text:
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Friday will announce a personal services agreement with clothing manufacturer adidas, sources told ESPN.com.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Sources said adidas will manufacture Earnhardt's fire retardant driving suits and shoes, and the Nextel Cup star will be involved in promoting specific consumer apparel.
Friday's announcement will mark Earnhardt's second landmark personal services deal in three weeks. Earnhardt announced an agreement with Sony Corp when the Nextel Cup series was in Sonoma, Calif.
Earnhardt has yet to announce the biggest piece of his sponsorship puzzle for 2008 -- the primary financial-backer of his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Earnhardt is leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company his late father founded, to drive for Hendrick Motorsports next season.
Marty Smith covers Nextel Cup racing for ESPN.com.


text:
Who would have thought that 2019 would be such a prospectively amazing year for gaming. However, we have compiled a list of every game coming out and it is time to pick what is your most anticipated game of 2019! You’re given the ability to change your vote at any time before the cutoff time, which will be December
One of 2018’s most shocking announcements was that Sony would be skipping E3 2019, not even holding an EA Play style event. Shortly after that announcement, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer and Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime presented optimistic views for next year’s show. This optimism on Nintendo’s end continued with a recent interview between IGN and Reggie Fils-Aime
It’s that time of the year again, and you’re now called to decide DualShockers’ annual honor: Game of the Year 2018 – Reader’s Choice Award. Without question, our community is the best part of DualShockers, so we (and the developers and publishers we chat to) know that the Reader’s Choice Award is one of the best
Kinda Funny Games Showcase happening today, December 8, 2018, in just over an hour. For those of you looking to watch the show in order to see all of the new announcements live, here’s where you can catch the livestream as well as everything else you need to know before it begins. Shortly after Sony
Super Smash Bros. is one of Nintendo’s industry titans, as it stands among Mario and Zelda as a powerhouse IP for the company. Outside of the all-star line-up and stellar game direction from walking video game encyclopedia Masahiro Sakurai, the ravenous fan-base has propelled the series to meteoric heights. The series has kept a 17-year-old
The Game Awards 2018, hosted by Geoff Keighley, just concluded. Along with numerous awards being given out, several new game announcements were spliced in throughout the show. That being said, the announcements that left the greatest impact were the World Premieres for new games that took place during the event. While some of the PC,
Swedish online retailer Inet has put up a listing for the Metroid Prime Trilogy on Nintendo Switch. This listing has led to speculation that the trilogy could possibly debut this Thursday at The Game Awards, along with a (hopeful) tease for Metroid Prime 4. Twitter user Nitomatta shared a link to the Inet listing and
In 2017, a small video game development team from Canada called Causal Bit Games took their project Battle Princess Madelyn to Kickstarter to raise $60,000 (CAD). In only a few days the project had been successfully funded, and the backing kept on growing and growing. In the end, Battle Princess Madelyn ended up hitting $212,665
Hey everyone, long time no chat! This is Lou Contaldi, Editor-in-Chief of DualShockers and I’m looking for your help. If you’ve been a frequent reader, you may have noticed that DualShockers design looked… dated. Not much has changed since when DualShockers first started in 2009. While it may be a streamlined way to get to
The half-genie platformer Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is getting a physical edition distributed by Limited Run. Fans of the series can start pre-ordering either the Standard Edition or the Collector’s Edition on December 7. The standard edition comes in a normal Nintendo Switch case with the same box art from the Nintendo 3DS version. Limited Run notes
Over four years ago, the first plans to adapt Console Wars, a book detailing the titular ” console war” between SEGA and Nintendo in the 1990s, were announced. Back then, the adaption was poised to be a movie by Sony Pictures that was directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, but the production has been fairly
Nintendo has decided to close the doors on their infamous Nintendo Creators Program that began in May 2015. By the end of December 2018, the program will shut down. The Nintendo Creators Program website will close later on March 20, 2019. Videos and livestreams featuring Nintendo games will be allowed to be monetized without Nintendo taking
The soundtrack for Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment has been announced for digital, CD, and vinyl. Being handled once again by Brave Wave, the soundtrack is available for pre-order in Europe now with pre-orders in America opening up on December 4. The soundtrack will be released in January 2019. All 25 songs from the fantastic expansion
Being deaf, I’ve often made jokes about bad subtitles that are too small to read. Just in the past few years we’ve seen a few examples of how games have stumbled when it comes to implementing proper subtitles, such as Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus with its tiny subtitles that blend, or walls of text in Fallout 4.
As most of us already now, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the best days in terms of game deals each year, and 2018 looks to be no different. Personally, I snagged Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Dragon Quest XI, SoulCalibur VI, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition at heavily discounted prices this past weekend.
Console exclusives, which are usually first-party nowadays, have always been a hallmark of the gaming industry and are often some of the games hardcore fans look forward too most. This year has seen some standout exclusives including God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Forza Horizon 4, all of which received critical acclaim and sold well.
The production of a movie based on Capcom’s Monster Hunter is now in full swing. While this may seem like a good thing as the series’ popularity is at an all time high, there are several red flags that makes it somewhat worrying. The movie based on a Capcom property is being helmed by Paul
Last week, Variety broke the news that Ubisoft Motion Pictures was planning on developing a live action TV show based on 2014 RPG Child of Light as well as a movie based on the 2016 VR game Werewolves Within. Today, Ubisoft confirmed this themselves in a new video featuring Tasha Huo and Mishna Wolff, the female writers
Last month, fledgling publisher Modus Games revealed that they would be working alongside Frozenbyte Game to release Trine 4. That sequel is pegged to release in 2019 for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, though that last platform was surprising considering the series hadn’t made an appearance on the Switch yet. Fortunately, the will be
The Nintendo Wii might be an older console now in this day and age, but some people still have one hooked up to their TV’s and still use the apps available. However, a Reddit user gIitterboy received an email from Netflix announcing that support for their streaming app will be ending. The email received by the Reddit user says: “Unfortunately, Nintendo will suspend all video
All the way back in January, Nintendo revealed that it was collaborating with Illumination Entertainment, the animation studio best known for the Despicable Me series, on a Super Mario Bros. movie. Almost nothing new has been heard about this animated movie since; fortunately, Illumination Entertainment Co-Founder Chris Meledandri shed a bit more light on the
Ubisoft’s smash hit Just Dance 2019, who have slowly implemented a subscription-based service plus an annual fee to access some of the game’s content, has come under fire recently for a different matter this time. Reddit user and mother darkheartsmd has taken to the internet in concern over her six-year-old being repeatedly being asked, while in kids mode, to
Brie Larson is quickly rising in popularity, with that popularity likely coming to a head when she portrays Captain Marvel in her own standalone film next March as well as the still untitled fourth Avengers film next May. That being said, Captain Marvel doesn’t seem to be only badass sci-fi character Brie Larson would be
Those of you who follow Nintendo’s efforts within the mobile gaming scene may remember Mario Kart Tour’s announcement back in January. That being said, we haven’t heard anything about the mobile game outside of its title since that initial announcement. While the mobile game is still shrouded in mystery, Nintendo did confirm during their latest
While many people from around the world enjoy the Persona games today, the series’ roots can actually be traced all the way back to a region-locked Shin Megami Tensei game for the Super Famicom and PlayStation that never left Japan: Shin Megami Tensei If…. That being said, western players can finally experience the full game
Battle Princess Madelyn has a new trailer today announcing that the side-scrolling adventure title by developer Casual Bit Games will be arriving this Fall for various platforms. The title originally took to Kickstarter and ended up raising CA$ 212,665 instead of their CA$ 60,000 goal. Back in 2017 Battle Princess Madelyn was planned for launch in Q1 2018.
Around the time Nintendo Switch Online launched last month, Nintendo confirmed that more NES games would be added to the service at monthly intervals. Today, we received the first batch of new titles: NES Open Tournament Golf, Super Dodge Ball, and Solomon’s Key. In addition, Nintendo also surprisingly released an enhanced version of The Legend of
Last weekend at Minecon Earth, Microsoft and Mojang announced Minecraft: Dungeons, a dungeon crawling spin-off to one of the most successful games of all time. Minecraft enjoys around 91 million active monthly users right now and doesn’t show any signs of stopping. That being said, Business Insider still asked Microsoft’s Head of Minecraft Helen Chiang
Last week, Nintendo and Cygames partnered to release Dragalia Lost, a new IP for iOS and Android devices. Five days have passed since Dragalia Lost hit Google Play and the App Store in North America and Japan, and in that time Sensor Tower has determined that the game has made over $3 million in revenue. While $3.5
Back in 2015, Size Five Games released The Swindle on several platforms. Today, over three years after the game’s initial release, the developers have revealed have partnered with publisher Curve Digital to bring The Swindle to Nintendo Switch next month. The Swindle will be available on the hybrid console on October 11 and will only

