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UK: Tesco announces Neville-Rolfe's retirement
Supermarket retailer Tesco has announced that its executive director responsible for corporate and legal affairs, Dame Lucy Neville-Rolfe, will retire in January 2013.
Her responsibilities will be divided between Adrian Morris, who will join from BP as group general counsel on 3 September, and Rebecca Shelley, who joined the group from Brunswick on 1 May and will take responsibility for corporate affairs.
"During her period at Tesco, Lucy has transformed the professionalism of the corporate affairs function as well as on the legal side, leading for the company on three major competition enquiries," said chief executive Philip Clarke.
"Lucy has always shown unrelenting determination and great finesse and Tesco is indebted to her for many outstanding achievements, not least for leaving behind a strong team.
"Our position, both at home and overseas, is undoubtedly much better as a consequence. We will miss her wise counsel when she retires in six months' time".
Textile-making countries came up against a range of labour, economic and environmental issues in 2012, including the worsening Eurozone crisis which dampened demand in key export markets. While some s...
Faced with continuing challenging trading conditions in 2012, retailers responded with a number of different strategies to try to grow their businesses. International expansion, new and larger format ...
US brands and retailers were baling out of Bangladesh even before the fire at the Tazreen Fashion factory killed more than 110 people at the end of last month. And given the subsequent criticism aimed...
Among the most-read analysis articles on just-style in 2012 were stories relating to the clothing industry in Burma, the importance of speed to market, and the future of the UK apparel manufacturing i...
Swiss group CHT Bezema has opened what is thought to be the first bonded warehouse supplying dyes and chemicals to Ethiopia's growing textile and clothing industry....
UK retailer Sainsbury's has dismissed reports its chief executive Justin King could step down from his role in February....
The most read stories on just-style this week include Delta Galil USA acquiring the LittleMissMatched brand, Sri Lankan apparel manufacturers facing continuing challenges, and Ethiopia's ongoing effor...
- M&S to launch supply chain human rights policy
- Nike reaffirms US production commitment
- VF pushes ahead on chemicals management
- M&S project benefits garment worker health
- Can the Gap brand reclaim its iconic status?
- Myanmar minimum wage set at US$3.2 per day
- China cotton stockpile auction may shake up market
- Far Eastern to invest $323m in Vietnam textile hub
- C&A to add "accurate fit" label to garments
- US retail landscape "mediocre" over next 5 years


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Ministers launched a bid to slash five billion calories – equivalent to five Olympic-sized swimming pools of cola – from the nation's daily diet yesterday by urging people to eat and drink less.
To view the graphic click here (92k JPEG)
Andrew Lansley said cutting calories was essential to reverse Britain's soaring obesity levels. More than 60 per cent of adults and a third of 11-year-olds are obese or overweight.
But the Health Secretary was attacked by medical organisations for rejecting regulatory action to control the food and drink industry or measures such as a "fat tax" to reduce consumption of calorie-dense foods. Announcing a "national ambition" to reverse the rising tide of obesity by 2020, Mr Lansley said it would be achieved through individual action, local authority interventions and voluntary initiatives by businesses to reduce calories and help consumers choose less fattening items. He said "more progress has been made more quickly" through voluntary agreements such as the Responsibility Deal with food and drink manufacturers than would have been managed through legislation.
That analysis was rejected by Diane Abbott, the shadow Public Health minister, who branded the obesity strategy "pathetic". "It makes no sense to me that companies that spend billions of pounds every year peddling fizzy drinks and trans-fat-loaded food are seriously going to eat into their profits by trying to change the public's eating habits." New calculations by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition show people are on average eating 10 per cent more calories than they need and should cut their intake by 100 calories a day.
Professor Terence Stephenson, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said this was equivalent to 16 dry roasted peanuts, containing six calories each. "This report aims to reduce daily calorie consumption by five billion calories which may grab headlines but is actually peanuts. The plan has no clear measures on how the food and drink industry will be made to be more "responsible" in their aggressive marketing of unhealthy food." Professor Lindsey Davies, president of the Faculty of Public Health, said: "The smoking ban has demonstrated how changing the law can save thousands of lives. The Government must use the law as well as 'nudge' techniques to create a culture that makes it easy for people to make healthy choices and consume fewer calories."Reuse content

domain: news


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REAL SOCCER 2008 ARTICLES
May 2, 2008 - Real Soccer 2008 is a Gameloft production, which means that there's an excellent chance that this game originated as a cellphone experience. And if this game was on a mobile phone for the five bucks that's expected out of those games, it'd be a heck of a deal. Unfortunately this game was produced for a system that has already seen an abundance of full-featured soccer games since pretty much the handheld's inception.
January 23, 2008 - Riding high on holiday sales of Assassin's Creed and its expanding line of casual games, Ubisoft reported a 44 percent jump in sales for its fiscal third quarter to $625 million, beating its financial forecasts and elevating the France-based company to the third-largest independent Western videogame publisher.


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Mattel's Attempt To Claim Ownership Of Bratz Comes Back To Bite Them: Now They May Owe $88.5 Million
from the blowback dept
Thankfully, Judge Kozinski on the 9th Circuit came to the rescue and wrote a fantastic ruling explaining all of this to the district court, and sending the case back for a new trial. As part of that, MGA also filed some counterclaims against Mattel, including the claim that Mattel illegally spied on MGA and copied trade secrets from the company through questionable means. When these counterclaims were filed, I actually suggested that it was silly and distracting from the larger point... which I still stand by.
However, from a karmic perspective, it's interesting to see that the new jury has rejected nearly all of the claims against MGA, but sided with MGA on the trade secrets claim, and suggested an award of $88.5 million from Mattel to MGA -- an amount that MGA is going to ask the court to double for punitive reasons.
To summarize: in the course of a few short years, Mattel went from losing in the marketplace to MGA, to winning a court case that gave it total control over the competing product... to now not having control and having to pay MGA potentially millions.
Of course, this isn't over yet. Mattel has already asked the court for a brand new trial, and if that doesn't work, it says it's going to appeal the case, even if some "industry analysts" are apparently telling Mattel the company should just drop it. I have a feeling we haven't yet seen the end of this case, however.


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The Assistant Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, released the Inspector-General of Taxation's Review into the Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) administration of valuation matters.
On 19 January 2015, Treasury released an Exposure Draft (ED) of legislation on the income tax ‘look through’ an instalment warrant and instalment receipt trust.
On 16 January 2015, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) released 2 Withdrawals.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) released a response to submissions and final versions of four reporting standards, reporting forms and instructions for APRA-regulated superannuation funds.
On 18 January 2015, the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) issued a media release discussing the proposal of extending the goods and services tax (GST) to online overseas purchases of $1,000 or less.
The Assistant Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg issued a media release on discussions with key government and business representatives on promoting Australia's financial services industry in Asia and Europe.
For an Australian Tax Director interested in a brief overview of the latest tax developments internationally, a selection of recent KPMG publications available via various KPMG websites is shared.


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Kodama, the San Francisco-based start-up and creator of the Trinus 3D printer, has designed its next-generation model and it’s attracting some much-deserved attention. Introducing Obsidian – the first 3D printer under $100 that produces high-quality professional-grade prints.
Researchers at the University of California – San Diego have tapped into the powers of 3D printing to create a soft four-legged robot that can walk over difficult terrain. Whether it’s climbing over small rocks or crawling through confined spaces, the tethered robot is “designed to capture sensor readings in dangerous environments.”
Although 3D printing has become “newest thing” in industrial manufacturing, it has yet to successfully crossover into wearable technology. So leave it to the always-innovative Adidas to find a revolutionary process called Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) to make their already-impressive Futurecraft 3D training sneaker all the more amazing. With the hopes of producing 100,000 of […]
Already being used in China to mass produce apartment complexes, 3D printing technology is changing the way people think about housing and construction. Taking up few thousand feet, Dubai – with the help of Cazza Construction – unveiled its plans to “build the world’s first 3D printed skyscraper.”
With a steady uptick in global carbon emissions and the potential for climate refugees displaced due to rising water levels, there’s a rather urgent need for alternative living arrangements. That means a new-age method of construction that can mass produce buildings compatible in non-traditional locations – like on the water, in the desert, above skyscrapers […]
Queensland University of Technology’s Biofabrication and Tissue Morphology Group will be at the forefront of 3D tissue printing technology. According to Associate Professor Mia Woodruff, 3D tissue printing is “the difference between life and death for people waiting for an organ donor.”


