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A study has discovered rice-based foods aimed at babies and young children contains dangerously high levels of arsenic.
This is particularly worrying for mums and dads, with the toxic chemical capable of impairing a baby’s physical and mental development.
Almost three-quarters of products tested exceeded the maximum amount of the substance, the Mirror reports.
Dangerously high levels of inorganic arsenic are also often found in babies who have been reared on formula milks, especially non-dairy versions, according to the research from experts at Queen’s University Belfast.
Andy Meharg, a professor of plant and soil sciences at Queen’s, who led the research said: “Babies are particularly vulnerable to the damaging effects of arsenic that can prevent healthy development of a baby’s growth, IQ and immune system to name but a few.
“Products such as rice cakes and rice cereals are common in babies’ diets.
"This study found that almost three-quarters of baby crackers specifically marketed for children exceeded the maximum amount of arsenic.”
Rice usually has 10 times more inorganic arsenic in it than other foods and overconsumption has been linked to developmental problems, diabetes, heart problems and nervous system damage.
The Food Standards Agency urged parents not to give children aged between one and four and a half rice drinks but offered no advice as to whether they should keep eating rice cakes and other foods.
A spokesman said: “We recommend that consumers eat a balanced, varied and healthy diet.
"Rice and rice products can be part of that, including for young children.
"However, we do advise that toddlers and young children – ages one to four-and-a-half years – should not be given rice drinks as a substitute for breast milk, infant formula or cows’ milk.
"This is because of their proportionally higher milk consumption and lower bodyweight compared to other consumers.”


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Ubisoft has released the launch trailer ahead of the release for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Check it out above for more of Captain Edward Kenway’s swash-buckling tactics.
Taking place after the events of Assassin’s Creed III in the modern world, the Animus portions will see players taking control of Connor’s ancestor. Edward Kenway, unlike his descendant, gives especially less of a damn than most pirates and is all about raiding forts, assaulting naval ships, stabbing sharks and just outright spreading his rule across the Caribbean.
You can check out the first review for the game here, which is very favourable. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag will release worldwide on October 29th for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It will be releasing on October 29th in North America and November 22nd in Europe for the Wii U, with the PC version releasing on November 19th in North America and November 22nd in Europe. It will also launch on November 22nd for the Xbox One, with a PS4 release on November 15th/22nd.

domain: news


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There has been a surge in Vietnam’s exports to the U.S. whose trade war with China continues without an end in sight.
The U.S. was Vietnam’s largest export market in the first five months with a value of $22.6 billion, up 28 percent year-on-year. China came second with $13.4 billion, down 2.6 percent, according to Vietnam’s General Statistics Office.
Vietnam was the U.S.’s 12th largest supplier last year, but if this pace of growth is sustained for a full year, it could leapfrog Italy, France, the U.K., and India in the ranks of top exporters to the U.S, Bloomberg said in a new report.
The country has become a standout in a region where the world’s export engines are largely hurting amid trade-war tensions and a slowing electronics cycle, the report added.
U.S. Census Bureau data shows Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan all saw export contractions in April, while in the same month Vietnam’s exports gained 7.5 percent from a year earlier.


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This London firm, launched in 2013, is the latest in a series of taxi-related ventures for founder and chief executive Asher Moses, 55. Its fleet of luxury electric taxis is rented to self-employed drivers, but Sherbert also employs drivers to offer its “Ride” service of chauffeured cars. It uses vehicle recording and tracking to help advertising clients, such as the fashion giant Boohoo, monitor where their campaigns have most impact. Sales hit £6.6m last year after it bought Putney Bridge Taxis, the latest in a number of acquisitions. The business plans to launch convenient electric vehicle charging points in London and to expand overseas.
This profile reflects the company at time of publication and does not reflect any changes that may have subsequently occurred. Fast Track and its sponsors do not endorse, guarantee or recommend investment in any of the companies.


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This is the new Haval H8 SUV, it will be launched on the China car market on Friday during the 2013 Guangzhou Auto Show. Price of the Haval H8 SUV will range from 200.000 to 250.000 yuan, making the H8 by far the most expensive vehicle in the Great Wall Haval range.
The Haval H8 will be powered by a brand new 2.0 turbo with 218hp and 324nm, mated to a 6-speed automatic.
The engine is the strongest power plant in the whole Great Wall empire, and one of the strongest engines ever build by a local Chinese automaker. However, the Haval H8 will soon be surpassed by the even bigger and even stronger Haval H9 that will arrive sometime next year.
Big car nevertheless: 4806/1975/1794, wheelbase is 2915. Chassis: uni-body. Suspension, front: double-wishbone independent, rear: multi-link independent. Drive train: 4×2 or 4×4.
The Haval H8 was born on the April 2012 Beijing Auto Show as the Great Wall Haval H7 concept, the production version debuted on the Guangzhou Auto Show in December 2012, called Great Wall Haval H8. That car is now the Haval H8 after Great Wall decided to turn Haval into a separate brand. The H7-name will live on and will be used for another Haval SUV.
Very clean design although not overly exciting. The Haval H8 will be exported as well, to markets as far as Australia, Europe, North Africa, Russia, and the Middle East.
The 2.0 turbo.


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Typical monthly payment for a new vehicle hits record $743
FOX Business Flash top headlines for September 15
Check out what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com
Typical monthly payments for a new car are getting steeper, according to the latest data from Cox Automotive and Moody's Analytics.
The average new car payment hit a record high of $743 in August, the Cox Automotive/Moody's Analytics Vehicle Affordability Index released Thursday showed. That figure is up 1.4% from $733 in July.
BIDEN PROMOTES EXPENSIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES AT AUTO SHOW AMID RECORD INFLATION
Kelly Blue Book reported earlier in the week that the average purchase price in the U.S. for a new vehicle rose for a fifth consecutive month, hitting a record-high of $48,301 in August. It climbed 10.8% from August 2021.


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It is expected that major semiconductor companies in Korea will cut their investment this year. Under the circumstances, industry experts are saying that the entire market will become stagnant as their investment reduction is likely to have its impact on their partner firms.
For instance, SK Hynix’s new capital expenditures for this year are estimated at below three trillion won, approximately 30% less than last year’s 3.85 trillion won. It invested a lot of capital in the construction of M12 lines in 2012 but is planning on no production line expansion this year. Most of the new investment for 2013 is going to be spent on the maintenance of its existing production lines.
In fact, the company made the announcement on as early as January 30 during its conference call for the fourth quarter of 2012. The move has to do with the recent memory semiconductor market conditions. Last year, the market recorded a negative growth due to the declining demand for PCs and it is likely to continue this year as well.
Samsung Electronics is expected to follow the same investment trend. It made a new investment of 14 trillion won last year, setting up system LSI lines in Austin, Texas. However, the company is planning to focus more on system semiconductor than memory semiconductor business. The purpose is to concentrate its investment on non-memory semiconductor business, which has a larger room for growth, than in the memory semiconductor market that it is already dominating. Though it announced investment plans in January for years, it has yet to make public that for this year.
With the two giants trying to be on the safe side, the semiconductor market is forecast to contract significantly. Second- and third-tier vendors and suppliers are predicted to show weaker performance, too. “As a matter of fact, partner firms’ business performance has deteriorated since the second half of last year due to SK Hynix’s and Samsung Electronics’ investment reduction,” said an industry insider, adding, “It is likely that things won’t get better this year as the two aren’t planning to increase their investment.”


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The Ministry of Information Industry (MII) announced yesterday a crackdown on junk e-mail with the launch of a new regulation and a complaint center.
A survey conducted by the Internet Society of China shows that from August 2004 to April 2005, Internet users received an average of 16.8 pieces of junk e-mail every week, accounting for over 60 percent of their total e-mail received.
"China is seriously affected by junk mail," said Li Guobin, an official with the MII.
According to the regulation, e-mail service providers must first obtain approval from the relevant authorities before they commence operations. This is part of the market admittance system that also requires service providers to register their IP (Internet Protocol) addresses.
Marketing or advertising e-mail should not be sent to subscribers without their prior permission. And if they are, the subject of the e-mail should read: Advertisement or AD.
Those who violate the regulation can be fined up to 30,000 (US$3727) depending on the content of the junk mail, but not depending on how many were sent out.
Violators will also be blacklisted.
Internet users who wish to report junk mail can send their complaints to firstname.lastname@example.org, or they can call the hotline: (010) 12321 (http://english.anti-spam.cn/).
All this is part of a series of measures taken by the MII to manage Internet and mobile phone networks.
As far as mobile phones are concerned, users will have to register for their services using their real names. It is hoped that this would help to reduce the number of junk short messages or SMSes received on handsets.
(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2006)


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Some state officials are thinking of getting rid of the Massachusetts sales tax holiday this year.
This is because of a $750 Million budget gap.
The tax-break allows shoppers to avoid paying the 6.25 percent sales tax on certain items.
The Department of Revenue says the state lost around $26 Million in revenue because of the sales tax holiday last year.
The last time there wasn’t a sales tax holiday was in 2009.
(Copyright (c) 2019 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)


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All-electric Polestar 2 pricing confirmed
Prices for the upcoming Polestar 2 have been confirmed ahead of the car entering production early next year.
The all-electric performance fastback will cost from £49,900 when initial deliveries commence in June 2020. Polestar say that this is before government incentives, meaning that the 2 could have up to £3,500 removed from its price via the current plug-in grant.
Powered by a 300kW motor and utilising an all-wheel-drive system, the Polestar 2 follows on from the Polestar 1, which wasn’t available in the UK.
This latest model gets a suite of driver assistance systems including a cutting-edge version of Pilot Assist, which can aid with the vehicle’s steering, as well as throttle and brakes.
In addition, the Polestar 2 is the first car with an infotainment system powered by Android Automotive OS. This means that the car’s system has Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play Store all integrated into it. A full high-quality Harmon Kardon sound system comes as standard as well.
The Polestar 2 also features a Phone-as-key system which, as the name suggests, allows owners to open the car and start it via a smartphone.
Thanks to a sales model which keeps digital close, all Polestar vehicles will be purchased online directly from the company. However, the firm is planning to open a number of Polestar ‘Spaces’, where interested customers will be able to test drive and experience the cars in the metal before placing orders online.


