text:
(qlmbusinessnews.com via news.sky.com– Fri, 22nd Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
The news comes amid fears that some local authorities are taking on risky levels of debt in an effort to stay financially afloat.
Public sector net borrowing reached £34.1bn in December – the third-highest monthly figure since records began in 1993.
The figure from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) means that:
• Borrowing since the start of the financial year in April has reached £270.8bn
• Borrowing in December 2020 was £28.2bn more than in December 2019
• December's figure was also higher than the £31.6bn borrowed in November 2020
• Public sector debt has reached an all-time high of £2.13trn – equivalent to 99.4% of GDP, the most
since the financial year ending 1962
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “Since the start of the pandemic we've invested over £280bn to protect jobs and livelihoods across the UK, and support our economy and public services.
“This has clearly been the fiscally responsible thing to do. But, as I've said before, once our economy begins to recover, we should look to return the public finances to a more sustainable footing.”
Economists were divided over how soon Britons could see tax rises as part of the government's response.
Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said in a note: “Public borrowing will fall sharply from about 20% of GDP this year to between 8% and 10% in 2021/22, if the government stops the furlough and self-employment income support schemes in the spring, and healthcare spending declines. Where have jobs been lost during the pandemic?
“We doubt that the chancellor will go a step further in the Budget on 3 March and push through large immediate tax rises or non-health spending cuts.
“But the Treasury will not tolerate a 10% deficit indefinitely and the timing of the next general election in 2024 suggests that Mr Sunak will not wait until the economy has fully recovered before actively tightening fiscal policy.
“Accordingly, we expect taxes to rise sharply in 2022, in order to attempt to stabilise the debt-to-GDP ratio while at the same time funding big demography-linked increases in health and pensions spending.”
Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said the borrowing figure “underscores the inevitability of tax hikes in the March budget”.
He added: “There is, therefore, the increasing need for a substantial amount of 2020's enforced savings, propelled by pent-up demand, to find its way back into the economy later this year.”
Meanwhile, MPs have warned that some local authorities are taking on risky levels of debt in an effort to stay financially afloat.
Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Commons public accounts committee, said the Treasury was displaying a “worryingly laissez faire attitude” to the issue.
Ms Hillier said that “some local authorities have taken on extremely risky levels of debt in recent years in an effort to shore up dwindling finances”, particularly in commercial property investments.
“The pandemic has doubly exposed that risk – in the huge extra demands and duties it is placing on local authorities, and in the hit to returns on commercial investments,” the Labour MP added.
By Sharon Marris
(qlmbusinessnews.com via bbc.co.uk – – Fri, 22nd Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
Japanese car maker Nissan has told the BBC its Sunderland plant is secure for the long term as a result of the trade deal reached between the UK and the EU.
It said it will move additional battery production close to the plant where it has 6,000 direct employees and supports nearly 70,000 jobs in the supply chain.
Currently, the batteries in its Leaf electric cars are imported from Japan.
Nissan would not confirm if this would mean additional jobs at Sunderland, which is the UK's largest car plant.
Manufacturing the more powerful batteries in the UK will ensure its cars comply with trade rules agreed with the EU requiring at least 55% of the car's value to be derived from either the UK or the EU to qualify for zero tariffs when exported to the EU.
Some 70% of the cars made in Sunderland are exported and the vast majority of them are sold in the EU.
Nissan had issued stark warnings last year that if the UK left the EU without a trade deal, the resulting tariffs on cars and components would make the Sunderland plant “unsustainable”.
Nissan's chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta told the BBC: “The Brexit deal is positive for Nissan. Being the largest automaker in the UK we are taking this opportunity to redefine auto-making in the UK.
“It has created a competitive environment for Sunderland, not just inside the UK but outside as well.
“We've decided to localise the manufacture of the 62kWh battery in Sunderland so that all our products qualify [for tariff-free export to the EU]. We are committed to Sunderland for the long term under the business conditions that have been agreed.”
It came as Nissan paused one of its two production lines in Sunderland on Friday as disruption at ports caused by the pandemic affected its supply chain.
The company said the move would affect the line which produces the Qashqai and Leaf, but work would resume next week.
‘Belief in Britain'
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng welcomed the firm's endorsement of Sunderland as a manufacturing base.
“Nissan's decision represents a genuine belief in Britain and a huge vote of confidence in our economy thanks to the certainty our trade deal with the EU delivers,” he said.
“For the dedicated and highly-skilled workforce in Sunderland, it means the city will be home to Nissan's latest models for years to come and positions the company to capitalise on the wealth of benefits that will flow from electric vehicle production.”
It's particularly welcome after the more guarded comments from the boss of Vauxhall's parent company last week.
Speaking as the tie-up between Fiat Chrsyler and Peugeot Citroen was christened with new umbrella name Stellantis, boss Carlos Tavares said that the future of its Ellesmere Port plant depended on the support the UK government was prepared to offer after its decision to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars after 2030.
“If you change, brutally, the rules and if you restrict the rules for business then there is at one point in time a problem,” he said.
Looking forward, he said it would make more sense to locate an electric vehicle factory closer to the larger EU market.
Industry voices welcomed the news from Nissan but reinforced the message from Vauxhall's owners that the government needs to do more to secure the future of the car industry as it electrifies.
“This is obviously good news and will help the Nissan Leaf avoid any future tariffs, but we are going to need to see a lot more investment in battery production in the UK if we are to preserve the UK as a car manufacturer and exporter,” said Professor David Bailey of Warwick University.
The head of trade body the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders agreed.
“The battery plant in Sunderland may be enough for Nissan's near-term plans to build tens of thousands of electric cars but the UK made 1.5 million cars last year and all will be partly electric by 2030,” Mike Hawes said.
‘Jobs at risk'
Andy Palmer, former boss of Aston Martin and current chairman of electric bus maker Switch Mobility, has gone further. He says that 800,000 jobs are at risk if the UK government doesn't act now to foster battery investment.
“Without electric vehicle batteries made in the UK, the country's auto industry risks becoming an antiquated relic and overtaken by China, Japan, America and Europe.”
He urged the UK government to use every lever at its disposal to make the UK attractive.
UK car investment has fallen sharply since the UK voted to leave the EU.
In the five years to 2016 it averaged £3.5bn per year. In the four years since it has averaged around £1bn – a fall of 71% at a time when the technology and map of car production are going through their biggest revolution since the car was invented.
The Nissan decision is therefore a very welcome boost to the UK which is in an international scramble for the investment of the future which is happening right now.
By Simon Jack
(qlmbusinessnews.com via theguardian.com – – Thur, 21st Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
Ofgem plans to lift cap on standard energy tariffs in April as market price for gas soars. The market price for UK gas climbed to three-year highs in recent weeks.
Millions of households should brace themselves for an energy bill hike of more than £80 a year from April as Ofgem lifts the cap on standard energy tariffs, according to the regulator’s chief executive.
Jonathan Brearley said Ofgem would announce plans to lift the energy price cap for the first time in two years early next month, and warned that the move would wipe out the £84-a-year cut brought in last year.
In total, the increase could raise the dual-fuel energy bills for 11 million households to £1,126 a year from April, when the government’s job support scheme is due to reach its final weeks.
What is the energy price cap and how does it work?
“I understand that any change in energy prices right now is not going to be welcomed by customers,” Brearley said.
The Ofgem boss blamed the looming hike in standard variable energy tariffs on the steady rise in the market price for gas and electricity.
The price cap increase may include up to £21 for energy suppliers to help recover the cost of unpaid bills during the coronavirus pandemic, but a final decision on this amount has yet to be made, he added.
“The price cap is intended to protect customers against unfair charging. It’s never intended to be the best price in the market,” Brearley said. “If you want the best price then you should get in there and switch your supplier. I’ve just done so myself, and I do it every year. That is the best way to get good value.”
Almost 500,000 energy customers switched to a new supplier each month last year, according to figures from the industry group Energy UK. This compares with a total of 6.4 million for the whole of 2019.
The energy price increase has been widely expected within the energy industry after the market price for UK gas climbed to three-year highs in recent weeks, amid surging gas import rates in Asia and a global commodities boom.
The market boom could add £66 a year to the average dual-fuel energy bill, according to the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight.
However, Britain’s biggest energy suppliers are also calling for an extra £21 a year on the cap to help them reclaim the “bad debt” from households which have been unable to afford their energy bills during the pandemic.
Brearley said Ofgem would treat “any submission from any part of the industry with a degree of scepticism”, but that evidence he had seen so far suggested the cost estimates used to account for customer debt needed to change.
“We’re going to take a very cautious view, from a customer’s perspective, but we do need to take bad debt into account because it is one of the costs that these businesses face,” Brearley said.
He added that the regulator’s top priority for the year would be helping energy customers to weather the financial strain of the pandemic, by insisting suppliers treat customers fairly.
The regulator lifted a ban on energy companies using debt collectors to chase unpaid bills in June last year, after only three months’ reprieve, on the condition that suppliers first offered debt repayment plans to struggling customers.
“What we’ve said to suppliers is that we understand that you need to issue energy bills, we understand that you need to pursue costs but you’ve got to do that in a respectful and fair way,” Brearley said.
He said Ofgem was also “looking very hard” at E.On UK, one of the largest energy suppliers, which charged its customers twice in the run-up to Christmas and was unable to run its customer service channels as usual for almost two weeks owing to a deluge of customer complaints.
“E.On came to us very openly, and self-reported this, and they have put things right,” said Brearley. “But what a time for something like that to happen to customers. We’re not in a position to comment publicly, but as you can imagine we’re looking very hard at what happened, and any detriment to customers as a result.”
By Jillian Ambrose
(qlmbusinessnews.com via uk.reuters.com — Thur, 21st Jan 2021) London, UK —
LONDON (Reuters) – British manufacturers’ concerns about shortages of low-wage workers and supplies have risen the most in almost 50 years, a survey showed on Thursday, as they wrestle with COVID-19 disruptions and new customs rules after leaving the European Union.
A measure of how manufacturers feel about their competitiveness relative to EU rivals deteriorated at the fastest pace on record, meanwhile, and companies expected output and orders to decline, the Confederation of British Industry said of its survey results.
“Manufacturers across the board are continuing to battle major headwinds,” CBI chief economist Rain Newton-Smith said.
A monthly index of new orders for January dropped to -38 from -25 in December, and a quarterly measure of optimism sank to -22 from zero in October.
