text:
Working for a fifth quarter touchdown
Sausages and bacon are a favourite for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but there was a time in the UK when people ate pig's cheeks, tripe and blood pudding, and hardly anyone would squirm in disgust.
Today, however, people's diets contain more processed meats, which means the public has become detached from where their food originates from. If a pig's trotter and a pork sausage were put side by side on a supermarket shelf or on a restaurant menu, most consumers would choose the sausage and never think for a million years to gorge on the animal's foot.
Food waste campaigner Tristram Stuart, speaking at September's Bpex/Eblex/Fabra Fifth Quarter conference, called for a major offal marketing initiative aimed at British consumers to revitalise UK consumption. The author of 'Waste uncovering the global food scandal', told delegates in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, that offal could be a great income provider for the meat industry and that money had to be invested in it to market it to consumers.
"There is an opportunity to stimulate demand for these products, to increase the economic incentive for using these products and basically to encourage consumers to eat them. I think the fact that the British public shun these edible and delicious parts of the animal is part of what I call the wider global food waste scandal."
He said the meat industry could market offal as environmentally attractive products. "It is a way of reducing the overall impact of livestock production if used more you will reduce the environmental impact per kilo of food and I think that works particularly well if you can find local markets for it so that you don't have to go to foreign markets."
Stuart added that offal consumption as a proportion of total meat consumption in the UK had halved in 30 years despite the recent slight increase in the last few years. "You only need to go over the Channel to find a culture that celebrates tripe and also these other parts of animals. The Chinese eat less than half of the meat per capita than do Americans but they still eat three times as much offal as them.
"If you look at the French they eat 100kg of meat per person per year and at the same time they will eat nine kilos of offal. Brits eat a little bit more meat as a proportion of meat consumption, but we eat two-thirds less offal than the French."
He added that some butchers in his local area were even paying to incinerate pig's heads when they could be selling them to the public. "I don't expect British customers to become, from having addicted themselves to ready meals, the kind of householder who will be happy to spend four hours boiling a pig's head on their stove.
"But I do think through a combination of marketing, of using the cultural tools we have, brawn can be marketed more on supermarket shelves."
Speaking at the same event, senior MLC Services consultant Christine Walsh said an important aspect that the meat industry needs to get right, if it wants to embrace fifth quarter, is education.
"Fifth quarter requires skill to produce good quality products. Some of these skills are not recognised at the management of the abattoir," she said. "There is one abattoir which saves £20,000 by going back and educating the operator who is removing the tongue [to improve quality]."
Educating processors about the types of offal is a must, even with commonplace fifth quarter products such as sausage casing. An integral part of the sausage is the casing, but this is a mystery to many in the supply chain, according to James Harder, managing director of Yorkshire-based natural casings supplier Harder Bros. At the conference, Harder said that even defining what a casing was confused many in the meat industry.
"Basically, casings have always been a bit of an unknown quantity. They've been mysterious in the sense that they weren't animal by-products although they have been associated with the gut room with all the other by-products in there. They weren't really meat, although obviously we're closer to the meat than we are with by-products, as the latter are not really fit for human consumption in most cases. So even though they have been around for thousands of years, the irony is that, until very recently, casings have been in a no-man's land. Casings are different to an intestine, although it's interesting that some parts of Europe such as Greece and areas of Spain, do consume the green offal at certain times of the year, albeit not on a large scale.
"Casings are the means to an end, the intestine is a means to an end and the end is the sausage manufacturer. What we have to remind ourselves is that casings suppliers are under a great deal of pressure from the supermarkets to keep their costs down; we are only as good as the sausage manufacturer, in terms of keeping prices up in the retail sector. So the only alternative we have, as we cannot increase supplies to the manufacturer, is to try and encourage more efficient products and that goes back to the abattoir industry to help us to have efficient and reliable intestine that is actually fit-for-purpose in the first place."
So the industry is sitting on a relatively untapped goldmine and although the UK is unlikely to consume offal at the levels of the Chinese or the French, it can always be exported, which is surely better than throwing it in an incinerator or being left to rot in a field.
A recent article in The Irish Independent ('Fifth quarter comeback is good news for butchers, processors and our livestock producers' 19/10/10) showed that across the Irish Sea, meat industry representatives are also eyeing the opportunities provided by fifth quarter sales.
John Shirley writes: "From an Irish viewpoint, that change cannot come quickly enough. As a country we produced over 130,000t of meat and bone meal last year. Seventy seven thousand tonnes of this is called 'category 1' and is used for incineration in Germany or at a cement plant in Kilbeggan, where a gate fee of 10 to 30/t is charged. Sixty thousand tonnes is deemed 'category 3' and can be used in pet food and as a fertiliser.
"Transforming this into product worth 250/t (at today's soya price) could deliver a significant payback on the fifth quarter of each animal."
27 October, 2016, 8:30
Next steps for tackling obesity: prevention, sugar consumption a
01 - 03 November, 2016
China Foodtech 2017
07 November, 2016
Butcher’s Shop of the Year
01 December, 2016, 8:30 - 13:30
Policy priorities for the UK food, drink and farming industry


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WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - Drug giant Schering-Plough was attacked on two fronts Thursday, facing criticism for its Claritin advertising campaign and separate calls for a criminal probe into a recall of asthma inhalers.
Shares of Schering-Plough SGP, +0.00% trimmed early losses to end 10 cents lower at $38.25.
A coalition of health advocacy groups announced a class-action lawsuit against Schering-Plough Thursday, charging that the drug maker's direct-to-consumer Claritin antihistamine ads misled consumers.
The Prescription Access Litigation project, or PAL, said it would file a lawsuit in New Jersey alleging that the company engaged in a pattern of misrepresentation that artificially boosted the price of Claritin and demand for the drug.
"This suit alleges that the ads are misleading, incomplete, and designed to fool the public into paying top-dollar for a drug that often as not, just doesn't work," said Stephen Rosenfeld, a PAL spokesman.
A Schering-Plough spokeswoman said the company hadn't seen the lawsuit and therefore couldn't comment directly on the litigation.
Speaking in general, the spokeswoman said its advertising is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and that direct-to-consumer ads aid patients in obtaining efficient treatment.
Claritin "is the nation's leading antihistamine because it works. No amount of marketing can sustain a drug that is not effective, nor would physicians prescribe such a drug," she said.
Claritin is the top selling antihistamine in the United States, with annual sales of more than $2 billion.
Public Citizen seeks inhaler probe
Separately, consumer advocacy group Public Citizen repeated its call for a criminal investigation of Schering-Plough, alleging that 17 people died as a result of using faulty inhalers manufactured by the company.
In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, the group said the company recklessly held off on a broad recall of its inhalers after learning that the devices were potentially defective. The company conducted three separate inhaler recalls totaling millions of units between September 1999 and March 2000, citing the "remote possibility" that some inhalers may not have contained the asthma drug albuterol.
Public Citizen said the company could have avoided many of the deaths if it had initiated a broader recall in September 1999.
Schering-Plough spokesman Bill O'Donnell said the company has no evidence that inhalers subject to the recalls harmed any patients.
"While there are some lawsuits contending otherwise, we are contesting them vigorously," O'Donnell said. The company believes the recalls and its communications with the media and medical community were conducted properly, he said.
To date, every inhaler returned by a patient claiming injury and alleging that the canister lacked active ingredient has been tested and found to contain albuterol, O'Donnell said.

domain: news


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A report recently released by Statistics Canada depicts a thriving domestic sharing economy that is still growing steadily. With almost ten percent of those surveyed by the federal government bureau reporting use of ride- or accommodation-sharing services in the preceding year, Canadians spent $1.31 billion on these parts of the peer-to-peer economy alone. —
As new listings on the Rentcharlie show, there are now even more accessible and rewarding ways to participate in the sharing economy. The website, www.rentcharlie.com has a simple, straightforward interface that connects would-be renters to those who own anything from party tents or sporting goods to farm equipment, Rentcharlie enables and streamlines an especially useful form of sharing. For years, the pioneering service has helped neighbors in Canada, the United States, and elsewhere connect, with millions of items listed. The new resources at rentcharlie.com help make the many benefits of this especially versatile facet of the sharing economy even clearer.
"Like so many other Canadians, as revealed in the new Statistics Canada report, we're big fans of the way that the sharing economy can help strengthen communities and connect neighbors to one another," said Rentcharlie representative James Anderson. "Renting from a neighbor instead of buying, though, can achieve even more than that. We've just published some new posts that detail many of the other advantages of this approach to procuring things that might only occasionally be needed. From cutting back on waste and helping the environment to reducing household costs, peer-to-peer renting is as beneficial as it is easy for those who use our service."
Since its 1971 creation, the federal Statistics Canada agency has collected data and issued regular reports on a huge range of topics relating to life and business within the country. On February 28, the agency for the first time released a general report covering participation by Canadians in the so-called "sharing economy" exemplified to many by services like Uber and Airbnb. In the one-year period covered by the study, Statistics Canada researchers estimated that nearly ten percent of all adult Canadians made use of ride- or accommodation-sharing services.
Rentcharlie is a pioneer of another form of neighbor-to-neighbor sharing. With an easy-to-use online system that allows for the listing of almost any kind of personal property or business equipment, the service makes it simple and safe for individuals to rent just about anything in peer-to-peer fashion. New posts at the Rentcharlie website detail a number of less-obvious ways by which this service can benefit both those who list items and those who rent them.
Rent anything to or from a neighbor with Rentcharlie, a peer-to-peer rental service that helps strengthen communities, saves users money and reduces environmental waste.
Release ID: 181818


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Columbus Children's Theatre Announces New Ticketing System
Columbus Children's Theatre has announced a new ticketing system.
Tickets purchased on or after December 9, 2019 will be managed through a new ticketing system. Ticketmaster will no longer be used to fulfill sales for performances through Columbus Children's Theatre. You will be redirected to a new website, CBUSArts.com.
This is both a legitimate redirect, and a sign of exciting new developments at many area arts organizations, including CCT. The new ticketing system offers the responsive ticketing experience you have come to expect from Ticketmaster, but tailored for our unique audiences in and around central Ohio. You may even see a reduction in service charges, depending on the ticket price.
The new ticketing system is officially called Tessitura, but our audiences will recognize it through CBUSArts.com. That website will also go live on December 9, 2019. A visit to the site prior to December 9 will show "site is currently unavailable." Our eyes are on that site, too, so we'll let you know if a delay arises.
Please continue to visit columbuschildrenstheatre.org for show titles and dates. And thank you in advance for your patience as we all grow accustomed to the new back room.


