text:
Unsung Story, the Kickstarted role-playing game with Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics creator Yasumi Matsuno's name attached, is no longer in active development.
The project hit its $600k funding goal in January 2014 - it ended up with $660k - but fell well short of an ambitious set of stretch goals.
It would have taken more than double the project's initial cost - $1.5m - to see Unsung Story release on PS4, 3DS and Vita. A New Game + mode would have only been added at $1.6m, $2.15m would have added voice-overs and $2.25m would bring a challenge mode.
All of which paints a picture of a developer which may have expected a larger return on its campaign - something which has been borne out by the game's extended development and subsequent delay.
Two years on from its Kickstarter campaign - and originally due for launch in July last year - Unsung Story still lacks a release date.
Now, a new Kickstarter blog update posted over the weekend brought the news many had feared - development on Unsung Story has been suspended.
"During the last few months we have had some development setbacks that are affecting our timeline and progress on the game," developer Playdek wrote, "while also affecting what we need to do in the immediate future as a company.
"After we posted our latest development progress [back in October 2015], we unfortunately lost a few key staff members that were part of Unsung Story development, and that has had an impact on any progress since then, as well as our product focus.
"We now have one internal team capable of working on a single project, and for the financial strength of the company we need to focus on a few products in the near term that have the ability to get to a retail release before Unsung Story is able to."
Unsung Story isn't technically cancelled, then, but it sounds like several games will have to launch first - and earn money - before work on the Kickstarter project will resume.
Playdek will also look at roping in an external team to help.
"We will get back to you as soon as we can with any progress and status update. Thanks," the blog concluded.
Understandably, Kickstarter backers are now calling for refunds in their droves.
"I'd like to ask formally for a refund. Looking back, the $80 (which I paid because Mr. Yasumi Matsuno was involved), I had rather put[sic] in more copies of Kickstarter games delivered to me in time," backer LastGunman commented.
"If you used the money for other projects, I don't have the understanding for that. So I hope the US backers and the US law will find a reasonable punishment for you."
But another backer, Alex Crast, wrote: "This will fall on deaf ears, but they can't refund you when they don't have your money anymore. They spent it."


text:
Pitney Bowe cites 2018 carrier rate increases by UPS, USPS, and FedEx, which will affect businesses and industries of all types and sizes. Full press release below.
Stamford, CR. January 19, 2018 – Pitney Bowes Inc., a global technology company that provides innovative products, solutions and data to power commerce, today cited 2018 carrier rate increases – including the pending January 21 U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rate change and increases announced by UPS and FedEx – among factors driving office sending transformations. These factors are prompting businesses of all sizes to adopt cloud-based shipping and mailing solutions to maximize savings, remove complexity and ensure compliance. Digital sending solutions enable organizations to select the best carrier and service level for each package and save 3 cents per letter with the metered mail discount.
“Finding ways to drive growth, streamline workflows and manage costs are priorities for businesses of all sizes. Optimizing the mailing and shipping process can positively affect the bottom line, generating considerable savings in both hard and soft dollars,” said Jason Dies, executive vice president and president, Pitney Bowes SMB Solutions.
Carriers have announced the following changes for 2018:
• UPS – Effective December 24, 2017, UPS Ground, UPS Air and International services rose by an average net 4.9 percent. UPS Air Freight rates, within and between the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, also rose an average net 4.9 percent.
• FedEx – Effective January 1, 2018, FedEx Express package and freight standard list rates rose by an average of 4.9 percent for U.S., U.S. export and U.S. import services. FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery standard list rates also rose by an average of 4.9 percent.
• USPS – Effective January 21, 2018, mailing services products will increase 1.9 percent on average and shipping services products will average a 3.9 percent increase. First-Class 1 ounce letter stamp will rise to $0.50 (from $0.49), and metered letters rise to $0.47 (from $0.46).
Opportunities to save
As prices increase, meter and online postage solutions offer savings alternatives, including 3 cents per piece of First-Class Mail letters (up to 3.5 ounces). In addition:
• Commercial Base prices will, on average, reflect a 9.4 percent discount off of retail prices.
• Commercial Plus prices will average 12.7 percent off retail prices.
The Pitney Bowes Guide to Office Shipping estimates general shipping rates may be as much as 35 percent higher by 2025, and parcel volume growth is estimated to rise at a rate of 17-28 percent each year, between 2018 and 2021, according to the Global Parcel Shipping Index.
“With parcel volume and spend on the rise, cloud-based multi-carrier solutions help businesses make smart choices every time they send. They provide a comprehensive view of mailing and shipping needs, savings opportunities, and data and analytics businesses can use to ensure the right carrier and the right rate at the right time,” added Dies.
Recommendations for mailing and shipping optimization include:
• Address correction: Incomplete or incorrect addresses, like invalid house numbers or missing Zip Codes, can be problematic and costly. If a destination address does not match the corresponding address in a carrier’s system, an address correction fee may be charged. Office shipping technology verifies addresses and can help businesses – from small offices to large enterprises – avoid fees.
• Dimensional (DIM) weight rating: In addition to charging for weight and distance, carriers often include DIM charges based on the height, width and length of the package, so using the smallest package possible is ideal. Multi-depth shipping boxes can be cut to size, and help senders avoid the added expense of fillers, like foam peanuts or sealed airbags.
• Peak shipping charges: Peak surcharges may arise during high-demand periods, and with residential or heavy packages. Multi-carrier shipping software can be used to compare prices and delivery choices, simplifying the task of viewing and selecting carrier options.

domain: news


text:
Man in Philly gets tasered by police and catches fire!
Larry & Kathie J
Stepdad Catches Stepson Sneaking A Girl Into House and Gives Hilarious Play By Play on Twitter.
Last week, Denver City Council approved an ordinance requiring electric scooters to be ridden in bike lanes or on roads rather than on sidewalks.
TD started a CBD company and says it has changed his life. He even said it could have extended his career.
BeBe Rexha took to Instagram yesterday saying fashion designers wont design her a dress for the Grammys because she is a size 8.


text:
Legend of Mana now available for mobile devices in Japan [Update: Now available worldwide]
Square Enix has today released the remaster of Legend of Mana for iOS and Android devices in Japan. It will be priced at ¥3420 normally, with a discount to ¥2700 until December 21.
The Squaresoft PS1 classic was re-released for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC earlier this year on June 24. The new version includes remastered visuals, a remastered/original soundtrack toggle, the previously JP-only Ring Ring Land minigame, an ability to turn off random encounters, the ability to save (almost) anywhere, and a gallery mode.
There's no official confirmation just yet of an English release of the mobile port, but it seems quite likely, as many other Mana series mobile games have received English releases, such as Trials of Mana earlier this year and the upcoming Echoes of Mana.
A new promotional trailer and mobile version screenshots can be found below. For more, you can check out Scott's review of the console release.


text:
Whether on the move, in the lab, at the desk or at a work bench, ingenious ideas can come to absolutely anyone, anywhere and at any time. But how many of those bright ideas are snuffed out before they’ve had a chance to shine, just because there's no good way of sharing them with the people who really matter? ALE, better known on the market as Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, was at CeBIT in Hannover, the global event for digital business, to showcase the latest additions to its product portfolio. These include user-centered solutions, usage-based billing models and, most importantly, next-generation communications networking, such as "Rainbow", which will make sure good ideas are put to good use.
After being announced at CeBIT 2016 and having completed an extensive beta testing phase, the Rainbow collaboration app from ALE has now been officially launched. Rainbow is currently available exclusively as a free tool that customers can use to deploy unified communications as a cloud-based service. Among the services currently on offer are first and foremost instant messaging, audio/video calls, screen and file sharing, and contact management. All applications can be utilized on both mobile end devices and desktops. There are also plans to integrate Rainbow into the communications platforms of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise and third-party suppliers in the near future. What’s more, ALE intends to roll out chargeable premium packages that could then support conferences with multiple participants, for example.


text:
African Forum on ICT Best Practices voices support for dotAfrica
The African Forum on Best Practices in ICT, a pan-African conference hosted by the Government of Burkina Faso and supported by the International Telecommunications Union, has issued a declaration in support of the dotAfrica initiative.
The Ouagadougou Declaration expresses its support for the creation of a generic top-level (gTLD) domain for Africa (dotAfrica or .Africa) and the African Union Commission's choice of the ZA Central Registry (ZACR) to oversee its launch and management.
The Declaration makes it clear that the dotAfrica domain has the potential to benefit the African Internet community and calls on all members of the African Union to support it.
The Declaration follows a conference held in Burkina Faso in mid-October. It was under the patronage of the country’s president, Blaise Compaore’, and was attended by a large number of delegates from the public and private sectors globally. It also included a one-day cyber-security conference organised by the International Telecommunications Union and the International Multilateral Partnership against Cyberthreat.
“The Ouagadougou Declaration is just another example of the tremendous support the dotAfrica initiative enjoys, and the growing excitement that is building as we approach the launch of this exciting new domain,” says Koffi Fabrice Djossou, Africa Liaison for the dotAfrica project at ZACR. In addition, the ITU is ready to partner with the ZACR in order to help governments build the necessary capacity and make better use of gTLDs under the dotAfrica TLD.
Establishing dotAfrica (.Africa) as a top-level domain name is the brainchild of African Internet Pioneers and most recently the African Union Commission, and dates back to 2002. Its intention is to establish a single domain name that can be used to promote the people, businesses and cultures of Africa on the Internet.
After extensive cross-continental consultation, the plan was endorsed by African ICT ministers. Subsequently, following a rigorous and transparent process, the ZACR was chosen as the official operator of the dotAfrica registry. ZACR is a non-profit organisation that currently administers .co.za - the largest domain name space on the continent.


