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March 10- A Chinese state-owned company offered to buy Montage Technology Group, a Shanghai- based chipmaker, in a deal valued at about $600 million, roughly four months after failing to buy rival RDA Microelectronics Inc.» Read More
Oct 9- Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc has proposed to buy bigger rival Men's Wearhouse Inc for about $2.3 billion to create a men's apparel heavyweight with more than 1,700 stores. The $48 per share all-cash offer is a 36 percent premium to the closing price of Men's Wearhouse common stock on Tuesday.
*Saputo looks Australia as "ideal platform" to grow, eyes more acquisitions. SYDNEY, Oct 8- Saputo Inc, Canada's largest dairy producer, will acquire Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Company Holdings Ltd in a deal valuing Australia's oldest dairy processor at A $392.7 million.
CALGARY, Alberta, Oct 7- Talisman Energy Inc shares surged in after-hours trading on Monday after activist investor Carl Icahn said he had purchased about 61 million shares of the underperforming Canadian oil producer and may seek a seat on the company's board. The stock closed at $12.75 in New York on Monday.
Oct 7- India's Apollo Tyres Ltd and Cooper Tire& Rubber Co are at odds over whether Apollo can reduce the price for its proposed takeover of the U.S. firm, the latest hurdle in a deal beset by lawsuits and labor issues.
Apollo is asking Cooper for a price cut on the $2.5 billion deal, reports CNBC's David Faber.
MOSCOW/ PARIS, Oct 7- France's Societe Generale is raising its stake in Russia's Rosbank to above 90 percent, betting it can turn around the troubled Russian banking unit even as rivals have quit a country where they could not compete.
LONDON, Oct 7- U.S.-based food business Darling International is to buy Dutch meat producer Vion's ingredients division for 1.6 billion euros, according to a company statement on Monday, in a blow to private equity firms bidding for the unit.
ROME, Oct 7- Italy's government has asked the state railway operator Ferrovie dello Stato to consider investing in loss-making national airline Alitalia, sources close to the matter said on Monday, as Rome explores alternatives to a takeover by rival Air France-KLM.
*The United States faces a deadline of Oct. 17 to raise its $16.7 trillion debt limit, which could result in a default if not increased. *Apollo Tyres of India and U.S.-based Cooper Tire& Rubber Co disagree over whether Apollo should pay a lower price in its $2.5 billion takeover, the latest hurdle in a deal beset by lawsuits, labor issues and unhappy Apollo investors.
NEW YORK, Oct 6- Private equity firm KKR& Co LP is nearing a deal to acquire lifting equipment company Crosby Group LLC for around $1 billion, two people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.
Oct 3- Constellation Brands Inc reported higher quarterly earnings on Thursday and the alcoholic beverage company raised its full-year outlook following the acquisition of Grupo Modelo's U.S. beer business.
Oct 3- Alcoholic beverage company Constellation Brands Inc reported higher quarterly earnings on Thursday, helped significantly by the acquisition of Grupo Modelo's U.S. beer business.
NEW YORK, Oct 2- IntercontinentalExchange Inc and NYSE Euronext said on Wednesday they moved a step closer to ICE finalizing its proposed takeover of the Big Board operator after a European regulatory group said it would not object to the deal.
Oct 2- Monsanto Co, the world's largest seed company, reported a deeper quarterly loss on Wednesday as seed sales slipped, and announced the acquisition of a high-tech climate data firm that it touted as a "transformational" growth engine.
Blake Irving, Go Daddy CEO, explains how NASCAR's Danica Patrick is helping his company re-brand, and shares his thoughts on Microsoft's succession plan.
Blake Irving, Go Daddy CEO, explains how his company allows "small business" to get out of the "shoebox" and grow.
Trevor Fetter, Tenet Healthcare president and CEO, discusses the benefits of acquiring Vanguard Health after the passing of the Affordable Care Act.
*China's home appliance market expected reach $105 bln in next two years. HONG KONG, Sept 30- Investment company KKR& Co LP said it had agreed to buy a 10- percent stake in Qingdao Haier Co Ltd, gaining exposure to China's home appliances market with its biggest investment in the country to date.
Oct 1- Japan's Sumitomo Corp agreed to buy steel products maker Edgen Group Inc for about $520 million to expand its global distribution business. The offer of $12 per share represents a premium of 58 percent to Edgen stock's Monday closing price of $7.60. Edgen's shares were up 56 percent at $11.89 in Tuesday morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
TORONTO, Oct 1- Telus Corp, one of Canada's biggest wireless providers, is in talks with Mobilicity to revive a plan for Telus to purchase the struggling smaller player, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported late Monday. Telus declined to comment on Monday on the possibility of reviving its bid, and could not be reached immediately for comment on Tuesday.


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It’s Valentine’s Day today and most Valentines around the globe will say ‘I love you’ to their sweethearts with red roses from India. India shipped over 100 million stems of red roses to key Valentine’s Day markets across UK, West Asia, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Russia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Holland, Germany, Spain, China and Netherlands.
The International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB) witnessed a flurry of activities in the last few days in preparation of huge Valentine’s Day shipments.
More than half of these 100 million roses are grown in Bangalore and Pune, while the rest are cultivated in Ethiopia and Kenya by Karuturi Global, world’s single largest producer of cut roses, based in Bangalore.Bangalore and Pune are the lead players in India’s cut flower industry, which is pegged at over Rs 1,000 crore.
The cut flower markets are centred around events like Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, International Women’s Day and UK Mother’s Day.
European Mother’s Day and French Mother’s Day are two other events. The Indian diaspora too buys a lot of cut roses during Diwali, Dushera, Ganesh Chathurthi and also during fat Indian weddings held overseas. This year Valentine’s Day falls on a Wednesday, Chinese New Year is celebrated from February 16-22, to be quickly followed by International Women’s Day on February 28th and British Mothers’ Day on March 8.
“Events are happening back to back in the international markets. Indian red roses are a must in these celebrations. Overall it is a red-hot season for rose growers in India,’’ says Ram Karuturi, president, South India Floriculture Association (SIFA).
In this season, stem prices went up by 150 per cent, peaking at `16 in wholesale markets, from an earlier average of Rs 5 to Rs 7. In the global markets, a stem of red rose fetches anything between Rs 25 and Rs 30. Sometimes prices could even go up to 200 to 300 per cent, depending on the demand-supply situation. Cut roses remain fresh in the wrap for a fortnight. On an average, Indian rose growers earn a minimum of Rs 10 lakh per acre. Most roses grown in Bangalore are auctioned at IFAB in line with such auction in Holland and Japan to ensure better price discovery.

domain: news


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Nearly half of all customers who recently took their vehicle to a service department were not told its trade-in value by anyone from the dealership, according to a DealerRater survey conducted for Fixed Ops Journal in March.
Many franchised dealerships have been desperate to increase their used-vehicle inventories because of a shortage of new cars and trucks on the lot. Despite this, 49 percent of all respondents said the trade-in value of their vehicle was not discussed when they went in for service. Twenty-two percent said they were told the trade-in value, and 29 percent weren't sure.
For luxury owners, the number of those not informed of the trade-in value was higher, jumping to 54 percent, while 21 percent said they were told.
Of mass-market consumers, 48 percent said no trade-in discussion was held, and 22 percent said they did talk with someone at the dealership about the value of their vehicle.


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Can a new governor, an oligarch from the region, restore calm in the face of a depressed economy, corruption, and a pro-Russian political establishment?
Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren, and Porsche are all popular among the filthy rich
The U.S. provides hope that much of the world could eventually avoid both malnutrition and excess nutrition
Microsoft's Xbox One sales need a big boost from exclusive game Titanfall
Comcast might please shareholders by spinning off some 3 million subscribers. How long could the new cable company survive independently?
Groups representing professional photographers prefer to develop ways to pay image creators in place of Getty's tolerance for Web embedding
DIsney's MyMagic+ technology may make a trip to Disney World more magical—or creep customers out
European MBA programs compete with top-tier U.S. schools for the best students at home and abroad
Research suggests that women may turn to entrepreneurship after 50 to support themselves in retirement
In 1958, at the height of the drive-in movie era, there were some 5,000 theaters spanning the country, the perfect blend of America’s pastimes: movies and cars. But as Americans embraced television and later the VCR, and land prices rose, the number of theaters dwindled to 750 in 1998, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners' Web site. Now, another shift seems to be taking place. Buoyed by nostalgia, drive-ins (there were around 635 at last count) are making a small comeback, taking advantage of DVD players, digital projectors, and iPods. Call it Drive-in 2.0.


