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A 45-second commercial released by Titan group’s jewellery brand Tanishq has sparked a controversy on social media. The Tanishq advertisement shows a Muslim family celebrating the baby shower of their Hindu daughter-in-law.
The YouTube description of the commercial reads: “She is married into a family that loves her like their own child. Only for her, they go out of their way to celebrate an occasion that they usually don’t. A beautiful confluence of two different religions, traditions, and cultures.”Although the ad’s narrative revolves around interfaith marriage, thousands of people have called out the Tanishq commercial on Twitter alleging it promotes “love jihad”. This led to the hashtag #BoycottTanishq trending on Twitter.
Please @TanishqJewelry also show an ad where a muslim woman celebrates eid with her hindu in-laws.
October 12, 2020
many brands are doing this why, why they want to destroy Hinduism.
Tanishq jewelry is promoting diwali ad in which hindu girl is married to a muslim and got pregnant and also showing that muslim are peaceful in religion and promoting love jihad openly.— FilmySoup (@FilmySoup) October 12, 2020
Why i see Hindu daughter in law everywhere....why dont you show Muslim daughter in law anywhere. Just Asking #BoycottTanishq
— Ranzy Singh (@ranzysingh) October 12, 2020
The term love jihad was coined by Hindu fundamentalist groups that claimed that Muslims run a campaign to convert Hindu girls into their religion on the pretext of love marriages.
Any company that promotes Love Juhad is Anti Hindu.
Buying from @TanishqJewelry will be like funding of killing Hindu Daughters.
DONT BUY FROM TANISHQ JEWELRY THIS FESTIVE SEASON.October 12, 2020


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Homebuyers who have been sitting on the fence, watching the rates and inventory are seeing signs that it’s time to buy. Mainly ones like: Off Market, SOLD, Under Contract! The message is clear and the numbers are out to prove it. Don’t wait any longer—Now is the time to buy your new home in Richmond VA!
Home prices really are rising. According to the 2012 Virginia Housing Market Report, Virginia’s median sales price (with ½ the homes selling for more) increased 7 percent year-over-year to $240,000. Every region in the state either held steady or increased their median sales price. Nationwide, Standard & Poor’s/Case Shiller 20-city index reported the fastest year-over-year rise in prices since June 2006 and U.S. home prices rose 8.1% in January. That’s the fastest rate since the peak of the housing boom!
Inventory is going! Home sales in Virginia increased nearly every month last year compared with the same month a year earlier. Central Virginia, including Richmond and the Tri-Cities, saw the biggest increase in the state in home sales at 11 percent year-over-year, according to the 2012 Virginia Housing Market report. With sales increasing and current home owners waiting for prices to keep rising, the number of homes for sale in Virginia dropped to the lowest levels in years.
It’s time to lock-in your mortgage rate. The first week in April saw mortgage rates at 3.25% again for FHA and 3.5% for 30 year fixed. Of course rates depend on a number of personal variables but these near historically low rates will only go up as the market and economy improve. Remember, weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result.
These conditions are bringing potential buyers who have been waiting back into the market ready to buy. Now is the time to get the new home in Richmond VA you’ve been waiting for. Visit Main Street Homes online to see homes available now or better yet come tour our model homes and find what’s waiting on you!

domain: news


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View Street Bread, a new local artisan bread company, recently opened its first #toastbar location inside of The Manifest in Honolulu's Chinatown.
The business, located at 32 N. Hotel St., specializes in hand-crafted bread and offers a pre-set menu of different toasts topped with locally-sourced spreads and produce like homemade nutella or avocado. The toast menu only gives customers four different choices, but rotates weekly.
The toast bar runs on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The price for a slice starts under $4 and goes up to $5.
The owner, 25-year-old Kai Rilliet, decided to start View Street Bread after enjoying artisan bread during a study abroad stay in New Zealand. He said he realized there was a lack of artisan bread in Hawaii and visits to New York and San Francisco confirmed it.
“With the influence of handcrafted items and sustainable and healthier living, the artisan ways are taking over and replacing store-bought items,” he said, “People think of toast as some burnt thing from the toaster, but that’s not what we’re bringing.”
Rilliet said he eats a lot of toast because of his vegan diet, leading him to try baking for the first time. He pursued a career in marketing before choosing to follow his newfound passion.
He also said he hopes to eventually supply bread for local restaurants, food trucks and cafes. He is traveling to San Francisco in the fall to take baking classes to learn about production baking.
Rilliet wants to eventually sell his bread at farmers markets but doesn’t plan to open his own storefront anytime soon. View Street bread will stay small for now, working with The Manifest to provide a new experience for Chinatown.
“Having this co-op with Manifest is a great opportunity for both sides because I handle the food and they handle coffee,” said Rilliet, “With their knowledge of coffee and my knowledge of toast I think it’s just the perfect marriage.”


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myPOS Founder Christo Georgiev Announces Two Upcoming myPOS Stores in Barcelona and Paris
Company News / 23.10.2018
Christo Georgiev, fintech entrepreneur and founder of myPOS, has confirmed his intention to open two new flagship stores in major European cities by the end of the year. The opening is part of an initiative to bring the product closer to potential customers, giving them a hands-on experience and a live demonstration of what myPOS has to offer.
The two new stores will be opened in Barcelona, Spain and Paris, France – two of the most important markets for myPOS. “Our Spanish and French customers have always placed a tremendous amount of trust in us, and we in turn have worked hard to justify it,” Georgiev says. “Opening physical locations in Barcelona and Paris is an extension of that relationship. It’s important to test a product with your own hands before you choose to trust it, and if that’s true for TVs and phones why can’t it apply to POS terminals?”
The Barcelona store will open as soon as November, followed shortly by the Paris one before the end of the year.
myPOS has already opened several flagship stores this year, first in London back in February, then in Amsterdam, Sofia and Milan later in 2018. Future plans for 2019 include locations in Zurich, Bucharest and more.
What is myPOS All About?
myPOS is a company dedicated to helping small businesses grow by supplying them with a complete solution which enables them to process electronic payments. This comes not only in the form of affordable, multi-functional POS terminals, but also includes a free multi-currency account with a debit card, and most importantly, real-time transaction processing which results in instant access to available funds.
Memberships and partnerships
myPOS is FCA authorised, a member of Vendorcom, SWIFT, EPC and participant in the EBA Clearing.
About myPOS Europe Ltd
myPOS Europe Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution, under the Electronic Money Directive 2009/110/EC (the “EMD”) and The Electronic Money Regulations 2011 and The Payment Service Regulation 2017.
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Sustainability mantra hits the mainstream as consumers call for change
In a backlash to the ‘throwaway culture,’ Australian consumers want products that are durable and repairable.
‘Must look good on Instagram’: How COVID has changed retailing
Retailers bolstered online offerings and re-thought just-in-time supply chain practices.
Retail and the rise of the ‘hybrid’ customer
Retailers are luring shoppers back in-store, delving into innovative online shopping experiences and experimenting with the metaverse.
Unboxing this year’s Christmas retail trends – with a big splurge on travel expected
Australians are embracing the Christmas spirit, buying more gifts and increasing the amount they spend on presents this year. Not surprisingly, travel gifts are set to boom.
How COVID-19 changed the way we shop…again
Snap lockdowns, closed stores, increased online shopping and supply chain disruptions were all part of 2021's 'new normal’ for consumers and retailers.
Gimme a gimmick: deep down, we are all novelty shoppers
‘Gimmicky’ or imaginative retail display is a cost-effective way to enhance customers’ purchase behaviour, increase product sales and boost return on investment.
Shopping during COVID-19 made us feel better
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Australians have shopped online to stop feeling lonely, or to stave off boredom and anxiety.
Earlier, cheaper: How COVID has changed our Christmas shopping habits
The fallout from COVID-19 is changing the way Australians will shop for their family and friends this Christmas.
Melbourne’s retail shutdown: how will shoppers and retailers adjust?
As Melburnians adjust to Stage-4 lockdown restrictions, a new study shows how both consumers and retailers are likely to adjust to the ‘new normal’.
Pandemic buying: how innovative retailers stayed afloat
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to menace Australia's economy, new consumer research gives some hope to retailers.
The trick to thriving in a ‘retail apocalypse’
It's been a miserable start to the year for a number of big-name retailers; but not everyone is feeling the downturn. This is why.


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The Australian Government has endorsed a decision to remove tariffs on imports to Australia from Ukraine for a period of 12 months.
The relevant statement was made by Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“The Australian Government has announced it will remove tariffs on imports to Australia from Ukraine. The measure, which is part of the package of support announced by the Prime Minister following his visit to Kyiv, will take effect from today [July 4, 2022 – Ed.]. It follows similar actions by our international partners, such as the European Union, and the United Kingdom,” Farrell noted.
In his words, Ukraine’s imports to Australia reached about $122 million in 2021. The aforementioned measure will see tariffs of up to 5 per cent reduced to zero for a period of 12 months on a range of goods that are produced or manufactured in Ukraine. Excise-equivalent duties, such as those that apply to fuels, alcohol and tobacco products, will remain in place.
“Australia condemns Russia’s unilateral, illegal and immoral aggression against the people of Ukraine. This measure demonstrates our commitment to support the economy of Ukraine as it deals with the ongoing, devastating effects of Russia’s invasion,” Farrell added.
A reminder that, on July 3, 2022, during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to reduce customs duties on Ukrainian goods imported to Australia.


