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Following the DEA’s recent decision to classify marijuana extracts—specifically classifying CBD, hemp and all their derivatives—as Schedule 1 substances, the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) said Monday that it is “strongly considering legal action” to block the DEA’s move.
Arguing that CBD products should be defined as “supplements,” not drugs or pharmaceuticals, the HIA said the DEA misused its authority and that only Congress or the U.S. attorney general is authorized to add CBD oil to the list of banned substances.
The non-profit trade association, representing businesses, farmers, researchers and investors working with industrial hemp, said in a press release that the DEA was wrong to classify all CBD products as “marijuana extracts” because the oil could be produced from both marijuana and hemp plants.
“Additionally, the ruling is based on an incorrect and incomplete understanding of how CBD is derived from the cannabis plant,” the HIA explained in a statement. “While CBD may be derived from forms of cannabis that contain high amounts of THC, the cannabinoid associated with ‘marijuana,’ CBD may also be produced from industrial hemp plants that meet the legal standards of less than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight, and which may be cultivated in 32 states in the U.S. per Sec. 7606 of the Farm Bill. Hence, not all CBD products may be classified as extracts from ‘marijuana.’”
Eric Steenstra, executive director of HIA, said that by allowing hemp farmers to produce CBD oil in a growing number of states under the 2014 farm bill, Congress had already ruled on the subject.
Steenstra reiterated that the “DEA has no authority whatsoever to impede the production, processing or sale of hemp products, including CBD products, grown under the Farm Bill.”
Meanwhile, a key finding presented by researchers at the American Epilepsy Society’s 70th Annual Meeting in early December found that CBD oil reduces the frequency and severity of seizures in children and adults with severe, intractable epilepsy.
“Our research adds to the evidence that CBD may reduce frequency of seizures, but we also found that it appears to decrease the severity of seizures, which is a new finding,” said Jerzy P. Szaflarski, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the department of neurology and director of the Birmingham Epilepsy Center at the University of Alabama, at the meeting.
You can keep up with all of HIGH TIMES’ marijuana news right here.
Mommy and Me Trip to the Weed Maze: Normalizing Cannabis for Toddlers
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Group expands its SmartFresh portfolio to a wider range of crops including apples, pears, avocados, kiwifruit and stonefruit
AgroFresh Solutions has announced the expansion of its SmartFresh Inbox in California, with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (CDPR) approval for a range of new crops.
SmartFresh InBox offers protection in a small, portable sachet, expanding the availability of SmartFresh technology for growers, packers and retailers who either don’t have an airtight room or require a more convenient option.
Now registered in California on apples and pears, peaches and plums, kiwifruit and avocados, Smartfresh InBox utilises AgroFresh’s ethylene management technology to delay the ripening process and maintain postharvest produce quality and freshness.
According to AgroFresh, the sachets are easy to apply and handle, offering protection against internal and external threats to freshness, resulting in increased shelf-life and reduced levels of food loss and waste.
“At AgroFresh, we are driven by a spirit of innovation and unparalleled customer service, and we are delighted to be able to bring SmartFresh InBox to more of our US customers,” said Michael Hamby, chief commercial officer forAgroFresh.
“In the fight against food loss and waste, it is essential to make better solutions more accessible to our customers,” he continued. ”SmartFresh InBox offers the convenient, flexible, and easy-to-use application process that will help bring the best tasting, highest-quality fruit to market.”
“California is the largest and most diverse fruit growing region in the US and our customers there need more flexible application methods and products to help preserve and protect the crops they oversee,” said Sarah Enescu, commercial business director for AgroFresh.
“We are excited to bring our full portfolio of SmartFresh solutions, services and application methods to our customers to help improve the quality and freshness of a broader range of crops.”

domain: news


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Soon, there will be a sensor that is able to sense when your tire needs to be replaced.
Continental Tire is working on developing a next-generation tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that will also measure the tread depth of tires and warn owners when they are close to being bald. The new system will utilize software and in-tire pressure sensors to gather information based on tire deformation and rolling characteristics. According to Continental Tire, its engineers have compiled data on numerous tires and the software is able to compare next-gen TPMS-equipped tire’s rolling characteristics against the accumulated data to determine tread depth.
As a result, the system is able to determine if the tread is too low, alerting the driver that a tire change is necessary. The company expects the technology to be available on new vehicles by 2017, when its newest Electronic Tire Information System (eTIS) becomes available.


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In a bid to streamline sales of casual video games, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. on Tuesday said that starting from the 1st of April, 2009, the PlayStation 2 video game console will cost $99 in the U.S. and €99 ($131.5). The company hopes that low price and very wide game portfolio for the PS2 will catalyze more people to acquire this very affordable console and will also help the firm to establish better position in the Latin American market.
Since launching in 2000, PlayStation 2 has sold more than 136 million sell-in units worldwide, making it the most popular system in gaming industry history. PlayStation 2’s vast library of games from all genres for all types of audiences will grow to nearly 1900 titles this year, which makes it a rather attractive system to get for a novice gamer, especially in Latin America Region, where Sony Computer Entertainment America plans to officially launch its PS2, PS3 and PlayStation Portable systems shortly.
“Demand for PlayStation 2 remains strong throughout the world, and the new $99 price point will bring in new consumers who will discover how PlayStation platforms are an outstanding choice for their gaming and home entertainment needs,” said said Jack Tretton, president and chief executive officer at SCEA.
While Sony claims that slashing the price of the PlayStation 2 from $129/€129 to $99/€99 represents “significant saving”, the fact is that Sony is trying to expand its presence in new markets, such as Latin America and Eastern Europe, where video game systems are not very popular at the moment.
Latin America seems to be an exact point of interest for Sony Computer Entertainment: a week ago a new video game console called Zeebo was launched in Brazil at $200 price-point, just about $50 below the cost of the PlayStation 2 on the grey market in the country. At present it is unclear whether PlayStation consoles are available in the Latin America officially, but once the PS2 systems emerge at $99 price-point, they will have high chances to be much more popular than Zeebo, thanks to broader portfolio of games. Zeebo is not only aimed at Latin America and will be introduced in other developing countries in the coming years, but with the price of PlayStation 2 slashed further in European regions, Zeebo may not get highly popular.
One thing that will slowdown Sony PlayStation 2 success in the Latin America is relatively high pricing of video games: in the U.S. Sony charges up to $40 for a new video game and up to $20 for an outdated one, which is considerably higher than $10 for a pirated PS2 game in Brazil or $12 for a genuine Zeebo game in the country.


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What did it take for Alejandra Vargas, 24, an Aguascaliente-born Latina to open her first clothing shop in downtown Santa Ana?
Hope, sacrifices, local resources and support from her family.
All month long, Vargas has been handing out fliers to invite the public to the very moment she has been preparing for since she made the transition from online seller to brick and mortar business owner: the grand opening of her clothing store, Vibes Boutique, in downtown Santa Ana on July 9.
Vargas always felt the calling to entrepreneurship, she knew it was a path for many Americans and wanted it to become a reality for herself and boyfriend.
“Small businesses are 99% of what keeps America going,” says Vargas.
With the most recent data, there are 32.5 million small businesses which make up 99.9% of all US businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
For Vargas, Saturday’s grand opening is a celebration of all her successes thus far and gives a warm welcome to prospective clients with some Latino hospitality (free tacos and drinks with a $10 minimum purchase, while supplies last) and free goody bags highlighting local businesses.
Opening a brick and mortar clothing business during a pandemic was an act of courage, with a village behind her to help her achieve her success. The business plan was simple, take a risk while you have the proper support.
“You don’t have to go all in, you can start with an online store too, like we did and test the waters,” said Vargas.
“We don’t have rich parents, you know, funding is a big obstacle, luckily we were able to borrow money from my boyfriend’s mom, for the security deposit of the building, which we will pay back, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from going into business. You have to try. You have to take risks, and taking risks has gotten us here.”
Vargas, who started her entrepreneurship through selling jewelry at her boyfriend’s mother’s shop in Santa Ana decided this was the year to have her own shop to sell dresses, accessories, trendy tops and womens jeans.
Vargas, and her boyfriend, David Hernandez, 30, open the shop every day, seven days a week without fail. “We have no employees at the moment,” says Vargas, as she acknowledges Hernandez with a glance, “it’s one of the many sacrifices we make.”
Vargas and Hernandez, both have scaled down costs in their personal lives to make ends meet for their new venture. They now rent a room with other family members, giving them the chance to invest more in their business.
It’s not an easy task.
Navigating the business world of permits and business licenses was uncharted territory for Vargas. She started looking for resources and stumbled upon government assistance programs and Santa Ana city programs for new businesses opening up after the pandemic.
Vargas, in her own right, is constantly looking for new ways to take her business to the next level.
In December of 2021, Vargas graduated through a City of Santa Ana
“You know the mayor was there for the graduation,” said Vargas with a smile, as she recounted her time in the Emprendedoras program.
To start a clothing business it is costing Vargas about $50,000 to begin, but this wasn’t always the case, “I started up my online jewelry business with around $600 dollars, that includes shopify, online domain and $500 to buy jewelry and resell.”
Vargas and Hernandez often work 16-18 hour days.
They both wake up before business hours to commute to the Los Angeles Fashion District to buy new inventory, where a sellers permit is mandatory in some showrooms to purchase merchandise. When Vargas and Hernandez are done shopping, they drive back to Santa Ana for regular business hours. “I try to have new inventory each week,” said Vargas.
The venture is exciting and refreshing to Vargas and Hernandez, who encourage anyone to “make their dreams a reality.” For them two, they know it’s a risk they are willing to take.
For anyone curious about Alejandras new store, the grand opening is today, July 9 starting at 12 p.m.- 8 p.m. at 208 W. 4th St Santa Ana. Parking is available at the parking structure located on 201 W. 3rd Street Santa Ana.