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Nintendo has made its first official unveil ahead of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, set to kick off on June 5 in Los Angeles. On June 3, the gaming company revealed the name of a component to its upcoming next-generation console, the Wii U. The gaming system's tablet-esque controller will be called the Wii U GamePad, according to PCMag.
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata hosted the Nintendo Direct Pre-E3 2012 stream, saying that the name for the new controller was inspired by the classic 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) controller. This was one of the first in-home consoles to replace the joystick with a flat D-pad remote, now known as the game pad. Iwata's retro title for the Wii U's controller could suggest that this new remote, complete with an LED screen in addition to its D-pad and action buttons, could be iconic in marking the next step for the gaming industry, just as the original game pad set the precedent for modern consoles.
With E3 only one day away, fans are sure to learn a lot more about Nintendo's next-generation console in the coming week. Here's a recap of what can be said about the new GamePad controller and overall speculations surrounding the Wii U.
1. Multimedia Compatibility. The revamped game pad to be featured with the Wii U contains dual analog sticks with a screen supporting both touch and stylus interaction, and the ability to act as a TV remote. The controller also has its own dedicated Web browser, according to PCMag, and can share media content to a television. It seems that consoles are moving toward the direction of acting as multi-media entertainment centers, as Microsoft has just announced big plans for the future of its Xbox as well.
2. Thumbsticks Instead of Thumbsliders. The previous prototype for Wii U's controller included thumbslider controls, but it is now confirmed that the remote will contain dual analog sticks. This is no surprise to many gamers, as a photo of the renovated controller leaked at the end of May. The image originally surfaced in a NeoGaf forum post, and depicted the dual analog sticks alongside an older version with the thumbsliders for comparison.
3. More Social Interaction. The Wii U will emphasize the interactive aspect of gaming, with its own social network similar to that of Twitter. Users will be able to insert notes and images, and the GamePad also enables video chatting with other players. This is interesting considering Microsoft has just paid $8.5 billion to acquire Skype, and may plan on integrating it into its Xbox console, reported CNet.
4. Meet the Miiverse, Nintendo's Version of MMO Gameplay? The Miiverse is Nintendo's large online community, displaying the Mii avatars of family members, friends, and anyone else with an account on your Wii system. It will also show other people in your area, and which games they are playing. Iwata also said that this network will expand beyond the Wii U, and will be featured on other devices, such as the Nintendo 3DS, the PC and other Web-connected mobile gadgets. The long-time gaming company has expressed interest in alluring hardcore gamers with its next-generation console. As of now, there isn't any talk of the Miiverse playing a large role in gameplay and acting beyond a social outlet, but if Nintendo wants to bring back the more-than-casual players, the Miiverse could have some potential to evolve into a massive multiplayer online universe. Especially with PC integration.
5. The GamePad Will Be Optional. Any Wii owner knows that there are some games that just work better with a standard controller. Take the classic Super Smash Brothers series, for example. Sure, using the Wii Nunchucks every once in a while can make the combat more engaging and realistic, but some gamers usually find themselves dusting off their Nintendo GameCube controllers. It looks like Nintendo is also catering to this crowd by releasing the Wii U Pro Controller for games that have not been optimized for the Wii U, according to The Verge. Also, previous controllers from the Wii, including its Balance Board and Nunchucks, will be compatible with the new system.
No word yet on how much the Wii U will cost, but Nintendo is sure to unveil more at its E3 press conference on June 5.
Follow on Twitter @LisaEadicicco


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The legislation by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, would specifically ensure that GE salmon products entering the US marketplace are clearly labeled “genetically engineered” in the market name. Co-sponsors are Senators Maria Cantwell, D- WA, Jeff Merkley, D-OR, and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.
The US Department of Agriculture last month published labeling guidelines for genetically engineered foods, including GE salmon, with what Murkowski described as weak requirements that could confuse consumers, potentially paving a way for GE salmon to enter domestic markets without clear labels.
“USDA’s new guidelines don’t require mandatory labeling and instead allow producers to use QR codes or 1-800 numbers, which is a far stretch from giving consumers clear information,” Murkowski said. “There’s a huge difference between genetically-engineered salmon and the healthy, sustainably-caught, wild Alaska salmon. My legislation will ensure that consumers have all the facts, allowing them to make more informed decisions when they purchase salmon.”
The senator said consumers have the right to know what they are eating. “When you splice DNA from another animal and combine it with farmed salmon, you are essentially creating a new species and I have serious concerns with that,” she said. “If we are going to allow this fabricated fish to be sold in stores, we must ensure there is at least clear labeling.”
Murkowski’s campaign to assure clear labeling of GE salmon began when the US Food and Drug Administration announced its decision in late 2015 to approve GE salmon for human consumption. Murkowski vowed to block the confirmation of cardiologist Dr. Robert Califf as FDA commissioner until her concerns on labeling guidelines for GE salmon were resolved. She then secured a provision in the omnibus bill to block the FDA from introducing GE salmon into the market until it published labeling guidelines to make consumers aware of what they are purchasing.
In January 2016, the FDA announced an import ban on GE salmon until those labeling guidelines were published. Murkowski lifted her hold on Califf’s nomination only after the FDA provided her with technical drafting assistance on legislative language to effectively mandate labeling of the GE salmon. Several months later Murkowski voted against the Biotechnology Labeling Solutions Act, which would have allowed for voluntary, rather than mandatory, labeling of GE salmon. In July 2017, she introduced legislation to mandate labeling of GE salmon.


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Aldi offers shoppers private-label goods to keep grocery bills manageable while also ensuring product quality. Its L’Oven Fresh brand of bread is particularly beloved by customers, and for good reason. While it’s often challenging to determine which manufacturers are behind private labels, it appears that L’Oven Fresh is produced by Bimbo Bakeries USA, a company that manufactures baked goods for many big brands.
The most compelling evidence of Aldi’s collaboration with Bimbo Bakeries comes from a press release issued by the grocery store in 2015. The press release, which announced a voluntary recall, referred to Bimbo Bakeries as Aldi’s “supplier,” at least for the product cited in the recall notice (which was the Fit & Active 45 Calorie Multigrain Bread). And while Aldi has never provided an official statement on who manufactures its L’Oven Fresh products, Bimbo Bakeries is quite prolific when it comes to the brands it works with. In fact, Yahoo Finance claims that the company manufactures goods for 37 distinct brands.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: daily meal


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Princess Reveals 2022 Alaska Cruise Season
Princess has announced its 2022 Alaska cruise season, which will involve six ships — including the upcoming Discovery Princess. There will be 12 different itineraries to choose from, along with 25 cruise tour options.
From May through September 2022, four west coast homeports will be the launching point for Princess’ Alaska cruises: Seattle, Vancouver, Anchorage (Whittier) and San Francisco.
The new 3,660-passenger Discovery Princess will depart from Seattle on seven-night cruises, alongside Emerald Princess.
Majestic, Sapphire, and Grand Princess will sail the top-rated, seven-night Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary, which features two glacier viewing experience on each voyage. These sailings will depart from Vancouver and end in Anchorage, and vice versa.
READ: Princess Takes Delivery Of Fifth Royal-Class Cruise Ship
Ruby Princess will be operating 10-night Inside Passage cruises from San Francisco, featuring the added bonus of a sail away under the awe-inspiring Golden Gate Bridge.
All six ships that will be plying the Alaska waters are equipped with Princess Cruises’ Medallion technology. The technology allows services such as quicker embarkation, on-demand food and drinks, contactless payment, keyless stateroom entry, a friends and family locator, and fewer touchpoints.
Land travelers will see even more of Alaska by combining a seven-night Voyage of the Glaciers cruise with multiple nights on land in the heart of Alaska. There are dozens of options available ranging from 10 to 17 nights, and every cruise tour includes a visit to Denali National Park.
Princess owns and operates five wilderness lodges, located near the entrances of stunning national parks. The line also offers their exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service that takes guests from the cruise ship to the Denali area and wilderness lodges in the same day.
2022 Alaska Program Highlights
- 17 destinations, including five glacier-viewing experiences, on 12 unique itineraries and 140 departures. Most voyages include visits to Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway.
- 82 calls to Glacier Bay National Park on seven unique itineraries.
- The 17 day Ultimate Princess Connoisseur cruisetour is back by popular demand, featuring two nights at each one of the five Princess Wilderness Lodges.
- Princess continues to enhance its North to Alaska program, bringing local Alaskans, culture, and fresh seafood onboard and ashore to immerse travelers in all things Alaska — from Cook My Catch and Puppies in the Piazza to mountain climbers and Libby Riddles, the first female Iditarod Champion.
MORE: Celebrity Will Sail Three Ships in Alaska for 2022 Cruise Season
Those who have sailed Princess Cruises before are eligible for a special promotion when they book early. It consists of a Captain’s Circle launch discount of up to $100 per person. To take advantage of the offer, past guests must book their voyage by April 30, 2021.
The 2022 Alaska cruises and cruise tours will be open for booking on December 16, 2020.
Princess Cruises currently plans to resume operations in the United States on April 1, 2021.


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PETALING JAYA, Jan 12 — Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail today confirmed that petrol dealers have been asked to display petrol price comparison of other Asean countries in an effort to promote transparency and prevent misinformation.
Saifuddin was responding to Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin who earlier said petrol dealers nationwide were ‘forced’ to display the price comparison list of other Asean countries in a circular signed by the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Muez Abd Aziz.
“Consumer empowerment exists when consumers have full information regarding a product, what more on sensitive crude oil price. That is why other the prices of other countries are displayed so they are informed.
“The setting of market price for petrol is an issue discussed openly by the people. They know every movement of crude oil prices and how much it should fall. So the government has to be transparent and open in providing information,” he said in a series of tweets to Khairy.
Slm Sdr @Khairykj . Respons saya begini:— Saifuddin Nasution (@saifnasution) 12 January 2019
1) Penetapan harga minyak runcit adalah isu yang dibincangkan secara terbuka oleh rakyat. Rakyat tahu pergerakan harga minyak dunia dan berapa sepatutnya turun. Jadi, kerajaan juga harus telus dan terbuka dalam memberikan maklumat. https://t.co/kkWscNPesQ
Yesterday, Khairy posted a photo depicting the price per litre of petrol and diesel for Asean countries such as Singapore, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippine, Vietnam, Indonesia and Myanmar.
Khairy said many had condemned Barisan Nasional and said it was not relevant to compare with other countries when it introduced similar comparison before this.
Saifuddin Nasution said if prices of other countries other than Malaysia dropped, consumers would definitely be able to question the government on the matter and that could only take place if the government was transparent in displaying market prices of neighbouring countries.
He also thanked Khairy for bringing up the issue of Brunei being left out in the list of Asean countries.
“I have instructed the price listing of Brunei that was left out to be included in the list. There is no hiding of information because the consumers have the rights to every information.
“It does not make sense to hide Brunei’s price listing because such information are out there and the people can scrutinise themselves. I am committed to be always open to communication especially regarding the issue of petrol prices.
“The missing Brunei information will be included and I have instructed my officers to be more vigilant,” he said.
Khairy had suggested that Brunei was intentionally exempted to show that Malaysia has the lowest price in the region in a response to a user who inquired why Brunei was missing.


