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Google gets flack for FLoC
Sondra Campanelli, Head of News and Marketing (London)
Google has scrapped plans to introduce its third-party cookie alternative only days after receiving complaints from German publishers that the new product would hurt their businesses.
That alternative — called Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC) — would have kept Internet activity data inside of a users’ browser and would have created anonymised cohorts that advertisers could target.
In January, several German publishers, advertisers and media groups sent a 108-page complaint to EU regulators opposing FLoC. Their main issue? That Google’s plan would decrease competition in the EU since firms will no longer be able to track users’ preferences (and would therefore lose ad revenue).
Days later, Google proposed a new solution called Topics API, which would pinpoint a basket of user interests based on web activity.
Clickstream data vendors are likely to be the providers most affected by disruptions to the third-party cookie replacement process, as are on-site search data vendors. Many vendors are working on or have already implemented systems that rely on first-party cookies to collect data, which are not affected by these changes.
To read Neudata's Intelligence piece from Feb 2021 on "What to expect from Google's third-party cookie ban," click here.
Google introduced FLoC in the first quarter of 2021 to minimise the risk that single-user browsing data would end up in the hands of bad actors. Under its current system, Google allows websites to store small pieces of data (cookies) on user’s websites. Third-party cookies – which are hosted on a website but don’t belong to the website publisher – are largely used by ad tech firms to track users’ clickstream activity and provide targeted advertising.
Though it originally said it would replace third-party cookies in Chrome by 2022, the tech firm later announced that the project wouldn’t be complete until 2023. Google faces pressure from regulators to come up with a consumer-privacy-compliant solution, particularly since browsers like Apple’s Safari and Mozilla’s Firefox have already banned third-party cookies on their browsers.
Photo by Rene Böhmer on Unsplash


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Remember Google Mail's promise of endless storage? Forget it.
Tod Maffin is a smart guy and when he reports on something largely ignored elsewhere I pay attention.
Today he reveals how Google is welching (sorry Welshmen everywhere) on its implicit promise to store your email "forever." It seems that Maffin ran out of his allocated 3gb of space and now has to clear out his treasured digital heirlooms.
I’ve been a huge fan of Google’s free online email service, Gmail, since it launched. Nearly 3 GB of storage (!) and quick searching made it seem like a dream when the company launched it on April Fools Day three years ago.
Back then, Wayne Rosing, VP of engineering at Google breathlessly told the media “”The idea is that your mail can stay in there forever… You can always index it, always search it, and always find things from the past.
That is, until tonight.
Tonight, I ran out of space. Yes, Virginia, eventually, even with 3 GB, you’ll run out of space. And now I’m stuck. I’m not the only one.

domain: news


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QUALCOMM SNAPDRAGON 845 CHIPSET
OnePlus, Qualcomm to start 5G trials in India
The firm recently displayed its first 5G prototype smartphone powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 855 processor at MWC Barcelona (Mobile World Congress) in Spain.
OnePlus, Qualcomm plan to start 5G trials in India
OnePlus said it began research on the new-age 5G technology in 2016 and a year later, it s...
MWC 2019: Nubia launches smartwatch 'Alpha' with the largest flexible screen
'Alpha' hosts 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage and a 500mAh battery...
Xiaomi exploring new products for Indian market
Xiaomi, which competes with players like Samsung, vivo and Oppo in the Indian smartphone market launched its latest device Redmi Note 7 Pro, priced Rs 13,999 onwards.
OnePlus 5G-enabled device to arrive later this year
The company is likely to showcase a 5G prototype device at the MWC.
Samsung Galaxy S to turn 10; will unveil next smartphone with features 'never seen before'
The first Galaxy S was launched with a 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen in 2010.
Oppo unveils K1 with in-display fingerprint scanner at Rs 16,990
The smartphone features a 25MP front camera and a 16MP + 2MP dual rear camera with AI capabilities.
India rushes to connect with 4G, Qualcomm’s revenue grows 23%
Qualcomm has been working closely with the carriers in India helping bring features such as voice calls over a 4G LTE network and voice over wifi for Indian consumers.
Samsung Galaxy M20 review: Great wide-angle snaps, good battery life in a budget
While Galaxy M10 costs Rs 7,990 for 2GB+16GB variant, M20 is priced at Rs 10,990 for 3GB+32GB storage version.
Qualcomm upbeat on 5G deployments in India, calls for early airwaves auction
Qualcomm sees "a very promising start” as India prepares to ring in this ultra-fast wireless technology.
LG to unveil its first 5G smartphone with longer battery life, better cooling at MWC
The new flagship model is expected to be released in March.
Huawei launches Honor 8C powered by Snapdragon 632 platform at Rs 11,999
The device sports AI Face Unlock and has an 8MP front-facing camera with soft light.
Huawei announces 5G smartphone based on own technology
The leading supplier of network switching gear for phone companies, Huawei Technologies Ltd. is spending heavily to develop its own chips, an area where the US dominates.
Burgundy red or lavender purple? Samsung introduces colour variants for Galaxy 'S9+','Note 9'
The smartphones in new colours would be available at selected offline stores, online portals.
OnePlus working on releasing their first 5G smartphone next year
Samsung is also planning to launch the device in the first half of 2019.


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Atlanta, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/09/2014 -- GiftProse has announced that it has added a healthy gift basket to its line of fine gift baskets. "We are excited to be able to offer our Holiday Fruit Fusion-Better Gift Basket to our customers," said a GiftProse spokesperson.
"Although we know that the holidays is a time for many of us to indulge in some of the finer things in life, we also know that many of us are dedicated to eating healthily year round," the spokesperson added. "It is for this group of people that our Holiday Fruit Fusion-Better Gift Basket was especially created." Loaded with fruit from the Golden State of California along with a selection of Monterey Jack cheese, three cheese sourdough crackers, sausages, chocolate peppermint cookies, Ghirardelli chocolates, this special holiday gift basket comes in a festive red box.
Of course, the Holiday Fruit Fusion-Better Gift Basket is not the only present GiftProse has for its customers this Christmas. The Georgia-based company that specializes in gifts with sentiment also has gift boxes and baskets chockablock with gourmet delights, flavored popcorn, truffles, cookies, and a wide range of other delicious treats.
Founded by two women who shared the dream of creating a store that could give the gift of sentiment to loved ones, GiftProse has built its stellar reputation upon its selection of fine gifts for all occasions along with its commitment to providing top-notch customer service at all times.
To learn more about GiftProse, contact the specialized gift store through the Contact Us tab on its website http://www.giftprose.com or by calling its team of gift professionals at 866-933-GIFT.


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Sporting goods chain MC Sports is shuttering all of its stores, including five locations across Missouri.
The Michigan-based company, known legally as Michigan Sporting Goods Distributors, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week.
The retailer has stores in Branson, Columbia, Springfield, St. Joseph and Warrensburg.
It employs more than 1,300 full-time and part-time associates at its 68 stores throughout seven states in the Midwest.
President and CEO Bruce Ullery said in a bankruptcy filing that the company’s business “like many of its peers in the sporting goods retail space, has been impacted by adverse business trends, including the rapid migration of sales from traditional brick and mortar retailers to online resellers, the expansion of competing distribution channels and specialty retailers, and changing consumer preferences.”
The chain, which was founded in 1946, reported a net loss of $5.4 million on sales of $174.6 million in its most recent fiscal year, according to a filing.
Read more: Springfield News-Leader


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Hyundai Motor regains top spot in the FCEV market from Toyota
Hyundai Motor took 51.7 percent of the global FCEV market in the first half, followed by Toyota at 40.9 percent and Honda with 1.6 percent, according to Seoul-based market tracker SNE Research on Monday.
The Korean automaker slipped to the No. 2 spot in the first quarter due to strong sales of Toyota’s fully revamped Mirai FCEV model, introduced in December 2020.
It was able to regain the top spot on Nexo FCEV SUV sales after a partially updated version was released early this year.
Toyota’s FCEV sales jumped by 735.1 percent year on year in the first half, according to SNE Research, delivering 3,700 units from 400 units a year earlier.
The second-generation Mirai FCEV was updated, with a 30 percent increase in range to 640 kilometers per charge.
Honda’s market share continued to slip as the Japanese carmaker recently announced it would stop making FCEVs, concluding that hydrogen technology is more suitable for other industries.
“The global FCEV market will be a competition between Hyundai Motor and Toyota in the future,” SNE Research said in a report.
“Hyundai Motor’s dominant position in the global FCEV market, with a 70 percent market share, is no longer the case anymore and is always prone to be overturned by Toyota. Hyundai Motor will have to inspect its market strategy and competitiveness.”
Hyundai Motor topped last year’s global FCEV market with 70.7 percent market share with Toyota only taking away 10.9 percent.
The growth of the FCEV market continued this year, the market tracker says.
A total of 9,000 FCEVs were registered in the first half globally, which is more than a twofold increase on year.
BY JIN EUN-SOO [firstname.lastname@example.org]


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Stuart Lowe, RamsayMedia's managing director, will be leaving the company with effect from mid-December 2012. According to chairman Alan Ramsay, who made the announcement, a number of factors influenced this development, noting that Lowe's enthusiasm, energy and passion for the business will be sorely missed.
"This is very unfortunate and we are sorry to see Stuart go, but we have a strong team of editorial and business leaders who look forward to an interesting and prosperous 2013. The market segments in which we operate are presently very buoyant within the difficult broad economy, so we are positive about what the new year will produce," he added.
"We will continue to sharpen our focus on the fundamentals of a successful media business to ensure we have maximum participation from our highly talented team leaders and staff members and to capitalise on the many business opportunities that exist in the special-interest markets we serve."
Lowe joined RamsayMedia as circulation marketing manager in 1997, becoming publisher of CAR
in 2005 and managing director in May 2008. Five months later the company rebranded and announced its intention to follow a 360-degree multiplatform approach.
Alan Ramsay will take responsibility for operation leadership of the company in the short term.


