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US consumer confidence dropped to lowest level in more than a year, hurt by higher taxes
Stocks edge higher, pushing Dow toward 14,000, as investors digest earnings reports
Ford 4Q profit of $1.6 billion tops estimates, but warns of wider Europe loss this year
US home prices strengthen in November from a year ago in latest sign of housing recovery
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Elliott urges Hess shareholders to elect slate of 5 company outsiders to board of directors
Fed is expected this week to stick to its message of low rates for the long run
Microsoft releases Office 2013 in redesign emphasizing touch controls, online subscriptions
Drugmaker Pfizer's Q4 net nearly quadruples on $4.8B gain from sale of nutrition business
Boston Scientific to cut as many as 1,000 more jobs; 4Q profit shrinks but outlook tops St.


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Joining California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon and Vermont in ignoring the federal government’s prohibition against industrial hemp, Senate Bill 396 would undermine the federal prohibition to commercial hemp cultivation in Nevada.
Nevada Senate Bill 396 (S.B. 396) – intended to legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp in the Silver State – has successfully passed the Assembly’s Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Mining.
Now headed to the full Assembly for additional deliberation, S.B. 396 seeks to establish an experimental hemp cultivation program to examine the economic feasibility of growing industrial hemp in Nevada’s high desert.
Additionally, the bill would create a Nevada-based program for the cultivation of industrial hemp seeds.
Passed by a 20-0 vote, the bill’s pilot program would craft a distinct and unrelated hemp cultivation program, separate from the existing agricultural hemp program.
A potential game changer, S.B. 396 could help nullify the current federal prohibition against hemp cultivation.
Senate Bill 396 would modify existing law, which currently permits the Nevada Department of Agriculture or specific institutions that maintain land for agricultural research, to cultivate industrial hemp for research purposes. Under S.B. 396, Nevada would create distinct licensing programs for cultivators and processors of industrial hemp seed.
“An Act relating to industrial hemp; authorizing the growth and handling of industrial hemp and the production of agricultural hemp seed in certain circumstances,” Senate Bill 396 received approval from the following Nevada legislators:
- Sen. Patricia Spearman (D)
- Sen. Richard Segerblom (D)
- Sen. David Parks (D)
- Sen. Kelvin Atkinson (D)
- Sen. Yvanna Cancela (D)
- Sen. Moises Denis (D)
- Sen. Patricia Farley (R)
- Sen. Aaron Ford (D)
- Sen. Julia Ratti (D)
- Sen. Joyce Woodhouse (D)
- Rep. Chris Brooks (D)
- Rep. Richard Carrillo (D)
As most are aware, the federal government currently obstructs the purchasing of industrial hemp seeds. By snubbing the prerequisite need to seek federal approval first, S.B. 396 would, at least in practice, nullify the federal hemp ban in Nevada.
Potentially throwing off the yoke of federal prohibition, Nevada could soon find itself in a very exclusive club. Joining California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon and Vermont in ignoring the federal government’s prohibition against industrial hemp, Senate Bill 396 would undermine the federal prohibition to commercial hemp cultivation in Nevada.

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In the wake of Europol international’s summit on the best way to crack down on binary options firms, it’s worth considering if being part of an industry that is increasingly considered as fraudulent by police and regulators alike is advantageous in the long run.
Many employees in the industry will insist that they are simply ‘doing their job’ and are not to be castigated for the questionable nature of the firms which they work to promote and the blame really needs to be assigned to the big dogs at the top, who are running the game and lining their pockets.
The binary industry has grown significantly over the past year, producing on average some $10 billion annually in profit across the world. Many are calling it ‘the largest internet fraud in British history’ and it seems the fight to put an end to it, is just beginning.
Most binary firms have roots in Israel, where the industry has become a staple feature of the economic sector. In fact, many Jewish youngsters arriving here are readily accepting jobs with binary options companies as call centre agents, attracted by high wages which would no doubt help them support their new pricier lifestyles. Comparatively, most honest jobs simply do not offer as much in terms of pay, and many will find comfort in knowing that, despite its notorious reputation and shady morals, they are not the ones in positions of power.
However, even such low-level employees may soon be facing arrest charges if Europol has its way. In the summit held just last week, the EU’s federal law enforcement agency released their outlook on how to combat scam and fraud in the binary industry. Also present were the FBI, US Securities and Exchange Commission as well as several other national regulating bodies.
Among their suggestions was the possibility of delving into company records and holding all involved accountable. In this way, even a 20-something call centre agent could be charged as an aide and abettor to fraudulent business practices. Although regulators may seek to put a stop to such drastic measures, Europol and the UK Serious Fraud Office have the influence to conduct full investigations.


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Nokia says to get more than it gives to Microsoft this year
HELSINKI, March 7
HELSINKI, March 7 (Reuters) - Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia said on Thursday that it will receive more royalty payments from Microsoft than it pays to the software giant this year.
Nokia, which adopted Microsoft's Windows Phone software for its mobile phones in 2011, said its payments to Microsoft will exceed what it receives from the U.S. company by around 0.5 billion euros ($650.00 million) over the remainder of the agreement to pay each other royalties.
($1 = 0.7692 euros) (Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; editing by Keiron Henderson)
- Exclusive: Radar data suggests missing Malaysia plane deliberately flown way off course - sources
- Investigators focus on foul play behind missing plane-sources |
- Russia ships troops into Ukraine, repeats invasion threat |
- Search for Malaysian plane may extend to Indian Ocean - U.S |
- Russia blocks internet sites of Putin critics


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2021 Honda CB300R BS6 India Launch Could Happen Soon
Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India, Private Limited (HMSI) entered the 350cc segment recently with the launch of CB350 and CB350 RS. It should be noted that before the CB350 twins, CB300R was actually the highest-selling bike retailed by the Japanese automobile manufacturer through its BigWing dealerships. The two-wheeler was launched in the year 2019 and had to be discontinued last year thanks to the stringent BS6 emission standards adopted since 01st April 2020.
However, the naked roadster motorcycle is now expected to make a comeback in its latest generation with a BS6 updated engine. For April 2021, a total of 8 units of the CB300R have been dispatched by bike makers in India.
The two-wheeler manufacturer is currently looking to expand its footprint in the premium bike segment by launching new BigWing dealerships in the coming future. While CB350 has given the BigWing dealerships a good start, the introduction of CB300R might further help the increasing BigWing dealerships to establish themselves in the premium two-wheeler space.
2021 Honda CB300R: Mechanical Details
The new-gen Honda CB300R will be powered by a BS6 updated 286cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, single-cylinder engine. In its BS4 iteration, it put out 31.4 bhp and 27.5 Nm of max torque. The updated BS6 286 cc unit will be mated to a six-speed gearbox. the motorcycle also gets a counterbalance shaft which makes the rumble of the powertrain smooth.
When it comes to dynamics, suspension duties are taken care by 41mm telescopic fork at the front and Pro-Link single shock at the rear. The braking system consists of a 296mm disc at the front and a 220mm disc brake at the rear wheel supported by dual-channel ABS.
2021 Honda CB300R: Styling and Features
2021 Honda CB300R sports a Neo-Sports Cafe styling with most of its styling cues taken from its older sibling- CB1000R. The motorcycle gets a tapered aluminum handlebar although the riding position remains upright. It features a retro-style round-shaped LED headlamp and modern LED technology. The LED taillights mounted are the thinnest ever used in a Honda bike.
Expected Price and Launch Timeline
2021 CB300R range will be positioned above CB350 since the naked streetfighter will likely be brought via the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) route. The BS4 version of CB300R was retailed at a price of Rs 2,42,000 (ex-showroom, India). Thanks to the recent increase in the prices of vehicles, one can expect the CB300R to be priced above Rs 2,50,000 (ex-showroom). Once launched, it will rival the likes of KTM Duke 390, KTM Duke 250, BMW G310R, etc in the price range of 2.5-3 lakh.
There has been no word from the automobile manufacturer yet regarding its launch timeline, but considering that dispatches have started, the launch could take place in the coming weeks.


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Fujitsu is to launch a slate-type Tablet PC with a faster processor, larger screen and more capacious hard-disc drive than its existing model.
Details of the Stylistic ST5000, including the draft user manual, were revealed in documents published by the US Federal Communications Commission after the device received regulatory approval for use in the US last week.
A Fujitsu spokesman declined to comment on the product.
The computer will be Fujitsu's third Tablet PC following the slate-type ST4000, which was launched when Microsoft launched its Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system, and the convertible-type ST3000 that was launched in September.
There are several differences between Fujitsu's current slate-type model, the ST4000, and specifications for the ST5000 listed in the manual.
The first is in the choice of processor. Fujitsu will stick with the ultra-low-voltage version of Intel's Pentium III M processor, but is including a 1GHz model in the new machine. The processor in the ST4000 runs at a clock speed of 933MHz.
Memory is unchanged at 256Mbytes but the minimum hard-disc drive size has been raised from 30Gbytes to 40Gbytes.
A 12-inch TFT LCD with 1,024 pixel by 768 pixel (XGA) resolution is fitted in the ST5000, which is larger than the 10.4-inch screen on the ST4000.
Other features of the new tablet include slots for PC Card, Secure Digital memory card and smart card and a selection of interfaces including an analogue modem, Ethernet Lan, IEEE1394, IrDA infrared and two USB 2.0 sockets.
Wireless Lan is supported in the machine and there is a second version, the ST5000D, which has no wireless Lan support.
The PC measures 220mm by 324mm by 22mm and weighs 1.45kg. Battery life is up to five hours.
Regulatory approval by the FCC is required for all devices that emit radio waves over a certain level before they can be used in the US legally. It is usually one of the final stages before a company launches a product, although it does not mean a launch will definitely take place, nor that specifications will remain unchanged before the product is sold.
Martyn Williams and Tom Krazit write for IDG News Service


