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The author of a book on the Islamic gold dinar has suggested that Malaysia link the ringgit to gold. (Bloomberg pic)
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia should adopt an interest-free, gold-backed economy as a way to stabilise the ringgit and protect against cost-of-living increases, according to an economist and business consultant.
Ahamed Kameel Mydin Meera, who is also chairman of the Movement for Monetary Justice, told FMT that linking the ringgit to gold would safeguard against manipulation of the currency by the foreign exchange market and keep the currency stable.
Removing the payment of interest on loans would also stop commercial banks from artificially creating money, and thus protect against rapid increases in the cost of living.
“We can create an interest-free, gold backed economy parallel with the current system and give people the choice. Just like people have the choice between conventional banks and Islamic banks,” said Ahamed, who has previously advocated the use of an Islamic gold dinar.
However, he said he recognised that banking institutions might be resistant to such reform.
CEO of the Center for Market Education Carmelo Ferlito said that he, too, would be supportive of a system similar to the gold standard but believes that using actual gold might now be unrealistic, instead calling for a region-wide update of the monetary system.
“We could create an Asean currency and try to disconnect it from central bank manipulation by having it backed by a solid cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, rather than gold per se,” he said. “I think this is something that can be realistically achieved within 10 years.”
Ahamed also suggested a system of “netting” be implemented to minimise government borrowing while also stimulating the economy by encouraging purchases and business activity.
His proposal involves the government granting all citizens and businesses a credit limit that they can use to buy goods and services, which they only need to settle at a later date and can offset with earnings.


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Hotline Miami coming to the PS4
Devolver Digital has revealed that Dennaton's hit murder 'em up Hotline Miami is coming to the PlayStation 4.
Speaking in a new video interview Devolver's Nigel Lowrie has revealed that as well as releasing Hotline Miami 2 on the PS4 later on this year they will be releasing the original game on Sony's new console as well.
He said, "We're going to bring Hotline Miami 1 to PS4... and we're going to keep it Cross-buy because we feel that if the user has already bought it for a PlayStation platform, they have the right to own it on Vita, on PS4, on PS3. It's different on PlayStation to PC because they're totally different environments."
- Valve announces the Source 2 engine
- Bethesda announces Wolfenstein: Old Blood a prequel to The New Order
- OlliOlli 2 devs Roll7 troll the game's Twitter critics
- DayZ creator teams up with Improbable to make the game worlds he's always wanted
- Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster coming to the PS4 in the summer
- [Update] Possible March PS Plus Instant Game Collection line-up appears on NeoGAF
- Trading gold for subscriptions coming soon to World Of Warcraft
- Unity 5 arrives completely free
- Mad Max gets slated for a September release

domain: news


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According to a recently filed patent, a rugged Apple Watch good enough for scuba diving and other extreme water sports could hit the market.
According to a newly filed patent, a robust apple watch good enough for scuba diving and other extreme water sports might be on the horizon. The sports performance smartwatch market is currently dominated by brands like Garmin and Casio, which make products for a very niche audience. Garmin watches are generally famous among pilots. Meanwhile, Casio smartwatches are well-known among adventure sports enthusiasts and deep-sea divers.
Apple is also no stranger to making products sustainable. They started equipping iPhone 12 series smartphones with a ceramic screen, which had four times more drop resistance. Apple also provided the iPhone 13 with the same ceramic protection and installed tempered glass in the recently refreshed iPhone SE. Plus, the Apple Watch is also tougher than it looks. In one particular case, the Apple Watch was found at the bottom of a lake for two weeks and remained in working condition after being retrieved.
Additionally, just last year Apple launched the upgraded Watch Series 7 with a starting price of $399. It featured several upgrades over the previous generation, including an ever-larger retina display, fall detection during workouts, all-day battery life and more. The Watch Series 7 also features IP6x dust and WR50 water resistance. However, according to a recent report by Apple obviously, the high-grade water-resistance tech could make its debut on iPhones and likely a rugged Apple Watch. The report states that the patent was recently filed on March 31, 2022.
Apple Watch suitable for scuba diving: what it would look like
The newly filed patent reveals a water detection sensor with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane. It could be responsible for boosting the water resistance capabilities of iPhones and Apple Watch to a whole new level. Currently, most smartwatches and smartphones are rated IP68. However, the report alleges that Apple may soon start using the ATMOSPHERE or ATM classification to describe the water resistance of its devices, thanks to new technology. Apple might be considering a 20 ATM rating for its Rugged Watch, as that’s the water resistance rating required for deep sea scuba diving.
The patent details how ePTFE improves on current gel-filled sensors by offering considerable water resistance. It details how a self-contained water detector would replace the need for a system-wide vent membrane. Thus, providing intelligent context-based humidity detection, such as turning off the device on its own or alerting the user. The patent states that devices such as speakers and microphones can also be equipped with the water detector. According to the available information, a rugged Apple Watch with such technology would be very different from the current Watch series.
The rugged Apple Watch could look like a Casio G-shock with added rubberized protection around the screen, as reported last year Bloomberg report. It could also feature a thicker case for a bigger battery and a flat screen. Although most of the patents do not go into production, this one might as it has been widely reported by major sources. Of course, Apple would serve a niche market with its rugged smartwatch if that were to become a reality. But given Apple’s approach of dominating nearly every price segment, as evidenced by the sheer number of iPhone and iPad variants, a robust apple watch could soon become reality.
Next: Apple Watch’s fall detection feature saves 71-year-old woman’s life
Alphabet’s Wing Drones launches delivery service in Texas


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Last week Electronic Theatre reported that Electronic Arts had revealed the first official television commercial for the forthcoming Battlefield 4. Today, the publisher has revealed a second short teasing the launch of the videogame this winter.
This second television commercial will mostly be comprised of in-game multiplayer gameplay; an unusual twist for a television advertisement but a welcome one. Two additional videos are included in the applet, each featuring gameplay footage from the Commander and Single-Player gameplay modes. Battlefield 4 is set to launch this winter on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and Electronic Theatre will keep you updated with all the latest details.


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6/9/2008 5:41:00 PM
HTC warns consumers against buying grey Touch Diamonds
HTC has warned consumers not to purchase grey market versions of its new flagship Touch Diamond device.
The Touch Diamond, which will not begin shipping in the UK until the end of the month, is currently being sold by a number of online retailers, including eXpansys for £494.95.
A spokeswoman for HTC said that customers purchasing versions for use in regions outside the UK may not receive 'the full customer experience'.
At the start of May, recent Brightpoint acquisition Hugh Symons Telecom was awarded sole distribution rights for HTC devices in the UK, after the manufacturer ended its relationship with former eXpansys company Portix.


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The gambling watchdog has slapped online firm 32Red with a £2m fine for failing to protect a vulnerable customer and carry out proper money laundering checks.
It follows an investigation by the Gambling Commission over the firm's treatment of a customer who was allowed to deposit £758,000 between 2014 and 2017 without being subject to social responsibility or money laundering controls.
The Commission found that there were at least 22 incidents that would have indicated that the customer was a problem gambler, including having admitted to staff that they had spent too much and were chasing losses.
But rather than checking whether the customer needed help, 32Red gave the customer free bonuses and failed to check that the customer could afford their spending.
Operators must take action when they spot signs of problem gambling and should be carefully reviewing all the customers they are having a high level of contact with
Gambling Commission executive director Richard Watson said: "Instead of checking on the welfare of a customer displaying problem gambling behaviour, 32Red encouraged the customer to gamble more: this is the exact opposite of what they are supposed to be doing.
"Operators must take action when they spot signs of problem gambling and should be carefully reviewing all the customers they are having a high level of contact with.
"Protecting consumers from gambling-related harm is a priority for us and where we see operators failing in their responsibility to keep their customers safe we will take tough action."
Maltese-licensed firm Kindred - which last year snapped up 32Red in a £175.6m deal - said it accepts the penalty and "recognises the raised standards required by the GBGC".
It highlighted initiatives including the use of behaviour monitoring systems but admitted that "in a changing and complex landscape work remains to be done".
"As a company putting sustainability at the very core of its business strategy, Kindred remains committed to ensuring customers can enjoy gambling in a safe and secure environment," it said.
The fine comes after the government earlier this year announced plans to cut the maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) to £2 in a move meant to protect vulnerable consumers.
That was alongside plans to toughen up online protections, such as introducing stronger age verification rules and affordability checks.


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OANDA Japan has now added more Contract of Differences (CDFs) to its stock indices offerings. The expanded offering will include CDFs on popular indices like Dow 30 and Nikkei 225.
The firm announced it will begin stock index CFD trading from Monday the 1st of June. According to the announcement, the company plans to add 16 instruments to the stock indices, including major stock indexes in Asia, America, and Europe. Already, is has proposed four top US stock indices for the addition.
How clients can benefit from the trading instruments
There are guidelines on the use of trading instruments by OANDA clients. The company said OANDA clients in Japan have to create a CFD sub-account on the Toyota server if they want to make use of the new trading instrument.
OANDA announced that traders can now go over to the “My Page” section and choose “Create MT5 Sub Account” or the “Create MT4 Sub Account” under the CFD account management section. After login in, they can continue to the other sections of their account.
The firm carried out scheduled maintenance on Friday to get the systems and servers ready for the enhanced platform.
OANDA poised to meet the needs of clients
Remember that OANDA rolled out its MetaTrader 5 platform early in January this year. But before that, the company introduced the demo accounts in December last year. Based on the company’s announcement then, the demo launch was to enable users to have firsthand experience with the new platform before the proper launch.
OANDA’s decision to include the MetaTrader5 platform to the trading offerings was a result of requests from clients. The company said it further proves it usually responds swiftly to the concerns raised by clients. OANDA says it’s always committed to meeting the needs of active traders to expand its range of product offerings.
Over the coming months, other geographies will also enjoy the MT5 platform, according to OANDA.
Traders have already started trading on the MT5 platform using their live accounts.
OANDA Japan still offers trading on the MT4 platform as well as the Fx Trade platform. The company is one of the few Japanese brokerage firms that offer trading on the MT4 platform. Forex.com is also another company that offers the same platform.
Several brokerage firms in Japan have stopped offering the MT4 platform for Fx trading. But it seems OANDA and few others will still keep the MT4 platform alongside the Mt5 platform for now.


