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Snoop Dogg, the famous rapper and actor, has now added another venture to his growing list of Web3 partnerships: the live streaming app Shiller. The app is a live broadcast platform that aims to combine Web3 technology with real-time live streaming content, and the rap star has been named as a co-founder of the app alongside technology entrepreneur Sam Jones.
Shiller is a platform that intends to democratize the creation and distribution of content using blockchain technology to eliminate intermediaries. The platform is still in development and has been delayed until April this year, but when launched, it will provide content creators with complete ownership over their content and the monetization that flows from it. Content creators can use the platform to “token-gate” their streams and promote non-fungible tokens or other products from e-commerce websites.
One significant advantage of using blockchain technology is that content creators can be paid out in cryptocurrencies such as Ether (ETH) or NFTs, which can be cashed out as fiat. This move toward Web3 technology is consistent with the broader creator economy movement worldwide.
The creator economy movement is all about providing creators with complete ownership over their content and the monetization that flows from it. While “Web1” enabled users to write HTML and read content, “Web2” enabled user-to-user interactions — which was brought to the masses by a few social media monopolies, such as Facebook, Google, and YouTube.
The “Web3” movement aims to eliminate these intermediaries by providing creators with complete ownership over their content and the monetization that flows from it. Decentralized messaging platforms are starting to emerge too, with Nostr being one example. Backed by Jack Dorsey, Nostr aims to be a “Twitter killer” by providing encrypted end-to-end private messaging using a decentralized network. The platform also comes with built-in Bitcoin (BTC) payments on the Lightning network.
This move towards Web3 technology is a significant shift in the economy, enabling creators to have complete control over their creations’ distribution and monetization. NFTs have already revolutionized the music industry, allowing independent artists to monetize their work and build a fan base, and new platforms like Shiller or Nostr may enable even more creators to do the same.
Snoop Dogg has been at the forefront of this trend, with his numerous partnerships in the Web3 space. In 2021, he partnered with the Sandbox metaverse to launch an NFT collection called “Snoop Avatars” and released a hip-hop single titled “A Hard Working Man,” which was later accompanied by a 50,000-piece NFT drop. He also partnered with Yuga Labs to perform on a metaverse-transformed stage at MTV’s Video Music Awards on Aug. 29.
In March 2022, Snoop Dogg also partnered with crypto casino Roobet, where he will serve as the firm’s “Chief Ganjaroo Officer.”
In conclusion, Snoop Dogg’s latest partnership with Shiller, a live streaming app, adds another Web3 partnership to his growing list. Shiller aims to democratize the creation and distribution of content while providing creators with a means to monetize their content using blockchain technology. This partnership is part of the broader creator economy movement, which seeks to eliminate intermediaries and provide creators with complete ownership over their content and the monetization that flows from it.


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While looking through Instagram last night, a pair of colorful Nike sneakers stopped us mid-scroll in our feeds, courtesy of Need Supply Co.'s account. Nike Air Max sneakers have had a major resurgence among the fashion crowd as of late, which may explain why the cool corduroy iteration has racked up over 9000 likes at this point, making it the most liked post that we could find on the retailer's account (by a lot). The designer of the special sneakers, which will be released via Need Supply Co. on November 21, is Sean Wotherspoon, a vintage store owner with a sizable following, and a Nike Air Max devotee.
While it remains to be seen whether or not the covetable '80s-inspired sneakers will be available online, Need Supply Co. said in the comments that more information will be available this Sunday about the impending release, so stay tuned.
Below, check out the Nike Air Max sneakers that people will be lining up for on November 21, and shop other cool Nikes that are currently available on Need Supply Co.

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Rumors: Spy Shots—Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG
By Doran Dal Pra
August 15, 2012
Even though it won't be hitting the streets until sometime in 2014, the Mercedes-Benz CLA sub-compact sedan has been spotted by spy photographers for quite some time. Now, we have our first glimpse of the hotted up CLA 45 AMG sedan, thanks to the spy shooters over at Carscoop. The CLA is based on MB's MFA architecture—the same platform that underpins the new A-Class.
Platform technology isn't the only thing the CLA 45 AMG will share with the A-Class—under the hood, it will feature the same 330 horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine found in the A45 AMG. All that grunt will be routed through a dual-clutch seven-speed transmission, which should help put down some impressive performance numbers.
The vehicle seen here differs visually from other CLA prototypes we've seen because of larger brakes and unique black five-spoke wheels. Once the camouflage is removed, we should see further visual upgrades including larger air intakes, a rear diffuser, and reworked front and rear bumpers, among others. While the CLA 45 AMG is physically taking shape, we will still have to wait for specifics like price and an exact arrival date.


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iPhone 12 to Be the Cheapest Killer Apple Model Till Date
iPhone iPhone 12 will cost cheaper than its predecessor iPhone 11 and OnePlus 8
As Apple's Fall event approaches closer, the rumours about the iPhone 12 series are back. The tipsters had leaked that iPhone 12 Pro will have a 120Hz display and iOS 14 beta. And the latest information states that the model will come with ProMotion display.
A lot are concerned that the refreshing rate of 120Hz display might drain the battery faster, but it is being said that Apple is working on improving battery life. This killer upgrade makes it a prominent model to fight against Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, OnePlus 8 Pro that comes with 120Hz Display and Asus ROG Phone 3 that comes with 140Hz display.
Image Credit: Apple
Frame Rate and Display:
Twitter user @abjornx also observed an option to limit the frame rate to 60Hz on his iPhone 11 Pro after updating his iPhone to iOS 14 Beta 5. This possibly hints that we could see a 120Hz display on this year's iPhone 12 Pro models. Tech enthusiast and concept designer @BenGeskin five months ago had also noticed the same thing.
Image Credit: Twitter/ iAppleTimes
Cheapest Apple Model till Date:
To compete with other premium smartphone players, Apple is planning to launch one of the iPhone 12 models at the cheapest rates. As per reports, iPhone 12 prices start at Rs 49,999. If this happens iPhone 12 will cost cheaper than its predecessor iPhone 11 and OnePlus 8.
As per leaker Omega Leaks tweet, iPhone 12- 4G — might be priced at $549 and iPhone 12 Max 4G would be $649, which will make it one of the cheapest Apple model to date.
With the trade restrictions going in China, Apple is now planning to even start
the production of the iPhone 12 in India. As per the latest media reports, Wistron, the Taiwanese manufacturer of the brand, has begun the hiring process and the product will start at the Narasapura plant, Kolar district near Bangalore.
As per the plan, the manufacturing company at Kolar will be hiring 10,000 employees for the job and the company has already hired 2000 locals for the job. Wistron plans to invest over 2,900 crores in India, which will generate domestic employment in the country.
The company is required to follow the Karnataka Industrial Policy which states 70 percent of the jobs should be given to locals. The phones are expected to hit the market by mid-2021.
iPhone 11 is already being manufactured in the country and soon they will be starting the production of iPhone SE in India as well. This move comes as there is a delay in production due to the pandemic.
Considering the present crisis, the phone will be launched in two stages. "Last year's iPhone 11 shipped in September, but this year, the supply of the new product will be a few weeks later than that," confirmed Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri.
Twitter user @LeaksApplePro took to Twitter and said that the event will be recorded at Apple Park and Phil Schiller will take part in the keynote. At the event Apple will launch the iPhone 12 models, one ARM-powered Mac, new iPads, a lackluster upgrade to the Apple Watch
Image Credit: Twitter/@LeaksApplePro
About iPhone 12 Models and Features:
The upcoming iPhone 12 series will include four different models: iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Max, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
iPhone 12 Max comes with a 6.1-inch screen and iPhone 12 Pro with 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR with ProMotion and 6GB RAM. The Pro models (the premium models of iPhone 12 series) will have 120Hz high refresh-rate displays and a bigger screen. This will drain a lot more energy, however, a bigger battery across the iPhone 12 models could make it a winner.
The iPhone 12 series also come with LiDAR scanner, which is already available in iPad Pro. The phone will be available in three internal storage variants of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. The latest model will be combined with powerful chips in the form of the A14 Bionic.
The new iPhones would have a smaller notch, curved edges and will have a new design as well. And as for the camera design, the leaker has shared a design.
If the models indeed are a pack of these power leaks it will be one of the best premium smartphones in the market that will be a step ahead of its predecessor in terms of looks, features, processor, speed, camera, power, making it quite a contender in the market.


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Cloudfret, a Morocco-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) company has raised $1 million to support its operation expansion.
- The funds will be used to expand its team, build out new services and increase its presence in African and European markets, it claims.
- Launched in 2021, Cloudfret links shippers to a large network of carriers in Africa and Europe, with 58 freight customers onboarded and 4,000 vehicles on target.
- The new funding round brings the SaaS firm to $20 million in valuation.
- The round was led by Plug and Play Ventures ICAV, Azur Innovation Fund, AfriMobility, and angel investor Khalid Zitouni.


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Samsung is gearing up to unveil yet another Galaxy smartphone - the Galaxy C9 in China today. The company is also expected to launch an enhanced variant of the device alongside dubbed as the Galaxy C9 Pro. Now, before the phones go official, Chinese retailer T-Mall has listed the Galaxy C9 Pro on its website. The listing consists of complete specs and pricing of the Galaxy C9 Pro.
As per the listing, the dual-SIM Galaxy C9 Pro will cost CNY 3,199 (approx. Rs. 31,700). It will come with a 6-inch Full HD AMOLED display (1920×1080 pixels) and run Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The device will be powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 653 processor (Quad 1.95GHz ARM Cortex A72 CPU + Quad 1.44GHz A53 CPU), which was recently launched by Qualcomm at its 4G/5G Summit. The C9 Pro will feature 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, expandable up to 256GB via microSD card.
One of the major highlights of the C9 Pro is its 16-megapixel rear and front cameras with dual-tone LED flash. For connectivity, it will support 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v 4.2, ANT+, USB-Type-C, Fingerprint Sensor, and NFC. It will be backed by a 4000mAh battery with fast charging. The device will measure 162.9×80.7×6.9mm and weigh 185 grams. It will be up for sale in Gold and Rose Gold color variants.
We will get to know more about the device and its availability outside China at the event today. In the meantime, we would like to know your views on the specifications of the C9 Pro as mentioned above. Hit the comment section below to share your opinion.