domain: news


text:
Israel has said it wants to boost the economy of the Palestinian territories as a way to bring peace. The Israeli leadership has not implemented any specific plan to improve economic conditions, yet the territories are experiencing a marked economic upturn as a halt in violence leads to increased trade and investment.
West Bank's economy
A woman in Islamic veil, speaking in Arabic, has a gleaming smile as she explains she is having trouble deciding on which dish set to buy. She browses through a glitzy showroom boasting European and American brands in a scene that might appear to be a shopping mall in Dubai, Qatar, or New York. In fact, it is Jenin, in the West Bank.
The town until recently was known as a bastion of suicide bombers. But now, with this brand new million-dollar department store, and a shopping mall in the blueprints, Jenin is becoming a haven for shoppers for women like Afaf Rahal, a Palestinian schoolteacher.
She says when she used to go to Amman and other places, she would hope that Palestinians would one day build a department store like this in the West Bank. She says she thanks God her expectations have been exceeded.
The Herbawi department store in Jenin, which was built with Arab investment, is part of what analysts say is a boom that is occurring in the West Bank despite the global slowdown.
They say the reason is security conditions have improved, allowing the wheels of commerce to turn.
Israeli-Palestinian trade improving
Ofir Gendelman heads the Israeli-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tel Aviv - a new organization set up as trade grows between Israel and the Palestinian territories.
"It is way quieter now in the West Bank than the way it used to be even six months, or 12 months ago," said Gendelman. "It is totally quiet. No terrorist attacks, nothing. The Palestinian security services are doing what they can to prevent attacks and, of course, the Israeli army is doing what it has to do. At the end of the day, when there is quiet, when there is security, the economy will flourish and this is what we see."
Construction projects can be seen just about everywhere. The town of Ramallah is preparing to open a newly-built five-star hotel, the result of European investment.
Improved security has led the Israeli army in the past year to remove more than 140 checkpoints, allowing for the freer flow of people and goods in the West Bank.
The hope on both sides is that trade, which reached $4 billion last year, will continue to grow, generating jobs and prosperity.
Can economic prosperity bring peace?
But there is a long way to go before trust is established. Palestinians say other checkpoints continue to exist, blocking access to jobs and business opportunities for many. Many Palestinians complain they cannot access the markets of Israel's $162-billion economy.
Other obstacles include persistent political attitudes. Many Palestinians view increased trade with the Israelis as collaboration with the enemy. No Palestinian chamber of commerce has been established to foster trade with Israel.
Few Palestinians and Israelis believe that economic prosperity alone will bring peace. They say previous Israeli efforts to boost the Palestinian economy have failed. Analysts say the bloodiest Palestinian uprisings of the late 1980's and in 2000 were preceded by periods of economic growth.
But some, including Ofir Gendelman, see reason for hope in the current upswing.
"It is easier to negotiate with someone who has a normal life, someone who is not desperate, someone who does not feel disenfranchised," added Gendelman. "I think that the betterment of the economic situation in the West Bank has definitely improved the chances to reach a peace deal."
At the shiny new department store in Jenin, Afaf Rahal glows as she browses American and European porcelain dinnerware. She says finding dishes like these here in Jenin is, for her, like a dream.
She says she has seen plates like these in Amman, but was always afraid of carrying them across the border. Now, when she sees them, she says it is like finding a treasure.
For Afaf Rahal this new department store is a sign of hope that life is becoming normal, even in a place like Jenin.


text:
In March, Taiwanese electronics manufacturing contractor Foxconn pledged to make serious improvements to working conditions in their mainland Chinese factories after the Fair Labor Association launched an investigation into the company. The investigation was hired by Foxconn client Apple Inc., after the American company garnered negative press and pressure from civil society groups to address recurring Foxconn employee suicides and a 2011 explosion that killed 2 employees and injured many more. Yesterday, the Fair Labor Association released a status report, and The Unofficial Apple Weblog summarizes its findings:
[…]The FLA issued a report yesterday showing significant progress towards creating a better working environment for Foxconn employees.
Apple joined the FLA in January of 2012 after reports of hostile working conditions and worker suicides at Foxconn plants. The findings published in the FLA report show that all 195 actions that were due during April and May were completed. Foxconn also completed 89 action items ahead of their deadlines, with 76 items remaining on the list of actions to be completed over the next year.
Probably the best news was that Foxconn has made significant progress towards bringing its factories into compliance with Chinese legal limits on working hours, reducing hours to under 60 per week (with overtime). The goal? To reach full compliance of the legal limit of 40 hours per week plus an average of 9 hours of overtime, while making sure that workers are still compensated fairly.
The New York Times reports on challenges to reducing overtime, due to both an employee desire to stockpile hours, and to Foxconn logistics:
Foxconn said Wednesday it would continue to cut overtime to less than 9 hours a week from the current 20, even though that could raise labor costs while also making it difficult to attract workers, who often seek jobs with overtime so they can maximize their pay.
“It is a challenge,” said Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn’s chief executive. “When we reduce overtime, it means we need to hire more people and implement more automation, more investment on robotic engineering. More workers also mean more dormitories and recreational facilities. It takes time.”
[…]Many people would leave Foxconn if there was no overtime, according to a post by “Shenzhen MarS” on Sina Weibo, a microblogging site.
At Foxconn’s massive factory in Shenzhen’s Longhua district, six workers interviewed by Reuters said overtime hours had been cut to between 48 to 60 hours per month, down from some 80 before.
Some said more workers were quitting Foxconn to seek better paid work elsewhere, with red posters plastered on walls everywhere calling for large-scale recruitment of replacements. Staff were getting text messages offering bonuses for referring friends or relatives to the factory.
“A lot of my friends have resigned,” said a production line worker surnamed Li. “…From just my home town alone, there have been at least ten people who have left. On a basic level, most workers were able to withstand (the pressures) of the previous overtime system.”
But not everyone was unhappy.
“There’s been an improvement in the past six months… It’s a bit more comfortable with shorter work days,” said spiky-haired worker Liu Xiaoguan. But his take-home pay has dropped from around 3,700 yuan per month to 3,000 yuan.
The Reuters article also notes that Apple’s longtime relationship with the Fair Labor Association has led some to distrust the investigation, a fact noted by Wired during the investigation’s beginnings. In July, China Labor Watch released an investigative report alleging labor rights violations elsewhere in Apple’s supply chain.
Earlier this year, Foxconn indirectly sparked a scandalizing controversy turned epistemic debate, when This American Life broadcast an excerpt from Mike Daisey’s one-man show about undercover visits to Foxconn factories in China. This American Life retracted their piece after “substantial fabrications” were revealed in Daisey’s tale.


text:
EMC will report its fourth quarter results in less than two weeks and the big question on our minds is whether EMC CEO Joe Tucci and/or EMC CFO David Goulden will say anything about Documentum, Captiva, DocSciences or any of IIG's (Information Intelligence Group's) products.
They should, even if IIG's bottom line hasn't yet begun to grow.
I say this because after years of doing everything but telling its non-Government, non-Insurance/Financial, and non-Energy Enterprise Content Management customers to get lost, IIG is finally introducing offerings that might delight a larger portion of its install base. Not only that, but the end-user (which EMC calls the "new user") is in IIG's line of sight again..
Yes, boys and girls, IIG is finally acting more like a software company that has something to offer its customers, in its own right, rather than an ugly step-child of a hardware/storage company that happens to sell software.
Hooray for IIG president Rick Devenuti; he's gotten a lot done since he took charge in October of 2010.
His team has delivered:


text:
The beer market dynamics in Russia is approaching zero, yet major brewers are divided into those who developed considerably in 2017 and those who considerably reduced their volumes. For instance, company Efes has managed to substantially extend their sales due to restrained pricing policy and activity in the modern trade. Heineken has also demonstrated an excellent performance promoted by significant increase of advertisement budgets launching a non-alcohol sort of the title brand and unusual activity in the economy market segment. Carlsberg and AB InBev have been focusing on margins and lost a market share of their inexpensive brands. Serious dependence on PET package and mass enthusiasm about Zhigulevskoe have negatively impacted the most of big regional brewers, that have been for the first time pressed by the leaders in the key sales channels, especially in Volga and Central regions. In the small business there has been a noticeable slowdown in appearing of new restaurant breweries, yet the number of craft breweries has been growing rapidly. In 2018, the beer market is likely to grow a little, while the share of AB InBev Efes may decrease due to the integration. ...
“Catalogue of Russian Beer Producers 2018” includes 1070 businesses ranging from large subsidiaries of international companies to rather small restaurant and craft microbreweries.The catalogue includes 32 large breweries, 75 regional breweries, 693 industrial mini- and microbreweries as well as 270 restaurant breweries. ...
Global hop marketA local alternative to mass beer suggested by independent brewers has been successful and is now altering the global market. Beer is becoming more diversified, so transnational companies have to accept the new game rules and to switch focus to young and fast growing markets. All these processes increased the demand for aroma and bitter hop as well as their acreage expansion on two continents. However now there appeared a downward trend of alcohol consumption in the world, so even special sorts can soon turn to be sufficient. In this connection the dynamic American hop market is already facing some problems. EU hop producers have become more cautious, they are not racing to exceed the demand and look forward with more confidence, judging by the contract terms.
Hop Market in RussiaGermany still dominates the Russian market, yet over the recent two years one has been able observe a continuous success of Czech hop suppliers. Their expansion and growing popularity of hops from the United States became the drivers of supplies growth in 2016 despite the preceding modest harvest crop in the EU, as well as the factor of relative stability in 2017. In this connection, in 2017, the ratio of the varieties continued to shift towards the aroma ones, and the supplies of Magnum hop and other alpha varieties were reduced. However, the import of bitter hop pellets is partially replaced by extracts, especially from the major beer manufacturers. Total volumes of alpha acid supplies, according to our estimation, decreased by approximately 5% and returned to the level of 2015. Barth Haas Group continues dominating the hop products market; HVG also increased its weight. At the same time, Morris Hanbury significantly reduced the supplies in 2017.
China Resources Beer goes upmarket to counter slowing sales
Full-year underlying profits for the group's beer assets increased 14% to HK$831 million ($101 million), partly helped by a 3.2% increase in its average sales price. Revenue slowed to 1% growth, reaching HK$34.8 billion in the 12 months ended December.
The higher profit in its beer business came in spite of a 1.3% fall in sales volume on the year. Meanwhile, the group saw a 15% rise in sales volume from its mid-end and premium sector, which now accounts for more than 45% of the total.
Earlier in March, CR Beer agreed to pay a less-than-expected $1.6 billion for SABMiller's remaining 49% stake in the brewer behind the world's best-selling Snow beer -- China Resources Snow Breweries, which was a joint venture between the two brewers.
Vincent Tse, investor relations director at CR Beer, said the deal was based upon a "friendly price" after "arm's length negotiation," adding that the brewer would not rule out future cooperation with SABMiller and plans to seek overseas partnerships.
While the deal is awaiting regulatory approval and is scheduled to close at the end of this year, Guotai Junan Securities maintained a "neutral" rating for CR Beer on Mar. 2. "The deal is not likely to ease the already intense competition and room for a hike in average selling price is limited in the Chinese beer industry," said Andrew Song, an analyst at the Chinese brokerage.
"Growth has been difficult for the beer industry, but the premium sector is still growing," Jason Hou, general manager at China Resources Snow Breweries told reporters on Friday. The brewer has a "low single-digit" growth target for its sales and average selling price in the coming year, he added.
CR Beer changed its name from China Resources Enterprises after it sold non-beer assets including the loss-making Tesco stores to its unlisted parent China Resources Holdings in September for $3.6 billion. Its underlying losses of discontinued operations, including retail, food and beverages, surged more than threefold to HK$5.65 billion from a year earlier.
The beer market in China is highly competitive. CR Beer had a 23% market share in 2014, with Tsingtao Brewery second at 18%, according to market research group Euromonitor International. The rest is divided between major brewers such as Beijing Yanjing Brewery, Anheuser Busch InBev, Carlsberg and a handful of smaller players.
But others say the beer sector in China still has room for margin expansion and "premiumization" -- a trend that has seen more wealthy consumers trading up to more expensive brands of alcohol.
21 Мар. 2016


