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Organizers claimed that nearly 2 million Hong Kong protesters took to the streets Sunday in a rally to demand the city's top official resign a day after she suspended — but...China Politicsread more
African swine fever, which has already ravaged pig herds in China and pushed up food prices there, could also drive up inflation in the other emerging markets, according to...Asia Economyread more
Consumer goods giant Unilever has taken the unusual step of having some of its marketing staff read their own DNA profiles to see whether finding out about their heritage has...Marketing.Media.Moneyread more
Stocks in Asia were mixed on Monday as investors await a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting set to happen later in the week stateside.Asia Marketsread more
In the survey, 66% of Democratic primary voters say they'd be enthusiastic or comfortable about Biden as their nominee to take on President Trump in the 2020 election. Just...Politicsread more
Heavy rains caused unprecedented delays in planting this year and contributed to record floods across the central United States.Agricultureread more
Target's registers were down on Saturday for several hours preventing customers from checking out.Retailread more
Although Cook did not mention companies by name, his commencement speech in Silicon Valley's backyard mentioned data breaches, privacy violations, and even made reference to...Technologyread more
U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman called the gesture a "birthday present" to Trump, who turned 73 on Friday.Politicsread more
The outlook for Germany's economy and political stability are more uncertain than ever, writes Michael Ivanovitch.World Economyread more
The agreement, which is on the framework for the plan of adjustment, provide for more than a 60% average haircut for all $35 billion, a 36% haircut on pre-2012 general...Bondsread more
Consumers may be cutting the cord, but Comcast's bets on high-speed internet and film franchises are providing fresh sources of growth.
The media and cable giant reported quarterly earnings on Wednesday that beat analyst expectations, and revenue that topped estimates, as the company grew its customer base in high-speed internet and business services, offsetting lost customers in video services.
It also announced plans to increase its dividend by 21 percent and to repurchase at least $5 billion in stock in 2018.
Here's how the company did in the fourth quarter:
A year earlier, Comcast reported adjusted earnings of 45 cents per share on revenue of $21.03 billion.
Shares were flat in Wednesday's premarket after the announcement.
The financial results of the owner of CNBC parent NBCUniversal set the stage for rivals that are also exploring combinations of content and internet services.
Cable and internet business
Comcast's Xfinity is one of the biggest residential providers of video, internet and phone. Comcast now has 29.3 million customers.
Comcast added 350,000 high-speed internet customers during the quarter, slightly less than a year earlier, but still the largest source of sales growth for the company. But 33,000 video customers left during the quarter, a change Comcast attributed to more "aggressive" offers from traditional and emerging competitors.
Still, it's better than analysts expected. Comcast was expected to lose 45,000 video subscribers and gain 312,000 high-speed internet customers, according to a FactSet consensus estimate. Comcast lost 13,000 voice customers during the quarter, narrower than the 23,000 customer loss forecast by FactSet.
NBC's film division had its most profitable year ever in its 105-year history, the company said Wednesday. In addiiton, Universal Pictures hit $5 billion at the global box office over the holidays for the second time ever. But during the quarter, film revenue dropped by about 5 percent, despite hits like "Fate of the Furious," "Despicable Me 3" and the latest installment of "Pitch Perfect."
Theme parks, broadcast and cable networks also saw revenue increases from a year earlier, thanks to new attractions at the parks and distribution and content licensing.
The company has a big quarter ahead in media, with the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics next month.
Comcast's earnings is closely watched in the media industry. The combination of content and the "pipes" to deliver it is something that other companies are exploring as well: Verizon has Yahoo and AOL, and now Time Warner and AT&T hope to seal a merger deal. Disney and Twenty-First Century Fox are also joining forces.
Disclosure: Comcast is the owner of NBCUniversal, parent company of CNBC and CNBC.com.


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From pop-up to permanent pasta restaurant with perpetual lines, Mike Easton's Il Corvo is a Seattle success story. In a glowing review yesterday, Eater's roving critic Bill Addison said, "Il Corvo reflects one of the most hopeful facets of our current restaurant culture, where skill, quality and price all meet to serve a city."
In 2014 Easton parlayed his weekday lunch crowds into a second spot with similar hours of operation, Pizzeria Gabbiano, another runaway hit and another favorite of Addison's, who named it one of the best new restaurants in the country in 2015.
Midday noshers have been happy with these arrangements, but what about the dinnertime diners? There's still no supper service on the horizon, but Easton's hoping to give customers the next best thing: an opportunity to cook Il Corvo's pastas at home.
Addison revealed the news in his review:
Easton is also gearing up to retail his pastas, since customers at Il Corvo have been asking about buying noodles for years. This summer he plans to open a pasta shop with 10 or 12 daily options and sauces to match. An Italian pasta drying cabinet is currently en route to Seattle.
Easton did not respond to a request for comment by press time, but stay tuned for more details on this development.

domain: news


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US lawmakers are close to finalizing a $900 billion economic relief package that will support small businesses, unemployed Americans, those into critical care and vaccinations. President-elect Joe Biden, who is busy chalking out his COVID-19 response and economic recovery plan, has a challenging task at hand.
Moreover, the chair of the US Federal Reserve has expressed concerns about the surge in infections and has advised Americans to take all health precautions. This is coupled with the Fed's expectation of a 4.2 percent GDP growth in 2021.
The world will be closely watching all moves of Biden's economic team and how he approaches the trade war with China.
In an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18's Parikshit Luthra, Nobel Laureate Economist and New York Times Columnist Paul Krugman said, "US and actually the world has real problems with China. China has become, by some measures the world's largest economy but still behaves as if it was an upstart. So it makes sense to have some confrontation with China but not the one that Trump had."
He added, "India's forte has been service exports and the first choice of somebody seeking to move part of the supply chain out of China, it is probably going to be South East Asia rather than India. India is a potential player in service trade and service trade is much less affected by the trade."
Next, Luthra gets in conversation with Israeli envoy to India Ron Malka, who shares his views on Israel-Bhutan diplomatic relations.
To know more, watch the video.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)


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Greg Sullivan, Microsoft Executive for Windows Phone, said that Microsoft doesn’t have any plan to produce its own smartphone. This is the confirmation from Microsoft. There’s a rumor which said that Microsoft will produce its own smartphone. Sullivan added that Microsoft has had satisfying partners like HTC, Nokia, Samsung, and Huawei.
The rumor spreads after Microsoft announcing its Surface Windows 8 Tablets in the last week. Microsoft will release two versions of Surface. The first is running on Windows 8 operating system and powered by Intel chip. The other is powered by ARM chip and Windows 8 RT, which is optimized for ARM based tablets.
According to Rick Sherlund, Nomura analyst, Microsoft has been working with manufacturers to produce Windows Phone 8 phones. Unfortunately, it’s still unclear whether the products will come with Microsoft brand or not. However, after Microsoft gave the confirmation, it seems that Microsoft is not interesting in making its own mobile phone, considering that it has invested so much money in Nokia to develop Windows Phone.


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James could be bringing back a character from 2016.
LeBron James has been known for some antics in the past although unlike most people, his antics are usually positive and can bring a smile to people's faces. Back in 2016, James linked up with Blaze Pizza where he created a character named "Ron" who worked behind the counter at one of the chain's locations. This sparked a ton of confusion amongst customers who immediately recognized the three-time NBA champion upon walking into the restaurant.
Now, it appears as though Blaze Pizza and LeBron will be linking up again although it remains to be seen on what scale exactly. LeBron took to Facebook where he revealed the "Ron" character will be making a return. Blaze Pizza then went on Twitter to talk about the deal saying "Something BIG is coming." There is no telling what that is but obviously, it will include lots and lots of pizza.
LeBron has been leveling up significantly over the last few years as he has ventured into numerous different realms. For instance, James has acted in films and is about to star in Space Jam 2. James also has HBO show The Shop and this season he will be looking to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA championship.
Needless to say, LeBron has been thriving out here.


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Food delivery riders zip round insurance laws
Couriers are using a loophole to avoid buying proper cover
The gig economy giants Deliveroo and Uber Eats have been accused of putting road users at risk by paying learner motorcyclists and uninsured drivers to make their food deliveries.
The companies allow motorcycle, moped and scooter riders to work without a full licence. To pass vetting checks, the couriers show a provisional licence and complete a compulsory basic training course. This typically lasts 6-8 hours.
Learner riders who have completed the course are legally allowed on the roads on bikes with engines of less than 125cc, which have a top speed of about 70mph. But industry experts said that while the training was a suitable first step for beginners, it was “insufficient” preparation for couriers riding on busy roads under time pressure.
The companies said


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Vertical farming company Oishii announced the opening of its vertical strawberry farm at a former Anheuser-Busch factory in Jersey City, N.J.
The 74,000-square-foot farm will exclusively grow the company’s Omakase Berries to meet the growing demand for them, which Oishii said is "at an all-time high.” Additionally, Oishii is expanding its consumer base in retail stores, debuting its Omakase Berries at Whole Foods Market’s new NoMad store in New York, which is set to open June 1.
“Eating an Omakase Berry is a full sensory experience, and soon we can introduce them to customers stepping into our store,” Chris Manca, local forager for Whole Foods Market’s Northeast region, said in a release. “We can’t wait for our customers to bring home the delicious flavor of Oishii’s beloved fruit.”
Oishii (which means “delicious” in Japanese) first introduced the Omakase Berry in 2018. The company said it was the first to grow berries in vertical farms, which combines nature, technology and farming techniques used in the foothills of Japan.
“At Oishii, we are committed to revolutionize the future of food by offering the best-tasting produce, grown in a way we believe is better for people and better for the planet. Today marks an important step in making good on that promise,” said Hiroki Koga, co-founder and CEO Oishii in a news statement.
“We’ve worked hard to pioneer advanced technology that unlocks a substantially more efficient way to grow our unrivaled strawberries,” Koga continued. “Our largest farm yet pairs the next frontier of indoor farming innovation with the care and precision of centuries-old Japanese farming techniques. We can’t wait for more people to enjoy an endless strawberry season with the Omakase Berry at its new price and its new home at Whole Foods Market.”
Whole Foods Market is based in Austin, Texas, and has more than 500 stores in the United States.


