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Sony is still struggling to restore some systems on Tuesday, eight days after a big cyber-attack, as investigators combed for clues to identify the cause of the breach.
Some employees at Sony's entertainment unit were given new computers to replace old ones that had been attacked with the rare data-wiping virus. The virus made their machines "unable to operate," a person with knowledge said to Sony's operations.
Studio co-chiefs Michael Lynton and Amy Pascal said in a company memo that "a large amount of confidential Sony Pictures Entertainment data has been stolen by the cyber attackers, including personnel information and business documents."
They added that they're not "sure of the full scope of information that the attackers have or might release," according to the memo, first reported by Variety. The memo encouraged employees to take advantage of identity protection services being offered.
Experts believe the breach is the first major attack on a U.S. company to use a class of malicious software designed to make computer networks unable to operate.
The FBI confirmed on Tuesday that it is working with Sony's home country of Japan on the investigation.
The hack, which was launched Nov. 24, affected computers with Microsoft Corp's Windows software, meaning Sony employees using Apple Macs had not been affected, according to the person familiar with Sony's operations, who spoke with Reuters.
Sony Pictures Entertainment shut down its internal computer network last week in order to prevent the data-wiping software from causing more damage.
People claiming responsibility for the attack have posted a number of digital copies of yet-to-be-released Sony films and what they claim are sensitive data about its operations and employees on Internet download sites.
For example, Sony's upcoming holiday movie "Annie", which is due to be released Dec. 19 in the United States, was available for download on a piracy site on Tuesday night.


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Professor Eugene F. Fama and Kenneth R. According to French data, market history dating back to 1927 shows that small-company stocks have enjoyed impressive long-term returns of 11.8% per year. Even better, the professor points out that the lower priced stocks (ie the value) have enjoyed a 13.1% annualized return over the same time period. And, the numbers show that dividend-paying stocks have outperformed non-dividend payers by 1.7% per year.
For managed account clients, I run a short- to mid-dividend pricing strategy that uses a similar philosophy of buying and patiently holding stocks that I believe are undervalued for their long-term appreciation potential. Not surprisingly, given the slowdown in equity markets in 2022, I think this is a good time to consider stocks like the two battered names I presented this week.
(AYI) is a leading lighting manufacturer that designs, produces and distributes a complete range of indoor and outdoor lighting and control systems for commercial, industrial, infrastructure and residential applications.
The firm’s backlog, especially for operators of commercial, education and industrial facilities, has grown in recent quarters in view of supply-related challenges. AQT has also launched its “Product Vitality” program, which aims to add new products and improve existing ones through investments, while increasing prices amid rising liquid costs over the past year. Gross margin is protected.
Management has also been busy repurchasing shares over the years, so the dividend is very modest. The effort has reduced share count by about 20% since May 2020, although this momentum will hold back business investment in the new fiscal year.
AQITs have generated double-digit returns on equity every year since 2005, despite having very little debt. Shares trading for between $13.00 and $14.00 of earnings per share next year are lower than CFO Karen Holcomb expected, even though higher inventory costs in the first half of the year are expected to weigh on margins.
no more toys
The past year has been a whirlwind for the toy maker and entertainment concern Hasbro
(Is). The death of former CEO Brian Goldner put pressure on active investors to reshuffle the business, resulting in the retirement of two board members. Part of the activists’ agenda, management has recently considered selling or restructuring its entertainment business eOne, which it bought just before the pandemic, with the company already selling eOne’s music business.
Such moves are in a different direction from Hasbro’s previous strategy of using an entertainment platform to promote its toy licenses, but could potentially unlock shareholder value and offer a fresh start. , allowing it to focus its strengths in toy making and gaming.
In addition, current CEO Christian Cox laid out new priorities for the firm – leaning into its largest gaming brands to generate additional revenue, investing in building a brand insights platform for data-based decision-making, and developing its direct-to-market solutions. Efforts to rejuvenate the consumer and digital- to meet a list of financial objectives by 2027.
A cost saving program is called Blueprint 2.0 It is also designed to include newfound rigor in approving item development to weed out inefficient products that do not meet a certain ROI constraint. The plan targets mid-single-digit compound annual revenue growth through 2027, operating profit growth of 50% over the next three years (with a 20% margin by 2027), and cash flow of more than $1 billion annually. operates. Duration.
As the saying goes, the proof will be in the pudding, but shares look cheap, having fallen by more than a third this year, trading at less than 14 times NTM EPS estimates and sporting a strong dividend yield of 4.1%. .
Credit: www.forbes.com /

domain: news


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The cover to Arai Manami’s first photobook has been released.
The photobook, titled 『Seventeen’s Blue』, will release on November 16. There will be a release event on the same day at the Fukuya bookstore in Shinjuku Sabunado at 18;30 (JST).
It will feature school swimsuits & gym clothes and consist of 160 pages. Publisher is Shogakukan. Suggested retail price is 3.000 yen.
Source & image: modelpress


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AT&T Planning for Growth of 'Connected Car' Market
On the table at telecom giant AT&T, according to an article by David Allison, are plans "to serve more than 10 million 'connected cars' by the end of 2017 - five times as many as currently."
Allison quotes a statement by the company:
AT&T expects meaningful subscriber growth for its connected car services in the next three-to-five years," the company reported. "As of today, AT&T provides either wholesale or retail connectivity ('connected cars') to nearly 2 million U.S. registered passenger vehicles with about 500,000 added in the third quarter. In 2015, AT&T expects to connect nearly half of new wireless-connected U.S. passenger vehicles.


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Most of the province’s cherries are grown in the Okanagan, but this isn’t where the orchardists make most of their money.
Niell Dendy, a cherry grower based in Kelowna, says he ships about 70 per cent of his fruits to international markets.
“We export our cherries mainly to mainland China, Hong Kong, other southeast Asian countries, Europe and even the Middle East,” he says.
Dendy explains cherries and other tree fruits are common in the valley, so it’s hard to get a good price. But for global consumers, cherries are a precious growing commodity, so much so that international sales hit record highs.
The B.C. government says in 2015, cherry exports recorded nearly $92 million in sales worldwide, an increase of 70 per cent compared to 2014.
The volume of cherries also climbed by 56 per cent to 13,600 metric tonnes.
Erin Carlson, a coordinator for B.C. Cherry Association, credits the record numbers to advancements that are allowing fruits to last longer in their trek to foreign markets.
“The growers in the association have high quality standards and they like to put a good cherry in the box. A lot of that work has been done by the folks at the research station to teach us how to do it properly with the cooling, handling and packaging,” says Carlson. “Therefore it can travel longer and travel to farther places and stay really delicious.”
China has a palate for cherries, making up more than a quarter of the international sales.
“We’ve got security in our export deal with China for the long term and that means a lot because China is such an important market,” says Dendy.
The provincial government hopes to break into more markets.
“We are going to build on this momentum. Thanks to the close working relationship with our provincial cherry industry, we look forward to exploring new opportunities with Pacific Rim countries that recently signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” says Norm Letnick, Minister of Agriculture.
However, Carlson doesn’t see this happening in the near future.
“In the long run, T.P.P. might be good for the cherry growers, but in reality, it is going to take some time because we would need to get the protocol, which for China took six to eight years to really get that market open to us even though we had a trade agreement.”
In the meantime, the government is focused on blossoming the cherry industry to foreign markets.
“British Columbians have always known about this tasty, sweet fruit from the Okanagan. The secret is out. Together we want to share B.C. cherries with the world,” says Letnick.


