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Plaintiff's attorney Jim Butler shows jurors an image during his opening statement of the fire that allegedly killed 4-year-old Remington Walden, after the Jeep he rode in was rear-ended. Click here to see video from the trial. Click here for a copy of the complaint.Bainbridge, Ga. —Fiat Chrysler Automobiles faces allegations in a high-stakes trial that began Monday in Georgia state court that a defective fuel tank in a Jeep Grand Cherokee caused a fire that burned a child to death after a rear-end collision.
The case is the first to go to trial over claims that fuel tanks in older-model Jeep SUVs are prone to rupture and explode in a collision, according to attorney Jim Butler of Butler Wooten & Fryhofer LLP, who represents the plaintiffs. Fiat Chrysler announced a recall of roughly 1.5 million Jeeps in 2013 at the urging of U.S. regulators due to the fire risk, and consumer safety advocates say the trial could prompt renewed calls for a broader recall of the vehicles.
The 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee at issue in the case was ultimately not part of the recall, although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initially requested it be included along with model years 1993-1998. The agency has attributed 75 deaths to fires involving Jeep fuel tanks since 1998.
Butler told jurors during his opening statement Tuesday that 4-year-old Remington Walden died in 2012 after the Jeep he was riding in was struck from behind at an intersection by a Dodge Dakota truck traveling at 56 miles per hour, and the Jeep's fuel tank exploded, according to a Courtroom View Network webcast of the proceedings. Butler claimed Chrysler knew of the risks from locating the vehicle’s fuel tank only 11 inches from the rear bumper but ignored the problem for years.
“In 1998 Chrysler knew that the gas tank on a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee would be crushed in a rear impact,” Butler said, noting that Chrysler relocated the fuel tank to the center of the car in later models. “Chrysler admits it could have put the gas tank on the 1999 Grand Cherokee in the midships position.”
Butler explained to the jury that everyone else involved in the accident, including the driver of the second vehicle and other passengers in the Jeep suffered comparatively minor injuries, and that the only reason the accident resulted in a fatality was the rear-mounted gas tank. Remington was restrained in a booster seat at the time of the accident.
“If the wreck does not kill you, then you should not be burned,” Butler said. “Had there been no fire none of us would be here today and that boy would be alive and well.”
Remington's parents sued Fiat Chrysler in 2012.
During his opening statements on behalf of Chrysler, Brian Bell of Swanson Martin & Bell LLP told the jury that the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee was not defectively designed, and that the explosion was the result of a crash at over 50 miles per hour that exposed the fuel tank to forces well in excess of what regulators required it to withstand.
“We’ve all stood on the side of the road changing a tire or crossing the street, and at 55 miles an hour your hair is blowing and it’s noisy. That’s a very severe collision,” Bell said. “This crash just overwhelmed the structure of this vehicle.”
Bell disputed autopsy results that indicated Remington died from the fire. He told jurors Remington had already died of a head injury from the impact of the crash before the fire reached his booster seat.
Following the parties' opening statements, Butler played deposition testimony given by Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne. Marchionne reportedly met with then U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood in 2013 after Chrysler initially rejected a recall over Jeep fuel tanks. Following the meeting the company said it would add rear tow hitches to 1.5 million vehicles, a fix that the agency later deemed adequate.
Under rapid-fire questioning from Butler in an edited video compilation of Marchionne’s testimony, the Fiat Chrysler chief was pressed on the issue of how much responsibility the company has for the safety of Chrysler’s vehicles. Italian automaker Fiat acquired Chrysler after the American company declared bankruptcy in 2009.
Butler claimed Fiat Chrysler should have been more forthcoming about the alleged danger from the rear-mounted fuel tanks after the company was acquired, but Marchionne said the tank on the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t pose a public safety risk.
“Any accident is possible, but it’s not a safety defect,” Marchionne said. Butler immediately responded that Marchionne lacked the personal knowledge to make that assertion.
“People have done the work for me and have done what is necessary for me to make that assertion,” Marchionne replied.
Fiat Chrysler spokesman Michael Palese expressed sympathy for Remington's parents, but echoed Bell's arguments that the 1999 Jeep Cherokee was not defectively designed.
“The energy level of the impact was substantially higher than the applicable federal requirement for rear impacts, which the Jeep Grand Cherokee met,” Palese said in a statement. “A thorough analysis of rear impact crash data indicates that the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee is no more likely to experience fire as a result of a rear impact than peer vehicles.”
The trial before Judge J. Kevin Chason is expected to last up to three weeks. Courtroom View Network will present a gavel-to-gavel webcast of the proceedings.
The plaintiffs are represented by Jim Butler and David Rohwedder of Butler Wooten & Fryhofer LLP, James Butler of Butler Tobin LLC, George Floyd of Floyd & Kendrick LLC and attorney L. Catharine Cox.
The defendants are represented by M. Diane Owns, Terry Brantley, Alicia Timm and Anandhi Rajan of Swift Currie McGhee & Hiers LLP, Brian Bell, Anthony Monaco and Andrew Albright of Swanson Martin & Bell LLP, Brian Westenberg and Sheila Jeffrey of Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone PLC, Erika Jones of Mayer Brown LLP and by attorney Bruce W. Kirbo.
The case is James Bryan Walden and Lindsay Newcombe Strickland, on behalf of Remington Cole Walden v. Chrysler Group LLC, case number 12-CV-472, in the Superior Court of Decatur County in the State of Georgia.
David Siegel can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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A Nigerian Twitter user has raised alarm that he allegedly bought the fake fish from a Nigerian market. According to him, after cooking a frozen fish for several hours, it was still not ready.
The man identified as Muhammad Salame (@mas611) took to the platform to share photos of a fake iced-fish he bought, advising that you should buy fresh from local markets.
“Bought a frozen fish but it has been cooking forever and still not ready… Just then realised it’s a fake fish
“The bone is plastic and the flesh is form. Lesson: Always buy fresh from local market.”
See his tweet below…

domain: news


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Forum will Reaffirm Beef Industry’s Commitment to Sustainability
Cattle producers are committed to protecting environmental resources, supporting communities, and creating an economically viable future through effective management practices. The “Beef Sustainability Forum” coming up on Thursday, February 2nd, in New Orleans, Louisiana, looks to highlight the industry’s sustainability efforts. The panel discussion will be moderated by Collin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
“Sustainability continues to be a top priority for NCBA and is an issue at the forefront of the entire beef industry,” says Josh White, senior executive director of producer education and sustainability with the NCBA. “This special event will include cattle producers and industry leaders from various sectors discussing strategies that improve sustainability, and how those efforts can enhance sustainability for the entire industry.”
It’s a part of the annual Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade show, the oldest and largest convention in the cattle business. For more information or to register, check out the NCBA's Website.
If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail email@example.com


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TOKYO (MarketWatch) -- Weakness in shares of Asian metals companies Thursday may offer a good investment opportunity as some analysts forecast a continued recovery in global auto production and a subsequent rise in demand for the metals used to make the vehicles.
"Auto production makes up a significant proportion of end use of a number of metals," analysts at Macquarie said in a note to clients this week.
Global auto production accounts for about 25% of aluminum, 25% of zinc, 15% of steel and 8% to 10% copper usage, and the production of auto catalysts for vehicles accounts for 40% to 50% of platinum and palladium demand, they said.
And "assuming that the level of [auto] production seen in the past few months is maintained globally over 2010," it appears that "global auto production will be much stronger" this year, the analysts said.
They expect output to rise by 20%, or by 71 million cars, this year -- greater than 2008 production and only 3% below the peak level of production seen in 2007.
On Thursday, shares of Toyota Motor Corp. (7203)
Shares of metals miners in Asia headed mainly lower following weakness in many base metals prices overnight. See Wednesday's Metals Stocks column.
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. (5713)
In broader trading, Asian markets were mostly lower, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng 1.2% lower, the China's Shanghai Composite falling 0.3%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index down 0.8% and South Korea's Kospi losing 0.3%. But Japan's Nikkei 225 Average added 0.4%.
China, Japan lead
For China and Japan, the outlook for auto production is particularly strong, Macquarie analysts said.
"A favorable longer-term shift towards consumption continues to be supplemented with policy support, with the Chinese government extending its scraping subsidy program through 2010 and increasing the maximum available subsidy to" to 18,000 Chinese yuan ($2,637) from 6,000 Chinese yuan last year," they said.
Against this backdrop, the outlook for platinum and palladium, in particular, will depend on GDP growth, including car sales in the Western world and in China, Gijsbert Groenewegen, a managing partner at Silver Arrow Capital Management, said in comments emailed last week.
Official data released Thursday showed that China's gross domestic product expanded at a rapid rate of 10.7% in the fourth-quarter of 2009 from the year-earlier period, pushing the full-year economic growth rate to a better-than-expected 8.7%. Read more about the GDP data.
Both platinum and palladium "have the potential to put on additional gains in 2010, but both also risk a downside correction should the auto markets in China and the U.S. fail to sustain their momentum," Tim Murray, general manager of precious metals marketing at Johnson Matthey, said in comments emailed last week. See story on outlook for metals.
Over in Japan, auto inventory levels are still very low so "not only does auto production have to rise to meet any increase in sales, but also it has to rise further again if inventories are to continue to be replenished," analysts at Macquarie said.
It's already clear, based on data, that the rates of global production were far too low even given the low levels of sales, they said, pointing out that excluding China, global sales, fell 9.5% year on year in 2009, while global production dropped 25%.
What's even more important for the steel and base metal markets is that "production is still likely to rise sharply," the analysts said.