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FORD WARRIORS IN PINK ASKING MEN TO 'TIE ONE ON' IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER
IMAGES: Available at www.media.ford.com.
- During October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, men are being asked to join in the fight against cancer by purchasing a unique and fashionable Ford Warriors in Pink tie
- Many men have a woman in their lives who has been affected by breast cancer, and 2,000 new cases in males are diagnosed each year
- The tie is the first piece of Ford Warriors in Pink apparel designed exclusively for men, and it is available online at www.fordcares.com for $26, with 100 percent of the net proceeds directly benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure
CONTEXT / BACKGROUND:
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many men have a woman in their lives who has been affected by breast cancer – a wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt or friend – and 2,000 new cases of male breast cancer are diagnosed each year. Men can now demonstrate their support in the fight against breast cancer by wearing a fashionable Ford Warriors in Pink tie, which bears the classic Warriors in Pink signature logo.
Nearly 200,000 women and 2,000 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States in 2009, according to the National Cancer Institute. Though far fewer men than women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, the disease has a significant impact on men because many men have a woman in their lives – a wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt or friend – who suffers from the disease.
About the Ford Warriors in Pink Tie
- For the first time, Ford Warriors in Pink is offering a piece of apparel designed exclusively for men.
- Men can now demonstrate their support in the fight against breast cancer by wearing the multicolored tie. The tie is printed on a ribbed, 100 percent silk king twill, which adds texture and design depth.
- The classic Ford Warriors in Pink signature logo is screened into the bottom right-hand corner of the tie.
- The tie is available online at www.fordcares.com for $26, with 100 percent of the net proceeds directly benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
About Ford Warriors in Pink
- Through its Warriors in Pink program, Ford has dedicated more than $100 million to the breast cancer cause.
- Limited-edition Ford Warriors in Pink apparel is sold exclusively at www.fordcares.com, and 100 percent of the net proceeds directly benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
- More than half a million pieces of Ford Warriors in Pink apparel and gear have been sold over the past three years, generating more than $1.8 million for the Susan G. Komen foundation.
- When a consumer test drives a Ford vehicle from now until Dec. 31, 2009, Ford will donate $20 on his or her behalf to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliate in the city of the consumer's choice.
"Every man has been touched by breast cancer in some way. The new Warriors in Pink tie offers them a unique, fashionable way to demonstrate their support in the fight against the disease, and it also helps increase awareness."
– Connie Fontaine,
Manager, Ford Brand Content and Alliances
"As co-survivors, men provide critical support to those touched by breast cancer. But men are at risk for the disease too, with nearly 2,000 diagnosed this year. Ford's Warriors in Pink tie is an easy way for men to show their support for those who suffer from breast cancer, and to remind themselves to be aware."
– Katrina McGhee,
Vice president, Global Partnerships, Susan G. Komen for the Cure
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 201,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
Oct. 6, 2009


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New technology and consumer fancy turn out the lights for Hollywood Video.
STORY BY JON BELL // PHOTOS BY KATHARINE KIMBALL
In the only visible sign of a survival strategy, Movie Gallery recently closed 760 stores, including eight Hollywood Videos in Oregon. “I’ve heard nothing else about strategy,” says industry watcher Thomas Arnold. “Have you?”
They started showing up on the sidewalks in late winter, right out in front of the stores in Portland, Lake Oswego, Canby, Newberg, Salem, Wilsonville, Keizer and Sandy.
The sign wavers.
High schoolers with headphones and bored expressions; a tall, waving woman in gloves and hat; a gruff guy in blaze orange camo; each one holding or rocking or spinning the same six-foot sign advertising the final days of a Hollywood Video store.
“DVDs — three for $8.”
“All DVDs $2.99 or less.”
“Fixtures for sale.”
Yes, even the fixtures were for sale at some of the 760 stores that Hollywood’s parent company, Movie Gallery, began closing just after it announced in February that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — for the second time in the past three years.
The move was hardly a surprising twist considering the turns that both Hollywood Video — founded in Southeast Portland in 1988 — and Movie Gallery, the Alabama video rental chain that acquired Hollywood in 2005 and moved its headquarters to Wilsonville in 2009, have endured over the past 10 years or so. There have been massive debts, economic swings and management missteps; technological battles and threats of hostile takeovers. The entire home video industry itself has morphed from brick-and-mortar rental stores to $1 rentals in grocery stores, video-on-demand services and unlimited DVDs every month for little more than the cost of renting a single movie from the neighborhood store.
Saddled with somewhere between $500 million and $1 billion in liabilities and clopping along with what many in the industry see as a dated business plan geared toward the rural south of 20 years ago, Movie Gallery had few options other than to try a sequel to its 2007 restructuring efforts. It’s hoping to emerge from bankruptcy a leaner outfit —it initially planned to close some 760 money-losing Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery and Game Crazy stores, leaving roughly 1,900 U.S. locations — but one that will still meet most of its customers’ demand primarily through retail locations.
Thousands of its more than 19,100 employees nationwide are expected to lose their jobs, including many Oregonians. In 2005, Hollywood employed 1,800 in Oregon, but those numbers have declined since Movie Gallery took over. Numerous store closings before and during the first bankruptcy — ultimately more than 1,000 were closed nationwide — erased an untold number jobs in the state, and in January 2009, more than 200 full-timers were cut from a Wilsonville distribution center. In the same month, Movie Gallery still reported employing 389 people at its Wilsonville headquarters.
“We intend to emerge from the reorganization process with a new and sustainable business model centered on a smaller base of profitable stores,” the company repeated throughout the restructuring information provided on its website. (Movie Gallery did not respond to repeated requests for comment on this story.)
But the prevailing sentiment that Movie Gallery and its Oregon-grown subsidiary Hollywood Video were living on borrowed time came to pass in early May, when the company announced it will liquidate its merchandise and close all stores.
“I’m surprised they’ve hung in as long as they have,” says Thomas Arnold, publisher and editor of the weekly trade publication Home Media Magazine. “There’s an old saying: change or die. And Movie Gallery hasn’t changed.”
Despite its trials along the way, Hollywood Video has long held a place in the annals of successful businesses to emerge from the Beaver State. Mark Wattles, an aggressive Oregon entrepreneur, opened his very first video rental store, called Home Theater, on SE Powell Boulevard in Portland in 1988, a bustling and burgeoning time for the home entertainment scene. The next year, he changed the store’s name to Hollywood Video and set about an expansion aimed at giving the industry giant, Blockbuster, a run for its money.
And he did.
Hollywood grew through acquisitions and new stores, often in the same mostly urban retail centers as Blockbuster. Wattles took the company public in 1993, and Hollywood continued to grow, eventually topping out at the beginning of the new century with more than 2,000 Hollywood Video stores, 700 Game Crazy video game outlets and nearly $2 billion in annual sales — stats that made it the second-largest rental chain in the country behind Blockbuster.
Less well known, at least in these parts, is the story of Movie Gallery, Hollywood’s southern, more rural counterpart. Founded in Dothan, Ala., in 1985 by business partners Joe Malugen and Harrison Parrish — neither of whom even owned a VCR at the time they bought their first store — Movie Gallery grew at a faster clip than Hollywood, albeit in much smaller markets primarily in the American South. The company acquired small mom-and-pop outlets, built up a franchise base by entertaining prospective owners on a tour bus that once belonged to Jimmy Buffet and then went public in 1994.
Movie Gallery grew to almost 1,000 stores in 31 states by 1999 with annual revenue of $276 million, and by 2005, the year it acquired Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery had hit 2,500 stores.
Phenomenal success aside, both companies had taken some hits by the time of the acquisition. Most notably, Hollywood had teetered on the edge of bankruptcy thanks in part to an ill-fated $100 million attempt at online video retailing with the acquisition of Reel.com in 1999. Wattles, who now heads up Wattles Capital Management in Colorado and who also did not respond to requests for comment, orchestrated a rousing comeback for Hollywood that helped set the stage for the acquisition.
But by the early 2000s, bigger shifts in the home entertainment industry had already begun to have their way with the likes of Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video. For starters, major retailers like Wal-Mart entered the video-selling business, using cheap movies as loss leaders to pull customers into stores.
“That really began to change the fortunes dramatically for the rental chains,” Arnold says. “For a while, even the poorer, more rural areas were safe for the rental business, but then Wal-Mart came to the rural areas.”
Around the same time, Netflix, the California company that offers monthly movie rental subscriptions by mail, began to edge its way into the market with its lure of convenience and zero late fees. In 2003, Redbox, a video vending company that uses soda-machine-sized kiosks to rent DVDs for $1 a day, began sprouting up in grocery stores and fast-food restaurants. All the while, video-on-demand and online streaming services continued to multiply and offer consumers still more alternatives to the traditional video rental store.
While some of the rental chains, including Hollywood and Blockbuster, tried to compete by introducing their own subscription and online services, Movie Gallery stuck to its tried-and-true guns and in 2005 acquired Hollywood Video in a $1.2 billion deal that included $350 million worth of Hollywood’s debt. The deal gave Movie Gallery close to 4,500 retail locations.
“When everybody else was doing kiosks and mail and even digital, Movie Gallery did nothing, or even the opposite,” Arnold says. “It’s like we’re seeing all these electric cars and everybody’s going green, then somebody like Movie Gallery goes out and buys a second gas-guzzling SUV.”
In less than two years, weighted with debt and nearly immobile on the innovation side, Movie Gallery had filed for Chapter 11 and closed nearly 1,000 stores. Its one noteworthy effort at advancing a new technology was its January 2007 acquisition of a foundering digital movie service called MovieBeam for $10 million. The service failed to take off, and Movie Gallery sold it for $2 million a year later.
Market conditions continued to worsen even after Movie Gallery emerged from bankruptcy and moved its headquarters to Wilsonville in 2009. Not only has the recession hit the industry, but also mail, online and other content options continue to chip away at brick-and-mortar rentals. According to the Entertainment Merchants Association 2008 Annual Report on the Home Entertainment Industry, there were more than 21,100 brick-and-mortar video rental stores in the U.S. in 2006; by 2008, that number had fallen below 14,300.
“A lot of it is driven by the success of the DVD kiosks and Netflix,” says Edward Woo, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles specializing in media and entertainment. “Unfortunately it’s very bleak. [The brick-and-mortar store] is just not where people want to rent their movies anymore.”
In addition, investment bankers likely have taken Movie Gallery to the cleaners throughout the merger with Hollywood and its two bankruptcies, says Portland investment manager Bill Parish.
“At the end of the day, investment bankers have made spectacular money off all this,” he said. “They don’t have a prayer.”
In the wake of massive store closings, Hollywood Video hopes customers will migrate to the few remaining outlets in Oregon.
Beyond a smaller number of stores and new $1 rentals for members of its PowerPlay subscription service, there was little more than speculation about how Movie Gallery planned to emerge from its second bankruptcy.
“The creditors who seized them and brought them out the first time clearly had no idea what they were doing,” said Michael Pachter, another industry analyst at Wedbush.
There are promising new markets in the realm of Blu-ray and 3-D, and Movie Gallery had entered into trial agreements with several different digital kiosk companies, including Digiboo and Seattle’s MOD Systems, who offer digital movies that can be downloaded off in-store flat screen kiosks onto portable USB drives and SD memory cards.
“It’s really another way to revolutionize the brick-and-mortar video rental concept, so it’s showing some foresight on Movie Gallery’s part,” says Craig Parsons, a spokesman for Digiboo, which had planned to test up to 100 of its digital kiosks in Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video stores this year.
But the verdict is still out on whether the digital kiosk concept will appeal to consumers, more and more of whom can download content at home without having to head out and find a kiosk. Pachter calls the digital kiosk “the lamest thing I’ve ever seen” and compares it to FedEx’s Zap Mail faxing service of the 1980s, which flopped colossally within two years of its launch after fax machines became readily affordable.
Woo is also quick to point out that Netflix and Redbox are so far ahead in their particular niches of the business that Movie Gallery, a company not known as cutting-edge, would be hard-pressed to dent those markets at all with its own mail or streaming services.
In addition, Blockbuster has tried its hand at just about every alternative delivery method and is still near collapse. The video store giant, which operates more than 4,000 stores in the U.S., announced in mid-March that it was on the verge of Chapter 11 because of a massive debt load.
Another sliver of hope for Hollywood and other rental stores was to sign agreements with major studios giving rental stores and retailers exclusive rights to new releases for 28 to 45 days before they’re made available to Netflix and Redbox. (Warner Bros. Entertainment declined to comment and Sony Pictures did not respond to a request for comment.)
“That would be helpful, but again, I’m not sure that window will be enough to help them,” Woo said. “And I’m sure the studios are concerned about the financial situations of anyone they do business with.”
In the end, Pachter says consumers are going to go with the cheaper, more convenient option, even if that means sacrificing some choices.
When Hollywood Video failed to find a way to offer consumers what they wanted, the future of what was once one of Oregon’s most successful companies became just another piece of used-up material, falling down to the cutting-room floor.
UPDATE (May 3, 2010): Shortly after the publication of this story, Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video announced they will close all stores and liquidate all merchandise over the next several months. The editors rewrote several sections of the online version of this story to reflect that news, replacing hypothetical scenarios with updated realities.


