for 365 days”.
The Sandbox platform, which is preparing to accelerate its development in 2023, has attracted over 400 partners, including major brands like Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, and Adidas. The platform aims to provide more self-publishing features and tools for brand partners and users.
Since 1975, McDonald’s has operated in Hong Kong, where it presently has over 250 outlets.
The Sandbox, on the other hand, is a subsidiary of Animoca Brands and has collaborated with numerous mainstream intellectual properties and brands. It has emerged as a significant driver of virtual real estate demand in recent years.
This partnership between a global fast-food giant and a leading metaverse platform highlights the growing trend of traditional businesses exploring the potential of the metaverse to engage with their customers in innovative ways.
On July 3rd, Europe’s blockchain regulatory sandbox officially introduced its inaugural set of use cases. This milestone follows a period of eager anticipation in the industry, culminating from nearly 90 applications submitted back in April. Initiated in 2020 by the European Commission and the European Blockchain Partnership (EBP), the sandbox is set to close the regulatory gap between European nations and crypto companies.
The Commission has accepted 20 projects for the first cohort, with participants hailing from diverse sectors such as finance and capital markets, telecoms and IT, global trade, and transportation. The projects have a broad geographic representation across Europe, with the highest number of 14 use cases in Western Europe, followed by Southern Europe with 10 projects, the Nordics and Central Europe with eight projects each, and Eastern Europe with seven.
The sandbox, facilitated by UK-based law firm Bird & Bird, is designed to create a secure platform for dialogue between regulators, crypto projects, and public authorities. Use case developers will have the opportunity to present their business case to regulators and receive legal guidance, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between these entities.
Apart from its role as a facilitator, Bird & Bird will also assist in setting up a safe interface for developers and regulators, providing necessary legal advice and regulatory guidance to projects.
The European Commission emphasized that the sandbox would “allow supervisors to enhance their knowledge of cutting-edge technologies involving DLT.” The insights gained from this interaction will be shared among regulators, aiding the Commission in identifying industry best practices.
This regulatory sandbox is designed to function in tandem with other initiatives, notably the EU Digital Finance Platform and the AI Sandboxes under the AI Act. The Commission stressed that integrating these frameworks is vital due to the increasing intersection of innovative technologies across various industry sectors.
The sandbox’s inaugural application period, which ended on April 14, was open to blockchain projects that had a valid proof of concept and cross-border elements. The European Blockchain Regulatory Sandbox will continue to welcome new projects annually until 2026.
As per the official press release, the Sandbox project team witnessed significant interest from the European and international blockchain community, thereby solidifying its status as a bridge builder between regulators and use-case owners.
The selection process was led by blockchain experts from WBNoDE, under the careful supervision of an independent academic panel, including Professors Roman Beck, Soulla Louca, and Walter Blocher. The selected projects are set to enter a dialogue with relevant national and EU regulators in a secure and confidential environment, after which a best practices report will be shared for the wider Blockchain community’s benefit.
The European Blockchain Regulatory Sandbox aims to facilitate cross-border dialogues, increase legal certainty for innovative blockchain solutions, and enhance knowledge of DLT technologies among supervisors. Furthermore, it offers an annual prize for the most innovative regulator participating in the sandbox.
The Sandbox, supported by the Digital Europe Programme and SME strategy, will operate from 2023 to 2026, supporting 20 projects each year, including public sector use cases on the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure.
According to a report by South China Morning Post (SCMP), Hong Kong-based blockchain giant, Animoca Brands, has announced its plans to shift its focus to markets outside the U.S. This strategic move comes in the wake of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision to label the firm’s Sand cryptocurrency token as an unregistered security, amid recent lawsuits against major crypto exchanges Binance and Coinbase Global.
Sand is the native crypto token used by Animoca’s metaverse platform, The Sandbox. It was among more than a dozen tokens explicitly labeled as securities by the SEC, a list that also includes Solana, Polygon, and Mana – the token used in the Decentraland virtual world. This decision by the SEC has elevated the legal risks for any company involved in selling these tokens.
Despite the regulatory challenges in the U.S., Animoca Brands remains optimistic about its global operations. The company’s co-founder and chairman, Yat Siu, commented in an email, “Animoca Brands is not focused on a single territory but operates globally. The SEC focuses on the U.S., so that should not have an impact on Animoca Brands in broader markets where Sand is widely available and accepted, including in more progressive jurisdictions like Hong Kong and Japan.”
Siu also disclosed that Animoca has already initiated measures to emphasize more on other markets in response to the recent “blockchain-hostile” approach observed in the U.S. This strategic shift represents Animoca’s adaptive response to the evolving regulatory landscape and is reflective of a broader industry trend towards seeking more cryptocurrency-friendly jurisdictions.
On February 15, the European Commission made the announcement that it will be launching the European Blockchain Regulatory Sandbox. The regulatory sandbox will serve as a forum for discussion around 20 new projects each year until the year 2026.
The sandbox was first announced in the year 2020, and it is now being managed by a number of private companies who were successful in winning bids in the year 2022. The Digital Europe Program will be responsible for providing the funding. Use cases from the public and commercial sectors that include “Blockchain and other Distributed Ledger Technologies” will be considered for the selection of projects, which will be done on a competitive basis by an impartial panel of academic experts.
Applicants from the public sector that have initiatives relating to the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI) will be taken into consideration. The European Blockchain Standard Initiative (EBSI) is a pan-European blockchain that is managed by a coalition of EU nations, together with Norway and Lichtenstein.
Participants in the yearly sandbox cohort will be paired with national and European Union regulators in order to get private legal counsel and regulatory assistance. At the same time, regulators will have the chance to become familiar with cutting-edge blockchain technology.
The deadline for applications to participate in the first round of projects is April 14. The projects need to have a proof of concept that has been verified according to the standards, and they need to have a dimension that crosses borders.
The projects that have already been selected for deployment by public authorities will be given precedence. The European Economic Area is where a company’s headquarters should be located (EEA). As long as the EEA-based firm is the one to ultimately benefit from the initiative, these companies are allowed to work in partnership with enterprises headquartered outside of the EEA. Participants should not expect to have any of their costs repaid.
The chosen projects will each be provided with a written legal evaluation, which will be followed by two virtual meetings with the involved regulators. Additionally, applications are being accepted for the EBSI Early Adopters incubator program, which is now in its third cohort.
In the Financial Services Innovation bill that was being introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Patrick McHenry, a comparable sandbox program was suggested. In the next iteration of the United Kingdom’s changes to its financial services industry, a sandbox program of a similar kind may also be included.
Hong Kong-based start-up PANGU, a metaverse agency appointed by Sandbox, is helping clients to enter into the metaverse by providing asset creation and branding consultation services. The company said it is building various business models, including the play-to-earn (P2E) model for clients to support its growth.
Kenny Ng, the founder of PANGU by Kenal (left) believes the Metaverse would be the tendency of the future; and Zero Chung (right) thinks that providing customied solutions to clients is key advantages of the company.
Interior designer in the Metaverse
Stepping into the office located at Kowloon Bay, Eastern Kowloon in Hong Kong, a mini botanical garden has been set up at the base’s main entrance. Agave americana, more commonly known as Century Plant, and other various potted plants are growing under the care of the owner. The vibe of the working environment and its inspirations also come from the green belief.
PANGU, the visual design production company established as its affiliate of the Kenal Group, has hired over 20 staff and still rapidly expanding. Kenny Ng, Founder of PANGU by Kenal, established his team around eight months ago. Ng shared his experience with Blockchain.News, “just like other start-up companies, we are gradually expanding our scale, starting from building up our products with designers, then developing business and marketing teams at the following stage.”
Furthermore, the company plans to establish community management in the long term, PANGU’s Ng shared his ongoing business plans to Blockchain.News.
This company has connected with the Sandbox since last November in 2021 and was just appointed as the official TSB Metaverse agency in April, which is rare for HK-based startups in the global market. According to PANGU, the agency raised its capital independently followed by grants from Sandbox’s “game maker fund”, which aims at connecting with the next generation and the tendency of web 3.
These services support its business growth by providing a one-stop solution, including land purchase with development, offering marketing strategy, digital assets creation and branding collaboration for clients from online to offline.
Kenny Ng, Founder of PANGU said:
“As an agency of (the Sandbox), we wish we are able to provide complete solid service with own our resources, instead of outsourcing works to other parties, which is not practical. So, that would be our direction in practice.”
“Our partnership (between Sandbox and clients) is more like property developers, and we play our role as the builder and property management unit as a contractor, offering consultations for clients on how to develop their own lands and promote their branding through online and offline activities,” Chung added.
Projects such as Metagreenor clients from Standard Character are part of their key clients, these corporate firms have entered into the Metaverse through the Sandbox. In the project of Metagreen, PANGU said they are mainly responsible for purchasing land and its development, non-fungible token (NFT) creation, but also partnerships from online to offline, including partnerships with NFT gallery, NGOs and running other community channel management, such as Discord.
The founder told Blockchain.News that “in this early stage of the Metaverse, most clients are still discovering and exploring what they can do after investing in these virtual lands. Some clients prefer to shape a revolutionized image and identity in the virtual space, while some clients prefer to promote their branding traditionally,” adding that “we are working together with clients to find out a potential and possible (virtual) identity by helping them to build its ecosystem in this space.”
The Chief strategist suggests customized design and creative solutions for various clients would be one of the advantages for the company to remain competitive in the industry, as the company is not just serving local customers but serving globally.
Meanwhile, inspired by environmentally sustainable beliefs, the company also transformed itself into a game developer, trying to bring different scenarios to this virtual space.
Earlier this month, the game developer virtually launchedan NFT drop project, connecting with a gamification-based metaverse space. Featuring ecology conservation and environmental sustainability, the company is introducing a gamification-based platform for players to explore another virtual world– Ecoland.
The Ecoland is a diversified ecosystem, featuring environmental and educational theme interaction for players, according to PANGU. The company said its assets creation is fully designed from scratch by itself. Their voxel characters are unique with high quality.
Operating through the Play-to-Earn (P2E) model, the platform has associated with the Sandbox, players can earn SAND tokens or win some exclusive NFTs after completing several missions in the game in exchange for upgrading their equipment and tradings.
In addition, the gaming platform also wishes to escalate its landscape in the Metaverse, bringing more interactive ways in different scenarios, such as “Play to learn”, to deliver educational messages to players by completing some mini-games in the space. “We are also cooperating with several environmental NGOs, so we will donate serval amount to NGOs we cooperate with when customers buy specific NFTs from them. These objectives would help us fulfil social responsibility obligations,” Chung added.
Regarding crypto adoptions, PANGU said currently it would only use tokens for necessary transactions or trading among campaigns during the execution stage, such as paying gas fees during the minting of NFTs. “The company might use tokens in the future as the incentive for staff, encouraging them to stay tuned in the crypto space,” Ng added.
Previously, the company participated in the event the Artaverse, to increase its exposure to the industry.
PANGU discloses the company is expanding regional and overseas markets during Q3 and Q4 this year.
Promising Potential Value in the Metaverse
According to the latest researchfrom McKinsey & Company, the study suggests the preliminary value of the Metaverse it creates in the space could grow up to $5 trillion by 2030.
E-commerce would be the largest driving force, which takes up to $2.6 trillion, followed by virtual learning ($270 billion), advertising ($206 billion) and gaming ($125 billion) sector.
Meanwhile, the blockchain-related application and scenarios on the Metaverse are still expanding.
Author of “Snow Crash”, Neal Stephenson, who created the term “the Metaverse” nearly 30 years ago, has recently announced a new project named LAMINA1, according to online media outlet Decrypt.
The project was described as a “free metaverse”, a blockchain-based network for building the open Metaverse. “We’re going to have all the facilities of a full layer one (blockchain) to help support and encourage the creators who want to build with us. That is my and Neal’s strategy—align everything around getting the best thing built and getting everybody all the tools they need to build what they want,” Vessenes explained.
Imagination of Virtual Land
The land issue in Hong Kong remains one of the most challenging issues in the city. With limited space and high demand, physical land has become one of the rarest resources for housing, real estate and other property developments.
Since the arrival of Metaverse and virtual lands in recent years, the bond and chemistry between these two topics have the caught attention of investors who wish to join the virtual space instead of trading physical land. More local entities or corporate firms in Hong Kong, as a result, foresee the potential benefit and investment opportunities in the Metaverse. However, these firms still need a builder’s help to construct the Metaverse infrastructure.
Apart from projects coordinated by PANGU, more local firms, such as Telcom operator PCCW and local railway operator MTR, also shared optimistic views by joining the Metaverse space, aiming at raising their awareness and exposure in the virtual space. Meanwhile, Yahoo and Meta, formerly named Facebook, have also announced to launch of a metaverse connection in the city in the hope that to reserve the old style and image of the city.
After the short bearish trend amid the Russia-Ukraine tensions, the crypto market has started to gain ground again. Bitcoin and Ethereum rose by about 1% and 5% respectively during the last week. Many other cryptocurrencies have followed. The popularity and market capitalization of the Metaverse tokens also continues to grow.
Many analysts link the fall and rise of the crypto market to the recent political events and fluctuations of the Russian ruble. When the currency suddenly started to pull back, so did most of the digital assets. Now that the rouble is slowly recovering, cryptocurrencies are shooting up in value again. Last week, Russia claimed that it would only accept rubles and maybe crypto for oil and gas. This statement may have led to the growth of the ruble and the surge in the crypto market.
For the first time in three months, Bitcoin surpassed the $47,000 mark on March 28. The number one crypto might not yet be close to its new ATH, but it might very well hit the new highest price of the year soon. In two days the BTC value jumped by more than $1,000, then retreated, and now continues to grow again. The move may have to do with Russia’s consideration of accepting BTC for its natural resources mentioned above.
BTC is currently trading at $45,502,80. It grew by 1.23%% during the past week and dropped by 3.16% in the last 24 hours.
Ethereum has been growing steadily for the last 10 days and just like Bitcoin saw a big jump on March 28. The price of ETH is still lower than it was in the beginning of the year, but it might reach that point again soon as it seems to be following the bullish trend.
The currency gained 5.35%% during the past week and fell by 3.89% in the last 24 hours. At the moment of writing, ETH costs $3,296.23.
Decentraland’s MANA token is the top metaverse crypto by market capitalization. Created in 2017 and open to the public in 2020, the virtual reality platform quickly gained popularity. Users have many possibilities in the virtual world, from creating and exploring to buying and monetizing plots of land. Its native currency MANA is powered by the Ethereum blockchain.
Even though the token was growing earlier this week it went down by 1.72% in the last 24 hours and by 2.88% in the last 7 days. The total market cap of MANA is $4,775,414,595. At the moment of writing, it’s trading at the price of $2.59.
Axie Infinity (AXS)
Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based play-to-earn video game launched by Sky Mavis in 2018. Users get to breed and raise the creatures called Axies and receive rewards for them. Each Axie is a platform’s native NFT.
The currency has seen a huge jump during the last 10 days going up by about $20 in 24 hours. However, it retreated significantly after. The AXS’s value has dropped by 10.91% over the past week and grew by 1.38% over the last 24 hours. At this point, the price of the token is $63.66 and the market cap is $3,885,108,076.
The Sandbox (SAND)
The Sandbox is a NFT-based virtual world where users can create, buy, and sell plots of land in the form of a game. Players can use the virtual land to host events, concerts, or games and monetize their creations. The internal currency SAND is becoming very popular.
This week SAND was growing steadily and saw a couple of big jumps until it suddenly went down yesterday. It dropped by 1.59% in the last seven days and by 1.91% in the last 24 hours. Despite its climbs the coin is still pretty far from its ATH of $8.40 it saw last November. SAND is now trading at $3.40. Its total market cap is $3,939,930,950.
ApeCoin is a native cryptocurrency behind the NFT-famous Bored Ape Yacht Club project. Launched less than 2 weeks ago by ApeCoin DAO, the coin immediately gathered a lot of hype around it. ApeCoin is mainly used for purchases within the APE ecosystem.
The total market capitalization of APE is currently $3,581,479,601. It lost 0.58% in value during the week but grew by 2.14% in the last 24 hours. Its current price is $12.77.
Theta Network (THETA)
Theta is a blockchain-based network focused on video streaming. Users of the decentralized platform share bandwidth and computing resources on a P2P basis. The project is advised by Steve Chen, co-founder of YouTube, and Justin Kan, co-founder of Twitch.
THETA has seen strong growth and shooted up in value by 25.04% during the week. In the last 24 hours it rose by 1.72% and is now trading at $4.09. The total market cap of the currency is now $4,034,400,099.
All in all, even though there have been some drops in the last two days, we can see that most coins and tokens are on the rise and it seems that spring has finally come to the crypto market. There’s a big chance that cryptos will surge even more in the next weeks and months, especially if the political situation stabilizes and countries go ahead with the crypto adoption.
P.S. This article has originally been published on Benzinga.