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Nintendo has revealed that its high definition remake of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is coming to stores at the beginning of October.
Earlier this year Nintendo announced that it was working on a high definition remake of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. This excited the game's many fans who enjoyed the original game on the Gamecube and were looking forward to the upgrades Nintendo would make to enhance its experience. Initially, the game was slated for a Fall release window. Now, with autumn creeping closer, Nintendo has finally provided a specific release date. Wind Waker HD will be landing on store shelves October 8th.
The release can perhaps be seen as the opening shot of a push by Nintendo to make the Wii U a more attractive prospect for consumers who have responded tepidly to the console up to this point. The company has expressed hopes in the past that, with games like Wind Waker HD, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Super Mario 3D World coming out in relatively short succession, it will see a boost to the console's sales.
That being the case, we can't help but wonder if outside factors, namely the impending launch of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, could perhaps derail some of those plans. While an injection of the company's tried and true franchises has, in the past, been a recipe for success, the eyes of many gamers are arguably turned toward the new consoles. Granted, the family friendly fair that Nintendo deals in might draw in a different audience than Sony and Microsoft's arguably more adult-centric lineups, but it's still possible that some gamers could be too wrapped up in their shiny new consoles to pay much notice to the latest iterations of Nintendo's long running franchises.


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As the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, the entertainment, business, and sports industries, as well as many others, have seen massive upheaval in order to function in the new, post COVID-19 world.
That said, the one industry that had not been as negatively affected was the video game industry. If anything, the video game industry saw massive growth due to the amount of people turning to video games as a way to escape and entertain themselves in a world full of negativity.
The present circumstances helped video games reach a level it had not arguably seen. With video games firmly in the zeitgeist in the present, that begs the question: what does the future of gaming look like?
In a talk moderated by Dean Takahashi, Jason Rubin and Michael Verdu – the Vice President of Play at Facebook and the Vice President of Facebook Reality Labs at Facebook, respectively – they discussed of how Virtual Reality (VR) could very well be the future of gaming.
From the outset, both Rubin and Verdu mentioned how “barriers” are standing in the way of how people can enjoy games, mainly referring to how some video games could be difficult to access for a regular consumer. To that end, Rubin says, “Accessibility is the foundation of gaming on Facebook,” and is why Facebook launched a Cloud platform – the aptly named “Cloud Gaming” – allowing players to play PC and mobile games, all of which are free and customizable.
Verdu agrees with Rubin’s sentiment, stating that accessibility is “the North Star” for Facebook gaming. Additionally, both mentioned how important it was to restrict content on Facebook. By restricting what is available, it allows for higher-quality curated content on the site to reach the consumers and, in turn, gives developers a bigger base as it allows them to build an ecosystem within Facebook.
What’s more, the duo have noticed VR’s ecosystem grow, with more than 60 Oculus titles that have made more $1 million in revenue. VR has become a viable gaming platform and the two have noticed that momentum is increasing, especially after the strong release of the Oculus Quest 2.
It was also noted that advertising is a big part of the revenue growth, along with in-app purchases, which also drives a sizable number of the revenue stream, according to Rubin.
In that same vein, Rubin said what sets Facebook apart is it reduces the costs of installs, has more capabilities than other games – at least in terms of the social aspect – and notes Facebook will be a bigger part in games design in the future. Verdu echoed that sentiment, saying how people schedule time to be together in VR, and the fact that VR is inherently social, makes it the future of gaming.
Lastly, Rubin said gaming has been one of the “bright lights” to people in the last year and is “thankful” for video games existing during the pandemic. Verdu adds that VR can transport people and that it was very “rewarding” to see people use VR to not only escape their situation, but also use it to connect with other people.
Elsewhere, Denny Unger, CEO of Cloudhead Games, talked about how Pistol Whip improved locomotion along with maintaining comfort in order to keep the player engaged. Unger also mentioned how important the original Oculus Quest was to the market, turning VR from a novelty into a utility.
Wrapping things up, Rubin then spoke with Michael Carter, the CEO of Playco, to discuss the business and how their main focus is to bring the world closer together through gaming. A part of that focus came with trying to get a game that could be played by a billion people through Facebook’s platform.
So far, they are halfway there with 500 million unique players and installs through Facebook, which is a big step considering Playco has relatively small teams. In the end, Carter mentioned how Playco wants to build games players from all generations can play together with family and friends.
In a way, this talk emphasizes how VR and the community aspect of video games – as a whole – is the future of gaming. Considering how detached the world has been the last year because of lockdowns, it is good to hear that gaming is bringing connection back after such a difficult time.


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Virtual Programmatic Day H2 2019 – panel recordings
The Virtual Programmatic Day (VPD) brings together industry experts and thought-leaders to explore the latest trends, drivers and barriers impacting programmatic trading in Europe. It’s one of the largest virtual events in the programmatic industry, with global leaders and experts dialling in to discuss and debate the hottest topics! All participating speakers sit on IAB Europe’s Programmatic Trading Committee, to help educate, shape and inform the industry on the latest programmatic news and developments.
The H2 2019 edition of the event took place on the afternoon of 19th November and focused on the latest market trends including spend, drivers and barriers, key growth areas such as connected TV, how programmatic will look in a post-cookie era and up to date insight into GDPR and the IAB Europe Transparency and Consent Framework. You can watch the event panels back via the following pages:


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The network that they are creating is known as Bitcoin Cash or BCH. When.Whether that happens for sure remains to be seen, but if it does, and you hold bitcoin, there are a few things you will want.Follow these five easy steps to learn exactly what to do when getting started with Bitcoin. Bitcoin Cash project. Step 2. WeUseCoins Bitcoin Faucet - Get free.For Bitcoin investors who are looking to get in on the action, look no further.Many proponents of the coin, judging by popular sentiment on social media like Reddit and Twitter, prefer the initial name: Bitcoin Cash.If investors buy Bitcoin and then move it onto a different exchange or wallet, they could potentially close out tomorrow with two tokens: BTC and BCH.It might seem hard to get Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies.
Many cities around the world offer a bitcoin ATM where you can trade cash for bitcoin.As Bitcoin Cash, or Bcash, is slowly but surely turning into a functioning cryptocurrency, one topic remains contentious in particular: its name.Can you eventually hold the bitcoins in your hand, like real cash.Bitcoin Price Analysis: How Rumblings From China Play Into Wyckoff Distributions.
Even though the conference audience laughed, this is truly a multibillion-dollar question.Banking on Bitcoin Available on Netflix: A Good Intro to Bitcoin in Need of a Sequel.
Bitcoin cash is crashing - finance.yahoo.comAfter ongoing debates over how to scale the digital currency called bitcoin, some.
Yesterday, August 1st, the Bitcoin Blockchain experienced a hard fork, as we reported on in our last article.
BTC.com – Bitcoin & Bitcoin Cash Wallet on the App Store
NO2X: Breaking Bitcoin Shows No Love for the SegWit2x Hard Fork in Paris.Depending on how you want to approach the fork, this information is important.In most cases, BCC is associated with BitConnect Coin, a top-20 cryptocurrency by market cap according to coinmarketcap.com. And major Bitcoin exchange Bitfinex uses the ticker BCC for BTC futures in case Bitcoin Unlimited creates a new currency (BTU).The Bitcoin world received its first hard fork yesterday at 1:20 BST, with a new blockchain being introduced to the Bitcoin world known Bitcoin Cash.
How to Buy Bitcoin with Cash [11 easy steps] | Dark Web News
The Easiest Ways to Buy Bitcoins With Cash (and Spend ThemThe UAHF is incompatible with the current Bitcoin protocol and will create a separate blockchain.
If you own some bitcoins and would like to sell them and get money, this is what you need to do.The flagship e-Letter of Angel Publishing, Wealth Daily brings you these market insights and commentaries every day directly to your email inbox.Bitcoin is the currency of the Internet: a distributed, worldwide, decentralized digital money.We tell you what is Bitcoin cash, pit Bitcoin Cash vs Bitcoin and what this split means for Bitcoin users.While the whole bitcoin community is concerned about the creation of Bitcoin Cash, we recommend you how to protect your funds and gain profit out of the situation.
All eyes were on bitcoin on Tuesday as the digital currency split in two.
How to Sell Bitcoins? - BitstampHow the Blockstream Satellite Will Drive Bitcoin Adoption: An Interview with Adam Back and Chris Cook.Follow this guide to access your Bitcoin Cash using the Bitcoin.com Wallet.The Next Doctor You Consult Could Be a Robot: Healthcare Meets AI and the Blockchain.
What Is Bitcoin Cash? Why Is Bitcoin Splitting? — TheIf you wish to learn more about the effects of forks in the digital currency ecosystem, you can read that article here.Initiate a soft fork, which would alter the Bitcoin code in small increments.
Below are a list of steps for extracting your Bitcoin Cash (BCH) funds from Airbitz wallets.
Can you really cash out bitcoin if you are a nobody? MyBitcoin is a peer-to-peer payment network established in 2009 that uses a virtual currency, the bitcoin, to conduct transactions. Unlike.I know that on 1st August 2017, Bitcoin is splitting into BTC and BCC.Jason Stutman shares some thoughts on investor hesitation and urges readers to avoid mistakes when investing in digital currencies and assets.Warning: this guide reveals the exact method the author used to claim free Bitcoin CasH and exchange it for Bitcoin on the 2nd of August.Is there any risk to simply leaving my BTC in Coinbase during this event.
Bitcoin vs Bitcoin Cash - leaprate.comThey pushed for a hard fork, which is going to take place on August 1 st.On August 1st at 12:20 UTC a new cryptocurrency called Bitcoin Cash will be launched.But note that even when a coin is sent to a wrong address, that coin is not lost forever.Initiate a hard fork, which would alter the Bitcoin code and increase block size dramatically.
101+ Best Ways to Buy Bitcoins Online in 2017
The UASF will not alter any customer funds which are stored in Coinbase.Buy and Sell Bitcoin Cash Bitcoin Cash Trading The Bitcoin Fork What is Bitcoin Cash.