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First pictures from the new Butai Sengoku Basara stage play
Today was the first performance of the new Butai Sengoku Basara 3: Togakuruwashi Kizuna stage play! With a massive 22-member cast which brings back popular characters like the Maeda family and Kingo, the focus is on the tragic relationship between Ieyasu and Mitsunari, taking the Butai Sengoku Basara 3 series right back to its roots.
The press were invited to the dress rehearsal and there are already photo reports online on the Dengeki, Famitsu and 4Gamer websites. KobaP is reported to have said that he wants to give Tokugawa Ieyasu a 'push' in 2014 with this and the new anime project on the horizon.
There were also a number of the cheerful tweets from celebrities who attended the first day's performance. My favourites were the 'two shot' pictures of seiyuu next to their stage play counterparts: here's Ishino Ryuuzou and Nakahara Shigeru having some fun with the actors. Nakamura Seijirou (Mitsunari) broke the trend by posting a picture with Okiayu Ryoutarou (Hideyoshi) instead of Seki Tomokazu (Mitsunari).
I hope that the play is a big success, and that we can look forward to a possible Butai Sengoku Basara 4 before too much longer.
Edit: Gamer and Inside Games have added their picture reports as well.
More details about the new stage play goods are revealed
Sample pictures of the new merchandise available at the play's venues are now available. A few items were already shown in a previous update; here's the rest.
Seven different A4 mutsugiri photographs (¥1,000). The designs are: Ieyasu/Yukimura (played by Matsumura Ryuunosuke), Mitsunari/Yoshitsugu, Masamune/Kojuurou, Yukimura (played by Yoshioka Yuu)/Sasuke, Keiji/Toshiie/Matsu, Motochika/Motonari and Tenkai/Hideaki.
Twenty five-piece sets of large photographs (¥1,000).
Four clear files available in Ieyasu/Mitsunari, Masamune/Yukimura, Keiji/Kojuurou/Sasuke and Motochika/Motonari designs (¥600 each). Yoshioka Yuu will be the actor dressed as Yukimura for the clear file.
A 32-page A4 pamphlet (¥2,100). It's been reported that there was a printing problem with the pamphlet which has led to a delay; it won't be available until 28th April 2014. Fans who attend the earlier performances are able to preorder the pamphlet at the venue and have a copy posted to them once it's ready.
Mobile game Sengoku Basara Card Heroes Matsuri is shutting down
A quiet announcement on the official website has confirmed that the mobile game Sengoku Basara Card Heroes Matsuri will soon be joining its cousin Browser Sengoku Basara as a distant memory; it's to close down at 14:00 on 23rd June 2014. To soften the blow, a special in-game event will be held from 30th April with Echizen: Kitanoshou Castle as the theme to allow players to get their hands on some rare Sengoku Basara 4 cards. I hope they release all of the exclusive artwork used in the mobile game one day for those of us who didn't have the time to play it properly...
Sengoku Basara Magazine Vol.5 is dated for May
Eagle-eyed fans have spotted a placeholder listing on Amazon which gives the release date for the next volume of Sengoku Basara Magazine as 27th May 2014. Assuming that nothing changes, we should see more preorder listings appearing over the next few days.
Even more Mame Sengoku Basara merchandise is on the way
CafeReo is continuing its relentless attack on the wallets of fans across the world with yet another wave of Mame Sengoku Basara goods due in June and July. This is starting to become much too expensive, but at least these items are available through regular import shops such as Otaku Republic, Ami Ami and Amazon Japan. More international-friendly stores should be adding their preorder listings very soon.
Nine different Mame Sengoku Basara ballpoint pens (¥600 each).
A Mame Sengoku Basara book cover available in A5 (¥1,200) and bunko-5 (¥1,000) sizes.
A pair of Mame Sengoku Basara 'decoration jackets' for IC cards (¥500 each).
A new Mame Sengoku Basara mug (¥1,500).
Four different Mame Sengoku Basara Japanese-style teacups (¥1,000 each).
Sengoku Basara's Yukimura is to be honoured with a stage event and special tofu
The real-life Sanada Yukimura is famous for his strong ties to the Osaka area (which is not coincidentally also the site of Capcom's headquarters) and a historical exhibition about the real warrior is to be held over the Golden Week holiday period in Japan. The Tennouji Sanada Yukimura Fair is running a 'pre-event' celebration on 4th May 2014 in Tennouji Park, Osaka, and Sengoku Basara fans will have a few extra incentives to visit this time.
It's been confirmed that Sanada Yukimura's seiyuu Hoshi Souichirou will be making two sold-out appearances on stage with KobaP, and eccentric brand Otokomae Tofu will be running another tasty tie-in for fans of the series! The collaboration will be similar to the one at last year's Kyomaf fair, with a ¥300 set of chilled tofu, tsuyu sauce, an egg and seaweed. An exclusive 'manly' sumi-e illustration has been commissioned for the packaging.
Series producer KobaP will appear at May's Machi Asobi event
It wasn't so long ago that we were all getting excited about the Sengoku Basara 4 news from a previous Machi Asobi! There's no sign of any exclusive information this time, but fans who are in the Tokushima area might want to visit on 5th May 2014 for a special digital creator seminar starring Tales Of Xillia producer Baba Hideo, Gunslinger Stratos producer Kadoi Nobuki and Sengoku Basara 4 producer Kobayashi Hiroyuki (KobaP). It should be a very interesting discussion for those lucky enough to attend.


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One of 17 businesses backed in the second round of innovation loans for innovative manufacturing electrospinning processes and materials. The companies will use the funding to carry out R&D projects as part of plans to scale up production and commercialise new technologies.
The Electrospinning Company has just moved into purpose-built clean-room facilities electrospinning on the growing Harwell Science and Innovation Campus and will use this loan to fund manufacturing process innovation for the scalable manufacture of novel biomaterials.
Innovate UK is running a pilot programme of loan competitions over 2 years to the end of 2019. A total of up to £50 million is available for business innovation projects. Simon Edmonds, deputy executive chair and business officer at Innovate UK, said: “Innovation in manufacturing and materials electrospinning requires finance that understands and accepts the risk in new technologies, so we’re excited about the opportunities that innovation loans are now unlocking for UK businesses to invest in the delivery of new products and services in this important sector for the UK economy.
We’ve seen continuing high levels of demand for this new, affordable, flexible electrospinning and low-interest finance option for innovation and we’re confident it will help potential UK businesses to scale up, create high-value jobs and ultimately accelerate economic growth and improve the quality of life across all regions.”
Innovate UK introduced its pilot programme of innovation loans to some of the electrospinning UK’s most innovative businesses to scale. To do this, the programme will help tackle the key issues facing innovative companies. If successful in the competitive application process, businesses can borrow between £100,000 and £1 million.


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The Special Collections Library on the Montana State University campus is a hidden gem for anglers.
It holds one of the world’s largest collections of books about trout and salmon, all under one roof. And now, with a donation from Fly Fishers International (FFI), it’s about to get bigger.
“It just seemed like a great fit to have a home for researchers, materials for those people interested in getting a line in Montana’s waters,” said James Thull, special collection librarian for Montana State University.
Thull is excited about FFI’s decision give the Renne Library’s special collections 2,000 – 3,000 volumes of materials for their trout and salmonid collection this year.
“We’ve been talking for years on how to maximize our efforts,” Thull said.
The collection is already impressive. They have materials dating back to 1531 and other rare gems.
“We have a book that was held by the hands of Isaak Walton, which I think is a pretty neat thing,” Thull said.
As for the collaboration between MSU and FFI, Thull says it’s a win-win.
“You have the idea that everything is stronger together, so the idea that those books here makes our collection stronger and a better resource for researchers and anglers,” he said.
With thousands of volumes of written materials, the wealth of information at the library is staggering. But the oral history collection may be the most cherished one they have — not always about the one that got away.
The collection is open and available to anybody that wants to see it Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.


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Fancy a spot of prosecco or a cocktail while you shop?
House of Fraser has had a major refurbishment at its Gracechurch shopping centre store in Sutton Coldfield – and it has introduced a cocktail cafe.
Caffé Botanico offers prosecco and cocktail aperitifs, Mediterranean food and coffee on wrought iron furnishings, large tables and sofas.
The entire store has undergone a full interior refit.
It has just opened its first designer childrenswear department, as it completes another phase in its multi-million pound refurbishment programme.
There’s also a new concept Virgin Holidays travel concession just launched, featuring a trendy oak sit up bar serving alcoholic drinks.
Work has now completed on the new menswear department which has undergone a full modernisation with new flooring, lighting and fitting rooms, as well as the introduction of new brands including Armani , Boss Orange and Boss Green.
A new home department and beauty and fashion accessories department, together with a refurbished Café Zest and new shop front, will complete the refurbishment ready for the final launch on November 9.
Chris Brain, store manager at House of Fraser Gracechurch said: “The store is really taking shape now with two new eateries, new fashion departments and not to mention a host of new brands. Customer feedback is already is extremely positive and we are all extremely excited for the launch event on Thursday 9 November.”
Angela Henderson, centre manager at The Gracechurch Centre, comments: “We’re thrilled about the refurbishment of House of Fraser. The store, which now boasts new café-bar Caffe Botanico is an exciting new addition to our offering as a centre.
“We’re fortunate to have a House of Fraser store at the heart of our centre, packed with premium brands from Joules and Whistles to Hugo Boss and Tommy Hilfiger. The new additions to the store enhances the current offering even further and is already looking sensational.”
New shops in Birmingham
The Mailbox is launching Homeware at The Mailbox on October 26 and it will feature classic furniture store Heal’s .
There will also be MADE.COM , Content by Conran and SITS.
And iconic jewellers Tiffany & Co. has announced to plans to open a store in Selfridges in Bullring on October 27.
Located on the store’s fourth floor, the shop will stock the brand’s jewellery and watches collections from the iconic Tiffany T range, Fleur de Lis and Tiffany City HardWear to the CT60 and East West watches collections.
Link Street is getting its fair share of new boutiques too with a vegan cosmetics brand, a jewellery shop, a handmade gift shop, and a clothing and accessories store opening between now and Christmas.