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The headline inflation is the lowest in 40 months following the zero-rating of GST
By SHAHEERA AZNAM SHAH / Pic By MUHD AMIN NAHARUL
Inflation has dropped to the lowest level in more than three years and private vehicle loans have reached an all-time high as consumers flood car sales rooms during the zero-tax period.
The country’s headline inflation dropped to 0.8% in June, the lowest level in 40 months, as prices for 11 out of the 12 categories measured in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) registered a drop.
The lower CPI was expected after the government axed the unpopular Goods and Services Tax (GST) in June to zero.
“The lower headline inflation, which stood at 1.8% in May, was mainly due to the reduction in prices of goods and services following the zero-rating of GST,” Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said in a statement.
The prices of fuel have also been capped, removing fluctuations and adding more money for consumers to spend.
But significant spending is seen in the automotive market despite net financing inched at 6.9% in June compared to 6.8% in May.
“The growth of household loan applications and approvals for the purchase of passenger cars increased significantly in June to 15.3% and 21.9% respectively, mainly due to higher demand for financing during the tax holiday period,” said the central bank.
The June 2018 banking statistics published by the central bank showed record highs for private car purchases.
Loans applied for private car purchases rose to RM8.7 billion during the GST-free month of June this year, the highest level since RM11 billion recorded in July 2013.
Total loans approved by the country’s banking system for private car purchases reached RM5.2 billion for June 2018, estimated to be a record high as the central bank’s data only showed figures up to 2006.
The banking system approved total loans of RM35.1 billion, while the country’s total lending from the banking system stood at RM1.62 trillion, RM12 billion more than the month before.
The loan figures corresponded with the bullish automotive sector. Vehicles sales jumped 50% in June compared to a month before and reached the highest level this year.
The removal of GST effective June 1, has made prices of big-ticket items like vehicles cheaper by 6%.
Consumers have been flocking to showrooms to conclude their purchases. Some carmakers have stopped taking bookings for selected models due to pricing uncertainties in September when the Sales and Services Tax will be reintroduced.
The total industry volume (TIV) for June this year rose to 64,502 units from 42,983 vehicles recorded in May 2018. It was the first time vehicle sales breached the 60,000 level this year. In addition, it is the first time that the TIV crossed 64,000 units in the last 30 months.
But outflows continue to haunt the country. The domestic financial markets continued to face a non-residents outflow in June amid the intensified trade war concerns and the anticipation of normalisation in the US monetary policy, said BNM.
BNM said the local benchmark index, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI, declined by 2.8% in June, while the ringgit depreciated by 0.5% against the US dollar.
“However, the domestic bond market was supported by strong demand by domestic institutional investors as the Malaysian Government Securities yields declined by between 0.4 and 8.8 basis points in June,” it said.
The central bank said the level of asset quality of the domestic banking system remained healthy as the net impaired loans ratio and the total provisions to total loans ratio remained unchanged at 1% and 1.5% respectively.


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You have searched for payments
in the news | LAST UPDATED : 20 Feb 2017, 15:20 IST
- 100 days after note ban: E-payments off peak
TNN Mumbai: With currency supply easing 100 days after demonetisation, some customers are returning to cash even as digital transactions begin to drop off from peak levels seen in December 2016. Also, while card acceptance has picked up in several retail outlets, kirana stores and restaurants continue to resist digitisation of payments, according to a survey. According to SBI chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya, adoption of digital channels has slowed down as the cash situation is normalising. “There has been a fall in digital transactions in recent weeks, but it is higher than what it was pre-demonetisation,” she said. She added that loan demand continued to be low in January following demonetisation, but she expected things to improve by next month. Latest data from the RBI shows that around Rs 8.5 lakh crore, which is nearly 55% of the Rs 15.5 lakh crore, has been remonetised following withdrawal from banks. Banks expect deposits to stabilise soon, as a large value of transactions have moved to electronic channels. According to sources in card companies, the usage of cards for low-value transactions have dropped as people are returning to cash, but debit card transactions continue to be high and are expected to soon overtake credit cards in value. A survey jointly undertaken by Deloitte and Confederation of Indian Industry shows that there has been a twofold growth in the use of point of sales (PoS) terminals and mobile wallet transactions post-demonetisation. The survey revealed that petrol pumps recorded 100% acceptance of digital payments. At the other end of the spectrum were grocery and kirana stores, where only 20% and 15% of outlets surveyed accepted card payments. “Merchants, with higher transaction volumes (petrol pumps) or higher transaction values (jewellery stores), are more likely to offer digital payment options to their customers,” the report said. One of the key challenges of promoting card transactions is that merchants need to record card transactions of Rs 20,000-25,000 to avoid paying monthly commitment charge to their banks. “Assuming that the card volumes, prior to demonetisation, were a conservative 8% of a merchant’s revenue, the minimum commitment volume of Rs 20,000 would require a merchant to achieve a minimum monthly turnover of Rs 1.5 lakh to avoid charges,” the report said.
- Online payments to Nashik MSEDCL rise
NASHIK: An increasing number of Nashik consumers of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) are now paying their electricity bills online. The data shared by the power utility company showed that online payments in 2016 jumped by 60% as compared to 2015. The number of consumers making online payments stood at 82,876 in the month of Dec 2015 as against 1.31 lakh in Dec 2016. However, considering the total number of MSEDCL consumers across the state making online payments, Nashik’s contribution is only 5 per cent. The MSEDCL has launched an application service through which not only consumers can pay their bills, but at the same time register their queries and complaints. Though this feature has been added in the recent past, the company has been appealing to the people go take up online payments since the past four years. “There has been a quantum leap in number of consumers opting for online payment services by 2016-end when compared to a year earlier. Among other factors, the demonetisation carried out by the government of India has been the biggest contributor,” Nashik Zone chief general manager Deepak Kumthekar said. “There was a major hitch among the populace here which believed that online payments were unsafe. Every time our engineers met and asked the people to pay it through online system – sometime till before demonetisation was carried out in November — the people were largely reluctant. But after that the picture changed drastically,” a senior officer from MSEDCL said. “Nashik is still lagging way behind other major cities as far as online-payments are concerned. The numbers have rose only from 3.52 percent (Dec 2015) to 5.61 percent of the existing consumers till December 2016,” he added. The online payment for the company has jumped from 5.8% in Nashik urban areas to 9.08%. The number of consumers in Ahmednagar district (circle) in Nashik Zone has gone up from 2.29% to 3.69%, while in Malegaon circle (rural division of Nashik district) the jump was from 1.09% to 2.11%.
- Landowners demand payment of dues
NASHIK: Even as the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) started two toll plazas at Hiwargaon Pawasa and Chalakwadi on the Sinnar-Khed stretch of the Nashik-Pune Highway (NH 50), the collection of toll is yet to get operational at Chalakwadi due to objections from the land owners. Senior NHAI officials said the toll collection was to resume at both toll nakas from February 12 midnight. While the toll collection started at Hiwargaon Pawasa, 80 km from Nashik, landlords at Chalakwadi did not let the toll collection begin as they have not received the compensation against the land that they gave for widening of Nashik-Pune highway. Senior NHAI officials, however, said the money has already been given to the government and it was up to the concerned government department to release the compensation to the concerned landlords. The official said that landlords of Bhatkalwadi and Chalakwadi on Sunday midnight stormed the Chalakwadi toll naka ahead of toll collection and damaged some equipment. “As the toll collection could not begin on Sunday, they attempted to start it from Monday. However, the landlords continued their objection,” the official said. The officials said they have called a meeting with the landlords on Tuesday afternoon to resolve the issue. Until the issue is resolved, motorists travelling between Nashik and Pune will have to pay the toll fee only at Hiwargaon Pawasa for the time being. The NHAI has completed 76 per cent work of the 138 road widening project between Sinnar and Khed.
- Children sent back from Maxfort schools for 'non-payment of fees'
NEW DELHI: Hundreds of parents with children in the four branches of Maxfort schools in Delhi have claimed that their wards’ names have been struck off the rolls for “non-payment of fees”. Even though the schools were ordered to adjust the previously charged donations in the ensuing academic year’s fee by a panel set by the HC, parents claim that they are being asked to pay the fees again after being told that appropriate adjustments have been made. According to the Maxfort School Parents Association (MSPA), at least 500 students from all branches have been warned of being struck off the rolls if their fees are not paid, while at least 120 have received formal notices. Arvind Dixit, president of MSPA, claimed that several children have been sitting at home for at least 10 days because of the action. “They have removed children in different branches in small groups so that a sudden action against a big number doesn’t get noticed. This has been going on for a long time, and now the number has touched hundreds from all schools,” he said. Parents have complained that the “capitation fee” (donations) has not been returned to them, despite being told to do so, with a 9% interest, by the HC appointed Justice Anil Dev Committee in 2015. “The capitation fee varies for every parent. Some were charged Rs 1 lakh, while some paid Rs 50,000. The school is supposed to return this money, but the management said it would adjust it. Now, they have started demanding fees again. Some parents who protested had their child removed from the rolls,” said Brijesh Goswami, a parent and member of the association. Another parent, who did not wish to be names for the fear of repercussions, said that the school used to charge Rs 13,000 per semester before 2014, after which it was increased to Rs 20,000 in 2014-15, and Rs 22,800 in 2015-16. “Now, the entire expense in the year includes the semester fees, annual fees (Rs 11,000), uniform expenses (Rs 3,500) and building fees (Rs 45,000).” “The school expects the parents to pay the building fee for a new campus, even though it is to be borne by the school,” she added. Her child, studying in primary school, has been sitting at home for the last five days. “They had told me earlier that they would adjust the capitation fee, but later asked me to pay the fee for the ensuing semester. When I refused, they sent my kid home,” she said. Another parent said that he was told by the school authority that adjustments would be made, if at all, after the management takes a decision on it. “I was informed that the management will take a decision on the capitation fee later, after which adjustments will be made, but I would have to pay the complete fee at this point of time.” The management, however, claimed that a bunch of parents were working like “mafia” and trying to get away from paying the fee. “There are only 5 children who are yet pay the fee. The others were given notices, and they have paid us the fee. Some parents have been working in a the fashion of a mafia, trying to evade payment of fees altogether,” said Sanjeev Khanna, a member of the private management that takes care of the four branches in H-Block Pitampura, Parwana Road, Rohini and Paschim Vihar.
- Over 8 lakh people win Rs 133 crore under digital payment scheme
Over 8 lakh people have been awarded a total of Rs 133 crore in the last 50 days under the Niti Aayog's scheme to promote digital payments. The government on December 25 had launched two schemes - Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana to give boost to digital transaction.
- Mobile payments to overtake physical card spends in 2017
“Demonetisation may well be the catalyst that sees semi-urban and rural markets in India skip the ‘card’ era and leapfrog directly to ‘mobile payments’ era,” the report added. The firm's research also found that 43% of adult smartphone users in developed markets use their phones to check their bank accounts.
- Hitachi Payment accepts malware hit
Mumbai: The mystery behind the breach at a private bank’s ATM network last year that led to 32 lakh debit cards being exposed, forcing banks to replace most of them, has been solved. Hitachi Payment Services — the company to which Yes Bank had outsourced processing of ATM transactions — has said that investigations show that its systems were hit by a sophisticated malware attack and it is not possible to say how many cards’ details have been extracted. In a statement issued here, Hitachi Payment Services said that SISA Information Security has completed its final assessment report on the breach of security protocols, which led to the potential compromise of debit cards between May 21 and July 11, 2016. SISA’s report pointed out a sophisticated injection of malware (a piece of malicious software code) in the Hitachi Payment Services’ systems, which was able to compromise the details of these debit cards. “Hitachi Payment Services regrets the inconvenience caused to banks and its customers due to this lapse in its security infrastructure. We assure you of our highest commitment to building a robust infrastructure in our systems and preventing such cyber frauds in future,” said Loney Antony, MD, Hitachi Payment Services. According to Dharshan Shanthamurthy, chief executive of SISA, banks need to gear up for more such attacks post demonetisation. “With increased amount of digital payments, such attacks are going to get worse. In the name of innovation, corners are being cut. That’s a matter of concern. Smartphones, use of fingerprint as primary payment authentication are fraught with risks which need to be tackled,” he said. The malware code was written in such a manner that it concealed its tracks during the compromise period. “While behaviour of the malware and the penetration into the network has been deciphered, the amount of data exfiltrated during the above compromise period is unascertainable due to secure deletion by the malware,” the statement said. Antony said, “Despite following adequate security measures and adopting the standards of internationally accepted best practices in the business, we confirm that our security systems had a breach during mid-2016. As soon as the breach was discovered, we followed due process and immediately informed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), banks and card schemes.” He added that Hitachi Payments also partnered with banks to ensure the safety of their customers’ sensitive data. “As a result, the extent of the compromise was limited and we have not seen any further misuse due to containment measures deployed by Hitachi Payment Services.”
- Idea Money launches USSD-based platform for digital payments
New Delhi, Feb 09 () Idea Cellular today said it has enabled USSD-based platform for shopkeepers and customers to conduct digital transactions using Idea Money service. USSD is mobile short code that enables financial and banking transactions even on feature phones.
- Rise in cashless payments to farmers in dairy sector: Govt
New Delhi, Feb 6 () There has been a substantial increase in cashless payments made to farmers in dairy sector post demonetisation, the Agriculture Ministry said today. Milk producers are being brought under the ambit of banking system and the number of bank accounts have risen to 56.
- Indian-origin banker ordered to make payments to ex-wife in UK
The law in Britain provides that a pension may be divided between divorcing spouses by means of a pension sharing order. However, a previous judgment of the Court of Appeal in this case had decided that pension sharing pursuant to Section 24B did not apply to foreign pensions.
- Airtel Payments Bank providing banking services through 12,000 shops in UP
Airtel Payments Bank India’s first payments bank announced that it has opened over one lakh saving accounts in Uttar Pradesh within the first 2 weeks of its launch. Approximately 60% of these accounts have been opened in rural areas, underlining the massive scope for serving customers particularly in unbanked and under-banked pockets of the state, especially in rural areas.
- Payments bank of Paytm gets Rs 218 crore infusion
Paytm Payments Bank has received Rs 218cr in fresh capital as it prepares to start operations this month from UP. One97 Communications and One97 India Communications, the parent of Paytm, put in the rest of the amount, as per latest regulatory filings sourced via business research platform Tofler.