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The biggest U.S. advertiser has a new media chief as Procter & Gamble Co. has named Kristine Decker to oversee its estimated $3 billion-plus U.S. media outlay.
Biggest Ad Spender P&G Has New North America Media Chief
Ms. Decker, brand director-North America Brand Operations, had previously been brand director-North America Pet Care. P&G divested that business to Mars in August. She's been transitioning into the media role under Jodi Allen, former VP-North America Brand Operations. Ms. Allen has been overseeing North American media directly following departure of P&G's former top media executive Julie Eddleman to Google last year.
Ms. Allen became VP-North American Hair Care late last year and was handling both jobs for a time. That transition is now complete, a P&G spokeswoman said. Staffing and duties of the North American Brand Operations group have been reduced considerably following a reorganization last year that shifted much of the group's duties to the brand groups in P&G's global business units.
Post-reorganization, media buying and planning are the key marketing function that remains in North American Selling and Market Operations, which succeeded the old Market Development Organization.
Ms. Decker hadn't been a media specialist prior to her current role, but had a noteworthy media effort to her credit. She was the marketing executive on P&G's Walmart team who oversaw the company's "Family Movie Night" collaboration, in which P&G and the retailer jointly fronted production and created commercials for the TV movies that ran on NBC. That effort won a Bronze Effie in 2012. Previously, Ms. Decker had also been a brand manager on Swiffer.
P&G long has ranked as the biggest U.S. advertising spender, with nearly $5 billion in overall spending in 2013, according to the Ad Age Datacenter. P&G had $2 billion in measured media spending through the first nine months of 2014, down 16% from the same period a year ago, according to Kantar Media.
While P&G has acknowledged cutting media spending some last year, much of that decline likely owes to a shift into harder-to-measure digital media. Overall, P&G's global reported ad spending declined 4% to $9.2 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30.
Publicis Groupe's Starcom Mediavest Group handles media-buying duties for P&G in the U.S. and communications planning for most brands in North America. Carat, a unit of Dentsu Aegis Network, handles media buying in Canada and communications planning for some brands in North America.
Melanie Healey, once a CEO contender who had led P&G's North America operations overall, announced her retirement late last year. She's been succeeded by Carolyn Tastad, a longtime sales executive and the company's former global customer development officer, as group-president North America Selling and Market Operations. Ms. Decker will report directly to her.


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Nokia hasn’t lost its edge in using latest tech advancements to practical use. Proof is, use of latest in RAM development called PCM or phase-change memory in Asha smartphones. You will be surprised to know that the supplier “micron” has just started producing these memory chips in July 2012 only. Since these are 1st gen chips they are most suitable for low memory requirements phones as of now. But still they offer benefits like speeding up boot time, simplifying software development and boosting performance with its overwrite capability.
Micron said its PCM can speed up boot time for mobile phones at switch-on, simplify software development and boost performance with its overwrite capability. Micron’s 45-nm PCM components are being targeted at mobile phones with a future devices aimed at smartphones and tablet computers, the company said.
So, next time you feel proud about 2-3 seconds boot time of your Asha phone, you know the reason behind that :P. Also great news is that, Micron confirms shipping tens of millions of these in 2012 thanks to Nokia Asha range.
At the time of the Electronica exhibition EE Times referenced a Micron executive saying that Micron will ship tens of millions of units of 1-Gbit PCM in 2012. Micron’s volume comes from a couple of cell phone design wins (see Micron phase-change memory to skip a node). One is the Nokia Asha phone (see www.nokia.com/global/products/asha).
“Nokia has always found ways to provide innovative mobile devices for its customers across the globe, and Micron’s PCM for mobile enables us to enhance the performance of Asha smartphones,” said Dirk Didascalou, senior vice president for mobile phones at Nokia, in a statement issued by Micron. “Micron is a trusted supplier, and their new technology helps create a strong user experience with a number of feature and performance enhancements.”
Thanks dojobi for the Tip. Cheers!!


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Digital ad solutions company Exponential Interactive has released its study titled The Power of Video-Driven Experiences: What Attention, Emotion and Perception Can Tell Us About Good Advertising – which finds that interactive video advertisements are significantly more impactful than standard banner and pre-roll video ads.
Exponential commissioned EyeSee, a market research firm, to investigate the effectiveness of interactive video. The study compared Exponential’s proprietary VDX video units to 30-second pre-roll units and standard banner units, focusing on three key KPIs – attention (length of browsing and interaction time), emotion (type of emotion and strength of emotional reaction) and perception (impact on brand lift).
These KPIs were evaluated via eye tracking and interaction rates, facial expression and surveys, respectively.
The study found that interactive video ads are more effective at seizing attention, provoking emotion and driving brand impact. Key takeaways and statistics include:
- Interactive video impacts purchase consideration. 17 percent of users who viewed a VDX Pre-roll and 19 percent of users who viewed the VDX Rectangle units stated they “definitely will” consider purchasing the brand in the future. That statistic was only 13 percent for the standard pre-roll.
- Interactive video advertising units generate positive brand perception and make a lasting impression. Compared to standard pre-roll units, video-driven units held attention for over twice as long, produced higher ad recall rates and boosted brand perception.
- An invitation to engage with video advertising is more than just a gateway to a compelling experience; it can be valuable real estate in itself. 69 percent of users spent over five seconds looking at the interactive teaser compared to just 11 percent who viewed the standard animated banner of the same size. Interactive teasers are also 3x more likely to stimulate a positive emotional reaction (particularly ‘Focus’). Further, 82 percent of those who viewed the teasers reported “favourable” or “very favourable” brand perception on the surveys compared to just 68 percent of those who viewed the standard banner.
“This study validates what we’re seeing every day – that interactive video is a powerful digital vehicle for brand impact,” said Tyler Greer, head of strategy APAC, Exponential. “The choice of ad format has huge implications for marketers and advertisers; advertising focused on engagement delivers more compelling, memorable experiences.”
In the study, a sample of 500 panel-recruited U.S.-based participants were asked to browse a series of realistic mock websites how they would naturally – at home and using their own devices. Throughout exposure, users were monitored via their webcams for their facial expressions, visual gaze, and navigation while surfing the pages.
After users finished browsing, they were then exposed to an additional mock webpage with generic editorial content and additional dummy advertisements. To assess brand lift metrics, users were presented with a seven-question survey assessing recall and brand perception.
The study can be found here.
Liz Cambage, Australian basketball star, has taken to social media to criticise a lack of racial diversity in recent Australian Olympic Committee photoshoots, indicating she may boycott the Tokyo games. Cambage is a member of the Australian Opals basketball team, and has played in a number of elite leagues including the WNBL, where she played […]
Massachusetts state attorney Maura Healey has sued Publicis Health, a subsidiary of Publicis Groupe SA, over allegations of deceptive marketing. Healey argued that Publicis Health used unfair, deceptive marketing tactics to sell a powerful, addictive prescription painkiller called OxyContin on behalf of Purdue Pharma. According to the suit, “dangerous opioid drugs continue to kill hundreds […]
B&T’s Research Agency Of The Year, strategic insights consultancy Nature, was a big winner at the Research Society Awards last night, taking home four prestigious honours. Nature won the Research Effectiveness Award for Technology and Innovation for its work for Don KRC; Managing Partner Chris Crook (main photo) was accepted into the Research Society’s Fellowship; […]
Australasia’s leading independent creative company, Special Group, has been named the world’s best Creative and Independent Agency of the Year by one of the world’s most prestigious advertising titles – the United Kingdom’s Campaign. Special Group – which has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Los Angeles – was named Global Agency of the Year […]
The winners of Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards have just been announced, honoring the businesses, policies, projects, and concepts that are actively engaged and deeply committed to pursuing innovation when it comes to solving health and climate crises, social injustice, or economic inequality. Losing Lena by Clemenger BBDO Sydney was a finalist in […]
Adland's future was on display at yesterday's Young Lions. Sadly, the B&T's editor's plumbers crack was also on display.
A highlight of Australia’s creative calendar, The Design Conference celebrates its 10th conference with a cracking line-up of 20+ speakers when it returns to Brisbane Powerhouse from Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 June 2021. Over the last ten years, The Design Conference has evolved into one of the world’s premier professional development opportunities at the […]
Sydney-based design studio Universal Favourite launched a new branding for US beauty brand Youthforia, whose mission is to make makeup more playful. To appeal to a Gen Z market bored by the minimal aesthetic approach adopted by most beauty brands, Universal Favourite created a maximalist identity. The result is purposefully messy, uncurated, raw.
APRA AMCOS, a music rights management organisation for Australian and New Zealand songwriters and music publishers, has engaged Klarrio to help modernise its IT architecture and accelerate its digital transformation journey. Klarrio, a systems integrator specialising in real-time data streaming and customised IT architecture modernisation, is helping APRA AMCOS migrate from an on-premise, single-threaded processing […]


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Since cannabis became legal for recreational use across the country last year, many are becoming increasingly interested in the financial and social changes it will bring about, what this will mean for the economy and most importantly what kind of changes and opportunities they should expect to see when it comes to the job market.
Let’s have a look at what kind of new jobs, opportunities, and changes in the economy cannabis legalization will open doors to, and how it will help fight unemployment as well as create new roles that were not available before.
What’s The Impact That Cannabis Will Have on the Economy?
Cannabis legalization has created a whole new industry. Although there are still a few uncertainties present when it comes to the cannabis business and the effects it will have on the economy, one thing’s certain: the marijuana industry will bring a lot of changes and create a lot of employment opportunities in all provi


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Until now there was no perfect test to know whether the civet coffee labeled product sold for $150 to $227 a pound really comes from the Asian palm civet’s poop. Lately scientists have found a new test for it to verify that the expensive as well as rare Kopi Luwak is real.
A study published on July 27 on the website of American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry writes a way has been found that can authenticate the civet coffee.
Authentic civet coffee comes from Indonesia and few other Asian countries where the ripe coffee cherries are picked by small mammals which eat the soft fruit that surrounds the beans. After digesting the fruit the mammals excrete the beans. These beans are then picked, cleaned, wet-fermented, sun-dried and roasted.
In the study scientists say a “metabolic fingerprint” can help them in verifying the “real Kopi Luwak” by using metabolomics technology.
Biotechnology department professor at Osaka University in Japan, Fukusaki, said the authenticating method in authenticating civet coffee could be widely used in future, but it needs some technical improvements before it.
Institute of Food Technologists spokesman Stanley Segall said the study is “very good beginning” but further research work is required in it.
He added, “It’s the first study of this type, and it’s not clear to me that they were really rigorous in terms of sample selection.”
International Coffee Consulting president Rocky Rhodes said, “If anything, I would say it would be less risky coffee health-wise, because I don’t think the civet is going to consume anything that smells like bad fertilizer when it has lots of cherries to choose from.”