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The Executive Director of the Australian Retailers’ Association (ARA), Russell Zimmerman, has congratulated the Senate for passing the Morrison government’s $158 billion tax relief package.
According to Mr Zimmerman, this will “kickstart the economy”.
He says the combined effect of the cuts – which will hand an immediate $15 billion to consumers as Australians file their 2018-19 tax returns – and last week’s cut in official interest rates will deliver a boost to the economy.
“We’ve been saying for a while now that economic conditions are sluggish, and that retail businesses have been doing it particularly tough, so we certainly welcome the Senate’s passage of this package,” he said.
“Taken in tandem with the interest rate reduction announced by the Reserve Bank [last Tuesday], we think this is just what the doctor ordered, so to speak; these measures add up to a kickstart for the economy.”
Support from both parties ‘particularly pleasing’
Mr Zimmerman says that despite protracted media chatter about how the ALP would treat the tax package in the Senate, it was “particularly pleasing” to note that in the end both major parties had supported it in full.
“The ARA has been calling on both major parties to support this package since the election as an urgent measure to generate consumer confidence and stimulate retail expenditure, and we are delighted they have,” he said.
A ‘highly likely’ boost for struggling businesses
Mr Zimmerman says that with 10 million wage and salary earners set to receive $1,080 as soon as their tax returns are processed – with millions of additional taxpayers on lower incomes also set to receive instant relief – it was “highly likely” that this would now translate to a boost for struggling retail businesses.
“With the retail sector weathering a perfect storm in recent times – with high energy costs, online competition, higher wages and penalty rates, and a fall in consumer spending, this is welcome news,” Mr Zimmerman said.
He encourages people to spend their tax cuts buying clothes, or a new TV, or to head out for dinner, supporting local retail businesses given they will shortly have significantly more money in their pockets.
“I’d urge people to buy whatever it is for the house they’ve been putting off, or to go out and treat themselves: this package is just what the economy needed, and the benefits will be felt by all,” Mr Zimmerman said.


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Scientists Rip Herbal Remedies / Fatal health problems tied to lack of regulation
Alarmed by widespread reports of serious health problems -- some leading to death -- associated with herbal remedies, a group of Bay Area doctors and nutrition experts is calling for new oversight of the nation's burgeoning $12 billion dietary supplement industry.
Hundreds of medical emergencies have been linked to a host of herbal supplements that can be bought without prescription, even though few scientific studies have been conducted to assess their safety and dietary value.
Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, which are subject to rigorous testing supervised by the Food and Drug Administration, dietary supplements are largely exempt from clinical scrutiny by a 1994 law.
"People are dying, and something has to be done," said pharmacist Frederick Mayer, a member of the ad hoc Dietary Supplement Safety Committee, an informal group established after FDA hearings on dietary supplements in Oakland last year.
Mayer is concerned about people such as Tammy Hooper, a 38-year- old Louisiana woman who suffered a seizure and permanent heart damage after drinking a popular herbal tea. The tea contained high levels of senna, a strong laxative that can rob the body of electrolytes and put consumers at risk for cardiac arrhythmias.
"I went to the health food store because I wanted a mild laxative that didn't have any drugs in it," said Hopper. "Now, I've got a defibrillator in my chest and I'm taking drugs every day to stay alive."
Others have not been so lucky.
More than 180 deaths have been linked to dietary supplements in the past few years, according to an FDA tracking system that lists voluntarily reported incidents only.
Mayer and his organization, which is composed of doctors, nutritionists, toxicologists, pharmacists and public health experts, is concerned about a broad range of vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids and hormones that are legally classified as dietary supplements.
These products have been linked to severe medical problems ranging from psychotic episodes to kidney damage, heart attacks and strokes, some fatal.
Three out of every 10 Americans take some type of botanical or herbal medicine and may be at risk, Mayer said.
"People assume that many of these products are safe because they are natural," said Joyce Lashof, former dean of the School of Public Health at the University of California at Berkeley and also a member of the ad hoc Dietary Supplements Safety Committee. "But many of them have never been seriously tested for efficacy or toxicity."
Lashof and other medical experts acknowledge that some herbal remedies may have health benefits. Preliminary studies of St. John's wort, for example, suggest that the herb may be effective in treating mild forms of depression.
But scientists are concerned that a number of herbal remedies are intrinsically dangerous, while others may be harmful when used with other drugs.
Lashof and other scientists are particularly concerned about so- called "bad boy botanicals," a broad group that includes ephedra, chaparral and a concoction known as dieter's tea.
Ephedra is an ancient Chinese herb that can act as a powerful stimulant, particularly when combined with caffeine-rich herbal ingredients, such as guarana. Also known as ma huang, ephedra is used in many weight reduction products, such as Easy Trim and Diet Max, and "herbal highs" like those sold under the brand names Ripped Fuel and Quick Shot. The active ingredient, ephedrine, has been linked to heart attacks and strokes.
In Detroit a 47-year-old woman was taken to the emergency room. Doctors were mystified. Her body's muscle tissue was deteriorating, and she was dying. A toxicologist eventually found that she had been taking ephedra to lose weight. She eventually recovered after she stopped taking the herb.
The nation's second-largest drugstore chain, CVS Corp., said yesterday that it would begin asking customers to tell their pharmacists what herbal supplements they take in order to avoid harmful side effects.
The drugstores will enter the information into a computer and cross-check the supplements with the prescribed drugs to avert possible damaging interactions.
Other natural products have been inadvertently "spiked" with harmful or toxic ingredients. Some calcium supplements, for example, have been found to contain levels of lead that exceed those allowed under California law.
And for a wide array of other herbal products -- from echinacea and ginseng to melatonin and zinc -- the claimed health benefits are unproven.
Consumers routinely assume that the medications they take and the food they ingest have been scrupulously studied by the FDA. But that is not true of natural or herbal products.
In 1994, the dietary supplements industry pushed the little-noticed Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act through Congress. The bill essentially exempts dietary supplements -- vitamins, minerals, herbs and botanicals -- from FDA oversight as long as they claim only to "affect the structure or functions of the body" rather than cure disease.
Earlier this month, the FDA ruled that such symptoms as memory loss or morning sickness were not diseases but rather natural conditions. Thus, makers of herbal supplements can market products to treat these conditions without proving they are either safe or effective.
The dietary supplement industry argues that the law brings greater freedom of choice to consumers.
"The bottom line is that there is a current regulatory system in place in the United States that allows us all to make the best and safest self- care decisions possible," said a spokeswoman for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents more than 80 manufacturers of over-the-counter dietary supplements.