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Luminex announced today that their Channel Gateway mainframe virtual tape products are now available with 32GB/s FICON speeds. Luminex is the world’s first company to offer the latest advancements in FICON speeds and with this announcement continues to demonstrate its mainframe technology leadership.
As organizations begin to implement the latest data center networking technologies, Luminex offers the ability to immediately extend these benefits to mainframe data. With new 32Gb/s FICON speeds, customers can be confident that their investment will continue to serve them through future infrastructure upgrades.
Mainframe tape storage products often have an operational life of a decade or more. Implementing anything other than the most advanced technology today can result in long-term use of antiquated technology during the life of the product.
“All mainframe customers should demand roadmaps and delivery commitments for 32Gb/s FICON from any mainframe virtual tape vendor they consider to ensure long-term product viability in their datacenter,” according to Brian Hawley, CEO of Luminex. “Luminex continues to demonstrate our commitment to providing mainframe customers with best of breed technology, products, and service.”
Visit Luminex at www.luminex.com to learn how it is leading the industry in delivering modern mainframe virtual tape products. Customers worldwide are using the Channel Gateways to eliminate physical tape for backup and disaster recovery processes and even to completely eliminate physical tape in all of their mainframe operations.
ABOUT LUMINEX SOFTWARE, INC.
Luminex is a provider of mainframe data and connectivity solutions and is best known for its industry-leading Mainframe Virtual Tape (MVT™) solutions.
Luminex MVT, featuring Channel Gateway™ X (CGX), allows mainframe enterprises to eliminate or reduce physical tape, improve RTO and RPO, lower operating costs, improve security, archive to the cloud and provide continuous availability for tape processing.
Luminex solutions are installed in all major industries worldwide, from entry-level to high-end mainframe environments. MVT solutions are supported by Luminex subject matter experts (systems engineers) for presales, consulting, tape studies, throughput and capacity sizing, and tape migration services.
- MDI: Mainframe data integration & sharing
- MVT: Mainframe virtual tape solutions family
- STM: Synchronous Tape Matrix, continuous availability solution for tape operations
- Push Button DR: Disaster recovery and testing with “push button” ease
- CGSafe: Encryption and Key Management for MVT and T2S
- CloudTAPE: Archive tape data to public and private cloud storage
- T2S: Entry-level ECKD DASD
Luminex Software, Inc.871 Marlborough Avenue
Riverside, CA 92507


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Bored? Turn your passions -- whether they are juggling chainsaws, chasing tornadoes or walking on fire -- into cool and profitable companies just like the following 12 entrepreneurs did.
When it comes to unemployment, Generation Next, or people born between 1980 and 2000, are not ones to sit around and complain. They take action. They are not about looking for jobs; they are about creating them.
Business incubators are a critical lifeline for budding entrepreneurs. These startup boot camps provide fledgling companies training, counseling, facilities, office space and the most essential element for a small business -- access to funding. Here are seven that are on fire.
Some of the coolest toys this year are coming from small toymakers that are quietly revolutionizing how kids play today. Here are five companies that just may score the hottest toy of 2011.
Some of the hottest products of the year cost well under $100, from gaming consoles and VR headsets to drones.
Whether you're shopping for a Pokémon GO fan or someone who owns every console ever made, we've got holiday shopping recommendations to suit everyone from beginners to ...
Our list of must-have toys includes a self-hatching interactive pet, a coding toy for toddlers and a high-tech Barbie Dreamhouse.
The 10 most expensive colleges in the U.S. charge more than $66,000 for tuition, fees, room and board for the 2016-2017 school year.
As businesses go global and teams are scattered around the world, herding everyone into the same room for a meeting seems quaint. So companies are using technology to ...
Stadium attendance is down so pro sports teams are using technology to win back fans and get them in their seats.
Strong job growth, growing interest from Millennials and affordable home prices are attracting home buyers to these cities.
These Clearfield, Pennsylvania, residents are mad at D.C., but want more help.
These voices are based on interviews with American voters from the key swing states of Florida and Ohio. It's part of a special report titled "Your money, your vote," ...
|Fake news, real violence: 'Pizzagate' and the consequences of an Internet echo chamber|
|New York Mayor asks Obama, Congress for $35 million to protect Trump|
|Amazon opens a grocery store with no checkout line|
|Trump attacks China on trade but misses the mark|
|LGBTQ clergy tackle tough issues ahead of Trump presidency|


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Looks like Somerville music venue Radio is really and truly done as the liquor license is up for a transfer at next week's licensing hearing [PDF]. If approved, it'll go to Two Three Zero, the event space at the new Paint Nite headquarters at 230 Somerville Avenue, on the edge of Somerville's Union Square.
Paint Nite hosts events around the globe that involve drinking cocktails with a group while everyone learns to paint the same picture. The company partners up with various bars and other venues with the goal of bringing in business on slow nights. According to the website, Two Three Zero is the "snazzy new event space" at Paint Nite HQ, and painters can currently enjoy $5 snacks like vanilla cream puffs or pretzel chips with hummus, plus beer and wine.
· 4/28/2014 agenda [Somerville Licensing Commission]
· All coverage of Radio on Eater [~EBOS~]


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Tip of the Week
Last year, White Ops, the self-proclaimed “global pioneer in deterministic botnet detection and sophisticated digital fraud” issued the results of a study. Here’s a highlight of their results.
We expected to find bogus websites with nothing but a bot audience,
but out of nearly 3 million websites covered in the study, mere thousands were completely bogus.
Most of the bots visited real websites run by real companies with real human visitors.
Those bots inflated the monetized audiences at those sites by 5-50 percent.
The results, they stated, were that:
- Advertisers will lose $6.2B globally this year
- Ad fraud gets home users hacked
- Ad bots defeats user targeting
I’m sometimes asked my opinion about buying digital ads to promote one’s crowdfunding campaign. I usually beg off the question because I’ve never used the tactic myself, and because I’m personally very unfazed by digital ads, so I never saw the benefits of them. A more recent report not only strongly suggests you should save your money, but the bot frauds hit closer to home in this one.
It was a study that was released almost two weeks ago, one which I expected would catch like wildfire on blogs, groups, and forums I read. The results, though not altogether surprising were still to my mind offensive and kind of scandalous. Rather than writing about it I thought I’d wait to read what others had to say. But instead of outrage so far I’ve heard crickets.
So here’s the bad news.
It turns out that from 88% to 98% of digital ads we pay for are clicked by bots, not thinking, discerning humans. And the fraudsters aren’t fringe offenders; they are companies we rely on and respect like—this one broke my heart—LinkedIn. They came in at 88% fake, with the worst offender being Google, at 98%. Good old Facebook and Yahoo tied at 94%.
The data were revealed by a Luxembourg-based company that works in human-recognition technology called Oxford BioChronometrics, a startup from Oxford University, which last year spun out into the private sector in order to continue to further commercialize their technology. According to their site, Biochronometrics calculates changes in our biological behavior.
Good news or more bad news?
The bot fraud is part of a bigger study the team has been working on. Last July’s unveiling informed us that we each leave an imprint through our common behaviors, such as mouse movements or typing speed. Put it all together and it’s called eDNA (electronically Defined Natural Attributes). Over time, the technology allows tracking and identifying up to 500 behaviors— such as drug use, sexual activity, and even whether you’re prone to heart attacks—of users whenever they log onto their computers or smartphone.
The benefit, they say, is that it will immediately confirm identity and reduce the rate of hacking. Whether it’s worth giving up our privacy remains to be seen, though we all know the truth is that ship probably sailed long ago.
To read the full report, go here.


text: June 15, 2016. In testimony before the Baltimore City Council, James Parrott, says it would be sound public policy for the City of Baltimore to phase in a $15 an hour minimum wage. Considerable compelling and economically sound research supports the conclusion that businesses can accommodate such an increase. A higher wage floor would generate significant cost savings due to reduced turnover and there is room for modest price increases to ease the adjustment without jeopardizing overall employment levels or profitability. Businesses of all sizes will be encouraged to operate more efficiently. Moreover, a $15 wage floor would boost consumer spending for nearly 100,000 Baltimore workers. It will aid struggling families, benefit many of the city’s children, reduce poverty, and will have positive overall economic consequences across the city.