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Thanks to the acquisition of LinkedIn, Microsoft (MSFT) it is likely to become the first digital company to get to $1 trillion market cap by taking advantage also of equity crowdfunding, Equities.com claims.
The combination of two factors it is likely to pave the way for this: on one side digital companies have highly scalable models that address more than a billion individuals; on the other side, government regulations, like the one from the American SEC in May 2016, enable online equity crowdfunding to become the fourth major digital innovation to evolve to the point that, professionals suggest, the Social Investing Community industry which is currently in its early days will be as big as the social media industry by 2025 as $3.3 trillion per year which will go from the crowd to businesses by 2021.
On top on this, experts contend:
the public has an insatiable appetite for making small bets and purchasing lottery tickets that provide the chance to make a big profit.
Therefore, considering that
With its LinkedIn acquisition, Microsoft has become a social media player
Equites.com’s Michael Markowski predicts:
The acquisition positions Microsoft to be a leader in the emerging Social Investing Community (SIC) industry, which is the key to online equity crowdfunding becoming ubiquitous.
Find out more here.


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It’s no secret that FIFA 23 will be the last FIFA game made by EA. Due to a dispute between EA and FIFA, the football federation. Although EA will still make football games, they will be called EA Sports FC instead.
So fans have high expectations for the final installment of FIFA by EA. It’s safe to say that EA has disappointed many people over the last couple of years. With bugs, glitches, and an unstoppable wave of ‘surprise mechanics.’
Putting EA’s questionable decision-making behind us, what did we learn from the latest trailer and news? Well, players can expect to see FIFA World Cup Hero items and some new icons too.
We also know that Ones to Watch cards this year will include Sterling and Haaland, much to the delight of fans. We are still awaiting news regarding player ratings, although if EA continues their yearly trend then we will start to find out player ratings around September 20.
As usual, fans who played FIFA 22 and hit certain milestones will receive various rewards in FIFA 23, these rewards will be handed out to players by October 12, so keep an eye out for those.
As for gameplay, the trailer states that gameplay elements have been designed using Hypermotion2 Technology. This has allowed developers to add more than 6,000 new animations and movements. This is going to result in smoother and more realistic gameplay.
Something else we saw in the trailer was a lot of footage of female football gameplay. Fans have always been divided when it comes to professional female football in FIFA games. However, a lot of fans are delighted by the news.
FIFA 23 will be released fully on September 30, 2022. If you have paid for the premium versions of the game then you can expect to start playing as early as September 27.
As a whole, there’s a lot to keep an eye out for, and with it being EA’s last FIFA game there are sure to be a few surprises thrown out along the way.


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Michelle Obama’s sweet flashback photo, plus why Jessica Biel says Justin Timberlake is OK with her being ‘The Boss Lady’
Come back every day at 8:30 a.m. EST to watch People Now streaming live from Time Inc. headquarters in New York City, and rebroadcast at 11:30 am EST. Get the absolute latest in celebrity news, real-life people stories & the best of fashion and food.
Want even more? Watch clips from yesterday’s People Now.


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Ford Sharpens Ax for Salaried Jobs -- WSJ
Ford Motor Co. outlined new steps in its global cost-cutting efforts, saying it will reduce salaried workforce in key regions by 10% amid "an accelerated attack on costs."
The push, expected to result in 1,400 job cuts in North America and Asia by September, comes as Chief Executive Mark Fields strives to provide more clarity to investors about the auto maker's strategy. Ford's share price has slumped during Mr. Fields's three-year tenure at the helm, and profit growth has ground to a halt as U.S. sales volumes plateau.
The reductions would contribute to a $3 billion cost-reduction goal for 2017. Ford also said Wednesday that head-count cuts are under way or completed in Europe and South America.
Mr. Fields was recently granted a $2.5 million stock incentive by the board, which included the task of "developing a lean mind-set" at the company.
Ford, which has 200.000 employees world-wide, steadily increased its workforce as the U.S. market rebounded from the financial crisis and as a plan to expand in China unfolded. The Dearborn, Mich., auto maker has profited as demand for lucrative pickups and sport utilities surged amid lower gasoline prices.
The company's share price recently has been hovering at $11, however, more than one-third lower than its level when Mr. Fields succeeded Alan Mulally in the summer of 2014. Ford's stock touched as low as $10.75 on Wednesday, the lowest point since August 2015. Shares traded 1.1% lower at $10.82 in Wednesday afternoon trading.
Ford will offer employee buyouts in the U.S., China and other affected countries. Staff in several of the company's departments -- including factory personnel, analytics, information technology and product development -- aren't eligible for buyouts.
The Wall Street Journal on Monday was first to report Ford's plans to trim its salaried workforce, targeting a 10% reduction in head count.
Ford said Wednesday that it remains focused on "becoming as lean and efficient as possible" but didn't provide specifics on anticipated cost savings. Those figures will be outlined later this year, along with related personnel costs, which will be booked as special items in the third quarter, a company spokesman said.
Ford, which employs 55,000 hourly employees, hasn't indicated any plans to cut that segment of its workforce.
Ford's $3 billion cost-cutting target is aimed at restoring profit growth in 2018 and helping offset increased spending to develop new technologies, such as electric vehicles and self-driving cars. The auto maker's market capitalization earlier this year sunk below that of electric-car startup Tesla Inc. amid slower earnings growth.
Mr. Fields has pledged to take more decisive action, telling Wall Street analysts last week that the company will improve communications to demonstrate resilience in its core automotive business.
Ford, like many of its rivals, faces mounting concern about its ability to weather a potential downturn in the global auto market. Mr. Fields has worked to convince investors that a series of investments and experiments are girding his company to battle a wave of tech companies -- including Tesla, Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc. -- that threaten to unseat Detroit as an auto industry powerhouse.
Alphabet's Waymo unit, for instance, has been testing autonomous-vehicle technology for several years, garnering attention that other companies, including conventional car companies, have scrambled to tap. Tesla, while much smaller than Ford, has a sizable lead in electric vehicles and has routinely been quicker to launch new technology advances, such as comprehensive over-the-air updates for vehicle systems and semiautonomous driving features.
Ford is putting $4.5 billion into electric-vehicle research, but has been vague about a long-range electric vehicle that it plans to launch in coming years. The auto maker recently committed to invest $1 billion in a startup specializing in artificial intelligence.
Write to Christina Rogers at email@example.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 18, 2017 02:47 ET (06:47 GMT)