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Vacant downtown Reno property gets new lease on life with sale
A property at a key downtown location could see new life as a restaurant or retail location following its recent sale.
Located right across Harrah's and a short distance from Aces Ballpark, the 132 E. Second St. building was originally planned as the figurative beachhead to a pretty ambitious project during Reno's headier times.
"It was developed as a sales office for two large towers they were planning to build," said Scott Shanks, a principal with Dickson Commercial Group. "But the condominiums they were planning to build across the street never came to fruition."
With the recession putting a damper on downtown activity, the 3,312-square-foot mixed-use building has been unoccupied for some time.
Given the recent momentum around downtown, however, the time seemed right to acquire the building, said Shanks, whose company represented the buyer. The property was bought for $875,000 in late April by S3 RENOvation Investors, LLC, from Second and Lake, LLC, according to Washoe County records. S3 RENOvation Investors is tied to local developer Blake Smith.
"More people are getting interested in downtown and what's happening in the entertainment core, Midtown and even East Fourth Street," Shanks said. "There's also a lot of momentum and energy in that corridor by the ballpark and it's starting to show."
Just across the street from the building, for example, is the old Bundox site, which was bought by a group connected with retail billionaire and Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon — also co-owner of Reno Aces Ballpark. The owners of the site currently have an agreement with Basin Street Properties to allow use of the vacant lot as a staging area for the construction of a 76,000-square foot Courtyard by Marriott project with 150 rooms. Once that project is done, however, Simon's group has plans for the location.
"In a couple of years, I see opportunities with retail and apartments, maybe also some offices or even a hotel," Simon told the Reno Gazette-Journal in a previous meeting.
For its part, the 132 E. Second St. building is in show condition, according to Shanks. The property also has plenty of ample parking and room for decks, which — combined with its location — is generating a lot of interest from prospective tenants. So far, most of the inquiries for leasing the property involve restaurant use, Shanks said.
"We're seeing interest for breweries, pizza, restaurants — it's all over the board," Shanks said. "The owners are going to wait until they find the right tenant … but all this activity is a positive sign for the continued redevelopment of downtown."


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Face masks are set to become a way of life from today.
If you go into a shop or supermarket in Coventry and Warwickshire, you'll see face coverings.
If you travel in by bus or train, you'd be surrounded by people wearing them.
However, there will still be huge swathes of your leisure time where they are still not mandatory.
£100 fines will be issued to people flouting the new laws, which will take effect from Friday, July 24.
The list of people exempt from wearing face coverings from tomorrow includes anybody with disabilities or who may find having a face covering on problematic.
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These are the places you have to cover up in:
- Shops, including banks and post offices
- Takeaway food and drink shops or cafes, if you're not sitting down to eat or drink and if there's no table service available.
- Indoor shopping centres - excluding any area with sit-down food and drink service
- Transport hubs - excluding any area with sit-down food and drink service
- Public transport
Wearing a face covering will NOT be made mandatory in other venues that have measures in place to protect staff and the public from COVID-19. These include:
- Eat-in restaurants
- Other treatment salons
- Leisure centres
- Concert halls
- Other close contact services
- Visitor attractions (such as heritage sites or museums)
Children under 11, people with certain disabilities, those eating or drinking and companions of deaf lip-readers are among those exempt.
Public Health England do not recommended face coverings for children under the age of three for health and safety reasons.


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Just as Audemars Piguet barely closed the book on the decade-long relationship with Arnold Schwarzenegger and introduced The Legacy this year, the final watch in a seven-series success story, this legendary brand brought a few select journalists and guests to Miami this weekend to announce the appointment of NBA Star Lebron James as its new global ambassador.
“We both have so many innovative ideas,” says LeBron James “that I am certain the partnership will be strong, from the watch we will create to the children we will help in our efforts.” (See A Moment In Time: LeBron James)
The plan is for James to represent Audemars Piguet, the oldest watch manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families, around the world. Additionally, the two will collaborate on a very special limited edition watch that is still under wraps.
“I am excited to collaborate with AP on this exclusive timepiece; it will be the ultimate symbol of our partnership. We haven’t started working on it yet but I am certain when we do it will have distinctive looks that will make it an Audemars Piguet LeBron James watch.”
Proceeds from his timepieces will be donated to children’s foundations such as the Boys and Girls Club of America and other causes through his namesake charity, the LeBron James Family Foundation. This marks another chapter for Audemars Piguet in the philanthropic world benefitting children.
“”We look for icons who strive to be at the top of their games and who are perfectionists like we are,” says Philippe Merk, Audemars Piguet CEO. “We are happy to move forward with LeBron.”
LeBron James, easily one of the greatest basketball stars and athletes of his generation, joins an elite team of Audemars Piguet ambassadors that includes Michael Schumacher (race car icon), Leo Messi (soccer star), Sachin Tendulkar (cricket star), and famed golfers Vijay Singh, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood.


