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Update 04/03 8:10AM: Nacon has responded to Frogwares' allegations that it pirated The Sinking City in order to release it on Steam. In a rebuttal posted on its official website, Nacon says Frogwares' accusations are "unjustified" and that it, and not Frogwares, is the "sole exclusive distributor" of The Sinking City on Steam. Nacon says Frogwares is "sabotaging our investments" in the game, and that it regrets Frogwares "depriving the gaming community of the unique experience" provided by the game by demanding its withdrawal. Original story follows below.
Original story: The Sinking City developer Frogwares has issued a DMCA takedown notice against the game on Steam. This continues a long, bitter legal battle between the developer and publisher Nacon regarding the rights to publish the game.
Why has Frogwares issued a DMCA notice for The Sinking City?
Speaking to Vice Games, Valve said that it received a DMCA notice from Frogwares for "the version [of The Sinking City] that Nacon recently shipped". Valve responded to the notice and removed the game from sale on its distribution platform. At the time of writing, The Sinking City is also unavailable on other digital distribution platforms including GOG and the Epic Games Store. It is, however, still available through EA's Origin service. Searching for the game does yield a Steam page, but clicking that page simply takes you to the Steam storefront.
After a lengthy dispute, The Sinking City was reinstated on Steam earlier this year. However, subsequently, developer Frogwares said it hadn't created the page on Steam and wasn't involved in the game's reappearance on the platform. After that, Frogwares alleged that Nacon - the former (and, technically, current) publisher of The Sinking City - had pirated the game from the developer. Frogwares said it did not "recommend the purchase of this version".
What is Nacon's response to Frogwares' allegations?
For its part, Nacon says it has already paid "more than 10 million euros" to Frogwares for the rights to publish The Sinking City. The company accuses Frogwares of "[playing] the victim" and says it wants the developer to "respect its commitments", in respect to the contract between the two companies and in respect to court judgments. The company hasn't specifically responded to Frogwares' allegations that it pirated The Sinking City, replaced some of the content in the game, and "illegally uploaded" it to Steam.
We'll bring you more on this situation as it develops. Given the acrimony between the two companies, don't expect this one to be resolved - or The Sinking City to reappear on Steam - anytime soon. The game is also available on last-generation consoles provided by Nacon, while Frogwares published a PlayStation 5 exclusive version of The Sinking City without Nacon's involvement.
What do you think about this ongoing Frogwares-Nacon dispute? Let us know in the comments below!


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One of San Diego’s largest craft brewers said Thursday that the company plans to move into a larger building and hire two dozen more employees.
AleSmith Brewing Co. signed an 11-year, $9.7 million lease for a nearly 106,000-square-foot building on Empire Street in the Miramar area. The firm plans to renovate the structure and move in January.
About 25 positions are expected to be filled in production, sales and management, according to the brewer.
Craft brewing has become an important and popular niche segment of San Diego’s economy. The 85 breweries and brew pubs in the county had total sales of more than $781 million last year, according to Vince Vasquez, senior police analyst of the National University System Institute for Policy Research.
He said the number of brewery jobs increased 40 percent last year to nearly 2,300, mainly at the biggest beer-makers.
“Certainly, AleSmith is one of the largest brewers in San Diego County,” Vasquez said.
AleSmith, founded in 1995, is known for producing British and Belgian-style beers that are strong on alcohol content and hops.
AleSmith is now housed in a 20,000-square-foot building on Cabot Drive, also in Miramar.
“After many years of hard work, I am very excited to guide AleSmith into the future with a facility that will allow our beer to reach more people and maintain our status as one of the world’s great breweries,” said Peter Zien, the brewery’s owner. “AleSmith is an artisan brewery where quality, respect for the brewers’ art and customer service are paramount. We look forward to bringing the AleSmith passion, soul and commitment to excellence to our new location.”
Improvements planned for the new AleSmith building include an improved brew house, cellar and bottling line from Krone’s, a leading German packaging and bottling manufacturer. The company expects to increase capacity from the 15,000 barrels projected this year to 25,000 barrels in 2015.
Zien said he wants capacity to get up to 150,000 barrels in a few years.
– City News Service

domain: news


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VC funding in UK tech sector approaches $10bn since 2010
London’s booming Fintech sector continues to gasoline funding
The UK’s know-how sector is constant to draw document ranges of enterprise capital funding, with corporations elevating greater than $three.6 billion in 2015, in accordance with figures compiled by London & Companions, the Mayor of London’s promotional firm1.
The funding represents a rise of over 70 per cent on the report quantity raised in 2014 ($2.1 billion). London-based tech corporations raised a report $2.28 billion through the interval, representing a 69 per cent improve on the $1.three billion raised in 2014.
Evaluation of VC funding by London & Companions exhibits that since 2010 UK know-how corporations have collectively raised virtually $10 billion ($9.7bn) with London-based companies accounting for greater than half of the whole ($5.2 billion). Throughout 2015 the funding secured by London-based tech companies accounted for 63 per cent of complete VC funding raised by UK tech companies.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson MP stated: “The Mayor of London Boris Johnson MP stated: “With a flourishing tech scene and one of many world’s main monetary centres, it’s no shock to see that London’s tech corporations are attracting report ranges of funding. Our world-class expertise pool and our tradition of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit are serving to the sector to develop from power to power. We will anticipate the capital’s tech sector to proceed to generate jobs and progress for the town’s financial system for a few years to return.”
Eileen Burbidge, Companion at Ardour Capital and Mayor of London tech ambassador stated: “As we speak’s document funding figures supply additional proof that the UK’s tech sector continues to mature. Buyers are more and more attracted by the range of London’s tech ecosystem but in addition our strengths in sure sectors reminiscent of FinTech. With extra funding coming in from abroad and larger entry to London-based progress funds, there has arguably by no means been a larger time to start out and develop a digital enterprise in London.”
London’s booming monetary know-how (‘FinTech’) sector has additionally continued to safe document funding throughout 2015. The sector accounted for nearly 1 / 4 of all funding raised by London-based tech corporations. A few of the largest FinTech offers this yr embrace TransferWise ($58m) and WorldRemit ($100m).
In April 2015, London-based peer-to-peer lending firm, Funding Circle secured the most important single deal of the yr with a $150m funding spherical led by DST International. James Meekings, co-founder and UK Managing Director Funding Circle stated: “Small companies are the lifeblood of the financial system and we’re enthusiastic about serving to them to entry finance by connecting them immediately with buyers. The cash we raised, from a few of the world’s main buyers, permits us to proceed to extend the variety of small companies that may borrow via Funding Circle, each within the UK and the world over. We need to grow to be the primary selection for small enterprise lending.”
Final yr was additionally a robust one for the UK’s ecommerce sector, with quite a few corporations that includes within the prime ten offers together with: FarFetch ($86m), MADE.com ($60m) and Secret Escapes ($60m).
The web takeaway start-up Deliveroo had a profitable yr securing a complete of $195m in three separate funding rounds. William Shu, co-founder and CEO of Deliveroo, stated: “We’re proud to be a London-based firm. Not solely is the town nice for buyers and tech expertise, nevertheless it’s been a perfect launch pad for our international enterprise.”
Funding into London’s know-how sector has been boosted by a rising variety of enterprise capital homes selecting to setup funds and operations in London. In October 2015 Octopus Ventures introduced a $140m London based mostly fund, becoming a member of the likes of Ardour Capital, Index Ventures and Hoxton Ventures who have already got a presence in London and have chosen the capital as a strategic base to spend money on European know-how start-ups.
Separate analysis from London & Companions (see Appendix three) discovered robust backing for London tech corporations from native buyers with 50 per cent of all VC offers originating from buyers based mostly within the UK. Nevertheless, London tech corporations are additionally engaging US buyers, with virtually one third (29%) of all offers into London-based tech companies originating from US enterprise capital buyers.
Gordon Innes, CEO of London & Companions added: “With London companies receiving over 60 per cent of all of the funding into the UK’s tech sector, it’s clear that buyers consider that London provides a terrific return on funding. In addition to a few of Europe’s most enjoyable start-ups, the capital now homes companies of real scale. These corporations are flourishing as they’re able to profit from the town’s quick access to expertise and worldwide markets. This makes London one of many world’s most engaging tech hubs for entrepreneurs and buyers alike.”
In 2015, Index Ventures was probably the most lively investor into London tech corporations, collaborating in 12 offers value as much as $345.55. Index’s excessive profile investments in 2015 embrace Deliveroo, Secret Escapes and Onefinestay. The highest 5 funding homes in London tech corporations for 2015 additionally embrace: Accel Companions, Balderton Capital, 83North and Hoxton Ventures.