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It has dismissed as a pipe dream by traditionalists, but it seems that newspapers and magazines printed on e-paper is a few steps closer after scientists at Cambridge kicked of a three-year, £12m scheme to develop it. (Read the press release)
As The Guardian reports, Liquavista, which formed out of work at the Phillips Research Labs, is working on using it’s display technology to create electronic newspapers – making them full-colour, interactive and closer in appearance to an A4 piece of paper than the “e-book” readers such as Amazon’s Kindle and Sony’s e-reader.
Both those readers allow consumers to download selected papers – but Liquavista plans to, for the first time, offer video and audio too.
The Guardian’s Richard Wray puts it well:
Newspaper editors, grappling with declining circulation and the migration of advertising spending to the internet, have been hoping for years that e-paper will move beyond the drawing board into reality.
The dream is of a device allowing readers to upload a newspaper in the morning, then update editorial content as the day goes on, perhaps using a mobile phone or wireless connection.
One problem with this theory, as anyone with a 3G remote access key for their laptop will tell you, is that the current wireless internet network is not all that great and certainly not good for downloading files as massive as daily newspapers. Just think of the time and cost of downloading all those hi-res imagines – and videos – clogging up the airwaves.
Perhaps within three years someone will have thought of a solution to that problem too.


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New Beauty Launches for the Perfect Rose Gold Festive Season
ColourPop Cosmetics announced its debut collaboration with beauty influencer Laura Lee earlier this month, and it came as no surprise to fans to learn that the star had included plenty of rose gold hues in her products for the brand.
Image for representation (Photo: Reuters/File pic)
It was one of the hottest beauty trends of the summer, but the ‘rose gold' craze shows no sign of slowing down ahead of the holiday season. In fact, a slew of new makeup launches suggest that the quintessentially Instagram-friendly shade is more in-demand than ever.
ColourPop Cosmetics announced its debut collaboration with beauty influencer Laura Lee earlier this month, and it came as no surprise to fans to learn that the star had included plenty of rose gold hues in her products for the brand. One of the most popular is sure to be ‘Glam', a metalized liquid lipstick in a color described as ‘True Rose Gold'. As an added bonus, profits from the sales of the collaboration will be donated to the animal welfare organization ‘Best Friends Animal Society'.
Nars is going all out for the launch of its new ‘Wanted' eyeshadow palette -- not only does it contain 12 high impact colors, of which several are peach, blush or rosy hues, but it also comes in a shimmery pink case. The palette launches this week at Sephora.
Earlier this week, beauty giant Maybelline announced plans to roll out its fan favorite ‘Master Chrome' metallic highlighter in two new shades -- ‘Molten Gold' and ‘Molten Rose Gold'. The new shades, which coat the skin in a warm metallic sheen, are now available online.
Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox - subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what's happening in the world around you – in real time.
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3D printing is often used to help preserve and restore historic artifacts, monuments, and other objects like artwork. While there are beautiful, iconic landmarks and structures all over the world to mark history, many of them start to deteriorate, due to neglect, lack of investment, and sometimes even just from natural causes. In Italy, there are historical buildings almost everywhere you turn, and construction companies are often asked to help restore them, which is costly and time-consuming. But digital printing, interior design, and visual communication business Sismaitalia, recognized that large-format 3D printing could be used to help overcome the bottleneck.
The Spada Palace in Ferrara was built in the 1800s, and originally owned by the Spada family; later, other families inhabited the palace, which is now currently used as a hotel. But its main balcony is in need of some TLC.
“The owners noticed that the crumbling façade of the capitals had become weathered over the years,” said Federica Tisato, the Marketing and Communication Manager of Sismaitalia. “As they are an essential element to the French balcony, the owners required them to be restored urgently.”
The company was the first Italian business to purchase a Massivit 1800 3D printer, in order to help its customers achieve unique 3D printed solutions in interior design. But Sismaitalia soon realized that its giant 3D printer could also be used to help solve a large gap in the restoration market.
“With the capability to 3D print super-large objects, we can provide our customers with exact replicas within a fraction of the time and cost compared to traditional methods,” Tisato explained. “This capability has seen us expand our service offering to existing customers as well as target new markets.”
Mostly because of the necessary manual labor, traditional methods of restoration can take a long time to complete, and can also be expensive, due to the intricacy of the task. The current owners of the palace wanted a more cost-effective way to restore the capitals below its balcony, and first considered using temporary polystyrene replacements. But then they learned about the benefits of 3D printing, and Sismaitalia took on the massive task of producing five life-size capitals for the Spada Palace.
Because of the digital nature of 3D printing, historic artifacts are able to be precisely replicated. Sismaitalia 3D printed the five capitals in two sizes – the first measuring 480 x 430 x 215 mm, and a larger set of three compromising pieces, measuring 790 x 790 x 215 mm. Because the Massivit 1800 is equipped with a dual printhead, the company was able to 3D print a pair of capitals in less than one day.
“With the capability to produce each full-sized capital in one print, we could eliminate the lengthy turnaround times associated with traditional restoration methods,” Tisato said. “Beyond this, as the owners only required the 3D printed capitals for aesthetics, we could quickly produce the hollow structure and strengthen these with polyurethane foam to withstand the weight of the balcony. This ensured that manufacturing costs were kept to a minimum.”
Once each of the replacement capitals had been 3D printed and filled, they were then finished with plaster, before being painted the same color as the originals in order to obtain a look of authenticity.
“From a business perspective, projects like these demonstrate the growing adoption of 3D printing in a vast gamut of markets,” said Tisato. “We anticipate that this capability will continue to open the door to new markets. In fact, to date, our Massivit 1800 has played an integral role in securing projects within the interior design and architectural sectors and we have a handful of additional restoration projects in the pipeline!”
The new 3D printed, life-size capitals have since been installed under the balcony of the Spada Palace, and look nearly identical to the originals.
Discuss this story and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.
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Tesla on Wednesday (7/12/2022) officially launched two electric vehicle models in Thailand, marking its first foray into the regional automotive hub that has long been dominated by Japanese manufacturers.
The two electric cars come as Thailand encourages EV adoption and production by offering tax cuts and subsidies. Prices range from 1.7 million baht to 2.5 million baht, or around 48,447 US dollars to 71,205 US dollars
According to Reuters, Tesla plans to start selling its electric cars in Thailand through online channels, with first deliveries to begin early next year.
The launch of the two electric vehicle models will put Tesla head-to-head as two other electric vehicle makers such as BYD and Great Wall Motors have set up showrooms and distribution partners in recent years to reach customers and offer electric cars starting at 800,000 baht.
Thailand is the fourth largest auto assembly and export center in Asia for companies such as Toyota Motor Corp and Honda Motor Co Ltd.
Thailand produces around 1.5 million to 2 million vehicles annually and about half are exported to other countries.
Meanwhile, customers who attended Tesla’s launch at a luxury mall in downtown Bangkok, said they were intrigued by the new car on offer.
“I am happy because the price difference is not significant compared to other EV brands,” said Thitipun Paisirikul, adding that he expected the resale value of the car to be high.
Meanwhile, the Thai government wants at least 30 percent of the vehicles produced in the country to be electric by 2030.


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In the mid-1990s, Spowers ran a Formula Three racing team. At the time, motorsport was in the pocket of big tobacco. Every weekend, Formula One cars emblazoned with cigarette brands — Marlboro, Camel, Silk Cut — raced on TV in front of millions. “It was pretty clear it was killing people,” Spowers says. “Meanwhile, the industry was portraying a link between smoking and winners. It was ludicrous. But nobody was going against it.”
So when, in 1995, Spowers’ team introduced a car decorated with an anti-smoking campaign, it caused a commotion. At a party the night before the car was set to debut at the British Grand Prix, the chairman of the British Racing Drivers’ Club summoned Spowers, outraged. “He bellowed at me for a full five minutes, about how motorsport needed its sponsors, and ‘not pinkos like you,’” Spowers says now, chuckling. But Spowers was unmoved: he knew he was right. Furthermore, he believed it made financial sense: the relationship with tobacco was tainting the sport for businesses that didn’t want to be associated with smoking.
But industries are slow to change, and Spowers’ scheme found few backers. Disillusioned and low on funds, he quit racing soon after. It wasn’t until 2006 that motorsport finally banned tobacco advertising completely.
So Spowers is used to being doubted, mocked and shouted down. But he has also learned to be patient. Sometimes, the only way to tell the difference between a crackpot and a visionary is to wait a while.
Now 57, Spowers has the grey hair of an ageing rock star, a ruddy complexion and a dishevelled charm. When we meet, a checked shirt is poking through large holes in his red cable-knit jumper; his trousers are being held up by a belt made from an upcycled fire hose. For the last 16 years, Spowers has been founder and chief engineer of Riversimple, a small hydrogen-fuelled car company based in Llandrindod Wells, in mid-Wales. In 2016, it unveiled its first production-ready car: the Rasa, a radical, ultra-light two-seater powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. This year, the company will roll out a beta test of 20 cars in Monmouthshire and if all goes well, Spowers hopes to have the car on the market in 2019. “As far as we can tell,” he says, “we are the only independent hydrogen car startup in the world.”
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Vice President Sales – SaaS – Case Study Summary
‘A Force to be Reckoned With’
Prior to the company’s acquisition by j2 Global Communications Inc., SaaS (software-as-a-service) leader CEO Joseph Nour had interviewed almost 90 candidates for the company’s vice-president of sales opening without having made an offer. The state of the company’s SaaS sales team at Protus IP Solutions was unsettled, perhaps even a bit chaotic.
So they turned to David Perry and Perry-Martel International to find the perfect candidate.
As it turned out, David already knew that candidate. He’d even spent two hours talking to him a few years earlier. “It was two of the most engaging hours I think I’ve ever had, with anybody, any time, in my professional career,” said Rudy Richman, the former founder and president of SPI Technologies and Protus’s next VP of Sales.
The two of them had connected some time earlier regarding a different opportunity that didn’t work out. But they’d spoke at length on the kind of value Rudy had brought to other organizations, and the value he could bring to companies in the future. David promised that the next time they spoke, it would be because he’d have an opportunity that fit both he and the company like a glove.
Protus hired Richman on Perry-Martel’s recommendation and saw revenue jump 450 per cent in a little more than six years, from $14 million to $77 million. Richman led a sales team that spearheaded sales conversions from web leads along with more consultative, enterprise-level sales to large-scale organizations.
The company then made a $213-million exit based on the strength of Richman’s sales team, a figure two and a half times the company’s revenue and the only profitable exit of a technology company in Ottawa, Ontario during that decade. “(But) it was a testament to David’s recruiting skills and how he handled the relationship with the company that employed him,” says Richman.
“I think he stands head and shoulders above the rest of the recruiters that I’ve either worked with in the past or companies that I have worked with in the past. They just don’t seem to listen and they just don’t seem to find the right candidate.”