However, export orders bucked the broader trend, with this balance rising to its least negative since March, though it was still below its long-run average.
“(This) suggests that EU firms are not hesitating to source goods from the UK, despite the extra red tape and rise in haulage costs,” Samuel Tombs of Pantheon Macroeconomics said.
The survey adds to signs that Britain’s economy will contract in early 2021, hit by a surge in coronavirus cases and restrictions, and new bureaucracy for trade with the EU.
Manufacturing accounts for about 10% of Britain’s economy.
The much bigger services sector has been hit far harder by social-distancing measures and is also facing new barriers to trade with the EU.
Separately, a new experimental measure of consumer spending indicated that credit and debit card spending in early January slumped to 35% below its level last February, before the pandemic.
The figures – published by the Office for National Statistics using Bank of England data – are not seasonally adjusted, so part of the fall probably reflects a normal drop in spending after Christmas, on top of the impact of new COVID restrictions which closed non-essential retailers this month.
The CBI figures showed many manufacturers reported a rush to build up stocks and complete EU orders in December, before the new customs rules took effect on Jan. 1.
British goods are not subject to tariffs or quotas as they enter the EU, but do face significant new paperwork, adding to costs and delays.
Concern about shortages of materials and components rose by the most since January 1975, which the CBI linked to COVID disruption to international trade and Brexit-linked customs delays.
Concerns about a lack of unskilled workers rose by the most since April 1974. New immigration rules since Jan. 1 limit employers’ ability to hire low-paid workers from the EU, at a time when COVID has led to increased staff absence.
By David Milliken, William Schomberg
Additional reporting by Andy Bruce
(qlmbusinessnews.com via bbc.co.uk – – Wed, 20th Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
Low-deposit mortgages have made a return as the market emerges from a Covid-related slowdown.
Mortgage products for homeowners with a deposit of 10% of their property's value have risen more than fourfold compared with last summer's low.
The increase, based on figures from financial information service Moneyfacts, could offer some relief to first-time buyers.
But the cost of mortgages will remain an issue for many.
In early September last year, there were only 44 mortgage products available for those able to offer a 10% deposit. At the same time, first-time buyers putting money aside for a deposit were faced with pressures of poor savings rates and rising house prices.
That choice has now risen to 197 products, according to the Moneyfacts figures, with some big lenders returning in recent weeks.
Mortgage products for those able to offer a 15% deposit have also risen sharply, although the choice was already much greater.
“First-time buyers who may have been concerned that with record low savings rates and increasing house prices, their homeownership dreams may have had to be shelved, may have been pleased to note that we are now seeing some providers return products for those with 10% deposits,” said Eleanor Williams, from Moneyfacts.
Lenders had been grappling with the practical effects that the coronavirus pandemic brought to their business.
While some new businesses targeted first-time buyers on social media, many traditional lenders withdrew products from the market.
Staff shortages, and employees working from home, meant they were unable to process applications as fast as they had before the pandemic.
There were also concerns among lenders that, despite strong activity in the housing market, riskier – and younger – first-time buyers could find it difficult to make mortgage repayments during an economic slowdown caused by the pandemic.
Research has shown that younger workers are more at risk of redundancy.
Aaron Strutt, from mortgage broker Trinity Financial, said lenders were now working more efficiently despite staff still being at home.
He said that some of the biggest mortgage lenders had returned to the market. Some of the mortgage rates they were offering were not as attractive as they had been, but competition would help push down costs.
“If you are planning to purchase a property and have a 10% deposit the mortgage rates are not as cheap as they used to be, but they are getting better,” he said.
Many thousands of existing mortgage-holders who had struggled to make their repayments during the pandemic had taken payment “holidays”, which are deferrals on payments.
The latest figures from UK Finance, which represents lenders, show that 130,000 mortgage payment holidays were in place at the end of December 2020, down from a peak of 1.8 million in June last year.
By Kevin Peachey
Personal finance correspondent
(qlmbusinessnews.com via news.sky.com– Wed, 20th Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
HSBC has announced plans to shut 82 UK branches this year after a shift towards telephone and internet banking.
The bank said it would “aim to redeploy all customer service colleagues who are impacted… into suitable nearby locations” but did not immediately say how many jobs were affected.
HSBC said the decision reflected “local market trends, customer behaviour and branch usage” and would see the total number of branches reduced to 511.
It said the closures are part of plans to become a market-leading digital bank and an overhaul of how remaining branches will operate.
Of the 82 sites closing, 81 are within a mile of a Post Office, two-thirds are within five miles of another HSBC branch and nine in 10 are within 10 miles, HSBC added.
HSBC said that even before counting the impact of the pandemic, the number of customers using branches has fallen by a third in the last five years.
The bank said 90% of all customer contact with it was over the phone, internet or smartphone and that staff talk with more than 100,000 customers a week on social media.
Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK's head of network, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the need for the changes that we are making.
“This is a strategic direction that we need to take to have a branch network fit for the future.”
The closures follow 164 announced by TSB adding to thousands that have disappeared from Britain's high streets in recent years from across the sector.
A recent report by consumer group Which? found banks and building societies had closed, or scheduled to close, 3,770 branches since January 2015.
HSBC, a global banking giant, revealed last year that it planned to cut 35,000 jobs globally.
The latest UK closures will take place between 23 April and 24 September.
Reporting by John-Paul Ford Rojas
These are the affected sites and their expected closure dates:
Edinburgh, Princes Street
Brighton, Ditchling Road
Hull, Merit House
Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks
Hull, Holderness Road
Pontyclun, Talbot Green
London, Fleet Street
London, Fenchurch Street
London, Old Broad Street
London, Charing Cross
Leeds, Chapel Allerton
Plymouth, Forder House
Belper, King Street
London, Streatham Hill
Falkirk High Street
Fleet, Fleet Road
Wigston, Leicester Road
Tavistock, Bedford Square
Leeds, Cross Gates
Yate, North Walk
London, Kingsbury Road
Cleckheaton, Bradford Road
London, South Woodford
Goole, Wesley Square
Congleton, High Street
Formby, Chapel Lane
Dunstable, West Street
Chorley, Market Street
Pontypridd, Taff Street
Felixstowe, Hamilton Road
Godalming, High Street
Prestatyn, High Street
Tewkesbury, High Street
Maldon, High Street
Huntingdon, High Street
London, Russell Square
Richmond, Market Place
Loughton, High Road
Rustington, The Street
Exmouth, Chapel Street
Cleveleys, Victoria Square
Northallerton, High Street
Walton-on-Thames, High Street
London, High Holborn
Barry, Holton Road
Aldershot, Wellington Street
Eastcote, Field End Road
London, Edgware Road
Ramsgate, High Street
Letchworth, Station Place
Barnet, High Street
Deal, High Street
Cheshunt, Turners Hill
Swadlincote, High Street
Dorking, West Street
Welshpool, Broad Street
London, Surrey Quays
Worksop, Bridge Street
(qlmbusinessnews.com via uk.reuters.com — Tue, 19th Jan 2021) London, UK —
LONDON (Reuters) – Two British hospitals are using blockchain technology to keep tabs on the storage and supply of temperature-sensitive COVID-19 vaccines, the companies behind the initiative said on Tuesday, in one of the first such initiatives in the world.
Two hospitals, in central England’s Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick, are expanding their use of a distributed ledger, an offshoot of blockchain, from tracking vaccines and chemotherapy drugs to monitoring fridges storing COVID-19 vaccines.
The tech will bolster record-keeping and data-sharing across supply chains, said Everyware, which monitors vaccines and other treatments for Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), and Texas-based ledger Hedera, owned by firms including Alphabet’s Google and IBM, in a statement.
Logistical hurdles are a significant risk to the speedy distribution of COVID-19 vaccines but have resulted in booming business for companies selling technology for monitoring shipments from factory freezer to shots in the arm.
Pfizer Inc and BioNTech’s shot, for example, must be shipped and stored at ultra-cold temperatures or on dry ice, and can only last at standard fridge temperatures for up to five days.
Other vaccines, such as Moderna Inc’s, do not need such cold storage and are therefore easier to deliver.
“We can absolutely verify the data that we’ve collected from every single device,” Everyware’s Tom Screen said in an interview. “We make sure that data is accurate at source, and after that point we can verify that it’s never been changed, it’s never been tampered with.”
Firms from finance to commodities have invested millions of dollars to develop blockchain, a digital ledger that allows the secure and real-time recording of data, in the hope of radical cost cuts and efficiency gains.
Results have been mixed, though, with few projects achieving the revolutionary impact heralded by proponents.
Everyware’s Screen said it while it would be possible to monitor the vaccines without blockchain, manual systems would raise the risk of mistakes.
The system will “allow us to demonstrate our commitment to providing safe patient care,” said Steve Clarke, electro-bio medical engineering manager at South Warwickshire NHS in a statement.
Reporting by Tom Wilson
(qlmbusinessnews.com via theguardian.com – – Tue, 19th Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
People high on list for jabs in UK ready to make 2021 and 2022 plans
Abta says is it is hearing from members that the over-50s represent a much higher proportion of early bookers than normal.
Holiday companies have reported an increase in bookings as the UK’s coronavirus vaccine rollout gives people hope that they will soon be able to travel overseas again.
Despite a series of negative travel announcements in recent days, including the closure of air corridors and words of caution from ministers over foreign holidays, there are signs that those among the first in line for the vaccinations are starting to plan trips, and that consumers are hopeful about taking a break later this year.
The travel association Abta said it was hearing from members that the over-50s represented a much higher proportion of early bookers than normal.Matt Hancock cautions against booking holidays abroad.
Saga, which specialises in holidays for the over-50s, reported rising numbers of bookings for this year and next. Traffic to its bookings website was up by 16% in the first two weeks of this year, compared with the first two weeks of December, while sales made through Saga had doubled over the same period. The interest comes despite the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, saying it was too early to plan for summer holidays this year because of travel restrictions and Matt Hancock, the health secretary, suggesting on Monday that holidays abroad may not be a given.
Bookings for long-haul trips for 2022 have also surged, suggesting an appetite for “once-in-a-lifetime holidays”, Saga said, while people are booking for longer even for short-haul destinations.
Saga said 70% of short-haul-stay bookings between November 2021 and January 2022 were for 21 nights or longer.
Chris Simmonds, the chief executive of Saga Holidays, said: “Many of our guests are hopeful that they will be able to travel again soon, with the vaccine providing them the optimism they need to start planning ahead.
“Of course, given we cater exclusively for people aged over 50, many of our customers are near the top of the queue for a vaccine, which is giving them the confidence to start thinking about travelling again, as well as returning to other parts of normal life.”
The tour operator Tui said older travellers were making up more of its bookings than usual.
A spokesperson said: “We’re seeing more interest in holidays from an age group that wasn’t coming through before, with the over-50s starting to book, we assume, on the back of the positive vaccine news.
“Since the end of last year, bookings from this group have accounted for 50% of all our web bookings, as customers long for a sunshine break later in summer, in particular in Greece, Turkey or the Balearics.”
