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News & Reviews: YouTube
Last Updated: Feb 20, 2021
If you bought a phone with a 4K screen, like the Sony Xperia 1 II, then you're going to get more use out of it. YouTube has had 4K videos for quite some time, but HDR was never available on mobile devices. However, it looks like that's about to change with an update for Android.
Last Updated: Jan 30, 2021
Since YouTube is such a widely used platform, it only stands to reason that it continues to add useful features. The one that some may have wanted for a long time would be video clipping, which Twitch has had for years. Good thing YouTube is testing that now.
Last Updated: Jan 22, 2021
If you watch YouTube regularly, you may have noticed YouTubers putting hashtags in the YouTube video description. Why do they bother putting hashtags? And what was the point? Well, like Twitter and Instagram, the hashtags help you to find certain topics and Google just rolled out the feature.
Last Updated: Jan 15, 2021
These days, every platform wants to add a shopping feature. Instagram added a Shop tab last year before WhatsApp started allowing people to sell things directly through its app. Both Facebook isn't the only corporation that wants to sell you stuff, Google wants to do it too with YouTube.
Last Updated: Jan 07, 2021
During Samsung’s First Look 2021, Samsung unveiled many new technologies to improve accessibility as well as various ways to be more eco-friendly this year. We can expect everything that was announced during the aforementioned live stream to be found on various Samsung products such as Smart TVs, and more in the near future.
Last Updated: Dec 30, 2020
Recently, short-form video contents are becoming a trending style that creators and users will look up to when they are browsing on each social media platform especially on TikTok and Instagram. Today, Google is reported on testing a new mobile search feature that would surface TikTok and Instagram videos in their own dedicated carousel.
Last Updated: Dec 15, 2020
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sure been busy these days. Last week, it accused Facebook of running a monopoly and demanded the sale of Instagram and WhatsApp. Now, the organisation has placed nine tech companies under investigation.
Last Updated: Dec 14, 2020
After Facebook facing issues with some of its platforms not responding last week, it looks like Google is the next to have problems as some of its services are currently down including YouTube, Google Drive, Google Assistant, and more.
Last Updated: Dec 11, 2020
It's not a secret that millions of Malaysians watched a ton of YouTube videos during the pandemic. From home workouts to cooking, as well as comedy skits on coping with the lockdown, YouTube has gathered the statistics and released the Top Trending Videos in Malaysia.
Last Updated: Dec 03, 2020
If you follow a lot of YouTube channels, you've probably encountered Premieres before. It's a feature that allows content creators or artists to drop teasers early in advance, as well as provide a place for fans to mingle and generate hype. And now the company has announced three new features: Live Redirect, Trailers, and Countdown Themes.


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Successful negotiation of distribution agreement places Digiboo kiosks in nation’s busiest airports
Los Angeles (December 1, 2012) — Investment advisory firm Clear Capital Advisors, which advises middle market and emerging growth companies, today announced it served as strategic advisor to Digiboo, LLC, developer of a digital media distribution platform consisting of a dedicated, stand-alone retail kiosk that allows users to purchase or rent movies and television shows using a touchscreen interface, and download for playback directly to their tablet or smartphone. The Company recently signed a letter of intent for a pilot distribution program with Smarte Carte.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Digiboo’s proprietary platform delivers movies and other content to consumers’ mobile devices via WiFi from an interactive kiosk. The Company’s unique distribution model centers around a dedicated, stand-alone kiosk placed in high traffic areas such as airport terminals, rail stations, university dormitories, and coffee shops. Digiboo has successfully negotiated content distribution agreements with most of the major film studios, including Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate, Warner Bros., Miramax, Anchor Bay, and Millennium.
“Clear Capital Advisors was instrumental in helping us to refine our positioning and think through some key business issues. They also provided us with excellent advice as we structured our distribution agreement with Smarte Carte,” said Richard Cohen, founder and CEO of Digiboo. “This agreement is very exciting for our company as it opens up opportunities to expand into other venues.”
Bruce Pompan, founder and managing director of Clear Capital Advisors, said, “Digiboo is capitalizing on a fundamental shift in the viewing habits of consumers, and its technology allows the Company to satisfy consumers’ growing appetite for digital entertainment that fits into their increasingly mobile lifestyle. The partnership with Smarte Carte makes a great deal of sense, and it will help to introduce the Digiboo offering to a much wider audience.”
Smarte Carte is the leading concessionaire of self-serve vended luggage carts, electronic lockers, commercial strollers and massage chairs, as well as other passenger and guest services at more than 1,200 transportation centers, shopping centers and entertainment facilities worldwide.
About Clear Capital Advisors
Clear Capital Advisors is an investment advisory firm focused on providing mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising services to select business services, digital media, healthcare, and technology companies. Securities offered through Fallbrook Capital Securities Corp., Member FINRA – SIPC. For more information, visit www.ClearCapitalAdvisors.com.

domain: news


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How White Was Your Valley
The Pew Internet & American Life Project released a new survey on the demographics of social media users yesterday. The nonprofit, nonpartisan “fact tank” says its findings are the “first reportable” survey that it’s put out comparing whites, African-Americans and Latinos on Pinterest, Instagram and Tumblr.
But if you’ve been paying attention to shifting demographics, the results shouldn’t surprise you.
The Associated Press reports that, “Thailand’s craze for the fluffy, owl-like robotic toy “Furby” has led to an online scam that cost dozens of victims a combined $200,000.” A teenager who posted an ad on Instagram took their money, but did not deliver the Furbies as promised.
How something that looks like a Satanic alien kitten could inspire such devotion remains a mystery.
(h/t The Daily Dot)
You’d think after Hurricane Sandy, nothing short of the actual apocalypse could rattle New Yorkers. And yet, if Twitter is any indication, it seems there’s a fair bit of panicky flailing happening around the city right now. Well, buck up, because we’ve assembled a complete Internet preparedness kit featuring everything you might possibly need.
Maybe also buy some batteries, though?
Tweens These Days
Look, we get it: New York is the greatest city in the world and you didn’t spend tons of money traveling here to not take pictures of it. We know Central Park is one of the top tourist spots to snap some sweet tall trees/tall buildings pics, but there’s a limit, okay? And that limit is definitely wading out onto some thin ice just to take a good Instagram.
Instagram announced in a blog post today that users can now browse through their feeds on the web, a significant shift from its previous mobile-only strategy. Users can log into their profiles on Instagram.com and view their feeds by hitting the “home” button.
If you’re in the market for a new pet, might we point you to this Craigslist ad, which is offering a “certified mini pig” named Leo. Leo maintains a robust social media presence both on Twitter and Instagram, and is looking for a forever home after his current owner found out she could no longer keep a pig in her tiny Soho apartment (surprise!).
Food pics have long been the poster child of photo apps like Instagram. Crammed between the selfies and the screencaps of inspirational quotes, photos of food porn have become so ubiquitous that most of us scroll right by them without a second thought. But NYC chefs–particularly those steadfastly mounted upon Michelin-starred high horses–are beginning to foment a revolution against the Instagramming masses.
When Instagram released its new terms of service back in December, users flipped their shit so hard that many of them swore they were giving up the service entirely. But anyone actually live up those promises? The New York Post said so. Based on stats from AppData, which only counts accounts linked to Facebook, the paper reported that daily active users had dropped from 16.4 million to 12.4 million as of December 29.
But those numbers got so much coverage that Instagram, which rarely pulls up the curtain, felt compelled to counter claims it’s hemorrhaging users. AllThingsD reports the company has added a number to the list of stats on its press page: 90 million monthly active users. Boo-yah?
“Rage Against Rules,” declares a bolded headline in The New York Post today, which collected stats from App Data to paint a portrait of a flailing Instagram. The Post claims that following the terms of service debacle, which supposedly had both normals and celebrities fleeing the app, Instagram’s total active users has plunged 25 percent.
The app reportedly peaked at 16.4 million daily active users the week of Dec. 17, but has decreased to 12.4 million as of Dec. 27.
Terms of Disservice
All those calming platitudes from Kevin Systrom haven’t silenced the blowback over recent changes to Instagram’s terms of service. Reuters broke the news that a class action lawsuit was filed against Instagram this past Friday in San Francisco federal court.
The complaint (below) was filed on behalf of a California Instagram user named Lucy Funes “and all others similarly situated.” It accuses Instagram of a breach of contract for violating the convenant of good faith and fair dealing, among other allegations, and demands a jury trial.


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The Jakarta Post, Mon, October 05 2015
Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika has denied Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s claim that the resort island is one of the main suppliers of dog meat to the capital.
Bali had, said Pastika, never supplied dog meat to other regions, as the island had for several years been struggling with outbreaks of rabies.
“It is out of the question that Balinese dogs should leave the island to be consumed elsewhere. Many of them are infected by rabies. We are quite clear about the prohibition,” he said as quoted by kompas.com.
Last week, Ahok said that his administration would regulate and monitor the distribution of dog meat, something that was previously uncontrolled, to prevent Jakarta residents from consuming diseased meat.