text:
Lucknow (PNS): A day before the ‘UP Investors’ Summit, the State Government approved logistic and warehousing Policy streamlining warehouse operation in the State aiming to boost horticulture and floriculture. A senior Minister said that Logistic and Warehousing Policy was the need of the hour and it was unfortunate that till now there were no well defined policy.
He said that taking forward ‘Make in India’ vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh has already launched ‘Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy, 2017’ and ‘Food Processing Industry Policy, 2017’ to create a supporting ecosystem for investments in industries and related infrastructure such as warehouses, cold storages, silos, etc. “Therefore, the State was committed towards strengthening its foothold in the logistics sector,” he said. The Minister said that being strategically located on the golden quadrilateral and having the largest rail network spanning over 8949 kms, UP is poised to meet the requisites of expanding logistics industry.
As per cabinet decision opportunities in logistic sector in Uttar Pradesh include warehousing, silos, cold storages, setting up of E-commerce hubs, real time logistics. “With higher use of Internet and e-commerce, there is scope to provide services that helps in tracking and monitoring the transported goods,” the source said. In another decision, the cabinet approved amendment in ‘UP Excise Act’ under which a consumer can consume liquor in a model shop after purchasing it.
The source said that the Government has decided to bring an amendment allowing people to consume liquor in model shops.


text:
© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and Infection Control Today. All rights reserved.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising distributors, wholesalers and consumers that a recall of raw almonds due to reports of Salmonella Enteriditis that was announced by Paramount Farms of Lost Hills, Calif., on May 18, 2004, has expanded. Before eating any raw almonds having a "best before" date of Aug. 21, 2004 or later, consumers are advised to check with the store where they purchased the product to see if the almonds came from Paramount Farms.
The FDA has learned that Paramount Farms distributed the recalled almonds in bulk or packaged nationwide to brokers, distributors and grocery store chains which in turn sold the almonds to consumers in a variety of package sizes with a variety brand names. The almonds were also distributed to Mexico, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, France, England and Italy.
The almonds have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Enteriditis, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. Consumers who are experiencing symptoms that could be salmonellosis should consult their healthcare providers or their local health department.
Paramount Farms announced a limited recall on May 18, 2004 of whole natural raw almonds sold under the Kirkland Signature, Trader Joe's and Sunkist brands. FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state health and agriculture departments are aware of approximately 18 reports of Salmonella Enteriditis possibly related to the consumption of the almonds now under recall. FDA continues to work with CDC and state and local agencies to investigate the source of this outbreak. Individuals who have purchased the recalled raw almonds should not consume them but instead return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The almonds may be sold under other unknown brand names.


text:
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA) announced today it has completed the sale of a portfolio of products within its global women’s health business to CVC Capital Partners. The business will be known as “Theramex”.
Read more: Teva Is Under Siege; How Will Rising Competition Play Out in 2018?
As a reminder, in September 2017, Teva has entered into a definitive agreement under which CVC will acquire a portfolio of products within its global women’s health business across contraception, fertility, menopause and osteoporosis for $703 million in cash. The portfolio of products, which is marketed and sold outside of the U.S., includes Ovaleap®, Zoely®, Seasonique®, Colpotrophine®, Actonel® and additional products. Combined annual net sales of Ovaleap®, Zoely®, Seasonique®, Colpotrophine®, Actonel® and additional products.
“Today’s announcement marks the completion of Teva’s planned divestment of specialty products in women’s health,” stated Michael McClellan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Teva. “Teva is very pleased to complete the sale of our global women’s health portfolio today, which brings a significant influx of cash needed to further progress our ability to repay term loan debt. With the completion of today’s transaction, Teva has generated total proceeds of $2.48 billion from the women’s health divestitures, higher than the previously announced $2.3 billion expected proceeds.”
Shares of Teva closed yesterday at $20.41, down $0.24 or -1.16%. TEVA has a 1-year high of $37.94 and a 1-year low of $10.85. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $19.70 and its 200-day moving average is $18.17.
On the ratings front, Teva stock has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. In a report released yesterday, Guggenheim analyst Rohit Vanjani reiterated a Hold rating on TEVA, while on January 30, RBC’s Randall Stanicky reiterated a Sell rating on the stock and has a price target of $13.
According to TipRanks.com, which ranks over 7,500 financial analysts and bloggers to gauge the performance of their past recommendations, Rohit Vanjani and Randall Stanicky have a yearly average return of 12.7% and a loss of -11.4% respectively. Vanjani has a success rate of 53% and is ranked #638 out of 4755 analysts, while Stanicky has a success rate of 30% and is ranked #4703.
Sentiment on the street is mostly neutral on TEVA stock. Out of 21 analysts who cover the stock, 13 suggest a Hold rating , 4 suggest a Sell and 4 recommend to Buy the stock. The 12-month average price target assigned to the stock is $18.64, which reflects a potential downside of -9% from last closing price.


text:
FoodFacts.com is tracking more news on attempted beverage bans in New York City. First came Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed ban on large-sized sugary beverages being sold in the city. Now New York Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman is conducting an investigation into energy drink manufacturers based on deceiving consumers regarding their products health risks.
Now, please don’t get us wrong. FoodFacts.com is no fan of energy drinks – evidenced by the health scores most receive on our site. But we’re fairly shocked that the probe being conducted is focused on how accurately companies are disclosing the amount of caffeine in these beverages. The companies that have been subpoenaed are Monster Beverage, PepsiCo and Living Essentials (5 Hour Energy). The focus of the investigations appears to be on the possibility of caffeine-laden ingredients that are not included on the product labels. Things like black tea extract or guarana (which has already proven to be dangerous).
So, why is FoodFacts having a problem with this? Well, if you take a good look at the brands in question, we’re wondering why caffeine is the focus of the probe. Certainly, if manufacturers are including ingredients in their beverages that they are not listing on the label, they should be made to change their actions. But … why isn’t the government focusing on ingredients like Benzoic Acid, Acesulfame Potassium and Caramel Color?
Benzoic Acid (which is present in almost all of these products) has been studied in rats, cats and rabbits and has shown different degrees of toxicity. Symptoms can include hypoactivity, emaciation, diarrhea, muscle weakness and tremors. Benzoic Acid in humans has been linked to rashes, asthma, inflammation of nasal mucus membranes and anaphylactic shock in some cases.
The presence of this ingredient alone should alert the government that caffeine isn’t the only concern here. So why isn’t anyone talking about the other problematic ingredients included in energy drinks?
We know that energy drinks have quickly become a multimillion dollar industry. We know they are not healthy options. And we also know that too much caffeine in a person’s diet can cause major problems. But for FoodFacts.com, that’s the whole point. We all know that too much caffeine isn’t good for us. But how many consumers actually understand that Benzoic Acid and Acesulfame Potassium – to name just two of the ingredients that are commonly included in these beverages – can cause major health problems.
Why is the concern about misleading consumers focused strictly on caffeine? Why isn’t there a concern that consumers are being misled about the other potentially harmful ingredients included in energy drinks? And why is the government focusing only on the ingredient that consumers are already familiar with and already have a general understanding of? Hate to say it, but perhaps there are fewer lobbyists attempting to get the ear of the government for caffeine than there may be for other additives. Just a guess …
We stand firmly behind the idea that consumers need to be educated regarding the ingredients in our food supply. ALL ingredients. Not just caffeine … which most consumers are fairly familiar with and understand more than Benzoic Acid. So for the Attorney General of New York City: FoodFacts.com would really appreciate a more educated, expanded view of why energy drinks might need regulation. We’re betting most consumers would actually appreciate it too.


text:
Tue, 03 Feb 2009
Peak Lithium: Will Supply Fears Drive Alternative Batteries?
The Wall Street Journal
Saudis like to say that the stone age didn’t end for a lack of stones. But could a lack of lithium end the electric car age before it begins?
“Peak lithium” is back in focus, as the New York Times looks at Bolivia’s quest to cash in on the world’s biggest reserves of lithium, a key component in batteries. Simply put, global automakers and battery makers need to ensure a steady supply of lithium to power the expected electric-car revolution, but Bolivia’s populist government and its embrace of resource nationalism raises a lot of concerns about access to the country’s mineral wealth. TIME recently did a big takeout on Bolvia’s lithium, too.
Concerns about global supplies of lithium are a lot like the debate over peak oil. Some experts believe the huge increase in electric cars will actually strain the world’s lithium supplies in a few years; as with peak oil, “above-ground” factors like Bolivia’s politics may be just as critical as geology. Other experts figure lithium supplies are ample and exploding demand will just juice more lithium exploration, as happened with oil.
Either way, though, as hybrid and electric vehicles take a bigger share of the market, that threatens to push up lithium prices. That would make batteries, the costliest part of electric cars, even pricier, further threatening the economics of the electric-car revolution. (Ford on Tuesday announced its lithium-ion battery supplier.)A recent report by Lux Research called lithium availability the “ultimate limit” on electric cars’ future.
So what’s the alternative? Skip lithium altogether. Just as thin-film solar-power companies gained in appeal when global polysilicon supplies were tight, batteries that use materials other than lithium are gaining attention now. “Forward-thinking automakers will aggressively pursue alternative chemistries. As auto manufacturers come to terms with limited lithium supplies, they will increasingly consider alternative chemistries like zinc-air or other batteries made from more abundant elements,” Lux said in the report.
Toyota started researching a zinc-air battery, initially out of safety concerns (lithium-ion batteries sometimes explode). Germay’s RWE recently poured more research money into zinc-air batteries, too. Zinc-air and other metal-air batteries sidestep the lithium supply issue.
But if alternative batteries are still in the lab, that’s because they face a host of hurdles lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydrate batteries don’t share. Most importantly, zinc-air batteries aren’t rechargable and have a short lifespan—crucial negatives for the auto market. Some alternative batteries suffer from other shortcomings, too, including weight. That will leave lithium and existing nickel-metal batteries to share the global market in coming years, Lux figures.
Ironically, the NYT noted, Bolivia’s ability to blaze a trail for electric cars and cash in on its lithium horde may depend on the fate of old-fashioned oil: Bolivia is counting partly on petro-dollars from Venezuela to upgrade its lithium processing facilities, and the falling price of oil is squeezing Venezuela’s budget.
Tue, 03 Feb 2009