It also reported customers booking longer breaks than previously, with many opting for 10, 11 or 14 nights instead of seven. It suggested this was to make up for not having had a holiday in 2020.
The airline easyJet said its holiday bookings for the summer were 250% higher than they had been at this point last year.
Its chief executive, Johan Lundgren, said: “We have seen easyJet holidays bookings from our over-50s customers increase over the last few weeks in comparison to pre-Christmas, which suggests a further confidence boost from the vaccine rollout.”
Lundgren said there was “pent-up demand”, adding: ”We have seen that every time restrictions have been relaxed and so we know that people want to go on holiday as soon as they can.”
Skyscanner, which offers flights and hotels via its website, said searches and bookings remained lower than normal for the time of year but there were signs that activity was picking up.
Searches were up by 12% over the week and bookings by 7%, with July 2021 the most searched for month.
Other firms reported bookings were higher for this September and October, suggesting consumers were hopeful that vaccines may have been delivered and travel restrictions lifted by the autumn.
On Monday, tough new testing rules came into effect that require all those arriving in the UK to show a negative Covid-19 test or face a potential £500 fine. The UK has also closed all its travel corridors, meaning people arriving will be required to quarantine.
Meanwhile, an official close to the Australian government has warned that tourists could face “substantial border restrictions” for most of 2021. Returning Australian travellers must pay about AU$3,000 (£1,700) to quarantine inside a hotel room for 14 days.
By Miles Brignall and Gwyn Topham
(qlmbusinessnews.com via news.sky.com– Mon, 18th Jan, 2021) London, Uk – –
Seafood companies have warned they could go under in days as they face long delays getting into the EU, ruining produce.
Lorries used to transport British seafood have parked on the roads near Downing Street in protest over delays getting into the EU due to new Brexit rules.
More than 20 large lorries from seafood companies across the UK were parked up, with one carrying the slogan “Brexit Carnage” while another said: “Incompetent Government Destroying Shellfish Industry!”
Over the past few days there has been a suggestion that drivers will dump their wasted stock outside Downing Street, but so far this has not happened.
Many British fishermen have been unable to export their stocks to Europe since the start of the year after the introduction of catch certificates, health checks and customs declarations have meant lengthy delays getting into the EU.
European buyers have been rejecting their catches as they are taking too long to get to them, costing producers tens of thousands of pounds per lorry in some cases.
Britain exports vast quantities of scallops, oysters, lobsters, mussels, langoustine and crab to the EU, which were previously rushed straight to the continent after being harvested.
A spokesman for DR Collin and Son, which had several lorries at the protest, said the industry is “being tied in knots with paperwork requirements which would be easy enough to navigate” as companies have been preparing for some time for leaving the EU.
“However, all the training is going to waste as the technology is outdated and cannot cope with the demands being placed on it – which in turn is resulting in no produce being able to leave the UK,” he said.
“These are not ‘teething issues' as reported by the government, and the consequences of these problems will be catastrophic on the lives of fishermen, fishing towns and the shellfish industry as a whole.
“Action needs to be taken urgently to allow the procedures to be realigned in a manner which reflects the time restraints faced in the export of live shellfish to Europe.”Seafood firms ‘only have weeks to survive' – as environment secretary admits ‘teething problems'
Gary Hodgson, a director of Venture Seafoods, which exports live and processed crabs and lobsters to the EU, said he had cancelled several lorries since December due to the arduous red tape now involved with exporting to the EU.
He said one operator needed 400 pages of export documentation last week to board a ferry to the EU.
Those at the protest said the government needed to understand the severity of the problems they face and the impact on coastal communities, many who rely on seafood sales to the EU to survive.
They want a more workable system and say there is a shortage of custom agents on both sides of the Channel.
Jimmy Buchan, chief executive of the Scottish Seafood Association, said they had seen little improvement in the fortnight since the new rules were in place.
He said: “There has been a lot of direct engagement between the industry and ministers and civil servants in recent days, and plenty of soothing words about resolving ‘teething troubles'.
“But these are not minor impediments to trade. The industry in Scotland has basically ground to a halt and businesses that employ hundreds of people in communities around our coastline are losing money.
“In some cases they are close to going under.
“It is time for our government to get a grip of what is now a full-blown crisis, and fast, before severe and lasting damage is done to the sector.”
The seafood industry has warned fishing businesses could collapse within days, but Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Sunday said the delays were just “teething problems”.
He told the BBC he was “not convinced” the delays were because of the government's trade deal with the EU and argued it will “create huge, sustainable opportunities” for the sector.
Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a committee of MPs that fishing businesses would be compensated for what he described as “temporary frustrations”.
By Alix Culbertson
(qlmbusinessnews.com via bbc.co.uk – – Mon, 18th Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
Fashion chain Next is reported to be the frontrunner to buy Sir Philip Green's Arcadia retail empire out of administration as a deadline for bids comes due on Monday.
The Sunday Times said a consortium including the chain and US hedge fund Davidson Kempner has overtaken Mike Ashley's Frasers Group among others to buy the company, which owns Topshop.
Some 13,000 jobs were put at risk when Arcadia went bust in November.
Next declined to comment on the claims.
The retailer, which has 550 UK stores, has weathered the pandemic well, with its Christmas sales matching last year's figures despite temporary store closures.
By contrast, sales at Acadia, which also owns Burton and Dorothy Perkins, slumped during the crisis triggering its collapse.
Since November, administrators Deloitte have been looking for buyers for some or all of the group, which had 444 stores in the UK and 22 overseas at the time.
Frasers Group, which owns House of Fraser and Sports Direct, and has a track record of buying up failed brands, has expressed an interest.
According to reports, Authentic Brands, the US owner of the Barneys department store, and JD Sports have tabled a joint offer, while online retailer Boohoo is also said to be circling.
Deloitte and Arcadia declined to comment on the reports.
Experts expect Arcadia to be broken up, with bidders taking on different parts of the business, and brands potentially hived off from their stores.
In December, Australian collective City Chic said it would buy Arcadia's Evans brand, commerce and wholesale business for £23m but not its store network.
Next boss Simon Wolfson has said it will take a minority stake in Arcadia, with Davidson Kempner holding the majority, if the consortium's bid succeeds.
‘More pain to come'
Last year was the worst for the High Street in more than 25 years as the coronavirus accelerated the move towards online shopping, according to the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).
Nearly 180,000 retail jobs were lost in the UK, up by almost a quarter on the previous year, as shops faced strict curbs and prolonged closures.
CRR warned there will be more pain for the sector in 2021 as retailers face a cash flow crisis and rent payments.
It has predicted up to 200,000 more retail jobs will be at risk in 2021.
The electrification of the pickup truck, America's most beloved automobile, could finally jolt EVs fully into the U.S. mainstream. It also promises a huge payday for the companies that can make them affordable. The players in this potentially lucrative market aren't just the traditional, deep-pocketed automakers, mind you: there's a batch of well-funded startups going head-to-head in the coming fight
(qlmbusinessnews.com via news.sky.com– Fri, 15th Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
The owner of Primark has warned it faces losing over £1bn in sales if coronavirus lockdowns force the majority of its stores to remain closed through February.
The store-only discount fashion retailer, which has traded well from pent-up demand during the COVID-19 crisis to date when restrictions have allowed, said it was clearly facing a “significant” financial hit.
Parent firm Associated British Foods (ABF) has steadfastly refused to trade the Primark business online despite the disruption.
It reported that 305 of its 389 stores – 76% of its shops – were currently closed.
The company disclosed a 30% slump in sales in the 16 weeks to 2 January.
It said Primark's underlying half-year profits to the end of February were now forecast to break even on the previous year as a result.
Just weeks ago it had predicted £650m of lost sales in the six-month period.
Under a scenario that growing restrictions could force its entire estate across Europe to shut until the end of March, ABF said the total sales loss would increase above £1.8bn.
However, ABF said Primark had offset some of the impact on trading through a 25% reduction in usual operating costs.
Shares opened almost 2% down but later recovered to end 1.5% higher on Thursday.
By James Sillars
(qlmbusinessnews.com via bbc.co.uk – – Fri, 15th Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
Tens of thousands of small businesses will receive insurance payouts covering losses from the first national lockdown, following a court ruling.
The Supreme Court found largely in favour of small firms receiving payments from business interruption insurance policies.
For some businesses it could provide a lifeline, allowing them to trade beyond the coronavirus crisis.
The ruling could cost the insurance sector hundreds of millions of pounds.
The City watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), brought the test case, with eight insurers agreeing to take part in proceedings.
One of the insurers set to make significant payouts is Hiscox, which was challenged by thousands of its policyholders as part of the case.
Richard Leedham, who represented the Hiscox Action Group – on behalf of small businesses, said: “This is a landmark victory for a small group of businesses who took on a huge insurance player and have been fully vindicated.
“What is important now is that Hiscox accepts the Supreme Court's verdict and starts paying out to its policy holders, many of whom are in danger of going under”.
Other insurers involved in the test case are Arch, Argenta, MS Amlin, QBE and RSA – but as many as 60 insurers sold similar products. They will now pay out on many, but not all, policies.
Huw Evans, director general of the Association of British Insurers, said: “All valid claims will be settled as soon as possible and in many cases the process of settling claims has begun.
“We recognise this has been a particularly difficult time for many small businesses and naturally regret the Covid-19 restrictions have led to disputes with some customers.”
What is this case about?
In the lockdown of last spring, many small businesses made claims through business interruption insurance policies for loss of earnings when they had to close.
But many insurers refused to pay, arguing only the most specialist policies had cover for such unprecedented restrictions.
It was agreed that a selection of policy wordings should be tested in court, setting the parameters for what would be considered a valid claim.
The ruling provides guidance for a wider pool of 700 policies, potentially affecting 370,000 small businesses – although only some of these will end up with payouts.
Giving the court's ruling, Lord Hamblen said the court accepted the arguments from representatives of policyholders and dismissed appeals from insurers against an earlier judgement finding in policyholders' favour.
The complex ruling covered issues such as disease clauses, whether business were denied access to the properties, and the timing of lost earnings.
James Ollerenshaw's hair salon was one of those businesses unable to operate during the first national lockdown.
The business – The Drawing Room in London's Spitalfields – paid an annual premium of £1,200 for business interruption insurance, and disease cover came as part of it.
Mr Ollerenshaw said the Supreme Court's decision would not directly affect his policy, but would decide the principles on claims such as his – and were vital for the business.
“A payout would cover the major costs, which is the rent. We have debt sitting there,” he said.