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Tesla: Would you like your microgrid in a bag or box?
Tesla’s vision of one-stop-shopping for microgrid-like products came closer to reality this week following approval of its merger with SolarCity by the independent members of each company’s boards of directors.
Elon Musk, the CEO and major shareholder of both companies, is positioning the merger as a way to make it easier for consumers to buy and maintain Tesla and SolarCity microgrid products. Tesla plans to leverage its 190-stores and international presence to push a packaged product, which will include SolarCity’s solar panels and Tesla’s electric vehicles and Powerwall energy storage battery.
This week’s announcement pegs Tesla’s purchase price of SolarCity at $2.6 billion. In next steps, SolarCity begins a required 45-day period when it can solicit other buyers. To go forward, the deal still needs a vote of a majority of the disinterested shareholders of both companies and regulatory approvals.
[clickToTweet tweet=”#Tesla: Would you like your #microgrid in a bag or box? @SolarCity” quote=”Tesla: Would you like your microgrid in a bag or box?”]
Tesla hopes to close fourth quarter of 2016. The end result, it says, will be “the world’s only vertically integrated sustainable energy company.”
Tesla’s financial advisor was Evercore. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz was its legal advisor. The financial advisor to the special committee of SolarCity’s board of directors was Lazard and its legal advisor was Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
Black & Veatch: Make mine a sustainable microgrid
Speaking of packaging things up, Black & Veatch will offer several of its products in a new sustainability solution for large energy and water consumers.
The infrastructure company, which has increasingly been focusing on microgrids, will help customers reduce greenhouse gases, increase renewable energy use, minimize water consumption, and enhance resilience and operational efficiency across their organizations.
By way of example, Black & Veatch pointed to its work on the military microgrid at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, in San Diego, California. The microgrid includes renewable resources, advanced smart grid control systems and demand response capabilities.
Others example of Black & Veatch sustainability work include:
- Planning and implementing a smart city framework and infrastructure system to help Chula Vista, California, more efficiently use energy, water and communications infrastructure.
- Installing its ASSET360 data analytics platform at the Port of San Diego Smart City project. The platform provides real-time information to help operators use power more intelligently.
- Building a microgrid that powers portions of its world headquarters in Kansas.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Black & Veatch: Make mine a sustainable #microgrid @Black_Veatch” quote=”Black & Veatch: Make mine a sustainable microgrid “]
Axiom: This energy storage is cool. No, really.
Axiom Exergy today announced $2.5 million in new investment for its energy storage refrigeration battery, which is tailored for supermarkets and cold storage facilities.
JB Straubel (co-founder and CTO of Tesla Motors), the Element 8 Fund, Victory Capital, the MIT Angels, Propel(x) angels, the Sierra Angels, and undisclosed investors. The product’s current pipeline is $5 million in signed contracts.
The battery stores thermal energy produced by refrigerators. The stored energy can later act as backup during power outages. Or the battery can be used to leverage electricity costs — it is powered during off-peak periods and deployed when grid prices rise.
Able to shift electric load for six hours and offset electricity demand by up to 40 percent, the battery offers significant savings for grocery stores, the company says. Saving $25,000 on energy is the equivalent of selling $1.8 million of groceries or increasing sales by 11 percent, according to Axiom.
Axiom envisions the refrigeration batteries being deployed at hundreds of sites in a utility service territory and then used by the utility in aggregated form to manage grid congestion.
“Central refrigeration accounts for 9.1 percent of electricity consumption in US commercial buildings,” says Amrit Robbins, president and co-founder of Axiom Exergy. “Energy storage for addressing peak demand needs, load shifting and backup power is critical for this multi-billion-dollar slice of the energy pie.”
Here is a a quick video overview of Axiom’s refrigeration battery.
[clickToTweet tweet=”This energy storage is cool. No, really. @AxiomExergy” quote=”This energy storage is cool. No, really. “]
Track microgrid news by joining the Microgrid Knowledge LinkedIn Group.


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Cruise Industry Comments on Return of Domestic Cruising on 17 May
Maritime minister Robert Courts informed a group of MPs that UK cruise lines will be able to resume domestic sailings from 17 May
Key members of the cruise industry have said that they welcome the news that UK cruise lines will be able to restart domestic sailings on 17 May.
Maritime minister Robert Courts disclosed the news during a virtual meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Maritime and Ports Group (APPMPG).
The group tweeted: '**NEWS** Maritime Minister robert courts announces the reopening of the domestic #cruise market in England on 17 May at tonight’s @APPMPG meeting.'
The group then later tweeted: “From repatriation procedures and risk mitigations to CV-19 protocols and the domestic vaccination programme, a great @APPMPG session w/ @robertcourts who delivered some much appreciated news. A pathway to the domestic cruise market re-opening on 17 May.'
Following the announcement, members of the cruise sector have shown their support for the decision.
Clia UK and Ireland director, Andy Harmer, said: 'We strongly welcome the announcement that cruise will be included alongside the restart of other domestic tourism in the UK.
'The industry has been working with the government over the last year on health protocols which put the safety of our passengers and crew first. Many of these protocols have already been tested successfully where cruise has been able to operate elsewhere in Europe.
'The industry has long planned a phased restart for cruise, with domestic cruises representing the first stage of this plan.
'We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the government, including through the Global Travel Taskforce, in order to ensure the safe restart of international cruise in time for the summer season.'
Other members of the cruise industry have also expressed their delight, including Anthony Daniels, Hurtigruten's UK and EMEA general manager:
'We welcome the news today from the Department of Transport that domestic cruises are able to operate from the 17 May. It’s another positive step forward for the cruise industry and for travel agents.
'Hurtigruten offers a series of exciting expedition cruises in British waters in summer 2021, with great opportunities for guests to join one of our small ships in Dover. The size of our ships, and our style of cruising, allows us to flex and adapt our programme, but without compromise to bring adventure to our guests. We are finalising operational details, and will provide further information in due course. We look forward to welcoming guests onboard once it is safe to do so.
'Hurtigruten’s “Book with Confidence” initiative remains in place, offering guests reassurance and risk-free booking. When you choose to book a voyage departing in 2021, if for any reason you need to move your departure date, you can rebook for free. Or if you wish to cancel, you can receive a refund, including the deposit, within 14 days.'
Springtime in the British Isles
- 14 nights, departs on the 12 May 2022
- Saga Cruises, Spirit of Discovery
- Dover, Great Yarmouth, Newhaven/Edinburgh, + 9 more
Exploration: Springtime in the British Isles
- 14 nights, departs on the 25 May 2022
- Crystal Cruises, Crystal Endeavor
- London (Greenwich), Tresco, Hugh Town, Saint Mary's, Isles of Scilly, + 18 more
- 14 nights, departs on the 19 Jul 2022
- P&O Cruises, Arcadia
- Southampton, Belfast, Killybegs, + 7 more
- 12 nights, departs on the 24 May 2022
- Cunard Line, Queen Victoria
- Southampton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newhaven/Edinburgh, + 10 more


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Trump’s “Buy American” policy, which raises prices on foreign imports so that companies buy local, will hurt the US economy, believes Annalyn Kurtz of Fortune. She asserts that US construction is already hampered by rising material prices, which this change will perpetuate. As companies won’t be able to rely on cheap imports, all additional costs will be passed on to their clients, infers Kurtz. In fact, these rising costs might cause publicly-funded projects like highways or schools to be outright canceled since their funding will no longer suffice, she asserts. "Buy American" serves as a nice slogan but will hurt competition and do little for the economy, infers Kurtz.
US steel company stocks have already soared after Trump introduced his “Buy American” policy, indicating that he is helping the American economy, reports Lauren Thomas of CNBC. She suggests that the president is tackling the issue of foreign steel imports posing a threat to US national security. Thomas quotes the CEO of U.S. Steel, Mario Longhi, saying that unfair trade practices from other countries hurt the US and that aiding American companies will create more jobs. She implies that this change will help the economy by cutting out unfair foreign competition; its effects can already be felt by the rising share prices of US steel, which foreshadows more growth.


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According to a new report, a Diablo animated series could be heading to Netflix.
This comes from a since-deleted tweet from comic book publishing company Boom! Studios founder Andrew "Andy" Cosby (reported by Variety), who said that he was in "final talks" to helm the show for Activision Blizzard and Netflix. “It’s very exciting and I hope to the High Heavens it all works out," he reportedly said.
If the rumor is true, Cosby would be juggling the series alongside his work on the Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen script, that he is co-writing with Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola.
We reached out to Netflix, and the company has responded with no comment.
In other Diablo news, the Diablo III: Eternal Collection for the Nintendo Switch will be released on November 2, 2018, the first day of BlizzCon 2018. We played it at Gamescom and it feels right at home on Nintendo's console.
Lucy O'Brien is Games & Entertainment Editor at IGN’s Sydney office. Follow her on Twitter.


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A joint venture between Intel and Micron Technology is preparing to mass-produce a 32-gigabit memory chip featuring Intel's multi-level cell memory technology. The new NAND chips to be manufactured by IM Flash Technologies will go up against similar products from rivals Samsung and Toshiba, beginning next year.
Developed and manufactured using low-power 34-nanometer technology, the industry's only monolithic 32Gbit NAND chip fits into the industry's standard 48-lead packaging and represents the smallest NAND geometry on the market, the companies said.
"We have made great strides in NAND process capability and are now in a leadership role with 34nm production," said Brian Shirley, vice president of Micron's Memory Group. "The tiny 34nm, 32Gbit chip enables our customers to easily increase their NAND storage capacity for a number of consumer and computing products."
Less than the size of a thumbnail, IMFT's 32Gbit chip is expected to cost-effectively enable high-density solid-state storage in small form factor applications such as digital cameras, personal music players, and digital camcorders. For example, a single 32Gbit chip could be used to store more than 2,000 high-resolution digital photos, more than a thousand music tracks, or about 20 hours of high-definition video.
The partners said the new chip also will enable the creation of more cost-effective solid-state drives for netbooks and other portable computing devices, dramatically increasing their current storage capacity. When stacked, the chips could even drive PC memory capacities beyond 256GB, they noted.
Unlike standard single-level cell products, IMFT's flash-memory chip employs multiple levels per cell to enable more bits of information to be stored. The use of a denser storage method also means the chips will be cheaper to produce.
The chips will be manufactured on 300-millimeter wafers, each of which will produce approximately 1.6 terabytes. The partners say they expect to begin sampling lower-density multi-level and single-level cell products early next year.
A Triple Whammy
On the downside, the NAND flash-memory market is expected to be particularly vulnerable. Research firm iSuppli predicts flash-memory revenue will fall globally by 14 percent this year to $12 billion, and then decline another 15 percent in 2009.
The consumer devices that account for almost 80 percent of total NAND chip demand are mostly sold in retail stores, which have significant bargaining power on pricing -- especially during a market downturn, iSuppli said. Given the challenging sales situation and the inventory overhang among OEM customers, NAND chip suppliers have no choice but to cut chip prices to increase sales, noted Nam Hyung Kim, chief analyst at iSuppli.
"Unlike other memories, which depend more on non-consumer/non-retail products, NAND flash is bearing the brunt of the challenging retail conditions," Kim said. "Combined with uncertain global economic conditions and a lack of killer applications, the NAND flash-memory business is facing a triple whammy."
Beyond the macroeconomic and structural challenges, the NAND flash industry also is experiencing a fundamental challenge of declining demand elasticity, Kim noted. "With sufficient capacity in their existing flash storage cards and USB flash drives, consumers don't need to upgrade their products and are not as sensitive to price declines as they used to be," Kim observed.