text:
Crypto Market Update: US Crypto Community Accuses SEC Chairman Gary Gensler of Hypocrisy Over Cryptocurrency Classification
Written by Van - Perfected by ChatGPT
The US crypto community has accused Gary Gensler, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, of hypocrisy after a video of him from 2018 emerged in which he said cryptocurrencies were not securities. Gensler was a former professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology before he became chair of the SEC. The video shows Gensler stating that “three-quarters of the market is non-securities, it’s just a commodity, cash, crypto.” Gensler’s view has prompted criticism from some quarters of the crypto community, including Erik Forhees, founder of ShapeShift and Farokh Sarmad, founder of Web3 podcast Rug Radio.
Apple Removes Bitcoin White Paper from Latest MacOS Beta Version
Apple has removed the original Bitcoin white paper from its latest beta version of MacOS, while a US appeals court has ruled that Apple violated California’s Unfair Competition Law by prohibiting developers from using alternative payment methods besides Apple’s App Store. The decision could open up the possibility for direct purchases of NFTs through iOS apps and use of cryptocurrency in app transactions.
Binance.US Drops $1.3 Billion Voyager Digital Purchase Plan Amidst Regulatory Uncertainty
Binance.US has abandoned plans to purchase crypto lender Voyager Digital for $1.3 billion, citing a “hostile and uncertain regulatory climate” in the US. Voyager confirmed it would now proceed with direct distributions to customers from its Chapter 11 plan. The US federal government had previously approved Binance’s bid to buy up the remaining assets of Voyager but the SEC and New York’s financial regulator had attempted to halt the deal.
Deloitte to Hire 300 Cryptocurrency Experts in Bid to Expand Expertise in Booming Industry
Deloitte is seeking to employ 300 cryptocurrency experts in the US, with most of the job options having been posted a week ago, based on LinkedIn data. Almost all top accounting exchange “Big Four” companies are looking for professional candidates with expertise in the burgeoning field. Deloitte’s job titles in this area include Blockchain & Digital Assets Manager, Tax Manager, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, and Tax Manager, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency in NFTs.
Google’s Cloud Storage-Based Solution to 2FA Raises Security Concerns
Google’s update to its authenticator app, which allows users to retain access to two-factor authentication (2FA) by storing a “one-time code” in its cloud storage, has been criticised for making users more vulnerable to hackers. Cybersecurity developer Mysk and a Reddit user have both warned of the additional complications with Google’s cloud storage-based solution to 2FA. This could prove problematic for users who rely on 2FA to access crypto-exchange accounts and other financial services. SMS 2FA is considered the “least secure” form of authentication by Coinbase, which encourages the use of authenticator apps.
Miami International Holdings Subsidiary M7 Holdings to Acquire FTX’s LedgerX for $50M
Miami International Holdings (MIH) subsidiary M7 Holdings is set to acquire FTX’s US-based crypto derivatives exchange LedgerX for $50m, subject to court approval. MIH’s exchange, Miami International Securities Exchange, introduced a suite of crypto derivatives last year after partnering crypto data provider Lukka. The deal is expected to enhance MIAX’s crypto footprint. FTX’s US affiliate acquired LedgerX last year for an undisclosed sum.
RLB NÖ-Wien and Bitpanda Partner to Offer Cryptocurrency Investment Services
Austrian cooperative banking company Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-Wien (RLB NÖ-Wien) is launching cryptocurrency investment services through a partnership with Bitpanda. The move forms part of a broader move to offer investment services to its customer base and will allow RLB NÖ-Wien’s customers to invest in various assets with one euro or more. Bitpanda will provide the software as a service to allow the purchases of over 2,500 assets, including bitcoin and ether. Trading is expected to be available by the end of the year.
Decentralized Exchange MerlinDEX Hacked, Loses $1.4M in Stablecoin USDC
Decentralized exchange (DEX) MerlinDEX, based on Ethereum’s layer 2 protocol zkSync and audited by CertiK, was hacked, leading to the loss of $1.4 million in stablecoin USDC. CertiK claims it was a potential private key management issue rather than an exploit, and it is investigating. Blockchain security firm Peckshield has reported that the hacker is already sending some of the stolen funds to exchanges. MerlinDEX has urged users to revoke their wallets/sign permission and follow its instructions.
Phantom Wallet Adds Support for Ethereum and Polygon on All Platforms
Phantom Wallet, the leading retail-facing self-custody cryptocurrency wallet on Solana, announced support for Ethereum and Polygon for all browsers, Android, and iOS users. The wallet aims to provide a convenient way for users to manage their assets across various networks and offers additional tools for interacting with assets while providing a powerful user experience.
Bitcoin Nears $30,000 Amid US Banking Woes and Inflation in Argentina
Bitcoin nearly touched \(30,000 as US banking woes fueled investor uncertainty. First Republic Bank's \)100 billion deposit reduction saw former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes predict a dangerous chain reaction of insolvencies, benefitting both Bitcoin and gold from lack of clarity. This also led to expectations for the Federal Reserve to inject more money into the economy. In Argentina, Bitcoin’s value against the peso has reached over ARS 6.3 million due to spiraling inflation.
Over \(48 million in short positions were [liquidated](https://www.coinglass.com/LiquidationData) in the past four hours as Bitcoin surged 8.7% to trade near \)29,700. Binance and OKX saw the most volume of short liquidations, with over \(11 million each. Some analysts forecasting consolidation next as “OI got properly wiped.” Others were confident of the overall uptrend, with one trader saying Bitcoin was ready for \)40,000 after passing the crucial breaker of $27,800.
Source: Byzantine General/ Twitter
Circle CEO Urges Congress to Address Concerns on US Dollar’s Survival
Circle has released a new protocol that allows for the transfer of USD Coin (USDC) between Ethereum and Avalanche without third-party bridges, aiming to tackle fragmentation in the Web3 ecosystem. However, the market value of USDC has declined from almost \(56 billion to just under \)31 billion since March, losing almost \(13 billion since \)3.3 billion in reserves used to underpin the stablecoin were lost in the defunct Silicon Valley Bank. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire believes investors are de-risking out of the US due to regulatory and banking sector concerns and urges Congress to address concerns about the US dollar’s survival in light of blockchain technology.
XRP’s Market Capitalization Rises by $1.3 Billion Amid Market Correction Surge
XRP’s market capitalization has increased by \(1.3 billion to \)24.88 billion, making it the fourth largest cryptocurrency asset. The surge was caused by a 6.5% rise in XRP’s price, which had fallen due to a market correction. XRP’s price is currently at \(0.47, with potential to test the \)0.55-$0.6 zone. The outcome of the SEC lawsuit against Ripple will determine XRP’s future prospects, with no significant advancement noted as the deadline approaches.
Arbitrum Completes Distribution of $120 Million in ARB Tokens to Projects, Whales Increase Stakes
Arbitrum has completed a distribution of over \(120 million worth of its [ARB](https://coin360.com/coin/arbitrum-arb) tokens to projects built on its network. On-chain data shows 90 million ARB tokens were sent to over 131 decentralized autonomous organizations, with [NFT](https://coin360.com/nft) marketplace TreasureDAO and [GMX](https://coin360.com/coin/gmx-gmx) receiving the most at \)12 million. SushiSwap, Balance, Uniswap, Curve and Dopex also received allocations.
Large token holders, or whales, have been adding to their stacks of Arbitrum governance tokens. One address holding 1.95 million tokens, worth roughly \(2.7 million, received \)200,000 in ARB from Binance, while another address holding 1.78 million tokens, worth \(2.5m, purchased \)146,000 worth of ARB at $1.34 per token.
Solana Blockchain Teams Up with OpenAI’s ChatGPT for Enhanced Accessibility
Solana Blockchain will soon be accessible to OpenAI’s ChatGPT users through an open-source plugin. The feature will enable users to check wallet balances, transfer Solana-native tokens and buy nonfungible tokens. Users can retrieve a list of owned NFTs attached with metadata through the chatbot. Solana Labs plans to provide AI tool developers with $1 million in funding on the blockchain. Meanwhile, OpenAI announced on Apr 25 that ChatGPT users can turn off their chat history and download data through the chatbot’s “export” option, in compliance with privacy laws.
Avalanche’s Cortina Upgrade Boosts Innovation, But Investors Remain Skeptical
Avalanche’s Cortina Upgrade has been launched on its mainnet, bringing linearization for the X-Chain, simpler fee distribution for validators, and an increased 15M gas limit on the C-Chain for smart contracts and DeFi apps. The number of transactions has increased by 46% in the last 10 days, and the average TPS has increased to 22 from 15. However, despite this, investors showed more short positions than long on AVAX in the last 24 hours. At press time, AVAX is up 6.48%.
AWS Teams Up with Cronos Labs to Boost Blockchain Adoption in Web3 Sector
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has partnered with blockchain startup Cronos Labs to support development of DeFi, GameFi, SocialFi, and Infrastructure applications. The announcement triggered a 13% surge in the native token of CRO Protocol Labs. AWS and Cronos Labs seek to boost blockchain technology adoption in the Web3 sector. Meanwhile, rumors that Amazon plans to launch an NFT marketplace have surfaced again. Although the company’s CEO has expressed interest in NFTs, an Amazon spokesperson denied any immediate plans to accept cryptocurrencies as a means of payment.
AAVE’s Q2 On-Chain Metrics Indicate Negative Sentiment and Decline in Investor Interest
Aave’s Q1 revenue remained stable, with interest earnings of \(305,000 in Q1 despite a decrease in daily active users by 34%. Their [market cap](https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization) exceeded \)1 billion with $350 million in outstanding loans, however, Q2 saw a decline in on-chain metrics indicating negative sentiment in the market. Investor interest was dampened with a considerable decline in supply held by top addresses, showing a reduction in trust in AAVE, while the total number of token holders increased. At the time of writing, token price declined by over 16% in the past week.
SUI Token Launches on May 3 Following Successful Token Sales
The SUI token, native to the Sui blockchain, will be released on May 3 following token sales on Bybit, OKX, and Kucoin. Each exchange offered 225 million tokens with a maximum allocation of 10,000 per user. Sui developers previously stated that there would be no token airdrop, disappointing some users. The first project to go live on the mainnet will be Suiswap, a decentralized exchange and liquidity staking protocol. Sui Network signed an agreement with Alibaba Cloud to improve user experience for blockchain validators.
Summary of Market Events and Price Action
As a summary of today’s events and price action in the market, it is crucial to note the following key points:
- SEC chair accused of crypto hypocrisy
- Apple drops Bitcoin paper
- Binance drops Voyager purchase amid regulation doubts
- Deloitte hiring 300 experts to expand crypto expertise
- Google’s 2FA solution raises security concerns
- M7 Holdings to acquire LedgerX for $50M
- Bitpanda and RLB NÖ-Wien offer crypto investment services
- MerlinDEX hacked, loses $1.4M in USDC stablecoin
- Bitcoin nears $30,000 amid US banking woes
- XRP’s market cap rises $1.3B amid market correction
- Arbitrum distributes $120M in ARB tokens to projects
- Solana partners with ChatGPT for enhanced accessibility
- Avalanche upgrade boosts innovation, investors skeptical
- AWS teams up with Cronos Labs for blockchain adoption
Top Altcoin Gainers and Losers
Render Token RNDR (+31.77%)
Radix XRD (+28.32%)
Injective INJ (+25.16%)
XDC Network XDC (-0.31%)
Tether Gold XAUT (-0.21%)
Binance USD BUSD (-5.19%)
NFT Market Map
Blockchain-enabled mobile video game NFL Rivals, which allows users to trade NFL player non-fungible tokens (NFTs), has launched on the Polkadot blockchain. The first NFL licensed crypto game will be the first blockchain-powered mobile video game to access the “highly lucrative market of mobile gaming,” according to Mythical CEO John Linden, who said an audience in excess of 10 million players is hoped for this year. The game’s soft launch attracted 150,000 players, and it can be downloaded from Apple and Google stores.


text:
National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), the company that bought SAAB, is having difficulties with the Saab brand name and the famous griffin logo.
We’ve reported last week that the rights to the Saab name and the famous griffin logo were not part of the original deal.
Yes – Unfortunately, two things that were not included in the purchase was the legal right to use the Saab name and the griffin logo used on Saab brand passenger vehicles around the world.
This can only be granted by defense company Saab AB and truck maker Scania, both of which use the same griffin logo seen on Saab passenger cars.
“The brand name discussion isn’t over,” says Erik Ljungberg, Saab’s Scania’s spokesman . “It’s a complex issue and several questions must be sorted out. We’re very keen that the griffin brand isn’t used for anything we can’t stand behind.”
“Even though their formal name is Saab Automobile, they’re generally called Saab, so there’s a clear risk a lot of people may confuse them with us,” said Saab AB spokesman Erik Magni.
“When Saab Auto had financial difficulties last year and filed for bankruptcy, of course it affected us,” said Magni. “We want a long-term solution for the brand name where we share the same view on how it should develop to make sure it’s associated with engineering, high competence.”
The idea is that both companies will want assurances of the quality of the final product before approving anything.
Saab, which made its first cars in 1947, was acquired out of bankruptcy earlier this month. The new ownership group, led by ex-Volvo Trucks chief Karl-Erling Trogen, is planning on turning the company into an electric vehicle maker and will likely start with a battery-electric powered 9-3 in 2014.


text:
Paradigm: Onchain Gaming's Transformative Potential in the Broader Landscape
According to Paradigm,the gaming realm stands at the brink of a significant transformation, as the convergence of blockchain technology and gaming unveils numerous prospects and hurdles. A fresh piece from Paradigm.xyz offers an in-depth exploration of onchain gaming and its possible ripple effects throughout the gaming landscape.
The Inspiration Behind Onchain Games
The concept of integrating blockchain technology into gaming isn't new. Ethereum's creator, Vitalik Buterin, was inspired to create the platform after Blizzard made changes to his World of Warcraft class. The incident highlighted the vulnerabilities of centralized gaming platforms and the potential benefits of decentralized alternatives.
The primary question is: Why should games be on a blockchain? The article suggests two main reasons:
Composable Modding: Onchain games allow players to add modifications without fragmenting their state or seeking permission. This is in stark contrast to traditional games, which aren't structured to support such flexibility.
Permissionless Open Economies: Onchain games can leverage smart contracts to create intricate in-game economies. Players have full control over their assets, eliminating compliance issues associated with off-ramping assets or exchanging in-game goods for fiat currency.
While the potential is vast, onchain games face significant hurdles:
Technical Constraints: Current blockchain infrastructure, especially the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), is not optimized for complex game development. High costs and scalability issues further compound the problem. However, initiatives like Lattice and Dojo are working on game-specific infrastructure to address these challenges.
Game Design Limitations: Permissionless blockchains introduce challenges like incomplete information, automation & collusion, and asynchronous transaction-driven mechanics, which can hinder traditional game design.
Financialization Pressures: The inherently financial nature of blockchains can introduce unintended economic incentives that may distort gameplay. Designing games that can harness these pressures without being overwhelmed by them is a significant challenge.
The Future of Onchain Games
The article raises a thought-provoking question: Should games be fully onchain? While onchain games offer unique advantages, they might not be the optimal solution. Hybrid models, combining offchain game infrastructure with onchain assets and DeFi interoperability, might be more practical.
The world of onchain gaming is still in its infancy, filled with both promise and challenges. While the road ahead is uncertain, the exploration of this frontier could lead to innovations that reshape the gaming industry.