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Multiway Robotics, a leading provider of intelligent intralogistics solutions, is pleased to announce its participation in the upcoming 2023 Smart Factory+Automation World exhibition. The event is scheduled to take place from March 8 to March 10, 2023 at the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul, South Korea. During the exhibition, Multiway Robotics will be showcasing its latest unmanned forklift models, the SE15 and X1, which incorporate cutting-edge technologies to deliver high-performance, efficiency, and safety.
With the logistics industry rapidly shifting towards automation and intelligent intralogistics solutions, Multiway Robotics is at the forefront of providing innovative products that meet the evolving needs of warehouses, factories, and distribution centers. The company's unmanned forklift models represent a significant technological leap forward in the field of intralogistics, offering superior performance and safety features that help optimize operations and streamline logistics processes.
Multiway Robotics' unmanned forklifts incorporate a range of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision, to deliver unparalleled performance and safety. The SE15 and X1 models, in particular, feature advanced sensors and control systems that enable precise and efficient movement of goods, even in narrow and complex spaces. The forklifts also have built-in safety features, such as obstacle detection and collision avoidance, to minimize the risk of accidents and ensure maximum safety for operators and bystanders.
As the logistics industry moves towards automation and intelligent intralogistics solutions, Multiway Robotics is at the forefront of providing innovative solutions for warehouses, factories, and distribution centers. By participating in the Exhibition, Multiway Robotics hopes to continue to build relationships with potential customers and partners.
At the exhibition, Multiway Robotics will showcase its unmanned forklift models. The company's experts will be on hand to demonstrate the capabilities of the SE15 and X1 models and answer questions from attendees. Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to learn more about Multiway Robotics' complete range of intelligent intralogistics solutions, which include autonomous guided vehicles, robotic arms, and software systems.
Come visit us at stand 740 in Hall C. We welcome everyone to come and speak with us to learn more about our unmanned forklifts and how we can help drive efficiency and productivity in their operations！


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If You Use This Medicine, Communicate to Your Physician Right away, FDA Says
For many of us struggling with an sickness or situation, medicine is step one towards bettering their day by day existence. Unfortunately, somebody looking for higher well being thru the usage of a well-liked Pfizer prescription medicine could also be in for a impolite awakening, now that a couple of a whole lot of the drug are being pulled from the marketplace over protection issues. Read on to find in case your medicine is a part of the recall, and in finding out what to do if you have got the affected medication at house.
RELATED: If You’re Prescribed Either of These Medications, Don’t Use Them, FDA Says.
On July 19, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) introduced that Pfizer had voluntarily recalled a couple of a whole lot of smoking cessation medicine Chantix. The affected medicines come with the next: 56-count bottles of Chantix 0.5 mg pills with lot quantity 00019213 and expiration date Jan. 2022; 56-count bottles of Chantix 0.5 mg pills with lot quantity EC6994 and expiration date May 2023; 56-count bottles of Chantix 1 mg pills with lot quantity EA6080 and expiration date March 2023 ;56-count bottles of Chantix 1 mg pills with lot quantity EC9843 and expiration date March 2023; and 8 a whole lot of Chantix cartons containing one blister pack of 0.5 mg pills and one blister pack of one mg pills with lot quantity 00020231 and a Sept. 2021 expiration date; lot quantity 00020232 and a Nov. 2021 expiration date; lot quantity 00020357 and a Dec. 2021 expiration date; lot quantity 00020358 and a Jan. 2022 expiration date; lot quantity 00020716 and a Jan. 2022 expiration date; lot quantity ET1600 and a Jan. 2023 expiration date; lot quantity ET1607 and a Jan. 2023 expiration date; and lot quantity ET1609 and a Jan. 2023 expiration date.
For the newest recall information delivered instantly on your inbox, join our day by day publication!
The affected a whole lot of Chantix are being pulled from the marketplace after it used to be came upon that they will comprise ranges of N-nitroso-varenicline, one of those nitrosamine, that exceed the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) degree set through Pfizer.
“Long-term ingestion of N-nitroso-varenicline may be associated with a theoretical potential increased cancer risk in humans, but there is no immediate risk to patients taking this medication,” the recall realize states, noting that Chantix is usually used within the temporary for smoking cessation to start with.
Pfizer explains that, on the time the recall realize used to be issued, there have been no hostile well being results related to use of the recalled medicines.
In reality, the corporate says that smoking is extra unhealthy than the element being referred to as into query. “The health benefits of stopping smoking outweigh the theoretical potential cancer risk from the nitrosamine impurity in varenicline. Nitrosamines are common in water and foods, including cured and grilled meats, dairy products and vegetables. Everyone is exposed to some level of nitrosamines,” Pfizer stated in its recall announcement.
If you’ve gotten any of the affected a whole lot of Chantix at house, touch your physician to come to a decision at the plan of action that is right for you, whether or not that implies getting a brand new package deal of the drugs or converting your process remedy. You will have to additionally touch Stericycle Inc. at 888-276-6166 (to be had on weekdays from 8 a.m. to five p.m.) for info on how to go back the drugs and get money back.
RELATED: If You Take Any of These 6 Supplements, the FDA Has a New Warning for You.


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2016 was the year when the potential of Blockchain to change the world began to be fully understood.
Paul Puey News
Extra, extra, hear all about it! AirBitz that is! Get ready for exclusively released breaking news in this interview, on the future of AirBitz.546
San Diego based cryptocurrency wallet provider AirBitz was featured on ABC’s 10 News as the local news network reported on companies in the city accepting and paying workers with bitcoin and how the workers “never see a paycheck.”829


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There would undoubtedly be a remarkable study to write about Google’s communication management, which is quite relative. Meanwhile, even if it hasn’t been published yet, we can already afford a Pixel 6a.
At the moment t what is making rounds on various social media platforms is the Pixel 6a, which will be released on July 21 and is currently available in Malaysia. A user in Malaysia had listed a Google Pixel 6a smartphone for sale on the Facebook marketplace.
The asking price is about 2300 Malaysian ringgit or under € 500. Surprisingly, this same vendor does not have just one unit of Google’s next mid-range tablet. Several adverts from the same profile have been discovered in the region.
According to our Source, the individual who would have relished the newly obtained Pixel 6a stocks would be a person working for a Malaysian dealer. This same guy, clearly unconcerned about being detected, would have even posted an unboxing of the item on his TikTok account.
Of course, buying a phone of an unknown origin is not a good idea. However, if you can’t wait to replace your cellphone, check out our list of the best smartphones under 500 €.


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The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 55.34 crore during the Jan-March quarter of 2013-14, Berger Paints said.
One of the defining images of French impressionism - Edouard Manet's "Le Bar aux Folies-Bergere" is up for sale, as Sotheby's auctions.
The Crackle video streaming service, known best for Jerry Seinfeld's motorized interview series, says it wants to be more like a traditional television network.
Sanju Menon will lead the Bajaj business nationally, taking charge of both strategy and account management.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) would help the transportation sector in improving its efficiency besides reducing the logistics cost, a study has said.
Maruti Suzuki, India's top carmaker by sales volume, has acquired land for at least two plants. Investments are flowing in thousands of crores.
Cyrus Mistry has helped fill the MD vacuum at Tata Motors. But despite his deep interest and engagement over a year now, sales are declining.
US government is moving too slowly to counter Islamic State group's fast-paced online propaganda and vast recruitment efforts, experts and lawmakers said.


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This morning Tamron announced the development of a new lens to replace their current 200-500mm model on the market. It has “cutting-edge eBAND Coating and three LD (Low Dispersion) glass elements, [it] delivers superior imaging performance while the latest built-in VC (Vibration Compensation) system broadens users’ horizons in achieving sharper handheld photographs.” The new SP 150-600MM F/5-6.3 DI VC USD also sports an all-black, classier design. [more]
There are a lot of products out there that try to be the one device to rule them all, and there are a lot of failures. The Lollipod is the newest contender, and it seems to be nothing more than a colorful, collapsible light stand with a cheap tripod head. Have I used one yet? No, and truthfully I can’t see why I would. With a maximum support weight of just under one pound (420 grams specifically) I don’t see how it could really hold anything [more]
Announced this morning by Profoto was their newest light in their lighting kit, the B1 Off-Camera Flash. Refusing it call it a speed light or a studio strobe, the completely cordless B1 Off-Camera Flash has some truly unique and interesting features not seen before in a studio strobe. Update - Now available on B&H for Preorder at $1,995.
The Nikon Df is finally official, after a full day of leaked information and a the past week with information basically already out there. That said, it’s all technically speculation until the official release happens. Nikon has finally pulled the curtain back and revealed their latest full frame DSLR. [more]
I’m not used to so many leaks/mistakes the day of a release, but it looks like someone at Amazon got a little trigger happy. Though the page is no longer active, we screen captured the entire upcoming product release for the hotly anticipated Nikon DF, including price, sensor size, and all the rest of the nitty gritty. [more]
The photography world lost one of its legends on Thursday with the death of fashion photographer Deborah Turbeville. She was 81. Turbeville lived in Manhattan, until her death, which resulted from her battle with lung cancer. Known as the “anti-Hemlut Newton,” Deborah Turbeville’s sense of femininity, combined with her penchant for darkness, made her one of the influential greats. [more]
November 5: will the day live in glory or infamy? We’re going to find out, as that looks to be the day Nikon will release their new retro compact full frame. Rumors are everywhere, so we’ll just try and stick to what we know. There are five videos, giving you five chances to sneak a peak at this new camera. [more]
Well, I guess Hasselblad is continuing on their path of form-over-function despite critics and general malaise from actual photographers the world over, adding more to their previously announced Stellar line. “The latest Stellar models offer photographers the choice of three new camera body colurs: black, white and orange – and ship with bespoke camera cases in black or white leather with signature stitching and shoulder and wrist straps.” [more]
BitBanger Labs out of Brooklyn, NY has launched a Kickstarter project that is quite the game changer for photographers who enjoy light painting. With the new Pixelstick you can “add photoreal images, abstract designs, and animation to your long exposure photos and timelapses.” [more]
Two nights ago we threw another successful Fstoppers party in NYC for the wrap up of Photo Plus. After hauling out all the remaining booze, breaking down the “Terry Richardson Photobooth,” and sweeping up a million glow sticks, we saw a heavy bag full of goodies. What we found was a brand new copy of Gregory Heisler’s 50 Portraits….and it was signed by the man himself! [more]
100cameras.org has to be one of the coolest photography related projects I’ve seen. The children in this program live in poverty but are given the opportunity to help improve their communities by sharing their stories through photography. Their photos help us understand the difficult conditions more than 1 billion children live in, world wide. The photos are for sale online and 100% of the proceeds go back to that child’s community. You can check out some of their work on Instagram and if you [more]
This weekend, Fstoppers has been at PhotoPlus Expo in New York City to give an inside look at all the new products being announced to the photography community. Yesterday, we showed off new products from Samsung, Spider Holster and more, and the day before we showed off the impressive DEFY gimbal system and others. Today, we were able to look into Sigma, Canon and Nikon’s new product lines. [more]
You don’t have to be into photojournalism or documentary photography to know that Robert Capa was one of the seminal names in 20th century photography. The last few years however, have seen various accusations surface that his iconic photo “Falling Soldier” – apparently showing the moment of death of a Spanish solider – was set up. This week new evidence came to light that might once and for all confirm the true story behind one of the most debated images of all time.
The last day of PDN’s PhotoPlus is coming to an end tonight and what better way to celebrate than doing it with the best of the best in the industry. Because we just can’t get enough of Peter Hurley, we’re teaming up with him again to make this year’s party EVEN better than last year. The party will kick off at 8pm until MIDNIGHT at the Highline lofts located at 508 W. 26 St. on the 5th Floor. We’ll be charging a $20 cover but that will include all the food and alcohol you can consume. [more]
If you couldn’t make it to the Photo Plus Expo in New York (PPE) which kicks off today, you don’t have to miss out on everything. Not only will our own Zach Sutton be reporting from the show floor, but Sigma is providing a live stream from their booth that they are calling “Sigma Safari,” featuring hands-on shooting experiences starring professional models transformed into safari animals. [more]