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Hartford Extends COVID-19 Personal Auto Payback Plan
(RTTNews) - Hartford said Tuesday that it is extending its COVID-19 Personal Auto Payback Plan through June. The plan originally provided customers with a 15 percent credit on their April and May personal auto insurance premiums.
Extending the plan through June brings the total amount the company will distribute to its customers to about $80 million.
The company plans to issue the credit to all personal auto insurance customers with policies in force as of June 1, 2020. No action is needed from customers, the credit will occur automatically, the company said.
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Small business sales are the lifeblood of the economy. We have written previously about the importance of small businesses relating to employment, incomes, economic growth, and even the stock market.
- April 2020 – Previous Recession Warnings Now A Reality
- January 2021 – NFIB Send Strong Warning About Small Cap Stocks
- May 2021 – Data Says It’s Only An Economic Recovery
- June 2022 – NFIB Data Says A Recession Is Coming…Again
Since the last update in June, the NFIB Small Business sales and sentiment measures have only deteriorated further. Despite a surging stock market in July and August, along with suggestions the economy will avoid recession, the data continues to suggest differently if historical precedents hold.
For example, overall confidence expressed by the members of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) owners is at levels that have historically correlated with deep recessions and bear markets.
Such should not be a surprise when we remember, as shown previously, that small businesses comprise a significant portion of the overall corporate economy and employment.
“According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are 28.8 million small businesses in the United States, and they have 56.8 million employees. Small businesses (defined as businesses with fewer than 500 employees) account for 99.7% of all businesses in the U.S. The chart below shows the breakdown of firms and employment from the 2016 Census Bureau Data.”
Simply, small businesses drive the economy, employment, and wages. Therefore, what the NFIB says is highly relevant to what is happening in the actual economy versus the headline economic data from Government sources.


text: Chinese sportswear brand Li Ning said on Friday its net profit rose by 13.3 per cent to 1.7 billion yuan (US$261.3 million) last year. The company, which bears the name of China’s most famous Olympic gymnast, said its sales rose across all product categories, bucking a general downturn in the retail segment across the world as the coronavirus pandemic hit consumer spending. “Although the Covid-19 pandemic has yet to come to an end, the socioeconomic and consumption sentiment [in mainland China] improved gradually,” said Li Ning, the company’s executive chairman and joint chief executive. “As one of the leading enterprises in the professional sports industry in the PRC, the group kept pace with industry developments to constantly capture new opportunities and embrace new challenges and developments,” he added. Despite China’s retail sales contracting 3.9 per cent in 2020, there were pockets of optimism for retailers and global brands, with several reporting strong sales in the country. For instance, Vancouver-based yoga and fitness apparel maker Lululemon Athletica said its revenue in China surged by more than 100 per cent in the third quarter last year. British fashion house Burberry also reported that in the December quarter, its sales rose 11 per cent in Asia-Pacific, lifted mainly by the China and South Korea markets. Li Ning’s revenue jumped 4.2 per cent to 14.46 billion yuan. Its equipment and accessories segment saw an 11.7 per cent rise in sales, while footwear improved by 4.2 per cent and apparel grew 3.6 per cent, according to a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange. However, fewer outlets and shops were selling Li Ning’s products as of the end of 2020, down by 537 to 5,912 outlets, compared with the start of the year. The number of shops and outlets selling Li Ning Young’s products also decreased, by 80 to 1,021. Li Ning pays £51 million for Clarks as Chinese companies keep up their global shopping spree for marquee brands Its annual earnings, which reversed a first-half slump where its net income slipped 14 per cent to 683.3 million yuan, beat expectations, according to analysts at US investment bank Jefferies. They recommended the stock in a note on Friday. “Earnings came in 13 per cent ahead of our forecast. However, revenue results were 5 per cent weaker than our forecast likely due to more volatile demand in (fourth-quarter 2020),” they said. Li Ning’s shares were trading lower on Friday. The company, which has sponsored the likes of NBA basketball superstars Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade, was looking to “explore and broaden room for business development to capture new opportunities and embrace new challenges and developments”, it said. Besides its core brand, Li Ning also manufactures and sells various sports products that are either owned by the company or licensed to the group, including Aigle, a joint venture company with the French sports apparel maker. The company’s fortunes contrast with that of Xtep, another Hong Kong-listed mainland Chinese sportswear brand, which counts NBA basketball star Jeremy Lin among its endorsers. Xtep’s profit in 2020 fell 29.5 per cent to 513 million yuan.


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Many New Jersey consumers and businesses rely on PayPal or Venmo for money transfers or online purchases. A fewer number may have heard of Lenmo, an online startup that focuses on peer-to-peer loans. However, PayPal is suing Lenmo for trademark infringement, claiming that the company is seeking to unlawfully profit from the goodwill and fame of its Venmo brand trademark. Venmo is a PayPal subsidiary brand marketed primarily to younger people. While its lack of fees attracted many to the mobile app, where it is used to transfer money between friends or make online purchases, it is growing more popular overall as a way to pay for music, food and ride share services.
New Jersey readers have likely noticed Amazon trucks with "Prime" written on the side of them while traveling area roadways. However, Prime Inc., a Missouri-based trucking company, claims the retail giant's use of the word on its vehicles amounts to trademark infringement.
As part of a $12 million settlement paid to the park's former concessionaire, many of the names for locations in Yosemite National Park were changed back to their original names. The lawsuit was originally filed when a new company took over many of the park's concessions and hospitality services and changed the names of many iconic locations. The result of this lawsuit could also affect the naming of locations in national parks in New Jersey and other states.
For many New Jersey businesses, protecting their intellectual property can be an important part of keeping their brands active and growing. There are a number of different venues where companies can take legal action against infringement of their trademarks, patents and copyrights. However, one question that may arise is whether a decision in one venue may prevent the issues from being raised again in a different court. According to one federal appeals court's decision, U.S. International Trade Commission rulings on trademark infringement do not necessarily preclude litigating the issue again in federal district court.
Inventors and businesses in New Jersey and around the country obtain patents to protect their inventions, processes and designs, and they may pursue legal remedies when others use their original ideas without permission. These cases are usually complex, and patent infringement lawsuits sometimes drag on for years. A recent patent dispute case that included the Alabama-based company Return Mail and the US Postal Service was decided by the US Supreme Court. With a majority vote of 6-3, the justices ruled that the agency had infringed on intellectual property rights protected by a patent.


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The Palmer Township Board of Supervisors approved zoning amendments to the land around the upcoming .
Tuesday's decision opens up land for various types of development -- from stores and restaurants to distribution warehouses to what one township official hoped would become a "shopping destination."
"I consider this to be one of the biggest pieces of legislation in quite some time for Palmer Township," Solicitor Charles Bruno said.
The rezoning of the land from its agricultural designation will help promote industry and business, Bruno said.
Planning Director Cyndie Carman said the land, mainly owned by the Charles Chrin Companies, is broken down into four different zoning classifications:
- Retail/Commercial -- Will allow for a wide variety of stores, restaurants and hotels. This area right around the interchange might possibly be developed for a "destination shopping area."
- Business -- Zoned for office and light industrial with distribution center space limited to 200,000 square feet.
- Transportation/Industrial -- The biggest stretch of land in the north end is zoned for distribution warehouses up to 1 million square feet.
- Transportation/Industrial -- Zoned for more transportation uses like truck traffic and to connect with existing rail line. Distribution center space of up to 400,000 square feet allowed.
said 91 acres would remain zoned as farmland, serving as a buffer for the rail line and a nearby school.
"This zoning is crucial for Palmer Township," Supervisor Robert Smith said.
"This is the future of Palmer Township," Supervisor Anne-Marie Panella said. "The growth of this area affects our children and grandchildren."
The Route 33 interchange is expected to begin construction in October with completion set for December 2013.