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Source: Cryptocurrencies ban: RBZ dragged to court – The Zimbabwe Independent May 24, 2018
THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and its governor John Mangudya have been taken to court by a local cryptocurrency exchange dealer, Bitfinance (Pvt) Ltd trading as Golix, which is seeking an order to nullify the recent pronouncement by the central bank banning all transactions in digital currencies.
Bitfinance deputy chief executive officer William Chui filed an urgent chamber application on Monday, arguing that the RBZ has no jurisdiction to effect the ban given that cryptocurrency transactions are not regulated by the central bank, which simply regulates the banking sector and the country’s currency.
“This is an urgent chamber application for setting aside the decision by the first respondent (RBZ) to ban operations of the applicant (Bitfinance).
The application is founded on section 3 as read with section 4 of the Administrative Justice Act (Chapter 10:28) as amplified by section 68 of the Constitution of the Republic,” Chui said in his founding affidavit.
“I humbly submit that the decision by the first respondent aforesaid is in violation of both good administrative justice law and the Constitution of the country.
Applicant implores this honourable court, on an urgent basis, to set aside and reverse the decision by the respondents.
“The decision was unlawful in that the respondents (RBZ and Mangudya) lacked jurisdiction to make the decision.
They acted ultra vires their enabling Act.
It is clear from the wording of the preamble of the RBZ Act, that first respondent has power to regulate the banking industry and currency in Zimbabwe. . . applicant is not a banking or financial institution.
It does not fall within the banking or financial services sector.”
Chui further said even though his company partners with banks in serving its clients, it is neither a bank nor a financial institution as defined in the RBZ Act, but “it is a start-up in the emerging financial technology industry”.
He said the decision by the central bank and Mangudya to invoke certain sections of the RBZ Act and effectively banned cryptocurrency business with effect from May 17, 2018, was ill-advised.
The Bitfinance deputy chief executive officer argued that cryptocurrency business in most parts of the world, let alone in Zimbabwe, has not yet been regulated.
“For the applicant, there has not yet been assigned a government department to which applicant can go for licensing.
Applicant has not been told by respondents or any government department of the need for it to be licenced in order to operate,” Chui said.
Chui said Bitfinance was running a business based on what is known as block-chain technology adding it has been running this cryptocurrency exchange since late 2015 and at the time of the ban it had 49 333 registered customers.
“The exchange was also being used to make international payments by Zimbabweans.
For instance, a person in Zimbabwe intending to purchase motor vehicle online from the Japanese used car exporter, Be Forward, would buy cryptocurrency on the exchange.
Clients were also using the exchange as an alternative store of value. In this case, clients would simply use their fiat currency to purchase cryptocurrency which they would then store in their wallets as savings.”
The matter is yet to be set down for hearing.


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The first few S.T.A.L.K.E.R. titles were frightening open-world goodness for the PC, but the now officially announced sequel could go multi-platform.
GSC Game World has officially revealed that it’s working on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, a sequel to the trilogy of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games already released for the PC. Thought the announcement comes with little information, rumors of a console version took one step closer to reality.
In addition to saying that GSC is currently hard at work on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, the company said it’s creating “a completely new multi-platform technology” for the “core of the game.” Dubbing the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. sequel’s technology base “multi-platform” indicates that GSC is at least considering the sequel for release on consoles, which would no doubt increase the series’ visibility amongst gamers.
The three games in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series were exclusively developed for the PC and with good reason: They’re gigantic beasts of challenging, free-roaming gameplay that take place in a nuclear wasteland where death can come at a moment’s notice from any number of horrifying and painful directions. If you decide to attack one of the games’ NPCs, his crew could decide to come hunt you down at your camp or you could piss off an entire faction that will no longer be friendly. Or you can just sit down at a campfire and listen to a friend play the acoustic guitar. The series is sort of like Fallout 3, but somewhat less friendly to players, other than the guitar playing.
GSC calls S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 “the next chapter of the mega-popular game players expect from us” and reveals that the company has sold more than 4 million copies of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games worldwide. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 won’t be released until 2012, and though only a PC release is assured right now, don’t be surprised if a version of the game hits consoles too.


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Palletforce has been crowned the UK’s best at generating business after winning one of the most prestigious accolades at the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards.
Going head to head with some of the nation’s leading companies, Palletforce won the Vonage Business Enabler of the Year category, which celebrates businesses that help their customers or clients increase sales and profitability through a competitive advantage.
Leading through technology and innovation, Palletforce demonstrated its ability to proactively enable business for its independent member companies by creating revenue opportunities and enabling business growth.
As part of global logistics group EV Cargo, Palletforce impressed the judges with its proven investments to connect trade and create network capacity, enabling its member businesses to grow.
By investing in world-class infrastructure, developing a global range of quality distribution services and pioneering industry-leading technology, Palletforce has maximised the growth potential of its network of 120 individual transport companies and their thousands of customers.
The £50m state-of-the-art distribution SuperHub at its Burton upon Trent headquarters has created the capacity to enable growth and led to record network volumes this year. Palletforce has also catalysed innovation with members benefitting from its recently launched Alliance Sense platform – using artificial intelligence to predict delivery success and deliver sector-leading customer service.
Michael Conroy, Palletforce chief executive officer, said: “Our members and their customers are central to everything we do as a network. Palletforce has continually invested to lead the sector by pioneering technology and innovation to deliver world-class quality and service. As part of EV Cargo, we’ve connected international trade and created market-leading growth opportunities, providing our members with long-term stability.
“The National Business Awards have pitched Palletforce against some of the UK’s top companies, so we are all immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together as a network.”
The Lloyds Bank National Business Awards, known as the Oscars of the business world, have a long-standing history of celebrating the best of British business.
“Every entry goes through a rigorous judging process,” said Richard Alvin, awards director. “This ensures that the Awards are truly an accolade to world-class achievements. We saw an extremely high level of competition this year, so I would like to personally congratulate all of our finalists, who should feel incredibly proud for making the shortlist.”
This year’s event took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.