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Poco F1 has started receiving MIUI v10.3.5.0 that brings the May 2019 Android security patch. The latest MIUI update also includes features such as a customisable lock screen clock and a fix pertaining to the dual app functionality. The rollout of the MIUI v10.3.5.0 update for the Poco F1 has been confirmed by General Manager C Manmohan. Separately, the Poco F1 has received a formal confirmation for getting an update to Android Q. The handset was launched with Android Oreo-based MIUI last year, though it got the Android Pie with MIUI 10 earlier this year.
Manmohan on Tuesday tweeted a screenshot confirming the rollout of the MIUI v10.3.5.0 update for the Poco F1. The update carries firmware version MIUI v10.3.5.0.PEJMIXM and is 387MB of size.
As per the official changelog visible on the screenshot posted by the Xiaomi executive, the latest MIUI update brings the May 2019 Android security patch to the Poco F1. The update also adds a customisable lock screen clock that can be added by going to Settings > Lock screen & password > Advanced settings. Importantly, the new lock screen clock doesn't work with third-party themes.
The new MIUI update also adds sorting principles for Wi-Fi networks and fixes the issue that was disappearing dual apps after a reboot. Furthermore, the update is likely to include various system-level performance improvements and bug fixes.
Poco F1 users globally would get MIUI 10.3.5.0 in the coming days
Photo Credit: Twitter/ C Manmohan
Like any previous MIUI updates, the MIUI v10.3.5.0 for the Poco F1 is initially rolling out in phases and is set to reach all the users gradually in a week.
You would be able to manually check for the latest MIUI update upon its arrival on your Poco F1 by going to Settings > About phone > System update.
In addition to the fresh MIUI rollout, Xiaomi is set to bring Android Q to the Poco F1. Poco Global Head Alvin Tse through a tweet confirmed the Android Q update for the Poco F1. Tse while responding to a user query also separately mentioned that MIUI 11 for the Poco F1 "isn't too far away." However, it is worth pointing out that Xiaomi hasn't provided any concrete timeline on either the new Android version or for the next-generation MIUI update.
In April, Xiaomi brought the MIUI v10.3.4.0 update for the Poco F1 that included features such as Widevine L1 support, 60fps 4K video recording, and a dedicated Game Turbo mode.


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More people this year than last are using food stamps and local farmers markets want to give those people fresh options. But so far the Ashland market is one of the few in MetroWest to accept food stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
More people this year than last are using food stamps and local farmers markets want to give those people fresh options.
But so far the Ashland market is one of the few in MetroWest to accept food stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
“It helps level the playing field,” said Ashland market organizer Florence Seidell. “It makes available fresh fruits and vegetables to people who need it, who might not be able to afford farmers market prices.”
The Ashland market is new this season and one person used food stamps the first week. Seidell said since then participation has grown though it is still fewer than 10 people.
“Each week my SNAP sales have been going up, from like $4 to like $50,” said Laura Davis, farmer at Long Life Farm in Hopkinton, who sells in Ashland.
Davis said two people who buy weekly shares of vegetables as part of her community-supported agriculture program use food stamps.
Right now, Framingham, Natick, Westborough and Hopkinton markets don’t accept SNAP.
In Ashland, anyone who uses food stamps gets an extra $10 to spend at the market, thanks to local residents who donated to the market to help SNAP buyers.
Other market managers, however, said there’s not enough demand and the government’s certification process to accept SNAP is laborious.
“There’s not a great enough demand,” said Buffy Cave, market manager in Hopkinton, where the weekly market draws about 250 people.
Jacqueline Meninno, who manages the Framingham market, agreed.
“I haven’t even really had the manpower to start that up yet,” she said.
And it’s true the certification process isn’t as easy as pie, or zucchini bread, which is a hit at MetroWest markets this time year.
Markets must apply to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and buy a machine to swipe the electronic SNAP cards, which costs around $800. Seidell said Ashland was lucky enough to get a machine donated from a market in western Massachusetts.
She said the certification process wasn’t easy, but said it was a goal of market organizers from the start.
“We want to encourage them to buy healthy foods with us,” Seidell said.
Meninno said a foster mother recently emailed asking for a market where she could use SNAP, and was referred to Ashland.
In Westborough, where the market draws about 800 visitors weekly, vendors accept checks from the Women, Infants and Children program and senior coupons, said market manager Dave McMahon. He said he considered setting up a SNAP account, but it was too much work.
Most other MetroWest markets also accept WIC checks and senior coupons, managers said, since those programs are coordinated by vendors and not the market.
Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Federation of Farmers Markets wants more markets to accept SNAP.
According to the federation’s website, more than 70 markets across the state accept SNAP, including many in Boston.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 13 percent of Massachusetts residents use SNAP this year, a 6.4 percent increase over 2011.
Locally, SNAP participation is tracked by Congressional district. In the district including Framingham and Natick, which also includes towns as diverse as Lexington and Revere, about 14,000 households used SNAP last year.
Eligibility is determined by several factors, most notably income. The USDA puts forth rules on what types of goods can be purchased with SNAP benefits.
Florida, California and Texas are among states with the highest number of participants.
(Laura Krantz can be reached at 508-626-4429 or firstname.lastname@example.org. Follow her on Twitter @laurakrantzmwdn.)


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Microsoft challenges Psion on phones
Ignoring the crash in tech stocks, Bill Gates is gearing up for war with Psion. Speaking to technology top brass at the industry's annual Comdex fair in Las Vegas, the Microsoft founder set out aggressive plans to conquer the field of next-generation 'smart phones' and handheld computers as he did personal computers.
Handhelds running on his new Pocket PC platform are selling 'phenomenally well,' he said. He brandished the prototype of a phone using the software and the GSM network. He said: 'We see the Pocket PC and phones becoming a family of multimedia products.'
This will put Microsoft more directly into competition with Symbian, Psion's 28%-owned joint venture which is racing to develop smart phones.
The mobile market was thought one of the few safe from US domination because America does not use the GSM network and is behind in the cellular field.
Microsoft dominates desktop and laptop PCs but is looking beyond them, amid signs of a slowdown in sales. Other possible new areas include set-top boxes and the Internet.
Gates also unveiled what may be the next big thing, a 'tablet PC'.
Shaped like a heavy clipboard, the prototype being tested at Microsoft uses handwriting input and has more in common with an overgrown Palm Pilot than the traditional PC.
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- Brand new 'James Bond' Aston Martin costs a hefty £300,007
- Investing Show: Can UK shares shake off the Brexit hangover?
- Will the US stock market stumble or melt up? (May 2019)
- The New Toyota Camry Hybrid with special 'nanoe technology¿
- Researchers show impact autonomous cars will have on traffic


