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Federal Complain: Freshy Food Plant contaminated with Listeria Refuses to Recall Products
Federal and state inspectors have found two strains of Listeria in the Freshy Foods plant. One of the Listeria strains has persisted in the Elmwood facility since at least 2013. Listeria was also found in Freshy Foods sandwiches. The complaint filed in Federal court alleges Elmwood-based Freshy Foods LLC distributed food that was produced or held in unsanitary conditions. A year ago FDA asked the owners to voluntarily recall their food products, in light of the Listeria findings. The owners declined to do so, the complaint alleges. Freshy Foods co-owners Floyd D. James and Ida M. James, who serve as CEO and president of the company, respectively, also declined to cease operations pending further testing at the plant, according to the complaint. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the accusations at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "to stop them from manufacturing and distributing adulterated food in violation of federal law." @ https://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2018/06/elmwood_business_refused_to_re.html
Elmwood business refused to recall food after listeria found: federal complaint
Freshy Foods refused to recall food or cease operations after listeria was found at the Elmwood-based plant, a federal complaint claims.


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Durango's two largest brewers, Ska Brewing Co. and Steamworks Brewing Co., are increasingly embracing cans. People like them, as it turns out. Sales are ballooning.
Ska cans its Modus Hoperandi IPA, True Blonde Ale and ESB. Steamworks cans its Steam Engine Lager and Third Eye Pale Ale, and plans to can its Colorado Kolsch.
Soggy Coaster's alter ego, Chuck Slothower, ink-stained wretch at The Durango Herald, wrote an (ahem) extensive report on this trend for today's paper. Read it online here. Or better yet, buy a paper. Contrary to popular belief, journalism isn't free. It's 50 cents.

domain: news


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When The Sopris Sun set out to conduct an annual inventory of commercial space in town, we never anticipated tracking the effects of a pandemic.
Our methods — recording the number of occupied units and tracking the addresses of unoccupied space each June — were intended to capture the sort of slow change you’d expect from broad economic shifts. It just seemed strange that no one else was tracking an occupancy rate (the Town’s sales tax licenses and the Chamber of Commerce’s membership only show part of the story).
Of course, wandering around office buildings and peering in windows is a far cry from scientific — and these days, it’s even less conclusive.
Many businesses in town sport signs touting their COVID-19 mitigation plans registered with Garfield County. Most restaurants are open for takeout, at least, although some, like the Pour House, seem to be playing the waiting game. Others are definitely defunct, such as Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli.
Things are a little less clear on the retail front. The Near New has several signs, some of which appear to date back to the very beginning of social distancing, when we thought closures might only last a couple of weeks (word on the street suggests the Rebekahs might open the shop on July 9). Elsewhere, for-rent signs are an obvious clue, but while a stack of moving blankets might be conclusive proof in most places, it may be part of the normal operation of an upholstery shop.
This kind of uncertainty has always been a factor in our efforts. We’ve often caught businesses in transition, and did this year as well. We’ve heard that Back Door Consignment is under new ownership, but haven’t seen it open with any frequency. Brass Anvil has obtained its necessary permits and had a soft open, but declined to be featured beyond that. A sale is pending for the Red Rock Diner, but we can’t report on it until it’s final.
The difference, of course, is that this year almost every business and nonprofit is teetering on the brink. If you tried to visit The Sun’s own office, you’d find the lights off and the garden neglected — assuming you even found our exterior entrance in the otherwise closed up Third Street Center. We’re working from home for the foreseeable future, and so are most other organizations that can afford to do so. How many of them will opt to renew on a space they’re not really using?
So when we report that 90.6 percent of commercial units in town appear to be occupied, take it with a grain of salt. While that figure is down from the last two years and reflects vacancies both downtown and along the highway, it’s actually up from our inaugural survey in 2017. That’s probably because what we’re really seeing is a snapshot of early March.
In the coming months, many business owners will have difficult decisions to make. Those who were barely breaking even before will probably pull up stakes. Even some who made it through the stay-at-home order mostly unscathed may look down the throat of another year of cautious consumers and decide not to risk it. Those that do endure will have to adapt.
Meanwhile, the completion of the new City Market and other large commercial projects will actually expand outlet options amid an anticipated recession. Expect a game of musical chairs as Ace Hardware eyes the old grocery store space and potentially leaves its own building open.
This year’s inventory is a placeholder. The real story will be told a year from now.


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New technology: Tires Michelin Selfseal that patch their own holes
Ford Explorer represented new tires that fix themselves. If you will be the situation when tire of your car ran over a nail, it means that tires could be allow to keep traveling after a puncture. Most drivers won`t know they had a puncture of tire until they notice a nail stuck in the tire, – Michelin engineers said.
If the small object penetrating the tire in the tread area, these tires have self-sealing function, which give the opportunity to move further.
The new Ford Explorer is available with new Michelin Self-seal tires. This technology is very popular between major tire-makers today. Special viscous goop inside of the tires flows into punctures to seal them. Michelin’s tires have the opportunity to seal punctures up to a quarter-inch. Also, the next producers such as Hankook and Pirelli used this technology self-sealing tires.


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Recent AMFI data shows that 62 per cent of retail investors in equity funds have stayed on for 2 years or more
26-Mar-2015 •Aarati Krishnan
It seems to be a case of viewing a glass which is half full as half empty. With AMFI putting out its latest dataset on average holding periods for mutual fund investors, news articles have lamented that 'over half of equity fund investors' exit within two years.
True, AMFI data as of December 2014 show that only 45 per cent of all the investors in equity funds had stayed with their schemes for more than two years. So yes, 55 per cent jumped ship within two years.
Now this will probably have fund houses which have been launching three-year close end NFOs pat themselves on the back. "See, we told you that Indian investors aren't long-term. If you don't lock them in, they will book profits too soon."
Big investors are short-term
But if you dig a little deeper into the data, you find that this isn't true. For one, while 45 per cent of all categories of equity fund investors redeem within 2 years, retail investors in these funds have proved far more long-term. December 2014 data show that 60 per cent of retail investors in equity funds (retail being investors who have less than Rs 5 lakh invested), have stayed on for more than 2 years.
The investors who were in a hurry to book profits were not 'uninformed' retail ones, but corporates (72 per cent of them exited within 2 years), Banks (95 per cent exited), FIIs (63 per cent) and high net worth investors or HNIs (72 per cent).
Retail investors (only 40 per cent booked profits within 2 years) were by far the most patient of the lot.
Now, given that corporate treasuries or banks may not have much justification to invest in equity funds in the first place (why would you park treasury surpluses in equities?), there's no need to worry about their short-termism or otherwise.
No bull market effect
It is also a healthy trend that the holding periods of retail investors have not dramatically shortened in this bull market. The proportion of retail investors who have held on to their equity schemes for over 2 years has not fallen too drastically between September 2013 (68 per cent) and December 2014 (62 per cent).
One should remember that September 2013 represented the This shows that though a small proportion of investors have hurried to book profits after equity fund returns of 70-100 per cent in the last one year, a majority haven't given in to the temptation.
In the six years to September 2013, retail investors may have been quite frustrated with the poor returns from equity funds. Therefore, they may have been forgiven for booking profits quickly when the markets turned around to give a stunning return within two years. But the data show that this didn't happen. Most retail investors (nearly two-thirds of them) continued to hold on to their equity funds.
Therefore, contrary to the concerns raised, the latest AMFI data actually shows that a majority of retail investors aren't really dummies or even short-termist in their approach to equity funds. That's something for fund houses launching close end schemes to ponder over.


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Starbucks began offering US coffee drinkers a way to get free Wi-Fi access at its shops on Tuesday, but some customers had a hard time cashing in.
A mobile phone service which allows users to 'track' their friends and family has been launched in the UK.
Microsoft's Exchange Server may be the king of corporate e-mail, but it has plenty of haters, especially among smaller companies that find managing the software and dealing with e-mail backups to be a huge hassle.
A slew of search companies have been formed over the years to be a "Google killer," no matter how they described themselves. But many of the start-up companies barely caused a ripple in the technology blogosphere.
With multi-core processors becoming a preferred method for building more powerful computers, Microsoft anticipates that a key trend for the future of application development will be accommodating parallel systems.
Hong Kong and China are the "most dangerous" places to surf the Web based on country domain, according to McAfee's annual assessment of the riskiest and safest places in cyberspace.
Improvements in processing speeds, storage space and wireless broadband will drive a new revolution in information technology, but software makers face several challenges in their efforts to keep up, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said Tuesday.
Europe's highest court will hear a trademark infringement suit concerning Google's keyword advertising system, a case that ventures into an untested area of law that could impact the company's lucrative ad revenue.
Six Brits have been arrested for illegally sharing music files. Cleveland Police made the arrests on May 23 and 28 'in relation to uploading pre-release music' onto the now defunct BitTorrent tracker OiNK.cd. However, the exact offences they are alle...
While Canada's Privacy Commissioner is about to investigate whether Facebook is breaching Canada's privacy laws, Ontario's Privacy Commissioner's office is working with the social networking site on a privacy protection initiative.
Intel gives users the tools to squeeze extra performance from their systems by overclocking the processor, but don't expect the warranty to cover you if things go wrong.
Work-related RSI cases are at an all-time high and the cost to businesses is spiralling, new Microsoft research reveals.
Sun will release a 32GB flash storage drive this year and make flash storage an option for nearly every server the vendor produces, Sun officials are announcing Wednesday.
Microsoft this week confirmed that Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) omits a critical security update issued by the company in November 2006.
Acer is looking to be part of what the company hopes will be a hot new market - the mini laptop.
There's never been a better time for a business to refresh its devices. Intel offers a range of business solutions, from Servers to SSD, but also 2 in 1 products and also the NUC unit which is set to revolutionise your desktop. Click here to read more information on these products.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.