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Studies have already indicated that television advertising influences the short-term eating habits of children age 2 to 11.
The new study conducted by Lisa M. Powell, and colleagues at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that between 2003 and 2007, ads for sweets became less frequent, with a 41 percent decrease in exposure for 2- to 5-year-olds, 29.3 percent for 6- to 11-year-olds and 12.1 percent for 12- to 17-year-olds. Beverage ads also decreased in frequency.
The racial gap in advertising also increased in this time period. By 2007, African American children saw 1.4 to 1.6 times as many food ads per day than white children, depending on their age.
"Continued monitoring of children's television food ad exposure along with nutritional assessments of advertised products will improve understanding of the extent to which self-regulation can translate into a reduction in the promotion of unhealthy food products," the team concludes.
The study appears in Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
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By KRIS REILLY, Editor
Howard Pettigrew brought his 1966 Ford Bronco to Burger Depot last month. It’s just one of 40 Fords he has on his property, all of them 40 years old or older. There’s no telling what he might decide to bring out this month.
A group of local classic car enthusiasts holds meetings at local restaurants around town on the fourth Thursday of each month.
The next meeting is scheduled for this Thursday (Sept. 27) at 5 p.m. at the newly opened Rube’s Country Kitchen on Highway 18 near the 76 gas station.
The group is so informal it doesn’t even have a name. All are welcome to show up and bring their cars or just hang out and chat.
“It isn’t a club, it’s just some old people getting together,” Pettigrew said. “The rules are we don’t have rules.”
Many of the enthusiasts have been around as long as the cars they own — maybe longer. But there were also some younger faces in the crowd at Burger Depot, including Travis Altimus with his 1930 Ford Model A and Joe Pettigrew (Howard’s son) with his 1969 Ford Galaxie.
Longtime local resident Jean Magee said she had been talking with her friends J.L. and Lorane Abercrombie about starting up a local car gathering for years.
About a year ago, Magee “just took upon myself to finally do it,” she said.
“We just get together and talk, and the men tend to talk cars more than the women do,” said Magee, who owns a 1946 Chevrolet Fleetmaster and a 1930 Ford Model A coup. “We also eat, and that’s the purpose of it, to help the restaurants in town.”
The group will also be showing cars at the Ram it Forward event to benefit Lucerne Valley High School’s FFA program on Oct. 6 at 9 a.m. in the Lucerne Valley Market and Hardware parking lot.


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Tomahawk, WI 10/30/2014 (Basicsmedia) – China search giant Baidu Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU) failed to spark the market after reporting earnings that fell short of Wall Street estimates despite ongoing traffic growth into the site. During an interview on CNBC, JG Capital’s Henry Guo, argued that the results were solid considering there was a decline in spending by advertisers in the quarter.
Revenue in the quarter rose by 52% to highs of $2.2 billion and in line with earlier given estimates. Baidu now expects its fourth quarter revenue to grow by between 45.4-49.6% in line with Wall Street estimates but lower than that of the third-quarter.
“The positive from these earnings is the profitability for Baidu. It is above expectation reflecting the leverage in the model for Baidu. So that is where the positive we consider in the leveraging capability is a competitive advantage for Baidu Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU),” said Mr. Guo.
A shift from PC to mobile search has seen Baidu Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU)’s traffic acquisition cost increase to highs of 13% up from less than 12% in the prior quarter. The increase in traffic acquisition costs according to Guo has to do with the fact that there were additional costs incurred with the shift to mobile.
“[..] Those kind of expenses is necessary for the company to survive to gain market share to gain the users. In the longer term, we believe Baidu is the only meaningful player in the space to challenge Tencent Holdings Ltd (OTCMKTS:TCTZF)’s leadership position in China mobile internet space.
Baidu is at the moment diversifying its operations away from search business just like any other dot-com company. Guo believes that despite the ongoing diversification of the company’s business operations, its core business will always remain to be search both on the PC and Mobile front. The company has already developed its own map to be used in china as a navigation tool.
Baidu Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU) is also investing in the content business having invested in an online video platform. Baidu entrance into the video content space according to Guo is expected to affect profit margins for other players already offering content.


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Universal Studios is releasing the 2017 movie, THE MUMMY, on 4K UHD and Blu-ray on September 12th, 2017.
As a part of Sideshow Collectibles’ Online Comic-Con, they have announced 2 new 1/6 scale figures from STAR WARS.
Episode 3 of The Hi-Def Ninja Podcast is now here for your listening pleasure.
Michael Madison reviews and unboxes Marvel’s Collector’s Corps for June 2017: SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING from Funko.
The second episode of The Hi-Def Ninja Podcast is now here for your listening pleasure!
This past week Sweet Suite held its annual show, this year at Pier 60, where they brought many of the top toy…
Resident Evil: Vendetta hits UK Blu-ray from July 17th!
Disney has announced today that they’re finally wiping their toes into the 4k UHD Blu-ray game. The first title will be Marvel’s…
The new screen print from Grey Matter Art is Marvel’s ANT-MAN. It goes on sale July 13th, 2017!


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UK plain packaging legislation and European Tobacco Product Directive (EUTPD) laws - banning the sale of small tobacco packs - appear to be failing in their missions to curtail tobacco sales.
Just over one year on from the 20 May introduction of both pieces of legislation in stores, many retailers claim that sales and footfall have been broadly unaffected.
Brand loyalty, however, is emerging as the main casualty, with many retailers reporting a near complete indifference to brands within the lower-priced segments of the market.
“Plain packaging and the EUTPD legislation has had hardly any impact on tobacco sales or footfall,” Anita Nye, manager of Eldred Drive Stores in Orpington, Kent, told C-Store.
“If anything I’d say that sales are up slightly year on year. Plain packaging is certainly not proving to be a deterrent and the ban on small tobacco packs just means that people are smoking more.”
She added: “In the lower-priced segments, brand loyalty simply doesn’t exist anymore. All we get asked is ‘What’s your cheapest product?’.”
Hiral Patel, of Londis Claygate in Surrey, agreed: “There’s been absolutely no change to my tobacco sales in the past year,” he said.
“Footfall is also largely unchanged. A smoker who used to purchase a pack of 10s on a Monday morning and then again on a Tuesday morning will now purchase a 20-pack on a Monday morning and another on a Tuesday evening.
“Brand loyalty has gone down the pan, though. People just want what’s cheapest.”
It’s a similar story for One Stop retailer Dee Sedani in Derbyshire. He said: “Legislation hasn’t had the effect the government wanted. Brand loyalty has been decimated and most people have switched from the big brands to cheaper ones instead.”
He added: “Now that people don’t care about brands, there is no point in training staff to know about the different tobacco products.”
Sales still steady
“I don’t think plain packaging has made any difference to sales and we took the decision to phase out 10s a full year before the deadline, with very little backlash. The number of recent manufacturer price rises has probably had a bigger impact.”
Joe Williams, The Village Shop, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire
“Tobacco sales haven’t really been affected by the legislation; they are pretty steady year on year.”
Jamie Patel, Weybridge News, Surrey
Study shows smoking rates rising
New data suggests that plain packaging is failing to reduce smoking levels.
According to the national Smoking Toolkit Study, on a three-month rolling average from December 2017 to March 2018, smoking rates in England were higher than for the same time last year before plain packaging. In March 2018 the UK smoking rate was estimated at 17.1% - up from 16.5% in March 2017.
Giles Roca, director general of the Tobacco Manufacturers Association, said: “Recent evidence shows that plain packaging appears not to be delivering the outcomes it was claimed it would.”