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Leaders told to embrace disruption
Forbes CEO conference zeroes in on technology
published : 31 Oct 2018 at 04:00
newspaper section: Business
The digital disruption is just getting started, according to executives of top tech and finance companies at the Forbes Global CEO Conference in Bangkok.
Rich Karlgaard, editor-at-large of Forbes Media, welcomes participants to the conference at the Plaza Athenee Bangkok. Pornprom Satrabhaya
The conference is focused on how leaders, companies and countries are confronting challenges and seizing opportunities arising from disruption.
In a panel discussion, JP Gan, managing partner of Qiming Venture Partners; Kuok Meng Ru, chief executive of BandLab Technologies; Noni Purnomo, president of Blue Bird Group Holding; and Tan Min-Liang, head of Razer, gave insights on the future of disruptive technologies in their respective industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and software as a service.
SOUNDS OF DISRUPTION
Mr Gan sees disruptions in all industries from healthcare to law enforcement to coffee. He is invested in a coffee company working on drone technology that would allow customers to order a coffee in the morning to be dropped off on their balcony by a drone.
Chartsiri: Fintech a partner
"The key to machine learning and AI is having a lot of data," he said. "AI companies in China have a competitive advantage against companies around the world because the government allows them to collect this data.
"Unicorns today are growing like rabbits," said Mr Gan, referring to private companies valued at over US$1 billion.
He sees emerging healthcare companies as future unicorns, especially DNA sequencing companies as costs for computing sequences have reduced dramatically. These companies can provide ancestry tests or tailor specific medicine to unique DNA irregularities.
Mr Min-Liang, who owns one of the largest gaming companies in the world, specialises in hardware like gaming PCs, software and services to connect gamers.
"When I started the company people said I was getting into a niche market," he said. "Now gaming has grown into a $130-billion market, bigger than music. Razer didn't disrupt anything, rather it served and grew an untapped market."
But that doesn't mean Razer is not vulnerable to disruption. Cloud computing, which could stream video games over the internet, could reduce the need for expensive hardware. 5G adoption will only exacerbate this trend.
"Most of these trends you can spot ahead of time, and we have a group of people working on spotting disruptions," Mr Min-Liang said. "We need to spot the trends, make sure we have new generations looking, and make sure new trends like 5G are addressed."
The smartphone is the first instrument many people pick up today, with the technology to make your own music, Mr Kuok said.
"We want to combine the markets of music consumption and music-making," he said. Mr Kuok created a cloud platform where music listeners and music makers can collaborate and make music together over the internet.
Suphachai: Ask questions
He said AI can be a huge disrupter for the music industry. Although it is still in its infant stage, AI-created music can be used as cheap background music for internet videos and TV shows, where licensing can be expensive. This trend could happen sooner than expected, Mr Kuok said.
Noni Purnomo, president-director of Blue Bird Group Holding, is a victim of disruption. Her traditional taxi company in Indonesia has been around since 1965 but is struggling to keep up with industry disrupters like Go-Jek and Grab.
"We were highly regulated, then this new business model came and hit us hard," she said. "What we realised is what is important to any business is to address the changing needs of the customer."
Blue Bird was the first taxi company in the world to create its own mobile app for hailing cabs, but that did not prevent it from being disrupted by ride-sharing apps, which did not follow government regulations, Ms Purnomo said.
She said Blue Bird is looking into autonomous vehicles as the trend of the future, but it's hesitant to lay off its 45,000 drivers.
"Autonomous vehicles and the analytics behind them would be very helpful for us to run our company, but until Indonesia is ready for the technology, we will continue to use drivers," Ms Purnomo said. "The cost of drivers is much cheaper than technology for us, so AI driving will probably be adopted first in countries where human labour is more expensive."
PARTNERS, NOT PESTS
Speaking at the "Brave New Capital" panel discussion, Bangkok Bank president Chartsiri Sophonpanich insisted that fintech startups are now seen as complements to traditional financial institutions rather than competitors.
This partnership will build engagement and help banks properly develop innovative products and services longer term, he said. Fintech firms can help recreate the country's financial ecosystem, Mr Chartsiri said.
The relationship between banks and customers is the most important factor as banks attempt to gain better insight into customer demands, he said. Banks are paying more attention to building innovation as a mindset, strengthening internal working processes and cultures between bank and other digital partners, Mr Chartsiri said.
Gan: Data is key
Business leaders must be adaptive now more than ever, said Suphachai Chearavanont, chief executive of Charoen Pokphand Group and chairman of the executive committee of True Corporation.
"Vision needs to be reshaped through organisational collaboration," he said. "The most intelligent person shouldn't always be at the top of the hierarchy. They should be at the front end, so we need to rethink on how to train, empower and incentivise them."
"Leaders also need to continuously spot and create the island, and let the old islands that do not want to change drown.
"Finding the right talent and knowing what to expect from them is also crucial. It's not only about our people. It's about knowing how we should change to suit the company culture. If we do not change, it will not change anything."
Mr Suphachai said leaders should shift from giving orders to asking the right questions to ensure that organisational values and cultures are aligned in operations. They must also realise change moves at an exponential rate, so they need to ensure the organisation is equipped with the right technology to thrive.


text: National City, CA will be the launch venue for the opening of the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative (PEVC) campaign, – Best.Ride.EVer! – on Saturday August 8 at the National City Automobile Heritage Day Festival http://www.automobileheritageday.com/. Charge Across Town identified National City as an excellent venue for Best.Ride.EVER! due to the City’s commitment to electric transportation, and its strong support from the Chamber of Commerce and Mile of Cars dealerships in National City. Best.Ride.EVER! is a FREE electric vehicle ride and drive series taking place throughout the state over the next six months. The goal is to get as many people to test drive all types and models of plug-in and all electric vehicles at these events. Data shows that when people test drive electric vehicles they are more likely to consider purchasing them. Charge Across Town will be surveying the test drivers and determining pre and post attitudes towards EVs, as well as following up with a select group to see if they purchased or leased an electric vehicle. The Best.Ride.Ever! campaign is a great effort to help move the state towards its carbon reduction goals and bring clean transportation to communities impacted by poor air quality.


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A group of hackers calling themselves The Consortium is claiming to have accessed user data of over 70,000 users of the pornography website Digital Playground, according to Adult Video News.
The group also claims to have the credit card data -- including names, expiration dates and CVV codes -- for more than 40,000 of the members, but that it's not planning on using or releasing the information.
"...[W]e do this for the love of the game not for profit," a message purportedly written by the group said, according to the blog Naked Security, "and these peoples [sic] only crime was wanting some porn."
In response, Luxembourg-based Manwin, the parent company of Digital Playground, shut down the site on March 5. While Digital Playground is currently live again for existing members, it is not accepting any new users.
"The site is currently operational for members and will be fully operational before the end of the week," Kate Miller, a spokesperson for Manwin, told The Huffington Post.
Manwin has only owned Digital Playground since March 1, and the company said the hack may have happened before they officially became the new owner. However, a Twitter feed that PC Magazine reports belongs to The Consortium didn't announce the hack until March 4, four days after the sale become official.
This is at least the third time in two months that Manwin, which bills itself as "the largest network of adult websites in the world," has made headlines following a security breach.
In February, a third-party chat feature on the popular YouPorn website was breached, revealing the names and login information of as many as one million users. In a separate incident earlier in the month, a person claiming to be a 17-year-old living in Morocco said that he had accessed the information of more than 350,000 users of a website operated by Brazzers, another Manwin-owned company.
Unlike the Digital Playground breach, neither of these two prior incidents put credit card information at risk.
Chester Wisniewski, a Senior Security Advisor at Sophos, the Internet security company, said that in light of hacks like this, such as the breaches of Sony's Playstation Network and private security intelligence firm Stratfor -- people using credit cards online should take additional precautions.
Wisniewski suggested that whenever possible, those making online purchases should use a payment system like PayPal, Amazon Payments or Google Checkout, all of which limit online vendors' access to consumer financial data.
Wisniewski also suggested limiting the amount of unnecessary personal data -- like phone numbers and addresses -- that people make available on sites like Facebook, as this information can be used to get additional, more critical information, from banks.
"It sounds a bit paranoid and scared, but the less information that's out there, the better," Wisniewski said.


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American Copper & Brass announced Nov. 30 it is moving its distribution center and corporate headquarters from Hillsdale, Mich., to a new facility in Coldwater, Mich., starting at the beginning of the new year.
The company will be relocating its corporate headquarters and main parts distribution facility to Coldwater as part of the company's plan to expand and grow.
More details here.
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Under the chairmanship of the Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, the GST Council held its 45th meeting on 17th Sep in Lucknow wherein correction in Inverted Duty structure in Footwear and Textiles sector was discussed. Post meeting Press release confirmed that the New Rules will be applicable from 1st January, 2022. According to sources, the council could not correct it in the past, particularly during last year due to the pandemic, because it would have had an adverse impact on either GST revenue collections or consumer prices of the finished products. Some other industries facing the brunt of the inverted duty structure are the fertilizer, pharmaceutical and textile apart from footwear industry.
An ‘Inverted duty structure’ means a higher duty on inputs and a lower duty on finished products. According to sources, the lower duty on finished products creates an inversion and the consequences are – a higher refund to industry which affects the cash flows for companies and revenue collections for the government. For example, The footwear sector uses a variety of components with different rates. The raw materials used in the footwear industry are taxed at 12% or 18%. The final product is taxed at 5% in cases where the price of footwear is up to Rs.1,000. This leads to unrecovered credits for the manufacturer. The consumers do not gain anything rather this may result in a higher price for consumers.


text: Do you have a coat–or some coats–which are in good repair but not getting put to use in the upcoming cold weather months? Are you shopping for coats and are interested in picking up an extra for someone in need? If so, we hope that you will consider participating in our annual coat drive. According to an article in the Frederick News Post earlier this year, 2018’s count of homeless individuals in our county was 218 and that number was 70 more than the previous year. In addition our homeless neighbors in need, there are many others struggling to make ends meet. As we know, coats provide safety as well as warmth. All coats collected will be distributed right in our local community. We invite you to join us in our goal of collecting a minimum of 100 coats between now and December 16.