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In 2020, global imports of fresh, chilled, or frozen chicken totaled 21.4 billion dollars.
Imported frozen poultry meat accounted for 15.9 billion dollars which is 74.3 percent of the total.
In comparison, worldwide spending on fresh or chilled chicken imports accounts for 5.5 billion dollars which accounts for 25.7 percent.
Since 2016, when frozen chicken meat shipments were valued at 14.4 billion dollars, the value of frozen chicken imports has climbed by an average of 11 percent.
Imported frozen poultry lost minus 2.6 percent in value from 2019 to 2021.
Imports of fresh or chilled chicken have slowed by minus 6.8 percent since 2016, and their value has declined by minus 7.6 percent year over year.
Asia purchased 63.5 percent of frozen chicken imports but only 6.6 percent of fresh or chilled chicken on a continental level.
Importers in Europe, on the other hand, purchased 80 percent of all imported fresh or chilled chicken and only 16.9 percent of frozen chicken.
Fresh or chilled chicken accounted for 12.8 percent of the global subtotal, while frozen poultry meat accounted for 2.8 percent.
Importers from Africa accounted for 9.5 percent of foreign frozen chicken purchases, compared to 0.4 percent for fresh or chilled poultry.
Oceania, led by Australia, is the smallest continent for importing chicken, with 0.7 percent for frozen items and a meager 0.04 percent for fresh or chilled chickens.
Top Fresh Chicken Importing Countries
The 15 buyer countries with the largest dollar value of fresh or chilled chicken imports in 2021, including whole chicken and cut parts, are shown in this video. Keep watching.
Germany: 815 million dollars accounting for 14.8 percent of fresh or chilled chicken imported
683.6 million dollars in France accounts for 12.4 percent
The United Kingdom with 673.5 million dollars stands at 12.2 percent
523.6 million dollars in the Netherlands account for 9.5 percent
460.7 million dollars in Mexico stands at 8.3 percent
Belgium with 292.6 million dollars equates 5.3 percent
207.4 million dollars in Hong Kong accounts for 3.8 percent. Same with China
191.4 million dollars in Canada stands at 3.5 percent
143.8 million dollars in Slovakia stands at 2.6 percent
143.7 million dollars from the Russian Federation equates 2.6 percent
132 million dollars with Ireland accounting for 2.4 percent
127 million dollars from the Czech Republic account for 2.3 percent
104.9 million dollars in Austria is equivalent to 1.9 percent
72.3 million dollars for Hungary stands at 1.3 percent
71.9 million dollars in Switzerland account for 1.3 percent
Slovakia went up by 182.7 percent, Hungary was up by 139 percent, Belgium came up by 46.1 percent, and Hong Kong was the fastest-growing importer of fresh or chilled chicken since 2016 coming up by 37 percent.
Canada was down by minus 36.3 percent, Ireland came down by minus 33.8 percent, and the United Kingdom which was down by minus 33.8 percent all saw decreases in their imported fresh or chilled chicken sales.
In 2021, the 15 nations earlier mentioned exported 84.1 percent of all fresh or chilled chicken imported by value.
Top Frozen Chicken Importing Countries
The 15 nations with the largest dollar value of frozen chicken imports in 2020 are shown here
China: 3.4 billion dollars accounting for 21.6 percent of imported frozen chicken
Saudi Arabia with 1.11 billion dollars accounts for 7.0 percent
1.1 billion dollars in Japan which is equivalent to 6.9 percent
658.4 million dollars in Hong Kong stands at 4.1 percent
534.6 million dollars in the United Arab Emirates is equivalent to 3.4 percent
463.7 million dollars for Iraq stands at 2.9 percent
456.7 million pounds from the United Kingdom accounts for 2.9 percent
300.1 million dollars in the Netherlands account for 1.9 percent
France with 296.6 million dollars accounts for 1.9 percent
Germany with 292.8 million dollars stands at 1.8 percent
283 million dollars in Vietnam stands at 1.8 percent
281.9 million dollars in South Africa accounts for 1.8 percent
271.6 million dollars in Singapore accounts for 1.7 percent
253.4 million dollars to Cuba accounts for 1.6 percent
235.8 million dollars to Ghana is equivalent to 1.5 percent
China was up by 180.4 percent, Vietnam came up by 171.1 percent, Ghana up by 131.3 percent, and the Netherlands was the fastest-growing importer of frozen chicken during 2016 coming up by 11.7 percent.
Hong Kong came down by minus 40.7 percent, Saudi Arabia was down by minus 21.3 percent, the United Arab Emirates came down by minus 19.7 percent, and South Africa was among the nations that saw decreases in imported frozen chicken imports coming down by minus 17.5 percent.
In 2021, the 15 nations previously mentioned exported 62.6 percent of all frozen chicken imports in terms of value.
Chicken Exports by Country
Fresh chicken shipments accounted for 6.2 billion dollars in global sales in 2021, while exported frozen chicken accounted for 15.5 billion dollars in international sales.
Since 2016, when fresh chicken meat shipments were valued at 5.5 billion dollars, the value of fresh chicken exports by country has climbed by an average of 12.7 percent.
Over the same five-year period, total frozen chicken meat shipments increased by 5.3 percent.
The top five fresh chicken exporters which are the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, the United States, and Germany accounted for slightly over two-thirds of the global total which is 67.5 percent.
Exports of frozen poultry are more concentrated, with the top five shippers accounting for 71.6 percent of global exports namely: Brazil, the United States, Netherlands, Thailand, and Poland.
Top Fresh Chicken Exporting Countries
The 15 nations with the largest dollar value of fresh or chilled chicken exported in 2021, including both cut and uncut fresh meat, are shown here.
The Netherlands with a GDP of 1.4 billion dollars accounts for 22.8 percent of total fresh poultry exports
1.2 billion dollars for Poland stands at 19 percent
Belgium with 636.3 million dollars accounts for 10.2 percent
581.2 million dollars in the United States is equivalent to 9.3 percent
383.1 million dollars in Germany is 6.1 percent
257.7 million dollars in China equates 4.1 percent
188.6 million dollars in France translates to 3 percent
164.9 million dollars in Austria accounts for 2.6 percent
153.1 million dollars in Italy is 2.5 percent
Belarus with 141.2 million dollars accounts for 2.3 percent
The United Kingdom with 125.2 million dollars stands at 2 percent
123.8 million dollars in Hungary accounts for 2 percent
123.2 million dollars in Spain is 2 percent
Saudi Arabia with 100.8 million dollars accounts for 1.6 percent
87.3 million dollars in Romania stands at 1.4 percent
In terms of value, the nations previously listed generated 91 percent of all fresh chicken shipped in 2021.
Poland was up by 65.3 percent, Austria came up by 54.7 percent, the United Kingdom went up by 46.3 percent, and China was the fastest-growing fresh poultry export since 2016 up by 36.8 percent.
The United States came down by minus 14.8 percent, Germany was down by minus 14.5 percent, Belarus came down by minus 6.8 percent, and Belgium which was down by minus 6.8 percent also saw declines in their exports of fresh poultry
Top Frozen Chicken Exporting Countries
Leaders in the export of fresh chicken flesh:
The United States and the Netherlands are also among the top frozen chicken exporters.
However, they lag significantly behind Brazil in terms of frozen poultry sales worldwide.
The 15 nations with the largest dollar value of frozen chicken exports in 2021 are discussed here. continue watching …
Brazil: 5.5 billion dollars accounts for 35.4 percent of total frozen poultry
2.8 billion dollars in the United States accounts for 18.2 percent
1.1 billion dollars in the Netherlands account for 7.2 percent
Thailand with 882.5 million dollars is 5.7 percent
796 million dollars in Poland stands at 5.1 percent
Turkey with a budget of 521.8 million dollars stands at3.4 percent
478.8 million dollars for Ukraine stands at 3.1 percent
392.9 million dollars in Russia is 2.5 percent
307.9 million dollars from Chile stands at 2 percent
303.4 million dollars in Argentina accounts for 2 percent
236.5 million dollars in France is 1.5 percent
216.9 million dollars in the United Kingdom stands at 1.4 percent
181.4 million dollars in China accounts for 1.2 percent
179.2 million dollars in Belgium stands at 1.2 percent
154.9 million dollars in Germany is 1 percent
Belarus with 144 million dollars stands at 0.9 percent
In terms of value, the 15 countries previously mentioned transported 91.7 percent of all frozen chicken meat exported in 2021.
Russia was up by 310.5 percent, Belarus came up by 157.2 percent, Ukraine was up by 82.1 percent, and Thailand was the fastest-growing frozen poultry export since 2016 up by 79.6 percent.
France came down by minus 30.5 percent, Germany was down by minus 23.3 percent, China went down by minus 21.6 percent, and Brazil was the country with the lowest export freezing poultry sales down by minus 7.8 percent.


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Villagers of Bellikoppa in Sagar taluk have resorted to a unique protest demanding the closure of Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL) liquor outlet in the village. Parents have told the school teachers that they would not send their daughters to attend the classes till the liquor outlet is closed down.
"But our parents would be highly disappointed. So, we would skip the classes till the shop is closed. Our safety is as important as education."
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Although yes, it’s technically June and we don’t need to start thinking about wrapping up the year yet, The NPD Group, Inc. conducted a study revealing the lip color sales from the beginning half of 2011. From January to April sales in lip color jumped 11 percent (which equals an increase of $92.1 million) compared to the same period in 2010.
The same report also told the names of the top five best-selling lipsticks from that time period, determined by the amount of dollars sold. So, with no delay, the top five are:
- MAC Lipstick, $14.50
- Lancome L’Absolu Rouge, $29
- Clinique’s Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick, $14.50
- Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick, $24
- Chanel Rouge Coco Shine, $32
Karen Grant, vice president and senior global analyst for The NPD Group said in a release, “Coming out of the recession, it seems that the consumers thirst for color and play was reawakened. In 2010, we saw the preference for rich as well as retro colors and in 2011 we are seeing new neutrals come to the fore. As the fashion industry increasingly features bold as well as understated lip statements on the runway and in advertisements, lip color appears to be getting its groove back.”
Which of the above five do you own? Which is your fave?
[via Fashion etc.]