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introduced a push to lure customers in the small-
medium-sized market with Making Storage Simple, a strategy that
new solutions, channel and partnerships for businesses in the $1
$1 billion range.
The idea for the program came after extensive research conducted by EMC
the last few years, in which the company learned that SMB customers are
toiling in highly competitive environments, said Mike Wytenus, senior
director mid-market enterprise at EMC.
“There’s hundreds of thousands of companies in the space and they’re
competing for share of their own, even competing with larger
Wytenus said. “This is creating an explosive information growth.”
The growth is so great, he said, that SMBs are consuming storage gear
services at twice the rate of current large enterprises, to the tune of
$22 billion market.
Wytenus said customers need to buy systems that can handle the
growth and compliance obligations that have cropped up without
much of what are often fixed budgets. Traditional approaches to solving
challenges have worked, but not to the degree of return on investment
SMBs would like.
That’s where Making Storage Simple comes in, with special software
and broader use of channel partners and other alliances to better meet
needs of small business customers.
New solutions leverage software EMC picked up through integration of
acquisitions in the past few years. Described under the banner EMC
they cover networked storage, backup and recovery, business protection
To get these solutions out into the market, EMC is relying on its new
Velocity channel partner program, which helps members become certified
new product capabilities. With 1,000 partners offering EMC gear, the
brings the company over 70 percent of its mid-tier systems revenue.
Lastly, EMC has bolstered alliance partnerships with Cisco
and Microsoft, hoping to learn how
companies have successfully have navigated their ways through the SMB
EMC will utilize Cisco’s MDS switches and Catalyst routers to deliver
networked storage and backup and recovery products.
EMC has also extended its relationship with Intel, joining the
combine server and storage solutions through the Intel Enterprise
Acceleration Alliance. Microsoft
and EMC are
collaborating on the EMC Express e-mail package.
Targeting the SMB market with such as comprehensive strategy is new for
Hopkinton, Mass.-based EMC, which is well known for its hardware,
and service provisions to the high-end companies worth $1 billion or
The move is reflective of a desire to tap new revenue streams from
businesses that show a tendency to expand and scale up as they grab
customers and market share.
Mike Fisch, an analyst who covers storage for The Clipper Group, said
program is a big step in EMC’s bid to “cover the whole field and sell
“This will making it pretty easy for a MSE partner to bundle integrated
packages,” Fisch said. “Customers will see that they can get a
EMC solution whereas maybe they couldn’t before.”
EMC to ‘Make Storage Simple’ for SMBs


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New Delhi, Feb. 11 (Delhi Crown): There are as many as132,302 electric vehicles, including two wheelers and cars, plying on Delhi roads as on date, said official data released by the Central Government on Friday.
Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha today, Minister of State for Heavy Industries Krishan Pal Gurjar said that the Centre was trying its best to promote adoption of electric vehicles, in a bid to reduce pollution levels.
According to the data, there are 966,500 electric vehicles across the country, with maximum of 276,217 in Uttar Pradesh followed by 132,302 in Delhi, and 82,046 in Karnataka.
Gurjar said that in a bid to promote adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles in the country, the Government launched the “Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme since 2015 on pan-India basis. Presently, Phase-II of FAME India Scheme is being implemented for a period of five years w.e.f. April 1, 2019 with a total budgetary support of Rs. 10,000 crores.


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For more than a year, pedal pushers at Tulane have been learning how to fix their own bicycles on the uptown campus.
The Bike Help Desk, a joint effort of several student groups the Green Club, Bicycle Club and the Juggling Club offers cyclists the expertise of student mechanics, free-of-charge.
With the help desk now in its third semester, Phil Schapker, president of the student Juggling Club, says he and co-mechanic Patrick Townsend see between 15 and 20 bikes each Sunday.
According to Schapker, the idea for the bike shop came out of a campus sustainability think tank last year. “And then a group of students approached me and asked if I'd like to take on this project,” he says.
The Juggling Club eventually “annexed” the bike shop by writing its operation into the club's constitution, says Schapker.
By the start of the spring semester, the shop will be operating out of its own facility, thanks to recently approved funding that the Juggling Club received from the Undergraduate Student Government.
The bike shed, which will be located in the 6300 block of Willow Street, will be constructed by group members following a plan designed by an architecture student. According to Schapker, the shed will give the shop a permanent location and allow for storage of repair tools and materials.
Unlike a commercial repair shop where customers drop off their bikes and return later for pick-up, the campus bike shop exists to train cyclists how to maintain their own bikes.
“There are way too many people who own bicycles and who could ride bicycles, but don't because of minor repair issues like the brakes not working and flat tires,” says Schapker. “The more people we get to understand the basic brake adjustments, they can help their friends who will help their friends.”
While most first-time visitors expect to simply watch their bikes being repaired, customers are encouraged to get involved so that in the future they can tackle the repair by themselves or with little assistance.
“While we normally don't charge a fee, if you drop off your bike and then say, 'I'm going for a bagel,' and return once we've completed the repair, you may be charged a ridiculously unfair and unreasonable price,” Schapker jokes.
Plans are for the bike shop to be in its new home starting next semester. Until then, the shop will operate at its new temporary location and with expanded hours outside of Le Gourmet on McAlister Drive on Sundays, 1â“4 p.m., and Thursdays, 2â“5:30 p.m. through the end of this semester.


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Tobacco stocks rally as FDA considers banning all flavored e-cigarettes
Tobacco company shares rose in active Wednesday morning trade after the Food and Drug Administration chief said that the agency might ban all flavored e-cigarettes due to their popularity among teenagers, which he said had reached "an epidemic proportion." British American Tobacco BATS, +6.41% shares rose 6.3% in extremely heavy Wednesday trade, Altria Group Inc. MO, +7.42% shares rose 7% in extremely active trade and Philip Morris International Inc. PM, +4.51% stock rose nearly 5% in heavy trade. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said earlier this year that though many smokers may use e-cigarettes to smooth the quitting process, he was concerned about young people using the products, particularly the popular brand Juul, which sells such flavors as "crème brulée" and "cool cucumber." Though one Juul pod is roughly equal to a pack of cigarettes when it comes to nicotine strength, only a minority of young people who were familiar with or had recently used the Juul knew that it contained the addictive stimulant, according to one peer-reviewed study. The regulator said on Wednesday that it has asked Juul and others to respond with sufficient plans to reduce teen use, warning them that they chance a ban. The FDA had previously requested information about marketing practices and youth use from Juul’s manufacturer and makers of similar products in early June. British American Tobacco shares have dropped 24.6% year-to-date, Altria shares dropped 10.8% and Philip Morris shares dropped 23.5%, compared with a 7.9% year-to-date rise in the S&P 500 SPX, -0.26% and a 5.2% rise in the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.02%
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Source: Read Full Article


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Maserati To Launch SUV For 2015
A few years in the making, Maserati has never been shy about their quest to create an SUV that combines Italian style with potent performance. Back in 2012, the company showcased an SUV concept, the Kubang, at the Detroit motor show. Hoping to compete with the Porsche Cayenne and the BMW X5 and X6, the Levante is seen as a “game-changer.” According to Maserati; “the Levante will be our biggest seller in many markets and will attract almost universally new customers to the brand.”
A year of SUV launches, 2015 will also see Maserati’s sister company Alfa Romeo unveiling its first SUV next year which will be positioned to challenge the Audi Q5 and the Range Rover Evoque when it goes on sale in 2016. The 2015 Geneva Motor Show in April is also expected to be place of unveiling. According to industry insiders, Lamborghini will be taking the wraps off the Urus, a car it claims will be the fastest SUV in the world when it goes on sale.


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Google Pixel: Is Verizon Hurting The Phone’s Credibility?
It seems that there is a huge confusion surrounding the newly launched Google Pixel phones. The Pixel devices were released on the Google Play Store and also on Verizon thus it got many speculating that Google refused to promote the phone on a wider scale to protect its interest.
The conspiracy theories are claiming that the Pixel phones are so good but not widely promoted because Google does not want to become a product-based manufacturer like Apple. Hence, the purposely placed a limit on the potential sales figures by only offering the Pixel phones to Verizon.
But then again, this is nothing more than a confusion being stirred by Verizon. If you are to look at the official Pixel ads from Google, the tech giant never promoted the Pixel with the caption, ‘only on Verizon’. This is something which most of the Verizon-funded ads are saying.
Verizon may be the only carrier that is loaded with the Pixel phones but rival carriers are not stopping to find ways into promoting the phone. AT&T is trying to promote the Pixel with its plans but consumers will need to purchase the phone at a third party retailer like Best Buy.
The point here is that the Verizon image that is being stamped on the Pixel phones should be taken lightly. Google have priced the Pixel phones like the iPhones hence it is only right for them to dream about selling as much Pixels as possible.