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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)—Multiple dog treats have been recalled because of possible Salmonella contamination.
Stormberg Foods said it is recalling multiple sizes and batches of “Beg & Barker Chicken Breast Strips Dog Treat, Billo’s Best Friend Chicken Breast Strips Dog Treat, and Green Coast Pets Chicken Crisps Dog Treat products” because of the possible Salmonella contamination.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services informed the company on July 6 that a sample it had tested positive for Salmonella, according to a release.
The recalled items are:
|Product||Size||UPC||Batch No.||Exp Dates|
|Beg & Barker Chicken Breast Strips||1 oz||8 50025 54628 7||All batch numbers||06/06/23 to 06/23/23|
|Beg & Barker Chicken Breast Strips||4 oz||8 50025 54611 9||All batch numbers||06/06/23 to 06/23/23|
|Beg & Barker Chicken Breast Strips||10 oz||8 50025 54610 2||All batch numbers||06/06/23 to 06/23/23|
|Billo’s Best Friend Chicken Breast Strips||4 oz||8 50025 54682 9||All batch numbers||06/06/23 to 06/23/23|
|Green Coast Pets Chicken Crisps||4 oz||8 60001 92832 7||All batch numbers||06/06/23 to 06/23/23|
|Green Coast Pets Chicken Crisps||8 oz||8 60001 92833 4||All batch numbers||06/06/23 to 06/23/23|
The affected treats were distributed between June 8 and June 22 and were shipped “nationwide to retail facilities and consumers via the internet.”
Officials said “consumers who have purchased these products and/or have pets who have become ill are urged to notify email@example.com immediately with all product information for return or proper disposal information. Consumers with questions may contact the customer services department via (919) 947-6011, Monday – Saturday 3:00am – 9:00 pm EST or email 24h/day.”
Stormberg Foods and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services said they are investigating what caused the issue.
According to officials, no illnesses have yet been reported.


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Nick Ferrari 7am - 10am
Maajid Livid At This Insensitive Oversight By Grenfell Tower Cladding Company
17 June 2017, 13:28 | Updated: 17 June 2017, 17:41
The company responsible for installing the flammable cladding on Grenfell Tower have made an insensitive and "outrageous" oversight, says Maajid Nawaz.
Harley Facades is the company that sold the flammable cladding thought to have caused the deadly Grenfell Tower inferno, which has so far killed 30.
Maajid Nawaz is absolutely raging about the "outrageous oversight" the company has made following the fire in still advertising the company on its website.
The page, which can be viewed here, shows the 'bespoke construction package' used on Grenfell Tower.
The construction company includes the tower in its portfolio of work on its website, highlighting its £2.6m value.
Pictured: A screengrab of the page on construction company's website
Maajid said: "In an outrageous display, a lack of empathy for the victims, in an outrageous oversight, is still advertising this cladding on its website, and isn't just advertising the cladding on its website, but even worse, still has photos of them having sold this cladding, to Grenfell Tower.
"Pictures of Grenfell Tower on their website, still for sale, advertising this cladding."
He went on: "It's still all up there as an example of their successful business, and how much money they made from it. Cladding systems."
Maajid added: "Somebody at Harley Facades should be hanging their heads in shame and I suggest you take this photograph down...immediately. That is despicable."


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The Nintendo Knitting Machine was apparently something real at one time, according to an old flier posted on the Facebook page belonging to former NOA chairman Howard Lincoln.
Shown off during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas way back in 1987, the Nintendo Knitting Machine allowed NES users to create a design on the console, and then knit the actual pattern.
After it's fabled appearance, the peripheral - if that's what you can call it - was never seen again until Lincoln posted a scan of the flier which was handed out at the show.
“Mr Arakawa (NOA's president from 1980 -2002) asked me with just 30 minutes notice to give Toys R Us chairman Charles Lazarus a live demo," said Lincoln. "[It was] likely one of my least genuinely enthusiastic demos.”
Some things, you just can't make up.
You can see the brochure in full through the link.
Thanks, Nintendo Gamer and Super Mart.


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In a recent article by The Washington Post, the declining quality of modern furniture was brought to the forefront. As a 120-year-old family business, Katz Furniture feels compelled to join the conversation and shed light on the importance of timeless, quality furniture in today’s disposable age.
The Allure of Timeless Furniture
There’s an undeniable charm in furniture pieces that tell a story. Whether it’s a dining table that has witnessed countless family gatherings or a dresser that has been passed down through generations, these pieces become a part of our lives, holding memories and standing the test of time. In contrast, the modern trend leans towards furniture that’s often replaced with the changing winds of fashion, leading to a cycle of disposability.
At Katz Furniture, we’ve always believed in the value of timeless designs. Our collections are curated with an emphasis on durability, craftsmanship, and style that remains evergreen. While trends come and go, the classics remain, offering both aesthetic and functional value.
Why Timeless Trumps Trendy
The digital age, with its rapid dissemination of trends via social media, has conditioned many to seek instant gratification. This extends to furniture, where the allure of a trendy piece might overshadow its longevity. However, investing in timeless furniture has several advantages:
- Longevity: Classic pieces are designed to last, both in terms of style and durability.
- Cost-Effective: While the initial investment might be higher, the long-term value derived from a piece that doesn’t need frequent replacement is unmatched.
- Sustainability: In an age of environmental consciousness, opting for furniture that doesn’t end up in landfills every few years is a responsible choice.
The Environmental and Economic Implications of Disposable Furniture
The shift towards disposable furniture isn’t just a matter of personal choice; it has broader implications. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that nearly 10 million tons of furniture ended up in landfills in 2018. This wastage is not just an environmental concern but also an economic one. The cost of constantly replacing furniture adds up, making the ‘affordable’ choice more expensive in the long run.
Our Commitment to Quality and Craftsmanship
At Katz Furniture, our legacy is built on a foundation of quality and craftsmanship. Our pieces are not just products; they are a testament to our dedication to the art of furniture making. We understand the value of a well-crafted piece, one that can be passed down through generations, much like our own business.
Our commitment goes beyond just selling furniture. We aim to educate our customers, helping them make informed choices that benefit both their homes and the environment. By choosing quality over quantity, we can break the cycle of disposability and move towards a more sustainable future.
In the ever-evolving world of furniture trends, it’s essential to recognize the value of timeless pieces. At Katz Furniture, we’re proud of our legacy and our commitment to offering furniture that stands the test of time. We invite you to explore our collections and discover the true meaning of quality and craftsmanship.
Join us in making a difference. Choose timeless, choose quality, choose Katz Furniture.


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Wineries are getting bigger and their businesses are therefore
exposed to greater risk. In a bid to help producers achieve greater
consistency, Danish ingredients firm Chr Hansen has created blended
yeasts, writes Philippa Nuttall.
Ongoing impact of consolidation in the global food and drink
industry is evident in the cost-cutting exercise by Novozymes', the
world's number one enzyme supplier, set to relocate all Swiss
supply chain operations to Denmark...
A legal action brought by a northern English cheese producer
against the European Commission over the right to use the label
feta on its products has finally reached the European Court of
Justice - the UK, however, has declined to...
Set to see sugar profits dip with incoming European sugar reform,
Danisco's announcement last week to acquire enzyme player Genencor
is the latest in a string of acquisitions that will go some way to
bridging the sales gap, writes...


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26 Jan Brigham Mobile Research Platform Offers Tools for the Digital Age
Today, people use their phones for almost everything: ordering food, organizing finances or scheduling out their day-to-day tasks. Mobile devices are becoming the most used tool in people’s lives. But there is one area where mobile devices may be underused: research studies.
It can be challenging to get accurate and real-time data when conducting a population-based research study in a hospital or lab setting. Many studies rely on patient self-reporting – which in turns relies on a patient’s ability to recall details precisely and accurately. Using a phone as a data collection tool could give the patient the ability to log their symptoms, activities and more in real time. But secure, research-oriented tools for doing so can be hard to find.
At a recent Brigham Research Institute’s Research Connection Live Lunch, Yvonne Lee, MD, director of pain research in the BWH Division of Rheumatology, touched on these challenges. Lee and her team had been struggling to get daily data from patients in a secure, HIPAA-compliant fashion for their research projects on rheumatoid arthritis.
Read the full article in Clinical & Research News