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UTV Software has reported a profit after tax of Rs. 40.24 crore for the first quarter ended June 30th 2010 (Q1-11), up from the Rs. 31.75 crore loss it reported for the corresponding quarter last year. The improvement in performance is on the back of a substantial increase in Revenue – Rs. 208.2 crore, compared with Rs. 89.8 crore, largely due to an increase in revenue from the motion pictures business. A quarterly comparison is perhaps not justified, since the company is invested heavily in the films and gaming business, where costs tend to be taken on initially, and revenues are often lop sided. In terms of revenue contribution, Movies and TV continued to dominate revenues for UTV:
New Media: Rs. 2.1 Cr Profit; Voice Blogs!
The New Media segment reported revenues of Rs. 5.3 crore, up 89% over the same quarter last year, contributing 3% to UTV’s income. For the quarter, the segment reported a profit of Rs. 20 lakh, compared with a Rs. 2.1 crore loss a quarter ago.
According to a presentation made to analysts, UTV AudioCinema has 1.5 million subscribers, with consumers spending Rs. 3.5 crore per month. Of course, there’s a substantial part of that which remains with the telecom operator and the platform service provider. UTV plans to expand Audio Cinema to 3 more segments. Voice Blogging appears to be working well for UTV New Media as well – according to a recent report in Business Standard, they’re powering many of the celebrity blogs in partnership with Bubble Motion, and have signed exclusive 3 year contracts with many celebrities – Lara Dutta, John Abraham, Neetu Chandra, Cyrus Broacha, Riya Sen, Madhavan and Pooja Gandhi; the highest number of subscribers from Bihar and UP.
In August 2010, UTV New Media also intends to announce “Made for Mobile” content in exclusive partnerships with telecom operators, including creating a movie specifically for the mobile space.
UTV’s big bet – the gaming business – reported a marginal increase in revenue to Rs. 12.2 crore from Rs. 11.7 crore in the same quarter last fiscal. The segment contributes 6% of operating revenues. All the gaming companies continue to be loss making, but at least on the console side, there are some major launches planned for the coming year.
Indiagames: Rs. 1.5 Cr Loss For The Quarter
Indiagames, believed to be India’s largest mobile gaming company, reported a loss of Rs. 1.5 crore for the quarter: it launched War Chess, which remains one of the top games on the iPad App Store, IPL Indiagames T20 Fever on iPad, iPhone and online (with a peak of 100,000 users), Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior. It’s games on demand business now reaches 50,000 subscribers, at an ARPU of 150-200 per month. Indiagames plans to do Rs. 50 crore in revenue, and report an EBITDA profit in FY10-11.
Interestingly, Indiagames, which powers games on DTH channel Reliance BIG TV, plans to make two more DTH announcements.
Ignition: Plans To Raise Funds
Ignition, UTV’s console gaming business, plans to explore the option of raising funds, and bring on a strategic partner or investor into the business, which will lead to an equity dilution. The business reported has reported a loss of Rs 1Cr for the quarter, but has a few games being published during the 2010-11 financial year:
Blacklight Tango Down was released on July 7th 2010, and sold 20,000 digital downloads in the first 24 hours. Revenues for the game shall be realized in 2Q this fiscal. UTV is already in negotiations for partnerships for El Shaddai. Apart from El Shaddai, Reich is also set for release this fiscal. War Devil’s release has been pushed by 6-9 months. UTV says it’s “taken opportunity to pace release so as not to offer 3 IPs for pre sale in one year”. The games are sold on a minimum guarantee, by territory, or worldwide. UTV is going multiplatform with its IPs: the games will be on PS3 and XBOX 360, and on other formats and platforms as well, as well as movie production rights, with the script and 45mins of movie quality graphics already. UTVs smaller IPs are expected to cost $1.5 –3 million each.
According to UTVs estimates, they need to reach 1 million units per game to break even – around 165,000 units/ per platform (PS3 & XBOX 360), per 3 main territories (USA/Japan/EU & UK). The company expects Rs. 80 cr from publishing of Ignition games this fiscal.
True Games: Rs. 0.5 Cr Loss For The Quarter
UTV True Games has reported a loss of Rs 0.50 Cr for the quarter. True Games will launch its second game, Mytheon later this year. It has already been licensed by Gamigo for European territories, and is being reviewed in Southeast Asia, and licensing negotiations are in progress for Japan, Taiwan and China. UTV has set up a team in Beijing that is working on an expansion of the game, based on Eastern mythologies. The same team is also expected to release two to four social and casual games per quarter. Additionally, UTV plans to launch two other titles this fiscal – Heaven & Hell and Aerodrome in Q4. It expect the company to be Revenue and EBITDA positive.
– UTV Targets FY11 Revenue Of Rs. 50 Cr For Indiagames, Rs. 30 Cr For UTV New Media
– Bloomberg UTV To Sell 18% Stake To Reliance Capital; FIPB Approval For FDI In UTV News Ltd
– IndiaGames & True Games Rebranded; Indiagames Inks Content Deal With Mobile Streams


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Moto G20 Android 12 update might not be in the pipeline as company has no official plans yet, says mod
Motorola Moto G20 came out back in June with Android 11 out-of-the-box and some decent specs. While being a part of the Moto G series makes it a potential candidate for Android 12, a recent development suggests otherwise.
A Motorola Moto G20 user inquired about the Android 12 update in a recent Reddit post. However, the response from a Moto moderator has given way to further speculations.
The user specifically asked if the Moto G20 will follow the same software update support style as that of the Moto E series which means no major Android OS updates.
While the Moto G series devices are promised one major Android OS update, the fate of the Moto G10 and Moto G20 remains unclear if the said Reddit post is anything to go by.
Also, the response from the Motorola moderator further complicates matters as there is currently no word on the Android 12 update for the Moto G20.
However, the moderator has further said that users should keep an eye on the Motorola blog and official software upgrade news page for any developments.
This clearly indicates that the OEM might not be focusing on the Android 12 update yet. Motorola is still updating its eligible devices to Android 11 and the Moto G9 series devices recently bagged the same.
This further makes the Moto G10 and Moto G20 eligible for the Android 12 update. However, all this is still based on speculation until a proper announcement on the matter comes out.
The Android 12 update is still in the testing phase and the stable release is still a bit far.
Thus it is too soon to assume anything for the Moto G20 and Moto G10 as both devices are relatively quite recent.
Hopefully, Motorola soon clears the air around its Android 12 update plans so users can get a better understanding on the matter.
That said, we will keep tracking the development of Android 12 and report back when we get new information to share.
In the meantime, you can check out our dedicated Motorola Android 12 update tracker to get the latest updates on the topic.
PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.


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NEW DELHI: Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek is planning to launch its first 4nm chips by the end of the year, the company said during its earnings call today.
In a series of tweets, Bryan Ma, vice president of client devices at the International Data Corporation (IDC), announced that the company’s 4nm chips will be targeting the flagship smartphone segment, priced above 4000 Yuan (approximately Rs. 45,000).
According to Ma, China might be the “primary target” for the chipset, though he noted that Chinese firms that partner with MediaTek will also be exporting to other markets eventually. That presumably includes companies like Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo, which often work with MediaTek for their devices. All three companies are amongst the top five smartphone makers in India, with Xiaomi being the largest smartphone seller in the country.
MediaTek’s 4nm chips will be manufactured using the Taiwan Semiconductor Company’s (TSMC’s) 4nm process technology. The company’s key competitor in the foundry business, Samsung, has also been pushing towards this technology. According to reports, American chip giant Qualcomm is expected to use Samsung’s 4nm technology for next year’s flagship Snapdragon 895 chip. The company’s current flagship, the Snapdragon 888, uses 5nm process technology from Qualcomm.
Advancements in process technologies lead to improvements in the speed and efficiency of processors. MediaTek’s new chip will also be 5G capable, which is more or less a foregone conclusion for any new mobile chip being launched nowadays. Tech giant Apple is also expected to use a 4nm chip on its 2022 iPhones.
MediaTek also announced the Kompanio 1300T chip, which uses the 6nm process technology. “There is a growing demand right now for personal computing devices designed for both remote work and multimedia entertainment,” said PC Tseng, general manager, intelligent multimedia business unit, MediaTek.
“Our Kompanio chips allow brands to design lightweight tablets and personal computing products with robust performance and prolonged battery life so they can bring innovative features and new mobile computing experiences to users,” he added.
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Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) President Joseph M. McGuire testified before The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety on legislation, S.2045, to reform the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission introduced by subcommittee chair Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR). McGuire appeared last week on behalf of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) coalition on consumer product safety.
"Increased dollars should be directed to enhancing the CPSC's personnel dedicated to product testing, evaluation and enforcement and to improved technology and facilities," said McGuire, a former NAM Board member and Chair of its Council of Manufacturing Associations.
McGuire said AHAM and NAM members are committed to ensuring that the U.S. marketplace provides safe products to all Americans. "Although we believe that the American marketplace is safer than ever, and that the CPSC does a good job of leveraging its resources, the perception of many consumers is the opposite. This troubles us as our economic viabilitydepends on the confidence of the public in our products."
In addition to increased funding for the consumer protection agency, McGuire also called for several general and specific legislative changes to bolster the federal product safety authority. Included was a recommendation for federal action to ensure the proper installation of cooking ranges with anti-tip devices, which are shipped with all ranges according to Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety standards and many building codes. "My industry proposes that it be a violation of federal law for a person, at least a commercial installer or landlord, to install a range that is not compliant with the UL standard and building code provisions," said McGuire.
McGuire cautioned the Congress to focus on the core issues related to making CPSC more effective and to avoid measures that could change the cooperative system of manufacturer and retailer participation in CPSC reporting requirements. For example, manufacturers oppose repeal of the process under which firms may review and comment on the accuracy and fairness of the release by CPSC of company-specific information; allowing state attorneys general to enforce federal safety laws, establishing CPSC as an adjudicator of employee-employer disputes over safety claims and radically raising the ceiling on civil penalties to US$100 million and expanding criminal penalties.