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During the pandemic, robots are the literal breadwinners.
As Samir Menon, the founder and CEO of robotics startup Dexterity, told Fortune, the “coronavirus took us a bit on a wild ride.” Dexterity, a roughly two-and-a-half-year-old startup that’s raised $56.2 million in funding from investors like Kleiner Perkins and Lightspeed Venture Partners, specializes in software that makes industrial robots, like mechanical grippers and machines that pick-and-place items, more capable.
Among the customers that have relied on Dexterity’s technology during the pandemic is Bimbo Bakeries, which produces some well-known baked goods via brands like Sara Lee, Oroweat, and Boboli. Because Dexterity is working with Bimbo Bakeries, the startup has been deemed an “essential business,” since the food supply chain needs to continue operating unperturbed amid the lockdowns.
In an online demonstration from its Redwood City, Calif. headquarters last week, Menon showed Fortune an example of how robots outfitted with the company’s technology help prep pre-packaged loaves of bread for delivery to places like grocery outlets.
For the demonstration, two robots with mechanical arms cruised down a railing that ran between two sets of blue crates, each loaded with various loaves of bread. The robots needed to coordinate with each other so they didn’t bump into one another while they transported loaves from one set of crates to the other—a common task used for facilitating bread shipments.
Using computer vision technologies, a robot could recognize when one empty crate on its right side lacked enough bread loaves, triggering its mechanical arm to pick up a bread loaf from a crate on its left side. The robotic arms can figure out how much pressure is needed to apply to a particular object, which is helpful so they don’t smash a spongy material like bread when they grip it. The software also helps the robot decide to gently lower the bread and other objects into a crate instead of dropping it carelessly into a container, which Menon described as a sort of Achilles heel for some pick-and-place machines.
Although Dexterity’s software helps the robots map out their surroundings so they can maneuver autonomously throughout a facility, Menon said the robots are typically affixed to a railing so that people can rest assured the machines won’t suddenly go somewhere they aren’t supposed to.
“It’s important for them to feel comfortable,” Menon said regarding humans who work alongside the robots.
Menon said that Bimbo Bakeries is currently using Dexterity’s technology at a few unspecified facilities on the “east and west coasts” of the U.S. He declined to comment on the number of robots that have been outfitted with Dexterity’s software at the Bimbo Bakeries facilities.
Dexterity is a young company, so it’s still refining its technology for customers. During one demonstration for Fortune, a robotic arm installed with the startup’s software dropped a glass measurement cup onto a table instead of gently placing it down, and while the beaker didn’t break, it was a definite no-no. Menon noted prior to that particular demonstration that translucent objects like glass containers are a “bane of any computer-vision” technology.
Still, as long as the pandemic rages on, it’s likely companies with big supply chains like Bimbo Bakeries will continue turning to companies specializing in robotics in order to run their deliveries without too many hiccups.
“We feel grateful to be actually shipping bread,” Menon said.


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The Red Bull King of the Air is without doubt, the biggest Kiteboarding competition on the calendar, and for 2015, Mystic have been announced as Official Sponsor for the contest. During the King of The Air event, riders, compete to go all out and aim to score the biggest air, whilst going as extreme as is humanly possible in the process. The competition will be held in Cape Town between January 31st and the 14th of February and 24 competitors will be vying to lift the trophy on Valentines Day.
Mystic are experts in supplying quality Kiteboarding kit and have stepped in as Official Partner to the event and will be providing the riders, the support crews and judges with all the necessary equipment and will be supplying clothing and contest jerseys as well as financially backing the contest too. Dutch rider Kevin Langeree will be looking to defend his 2014 title, whilst the likes of Billy Parker and Jesse Richman will be looking to steal his thunder, at Big Bay, Cape Town.
To whet your whistle, ready for the 2015 Red Bull King of the Air, we have attached the official 2014 video below and check out the quality gear offered by Mystic here. Kiteboard fans will be able to watch the competition unfold by heading over to the Red Bull King of the Air page. Who are you backing to be 2015 King of the Air?


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Europe’s leading e-commerce search and navigation specialist FACT-Finder is bolstering its footprint in the UK with the acquisition of PrismaStar, the UK’s award-winning provider of guided selling solutions for e-commerce retailers.
FACT-Finder will use PrismaStar’s expertise and knowledge of the UK market to further enhance and develop its UK strategy as well as integrating PrismaStar’s existing products and services with the well-established FACT-Finder product set. This creates an even richer “conversion engine” covering on-site search, product guidance, personalisation, recommendations and product data optimisation.
Carsten Kraus, Founder and CEO of FACT-Finder.com said: “The opportunity to acquire PrismaStar was too good to refuse, allowing us to build on PrismaStar’s extensive knowledge of the UK market – the largest e-commerce market in Europe. We will integrate PrismaStar’s strong product approach into FACT-Finder to provide an even more comprehensive offering to our e-commerce customers.”
Positioning itself as an expert in product data services, guided selling technology and behavioural analytics, PrismaStar has built a reputation in the UK as an innovative e-commerce thought leader with customers who have included Vodafone, Tesco, Currys, Very, Phones4U and Deutsche Telekom.
Commenting on the acquisition, Jonathan Horden, CEO of PrismaStar, said: “This acquisition is a really natural fit for both companies, enabling FACT-Finder to address the UK market much more aggressively and integrate two product sets that are very complimentary to create great solutions for online companies.”


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Motor Co.’s 2-month-old “Bold Moves” marketing campaign is resonating well with dealers and customers of all ages, says Ford Brand Marketing Manager John Felice.
The multimedia campaign includes elements that are edgier than those utilized byin the past, such as a mailer featuring a 1970s-era picture of two high school prom-goers that gives no hint of being an advertisement until it’s opened to reveal a Ford Escape promotion.
Some elements of Bold Moves also feature an original song written and performed for Ford by past “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson titled “Go.”
Felice says the seemingly youth-oriented campaign targets “lust for life” customers, or those who live every day to its fullest. Such consumers could be “20 or 60 (years old),” he says.
“The group we’re targeting is an attitudinal grouping,” Felice tells Ward’s.
“We’ve done a very in-depth psychographic segmentation of the marketplace. We have reams of data of whom we want to target, and being an attitudinal group, it transcends age boundaries.”
The attitudinal group Felice refers to does not include the gay and lesbian audience the Christian-conservative American Family Assn. has criticized Ford for targeting in some of its advertisements, he says.
“No Bold Moves ads were placed in any of those (gay and lesbian) publications,” he says.
Bold Moves does target a variety of cultural groups and takes into account regional differences in the U.S., Felice says.
The campaign was created for Ford by its longtime advertising agency of record, Detroit, MI-based JWT (formerly J. Walter Thompson). JWT, Felice says, was instrumental in helping Ford change its marketing direction.
“They were very much core to the development of the campaign and helping us find the target customer,” he says. “It’s been a lot of change, and an energetic process.”
Ford’s dealer network has been receptive, as well, Felice says, adding dealers are being asked to implement elements of the campaign into their local advertising initiatives.
Typically, some dealers prefer to handle local advertising without corporate input, but that has not been the case with Bold Moves, Felice says.
“About a month ago we brought in our top 150 dealers to share campaign details with them and make sure they continue to reinforce our marketing platform,” he says. “It’s not us vs. them. The challenge is working together to better align the message.”
Another aspect of the campaign is a Web-based documentary showcasing the auto maker’s internal workings as it undergoes a massive North American restructuring.
Felice says studies revealed consumers were receptive to the idea of a documentary providing an inside look at Ford.
“We came up with a lot of ideas, and we thoroughly researched them. One of the ideas that resonated with consumers was the documentary,” Felice says. “That was a motivator moving forward.”
To create the documentary, Ford hired an independent outside agency to film Ford employees, ranging from assembly line workers to high ranking executives, while on the job.
Nearly two months into filming, the documentary is a no-holds-barred look at the auto maker as it works to reinvent itself, says a Ford spokesman.
“We’re going to show the good, the bad and the ugly,” he says. “We are showing people who don’t agree with us, as well as those who do. People will be surprised when they see it.”
The documentary is expected to be launched later this month or in early July, at www.fordboldmoves.com.


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Nissan Motor India Private Ltd (NMIPL) on Tuesday announced that it has registered total domestic sales of 1104 units for the month of December 2010 as against 12 units in December 2009.
Out of the 1104 units, Nissan Micra, the made-in-India Global compact hatchback leads the sales figures with 1057 units in December 2010 as against 1029 units sold in November 2010. The company has so far sold 6441 units of Nissan Micra since sales began on July 15, 2010.
Out of the remaining, Nissan Teana, the luxury sedan (CBU) clocked 14 units in December 2010 as against six units in December 2009 and Nissan X-trail; the lifestyle SUV (CBU) registered sales of 31 units as against six units in December 2009. Nissan also sold two units of its iconic sports car, Nissan 370Z in December 2010. So far, the company has sold eight units of 370Z since its launch in January this year.
As part of its after-sales commitment, in an effort to handhold the customers and provide them with round-the-clock assistance, Nissan has introduced a host of customer care and service schemes including Extended Warranty and Roadside Assistance for its products starting with the Micra.