text:
Cathie Wood's Ark Invest stated it expects Tesla Inc's provide a fee to show up at the US$3,000 mark through 2025. ReutrporKia has become one of the most shocking success stories of Pakistan's vehicle industry since its return to the sector. Despite having a significant number of competitors in Pakistan's SUV market. Kia Sportage has passed on with impressive results.
Ark expects Tesla's market capitalization to reach as high as US$4 trillion in the best situation. According to an examination, a note circled here on Friday. The board has set some prices for Tesla which are in dollars. The investment board firm set the price focus for Tesla at US$1,500 per share on a bear premise by 2025 and US$4,000 per share on a bull premise. A year earlier, Ark Invest said it expected the affiliation's stock to hit US$7,000 per offer, or US$1,400 when acclimated to its five-for-one stock split, by 2024.
Ark Invest in Tesla Electric vehicle
From a year earlier, when Ark circled its past note on January 31, 2020, Tesla's stock rose as much as 400% to US$654.87 as of Friday's nearby. This is one of the best achievements of the year 2020.
Ark Invest also increased the probability of the electric vehicle producer accomplishing fully free driving within five years. It is said by the affiliation's net autonomous ride-hail revenue could be as much as US$327 billion by 2025.
It expects Tesla's electric vehicle to appear at between the US $234 billion and US $367 billion by 2025. Tesla is the best holding of the exceptional flying US$26.6 billion ARK Innovation trade exchanged asset and asset regulator Wood. Ark's CEO has been a longtime Tesla bull.