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HONG KONG—Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. and its partners will pay $8.6 billion to buy an 84.3% stake in the maker of the popular “Clash of Clans” mobile game, the companies said, in a deal that values the Finnish game maker at $10.2 billion.
Tencent and its partners will purchase the stake in Supercell Oy from Japanese telecommunications giant SoftBank Group Corp. and the Finnish company’s current and former employees, a person familiar with the deal said.
News of the deal was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal.
Tencent’s purchase of the stake will occur in stages and it is still in discussions with co-investors to join in on the purchase, the company said in a statement Tuesday. China-focused fund manager Hillhouse Capital Group has been leading discussions to put together a consortium of investors to join with Tencent to buy part of the Supercell stake, people familiar with the matter said earlier.
Because the purchase is occurring in stages, Tencent has sufficient funds to pay for the initial purchase, the people said. The Chinese internet giant is also planning to raise additional debt secured by Supercell’s assets to help cover some of the acquisition costs, they said.
A version of this article appeared at wsj.com.


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The Evolution of the FairMoney Microfinance Bank in Nigeria; from a loan application to a NeoBank
This article is a Press brand Publish. Press brand is a paid service for brands that want to directly reach Techpoint Africa’s audience. The Techpoint Africa editorial team does not write Brand Press content. To promote your brand through Brand Press, please send an email email@example.com
Over the past 7 years, a good number of lending platforms have sprung up in Nigeria. Rightly so, because access to financial inclusion remains a major scourge for many Nigerians. Access to credit to cover personal and business expenses remains a huge equalizer in the growth and development of the economy.
According to reportlinker, the impact of COVID-19 on consumer lending in Nigeria cannot be overstated as the local economy has been hit by the recession following various foreclosure measures, leading to increased unemployment and a decrease in disposable income. Major financial service providers were already fearful of lending at the start of 2020, with most banks failing to meet the 65% loan-to-deposit ratio, with various sanctions imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
At FairMoney we started with our loan products because we realized there was a huge gap in the market as Nigerians of a certain demographic could not access credit facilities to fuel their businesses and their lives, especially through traditional financial institutions.
Our mission has always been to meet the needs of as many Nigerians as possible. Our approach is to provide millions of Nigerians with loans and capital to meet their immediate needs and, in some cases, to expand their businesses. 117 billion yen in loans since its inception.
âThe repayment rate has been impressive as we use technology to underwrite loan facilities and we have also used artificial intelligence to underwrite loan facilities. It is a technology that we have developed in-house and many banks do not have it. This is how we were able to develop our loan portfolio while maintaining a cautious appetite for risk. Our non-performing loans are above the average standard, meaning our growth rate is above the average industry standard. Our default rate has been around 10%, âLaurin Hainy, CEO / co-founder of FairMoney recently said in an interview.
After 4 years of providing credit, we realized we could have more impact and deliver more value for Nigerians, and this year we have gone from a fast lending app to a full-fledged digital bank. because we recently acquired our microfinance banking license from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
We use the existing infrastructure that we have built to provide customer oriented service to solve the financial needs of clients in Nigeria.
As part of our banking offerings, we offer salary accounts that help people better manage their funds, and bank account holders have access to a number of benefits, including: 100 free bank transfers per month with no fees transaction. We also recently introduced our physical debit card which allows our customers to do more with their funds, in the most convenient way possible. We believe all Nigerians deserve more and at FairMoney we provide them with the tools to get more financially.
In addition to our recently launched physical debit cards, customers expect even more exciting updates over the next two months.
For more information about FairMoney Microfinance Bank, please email firstname.lastname@example.org or call us on +234 1 888 5577


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By Thom Lachenmann
There are only a limited number of ways to get exposure to Bitcoin on the public markets right now. Until the Winklevoss twins are able to launch their COIN exchange traded fund, options are limited for investors who want access to Bitcoin.
One of those methods to gain exposure to Bitcoin is to buy Greyscale Bitcoin Investment Trust (OTCQX:GBTC). GBTC “is a private, open-ended trust that is invested exclusively in bitcoin and derives its value solely from the price of Bitcoin. It enables investors to gain exposure to the price movement of bitcoin without the challenge of buying, storing, and safekeeping Bitcoins. The BIT’s sponsor is Grayscale Investments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Digital Currency Group.”
One GBTC share is about 0.094 Bitcoin right now.
But the problem with buying GBTC is that because it is one of the only ways to get exposure to Bitcoin on the public market, it is priced at a premium to NAV. Right now, at $93, it trades at a premium to NAV.
If you take 161,784 Bitcoin that the trust holds and multiply by about $580, the most recent price of Bitcoin, you get $93,834,720 for the total value of the trust. Divide that by 1,709,900 shares outstanding and you get $54.87.
GBTC currently trades at about $93, or almost a 73% premium to NAV.
With the retail investor now having far more access to mediums like Coinbase and other Bitcoin wallets that’ll allow individuals to buy Bitcoin directly, investors should not feel the need to rush into GBTC right now at this premium.
In our last article about Bitcoin, we recommended having exposure to Bitcoin over multiple platforms. We actually currently own GBTC right now, but we bought it at a point where it was trading a lot closer to NAV. If it comes down toward NAV, we think GBTC would be one of the few good ways to get exposure to the digital currency.
For right now, investors that want exposure to bitcoin should focus on methods of buying actual Bitcoin and setting themselves up with Bitcoin wallets. Going forward, investors will likely have more than one tradable financial asset to consider on the public markets, but for right now only GBTC is available. For now, we recommend getting your exposure to Bitcoin through other means until GBTC returns closer to its net asset value.
Much information for this article was sourced from GBTC’s latest 10-Q – worth a read if you’re interested in potentially investing.


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Bitcoin startups are emerging across Asia as entrepreneurs begin to see bitcoin's potential to improve the region's inefficient payments infrastructure and bolster its relative absence of advanced financial tools.
The company is led by co-founder and CEO Ron Hose, a graduate of Cornell, a founding partner at Innovation Endeavors and an established entrepreneur who previously co-founded Tokbox, a video communications services which was acquired by Telefónica Digital in 2012.
While Coins.ph began trading late last year, the actual exchange launched publicly in February. To date, Hose told CoinDesk that he's pleased with the results, stating:
Hose is also adamant in his belief that bitcoin can truly help consumers in the Philippines, explaining:
Because emerging markets are different than developed countries, Hose explains, Coins.ph had to provide a positive customer service process, one customers could trust to buy and sell bitcoin.
Building trust door-to-door
This emphasis on putting a trusting face to bitcoin's advanced technology has lead Coins.ph to provide services that would perhaps be uncommon in other markets.
The CEO is also looking to build on this trust by listening to the needs of the local market.
Because the team has an active exchange, they can now see what customers use it for and have begun building a second layer of applications on top, creating banking services for those outside the traditional financial system.
Here again, Hose is taking aim at what he views as an underdeveloped e-commerce infrastructure, comparing his service to other market alternatives:
Remittance within reach
According to Hose, there is even a larger pain point: transfer of money from other countries.
The Philippines one of the largest recipient for remittances in Asia and it was estimated that, in 2010, migrants sent around $21.3bn back to the country.
A large portion of these funds are going to people who do not have bank accounts and thus have to collect money in person at retail locations like Western Union, consequently paying an average of 9% in fees.
“The reason they pay this 9%,” explained Hose, “is because they don't have a bank account and likely will never have a bank account because they do not have enough savings. Banks have a cost structure (location, tellers, rent) and if you do not have sufficient savings on the first day when you open an account, the bank is already losing money."
Hose believes that bitcoin's ability to harness the power of mobile devices, however, will set it apart.
The way the company deals with regulatory issues, he said, is part of what differentiates his team from other local competition: "We have a well-seasoned Silicon Valley team. And even though bitcoin is not yet regulated in the Philippines [...] we treat it as if it was regulated. We work to comply with industry standard KYC/AML regulations; we are self-regulated and assume that we are being regulated."
Although the Philippines formally issued a warning against bitcoin in March, the country's lawmakers have not been quick to provide clarity as to how the local bitcoin ecosystem should operate.
Hose said this has brought new challenges his team is working to solve:
The team launched in the Philippines, however they see themselves as a regional player, aiming towards providing similar services to other markets, and expanding into places like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
In addition to a foot network, the team is still quite lean, comprising of around 10 people – one half in engineering and the other half in operations.
To accomplish its goal domestically, the team has built a large physical network and the next step is opening up this network up with an API (using a 'sneakernet' model) providing bitcoin ATM makers the ability to use this infrastructure to send money anywhere else in the Philippines.
Hose noted, "users can put in who they want to receive the funds and when they want to receive it. Next day delivery. We have providers that can do same-date, however we only guarantee next day as it is important to not overcommit to our customers. Part of providing good service is giving people the proper understanding what will happen and standing up for it 100% of the time".
Concluding, Hose mentioned he was recently on a panel in Singapore, and was asked what is going to drive bitcoin adoption.
In his view, the key will be finding use cases for the technology:
From there, he said, adoption should follow, adding:
Image via Coins.ph
CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk offers all employees above a certain salary threshold, including journalists, stock options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