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WeWork announced that Sandeep Mathrani will join the Company as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective February 18, 2020. Mathrani will report to Marcelo Claure, who will remain Executive Chairman. Mathrani brings to WeWork extensive leadership experience in real estate, with a proven track record of transforming companies and driving meaningful growth to create value for stakeholders. Mathrani’s deep real estate experience and skills are highly complementary with those of Claure.
Mathrani succeeds co-CEOs Artie Minson and Sebastian Gunningham, both of whom helped stabilize WeWork over the past several months. Minson and Gunningham will remain with the Company through a transition period to ensure a smooth onboarding process.
Mathrani most recently served as CEO of Brookfield Properties’ retail group. Prior to that, he served as CEO of GGP Inc. for eight years, during which the company was recapitalized in November 2010, experienced eight years of growth, and in August 2018 was sold to Brookfield Property Partners. Prior to joining GGP in 2010, Mathrani was President of Retail for Vornado Realty Trust, where he oversaw the firm’s U.S. retail real estate division and operations in India comprised principally of office properties. During his tenure, he was responsible for stabilizing and growing the portfolio. Before that, he spent nearly a decade as Executive Vice President at Forest City Ratner, where he was tasked with starting and growing a new platform of retail properties across the five boroughs of New York City.
Mathrani serves on the executive board and the board of trustees for the International Council of Shopping Centers, the executive board and 2019 chair of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, as well as the board of directors for Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
Mathrani holds a Master of Engineering, Master of Management Science and Bachelor of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Source : Company


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Can India become the Coca Cola of the BPO sector?
Sometime in the current quarter, the number of direct employees in India's business process outsourcing (BPO) sector crossed one million, writes N Madhavan.india Updated: Jun 13, 2010 22:59 IST
Sometime in the current quarter, the number of direct employees in India's business process outsourcing (BPO) sector crossed one million. You can add another 3.5 million jobs if you include indirect jobs for people such as caterers, infrastructure providers and taxi drivers for the industry, which only a decade ago was barely existent in the country. But the significance goes beyond some numbers, though everything matters in a way.
Last week, as the National Association of Software and Service Companies took stock of the industry at its annual BPO summit in Bangalore, it estimated 985,000 direct BPO jobs at the end of last March. With revenues at $14.7 billion dollars (nearly Rs. 70,000 crore), the industry now contributes 1.5 per cent to India’s incremental gross domestic product (GDP).
But what I want to emphasise today is the less visible aspects of the stock-taking, that signal a different kind of importance.
It turns out that India’s market share in worldwide BPO spending is as high as 34 per cent. Also, as much as 15 per cent of the business is in non-English work.
Now, the global statistic reflects the mindshare that India has commanded as “back-office to the world.” If you look at it hard, it seems that India is poised to become what I call the Coca Cola of the BPO business. Coke is an American brand, and only sells what some people would dismissively call sugared water (competing with fellow US brand Pepsi). But it is undeniable that it is an overarching global business with profits to match.
Coke is not just about the famous cola, but also drinks such as Fanta and coffee brand Georgia. Like Coke, India’s BPO industry has diversified beyond voice-based call centres to higher-end activities that involve industry-specific research work, and increasingly does “transformation outsourcing” — which adds management consulting work to BPO jobs to reap higher profits.
As for non-English work, the bulk of it, I suspect, comes from Indian languages, aided by the booming local telecom industry. But a small portion is from work in languages such as Spanish and Czech in Latin America and Eastern Europe, where Indian BPO companies now have a foothold, thanks to some pushing by multinational customers wanting to hive off work in a wholesome manner. Also, venture capitalists are funding global scale firms based on a vision of the changing world. I think these factors have created a new global management cadre in India’s BPO industry. Its test will lie in its ability to convert this into an appetite for global growth.
Often, people talk dismissively about the “low-end” call centre work done out of India. The fact is that such low-end jobs mean high-end aspirations for millions of people in India. At the other end lies high-end work and global management expertise.
The Indian BPO industry has the potential to smartly juggle both.
First Published: Jun 13, 2010 22:57 IST


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From TikTok to Instagram and every blog in between, birria tacos (and its variations) are one of the hottest trends sweeping social media. Originating in the small town of Coatzingo, Mexico, as Tijuana-style birria de res, the dippable tacos are now on everyone’s list— especially here in Charlotte.
Born in Durango, Mexico, Charlotte resident Ricky Ortiz found his passion and inspiration for cooking the bold flavors of his homeland at an early age, Now, at only 25, he owns two food trucks with a brick-and-mortar spot coming in the next few months.
“It was almost a no-brainer for me to turn something I love into a business.” Ortiz, owner of Tacos Rick-O Food Truck, told CharlotteFive. “When I was 19, Creative Loafing named me ‘youngest food truck owner in Charlotte.’”
His first truck, operating under the same name, focused on traditional Mexican street food. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the truck was forced to temporarily park until neighborhoods and other community spaces began welcoming crowds again.
The new Tacos Rick-O’s focuses on Latin Street Food, including the popular birria tacos (three for $14). Other menu items include: fried cheesecake burritto ($5.50), fried plantains ($5), and Ortiz’s favorite, the Texano bowl with Mexi-rice, grilled chicken, chorizo, grilled shrimp, queso fundido sauce, five cheese blend and cilantro ($12).
“In the coming weeks, I will announce the concept for my brick and mortar. It’s something that has never been done in Charlotte. It’s going to go viral.”
Ortiz also said he will eventually get the original truck up and running when community events begin to ramp up again.
1402 Winnifred St. (outside Hoppin’)


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SAN JOSE, California: The Hewlett-Packard chief executive, Mark Hurd, made nearly $1.4 million by cashing out a large number of stock options just one week before the company's boardroom-spying scandal broke, and several other company insiders also walked away with millions, according to regulatory filings.
The computer maker defended the transactions Wednesday, saying they were unrelated to the scandal and that they fell within a three-week window each quarter when executives are allowed to sell shares after earnings are announced.
But attorneys who are suing top HP executives and directors - alleging they breached their duties to all shareholders - are considering adding insider-trading claims, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is being deliberated.
HP declined to comment on those plans.
Though HP's stock price has remained relatively buoyant throughout the scandal, the uproar has led to a purging of its top ranks and felony charges against two ousted HP insiders - the former chairwoman, Patricia Dunn, and the former ethics chief, Kevin Hunsaker - and three outside investigators.
All five are charged with using false or fraudulent pretenses to obtain confidential information from a public utility; unauthorized access to computer data; identity theft; and conspiracy to commit each of those crimes. Each charge carries a fine of up to $10,000 and three years in prison.Continue reading the main story
They are all scheduled to return to court Nov. 17.
Many financial analysts have applauded Hurd's leadership during a tough turnaround since he joined the company 18 months ago, and they said the scandal had not affected the company's performance.
HP's stock price has risen steadily over the past year, closing at $37.87 on Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange. That was slightly higher than its $36.46 close Sept. 5, the day before the company disclosed its spying inquiry.
According to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Hurd and seven other HP executives and insiders cashed out options from Aug. 21 to Sept. 5.
On Aug. 25, Hurd exercised options on 100,000 HP shares, buying them at $21.73 per share and immediately selling them all for around $35 each, according to the filings. The transaction, which encompassed about 6 percent of his total options package, netted him a profit of about $1.37 million.
Hurd sold the shares the same day he was interviewed by HP's outside lawyers about when he had learned of the use of phone records in the leak investigation, according to a document provided to a congressional committee investigating the scandal.Continue reading the main story


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Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Avnet Concludes Azzurri Technology Acquisition
Electronics parts distributor Avnet Inc. announced Tuesday that its acquisition of U.K.-based semiconductor supplier Azzurri Technology Ltd. has closed. Terms of the deal, which was first reported Jan. 10, were not disclosed. Headquartered in Wokingham, England, Azzurri is a design-in distributor of semiconductors and embedded systems products to original equipment manufacturers in the European electronics market. The company, which employs some 80 people, boasts an annual revenue of about $100 million. Avnet, which is based in Phoenix, said Azzurri will be integrated into the EMEA group of its Avnet Electronics Marketing arm, and primarily within its Avnet Memec division.