domain: news


text:
The so-called “meme stock” mania fueling the U.S. retail trading surge has been one of the most covered stories in the past few months. It has led to the resurfacing of the stonks meme, which first appeared back in 2010.
The stonks meme has become hugely popular in the discussion surrounding shorted or meme stocks for the past decade. Hence, the Reddit-induced short squeeze has caught several meme stocks apart, from video games retailer GameStop.
A meme stock doesn’t fall into any particular stock classification. They are typically trading at a premium and experience massive spikes in a short time. Moreover, these stocks are popular among millennials and in retail trading. They often do not possess the financials to justify their price, and FOMO is usually a significant motivator to buy. The recent retail trading frenzy, with more work-from-home (WFH) traders, has cast a spotlight on several meme stocks, from which investors could rake in considerable short-term gains.
Let’s look at seven meme stocks that you shouldn’t miss this time:
Source: rblfmr / Shutterstock.com
Movie theatre operator AMC Entertainment has been given a lifeline due to the short squeeze. 2020 was a horrible year for the company, with the lockdown restrictions in place and film studios opting for an streaming release. Even with the re-opening of theatres and the economy in general, the film industry is at an inflection point that will shape AMC stock for years to come.
AMC stock’s year-to-date gains are over 321% which makes it a great short-term trading vehicle. However, it has little value for long-term investors, with its massive debt burden and its growing share count. On top of that, the movie release schedule remains unclear despite most of its theatres being open. Therefore, AMC stock is not a name to think about as a long-term play at this time.
Video-game retailer GameStop has been at the center of the Reddit-stoked short squeeze. The phenomenon has helped GME stock gain more than 3,000% in the past 12-months. However, with minimal growth at the company and a lack of long-term catalysts, the stock is highly unattractive to rational investors.
The company seeks to evolve its business model in line with the paradigm shift in the industry from physical to digital sales. Digital game sales exceeded physical game sales for the first time during the pandemic. It is a trend which will continue to stick, and company’s such as GameStop need to move along with it to stay afloat. It recently struck a deal with Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) in getting a cut from the Xbox’s digital sales. However, with game developers offering their subscriptions, it would be tough to see how GameStop factors in the equation.
Source: SiljeAO / Shutterstock.com
Headphone maker Koss Corporation is another stock with little fundamental value that’s caught on to the short squeeze. KOSS stock has grown over 1,100% in the last 12 months, but its financials can hardly justify such an ascent. It has been a micro-cap stock for much of its history, averaging a negative 3.6% five-year return on equity. Moreover, despite its deplorable results, it dwarfs its competitors across most price metrics.
It recently released its second-quarter results for fiscal 2021, coming in ahead of expectations. The growth in revenues was primarily driven by the pandemic, which is a tail-wind that should fade away soon. It recorded net income of $509,000 which was mostly due to it recording a $506,700 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan as other income. Therefore, with no growth drivers, KOSS stock is an incredibly risky investment.
Source: Helen89 / Shutterstock.com
Express Inc. is an accessories and apparel retailer primarily operating in the United States and Puerto Rico. It currently operates 378 retail stores and 214 factory outlet stores. The company has had a torrid 2020, with revenue growth declining by double-digits. The short squeeze has kept EXPR stock alive, though, with year-to-date gains at 170%.
In its most recent quarter, revenues tumbled 34%, with a $1.17 per share loss. The company’s poor results are primarily due to its heavy dependence on foot traffic and its inability to adapt to changing customer tastes. Its e-commerce penetration is lackluster compared to its peers and can hardly offset its brick-and-mortar business losses.
Additionally, through the early half of the pandemic, from Feb. 1 to Oct. 31, it burned through $107 million in cash. On top of that, it has a whopping volume of long-term debt of $165 million. All of that makes EXPR stock’s future look incredibly bleak at this point.
Jaguar Health is a pharmaceutical company that has been making the rounds off-late due to two promising drug candidates’ announcements. One of these drugs could potentially relieve symptoms of diarrhea from cholera. The other could relieve gastrointestinal problems of people recovering from Covid 19. As a result, JAGX stock has a 12-month return of over 146.7%
The market for both its drug candidates is massive, but they need to prove their efficacy before being taken seriously. Trials have gone smoothly and have raised enough funds to see their development past the finish line. Therefore, the company could open up multimillion-dollar revenue streams down the road. At this point, though, it’s more of a speculative bet at best.
Canadian marijuana producer Sundial Growers has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the retail-trading hysteria. SNDL stock had risen 338% in the past six months when it was restructuring its debt. The windfall has steered it out of its financial troubles, but its core business is a mess, offering little upside for investors.
The company has had a poor earnings track record marked by minimal growth in revenues and profits. Its sales mix is far from ideal due to its inferiority and the lack of distribution channels. The previous management team took Sundial in the wrong strategic direction. New management is doing its best to fix the mess, but it will be a long process to turn this ship around if it’s even possible at all.
Traders seem to think federal cannabis legalization in the United States will fix all these problems overnight. Even if legalization happens soon (which is far from guaranteed), it’s unclear how much this will help Sundial.
Its sizeable cash balance will allow it to expand its business in the U.S. and acquire other pot growers. It will be interesting to see how it progresses, but it’s a highly over-valued pot stock that offers little upside for the time being.
Source: didesign021 / Shutterstock.com
Veterinary diagnostics company Zomedica has been one fastest growing stocks in the past year. The short squeeze has helped ZOM stock clock a year-to-date price gain of over 650%.
The company is developing a unique point-of-care diagnostic tool for gastrointestinal distress for cats and dogs. Its Truforma diagnostic platform has helped stoke ZOM stock ahead of its expected debut later this month.
CEO Robert Cohen recently talked about the massive strides the company has made in the past few months. ZOM stock has regained compliance with exchange listing requirements, and it expects to keep growing with the imminent release of its Truforma platform.
Additionally, Cohen states that the company should be cash flow positive by 2023. With a limited release this month, the platform will be released with multiple assays down the line. Hence, the stock has the potential to be an excellent investment soon.
On the date of publication, Muslim Farooque did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.
Muslim Farooque is a keen investor and an optimist at heart. A life-long gamer and tech enthusiast, he has a particular affinity for analyzing technology stocks. Muslim holds a bachelor’s of science degree in applied accounting from Oxford Brookes University. He does not directly own the securities mentioned above.
The post 7 Meme Stocks That Have Retail Traders ‘Stonk-ing’ Up appeared first on InvestorPlace.
Seize the market opportunities!
Start trading with a reliable broker.
Let an expert help you get started!
Seize the market opportunities today! Start trading with a safe and reliable broker.
Let's help you get started!


text:
Source Fashion's seminar programme includes Alice Temperley, Boohoo, F&F
Source Fashion, the UK-based international sourcing show, has announced its line-up of international speakers, designers, industry professionals, experts and brands for the 12-14 February event at Olympia London.
Headlining will be Alice Temperley, Safia Minney, Boohoo, F&F Clothing, and The Woolmark Company, all discussing and exploring trends, next-generation textiles and alternative fibres, recycling and the circular economy, “plus all the latest topics relevant to responsible and sustainable fashion sourcing”.
With demand “pushing companies to a more flexible, demand-driven sourcing model”, Richard Lim, Chief Executive of Retail Economics, opens on Sunday looking at how to safeguard a business in the face of economic recession in his seminar, ‘Trade 2.0: Apparel sourcing in a time of fragile global trade recovery’.
James George, Strategic Adviser at Pyrexa Global, will be moderating a panel conversation answering the question, ‘Circular Economy: What is it and why should you care?’ He also moderates a panel discussion on ‘Biosynthetics: Fast tracking next-gen textile fibres’, inviting visitors to discover the biomaterial revolution.
Ethical supply chains will be explored with Angela Gaskell from N Brown Group in her session ‘Ethical supply chain: Go green with fashion’s favourite colour’;
Kate Hills, founder and Chief Executive of Make It British, delivers ‘Micro factories: Fashion's reshoring rush’ looking at why companies are moving back home and what the drivers of location choice are in the UK apparel industry.
On Monday, James George from Pyrexa Global addresses ‘Circular economy: What is it and why should you care?; Jane Mossman, Project Manager for Better Futures+ Programme, West London Business and Annika Bosanquet, Co-Founder and Director of Sustainability at Wrapology follow with ‘Eco apparel: Earth friendly packaging’.
In the afternoon, British designer Alice Temperley is on stage for a keynote interview about the conscious consumer, and Safia Minney, founder and Executive Director of Fashion Declares and Founder of People Tree, discusses ‘Sourcing at scale – possibility or distant dream?’
On Tuesday a team from Boohoo Group will present ‘Fashion’s new ‘must have’: Ethical clothing starts with industry collaboration’. They include: Lianne Pemberton, Head of Sustainability; Hannah Williamson, Head of Quality and Product Compliance; Samuel Cliff, Group Head of Ethical Trading; Sophie Rycroft, Group Head of Sourcing; and Laura Callcut, Head of Wholesale.
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