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Huobi’s most recent industry report delves into the most commonly discussed crypto-related terms, countries with high industry activity levels, regulations, and more. Over the past year, the crypto and larger Web3 industries have experienced a rollercoaster of loss, growth, and innovation.
Trends and data from nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and the metaverse to centralized exchange (CEX) usage and regulations were taken from the industry for Huobi’s most recent industry report, Global Crypto Industry Overview and Trends. Despite the upheaval caused by major events such as the FTX collapse, Terra’s implosion, and 3AC’s bankruptcy, the industry still had approximately 320M crypto users worldwide in the previous year.
The market capitalization of all crypto assets decreased by more than $2.2T even though the total investment and financing in the “primary market” exceeded $27.7B. The report looked at five of the most popular Web3 search terms, including “cryptocurrency,” “DeFi,” “GameFi,” “NFT,” and “BTC.” Searches for NFTs were the most popular worldwide.
However, a sizable portion of traffic to CEXs came from a few particular nations. Nearly 10% of all CEX traffic came from the United States, which was followed by South Korea (7.4%), Russia (6.1%), Turkey (5.6%), and Japan (3.8%).
The United States also ranked first in terms of crypto market development maturity.
This was based on four key indicators: the percentage of crypto users, the share of CEX volume, the share of DeFi volume, and the internet population index. GameFi and the metaverse have both experienced significant gains in the past year.
According to reports, there is a lot of interest and investment in these two industries. Many prominent industry figures, including Animoca Brands CEO Yat Siu, have stated that GameFi will serve as the metaverse’s entry point.
According to Huobi’s report, GameFi and Metaverse outnumbered investments in categories such as tooling, trading, and lending for the second year in a row. Capital investment in these two categories has risen from $874M in 2021 to $2.41B in 2022. Finally, it is impossible to discuss 2022 without mentioning the slew of regulations aimed at the crypto industry in the last year.
Since the beginning of the year, over 42 sovereign countries have issued 105 “regulatory measures and guidance” for the crypto industry, according to the report.
According to the research, the most concentrated and intensive regulations are those from the United States, the European Union, and South Korea.
With 22 federal and state regulatory statutes covering everything from crypto transactions and regulatory guidance to court rulings and stablecoins, the United States has assumed the lead in regulating cryptos.


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The Fed’s move came as it slashed the U.S. base rate by three-quarters of a point to an unprecedented 0.25 per cent.
Wall Street jumped 359.61 points to 8924.14 as traders welcomed the unexpectedly sharp cut and the possibility rates could fall further. The Fed’s Open Market committee said it was committed to stabilising interest rates within a “target range” of 0 per cent to 0.25 per cent for an unspecified length of time, and would use “all available tools” to kickstart economic growth.
As well as keeping interest rates at unprecedented low levels, the Fed is effectively looking at injecting hundreds of billions of dollars into the economy by buying back long-term treasury bonds. This follows moves already announced to buy up bad mortgage debt and to boost lending to households and small businesses.
The Fed’s drastic measures were sparked by signs the economy had weakened since November.
“Since the Committee’s last meeting, labour market conditions have deteriorated, and the data indicate that consumer spending, business investment and industrial production have declined,” the Fed said.
Figures published yesterday showed consumer prices suffering their biggest ever monthly fall in November and house builders breaking ground on the fewest number of new homes in nearly 50 years. The Fed’s move will increase pressure on the Bank of England to cut rates further at its next meeting in January. Its Monetary Policy Committee cut rates by one point to 2 per cent this month.
The U.S. Labor Department yesterday said the cost of living had dropped by a bigger-than-expected 1.7 per cent last month, with the number of new houses started tumbling by nearly 19 per cent, sparking fears the broader economy was also falling at a quicker rate than had been anticipated.
Economists said the falling prices for goods and services could create havoc if left unchecked, sparking a spiral of deflation that would prevent recovery from the recession by hitting household income, corporate profits and house values. The dismal figures justified the Fed’s decision to cut rates so sharply.


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The musings, adventures and reflections of a born again gearhead in the auto mecca of Palm Springs, CA
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Lincoln Makes Huge Announcement, is Immediately Overshadowed by a Jim Carrey Spoof
Lincoln made the news twice last week, which is pretty darn good for them, except that they were only planning on it once. Their big news came from newly appointed Chief Executive Mark Fields, who announced a much needed multi-billion dollar product investment in Lincoln which will include a new platform (to be shared with Ford, natch) for front, all, and- drum roll- rear wheel drive products.
It's welcome news indeed that any follower of the brand will be excited about- we've been screaming "Go Big or Go Home" for several years now to Mulally's tone-deaf ears and lamented his showrooms full of rebadged Fords, and now it looks like Mr. Fields and Mr. Ford have decided to go big.
But timing is a funny thing, as a couple days later, Jim Carrey lampooned Lincoln's hideously annoying ad campaign with a not-to-be-missed SNL spoof. Carrey did a dead-on impersonation of Magic Mike Star (and inexplicably, Lincoln spokesperson) Matthew Mc Conaughey. Carrey's blank stares and biting dialogue- "But you don't buy a Lincoln because it makes sense- you do it because you love it- or you're an Uber driver" laid waste to the tepid and tedious ad campaign and made millions of tongues wag for Lincoln. Perhaps the fine folk at Ford should include Mr, Carrey as part of the revitalization. Catch it below:


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The use of nanotechnology has exploded over the past few decades, with more and more manufacturers including nanoparticles (microscopic particles that are bigger than an atom but smaller than what the human eye can see) in clothing, food, and various other consumer products to improve texture, kill microbes, or enhance shelf life.
Now a Greenville-based startup is ramping up operations to manufacture a nanoparticle-based drug delivery system that’s capable of treating infectious diseases, accelerating wound healing, and correcting vascular dysfunction.
“Many therapeutic compounds begin to lose their healing properties as soon as they touch the skin,” said Scott Pancoast, CEO and founder of Zylö Therapeutics.
Using a patented process, Zylö Therapeutics combines therapeutic compounds (nitric oxide, curcumin, etc.) with hydrogel-based nanoparticles and transforms them into an ointment, gel, or cream.
The drug-carrying nanoparticles gradually lodge under the skin when applied, resulting in a 24-hour release of the selected compound that increases efficiency and reduces negative side effects.
Pancoast said the nanoparticle-based drug delivery system is the brainchild of Dr. Joel Friedman, a professor of physiology and biophysics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Dr. Adam Friedman, an associate professor of dermatology at George Washington University.
In 2006, the father-and-son duo set out to create a sustainable delivery method for nitric oxide. The colorless gas, which is naturally produced by the human body, has been found to increase blood flow and improve circulation, which means more oxygen and vital nutrients being distributed to muscles, organs, and tissues. But nitric oxide is only active for a few seconds due to its small size, extremely short half-life, and instability.
After years of research, the duo created a biodegradable hydrogel containing silane composite nanoparticles that release nitric oxide over time. A reaction between sodium nitrite and a sugar generates nitric oxide during the manufacturing process. The concentration of nitric oxide released and the time required are controlled by altering the amount and molecular weight of other ingredients.
“While we have known for decades that nitric oxide has tremendous potential in so many areas of medicine, its use has been limited due to the lack of effective delivery systems,” Adam Friedman said. “Here we used a well-studied nanoparticle that can actually make nitric oxide, not just release it, and deliver therapeutic levels over time to attack these deep and difficult to reach infections.”
Pancoast said the company’s nanoparticles, also known as Nanopods, are capable of delivering nitric oxide into the skin to help accelerate wound healing, treat bacterial infections, and reduce inflammation caused by dermatological conditions like eczema and acne.
A recent study published by Friedman and several other researchers in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology shows that the release of nitric oxide using nanoparticles actually kills bacteria associated with acne. The nanoparticles also inhibit the inflammation that causes the large, painful pimples associated with inflammatory acne.
Zylö Therapeutics also plans to use its system to deliver curcumin, a chemical compound with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In a series of laboratory tests with mice, Friedman and other researchers found that the release of curcumin can reduce bacteria in MRSA-infected burn wounds and stop the progression of osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis that affects 3 million Americans each year.
“While so much is known about curcumin’s therapeutic potential, there have been numerous limitations with respect to clinical translation resulting from its poor solubility, instability at physiology pH, and unsightly yellow-orange color,” Friedman said. “Nanotechnology can and has overcome many of these impediments. At the nanoscale, the likelihood of curcumin interfacing with its intended target is much greater.”
Other therapeutic compounds that can be incorporated into the Nanopod system include cannabinoids, lidocaine, allicin, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, melanin, antioxidants, and amphotericin B.
Zylö Therapeutics, which is headquartered at the Next on Main facility in downtown, plans to outsource production to a contract manufacturing organization and sublicense its system to private pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical companies, according to Pancoast. “Our goal is to get 15 to 20 partnerships within the first three years of operation,” he said.
The company is also looking to open a formulation and product development laboratory at the Clemson University Biomedical Engineering Innovation Center or Greenville Hospital System Institute for Translational Oncology Research, according to Pancoast.
Zylö Therapeutics has already secured $1.3 million from investors and plans to release a cosmeceutical product by the end of 2019. The company is now looking to raise another $4.7 million for marketing efforts, clinical trials, and other costs.
If successful, Zylö Therapeutics could benefit from a booming market. According to BCC Research, the global market for nanoparticles in the life sciences is forecast to grow to more than $79.8 billion in 2019, with the biggest increase likely to be seen in the area of drug delivery systems.
Pancoast said the Nanopod system is currently being tested on animal models in hopes that it can be moved to human clinical trials in the near future. Zylö Therapeutics is also working to develop a paramagnetic nanoparticle that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier to kill a tumor.
“Doctors will be able to guide the Nanopods to any part of the body with a projected magnetic field,” he said. “It will be a big step for targeted therapy.”
For more information, visit zylotherapeutics.com.


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Three weeks after the end of the transition period following the UK’s departure from the EU and its customs union after 47 years, hauliers are already bearing the costs of the new post-Brexit border rules.
With the UK now outside the EU’s single market and customs union, truck queues, delays and supply chain disruptions are multiplying, which is a concern for transport operators, shippers and businesses on both sides of the English Channel.
Customs under pressure
During the first days of 2021, traffic leaving Great Britain to travel to the EU and from France to the UK was quieter than usual, with an average of 2,500 trucks a day leaving the port of Dover, a drop of 60%. Many companies took the decision to stock up before the end of the transition period, but more and more hauliers are now returning to the roads with dire consequences.
Eight-hour queues have been seen at the Waterbrook Park estate in Dover as drivers wait for border paperwork to be approved by UK authorities. Waiting times are increasing as traffic is picking up and approval for access to port areas is often delayed due to a lack of staff and flaws in the documentation and information being presented.