He said he was delighted with the Supreme Court's ruling.
“The insurance industry needs to face up to the fact that it failed customers at their greatest moment of need, destroying companies, livelihoods and jobs,” he said.
He formed a Covid Claims Group, joining other small business owners in calling for a quick resolution and payouts.
“Time matters,” he said, pointing out that some small businesses have been forced to close down while waiting for the decision.
Sheldon Mills, from the FCA, which brought the case on behalf of policyholders, said: “Coronavirus is causing substantial loss and distress to businesses and many are under immense financial strain to stay afloat. Today's judgment decisively removes many of the roadblocks to claims by policyholders.
“We will be working with insurers to ensure that they now move quickly to pay claims that the judgment says should be paid, making interim payments wherever possible.”
The test case was fast-tracked to the highest court in England and Wales – the Supreme Court, which heard four days of legal representations in November. The final ruling provides authoritative guidance for these policies, and potentially of similar ones not part of the case.
The FCA, the insurance sector, and the Financial Ombudsman will all use the judgement to guide their decisions in other cases.
The Financial Ombudsman Service and courts in Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to use the judgment to rule on other, similar cases.
Insurance policies would have been amended for new and renewing customers since this issue emerged, so losses from the latest lockdown measures in different parts of the UK would be clearly stated as part of the cover – or not – in new business interruption insurance policies.
By Kevin Peachey
(qlmbusinessnews.com via uk.reuters.com — Thur, 14th Jan 2021) London, UK —
LONDON (Reuters) – A firm of London plumbers is looking at changing its employment contracts to include a requirement for workers to have a COVID-19 vaccine, its founder said on Thursday, though he added that no one would get fired for refusing to have the shot.
Pimlico Plumbers, with a workforce of more than 400, has been talking to its lawyers about making the vaccine mandatory for new hires within a few months, founder Charlie Mullins said.
The firm was also exploring how it might modify existing staff contracts, he said, although he insisted no one would be forced to receive a vaccine or be fired over the issue.
“We wouldn’t dream of forcing anybody but I’m pretty much certain that 99% of our staff would jump at the opportunity,” Mullins told Reuters in a telephone interview.
“Who in their right mind would turn down one needle or one jab that could save your life?” he added.
Asked whether there was a contradiction between saying contracts could be modified to require vaccines while also saying no one would be forced out, Mullins presented the issue as one of persuasion rather than coercion.
“It’s not a contradiction because I think you’ll find if you encourage people and advise them … I’m happy to pay for anyone that works for us to have the vaccine,” he said, adding that this could take place during working hours.
As things stand, people in Britain can only receive the vaccine from the state-run National Health Service, which is gradually rolling them out free of charge, following an order of priority with elderly and vulnerable people top of the list.
Mullins said he believed that within a few months it should be possible to pay to obtain vaccines privately, and he also thought it would become the norm for proof of vaccination to be required for things such as air travel or going to the theatre.
In that context, he said, he did not believe many people would find a “no jab, no job” policy controversial.
“Nobody moans now you’ve got to get on a plane with a negative COVID test,” he said, referring to a new requirement for passengers arriving in Britain to provide proof of a negative test taken less than 72 hours before travel. Many other countries have had such requirements for months.
Reporting by Estelle Shirbon
(qlmbusinessnews.com via theguardian.com – – Thur, 14th Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
Restaurant and pub closures fuel trading boom over Christmas period
Lockdown living has driven a surge in demand at Lidl and the food courier Just Eat, with both companies posting strong sales for the final weeks of 2020.
With restaurants and cafes closed to diners, the boom in home eating led Just Eat Takeaway.com to report a 57% spike in orders across Europe during the final three months of last year, compared with a year earlier.
The leap in trade reported by the continent’s biggest food delivery service was a further acceleration in growth from the 46% jump in the third quarter.
In the UK, delivery orders surged by almost 400% in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared with the same period of 2019, as many consumers were once again asked by the government to stay indoors.
Just Eat Takeaway, based in the Netherlands and one of the world’s largest online food delivery firms, said it had put “tremendous effort” into improving its British business, including a doubling of its UK sales force.
“In 2021, we will continue to invest in price leadership, improving our service levels and expanding our offering to restaurants and consumers,” said Jitse Groen, the chief executive.
Lidl also reported a record Christmas, as customers celebrated with panettone and pink prosecco.
Sales at the chain rose by 17.9% in the four weeks to 27 December, compared with the same period a year earlier. The increase was larger than those at the UK’s four biggest supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons – and Aldi.
British supermarkets notched up their biggest month on record in December, with consumers spending £11.7bn on take-home groceries, according to analysts at the research group Kantar, as coronavirus restrictions led to the closure of many restaurants, pubs and cafes during the key trading period.
Lidl said shoppers bought more goods – with basket size increasing by almost 25% year on year – and British households switched £34.7m of spend to Lidl from other supermarkets.
Customers’ taste for premium food and drink over the Christmas period boosted their spend, and sales of Lidl’s Deluxe range climbed by 22%.
Lidl shoppers bought more than 1m bottles of pink prosecco during the festive period, as well as 2.7m panettones. An average of 17,000 Deluxe mince pies an hour were sold during December.
Christian Härtnagel, chief executive of Lidl GB, said its record sales and basket size growth demonstrated the strength of the chain’s appeal.
And the store’s first branded Christmas jumper, featuring the logo as part of a festive design, appears to have topped the charts, with one sold every minute in the month to 27 December.
“Despite this Christmas being a difficult time for many across the country, we are pleased to have been able to help our customers enjoy themselves by offering high-quality food at the lowest prices on the market,” he said.
(qlmbusinessnews.com via bbc.co.uk – – Wed, 13th Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
People falling behind on credit payments for cars and other products may soon have their items seized by lenders, under the regulator's plans.
A ban on repossession of goods and vehicles is due to expire at the end of January.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said that extending the ban could leave people owing much more over time.
However, the FCA is proposing that no homes are repossessed before the start of April.
The coronavirus pandemic meant the ban on repossessions of homes, vehicles and other items in the UK was put in place and extended to the end of January
Normally, lenders can seize homes and goods if somebody falls too far behind on loan repayments.
Deferrals on payments are available for an agreed period of time, but the FCA is now proposing that repossessions of items bought on credit – such as cars – can resume from the start of February.
“This should only be as a last resort, and subject to complying with relevant government public health guidelines and regulations, for example on social distancing and shielding,” the FCA said.
“Firms will also be expected to consider the impact on customers who may be vulnerable, including because of the pandemic, when deciding whether repossession of goods or vehicles is appropriate.”
It argued that interest over a longer period, combined with the depreciating value of the goods or vehicles, would leave people with a potentially unsustainable bill.
The popularity of car finance has fallen amid the pandemic. New figures from the Finance and Leasing Association show a fall in new business volumes of 24% in November compared with the same month in 2019.
Home repossession ban
The picture for homes is different, owing to the government restrictions on movement and the transmission risks of coronavirus.
The FCA's repossession ban on properties is proposed to be extended to April.
Last week, governments in England, Wales and Scotland all extended their ban on bailiffs enforcing evictions of tenants who have fallen behind on rent.
The FCA's proposals for homeowners covers the whole of the UK, and is subject to consultation for the next five days.
There are no changes to the rules on mortgage holidays available to homeowners. Some two-and-a-half million homeowners have taken a mortgage holiday since the start of the pandemic.
That means they have deferred the payment, but will probably have to pay more each month when repayments resume.
Anyone can still request a mortgage holiday, unless they have already had one for six months, the FCA said. A new one can last for six months. An existing one can be extended to last for six months in total.
Applications can be made before the end of March 2020.
When the six month deferral has been used, lenders assess the borrower's circumstances and devise an arrangement that could include extending the mortgage term, accepting partial payments, or – only in the short-term – another deferral.
This will show up on their credit record.
By Kevin Peachey
(qlmbusinessnews.com via news.sky.com– Wed, 13th Jan 2021) London, Uk – –
The retailer said it was responding to a “clear change in tone” from governments on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
John Lewis has suspended click-and-collect services at its department stores in the latest tightening of rules for shoppers as the coronavirus crisis intensifies.
The department store chain said it was responding to a “clear change in tone and emphasis” from governments across the UK urging the public to stay at home.
It came as Britain's major supermarket chains said they would deny entry to customers not wearing face coverings unless they had a medical excuse.COVID vaccine tracker
Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Asda – which unlike non-essential retailers have remained open throughout the pandemic – set out their rules after vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi expressed concerns about the behaviour of store customers.
Two other supermarkets, Aldi and Waitrose – the latter which is also part of the John Lewis Partnership – also said they would enforce the policy.Advertisement
Meanwhile Kingfisher, owner of DIY chain B&Q, revealed that while stores remain open as it is classed as an essential retailer, it has had to close its kitchen and bathroom showrooms.
Last week, Topps Tiles said it had been advised to close its tile aisles to prevent browsing under tightened restrictions designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In its latest update on Tuesday, John Lewis Partnership said it was “conscious of the increased need to remove reasons for non-essential travel during the current lockdown”.
Click-and-collect orders from department stores were being “switched off to new orders” from the close of business on Tuesday, the company said.
However click-and-collect will still be available from sister retailer Waitrose.
JLP also said new bookings for in-home services such as appliance installation and bathroom fittings would be paused when “not essential to the health and wellbeing of customers and their families”.
At Waitrose, it will station marshals at entrances with disposable masks available to anyone who has not brought their own.
Admission will be denied to anyone refusing to comply and marshals will also ensure that only one member of each household is allowed to shop.
Meanwhile, staff at the supermarket will have to wear face coverings even when behind protective screens or when working at the back of the store away from customers, in addition to the areas where the rule currently applies.
Andrew Murphy, executive director of operations at JLP, said: “We are acutely aware that the country is at a critical point in the pandemic.
“We've listened carefully to the clear change in tone and emphasis of the views and information shared by the UK's governments in recent days.
“While we recognise that the detail of formal guidance has not changed, we feel it is right for us – and in the best interests of our partners and customers – to take proactive steps to further enhance our COVID security and related operational policies.”
By John-Paul Ford Rojas