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CCIEE Holds a Videoconference on RCEP Cooperation
On September 22, CCIEE held a videoconference with think tanks from RCEP member countries. Experts from CCIEE, Australian National University (ANU), Institute of Developing Economies of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) of Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yangon University of Economics, The University of Auckland and The Habibie Center of Indonesia launched discussions on how to promote regional economic and trade cooperation and regional integration under the framework of RCEP, as well as RCEP and industry chain cooperation.
Experts present agreed that against the backdrop of lasting impact from the COVID-19 and sluggish recovery of global economy, intensified trade and industrial cooperation under the framework of RCEP will not only facilitate economic recovery in member countries, but also play an important role in promoting economic globalization and regional integration and reshaping the layout of industry chain and supply chain worldwide. In the future, all countries should work together to enhance mutual trust and macro policy communication and coordination, effectively manage disputes, adhere to open market, and accelerate adoption of unified standards. The focus should be pragmatic cooperation on digital economy, green development, knowledge sharing, capacity building and climate change, so as to constantly inject impetus to regional economy.
Attending the videoconference included Zhang Yansheng, Principal Researcher of CCIEE, Peter Drysdale, Professor of ANU, Shiro Armstrong, Executive Director of ANU Australia-Japan Research Centre and East Asian Bureau of Economic Research in the Crawford School of Public Policy, Umezaki So, Director of Economic Integration Studies Group of Development Studies Center of JETRO, Phoutvichay Linsomphou, Deputy Director of AEC Division of ASEAN Department of IFA of Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Syviengnguen Bounlutai, Deputy Chief of Statistics and Planning Division of Department of Industry and Handicraft of Laos Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Rob Scollay, Associate Professor and Director of New Zealand APEC Study Centre of The University of Auckland, Su Su Myat, Professor and Head of Department of Applied Economics of Yangon University of Economics, Naw Hti Mu Lo Htoo, Professor and Head of Department of Economics of Yangon University of Economics, and Marina Ika Sari and Luthfy Ramiz, researchers at the ASEAN Studies Program of Indonesia’s Habibie Center.


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TOKYO (Reuters) – japan’s Sony Corp (6758.T) on Tuesday reported a 18.4 percent rise in first-quarter operating profit, beating market expectations, thanks to strong performance of the image sensor in the industry.
FILE PHOTO, Sony image sensors and are displayed at the company headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on November 27, 2017. The photo was taken on November 27, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
The electronics company posted an operating profit of 230.93 billion yen ($2.1 billion) for the April-June quarter, 195.01 billion yen a year earlier.
This was above the consensus estimate of 173.61 billion yen of 8 analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.
The company projects full-year sales forecast for the fiscal year that ended in March-at 8 to 10 billion yen.
After two years of record profits, Sony is now faced with a downturn in the gaming business is at the heart of the recent pick up in activity.
The industry is expecting increased costs for the development of a next-generation console, which analysts say will be coming out in 2020, when the five-year-old, the PlayStation 4 is nearing the end of his life.
But a higher gain on the image sensor business, led by demand for large-sized image sensor, and a multi-lens camera systems in smartphones, offset by the weakness in the gaming business.
In the semiconductor business, which is an image that includes the sensors, has reported a profit of 49.5 billion yen, an increase of 29.1 billion yen a year earlier.
The gaming company posted a profit of 73.8 billion yen, a decrease of 83.5 billion yen a year earlier.
($1 = 108.6200 of yen)
Reporting Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Stephen Coates


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Puerto Rico sales tax creditors want to depose buy canada goose jacket cheap officials over ‘conflicts’
territory manages its bond payments. municipal history canada goose store with $70 billion in bond debt and another $49 billion cheap Canada Goose in canada goose black friday sale pension liabilities, several creditor groups are litigating feverishly over who gets paid Canada my website Goose online first.
A source familiar with the COFINA creditors thinking said the group wants Canada Goose Jackets to depose Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello, one of his key advisers Elias Sanchez, and AAFAF director, Gerardo Portela.
A spokesman for the COFINA bondholder group declined to Canada Goose Coats On Sale comment. Sanchez, Portela and a spokeswoman for Rossello could not be reached for comment.
The decision on the scope of depositions will ultimately fall to Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who oversees Puerto Rico massive bankruptcy.
Thursday filing was part of a Canada Goose Online legal dispute between senior and canada goose clearance sale junior COFINA creditors over a $16 million interest payment arconserve due on June 1.
Court papers filed by the senior canada goose replica creditor group, which includes Cyrus Capital Partners and Tilden Park Capital Management, said AAFAF from irreconcilable conflicts canada goose coats on sale of interest because it acts on behalf of both COFINA and Puerto Rico central government separate debt canadian goose jacket issuers whose creditors are fighting over the same money.
COFINA $17 billion in bonds are backed by sales tax revenue. But holders of the central government $18 billion in general obligation canada goose deals (GO) bonds, including Aurelius Capital Management and Monarch canada goose clearance Alternative Capital, argue their constitutionally guaranteed canada goose coats debt puts Canada Goose sale them first in line for that revenue.
The senior COFINA Canada Goose Parka holders claim AAFAF canada goose outlet toronto factory has made overtures suggesting it supports raiding COFINA coffers to benefit GO holders. Creditors should be allowed to depose officials to determine ownership interest AAFAF has in the disputed canada goose funds, they argued.
Recoveries for COFINA creditors Canada Goose Outlet will hinge on their ability to establish COFINA buy canada goose jacket as separate from the 2018 canada goose outlet government and thus inaccessible to government creditors. Showing AAFAF is acting in the government best interest, but not canada goose outlet store locations COFINA could support that strategy.


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Opera is buying the startup for approx. $8 million in cash plus a $15 million earnout, which will be paid in cash only if “certain aggressive financial targets” are met over the next 24 months, TechCrunch has learned.
AdMarvel, founded in 2006, enables publishers and operators to source, manage and track advertising from virtually any ad network. The company works with a wide range of mobile publishers, developers, carriers, ad networks, agencies and advertisers to optimize advertising inventory and revenue. Its services work across mobile web, WAP, SMS and in-application modalities.
Formerly named Frengo, the startup was founded by CEO Mahi de Silva (ex-VeriSign and Apple) and a number of other former VeriSign executives. According to our records in CrunchBase, Frengo raised a total of $8 million over the years from investors like Index Ventures, Khosla Ventures and Trilogy Equity Partnership.
“In our fast-growing industry, mobile advertising represents an interesting long-term revenue opportunity. Every month, nearly 50 million people access the Web using Opera on their mobile phones and together with AdMarvel, we think we can play an important role in the evolution of mobile advertising,” says Lars Boilesen, who was recently promoted to Chief Executive Officer at Opera.
Opera says that the acquisition of AdMarvel will enable it to expand its portfolio of products and services to include ad monetization services for Opera-branded mobile products offered by operators and content partners.
This is the latest in a series of acquisitions in the mobile advertising space, although this is a minor one in comparison to Google’s purchase of AdMob ($750 million) and Apple’s acquisition of Quattro Wireless ($275 million).