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Cannvas MedTech (CSE:MTEC) (Frankfurt: 3CM) (“Cannvas” or the “Company”), a leading business technology company in the cannabis space, is pleased to announce its senior team will travel to Lisbonto attend the 2018 Web Summit, Europe’s largest and most important technology marketplace.
Cannvas MedTech (CSE:MTEC) (Frankfurt: 3CM) (“Cannvas” or the “Company”), a leading business technology company in the cannabis space, is pleased to announce its senior team will travel to Lisbon to attend the 2018 Web Summit, Europe’s largest and most important technology marketplace. In addition to high-level networking with leading investors and CEOs from around the world, Cannvas will also present two booths related to their Cannvas.Me and Cannvas.Pet platforms, compete in pitch presentations and participate in mentoring sessions. This year’s Web Summit takes place November 5-6 at the Altice Arena in Portugal’s capital city.
“We are thrilled to be heading back to Web Summit with our team to grow awareness of our Cannvas.Me and Cannvas.Pet platforms, each providing credible information on the benefits of health care through cannabis for humans and our fuzzy little friends as well,” said Shawn Moniz, Chief Executive Officer, Cannvas MedTech Inc. “We are looking forward to learning from other leaders across our industry and very excited at the prospect of this year’s PITCH competition where we are confident our data-driven solutions for the global cannabis community will turn some heads.”
PITCH is a startup competition at Web Summit open to any exhibiting startup that has received under €3 million (approx. $4.4 million CND) in funding to date. Cannvas MedTech will be one of 160 startups to present in front of distinguished investor panels, influential media and thousands of attendees as competitors look to secure funding and guidance from leading investors across the globe. The leadership team at Cannvas will also attend several mentoring sessions, a series of pre-scheduled, 15-minute meetings between high-level attendees and startups during which speakers, investors, partners and media give business advice to startups.
Cannvas will present two exhibits for attendees to learn more about their platforms Cannvas.Me and Cannvas.Pet. Cannvas.Me is a free unbiased educational resource for medicinal and adult-use cannabis users offering a comprehensive solution for the global cannabis community with physician-backed content and innovative tools for all audiences wishing to learn about health care through cannabis. Through technology and machine learning, Cannvas.Pet aims to become the online authority for pet owners to educate, track and improve the overall treatment of their furry loved ones.
“We have had the privilege of attending world-class technology conferences with considerable support from our friends at Tech West Canada and have leveraged this support to explore real opportunities and significantly grow our business,” said Steve Loutskou, Chief Operating Officer of Cannvas MedTech Inc. “Tech West is known to provide early-stage tech companies like Cannvas with incredible strategic guidance and business development support at an international level, and they have been a valuable partner in helping introduce our patient-centric medical cannabis platform.”
Over the past year, Cannvas has been part of important delegations from Canada that were showcased by Tech West at three international trade events: Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, CES in Los Angeles, California and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. On an annual basis Tech West promotes a team of innovative tech companies making a global impact at conferences around the world under a unified Canada brand.
About Web Summit
Web Summit has become “Europe’s largest and most important technology marketplace” – an unrivalled gathering of the world’s most disruptive technology companies and those harnessing their innovation to transform their businesses and their lives. World-class speakers, leading investors, and international media will come together for the ultimate startup gathering. Not to mention the CEOs of some of the most exciting companies and startups in the world. For more information, please visit www.websummit.com.
About Tech West Canada
Tech West Canada is funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada and is a flagship project of the ICT Association of Manitoba (ICTAM). By working in collaboration with the governments of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, we are helping western Canadian technology companies go global. For more information: www.techwestcanada.ca.
About Cannvas MedTech Inc.
Cannvas MedTech is a leading business technology company in the cannabis space. We design and build customer-centric solutions that enable our partners to harness the power of data to truly understand their customers, industry, and key business drivers.
No stock exchange or securities regulatory authority has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements, such as estimates and statements that describe the Issuer’s future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Issuer or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted onwww.sedar.com.


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Americans are overspending in record amounts, after hunkering down and building on their financial savings during
The acute rise in credit card debt has been a long time coming, with Americans increasingly relying on credit cards to make purchases. But the increase is also driven by more recent factors like inflation and high credit card interest rates, experts say.
Consumers racked up $180 billion in new credit card debt in 2022, the largest amount of debt ever added in a single year, according to a recent study from personal finance website WalletHub.
Nearly half of that total — almost $86 billion — was added in the fourth quarter, marking the biggest ever quarterly increase in credit card debt.
The average household’s credit card balance was $9,990, up 9% from in the fourth quarter of 2021.
What’s driving balances to record levels?
“This is a chronic issue overall where we as a society have gotten more used to using credit for everything,” Michael Reynolds, a certified financial planner and owner of Elevation Financial. “Credit card companies are incredibly good marketers and credit cards have become the norm and a way of life for everyone.”
Consumers become psychologically detached from the purchases they make when using credit, versus a debit card or cash, which are more tangible forms of payment, according to Reynolds. “That detachment makes people feel less pain or stress when they use credit. It doesn’t feel like they’re spending real money,” he said.
More recently, government stimulus programs during the pandemic, like enhanced unemployment benefits, infused cash into households that became accustomed to the financial cushion — even when it dried up.
“I think a lot of people got used to spending cash they didn’t otherwise have,” Reynolds said. “They got into patterns that involved a higher level of spending that they’re now using debt for,” he added.
Record-high inflation has contributed to Americans’ growing credit card debt, too, as the prices of goods from groceries to gas rise, sometimes leaving folks living paycheck-to-paycheck in a financial pinch.
Typically, it’s consumers’ day-to-day living expenses, or some kind of emergency expense that gets folks into trouble, not lavish spending.
“Everything seems to cost more. People are paying more for food, housing and gas. Generally, it’s the practical stuff that gets people into credit card debt,” said Ted Rossman, credit expert for CreditCards.com. “It’s all contributing to increased balances.”
Stop digging the hole
At the same time, credit card interest rates are rising, causing Americans’ outstanding debt to grow faster.
The average credit card interest rate rose to a record high of 20.4% this week, according to a CreditCards.com report.
For starters, to begin tackling credit card debt, consumers should stop using their credit cards.
“If you’re in a hole, stop digging,” Rossman said.
Reynolds said he encourages his clients to take a three month credit card break and instead use debit or cash for all purchases.
“Usually they spend less, because when you spend on a debit card, it’s real money in your bank account, and it lowers your balance immediately. With a credit card, there’s a month long detachment from the act of buying something and when you have to actually pay for it,” he said.
Rossman’s top tip for consumers looking to get out of credit card debt is to transfer all of one’s debt to a 0% balance transfer card that charges no interest for up to 21 months.
“It’s so important to prioritize the interest rate,” he said.


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The Jakarta Post
The price increase of Pertalite-branded gasoline on March 24 will still push up inflation in April, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).
State-owned energy company Pertamina increased the price of Pertalite to Rp 7,800 (55 US cents) per liter, Rp 200 higher than the previous price.
BPS head Suhariyanto said in Jakarta on Monday the contribution of fuels, including Pertalite, to inflation was generally at 3.39 percent.
He said the pressure of the Pertalite price increase on inflation was also caused by the shift of many vehicle users, including motorcyclists, to Pertalite due to the unavailability of subsidized Premium-branded gasoline in many gas stations, including those in Greater Jakarta.
“If we saw the impact of the Pertalite price increase on March inflation, we will still see that it will have an impact on April inflation,” said Suhariyanto as reported by Antara.
On Feb. 24, Pertamina increased the prices of several other non-subsidized fuels. The price of Pertamax per liter was increased to Rp 8,900 from Rp 8,600, while the price of Pertamax Turbo per liter was increased to Rp 10,000 from Rp 9,600. The price of Pertamina Dex per liter was raised to Rp 10,000 from Rp 9,250 and the price of Dexlite per liter to Rp 8,100 from Rp 7,500.
BPS said the impact of fuel prices to the 0.2 percent March inflation was at 0.04 percent. (bbn)