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Since its legalization, cannabis has appeared more in mainstream media, and more consumers and companies are showing interest in it. In the U.S., the cannabis market was valued at 14.6 billion as of 2021 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.2% from 2021 – 2030.
That said, 2022 was challenging for the industry, from falling cannabis prices to looming economic difficulties foreshadowing a possible recession, inflation, and oversupply. Looking ahead to 2023, the CBD industry is poised for significant changes that will impact everyone, from consumers to manufacturers.
Here is what to expect during the year, whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or a curious consumer.
Potential Trends to Expect in the CBD Industry in 2023
With the growing popularity of CBD products, their permeance into various industries has opened up a broader consumption landscape. As such, the industry is facing increased scrutiny from legislators and regulators.
For instance, the FDA has yet to establish clear guidelines for selling and marketing CBD products, which has led to confusion and inconsistency in the industry. This lack of proper regulation has also made it harder for consumers to know what they are getting when they buy these products, as there are no standardized labeling or testing requirements.
However, there are signs this might change. In 2020, the FDA presented a report to Congress on developing a regulatory framework for CBD products. As of December 2021, the agency had released a draft outlining the use of CBD in dietary products. In 2023, expect to see more standardized regulations and guidelines to ensure the safety and quality of CBD products in the market.
Expansion of Product Offerings
As more people get interested in CBD and its products, you can expect to see a wider variety of CBD products in the market. While CBD oils and tinctures have been quite popular in the last few years, more opportunities are emerging for its incorporation in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), skincare products, edibles, beverages, and even pet products.
Another factor driving CBD product expansion is increased competition among manufacturers. With more players entering the market, there’s more demand for new and unique CBD products that stand out.
According to experts at Highline Wellness, this demand has led to a wave of innovation, with manufacturers experimenting with fresh ingredients, formulations, and delivery methods, such as transdermal patches and inhalers, to create products that appeal to a broader range of users.
Continued Research into Cannabis
Although CBD has been studied for its potential benefits, there is still much to learn about its effects on the body and how to eliminate any undesired results. However, this research has been dramatically affected by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which governs federal cannabis policy.
Fortunately, Congress recently passed a stand-alone cannabis reform bill: the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (MMCREA).
This bipartisan bill opens the way for more research into the medical use of cannabis by rolling back federal restrictions on research and the cultivation of research-grade cannabis. It also promotes the development of FDA-approved drugs using CBD and cannabis.
In 2023, you can expect to see continued research into the potential uses of CBD and its interactions with other medications. For one, researchers are looking into how they can synthesize new compounds based on natural cannabinoids.
More Push for Federal Legalization of Cannabis
Getting federal and banking legalization has been a major part of the CBD industry. Thanks to increased public support, which is at an all-time high, in 2023, we expect to see more lobbying for CBD reforms.
For one, there’s a push for more states to legalize its use and for federal legalization. As for banking reforms, the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act might get re-introduced to Congress.
If passed into law this year, it would provide a safe harbor for financial institutions that serve state-legal cannabis and CBD companies.
This would allow these businesses to access banking services like loans, credit lines, and checking accounts without fear of federal prosecution. This would help the CBD industry grow and mature, potentially leading to increased investment, innovation, and job creation.
Growing Delta-8 Popularity
Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8 THC) is a minor cannabinoid that occurs naturally in cannabis plants. It has become quite popular as a legal alternative to Delta-9 THC, the psychoactive compound present in high concentrations in marijuana. As CBD becomes more mainstream, consumers are increasingly fond of Delta-8 products.
Delta-8 THC is legal under federal law as long as it is derived from hemp and contains less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. It is said to have similar effects to Delta-9 THC, including relaxation, pain relief, and a mild euphoric feeling without harsh aftereffects.
As a hemp derivative, it falls under the same legal category as CBD. It can disrupt the CBD market by giving consumers an alternative product with similar benefits but slightly different effects.
Some industry experts predict Delta-8 could become a significant player in the CBD market in 2023, primarily as it is marketed as a milder alternative to Delta-9 or a complementary product.
About 35% of cannabis users have used psychoactive hemp derivatives in the last year. Even in places where THC is legal, 23% of cannabis users say they will buy Delta-8 products in the future.
The emergence of Delta-8 THC in the CBD market could signal increased competition and innovation, but it is still too early to say how significantly it will impact the industry.
That said, the legal status of Delta-8 THC is still unclear, with ongoing debates about its safety and efficacy. Additionally, regulations may change, and they could become more tightly controlled or even prohibited in the future.
The CBD industry is expected to continue its growth trajectory in 2023. However, it’s essential to remember that it is still evolving and subject to changes in legislation, regulations, consumer demand, and scientific research.


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The legacy of Apple’s iPhone event this week may not be any of the individual products that were unveiled. Rather, it may be the boost they give to the company’s red-hot services business. That’s not to say that the iPhone X or the Apple Watch 3 weren’t impressive. It’s just that in the short term, […]
Results for iphone service
Wi-Fi has become ubiquitous these days. You can even use various services to find free Wi-Fi hotspots near you. While this is mostly a boon, it also means that there are way too many signals competing in the same space. Your smartphone factors in various details like signal strength, Wi-Fi’s security level, network stability, etc.
Apple's extended warranty service costs $199 for the iPhone X. Here's what AppleCare gets you.
Good morning! Here's what you need to know in markets on Wednesday. 1. Apple unveiled not one, but three new iPhones at its hardware event on Tuesday. The iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus join a slew of new products and services from Apple, many of which are set to roll out as early as this Friday. 2.
Apple unveiled not one, but three new iPhones at its hardware event on Tuesday. The iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus join a slew of new products and services from Apple, many of which are set to roll out as early as this Friday. Along...
Now you can truly leave your iPhone at home and not miss a beat.
As the 10th anniversary iPhone debuts, it’s amazing to see how far wireless has come. A decade ago, the U.S. was the laggard in cellphone tech, with clunky handsets, slow connections, and minimal online services compared to lots of Europe and Asia.
Scott Kessler is the director of equity research at CFRA Research and leads the tech coverage for his team. Kessler spoke to Business Insider's Sara Silverstein about what he thinks Apple needs to do in order to maintain momentum. Apple is expected the announce the new iPhone during an event on September 12. Join the conversation about this story »
Apple's various product lines have increasingly stalled over the years, as this chart from Guggenheim Securities shows. Only its Services business (apps and music, etc.) has remained healthy. Apple has cut itself off from the lucrative...
YouTube has made a major revision to its iOS app, and has added the ability for game players or app demonstrators to stream the entire contents of an iPhone or iPad directly to the video service.
Learn how Apple technicians decide whether your iPhone is eligible for an in-warranty service.
Craig Federighi, who oversees Mac and iPhone software, is now also in charge of the voice assistant, replacing internet and software services chief Eddy Cue.
A recently leaked Apple document seen by Business Insider gives specific details with images on how Apple handles whether an iPhone is eligible for service or replacement. more…
Analysts from Barclays speculated in a note published on Thursday that one way Apple could convince customers to buy its upcoming $1,000 (£776) phone is through bundling the device with its Apple Music streaming service and increased...
If you’ve chosen the iPhone as your go-to device, you know that things snowball quickly. All of your smart home devices need to be compatible with HomeKit, all of your subscription services need to have good iOS apps, and so on. You also know that wireless speakers that have Apple’s AirPlay technology built in can often be pricey.
Backing up photos is important for ensuring you keep your memories safe from things like lost or stolen devices and software crashes. These are the best backup services for taking care of your photographs! Arguably the most important...
Next time you rent a Citi Bike in New York or New Jersey, you'll be able to pay with your iPhone. The latest update for the bike-sharing service's app adds support for Apple Pay, as spotted by AppleInsider. No, this isn't the most exciting update, but it does make using the app a little faster and easier for new users.
Back up the hype with a gadget, product, or service that solves a problem for me. Make sure that it actually does what you say it will. Make it worth the money I spend on it.
This week on the AppleInsider podcast, Victor and Mike talk about "iPhone 8" release dates, and the possibility of a 4K Apple TV. Also, Victor interviews Gleb Budman, CEO of the popular backup service, Backblaze.com.
Last week, Xfinity Mobile fully launched its new wireless plans after previously releasing the new service in select cities. Starting today, the company is giving new customers $200 off all current iPhone models and more. more…


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About 250 to 450 protesters occupied the steps of the Capitol on Monday the 26th of September, and put their message across in a loud, yet clear and orderly manner. The tax in question formed part of a revenue generating plan discussed last Summer in congress to make up for a 1.3billion$ shortage in the state’s budget.
The after-tax effects
Many local vape shops were severely affected after having to fork out a lump-sum to cover the newly required tax. Many pointed out, that the added 40 percent tax which will reflect in the prices of their products will also drive their customers to obtain cheaper devices online or purchase such products from out of state, driving these retailers out of business.
Chris Hughes, the owner of Fat Cat Vapor Shop had to close his business on the 24th of September, but would be able to reopen if the 40% tax were to be reversed. On his last day of business he marked all his products at 50% off and cooked hamburgers and hotdogs to his customers. Hughes will hold on to the shop’s lease as he plans to use the space as his political office whilst running a campaign against his local lawmaker.
Strong line-up of participants
Present were also the individuals that form part of the Right To Vape Tour team, new national SFATA executive director Pamela Gorman, Paul Blair of Americans for Tax Reform, CASAA’s legislative director Alex Clark, and the American Vaping Association’s Greg Conley.
Attendees heard speaker after speaker describe why the tax is unreasonable and ask for the compromise bill (HB 2342) to be passed. This bill was put forward by Rep. Jeff Wheeland, and would replace the 40 percent tax with a five-cents-per-milliliter e-liquid tax.
The rally was considered successful as it attracted even mainstream coverage, and may have even made a difference as last Tuesday House Bill 2342 passed the finance committee without any attached amendments. Pennsylvania residents are urged by organizers to do their part and can do so by either visiting NoPAVapeTax.com urging their representatives to support HB 2342 and also by emailing and calling Gov. Tom Wolf’s office, asking that the bill be signed.


text: The iPad didn’t debut in 2011, but 2011 was definitely the year the recipe apps exploded on the iPad. Ranging from free downloads to $9.99 and higher, the iTunes Store offered hundreds of new food and cooking apps this year. In fact, there are now more than 1,000 food-based apps available between the iPhone and iPad. Combined with the hundreds of cookbooks and food magazines available in electronic format, it’s clear the iPad has brought new life to cooking from recipes. Apple even named Jamie Oliver’s recipe app as one of its Best Apps of 2011.


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We Sincerely Welcome You to Visit Us
The 17th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2017) will be grandly held in April, 2017. We sincerely welcome you to join Auto Shanghai 2017 and visit us.
Auto Shanghai 2017 will be held at National Exhibition Convention Center (Shanghai). April 19-20 will be press days,April 21-28 will be open days.


