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Wild is extending offering of fruit and vegetable juice
compounds by using new kinds of produce, like pumpkins and bell
peppers, in a bid to halt shrinking sales in the orange-carrot
drinks category in Germany.
Cargill's vegetarian glucosamine hydrochloride ingredient, for use
in dairy and beverage products, could face further approval delays
in Europe, pending a risk review by the European Food Safety
The West Coast's thirst for energy drinks has driven nutrient
premix specialist Fortitech to open a new manufacturing facility in
Califoria set to increase the company's production for the Western
United States by 350 percent.
Number two pectin player Danisco rolls out a line extension for new
gains from its Grinsted pectin range that targets food and beverage
makers looking to spear the growing sports nutrition and functional
food markets, reports Lindsey...
Despite the steady stream of new product launches in a number of
European markets, and continued growth of flavoured alcoholic
beverages (FABs) across the Continent, spirit manufacturers are
already predicting a gradual downturn in...
Increasing numbers of young females drinkers, especially in markets
such as the UK, Germany and Spain, are having a major influence on
the on-trade across the continent, with pub designs and the
products drunk there both changing...
Far from slowing down, our desire to push the years back and stay
healthy is gaining in pace. Good news for food manufacturers
seeking an opportunity for growth. Mintel reveals the latest
functional drinks to hit the shelves.
More evidence to suggest that fortified drinks could contribute to
aiding dietary deficiencies in developing countries emerged this
week when a US scientist reported that a cheap, fortified,
orange-flavoured drink could reduce deficiencies...
Regular eating and drinking out in the evening will no longer just
be the preserve of the French, Spanish and Italians, claims a new
report from market analysts Datamonitor. Across Europe consumers
are seeking to go out more often...
The Nestle USA - Beverage Division and Ocean Spray Cranberries,
Inc. announced this week that they have formed a long-term
agreement which, they hope, will enable both companies to increase
manufacturing and supply chain efficiency...
French food company Groupe DANONE announced on Wednesday that it
intends to make a public offer to acquire 100 per cent of the
capital of Frucor Beverages Group Limited, a market leader in the
fast growing energy drink segment in...


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Nutrition experts have revealed 4 amazing health results that will appear on our bodies after just 30 days of giving up sugar.
And according to what Al-Arabiya translated from the medical website Health Line, addiction to eating sugar or excessive consumption may lead to devastating effects that will be mentioned during the talk about the four benefits that are achieved in the event of leaving eating it.
1- Low blood cholesterol
Excessive consumption of foods and drinks that are high in added sugar is detrimental to blood sugar management and may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Sweetened foods and drinks, such as baked goods, soda, candy, and energy drinks, contain fast-absorbing sugars such as high-fructose corn syrup.
Diets high in these types of sugar have been linked to higher blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.
2- Improve heart health
Diets high in sugar are also linked to heart disease risk factors, including high blood pressure, triglycerides, and levels of bad cholesterol.
Studies have indicated that consuming a lot of added sugar is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and death.
Diets that limit added sugar, such as the paleo diet and whole, plant-based foods, have also been shown to significantly reduce heart disease risk factors such as high triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
3- Reducing body weight
Foods and drinks that are high in added sugar tend to be high in calories but low in saturating nutrients such as protein and fiber.
For this reason, a diet rich in sugary foods is associated with weight gain, and a high intake of added sugar is associated with high-fat content.
Cutting out sources of added sugar may help you lose weight, especially when combined with a nutrient-dense diet rich in protein and fiber.
4- Oral and dental health
It is well known that sugary foods and drinks are not good for dental health.
Eating added sugar is closely linked to an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease in both children and adults because bacteria in the mouth break down sugar and produce acid that may harm your teeth.
Therefore, cutting out added sugar can protect your teeth. However, stopping sugar intake for only 30 days is unlikely to have a lasting effect on dental health.
How do you dispense with sugar?
Years ago, Dutchman Sacha Harland told about his experience of giving up sugar and fast food for thirty days, through a video watched by tens of millions at the time, and summed up his experience, saying: “It meant a bad mood in the beginning, and more energy in the end.”
1 thought on “4 amazing health benefits you will get if you give up sugar for one month!”

domain: news


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Following the mid life-cycle refresh that was presented late in 2014, the smallest Audi out there – the A1 – is quickly approaching the generational change, and it appears the successor will increase the premium feeling.
Seat’s production facility in Spain is rumored to handle production of the new generation A1, with the new hatchback looking to be even more assertive in the crazy automotive world and attract a wide range of customers by deploying a vast array of high-tech features. Coming out most likely as a 2018 model, the Audi A1 is also said to become even more upscale in a bid to avoid cannibalization with the rest of the VW AG’s small class participants. This is needed because the next A1 will cross-share the small version of the MQB architecture that is also set to underpin the new generation VW Polo and Seat Ibiza. The main dimensions will not change too much, but the new platform comes with a longer wheelbase – meaning more space inside, especially in the back.
The driver could also expect things such as the Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster or the latest version of the MMI infotainment system, while overall materials should deliver a better impression of a true Audi. Powertrains include a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder in multiple guises, as well as a 1.5 liter declined in both petrol and diesel form. There will also be a new S1 high performance version, but no plans have been issued for a hardcore RS1.
Via Auto Express