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Britain is experiencing a cauliflower shortage after extreme weather killed off much of this year’s crops.
Heavy rainfall in June destroyed crops in Lincolnshire, and alternative European supplies wilted in last month’s heatwave.
Cauliflower prices have soared and some farmers have suffered financial losses after the destruction of their crops.
The shortages were described as “very concerning” by a spokesman for the Brassica Growers Association.
Other brassica – including cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts – are also in short supply.
“Crops can withstand a reasonable amount of variation in weather but the conditions in June were too much and as a result crops have suffered, and this is leading to a shortage of supply,” the British Growers Association (BGA) said.
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Most of the UK’s cauliflowers are grown in Lincolnshire, which experienced record amounts of rainfall and flooding in June that destroyed this year’s crop.
It has forced some suppliers to buy their cauliflowers from other countries – and the scarcity of them has caused prices to rise.
Some have advised customers – including restaurants and hotels – to take cauliflowers off their menus until stocks recover.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of the trade body UK Hospitality, said: “If restaurants are unable to get their hands on cauliflower, that is obviously going to cause a nuisance.
“Thankfully, most should be fairly adept at substituting cauliflower for other items on their menus, so, hopefully, customers should not be unduly disappointed.”
Steve Short, the managing director of Accent Fresh, a Norfolk-based fresh produce supplier, said: “We rely quite heavily on Lincolnshire for our brassica, and we get some from Cambridgeshire, Kent, Evesham [in Worcestershire], and Cornwall.
“We have had to import them from Holland during the shortages. The growers have lost a lot of crop, so the market is very short and the price has gone up.
“We’ve been paying between £1.50 and £2.00 per head of cauliflower, it would normally be about 50 or 60 pence each.”
The rise of ‘cauli-power’
Once regarded as a bland, boiled side dish, the cauliflower has risen in popularity as a substitute for everything from pizza crusts to gnocchi.
Broccoli’s paler cousin has become a firm fixture on upmarket restaurant menus – think Yotam Ottolenghi’s cumin-roasted cauliflower with tahini, zhoug and barberries or Heston Bluementhal’s roasted cauliflower with smoked brown butter, red wine and truffle.
It is also beloved by celebrity chefs like Deliciously Ella, whose plant-based recipes include everything from creamy cauliflower and lentil dahl, to a cauliflower crust pizza and a mushroom, cauliflower and squash risotto.
Cauliflower is also a popular alternative for those looking to reduce their meat intake: a hashtag devoted to cauliflower “steaks” has more than 11,000 posts on Instagram.
Get some creative cauliflower inspiration from the BBC’s recipes, here.
Mr Short said the firm, which supplies about 300 hotels, restaurants, schools, universities and catering establishments across East Anglia, has advised customers to use other well-supplied vegetables, such as carrots and Swede, during the shortages.
The poor quality of some of the limited amount of British brassica has seen the firm give out credits to some of its customers, Mr Short said.
Martin Tate, commercial director of brassica growers Lincolnshire Field Products, estimated the farm has suffered about £1m in lost revenues after heavy rainfall decimated his cauliflower and broccoli crops.
He said: “We effectively had three months of rain in the space of three days, so anything that was planted up until that point in time [including the cauliflowers and broccoli] was either washed out of the ground, or sat for several weeks in flooded fields.”
Brussels sprouts and red and white cabbage were also planted before the rains, but it is the cauliflowers and broccoli that have been worst hit in July and August.
He said the Brussels sprouts and the cabbages will be affected for the autumn and the winter, but it is too early to estimate the scale of the losses.
The farm’s cauliflowers are now “suffering to a fairly huge degree”, with just 20% of the crop able to be harvested, and with a percentage of what is being harvested not being of suitable quality to cover our orders.
“We have lost up to 80% of our production for the last two to three weeks and the next three weeks, so a large chunk of our season we’re suffering not only crop losses but financial losses as well. Incomes are down and it’s going to take a lot of recovering.”
Lincolnshire Field Products supplies most of the UK’s major retailers, and food companies that supply to pubs and restaurants.
Mr Tate expects the broccoli and cauliflower shortages to recover between the end of the month and the beginning of September.
‘Disruption will be temporary’
Waitrose, Asda, and Morrisons have a range of cauliflower heads currently available for sale on their websites.
Both Tesco and Sainsbury’s currently only have organic cauliflower heads for sale on their websites.
They are priced at £2 each – £1 more expensive than their standard cauliflowers.
The British Retail Consortium said: “This is yet another example of how retailers are having to manage the effects of climate change, which has created a greater variability in the weather and resulted a slightly poorer harvest in the UK.”
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Cauliflower shortages as extreme weather kills crops have 1179 words, post on www.bbc.co.uk at August 14, 2019. This is cached page on Europe Breaking News. If you want remove this page, please contact us.


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Dixons set to reveal surprise sales boost as rivals suffer
Electricals group Dixons Retail will this week announce a surprise about-turn in its performance after it benefited from troubles at key rivals.
The owner of Currys and PC World has reaped the benefits of US giant Best Buy's withdrawal from the UK market and the sale of Comet by parent Kesa earlier this year after a worsening performance.
Argos owner Home Retail has also struggled and last week announced a 60 per cent plunge in profits to £102million.
Sales surprise: Currys owner Dixons looks set to profit from the travails of rivals like Argos
However, UK like-for-like sales at Dixons in the four months to April are understood to have reversed from the decline at Christmas and may have risen by up to five per cent.
Analysts said the improvement could lead to upgrades in full-year profits expectations this week.
Dixons is the biggest electrical goods retailer in Britain and is considered to be better positioned than its key rivals to sell more expensive products, such as tablet computers like the iPad.
However, stockbroker Panmure Gordon said Dixons may yet struggle to pay off a £120million bond due in November and could be forced to consider selling assets to raise funds.
The broker said Dixons still had a 'fighting chance' of paying off the bond without raising cash if store refurbishments continue to bring improvements.
Carphone Warehouse will also update the market on its fourth-quarter sales this week.
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One of the most obvious challenges this year – in terms of graphic design and branding – is 2013’s contrast to a rather abundant 2012. Whereas last year boasted high-profile events such as the London Olympics, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and its associated graphic design projects, this year is conspicuous in the absence of such design juggernauts.
However, as Rob Watson, co-founder of Raw Design Studio, points out, the 2012 momentum could carry on into this year. “I see this year as an opportunity to leverage the great creative events of 2012,” he says. Nick Finney, founder and creative director of NB Studio agrees. “2013 is a chance for smaller, lesser-known brands to catch up with the big brands that had the budget to dominate the sponsorship of the Games,” he says – an opportunity that consultancies should look to exploit.
Now that the gloss and feel-good effect of 2012 has subsided, however, the reality of the ongoing economic downturn is being felt keenly. But therein also lies opportunity, reckons Rob. “Yes, the budgets aren’t what they were but that can be a good thing. There’s been a wake-up call and from that there’s been some incredible work being produced, particularly from smaller agencies.”
For Rachel Smith, creative partner at & Smith, finding creative ways to deal with smaller budgets can help in ensuring a healthy client list. “It’s about putting the same level of thought into the production budget as you would with the ideas,” she explains.
For example switching to high quality digital printing if the run was small enough or using an iPhone photography concept for a shoot. “It’s about staying true to the idea regardless of budgets, and being creative within these restrictions to find the best solution for the client.”
One development designers and branding consultancies should take advantage of is the ongoing evolution of digital technologies. Dan Moore, creative director at Studio Output says: “Moving forwards, small specialised agencies will find it hard to survive without decent digital expertise in-house.”
Let’s get digital
Rachel says & Smith is meeting this challenge by “pushing ourselves into different projects to continue to stretch our understanding of digital platforms”. The consultancy currently works with external web developers, but is considering employing an in-house developer in the future. It’s also redesigning its website, says Rachel, “to ensure we are setting an up-to-date example to our clients”.
This year will also see more digital outdoor and experiential interactive digital work, believes Studio Output’s Ian Hambleton, so these areas present potential rich seams for those willing to experiment. “We’re already seeing a surge in Augmented Reality and this sort of technology will become commonplace,” explains Ian.
“The diminishing costs of large scale LED and projection means screens get bigger and better and they will start to permeate more into our everyday lives.” Using new technologies in innovative ways can help attract new opportunities. For example, Studio Output’s use of projection mapping in a viral video for Sony PlayStation attracted enquiries from as far afield as China.
It’s also a good time to seek out projects with brands that might have lagged behind the fast pace of development in digital platforms. “There is a plethora of hastily thought out lock-ups, tag lines, logos, symbols and diagrams as they integrate new technologies into their modus operandi,” NB Studio’s Nick points out. “I’m thinking ‘click & collect’, URLs and apps. So there’s a lot of work to do to make sense of it all, and ultimately make life simpler for brands and customers alike.”
NB studio collaborates with experts to tackle many of these technological challenges, and indeed, 2013 will be a year where collaboration becomes especially important. “Creative collaboration could be the antidote to a bleak year ahead,” says Nick.
“Clients are becoming more comfortable with collaboration,” says Rachel. “As long as the thinking is streamlined and has a group approach, then a one-stop shop isn’t as important as it used to be.” Last year, & Smith joined forces with We All Need Words on rebranding Shrewsbury, in “a great example of collaboration between two companies with different skills and an understanding client with the right attitude”.
Some of the most satisfying opportunities for enterprising studios might lie beyond British shores. Studio Output started to work “truly internationally” in 2012, with almost a quarter of its turnover coming from projects in countries such as China, according to Ian.
“We expect this trend to continue. It’s actually quite refreshing to be working for clients who have a huge respect for our work in Britain and the budgets to back up their requirements. Doing business in foreign countries is not for the faint-hearted though and learning the local culture is as important as doing the work itself,” he argues.
Last year, design consultancy SomeOne worked on a particularly satisfying project with Tanzanian airline FastJet. “It was one of the most exciting projects. They are a dream client, they really get it,” says creative director Simon Manchipp. “This could be the year that the small independents get truly international.”
Not all exciting opportunities lie overseas, however – there are chances for innovation and satisfaction very close to home, believes Raw’s Rob. “I still think there’s a lot of scope in print especially if you do a lot of work locally,” he says. “There’s been a resurgence in agencies choosing to do work for low key, local business. It’s not a bad thing either, as it will feed back into the local community and you’re more likely to get creative freedom and satisfaction with this type of client.”
Whatever client you’re looking to attract, one of your key priorities should be building of trust, believes Simon. “We’re really interested in a more idealistic approach to creating brands on a global level, which starts from a position of trust. In a year of unprecedented austerity, nervousness and lack of focus, trust is going to be thin on the ground, and I really believe that there is opportunity for brands to zig, while the rest of them zag.”
And according to Simon, consultancies can start fostering this by starting out “from a position of generosity”, not just offering the bare minimum. “This trust needs to start at the pitch,” he says. “[It’s about] how do you better cultivate stronger relationships with people so that they understand what your intentions are.”
So wherever consultancies are looking to find their opportunities this year – from nurturing clients to staying on top of technological innovation – 2013 doesn’t look that gloomy at all.


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BOC seizes smuggled sugar worth P40M from Thailand
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the Bureau of Customs (BoC) seized a total of 22,500 sacks of sugar from Thailand, which were contained in 45 abandoned containers at the Port of Manila.
These cargoes, according to him, were shipped by Hup Lee Trading and consigned to Red Star Rising Corporation in separate dates from June to July.
Both companies have no clearance from Sugar Regulatory Administration.
Lapeña said a sugar cartel and some Customs officials could be behind the discovered shipments.