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Calling all Food Can Enthusiasts!
Canstruction is coming to New Jersey — October 2009!
A community driven event, this international competition allows architects, students, engineers and designers to design and build gi-normous structures made entirely from full food cans which, after the event, are donated to charity. Last year, in New Jersey, more than 40,000 pounds of canned food and $6,426 in cash were donated. The call for entries can be found on the AIA New Jersey’s website.
Now – in thinking about your design, there is a lot that needs to be considered aside from the actual structure… theme, label colors… and of course, Campbells vs. Progresso… Soup wars – do you MSG or not!


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Giant pipe maker in the making in Japan
Japanese firm Sekisui Chemical is buying Mitsubishi Plastics’s PVC pipe manufacturing business, including a joint venture in China but excluding the crosslinked polyethylene pipes business. The acquisition needs to be approved by the Japan Fair Trade Commission.
Currently the second largest pipe maker in the country, Sekisui will combine with Mitsubishi, the third largest, to set up what it says will be the largest plastic pipe maker in Japan. Sekisui will take over several Mitsubishi injection, extrusion and blow moulding factories and associated units in Japan, along with the Chinese joint venture that makes pipe joints, Wuxi SSS-Diamond Plastics.
Sekisui will also take over Mitsubishi subsidiaries Toyo Plastics Industries, an injection, blow moulding and extrusion company; Hanyu Plastics Industries, which supplies extruders, and Ryobi Techno and various marketing and consulting units, all employing about 900 people.
Sekisui said it will make use of the acquired assets to enhance its raw material procurement; reduce its production and logistics costs; boost value chain business expansion and allow for better use of recycling technology from Mitsubishi.
In a statement Mitsubishi issued it says the adverse conditions in the Japanese pipe market “due to decreasing number of housing under construction and shrinking public investment projects,” made it sell the operations. After the sale is complete, Mitsubishi said it will restructure its Environment and Life Material business unit to streamline decision-making by “establishing an integrated manufacturing and sales system” for its remaining crosslinked PE piping business, its fibre-reinforced plastic tank unit and its civil engineering materials business with its Mitsubishi Plastics Marketing sales affiliate.


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Not long ago, outsourcing was a defensive play. For many firms, it’s now an offensive strategy.
In contrast to its past iterations, Deloitte’s 2018 Global Outsourcing Survey found that cost optimization is no longer the reason — nor, in fact, among the top five reasons — why corporations outsource. In fact, the survey of 500 industry-leading executives showed that 84 percent of them have outsourced, or at least discussed outsourcing, disruptive solutions. Increasingly, executives are looking externally to groups like Cie Digital, an award-winning accelerator of corporate innovation, for disruptive solutions like cloud applications and fresh delivery models.
Why would resource-rich corporations need help from niche innovation firms like Cie Digital? Because, according to Catherine Bailey, director of the Cranfield School of Management’s Business Leader’s program, external perspectives are critical but hard to cultivate. Bailey notes that external networks, conference events, personal reading, and research can help, but the surest path to corporate innovation is through an external partner.
Choosing a Corporate Innovation Partner
Corporate innovation partnerships take many forms, from one-on-one work with startups to consulting services and accelerators. No matter the model, the following attributes are key:
1. Backgrounds on both sides of the aisle
Startups and corporations teach not just different skills, but different cultures. To an enterprise engineer, a feature built in a week may be a feat, while the startup developer may be disappointed in himself if he isn’t pushing new code every hour. The enterprise engineer may see the latter’s work as sloppy, while the startup developer is likely to see her peer’s pace as too slow.
In most cases, no number of internal hires can change either company’s cultural expectations. Tight collaboration between the two groups, however, can. That’s one reason why so many corporations are funding their own accelerators. Unlike the independent Y Combinator-style accelerators that hit the scene in the 2000s, corporate innovation accelerators tend to embrace startups with both skills and cultural elements desired by the host company.
Take ConstrucTech, one of the construction industry’s first accelerator programs. Founded by U.K.-based Colmore Tang Construction in conjunction with Virgin Startup, the accelerator aims to change the corporate construction culture that has historically been slow to adopt new technology and embrace innovation. Participating startups, meanwhile, gain access to the Colmore Tang Construction’s connections, methodologies, and of course, financial assistance.
2. A multi-industry innovation record
For better or worse, one benefit corporations rarely receive through their own accelerators is cross-industry insight. Yet many of the biggest corporate innovations of the 21st century have emerged from other sectors. Neither the hotel nor the transportation industries were concerned with the tech sector until Airbnb and Uber came along. Petcare companies Petco and PetSmart had their eyes on e-commerce, but neither of them moved fast enough to keep Chewy.com from overtaking them in online sales.
Although it’s tough to predict where, exactly, a disruptor will come from, a good defense is to team up with a multi-industry venture capital group. Houston-based Mercury Fund, for example, is an early-stage venture capital firm that partners with corporations to nurture startups toward eventual acquisitions. Because Mercury Fund’s focus is on the midcontinent instead of a single industry, it can connect companies across verticals to create corporate innovation.
Although most of Mercury Fund’s portfolio companies deliver cloud-based software, their sectors and corporate innovation partners are incredibly varied. Ambyint, for instance, may be an IoT company, but its clients are in the oil and natural gas industry. Under Mercury Fund’s guidance, Ambyint has partnered with enterprises ranging from Amazon to Bakken-area extractor Equinor.
3. Deep client relationships
Google co-founder Larry Page famously told Fortune magazine that the tech company strives for a 70-20-10 innovation mix. That is to say, Page prefers to spend 70 percent of his corporate innovation budget on incremental innovation, 20 percent on adjacent innovation, and 10 percent on transformative innovation.
In recent years, however, that balance has shifted. A KPMG study published by Innovation Leader found that Fortune 1000 corporate innovation teams are now spending about 50 percent of their resources on incremental innovation, 30 percent on adjacent innovation, and 20 percent on transformative innovation.
While light-touch engagements may suffice for incremental innovation, they do not for transformative change most corporations are leaning toward. That’s the rationale behind the “same team” philosophy of Philosophie, a design and innovation studio with locations in New York and Los Angeles. Philosophie dedicates cross-functional design and development teams to its corporate partners, enabling each team to focus exclusively on their corporate innovation project from start to finish.
Every innovation outsourcing model has its advantages and disadvantages, but they start from the same place: the recognition that most corporations simply can’t do it alone. To avoid disruption — and, with luck, to disrupt others — outside perspectives are essential. Whether its goal is offense or defense, corporate innovation is a game best played by two or more teams.


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The 2013 Chevrolet Super Sport (SS) has the performance to net some serious speeding violations but, thankfully, one seriously undercover exterior that won't draw attention from the boys in blue. What started out as the Chevy Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) is now ready to turn in its shield for a quieter civilian life. These artist renditions of the Chevrolet SS paint a pretty good picture as to what this sleeper performance sedan should look like when it goes on sale next year, as a 2014 model.
The Chevy SS is based on the rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform that was developed by Holden, GM's Australian brand. The Zeta platform underpins several Holden vehicles, the current Chevrolet Camaro and, for all you trivia buffs out there, the Chinese-market Buick Park Avenue. The arrival of the 2014 Chevrolet SS marks something of a U.S. reunion for the car, since it originally appeared as the Pontiac G8 back in 2008. When GM axed the Pontiac division, we were robbed of this impressive Aussie performance sedan.
The Caprice PPV that recently visited us at R&T came powered by a 355-bhp 6.0-liter V-8 engine coupled to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. While we noted it was no lightweight, weighing in at 4,160 lbs., we have it on good authority (via the Michigan State Police, to be exact) that the Caprice PPV accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds and tops out at 154 mph. Expect the civilian version to be even quicker, since it will likely share the same 426-bhp 6.2-liter V-8 found in the Camaro SS. For all intents and purposes, the Chevrolet SS is a Camaro with an extra set of doors.
The Caprice PPV already comes with a heavy-duty suspension and upgraded brakes, two features that should make the jump to the standard production model. Not making the leap to off-duty status will be the PPV's 18-inch steel wheels, high-output alternator (for lights and sirens), and front seats designed to accommodate an officer's utility belt. The utilitarian black plastic cabin and easy-to-clean back seat of the Caprice PPV are also certain to be significantly upgraded.
Our Caprice PPV test car had a sticker price of $32,305. Even with a few extra grand added to cover the cost of various comfort and convenience features, the upcoming Chevrolet SS remains a bargain. An official (pun intended) debut later this year, during the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, seems likely.