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WASHINGTON -- Media companies would be allowed to sabotage Napster-style networks to prevent songs, movies and other copyrighted materials from being swapped over the Internet under a bill introduced in Congress Thursday.
The bill would permit recording companies and other copyright holders to hack onto networks to thwart users looking to download free music, and would protect them from lawsuits from users.
Although Congress has little time to debate the bill before the August recess, sponsor Rep. Howard Berman, a California Democrat, said the measure was necessary because the decentralized systems were impossible to shut down.
"No legislation can eradicate the problem of peer-to-peer piracy. However, enabling copyright creators to take action to prevent an infringing file from being shared via P2P (peer-to-peer) is an important first step," Berman said in remarks on the floor of the House.
Many large record labels have already resorted to a method known as "spoofing," where they hire firms to distribute "decoy" files that are empty or do not work in order to frustrate would-be downloaders of movies and music.
Additionally, sources have said the major recording companies, like Bertelsmann AG BMG, EMI Group Plc Vivendi Universal and Sony Corp are considering taking a new tack by suing individuals who use the services, rather than the companies that host them.
The industry's trade group, the Recording Industry Association of America, on Thursday welcomed the bill.
"We applaud Congressman Berman for introducing bipartisan legislation that takes an innovative approach to combating the serious problem of Internet piracy," said Hilary Rosen, chairman and chief executive officer of the RIAA.
"Online piracy undermines the growth of legitimate music sites and hurts all consumers in the long run. Every dollar lost to piracy is a dollar that cannot be invested in fresh, new artists we have all come to expect and enjoy," said Rosen.
The bill does not specify what measures copyright owners could take to foil online song swapping, but does impose some limits on their efforts.
Copyright owners would only be able to stop the trading of their own songs, and would be required to notify users and the Justice Department when they took action.
Overzealous companies could face a government ban and lawsuits from users who suffered economic harm.
The recording industry blames rampant online piracy for a decline in CD sales last year and has prosecuted online networks aggressively.
But while the industry succeeded in shutting down the pioneer Napster service last summer, other less centralized networks like Kazaa and Morpheus continue to attract millions of users.
"The current landscape for online music is dangerously one-sided, with the peer-to-peer pirates enjoying an unfair advantage," Rosen of the RIAA said.
"It makes sense to clarify existing laws to ensure that copyright owners -- those who actually take the time and effort to create an artistic work -- are at least able to defend their works from mass piracy," Rosen said.
Members of the movie industry also embraced the initiative, but not entirely.
"We're pleased that a bipartisan group of lawmakers .. want to curb the explosion of Internet piracy," said Jack Valenti, president and chief executive officer of the Motion Picture Association of America, in a statement.
"However, there are aspects of the bill we believe need changing as it moves through the legislative process. We look forward to working with Congress in this regard," he said.
A spokesman for Valenti was not immediately available to elaborate.


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Kleros, a dispute resolution layer for the internet, has announced that it will be using the model of an Interactive Token Sale for its crowd sale which is set for the 15th of May, 2018. Kleros has not accepted private funding and will not perform a pre-sale for private parties.
Kleros works by arbitrating disputes over transactions, services or potentially anything on the internet, by randomly selecting jurors who are experts and also hold the projects native token, named the Pinakion (PNK). Holders of PNK tokens are eligible to become jurors in disputes that have been initiated by two parties that elected to use Kleros for their dispute resolution. Based upon how jurors vote, holders of PNK can earn additional tokens if they judge the dispute correctly, according to their peers.
Federico Ast, Kleros CEO, explained: “Initial Coin Offerings have shown the phenomenal public interest in funding blockchain projects, but participation has become a lot harder. Due to exclusive private sales and pre-sales, crowdsales have now bypassed the crowd. We want to change that, which is why we’ve gone for an interactive ICO which allows for a fairer token sale. That way, participants can set their own cap, and then a uniform token valuation is deduced, based on the total ether contributed.”
The model of the Interactive token sale was first proposed in a paper written by Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, Jason Teutsch, co-founder of Truebit, and Christopher Brown, CEO of Modular. The Truebit and Modular project, who has since built the application that will run the crowd sale. Kleros has declined private sale offers from major investors, electing to proceed directly to a public sale in which everyone has an equal opportunity to acquire tokens. Buyers are free to submit a bid for tokens but retain the option of voluntarily withdrawing their offer if the hard cap of the sale become too high.
The Interactive token sale concept aims to resolve problems associated with capped sales including oversubscription, network congestion, and, in the case of uncapped sales, misaligned incentives between contributors and developers. Kleros’ purchase protocol will allow participants to specify the amount of tokens they’d like to purchase and a personal cap in ETH. The contract will then remove contributors whose cap was exceeded, starting with the lowest bids, and these individuals will be given the option of entering a higher personal cap to ensure inclusion.
A total of 16% of all PNK tokens will be issued in the Kleros token event on 15 May 2018, with the remainder of the supply earmarked for a public sale to follow. In total, 66% of the 1 billion PNK minted will be distributed for sale. Further rounds of funding will be scheduled as the company completes the milestones featured on its website.
Ast added: “In addition to choosing the IICO method, we have decided to do the sale in more than one round, similar to the model of a traditional start-up, we are doing a smaller initial public sale followed by a sale later. We think it’s fair that people can choose to keep supporting the project as the team delivers on the product.”
Kleros has also released a working demonstration video of its product. The protocol is scheduled to be released to the public before its token sale in May.


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June 8 (Reuters) – India’s Essar Oil, one of Iran’s key Indian clients, has significantly reduced purchases from the santions-hit nation in May and switched to Latin American grades, which accounted for about a third of its overall imports during the month, tanker discharge data made available to Reuters show. Indian refiners cut imports from Iran by 38 percent in May from a year ago, in a second month of steep reductions as they switch suppliers to cushion the impact of tighter western sanctions on Tehran. >>>
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California-based startup LIFX has released a new version of its light bulbs that is far more ahead of regular smart bulbs. Instead of just smarten up your home’s lighting; the new bulb wants to smarten up something else, your security camera.
LIFX’s new smart bulb comes as an aid to your security camera
- 5 Places Where People Live the Longes... — 5 Blue Zones Where People Live the Longest, Healthiest Lives | Timehttp://time.com/5160475/blue-zones-healthy-long-lives/Global life expectancy averages out to 71.4 years. That means, of course, that some parts of the world see much shorter life spans, while others enjoy far greater longevity. Five places, in particular, fall into the latter category. They’re known as Blue Zones—named for [...]
- Best Vision of the Future (Smart City... — Meanwhile, our 17-year-old Manila Metro Rail Transit System also known as the MRT Line 3, MRT-3 or Metrostar Express, which only has one line and 13 stations, is finding it hard to keep up with the rapid backwards acceleration towards the Middle Ages this country has recently been so adamant to pursue. Remember: murder bad, [...]
- Best of CES 2018: The Year’s Sh... — https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-of-ces-2018/?mbid=nl_011118_gadgetlab_list1_p1Our favorite laptop, headphones, smart home device, and more from the world’s greatest gadget pageant. SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSave [...]
- What You Need to Know as a Traveler i... — What You Need to Know as a Traveler in 2018 – WSJhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/what-you-need-to-know-as-a-traveler-in-2018-1514989508Get ready for tighter plane seats, new security procedures and the completion of a major merger. [...]
- Tested: the best smartphone cameras c... — Tested: the best smartphone cameras comparedhttps://www.engadget.com/2017/12/21/2017-smartphone-camera-comparison-iphone-pixel-note-mate/We analyzed the iPhone X, Pixel 2, Note 8 and Mate 10 Pro to see which has the best camera system. [...]


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ABILENE, Texas - A liquor store that set up shop in south Abilene is working to earn its place in on a residential and commercial street despite recent protests.
FILO Liquors has been waiting to open its doors for several months, but its location on Rio Mesa Drive and Buffalo Gap Road has some residents upset.
Those residents recently filed a petition with a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to prevent the store from opening, even though it is located in a commercial section on a residential street.
Some neighbors fear the store will decrease the value of their homes and increase the crime and traffic in the area.
The public hearing on the matter is scheduled for Wednesday and the store owners hosted an open house Saturday for protestors to get acquainted with the business; however, only supporters came out to the open house and upset neighbors stayed home.
Co-owner Jim Cockfield said he was looking forward to meeting with some of the protesters to address their concerns.
"There's a lot of misconceptions about what we're doing here -- there's a lot of concerns about various thing -- about drunks in the parking lot," Cockfield said. "It's completely illegal to drink in a liquor store. You can't even drink on the property. Things like that we wanted to address."
One neighbor said she did not attend the open house because she would rather express her opinion at the public hearing.
The supporters who made an appearance at the event said they wish their neighbors would give the store a chance.
"Come down here and check it out for yourself and find out that it's going to be a much classier place than local liquor stores that are already here," said Kevin Owen, a nearby resident.
As for the increased crime and traffic, one supporter said he does not expect that to be an issue.
"Traffic wise, there's more high school kids that go racing through the neighborhood. I doubt if somebody stopping at the liquor store would be driving through the neighborhood," said Henry Dorsey, a nearby resident.
The public hearing will be at the Taylor County Courthouse on 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9.
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- Police seek help finding suitcase linked to Colorado murder
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- KTXS Forecast: Rain moves out, making way for warmer weather and sunny skies


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UAE-based homegrown children’s retailer Elli Junior has opened a flagship store in Dubai Mall. Located on the second floor of the mall the new store is spread across 70 sqft and sports a minimal and contemporary look and feel.
“We plan to open more stores in prime locations such as Dubai Mall [open now] and Reem Mall in Abu Dhabi to get closer to our customers. I strongly believe in a hybrid approach to reach consumers through their preferred touchpoints,” said Founder & CEO Elli Kasbi during an exclusive interview with RetailME.
Going forward, the brand plans to grow in the region with a focus on Saudi Arabia and Qatar. “We will also explore franchise opportunities and look for a potential investor/partner to take the business to the next level,” Kasbi added.
Elli Junior started distribution in 2017, launched its e-commerce presence in 2019 and retail stores in 2021. Currently Elli Junior offers over 300 brands and more than 4,000 SKUs.
Asked about business milestones achieved by the business, Kasbi shared, “One of our major milestones is the fact that we’ve doubled our turnover every year since launch. Over the past four years Elli Junior has grown 100% year-on-year on sales. We’ve expanded our reach online, coupled with building presence in luxury department stores and popular malls. In addition, we’ve also built a community website in Arabic.”
The key to a successful omnichannel future
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Scandinavian brand J Lindeberg capitalises on the rise of athleisure to expand in the UAE
J Lindeberg was started by Johan Lindeberg in 1990s with the aimSeptember 2, 2022 | By RetailME Bureau
Sunset Hospitality Group accelerates expansion plans to open 20+ international venues in 2023
Apparel Group marks 17 years of partnership with Tommy Hilfiger with unique NFTree
Géant, part of GMG, recently opened two new stores. The brand has
UAE-based diversified family business GMG has launched four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in
The growth opportunity for food and grocery retailers during the Holy Month
From value, variety and convenience to philanthropy GMG retail stores, including 16
MAGGI from the house of the Nestlé is all set to launch
What does 2023 look like for consumers in Saudi Arabia? A Nielsen
Dubai-based food & grocery retailer Union Coop has launched its discount campaign
Around eight years ago in 2015 a brand called Fruitful Day was
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In the early 1970s when large-scale oil exploration activities started, the UAE
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Ramadan consumerism has long fixated retailers for it is nothing short of
Luxury retailer Chalhoub Group has launched its web3-native, community-centric sneaker brand SOL3MATES.
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UAE-based diversified family business GMG renewed its commitment to the Egyptian market
Italian luxury brand Dolce&Gabbana and the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation
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With an aim to offer an interactive shopping experience a new concept
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Apparel Group’s sustainable fashion brand F5 Global, founded by teen-preneur Sarisha Ved,
A B-Corp entity performance lifestyle brand that’s part of GAP Inc Athleta