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In this episode of ‘Cliff Notes on the Global Manufacturing Picture’, host Cliff Waldman reviews the latest data on retail sales and industrial production as well as the latest report on U.S. manufacturing from the Institute for Supply Management. Cliff discusses the uncertainties that can derail the embryonic U.S. manufacturing recovery including a resurgence of rapid spreading of the coronavirus, uncertainties over further federal economic stimulus and growing tensions with China.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, countries have had to temporarily limit or completely shutter parts of their economies. While this has led to expected drops, the ongoing reopening processes have some optimism for a rebound. Recent data from the Federal Reserve could point to this optimism becoming a reality. (Read More)
Each month, Senior Correspondent Norbert Ore presents the results of the surveys he conducts for Strategas, an institutional brokerage and advisory firm, on the 18 Global Purchasing Manager’s Indexes (PMI) and regional U.S. surveys that are a clear indicator of the direction of manufacturing. Join hosts Lew Weiss and Tim Grady in this informative interview.
American automaker Fiat Chrysler and French automaker PSA Group have since late last year been planning out their anticipated merger. While the COVID-19 pandemic has somewhat delayed their plans, the groups are now looking forwards following the announcement of their new, post-merger name. (Read More)
Today on the WAM podcast, host Linda Rigano interviews Jan Weiss, recently retired from a successful career in commercial credit and collections, across a number of industries. Today, Jan is an active volunteer in numerous local community organizations and is an independent producer for a prominent Broadcasting Service. In this episode, Jan shares her professional journey and gives listeners expert advice to help view their credit and collections as a hidden profit center.


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BMW has issued recall notices for a little over 16,000 electric vehicles sold in the United States and Canada, because the high-voltage battery software may malfunction, which results in a loss of power.
According to the recall notice posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) website, the aforementioned vehicles were built “with a high voltage battery electronic control unit containing software that may, during certain vehicle operating conditions, result in an interruption of electrical power.”
In other words, power to the wheels might cut out, and it might happen while driving, which is potentially dangerous, increasing the risk of a crash. However, before the power goes out, the driver would be notified by a warning message on one of the car’s displays, and after a restart, everything should be good again.
Gallery: 2022 BMW iX xDrive50 Review
BMW first noticed the problem in 2022 in China, when a dealer saw a car with a warning light on, which was related to a powertrain issue. So the German automaker started an engineering review and found out that there was a warranty claim rate of less than one percent, but it also found five cars in the United States that had the same problem. It’s not a big number, but the investigation’s findings suggested that this fault could occur more often as time goes by and the vehicles age.
The Munich-based carmaker said it is not aware of any vehicle that bricked completely, nor is it aware of any injuries or deaths related to the issue.
In the US, the recall affects the following EVs:
- 5,389 iXs made between February 4, 2021, and October 28, 2022;
- 8,659 i4s made between March 7, 2021, and October 26, 2022;
- 38 i7s built between February 22, 2022, and October 27, 2022.
Owners will be notified of the recall by February 10, 2023, when they’ll be asked to schedule a service appointment for the software update that will fix the issue.


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Sneak Preview: The Healthy Foods and Drink Trends in 2016
As we get closer to the New Year, we can look back on 2015 — a year filled with grass-fed dairy and meats, gluten-free flours, and bone broth. Changes in food labels and more access to fresh food can only mean one thing: bigger and better health trends for 2016.
We spoke with Taz Bhatia, MD about the benefits of the foods and drinks that are expected to reign in 2016. “Good gut health is the foundation of wellness with approximately 75 percent of the immune system centered in the gut,” she said. “Poor digestive health has to do with a lack of diverse range of bacteria in food, which processed foods do not have. These new changes will increase the availability of 'clean foods,' which may prove to be the key in preventing cancer, autoimmutone disease and hormone imbalances."
According to Dr. Bhatia, cauliflower rice is a natural source of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber that replaces the consumption of starchy carbohydrates.
“Cinnamon has many benefits including helping to control insulin levels, decrease blood sugar, suppress appetite, and more,” she said.
“Look out for cheeses with flavors like lavender, which has shown to help with digestion,” she advised.
Organic Sports Drinks
Dr. Bhatia explained that more and more athletes are looking to maximize their health by choosing beverages low in sugar and artificial ingredients, but still packed with electrolytes. These new sports drinks will leave out the artificial sugars and dyes.
“Originating in Europe, quark is a highly nutritious dairy product,” she said. “Full-fat quark contains double the protein of Greek yogurt. It is also a great source of vitamin K2, which helps to maintain bone strength and protect your arteries from blockages.”
Apparently regular milk no longer makes the cut. “Thanks to a special filtration process, these new ‘super’ milks contain 50 percent more ‘natural’ protein and calcium than regular milk and 30 percent less sugar,” she explained.
“From carrot [to] tomato to parsnip, veggie-based yogurts packed with vitamins and protein will be the new trend hitting the market next year,” she said.
The accompanying slideshow is provided by special contributor Lauren Gordon.


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It largely succeeded, if the FBI details about the business are any indication.
“The site has sought to make conducting illegal transactions on the Internet as easy and frictionless as shopping online at mainstream e-commerce websites,” the FBI’s Christopher Tarbell said in the agency’s complaint.
A number of exceptional men and women discovered The Secret, and went on to become known as the greatest people who ever lived.
Among them: Plato, Leonardo, Galileo, Napoleon, Hugo, Beethoven, Lincoln, Edison, Einstein, and Carnegie, to name but a few.
Now for the first time in history, all the pieces of The Secret come together in a revelation that is life transforming for all who experience it.
Every day, 15,000 people in Britain log on to an obscure online domain where they can search for anything they want in secret. It claims the numbers of users of its free software doubled between 20, reaching around 600,000 people each year – and, though the numbers are hard to trust, its data suggests there are 15,715 unique daily users in Britain.


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What’s going on in the cryptocurrency world next week? There’s only one way to find out (aside from CoinMarketCal). It’s our ‘what’s on’ guide!
Texas Harmonauts April Meetup (April 24)
Harmony supporters in Texas are invited to end their week at Cafe Blue in downtown Austin on April 24 to discuss GameFi on Harmony Protocol. The event, which takes place between 3-6pm, is open to anyone interested in the protocol, from blockchain newbies to expert users and developers to discuss how the worlds of blockchain and gaming can intersect happily.
Calling all @TexasHarmonauts for the @harmonyprotocol meetup on 24 April.
Join us for a day of networking, discussions about GameFi and everything #HarmonyONE.
— Harmony 💙 (@harmonyprotocol) April 16, 2022
BitMart Lists Metaverse VR and Vita Inu (April 27)
BitMart lists two coins this week, both with very different use cases.
BitMart will list Metaverse VR (MEVR) on April 27, 2022, at 6: 00 AM (EDT), starting with the MEVR/USDT trading pair. Metaverse VR seeks to become a bridge between the real world and the metaverse by creating an ecosystem with software projects, play-to-earn games, and NFT technology. The Metaverse VR project’s primary aim is to create unique games that help people integrate their daily needs into the Metaverse.
MEVR Token is the native token of the Metaverse VR project. It was developed within the BSC ecosystem and was first launched on the Pancakeswap DEX before being listed on other CEXs. The MEVR Token will be the primary payment method for all the projects and games that Metaverse VR will develop, with token holders afforded early access to new projects among other benefits.
$MEVR Token will be listed at @BitMartExchange at 27.04.2022 !! #BitMart #mevr #mevrtoken #bitmart4you https://t.co/Jea3fwCfCY pic.twitter.com/NkSVT3YKUv
— Metaverse VR ($MEVR) Token (@mevrtoken) April 21, 2022
BitMart will list Vita Inu (VINU) an hour earlier than Metaverse VR at 5: 00 AM (EDT) with the following VINU/USDT trading pair.
Vita Inu is a meme project with zero fees, high transaction speeds, and native smart contracts, with VINU being the governance token of the Vinuverse. Working in combination with the Vite network, Vita Inu seeks to play a vital role in building large DAG ecosystems where various cryptocurrencies can be moved around freely, securely, and efficiently. It also probably aims to make its founders rich very quickly, but hey.
The Vinuverse is currently under development (😆) but once completed will feature a full VR world, the VinuSwap Dapp, NFTs, Staking, Rewards, Events, Merch, and more.
Surprise surprise! We’re super excited for being listed on @BitMartExchange next week!
This is a top level exchange which has access to the US market – which is massive.
This is the first of two HUGE announcements this month. Stay tuned. 🚀 🥳 pic.twitter.com/k2MQbUN7tt
— VITA INU (VINU) (@VitaInuCoin) April 18, 2022
Polka DeFiance Conference 2022 (April 28)
Polka DeFiance is an online annual crypto conference that brings together Polkadot natives and the larger blockchain community. The five-hour event will see ecosystem leaders speak on various topics dealing with all things cross-chain on Polkadot and cutting-edge innovations in the rapidly changing DeFi industry.
Speakers include Eric Wang (Parity Technologies), Michael Seitz (Parallel Finance), Kenny Li (Manta Network), Alex Melikhov (Equilibrium), David Wu Finkelstein (OAK Network), Deepansh Singh (Polkadex), and others.
The event starts at 4: 00 PM CET on April 28.
Register for the event here.
Meet our event partners @ParityTech at Polka DeFiance – online gathering of @Polkadot enthusiasts hosted by @EquilibriumDeFi ! See you on April 28, 4 PM CET.
👉 Learn more and register here: https://t.co/ZOAeeJEZxK pic.twitter.com/hmoqzB45oc
— Equilibrium (We are hiring!) (@EquilibriumDeFi) April 19, 2022
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text: By MATTHEW VERRINDER Associated Press Writer Pet owners were worried Saturday that the pet food in their cupboards could be deadly after millions of containers of dog and cat food sold at major retailers across North America were recalled. Menu Foods, the Ontario-based company that produced the pet food, said Saturday it was recalling dog food sold under 48 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. The food was distributed throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico by major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway. An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, the company said in announcing the recall. The recall prompted many stores that sold the items to frantically pull the tainted products from shelves, as many pet owners wondered whether their animals had been affected. The recall also prompted calls to local veterinarians. A receptionist at the Newton Veterinary Hospital in Newton said the animal hospital had received several calls from concerned pet owners, but there had been no reports of pets who actually became sick. Wal-Marts have pulled the food from their shelves, and signs have been posted in the stores notifying customers of the recall. A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates is available from the Menu Foods Web site, http://www.menufoods.com/recallConsumers with questions can also call (866) 895-2708. The Web site contains a list of cat and dog brands that have been recalled. Clicking on the brand names will show the type of food that has been recalled, for example America's Choice, Preferred Pet, sliced chicken in gravy, 5.5 ounce cans, dated Jan. 1, 2010, is one of the types of cat foods that come up under "America's Choice". Slice beef in gravy dated Feb. 12, 2010, Jan. 1, 2010 and Jan. 15, 2010 are also among the America's Choice, Preferred Pet brands subject to the recall. Iams' owner P & amp;G Pet Care has announced a voluntary recall in the United States and Canada on specific 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch "wet" cat and dog food products with the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197. On its Web site, Iams advises that consumers should stop using the affected products immediately, and consult with a veterinarian if any symptoms are present in their pet. Menu Foods' chief executive and president Paul Henderson told the Associated Press on Friday that the company was still trying to figure out what happened. He said that the company had received an undisclosed number of owner complaints that dogs and cats were vomiting and suffering kidney failure after eating its products. He estimated that the recall would cost the company, which is mostly owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, an estimated $26 million to $34 million. Sarah Tuite, a company spokeswoman, has said the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, which has since been dropped for another source. Wheat gluten is a source of protein. Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Julie Zawisza said it is still too early to determine what could have affected the food. Zawisza added that even if wheat gluten is the source "it doesn't necessarily mean the wheat gluten per se. It could be another substance associated with the wheat gluten." The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between Dec. 3 and March 6. At a Petsmart store in Union, Silviene Grzybowski became worried when the four types of Iams products she buys for her cat Smokey had vanished. Her cat is very sick and has not eaten for days, she said. "The vet told us to buy her her favorite food, but I'm going to call the vet right now," she said. Meanwhile, two other companies -- Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. -- announced Saturday night that, as a precaution, they were voluntary recalling some products made by Menu Foods. The company said it makes pet food for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & amp; Gamble Co.