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According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, for the period January to May 2017, India topped the growth of passenger vehicle sales globally. With a sales growth of 11.34 percent India overtook the 9.05 percent growth of Japan, the only other Asian economy to have grown in terms of passenger vehicle sales. Other countries that posted a marginal growth were Germany at 4.68 percent, France at 3.34 percent, and Brazil at 2.29 percent.
Due to factors such as lower penetration levels, improving road network, greater buying abilities and addition of several new models, India’s market was able to outdo its peers in the growth of new car sales, reports ET Auto.
|Jan – May ’16 and ’17 Passenger Vehicle Sales Globally|
|Country||Jan-May 16||Jan-May 17||%Change|
Source: Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers


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Time-limited offers to tempt people to make the move to 4G before rival networks launch
The UK's 4G mobile broadband monopoly EE has announced a temporary price-drop - but existing customers will be left paying the high price for signing up early.
The network, which is the only one in the UK to currently offer 4G mobile broadband, is offering what it calls 'promotional price plans', that will be available from 31 January to 31 March.
For £31 a month people will be able to get unlimited UK calls and texts and 500MB of mobile data.
Finally, EE has launched a new 20GB mobile data plan for the one per cent of people it dubs ‘super-users'.
Available now, the 12-month SIM-only plan will cost £46 per month for the length of the contract if people sign up before 28 February. The package will rocket up to £61 per month from 1 March. EE is also introducing a new SIM-Only 12 month 8GB plan for £41 per month.
The news comes as rival networks, including O2 and Vodafone, get ready to launch their own 4G services towards the middle of this year.
EE will be hoping the new prices can attract more people to join its network. It has so far stopped short of revealing the number of customers using its 4G service.
Updating your subscription status


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BigBrainBank announces the upcoming launch of new digital bank initiative
By Megha Bhattacharya
FinTech EduTech company, BigBrainBank today announced the impending launch of BigBrainBank Digital Bank in Q1 2021. The recent announcement follows the launch of TheBrain AI Trade Strategies app that offers trade ideas based on AI and machine learning. The Digital Bank offering is expected to faciliate the provision of digital payments, remittances and lending services via a collaborative partnership within an integrated app.
BBB CEO, Dato’ Dr Brendon Yong said, “Digital Banking is the way forward as we connect traders and brokers together, and on top of that, reach out to a growing database of customers that are able to connect and converge as we add more products and services to the BigBrainBank Digital Bank portfolio over time.”
According to the company, the Phase 1 ecosystem partners include brokerages such as Tradeview Markets, Lirunex, LMAX and CWG Markets. BigBrainBank supports a crowdfunding platform with a system to support growing companies. It also connects people, technology, broker trading platforms and crowdfunding for microfinancing services – all within one ecosystem as well as aims to simplify transactions and payments.
BigBrainBank offers users user interface and navigation to extract important metrics in trend analysis and identify trade ideas with higher success rates and risk management measures in place. The company also offers a learning platform that includes a professional pathway for those who desire to establish careers in the currency marketplace while honing practical and applicable knowhow. The education system is embedded within a blended learning methodology that combines both offline and online learning with the flexibility of global learning mobility for international students and subscribers.
IBSi Daily News Analysis
September 22, 2023
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Scottish Power is to raise the cost of gas by 19% and the cost of electricity by 10%.
The utility firm said the increase, which would affect 2.4 million households in the UK, would come into effect from 1 August.
Affected customers will see an average daily rise to a dual fuel energy bill of 48p per day.
The company said the move reflected sustained increases in the wholesale energy market.
However, it said about 700,000 households would be protected by capped or fixed priced deals.
Watchdog Consumer Focus described the price rise as a "body blow for customers".
Scottish Power, which is part of Spanish company Iberdrola, last put its prices up in November, when gas prices rose 2% and electricity bills went up by 8.9%.
Other suppliers are widely expected to follow Scottish Power's lead over the coming weeks.
Raymond Jack, Scottish Power's UK retail director, said: "Wholesale prices for gas and electricity have increased significantly since the end of last year and continuing unrest in global energy markets means future prices are volatile.
"We understand times are difficult for many people, and we have done what we can to absorb these additional costs for as long as possible to minimise the impact on our customers."
The power company has also launched an new online product with a long fixed-price offer that it claims is one of the cheapest in the market.
Scottish Power said it could also help its customers to reduce their fuel bills by making energy efficiency savings in their homes.
Mr Jack added: "Some of our customers could save an average of £459 per year by making simple changes to the way they pay for their energy, switching to paper-free online billing and selecting one of our new or existing energy products."
Audrey Gallacher, head of energy at Consumer Focus, said: "This huge increase will be a body blow for consumers and we fear other firms will follow Scottish Power's lead.
"Companies have been softening customers up for price rises for months but customers will be shocked at the scale of this rise. Every household in the country will now be bracing themselves for impact.
"When this affects the cost of keeping warm and well, it is not an acceptable state of affairs."
Energy regulator Ofgem recently called for the industry to be overhauled after it found that the "big six" companies had put up prices more quickly than they reduced them when costs fell.
A separate inquiry has been launched into Scottish Power's pricing plans.
Scottish Power's latest rise will mean that customers who take gas and electricity from the company but pay quarterly by cash will see their annual bills rise by an average of £180 to £1,391.


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The tech hub will operate during the second half of the year and develop new technologies for its mobile app and website, as the business works to improve its delivery service for customers, riders and merchant partners. Foodpanda will also hire new engineering, product and recruitment teams to work at the new tech hub.
Foodpanda currently operates in 400 cities in 12 countries.
Havaianas celebrates best quarter in a decade
Havaianas has recorded a 736 per cent sales increase in China during the first quarter of FY21.
The footwear’s parent company, Alpargatas, has significantly benefited from expansion in China, Europe and the US, with sales lifting by 32.7 per cent to US$168 million. The company said it was Havaianas’ best quarter in a decade.
“Havaianas is stronger than ever, inspired by people in Brazil and around the world,” said Alpargatas CEO Beto Funari.
“The brand has expanded globally, accelerated online sales, and broadened its portfolio with innovation and sustainable technologies. We take pride not only in our ability to expand revenues and profits, but also to support society in the fight against the pandemic and in socio-environmental causes. We are on the right track to capture the full potential of Havaianas.”
Alpargatas recently bought the technology startup business Ioasys to accelerate Havaianas’ direct-to-consumer sales online, boost its CRM program and extend its product portfolio globally.
Innisfree to shutter all Canadian stores
South Korean beauty brand Innisfree will shut all stores in Canada but continue to offer its products through Sephora in the region.
In an Instagram post, the retailer cited health and safety risks relating to the pandemic for the shutdown.
“Circumstances have changed over the past year and we anticipate that the health and safety risks of Covid-19 will be impacting our ability to deliver the right experience for the remainder of 2021 and beyond,” the company said in the statement.
“In that challenging context, we unfortunately had to make the difficult decision to close all Innisfree retail stores in Canada.”
Innisfree opened its first Canadian store in Yorkdale in 2019 before adding three more stores in Ontario. Two stores in CF Toronto Eaton Centre and CF Markville have already been shut as the province endures an extended retail lockdown.
Innisfree closed all its physical stores in the US last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Adidas opens hyperlocal stores in Indonesia
Adidas Indonesia will launch hyperlocal concept stores in Jakarta through a partnership with PT Kanmo Retailindo.
The Stadium Evolution and The Collection stores will offer “on-and-off the field” retail experiences for sports enthusiasts at the newly-opened Pondok Indah Mall 3.
“We are creating experiences that help customers amplify their personalities and fortify their true selves by empowering expression through fashion,” said Benjamin Handradjasa, president director and country manager at Adidas Indonesia.
The Stadium Evolution store spans 350 square metres on the first floor of the mall and features Adidas products across running, sportswear, training, football, and basketball.
The Collection store, slightly smaller at 340 square metres, is a hub for Adidas Originals products aimed at sneakerheads, street-style enthusiasts, fashion-forward millennials, and gen Zs.
“By opening these two stores at once and continued expansion in future, we believe strongly that the Indonesian consumers will rebound,” said Manoj Bharwani, co-founder and group managing director of Kanmo Group.
Allbirds to list in the US
New Zealand footwear brand Allbirds is reportedly set to go public on the US stock exchange later this year with a US$2.4 billion listing.
According to The New York Times’ DealBook, the brand is in talks with banks about an initial public offering, however a date for the listing has not been disclosed.
The sustainable footwear brand, known for its New Zealand Merino wool shoes, is a certified B Corp and currently operates 23 stores across South Korea, Japan, China, Berlin, Amsterdam, London, New Zealand and the US.
The business was founded by Kiwi footballer Tim Brown and biotech engineer Joey Zwillinger in 2016 and has since built up a high profile following, with actor Leonardo di Caprio an investor in the business since 2018.
In September 2020, the company secured a US$100 million funding round and was last valued by Pitchbook at around US$1.7 billion.
“Allbirds has always been focused on building a great company, and as a B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation, doing what is best for our stakeholders (planet, people, investors) at the right time and in a way that helps the business grow in a sustainable fashion,” the company said in a statement to NYT.