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The Rose Room events center in Boise’s historic Union Block is set to close, BoiseDev exclusively confirmed.
“It will close as an event room next spring, and reopen as offices in the summer,” building owner Ken Howell said.
Redwood City, CA-based Balsam Brands will take over 17,000 square feet of space in the building – including the event center, space currently used for small offices and an overflow dining room.
Balsam currently has space in Meridian in the Central Valley Corporate Park. The company says it will relocate to the new, high-profile space in the downtown core.
Fake Christmas trees and other holiday decor are Balsam’s primary product – and Forbes featured it as a Small Giant startup last year. It was founded in 2006 and now earns more than $100 million in yearly revenue.
Completed in 1902 for just $35,000, the building is a cornerstone of Downtown Boise architecture. It houses retail tenants like Old Chicago along with a mix of small office tenants on the second floor.
The Rose Room has hosted thousands of events over the years – primarily wedding receptions.
Howell told me earlier this month that the new tenant would possibly impact some current tenants but it wasn’t clear how. Balsam says a final remodel plan for the building will be finalized this spring.


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People read what they want to read, it seems, and some of Sony bigwig Jim Ryan’s comments about the PlayStation 4 got completely twisted overnight by a blood-thirsty community hunting for gotchas. In the wake of some surprise cross-gen announcements – including Horizon Forbidden West – the executive told Washington Post that its current-gen console will continue to be “supported” for three to four years. Of course, anyone with a brain knows that this is how PlayStation has always been – and is no different to the message it's been spewing all year.
“We have the PS4 community, which is going to be incredibly important to us for many years to come,” he said in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz. “It will be tens of millions strong and we've never been closer to them than this year. We intend to keep that going and to love and respect the PS4 community, while at the same time recognising that millions of gamers are ready to – and want to – move into a world of game experiences that are only possible on PS5.”
Obviously it’s disingenuous to say that titles are “only possible on PS5” if they’re also launching on PS4, but presumably that’s why tentpole releases like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Demon’s Souls will remain restricted to Sony’s next-gen system. Nevertheless, when Ryan mentioned that the PS4 will continue to be supported for years to come, he’s clearly referring to the “ten year lifecycle” that’s always been a part of PlayStation’s philosophy.
There’s no flip-flopping here, no matter how hard some online commentators try to manufacture one.


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The NZ Government has been engaged in making the situation easier for a greater number of businesses to operate as the country has moved to alert level 2 of lockdown. Many businesses have opened and are operative while some still remain closed like travel businesses, places where people could gather like pubs and parties.
With the severity of the impact of COVID-19, it is believed that there have been not many businesses that were seen to perform well through these tough times. M?nuka honey companies have been one such group of companies that have been a bright spot in the economy recently.
The companies involved in the business of M?nuka honey are said to be taking advantage of the Government’s Wage Subsidy Scheme even though they are doing pretty well and exports for M?nuka honey are booming for NZ. It has been reported that the M?nuka honey companies have applied and received the Government's wage subsidy.
NZ Government acknowledges that there are businesses that shall find it difficult to operate even in the more relaxed environment of alert level 2 restrictions. The Government has also been investigating whether to continue with a broad-base Wage Subsidy Scheme as it is quite difficult to target specific industries.
Moreover, the Government has been unclear as to what sectors can avail the benefit from the Wage Subsidy Scheme, and it has been difficult to differentiate which sectors need it and which do not. For example, if the Government plans to continue benefits for only tourism sector under the scheme, it is difficult to ascertain if it will be able to provide the benefit to a service station operator located in the tourism destination, considering service station is not the part of the tourism industry although such service stations located in tourism destinations are suffering due to sharp decline in overall travel.
On the other hand, it has been reported that the companies owned by billionaires, elite schools as well as the likes of successful M?nuka honey companies had made use of the wage subsidy program, which was meant for businesses in the most adversely affected sectors that were struggling to survive in the current situation developed due to COVID-19.
Comvita Limited (NZX:CVT), a NZX-listed market leader in M?nuka honey, along with Fresh-Picked™ Olive Leaf Extract and Propolis updated the market about the strong demand in middle March which therefore continued for the entire month leading to a double digital growth yoy. Moreover, all major markets have reported good sales output, and the companies remained profitable while generating good cashflows and improving working capital.
With over 95% of the extraction completed, the Company further anticipated for an increase of 60% year on year in current year’s honey harvest while an improvement of over 150% in the quality of the crop.
Comvita CEO, David Banfield had commented:
“It’s encouraging to see good trading across all markets continue as consumers actively seek out Comvita products. In addition, we have delivered good working capital control which has enabled us to continue paying down debt supporting our decision to postpone the planned capital raise. Finally, with the honey harvest over 95% complete, we are pleased with both the volume and the quality of honey.”
A shift in the consumer preferences like increased use of healthier food products containing lower levels of fat, along with added vitamins and nutrients, over the years, has led to a positive effect on the demand for M?nuka honey.
NZ is home to M?nuka plants from which bees collect nectar for producing M?nuka honey and is said to become top global honey exporter by value on the back of plantation M?nuka. Moreover, approximately 95 per cent of New Zealand's M?nuka honey production is exported.
New Zealand honey is known for its superior quality and total New Zealand honey exports per year have been on top and one of the fastest-growing exports with a double-digit growth per annum over the past decade.
According to New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, the United States is a high-value market for New Zealand honey, with roughly 18 per cent of US adults aware of M?nuka honey, with Americans valuing M?nuka honey for its health properties. In 2017, the New Zealand honey exports to the US were worth US$49 million with growth being driven by value rather than volume. This was the second most valuable export market for New Zealand after China.
The existing Wage Subsidy Scheme was aimed at supporting employers who have been adversely affected by COVID-19 so that they can continue to pay their employees, but M?nuka honey companies look like sweetening the deal with increasing demand for M?nuka Honey and drawing benefits from the Wage Subsidy Scheme.
The Economic Response Package announced by the NZ Government on 15 April 2020 comprised of an estimated NZ$9 billion – NZ$12 billion in wage subsidies to help impacted businesses in keeping their staff in job, through support received directly from the Government. The Wage Subsidy Scheme further comprised of a NZ$126 million for COVID-19 leave and self-isolation support for people who were unable to work due to their sickness, self-isolating, or caring for dependent.
The NZ Government believes that the Wage Subsidy Scheme has been enormously successful, paying out more than NZ$10 billion to support New Zealand businesses and jobs. Further, the Finance Minister, rant Robertson says that:
“This Government is acutely aware of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our workers, which is why we moved so quickly to get money out the door to help employers keep their staff on the books during the lockdown.”
The Government has also announced an extension to the wage subsidy program on 14 May 2020 while presenting the Budget 2020. The extension of the scheme was aimed at assisting the eligible businesses that have suffered, or are expected to suffer, a revenue loss of no less than 50 per cent for the 30-day period prior to the application date against the closest comparable period in the past year.
Moreover, the government had announced to allow high-growth and new firms to be eligible for under the current Wage Subsidy Scheme to include pre-revenue R&D start-up firms that are recognised by Callaghan Innovation.