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Dr Noki will present a catwalk show at London festival Lovebox later this month. "Just like Linda, Naomi and Christie famously known for only waking up for no less than £ 10,000 a day, Dr Noki only wakes up to immerse himself in exciting new projects," said Noki. "Music is one of my first loves so I was very excited and honoured to be asked to host Lovebox's first ever catwalk show. I can't wait to bring an explosion of sustainable fashion Dr Noki style to the main stage at Lovebox Sunday."
Noki shot to fashion fame following the success of his spring/summer 2008 show at Fashion East, when he first became known for his experimental, unique take on ethical fashion. Noki has secured an impressive celebrity following including Beth Ditto, Kylie Minogue, M.I.A and Skin.
"I've always thought that music and fashion run hand in hand so the idea in a nutshell was to add a new dimension to the Lovebox Sunday main stag," said James Baillie, creative director of Sunday's Lovebox festival. "I wanted to work with JJ (Dr Noki NHS) on doing a fashion show as I was inspired by his ethos and the garments he creates from second hand clothes and fabrics. His collection is much more than just fashion garments, they are pieces of Art".
Catch one of Dr Noki's designs as sported by Jonny Woo at Lovebox on Sunday when he comperes the Main Stage, as well as wearing a number of other designers throughout the day, including Giles Deacon, Roksanda Illinic, Louise Gray, Alex Noble and Lyall Hakaraia.
Find out more at Lovebox.net
Purchase tickets for Lovebox HERE
See Dr Noki's show on July 19 at Lovebox 2010 in Victoria Park, LondonReuse content


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Ralph Hamers, the new CEO of UBS Group AG, spoke out in favor of digital assets and tokenization at the Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF). He sees "virtually unlimited potential" in these technologies, especially for the Swiss financial centre and the Crypto Valley.
This week, the annual FinTech Festival is taking place in Singapore, bringing together numerous major banks, companies from the financial world as well as regulators - including Credit Suisse and UBS. Ralph Hamers, CEO of the UBS Group as of November, spoke on topics such as neobanks, green fintech and open banking. However, the UBS chief sees particular potential in digital assets and tokenization, reports Bloomberg.
Switzerland as blockchain hub
The ecosystem around the blockchain technology in Switzerland can be traced all the way back to 2013. Politicians and regulators were able to provide the necessary legal certainty at an early stage, thus laying the foundation for growth. Currently numerous companies are dealing with the introduction of digital assets, crypto currencies and decentralized infrastructure. After all it isn’t a coincidence that Switzerland is called the "Crypto Nation" and the region between Zug & Liechtenstein is called "Crypto Valley".
Crypto currencies such as Bitcoin are increasingly finding their way into the traditional financial world and are once again appearing on the front pages of most media outlets. This week, the Swiss Stock Exchange SIX joined a joint venture between Sygnum and Swisscom to facilitate institutional access to digital assets. Other applications of blockchain technology are also gaining momentum, including tokenization. Recently, the Swiss bank Sygnum announced the launch of a platform for issuing and trading so-called security tokens.
"Unlimited potential" of tokenization
In short, tokenization is the representation of an asset on the blockchain. For trading traditional financial products it may be only a small step forward, but for illiquid assets such as real estate, art or commodities, tokenization can open up new worlds.
Thanks to their divisibility, global transferability, and the low transaction costs of blockchain tokens, smaller private investors can also gain access to "non-bankable assets". Markets with historically low liquidity could thus enjoy a new inflow of investment.
"We have not even scratched the surface of what we could do with digital assets and tokenization. The technology has virtually unlimited potential." - Ralph Hamers, CEO UBS Group AG


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Need for debt advice is rising this month after millions lured by cheap credit for Christmas shopping
Worried families have driven a surge in demand for debt advice as Britain’s credit binge takes its toll.
Free service National Debtline has recorded a 17 per cent rise in calls for the first eight working days of 2017 compared to a year earlier.
The charity’s research suggests that one in three adults took on extra debt over the festive season, and it estimates that 5.5million people will fall behind on repayments this month.
Struggling: National Debtline has recorded a 17% rise in calls for the first eight working days of 2017
Experts have long warned that Britain is spending beyond its means, driven by record-low interest rates and fierce competition between card firms.
Earlier this month, Bank of England figures revealed British families were piling on debt at the fastest rate for nearly 12 years, pushing the amount owed on credit cards to a record high of almost £67billion.
Households borrowed more than £1.9billion in November through credit cards, loans or overdrafts – or nearly £45,000 a minute.
It represented the biggest debt binge since March 2005 as shoppers splashed out on Black Friday deals ahead of Christmas.
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Carrier will likely wait for compatible iPhone
Vodafone UK will wait until September to launch its 4G LTE services, according to reports. British national newspaper The Guardian reports that Voda will miss the originally-targeted summer launch window for its LTE network, which runs on 800MHz and 2600MHz airwaves purchased as part of the recent 4G spectrum auction.
The Guardian quotes Vodafone chief executive Vittorio Colao as saying "We want to be able to launch it when it's really ready. End of the summer means when there is going to be a good commercial window for launching it." That likely means the operator is waiting for refreshed iPhone hardware from Apple. The current iPhone 5 model sold in Europe supports LTE on 1800MHz, the frequencies used by rival EE, but not the 800MHz and 2600MHz that Vodafone will be using. (Most 4G Android phones sold in the UK support all three bands.)
As for rival networks, O2 is said to be targeting summer "at the earliest" for its 4G switch-on. Three UK has built its "Ultrafast" brand around DC-HSDPA and its upcoming LTE offering, but says it's in "no rush" to launch the latter, which it's currently targeting for switch-on in Q4.
Source: The Guardian


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Today in Fleet – Wednesday 30 May
All the key news in fleet…
- Greenhous bolsters fleet expertise - Mark Jones has rejoined dealer group Greenhous in its fleet department as it looks to promote its corporate proposition further. For more of the latest industry news, ... Read More »
- Milk & More becomes first to deploy StreetScooter EV vans - Milk delivery service Milk & More has become the first UK company to deploy electric vans from StreetScooter. For more of the latest industry news, click ... Read More »
- New fleet scheme to encourage better, more efficient drivers - Lightfoot has launched a new fleet-focused rewards package to expand the benefits of its scheme further. For more of the latest industry news, click here.
- Transport Minister to discuss EVs for Go Ultra Low panel - Transport Minister Jesse Norman is to speak on the Government’s work to drive electric car take-up at the forthcoming Hay Festival. For more of the latest ... Read More »
- Blast-resistant Škoda Superb Estate launches - Škoda UK has developed a ballistic and bullet-resistant version of its Superb Estate under a joint venture with a UK-based convertor. For more of the latest ... Read More »
- More than 300 Volkswagen e-Golfs join London car-sharing fleet - Zipcar is adding 325 all-electric e-Golfs to its car-sharing fleet in London from this summer. For more of the latest industry news, click here.
- Manchester expands EV chargepoint network - The MediaCityUK creative and digital hub in Manchester has deployed 10 GeniePoint Network connected chargers from ChargePoint Services to enable the use of electric vehicles by ... Read More »
- Used buyers increasingly migrating to digital tech - Aston Barclay is seeing growing use of its Buyer App as it also plans ahead to the launch of a new appraisal app for fleets. For ... Read More »
For more of the latest industry news, click here.


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Yesterday’s hottest news included some details of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 20. We were told that these new devices would consist of a new LTPO display technology that would allow 120Hz variable refresh rates that would improve the battery life of the devices, and apparently, that wasn’t entirely true.
Note 20 Update – while the Note 20+ remains LTPO and 120Hz, the Note 20 will be LTPS and 60Hz. Makes sense since LTPO costs more and should appear first in premium models. You can do 120Hz with LTPS, but it consumes a lot of power. LTPO is the best implementation for 120Hz.
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) May 12, 2020
It seems that the new LTPO displays will be part of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series, but only in the + variant. New information says that the base model will use an LTPS backplane, and it would also lack 120H refresh rates. The device would be limited to 60Hz refresh rates to avoid draining its battery unnecessarily. Ross Young is once again the source of this leak, and he also states that the base model could be significantly less expensive, at the cost of some features, even though that would place the device in a Note 10 Lite territory.


