text:
Is vaping safer than smoking? Are there hidden health risks? As vaping has gone mainstream, many parents still have questions. Here are answers.
A decade ago, someone puffing a strange-looking pen, trailed by a plume of odorless “smoke,” might have raised some eyebrows. Today, most people wouldn’t look twice. With 1 in 12 Americans saying they vape at least once a week, electronic cigarettes have squarely entered the mainstream. And with little regulation to suggest otherwise, many see vaping as a safer alternative to smoking.
But in light of an epidemic that has caused 47 deaths to date and sickened more than 2,000 people nationwide, that perception is changing, prompting a second look from public health officials. As new dangers come to light, the vape industry has also come under scrutiny for targeting kids and teens with marketing that encourages addiction from a young age.
With so many new questions about vaping, separating fact from misinformation can be a challenge. If you’re the parent of a teen facing these new pressures, here’s what you need to know about the rise of vaping, the immediate and long-term health risks, and the potential for addiction.
What Exactly is Vaping?
Introduced in the late 2000s as a smoke-free alternative to cigarettes, vaping refers to the act of inhaling aerosolized liquid (liquid that has been turned into a gas), which users breathe from an electronic device called a pen. Original pens were designed to look like traditional cigarettes, but today’s “e-cigs” often look more like slender pipes with a mouthpiece.
Users insert a flavored cartridge, sometimes called a pod, then draw the vapor into their lungs for a nicotine hit two to five times that of a regular cigarette, depending on the brand. Rather than nicotine, some pods contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
Have questions about vaping?
Call us at 855-430-9426 to speak with a recovery specialist.
Why Is Vaping So Popular?
Vaping has risen in popularity for a number of reasons. Their small size, compact design and minimal plume make them more discreet than smoking, which can make a vaping habit more difficult for parents to recognize. Vaping also eliminates tell-tale physical signs, like yellow fingers and teeth, or the lingering “ashtray” smell that seems to follow smokers.
Notably, vaping has also become popular because of a false perception that isn’t all that harmful. When e-cigarettes first hit the market, many public health organizations — including the American Heart Association and the Cleveland Clinic — touted them as an opportunity to help smokers quit. Former surgeon general Richard Caroma even joined the board of an e-cigarette company. This early tolerance among government officials and health organizations kept the spotlight off vaping’s own health risks for nearly a decade, but those risks are now coming into focus.
Is Vaping Really Harmful?
It turns out, what you don’t know can hurt you. Fewer carcinogens might lead to less lung irritation or offensive odors, but the seemingly milder effects of vaping have only served to mask the underlying health risks. Vape advocates, for example, have long pointed to the “water vapor” released from e-cigarettes and vape pens as harmless. The truth is, very little of the vapor released is water. When heated, solvents in the e-juice of vape pods release chemicals that more closely resemble cigarette smoke, introducing a health risk to bystanders.
Moreover, nicotine and THC are harmful no matter how they’re ingested. Whether smoked or vaped, nicotine can cause an increased risk of blood clots, atherosclerosis, peptic ulcers, changes in heart rhythm, and lung spasms. THC can lead to lung irritation, increased heart rate, impaired memory and anxiety.
Vaping products themselves pose other risks. Defective batteries have exploded during use, leading to severe burns. Liquid nicotine poisoning, meanwhile, prompts thousands of calls to poison control centers every year. And, of course, recent news has shown that vaping can also lead to serious illness.
What’s Behind the Recent Vaping Epidemic?
In early 2019, cases began to appear of a life-threatening lung illness tied to vaping. Victims reported difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and fatigue, among other symptoms. Now identified as EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product associated lung injury), the illness has led to dozens of deaths. Although most patients recovered, many required serious medical attention.
After a months-long scramble, researchers traced a majority of cases to vaping liquids containing THC and a thickening agent known as vitamin E acetate. In response, FDA and the Center for Disease Control have issued warnings against using non-nicotine vape products or any products bought illicitly. But these measures may not be enough without further research.
In one notable example, reported by NBC, doctors traced EVALI symptoms to toxic metals leached from the e-cigarette coil. The vape pen in this case contained nicotine, not THC. With roughly 20% of cases not involving THC, more research remains before doctors will know how to definitively prevent EVALI.
The Risk for Teens
Although EVALI has shown the potential for serious, immediate health problems related to vaping, the most alarming risks are more subtle — especially as they relate to kids and teens.
Some public health officials fear that vaping has revitalized interest in smoking, which until now has been on a steady decline. Unfortunately, new research shows that vaping may reverse this course. A study of roughly 2,000 teens in California showed that high schoolers who vape are actually more likely to start smoking cigarettes — and unlikely to stop once they start. Rather than swapping cigarettes for vape pens, a growing number of teens are using both.
The marketing tactics of vape companies haven’t helped. Led by market leader Juul, which sells about 70% of all vape products, vape products are targeting kids as young as 13 with flavors like Crème Brulee, Cotton Candy, Bazooka, Mint Cucumber, Joe Bubble Gum and Zombie Blood.
If the plan is to hook young users in grade school, it’s working. The FDA reports that 2 million middle school- and high school-aged students used e-cigarettes in 2018, including nearly 1 in 10 eighth graders. A survey by the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that more than 20% of high school seniors had vaped in the last 30 days.
Have questions about addiction?
Call us at 855-430-9426 to speak with a recovery specialist.
A Gateway to Harmful Drugs
Vaping has also made THC more accessible to young users, increasing their likelihood for a lifetime of addiction. These risks are harmful enough, but the dangers don’t end there for teens.
Manufacturers of even more dangerous drugs, such as K2/Spice (synthetic marijuana) and bath salts, have mimicked the kid-friendly marketing of vaping brands by using similar colors, packaging and flavors. Despite regulators’ best efforts to keep synthetic drugs off store shelves, they continue to appear. Often, they show up in the same smoke shops and drug stores as vaping accessories. By desensitizing teens to the effects of mood-altering substances, vaping can indeed act as a gateway to other, more devastating drugs.
If you’re a parent of a teen who may be susceptible to marketing from vape or synthetic drug companies, these resources can help you share the dangers with your child:
Surgeon General Tip Sheet for Parents
D.A.R.E. Vaping Resource for Parents
Getting Help for Addiction
If vaping has led to drug addiction for you or a loved one, know that there is help. Sprout Health Group specializes in addictions treatment through a unique, evidence-based, treatment program that leads to lifelong recovery. You’ll find personalized treatment based on your specific needs, with guidance to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Sprout Health Group is dedicated to helping clients and their families rebuild their lives, their health, and their mindfulness. Call the number below to learn about treatment options for your unique struggles, or those of a loved one.
More Resources for Parents
The Surprising Truth About Study Drugs
5 Intervention Mistakes to Avoid
8 Benefits of a Residential Addiction Treatment CenterHave questions about addiction?
Chat with one of our recovery specialists now.
Written By: Susan Kime, MA, PCP, NCC
Susan Kime, MA, PCP, NCC, is a certified counselor who has worked directly in the fields of addiction recovery and mental health. A professional health & wellness writer, she has written for myriad publications about the intersection of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.


text:
Ace Cafe London are delighted to be partnering with Blaze Wear, a brand specialising in innovative high quality heated clothing. Inspired by the adventures and culture of motorcycling, Blaze Wear are about to launch a new range of heated clothing developed specifically for riders.
The lucky winner of the ‘ Best Ridden Cafe Racer’ Award , to be judged on Saturday 8th September at 2.30pm , will be presented with a Blaze Wear Heated Moto Vest (rrp £139.99).
The exciting new range will be online early next month, and will be available to purchase at Ace Cafe’s Reunion Weekend in London and Brighton, from 7-9th September.
For more information, check out the Blaze Wear Blog

domain: news


text:
This isn’t the first time the beauty mogul and new mom has linked up with a sibling for a special-edition Kylie Cosmetics launch. Back in Winter 2016, the reality star tapped Khloe Kardashian for a lipstick range dubbed the “Koko Kollection.” The popular release was followed by another lip collection created in collaboration with Kim Kardashian, which has since become a product in KKW Beauty‘s regular offering.
Arriving in time for the summer season, the Kourt x Kylie makeup collection will feature three mini eyeshadow palettes made up of matte and shimmery shades, as well as three of Kourtney’s go-to lip colors: the orangey “Rad,” the brick red “Minnie” and the everyday nude “French Kiss.” Take your first look at the collection by checking out the campaign images below.
Mark your calendars as the Kourt x Kylie makeup range will be releasing online at Kylie Cosmetics’ web store come April 24.
While you are here, check out Kim Kardashian’s latest cream eyeshadow sticks, which are due to launch on April 23.


text:
Turkey's Antalya top tourism destination for Germans
Turkey's holiday resort Antalya has become the most popular tourism destination for Germans, according to market researcher GfK.
Summer bookings made earlier this year showed Antalya has become the number one choice of German tourists, followed by the Spanish island of Mallorca and the Greek island of Crete, Nuremberg-based GfK said in a new report released ahead of next week's Berlin tourism fair.
Sales revenues from Turkey bookings have ballooned 58 percent, showing growing demand among German holidaymakers for beach holidays on Turkey's Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
"Turkey is celebrating the comeback of the year," the report said, adding that it expects strong demand to continue in the coming weeks.
Turkey aims to attract more than 5.5 million German tourists this year.