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Wine producers don’t need to spend months getting their wines ready for industrial use. But it will still happen this year in France due to lower demand for wine from French drinkers, weak sales in China and increased competition in export markets.
With EU help, French government plans to spend about $215m on ‘distillation aid’ Financial Times report Most of the aid will go to the Bordeaux and Languedoc regions on Sunday. The process involves distilling excess wine into ethanol, which is then used in a variety of industrial uses, including perfumes, cleaning products and hydroalcoholic gels in hand sanitizers.
On Friday, Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau said during a tour of wineries that the government aimed to raise wine prices and help winemakers “find new sources of revenue”, according to the Financial Times. Farmers must “adapt to changes in consumption and adjust production to meet future demand,” he added.
In another scheme, farmers were compensated for destroying vineyards, converting land to woods and leaving it fallow. In Bordeaux, around 1,000 farmers were involved, leading to the felling of around 8% of the region’s vines, according to British newspapers.Other public funds to help grape growers change Other products, including olives.
as the bbc report Wine consumption fell across Europe in the year to June this weekend, with Italy down 7%, Spain 10%, France 15% and Germany 22%, according to the European Commission. , Portugal fell by 34%. Meanwhile, wine production across the region rose by 4%.
A cost-of-living crisis linked to soaring energy prices and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also hit the sector, prompting many European shoppers to become more frugal and spend less on non-essential items. At the same time, competition from craft beer and other beverages is growing.
But demand for higher-end wines is better than for more affordable varieties, so some producers in France are opting to move upmarket rather than convert their land to other uses. In February, Moët-Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of LVMH, Add to Portfolio of luxury wine brands from Provence rosé producer Château Minuty.
as a guardian ReportIn fact, this is not the first time that Europe has encountered a “wine lake”. In the mid-2000s, excess wine production fueled by subsidies prompted the European Union to reform its agricultural policy.


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The MIT Forum for Entrepreneurship in the Arab World launched the 14th digital edition of the MIT Forum competition for Arab startups, inviting Arab entrepreneurs from all sectors to submit applications for participation through the website of the annual competition, the oldest of its kind, in the Middle East and North Africa Specially designed to support Arab innovations.
The competition is organized in partnership with “Community Jameel”, the global charitable organization that runs several initiatives aimed at creating positive change in society and achieving economic sustainability, and in cooperation with the “MIT” Entrepreneurship Forum with Zain as a strategic digital partner.
For 14 years, the competition has offered cash prizes worth more than $ 1.28 million to winning entrepreneurs, providing them with a platform to present and implement their ideas.
Registration opened on August 29 on the competition’s official website, and will last until December 15, and the organizers will run a series of introductory and promotional tours that introduce entrepreneurs to the competition and help them with their requests. Those interested can register for the next introductory session, which will take place, through the competition’s website, when it is announced.
The MIT Forum Arab Startup Competition has turned into an annual event that is awaited by thousands of young entrepreneurs in the Arab world, who consider it a platform that allows them to present, test and develop their creative ideas. The competition takes place every year under 3 tracks: the Ideas Track, the Startups Track, and the Social Entrepreneurship Track. The competition awards cash prizes totaling $ 160,000, and the teams that qualified for the semi-finals will participate in a series of preparatory activities, which include training courses, mentoring sessions and workshops. In the final stages of the competition, the jury will select 9 final winners (3 teams for Each track).
Maya Rahal, Executive Director of the MIT Forum for Entrepreneurship in the Arab World, said, “We are pleased to organize the 14th edition of the MIT Forum competition as an integrated digital program, specifically designed to attract innovators from around the world. We invite entrepreneurs who have built their companies to develop their societies to progress and benefit from training and opportunities. Available, our being one of the organizations supporting the environment incubating entrepreneurship. ”
“We are convinced that the partnership with Community Jameel and Zain will help us raise awareness about the need for sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of environment, society and governance (ESG),” she added.
She pointed out that the MIT Forum competition for Arab startups has had a significant impact on local economies, which is being discovered more every day, as it appears that the Arab region has all the ingredients and potentials for growth, indicating that today is the time when we seize the opportunity to rise and face challenges .
Malek Hammoud, CEO of Investment and Digital Services at Zain Group, said, “We have supported this competition since 2015, because we believe that today’s innovators are the owners of the ideas of change in the future, and we look forward to encouraging opportunities that enhance the power of innovation and contribute to the introduction of entrepreneurs We are able to create a better place. ”
Hammoud added, “Moreover, supporting such events that attract digital ideas and innovations is in line with Zain’s hopes and aspirations to become the digital lifestyle operator in the Middle East and African markets.”
In a related context, Head of Community Jameel International Initiatives Fadi Muhammad Jameel said, “We continue our efforts to support the entrepreneurial environment in the Arab world, and we seek to provide more assistance to entrepreneurs in the region to overcome the current circumstances.”
He added, “We believe that the 14th edition of the MIT Forum competition for Arab startups, which will be organized in exceptional circumstances imposed by the global health crisis, will be similar to previous sessions that provided an important gain for all participants, and we invite every entrepreneur in the Arab world to discover his capabilities through This platform is to help him provide added value to Arab societies. The 14th edition of the MIT Forum competition for Arab startups will culminate in a virtual conference and award ceremony organized in March 2021, where the winners will be announced in an official award ceremony.


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BROWARD (CBSMiami) – According to more than a dozen arrest reports, Thomas Shipley, 39, of Port St. Lucie and Sebastian, is accused of stealing more than 50 heavy-duty batteries from commercial trucks around Broward County.
Citing detectives, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports he confessed to selling the batteries to Capital Scrap in Deerfield Beach to support a drug habit.
Shipley allegedly stole more than batteries: a U-Haul Ford F-150 pickup truck his mother had rented for him went unreturned, despite his mother’s pleading.
According to arrest reports, Shipley told detectives the truck was used to transport all the stolen batteries to the scrap yard, the arrest reports stated.
Read about Shipley’s numerous prior thefts in the Sun-Sentinel article.