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Target has announced plans to power 100 percent of its U.S. operations with renewable energy by 2030. The commitment applies to stores, distribution centers and offices.
The first milestone the company has set is to generate 60 percent of its energy through renewable sources by 2025. To do so, Target is investing in solar and wind projects around the country. The retailer estimates it currently uses roughly 22 percent renewable energy.
Expanding renewable fleet
Most recently, the company signed power purchase agreements with Leeward Renewable Energy for the 80-megawatt Lone Tree Wind Project in Illinois—a project slated for completion in 2020—and with Engie for Sand Fork Solar in Texas, a facility with total capacity of 200 megawatts, 89MW of which will be provided to Target upon completion in 2021. Combined, these two developments are estimated to generate approximately 556,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy, which is enough to power 280 Target stores annually.
SEIA’s Solar Means Business 2017—a report that observed corporate customers that pledged to transition to 100 percent renewable energy—had Target on the top spot in its rankings based on installed capacity. Since then, the company has made additional upgrades to its facilities, including the installation of rooftop solar panels at 500 of its locations by 2020 and the addition of electric vehicle charging stations at more than 100 sites across more than 20 states. Furthermore, the company has added LED lights across nearly all its fleet of stores—more than 1,800 stores—which has reduced energy usage by 10 percent.


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Midland Texas Pizza Slices up Controversy
How does a stand-up comedian make some extra cash in between gigs? He runs a pizza truck and creates a pizza that's funny...allegedly.
KWES is reporting that Rob Jenkins, stand-up comedian, has created a pizza that some find offensive.
It's half Mexican taco and half chicken and Cheetos. (Because of Trumps skin tone. Which is really funny). The issue is the white bread stick wall that separates the two sides.
Jenkins claims it wasn't meant to offend anyone.
"It wasn't offensive in my opinion. I checked with a lot of people before we did it. It doesn't really bother me to offend somebody, 'cause to be honest, they probably weren't a customer of mine to begin with."


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Blog results - found 154
New research from the OECD and EUIPO reveals that growth in free trade zones where economic activity is driven by reduced customs controls, light regulation and limited oversight is, in turn, fostering growth in counterfeit goods trafficking.
The status of geographical indications after the UK leaves the European Union next year has become a hot button issue over the past few days. At least one British newspaper has covered the topic on its front-page, with speculation that lobbyists from the United States are pushing for the UK to drop GI protection to allow the importation of “American copies” of products including Cornish pasties, Scotch Whisky and Melton Mowbray pork pies a scenario one expert tells us is not unrealistic.
Canada’s 2018 budget plan has unveiled the first aspects of the country’s national IP strategy. Although the importance of IP is much-vaunted throughout the policy statement, which also sets aside funds for a number of concrete IP initiatives, brand rights take a backseat in the highly patent-focused IP strategy announcements.
The Confederation of All India Traders has stepped up pressure on the Indian government to pass a new Consumer Protection Bill which contains provisions designed to hold brand ambassadors liable for misleading endorsements. While there have been fears that the move could significantly impact brand and marketing strategies in the country, close reading of the bill suggests that the clampdown may not be as severe as it appears at first sight. In fact, responsible brands and celebrities could both benefit.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has released a major new policy study in which it identifies how governments and customs authorities can step up the fight against illicit goods. A particular focus is how to overcome the policing challenge posed by the increased use of small parcel mailings a spotlight that will be welcomed by trademark professionals. Attention will now turn to whether meaningful action results.
US government report finds staggering ratio of fakes on major e-commerce sites: calls for agencies to step up
A new report published by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that US agencies could be doing significantly more to tackle the growing threat of counterfeit goods. In doing so, the GAO revealed the staggering ratio between authentic and fake goods on e-commerce sites.
With the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) becoming enforceable on May 25 2018, all eyes are on its potential impact on rights holders’ access to accurate and reliable WHOIS data. One industry expert warns of the “absurd” policies that could result from incorrect analysis of the regulations adding that cybercriminals “anywhere in the world” could soon become the biggest fans of GDPR.
Singapore opens plain packaging consultation; hits out at “misleading” use of branding by tobacco companies
Singapore’s Ministry of Health has opened a public consultation on proposals to introduce standardised packaging of tobacco products alongside enlarged graphic health warnings. The document firmly dismisses legal and trade-related arguments against plain packaging, and should be of concern to rights holders seeking to prevent the expansion of brand restrictions.
British prime minister Theresa May has fired a warning shot to China’s government over the need to respect the rules of international trade especially in regards to counterfeit goods. In a message published on the day she begins an official visit to China, May writes that the two countries must work together so UK businesses can be “confident that their intellectual property and rights will be fully protected”.
IP firm announces Dublin office due to “uncertainty of Brexit” as negotiations on intellectual property begin
A UK-based IP law firm has announced it has chosen to open a new office in Dublin rather than London due to “the uncertainty of Brexit”. The move comes on the same day that it was revealed Brexit talks about IP have started, with one trademark attorney telling World Trademark Review that it still seems “very unlikely” the UK will be covered by the EU’s trademark registration system beyond the transitional period.
A week-long spat between Alibaba and the Office of the US Trade Representative has turned into a full-blown diplomatic issue after the Chinese government publicly questioned the credibility of the Notorious Markets List. China’s Ministry of Commerce has also claimed that the report lacks “solid evidence” to include the nine Chinese marketplaces accused of engaging in rampant IP infringement a move that appears to call into question the accounts of brand owners tackling fake goods in China.
Bodies representing IP solicitors, barristers and chartered trademark and patent attorneys have teamed up to urge the UK government to address key IP concerns related to Brexit urgently. While limiting its list to five key areas of concern, the document warns that a multi-year transitional period will likely be required to reach a suitable solution.
Just days after California started legally selling recreational marijuana, the Trump administration has signalled a U-turn on the federal marijuana enforcement policy, bringing it into conflict with a number of states. Experts tell World Trademark Review that the move also creates further uncertainty about the prospects for brands in the sector.
New research has examined how religious signs are increasingly used in trade, and revealed how misappropriation by nefarious sellers can be harmful to the identity and preservation of religious cultures. To that end, the study’s author tells World Trademark Review that governments “should do more” to protect religious signs and that religious organisations must engage in commercial activities in order to fight back against misappropriation.
A warning to prepare for ‘no deal’: EUIPO issues Brexit notice as negotiations move to next stage (updated)
The UK government and the European Commission have announced that an agreement has been struck to move the Brexit negotiations on to trade discussions. The move, heralded as “hard won” after months of uncertainty, comes in a week when the EU Intellectual Property Office issued a notice clarifying the result of a ‘no deal’ scenario a move that one expert says should be seen as a “warning”.
The Chartered Institute of Trademark Attorneys has published a new report which identifies the impact that Brexit could have on UK businesses and the legal profession in relation to IP rights. It also makes the business case for the importance of UK trademark attorneys to retain the right to represent clients before the EU Intellectual Property Office.
“We need to be a true not-for-profit”: INTA to expand corporate social responsibility as CEO gets political
The International Trademark Association (INTA) has vowed to expand its corporate social responsibility activities and better communicate examples of its ethical conduct to address members' misconceptions. The announcement came at the launch of INTA’s latest conference in Berlin, with CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo highlighting the need for corporations and the association itself to adapt to the global backdrop of climate change, a major water crisis and large-scale population displacement.
European Commission unveils plans for IP Market Watch List, a major new tool in the fight against fakes
The European Commission has presented a series of measures designed to ensure that IP rights are better protected, in a bid to spur innovation and creativity in EU-based companies. The package of initiatives includes plans for a watch list similar to the Office of the US Trade Representative's Notorious Markets List, providing brand owners with a new tool for pressuring physical and online actors to do more to fight the trade in counterfeits around the world.
The International Trademark Association (INTA) has published a Brexit position paper, making a series of recommendations to negotiators on the treatment of intellectual property. INTA has also revealed that it is working directly with the negotiating parties and the UK Intellectual Property Office to ensure that IP and brand-related issues are properly addressed.
As the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers community grapples with the potential threat of the upcoming General Data Protection Regulation regime to the WHOIS system, the organisation is deferring enforcement actions over non-compliance with contractual obligations relating to the handling of registration data. The move has been criticised as a “reactionary” gambit by one leading IP expert.
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Global automotive consultancy service Impetus Automotive has changed its name following its October 2018 acquisition by to MSX International (MSXI).
Car dealer training and consultancy specialist MFG has appointed former Motorline director Tony Jones as its new national sales manager.
RSM, the audit, tax and consulting firm, has expanded its motor specialist team with the appointed of Alison Ashley as a partner.
Automotive Management Live: Where franchised and independent dealers will find everything they need to know about operating a modern showroom and service and repair facility fit for the digital age.
When: November 12 2020
Where: Birmingham NEC
Find out what features are in this month's, and future, issues