text:
Audi announced it will be bringing its A3 e-tron program to the United States at the Technology Entertainment Design conference yesterday in Long Beach, California.
Read This Article
We've seen the Audi Sport Quattro Concept in images, but now we can see the 700 hp supercar in motion.
Auto shows are a time for carmakers to display their hottest new models, boast about big horsepower numbers, and showcase low-to-the-floor, stylish, swoopy concept cars that have no chance of making it to production.
Audi prices the all-new A3 sedan, targeting the recently-launched Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.


text:
Updated: Mar 30, 2022
Your smartphone is 7 times dirtier than your toilet! Fecal matter can be found on 1 out of every 6 smartphones, according to a 2011 study done by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. “Mobile phones have become veritable reservoirs of pathogens as they touch faces, ears, lips and hands of different users of different health conditions," researchers observed in a 2009 study of bacteria removed from personal calling devices. A study by the University of Arizona found the typical worker's desk, which tends to be your smartphone's home for about 40 hours a week, has hundreds of times more bacteria per square inch than an office toilet seat. Be sure to wipe your phone down with 70 % alcohol wipes to keep your skin safe from bacteria.


text:
He believes it "strongly hints" at collapse because he believes that display shipments, by manufacturers to OEMs, are a reliable indicator of future shipments of the finished tablets. But the question here is whether a one-month decrease is a response to crashing iPad retail sales, or one of a multitude of possible tweaks to Apple's complex supply chain.
Every "estimate" of cannibalization - which means in this case the number of people who opt for buying an iPad mini when, without that product, they would have bought a full-sized iPad - is just that: an estimate, based on a set of assumptions about how tablet buyers will behave.
Regarding the "iPad collapse," Matthew Panzarino, at his RobotTuxedo blog, quotes Apple CEO Tim Cook, who commented on the January speculation about collapsing iPhone sales: "I'd also stress that, even if a particular data point were to be factual, it would be impossible to interpret what that data point means to our business. Our supply chain is very complex and we have multiple sources for our components. Yields can vary...supplier performance can vary. There's an inordinate list of things that would make any single data point not a great proxy for what's going on."
What's missing now is exactly what was missing then: more comprehensive, not to mention reliable, data about inventory, about changes in suppliers or supplier relationships, changes in manufacturing processes or yields, or changes or adjustments to display technologies, to name just a few.
Hsieh follows with his statement about display shipments with this: "As we noted in December, Apple had planned to sell 40M iPad minis (7.9") and 60M iPads (9.7") in 2013. However, the reality seems to be the reverse, as the iPad mini has been more popular than the iPad. We now understand that Apple may be planning to sell 55M iPad minis (7.9") and 33M iPads (9.7") in 2013."
But Panzarino adds in his own blogpost an important qualification to Hsieh's assertions.
"Only one problem: Apple never announced any such plans of any sort," he writes. "I'm sure that Apple planned to sell a certain amount of both models, but it never reveals those estimates publicly. In fact, it has become even more conservative in its forecast reporting in an endeavor to halt projection inflation."
Since the release of iPad mini in Fall 2012, Apple so far has reported "iPad sales" without breaking them down by screen size.
VentureBeat's John Koetsier read Singh's post, and then posted his summary of it. He, too, used the word "collapse" in his headline.
"Obviously, this is potentially a shocking and catastrophic event for Apple," he wrote.
But maybe not. Koetsier says there could be two other reasons that these display shipments are "vastly down."
Sign up for CIO Asia eNewsletters.


text:
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Capcom's Yoshinori Ono announced an online version of Street Fighter 3 Third Strike will be released. The game will feature online championship modes. It will be built from the ground up entirely to take full advantage of the Online capabilities of the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. He also said they will take their time on the port to ensure the highest quality. Expect a downloadable version for PSN and XBLA sometime early next year.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Cave announced that its latest Shmup Akai Katana will be shown later this month at the HEY! Arcade in Akihabara Japan. The game features 1950's Retro Mecha Designs and Horizontial Scrolling Shooting. The game is expected out in Arcades later this summer with a Xbox 360 release sometime in the near future. A Few videos can be seen here showing off Artwork and Rendering.
Cave has announced a port of their Arcade shmup Dodonpachi Dai Fukkatsu will be released on the Iphone , Ipod touch , and Ipad. Like the previous game Cave released earlier this year Espgaluda 2 , this will be a port from the SH-3 original PCB which will include special touch gameplay and ARRANGE modes. Expect a $9.99 price tag when released later this summer.


text:
JupiterResearch has found that 41% of mobile phone users are interested in some form of video service on their mobile phone. According to a JupiterResearch report, the growing demand for video will generate US$501 million in revenues by 2010, up from US$62 million in 2005. Adoption of mobile video on phones has been somewhat low to date with only 2% of mobile phone users claiming a subscription. However, among mobile subscribers 17% were interested in watching “live” TV on their cell phones while 11% indicated interest in short video clips.
“This consumer interest bodes well for the mobile industry as vendors use different business models to try and tap into this consumer demand,” said Julie Ask, Research Director at JupiterResearch. “The challenge is not interest but rather finding the correct mix of premium content and price points that is lacking in today’s offerings,” added Ask.
“Longer term adoption will depend more on business models and content offerings than on the technology or devices,” stated David Schatsky, Senior Vice President of Research at JupiterResearch. “Our research shows that there’s strong consumer interest in consuming mobile video. Consumers are just not interested in paying large fees for mediocre content,” added Schatsky.


text: Here’s a current and very hot viral advertising campaign. This article talks about the campaign (“A Stairway to Marketing Heaven,” (scroll down for article at BusinessWeek.com, October 22, 2009) but the fun occurs at TheFunTheory.com website. As of this writing, there are three different viral videos (the stair video is shown below), each of which ask the question: Can you get people to change their behavior and do the right thing by making the right thing more fun? The viral videos are sponsored by Volkswagen and they will eventually tie into an online advertising campaign that features VW’s environmentally friendly cars. For 10 years (until earlier this year), VW’s “Drivers Wanted” campaign implied that driving a VW was fun. This new campaign is a natural extension to that positioning. You could use it to discuss positioning, viral video promotions, or promotion objectives. The campaign is also a good example of publicity; it’s received considerable attention from the press. Besides all that, these viral videos are fun to watch.


text:
Traditional holiday dinners used to be so simple. People would gather from near and far, enjoy each other’s company, feast on secret family recipes, rub their bellies with satisfaction, and fall asleep on the couch. That was until your sister became a vegan, dad went paleo, your little brother developed a life-threatening nut allergy, and your uncle who lives off the grid in the woods adopted an insect-based diet for the sake of the planet. What’s a good-hearted host to do? What’s a guest with a special diet to do? You can Read the Entire Article by Dr. Georgia Ede in Psychology Today.
Georgia Ede, MD, is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and nutrition consultant practicing at Smith College. She writes about food and health on her website DiagnosisDiet.com and she also writes numerous articles for Psychology Today. She became interested in nutrition after discovering a new way of eating that completely reversed a number of perplexing health problems she had developed in her early 40′s, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and IBS. This experience led her on a quest to understand why the unorthodox diet that restored her own health is so different from the low-fat, high-fibre, plant-based diet we are taught is healthy. It turns out, she says, that nutrition is not rocket science; if you understand how food works, it all makes sense.
Dr. Ede has been a popular speaker at two of our Low Carb Conferences already and is scheduled to speak again at our West Palm Beach Event, January 19 – 21, 2018 and at our San Diego Conference, July 26 – 29, 2018
“The good news is that the recent trend towards special diets doesn’t need to be a recipe for disaster”, says Dr. Ede. She says she has many food sensitivities and she eats a special diet. Many of her family members and friends eat special diets, some of which are very different from her own. She hopes to help you maintain holiday harmony this season by sharing some of the things she has learned as a host, guest, psychiatrist, and nutrition consultant. Read More…
[Doug Reynolds: Founder – LowCarbUSA®]


text:
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has reportedly suspended the sale of Mi3 in India for an unspecified period of time. According to the reports, the company has stopped the sale of Mi3 for the time being since the company wants to aim and focus on the launch and sale of Redmi 1s.
The Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is coming out with its entry level and low priced handset Redmi 1S in the Indian market. Registeration for the handsets are already underway and FlipKart and Xiaomi have said that as many as 40000 units of the Xiaomi Redmi 1S will be on offer on September 2.
Mi3 was only available online, through a flash sale model that required people to first register their interest, and then allowed only pre-registered customers to purchase the phone in a first-come-first served flash sale. This is the same model that the company follows in China, but here, Xiaomi and Flipkart saw 100,000 registrations for 10,000 devices in the first flash sale, and the last one saw around 250,000 registrations for 20,000 units – this kind of interest is obviously great for the brand, but customers who wanted to buy the phone didn’t necessarily feel too happy when they ended up unsuccessful.
Despite the problems the company faced with the Mi 3, Xiaomi is sticking to the flash sales model for the Redmi 1S too, and most probably other launches in the future.
The Xiaomi Redmi 1S has a 4.7″ 720p display, Snapdragon 400 with four 1.6GHz Cortex-A7 cores, Adreno 305 and 1GB of RAM, 8MP camera on the back and a 2,000mAh battery on the inside. The OS of choice is MIUI on top of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.