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Camelot UK Lotteries Limited, operator of The National Lottery, today announced that the £1,000,000 UK Millionaire Maker prize from the EuroMillions draw on November 12, 2021 has remained unclaimed for more than 180 days.
The ticket-holder bought their EuroMillions ticket in Portsmouth and the deadline for the ticket-holder to claim their prize was at midnight on May 11, 2022.
Camelot’s Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at The National Lottery, said: ‘Unfortunately, I can confirm that the ticket-holder did not come forward within the deadline to claim their prize and has now sadly missed out on this substantial amount of money.
‘However, the money will now add to the more than £30m raised each week for National Lottery-funded projects across the UK.
‘We’re encouraging everyone to check their tickets online by downloading the National Lottery app or at national-lottery.co.uk.
‘Players can also buy and check tickets in retail. Playing online via the app or website means that your ticket is checked, and you get an email notification if you win a prize. You can also scan your retail tickets on the National Lottery app to check if you're a winner.’
Anyone who has any queries or who believes they have the winning ticket for any of the National Lottery draws within the 180-day deadline should call the National Lottery Line on 0333 234 5050 or email [email protected].


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Aldi Regrets Setting Out Phallic Shaped Easter Marshmallows [PHOTO]
Easter is 1 month away and grocery stores are starting to set out their easter themed foods, snacks, and candies. Shoppers are starting to see all kinds of sales on chocolate, peeps, and jelly bird eggs. One grocery store is making waves on social media right now and not for a reason they'd probably want.
When they say no publicity is bad publicity, that's partially true. But I'd be willing to guess 99 times out of 100, you'd rather make news headlines for something good you've done. Is this the worst thing in the world? No. It's just a little bit embarrassing.
The popular grocery chain Aldi made a bit of a blunder in releasing these easter themed bunny marshmallows and even they admit to the oversight. Sometimes it's just your turn to get roasted on social media and Aldi is going through it right now. The easter bunny marshmallow snacks look more like something else, rather than an easter themed bunny rabbit.
According to the New York Post, a British woman, who goes by MissV on Twitter, posted this photo and said "Sorry Aldi, but that ain't a Bunny." Social media did what it tends to do and started piling on jokes. I'll leave it up to your imagination but there are a lot of replies to the tweet of people wondering if they misspelled chicks.
I hate to say this but I think the internet might actually be right on this one. How did not one person within the Aldi company ask the question "does this really look like an easter bunny?" On what planet would someone look at these Bunnies & Chicks marshmallows and say "yep, looks exactly like a bunny rabbit, start stocking the shelves." Aldi couldn't do much to defend the mistake either. Check out their response to the original photo
They're certainly right. There's not a whole lot they can do to defend that. Looks like Aldi will have to get back to the drawing board with this one.


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Huawei Reaffirms Support at Indonesia-China Business Forum 2021
Jakarta. Chinese tech firm Huawei reaffirmed its commitment to support Indonesia at a recent bilateral business forum, the company announced in a statement.
This year, Indonesia and China are celebrating the 71st anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Since the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in 2013, both countries have enjoyed closer economic ties.
The Indonesia-China Business Forum 2021, which took place on October 19, underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation, as digital technologies play an increasingly pivotal role in empowering government, the economy, and business communities as a whole.
The forum also took place in a hybrid arrangement in Jakarta and Beijing concurrently.
Attending the event were Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun, Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahendra Siregar.
The panel discussion also involved senior advisor on the economy at the Investment Ministry Indra Darmawan, Bank Indonesia's financial markets development head Donny Hutabarat, and general manager of Sinovac Biotech Ltd Helen Yang, regional manager representative of Huawei Luna Liu. The moderator was Chairman of the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce in China (Inacham) Liky Sutikno.
To welcome the new digital era, strategic relations with the right investment partner are essential. Healthcare and the environment are some examples of Indonesia-China's productive relationship, according to Luhut.
The technology sector will benefit from stronger ties between the two nations." "Usage of technology in all facets of life is inevitable. Having realized this, local companies are partnering with Chinese enterprises such as Huawei to retrofits of knowledge- and technology-sharing," Luhut said.
Djauhari also highlighted China's leap to become one of the world's superpowers by harnessing technology. According to him, China's success story should be a valuable lesson for the Indonesian government and businesses alike." "Looking back on China's experience, they greatly emphasize collaboration in technology, especially between the government and the private sector, to encourage innovation, public services, and economic activities that benefit everyone," Djauhari said.
" For instance, the local government contracted Huawei to build data centers and innovative city projects. A similar model can be implemented in Indonesia. We can receive this knowledge through close relations between Indonesia and China at both government and business levels."
Sharing the same note with Luhut and Djauhari on the importance of collaboration in technology, Luna Liu highlighted human development as an essential core engine for growth.
"For Huawei, talent is the ICT industry's most important resource. It plays a pivotal role to prepare ICT talents to become future players of the ecosystem," Luna said.
" Multiple helix cooperation, especially among industry, government and other key stakeholders, is vital to creating a rich ICT talent ecosystem that is open, collaborative, and beneficial for all and that is capable of facilitating the digital transformation and leap ahead," Luna said.
Separately, VP Public Affairs and Communications of Huawei Indonesia, Ken Qi, reaffirmed commitment to Indonesia, where Huawei has operated and offered its contribution for over 21 years." "In Indonesia, Huawei has contributed our ICT solutions for various sectors, from healthcare, education to mobilizing the transition towards e-government. We hope that the ICT solutions we contributed may help promote Indonesia as an investment destination. Ken said that these solutions are also part of our long-term commitment towards comprehensive digital transformation in Indonesia," Ken said.
"We extend the highest appreciation to the Government of Indonesia for having such a far-sighted vision, clear direction, as well as determination on human development to prepare fertile soil for growth. Huawei's commitment to nurturing 100,000 digital talents annually until 2024 is a testament that we may be able to achieve together Indonesia's grand vision to become a global economic powerhouse by 2030," Ken concluded.Tags:


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Cat signs Mike Rowe, “Dirty Jobs” star
Caterpillar says its partnering with Mike Rowe, creator and star of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs. Rowe will spend time with Caterpillar customers and dealers, encounters that will be featured on cat.com, with the goal of demonstrating “the solutions that Cat dealers provide their customers throughout the lifecycle of their equipment,” explains the release announcing the agreement.
Rowe, who is also creator of mikeroweWORKS.com, a website dedicated to people in the trades, says his partnership with Caterpillar was “inevitable” because the two share the same work philosophy.
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“Data-Driven Thinking” is written by members of the media community and contains fresh ideas on the digital revolution in media.
Today’s column is written by Julie Fleischer, vice president of marketing solutions at Neustar.
We’ve all heard the stats. There are 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created each day. Ninety percent of the world’s data was created over the last two years.
We are drowning in data but starved for insights. If there is one thing everyone agrees on, it’s that the volume of data that’s being created, collected and cultivated is increasing exponentially.
And yet, now there is a new conversational thread emerging: We’re not drowning in data – we’re preparing to starve. The spigots are being closed, and we’re entering the era of the data drought.
This theory says, sure, data has been cheap and plentiful, but now the best data is getting stuck behind dams being established by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and walled gardens that are changing the rules so that they can hoard IDs and preclude leakage. Google Ads Data Hub and the blocking of ID sharing are two primary early warning signs offered of an impending data drought.
If we are indeed entering a period of drought where the early green shoots of our data-driven future shrivel up and die, this will be a huge problem for the industry. Advertisers must see the impact of their advertising – verify delivery, control frequency, measure impact – in order to value their spend and remain accountable for their marketing investments. Publishers, networks and platforms owe advertisers the same accountability. Without good data, accountability – and the whole marketing ecosystem – crumbles.
So which is it? Drought or deluge? Famine or feast? Is our industry on-trend or off the tracks?
First, let’s explore the mindset that’s shaping the view that the data stream is collapsing on itself. Some believe that the scale of a walled garden data dam makes it inevitable that the industry will be negatively reshaped. They see a direct line between DoubleClick changes and advertisers’ fortunes.
But in reality, brands have options which can help them grow their data footprint even as DCM (now Google Ad Manager) flexes its muscles. More on that in a minute, but before we get to options, it’s important to pressure-test the assertion: Are we actually seeing a data drought? No.
I see more of a flood than a drought. Year over year, I am consistently seeing more data created. It actually resembles a hockey stick, with exponentially more data created and delivered each year as money shifts to addressable or trackable data, to walled gardens, and as walled gardens offer data for measurement programs.
Now, I certainly acknowledge that not all data is equally valuable. Advertisers must consider all aspects of data: velocity, variety, volume and validity. But even so, measurement programs were established at Facebook (2016), Pinterest (2017) and for linear TV and clean rooms (2018), which enable data access to important high-quality data.
The time is ripe for marketers to build accountability and ensure access to the free-flowing, high-value data they need for better results and more transparent accountability. They must ask more for their advertising dollar and push for a privacy-compliant data pass-back with any buy. The days of investing money and accepting delivery blindly are over. Where advertisers’ needs aren’t considered, advertisers must let their dollars do the talking as they reinvest them elsewhere.
More immediately, advertisers need to protect their ability to secure privacy-compliant data today, now that Google Ad Manager’s policy changes have gone into effect.
If an advertiser chooses to stick with Google Ad Manager, it can add additional tracking like an authorized pixel- and click-tracking solution to ensure accountability is maintained. The data generated by that pixel should be used as the source of truth.
If the strategy is to shift from Google Ad Manager to another ad server that does not dam data, there are several options. For instance, Flashtalking and Sizmek are both positioning themselves as data-rich Google Ad Manager alternatives. Google Ad Manager is currently the market leader and built into the infrastructure of many agency models, which has given Google the market power to make the move to withhold valuable advertiser data. As such, the switching costs many be high, but for data-driven advertisers, the cost of not switching may be higher.
This is a great opportunity for advertisers to take a position in support of their data-driven future. The effectiveness of media investment requires visibility and accountability. Whether you are bullish or bearish about the prospects of access to data, now is the time to build a strategy, the governance and a tracking system so that advertisers can control their own destiny.


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Coinbase exchange has started supporting EOS on its retail platform. Investors can now buy, sell, convert, send, receive, or store EOS through Coinbase.com or the Coinbase mobile apps. EOS was added to Coinbase Pro last month.
EOS will be available for Coinbase users in most jurisdictions, except the UK and New York. The cryptocurrency will be supported across more locations gradually.
The announcement comes ahead of a big announcement from Block.one on June 1st. Block.one is the firm behind EOS which has been hinting at a large announcement on the date. According to reports, it may be around a social networking platform based on EOS.
There was no appreciable difference in the price of EOS following the announcement.
Image credit: Coinbase


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If you’re looking for Jay-Z‘s 13th album to make the Billboard Top 200 Albums list, you have a long wait. Apparently numbers do lie.
Posts Tagged: RIAA
As you know, Rihanna‘s eighth studio album, ANTI (pronounced “Auntie”), supposedly leaked “accidentally” on Jay Z‘s flop music streaming app, TIDAL.
After the 27-year-old Bajan singer feigned outrage on social media, she provided a link for her social media followers to download the entire album for free.
Well, just 24 hours later, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced Rihanna’s album had gone platinum.
Michael Jackson‘s Thriller is the 1st album ever to reach the 30 million sales mark in the United States!
Jackson’s breakthrough Thriller album remains the #1 selling album of all time with over 100 million sales worldwide.
It pays to have friends in high places with deep pockets: money changes everything.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has changed its rules to allow albums given away for free to be counted in Jay Z’s total sales. Electronics giant Samsung recently announced a $20 million sponsorship deal with the aging rapper. The deal immediately began paying dividends for the father-of-two when Samsung bought 1 million advance copies of his soon-to-be released album Magna Carta Holy Grail, which drops on July 4.
SAmsung will give away the albums for free to users who download a radio app to their Samsung smartphones. The 1 million in advanced sales put a quick $5 million in Jay Z’s back pocket. The RIAA originally said the adavance sales would not count toward Jigga’s total sales. Then he took to Twitter to pitch a fit and the RIAA gave in to his demands. In defending its decision to count Jay Z’s giveaways as sales, the RIAA released a long, wordy explanation which basically says that digital sales are a new frontier that allows for “new rules.”
Read an excerpt of the RIAA’s statement after the break.


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-- Demand for Apple's new iPhone 4S, combined with buyers' hunger for rival devices, could push worldwide smartphone ownership above the 50% mark for the first time ever.
Pre-orders for the phone from carriers AT&T, Sprint and Verizon are as good as sold out; and online orders from the carriers and Apple are backed up, with delivery promised by the end of the month at the latest.
If you want one now, you'll have to shop in person and perhaps stand in line.
The iPhone is far and away the best-selling and most used smartphone, according to Roger Etner, an analyst with Recon Analytics. With the release of the iPhone 4S, which goes on sale in stores at 8 a.m. Friday, smartphones will account for half of all cellphones, up from 43% today, says Etner.
Smartphones typically offer more robust Web browsing, email, data and media streaming abilities.
Apple says more than 1 million iPhone 4S pre-orders came in on the first day of sales. Selected Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy stores, along with local Apple resellers, will also offer the iPhone.
Pricing begins at $199 (with a two-year contract) for the model with 16 gigabytes of storage. Apple has dropped the price of the predecessor iPhone 4 to $99 (with a contract); the iPhone 3GS is free with a contract.
There are more than 128 million iPhones in use worldwide, according to Apple. The second most popular smartphone is the Samsung Galaxy S, with 10 million phones in use, Etner says..
The iPhone 4S upgrade offers an improved camera, faster processor and a voice-activated personal assistant Siri which can find weather and traffic information, and set meeting times, among other things.
Apple historically has released new iPhones in the summer, but by "waiting until October, it's really increased even more pent-up demand," says Etner. "Lots of consumers were waiting for a new iPhone, and really want it."
Gene Munster, an analyst with Piper Jaffray, predicts sales of between 2 million to 2.5 million phones this weekend, compared to 1.7 million for the iPhone 4 launch in June 2010.
"The product may not sound as exciting as the previous iPhone, but many people are eligible for their upgrade," Munster says. "And they're ready for a new iPhone." Sprint customers are getting their first chance to buy an iPhone.
The launch comes a little more than a week since the passing of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, which sparked fan tributes at Apple Stores and headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.
Because the iPhone 4S sports only minor improvements from the iPhone 4, and no hardware upgrade, Munster predicts an all-new iPhone 5 could come much sooner — perhaps by next summer.
"Apple will get the consumer's dollar either way," he says. "Folks who can't wait will buy the iPhone 4S; the ones who can will get the iPhone 5 next year. Either way, Apple gets paid."