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Three of South Africa’s major online payment service providers (PSPs) will now fall under one brand.
The move, announced on Tuesday, will see the PayGate and SiD brands disappearing, with PayFast representing the full offering under one brand.
Read: We like shopping
The branding overhaul comes 15 months after Cape Town-based DPO Group – which owned PayFast, PayGate and SiD – was acquired by Dubai-based IT giant Network International for an undisclosed amount.
PayFast says the rebrand and new website, which was set to go live at midnight on Tuesday, will allow merchants to interact with a single entity, while dealing with familiar products and systems offered by all three brands for regular day-to-day operations.
Indicating the growth in e-commerce, PayFast notes that online retail passed the R50-billion mark in 2022.
It says it intends to leverage the skills, technology, and ideas of the consolidated workforce to boost e-commerce opportunities and capabilities for merchants.
“By combining the capabilities of three of South Africa’s biggest e-commerce players under one powerful entity, we have strengthened our ability to deliver on our promise to partners – which is to do everything we can to unleash their growth potential,” says PayFast MD Brendon Williamson.
“We’ve created an environment where some of the industry’s top minds can share ideas and work together towards innovation in the payments sector,” he adds.
He says at an industry level, the partnership will enable the PSP to ensure that local e-commerce remains on par with international trends.
On the consumer front, he says the rebrand aims to facilitate convenience when transacting online, while offering effective solutions through the push from its acquisition partner.
“Our merchant base and consumers have been waiting for the next big thing,” says Williamson.
“From the growth of e-commerce and cashless transactions to the rise of digital nomads, the world has evolved. Similarly, the PayFast brand had to evolve. We are driven by change that has already taken place in the industry, to push further innovation for the future.”
He says PayFast’s partnership with Network International means the PSP will now have access to various international partners.
“This means we get insight into acquiring a business directly, as opposed to going through a third party – which is powerful for us as a payment service provider.”
Chris Wood – Network International regional MD of Southern Africa and Palops (Portuguese-speaking African countries) – says PayFast will continue to be a key role player in emerging e-commerce trends, including accommodating the hybrid merchant who conducts payments both online and offline.
He says the new PSP group also intends to participate in the social commerce space where businesses conduct transactions on social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok.
Wood says the company hopes to reduce the barriers to entry for smaller players while merging the payment industry bodies to further enhance e-commerce solutions in the region.
Nondumiso Lehutso is a Moneyweb intern.


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The OK hashgacha has put out a statement announcing that it has pulled its hashgacha from Kosher Chinese Express in Manalapan, New Jersey, following an intense investigation into allegations the owner bought treif chickens and meat.
The statement from OK reads as follows:
“After intense and careful investigation into recent allegations surrounding Kosher Chinese Express of Manalapan NJ (“Chinese Express”) we wish to inform the public that OK Kosher is no longer supervising the restaurant and we have been informed that they are no longer operational.
“In consultation with Poskim it is recommended that customers of Chinese Express that have purchased any of their products in the past 6 months and used any of their personal utensils are advised to Kasher those utensils. Please reach out to your personal Rav for guidance and further instructions.
“We are deeply saddened by this revelation and we are thankful and
appreciative to the keen observer who brought this to our attention.
ויהי רצון שלא תצא מכשול מתחת ידינו ובברכת כתיבה וחתימה טובה”
The store came under under intense scrutiny after video emerged of the owner allegedly buying treif meat and chicken from a nearby wholesaler.


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BurgerFi, OPES agree to $100M deal that takes brand public
125-unit fast-casual concept expects to close agreement in October
Ron Ruggless, Nation's Restaurant News
Jun 30, 2020
BurgerFi International LLC and OPES Acquisition Corp. have entered into a $100 million deal that will take the better-burger brand to the public markets, the companies said Tuesday.
Miami-based OPES and Palm Beach, Fla.-based BurgerFi, which has about 125 units, expect the deal, announced earlier in June, to close in October and that the combined company, BurgerFi International Inc., will trade on the Nasdaq exchanged with the ticker symbol BFI.
“The company presents a tremendous investment opportunity for OPES in what we believe will be a very attractive public company,” said Ophir Sternberg, chairman and CEO of OPES as well as founder and CEO of Lionheart Capital, in an investor call Tuesday.
Charlie Guzzetta, BurgerFi president, said the brand has come a long way since its first location in 2011 at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fla. And the next phase of growth will tap into the brand’s points of difference, such as digital menu boards, diverse menu, vegetarian and vegan offerings and customization, he said.
Besides traditional expansion, Guzzetta said BurgerFi is targeting non-traditional venues for growth, including airports, transportation hubs, travel plazas, higher-education campuses, sporting venues and military bases.
“There is significant untapped potential that exists in these premier non-traditional venues,” Guzzetta said, “and we have every intention of capitalizing on these opportunities.” The company has strategic partnerships with on-site giants like Aramark and HMS Host for some such venues, with a location at Lauderdale-Hollywood airport in Florida that has produced more than $3 million in annual sales.
BurgerFi also has an agreement with the U.S. Air Force to open units on bases domestically and abroad...


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Two new participation options provide even more flexibility. The focus is on [email protected]
“With interzum 2021, we’ll again be offering suppliers to the furniture industry and interior design sector their global stage for new products and trends, with an even more extensive digital offering,” says Matthias Pollmann, Vice President Trade Fair Management at Koelnmesse, in a clear statement on interzum’s consistent digital evolution. “We know that many companies are in favour of a purely digital event because of the uncertainty surrounding the development of the pandemic right now. That’s why we’ve decided on a concept with participation options that offer the greatest possible degree of flexibility, with a clear focus on the digital presence and therefore on [email protected],” continues Pollmann.
New: purely digital participation and a presence in the new [email protected] exhibition hall permit the best of both worlds
“Even though a presence on [email protected] is already included with a classic, physical presence at the trade fair for all exhibitors, in the face of the current challenges we’re acting on a request voiced by many of our exhibitors: we’re now also offering every company the option of purely digital participation on our new [email protected] platform,” explains interzum director Maik Fischer. Various digital-only packages will be available for the purpose, allowing companies to participate solely in the form of a digital presence on [email protected] 2021 – a presence that’s a perfect fit with their needs. In addition, there is another new alternative for participation that serves as a kind of intermediary between the two possibilities outlined above: the option of taking part in the “[email protected] hall”, where Koelnmesse will provide interested exhibitors with a physical trade fair presence that includes the construction of an attractive booth in three different sizes and can be used as a springboard and connecting element between the trade fair in Cologne and the exhibitor’s [email protected] presence. “With this additional exhibition format, we’re offering companies the right framework for a safe and upmarket presentation in a compact space. This allows exhibitors to benefit from a top-class setting at the physical interzum 2021 in Cologne while simultaneously making use of the opportunities presented by the new digital platform [email protected] That way, exhibitors get the best of both worlds, so to speak,” says Fischer of the new optional form of participation.
Increased overall reach thanks to a combination of digital and analogue formats
The goal of the new digital trade fair platform “[email protected]” is to use the new digital channel to increase overall reach. The components of this platform, which can certainly be considered state of the art, provide various possibilities for interaction, including digital showrooms, stages, workshops and cafés. Even in the face of the corona pandemic, this ensures interzum will reach a global audience that goes beyond the protagonists at the venue. Broadly speaking, the main emphasis of [email protected] is on knowledge and content, the experience and socialising, like at the event in Cologne – but obviously always with fluid crossovers and connections. Networking is the connecting link between offline and online.
The interzum trend platform and [email protected]: innovative formats for innovative content
Complemented by the digital stage provided by [email protected], interzum is and will remain the leading platform for the furniture production and interior finishing industry! As the world’s leading event for the sector, it remains a reliable address for an inspiring exchange and new business opportunities – even in these challenging times. interzum doesn’t just depict the entire market, it also shows the trends that will influence the next few years and thus provides orientation for the industry; it permits face-to-face interaction and is an emotional experience. As a modern event, it will be pointing the way to the future in 2021 too!


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Parc des Princesses
Europe´s Top Ten designers have their ideas for the Euro 2016. Shop the exclusive #YOOXSOCCERCOUTURE collection now at Yoox.com!
SEPP called up a Top Ten team of some of Europe’s best fashion designers to custom-make ideal tops to be worn for this summer’s games. Our winning squad of sweat and T-shirts will all be available on the world’s biggest fashion website Yoox.com, the project name being #YOOXSOCCERCOUTURE. A trio of soccer sirens try out the collection inside Paris’ legendary stadium, renamed for the day, Le Parc des Princesses.
Yoox’s merger with Net-a-Porter last year — made YNAP the internet’s biggest luxury provider. And Yoox keeps spreading its wings. Last month in Los Angeles, Emily Ratajkowski celebrated Rosario Dawson’s studio 189 fashion line at a Yoox party. A day later, Yoox founder Federico Marchetti, was hanging with Netflix CEO Reed Hastings; and snapping a “once in a lifetime selfie” with Bill Gates, in the Microsoft man’s mansion.
Visit our SEPP Instagram for more insider info on events, games and fashion.