text:
In 2008 Eva Sippl founded Herbucha, LLC, now home of Eva's Herbucha and Eva's Cultured Candy. The first 9 plus years Eva and her crew dedicated their time to brew high quality small-batch kombucha.
Over time however, it started to bother Eva that she has to throw away so many SCOBYs although they are a perfectly good food item. She started to produce kombucha starter kits for DYI folks but this still only made a dent.
Fall 2017 she finally had an idea to create kombucha candy with the SCOBYs and after a few weeks of experimenting she figured out a way to create delicious raw organic treats.

domain: food


Mobvoi will quickly announce the TicWatch E3 smartwatch that has appeared in an unboxing video, revealing its round design and key specs.
The video was posted by a YouTuber on Instagram. It tells us that the TicWatch E3 is powered by the Snapdragon Wear 4100 SoC, making it the second Mobvoi smartwatch after the TicWatch Pro 3 to have the Put on 4100 chip below the hood.
The TicWatch E3 runs Put on OS and has a microphone and a speaker on board, which suggests you’ll discuss on telephone calls by means of the smartwatch.
The smartwatch is IP68 water resistant and comes with 20+ exercise modes whereas additionally having TicMotion help. The remainder of the TicWatch E3’s highlights embody 24×7 heart-rate monitoring, blood oxygen stage measurement, sleep monitoring, stress monitoring, and VO2 Max monitoring.
The YouTuber says that TicWatch E3 would not pack an OLED panel, however the display is roofed with 2.5D curved glass. If you happen to perceive Russian, you possibly can watch the video under.
There is not any phrase from Mobvoi concerning the TicWatch E3 but, however the firm has scheduled an occasion on June 16 to introduce a brand new TicWatch, which might be the E3.
🤩Our newest sensible watch will meet the world quickly! 🥰How about profitable one without cost earlier than everybody else?
Be a part of now through this hyperlink:👉https://t.co/9K4rmPO78i and full the challenges ranging from tomorrow to get an opportunity!🥳
#countdown #giveaways #itmoveswithyou #mobvoi pic.twitter.com/bwiolmtBZk
— Mobvoi_Official (@Mobvoi_Official) June 11, 2021
Mobvoi has additionally arrange an event page on its official web site, which incorporates the brand new TicWatch’s picture, and it appears much like the E3 – a round design with two buttons on one facet flanking what’s doubtless a microphone.


text:
Jakarta, IO – The Foreign Ministry has officially submitted data of overseas Indonesian Citizens (WNI) to the General Elections Commission (KPU) to update the electoral districts (dapil) data for the 2024 elections.
KPU chairman Hasyim Asy’ari said the data of 2,310,497 Indonesian citizens from 130 overseas representatives has been submitted on October 12, reported Kompas on Monday (17/10).
Meanwhile, data of domestic citizens was submitted by the Home Ministry in the form of Population Aggregate Data by District (DAK2). In total, there are 275,361,267 Indonesians registered in the first half of the year.
According to Hasyim, based on KPU Regulation 3/2022 on schedules, stages, and programs for the 2024 simultaneous elections, the structuring and preparation of electoral districts will take place from October 14 to February 9, 2022.

domain: law


Peter wrote: >> >howdy, >> > >> >i've got it all configured correctly .. well it doesn't spit any >> errors out >> >on make >> >but when i got to view a web page it opens a down load box ..so >> i added this >> > >> >LoadModule php4_module libexec/libphp4.so >> > >> >to httpd.conf as per the manual and restarted apache but it didn't start >> >saying it couldn't find libphp.so which leads me to my question >> .. that file >> >is created automatically correct? >> > >> >i havent been able to find that file on my machine any where.. so i >> >can't point it to another location ... any one got any ideas what i >> should do as i >> >have not seen any info any where that will direct me in this >> >situation... >> >> Do the "make install" again and pay attention to what scrolls by and see >> where it puts the libphp4.so file. >> >> Then, make sure that's where Apache expects it. >> >> the LoadModule directive acts in conjunction with the one above all the >> LoadModules that tells Apache where to start looking for Modules in the >> first place. >> >> Some folks set that in httpd.conf to include the "libexec" part, so then >> your libexec in the LoadModule line is ending up "doubling" the libexec >> in the path and that ain't gonna work. >> >> If there are any *working* LoadModule lines, you can try digging around >> to find them on your hard drive, and make sure libphp4.so is sitting next >> to them, and then do the LoadModule the same way as the working ones. >> >> http://apache.org will explain all the stuff I just said in >> formal language. >> :-) > > Ok i followed what you have suggested and Apache didn't spit out anything > on libphp4.so so I am lead to beleave it wasn't created.. > > my apache config like was > > > #./configure --enable-module=most --enable-shared=max > #--activate-module=src/ > modules/php4/libphp4.a > > cheers > Peter > > Peter - if you are still battling with this, perhaps you might try an alternate approach, where you first compile apache with dso support, then compile php as a loadable module.
For guidance, here are the configure files I use for each: Apache ./configure --prefix=/usr/local/apache --enable-module=most --enable-shared=max You'll possibly have apache in a different place so may need to change the value for prefix. PHP #! /bin/sh # # Created by configure "./configure" \ "--enable-debug=no" \ "--enable-gd-imgstrttf" \ "--enable-gd-nativett" \ "--enable-sysvsem=yes" \ "--enable-sysvshm=yes" \ "--enable-track-vars=yes" \ "--with-apxs=/usr/local/apache/bin/apxs" \ "--with-config-file-path" \ "--with-config-file-path=/usr/local/apache/conf" \ "--with-freetype-dir=/usr/X11R6" \ "--with-gd=/usr/local/src/gd-2.0.1" \ "--with-jpeg-dir=/usr" \ "--with-mysql=/usr/local/mysql" \ "--with-png-dir=/usr" \ "--with-xml" \ "--with-xpm-dir=/usr/X11R6" \ "--with-zlib" \ "--with-zlib-dir=/usr" \ "$@" #"--with-mnogosearch" \ The two things you need specifically here are --with-apxs which allows the loadable module to be built, and the two with-config-file entries. The latter of these points to the directory where you have installed apache configuration files, and allows the php install process to find the apache config file and add the necessary entries to get php up and running. So the order of play is Apache configure make make install optionally start to ensure its all working PHP configure make make install Apache restart to re-read the config file That should get you up and running. I just did the php part earlier today to upgrade my laptop to 4.2.2 and it only took a few minutes. Cheers -- David Robley NUMBER CRUNCHING: Jumping on a Computer. -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php


text:
Effective 8/1/2006 a seller of real property in Minnesota, before signing an agreement to sell or transfer real property that is located in an airport safety zone A, B,or C, will be required to disclose in writing to the buyer the existence of airport zoning regulations that affect the property. However the disclosures do not apply to safety zones operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission. The following airports are excluded:
- Anoka County Airport
- Crystal Airport
- Eden Prairie -Flying Cloud
- Lake Elmo
- Lakeville – Air Lake
- Minneapolis / St Paul International
- St Paul Downtown
The disclosure still applies to the remaining general airports in Minnesota, including the South St Paul Airport and Forest Lake Airport.
Sellers and buyers please note that the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors has made it easy for you to comply with this new disclosure. The proper language has been added to the residential Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement and the Vacant Land Disclosure Statement that you receive from your agent!