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Crossover Ford Explorer in the XLT version received a new “sports” performanceFebruary 4, 2020
For the American full-size crossover of the 2021 model year, a sports package is now available. The start of sales is scheduled for this summer.
Ford has another update for the Explorer crossover, which will be available later this year, this time for the XLT. This is a new “package” of styling, which adds the appearance of the model more sports features. Do not think that in the new version, the crossover will receive more power – no, only a more sporty appearance.
Those who need a more powerful version of Explorer crossover will need to save more money and buy the ST version. By the way, according to Ford representatives, Explorer ST accounts for 20 percent of all Explorer 2021 model year sales.
As for the new “package” of appearance, Explorer XLT will obviously get a new set of 20-inch wheels. These wheels will have a gray tint, which is well combined with the gray color of the false radiator grille. Also, customers will be offered protective plates, a special inscription on the hood, as well as double chrome exhaust pipes. The interior will feature two-tone seats with accent stitching, as well as a new finish for the center console and door panels.
“Our sporty look package offers a new dimension in style for Explorer XLT crossover owners,” said Ford Explorer marketing manager Craig Patterson. “This version of the full-sized crossover has always been a favorite among our young customers who need a more vibrant design.”
Speaking of young customers, Ford is keen to say that 18 percent of Explorer’s new customers are from 18 to 35 years old. It is worth noting that crossover sales fell 26 percent last year.
Not so long ago, we wrote that the Chevy Silverado Jackal or a worthy rival to the Ford F-150 Raptor pickup. The Chevy Silverado Jackal was first shown in October last year, and now PaxPower arrived on TFLnow on YouTube to take a detailed video about this car.
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21 states have now legalized the purchase and possession of cannabis for recreational use. While these measures are often discussed and voted on at the state level, the tangible implications of these policies are inevitably felt on the local level as cannabis retail becomes a reality in downtowns and commercial areas in cities and counties across the country. Once a state has legalized the recreational use and sale of cannabis, cities and counties are tasked with approving and licensing cannabis businesses and managing resident concerns about these establishments popping up in their community.
The momentum of marijuana legalization and cannabis retail is nowhere near stalling; in fact, more and more Zencity partner communities have been addressing this issue head-on and have begun engaging and surveying their residents about the possibility of cannabis stores and how to implement new policies.
To better understand how this issue is being discussed in local governments across the country and as a resource for other communities facing or about to face this issue, Zencity conducted a cross-client analysis of the online conversation about cannabis retail, spanning over 200 US partner communities (cities and counties). Below are some key takeaways from the data.
Support VS Opposition
Residents are supportive of cannabis retail in their community
Organic online conversation and surveys on this issue show that residents voice support for cannabis businesses in their community across the vast majority of Zencity partner communities that have tackled this challenge. In the past year, Zencity produced dozens of insight reports for our partner communities that illustrate the widespread support for cannabis sales in communities where this issue was discussed, as the examples below illustrate:
Interest in the economic benefit outweighs safety concerns
During 2022 (January 1-December 25), more than half (54%) of all online conversations on cannabis sales focused on the economic aspect – specifically, the financial benefit for the community – rather than on safety concerns. Those were far less prominent in the conversation, making up only a fifth (19%). Safety concerns centered on consequent violence and crime were 3X more prevalent than concerns about road safety due to driving under the influence.
Conversations about the health implications of recreational cannabis were also prominent in the conversation (11%), as residents debated the health benefits of marijuana, especially relative to alcohol.
Economic Benefits VS Public Safety
Proponents celebrate economic benefits, while opponents cite public safety concerns.
The public debate positions economic benefits against public safety. Supporters of cannabis retail are likely to cite the economic benefit this could have for the community, and the potential economic boost tax revenue would generate for the city or county – and how it would benefit the community.
Opponents ground their opposition in the safety implications of cannabis being sold in the city – a potential increase in crime, substance abuse, and homelessness. Concerns about reckless driving or driving under the influence are also prominent.
Notably, the comparison to alcohol was leveraged by both sides; commenters who were worried about safety compared consuming cannabis to drinking alcohol and worried about impaired driving becoming more prevalent in the community. By contrast, supporters of cannabis retail used the alcohol comparison to make a case that cannabis was considerably safer. Both camps agreed there is a need to ensure responsible driving – increased police enforcement and checkpoints, viable transportation alternatives, or other initiatives meant to minimize impaired driving.
Overall, the discussion points to a need to weigh the economic benefit (which, the discourse shows, is widely acknowledged and welcomed) with the possible safety risks associated with cannabis usage. This balance can be achieved by consulting residents’ preferences, as they have emerged in surveys run by Zencity in several of its partner communities.
Residents’ preferences pave a path to balancing cannabis retail and public safety
In surveys conducted by Zencity on this issue, residents voice specific preferences that demonstrate a clear vision as to how cannabis can be sold in their community without undermining public safety (as they have done in the past with liquor stores, strip clubs, and other business establishments whose existence in the community may raise safety concerns). Residents’ main priority was to keep cannabis away from children by identifying locations that are at least a mile away from schools and outside residential areas.
Preferences around locations indicate that residents think cannabis shops should be in commercial areas, with most residents opting for locations along major roadways. Residents also noted the need for convenient public transportation access to minimize impaired driving.
When asked about how they want the tax revenue from cannabis sales to be spent, residents showed strong agreement for using funds to support mental health services, education and youth programs, and addiction treatment services, as well as other measures that could minimize safety risks and substance abuse in the community.
How to approach cannabis retail in your community
Across dozens of communities across the country, there is broad support for cannabis retail and agreement that the economic benefit outweighs the potential safety risks. In other words, residents are more excited about the potential revenues than they are worried about safety.
With this in mind, here are helpful tips to keep in mind when engaging your community on this issue:


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A brick supplier has filed suit against a company that failed to follow through on its promise to purchase specially ordered brick.
Ossola Industries claims it entered into an oral contract with Amsted Rail in October 2006 in which Amsted agreed to purchase industrial brick for $36,753.04. Again, in May 2007, Amsted Rail agreed to purchase $38,880 worth of brick, according to the complaint filed July 20 in Madison County Circuit Court. Finally, in October 2007, Amsted Rail ordered $59,377.64 worth of brick from Ossola, the suit states.
Subsequent to each order, Ossola ordered brick from its supplier, according to the complaint.
However, Amsted has refused to accept delivery of the bricks, leaving Ossola stuck with the bricks that it cannot resell, the suit states.
"Plaintiff has made a good faith effort to attempt resale of the Bricks, but has been unable to find a buyer for such goods," the complaint says. "As a direct and proximate result of Amsted Rail's breach, Ossola has been forced to incur additional finance costs and costs for storage and handling of the Brick."
In its 14-count complaint, Ossola is seeking a judgment of more than $1.2 million, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, costs and other relief the court deems just.
Kevin T. Hoerner and Sean K. Cronin of Belleville will be representing it.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-756.


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Tag Archives: Argyll Entertainment
- Argyll Entertainment upgrades to SBTech’s full platform solution
September 12, 2017
September 12, 2017 | SBTech has become the technology partner of Argyll Entertainment in a deal that sees its fast-rising UK sports betting brands SportNation and RedZoneSports leverage the industry-leading technology, automation and tools the SBTech platform offers. Upgrading its provider to SBTech represents a critical dimension of Argyll’s expansion...
- Argyll Entertainment launches Argyll Partners affiliate programme with Income Access
November 30, 2016
Affiliate programme for online sports-betting brands to be powered by Income Access affiliate software Montreal, QC. November 2016 – Argyll Entertainment, the Switzerland-based operator of online sportsbooks BetonBrazil and Red Zone Sports, has launched the Argyll Partners affiliate programme with iGaming marketing technology company Income Access, part of Paysafe Group. The...
Betin launches new affiliate programme with Income Access
August 8, 2017
Lottoland relaunches affiliate programme with Income Access
August 24, 2017
Black Type launches affiliate programme with Income Access
September 15, 2017


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Some facilities were shut down by varying degrees by protesters affiliated with the nationwide "Occupy" movement, with the biggest appearing to be in Oakland, Calif. The Journal of Commerce reported that about 1,000 protesters gathered at one entrance to the Port of Oakland, blocking traffic and causing a long backup of trucks. Some of the terminals at the port decided midday to close for the day.
One trucking company, Devine and Sons, decided to cancel all trips to the Port of Oakland Monday, meaning about 200 independent contractor truck drivers would not get paid that day.
There also were protests inland in places such as Walmart distribution centers in Salt Lake City and Denver. In Houston, people were arrested near the Ship Channel for blocking the I-10 ramp to I-610.
One goal, organizers said, was to put a dent in the cash flow of Goldman Sachs, a stakeholder in the port operation SSA Marine and grain exporter EGT.
According to published reports, protests partially shut down the port in Portland, Ore., although operations continued despite the sporadic disruptions to truckers trying to enter and exit the marine terminal gates. Long Beach police made two arrests during the demonstration there, but port operations were not significantly impacted, reports CNN. There also were a few arrests at San Diego's port, but no disruptions were reported.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters put out an "open letter from America's port truck drivers," saying Goldman Sachs and other companies exploit port truck drivers by "disguising" the drivers as independent contractors.
"We are inspired that a non-violent democratic movement that insists on basic economic fairness is capturing the hearts and minds of so many working people. Thank you '99 Percenters' for hearing our call for justice. We are humbled and overwhelmed by recent attention," said the letter, said to be the views of a small group of port truckers representing their fellow drivers.
Other truckers, however, complained to media that they couldn't afford to go without pay if the protests kept them from working.
In an opinion piece Friday for the Sacramento Bee, Michael Shaw, vice president of external affairs for the California Trucking Association, asked, "How does punishing thousands of small businesses send a message to the 1%?"
"What would be the real impact of an Occupy blockade at the ports? In the short term, typical port truckers stand to lose the $500 or more they can earn per day, depending on the number of turns or trips they are able to complete," Shaw noted.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union on the West Coast said it was not sanctioning any shutdowns, although the organization does share protesters' concerns about alleged corporate abuses.