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The Minister of Consumption, Alberto Garzón, has announced in a press conference held at the Barcelona City Council the prohibition by royal decree of the advertising of foods considered unhealthy that are aimed at children under 16 years of age.
Garzón thus announces the end of PAOS code, the self-regulation that until now had to prevent the advertising of this type of food aimed at minors on television, which, in the opinion of the minister, “does not work effectively, has had many failures, and it is an insufficient instrument to face the situation ”.
As the minister explained, the new decree law will regulate “directly” children’s advertising, following the model of countries such as Norway or Portugal. Since its publication, which ensures It will be held “as soon as possible within next year”, It will be prohibited to advertise unhealthy food in content aimed at children under 16 years of age, including those published on the internet and social networks.
To select foods considered unhealthy, the ministry has used product profiles that the WHO considers should not be advertised to children. These foods, Garzón explained, are framed in five categories: confectionery, chocolate and sugar; energy bars and toppings; cakes and bakery products; juices and energy drinks; and finally, ice cream.
Apart from these five categories, the minister explained that advertising directed at children under 16 years of age may be prohibited from other foods that fall within “a series of more complex nutritional profiles that depend on the WHO classification ”.
Garzón forgets Nutriscore
Garzón already announced at the beginning of the year, in an interview with Direct to the Palate, who had the intention of toughen advertising regulation of foods rich in salt, fat or sugar aimed at minors.
At the time, he insisted on the need to implement the controversial Nutriscore front-labeling, among other things, due to the need for an industry-accepted nutritional profile that would serve to prohibit the advertising of unhealthy foods directed at children. “We couldn’t do it if Nutriscore wasn’t there, because then it would be arbitrary ”, he assured.
Although, since then, it has repeated its intention to implement Nutriscore on numerous occasions, in its appearance today he hasn’t even named the word. The regulation of children’s advertising will be based on nutritional profiles published by the WHO and will have nothing to do with Nutriscore.
Garzón has also explained that the body in charge of ensuring compliance with the new royal decree, and of applying the sanctioning regime, will be the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC). Its president and the team are informed, he assures, “and they are delighted to assume that role.”
Specifically, the new royal decree will prohibit the advertising of foods considered unhealthy according to WHO profiles in the reinforced television protection schedule; neither before nor after children’s programs; nor on the children’s channels themselves during all their programming; nor in networks, social networks, websites or apps designed for children; nor in movie theaters in those films classified for minors under 16 years of age; nor in printed media aimed at those under 16 years of age or sections in generalists aimed at this age group.
Directly to the Palate | Alberto Garzón, Minister of Consumption: “Children’s advertising of ultra-processed foods must be prohibited”
Directly to the Palate | Portugal bans advertising of unhealthy food for minors: in Spain only 23% of food ads would remain


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What is Android Instant App ?
Google takes a new approach to native apps with Instant Apps for Android
Android’s Instant Apps, one of the biggest surprises which Google announced at its I/O developer conference last year. These new kinds of apps are meant to help bridge the gap between web apps and native apps.
There’s no doubt that Instant Apps will be a huge hit in the future. Android Instant App has great potential right now, especially for shopping applications like Wish.


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European stock markets slipped into the red on Friday, falling after a stronger open as eurozone inflation data showed a cooling in June.
Data from Eurostat revealed that consumer prices in the 19-nation single-currency bloc rose 1.9% last month, slightly less than May’s annual rate of 2%.
May marked the first time since 2018 that inflation had exceeded the European Central Bank's target of "below, but close to" 2%. A deceleration raises fears that economic momentum could be flagging.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile unprocessed food and energy, was stable at 0.9%.
In London, the FTSE 100 (^FTSE) dropped almost 0.1% on the day, slipping below 7,000 points an hour before closing but managing to recover to close at 7,008. The French CAC (^FCHI) tumbled 0.5% and the DAX (^GDAXI) was down 0.6% in Germany.
Travel and leisure stocks were among the top risers on the FTSE despite concerns surrounding the spreading Delta variant of COVID-19. Daily cases in the UK hit a six-month high of 48,553 on Thursday. Traders instead seemed to be looking towards the full reopening of the UK economy on Monday.
Watch: UK 'not out of the woods yet' and pandemic 'has got a long way to run', Professor Chris Whitty warns
Across the pond, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) was down 0.2% by the time of the European close and the tech-heavy Nasdaq (^IXIC) was more than 0.2% lower. After a positive start, the Dow Jones (^DJI) slipped 0.3%.
"We got a lot of optimism for the earnings, but then you've got fear of inflation and that's kind of giving us a whipsaw market," said Dennis Dick, a proprietary trader at Bright Trading.
US retail sales rose 0.6% in June, against an expected decline of 0.4%. May’s decline was revised to show a bigger fall of 1.7%, according to figures from the Commerce Department.
Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, which tend to be volatile, retail sales climbed 1.1% last month following May’s downwardly revised 1.4% decline. Nine of 13 retail categories reported sales increases, including electronics and appliance outlets, clothing stores and restaurants.
“US consumer spending has been fairly stop-start this year, with the significant amounts of fiscal stimulus, helping to drive a rebound in consumption, but the recovery has been patchy with significant numbers of US consumers choosing not to spend all of their stimulus windfalls,” Michael Hewson of CMC Markets said.
Watch: US June retail sales rise unexpectedly
Asian shares were mostly lower on Friday as investors cashed in on profits at Taiwanese chip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM).
Despite posting record profits, the company, which is Asia’s largest firm by market cap outside of China, closed 5.5% lower, weighing on other tech firms and broader risk sentiment.
The world's largest contract chipmaker revealed record sales in the last three months and forecast higher revenue for the current quarter, but traders raised concern.
In Japan, the Nikkei (^N225) lost 1%, after the Bank of Japan left monetary policy unchanged and downgraded its growth forecast for the current year from 4% to 3.8%. It also revised up its inflation forecast from 0.1% to 0.6% on the back of increasing energy costs and commodities prices.
Watch: What are SPACs?


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LaVar Ball has been sued by his ex-business partner who is accusing the basketball father of embezzling over $2.5 million from the family-owned companies and exploiting his own children for personal wealth and fame.
According to new legal documents, obtained by The Blast, Alan Foster is suing Lavar Ball alleging he diverted and spent company money, to fund his own extravagant lifestyle.
Foster was a co-owner of famous 'Big Baller Brand' and another sports and entertainment company set up by LaVar and his wife called, 'Ball Sports Group.'
According to Foster, "In early 2016, in furtherance of LaVar’s intense desire to share in, or rise above, the glory and spotlight of his sons, LaVar approached Alan and asked for his business guidance on how to monopolize and gain fortune and fame from the names and likenesses of his three sons. In response, Alan suggested that the two men brand the “Ball” family name in order to create basketball and entertainment-related businesses. LaVar loved Alan’s idea and wanted to make sure that he was the biggest star in the family, notwithstanding the fact that he was broke, had no savings, poor credit and zero business acumen."
"LaVar is a liar who fraudulently utilized BBB and BSG to fund his personal lifestyle," the docs state.
Foster claims in the legal documents, he invested a substantial amount of his own money to launch the brands. The products including clothing, shoes, and a reality show featuring the family.
According to the documents, Foster says after the companies started to make money, LaVar Ball misappropriated more than $2.5 million in company assets to fund his extravagant lifestyle. He accuses LaVa of spending millions upgrading the $6 million Ball Estate and purchasing $1 million in luxury cars.
Some of those expenditures include cars, specifically a Rolls Royce Dawn, a Bentley Mulsanne and two other vehicles.
Also, he says Ball made upgrades to his home including, artificial turf, furniture, painting the home, carpet, redoing the swimming pool, custom BBB chandeliers, a home theater and new air conditioning.
As we reported, NBA star Lonzo Ball, sued the same ex-partner Alan Foster for similar allegations saying he took money out of the companies accounts. Foster claims Lonzo was pressured to file the suit by his father.
In fact, he was tight with Lonzo and the Laker's star often referred to Foster as his “second father.” Lonzo even called Alan “uncle” and Alan referred to Lonzo as “nephew.”
In the counterclaim, Foster says, "thorough investigation into the facts behind this litigation reveals that LaVar intentionally misled Lonzo about Alan’s alleged theft of BBB funds in an effort to (a) cover up the fact that LaVar stole from, and continues to steal from, Ball Sports Group, Inc. (“BSG”) and Big Baller Brand, LLC (“BBB”), which he uses as his personal piggy banks."
Foster also says in the documents, Lonzo wasn't even a shareholder in the company when it was formed.
During this time, he claims Lonzo hired a financial advisor named Lameck “Humble” Lukango who Alan and LaVar fired due him due to issues with finances.
After the firing, he says Humble sent a "self-serving email lodging false accusations that money was taken from the BBB checking account and that Alan refused to provide a backup of where the cash went, suggesting that Alan was involved in some nefarious activity. LaVar and Lonzo were aware of Humble’s accusations in the email and never questioned Alan’s integrity."
They say Alan "seeks to set the record straight, clear his name, expose LaVar’s scheme to cover up his theft of over $2.6 million of BBB and BSG’s money, and hold LaVar and Lonzo to their contractual obligations to Alan, who spent hundreds of thousands of his own money to fund BBB, BSG and Lonzo’s lifestyle while he attended UCLA, before he was thrust into riches with his NBA salary."
The suit, filed by Bryan Freedman and Brian Turnauer, says Alan "approached LaVar about his fraud and embezzlement, LaVar became nervous, mumbled his words, feigned surprise and made up excuses." Alan insisted, he says, that LaVar and he "sit down and calculate the amount owed to him. He informed LaVar that his conduct was called embezzlement."
According to the docs, some of the money loaned to the family was given to Lonzo during this time was to make it more comfortable while baller attended college.
In the suit, Alan says he "loaned to LaVar, Tina and Lonzo hundreds of thousands of dollars from his personal savings for various things, including over $130,000 on Lonzo’s living expenses."
"During Lonzo’s first semester at UCLA, he complained to LaVar and Alan that his dorm room had poor air conditioning and he hated UCLA’s meal plan," the documents state.
So, Foster says, "Lonzo and LaVar asked Alan if he would rent an apartment or condominium for Lonzo, pay for Lonzo’s personal trainer...including furnishings and laptops. Plus, pay for Lonzo's food bills.
During the same time, the suit claims, Alan brokered the sale of Lonzo’s UCLA sweet sixteen uniforms, and UCLA shoes for an approximate $80,000. A portion of which was used as a down payment for a Mercedes AMG G-Wagon.
Powerhouse entertainment attorney Bryan Freedman, when asked about the case, told The Blast, "it should come as no surprise for anyone to learn that LaVar Ball misappropriated more than $2.5 million in company assets to fund his extravagant lifestyle. Without any evidence whatsoever, he wrongfully accused Alan Foster of theft in an attempt to cover up his own wrongdoing.
Freedman said in a parting shot, "Documents do not lie. But LaVar does. This will be the first time that LaVar Ball will wish that he shut his mouth.”
Foster is suing Lavar and Lonzo for Fraudulent Concealment, and Breach of Contract.