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Geely, the Chinese owner of the famous London black cab, recently launched its new electric model, the TX, onto the streets of London.
Few things are as British as London’s iconic black taxi cab, but these days you would be mistaken. Since 2013 the former London Taxis International (LTI), which manufactured the famous TX range of cabs for 70 years, has actually been owned by Chinese company Geely.
The firm, which also owns Volvo, Lotus and a stake in Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler but is little known in the UK, snapped up LTI in 2013 for £11.4m after it went into receivership. After building a £325m new factory in Coventry to produce a greener cab, the London Electric Vehicle Company – as it is now known – recently launched its electric taxi, the new TX range-extender.
Diesels on the outs in the capital
The cab, which costs £55,599 to buy outright or £170 a week to lease over five years, has around an 80 mile range before it runs out of charge. What’s more, it is the first private hire vehicle to comply with stringent new Transport for London (TfL) regulations demanding that all new taxis must be able to be driven for 30 miles without polluting the capital.
The rules also stipulate that if taxis are also fitted with an engine, it must be petrol and produce no more than 50g of carbon dioxide per kilometre – less than half that emitted by the average new vehicle sold in Europe. The popular TX4 model, also previously manufactured by LTI, was a diesel but new emissions legislation means the last diesel taxi models are due to disappear from London’s streets by 2032.
Inspiration taken from classic cabs
Unlike many other car designs, there have only been a handful of models of the much loved London black cab, as Auto Express notes; the classic Austin FX3 (1949), the 1958 FX4 – remodelled into the 1989 Fairway (both driven by my own father, a retired London cabbie) and the TX1, introduced in 1997.
Designers revisited the iconic Austin FX4 taxi for inspiration. “We had to pull some kind of trick with this so it actually looked like a London cab but at the same time didn’t,” says David Ancona, Geely’s designer told Wired.co.uk.
“You’re kind of dealing with the crown jewels, aren’t you? It’s a vehicle that everyone’s going to have an opinion on.
“We had to try and tap into that timelessness. There’s something quite comforting with the London taxi, so we couldn’t really screw around with that. We had to capture that same feeling.”
‘Wailing’ diesel engine gone
However, liberal use has also been made of Geely’s Volvo technology, including the 1.5 litre Volvo petrol engine. The TX has an electric motor powering the back wheels and a 400 volt lithium-ion battery, but Geely prefers to call the model a ‘range-extender’ rather than a hybrid.
As Auto Express notes, in contrast, older models such as the TX4 were characterised by the “wailing” 2.5 litre diesel engine and “black smoke pouring out of the exhaust” – something I recall well from trips to school in my Dad’s blue taxi with the black vinyl roof.
London cabs generally have a working life of 15 years and TfL’s (the formidable ‘Carriage Office’s’ in my father’s time) strict Conditions of Fitness famously demand that London taxis have a tight turning circle of 25 feet – historically the turning circle outside the Savoy Hotel, just off London’s Strand. They also have to have wheelchair access, a passenger compartment inner height of not less than 1.3m, while windows cannot be more than 25% tinted.
At peak production, Geely’s new LEVC factory can produce 142 new TX cabs a week. No surprise, then, that the firm also has ambitions to supply its taxis abroad, having already sold 225 to cab operator RMC in Amsterdam, with another order for Norway. Many other European countries, such as Hamburg, which recently banned diesel cars, are also introducing stricter vehicle emissions legislation so there is scope for more business.
One major stumbling block for London’s cabbies is the low number of rapid recharging points in the capital – just 100, with 51 specifically for London taxis. However, TfL is due to install a further 200 charging points this year.
The average black cab driver covers 120 miles a day and an airport round trip from London to Heathrow or Gatwick could soon wipe out the charge, cabbies fear. However, it’s thought that there are more than 100 new electric TX models already being driven in the capital and, coupled with the petrol engine, the new cab has a total range of 377 miles.
A taxi driver’s view
One of the big tests is what London’s cabbies will make of the new model. My father, and others, have balked at the £56,000 price tag and are concerned about the high cost of replacement batteries, as well as where to recharge the vehicles.
“They’re talking to us about £50,000 [for the new cab],” cabbie Alan Filsell, 61, told the Guardian. “These are about £43,000,” he said of the current diesel model TX4 he drives. “It’s bigger than a mortgage. They [other taxi drivers] reckon if the batteries go wrong, it’ll cost £8,000. I do like the look of it, don’t get me wrong.”
However, the London Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) told Alvexo that having a greener cab will make a big difference to the trade.
“The new electric taxi is a game-changer for the black cab trade,” said Steve McNamara, the LTDA’s general secretary.
“With over 150 electric black cabs already on London’s streets, we are proud to be leading the charge towards a cleaner, greener London.
“However we need the Mayor, TfL and London boroughs to work together and accelerate the roll-out of accessible rapid charging points to support cabbies who switch to the new vehicle.”
The taxi drivers we spoke to who are already driving the new TX had nothing but positive feedback. “It’s a great cab, purpose built for the twenty first century,” says Donny MM. “I can honestly say the driving experience is a world away from the existing diesel cabs plus the economy on fuel is significant, but more importantly the customers absolutely love it.”
Manchester Hire Cab Limited told us via Twitter: “Had mine nearly 5 weeks. Over 3000 miles, and total fuel bills of [just] £75,” while Gary Knopp described it as a “game-changer”.
Meanwhile, Damien Wakeman says: “It will cost you £195 per week on a [leasing plan] and after five years [you can just hand it back and get a new one. Also there’s an advertising company paying £3000 per year so insurance [is] free.”
However, one taxi driver told us that he had decided to wait for the new electric Metrocab instead as he thought it should be cheaper and a better product.
With Uber drivers’ Toyota Priuses still outnumbering black cab drivers in London two to one, despite TfL’s refusal to grant it a new operating licence, London’s professional cabbies need every edge they can find.
LEVC’s CEO Chris Gubbey thinks his quiet TX taxis, with USB chargers, capacity for six, comfortable seating and onboard wi-fi, combined with a driver with ‘the knowledge’ under his or her belt, will appeal to passengers tiring of Uber.
“The fundamentals of our business are based around a professional driver and a superb product that contributes towards the clean air in the cities,” he told Wired.co.uk.
However, the firm will soon have to grapple with competition from Nissan’s soon-to-be-launched Dynamo taxi and bitter rival Metrocab is also due to start producing zero emission taxis by the end of 2018.


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THE cost of providing street lighting in Cambridgeshire has doubled. Councils often complain that their costs rise much faster than those in the general economy and their taxpayers homes. Nowhere is this better illustrated than in Cambridgeshire County C
THE cost of providing street lighting in Cambridgeshire has doubled.
Councils often complain that their costs rise much faster than those in the general economy and their taxpayers' homes.
Nowhere is this better illustrated than in Cambridgeshire County Council's street-lighting bills, which have almost doubled in the last year.
Mark Kemp, the council's director of highways and access, told The Hunts Post yesterday (Tuesday): "Because of the increase in energy prices last year, the price the county council is paying for electricity has almost doubled. The county council used the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO), which negotiates contracts for authorities across the eastern region. This price was a reduced rate due to changes made in how the contract works to get better value.
"With some 55,000 street lamps across Cambridgeshire, it is an indication of the hidden extra costs faced by councils that have risen far beyond inflation. Parish councils are being charged a lower rate than what the county pays for their street lights.
"The county council will continue to look at new ways to use technology to make lights more efficient and environmentally friendly. Currently the electricity used to power the county's street lights comes from green sources," he added.
CCC last year spent £1.14million on lighting the county's streets.
Household inflation, as measured by the consumer prices index, was 4.1 per cent in November, the most recent figure. The retail prices index, which until the late summer had been showing an annual inflation rate ahead of the CPI, stood at three per cent in November.


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There will be plenty on offer including Vegivores' vegan jackfruit. Credit:UGC
A new monthly food market catering for vegans in Reading should be added to calenders.
The vegan market will launch at Station Hill in Reading town centre on Saturday, March 24.
Open from 10am until 4pm, the mini feastival will be back every month offering a range of plant-based baked goods, savoury dishes, desserts and art.
Opposite Reading station, the location is a prime spot for people in Reading, Berkshire to get their meat and dairy alternatives.
Stalls that have already signed up include street food company Vegivores, homemade fudge makers Hartland Fudge and Silver Moon Food offering vegans an alternative menu.
Other Saturday dates that have already been set up are April 28 and May 26.
Silver Moon Food will be selling vegan cheese. Credit: UGC
Organised by friends Philippa Stannard and Melony Lawrance, the duo hope to create a plant-based hub in Reading, showcasing its best local and independent companies and start-ups.
The pair also created the Ethic Collective, a group set up to bring together people who desire sustainable and ethical lifestyles and make vegan product choices.


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Bankers can profit from knowing more about how credit cards are made, says a growing trade association of small companies that make them.
International Card Manufacturers Association, based in Princeton, N.J., addresses a wide range of issues confronting the business, from security risks to environmental concerns -- and invites bankers to join.
"Bankers should be aware of the manufacturing implications and production protocol that enhance the integrity and security of their cards," said Mary Kay Metcalf, communications manager for the association.
Ms. Metcalf points out that credit card fraud costs the banking industry more than $1.2 billion annually wordwide.
"Counterfeiters and fraudsters are always just one step behind," she said. "Security is a paramount concern of ICMA."
Support from MasterCard
Tom McGrath, director of card security at MasterCard International and a member of the association, agrees. "The bad guys are moving quick; we've got to move just as fast," he says.
MasterCard is an associate member of the organization, as are Visa and Europay.
Mr. McGrath sees the group as an educational forum where bankers can inform manufacturers "of where we're going and what we want to do."
He explained that working with the association on technological advances, like the computer chip carrying smart cards, will save time and money. "We're becoming more hightech," he said. "We need to bring manufacturers up to speed and keep them abreast of the new trends."
Founded in 1990
Albert J. Vrancart, president and chief executive officer of National Business Services Card Systems Inc., a New Jerseybased card manufacturer, cofounded the group in 1990 with Robert S. Blum, president of Colorado Plasticard Inc., another manufacturer. They identified an industrywide need for an organization that could pool resources, conduct research and promote manufacturers concerns.
Since then, the association has grown from 12 members to 70, from 18 countries.
The group works to strengthen security standards, learn about new technologies, and handle manufacturing problems common to the industry.
Still, some of the largest U.S. manufacturers are keeping their distance.
Lou W. Bisasky, president of Malco Plastics Inc., said the association's agenda is geared to sharing technological information rather than promoting card use or new technology. "Malco is the largest producer of cards in the world," he said. "We're not interested in giving away our trade secrets."
Mr. Bisasky attributed 90% of U.S. card manufacturing production to his company and three competitors: Data Card Corp., Perfect Plastic Printing Corp., and Kirk Plastic Co. Inc. -- none of which are members of the association.
Even so, Mr. Vrancart said, those companies send representatives to the group's annual trade show, which showcases card manufacturing materials and equipment from different types of industry suppliers. There were 20 vendors and about 160 attendees at the 1993 show in Portugal.
The fourth convention will take place this fall in Cancun, Mexico, and a larger turnout is expected.
Although the association is lagging in U.S. subscriptions, Mr. Bisasky acknowledged that the trade group had a broader international appeal.
Some foreign subscribers include Oldenburg Security Printing Division in Germany, Interlock AG of Switzerland, Solaic in France and Shave & Gibson Africard, South Africa.
Mr. Vrancart said the association affords its members more visibility and control in a heavily regulated industry.
As Visa- and MasterCard-approved credit card suppliers, producers must follow strict standards in terms of design, manufacture and security. "We provide recommendations and comments back to Visa and MasterCard as to the viability of new standards they want to place on the industry," said Mr. Vrancart.
He also mentioned that the association takes an active approach to rule-making, working with groups like the International Standards Organization, a body that sets card standards, and the Vinyl Institute, researching card recycling programs and other environmental issues.
Card manufacturers are principal voting members of the group, paying $2,000 annual fees. Members also include manufacturers of unsecured cards.
Also encouraged, like card issuers, to join as associate members are suppliers of materials, equipment, and components. Associate members pay $1,500.