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If you missed the opportunity to buy a low-cost mobile computer from the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative late last year, you’ll have another chance: OLPC plans to resume its Give One, Get One program, in which people spend $400 to buy one of the nonprofit’s rugged computers and donate a second one to a child in a developing country.
Nicholas Negroponte, the founder of the laptop group, announced May 20 the return of the donor program as he disclosed plans for a second generation of the group’s "XO" computers. By 2010, Negroponte hopes to unveil a smaller, more energy-efficient version with two touch screens and a price closer to the long-term goal of $100. Negroponte said his new target price for the device is $75.
"Based on feedback from governments, educators, and–most important–from the children themselves, we are aggressively working to lower the cost, power, and size of the XO laptop so that it is more affordable and useable by the world’s poorest children," Negroponte said in a press release. "The delivery of the first-generation XO laptop has sparked tremendous global interest in the project and provided valuable input on how to make the XO laptop an even better learning tool moving forward."
For now, the group has sold about 600,000 XO machines, which cost $188 each. About 162,000 of them sold in the first round of the Give One, Get One program, which ran in November and December. Negroponte said the program brought laptops to countries that couldn’t have afforded to buy the computers themselves for their schoolchildren, including Haiti and Afghanistan.
The second run of the donor program is expected to begin around the end of the summer and will be open to buyers in Europe and the United States.
OLPC recently announced a partnership with Microsoft Corp. that will enable international governments to choose a Linux or Windows operating system on the XO computers they buy. (See "Low-cost XO laptop now runs Windows.") But buyers in the Give One, Get One program might not be able to opt for Windows unless the nonprofit and Microsoft work out a licensing arrangement.
The first-generation XO laptop requires only one-tenth (2 to 4 watts) of the electrical power necessary to run a standard laptop, according to the group, but the next-generation "XO-2" reportedly will reduce power consumption even further, to 1 watt. This is particularly important for children in remote and rural environments, OLPC said, where electricity is scarce or non-existent. Lowering the power consumption will reduce the amount of time required for children to generate power themselves via a hand crank or other manual means.
The XO-2 will be about half the size of the first-generation device and will approximate the size of a book. The new design will make the XO laptop lighter and easier for children to carry with them to and from school, OLPC said.
Dual touch-sensitive displays will be used to enhance the eBook experience; in its next generation, the device’s keyboard will be replaced with a (second) touch-screen display surface. The design provides a right and left page in vertical format, a hinged laptop in horizontal format, and a flat, two-screen-wide continuous surface that can be used in tablet mode.
Younger children will be able to use a simple keyboard interface to get going, and older children will be able to switch between keyboard interfaces customized for various applications or languages. The dual-touch display is being designed by Pixel Qi, a spinoff company founded in early 2008 by Mary Lou Jepsen, OLPC’s former chief technology officer.


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Microsoft has made some announcements this week related to its enterprise cloud solutions and now they also let slip that they’re prepping Windows Server 2012 R2 for launch and also a Remote Desktop app for iOS and Android.
Of course, the app will also be available on traditional platforms, like Windows, Windows RT and OS X. Strangely, Windows Phone is nowhere to be found on this list. This is the first time that a popular remote desktop software like this has been ported to rival platforms and it could be the start of a new trend.
The OS X app has been totally revamped, while the iOS app will require iOS 6 or 7 to work. Meanwhile devices with Android Gingerbread and up will be able to run the solution. There’s the occasional Splashtop and Team Viewer of course, with the perks of being free and all and even some encryption in the mix, so it will be interesting to see what Microsoft will add to up the ante.


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In focus – Food crisis: wheat imports from Russia and Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine are major suppliers to the world food market, especially in cereals and sunflower oil. Ukraine supplies 10% of wheat, 13% of barley, and more than 50% of sunflower oil traded on the international market, while the corresponding shares for Russia are 24% for wheat, 14% for barley and 23% for sunflower oil. Therefore, the dominance of Ukraine and Russia in the market, as major exporters of these goods, magnifies the impact of the Russian invasion in the world food market.
Europe has a significant exposure to the grain market from Russia and Ukraine. According to data on trade flows for 2019 from the United Nations (see graph on the left), countries such as Cyprus, Malta and Latvia import wheat worth more than 15% of the value of total wheat imports from Russia, while Spain, Bulgaria and Lithuania import wheat mainly from Ukraine (11.1%, 7.1%, 4.6% respectively). Our country ranks first among EU member states in terms of the value of wheat imports from Russia (18.1%) while the value of imports from Ukraine is significantly lower (2.1%). As a result, Greece, in total wheat imports, exhibits the greatest dependence on the countries involved in the current crisis. Undoubtedly, EU member states will be affected by the disruption of the food market as a result of the war in Ukraine.
But unlike the energy crisis, Europe does not seem to be at the centre of the food crisis. The EU is also a major producer of cereals with significant food exports, while the Common Agricultural Policy ensures sufficient availability of food and reasonable prices for consumers. Nevertheless, on 23 March 2022, the European Commission took measures to assist European farmers, tackle supply chain disruptions and the high level of food market prices already affecting the European market. In particular, it has made € 500 million available to Member States to strengthen the agricultural sector, which is already facing high production costs. Acknowledging that vulnerable households will be affected by high food prices, EC proposed the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) as the first step towards protecting low-income earners, while it highlighted the possibility of zeroing VAT on food to facilitate consumers.
Disruptions in the food market go far beyond the European borders and are becoming a global problem. Examining wheat imports for non-EU countries, the problem is exacerbated (see graph on the right), as economically weak countries such as Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Armenia import all the wheat they consume from Russia, while other countries are heavily dependent. either from Russian wheat exports (Turkey (65.1%), Egypt (47.7%)) or from Ukrainian exports (Thailand (30.1%), Morocco (21.1%)). Compared to Europe, the effects of a potential food crisis for these countries are much stronger, as their weak fiscal position, high energy costs and high nutritional dependence on cereals create a combination of factors that lead to great economic pressure.
The danger of a global food crisis is clearly visible with the immediate consequence of causing social upheavals in poor and developing countries. Europe and rich Western countries seem to be affected mainly by strong inflationary pressures due to food market disturbances, so they must, in addition to protecting European consumers, coordinate their action to help third countries that are affected in real terms, failing to feed their populations.