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Why Energy Storage Will Be a Boon for Residential Solar Installers
Net metering was a key factor in driving the residential solar market to where it is today, but its days are likely numbered across the U.S. Utilities nationwide are having success at convincing state regulators that they shouldn't have to credit homeowners for the surplus power they export to the grid at the same rate they're charged when they consume power from it, which makes sense now that solar power systems are on around 1 million homes. Hawaii, the state with the most rooftop solar per household, has long paid consumers less than the retail rate for electricity, and California recently followed suit.
But when utilities choose to pay less than the retail rate for rooftop-generated solar electricity, they give homeowners an incentive to save their short-term surplus and use it later, performing arbitrage on the difference between the two rates. To use solar energy at a later time (for example, at night) homeowners need energy storage systems. Providing those could be the next growth driver for rooftop solar companies.
Solar sales could get bigger
Today, most solar installations consist of solar panels, an inverter, and a connection to the homeowners' meter. At an average cost of $3 per watt, a 6 kW solar system costs about $18,000. If energy storage can be made economical for the homeowner, it adds another component to those installation, giving the companies a new product, and a new stream of revenue.
Depending on the size of the energy storage unit, that added revenue could be significant. A single 14 kWh Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) Powerwall costs at least $7,000 to install, and some homeowners may want two or more to increase their energy flexibility. Selling and financing those energy storage systems could be a big business for installers, potentially doubling the revenue opportunity of each solar sale.
Installers have more to gain from energy storage
The big difference between solar panels and energy storage for installers is the ongoing operation. Solar panels produce electricity every day, but there's no ongoing maintenance or controls that can add value to a system in the long term. By contrast, someone needs to decide when energy storage systems will be charged and discharged on an ongoing basis, which will be a big business.
Energy storage business models aren't set in stone yet, but look for companies to take a percentage of the cost savings homeowners accrue as a fee for controlling the system. This could be an ongoing source of revenue for companies that can build scale in this space.
The top companies to watch
Tesla's push into energy storage is all about learning how to control the storage systems. It is testing such controls on systems ranging in size from a single Powerwall up to utility-scale installations. Sunrun (NASDAQ: RUN) and SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) are also designing their own storage and control systems, which they are slowly rolling out across the country. Rival Vivint Solar (NYSE: VSLR) has partnered with Mercedes-Benz Energy to bring its energy storage product to market.
I think the three to watch in this space are Tesla, Sunrun, and SunPower: They'll be the companies doing the most to control energy storage systems long term. Each has a slightly different model in selling to customers, and depending on consumer preferences, each could take a large segment of the market. With more utilities implementing fee structures designed to kill rooftop solar, energy storage looks destined to become a big business indeed.
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Natalie Maier of Oradell, N.J., thought it would be a dream vacation, but instead her nightmare cruise to the Yucatan was horrific enough to win this year's Frankenstein Travel Award.
The award is the brainchild of Charles Reilly, a true American road warrior who travels about 200 days a year as chairman of The Executive Communications Group.
Reilly has suffered almost every possible embarrassment, indignity and humiliation available to the traveler. His luggage has been lost, his reservations canceled, his shoes eaten by a large animal, and once, in an Atlanta elevator, he was bitten on the leg by a small boy.
The Frankenstein Travel Award allows victims to vent their frustrations and win a prize for the most horrible vacation experience.
''Maier's account of a nightmare cruise to the Yucatan was the hands-down winner this year,'' Reilly says.
Maier endured a snowstorm, a canceled airline flight, rancid clothes, seasickness, third-degree burns, rainstorms, food sickness, 40-foot ocean swells and a screaming stewardess to become the big winner.
As the winner, Maier gets -- what else -- a dream weekend vacation of sightseeing, dining and hospitality in Philadelphia.


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Not feeling Skrillex? Join the online mob by pelting his music with the adjective of your choice. Cartoonish, puerile, indulgent, impatient, bombastic. Pitchfork, the taste-making indie rock site, recently brushed it off as “inelegant.”
And while plenty of words stick to the 24-year-old’s outsize dance tracks, that one doesn’t. This music is elegant against all odds. It’s the New York Giants’ defensive line doing “Swan Lake.” It’s digital flatulence made mysteriously anthemic. It’s cartoonish, puerile, indulgent, impatient, bombastic — all precisely folded into the shape of pop.
That’s why there’s a pretty good chance that Skrillex will be the guy jumping onstage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles next month to accept the trophy for best new artist at the 54th Grammy Awards. And if he does, he’ll have done it without a proper album to his name.
Instead, the Los Angeles-raised DJ and producer Sonny Moore has been releasing songs piecemeal since 2010, occasionally packaging them as seven-, eight- or nine-song EPs. “Bangarang,” his fourth EP, was released digitally in December. Hard copies land in stores on Tuesday.


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A rare bit of UK-specific news from the Consumer Electonics Show in Vegas – Microsoft has teamed up with BT to bring the BT Vision internet TV service to the Xbox 360 console.
The TV-on-you-Xbox solution uses Microsoft’s Mediaroom software to provide an replica of the experience you’ll get from the BT Vision ‘V-box’ set-top box.
The announcement means that BT Broadband customers can get on-demand TV programmes and movies streamed (for a fee) to their TV without the need for a set-top box. They can also watch any of BT’s 242 ‘near-live’ Premiership football matches using the Xbox 360.
BT-connected Xbox 360 users will also be able to use features unique to the console while watching TV – such as accessing the Xbox Live marketplace and conducting voicechats with other Xbox users.
The BT Vision service will be available to Xbox 360 users in summer 2008


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The Ministry of Commerce finalised a sub-decree on Friday to allow the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) to set up representative offices overseas and help promote trade and investment in the Kingdom. The sub-decree is expected to be approved by Prime Minister Hun Sen by the end of the year.
The first branches are likely to be established in countries that have the largest Cambodian expatriate populations, according to CCC vice president Hann Khieng.
“Right now, investors can only contact our embassies abroad, and those only exist at one location in each country and have limited resources and knowledge… about business in Cambodia,” said Khieng. “The Chamber of Commerce’s people are more knowledgeable and can provide comprehensive investment and commercial information to investors.”
Tan Monivann, another vice president of the chamber as well as vice president of local agro-industrial conglomerate Mong Reththy Group, said the association would also soon allow any businesspeople living abroad to become members.
“We are currently facing difficulties when exporting goods to overseas markets because we lack commercial relationships overseas,” he said. “We need representatives overseas.”
For more on this story, click here.


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Uber’s launched a new credit card, and I can’t wait to get one
Published on The Next Web.
Call me a shill, but I’m genuinely excited for Uber’s new Visa credit card, which will be available across the US from November 2. There’s no annual fee, and you’ll earn reward points for all your online and offline purchases, with spends on dining and airfare bringing in even more points than usual. There are other benefits, like no foreign transaction fees, $50 credit towards streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, and you’ll earn $100 after spending $500 on purchases within 90 days of getting your card. The reason I’m chuffed about it is that you can redeem all those…
This story continues at The Next Web
Or just read more coverage about: Uber


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Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed what we can expect from the American electric automaker in the future.
Musk is calling it the “Master Plan, Part Deux,” where he outlines what Tesla has planned for the coming years. The American automaker confirmed that an all-electric compact SUV is in the works as well as a “new kind” of pickup truck. In other words, Tesla wants to cover all major forms of ground travel, offering a model for every major segment. The plan also notes that it is unlikely Tesla will offer a car cheaper than the Model 3, which is expected to cost $35,000.
Musk wants to build a light-duty truck, but he isn’t stopping there. Tesla is also developing heavy-duty trucks and high passenger-density urban transport. He revealed that both are in the early stages of development at the automaker and they will be ready to be unveiled next year.
“We believe the Tesla Semi will deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of transport, while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate,” he said in the post.
The plan also touched on Tesla’s plans for self-driving cars, and its a full offensive. Musk stands firm that the company is doing the right thing by rolling out partial autonomy now and expects that worldwide regulatory approval of self-driving vehicles will require around six-billion cumulative miles driven by self-driving vehicles. Current fleet learning garners about three-million miles per day.
Looking towards the future, Musk ultimately wants a Tesla vehicle to help its owner make money when it isn’t being used. Owners will have the ability to add their vehicles to the Tesla shared fleet via the Tesla phone app so that it can generate income while the owner is at work or on vacation.
On the subject of public transport, Tesla imagines a future of self-driving buses that can be summoned by pressing a button at a bus stop. Musk says that the buses would be able to fit more people in them than today’s standard sized buses and would accommodate wheelchairs, strollers and bikes.
Finally, the plan touches on Tesla’s plan to build and sell solar roofs that integrate with battery storage, to power homes and to presumably power the Tesla sitting in the driveway.
Discuss this story on our Tesla Forum


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STATEHOUSE (Jan. 10, 2011) - A proposal co-authored by State Sen. Joe Zakas (R-Granger) banning marijuana-like substances in Indiana and creating stiff penalties for using and selling the products will be considered by a Senate committee on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 57 will be heard by the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters at 9 a.m. in Room 130 of the Statehouse.
"Increased use of dangerous marijuana-like substances has already caused local officials in northern Indiana take preventative measures and pass bans," Zakas said. "Synthetic drugs are a danger in our communities. While local bans are helpful, they offer limited solutions in terms of jurisdiction and penalties. To more effectively curb the use of these drugs, a comprehensive statewide ban is needed."
Synthetic cannabinoids are blends of herbs and chemicals. When smoked and inhaled, they mimic the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in marijuana. These man-made mood-altering products are marketed as incense, aromatic potpourri or fertilizer and sold under product names like "Spice," "Mr. Smiley" and "Voodoo Magic."
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, intoxication from THC can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and trouble with learning and memory functions.
If passed into law, Zakas said SB 57 would add various chemical compounds used in synthetic cannabinoids to the state's controlled substances list, creating the same penalties for producing, distributing, selling or using the products as marijuana.
Indiana has the largest number of reported cases involving marijuana-like substances in the U.S., according to Drug-Free Marion County. As of June 30, there were 41 cases demonstrating the adverse effects of synthetic cannabinoids - hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, confusion and vomiting, among other effects - on youths in Indiana ages 6 to 19.
More than ten countries and at least ten states have taken legal action to ban or control 'Spice' and related products, and the Drug Enforcement Administration classified the chemicals used in synthetic cannabinoids as "drugs and chemicals of concern."
Sen. Zakas represents Senate District 11, which includes portions of St. Joseph and Elkhart counties.
Sen. Joe Zakas


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Electric rates to fall Oct. 1
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Electric customers of Hartselle Utilities can expect to pay less per kilowatt hour used after Oct. 1 thanks to the pass through of a 4.5 percent rate decrease implemented recently by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
The adjustment, which was approved by HU’s board of directors Aug. 21, means residential customers will pay 3.63 percent less per kilowatt hour than what they paid before. The difference amounts to $3.61 for the average HU household using 1,272 kwh per month. The base electric rate of $8.11 per household will remain unchanged.
Business and industrial customers also will benefit from reduced rates, ranging from 3.44 to 4.74 percent. The rate for outdoor lighting will drop 3.57 percent.
Sittason said TVA’s rate decrease was not unexpected.
Sittason said the reason why the impending rate decrease is larger for business and industrial customers is that they received higher rate increases than residential customers did in October 2005 and April 2006.