text:
Cartist to hold an art auction to fight the COVID19 Pandemic
Cartist Against Covid an initiative that hopes to raise funds for the PM Cares Initiative.
Cartist, a Jaipur-based organisation, has created a platform for budding artists to create artwork out of automobile parts and will conduct a 24-hour auction with all proceeds being donated towards the PM Cares relief fund. Cartist has been present in quite a few of the automotive experiences namely at the 2020 Auto Expo where they had quite a few art installations present at the greater Noida exhibition Centre. Himanshu Jangid, the founder of Cartist, will put his personal Collection of 50 paintings for this auction. These 50 paintings have been collected by Himanshu over the past five years from different artists and most of them are automobile-themed works of art.
Jangid, a vintage car restorer, has really championed the cause of using this as a platform to promote sustainability and create a new platform for aspiring artists. He has been recognised by the government of Rajasthan and started the 'Resurgent Rajasthan' initiative where he painted more than 100 autos to portray them as moving arts sculptures
To support the artist creating the paintings, Cartist will also conduct a sale of paintings where all sales amounts go directly to the artists' accounts to support them during these tough times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cartist not only creates and curates paintings but also has art installations in the form of sculptures and furniture, all made out of automotive scrap. You can see many of these installations in and around Jaipur, where it is based out of. It is a great initiative and we wish all the best to Cartist and their entire team with this unique fundraising experience.


text:
HD Awards finalists announced
April 19, 2017,
NEW YORK - Hospitality Design (HD) magazine, which hosts the HD Expo, has announced the finalists for the 2017 HD Awards, including outdoor furniture and performance fabric companies.
The outdoor furnishings category finalists include Royal Botania, Janus et Cie, Tidelli Outdoor Living and Pavilion Furniture. The textiles and fabric category finalists are Brentano, Richloom Fabrics Group, Enduratex and P/Kaufmann Contract.
See Related Article: Why industry leaders attend HD Expo
A panel of industry professionals selected this year’s HD Awards winners and finalists. Project panelists include:
• Timothy Griffin, director of North America, Ennismore/the Hoxton
• Nicole Hollis, founder, NicoleHollis
• Kemper Hyers, senior vice president of design, Starwood Capital
• Helen Jorgensen, vice president of design and procurement, Host Hotels & Resorts
• Alessandro Munge, founder, Studio Munge
See Related Article: HD Expo schedule enhances conference
Product panelists include:
• Siobhan Barry, partner and executive creator director, Dash Design
• Joan Cardy, founder and president, the Cardy Group
• Gregory Stanford, director of interior design, Marriott International
Winners in each category will be revealed at the HD Awards ceremony on June 7 at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York.
Related Content By Author
Seasonal Living Showroom Tour
Casual Living eWeekly
Most Viewed Articles
October Digital Edition
Don't miss the October digital edition of Casual Living! In this month’s Market Issue, we’ll bring you all the highlights of Casual Market Chicago, from innovative new products and hot trends to this year’s award winners and a taste of the party scene. Plus, you’ll get a sneak peek of all the product debuts at High Point Market.
In this issue:
- Consumer Survey: Did you know three out of four consumers read online reviews before purchasing outdoor furniture? That’s just one of the shopping insights shared in our exclusive report on consumer buying habits.
- Designer Viewpoint: A North Carolina designer creates an outdoor space for a modern-day Brady Bunch. • Barbecue Lifestyle: Our grill guy gives tips on extending the season through the holidays.
- Focus On: Patterns punch up the style quotient of outdoor accessories.


text:
- February 21, 2018
California Introduces New Copper-Based Antifouling Paint and Coating Regulations
The California Department of Pesticide Registration (“CDPR”) recently finalized a new regulation addressing the copper leach rate of copper-based antifouling paints and coatings. As of January 1, 2018, the new regulation imposes copper-leach-rate data submission requirements for new and amended copper-based antifouling paint and coating product pesticide registrations. As of July 1, 2018, the new regulation establishes a maximum allowable leach rate, 9.5 μg/cm2/day, that will subject current registrations in violation to cancellation, and prevent registration of new products over the maximum rate. The new rule is discussed in more detail below. Continue reading on www.khlaw.com
Click on copper to add check its regulatory map and to keep track of its regulatory status and emerging trends (Chemycal PRO subscription required).


text:
We were expecting Samsung to release their first ever Tizen smartphone next month at MWC (Mobile World Congress). NTT DoComo lately reported that all the plans for Tizen smartphone has been terminated. Today, Samsung has confirmed to the Korean media that Tizen is delayed.
It is true that the release has been delayed,” said one official at Samsung Electronics’ Media Solution Center (MSC) today in Korea. “Previously we did had planned to release in the first half of this year in several countries, including Korea and Russia.”
Samsung likely to reveal its Tizen smartphone in the first half of the year. Company planned to promote their Tizen with other members of Tizen Association next month at MWC 2014.


text:
Here it is folks – after months of anticipation the wait is finally over! Panasonic just released the first ever official Panasonic EVA1 footage as part of their official launch films for the camera. This one was shot by Italian DP, Filippo Chiesa. There are two more films to be released, the behind the scenes of which you can check out in my post here.
Those of you heading over to Amsterdam today for IBC 2017, can stop by Panasonic’s massive stand and check out the EVA1 footage there, where it will be projected in Panasonic’s cinema setup on the stand.
Viewing in 4K on a large screen is highly recommended.
Explore exclusive cinematic images – shot on EVA1. Panasonic’s newly-developed digital video camera combines high quality technology and a lightweight, compact design, ensuring flexibility and professionalism in every filmmaking situation. Director of Photography Filippo Chiesa captured stunning footage while using EVA1’s Dual Native ISO and 5.7K Super 35mm. Witness the magnificence of colours, the accuracy of skin tones and the overall cinema-style acquisition.
From just a few quick viewings on my UltraHD 27 inch Dell P2715Q the footage looks really nice. I see decent detail in the shadows and pleasant skin tone rendition and highlight roll-off. More tests are to be done for sure, but just from this sample alone, I think a lot of eople out there would be pleased. Would love to learn more about the specific settings on the camera for the shoot.
What do you guys think so far about the first ever Panasonic EVA1 footage? Let me know in the comments.


text:
Things have been looking up for Malaysia! The easing of the Movement Restriction Order (MCO) through the reopening of businesses, interstate travels and more, are clear indications that our nation is moving forward towards brighter days.
Of course, none of these milestones can be accomplished without honouring the frontliners whose unwavering efforts and tireless dedication have steered us towards greener pastures.
Despite our successes, COVID-19 still lingers within our borders, invoking some doubt and anxiety when venturing beyond our doorstep. On the flip side, the MCO has taught us many lessons which can prove to be useful as we venture into the new normal. Here are 6 takeaways moving forward into the new norm.
1. Appreciate our food
Most of us were never serious about picking up cooking as a skill. Plus, we had food delivery services like GrabFood, FoodPanda and more at our fingertips, especially after a long and tiring day at work.
The MCO surely forced our hands to pick up culinary skills and a newfound appreciation for homecooked meals. Those who learned to cook found it was easier on our budget and healthier option as well.
It has also given us a whole new level of respect for delivery riders, who put themselves at risk, so we enjoy our meals and other goods delivered to our homes.
2. Good hygiene
Good hygiene was always preached but never taken seriously – until we were hit by a life-threatening virus, forcing us to wear face-mask, soap wash our hands regularly and use hand sanitisers more often than ever before.
Today, as we progress towards normality, we are also urged to be extra vigilant with the people around us moving forwards.
3. Adapting to technology
Most of us were already heavily reliant on technology in our daily lives, even more so when the MCO began. Never have we had to attend so many Zoom meetings, Google Hangout calls, Discord calls and more.
Even our parents and grandparents have gotten into the act (aside from their daily good morning messages on Whatsapp). Props to them who have adapted well to the changing times.
4. Importance of managing finances
Not everyone had the luxury of working from home or earn a living, which forced us to scrimp on every Ringgit and cents we had to get us through the month.
Such difficult times have called for us to be prudent with our expenses, making us think and rethink splurging on a purchase. We’ve also learnt a lot more patience on scrolling online for the best deals as well.
Speaking about saving money, you can also find ways on how you can save on your groceries with HappyFresh.
5. Using time wisely
Most of us were wise enough to pick up a skill with the ample time we had at home. Aside from cooking, some have picked up gardening, painting and other soft skills we thought would be useful once we got back to work. Some netizens have even found some success in using those newfound skills into a source of revenue.
6. Appreciating our loved ones
Being confined to our homes has taught us to value the time we spend with the one we love. This goes to show that no amount of calls and text messages can surmount to physical presence – something technology cannot solve.
Also Read: Make Your Own Cendol Right At Home!


text:
The biggest tech show in the world is about to start in Las Vegas and Pocket-lint will be there live, covering all the news as it happens so you know what's what.
CES in Las Vegas sees a whopping 2500 exhibitors from 140 countries trying to lure us with their wares, meaning we can bring you the low down on the must have gadgets and gizmos to look out for over the next 12 months.
What can we expect from CES 2010? The show is likely to be dominated by 3D TVs, ebook readers, tablet computers and the odd digital camera and mobile phone thrown in for good luck.
The good news for you is that Pocket-lint will be live from the city of sin (that will be Las Vegas) from Tuesday evening (GMT) getting a glimpse of some of the latest products ahead of the official opening of the conference.
So what can you expect from Pocket-lint?
All the latest announcements from the world of consumer electronics, live coverage of all the keynotes on Wednesday, photo galleries and first look reviews, exclusive stories and the low down on what's what as it's happening from all the exhibitors at the show right through 'till next Monday.