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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - After Yelp posted the first quarterly profit in its history last week, the online business review site got panned on Wall Street. The company's stock plummeted 11 percent the day after the results came out, wiping out its gains for the year.
CEO Jeremy Stoppelman didn't seem disturbed as he sat down to discuss Yelp's evolution in the 10 years since he began working on a way for people to share recommendations about local merchants with Russ Simmons, a fellow engineer he met while working at PayPal.
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Why Nepal’s tourism campaigns have—and haven’t—workedGiven the success of past initiatives, tourism entrepreneurs have high hopes for the campaign that aims to bring in 2 million tourists.
The government on Wednesday launched Visit Nepal 2020, an ambitious campaign that hopes to draw 2 million foreign tourists over the year. Nepal, a country highly dependant on the import of foreign goods and services, values tourism as a source of foreign currency and the means to sustaining a booming hospitality industry. Beyond the major attractions of mountaineering, trekking and sightseeing, tourism is also benefiting communities, with homestays, mostly in indigenous settlements, becoming much more popular in recent years.
From the hippie paradise to Shangri-La and Naturally Nepal: Once is not enough, Nepal has attempted to change its brand identity to Lifetime Experiences in a bid to position the country as one of the world’s most unique value destinations.
Considering that past tourism campaigns have by and large been successful in giving a boost to the industry in difficult times, even if they didn’t exactly achieve the set goals, this new initiative has also given hope to tourism entrepreneurs. But there are challenges aplenty in making the most out of the national push.
Here’s everything you need to know about Nepal’s major tourism campaigns and the prospects of Visit Nepal 2020.
How was Visit Nepal 2020 announced?
The federal budget presented by Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada in 2018 announced the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign with the goal of attracting 2 million foreign tourists to recoup financial losses incurred during the 2015 earthquakes.
The 2015 earthquakes of April 25 and May 12 affected almost half of Nepal’s districts, including hard-to-reach mountain areas. Nearly 9,000 people lost their lives and more than 22,000 were injured. Nine out of 10 planned foreign arrivals were cancelled in the aftermath of the quakes. The earthquakes also caused massive damage to seven out of 10 World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley and affected popular trekking destination.
The massive coverage of the Nepal earthquake in the international media was disastrous for the recovery of tourism in Nepal. The global press coverage of the earthquakes was estimated to have a bigger impact, as it discouraged international tourism in the short and medium terms.
The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment report, prepared in June 2015 by the National Planning Commission, had urged the government to announce 2017 and 2018 as Visit Nepal Years to assure visitors that reconstruction and rehabilitation would be completed by then. The objective was to help foreigners feel safe enough to travel to Nepal.
However, the Tourism Ministry postponed the planned campaign until 2020 due to the slow pace of road and airport upgradation and heritage restoration projects. After conducting a proper assessment, the government officially declared the campaign for 2020.
Why are tourism campaigns necessary?
According to Deepak Raj Joshi, former chief executive officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal has positioned itself as a top country for tourism resilience, as it overcame devastating effects of the 2015 earthquakes within a year.
Foreign tourist arrivals to Nepal plummeted to 539,000 in 2015, a loss of almost a third. In the same year, the industry was also affected by a crippling border blockade imposed by Indian after the promulgation of the constitution. Despite the twin disasters, Nepal’s tourism experienced a dramatic turnaround, recording a jump of 39.71 percent in tourist arrivals to 753,002 in 2016. The country received 940,218 tourists in 2017, up 24.86 percent from 2016.
Arrivals crossed the coveted one-million mark for the first time in 2018 with 1.17 million foreign tourists streaming into the country.
“National tourism campaigns are resilience campaigns that teach skills in adapting well in the face of tragedy and slowed growth,” said Joshi.
Visit Nepal 2020 was launched in line with Nepal’s long-term goal of channeling revenue from tourism towards the country’s social and economic transformation, said Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai at a recent press meet to announce the launch of the campaign. Nepal plans to register $2 billion in tourist receipts by the end of 2020 and generate thousands of new jobs.
According to Joshi, in 2002 and 2003, the country had also launched Destination Nepal campaigns to revive Nepal’s tourism industry from the damage caused by the 2001 royal massacre. But that campaign did not receive much attention. After the royal massacre, tourist arrivals in 2002 had plunged to a 13-year low of 275,468 individuals.
How did Nepal’s first tourism campaign—Visit Nepal 1998—go?
The first national tourism campaign was launched in 1998 with Nepal hosting 463,684 visitors, representing a growth of 10 percent. Visit Nepal 1998 was initiated after Time, the popular American news magazine, published a story on Nepal headlined “Goodbye Shangri La” when Nepal was branded as Shangri-La—a place regarded as an earthly paradise, said Yogendra Sakya, senior tourism entrepreneur and former president of Hotel Association of Nepal.
“At that time, Kathmandu had stinking piles of garbage everywhere,” he said.
The 1998 campaign, led by tourism entrepreneur Karna Sakya, attempted to counter that narrative while also spreading the message that there are other tourism destinations beyond Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan.
In 1999, arrivals increased to 491,504 individuals but soon started to fall. It took another eight years for arrivals to return to that level, with Nepal receiving half a million tourists in 2007.
Did Nepal Tourism Year 2011 revitalise the tourism industry?
In 2011, the government launched another campaign--Nepal Tourism Year--with the goal of bringing in 1 million tourists. Actual arrivals fell short of the target, with 736,215 tourists visiting, despite a growth of 22 percent from the previous year.
Sakya said that nothing was right with Nepal’s tourism industry after the comprehensive peace agreement in 2006, which marked the end of the decade-long insurgency launched by the Maoists.
“Nepal had a challenge to recover from the massive beating it took during the decade-long armed conflict [1996-2006], and to revive its image,” said Sakya, who led Nepal Tourism Year as its national coordinator. “The Nepal Tourism Year campaign was a bid to rejuvenate the tourism sector by sending a message to the international community that Nepal is safe to visit.”
But the end of the Maoist conflict brought about a political transition that dragged on for years. During this time, socio-political agendas were at the forefront, with economic agendas resigned to the back. General strikes, blockades and lockouts organised by various political forces, labour unions, professional groups, the business community and civil societies were common phenomena.
In February 2011, the major political parties pledged that they would not call general strikes anymore. Despite their written commitment, the banda culture appeared difficult to get rid of, but it began to decrease gradually.
What was the impact of Nepal Tourism Year 2011?
In 2011, many countries removed Nepal from their negative travel advisory lists. The government started to invest heavily in infrastructure, particularly airports, realising the growth in the tourism industry. Plans to upgrade Gautam Buddha Airport into an international airport were put forth in 2010, along with two more international airports in Pokhara and Nijgadh started getting priority after 2011.
Estimates show that more than Rs150 million has been spent on the construction of two new international airports and capacity enhancement of Tribhuvan International Airport. Private airlines started to buy planes, with at least two dozen aircraft added to their fleets in the past few years. Fuelled by optimism, the private sector too started to aggressively construct hotels.
“Since 2011, an estimated Rs100 billion has been poured into the hospitality industry from the private sector,” said Sakya. “It’s growing due to the announcement of Visit Nepal 2020.”
After the 2011 campaign, commercial banks too started to invest in the tourism industry.
The major change, however, was regarding travel entrepreneurs’ expansion of the tourism market outside of America and Europe. Now, the industry knows the spending capacity of Indian and Chinese tourists, Sakya said.
How does the tourism industry impact the national economy?
According to the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment report, at least 84,000 workers in the tourism sector, 52 percent of them being women, were affected by the earthquakes. As women tend to occupy less skilled jobs such as housekeeping and waitressing, they are often the first to be laid off, while managerial positions primarily held by men are maintained.
The World Travel and Tourism Council’s annual report into the economic impact of the tourism sector shows that the number of employees engaged in the tourism industry increased to 3.4 million in 2017 from 1.5 million in 2005. This number made up 23.2 percent of the country’s total labour force.
According to research, the travel and tourism sector contributed $8.8 trillion to the global economy and grew faster than the global economy for the eighth successive year—3.9 percent for travel and tourism versus 3.2 percent of global GDP. It is the second-fastest growing sector in the world, ahead of healthcare, information technology, and financial services, and behind only manufacturing, the report said.
Nepal’s tourism sector generated Rs240.7 billion in revenue and supported more than 1.05 million jobs directly and indirectly in 2018, according to the research report. The London-based organisation said that travel and tourism's total contribution to the country’s gross domestic product stood at 7.9 percent last year, up 3.6 percent.
What are the problems that need to be addressed?
Many tourism entrepreneurs are not happy with the planning for this year’s campaign. According to senior tourism entrepreneurs, in the past, the government joined with the private sector and gave them equal ownership. This campaign has not effectively taken the private sector on board, despite being led by Suraj Vaidya, a private sector industrialist.
The government is still not clear on how it will draw in the targeted number of tourists and from which countries, they said. Air connectivity is another issue as it has not improved as it should, if visitors’ numbers are to double this year.
Even though the government had three years to prepare adequately for the campaign, nothing substantial has been visible.
Visit Nepal’s declaration had put pressure on the government to complete two long-running airport upgradation projects: Gautam Buddha Airport in Bhairahawa and Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. But both projects, after years of delays, remain incomplete.
Travel trade entrepreneurs are also worried that neither the government, the Nepal Tourism Board nor the Visit Nepal 2020 Secretariat has done anything substantial to promote Nepal abroad to attract tourists. A glaring lapse is that the Nepal Tourism Board, the country’s tourism promotional body, is currently without a leader, even as the country inaugurated the ambitious campaign on Wednesday.


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New VW Tarek Crossover Coming To Slot Beneath The Tiguan
Volkswagen has been hinting a new entry-level crossover for America, which will in all likelihood be a revised version of the Tharu.
The compact crossover will be sold in North and South America and is tentatively known as the Tarek. Models built for North America will be made in Mexico, while South American variants will be built in Argentina.
Volkswagen announced the news during an event at their Pacheco plant which currently builds the Amarok and Suran. Autoblog Argentina attended and reports the crossover will go into production locally in 2021.
The Tarek will ride on the MQB platform and Volkswagen’s Leonardo Ezcurra told the publication the crossover will slot between the T-Cross and Tiguan AllSpace. Ezcurra went on to say the model will compete locally with crossovers such as the Jeep Compass, Ford Kuga / Escape, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.
The executive went on to say the Argentinian model will be launched with a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine that produces 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS). It will be paired to a six-speed automatic transmission which sends power exclusively to the front wheels.
When asked about the possibility of an all-wheel drive variant, Ezcurra said it’s being considered. However, he reiterated the crossover would be launched with front-wheel drive.
While the Tarek will have a lot in common with the Chinese-spec Tharu, it won’t be identical. In particular, Ezcurra said customers can expect a more aggressive design and slight changes to the interior.
In terms of size, the model will be 175.9 inches (4468 mm) long, 72.4 inches (1841 mm) wide and 63.9 inches (1624 mm) tall with a wheelbase that spans 105.6 inches (2681 mm). This would make the Tarek 9.2 inches (234 mm) shorter than the US-spec Tiguan and the wheelbase would be 4.3 inches (109 mm) smaller.
In remains unclear how much the US-spec model will have in common with the Argentinian variant, but we should learn more closer to launch.
H/T to Motor1


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Staffordshire residents are being urged to be vigilant as fraudsters attempt to exploit cost of living pressures with scams relating to energy rebates.
Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards service wants people to have a chat with their loved ones about scams and to flag any unwanted mail they receive.
The #SCAMnesty campaign, which first ran in 2020, is being organised by National Trading Standards and will run throughout December. The scam mail received is used to catch scammers and disrupt criminal networks.
Popular mail scams include those relating to fake lotteries and prize draws, pyramid schemes, clairvoyants and unclaimed inheritance – and most recently, energy rebates.
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council said: “This has been an effective campaign in the past to combat mail scams which is why we are supporting it again.
“Scams cause a huge amount of misery and in many cases financial loss. Helping highlight current scams to the team is really helpful and means they can investigate and take action against those involved.
“If you, or someone you know have had mail scams through the post please post them to the investigators in the scams team. They will use the items to help disrupt the criminals behind them and help put a stop to these mailings landing on consumers’ doorsteps.”
Details of where to send scam mail is available at FriendsAgainstScams. People can find out more about avoiding scams and what to do if caught up in one at Friends Against Scams – Staffordshire County Council.