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Enjoy Christmas Tree Trail to Groves on Sunday to support local businesses, secure your holiday shopping
GROVES — Shoppers will have a chance to beat the holiday crowds while shopping local with the 2020 Christmas Tree Trail to Groves.
This year there are 14 participating businesses set to open their doors and offer festive cheer along with sales from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The businesses include:
- Isaac Barbosa Jewelers, 4300 Lincoln Ave., Suite 1
- Merle Norman/Bella Boutique, 4300 Lincoln Ave., Suite 2 and 3
- Sundara Coffee House, 4000 Lincoln Ave.
- Clyde’s Hairloom Florist & Boutique, 5400 39th St.
- Pat Holmes Real Estate, 4320 Lincoln Ave.
- Sugar Momma Confections, 4311 Lincoln Ave.
- Dairy Queen, 6250 39th St.
- SHOOGZ on the Avenue, 4319 Lincoln Ave., Suite A
- The Courtyard Café, 4321 Lincoln Ave.
- Magnolia Manor, 4400 Gulf Ave.
- Adorned in Grace and Love Boutique, 4319 Lincoln Ave., Suite C
- Domino’s Pizza, 4101 Main Ave.
- Attic Treasurers, 5235 39th St.
- The Mission’s Attic, 3300 Twin City Hwy.
A drive past the shops gives a prelude for what is to come on Sunday.
Over at Sundara Coffee House there is a tall, decorated Christmas tree along with a snowman and Santa, and over at Merle Norman the shop window has an elegant display while inside it is decked out festively.
Barbara Freeman, beauty consultant with Merle Norman, said they will offer punch and hors d’oeuvres.
“We would love everybody to get away from their troubles and just come by,” Freeman said, adding the weather is forecast to be beautiful.
Ronnie Boneau, executive director of the Groves Chamber of Commerce, is proud of the businesses that chose to participate.
He said it was hard to even guess which, or how many, businesses would participate due to the pandemic and was impressed with the eventual turnout.
The chamber opted to go ahead with the event knowing this year has been difficult for businesses with the pandemic and the drop in the amount of customers allowed inside locations.
“We wanted to hopefully give the businesses some kind of bump to recoup,” Boneau said. “There is no doubt in my mind, if you look at last year versus this year, they are behind.”
The chamber usually hosts an annual Open House during the Tree Trail to Groves but is not doing so this year due to COVID-19 precautions.
Boneau said the office will be open and will have brochures listing the participating businesses.
PORT NECHES — With a share of the District 12-5A Division II title still in their grasp, the Port Neches-Groves... read more


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Developer and entrepreneur Ian Schrager has commissioned two public art projects that have debuted at 20 Times Square, aka 701 Seventh Avenue. The site is home of the EDITION, a newly opened high-end hotel and is one of the newest buildings to be built at the crossroads of the world. The building is also home to one of the largest LED screens in the world. The billboard art is being curated by multimedia design studio Sila Sveta. One of the videos will show an interactive robotic installation that pays homage to Alexander McQueens’ Spring runway show from 1999. The LED board is located on the lower floors of the hotel which sits at the northeastern corner of West 47th Street and Seventh Avenue.
701 Seventh Avenue
20 Times Square, aka 701 Seventh Avenue, is almost complete. The tower already has one of the largest LED screens in Times Square, spanning a whopping 18,000 square feet. In February, doors will officially open to the 517-foot, 42-story, 452-key Marriott Edition hotel, wrapped in glass panels and topped with the logo on its western and southern facades. Witkoff, Ian Schrager Company, Winthrop Realty Trust, and Maefield Development are the developers, while Platt Byard Dovell White Architects (PBDW Architects) is the project’s architect.
Last week, YIMBY reported that testing had begun on 701 Seventh Avenue’s enormous new billboard. Now, it has been activated in full, as photographed yesterday by mchlanglo793. The 18,000 square-foot LED screen is the largest in Times Square, and will soon be joined by a 17,000 square-foot screen immediately across the street, at 1568 Broadway, site of the former Doubletree Hotel. As for 701 Seventh Avenue, aka the Marriott Edition Times Square, the exterior is almost fully glassed, and opening is a few months out.
The new Marriott Edition Hotel coming to 701 Seventh Avenue, in Times Square, is approaching its opening day, with glass now covering most of the exterior per the latest photos from Tectonic. While the tower portion of the development stands 42 floors and 512 feet to the rooftop, barely cracking into the mid-levels of the Midtown skyscraper plateau, the base of the development will imminently become iconic on a global level, thanks to an 18,000 square-foot LED screen that promises to become the largest and brightest in Times Square.
Vertical construction is moving full steam ahead on the 42-story, 452-key EDITION hotel (by Marriott) under development at 701 Seventh Avenue. That’s on the corner of West 47th Street in the heart of Times Square. The progress can be seen thanks to a photo posted to the YIMBY Forums. The tower, dubbed 20 Times Square, will rise 517 feet above street level and will contain 269,769 square feet of commercial space, according to the latest building permits. Retail space will be located on two cellar levels and the ground through fourth floors. Actual hotel rooms will be located on the 14th through 40th floors.


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Mitchell Altieri's hillarious 30-something coming of age comedy "Lurking in Suburbia" has found it's way to DVD this week with DVD upstart Heretic Films....
Shock-O-Rama Cinema has announced the DVD release of the tongue-in-cheek homage to women-in-prison films, "Prison-A-Go-Go" starring cult icon Mary Woronov...
If this short doesn't make you wanna grab a beer, then you need to get the pacifier out of your mouth and go change your diaper. Here's a compilation of...


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“Fillette au beret” is being sold – or “tokenised” – via blockchain in what Sygnum, the digital asset-focused Swiss bank organising the sale, says is a world first.
Connoisseurs of Pablo Picasso will soon be able to own a share in one of his paintings for less than $6,000 – though they won’t actually buy the right to see the work, which will be stored under lock and key in Switzerland.
“Fillette au béret” is being sold – or “tokenised” – via the blockchain in what Sygnum, the digital asset-focused Swiss bank organising the sale, says is a world first.
“This marks the first time the ownership rights in a Picasso, or any artwork, are being broadcast onto the public blockchain by a regulated bank,” it and co-organiser Artemundi, an art investment company, said.
Subscriptions for the $3.68 million (4 million Swiss franc) sale are expected to open at the end of July, with tradable shares in the painting available for 5,000 Swiss francs and above.
The 1964 work depicting a beret-capped child in bright colors on canvas was last sold for $2.48 million (21.4 million Swedish krona) by auction house Uppsala Auktionskammare in 2016.
It is not the first painting by the notoriously iconoclastic Picasso to rub shoulders with the blockchain.
Driven by a surge this year in the market for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), often focused on digital-only artworks and other virtual items , Sotheby’s flagged an NFT-linked sale of Picasso’s “Le peintre et son modèle” in June.
The painting sold for $3.12 million (2.25 million pounds), though plans for the joint sale of an NFT – a one-of-a-kind token that exists on a blockchain – that would link ownership to a digital version were scrapped, the auction house said.
Also in June, NFT art market Unique.One opened an auction for an NFT tied to a Picasso print, Fumeur V, which in April had sold at Christie’s for 15,000 pounds. The print – one of 50 of the same work – was first displayed at a gallery in Denver before being burned to create the NFT “The Burned Picasso”.
However, in the “Fillette au béret” sale, the tokens are fungible – or exchangeable – and no Picasso will be burned.
But no physical artwork will change hands either, as the painting, while being available for loan to museums and exhibitions, will be stored in a high-security facility, the organisers said.
When Joe Biden was preparing for his first audience with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as a young senator, his mother — an Irish American born with the surname Finnegan — had a piece of advice. “Don’t you bow down to her,” she told him in 1982, according to a memoir Biden published several years ago.Little […]
Copa America 2020 Brazil vs Chile LIVE Streaming: When and Where to Watch Online, TV Telecast, Team News Brazil will take on Chile in the first quarter-final clash of the Copa America 2020. The match starts at 05:30 AM (IST) live from the Estádio Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro. The 2019 Copa America winners Brazil […]
Prepapalooza: Live updates from Saturday’s excessive college tune, baseball, softball, football movement. It’s been an extended 15 months, however we have got sooner or later reached the largest excessive college sports activities day at the calendar – Championship Saturday! And it’s been lengthy years on account that we have got had this day, with the […]


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Computer-killing USB drives now on sale for less than $60
A company has brought USB kill drives to market. These are flash drives loaded with system-destroying capacitors, not conventional flash.
Apple patches critical security flaws used to steal encrypted data
A new critical security flaw led Apple to develop a patch in record time. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you'll want this update.
Qualcomm bugs expose nearly 1 billion Android devices to exploits
Google is rolling out security patches, but not all OEMs and carriers are quick about sending them along to users.
Researchers: Hackers could weaponize up to a billion monitors to spy on everyone
New data from DEFCON suggests that monitors are potential targets in malware attacks -- and while they won't interest commercial botnets, the potential applications for government actors or infrastructure targets are significant.
Microsoft slapped with class-action lawsuits over Windows 10 upgrade practices
Microsoft is facing class-action lawsuits related to its Windows 10 upgrade practices -- one from within the US, and one from Israel.
Windows 10 gets one last, desperate nagware update
We've got nine days left before Microsoft's Windows 10 free upgrade offer expires -- and you can bet Redmond isn't going to let you forget it.
Microsoft will adjust malware-like upgrade policy for Windows 10 following outcry
Following massive user anger, Microsoft will partly reverse course on its Windows 10 upgrade practices. Hopefully this means an end to the malware-like tactics the company recently debuted.
Hospital pays ransomware, but doesn't get files decrypted
After receiving the ransom, the extortionists demanded more before unlocking the hospital's files.
New malware takes advantage of Windows 'God Mode' to evade detection
God Mode can make your computer more powerful with a batch of handy shortcuts, but the same trick is now being exploited by malware.