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After several industry leaders and civil liberties advocates took exception to a number of the provisions included in the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and PROTECT IP Act, Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Darrell Issa have released the draft to alternative legislation that has already garnered bipartisan support.
According to CNET, the lawmakers believe they have created a framework that will retain strong intellectual property protections while providing a more transparent process for rights holders hoping to file claims against digital copyright thieves. Released with the launch of www.keepthewebopen.com, the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade (OPEN) Act, the legislation attempts to narrow the scope of regulatory powers aligned in SOPA.
Essentially, the proposed alternative expands the jurisdiction of the U.S. International Trade Commission related to the sale of infringing goods from foreign websites to American consumers, according to the news source. Complaint processes would also be expedited for time-sensitive controversies, such as the pre-release of books and movies.
The Consumer Electronic Association has released a statement expressing its support for the "smart, targeted approach to fighting online piracy" delineated in the OPEN Act and suggests that any member of the content industry would share the same perspective. However, it may still take weeks or even months for lawmakers to make sense of potential implications and achieve consensus.


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A new London-based exchange for cryptocurrencies is being opened, offering conversion of pound sterling to a variety of different digital currencies, as well as a pre-paid Visa card (the Dragoncard). ...
Huawei hardware embedded in BT's 21st Century Network a risk to UK national infrastructure
CEO Satya Nadella hails "incredible year" for Microsoft
Computing celebrates some of the female pioneers who found huge success despite male dominated environments
The government has proposed ways to attract new professionals to security, increase diversity and ensure leadership


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Buzz:Learn how to rock fall's hottest trends
Updated 12:31 pm, Thursday, October 10, 2013
Lawrence Zarian at Macy's Fall Essentials event: If you're not sure how to rock fall's hottest trends, style expert Lawrence Zarian of "Live With Kelly and Michael" is coming to Macy's in the Galleria to show you how. He'll talk about the season's offerings, from sweaters to military jackets, as part of the "Fall Five Essentials" fashion show at 2 p.m. Saturday. The presentation is free to the public. Macy's in the Galleria is at 5135 W. Alabama; for details, call 832-667-4200.
The 'Prince of Chintz' visits Decorative Center Houston: Mario Buatta has decorated homes for Barbara Walters, Mariah Carey, Henry Ford II and Malcolm Forbes, not to mention putting his signature English Country House style on display at the Blair House, the presidential guest quarters, in Washington, D.C. Next up, the legendary interior designer will be talking about his experiences over a half-century in the business at the Decorative Center Houston Fall Market on Wednesday. His keynote speech at 10:30 a.m. will be followed by a lunch reception and a book signing of his new tome, "Mario Buatta: Fifty Years of American Interior Decoration." It's all part of a daylong celebration that will include presentations by local designers and new products and lines for fall on display in Decorative Center showrooms. The Decorative Center Houston is at 5120 Woodway, 713-961-9292; decorativecenter.com.
- Kelly Says He Was 'Stunned' To Learn Congresswoman Listened In On Trump's Call With Soldier's WidowGeoBeats
- Raw: Whale Flounders in Marseille HarborAP
- The Mansion Murders, Episode 3: The WelderFox5DC
- President Trump Tweets Tom Marino is Out as Pick For Drug CzarBuzz60
- A Huge Wi-Fi Security Flaw Could Allow Hackers To Listen In On YouBuzz60
- It's Near Impossible to Prevent Identity TheftCheddar
- BREAKING: Trump Signs Executive Order on Health CareCheddar
- Why Trump CursesTMTime
- Man's threats prompt schools to shelter in placeWCVB
- Raw Video: Canyon 2 fire in Anaheim HillsLATimes
- What's Next in the Las Vegas Shooting InvestigationCheddar
- Las Vegas hospitals are asking for blood donationsWibbitz
- Six deadliest mass shootings in U.S. historyWibbitz
- President Trump's remarks about the Las Vegas shootingLATimes
Kelly Gale Amen pops up downtown: Since closing his KGA Compound in Montrose a few years ago, Houston interior designer and artist Kelly Gale Amen has lectured about luxury design in China, had his art benches installed at Bush Intercontinental Airport and created the Paint Day art program at the Zina Garrison Academy. He's also spent his time crafting custom furniture and art - and the new KGA Collection will be on display for the first time at a pop-up boutique inside downtown's Dakota Lofts from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. Expect wall art, furniture in wood, resin, metal and upholstery, and chain-stitched pillows inspired by Amen's time in India. Ten percent of net sales from the event will be donated to Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing in support of the program's expansion to Houston. KGA Collection pop-up is at the Dakota Lofts, 711 William, Unit 402, 713-206-5346; kga.net.


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By Lori Hawkins
Austin entrepreneur Sara Gates founded her startup Wisegate with the idea that senior IT professionals get the best business information from peers at other companies, instead of from market research reports.
Over the past three years, the company has built an invitation-only online community that is open only to senior technology managers (marketers and vendors can’t join). The service provides matching capabilities so that members can sort content by their industry and meet people with specific experience in similar roles. The company generates revenue by selling memberships to its service.
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A year and a half ago, the company raised $3 million from a syndicate of angel investors including Atlanta Technology Angels, Cowtown Angel Network, the Central Texas Angel Network and Golden Seeds. Prior to that it had raised $1 million from individual investors.
On Monday, Wisegate announced a new $4 million round led by Arcus Capital Partners with participation from previous investors.
“When we raised our first round, we were excited about our product, but we hadn’t really validated it,” Gates said. That investment “was about proving the product and proving you can sell it. We’ve done that.”
The new money “will allow us to accelerate our growth. This is really about investing in sales, customer care and product marketing.”
Prior to launching Wisegate, Gates was a vice president of identity management at Sun Microsystems. Before that she was director of product marketing at Austin-based Waveset Technologies, which was acquired by Sun Microsystems in 2004.
In addition to providing a discussion forum, Wisegate hosts live web sessions with members and facilitates one-on-one conversations between IT experts, which it then curates and makes available to subscribers.
The service generates revenue through subscription rates ranging from $10,000 for an individual membership to $25,000 to $50,000 for an annual group package. Renewal rates are at 90 percent, Gates said.
The 30-person company doesn’t disclose how many participants it has, but companies and organizations with memberships include Brown University, City of Tampa, Samsung Research America and DynCorp International.
The company competes with market research firms such as Gartner Group, which conduct product reviews and track technology trends.
Ross Singletary, managing partner of Arcus Capital Partners, said, “The traditional analyst firm model of research and reporting cannot move at the pace of technology today, leaving a gap in the market that Wisegate’s social and matching algorithms help to fill.”
Wisegate doesn’t share specific financial information, but Gates said the company is nearing profitability.


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Launchmetrics thinks so. The data analytics company launched a new brand decisioning platform today called Insights by Launchmetrics that promises to help beauty brands spend smarter on marketing as well as to compare and contrast a beauty brand’s performance...
Global commerce consultancy, Wunderman Thompson Commerce, reveals how the retail giant’s market share dominance drops amongst the Gen Z demographic who do not have the same level of loyalty towards the e-tailer as older shoppers.
Global trade has seen some big changes in recent years, highlighted by massive shifts in international trade agreements that have impacted many areas of business, including the beauty and personal care industry.
On 24th-25th June, we held our inaugural Cosmetics Design Summit on the skin microbiome in Amsterdam to ask, converse and answer the questions dominating the new space that meets beauty, health and wellness.
Our inaugural Cosmetics Design Summit, held in Amsterdam on 24th-25th June, focused on the current skin microbiome landscape, challenges and opportunities — asking is it a trend or a key cosmetics segment?
Beauty and personal care industry growth peaked at its highest levels in a decade in 2018, and the sphere is expected to continue this success in 2019 and beyond. So what’s propelling its flourishing popularity?


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It has been announced that Google has released Maps Navigation in eleven new countries, as well as adding French, German, Italian, and Spanish languages to its Search by Voice feature.Google eventually hope to have this feature available in all languages.
Mikael RicknÃ¤s of PCWorld.com is reporting that users with an Android 1.6 or higher smartphone can download Google Maps Navigation and get turn-by-turn voice guidance. Until this latest release the voice guidance only worked in the U.S. and UK.
The eleven new countries to get the free service are Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. The free turn-by-turn voice guidance was first released in October of last year.
Owners of the BlackBerry, Nokia S60 and iPhone can also get the search by Voice feature.
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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An excerpt from “Power and Utilities Deals in North America in the Last Year” in March's PUF.
An excerpt from “A Day at the Kentucky PSC” in March's PUF.
2018 data is in for electric sales and generation.
1.27% of Americans’ consumption expenditures
Fortnightly Under Forty’s Deadline Approaches
Deadline is March 23.
Deadline is March 14.
Electric rates continue to lose ground to consumer prices overall.
PUF CPI Gap 2 to 2.3 in Northeast, Midwest, West.
An excerpt from “Smart All Over” in the February 11 special issue of PUF.