text:
Samsung has released a software update for their Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet, the update has been released to owners of the device in Germany, and the update is available for the 3G version of the tablet.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 software update is around 174MB in size and it is available over the air and through Samsung’s Kies software updating tool, it comes with the update number N5100XXBMF1.
The update keeps the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 on Android 4.1.2 it brings a number of stability improvements to the device and also a transparent notification bar and some other features.
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.


text:
What the Future of BTC trading may be as Explained by Barry Silbert
Barry Silbert is a highly successful figure in the business world.He is the founder and CEO of Digital Currency Group (DCG) and he has a lot of experience with cryptocurrency.This makes him one of the best experts to share information on the future of BTC and crypto. As a leading expert in this field, he recently offered his insights on the future of BTC and cryptocurrency during a recent interview.
In light of the growing interest in blockchain technology and the heightened attention on private blockchains, the interviewer sought Barry Silbert Millionaire’s perspective on various key issues. During the conversation, Silbert initiated the discussion by addressing the influx of blockchain products introduced by diverse companies in the market. These products were designed to simplify information sharing and streamline transaction settlements bwtween different financial institutions. Silbert expressed his confidence in the effectiveness of these products while underscoring the open-source nature of bitcoin as a potential solution to the challenges faced by financial institutions. Additionally, he made a forward-looking prediction, foreseeing a surge in both individual and corporate interest in cryptocurrencies, along with increased investments in the digital currency sector.
Barry Silbert further delved into the topic of numerous companies contemplating the adoption of private blockchains. He explained that their motivation for exploring this option primarily revolves around concerns regarding the security and reliability of bitcoin. Nevertheless, he emphasized that these concerns and other related issues should not be a cause for significant alarm, as he anticipates that various groups will eventually devise their solutions to address these challenges. Additionally, Barry expressed his company’s commitment to providing continued financial support to enterprises that may encounter challenges within the industry, affirming its pivotal role in supporting the growth of the sector.
People approach buying bitcoin with a range of expectations. Barry observes that a significant portion of buyers acquires bitcoin with the anticipation that its value will increase, allowing them to sell their coins at a profit.This usually happens to people who take time to understand the crypto industry and the opportunity that exists when trading with bitcoin.
Barry envisions that Bitcoin holders are poised to reap significant profits down the road, with the potential for continued increases in Bitcoin’s value. Nevertheless, he emphasizes that a higher circulation of Bitcoin is necessary to ensure these profits are substantial. Moreover, he recommends that companies take steps to introduce incentives that entice more people to consider acquiring BTC.
Barry Silbert also recommends that individuals seek professional guidance from experts before venturing into Bitcoin investments.This will enable them to learn how they can invest wisely so that they can get the most out of their investment. Long-established companies like Gensis Trading, with their extensive experience, can play a crucial role in helping individuals make well-informed choices when considering Bitcoin investments. Such guidance includes recommendations for the utilization of tools such as Grayscale and Foundry, which not only streamline the trading process but also serve as protective measures against potential financial setbacks in the trading journey.


text:
Some like it hot: Czech Republic sees rise in number of household saunas
Sauna sellers are experiencing something of a boom in the Czech Republic. In addition to the large number of public saunas, the number of families that are installing one in their home is going up.
According to the statistics, personal or private saunas are no longer bought only by home and garden owners. More and more consumers even opt for saunas on the terrace or even in the apartment.
One respondent told Czech Radio she had taken advantage of current offers.
"My husband and I got a sauna at Christmas, since there was a 50% discount. The sauna is for two people and can reach a temperature of up to 60 ° C ".
Attractive for sauna enthusiasts is both price and the general low cost of operation, according to one seller, Drahuše Vañková.
“The operational costs of saunas are not very high. That's why it's becoming increasingly fashionable to have a sauna at home. For example, an infra-sauna cycle, which is heated to about 60 ° C, costs around 40 cents. While the costs of a Finnish sauna cycle, which reaches up to 95 ° C, are between three and four euros.”
At public saunas, by comparison, visitors pay a fee between 4 to 15 euros per hour.
The president of the Association of Pools and Saunas, Pavel Košnár says the low cost is driving demand.
“I think the Czech Republic is one of the biggest ‘powers’ in terms of saunas worldwide. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, there are 1,238 saunas in the country, not counting family saunas.”
He warned that amateur homemade saunas without certification are a major danger, which can have tragic consequences. Earlier this year in the region of Jičín, a woman died with her daughter after being trapped in a homemade sauna.


text:
Long-shot presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who has been highly critical of billionaire Elon Musk, last week expressed his concern over the Tesla CEO visiting with China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang, The Epoch Times reported.
CNBC reported that Musk traveled to Beijing last Tuesday where he was scheduled to meet with senior Chinese officials before visiting the Tesla plant in Shanghai.
According to the Associated Press, Musk met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Tuesday where Qin reassured the Tesla CEO that foreign companies are welcome in China despite strained relations between Beijing and Washington.
Qin told Musk that the US and China must “keep the steering wheel” in the direction of “peaceful coexistence” and “mutual respect” while avoiding “dangerous driving,” according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.
Qin also reportedly told the Tesla CEO that China wants to create a “market-oriented” and “internationalized business environment,” adding that development in China “is an opportunity for the world,” according to the statement.
The Foreign Ministry also claimed that Musk expressed willingness for Tesla to expand its operations in China while voicing his opposition to “decoupling” with the country.
In a video posted on Twitter, Ramaswamy said it is “deeply concerning” that Musk would “oppose decoupling” and claimed that Musk referred to the US and China as “conjoined twins.”
Ramaswamy noted that the “conjoined twins” comment was posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo by Tesla’s Vice President in China and noted that a similar quote was not released in the United States.
Claiming that he has been one of the “most vocal supporters” of Musk’s efforts to “transform Twitter,” Ramaswamy said it was a “real risk” to the United States that Beijing uses the country’s “most prominent business leaders” and celebrities as “puppets” to advance its “agenda.”
Ramaswamy claimed that doing so has allowed China to tilt “the global scales of perception” in its favor.
The Soros-linked Republican presidential candidate said America needs a leader who isn’t “in China’s pocket.”


text:
Globally, plug-in electric car sales in May exceeded 159,000, which is second best result ever. A new all-time record is now expected in June.
The 159,346 deliveries reported for May translates into an outstanding growth rate of 75% year-over-year. 63% of sales came from BEVs, compared to 37% for PHEVs.
After the first five months of 2018. sales almost hit 600,000 (estimated 597,757, up 71%) at an average 1.5% market share.
The BAIC EC-Series, thanks to 12,624 sales in May, managed to move back into first place in the YTD rank with nearly 40,000 deliveries.
With such a strong contender in China, the second-generation Nissan LEAF (7,069) was left behind at #2.
Read more: Inside EVs


text:
So, there is a new Samsung smartphone that is about to be released – big surprise, that, and I say this with full a sarcasm. Still, those who want something that looks to hang out on the high end side of things in terms of design and form factor, and yet having a mid-range performer within, can always settle for the Samsung Galaxy A9.
The handset has already appeared on the FCC database, which means it has been approved, and listed as the Samsung Galaxy A9. With the green light given, it is but a matter of time before it hits the market. While very little detail has been released so far, it should not be too long now before an official announcement is made. All that one can do now is to sit tight and wait. [FCC Page]