text:
IPOs & Markets
Slack's trading price gave it a valuation of more than 50 times revenue.
Uber is seeking a valuation of between $90 billion and $100 billion, influenced by the poor performance of smaller rival Lyft Inc's shares following
Rakuten, which invested $300 million in Lyft in 2015 at a $2.5 billion valuation and then made subsequent cash infusions, is the company's largest s
Lyft's valuation makes it the biggest company to go public since Alibaba Group Holding Ltd in 2014.
Lyft's IPO will mark the first time a ride-hailing company has debuted on the US public markets.
The timing for Uber's IPO means it will most likely hit public markets soon after Lyft completes its own public offering, which is expected to happen
The preparations are aimed at giving Uber the flexibility to go public as early as the first half of 2019.
The investor group includes Blackstone Group LP, GIC Pte Ltd, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and JMI Equity.
The San Francisco-based company is among a string of Silicon Valley unicorns expected to debut in the stock market in 2019.
Zoom is aiming to be valued in the IPO at several billion dollars more than the $1 billion valuation it achieved in its most recent funding round in 2
© Copyright DEALSTREETASIA 2014-2019 All rights reserved.
Forgot your password?
We will never share your information with third parties.
Already have an account? Sign in here
If you don’t already have an account click the button below to create your account.
Unlock your competitive advantage in
rapidly evolving cape. Our packages
come with exclusive access to archive
content, data, discount on summit tickets & more
Be a part of our growing community now.


text:
Network Computing is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC
Report: Tough Times Ahead for SSD Storage
This is the message from analyst firm Citigroup, which revised its initial note on SSDs and HDDs that it put out a year ago. Todays research, which comprises both computing and enterprise SSD deployments, paints a much more cautious picture of a much-hyped technology.
We remain cautious on dramatic SSD encroachment in computing devices through 2009 (excluding notebooks) due to cost, performance, and reliability/durability, explained Citigroup analyst Craig Ellis, in the note released today. [But] enterprise storage product development has occurred slightly faster than originally expected.
Despite all the vendor hyperbole and analyst predictions for SSDs, Citigroup warns that that the technology is no high-speed silver bullet.
Recommended For You
What skills do network managers really need to properly secure industrial networks? What new protocols, frameworks, and regulations are important? And what conferences and certifications can help? Here are five tips to get started.
A full-stack approach to retail edge offers retailers a way to optimize operations and adapt to changes in a post-pandemic world.
Network management tool sprawl is getting in the way of network management. It’s time for IT to do something about it.


text:
DUNCAN, Okla. (OBV) – The largest bus and transportation services dealer in the United States will build a new distribution facility in Duncan, Okla.
Model 1 will build the 40,000-square-foot facility in Duncan’s Eastland Industrial Park, a location which enables Model 1 to strategically expand its footprint and solve customers’ transportation needs by retrofitting and customizing commercial vehicles, according to Oklahoma Department of Commerce officials.
“With over 40 years in business and a growing customer base, selecting each of our locations is vitally important,” said Tony Matijevich, president of Model 1. “Duncan, Oklahoma is strategically located for coast-to-coast client needs, has a great workforce and training facilities, and has demonstrated a local commitment to our success.”
Model 1, established in California in 1980 as Creative Transportation Systems, is known for bus sales and has a range of services which include distribution, maintenance service, parts, financing and insurance for a variety of internal combustion, alternative fuel and electric commercial vehicles.
The Duncan facility will provide products to the company’s 22 existing locations across the nation, all of which are strategically located to give customers access to the nation’s largest commercial vehicle inventory, no matter where its customers are. The company represents more than 20 of the nation’s top commercial vehicle manufacturers. Those manufacturers produce a range of vehicles, including buses, vans and electric and alternative fuel vehicles.
The new location’s opening will add 10-15 new jobs, but there’s potential for 40-60 new jobs over the next two years, Commerce Department officials said.
Those new jobs will be located at the newly built 10,000-square-foot facility that Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation (DAEDF) built to attract businesses like Model 1. The company will then develop plans for the construction of the 40,000-square-foot facility in the Eastland Industrial Park. The larger facility is expected to be fully operational in 2026.
The new facility will include the following activities:
- Retrofit commercial vehicles to meet client needs
- Adhere bus wraps and graphics
- Customize for handicap and ADA requirements
- Restoration of commercial vehicles
The facility will collaborate with local manufacturers and raw material suppliers, underscoring Model 1’s creative problem-solving mindset and continuous development of ideas.
“The best days are when we add investment and jobs to our community,” said Lyle Roggow, President and CEO of DAEDF. “Model 1 considered multiple locations and we are proud they chose us to best meet their needs and support their success, all while diversifying our community’s industry mix. We also want to extend thanks to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for their lead generation support. DAEDF looks forward to working in partnership with Model 1, local independent service providers, and education partners like Red River Technology Center to benefit the company.”


text:
AmeriSave Mortgage Now Offering Personal Loans
Says unsecured loans up to $50,000 can help consumers pay down debt.
AmeriSave Mortgage Corp., an Atlanta-based mortgage lender, said Thursday it will now offer personal loans as another option for customers.
Prospective borrowers can now apply online for unsecured loans ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 and receive an approval within minutes, with no up-front fees, the company said. Personal loans come with a fixed rate and monthly payments over a 3- or 5-year term, it said.
With interest rates typically far lower than most credit cards, personal loans are especially popular with consumers looking to consolidate high-interest credit card debt, AmeriSave said.
“Personal loans can be a smart option for consumers who don’t own a home to borrow against or for homeowners who may not have enough equity in their home to obtain a secured loan like a HELOC,” said Deva Annamalai, EVP of product for AmeriSave. “While personal loans are most often used as a vehicle for consolidating credit card debt and lowering monthly debt payments, they can also be used to finance home improvements or to help pay for medical expenses.”
In addition to personal loans and traditional mortgage products, AmeriSave offers home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and cash-out refinancing.
The company also recently announced a partnership with Ladder Life Insurance to sell life insurance. AmeriSave announced a similar partnership last year aimed at helping customers save on homeowner’s insurance.
Another division, AmeriSave Solar, helps customers lower their energy costs by financing the installation of money-saving solar power systems, the company said.
“At AmeriSave, we’re dedicated to helping our customers save money,” said Mike Berte, president and chief operating officer of AmeriSave Mortgage Corp., “whether that’s through low-rate mortgages, with low-cost life and homeowner’s insurance, by helping reduce energy costs through solar power or, now, with personal loans that can help them reduce credit card debt or finance other expenses.”
Founded in 2002, AmeriSave Mortgage Corp. is a direct-to-consumer lender with six major loan centers across the U.S. It is in 49 states and the District of Columbia.


text:
Pearson magazines up for auction
MEDIA giant Pearson is putting its financial magazines business up for auction, after receiving approaches from several potential buyers. Chief executive Dame Marjorie Scardino has asked banker Lazards to supervise the sale of the 'FT Business' division, which includes titles such as Investors Chronicle, The Banker and Financial Adviser.
Banking sources say both publishing companies and venture capitalist firms are interested. A management buyout, led by FT Group chief executive Stephen Hill and financed by private equity, is one possibility.
The disposal is part of Dame Marjorie's grand plan to create a more focused media empire centred around Penguin books, educational publishing and the Financial Times newspaper.
She has sold a raft of businesses since taking the helm in 1997, including waxworks museum Madame Tussauds and, ironically, Lazards. Last month, Pearson completed the sale of its 22% stake in RTL, owner of Channel Five.
Analysts reckon the magazines arm has annual sales of more than £30m. It could fetch £60m to £90m in an auction. Not a huge amount of cash, but useful in the current climate.
Pearson shares have fallen 55% over the past 12 months as the group suffered the fallout from the economic slowdown and advertising slump. In December, it shocked the City with its second profits warning within two months.
Annual results due next week are unlikely to offer much cheer, so investors will be glad to see Texan-born Dame Marjorie is trying to raise some cash. During her early years at Pearson she could do no wrong. Now times are tougher. Analysts are starting to question her ability to steer the group out of trouble.
The sale of the specialist magazines makes sense. They do not offer any synergies with the rest of the group, nor do they fit with the aim to develop global brands. A bundle of niche energy, telecoms and pharmaceutical publications have already been offloaded. Analysts will be wondering what will go next.
Most watched Money videos
- A 'mortgage-free' way for first-time buyers to own their home
- Dacia unveil the Jogger: the UK's least expensive seven-seat car
- £2M 1980s Lamborghini Countach is back with a top speed of 221mph
- Britain's Garage of the Year 2021 nominee's incredible construction
- Taking a look at the Jaguar XJ220 from all angles on a test drive
- Take a look at clutter-free EV chargers trialled in London
- Cinematic video of Lamborghini Countach with a top speed of 221mph
- Porsche 928 driven by Tom Cruise in Risky Business sells for a bomb
- Britain's best used car this year: The French-made Peugeot 5008
- Scaled-down electric Aston Martin DB5 marks release of new Bond film
- Disruption is speeding up: BG US Growth Trust manager
- Porsche 928 driven by Tom Cruise sells for $1.98 million at auction