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This year has already been christened a breakthrough year for mobile marketing, a promising medium that, with 2 billion cell-phone users worldwide, is one of the largest distribution channels on the planet. And the ad industry's biggest players are dipping their toes in previously uncharted waters: P&G Mobile Ad Lab is rolling out 35 mobile-based programs through the end of the third quarter; Pepsi is launching mobile video ads this summer; and Jeep is considering extending its Web miniseries, the Mudds, onto mobile phones.
They are compelling examples of how the biggest mass marketers are looking to get closer to their customers—in their pockets and purses, right next to their wallets. The good news? Holding companies with strong specialist offerings are well placed to cash in on these faster-growing, higher-margin businesses. The bad news? Their flagship ad-agency networks are finding it harder and harder to justify their roles as lead marketing advisers.
Much has been made of clients' shifts in spending toward marketing services, the industry's largest and fastest-growing segment, which is expected to hit $455.7 billion by 2010, according to Veronis Suhler Stevenson. Marketing services disciplines—cast as the more durable and dependable sibling of agency darlings with their Super Bowl ads—are increasingly taking the lead within holding companies.
Last week, long-struggling Interpublic Group finally offered some good news about improving domestic organic growth.
Yet those gains were driven not by any of IPG's high-profile agency networks but by increases in public relations and branding businesses at its Constituency Management Group unit.
In December, Publicis' $1.3 billion acquisition of Digitas suggested a new era in which the French company was positioning digital media as mainstream, on par with its other networks. While that shift in the balance of power is apparent at the holding-company level, there still appears to be denial at the operating units. Agencies overestimate their relevance to marketers, as those clients are already relegating them to a more fractionalized role, according to findings from Forrester Research. In a recent online survey of 141 marketing and agency executives, an overwhelming number—93 percent—believe their contributions drive their clients' marketing success, while only 63 percent of marketers feel the same way.
Industry observers feel that gap keenly. "Agencies don't have the kind of across-the-board influence they had 20 years ago," says consultant Joanne Davis. "Clients have so many other sources of learning now."
Spending aside, another telling yet overlooked detail demonstrates that the traditional agency has already lost its place at the head of the table. The marketing communications business is labor intensive, with more than half of revenue coming into marcom companies paid out to cover costs. So, trends in industry employment levels provide a valuable clue to the overall state of the business. According to an Adweek analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the head count in marcom companies is almost back to its historic peak from December 2000, before the Internet meltdown sparked industry recession. Staffing levels at agencies, however, aren't even halfway back to those previous highs (see sidebar). From 2000 to 2005, ad spending grew only 1.7 percent, according to Veronis Suhler, compared with an 8 percent rise for marketing services, the latter increase even more notable because it came off a larger base.
Aside from providing a measure of growth dynamics, the contrast between the respective recoveries in staffing levels underscores the increasing competition between traditional and nontraditional. Because of the severe contraction from 2000 to 2003, ad agencies have a shortage of employees with three to seven years' experience. Those midlevel staffers are needed to handle growing new business, if the recovery continues to take root. So, going forward, ad agencies and marcom specialists will be competing not only for new assignments but for midlevel staff as well. This could set off a round of salary inflation throughout the industry, resulting in pressure on profit margins, which at the first sign of a revenue slowdown would stimulate a new round of staff reductions.
The gap in agency/marketer perception is most pronounced when it comes to dealing with changes in consumer behavior and with Internet advertising, according to Forrester. Less than 60 percent of clients think their agencies can help navigate the changing consumer landscape, while 80 percent of agencies believe they are well prepared to do so. About 95 percent of agencies think they are well equipped to handle the Internet, while only 45 percent of marketers agree.
According to a retail marketing executive who participated in the survey: "Most senior ad execs appear more comfortable with conventional channels, which they claim are 'integrated' because they've tacked on a Web site." Adds another CMO: "Client-side marketers are better at managing integrated campaigns and being media agnostic."
At the 4A's Media Conference in Las Vegas last week, Procter & Gamble CMO Jim Stengel opened his remarks not with an ad campaign from one of his roster shops but with a clip of his own avatar's visit to Leo Burnett's office on Second Life. Stengel said the ad industry has improved somewhat in keeping up with consumer behavior and the Web, but added that goal is largely irrelevant. "We can no longer measure success in keeping up, because keeping up is not possible," he said. "What we need is a mind-set shift."
Judging by the survey, clients are not counting on ad agencies to deliver it. Interactive and digital are the areas in which marketers most often seek specialty shops, according to Forrester. Perhaps more surprising, nearly 60 percent of respondents cited "creative" as the next main reason to outsource work.
Marketers in the survey also said that while agencies still wield influence over a majority of their budgets, 76 percent of them admitted they do not measure the return on investment of their lead agency relationships. Some 69 percent said they feel ROI is too difficult to measure. Therefore, developing better metrics and accountability may be one way for agencies to hold their ground.
Participants in the Forrester survey say public relations is the third most useful area in which to employ an outside specialist. PR is currently one of the hottest areas of marcom, with spending up 12.5 percent to $3.35 billion in 2006, according to Veronis Suhler. "In an environment of clutter, public relations is a higher-quality deliverable. It brings third-party validation," says James Rutherfurd, svp at Veronis Suhler. (Rutherfurd adds that custom publishing, which grew by 29.1 percent in 2005, is another vibrant sector. It now generates more ad revenue—$28 billion—than the consumer magazine industry, with $20 billion.)
It is shifting media technologies and preferences that are exposing major weaknesses in traditional agencies which continue to struggle to adapt. Saddled with legacy structures, agencies have been slow to acquire the skills in emerging channels.
Still, one marcom advocate does not rule out the continuing influence of large agency networks. "Look at [Omnicom's] traditional agencies. Their results aren't hurting because of DAS," says Tom Harrison, CEO of Omnicom Group's Diversified Agency Services unit. "I don't see general advertising going away. It continues to add value to the general mix."
DAS's own performance belies that optimism about the longevity of agency networks. During Harrison's nine years in senior management at DAS, those operations have quadrupled in size, with that inflow of dollars often coming at the expense of traditional ad spending. DAS and DAS-related entities—marcom companies aligned with Omnicom agencies—now contribute 59 percent of Omnicom's revenue, compared with about 36 percent when Harrison came into the job.
Yet Harrison says history can be a guide. "With the Internet, five years ago we said it would replace advertising, but it didn't," he says. "People realized it was just another channel."


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The new PCMS platform allows companies to access, purchase and bring their own digital services to the market within 12 weeks.
Telecommunications provider BT has announced a new cloud-based “business-platform-as-a-service” offer aimed at reducing the time companies need to market with digitized services.
The platform uses BT’s Cloud Cloud solution that connects customers with cloud collaboration applications , security services, third-party data centers, customer data centers, and third-party cloud services such as Cisco, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Oracle, HPE, Salesforce, Equinix, Google and IBM Softlayer.
BT has explained that the new platform, called BT Personalized Compute Management System (PCMS), allows customers to access, buy and bring their own digital services to the market within 12 weeks.
“Users will have access to business support processes and functions already prepared to enable them to sell, fulfill and monetize their own portfolio of digital services,” said the company.
The platform currently has more than 45 digital business support processes, including customer management, product management, user authentication, order management, and billing solutions.
PCMS contains a global catalog of services with localized sales channels, allowing customers to “shop online in their own currency, set contract terms, tax laws and language,” BT has described.
The platform will be available globally in the last quarter of 2017 and has been developed with BearingPoint, a management and technology consulting firm.


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Meta is expanding its virtual world to more countries. This time, the company announced the arrival of its Horizon Worlds application to users in Spain and France. With this, there are already five nations where Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse is available, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The announcement was made through his Facebook account with a photo of his avatar and a metaversal reproduction of the Eiffel Tower and the Sagrada Familia behind, where he also highlighted that they are working to add more countries where their virtual reality social platform is. enabled.
What is Horizon Worlds?
Horizon Worlds is a free app developed by Meta that works like a virtual reality playground. By entering, currently from Virtual Reality glasses, it is possible to play, attend events or just hang out with friends in experiences created by Meta or by the user community.
This is one of the most important initiatives of the technology to build the vision it has regarding the metaverse, because it can become a place where people spend their time and even spend money being inside this virtual world.
“If you just imagine some future metaverse at some point, clearly the ability to sell virtual goods and be able to take them with you from one world to another is going to be a big part of it,” Zuckerberg said in an interview last April, where he announced the purchase feature.
Among the items that could be purchased were fashion items for the avatar or secret sections to the world. In addition, the company has also started testing a bonus program for creators in Horizon Worlds. “The monetization of creators is really important, because everyone should be able to support themselves and make a living building these amazing experiences,” Zuckerberg said.
How much money has Meta spent building his metaverse?
The intention of creating a metaverse is complex and expensive. In April, Zuckerberg pointed out that the company had lost 3,000 million dollars due to this objective and although in 2022 they did not expect growth, he pointed to 2030 as the year in which his virtual world materializes.
“Obviously, this is a very expensive undertaking in the next few years. But as the metaverse becomes more important in every part of how we live from our social platforms, to entertainment, to work, to education, to commerce, I trust we’ll be glad we played a big part in building this. ”, admitted Zuckerberg after the report of the second quarter.
According to figures reported by Meta, if the metaverse evolves to the same extent as it has been doing, it would have a 5% contribution to Latin America’s GDP by 2031, that is, 320,000 million dollars, while globally its impact would be 8.2% of GDP.
Horizon Worlds had more than 300,000 monthly users until February of this year, so the company is also interested in developing a web version of its application, with the purpose of giving access to the metaverse to people who do not have devices. of VR.
Although a web version is contrary to Zuckerberg’s idea that the metaverse will be a “successor to the mobile internet”, Meta develops this idea to be an inclusive space from its origin, said Maxine Williams, vice president of diversity at Meta, in an interview with Expansión.


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Washington, DC—On August 16th, Colorado approved a rule requiring automobile manufacturers to have a certain percentage of their sales come from electric vehicles between 2023 and 2030. In a blog posted today by Resources for the Future, researchers explore the question posed by the title: “Will Automakers Meet Colorado’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Program Requirements?”
Their conclusion: It’s likely.
The Colorado Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) program requires a gradual increase in battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles starting in 2023. The program requires an initial increase in ZEV sales from 2023 to 2025 and then a leveling off at 6.07 percent through 2030. In March 2019, about 3.5 percent of Colorado new vehicle sales were ZEVs, up from about 1.5 percent in 2017. The 2025 requirements would require nearly double the ZEV sales relative to today, making the program, according to the authors, “seemingly daunting at first thought.”
However, to get a sense of the program’s chances of succeeding, RFF Fellow Benjamin Leard and Clayton Munnings of Munnings Consulting point to three critical factors:
First, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids have seen incredible sales growth during the last few years. But a future removal of the government-sponsored incentives could significantly reduce ZEV demand. On the other hand, future falling battery prices could very well counteract that effect.
Second, charging station infrastructure is expected to continue growing rapidly over time. Colorado has committed to expanding its charging station infrastructure throughout the state, focusing on expanding its network of fast charging stations.
Third, automakers are gearing up to release many new ZEV models during the next five years, which will undoubtedly expand ZEV demand.
Taken together, the authors note, “These factors suggest that Colorado’s new program should be attainable.”
Resources for the Future (RFF) is an independent, nonprofit research institution in Washington, DC. Its mission is to improve environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement. RFF is committed to being the most widely trusted source of research insights and policy solutions leading to a healthy environment and a thriving economy.
Unless otherwise stated, the views expressed here are those of the individual authors and may differ from those of other RFF experts, its officers, or its directors. RFF does not take positions on specific legislative proposals.