domain: geography


text:
- Contact Us - Review Policy
- Blog Tour Testimonials
- Blog Tours - Blogger Sign Up
- Panty Melting Hotness or Just Really, Really Good!
- Click Here for Free eBooks!!
- Erotic Terms - What's This Mean?
- Blog Tour Schedule: A Ghost of an Affair by Ellen March - Nov 24th - Dec 8th @Ms_ellen_march
- Blog Tour Schedule: Charleston Past Midnight by Christine Edwards - Oct 31st - Nov 14th
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Impossible by Laurel Ulen Curtis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have to be honest here, I started this book, IMPOSSIBLE, a few weeks ago and I just could not get into the “weather chasing” aspect of the story, so if you have the same thoughts when you start reading, then give it a minute because that isn’t the primary focus of the book. I am so glad I put this book aside and went back to it, because it is really a unique and fantastic story and I could scarcely believe that I had previously had a hard time getting into the story!
IMPOSSIBLE has fantastic characters - smart, sexy, stubborn and loving characters. What really roped me into the story was CJ. CJ is only fifteen, but he is wise beyond his years. When the young and handsome stud-muffin in the making crosses paths with the guarded and emotionally unavailable woman called “Roni,” he instantly becomes smitten and is determined to snag her… for his father ☺ This kid is the total package and at the risk of sounding like a pervert... Well, let's just say I was really glad there was an adult version of him running around ;-)
Roni is a little stick of dynamite, but she has a past so littered with pain that she can’t even stand so much as a little pinprick – it might just send her off the deep end. By something short of a miracle, CJ quickly worms his way in her heart and his handsome father isn’t far behind.
CJ and his father, Coleman are like two-peas-in-a-pod. Their father/son relationship warms my heart and soothes my soul. The pair banter like brothers and the handsome team is virtually unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with. Coleman is a great teacher and capitalizes on every opportunity to give back by passing on pertinent knowledge to the next generation of heartbreakers…
❝Finding the right woman is a lot like ridin’ a bull. You’ll know in a little over eight seconds whether they’re worth a second ride or not. And, as you know, the best ones usually buck you off a few times before givin’ you the ride of your life.❞
Upon their first meeting, Coleman Cade, Sr. knows instantly that Roni is just perfect for him.
Then there is the backbone of the Cade family, Nan. I TOTALLY LOVE HER! Aahhh! I wanted to hug her and claim her as my own! Although she might be Coleman’s mother and CJ’s grandmother, she is certainly no prude - I love her spunk! She always offers the BEST advice!
❝A lady should only ride two things, sweetheart. A horse and her man. But only after she has a solid relationship with both.❞
If you follow my reviews, then you know I am a huge fan of the curve ball in the plot. Oh yeah, you guessed it, author Laurel Ulen Curtis effectively throws a monkey wrench in everything with a super secret twist and whoa! Boy did I NOT see that one coming! High marks for pulling that one off Laurel!
Readers! If you are a fan of sexy cowboys, spunky women and a story that will keep you on your toes, then IMPOSSIBLE is a must read!
✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
If you like this type of book, you might enjoy one of these groups. Check us out!
Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
BUY IT NOW! - Amazon
View all my reviews
Posted by I ♥ Bookie Nookie at 8:24 PM

domain: literature


text:
Hey guys! I’m here to celebrate the release of this super cool retelling of Twelve Dancing Princesses — The Midnight Dance!
About the Book
by Nikki Katz
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: October 17th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
When the music stops, the dance begins.
Seventeen-year-old Penny is a lead dancer at the Grande Teatro, a finishing school where she and eleven other young women are training to become the finest ballerinas in Italy. Tucked deep into the woods, the school is overseen by the mysterious and handsome young Master who keeps the girls ensconced in the estate – and in the only life Penny has never known.
But when flashes of memories, memories of a life very different from the one she thinks she’s been leading, start to appear, Penny begins to question the Grand Teatro and the motivations of the Master. With a kind and attractive kitchen boy, Cricket, at her side, Penny vows to escape the confines of her school and the strict rules that dictate every step she takes. But at every turn, the Master finds a way to stop her, and Penny must find a way to escape the school and uncover the secrets of her past before it’s too late.
About the Author
Get ready for a book with a few Gothic elements that definitely reminded me of Phantom of the Opera mixed with 12 Dancing Princesses. I do have to say that I love retellings!
Penny is an interesting and dynamic character. She is a bit naive to begin with, but as the story continues we see her develop into someone who I found myself rooting for. She’s someone who makes mistakes, and sometimes those cause a lot of trouble for her, but it’s relatable in the sense that we all do regrettable things.
The Master gave me Phantom vibes especially with his large air of mystery and the kind of attention he attracts. While he’s more of a visible character in the setting of the story, he still calls for the sort of weird obsession that people have with the Phantom. That’s not to say that he’s a bad character – he invokes the curiosity needed and is cloaked in an air of austerity.
The plot is a bit slower at the beginning and it took me a few chapters to really get into it, but once you get to more of the intrigue and mystery things start to really pick up.
- Print copy of The Midnight Dance
- Ends November 2nd


“Denzel Washington” is among nearly 200 defendants arrested in a human sex trafficking sting involving a single Florida girl.
Although Washington is not the legendary actor, it isn’t clear if the defendant is related to Denzel.
The operation, called “Stolen Innocence,” began in 2018 and wrapped on Tuesday with nearly 200 arrests, the NY Post reported.
The girl was 13 and 14 years old at the time of the assaults, but investigators believe she was younger than 13 when the assaults began.
Among the suspects are a high-profile Florida State University booster, a middle school physical education teacher, a lobbyist, and a former candidate for local office, according to the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper.
They were all charged with human trafficking of a minor, and 106 people were hit with felony charges. 18 are being charged federally, according to the Post.
Several women were also arrested and charged with arranging “play” dates with the girl in exchange for money, according to the Post.
Some of the defendants say their encounters with the girl occurred in a filthy apartment and various hotels and motels around Tallahassee.
They say the girl’s mother wouldn’t allow them to have sex with the child unless they brought her drugs and money.
It isn’t clear if the girl’s mother was charged or was part of the sex trafficking ring.
The teen was rescued by the police department’s Special Victims Unit. She is in the custody of the state and “on the road to recovery.”


A fortnight after Quins' LV= Cup win over the Tigers, the London side are back at Welford Road and hoping for similar fortunes in the Premiership.
Nick Evans returns in place of Rory Clegg, and restores his 9-10 partnership with Karl Dickson. Jordan Turner-Hall and Ollie Smith are at centre.
Tom Williams and George Lowe on the wings. Mike Brown, after missing out on the Newcastle game, is back at full-back.
Ceri Jones, Joe Gray and James Johnston make up the front-row and Tomas Vallejos and George Robson combine once more in the second-row.
Captain Chris Robshaw, Will Skinner and Tom Guest make up a strong back-row. Gonzalo Camacho remains with Argentina.
Meanwhile, lock Geoff Parling is included in Leicester's matchday 22 for the first time this season.
Parling ended last season with a Premiership winner's medal in his first term with the club, but he suffered a neck injury on tour with England in June. He is named among the Tigers' replacements.
Geordan Murphy, Anthony Allen and George Chuter have returned from international training this week to take a place in the starting line-up and Manu Tuilagi makes his first start in the Aviva Premiership, taking the place of brother Alesana, who is away with Samoa.
Props Fraser Balmain and Ryan Bower are among the replacements after playing in the LV=Cup match against the Ospreys last Friday, but England international centre Dan Hipkiss is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Form: Harlequins have already won at Welford Road this season with a 34-25 scoreline there in the Anglo-Welsh Cup two weeks ago, but the Londoners have never won at the venue in the Premiership. Leicester Tigers have lost their last four games in all competitions - their worst run since 2003/04, but in the Premiership have lost just one of their last 25 home games. Harlequins' only loss in their last five was 26-33 at Gloucester in Aviva Premiership Rugby on 23 October. Quins have not won away from home in the Premiership since a trip to Leeds on 4 December 2009.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Geordan Murphy (c), 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Manu Tuilagi, 10 Billy Twelvetrees, 9 James Grindal, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Craig Newby, 6 Thomas Waldrom, 5 George Skivington, 4 Ed Slater, 3 Julian White, 2 George Chuter, 1 Peter Bucknall.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Fraser Balmain, 18 Ryan Bower, 19 Steve Mafi, 20 Geoff Parling, 21 Jason Spice, 22 George Ford, 23 Lee Robinson.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 George Lowe, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Tom Williams, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Karl Dickson, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Will Skinner, 6 Chris Robshaw (capt), 5 George Robson, 4 Tomas Vallejos, 3 James Johnston, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Chris Brooker, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 John Andress, 19 Ollie Kohn, 20 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 21 Dave Moore, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Ross Chisholm.
Date: Friday, November 19
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Welford Road
Referee: Wayne Barnes


text:
As a former war photographer, Irish photojournalist Grace Brennan from Carla Laureano’s novel London Tides has witnessed a great deal of devastation. And in the aftermath of a tragic personal loss, Grace is reeling. Like Grace, to deal with trauma or loss, we may turn to unhealthy modes of coping with our pain. Read Carla Laureano’s article below to find some tips that may help you the next time you find yourself struggling to cope with stress or pain in your own life.
I often say that Grace Brennan from London Tides is my favorite female character of all the ones I’ve written, but she was also the most difficult. Because she was a war photographer suffering from PTSD, it was important to me that I portrayed her actions and her mental state accurately, and I’ve been told by readers whose loved ones deal with the disorder that I captured the struggles faithfully.
If you do have a diagnosed mental health condition or suspect you might, I encourage you to seek the help of a qualified professional who specializes in trauma. That said, we don’t have to be suffering from PTSD to learn from Grace’s journey. Daily life provides plenty of opportunity for grief, trauma, and anxiety that fall below the threshold of a psychiatric diagnosis but still affect our everyday lives. I lived for years with anxiety and chronic health conditions triggered by stress, and in many ways, I closely related to what Grace was going through.
What I—and Grace—found is that some things can help us deal with the stressors, both big and small, in our lives.
1) Don’t be ashamed. For most of us living in the Western world, we have very little to complain about. We have places to live, food to eat, and possessions to make our daily lives easier, often in more abundance than we actually need. So it can be easy to dismiss our problems with a pithy hashtag: #firstworldproblems. But just because our problems aren’t life-threatening doesn’t make them any less real. By refusing to acknowledge the things that bother us, whether they are small hurts or a major loss, we allow them to fester and grow.
2) Don’t hold it in. It can be tempting to keep the details of our struggles to ourselves, either because we think other people won’t understand or because we’re afraid to be seen as weak. But holding in negative emotions rarely makes them go away; it just allows them to multiply. When we’re in pain, it becomes increasingly more difficult to keep things in perspective and make good decisions. Whether you speak with a friend, a spouse, or a mental health professional, make sure that you open up to someone you trust. Only when we let negative emotions out do we have room to let positive ones in.
3) Don’t neglect the Word. Often when I’m going through something difficult or traumatic, the first thing to go is my quiet time with the Lord. I find it difficult to relate to the out-of-context verses that other Christians throw out when they don’t know what else to say; they can feel more like platitudes than real help. That’s when I dive into the books that speak to suffering in a real, visceral way, like Job and Psalms. Of all the characters in the Bible, Job and King David truly know what it is to have problems that can’t be solved with a pithy saying. The believers in these books don’t sweep suffering under the rug with the idea that real Christians would simply “consider it all joy.” They wrestle with God, display true pain, and eventually find peace in God’s sovereignty and comfort.
4) Don’t neglect the physical. Just like we shouldn’t ignore our spiritual lives when we’re grieving or disappointed, we can’t forget the physical. Our bodies are more intricately entwined with our minds and spirits than we like to believe, and while there often isn’t a sole physical cause to our problems, there’s often a physical or medical component to our mental states. When I went through a period of extreme anxiety, I didn’t have the capacity to talk to others about my problems or even bring them to God. It wasn’t until I addressed the elements of my diet and everyday routine that were exacerbating my physical symptoms that I could truly deal with the mental and spiritual components. There’s a reason why James 2:16 (NIV) says, “If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” The Bible recognizes that before we can deal with our minds and souls, we must address our bodies.
While these four points can’t immediately erase the pain, grief, and disappointments of this life, they can give us tools to move toward healing in healthy and productive ways. However, sometimes thoughts and emotions can be too much to handle on your own. If you are contemplating self-harm, please follow Grace’s example and seek out a qualified mental health professional or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
London Tides by Carla Laureano
Irish photojournalist Grace Brennan travels the world’s war zones documenting the helpless and forgotten. After the death of her friend and colleague, Grace is shaken.
She returns to London hoping to rekindle the spark with the only man she ever loved—Scottish businessman Ian MacDonald. But he gave up his championship rowing career and dreams of Olympic gold years ago for Grace . . . only for her to choose photography over him. Will life’s tides bring them back together . . . or tear them apart for good this time?