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Home Tags CBD
CBD Related Content
Michael A. Rogers outlines four necessary elements to increase further societal understanding about the use of cannabis edibles.
CEO of OC Care ApS, Christian Ohlendorff Hollensen, illuminates us on what we need to know about the cultivation of sustainable and organic medical cannabis in controlled environments, including the essential factor of lighting.
Speaking with Sarah Yetman, CEO of Sovereignport, we understand how she pioneered a CBD and hemp supply chain that is surviving COVID-19 measures.
Here, Hassan Akhtar explains how Cannyx Markets UK Ltd. Are successfully navigating the globalisation of the CBD industry.
Delve into the story of Kevin Simpson, who used Cannabidiol (CBD) to treat Type 2 Diabetes.
We spoke to Professor Mike Barnes, to discuss the future of medical cannabis and cut through the fake news saturating the field.
At Mile High Labs, we share a collective vision for global standards of CBD quality and compliance: Let’s discuss the Novel Food application process for the UK.
Here, Ann Allworth discusses what lies ahead for the FDA’s 2020 Cannabis policy and highlights discrepancies in their thinking.
Following the latest legislative and market trends, Ilesol Pharmaceuticals has developed a new product with a shiny future in the CBD industry.
Rebekah Shaman, Managing Director at British Hemp Alliance, explains what we need to know about removing the barriers to ensure a thriving UK hemp industry.
Canna CBD Limited shares with us 12 ways you can take cannabidiol (CBD), including oils, tinctures, pills, edibles, as well as products for localised relief like bath salts, lotions, roll-ons and creams.
Cannabis (hemp) contains up to 150 different terpenes. They not only determine the smell, but they also have valuable properties for the body as studies show. Katharina Zedlacher, from BioBloom GmbH, discusses the effect of terpenes in CBD full extracts.
Joe Seaman, Head of Client Relations at Naturalis London, tells us how the firm is providing quality CBD, trusted education and tailored consumer advice.
Two-Fifths of Brits think it is “not safe” to drive after taking CBD, according to YouGov study.
Savage Cabbage Ltd offer their expert advice on what dosage of CBD users should be taking and answers other often asked questions, in this in-depth article.
Michael Jacobs, marketing and creative content specialist at GotVape.com offers his insight into how medical marijuana has the potential to help people lose weight.
Here Kathleen Denoodt explains the role of ECDD and why she believes the recommendations of the investigative report should be followed.
More than a fifth of Brits say they work more than 50 hours a week in high-stress careers, leading to an increase in cases of anxiety and depression.
Eos Scientific has commissioned research across a sample of more than 2000 UK adults exploring the growing shift in health-conscious millennials seeking CBD oil over prescriptions for mental health.
With attention turning in the U.S. and elsewhere to how cannabis businesses are banked, John Binns, Partner at BCL Solicitors LLP, gets into the weeds of how UK banks have been addressing the issue, as well as the prospects for improvement.


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Val DiFebo, CEO of Deutsch NY, announced today that Brent Vartan has been promoted to Partner, Chief Strategy Officer from EVP, Director of Strategic Planning. “Brent is an intellectual superpower and a forward thinker who has lead and championed great insights for our clients that push and test marketing boundaries,” said DiFebo.
"Deutsch is a truly unique place; we do things a bit differently here," said Vartan. "I find myself in lockstep with an ethos that is built on business solutions before all else. I am thrilled to be leading Strategic Planning at Deutsch NY, and looking forward to building continued client and Agency success."
Leading account planning since 2010, and now replacing the position most recently held by Bert Moore, Vartan joined the Agency in 2008. He’s been responsible for uncovering the DNA and strategic inflection points for brands including Microsoft and Novartis, and has been instrumental in generating business growth. DiFebo noted, “Brent is the real deal; he is smart, likable and trusted by everyone at Deutsch and our clients. You don’t find that too often.”
Vartan has over 14 years of industry experience working on brands including Starwood, IKEA, Monster.com, USAA, Lay’s, Lowe’s and the NFL to name a few. Prior to Deutsch, he worked at BBDO New York, and also spent time at both Hill Holliday and Goldberg MoserO’Neill.


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Russia's goods manufacturers indicated a renewed decline in the health of the sector in February 2022, according to the latest release of the Purchasing Managers Index compiled by IHS Markit.
As reported by bne IntelliNews, Russian goods producers registered a marginal improvement in the health of the sector at the start of 2022. But in February, the headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Russia Manufacturing PMI registered 48.6, down from 51.8 in January, and below the no-change 50.0 mark, indicating contraction.
However, most of the indicators relying on data collected before the Russian military sanctions on February 24 for now are largely irrelevant due to the deep shock experienced by the Russian economy resulting from an avalanche of Western sanctions.
Even before the invasion, in February manufacturing operating conditions deteriorated modestly and at the fastest pace since August 2021 as output and new orders fell for the first time in six months, IHS Markit wrote.
Lower new sales reflected weaker domestic and foreign client demand, while the manufacturers saw a fall in workforce numbers as pressure on capacity dropped. At the same time, inflationary pressures intensified as the rate of input price and output charge inflation accelerated to the fastest for eight months amid hikes in supplier costs.
Still, prior to the invasion of Ukraine Russian goods producers were more upbeat regarding the outlook for output over the coming year midway through the opening quarter. The degree of confidence was the strongest since August 2019 amid hopes of upticks in client demand and investment in new technology and production processes.
Siân Jones, senior economist at IHS Markit, commented that February (pre-invasion) data supports IHS Markit's forecast of industrial production expanding 6.6% in 2022.


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Hewlett-Packard Co. introduced new software which the company said will allow users to customize and create workflows to automate IT management tasks. HP released the product — originally developed by Consera Software — after its acquisition of the software company was made final on Monday, an acquisition one industry observer said was a very wise move.
According to HP the purchase of Consera was made to add automation capabilities to the HP OpenView software portfolio. The product the company has introduced to achieve that goal is the HP OpenView Service Delivery Designer, formally marketed as Consera’s AgileOne product.
The new product will enable companies to build graphical models that represent business services mapped to underlying IT components and will allow for unified management of the complete IT environment. HP also said the Delivery Designer’s drag-and-drop interface will help companies reduce the time and cost of deployment and deliver a graphical user environment to develop new workflows or customize existing workflows.
From development through to production, the ability to drive new or modified workflows through the deployment cycle is also a component of HP’s Delivery Designer, the company said, adding that the product allows for deployment of workflows into a test environment where logic can be assessed.
Warren Shiau, manager of software research at IDC Canada Ltd. in Toronto, said HP’s purchase of Consera “fits well” with the general direction of what users are demanding, which is for an improvement in the manageability of software at different points in the spectrum.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s infrastructure software…network management or applications, just manageability of software in general has become an issue,” Shiau said.
He added that HP’s acquisition of Consera is an example of an approach that many vendors are taking lately, which is to focus on a specific or targeted opportunity that would help the company get that “point type element of manageability in place,” and, according to Shiau, this acquisition helps HP do that.
The company’s acquisition of Consera was one of two purchases HP announced earlier this month. The second is of Novadigm Inc. — providers of software and content management solutions — which is still subject to the approval of the company’s stockholders.


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The natural gas fueled Fiat TwinAir Turbo engine has been voted the Best Green Engine of the Year 2013. The results of the 2013 International Engine of the Year Awards were announced at Engine Expo in Stuttgart, Germany on June 5. The global jury, consisting of some of the world’s most respected and popular motoring journalists selected the 1.4-litre, 875cc, two-cylinder turbo CNG engine as winner of the Green Engine category, thereby securing the first ever Awards victory for compressed natural gas (CNG) technology.
Fiat explains that as early as its début, the TwinAir had already triumphed at the ‘International Engine of the Year Awards 2011’, winning 4 awards: the one for its displacement category (under 1,000 cm3), ‘Best New Engine 2011’, ‘Best Green Engine 2011’ and the ‘International Engine of the Year 2011’ award, the top award in the competition, which began in the United Kingdom in 1999.
Today the engine powers the bi-fuel Fiat Panda Natural Power launched early 2012 and the Lancia Ypsilon Ecochic Methane launched late last year.
In the field of alternative fuels, Fiat considers that methane engines are now the most appropriate technological choice for contributing to the reduction of pollution in urban areas and the limitation of CO2 emissions. Methane engines minimise the most harmful emissions such as particulate (practically reduced to zero), nitrogen oxide and the most reactive hydrocarbons which cause the formation of other pollutants. They also generate 23% less CO2 compared to petrol engines. Therefore,Fiat says, methane is the “cleanest” and cheapest fuel available today and it is also potentially a source of renewable energy thanks to the development of biomethane.
For over 15 years, the Fiat Group has been the leading European original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for methane-fuelled vehicles, the one which offers the widest eco-friendly range with bi-fuel supply (methane/petrol) designed to accommodate the needs of a broad-ranging clientele, including goods transport professionals: between 1997 and today, Fiat has sold over 560,000 Natural Power cars and commercial vehicles.
(Sources: Fiat and International Engine of the Year Awards)
UKIP Media & Events Ltd


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Monese enables Google Pay with PrePay Solutions
Monese customers can now add their prepaid Monese debit cards to their Google Pay accounts, and make contactless payments using Android devices.
This is PPS’ debut in the UK, which also delivers Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay in France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The addition of the new feature builds on PPS’ existing service proposition for Monese, which includes the provision of Mastercard cards and direct debit capability.
“Since launching our first mobile payments solution in 2001, we’ve been committed to driving the migration of digital payments across Europe and beyond,” says Ray Brash, CEO of PrePay Solutions.
The firm believes that no other payments organisation is currently delivering mobile wallet functionality on such a vast scale. It has also said it is “launching in new geographies before the end of the year”.
Monese also announced the launch of Smart Transactions in April 2018.
The banking service, which launched in 2015, recently reached the 600,000 users mark.
Monese secured this month $60 million in capital giving it some handy oomph to fuel its international banking ambitions.
Just a couple of weeks before, it started offering student accounts.