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The fourth instalment of Sega’s Virtua Tennis is coming to the PS Vita as a launch title. This is the…
Sony’s big E3 press conference wrapped up earlier this evening in Los Angeles, and while there wasn’t much genuinely new…
It won’t be official until it’s unveiled on stage during Sony’s E3 press conference, but bookmakers are surely cutting off…
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Hewlett-Packard Looking to Ditch Businesses Not Meeting Goals
January 2, 2013 12:31 PM
comment(s) - last by
HP's filing said it may “dispose of a business at a price or on terms that are less desirable than we had anticipated”
Hewlett-Packard (HP) has been
in a tough spot
for some time now, and to hopefully improve that position a bit, the company recently said it's considering disposing of businesses that aren't meeting goals.
HP's December 10-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission stated that the company is currently evaluating "the potential disposition of assets and businesses" that are no longer helping them meet objectives.
“When we decide to sell assets or a business, we may encounter difficulty in finding buyers or alternative exit strategies on acceptable terms in a timely manner, which could delay the achievement of our strategic objectives,” said Hewlett-Packard.
The filing also said that HP may “dispose of a business at a price or on terms that are less desirable than we had anticipated” and “the impact of the divestiture on our revenue growth may be larger than projected."
HP has endured a bumpy ride over the past years, mainly due to former CEO Leo Apotheker. Back in August 2011, HP announced that it was
abandoning its webOS platform and TouchPad tablets
for good. It had acquired the webOS platform from Palm for $1.2 billion USD only a year previous.
That same month,
HP planned to
sell off its Personal Systems Group (PSG)
, which is responsible for consumer and business PCs.
Later, it was announced that HP was
leaning more toward a spin-off PC business
than a sale.
When current CEO Meg Whitman stepped up to the plate shortly after those baffling announcements, HP ended up not selling its PC unit or having a spin-off. Whitman
kept the PC business in-house
More recently, HP alleged that HP subsidiary
Autonomy's former owners committed approximately
$5B USD in accounting "improprieties"
, which they suggest amount to fraud.
In November 2012, it was reported that HP would
take an $
8.8 billion hit
due to "accounting improprieties."
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: Worst company in the world
1/3/2013 4:26:16 AM
It depends on the product. I have an old convertible notebook/tablet (TX2000) from 2008 that has been an invaluable convenience with its wacom digitizer. Also, we got an HP dm1z notebook in 2011 that we use as an HTPC. Then there's the OfficeJet Pro 7600 and its successor the 8500 that handle all the network scanning/printing that the household requires.
It's important to manage expectations of a product. Admittedly, any of the above inexpensive consumer HP products would probably not last long in all-day everyday (business) use, but they work fine if they're only stressed occasionally.
"Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment -- same piece of hardware -- paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that's a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be." -- Steve Ballmer
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November 20, 2012, 9:27 AM
HP Swallows $8.9B USD Loss, But Analysts Praise Its Revamp Work
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HP Leans Towards Spin-Off of PC Business, Rather Than Sale
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Limestone County Residents Purchasing More Storm Shelters
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. -
A new trend is on the rise in Limestone County. More people are getting storm shelters after devastating tornadoes in recent years.
"We turn every single square inch of our shelters here in-house," said Supercell Shelters Inc. General Manager Kevin Holder.
For the last two years, Supercell Shelters has built all types of safe rooms and in-ground shelters out of their plant in Decatur. The retail store is located off Highway 72 in Madison.
"We like to make sure that all the things we build are as strong as they possibly can be with this area having the size tornadoes that we have," said Holder.
They sell and install around 25 shelters each week but a lot of their customers are in Limestone County where an EF-3 tornado killed two people just two months ago.
"We've sold hundreds of shelters in the last few months, typically from that area," said Holder.
Holder said they've seen a 200 to 300 percent increase in the purchase of storm shelters since the deadly tornado outbreak on April 27, 2011.
"People started realizing that these tornadoes are very, very serious and it can happen to you" Holder.
The Limestone County Emergency Management Agency said they have registered over 400 storm shelters since the 2011 outbreak and 80 percent of those are new construction.
"At least everyday we have a crew in the area over there" said Jordan Smith.
Smith installs the shelters for the company and said most customers are just looking for peace of mind.
"A lot of theses homeowners, the husband is out of town. He's leaving his wife and kids everyday and it's great peace of mind for him when he's gone out of town to have somewhere that his wife and kid can get to," said Smith.
Holder said he loves knowing that their product can make a difference.
"You know, every single product you make maybe the one product that saves somebody life," said Holder.
Limestone County EMA is registering storm shelter locations so first responders can find people if their shelter is blocked by debris.
Residents can register by calling EMA at 256-232-2631 and providing their name, address, and the location of their shelter. The information will be added to the 911 system.


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Brands and consumers alike love collecting Facebook Likes on their posts, shares, and Pages. Sometimes, though, clicking the Like button is as awkward as leaving your friend's high five lingering in mid-air. Fortunately, The Social Network recently rolled out Reactions, five new emoticons that give people a wider range of ways to communicate their post responses in a single click. The new Reactions have been a big hit with users, and here's why brands should love them too.
Relevant responses mean better discussions
Historically, Facebook Likes have given users a way to acknowledge that they've seen a status update, even if 'liking' the message isn't exactly the response they might want to provide. When a local restaurant posts that they're closed for the day due to a broken water pipe but will reopen tomorrow, it wouldn't be uncommon for dozens of area diners to Like the message. Of course, no one means that they're pleased a pipe burst, instead, what they're trying to say is, "Hey, we saw your message and we'll see you tomorrow for tacos".
Facebook's new Reaction buttons enable customers fine-tune their digital expressions of support, sympathy, or surprise. By clicking on the Wow or Sad face, diners can engage with the restaurant in a way that better corresponds with the intent of the message. Visual cues from relevant Reactions help set the tone for the post and any discussions that follow in the comments, making the entire engagement process more meaningful for brands and customers alike.
Everyone loves emojis
Smiley and winky faces used to be reserved for the teen and tween crowd, but today people of all ages use emojis and emoticons in text messages and social posts. In fact, almost half the captions and comments on Instagram contain emojis.
So who's using emojis? Well, nearly everyone. A recent study by brand engagement firm Emogi says 92 percent of the online population uses them and the age breakdown of frequent users might surprise you.
- Under 25: 72%
- 25-29 years old: 76%
- 30-35 years old: 68%
- 35+ years old: 62%
Smart brands mirror the behavior of their customer base, and plenty of marketing teams are looking to get in on the emoji action. According to Socialbakers, 59% of top brands were using emojis in their Twitter posts by the end of 2015, and 40% also included them in Facebook updates. Now that Facebook has put Reactions right at your fingertips, it only makes sense to use them as part of your marketing strategy.
There are dozens of ways to use Facebook Reactions across the customer experience journey. Social media commentator Kristi Hines says that Reactions "can be a fun way for Facebook fans to interact with pages, a great way for businesses to encourage specific emotional responses from fans, and a new way for businesses to learn from their competitors."
How are you enjoying Facebook Reactions? Have they upped your marketing game?


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American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu expects Apple Inc. will report earnings lightly above industry consensus during its first quarter financial report on Wednesday. He commented "Based on our analysis, we believe Apple is on track to report results above the upper-end of its guidance of $6.0-6.2 billion in revenue and $0.70-0.73 in EPS."
But itis not just iPods driving Appleis revenue up. Macs are contributing a fair share to the companyis bottom line, and Mr. Wu is projecting an 11 percent increase in sales compared to last quarter, and a 38 percent increase in Mac revenue based on 1.8 million units sold.
iPod sales are expected be up substantially for the holiday quarter. "On the iPod side of the business, we see a continued rebound (up 77% Q/Q) to 15.5 million units due to strength in iPod shuffle and special edition red-colored nanos," he said.
For the March quarter, Mr. Wu predicts that iPod sales will drop substantially to 9.3 million units. The decline will be offset, however, by the AppleTV - set to ship in February. On the AppleTV, Mr. Wu said "We believe AppleTV could be a surprise hit with its attractive $299 price point. We see the product as a logical extension of its dominant iPod + iTunes franchise."
Mr. Wu also notes that for the first time in over a year, consensus out-quarter revenue estimates finally seem reasonable. Apple is likely to guide conservatively projecting between US$5.1 and $5.3 billion in revenue, and he his modeling based on $5.2 billion in revenue and $0.63 EPS.
Looking forward, Mr. Wu is maintaining his "Buy" rating and target price for Apple stock at $99 based on calendar year 2007 projections. Moving into 2008, he expects Apple to maintain its momentum based on its four major product categories: iPod+iTunes, Mac, AppleTV, and the iPhone.
Apple stock is currently trading at $96.45, up 1.83 (1.94%).