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New York Times 2021 Q2 Earnings: eight Million Subscribers
Readers, readers all over the place are what The New York Times Company sees: 100 million, to be exact.
For now, the writer has eight million subscriptions and expects so as to add as many this 12 months because it did in 2019, when President Donald J. Trump dominated headlines and a pandemic had but to soften the worldwide economic system. The firm estimates that it’s going to have eight.5 million by the top of 2021.
In a press release on Wednesday asserting the corporate’s second-quarter earnings outcomes, Meredith Kopit Levien, the chief govt, mentioned the efficiency was “a testomony to the success of our technique” of specializing in digital subscriptions. She put the potential market dimension of Times readers at 100 million, including that there was a possibility to proceed to take a position whereas “each day habits are up for grabs.”
The Times Company reported modest progress within the April-to-June quarter — usually its weakest — including 142,000 new digital subscribers, with 77,000 for the News app and 65,000 for Cooking and Games. At the top of June, The Times had 7.9 million complete subscribers, with 7.1 million paying for its digital merchandise. Of the digital subscribers, 5.three million subscribed to the News app.
The writer reported $93 million in adjusted working revenue on $499 million in income. Investors have been searching for $73 million in adjusted working revenue on $488 million in gross sales. The enterprise altogether rose 24 p.c from a 12 months earlier, helped by a gradual 16 p.c improve in subscription dollars and a 66 p.c enhance in promoting as entrepreneurs returned to prepandemic spending ranges.
Wall Street traders and information executives throughout the nation take into account The Times to be each a bellwether and a stand-alone: The firm’s digital efficiency exhibits what’s attainable for a information media group within the age of Facebook and Google, however not everybody in publishing (digital or print) will be capable to emulate its success. Online income at The Times — particularly promoting and subscriptions — jumped 41 p.c, to $261 million.
For the present quarter that ends in September, the corporate expects digital subscription income to rise 25 to 30 p.c from a 12 months earlier and on-line advert gross sales to extend 40 to 45 p.c. Total subscription income ought to bump up 13 to 15 p.c and promoting 30 to 35 p.c.
That’s most certainly why the corporate’s inventory, like that of a Silicon Valley behemoth, trades at a hefty premium.
Investors are paying about $41 for each $1 of anticipated revenue to personal Times inventory. That’s greater than what individuals are paying to personal Facebook, at $21, and Google, at $25. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, which publishes The Wall Street Journal, trades at a commensurate $40 for each $1 of anticipated revenue. Only shares in Netflix (one other subscription service priced equally to The Times) value extra, at $62 for each $1 of future revenue.
Even so, Times inventory has dropped practically 17 p.c this 12 months as a brand new administration took over the White House in January. The S&P 500 index, by comparability, has risen practically 18 p.c.
The Times continues to spend money on its digital enterprise and expects prices to extend 18 to 20 p.c within the present quarter, with capital expenditures for the total 12 months totaling $50 million. That pales subsequent to the money the corporate holds: $947 million on the finish of June.


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Sony Ericsson PlayStation phone leaks, mobile gamers rejoice
Smartphones have been eating into the portable consoles market for a while now, but this should speed up the process quite a lot. Apparently the rumored Sony Ericsson PlayStation phone is real and we've got the photo evidence to prove it.
Here's what we know so far - a side-slider with the trademark PSP controls that will be running Android 2.3 (or is that 3.0?) Gingerbread.
Inside the Sony Ericsson PlayStation phone will be a 1GHz Qualcomm CPU, 512 MB of RAM, 1GB ROM and a microSD card slot. The touchscreen size isn't confirmed just yet but it's said to be between 3.7" and 4.1" (which sounds pretty reasonable for a gaming device). Oh, and you'll be getting a multitouch pad on the lower half of the slider for a complete gaming experience.
The pricing of the device is still unknown, but that's to be expected with the device not even officially announced yet.
Considering that the latest Google OS isn't even officially announced yet, chances are you won't be able to get yourselves one of those babies for Christmas.
- 11 Aug 2015
My first ever android phone, such a disappointment, at release time it had outdated hardware, and very limited rom memory, so it wasn't even future proof as a gaming devices suppose too, it was a failure
- 02 Jan 2011
- 22 Dec 2010
why did they put A for enter and B for back on the screen? is that a button?


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Stew Leonard's doesn't do small. Stew Leonard Jr., the company's president, said that in a typical holiday season, the company's three supermarkets sell 150,000 half-gallon jugs of eggnog.
And Christmas trees? At the Yonkers store, the newest and biggest, Mr. Leonard hopes to sell 12,000 trees. That's enough, his suppliers say, to make Mr. Leonard the biggest retailer in the county. It is also about twice the number of trees he sold in Yonkers last year.
Traditionally, the most popular tree has been the balsam, an inexpensive choice at $19.99. This year, however, Mr. Leonard noted that many people were upgrading to the Fraser fir ($39.99) which he describes as ''a bluer tree, a more rugged tree.''
Mr. Leonard cited both the good economy and the demands of heavy ornaments and lights as possible reasons for the shift. John SwansburgContinue reading the main story


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Over 100 backers helped the fine-dining restaurant hit its goal just four days after the launch of its Kickstarter page.
Norse, which is listed in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland 2017, currently runs as an evening pop-up in a Harrogate café.
The team will use the funding to move to a 40-cover site in Harrogate, with a larger kitchen, where the restaurant will be able to serve lunch for the first time.
Head chef Simon Jewitt will be a partner in the new venture, which could open as early as April this year.
The Kickstarter page will continue to accept pledges until 7 March.
“We owe a huge thanks to everyone that has backed and shared the campaign in the first four days,” says Norse owner Paul Rawlinson.
“We still have 25 days with the project live so it'd be a shame to stop now when we could achieve more.”
Norse launched in 2014 and received a glowing review from Observer food critic Jay Rayner just six months after opening.
Its menu includes scallop, apple, mushroom and bergamot; lamb with parsley root and seaweed; and clementine with chocolate and pine.
The restaurant is also recommended in the Waitrose Good Food Guide 2017.


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Adapting to Self-Educated Consumers
Every month, more than 20 million people look online for automotive-related information, and, more and more, consumers are turning to social media and mobile applications for tips and advice.
A recent survey conducted by AutoMD.com concluded that users posted more than 80,000 questions to the company’s new online repair “community,” a post-your-question forum called Auto Answers, and to its applicable mobile applications.
Of those questions, 70 percent dealt with diagnoses of a vehicle problem, and 30 percent were focused on “making sure I am not paying too much for a repair.”
Brian Hafer, AutoMD.com’s vice president of marketing, says this trend means one simple thing: Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in furthering their knowledge of automotive repairs.
Now, what that means for repair shops may be a little trickier to pinpoint.
“Everybody knows how much parts cost nowadays,” says Ray Kunz, a former shop owner and current industry consultant. “It’s become a much more difficult thing for us to sell at the mark-up that’s required for us to do business.”
Of all the automotive aspects consumers are interested in, Kunz says the most apparent—at least from a shop owner’s perspective—is price. He says customers are increasingly interested in being well equipped for the ongoing “price battles” with service advisors.
The key is helping customers understand the value of your shop, Kunz says.
“We have to approach people differently and bring more service to the table, more warranties to the table,” Kunz says. “Most dealers have (6,000-mile, six-month) or (12,000-mile, 12-month) warranties, and we advise our clients to have 24 and 24. We need to give better warranties, give better service. … We need to show customers that the same people are here every time, where as dealers can have a constant changing of the guard.”
Companies like AutoMD.com, meanwhile, focus on creating a level playing field between the consumer and the repair shop. Through its online services, AutoMD.com provides how-to guides for repairs, help with diagnosis, information about pricing, a forum for questions and a shop locator.
“People are looking for convenience, ways to be more efficient, and obviously the Internet and all the tools out there have enabled that,” Hafer says. “Over the last 10 years or so, we’ve really seen this progression of people turning to the Internet for this type of help, whether it’s our site or another one.”
AutoMD.com, Hafer says, isn’t trying to make life difficult for shop owners or take away repair orders by launching a new generation of do-it-yourselfers. Really, it’s the opposite, he says. Creating a more educated consumer base should create more willing customers who now have even more reason to trust in an honest shop.
Some shop owners are skeptical.
“I think it could be great, but it all depends on the information they’re getting,” says Gary Armando, owner of Little Falls Auto Service in Little Falls, N.J. “People have always said that the less a customer knows, the better. But if they have accurate information and really do understand what’s going on, then it should help us in getting the repairs or maintenance done. Educating a customer is always part of our jobs, and it helps if they have that knowledge—as long as it’s accurate.”
Hafer says that accurate information is AutoMD.com’s biggest priority. Repair tips are derived from a staff of ASE-certified mechanics, and prices are gauged from surveys with shop owners. In fact, Hafer says that shop owners and mechanics can participate in discussions to help draw business.
The site also has a shop locator option, and Hafer says it is a simple way for shops to connect with customers who may be looking for a new service center.
“Even though we knew it was going to help consumers, it presented a great opportunity for shops, because it gave them a place online where they can go into and update that information and start that communication with the consumer,” Hafer says.
Kunz says shop owners should try to treat this educated-consumer trend as a positive. It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate why it’s important for customers to pay your labor costs, your price mark-ups—it’s all about the service and value you’re providing them.


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Record high cattle prices and improved seasonal conditions have sent demand for fresh and frozen bull semen soaring to unprecedented levels.
Industry players say demand is particularly high for sexed semen, which involves the processing of semen into gender and enables producers to conduct selective breeding.
Genetics Australia CEO Anthony Shelly said he’s never seen so much demand for quality semen among commercial and stud breeders in both the Australian dairy and beef industries.
“At the moment demand for semen is probably at an all-time high.
“Demand for beef genetics is unprecedented in WA at the moment and dairy is also very strong.
“There’s no doubt, be it dairy or beef, when you’re seeing such strong prices in the sale yards, the opportunity to take advantage some would say ‘hey well I’m motivated to breed quicker and more efficiently’.”
Prices prompt semen spike
Mr Shelly said improvements in the efficiency of methods such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer, had also seen more farmers utilise the technology, particularly sexed semen.
“Sexed semen has been available commercially in Australia for about 12-13 years and there’s no doubt the efficiency has improved dramatically over that time,” he said.
“What we’re seeing is farmers starting to use that technology at a very high level to try and ensure they’re getting the best benefit.
“Just in the last 12 months the use of sexed semen has gone from 10 per cent to 15 pc in the national dairy herd and that’s significant.”
Mr Shelly said Wagyu and Angus semen was in highest demand.
Exploding export demand
Neel Ganesan is laboratory manager at ST Genetics Australia, based in Victoria.
He said demand for Australian genetics from overseas buyers was also hot.
“There has been a huge spike in export semen sales especially to EU and the North American market,” he said. “That’s because of the quality bulls that are here, most of these customers based in overseas locations they want Australian genetics.”
“And because we have genomic technology now, they’re seeing the value in the cattle here in Australia.”
Meanwhile, Mr Shelly said Genetics Australia was seeing strong demand out of China, Pakistan and South America.
Seizing the opportunity
Dairy farmer Tony Angi, based at Yarloop in WA’s South West, has a herd of 1,000 Holstein heifers.
While he has long focused on genetics, Mr Angi said very healthy prices for Holstein export heifers had enabled him to ramp up selective genetics.
“Our milk price in WA is probably not the best at the moment,” he said.
“The prices [for export dairy heifers] have never been like this and in the last two years it’s made me confident to use [sexed semen] more heavily than in the past…we want to take advantage of the export prices.
“To be able to reinvest and sell export heifers is an important part of our cashflow.”
Mercado managing director Robert Hermann said it is not surprising cattle farmers were reinvesting in genetics given favorable market conditions.
“The Western Young Cattle Indicator, which is a sort of benchmark of prices, is at an all-time record high of 967 cents,” he said.
“To put that in perspective, this time last year it was at 700c but going back two years, it was at 500c, so it’s almost doubled in two years.
“Australian farmers are really progressive and would see these windfall cattle prices and record low numbers as an opportunity to ramp up the quality of their herds.
“Producers are also making a statement that they’re confident about the industry.”