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The SPCA teamed up with Uber Thursday to bring puppies to workplaces.
Rich discussed the Hillary Clinton email server, the EPA spill, and the Pope’s visit to Philadelphia. He also discussed Van Halen, Rand Paul’s impression of Donald Trump and more. Rich spoke with Dr. Mazz during the Ask the Doctor segment. He also spoke with Gov. Ed Rendell about political topics in the news.
Chris discusses Donald Trump’s trip to the southern border, Hillary Clinton’s Uber problem and WaWa being ranked as America’s favorite convenience store. He talked to Chris Butler on Finance Friday about Amazon surpassing Walmart at 7:00 and Phillies Play-by-Play Announcer Scott Franzke about the upcoming trade deadline at 8:00 .
Today, Uber will deliver ice cream right to your door from one of Philadelphia’s top shops.
Rich discussed Donald Trump possibly running for a third party, the Iran nuclear deal, and Bernie Sanders’ singing. He also discussed
Rich spoke with Mayoral Candidate Melissa Murray Bailey about sanctuary cities at 3:30. Arthur C. Brooks discussed his new book, The Conservative Heart at 4:15pm and Dr. Mazz joined Rich for Ask the Doctor at 4:30pm. Rich spoke with Kelsey Harkness, contributor to The Federalist, regarding The War on Uber at 5:30pm.
Ride-hailing app company Uber says it is banning its riders and drivers from carrying guns.
The car service agreed to some rules with the state’s department of transportation including background checks and driving history checks on drivers.
Avalon Police: Car Service Driver Charged With Lewdness, Fondled Himself While Woman Was Stuck In Car
After taking a ride in Salem’s vehicle and reaching her destination, the woman was not able to open the rear door of the car.
There are about 1,000 Uber drivers in North Philadelphia alone, according to Jon Feldman, the general manager of Uber Philadelphia.
Authorities say a female passenger reported she experienced inappropriate behavior by a driver contracted by Uber last month in South Jersey.
Some travelers just outside 30th Street Station got creative, and some strangers became friends.
Uber is helping Philadelphia residents today with their spring cleaning, while also supporting charity by picking up people’s unwanted clothing and dropping them off at various Goodwill locations across the Delaware Valley for free.
Riders are instructed to open the app and request HELMET.
The ride-sharing service Uber has become extremely popular and after taking a trip riders can rate how good or bad their driver was. But did you know that Uber drivers can also rate passengers? 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan explains.
As if phone calls from telemarketers weren’t annoying enough, now there are unsolicited text messages – though they may be illegal.


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Hong Kong’s primary-listing market is going through a dry patch in what is normally the busiest time of the year.
Several potential billion-dollar initial public offerings ranging from supermarket owner WM Tech Corp. to health-care startup We Doctor Holdings Ltd. have let their applications lapse in recent weeks as regulatory scrutiny and stock market weakness crimps listings.
Large IPOs falling by the wayside are a further sign of how China’s regulatory onslaught is causing a downturn in the financial hub’s market for first-time share sales. President Xi Jinping’s push to align companies with his vision of “common prosperity” has caused a roadblock. After a stellar first half, the value of IPOs dipped to just $6.2 billion in the third quarter — the lowest since the start of the pandemic and behind South Korea for the first time in four years.
We Doctor’s planned float —
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Tourists to Benidorm in Spain could shortly see the lowest beer prices for a very long time as establishments prepare to draw back the customers especially booze loving Brits.
BENIDORM has always offered something for everyone – beautiful beaches, incredible views, endless attractions and a bustling nightlife – and there is no doubting the resort is among the hardest hit amid the coronavirus crisis.
Hardcore lovers of the popular holiday town have flooded social media with pledges of support for their favourite seasonal vacation.
And bars and restaurants will be doing everything they can to try to recover a fraction of what they have lost due to State of Alarm measures to combat the spread of the virus.
Alcohol supplier Derek Payne predicts the price of a pint could be slashed as low as supermarket prices in bars, to entice holidaymakers and encourage understandably money-conscious locals to venture out.
“Busier bars with larger turnovers have been selling beer at low cut prices for some time, and it’s realistic to think they will have offers, like a pints for €1 or as low as 64 cents,” he told EWN, adding: “It’s about volume of sales.”
Meanwhile beer importer Ken Thomas said “I’ve had a lot of interest from Benidorm especially in Spain looking for cut price deals on our lesser brands, it seems beer is the ingredient businesses are going to use to encourage back the punters, going to paradise for the beer drinking holidaymaker.”
Benidorm has worked hard to change its image of the past, with all inclusive resorts banning unlimited alcohol packages, being just one of the measures introduced.
So is the move likely? Ian Pratt runs a Benidorm print firm and designs websites. He told EWN: “We are all going to be watching what we spend once the lockdown is lifted. If you can go out for a drink for the same price as drinking at home, why wouldn’t you?
“I doubt we are talking about high end hotels and other venues, but the local bars, like all businesses, are going to do what they have to do to attract customers.”
Meanwhile, Lee Harrison, who has been visiting Benidorm for years, said “there is far more to Benidorm than pubs and clubs.”
“There is so much support for the place and the businesses struggling at the moment, they are all going to need the trade. Cheap booze isn’t the answer.”
Although potential holidaymakers and Benidorm regulars Christopher Western and family said: “Da Ba Da Ba Doo… fantastic news, with it being £4 a pint most places here now, it’s going to be a bargain booze bonanza – I can’t wait to get on it.”


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The man behind or you can say mostly associated with every iPhone, iPad, and Mac out there — Jony Ive has bid farewell to Apple today. The reason for his departure is to get along to develop his new independent design company called — LoveFrom, which is likely to be launched sometime next year. However, Apple will still be associated with Jony Ive, but as a primary client for future projects. Apple had announced his departure from the company in a statement and had assured to work closely with him for its upcoming wide range of projects that are said to be exclusive as well.
Jony Ive has been the prominent design officer ever since the launch of 1998’s iMac and ever since the inception of the iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad as well. Jony has also been associated with the newly developed Apple Park in Cupertino as well. In the statement from Apple, the company CEO Tim Cook had further stated that Apple would be directly working with Jony for exclusive projects along with the ongoing projects as well. Tim Cook had also mentioned that Jony Ive had created a brilliant and passionate design team, which is currently working on the ongoing projects by Apple. He had further stated the relationship with the Chief Design Officer, Jony Ive has been happy throughout all these years and expects it to be evolved in the future as well.
Right now, Apple isn’t looking for any replacement for its Cheif Design Officer, instead suggests that the current Design team leader Evans Hankey (vice president of Industrial Design) and Alan Dye (vice president of Human Interface Design) will directly report to Jeff Williams — Apple’s Cheif Operations officer. He has also been involved in the development of Apple Watch since its first edition. Meanwhile, Apple is gearing up to launch its trio iPhones’ successors in September this year. Stay connected to PhoneRadar for such interesting updates.
(Featured Image with Jony Ive(left) and Tim Cook (right) is provided by Apple)


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Takata to Sell All Assets to KSS for $1.59 Billion
Takata, which is facing lawsuits and huge recall costs, has been accused of hiding the problem with its airbags for years. Carmakers have recalled almost 70 million of the company's air bags in the United States, in 42 million vehicles, as well as millions overseas.
Takata'sbankruptcy filing will make it more challenging for automakers to recoup the cost of repairing millions of vehicles with defective air bags.
Even so, Key Safety, the world's fourth-largest air bag maker bought by Ningbo Joyson previous year, would gain greater access to Japanese automakers and the combined entity would pull closer in market share to leader Autoliv Inc.
GM added that does not anticipate any supply disruptions as a result of Takata's bankruptcy.
The issue was attributed to the nitrate-based propellant used by the airbags' inflating system, which is prone to explode after prolonged exposure to hot and humid conditions.
The company has filed for bankruptcy protection both in the USA and in Tokyo.
Over 100 million cars fitted with the unsafe airbags have since been recalled, however an unknown number are still on the road.
At least $1 billion from the sale to Key is expected to be used to satisfy Takata's settlement of criminal charges in the USA for concealing problems with the inflators.
As part of the Takata bankruptcy, the company is selling off the majority of its business.
When he wrote email to his colleague, he was referring to an October 16, 1999 event in which a prototype Takata air bag inflator ruptured, the engineer stated.
Takata recently pleaded guilty in a US court to criminal charges for its handling of the scandal, agreeing to pay $1 billion in penalties, including the fund for people injured as a result of the fiery shrapnel hurled from its air bags. The deal includes a $25 million criminal fine, a $125 million victim compensation fund and $850 million to be paid to automakers.
Takata's bankruptcy filing clears the way for most of its assets to be taken over by Key Safety Systems, a Chinese-owned company based in suburban Detroit.
The CEO of Takata, who has long pushed back the scenario of bankruptcy, refused to let go the reins, officially welcomed the choice of KSS, "an ideal takeover". A federal grand jury also indicted three Takata executives for their role in the scandal in January. Toyota, Subaru, Mazda and BMW will reimburse out-of-pocket expenses, provide loaners to some vehicle owners and set up an outreach program to increase participation in recalls, according to court papers filed May 18. And in 1990, Takata produced its first air bag.
Son of former Atlanta Braves player on life support
Throughout the entire ordeal, the Lockharts have expressed gratitude for words of support and prayer from fans. A CT scan showed a tear inside his nose from the impact, and doctor's diagnosed it as a lacerated artery.
Saina crashes out of Australia Open quarters
It was a closely-fought encounter, as the two players, who know all about each other's game, went full tilt into the match. However, he could not hold the higher ranked player as Kidambi extended his lead to 11-9 at the break of the second game.
Top 4 teams qualify for HWC 2018 in India
India did manage to create a few opening even as Malaysia fell back to defend the lead, but the strikers sprayed the shots wide. Though India were tipped as favourites to win, a stubborn Malaysian outfit kept India in the hunt the right from the beginning.
Florida Panthers unveil new Adidas jerseys
The materials are up to 133 per cent more permeable than the fabrics that were used last season. The new Wild jerseys are already available for fans to preorder online.