text:
Key players in the Italian knitting industry are set to come to the 69th edition of Pitti Immagine Filati, set for July 5 to 7 at the Renaissance-era Fortezza da Basso exhibition complex in Florence, armed with new strategies to sustain economic health in an uncertain, recuperating market.
Emerging knitwear trends for the fall 2012 season will be on display for the predicted 100 brands, including 15 from abroad, that have already registered for the international yarn fair. Last summer, the fair attracted 5,100 combined buyers and visitors with 43 percent coming from outside of Italy.
The yarn industry is dealing with the weak dollar coupled with rising prices and growing demand for raw materials. Industry executives said even though the knitwear industry is slowly healing from 2009, when the economic crisis peaked, it still remains apprehensive.
Federico Gualtieri, vice president of Filpucci, a Prato-based yarn manufacturer founded in 1967, said the overall mood for knitwear was on the upswing, but he’s still apprehensive about 2012.
Alfredo Botto Poala, president of Zegna Baruffa Lane Borgosesia, which operates three industrial plants, in Borgosesia, Vigliano Biellese and Lessona, said this year is going better than 2010. To validate the high cost of raw materials, mills must augment price points, he said.
“Wool has gone from 9 to 14 euro [$13 to $20 at current exchange], the most expensive price since 1988,” said Botto Poala. “During this season, we’ve added only a fraction of this raw material price-spike to our prices, but for the new season, we’ll have to further supplement the prices. What we’ve sold in the past at around 22 euro [$32 at current exchange] now has to be sold at 27 euro [$39 at current exchange].”
New markets continue to surface for yarn mills, particularly in China. For the first time, Chinese clients are focusing on their own domestic market. Although Italy counts for nearly 60 percent of Zegna Baruffa’s market, Botto Poala actively seeks to engage China after noticing the country’s new direction.
“Up until now, China was just a country where the Western industries sent the yarn to make its garments, but now we’re starting to see a phenomenon of ‘China for China’ — garments made with European and Italian yarns made in China for the Chinese market,” he said.
Scottish cashmere yarn spinners Todd & Duncan, which reported a growth of more than 30 percent in cashmere volume over the same period last year, also cited China as an opportunity.
“We’re receiving a significant level of interest from the newly emerging BRIC markets — Brazil, Russia, India and China,” said sales director Bruce Cameron.
Federico Gualtieri of Filpucci said 30 percent of its market is Italian, while the remaining 70 percent is international, mostly from Russia and America, but Brazil and Argentina have also emerged.
Textile firms circumvent the weak dollar by relying on exports. Raffaello Napoleone, chief executive officer of Pitti Imagine, noted that the top countries concerned with the export of Italian yarns are Hong Kong, Germany, Romania, France, Turkey and the U.K., all of which want the most value for their money.
Clients, spurned by the rising prices of raw materials, have created new demands for mills to meet their budgets. Gualtieri said some of his clients want trend-focused, youth-oriented materials at lower price points, referencing fast-fashion brands like H&M and Zara. In response, Filpucci will launch a line called Fusion aimed at a younger, budget-minded consumer, from 11 euros to 19 euros a kilo or $16 to $27 at current exchange.
New technologies set the trends for fall 2012 knitwear. Located in the province of Pesaro-Urbino, Italian yarn producer Cariaggi will launch its collection at Pitti Filati, including an incandescent yarn called Perle made of cashmere and silk that has been threaded with delicate, barely-visible glass beads. Metallic sparkle and multifaceted shades of jewels are also seen in Todd & Duncan’s Glitz collection that channels an elegant golden hue in 95 percent cashmere and 5 percent Lurex.
The Scottish mill will also roll out The Hebridean Collection that utilizes an emergent gray color trend, inspired by Scotland’s atmospheric land and seascapes as detailed by the 19th century Scottish poet M H Noel-Paton. Eighteen mélanges of tinted, heather gray in pure cashmere are evocative of the lichens, liverworts, mosses and rock formations of west Scotland. Todd & Duncan’s head of creative Melissa Strong said the line will highlight the subtle nuances within gray.
Cariaggi will also introduce a collection that celebrates gray, alternating with flashes of ultrabright colors. Zegna Baruffa offers autumnal hues, blues and greens in worsted yarns and a special “cashwool” blend of extra-fine merino wool that compliments the metallic and gray minimalism trend of the season.
New technology also allows fibers to become even lighter and textures run to the extremes — superlightweight or in gathered, waffled and high-bulk yarns suitable for weekend wear.
As a leading trade fair of yarn and knitwear, Pitti Immagine Filati sets an environmentally friendly theme of “Recyclethic” in addition to adjacent events: A master class competition called “Feel the Yarn,” an exhibition celebrating Japanese designer Issey Miyake’s clothes of the Nineties, the 18th edition of antique fair Vintage Selection and the fifth edition of Prima Moda Tessuto sponsored by the Pratotrade consortium.


text:
Duracell is a name synonymous with long lasting batteries, and the pink bunny who keeps on drumming even until Judgment Day has been etched into our memories thanks to earlier advertising efforts a couple of decades ago. The company is still around, and they are still as reliable as ever when it comes to offering portable power solutions to the myriad of gadgets and gizmos that we now tend to carry. Their most recent release would be the Duracell Powerpack 450 with Voice, a solution that ought to be in the home of every American since recent surveys have shown that most Americans are not adequately equipped for power emergencies, be it at home or on the road.
This is no ordinary copper top battery, as the Duracell Powerpack 450 with Voice prides itself in being a durable, stand-alone power supply with 450 watts of AC household power that can be used to juice up important electronics and appliances. The voice technology found within is a first when it comes to the portable power category, and is used to “talk” to consumers on how they are supposed to make the correct use of the Powerpack’s built-in vehicle jump-start system. In addition, it will also speak out instructions on how to inflate a tire with the Powerpack’s built-in air compressor, while letting them know just how much runtime a connected device has left.
According to Rick June, Duracell vice president and general manager, “The Duracell Powerpack 450 with Voice is designed to be rugged to stand up to road trips, picnics and camping. It also provides the reassurance of a night light and a comforting voice. When you are away from home, it’s great to know you have a power backup that can also help perform the most obvious and crucial road fixes.”


text:
Toronto-based AI startup Ideogram has officially launched its platform. The company specializes in generative text-to-image technology, so this is yet another text-to-image generator and competition to Midjourney, DALL-E, and Adobe Firefly.
Midjourney has added a new inpainting feature that many users have requested. Much like Adobe’s Generative Fill, it lets you change only a part of your image that you manually select. As for the rest of the image, it stays intact. Of course, I just had to test it out, and I bring you some Midjourney images of cats and dogs I created with this new tool.
Leading AI image generator, Midjourney, can still create misleading and harmful images, according to a recent study. All AI image generators have a series of blocks and restrictions that stop users from generating what could be harmful content. Most of these restrictions protect misinformation about public figures or sexually explicit or hate-fuelled content, for example.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit group, shared the study with Bloomberg. They discovered that these restrictions could quite easily be circumnavigated simply by substituting words for visibly similar non-triggering items.
The world of art has always been a space for creativity, expression, and innovation. Throughout history, artists have pushed boundaries, challenged conventions, and embraced new technologies to create groundbreaking works. Artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about a significant shift in the artistic landscape in recent years, sparking both fascination and concern.
One platform that has captured the attention of many artists is MidJourney, which offers new functionality that allows users to zoom out and generate images endlessly quickly. This capability has opened up a realm of possibilities for storytelling and experimentation. This new feature inspired me, and immediately, I wanted to use it to tell a story. I settled on a music video as a concept.
Midjourney has just launched its new version, 5.2, and it’s a game-changer! There are several new features in the new update, but the hottest one is the “Zoom Out” feature, which creates a wider view of your image and automatically fills in the rest. I played with it to test it out, and while there are still some hiccups – it’s pretty impressive overall. So, let’s dive right in and see how it works.
Sony World Photography Awards recently published the winners and shortlists of its Open competition. The photos are absolutely stunning, but there’s just one problem – the Creative category winner isn’t a photo at all. The winning image resembles a portrait photo from the 1940s, with a characteristic vintage, nostalgic feel. But on a closer look, you can spot the weird hands – one of the biggest weaknesses of text-to-image generators.
This case sparked some serious debate in the photo community. It also made me think about AI and its place in photography. Should AI-generated art enter and win photography contests? Is it fair? Are there legal issues? I wanted to discuss all of this and more in this article.
I don’t know many photographers these days who aren’t comfortable using post-processing software such as Photoshop or Lightroom. Many of these programmes are beginning to introduce AI features, with Adobe launching its own text-to-image generator Firefly this last month.
I can see the allure of using AI to fix skin retouching issues or make masking easier, for example. But how could we utilize text-to-image generators such as Midjourney to our advantage without denigrating ourselves as photographers? In this video, photographer Andrea Pizzini attempts to answer that question by demonstrating the new ‘describe’ feature.
Text-to-image generator Midjourney has stopped free trial due to “trial abuse,” as its CEO explains. There has been a massive influx of new users lately, which kept crashing the site for paid ones. So, if you’ve been using your free trial – sorry, you’re going to have to pay earlier than you thought if you want to continue using the popular text-to-image tool
All images that are created via text-to-image prompts are not protected under US copyright laws, the US Copyright Office (USCO) has stated. That means that anything created via Stable Diffusion, Dall-E or Midjourney cannot be copyrighted, at least in the USA.
The USCO equated the prompt-creator to telling an artist or designer what to make. That is, the idea itself is what is being discussed, and as such, the idea has no value available to be given copyright protection.
To look at Jos Avery‘s Instagram account is to be greeted by a sea of beautiful portrait photographs staring right back at you. The sheer number and variety is staggering, and his 27K+ followers seem to agree, often asking for tips and tricks to emulate the photographer they hold in esteem.
Except that there is one issue. Namely that none of these ‘photos’ were taken with a camera. Avery has recently ‘come out’ and admitted that all of them were created using Midjourney, an AI image generator.