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Badger Meter on Wednesday reported a record for its first quarter of
Its total net
sales ($101.6 million), net earnings ($8.74 million) and diluted
earnings per share ($0.30) were all records and a produced major
increases from last year's numbers.
Meeusen, the chairman, president and chief executive officer of
Badger Meter, said that the growth in the company was partly due to
technological advances in many of its products.
was an excellent quarter for Badger Meter," Meeusen said. "Our net
sales, net earnings and diluted earnings per share set new first
quarter records, despite a challenging comparison against our record
first quarter performance last year.
"Sales of our
E-Series Ultrasonic meters, ORION Cellular radios and BEACON
Advanced Metering Analytics managed solution were all up over last
year's strong first quarter. We are especially encouraged by the
growing customer acceptance of our ultrasonic solid-state metering
that the reporting shows signs of a strong year ahead for Badger


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Although Nisa has been working with Galleria for some time on a similar system, this one is tailored to Costcutter’s specific storebase, range and requirements, said category development manager Andy Coulthard. “We’re looking at regionality in every category, and creating templates that take into account local differences, starting with beers and ciders.
“In categories like biscuits for example, there might not be that much regional variation. In categories such as beers and ales, there are enormous regional variations, and to be credible, we’ve got to drill down to particular towns.”
By spring next year, every major category should be covered, enabling 1,150 members, including those linked to Murco forecourts, to log on to the Costcutter website, enter details of their fixtures plus a store location, and receive a tailor-made planogram within 20 minutes, said Coulthard.


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Average car prices have climbed 12.7 percent since 2011 and show little sign of slowing.
New reports suggest that Volkswagen has been using emissions-test-cheating software on gas-powered models, too -- specifically, those made by Porsche.
Making the cut for the coveted IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award got even tougher this year.
In the wake of headline-dominating recalls from General Motors and Takata, and more than a little public pressure, America's largest car retailer vowed to fix every recalled used car on its lots. Now, AutoNation has reneged on its promise.
The latest Honda CR-V redesign takes the best-selling crossover in America and improves on every attribute.
Last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, VW's North American head honcho, Hinrich Woebcken, said he doubts diesels would play as big of a role in VW's American lineup as they had in previous years.
If you meet a few basic requirements, Uber can make getting around slightly easier and cheaper this holiday season.
We wondered what technology our readers are most excited to have in their next ride. And so, as much of humanity now does in its hour of need, we polled Twitter.
While apps are certainly a factor in America's rising auto fatality rate, the economy also plays as role, as do a range of human errors like drinking and driving.
The 2017 Golf is just arriving on dealer lots in the United States, but it might be worth holding out for the 2018 model.
Modern cars are smarter and safer than ever, but some everyday things --like car washes -- confuse them.
The automaker has unveiled several new high-tech features that will soon appear on Ford vehicles worldwide. Here are some of the ones we're most excited about.
General Motors already rents cars to Lyft drivers. Now, the automaker is making a similar offer to people who want to work for Lyft's biggest competitor, Uber.
The Chrysler Pacifica offers an unnbeatable blend of practicality, refinement, and comfort and is one of The Car Connection's 2017 Best Car to Buy nominees.
In the dawning age of artificial intelligence–like the kind found in self-driving cars–we may begin to bully software, a new study suggests.
Ford's new system can detect walkers who are distracted by their smartphones, even before they've stepped off the sidewalk.
There's one at the top you may not expect.
The S90 is a four-door luxury sedan designed to square off against the world's best cars from Mercedes, Audi, and BMW.
In the future, Tesla vehicles will be fully capable of transporting passengers without a driver, company CEO Elon Musk announced Wednesday.
A wiring flaw in the vehicle's front airbag sensor could prevent the Jeep Wrangler's airbags from deploying during a crash.


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Travel Outlook’s revolutionary technology is assisting Camelback Resort answer significant front desk call volume.
Camelback Resort, a year-round recreational destination nestled in the Pocono Mountains, has named Terry Bechtold its new vice president of operations. In his new position, Bechtold will oversee and direct all resort departments, including its lodge, housekeeping, front desk, retail, Camelbeach and all recreational activities, including skiing, snowtubing, mountain coaster, summer tubing, ziplines and more.
Camelback Resort, a year-round recreational destination nestled in the Pocono Mountains celebrating 60 years of skiing this year, has announced the addition of Charles Blier as its new vice president of facilities.
Camelback Resort, a year-round recreational destination nestled in the Pocono Mountains, has named Jameson Cesar as vice president of food and beverage, supervising all operations of the resort’s 19 dining outlets – from food trucks to all-day casual to fine dining culinary concepts. Cesar’s 25 years of hospitality experience includes starting out as a dishwasher in Ocean City, N.J., at 13 years old to owning and creating multiple restaurant concepts to managing multiple dining outlets at prestigious resorts.
Camelback Resort, a year-round recreational destination nestled in the Pocono Mountains managed by KSL Resorts, has named David Makarsky its new managing director. In his new position, Makarsky takes over all management for the 560-acre resort – an expansive retreat offering a full range of indoor and outdoor activities and adventures from world class skiing to Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor waterpark.
Camelback Resort has announced an addition to its leadership team with a new marketing executive in the person of Theresa Lutz.
Guadagni will oversee Camelback Lodge, Waterparks and Mountain Adventures Operations.


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JAKARTA - Indonesia’s National Committee for Islamic Finance (KNKS) will launch an Islamic economy masterplan in March to boost development of the country’s real economy and halal industries, Sutan Emir Hidayat, its Islamic Financial Education and Research Director told Salaam Gateway.
The tentative launch date of the masterplan is March 26, said Hidayat.
The upcoming plan will complement the 10-year Islamic finance masterplan released in 2016 that was designed to accelerate the growth of the country’s Shariah-compliant financial sector.
“We are completing this Islamic economy masterplan architecture with help from Malaysia-based consultant Zaid Ibrahim & Co. (ZICO),” said Hidayat.
The masterplan will be published in English to capture a bigger global audience, he said.
“With this masterplan, there will be better tools for tracking development and providing better information to global stakeholders,” Hidayat added.
Indonesia’s long-term goal, said Hidayat, is to become a “prominent” world centre for the Islamic economy.
COMPULSORY HALAL CERTIFICATION NOT ‘POSTPONED’
The achievement of this goal includes compulsory halal certification and labeling that will start on Oct 17 this year.
“The responsibility of BPJPH to start mandatory halal certification is still Oct 17, 2019,” head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), Sukoso, told Salaam Gateway.
Sukoso said a Reuters article on Feb 15 was “misleading” to say that Indonesian authorities were postponing the Oct 17 deadline.
Hidayat referred Salaam Gateway to an article of law detailing compulsory halal certification and labeling.
“As far as I know, mandatory halal labeling will be implemented gradually as mentioned in Article 67, Section 2,” said Hidayat.
Article 67 refers to the law passed in 2014 that details the gradual implementation of mandatory halal certification and labeling for different sectors.
Compulsory halal labeling for food and beverage products are to be phased in from Oct this year to 2022.
The phase-in period for drugs, cosmetics, chemical products, biological products, and genetically engineered products is from Oct 2019 to 2024.
This category also includes used or worn products that touch the skin or other parts of the body, such as clothing and accessories, household health supplies and equipment used for Islamic rituals or worship.
The Islamic economy masterplan already factors in Article 67 with regards mandatory halal labeling.
ISLAMIC FINANCE ROLE
Islamic finance will complement the Islamic economy masterplan that will focus on the enhancement of three main sectors: the halal value chain, Islamic digital economy, and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to Hidayat.
KNKS was established in Jul 2017 as a result of a recommendation in the 10-year Islamic finance masterplan. The upcoming Islamic economy masterplan may mean changes to the committee itself.
“With the new masterplan, there might be a change of the KNKS nomenclature as well as change of the committee’s name,” said Hidayat.
He added that a review was ongoing as to whether the changes would require a new Presidential decree.
Six directors at the KNKS currently oversee ten working groups that study a broad cross-section of Islamic finance, including Islamic banking and takaful, the establishment of an Islamic Investment Bank, the conversion of social insurance to become Shariah-compliant, how to support the digitisation of the Islamic economy, the development of Islamic digital payment systems, and how Islamic rural banks can increase financial inclusion.
Since the release of the Islamic finance masterplan in Aug 2016, Indonesia’s Shariah-compliant banking sector grew 36 percent in assets, from 331.76 trillion Indonesian rupiah ($23.48 billion) at the end of Sep 2016 to 451.1 trillion rupiah ($31.93 billion) in Nov 2018. By market share, Islamic banking assets made up 5.13 percent of the country’s banking sector in Sep 2016, growing to 5.7 percent in Nov 2018.
($1= 14,124 Indonesian rupiah)
(Reporting by Yosi Winosa; Editing by Emmy Abdul Alim firstname.lastname@example.org)
© SalaamGateway.com 2019 All Rights Reserved