text:
Intel has announced it will be releasing its first Meltdown and Spectre-proof CPUs later this year, presumably with the sound of Pink Floyd’s ‘Money’ bassline thrumming in its ears. Security will be the big priority for Intel’s next generation of processors, with CEO Brian Krzanich admitting software patches aren’t going to be enough to ensure total Meltdown and Spectre protection.
It currently faces multiple class action lawsuits and “adverse publicity” which it admits could “adversely impact our results of operations, customer relationships, and reputation.” Despite the security flaws, Intel remains understandably bullish about its prospects.
“We’re working to incorporate silicon-based changes to future products that will directly address the Spectre and meltdown threats in hardware,” said Krzanich during an investors earnings call. “And those products will begin appearing later this year.”
After the Meltdown and Spectre CPU security flaw controversy saw the spotlight turned on Intel, Team Blue may actually end up smelling of roses from this one, at least from a financial point of view. While the security flaw is unfortunate, Intel is clearly looking to use this as a springboard to shift security-focused processors throughout 2018. Far from Meltdown being a disaster, it might actually end up boosting Intel’s sales.
It all means that things are looking up for Intel right now. The FY2017 Q4 financial results were also revealed as part of the earnings call, with stronger than expected growth and record Q4 revenue of $17.1 billion causing Intel’s share value to rally to its highest price in nearly 20 years. Meltdown? What Meltdown?
“2017 was a record year for Intel with record fourth-quarter results driven by strong growth of our data-centric businesses,” said Krzanich. “The strategic investments we've made in areas like memory, programmable solutions, communications and autonomous driving are starting to pay off and expand Intel's growth opportunity.”
The big question now is will Meltdown and Spectre have an impact going forward. The Q4 results don’t take into account any of the security controversies, so the actual impact of sales won’t be known until the next quarter’s results. I suspect Intel will have taken a tiny hit this past month but that’s about all. Factor in the potential for selling even more Spectre-proof processors later in the year and you can see Intel coming out on top in this scenario.


text:
Volvo S60 Cross Country launched in India at Rs 38.9 lakh
Volvo has launched the S60 Cross Country in India at Rs 38.9 lakh, ex-Mumbai. The Volvo S60 Cross Country is a unique offering from the Swedish car maker as it is the first sedan in India to get rugged styling. Volvo had earlier showcased the S60 Cross Country at the 2015 Detroit Motor Show. Also, it is the company's first launch in this year. We have already driven the Volvo S60 Cross Country and you can read our road test report here.
Based on the S60 sedan, the S60 Cross Country essentially features a rough road package with an increased ground clearance of 201mm. The rugged sedan gets new alloy wheels and higher profile tyres. Apart from these changes, it features subtle changes that differentiate it from the regular S60 sedan. There is a mix of matte claddings and aluminum finished bash plates and rocker panel. We believe that the crossover updates might appeal to the Indian audiences looking for a more practical sedan.
The Volvo S60 Cross Country gets an all-wheel drive powertrain. It is powered by a 2.4l five-cylinder diesel motor that makes 190PS and 420Nm. Volvo offers features such as DSTC, traction control and stability control as standard on the S60 Cross Country. Importantly, the Volvo S60 Cross Country comes with the City Safety feature that has laser assisted automatic braking. It works at speeds of upto 50kmph.
"Nothing could be more appropriate for India than a Cross Country sedan, yes the wait is finally over. Our customers want their car to glide through the rough roads but had to compromise on the rear seat comfort of a sedan. Our latest launch, S60 Cross Country addresses both these in a unique blend of sporty ruggedness. We have included all the capability driven features standard offering in a unique 'all weather, all road' experience", said Tom von Bonsdorff, managing director, Volvo India.
More from OVERDRIVE on the new Volvo S60 Cross Country
- First Ola electric car to be a large sedan
- 2022 Hyundai Venue facelift: Prices and variants explained
- Upcoming Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza to be available in 4 variants and 9 colour options
- 2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG review, road test - the best CNG car you can buy?
- Here's how the air conditioning system in an electric car works


text:
Updated: 3 hours 45 min ago
WIRED photographer Amy Lombard captures the glory, chaos, and optimism of CES 2019.
Expect to see more systems like Guardian's Optical Cabin Control as cars start to drive themselves—and need to watch their masters.
Despite a recent strategy change, the app-based shuttle service couldn't make its business work.
An Alphabet shareholder takes aim at exit payments to executives who had been accused of harassment, including a $90 million package for Andy Rubin.
Sex robots and VR porn are fine, but a robotic vibrator that delivers a blended orgasm to women is immoral and profane? Oh the hypocrisy.
Researchers built a tool that can predict where you live and work, as well as other sensitive information, just by using geotagged tweets.
Also: The new Dune movie has found its villain, and Lady Gaga wants her R. Kelly collaboration to step off of streaming services.
This year’s CES, one of the biggest consumer tech showcases in the world, continues Thursday. Join us for live updates from the show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The eVTOL aircraft may look strange, but it's a clever machine built for the coming age of air taxis.
What looks like magic is actually the electrostatic force in action, suspending objects in air by manipulating their electrons.
When cities hand off infrastructure projects to private companies, they often end up screwed. Now, they're learning.
Meet the quantified kid: More gadgets let you track data from before birth and into their teens. But you it probably won’t make you a better parent.
WIRED's picks for the stand-out products from this year's CES consumer electronics fest.
Spooked by massive wildfires, a California city launches a crowdfunding campaign to hire goats to clear brush at the edges of town.
Bob Wells, a 63-year-old YouTube personality, has been living the #vanlife since 1995. He’s managed to make a living—and inspire a generation.
Months after Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon promised to stop selling user location data, the practice continues.
Research shows that direct appeals from the president don't sway people, and neither do fact-checks from the media. But they do keep us talking.
This year’s CES, one of the biggest consumer tech showcases in the world, continues Wednesday. Join us for live updates from the show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Opinion: As Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube crack down on extremist propaganda, ISIS recruiters are exploiting lesser-known messenger apps.
Just because it's winter doesn't mean there's not plenty of new stuff on the way. Gather 'round the glowing magic box.


text:
When a celebrity outfit enters the fashion zeitgeist, it lives on forever in the trend cycle. Take Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s Canadian tuxedo moment or Jennifer Lopez’s green Versace dress. Another addition to this list is Princess Diana’s “revenge dress.” (You know the one.) Even after two decades, her off-the-shoulder look from Greek fashion designer Christina Stambolian conjures up strong feelings and memories amongst fans. (Remember how the internet freaked out when actor Elizabeth Debecki recreated this exact outfit while filming Season 5 of The Crown?)
Here’s a little royal history for those unfamiliar with the look. Back in June 1994, Princess Di wore the form-fitting dress to a gala the very same night Prince Charles admitted to having an affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Instead of shying away from this uncomfortable truth, the princess stepped out in a jaw-dropping glamorous dress — and delivered the powerful message that she wasn’t about to hide in shame. (According to the royal’s former stylist, Anna Harvey, Princess Di said she wanted to look “like a million dollars” that night — and, she did.)
Since then, the idea of a revenge dress — a glam and sexy look one wears post heartbreak — has been attributed to Princess Diana. The topic once again resurfaced earlier this year when Julia Fox gave her own spin on the trend. On Feb. 14, 2022 Fox and Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) publicly announced their split after a whirlwind romance. That very same day, which also happened to be Valentine’s Day, Fox opened the LaQuan Smith Fall/Winter 2022 runway show in a cutout black dress. This moment set the internet aflame once more, with many users calling her designer number a “revenge dress.”
When images of their outfits are compared to side by side, you can see the similarities between the two but also some differences. Unlike Princess Di’s LBD, Fox’s dress tapped into the times — namely the cutout fashion trend that’s dominating 2022. Her revenge dress featured three giant keyholes in the middle of the chest area and it flowed down to the runway stage. Her look spoke to the sexy dressing theme for the season and it appropriately tapped into that power woman energy.
As you can tell, there are countless variations to what makes up a “revenge dress.” For those who choose to look at the more optimistic side of a failed relationship, you don’t need to think of the piece as one worn only out of pure vengeance. The revenge dress, surprisingly, makes for a great cocktail or wedding guest look, too. For those obsessed with Princess Di’s original number though, Khaite paid homage to the late royal with a nearly identical dress, which you can shop below. (The brand even named it Spence, which alludes to Diana’s maiden name.) For those interested in a more sultry take, opt for designs by the likes of Nensi Dojaka or LaQuan Smith. All the vengeful (kidding!) LBDs, ahead, will help you exude confidence and strength.
We only include products that have been independently selected by TZR’s editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.


text:
Persado, a startup that says it can automatically create and test different marketing emails and other promotional material, is announcing that it has raised $21 million in Series B funding.
Co-founder and CEO Alex Vratskides told me that the automated approach allows marketers to try out many more versions of a message than they’d get with regular A/B testing (where human copywriters still generate the messages themselves). And since the technology has “no preconceived notion” of what the right approach is, it will create variants that a human might never even think of.
At the same time, Vratskides insisted that the product is smart enough that you won’t just end up robotic or downright unintelligible messages.
“We take the randomness of creativity out of this equation,” he said. “Our software platform generates the most persuasive language for communications — in this way, we eliminate the guesswork of copywriting.”
The company describes its approach as “persuasion automation,” in part because, as Persado’s David Atlas put it, the technology could eventually expand beyond ads and marketing to “anywhere someone is sending structured short messages designed to persuade,” such as mobile health. One limitation, though, is that it needs the scale of a consumer audience — so Persado can’t actually use its technology in its own (business-to-business focused) marketing.
Persado spun out of mobile marketing company Upstream and previously raised $15 million. The new funding was led by StarVest Partners, with participation from Citi Ventures, American Express Ventures, and previous backer Bain Capital Partners. (Citi and American Express are Persado customers.)