text:
Tesla Motors's mysterious Supercharger network was unveiled on Monday, which includes six Model S charging locations throughout California and parts of Nevada and Arizona.
The new stations are just the beginning, Tesla said. Superchargers will be installed in high-traffic areas across the U.S., from Vancouver to San Diego and Los Angeles to New York. Superchargers will begin testing in Europe and Asia in the second half of 2013.
At this point, however, charging booth are available in California's Folsom, Gilroy, Harris Ranch, Tejon Ranch, Barstow, and Los Angeles. Tesla Model S customers can charge up for free.
Developed internally and constructed in secret, the Supercharger stations utilize technology already present in the Model S vehicle, which helped keep costs down, Tesla said. The company is, however, working with SolarCity, which is supplying the electricity for the stations via its solar carport system.
The solar power systems are designed to generate more energy from the sun over the course of a year than Tesla vehicles consume, allowing a net positive transfer of solar power back to the electricity grid.
"Tesla's Supercharger network is a game changer for electric vehicles, providing long distance travel that has a level of convenience equivalent to gasoline cars for all practical purposes," CEO Elon Musk said in a statement.
"By making electric long distance travel at no cost, an impossibility for gasoline cars, Tesla is demonstrating just how fundamentally better electric transport can be," he continued. "We are giving Model S the ability to drive almost anywhere for free on pure sunlight."
The Supercharger is more than just a means to avoid spending $50 a week at the pump. Its technology is the most powerful to date, providing almost 100 kilowatts of power to Tesla's Model S, with the potential to grow up to 120 kilowatts in the future. In about 30 minutes, one charge can replenish three hours of driving at 60 mph.


text:
In February, we got our first look at Mozilla's Firefox OS, a smartphone operating system built on the open web. On the first two phones, the ZTE Open and Alcatel One Touch, it was a laggy, terrible experience. We'd hoped that Mozilla would improve that by launch, but apparently not: though the ZTE Open will go on sale in Spain tomorrow, we found the phone as unimpressive as ever at today's Mozilla event.
"We are not aiming high and trying to crash into Fortress Apple, into Fortress Google."
Brendan Eich, co-founder and CTO of Mozilla Corporation, made it clear that Firefox OS isn't going to compete with today's top-tier smartphones. "We are not aiming high and trying to crash into Fortress Apple, into Fortress Google," he said at a San Francisco briefing today. Instead, the company's going after the feature phone market, hoping to entice all those potential buyers who've stuck with dumber, cheaper devices up till now. So far, Apple's interest in that space has been limited to selling older models, though there are rumors that it might release a low-cost iPhone in the future. But what's to keep Fortress Google from nipping Firefox OS in the bud with a wave of cheaper devices?
Eich's argument that Firefox OS could make a dent in the low-end market is that the Android operating system is simply too bloated to run on cheap hardware. In order to build a truly mass-market smartphone, he explains, you need to reduce the amount of memory you use, and select low-end processors (say, a single-core CPU) that silicon vendors can sell much more cheaply because of the binning process. "If you don't balance the physics out, the semiconductor makers lose money," Eich says.
But the latest versions of Android don't run well on such cheap devices, he claims. "Android 4 doesn't run on 256MB of RAM... it really wants a gig." And Eich believes that Google doesn't have a solution for that, other than telling developers to fall back to the lesser Android 2.3, aka Gingerbread. "Gingerbread is still being mass produced this year and will be mass produced next year," he claims, because Google doesn't have anything better to offer. Eich also thinks that Google's app momentum could be its Achilles' heel: "Android can't really slim down... they'd break compatibility."
Of course, Mozilla thinks that Firefox OS has Android beat when it comes to a lightweight smartphone operating system. An Android handset's processor, Eich says, has "three mouths to feed" in that it has to power three separate pieces of software: the Android kernel, Dalvik, and WebKit. By comparison, hardware running Mozilla's Firefox OS only has to power the Gecko web browser rendering engine.
But we've already seen how well Gecko works on cheap commodity hardware, in a $90 phone going on sale tomorrow. It's just not very good. Firefox OS feels just as slow and laggy on these mobile devices as Android does without enough processing power — if not more so.
And what happens after the semiconductor industry has advanced such that dual-core processors and 1GB of memory are the new point of entry, thanks to Moore's Law? "In the future we'll all have Google Balloons and terahertz processors, and life will be great," says Eich, dismissively. Right now Mozilla has a chance to fill a hole in the market, he believes, and if the idea of open web apps catch on, Firefox OS will have been there from the start. "[Google] turned a blind eye to it too soon, and timing is everything," says Eich.
Certainly, Mozilla has quite a few cellular carriers on board, and a pretty clever strategy that could guarantee phones on shelves. But is there ever a right time to ship devices that don't run particularly well?


text:
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–A grand opening of the Kotayk brewery of the Armenian-French company "SIL-BGI Armenie" took place on Monday in Abovian. The ceremony was attended by Acting President and Prime Minister Robert Kocharian–President of the well-known French company Castel Group Pierre Castel–French Ambassador to Armenia Michel Legras–as well as other government officials.
The Kotayk brewery has been completely repaired under an investment agreement of $18 million signed last year between the SIL Concern and Castel Group Company. The investment program will also undertake reconstruction of the Bjni factory. Armenia is the first among CIS and East European countries where Castel Group made such a big investment.
"That investment program is the best example of friendship and economic cooperation between the Armenian and French peoples," Kocharian said. Stressing the importance of the given investment program–he said that the primary task of the Armenian government is to develop Armenia’s industry. According to him–it is necessary to create favorable conditions for each investor–work directly with and respect the investor. "Only this way we will attract capital to Armenia and activate our market," Kocharian stated reaffirming that Castel Group will be followed by new investors–new production and new jobs.
Kocharian confessed that friendly relations with Castel oblige him to drink only Armenian-made beer. "From now on if somebody sees me drink other beer–he should blame me for breaking my promise," Kocharian said.
Well-known French entrepreneur Pierre Castel voiced gratitude to Armenia’s leadership and personally Kocharian for permitting the ten month reconstruction of the factory and showing interest in making investment in other spheres of Armenia’s economy.
The Armenian partner of Castel–SIL President Khachatur Sukiassian stated that the sides already started carrying out an investment program based on a joint venture on the basis of Parakar Winery that was purchased by Castel and SIL.
The Kotayk brewery produces about 20,000 bottles of beer a day under the names Castel and Kotayk. Soon the two more beer products will be added. Whisky production is also scheduled. By summer–the daily production is supposed to reach 100,000 bottles. The factory has also began producing Diams vodka.
The administration of the enterprise says it is possible to sell 200-250,000 bottles of vodka in Armenia. 320 people work at the Kotayk brewery–where the average salary is 40-45,000 drams. The enterprise exports 20 to 30 percent of its production to regional countries–especially to Russia and the United Arab Emirates.


text:
By Alena Houšková, via Wikimedia Commons
This week has been an interesting one for the 3D printing set of tech stocks, with the long-anticipated news that Materialise would be going public finally breaking on Wednesday (April 2nd).
Materialise revealed it has filed with SEC to raise an IPO of up to $125 million. The company - whose revenues rose by 16 per cent to €68.7 million (£57 million, $95 million) in 2013 - says it will use the proceeds to expand its operations, which currently include a service bureau and software operations, in addition to a successful 3D printing community i.materialise.
In the meanwhile, however, our big four have been making announcements of their own. ExOne's (NASDAQ:XONE) is still experiencing a slide following its Q4 and full-year results, while 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) is down despite a potentially lucrative acquisition announcement this week. After announcing its financial results for 2013 and the October-December period at the end of March, voxeljet (NYSE:VJET) is still bumping along without gaining much height, while Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS) is the only member of this parcel of stocks to be making headway on the markets - perhaps thanks to its own promising acquisitions.
ExOne reported its full-year results for 2013 on March 19th, announcing that 2013 revenue was up by 38 per cent year-on-year - or $10.8 million - to $39.5 million driven by the sale of 29 machines, compared to just 13 in 2012 and five in 2011.
ExOne has previously experience a dip in share price when it announced its full-year financial results would come in at the lower end of its guidance due to delayed machine sales, but in spite of this warning, the company succeeded in selling 12 of its large-scale industrial 3D printers in the final three months of 2013 - including five of its M-Flex units. For the fourth quarter, revenue was $10.7 million - which is down 16 per cent compared with revenue of $12.7 million year-on-year.
Machine revenue represents two-thirds of ExOne's total revenue for the quarter, which is down by 22 per cent from the year prior.
The company is optimistic for 2014 even though this outlook is not reflected in its share price. ExOne has anticipated 40-50 per cent revenue growth for 2014 in line with its strategic goals.
Chairman and CEO Kent Rockwell said: "For our relatively young manufacturing technology company, 2013 has been a dynamic year of significant progress. We invested in a variety of sales-related initiatives and technological advancements. We are expanding our manufacturing capacity and, most importantly, we enhanced our personnel and leadership capabilities.
"As we progress in 2014, we believe that the adoption of 3D printing in industrial manufacturing applications is gaining momentum in our global marketplace."
At close of play on the Nasdaq last night, ExOne's share price was down by nearly four per cent to $34.56. On the anniversary of its IPO, the company was up by around $15.00, but after a gradual rise to Autumn 2013, followed by a tempestuous fluctuation in the subsequent seven months, and as such, speculators are in much the same position they were a year ago.
Last week, voxeljet announced its Q4 and full year results for 2013, painting a rosy picture for the German additive manufacturing giant, which only went public in October 2013.
Revenue for the October-December period was up by 78 per cent year-on-year to K€3,693, while revenue from 3D printing systems was K€2,458 over those three months compared to K€932 in the year prior. Indeed, voxeljet sold three of its 3D printers over this timeframe compared to the one it shipped in 2012's Q4.
Like ExOne, systems revenue represented two-thirds of voxeljet's total revenue in this quarter compared to 44.8 per cent in the year prior. Services revenue was down for this period, however, slipping to K€340 from K€594 in the fourth quarter of 2012.
For the full year ending December 31st 2013, voxeljet's revenues were up by over one third (34.2 per cent) - or K€2,977 - to K€11,688 and on New Year's Eve the company had cash and equivalents of K€33,459.
Looking ahead, voxeljet anticipates revenue to grow in excess of 50 per cent in 2014, with seven of its 3D printers making up its backlog of orders as of March 15th 2014.
It has not quite been six months since voxeljet's IPO, entering the NYSE at around $30.00 per unit in mid-October 2013. Since a mid-November spike to $69.00 - heights not seen since - voxeljet's share price has bumped around the $40.00 mark and slipped to sub $30.00 since the beginning of March.
Such fluctuations are common in the teething months of a new entry, however, but the next six months will be key for voxeljet and its shareholders.
As of close of play in Manhattan last night, voxeljet was down by 1.5 per cent to $25.38 per unit, creeping up from its 52-week low of $25.17 per unit.
In spite of a promising week of news, 3D Systems has still not managed to turn things around since its steady decline commencing in the New Year.
After concentrating heavily on the consumer space for some time, 3D Systems has made some serious industrial announcements in recent weeks. At the end of March, the company announced it has commenced shipping of its compact professional machine for dental labs and jewellery-makers, the ProJet 1200 Micro-SLA and this week the company revealed the latest in its string of acquisitions.
The news 3D Systems is acquiring successful provider of patient-specific medical devices and implants Medical Modeling, fortified by CEO Avi Reichental's recent push for metals in his presentation at Inside 3D Printing in New York City, indicate a renewed zeal for professional 3D printing and infiltrating industries, rather than homes.
Investors have not jumped at this progress, however. At close of play on the New York Stock Exchange last night, 3D Systems was down by nearly three per cent to $56.46 per unit. Nevertheless, the company is still head and shoulders higher in the marketplace than it was 12 months ago. At the beginning of April 2013, 3D Systems was barely over $30.00 per unit, but then its 52-week high of $96.42 back on New Year's Eve seems like worlds away now.
Stratasys is the only one of our 3D printing stock set that is making much progress. The company closed 0.4 per cent higher on the NASDAQ last night, climbing to $112.32 per unit, continuing a nine-day rally.
This is thanks in part to Stratasys' news it is acquiring two companies in order to build an all-powerful service bureau platform.
Stratasys announced on April 2nd that it is acquiring Solid Concepts - the largest independent additive manufacturing service provider in the US - and Harvest Technologies, merging these businesses with its own RedEye offering. Under the agreement terms with Solid Concepts, Stratasys will acquire the Californian organisation for up to $295 million, including a payment on closing of $172 million. Stratasys will acquire Harvest Technologies for an undisclosed amount.