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On Monday, a report from the Korean Herald website claimed that LG, one of the first smartphone makers to launch a Windows Phone product, no longer has plans to launch any new Windows Phone devices. The article quoted an unnamed LG spokesperson as saying, "The total unit of Windows Phone sold in the global market is not a meaningful figure." The article added that LG would concentrate its resources on making Android phones.
Now it looks like LG is backtracking on those comments, at least in part. Pocket-lint.com reports that according to a new statement from an unnamed LG spokesperson, "None of it is true. Korea Herald is showing its speculative side again. We are still on board with Windows Phone, but right now, we're focusing on Android because that's where the demand is." LG's spokesperson added, "Regardless of which OS, LG is committed to offering consumers as wide a choice as possible."
Even with these new statements, the truth is that LG has not released a new Windows Phone product since Windows Phone 7 was launched in the fall of 2010. In the meantime, other smartphone makers like HTC, Samsung and most notably Nokia have all released products in the last six or seven months running the latest version of the Windows Phone OS.
There were rumors that LG was planning to launch a new Windows Phone device this year under the name the LG Miracle or LG Fantasy. Even though Internet websites posted leaked photos of the product, the phone was never actually launched. In a news post today, WPCentral.com claims they have gotten a hold of a prototype for this smartphone. They have also posted a video of the device, shown below. However, it now seems likely it will never be commercially produced.


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Uganda earns a total of shs566b from exporting the Nile Perch fish and its products alone, according to the minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja.
Out of the $153m (about shs566b) Uganda earns from Nile perch, $52.9m (shs 195.7b) is from the fish maws (locally known as enuuni).
The minister was responding to the concerns that the fish maw business was dominated by Chinese and Indians which denies Ugandans the opportunity to earn more revenue from the highly lucrative business.
The minister explained that the fish maws are used for medical purposes including making surgical threads, anaesthetic drugs and aphrodisiac drugs.
Ssempijja also informed parliament that fish maw soups are reported to be taken by patients who have undergone surgery to quicken their recovery since they are rich in proteins and other nutrients which are believed to help in the healing of lungs and kidney.
The minister revealed that the largest trading partners in fish maws are Hong Kong and southern china where a kilogram goes for between $450 to $1,000 (about shs1.6m to shs3.7m) depending on the market rate and the quality of the product.
In Uganda, fish maws from a 70kg Nile perch fetch shs1.5m which is far higher than the cost of the fish itself which is shs700, 000.
In a report presented to parliament, Ssempijja noted that the Nile perch is the most valuable fish for Uganda since it fetches the highest amount of foreign exchange earnings.
Uganda produces about 447,000 metric tonnes of which the Nile perch contributes 86,463 metric tonnes, tilapia 49,778 metric tonnes, small pelagics, (mukene, muziri and ragoogi) contribute 260,460 metric tonnes while other species account for 50,8000 metric tonnes.
The minister noted that the financing of the fish maw dealers is mainly through interest- free cash advances from friendly Chinese.
The minister told parliament that the lack of financing and investment in the lucrative fish maw business poses a big threat to the sustainability of the Nile perch.
Ssempijja emphasised the need to streamline the fish maw processing and trade with strict control, regulation and quality assurance to ensure product quality and higher returns from the exports.
The minister told parliament that having realised that the value of the Nile perch, the ministry has embarked on its farming and breeding research.
The minister admitted that whereas the export of fish maws is dominated by Chinese and Indians, the government will undertake measures to ensure all the stakeholders in the value chain reap high benefits.


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Mahindra First Choice Wheels (MFCW) already opened a showroom to sell used EVs; used car market based Droom and Cartrade too are showing interest
Used car market in India is pretty large but the pre-owned EV market is far behind in terms of development. But, with the ever changing scenario of the market, now various operators are showing interest toward the new segment, which has immense future-growth potential. Mahindra First Choice Wheels (MFCW) has already launched a showroom in Bengaluru, which will exclusively sell electric vehicles.
The MFCW showroom will also offer its own certification and warranty on the pre-owned EVs it will sell. Apart from that, other companies like Droom and Cartrade are also showing keen interest towards the used electric vehicle business. Despite being in a primary stage, the electric vehicle market has grown significantly in the last couple of years.
As the concerns regarding environment is growing among the car buyers, and more electric and hybrid vehicles are being launched in the country the EV market is about to grow further in future. Keeping that in mind, pre-owned car marketers are showing interest in the new segment. In large cities like Delhi, where environment pollution is much higher and with the stricter emission norms being applied, EVs are becoming a potential short-distance second car option, which will drive the market to grow further.
In the domestic market, Mahindra is known for its advanced electric powertrain technology. The automaker has built the first Indian EV in form of e2o and later launched the eVerito too. Apart from that, the company has introduced the hybrid technology to popular models like Scorpio also.
Apart from selling the pre-owned EVs individually, MFCW is also exploring possibilities for electric vehicle fleet, which will significantly improve the air quality by reducing the emission at large scale. The pre-owned car marketers believe that given the high pricing of electric cars in the country, used EVs would be excellent value for money.


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Cars.co.za's SentiMETAL brand has launched a very limited series of prints, each paying tribute to uniquely South African cars. There are currently around 20 iconic cars to choose from, and more are being added weekly.
The rise in interest in cars unique to South Africa is not only noticeable in the prices these cars demand these days, but was also very obvious at the recent Concours South Africa, for example, where a large selection of SA Specials vied for the overall trophy, including our very own Opel Kadett GSi Superboss.
"We have a very rich automotive heritage, and it's important that we not only protect it, but also celebrate it," says Cars.co.za Consumer Experience Manager, Hannes Oosthuizen."
The first print to be released features the iconic BMW 325iS (E30) "Gusheshe".
The prints feature such icons as the BMW 325iS (popularly known as the "Gusheshe"), BMW 333i, 530 MLE, Opel Kadett Superboss, Alfa GTV6 3.0, Ford Sierra XR-8, Chevrolet Firenza Can-Am, Caracal, Fiat 131 Racing, Ford Capri Perana and many more. "We've gone for bright, strong colours and simple design, to put the focus on the machines," says Oosthuizen. "Artist Wayne Batty's drawings are simply phenomenal in their detail."
SentiMETAL will only be printing 50 of each of these prints (in both sizes), and each will be individually numbered. "Ultimately, we may end up producing around 30 of these Editions, because that's more or less the number of cars worthy of poster status," says Oosthuizen. "Imagine what an office or mancave would look like with all 30 of these colourful prints!"
To order your print, go here. Nationwide shipping is free. Order 3 or more prints and you get an automatic 20% discount.


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On Monday, a handful of industry experts will gather to consider -- or reconsider -- a development that, a year ago, was hailed as the Internet's Next Big Thing: "push" technology.
The skeptical mood of the roundtable, as reflected in its title ("Push Technology: Paradigm or Waste of Time?"), is a big change for push, but the same epigram might be applied just as accurately to this year's discussions of several once-hyped Internet technologies.
At the same time, other promising trends and innovations, from broadband connectivity to extended intranets, are cropping up to give IT managers pleasant dreams and, hopefully, add to their employers' bottom lines.
The push debate will likely revolve around a decisive trend that's emerged recently. With the two major browsers having essentially taken over the market for pushing content to users' desktops (putting many small push startups out of business), what's left for the other pushers out there?
For companies maintaining intranets -- and extended intranets linking them to partners and clients -- the answer is software distribution and updating.
Eli Barkat, president and CEO of BackWeb Technologies Inc., one of the push event's speakers, will doubtless put in a word or two about how his company has shifted its focus from consumers on the Internet to corporations and their private networks.
Such consumer-oriented companies as bookseller Amazon.com, online auctioneer Onsale, and virtual travel agency Travelocity are looking to another form of push for keeping their customers connected: multimedia E-mail. John Funk, CEO of E-mail publisher InfoBeat, and another of the push panelists, echoes analysts' opinions: that there's a future for push at a variety of levels.
"The client platforms such as Marimba and BackWeb work best inside an enterprise, where you can control the deployment and you're trying to have a variety of information and content mixed in, but that's not for everybody," Funk said. "There is no magic bullet, no one-size-fits-all."
"One size fits all" is pretty close to the "Write once, run anywhere" battle cry that once rallied the legions around Sun Microsystems' Java programming language. Java's multiplatform flexibility should make it ideal for the burgeoning E-commerce market, but experts don't expect to see any inordinate caffeine influence this fall.
"Java's playing as much of a role in E-commerce as any programming language," said Vernon Keenan, a senior analyst with Zona Research Inc. in Redwood City, Calif. "Java interfaces on a client, or Java logic on an app server -- there's some appeal to that, because lots of clients and servers run Java. But it's not the magical elixir some folks thought it was a year ago."
Back to the first part of this story.