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You swipe right to seek love on the internet, but how do online dating companies make money in India?
Facebook directly employs content moderators but also outsources the task of screening posts
Study states that 4 out of 10 parents post photos or video of their child at least once a day on their social media accounts
According to the survey, 68% wake up at least twice in the middle of the night
The draft of the guidelines is ready and a legal firm is vetting it. It should be out by September.
Almost a quarter of the world's population is now on Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram and Twitter
The agency will be managing Domino’s social media platforms i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat
Facebook, the world's largest social network with more than 2 billion users, creates categories such as "sports" or "music" based on people's online interests, allowing companies to better target their advertising
As the largest social media website, Facebook is easily one of the most effective spaces to promote your business and increase visibility
Are brands and digital marketing executives distinctly less enthusiastic about social media influencers than they used to be?
According to reports, at least 31 people have been killed over the past one year due to rumours spread via the popular messaging platform owned by Facebook
There are expectations that as the election draws nearer such risks will escalate and employees are on the watch for incendiary messages about religion, ethnicity or gender
The company recently opened the first studio space in its headquarters in Noida and will gradually expand to cities across India by partnering with others creative studios
The tool follows Twitter's recently launched political campaign ads policy and a similar move by Facebook Inc , which started a searchable archive of U.S. political ads last month
While the social network already has surpassed that milestone, Instagram’s audience is younger than its parent, making it more attractive to advertisers
IGTV is a button inside the Instagram home screen, as well as a standalone app
It started when the Airtel customer complained about the telco’s service on social media to which the company's online team responded; however, the customer asked that her complaint be resolved by another agent belonging to a particular religion.
From the newsroom of The Economic Times
From BE's News Desk ›
- #MeToo: Kwan asks founder Anirban Das Blah to step down after allegations of sexual misconduct surface
- Tinder just revealed the official list of most 'Right Swiped neighbourhoods' in your city
- The Social Street appoints Navin Fernandes as managing partner to head sports marketing
- Bathroom products come in endless shapes and designs but Asian Paints' Bathsense claims to truly understand you
- Hindi-speaking bot, Niki sets out to make voice commerce accessible for all Indians
- Assam Tourism flags off its latest ad film starring Priyanka Chopra
- WittyFeed's parent company Vatsana Technologies gets Harsh Mani Tripathi on board
- iProspect India adds KFC India's SEO, paid media and digital biz to its kitty
- Stay Uncle's new marketing campaign addresses the LGBTQ community's problems with hotel bookings
- KOSH launches 'Roti Donation Drive' on World Food Day


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American Express Serve has announced a free nationwide cash load network and the addition of new money management capabilities to its full-service reloadable prepaid card accounts - along with a new monthly fee to begin in December.
The new features include: Direct Deposit, Bill Pay, Mobile Check Capture, Personal Financial Management Tools, and Reserve, which allows customers to put money aside for future expenses. American Express says these enhancements are "designed to meet the needs of the nearly 70 million Americans underserved by traditional financial services."
“Unfortunately, the traditional banking system is not easily accessible to large segments of the population, making managing money cumbersome and expensive for many,” said Dan Schulman, group president, Enterprise Growth at American Express.Starting next month, American Express Serve customers will be able to take cash to the register at more than 14,000 participating CVS/pharmacy and 7-Eleven stores and add it to their American Express Serve Account. This is made possible through a relationship with InComm and its Vanilla Reload Network.
“We launched Serve two years ago with the simple idea that consumers needed a better way to move their money. Today, we’ve added a number of new features to make the management and movement of money more affordable and convenient for everyone.”
American Express Serve also announced it will start charging a monthly fee of $1 beginning December 3, 2013. The $1 monthly fee is waived if customers use Direct Deposit to load their account or add $500 or more to their account during a monthly statement period.


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Tire dating code
Everybody knows to replace tires when the tread gets down to the wear bar, but what about when they get too old?
Still, you want to maximize tire life when buying a new set of rubber.Our team of highly trained experts has the knowledge and passion to help. Of these, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) reports in 2015, 32.4 million used/and/or scrap tires were managed and diverted to beneficial end uses including tire derived fuel, crumb rubber production, use in land reclamation projects, resale of used tires, production of landscape mulch and for proper landfill disposal. "Lifetime cancer risk is very low given the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) typically measured in European sports grounds," the study said.Despite its evaluation, ECHA highlighted several reservations and suggested several actions.Among those ECHA called on owners and operators of existing fields to measure the concentrations of PAHs and other substances in the rubber granules used in their fields and make the information available to interested parties.
Search for tire dating code:
Tires are just about the most important part of your car.


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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Restaurants across Indianapolis are gearing up for a busier Monday than usual as the Colts prepare to take on the Baltimore Ravens in their first Monday night football appearance since 2019.
“We are glad to have a Monday night football game. I think it is going to be good for food delivery,” said George Stergiopoulos, owner of Giorgio’s Pizza.
Since the Colts will be out of town for their big matchup on Monday night, restaurants in Indianapolis are preparing for a rush as people getting ready to watch the boys in blue from couches.
Just off Monument Circle on Market Street, Giorgio’s Pizza is usually closed on Sundays, so they don’t typically get to cash in on a Colts game day. “We do get a lot of sports action if they are in town Monday through Saturday so a lot of the special college events, even a lot of the high school events, a lot of the tournaments and stuff like that we really do well. So, we are hoping Monday is a big boost for us,” Stergiopoulos said.
Stergiopoulos says he anticipates a 25% increase in sales for Monday night’s game. “We are usually pretty good about being ready for just about anything but we will be a little more ready this Monday.”
At Condado Tacos on Massachusetts Avenue, they are hoping for the same. The taco spot has an array of options ready to order for at-home watch parties, from their Bud Boxes for the solo fan to their Taco Boxes and catering options for larger watch parties.
“Bud Boxes and the catering honestly, they were kind of both a product of COVID actually. When the restaurants had to shut down we switched to doing a lot of stuff online and because of that it came with a lot of ideas and there is where pretty much all of these boxes pretty much came from,” said Leal Ransone, Condado Tacos general manager.
Stergiopoulos hopes that while fans watch their local team under the Monday night lights, they will also enjoy some local grub for good luck. “This is an opportunity for a lot of the locals to support a lot of the local businesses after struggling through the pandemic and the riots. This is a good chance to make this a good Monday,” he said.
As for what to eat on game day, it depends on what you are craving.
“I mean double sausage, double pepperoni, double cheese, and double the bread. I mean come on and order some marinara sauce with that, I am telling you it is football heaven,” Stergiopoulos said.
“Stay at home enjoy your big-screen TV and have some tacos,” Ransone said.
Watch Monday’s game between the Colts and the Ravens on WISH-TV. We will have all the action throughout the weekend leading up to the game as well as a live post show with our crew on the ground in Baltimore.


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One in ten people give up this food product
New research has shown that 70 per cent of those surveyed had no idea that gluten was a protein and nearly one in six - 17 per cent - believe it to be an additive or a preservative.
Nearly half - 48 percent - of those surveyed said that they are excluding the likes of gluten and wheat from their diet to eat more healthily although most of these people - 90 percent - have not been diagnosed with either coeliac disease or an intolerance to gluten.
Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat, rye, barley and triticale.
Coeliac disease is a digestive condition where a person has an adverse reaction to gluten. Eating it can trigger diarrhoea, bloating and flatulence, abdominal pain, weight loss and feeling tired. Coeliac UK said more than half a million people in the UK remain undiagnosed with the disease.
Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat, rye, barley and triticale
While the disease is not an allergy or an intolerance to gluten - NHS Choices said in cases of coeliac disease, the immune system mistakes substances found in gluten as a threat to the body and attacks them.
The research, commissioned by Barleycup, a gluten-free drink, found that consumers were also confused about which food and drink might contain gluten - with over half of respondents believing that standard cornflakes and fruitcake are usually free of gluten.
The results showed just under half of those asked believe pizza and biscuits are free of gluten.
Many people were unaware of the difference between the two conditions – with only 17 percent of respondents correctly identifying coeliac as an auto immune disease.
Just over half of people asked believed cornflakes and fruitcake was free of gluten
More than half thought having coeliac disease was food intolerance or food allergy and two percent thought it was an infection.
Helen Money, Barleycup’s consultant nutritionist, said she is concerned about this lack of understanding.
“It’s important to help consumers recognise the difference between the two conditions and show how they can still enjoy a healthy balanced diet – without gluten, if that’s what they need or choose to do."
She added there are some 'excellent' free-from food and drinks available that have been certified gluten-free.
Coeliac disease is a digestive condition where a person has an adverse reaction to gluten
Coeliac Awareness week, which aims to help over half a million people living undiagnosed with the disease, takes place from May 9 to 15.
Lucyna Glowczak, from Barley Cup said: “To support Coeliac Awareness Week, we’re helping consumers understand more about gluten and how they can still enjoy a healthy balanced diet if they choose to remove it.
“Gluten can be found in a wide range of foods from bread and cakes to sauces and many ready meals and we want to make sure people have all the information they need to understand both the protein itself and the conditions associated to it.”