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FERROTEC CHOOSES MALAYSIA TO ENHANCE ITS MANUFACTURING CAPACITY TO EXPAND ITS GLOBAL BUSINESS
The facility aims to acquire the capabilities necessary to develop a customer support system and establish a world-leading position in the manufacture and assembly of advanced materials in the field of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
KEDA, Malaysia, May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Ferrotec Holdings Corporation, a global supplier of precision materials, components and system solutions, has announced the establishment of the new manufacturing facility at Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Kedah, facilitated by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) . The plant that will undertake electromechanical assembly and advanced materials manufacturing for semiconductor equipment is designed to meet customer needs while expanding the Group’s business globally.
The plant is expected to start operating in 2023. With a total investment expected to exceed RM500 million and in a facility of more than 800,000 square feet, the project is expected to create around 250 high-value jobs for Malaysians. As a Tier 1 company supplying multinationals in the semiconductor industry, the company is committed to providing training to Malaysian employees in the factories of Japan and the United States.
“Ferrotec’s decision to choose Malaysia as a destination of choice for its high-tech manufacturing facility speaks volumes about the readiness of our talents, the strength and capacity of our manufacturing and business ecosystems. Indeed, the presence of Ferrotec in Malaysia will boost the development of our local talent and strengthen our value proposition in the global supply chain,” said Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin AliMinister of State and Minister for International Trade and Industry (MITI).
He also pointed out that Ferrotec’s investment will open greater opportunities for other global companies in the sector to follow this example and invest in Malaysia. He added that this major investment is about to materialize malaysia long-term aspiration to become a global manufacturing center.
In 2021, the machinery and equipment (M&E) industry received 48 approved projects worth RM1.67 billion investment from foreign and domestic sources. These projects are expected to generate 2,500 job opportunities, with approximately 56% of employees in the management, technical and engineering fields. The specialized M&E sub-sector for specific industries is the largest contributor of investments for 2021, with 16 projects totaling RM592 million approved.
“Ferrotec has seen a growing demand for our products and services in Asia. With this new production plant, we plan to provide increased capacity, improve business continuity for critical activities and, most importantly, ensure that our customers do not experience supply disruptions from us,” said declared Eiji MiyanagaChairman and CEO of Ferrotec (UNITED STATES) Company.
Datuk Arham Abdul RahmanCEO of MIDA concluded “It is encouraging to know that Ferrotec, which is the main supplier to a major global manufacturer of face-end wafer fabrication equipment, has decided to establish a factory in Kulim, Kedah. With malaysia an attractive talent pool, a positive investment environment and a diverse supply chain, among others, I am optimistic that Ferrotec will benefit from the benefits the nation has created and have more to offer its global customers. »
To continue transforming the industry, the Malaysian government is encouraging investors to invest in advanced technologies that can support advanced manufacturing processes along supply chains.
MIDA is the principal government investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) responsible for overseeing and stimulating investment in the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Based in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional offices and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner for companies to seize the opportunities arising from the technological revolution of this era. For more information, visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Founded in 1980, on a technological core of Ferrofluid magnetic liquid and Ferrofluid® sealing products, Ferrotec Holdings Corporation (TSE 6890 standard) is a world leader in the supply of materials, components and precision systems solutions for the industrial enterprises. Ferrotec is a world-class, diversified industry organization with a global presence in a wide range of technology-driven end markets (semiconductors, automotive, biomedical applications, smartphones, LEDs and FPDs). For more information on Ferrotec products, visit www.ferrotec.com
For more information please contact:
Mrs. Zakiah Sajidan
Director, Division of Machinery and Metal Technology, MIDA
E: [email protected]
Such. : +603-2267 3628
Mr. Tom McKee
Marketing Communications Manager
E: [email protected]
Such. : +1 (408)-964-7700
SOURCE Ferrotec Holdings Corporation


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Apple proudly released an update to its Mac OS which it claimed would free its users from the evil MacDefender malware.
The Tame Apple Press reported that May 31 was the day that the Mac was again liberated from malware which henceforth would only be seen on Windows machines. It took Apple a month to first acknowledge that there was fault and then come up with a fix.
Of course what Jobs’ Mob didn’t know, which other software companies have known for years, is that within seconds of the update, the cyber criminals who wrote the code, would update theirs.
Sure enough, within an hour or two, MacDefender software was upgraded and easily defeated Apple’s belated security efforts.
ZDNet security researcher Ed Bott found a MacDefender variant capable of ignoring Apple’s fix. He dubbed it Mdinstall.pkg, and it was specifically formulated to skate past Apple’s malware-blocking code.
In the real world, anti-virus companies would just update their virus checkers with the new variant. It would be fixed in a day, if not a few hours.
But thanks to Apple’s system of dealing with malware, which means an existential argument about whether or not it can exist on an Apple computer for a month, it means that these variants will have quite a good shelf life.
Apple’s new malware removal tool allows for periodic updating of “definitions,” malware profiles that let the software identify individual Trojans and viruses. But given the fact that the variant has been in the wild now for 48 hours and nothing seems to have happened yet, probably indicates that it will be a couple of weeks before Apple thinks of fixing it.
AV companies play games of cat and mouse with malware makers for months. The side that wins is the one which responds quickest. Apple has consistently shown that it too slow to react to faults because it chants a company mantra that it is perfect.


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Nokia 5230 set to appeal to social network fans
26 August 2009 — 2:00 PM
Nokia has launched a new handset that will appeal to regular users of social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.
Users looking for a more colourful handset could also be tempted to get money for their mobile in order to upgrade to the new Nokia to take advantage of its advanced features.
As well as A-GPS navigation and the latest version of Ovi Maps, the mobile also has an easy to use music player with 33 hours of playback time with a 3.5mm AV connector.
"The Nokia 5230 is an unbeatable offer for many new customers who aspire a device that stars in music, mingles with social networks from Facebook to MySpace, navigates you to where it happens, when it happens and comes in an array of dazzling colours, " explained Jo Harlow, vice president of Nokia.
Nokia has also recently launched a new compact laptop. The Nokia Booklet 3G offers up to 12 hours of battery life and has an array of PC features as well as connectivity options such as 3G/HSPA and Wi-Fi.
News brought to you by envirofone.com the UKs largest mobile phone recycling company
Mobile recycling could be an option for recipients of unwanted gifts30 December 2010 — 12:02 PM
People can get money for a phone they do not intend to use.
Selling mobile can create chance to buy HTC Desire HD29 December 2010 — 3:54 PM
People who enjoy a large screen may find all they want in the HTC Desire HD.


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Grand Chase announces new character
Grand Chase announced its latest major update today, including a new Hero Dungeon and a new character.
The new Hero Dungeon, called The Crucible, features the boss Hellstrom, and is available in-game today.
Zero will be the newest character, arriving on pre-sale on March 1st with an official release on March 8th. Zero’s playing style uses two different fighting stances, defensive and offensive. His weapon is a giant sword.
Grand Chase is published by SG Interactive (Ntreev), which publishes Project Blackout, Pangya, and Trickster Online.
Grand Chase Gameplay Screenshot
New Grand Chase Character and Hero Dungeon Revealed
IRVINE, Calif. – Feb. 25, 2010
SG Interactive today unveiled details of the next planned Grand Chase update, which includes a hotly anticipated new character and a fiery new Hero Dungeon. The new character, Zero, offers a new playing style with two distinct fighting stances that offer different benefits, one a defensive stance and the other an offensive stance that utilizes a giant, living sword. The new Hero Dungeon is called The Crucible and will challenge players to make it through a hellish furnace and defeat the new boss Hellstrom. Zero will be released March 8 and will be available for presale, with special bonus items, on March 1. The Crucible Hero Dungeon is available in-game now.
For more information about Grand Chase and Zero please visit the official website at http://grandchase.ntreev.net/
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Dealmaker joins The Works' board
A corporate finance specialist who spent three decades at Big Four firm PwC has been appointed to the board of Sutton Coldfield-based discount retailer The Works.
- (1888PressRelease) February 17, 2017 - Stuart Warriner has joined the board, led by Card Factory founder Dean Hoyle, as a non-executive director.
He spent 30 years at PwC, which included ten years at the helm of its corporate finance team in the North of England.
Hoyle joined the private equity-backed retailer as chairman and investor in 2015. James Woolley, portfolio partner at Endless, and Card Factory property director Tony Barraclough are also on the board.
Hoyle said: "Stuart is a highly respected corporate finance specialist. His decision to join The Works is a real coup for us and is testament to the strength and continued growth potential of this business.
"Stuart brings new expertise to an already strong board and will help us continue to explore new opportunities for the fantastic business that the executive team has built over the last decade. I'm looking forward to working with him to take The Works from strength to strength."
Warriner added: "Just one month after retiring from a 30-year career at PWC, the offer to join the board of The Works proved too good an opportunity to miss and I was forced to abandon my plans for a few months' rest."
About The Works Stores Ltd :
The works stock books, toys, gifts, stationery and arts & crafts at discount prices, and sell over one million of our products every week to consumers looking for a bargain. They serve over 22.5 million people each year, including families and people of all ages. You can browse through their stores and always find something different - from educational products to great gifts.


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Fresh from a recent recall over a potentially serious drive-shaft issue, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and B-Class vehicles are now being recalled to fix a potential issue with the fuse box.
Being overseen by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the latest Mercedes-Benz A-Class and B-Class recall affects a total of just 64 vehicles sold in Australia between the 8th of September 2014 and the 7th of November 2014.
The ACCC recall notice warning that;
Fuses within the interior fuse box may become loose. This may result in the failure of various systems, potentially causing incorrect deployment of the air-bags.
Incorrect deployment of the air-bags may cause increased injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a collision.
In other Mercedes-Benz news; 2015 sales boom for Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe Australian pricing confirmed.


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Hideo Kojima will work on a cloud-based exclusive game for Xbox and PC.
It's official! After many leaks, rumours and speculation, Xbox have finally announced a massive partnership with one of the biggest game designers in the world - Hideo Kojima.
Kojima and Xbox will be working on a cloud-based title for the Xbox ecosystem. They promise it will be a never before seen experience, so expect all sorts of weirdness.
"Xbox Game Studios & Kojima Productions are partnering to create a video game for Xbox like no one has ever experienced before, leveraging the cloud. Hideo Kojima is one of the most innovative minds in our industry, and we can’t wait to share what our teams will create," they said in the announcement.
Kojima said this is a game he always wanted to make and now with the cutting-edge cloud tech, he finally has the proper tools for such a feat.
And that's basically everything we know about the game. Kojima said it may take a while before we see it so don't expect any details about this mysterious project anytime soon.
Some earlier rumours stated that the game could be an episodic horror title, which certainly sounds exciting but since that's not official info, take it with a grain of salt until we get official details.
This is the first partnership between Hideo Kojima and Xbox. The Japanese game designer usually worked with Xbox's main competitor PlayStation over the years but it looks like he decided to give it a go with Microsoft, for his dream game.