text:
Chegg, Clorox, Devon Energy and more
Find out which businesses are making headlines after hours.
Chegg – Shares fell nearly 30% after the textbook company announced weak full-year guidance despite beating earnings expectations. In its most recent quarter, Chegg reported earnings of 32 cents per share on revenue of $202 million. Analysts polled by Refinitiv had expected earnings of 24 cents per share on revenue of $201 million.
Clorox – Clorox’s share price fell about 1.9% after the household products maker cut its full-year gross margin outlook on inflation concerns. Clorox also beat earnings expectations after reporting earnings of $1.31 per share on revenue of $1.81 billion. The company was expected to earn 97 cents per share on revenue of $1.79 billion, according to consensus estimates from Refinitiv.
Devon Energy – Shares jumped more than 2% after the company announced higher dividends and buybacks. The oil and gas company reported earnings of $1.88 per share and revenue of $3.8 billion for the quarter ending March. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected earnings of $1.75 a share on revenue of $4 billion.
Avis Budget Group — The automaker’s share price soared nearly 7% after Avis Budget’s quarterly results beat analysts’ expectations. The company benefited from pent-up travel demand that prompted consumers to rent cars even at higher prices. Avis reported earnings of $9.99 per share on revenue of $2.4 billion. Analysts polled by Refinitiv had expected earnings of $3.45 per share on revenue of $2.08 billion.


text:
Volkswagen has handed over its motorsport operations in India to Rayo Racing, a long-standing partner of Volkswagen Motorsport India.
New Delhi,UPDATED: 23 Dec 2022 19:23 IST
Volkswagen cites the discontinuation of the Vento and Polo as the reason for handing over Motorsport operations to Rayo Racing.
Today by car: Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd (SAVWIPL) has announced that the brand’s motorsports business, Volkswagen Motorsport India is being transferred to Rayo Racing (RR Motorsport) effective January 1, 2023.
The brand cites the discontinuation of the Polo and Vento in India as the reason for handing over the motorsport operations to RR Motorsport. Existing employees of Volkswagen Motorsport India are being allotted jobs in the VW Group. Rayo Racing (RR Motorsport) is an established name within the Indian Motorsport scene and has a long-standing partnership with Volkswagen Motorsport India.
Speaking on the announcement, Piyush Arora, CEO and Managing Director, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd said, “Volkswagen Motorsport India has made a tremendous mark in the country and we are proud of our contribution for 12 years. India’s motorsport culture. A transformative phase we are going through and therefore we are consolidating our strengths to meet the evolving needs of our customers”.
Sirish Vissa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India said, “Volkswagen Motorsport has played an important role in the rise of motorsport in India by training and instilling passion for the sport among amateur drivers. By handing over the motorsport business to Rayo Racing, we are confident that the team will bring the same excitement and customer experience.” will continue to offer.”


text:
For frog-cookers everywhere, the accepted technique isn’t to drop a frog in a pan of boiling water (because it will jump out and the dog will go crazy trying to catch it) but instead to put the frog in a pan of tepid water and then heat it up so that the frog doesn’t really notice that the water is getting hotter and that he has a future as an entrée. It’s the same with the changes we see in our society and culture. Incremental change, over a long period of time, can mask truly revolutionary developments. So it has been with cellphones and mobile devices. Most of us can remember a time in our lives when cellphones were the domain of the wealthy, handy in case of a car breakdown but a novelty in other instances.
Just a few years later, it’s a vastly different story. The wireless trade group CTIA recently reported that there are 327.6 million active phones, tablets and laptops on cellular networks. That’s up nine percent from just January. And those 327.6 million devices exceed the 315 million women, men, boys and infants in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. That doesn’t mean that everyone has a mobile device, and 12 million have two; it means that some people don’t have a mobile device, and others have multiple ones.
And it means that mobile-device-enabled qualitative research is an idea whose time has come. People are so familiar with their devices, so comfortable in using them, and so uninhibited about using them anywhere and anytime that the devices are a godsend to companies and ad agencies desperate to get better insights from consumers in-the-field, in-the-moment, in the consumer’s own words and pictures.
We’ve met some folks who think that mobile devices are largely the province of the young and technologically savvy. That may have been true once, but it’s not true anymore. “Bolstering the mobile mania are kids, who are getting cellphones at ever younger ages,” CTIA said, “and seniors, who have begun to embrace the simplicity of tablets and smartphones.”
We’ve certainly seen this change at Qualvu and have designed methods and systems to keep ahead of it. The result is that we reach virtually any segment of the population with research assignments that leverage mobile video devices.
Frogs aren’t the only ones who can make leaps.


text:
Nights in are big again and sharing creates a crucial segment for independent retail – and NPD is here to support it.
By Elena Dimama
Crisps, snacks and nuts (CSN) remains a priority category for independent retail, with innovation in taste driving growth across all snacking segments and formats.
Worth £38.bn and growing at 8.6% year-on-year, according to Nielsen, the sector is growing at 8.6% and shoppers are spending an extra £100 in the category – up 14% year-on-year, according to Kantar.
KP Snacks has put great focus on its better-for-you brand popchips, as the segment grows by 23.9%, according to Nielsen (MAT 03.12.22).
Attesting to its faith in the healthier eating trend, the brand has launched a new Hot & Spicy flavour for the popchips brand also tapping into the third-fastest-growing flavour profile – spicy. “With both the spicy flavour profile and Healthier Snacking segment growing, popchips Hot & Spicy is well-positioned to drive sales for retailers,” Dayna Riordan, of the popchips brand team, says.
Dairy is the second biggest flavour in CSN, so it makes sense for brands to try and capitalise on the trend.
Cheese snacks tap both into that and the health movement, which explains why Dairylea grew by 9.6% last year, according to Nielsen. “Now worth £162m RSV, the brand has grown by £42m over the past five years, adding value to the category by attracting new shoppers with highly relevant offers,” Susan Nash, Trade Communications Manager at Mondelez International, notes. “Cream cheese products such as Philadelphia Light, which has the same great taste as Philadelphia Original but with 40% less fat, enable consumers to make quick, convenient, and great-tasting lunches.”
Meanwhile, KP Snacks has added a new flavour to its Flavour Kravers range: a new Sour Cream & Chive variant that aims to capitalise on the sharing occasion, currently worth £1.5bn. “The new Sour Cream & Chive Flavour Kravers variant supports retailers by directly filling a gap in the market as previously there were no dairy flavours within the Tasty Nuts category. Our new Sour Cream & Chive is a unique and exciting product which will engage shoppers and boost retailer sales,” Jenny Blanco Barcia, Marketing Manager at KP Snacks, adds.
Underpinning brands’ faith in the snacking segment is this season’s plethora of marketing campaigns.
Pladis is returning its Jacob’s Mini Cheddars brand to screens nationwide, as part of a drive to build brand awareness among younger adults, with the campaign supported across cinema and social media. “Ever since we launched our Welcome to Cheddar Town platform back in 2021, even more shoppers are taking a moment of cheeky cheesy pleasure with Jacob’s Mini Cheddars,” says Aslı Özen Turhan, Chief Marketing Officer at pladis UK&I. “We want to continue building on this momentum, so we’re back on screens to encourage even more shoppers to fall in love with Mini Cheddars – and the cheeky nature of the ad creative is set to resonate with a new generation of snackers.”
KP Snacks is also aiming to support retailers with a McCoy’s Epic Eats competition designed to drive sales of the newly launched range. Running for eight weeks from 20 February, the competition is exclusive to the new line, offering retailers the chance to win one of six £2,000 cash prizes. Retailers will automatically be entered in the prize draw and qualify for a scratch card when they buy two cases of McCoy’s Epic Eats.
What’s more, Doritos has revealed a new TV campaign set to appeal to Gen Z shoppers. The campaign features a voiceover from social media personality Yung Filly, while offering consumers a chance to win £100.
“Staying in is now very much the new going out for Gen Z consumers. Recent research has suggested that as many as 71% prefer it to a night out,” Alex Nicholas, Doritos Senior Marketing Manager, explains. “The occasion is now worth £2.5bn, showing a huge demand from consumers who are willing to trade up on snacks when staying in. Our on-pack promotion further encourages customers to enjoy their ‘Night In-In’ with Doritos and is, therefore, a must-stock for retailers.”