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Agency still undecided on 510(k) vs. PMA issueThe Food and Drug Administration is attempting to clarify theregulatory status of full-view digital mammography by releasinga draft protocol that it expects vendors to use to receive clearancefor
The Food and Drug Administration is attempting to clarify theregulatory status of full-view digital mammography by releasinga draft protocol that it expects vendors to use to receive clearancefor marketing the devices in the U.S. The FDA has not yet decidedwhether it will require vendors to submit a 510(k) applicationor a more rigorous premarket approval (PMA) application, however.
An FDA official familiar with regulatory review disclosed latelast month that a draft clinical protocol that will guide full-viewdigital device testing will be released this month. That protocolwill be sent to the imaging industry news media as well as tothe National Electrical Manufacturers Association for disseminationto vendors. The FDA will receive public comment on the proposalbefore issuing final rules.
Details of the FDA's plan may change before the protocol'srelease, but in its current form it could allow vendors to avoidthe cumbersome PMA process, which might add years to the commercializationcycle of full-view digital systems. The FDA hinted last year thatit was leaning toward the PMA route (SCAN 1/18/95).
The FDA official indicated that the agency has not yet decidedwhether to require vendors to submit a 510(k) application or aPMA filing for full-view digital. Until it does, it is possiblethat the agency will accept a high-quality 510(k) that is backedby clinical data, the official said.
The clinical protocol to be released this month will serveas a cookbook for vendors undertaking studies to demonstrate safetyand clinical efficacy. A key remaining question centers aroundhow many patients will have to be included in the studies. Thefinal sample size may be around 300 patients, the official said.
Even if a more relaxed protocol is allowed, it will not givevendors carte blanche to market full-view digital systems. Accordingto the official, the initial round of FDA clearances will limitthe use of all-digital devices to diagnostic breast imaging applications.This procedural category includes follow-up imaging to investigatesuspicious masses identified with screening mammography.
Far more research must be completed before the FDA can judgewhether full-view digital mammography is appropriate for screeningapplications, the official said. That determination will probablybe made through an FDA-sponsored, postmarket surveillance programinvolving tens of thousands of women, he said.
The official noted that postmarket surveillance will requirecooperation among manufacturers to establish an installed baseof full-view digital systems large enough to conduct the test.If the FDA requires postmarket surveillance, a final ruling onfull-view digital mammography for screening applications is severalyears away.
The disclosures are a mixed blessing for vendors primed tointroduce full-view digital breast imaging. They offer the hopethat the first round of approvals for diagnostic applicationsmay begin in 1996. The long research cycle for screening applicationsmeans the bulk of the U.S. market will be out of bounds untiltesting is completed.
Still, at least three manufacturers are at the gate in therace to popularize digital breast imaging. Bennett X-Ray of Copiague,NY, will begin shipping its full-view digital mammography systemon a regular basis to European and Asian customers in the nexttwo months, according to CEO Calvin Kleinman.
Fischer Imaging of Denver is about six months away from applyingfor regulatory clearance, if digital mammography qualifies forreview through the 510(k) process, according to chairman and CEOMorgan Nields.
Nields envisions a bureaucratic nightmare for manufacturersif PMAs are required. Numerous design changes always follow theintroduction of a new technology, he noted. That would force Fischerto file numerous PMA amendments and perhaps repeat clinical studiesto examine the effect of design changes, he said.
"If they say we need a PMA, we're probably going to slowdown and make sure many of those improvements are made beforewe do the studies," Nields said.
Lorad of Danbury, CT, is also in the race to commercializethe first full-view digital imager. The company has displayedits work on the technology at the last two Radiological Societyof North America conferences. Clinical trials are under way atthe University of California at San Diego, and University of Virginiaresearchers will soon receive an investigational system, accordingto president Hal Kirshner.


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Search Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" trading recommendations using our exclusive "Mad Money" Stock Screener.
In fact, exactly a year ago the stock market entered a massive tailspin that was eclipsed only by the worst days of the 2008 financial crisis. Investors fretted over the stock market collapse in China, plummeting oil prices and a Federal Reserve that seemed hopelessly out of touch with reality.
But Cramer reminded viewers that since those fateful days last year, the market has only seen gains. The world didn't end after all. The Chinese government put the brakes on short-selling and managed to eek out a respectable 6% GDP growth. Oil companies didn't go bankrupt but survived and recapitalized.
Some investors are still crying foul, Cramer admitted, but those sentiments fall in the face of strong home sales and a Nasdaq at all-time highs. Better still, there aren't just a handful of stocks leading the markets but all sectors are seeing gains.
Off the Charts
In the "Off the Charts" segment, Cramer checked in with colleague Bob Lang over the charts of the retailers after many reported stronger than expected earnings.
Lang first looked at a daily chart of the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) , noting a "W" bottoming pattern in May and June, which represented the perfect buying opportunity. Since then, the ETF has tested its 200-day moving average and has made a golden cross, which the 50-day moving average crosses over the 200-day.
Cramer said he's not a fan of sector-based ETFs and would rather own only the best stocks in any sector.
Lang next looked at Nike (NKE) , which was in a downtrend after the closing of Sports Authority earlier this year, but has since made big moves with the MACD momentum indicator now signaling a bullish crossover. Lang felt another 10% gain in Nike was possible.
Lang was also bullish on Nordstrom (JWN) , a stock that was clobbered in April and May, but has also signaled a "W" bottom and now displays a bullish pennant pattern. The Chaikin Money Flow, or CMF, also just turned positive for Nordstrom.
Finally, Lang singled out Gap Stores (GPS) , which has been churning higher since May, making higher highs on strong volume. Lang noted the CMF and MACD both confirmed the bullish action, but he also felt the stock would be hard-pressed to break its ceiling of resistance at $30.
Executive Decision: Ken Powell
For his "Executive Decision" segment, Cramer sat down with Ken Powell, chairman and CEO of General Mills (GIS) , the food company that remains one of Cramer's favorite stocks.
Powell said General Mills has been working hard to remove artificial colors and flavors from its cereals and the response has been both fantastic and almost instantaneous. As soon as the artificial ingredients were gone, sales went up, he said. Customers want clean, simple food with simple ingredients, Powell said, and General Mills is listening.
Powell also commented on his company's cost-cutting efforts, saying the company has been borrowing the best ideas from around the globe and has been reducing complexity, implementing smarter pricing and introducing better technology in its plants. Best of all, "there's still more to go," Powell said.
Turning to his company's stock, Powell said General Mills listens to investors and has been committed to both its dividend and buying back stock. Powell is not opposed to more acquisitions if those acquisitions are the right fit for his company.
Executive Decision: Greg Silvers
In his second "Executive Decision" segment, Cramer sat down with Greg Silvers, president and CEO of EPR Properties (EPR) , the entertainment real estate investment trust with a stock that's up 35% for the year and sports a 4.9% dividend yield.
Silvers said that in a low-interest-rate environment, REITs with consistent dividends are becoming more and more valuable to investors. He said our economy of things is evolving into an economy of experiences and activities that fit perfectly into EPR's portfolio of properties.
EPR currently has 25 movie theaters in its portfolio and Silvers noted that luxury seating with more food and beverage options are expanding the movie goer demographic at a time when the total number of theater seats is actually contracting, making each one more valuable.
Unlike many sectors of our economy, Silvers said experiences cannot be eclipsed by the Internet and his team focuses exclusively on their areas of expertise.
Cramer was bearish on United States Steel (X) .
No Huddle Offense
In his "No Huddle Offense" segment, Cramer applauded those companies who put their money where their mouth is and make a statement with huge stock buyback programs.
Case in point: General Mills, which has retired a full 8% of its outstanding shares since CEO Ken Powell took the reigns. Then there's home builder Toll Brothers (TOL) , which reduced its share count from 184 million to 173 million shares. Finally, Best Buy (BBY) is a consistent buyer of its own shares.
Cramer said sometimes companies issue buybacks to boost their earnings per share or because they have run out of ways to spend their cash organically. But when a CEO makes a statement that the share price is just too low, those are the buybacks Cramer likes best.
To watch replays of Cramer's video segments, visit the Mad Money page on CNBC.
To sign up for Jim Cramer's free Booyah! newsletter with all of his latest articles and videos please click here.
At the time of publication, Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS had no position in stocks mentioned.


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Democratic House chairman bought cannabis-related stocks, then voted to decriminalize cannabis
GOP Rep. Brian Mast of Florida bought Tilray stock in November and was one of a handful of House Republicans to vote to pass the MORE Act.
The Facts Inside Our Reporter’s Notebook
House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth bought three cannabis-related stocks in November 2020, acquiring between a $1,000 and $15,000 stake in each stock.
"According to a filing with the Clerk of the House Representatives, obtained by Popular Information through CongressTrading.com, Yarmuth purchased three cannabis industry stocks on November 5: Canopy Growth Corporation, Aurora Cannabis, and Tilray," Popular Information reported, noting that the purchases had been for between $1,000 and $15,000 worth of each stock.
In December 2020 the House passed legislation related to cannabis which Yarmuth had cosponsored. The Kentucky Democrat on December 3rd tweeted: "Honored to preside over the House today as we considered the rule for H.R. 3884, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act to decriminalize & deschedule cannabis. As a cosponsor, I look forward to voting in support of this legislation tomorrow."
Yarmuth cosponsored legislation earlier this month "To make hemp, cannabidiol derived from hemp, and any other ingredient derived from hemp lawful for use under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as a dietary ingredient in a dietary supplement, and for other purposes."
Popular Info reported that "Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a popular derivative of marijuana," and noted that the businesses Yarmuth bought stock in make CBD products and would stand to benefit if it is officially legalized.
The congressman bought more stock in the three companies this month, obtaining between $1,000 and $15,000 worth of each stock, the outlet reported.
"Congressman Yarmuth purchased the stocks after seeing four states legalize the use of recreational marijuana in the November elections. He was transparent about it and followed all House Ethics and financial disclosure rules," Yarmuth's communications director Christopher Schuler said in a statement to Popular Information.
GOP Rep. Brian Mast of Florida bought between $15,000 and $50,000 of Tilray stock in November, the New York Times has noted. The outlet said that the lawmaker was one of five GOP congress members to vote to pass the MORE Act.
A spokesman for Mast said that the lawmaker "has bought and sold this stock a few times over the past few years," according to the Times.