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The Bournemouth 7s team is delighted to announce that James Croker has recently joined the company behind the UK’s favourite sport and music festival with responsibility for increasing engagement with the local business and sporting communities.
With more than 30,000 guests attending the festival each year, Bournemouth 7s has established itself as a major source of profile and revenue for the local area and, consequently, presents a unique opportunity for both local and national brands to promote themselves.
As Head of Partnerships, James will bring his extensive business network and sports industry expertise to the newly created role, which will sit alongside his current position as CEO of Bournemouth Rugby, an Official Partner of Bournemouth 7s and sister company Viper 10 Sportswear.
The tie-up between Diamond Sporting Group’s brands and Bournemouth Rugby demonstrates the positive effects of collaboration in local business and sport. Over the past couple of years, Bournemouth Rugby has undergone a commercial and structural revolution with a new, clearly defined business structure enabling the club to prosper both on and off the pitch.
Diamond Sporting Group’s owner Roger Woodall was delighted to welcome Croker on board, commenting:
“Over the past few years, Bournemouth 7s and Viper 10 Sportswear have developed a strong working relationship with Bournemouth Rugby as we strive to bring large sporting organisations in the conurbation together. James has been at the forefront of this partnership and I wanted to create a role for him which enabled us to maximise the Festival’s reach into the local business community.”
“James will focus his energies on creating long-lasting partnerships with local organisations providing them with the opportunity to engage with our ever-expanding festival audience over the May Bank Holiday Weekend. Companies will be able to benefit from onsite hospitality as well as digital marketing and brand awareness campaigns targeted at a truly engaged audience.”
James is excited about playing a key role in the future of Bournemouth 7s Festival,
“It was an honour to be invited to join the Diamond Sporting Group team. To be involved with such a well reputed and internationally recognised event is very exciting. Our area has such a vibrant business community and the approach of Bournemouth 7s in reaching out to all corners of that community demonstrates their pioneering and innovative approach. I can’t wait to see what impact I can make.”


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Texas Instruments is giving up on making mobile processor chips and will concentrate on systems on chip tech instead.
In a statement the company said that it was pointless carrying on making mobile processors for tablets and smartphones. The money is in making chips for cars and home appliances.
Meanwhile, according to Dallas News, TI said that it will cut nearly five percent of its workforce, or 1,700 jobs.
TI wants to sell its OMAP processors in markets that require less investment, like industrial clients such as car manufacturers.
The Kindle runs on the OMAP 4 and next year’s Kindle will probably run OMAP 5.
Amazon has been rumoured to be in talks with TI to buy the mobile part of OMAP.
TI said it will cost $325 million to make the job cuts and other cost reduction measures, most of which will be accounted for in the current quarter.
However it expects to save $450 million by the end of 2013 from the action.


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Bloomberg published a story this week citing three unnamed sources who told the publication that Equifax experienced a breach earlier this year which predated the intrusion that the big-three credit bureau announced on Sept. 7. To be clear, this earlier breach at Equifax is not a new finding and has been a matter of public record for months. Furthermore, it was first reported on this Web site in May 2017.
In my initial Sept. 7 story about the Equifax breach affecting more than 140 million Americans, I noted that this was hardly the first time Equifax or another major credit bureau has experienced a breach impacting a significant number of Americans.
On May 17, KrebsOnSecurity reported that fraudsters exploited lax security at Equifax’s TALX payroll division, which provides online payroll, HR and tax services.
That story was about how Equifax’s TALX division let customers who use the firm’s payroll management services authenticate to the service with little more than a 4-digit personal identification number (PIN).
Identity thieves who specialize in perpetrating tax refund fraud figured out that they could reset the PINs of payroll managers at various companies just by answering some multiple-guess questions — known as “knowledge-based authentication” or KBA questions — such as previous addresses and dates that past home or car loans were granted.
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, Bloomberg ran a piece with reporting from no fewer than five journalists there who relied on information provided by three anonymous sources. Those sources reportedly spoke in broad terms about an earlier breach at Equifax, and told the publication that these two incidents were thought to have been perpetrated by the same group of hackers.
The Bloomberg story did not name TALX. Only post-publication did Bloomberg reporters update the piece to include a statement from Equifax saying the breach was unrelated to the hack announced on Sept. 7, and that it had to do with a security incident involving a payroll-related service during the 2016 tax year.
I have thus far seen zero evidence that these two incidents are related. Equifax has said the unauthorized access to customers’ employee tax records (we’ll call this “the March breach” from here on) happened between April 17, 2016 and March 29, 2017.
The criminals responsible for unauthorized activity in the March breach were participating in an insidious but common form of cybercrime known as tax refund fraud, which involves filing phony tax refund requests with the IRS and state tax authorities using the personal information from identity theft victims.
My original report on the March breach was based on public breach disclosures that Equifax was required by law to file with several state attorneys general.
Because the TALX incident exposed the tax and payroll records of its customers’ employees, the victim customers were in turn required to notify their employees as well. That story referenced public breach disclosures from five companies that used TALX, including defense contractor giant Northrop Grumman; staffing firm Allegis Group; Saint-Gobain Corp.; Erickson Living; and the University of Louisville.
One more thing before I move on to the analysis. For more information on why KBA is a woefully ineffective method of stopping fraudsters, see this story from 2013 about how some of the biggest vendors of these KBA questions were all hacked by criminals running an identity theft service online.
Or, check out these stories about how tax refund fraudsters used weak KBA questions to steal personal data on hundreds of thousands of taxpayers directly from the Internal Revenue Service‘s own Web site. It’s probably worth mentioning that Equifax provided those KBA questions as well.
Over the past two weeks, KrebsOnSecurity has received an unusually large number of inquiries from reporters at major publications who were seeking background interviews so that they could get up to speed on Equifax’s spotty security history (sadly, Bloomberg was not among them).
These informational interviews — in which I agree to provide context and am asked to speak mainly on background — are not unusual; I sometimes field two or three of these requests a month, and very often more when time permits. And for the most part I am always happy to help fellow journalists make sure they get the facts straight before publishing them.
But I do find it slightly disturbing that there appear to be so many reporters on the tech and security beats who apparently lack basic knowledge about what these companies do and their roles in perpetuating — not fighting — identity theft.
It seems to me that some of the world’s most influential publications have for too long given Equifax and the rest of the credit reporting industry a free pass — perhaps because of the complexities involved in succinctly explaining the issues to consumers. Indeed, I would argue the mainstream media has largely failed to hold these companies’ feet to the fire over a pattern of lax security and a complete disregard for securing the very sensitive consumer data that drives their core businesses.
To be sure, Equifax has dug themselves into a giant public relations hole, and they just keep right on digging. On Sept. 8, I published a story equating Equifax’s breach response to a dumpster fire, noting that it could hardly have been more haphazard and ill-conceived.
But I couldn’t have been more wrong. Since then, Equifax’s response to this incident has been even more astonishingly poor.
On Tuesday, the official Equifax account on Twitter replied to a tweet requesting the Web address of the site that the company set up to give away its free one-year of credit monitoring service. That site is https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com, but the company’s Twitter account told users to instead visit securityequifax2017[dot]com, which is currently blocked by multiple browsers as a phishing site.
Under intense public pressure from federal lawmakers and regulators, Equifax said that for 30 days it would waive the fee it charges for placing a security freeze on one’s credit file (for more on what a security freeze entails and why you and your family should be freezing their files, please see The Equifax Breach: What You Should Know).
Unfortunately, the free freeze offer from Equifax doesn’t mean much if consumers can’t actually request one via the company’s freeze page; I have lost count of how many comments have been left here by readers over the past week complaining of being unable to load the site, let alone successfully obtain a freeze. Instead, consumers have been told to submit the requests and freeze fees in writing and to include copies of identity documents to validate the requests.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) recently introduced a measure that would force the bureaus to eliminate the freeze fees and to streamline the entire process. To my mind, that bill could not get passed soon enough.
Understand that each credit bureau has a legal right to charge up to $20 in some states to freeze a credit file, and in many states they are allowed to charge additional fees if consumers later wish to lift or temporarily thaw a freeze. This is especially rich given that credit bureaus earn roughly $1 every time a potential creditor (or identity thief) inquires about your creditworthiness, according to Avivah Litan, a fraud analyst with Gartner Inc.
In light of this, it’s difficult to view these freeze fees as anything other than a bid to discourage consumers from filing them.
The Web sites where consumers can go to file freezes at the other major bureaus — including TransUnion and Experian — have hardly fared any better since Equifax announced the breach on Sept. 7. Currently, if you attempt to freeze your credit file at TransUnion, the company’s site is relentless in trying to steer you away from a freeze and toward the company’s free “credit lock” service.
That service, called TrueIdentity, claims to allow consumers to lock or unlock their credit files for free as often as they like with the touch of a button. But readers who take the bait probably won’t notice or read the terms of service for TrueIdentity, which has the consumer agree to a class action waiver, a mandatory arbitration clause, and something called ‘targeted marketing’ from TransUnion and their myriad partners.
The agreement also states TransUnion may share the data with other companies:
“If you indicated to us when you registered, placed an order or updated your account that you were interested in receiving information about products and services provided by TransUnion Interactive and its marketing partners, or if you opted for the free membership option, your name and email address may be shared with a third party in order to present these offers to you. These entities are only allowed to use shared information for the intended purpose only and will be monitored in accordance with our security and confidentiality policies. In the event you indicate that you want to receive offers from TransUnion Interactive and its marketing partners, your information may be used to serve relevant ads to you when you visit the site and to send you targeted offers. For the avoidance of doubt, you understand that in order to receive the free membership, you must agree to receive targeted offers.“
TransUnion then encourages consumers who are persuaded to use the “free” service to subscribe to “premium” services for a monthly fee with a perpetual auto-renewal.
In short, TransUnion’s credit lock service (and a similarly named service from Experian) doesn’t prevent potential creditors from accessing your files, and these dubious services allow the credit bureaus to keep selling your credit history to lenders (or identity thieves) as they see fit.
As I wrote in a Sept. 11 Q&A about the Equifax breach, I take strong exception to the credit bureaus’ increasing use of the term “credit lock” to divert people away from freezes. Their motives for saddling consumers with even more confusing terminology are suspect, and I would not count on a credit lock to take the place of a credit freeze, regardless of what these companies claim (consider the source).
Experian’s freeze Web site has performed little better since Sept. 7. Several readers pinged KrebsOnSecurity via email and Twitter to complain that while Experian’s freeze site repeatedly returned error messages stating that the freeze did not go through, these readers’ credit cards were nonetheless charged $15 freeze fees multiple times.
If the above facts are not enough to make your blood boil, consider that Equifax and other bureaus have been lobbying lawmakers in Congress to pass legislation that would dramatically limit the ability of consumers to sue credit bureaus for sloppy security, and cap damages in related class action lawsuits to $500,000.
If ever there was an industry that deserved obsolescence or at least more regulation, it is the credit bureaus. If either of those outcomes are to become reality, it is going to take much more attentive and relentless coverage on the part of the world’s top news publications. That’s because there’s a lot at stake here for an industry that lobbies heavily (and successfully) against any new laws that may restrict their businesses.
Here’s hoping the media can get up to speed quickly on this vitally important topic, and help lead the debate over legal and regulatory changes that are sorely needed.