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James Barrett is freelance travel and lifestyle journalist and founder of the Jimmy Rox newsletter. James' keen insight to building a quality audience and offering compelling content has really demonstrated results. In just six months, his newsletter boasts an impressive open rate of over 45% with over 2300 subscribers. In an otherwise noisy news space, this is an impressive endorsement of his work.
James shares tips on smart email subjects, authentic content and using your own voice to draw in loyal followers. His perspective to generating content is fresh and new -- and clearly ahead of the trend in news making.
Meet James and Lisa in person this Wednesday, May 11 in NYC for the PR News Media Relations and Measurement Conference!


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Pitch to lure Amazon to Winnipeg appeals to company's frugality
Proponents urge Amazon to 'think big, frugally, inventively,' focus on cheap land, hydro rates and taxes
The team trying to lure Amazon to Winnipeg hopes the city's reputation for frugality will convince the company to bring its new headquarters here.
The proposal, jointly authored by the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba, stresses how cheap it is to do business and live in the city.
"[It's] the least expensive city to operate a tech company and a more affordable place for potential employees to call home," reads the proposal, which was made public Thursday.
In September, the online retail giant sent out a request for proposals for a home for its second headquarters in a North American city. The project is worth $5 billion US and stands to create more than 50,000 jobs with six-figure salaries.
Winnipeg's pitch points to low commercial and industrial land costs, low hydro rates and low corporate taxes.
"Winnipeg was ranked the most cost-competitive city in the U.S. and Western Canada by KPMG in 2016," according to the document.
Frugality appears to be important to Amazon — it is listed as one of its 14 leadership principles.
Amazon's call for proposals said it is looking for a metropolitan hub with a population of at least one million. Winnipeg and surrounding municipalities are home to about 811,000 people, according to Statistics Canada.
- Manitoba premier, Winnipeg mayor say city is 'best choice' for new Amazon HQ
- 'Step up to the plate': Sports analogies continue as Manitoba chases Amazon
- 'Winnipeg isn't ready' to lure Amazon HQ2, local IT developer says
The province is not committing any cash at this time but up to $980 million in tax credits and training support over 16 years may be considered if Winnipeg is short-listed.
The city said it will consider tax-increment financing, which uses increases in property taxes generated from the redevelopment of a property to fund a project.
It also committed to help with land assembly, including the sale of surplus city land. It also said it will consider financial support for infrastructure. Most of these commitments would have to be approved by city council.
"Our proposal stands on its merits," Premier Brian Pallister said in an emailed statement, which provided a rationale for why neither the province nor the city are throwing money into the proposal to try to outbid the competition.
"We are confident in Winnipeg," said Bowman. "And we are optimistic Amazon will see what we see in Winnipeg."
The Bay could anchor a downtown campus
One of the proposed sites is a multi-building campus that includes the Bay's downtown building, Portage Place, the National Research Council building on Ellice Avenue and Parcel Four, a parking lot on Israel Asper Way near The Forks that was once considered for a waterpark development.
A 107-acre chunk of the University of Manitoba Smartpark is also offered up as a possible site.
Winnipeg's bid includes a letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The PM does not back a specific city, opting instead to praise the nation's commitment to the environment, education and multiculturalism.
"We have shown time and time again that a country can be stronger not in spite of its differences, but because of them. Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice," the prime minister's letter says.
The Winnipeg proposal was submitted on Wednesday. Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Edmonton and Calgary are also expected to enter the competition, as are many U.S. cities.
Thursday was the deadline for cities to submit their proposals for the new Amazon headquarters.
"Sometimes we don't toot our own horn enough. We have developed incredible things in this city," said Spiring.
She noted that the Ebola vaccine was discovered here and a Winnipegger invented the cellphone. (Martin Cooper, widely acknowledged as the cellphone's inventor, spent some of his childhood years in Winnipeg before going on to develop early cellphone technology with Motorola.)
"I am very proud of what we put forward."


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There is a good chance that the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE smartphone could launch at Samsung Unpacked tomorrow.
We previously heard that Samsung may not launch the device until later in the year, although the device was recently posted on Instagram by Samsung, it has now been removed. You can see the device in the photo above and in the Instagram photo below.
As a reminder the new Galaxy S21 FE or Fan Edition is rumored to come with a6.4 inch AMOLED display that will have a FHD+ resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Processing will be provided by a Snapdragon 888 processor or an Exynos 2100 depending on the region and it will also be available with a choice of 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
The handset will come with a facing 32 megapixel camera designed for taking selfies and making video calls. On the back there will be a 12 megapixel wide camera, a 12 megapixel ultrawide camera and an 8 megapixel telephoto camera and it will come with a 4500 mAh battery, fast charging and Android 11.
As Samsung has started to use the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE in its promotional material, we suspect that it may be made official at Samsung Unpacked tomorrow.
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Facebook confirmed that it's changing the name of its two most popular apps, Instagram and WhatsApp, to better disclose its ownership of the apps. Soon, Instagram will be known as “Instagram from Facebook” while WhatsApp will become “WhatsApp from Facebook.”
The app's name will stay the same on the homescreen of your phone and tablet, however their names will change in the App Store for people first downloading them.
Facebook has yet to say when the changes will go into effect.
Photo: Getty Images


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UK ultra-rapid charging at petrol parity – AA
Wholesale electricity prices have softened, whereas oil is up on tensions in the Middle East
Ultra-rapid charging in the UK can now be cheaper by the mile than petrol following a fall in charging costs to the lowest level this year, according to data from the UK breakdown and insurance firm the AA.
The cost of ultra-rapid charging — greater than 101 kW — fell to 61p/kWh (74¢/kWh) for peak rates in September, the equivalent of 13.7p/mile. Petrol refilling cost averaged 14.5p/mile during the month.
“A further reduction in the cost of ultra-rapid charging is brilliant to see and shows that charge point operators can act quickly to pass on cost savings to drivers,” says Edmund King, president of the AA.
“Ultra-rapid charging can be cheaper by the mile than petrol and gives more food for thought to those who are considering making the swap from combustion cars to EVs,” he adds.
However, drivers using charge points offering flat rates saw prices remain the same as August, and slow chargers — typically stationed at lampposts in urban areas — saw peak and off-peak prices rise again in September.
The AA says its recent data shows that business and company car drivers are the ones most likely to make the switch to EVs due to tax benefits. And these drivers tend to drive longer distances and are thus more likely to use the ultra-rapid network to charge.
“Transparent and competitive pricing of charging at home and on the road is an essential part of encouraging private and business drivers to go electric,” says King.
The price of rapid and ultra-rapid charging rose last year on the back of higher wholesale electricity and natural gas prices, but has been steadily falling this year.
A 43kW rapid AC charger can typically charge an electric car in 20-40 minutes, whereas a 100 kW or more ultra-rapid charger can typically charge a car in 20 minutes, according to AA competitor the RAC.
The UK now has 3,873 ultra-rapid charge points, according to data from charging mapper Zapmap. Since September 2022, there has been a 68pc increase in the number of ultra-rapid charging devices across the country.
The charging points tend to be found at motorway services or on main roads. As of September, there are a combined 9,209 rapid and ultra-rapid charging devices across 4,809 rapid and ultra-rapid charging locations in the UK.
Last month 193 new rapid and ultra-rapid charging devices were added. The UK had a total of 49,882 charging devices of all kinds at the end of September.


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State utility regulators want the state’s electric distribution companies to redesign the first page of electric bills to display specific information so that consumers can easily compare rates and track expiration dates.
The state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority has issued a draft decision requiring the rate information, which implements a 2014 law requiring disclosure. The legislature passed the law after thousands of Connecticut residents who purchased electricity from third-party suppliers complained of skyrocketing bills.
Under PURA’s draft, Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating would redesign the first page of electric bills to make information clear.
PURA also require that rates change only monthly — not daily or weekly, as is now the case — effective when the new bill design is implemented.
Attorney General George Jepsen and Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz today filed formal comments supporting the draft on Monday.
“This draft decision is a hands-down win for consumers, and I commend PURA for its ongoing implementation of the protections and disclosures passed by the legislature last year,” Jepsen said.
Katz called the draft “good for virtually anyone who pays an electric bill.”
Consumers who use an electric supplier will see next month’s rate on the bill with the standard offer rate from the electric utility, “so they can compare and make sure they are getting a good deal,” she said.
The draft decision establishes a working group to implement the changes and requires that the redesigned bill be submitted by July 1. The redesigned bills must include on the first page of the customers’ bill:
• The ratepayer’s generation service rate and the term or expiration date of that rate.
• Any change to the rate that will be effective in the next billing cycle.
• The cancellation fee, if any.
• Whether the rate is variable.
• The standard service rate offered by the electric distribution company and the term or expiration date of that rate;
• A comparison of what the customer would pay under the standard rate and the alternative.
The link to the website for PURA’s rate board as well as the toll-free number for customer service.
A final decision is expected on Jan. 21.