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Kickstarting Community Spirit the Linden Way
Donors from around the region have responded generously to Linden Homes’ appeal to collect hundreds of sports kits for disadvantaged young people in the UK and Africa.
The Housebuilder of the Year, which has its head office in Peterborough, has teamed up with charity Kits 4 Causes in its Kit Up, Kit Out summer campaign.
Around 50 shirts – and also shorts - were donated by individuals and local sports teams across Linden Homes’ developments across Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire. In total 90 collection points were set up across the country.
Kits 4 Causes will now distribute the clothing to community groups in the UK, designed to help tackle social issues, such as reducing truancy through social inclusion. Others will be sent to countries in Africa to help with projects which use sport to bring communities in conflict together.
Linden Homes area sales and marketing manager Warren O’Callaghan said: “The response to our calls for help from local people has been fantastic. The community really embraced the campaign and I’d like to thank them all for taking the time to dig out their old sports kits for such a worthwhile cause.
“As a leading national business with local developments across Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire we’re excited about helping such an inspirational organisation which shares the same philosophy of neighbourhood engagement that we are so passionate about ourselves.”
Linden Homes ran a prize draw for clothing donors taking part in the shirt amnesty to win a brand new sports shirt of their choice. Teams who donated have been entered into a national prize draw to win £1,000 towards new sporting equipment and the winners will be contacted directly.


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Expenses are coming down in the market for commodity-related exchange-traded products.
Just weeks after ETF Securities launched gold and silver bullion ETFs with record-breaking low expense ratios, UBS has set a new bar for futures-based products as well.
On Thursday the company rolled out the new UBS E-TRACS Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Total Return ETN (NYSEArca: DJCI). The note will track the popular Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index, a broadly diversified index of 19 commodity futures. It will charge investors just 0.50 percent in annual expenses.
That's well below the standard 0.75 percent expense ratio charged by most commodity futures exchange-traded products, including the direct competitor to DJCI, the $1.8 billion iPath DJ-UBS Commodity ETN (NYSEArca: DJP). It also beats the 0.65 percent expense ratio UBS charges for its other commodity ETNs.
If DJCI can trade at tight spreads, it could attract significant assets, as investors seem to like the DJ-UBS index. The DJ-UBS index has less exposure to energy than competing commodity indexes, and more exposure to the agricultural market.
DJCI joins a list of 10 other E-TRACS ETNs from UBS. Those products follow the performance of various UBS Bloomberg CMCI indexes, including broad-based commodities as well as platinum, silver, gold, livestock, food, agriculture, industrial metals and energy.
The CMCI products differ considerably from the new DJCI ETN, however. The former tracks the performance of positions in multiple contract months for each commodity, with the goal of limiting the impact of contango. DJCI, in contrast, follows a more standard approach and tracks the performance only of front-month futures.
You can read the prospectus for DJCI here.


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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin joins space run
With Blue Origin, the Amazon CEO is building rocket engines that can change the way humans explore space.
Virgin Galactic and SpaceX have competition and it is none other than the man who knows our shopping habits, Jeff Bezos, who has created Blue Origin, an Amazon company for space exploration.
Astronaut Terry Virts told CNBC that Elon Musk and Richard Branson were doing great things, but Jeff Bezos towered over both billionaires silently. The Amazon founder is in fact building rocket engines that can change the way humans explore space.
Virts told CNBC that the BE-4 engine of Blue Origin is going to be the most important rocket engine of the 21st century. “Lots of rockets are going to be using it — government rockets, rockets launching telecom satellites and also people," he said.
Jeff Bezos, Virts added, is going to make an impact by getting to the moon, getting people to space and impacting the 21st century space economy. The engine is going to be the single most decisive factor in making companies go to space and is also building the next generation of human spaceflight.
With Bezos, Musk and Richard Branson in the fray, the next space race is not going to be about nations, but about companies going to space.
Amazon is making inroads into space technology and is working with Lockheed Martin through Amazon Web Services and DigitalGlobe to bring satellite data to earth. AWS CEO Andy Jassy launched AWS Ground Station, a new service that will be housed at AWS Cloud Regions around the globe.
Lockheed's product is called VERGE (Virtual Resilient Ground), which is a cube-like antenna about the size of small guitar amplifier and will deployed on AWS Ground Stations across 56 regions over the years to communicate with satellites.
AWS Ground Station is dubbed a fully managed network of ground station antennae around the world in close proximity to AWS infrastructure regions. There are two Ground Stations set up today, and 12 more will be deployed in 2019, Jassy said.
Now if these are small bets, Bezos eventually wants to put people in space.
According to Forbes, Bezos is currently worth $130 billion, Musk is worth $22.2 billion, and Branson $4.9 billion.
"There's always been smart people with ideas but now they're smart people with ideas and money," astronaut Virts said.
There definitely seems to be no place where Amazon cannot go.


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There are hordes of hotted-up, modified, and tweaked cars at the 2011 SEMA show, but one car in particular harks back to a purer, simpler time. Despite its age, it packs no less punch: it's the original prototype chassis for the Shelby Cobra, built in 1962.
Wearing chassis code CSX0001, this is the car that started a legend. Mating a lightweight British roadster with thunderous American power, the Cobra went on to dominate in motorsports shortly after its introduction.
Shown at SEMA with a healthy dose of patina, particularly in the well-worn interior, the car shows that intelligent power-mad modding stands the test of time.
Photos originally posted to Autholics.com. Used with permission.


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The mythology of capitalism and the market economy that it has spawned continue to exert a bizarre intellectual stranglehold over many Americans. As every student of political philosophy knows, the central tenets of modern capitalism evolved out of liberal political philosophy. John Locke's insistence that a human beings were by nature motivated by the singular concerns of the self, that utilitarian calculations formed the true basis of moral decision-making, and that the acquisition and protection of property were the primary animators of human conduct formed its core beliefs.
David Hume, through his essays about the importance of money and trade, Adam Smith, with his emphasis upon the role of market as self-regulating entities, and David Ricardo, with his concept of comparative advantage, completed the edifice of what is today's liberal economic orthodoxy.
The question that needs to be asked about this orthodoxy - as with all other orthodoxies - is, does it, in fact, explain existing social reality? If the markets for goods and services, absent public regulation, naturally seek to move into equilibrium, as advocates of unbridled market economics assert, why then have the annual median incomes of Americans, as of 2010, fallen to the lowest level since 1999? Why have "fair trade" policies, despite increasing levels of education in the U.S., caused a net migration of millions of U.S. jobs overseas during the past four decades, while the U.S. has continued to accumulate ever increasing balance of payments deficits caused by ever increasing purchases of foreign-made goods that were previously made and still could be made in this country?
As Charles Duhigg and Keith Bradsher reported in the New York Times ("How the U.S. Lost out on iPhone Work," January 21, 2012) nearly all of the 70 million iPhones, 30 million iPads and 59 million other assorted products sold by Apple sold last year were manufactured overseas, primarily in China by third-party vendors with whom Apple contracted for services and products. Apple employs only 43,000 people in the United States and 20,000 overseas but,as a result of its exploitation of workers through third-party vendors, Apple made a profit of $400,000 per each of its actual employees, a sum greater than that made by Goldman Sachs, Exxon Mobil and Google.
If unregulated market economies are the answer to economic progress, as Mitt Romney and his GOP allies insist, how then do we explain the implosion of Wall Street and the related financial scandals that have destroyed trillions of dollars of wealth possessed by ordinary Americans?
Conversely, if government regulation of the economy is the problem, how do we explain the growing economic inequality in the U.S. Why is it that, despite what right-wing libertarians claim is a confiscatory tax code, the wealth of the top 1% continues to grow exponentially? In October of 2011, the Internal Revenue Service and the Congressional Budget Office released findings which showed that, as of 2009, the 1.4 million who belong to the top 1% made an average of $1 million dollars in 2009. Since 1979, the share of U.S. Income enjoyed by the top 1% has increased from 9.18% to 17.9% as of 2009, or more than the entire bottom half of the U.S. population. Almost simultaneously, Forbes Magazine reported that, as of November, 2011, the four hundred richest Americans enjoyed a combined worth of $1.53 trillion, which figure had increased from $1.37 trillion over the previous year. Their combined wealth was thus approximately equivalent to the GDP of Canada.
President Obama and Elizabeth Warren, the progressive Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, have been criticized by the Republican noise machine and its right-wing media outlets for stating the obvious: that each of us has depended for our success, to some degree, upon the help, assistance and inspiration that we received from others. Further, they have emphasized the obvious: that public goods - rail, road and airport infrastructure, public education, government support for R&D, public health, food and safety regulation, environmental regulation, civil rights protection, consumer protection, anti-trust regulation, protection of intellectual property - are essential prerequisites for economic success. Consider, for example, the rewards reaped today from the government funding and research to create satellite/GPS technology and the internet.
Market economies are affected by the frailties and foibles of human actors. Many of these actors are motivated by selfish, short-sighted concerns; but the consequences of their actions harm everyone. It is for that reason that regulation in the public interest and investment by the government -as the agent of the people in a democracy - are essential antidotes to the temper the excesses of capitalism and to create the foundations for a truly just society.
The continued clamor to reduce public regulation and investment is a siren call that is orchestrated by corporations and the wealthy elite who want free reign to continue to game the system. Ordinary citizens need to resist that clamor and to understand that their true, long-term interests have little in common with the interests of the top 1%. As Nicholas Kristof remarked (New York Times, "Markets And Morals," May 30, 2012) "If you're infatuated with unfettered free markets, just visit Waziristan."