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After two years since its initial release, Sledgehammer Games has released a new Call of Duty WW2 Update. Here are the preliminary patch notes for COD WWII Update 1.25.
SHG has continued to make changes to the title all throughout its cycle. Back in June, the development team brought a host of new weapons to the game. Now, they appear to be introducing another set of changes.
Call of Duty WW2 Update 1.25 is now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Its file size varies depending on your platform and region, but it’s roughly around 2GB on PS4, whereas on Steam it’s 4.8GB. It’s unclear as to why the file size is larger on PC, perhaps there are more changes for that specific platform.
COD WW2 Patch Notes for Update 1.25
Sledgehammer is yet to reveal any of the changes as part of this patch. It doesn’t appear to have introduced anything too substantial. It seems as if this update merely consists of bug fixes and stability improvements, but at least those will be useful to players.
There’s likely going to be a plethora of security and bug fixes to justify its hefty file size of nearly 4.8GB on PC. Given that the game released over two years ago, it would seem strange to see any new maps or modes launch as part of this patch – but stranger things have happened.
We have compiled a list of everything we suspect so far below. SHG will most likely release the official patch notes soon, but here’s most of what fans have spotted. Again, these changes have not been officially confirmed as of yet.
- Double XP has now ended.
- Austen contract is now live.
- Possibly some nerfs and buffs to weapons.
UPDATE – Jan. 7 at 8PM GMT:
Although it might come as a surprise, Call of Duty WW2 Update 1.25 didn’t introduce any new changes to the game. In fact, it was just a patch to “be in compliance with state laws.” SHG confirmed this over on Twitter.
Nothing user facing. In fact, it's an update to be in compliance with state law. Boring, right?— Sledgehammer Games (@SHGames) January 7, 2020


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Which has the most apps? Which has the coolest features? Which one is the best? The most popular streamers all have their merits, so we'll help you decide which box is right for you.
As the vinyl sales boom soars, Thorens releases a new turntable, the TD 203.
Will we all soon bow before the digital crown? This wacky iPhone 7 concept sure thinks so.
With the Lumia line now in Microsoft's hands, what's left of Nokia is reportedly planning to get back into the smartphone business as early as 2016.
The Internet radio service shows a better-than-expected bottom line after it surprised with weak results at the end of last year, but investors remain focused on cooling listener growth.
In the world of American motorcycles, tradition usually trumps technology. Erik Buell has been pushing the two-wheeled envelope for decades, and EBR looks set to bring us into the future.
Ancient seashells abraded white by sand and sea have been revealed in their former multicoloured glory via ultraviolet light.
It almost failed before it had even begun, yet it has far outlived its planned lifespan, becoming a treasure of untold value. Crave talks to some of the engineers who've kept it going.
The lovable Japanese nerd is back in NBC's "Heroes" sequel. Who will he save now?
We find out how the watch industry is fighting back against the rise of smartwatches, and why Liverpool has the fastest 4G in the land.


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Shelly Palmer chats with Simon Applebaum, host of Tomorrow Will Be Televised, about YouTube offering original content.
[wpaudio url=”https://media.shellypalmer.com/wp-content/images/usrn/110429_SHELLYPALMER_GEN_BED.mp3″ text=”Click to play … ” dl=”0″] The U.S. Supreme Court recently made a ruling that could prevent people from filing class-action lawsuits against companies. The ruling upheld AT&T’s claim that its contract requires customers to solve disputes through arbitration. If this practice becomes widespread, will disgruntled consumers even bother disputing charges? In other […]
Google announced that smartphones running Android OS will now be able to make and receive video calls. Calls can be made over 3G or wi-fi using the Google Talk app with the Android 2.3.4 update. The update will roll out gradually starting with Google’s own phone, the Nexus S. Read the full article at PCMag.com
Apple has finally responded to accusations that its iPhone’s are tracking user data, denying any claims. While no location information is tracked, Apple does store Wi-Fi and cell tower data information to provide local results for maps and apps. A future software update will encrypt the file and reduce its size. Read the full article […]
The FBI says that online scams from China are responsible for businesses losing $11 million dollars this past year. Chinese hackers hijack the credentials to wire money through malicious emails and websites opened by employees. No level of cyber protection can prevent user error. Read the full article at CNet.com


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Harvard — The City Council has adopted an ordinance licensing traveling food wagons and charging daily fees-except for food wagons operated by local businesses.
Now, a mobile food vendor from outside Harvard-typically someone serving up coffee and doughnuts out of the back of a truck at a construction site-will have to pay the city an annual license fee of $500 per vehicle plus $10 for each day of operation.
No license will be required if foods are being delivered from businesses within the city.
Violation of the ordinance or the city's health regulations could result in a $400 fine for each offense. Additionally, Mayor William LeFew has the power to revoke an offender's license.
"We never had the need before" for this kind of ordinance, "though many other places have it," LeFew said. "Now with food vendors coming into two Motorola (construction) sites, we have a food wagon going between two locations."
The problem, LeFew explained, is "we don't see sales taxes from this coming to the community. It's a revenue issue."
LeFew added that the city has ordinances covering street vendors, which are different. These include operators who serve food at the Harvard Milk Days.
Those subject to the new licensing and fees are "specific vehicles selling edibles off the truck, such as those now serving the workers at Motorola," LeFew said. "We're not talking about farmers bringing their sweet corn into town."
City Administrator Dave Nelson said two food wagons are known to be operating in Harvard, and neither is based in the city.