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Shares of Washington's newest telephone company, TeleCorp PCS Inc. of Arlington, are up more than 70 percent in their first two days of trading, boosted by the company's role as a key supporting player in the aggressive move into wireless communications by AT&T Corp.
TeleCorp raised $207 million in its initial public offering, which hit the market Tuesday just as details of AT&T's new wireless strategy leaked out.
The nation's largest long-distance company plans not only to expand its mobile phone service but also to use wireless technology to provide phone and Internet service to homes and businesses, bypassing the wires of local phone companies.
TeleCorp founder and chief executive Gerald T. Vento said his company is one of three regional partners that will help AT&T expand its mobile phone service into smaller cities.
AT&T is also the largest outside stockholder in TeleCorp, which has licenses to provide mobile phone service in 21 markets, including New Orleans; Memphis; Little Rock; Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, Mass.; Puerto Rico; and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The firm's IPO was greeted on Wall Street with the kind of welcome once reserved for Internet stocks. The shares jumped from their $20 offering price to $33 on their first day of trading Tuesday and gained an additional $2.50 yesterday to close at $35.50.
Salomon Smith Barney Inc., the lead manager of the IPO, had estimated that TeleCorp's stock would bring $16 to $18 a share but priced the stock at $20 because of heavy demand from investors.
TeleCorp sold only 10 percent of its shares in the IPO, which means the entire company is worth $3.3 billion at yesterday's market price.
With the mobile phone market growing 40 percent this year, the burgeoning companies in the business have become some of Wall Street's favorites.
The stock of Omnipoint Communications Corp. of Bethesda cracked the $90 barrier Tuesday and closed yesterday at $90.43 3/4, more than 10 times its price a year ago. Shares of Reston-based Nextel Communications Inc. are going for almost six times their price of last December, closing yesterday at a record $116.06 1/4. The stock gained more than $17 yesterday after Nextel won a court case that could allow it to be additional frequencies.
TeleCorp is the largest of the three regional AT&T partners. Pennsylvania-based Triton PCS Inc., which has licenses in several states in the Southwest, went public Oct. 28, and its shares have nearly doubled since then. The stock, first offered at $18 a share, closed yesterday at $36.12 1/2. Tritel Inc., based in Mississippi, filed a $172.5 million IPO proposal last Friday to raise funds for mobile phone systems in the Southeast.
With the market for mobile phone stocks so hot, TeleCorp's underwriters completed the IPO just five weeks after the first draft of the offering plan was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Most IPOs take 2 1/2 to three months to bring to market and longer timetables are not unusual for start-up companies.
Like the other two AT&T partners, TeleCorp operates under the SunCom brand and uses the AT&T globe logo. Under the partnership agreement, SunCom customers will connect to the AT&T PCS network when they roam outside their hometowns.
AT&T was an early investor in the company and purchased an additional 2.2 million shares this week, keeping a 17.8 percent stake.
Vento, 52, a former vice chairman of Sprint Spectrum/American PCS, co-founded TeleCorp in 1996 with executive vice president and chief financial officer Thomas H. Sullivan, 37, a communications lawyer who served as counsel to several mobile phone services.
Vento holds 5.1 million shares of stock and options, worth $181 million at yesterday's closing price. Sullivan has 3.3 million shares and options, worth $117 million. But the co-founders hold 52 percent of the voting power in the company through agreements with some of their big investors.
Vento said the company bought the rights to offer mobile phone service in some of its markets at Federal Communications Commission auctions but became a much more significant player when it hooked up with AT&T last year and acquired licenses for some additional markets.
Wall Street analysts said not even AT&T is big or rich enough to keep up with the exploding demand for mobile phone business. Industry sources speculate that AT&T may buy out its junior partners at some point. That potential is another reason the firms' stocks are so popular, said one analyst, who asked not to be named.
Before this weeks IPO, TeleCorp had already raised $1.4 billion in capital, via junk bonds, loans and financing from equipment suppliers.
The company put its first phone into use in New Orleans in February and is already on the air in all of its other markets. So far the network is capable of reaching about three-quarters of the 16.5 million people who live in its service area.
Since February, TeleCorp has generated $48 million in revenue, about $19 million of it from roaming fees paid by AT&T customers using their phones in TeleCorp's service area. The company posted a loss of $144 million for the first nine months of the year.
CAPTION: Gerald T. Vento is the founder and chief executive of TeleCorp.


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New $20m abattoir set to create up to 60 jobs
Construction is expected to start this week on a $20 million abattoir in the Kimberley, with 50 per cent of its product already sold to Singapore.
Jack and Vicki Burton of Yeeda Pastoral Company and their equity partners in the venture, Michelle and Mervyn Key of Kimberley Pastoral Investments, announced on Saturday their longterm plans for the abattoir had come together quicker than expected.
Mr Burton said an offtake agreement had been secured to supply the free range beef product to Singapore – a deal the investors involved saw as “a strategic investment in securing the future supply of beef ”, for a country which currently imported 95 per cent of its food.
He said the facility, between Broome and Derby, should “hit its straps” by 2014, when it would process at least 55,000-60,000 head of cattle a year.
By that stage the facility would need supplies of cattle from other producers – meaning it could help the Kimberley cattle industry clear a two-year glut of heavier cattle, which have been unsuitable for export since Indonesia introduced weight restrictions in 2010.
“This would never be for the replacement of live export, but for cattle that don’t suit live export,” Mr Burton said. He said it would create up to 60 jobs, and he was keen to create opportunities for local indigenous employment and training.
Saturday’s announcement was not only to garner support from the Kimberley pastoral industry, local government and departments also present, but to officially receive endorsement from the WA Government, which Agriculture Minister Terry Redman was only too proud to give.
Mr Redman said he was pleased to see the Burtons’ confidence in the industry and willingness to take a risk in a project with huge potential.
“We are supportive of anyone that’s prepared to take some risk in developing [such] agricultural opportunities,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to the day we cut the ribbon on that facility and see this become the sharp point for agriculture in the north.” The facility is expected to be built by September, 2013.
There has not been an abattoir in the Kimberley since Broome’s meatworks closed in 1994.
Meanwhile, Yeeda Pastoral also planned to open retail butcher in Chinatown this week.
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INDUSTRY in Huddersfield has been dealt another Christmas blow.
One of the town's leading window firms has gone bust - leaving more than 50 workers without a job.
And the news from Quickframe Sales, of Longroyd Bridge, came just 24 hours after it was confirmed that 28 workers at Globe Worsted's Slaithwaite mill had lost their jobs.
Some of the workers at Quickframe Sales, which supplies windows to businesses and houses, say they have not been paid by parent company Northern Glass Ltd for more than two weeks.
Today only a skeleton staff were working at the factory and showroom in St Thomas's Road.
The Examiner was given a short statement: "It is with regret that Northern Glass Ltd has now ceased trading. Due to serious financial difficulties the business cannot continue."
It is not yet known exactly what will happen to the factory, a former bus depot for Huddersfield Corporation.
The company bought Scholes Windows in January, 2002, and distributed more than 100 window styles nationwide.
It is believed customers, including some in Huddersfield, are still waiting for delivery of their windows.
One employee who has been left with no money for Christmas said it had been apparent for several months the company was struggling.
The man, who asked not to be named, is owed wages and a Christmas bonus.
He said: "I am told some customers have been waiting for more than three months and lots of people have been coming in to get deposits back.
"The company deals with both domestic and business customers and lots of them will be still waiting.
"Getting laid off is never going to be a nice thing, but the week before Christmas makes it even worse of course because of all the expense."
In June, 2003, managing director Alan Rees told the Examiner how the company was going from strength to strength after striking a deal with Cleckheaton-based Cattles Finance.
"We already have a thriving business with a healthy customer base," said Mr Rees at the time.


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From the Overview: "Since taking office, the Trump Administration has used the overall and bilateral U.S. trade deficits as one of its barometers for evaluating the success or failure of the global trading system, U.S. trade policy, and trade agreements. In an effort to reduce the trade deficit and for other policy objectives, the Administration has renegotiated existing trade agreements, withdrawn from or suspended negotiations on other trade agreements, initiated new agreements, and placed tariffs on a range of imports. Previous administrations and Members of Congress, while expressing concern, have not legislated policies specifically to reduce the trade deficit. The Trump Administration also has advocated for depreciating the dollar against other major currencies, reasoning that a weaker dollar would increase U.S. exports and reduce the nation's trade deficit. Additionally, the Administration contends that certain countries are manipulating their currencies to give their exports a price advantage. On February 3, 2020, the Commerce Department issued a rule that allows currency manipulation potentially to be considered as a domestic subsidy under U.S. countervailing duty laws. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded in its July 2020 report on external balances that current accounts and currencies may be under- or over-valued at times, but this largely reflected domestic economic policies. Economists have raised concerns about the broader long-term impact on the U.S. economy of financing trade deficits."
CRS In Focus, IF11430
Congressional Research Service: https://crsreports.congress.gov/


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Watchdog takes Kraft to task over labeling
July 01, 2008 07:00:00 AM
(Crain's) -- A consumer watchdog group says Kraft Foods Inc. is among companies making "bogus claims" about the health benefits of their products, and it wants the Food and Drug Administration to step in.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest says Kraft falsely claims vitamins in the beverage Crystal Light Immunity Berry Pomegranate will help maintain a healthy immune system.
"This is nonsense, because there is no good evidence that adding a small amount of vitamins to a food product will have any positive impact on immunity," says David Schardt, a senior nutritionist for the Washington, D.C.-based center. "We want the companies to stop making such claims."
In addition to claims made by Northfield-based Kraft about Crystal Light, the center also questioned labeling of General Mills' Green Giant vegetables, Dole's tropical fruit and Welch's grape juice.
A Kraft spokeswoman disputes the notion that the company falsely labeled Crystal Light. "There's substantial evidence that vitamins A, C and E play an important role in immune function," she says. Labeling rules allow a company to tout "the basic benefits of these nutrients," she says, adding that Kraft "took great care to label this product within the