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It is an exciting time for Indiana metal manufacturing. As the industry heads into 2024 many firms are diversifying as they continue to invest in growth. The state of Indiana, in particular, stands poised to take advantage of this growth. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Indiana has more than a quarter of the United States’ steel making capacity and has more manufacturing jobs per capita than any other state. It also has one of just five remaining U.S. primary aluminum smelters.
Those factors make IMH Products a key component in the metal manufacturing industry. According to President Eric Odmark, IMH is ready to meet the needs of this growing industry in the coming year.
“For 2024 we are seeing our customers continue to invest in new growth in the USA. Many of them are struggling with finding qualified labor and are looking at outsourcing further down the value stream. IMH Products is quoting more weldments and full assemblies than ever before, as our customer are demanding more “plug and play” components.”– Eric Odmark, IMH President
Planning Beyond Growth
One of the key components to being prepared for the future in the manufacturing industry is diversification. IMH Products provides components to a wide diversity of industries from defense to EV charging and batteries. Odmark cited this diversification in his plans for 2024:
“IMH Products is a well-diversified supplier to an array of industries. This allows us to gain insight into many different market segments. 2023 was a unique year for many of our customers as demand was lumpier than in the previous several years. Some industries were working through excess inventory that was accrued from over buying in 2021 and 2022 as pandemic related issues rippled through the supply chain. Some of our customers on the construction side did see a slow down as interest rates have slowed the pace of new construction. Other customers we serve in material handling and defense industries saw an increase in demand.”– Eric Odmark, IMH President
Diversification for the Future
This diversification has allowed IMH Products to thrive during some challenging times, and it has put the company in a position to meet future challenges head. One of the areas where IMH is expanding is in welding automation. The company currently utilizes multiple welding robots that products strong, accurate welds, and Odmark cites that it is looking to expand further there.
“At IMH Products, we have always prided ourselves on finding solutions to our customers problems and being willing to take on new challenges. IMH Products has been investing heavily in welding automation, and we are seeing increased demand on the assembly side as well. In 2024 we are expanding our Illinois plant by taking on an additional 50,000 square feet of new space to accommodate more downstream robotic welding. We are also exploring new programs to build expand our custom assembly operations.”– Eric Odmark, IMH President
All this makes for an exciting time to be expanding in Indiana metal manufacturing, and IMH Products is ready to meet these challenges head on. For more information on how we can assist your industry contact us at email@example.com.


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In June 2020, the FCA acted overnight to freeze customer accounts across UK fintech firms including Curve, Pockit, Soldo, Anna Money and Holvi, after Wirecard Card Solution’s (WCS) parent company filed for insolvency in Germany.
The widely-reported, multi-year, fraud conducted among the upper echelons of the German company’s structure, resulted in a €1.9 billion hole in Wirecard’s balance sheet. Rapid action was taken by the FCA to suspend WCS’ UK license, both in order to prevent the UK subsidiary transferring any funds out of the UK and to ensure that it was sufficiently ring-fenced in third party UK accounts.
While the move has since been viewed as a positive flex by the regulator and the protections the UK provides, UK fintechs entangled in the drama suffered a reputational hit as they floundered to restore access to their customers’ accounts.
Seemingly, that is, everyone except Curve. A mere 60 hours after the FCA’s suspension, Curve’s 1.4 million customers were able to spend again with payments now being processed by Checkout.com.
With its suspension announced on Friday, June 26, over the course of one weekend Curve worked through systems implementation and integration, contract negotiations, compliance and user onboarding in order to be back online with Checkout.com by Monday morning.
Mathieu Barral, SVP of sales at Checkout.com, states that “no corners were cut. We followed the same implementation process that we do for every client; we just attributed the correct resources to make sure it happened in the timeframe needed. And, when you consider all this work took place over a weekend, it demonstrated an extra level of personal commitment from everyone in the team to own the customers' pressure as much as they were feeling it.”
“Fundamentally, this was about technological superiority. Though the call from Curve was unexpected and the delivery timeline unusual, it was the sort of challenge that our technology is purposely designed to solve.”
Core to this was the API-first development methodology that the platform is built on, and the modular approach to how merchants access various features. This combination allows customers to plug-in to Checkout.com without the need for burdensome reconfiguring of their current systems and to add new capabilities with this same level of speed and freedom.
Furthermore, the shift to Checkout.com has proved advantageous to Curve in quantifiable measures. Since working with the payments platform, Curve has recorded payment approval rates of over 95%, which “is an uplift of 10% compared to what we achieved with our previous provider and it’s unlocking hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in revenue,” observes Ruslan Barenboym, head of business and fincrime operations at Curve.
Additionally, Curve has seen similar success with its chargeback and fraud rates, running at less than 0.04%, a figure maintained closely by Checkout.com’s disputes team to monitor and identify any patterns of fraudulent activity in Curve’s portfolio.
Barenboym continues: “These impressive numbers are a testament to the hard work of all the teams at Checkout.com. They’re a true partner that’s constantly working to find new ways to improve our overall payments performance. Their efforts are incredibly valuable as even the smallest improvement in approval rate has a notable impact on our bottom line.”


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Consumers in Asia-Pacific spent more than $7bn on desktop and notebook PCs in 2006, according to a retail market report from research firm GfK Asia, an increase of 11 per cent on the previous year.
Growth in notebook sales outpaced desktops by a significant margin, according to GfK. Desktop sales were up only three per cent year-on-year to reach 5.56 million in 2006, while notebook sales surged 33 per cent to 3.2 million.
Slightly more than half of all desktop and notebook PC sales income came from China.
"Malaysia led the region for notebook PCs with the lowest price points, while the highest average prices were found in neighbouring Singapore," said Gerard Tan, commercial director in charge of IT at GfK Asia.
"In China, the region's greatest market for volume, average prices for notebook PCs were approximately $1,000."
Increasing price competition helped Malaysian notebook sales to jump 57 per cent, after showing little growth in the previous year.
"With major brands fighting for a larger slice of the Malaysian market, the atmosphere became extremely competitive during 2006. This led to price erosion, motivating more Malaysian consumers to purchase," said Tan.
Indonesia saw a 60 per cent increase in notebook sales, accompanied by a 50 per cent rise in prices.
Consumers in developing countries are becoming more choosy, according to Tan, and are increasingly opting for higher priced brand-name products, particularly in desktop PCs and LCD monitors.
Cotton seedling freezes to death as Chang'e-4 shuts down for the Moon's 14-day lunar night
Fortnite easily out-earns PUBG, Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018
Meteor showers as a service will be visible for about 100 kilometres in all directions
Saturn's rings only formed in the past 100 million years, suggests analysis of Cassini space probe data
New findings contradict conventional belief that Saturn's rings were formed along with the planet about 4.5 billion years ago


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JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
Last week, I sat down with Anna Mubarek, a SAHM/Plexus consultant in the notorious Juba neighborhood of Gudele, to discuss the growing water crisis in South Sudan.
She winces as she takes the last sip of lukewarm water from her plastic cup, the look on her face one of resignation. “We face many, many problems,” she says. “There are no Yeti Tumblers here in Juba. It’s normally the Amazon Prime which bring us Yeti Tumblers. At times, these shipments are delayed to one week, maybe two. At times they deliver the wrong size. At times they don’t come at all.”
In South Sudan, only 45% of residents have access to ice cold drinking water hours after filling their cup. And due to increased costs of production, Yeti suppliers in Juba are carrying fewer and charging more.
Those living in the suburbs of South Sudan’s largest cities, particularly those without a local REI, have been hit hardest. They can no longer afford to buy enough Yeti Tumblers. Those who still can afford them now spend twice as much as they did before the demands of the holiday season.
Mubarek continues, “I have family members traveling here for the holidays. I placed a bulk order for custom monogrammed decals months ago. Now I have nothing to put them on. Nothing.”
In an area that is struggling with a 30% increase in cost of living in 2015, ice cold water is taking a backseat to putting food on the table. As such, many residents of the poorest regions have turned to inferior products, such as the Starbucks Stainless Steel Tumbler or the “40 oz Stainless Steel Tumbler with Lid and Straw,” neither of which qualify for Amazon Prime. A close family friend of Mubarek, who does not wish to be named, confides, “I have had to accept that my ice will melt before I have had a chance to fully enjoy its frosty goodness. But I have learned to survive with what I have.”
Yet Mubarek states that others have turned to an alternative, more expensive solution. “I recently put an ISO for Yeti tumblers on the local neighborhood moms buy/sell Facebook page. At the price these women are asking for one, I could feed my entire family for one year. One mom even offered me a free sample of Beautycounter’s Hydrate Everyday Body Lotion, but unless it’s packaged in double-wall vacuum insulation, I just don’t see the use.”
As war in South Sudan rages on, a concerted effort by international donors is what is needed to help ensure that the Sudanese have access to ice cold drinking water for their families and preschool teachers. If you are one of the many, like Anna, who has been unable to find Yeti tumblers this holiday season, please consider donating to Water for South Sudan, and know that you have made a difference.