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Heels-loving Kim Kardashian may want to listen to what Sarah Jessica Parker has to say about stilettos. In the latest issue of Net-a-Porter’s online magazine, the Sex and the City star, who made Manolo Blahnik a household name, says she’s trading in her heels for sneaks these days — on doctor’s orders.
“For ten or so years, I literally ran in heels. I worked 18-hour days and never took them off. I wore beautiful shoes, some better made than others, and never complained,” the actress, 47, told the magazine.
After twisting her ankle on the set of I Don’t Know How She Does It, in which she wore less expensive shoes to be true to her working mom character, “I went to a foot doctor and he said, ‘Your foot does
things it shouldn’t be able to do. That bone there…. You’ve created that bone. It doesn’t belong there.’ The moral of the story is, the chickens are coming home to roost. It’s sad, because my feet took me all over the world, but eventually they were like, ‘You know what, we are really tired, can you just stop — and don’t put cheap shoes on us?'”
The couture-addicted actress still wears heels to fancy events, but with three kids to run after (James Wilkie, 10, and twin girls Marion and Tabitha, 3), downtime is spent largely in more comfortable footwear — probably to her fashion-loving girls’ chagrin. “The emotions run so much higher,” Parker says of her daughters. “The arguing about clothes? I am stunned. We have a whole fashion system to try and override the fighting.”
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!


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Since the birth of Bitcoin in 2009, JPMorgan Chase has been a leader in the cryptocurrency space, providing clients access to a wide range of cryptocurrencies for their private trading and investment portfolios. However, over the past week, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Jamie Dimon, has taken to the airwaves to warn investors about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrency scams are nothing new but this latest wave of scams, which target investors in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, has been particularly aggressive. The problem is that these scams are targeting investors at their most vulnerable, when they are not familiar with the new technology.
Just moments ago, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who has been labeled as a bitcoin maximalist, said in an interview that the cryptocurrency is a fraud that could end up costing investors their life savings. “I think it’s a fraud. I think it’s worse than tulip bulbs. It won’t end well,” Dimon said during an interview with Fox Business.. Read more about crypto bubbles and let us know what you think.
The value of the overall cryptocurrency market has fallen by about $1 trillion since peaking at $2.5 trillion in mid-May, suggesting that bitcoin and cryptocurrency prices have struggled over the past month.
Bitcoin is the most important crypto currency on the market
Bitcoin has long been one of the main drivers of the market, and virtually all other tokens, including Ethereum, Binance’s BNB, Cardano, Dogecoin, and Ripple’s XRP, follow bitcoin’s price movements.
Although Ethereum, the second largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin, has outperformed Bitcoin in recent months, its price fell along with Bitcoin this week as China took action against cryptocurrency miners who use large amounts of electricity to protect the blockchain and validate transactions in exchange for newly created tokens.
Bitcoin is at the top of the list of cryptocurrencies. At the time of this writing, its coin price is $33,729.85 with a change of 1.54%. Over the past 24 hours, trading volume was $33,988,483,827 and market value was $633,019,209,576. Currently, BTC has an outstanding reserve of 18,742,356.00 BTC.
On the Luxembourg-based marketplace Bitstamp, bitcoin fell to a low of $28,600 per bitcoin this week, before rebounding to $30,000 and jumping to $6,000 in a matter of hours.
Meanwhile, the value of other top 10 cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Binance BNB, Cardano, Dogecoin, and Ripple XRP, has plummeted, wiping hundreds of billions of dollars from the $1.4 trillion cryptocurrency market.
After correctly predicting the recent sell-off in bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, analysts at Wall Street giant JPMorgan now predict that the price of bitcoin will fall in the medium term.
Although JPMorgan gives bitcoin a theoretical price target of $140,000 based on convergence of the volatility of bitcoin and gold, bitcoin is almost six times more volatile than gold, giving it 1/6th the real value of $140,000 or $23,000.
Despite this week’s decline, experts remain adamant about their bearish outlook for bitcoin and the crypto-currency markets in general, saying that some recovery has taken place, but our signals remain generally negative.
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, the world’s largest manager of digital assets, allows institutional investors to buy shares in the trust, which now owns just over 650,000 bitcoin tokens, or about 3 percent of the total bitcoin stock.JPMorgan is the largest bank in the United States, and it has been established since 1823. It has a headquarters in New York City, and it has 57,000 employees who work in its various divisions and subsidiaries.. Read more about jp morgan btc and let us know what you think.
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By the end of this month, Motorola plans to release the Edge X30 as the Edge 30 Pro outside of China.
On Twitter, the business formally announced the arrival of a new Edge-branded phone for February 24th. It’s unclear whether the company intends to release a whole series or simply one handset.
The Edge X30 is now available in China and will soon be accessible worldwide. The Edge X30 Pro is likely to be a renamed version of the X30 with a modest design change.
If the global variant is a rebranded version of the Edge 30 Pro, the device will have a 6.7-inch 10802400 144 Hz OLED display and be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC.
Also Read: Redmi 10 2022 is Coming to Pakistan Soon
The smartphone is rumoured to come with 8GB and 12GB of RAM, as well as 128GB or 256GB of internal storage.
A 50MP main lens with OIS support, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and 2MP depth sensors will be included in the rebranded handset’s triple back camera configuration. A 60MP lens is believed to be included in the selfie camera.
The Edge X30 comes with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 68W rapid charging and runs Android 12.


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Tech Business REcap: Hewlett-Packard Brings PC-Related Stocks DOWN
Shares of Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HPQ) tumble, and bring other PC-related names along, subsequent to its fiscal third quarter results that included major top-line weakness, in PCs in particular, along with a sobering conference call. Needham created a list of H-P problems which includes the remark that the company is “a PC business struggling to find a place in the new tablet/ultrathin world while fighting off bottom-feeders.” In response, Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) shares descend to new multi-year lows, compounding the bath the company took on Wednesday from its own earnings statement. Other PC-related names suffering in kind in mid-afternoon trading on Thursday are Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NYSE:AMD). With respect to Microsoft, the consumer and enterprise receptions to Windows 8 are now more crucial than ever, but the product has already gotten quite a wide mixture of initial reviews.
Want news like this in real-time so you can get an edge? Click here for Wall St. Cheat Sheet Pro.


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Charlie will be launching a line of THC vape pens called the Sheenius, with PotCoin referenced in ev
How about this for adoption.
Crazy ol Charlie Sheen is jumping on two bandwagons simultaneously. Marijuana and crypto.
The "Sheenius" pen will be sold in stores who will be accepting PotCoin. Which is traded on major exchanges like Bittrex and Poloniex.
Current price is 12cents.
Here is the announcement
the time is near, the place is everywhere, the rumors are all true! life’s missing ingredient has arrived! SHEENIUS© official THC vape line! the name says it all. welcome aboard.


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The ‘robotization’ of the logistics industry will result in 1.5 million job losses in the Eurozone over the next ten year period, according to the latest study by Roland Berger.
The report shows that robotization will significantly increase warehouse productivity, with a reduction in handling costs by 20 to 40%.
It also illustrates the sharp fall of robotic solution costs and expects the figure to fall below 100,000 euros in the next four years.
With this in mind, the Roland Berger study projects the figure of 1.5 million job losses in the industry, with the sectors worst affected including logistics service providers and the commerce and manufacturing industry.
The study is officially titled “Of Robots and Men – in logistics: Towards a confident vision of logistics in 2025.”
Roland Berger Principal, Mehdi El Alami, said that while robotization of the logistics industry seems to be inevitable from a microeconomic perspective, its significance in terms of macroeconomics is still not certain.
The new logistics automation solutions are enabling both machines and human operators to work alongside each other in the same warehouse and are have resulted in organisations rethinking the way they have organised work over the last few decades.
Included in the operational scope of the machines are loading, order palletising and preparation, stacking and un-stacking and the moving of pallets.
The authors of the Roland Berger study say that the best solution is for European countries to make themselves more competitive in the market by becoming a more attractive logistics hub by gradually introducing machines into the industry.
The experts also recommend the decision makers to form an ecosystem around an evenly spread and flexible robotization process so that the transition is subtly overseen.
The study also recommends that regulations are simplified in order to compensate for the additional cost forecast of arduous work in the logistics industry.


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The iPhone is more than twelve years old now. The first generation of the phone being released in 2007 and unveiled by the company co-founder and then-CEO Steve Jobs. Since then, the iPhone has gone through various changes in its design, the build, the internals, and much more. However, the home screen of the iPhone which is a grid of icons with a dock at the bottom has remained largely unchanged.
If the first generation iPhone and the latest iPhone 11’s home screen is compared: the only difference would be minute changes in icon designs and the addition of the software home gesture button on the iPhone 11. Over the years, there have been multiple rumours about a refreshed home screen but that never happened.
Home screen refresh (F5?)
So the big question here is whether Apple will ever tweak the design of the home screen and if yes, then when? Till this year, both the iPhone and the iPad have largely shared the same software. However, starting this year, iPads will run iPadOS which has a slightly tweaked home screen. The company has added widgets to the home screen to take use of the big screen.
Similarly, we expect Apple to make some changes to the working of the home screen on iOS. Also, another interesting point to note is that the last major update to iOS’ design was in 2013 with iOS 7. Apple refreshed the design of iOS only once after six versions based on the original theme. This year marked six years of iOS 7 styled design and we expect Apple to make major changes to the OS that power the iPhone.
Finally, iPhones with new design!
Also, the iPhone X design will be three years old by next year and we expect Apple to release a new design for the iPhone. Next year seems to be the best time for the company to refresh the software side of design as well.