text:
By Sean McQuillan
Intel and Micron have introduced new NAND flash storage technology that doubles the capacity of their current flash drives. The new technology allows for storing a terabit of data in a package the size of your fingertip. In addition to the size upgrade, and most assuredly a price drop, their transfer speeds can now reach 333 megatransfers per second.
While this sort of advance in technology is not unexpected, it is certainly more spurred by the growing field of digital media. Just in time for the holidays? Sadly no, as samples of the 128Gb device won’t be available until January, closely followed by mass production in the first half of 2012. Giving Gift Cards, with an insightful note, might be an excellent way to get some excellent tech in the hands of your friends and families this season.


text:
Skincare firm Kaya Ltd said on Friday it has agreed to acquire a 75% stake in two dermatology centres based in Dubai and Sharjah to expand its presence in the United Arab Emirates.
âThis acquisition will strengthen the company's network of clinics in the UAE region and add a new set of customers to our existing base in the region,â Kaya said in a statement to the stock exchanges. This takes its total network of clinics in the Middle East to 23, it added.
The agreement is subject to statutory approvals and will take about four months to come into effect, Kaya said.
The Minal Medical Centre, Dubai, and Minal Specialized Clinic Dermatology, Sharjah, provide skincare, body and hair services, the statement said. The two entities reported revenue of AED11.17 million (about Rs 20 crore), as per the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015, it added.
The Minal Medical Centre was started by Minal Patwardhan in 1997 and its client base is spread across India, Pakistan, Oman and Saudi Arabia, according to its website.
Kaya, part of Indian consumer goods group Marico, had entered the Middle East in 2004 with its first clinic in Dubai. It now operates clinics across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman.
The Middle East region accounted for 52% of its net revenue of Rs 98 crore in the April-June period of this fiscal year, according to a statement available on the stock exchanges.
In India, it operates more than 100 skin clinics and over 100 Kaya Skin Bars across 27 cities. Kaya skincare solutions include services in the areas of acne/acne-scar reduction, pigmentation, anti-aging, hair reduction as well as regular beauty enhancement and maintenance services.
Kaya was earlier part of consumer products maker Marico. In 2013, Marico decided to restructure its businesses into two entities by splicing the beauty and wellness business under a separate listed firm Marico Kaya Enterprises Ltd (MaKE) through a vertical demerger. Following this, Kaya was listed in July 2014.
Shares of Kaya on Friday ended at Rs 757.90, up 6.6% on the BSE in a weak Mumbai market.
Like this report? Sign up for our daily newsletter to get our top reports.


text:
Plastic Logic’s spectacular rebirth
A new Cambridge company has been forged out of the innovation crucible of Plastic Logic with a suite of killer technologies tipped to disrupt multi-billion-dollar markets such as wearables and the Internet of Things.
In what Cambridge entrepreneur Hermann Hauser calls “a spectacular rebirth,” Plastic Logic CEO Indro Mukerjee (pictured above) has engineered FlexEnable Ltd – a stand-alone business firmly eyeing truly flexible electronics products and services for wearables and a broad range of industrial markets – that launches this week. Mukerjee will be chairman of the new board which is being created.
As the original Plastic Logic was a $100 million spin-out from Cavendish Laboratory 14 years ago, it would be wrong to call FlexEnable a startup but Mukerjee says the new venture has “start-up style” and has already been working with customers and partners.
He said FlexEnable had been built on its predecessor’s “full technology and patent portfolio and the talent of the staff” at its innovation hothouse in Cambridge.
Plastic Logic’s manufacturing entity in Dresden, Germany, which manufactures and sells a range of flexible, electrophoretic displays (EPD), will now be called Plastic Logic Germany, leaving FlexEnable as an independent UK company.
Business Weekly understands that Plastic Logic’s Russian investor, RUSNANO, is retaining an interest in both ventures. We also understand that Mukerjee has raised further significant amounts while in stealth – and that a fresh investor call for the new venture is set to get underway with RUSNANO’s blessing.
Mukerjee revealed that over the past two years, FlexEnable had developed and broadened “one of the most disruptive technologies of the new millennium, applying it to innovations including wearables and ‘internet of things’ (IoT) devices.”
The technology suite includes three world-firsts according to Mukerjee. FlexEnable has also cracked the holy grail of OLED technology – organic light-emitting devices.
He says FlexEnable has devised a range of new products, based on a stable and proven organic transistor technology platform, to facilitate “compelling flexible electronics-based products and assist in the transfer of concepts to volume manufacture.”
Customers include system builders, device makers, electronic-product companies and materials vendors. Customers and strategic partners can now tap into a technology suite building on over a decade of deep IP. Mukerjee says the technology is low-cost and environmentally friendly and, therefore, key to integrated, flexible electronics over both large and small surfaces.
He added: “The transistor technology, proven in a broad range of flexible display types from AMOLED to plastic LCD and flexible EPD and in flexible sensors, has been the enabling technology in a stream of breakthroughs.
“These include an all-plastic flexible AMOLED display; an image sensor on plastic; a graphene-based flexible display (all three world-firsts. The technology’s maturity and stability has been demonstrated through its successful industrialisation in a purpose-built factory for the manufacture of flexible EPDs.
“Our proprietary technology has many valuable applications for the innovations emerging today. Much heralded wearables, for example, will only truly become wearable when the devices can conform to the human body. FlexEnable’s bendable and lightweight technology makes this possible.
“For IoT devices, FlexEnable’s extremely thin, rugged and flexible electronics systems allow sensors to be placed where they are needed (as opposed to the limits set by traditional electronics), enabling an advanced connectivity of devices, systems, and services.”
FlexEnable is already generating revenues from licensing its technology and will now build the business through further licensing agreements, the creation of new products enabled by its IP and the fabless manufacture of products.
Mukerjee said the company has attracted interest from a range of strategic investors, some of whom are trialling the company’s technology in their products. Investment will be used to accelerate further technology development for a faster and deeper penetration of plastic electronics-enabled products in the market.
Hermann Hauser believes Mukerjee has engineered a potential world-beater in new age technology arenas. An investor in Plastic Logic since Day One, Dr Hauser said: “What Indro has done is absolutely brilliant. He is one of the best CEOs I have ever worked with.
“When I first invested there was a single transistor in Cavendish Lab that sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t. It has taken time to find the real value in the business but I believe Indro has now achieved that. The company enters the advanced wearables and IoT markets as a mature player and in a position of great strength.
“It brings us a long way from e-readers but every step the company has taken under Indro represents progress; none more so than conquering OLED. The main market is not ereaders even though we almost pulled off a spectacular success there.
“Plastic Logic started with $100m and the technology looked like an absolute world beater. We were actualy there with the ereader before many others with a successful launch in Las Vegas but the factory was not ready to get to the volume we needed and we ended up missing the opportunity. But Plastic Logic should not be criticised for what was very nearly a spectacular success.
“I applaud Indro’s focus – it is absolutely right not to do ereaders. It is absolutely sensational the way this man has turned the company around and the opportunity he has created by launching FlexEnable. He has changed the strategy, changed the technology – the business had none of these technologies before Indro’s arrival. He had to handle shareholders here, shareholders in Silicon Valley and shareholders in Russia and juggle so many balls in the air. And he has done it all.”
FlexEnable’s technology at a glance
Not a million miles alien to the ARM model, FlexEnable offers partnerships which provide the ability to build or upgrade fabs to make flexible electronics from feasibility stage, through process design, implementation and upgrades. Users are able to create and source truly flexible electronics from design and prototyping, through to manufacturing (short run and volume). The partnerships also offer capability in terms of assessing products utilising new materials – basically enabling partners to assess and qualify new materials for flexible electronics.
FlexEnable technology allows higher security, higher functionality smart cards without compromising form factor or flexibility. It enables smart cards to include active matrix display, fingerprint sensors and logic on a single sheet of plastic. Programmable logic allows mass customisation and individual security features.
Imagine a smartphone with a wraparound display that opens out into a tablet – doubling the size of the device. FlexEnable’s ‘bend-round-corners’ flexible displays can be wrapped, rolled or folded in half to open up gamechanging levels of utility for mobile devices. The company offers toolkits and reference designs for OLED, LCD and EPD.
FlexEnable facilitates new paradigms in technology interaction with displays, sensors and smart systems that seamlessly integrate into what you wear. The company’s flexible displays and sensors follow the contours of your body and flex with your motion in a way that is not possible with conventional rigid electronics.
Surface displays and sensors
Users can seamlessly integrate displays and sensors into complex surfaces to achieve the ultimate combination of form and function. FlexEnable’s surface displays and sensors will enable the next significant step in car and aircraft interior design and can be formed into complex curves and irregular shapes so that surfaces anywhere can become intelligent and interactive
Medical and industrial imaging
Users can take imaging capability to the person or the in-situ object by replacing glass-based sensors with thin, light and unbreakable flexible sensor panels. FlexEnable’s flexible X-ray sensors can conform to the body or the object, to improve comfort and quality. They are easily transportable and rugged, for use in harsh in-situ environments.


text:
Honda Atlas stated in the notification, “as per government notification, the amount of partial payment from the customer should not exceed 20% of the retail price.”
Honda City Booking Price
Honda City booking prices have been reduced by the company. Previously, the City variants were priced at Rs. 1 million and Rs. 1.2 million. And the new rates are as follows:
- Honda City MT 1.2 – 550,000 rupees
- Honda City CVT 1.2 costs Rs. 600,000 on the road.
- Honda City 1.5 CVT costs Rs. 600,000
- The Honda City Aspire 1.5 MT costs Rs. 650,000.
- Honda City Aspire 1.5 CVT costs Rs. 700,000
Honda Civic Reservation Costs
The previous booking price for all Honda Civic variants was Rs. 1.2 million; however, the first two variants have been reduced. And the new rates are as follows:
- Honda Civic 1.5 L Turbo M-CVT – 1,100,000 Rs.
- Honda Civic Oriel 1.5 L Turbo M-CVT – 1,100,000 Rs.
- Honda Civic RS 1.5L Turbo LL-CVT – 1,200,000 rupees
It means you can reserve the new Civic at a lower price, which is a positive step by the company.
Honda BR-V Reservation Rate
Finally, the booking price for this crossover is as follows: Honda BR-V 1.5 CVT – Rs. 700,000.
So, if you want to reserve a Honda car, now is the time. Get your favorite car at a Honda dealership near you.
Meanwhile, the Honda Civic 2022 price has been announced and reservations have begun. According to sources, the car will be released by the end of this month.
The Civic, a favorite of many Pakistani consumers, is expected to be a success. Another reason for its potential success is that the vehicle has won the North American region’s best car award.
So, here’s hoping for the best for the Honda Civic and its debut.