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Last month, Toyota did the unthinkable by turning the Century into an SUV as an addition to the lineup sitting alongside the traditional sedan. It costs the equivalent of approximately $167,000 at current exchange rates and is available only in Japan where you can buy a Land Cruiser 300 for as low as $34,000. Despite carrying an exorbitant asking price, the company's chairman thinks the high-riding Century will lure in younger buyers.
In an article published by the Toyota Times official magazine, Akio Toyoda said the Century SUV "will also suit younger people" as well as those "who previously felt that a Century [sedan] was not for them." The former company president and CEO went on to mention the new flagship represents "the top premium, chauffeur-driven car not just within Toyota but in Japan."
2024 Toyota Century SUV
Akio Toyota recalls how the executive parking area at Toyota HQ in the Land of the Rising Sun used to have "nothing but Centuries" back in the day but the times have changed. Nowadays, some of the higher-ups prefer to be chauffeured in Alphards and Vellfires. When the two minivans were introduced as next-generation models in the second half of June, Toyota took the opportunity to tease the Century SUV before unveiling the luxobarge in early September.
It remains to be seen how many youngsters in Japan will be able to shell out this kind of money for the poshest Toyota SUV to date. The vehicle is offered in multiple configurations, including a sporty GRMN variant and one with electrically sliding rear doors. A bonkers four-door convertible has already been teased, with Toyota Chief Branding Officer Simon Humphries saying that "the possibilities are endless and open to discussion" as far as customizing the Century on stilts.
Regardless of version, these Century SUVs will not carry the Toyota badge. As is the case with the namesake sedan, the familiar logo is replaced with a gold phoenix motif as a nod to the Imperial House of Japan. The saloon has had this symbol since the first generation launched back in 1967.
Only Century Meisters, "a group of sales and engineers with extensive knowledge of the Century brand" found at select dealers are selling the Century models.


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Brazilian beef exports to Arab countries have seen a 23.3% value increase and a 28.8% volume increase in the first five months of 2019, according to the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).
According to the ABCC, Brazilian beef being exported to the Arab region from January to May of this year amounted to USD 487.24 million, accounting for a 23.3 per cent increase as compared to the USD 395.16 million posted during the same period last year.
Egypt leads the list of Arab countries with over USD 162.64 million worth of Brazilian beef exports, followed by the UAE with USD 145.49 million and Saudi Arabia with USD 55.36 million.
Rubens Hannun, president of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, said, “We are proud to report that there is a continued strong demand for Brazilian beef products in the Arab region. In fact, the first five months of 2019 has seen increases in both volume and value in terms of beef exports to Arab countries.
"The demand for these products reflects the strong ties between Brazil and the Arab region, which has ably resulted in heightened economic activity. The strong preference placed by Arab countries in Brazilian beef can also be attributed to Brazil's strict adherence to the halal process and the equally strong attention placed on the high quality of the beef being exported and its related competitive pricing.”


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The Marshall Government will continue to campaign for greater freedom of choice in shop trading right up until the next election in March, with the popular reform critical to further turbo-charge the state’s ongoing COVID recovery.
As expected, former Shoppies union boss Peter Malinauskas’ Labor Party has denied hardworking South Australian families and businesses the opportunity to shop and trade when it suits them, voting down the Government’s Retail Trading Bill and Referendum Bill in Parliament today.
Treasurer Rob Lucas said Labor’s ‘short-sighted, backward move’ applied an effective handbrake to the state’s growing economic momentum, with the potential to cost jobs and millions in additional wages as employees missed out on the opportunity for extra hours.
It also made it harder for bricks and mortar businesses to compete with the rapid rise of online shopping.
“The contrast is clear – Premier Marshall wants to give South Australians freedom of choice to make their lives easier and create jobs and opportunity for local businesses to thrive… ex-union boss Peter Malinauskas and his Shoppies union mates want SA closed for business,” said Mr Lucas.
“This is particularly concerning at a time when we are doing everything in our power to turbo-charge the state’s economic recovery from COVID – with more South Australians employed now than at any other time in the state’s history.
“But we know there’s much more work to be done, which is why we will be campaigning on this popular issue right up until the next State election in March.
“We believe South Australians in Adelaide suburbs want to continue to be able to shop on public holidays such as Boxing Day, Adelaide Cup Day and Easter Monday.”
Mr Lucas said Business SA’s change in public position* on the issue had no impact whatsoever on the Government’s commitment to reform, noting the organisation’s CEO Martin Haese had been a long-time opponent and campaigner against deregulation.
“Business SA is entitled to a new view on shop trading and other matters, such as swimming in the Torrens, but the Government respectfully disagrees with them on both,” Mr Lucas said.
“With great respect, our policy isn’t designed for Business SA – it’s designed for the overwhelming majority of South Australians who want greater freedom of choice.”
Mr Lucas said recent research by the Shopping Centre Council of Australia and the National Retail Association found 9 in 10 South Australians would support smaller retailers as much, if not more than before, in the event of shop trading reform.
“South Australians will continue to support independent retailers because they provide a particular niche in the market,” said Mr Lucas.
*Business SA, in 2018, commissioned the University of South Australia’s Institute for Choice to undertake a ‘comprehensive survey of consumer preferences for shop trading hours.’
The report, called Charter 2018 (Open for Business), said: “With online retail sales having grown 90% in the past five years, and the recent introduction of Amazon still making its mark, deregulating shop trading hours is critical to helping level the playing field for South Australia’s bricks and mortar retailers.”


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The coalition of 40 investors, brought together by the Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return (FAIRR) Initiative, wrote to 16 leading companies, including Walmart, Tesco and Unilever. The investors want the companies to outline if they have a strategy to profit from plant-based protein as fear mounts over the overreliance on factory-farmed meat.
“The world’s overreliance on factory farmed livestock to feed the growing global demand for protein is a recipe for a financial, social and environmental crisis,” said Jeremy Coller, founder of the FAIRR Initiative and chief information officer of Coller Capital, one of the 40 investment firms behind the letter.
“Intensive livestock production already has levels of emissions and pollution that are too high, and standards of safety and welfare that are too low. It simply can’t cope with the projected increase in global protein demand. Investors want to know if major food companies have a strategy to avoid this protein bubble and to profit from a plant-based protein market set to grow by 8.4% annually over the next five years.”
China’s meat cut
The call from investors follows Oxford University research that estimates $1.5trn in healthcare and climate change costs could be saved by 2050 if the world reduced its reliance on meat.
China has already implemented plans to reduce national meat consumption by 50%, over concern its growing obesity problem will cripple health services. Denmark’s influential think-tank, the Danish Council of Ethics, has also suggested red meat taxation may be needed to tackle the environmental impact of beef production.
General Mills, one of the companies targeted by investors, has been praised for supporting start-up Beyond Meat, which is developing ways to manufacture plant-based meat burgers.
The sweet 16
General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Mondelez International, Nestlé SA, Unilever, Ahold-Delhaize, The Co-operative Group, Costco Wholesale Corporation, Kroger Company, Marks & Spencer, Wm Morrison Supermarkets, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Walmart, Whole Foods Market.
Diversify global protein
There are a host of other companies like Beyond Meats researching how to produce lab-grown meat in industrial quantities. The technology is still in its infancy but some companies, like SuperMeat, expect to have lab-grown chicken breasts ready by 2018.
Peter van der Werf, engagement specialist at Robeco, a Dutch asset management firm, said the need to diversify global protein sources is paramount.
“The growing demand for meat will put large pressure on natural resources in the coming decades. Robeco identified this as a financial material topic and engages to improve sustainability in the meat supply chain,” said der Werf.
“Protein diversification is an important instrument to that end. Companies at the end of the meat supply chain have an important role to play towards customers and we will encourage them to make protein diversification an integral part of their strategy.”