text:
TUOI TRE NEWS
Updated : 04/06/2016 15:33 GMT + 7
tuoitrenews.vn – Anxious cattle breeders in Vietnam must choose safe fodder brands for their herds, as a new law heavily punishing those that use banned chemicals will come into effect this July.
For the past month, Duong Thi Hoa, a cattle breeder in Dong Nai Province, has stopped mixing her own pig food from such ingredients as corn, soy beans, and premixes, which are a blend of various raw materials and additives that contain vitamins, minerals, antibiotics, and other essential ingredients.
Instead, Hoa is shifting toward buying ready-to-eat pig food from a local manufacturer.
“It costs me over VND1,000 [US$0.04] more for each kilo of pig food, but I feel safer this way,” Hoa said. “I’ll have it this way for now, rather than risk buying ingredients on the market that may contain banned chemicals.”
Hoa’s worries are understandable, as a revised law that will come into effect on July 1 this year states that those who that feed their cattle banned chemicals can face to up to 20 years in prison.
According to Hoa, some households in her area were fined at the beginning of March, after excessive amounts of salbutamol, a banned chemical that boosts the growth and production of meat in cattle, were found in their pigs’ urine.
Many other breeders like Hoa herself have grown wary of the hundreds of animal food brands currently circulating on the market, for fear of mistakenly buying chemically contaminated food.
Tran Quang Trung, owner of a farm of over 3,000 pigs in Dong Nai Province, said there was no way a regular breeder could know which brand put banned substances into their food, when all brands advertise their products as clean and of good quality.
“I only buy products by long-established manufacturers, because they use a qualified production process and have their reputation to lose if they do something illegal,” Trung explain.
Nguyen Kim Doan, vice chairman of the Dong Nai Animal Husbandry Association, said the Association has advised local breeders to be careful when picking their fodder brand, and keep the proof of purchase to protect themselves on legal terms.
“Pigs are currently sold at a high price while the price of fodder is dropping, so breeders are getting stricter on choosing cattle food in order to maximize their profit without putting themselves at risk of breaking the law,” Doan said.
As a move to assure customers of the quality of their products, many fodder brands are now offering proofs and making solemn pledges.
Late last month, Tran Minh Tien, sales director at VH Company in Dong Nai, brought his company’s fodder in for a test to prove that the food contained no banned substances.
“Customers are anxious about banned substances in animal food, so we had to take the initiative to prove that we build our business on the basis of prestige and quality,” Tien said.
Similarly, Lee Meng Hong, director of research and development at Anco and Proconco cattle food companies, said they had started printing “no banned substances” stamps to be stuck on their products as a proof of quality.
According to Lee, apart from regular quality standard inspections, his brands also send samples of their fodders to an independent testing center appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to monitor the levels of beta-agonists such as salbutamol, ractopamine, and clenbuterol.
“One hundred percent of the hundreds of samples of our products have tested negative for beta-agonists. This practice will continue to ensure that no banned substances are present in our fodders,” Lee stressed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Duong Nguyen Khang, director at the Center for Research and Transfer of Technology under Nong Lam (Agriculture-Forestry) University, advised breeders to turn to technical methods to increase the productivity of their cattle.
Khang said the quickest way to do this was to import foreign breeds and crossbreed them with domestic ones and create high quality breeds that adapt well to Vietnam’s climate.


text:
THE CABINET is expected to start deliberations on a draft empowerment bill next week, aimed at overhauling transformation in the manufacturing, retail and agricultural sectors.
The bill proposes amendments to the black economic empowerment (BEE) legislation such as the criminalisation of fronting, and speeding up transformation in the three targeted sectors.
It also seeks to move beyond mere ownership and look at ways in which black people will play a meaningful role in procurement and production processes.
The director-general of the Department of Trade and Industry, Lionel October, said black people had been involved in the running of factories at a floor manager level and understood production processes.
“There was a conflict of legislation which saw industries in the retail, agricultural and manufacturing (sectors) avoid empowerment. We will shift empowerment to production and move BEE from the margins to the mainstream. The policy was not strong on retail and manufacturing,” he said.
The bill seeks to put a greater emphasis on using skilled black workers, and helping them start their own businesses.
Oh well. Just when we were getting used to what we had.


text:
BAGHDAD—Iraqi election officials published a trickle of new results Tuesday that showed incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's political bloc retaining its narrow edge over the alliance headed by chief rival Ayad Allawi, but they cautioned that final results from the March 7 parliamentary elections were still days away.
The election to choose a new 325-seat parliament is considered a key step in Iraq's transition to stability and a harbinger of whether U.S. troops will be able to begin their planned withdrawal this summer. Both the vote itself and the protracted wait for results have been relatively free of violence, adding to hopes that Iraq's democracy is maturing.
Memorial Day Event: Up to 50% off + extra 25% off all shopping departments - JCPenney promo code
- Dick's Sporting Goods:
10% off sitewide - Dick's Sporting Goods coupons
Top Walmart coupon: 15% off all purchases
- The Home Depot:
Free $20 Home Depot coupon with Pro Xtra membership sign up
- Best Buy:
Save 15% or more from Best Buy deal of the Day
Spring Sale: 50% off styles + free shipping with Journeys coupons


text:
Members of the Texas House of Representatives just passed a proposed piece of legislation which recognizes the use of cryptocurrencies in commercial transactions.
House Bill 4474 seeks to insert a definition of the term ‘virtual currency into the state’s Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), the set of laws that governs business transactions in the US.
“Section 9.102, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by adding Subsection (29-a) to read as follows:
(29-a) ‘Virtual currency’ means a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and/or store of value and is often secured using blockchain technology.”
If the proposed legislation becomes law, it will provide a legal framework for dealings that involve cryptocurrencies and blockchain.
The bill was passed during the Tuesday session of the 87th Texas Legislature. It now travels to the Texas Senate for amendments and voting.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign the proposed legislation into law after stating that he is a supporter of the pro-crypto bill.
Apart form Texas, other states are also moving to accommodate crypto use in mainstream transactions. In March, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez submitted a proposal to allow residents to pay their taxes in Bitcoin (BTC) and for employees to receive their pay in the flagship cryptocurrency.
Amid the rising popularity of cryptocurrencies, members of the US House of Representatives have also introduced the Eliminate Barriers to Innovation Act of 2021 (H.R. 1602) to establish the jurisdictions of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) over digital assets.Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get crypto email alerts delivered directly to your inbox
Check Price Action
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Telegram
Surf The Daily Hodl Mix
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any loses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.
Featured Image: Shutterstock/KeremGogus


text:
Toshiba A Basket Case As Shares Slump 30% & Senior Management Quit
Toshiba who were caught out overstating their profits for more than seven years have seen their shares crash 30% during the past two days. The Japanese Company has also witnessed facing a major exit of senior management in Australia.
After bailing out of the TV market, Toshiba Australia was then forced to quit the consumer PC market mid-2016, due in part to poor management.
Since then the former General Manager of Toshiba Australia’s Information Systems Division, Rob Wilkinson has taken on the role of General Manager of Consumer Business at Ingram Micro.
Also, quitting Toshiba Australia was former Communications and Marketing Manager Mariana Thomas who has taken up a role at Electronics Manufacturer Tarkett along with Paul English the former National Retail Manager who is now General Manager at Joyce Mayne, a Harvey Norman Company.
The 30% drop in Toshiba’s share value followed a 12% share-price decline on Tuesday after initial reports of the write-down of their none PC business.
Toshiba said the problem stemmed from cost overruns at its U.S. nuclear subsidiary, Westinghouse Electric, which it acquired in 2006 when prospects for the nuclear industry looked bright.
Westinghouse is currently building a new generation of power reactors but has been beset by construction difficulties that have increased project costs everywhere.
Toshiba shares fell 80 yen on Wednesday to ¥311.6, hitting the 20% maximum one-day drop allowed by the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Toshiba is already on a Tokyo Stock Exchange watch list because of the accounting scandal that forced it to take a $1.3 billion write-down for its nuclear business in November 2015. At the time, it acknowledged that it had overstated its profit for seven years.
A reduced stock value makes it difficult to raise funds by issuing new shares. Stock-exchange rules call for a company to be delisted if it falls into negative net worth at the end of its fiscal year and fails to repair the situation within a year.
Toshiba executives said they would ask the company’s banks for support. Toshiba already sold one of its best-performing units, Toshiba Medical Systems, to Canon Inc. this year.
Naoki Fujiwara, fund manager at Shinkin Asset Management, said some investors had seen the nuclear business as a potential growth area because of demand in developing nations. “If you think more of this could happen in the future, it would be difficult to invest in the company over the mid to long term,” he said.