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Load your pichkaris and gather the gulaal — this year’s Holi
is geared to be a big one. Most Kolkatans are steering away from wet Holi (for flu scare and pet safety) and city sellers and party curators have come up with a number of ways you can engage in the frivolities without catching a cold or stubborn body stains. From foam parties and rain dances to thandai desserts and glitter gulaal — here’s every Holi trend you need to bookmark this year:Foam dance and flower Holi are trending
Kolkatans are prioritising safety for the first big post-pandemic Holi. Pawan Singh who is organising a Holi bash at a Kolkata food park said, “Besides DJ performances, we’re setting up a rain dance, flower Holi, foam zone, a designated kids’ zone and dedicated zones for cabanas and tables. The highlight of this year's Holi celebration is going to be the special appearance by reality TV star Asim Riaz. The use of dry organic colours will be encouraged.”
Family-friendly spots are making provisions for a dry Holi what with anxieties looming over the adenovirus flu. “Our customers insisted that we only play dry Holi at the venue so we will make sure that people here play only with organic gulaal and nothing else,” said Shampa Sarkar, reservation manager, of a city-based property.
"There’s a fun vibe all around during Holi. All our properties are almost sold out on the festival dates. We have mouth-watering Holi special delicacies as well as Thandai for our guests to soak in the vibe of the festival of colours," said Deepak Harlalka who handles multiple properties in the city. Bollywood & Punjabi hits in demand for DJ playlists
“I’m playing a few private parties so my Holi playlist features Bollywood and Punjabi numbers along with a few international numbers. Rang Barse, Jai Jai Shiv Shankar, Balam Pichkari, Kala Chashma and Love Tonight, are my favourites,” said DJ Akash.
Besides Bollywood mash-ups, EDM albums and ‘Hinglish’ tracks are also being requested. “I will be performing at a city club that sees a cosmopolitan crowd and for the first time on Holi I will play international tracks along with Bollywood and Punjabi songs. Besharam Rang, Bijlee Bijlee, Rang Barse, Jerusalema will feature on my playlist,” shared Dj Harish. Locally produced merch are popular
While Chinese goods ruled the local festive market till a few years ago, this year storeowners are betting on indigenously produced water guns, masks and other Holi props. “All of our merchandise is locally sourced and not made or produced in China,” said a shopkeeper at China Market. While another shopkeeper added, “The prices are more or less the same, but the quality is more durable.”What to buy/Holi shopping crawl:Bandhani turbans/ banjara turbans
Where to look: Kalakar Street, Burra Bazar
Pocket Pinch: Rs 100-150Glitter Gulaal
Where to look- China Market, Kalakar Street and New Market
Pocket pinch: Rs 300-350 for a packet of 250 gramsHoli haiiii! T-shirts
Where to look: Canning Street, Kalakar Street
Pocket pinch: Rs 150 for a medium-sized t-shirtBack-pack pichkaris
Where to look: New Market, Canning Street, China Market and Burra Bazar.
Pocket pinch: Rs 250- 400Herbal colours
Where to look: All local markets
Pocket pinch: Rs 200 for a pack of 150 gramsColour snow spray
Where to look: New Market, China Market, Burra Bazar
Pocket pinch: Rs 100Quirky goggles, scary masks and colourful wigs
Where to look: New Market, Rash Behari Avenue, Canning Street
Pocket pinch: Rs 120-180 approximately East-meets-west desserts are all the rage
Love desi ingredients but not greasy mithais? Go for fusion! This year, chefs and patissiers are using homegrown ingredients to create global treats. Kolkata-based chef Kirti Bhoutika is leading the way with her brownie gujiya and thandai mousse cheesecake kulhads! “Our brownie gujiyas and thandai cheesecake kulhads are selling fast this season! We also introduced our macarons in flavours like chocolate gulkand and thandai white chocolate. They’re modern but will remind people of traditional meetha,” said Bhoutika.
Chef Jayatri Biswas who runs an artisanal ice cream label just introduced cone-olis — a clever take on Italian cannolis, featuring an ice cream filling in flavours of kesar malai, pistachio and rose. Besides her usual array of rasmalai cookie sandwich and thandai cake, city baker Khyati Saraf Jhajharia also introduced thandai chocolates and party-friendly matka desserts. Look out for
Kolkata-based dessert maker Swati Saraf makes flavoured rasgullas every Holi — in flavours like kesaria thandai, green pista, kulfi rose etc. Vatsal Agarwal who owns a gourmet dessert store just introduced Holi special charcuterie platters featuring gujjiyas and thandai laddoos. Priya Mohanta who owns a gifting company has launched boozy popsicles that come in ice box hampers.
(Compiled by Ruman Ganguly, Ujjainee Roy and Sundas Jawed)
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- - Geek+ deploys a hundred goods-to-person robots to Dr.Max’s e-commerce distribution warehouse in Romania
DÜSSELDORF, November 3, 2022 – Geek+, the global leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), has brought smart automation to Dr.Max’s e-commerce warehouse in Bucharest, which handles more than 25 000 SKUs monthly. The goods-to-person robots have vastly increased Dr.Max’s efficiency and storage capacity, while delivering order fulfillment accuracy of over 99%.
Dr.Max’s e-commerce platform is among the top 10 websites in Romania, measured by number of unique visitors, and offers a wide variety of OTC products, cosmetics, medical devices, food supplements, dermato-cosmetics, mother & baby products, diet and nutritional products, and natural remedies. With the help of nearly one hundred Geek+ autonomous mobile robots that can process orders 24/7, Dr.Max increases the order processing capacity and thus efficiently responds to the needs of online patients, especially in peak e-commerce order seasons. The flexibility to add more robots to keep up with Dr.Max’s growing e-commerce business was a key factor in the decision to automate with Geek+’s solutions.
The Geek+ Picking System uses AMRs to bring the products ordered from storage locations to picking stations, where operators package the goods and send them to Dr.Max’s patients. The algorithms and software place as many orders in each batch moved from storage as possible, keeping special orders to a minimum, and also takes into account the expiration date of goods, a key step in reducing waste.
Brian Lee, Managing Director of Europe at Geek+, said: ”Dr.Max is a key player in the pharmaceutical industry across central and eastern Europe, and we are very pleased to support them. The past couple years have driven home how important access to medical supplies is, and we are very proud that Geek+ technology is able to make such a direct impact on people’s quality of life.”
Sorin David, Supply Chain Director at A&D Pharma - Dr.Max Group, said: “As part of our group’s development strategy, we continue to make long term investments in the logistics infrastructure in order to respond efficiently to the needs of our patients. The technology provided by our partner Geek+ allows us to have a more accurate overview of our work processes. We are glad to have Geek+ as our trustworthy partner.”
Dr.Max is expecting rapid growth to continue over the coming years, and Geek+ will continue to support their progress with further applications of advanced AMR technology. Geek+’s robots are just beginning to assist in the provision of critical medicines and supplies to people around the world.
Geek+ is a global technology company leading the intelligent logistics revolution. We apply advanced robotics and AI technologies to realize flexible, reliable, and highly efficient solutions for warehouses and supply chain management. Geek+ is trusted by over 500 global industry leaders and has been recognized as the world leader in autonomous mobile robots. Founded in 2015, Geek+ has over 1500 employees, with offices in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore.
For more information, please visit: https://www.geekplus.com/
About A&D Pharma Group, part of the Dr.Max family
With over 25 years of experience on the local market, A&D Pharma is one of the largest pharmaceutical groups in Romania, offering pharmaceutical retail and drug distribution services, with a turnover of over 1 billion euros in 2021 and over 5000 employees.
A&D Pharma has two business lines, both of strategic importance: The drug distribution line and the pharmaceutical retail line.
For more information about the Dr.Max brand, visit the website https://www.drmax.ro/
For inquiries, please contact:
Director of marketing and communications
Tel: +33 69 501 0346
Lee Turner Kodak
PR and communications manager
Tel: +49 0172 512 2909