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Barrhead Travel said sales of touring holidays rose by almost a third in March (32% year-on-year) after it launched a partnership with online search platform TourHound.
The Scottish agency chain invested in the web technology after seeing touring revenue rise by 20% year-on-year in 2018.
Its white-label web partnership with TourHound – an associate member of the Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers – has seen Barrhead Travel add a new ‘Touring Holidays’ section to the agency’s website.
It enables customers to browse offers from Barrhead Travel’s preferred touring partners and then call or email a specialist in that destination.
The agency said it has seen a noticeable increase in touring bookings since the section went live at the end of February.
Several destinations have seen significant year-on-year increases in sales so far this year, including India (up 28%), Vietnam (up 75%) and Japan (up by 88%).
Jacqueline Dobson (pictured), Barrhead Travel president, said: “Touring has been a key growth area for our business and shows no signs of slowing down.
“We’ve also increased training for our sales teams to ensure we can offer our clients the most up-to-date and authentic expertise as the sector continues to grow in popularity.”
To complement the new touring website section, Barrhead has been running marketing campaigns.
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It’s coming soon
It’s nothing new that the U.S. government wishes to create strong regulations regarding cryptocurrencies and their correlated financial services as well.
The Biden administration is about to launch an executive order regarding digital assets. In short, government officials will be selected to study crypto, non-fungible tokens, and other decentralized products to build a regulatory framework.
According to Barron’s, a source said that the executive order will be released through a national security memorandum. The document is expected to be published in the next weeks:
“This is designed to look holistically at digital assets and develop a set of policies that give coherency to what the government is trying to do in this space.”
The risks and criminal uses of cryptocurrencies are the biggest preoccupations. After all, some technologies inside crypto override the state’s current financial control mechanisms.
That said, the U.S. government could aim to make partnerships with other countries to make an international regulation with more accurate control over what users are doing.
Possible impacts on market of Executive Order
The government wishes to see everything that its population is doing regarding digital assets, which is not the main goal of cryptocurrencies: they were designed for private, personal use only.
The United States is one of the strongest crypto markets worldwide, both in volume and mining; if the regulations become too aggressive, this could lead to unprecedented changes in its market capitalization.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers are trying to make things a little lighter for crypto users; there is still some controversy, and discussions about a correct regulatory framework are far from ending.
The bottom line
It’s too soon to tell what the government is planning exactly. Biden isn’t very fond of cryptocurrencies and some officials disagree on doing an aggressive regulation framework.
Comprehensive and cohesive regulation is key — for crypto and USA both. It could guarantee a healthy and safe environment for everyone involved.
If you wish to make cryptocurrencies even stronger, why not put them to good use? Register now at CoinShopp and buy and sell goods and services worldwide. You get a 15% discount when using CSHOP, our native token!


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BMW S1000RR racers ridden
What happens when you take one of the most powerful, best-handling sportsbikes, loaded with the latest electronic rider aids and turn it into a racer? To find out, BMW let us ride four S1000RRs, back-to-back at Monza. For all the latest news go to http://www.motorcyclenews.com
2012 KTM 990 Adventure ridden
If this KTM Adventure 990 looks familiar then that's entirely deliberate -- but this is no limited edition 'Dakar' version, as debuted last Spring, nor the full-blown 'R' version -- it's the standard 2012 Adventure which, like its R brother, boasts a host of modifications and improvements for this year, before an all-new model is expected in 2014. View more great motorcycling videos on the MCN channel: http://www.youtube.com/motorcyclenewsdotcom Subscribe to the MCN YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=motorcyclenewsdotcom Get the latest motorcycle news at http://www.motorcyclenews.com/ Join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MotorcycleNews/ Motor Cycle News on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MCNNews MCN sport on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MCNSport
World's coolest motorcycle onboard...
..., possibly. Well, we thought so. http://www.rotormount.com Its been a long time coming but we finally got hold of the RotoR onboard camera rig and the six month wait paid off. The RotoR camera support system is available for around 300 Euros, mail firstname.lastname@example.org for more information. This footage was filmed on the launch of Ducati's all new 1199 Panigale superbike at the Yas Marina F1 circuit in Abu Dhabi. Check out - http://www.motorcyclenews.com
Park Lane S1000RR ready-made racer
BMW took the 1000cc sports bike world by storm this year with it's new S1000RR. But now dealers are pushing the envelope and BMW Park Lane is offering to build you a track version of the S1000RR out of the crate.


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Dress rental shop moves to new location
ALTON — Abby Ontis, like many small business owners, started her company in the living room of her home.
A few months later, the Alton native graduated her business, Wish & Wear Dress Rentals, to a consignment shop on Broadway Avenue. Nearly two years passed, and Wish and Wear is graduating again — this time to its own independent location at 11 E. Broadway Ave., the former location of Cmax Photography.
The new location also will be home to dance supply store Dance Things and More, formerly located at 318 E. Broadway Ave. Owner Deborah Altom sells dance wear and supplies, such as shoes, leotards and makeup.
Ontis, who studied fashion merchandising at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, said she started the dress rental company because she wanted to give girls and women another choice in shopping for formal wear apart from traditional retailers
“We treat our gowns well, and we want our customers to feel like it’s special,” Ontis said.
Parents who are unable or unwilling to afford an brand-new dress for their child’s prom, homecoming or gala, have the option of either buying or renting at Wish & Wear. Ontis said she stocks a variety of shapes, styles and sizes of dresses to keep up with trends and to fit customers’ needs.
Some of the dresses are new, hand-picked by Ontis, while some are donated and others are consigned.
Ontis plans to open her new shop after Labor Day. Eventually, she said she hopes to franchise the business model. For now, she said she is excited to fill up and design her new storefront window.
For more information on Wish & Wear visit www.facebook.com/wishandweardressrentals.
Reach Kelsey Landis at 618-208-6460 x 1396 or on Twitter @kelseylandis.


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President Obama’s nominees for the U.S. Trade Representative post and Commerce Secretary post will now go to the full Senate for approval.
Chelsea Clinton surprised her father by presenting him with a Father of the Year award.
The retailer is taking a page from the past to reestablish its private brand reputation.
Users can send virtual kisses around the globe, with the option to add a personalized message and pick a lipstick color.
Three of the major industry players and rivals put up a united front on the vitality of the magazine business, in print and elsewhere, Tuesday in Philadelphia.
On Monday night, the cream of the cream of Italy’s fashion business flocked at the Galleria Giangaleazzo Visconti for the book’s launch.
Avery Dennison debuts its launch of atma.io, a digital ID platform for supply chain transparency.


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I think there must have been a bad spot because someone cut a piece off the top.
She said he punched her in the face while they were still having anal intercourse and proceeded to assault her.
Each year cases of the disease increase in number, as lifestyle changes put more women at risk.
When you log out of this online browser game, your empire and the world around it will continue to produce goods and troops which you can collect to use for your expansion as soon as you come back.
InnoGames, known as a publisher of high quality titles such as the strategy game and the Greek empire game , is combining strategic game-play in an empire builder with excellent visual appeal.
She started in the adult industry when she was in her early twenties, with her first production in 2005.
He addressed claims by three accusers, writing; 'There have been some egregious claims made against me on social media.
In an interview with the in December 2015, she said the decision to come forward with the allegations was hard as she was friends with Deen.