text:
The government owned New Kenya Co-operative Creameries Limited will soon privatize and revert it to the dairy farmers, Kenya Dairy Board chairman Matu Wamae has said.
Mr Wamae who speaking during a shareholders’ Annual General Meeting on Friday at New KCC Nyahururu factory said that the milk processor which is 100% state-owned after it was renovated will have dairy farmers who are shareholders owning the company.
For oversight however, Mr Wamae noted that the government will retain between 10 and 20 per cent of the shares, Daily Nation reported.
Additionally, the Chairman cautioned farmers against electing directors of questionable backgrounds to manage their factories once KCC is finally returned to them.
Insuring Farmers at Sh75 per month
Commenting on insuring farmers, Mr Wamae lifted farmers’ spirits when he told them that the New KCC is now insuring them at an average of Sh75 per month. He called on them to join the scheme in order to benefit from it.
“The New KCC has entered into partnership with insurance firms and farmers should seize the chance to insure themselves. The Sh75 monthly, which will be deducted from milk deliveries, will cater for five members of a family,” he said.
The company will also be able to pay farmers in advance to protect them from delayed payment, since it has partnered with financial institutions, the chairman revealed.
Moreover, he noted that the government is set to pay farmers who were shareholders of KCC when it collapsed.
He called on the youth to take part in dairy farming adding that the industry can provide employment.
The article first appeared here.
Photo Courtesy of New KCC


text:
Google Cloud loses a key sales exec, less than two years after he ended his long stint at VMware to come aboard
- Jeff Jennings, vice president of customer engineering at Google Cloud, is leaving the company after less than two years.
- Jennings joined VMware in 2000, when it was still just a startup - and rose to become a key executive in the growing networking business. When Jennings joined Google, it stoked concerns that other VMware executives could follow.
- He joined Google Cloud when it was still being led by Diane Greene, who had previously cofounded VMware.
- This departure comes shortly after Google Cloud changed how it would compensate its sales employees, under new CEO Thomas Kurian, who took the reins earlier this year.
- Click here for more BI Prime stories.
Google Cloud is losing a vice president, Business Insider has learned.
Google staff were informed earlier this week of the departure of Jeff Jennings, vice president of customer engineering at Google Cloud, according to people familiar with the situation. He was at Google Cloud for a year and seven months, according to LinkedIn, starting in early 2018.
Prior to his post at Google Cloud, Jennings served in several executive positions at VMware, where he worked for 18 years. He started at VMware in 2000, just two years after the company was founded, and wound up as a key executive in its growing networking business.
When Google first hired Jennings, it stoked concerns that more VMware engineers could follow, as Business Insider reported when he made the move last year.
At the time of his hiring, he worked once again under Diane Greene, the former Google Cloud CEO who had previously co-founded VMware. However, earlier this year, Greene officially departed Google, and was replaced as Google Cloud CEO by Thomas Kurian, formerly of Oracle.
Within Google Cloud, customer engineers work with sales, product and engineering teams. They help the sales teams solve technical issues for customers and introduce the Google Cloud to customers by explaining technical features. They also help product and engineering teams come up with product enhancements.
Jennings' departure comes shortly after Google Cloud changed how its salespeople would be compensated, aligning more with Oracle and SAP to have a greater focus on commissions. This change was made under Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian and Robert Enslin, its global customer operations president, as Business Insider previously reported.
Google did not comment on this story. We've reached out to Jennings and will update if we hear back.
Got a tip? Contact this reporter via email at firstname.lastname@example.org, Telegram at @rosaliechan, or Twitter DM at @rosaliechan17. (PR pitches by email only, please.) Other types of secure messaging available upon request. You can also contact Business Insider securely via SecureDrop.
- Monsoon rain wreaks havoc in Himachal and Karnataka, orange alert in Gujarat
- Apple’s MacBook Air with M2 chip will go on sale from July 15, pre-orders starting July 8
- Reliance becomes the official retailer for American fashion brand Gap in India
- India reduces booster gap as fewer people are lining up for the precautionary dose
- Opinion: There is a need to pass the IT Rules, 2021 to tame social media platforms like Twitter


text:
ASX lower on weak retail trade data
The Australian sharemarket remained in negative territory mid-session, with most sectors falling into the red and investors digesting weak retail trade data.
Reports that China's Government may not repeat its massive 2008 stimulus package to boost economic growth also weighed on the market.
At 10.00am, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 38.2 points, or 0.93 per cent, at 4076.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 35.4 points, or 0.85 per cent, at 4132.8.
On the ASX 24, the June share price index futures contract was down 29 points at 4074, with 18,929 contracts traded.
Major energy and mining stocks fell significantly, with weak retail trade data contributing to negative investor sentiment.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a 0.2 per cent fall in retail spending in April, compared to economists' forecasts of a rise of 0.2 per cent.
"The market's just fickle. It wants to pick up the bad information, but it's not willing to run with much of the good information," Bill Chatterton, director at RBS Morgans, said.
"Everything's down. There are not too many areas that have escaped a trimming."
The local market opened lower after China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported China's Government did not plan to introduce stimulus measures on the same scale as it did in 2008.
BHP Billiton fell 36 cents, or 1.11 per cent to $32.01 by 1205 AEST, while Rio Tinto dropped 89 cents, or 1.53 per cent to $57.25, and Fortescue Metals Group declined four cents to $4.85.
Santos led energy majors lower, losing 33 cents, or 2.67 per cent, to $12.01.
Precious metals were over three per cent lower, Mr Chatterton said.
The spot price of gold in Sydney was trading at $US1551.20 per fine ounce by 10.10am, down $US26.85 from Tuesday's close of $US1578.05.
Gold major Newcrest Mining felts the effects, losing $1.02 or 3.97 per cent to $24.65.
Major banks were weaker, led by Westpac Banking Corporation which dropped 25 cents, or 1.22 per cent to $20.30.
Retailers were mostly lower, with department store owner David Jones falling five cents, or 2.17 per cent, to $2.25 and Billabong slipping three cents, or 1.49 per cent, to $1.98.
Crown Ltd eased one cent to $8.59 after James Packer started lobbying for former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett take Echo Entertainment's chairman John Story's spot on the board.
Echo's shares declined 0.5 cents to $4.345.
Shares in Programmed Maintenance Services gained eight cents, or 3.48 per cent, to $2.38 after the company almost tripled its profit in the last 12 months.
National turnover reached 716 million shares, worth $1.5 billion, with 317 shares trading up, 442 down and 315 unchanged.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails


text:
The alternative dispute resolution (ADR) craze was touted by supporters as a way to avoid the nightmare of court and jury trials. Well the nightmare was mainly one for big credit companies and other big corporations who didn’t like their win percentage when a neutral judge or a jury looked at the facts and the law. So they ran massive ad campaigns and brainwashed the public into thinking that ADR was great. What they didn’t tell the public as they slipped forced arbitration clauses into almost every contract that anyone signs these days, was that they were getting cozy with the credit industry and making huge profits from those relationships. Simply said, they created a biased system where the consumer had no recourse and the fox was guarding the chicken coop. The problem is particularly serious in the credit card industry
Now the National Arbitration Forum (NAF) has been sued by the attorney general of Minnesota and consumers in California for corruption in being too closely connected to the dredit card companies. They used to do 200,000 arbitrations a year involving consumer credit card disputes. Turns out they are connected to a debt collection company. Listen to what a consumer advocate in the debt area has to report
For those who think that this is the American free enterprise system at work I suggest some remedial study of economics. When they take away consumer rights and then fix the system that is wrong at least and probably criminal.
In a blog at Lawyers USA (7/23), Sylvia Hsieh wrote, "In a stunning turn of events, the kingpin of consumer debt arbitration, the National Arbitration Forum, has been knocked out of the consumer debt business amidst allegations of consumer fraud, throwing into jeopardy hundreds of thousands of arbitration awards." The ink "was barely dry on the settlement when the American Arbitration Association announced on July 22 that it too would be getting out of debt collection arbitration until it can develop standards of practice. Consumer lawyers reacted swiftly." Dan Edelman, "a consumer rights attorney with Edelman, Combs, Lat turner & Goodwin in Chicago, has already filed the first class action against credit giant MB NA/FA and the debt collection law firm Mann Bracken, alleged to have financial ties to NAF, seeking to set aside thousands of arbitration awards and judgments entered against Illinois consumers since 2007." Lawyers "handling individual consumer debt cases are also planning to use the recent revelations to get judgments overturned and sue for damages."
MS Tribune: Congress should protect consumers from mandatory arbitration. The Minneapolis Star Tribune (7/23) editorialized, "Consumers using credit cards, cell phones and other forms of credit — meaning most Minnesotans — got a major victory this week when state Attorney General Lori Swanson announced that the St. Louis Park-based National Arbitration Forum, the country’s largest arbitrator of credit collections, would stop most of its work in the state." While some "now claim that a day in court may get very crowded if consumers go through the legal process for dispute resolution, it’s preferable to a system that allegedly was gamed in favor of big business against the little guy." The Tribune argues, "But with credit cards and cell phones knowing no state borders, it’s well past time for Congress to pass a law to better protect consumers."
I am interested in hearing from any Hawaii consumers who have been forced into arbitration with either AAA or the NAF. If you find yourself in a situation like this hire an attorney to challenge the requirement of going into arbitration, keep all of your records and take notes about what the company says to you.
A resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, Wayne Parson is an Injury Attorney that has dedicate his life to improving the delivery of justice to the people of his community and throughout the United States. He is driven to make sure that the wrongful, careless or negligent behavior that caused his clients' injury or loss does not happen to others.