text:
A few years ago, we posted in this space about a visit to Baja California Sur, one of Mexico’s most remote states. We love Baja California and Baja California Sur and had the good fortune to visit the southern tip of the peninsula again recently for a couple weeks, and we are happy to report that Baja is still great. After nearly two years of COVID-19 pandemic, our previous visit seems long ago and far away, and the travel industry has taken a beating in recent times. But people need to work and get on with their lives, so we were happy to see that folks were doing just that and it appears that Baja California Sur is actually prospering against all odds. Here are a few thoughts on what we observed in August and September of 2021. Continue reading Baja California is still great
Mexico has suffered something of a setback in its emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic over the past month. On the epidemiological traffic light system, Mexico City had reached green, or mild restrictions, as the beginning of the month only to return to the higher restrictions of the yellow level following the June 6 national elections. The number of states at the orange or significant restriction level rose from one to five during the month, with reported increases in COVID cases particularly in tourist zones such as the Riviera Maya (Cancun), Yucatan and Baja California. No PCR test or quarantine is required to enter Mexico for travelers arriving by air.
ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY
- Same-store retail sales jumped 33.9% in May with respect to the same month last year, the National Retailers Association (ANTAD) reported. The size of the increase is due largely to the plunge in sales in May 2020 resulting from the initial COVID-19 lockdowns. (Reforma, June 11, 2021)
- Mexico’s central bank Banco de México (Banxico) raised its projection of GDP growth to 6.0% for the current year, up from a previous estimate of 4.8%. The improved outlook is based on advances in COVID-19 vaccination, strong demand for exports and better than expected first quarter growth. (Citibanamex Reporte Económico Diario, June 3, 2021)
- Remittances to Mexico from abroad through the first four months of the year are running 19.1% ahead of the same period last year, central bank Banco de México (Banxico) reported. Remittances are on track to post their strongest annual growth since 2005. (Milenio, June 1, 2021)
At the start of each month we usually post examples of new investment in Mexican industry, such as announcements of new manufacturing or processing plants and expansion of existing ones. For April 2020, we are disappointed to report that we have no such examples to share, due to the COVID-19 economic shutdown. We imagine that some companies are taking advantage of mandatory plant closures to clean, reorganize or upgrade their facilities, but we have not read about these so we are just going to have to accept our first shutout in the 11 years we have had the privilege of publishing this investment list. As with so many repercussions of COVID-19, you think you’ve seen it all, but it turns out you haven’t.
The media have done an admirable job covering the crisis, but for those of you who don’t follow Mexico closely, here is a very cursory summary of approximately where we are at the start of May 2020: Continue reading No new investment this month


text:
FACT: Retail giant Wal-mart is investing big in social media, spending $300 million on the @Walmartlabs development. (i)
FACT: In a recent survey of holiday shoppers, Deloitte found that 21% of consumers said they would buy something for Christmas from their smartphones. (ii)
FACT: The latest Social Media Benchmark report from eDigitalResearch found that 2.6 million new followers joined the Facebook sites of top retailers in the last six months. (iii)
2011 is over and done with—what’s in store for retail real estate in 2012?
For our special New Year’s edition of MORE Vision, we’re looking at the retail renaissance that’s anticipated for 2012 and beyond.
In the past 10 years, physical retail has come under attack from e-commerce, with many predicting the downfall of the traditional retail model. But as e-commerce matures and multi-channel retail gains strength, the industry is experiencing a convergence of physical and virtual shopping experiences.
Some of the world’s sharpest retailers are defying doom and gloom scenarios, as they realise that shopping in the real world will forever satisfy consumers’ deep-rooted need for human contact and instant gratification. But there is also a flurry of new formats, technologies, capabilities, and products that now are delighting consumers around the world.
We’ve talked to three experts who shared their views with MORE Vision in exclusive interviews.
MORE Vision: giving you visibility
Reed MIDEM’s detailed MORE Vision report explores the retail renaissance and asks top industry players how to turn online opportunities into physical reality.
Barbara Tusk, CEO, Crate & Barrel
Richard Akers, Managing Director, Retail, Land Securities
Each of these experts offers a unique insight and practical advice on how to use social media to draw consumers in and keep them coming back.[slideshare id=11172567&doc=mapicmore4-120120041914-phpapp01&type=d]
This month, MORE Vision also includes insight from 10 top industry professionals on the seven major trends to watch out for in 2012. You can also read the full articles.
Still to come: every week throughout January and February, we’ll be taking the trends touched on in this report and exploring them more fully!
Watch this space for the next MORE Vision!
Every two months, MORE Vision by MAPIC will contribute to the retail real estate community’s knowledge base by exploring a key trend influencing retail property strategy today. Each issue of this multichannel and multi-tool service will include a presentation of a trend, with history, key figures and useful links, along with exclusive interviews with top industry players. The briefing is offered as a printable document for you to use, customise and share with colleagues. Questions raised will be opened up for debate on our social media platforms – the best comments and discussions will be summarised and published here on the MIPIMWorld blog.
Has MORE Vision 4 left you wanting more?
Missed past issues of MORE Vision? Don’t worry, they’re still available!
Next issue: March 2012 Don’t miss out! Register now to be notified about the next publication.
ii) USA Today


text:
Chicken nuggets are just bite-sized pieces of chicken, what can possibly be innovative about them?! Two of the largest fast-food chains in the world have disproven this with the release of a fresh take on chicken nuggets in their China stores. Following the huge buzz surrounding McDonald’s 5G chicken, KFC have launched another unusual chicken product … Continue reading KFC or McDonald’s – who pulled off innovative chicken best?
Copy and paste this URL into your WordPress site to embed
Copy and paste this code into your site to embed


text:
Broadcast Apple TV a new promotional video for iTouch XR on the official YouTube channel of its own. Phone see iPhone XR that the iPhone is the battery the best so far.
Advertising short 30 seconds of filming his idea was based on that the user will feel drowsy and loses his energy before he does Phone iPhone XR that. Whether you’re watching a video or playing a game will the battery while it won’t hold up the user in front of the sleepy feeling will be in sleep.
Away from the official figures released by Apple about the battery performance in phones and the iPhone which are typically exaggerated, the battery of the iPhone XR are the longest-lived where you can hold up to 11 hours of use so superior to batteries phones iPhone other as we pointed out earlier in the performance tests battery for iPhone XR.
In the ad we see people using their phones, such as sleep, which is usually unhealthy and do not encourage them, because exposure to blue light emanating from the screen affects the biological clock in the brain which may cause sleep problems as well as straining the eyes.
If you are a developer and publish your apps via the news app to reach for a large segment of Arab users to reason across the following mail: email@example.com will your app soon in the list of news apps if level befitting the user Arab.
Do you want more apps and news?
Apps and news apps for Apple, Android and not available on our pages via social networks, follow us on our various Facebook andTwitter , and Google Plus , andYoutube , and Instagram , The Telegram


text:
Leachman Cattle of Colorado will host a free webinar Tuesday, February 12th at 6 pm Mountain time, focusing on value-based marketing and the attributes that contribute to profitability at sale time. Lee Leachman says today there is more spread between the best calves and the average calves than ever before. We raise the best food in the world, but we must meet consumer demands and continue to improve our production efficiencies. The webinar will update producers on Leachman’s new feeder calf certification program and the latest developments in how $Profit selection index is is utilizing feed intake and feed efficiency records. The webinar format will allow participants to text-message questions in real time. Online registration is available now for Tuesday’s seminar.
Whose calves are worth $150 over the market?
- Is there a right to farm?
- El Niño development stalled out, but wet winter still predicted
- In the Cattle Markets: Northern Plains calf marketing situation
- Food Babe visits my university
- Kansas City Royals named after livestock show, not royalty
- Farmers’ biggest issue may be consumer expectations in the future


text:
I’m going to look at that little sticker on the back or bottom of just about every piece of electrical kit you have, PS4, Xbox, Switch, TV, PVR recorder….”Warranty Void if removed”. What’s the deal with that? Do we believe the manufacturer is “void of responsibility” if that sticker is removed?
Right to Repair History
In the US currently, there is a lot of interest in Right to Repair, and the movement is growing. 18 States so far have introduced Fair repair bills, based on the 2012 Automotive Right to Repair Law, which was passed in Massachusetts and led to a national agreement with the Automobile industry (PDF link). The electronics industry have the same wishes, digital electronics in Automobiles have very little difference to consumer electronics, suffer the same problems, and need access to the same type of repair platforms. In essence the rules for repair should be the same across the board.
Certain Manufacturers hold the consumer hostage over their products, via such practices as (but not limited ):
- Software lockouts (Preventing access to updating especially pertinent after the Manufacturer has stopped support)
- Sim Locks
- DMCA (Software protection)
- Soldered Ram
- Soldered Hard Drives
- Glued Batteries
- No access to spare parts
Manufacturers started to fight back against the right to repair movement, stating that allowing consumers right to repair could let users access trade secrets and IP, such as schematics and the ability to reverse engineer the devices. Also, stated was the fear that devices could be harmed by unauthorized repairs.
With this increased fight back from manufacturers, the Repair Association led the growing right to repair movement, now supported by the farming industry as well (who faced the same issue of repairing farming equipment outside of authorized repair services).
FTC gets bossy
In April 2018 the FTC issued a statement stating that they had sent warning letters to six major companies that market and sell Automobiles, Cellular devices, and Video Game systems for violations of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. These companies are Hyundai, Asus, HTC, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. They specified that informing customers that the stickers on their devices which forbid the device being opened, use third-party repair services or use third-party replacement parts is a “deceptive practice” and can only be valid if the manufacturer provides a free warranty service, or replacement parts. In light of this both Sony and Nintendo updated their warranty statements.
Right to Repair in the EU
On the 9th June 2017 the European Parliament put in a motion for a European resolution on longer lifetime for products: benefits for consumers and companies. This is to legally allow any EU citizen the right to repair their products anywhere without the risk of losing the manufacturer warranty. The motion encourages manufacturers to build “repair ability” into their products. This has a number of advantages, not only to the consumer that can replace a battery that is not glued or soldered into place, or an LED that once broken cannot be replaced, but many of these devices once they stop working are thrown out, the consumer having to purchase a new device, repairing this device instead of binning it reduces the amount of E-waste. E-waste is a huge, growing problem, www.thebalancesmb.com published an article on the state of electronic waste. Currently only 15-20% of all e-waste is recycled, worldwide, according to a BBC program, 20-50 million tons of e-waste is generated worldwide. Cutting this waste which is expected to grow worldwide by 8% a year, is a huge global environmental concern, and the right to repair movement, worldwide, is a significant step towards reducing this destruction of our environment.
Companies promoting Right To Repair
There are a number of companies/organizations and websites fighting the manufacturers to push through the consumers right to repair the products they own. With the cases of phones like the iPhone 6 having software that disabled phones after it detected unauthorized repairs (that is, not sent/taken to an Apple store for repair), Mac books with the butterfly keyboards that are failing but Apple are not admitting there is a problem, there is a growing consumer visibility that something is wrong and the US currently has the most focus on social media. The Repair Association is one of a number of organizations leading the fight, it’s website has a number of resources, for both consumers and companies interested in right to repair. Their consumer guide page has a number of tips and a knowledge share form which is used to increase the scope of all devices and the repair policies attached.
ifixit.com are the leading website in parts/tools and videos/content aimed at teardowns and step by step repair procedures. Their motto is “The free guide for everything, written by everyone” and at time of writing have 41,233 manuals, 127,458 solutions covering 11,129 phones, laptops, video game systems among others. They take apart a wide variety of devices, showing each step with pictures and the corresponding tool needed in the step, at the end they give a repairabilty score (1 being the hardest, 10 easiest). The repair guides are a mix from ifixit and users, again, showing step by step instructions, difficulty score, and time required to fix. It’s an incredibly detailed and comprehensive website. They offer certifications for repair technicians to gain a recognized award, so that customers can feel confident in the technicians ability.
There are a number of repair shops/individuals on YouTube that vocal on the movement, Louis Rossman is a technician repairing Apple products in NYC, he shows live board repairs of mac products and is a big voice online in the right to repair movement but mainly on the shady practices of Apple, he does have some strong views, so be warned if you are easily offended. You can also head over to iPad Rehab and Jessa Jones and see her repairing Apple products, listen to her speak on the right to repair bill although she’s not as sweary as Louis.
Even with the big companies wanting the devices YOU own not to be opened, they are fighting a loosing battle. With the Right to Repair movement worldwide gathering speed, manufacturers are falling over themselves trying to fight against these measures. With the added benefit of protecting the environment from millions of tons of landfill, there are some big organizations like Greenpeace putting their weight into the matter.
The Right to Repair movement believe manufacturers advertised fears, that is: IP infringement, having to fix repairs from bad repairs, losing control of their quality among others are unfounded, and really part of a fear spreading campaign. This fear is started with that “Warranty Void if Removed” sticker. If you remove it, then your hard-earned cash could be lost! If you remove it, does that really absolve the manufacturer from issues that turn up in 1000s of devices? It’s a stretch, and a technique for shady business practices, non-transparency, making money over the customer experience. Obviously, if the device is opened and the insides destroyed, that’s another case, but opening a device to change a battery? Opening a device to upgrade a hard drive, upgrade memory? Why are these items, that are easily swappable, glued or soldered onto a board? Only one reason, to force you into buying a new device when one component fails. And that’s unacceptable.
Links for issues relating to Right to Repair:


text:
A cafe in Aberfeldy has revealed it will no longer accept cash transactions.
Habitat Cafe owner Mike Haggerton told the PA he had taken the decision after considerable thought in the light of the RBS branch closure in Aberfeldy.
He also surveyed customers about how they would feel about not handing over notes and coins for their caffeine fix, and without exception, they confirmed it would not be a problem.
Mike was one of those who turned out for a town protest about the Royal Bank of Scotland’s decision to cut the branch in the Square next to his coffee shop.
At the time he said losing the bank might be a catalyst for doing business in future without taking cash.
He said: “Since we opened five years ago, I’ve worked out that I have paid the RBS £5000 for the pleasure of banking cash with them.
“That’s a lot of money. We have never had an overdraft and we have never had meetings with advisors, we have simply banked our takings.
“When you look at what it costs over a year, it works out as more expensive for us than taking card payments.
“There’s also the time spent making daily deposits and the safety aspect of keeping cash.
“The Black Watch pub was robbed of its safe contents in December, the Plaice in the Square chip shop had its safe taken two years ago. It makes you think.
“The other aspect is the only other bank in Aberfeldy, the TSB, has not got features that would make it convenient and sensible for me to continue banking cash. For a start, TSB does not have a mobile banking app, and that is very important to me, to be able to keep on top of things online.”
Mike said that his lead in going cashless had been noted by a local guest house owner, who was planning to go the same way.
“Tons of businesses don’t take cash, it’s just cafes you don’t perhaps associate with demanding card payments only.
“In London you can’t get on a bus with cash and it seems all over the country, even in Highland Perthshire, the arguments for rejecting cash just build and build.
“When I asked customers what they felt, they told me it would not be an inconvenience, they are used to using a card for everything.”
The change came into affect on Monday, February 19.


text:
MADRID – The tomatoes that supermarket chain Lidl sells in Spain and Europe are largely Andalucian. Almería and Granada are the largest suppliers.
In a press release, Lidl announced that 70% of the tomatoes it sells in its more than 670 Spanish stores come from Andalucia. In addition, the supermarket chain exports 85% of the total volume of tomatoes in the region to about thirty other countries. The most important foreign buyers are Germany, Poland and the UK.
315,000 tons of Andalucian tomatoes purchased
In just four years, Lidl will have purchased more than 315,000 tons of tomatoes of Andalucian origin. The supermarket chain thus strengthens its position as “the most important customer of the Andalucian vegetable garden and the chain store is a leader in trade development with suppliers in the region,” Lidl emphasises.
Depending on the season, Lidl sells different types of tomatoes, including vine tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, Kumato or even organic varieties.


text:
Earlier we reported on rumors that Nikon could be working on releasing a new Coolpix camera which should be announced towards the end of the month. Apart from its 28-200mm f/2.4 lens, not much else is known and it has been speculated that it could be the P7100’s successor, possibly the P7200. However thanks to a recent filing with the Indonesian Communication Agency, a certain Coolpix S800 has been revealed and according to the expected specs, it will be an Android-powered camera with a 25-250mm lens, a 3.5” OLED display at the back, built-in GPS and WiFi and will most likely be running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread as its choice of operating system.
It is also expected to support all Google Play apps. This is certainly does not sound like the “high end” Coolpix camera that was rumored earlier, but it certainly sounds interesting. Using Android as its choice of operating system is not new and has been talked about and done before. The Coolpix S800 is expected to be announced on the 22nd of August, so if this particular camera sounds like something you might be interested in, check back with us then for the details.


text:
“It’s great to see Deliveroo extend its IPO to retail investors and not follow the typical route of restricting the shares to institutional investors like pension funds,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“AJ Bell has been campaigning for fairer access for retail investors at the IPO stage and this is a step in the right direction. However, it looks like interested parties must have ordered at least one item from Deliveroo to be able to register interest for the IPO and they will need to have downloaded the company’s app so it’s not a simple case of access for everyone with no strings attached.
“Someone hungry for Deliveroo shares probably won’t see that as a big a hurdle to jump through. But if there is big demand for the shares then it looks like the food ordering platform is going to give priority to its more regular customers.
“The idea that the more burgers you’ve ordered, the better the chance of getting shares in the IPO won’t go down well with investors who place high regard on ESG (environment, social and governance) issues. However, the mere fact the company is associated with fast food would mean such investors wouldn’t go near it anyway.
“Some people wouldn’t dream of putting money in a company associated with junk food, but there will be others who see a big opportunity. A year of various lockdowns has fuelled demand for companies like Deliveroo and there is an expectation that habits formed during the pandemic will remain long into the recovery.
“All this suggests there is likely to be a bun fight for the £50 million worth of customer shares in Deliveroo at the IPO offer.
“Investors may look past the fact that the company is loss making and operates in a highly competitive market. Instead, they will focus on big growth opportunities and potential for Deliveroo to play a key role in consolidating the market through mergers and acquisitions.
“There is also the fact that some investors will see it as an easy way to make a quick 10% to 20% gain, the level at which shares in newly listed companies often ‘pop’ on the first day of dealings.”


text:
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Today's buy-and-trade earnings previews focus on five buy rated companies in the retail-wholesale sector that report quarterly results premarket Thursday including big box retailer Target (TGT - Get Report), casual apparel seller Buckle (BKE - Get Report) and discounter Dollar Tree (DLTR - Get Report).On Tuesday I wrote Holiday Sales, Housing Recovery Are Key to Recovery and this theme continues as retail earnings becomes a stock market focus. If earnings reports for retailers are not up to par and if housing data weaken, the stock market becomes vulnerable. Such would be further proof that Federal Reserve policy is failing to help Main Street, USA.
Risky Level: Price at which to enter a GTC limit order to sell on strength. Abercrombie ( ANF - Get Report) ($35.18) is expected to report EPS of 44 cents a share and has been trading below its 200-day SMA since Aug. 21 and traded to a 52-week low at $32.41 on Nov. 7. The buy rated retailer of family-oriented apparel has a weekly value level at $32.23 with its 50-day SMA at $35.75 and a monthly risky level at $39.28. BKE - Get Report) ($52.52) is expected to report EPS of 90 cents a share. The stock set a multi-year high at $57.68 on Aug. 5 then broke below its 200-day SMA on Oct. 10 to a second half 2013 low at $46.26 on Oct. 11. The buy rated retailer of mid-priced apparel for young men and women moved back above its 200-day at $50.84 on Nov. 8. My semiannual value level is $50.74 with a semiannual risky level at $56.19. Dollar Tree ( DLTR - Get Report) ($59.31) is expected to report EPS of 60 cents a share. The stock set a multi-year high at $60.19 on Oct. 22 and has been up against this high on Monday. The buy rated discount variety chain has a semiannual value level at $52.56 with a semiannual pivot at $60.61 and quarterly risky level at $61.33. GameStop ( GME - Get Report) ($53.19) is expected to report EPS of 58 cents a share. The stock set a multi-year high at $57.74 on Nov. 14 and then fell to the cusp of its 50-day SMA at $52.88 on Nov. 19. The buy rated retailer of video games and entertainment software has a weekly pivot at $58.18 and monthly risky level at $63.08. TGT - Get Report) ($66.63) set a multi-year high at $73.50 on July 24 then broke below its 200-day SMA on Aug. 21 trading to a second half 2013 low at $62.03 on Oct. 8. The buy rated big box retailer and grocery chain is above its 50-day SMA at $64.49 with the 200-day at $67.42. My annual value level is $65.45 with a monthly risky level at $71.59.
At the time of publication the author held no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. Follow @Suttmeier This article is commentary by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.