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by Teri Buhl
U.S. cannabis company Australis called off its reverse merger with Colorado-based CBD wholesale company, Folium Biosciences, this month stating their due diligence found new information that made them want to back-out of the deal. Australis ($AUSA) didn’t explain in the press release what that new information was but Cannabis Law Report reviewed private communication from an Aurora board member that said Australis parent company, Aurora, was alarmed at Folium’s recent massive layoffs and their was real concern that the accusations in one former employee’s lawsuit, filed in Federal court, against Folium could lead to “catastrophic loss”.
This week CLR learned U.S. regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission, is in the early stages of an investigation into Folium’s membership structure and distribution payments made by its executives Kashif Shan and Quan Nguyen along with Folium’s role with Australis and have began interviewing people familiar with Folium.
Folium’s attorney Perry Sanders says he isn’t aware of any SEC investigation. The SEC usually builds their case based on whistleblower witnesses and then formally subpoenas the company. Since Folium is not a public company securities rules will not require the company to announce a government investigation.
Additionally, Cannabis Law Report obtained copies of Folium’s 2019 accounting which showed payments were made to Australis’ CEO Scott Dowty’s family and friends starting in May 2019.
Kashif Shan started Folium in 2015 after he left a questionable real estate career in Northern California and moved to Colorado Springs. Folium, who use the llc name Whole Hemp Company, was financed by investments from private individuals and a few family funds, according to Folium’s records. Each member has a % of membership interest which pays a distribution off the financial success of the company. Some of Folium’s senior staff were also given membership interest as compensation for joining the company, according to internal documents reviewed by CLR. Kashif Shan (who goes by the moniker Kash) says he put his own money into starting the company even though he filed for chapter 7 personal bankruptcy during the financial crisis.
Shan has been accused in civil lawsuits as ‘cherry picking’ which members got financial distributions and not following the operating agreement for some investors. The amount of the payments and regularity of when members got them appear to follow of pattern of Folium’s CEO rewarding people who did his bidding or were loyal to him.
Folium’s records show former general counsel Craig Brand received around $200k a month. Brand says the payments were for sweat equity and and he didn’t always take a salary, which is normal for senior executives in start-up companies. What was surprising is why a sales guy who knew Folium’s CEO from his Northern California real estate deals, Chris Toy, was getting around $80,000 a month in membership interest distributions. Toy was on the low end of sales production of the senior sales guys. The amount of membership interest he was given was often questioned by other members of the senior sales team that spoke with CLR. There were also one off distribution payments to people like Shan’s former real estate partner Thang ‘Eric’ Lieu in California who also declared bankruptcy with Shan when their real estate company, Adian West Financial, failed and they were sued for fraudulent conveyance in the bankruptcy by the trustee. Shan had Lieu on the Folium payroll at one point but it’s unclear what he actually did.
Australis was the first and only investment Folium took from a publicly traded company for around $3 million in the beginning of 2019. Kash had a plan to sell the company to Aurora and often told his staff he thought he could get at least $800 million for it and likely more. But then things changed. According to notes from a private investor call this month with Scott Dowty and a Canadian representing a group of Australis investors, Dowty explained that as more competition came into the wholesale CBD market in the last year that companies weren’t willing to pay Kash what he thought he could get. Dowty said all Folium was interested in was cash and they wanted a lot up front to sell the business. But in the end Dowty said he convinced them into a reverse merger with stock as payment was their best deal and at a Cannabis conference in Las Vegas they announced the deal with barely any details as to who would run the company.
Scott Dowty has had a professional relationship with Folium for at least a year but admitted in an interview with CLR that Australis didn’t do a lot of deep due diligence when they made their first $3 million investment.
CLR has previously reported on a questionable press release that appeared to drive up the price of Australis stock in April after Australis made the investment in Folium a few months before. The press release, written by Folium, highlighted Dowty and his team’s work with Folium to create Folium Finance, which would provide non-bank loans and merchant services to cannabis companies doing business with Folium. But as previously reported people inside of Folium who created the program said Australis had nothing to do with building out the Folium Finance program; making the press release written by Folium misleading. This could be one of the actions the SEC is looking at.
An SEC investigation doesn’t always equal charges will be brought.
A review of Folium’s accounting records leaked to Cannabis Law Report and verified as authentic, show, beginning on May 30th 2019 Scott’s brother, Corbin Dowty, a Canadian dentist, received a check for $13,875. The same day another one of Scott’s family members, Lianne Dowty, was issued a check for $9,125. Also there is a check written to A.Carlotti for $1,250. Mike Carlotti was the Australis CFO who recently left the company. The payments to Corbin Dowty continued in July. CLR reached one of Folium’s attorneys, Perry Sanders, and asked them to explain the payments. Attorney Sanders said Folium claims all payments to the Dowty family were proper but wouldn’t expand further on why they got them.
Australis was more transparent about the deal the with Cannabis Law Report. Dowty explained to CLR in a phone interview, on Tuesday evening, that after his company’s initial investment he asked his board if his friends and family could invest in Folium when the board would not approve a further investment by Australis. Dowty said the board knew about his family investing but the company did not disclose the friends and family investment in filings with the CSE because it is not required by Canadian securities laws. Of the half a dozen friends and family invested at least one did not get equal distribution payments, according to Folium accounting records reviewed by CLR and Dowty confirmed this.
Scott Dowty has been CEO of Australis since June 2018 when Canadian cannabis company Aurora put him in charge to spin off their U.S. based cannabis asset investments. Dowty lives in Las Vegas. Australis is an investment company which trades on The CSE and the OTC Markets. The company halted trading in the stock when it announced the upcoming merger with Folium in December; a practice that is common with Canadian listed companies when material news announcements are made. At the time of the merger announcement Dowty called the deal with Folium as “transformative”. But after looking under Folium’s kimono he’s changed his tune. Trading on the CSE just resumed and the company is waiting for the OTC Markets to approve trading again. The stock hasn’t traded above one dollar since it become public.
Even with the merger called off and Shan’s exit strategy squashed, Folium is still on a public relations campaign and spent money making a video about the company while they were laying off a significant portion of their staff. The video highlights a new CBD facility they spent millions on building in a poor part of Colorado called Pueblo West. But according to staff who recently left Folium the facility isn’t really being used yet. Cannabis Law Report previously reported on Folium violating safety and building regulations which included the storage of dangerous chemicals and was fined for it. Additionally, the Colorado Springs Fire Department told CLR that Folium had violated a cease and desist order when the fire department shut them down for a lack of following regulations and they tried to serve Kash Shan with a warrant for the violations.
The Folium promotion video talks about how Folium sells Zero % THC in their CBD products but CLR has previously reported based on interviews with staff who worked in the lab that this isn’t always true. Additionally, the video talks about how Folium extracts the THC and then disposes of it but according to a staff member Folium hasn’t had the required licences to dispose of the THC.
Since litigation by former employees began this summer and CLR ran a series of investigative stories on alleged serious problems with company management and its products Folium has seen a drop in customers. It’s unclear if this is also because of increased competition and lower wholesale prices. Some of the accusation in court filings say Folium has also transported hot hemp and and used hot hemp it bought from an out of state farm to create their products. Transporting hot hemp or pot across state lines is a federal crime. Folium had denied in court filings they ever did this.
Cannabis Law Report found a series of settlement payments made in 2019, scheduled at $10,000 a month over 12 months, made to one of Folium’s assistant director of grow operations, who recently left the company, named Craig Neal. Folium’s accounting records say the payment was at the direction of co-founder Quan Nguyen. Neal was one of Folium’s first employees who introduced the company to Phillip Chavez of Diamond A Farms who became one of the largest growers for the company. People who worked for Folium said Neal had a deal to get paid for the Diamond A Farms introduction if it proved financially beneficial for the CBD company and it did. But Folium didn’t honor the full amount of the payment and the $10k a month settlement payment was actually less than Neal thought he was owed, according to former staff familiar with the deal.
Additionally, CLR has learned that Neal left Folium after he got sick from one of Folium’s locations in LaJunta, Co that had black mold and used deadly pesticides. The location was used to grow mother plants to make clones. Neal is still involved in the cannabis business but moved to Oregon. He would not respond to questions about the settlement payments.
Folium states in marketing material that they are a vertically integrated CBD company meaning they grow their hemp, extract it into CBD, and sell it.
But Folium’s 2019 accounting records reviewed by CLR show multiple payments for biomass to other farms. Folium has also received complaints from customers about metal in their product because it’s believed they use pesticides that are not allowed by regulations.
This story has been updated.
Former Head of Government Relations, Juanita Ramos, amended civil lawsuit against Folium and its executives


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Dimapur, June 24: SDAO Pughoboto Myanthung Patton launched ‘Grow Natural, Go Green Movement’ of Rural Natural Connect, Lazami at Lazami village council hall on June 23.
The SDAO said most of the people are becoming health conscious and understanding the benefits of organic products. He said there is difference in agri and technology growth resulting in dramatic changes in productivity and highlighted about the agriculture products from outside the state which are mostly adulterated. He urged the people to opt for organic products which are in high demand and congratulated the RNC & EFG for the Go Green Movement
Director, RNC, Botoshe said that the movement is to commercialize local produce to urban areas and apprised the people to give importance to indigenous seed. He also urged the villagers and SHGs to collaborate for the movement for better outcome.
(Page News Service)


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World leader, champion of compassion
Dubai Duty Free overcame one of the most turbulent years in travel retail history to close out 2009 with record annual sales of around US$1.14 billion, around US$40 million up year-on-year, The performance came as most travel retailers around the world were hit hard by the impact of the global financial crisis (Dubai had its own economic challenges) during much of 2009. The year was notable on other counts too. In a remarkable act of generosity, the world’s number one airport retailer made its largest donation to this point – writing a US$1.5 million cheque for The Smile Train, a charity dedicated to repairing cleft lip and cleft palate deformities in children.
Recreating history – George Horan, Colm McLoughlin and John Sutcliffe come together to recreate the landmark photograph of the 'Irish Trinity' after 23 years, featuring the three Frontier Awards won in 1985 and 1986.
Dubai Duty Free’s annual sales
Colm McLoughlin and George Horan accept the Frontier Award for Best Marketing Campaign by a Retailer in Cannes.
Royal salute: Dubai Duty Free officially inaugurates its head office and distribution centre in Umm Ramoul. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed cuts the ceremonial ribbon to mark the official opening in the presence of Colm McLoughlin, Sinead El Sibai and Salah Tahlak.
Technological progress: The 90% automated warehouse employs the latest technology in logistics and seamlessly moves more than 120,000 pallets per year to the retail area.
Giving back: The Dubai Duty Free Foundation donates US$1.5 million to The Smile Train — the world’s leading children’s cleft charity— making it the largest donation since the body's establishment in 1999. Colm McLoughlin presents the cheque to Priscilla Ma, Smile Train's Vice-President of Marketing and Development, on the eve of the Miles for Smiles charity run in Dubai, organised by The Moodie Report.
Dubai Duty Free launches the Double Millionaire, a new addition to its world-famous prize draws, which offers 5,000 ticket holders the chance to win US$2 million. Its campaign transposes images to show the difference in lifestyle that would result from winning the prize money.
Market leader: Dubai Duty Free's sales of US$1.1 billion in 2008 make it the biggest airport retail operation in the world in terms of turnover (Generation Research). An advertisement in 2009 aptly captures the news that Dubai has overtaken the duty free operations at London Heathrow and Incheon International Airport in size.
To celebrate diversity in the workplace and offer staff a chance to show their hidden talents, Dubai Duty Free launches its Unleashed project in December.
A star is born: Irish teenager Rory Mcllroy wins his first professional title at the Dubai Desert Classic, held at the Emirates Golf Club. Mcllroy, pictured with Sinead El Sibai, Colm McLoughlin and Salah Tahlak, then picks the winner of the Finest Surprise draw.
Irish President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin attend a series of official and social engagements during their visit to the UAE in March. Here Colm McLoughlin presents a memento marking Dubai Duty Free's 25th anniversary at a luncheon held in her honour at Madinat Jumeirah.
Moment for a makeover: A treatment at the perfumes & cosmetics section in Terminal 1. during another stellar year.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Colm McLoughlin on the occasion of Dubai Duty Free’s 25th anniversary party in January.
A black-tie dinner celebrating the retailer’s 25th year was held in January at the Grand Hyatt and was attended by representatives of the government, business and media, including several of the original team from Aer Rianta who helped set up the company in 1983.
International entertainers who performed at the 25th anniversary gala dinner included Mick Hucknall of Simply Red.
Rich reward: To mark the 25th anniversary and the opening of Terminal 3, Dubai Duty Free launched its Multi-Millionaire promotion with a cash prize of US$5 million. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed conducts the draw with Colm McLoughlin and Salah Tahlak. Dubai resident Piya Bahirwani won the grand prize.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed with Colm McLoughlin, who receives the Middle East Business Achievement Award for Businessman of the Year.
The Moodie Davitt e-Zine | Spotlight Series – Special Report | 20 December 2018