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NMG acquires KenyaBuzz in a bid to dominate the digital entertainment space
Nation Media Group (NMG) acquires Kenya’s lifestyle information magazine, KenyaBuzz.
The acquisition is part of an ongoing shift by NMG to become a fully digital media house, the media company has been structuring its organization since the last year in an effort to get back to profitability, a move which rendered many Kenyans jobless.
NMG Editor-in-Chief Tom Mshindi welcome the acquisition saying it is one of the several steps the group is taking to broadening its content focus beyond news and to ensure a strong and diversified menu for lifestyle audiences.
“As we welcome KenyaBuzz to our stable, it is a part of a new agenda to reorient NMG into a fully-fledged digital entity,” said Mr Mshindi.
The deal, which was sealed on Wednesday at a Caramel lounge in Nairobi was lit and attended by several media personalities.
Unconfirmed reports indicate NMG bought 51 per cent of the company and effectively become the majority shareholder.
The acquisition will see NMG also own UgandaBuzz, a subsidiary of KenyaBuzz.
KenyaBuzz is the leading provider of event and lifestyle information in Kenya. Through its website, newspaper and e –newsletter it provide the latest information about what’s happening around the country in sports, nightlife, music, theatre, movies, the arts, kids events and more.
KenyaBuzz was founded in 2007 and despite being a huge brand, reports indicate the company has also been struggling financially.
The system, which was launched in 2014, offers users the convenience of booking seats and buying movie tickets online.
It also operates the Raha Android phone app that was launched in 2012 and has won major awards, including Google Innovation Award in 2013.
Alix Grubel, the founder and owner of KenyaBuzz, said the partnership had opened a new chapter for KenyaBuzz.
NMG is the largest media group in East and Central Africa and products spanning across the region ranging from the Daily Nation newspaper, Business Daily, Nairobi News, East African Newspaper, N Soko and now Kenya Buzz.
During last year’s company annual year report NMG's chief executive officer, Joe Muganda identified the digital space as a key area of growth for the media house.
“Our digital profits, though small, grew by more than 200 per cent over last year and we expect its revenues to constitute eight to 10 per cent of our total revenues in the near term,” Muganda said
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You should all know by now that TY from Leaders1354 is defiantly on point when it comes to the previews of upcoming releases. In the past month or so he has shown us a grip of new releases coming our way either later this year or sometime in 2010.
The latest preview from TY comes in the form of a classic adidas model, the Rod Laver. The Rod Laver has been around around for almost 40 years and to this day it still remains a classic in the adidas lineup. One of the newest colorways of the Rod Laver coming our way is this white/blue colorup which features the use of suede, leather and nylon materials. Simplicity is key when it comes to the adidas Rod Laver and there is no doubt in our mind these will be just as popular as they were nearly 40 years ago when they first made their debut in the industry.


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- A Florida family was indicted for selling bleach, claiming it was the cure for COVID-19.
- Mark Grenon, 62, and his sons were charged two counts of criminal contempt and one count of conspiracy to commit fraud, the DOJ said.
- The Grenons are facing life behind bars if found guilty, according to the DOJ.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
A Florida family was indicted for selling industrial bleach and promoting it to be the cure COVID-19 and other medical conditions, including cancer, Department of Justice., and HIV/AIDS, according to the
According to the DOJ press release, Mark Grenon, 62, and his sons Jordan, Jonathan, and Joesph are charged with two counts of criminal contempt and one count of conspiracy to commit fraud against the US. They are accused of selling "Miracle Mineral Solution," MMS, suggesting that ingesting the product — that was not FDA approved —would prevent and cure COVID, the DOJ said.
"MMS is a chemical solution containing sodium chlorite and water which, when ingested orally, became chlorine dioxide, a powerful bleach typically used for industrial water treatment or bleaching textiles, pulp, and paper," the press release said.
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has not licensed MMS as a treatment for any illness, and in 2019 was compelled to renew its warning against taking the substance after a spike in the number of people reported to be taking it. The FDA warns that MMS causes severe vomiting, diarrhea, and life-threatening low blood pressure, and in large doses can be fatal, Insider's Tom Porter previously reported.
The Grenons are accused of selling the product while posing online as a "non-religious church" called "Genesis II Church of Health and Healing " to avoid getting caught and to "legalize the use of MMS," according to the DOJ. The DOJ said the family was able to distribute the product nationwide and racked up more than $1 million for selling the fraudulent cure.
The press release says that the family also previously violated orders from the court that told them to stop selling MMS, but they failed to comply.
"According to charging documents, the Grenons willfully violated those court orders and continued to distribute MMS.," the press release states. "The Grenons also allegedly threatened the federal judge presiding over the civil case, and threatened that, should the government attempt to enforce the court orders halting their distribution of MMS, the Grenons would 'pick up guns' and instigate 'a Waco.'"
If found guilty, the family could face life behind bars, according to the DOJ.


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Netflix is pulling back the curtain on it ratings performance in the UK.
On Wednesday, Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (aka BARB) announced that Netflix has signed up for its service, which measures ratings for major UK television channels like the BBC, Channel 4, and ITV.
The announcement signals a shift in the way the streaming platform, which has been famously ad-free, plans to operate. Over the past few years, Netflix has been steadily losing customers. This year alone it lost one million subscribers. Despite big hits like Stranger Things and Tiger King, Netflix has struggled to fend off competition from other streaming platforms in the game like Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max, and Hulu.
But unlike Disney and Amazon whose content is bolstered by advertising money, Netflix's singular revenue stream is subscriptions. Until now, anyway. It's been reported that Netflix will roll out a lower-cost ad-supported tier in November. That's likely why BARB has been invited to the viewing party. Advertisers use ratings data "to support the planning and buying of advertising campaigns, and to assess the brand and sales outcomes of these campaigns," BARB's website explains.
Prior to this deal, Netflix had been reporting its own numbers. But for streaming platforms to get that sweet, sweet advertising money, self-reporting isn't going to cut it.
Streaming wars are increasingly cutthroat as tech companies scramble for a piece of the viewing pie. And they're shelling out big bucks to get advertisers on board. When Amazon bought streaming rights to Thursday Night Football for US$1 billion per each year of the deal (that's billion with a "B"), it partnered with ratings agency Nielsen for the same legitimacy that's been required of broadcast and cable channels for decades.
So far, November's shaping up to be a big month for Netflix: an ad-supported tier, BARB ratings, and the fifth season of The Crown. I guess we'll get to see what impact dear, departed Lizzie will have on its viewership.


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TOKYO-- Toyota Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. said they would recall more than 400,000 vehicles world-wide to repair a faulty engine part that could cause a car to stall while driving.
The recall affects some of Subaru's most popular models, like the Forester sport-utility vehicle and Impreza, as well as the BRZ sports car. Toyota is recalling the Subaru-made 86 and Scion FR-S sports car.
On Thursday, the car makers said springs in the engine valve could fracture and cause the vehicles to stall, risking an accident. These springs keep engine valves closed during the fuel combustion process. When they fail, it can cause severe damage to the engine.
Toyota said its vehicles accounted for about 80,000 of the total. In the U.S., Toyota is recalling about 25,000 Scion FR-S cars manufactured between March 2012 and July 2013. The recalled Subaru vehicles were made between January 2012 and September 2013. Subaru said 101,000 of the recalled vehicles were sold in Japan. A company spokesman declined to say how many vehicles were being recalled in the U.S.
Last week, Subaru cut its operating profit expectations for the first six months of the Japanese financial year, which ends in March. The company now expects operating profit of 61 billion yen ($541 million) for the April to September period, a reduction of 49 billion yen from its prior projection. The Subaru spokesman said the majority of the reduction is due to this recall.
Write to Sean McLain at firstname.lastname@example.org


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- Roberto Blake is a YouTuber, coach, and creative entrepreneur who earned more than $400,000 in 2021.
- He started as a freelancer and steadily scaled up before leaving his graphic-design job in 2013.
- He said he reinvests about 50% of his revenue back into his business.
Roberto Blake, 37, left his day job as a graphic designer for a marketing agency in 2013 after having a realization: that he could make more money on his own than in his current role.
“You have to look at this, and you have to go, ‘Wait a minute. How many people do I need as clients to make the same money that I’m making?'” he told Insider. From there, he simply broke down the math, comparing his $2,000-a-month take-home pay with the possibilities of going freelance.
“It doesn’t take 40 hours a week to get $500 or $1,000 worth of work done. So if I’m sitting at my job working on hundreds of clients each month, I could work for five of these people and be making more money,” he said.
Today, Blake has a successful coaching and consulting business and a YouTube channel with 547,000 subscribers. He also makes money through sponsorships, ads, and affiliate marketing. In 2020, he made $300,000 in total revenue, and that grew to $400,000 in 2021, according to documents verified by Insider.
Here’s how he got his start and set up multiple income streams.
Starting as a freelancer
Blake didn’t put in his two weeks’ notice at his graphic-design job right away, he said. Instead, he started doing some freelance work on the side.
“I didn’t do things that were directly competitive with the company,” he said, adding that he did a combination of marketing, social-media management, web design, graphic design, and video production for freelance clients.
Blake studied marketing and graphic design at a community college, but he dropped out before earning his degree because he knew he could teach himself. All of his other skills are self-taught, he said.
To advertise his side gig and show off the kind of work he could do, he built a website portfolio and blog he’s redesigned his website from the original style since then on WordPress and focused on search-engine optimization, using key phrases in his content that people were searching on Google like, “How to build a website” or, “Best video editors.” It paid off, and as clients found him through Google and worked with him, he said word of mouth further carried his business forward.
Eventually, clients started hiring him for consultations, too. “Some of these jobs were two or three hours long, and that can be really lucrative,” he said.
Blake also has a YouTube channel that he started in 2009 where he shares tips and advice he picked up while freelancing and consulting. As he posted more often, his subscriber and client base grew. Blake said high-quality thumbnails and SEO were the two biggest factors in his growth on YouTube.
Investing back into his business
Blake said he’s always reinvested about 50% of his revenue back into his business by upgrading his equipment to create higher-quality content. Once he could afford to do so, he also began making hires, his first being his sister. Today she handles administrative tasks like coordinating meetings with clients and brand partners.
He also has four full-time employees who assist with editing B-roll for his videos and creating graphics for his website and YouTube channel. He hires contractors for additional work, which he said frees up his time for new projects and helps him avoid burnout.
Diving into affiliate marketing
Blake said affiliate marketing is one of his top income streams.
“I fell into affiliate marketing from the Amazon affiliate program, but then I realized a lot of subscriptions and software I was using had programs, too,” he said.
He said he started by recommending the high-end camera equipment and computer gear he used for his videos on his YouTube channel. Then he tried other avenues. “I went into some other platforms like Kajabi, which is around $1,800 a month in passive income, and TubeBuddy, which is around $5,000 a month in passive income,” he said. He found these earnings were much more consistent, he added.
Kajabi is a platform that lets users build, market, and sell online courses, membership sites, and digital products. On Kajabi, Blake sells a starter kit he made for YouTube thumbnails that includes Adobe Photoshop templates, and he promotes the platform to his followers. His videos and one-on-one coaching focus on helping people make money, and one way he suggests doing so is by creating online courses and selling products. TubeBuddy is a browser extension that adds a layer of tools directly on top of YouTube’s website, and he promotes that to people with YouTube channels to use as a way to increase their visibility.
Blake said he takes a look at his monthly earnings regularly to see what’s working and what’s not. It helps him focus his attention on the right income opportunities. For example, with TubeBuddy, he said he noticed that he was getting a lot of sign-ups as more people hoping to grow on YouTube found his channel, so he started including mentions of his TubeBuddy affiliate link more in his videos.
He added that it isn’t necessary to be a creative like him to make this type of money. He said he believes that every small-business owner could be making additional income on social media or through affiliate programs. In addition to YouTube, Blake uses Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter as marketing tools. “It’s wildly practical, and you can’t say it’s not when literally children and teenagers are doing it and doing it successfully while out-earning their parents,” he said.