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The European Union intends to introduce new, stricter operating rules for large American technology companies. On Thursday, November 25, the EU member states agreed on a unified position to be able to better control the activities of Internet giants and set more rules for them.
We are talking about passing two laws – the Digital Services Act (DMA) and the Digital Markets Act (DSA). Their details are still to be worked out, so the new rules for Amazon, Apple, Alphabet and Facebook will not take effect until 2023. After that, companies will face heavy fines for violating laws – in the case of DMA, they can go up to ten percent of the annual turnover.
The new regulations will replace the e-commerce directive more than 20 years ago. As stated by the acting. Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection of Germany Christine Lambrecht, the legal framework will be adapted to the new realities of the digital age. For example, the law on digital markets is intended to tighten the rules for suppliers – the so-called “gatekeepers”, which occupy a particularly strong position in the market, and establish rules for them how to handle customer data and access platforms.
In line with the new realities of the digital age
Bitkom, a digital economy alliance, said that “the digital markets law sets important new impetus for fair competition in the EU.” At the same time, Bitkom representatives indicated that the new rules do not sufficiently take into account their long-term impact on European platforms, startups and cybersecurity issues. And the head of the Central Association of German Craftsmen (ZDH), Holger Schwannecke, complained about the too narrow scope of DMA. According to him, the new rules will apply to only a few European platforms.
And the digital services law is intended to make online platforms more accountable in the fight against illegal content. This will improve consumer protection, Bitkom said. In addition, as Lambrecht pointed out, manipulative methods aimed at nudging consumers to buy a product or service will be prohibited from now on. Platforms will have to pay more attention to user complaints, respond more attentively to their complaints, and provide more information in advertisements. Failure to comply with these requirements is fraught with fines of up to six percent of the annual turnover.
Meanwhile, the Berlin-based non-profit organization HateAid, which provides advice and support to victims of online hate speech, has identified many weaknesses in the new law. On the one hand, it provides a “historic chance” to better combat threats, insults and other forms of digital violence, HateAid said. However, representatives of the organization noted the lack of easy access to justice and easy communication with the platforms.


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Groupon and LivingSocial have done an admirable job building out large sales forces in a short period of time. But for the daily deals business to reach its potential, there’s little doubt both will need an easier system for merchants than working with a salesperson.
The future of deals appears to lie in real-time mobile offers, not one-size-fits-all daily offers delivered via email. Great in theory. But in practice that means choosing from a huge pool of deals in order to match the consumer with a relevant one nearby. It’s a daunting challenge that can’t be solved by feet on the street alone.
Groupon Now is almost exclusively self-service — that is, merchants upload their own offers and copy art in real time. LivingSocial has InstantDeals, which also relies on self-service by merchants.
Julie Mossler, a Groupon spokeswoman, noted that the most tech-savvy merchants like being able to control their offers and the fact that Groupon gives merchants who self-serve a larger percentage of the revenue their deals generated. LivingSocial Instant Deals, the company provided merchants with iPads preloaded with the software they needed to create deals as well as to keep track of redemptions.
But a quick check of both websites reveals that the right-here-right-now deals are limited both in number and in the markets in which they are available.
The idea of instant deals is appealing to consumers and, theoretically, to merchants, who are able to customize offers to meet specific business needs. And deal services will need merchants to self-serve if they are ever to be able to offer the number of deals that would make instant deals a viable business. So why is this segment of the wildly growing business that is daily deals taking a relatively long time to take hold?
A number of factors could be working against self-service. Instant deals are more attention and labor intensive than traditional deals – the deal is posted and expires in a matter of hours; consumers need to redeem deals quickly; and unlike deals with longer expiration dates, LivingSocial, for example, will refund an unused instant deals.
Another part of the problem, according to Ted Mann, digital director for Gannett NJ, which operates daily deals sites in several markets across the sate, is that merchants are still reluctant to create and post their own deals. “With instant deals, speed is the issue,” he said. “Merchants would rather call sales reps than [create and upload the ad or deal] themselves. And then there is the logjam of processing that occurs.”
Mann said that even when the tools are available and easy to use local merchants don’t want to access them for a very simple reason. “The Groupon Now model is exciting and intriguing,” he said, referring to the idea that merchants can adjust their offers to bring traffic in during slow periods. “But I don’t understand how a restaurant owner is able to put up a special at lunchtime no matter how slow his business is. Small business owners are running around like crazy. Even when their businesses are slow, they are still running.”
He said that, instead of posting deals themselves, many small business owners would call their sales reps and ask the rep to post the deal. “That whole system has to get hyper efficient on a massive scale or it won’t work,” he said.
Dentsu’s new Web3 readiness tool shines light on the tech’s potential to complement AI
Dentsu's Innovation Initiative is launching a web3 readiness index next month — at a time when the industry is obsessed with AI. Could the two technologies actually make a good pair?
Digiday+ Research deep dive: Publishers large and small put their resources into first-party data
Eighty-two percent of publishers overall say they're already using first-party data to prepare for the end of the third-party cookie, and nearly half are requiring users to register and integrating first-party data segments into DSPs – indicating that first-party data is the clear path forward for publishers heading into the post-cookie world.
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Publishers hope the chatbots they are developing will be the latest retention tool to keep readers onsite and to get them to consume more content.
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Produced in partnership with Marketecture The following article highlights an interview between Martin Kihn, Salesforce’s senior vice president of Marketing Cloud, and Ari Paparo, founder and CEO of Marketecture Media. Register to watch more of the discussion and learn how brands are making the most of enterprise-grade CDP technologies. As brands expand across channels and […]
How programmatic advertising will evolve this year on the heels of audio growth and privacy changes
Comscore’s programmatic division Proximic released a State of Programmatic study highlighting the growth of audio and podcasting, other digital advertising channels and challenges around third-party data.
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Many podcasters are turning to third party platforms like Supporting Cast and Supercast to launch or grow their subscription businesses beyond Spotify or Apple.


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Australia’s largest indigenous fashion runway ever is about to take place in Melbourne. The event is being hosted by The Indigenous Runway Project, who are committed to demonstrating and creating aspirational career paths for young indigenous people in the fashion industry.
The organisation has bought together an impressive line-up of artists, designers and industry elites to showcase their bodies of work. The presentations will be rich in culture, combining exquisite tribal culture with each designer’s unique fashionable flair.
Both men’s and womenswear collections will be on display at this year’s event, which will be held in March at The Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival. The event is sure to be a highlight of the festival, as it has been developed and executed by a team of 50 dedicated and passionate indigenous people.
This programme has been operating since 2010, with over 1600 young indigenous people having taken part over the years.


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- Rahul Gandhi to begin three-day Gujarat visit from Monday
- Narayan Rane to meet Amit Shah in Delhi tomorrow
- Germany elections: Angela Merkel wins 4th term as far-right party enters parliament
- Eye on 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Mayawati to hold rallies across India
- Maruti Suzuki Dzire overtakes Alto as India’s best-selling car in August
There is something strangely apt about the Flipkart and Snapdeal co-founders sniping at each other on Twitter—a rivalry between two of India’s e-commerce giants playing out online. That’s just for starters.
The planned entry of Chinese online retail giant Alibaba—an investor in Snapdeal—into the Indian market is going to muddy already murky waters.
The strategies adopted by Indian companies thus far have been suited to exploiting a new market and establishing themselves. That is no longer the case. Deep discounts are not a sustainable, long-term option, as they are discovering—Morgan Stanley’s recent marking down of Flipkart’s shares by 27% is a case in point.
But how will the necessary shift to a focus on scalability and operational efficiency play out against competing pressure from Alibaba, the world’s largest e-commerce company? However it pans out, the dust is set to fly as India’s online retail sector matures.