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HELSINKI - Nokia said on Tuesday that South Korea's LG Electronics has agreed a deal to use the Finnish company's smartphone patent license but royalty payments will be settled in a lengthy arbitration process.
Nokia sold its once-dominant phone business to Microsoft last year, leaving it focused on its telecoms network equipment business while retaining its handset patents.
Analysts said the future royalty payments from LG will probably be clearly smaller than those from Samsung Electronics , which signed a similar deal with Nokia in 2013 but the arbitration process is still ongoing.
Nokia said the arbitration with LG is expected to conclude within two years. Shares in Nokia rose 1.4% by 1204 GMT.
"This is becoming a more and more common model. The companies won't go to the court but instead let an independent party decide," said Nordea analyst Sami Sarkamies.
He estimated that the Samsung deal, expected to conclude later this year, could eventually mean Nokia receives 100-200 million euros of additional royalty payments annually, on top of retroactive payments.
Nokia's patent unit generated sales of 578 million euros ($801 million) last year.
Samsung, the world's biggest smartphone vendor, had a market share of 24.6% in the first quarter, compared to LG's 4.6%, according to IDC.
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Cyberattacks represent an expanding and perilous front line for companies and the government. What do we do about a borderless war that has impacted business across the world and even a presidential campaign?
The Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Blumenstein spoke with Adm. Michael S. Rogers, head of the National Security Agency and commander of the U.S. Cyber Command. Here are edited excerpts of the discussion.
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It’s easy to forget that, just four years ago, the midsize pickup segment seemed destined to dry up and vanish as more and more competitors tossed in the towel. It took two new offerings from General Motors, the reborn Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon siblings, to prove that there was plenty of life left.
The Colorado, in particular, remains one of the most popular models in the midsize market, lagging behind only the long-lived Toyota Tacoma. But, with plenty of new competitors, such as the Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator, closing in, there should be no surprise that Chevy is rolling out a significant midsize update – and giving us a first look at the 2021 Colorado.
“With its new-look front end and tailgate, Colorado will now have a more aggressive appearance to match its award-winning capability,” proclaimed Bob Krapes, director of marketing for Chevrolet Trucks, in a statement accompanying these pics of the bowtie brand’s updated pickup.
Produced at the General Motors plant in Wentzville, Missouri, Chevy isn’t saying precisely when the updated Colorado will reach showrooms – and the automaker’s current strike by the United Auto Workers Union could complicate all upcoming product roll-outs. But the fact that it released these images now – and will show the updates publicly at next month’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas – suggests a timeline somewhere during the first half of 2020.
Across the board, we’ll see more variations between the various trim levels of the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado, though some basic tweaks will link them together, including a new version of that familiar bowtie logo on the grille and the brand name, Chevrolet, embossed on the tailgate.
The ZR2 will get even more aggressive detailing, starting with the dramatic lower front fascia with its twin red tow hooks. The off-road-oriented model also will get new Multimatic dampers, a 3.5-inch wider track, 2.0 inches more lift and both front and rear electronically locking differentials. There are also beefed-up skidplates.
The WT and LT trims get new grilles with gold-framed Chevy logos, though the bowtie is black-badged on the Z71 edition.
As for the interior, expect only minor new touches, at most. There could be some updates to the electronics, or so many fans are hoping. The Chevy truck could use some updates to its advanced driver assistance systems, such as full speed automatic emergency braking. (AEB only operates at low speeds right now.)
Another unanswered question is what will power the 2021 refresh. A major tear-up of the powertrain package seems unlikely, at least until the Colorado goes through a complete makeover closer to mid-decade. So, for now, expect to see the pickup retain its 200 horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four and 308 hp 3.6-liter V-6, as well as the 186 hp 2.8-liter turbodiesel four.
Meanwhile, we’re confident in predicting we’ll see GMC teasing an update to its own Canyon model in the next few months, if not sooner.


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The CEO of Tesla has pledged to liquidate 10 per cent of his holdings in the electric car maker.
Elon Musk has sold another chunk of his stock worth about €600 million.
The eccentric CEO of Tesla has pledged to liquidate 10 per cent of his holdings in the electric car maker.
Last week, he sold about 5.1 million shares worth about nearly €5 billion.
About €.96 billion of the proceeds from the sales that were made on Thursday will go toward paying tax obligations for stock options granted to Musk in September.
The options are part of a compensation package Musk and Tesla agreed to in 2018 that provided the CEO with options if Tesla hit certain financial targets.
Web analyst Daniel Ives has calculated that Musk has more than around €8.8 billion in taxes coming due on stock options that vest next summer.
Tesla is now making a profit and is worth more than €1 trillion.


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The group started releasing trojanized smartphone apps in June 2023. The first version, GoldDigger, focused on getting banking credentials. The latest version, GoldPickaxe or GoldPickaxe.iOS for Android and iOS, first appeared in October of that same year. It captures data used for identity verification, including face biometrics.
Bleeping Computer says that Group-IB, a team of researchers investigating the attacks, believes cybercriminals harvest biometric data that users provide for verification in the apps, then use it to log into accounts on legitimate banking apps in Vietnam and Thailand.
The iOS version is currently only known to be posing as the official digital pensions app for Thailand, though some believe it has also entered Vietnam. The Android version presented itself in the form of over 20 different government and finance related apps in Thailand.Android malware is more common due to sideloading capabilities. But the iOS app is more surprising, as Apple's platform is recognized as more secure.
The iOS version leveraged Apple's TestFlight platform, meant to distribute beta apps. Once Apple removed TestFlight, cybercriminals instead convinced iOS users to enroll their phones into a mobile device management program.
Initial contact was made with the victims by fraudsters posing as government authorities through the LINE messaging app, claiming to offer things such as pension benefits.
Victims were directed to download GoldPickaxe, where they shared face scans, which were then used to generate deepfake versions of their biometrics. Using a combination of deepfakes, stolen identity documents, and intercepted SMS messages, attackers gained access to victims' bank accounts.
Thai banking apps have been required to replace one-time passcodes with face biometrics for transactions exceeding 50,000 BAT (roughly US$1,400) since the summer of 2023.
While GoldPickaxe can steal biometrics through social engineering, it is not hijacking Face ID or Android biometric data or exploiting any operating system vulnerabilities. Biometric data stored on devices remains secure and isolated from running apps.


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Tetra Cannabis is excited to announce our 4/20 deals and discounts! We now have three stores to serve you in the Portland area: on SE Belmont and N Williams in Portland, and on NE Harlow in Troutdale. We have promotions running all week, from Monday, April 18th through Sunday, April 24th, including 20% off everything in the store!
2021 is coming to a close and we couldn’t be more thrilled to ring in the new year. While we’ve still got a ways to go until then, we’re making the best of the remaining months with daily deals and a string of brand-new specials from some of your favorite brands, including Wyld, Bobsled, and Sugarbud.
Join Tetra Cannabis in celebrating our fourth anniversary on SE Belmont in Portland and second anniversary on NE Harlow Rd in Troutdale this weekend! We have promotions running all weekend long, from Friday, Aug. 6th through Sunday, Aug. 8th, including 20% off everything in the store!
Join Tetra Cannabis in celebrating our third anniversary on SE Belmont in Portland and first anniversary on NE Harlow Rd in Troutdale this weekend! We have promotions running all weekend long, from Friday, Aug. 21st through Sunday, Aug. 23rd, including 20% off everything in the store!
National Dab Day is almost here! To help you celebrate the upcoming holiday, Tetra Cannabis on SE Belmont in Portland and on NE Harlow Rd in Troutdale are excited to announce our 7/10 deals and discounts! The following are promotions running from Friday, July 10th through Saturday, July 11th.
Today we’re excited to announce that Tetra Cannabis is officially offering online ordering through Dutchie. Dutchie is a streamlined online ordering system that makes purchasing your favorite cannabis products easier than ever.
The well-being and safety of our customers and employees has always been a top priority at Tetra Cannabis. In light of current events, we want to assure everyone that we are taking every precaution to ensure our stores can continue to service our communities while protecting our customers and budtenders.
Winter can be rough, to say the least. From the constant onslaught of rain to the unavoidable bitter chill that comes with the season, winter is often seen as something we all just have to get through rather than a time to be enjoyed. And while it’s not all bad, considering we have the holidays to thank for alleviating some gloom and doom, it’s safe to say some of us need more pick-me-ups than others to survive the remaining frigid days of winter. If this sounds anything like you, we think we have just the trick to lift your spirits this winter season.
It’s that time of year again – the time where we all shed the disappointments of the past year and collectively turn up into the new one. While many choose to celebrate by spraying champagne on their friends and family, we’ve got a few alternative ideas in mind for those who want to have a fun, but relatively chill New Year’s Eve this year. If this sounds like your kind of party, here are some suggestions for how you can have a very 420-friendly start to 2020:


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House of Fraser will live to fight another day. Despite doubts around its CVA plan, creditors voted in favour of it on Friday which means it will now close 31 stores, reducing its size by more than half in the process.
Fashion chain Esprit issued a profit warning on Thursday based on a preliminary review of its management accounts. The group expects to end the financial year 2017/18 with a loss of 2.27bn Hong Kong dollars (US$289m).
Dubbed #GratefulNotHateful, the campaign advocates a year-round feeling of "Pride," rallying for people to work on everyday acceptance rather than focusing uniquely on the traditional LGBTQ global parades.
French supermarket chain Casinoand cosmetics group L’Orealare launching new beauty stores in Paris this weekend, the latest effort by brick and mortar retailers to retain customers in the face of online competition.


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September 6, 2017
Now in its fifth year, the annual survey of 841 global tech industry leaders outlines the most important technological developments today. When asked the question, "What are the top technologies that will drive business transformation over the next three years?", the sample of start-up entrepreneurs and FORTUNE 500 executives responded:
Internet of Things (20% of respondents)
Robotics (11% of respondents)
AI (10% of respondents)
“These technologies are transforming business models in every industry and unlocking massive market opportunities,” the report argues. “Today’s profit pools and competitive advantages will be short-lived if industry leaders don’t quickly address disruptive technology opportunities. The tech industry is poised to continue to be a global engine of growth and profitability.”
Although the survey ranks these three technologies according to the responses received, it is their convergence which will ultimately prove transformative. Tim Zanni, Chair of Global and U.S. TMT Line of Business at KPMG, had this to say: “The convergence of emerging technologies including the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) is creating new market value and displacing existing products and services. These technologies are driving profound changes impacting industries and business models as well as life, society, and the environment.”
IoT, robotics, and AI compared
The report estimates that there will be 20.4 billion things connected to the IoT by 2020 and $1.4 trillion spent on the IoT by 2021. The Internet of Things received particularly high interest among executives in Asia - namely India, Korea, China, and Japan.
It also explores the changes to robotics. The report argues that 2016 marked a critical shift away from industrial robots, which dominated the market until now. Tractica estimates that 59% of revenue will soon come from non-industrial robots designed for use by both consumers, enterprises, and the military.
In examining enterprise markets, the tech industry leaders identify AI as a key disruptor. This included 15% of executives in Singapore, 14% in South Africa, 13% in Australia and Israel, 12% in Japan, 11% in India and the UK, and 10% in the US, Korea, and China.
"As cognitive technologies become more sophisticated, new knowledge will be created at an explosive rate, supplementing decision-making by leveraging deep data domains," the report argues. "Decreasing costs and the rise in technology capabilities have opened doors to smart technologies for all types of organisations to benefit - whether start-ups or established." Indeed, an April report by IDC predicts that the AI market will be valued at around $46 billion by 2021.
The benefits of adopting AI
The tech industry leaders who selected AI as the tech with greatest impact identified the following top benefits for adopters:
When asked "Which industry has the greatest monetisation potential as a result of the adoption of AI / cognitive technologies in the next three years?", they responded:
Financial services (11%)
Healthcare / life sciences (10%)
"There is not an industry or business that cognitive technologies will not impact. The power of artificial intelligence adoption and monetisation opportunities is global as indicated in KPMG's tech industry innovation survey. Building on fast-evolving AI technologies like natural language processing, machine learning, intelligent software and intelligent things, tech companies are enabling the redistribution of labour and new value creation. Welcome to the cognitive future." - KPMG, 'The Changing Landscape of Disruptive Technologies' (2017)
View from the top: CEOs
KPMG also surveyed top CEOs. 74% responded saying that their company is striving to be a disruptor in their sector. They primarily view disruption as an opportunity for their businesses, rather than a problem. Meanwhile, 52% of CEOs surveyed were concerned about integrating cognitive processes and artificial intelligence into their workflow.
The report summarised the CEO response, which is adapting to the rapid advance of AI technology.
"As indicated in the recent KPMG CEO survey, it is increasingly becoming clearer to business leaders around the world, the breadth of the impact that cognitive technology and artificial intelligence will have on business and operating models. As more of the use cases become apparent to the marketplace, the reality and magnitude of the impact is starting to set in, and so is the speed. Last year CEOs were saying this was two or three years out. In the 2017 survey, they are saying this is not a linear progression; it is exponential.”
The rise of digital labour
Perhaps the greatest impact of these converging technologies will be a change to the way we conceive of labour and work itself. KPMG argue that the combination of cognitive technologies and robotic process automation will augment human reasoning and automate physical tasks. It will allow human activity to be mimicked and enable systems to interact naturally with people. They call this 'digital labor'.
"In this new workforce paradigm, the way we work will be transformed, changing the nature of jobs. Management roles will be restructured as well as traditional functions like sales, finance, marketing, and procurement. AI will have an impact at the highest levels including the C-Suite and the board room. As the workforce of the future becomes a reality, business leaders need to develop an AI strategy that is in line with their corporate values, builds stakeholder trust, and protects the company’s corporate reputation.”
This will form the basis of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, requiring new skills and transformative organisational shifts to ensure that gains are evenly distributed and fully effective. "Business software applications and computer intelligence are converging, creating a world where cognitive systems handle business processes faster, at a lower cost and with fewer errors."
You can read the full report by KPMG here.
Are you concerned or excited about the AI revolution? We're looking for stories and insight from thought leaders and businesses alike. Contact our editor at [email protected] to find out more about how you can contribute.
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Stock prices rallied sharply again yesterday on news that IBM plans to buy back an additional $15 billion of its stock, on top of $400 million remaining under the company's current stock repurchase plan.
As a result of the anticipated stock buybacks, IBM estimates that its 2008 earnings per share will rise to $8.25 from earlier forecasts of $8.20.
Although the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 115 points, my investment models indicate that stock prices in general have merely rallied back to price-resistance levels from significantly oversold levels, and that stocks will pull back through the remainder of this week.
My forecast is based primarily on the fact that nothing has changed on the economic front, with an overwhelming number of economic indicators suggesting that economic growth in the U.S. will slow and inflationary pressures will continue to mount during the next few months.
Yesterday morning, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the prices of finished goods ready for distribution to retailers rose at the fastest pace in more than 26 years, primarily as a result of rising energy, food and medical costs.
Meanwhile, the Case-Shiller Home Price Index showed that, on average, home prices in the nation's most populated cities continued to trend lower, falling 9.1 percent during December.
As a result of rising inflationary pressures and falling home values, the Conference Board announced that its index of consumer confidence in future economic conditions fell during February to the lowest level in five years.
Meanwhile, The Home Depot — the world's largest home-improvement retailer — announced that its earnings from continuing operations fell 20 percent during the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to the same period a year ago, while its same-store sales declined 8.3 percent.
Going forward, the retailer expects both its sales and earnings to decline further during fiscal 2008. The company estimates that its 2008 sales will fall between 4 percent and 5 percent.
Target and Macy's also reported disappointing operating results for the fourth quarter of 2007, with Target's net earnings falling 8.2 percent and Macy's earnings (excluding a tax benefit) declining 10.3 percent.
Macy's is in the process of closing nine of its stores and cutting its workforce as a result of the softening economy.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I urge you once again to ignore the latest rally in the U.S. equities market. My research strongly indicates that the stock market advances during the past two days resulted from one-time events that will have no lasting impact on the economy. Consumers will continue to feel the negative effects of the slowing U.S. economy and my models indicate that corporate profits will fall sharply during the first two quarters of 2008.
If you'd like to learn more about my analysis of the financial markets and information on how to profit from a slowing economy and rising inflationary pressures, sign-up for a risk-free trial subscription to my ETF Strategist newsletter.
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