domain: psychology


text:
Punches & Dies are must for solid dosage production and Yener has been investing in a dedicated manufacturing facility for tooling at Kartal, Istanbul location. We use special steels for providing longer life & stability to the tooling. With a Support of coatings on surfaces, the quality of tablets as well as different manufacturing challenges can be resolved.Punches and dies used for ; Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, Confectionery, Cosmetics, Veterinary and Food industries.
There are 2 types of tooling option;
YENER KALIP manufactures punches and dies to support all type of tablet presses available on the market today.
If you produce under 1 million tablets per hour, you have to use single tip tools.Single tip tools reduces your tooling costs and provides faster tool production time.
If you produce in excess of 1 million tablets per hour with a rotary tabletting press you must use multi tip tools.Multitip tools increases your productivity, reduces working hour and production costs.We also supply tools suitable for eccentric machines.It minimizes cost, multiplies production and it can pay off.For example if pharmaceutical company produces 5.000 pellets per minute using single-tip tooling, they can definitely produce 15.000 pellets per minute if they switch to tree-tip tooling.That's 300 percent increase without additional personal or equipment.
Multi tip tooling generally applicable for bigger than Ø4.00mm tablets and available for round and shaped tablets
There are many steel types available but only a few meet the complex design and functional requirements of tablet tooling. Material selection must always be considered alongside good tablet design for strong punch cups and punch tip edges.
Hot work tool steel with high level of resistance to thermal shock and fatigue, excellent hot tensile strength properties, high hot wear resistance, good machinability and polishability, fine grain size with high level toughness, dimensional stability, extra fine structure without grain boundary carbides, nitridable, admits water cooling and contains low phosphorus and sulfur content.Used for punches only.
Is an air or oil hardening tool steel that is characterized by very high impact toughness. The combination of strength and high toughness makes it a candidate for a wide variety of tooling applications. It can be used successfully for both cold and hot work applications.Used for punches only
Oil hardenable, medium carbon with tungsten alloyed shock resistant cold work tool steel, high resistant to impacts with excellent toughness and wear resistance, high fatigue strength, good edge holding ability, high hardenability and dimensional stability.Used for punches only
High carbon and high chromium, ledeburitic 12% chromium alloyed cold work tool steel, excellent abrasion resistance due to a large volume of carbides in the microstructure, high cutting ability with edge holding properties, high compression strength, excellent deep hardenability and toughness properties, dimensional stability during heat treatment, high resistance to softening at elevated temperatures. Suitable for nitriding and electrical discharge machining.Used for punches and dies
High carbon and high chromium, ledeburitic 12% chromium alloyed cold work tool steel, high compressive strength, fairly good dimensional stability during heat treatment, extremely resistant to wear against abrasive and adhesive, low distortion, deep hardenability, non-deforming, medium toughness and good edge holding properties. Not suitable for nitriding and electrical discharge machining.Used for dies only
A specialist powder metallurgy grade steel with uniform carbide distribution and small carbide size giving extremely high wear resistance over and above that of premium steel. Used for punches only.
Material has a really good capability of getting hardness and it can be hardened up to 57 - 60 HRC. It containes ~%1.05 carbon element and because of high carbon, this grade is a bit brittle and high carbon effects the corrosion resistance as well. Excellent corrosion resistant properties.Good polish-ability
MoldMate/ToolMate CrN series of PVD hard coatings produced by have multilayer structure of CrN layers. They are applied to various industrial tools and molds used for different production applications. Coat-ings are produced by evaporating pure Chromium and/ or Zirconium metals and reacting with pure nitrogen in a perfectly controlled vacuum PVD coating system. Thickness of the coating varies between 0,5 to 10 μm for different applications, and those thin coatings do not change production tolerances of the tools and molds.
Moldmate/ Toolmate CrN has and hardness of 3100-3500 Hv and has a very dense and compact structure. It has extreme wear re-sistance and do not leave any wear debris during operation of tools. It is chemically very inert and does not react with drug components, does not absorb any material in liquid or solid form and can be easily cleaned after operation. By having a low friction coefficient of 0,35 and perfect surface quality, CrN prevents sticking and adhesion of drug materials which has tendency to stick over tool
Chemical Properties Base layer of CrN is Chromium Nitride-CrN (CAS# 24094-93- 7) having metallic grey colored and no odor. It is non-volatile non-flamable, insoluble in water and organic solvents and only slightly react with strong inorganic acids and strong oxidizing agents.
Health Effects Both ZrN and CrN components of Moldmate/Toolmate CrN are listed as not having any specific known hazards to health, is not specifically listed as carcinogen and both coatings have application in drug and food industries
Now, you can keep oil and debris out of your granulation with Yener’s dust seals. We highly recommend using dust seals with your punches. While they are an optional accessory, their benefit far outweighs their price. You’ll also be able to interchange and reuse.
The easiest and safest way to store and transport punches and dies. Outside dimensions : 45cm L x 27cm W x 18cm H Weight : 3kg Capacity: “B” tooling : 72 Punches, 36 Dies “D” tooling : 48 Punches, 24 Dies • One piece seamless constraction • Easy to clean • Easy to carry • Molded keyways, keep punch barrels and tips separate • Molded support heads elevate tooling for easy removal • Both “B” and “D” sizes available
The Die Alignment Tool is used to accurately locate and align a multi, shaped even round die into the die table.Traditionally the upper punch has been used to perform this operation, however this is not recommended because the clearance between the punch tips and the die bores will allow for misalignment.Using the upper punch may also result in damage to the punch tip edges.The Die Alignment Tool has much less clearance, hence a tighter fit in the die, resulting in a more accurate positioning of the die bore relative to the punch tips.
Punches and dies are special tools and damage easily, because of that very good care must be taken when cleaning, transporting and storing.Punches and dies should be cleaned and dried properly .When tooling required to be shipped they should not be shipped in storage boxes which is not suitable for transport. Yener Kalip offers number of solutions for common tooling problems, such as;sticking,picking,corrosion,wear, abrasion etc.

domain: chemistry


text:
Time to shed some light on your garden!
It will allow you to eat, drink, read or just sit and enjoy the evening sun.
Lighting doesn’t have to be multi-coloured like a Christmas tree. From low level floodlights to spot lights and stylish decorative lighting, positioned well it can really make a difference.
The right lighting can add a magical touch to your garden life.
I would be happy to advise on all of the above. To chat about your lighting ideas, please call me on 07831 244685.

domain: artistic


text:
Wayne Rooney continued his return to form at Anfield on Sunday, striking 12 minutes from time to earn Manchester United a 1-0 win against fierce rivals Liverpool.
In a largely tepid contest lacking quality on both sides, Rooney reacted quickest when Marouane Fellaini’s header rattled the crossbar – ensuring United a fourth consecutive victory over the Merseyside outfit.
Liverpool – still in flux under Klopp and struggling for consistency – had the better of the first-half chances but were made to rue missed opportunities from the likes of Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson.
Louis van Gaal’s men also looked to have reverted to their goal-shy ways of recent weeks, showing little sign of the renewed attacking vigour on show during Tuesday’s 3-3 draw at Newcastle United.
However, when Fellaini climbed highest to head a Juan Mata cross against Simon Mignolet’s crossbar, Rooney made the most of sloppy Liverpool defending to hammer in the winner and maintain his goalscoring streak.
After a season of criticism for the United skipper, Rooney has now scored five goals in his last four outings, leaving Klopp and his Liverpool side to lament their lack of killer instinct.
While United were unchanged from Tuesday’s draw on Tyneside, Liverpool brought in Lucas Leiva for Jordon Ibe following their 3-3 draw against Arsenal.
And, amid a frenetic start, the Brazilian’s clever pass allowed Lallana a header on target before Roberto Firmino sent the rebound wide following a smart stop from David de Gea.
In a traditionally fiery encounter, tempers flared just 15 minutes in when Fellaini and Lucas squared up, but slack play and misplaced passes continued to hamper both sides inside the opening half-hour.
Henderson fired wide after neat interplay involving Lucas and Firmino, with the latter seeing penalty appeals turned down when he went down under minimal contact from Anthony Martial.
United’s difficult half ended with Ashley Young limping off – the full-back replaced by Cameron Borthwick-Jackson three minutes before the break.
Liverpool remained the more vibrant in possession but saw Rooney burst clear on goal after hesitation from Nathaniel Clyne, only for another attack to predictably peter out.
At the other end, De Gea saved Emre Can’s low drive with his legs as chances began to flow, Martial the next to go close when he dragged a shot wide before the hour mark.
In the final half-hour, Henderson side-footed a shot straight at De Gea from the edge of the area, while the Spaniard was called on again to deny Can and Firmino in quick succession.
Van Gaal introduced Memphis Depay and Mata – last season’s two-goal hero in this fixture – with the Spaniard’s delivery leading to the game’s defining moment 12 minutes from time.
Fellaini, whose contribution had been limited, showed his aerial threat, with Rooney reacting smartly to beat Mignolet and maintain United’s upturn in fortunes despite a relatively mediocre display.
Key Opta stats:
– Wayne Rooney (176 goals for Man Utd) has overtaken Thierry Henry (175 for Arsenal) for the most goals for a single club in Premier League history.
– Rooney has now scored in four successive games for Manchester United for the first time since March 2012.
– It was Rooney’s first Premier League goal at Anfield for United since January 2005.
– Liverpool have conceded more goals from corners than any other team in the Premier League this season (7).
– United have scored with all four of their shots on target against Liverpool this season in the Premier League.
– Louis Van Gaal has won all four Premier League games against Liverpool as U
– Jurgen Klopp has won two, drawn three and lost two of his league games at Anfield as manager of the Reds.
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!