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Join us as we discuss the recent news of Nintendo finally entering the mobile market space with a company by the name of dena... Also there new console, codenamed NX.
I'm wondering if NX will integrate all platforms into one. Games that utilize your smartphone, ds and console all at once. Considering the DeNA partnership, it could happen.
That sounds like a huge possibility.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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Sony announces F5 upgrade path to F55 and new A7s full frame 4K DSLR - and reveals a new, confident stragety for media production at their 2014 NAB press conference
I recently had several hours to play with a pre-release Sony PMW-F55 camera. Sony also supplied me with 2 64gb SxsPro+ cards, the AXS-5 4K recorder, one AXSM 4K media storage, the new LCD viewfinder, the new Olivine battery, and last but hardly least, a new Sony 85mm prime lens
Last Sunday a Lionel Messi hat-trick helped Barcelona to a remarkable 3-4 victory over Real Madrid 3-4 away at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. And this time Messi's footballing genius was captured for posterity in full 4K glory.
DaVinci Resolve 10 is one of the applications that has been optimised to run on the new Mac Pro and now, thanks to Dado Valentic from Mytherapy, we can see just how fast it runs. You may be surprised at some of the results!
Since 2009 the National Theatre in London has been broadcasting selected productions to Digital Cinemas around the world. On the 27th of February they will set a new standard when they broadcast "War Horse" live via satellite in 4K


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Whisky galore as Diageo invests £1bn to beef up production of Scotch
Thirsty whisky drinkers downing a record number of drams have prompted Johnnie Walker maker Diageo to invest £1billion beefing up production of Scotch.
The world’s biggest spirits firm is seeking to cash in on a boom in whisky by extending 28 existing plants, and building a distillery and warehouse.
The investment is one of the biggest Diageo has made expanding a category organically, and is aimed at tapping the newly rich in emerging markets.
High spirits: The Johnnie Walker maker is tapping into a growing demand from emerging markets
Whisky exports have exploded by 60 per cent in six years as affluent drinkers in China and Russia look to the golden-brown liquid to convey their new found wealth and status.
Diageo’s investment, spread over five years, will boost whisky capacity by up to 40 per cent and create more than 100 jobs.
But it comes just three years after it controversially closed its drinks packaging plant in Kilmarnock and 200-year-old distillery in Port Dundas with the loss of 900 jobs.
Around a third of Diageo’s profits come from Scotch brands such as J&B and Bells.
Its investment comes a week after rival Pernod Ricard announced plans to pour some £40million a year into its Scottish facilities, expanding production by 25 per cent.
Chief executive Paul Walsh said he had identified three options for the first distillery, which will be located in either Inchgower or Glendullan in Speyside or further north at Teaninich.
Plans for a second new distillery will go ahead if global demand for Scotch is sustained at expected levels.
Walsh said: ‘This is a pivotal moment in the development of the Scotch whisky category for Diageo. We expect that success to continue, particularly in the high growth markets around the world.’
Scotland’s whisky industry was worth a record £4.23billion to the UK’s export economy last year.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: ‘This is a welcome and substantial investment in one of the UK’s world renowned industries. It is a vote of confidence in the workforce in Scotland and in the strength of the food and drink sector in Britain.’
Global sales grew by 3.7 per cent last year and whisky is the number one spirit internationally, prompting the industry to reopen around 20 distilleries in the past decade at a cost of £1billion over four years.
Despite its size within Diageo (up 64.5p to 1581p), Walsh sees no benefit from spinning off his whisky brands.
He said: ‘At end of the day we create value for shareholders selling more at higher prices.’
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The number of house sales rose in 14 of Dublin’s 22 postcodes, while it fell in eight and sales also rose in County Dublin, according to the research carried out by MyHome.ie.
The post codes which recorded the biggest increases were Dublin 9, up 42%, Dublin 22 up 27% and Dublin 10 up 22% while the value of sales in Dublin 8 increased by over 122% due in the main to the sale of two large developments on Clancy Quay.
According to Angela Keegan, managing director of MyHome.ie, the figures reflected a number of important trends. ‘This is the third year in a row that Dublin 15 has had the highest number of sales and the second year in a row that Dublin 18 and 24 have occupied second and third place respectively. In light of current supply shortages, it is positive to see new developments coming to the market,’ she said.
“We believe we need to look at building higher in certain parts of the city and to providing incentives to build in other towns and cities which haven’t benefited from the economic recovery,’ she added.
She pointed out that Dublin accounts for roughly a third of the Irish property market and while the number of sales is continuing to increase, the rate of increase is slowing. In 2017 the number of sales fell in just four postcodes. Last year this figure was eight.
The data also shows that Dublin 20 recorded the biggest decrease in the number of sales with a fall of 40% and the lowest number of sales of any postcode at just 8


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The European earnings season is underway, and investors are cautiously optimistic about the outcome. Despite the challenges posed by China's faltering economy and global inflation, there is a glimmer of hope that European stocks may manage to stay in the positive territory. The expectations are set so low that any positive surprises are likely to be warmly welcomed by investors.
The Lackluster Earnings Season
Unfortunately, this earnings season has seen fewer positive surprises than usual. Of the companies listed in the European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX), less than half have managed to beat expectations, which is below the typical quarter's performance. Shareholders have become increasingly unforgiving of any earnings misses, indicating that the market's patience for mediocre results is running thin.
The European index experienced a 9% increase in value earlier this year, primarily driven by optimism surrounding China's post-COVID reopening and relief that Europe was likely to avoid recession. However, with Chinese growth losing momentum and facing persistent global price pressures and rising borrowing costs, concerns have arisen regarding the performance of European companies exposed to the world's second-largest economy.
Low Bar for Positive Outcomes
Due to the challenges faced by European companies, the expectations for beating earnings estimates are relatively low. Axelle Pinon, a member of the investment committee at asset manager Carmignac, notes that the equity valuation expansion in Europe has been more limited compared to the U.S. As a result, fewer upward revisions in earnings projections are needed to support the ongoing market rally.
According to Refinitiv Datastream, the STOXX 600 is currently trading at a PE ratio of 15.66, while the S&P 500 (.SPX) boasts a ratio of 24.9, marking the largest discount in at least 24 years. This discrepancy in valuation indicates that the market is valuing European stocks at a more conservative level.
Analysts' Forecast and Bright Spots
Analysts have been consistently lowering earnings forecasts for MSCI Europe companies since June 23, reflecting the longest stretch of downward revisions since the outbreak of the Ukraine war last February. For the second quarter, STOXX 600 company earnings are projected to drop by 8.1% year-on-year, showing a slight improvement from the initial forecast of a 9.2% drop. Nevertheless, it remains the worst quarter for corporate results since 2020, according to Refinitiv I/B/E/S data.
Despite the gloomy outlook, there have been some bright spots during this quarter. French carmaker Renault (RENA.PA) reported robust global car sales, while Unilever (ULVR.L), the maker of Dove soap and Ben & Jerry's ice cream, exceeded forecasts by successfully implementing price increases.
Investors' Harsh Punishment
The European earnings season has seen an unusual pattern in investors' behavior. Companies that missed earnings expectations faced harsher punishment than at any point in the last five years, according to Bank of America. The beat ratio, which measures the number of companies exceeding expectations, is at its weakest since late 2019. This underperformance resulted in a median one-day loss of 2%, the most significant negative reaction since the final quarter of 2017.
For instance, Electrolux (ELUXb.ST), Europe's largest home appliances maker, suffered a significant loss in market value when it reported a second-quarter loss, with one-fifth of its market value wiped out.
The Uncertain Road Ahead
Even for companies that manage to beat expectations, the road ahead remains uncertain. LVMH (LVMH.PA), Europe's most valuable company, experienced a 5% market value loss after reporting sales that met expectations but provided a less upbeat forecast.
The outlook beyond the second quarter is rather gloomy. While customers have managed to absorb higher prices so far, it is unclear how much potential consumer squeeze could impact profit margins. The forward 12-month net profit margin for the STOXX 600 is currently 9.9%, down from the all-time high of 10.1% in November 2022.
Ben Jones, the director of macro research at Invesco, predicts that earnings beats will be harder to come by in the upcoming quarters, with inflation likely to erode profit margins further. As the consumer squeeze deepens throughout 2023, the situation is likely to worsen.
In Summary, the European earnings season is unfolding with cautious optimism as investors grapple with various challenges. Despite low expectations, some companies have managed to exceed forecasts, providing a glimmer of hope for the market. However, the road ahead remains uncertain, with concerns about global inflation, economic slowdown, and potential price wars casting a shadow on the European economy. Investors must exercise caution and stay vigilant amidst these volatile times.


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Nike's Pro Hijab, designed for Muslim athletes, modeled by German boxer Zeina Nassar. .
F or the last 10 years, London's Design Museum has been drawing attention to notable modern design achievements of the previous calendar year with its Beazley Design Awards—a juried selection of significant new objects and innovations, spanning 6 categories. Among the 2017 winners, announced last week, was Nike's Pro Hijab, a stylish head covering for Muslim athletes, which was the standout in the Fashion category, besting, among other nominees, the pink 'pussyhat' that came to symbolize female outrage over the election of Donald Trump.
Calling it "A performance hijab by Nike that could change the face of sport for Muslim women," the Design Museum selected the Pro Hijab as one of its 6 Designs of the Year, joining winning designs in the fields of architecture, digital design, graphic design, product design and transport. Commented Amanda Levete, of the London architectural firm AL_A, and one of the Beazley Design Awards judges, “The first time I saw this project it stopped me in my tracks. It is a piece of design that tackles an important issue in a simple and elegant way. Perfectly delivered with inclusion at its core.”
Nike unveiled it's Pro Hijab in March 2017—two days before National Women's Day—to rapturous reviews from both the fashion and athletic communities. Inspired by the American-born runner Sarah Attar, one of two women who competed for Saudi Arabia at the 2012 Olympics, Nike collaborated with a group of Muslim women athletes on a final design which yielded a strikingly attractive, modern athletic accessory that still managed to meet stringent requirements for modesty and performance.
In trademark Nike fashion, the Pro Hijab is an ingeniously simple design, trading in a traditional hijab's more voluminous shape for an elegant pull-on piece, fashioned from Nike's stretchy Pro power mesh fabric. By leveraging Nike's "most breathable fabric" and adding thoughtful details—elastic binding that allows for a personalized fit, an elongated back that keeps the hijab from coming untucked, a color palette limited to dark neutrals—the Pro Hijab presents Muslim athletes with an athletic wear alternative never before addressed by a major sports brand. That, of course, was Nike's aim: "By providing Muslim athletes with the most groundbreaking products, like the Nike Pro Hijab, Nike aims to serve today’s pioneers as well as inspire even more women and girls in the region who still face barriers and limited access to sport..."
“The first time I saw this project it stopped me in my tracks. It is a piece of design that tackles an important issue in a simple and elegant way. Perfectly delivered with inclusion at its core.”
The pull-on Nike Pro Hijab is made from Nike's lightweight, breathable Pro power mesh.
Longer in the back, the Nike Pro Hijab has been so designed to keep from coming untucked during competition.