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People who often play sports and are physically active prefer contact lenses to glasses, the latest report on contact lens use suggests.
According to Nick Dash, a renowned optometrist specialising in sports vision, physically active people and athletes tend to choose contact lenses because they give them a feeling of freedom, excellent vision at every possible angle and a much wider field of vision, which seems significantly more natural. In addition, contact lenses are usually considered to be the safest vision correction option for athletes and sports enthusiasts due to the wider field of vision they offer and the fact that they do not get dirty as easily as glasses, which often leads to injuries. What is more, contact lens wearers are not subject to such annoying things as glasses falling off and breaking.
The expert added that a recently published research report shows that more than 25 per cent of all contact lens users wear contacts mostly because of their advantages related to sports.


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BOSTON (AP) — Supporters of an effort to require labels on food containing genetically modified ingredients said Wednesday they had enough backing in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass a bill, while acknowledging there was no guarantee the measure will come up for a vote.
Groups that advocate for labeling released a bipartisan list of more than 140 lawmakers who support the bill, comprising majorities in both the House and Senate. But key legislators who hold the power to advance the measure, including Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo, have yet to commit.
"Oddly enough, having a majority of each branch as co-sponsors isn't absolutely a lockbox guarantee that it's going to pass in either branch," said Sen. Michael Barrett, a Lexington Democrat who is a lead sponsor in the Senate.
The current legislative session ends July 31.
The bill seeks to require labels on food products and agricultural seed stock that contain genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Passage, however, would still not guarantee labeling in Massachusetts. Under a so-called trigger mechanism in the bill, the law could only take effect if at least four other Northeast states — encompassing at least 20 million residents in the region — also approve GMO labeling laws.
So far, Maine and Connecticut have passed measures that are similarly contingent on passage by other states.
Vermont, meanwhile, is on a path to become the first state to actually require labeling when its law takes effect in 2016.
Supporters say labeling is a common-sense approach that would allow consumers to make informed choices about what they eat.
"This should not be a controversial bill," said Rep. Ellen Story, D-Amherst. "We are asking for something that is so obvious, so reasonable. Let us know what is in the food we buy."
The food industry points to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's voluntary labeling policy, but opposes making it mandatory.
Industry officials contend that genetically modified ingredients are safe and tout the benefits of advances in biotechnology, including the ability to produce more food on less land and reduce the amount of crop lost to disease.
"Despite an ongoing campaign by supporters of mandatory GMO labeling to scare and mislead consumers about the safety and benefits of GM technology, the vast majority of Americans still have no concerns about the role of GMOs in our food," said Claire Parker, spokeswoman for the industry-backed Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food, in a recent statement.


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Apple is planning a smartwatch with a bigger screen and rugged metal casing that will arrive later this year.
The new Apple Watch is aimed at well-heeled extreme sports types and will feature a screen that measures almost two-inches diagonally, according to a report by Bloomberg. It’s expected to have a screen with 7% more screen area than the largest Apple Watch 7.
Apple historically has unveiled new versions of the Apple Watch in September, alongside new iPhone models. This September, it’s expected to launch the standard Apple Watch 8 with the same dimensions as the Apple Watch 7, the rugged sports Watch, new budget Watch SE models, and four iPhone 14 models.
EES: Every iOS 16 feature that’s coming to iPhones
The Apple Watch 7 is available with a 41 mm display (352 by 430 pixels) or a 45 mm display (396 by 484 pixels). It featured thinner borders than the Watch 6, giving it a bigger screen area, and runs on the S7 chip.
Apple billed the Watch 7 as the “most durable Apple Watch ever” due to its crack-resistant front crystal. It was also the first Apple Watch with an IP6X rating for dust resistance and it had a water resistance rating to 50m.
But the extreme sports Apple Watch will be even more durable. Apparently it will use a “strong metal material” versus the current aluminum frame, and will feature a more shatter-resistant screen. The display will have a resolution of about 410 by 502 pixels, according to the report.
It will feature a larger battery than the standard Apple Watch, so that athletes track workouts for longer, according to Bloomberg sources.
The longer battery life also could improve Apple Watch’s appeal against Garmin’s popular rugged smartwatches like its Fenix 7 and Epix, which can last over a week on a single charge.
Apple announced watchOS 9 in June at WWDC, showcasing new Workout app features like Custom Workouts for interval training, Multisport workout type for triathletes when switching between swimming, biking and running, and new running metrics.
All the new Apple Watches to be announced this year will use an S8 processor with similar performance to the S7 and the S6.
It’s not known what Apple’s starting price for the rugged Watch will be, but Bloomberg reckon it likely will be more than $699 starting price for the standard stainless steel Apple Watch. Apple also sells the Watch 7 in a titanium case from $799, while the entry-level aluminum case model starts at $399.
Apple still dominates smartwatch shipments globally by a long mile, but rivals are emerging as lower-cost devices gain traction in different markets. Counterpoint Research estimated Apple Watch models accounted for 30% of all smartwatches sold globally through 2021. Samsung, its nearest rival, had a 10.2% share, while Garmin, in sixth place, had a 4.6% share. Smartwatch sales numbers grew 24% year on year.


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A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that advance estimates of retail and food services sales in June totaled $506.8 billion. That was a 0.5 percent increase from May’s upward-revised print and the fifth monthly gain in a row. “Core” retail sales, which exclude the volatile automobile and gasoline components, also increased in June (+0.4 percent), helped by gains in eight of the thirteen major retail categories.
Notable strength last month was seen at car dealerships, health and personal care stores, restaurants, building materials outlets, and nonstore retailers (Amazon). The main detractors from headline sales growth in June were food and beverage retailers, department stores, and clothing outlets. Altogether this was another encouraging report on consumer spending that suggests U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) growth rebounded in the second quarter of 2018 following Q1’s seasonal slowdown. Much of the recent growth, though, has been fueled by increased credit card usage, suggesting that wage growth will likely need to pick up for sales to continue at this elevated level.
Sources: Econoday, U.S. Census Bureau, Bloomberg, FRBSLPost author: Charles Couch


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Producers’ prices increased for the ninth month in a row, by 1.7% y/y in September, thus reporting the strongest pace of increase since May, the Czech stats office said on Monday. Producers’ prices were up by 0.4% m/m in September on the back of higher prices of coke and refined petroleum products, chemicals (up by 0.6% m/m), wood (up by 0.4% m/m), basic metals (up by 0.3% m/m), as well as food prices (up by 0.2% m/m on the back of dairy products increasing by 1.4% m/m), statisticians said.
The faster annual pace of increase of industrial producers’ prices reflected the increasing at a stronger pace prices in both mining and manufacturing, while utilities prices fall eased in the month. Producers’ prices in manufacturing increased by 2.1% y/y in September, inching up from 2.0% y/y in August, as prices of basic metals expanded by 5.1% y/y in the month, speeding up from 4.9% y/y growth in August. Food producers’ prices also reported robust increase of 4.1% y/y in the month, on the back of dairy products surging by 17.3% y/y, bakery prices increasing by 3.9% y/y and preserved meat prices – by 2.9% y/y. Coke and refined petroleum products also contributed to the headline producers’ price increase in the month, statisticians said. At the same time, producers’ prices of transport (down by 2.6% y/y), of ICT products (down by 1.8% y/y) and of utilities (down by 1.1% y/y) prevented the industrial producers’ prices from increasing at a faster rate in September. The slight acceleration of the pace of increase of the manufacturing producers’ prices overall bodes well with the developments of import prices of inputs for the manufacturing industry – the import prices of manufactured goods classified chiefly by material increased by stronger 3.8% y/y in August and of mineral fuels – by stronger 4.5% y/y, while import prices of crude materials slowed down markedly to 4.6% y/y.
Separate data on agricultural producer prices showed that they remained on positive territory after contracting for fourteen months through February – they increased by 10.8% y/y in September, slowing down from 12.5% y/y growth in August, on the back of the increasing for the sixth straight month crop prices (up by 7.2% y/y). The latter was on the back of growing prices of fresh fruit (up by 37.9% y/y), potatoes (up by 10.4% y/y), cereals (up by 6.7% y/y) and oil plants (up by 3.9% y/y). We may expect agriculture producers’ prices to continue growing this year due to low base effects, as well as estimated to be weaker by some 12.8% this year basic cereal harvest.
Overall, the continued acceleration of the pace of increase of producers’ prices in September, already seen in the speeding up consumer price inflation to 2.7% y/y in the month, indicates that the supply-side inflationary pressures mount, which may keep inflation above the CNB’s 2% target for longer than currently expected – the CNB expects inflation to remain above target this year and return to it around Q2 or Q3 next year. This coupled with the set to become even stronger demand-side inflationary pressures coming from the robust domestic demand and quite strong nominal wage growth that supported the inflation accelerating to match the CNB’s forecast in September, as well as in view of the discussion of the CNB Governing Board during the Sep 27 monetary policy meeting and the fact that it held rates unchanged by only a slim majority, supports our forecast that the central bank is to tighten further the monetary conditions with a 25bps rate hike at the upcoming on Nov 2 monetary policy meeting. Our expectation is also backed by the fact that then the new macroeconomic forecasts are to be published, while this was one of the main reasons for holding rates unchanged in September. At the same time, among the reasons for postponing the move for December could be the fact that the decline of import prices deepened to 1.1% y/y in August (from 0.8% y/y in July), thus confirming the CNB’s expectation that the observed slightly inflationary effect of import prices will turn anti-inflationary because of the subdued foreign producer price inflation and the crown’s firming. Another factor in support of holding fire until December would be the fact that after stagnating for several weeks, the crown has started appreciating again and has firmly crossed the EUR/CZK26 level.