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Pret A Manger to shut 30 shops and cut 1,000 jobs
Sandwich chain Pret A Manger is to close 30 outlets and is expected to cut at least 1,000 jobs at other shops as part of a post-pandemic restructuring.
The company said the impact of coronavirus on trading meant it had to make a "difficult decision".
Pret said it needed to reduce headcount across its UK shops to "reflect lower footfall, rental costs and new safety measures".
Kim Kardashian West sells $200m stake in cosmetics brand
Reality TV star and socialite Kim Kardashian West has sold a $200m ($160m) stake in her cosmetics business to the French beauty giant Coty.
The star said the deal would help her reach a bigger global audience but she would keep creative control.
Ms Kardashian West is one of the world's best-known personalities, with 300 million followers over her personal and brand social media cha...Continue reading
Wirecard: 'It’s really bad. I’m left with nothing'
Dawn Guilfoyle is one of thousands who have been barred from using their cash cards because of the failure of huge German payments firm Wirecard.
"It's really bad. I'm left with nothing," she says. "Once the gas goes off, I'll have none for cooking or hot water."
Ms Guilfoyle's card, from the online firm Pockit, has been frozen because the UK financial regulator, the Financial Condu...Continue reading
Gambling watchdog 'toothless' in helping vulnerable, MPs say
The UK's gambling regulator and the government department that manages it have an "unacceptably weak understanding" of the harms of gambling, according to a report.
Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the "toothless" Gambling Commission also did not have measurable targets for helping problem gamblers.
It called the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport "c...Continue reading
Lookers fraud probe reveals £19m hole in accounts
Car dealership Lookers has agreed to correct its accounts after auditors found it overstated profitability by a total of £19m over several years.
Auditors Grant Thornton have been investigating potential fraud at the Altrincham-based firm.
Their draft report found some "fraudulent expense claims" and "several areas" where financial controls "require strengthening".
Earlier th...Continue reading


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| March 2019 Movie Releases | Moviefone|
Check out March 2019 movies and get ratings, reviews, trailers and clips for new
and popular movies.
March 2019 - | Food & Wine
June 2019, May 2019, April 2019, March 2019, February 2019, January 2019,
December 2018, November 2018, October 2018, September 2018, August 2018
JW Meeting Workbook—March 2019 (MWB) | JW.ORG
Our Christian Life and Ministry meeting schedule and study material for midweek
meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses during March 2019.
March 2019 Current Events: US News | Infoplease
Here are the world news events you need to know so far for March 2019: ... On
March 2, President Trump gave a speech regarding the ongoing Mueller ...
March 2019 | Smithsonian
Prologue. Inside the Marble Palace · As Sandra Day O'Connor retires from public
life, we take you behind the scenes of her debut as the first female justice.
Apple Events - Keynote March 2019 - Apple
Mar 25, 2019 ... Announcing the new Apple tv+, Apple News+, Apple Arcade, and Apple Card.
March 2019 Archives | Los Angeles Magazine
Even Amid the Red Scare, 1950s L.A. Was a Wonderland Without Fences for
Young People · Erik Tarloff. Author and screenwriter Erik Tarloff recalls childhood
Retail sales March 2019 - CNBC.com
Apr 18, 2019 ... U.S. retail sales surged in March at the fastest pace since late 2017, as spending
on autos, gasoline, furniture, and clothing jumped.
March 2019 Update of XD: Editable Vectors in Illustrator, Font ...
Mar 12, 2019 ... The March 2019 release of Adobe XD introduces editable vectors in Illustrator,
new time-saving improvements to exporting, better font ...
March 2019 Spring Market Take a Peek - Past Boxes | TokyoTreat ...
Take a peek at the Japanese candy inside our March Japanese snack box!


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UPDATE (February 6, 2023): Twitter to offer free API to bots ‘providing good content’, Musk says
Elon Musk’s social networking platform Twitter announced that the company will no longer offer free access to its API starting February 9th.
Third party developers who offer services powered by the API will now be required to subscribe to Twitter’s upcoming basic tier, the Twitter Developer account said on Thursday.
While the company hasn’t disclosed how much the upcoming plan will cost, in response to a user who tweeted about the change, Musk said that it would cost around $100 per month and require an ID verification, bringing a solution to ‘’bot scammers & opinion manipulators’’ who abuse the free API.
The announcement comes weeks after Twitter officially banned all third party apps including Tweetbot, Twitterrific, Echofon, Twitpane, Feather, Talon and Fenix, without providing a clear reason. Following the ban, Tweetbot’s developer launched a Mastodon client named Ivory.
After acquiring Twitter for $44 billion in late October, Musk announced a series of significant changes to its business in an effort to boost its revenue, which is mainly hit by advertisers leaving the platform. He laid off nearly half of the company’s workforce, launched the controversial Twitter Blue subscription plan on iOS and Android for profile verification, and recently said that they’re exploring a higher-priced tier with zero ads.
The company’s also offering various ad incentives to lure back those that pulled their ads from the platform, and extended its partnerships with ad-tech companies DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science to provide them with in-feed brand safety and suitability measurement.
Earlier this week, sources familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that Elon Musk also wants to turn Twitter into a payments platform.