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According to experts, more substantial investment into processing by-products of tra fish will be a way for Vietnam to optimize its vast potential and values amid the expanding tra fish sector.
Statistics showed that each year, aquaculture provides 4.5-5 million tonnes of materials for aquatic processing. In the tra fish sector, 60-70% of the materials for tra fish fillet processing become by-products.
Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the Directorate of Fisheries, said by-products, including include head, bones, fin, skin, and organs, are a source of materials that can promote the added value for the tra fish sector if they are optimized.
For example, raw tra fish skin is often sold at 3,000 VND (0.13 USD) per kilo. However, the price of collagen and gelatine made from it is 1,000 times higher, at about 3 million VND per kilo, said Doan Toi, General Director of Nam Viet Corporation (Navico).
Toi said that in early April, Navico and its partner from the Republic of Korea launched a 7-million-USD factory producing collagen and gelatine from fish skin, with a capacity of processing 780 tonnes of materials per year. In the second and third phases, the factory’s capacity is scheduled to reach 1,200 and 2,400 tonnes per year, he said.
This is the first factory that can produce collagen peptides in Vietnam. Navico expects 1.5 million USD of profit in the first phase. By now, the factory has received orders from 15 customers.
Like Navico, Vinh Hoan Corporation in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap has also engaged in collagen and gelatin production from fish skin, which has contributed 10% to the overall profit of the company.
Meanwhile, the Asia Fish Oil Corporation in Dong Thap province has successfully produced fish oil from tra fish fats with a capacity of processing 400 tonnes of materials.
At the same time, the firm has also processed other by-products from tra fish into organic fertilizers and animal feed.
Directorate of Fisheries head Luan advised businesses to invest more in technology, enhancing the economic efficiency in processing products with high added values, while making full use of the Government’s policies to encourage the development of the processing sector, leading to a circular economy in the fisheries sector.
Huynh Minh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dong Thap, said that the locality always encourages local firms to renovate their tra fish processing towards higher added value, aiming to make the most of the by-products and contributing to the growth of this billion-USD sector.
Data from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) showed that in the first two months of this year, revenue from seafood export topped 1.1 billion USD, down 26% year on year, with tra fish exports dropping 38% to 240 million USD.
However, the tra fish industry will have to overcome difficulties and become profitable again in the third quarter of this year as demand is likely to recover from the third quarter as festive events at year-end are coming and the Chinese market is opening.


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A new issue will arrive every Friday with news, features and ‘datatorial’ based on the English Premier League, with live data feeds from the Press Association during the weekend’s matches.
New users will get five issues for free, before being prompted to pay £3.99 a month, £19.99 a year or £1.99 per issue. Future is using its in-house FutureFolio platform to produce the app, including pulling in those live feeds.
“We said wouldn’t it be great if we could take feeds and, rather than just popping up a website, we could design and style them up, and make them look just as good as traditional not-live production content,” Future’s digital editor-in-chief Mike Goldsmith tells The Guardian.
“It sounds like such a cliche, but there is no manual for this. We’re making something that’s as beautiful as a magazine, but as live and relevant as a website. It’s been really enjoyable, and also a real rollercoaster.”
Future is hoping the new mag-app will continue its run of success on Apple’s iOS Newsstand. The company announced last November that it was selling $1m of digital editions a month on all tablets.


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Imagine a market of 173 million potential customers. Seventy-eight million of them are female (often the primary decision-maker in the family), 61 million are college students, and 29 million have an income of more than $100,000.
Seems like a no-brainer for operators, right?
That’s the audience more brands and franchisees from around the limited-service world are capturing simply by teaming up wi th college athletic programs. While marketing and advertising opportunities abound for quick-service operators, college sports’ unparalleled branding power gives them one of the most beneficial sponsorship paths to travel down.
“When we look at college sports in particular, you’re really able to tap into an extremely loyal audience, whether that’s students or alumni, or, in the cases of many athletic programs, the local community,” says Jim Andrews, senior vice president of content strategy at sponsorship consulting firm IEG.
“These are programs that people get very, very passionate about,” he says. “They tend to keep those allegiances for a lifetime, so that’s what you’re really kind of tapping into as a brand marketer.”
Lawton Logan, senior vice president of U.S. business development for global sports and media company IMG, says aside from a large, passionate audience, the appeal of college sports partnerships can be boiled down to two additional advantages: a high return on investment and the fact that research shows college sports fans consume fast food five to six times more per month than non-fans.
In fact, research from IMG shows that 89 percent of college sports fans visit fast-food restaurants. Meanwhile, more than 114 million U.S. consumers attended a college sporting event in 2009 alone, giving brand partners ample opportunity to reach this broad fan base both inside the stadium and out.
Scoring with the locals
Partnering with college athletics programs and sports teams not only gives brands access to a large number of potential customers, but it also gives them the opportunity to truly home in on the local community.
Nathan Cage is a Lubbock, Texas–based Wingstop franchisee whose three locations in West Texas partner with nearby Texas Tech University. Through this partnership, which began four years ago, Cage sponsors events for the basketball, football, and baseball teams.
“The university has such a large presence in the city,” he says. “I knew one way to reach a great many of the people both in the city that live here and those that commute and go to the university was to connect with the school. … And what better way than by sports?”
Cage says he uses his partnership in various fashions to drive local community members and fans into his stores. For instance, when the basketball team scores above a certain number of points in a game, attendees are invited to the restaurant to receive a complimentary item, like a soft drink or five boneless wings.
Cage says that on any given football weekend, he can show off his products and reach more than 60,000 people, many of whom are local. “Over a six-game period, if you target it right, if you do it right, that’s the population of a small city that you get to see,” he says.
In addition, being associated with a well-known or popular local university can often give brands and individual stores more attention and sales than they might otherwise receive. Wally Gaudet, a Kona Ice franchisee with partner Craig Authement, says the pair’s association with Louisiana State University (lsu) allows the shaved-ice franchise to stand out in customers’ and students’ minds.
The pair sells its flavored snowballs—up to 600 an hour—in LSU’s Tiger Stadium, as well as at the baseball stadium and other sporting events. Gaudet says he often has customers in the stadium who go on to hire Kona Ice for private events like corporate parties or fundraisers.
Authement adds that their business inside the stadiums, which includes a customer base made up of students, business owners, and folks from the local community, helps diversify their market.
“LSU has helped us build our business to where it is today,” Gaudet says.
Reaching the right customers
College sports partnerships also give brands access to the audience quick serves and fast casuals tap into best, says Matt Rusconi, a Mooyah Burgers, Fries, and Shakes and Moe’s Southwest Grill franchisee. Rusconi partners with the University of Hartford, Central Connecticut State University, and the University of Connecticut.
Indeed, research from IMG shows that 47 million 18–34-year-olds—one of the most popular target demographics for limited service—are college sports fans.
In Rusconi’s partnerships, his Mooyah and Moe’s locations supply food for games, provide discount catering deals for home and visiting teams, hand out free burgers and burritos to fans, and sponsor texting programs and other contests to give away merchandise and discounted products.
IEG’s Andrews says not only are college sports teams and events a great way to put products directly in front of a concept’s key demographic, but they’re also a way to make offerings and promotions more significant and experiential for customers and fans.
“When you tie [promotions] into somebody’s favorite team, you’re really giving them something that … can be a difference maker,” he says. “That could get them to pay attention and actually participate, because it’s more relevant to them and because you may be offering something that they couldn’t get otherwise,” like merchandise or ticket and product discounts.
Chick-fil-A uses this opportunity to the fullest with its 15-year sponsorship of the annual Chick-fil-A Bowl—formerly called the Peach Bowl—which pits two NCAA football teams against one another in one of the most popular bowl games of the year.
At the 2012 game between Clemson University and LSU, which took place on New Year’s Eve in Atlanta, the brand gave away 20,000 chicken sandwiches to tailgaters outside the stadium, as well as 72,000 exclusive mini-cow toys—modeled after the chain’s mascot—to each guest at the game.
In an interview with ESPN.com, Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A’s executive vice president of marketing, said the brand wants to “create as many opportunities as possible to interact with fans, take photos, and get our brand out there.”
And when partnering with a consumer’s favorite team, a brand or location can then become linked to his passion for the sports program, meaning the fan often goes on to become a life-long brand enthusiast, Rusconi says.
“College is exciting, youth is exciting. If you associate yourself with that, it gives kids a sense of ownership of the brand,” he says. “The association—not only with the kids that go there, but with the alumni—it’s something special. I think people, hopefully, associate the fun and excitement of the brand with the fun and excitement of the team.”
Though Rusconi says he can’t put exact figures on the way his college sports partnerships have elevated his brand, he notes that business has grown year over year since the sponsorships began about four years ago. Meanwhile, Cage says his Wingstop locations have seen at least a 10–12 percent increase in quarterly sales since teaming up with Texas Tech.
Jumping the hurdles
A college sports partnership does pose risks and challenges, however. Rusconi says hosting events or participating in game-day activities outside the restaurant can often prove to be a struggle, due to the necessity of additional manpower and in-house preparation.
“It’s tough sometimes when you’ve got to get 100 T-shirts rolled up, or burritos, and you’ve got to lug a tent to downtown Hartford and you have no parking,” he says, adding that assigning extra staff to out-of-store events can be detrimental to the business.
Kona Ice’s Gaudet says selling products inside the stadium—especially when the arena holds more than 92,000 people, as Tiger Stadium does—produces its own difficulties. “When you’re dealing with a large amount of people, especially on the time frame that we do, we have to be very responsive to what people want,” he says. “We don’t want long lines. We want to keep flow through as quick as possible and still maintain the quality of product that Kona wants us to maintain and that we want to maintain.”
Authement adds that unless franchisees have an efficient system in place, selling products in-stadium can result in lost sales. “You’ve got X amount of hours to get the money out of those individuals,” he says. “And if they’ve got to wait in line, then they’re going somewhere else.” To help speed up their business at LSU sporting events, the pair began offering flavor stations that cut the time customers have to wait to add syrup to their shaved-ice treats.
Gaudet says it’s also important to keep a concept simple when paring it down for a college sports stadium. “You can’t have 50 choices,” he says, noting that the franchisees cut options down to eight flavor choices at games to allow guests the option to mix and match their syrups.
“Those simple things help with throughput,” he says, “and you still get a quality product, but you’re not waiting in line.”
Even with smooth operations and high-quality offerings, Authement says, not every brand or product can cut it in the stadium-concession business. “You’re not going to sell snowballs in 20-degree weather,” he says. “Finding a product that’s in demand and putting out a quality service is essential. You don’t skimp on your service, and you don’t skimp on your product.”
Andrews says financing is yet another obstacle many brands and franchisees wait too long to consider when forming various college sports partnerships. He says operators must figure out if they’re properly equipped to put the necessary resources behind a sponsorship, in order to cover components like promotions and marketing integration.
“You’re not going to get a lot if you don’t activate it,” Andrews says. “It’s like buying a toy and not buying the batteries to go with it. … You have to have the activation to really breathe life into the sponsorship.”
Striking profitable partnerships
Aside from the financial aspects, one of the biggest hurdles operators must face comes early in the process: finding the perfect university partner.
Wingstop’s Cage says a successful partnership is one in which the school’s audience will accept and consume your product. Because Texas is the home of the Dallas Cowboys and chicken wings are often associated with watching football, Cage says, his product was already well-known and loved by college sports fans in the area.
“When you partner with someone, it’s got to be an item that’s actually respected on both sides of the court,” he says. “It wouldn’t do any good for me to be … a seafood restaurant and no one in the city or no one in the community happens to be a fan of seafood. It just doesn’t match up.”
While it seems obvious, it’s also important that a college partner is local so loyal fans can visit the store after seeing products or advertisements at a game or event, says Marcia Harris-Daniel, vice president of marketing for Wingstop.
Though it’s logical to think a larger university will provide more fans and marketing opportunities, that’s not always true, Andrews says.
“Sometimes the best partners are the smaller schools,” he says, “because you’re very important to them and they want to make sure that they keep you happy and keep you involved as a long-term partner.”
He adds that with large college sports programs that have a host of other brand partners, it’s common to get lost in the shuffle. However, “it really comes down to what the profile is of that school in the community,” Andrews says. “Is it a school that … already has a significant enough base of support, of interest, that if we’re going to tap into it, we’re going to be able to get something back?”
In addition, Andrews says, it’s important to approach the agreement with a firm commitment to being a great partner, while also expecting a dedicated partner in return. He warns that it should be a red flag if a university partner is simply trying to make a quick sale or views the sponsorship dollars as a donation to the school.
Rusconi says striking a profitable partnership on both sides requires spending a lot of time and effort working out every detail of the agreement. “Really sit there and whittle out what the sponsorship is going to bring, what’s the value, what you get, what they get. Make sure it’s a win-win for everybody,” he says. “The end game is to drive people into seats, for both sporting events and into the restaurants.”
Because colleges and universities see their share of perks from these brand partnerships—sponsorship and advertising dollars, for example—brands shouldn’t feel selfish when demanding to see results, too, Harris-Daniel says.
“Reciprocity is important,” she says. “Here we are giving dollars to this partnership; it sure would be nice if those players and coaches and staff would come over to our stores after the game is played.”
But customers must make a regular appearance, too, or the entire effort is for naught.
“We don’t just want to be the face or the logo being used, and vice versa,” Harris-Daniel says. “We want to make sure that when we partner in, we go, ‘Look, please make sure you’re coming by our stores so we can have a wonderful partnership.’ … You never get anything if you don’t ask, so we certainly want to make sure we’re asking for that order.”