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You could say external battery packs are the AA batteries of our times. They breathe life into your phone during an emergency, and some even come with a flashlight built-in. Such is the case with the RAVPower 16,750mAh portable charger that is currently Amazon's deal of the day. Read More
Some people consider virtual reality exciting. Full disclosure: I'm not one of those people. The idea of shoving a screen inches from my face and combining that with sensory deprivation sounds closer to punishment than fun.
The 2VR Kickstarter project addresses one of those issues. In doing so, it doesn't turn VR into something you can experience without having to block out the rest of the world. Instead, it shows off a compromised experience that is neither immersive enough for VR nor transparent enough to use in public. Read More
A leaked document indicates Facebook has a big change planned for Messenger this year, and it's not likely to make most users happy. The social network has reached out to its biggest advertising partners to announce the impending release of ads in Facebook Messenger. The ads will be tied to conversations, so Facebook is suggesting that businesses get customers to start Messenger threads with them now. Read More
LG is still cheekily announcing bits and pieces of its G5 flagship before the phone itself. After hinting at the always-on display and unveiling a fancy touch cover for the phone, it's now ramping up expectations about the audio performance of the G5 by announcing a collaboration with B&O PLAY, a sub-division of Bang & Olufsen, the well respected Danish audio and video company.
LG doesn't reveal much about the fruits of its collaboration, just that it will keep "LG as the undisputed leader in smartphone audio." Another vague blurb from the press release is this:
The two companies have been working closely together on the new LG G5 to ensure the best sound experience to the customers.
If you have a connected security camera somewhere without a dedicated application, chances are you're using tinyCam to login remotely and stream the video feed to your device. The app is one of the best in its niche and gets frequent updates to stay current with design guidelines and add cool features like a Wear client and a built-in web server.
With version 6.5, tinyCam is getting even better. The app now supports immersive mode on Android — better late than never, eh? — to hide the status bar and navigation buttons. It really makes a lot of sense in the context of video: the more screen estate you have, the better it is. Read More
Some 2nd gen Moto E owners have it better than others.The long-awaited Marshmallow update appears to be making its way to handsets in India. Read More
LinkNYC is an ambitious plan to cover the Big Apple in free super-fast gigabit WiFi using a series of hotspots that will replace all those boring old payphones. Starting today, the first updated LinkNYC WiFi access points are up and running with their own Android tablets, ready to provide quick access to maps, a browser, calls, and city services. Read More
Many of us are anxiously awaiting the official launch of Podcasts in Play Music. While a few people have already been given an accidental early look, there are good reasons to be confident that the real launch will happen sometime in the next week and a half. It should come as no surprise that the latest update to the Play Music app happens to include a few fixes and features for podcast listeners. On top of that, Google is preparing for an exclusive deal with the BRIT Awards.
For those that want to know about new features, it doesn't look like there's anything to talk about right now. Read More
Right now, your Google Play Games ID is just your name. That's mega-boring, though. You will soon be able to choose a custom gamer ID that will be used in Play Games-enabled titles instead of your real one. You won't have to wait long; Google says this feature is rolling out over the coming days. Read More
NVIDIA tends to be very diligent when it comes to upgrading its first-party Android hardware. Earlier this month the company sent out an over-the-air update for the SHIELD Tablet, bumping the mostly-stock software up to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. A day later it halted the update, because early users were reporting that the new software made the tablet's Wi-Fi inoperable... which is kind of a big deal, especially when most of your tablets are Wi-Fi only. Today the problem has apparently been fixed, and the update is being resumed.
The news was posted on NVIDIA's official forum, which remains quite active. Read More


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There is a battle going on right now on the stock exchange floor. It is a battle between the consumer benefiting from the cheap-gasoline stimulus plan and the overstretched oil companies threatening the U.S. economic recovery.
Jim Cramer’s got his money on the consumer, especially on the all-American diner that has made a major comeback; Denny’s.
“The cheap-gasoline fueled consumer might be able to repel any weakness that the producers of oil in this country may cause it,” the “Mad Money” host added.
That battle was won on Thursday when the retail sales number came in and saved the day with a 7 percent growth in retail sales for the month of November. That excellent gain was due in part to better employment and low gasoline prices.
In Cramer’s perspective, there were various signals that indicated that the consumer is winning this battle. He outlined the six newsworthy signs of a strong consumer that occurred.
What the heck is going on with Exxon Mobil? Cramer is scratching his head over the fact that the world’s largest oil company is going up when the rest of the oil patch is going down.
Perhaps investors are starting to realize that there are both winners and losers of the oil industry. Finally!
Cramer has been waiting for oil stocks to bifurcate, and that is exactly what is happening. Looks like Charles Darwin was right.
Here is Cramer’s theory: “There’s more than $200 billion in high-yield paper from the oil patch. We know there are plenty of loans, too. But let’s say half of that high-yield corporate paper goes bad. What will happen? How about this: It will give a production challenged company like Exxon the chance to come in and buy pretty much anything it wants to.”
As Thursday closes on another solid day on the stock market, it looks like Denny’s stock is quite the grand slam. It has seen a major comeback as of late, thanks to both low oil prices and its own turnaround initiatives.
Denny’s is a low-end chain of more than 1,700 restaurants that has managed to gain 44 percent for 2014. The stock has jumped from $6 to $10 in the past five months.
“When you take a step back and look at Denny’s, in a way it’s the perfect fit for the current moment, an almost totally domestic play that benefits from lower gasoline prices,” Cramer said.
But this restaurant chain didn’t just luck out because of low oil prices. It initiated a plan to turn itself around and has been working at it for years, such as when the board of directors brought John Miller in to be the new CEO in February 2011. They have also added a series of enhancements to make the dining experience better for the customer.
Cramer sees that this company is making a major comeback, and it’s far from over. This stock is headed higher.
Arista Networks recently caught Jim Cramer’s eye as a technology play—mainly, he’s wondering if the maker of technology switches can break through the Cisco dominated infrastructure game. Or, can the two coexist?
Arista first went public in June at $43, and spiked 28 percent on its first day of trading. The company has continued to stay on fire, when it announced in the last quarter that revenues were up 53 percent, year over year.
Cramer thinks that Arista posted impressive numbers, considering that it makes hardware used in data centers and the cloud. Additionally, the company has developed a cloud-based software platform that is integrated into its switches.
However, the honeymoon came to an end Friday when Cisco sued Arista for patent and copyright infringement. It looks like they could be going for an injunction to potentially disrupt Arista from shipping any products.
To get further insight on the ability for the two companies to exist in the same market, Cramer sat down with Arista CEO Jayshree Ullal, who is also a former employee of Cisco.
“We were definitely blindsided and disappointed. John should have at least picked up the phone and called me. Instead it was in the press, and we only got it five days later. It is true that Cisco rarely sues, and it is also true that Arista is a rare competitor,” she said.
The “Mad Money” host continued to detect those stocks headed higher and lower, when he commented on a few caller favorites in the Lightning Round:
Vale SA: “Vale and Ensco are two of the worst picks I’ve ever made. I will just have to own the fact that we did it … we were wrong, made a mistake. Not yet taken the loss, let’s put it that way.”
Windstream Holdings: “They’re doing this reorganization, and I think that 10 percent yield is a little too high for me, meaning that it makes me feel a little bit suspect. I know that a real estate investment trust is a good idea, but I think you should axe it.


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Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is definitely not cutting back on its 2020 investment plans despite the coronavirus pandemic bruising domestic auto sales and denting the economy. In fact, the local arm of Japanese auto giant has pushed through with its product launches—a refreshed Wigo last June 15, a load-carrying Hiace Cargo last July 17, and a face lifted Vios last July 25.
Then on Aug. 20, TMP pulled the wraps off its new Corolla Cross, a potential game-changer in the local market. Why? Toyota is the country’s most important vehicle brand and whatever TMP introduces, influences the entire local economy. Remember the Tamaraw FX of the early ’90s? This original Kotse ng Bayan (People’s Car) single-handedly changed the public transport scene as it became a viable alternative to either the jeepney or taxi and helped many of its owners survive the economic crisis. Additionally, the fact that most Filipinos use a Toyota to get around today, as the Vios, Innova, and Hiace almost entirely supply the country’s public and private transport fleet, is another case in point.
With the Corolla Cross, TMP will not only be introducing a crossover vehicle—and with more refined materials inside plus greatly improved headroom for everyone)–but with the driving demeanor of a Corolla Altis sedan where it is based. The two share the same Toyota New Global Architecture-C platform that promises improved ride quality, lower and wider stance, more responsive steering and lower center of gravity.
Two variants of the new Corolla Cross are available here: the gasoline-powered 1.8-liter G CVT that generates a maximum 138hp and 172Nm of torque; and the gasoline-electric hybrid powered 1.8-liter V Hybrid (also a CVT) that generates a maximum 120hp and 142Nm of torque.
With a price tag of P1.285 million for the 1.8 G CVT and P1.65 million for the 1.8 V Hybrid, the new Corolla Cross slots in between the Corolla Altis 1.6 V CVT sedan and the RAV4 LE compact SUV.
While the gasoline variant is very attractive price-wise, TMP reminds that the hybrid variant is available through the company’s Balloon Payment Plus financing plan, which features lower monthly payments, inclusive of periodic maintenance, and with a guaranteed future resale value.
This way, TMP is making hybrid ownership easier and more affordable and buyers are guaranteed with a hassle-free experience from buying, owning, and future reselling of the vehicle.
Easing the transition
By offering more affordable hybrid models here, TMP also eases transition of more car buyers away from the solely gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles. TMP explained that hybrids like the new Corolla Cross 1.8 V Hybrid offer dual advantages of gasoline and electric power including low emissions, better fuel efficiency, ability to self-change its hybrid batteries, and not needing to be be plugged in (as compared to other types of electrified vehicles).
Drivers need not worry about how far they will be travelling with a hybrid: just fill up the new Corolla Cross 1.8 V Hybrid with gasoline and continue on their way, just as they would in any conventional car. Unlike a conventional car, the self-charging new Corolla Cross 1.8 V Hybrid uses the engine to recharge its electric batteries and keep them topped up for use. It also uses an advanced regenerative braking system to charge its batteries too, so even when decelerating or braking on a steep hill, for example, the driver is reclaiming electricity—thereby adding to the fuel efficiency of the hybrid.
Moreover, choosing the new Corolla Cross1.8 V Hybrid lets the owner enjoy added safety thanks to the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS). This bundle of active safety features is designed to help protect the driver, passengers, people in other vehicles on the road, and pedestrians from harm as TSS combines pre-collision system, automatic high beam, lane tracing assist, lane departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. The hybrid variant also boasts six clearance and back sonar sensors for added safety (the other variant only has two sonar sensors at the rear).
Looking to upgrade your vehicle and downgrade your number of trips to the gas pump? The new Corolla Cross1.8 V Hybrid is indeed, the perfect choice.
Charles E. Buban is an old timer in the Philippine automotive journalism scene. He first started covering the automotive beat in 2003, writing news and reviews of new models and car tech, among other car-related stuff. When not writing about cars, he could often be seen riding his mountain bike or doing long walks in the hope of catching a couple of legendary Pokemons.