text:
Canadian credit card users could soon face new rules at the checkout — including possible surcharges for using certain premium cards, such as those that offer free flights and other rewards.
The federal Competition Tribunal will announce Tuesday its decision in a high-profile battle over how much merchants — and ultimately consumers — pay to use credit cards.
The quasi-judicial body has been asked to rule on whether Visa and MasterCard have engaged in anti-competitive behaviour, leading to some of the highest merchant fees in the world.
Depending on how the tribunal rules, Canadian merchants could begin refusing to accept certain credit cards or surcharging for them.
The stakes in the tribunal decision are high.
“Each year, Canadian merchants pay more than $5 billion in hidden credit card fees on Visa and MasterCard transactions,” the Competition Bureau, which laid the complaint before the tribunal, said last year in its opening statement at the hearings. “Those significant fees are reflected in higher prices paid by all Canadian consumers.”
Merchants who accept Visa and MasterCard — which represent 92 per cent of the market, according to the Competition Bureau — pay a fee to the banks that issue the cards based on the value of each purchase. These fees range from 1.5 per cent for a basic card to 3 per cent for a super-premium card.
The bureau noted that all customers, even those who pay in cash, are subsidizing the credit card system when merchants embed these fees in their prices.
The Competition Bureau, in response to complaints from merchants and retailers, asked the tribunal in December 2010 to end what it called anti-competitive behaviour by the credit card companies.
During the two months of hearings, the bureau argued that Visa and MasterCard had effectively stifled competition by requiring merchants who accept their cards to accept all their cards, including those with higher swipe fees.
It also argued the existing rules that prohibit merchants from imposing a surcharge on cardholders effectively hide from consumers the true cost of paying on credit.
In anticipation of Tuesday’s announcement, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says a ruling in their favour will give merchants more clout to negotiate credit card swipe fees, which have been rising in recent years.
The Consumers Association of Canada, on the other hand, warns that any changes that benefit merchants will come at the expense of consumers.
Association president Bruce Cran fears merchants would use surcharges to pad their profits. And consumers would lose many of the valuable programs attached to their cards, such as loyalty points and extended warranties.
“The only advantage retailers could get is a built-in profit centre,” Cran said.
The Canadian Bankers Association says the current system has built-in checks and balances. If the merchant fees are too low, banks will refuse to issue cards. If the fees are too high, merchants will refuse to accept them.
“(A change in the rules) could result in a very bad experience for consumers,” warned CBA president Terry Campbell.
Imagine, he said, taking your family out to dinner at a restaurant that says it accepts Visa only to learn at the checkout that it doesn’t accept the particular Visa card you’re carrying.
The Retail Council of Canada said it expects few retailers would opt to surcharge customers and even if they won that right the council would push to have the amount capped so that it doesn’t exceed the actual cost of the transaction to the merchant.
Visa and MasterCard, which have defended their policies, declined to comment Monday.
But when the hearings started, it said, “Visa’s no-surcharge and honour-all-cards protections preserve consumer choice at checkout and ensure cardholders are not unfairly penalized for using their preferred form of payment.”
MasterCard Canada has said that, under its rules, merchants are free to encourage consumers to use other forms of payment and even offer discounts for cash, cheque or any other payment option the merchant prefers.
Other countries have struggled with the same issues in recent years.
In the U.S., Visa, MasterCard and major banks settled a lawsuit with merchants that gave them the right to surcharge. So far, few are exercising it. However, many states continue to prohibit surcharges.
U.S. merchants also received at least $6 billion (U.S.) to settle the long-running lawsuit, which alleged the card issuers conspired to fix the fees paid by stores that accept credit cards.
Australia moved to allow surcharges several years ago, but consumer complaints about abuses have led to a cap on such fees.


text:
The Oregon hemp industry is booming, but still faces an uncertain future.
A lack of consistent testing policies, outdated U.S. Department of Agriculture regulation and rules, and problems with banking were some of the issues behind the urgent tone at a recent Oregon hemp farmer roundtable discussion hosted by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden at the University of Oregon Downtown Innovation Hub in Eugene.
Farmers sat alongside industry lobbyists, scientists, professors, designers, producers and Oregon Department of Agriculture officials, expressing their concerns for the future of the industrial hemp business and crop. Despite the uncertainty, Wyden said the level of commitment from industry professionals makes Oregon the perfect state to lead the industry.
“We’ve got it all right around this table,” the Oregon Democrat said. “We’ve got essentially the modern leadership to tap the incredible potential for hemp growth in Oregon. And Oregon, as is our tradition, can be a trailblazer with addressing these issues.”
In 2018, Wyden led the charge to legalize hemp with legislation in the 2018 Farm Bill. Wyden’s work alongside Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made it possible for the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 to become a bipartisan piece of legislation included in the final bill that passed in December.
The bill defined hemp as an agricultural commodity and ultimately removed it from the controlled substance list. The legislation allows for interstate commerce and crop insurance. States are federally required to regulate and inspect hemp farms, but the act gives them the ability to be the primary regulators of hemp production.
Because hemp is now labeled as an agricultural commodity, the USDA is in charge of regulating it instead of the U.S. Department of Justice. Unfortunately, the USDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have not issued updated policies and regulations hemp industry professionals need. These regulations would determine testing and production specifications the industry abides by.
Without them, farmers risk losing thousands of dollars because their current crops may not be in compliance.
The lack of industry standards is what Liz Gale, farmer and owner of Living Harvest Farm LLC in Dallas, said made the roundtable meeting extremely important because farmers need to know what’s going on.
“Things change all the time,” Gale said. “The plants that I have in the ground right now, what’s all decided around these tables, is going to determine whether I can sell it or not at the end of the year.”
Gale said she’s grown medicinal and recreational crops in the past, but hemp creates new opportunities. For Gale, a mother of two sons, hemp farming is a family business.
”If you can sustain your family, and generationally have family farms with hemp crops, that’s where I think hemp will change America,” she said.
Unfortunately, the industry needs to cut through red tape before it can change much of anything. A big part of the issue comes down to testing the plants and defining THC.
While marijuana and hemp are cannabis plants, hemp has a low THC concentration. THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the concentrated psychoactive chemical in marijuana that makes users feel high. The Oregon Department of Agriculture issued rules saying that hemp can’t contain more than 0.3% total THC.
Total THC is the sum of delta-9 THC and THCA, an acidic cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Different testing methods at different labs may impact how the substances are measured and reported. According to Sunny Summers, Cannabis Policy Coordinator for ODA, the language in the farm bill isn’t clear.
“Testing consistency is a big concern and struggle for the industry,” Summers said. “I want hemp to be hemp in Oregon, in Kentucky, or whatever state it was grown in. I want it to be the same.”
Sean Beeman, co-founder of Genesis Pharms, is concerned that with testing issues, the booming industry that is Oregon hemp will come to a halt by harvest time. Beeman is most concerned about the increase in growers with little to no experience.
“There are too many people who think they can use their ag experience to make money. The reality is, just because you can farm corn, doesn’t mean you can farm hemp,” Beeman said.
According to Beeman, some agriculture farmers are jumping into the industry to make a profit and cutting corners to get past testing regulations. Despite the fact that the industry skyrocketed, Beeman said there’s a supply-and-demand issue when it comes to processing hemp, and ODA’s regulations are negatively impacting that.
There are 1,642 registered hemp farmers in Oregon compared to 584 registered last year. According to the ODA, those farmers have registered to plant more than 53,000 acres. In an effort to further help the industry and protect farmers, Oregon State University will take the lead on certifying hemp seed for registered Oregon growers. This will ensure the seed and, eventually, the hemp crop, remain up-to-date with state and federal industry specifications.
In June, OSU unveiled its Global Hemp Innovation Center, the largest hemp lab in the country. Hemp researchers are now eligible to receive competitive federal grants through the USDA, under the farm bill legislation. The lab aims to innovate across several fields including food, product testing and cultivation by combining 40 members of OSU faculty, working across 19 academic disciplines to help address hemp’s full potential.
While innovation is underway, business owners still are suffering. Hemp CBD companies are struggling to find credit unions and banks to work with, despite hemp being legal because it’s still a cannabis plant. And while the bill allows hemp farmers the ability to insure their crop, insurance companies are still turning farmers down.


text:
Actor Vishal who has recently turned producer has now set up a new audio company and named it 'Vishal Sound Factory'. His upcoming production venture Poojai will be the first music album to be marketed by his music company.
- Dazzling Diamond
- Posts : 1486
Join date : 2014-03-03
Permissions in this forum:You cannot reply to topics in this forum


text:
Video: Chrysler shows off three electric cars
CNET Car Tech posts video of three new electric car concepts from Chrysler.
Chrysler surprised everyone with the announcement of three electric vehicle concepts. The company showed working versions of the all-electric Dodge EV sports car, plus a range-extended Chrysler minivan and Jeep Wrangler. The two range-extended models use powertrains similar to that found in the Chevy Volt, an electric motor and batteries to run the car, and an onboard gas engine generating electricity to extend the range.