text:
Cobblestone Crafts listed after four decades for $ 679,000
HOLLAND TWP. – A long-standing craft staple in Holland has been put up for sale.
Cobblestone Crafts and Hobbies, 367 E. Lakewood Blvd. in the canton of Holland, is looking for a new owner. The business is listed at $ 679,000, including furniture, fixtures and equipment, but not including the building or current inventory.
According to owner Robert Harvey, 63, business has been booming since the pandemic; but it’s time to retire. He has worked in the store, to some extent, since 1975.
“I was 14,” he said. âThe store was located where Hops (at 84 East) is downtown. It was a huge building. They had apartments upstairs and they needed someone to clean the hallways. Then a day someone didn’t show up for work and they asked if i could work in the store i said i would give it a go.
Five years later, Harvey bought the business. About a decade later, the store moved from Eighth Street and moved to 210 College Ave. It wasn’t until 2010 that Harvey decided it was time to move out of downtown.
Subscribe:Receive 6 months of unlimited digital access for $ 1!
âThey kept raising the rent and we just knew we had to either close or move out,â he said. âIt was the end of the recession, and the banks were looking to lend money. We ended up buying this building – and it’s just the best location. I miss downtown in some ways, but it is 50 times more practical. “
Harvey has seen other craft stores come and go over the years, but Cobblestone has stuck, specializing in RC cars, airplanes and boats. The store also offers games, collectible cards and plastic models.
âThere aren’t that many DIY stores now,â Harvey said. “They either got bigger or disappeared. But the pandemic has been fantastic for our business – the plastic and wood models have bounced back. People have started to revert to basic stuff from the good old days.”
Harvey is willing to stay part-time for a while to help new owners acclimatize – and he’s open to discussing buying the building with the company.
The 7,000 square foot building includes the main storefront, a repair shop, a game room and an area with a large track for radio controlled cars. To learn more, visit tinyurl.com/vjvc7jew.
– Contact journalist Cassandra Lybrink at [email protected] Follow her on Instagram @BizHolland.


text:
Podcast listening is a big deal — that’s the key message from Edison Research as it continues to divulge new aspects of its “Share of Ear” study, released to subscribers in May. (See these new metrics revealed by Edison president Larry Rosin at RAIN Summit Indy.)
In the original Share of Ear study, which sought to quantify how much American adults and teens listen to all audio sources, podcasting was represented as claiming 1.7% of total listening time. That might seem inconsequential in the large picture, but Edison has now dug out the hidden metrics behind that number with a five-minute webinar video called “Why Podcasting Is Bigger Than You Think.”
Tom Webster of Edison narrates the slide presentation, carving into the 1.7% figure. Podcast listening is concentrated in a “daily reach” number which is 5% of Americans, or about 13-million individuals. That’s a fairly substantial number, and it turns out those people are voracious consumers.
Edison removed the 95% of people who never tune into podcasts, and found that podcast consumers spend nearly as much time listening to podcasts (25.9%) as to AM/FM radio (27.5%). The smaller sample size yields a bigger margin of error, Webster warns, but even accounting for that, the intense consumption of podcasts — among those who do listen at all — is remarkable.
Webster calls podcast lovers “super listeners” who soak in more audio during the day than average — nearly two hours more than average.
Here is the video:


text:
The fourth annual Cars at the Capital display is going on now in Washington, D.C.
Get a new BMW every day for one monthly fee
The manual transmission is alive and well in Ram heavy-duty pickups
Ford invites fans to create mag-neigh-ficent Mustang badges
A Batmobile autographed by stars from the 1966 TV show “Batman” is up for sale in Florida.
A new study has identified traffic accident mortality rates by state
Mercedes-Benz will be giving away one its luxury sports cars to the winner of its “Last Fan Standing” contest during the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 4.
Just imagine the reaction of the person who discovered them
Our man hunts down the bold and the beautiful at Detroit 2018, including the sublime Infiniti Q Inspiration
It might be headed to the U.S... eventually


text:
Extraction also causes 80 per cent of biodiversity loss, according to comprehensive UN study
Extractive industries are responsible for half of the world's carbon emissions and more than 80 per cent of biodiversity loss, according to the most comprehensive environmental tally undertaken of mining...
Dutch fast charging company delivered nearly 8GWh of electricity to 42,800 customers in 2019, as financial results were overshadowed by coronavirus concerns
Energy Networks Association and National Grid reveal plans to harness green and flexible energy technologies through latest innovation strategies
Report: Four drinks brands accused of driving upwards of half a million tonnes of plastic waste annually
Tearfund estimates that the open burning of companies’ plastic products in six focus countries spews roughly 4.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere each year.
Transaction includes Solarcentury's partnership with IKEA and is aimed at allowing firm to focus on utility-scale projects


text:
Melania Trump IS the hair flip emoji IRL. The first lady made a rare appearance at the State Department where she opted for a classic trench coat and whipped her hair back and forth on stage in what could be the most major hair flip of all time. WATCH.
Melania Trump, 46, made a rare appearance at the State Department in Washington D.C. on March 29, where she was on hand to tend to her first lady duties as she handed out the International Women of Courage Awards and made a rare speech on the topic of female empowerment, where she opted for a classic yet appropriate spring outfit as she sported a chic white trench coat. It’s ironic to see Melania speak out on behalf of women’s rights since her husband, President Donald Trump, is constantly under fire for his views on the same topic.
She wore the belted jacket cinched-in at the waist, accentuating her svelte frame, and topped off the look with a pair of pointy pumps as she wore her hair down in her signature blowout and sported a smoky eye. Sure, her transitional outerwear was the perfect look for the occasion, but we nearly lost it when we saw her flip her hair — the cameras caught a shot at the perfect time as she brushed her hair back, her lips slightly pursed and her eyes closed. If Tyra Banks is the queen of the smize, than Melania owns the hair flip.
Not only was Melania all smiles, but she literally brushed off her appearance with ease as she posed with the honorees at the event, which honored women who have overcome injustice in their own lives.
What did you think of her major memeable appearance? Did you love her trench coat? Check it out above and let us know.


text:
Virgin Australia has revealed details of how it intends to market itself on international routes and compete with Qantas on routes to the Americas, Europe and Asia, with partner airlines.
Details were outlined in a 24-page submission to the Australian competition watchdog as part of its application for a new codeshare arrangement with United Airlines across the Pacific and beyond. That partnership was announced in mid-December, and had hoped to commence by April 2022.
Subscribe to LATTE’s free eNewsletter to keep up to date with everything in the luxury travel industry.
Virgin Australia is now seeking interim authorisation for its alliance with United to commence 13 May 2022, and for an initial period of five years.
“It is commercially important for the Applicant to commence codeshare services with United Airlines by this time in circumstances where there is likely to be an increase in demand for travel to and from Australia as international travel rules are relaxed and the northern hemisphere’s summer travel season begins,” Virgin Australia said in its application dated 14 April.
The partially redacted submission also indicates Virgin Australia intends to align with other “former and new partners” to expand its reach beyond short-haul routes which it is limited to due to its existing fleet of narrowbody aircraft.
During the pandemic, Virgin Australia ceased all long-haul international flights and ended its lease agreements for its wide-body fleet. It has restarted flights to Nadi, Fiji and is planning to resume Bali, Indonesia flights in mid-June 2022.
In its submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Virgin Australia refers to a new kind of codeshare agreement with “Partner Carriers” which contains pricing provisions that may trigger the prohibition against resale price maintenance.
“The Proposed Conduct will enable Virgin Australia, together with its Partner Carriers, to market a comprehensive network of international flight itineraries to Australian consumers and create stronger incentives to price codeshare fares competitively, in circumstances where Virgin Australia’s ability to offer long-haul international travel has been significantly impaired by the COVID-19 pandemic and circumstances surrounding its administration,” the airline told the ACCC.
The new, prospective and revived partnerships “will provide Virgin Australia with the ability to recommence international services through a virtual network on its own code.”
“Virgin Australia does not at present have the widebody aircraft required to operate substantive long-haul operations. Until it is able to do so, the Proposed Conduct will provide Virgin Australia with the opportunity to offer international services to its customers and maintain its brand presence as a full service international and domestic Australian airline,” VA said.
The ACCC expects to hand down a decision on interim authorisation this month. A draft determination on the proposed conduct is flagged for June.


text:
Somaxon Hits Par With IP Suit Over Silenor Generic
Somaxon and patent owner ProCom One Inc. lodged their complaint against parent Par and subsidiary Par Pharmaceutical Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the prescription sleep aid Silenor, an oral tablet formulation of doxepin, in March.
At issue is U.S. Patent Number 6,211,229, titled "Treatment...
To view the full article, register now.