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No Nasties today is one of the largest exporters of organic knits. Speaking about their upcoming collection and its emphasis on organic clothing, Apurva Kothari, Founder, No Nasties, says, “We do not make just T-shirts, we are a full fashion brand now. We only make 100 per cent organic and fair trade clothing and it has not been that difficult for us as we don’t have lofty plans; we are happy being a small niche brand.”
Organic a growing segment
The organic clothing sector is growing with more consciousness among consumers and many more brands entering the space. Kothari is very optimistic about the growth of organic segment. “Around 80 per cent of our Indian sales are from metros and 20 per cent are from Tier II. As far as consumers’ acceptability towards organic clothing is concerned, they are beginning to understand it more and more as there is more media coverage and more products on offer for them,” he explains
Indeed, pricing is a concern but the Indian consumer has enough purchasing power now that this should not be a huge issue for the middle and upper middle classes. No Nasties sources majority of cotton from Chetna Organic co-op and it only works with cotton.
As for retail, in India, the company has one EBO and three MBOs. Internationally, it has 18 MBOs. “We hope to grow by three times this year. We plan to grow slowly & steadily by offering more products and increasing our online presence,” Kothari sums up.


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Eight days a week
The pandemic, at least temporarily, transformed the manner in which business was conducted across many industries. Ours was no different. The “Butterfly Effect” manifested itself in the floral industry in a number of ways. Home bound consumers greatly increased the demand for items such as baking pans, measuring cups and even wine and spirit bottles, thus putting a tremendous strain on glass production, leading to a prolonged shortage of certain styles of vases. Restaurant demand for paper take-out bags roiled the market for other paper products such as cub and gift bags etc.
With the pandemic mostly in the rearview mirror, we are yet again faced with another impact that was not necessarily foreseen. The number of weddings, proms and special events that were canceled over 2020 & 2021 was significant. Now, as many consumers look to reschedule these events, it is nowhere near as simple as it may have been three or four years ago due to the following:
- The events that were canceled and subsequently rescheduled, took a large bite out of available function/venue facility dates and two years of events have been condensed into one calendar year.
- More people have begun to travel and as such, blocks of rooms that may have been available for destination weddings are no longer there.
- Restaurants have seen a surge of activity with some electing to forgo events and cater to their week to week clientele on the weekends.
- As we have seen in our own operations, in many cases, the labor and staffing to accommodate this surge of events is simply not there.
All of this has resulted in a sea change in how events are now scheduled. There was a time when a Friday night wedding was viewed as being somewhat out of the mainstream, but now the calendar has been elongated even further. In order to secure dates, weddings/events are now routinely being scheduled throughout the week, thus considerably increasing the date availability for those looking to plan.
Although unconventional, it makes a great deal of sense as it provides all parties involved from the caterer, photographer, venue and yes, florists and event planners, the opportunity to spread the week out. Even moving to weekday nights has not totally solved the issue and some events, including weddings, are now being scheduled during the day on weekdays. In addition to having the ability to pick a date closer to what they had originally intended, the costs from the venues are generally much more favorable.
These changes will ultimately have an impact on how you may need to adjust labor and product schedules, as this trend does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Projecting this out into the third and fourth quarters, we will most likely see holiday parties take the same route and for the same reasons.
A new tradition borne out of the pandemic may be here to stay and that may not be a bad thing.
Nick Fronduto is the Chief Operating Officer at Jacobson Floral in Boston. He has served as president of the Wholesale Florist and Florist Suppliers Association as well as on the Board of Directors for the Society of American Florists.


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BV staffer Richard Thomas peruses the latest development in the on-going saga of Britain’s EU-exit — and discovers new potential for UK trade
In an interview with The Financial Times, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has invited the United Kingdom to join the successor agreement to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after Brexit.
This agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP, or TPP-11), has been drafted and signed by the 11 remaining signatories to the TPP after the United States’ withdrawal last year. So far it has been ratified by three countries, Japan, Singapore and Mexico. With the inclusion of the US, the original TPP covered 40 percent of the world’s economic output, but the new agreement covers just 13 percent.
Small wonder then, that the world’s fifth-largest economy would be welcomed into the fold. The inclusion of the EU as a whole might have been more attractive, but Abe has no need to court the EU, as Japan and the EU signed a comprehensive trade deal in July.
Some of these developments may be damage-limitation on the part of Abe. Japanese companies have much invested in the UK. Japanese car-makers Nissan and Toyota have factories in the UK producing cars to sell into the EU Single Market.
Depending on the withdrawal agreement and future trade deals between the UK and the EU, cars and components sold in the EU could be subject to hefty tariffs. Abe stressed the importance of avoiding a “disorderly Brexit”, saying, “I truly hope that the negative impact of Brexit to the global economy, including Japanese businesses, will be minimised.”
Last week, Nissan announced: “We urge UK and EU negotiators to work collaboratively towards an orderly, balanced Brexit, that will continue to encourage mutually beneficial trade.” Johan van Zyl, CEO of Toyota Europe, was more blunt. Referring to Toyota’s UK plant he said, “The UK market, in itself, is not big enough to justify a plant that size. If we cannot sell into the European market, it will have an impact on the future of our plant.”
If the UK decides to seek to join the CPTPP, nothing can happen until its future relationship with the EU is decided. It cannot sign its own trade deals while a member of the EU Customs Union, so little can be resolved until – at the earliest – March 29 2019, and possibly until the end of 2020, if the transition period proposed in the original Withdrawal Agreement comes into force.
The UK would be the first member of the agreement that does not have borders on the Pacific Ocean or the South China Sea, so shipping firms might be the first beneficiaries.