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- Vivian Hendriksz |
The impact of the EU Referendum vote on consumer footfall and shopping centre spend is said to be on the rebound according to the latest figures from CRM platform and mobile loyalty provider Coniq. However, there are a number of areas across the UK which are still struggling with the uncertainty of what effect the Brexit will have.
Overall consumer traffic to shopping centres increased 31 percent year-on-year since the Brexit vote, according to data from Coniq. This boost highlights a boost in consumer confidence when it comes to their disposable income and spend. However, even though overall footfall is up from last year, the results differed dramatically depending on whether shopping centres were in areas which voted to leave or remain in the EU.
Interestingly, areas which voted to leave the UK were found to have significantly pulled back on their shopping visits, with footfall decreasing 65 percent in total. However footfall in areas where the majority voted to remain increased 33 percent year on year.The same principle applied to consumer spending habits, as leave areas reported a 55 percent decrease in transactions, with revenue declining 68 percent as the average transaction value fell by 27 percent year on year. But remain areas saw transactions increase by 40 percent, revenue go up by 50 percent and average transactional value increase by 12 percent.
"It is tough on retailers in today’s climate, where not only do they have to tackle living wages, rising business rates and steep competition, but also political decisions that affect the economy have a huge sway on customer trends and spend," commented Ben Chesser, founder and CEO at Coniq.
"As the UK finds itself in a period of uncertainty it is unsurprising that spend dips in some areas, but following the latest election results and strong response from remain areas, perhaps some of the feeling of instability has passed and shoppers are now looking to return to their usual purchasing trends."


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Israeli group opens shopping mall in Novi Sad
The first shopping center owned by Israel's BIG Shopping Centers Group was launched in the town of Novi Sad, north of Belgrade, on Thursday.Source: Tanjug
The Serbian operation is known as BIG CEE Serbia, and represents an investment worth EUR 50mn, it has been announced.
The company's website describes it as "an 'Open Mall' retailing platform".
The shopping center shows that Serbia could attract many more investments from Israel and other countries if it improves and changes its investment environment, Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić said at the opening ceremony.
He also described it as "important for Novi Sad and Vojvodina", and said he hoped "it would prompt other Israeli investors to invest throughout Serbia, especially in agriculture".
Israeli Ambassador to Serbia Yossef Levy stressed that the mall was "another proof the Israelis had faith in Serbia's present and future and its economy".
BIG Shopping Centers CEO Eitan Bar Zeev said the new mall covered a space of 40,000 square meters.
"Around 500 people will be employed at the facility, and the people will be able to buy merchandise produced by world-famous brands," Bar Zeev added.
The shopping center is the largest facility of its type in the province of Vojvodina and will bring brands like DIS Supermarket, New Yorker, Home Center and others to consumers in that part of the country.


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V Australia will initially operate flights between the east coast of Australia and the west coast of the U.S., commencing operations in December 2008. The new Sabre link provides V Australia the ability to reach more leisure and corporate travelers by using a multi-channel distribution strategy.
“The decision to utilize the Sabre GDS channel is important in our V Australia distribution strategy as we prepare to launch a new airline into global markets,” said Brett Godfrey, CEO of Virgin Blue. “We expect it will be advantageous to early sales penetration in international markets and to delivering significant booking share in key markets in the U.S. and Australia.”
Virgin Blue’s V Australia now uses Sabre Airline Solutions including, the AirFlite Suite, AirOps Suite, AirCrews management system and AirMax Revenue Manager. Sabre collectively serves 50,000 travel agency locations worldwide. Visit www.virginblue.com.au or www.sabre-holdings.com.


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Nintendo of America has announced via a press release that both Unchained Blades and Code of Princess are available on the Nintendo 3DS eShop. Gunman Clive is also available on […]
Xseed will be publishing FuRyu’s dungeon RPG, Unchained Blades, when it arrives on Nintendo’s latest handheld. The game, which released on the PlayStation Portable earlier this year, will launch on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS on January 3rd, 2013 and will cost $29.99. This makes Unchained Blades the most expensive Nintendo eShop-exclusive game on the Nintendo 3DS.
XSEED has confirmed that it’s bringing Japanese dungeon crawler Unchained Blades to the Nintendo 3DS eShop as a digital download later this year. Unchained Blades has been created by the […]


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The sale of cannabis to tourists in Holland is to be banned - and it could mean the end of a liberal approach to soft drugs.
So, the experiment has finally gone wrong... I never thought it would end on a high.
Even the Dutch themselves could face restrictions on the sale of marijuana by the end of the year as the government tries to promote health and fight crime.
Amsterdam has about 220 coffee shops. Some have been closed in the red light district. A few border towns have already restricted the sale of cannabis to foreigners in an attempt to stop drug tourism.
"In order to tackle the nuisance and criminality associated with coffee shops and drug trafficking, the open-door policy of coffee shops will end," said officials.
SKY NEWS STORY
DRUG POLICE OF THE NETHERLANDS - WIKIPEDIA


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Plywood maker Derula, based in Szolnok (E Hungary), plans to spend almost €30 million over several years to more than double capacity, the company's Italian owner Enrico Bonzano said on Wednesday.
The company also wants to double the size of its tree plantation from 1,500 hectares at present, Bonzano said, showing Szolnok mayor Ferenc Szalay a new production line at the base.
The expansion of capacity at the plant will create 88 new jobs, and the planting of more trees further 200-300 jobs, he said.
Derula produces 40,000 cubic meters of plywood a year, generating gross revenue of €14 million. It employs 136 people at present.


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In our Preview of the gaming year 2023 we not only introduced you to upcoming, potential game highlights, but also asked a few questions that will hopefully be answered in the next eleven months. Among other things, we are very excited to see whether the comeback attempts of the two once dazzling events E3 and BlizzCon can succeed.
Shot across the bow of the E3 steamer
As for E3, we’ve already been to that Announcement that this year there will be a big live event for the first time in four years, skeptical. After all, many publishers have now switched to organizing their own online showcases, which are flanked by major digital events such as the Summer Game Fest or the Game Awards in December. Does anyone even need an E3 these days?
And indeed, it currently looks as if the E3 will not be able to continue the old glory days when it comes back in 2023, when the largest game providers wanted to outdo each other year after year with big live shows and spectacular announcements. As reported by IGNwith Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo three of these “big players” will not even appear at E3 2023.
What are the big guys planning?
According to IGN, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer stated that while they plan to host their own showcase, “which roughly coincides with the event itself“. However, according to IGN, it should not be an option to have a stand at the fair or even to invite people to the live event on site. After all, Phil Spencer would like to pay a visit to the fair himself:
“For me, E3 is simply one of the most important moments in the gaming industry. I love going to LA, seeing thousands of people there, seeing great new things…meeting people in the industry, the fan events we’ve had. I definitely want this to continue.“
IGN also claims to have learned from industry sources that Nintendo and Sony will not be there either. Admittedly, Nintendo hasn’t held a press conference at E3 for almost a decade. At the last live event in 2019, there was still an exhibition area. Sony, on the other hand, was a fixture at E3 for a long time, but had canceled 2019 due to alleged disagreements with the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) (via Kotaku).
How are the organizers reacting?
ReedPop, who took over planning the show last year, told IGN:
“We believe we have created a new format for the event that meets both the needs of the industry and fans, and we are committed to growing and expanding it in the years to come.
Having spent much of 2022 evolving E3 2023 based on the feedback we’ve collected, we haven’t sent a single contract to an exhibitor as of earlier this month. We’ve received tremendous interest and verbal commitments from many of the industry’s biggest companies, and we’re confident that when we can announce the exhibitors, the trip to Los Angeles will be rewarding for industry and consumers alike.“


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The VIIcode Eye Mask has just launched.
'Real' experiences of 'real' people are the gold standard, and evidence is replacing advertising claims.
Tips to determine whoâs rightâand whoâs not.â¨
The first winners of the 2015 Fragrance Foundation Awards were announced, along with the Finalists.
As more brands seek to convey luxury, metal and metallic looks have become more popular than ever for packaging this year.
The co-author of Cradle-to Cradle will provide valuable insight at Luxe Pack New York.
The company has reduced its CO2 emissions by 57% - and its suppliers are in for some changes by 2020.
The Fragrance Foundation names this yearâs top contenders.
Philanthropical project is a collaboration with HCT Group.
Sign up now to receive the free weekly newsletter, and more!


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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Pedestrians make their way at a business district in Tokyo, Japan, December 7, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
By Tetsushi Kajimoto
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese companies raised spending on plant and equipment in January-March at the fastest rate since 2015, led by a recovery in car output and chip making as well as service-sector investment in real-estate, reflecting moderate economic growth.
Capital spending has been a bright spot for Japan’s economy, the world’s third largest, which emerged from a pandemic-induced slump in the first quarter buoyed by rebounding consumption and surprise gains in business expenditure.
Japanese firms raised capital expenditure by 11.0% in January-March from the same period a year earlier, posting an eighth straight quarter of gains, Ministry of Finance (MOF) data showed on Thursday.
That marked the fastest gain since July-September in 2015.
On a seasonally-adjusted basis, capital expenditure rose 2.3% quarter-on-quarter in January-March.
The MOF data is used to calculate revised gross domestic product figures for the quarter due on June 8 and follows a preliminary estimate the economy grew by an annualised 1.6% in January-March, twice as fast as expected.
By sector, manufacturers raised capital expenditure by 11.3% year-on-year in the first quarter, while service-sector capital spending rose by 10.8% in the same period, according to the data.
In a positive sign of future appetite for more investment and further wage hikes, Japanese firms increased recurring profits by 4.3% year-on-year in January-March to 23.8 trillion yen ($176.23 billion), a first-quarter record.
By sector, manufacturers’ profits declined by 15.7% year-on-year in the first quarter, while service-sector profits grew by 17.2% in the same period.
The MOF data also showed Japanese firms’ sales grew 5.0% in the January-March quarter year-on-year.
($1 = 135.0500 yen)