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Casey’s General Stores Inc. reported a strong performance for its third quarter— ending Jan. 31, 2016—with improved margin performance in prepared food as well as a same-store sales increase of 7.1%. Moving into the fourth quarter, the company looks toward expanding the reach of its pizza delivery program as well as growing its fleet of store.
Casey’s reported diluted earnings per share of 97 cents for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 ending Jan. 31, 2016, compared to $1.01 per share for the same quarter a year ago. Year to date, diluted earnings per share were $4.54 versus $3.57 a year ago.
“Total inside gross profit was up over 13% in the third quarter, driven primarily by improved margin performance in our prepared food category,” stated Chairman and CEO Robert Myers. “Our fuel margin per gallon was above our annual goal but still below prior year’s strong results, which impacted diluted earnings per share by approximately 30 cents compared to prior year’s third quarter.”
The Company’s annual goal for fiscal 2016 is to increase same-store gallons sold 2% with an average margin of 16.7 cents per gallon. For the third quarter, same-store gallons sold were up 1.6% with an average margin of 18.1 cents per gallon. The Company sold 15.2 million renewable fuel credits for $9.2 million during the third quarter.
“Fuel margins finished above goal for the third quarter due to elevated RIN values as well as a decline in wholesale fuel costs towards the end of the quarter,” said Myers. “Same-store gallons sold dipped slightly below our goal in the third quarter; however year-to-date same store gallons are up 2.7%.” Total gallons sold were up 7.1% with an average margin of 20.1 cents per gallon year to date.
Grocery & Other Merchandise
Casey’s annual goal for fiscal 2016 is to increase same-store sales 6.2% with an average margin of 32.1%. For the third quarter, same-store sales were up 7.1% with an average margin of 31.2%.
“Cigarette sales continue to benefit from lower retail fuel prices, and sales in the entire category performed well in the third quarter,” said Myers. “Margin has been slightly impacted by the increased contribution of cigarettes, and performed in line with prior year’s third quarter.”
For the year, total sales were up 10.2% with an average margin of 31.8%. Year to date, same-store sales were up 7.1%.
Prepared Food & Fountain
The goal for fiscal 2016 is to increase same-store sales 10.4% with an average margin of 60.8%. Same-store sales for the third quarter were up 6% with an average margin of 62%.
“The 330 basis point increase in margin from prior year’s third quarter was primarily due to lower commodity costs, and we have taken advantage of this favorable environment to lock in cheese costs through Dec. 31, 2016,” said Myers. “Challenging weather and strong prior year sales comparisons resulted in same-store sales falling below goal in this quarter. However, gross profit dollars were up over 16% for the category. We remain optimistic about future growth in this category, as we plan to implement pizza delivery in an additional 45 stores and complete 40 major remodels in the fourth quarter.” Year to date, total sales were up 13% to $662.4 million compared to the first nine months last year, and gross profit dollars were up 19.5% to $415.2 million. Year to date, same-store sales were up 8.5% with an average margin of 62.7%.
For the third quarter, operating expenses were up 8.7% to $259.6 million. Year to date, operating expenses also increased 8.7% to $791.2 million.
“Both the quarter-to-date and year-to-date increases were primarily driven by operating more stores this year compared to the same periods one year ago, and the continued rollout of 24-hour conversions, pizza delivery service, and major remodels,” said Myers. “The Company continued to benefit from lower fuel prices during the quarter as the increase in operating expenses was partially offset by a $1.1 million decrease in transportation costs due to lower fuel prices.”
The Company’s annual goal is to build or acquire 75-113 stores, replace 10 existing locations and complete 100 major remodels. As of the end of the third fiscal quarter, the Company completed 31 new-store constructions and acquired three stores. The Company also completed 11 replacements and 60 major remodels. The Company currently has 22 new stores under construction and another 59 sites under contract for future new builds.
“We continue to remain patient with acquisitions, and are excited about our future expansion opportunities as our second distribution center in Terre Haute, Indiana is now operational,” said Myers.
At its March meeting, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of 22 cents per share. The dividend is payable May 16, 2016 to shareholders of record on May 2, 2016.
Corporate information is available at this Web site: http://www.caseys.com. A recording of a March 8 earnings conference call are available via the Investor Relations section of Casey’s Website and will be available in an archived format.


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KENYA – Kenyan agri-tech startup Stable Foods has raised a US$600,000 round from Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF) and Mercy Corps Ventures, to build out its climate-smart smallholder food production platform.
Stable Foods, a portfolio business of the agrifood-tech venture firm Pyramidia Ventures, has created an integrated solution that includes Irrigation-as-a-service, provision of inputs, access to market, and training on regenerative agriculture.
These services are offered as a menu to smallholder farmers, allowing them to layer solutions as suits their individual needs.
The proceeds of the round will be used to scale up Stable Foods’ proof of concept to 500 farmers by the end of 2023.
“We are thrilled with this round of funding in our very first venture coming out of the studio.
“ARAF and Mercy Corps Ventures are fully aligned with Stable Foods’ mission and we could not be prouder of the entire Stable Foods team for getting such high-quality partners on board,” said Ruth Bertens, founder and managing partner of Pyramidia Ventures.
Food systems in Africa are plagued by two central problems: high food prices and subsistence level income for smallholder farmers.
These two realities are major contributors to food insecurity on the continent, with upwards of 50-80% of household incomes spent on food consumption on the continent.
Low yields for farmers, income instability, fragmented value chains and extractive monoculture agricultural practices are among the critical factors contributing to these problems at either end of the chain.
Yet, Africa has the potential to improve agricultural productivity 4-5X mainly through yield improvements by smallholder farmers.
Stable Foods unlocks this hidden smallholder potential at scale with its wide range of solutions.
“Stable Foods is another great addition to ARAF’s portfolio companies where we invest in innovative business models that help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change.
“The negative impact of climate change on rain patterns can’t be overstated and we believe that the Irrigation-as-a-Service solution that Stable Foods is offering represents a revolutionary service in the market,” says Tamer El-Raghy, Managing Director of Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF).
ARAF is sponsored by Acumen, anchored by the Green Climate Fund, and supported by FMO, the Soros Economic Development Fund, PROPARCO, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Global Social Impact, IKEA Foundation, and others.
According to Daniel Block, Investment Principal at Mercy Corps Ventures, it is widely accepted that there is a massive productivity gap in smallholder farming and implementing irrigation is known to catalyze increases in yields and income.
Yet, fewer than 3% of smallholders access irrigation today, primarily due to lack of affordability.
“Leveraging shared capex through networked irrigation solutions, Stable Foods has proven economies of scale can drive down the cost per unit for farmers and make irrigation work for even tiny plots of land at a price point that is very affordable to any smallholder.
“We often think of innovation as a new technology, though sometimes – and Stable Foods gets this – redesigning existing systems and executing to solve a true customer pain point is the most successful innovation of all,” Daniel said.