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Retail News Breaks
Walgreens set to be top retail host for electric vehicle charging
July 22nd, 2011
DEERFIELD, Ill. – Walgreen Co. plans to offer electric vehicle charging stations at about 800 locations nationwide by the end of this year, which the drug store chain reported would make it the country's largest retail host.
Walgreens already has EV charging station installations under way at over 60 stores in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago.
Walgreens said Thursday that its stores will provide convenient sites for electric vehicle (EV) drivers to recharge near home or work. The charging stations will feature a high-speed direct current (DC) charger that can add 30 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes of charging time, or a Level 2 charger that can add up to 25 miles of range per hour of charge.
Major markets expected to host the EV charging stations include Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. EV stations also will be deployed at select locations in Florida, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington.
Installations are slated to begin later this month, according to Walgreens. The chain drug retailer already has EV charging station installations under way at more than 60 stores in the Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago areas.
"Consumer interest and enthusiasm has been incredible, and we're excited to provide locations to charge up in neighborhoods across the country," Mark Wagner, president of community management and operations for Walgreens, said in a statement. "As more Americans embrace environmentally sustainable technologies, our convenient locations make us uniquely positioned to help address the concern around accessibility or 'range confidence.'"
According to the Department of Energy, Walgreens will account for as much as 40% of all public EV charging stations in the nation, "making it easy for EV drivers to look to our stores for a quick charge near major highways, metropolitan areas or right in their neighborhood," Wagner added.
More Retail News Breaks >>


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The Lovejoy, Ga. employee responsible has been fired
Food & Drink
The fast-food giant gave some spectacularly optimistic tipping advice on its employee website
No word on whether drinking it makes you “kind of a big deal.”
Happy 80th birthday, Repeal Day: A celebration of the end of Prohibition in America
Good news for sweet tooths everywhere.
Because this is the United States of America.
Credited with idea for Taco Bell-Doritos hybrid dish
Sriracha vodka, that is.
But you will have to eat at Applebee’s.
The best thing to happen to Chicago since the opening of its bacon bar.
Vodka will be 30% more expensive by August


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Farming implement business expanding into Missouri
ARENZVILLE — Beard Implement Co. is expanding its operations and moving into Missouri.
The company, which sells Case IH, Kubota and New Holland tractors, combines and implements, is dividing its Barry dealership’s personnel and operations between a new Pittsfield location and Hannibal, Missouri.
“Case IH came to us a few years ago and presented us with the opportunity to expand into Missouri,” said Jeremy Beard, co-owner of Beard Implement with his father, Gerry, and Kyle Schumacher. “We are moving west into Missouri because we are looking toward the future sustainability of the company and its employees.”
Beard Implement has bought 11 acres on the west side of Hannibal at the former location of a recreational vehicle dealership. The Hannibal site is 2 miles north of U.S. 36 on U.S. 24.
“We were looking for something convenient for our potential customers off of Route 36,” Gerry Beard said. “We’re very happy with that location. It fits our needs and gives us the opportunity to work with Missouri customers.”
The Hannibal business will be strictly a Case IH dealership and will open in time for fall harvest, Gerry and Jeremy Beard said.
The company has hired a technician for the Hannibal dealership and the other eight employees will come from the Barry dealership, which will close this fall.
Half of the Barry employees will transfer to the Hannibal dealership and the others will go to Beard Implement’s new Pittsfield location.
At Pittsfield, the company is constructing and remodeling a building a mile west of its current location.
Gerry Beard said the Pittsfield move will expand the company’s facilities from a 5,000-square-foot building to a 31,000-square-foot structure.
The new Pittsfield dealership is adding Case IH equipment to its existing lines of New Holland and Kubota equipment.
Beard Implement Co., which was founded in Arenzville in 1937, today is owned and operated by the third and fourth generations of the Beard family along with Kyle Schumacher, who runs the company’s Ashland dealership.
Greg Olson can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1224, or on Twitter @JCNews_Greg.


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Nike keeps dropping their Nike Flyknit Trainer collection and the fans keep loving them. Now a new look emerges in a white and gum colorway. Nike Flyknit Trainer sneakers are always ideal for the warm season and the launch of the new colorway couldn’t pick a better timing for this. The release of this colorway will not be a first from Nike but rather this will be a comeback of the original colorways.
Nike Flyknit Trainer
Color: White/White-Gum Light Brown
Style Code: AH8396-102
Release Date: April 19, 2018
The first Nike Flyknit Trainer was released back in 2012 specifically for athletes and it was quite popular for its undeniable stealth and durability. The athletes that used the sneaker gave it praise and Nike fans were eager to see the same released for customers. However, this didn’t come true, at least not until now. Now Nike has improved the sneaker and given it a new look and new name.
The new Nike Flyknit Trainer dubbed “White Gum” for its colorways will be dressed in White and gum with the upper Flyknit coming in all white. The midsole will share the same color to give the sneaker’s upper Flyknit a match. To provide contrast, the rubber outsole will feature a gum color. This difference is what makes the sneaker conspicuous, unique and popular.
Accents and branding have been done with white throughout the sneaker. The clean, match and contrast sneaker is ideal to rock on any day and every day that the sun is out and you want to take a stroll down the street or park.
Nike has announced that it will be releasing “Whitegum” on the 19th of April, it will be available in select Nike stores and online. With most of its counterpart sneakers with the same design but different colorways selling out, the new Nike Flyknit is expected to fly out of shelves. For those who have missed out on popular colorways like “Oreo and “White Black”, this will be a great way to get in on the action. Fans of the Nike Flyknit Trainer, dating back all the way from 2012 can also get a piece of the action. But only if they play fast after the official release.
To get a pair of this sneakers, it will cost you $ 150 USD. A great price for a summer wear sneaker and a go anywhere sneaker.
The new “Whitegum” dubbed sneaker is a great sneaker that was once the sneaker of choice for many athletes back in 2012 and while it might have been missing a few key consumer-oriented features, its successor has ensured that it is tuned to perfection.
The sneaker offers comfort, luxury and just like its predecessor, stealth, and durability. There couldn’t be better words to describe a perfect sneaker, especially one to rock on during the summer.
As you prepare for summer, be sure to include “Whitegum” in your plans. They will be perfect for every sunny day, running day and even that evening walk by the park. They deliver on Nike’s promise of quality, durability, styling, and comfort that Nike is built on. This sneaker is one of the best sleek runner sneakers that Nike has released.


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While the fact that Wadjet Eye Games’ point ‘n click hit Gemini Rue was heading to the iOS platform is not exactly a secret (anymore), until recently neither the release date nor its price tag had been made official. But at some point in the last 48 hours, all of that changed and its scheduled arrival is actually sooner than one might think (no, it’s not tomorrow).
It’s been a few years since this dark tale of betrayal and search for a new identity was originally released for Windows (I refuse to call it “PC” since that could include other operating systems too), and for reasons unknown, there’s no still sight of a Mac release. That doesn’t mean Apple fans will never get to experience Azriel Odin’s adventure, however, because April 11 marks the arrival of Gemini Rue on the app store, where it will be priced at $4.99 ($3.99 for a few weeks following its launch).
Whether or not they’re planning on making it available on even more platforms is unknown at this point, but I’m sure there are fans on both Linux, Mac and Android that would jump at a chance to play this game. One thing is however certain: according to a quote on Joystiq from PAX East, whether or not Wadjet Eye Games will be porting any of their other games to this platform depends largely on how well this one does. Much as I would love to play the Blackwell series on my iPad, I understand what they’re getting at, and as such – here’s to a hugely successful Gemini Rue iOS launch!
I’ll have more specific details on the port come launch, along with one of my infamously long reviews soon after.