text:
NEW YORK (AP) — Crane-maker and food service company Manitowoc announced Thursday it will split itself in two, a move encouraged by activist investors.
Manitowoc Co. Inc. said it plans to spin off the food service business, which had $1.6 billion in revenue in 2014 and makes equipment including ice, beverage, refrigeration, food preparation, and cooking for restaurants, convenience stores, hotels and hospitals. It expects to complete the move during the first quarter of 2016.
Manitowoc’s other business makes cranes for the construction industry, and it had $2.3 billion in revenue last year.
The company said the separation will allow each business to pursue its own strategy as market conditions improve.
In 2014 two major shareholders, Relational Investors LLC and Carl Icahn, pushed for the company to split up. According to FactSet, Relational is the second-largest owner of Manitowoc shares and Icahn Associates is the third-largest.


text:
Samsung, which is already facing a recall and negative publicity over its latest smartphone, now has problems with another of its products.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning owners of certain Samsung top-loading washing machines of potential safety issues. Customers in Georgia, Texas, and Indiana have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that their machines exploded during use. One Texas woman claims that her machine exploded with such intensity that it penetrated her garage wall. The lawsuit also claims that Samsung attempted to collect and destroy evidence of the defective washing machines.
The warning covers machines manufactured between March 2011 and April 2016; however, the specific models are not identified. The commission is working with Samsung to remedy the problem. In the meantime, owners of washing machines included in the warning are urged to use the delicate cycle when washing bulky items, bedding, and water-resistant items. This will reduce the possibility of injuries or property damage in the event that the washing machine becomes dislodged. Although Samsung is not commenting on the litigation, a statement on the company’s website states that it is working with authorities to find ways to address potential safety concerns. According to Samsung, “affected units may experience abnormal vibrations that could pose a risk of personal injury or property damage when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant items.”
This latest safety concern comes on the heels of a massive recall of 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 smartphones following reports of fires caused by defective batteries.


text:
SirPlus at the International Fair: "Fruit Logistica 2018"
The "Fruit Logistics"is the leading trade fair for international fruit trade, organized by the Italian Embassy, Confagricoltura, Fruitimprese and the Italian Chamber of Commerce, An important appointment for SirPlus looking for new partners.
SirPlus is a guest there today, and our Raphael Fellmer gave a talk on food rescue yesterday at the welcome event. "If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest CO2 issuer after China and the US."
Even today, we are on the road and looking for new partners to save food and fruits in this case. Meet our manager for Business Developement the dear Mira and get into conversation with her!


text:
Iwata: Project Cafe will offer a new way to play videogames at home
Iwata reveals no other details, prepare to be surprised and stunned at E3
With new rumours regarding Project Cafe, the Wii successor set to be fully revealed at E3 2011, being churned out daily and the confirmation by Nintendo that the new console will in fact be revealed at E3, gamers have been waiting anxiously for more news from Nintendo. President and CEO of Nintendo Japan Satoru Iwata has finally talked about the new console, even if what he says about is more than a bit ambiguous and totally open to interpretation.
At a news conference yesterday, Iwata said that the new console will “offer a new way of playing games within the home." With the rumours that the controller will have a 6" screen on it, this statement may not be too far off from the truth. “As for the details of exactly what it will be, we have decided that it is best to let people experience it for themselves at E3. So I won’t talk about specific details today, but it will offer a new way of playing games within the home.” So it looks like Nintendo will have an E3 very similar to last years, focusing on hardware that you have to play for yourself to fully appreciate, if what Iwata says is true.
E3 2011 will be held this June, with many gamers hoping that Nintendo will produce an awesome press conference similar to that of last years 3DS filled press conference.
Source: Nintendo Universe


text:
PORTLAND — If it comes to pass, the “Green New Deal” talked about in Congress may find expression in food hubs such as The Redd in Portland.
U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., believes it should.
Which is an overly colorful way to say change is afoot, and some serious people hope to replace what they describe as America’s “industrial food system.”
Specifically, they’d like to see more regional networks of environmentally and economically sustainable farms and ranches selling nutritious, affordable meat, fish, greens and grain to “eaters” in cities.
The Redd, a food storage, aggregation and distribution hub developed by the nonprofit Ecotrust group and like-minded partners, may turn out to be a model for that change.
In nature, a redd is a spawning area for salmon. In Portland, The Redd is a spawning ground for innovative food ideas on Salmon Street.
Emma Sharer, who manages The Redd campus for Ecotrust, said the food hub aligns with the group’s principle of doing business as a source for good.
“My perspective on that is we’re trying to create a new kind of economic system centered around food,” Sharer said. “The Redd is one of those infrastructure pieces to support what we’re envisioning.”
Sharer said most consumers aren’t familiar with the complicated details of the supply chain that brings food to stores and restaurants. At the same time, there are “fishers, farmers and ranchers all over who could use the support of the buying power we have in the heart of Portland,” she said.
“We have all this incredible food being grown outside of Portland,” she said. “How do we get more of this bounty to the people who really need it?”
Blumenauer, who represents Portland’s progressive hotbeds east of the Willamette River, said The Redd is “absolutely” repeatable elsewhere.
“Every state should be able to have a facility like this,” Blumenauer said. “Every metropolitan area.”
It’s too soon to say the project bridges the urban-rural divide. But Lauren Gwin, associate director of the Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems at Oregon State University, said Ecotrust and its partners provide critical infrastructure that was missing.
“My take on this is that Ecotrust has been trying to figure out what type of hub is really going to connect with food producers who are not in the Portland metro area,” Gwinn said.
“These markets are willing to pay,” she said. “What they’re trying to do is offer services that make it easier for farmers to connect with these markets.”
To back up a bit, The Redd is a two-building, 76,000-square-foot campus along Salmon Street in Portland’s revitalized Central Eastside industrial district. The $25 million project, headed by Ecotrust and supported by private companies and public groups, involved renovating a pair of classic buildings. One was an century-old iron works, the other a former marble stoneworks sales building.
Redd West is the nuts and bolts side, and has been operating since 2016. It is intended to provide the “last mile” storage and distribution services that small to mid-size producers and food manufacturers scramble to arrange.
Rural and urban fringe producers can get their goods into a single drop-off in Portland without too much trouble, but delivering them to restaurants, markets and grocery stores in the crowded city center — that last mile — eats up time and money.
A 2015 “Ag of the Middle” study by Ecotrust concluded many smaller producers can’t expand because they become mired in the chores of packaging, labeling, storage, aggregation and delivery.
Redd West rents producers rack storage, cold storage, freezer space and production space and equipment. The building’s anchor tenant, B-Line Sustainable Urban Delivery, runs the storage facilities and distributes food to commercial customers aboard human-pedaled, battery-assisted cargo trikes. About 200 producers have used some aspect of Redd West services to scale up or branch out. A two-year “accelerator” program helps some beginning businesses get on their feet.
Among Redd West customers are Carman Ranch in northeastern Oregon, which sells grass-fed beef, and Cattail Creek Lamb of Junction City, in the Willamette Valley. Both use Redd West’s storage and delivery services to get their meat to Portland restaurants and markets.
Another type of user is Stoneboat Farm, a small vegetable operation run by two brothers in the Helvetia area west of Portland. The operators lack storage, but kept 13 pallet boxes of root vegetables at Redd West this past winter. When they had orders to fill, mostly in Portland, they drove to the facility and loaded up.
The other half of the campus, Redd East, is event and meeting space. It’s capable of holding nearly 700 people for conventions or trade show-type gatherings, but has flexible space for small board meetings or work groups. A full kitchen can be used for demonstrations or product testing.
This being Portland, the campus has some distinct touches. The cargo trike batteries are recharged via a solar array on the roof. Redd East was restored with hemlock paneling certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and with cedar that was a gift from the Coquille Indian Tribe of Southern Oregon. The Redd East restrooms are gender neutral: A half-dozen private, one-person toilet rooms fronted by a common handwashing area.
The campus formally opened March 2 with a crowded “Redd Reveal” party that included food, drink and music with a $25 ticket. Blumenauer was a featured speaker.
Although known for his wonky bowties and bicycle transportation advocacy, Blumenauer has long been interested in local food systems and critical of federal Farm Bill spending.
He believes federal subsidies prop up commodity growers at the expense of small farms, alternative crops, local markets, research and more. He often says too much of the money goes to “the wrong people, to grow the wrong food, in the wrong places.”
Blumenauer said he insisted the “Green New Deal” espoused by first-year Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez include language on food and farming. As a result, the proposal calls for removing greenhouse gas emissions from ag operations “as much as is technologically feasible,” and for supporting family farms, sustainable farming and land use, soil health and “building a more sustainable food system that ensures universal access to healthy food.”
At The Redd opening, Blumenauer said Oregon products are a “premium brand” and that people will pay more for high-quality food emerging from such regional networks.
“This is a huge opportunity for Oregon agriculture,” he said. “We have good, healthy, sustainable food and we’ve got that cachet.”


text:
Both The Adamson and Cromar’s Fish and Chip shop picked up prizes at the Food Awards Scotland last week, winning Restaurant of the Year and Best Café/Bistro of the Year North East respectively.
Meanwhile, having been named the nation’s favourite ice cream parlour earlier this year, Janettas Gelateria has been placed on the shortlist for both Family Business of the Year and Retail Business of the Year at The Courier Business Awards. Despite being pitted against last year’s winner of the Best Retailer Award, the regular queues outside its door would indicate that it stands a good chance of claiming at least one of these prizes.
In other news, the St Andrews Brewery has been placed on the shortlist for Young Business of the Year, having been consistently busy since it opened last year. The judges include the director of Diageo and the managing director of Lloyds Banking Group with the results due to be announced on 14 November. The Brewery was also named the best pub in The Saint’s Food and Drink Guide 2014.