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Recently, a new update was released for Pokémon GO (only on Android) which came packaged with brand new loading screen art to tie in with the new Snapshot mode!
The IOS version has yet to receive this update but likely will over the next few days.
Check it out below:
Serebii Update: A new version is starting to roll out on Pokémon GO on Android with iOS to come later. This update includes a new load screen to tie in with the upcoming GO Snapshot feature https://t.co/NWlAdn57aQ pic.twitter.com/1g4mjd2wmV
— Serebii.net (@SerebiiNet) February 17, 2019
If we have any more information to share we will cover it here at NintendoSoup so stay tuned for more!


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Foodservice operators will need to build even greater flexibility into their food offerings in 2017 if they are to keep up with the latest consumer trends.
Research from Horizons found that disruptive innovations such as dessert cafés, all-day brunch, bespoke dishes cooked to order and a growth in the use of third-party food delivery firms are set to feature among the key eating out trends for the year ahead.
It also warned that economic uncertainty ahead of Brexit would take its toll prompting consumers to reduce their discretionary spend and seek even better value for money from operators.
Whilst predicting that a number of innovative ideas and concepts will come to market in 2017, the sector cannot escape the “looming impact” of Brexit, which will “put pressure on the price of food and equipment, energy and labour”, said Horizons’ managing director Peter Backman.
Backman added that a potential hike in menu prices would in part be offset by an increase in overseas visitors to the UK and the fact more Brits would holiday at home due to the volatile pound; however, shaky consumer confidence will see diners seeking out deals, vouchers and money-off promotions.
Other 2017 trends identified by Horizons include the growing use of natural sweeteners such as apple, dates and coconut; the continued shift into the mainstream of vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian dishes; growing demand for post workout power snacks and protein pots; and the use of super-food ingredients such as kale, green lentils and edamame beans.


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Paytm, one of the largest mobile payments and commerce platform of India, has today announced that it has registered a strong surge in online recharges on its platform post the government’s move to demonetize Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes. This has enabled Paytm to witness a huge rise in its user base as well.
As the new consumers tried online recharges for the first time, Paytm has registered over 35 million online recharges in the last few days. Speaking on the achievement of this milestone, Shankar Nath, Senior VP at Paytm said,
At Paytm, we are humbled by the fact that people have used Paytm on a massive scale for online mobile recharges and bill payments. Millions of new consumers across the country have adopted digital, Cash free recharges and bill payments for the first time. We also noticed a trend of users recharging over 5-6 mobile numbers online to assist friends and family.
With a strong payment ecosystem, the Alibaba-backed startup is currently dominating India’s online recharges space with more than 70% market share. In this space, its biggest competitor includes Snapdeal-owned Freecharge.
As per the company, it has registered over 100% growth in its online recharges segment over the last couple of days. The company is now saying that the recent surge in its online recharge transactions will help the company to further increase its share in the market.
Paytm has become a one-stop solution for multiple daily use cases as along with mobile recharges and digital wallet service. It also enables users to make bill payments for gas, electricity and water usage. The primary aim of this fin-tech startup is to bring half a billion consumers to the mainstream economy.


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Indeed Brewing Company has teamed up with New Belgium Brewing for the latest in New Belgium’s Beers with Vrienden series. The two breweries will create Come Together, a honey wheat wine, to be released this spring.
“Come Together will be a super-heady sipper packed with tons of wildflower honey,” says New Belgium, via press release. “Strawberry scented Belma hops and New Belgium’s house Belgian yeast strain will all come together to create a warming, full-bodied beer.”
The wheat wine is slated to be 9.0% ABV and 40 IBU, with a mash of white, red, and torrified wheat, along with spelt and oats, and wildflower honey.
“We use honey a fair amount at Indeed, so for an ‘Indeed flavored’ brew at New Belgium, I felt honey was a pretty natural choice,” says Josh Bischoff, Head Brewer at Indeed. “[New Belgium brewer] Travis [Burge] mentioned he was thinking about how he could work honey into the mix and doing a wheat wine at Indeed has been on our list for a while.”
Indeed will head to Ft. Collins, Colorado to brew Come Together at New Belgium on March 18. The New Belgium crew will come to Minneapolis for release parties April 27-30. Their trip will include a brew date at Indeed on April 29 to create a second collaboration beer, Strawberry Fields Sour.
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Interested in learning what's next for the gaming industry? Join gaming executives to discuss emerging parts of the industry this October at GamesBeat Summit Next. Register today.
Just ahead of the Game Developers Conference, Microsoft announced that its new Microsoft Game Stack will bundle all of the tools and services that game developers need to make games, whether they are cloud-connected or not.
The bundle is aimed at everyone, from indie developers to Triple-A studios, and it includes the latest version of PlayFab, the live game services and operations company that Microsoft acquired last year.
Game Stack brings together all of Microsoft’s game-development platforms, tools, and services — such as Azure, PlayFab, DirectX, Visual Studio, Xbox Live, App Center, and Havok — into a single ecosystem that any game developer can use. The goal of Game Stack is to help developers easily discover the tools and services they need to create and operate games. The cloud service Azure has already been used in games like Crackdown 3, which has a multiplayer combat mode that taps the power of cloud processing to enable destructible buildings across an entire map.
Julia White, corporate vice president for Microsoft Azure, said in a press briefing that the cloud plays a critical role in Game Stack, and Microsoft’s cloud service Azure provides the building blocks like compute and storage on the cloud, as well as cloud-native services from machine learning and AI, to push notifications and mixed reality spatial anchors.
“The cloud is changing every industry and gaming is no exception,” White said.
She said Azure is already available in 54 regions globally, including China, and continues to invest in building highly secure and sustainable cloud infrastructure and
additional services for game developers. Azure’s global scale is what will give Project xCloud — which Microsoft demoed this week — streaming technology the scale to deliver a great gaming experience for players worldwide, regardless of their device and location.
With Azure, developers at Rare, Ubisoft and Wizards of the Coast are hosting multiplayer game servers, safely and securely storing player data, analyzing game telemetry, protecting their games from cyber attacks, and training AI to create more immersive gameplay.
While Azure is part of Game Stack, White said that that Game Stack is cloud, network, and device agnostic.
Microsoft bought PlayFab in January 2018, and now it is integrated into Azure. Developers will still have the choice of using other clouds such as Google or Amazon Web Services, if they wish.
With PlayFab, developers will get access to a complete backend service for building and operating live games. White said that Azure brings reliability, global scale, and enterprise-level security. Meanwhile, PlayFab provides Game Stack with managed game-development services, real-time analytics, and LiveOps capabilities.
White said, “To quote PlayFab’s co-founder James Gwertzman, ‘Modern game creators are less like movie directors, and more like cruise directors. Long-term success requires engaging players in a continuous cycle of creation, experimentation, and operation. It’s no longer possible to just ship your game and move on.'”
PlayFab’s services include:
- PlayFab Matchmaking: Powerful matchmaking for multiplayer games, adapted from Xbox Live matchmaking, but now available to all games and all devices.
- PlayFab Party: Voice and chat services, adapted from Xbox Party Chat, but now available to all games and for all devices. Party leverages Azure Cognitive Services for real-time translation and transcription to make games accessible to more players.
- PlayFab Game Insights: Combines robust real-time game telemetry with game data from multiple other sources to measure your game’s performance and create actionable insights.
Powered by Azure Data Explorer, Game Insights will offer connectors to existing first- and third-party data sources including Xbox Live.
- PlayFab Pub Sub: Subscribe a game client to messages pushed from PlayFab’s servers via a persistent connection, powered by Azure SignalR. This enables scenarios such as real-time content updates, matchmaking notifications, and simple multiplayer gameplay.
- PlayFab User Generated Content: Engage a community by allowing players to create and safely share user-generated content with other players. This technology was originally built to support the Minecraft marketplace.
Microsoft also announced that Xbox Live is coming to Android and iOS. As an example of the integration, White said that crash log data from Azure App Center is now connected to PlayFab, allowing developers to better understand and respond to problems in a game in real-time by tying crash logs back to individual player profiles.
And with PlayFab’s new plug-in for Visual Studio Code, editing and updating Cloud Script is now easier. White said there are more than 200 services within Azure, which is spread across 54 data centers in many regions across the globe. Microsoft spends $1 billion a year on cloud cybersecurity, White said.
GamesBeat's creed when covering the game industry is "where passion meets business." What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you -- not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.


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Sheese has added two new products to its vegan cheese range.
The Saputo-owned brand’s NPD consists of a Mighty Melter and The Italiano. The Mighty Melter (rsp; 180g/ £2.25) is a Red Leicester-style plant-based cheese alternative in sliced format, while The Italiano (rsp; 200g/ £2.50) is a mix of plant-based mozzarella and Cheddar-style dairy alternatives.
The new products will hit Asda from 21 November. Sheese said the duo was aimed at “bigger cheese meal occasions”.
The brand’s widening range allowed it to now “offer consumers a vast amount of choice when it comes to vegan cheese”, said Nigel White, marketing director of parent Bute Island Foods.
“Sheese’s growth continues to gather momentum and while some plant-based brands have struggled to stay alive, our products can now be found in Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Ocado and good health stores in the UK,” he added.
The launch comes as Sheese has just announced a move into South African retailers, taking the number of markets to which Bute Island Foods now exports up to 24. Bute Island Foods was acquired by Cathedral City owner Saputo in May 2021.
“Sheese has grown significantly; from first being made on a kitchen table on the Isle of Bute in 1988 to now exporting to South Africa,” said White. “From humble beginnings, Sheese is now available throughout Europe, North America, Australia and the Middle East too.”