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Thousands of new state laws were passed across America this year, and dozens affect fermentation businesses — small and large — as well as home fermenters.
Government agencies are loosening some strict health code and alcohol regulations, laws that made running an artisanal business difficult. There are also new opportunities being created that allow craft breweries to expand their operations, such as entertainment districts where beer can be sold and enjoyed legally.
Read on for the breakdown of 2019 food laws passed in each state
SB16 — Expands state alcohol licenses to include recreational areas. After the Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board began cracking down on alcohol licenses in 2017, several recreational sites were denied licenses to sell alcohol. The bill, known as “Save the Alaska State Fair Act,” now expands license types to the state fair, ski areas, bowling alleys and tourist operations.
HB2178 — Removes red tape for small ice cream stores and other milk product businesses to manufacture and sell dairy products. The bill, called the “Ice Cream Freedom Act,” allows smaller mom and pop businesses to make milk-based products without complying with state regulations designed for large dairy manufacturers.
HB1407 — Prohibits false labeling on agricultural products edible by humans. That includes misleading labels, like labeling agricultural products as a different kind of food or omitting required label information.
HB1556 — Ends the “undisclosed and ongoing investigations” of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, and the Alcoholic Beverage Enforcement Division.
HB1590 — Limits the number off-premise sales of wine and liquor in the state to one permit for every 7,500 residents in the county or subdivision. Small farm wines are the exception to the new law.
HB1852 — Allows a microbrewery to operate in a dry county as a private club, without approval from the local governing body.
HB1853 — Amends the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Acts to increase the amount of local farm and food products purchased by government agencies (like state parks and schools).
SB348 — Establishes a Hard Cider Manufacturing Permit. Cider brewers can apply for the annual $250 permit, authorizing the sale of hard cider. Producers may not sell more than 15,000 barrels of hard cider a year.
SB492 — Establishes temporary or permanent entertainment areas in wet counties where alcohol can be carried and consumed on the public streets and sidewalks.
AB205 — Revises the definition of beer to mean that beer may be produced using “honey, fruit, fruit juice, fruit concentrate, herbs, spices, and other food materials, and adjuncts in fermentation.”
AB377 — A follow-up to the state’s landmark California Homemade Food Act in 2018, the new bill would clarify the implementation process of last year’s bill. The California Home Food Act made it legal for home cooks to operate home-based food production facilities. The law, though, was only enacted if a county’s board of supervisors voted to opt-in to offer the permits. Only one county in California has opted in (Riverside). County health officials are avoiding singing on the bill because of potential food safety risks.
AB619 — Permits temporary food vendors at events to serve customers in reusable containers rather than disposable servingware. The “Bring Your Own Bill” also clarifies existing health code, allowing customers to bring their own reusable containers to restaurants for take-out.
AB792 — Establishes a minimum level of recycled content (50%) in plastic beverage bottles by 2035. The world’s strongest recycling requirement, the law would help reduce litter and boost demand for manufacturers to use recycled plastic materials.
AB1532 — Adds instructions on the elements of major food allergens and safe handling food practices to all food handler training courses.
HB5004 — Raises minimum wage to $15 by 2023.
HB6249 — Charges 10 cents for single-use plastic bags by 2021.
HB7424 — Raises sales tax from 6.35% to 7.35% for restaurant meals and prepared foods sold elsewhere, like in a grocery store. Also repeals the $250 biennial business entity tax.
HB130 — Bans single-use plastic bags by 2021.
SB105 — Raises minimum wage to $15 by 2024.
HB125 — Facilitates growth and expansion of craft alcoholic beverage companies, raising amount of manufactured beer to 6 million barrels.
SB82 — Prohibits a municipality from regulating vegetable gardens on residential properties.
HB134 — Regulates where beer and wine can be served, now including public plazas.
HB151 — Charges licensing fees for temporary food establishments based on the number of days open. Fees will gradually increase through 2022.
HB3018 — Amends Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act, requiring a restaurant prominently display signage indicating a guest’s food allergies must be communicated to the restaurant.
HB3440 — Allows customers to provide their own take-home containers when purchasing bulk items from grocery stores and other retailers.
HB2675 — An update to state liquor laws, the bill removes hurdles for craft distilleries to operate. Craft distilleries would be allowed to more widely distribute their products themselves, rather than distributing under the state’s three-tier liquor distribution system that separates producers, distributors and retailers.
SB1240 — Imposes a 7 cent tax on each plastic bag at checkout, with 2 cents staying with the retailers. The remaining 5 cents per bag would fix a statewide budget deficit.
HB1518 — Creates a special alcohol permit for the Bottleworks District. The $300 million, 12-acre urban mixed-use development in the Coca-Cola building will serve as a culinary and entertainment hub in downtown Indianapolis.
SF618 — Increases the limit on alcohol in beer from 5% to 6.25%.
SF323 — Canned cocktail and premixed drinks served in a metal can, up to 14% alcohol by volume, will now be regulated like beer.
HB311 — Requires proper labeling of cell-cultured meat products that are lab produced.
HB468 — Expands defined items permitted for sale by home-based processors.
HR251 — Designates week of September 23-29 as Louisiana Craft Brewer Week.
SB152 — Establishes definition for agriculture products. Prohibits anyone from mislabeling a meat edible to humans.
SR20 — Designates week of September 3-9th as Louisiana Craft Spirits Week.
LD289 — Prohibits stores from selling or distributing any disposable food containers that are made entirely or partially of polystyrene foam (Styrofoam).
LD454 — Provides funding and staffing needed to give local students and nutrition directors the resources needed to purchase and serve locally grown foods.
LD1433 — Bans two toxic, industrial chemicals (phthalates and PFAS) from food packaging. Maine becomes first state in the nation to ban the two chemicals.
LD1532 — Bans all single-use plastic bags in the state. Law will be enacted by April 2020, at which time shoppers can pay 5 cents for a plastic bag. Maine is the fourth state to pass a ban, joining California, New York and Hawaii.
LD1761 — Increases amount of barrels craft beer and hard cider manufacturers can produce in a year. The cap increased from 50,000 gallons to 930,000 gallons (approximately 30,000) barrels. The law also makes it easier for a small brewery to get out of a contract with a large distributor.
SB596 — Defined mead as a beer for tax purposes.
HB1010 — Updates state beer laws by increasing taproom sales, production capabilities, self-distribution limits and hours of operation. Known as the Brewery Modernization Act, the law is aimed to create jobs and increase economic impact.
HB1080 — No restrictive franchise law provisions for brewers that produce 20,000 barrels a year or less.
HB1301 — Sales tax will be collected on Maryland buyers from online sellers, helping small businesses compete with online retailers.
HB4111 — Raises minimum wage by 75 cents a year until it reaches $15 in 2023.
HB4959 — Gives state Liquor Control Commission the power to seize beer, wine, mixed spirit and mixed wine drinks, in order to inspect for compliance with the state’s extraordinarily detailed and complex “liquor control” regulatory and license regime. Bill also repeals a one-year residency requirement imposed on applicants for a liquor wholesaler license, after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a similar Tennessee law as a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s commerce clause.
HB4961 — Prohibit licensed liquor manufacturers from requiring licensed wholesalers to give the manufacturer records related to the distribution of different brands, employee compensation or business operations that are not directly related to the distribution of the maker’s brands.
SB0320 — Eliminates mandate that businesses with a liquor license must post a regulatory compliance bond with the state.
HF1733 — Updates the state’s omnibus agriculture policy law, including: create a custom-exempt food handlers license for those handling products not for sale; extend the state’s Organic Advisory Task Force by five years; allow the agriculture department to waive farm milk storage limits is the case of hardship, emergency, or natural disaster, and modify milk/dairy labelling requirements; modify labelling for cheese made with unpasteurized milk; expand the agriculture department’s power to restrict food movement after an emergency declaration; modify eligibility and educational requirements for beginning farmer loans and tax credits.
SB2922 — Prohibits labeling non-meat products as meat, like animal cultures, plants and insects.
HB84 — Changes tax on wine to 27 cents per liter, and a tax on hard cider at 3.7 cents per liter.
SB358 — Raises alcohol license fee for resorts from $20,000 to $100,000 each.
LR13 — Establish and enforce definitions for plant-based milk and dairy. Proper product labeling would be enforced for milk and dairy food products that are “truthful, not misleading, and sufficient to different non-dairy derived beverages and food products.”
SB345 — Authorizing pubs and certain wineries to transfer certain malt beverages and wine in bulk to an estate distillery; authorizing a wholesale dealer of liquor to make such a transfer; authorizing an estate distillery to receive malt beverages and wine in bulk for the purpose of distillation and blending; revising when certain spirits that are received or transferred in bulk are subject to taxation.
HB598 — Establish a commission to study beer, wine, and liquor tourism in New Hampshire. The commission will specifically develop a plan for tourism, including establishing tourist liquor trails with signage along the highway, suggest changes to liquor laws that would enhance tourist experiences at state wineries, breweries and liquor manufacturers and suggest how to allow a “farm to table” dinner featuring New Hampshire produced food items and local alcoholic beverages.
HB642 — Defining ciders with alcohol content greater than 6% (but no more than 12%) as specialty beers.
A15 — Raises the state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024, raising in $1 increments every year.
SB1057 — Establishes a loan program for capital expenses for vineyards and wineries in New Jersey.
SB149 — Change name of Alcohol and Gaming commission to Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
SB413 –Allows breweries to: sell beer at 11 a.m. on Sundays; have private celebration permits for events like weddings and graduation parties; no minimum standards (50 barrels a year or 50 percent of all sales coming from beer brewed on site) for businesses to hold a small brewer license; eliminate excise tax, with breweries paying $.08 per gallon on the first 30,000 barrels produced.