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Join ePHOTOzine, the friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more for free!
ePHOTOzine brings you a daily round up of all the latest photography news including camera news, exhibitions, events, special offers, industry news, digital photography news, announcements and launches.
A new photo frame with enhanced image quality will be available this month from JOBO.
New stylish digital frame features internal memory capable of storing up to 8,000 images.
With an upsurge of interest in Digital Photo Frames (DPF), Futuresource Consulting has carried out a consumer survey across Europe to better understand consumers’ decision-making criteria, preferences and usage relating to DPFs.
Transcend have introduced their first digital photo frame.
New 7 inch photo frame from Hanspree will be available in November.
Elegant new 15-inch digital frame with 1GB of internal memory showcases images on a real glass display with a unique mirrored finish.
Jobo have announced a free firmware update for their PDJ701 Digital Photo Frame.
Parrot frees photos from mobiles and gives them a new life with Bluetooth
Hannspree launches the new SD8073 8in Digital Photo Frame.
Display your favourite pictures on your fridge with the new Digital Photo Frame Fridge Magnet from Falcon.
HTC has announced a new smartphone with a camera designed for optimum image quality with an UltraPixel sensor.
Nikon today introduces Nikon 1, a revolutionary digital camera system built from scratch to offer still image and movie recording without compromise.
Following Jessops' plans to axe 81 of its shops as announced last Thursday, the photographic retail giant have unveiled exactly which stores it plans to close down.
Sony introduce a series of small cameras which they say will give a 'big performance'.
A clever photo of a family inside small boxes has helped a Nottingham photographer pick up his first national award.
Lee Filters holder for Nikon's 14-24mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens
Corel add 75 new features to the latest version of their PaintShop Pro software.
Red Digital Cinema turn their attentions to the photography market.
Lexar has introduced various new storage devices to the market.
Toda Seiko Diagonal Fisheye Lens for Fujifilm X-Mount and Sony E-Mount.
The last few places are going fast for the OM-D events in Hackney. Book your place now!
CWE Solutions brings new HP Designjet Printers to Focus on Imaging.
Pentax launches its Facebook application.
Olympus has announced a new range of PRO Micro Four Thirds lenses, along with plans to develop a number of new lenses.
PhotoVoice are pleased to announce that tickets for the John Swannell lecture and book signing are now on sale.
LEE Filters is giving one ePz member the chance to win a top filter package in the 2013 prize draw.
The Bureau of Freelance Photographers has launched a new website.
RZ33 brings legendary Mamiya RZ system into the large-sensor digital arena.
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1st December 2013 - 31st December 2013This December you can win one of three fantastic Intuos Pro tablets courtesy of Wacom!
Designed for creativity, these innovative pen tablets combine Wacom&rs...
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An investigation has been launched after the personal and financial details of more than 50 people were mistakenly sent to a training company.
The package was addressed to Revenue and Customs
The sensitive files should have been delivered to the HM Revenue & Customs office in Cumbernauld.
However, they arrived at the headquarters of Insights Learning and Development Ltd in Dundee.
The papers contained ages, addresses, National Insurance numbers and banking details.
A spokeswoman for HM Revenue & Customs confirmed enquiries were under way to establish how the mix-up occurred.
She said: "We are taking this matter very seriously and are carrying out a full investigation."
The organisation said it was too early to say where the package had come from.
Michael Simpson, a production assistant with Insights, said the package was addressed to the HM Revenue & Customs base at Cumbernauld.
He said: "When we received the package it was quite badly damaged, which in itself was not right.
"We had a look to see what it was and discovered all these details.
He added: "When we spoke to the Inland Revenue and the courier company they very casually asked of we could re-address the package and they would pick it up for re-delivery.
"We felt it was in the public interest to make people aware of this because it is the public's personal privacy that has been invaded."
A spokesman for courier company TNT said the package had been picked up for re-delivery to Cumbernauld.
The mix-up comes just days after the Scottish Government confirmed a package containing the personal pension details of 200 people had gone missing in the post.
It was tracked down at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow at the weekend, four weeks after the documents were last seen.
Concerns over government handling of sensitive information were first sparked last week with the loss of child benefits discs, which contained the personal details of all families in the UK with a child under 16.
The Scottish Government is expected to review its handling of personal data.


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French food catering giant Newrest Group Services SAS has entered into Cambodia’s fast growing food and beverage industry in response to rising demand amid the Kingdom’s burgeoning middle class.
Speaking at the launch ceremony on January 20, Newrest (Cambodia) Co Ltd general manager Bruno Thierry said the group – founded 15 years ago – has 29,000 staff in 58 countries and territories and is recognised as a global leader in multi-sector catering.
In a demonstration of its commitment to strong corporate social responsibility, Thierry said Newrest will reduce and recycle waste, cut down on the use of plastics, halt certain food products in menu items such as battery chickens – those raised on industrial farms – and fish sourced from unsustainable fishing practices.
It will also slash greenhouse gas emissions, introduce electric vehicles and systematise LED lamps, he said, stressing that the firm aims to carry out all of these measures worldwide within the next five years.
“In Cambodia, this policy is applied, for example by establishing a strong partnership with Newrest’s suppliers and customers in order to offer the most suitable solution favouring a short product’s supply chain, control and reduction of food waste.
“As you can see, Newrest has a long and rich history, and I have no doubt that its future in Cambodia will contribute to it,” Thierry said.
French ambassador to Cambodia Eva Nguyen Binh lauded the move, saying that the company – one of the leaders of its sector – will reinforce France’s presence in Cambodia as well as the French business community in the Kingdom, where its experience and support will be valuable.
She said: “The establishment of Newrest in Cambodia – a diversified catering group with impressive growth – will not only further generate business and create more jobs, but will also allow for the exploration of new development opportunities in Cambodia.”
Presiding over the January 20 launch, Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak welcomed the Newrest’s presence in Cambodia, saying the government supports strong ties with all countries, and with France in particular.
He said: “The arrival of Newrest, an international company, coincides with a new phase of acceleration in Cambodia’s development and hence illustrates the strength of its economy.
“Newrest has decided to establish itself here despite the backdrop of the global crisis, believing in its chances in a country that has self-equipped itself with the means to deal with it [the pandemic].”
And addressing the company, Sorasak added: “we welcome you with open arms and a wholehearted smile here in Cambodia, which is open to investment and tourism through a policy of non-discrimination, a policy of tax breaks to encourage investment, an open-sky policy and other policies favourable to businesses and investments that have been adopted by the Royal Government of Cambodia.”