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A favorite U.S. chocolate bar gets more expensive
NEW YORK What has always been one of America’s favorite chocolates has now gotten more expensive. The Hershey Co. has recently announced a price increase in wholesale prices for its domestic confectionery line.
According to Hershey, the increase in price was due to the need to control and level the increase in input costs, which include raw materials, fuel utilities and transportation. The increase in its retail products would be a helpful solution in offsetting the company’s price increases. Hershey estimated that there was a 13 percent increase on the company’s standard bar, king-size bar, 6-pack and vending lines. Hershey has also estimated that there will be approximately a 3 percent increase over Hershey’s entire domestic product line.
The price increase is said to take effect immediately, but for existing customers, Hershey has decided that during the four-week period that ends on Feb. 24, 2008, customers may order and take delivery of about eight weeks at the current prices.
As a message to its investors, the company made sure to mention that it already had established its 2008 full-year net sales and earnings per share outlook on Jan. 24, 2008. Any details or explanations regarding GAAP and non-GAAP items can be found at www.Hersheys.com.
Rafael Roman appointed New York metro region sales manager of Purple
Rafael Roman appointed New York metro region sales manager of Purple The maker of Purple antioxidant energy drink, Purple Beverage Co., this week announced the staff addition of Rafael Roman as New York Metropolitan Area regional sales manager. Roman comes to Purple after spending several years as territory manager with POM Wonderful.
At POM Wonderful, Roman handled numerous accounts, introduced new brands and packaging to accounts and supervised sales personnel.
Prior to serving at POM, Roman was distribution supervisor and business development manager at Odwalla (owned by The Coca Cola Co.).
Coca-Cola purchases 40 percent stake in Honest Tea
ATLANTA Coca-Cola and Honest Tea have completed an agreement that gives Coca-Cola about a 40 percent interest in Honest Tea, with the potential to buy the remaining shares of the company. The current deal was valued at $43 million with the right to purchase the rest of the company in three years, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Honest Tea has been around for 10 years and has produced organic beverages, which have brought it into being one of the top-ranked tea brands in the natural foods channel, according to SPINscan.
“Honest Tea is on the forefront of the rapidly growing organic beverage business, and [founder and chief executive officer] Seth Goldman and his management team have successfully anticipated and met consumer needs in this expanding category,” said Deryck van Rensburg, president and general manager of venturing and emerging brands at Coca-Cola North America. “This transaction is a superb example of our mission in venturing and emerging brands to seek out and invest in the best beverage entrepreneurs and the highest growth-potential beverages.”
One of the company’s newest products is Honest Kids, a line of low-calorie organic thirst quenchers sold in 6.75-ounce pouches, which was launched last year.


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Southpress wine bar on Toorak Road, South Yarra, swung open its doors on Tuesday and has been met with instant local support. "We've had a lot of people from the area saying how happy they are we're here," says co-owner Adam North.
This isn't his first hospitality venue. He is a partner in South Yarra steakhouse and cafe, Entrecote, and is co-owner of western Victoria's Hopkins River Beef with David Maconochie. The pair has teamed up with front-of-house pro Marty McCaig (ex Entrecote).
The trio took on a former furniture retail shop and, with the help of architects Russell & George, has created a minimal and warm wine bar with greys and greens and a leafy courtyard (handy for smokers and pooch owners). Southpress serves smart bar snacks and carries a hefty stock of Australian and European wines.
Smoked octopus with fresh lemon, pickled vegetables, pork and prune terrine and a changing selection of cheeses - including Ibores Pimenton, a hard raw goat's milk cheese with paprika from western Spain - are some of Southpress' wine-friendly bites.
There are plans to extend the menu in the new year and "offer more substantial dishes", says North. Southpress will be open from Tuesday to Sunday from 4pm-11pm until December 27, and reopen on January 4 from 11am-11pm daily.
27 Toorak Road, South Yarra, 9866 4635, southpress.com.au
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Making money in the online streaming business in India isn’t an easy job, still, business are trying out different modes. Operator billing for the service is a convenient mode and Ditto TV , an online streaming portal from the house of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. is trying it now.
Ditto TV, which offers a large collection of premium content through 70 Live TV channels along with on-demand video capabilities has partnered with global mobile payment firm Fortumo to launch operator billing solutions to its consumers.
With the new alliance, users can now subscribe to content on Ditto TV and make payments directly through their mobile operator, without going through the hassles of using credit cards, cash on delivery or net banking options. This payment model is available for both post-paid and pre-paid mobile users.
A customer needs to select the content to view and confirm payment on the mobile phone, charging the amount to the operator. Fortumo will process the payment request with the concerned telecom operator and once the verification is generated, the user can avail the content. The payment is later charged to the customer’s mobile bill or deducted from his pre-paid account balance, as the case may be. Right now the service is available to customers of Airtel, Vodafone and Idea only.
Operator billing is one of the rational ways wherein the user avails the ease and simplicity of making payments without getting into the hassles of online or credit card transactions. While the process provides convenience, it also reduces the risks associated with credit cards, there by providing a larger audience for Ditto TV to reach out to.
Tying up with Fortumo is a smart move considering the global mobile payment firm has operations in 80 countries, and recently announced its expansion into India, where it has already partnered with major telcos, including Idea Cellular, Vodafone, Airtel and Tata Docomo.
With smartphone penetration at it’s all time peak in the country, the new tie up has also provided the ease for users to watch premium content on mobile without worrying much about the payment methods.
Operator billing has been a tested way. Last December, online Indian television and movie streaming service Spuul tied up with Boku, a mobile online payments company for carrier billing services.
Can operator billing rescue online streaming services in emerging markets?


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Instagram may soon introduce Facebook-like reactions in Stories
Stories in Instagram will be available to everyone soon if testing goes well and feedback is positive. Some of you may already be able to use these Facebook-like reactions since they are being tested live among Instagram users in various countries.
Still, these reactions are not yet available to everyone, and it's yet unclear if Facebook is testing them on the iOS platform as well. However, we did notice that there are six available reactions that can be used in Stories: applause, laugh, heart eyes, face with open mouth, crying, and fire.
These Facebook-like reactions are included in the latest stable Instagram version (22.214.171.124.82), but they don't show for everyone yet since they're enabled via a server-side update.


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As we celebrate this Day Without Annoying Women, we discover there’s at least one happy woman out there. Of course this is sure to drive the angry left into another fit of apoplectic rage.
Ivanka Trump’s eponymous women’s fashion line is reporting record sales figures despite calls for a boycott and controversies surrounding President Trump.
“Since the beginning of February, they were some of the best performing weeks in the history of the brand,” Abigail Klem, the president of the Ivanka Trump fashion brand, tells Refinery29 in an interview published Tuesday. “For several different retailers Ivanka Trump was a top performer online, and in some of the categories it was the [brand’s] best performance ever.”
The news of a sales surge comes after Nordstrom announced in early February that it would no longer carry the 35-year-old’s clothing and accessories, citing poor product sales. The move caused President Trump to tweet shortly after the announcement that his daughter was being “treated so unfairly” by the luxury department store giant.
Also last month, Neiman Marcus stopped carrying the first daughter’s jewelry line on its website, and employees of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls stores were instructed to throw awayany signage advertising her wares.
The Office of Government Ethics recommended disciplinary action against White House adviser Kellyanne Conway after she urged viewers to “go buy Ivanka’s stuff” during a February interview on “Fox & Friends.”
One thing the frothing left always forgets with their tantrums and boycotts: There’s more sane people out there than insane.


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Good news for AT&T customers. The Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is finally coming to iPhone. In an official press release AT&T announced that MMS facility will be available to US iPhone 3G and 3GS customers on September 25th. The good news from AT&T came after a report that Apple could release iPhone OS 3.1 next week.
So, finally AT&T customers will be able to use their iPhones (3G and 3GS) to send and receive audio, video and pictures. But why it took AT&T so long to embrace MMS? According to the press release, the company was working on their network MMS architecture to be able to carry the expected record volumes of MMS traffic. Really? The MMS feature will be enabled through a software update on September 25, 2009. So, stay tuned!


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New York Fashion Week is underway and kicking off the bi-annual festivity on Wednesday was the Heart Truth Red Dress Show, which is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
The annual event campaign features famous faces donning designer dresses on the runway – a far cry from the usual red carpet. This year, twenty-two women of different ages, shapes and star-status wore various notable designer red dresses for the cause. The celeb-filled catwalk included Denise Richards, Julianne Hough, Audrina Patridge, Dita Von Teese, Patti LaBelle and Natasha Bedingfiled among others. Designers represented included Badgley Mischka, Alberta Ferretti, Zac Posen, J. Mendel and Monique Lhuillier to name a few.
I’m all for celebrities on a catwalk for a good cause.
Full Fashion Week coverage coming next week!


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Never before have developments in large scale batteries been as coveted as they are today. The need to store electrical energy, for such things as alternative energy systems, industrial and critical service backup, and off-site project requirements, has never been greater. And now there is a significant new demand. The increased move to hybrid and all-electric vehicles has created a mounting call for more efficient electrical storage solutions, a requirement that is expected to continue expanding for decades.
The ever-rising cost of gasoline, together with worldwide concerns over the environment, have resulted in an unprecedented demand for automotive solutions that rely partially or totally on stored electric power. But the growing popularity of automotive electricity has been tempered by what has been described as the brick wall of battery technology. Traditional batteries don’t carry the stored power necessary for satisfactory automotive performance, especially considering their weight. Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, have a good power to weight ratio, but can ratchet up the price beyond the average buyer’s budget.
Toyota has gone on record as saying that the high cost of lithium-ion batteries could seriously limit their automotive application. Although Toyota is expected to use lithium-ion for some of its vehicles, Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive VP with global responsibility for Toyota’s research, has said “Unless there is a very big breakthrough in battery costs I don’t think electric vehicles can take a large market share.” The company has indicated that the cost/range barrier for battery-electric vehicles could last until 2020.
The timing couldn’t be better for Zentric Inc., a Canadian based developer of advanced battery technologies. Zentric has acquired the exclusive rights to, and is continuing to develop, a new battery that promises major increases in battery performance, without the high cost of lithium-ion. Using a technology originally developed in the laboratories at the University of Hong Kong, the battery combines metal hydride and lead-acid materials, producing a battery with much higher voltages and power than traditional lead-acid batteries, but costing much less than lithium-ion batteries.
Zentric has already signed an agreement to build and operate a battery production operation in China, where the demand for new battery technology is considered critical.
For more information on Zentric, and their new battery technology, visit www.ZBatt.com
Let us hear your thoughts: Zentric, Inc. Message Board