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Seacoast restaurants on brink as 2020 comes to a close
Asking area restaurant owners to look back at their year, from their vibrant pasts to this bleak present, is to have them recount a great and terrifying leap over the crevasse coronavirus bore. The economic devastation of COVID-19 on Seacoast restaurants, like those around the world, was immediate, epic and continues to unfold before our eyes. Their livelihood, at this moment, hangs on a thread.
The crisis economically affects not only restaurateurs and their staff, but also the ecosystem surrounding them, including farmers, food purveyors and commercial landlords.
The stimulus package just passed by Congress includes critical aid for small businesses, including restaurants, but, as Peter Egelston, co-owner of the Portsmouth Brewery, points out, it comes late and is by no means a panacea.
“As it is, we’re operating at about a quarter of the level of business we’d normally expect to be doing this time of year, which means a lot of our staff are working reduced hours or have been dropped off the schedule altogether, and that hurts,” he says. "In my opinion, the fact that powerful members of Congress took so long to confront the fact that working people everywhere are in great peril is unforgivable. Shame on them."
“My biggest concern,” he adds, “is how employees of small businesses like the Brewery will be able to make ends meet if we must go into another lockdown, as has occurred in other states.”
Many area restaurateurs say they have slashed staffing, will stay open for the holidays, and then assess their bottom line.
State mandates closed restaurants in mid-March and gradually reopened them through the summer under a variety of restrictions that had them operating well below capacity. To survive, restaurants incorporated or increased takeout, outdoor dining, social media campaigns and online ordering.
With the cold weather, the loss of outdoor dining compelled some restaurateurs to shutter their establishments for the winter.
In an unprecedented move, Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café in downtown Portsmouth, owned by successful restaurant entrepreneur Jay McSharry, temporarily closed its doors in mid-December. Rudi’s, just up the street, followed suit. As did Blue Moon Evolution in Exeter.
“It’s telling when you have a cornerstone of the community like Jumpin’ Jay’s being one of the first to (temporarily) close,” says Matt Louis, a chef-owner of four Portsmouth restaurants. “If that doesn’t scare the daylights out of you as a restaurant owner, you aren’t living in reality. I would think every restaurant in town has to let the gravity of that sink in. If Jumpin’ Jay’s isn’t safe, who is?”
More:Jumpin' Jay's of Portsmouth latest restaurant to hibernate for the winter
Louis, a four-time James Beard Award semifinalist, announced on Dec. 21 that he would also be closing two of his fine dining restaurants in downtown Portsmouth for the winter starting on Jan. 3.
Those restaurants, Moxy and The Franklin, were flourishing as 2020 unfolded. Weekends were booked. Long waits were part and parcel of his patrons’ experience. Reviews lavished those establishments with praise. But in the waning weeks of this year, Louis says, he was lucky if 12 guests showed up a night.
“Moxy and The Franklin have been fighting tooth and nail,” he says. “Things changed a month ago. The cold weather naturally took outdoor dining away, even before the barriers the city had placed came down. The threat and surge of COVID-19 was rising, and consumer confidence regarding dining out was reeled back in. Unemployment is likely to increase, people realize that, so they aren’t spending on dining.”
“The reality for every restaurant in downtown Portsmouth is that the potential to close for the winter is there,” he says. “Just walk around. There’s no one there. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.”
His other two restaurants, Luigi’s West End Pizza and Street, are breaking even at the moment, he says, thanks primarily to a robust takeout business.
New Hampshire view bleak
According to Mike Somers, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, there is no hard data on how many restaurants have closed on the Seacoast, but he says the state has permanently lost more than 200.
Congress’s stimulus package will bring some much-needed assistance, he says.
“CARES Act and PPP funding have brought restaurants to this point and if Congress didn’t follow that up, it would have thrown that money away," he says. “Kudos to Senator (Jeanne) Shaheen and our congressional delegation for getting this done.”
More:In 2020, Black Trumpet reimagined what it means to serve the community
Shaheen, along with fellow N.H. Senator Maggie Hassan, are two members of a bipartisan, bicameral group of federal lawmakers who drafted this latest COVID-19 emergency relief package.
“This will buy us time, and that’s what we need,” Somers says. “We need the population to be vaccinated to get restaurants in a better position, and it’s going to take many months for that to happen.”
In the meantime, he says, challenges continue to mount.
“Business is down dramatically now that outdoor dining has gone away, food costs are up, and folks are hesitant to dine indoors. Takeout and delivery are good, but it’s not enough to sustain most restaurants in the long term. Then there's the PPE costs.”
Increased cost of doing business
At Cure in Portsmouth, chef-owner Julie Cutting is paying $190 a case for masks and gloves, on top of other COVID-19 related expenses she incurred throughout the year, including building partitions, purchasing an outdoor tent, and HPPA air filters.
Cutting says she is doing everything in her power to make indoor dining as safe as possible.
She also experimented with opening seven days a week in an effort to keep her staff employed, but when outdoor dining ended, the numbers didn’t add up.
“The work demand dropped from needing six to seven staff members a night in the summer, to now only needing three or four,” she says. “We are back to five days a week and plan to continue through the holidays. I will need to evaluate the cost of staying open once we enter into January. I do not want to close whatsoever.”
If Portsmouth restaurants can get through the winter, their owners want to see outdoor dining officially allowed again in 2021. That, they all agree, was crucial in 2020.
Al Fleury owns six Seacoast restaurants, The Goat Bar and Grill, The Green Room, Wally’s Pub and Bernie’s Beach Bar in Hampton, as well as a second Goat and Green Room in Portsmouth. He plans to open another restaurant in Manchester in 2021.
Fleury has a unique perspective, having worked with both Hampton and Portsmouth officials to leverage the productivity of his restaurants during the epidemic. He says Hampton was more nimble.
“Hampton was amazing,” he says. “The selectmen, and chief of police particularly, were easy to work with.“
He says, thanks to Hampton officials, his businesses there were able to stay open and operate successfully.
He described Portsmouth officials as “extremely slow” to react to the needs of restaurants, especially when it came to outdoor dining. He wants to see some of the changes made in 2020 extended into 2021.
“I’d like to see the city of Portsmouth keep outside dining from March 1, to December 1,“ he says. “If that is the case, business owners will be able to invest money knowing that dining area is going to stay there for nine months.”
More:Portsmouth outdoor dining to return in 2021
Fleury has high hopes for N.H. restaurants in the new year.
“Many think I’m crazy, but we are planning for a full summer. We are also expanding and opening a Goat Bar and Grill in Manchester, N.H., which will be an entertainment venue as well as offering our normal atmosphere. We have some other irons in the fire for two more locations.”
He says he understands this winter will be challenging, but his Fleury Group is doubling down on the resilience of the N.H. economy, and he has full faith that consumer confidence will return this summer once the vaccine has reached the general populace.
“We won’t close,” Fleury says. “If I have to be the one cooking, I will. My managers have handled the takeout. We delivered to homes during COVID. All our restaurants gave half-off discounts to town citizens because they were hurting, too. Our customers rewarded us with loyalty, they still show up consistently and buy apparel and gift cards. That’s what it’s all about. People want us to stick around, and we are going to. Spring of 2021 and the remainder is a big year.”


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Vodacom in patnership with leading telecommunication companies in Africa is providing substancial roaming service for travellers and tourists in ten African countries.
Travellers and tourists in Burundi, DRC Congo, Ghana, Lesotho, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa can now make cheap phone calls without any hurdle. Benefitting from this program are telecom companies in South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Ghana (Vodafone), Kenya (Safaricom), Rwanda (MTN), DRC Congo,Uganda (MTN and UTL) and all using vodacom as a mobile phone service provider- Vodacom is a leading mobile phone company operating in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Giving reasons for this new development, Tanzania’s Vodacom Managing Director, Rene Meza, said “What we are launching today is a solution to give our customers peace of mind when travelling.”
“Nobody likes the headache of worrying about roaming bills,” he added.
“Data roaming has been and still is an expensive undertaking for most operators and today we are so proud to reduce substantially together with voice and SMS our data roaming charges for our customers travelling in any of our African countries,” Meza said.
It can be recalled that earlier this month, Vodacom launched low flat rates for roaming within its coverage area on the continent. These rates, according to BizTechAfrica report, only applies when roaming on the Vodacom Lesotho, Vodacom Mozambique, Vodacom Tanzania, Vodacom DRC, Kenya Safaricom and Vodafone Ghana networks.
Romeo Kumalo, Chief Commercial Officer at Vodacom, says: “We know people want to remain connected…Whether at home or on holiday in Mozambique, and nobody likes the headache of worrying about roaming bills. What we’re launching is a solution to give our customers peace of mind when traveling. They now have one low roaming rate across our African family of networks and Especially an aggressive data rate – just in time for the Easter holidays.”
Image via BizTechAfrica