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Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 22, 2006
InterCasino’s popular Millionaires Club progressive jackpot rose to over the $3.2 million mark and continues to grow at an exponential rate, driven by increasing number of players are logging into the game to our special online slots. This new record has is further testament to the immense popularity of the Millionaires Club progressive jackpot.
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2018 Mazda CX-5
Mazda makes a handful of improvements to the 2018 CX-5, including cylinder-deactivation technology for improved fuel economy.
2018 Mazda CX-9
Mazda adds even more standard features to its flagship CX-9 SUV for the 2018 model year.
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Mercedes-Benz refreshes the GLA-Class for 2018, but the updates may not be substantial enough to keep it competitive in a growing segment.
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
Track-ready performance isn’t just for cars anymore. As proof, Mercedes-Benz introduces a much hotter spec version of the GLC-Class for 2018.
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Popular but aging, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class lineup receives AMG-series enhancements this year.
2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Mitsubishi pins its U.S. revival on a small crossover SUV awkwardly called the 2018 Eclipse Cross.
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander
A successful model in Europe, Mitsubishi introduces the plug-in hybrid variant of the Outlander to the United States for 2018.
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Mitsubishi’s best-selling model receives some cosmetic changes for the 2018 model year.
2018 Nissan Kicks
With the unveiling of the affordable, compact 2018 Kicks, Nissan adds another offering to its crossover SUV lineup.
2018 Nissan Murano
The Nissan Murano has always delivered an upscale feel, and for 2018, the crossover SUV receives new standard equipment and option availability.
2018 Nissan Pathfinder
Additional new features are added to the recently refreshed Pathfinder.
2018 Nissan Rogue
Nissan adds new technology and more value to the 2018 Rogue.
2018 Nissan Rogue Sport
The fun-sized Nissan Rogue Sport expands its option availability for 2018, but will it be able to keep up with other subcompact crossovers?
2018 Porsche Cayenne
The SUV that drives sales for Porsche is capable, stylish and ready for on-and off-road adventures.
2018 Porsche Macan
Small, nimble, and quick off the line, the 2018 Macan is the perfect introduction to life with a Porsche utility vehicle.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek
Look closely, and you’ll see that the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek is redesigned. The major changes reside beneath the familiar styling.
2018 Subaru Forester
Subaru’s storied Forester crossover SUV is back for another round, now with more driver-assistive features.
2018 Subaru Outback
Subaru updates the 2018 Outback, making one of the original crossover SUVs even better.
2018 Toyota C-HR
Finally, Toyota’s subcompact crossover makes its American debut as the 2018 C-HR, and it’s poised to deliver on all the things people love most about Toyotas.
2018 Toyota Highlander
Versatile, capable and comfortable, the 2018 Highlander hits the right note as an 8-person people hauler.
2018 Toyota RAV4
For 2018, the Toyota RAV4 goes rugged with a new Adventure trim level designed to give the crossover extra off-roading talent.
2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Volkswagen’s viability in the U.S. market is directly tied to the success of the 2018 Atlas, a new family-sized VW SUV that holds plenty of promise.
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
A complete redesign transforms the Volkswagen Tiguan from a zero to a hero in 2018.
2018 Volvo XC60
Prepare to see lots more Volvos on the road, because the redesigned 2018 XC60, the automaker’s best-selling model, looks sensational.
- Hybrid / Electric
- Sports Car


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Excelsior Roto-Moulding’s product stock has quadrupled over the last three months and 100 percent of products are now delivered on time.
Excelsior has increased its stockholding capacity to an unprecedented level
The improvements are the result of the introduction of 24/5 shifts, personnel changes and the installation of a new mezzanine floor, specifically designed to facilitate increased storage capacity.
Earlier this year, development of the firm’s stockholding capacity was boosted by the launch of the UK rotational moulding manufacturing industry’s first, customer-accessible, live online stock control system.
The online database is updated daily, enabling Excelsior’s customers to quickly and efficiently respond to their own customers’ enquiries regarding product availability, without the need to contact Excelsior for clarification.
Polyethylene water tank and container supplier, Tanks Direct, is one of Excelsior’s long-term customers and says it has benefitted from its recent developments.
Commenting, Tanks Direct Manager, Pete Norman, said: “Excelsior’s innovations have affirmed its status as one of our most excellent suppliers. Delivery has been markedly quicker to date this year, and the online stock control system has enabled us to offer a more efficient service to our own customers.”
Lancashire-based Excelsior manufactures its own range of safety steps, grit bins, materials handling containers, exhibition display cases and equestrian products, as well as working in partnership with customers to design and manufacture bespoke products across a huge range of sectors.
Excelsior’s Managing Director, Giles Fielding, commented: “As companies like Amazon increase people’s expectations of rapid delivery, we are delighted to be able to meet these expectations within the trade arena.
“At one point recently, we held almost 1000 materials handling trucks in stock, and at any given time we have over 900 of our best-selling trucks and lids in stock. Figures like these have enabled us to guarantee delivery on time and have led to huge customer benefits.”


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Government prepares new law to ensure food qualityBut existing mechanisms and human resources are not enough to implement stringent measures it envisages, say consumer rights activists and officials.
The government last week registered a bill in Parliament on food purity and quality with stern penalties against producers and sellers of substandard and adulterated food.
But provisions of the bill, to be tabled during the winter session of Parliament, can’t be implemented with existing mechanisms and human resources, consumer rights activists and officials working on food quality say.
“We do need strong law, however, ensuring adequate human and other resources is equally important,” Ishwor Subedi, director at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control , told the Post referring to the bill that proposes up to five years of imprisonment and half a million rupee in fines for those found producing or selling substandard foodstuff.
The penalty is significantly higher than those prescribed by the prevailing Food Act which sets a maximum penalty of six months of imprisonment and Rs 5,000 in fine.
If the new bill becomes law, food inspectors will have to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that foodstuffs produced and sold in the market are safe for consumers. The new legislation also authorises inspectors to control the production, import and supply of food, and collect samples of foodstuff to send it for lab-testing.
They can also investigate and collect information regarding suspicious food items from the producer or the supplier. In collaboration with the local administration or the local government, they can halt the supply of food that can cause harm to human health.
However, there is an acute shortage of the food inspectors in the market for 30 million people across the country. The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control employs just 30 food inspectors—one for every million population—to cover the whole country.
For example, the regional office in Bhairahawa covers 16 districts, but only has two food inspectors. They are so overwhelmed that they can’t even visit all districts under their jurisdiction in a given year. “We are under-resourced to perform our duties in the 16 districts,” Shrawan Dhungana, a food inspector working at the office, told the Post. “Monitoring the market as well as testing samples in the lab is beyond our capacity.”
Consumer right activists say while it is good that the bill ensures stern penalties for those selling and producing substandard goods, they doubt that the provisions will be implemented as the government doesn’t have enough food inspectors.
“Laws don’t get implemented on their own. The effective implementation of the new law won’t be possible with the present set of staff,” Jyoti Baniya, chairperson at Forum for the Consumer's Right Nepal, told the Post. “The number of food inspectors we have now is 100 times fewer than needed.”
Baniya said the government’s move to appoint just one food inspector for a million population makes a mockery of the people’s right to consume quality food.
Department officials also say that if the government plans to increase the responsibility of the food inspectors through the new law, it should also recruit more inspectors to cover the entire country.
“I would urge the government to equip our central and provincial offices by the time the new law is in place,” said Subedi. “We should have at least one food inspector at each of the 753 local units for them to perform the jobs as envisioned in the bill.


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“Apple Inc. has purchased a roughly 43-acre development site in North San Jose in a blockbuster real estate transaction that comes just weeks after the Mac maker established its first major presence in the city,” Nathan Donato-Weinstein reports for The Silicon Valley Business Journal.
“Apple paid just more than $138 million for the property at 2347 North First St., according to a deed that I examined in person today at the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder’s Office,” Donato-Weinstein reports. “The deal comes on the heels of Apple’s lease of roughly 300,000 square feet from Ellis Partners in an already constructed building practically next door, marking Apple’s first significant presence in San Jose in decades. Cupertino-based Apple tends to grow wherever it leases or buys real estate, and the latest transaction shows that dynamic clearly playing out.”
“The possibilities with the latest transaction are wide open: The undeveloped land is approved for up to 2.8 million square feet of office space — about the same size as Apple’s under-construction Spaceship campus in Cupertino,” Donato-Weinstein reports. “What’s interesting in the latest transaction is that Apple opted to buy, not lease. It’s possible Apple wants more control over whatever it does there, and simply felt more comfortable owning the land. In addition to office space, Apple has been in the market for broad swaths of heavy R&D and industrial space, industry observers tell me. The latter could be read as a tantalizing sign of Apple’s interest in manufacturing, though such a possibility is for now market speculation.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple Car factory. 😉