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By now, we’re all accustomed – and inured, sadly – to President Trump’s bombast and hyperbole when he talks about his accomplishments.
Take, for example, his claim that the threat of a nuclear attack by North Korea was permanently erased after a brief sit-down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Or his assertion that the renegotiated US-Korea Free Trade Agreement would give American farmers more access to the Korean market, when in fact it includes nothing about agriculture. And, of course, there was his assertion in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly that he was the most successful president in the history of the United States.
So, no one was surprised when he said he had turned NAFTA from “the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere” into “a wonderful new trade deal” and “a historic transaction” and “the most important trade deal we’ve ever made, by far.”
That is a more than a little over the top. U.S., Mexican and Canadian negotiators made some significant changes, but the finished product is not a “new trade deal.” It’s an updated NAFTA.
Here are the principal differences between the old NAFTA and the new one, which Trump has unilaterally given a catchy name: the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement or USMCA.
The Mexicans and Canadians agreed that 75% of parts for cars they build for export within North America would be made in North America in order to qualify for duty-free treatment, as opposed to 62.5% under NAFTA.
They agreed to a U.S. demand that 45% of North American-built cars would be built by workers earning at least $16 per hour by 2023. This was aimed at Mexico, because Canadian and U.S. automakers already pay that much and more.
It has been suggested in the press that these provisions might increase the cost of a car. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer responded to this on the Laura Ingraham radio show.
“You wonder about people who make statements like that,” he said. “They’re so palpably crazy and you wonder what else they’re saying that’s also crazy.”
Mexico agreed to let workers join labor unions, to protect migrant workers from unsafe conditions and to crack down on discrimination against working women. There is no labor chapter in NAFTA. There is a side agreement that includes provisions like these, but they are not enforceable. They will be when USMCA takes effect, if only on paper. The Mexican government can hardly afford the major enforcement effort that would be required.
Canada agreed to allow more American dairy products into their market by setting higher import quotas. American farmers exported about $232.5 million worth of dairy products to add about $70 million to that.
In exchange for this, the Trump administration dropped its insistence that one of three NAFTA dispute settlement chapters be deleted, but it prevailed in getting rid of another, having to do with disputes between businesses and governments. Canadian businesses can no longer challenge U.S. government policies and vice versa. That chapter survived with regard to disputes between Mexico and the United States, but in a limited form.
American dairy farmers’ increased access to Canada will not offset the losses they are likely to suffer from Chinese and Mexican tariffs that were imposed in retaliation for Trump’s tariffs on aluminum and steel, according to a study performed in August for the U.S. Dairy Export Council. Those tariffs remain in place for the time being.
“U.S. dairy product exports combined could fall by $115 million in 2018 and $415 million in 2019,” said the study by Agribusiness Consulting. “From 2018-2023, U.S. dairy product exports combined could fall by roughly seven percent from baseline projections worth $2.7 billion.”
The three countries also agreed to important new provisions on e-commerce, which didn’t exist when NAFTA took effect in 1994, and on intellectual property rights.
In summary, USMCA can be seen, on balance, as an improvement over NAFTA, but not much of one. It will have no measurable effect on economic growth, job growth or wage growth in the United States. It will have no appreciable effect on the U.S. trade deficit with Mexico.
Most important, Trump’s threats against Canada and Mexico and his malign comments about their heads of state during the negotiations pretty well wrecked the United States’ relationship with two of its most important allies.
A Pew Research Center poll found that only 6% of Mexicans and 25% of Canadians had confidence in Trump. And that was last spring, before Trump threatened to destroy Canada’s economy by imposing a 25% tariff on car imports therefrom.


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Taipei, May 12 (CNA) The chief executive of Asustek Computer Inc. (華碩) confirmed Tuesday that the company's second-generation ZenWatch will hit stores in the early third quarter as planned, describing an earlier report that the new smartwatch launch has been delayed as a misunderstanding.
The launch timetable for the smartwatch running on Google Inc.'s Android Wear operating system "remains unchanged," Asustek CEO Jerry Shen (沈振來) told a press briefing after an earnings conference for investors.
The second-generation ZenWatch will be showcased at Computex Taipei, the world's second-biggest computer trade show, scheduled for June 2-6, with sales of the device to begin in the early third quarter, Shen said.
While the Android Wear watch will feature many improvements in user experience, demand for the new ZenWatch might not pick up as rapidly as the company's low-cost ZenFone range, Shen said, citing a lower-than-expected battery life.
Compared with the first-generation ZenWatch that lasts for up to two days, the successor has a battery life of less than four days on a single charge, which fails to meet Shen's expectation of seven days, he added.
The CEO also forecast that Asustek's total smartwatch shipments will reach less than 1 million units this year and will not make a significant contribution to the company's total revenue.
Shen's comment came after Indian media outlet NDTV Gadgets cited him as reporting April 27 that Asustek will not launch its second-generation ZenWatch until next year, as the Taiwanese PC maker is working to improve the watch's performance.
Research firm Canalys revealed that only a little over 720,000 Android Wear-powered devices were shipped in 2014, which accounted for roughly 16 percent of the total 4.6 million smart wearable band shipments.
(By Jeffrey Wu) ENDITEM/J


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Governments around the world have been grappling with ways to crimp the power of the biggest tech companies. In the United States, the Justice Department recently filed an antitrust case against Google. The European Union has issued antitrust violations and enacted stiffer data-protection laws. The Australian government is pushing new rules to make Google and Facebook pay for certain content.
But many question whether the tactics are adequate, particularly if a lengthy enforcement and legal process slows down action against the fast-moving and deep-pocketed companies.
On Tuesday, Britain’s top antitrust regulator recommended a new approach. The Competition and Markets Authority released recommendations for creating a new regulator called the Digital Markets Unit that will focus on the biggest technology platforms. The regulator would be able to fine companies up to 10 percent of global revenue.
The idea of creating a tech industry regulator has gained momentum among academics and policymakers around the world. The aim is to treat giants like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft more like the biggest companies in banking and health care — with dedicated regulators that have the expertise in the subject matter to serve as a watchdog and act quickly to address wrongdoing, akin to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Food and Drug Administration.
Britain is perhaps the furthest along. The new regulator would be responsible for enforcing a legally binding code of conduct intended to prevent the biggest companies from using their dominance to exploit consumers and business, or to box out emerging competitors. Officials said only companies of a certain size would fall under the rules, which would be tailored to specific types of businesses. Google and Facebook may face certain restrictions related to digital advertising, while Amazon would have others related to e-commerce.
To improve competition, the regulator could force companies to share certain data with rivals, and it would review acquisitions.
The proposals build on recommendations made by a British panel of experts last year and are part of a process by the government to enact regulations for the digital economy by next year. Britain is preparing to leave the European Union, which next week will release its own draft laws to increase oversight of the tech industry across the 27-nation bloc.
British authorities have raised specific concerns about the digital advertising market dominated by Google and Facebook. In July, the Competition and Markets Authority published a 437-page investigation that concluded the two companies have such scale and unmatched access to user data that “potential rivals can no longer compete on equal terms.”
Source: Read Full Article


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US: Import cargoes shot up during December
Retail imports are expected to rise 8.5% during February, as a tentative contract deal was reached with East Coast and Gulf Coast workers, but uncertainty remains around a key West Coast agreement.
The monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates showed that volumes rose 8% on last year in December, and were up 2.8% against November.
January's figures are expected to rise 4.6% to 1.34m Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) from January 2012. The port tracker is also forecasting a 3.6% rise in March to 1.29 TEU, a 4.4% rise in April to 1.36TEU, a 6.2% rise in May to 1.45TEU and a 4.9% rise in June to 1.45 TEU.
The International Longshoremen's Association, and the US Maritime Alliance reached a tentative agreement on a contract that averted a strike that could have shut down East Coast and Gulf Coast ports from Maine to Texas. The agreement is subject to reaching supplemental local agreements and ratification by union members.
On Wednesday, however, members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union's Local 63 Office Clerical Unit voted down a tentative agreement with the Harbor Employers Association that ended an eight-day strike at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in November and December 2012.
Commenting on the port contract issues, NRF VP for supply chain and customs policy Jonathan Gold said: "We were very happy to see a deal on a tentative contract for the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports but we are urging the parties to quickly work out any outstanding issues and ratify the agreement as soon as possible.
"We need a long-term labour contract in place to give retailers and the other industries that depend on the ports confidence that cargo will continue flowing. We were disappointed that the LA/Long Beach clerical workers' contract wasn't ratified, but are encouraging the parties to work through their differences without a disruption."
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- Wearable Technology Market by Product, Application, Type, & Geography - Global Forecast to 2020
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Macy’s Inc. is looking to go deeper into hair care, and is partnering with Tracee Ellis Ross to do it.
Launching Feb. 1, Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross will be available in select doors and online with the department store giant.
Macy’s will sell Pattern’s hair care and styling product lineup, with prices ranging from $9 to $25.
The move represents Macy’s’ growing focus on hair, a recent shift from the core businesses in fragrance, makeup and skin care. The prestige hair care category grew 22 percent in 2022, per data from the NPD Group.
“There was a gap in our assortment and hair was really what they were asking for,” said Nicolette Bosco, vice president of beauty at Macy’s. “In fragrance, we are a leader and we’re established with our cosmetics and our skin care. We took strategic initiatives to ensure that we’re building out hair as our fourth pillar at Macy’s.”
Within hair, Bosco said the Macy’s customer had specifically asked for brands catering to a wider range of hair textures.
“We knew that we needed a leader in the curly, coily and tight-textured hair brand matrix for our consumer. We have a highly diverse customer base,” she said. “Consumers were saying, ‘We need something more.’ We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Tracee Ellis Ross and her leading brand because she’s the authority in the category.”
Last year, a report from Goldman Sachs pointed to an industrywide gap in products for Black shoppers’ hair needs. Per that report, Black consumers are 2.2 times more likely to conclude a Black-owned brand will work for them, but those brands only make up between 4 percent and 7 percent of the lines available at retailers.
It’s also the second partnership between Macy’s and a celebrity-founded beauty brand. The retailer launched Kylie Cosmetics last year.
“Our consumer loves the recognition and that tie-back to someone that they view,” Bosco said. “That brand founder’s ethos is what our consumers are looking for as well.”
Pattern has been in expansion mode. Last year, the business launched at Boots in the U.K., and Ross said at the time she had an eye on markets in Africa.
“When looking for Pattern’s first ever department store partner, it was important to me that we work with a brand that celebrates individuality,” said Ross in a statement. “Pattern was built on a commitment to expand how we communicate, care for and celebrate the curly, coily and tight-textured hair community. We are thrilled to introduce our products to the Macy’s consumer and work with the brand to continue telling our story.”
Pattern also introduced its first tool earlier this year, a hair dryer for a variety of hair textures, which debuted on the brand’s website for $189.