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Australia’s collapsed car manufacturing industry could be revived if we began building electric cars on home soil, an industry expert says.
The declaration has sparked hope for thousands of former automobile workers left unemployed after Australia’s car manufacturing industry came to a screeching halt in 2017.
Electric Vehicle Council CEO Behyad Jafari said the biggest roadblock to kick-starting the industry again is our government’s slow uptake of investing in electric cars.
“The most difficult thing hasn’t been about realising the opportunities, but getting the government to come to the table,” Mr Jafari told The New Daily.
“In every other country, the governments are throwing themselves into this sector saying there are jobs.”
What are other countries doing?
Worldwide, the market for electric vehicles (EVs) is taking off.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) found in its 2018 report on EVs that growth was largely driven by government policy.
Such measures included financial incentives, new rules on carbon emissions and tightened fuel-economy standards.
In 2017, China announced a New Energy Vehicle mandate as part of its long-term plan to ban cars with traditional internal combustion engines.
The IEA reported China remains the largest electric car market in the world, with nearly 580,000 electric cars sold in China in 2017 – a 72 per cent rise from the previous year.
But by far the world leader in market share for electric cars was Norway, with the latest data showing EVs accounted for about half of new car sales.
The Norwegian government has promised that by 2025, only cars with zero emissions should be sold.
What Australian leaders say
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten recently announced Labor’s plan of ensuring 50 per cent of all new car sales are electric vehicles by 2030.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, meanwhile, has slammed the plan, warning that Labor’s target would rid people of much-needed four-wheel drives and force them out of the “cars they love” into smaller, costly vehicles to cut carbon emissions.
Small Business Minister Michaelia Cash chimed in by threatening that Labor’s electric vehicles target would result in utes being taken away from tradies.
Michaelia Cash to save the utes. Johnny's car today wont be the one he drives tomorrow and claims 50% of the apprentices standing behind her will be driving an electric vehicle under Bill Shorten. #ausvotes #qldpol pic.twitter.com/Lzvd26vBGh
— David Marler (@Qldaah) April 9, 2019
That is despite Treasurer Josh Frydenberg openly voicing his support for electric vehicles in a newspaper column last year, in which he wrote a “global revolution in electric vehicles is under way” and that Australia needed to prepare with better development, infrastructure, targets and financial incentives.
And Environment Department officials revealed in Senate Estimates last week the government is factoring in 25 to 50 per cent share of electric vehicles in new vehicle sales by 2030.
At the same time, the government has been focusing on the production of batteries to export to other countries.
Supporters of local EV manufacturing, such as Mr Jafari, have questioned why Australia wouldn’t capitalise on the availability of raw materials to make cars locally.
“The raw materials are quite heavy and difficult to transport around the world,” Mr Jafari said.
“We’re letting companies take it overseas, but it would make a lot more sense for us to go down the value chain in Australia and assemble the batteries here.”
Manufacturers dispute PM’s claims
The Prime Minister has been challenged over his “fear-mongering” claims about EVs ruining weekend camping trips and costing Australians too much money.
For example, while the government claimed that Toyota HiLux drivers – Australia’s most popular car – would lose their vehicles under Labor, the company confirmed it was on track to offer an electrified version of all its models within six years.
Hyundai’s government relations manager Scott Nargar warned against “fear-mongering” on electric cars in the federal election.
Mr Nargar said that by 2025 Hyundai planned to have 38 eco models, such as the Kona electric SUV it released last month.
“That car’s got 449 kilometre real range, so it’s just like a normal car,” he said.
Even smaller companies seem to be keen on investing in EVs, even without federal government policies and financial support.
Queensland company ACE Electric Vehicles is already building a $40,000 two-door electric van.


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BOULDER, CO (BRAIN) — Power meter brand Stages Cycling is opening an office in Kirchzarten, Germany, that will handle sales and distribution of its products within Europe. Saddleback LTD will continue to exclusively distribute Stages to dealers in the U.K. and Ireland.
Industry veteran Sebastian Eckmann will direct the Stages Europe office.
The company said the European offce will mirrors Stages' U.S. practice of selling direct to dealers and consumer direct.
“The Stages Cycling Europe office not only provides access to our product in Europe,” said Doug Crawford, Stages vice president, “it ensures we maintain very close and direct relationships with our dealers and riders.”
Stages began shipping its crankarm-based power meter in early 2013, after introducing it at the 2012 Interbike show. The company attaches the sensor to aluminum crank arms from Cannondale, FSA, Shimano, and SRAM. The attachment is done at Stages' Boulder facility.
The company said its products are available now in limited models and quantities to most European countries. Stages Cycling Europe plans to have the full range of Stages Power meters available in mid-January.
Stages Cycling Europe can be reached at +49 (0)7661-919948-0 or email@example.com.


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Google is stopping pixel tracking on YouTube, marketing budgets have declined, Facebook testing new scheduling option, Instagram offering more data control and Facebook changing how organic reach is calculated
Google has announced changes to third-party pixels on YouTube, which will be rolled out next year.
Quarter 3's Bellwether Report has shown that economic and political uncertainty has had an effect on marketing budgets.
Facebook seems to be testing a new scheduling option that could improve organic impressions, although it is also changing how it calculates these impressions.
Instagram is ensuring users have more data control by adding new features that allow more visibility over third-party permissions.
Get all the details with this week's news roundup.
Google removing pixel tracking from YouTube
Google will no longer allow third-party pixel tracking on YouTube from next year. The internet giant made the announcement in a blog,…
Guidelines for great creative from the world’s largest video sharing site
At a time when it’s never been more difficult to cut through the clutter and resonate with your target audience, it’s crucial that marketers master the skill of developing stand-out digital creative. A recent survey from Australia showed that it has become increasingly difficult for consumers to recall any distinctive TV advertising (good or bad), yet another indication that not only are consumers switching their viewing habits but are also zoning out when exposed to poor creative.
YouTube has recognized the difficulty brands face to create content that effectively captures their audience's attention and have developed a very helpful and comprehensive Playbook for Creative Advertising. The playbook is a detailed guide based on a collection of learnings from some of the most successful videos and campaigns on YouTube and is a fascinating read for brands, businesses and…
Facebook called "digital gangsters" by UK government, Google rolling out click share for Search campaigns, big brands pull out of YouTube advertising, Marketing skills gap increasing and Ikea announces new sustainable store opening with water-cleaning bath boats
A new parliamentary report has found that Facebook has broken regulations and has called on the UK government to do more to bring it and similar sights under regulatory control.
Google has started rolling out click share for Search campaigns, giving you more insights into the success of your text ads.
A number of big brands have reportedly pulled out of advertising deals with YouTube after concerns were raised that paedophiles are using the platform to create communities.
The marketing skills gap seems to be increasing, despite investment in training.
Ikea is advertising the launch of its new sustainable Greenwich store with life-size bath boats that are helping to clean up London's waterways.
Find out more about these stories…
Four ways to tell a story in 6 seconds
In an increasingly mobile-first environment, audiences’ attention is at a premium. Brands are constantly looking for new ways to achieve cut-through and platforms such as YouTube, Google and Twitter are designing new formats to align with consumers’ evolving viewing habits.
With mobile as the dominant medium now, user expectations towards advertising have changed. Whilst it will always be important to create great content to make an impact and keep people watching, it’s nevertheless important to acknowledge that content is consumed in different places and contexts, sometimes at home in front of a television and at other times on-the-go, via a mobile device.
As a result of these shifting consumption patterns, in 2016 YouTube introduced the 6-second Bumper ad format for brands looking to deliver messages quickly and efficiently to consumers who are likely to be watching one-off pieces of video content in shorter sessions,…
Chart of the day: 3 of the top 5 Youtube Adverts from January are over 2 minutes long
Earlier this week news came down the marketing grapevine that Youtube/Google was going to no longer support unskippable 30-second ads in a move that they describe as "providing a better ads experience for users online". This change is scheduled for 2018, so there is still plenty of time to use this type of Ads if you already have them in your upcoming campaign plans.
Come 2018, Youtube will still offer unskippable Ads but of the 6 seconds variety. Less annoying (and much less mobile data) for the user but will cause a rethink to many brand's video strategies.
I am very interested in how brands will adopt to the standard of skippable and 6 seconds unskippable ads and move away from the 2-3 minute mini-movies that are a trend of the last 12 months.
This change will also challenge creative agencies be…
Chart of the Day: Sainsbury's Stop Motion Animated "The Greatest Gift" races to 14 million views
Christmas is only days away - retail stores are competing for consumer attention with high profile multichannel marketing campaigns, all hoping that they can report a successful holiday period with increased sales in the new year. It seems that every year the competition to create the best Christmas advert - popularised by Coca-Cola in the the eighties with the Coca-Cola truck advert (still my favourite every year since) is getting fiercer. In the last few years the John Lewis advert has been the one that every other retail brand is trying to match - this year the retailer who is coming closest is Supermarket chain Sainsbury's with their Stop Motion Animation ad "The Greatest Gift" voiced by James Corden which tells the story of Dave, a hard-working and devoted Dad, who realises that the greatest gift he can…
Facebook does battle with YouTube to be the king of online video
YouTube has controlled online video pretty much since its inception. There have been some challengers, but they have pretty much given up the ghost and concentrated on their niche. The platform has made stars of online talent who got in there early and understood their audience. And some of those have become very wealthy off the back of YouTube's ubiquity. But just recently there's been a sea-change that is a genuine threat to YouTube's dominance and this is happening quickly and as you read this.
YouTube has always had its problems. You have no control over the data, the ad returns are poor (if you require them) and targeting is very difficult. However it is/was the place where people go to find out stuff, be entertained, look…
Examples showing how screencasts can help different types of business
Screencast videos are already a big hit in the education industry. Tuning into a video demonstration gives your audience a step-by-step guide, showing them exactly what to do.
This is exactly how big providers such as Khan Academy and Treehouse got started.
But screencasting doesn’t just have to be about how-to videos, it’s also a powerful tool that can be used to create clever customer-focussed videos or provide feedback on client assignments.
This means that the technology has applications across a range of industries for businesses of all sizes.
What is a screencast video?
Essentially, screencasting is recording your computer screen and adding audio to it.
Screencast programs usually highlight your cursor to make it clear to your viewer where the focus of attention should be.
Screencast videos can be sold as a series of tutorial products or uploaded as a how-to…
YouTube overtakes Facebook to become the most visited social network
Not content with being the second largest search engine, earlier this year YouTube beat Facebook to become the most visited social media site in the US.
Yes, you read that right. Research from Compete PRO, which operates one of the largest consumer panels in the US, indicated that unique visitors to YouTube edged ahead of Facebook by over 1.3m visitors in June 2014. While this may come as a surprise to many readers, it’s been on the cards for some time as this graph from Compete illustrates:
You can see that YouTube and Facebook had been slogging it out over the previous few months but finally sometime between May and June this year YouTube got the better of them.
This news mostly slipped under the radar at the time, mainly due to the way the major research…
How to measure the marketing effectiveness of video content
Your video is clocking up hundreds of views, which is great. But does that mean it’s successful?
A revved up view counter in YouTube may indicate that your video is popular, but it doesn’t tell the full story.
For example, it doesn’t tell you how many people only watched the first couple of seconds before dipping out, if they re-watched any sections or if they skipped entire parts.
Rather than watching views, you need to be measuring a much broader set of metrics.
If, like most people, you choose to host your video via YouTube, the metrics you need to consider lie deep within the analytics section of YouTube.
YouTube Analytics options
YouTube Analytics offers in-depth video data which is much more than just views.
One of the first places to start is the Traffic Source. Find out where your viewers have come from and how long they spend…