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Bitcoins can be used for online money transfers and trades, and the currency uses cryptography to protect it.
But Bitfloor’s founder, Roman Shtylman, said he had kept unencrypted “keys”, which the thief accessed and used to take the money.
Bitfloor’s future is now in doubt.
Mr Shtylman said his New York-based service was the biggest of its kind in the US and the fourth largest in the world.
Unlike other currencies, Bitcoins are not issued by a central bank or other centralised authority. Instead they are created in a process called “mining”, in which coins are issued to a user when they solve a complicated mathematical problem using their computer.
More details: www.bbc.co.uk


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Tuesday, November 19, 2013
I'm up here getting it in trying to build a buzz from medford to seattle. I always have a great time up this way the people is cool as shit. I been turnt up so long i have not even got me no sleep yet. I guess i'm a eat some breakfast and get this tuesday started and moving.
at 8:26 AM
Friday, November 8, 2013
SuzzorLose.com: [NEW MUSIC]: WILL.I.AM F/ MILEY CYRUS, FRENCH MONT...: will.i.am joins forces with Miley Cyrus, French Montana, and Wiz Khalifa for another star-studded collaboration. Fresh off her “Real and ...
at 8:28 PM
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Jeezy's clothing company 8732 is facing a new lawsuit from the Hells Angels. Jeezy's clothing apparel line 8732 Apparel is facing a new lawsuit, from motorcycle crew Hells Angels. The Angels aren't too happy with Jeezy ripping off their logo, and then selling it on jackets for massive profit, at least according to the suit. Hells Angels' iconic Death Head logo is currently being used in a slightly different version on 8732 Apparel's jackets and hats. Hells Angels say in their lawsuit that Jeezy's company has already earned a substantial amount of profit from selling a knock-off of their logo, and now they want all those profits. The club is suing for unspecified damages. They're also asking that a judge forces 8732 to stop selling any apparel with what looks like their logo on it. Last year the Hells Angels also went to court with Rob Drydek's clothing comapny and MTV over the same problem-- a rip-off of their logo. Check out photos of 8732 apparel and the Hells Angels logo in the gallery above to view the similarities.
at 3:52 PM
Friday, October 25, 2013
From NASA: The night fishermen are hunting for Illex argentinus, a species of short-finned squid that forms the second largest squid fishery on the planet. The squid are found tens to hundreds of kilometers offshore from roughly Rio de Janeiro to Tierra del Fuego (22 to 54 degrees South latitude). They live 80 to 600 meters (250 to 2,000 feet) below the surface, feeding on shrimp, crabs, and fish. In turn, Illex are consumed by larger finfish, whales, seals, sea birds, penguins ... and humans.
at 8:02 AM


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Kelley Blue Book says it will further decrease its used-car values on recalled Toyotas. The company updates values on a weekly basis. Last Friday, it initially decreased the used-car values of recalled Toyotas by 1 to 3 percent in response to the slowing demand.
This coming Friday, it will cut values on these models by an additional 1.5 percent "on concerns around the growing supply of unsold Toyotas on both dealer lots and at auctions," says Juan Flores, director of vehicle valuation at Kelley Blue Book. "At this point, it's clear that the market is shifting away from these Toyota products right now, allowing us to project their lowered values. In the coming weeks there will be much more data available on the sale of used Toyotas and any shifts in demand, which will provide greater insight into how the values of these vehicles might be affected in the future."
Last week's reduction lowered values by $200 to $500 per vehicle. The next cut will take them down by a total of $400 to $1,000, with the more expensive models taking the biggest hit, says Kelly spokeswoman Robyn Eckard.
Edmunds.com says that trade-in values on recalled Toyotas have fallen as much as 10 percent, but predicts they will bounce back. "Dealers are taking them from consumers at a lower price even though many of them will generate a higher profit margin for dealers in a few weeks after the recall issue is resolved," Edmunds analyst Joe Spina says. "We anticipate that any backlash will be short-lived."
Edmunds estimates that dealers are chopping their trade-in values by a larger percentage than they are cutting their retail prices. For example, it estimates that dealers are paying 6.1 percent less for a 2009 Toyota Corolla LE four-door sedan ($11,233 versus $11,963) but have dropped their retail price on the same model by only 3.5 percent ($14,161 versus $14,669).
Meanwhile, the National Automobile Dealers Association also reports that wholesale and retail values are falling, especially for the newer recalled vehicles. "NADA's analysis of last week's auction performance for Toyota was largely inconclusive at this time, however volumes were down on newer models and there was some above average softness in prices on newer models (2008 and 2009)," it reported on Friday. "On the retail side Toyota has also shown some early softness with prices dropping by slightly over 3 percent compared to a slight increase in retail prices for Honda models."


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Billions of dollars have been erased from the value of the cryptocurrency market in the past few weeks. Companies in the industry are feeling the pain. Lending and trading companies are facing a liquidity crunch and many companies have announced layoffs.
Yoo Chun Christopher Wong | S3studio | Getty Images
The company said that the Crypto lender Vuld has temporarily halted all withdrawals, trading and deposits on its platform and is exploring possible restructuring options.
Fuld CEO Darshan Bateja said in a blog Monday that the company is facing “financial challenges” due to “volatile market conditions, the financial difficulties of our major trading partners inevitably affecting us, and the current market climate” that has resulted in customers withdrawing more than $197.7 million. dollars from the platform since June 12.
The Singapore-based company said it was working with its financial and legal advisors “to explore and analyze all possible options, including potential restructuring options, that would protect the interests of Fuld’s shareholders.”
Cryptocurrency lenders like Fuld have faced liquidity issues. Celsius last month suspended checkouts for customers Quoted from “harsh market conditions”.
Fuld said she was “in discussions with potential investors” in the company.
The company said it has appointed Kroll Pte Limited as its financial advisor, as well as Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP as its legal advisors in India and Singapore, respectively.
“Infuriatingly humble alcohol fanatic. Unapologetic beer practitioner. Analyst.”


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Thursday 10-03-2016 12:30
Hear From KiTTi, RoosterMoney and Mondo at the Mobile Marketing Finance Summit
The Mobile Marketing Finance Summit
Ben Green, CEO of KiTTI from Santander
kicks off a week today, and we are looking forward to keynote presentations from KiTTi from Santander, Mondo, and RoosterMoney. Below are some of the highlights you can expect to see.
Ben Green, CEO of KiTTI
from Santander will give a presentation entitled ‘Meeting the Needs of Millennials’.
Ben incubated the social savings platform, and will explain why it’s wrong to think of Millennials as consumers of a certain age. Instead, he will argue, it’s an attitudinal segment with resonance across age groups.
Ben will also explore the expectations Millennials have round digital services and explain how financial services organisations can reap the rewards if they focus on engagement with that segment. He will also look at the challenge financial services companies face in addressing the divide that exists between their bricks and mortar and digital offerings.
Will Carmichael, CEO of RoosterMoney
will explain how his company is helping parents teach their children financial responsibility from a young age by engaging with them on the screens they spend the most time on - mobiles and tablets.
Will will explain how, through gamification, children are encouraged to save, learn the real value of money, and have the foundations laid for smart financial decision-making later in life.
Will will speak to how the company has been able to reach children as young as five who are using the app, all the way up to age 12, which is the typical age that a child will get their first bank account in their own name.
Jason Bates, co-founder of Mondo
will also take to the stage next Thursday. Mondo made the headlines
just last week, crowdfunding £1m in just a minute and a half.
Mondo has not been shy about who its app is aimed at: people who “hate banks” or at least hate some of the practices that they feel constrained by, such as not being able to open an account in just a few minutes; having to pass a credit check when they are not necessarily looking to borrow money; and being locked into annual interest rates for overdrafts.
While still in Alpha stage, Mondo and its investors are confident that it has the potential to become the Uber of the banking world. Jason will explain the company’s origins, and expand on its strategy for taking on the banking industry.
In addition to the brand presentation, delegates will also hear keynotes from mobile marketing firms Amuzo, Swrve
while these three companies, along with Nimbletank,
are among those hosting 30-minute interactive round table sessions.
Financial services executives can register to attend the event for free here.


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With Fort Worth-based RadioShack back in bankruptcy, it’s once again the butt of jokes for late-night comics.
Jimmy Kimmel had some fun with the Shack last night, wondering what the company did with all the money he spent there on AAA batteries and noting that its name is outdated, akin to a place called The Fax Machine Hut.
Now that its recent tie-up with Sprint is breaking apart, he pondered some new business partners for the electronics retailer. Take a look.
RadioShack filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week in Delaware and said it was in the process of closing about 200 of more than 1,500 company-owned stores. The company also said it intends to either close or transfer to Sprint another 365 locations.
The company, which has lost business to online retailers, wireless providers and other rivals, is significantly smaller than it was when it went into bankruptcy in 2015 with more than 4,000 stores.


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Hindustan Sanitaryware & Industries Limited (HSIL), known by its Hindware sanitaryware brand, is eyeing buyouts in Europe as part of its global expansion plans. It is learnt that the Somany Group-owned company is planning brand buyouts in Italy, regarded as a country renowned for its sanitaryware brands. HSIL has a 40% market share of the Indian sanitaryware market.
Anil Chandani, VP, Corporate Finance, HSIL, told VCCircle, “We are keen on brand buyouts in European countries. Brand buyouts is a viable model compared to acquiring the entire company as manufacturing abroad is not cost-effective. As far as brands are concerned, Italian brands are the most popular across the globe.” However, he refused to disclose more details on their plans. Fund-raising will not be a concern for the company as it has already received approval from shareholders to raise up to Rs 150 crore through various private placements.
According to a report by The Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries, a European agency, Italy is the largest market in the EU for sanitaryware and ceramic tiles. In 2008, it amounted to €3.6 billion, after a growth of 4.6% per year since 2004.
In March, the Rs 836-crore HSIL Ltd acquired the business of manufacturing and dealing in chrome plated brass bathroom fittings and accessories under the brand ‘Crabtree’ from Havells India Ltd. HSIL entered into a strategic alliance with $1.5- billion Sanitec Group of Finland to exclusively market their flagship brand Keramag in India. HSIL Limited has also tied up with TEUCO, the largest Italian designer brand, to launch premium bathtubs & multi-functions in India.
According to the report, Italy counted 43 ceramic sanitaryware producers in 2008, including 37 in the Civita Castellana district (province of Viterbo), the most important manufacturing cluster for this sector in Italy. Activities took place in 53 factories, of which 42 are located in the province of Viterbo. Major Italian producers of sanitary ware include Ceramica Althea, Ceramica Esedra, Ceramica Galassia, Hidra Ceramica, Marazzi Group, Novellini, Pozzi Ginori and Varm.
Last year, PTI, quoting Sandip Somany, joint managing director, HSIL, had reported that the company was in talks with 4-5 European companies for acquisition for a deal worth Euro 30-100 million.
The company was established in 1960 in a joint venture with Twyfords, UK. The company changed its name to Hindustan Sanitaryware & Industries Limited in 1969. HSIL has about 1,200 distributors and 12,000 plus retailers across India.