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A new website has launched that could place books in the hands of thousands of black children across the globe: NorthParan.com. The online retailer is adding a philanthropic touch to the business of selling black books by donating a book to a child in need for each book sold. The site’s slogan is Buy One, Give One. Their goal is to donate 100,000 books for Black History Month. To make the donations, North Paran partners with non-profit organizations in the United States and abroad to find children who do not have access to new books.
Neil Nelson, the site’s co-founder, is driven by the memories of his childhood in Jamaica, when his family only had five books in the house that he and his sister had to share. But Neil read those five books over and over, until he had all the words memorized. Now he wants to change this bleak picture for as many children as he can. After starting a vastly successful celebrity news and video site that reached nearly 30 million unique visitors last year, Neil partnered with husband-and-wife authors Nick Chiles and Denene Millner to create NorthParan.com, a cutting-edge site that will publicize black books and nourish black children. Chiles and Millner have written or co-written 19 books between them — Millner is the co-author with Steve Harvey of the #1 New York Times bestseller “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,” which was the top-selling nonfiction book in the country in 2009, and the sequel “Straight Talk, No Chaser,” which has already reached #1 on the New York Times list. Chiles co-authored with gospel legend Kirk Franklin “The Blueprint,” which also was a New York Times bestseller last year. Millner and Chiles are both also award-winning journalists and the parents of three children of their own.
Visit the site at www.NorthParan.com.
Source: North Paran


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New Coronavirus Outbreak
A new coronavirus strain has caused a pneumonia outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, and it's spreading.
Shanghai is on a brand-building campaign to enhance its profile globally. This ongoing series focuses on city industry and economic news related to the elevation of the city’s reputation in four target areas – services, manufacturing, shopping and culture.
China International Import Expo
The China International Import Expo was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai from November 5 to 10, 2018.
Your ultimate guide to an authentic and ideal Shanghai life!
Building A Well-off Society
China is striving to achieve the goal of building a moderately well-off society in all respects by the end of 2020. It includes an improved governance system in the fields of the economy, politics, culture, society and ecology. This series focuses on the practices adopted by Shanghai to make the city a better place to live and work in.
Around The Delta
This section explores the Yangtze River Delta region in various aspects, including its economy, tourism and transport facilities, as it is being built into a truly leading demonstration area for the implementation of new development concepts and a globally competitive world-class urban agglomeration.
Data is the new world currency.


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Ian Evans - MaRS I July 22, 2020
The stat speaks for itself: in the past four months, telemedicine venture Dialogue has created 400 new jobs. With virtual care replacing a trip to the doctor’s office for many patients, the Montreal-based company scaled up quickly, recruiting scores of physicians, nurses, therapists, developers and salespeople to meet the demand. The company has seen its revenues grow exponentially and has tripled in size since March.
The circumstances of Dialogue’s astonishing expansion, in such a short time frame, are unique to the pandemic, but its potential to scale is not. Canada has dozens of established tech ventures like Dialogue that are experiencing rapid growth. These companies, which already have innovative products in the market and strong revenue streams, will play an outsized role in Canada’s future economic performance by creating jobs and supplying the technologies and science that will enable large corporations and industries to thrive post-pandemic economy.
But the journey from late-stage startup to mature company is a difficult one and one that is not frequently travelled by Canadian companies. Fast-growing ventures face a number of challenges as they expand to new markets. To help these future drivers of Canadian prosperity make this transition, MaRS has created Momentum. This new program will support Canadian ventures with the aim of accelerating each toward $100 million in revenues within 5 years.
If these companies maintain a 20 percent annual growth rate for the next five years, they will add some 9,000 new high-paying jobs. Krista Jones, Momentum’s founding executive, stresses that she is not creating a narwhal list or supporting companies that go for growth at any cost, however. “The companies we have selected are being built on Canadian values. They are growing in sustainable, profitable ways, solving urgent issues and creating the kind of good jobs Canada needs,” she said. In fact, Momentum companies are working toward solutions for all 17 of the sustainable development goals outlined by the United Nations.
The Momentum companies operate in a range of sectors that have a major impact on the world. Hydrostor, GreenMantra and CarbonCure are helping make environmental sustainability a reality. Borrowell is advancing financial inclusion and BioConnect is helping companies keep their buildings and data secure. Meanwhile, Magnovate is bringing our vast country together with new high-speed transit systems, and pharmaceutical firm Highland Therapeutics is developing technology that improves the performance of existing medications. The companies in the Momentum portfolio boast rich intellectual property in many areas in tech and science — from high-definition vector mapping to educational software to energy-grid optimization.
Despite having vibrant startup clusters that have turned cities like Toronto and Waterloo into magnets for talent, Canada only has a handful of tech companies that have achieved significant size internationally. Firms like Shopify, which recently became Canada’s most valuable company, are rare exceptions to a pattern that sees many promising ventures being acquired by larger companies — in 70 percent of cases American ones — before they scale. As a result, few Canadian executives have experience guiding a company from tens of millions in revenues to hundreds of millions.
Momentum is designed to help change that. The program, which is funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, works closely with senior executives from each company and provides strategic support around issues like attracting talent, raising capital and expanding to global markets. The goal is to help these executives turn their high-potential companies into high-growth powerhouses that will build jobs and intellectual property in Canada, while exporting Canadian innovations around the world.
Canada excels in highly specialized areas, such as advanced manufacturing, robotics, blockchain and artificial intelligence. These were coming to the fore before COVID-19 but the pandemic is almost certain to accelerate the shift toward automation that these technologies enable. “The focus is on these ‘deep tech’ sectors and that plays to our strengths,” said Jones. “Now, conditions are right for Canadian companies to take the next step and scale rapidly.”
Founder and CEO: Hossein Rahnama Year founded: 2011 Capital raised: $50 million (U.S.) Number of employees: 74-149
In a nutshell: Flybits helps banks personalize their online customer communications. Its technology easily embeds in their websites and mobile apps and integrates insights from multiple sources of data. The company also provides content creation and targeting tools that enable marketing teams to deliver special offers tailored to each user’s circumstances.
Differentiating factor: Flybits’ technology takes into account everything from a customer’s purchasing habits to their location and even the weather to provide promotional messages when they will be most relevant. “Humans are designed to make decisions using a multitude of inputs and sources of information, context is what leads two people who are encountering the same situation to come away with different personal experiences,” says Hossein Rahnma, CEO.
Latest milestones: Over the past year, Flybits experienced a nearly 70-percent increase in growth and made Deloitte’s Fast 50 list of rapidly scaling Canadian tech companies.
Full article found here: https://www.marsdd.com/news/meet-canadas-future-economic-stars/


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Check into the world’s first robot hotel
Philip Ellison 09 February, 2015 at 10:02
It sounds like the premise of a cautionary tale; a high tech hotel staffed by robots. But come July, it will be a reality; the establishment, which is called Henn-na Hotel (literally translated as ‘Strange Hotel’) will open for business at Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park in Japan.
The front desk will be manned by three ‘actroids’, who will be capable of engaging guests in the usual polite chit-chat while checking them in. There are also a number of robotic porters and servers. Human staff will also be on hand, although Huis Ten Bosch president Hideo Sawada is keen for robots to take over at least 90% of hotel services.
Sawada is certain that Henn-na will be “the most efficient hotel in the world,” and is confident that this experiment will be a success. “In the future, we’re hoping to build 1,000 similar hotels around the world,” he told Nikkei News.
In addition to its man-made manpower, the hotel itself will also be equipped with cutting edge technology. Instead of traditional, programmable air conditioning, rooms will feature sensors that detect body heat, and radiation panels which will create a seamless, comfortable environment. Single rooms are available to book for just JPY7,000 – around $60.
Of course, anyone familiar with their science fiction will be able to tell you that installing robots in service positions is bound to end badly. A mechanical uprising is only a matter of time. And what of the human beings trying to make a living in the hospitality industry? If Sawada’s innovation proves popular, will the Strange Hotel edge these people out of their jobs entirely?
The short answer: probably not. While the notion of a robot hotel is an impressive novelty, it is likely to remain just that. Sure, an android concierge will be able to deal with one unreasonable guest after another without losing their cool, and jetlagged travellers might even be relieved at the thought of not having to engage the hotel receptionist in small talk. But as much as we love ordering meals via iPad and solving customer care issues through instant messaging, nothing can replace real, human service with a smile.


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Stealth Cam has released its all-new Revolver trail camera, a 360-degree cellular model which covers six zones to deliver a complete panorama of its surroundings.
Stealth Cam has released two new models of security boxes, to accommodate multiple series of camera.
A bevy of companies have teamed to launch the new "Go Hunt" giveaway, which will award one lucky hunters with a prize package worth nearly $4,000 in gear.
Looking to take your scouting game to the next level? Here are some of 2017's hottest trail cameras.
Stealth Cam is inviting its users to submit their trail camera photos of gobblers—and the company is offering plenty of incentive. The Turkey Photo Shootout Contest is backed by over $6,000 in prizes.
Be their tails white or black, be they donkey-eared with wide crowns or basket-racked desert dwellers, the pursuit of deer across this land is as American as it gets. Here’s a look at the new gear that will get you there, keep you there and, we hope, return home stained a little red.


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By Lisa Johnston
New products on display at the American International Toy Fair, held in N
Note: There is also a TWICE Facebook page, but we’re still in double digits when it comes to fans. Feel free to sign up. Oh, and there’s a Facebook group known as “I get completely sloshed at every concert at the Tweeter Center.” It has 188 members.
This TWICE webinar, hosted by senior editor Alan Wolf, will take a look at what may be the hottest CE products at retail that will be sold during the all-important fourth quarter. Top technologies, market strategies and industry trends will be discussed with industry analysts and executives.