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What: Shares of El Pollo Loco (LOCO 1.21%) fell 31% in August, according to data from S&P Capital IQ. The fast-casual chicken chain got fried following a disappointing earnings report and a subsequent investor backlash. The chart below tells the tale.
So what: Shares of El Pollo Loco spilled 20% on Aug. 14 after a second-quarter earnings report that dialed down its full-year forecast in several categories. Management said it expected same-store sales growth to come in at just 3% -- at the low end of its previously announced range of 3%-5% -- and said it would only open 24 restaurants this year, three fewer than the market had expected.
Surprisingly, the company's quarterly profit actually beat expectations by a penny, with earnings per share of $0.19, but investors were more concerned about future growth. Same-store sales for the quarter were also weak at just 1.3%, while overall revenue only increased by 3%. For a recent IPO and a once-promising growth stock, those numbers simply are not enough.
Now what: Following the path of other fast-casual IPOs like Potbelly and Noodles & Company, El Pollo Loco boomed following its market debut but shares have since fizzled as the company's growth has not lived up to expectations. Shares are now down 70% from their 52-week high and fell further after the earnings report as several lawsuits were filed against the company on behalf of investors in the aftermath of the scaled-back forecast.
The silver lining for investors is that shares are modestly priced at this point, trading at a P/E of less than 20, and there are reasons to believe in the concept's potential. El Pollo Loco delivers a solid restaurant-level operating margin of over 21%, and the Mexican-style fire-grilled chicken concept seems relatively untapped nationwide. The company has already opened more than 400 locations in just a handful of states in the Southwest, meaning similar success across the country could lead to a total store count around 2,000. Still, I'd need to see El Pollo Loco execute better on its existing stores' sales growth before buying in on that level of expansion.


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The taxman has warned people not to fall victim to email scams that have been sent by fraudsters.
Almost 80,000 tax rebate phishing emails were reported last year.
The scam saw criminals promise refunds in return for credit card and bank account details.
Those who respond to such emails risk having their bank accounts emptied and credit card balances increased as details are passed around organised crime gangs.
HMRC closed 522 illegal sites in 2012 that originated from countries including the United States, Russia and Japan.
Gareth Lloyd, head of digital security for HMRC, said: “HMRC does not email customers about tax refunds – we only ever contact customers who are genuinely due tax back in writing, by post.”
If you receive an email offering a tax rebate and claiming to be from HMRC, forward it to email@example.com, then delete it from your system.
Make sure that you do not click on links in emails or open any files attached to the email.
Legitimate tax rebate forms (P800s) will come from HMRC with a payment order and these will never ask for credit or debit card details.


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MAJORITY, a mobile banking app aimed at migrants to the US, has reportedly raised $27m in its Series A funding round.
The capital injection was led by Valar Ventures, with commitments also coming from Avid Ventures, Hearcore Capital and a group of Nordic FinTech founders, according to a report from TechCrunch.
Alongside the funding round, the FinTech company revealed a new feature that will allow users to sign up for a bank account with their government ID from any country and a US address, instead of needing to use a Social Security number.
MAJORITY is an all-in-one banking app, which includes a visa debit card, money transfer, mobile top-ups, international calling and personalised advisors.
Through the platform, users can get paid up to two days early without extra fees, and the banking account is FDIC-insured, with no minimum deposit or balance needed. Another benefit of MAJORITY is its local community discounts, which rewards users with discounts at local restaurants, grocery stores and more.
The platform is available in all 50 states, but its advisors are currently only on the ground in Texas and Florida, it said.
This investment comes just six months after MAJORITY collected $19m in its seed funding round. Since then, the company has bolstered its advisor programme and its know your customer processes, TechCrunch said.
Copyright © 2021 FinTech Global


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Study focusing on Preston Highway zoning
Michael Gaddie’s florist shop is lonely on Preston Highway.
It’s surrounded by buildings — homes, a church, a law office — but it’s one of only a few retail businesses between Southern High School and the Snyder Freeway.
But homeowners along a 1-mile stretch of Preston Highway, between Miles Lane and the Snyder Freeway, are becoming more interested in selling their properties to commercial developers, Metro Councilwoman Madonna Flood said. As they consider their options, city officials want to determine how those properties could be used without negatively affecting remaining neighbors.
Do they want to live near a late-night tavern? Or a hair salon that will be open at earlier hours?
The Metro Planning Commission has approved studying the Okolona area’s zoning, and Louisville Metro Planning and Design Services held an initial public meeting last week. Flood said the department will have two more meetings, but they are not yet scheduled. The study should be completed by this fall.
The officials’ goal is to determine which changes would positively affect residents and businesses on Preston Highway, Flood said.
“Everybody realizes Preston Highway is changing,” she said. “We want to protect the property left behind, the property that abuts the commercial area.”
Developers who buy residential properties would not be forced to apply for a specific rezoning, Flood said, but the study’s results will give the planning commission a better idea of which types of businesses neighbors want.
She envisions properties zoned for office/residential use instead of commerical, which would allow businesses that are open all hours. Two busy commercial businesses — Meijer and Thorton’s — are already located in the section.
Properties zoned office/residential could be used for dental offices, hair salons and other types of small businesses, Flood said.
Several businesses that fit that description are already located on the 1-mile section, including O’Bryan Law Offices and Angel Nails. But Lloyd’s Florist owner Gaddie would prefer to see strip malls with jewelry stores and restaurants, businesses that would help keep local residents visiting while attracting new ones.
“I would love for there to be more commercial around me,” he said. “I’m standing here by myself.”
Flood said residents have asked her why they should care how the properties near them are zoned. She brought up a property at the intersection of Preston Highway and South Park Road, which became the Thorton’s instead of the previously planned Rite-Aid.
“It’s the matter of 24/7 versus a 9-9 operation,” Flood said. “They said they didn’t even think about that.”
Reporter Bailey Loosemore can be reached at (502) 582-4646. Follow her on Twitter at @bloosemore.


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Iphone7 turns sensational in Red!!
Iphone 7 has been launched by the Apple in a dazzling red color which has been made available across the country to pump up its sale. Made from the matte red Aluminum, it is super pigmented and adds brightness to the world of mobile phones though the basic features of the device remain same as that of iPhone 7. The model is available in USA and in some other countries and by the end of March will be available in about forty countries of the world. Though, Apple has been offering red colored accessories and cover for its product earlier, but this is for the first time that Apple has produced a Red colored product.
The newly launched Apple iPhone 7 Red edition is a part of Apple’s ‘Red Initiative’ which funds the programmes to fight AIDS and HIV in sub-Saharan Africa region being the world’s largest donator of global corporate funds to combat AIDS and HIV.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was seen quoting , “Since we began working with (RED) 10 years ago, our customers have made a significant impact in fighting the spread of AIDS through the purchase of our products, from the original iPod Nano Red special edition all the way to today’s lineup of Beats products and accessories for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.”
The Apple iPhone 7’s special red addition has been made available in two memory variants i.e. 128 GB and 256 GB priced at about Rs. 82000 can be purchased either from the website, Apple.com or from any Apple store.One may think as mentioned that the whole of the iPhone 7 will be red in color, but the reality is that the front of the phone is still white. Only the back has been changed to a red color.
No doubt the Apple of the corporate world has become more delicious in Red colour and customers favorite choice too for who does not want to be associated with such a noble red initiative.


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Announcements today: (since the public cannot reach our website)
The McGregor Branch is closed because of high water in the city of McGregor.
The ECRL website is not online today, because the webserver does not have Internet service. The webserver is at Headquarters in Cambridge. There was a cut in a major Internet line in Cambridge this morning. Many businesses in Cambridge are without Internet today, including ECRL Headquarters and the Cambridge Branch Library.
There is also no public Internet service at the Cambridge Branch. Public Internet service at the other branches is available.
The online catalog, digital books, and Facebook are available, because they reside on other servers. You can reach them here:


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Puerto Rico experiences ‘historic month’ of new car sales in July
Puerto Rico’s new car sales reached 10,926 units in July, representing a year-over-year growth of 3.12% in July, the United Automobile Importers Group (GUIA, in Spanish) announced.
A total of 10,595 new vehicles were sold in July 2020.
“The month of July closed as the July with the highest sales in history,” GUIA President Ricardo García said.
“The historic pace in the first seven months of the year continues above what was the year with the highest sales, 2005, just before the recession began in Puerto Rico. It’s evident that the current demand exceeds the supply,” he said.
“However, we already see how the growth margins are in single digits and we anticipate that this pattern will begin to reduce even more in the coming months due to the fact that the [Pandemic Unemployment Assistance] ends in September and that inventory levels remain slim due to the lack of computer chips that the industry is experiencing at a global level,” said García.
GUIA is an independent, nonprofit organization that was created in 2006 to address matters that directly affect the automotive industry, as well as issues related to Puerto Rico’s general economy.