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[ATLANTA] – Travel builds empathy, sparks connections, and creates friendships. It can also bring valuable economic development to local communities and immerse visitors into unique cultural experiences.
After a year of lockdowns, working from home and physical distancing, travelers will look to recoup these benefits and makeup for lost time.
As many Caribbean destinations have begun to reopen their borders, many travel advisors are leading the way in recovery, by taking trips themselves.
Gift the Caribbean Campaign Launches
Travel Advisors Selling the Caribbean (TASC) will roll out a new campaign with the theme “Gift the Caribbean” on 02-01- 21. It will capture the rising optimism of travel advisors and help them to inspire their clients to return to safe, comfortable travel experiences.
The campaign sends a strong message that urges travelers to reward themselves after months of lockdown, by traveling safely to the Caribbean.
While there, they can enjoy a myriad of experiences on offer — from decadent dining, rum tasting tours, surf or dive lessons or a wellness retreat.
The year-long ‘Gift the Caribbean’ campaign is designed to support the travel trade with a different niche focus every month. It will be rolled out across social media and digital channels, with assets that can be personalized to target various audiences.
To support the travel advisors’ marketing initiatives, TASC will provide tailored digital content, curated itineraries, contests, special offers and other practical resources to help travel advisors inspire their clients and sell more Caribbean experiences.
Kelly Fontenelle, TASC Founder said “Many important celebrations have been missed in 2020 and there is a lot of pent-up demand. Visitors can book with confidence knowing that the Caribbean is one of the calmest, safest places to visit. We are extremely accessible from many North American gateways and home to a diverse array of unique attractions and accommodations to suit every budget and preference. We welcome their business as it will provide a much-needed boost in jobs and revenues for thousands of tourism businesses in the Caribbean’s hard-hit tourism industry.”
2021 Travel Predictions
It is predicted that 2021 will be the year of renewal and reconnection. People will be more conscientious about how they travel, to ensure that they have a positive impact on their host destination.
Not only will” Gift the Caribbean” deliver lasting memories wrapped up in a Caribbean vacation, but it will also generate significant economic benefits to the local communities that have been severely impacted by the pandemic.


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The fallout from the winter’s freeze and chain of storms underscores the systemic problems in North America’s port drayage infrastructure.
Congestion and delays at some of the largest North American ports — New York-New Jersey and Virginia on the East Coast and Los Angeles-Long Beach in the West — were percolating even before frustration among drayage drivers boiled over at Port Metro Vancouver in late February and March in the form of a walkout by union and non-union truckers.
As Bruce Wargo, president of the PierPass extended-gates program at Los Angeles-Long Beach, told the JOC’s TPM Conference just as the Vancouver strike was beginning, “Trucker dissatisfaction with marine terminals is not a local phenomenon. It’s a symptom of the real problem, which is the traditional delivery process most terminals have in place today.”
That process is only complicated by ever-larger ships straining terminals already constricted by the lack of 24/7 operations, a shortage of chassis equipment and truck drivers, and a cost-is-king philosophy among all supply chain interests that equates to no one ponying up the money that could help eliminate the chokepoints.
Perhaps most disturbing for beneficial cargo owners is that the powder keg is exploding at the slowest time of the year for North American imports. With the economy showing signs of accelerating, forecasts calling for strengthening volumes in the months ahead, and potential slowdowns looming this spring and summer during West Coast longshore labor talks, productivity could go from boiling over to imploding later this year.
Some ports are trying to get ahead of the problem, even if they’re already behind. New York-New Jersey and Virginia have formed task forces represented by various supply chain interests aimed at finding ways to improve port performance, including drayage issues.
The question is whether any proposals that emerge will be in time to prevent a complete breakdown. “At the rate things are going,” said Tom Heimgartner, president of Newark, N.J.-based drayage operator Best Transportation, “some of us may not be around” for any solutions to matter.
article written by JOC:http://www.joc.com/special-topics/drayage-crisis-2014


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” The Legislature, in legalisation, has actually done a great deal to progress huge, white, abundant marijuana services as well as financiers, as well as insufficient for Black proprietors.”
By Sophie Nieto-Muñoz, New Jacket Display
Authorities from the Marijuana Regulatory Board encountered greater than 2 hrs of barbecuing from legislators Friday throughout their initial hearing before the Us senate Judiciary Board in greater than a year.
Lawmakers weren’t reluctant with their objection. They charged the firm of drawing strings to renew the certificate of a significant marijuana driver, being sluggish to authorize applications as well as holding the marijuana market back with bureaucracy.
Dianna Houenou, the payment’s chair, as well as the payment’s exec supervisor, Jeff Brown, admired the job the firm has actually done considering that its beginning 2 years back. New Jacket has actually seen 33 entertainment dispensaries open, numerous candidates accepted as well as millions in tax obligation earnings for the state.
Of 2,084 applications sent considering that 2021, concerning 679 are pending, Brown stated.
” The duty of the payment, particularly as a brand-new firm standing this market, we naturally require to analyze as well as recognize what the needs are throughout the state for our client neighborhood as well as our adult-use customers, and afterwards give policies as well as chances as necessary,” stated Houenou.
Throughout the hearing, which extended to 4 hrs as well as consisted of statement from market leaders as well as others, authorities yielded marijuana costs stay high, yet stated with raised competitors, that will certainly alter. An eighth of cannabis prices concerning $60 in a dispensary as well as can be purchased for as reduced as $40 in the prohibited, tradition market.
Brown stated costs can come by as long as half if exterior growing raised in New Jacket, yet those centers encounter restrictions due to districts that have actually prohibited growing.
Some legislators shared issues over the possibility of marijuana expanding outdoors in their communities. Sen. Mike Testa (R-Cumberland) stated no one “actually desires this in their yard,” pointing out anxieties of burglary as well as the scent originating from growing websites.
” These aren’t tomatoes in Vineland,” he stated.
Testa additionally shared disappointment concerning the accessibility teenagers as well as kids need to delta-8 items. Delta-8 is a lawful chemical discovered in marijuana that does not provide the exact same results as cannabis.
Sen. Brian Heap, chair of the board, resembled those issues. As the mayor of Union City, he stated he sees many shops marketing delta-8 items marketed in intense product packaging to draw in kids.
The item does not drop under the Marijuana Regulatory Compensation’s province, Houenou kept in mind. The state’s marijuana legalisation legislation has rigorous standards for marijuana product packaging, which should be child-resistant as well as reasonably ordinary, she stated.
” We wish to transform customers from illegal or casual acquisitions to the lawful, controlled market where items are examined,” stated Brown. “I’m positive that costs will certainly go down … We simply require to maintain the foot on the gas pedal as well as obtain licenses granted as well as out the door.”
An expense to outlaw the manufacturing as well as sale of products consisting of the uncontrolled material is relocating with both chambers of the Legislature.
Houenou as well as Brown took warmth for the complication bordering the legend of Curaleaf shedding its 5 yearly licenses in April, after that obtaining them back within days. Houenou protected the choice, claiming commissioners altered program after Curaleaf attended to issues over conformity with the legislation. A stipulation in the legalisation legislation needs marijuana services to permit employees to unionize as well as get in a labor tranquility arrangement within 200 days, if they pick.
The firm was not called throughout the conversation, as well as Houneou decreased to discuss “interior considerations as well as personal conversations.”
Union authorities additionally protected the payment’s preliminary choice to draw licenses from Curaleaf, claiming an “act of union evasion” happened at a growing center the firm possesses in Bellmawr as well as caused its closure as well as 40 discharges. Currently, employees encouraging of the union are submitting cards with the National Labor Relations Board, stated AJ Clayborne of the United Food as well as Commercial Employees union, which stands for marijuana employees.
” The CRC in New Jacket has actually been distinctly efficient in performing requireds to apply labor legislations in the state’s brand-new marijuana market,” he stated. “In lots of areas, governing firms quarrel or drag their feet … the CRC has actually been specifically receptive.”
Curaleaf has actually refuted claims of not negotiating with employees.
Numerous marijuana supporters that affirmed Friday shared issues that Black as well as brownish homeowners harmed by marijuana criminalization are locked out of the market.
” The Legislature, in legalisation, has actually done a great deal to progress huge, white, abundant marijuana services as well as financiers, as well as insufficient for Black proprietors,” stated the Rev. Charles Boyer, a Trenton priest as well as supervisor of the Redemption as well as Social Justice company.
He stated economic obstacles omit individuals that marketed weed in the tradition market for many years to sustain their households. There aren’t adequate gives or service advisors to obtain them associated with the market, he stated.
Boyer thinks the Marijuana Regulatory Compensation ought to be offered devices as well as oversight to track where the mass of sales tax obligation earnings goes. He wishes to make sure that the state is “materializing substantial financial investments in neighborhoods.”
” The general public was so bought legislating marijuana as well as, a lot more significantly, in desiring to see earnings that can be found in return to the neighborhoods that were most hurt,” stated Ami Kachalia of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jacket.
Some earnings from marijuana sales is anticipated to be dispersed to specific communities or social equity programs, as well as a portion additionally returns to moneying the firm.
Yet the Legislature supervises of appropriating those funds throughout the spending plan procedure, as well as the Marijuana Regulatory Compensation can just suggest where that ought to go– suggestions that usually originate from participants of the general public that indicate at social equity cost hearings, Houenou stated.
The board charged payment authorities with offering a lot more normal updates to the Legislature.
” I recognize that when you do launch a firm, there’s an understanding that there will certainly be some bumps in the roadways as well as points will certainly take some time, yet we maintain listening to a few of the exact same declarations over as well as over once again,” stated Sen. Kristin Corrado (R-Passaic).
The blog post New Jacket Cannabis Regulatory Authorities Barbecued By Legislators Throughout Lengthy Hearing On Legalisation Application showed up initially on Cannabis Minute.


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The owners of Southwold Pier have announced that they've sold it to a hotel group.
Gough Hotels Limited have bought the leisure pier for an undisclosed sum. Plans to turn the pavillion into a 30-bedroom luxury hotel were given the go-ahead in December 2010.
Gough Hotels own the Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds and the Salthouse Harbour Hotel in Ipswich.
The current pier owners, Stephen and Antonia Bournes, bought it in March 2005 and have transformed it into a thriving attraction, attracting more than 750,000 visitors a year.
The pier is currently the second biggest employer in Southwold and has 45 full-time staff, which rises to 95 people in the summer season.