text:
Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, nabbed a new record price above $63,250 Tuesday morning as Wall Street gears up for pioneering crypto-exchange Coinbase’s public market debut on Wednesday, but Bank of America is warning an overwhelming majority of fund managers around the world think bitcoin is just a bubble—at least according to its monthly survey.
Though it pared back gains by about 10:45 a.m. Eastern, bitcoin’s price has climbed nearly 4% over the past 24 hours, trading at about $62,970 and lifting gains over the past year to a staggering 780%, according to crypto-data website CoinMarketCap.
After a month-long dry spell, bitcoin’s sudden rise helped push the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies around the world to an all-time high of nearly $2.2 trillion Tuesday morning, as other top tokens like ether, binance coin and Ripple’s XRP jumped 4%, 1% and 23% over the past 24 hours, respectively.
Analysts are pinning the renewed momentum to optimism over Coinbase’s listing on the Nasdaq, which marks another instance of storied financial institutions warming up to the still-nascent industry, while retail traders are hopeful soon-to-be SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, an MIT cryptocurrency professor, could usher in progressive regulatory reform in the space.
Despite the soaring institutional adoption, however, Bank of America released a survey Tuesday morning that shows 74% of fund managers think bitcoin is just a bubble, compared to 16% who think it’s not.
More than three in 10 of the 200 respondents, who collectively oversee $533 billion in assets, said bitcoin was the second-most crowded trade in the market, behind only tech stocks, which soared nearly 100% during the pandemic but have since underperformed broad-market indexes.
“Slowing momentum in bitcoin… is likely a reflection of a growing supply of available investing alternatives for digital assets, rather than concerns over their long-term prospects,” Julian Emanuel, a chief strategist at capital markets firm BTIG, said Monday. “That said, the Wednesday IPO of a prominent crypto exchange will offer another high-profile investment option. How bitcoin reacts in the week ahead will set the tone for weeks to come.”
22% of Americans, including about 35% of Millennials and 30% of Gen Zers, own some form of cryptocurrency, according to a survey released Monday by Magnify Money, a LendingTree subsidiary. “Crypto is very volatile,” LendingTree Chief Economist Tendayi Kapfidze says of the findings. “The risk parameters aren’t well understood. It’s more of a speculative instrument than an investment.”
“The crypto markets are very young and we expect many more companies to compete for the profits Coinbase enjoys today,” says David Trainer, the CEO of investment research firm New Constructs, calling Coinbase’s expected valuation of $100 billion “ridiculously high.” As the cryptocurrency market matures, Trainer expects Coinbase’s transaction margins will “drop precipitously” as competitors cut their fees to increase market share, as happened with online brokerages like Robinhood eating up market share from established brokers like Charles Schwab and Fidelity.
Janet Yellen, Bitcoin And Crypto Fearmongers Get Pushback From Former CIA Director (Forbes)
Bitcoin And Crypto Braced For Near-$100 Billion Coinbase ‘Boom’ As Bitcoin Price Suddenly Soars (Forbes)
Why Is Bitcoin At All-Time Highs? (Forbes)


text:
HDFC Bank stocks fell after brokerage house Bernstein downgraded the bank on exposure to unsecured consumer loans amid a Coronavirus induced slowdown, and on “non-proactive handling of the management succession so far.”
The brokerage lowered the bank’s rating to ‘underperform’ from ‘market-perform’ earlier, and lowered the target price to Rs 750, from Rs 1,400 earlier.
“In the current pandemic driven environment. we believe HDFC Bank carries certain idiosyncratic risks and unique management challenges,” wrote Gautam Chhugani, analyst with Bernstein, adding, the bank’s portfolio is “most exposed to unsecured consumer credit risk versus peer private banks.”
The brokerage noted that 24 per cent of earnings and 36 per cent of HDFC Bank’s earnings growth were contributed by unsecured consumer finance and that unsecured retail credit is 17 per cent of HDFC Bank’s loan book. In comparison, peers ICICI and Axis Banks have 9 per cent of their book in unsecured retail credit. Kotak Mahindra Bank is defensive in its growth in retail unsecured credit and has been highlighting rising risks in unsecured consumer finance for the past two quarters. HDFC Bank’s subsidiary HDB Financial services also could pose challenges as it is focused on weaker informal segments.
The brokerage also said while HDFC Bank has weathered past crisis well and has been a favourite with foreign investors, success plan is a problem area.
“HDFC Bank's impending CEO succession and lack of proactive planning, sets up the bank to lose its sheen with investors who would have preferred less uncertainty. An unsatisfactory outcome of the succession process increases risk of a multiple derating,” the analyst wrote.
The bank’s shares were down 2.90 per cent at Rs 868.85 a piece on the BSE.


text:
Another day, another reason to avoid Chinese stocks. Ray Dalio might be willing to take a stab at companies like Alibaba with other people’s money, but I’m still steering clear. The latest sign that problems remain for this economy came with Alibaba’s earnings report this morning. It was ugly. Very, very ugly.
Shares of Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) are now off more than 37% over the last year, and today’s 11% slump was more of the same. China’s largest e-commerce company has taken a beating after a massive earnings miss and a large cut to its sales forecast.
Now, I speculated on this stock, and I lost money. I’ll be upfront about it. My hunch was that this was going to be a stock that might rebound after people like Ray Dalio and Charlie Munger said that there might be value here. I thought to myself: What if they know something that I don’t?
Well, I paid a lot of money to be correct about the company, and it’s a reminder that I’m bearish on China for the foreseeable future. Alibaba stock took a beating after the Chinese government cracked down on their tech sector in October.
Now, the numbers look weak, even as we approach the nation’s holiday season. The company had projected year-over-year growth of 30%. But today’s report signaled that it would only grow by 20%. I know – that is still solid growth, but this market expects and demands exponential growth for the company. Earnings fell by 32% from 2020. I am steering clear.
I tend to avoid investing abroad because I know the rules of the U.S. markets and I’m not overconfident in my knowledge of what’s happening abroad. But there is one stock that I am willing to buy and hold into perpetuity. As you know, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) remains the heavyweight in the global electric vehicle industry. But people forget that in two years, Tesla will be overtaken by a competitor.
That competitor is Volkswagen (OTC:VWAGY). Volkswagen struggled before the EV craze due to the emissions scandal that ruined its reputation for a few years. But Volkswagen is going to be the world’s largest producer of EV.
While markets are going wacky for Rivien and Sono Group, I look at Volkswagen and believe it to be an incredible value. And the way that I want to take advantage of VW is to own its parent.
Porsche (OTC:POAHY) owns 53% of VW and a variety of other brands. The stock currently trades at 0.64 price-to-tangible book value. That’s right… you could liquidate POAHY tomorrow and the stock would be worth much more – $14.64. I think that you can buy POAHY and not look at it for a few years.


text:
Half a million-fund awarded to North East innovators to help bring lab grown meat to the masses
Three North-East based organisations are set to cement the regions reputation as the UK’s hub of cultivated (lab grown) meat production after winning a grant worth close to half a million pounds from Innovate UK to develop new, more cost-effective technologies in a burgeoning market.
The project is set to use engineered protein materials produced by MarraBio which may come to replace more expensive materials currently being used in larger scale productions for cultivated meat at a significantly reduced cost.
The way the technology works is that MarraBio engineers protein building blocks to contain the biological messages that cells need to grow, divide and behave properly. These blocks then assemble into long, strong chains that provide a good material for the cells to grow on.
These cells can then be grown on an industrial scale to be used for food production.
The three parties say the UK needs to switches some of our current eating habits. Current evidence suggest that traditionally farmed meat contributes up to 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from food production with cultivated meat potentially able to reduce emissions by up to 90 per cent.
There is also increasing demand as consumers are more open than ever to making the switch to cultivated meat. A recent Food Standards Agency Study highlighted 32 per cent of people in the UK being willing to try it, making cheaper food production systems essential.
The project will take place at the recently established Novel Food Innovation Centre in Wilton, Redcar, with an expected completion date of December 2024.
“It’s another step towards establishing the North East as the UK’s hub for greener food production systems,” Fish added. “Food production is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. Ensuring a sustainable food industry that is fit for the future is a challenge we know we must act on now if we are going to reach our ambition of becoming “Net Zero”. It’s fantastic to see the North East stepping up and meeting that challenge head on.”
Dr. Daniel Peters, CEO at MarraBio said: “We are very excited to be working with CPI and Aelius Biotech on this project to help improve our ability to manufacture these materials at high quality and low cost, with the aim of accelerating cultivated meat development. It’s great to be able to establish this new collaboration in the North East and to play a role in helping to reduce the carbon emissions associated with food production.”
Dr. Peter Chater, CEO at Aelius Biotech, said: “Lab grown meat has huge potential as an alternative source of protein in our diets, and it’s great to be working with the teams at Marrabio and CPI on a technology that can help make this a reality.”


text:
- THE MAGAZINE
- INFO FOR...
- ASI Store
- ASI Top 25
- ASI End User
- Classifieds and Services Marketplace
- List Rental
- Market Trends
- Custom Content & Marketing Services
- ASI Readers' Choice Awards
“Dr. Chowdhry has been vital in leading DuPont’s global market-driven technology-based innovations,” said Ed Bernstein, president of IRI.
“Dr. Chowdhry strengthened the connections between R&D, marketing, and manufacturing to ensure rapid development and introduction of new technologies worldwide,” said Thomas Connelly, executive vice president and chief innovation officer for DuPont. “Under her guidance, DuPont introduced the largest number of new products and filed a record number of patents.”
For more information, visit www.dupont.com.