text:
50% of consumers turn to branches and call centers when they have a problem
San Francisco, CA, December 7, 2017: As digital banking capabilities have expanded over the years, adoption of online and mobile banking has reached more than two-thirds of retail banking consumers. Despite the convenience of digital channel access to their accounts, consumers’ use of traditional banking channels — branch, ATM, call center — has declined only modestly in recent years.
“Purpose-built digital delivery solutions are critical to changing consumer behavior by providing obvious advantages over more familiar, legacy options,” said Emmett Higdon
, Director, Digital Banking at Javelin Strategy & Research. “Digital solutions must be designed and delivered to focus on specific aspects of their delivery that are clearly superior to the offline options that are more familiar and better understood by customers.”
Related Research by Javelin Strategy & Research
About Javelin Strategy & Research
Javelin Strategy & Research, a Greenwich Associates LLC company, is a research-based advisory firm that helps its clients to make better-informed business decisions in a digital financial world. Our analysts offer unbiased, actionable insights and unearth opportunities that help financial institutions, government entities, payment companies, merchants, and other technology providers sustainably increase profits.


text:
The town of Ballymena is open for business, and ready to welcome shoppers and visitors from near and far.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Cllr Peter Johnston, has praised the resilience and determination of the town’s business community to reopen with enhanced safety and hygiene measures in place.
Despite facing extreme challenges due to the Covid-19 crisis – including new localised restrictions for households in Ballymena and the postcode of BT43 – traders in the town have remained steadfast in their commitment to the community, the Mayor said.
“I have witnessed first-hand the careful and considered steps that all our local businesses have taken in recent months to reopen their doors safely and in accordance with the public health guidance.
“In many cases, business owners have exceeded any requirements of them in terms of hygiene and health protection, and shoppers are also playing their part in keeping our community safe so that we can continue recovering from this unprecedented crisis.
“By working closely with Council’s Town Centre Recovery Group, every single one of our local businesses has gone above and beyond to keep our town open and welcoming for all.”
Anne Donaghy, Chief Executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, said:
“Ballymena businesses continue to inspire us all by how determined they are to keep their doors open in the face of the uncertainty that Covid-19 has created, right across Northern Ireland.
“We will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with our businesses as we navigate the latest restrictions set down by the Northern Ireland Executive, so that we can protect our citizens and our economy.”
For the latest details about the Northern Ireland Executive restrictions, visit www.nidirect.gov.uk


text:
Minor League Baseball and its 160 clubs in the U.S. and Canada combined to generate a record $70.8 million in merchandise sales last year, according to data scheduled to be released this week by MiLB.
MiLB saw a big jump in sales of merchandise that sported logos that are no longer used. The Phoenix Firebirds moved when Diamondbacks came to town in 1997.hat photos courtesy of Minor League Baseball
That’s up 4 percent from 2016’s $68.3 million and marks the category’s eighth straight annual increase.
The bulk of the revenue represents sales of team-branded apparel, headwear and novelties. However, the total also includes a record level of licensing fees and royalties paid directly to MiLB through baseball trading card contracts and the use of historic club marks, a grouping that increased by approximately 34 percent.
Similar to the previous two seasons, 2017’s top 25 list is dominated by teams from Class AAA. Last year, 16 triple-A clubs made the list. By comparison, just eight made the list in 2005.
Memphis Chicks: Bo Jackson’s first MiLB team when it was double-A.
Sales were bolstered by a pair of clubs that debuted new names in 2017. The Class AA Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, which had played as the Suns for most of their 55 years of existence, experienced record sales. The AAA New Orleans Baby Cakes, known as the Zephyrs from 1985 to 2016, saw similar success at the cash register.
The most notable absence is the Class A Lake Elsinore (Calif.) Storm, a team whose glaring-eyes logo had made the list each year since 1998.
Casper Ghosts: The logo glows in the dark.
Looking ahead, Kurt Hunzeker, MiLB vice president of marketing strategy and research, said the organization’s campaign to attract more Hispanic fans should push merchandise sales even higher. As part of MiLB’s “Copa de la Diversión” campaign, 33 clubs rolled out locally inspired Spanish-language on-field identities for a minimum of three games, with some hosting up to 10 games.
Hunzeker said the effort is one of the biggest business initiatives in the organization’s history and that a little more than halfway through the overall 165-game program, sales of New Era caps are 300 percent above projections.


text:
Table of Contents
Monitors screen inventory industry information and facts at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022.
Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Prime CEOs and buyers have struck an optimistic tone on the modern promote-off global know-how stocks, telling CNBC it can be not likely to metastasize into a broader sector disaster.
The tech-significant Nasdaq 100 index closed Monday’s investing down much more than 26% yr-to-day and earlier this thirty day period — soon after the Federal Reserve lifted interest charges — the world’s most significant technological innovation organizations lose about $1 trillion in value in just three trading classes.
Tech and advancement shares have been hit tough by the prospect of increased fees, as the Fed and other major central banks all around the environment glimpse to rein in soaring inflation by tightening monetary policy.
The unexpected downturn for significant-advancement tech stocks – greatly found as overvalued at the current market peak in late 2021 – has led some commentators to voice worries about a tech-pushed crash equivalent to that of the “dotcom bubble” bursting in 1999/2000.
“Evidently there is a issue of what really should the exact sector value be of some of these designs, but the underlying small business products are genuine business products — not only now but for the upcoming, in conditions of providing services, suggestions and what have you digitally,” UBS CEO Ralph Hamers told CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Monday.
“It is a pattern that is supported by demographics and accelerated by client behavioral improve. So no matter if it is in buyer providers or in fiscal companies or no matter what, I do believe that the know-how business versions, the types that are electronic, continue to are the correct types heading ahead because they are true company products.”
Whilst some analysts have prompt that sentiment towards the tech sector is at its worst stage because the dotcom bubble, as rising rates force organizations to turn into worthwhile a lot quicker, they have also highlighted that extensive-time period chances continue to exist for traders.
“It is not like 20 decades ago in [the dotcom bubble]. We experienced some models that had been just types on paper and not real,” Hamers added. “The past 20 many years, we have been in a position to clearly show that there are genuine modifications happening in retail businesses, in monetary firms and so on., and that development is not going to quit since of what we see at the moment.”
His remarks echoed those people of Credit Suisse Chairman Axel Lehmann on Monday, who told CNBC that investors ought to keep a extended-expression point of view in spite of the temporary “shake-out” of tech shares, as many businesses inside of the sector are still “solid and seem.”
“The valuation degrees have come down, basically, in all inventory marketplaces, but the earnings are continue to there of the businesses, so we see a little bit of a shake out that is happening,” Lehmann said, noting that although there were similarities to the dotcom bubble, the underlying tendencies are now extra supportive.
“A ton of providers in all probability will vanish, but we ought to not imagine that the essential trends will [not] nonetheless continue being, that technology and digitization will be crucial, new company models – these are the critical themes that as small business leaders, we all want to be incredibly mindful of.”
A ‘remarkably orderly’ sell-off
The U.S. Federal Reserve has reported it will not wait to continue to keep mountaineering fascination fees until inflation comes down in the direction of a healthy stage, and its hawkish pivot in the face of stark worldwide cost increases has, in section, driven the exodus from tech stocks.
Having said that, billionaire investor and co-founder of private equity company Carlyle Team David Rubenstein said Monday that the markets have been “overreacting” inspite of the Fed’s attempts to control anticipations.
“In the crash of 1999, 2000, 2001, you had world wide web organizations with no revenues, naturally no earnings. They had practically nothing but a business enterprise system in some situations, and those people companies shouldn’t have long gone general public, permit by itself possibly been acquiring any money,” Rubenstein said on a WEF panel chaired by CNBC.
“Now, you’ve bought a corporation like Netflix which has 250 million subscribers. It may well not be really worth what it was worth in the market a couple months in the past, but it can be surely value more in my see than what it truly is currently trading for.”
Rubenstein added that when markets “overreact” — as they have been — there is chance for traders to go in and “buy at the bottom.”
Netflix inventory has plunged nearly 69% calendar year-to-date, whilst fellow tech titan Amazon is down extra than 35%.
“A ton of these businesses whose values have gone down lately are still fantastic organizations, and it’s possible the value has been overreacted by the current market. I consider there are some fantastic purchases there, I will not feel it can be at all a circumstance of in which we ended up in 1999/2000.”
In spite of the sharp declines so significantly this 12 months, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser observed in the course of Monday’s panel in Davos that the sell-off in the U.S., from the Wall Road bank’s point of view, has been “remarkably orderly” amongst investors.
“They have not sprinted to the door the way they have with the world money disaster when that crash took place, and wherever we have been in 2020. We have seen a fairly systematic takedown and change in asset allocation,” Fraser claimed.
She highlighted that preset cash flow issuances throughout the two corporates and sovereigns have remained “reasonably constructive” and that market indicators exhibit the latest downturn was far more likely a “required correction” than a wholesale crash.
“There is not so a lot pressure yet – we’ve witnessed some in commodities, we’ve found a bit in high produce – but this has not been the catastrophe it could have been,” she concluded.
Significant growth, substantial disappointment
Part of the motive valuations have fallen so significantly and quick this 12 months is for the reason that of the amount of income growth in the technology sector above the latest a long time, according to Maurice Levy, chairman of the board at French promoting giant Publicis Groupe. He reported the companies experienced established the bar deceptively large occur earnings time.
“It is a sector which has been increasing by 30% to 50% and when they are rising only by 25% or 15%, there is a disappointment and then you see the inventory sinking. So, we must not consider that sector as a barometer since expectation in tech is really higher,” Levy told CNBC.
“We have to be fairly serene when we look at these figures and with a extended watch. For the time remaining, when you look at the telcos and you glimpse at all the people today who are investing in marketing, the numbers are nevertheless very very good.”