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The Businesses that boomed in 2020
2020 was supposed to be the year that offered the best view of the future, a 2020 view. Turns out it was not such a good view.
Despite it being one of the worst years of the century some businesses will end the year with it being one of their best.
Like most disruption, it never affects everyone the same way, changes harm some and benefits others.
The global changes that will flow from the pandemic will see some industries struggle to recover while others will never look back, this is a short list of some that were the ones that beat the pandemic by being ready to grow when the market changed.
Working from Home
The long debates about where office workers are most productive were simplified when anyone who could work from home was forced to do so.
For the suppliers of the equipment needed to the fibre companies supplying homes to the software makers that allowed you to work via VPN all had a good year.
The communication software makers boomed with Zoom being the brand name that may have become the most mentioned pandemic-related brand. Zoom founder Eric Yuan’s wealth grew by $16 billion this year thanks to the share price growth.
Even as people began to drift back to offices as the lockdowns eased, the second wave will compel companies to send staff home once again.
Some novel options included a virtual commute by Microsoft Teams to set aside a part of the start and end of the day to separate your work time from your home time. Some time at the beginning of the day for goal setting and some time at the end of the day to put it all behind you with some meditation exercises. Mental health apps that were starting to address the issues of our digital lifestyles got a big lift as the lockdowns kicked in and dragged on. Bill Gates added $20 billion thanks to Microsoft’s share increase.
While the need to have staff return will apply for many sectors, the growth sectors for 2020 also relied on staff that could work from home. That shift will make work from home a more defined part of the workforce and may see shifts to where people choose to live.
After years of moving everything to manufacturing hubs, mostly China, the world learned that in a pinch you can’t get your products to market.
Rather than nationalistic reasons, the value of keeping some key manufacturing capacity local is a big lesson for many economies.
I wonder if this decade will see the rise of the local specialist manufacturer that focuses on smaller runs and quicker turnaround times. It is unlikely that China and India will not remain the bulk manufacturing centres but with innovation in 3D printing and robotics, we may see machines that are pricey but very flexible become the new standard for those that are looking for responsible consumption. A fashion brand in the Netherlands sells its products with no discounts and encourages their customers to buy less often. Once a year though, the store content is replaced by the garments of its customers that wish to sell it. The proceeds are returned as vouchers for customers to spend on new garments.
Assuming you could keep your supply chains going and you had an online sales option and a delivery service provider then you had a very good 2020.
Ecommerce providers tipped the trust issues many may have had about online shopping. The shift that was initiated in Asia after the Sars outbreak in 2003 was replicated around the globe as people either chose or were not able to go shopping.
The delivery and logistics companies that had been working to drive demand found themselves seriously stretched. The industry will need to manage the sustainability of its staffing payments, but I think it is fair that after the spike, deliveries will remain higher than before the pandemic.
The runaway winner being Jeff Bezos, who added an incredible $90 billion to his fortune since March thanks again to the share price increase in Amazon. He has donated $125 million to food security programs which is incredible but only a fraction of what he made.
He is not alone other retailers like the Waltons added over $10 billion while PC makers like Michael Dell are up $16 billion.
The Stock Market
What may have created a depression to rival the one in the last century, turned into an impressive bull run.
Share prices made many billionaires multi-billionaires. Those who still had money to invest or used the freely available money to do so may be smiling now, but the reckoning may still be coming because the share price may have skyrocketed but the profits could not amid a massive downturn.
One of the biggest winners this year was the founder of Quicken loans who listed his company in August increasing his fortune from $6 billion to $49 billion.
For those unsure if the share prices may hold, there was always the cryptocurrencies with the original Bitcoin rising again to the levels it reached in 2017. It has doubled in price since September with a Bitcoin currently worth about R290 000.
No surprises that medical companies would do well during a pandemic. From protective equipment to sanitisers to the tools like thermometers, billions were spent on medical supplies. For testing laboratories the millions of tests that have been needed this year will be a huge increase in business.
The biggest winners though may be the companies that can develop and distribute an effective vaccine. Three were already ready for approval just 10 months after the research began and in early December Pfizer/Biontech was the first to get approval for use in the UK.
Twitter’s Jack Dorsey increased his wealth by $7 billion although the real growth came from the payment company Square that he co-founded. While Mark Zuckerberg at just 36 years old is now worth over $100 billion after adding $46 billion during the pandemic.
The shift to online sales was a major driver for the ad revenue companies, but they also had a good year for the degree that were able to mitigate the amount of bad information that was being spread about the virus and if that was not enough managed to make it through the US elections with the largest challenge to free and fair elections being the US President himself.
We may not have watched any new movies in cinemas for most of the year but we sure have watched a lot more videos than in any other year. Netflix, Apple, Disney, HBO, DStv in fact any streaming provider with the exception of Quibi had a very busy 2020. Quibi was the biggest loser spending billions to compete with established rivals like Netflix and while quite innovative simply could not hold a candle to just how well the rest were doing especially with subscribers.
TV shows like the Queen's Gambit set new records for number of people watching a series which was in part thanks to the quality of the show and in part just how badly we all needed to watch something with a really great ending.
The person that achieved more this year on multiple fronts that anyone else must be Elon Musk. His worth has increased $68 billion for the most part thanks to Tesla having been added to the S&P 500. Despite the initial disruption to Tesla production he has managed to recover some lost ground even as he was criticised for putting his staff at risk. The shift to electric is now assured as multiple governments commit to phasing out fossil fuels for transport in the next decade. Tesla’s dominance is not only the fact that his cars are electric, the driving software is unrivalled and his potential for growth into commercial vehicles and bakkies is going to keep competitors behind him for a while.
The low running costs and increased safety measures on the cars suggest he will be able to add revenues from insurance premiums too, all adding to the company cash flow.
Then he set new records in space flight with a booster recently completing its 7th successful take-off and landing. He has sent a full crew to the International Space Station and is due to test his Starship. That program to get mankind to Mars may still be some years away, but he plans to challenge long haul travel with 30 mins flights connection any two major cities on the planet.
The revenue to fund the space program would be Starlink, the satellite internet network that is currently in beta testing and has grown from a few dozen satellites to almost 1 000 just in 2020.
Lessons from Covid-19
Things change. Normally at a pace that we can anticipate and ideally we are able to adapt. Sometimes the change is so rapid, that only those that had been preparing for the change are ready to respond.
We knew a pandemic was a reality waiting to happen, but many hoped they would have more time to prepare, that it would not be that bad or that we would be okay anyway.
Some businesses will survive, many will not. Some will never be the same and for the select few they will not look back, They anticipated the change, prepared for it, they may not have known when it would come but they were able to respond when it did.
There will be change again, the time your business spends preparing for it could decide if you will be one of the new winners.
The changes in personal fortunes quoted in this article come from a longer article by USA Today with the values accurate at October 2020.
Image credit: © fotoquique/123rf.com
Source : https://www.123rf.com/photo_143185888_corona-crash-hand-pointing-to-graphic-on-blackboard-showing-the-stock-market-collapse-or-the-financi.html?term=economic%2Bdepression&vti=nn86mlh9lfjefb492c-1-93