domain: sports


text:
BAGHDAD (Iba) .. Denied Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to be connected to the government recently issued an order to arrest Bank Governor Sinan al-Shabibi and the number of staff on charges of financial and administrative corruption.
Maliki said, in the course of answering questions to reporters through the window of communication with the media for the site of electronic information bureau of the Prime Minister, is no secret that the government many differences with the Department of the Central Bank, and has notes serious about a lot of activity and monetary policy and so on, but the latest case did not not the government connected.
He added that the turmoil that has occurred in the price of the Iraqi currency recently stimulated many regulators to investigate the activity of the central bank, including the method of sale of foreign exchange and banking and the stock market and so on.
Maliki said that the House of Representatives formed a committee headed by Qusay al-Suhail, Vice President of the Council, and it seems that the investigation, which lasted more than a month to issue a report ended holds Shabibi Bank and others in the numerous accusations of responsibility.
The committee mandated by Parliament to lift its report – signed by its members and its president, as well as parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi – to the Integrity Commission directly without going through the government.
He said al-Maliki that, based on this report and the documents relied upon by, filed the report with the report of the Parliamentary Committee to the Court of Special Investigation integrity issues in the Supreme Judicial Council, and the Court has issued orders to arrest Shabibi and a number of bank employees for interrogation.

domain: finance


Presentation on theme: "Defensive Systems Unit Ballistic Research Facility FBI Academy."— Presentation transcript:
Defensive Systems Unit Ballistic Research Facility FBI Academy
Officer Involved Shooting 11/29/2006 6:00 PM EST A Pennsylvania police department Thirty-one sworn officers Five officers / shift Three officers involved in shooting One assailant, 18 year old male
Weapons and Ammunition Police: Glock 22/Speer 180 gr. Gold Dot M4/Hornady TAP 55 gr. carried by tactical (SWAT) officers. M4/Hornady TAP 75 gr. carried by patrol officers. Assailant: One pistol/.45 Auto
Initial Concerns of Police Stemmed from apparently inaccurate initial information from Coroner and/or Medical Examiner. Resulted in a belief by Police officials that.40 S&W ammunition failed and.223 ammunition saved the day. Prompted the SWAT TL to post information on NTOA website.
FBI/DSU Involvement NTOA post was disseminated over the FBIs intranet by an FBI Special Agent. Snowball effect resulted in numerous phone calls/emails to DSU and BRF which questioned the performance of FBI.40 S&W service ammunition. BRF contacted the involved PD and Pa. State Police, responsible for the shooting investigation, to offer assistance.
NTOA Blog All, The following was posted on an NTOA blog last night: 3 officers were involved in a shooting this week. An ambush was set up for the officers prior to their arrival, they took fire while still in their cruisers. One officer was hit in the forearm, another received wounds to his forehead from a ricochet, another was injured (NFI). The suspect was armed with a.45 handgun. The officers were armed with Glock 22's and SPEER 180 gr. Gold Dot Hollow Points. Officers fired on the subject and hit him in the left arm, completely shattering the bone. He was also hit five times in the chest and abdomen. All rounds penetrated less than 1". All of the rounds expanded fully but did not cause incapacitation due to the lack of penetration. According to the Medical Examiner, none of the rounds caused any life threatening injuries. The subject also received one round into the front of his throat, it penetrated less than 1" as well. The Medical Examiner stated that the recovered rounds were in pristine condition (still had rifling marks on them). The subject was wearing a down jacket at the time of the incident. He was finally taken down after receiving rounds from an M-4.223, with Hornady Tap 55 gr ballistic tip rounds and Hornady Tap 72 gr. Hollow Points. The officer with the M-4 was able to shoot underneath a vehicle and hit the suspect in the ankle. The officer then flanked the subject, who continued to engage officers, and was eventually killed by the officer with the M-4.
NTOA Blog The subject had a trace amount of marijuana in his system. Range between subject and officers: 20 feet. Subject had a t-shirt on under his jacket. Subject received approximately sixteen.223 rounds, thirteen of these rounds went completely through. One round struck his hip and completely shattered it. Another.223 round struck his aorta and another pierced and collapsed his lung. Both of these rounds lodged themselves inside the subject. The Medical Examiner stated that the.223 rounds caused massive internal damage. This is the second shooting that the PD has experienced where they had to shoot a subject in excess of ten times with.40 S&W ammo to incapacitate or kill. There was another incident where a subject was shot inside of his vehicle. He was struck approximately ten times, all the while continuing to fire at officers. He was eventually killed after suffering a shot to the back of his head. In this same incident, the back of the subject's seat was struck multiple times, the.40 S&W rounds never penetrated through the seat. In this incident, all shots had passed through either the windshield or rear window. Investigators assume that this was the reason for the poor ballistic performance. (The) PD is now considering replacing their Glock 22's with Glock 21's.
BRF Testing of Officers Ammunition on 12/15/06 Consistent with all bare gelatin and barrier testing done previously for ammunition data CD. Results of Speer 180 gr. Gold Dot satisfy FBI standards for terminal performance. Results of Hornady 55gr. and 75 gr. TAP do not satisfy FBI standards for terminal performance.
Facts At least 107 rounds (.40/.223) were fired by two officers. First officer on scene seriously wounded in left forearm and seat-belted in cruiser was unable to return fire. Assailant fired 26 rounds and reloaded magazine from box of loose ammunition. Assailant was shot 17 times with 11 rounds exiting body. Incident lasted approximately 3.5 minutes.
Facts Six.40 S&W rounds, five which expanded, were recovered on autopsy. It is impossible for.40 S&W 180 gr. JHP ammunition to expand with only 1 in. or less penetration in a human body. After all.223 rounds had been fired, assailant was hit with 180 gr. Gold Dot in right arm above the elbow. Officers had to fight assailant in order to get handcuffed.
Lessons Learned There is plenty of inaccurate information regarding ballistics/terminal performance disseminated on web forums, even those which are dedicated as LE only. The.40 S&W ammunition did not fail in this incident. The performance of the.223 TAP ammunition, although consistent with manufacturers claims, did not perform terminally as this Police Department expected.
Lessons Learned Determined individuals can sustain many gunshot wounds in areas that produce great pain and continue to fight a long time, even without the aid of drugs or alcohol. Shot placement is everything in a gunfight and always the key to stopping a threat effectively.


text:
Cracker Barrel becomes latest company to flee Portland amid rising crime, retail theft
Walmart announced earlier this month it is closing all of its Portland, Oregon, locations
Cracker Barrel this week became the latest company to announce it is leaving the Portland, Oregon, area shortly after Walmart announced its departure following comments from the CEO that crime and theft were taking their toll.
Cracker Barrel, which has over 600 locations nationwide, blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for its decision to close its final eateries in the Portland metro area.
"As a standard course of business, we continually evaluate the performance of our stores, using various criteria to ensure we are meeting the needs of our guests and our business," the company said in a statement.
"With that, we are saddened that we have been unable to overcome the impact the pandemic had on our business and have made the difficult decision to close the Beaverton, Tualatin, and Bend locations on March 20. The decision to close a store is never one we take lightly, and our focus right now is in assisting our impacted employees during this transition."
In a statement to Fox Business asking for specifics on what aspects of the pandemic led to the closures, a Cracker Barrel spokesperson said, "Like so many other companies, the pandemic impacted our business, and we have struggled to staff and profitably run these stores. Despite the extra efforts made, we couldn’t viably continue to keep our doors open."
PORTLAND FAMILY TERRORIZED BY FIRES SET BY HOMELESS SQUATTERS NEXT DOOR: 'MY WIFE WAS SCREAMING'
Cracker Barrel’s decision comes shortly after Walmart announced it was closing all of its Portland stores due to financial reasons.
"We have nearly 5,000 stores across the U.S. and unfortunately some do not meet our financial expectations," Walmart said in its announcement, according to KPTV. "While our underlying business is strong, these specific stores haven’t performed as well as we hoped."
BUSINESSES TAKE DRASTIC ACTION TO PROTECT AGAINST RAMPANT SHOPLIFTING, ORGANIZED CRIME THEFTS
Just a few months earlier, Walmart’s CEO had warned that stores will close if retail crime, a significant issue across the country and specifically in Portland, did not subside.
"Theft is an issue. It’s higher than what it has historically been," Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in December on CNBC. He added that "prices will be higher and/or stores will close" if authorities don’t crack down on prosecuting shoplifting crimes.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS
Crime and homelessness have been a growing issue in Portland over the last couple of years, and the Daily Mail reported that over 2,600 downtown businesses have filed a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service.
Last November, a Nike store in northeast Portland abruptly closed after a string of brazen shoplifting incidents.
"It's gotta stop," real estate developer and lifelong Portland native Dustin Michael Miller told "Fox & Friends" earlier this month after walking into his office to find bullet holes in the window.
"Our city is out of control. It is unrecognizable. I've lived here my whole life, and it's just deteriorated over the last five years."
Fox Business' Emma Colton contributed to this report.

domain: economics