text:
is unanimously the number one social networking service in the world, and rightfully so, it’s also the king when it comes to social networking apps too – that’s hardly a surprise, right? Although many of us would easily fathom this to be true, we’re actually more curious to know how many Facebook users out there actually access their accounts through a mobile app.
Interestingly enough, we’re now being made aware of a figure – and it’s rather very telling in making us believe how Facebook is deeply intertwined in our daily lives. Apparently, over the Christmas holiday, the number of Facebook mobile app users blistered through the 300 million mark
. Indeed, that’s a remarkable figure, but there are still plenty of people holding out from using mobile apps to access their Facebook accounts.
Looking at the chart, it shows that people are using iOS devices more to access Facebook – though, Android comes in at a very close second in the overall monthly usage. Even more surprising is the share taken up by RIM, which goes to show that many people are still relying on their trusty BlackBerry smartphones.
When you think about the constant updates that we see with the various mobile Facebook apps out there, many more people are relying on it thanks to its usefulness in keeping us connected with friends.
& Cellular News


text:
Through a program launched in Bali called Greener Nusantara, Starbucks Indonesia began the initiative to use paper instead of plastic straws since October 1, 2018.
In September 2019, the program was also launched in three other Indonesian regions, namely Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara; Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara; and Bandung in West Java.
The program is expected to reduce more than 30 million plastic straws annually.
Starbucks Indonesia has also launched other initiatives to reduce disposable cup usage, namely For Here Glass for beverages consumed in the outlet and Bring Your Own Tumbler to encourage coffee lovers to bring their own tumblers while buying coffee.
“As part of the community, we strive to support the government’s programs and movements, including the current effort to reduce plastic waste in Indonesia,” said Anthony Cottan, director of the brand’s franchise holder in Indonesia, Sari Coffee Indonesia.


text:
Netflix’s next target seems to be the French film industry. After major success from Lupin and Call My Agent, Netflix has ordered for a latest animation series based on the superhit comic characters Asterix and Obelix. The animation series will be a limited form series and will be focusing on the arc of “Asterix and The Big Fight”, which was released back in 1964.
The streaming giant has joined hands with French publisher Hachette’s Les Editions Albert Rene to produce the latest limited series. Alain Chabat, the director of the live action movie of Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra is on board to direct the series too. The series will be produced by Alain Goldman of Legende Films.
This is a big leap for French industry, as Asterix and Obleix has been one of the most famous comic strips that have spread all over the world over the years. For this to turn into a series is a big move. The movie that was released back in 2002, became one of the biggest blockbusters for the French movie industry in 36 years.
Netflix has been picking up stuff from here and there and making it into great stories and this time, we are sure it will be the same for Asterix and Obelix too. Before this, Netflix picked up French illustration and cartoon series “Winx Saga” and turned it into a live-action series “Fate: The Winx Saga” which topped the charts for Netflix India and also in various other regions.
With Asterix and Obelix added to the list of shows out of France, it looks like Netflix is looking forward to a French Revolution of its own.


text:
A Chinese bride marries with a $160 million dowry.
A newly wed bride from Jinjiang, China was married with a dowry worth the equivalent of over 160 million dollars.
The wedding gifts from her business tycoon father named Wu Ruibiao included a Mercedes-Benz and a Porsche and four boxes of gold, five million shares in his company, and several properties like a retail store in Quanzhou city, and a few villas.
The proud father even handed over 15 million yuan to charities for good luck.
His daughter married a man that she went to school with from kindergarten through high school.
Other wealthy families from Jinjiang have been known to give large sums or expensive gifts when their daughters are married.
Xu Liajie reportedly gave his daughter a dowry of 200 million yuan in November 2011, and Wu Jingbiao decided to give about the same amount when his daughter married this year.
Marriage can be expensive, but so can divorce.
A man in Hong Kong has had to cough up what may be the largest divorce settlement in Hong Kong to his wife of eight years.
He has been ordered to pay her the equivalent of over 150 million dollars.
The largest divorce settlement in the world happened in 1998 when Rupert Murdoch paid his wife of 32 years 1 point 7 billion dollars.


text:
Samsung Galaxy S10 : Teasers Confirms Several Features
We have been covering the Samsung Galaxy S10 rumors and leaks for months now. From the design to the internal specs, we know almost everything. We even know what they look like. But no matter how many leaks and rumors we come across, whether a feature will make it into the final product depends solely on the manufacturers will. Considering this, a few feature confirmations from the Samsung won’t hurt. Well this is exactly what we got earlier today.
Samsung Vietnam posted teaser videos about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10 devices over on YouTube which confirm several of the previously leaked features :
In-Dispay FingerPrint Scanner
We previously reported that Samsung will pack an In-display fingerprint scanner in the Galaxy S10 and the S10+. But we can finally say we have confirmation of that report. The teaser video above teases a form of in-display scanner called “The ultrasonic”. For the average user, the term “Ultrasonic” means better and faster recognition than the current gen in-display scanners.
Reverse Wireless Charging
Last week we showed you a picture of a Samsung Galaxy S10 device wirelessly charging a pair of earbuds. The technology dubbed by Huawei as Reverse Wireless Charging is used to wirelessly charge other Qi-certified devices. Samsung is going to include this feature in its upcoming flagships as teased in the above video. Lets hope they improve upon the Huawei’s implementation which was slow and often unreliable.
Next Gen Selfie Camera
Last but not the least, lets take a closer look at the above video. We think Samsung hinted at improved haptic feedback and an improved selfie camera. Information is circulating around the internet claiming Samsung will include a selfie camera capable of capturing 4K video with OIS. If this proves to be the case Samsung will have a killer selfie camera in their hands and vloggers will have one more reason to pick this as their daily driver.
With the event scheduled for 20 February, we will soon see what the culmination of these features looks like. Of course we will be reporting about everything related to MWC so stay tuned and don’t forget to comment your thoughts on the teasers above in the comments down below!


text:
California Grocers Association sues San Jose and Daly City for giving workers hazard pay
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The California Grocers Association is suing the cities of San Jose and Daly City over hazard pay ordinances for grocery workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
The lawsuits filed on Friday call the extra pay mandates in each city "illegal."
Last month San Jose mandated a $3 an hour pay boost for its grocery workers and in Daly City a similar ordinance was passed unanimously this week by the city council to boost workers' pay $5 an hour.
Ron Fong, president and CEO of the California Grocers Association, said the extra pay ordinances violate federal and state law. In addition he said customers and workers will be hurt.
CGA refers to an economic impact study done for the CGA by Capitol Matrix Consulting that says $5 an hour pay increases could raise grocery prices $400 annually for a family of four.
The grocers association also indicates concern over increasing labor costs. They argue that in order to offset increased spending that grocery stores would have to cut workers’ hours.
With grocery workers at the frontlines of the pandemic for the last year, many have said the recent wave of wage increases have come too late.
San Francisco just passed its hazard pay ordinance earlier this week, joining cities like Oakland, and Berkeley. Grocery workers have endured repeated exposure during the pandemic, oftentimes under stressful circumstances with the politicization of mask wearing in public spaces.
Grocery store workers are currently eligible in the State of California to receive the three vaccines available (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson) through federal emergency approval.
CGA said they’ve filed cases in Long Beach, Montebello, Oakland, San Leandro and West Hollywood where they allege similar violations as in their San Jose and Daly City lawsuits.
CGA alleges grocery stores are being singled out in violation of the U.S. Constitution and the California Constitution’s Equal Protection Clauses, which require similarly situated people to be treated alike.
They additionally claim the hazard pay ordinances are preempted by the federal National Labor Relations Act, which protects the integrity of the collective-bargaining process.
The hazard pay ordinances are not meant to affect small mom and pop stores.
In Daly City, the rule applies to stores that are at least 10,000 square feet and which employ at least 500 employees nationwide. The hazard pay ordinance expires 120 days after adoption in order to give workers enough time to get vaccinated. Under the ordinance, covered employees are also allowed four hours of paid leave to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo said the ordinance was important as workers do not have the opportunity to work from home and risk their lives to show up to work.
"Grocery and drug store workers are our local heroes and have helped keep our food and pharmaceutical supply chains intact during the entire pandemic," Manalo said in a statement.
San Jose’s ordinance applies to grocery stores with 300 or more employees nationwide and requires them to offer the pay bump for 120 days.
Last month, supporters of the hazard pay ordinance, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, said many grocery workers have contracted the virus and that 137 grocery workers nationwide have died from COVID-19, but that number could be higher because they only tally unionized workers.
UFCW Local-5 said for grocers such as The Save Mart Companies, which operates the Lucky, Save Mart and FoodMaxx stores; that a unionized supermarket chain has continued its hazard pay, which ranges from $2.50 to $3.50 an hour, since the beginning of the pandemic.
Bay City News contributed to this story.