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Double World Champion and new Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso has praised his team for launching their actual 2023 car at their launch event, with the team having opted for a traditional car launch.
A theme of the 2023 launch season has been that teams have opted to simply reveal their livery, not their actual car set for Bahrain.
Most sides have used a model of their 2022 car to show off their new livery, in a bid to give absolutely nothing away.
Aston Martin on the other hand, used their actual 2023 car – the AMR23 – at their launch event, which was held at their new Silverstone-based factory.
Whilst the British side weren’t the first this season to hold a launch event, they were one of the first to unveil their actual car, something Alonso believes “the fans will appreciate”.
“I think the fans will appreciate that we launched the real car,” he explained to media, as quoted by RacingNews365.
“It is sometimes disappointing to see a show car with different stickers, so this team is just more fair on everything.”
Aston Martin technical director Dan Fallows added on Alonso’s comments and admitted that the team were “very keen” to use the car which would be used in their shakedown test, with the side also wanting to demonstrate to their fans that the team “do want them to see the real car”.
“We obviously have a very aggressive development programme,” Fallows said.
“Although we’re restricted by the cost cap, we do want to be continually putting parts on the car as quickly as we possibly can.
“But we were very keen that the car we launched is the car that will shake down, and it will be with some very minor adjustments perhaps in Bahrain.
“That’s the key thing for us. I think it’s important to show to our fans that we do want them to see the real car.
“I think it’s very difficult from a personal point of view, standing around looking at last year’s car, to say: ‘Well this is obviously different, the sticker’s different!’
“That was a big thing for us.
“We’re very fortunate to have built up a very strong fan base over the last couple of years, and I think it was very important to us that we gave them something, as well as media and our families.”


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Facebook has been pushing users to share more of what they love, especially through structured status updates. Users can now post visual stories that say they’re watching “Game of Thrones,” or “The Big Bang Theory,” and those preferences will be added to users’ Timelines under favorite shows. But does liking a show’s Facebook page necessarily correlate to watching it? In a recent study, CitizenNet discovered that a 3 percent increase in likes for a show’s page usually translates into a 1 percent bump in viewership.
CitizenNet, a Facebook Preferred Marketing Developer in the field of ads, studied 77 television shows from 2011 and 2012, focusing on the time around season premieres, when interest in shows is usually at its highest. It studied more than 20 metrics provided by Facebook’s insights tool, comparing them with Nielsen viewership numbers using linear regression.
CitizenNet found that usually, Facebook activity did lead to increased viewership. Taking into account metrics such as click-through rate, people talking about this, and other figures, CitizenNet came up with a value for predicted viewership and compared it with how many people actually watched the show, according to Nielsen.
CitizenNet then wanted to pare it down and just focus on two metrics for predicted viewership: total number of people who have liked the show’s page (awareness) and the average click-through rate of a page’s content (intent). The point CitizenNet makes is that it’s not enough to simply get likes and manage greater awareness, but pages have to produce content that will encourage people to engage.
The company found that by comparing likes and click-through rates with Nielsen ratings, it showed again that Facebook activity does have a correlation with viewership.
CitizenNet commented on what this means for all brands and marketers, not just those in the television category:
It’s unfortunate that so many marketers are caught up in the myriad of measures and scores that come out of online advertising. As we have shown, many online metrics are correlated with each other, so not having a useful dependent variable makes some people come to the conclusion that social media metrics are a waste of time. By looking to see how online influences offline, we can see that successful marketers are just trying to appeal to people’s nature – regardless of the medium.
It’s also unfortunate that so many marketers have focused purely on cost-efficiency and Facebook likes. As much as every industry needs to stretch their ad dollars, there’s no use in advertising to the wrong people. Our advice is to start building simple benchmarks of past performance, with an eye to overall CTR (not just paid, but organic, as well), as well as cost efficiency.
Readers: How often do you post about TV shows on Facebook?


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Today we have a new set of the upcoming Hyundai Tucson by our spy photographer Carpix.
Thanks to our spy photographer Carpix we can bring you these set of pictures of the Hyundai I30 N Fastback facelift, lets take a look!
Hyundai Motor Spain has launched a campaign featuring brand ambassador and sportswoman Mireia Belmonte, which tests out Hyundai NEXO’s clean hydrogen fuel-cell technology.
Hyundai Motor Company and Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), announced today their cooperation to jointly evaluate opportunities to develop and commercialize electric and fuel cell powertrains.
Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility (HHM), the joint venture between Hyundai Motor Company and H2 Energy, forged a partnership with Hydrospider, a joint venture of H2Energy, Alpiq and Linde to promote green hydrogen ecosystem in Switzerland and ...
When the Hyundai Santa Cruz was shown as Concept model, it was based on the Tucson chassis and now new comments by Hyundai Australia Chief Executive John Kett other plans are in the mix.
Kia Motors Corporation has appointed Karim Habib as Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Design Center.
Genesis today announced that Filippo Perini will join the brand as its Chief Designer at the Genesis Advanced Design Studio in Europe.


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Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang leads officials in checking food hygiene levels and the cleanliness of street food vendors near Pathumwan Institute of Technology in Pathumwan district. BMA is now creating a zone for food safety to help vendors and the public. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)
If you are a working-class employee in Thong Lor — a street filled with chic bars, expensive restaurants and high-society teenagers speeding by in foreign luxury cars — then available street food is one of few options that aligns with your daily dining budget.
But a recent crackdown on street vendors by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has had locals and workers here fretting as the government targeted this trendy street on Sukhumvit Road first and cleared most of the cheap, unregulated vendors out.
It also launched measures to better regulate vendors in Bangkok’s best-known street food zones including Yaowarat (better known as Chinatown) and the nearby backpacker’s haven of Khao San Road.
While this is good news for tourists — as well as for food hygiene in general — it does little to address the financial needs of the capital’s working class: both vendors and consumers.
“It would be a blessing for those who are struggling to cope with high living costs if state authorities could find a space where street food vendors can come and sell their goods at cheap prices,” said 23-year-old office worker Kanyarat Haemman, who works in Thong Lor.
People may pat the authorities on the back for cleaning up the sidewalks but they would rather have easy access to an affordable meal and, for vendors, a livelihood, critics say.
In response to a backlash from the public, the BMA is now telling vendors they can reopen for business as long as they operate in certain rent-controlled spaces under strict regulation.
As the first phase of the project, dubbed “Bangkok Community Food Source”, four areas in the city have been green-lit for these vendors so locals can access clean, cheap and delicious meals. That number will grow to 10 by the end of this month, the government said.
The four areas opened to the public on Sept 14.
They include one adjacent to a Tesco Lotus near Pathumwan Institute of Technology (PIT); a car park near Lumpini Park; a space in front of Kung Luang restaurant on the west side of the Chao Phraya River; and an area near the front of Soi Chao Phraya Hospital in Bangkok Noi district.
The project reflects the BMA’s concerns over the high cost of living that city residents face amid a sluggish economy and its sympathy for street food vendors in light of the ban, said Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang.
He said 8,007 vendors who were illegally occupying Bangkok’s pavements have been ordered to remove their stalls from public pavements, including 6,334 food vendors.
The BMA said it hopes to extend the project to more areas by negotiating with landlords for cheaper rent.
Critics suggest the authority should benchmark other countries that have successfully dealt with this problem and follow their example.
One example would be to lump vendors together in common areas near where they formerly plied their trade and allow them to keep operating as long as they agree to cooperate with the government, said Wichai Charoentra, who owns a small business in the Sukhumvit area.
Those who violate hygiene regulations or other rules would be banned from that area, he added.
However the government should also bear in mind how many vendors in Bangkok are subsisting just above the breadline and effect special measures to help them cope, suggested Athiwat Sachadamrongrit, a 54-year-old businessman in the Silom area.
“My hotel, for instance, is located in the heart of Silom, where restaurants offer food at rather high prices for hotel guests and those who can afford to pay,” he said.
“But what about the security guards, drivers and cleaners? They can’t afford that,” he said.
Sanan Boonthip, who sells rice porridge at one of the BMA’s four newly designated sites, welcomes the new measures but said more areas are needed so the vendors can rotate and find customers all day.
His current working area only sees customers from early morning until 11am, he said, adding the afternoon heat sends most people scurrying to buy food from the nearby Tesco Lotus.
Vanchai Thanomsak, a deputy city clerk, admitted space is limited under the project.
Using the PIT area as an example, he said it could only accommodate 70 of the 200 food vendors who formerly operated in the vicinity.


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Kinect may no longer be flavour of the month at Microsoft, but the camera will still be getting some dedicated functionality in upcoming racer Forza Horizon 2.
It all started with a mod. Well, actually, that’s not necessarily true.
Warner Bros has confirmed the release date of its Arkham Origins DLC Cold, Cold Heart.
Rockstar has promised some non-Online DLC for its epic Grand Theft Auto V next year.


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A big round of applause to the folks at Oppo and Cyanogen Inc as the Oppo N1 becomes the first Google-approved CyanogenMod phone. The announcement came yesterday via Google Groups as the device was certified to have passed through Google’s CTS and CDD certification programs which is a major milestone for everyone working on this project.
So what does this mean? Well, it allows the Oppo N1 to legitimately run Google’s suite of apps and provides direct access to the Google Play Store. In other words, it provides the Oppo N1 the officially licensed Google Apps package which is what all CyanogenMod users having been side-loading for years.
There was plenty of skepticism that the device would make it through the certification process as few have attempted what Oppo and Cyanogen are forging with their partnership. However, the folks at in Seattle at the CM headquarters should be offering pats on the back for everyone right now for a job well done.
Congrats guys, you’ve earned it.
via Android Police
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