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Zentinel MDS joins the Industry 4.0 ecosystem of DFactory Barcelona
23 de October de 2023
- Zentinel, a company that offers technological solutions for industrial observability that help companies to know the status of their machines and production processes, opens a 48m2 office in DFactory Barcelona.
Barcelona, 23 October 2023. – The DFactory Barcelona consolidates its growth with the recent addition of Zentinel MDS to the list of companies housed in this innovative building promoted by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), which has become a hub for the creation of a system that drives the promotion and development of Industry 4.0.
Today, the CZFB officially welcomed this company, which markets solutions for industrial observability that enable companies to know the status of their machines and production processes. Industrial Observability is the ability to interpret the operation of machinery by analysing its external signals, without the need to interact with control systems.
The special delegate of the State in the CZFB, Pere Navarro, points out that “we are proud to see how this ecosystem of innovation in industry that the DFactory represents is growing day by day with the incorporation of leading companies such as Zentinel MDS, which contribute to positioning us as the most important hub in southern Europe and one of the most innovative in the world”.
Being part of the DFactory Barcelona ecosystem allows Zentinel MDS to establish partnerships with other industrial technology companies and operate in an ideal environment to promote solutions with customers and partners. “Because of our international trajectory, in few places have we seen an environment so focused on digitisation with high-level resources, both human and technical,” says Jordi Cruz, director and co-founder at Zentinel.
An ecosystem in constant growth
Barely two years after opening its doors, the DFactory Barcelona is fulfilling its goal of becoming the factory of the future, promoting and developing Industry 4.0, new talent and new technologies and investments, in an unrivalled space. In this environment, technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, cybersecurity and blockchain, artificial intelligence and sensors are giving rise to a new, much more sustainable way of producing, generating synergies between companies and providing the possibility of establishing alliances with the rest of the organisations present in the building.
This is a project driven by the CZFB and fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, facilitating the digitisation of industry as a key lever for the ecological transition and promoting the circular economy through the adoption of new sustainable production systems and advanced manufacturing.
The ecosystem currently has facilities covering 17,000 square metres on four floors, where around 30 companies have already set up shop and where around 500 people work, with an 80% occupancy rate in just one year. In addition, the second phase of the emblematic building is scheduled to begin in 2023, which will allow it to reach a further 72,000 square metres in the coming years. This is expected to employ a total of 1,500 people directly and 5,000 indirectly.
Award for the best startup in BNEW Digital Industry
It should be noted that at the 4th edition of the Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW 2023), held recently at DFactory Barcelona, Zentinel MDS received the award for the best startup in the Digital Industry vertical. María Rivas, COO-Founder of Zentinel Machine Data Solutions, was in charge of collecting this distinction that recognises them as a successful company.


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Interested buyers for the third 2010 Chevrolet Camaro to be assembled have until Saturday to act. And they should expect to pay a pretty penny to get it. The highest bid on eBay as of 6 p.m. Wednesday was $55,300.
A forum community dedicated to New Generation Camaro owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, engine swaps, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!


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Xiaomi became the number one smartphone brand in the world for the first time in June 2021. The Chinese company sold the most smartphones in its history in June this year. The latest data comes from research firm Counterpoint and states that Xiaomi’s expansion into Huawei and Honor’s legacy markets, including Africa, China, Europe and the Middle East, has helped teach this milestone. Xiaomi was founded in 2010 and released its first smartphone in 2011.
Xiaomi’s sales were up 26 percent from May and had 17.1 percent of the market share in terms of global smartphone sales. It is followed by Samsung with 15.7% market share and Apple with 14.3%. IN data According to Counterpoint, in the second quarter of this year, Xiaomi was the number two brand in the world in terms of smartphone sales.
The company sold its first smartphone in 2011 and has since sold nearly 800 million smartphones worldwide.
Research Director Tarun Pathak of Counterpoint noted that Xiaomi has filled the gap left by Huawei in markets such as Africa, China, Europe and the Middle East. In June, sales in China, Europe and India propelled Xiaomi’s growth. Specifically, in China, Xiaomi was the fastest growing brand in June, thanks to the sales of Redmi 9, Redmi Note 9 and Redmi K series. Notably, Samsung’s production was also negatively impacted by the new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam, where the company has a factory.
The research company also notes that depending on the situation in Vietnam, Samsung may still lag behind Xiaomi in sales. However, once the situation improves, Samsung may return to the top spot.


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Earlier this year, Washington, D.C. flirted with the idea of creating a punitive "living wage" specifically designed to hit Walmart stores and a few other big-box retailers. Walmart threatened to pull out of the Capital City if they were forced to pay that wage. Mayor Vincent Gray vetoed the bill but promised to back in its place a general increase in the District's minimum wage. Now, the city council has responded with a bill to gradually increase the minimum wage for all businesses from $8.25 to $11.50 in 2016. The mayor has countered with $10 an hour but doesn't have the votes to stave off the higher number.
At the Washington Examiner, Sean Higgins explains how "America's Place for Savings" is the real winner if and when the minimum wage gets jacked up by government dictate:
In 2006, Walmart's then-CEO Lee Scott said… "Though we do not intend to take a position on any single piece of legislation, we believe Congress should increase the minimum wage."
In the case of the D.C. bill, Walmart often already does pay a $10 or $11.50 wage. According to Payscale.com, Walmart's cashiers on average make between $7.50 and $10.77 and sales associates make between $7.63 and $11.83. Overall, its wages are just five percent below the retail industry average.
It is a different story for D.C.'s small neighborhood stores — which already face the daunting prospect of competing with Walmart. "Small businesses are the least able to absorb … a dramatic increase in their labor costs," notes the National Federation of Independent Business.
Score this a win for Walmart then. They can absorb the higher wage relatively easily while their smaller competitors cannot. And if faced with job loss or cutbacks at mom-and-pops, expect the City Council to try and pass an even-higher wage in order to help their constituents out.
Watch Reason TV's coverage of "The War on Walmart" (2011) which features future New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio bloviating about how Walmart stores are "Trojan horses" that sneak into cities and destroy their economies (really):


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Tesco is developing its own private cloud run in UK data centres to aid its expansion into overseas markets.
Tesco has confirmed that it has called in the police to investigate a possible data breach after a number of complaints from Clubcard members who claim to have had their online accounts compromised.
A recent push in the IT industry to collect and monetize big data is headed for a clash with privacy concerns from Internet users and potential regulation from some governments, according to tech analyst firm Ovum.
Sainsbury's grew its online sales by a quarter in the three months to 2 October, as the firm continued investing heavily in its supply chain and other systems.
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SIHH 2013! Yes, Watch Fans, one of the biggest and most exciting events of 2013 is now just one week away. The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, or SIHH as it is also known, is one of the landmark annual events for the luxury watch world. The SIHH is where a select group of brands unveil their latest and greatest watches, which of course I then unveil to you. You’ve already seen Perpetuelle previews of almost every attending brand (click the “SIHH 2013…” link directly above to see what’s revealed thus far), but the best yet to come.
As in prior years, there will be an avalanche of new postings here at Perpetuelle starting next Monday. You’ll see the latest and greatest watches from the likes of Panerai, Audemars Piguet, and the fourteen other brands listed below. This time of year is what I live for. Dare I say it is what Perpetuelle exists for — bringing you first looks at the latest and greatest luxury and avant-garde timepieces. I can hardly contain myself — it’s going to be an absolutely incredible week! You can tune in to Perpetuelle’s live SIHH feed by clicking the “SIHH 2013…” link on the header bar above.
This year, SIHH 2013, is the 22nd such event and it runs from Mon Jan 21 to Fri Jan 25. SIHH 2013 will have 16 brands. This is down from 18 last year, as Girard-Perregaux and brother brand JeanRichard will not be a part of the festivities this year. Here are 2013’s SIHH Exhibitors:
Did You Know?
A Brief SIHH History. The first SIHH was held in 1991. It lasted five days and was represented by 5 brands: Baume & Mercier, Cartier, Piaget, Gérald Genta, Daniel Roth. In 1996, Franck Muller joined as an exhibitor and also Independent Watchmakers Svend Andersen, Roger Dubuis, Paul Gerber and Jean Kazes were invited. By 1999, the number of exhibitors was up to 17, including for the first time Officine Panerai, among others. The number of exhibitors peaked at 19 in 2010 when Greubel Forsey and Richard Mille joined 17 other brands.