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Longdrop the mic.
After just over three years in business, Boise hard cider maker Longdrop Cider Co. has sold a majority stake to an investor group that co-owns Crunch Pak, a sliced-apple company based in Cashmere, Wash.
The Longdrop tasting room at 603 S. Capitol Blvd. will stay open until it is rebranded as a new cidery this year, Longdrop co-founder Chris Blanchard says.
“Eventually, people will drive down Capitol Boulevard and it will have another name on it,” he says.
Longdrop Cider’s headquarters are moving to Washington. A new Longdrop tasting room will open in Leavenworth as soon as spring, Blanchard says.
Blanchard is keeping a significant minority ownership in Longdrop, which incorporated in August 2014. He also will remain on board as a consultant.
But with Longdrop opening a new production facility “right in the heart of apple country,” Blanchard says, it won’t make sense to keep the Boise tasting room operating.
Consequently, Blanchard is working out details of a new cider company he plans to open in Longdrop’s space. The idea is that it will focus on blending rather than producing cider, he says.
“We’re not going to do any fermentation,” Blanchard explains. “That’s the expensive part, frankly, and what I don’t have any room for. It’s going to be really kind of a unique concept. It’s the same thing distillers are doing, and a lot of the wine guys are doing.”
“We’re going to take a cue from distillers and modernist cuisine and really work on blending ciders. We really think that’s where the magic is.”
By spring, Boise cider drinkers might notice a shortage of Longdrop ciders as the company transitions. After production ramps up in Washington, distribution should resume in the Treasure Valley by fall, Blanchard says.
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Higher Gas Prices Drive Up the Price of Trade-Ins, Too
But those prices are expected to hit their peak this month, Jonathan Banks, a NADA senior analyst, said in a NADA video.
"Strong consumer demand for small used cars is driving up prices," Banks said in a statement. "The NADA Guide increase in trade-in values for June should come as no surprise because it reflects a shortage of both new and used cars entering the market. Fewer new cars have been produced as a result of the crisis in Japan, which has shifted consumer demand to the used car market. High gasoline prices are also increasing the demand for both new and used small cars."A 2007 Toyota Prius in average condition, for instance, would have brought a trade-in value of $13,400 in May. NADA's June issue of the Used Car Guide puts the trade-in value at $15,350 -- a 15% increase.
But David Whiston, a Morningstar auto analyst, told the Associated Press the price hikes for used cars have now put them in the range of new car prices and he expected the trade-in values to peak soon.
"For just a little bit more, I can buy a brand-new car," Whiston told AP. "There's a tipping point. I think we are getting very close to seeing that."
But what if you're looking for a deal on a used car? Can you still get one? Yes, but be warned: The National Consumer League warns consumers to be very wary of sellers who seem to offering too good of a deal.
The NCL's Fraud Center has received more then 100 complaints since the beginning of the year from consumers nationwide who were looking for a bargain but ended up getting burned. The used car scams usually involved classified ad listings on sites like craigslist or eBay for late model luxury cars listed well below market value.
The NCL warns consumers to be cautious and avoid the following red flags that could indicate the used car for sale is just a scam:
- The car is listed far below market values like those in Kelley Blue Book.
- The seller wants payment quickly through wire or bank-to-bank transfers because they are or will soon be moving out of the country.
- The sellers tell you they live outside the United States but are working with an American middleman or online escrow service.
- The seller refuses to meet in person or talk on the phone; all transactions are done via email, instant messages or text.
- The seller's messages have numerous grammatical and spelling errors.
The NCL encourages consumers who believe they've been a victim of fraud to file a complaint online with the group.


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- Nov 4, 2004
None of what they said is actual lies. You may not like the way the information, inferences, and speculation is presented, but that's not the same.1. the Biden campaign has pulled its final act of the week: acquiring the web domain KeepAmericaGreat.com.
IANA does not list the owner. So its peculation.
2. When Trump launched his reelection campaign last year, he rolled out the “Keep America Great” as its official new slogan with great fanfare. But the Biden campaign recently learned the web domain was available and snagged it
The say Trump created this domain last year, which A. he didnt. The domain was created in 2015, and B that it was his website, which it never has been.
3.The site now lays out a top-to-bottom rebuke to the Trump administration, including his handling of coronavirus. “Promises Made, Promises Kept Broken,” the site’s home page screams. “Trump isn’t looking for a second term,” it charges. “He’s looking for a do-over.”
This domain has been anti Trump rhetoric for at least a year. This isnt a recent change.
I guess the rest of it is correct, but certainly not the main gist of the headline or the information contained therein. Anything having to do with the domain "keepamericagreat" in relation to Trump is absolutely FALSE and made up.


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- VCs Keith Rabois and Jack Abraham are building a team for a new stealth startup in Miami.
- OpenStore will "provide instant liquidity to long-tail Shopify merchants," Rabois tells Insider.
- The startup is hiring, but there's a catch. "100% of the employees will be based in Miami," said Rabois.
Founders Fund's Keith Rabois and Atomic's Jack Abraham are quietly building a team for a new stealth startup in Miami.
The two California-to-Florida transplants both moved to Miami during the pandemic year and have joined forces to create OpenStore, a company that will "provide instant liquidity to long-tail Shopify merchants," Rabois tells Insider in an exclusive interview.
"So we will give them an offer to buy their business instantly, the same day," he added. In exchange for the cash from the acquisition, those merchants will agree to move their e-commerce shops to OpenStore which will integrate and operate them all on a single platform.
Another way to describe the company is "Square meets OpenDoor." In addition to being an investor at Founders Fund, Rabois is also the cofounder of OpenDoor, the online real estate company, and he's former COO of digital payments processor Square.
"It's like OpenDoor in the sense of reevaluating a house site and seeing instant offers. And it's a little bit like Square in that we are making liquidity available to any business owner online instantly," said Rabois.
So far, the company has not made any acquisitions yet because it is still early in the process of building the team. "There are some fundamental things we need to do first like assemble a team, have an office to work together and collaborate, and have a platform to actually run the business once we buy the businesses," Rabois said.
"The easiest part will be actually finding the business," he added, explaining that most of the companies they are eyeing don't have the option to raise capital through financial institutions on their own. "We think it will be actually fairly easy to find Shopify merchants who are interested."
Rabois also said the team currently has nine full-time employees and they are actively recruiting additional engineers as well as a lead designer. They also signed a lease in the trendy Wynwood neighborhood of Miami and are moving into the fourth floor of The Annex on Monday.
Keeping it in the family, Founders Fund and Atomic, who are also backing the new company, will be housed in the same building. The only condition for prospective employees, according to Rabois, is they have to be willing to relocate if they do not already live in the sunshine state.
"One hundred percent of the employees will be based in Miami," he said.
The idea for OpenStore was planted in 2018 as serial entrepreneur and investor Abraham was studying the significant growth in non-Amazon e-commerce merchants and sales. It was an area he had been tracking for nearly a decade. In 2010, Abraham sold Milo, a startup that tracked real-time in-store inventory for merchants, to eBay for $75 million.
Abraham is also the founder and managing partner of Atomic, the venture studio that has churned out startup successes like the digital health startup Hims, the home construction builder Homebound and the AI-powered call center Replicant.
In January, after he relocated from San Francisco to Miami, Abraham and Rabois met to discuss the fundamental problems still facing merchants both online and offline.
The result was what formed the vision for OpenStore, according to Abraham. While part of its mission will be centered around liquidity, a longer-term vision is to bring the experience of spontaneous discovery back online. He gives the analogy of how you would walk into a bookstore to browse titles. You may walk out of the bookstore with the book you intended to buy, or discover a new author while you are in the store.
OpenStore's ultimate plan is to one day connect merchants and customers into a single unified experience by bringing back some of that spontaneous shopping experience through access to data, information, and capital, said Abraham, adding that if the model works, OpenStore will be the first of many new startups Atomic plans to work on from their soon-to-open Miami office.
"When I moved out here right after the pandemic, many were skeptical but we've proven that Miami has all of the right ingredients to foster a healthy startup ecosystem and Atomic plans to aggressively build and scale here," said Abraham.


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The U.S. economy has been recovering from the recession for some time now, and recently, it's shown signs that it may be soon approaching stability. While worldwide luxury travel was down for a while, it's been bouncing back faster than the economy in general. And, of course, that is a significant indication that widespread global prosperity may not be far off.
A particularly telling aspect of this trend is the increase in sales at high-end airport stores. In a recent report, Reuters cites a study from Generation Research that says the duty-free and airport retailer sales of perfumes, cosmetics and other luxury items increased by 28.3 percent between 2008 and 2011. By 2014, the source estimates that these sales will expand by another 25 percent.
To take advantage of a potential boom in the luxury transportation industry, airports and retailers have been stepping up their efforts to appeal to affluent travelers. The media outlet says that, in particular, while Estee Lauder Cos Inc. and Louis Vuitton have been in many of the world's major airports for quite a while now, the recent growth in sales at these and similar retailers has lead other luxury companies to follow suit.
Tiffany & Co is set to open a shop at Changi Airport in Singapore later this year and will cut the ribbon on another outlet at the new Brandenburg Airport in Berlin in 2013. The news source says that Hublot, a Swiss watchmaker, is expected to open a branch at Frankfurt Airport. And, as if its 1,000 airport stores weren't enough, Estee Lauder Cos will open up a number of new shops in small airports throughout China and Brazil.