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In a groundbreaking move set to revolutionize the world of virtual motorsports, Formula E: High Voltage, the inaugural official Formula E video game, is gearing up for its grand launch on October 19, 2023. Developed by Animoca Brands and Amber, this racing management NFT game takes the excitement of Formula E to the digital realm, embracing the innovative Flow blockchain to offer fans a unique gaming experience. By integrating NFTs into the game, players gain digital ownership of in-game items, enhancing their engagement and interaction with the Formula E universe.
The wait is almost over, the first blockchain game officially licensed by @FIAFormulaE: Formula E: High Voltage (@FormulaE_HV) will launch on 19 October 2023 at https://t.co/LZKuEm1J0f 🏎⚡ pic.twitter.com/bX1WJ4tkOT
— Animoca Brands (@animocabrands) October 16, 2023
Details about Formula E: High Voltage game
Formula E: High Voltage, available at FormulaEHighVoltage.com, offers players a chance to dive into the thrilling world of Formula E. Upon joining, new players will receive four NFTs, including two cars and two drivers, allowing them to start their racing journey without any initial costs. The game faithfully reproduces the iconic city center tracks of Rome, Berlin, New York, and London, enabling players to strategize and manage their races under varying weather conditions and even day or night settings.
Each car and driver in Formula E: High Voltage is a unique NFT with different rarity levels (common, rare, epic, legendary), accompanied by distinct skills drawn from a pool of over 100 abilities. The game’s core mechanics revolve around collecting, training, upgrading, and managing drivers and cars, crucial for building a formidable racing empire within the game.
Notably, the game features the current GEN3 race car, renowned as the fastest, lightest, most powerful, and efficient electric race car globally. Players can choose from an extensive selection of both fantasy and official cars and drivers, including the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Champion, Jake Dennis, and his Andretti Porsche 99X Electric GEN3.
Formula E: High Voltage is part of the REVV Motorsport ecosystem, a suite of blockchain games that includes MotoGP™ Ignition, MotoGP™ Guru, REVV Racing, and Torque Drift 2. What sets Formula E: High Voltage apart is its integration with the Flow blockchain, a sustainability-focused and energy-efficient blockchain. This integration ensures an environmentally sustainable gaming experience, aligning with Formula E’s commitment to being net zero carbon certified since its inception.
To enhance player engagement, Formula E: High Voltage is releasing Solo NFT Crates (8500 pieces priced at $20-30 each) and Team NFT Crates (9000 pieces priced at $119-$149 each) for sale starting from October 17, 2023. These crates, available at FormulaEHighVoltage.com, contain official or fantasy car and driver NFTs of varying rarities. Players can purchase these crates using the REVV token, necessitating a Blocto wallet connected to the Flow blockchain.
Kieran Holmes-Darby, Formula E’s gaming director, expressed excitement about this collaboration, emphasizing the dynamic engagement it promises. Will Griffiths, vice president of commercial strategy at Animoca Brands, echoed this sentiment, underlining the advantages of true digital ownership facilitated by NFTs and blockchain technology.
This innovative venture not only opens new avenues for Formula E fans but also exemplifies Formula E’s commitment to sustainable and technologically advanced entertainment. As motorsport enthusiasts eagerly await the game’s launch, Formula E: High Voltage stands as a testament to the convergence of cutting-edge technology and electrifying racing experiences. Stay tuned for the future of Formula E gaming, where players truly own their legacy.


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Microsoft CEO Nadella: Xbox gaming platform will also join the “meta universe” in the future
News on the evening of November 2nd, Beijing time, according to reports, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (Satya Nadella) said today that the Xbox gaming platform will also be added to the “meta universe” in the future. Nadella said that in the “meta universe” market, Microsoft’s enterprise applications are in a leading position, but it is expected that the Xbox gaming platform will also participate in it in the future.
Nadella said: “You can fully expect that we will make a difference in the game. If you think of “Halo” as a game, it is a’meta universe’. “Minecraft” is also a’ ‘Meta universe’, the same is true for Flight Sim. In a sense, they are 2D today. Can you bring them to a complete 3D world? We will definitely do that.”
Nadella also said,MicrosoftFocusing on the practical applications of “meta universe”, the benefits of these applications are obvious.
Today, Microsoft is the first to introduce the “meta universe” element to the chat and meeting application Microsoft Teams. Its MR (mixed reality) platform Microsoft Mesh will be integrated into Microsoft Teams to enhance the collaborative experience.
This will allow colleagues to meet and interact in the form of virtual avatars and shareOfficeDocuments, etc., whether in a real team meeting or an immersive virtual world. This version of the application is currently being tested and will be launched in the first half of 2022.


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- Denver's Department of Public Works (DPW) has issued cease-and-desist orders to dockless scooter companies Lime and Bird, according to The Denver Post and others. DPW says the businesses did not receive permission or permits to operate in the city, the scooters endanger pedestrian safety and the scooters violate a municipal law disallowing the storage of items in public space.
- DPW told the companies to remove all dockless scooters from the public right of way, or else the city will confiscate them. The companies will be able to retrieve confiscated scooters from a city holding facility, but fines likely will be levied.
- The city says it will work on drawing up regulations for dockless operators.
Denver's encounter with dockless scooters was short-lived, with the city taking action just a week after Lime scooters appeared on the streets, and the very same day Bird vehicles appeared.
DPW got pushback from a handful of Twitter users who criticized the city's decision to disallow and confiscate dockless scooters, which many cited as a viable, much-needed mobility option. DPW responded to a number of the tweets, again noting safety concerns and the operators' lack of working with the city before launching operations.
No, @limebike did not work with us on this launch. We were not notified of their plans to deploy in our community today until a couple of days ago. We are concerned about the use, placement, & quantity of these scooters operating on Denver's sidewalks where we see a lot of peds.— Denver Public Works (@DenPublicWorks) May 25, 2018
Denver encourages lots of choices to get folks out of their cars when they can, but we want it to happen in a manner that doesn't infringe on safety & accessibility, which are huge priorities for making Denver a multi modal kind of town.— Denver Public Works (@DenPublicWorks) May 25, 2018
Denver is the latest in a string of cities to experience growing pains when dockless scooters — or bikes — suddenly appeared. San Francisco impounded dozens of scooters before commencing work on dockless scooter regulation. Nashville, TN issued a cease-and-desist order one day after Bird scooters arrived, and Austin, TX also updated an ordinance to address dockless scooters.
The growing list of operator-municipal conflicts illustrates areas where both sides could stand to improve. At this point, cities know these devices are coming and should figure out in advance how to handle them. Likewise, dockless operators know that cities have concerns and should consult with municipalities on successful pilot launches rather than just releasing scooters onto the streets. Although earlier this year the CEO of Bird invited other dockless operators to join him in signing a pledge containing guidelines for operating responsible vehicle-sharing businesses, it appears that didn't take hold because Bird is one of the main businesses getting called out by city leaders.
In the end, local governments and private service operators exist to serve consumers, and consumers end up as the losers during push-and-pull battles between the two entities.


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Some of the region’s brightest and most prestigious businesses have already confirmed their support for the event for the 2019 Leicester Mercury Business Awards.
SFB Group is one of these businesses and has put its name forward as sponsor of the Excellence in Innovation award this year.
The category acknowledges big strides in any industry and celebrates those that have brought something new to their area, and entrants will be judged by representatives from SFB Group.
As category sponsors it will be down to them to select the three finalists and eventual winner.
Shelley Harvey is the director of SFB Group, a national firm of chartered accountants, wealth managers, tax specialists and business advisers, which has an office in Oak Spinney Park, Leicester Forest East.
She said: “At SFB Group, we identify innovative solutions for our clients and continually find new ways to improve the client experience, which is why we felt the innovation award was the perfect choice for SFB Group.
“We recognise the need for innovation across all businesses.
“We are regularly amazed by our clients’ forward-thinking and ingenuity and want to celebrate companies who work hard to find innovative solutions through product design or improving business process and customer satisfaction.
“Judging the awards will be a fantastic experience and it will be great to see the diverse range of innovation from within our local business community.”
The firm, which was established in 1955, has in recent years welcomed significant growth with the incorporation of well-respected Leicester firm, Hayles, and expansion into complementary services including corporate finance, tax advisory and wealth management.
Shelley said SFB Group is committed to the growth and development of the Leicester office and continue to support the local business community.
She said: “SFB is proud to be part of Leicestershire’s business community and supports a number of local initiatives.
“We have cultivated links with many charities and work closely with numerous local organisations and groups including De Montfort University, with whom we run a successful work experience and employment partnership.
“We have also developed an Info2Grow event in partnership with organisations such as HSBC and Howes Percival Solicitors.
“Info2Grow helps businesses to share ideas, information and best practice for the good of the local economy and wellbeing of businesses.”
As well as being an event which praises the biggest achievements of Leicester’s business community, and celebrates their dedication to the local economy, the Leicester Mercury Business Awards also gives sponsors the opportunity to share and showcase their own business goals.
Giving an insight into the coming 12 months at SFB Group, Shelley said: “Our key focus for the coming year is to help our clients and business contacts achieve their goals.
“We have committed to a comprehensive support programme to help Leicestershire businesses at all stages of their business journey.
“We will be running campaigns addressing Making Tax Digital, as well as taking part in events and expos across the region to help businesses to prosper and grow.”
The 2019 awards take place in April.
For more information about the Leicester Mercury Business Awards, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact Phoebe Tilley at Champions (UK) plc on 01509 85 29 27 or e-mail her by clicking here.