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In recent years, reversing cameras and parking sensors have done a lot to inhibit parking scrapes and reversing accidents. However, they are usually the preserve of new cars. In a goal to change this, FenSens utilizes a new license plate frame, which wirelessly connects to the smartphone and provides the driver with parking sensors irrespective of how old the car is.
The FenSens team claims that 90 percent of the cars on US roads don’t have parking sensors, which contributes to the 1.8 million rear-end accidents, 15,000 injuries, and US$7 billion in damage caused by back-up accidents.
Though there are numerous self-install kits online, they can be costly and beyond the capabilities of many to install. Compared to most of these kits, the FenSens unit does not need any wiring or external power but instead communicates wirelessly and relies on a built-in five-month battery.
Two different models are available: the Fender Defender and the Parking Assist. Both models attach to the car with four screws and connect to iOS or Android devices using Bluetooth LE. The dual-sensor entry-level Parking Assist model is designed for trucks and cars with license plates, and has a narrower field of vision in order to protect the area immediately behind the driver.
The costlier Fender Defender model features four ultrasonic sensors, covering the entire rear of the car. Both models come with a range of approximately 10 feet (3 meters), and are IP67 water/dust proof.
Information regarding what is going on behind the driver is conveyed through the typical combination of beeps and boops, as well as a visual display on the mobile device of how close things are to the driver. In the event the driver forgets to pull the phone out of his pocket, the vibration alerts come in handy.
While this is a perfect idea, there is still no better alternative to turning around and having a look behind. Also, in some parts of the world, it is illegal to use the phone while driving and, without having the device mounted on the dashboard, looking down to the hand or lap radically reduces the driver’s situational awareness.
The Parking Assist and Fender Defender models are now available for pre-order.
Hamid Moaref has always been fascinated by cars and the automotive industry. His family has a longstanding association with the industry and has been in the tire business for the past 35 years. Raised in Dubai, Hamid attended Capilano University in Vancouver where he graduated with a BBA in marketing before attending an intensive course in magazine publishing in 2005. He has been the publisher and chief editor of Tires & Parts magazine for the past ten years.
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It’s the same story with many companies who consider contract manufacturing. They grow, begin exceeding in-house production capacities, decide to find a contract manufacturing partner, and realize outsourcing is just too difficult and confusing. This guide will walk you through the first considerations to evaluate, which questions to ask, and how to know contract manufacturing is right for your organization.
- Company News
- Contract Manufacturing Press Release
- EV Components
- Industrial Coatings
- Industrial Safety
- Industry News
- Made in the USA
- Manufacturing Best Practices
- Manufacturing in Mexico
- Manufacturing in Mexico
- Supply Chain Management
For nearly two decades, US manufacturers saw China as an optimum location for assembly operations – but reshoring from China is becoming a new trend. Due to a myriad of factors – from labor prices to fuel costs to infrastructure – US manufacturers are now bringing their operations back home. The trend is reversing. China is no longer considered the better option across the board. Reshoring to the US and especially nearshoring to Mexico are becoming more and more popular.
Recent China tariffs are complicating the US-China trade relationship, causing many to rethink their outsource strategy. But there might be more to the story. The tariffs President Trump has imposed against China and their retaliatory tariffs are making things difficult, but there are indications China has been losing manufacturing prior to this.
When US President Donald Trump announced in March that he would be imposing a 25% tariff on imported steel and 10% on imported aluminum – and in May that US allies would not be exempted – it was domestic manufacturing that responded negatively to the news. Recent news indicates US manufacturers may increasingly outsource production to avoid not only the price increase on inputs but also the added cost of exporting goods to countries imposing retaliatory tariffs on US goods.
Renegotiations have concluded for the new NAFTA deal, and all three countries are declaring the agreement a victory. US President Trump long derided NAFTA as a failure and a liability for the US economy. He campaigned on a promise to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement and replace it. But how different is this […]
Partnering with a shelter manufacturing service to take advantage of Mexico’s maquiladora program has phenomenal advantages. Small, medium, and large producers can each find unique benefits for their operations south of the border – if they go about it right.
With US President Donald Trump’s tariffs going into effect, manufacturing in China is becoming more costly and problematic. Firms looking to remain competitive and to keep production costs low while selling to the US market have real concerns about remaining in China. For some, a new alternative is beginning to look a lot more attractive […]
More jobs are coming to the United States from an unlikely source – China. Typically known more for competing with the United States for jobs, there has been a recent slurry of manufacturing leaving China headed for more profitable shores. It seems rising wages and fuel costs are driving the shift to a large extent. […]
Intellectual property is among the most valued assets companies today can have. Developing, protecting, and deploying this property is essential to success. Fortunately, Mexico has a history of detailed protections, effective enforcement, and an environment that inspires investor confidence. Companies seeking to manufacture in Mexico should take steps to adequately understand the way intellectual property protection in Mexico works, and how they can most benefit from these protections.
What is Mexico’s relationship to manufacturing? How affordable is manufacturing in Mexico? And what legal framework governs import/export manufacturing in this Latin American country bordering the world’s largest consumer market? This overview will answer these and other questions, showing how and why Mexico came to be a manufacturing powerhouse and outsource location of choice for many of the world’s most prestigious companies.


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Rainwater has poured into Edinburgh’s brand new St James Quarter shopping centre after Scotland was hit by floods and thunderstorms.
More than 40 stores began welcoming customers last week, as did new cafes and restaurants.
But on Sunday afternoon, the capital city was battered with torrential rain and streets became flooded.
Water poured in through the ceiling of the shopping centre and down to the ground where staff in a Boots store could be seen using mops to try and keep it at bay.
A cordon had been erected around the open space between floors within the centre outside the Boots shop.
The £1bn development is set to open in stages over the next 18 months having welcomed customers on Thursday, June 24.
A spokesperson for St James Quarter, said: “Due to the severe weather in Edinburgh, parts of the St James Quarter Galleria were cordoned off for safety reasons.
“St James Quarter has been built to fully integrate with the city’s streetscape and is not an enclosed building. Whilst St James Quarter has been designed as a naturally ventilated environment and allows some rain to come into the galleria, the extent of water ingress in two sections was mainly caused by severe rainfall testing areas within the second phase of opening which are still under construction.”
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The technology we use to take pictures has changed a lot over the years, but the designs of camera lenses have remained fairly simple. Now, scientists from Columbia University are re-imagining the way we capture images with a "flexible sheet camera" [PDF] that uses elastic lenses to wrap around curved surfaces.
As reported by Gizmodo, the team of researchers from Columbia University's Computer Vision Lab first intended to build their device by attaching regular lenses to a sheet of silicone. They soon realized this route would pose some serious roadblocks: Bending the camera's flexible base would overlap the lenses' fields of view, producing missing spaces in the final picture.
To fix this, the team set out to create flexible lenses that could change shape with the rest of the device. The result was a new type of camera that captures images from multiple points in space.
As you can see from the video above, this technology has multiple potential applications. Strips of the camera sheet could be wrapped around cars to eliminate blind spots. Amateur photographers using a pocket-sized model could widen the perspective of an image by simply bending the camera. And as virtual reality continues to gain popularity in the mainstream, it's easy to imagine the camera as an alternate to the devices currently being used to capture 360-degree imagery.
Header/banner images courtesy of Columbia University via YouTube.


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Stories from this week:
Our feature story:
Walmart and Target’s e-commerce gains are a “Blaring Siren” to retail
It’s no shock that amid the ongoing pandemic, retailers are seeing e-commerce sales surge. But even so, the numbers are eye-popping.
Walmart reported blowout Q2 earnings on Tuesday, led by a 97% surge in online sales. That comes after Walmart’s online sales rose 74% in Q1. The chain, which was criticized years ago for being too slow to beef up its online presence, has been on an e-commerce hot streak since before the pandemic and is now a formidable online sales foe to Amazon, which saw its net sales rise 40% in Q2.
The stay-at-home era has served as a tide to lift many e-commerce boats: Target reported a huge Q2 earnings beat on Wednesday, with its online sales up 195%. That’s after a stellar first quarter when Target saw its online sales spike 141%, and said that in April alone, online sales were up an astonishing 282%.
Even Etsy (ETSY), which due to its size is rarely compared to giants like Amazon (AMZN), Walmart (WMT), and Target (TGT), saw its Q2 sales (which are entirely online) rise 137%, driven by mask purchasing, which comprised 14% of all sales in the quarter.
Overall, U.S. e-commerce grew 44.5% in Q2, the biggest quarterly growth in more than 20 years.
Editor's note: Onfleet is proud to call Dutchie and Foxtrot Market as customers


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Eicher Polaris has appointed Pankaj Dubey, the Managing Director Of Polaris as one of the company's board of directors. Eicher Polaris is a 50 - 50 joint venture (JV) between Eicher Motors and Polaris Industries; both companies signed a JV back in 2012.
The company had launched its first utility vehicle, the Multix, in June this year and had also entered a partnership with Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company (CHOLA), to offer vehicle financing options to customers wanting to buy a Multix.
Pankaj Dubey, 48, has been the Managing Director of Polaris India since its inception in 2011. Before heading Polaris India, Dubey worked with Yamaha, Lohia Machinery, and Hero. Pankaj Dubey has big plans for Polaris and Indian Motorcycles in India, as he revealed to DriveSpark in an exclusive interview.