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NEW YORK (
CHANGE IN RATINGS
was downgraded at Deutsche Bank to hold from buy. Valuation call, based on a $57 price target, Deutsche said.
was downgraded at Citigroup to neutral from buy. Valuation call, based on a $97 price target, Citi said.
was downgraded to sell at TheStreet Ratings.
was upgraded at Drexel Hamilton to buy from hold. $38 price target. Broadband and multimedia businesses should drive growth, Drexel Hamilton said.
was downgraded at Goldman Sachs to neutral from buy. Valuation call, based on a $49 price target, Goldman said.
was cut from the U.S. Focus List at Credit Suisse. Valuation call, based on a $118 price target, Credit Suisse said.
was upgraded at Pivotal Research to hold from sell. $82 price target. Stock has pulled back to a more realistic valuation, Pivotal said.
Read: HSBC Falls on Good News
was upgraded at Argus to buy from hold. $47 price target. Company will likely sell some commodity businesses and is leveraged to improving economic activity, Argus said.
was upgraded at Citigroup to buy from neutral. $80 price target. Regulatory overhangs have been lifted, Citi said.
was downgraded at Wells Fargo to underperform from market perform. Commodity and consumer headwinds will challenge near-term growth, Wells said.
was downgraded at Robert Baird to neutral from outperform. Industry appears to be in the later innings of the current cycle, Baird said.
Read: Buying Yahoo! for 50%
was downgraded at Jefferies to hold from buy. Valuation call, based on a $61 price target, Jefferies said.
was added to the Best Ideas List at Wedbush. Company has several potential near-term catalysts, said Wedbush. $78 price target
was initiated with an overweight rating at J.P. Morgan. $75 price target. Company has cyclical growth potential and can improve its operations, J.P. Morgan said.
was downgraded at Piper Jaffray to neutral from overweight. $67 price target. High-end smartphone demand is falling, Piper Jaffray said.
was upgraded at Oppenheimer to outperform from perform. $20 price target. Stock offers an attractive risk/reward at current levels, Oppenheimer said.
was upgraded at Goldman Sachs to buy from sell. $69 price target. Company is using its solid balance sheet to buy back stock, Goldman Sachs said.
was upgraded to buy at TheStreet Ratings.
was added to the U.S. Focus List at Credit Suisse. Company should see a higher sales ramp in cloud services, Credit Suisse said. $46 price target.
Read: You Could Be Denied the Obamacare Tax Credit
was downgraded at Morgan Stanley to underweight from equal-weight. Consensus estimates are likely too high and see better value in
was downgraded at Needham to hold from buy. Valuation call, as the stock is up more than 20% over the past six weeks and trades at a premium to its peers, Needham said.
was downgraded underperform from neutral at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. Valuation call, based on a $33 price target, BofA/Merrill said.
was upgraded at Williams to buy from hold. $64 price target. Company deserves a higher valuation multiple, Williams said.
Stock Comments / EPS Changes
estimates, price target were reduced at Jefferies. Shares are now seen reaching $42. Estimates were also cut, as field work shows no improvement expected for the second half of the year, Jefferies said. Buy rating.
estimates, price target were increased at JMP Securities. Estimates were increased through 2014. Channel checks show a rebound in demand, JMP said. Outperform rating and new $22 price target.
numbers were raised at Citigroup. Shares are now seen reaching $24. Estimates were also increased, given improving earnings momentum, Citi said. Buy rating.
estimates, price target were cut at Piper Jaffray. Estimates were reduced through 2014. Company is losing market share, Piper Jaffray said. Overweight rating and new $34 price target.
estimates were reduced at UBS. Estimates were cut through 2014. Company is seeing slower growth across the board, UBS said. Neutral rating and new $125 price target.
numbers were raised at Keybanc. Shares are now seen reaching $34. Estimates were also increased, as the company has a lot of earnings momentum, Keybanc said. Buy rating.
estimates, price target were raised at Credit Suisse. Shares are now seen reaching $137. Estimates were also increased, as the company is realizing higher margins, Credit Suisse said.
estimates, price target were cut at UBS. Estimates were reduced through 2014. Company is spending more on its Kemper project, UBS said. Neutral rating and new $46 price target.
estimates, price target were boosted at Credit Suisse. Shares are now seen reaching $71. Estimates were also upped, as the company has several potential near-term catalysts, Credit Suisse said.
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This article was written by a staff member of TheStreet.


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The majority of hotel booking sites have said that they will cooperate with the investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into the accuracy and transparency of hotel booking sites.
Sites including Trivago, Booking.com and Expedia are set to be scrutinised by the CMA over concerns they may be misleading consumers and potentially breaking consumer law. The CMA said it will look at online travel agent (OTA) practices, including search results, ‘pressure selling', discount claims and hidden charges.
In a statement, Trivago said that it would "work with the CMA to explain the benefits it delivers to consumers".
Expedia similarly said it "has been informed of the CMA's review to better understand the hotel booking sector" and welcomed "further discussion with the CMA to review how platforms provide transparency to the market increasing competition between hotels and to increase consumer benefit".
Booking.com declined to comment.
The British Hospitality Association (BHA) welcomed the move. Ufi Ibrahim, chief executive of the BHA, said: "Many of our members have been concerned about the vast power of online booking agencies often charging high rates of commission, use of misleading information, pressure selling, and a lack of transparency.
"In the process guests are paying more than they should for rooms. Contract terms also often include ‘narrow parity' clauses, which restrict a hotel's ability to offer a lower price on the hotel website than that offered to the online travel agent with which it has an agreement.
"The online booking industry is dominated by only two companies who own 80% of the European market. Expedia owns brands including hotels.com, Trivago and Travelocity while Priceline Group owns companies such as Booking.com, Kayak and Agoda. Another company HRS owns a further 12%. This means that this is difficult for others to break into the market.
"The BHA, in submissions to the CMA, has advocated for greater transparency from OTAs, citing increases in prices for consumers and misleading information by websites. Our objective is to not to hinder the growth of the online marketplace but to deliver a fair digital market."
Videos from The Caterer archives


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Stockholm Feb 26, 2015
2014 was a great year for Medius. We have sharpened our focus to become the world’s leading supplier of cloud-based AP invoice automation solutions. Over 30% top-line growth with a significant portion of that generated by our cloud service puts us well in line with the ambitious targets set up for 2014.
“Medius is today a leading cloud solution provider. We are determined to become the number one in cloud-based AP invoice automation and we are well under way. Additionally, in early 2015 we also sold our ERP consulting business, Medius Dynamics AB, to be able to fully focus on being the true AP invoice automations experts”, says Mikael Lindblom, CEO at Medius.
The customer base for AP invoice automation grew by a significant 19 %, based on total number of customer contracts. The biggest growth was on the US market and within the Ascendo business unit, Medius’ solution for the SME market in Sweden.
“The structural measures we put in place in early 2014 are paying off. The 67 mSEK top-line growth gives us a solid bottom-line. Our cloud business model is now tangible. In 2015, we will improve the reporting of how our subscription business is building recurring revenue streams over time. This will also reflect the true value of our large customer base”, says Anders Fohlin, CFO at Medius.
Our latest generation of MediusFlow, our cloud based solution for AP invoice automation first launched in 2013, has been very well received by the market. Sales have exceeded expected volumes. We have established a new Cloud Operation Team and a Global Service Center to make sure our customers get world class support, benefit from the latest technology and get the highest level of security possible. In addition we have invested a lot in an updated version of Ascendo Invoice, where one of the highlights, when launched mid-2015, will be a completely new user interface.
“It is great to see how well customers have received the latest version of MediusFlow, both on mature markets like Scandinavia and other markets like the US. I am also pleased to see how well the solution fits both mid-sized customers starting from 10’s of thousand invoices and scales all the way up to large organizations with millions of invoices”, says Pontus Björnsson, Executive VP at Medius.
As part of the transformation into a cloud company, Medius is changing its accounting principles for better alignment with the cloud business model. This will affect the results for 2014 and 2013. Financial bridges between our old and new accounting policies will be disclosed in Medius’ Annual Report for 2014. Financial quotations above reflect results before change of accounting policy.
- Mikael Lindblom, CEO, Medius Group, +46 (0)733 50 74 59, firstname.lastname@example.org
- Fredrik André, Global Marketing Director, Medius Group, +46 (0)709 23 93 81, email@example.com
Medius is a leading provider of AP invoice automation solutions in the cloud. The solutions MediusFlow and Ascendo automates and simplifies the entire P2P process. The company has 1,300 customers worldwide, with high density in Retail, Manufacturing and Services. Founded in 2001, Medius now has 200 employees working out of offices in Sweden (HQ), Norway, Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands, United States, Malaysia and Australia.