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With record numbers of bank branches closing every year, it sometimes seems that the growth of digital options will eliminate branches entirely. However, a closer inspection reveals that many customers are still reluctant to give up some branch office functions. What is more, technology may eventually start presenting new opportunities for bank branches instead of reducing demand.
ATMs were the first new technology to challenge traditional branch offices, and they made incredible progress over the last few decades. There was only one ATM for every four bank branches in Europe back in 1987. According to Deutsche Bank Research, ATMs pulled even with bank branches by the late 1990s. Today, ATMs outnumber bank branches in Europe by more than three to one. The dramatic growth of ATMs fueled change in the early years, but the decline of branch offices is becoming a more significant factor.
Statistics from Deloitte reveal that over 25% of bank branches in the UK closed between 2012 and 2017. On a global basis, the number of bank branches per 100,000 adults fell more than 16% between 2008 and 2016. The decline of bank branches began with ATMs, but the shift to online banking clearly accelerated the trend. Cost-cutting by financial institutions after 2008 also played a role.
Despite their falling numbers, there is continuing demand for bank branches. A recent Deloitte survey found that customers in most countries still prefer to apply for new products at branch offices. The study revealed that 83% of those surveyed in Spain preferred to seek mortgages at branch offices. 79% of mortgage applicants in France also preferred to apply in person. Even in the United States, 65% preferred branch offices for mortgage applications. Norway was the only real outlier, with a majority preferring online services to branch offices. In 2013, Cognizant found that 9% used branch offices because they did not trust technology. While that number may have declined, the 20% that used branches for safe deposit boxes still have few alternatives.
Cognizant’s study also suggested where bank branches might find new purpose in the digital age. The most significant reason for using a branch office was to “get help” at 58%, and security concerns were second at 36%. The need for help and security concerns both tend to rise as more consumers use Internet-connected devices. Tech giants Apple and Amazon are now opening new stores in large part because it is often easier to get help with devices in person. Many new security systems inspired by cryptocurrencies are incredibly effective when configured properly, but initial configuration is difficult for ordinary users. The trust enjoyed by traditional financial institutions makes them excellent custodians of seed phrases, master passwords, and other sensitive information that should be stored offline. Perhaps far more than 20% of bank customers will be using safe deposit boxes in the future.
Despite the news stories about branch closures, fintech is not the end of bank branches. ATMs, web banking, and mobile banking apps have all taken a toll on branch offices over the years. Crucially, the vast majority of customers in most countries still prefer to open new accounts in person. Today’s bank branch offices must continue to meet those demands. As needs change, branches must also change with them. Technology is starting to create new demand for some in-person services, and that gives bank branches an opportunity for growth.
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Recent figures from the Bank of England (BOE) have revealed that consumers borrowed an additional £1.3 billion in consumer credit in March, of which £800 million was new lending on credit cards, taking total credit card borrowing in the first three months of this year to £2 billion. The figures show credit card borrowing was […]
Since the beginning of 2022, the panic from Covid-19 pandemic has been easing up and 2022 is looking like a year of recovery to global economies. However, Covid-19 is still with us and when the global restrictions are lifted in most of the countries, the continued infections have their impact on the employees’ sick days. […]


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You'd be forgiven for thinking that almost every compatible device would be running iOS 8 by now, yet that doesn't seem to be the case at all.
The latest figures on Apple's developer site (opens in new tab) show that 47% of users are now on iOS 8, while 47% are still on iOS 7 and 6% are on earlier versions of iOS. Just 47% on iOS 8 doesn't sound great to begin with, but when you compare that with the numbers from two weeks ago on September 21 you'll see just how much the adoption has slowed down, as back then 46% of users were on iOS 8.
So in two weeks only an additional 1% of users have made the upgrade. It's not surprising that things would slow down after the initial flurry of updates, but for it to settle down with still less than 50% of users on the latest version is surprising.
iOS 8 hate
So why has adoption slowed down so much? The well-publicised problems with iOS 8 probably didn't help, though they've mostly been fixed now. Some devices also can't run iOS 8, but everything from the iPhone 4S / iPad 2 onwards can, so that's unlikely to be a major factor.
Despite the slow adoption rate it's still way ahead of Android in that sense. Google's latest figures show that only 24.5% of users are on Android 4.4 KitKat, with the majority still on Jelly Bean and 11.4% back on Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
That at least is easier to understand though, as many manufacturers haven't bothered to update their phones to support recent Android releases, an issue which is less of a factor for iOS users.
- iOS 7's adoption rate was much faster.


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latest updates from easySERVICE™
Despite ongoing concerns over security, smaller companies are investing in a wider array of cloud-hosted business applications according to an annual study conducted by cloud enablement technology provider.
This latest research, predicts that the overall small and midsize business (SMB) cloud market in the United States will reach $32 billion by the beginning of 2016, representing a 19 percent year-over-year growth rate from $18.9 billion early last year.
For perspective, the overall global market by 2016 is predicted to reach $125 billion.
The survey reflects the opinions of 600 SMBs interviewed by the technology company during 2013. For the purposes of this study, researcher defines a micro SMB as an organization with fewer than 20 employees; a small SMB ranges up to 100 employees. The data also reflects the opinions of midsize companies with 100 to 999 employees.
In mature markets such as the United States, SMBs use an average of five…
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Shakespeare's line that 'nothing in his life became him like the leaving it' applies rather well to collapsed high street giant Woolworths. The monster closing-down sale launched on Friday by its administrators turned out to be its biggest trading day in nearly a century, with tills ringing up close to £30m as shoppers scrabbled to get their hands on cut-price toys and CDs.
Insiders believe chances are fading of selling its retail arm, or its paralysed distribution business, Entertainment UK (EUK), as a going concern and keeping the Woolworths name alive on the high street. Remaining interest is thought to come from trade buyers, such as WH Smith and Wilkinsons. A late entrant to the fray is restructuring expert David Buchler, a former vice-chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, who may step in next week.
The demise of the group, which had sales of £3bn last year, continues to send shock waves through the bombed-out retail sector. Last week, Woolworths struck on two fronts: the sale put pressure on rivals as it slashed the prices of lines such as toys and gifts ahead of the key Christmas trading peak, and the problems at EUK threatened to destabilise Zavvi, the former Virgin Megastores chain, which relies on it for its supply of CDs and DVDs.
The carve-up of its 800 stores is already advanced and on Friday the first tranche of its 25,000 staff were made redundant, with 450 job losses at support offices in London and Rochdale.
At Woolworths' London office, staff were said to have filed into briefing rooms at lunchtime to learn their fate, with those on the list to go receiving their paperwork and being asked to leave within the hour. One staff member described being surrounded by colleagues 'in floods of tears'.
Iceland owner, Malcolm Walker, who is no longer interested in buying the business after three overtures were rejected, said: 'Things have gone too far; they missed the boat. If we had got in there a year ago, we could probably have done something with it.' Instead Walker expects to secure 50 stores to convert into the Iceland format.
Not everyone is mourning the end of Woolworths. Analysts believe the chain's collapse will take some of the strain off specialist entertainment retailers, who are struggling to cope with the threat posed by the internet. Woolworths commanded around 8 per cent of the market. Its demise is also providing food retailers such as Tesco and Asda with the chance to claw vital market share as the battle between the supermarkets intensifies in the downturn.
Property expert Malcolm Dalgleish, of CB Richard Ellis, who is handling the break-up of the Woolworths estate, said a 'significant' part of the portfolio was now in solicitors' hands.
The demise of EUK has had serious repercussions for Zavvi. Its management has been forced to shell out for stock of key new releases such as Take That's The Circus at short notice. It has suspended trading on its website, which was managed from EUK's now closed-down warehouse. This is a disaster ahead of tomorrow's 'Cyber', or 'Mega', Monday, as it is known in the UK: the second Monday in December is the biggest internet sales day of the year as shoppers place orders to ensure delivery in time for Christmas.
On Friday, Zavvi management met the administrators to discuss EUK amid speculation that its stock levels would run dangerously low next week unless normal supply lines were resumed. It is thought that former parent Virgin has helped mitigate the crisis with funds to secure alternative stock.
Verdict director Neil Saunders said a fifth of a DVD specialist's product range, be it Dark Knight or Mamma Mia, accounted for the lion's share of profits at this time of year. 'There is a rush on key items and that is where retailers make their money,' he said. 'If you haven't got a good stock of that 20 per cent there is the potential to lose a lot of money.'
A Zavvi spokesman said it was going direct to suppliers, adding: 'We will have Dark Knight in stores on Monday.' The DVD is expected to be one of the biggest sellers this Christmas. Its presence on Zavvi's shelves would suggest that suppliers are co-operating.
Analysts think the demise of Woolworths, as well as predicted tough trading conditions in 2009, could precipitate the endgame in sectors such as entertainment. Market leader HMV is due to report its first-half results on Thursday, and analysts are already worried how it will fare over Christmas.
It is one of the most shorted stocks in the City, amid concerns about the health of the markets in which it operates as customers defect to the internet. Like Zavvi, HMV is already under serious pressure from Amazon, which last week launched a UK download service, offering new album titles for just £3.
HMV is also in a bad position when comparisons are made with sales last year: then it was buoyed by the launch of new games consoles, notably the Nintendo Wii. A year later the novelty has worn off, and Game has reported a dramatic slowdown in like-for-like sales.
Simon Perrée, managing director and co-founder of Play.com, said the website had had a 'record' November and start to December: 'Our sales are up in every category. Entertainment products are not high-value purchases. If times are hard people stay in more, play games, read or listen to music.'
Woolworths' administrators have promised to keep stores open beyond Christmas, with all store staff paid in full. Deloitte partner Neville Kahn insisted a purchaser for the business as a going concern was still being sought: 'We are working hard to ensure that any sale of the business, in whole or in part, will preserve jobs.'
But time is running out as the Christmas Eve rent day looms. 'It is an emergency to get things done,' said one insider. 'Time is money.'
Death on the high street
Coming soon to a high street near you: a boarded-up Woolies. As the carve-up of Woolworths' retail estate gathers pace, some high streets can look forward to a new Tesco, Sainsbury's, or even an Iceland, Wilkinson or Poundland taking its place. Many, however, will be blighted by a boarded-up shop front amid fears that around 200 of the stores will not find a new owner.
David Harper, of property firm Harper Dennis Hobbs, said: 'I have never seen so many shops come on the market before Christmas. Fundamentally retail has changed and there will be less players in the future.'
One insolvency professional claimed banks were queuing up to put retailers into administration in the new year. The last fortnight alone has claimed household goods firms MFI and The Pier, with few expectations that a new buyer can be found for either.
The crunch comes at the end of a year that has seen 13 new shopping centres open, including mega mall Westfield in London's Shepherd's Bush, contributing to an oversupply of space. 'The first quarter of 2009 is going to be awful: we are going to see a procession of retailers go to the wall,' adds Richard Hyman, strategic adviser at Deloitte.