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Amazon Prime was definitely on top of their game during San Diego Comic-Con 2019, as they spotlight three of their most highly anticipated upcoming series with “The Boys”, “The Expanse” and the one we are most intrigued by “Carnival Row”. Once again, Amazon Prime Video took over a huge spot in the park across the street from the San Diego Convention Center to provide Comic-Con attendees with spectacular activations showcasing all three series with an immersive maze for “The Expanse” and crime-scene reconstruction for “The Boys” and a stunning Victorian-era secret speakeasy of sorts for “Carnival Row”. The “Carnival Row” activation immediately had us hooked, as it was incredibly well portrayed by several different characters who helped us along on a journey from a marketplace area to a hidden door that revealed a secret speakeasy/burlesque club where ethereal creatures could be seen erotically performing and promising our earthly desires to come true. Alas, it was eventually raided during the activation, but the bobby characters, but it was still a super cool experience and gave us our first taste of just …
San Diego Comic-Con is always a flurry of activations, panels, press conferences and more from all the major networks promoting their upcoming film and television slates. One of the shows we are most excited about comes is an Amazon Prime Original Series, “The Boys” and we were lucky enough to have the chance to catch up with the cast including actor Karl Urban and executive producer Eric Kripke. Here are the top five things we learned from our San Diego Comic-Con interview session: When talking to us about what attracted him to the project actor Karl Urban revealed, “The idea of ‘taking on the man,’ it channels current events and is quite timely.” In regards to his character, Urban commented, “Billy Butcher crosses a few moral lines pretty much every day which is a lot of fun to work with.” The Amazon series will play up to a more mature audience, as there is quite a bit of language and violence that takes place. Creator Eric Kripke told us that it is an important aspect to drive the story forward, …
The post Five Things We Learned From ‘The Boys’ Interview At San Diego Comic-Con appeared first on Age of The Nerd.
Everyone is on the edge of their seats awaiting the release of the upcoming “Lord Of The Rings” series prequel which will be coming to Amazon in the near future. It was originally reported that filming for the series would be taking place in Scotland, however that has now changed and filming will definitely be …
The post Filming For The Upcoming ‘Lord Of The Rings’ Series Will Take Place In New Zealand, Not Scotland appeared first on Age of The Nerd.
Amazon Prime Video today announced plans for San Diego Comic-Con 2019, complete with parties, panels and out-of-this-world experiences for fans of their favorite Amazon Original series, including The Boys, Carnival Row, The Expanse, The Man in the High Castle and Undone. THE AMAZON PRIME VIDEO EXPERIENCE The Amazon Prime Video Experience will celebrate the new more »
The post Worlds Collide With The Amazon Prime Video Experience At San Diego Comic-Con appeared first on Age of The Nerd.
Amazon Studios plans to promote it’s three brand new series, “The Expanse”, “Carnival Row” and “The Boys” at San Diego Comic-Con 2019.
The post San Diego Comic-Con 2019: Amazon Will Return To With Huge Offsite, Screenings And More! appeared first on Age of The Nerd.
It looks like the rumors are true and the long-awaited news that “Lord Of The Rings” fans were waiting for is finally here. Amazon has revealed that filming on the upcoming “Lord Of The Rings” series will commence this summer. Amazon is picking up the series just prior to the events which took place in more »
The post Filming For ‘Lord Of The Rings’ Series Will Commence This Summer appeared first on Age of The Nerd.
From Warner Bros. Pictures and director James Wan comes an action-packed adventure that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas, “Aquaman,” starring Jason Momoa in the title role. The film reveals the origin story of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry and takes him on the journey of his lifetime—one that will not more »
Words and photos by Rachael Smith (PCM) When we entered this offsite we encountered the marketplace. We were able to get water and snacks. They had two things to do; the VR experience and an escape room. VR experience This was the physical training to simulate what recruit Jack Ryan would have done to complete his […]
The post Our Experience With The Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Experience At SDCC! appeared first on PCM Reviews.
SAN DIEGO, July 20, 2018 – Amazon Studios this afternoon made a number of announcements during its San Diego Comic-Con panel, as well as debuted exclusive clips and trailers for several highly anticipated series. Among the talent in attendance at the panel held in Ballroom 20 were Carlton Cuse, a showrunner and Executive Producer of Tom… Read More
(PCM) Amazon, who has a history of creating memorable fan experiences at SDCC, is continuing the tradition this year with Fire TV and their “Fast Forward to the Future” activation. Not only does this mark Fire TV SDCC debut, but it will also be one of the first opportunities TV fans will have to try the […]
The post Amazon Fire TV Unveils ‘Fast Forward to the Future’ Activation For SDCC! appeared first on PCM Reviews.


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- Mozilla, the creator of Firefox, gives you some tips to help make sure you or you and your kids are set to make the school year safe online. The best tip, which is #1 on the list, is to either update your passwords or switch over to a password manager
- TikTok parent company ByteDance acquired Amcare Healthcare. This comes after Amazon recently announced it bought a healthcare company too. ByteDance, like Amazon, wants to gobble up all the data they can to leverage and use it for future products.
- One of Twitter's employees was found guilty of taking cash and luxury goods from the Saudi government for collecting personal information on Twitter users that the government found of interest. There was previously another Twitter employee caught doing the same, but fled to Saudi Arabia safely.
The FEC is allowing Google to let political spam through to your main inbox.
You may be wondering why I called the emails spam before seeing any of the emails. If you have ever made a political donation of any kind, you know the destruction your email inbox gets from other candidates trying to get ahold of a potentially donating constituent. It was like fighting hydra, you unsubscribe to one, and you get 2 more emails from different candidates. It is ridiculous.
Where it gets weird, is Google has to approve the PACs or political parties to make sure they are who they say they are. The Republicans kept crying foul that Google censored them when most Republicans in office can hardly operate their iPhone with font the size of their age. This is Google's way of trying to make it fair to them.
Luckily, it seems like Google will let you mark them as spam once, and then they will automatically go to your spam folder. But the fact that an email is most likely spam will get through is a bit concerning. Let's hope politicians will use this power responsibly...
Amazon is collecting palm prints to allow you to check out at the same speed as tapping your phone or credit card in hopes they can collect more information about you.
Every week, I report on another facet of your life that Amazon can think of to collect data on to add to their ever-growing rolodex of personal information. This time it is palm prints that you can use to check out at Whole Foods locations.
I don't see much of an angle here that could benefit users. It will take a comprable amount of time to use some form of digital phone wallet, or by just tapping your card. I guess the benefit is you don't need your wallet? or you won't have to take your phone or wallet out of your pocket? I don't see it catching on besides at Amazon-owned or affiliated businesses.
It has already taken criticism and taken out of use at one of the spots that weren't affiliated with Amazon, so that is good news.
Next week's issue: Amazon collects your footprint to pay for Amazon-owned private beaches.
Facebook gave police a teenager's private chats about an abortion she had, which cops then used to seize her phone and computer, resulting in her and her mother being charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors.
Last week I reported on how data broker's lists of pregnant women can be used against them in post-Roe states where abortion is illegal. We now see this in action. Even before Roe v. Wade, Nebraska outlawed abortion after the 22nd week of pregnancy, and is fully illegal in certain cities.
Facebook has previously not said whether or not it would give data to law enforcement regarding abortion instances. Now we know they will.
You need to assume your data, public or private, on social networks will be used in some way, whether you like it or not. Make sure what you have on your profile is okay with being passed to the highest bidder or revealed in the latest data breach.
In Other News
- Walmart is reportedly looking at deals with streaming services (TechCrunch)
- FTC Considering Rules on Collecting, Selling People's Personal Data (CNET)
- What the ‘Roblox’ Hack Revealed About Chinese Censorship and U.S. Content Moderation (Vice)
- Clean up orbit first, then we can think about space factories, says FCC (The Register)
noclip - Noclip lets you fly through abandoned worlds of old videogames. It is fun to re-explore these worlds in a detached camera you played as a kid when you could only beat the level to see what comes next.
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EverFight launched its IDO on Pinksale after deals with both LaunchZone and TrustPad fell through because the project lacked a minimum viable product.
EverFight Moving Fast
EverFight explained in an October 30th blog that Pinksale was its third choice launchpad. The company had previously considered launching on both LaunchZone and Trustpad but was not eligible because the company currently lacks a minimum viable product (MVP).
In the end, it was third time lucky for EverFight, who found the right partner with Pinksale. The launchpad was able to meet EverFight’s demanding timescale without the requirement of an MVP.
“To keep our promise to launch in October we decided to use the most popular Decentralized Launchpad which is Pinksale,” explained EverFight in the blogpost.
With funding secured, EverFight should now be able to progress with the rest of its roadmap. Having displayed a commitment to raising money on a strict schedule, and having been back by their community in good faith, it will be interesting to see if the EverFight team can deliver products with the same level of zealous punctuality.
According to EverFight’s Telegram admin their first game, ‘Twotter’ will arrive ‘within a week or so.’
What is EverFight:
EverFight is a gaming platform that will feature several mini P2E NFT games on BSC with an NFT marketplace for the in-game Skins, Characters, Collectibles. $EF, the native EverFight token, is a hyper-deflationary crypto asset. $EF use-cases include entry fee settlement, holding for benefits, and running the EverFight games ecosystem. The EverFight project is focused on providing an entirely self-sustaining virtual gaming platform. The structure creates a consistent, economic, and fair system that would encourage gamers to participate.
Where to find more about EverFight:
Source : bsc.news
Founded in 2020, BSCNews is the leading media platform covering decentralized finance (DeFi) on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). We cover a wide range of blockchain news revolving mainly around the DeFi sector of the crypto markets. BSCNews aims to inform, educate and share information with the global investment community through our website, social media, newsletters, podcasts, research, and live ask me anything (AMA). Our content reaches hundreds of thousands of global investors who are active in the BSC DeFi space.