text:
Maungdaw: A 13 members’ Bangladesh business delegation left for Burma through the Maungdaw- Teknaf border point on Monday to attend a trade meeting which is scheduled to be held in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan, on 29 May 2012, said a businessman on border.
The delegation is led by Sayr Muhamad Nurl, the deputy commissioner of Cox’sbazar district left on Monday from Teknaf, a bordering town with Burma, by machine boats across Naff River.
According to a Business source, a business meeting related to border trade between Burma and Bangladesh is likely to be held in Sittwe on 29 May where delegations from the two countries will discuss bilateral issues on border trade.
Bangladesh Business leaders see bright prospects of importing goods from Burma through non-conventional vessels which will help cut both time and cost, said the source.
The source said Bangladesh will submit a proposal that the goods from Burma be imported quickly with lower transportation costs, this will reduce the prices of goods in the local market.
In the meeting, two delegations are expected to discuss many trade issues especially import and export sectors as well as the banking system between two countries.
The border trade in two neighboring countries is important and the export and import between two countries are doing well through border trade.
According to the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh’s exports to Burma totaled US$ 9.65 million in fiscal 2010-11 while its imports were worth US$ 175.72 million.
Bangladesh mainly imports agriculture products like rice and nuts , and fish and timber from Burma while its exports to Burma are mainly cement, pharmaceuticals, condensed milk, and electric cables.
Bangladesh has been mainly doing business with it close neighbor Burma through informal channels over the years due to problems in international banking transactions. Even though the volume of bilateral trade is low, the potential is very high.


text:
If at first you don’t succeed…
At the FTC, one of our goals is to stop scammers and end their schemes. Sometimes, that requires persistence. Take the case announced today by the FTC and the Florida Attorney General against Lifewatch, Inc., a company that sells medical alert systems, mostly to older people.
Last year, the FTC and the Florida AG sued Senior Safe Alert, a telemarketer that made illegal robocalls to pitch so-called “free” medical alert devices to older people. But they also lied about the cost and quality, and that company was quickly shut down. But the medical alert systems came from another company, Lifewatch, which simply recruited new telemarketers. You can probably guess what happened next: they kept up the deceptive campaign, including illegal robocalls. So now the FTC and the Florida AG are suing Lifewatch.
Here’s a trifecta of misrepresentations the FTC says Lifewatch made in its telemarketing campaign:
- Your alert system has “already been paid for” by a friend or family member. Not true.
- The system is endorsed by major organizations like the American Heart Association or AARP. Nuh-uh.
- You won’t be charged anything until you activate the device, and you can cancel the service at any time without further payment. Not so much. Actually, Lifewatch charged people as soon as it got their account information. Then, they refused to let people cancel until the company got back the equipment or a $400 penalty.
There are legitimate companies selling medical alert systems. But they don’t rely on unexpected – and illegal – robocalls. If you get a recorded sales message (and you haven't given your written permission to get calls from the company on the other end), the call is illegal. And it’s probably a scam. Hang up and report your experience to the FTC at ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.


text:
According to the first financial news, apple is working with a Chinese power battery manufacturer secretly developed automotive power batteries, confirmed that the U.S. auto project is not just software, as well as hardware. Apple may really be making a car.
One is the Silicon Valley global high-tech giant, and the other is a power battery manufacturer in Fujian, China. Apple and the Ningde era of new energy Polytron Technologies Inc (hereinafter referred to as the "Ningde era", also known as "CATL") is a project based on confidentiality agreements. According to sources close to the collaboration, the first financial services are being co operated in the field of batteries.
Amperex Technology Limited (hereinafter referred to as "ATL") is Apple's consumer electronics products, the world's largest battery supplier. The Ningde era was part of the parent company's ATL power battery division, which became independent power battery manufacturers in 2011. Ningde times founder Ceng Yuqun, President Huang Shilin and many other start-up shareholders have been ATL executives.
Apple did not announce any news of the cooperation with the Ningde era, while the Ningde era refused to respond to this. CCID Consulting, new energy director Wu Hui told the first financial reporter said, if Apple and Ningde era cooperate in power battery, it does not rule out the possibility of Apple to continue to build cars, one of the core components of automatic driving electric vehicles is the power battery.
At present, Panasonic battery has become the market leader in automotive power batteries, in 2017, Dalian Matsushita automotive power battery project officially put into operation in April 27th, with an annual capacity of 200 thousand power lithium-ion batteries. If Apple is also making a car, then the potential power battery suppliers are also likely to be in China, and even as Apple's mobile phone, most of the production lines are likely to be in China.
The main reason is that China's manufacturing industry under the guidance of the national "Made in China 2025" strategy. China not only has a good scientific research and investment environment, but also cultivate a large number of outstanding skilled workers. And in the production of materials, China's rich mineral resources, iron, copper, tungsten, molybdenum, aluminum and other important materials. And after years of development, steel, tungsten, molybdenum, copper and alloy smelting industry has been in the world advanced level.
In addition, some experts believe that clean energy vehicles will replace the existing fuel vehicles in the next ten years, but due to the problem of thermal power pollution, electricity is still not ideal for clean energy, perhaps solar energy is the cleanest energy source. In recent years, with the development of nano technology and thin film technology, people have found a variety of can be used for solar cell manufacturing materials, such as monocrystalline silicon, monocrystalline tungsten, monocrystalline molybdenum, zirconium tungstate film, tungsten selenide film, these are very valuable solar power materials.
If you have any inquiry of tungsten, please feel free to contact us:
Tel.: +86 592 5129696/+86 592 5129595
Fax: +86 592 5129797
Scan QR code of Chinatungsten Wechat platform to follow up the daily latest price and market of tungsten, molybdenum and rare earth.


text:
The roles men and women take, in terms of control over household finances, are changing, a new study indicates.
According to research carried out by Egg, the proportion of males who make less money than their partners has doubled over the past five years. In 2002 about a tenth of men had a lower income than their loved ones, however this now stands at one in five. More than half (53 per cent) of females surveyed state they are happy to be the main earner in their home. Meanwhile, a fifth report that having a higher salary than their partner allows them to have a bigger say on what money is spent on. Consequently, women may be taking greater control of the household finances, whether relating to paying mortgages and utility bills or applying for a loan.
Meanwhile, men were indicated to be leading an increasingly laid-back lifestyle. Just under a third of males regularly meet up with their friends for lunch, while ten per cent often visit the gym. Meanwhile, some 43 per cent go clothes shopping at least once per week. Overall, 15 per cent of those surveyed state that they are not prepared to give up a life of luxury to rejoin the rat race.
However, findings by the Citi Group-owned online bank showed that some women are taking a negative view of the laid-back lifestyle that their male partners lead. Just over a fifth (21 per cent) of females reported that they would prefer it if their significant other was the top earner, while 27 per cent resent their position as being the household’s main breadwinner. The study also indicated that a further 25 per cent believe that their financial role, whether this relates to paying back credit cards, creating a budget or managing loan repayments, is “highly stressful”. Meanwhile, 14 per cent of women surveyed assert they would like to pursue a “life of leisure” similar to the one their male partners enjoy.
Commenting on the figures, Alison Wright, chief marketing officer for Egg, said: “It is encouraging seeing how many women are now financially savvy and taking control of the household’s finances. There really has been a change over the last five years with some of the old stereotypes of who earns the money and who pays the bills being broken down. Whereas men have now fully appreciated that their female counterparts are capable of being the main breadwinners and as a result they seem to be embracing a life of leisure – much to the annoyance of most partners.”
Those who find that they are beginning to struggle with their finances, whether they are the top earner in the household or not, may wish to apply for a personal loan to help get to grips with money management and meet essential demands on their spending. In research released earlier this year by Axa, 82 per cent of Britons who have helped a loved one out with their finances, whether this is due to difficulties in paying off loans, plastic cards or otherwise, have in turn suffered from a negative experience. Consequently, taking out a cheap personal loan may well be an advisable way for many people to get out of financial difficulties.
By suc from Pixabay