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Electric car sales Australia: Polestar 2 retains top spot in July
As Tesla waits for its next big shipment of cars, Volvo spin-off brand Polestar claimed another electric-car sales win last month.
The 2022 Polestar 2 remained Australia's best-selling electric vehicle (EV) in July – but a wave of Tesla sedans and SUVs due within days may turn the tables from this month.
The latest VFACTS industry sales data shows the Polestar 2 – the first model from Volvo's electric spin-off brand to be sold in Australia – remained Australia's top-selling EV last month, as it was in June, with 94 cars reported as sold.
July was a slow month for electric vehicle sales – in relative terms – with 609 vehicles reported as sold, up from 515 in July 2021, but nearly half of the 1137 sold the month prior to last, in June 2022.
However, that can be attributed to fluctuations in supply, rather than demand – with something such as one fewer shipment of cars than usual capable of shuffling the order of the Top Five best sellers, given the relatively low volumes in which electric cars sell in Australia.
Another key factor behind the lower sales result is Tesla, which reported only four cars as sold in July – down from 172 in June – as it waited for its first major shipment of cars to arrive at the end of the month.
The first of these shipments arrived late last week (as reported yesterday), and the first cars are en route to showrooms now – with the first customers reporting on Facebook delivery dates later this week.
While it's unclear how many Teslas will arrive in Australia this month for delivery, the new vehicles will extend Tesla's significant lead in the electric vehicle (EV) sales race, with the Model 3 already accounting for 45 per cent of all EVs sold so far this year.
That's despite 95 per cent of these cars being delivered before the end of March (4417 of 4657) – and only 240 reaching customers' homes since then. In the same period, Polestar reported 541 cars as sold.
As mentioned, July saw most electric car models post lower sales figures than they did in June – though that's expected to be a result of fluctuating supply and vehicle shipments, rather than demand.
Some sales figures can be attributed to other factors; Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric sales were down to 17 cars (from 78 in June), as these were the last 2022 models to arrive, ahead of an updated 2023 model due this month.
Renault Kangoo ZE electric van sales slowed to a crawl in July – just one of two total Kangoos sold – ahead of a new model early next year, while five Kia Niro Electrics were sold, as supply for the just-launched second-generation model is currently skewed towards the cheaper hybrid variant.
However, none of these models can place higher than fourth in the sales standings. This story will be updated once these figures are received.
MORE: January to June 2022 electric vehicle sales
MORE: June 2022 electric vehicle sales
MORE: May 2022 electric vehicle sales
MORE: April 2022 electric vehicle sales
MORE: January to March 2022 electric vehicle sales
MORE: 2021 electric vehicle sales


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Tesla has filed a lawsuit against the Swedish government because it no longer receives license plates for its new electric cars. The reason is a solidarity campaign by postmen.
no time? Blue News sums it up for you
- Swedish postmen challenge Elon Musk and refuse to deliver Tesla license plates.
- By doing so, they are showing their solidarity with the striking Tesla employees.
- Tesla is now seeking help in court and has already achieved its first success.
Tesla has a problem in Sweden. It no longer receives license plates for its new vehicles and therefore cannot deliver them to its customers. The reason for this is the labor dispute at Tesla, which also led to solidarity actions elsewhere.
The IF Metall union is currently on strike for a collective labor agreement at Tesla. As part of this strike, workers at other companies also showed their solidarity, such as PostNord. Postmen there categorically refuse to deliver packages to Tesla. Since the State Transportation Authority only sends license plates by mail, Tesla simply doesn’t get them.
Tesla gets preliminary injunction
Tesla has now filed a lawsuit against the transport authority in a court in Norrköping, in the east of the country. This requires that he can simply collect license plates from the same manufacturer.
At the beginning of the operation, Tesla achieved temporary success. The court issued an injunction ordering the Transport Authority to allow the banners to be raised within seven days. A spokeswoman for the authority told The Guardian that the matter is still under study.
Lifelong foodaholic. Professional twitter expert. Organizer. Award-winning internet geek. Coffee advocate.


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Flomio’s bid to crowdfund the production of its FloJack NFC add-on for iOS devices is just over US$10,000 away from its $80,000 target with five days to run. The company has also revealed plans for an NFC-enabled iPhone 4 sleeve called “FloCase” and added extra reward levels, including one aimed specifically at student developers.
- London markets could go contactless
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- New Google Glass ‘released soon’
- US shoppers make more mobile payments


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The Mac Pro hasn’t been updated since 2013. Which means the Mac Pro is about two almost three years old! Which for a $7,000+ computer that’s a huge difference. I’m not saying the Mac Pro isn’t fast anymore I’m just saying that it is getting a bit old.
There’s been rumors here and there about a new Mac Pro for the last couple of months. I really starting to think that we could see a new Mac Pro in a few months. Why you may ask? Well, much newer technology has came out and a lot better graphics chipsets too! Not to mention faster drives and SSDs. To see a new Mac Pro this March or September wouldn’t be a surprise.


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30+ workers at Middleton-based video game developer are unionizing
More than 30 workers at Raven Software — a Middleton-based video game developer whose parent company Activision Blizzard was just bought by Microsoft for $68.7 billion — have formed a union.
The workers are calling on Activision Blizzard’s management to recognize the union, called the Game Workers Alliance Union with the Communications Workers of America. The group was created Friday, according to another local union, Wisconsin AFL-CIO.
Launched in 1990, Raven Software creates several video games under Activision Blizzard, including the profitable Call of Duty franchise. The workers who unionized said they mainly work on Call of Duty, according to the AFL-CIO release. Raven Software has a few hundred employees, so the union is a fraction, but still a large chunk, of the company’s overall staff.
Activision has had complaints about workplace discrimination and sexual harassment, and Raven Software workers staged an online walkout in early December over unexpected layoffs.
AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale said in a statement that her union in standing “in solidarity” with the Raven Software workers.
“Today marks a historic step in the movement to create positive change and build a better gaming industry for the workers who make video games,” Bloomingdale said. “Quality assurance workers at Raven are joining together for a seat at the table.”
Activision disclosed in 2021 that it was being probed by the Securities and Exchange Commission over complaints of workplace discrimination, and settled claims in September brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Activision reached a deal with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to settle the claims after a three-year investigation. The agency said Activision failed to take effective action following employee complaints about sexual harassment, as well as retaliation and discrimination against pregnant staff members.
Meanwhile, Raven Software has been facing its own problems.
Hundreds of Raven Software workers refused to work in early December because of news that 12 contractors on the quality assurance team were getting laid off. The contractors play videos games for technical glitches. Their contracts expire Jan. 28.
The ABK Worker’s Alliance, a group of Activision employees, said Tuesday that the online walkouts are still ongoing because leadership has still not responded to their request to negotiate.
Bloomingdale said “giving gaming workers a real voice with the power of collective bargaining” is the best way to solve these ongoing problems.
Activision Blizzard acquired Raven Software in 1997 for $12 million.
Once the deal with Microsoft closes in 2023, Activision will have been part of what “could be one of the largest tech acquisitions in history” — assuming the purchase survives scrutiny from U.S. and European regulators, according to the Associated Press.
That would make Microsoft, the maker of the Xbox gaming system, one of the world’s largest video game companies.
State Journal reporter Emilie Heidemann contributed to this report.
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Blockchain gaming has been one of the hottest topics in the industry for a while. And it was why there has been a tremendous influx of capital to the metaverse. Many metaverse companies sold land and other NFTs for gaming purposes. The hype has ended as some major names have joined the club. The latest in it is the former Tik-Tok gaming head, Jason Fung, who has quit his job to join the new venture.
He has taken this decision due to the huge influx of customers to this market. As there was a need to fill the gaps and bring improvements, Fung’s decision will help it. Reuters first disclosed the news as they conducted an interview session with him.
Here is a brief overview of Fung’s decision to quit Tik-Tok, co-found a new company, and how it will impact the market.
The increasing influx of investors to blockchain gaming
The increasing interest of customers in blockchain gaming is huge, but venture companies have preferred not to take big risks. Though some startups like Shiboshi and others went for the launch of opportunities for gamers, there has been no significant change. Also, the growth of this tech has resulted in the addition of considerable intellectual investment. While interoperable games between different blockchain systems are few which need improvement.
Jason Fung had all these factors in view while keeping an eye on the gaps in the market for a while. Interestingly, there was little effort from companies to take the initiative to fill this gap and make this industry more innovative. The heavyweights of the market have been reluctant to take decisive steps to transform this market.
Jason Fung has had about two years with Tik-Tok, but as it grew to a multi-billion-dollar company. Tik-Tok and its Chinese owner ByteDance have benefitted hugely and have a share of $300 billion in the global gaming market. As Fung has taken this decision, it will bring Meta0 expertise and capital to develop the industry.
Meta0: Launch of blockchain gaming startup
In an interview with Reuters, Jason Fung said he has co-founded Meta0, which will offer blockchain gaming services. It will be a startup that will offer gamers services like trading digital assets like NFTs between gamers. He said that the main reason behind him quitting Tik-Tok was the opportunity to fill gaps and offer solutions to the segregated gaming community. He also expressed hope for developing infrastructure for new-generation gaming.
He said that the main problem he sees with the development of blockchain games is the choice of a single blockchain that the developer has to make. He imagines making it more interoperable, providing various options to the developers and users. Fung said that quitting a comfy job at Tik-Tok was a big risk and instead opt for a new venture. Time will tell whether his decision to quit Tik-Tok and join Meta0 was right.
There are six members of Meta0, while there are two founding members. According to Fung, they have completed the first round of funding. He didn’t disclose details about the other founding member, but he said they would soon issue tokens to raise funds. They will also look for funding from venture capitalists and strategic investors.
The gaming head of Tik-Tok, Jason Fung, has quit the company while co-founding a new venture. It is a blockchain gaming company named Meta0, which will attempt to innovate blockchain gaming. According to the available updates from Fung’s interview with Reuters, they have completed the first round of fundraising. They will try to fill gaps in the market using the available opportunities.