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This week is arguably one of the most anticipated weeks in Android history to date. TONS of people have been waiting for the HTC Thunderbolt to officially release, and while many users were anxiously awaiting that, there was a whole ton of other news. From Apple going crazy with their new ads, to a wide variety of issues with the Thunderbolt, there is a possibility you may have missed something. Let's take a look at some of what you may have missed.
General News -
- Angry Birds Rio will launch exclusively on Amazon's Android app store
- Android app 'Caribou' cracks IP-based Cardkey security locks
- Verizon LTE data pricing docs leaked
- Xobni for Android coming soon - Sign up today for Alpha testing
Hardware News -
- Kyocera Echo dual-screen Android phone available on Sprint on April 17
- T-Mobile officially announces the Sidekick 4G
- LTE Targa, Droid 3 and Droid X 2 all caught on camera?
- Motorola Atrix 4G review
- HTC Thunderbolt Hands-On and Speed Test; Updated with video
Tablet News -
- Samsung Galaxy Tab WiFi-only version could be coming on April 4 for $399
- HTC 10-inch Android Honeycomb tablet tipped in 'major U.S. retailer' lineup
- Motorola Xoom review
- The tablet competition... Read the Apple iPad 2 Review by TiPb!
- Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi arriving at retailers starting March 27
- Cincinnati Bell enters tablet world with Commtiva N700
- HTC Flyer now available for pre-order in UK, releasing in April
- Sprint branded Motorola Xoom finds its way onto the internet


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FORD has given a glimpse of our motoring life in Australia once local vehicle manufacturing finishes by the end of 2017. And it’s not pretty. Or, at least, not as rosy as it has been.
Take the Ford Territory SUV, a car that arrived in 2004 with one goal – to be suited to Australians. At the time Ford made a massive deal of the Territory being designed and engineered solely for Australians, with an interior that was “endlessly adaptable to cater to the Australian lifestyle”.
In short, it was the SUV Australians didn’t know they needed but quickly decided they loved. The Territory immediately became the top-selling SUV in the country, outperforming the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Prado along the way.
It was a hit, largely because it nailed so many things Australians liked. It was easy to drive and park, yet provided the high seating position of an SUV. It was good at towing, yet not bulky like a Toyota Landcruiser.
As for the replacement, well, there won’t really be one. Those wanting a seven-seat SUV with a Ford badge will have to go for the Everest, a fine SUV but one with enormous on-road compromises to ensure it can go a long way off-road. Those wanting a car-like SUV from Ford can have the Edge, in turn getting two fewer seats than the Territory and a tow capacity at least half a tonne lower.
That’s because the Ford Edge and Everest were designed for global markets, which leads to compromises in an effort to keep everyone happy.
The news isn’t much better glancing at the Holden range.
The imported Commodore will be a global car, based on the Opel Insignia. It first has to be good for Europe, its prime market, then adapted to Australia.
Previously, the Commodore was built primarily for Australia, so Australian designers and engineers got to set the ground rules.
That imported Commodore won’t get a V8 engine, for example, something all Commodores to date have had. It also won’t get a sedan body style, instead reverting to a hatchback.
It’ll be a Commodore, but not as we’ve known them.
Many might point to pricing as the one area we’ll be better off once all cars are imported. After all, cars are cheaper overseas, right?
Sure, when our dollar was surging beyond US$1 the price of cars was more affordable in some countries. But now our currency is not as strong our $20,000 small cars suddenly look very appealing. Put that one down to competition, with the likes of Hyundai desperate to grow market share – and pricing cars accordingly.
As for the top selling mid-sized car, Toyota’s Camry, there’s no chance Toyota will be selling them for as low as $26,000, as has been the case over the past year or so. Once they’re imported from overseas – whether it’s Thailand, Japan, America, Vietnam or China, just some of the factories that also produce the Camry – and sent out here by ship they’ll likely cost thousands more. The reason Camrys are so cheap now is because Toyota needs some volume in the factory, and it’s cheaper to cut the price of a Camry than reduce output through the factory. The consumer wins.
Of course, the one advantage an open market has brought Australian car buyers is choice. We have some 60 brands to choose from offering hundreds of models. That alone ensures competition and competitive pricing.
But that choice also means in some cases we’ll have cars that may not be as well suited to Australia and Australian tastes.


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Facebook’s 2 billion daily users will soon be able to more easily browse the postings from their friends in chronological order thanks to a new upgrade.
California’s MENLO PARK (AP) — Facebook’s 2 billion daily users will soon be able to more easily browse the postings from their friends in chronological order thanks to a new upgrade.
The company’s newest effort to keep users returning to its social network amid rising rivalry with its trendier rival TikTok is a new function.
The Thursday announcement of reforms will present two distinct viewpoints. When users first open the Facebook app, they will see the standard news feed with postings chosen by an algorithm, according to the company, to emphasize subjects and friends most likely to appeal to each person’s tastes and interests. Reels, Facebook’s version of TikTok, will be available to view on the main feed of the newly renamed “Home” area.
However, many users have complained about the feeds that Facebook forces on them, and the Menlo Park, California-based company’s detractors have criticized the algorithm for amplifying false content and fostering divisive echo chambers.
With a new Feed tab on the shortcut bar in both the iPhone and Android versions of its mobile app, Facebook, owned by Meta Platforms, is making an effort to allay such worries.
Users can choose a chronological presentation of their Facebook favorites, Facebook groups they have joined, or feeds that just include postings from all of their Facebook friends in the order they were shared after clicking on the Feed tab.
The new feature is intended to respond to user complaints that they have been missing out on intriguing posts because Facebook’s algorithm has been excluding them from their feeds.
Making sure users don’t miss their friends’ postings on Facebook is one of the most often requested improvements, according to the Facebook creator and CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg.
Facebook is offering users greater control at a time when it has struggled to expand, in part due to the popularity of TikTok and other social media platforms, particularly among younger generations. Because of this stagnation, corporate parent Meta is having a harder time increasing its revenue from the digital adverts that display on users’ feeds.
#facebookfriends #facebooknews #newfacebook
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Saturn to drop 'Green Line' label
The extended names, for example Saturn Vue Green Line, ended up confusing customers so for the 2009 model year GM has decided to drop the label and its associated badge. Speaking with KickingTires, Saturn spokesman Mike Morrissey said the names were getting too long as more models were introduced and it was difficult to write short sentences mentioning the vehicles in advertisements.
However, there are no plans to drop the Red Line badge just yet but it could go as well if more performance models are added to Saturn’s lineup.
Saturn will launch a new two-mode Saturn Vue hybrid early next year, which will be simply called the Vue Hybrid and will be one of the first models to drop the Green Line tag.