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If accounting professionals picked a word of the year, there’s no question that 2018’s would be “blockchain.” The disruptive technology at the heart of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin promises to shake up our world in the coming years, but nobody knows just yet what the blockchain revolution might look like for accounting firms.
Whenever the subject of blockchain comes up in conversation, it seems like a race to make the boldest proclamations about how it will change accounting forever. It’s fun to make these speculations, but it’s much more important that you understand exactly what the technology does — and some of the ways big firms are already innovating with it. That way, no matter what shape the future takes, you’ll be prepared.
Some people, even those who should know better, tend to use blockchain and cryptocurrency interchangeably. While the two concepts are related, they are not one and the same. Blockchain is the base technology that allows cryptocurrencies to function without a centralized authority.
Harvard Business Review defines blockchain as “an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way.” Essentially, it’s a way of storing information across a vast, decentralized network in such a way that the information cannot be corrupted by any one party. Cryptocurrency may have been blockchain’s first wide application, but there will be many more forms to follow.
The biggest game-changer when it comes to accounting is the possibility that blockchain will make the traditional double-entry method, in place since the Renaissance period, obsolete.
Theoretically, because all blockchain transactions are publicly recorded and unalterable, there would be no need to have each party verify information independently. In this context, you can think of the blockchain as a notary. The implications for audits and other financial due diligence procedures are equally monumental.
How Big Four Are Already Using Blockchain
Due to their immense amount of resources, it’s no surprise that the Big Four accounting firms (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC) are leading the way when it comes to blockchain research. Each of them is experimenting with the technology in some capacity. EY and PwC both already accept Bitcoin as a form of payment for certain services.
Just last month, all of the Big Four announced that they’d be running a trial in Taiwan using blockchain as part of the audit process. The goal of the trial is to cut down on the time-intensive process of external confirmation during the audit. The trial will include up to 1,400 public companies, making it the largest-scale test of its kind. If it succeeds, you can expect widespread adoption very soon.
As established players and upstarts alike continue to conceive of applications for blockchain technology, you can expect to see it pop up in many aspects of our lives. Our careers are no exception, especially in accounting, so it’s better to learn now than have to catch up later.


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The second season is shorter and that’s getting a Blu-ray box set release on June 27th, 2020 priced at 28,000 yen and the remaining DVD releases have been scheduled.
It’s also getting four DVD single volume releases priced at 2,800 yen and a fifth at 2,400 yen.
The fourteen-episode first season of the saw was released as a Blu-ray box set on December 27th, 2019 priced at 28,000 yen.
Check out the schedule below where you can see how we’ll have DVD releases out at the same time the show is airing.
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The New York Times’ native advertising arm is expanding fast
Times New Omen
“All the news that’s fit to print” – it’s the irritating, vaguely nonsensical slogan that’s appeared in the top left corner of The New York Times every day since 1896.
It’s also obsolete – the Times has embraced digital whole-heartedly in the last few years, building multimedia experiences like Snowfall, offering a bevy of mobile apps, and experimenting with paywalls.
T Brand Studio is the one of the Times’ latest efforts – a dive into the increasingly lucrative world of branded content, with the creation of an in-house studio to create, and build, multimedia advertising with the newspaper’s imprimatur.
In their inaugural year 2014, the studio produced 40 campaigns for companies ranging from Wisk to Apple. Recently they built an interactive Turing machine to help promote The Imitation Game and created a rich-data visualization and reported narrative for Volvo.
Of course, when a presumably impartial newspaper begins colluding with advertisers, media watchers are going to be on high alert.
“Sponsored content is not about tricking your readers, it’s about adding value to the conversation,” editorial director Adam Aston said. “…We want to avoid confusing readers at all costs. In turn, we want to provide them with thought-provoking, engaging content in the form of infographics, video, images and of course, written narrative.”
Brand Studio is hiring for 11 jobs out of its New York office (as well as one intern in advertising). Get all the details here.
Now go forth (and fit the print).
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Many people going past have been throwing childrens shoes (and a few teddy bears) over the downing street gates. There is quite a pile by all accounts. People have been asked to bring children's shoes to leave at the Cenotaph, but they have obviously decided that they would rather leave them at the door of those responsible. And Blair is definitely complicit.
more updates to be added as comments.


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It’s no secret trucks and SUVs are General Motors’ cash cows in the U.S. market. High transaction prices and decent volume make for good bottom lines in the segment, which has seen a resurgence with moderate gas prices in the past year.
But, General Motors isn’t banking on only its SUVs and trucks to turn a profit. GM has been outspoken on how Chevrolet needs to be back in the business of selling cars, too. According to a report from Morning Star, the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and Cruze will be much more profitable for GM this go-around.
Speaking to GM product planning head, Mark Reuss, he said the company expects to see $1,500 to $2,000 more “variable profit” per sale than the models they replace. This was made possible through better purchasing and engineering scale, according to Reuss.
That means it may put Chevrolet back on track for self-imposed goal of 10 percent contribution from passenger car sales. Currently, Chevrolet is short of that 2016 goal.
The report also cites incoming over-the-air support for software upgrades for GM vehicles, which Reuss says has been tested in the 2016 Chevrolet Volt, and will eventually be deployed on a larger scale.


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The prospective team has ticked an important box after the announcement that General Motors would join as a power unit supplier in Formula 1.
Michael Andretti believes that General Motors joining Formula 1 as a power unit supplier under the Cadillac brand will be crucial to Andretti Global’s entry into the sport. This announcement has faced opposition from existing teams, but it represents an important step in Andretti’s partnership. Andretti is currently in discussions with Formula One Management, and once those are finalized, they will be ready to join the grid. Andretti expressed pride in the Andretti Cadillac partnership and stated that their commitment to excellence will be taken seriously as they aim to compete as a true American works team. This partnership is expected to boost the sport in the US market and globally.


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One of the biggest political surprises of 2014 was the Obama Administration’s decision to “chart a new course” in US relations with Cuba. While social media buzzed with chatter that the US was “lifting the embargo,” the new policy towards Cuba is at most a step towards that. Lifting the embargo requires the approval of Congress, which given its current political makeup, is not likely to happen in the very near future.
According to the White House’s fact sheet “Charting a New Course on Cuba,” the new stance on Cuba has come from the realization that the embargo, which has been in place since 1962, has “failed to accomplish [the] enduring objective of promoting the emergence of a democratic, prosperous, and stable Cuba.”
Located just 90 miles off the Floridian coast, Cuba and the United States share a coalescing history. From President John Quincy Adams who declared Cuba to be an “object of transcendental importance to the commercial and political interests of our union,” to his predecessor Thomas Jefferson who thought the US should annex Cuba, the easing of travel and commercial restrictions towards Cuba is another important chapter between US/Cuban relations.
For travelers, Cuba is frequently touted as a favorite destination. Henry Louis Gates describes a trip to Cuba as akin to visiting another planet with uncanny similarities to American culture. He wrote, “It’s like a doppelganger. It’s the mirror image. And I have no doubt, that once Cuba becomes democratic, that it will be the favorite tourist destination for Americans.” So what does the White House’s new stance on Cuba mean for Americans wishing to travel to Cuba? Below are answers to questions potential visitors to Cuba are likely to have.
Can Americans travel to Cuba as tourists?
The simple answer to this question is, “no, we can’t.” While the White House has eased restrictions and reduced the number of formal hoops that travelers must hop through to go to Cuba, there is still no way to visit Cuba as a tourist without violating Proclamation 3447, signed by President Kennedy to establish the embargo.
While some Americans do travel to Cuba by flying from an intermediary country like Canada or Mexico, this is still illegal. As one 75-year-old San Diego womanlearned the hard way after she took a bicycle tour in Cuba with a Canadian company, violating the ban can dramatically increase a trip’s cost. Upon her return, she was fined $7,600 for her trip. We hope for her sake it was the trip of a lifetime.
How can an American go to Cuba?
There are twelve categories in which Americans can go to Cuba without fear of legal reprisal. Anyone with a strong desire to travel to Cuba should be able to find a legal way to get there from the broad list under which a US citizen can go to Cuba without fear of reprisal.
The categories are: 1) Family visits 2) Official US business 3) Journalistic activity 4) Professional research 5) Educational activities 6) Religious activities 7) Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions 8) Support for the Cuban people 9) Humanitarian projects 10) activities of private foundations or research 11) Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials 12) Certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing regulations and guidelines.
The easiest ways for an American to get to Cuba without specific business or family in Cuba are under educational activities, journalistic activity, or humanitarian projects. There are a number of active charities in Cuba where a traveler could arrange a volunteerism trip, such as Care International. Travel writers working for a publication may be able to get their trip authorized simply by reporting on Cuba as a destination. For more information check with The US Treasury’s Comprehensive Guidelines For License Applications.
How will Cuba change once more Americans can visit?
While it will be some time before Americans can take their speedboats from Miami over to Cuba for weekend warrior-ing, the ease in restrictions will lead to more Americans traveling to Cuba legally. Frequently I’ve spoken with Americans who support rescinding the embargo, but worry what an increased inflow of American tourists will do to Cuba.
Some fear a return to the time before the Cuban Revolution when, as Cuban historian Louis Perez put it, “Havana was then what Las Vegas has become.” It’s important to remember that the tourism that some fear was also the industry that saved Cuba from economic ruin after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Does this mean that American businesses will open in Cuba?
While agriculture exports, banking transactions and telecommunications exports will increase due to the easing of sanctions, McDonalds won’t be popping up in Cuba anytime soon. Regardless of American restrictions, Cuban laws would still prevent most American companies from setting up shop on the “Pearl of the Antilles”.
–Contributed by Luke Armstrong


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Huawei has been pushing hard to get its piece of the high-end smartphone market, including some new technologies like the Force Touch and rear dual camera, developed in cooperation with Leica. The company has invested a lot in the marketing of its P9 and P9 Plus flagship smartphone which has apparently paid off, leading to a shipped number of over 10 million of these smartphones.
Back in October, the company managed to ship over 100 million smartphones and has set the target at 140 million shipped smartphones for 2016. According to latest information coming from an unnamed VP, the company managed to reach that target, which is almost a 40 percent increase compared to the last year. Its flagship P9 series managed to get to nine million in November and the company expects to ship around 12 million by the time these get replaced by the next flagship, most likely sometime after MWC 2017 in February.
While it might not ship as many flagship smartphones as Samsung and Apple, Huawei is pushing hard to get its piece of this market and it will probably have a great next year with its own Kirin 970 SoC and the P10 flagship smartphone.