text:
The popular family-owned Sliver Pizzeria has opened a new location in Montclair Village, right next to Peet’s Coffee on Antioch Court. Sliver, founded in 2013 by Cheese Board Pizza alum Willy Perez, now has seven locations throughout the East Bay. It’s known for its fresh ingredients and “no meat at all” ethos.
The Exedra popped in Tuesday night for a test run and “research” — the restaurant is technically in soft launch mode — and found a newly renovated, casual indoor dining set-up. While there is no pick-up or delivery option at the moment, you can find the store’s signature sourdough crust pizza of the day online and hang out for the 10 minutes or so it takes to make the pizza. (And yes, just like the Cheese Board, there is green sauce.)
While Montclair does have two other pizza delivery operations — Cybelle’s and Mountain Mikes — if you’re looking for an Arizmendi or Cheeseboard-style pizza option with indoor seating (and easier parking than anywhere on Lakeshore, Grand, or Piedmont Avenues), Sliver is where you’ll want to head.
2064 Antioch Court, Montclair Village. Hours: 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Phone: 510-842-3674


text:
Maheshwari, Sapna. 2013. “Forget Training Bras, Girls Are Buying Lingerie.” Bloomberg Business. http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2013-02-28/forget-training-bras-dot-girls-are-buying-lingerie
Growing demand in middle and high school girls demand for intimate apparel, promoting “cuteness” not sexiness. Targeting toward 18-22 year olds has youth demand high. Projections of PINK brand becoming a $3 million business. “Sensuality and body image continues to be a message that young girls are seeing and are being exposed to in a much less controlled fashion perhaps than even 10, 12 years ago,” says Dan Stanek, executive vice president at consultancy Big Red Rooster” — youth demographics emulating celebrity culture accessible via internet. Introduced PINK to gear toward college girls with brightly colored undergarments – however, 15 and 16 year olds want to be older and emulate “college” looks. Using the language of “prettiness” over sexiness – say AERIE, other teen undergarment sales – fears about taking away dressing for self, and promoting dressing for men at earlier and earlier ages. Hire of Justin Bieber to perform at VS fashion show’s PINK segment – so, who are they REALLY marketing to?


text:
Check out our Volvo XC90 PUV photo gallery with 0 HQ pics. Last update in XC90 PUV gallery:
Swedes showed a teaser of the new generation of S60 sedan.
Polestar has revealed the official prices for its 1st model.
Volvo will only make 2 models until 2020 - it's S60 and V40.
We select only big size volvo xc90 puv photos for our photogallery.


text:
The hackers have actually released some information on line already, but that data failed to seem to be the majority of that which was gathered.
The organization moms and dad of Ashley Madison, Avid lifetime Media, stated on Monday so it had modified its policy for deleting individual data, an obvious grievance for the hackers, however the company provided no indicator so it planned to shut your website.
вЂњWe straight away established a thorough research,вЂќ the business stated, вЂњutilizing leading forensics specialists along with other protection experts to look for the beginning, nature and range of the event.вЂќ
While almost every dating site ultimately ends up assisting its reasonable share of cheaters, Ashley Madison, located in Toronto, has produced title for it self by especially providing to two-timers.
That company niche has angered not merely some customers, but other businesses too. Soccer stadiums and soccer groups have actually rejected sponsorship provides. Both NBC and FOX, after being approached about broadcasting Super Bowl spots, have actually rebuffed the internet site.
However, Ashley Madison has steadily grown to 37 million records, in accordance with a figure marketed regarding the front web page of this internet site. Anyone 18 or older can join the free website discreetly, employing a pseudonym. Here, the users can record turn-ons and intimate choices. Only one time users begin chatting and investing photos do they start racking up fees вЂ” along with, possibly, some guilt that is marital.
Your website has long told users they can scrub their pages through the site for $19. Nevertheless the hackers state that an individual info is never ever really deleted knowledge that isвЂ” safety specialists stated, that recommended the breach could have included somebody within the business.
Ashley Madison stated that whenever users delete records, all given info is erased. Nevertheless, on Monday, the web site waived its removal cost for several people.
The breach, plus the hackers complaints in regards to the information policy, was initially reported on by Brian Krebs, a reporter who covers online security sunday.
Noel Biderman, leader of Avid lifetime Media, told Mr. Krebs that the hacker вЂњwas positively an individual right right right right here which was not a member of staff but definitely had moved our technical services.вЂќ The organization wouldn’t normally answer questions that are additional who had been behind the breach.
The hacking is certainly one in a sequence geared towards corporations, such as for example one against Sony and another against Target the 12 months before вЂ” a trend that safety specialists state keeps growing. In-may, the intimate preferences of users of AdultFriendFinder, another dating site, had been leaked online following a breach.
вЂњI think weвЂ™re gonna see a lot more of it as individuals observe effective it really is,вЂќ said Bruce Schneier, chief technology officer for Resilient Systems, a safety business, stated for the Ashley Madison breach.
The breach comes at an inopportune time for Avid lifestyle Media, which had expressed desire for pursuing a preliminary general public offering this 12 months. The organization has two other popular websites, Cougar lifetime and Established guys, that the hackers additionally breached.
For just about any dating internet site, less one designed for extramarital love, jdate events to keep to develop and start to become popular with possible investors, customers needs to be certain that their information is likely to be protected.
Under US copyright legislation, Ashley Madison has got the power to scrub user that is away private released when you look at the breach and posted to many other internet sites. On the company said that it had been doing just that to protect the identities of those who have used Ashley Madison monday.
But which may be a competition it cannot win. Paul Ferguson, senior adviser for Trend Micro, a protection computer computer computer software provider, said that information on Ashley Madison, deleted in one single online forum, is starting to bubble up in other people.
вЂњOnce something is posted regarding the online,вЂќ he said, вЂњitвЂ™s there forever.вЂќ
That determination has some wedding counselors predicting a growth in operation вЂ” even though names find yourself unpublished.
вЂњOh, itвЂ™ll be a huge uptick,вЂќ said M. Gary Neuman, a wedding therapist in Miami Beach, Fla. and composer of вЂњThe Truth about Cheating.вЂќ вЂњJust the headlines getting out may have some partners asking each other, вЂAre you among the people by using this website?вЂ™ вЂќ


text:
There’s a disconnect between the omni-channel promise and its reality, according to research from OrderDynamics, with significant gaps appearing between shoppers’ wants and the services some businesses offer.
More than half of online shoppers (54%) want a named delivery date, but only 15% of retailers currently offer it, making it one of the least likely options to be offered by retailers, despite its obvious popularity.
By contrast, 61% of retailers offer next-day delivery (the second most common delivery option after standard delivery) yet only 10% of shoppers are willing to pay extra for the service, which on average costs £6. Instead, more consumers would prefer to see which nearest store has a product in stock (45%), an option that only 11% of retailers currently offer.
“Customers do not see channels,” said Kevin Sterneckert, CMO of OrderDynamics. “They have one relationship with, and one view of, the retailer, and they want to hear you say ‘yes’ to their desires and to deliver that experience ‘now’.”
Retailers have struck the balance in one area however: 32% of consumers reported they would use a click & collect service if it was available, and half of online retailers provide this facility.


text:
Tesla saves drunk driver when the car realizes he has passed out
Norway – Police responded to a car pulled over in a tunnel to find out that the driver was passed out drunk. Video from a fellow motorist showed that the Tesla realized the driver was no longer interacting and slowed itself to a stop.
On Friday, Norwegian police responded to early morning calls from motorists that a car had come to a stop inside a tunnel.
A video posted to Twitter by the account Tesla Saves Lives shows a clip submitted by a motorist who filmed the white Tesla Model S going 62 miles per hour down a highway, but the driver was slumped over, completely unconscious!
Thanks to the Autopilot feature, when the 24-year-old driver failed to use the steering wheel, look ahead, or respond to repeated warnings from the car, the Model S was able to slow to a stop and put on hazard lights, though a tunnel was a particularly dangerous choice.
According to Elektrek, the car likely was unable to pull over to a safer spot on the side of the road because of the person in the car who was filming the Tesla, blocking off access to a safe shoulder.
When police arrived, they managed to wake up the man at the wheel, who insisted he had not been driving. They administered a breathalyzer test and with the help of the bystander's footage, were able to revoke the man's license.
Tesla drivers have attempted to argue in the past that their cars were driving, and they were therefore not in violation of drunk driving laws. However, there is no car currently legally allowed on the road with full self-driving capabilities, though Tesla's autopilot does edge closer.
Model S Teslas made before 2021 do not have the controversial cabin cameras to monitor driver attentiveness, unlike the Model 3 and Y.
Cover photo: 123RF/ melpomen


text:
True Metal Supply will celebrate the grand opening of its new manufacturing facility in Knoxville Friday, October 7, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The event is open to the community and will kick off at 10 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce. The plant is at 1745 Louisville Drive, off Middlebrook Pike in the Amherst community.
Mason D. Burchette (pictured) is the co-owner and chief operating officer for True Metal Supply. He says the event will have food, giveaways, prizes and facility tours.
True Metal Supply is a manufacturer and supplier of residential metal roofing and post frame building products. It prides itself on using American-made steel. Service offerings include same day service on multiple colors and styles, jobsite delivery, and free design and estimating.
“The company will combine the quality of American steel with the power of local manufacturing to bring an unparalleled customer service experience to every customer,” said Burchette.
True Metal Supply will launch with a 14,000 SF manufacturing facility and a full public showroom. As a consumer-direct business, True Metal Supply welcomes the public to come by the showroom, tour the manufacturing facility and learn about residential metal roofing and post frame building products.