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Listening device for the hearing impaired
Digital Vision | Getty Images
Millions of Americans will be able to buy hearing aids without a prescription later this fall, under a long-awaited rule finalized on Tuesday.
The Food and Drug Administration said the new regulations cut red tape by creating a new class of hearing aids that don’t require medical exams, prescriptions and other specialist evaluations. Instead, the devices will be sold online or over the counter at pharmacies and other retail stores.
The devices are intended for adults with mild to moderate hearing problems. The FDA estimates that nearly 30 million adults could potentially benefit from using hearing aids, but only about one-fifth of people with hearing problems currently use them. The FDA first proposed the rule last October. The new rule will come into effect in mid-October.
Biden administration officials pointed to the potential cost savings.
“Today’s action by the FDA represents an important step in making hearing aids more cost-effective and more accessible,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.
The move follows years of pressure from medical experts and consumer advocates to make the devices cheaper and easier to obtain.
Cost is a big hurdle now. Between the device itself and the fitting services, Americans can pay over $5,000 to get a hearing aid. Insurance coverage is very limited and Medicare does not pay for hearing aids, only diagnostic tests.
The new over-the-counter status will not apply to devices for more severe hearing loss, which will remain prescription-only.
For years, consumer electronics companies have produced cheap “personal sound amplification” devices, but US regulations prohibit their marketing as hearing aids and they are not subject to scrutiny. from the FDA. The new rule clarifies that these devices are not alternatives to FDA-approved hearing aids. Companies that market them improperly could face penalties, such as fines or product seizures.
The FDA said it changed several parts of its original proposal in response to public comments, including clarifying the federal rule’s impact on state hearing aid regulations.
Once the federal rule takes effect, mainstream manufacturers should start selling cheaper, direct-to-consumer models. Eventually, advocates predict the hearing aid market will resemble eye care, where consumers can choose between drugstore reading glasses or prescription bifocals.
Tuesday’s announcement follows prompting from medical committees and Congress, which in 2017 asked the agency to introduce a plan for over-the-counter hearing aids.


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What do you think of them apples?
Remember the 10,000-hp Dodge Charger? Well, Chevy has just released its own muscle car come rocketship in the form of this 10,000-hp NHRA funny car. So what is a five-digit horsepower car capable of? According to the spec sheet, it will blast from zero to 330 mph in just four seconds. (Take a deep breath). With a body based on the sixth-gen Camaro SS, the funny car comes with a massive front splitter and rear wing, which will presumably help 16-time NHRA champion John Force stay rooted to the tarmac.
Talking of his new ride, Force said: "I started my career in a Chevrolet and I couldn't be more excited to put this new Camaro SS Funny Car on the track. With all the assistance from Chevrolet, it not only looks great, it's designed to perform better than anything we've had before, with a shape that should help us get down the track quicker and with greater stability." In case of engine failure, the Camaro funny car comes with a couple of blow-out panels that, when activated, will relieve underbody pressure and help keep the body attached to the chassis. Which is useful when travelling faster than a speeding bullet.
If you're wondering what the point of this car is, aside from being AWESOME, Force says: "Racing improves the breed and that's why Chevrolet races," said Chevy US vice president, Jim Campbell. "The wins we record on the track help us design better cars customers will buy in the showroom." Win on Sunday, sell on Monday. Isn't that what they say?


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Govt mulls FAME-like scheme for hydrogen-powered systems: Niti Aayog member
PTI, Nov 27, 2020, 6:20 PM IST
New Delhi: The government is mulling a proposal to bring a FAME-like scheme for hydrogen-powered systems, to push the hydrogen economy in a big way, Niti Aayog member VK Saraswat said on Friday.
Addressing a virtual event organised by industry body FICCI, Saraswat said the government is planning to form an overarching committee for steering the hydrogen economy in its totality.
“Can we bring schemes like FAME, which has been done in the case of battery vehicles, in the case of hydrogen-powered systems or fuel cell-powered systems, can we bring in the same kind of GST infrastructure, all these thoughts are going on,” he said.
The government in April 2015 launched the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme.
The main objective of the scheme is to encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by way of offering an upfront incentive on the purchase of electric vehicles and also by way of establishing necessary charging infrastructure for EVs.
Saraswat said that already, there is a top-down approach as far as the hydrogen economy is concerned, right from the office of the Prime Minister and the Niti Aayog.
“There has been a major push for bringing all the stakeholders together and come up with an overarching committee which will steer the process of the hydrogen economy development in the country,” he said.
Saraswat said this process is strongly on and he had a couple of meetings, including with industry partners like Mahindra and Mahindra.
The Niti Aayog member said research in the production of hydrogen needs investments and also needs the participation of industry.
“Hydrogen will be key part of India’s energy mix as prices of hydrogen will come down in 2-3 years,” he said.
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