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Ludusz, India based sports opportunity platform recently debuted in New Delhi. The application has been in testing mode for the last 2 months. Conceptualized and funded by FMCG technology veteran Pronoy Roy (ex-IT Director (Global) Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc.), the platform aims to bring about a lifestyle change among people across age groups with a focus on delivering health through sports. Ludusz aims to reach 5 cities in India, targeting an inroad of 1 million customers in FY18.
The product focuses on providing customers with convenient, accessible and affordable opportunities to engage in sports and sports related activities. Though there are multiple sports aggregators in the market today, they have little or no focus on quality. Ludusz is set to revolutionize the market with its 3-pronged approach – convenience, accessibility and affordability. The operating model of the product is based on enabling opportunities via Geo Located Sports, with a list of certified coaches and venues. This is supplemented by a Personal development tracker/ manager along-with a combination of convenience features which will guide the customer to make the optimum choice.
The product is co-funded by FMCG sector veterans, Pronoy Roy, Nakul Sharma – former management executive with cosmetic and beauty products giant L’Oreal, and Karunesh Mukherjee – a veteran in the field of training and development for Godphrey Phillips.
From left to right - Nakul Sharma, Pronoy Roy, Karunesh Mukherjee
According to Pronoy Roy, Chairman, Ludusz; “There is an urgent requirement for people in India to move towards a balanced lifestyle.” He believes the same shift has already taken place in a few countries in the West, where research has clearly demonstrated a positive co-relation between balanced lifestyle and annual health spends. Ludusz has been developed to provide users the opportunity to engage in sports, to move towards a balanced lifestyle. “The journey will be difficult, since we are dealing with a paradigm psychological shift. However, with the newfound outlook towards health among the masses today, we feel Ludusz could be a game changer. ”
Nakul Sharma – Co - Founder, Ludusz; points out that: “The use of technology to bridge the current gap is impeditive. Essential factors like coverage, convenience and quality are largely missing in the market. Ludusz is not just an aggregator; it is a service provider as well. We set up our own benchmark pilot programs across Delhi to help set up minimum standards for our customers. With the rise of health awareness across the country, people across age groups today still do not get access to options and are largely restricted to gyms as a medium of fitness. This is where Ludusz will bridge the gap by maintaining a minimum quality threshold.”
The platform addresses this market void, and provides end users highly convenient opportunities to engage, while ensuring certain quality checks and balances. The application shall be predictive, and will provide the best recommendations using cutting edge analytics basis shared data points. Ludusz will change the way end users engage with health and fitness activities.


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Eight major Canadian banks said on July 2 that they would heed a call by other major global advertisers to boycott Facebook, demanding the social network do more to tackle racist and other hate speech.
Facebook is mothballing Lasso, the app it quietly launched two years ago as a competitor to popular short-form video service TikTok, after it failed to get traction.
Facebook said on July 2 it would offer reminders to its users to wear protective masks, responding to the latest surge in US coronavirus cases, which has sparked renewed fears of containing the pandemic.
Twitter user Mariam Gómez claims to be “faithful to the homeland and the Cuban Revolution” on her account @mpgcibermambisa. But her profile picture, a woman showing her bare back, comes not from a real person but from an article about how gradual tanning is back.
Not a day goes by without another big brand pulling ads from Facebook and other social media, a campaign that is weakening advertising-dependent sites but whose ultimate impact remains uncertain.
For thousands of Indian content creators, TikTok was a window into fame and fortune.
The Covid-19 pandemic is creating a deeper appreciation for things such as one’s health, getting together with friends, the great outdoors – and printers. Yes, home printers, those clunky deskside contraptions of a bygone era, are suddenly making a comeback, and it may outlast this crisis.
Facebook disrupted a “violent US-based anti-government network” and vowed to give original news priority as it remained under fire for what it takes down and lets stay.
Facebook Inc chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg took the unusual step on June 26 of publicly broadcasting a weekly Q&A with employees. Over a live video feed, the CEO announced a series of updates to Facebook’s policies around hate speech – the central topic fueling a growing boycott of Facebook advertising.
An Indian ban on dozens of Chinese apps following a border clash between the two nations has possibly derailed a US$1bil India expansion plan of China's ByteDance, while also sparking an uproar from users of its popular TikTok video app.


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Coinbase, the leading cryptocurrency exchange platform, recently released its Q2 2021 earnings report, surpassing Wall Street’s expectations. Despite these positive numbers, analysts remain skeptical about the long-term prospects of the company.
In the second quarter, Coinbase reported revenues of $2.23 billion, almost double the $1.14 billion estimated by analysts. This impressive performance was mainly driven by the booming crypto market and the increased adoption of digital currencies by both individual and institutional investors. The surge in trading activity resulted in Coinbase’s transaction revenues nearly tripling to $1.9 billion, compared to the previous quarter.
While these figures are indeed remarkable, analysts argue that Coinbase’s earnings may not be sustainable in the long run. One of the main concerns raised by experts is the company’s heavy reliance on transaction fees for its revenues. In the highly volatile cryptocurrency market, it is uncertain whether this level of trading activity and fee generation can be maintained over an extended period.
Coinbase faces fierce competition from other exchanges and trading platforms that offer lower fees and a wider range of services. As the industry evolves and more players enter the market, Coinbase could struggle to retain its market share and maintain its current revenue growth rates.
Another challenge for Coinbase is regulatory uncertainty. Cryptocurrencies often operate in a gray area when it comes to legal frameworks, and the lack of clear regulations can pose risks to the company’s operations. Regulatory crackdowns, such as the recent actions in China, can severely impact the demand for cryptocurrencies and ultimately affect Coinbase’s revenues.
The future success of Coinbase is closely tied to the overall performance of the crypto market. While the industry has seen significant growth recently, it is highly volatile and subject to sudden downturns. If the market experiences a substantial correction or a prolonged bear market, Coinbase’s revenues could decline significantly.
Coinbase needs to diversify its revenue streams to mitigate these risks and create a sustainable business model. The company has taken some steps in this direction by expanding its services for institutional investors and launching new offerings like Coinbase Card. It remains to be seen whether these initiatives will be enough to counterbalance the potential challenges ahead.
Coinbase’s profitability is heavily tied to the price movements of cryptocurrencies. When the market experiences a bull run, as it did in the second quarter, Coinbase’s earnings soar due to the increased trading volumes. During bearish periods, the company may face a decline in user activity, which directly impacts its revenues. This inherent exposure to market volatility makes some analysts wary of Coinbase’s long-term viability.
Finally, the company’s valuation remains a point of contention among experts. Coinbase went public earlier this year through a direct listing, attracting significant attention and achieving a valuation of over $100 billion. This astronomical price tag has raised eyebrows, with skeptics arguing that it reflects an overvaluation of the company. Despite its strong financial performance, some analysts believe that Coinbase’s stock is overpriced and may experience a decline in the future.
While Coinbase’s Q2 earnings report showcased impressive growth and exceeded expectations, analysts cast doubts on the company’s long-term prospects. Heavy reliance on transaction fees, regulatory uncertainty, intense competition, market volatility, and an arguably inflated valuation all contribute to the skepticism surrounding Coinbase’s future success. To mitigate these concerns, Coinbase must diversify its revenue streams, adapt to changing regulations, and navigate potential market downturns to solidify its position in the cryptocurrency industry.


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SHANGHAI, June 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 5, 2018, DaDa, known as a leading K12 online English education brand in China officially announced its entry into the field of early childhood education by introducing its new product DaDaBaby, an E-learning product that aims to provide educational service for 0- to 6-year-old children. During the pre-launch, it has it received good market feedback. The number of users on the first day of product launch exceeded 30,000, and more than 60% of users came from the Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in China.
Since the end of its one-child policy in October 2015, China has started to welcome more new-born babies. According to China's health authority, almost 51% of China's newborn babies in 2017 were second children in the family, which represents a 5% increase compared with 2016.
Statistics show that parents born after the 80s and 90s are more willing to invest more in the child's formative education. Total household education expenditure in China exceeded 1.9 trillion yuan ($295 billion), accounting for 2.3% of GDP in 2017 (OECD). Chinese households have a strong willingness to spend on education, and the proportion of household education spending has been rising.
The millennials (Net Generation) are born with the know-how of cyber ecosystems and cross-screen platforms, they are more adaptable to the online learning platforms and are also highly open to new innovations and technologies, and their attitude towards early childhood education and E-learning plays a key role in the booming infant E-learning industry.
The core value of DaDaBaby lies in the concept of companionship, which plays a crucial role in developing a baby's self-cognition and self-esteem. Lessons are designed for families as a unit, as it encourages parents to take part in the learning process under professional guidance. Advanced "TV show" technologies will be applied to make the classroom alive to facilitate the learning process.
Talking about the birth of DaDaBaby, the CEO & Founder of DaDa, ZHI Hui emphasized that DaDaBaby's launch is DaDa's new move to adapt to the market's development and accurately meet the needs of users. It's an important symbol of DaDa's transformation from an online English education platform to a comprehensive education platform, which explains why DaDa has recently changed its name from DaDaABC into DaDa; a simplified name reveals a wider landscape.
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