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Verizon Moto E5 Go & Moto E5 Play November security update up for grabs, no sign of Android Pie yet
One company that used to be king in this field is Motorola. While it is still alive and well under Lenovo, things could have very easily gone sideways. But Motorola continues to kick, churning out good phones that cater to various demographics.
We recently saw the company’s take on foldable smartphones with the launch of the reincarnated Motorola RAZR.
When they were under Google, Motorola pushed the KitKat update for first-gen Moto X on Verizon long before Nexus 4! However, the OEM lost its glory since being acquired by Lenovo.
The November 2019 Android security patch has been out for a while now. Many phone makers have been able to push it out to most of their devices. But as we know in the Android world, carriers can be a serious bottleneck to updates.
And now, the Moto E5 Go and Moto E5 Play on Verizon are beginning to get the November security patch.
The update bumps the device’s build number to OPPS28.151-22-5-10. It also brings the Android security patch level to November 1. The update does not bring much in terms of features though.
Besides the Android Go-powered variant, the regular Moto E5 Play is also getting the November patch.
Like the moto E5, there isn’t much that this update brings. It brings the November 1 Android security patch and bumps up the software version to ODPS27.91-167-9-5.
The big red carrier is also rolling out the November update to the Motorola E5 Play Prepaid. This is essentially the same as the Moto E5 Play that can be gotten off-contract. It is still a Verizon device so it is still subject to the software delays associated with carrier devices.
Previously, the Verizon Moto E5 Play got the October security patch. However, there is still no sign of Android 9 Pie update.
With just how under-powered these devices are, they might have to settle for the monthly patches. Specs-wise, the phone runs on a Snapdragon 425 with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of expandable storage. That 5.7-inch 18:9 screen sports a resolution of 1440×720 HD+.
The 8 MP main camera and 5 MP selfie camera might not be the best, but they should be serviceable. And the 4,000 mAh will most likely carry you through the day comfortably.The phone is protected from splashes and light rain by a water-repellent coating.
As always, the update is rolled out via OTA in batches. However, if you want to check for the updates manually, then you can head to Settings>>About Phone>> System Updates. If there is any notification available then, tap on it to install the update.
Note – You can check out our Motorola Section to keep yourself updated regarding all the latest happenings around Motorola smartphones.
PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.


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Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am very grateful to the IEA for inviting me to join such a distinguished panel this evening.
As recent polls have shown, there is strong support for seeking to negotiate the fundamental changes to the EU that the Prime Minister outlined in his great Europe speech two months ago. I think what most people want is to stay in the EU just for trade without all the Brussels directives and regulations covering areas that are nothing to do with trade.
But I see no hope of being taken seriously by our European friends unless they can see that if we don't get what we want we would be prepared to leave the EU altogether. For that purpose we need a negotiating fallback plan.
Unfortunately, it's a serious over-simplification to say "Well, let's be like Norway or Switzerland". Neither country's relationship with the EU is at all comfortable when you look into it.
Nor do I think we could just leave the EU unilaterally. It's all very well to say the EU's average tariff on manufactured goods is only 2½ per cent. So what would it matter if we just walked out and had to learn to live with the same tariffs that the USA, Japan and China face exporting into the EU? But that 2½ per cent is just an average.
Roughly half our manufactured exports into the EU would be duty-free if we left it. But, arithmetically, the other half would suffer an average tariff of 5 per cent. In particular, the EU's 10 per cent tariffs on car imports would be completely unacceptable to Toyota, Nissan, Honda and BMW.
And we shouldn't imagine we could do a special zero tariffs deal with the EU on car trade only across the Channel as that would be illegal discrimination against other countries like the USA and Japan under the World Trade Organization Agreements.
So the conclusion we have reached is that if we do ultimately determine to leave the EU it would be essential to negotiate a new cross-the-board preferential trade agreement with it. And that negotiation must start with Germany as the EU's most powerful country.
Under the WTO Agreements only two types of preferential trade agreement are allowed for merchandise trade between developed countries – customs unions and free-trade areas.
The EU is a customs union, not a free-trade area. The distinction is vital, but many people do not understand it. For anyone interested there's a one pager here on customs unions, free-trade areas and the crucial subject of rules of origin, and it's also on our website. But in essence, as the WTO defines it:
A customs union is where a group of countries agrees to:
- eliminate duties on substantially all trade in goods between them, and also
- imposes a common external tariff (or tax) on substantially all goods imports from outside the customs union
Note that with free movement of goods across borders the EU has gone well beyond the normal WTO definition of customs unions.
- A free-trade area is where a group of countries agree to have duty-free trade between them in substantially all goods produced in their region. But they retain control of their trade relationships with other countries. The best known example is the NAFTA.
To decide whether goods have been produced in a free-trade area, "originated" to use the technical term, you need pesky things called rules of origin. They are technical, complex and often difficult for even experts to understand. Anyone interested should read the research paper on our website on "Rules of Origin in EU Free Trade Agreements".
The other day, you may have seen Herr Schäuble, Germany's Finance Minister, quoted as saying that Britain leaving the EU would be catastrophic. He does have one very good reason for holding that view.
If we left the European customs union the Northern liberal bloc of EU member states, currently led by Germany and the UK, would lose its blocking minority on the Council of Ministers. But the protectionist Mediterranean bloc led by France, Italy and Spain would retain its blocking minority.
It would indeed be a disaster to let the protectionist countries get the upper hand in Europe.
Sooner or later Angela Merkel must grasp how wrong it would be to seek to coerce Britain into full political integration with the EU against the will of the British people. Once she does, I believe she will warm to the idea of the UK staying in customs union with the EU, on a new inter-governmental basis outside the EU but with full voting rights on trade matters.
For the UK, I believe that staying in customs union with the EU, "Staying in Europe for Trade" as we call it, would be the best possible outcome starting where we are now. Let me list four principal advantages:
We would retain free movement of goods with the EU. Switzerland and Norway, by the way, do not have free movement of goods with the EU. Their exports are only duty-free if they comply with the relevant rules of origin.
I hate to think how the foreign investors who dominate car, food and chemical manufacturing in the UK would react to the prospect of having to test all their trade across the Channel, both ways, against EU rules of origin. It's about psychology as well as economics.
There would be hardly any disruption to trade and investment, and therefore minimal uncertainty in advance about the consequences of the UK leaving the EU
We could continue to participate in:
- the EU's free trade agreements with countries like Switzerland, Norway, Korea and Singapore, and
- the new free trade agreements the EU is negotiating with countries like India, the USA and Japan.
We would retain a voting say in Europe's future where it matters for us, trade.
Nor, I think, is it correct to suggest that British exporters are held back by the UK being in customs union with the EU. Over the last five years*:
- UK goods exports to the rest of world have increased by 57 per cent. whilst
- UK service exports to the rest of the world have increased by 62 per cent.
So, to summarise, I think that "Staying in Europe for Trade" on the basis I have outlined is:
- Saleable to the UK business establishment and to all the foreign investors whose presence here is so essential to the UK economy
- The best option open to us.
* Over the last five years means 2007-12 in the case of trade in goods and 2006-11 in the case of trade in services.


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That was announced by the Ministry of Industry and Trade yesterday.
The price increase based on inspection results of power production and trading cost prices in 2016, which have been audited independently and inspected by an inter-ministry working group according to the PM’s Decision 24 issued on June 30 this year about retail power price adjustment mechanism.
The price for each group of customers accords regulations at PM Decision 28 on April 7, 2014 on retail price structure.
According to the ministry, last year power production and trading total cost of country's largest power company Vietnam Electricity was VND266,104 billion in 2016 while revenue hit VND265,511 billion with the average selling price of commercial power of VND1,662 a kWh. That resulted in a a loss of about VND594 billion.
Counting VND3,252 billion revenue from activities relating to electricity production and trading, the company earned a profit of VND2,658 billion.


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ALASKA: For more than 30 years, Alaska’s libertarian streak made it the only state in which it was legal, under some circumstances, to smoke marijuana just for the fun of it.
Then along came voters in Colorado and Washington state. Last year, both states passed initiatives legalizing pot and setting up rules for production, sales and taxation.
Now backers of a similar initiative here say they are close to giving Alaskans the same opportunity to just say yes. They’re nearly halfway to reaching their goal of getting 45,000 signatures by Dec. 1, about 15,000 more than the number needed to put the measure on the 2014 primary election ballot, according to Timothy Hinterberger, the measure’s main sponsor.
The initiative would add a new seven-page chapter to Alaska’s statute books, making it legal for adults at the age at which they may buy beer to also possess up to an ounce of pot anywhere, except where a property owner banned it. It would set up a state regulatory body to oversee cannabis farms, dealers and advertising, and ensure that products don’t end up with juveniles or the black market. The initiative would impose a $50-an-ounce excise tax that would be collected between the greenhouse and the store or factory.
Employers would still be able to ban smoking or possession at work and prevent employees from being high on the job. Driving under the influence would still be illegal, and local governments could outlaw pot growing and sales — but not possession — by local option. Police officers would have to stop their current practice of seizing small amounts of marijuana when they encounter it. The measure would authorize retail pot shops but not dope dens, parlors or bars.
“In a free society, prohibition of popular substances is just bad public policy,” Hinterberger said.
Since Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell ruled June 14 that the initiative could proceed to the signature-gathering phase, the measure has been gaining support, Hinterberger said. Momentum accelerated, he said, with the announcement Aug. 29 by the U.S. ustice Department that it wouldn’t enforce federal drug laws against possession, production and sale of pot in states where it was legal and where well-managed controls exist.


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$KO 2Q15 PR: KO expects effective annual tax rate on operations for 2015 to be 22.5%. Full-year comparable currency neutral growth expectations remain unchanged. Reported a global volume growth of 2%. Reported effective tax rate was 28.7% and the underlying annual effective tax rate was 22.5% for 2Q15.
$NFLX a monster move, going up. Expect making some money on Monday.
$AMD down more than 6% even after posting above consensus third quarter results.
$MCD stock rose more than 2% after it posted better than expected 3Q16 results, driven by global same-store sales growth. Meanwhile, earnings and revenue were lower than last year, hurt by refranchising efforts.
$RAI has received a $47 billion take over offer from British tobacco giant British American Tobacco! This is huge!