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This New Paint Kills Bacteria and Viruses, Including COVID-19
PPG and Corning Guardiant’s “Copper Armor” received EPA registration.
There’s bacteria-killing spray, bacteria-killing wipes, bacteria-killing gel and now, bacteria-killing paint.
It may sound like something from the world of science fiction, but Pittsburgh-based PPG and Corning Guardiant are making it a reality.
PPG announced Tuesday that the company has received EPA registration for its Copper Armor antimicrobial paint. It contains special technology from Corning Guardiant, which utilizes naturally occurring copper that kills 99% of bacteria and viruses that land on the paint’s surface, including the virus that causes COVID-19. It does the job within two hours of contact, and it’s effective for up to 5 years.
“Now more than ever, our customers are seeking multiple layers of protection from viruses and bacteria on the many surfaces they’re touching while navigating the ongoing pandemic,” said Tim Knavish, PPG executive vice president, in a press release. “PPG Copper Armor with Corning Guardiant technology is the first virus-killing paint in the U.S., and will provide an extra layer of protection on the walls that surround us where we live, work and learn.”
The paint is mostly intended for use in high-traffic areas such as healthcare, hospitality, office and educational environments, but can also be used in residential environments. PPG Copper Armor also provides a mold- and mildew-resistant coating on the dry paint film. It will be available in eggshell, satin and semi-gloss, and can be tinted to more than 600 colors from the PPG paint palette.
“We started development on Corning Guardiant several years ago with the belief that copper is the key to delivering a truly effective antimicrobial coating,” said Joydeep Lahiri, division vice president and program director, Specialty Surfaces, Corning Incorporated, in a press release. “We’re excited about our partnership with PPG as well as its latest product offering – Copper Armor – which helps make antimicrobial surface technology more readily available to the public.”
PPG will begin selling the product in late 2021 at PPG Paints stores, independent retailers and select home improvement stores.


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- Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach appeared in the local edition of Cosmopolitan earlier this year, which was also her first for the magazine
- Cosmopolitan Malaysia has picked up the same cover, although with a minor edit, for their issue next month
- Predominantly Muslim countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, are known for keeping a conservative dress code for women
It is common that covers of international titles get copied off on other editions and in this case, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach's Cosmopolitan Philippines' cover got duplicated for its Malaysian counterpart.
The first cover of Wurtzbach for the magazine was on its April issue this year, donning a skimpy cropped top paired with a tight pencil skirt. The cover was photographed by celebrated local fashion photographer BJ Pascual.
Cosmopolitan Malaysia used Pascual's image for their September 2016 issue, but with a minor yet crucial change - if one could easily spot it.
Never mind the different language written on both covers and their backgrounds, but focus instead on Wurtzbach.
(photo credit: twitter.com/ABSCBNNews)
In the Malaysian cover, one can see that her cleavage has been covered up completely.
Predominantly Muslim countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia are known for implementing a conservative dress code on their women, thus the modest edit.
Malaysia is infamous for banning international acts to perform in their country, like Beyonce in 2007 for her provocative costumes and for constantly running and jumping on stage. Rihanna was also about to drop her concert in Malaysia in 2009 but pushed through wearing clothes that comply with the country's culture.
Conservative groups petition for these artists and bands not to perform not only due to their outfits but also for their image and song content among other criteria.
In Indonesia, it has been known that their beauty queen contestants wear one-piece swimsuits with sarongs on top. However, this will not be the case anymore for these traditional countries as the swimsuit category has been omitted in Miss World. Other international beauty contests has yet to drop the segment, but this is already good news for old-fashioned nations.
It is astounding to know that the world has different perceptions of beauty due to every country's unique culture. Despite the fact that Filipinos are predominantly Catholics, showing off a woman's cleavage is alright with them. However, for most Muslim countries, it is strictly implemented that these women cover up as much as they could.
(photo credit: reuters.com)
What can you say about the difference in each cover? Do you think one is better than the other? Let us know what you think!-Kami Media


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The supervisor is a part of the week dedicated to all that is going on in FALSE the world of cultures, from movies to memes, TV to Twitter.
If you are using YouTube TV I would love it Sunday Night Football, you are lucky that you have been here for the past few days wondering if you will be able to play this game this week.
If you are not a follower of global business discussions (why would you be? , Golf, and more – it was almost over by Thursday. Negotiations are said to have been disrupted, and if the companies have not been able to enter into an agreement, all NBCU channels leave the YouTube TV streams. NBCU, it seems, wants parent company YouTube Google to produce their own show, Peacock, and YouTube TV. The promotional project, meanwhile, required “the same prices that the same size receives from NBCU so that we can continue to provide YouTube TV to members at a reasonable price,” according to the blog post. On Thursday, companies agreed that “short”Add NBCU machines to YouTube TV.
The results of this excavation, however, were an indication that marching in the open warfare does not seem to be any different from tying the rope. Or, like our colleagues at Ars Technica ikani, “The debate is a reminder that the systems that are marketed on TV and Video cannot be eliminated with the growth of promotional activities.” Printing should help users cut the cord; moreover, it seems to be about to enter the cord.
Yes, we at WIRED have it He said some kind of this already. Earlier this year, I said that if the media companies are included, consumers will eventually end up with another Big Three – so that CBS, ABC, and NBC will eventually lose their share, say, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney +. This still seems obvious. But the new battlefield on which YouTube TV and NBCU fracas are being opened is only for supervisors. The whole search promise was that suppliers could go directly to consumers. Want all that Disney has? Get Disney +. Love love and home decor? Find +. But now there are a lot of jobs that viewers and companies want to find a way, similar to industry, to build them — something that might sound like deja vu to anyone who has ever tried to make difficult choices when choosing between a premium or a premium cable package.
For example, consider Hulu. This function has been a reliable feature of the game for some time now. But people forget that it started out as an attempt by NBC, ABC, and Fox to provide these radio stations as a service like Netflix. It has to be a way of connecting with the heritage to get involved. In 2019, after Disney closed its $ 71 billion acquisition of Fox, it controlled Hulu in another way with parent company NBCUniversal Comcast. Now, consumers can take Hulu bundle with Disney + and ESPN +, since, ESPN is also Disney. There is also FX on Hulu, which gives Hulu subscribers access to Fox information. Disney video, ESPN, and FX? If that doesn’t sound like one of the long string stuffs, nothing does.
This is where the material comes in, however. As part of the Disney agreement to control Hulu, Comcast agreed to continue releasing Hulu until H20 until 2024, but NBCU retained the right to return its programs that had been licensed to Hulu. With the launch of Peacock last year, it was decided that NBCU would eventually need more of its programs in this regard to better serve its customers.


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Apple may be cracking down on apps that no longer receive updates. at Screen captured email Sent to affected developers, titled “Application Improvement Notice,” Apple warns that it will remove apps from the App Store that haven’t been “updated in an extended period of time” and gives developers only 30 days to update them.
“You can keep this app available for new users to discover and download from the App Store by submitting an update for review within 30 days,” Apple wrote in the email. “If no update is provided within 30 days, the app will be removed from sale.” While Apple will remove old apps from the App Store, any previously downloaded apps will remain on users’ devices.
I feel sick. Apple just sent an email saying they are removing my free game Motivoto because it is over 2 years old.
It’s part of their app optimization system.
This is not cool. Console games from the 2000s are still available for sale.
This is an unfair handicap for independent developers. pic.twitter.com/7XNcLfiEcR
– Protopop games (protopop) April 23, 2022
A number of app makers, such as Robert Capoy, developer of Protopop games, have expressed concerns about the change. capoy says on twitter Apple is threatening to remove its fully functional game, Motivoto, because it hasn’t been updated since March 2019.
Meanwhile, Kosta Eleftheriou, developer of the FlickType keyboard for Apple Watch, Apple says He deleted a version of his app designed specifically for the visually impaired because it hadn’t been updated in two years. As Eleftherio points out in his tweet, she was once very popular God’s pocket The app is still in the App Store even though it received its last update in 2015. Developer Emilia Lazer-Walker I also mentioned Apple is removing “a few” of its old games from the App Store. many of else Developers Sharing the same experience, noting that they haven’t had time to update their apps.
.@An apple Removed a few of my old games “that haven’t been updated in a long period of time”
Games can exist as completed objects! These free projects aren’t suitable for updates or a straightforward service model, they’ve been out of artwork for years. pic.twitter.com/iflH70j7q4
– Emilia ✨ (laserwalker) April 23, 2022
on Apple App Store Improvements Page, the company says: “We are implementing an ongoing process to evaluate applications, removing applications that no longer work as intended, do not follow current review guidelines, or are outdated.” There is no timestamp on the page, so it’s not immediately clear when Apple last published or updated the post. Apple did not immediately respond to the edgeComment request.
In 2016, Apple said it will start removing abandoned apps from the App Store. At the time, it also warned developers that they would have 30 days to update their app before it was removed. However, it is unclear whether Apple has consistently applied this rule over the years, or whether it has recently begun a broader survey. Apple also doesn’t explicitly specify what it considers “outdated” — whether that’s based on the time elapsed since the app was last updated, or if it has to do with compatibility with the latest version of iOS.
critics From this policy he argues that mobile apps should remain available regardless of their age, just like older video games that remain playable on consoles. The others say The policy is unnecessarily strict on developers, and claim Apple doesn’t fully respect the work that goes into indie games.
earlier this month, The Google Play Store has similarly announced that it will start limiting the appearance of apps “Do not target the API level within two years of the latest major version of Android.” Android developers have until November 1, 2022, to update their apps, but they also have the option to apply for a six-month extension if they can’t set the deadline. With both major app stores cracking down on outdated apps, this could cause some developers, especially independent studios, to struggle to keep up.
“Typical beer trailblazer. Hipster-friendly web buff. Certified alcohol fanatic. Internetaholic. Infuriatingly humble zombie lover.”


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The Bots Of Bitcoin. companies that rapidly buy and sell stocks as their computer programs spot small price differences across the market.Since its advent in 2009, bitcoin has attracted the support of technology enthusiasts who were appealed to the technical side of bitcoin as a medium of exchange, as.These corporations would print Tether right after transient Bitcoin price dips and would.
Trading bots are rather common in the bitcoin world, as very few traders have time to stare at the charts all day.
Do you think it was whale investors intentionally manipulating the price of bitcoin, or the result of thousands of bitcoin trading bots that all got triggered.
Recent events have shed light on several cases of BTC price. price of Bitcoin. due to market manipulation performed by two trading bots that seemed.The bot was able to drive the price of. cat and mouse game with the trading bots in this form of market manipulation. Bitcoin CFD trading (by an.
The Department of Justice has finally launched an investigation into the price manipulation of Bitcoin and Ethereum. like creating bots to fill the.Bitcoin price manipulation puts trust in cryptos at risk Two academics who studied Mt.
The rise of cryptocurrency prices last year, including bitcoin, ethereum, and altcoins, could have been largely caused by price manipulation, according to a paper.