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The Northwest Seaport Alliance of Seattle and Tacoma in early November will launch two mobile applications designed to help truckers and beneficial cargo owners expedite the flow of containers through and within marine terminals and along local freight corridors.
Port congestion is a growing global problem as ocean carriers introduce ever-larger vessels and these mega-ships generate huge cargo surges that impact marine terminals and the roadways that feed the ports. The DrayQ and DrayLink mobile apps provide real-time visibility to conditions at marine terminals and provide data that can help truck dispatchers and drivers better plan their port calls.
DrayQ was introduced earlier this year at the Port of Oakland and is one of the products that technology firms specializing in harbor-related transportation are developing to improve port productivity. Also this year, InfoMagnus introduced its GeoStamp product that is now in use by truckers, terminal operators and BCOs in Los Angeles-Long Beach. Truckers, terminal operators and BCOs are deploying these technologies along with process improvements at major gateways.
DrayQ gives truckers real-time information about wait times in and around marine terminals. The mobile app uses Bluetooth technology to provide estimates of wait times at ports and terminals and provides trend information and traffic camera views as well. Drivers can use the app to determine the optimum time to enter a terminal is order to reduce the time spent in traffic. Dispatchers and BCOs can use DrayQ to optimize schedules.
“DrayQ give me the information I need in real time so I can better plan my dray moves,” said drayage truck driver Ramon Anderson. “In this business, time is money, and it pays to know your wait,” he said.
The user’s mobile app device lists the terminals in Seattle-Tacoma and real-time waits at each facility, including trends throughout the day, said Tim Ebner, he Northwest Seaport Alliance’s liaison to the DrayQ project.
DrayLink connects the drayage community by offering a single common operating tool for drivers, dispatchers, terminal operators and BCOs. Like DrayQ, it also provides real-time information on street and terminal wait times, but offers greater functionality using Google Analytics, GPS data and geofencing. DrayLink enables users to track and record cargo moves and generate tailored reports and wait-time predictions and trends. Wait times are determined when the driver’s smartphone reporting GPS data passes through pre-defined fences set in the streets leading to the terminal entry and within the terminal.
Also, DrayLink provides BCOs with a tool to automate tracking, tracing and reporting notifications that improves overall in-transit visibility, said Ron Stuart, the alliance’s project manager.
DrayLink also allows motor carriers to share real-time data feeds to benefit the overall port community, said Taso Zografos, account program manager of Leidos, developer of the apps. “The key to realizing improvements and benefits is through open collaboration and shared data usage,” he said. DrayLink will be available for download from the app stores for drayage drivers at ports, intermodal yards and border crossings across the US, he said.


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Starbucks is introducing a wicked new Halloween concoction.
Participating stores will offer the newest Halloween Frappuccino starting Oct. 25, aptly named "Witch's Brew."
The ingredients in the cauldron? Toad's breath and orange creme Frappuccino with a swirl of bat warts, or chia seeds, topped with vanilla whipped cream and green lizard scale powder.
“We wanted to create a flavor that you might enjoy at a Halloween party,” said Jennica Robinson from Starbucks beverage development team in a news release. “It gets a little bit of juicy-ness from the orange flavor.”
The Witch's Brew follows a series of themed Halloween Frappuccinos at Starbucks, including the Zombie Frappuccino in 2017 and the Frappula Frappuccino in 2015 and 2016.


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April 26th , 2012 in Warsaw, Poland Economic Forum was held, in which participation took the Premier of China, Mr Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Mr Donald Tusk.
In three thematic panels presented China's investment strategy for Central Europe with a new model of foreign investment Go Global. The main differences in business models of China and Central Europe were discussed. Another issues widely discussed were the cultural differences and effective business strategies in the Chinese market. Much attention attracted a presentation on the use of market niches and prospective trends and areas of cooperation with China.
Reffering to the agreement signed by China and the Kyoto and obligations imposed by the European Commission on the EU countries, together thought was given on the possibilities of cooperation in the field of green technologies and investments in renewable energy sources (RES). In the lobby Economic Forum entrepreneurs gathered in the Polish-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry met their existing Chinese partners and made. new contacts.


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We all love open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables, but sometimes the allure of those varieties is tempered by the real-life disadvantages that sometimes crop up—pun intended. But what if we could have all the advantages of open-pollinated vegetables along with other positive attributes, such as disease resistance, improved quality and increased productivity? Thanks to the efforts of dedicated plant researchers and breeders, new open-pollinated varieties are here to stay, and they’re ready to become the heirloom varieties of tomorrow.
“It’s definitely a good time to be in vegetable breeding,” says Jim Myers, professor of vegetable breeding and genetics at Oregon State University. “Generally, there has been a decline in funding for public plant breeding, but some of the newer federal funding sources—USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, for example—are funding our work so that we can continue developing new open-pollinated vegetable varieties.”
The popular Boothby’s Blonde heirloom cucumber variety is well-loved for its flavor, stunning white coloring and impressive productivity. But Boothby’s Blonde, like many other cucumber varieties, has an Achilles’ heel: a propensity to develop powdery mildew. Over the past decade, researchers at Cornell University have worked to develop new and improved varieties of open-pollinated cucumbers that are bred for resistance to powdery mildew.
According to Michael Mazourek, assistant professor of plant breeding at Cornell, the seed of the idea to explore new cucumber varieties came out of a meeting between growers and researchers. “The growers were identifying heirlooms that they liked but [that] were susceptible to diseases that make them challenging to grow,” he says.
And that’s where Boothby’s Blonde came in: They decided to cross it with the Marketmore slicing cucumber—a variety noted for its resistance to powdery mildew.
“The process starts with identifying the parents of the new crop with complementary characteristics,” Mazourek says.
From this project of crossing Boothby’s Blonde with Marketmore, the team at Cornell has achieved several new open-pollinated cucumber varieties that exhibit mildew resistance.
Michael Glos, a farmer and breeder, chose the cucumber that ended up being Silver Slicer (a Marketmore-type cucumber with white skin). Jason Cavatorta, a graduate student, chose Salt and Pepper, which has the size and black spines of Boothby’s. George Moriarty, another researcher, chose Platinum, which was an intermediate size with additional virus resistance. Mazourek and student Bill Holdsworth have also developed a downy mildew-resistant cucumber called DMR-264, now available from Commonwealth Seeds.
Mazourek and the team at Cornell have also developed the downy mildew-resistant Trifecta melon and the powdery mildew-resistant Honeynut squash—further expanding the availability of plants with mildew resistance for farmers and gardeners.
Blue & Purple Tomatoes
Meanwhile, in the tomato world, things are getting more exciting all the time. We’re not just seeing stereotypical red tomatoes, either; the new varieties boast a wide range of colors and patterns. Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms in California’s Napa Valley is focusing on bicolor and striped varieties, while researchers at Oregon State University released the stunning indigo-colored Indigo Rose tomato in 2012.
“Indigo Rose came out of experiments to increase phytonutrients in tomato,” Myers says. “[In the year 2000] we were working with carotenoids (the red, orange and yellow pigments in tomato) and noticed that in a germplasm repository, there were some tomato lines with a little bit of a purple blush on the fruit.”
According to Myers, this was the first time anyone had characterized these tomato lines for this purple pigment, and they were able to verify that these were anthocyanins—antioxidants associated with blue and purple coloring, such as those found in blueberries.
“The amount expressed on the fruit was disappointingly low, and there were several of these lines in the collection, so we started intercrossing them and found that one particular combination dramatically increased the amount of anthocyanins visible on the fruit,” Myers says. “It was out of these crosses that Indigo Rose was developed.”
But Indigo Rose is just the beginning. “We do have newer varieties coming along that improve on Indigo Rose,” Myers says. “Two such are Indigo Cherry Drops and Indigo Pear Drops, which are earlier and have better flavor.”
According to Myers, Oregon State University is also working on several new open-pollinated
varieties, including “an open-pollinated broccoli variety, a snap and a snow pea, and a mild habanero pepper (not to mention more Indigo tomato varieties).” My garden awaits!
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2015 issue of Hobby Farms.