text:
As a shareholder in fashion retailer boohoo (LSE: BOO), I could be tempted to make a sobbing noise myself! The boohoo share price has crashed 60% in the past year.
That is enough to bring some investors to tears. But I try to keep my emotions out of investing decisions. Instead, I aim for a rational, long-term approach to assessing stock market opportunities.
After its steep fall, are boohoo shares now a potential bargain I should consider buying more of for my portfolio?
The boohoo share price chart looks terrible. But it is actually slightly less alarming than that of rival ASOS, which has seen its shares fall 67% in the past year.
The online retail sector is facing big challenges that many investors feel could undermine its long-term profitability. Inflation has driven up costs. A recession threatens to cut consumer spending on non-essential clothing purchases.
Postal strikes and logistics challenges have added to the difficulties of running a profitable online business. Meanwhile, rivals like Shein threaten to undercut existing retailers on price. That could lead to lower profit margins in the sector, affecting boohoo as well as its competitors.
Tomorrow we will learn what impact that has had on boohoo lately, when the company updates the stock market on its trading performance for the final (and important) four months of last year.
The Pretty Little Thing owner’s interim results covered the six month period before then. They were closer to being little than pretty. Revenues were 10% lower than in the same period the year before, adjusted profit before tax crashed 90%, and net cash of almost £100m gave way to net debt of £10m.
Trading remains challenging. I am not very optimistic that tomorrow’s update will detail a significant turnaround in fortunes. The company previously indicated that, if trading conditions remained broadly unchanged, it expected “a similar rate of revenue declines to persist over the remainder of the financial year“.
But a 25% jump in the boohoo share price over the past year suggests that other investors may be expecting more positive news than I am.
Is it a value trap?
If the company expects more of the same, why have the shares been moving up strongly in the past few weeks?
It could be that the boohoo share price is a value trap. It may look cheap relative to historical earnings. But if profit margins continue at the same low level as at the interim stage, the current market capitalisation of over half a billion pounds could actually be more than boohoo merits.
However, I remain upbeat about the outlook for the retailer. It has a proven business model that has been highly profitable until recently. The company is focussing on managing its costs. That could help boost margins even if revenues decline. I expect that, as inflation eases and consumer sentiment improves with the economy, profits will be substantial again.
I therefore see boohoo as a potential bargain for my portfolio. But the company does clearly face risks in the next several years. I already own quite a few shares. So I plan to hold them but will not be buying any more for now.
The post Is the boohoo share price a bargain in plain sight? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.
Before you decide, please take a moment to review this first.
(Even if you weren’t born before 1972.)
Because The Motley Fool’s top UK analysts have revealed: ‘5 Stocks for Trying to Build Wealth After 50’. And you can grab this report, absolutely free.
In our opinion, it’s never too late to build wealth with shares. Indeed, with markets down this may be an ideal time to start.
And while past performance is not an indicator of future results, history has shown that after shares fall by 20%, there’s a 90% chance they’ll be higher within 5 years.
When they do, the average return has been 61%.*
So while there are no guarantees, our analyst team have a habit record of finding such opportunities. In 10 minutes, this free report brings you up to speed.
* Source: Robert Shiller, Economist – Yale University. Figures based on historic US market data from 1871 – Present, with additional calculations by The Motley Fool.
setButtonColorDefaults(“#5FA85D”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43A24A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#ffffff”, ‘color’, ‘#fff’);
C Ruane has positions in Boohoo Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Boohoo Group Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.


text:
Munich-based football metaverse platform The Football Company has roped in €2.5 million in funding to connect football fans with fantasy gaming in the metaverse. The seed round was led by Dreamcraft and saw the participation of DapperLabs, web3 Studios, BLN Capital, angel investors and professional football players such as Joshua Kimmich and Cesc Fàbregas.
The fresh capital will be used to expand into new markets, recruit new employees and set the ground to scale the sports NFT ecosystem.
The startup’s first product, The Football Club (TFC), sells tokens that represent analogue merchandise in the form of a 3D object with which users can equip their avatars. The football metaverse is based on avatars and licensed digital collectibles and competitions. The startup generates revenue by issuing digital collectibles which can be traded on the TFC marketplace. Fans can buy those items, add them to their collection and earn rewards by managing a squad of players in a fast-paced fantasy experience based on real-life sports performances.
The web3 startup was founded in 2020 by two brothers Ante Kristo and Josip Kristo to create authentic and advanced virtual football experiences. The company also secured former Bayern München powerhouses Robert and Niko Kovac as founding investors for their idea.
Ante Kristo, CEO, The Football Company said: “Our goal as football fanatics is to respect the legacy and culture of football while using cutting edge technology.”
Niko Kovač, founding investor, The Football Company added: “The metaverse gives football fans new possibilities to express passion for their club and show their individuality. It will raise the appeal of fantasy football to a whole new level.”
Mikkel Marfelt, investment manager, Dreamcraft Ventures, concluded: “With this investment we are taking NFTs to new heights. You could call it NFT 2.0 really. The power of communities around NFTs are going to be one of the strongest drivers in the space. TFC is positioned to be the core driver of this shift with their key focus on the football fandom culture.”
The Football Company has already dropped four NFT collections with its partners, generating more than €270,000 in revenues in less than four weeks. All drops were sold out in less than 24 hours.


text:
Tru by Hilton adds to Duluth's hotel boom
A trendy new hotel is opening in Duluth next year, testing the limits of a market already awash in new places to stay. Tru by Hilton, billed as "vibrant, affordable and young-at-heart," is now under construction at the corner of Central Entrance ...
A trendy new hotel is opening in Duluth next year, testing the limits of a market already awash in new places to stay.
Tru by Hilton, billed as "vibrant, affordable and young-at-heart," is now under construction at the corner of Central Entrance and Blackman Avenue. The hotel will have 106 rooms over four stories, according to planning documents filed with the city last winter, and a Hilton representative said the franchise is set to open in the fall of 2019, "though opening dates can fluctuate over time."
Hilton launched the Tru brand in 2016 to compete with other midscale offerings such as Comfort Inn. With brightly colored common areas and smaller rooms with lower price-points, the company is targeting "people of all ages that have a common zest for life," spokeswoman Kaity Cash told the News Tribune, "and it is the very first hotel brand to meet the needs of a previously underserved group of travelers, who seek simplicity and value without compromising quality and design."
Duluth has seen a significant hotel-building boom in recent years as tourism - and the price of a night's stay - grows. But so far the visitor base is rising just fast enough to meet the addition of new rooms.
"(Occupancy) has flattened out to be just about even with 2017," said Anna Tanski, CEO of Visit Duluth. "If you consider the inventory going up 10 percent overall, we're fortunate we haven't seen a tremendous sag in occupancy. Having more rooms doesn't necessarily correspond to more visitors."
Not right away, at least. Tanski compared the latest hotel hot streak with the redevelopment of Canal Park in the late '90s. It took a few years for demand to catch up with the supply, and that may again be the case.
"I'd expect we'd be on a similar path to see that trend play itself out again," Tanski said. "But there's a lot more development outside of Duluth," such as the Holiday Inn Express in Hermantown and the Hampton Inn in Superior.
"That kind of compression also has an impact on Duluth," she said.
The increased competition has put pressure on rates recently, benefiting visitors but hitting hotels' bottom lines.
"I believe that most hotels are selling a few more rooms here and there but at lower rates or the same rates as in 2017," said Todd Torvinen, an executive vice president with Duluth-based ZMC Hotels.
Meanwhile, costs continue to rise, especially as hotels also have to compete with each other for employees amid record-low unemployment in the region.
"Net operating income is lower, especially with expense increases occurring across the board for wages, taxes and normal inflation with Fed rate increases," Torvinen said.
Tanski said that while it can be "a challenge to absorb the increased inventory," Visit Duluth will keep trying to fill as many rooms as possible.
"We're trying some new, creative and innovative marketing techniques, and 2019 will bring a lot of firsts for us."
Tourism taxes up in 2018
Duluth's 2018 tourism tax collections continue to trend ahead of last year. In fact, they're up 4.9 percent for the first eight months of this year.
Hotels and motels have demonstrated the greatest strength, leading the way by generating tourism tax collections 6.8 percent higher than last year.
"I believe the increase in tourism taxes is related primarily to new hotels opening and previous new hotels opening in the last several years continuing to ramp and stabilize," said Todd Torvinen, an executive vice president with Duluth-based ZMC Hotels. "It takes three to four years for a new hotel to stabilize or ramp up."
Wayne Parson, chief financial officer for the city of Duluth, noted that two new hotels have appeared on the local scene since 2017 - the Hampton Inn & Suites North near Miller Hill Mall and the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Park Point - increasing the room inventory.
"There has been some concern that we've reached the saturation point, that room rates will go down and that revenues will be flat. But obviously we're still seeing growth," he said.
Anna Tanski, CEO of Visit Duluth, said the recent surge of new rooms has not seen a matching surge in new visitors.
"What we tend to see when we have that increase in inventory, we'll see rates adjust downward a little bit, occupancy will probably also adjust downward - until you build up a larger visitor base," she said. "It's the roller coaster effect."
Torvinen estimates that about 32,000 more room nights were booked in Duluth through August, compared with the same period last year, but that's spread across an expanding field of hotels.
"The pie is getting bigger for city collections, but the pieces are getting smaller for hotels," he said.
Duluth had budgeted for a flat year of tourism tax collections, anticipating no growth from 2017 to 2018.
If the city's hospitality industry continues to match or outpace its performance last year, Duluth's tourism tax fund will finish 2018 with a surplus of more than $370,000. It remains unclear what would become of that windfall.