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'Love local' week at downtown Milford shops
The Downtown Milford Business Association will present 'Love Local - Have a Heart' week Monday, Feb. 8 through Monday, Feb. 15 at participating member businesses throughout downtown.
Visitors may secure a 'Love Local - Have a Heart’ printed heart at any participating downtown business, or open and print one out by visiting the DMBA website events page at downtownmilfordct.org.
During this special week, visitors may expect sweet happenings, refreshments, and special sweetheart shopping opportunities, while supporting a good cause – the American Heart Association.
Take your printed 'Heart' for a visit to each participating business, and receive a heart stamp — those collecting stamps from all participating business locations will be entered for a chance to win a prize.


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Warby Parker has brought into focus the opening date for its new store on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit: Nov. 26, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The company is setting up shop, its first in Michigan, at 1449 Woodward Ave., which it says was the site of the original pharmacy that created Vernors ginger ale. The opening adds another national brand name to a downtown that has seen a retail resurgence.
Warby Parker sells its own frame designs. The company started by selling them online in 2010 and has since expanded to include retail stores. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2014 that its brick-and-mortar locations were bringing in $3,000 per square foot in sales, comparable to jeweler Tiffany Inc.
Published reports have estimated the privately held Warby Parker's revenue at more than $100 million.
Dan Gilbert and Bloomfield Hills-based Princeton Enterprises LLC bought the building that will house the store in 2014. It also houses the Kit and Ace clothing store. The co-working space WeWork LLC leased seven floors in the building earlier this year.
The store will have art created by Detroit artist David Rubello, known for the Color Cubes mural that was once on the side of the Julian C. Madison Building on Washington Boulevard and painted over in 2014.
The store will employ an optometrist for eye exams and fittings.


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Nike Inc. has applied its “Just Do It” mantra to its approach to sustainability.
The Oregon-based superpower has outlined plans to build a cleaner, greener and more globally diverse business in the next five years.
In its impact report for fiscal 2020, published in March, the athletic wear giant looked back at its achievements over the past five years while plotting not just “aspirations” but rather a “call to action” guiding progress in the half decade to come, president and CEO John Donahoe wrote in the executive summary. The sneaker powerhouse says its plans align with both science-based targets and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
And “[f]or the first time,” he added, “we will tie executive compensation to Nike’s progress in deepening diversity and inclusion, protecting the planet.”
The move echoes recent calls by the British Parliament for scandal-plagued Boohoo to tie its executive bonus structure not to “runaway” growth but to stronger worker rights, underscoring the growing scrutiny of apparel companies’ environmental, social and governance postures.
Nike’s top brass has ample opportunity to push progress forward. Though the firm saw racial and ethnic minorities filling 29 percent of U.S. vice president roles last year (an eight percentage-point improvement), the owner of the Jordan Brand in addition to Nike and Converse aims to perk that figure up to 35 percent by 2025 “as our society continues to reckon with systemic racial injustice,” Donahoe wrote.
What’s more, the company recognizes that attracting and retaining diverse talent means instructing executives on how to lead different kinds of employees. To that end, Nike said that by fiscal 2025, it’s shooting for all leaders at the vice president level to “complete and be credentialed on inclusive leadership education.” And pay parity is on its radar, too: Nike has ambitions to achieve 100 percent “pay equity across all employee levels on an annual basis” while ensuring “competitive and equitable benefits.”
It’s already close to meeting goals for women in the workplace, aiming for 50 percent companywide in the coming five years, up from fiscal 2020’s 49.5 percent mark. However, Nike sees female talent representing 45 percent of leadership roles by the middle of the decade and stated goals to double its investments “focused on professional development for racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. and women globally.”
Materials and manufacturing
On the materials and manufacturing side, Nike reported notable gains while detailing plans for improvement. Suppliers responsible for finishing and dyeing textiles consumed 30 percent less fresh water since fiscal 2016, equivalent to 40 billion liters kept unsullied and out of Nike’s supply chains. It says it plans to further prune that metric by 25 percent by fiscal 2025. Tier 1 suppliers of finished footwear products now funnel nearly all—99.9 percent—of their manufacturing-derived waste from landfills into alternate uses.
In the next five years, the sports standout is aiming for a tenfold increase in the amount of finished product it can repair, recycle or re-home, it said. Nike has its eye on castoffs, too, striving to curb production waste from sneakers and other shoe products that otherwise would be tossed in the trash heap or fed to the fires. Though no baseline was given for this metric in fiscal 2015, Nike saw a 6.5 percentage point improvement in the ensuing five years. Upward of 47 million kilograms of production leftovers were channeled into new footwear items, it said, much of which shows up as its well-known Nike Grind sneaker soles. As part of its Reuse-a-Shoe program, the company transforms manufacturing scraps destined for the landfill and previously worn athletic shoes into Nike Grind, seen in “soft landings on playgrounds around the world and perhaps even under the carpet on your floor,” a spokesperson said.
“Currently available in more than 200 stores across North America and more than 100 stores in Europe, we are now scaling the Reuse-a-Shoe program to stores in Greater China in 2021,” the spokesperson added.
Though material innovation has gotten considerable attention in fashion as of late, Nike’s work on this front is something of an enigma. While it grew its sustainable apparel inputs from 19 percent to 59 percent since fiscal 2015, it actually took two percentage steps backward with its goal to pour more eco-friendly components into footwear, dipping from 31 to 29 percent over the past 60 months. Nike is aiming to course correct by setting “functional targets on the areas of greatest impact linked to our innovation roadmap,” which means shelving “inconsistent priorities” for the sake of homing in on eco-friendlier material replacements—and especially those consumed in high volumes, a spokesperson said. Cotton, polyester and leather, for example, will be replaced with recycled alternatives where possible.
Footwear is a tough nut to crack, material wise, due to the myriad components that make up a typical shoe, from rubber, foam, adhesives and sockliners to the polyester and leather commonly composing its uppers. “To minimize our impact, we are focused not only in our upper materials, but also in our materials and methods of [making] of our footwear bottom units, especially around midsole foam and outsole rubber,” a spokesperson said.
What’s more, Nike is now following the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s “more holistic” and “rigorous” Higg Material Sustainability Index instead of the Footwear Sustainability Index that previously guided its sourcing and design efforts. It’s also driving “awareness and education about impact and offering tools” to help footwear teams adopt “better material and design choices,” the spokesperson said.
“Innovation by focusing on new methods of recycling as well as new material types that meet our product and consumer requirements will be increasingly important,” the spokesperson added, noting Nike’s “environmentally preferred” materials matrix encompassing Flyknit, Flyleather, recycled poly and nylon, and sustainably sourced cotton.
In fact, cotton emerged as a highlight for Nike, which says it sourced 100 percent of the staple fiber more sustainably by last year, up from 24 percent in fiscal 2015. The Better Cotton Initiative pioneer came in at No. 5 on the group’s 2019 leaderboard in recognition of its sourcing efforts.
Plastic and packaging
Part of fashion’s waste woes and pollution problems stem not just from production and sourcing but also the piles of plastic and packaging employed for transit throughout the supply chain. And at Nike, packaging alone accounts for approximately 30 percent of its total waste footprint.
In 2021, Nike says it’s on track to globally eliminate plastic bags from its operations, with a special focus on ditching packaging air pillows in North American digital commerce orders, a move that could trim 200,000 pounds of plastic each year. Removing paper return slips will conserve 25 million sheets of paper while redesigned shoe boxes, it added, slash carbon emissions in half. A pilot employing new popup cartons for footwear, produced with 57 percent to 100 percent recycled content, eliminates “110 football fields” of corrugate cardboard consumption. It’s also trying out paper mailers for apparel, derived from 90 percent recycled content and fully recyclable at curbside.
Shopping bags are also under review. “In a move that could eliminate more than 70 million shopping bags a year, Nike is working on eliminating single-use plastic bags globally,” the spokesperson said, noting a new goal to trim another 10 percent of waste via “additional packaging design and operational efficiency programs.” “We have already rolled out this initiative in Greater China and Europe and plan to transition to paper bags in all of our stores soon.”
Nike admits the sprawling “size and scale” of its business are a “major driver in maintaining a healthy planet.” Though it didn’t reveal plans and strategies for any new stores, the company said its “retail design ethos challenges us to ensure sustainability lives at the core of everything we do,” from the ingredients used in fixtures and mannequins to materials for displays, doors, flooring and more. Stores like the sustainability-minded Guangzhou location are likely to inform future templates.
Though brands face the task of cleaning and greening their own activities, they also must take on the role of teaching their consumers about the part they play in managing their planetary impact. Like many others in the industry, Nike is not only looking at how it can “responsibly extend the life of products and materials,” but also “how we empower consumers to [make] educated shopping decisions,” a spokesperson said.
Those ambitions will manifest this spring in the form of a “new circular business model that offers high-quality, refurbished products” at enticing prices at select North American retail locations, the spokesperson said, hinting at how the Nike Refurbished program will support a “sustainable lifestyle” for its consumers through an owned resale operation where it controls and verifies product authenticity.
“We envision a world free of waste, where products are designed to be loved, reused and rediscovered as something new,” the spokesperson added.
Nike also noted the ways in which it supports its sprawling supplier community. Its trade finance scheme with the International Finance Corporation has distributed north of $717 million to 46 factories, which may have helped footwear suppliers curtail their per-pair energy consumption by nearly 10 percent since fiscal 2015. In the five years ahead, the athletic firm wants 100 of its “strategic suppliers” to facilitate access to career advancement and “upward mobility for women employed in their facilities.” It also stated a goal to reach a cumulative spend of $1 billion on “diverse suppliers.”
Looking ahead to fiscal 2025, the NBA’s official uniform supplier has set its sights on slashing greenhouse-gas emissions by 70 percent—in both owned and operated facilities—while it’s prioritizing “clean chemistry alternatives” for its 10 primary chemical inputs.
Nike succinctly summarized its mindset on sustainability, noting that in “the race toward a better tomorrow, there is no finish line.”
“Our goal is, and always will be, for Nike’s people and purpose to come together for good,” Donahoe wrote. “At Nike, we’ll never stop striving for better. Our purpose will always guide us, and our values will always push us forward—toward that better future we believe in.”