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Why is it so hard to hire tech talent?
Why is it so hard to hire tech talent?? In recent years, the extreme competition for workers with a technology skill set has become a grim reality for many companies. And as businesses continue to pursue the development of their technology teams, this can quickly become a time-consuming and expensive endeavor.
But why is it so hard to hire tech talent these days? We’ve narrowed it down to four main reasons:
- Supply and Demand
- Evolving Technology Needs
- Education Gaps
- Lack of Hiring Expertise
This talent crunch includes skills such as software engineering, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science, DevOps, IT and more. According to a report from Bain & Company, demand for these positions has risen by an average of 274% over the last five years. Of course, tech giants like Apple, Facebook and Google take up 20% of this talent. Surprisingly, the report shows that non-tech companies hired more than half the number of the larger corporations, coming in at 11%.
As businesses continue to pursue top tech talent around the world, it’s important to understand the four reasons behind the crunch, so you can equip your company with the knowledge and resources necessary to acquire and retain top technology employees.
We live in a day and age where an entire economy is based around information and technology. Many people and countries have shifted from manufacturing, construction, retail, food, and hard labor to technology-focused initiatives.
However, despite the demand for technology climbing at an exponential rate, the supply just can’t seem to keep up. Countries that were known for their technology talent have become more expensive as resources became more limited. In India for example, the IT software and services sector alone has seen a 41% increase in demand since 2021, according to a Kaukri JobSpeak report. Additionally, the global labor skills shortage is predicted to reach 4.3 million workers by 2030, and approximately $450 billion in unrealized output in the technology, media and telecommunications industry.
With so much competition between businesses searching for tech talent, companies are struggling to acquire and retain top-tier technology workers. Even with access to a global market, many businesses just can’t seem to find a good fit. Often times, these companies resort to hiring international contractors, instead of full-time employees. Although this resolves the immediate need for talent, it can disrupt stability and decrease overall control over the work being performed.
The issues of supply and demand aren’t likely to go away anytime soon. This means businesses will need to find a way to outbid other employers with better compensation packages and immediate structure if they hope to retain their tech employees.
Technology is a constantly evolving industry. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on a software or program, a new solution enters the market. The emerging Web 3.0 and cryptocurrency technology is a prime example of this happening in recent history. As more and more people see the potential of decentralized apps and programs, the demand for people with those skillsets will skyrocket.
But whenever a new technology arises, it takes time for people to learn and adapt to the new applications. Even when existing technologies upgrade and improve, it can be difficult to workers with existing skill sets to adjust to newly developed software and systems.
If you’re wondering why is it so hard to hire tech talent, it may become even more challenging in the near future. Here are 9 technology trends to watch when it comes to evolving technology needs:
- Computing Power: With a strong cloud infrastructure in place and faster networks like 5G and 6G, computing technology can’t be ignored.
- Smarter Devices: Intelligent technology used to be limited to our phones. Now AI technology can be found in televisions, cars, cleaning robots and more. As demand for these smart devices increases, so will the demand for engineers that can develop them.
- Quantum Computing: This technology allows information to be processed in a fundamentally different way than traditional computing, making computers exponentially more powerful.
- Datafication: With so much information available, businesses need to find efficient ways to organize and present the information.
- Virtual Reality: With the introduction of the Metaverse, virtual reality is moving beyond gaming. It is becoming a social and economic hub for online interactions, which is likely to continue to gain popularity from the younger generations.
- AI and Machine Learning: Businesses have taken big steps with machine learning, implementing audio technology and tracking online preferences.
- Decentralized Technology: Blockchain technology has paved the way for cryptocurrencies and NFTs, but this technology has the potential to be used for smart contracts and other financial deals in the future.
- Genomics: Technology can now move beyond traditional hardware, making advancements in agriculture, biology, nanotechnology and more.
- 3D Printing: What was once developed for gadgets and knick-knacks has evolved into a viable industry for housing construction, plant-based meats, organ development, and more.
With education departments paying much less than the corporate sector, finding qualified individuals to train new generations of talent has become a real problem. Additionally, fewer individuals are choosing technology as their main degree.
For example, Japan – known for its AI and robotics talent – is predicted to face a growing shortage of workers in big data, AI and IoT. It’s expected that this workforce alone will come up short by about 48,000, with a shortfall of nearly 200,000 information security workers.
In India, the rapid demand for technology talent has predicted the country to reach $350 billion in annual revenue by 2025 in this sector alone, according to a report by industry body NASSCOM and McKinsey. But IT companies are already struggling to fill those roles, with India’s three biggest IT companies expected to offer 105,000 job opportunities.
With technology constantly evolving, providing effective education has become a real concern. Many graduates lack the quality and expertise that most companies are searching for. However, many countries are recognizing the need to promote the technology sector, offering incentives for workers to select that area of study. This has made countries like Poland and Costa Rica an attractive new hiring destination for growing companies seeking top tech talent.
When it comes to hiring tech talent, many businesses lack the expertise necessary to attract and retain skilled workers. As a result, these companies often choose to hire independent contractors to avoid the risk and hassle of hiring full-time employees. However, this can be a problem for businesses that hope to maintain any level of consistency. For a company to classify a worker as an independent contractor, they must meet the following guidelines:
- The contractor is allowed to work for multiple companies at the same time. They cannot be restricted to only working for your business.
- The contractor oversees managing and controlling their working status and schedule. The business can’t give them specific hours of operation.
- Contractors are usually project-based or are required to work shorter periods of time. If they extend their time with a company, it could put the business at risk of being classified as an employee.
Based on these criteria, it’s easy to see how companies would struggle to ensure long-term sustainability of their technology projects. But without proper hiring expertise, businesses often don’t have any other choice.
In order to hire full- or part-time employees, companies will need to have a legal entity established in the country of operation. They can either choose to set up their own entity, or they can work with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and use their existing network of entities instead. Working with a global PEO will ensure the business finds and retains the best talent for your needs, while maintaining compliance with in-country laws and regulations.
Here are a few country-specific challenges you could face if your business chooses to move forward without consulting hiring experts:
- Did you know that France has two sets of Leave Calendars, and they both expire at different times? These time off requirements can be very complicated and easily overlooked if companies aren’t working with an in-country expert.
- Do you know the difference between mandatory hiring requirements and supplemental or customary offerings? If you’re hiring a Country Manager in India, it is customary to provide a vehicle or education funding. Although not required by law, if you’re not offering these things, you may not be considered by top talent.
- Lack of compliance puts your local director at risk. Often the local director is the CEO or other executive for the company. If a local government finds out a company hasn’t been compliant, the local director could be arrested.
As we mentioned, these are just a few of the many examples of what could go wrong during the hiring process. It becomes more complicated and cumbersome with each country a company plans to expand in to.
Getting started with global expansion can be an exciting time for any organization. However, it can also expose you to various risks and challenges. With Global PEO Services (GPS), a Safeguard Global company, you can manage these risks and keep your operations running smoothly as you hire tech talent anytime, anywhere.
As laws and regulations change and update, you never have to worry about compliance. We can manage all the legal requirements and payroll for international teams, while your business handles the daily tasks. With the war for tech talent becoming ultra-competitive, it’s more critical than ever to work with a hiring partner that can help you reach your goals.
Why is it so hard to hire tech talent? Because you haven’t been working with a partner with operations in 170+ countries. Get started with Global PEO Services today.


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STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — Eating “super foods” is the new trend!
Justin Lopez of Stonefire Grill stopped by KCAL9 Wednesday to talk about the health benefits of quinoa and showed viewers an easy recipe.
Stonefire Grill just introduced three new quinoa salads and even have started to offer it as a substitute for protein.
Recipe for Healthy Hybrid:
3 cups cooked quinoa
½ cup Garbanzo Beans
½ cup Kalamata olives
½ cup Green Bell Peppers
½ cup Red Onion
½ cup Cucumber
½ cup Tomatoe
½ cup Artichoke Hearts
-After Quinoa is cooked, add list of ingredients and mix!
-Toss with Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette and top with Feta cheese
For more information, visit Stonefire Grill.


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Shropshire-based telecommunications giant Pure Telecom has appointed a new Marketing Manager.
Kate Oakley, 26, has extensive experience in marketing and joins Pure after working for two years as Marketing Executive at employee engagement expert Best Companies.
Recently married Kate lives in Llansantffraid and says she was strongly attracted to Pure because of its strong reputation as a market leader and the firm’s focus on putting the customer first.
“I am delighted to be at Pure, these are exciting times in the world of telecommunications and I am looking forward to being part of that and working with such a highly regarded company in the industry,” she said.
“Pure’s commitment to customer service impresses me – it has to be a top priority but is something some firms don’t pay enough attention to. This commitment came through during my interview process and I was also inspired by the management team’s passion for the organisation and the industry.
“It’s important to find a company living by its values – particularly when those values match your own. I believe I have found that at Pure.
“The best thing about the company is the people. The team is driven and motivated to help customers and get the job done and everyone gets on well, too. This is so important for a small business.”
Kate achieved a first class degree in Business & Management Studies with Law from Cardiff Metropolitan University and has experience in both B2B and B2C marketing across retail, hospitality and professional service sectors.
“In my previous role we worked with similar organisations and had similar opportunities and challenges, so my experience fits well with what we are trying to do here,” Mrs Oakley added.
David Hayward, Pure Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kate as our new Marketing Manager, she has already proved to be an extremely valuable member of our team and will play an integral role in the future of the company.”