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SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dasient Inc., the leading provider of anti-malware solutions for websites and ad networks, today announced that Harnish Patel has joined the company as its new Vice President of Sales. In this role, Patel is responsible for the worldwide sales of Dasient's product services and will work closely with Dasient's CEO, Paul Stich, and co-founders Neil Daswani, Shariq Rizvi and Ameet Ranadive to continue driving the company's growth and extend the reach of its anti-malware products into new markets.
Patel joins Dasient from McAfee Inc., the world's largest security-focused technology company, where he held Vice President positions in sales, marketing and business development. With more than 25 years experience in executive-level sales, marketing strategies and relationship management, Patel has built and managed world-class sales and marketing teams in both the U.S. and U.K. at technology giants IBM and Sun Microsystems. He also led similar teams at Secure Computing (acquired by McAfee in 2008), SurfControl, Nuance and Quadriga.
"With its suite of web anti-malware solutions and industry leading research, Dasient is tackling one of the most critical, fastest growing threats on the Internet today – malware," said Patel. "Clearly, there is a market need. Dasient's research indicates that the number of websites and advertisements infected with malware has nearly doubled in the past year. But there are still many businesses that have not fully recognized the threat or what they can do about it. I'm excited about the opportunity to help them solve that problem."
"We are delighted to have Harnish on the team. His global experience and security network will enable Dasient to continue its rapid growth," said Paul Stich, CEO of Dasient. "While the growth of web malware continues to be a great concern for the industry, it also represents an opportunity, both for Dasient and for its customers, to gain an edge by putting a stop to it. Harnish and his team will help enterprises to recognize that there is an answer to this problem."
With the addition of Patel, Dasient continues its aggressive growth path. In January, Dasient announced a new round of funding by Google Ventures that is being used to expand its research and development team that has developed the market's leading web malware detection solution. In 2010, Dasient made record sales of its industry-leading solutions in the financial, media, and e-commerce verticals. Dasient also achieved triple-digit customer growth and doubled its team size as it expanded to new headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Dasient, the leader in Web anti-malware technology, envisions an Internet that is safe and malware-free for users and online businesses. Dasient protects the websites of leading financial services, e-commerce, media, web hosting and other global enterprises from losses of data, revenue and reputation caused by web-based malware attacks. Furthermore, Dasient's adaptive security intelligence redefines Internet security by scanning the expanses of the Web and harnessing the power of data to mount defenses against future malware attacks. For more information about the company and its services, visit www.dasient.com.
Copyright © 2011 Dasient, Inc. All rights reserved. Unpublished rights reserved under U.S. copyright laws. Dasient and the Dasient logo are trademarks of Dasient, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ® indicates registration in the United States. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
SOURCE Dasient Inc.


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SiLiCON CARiBE the award-winning Caribbean Tech Media and Events brand, will stage the first annual Caribbean Blogger’s Week across the Region and Diaspora, from December 5th to 10th, 2016. It will celebrate and showcase the power of Digital Influencers of Caribbean + Caribbean descent, who are Bloggers, Podcasters, Instagrammers, YouTubers and other types of Digital Creatives.
The event which is staged 90% online, will profile and interview emerging and rockstar Digital Influencers; publish educational how-to and how-I-did articles from expert bloggers; release The Status of Caribbean Blogosphere Trend Report; launch an Official Caribbean Blog directory plus host two Twitter Chats. The week will culminate with Blogger Meetups hosted by top Caribbean Bloggers in Kingston, Port of Spain, New York and London.
Caribbean Bloggers Week online and in person schedule of activities, will also examine how Digital Influence is growing in the Caribbean and Diaspora, the current trends, who are some of rising and leading digital influencers; what makes them so powerful ( their reach, resonance and relevance); how they already are reshaping how entire industries work and how marketing budgets are being spent.
Published On: Fri, Oct 28th, 2016 by Curacaochronicle.com/


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The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is introducing a version of its Abu Dhabi Specialists Programme for the travel trade industry in the GCC.
The e-learning platform was created to train and educate industry professionals across the GCC on all destination-related information about the emirate through a series of online courses.
Due to be released across the GCC in both English and Arabic, the programme will cater to industry partners inclusive of tour operators, travel agents, online travel agencies and wholesalers. It will provide travel trade professionals with up-to-date information about Abu Dhabi, as well as various multimedia tools and updated news on the emirate’s latest products and events.
Regional manager – Middle East and Africa, DCT Abu Dhabi, Nabeel M. Al Zarouni commented on the initiative: “This significant platform ensures that all participating industry partners within the GCC market have seamless and quick access to the latest content on the capital, including products, experiences, services, events and more.
“We look forward to engaging a large number of travel trade agents and helping them enhance their knowledge about Abu Dhabi, with all the diverse attractions and experiences we offer,” Al Zarouni added.
This move forms a fundamental part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, which shifted all overseas roadshows, workshops and other forms of physical training onto virtual platforms.


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Handful of Guests on Disney Wonder Sailing That Recently Docked in San Diego Tested Positive for COVID-19
According to reports coming in from several California news sources, the Disney Wonder which docked in San Diego on March 19th has had a handful of passengers and 2 crew members test positive for the COVID-19 virus.
A recent report in the Union Journal says that Disney stated on Monday that they have alerted all visitors and crew members of the COVID-19 situation.
As we previously reported here at MickeyBlog, The Disney Wonder drew into the Port of San Diego after a Panama Canal Cruise that departed from New Orleans on March 6th. The cruise was originally slated to make a number of stops including Mexico, Cayman Islands and Colombia but decided skipped numerous stops over heightened coronavirus concerns.
When the ship originally docked, none of the 1.980 passengers were symptomatic. However, that began to change on Sunday when both a passenger and crew member had tested positive. By Monday the news came out that numerous travellers and 2 crewmembers tested positive for COVID-19
Before departing the ship in San Diego, passengers were given wellness tests and were advised to self-quarantine for 14 days amid mounting concerns.
There are still crewmembers aboard the Disney Wonder with the ship still anchored at the cruise terminal where it will stay until April 19th.
The Port of San Deigo has advised over the past week that they will be completely disinfecting the area prior to and after each ship disembarks. However, on March 30th, the county authorities issued an order stating that cruise ships bearing passengers WILL NOT be able to disembark at the port after March 31st. Some ships may still be visible at the port to refuel or obtain supplies.
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Nazi items pulled from military memorabilia auction in B.C. after outcry
Other artifacts of war will be sold, but not items bearing swastikas
An auction house in Richmond, B.C., has removed some Nazi memorabilia it initially listed for sale this weekend after backlash from the community.
More than 30 items originating in Germany during the Second World War — including a large red flag with a swastika — were posted for sale on Maynards Fine Art and Antiques's website priced between $150 to $250.
"We were disgusted and deeply concerned," said Nico Slobinsky with the Vancouver branch of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
"These items are dripping in the blood of six million Jewish men, woman and children who were murdered during the Holocaust."
They were part of an auction scheduled for Saturday that features more than 300 pieces of historic firearms and military paraphernalia from around the world.
We are disgusted & deeply concerned that there is an auction containing Nazi memorabilia taking place at Maynards Fine Art & Antiques in Richmond BC tomorrow. These items are dripping in the blood of 6 million murdered Jews. pic.twitter.com/MK73RczfaL—@CIJAinfo
Slobinsky said Nazi memorablia, even though legal to sell in Canada, shouldn't go to collectors or dealers.
"We are appalled that anyone would seek to profit from the sale of these items," he said. "And it's always a concern that these items could end up in the wrong hands."
Hugh Bulmer, vice-president of Maynards and principal auctioneer, said selling items from periods of war or genocide can be a difficult issue to balance.
"I like to tell the story of history and I want the next generation to be aware of it, rather than sweeping it under the table," he said.
"But for the good of the community, and being a business in the community, we've decided to withdraw [some of the items]."
Any items with overt Nazi symbols, like the swastika, will be returned to the owner and not put up for sale at the weekend auction. Other German military items from that period, such as helmets, are still listed.
Bulmer pointed out it's not just items from Nazi history that are tainted in blood and violence.
The auction is also selling memorabilia from conflicts around the world, including the American Civil War and battles between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom.
"All these pieces — yes, they are from warfare but it's part of our history," he said.
He said the action house will be reviewing items on a case-by-case basis in the future.
With files from Deborah Goble