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There was no April Fools jokes for one lucky Lotto punter after a €250,000 winning ticket was sold in Co Tipperary.
The National Lottery has advised players in Tipperary to double check their slips, after a golden quick ticket was sold in a Centra store in Thurles.
Eugene Dwyer, the owner of the shop that sold the winning ticket said: “This is our first big Lotto win and what a win it is for our customers, we’re absolutely over the moon!
"I was a bit hesitant when I got the call to tell me about the win, it is April Fool’s after all!
"I think some of our customers think we’re codding but we are strongly appealing to anybody who was in the store yesterday to check their tickets to see if they are a quarter of a million richer."
Tipperary punters have been in a rich vein of form of late, with the county claiming a combined prize total of €9 million in the past six months.
A syndicate from Thurles claimed a Lotto jackpot worth over €7.5 million in November, while other recent wins include a €500,000 Lotto Plus 1 win in December while there were also two separate scratch card wins of €250,000 and €100,000.
The National Lottery is advising punters nationwide to check their tickets, after a total of 70,000 people won prizes in Saturday night's Lotto draws.
Three tickets scooped the match 5+ bonus prize, each winning €36,364.
The three winning Quick Pick tickets were sold at the JR Porter Store on Paul Street in Co. Cork, Dunnes Stores on Henry Street in Limerick City while the other winning ticket was sold online on www.lottery.ie .


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Some meats, when cooked at certain temperatures, can cause cancer, according to researchers at UC Davis.
Whether you smother it in BBQ sauce, coat it with sweet glaze or spice it up a bit, pulled pork sandwiches are literally what’s hot this summer. Until the backyard invites start rolling in, these Los Angeles spots should hold you over.
Employees of Doheny Glatt Kosher Meats were reportedly caught on video taking boxes of kosher meats into the store without being supervised by the proper officials.
A Vernon meat processing plant is shutting down in the wake of nationwide backlash against a sterilizing meat filler known as “pink slime.”
An Anaheim supermarket agreed to pay a $527,000 fine for falsely advertising generic meat as being Islamic approved.
With about 30 locations nationwide and several more expected to open this summer, it’s no wonder why The Counter is one of the leading burger franchises.
Ginichi Ohira sold protected sei whale meat to The Hump in Santa Monica, which closed its doors last year after prosecutors charged the owner and chef with sales of the protected mammal.
Ginichi Y. Ohira, 50, is charged with knowingly selling a marine mammal product for an unauthorized purpose in violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.
A new report estimates that half the meat and poultry sold in the supermarket may be tainted with the staph germ.
The Obama administration is aiming to prevent meat recalls by withholding meat and poultry products from grocery store shelves until government testing is complete.
Taco Bell officials deny claims made in a lawsuit that the meat in their tacos and other products is not all beef.
An Elizabeth company is recalling more than 200,000 pounds of ground beef products after an inspection found them may be spoiled.


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An Ocala woman will have to answer in court after an alleged shirt theft at Belk in The Villages.
Judith Castillo, 47, entered the store at La Plaza Grande North shortly after 7 p.m. Nov. 9 and was recognized by the store’s loss prevention officer as a person of interest caught on video in a previous theft, according to an arrest report fro the Lady Lake Police Department.
The native of Cuba selected some men’s collared shirts and took them into a fitting room. When she re-emerged from the fitting room, she did not have the merchandise. A check of the fitting room revealed that the shirts were gone.
A police officer stopped Castillo, who was accompanied by her husband, outside the store and asked to search her purse. The search turned up the collared shirts, valued at $109.50.
She was issued a notice to appear Nov. 27 in Lake County Court to answer to a charge of petit theft.
She was also ordered to stay out of Belk.


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A Chatsworth man was sentenced Monday to 6½ years in federal prison for defrauding victims -- mostly friends and family members -- out of nearly $13.5 million by pretending that their money was financing a wholesale business that distributed NASCAR merchandise.
Eliott Jay Dresher, 66, was indicted on federal mail fraud charges in December 2009 in connection with the Ponzi scheme, which he operated from 1998 until October 2009, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry O'Neill.
Along with the prison term, U.S. District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez ordered Dresher to pay about $8.8 million in restitution, O'Neill said.
According to the indictment, Dresher solicited money from 26 families, many of whom were his relatives or close friends, promising that their funds would be used to finance a business in which he purchased NASCAR apparel and sold the merchandise to retailers such as Costco and Ross.
As part of the scheme, Dresher guaranteed substantial monthly returns, typically between 20 and 25 percent every six months, federal prosecutors said.
In his guilty plea, Dresher admitted he did not really operate such a business and that any funds paid to investors were Ponzi payments that came from victims' principal investments. Dresher's scheme collapsed when he was unable to make payments to all his investors, prosecutors said.


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United States: A risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination has been prevailing. Recently, experts recalled Goldenway International Trade Co. Ltd.’s Enoki Mushrooms from the marketplace as there is a high chance of contamination.
The recall was triggered by the test results concluded by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The details regarding the contamination was shared by the CFIA, which underlined that the recalled products were distributed in some provinces and territories in Canada, including Ontario and Quebec.
Furthermore, the agency shared the details regarding the recalled products. Accordingly, the name of the product was Enoki Mushroom with approximate size of 200 g and the UPC and Codes of the product was 8 807076 001670 and CE 06 7D, respectively.
As of now, the health authorities have not reported any illness linked to this recall and consumption of the product. Additionally, the experts asked the public to check whether they have recalled products – if they have any, they are advised not to consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute the recalled products.
Along with this, the instructions by the agency also briefed the consumers to return or throw out the recalled item, if purchased.
How Can Listeria Infections Be Explained?
The health experts have mentioned that if contaminated food item is consumed by individuals, they can develop symptoms of Listeria infections and they must seek medical treatment and doctor assistance, as soon as possible. It is to be noted that the contaminated food with Listeria monocytogenes many not look or smell spoiled but can consist severe and life-threatening infections.
In addition to this, the health agency has also asked the public to monitor themselves for symptoms if they have eaten any recalled products. The symptoms must be nicely monitored during the coming weeks as it can take as many as 70 days after exposure to the infection to develop symptoms.
Accordingly, the symptoms linked to Listeria infection can include persistent fever, muscle aches, vomiting, nausea, severe headache, and neck stiffness. The health experts mentioned that specific tests must be conducted to diagnose Listeria infections. The people who are prone to the infection are pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people who have weakened immune systems. And in case of infected pregnant women, the infection can be seen in the new baby.


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According to a recent report, the 2017 Ford GT could have 630 bhp and 539 lb-ft of torque
When Ford introduced the 2017 GT at the North American International Auto Show they would only say the car's twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine would produce more than 600 bhp (447 kW).
The company has so far declined to release the final numbers but the stats in Forza Motorsport 6 suggest the engine will be rated at 630 bhp (469 kW) and 539 lb-ft (730 Nm) of torque. While those numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, it is worth noting the automaker worked closely with Microsoft’s Turn 10 Studios in order to get the car featured in the game.
As Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development, Raj Nair, pointed out earlier this year "Working with Microsoft and Turn 10 Studios allows us to share our all-new GT supercar with an unprecedented global audience – giving fans an opportunity to virtually experience the beauty, thrill and innovation of Ford’s performance lineup.”


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Production and quality problems with parts leads to drop in estimated 2011 iPad 2 shipments
In the recently announced second quarter results, Apple announced it had shipped 4.69 million iPad 2 units, well short of the 6.2 million that analysts had estimated. The backlog has forced iSuppli to cut its 2011 number of Apple iPad 2 units expected to ship by 4 million tablets to a total of 39.7 million. The research firm also spoke with chain supply sources who revealed that Apple was having quality concerns with LCD panels, production shortages of the tablet's new speaker, and lamination issues with one of its touch panel suppliers. While things are picking up in terms of iPad 2 production, Apple is still expected to fall short of its goal for April.
The report from iSuppli says that the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has not had much of an impact on Apple's ability to get parts as the latter has been paying more to vendors to make sure that the assembly line for the tablet keeps humming. In the current quarter, production of the Apple iPad 2 is expected to double from the previous quarter.
The good news is that iSuppli sees things clearing up next year when 62.6 million Apple iPad 2 tablets are forecast to be shipped, up from the research firm's original 61.6 estimate for 2012. And COO Cook says that 13 more countries will launch the device next week. He added, "Demand has been staggering, and I'm not going to predict when supply and demand will come into balance. I can only be confident on the supply side."