text:
Kenyan exhibitors optimistic Chinese import expo will boost trade
NAIROBI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ecstatic Kenyan entrepreneurs, loaded with their goods and optimism, left Nairobi on Wednesday evening for China, where they will attend the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the first import-themed state-level expo in the world.
The event, which will be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, is expected to attract more than 3,000 companies, including over 200 enterprises that are leading in their industries from over 130 different countries and regions.
The Kenyan entrepreneurs have had a hectic time preparing for the expo by ensuring that they get the necessary documentation and certifications ready before leaving the country.
"I visited the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis), the livestock department, Ministry of Health and was lastly referred to the customs department where I took my products ahead of travel," said Irene Mumo, proprietor of Trueways Enterprize Ltd, a honey processor.
Fridah Mbaya of Nyumbani Coffee, which is based in Nairobi, said she also did plenty of work to get things ready before departure.
"I had to get my products that I will exhibit ready. I deal with coffee, these are an array of products made from the beverage," she told Xinhua in an interview ahead of her departure.
She further prepared plenty of literacy materials that she would distribute to people at the event. The materials included explanations on how to make coffee, how to grow the crop and how it is prepared to have the best taste, among others.
"I was also seeking the necessary documentation to enable me take my products to China. We needed several documents that included the certificate of origin from the customs offices and health certificates from Kephis, among others. Getting these documents involved moving from one office to another to ensure everything goes right," she said.
With the tough preparations, the Kenyan entrepreneurs were optimistic of growing their businesses and getting new market in China.
"I am looking forward to a great exhibition and I expect to not only sell my products but also promote the country. This exhibition will expose my products to a wider market especially among the Chinese, who Kenya is building a strong bilateral relationship with," said Mbaya.
She was further hopeful that she would be able to get business partnership with traders and even individual customers from China.
Mbaya said that China has the potential to become a major coffee consuming country and the expo will help Kenya diversify its coffee exports from the traditional markets, including Europe.
Hosea Machuki, chief executive officer of Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK), whose members are part of the exhibiting companies, said China is one of the most promising emerging markets for horticultural produce from Kenya.
"Kephis and the National Plant Protection Organization have been having technical consultations with a view to open the Chinese market for Kenyan Produce. We hope this will be finalized on time," he said, adding with a population of over 1.3 billion, Kenya can tap into this market for all kinds of fresh produce including fruits, vegetables and herbs.
"Once the consultations are finalized, we hope that we can start shipping directly to Beijing and other Chinese cities. Currently production area stands at about 14,000 hectares for avocado. With increased demand from the marketplace, we expect more acreage to be put under the crop. In 2017, we exported about 46,000 metric tonnes of the fruit to various destinations," he said.
According to Machuki, stevia, a sweetener grown in Kenya, is one of the other products that have great demand in China and the association expects members will also be exporting it to the Asian nation as well soon.
"We also expect to sell herbs like basil, rosemary, chives, tarragon, mint, parsley and thyme whose farming has been growing in Kenya," he said, adding Kenya also exports roses to China.
Kenya earned about 1.15 billion U.S. dollars in 2017 from fresh produce exports, a rise of 11 percent from 2016, according to the Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya. The East African nation is banking on China to further grow these exports.
President Uhuru Kenyatta would lead the Kenyan delegation that comprises of exporters, trade experts and exhibitors to the expo.


text:
2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel could hit dealerships in February
Amanda Bayhi | January 10, 2014
The first 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesels could start arriving at dealerships in February, our sister site Equipment World reports.
Chrysler Group will start assembling the pickups later this month, and about 1,000 pre-spec versions will be made and distributed in the next few weeks.
The truck is powered by a 3.0-liter diesel engine that delivers 240 horsepower and 420 foot-pounds of torque. The engine is produced by Fiat-owned VM Motori.
Equipment World notes that the engine also provides a 26-mile-per-gallon fuel economy.
The EcoDiesel package will cost $2,850 more than the comparably-equipped Ram with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8.
Dealers are expected to start taking customer orders sometime in February.
MORE FROM News & Analysis
- 5 Options for Avoiding Highway Trust Fund Insolvency544 Views
- VIDEO: Watch these crews slide a half-mile, 30 million-pound bridge into place over the Ohio River475 Views
- Boxer outlines Senate priorities for long-term surface transportation bill392 Views
- Foxx: Insolvent transportation system could cost 700k jobs391 Views
- U.S. DOT predicts August shortfall in latest Highway Trust Fund Ticker update321 Views


text:
“The blended earnings growth rate for the S&P 500 for Q2 2017 is 10.2%. For companies that generate more than 50% of sales inside the U.S., the blended earnings growth rate is 8.5%. For companies that generate less than 50% of sales inside the U.S., the blended earnings growth rate is 14.0%,” Butters said.
On a sector level, the technology and energy sectors were the biggest contributors to earnings and revenue growth in the second quarter for companies with less than 50% of sales in the domestic economy.
Over 50% of revenues of companies in the S&P 500 come from outside the U.S. ETF investors who want to capitalize on the ongoing growth story in the global markets may look to the targeted WisdomTree U.S. Export and Multinational Fund (NYSEArca: WEXP).
WEXP tracks U.S. based companies that derives less than 60% of their revenue from the United States and the underlying index also employs a modified earnings stream weighting process that adjusts the earnings for each company based on revenue from outside the U.S.
The portfolio includes a hefty 25.7% tilt toward information technology, along with 16.8% health care and 15.5% consumer staples. Top holdings include Johnson & Johnson 5.0%, Citigroup 4.7% and Philip Morris International 4.0%.
For more information on the markets, visit our current affairs category.


text:
Woman Arrested for CBD Oil at Disney World Demands Apology
Arrest highlights disconnect between federal and state laws on CBD
By AP and Staff • Published May 14, 2019 • Updated on May 16, 2019 at 11:45 am
A 69-year-old great-grandmother is demanding an apology for her arrest at a Walt Disney World security checkpoint last month after a guard found CBD oil while searching her purse.
Hester Burkhalter has hired high-profile attorney Benjamin Crump, who represented Trayvon Martin’s family.
Crump said Tuesday that Disney World and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office “need to take responsibility for their actions” or he will file a lawsuit on the North Carolina woman’s behalf, alleging violations of her civil rights.
Burkhalter was arrested on April 15 and said she was detained for 15 hours over a bottle of CBD oil that her doctor in North Carolina recommended for arthritis. The oil was discovered when she put her purse on a table for inspection and tested positive for THC, according to an arrest report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
“I was in shock,” Burkhalter told NBC News of her experience. “I don’t feel like I’ve done anything wrong at all.”
CBD oil, which is extracted from cannabis plants but doesn’t produce a high, has become a craze across the country since a 2018 federal law legalized industrial hemp.
NBC Miami has reported that the industry is expected to grow to $5.9 billion by the end of the year, up from $619 million in 2018, according to researchers with Brightfield Group, a CBD marketing research firm.
Deputies Investigating Double Shooting on Alligator Alley
Capitals Rout Panthers 6-1 in Game 3 to Take 2-1 Series Lead
But state laws vary with Florida in a special case of legal limbo. In the Sunshine State, CBD oil is, for now, only legal for sale with a prescription at certified Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers.
According to Burkhalter’s legal team, she provided a doctor’s note in response to her arrest and her doctor indicated the oil was legal in North Carolina.
Lawmakers in North Carolina, however, are in the process of trying to bring state laws in line with the 2018 federal law that removed hemp from a list of Schedule I drugs, said Jon Lanier, assistant general counsel with North Carolina’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
He said he thought law enforcement in his state was generally aware of changes with the federal law.
“Largely where we are right now is that the regulations are catching up to the production,” Lanier said.
NBC has requested comment from Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for clarity on what out of state visitors who may have a doctor’s note or prescription should know.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has said in an emailed statement that Burkhalter’s arrest was lawful. Still, prosecutors dropped a drug charge against Burkhalter, saying it wasn’t suitable for prosecution.
A new law that passed Florida’s legislature this month would legalize CBD oil on July 1 and establish a framework for regulating the products. Florida’s new law, however, has not yet been signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. NBC has reached out for comment on whether and when DeSantis planned to sign the measure.
For now, Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services warns on its website that “CBD products being sold in Florida are unregulated, untested, and without standards on what consumers are putting into their bodies.”
The NBC 6 Investigators team earlier this year purchased 35 CBD products from seven different companies and took the samples to an accredited testing facility. Twenty of the samples had less than half of the amount of CBD advertised on the label. Some samples had no CBD at all.
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services spokesperson Franco Ripple said the department is not sending cease and desist letters to businesses that sell CBD products but should the state’s regulatory program go into effect “it will allow us to test those products for consumer safety.”
The FDA, meanwhile, is planning a public hearing on May 31 as it considers regulations for how cannabis-derived products.
69-year-old woman arrested for trying to bring CBD oil into Disney World
1 of 5 FILE – In this Nov. 7, 2018, file photo, bottles of massage oil with cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), two natural compounds found in plants of the Cannabis genus, are displayed at the Far West Holistic Center dispensary in Detroit. Mainstream retailers are leaping into the world of products like skin creams and oils that tout such benefits as reducing anxiety and helping you sleep. The key ingredient is CBD, or cannabidiol, a compound derived from hemp and marijuana that doesn’t cause a high. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File) Carlos Osorio/Associated Press Show More Show Less
2 of 5 FILE – In this Friday, Jan. 4, 2018 file photo, a worker adds CBD oil to a drink at a coffee shot in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cannabidiol is one of more than 100 compounds found in marijuana. (Jennifer Lett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP) Jennifer Lett/Associated Press Show More Show Less
4 of 5 In this photo taken Thursday, March 21, 2019, Gus Dabais looks over CBD products he sells at his Sidewalk Wellness store in San Francisco. CBD oil-infused food, drinks and dietary supplements are popular even though the U.S. government says they’re illegal and some local authorities have forced retailers to pull products. The confusion has California, Texas and other states moving to legalize the cannabis compound that many see as beneficial to their health. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Eric Risberg/Associated Press Show More Show Less
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Charges have been dropped against a 69-year-old woman who was arrested last month for attempting to bring CBD oil into Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, officials said.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, on April 15, an off-duty deputy was working at Magic Kingdom when security notified him that potentially illegal drugs had been found.
The employee said he found oil, labeled “Select CBD” in the purse of a North Carolina woman when she put it on the table for inspection.
When the employee asked the woman if it was CBD oil, she allegedly stated, “Is there a problem?”She refused to answer if the bottle contained CBD oil, according to the affidavit.
The deputy said he tested the substance using a drug test kit and got a positive result for the presence of THC.