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Cybercriminals are doing their research and are aware of what’s popular, and what’s insecure. They are becoming more savvy and attacks are becoming increasingly more severe.
Malware threats are also becoming more sophisticated; in 2010 the Zeus botnet was designed to steal information during banking transactions and also expanded its scope by targeting mobile devices as well as launching email campaigns to spread the botnet. Other Malware, such as Stuxnet and Cutwail have also drawn attention. Analysis about Stuxnet revealed that it was created to sabotage power plants and cause physical damage to certain equipment; whereas Cutwail launched distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and hit more than 300 major web sites.
Social media and networking sites continued to be a target in the third quarter of 2010 as well. AutoRun Malware and Koobface may have lessened their impact but will likely be a threat as long as individuals and businesses continue to use social media and networking sites.
Reports show that cybercriminals are becoming more savvy and attacks are becoming increasingly more severe. Cybercriminals are doing their research and are aware of what’s popular, and what’s insecure. They are attacking mobile devices and social-networking sites, so education about user activity online, as well as incorporating the proper security technologies are very important!
Related ResourcesTEST YOUR EMAIL SECURITY GET YOUR INSTANT SECURITY SCORECARD FOR FREE


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Quarles made the statement as a guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Paducah meeting at the Carson Center for the Performing Arts.
“There is an old phrase in agriculture that we can produce ourselves out of wealth,” he said. “We’re really good at growing hemp, so we’ve had a reintroduction of a crop where historically we’ve been a dominant market factor.
“The thing is, we have to make sure the processors are capable of handling the volume. Kentucky still has over 100 hemp companies. Some are very small – some of them are moms and pops working in their kitchens – and some of them are very big companies.”
Quarles said that when hemp was legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill, all states began growing hemp in 2019, and hemp processing as an industry has not yet grown.
Quarles noted that some hemp companies continue to operate in the area, including Murray-based Kentucky HempWood, which makes hardwood floors from hemp and uses Kentucky soybean oil as an adhesive.
“The #1 problem with hemp is this: The federal government hasn’t done its job,” he said. “The Food and Drug Administration has not provided any clarification to the hemp industry as to what the regulatory framework will be.
“Many of you are probably all familiar with CBD (cannabidiol), one of around 100 different cannibinoids found in the flowering part of the hemp plant. We think it has many advantages. We believe that many people use it and get benefits from it, but the FDA will tell you today that it is illegal to consume CBD oil. But still, you could go to any gas station in America today and buy it.”
Quarles clarified that it doesn’t matter who the president is, but the FDA should let the hemp industry know what the rules are regarding the harvesting, processing, and sale of hemp.
Quarles also spoke about solar farms on Kentucky lands, a burgeoning event in western Kentucky. Solar farms are built on private land with the permission of the landowners.
“It’s one of those issues that over the past year, a lot of solar companies have come up to landowners and said, ‘Hey, let’s build,'” he said. “No. 1, I’m a personal property rights guy. In general, if you own an asset, if you own a car, etc., you should be able to do what you want with it.
“Some farmers see this as a way of raising revenue to save a farm, but I also think there is a lot of confusion on this issue. There is indeed solar legislation that is currently being considered by the General Assembly.”
Quarles said there should be a minimum framework of regulations for solar farms statewide, including information on setbacks and interactions of solar farms with local power grids.
Quarles said agriculture in Kentucky was the industry hardest hit by the Dec. 10-11 tornadoes.
“It has hit rural areas,” he said. “It basically went from the banks of the Mississippi to south of Louisville. We actually had livestock dead from this tornadic event as far south as Louisville, Kentucky – 200 miles, several different systems, an unfortunate loss of life.
“It was absolutely devastating when 30 chicken coops – worth about a million dollars each – collapsed. We had a feed mill down in Graves County that not only went offline, but that one feed mill was supplying feed to 200 other farms. We had to redirect feeds from other states.”
After the meeting, Quarles told The Sun that he has not yet declared that he will run for office in the 2023 election, but is “strongly considering running for governor of Kentucky in 2023.”


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FragAttacks let hackers inject malicious code or commands into encrypted Wi-Fi traffic.
Nearly a year ago, Amazon said it would stop providing its facial-recognition software, Rekognition, to police for a year. Now it appears that ban won’t be ending any time soon — if ever.
Researchers found the platform’s algorithms promoted roles to certain users; company pledges to continue work in removing bias from recommendations
When Google forced out two well-known artificial intelligence experts, a long-simmering research controversy burst into the open.
Chains plan to use information they collect on vaccine recipients to promote stores, tailor marketing.
Chains plan to use information they collect on vaccine recipients to promote stores, tailor marketing
A researcher managed to breach over 35 major companies' internal systems, including Microsoft, Apple, PayPal, Shopify, Netflix, Yelp, Tesla, and Uber, in a novel software supply chain attack. The attack leveraged a unique design flaw of the open-source ecosystems called dependency confusion.
A group of quantum computing experts are raising ethical concerns about the technology’s potential to accelerate human DNA manipulation.
Cyber criminals know that working from home can provide them with an easier way into corporate networks - resulting in a rise in attacks targeting remote devices.


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Kendall Jenner is the latest celebrity to don the latter while out and about in New York City on Monday.
Jenner was imagined wearing a $50 I.AM.GIA Violet top, the matching $75 Violet pant, $165 Emili Cara earrings, and $895 Amina Muaddi crystal-embellished PVC slingback pumps
The model’s outfit was loaded with information, as the top’s plunging neckline and strappy elastic wrap were developed to match the thong-like waist straps on the slim-fit pants.
The high-strung thong pattern started turning up on the runway once again in 2017, according to Style Versace had Bella Hadid stroll in the Spring 2020 males’s show in 2019 wearing a pair of low-rise bedazzled black trousers that revealed the coordinating thong. The thong included gold Medusa medallions on each side.
Hailey Bieber (neé Baldwin) also wore the pattern at the 2019 Met Gala in a bubblegum-pink Alexander Wang dress.
Jenner’s older sis, Kim Kardashian West, also posted a photo on Instagram in 2018 wearing a black vintage Gucci thong with a yellow two-piece set. Her back is relied on the electronic camera in the picture.
- Read more:
- 17 fashion patterns from the 2000 s that must never ever return
- Stylists and designers reveal the 11 patterns we’ll be seeing all over in 2020
- Kendall Jenner used 2019’s most significant trends in one outfit, and her small handbag is the very best part
- Watch Kendall Jenner hilariously mimic Kylie Jenner by putting on a wig and botching a makeup tutorial


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The largest petrol operators say that they expect demand to normalize in the coming days.
Petrol stations are struggling, streets are queuing and fuel rations are being offered – are we at the beginning of a protracted petrol crisis?
The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents 65% of all UK forecourts, claims between 50 and 90% of the pumps are now dry among all its independent fuel retailers.
A maximum of £30 has been spent at some petrol pumps to help distribute the dwindling fuel supply to everyone.
but it’s still done Widespread complaints from emergency and social care workers That they don’t have enough petrol to get their jobs.
Reports of people who shop more than you fair share of petrol roaming around too.
Why is this happening now?
Oil giant BP last week warned the government that it would not be able to meet its delivery requirements at petrol stations due to a shortage of HGV drivers.
Petrol cannot be distributed across the country without these drivers.
Motorists then panicked and began stocking up on petrol after hearing these reports, meaning the UK’s low HGV driving force ran out of supplies before the pumps could be refilled.
It also meant that the problem BP had warned about intensified and led to the petrol shortages seen in the past few days.
Is there really a shortage?
No – currently UK refineries are full of fuel and petrol.
As oil giant ExxonMobil said, its refinery – the largest in the UK – is still operating and has a “strong supply” going to its distribution sites.
When will the crisis end?
The largest petrol operators, Motor Fuel Group, EG, Esso, BP, Shell, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrison have issued a joint statement on supply issues.
Industry veterans reminded the public that the pressure was just a “temporary spurt in customer demand” and they expect petrol demand to return to normal levels in the coming days.
He said: “There is a lot of fuel in the UK refineries and terminals, and as an industry we are working closely with the government to ensure that fuel is made available at stations across the country.
“Since many cars now hold more fuel than usual, we expect demand to return to normal levels in the coming days, reducing pressure on the fuel station forecourt. We would encourage everyone to buy fuel as is. They usually do.”
Why is there a ‘lack of fuel’?
There is a global HGV driver shortage that has led suppliers to try to find a way to distribute all kinds of goods in stores.
Before the petrol panic, there was concern about empty supermarket shelves as chains could not deliver food to their shops on time.
The government has recently admitted that there is a problem in the past few months despite constant warnings from all kinds of industries.
Did Brexit Trigger the HGV Driver Shortage?
The UK’s exit from the EU has been widely blamed for the HGV driver shortage, as many workers have returned to Europe after Brexit and are therefore not able to fill the long list of vacancies.
The Road Haulage Association estimated in August that 14,000 EU drivers drove during the pandemic and only 500 returned.
While Brexit certainly exacerbated this problem for the UK, there is actually a global shortage of HGV drivers for many other reasons.
During the COVID pandemic, HGV testing sites were closed, meaning newcomers could not enter the industry.
The aging workforce, and long hours coupled with low wages, means it has become an unfavorable profession in the UK as well, and fewer young people are willing to enter the profession.
How long will the fuel shortage last?
Some petrol retailers expect levels to normalize in the “coming days”.
The £30 cap at petrol pumps is also expected to ease the crisis.
Competition laws have also been removed, which means petrol companies can share information with rivals to understand who needs petrol the most in the country.
How long will the HGV driver shortage last?
The government has been accused of not reacting quickly enough to the HGV driver shortage, as predictions can drag on for a long time.
Critics have slammed the three-month visa scheme introduced for foreign drivers because European drivers do not want to come to Britain after Brexit.
Logistics firms have also noted that it will take some time to work through the Covid backlog of those who wish to take a test.
HGV training also takes several months – meaning the problem may not be resolved soon, even if there is an influx of people wishing to work as HGV drivers.