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Ireland's medicines shortage is now “worse than ever before,” according to a leading pharmacist and podcaster.
The latest Medicine Shortages Index released today shows there are now 332 medicines in short supply in Ireland.
The index, compiled by Azure Pharmaceuticals, shows that the number of medicines facing shortages is up 90% on the 178 reported this time last year.
On Breakfast Briefing this morning, Cork pharmacist Sheena Mitchell outlined the medicines that have been most affected.
“Shortages are widespread across many of the antibiotics,” she said.
“It’s also widespread for eyedrops and we’re seeing big issues with trying to get any steroid cream medication, or generally with painkillers.
“There’s been intermittent issues with various IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) medications which is particularly stressful for patients – it’s time sensitive.”
Ms Mitchell said acquiring ADHD medication was also another major issue.
“We are experiencing an awful lot of shortages there with one particular brand but that has now had an overflow effect into other available brands.
“Prescribers are having to change to the second or third option and that has put undue pressure on those brands. We’re seeing this across the board really.”
Pharmacists have done their best to protect patients from shortages up until now, according to Ms Mitchell.
“They [pharmacists] were able to hide it a little bit by either absorbing some of the costs of alternative medicines or by substituting different strength medicines,” she said.
“But now it has become very difficult to do that even and it’s created a very difficult situation for pharmacists and patients alike.”
Ms Mitchell said the problem is exacerbated by the control one company has over the Irish medicine market.
“We have one supplier for medicines which are under patent and generic companies can't manufacture them,” she said.
“One solution would be a reduction in patent time for medicines – it would ease some of the shortages.
“This would mean a company that does have the patent would have it for less years exclusively so that other companies could manufacture it too.”
The CEO of Azure Pharmaceuticals Sandra Gannon, has called on Ireland to follow suit with other European countries to protect the supply of medicine.
“Other European countries like Germany, the UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, and others have implemented a spectrum of domestic policy measures to safeguard their national interests,” she said.
“These countries have demonstrated foresight in addressing the potential vulnerabilities in their healthcare systems.”
Ms Gannon claimed there has been a lack of Government response in Ireland, “despite the gravity of the situation”.
She called on policymakers to take action to ensure Ireland does not run out of vital medicines before it is too late.


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Apple’s Vision Pro headset has sparked a resurgence of interest in virtual reality headsets.
Some of the most powerful consumer electronics companies have released headsets, including Nintendo, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Sony. None have been a hit.
Apple Vision Pro.
’s new Vision Pro headset has sparked a resurgence of interest in head-worn computers that immerse users in a virtual world.
Engineers have been dreaming about virtual reality since 1968 when a professor at the University of Utah built the first 3D VR headset, and since then, some of the most powerful consumer electronics companies have released headsets, including Nintendo, Microsoft, Meta, Google and Sony. None have been a hit.
Now, Apple’s at the table and virtual reality experts and developers say it has a chance to succeed where others haven’t.
“When people ask me what’s really special about this announcement, in one word, it’s Apple. The largest tech company in the world and also the most responsible,” said Ori Inbar, co-founder of Super Ventures and CEO of Augmented World Expo, an industry conference. “They always put everything behind every product they put out there. And that’s exactly the message they’re sending to the XR industry, but also to everyone else out there.”
Apple’s reputation and record afford it the benefit of the doubt when it comes to genuinely new technologies, and many consumers already own and like Apple’s products.
Apple commercialized the success of multitouch displays with the iPhone, which transformed the smartphone industry by showing the world a new way to interact with phones. It may be able to replicate that in the VR industry with the Vision Pro’s gesture and voice-based user interface. Unlike other headsets, it doesn’t require a controller.
“Part of the Apple effect is they’ve built up this brand equity, they’ve done it time and time again, across multiple categories, whether it’s the watch, music player and of course, the smartphone,” said Tipatat Chennavasin, general partner at the Venture Reality Fund. “What I think is really interesting about it, too, is they clearly laid out their vision for the future — this is the next iPhone, the next big platform.”
The Vision Pro is significantly more powerful than nearly all competing products on the market. It’s equipped with two high-definition screens, a battery of cameras and sensors and custom processors that reduce latency and lag. Put simply: It can do more than any other headset.
The increased horsepower under Apple’s goggles has also enabled a relatively new concept, sometimes called “XR,” “mixed reality” or “passthrough,” or, as Apple dubs it, “spatial computing.”
The cameras on the outside of the Vision Pro can display the real world in near-real time inside the headset, which makes the technology less isolating, and addresses one long-time issue with virtual reality: Users can’t see what’s around them while they’re in virtual reality.
But Apple also has to change the public perception of virtual reality. The moment that everyday consumers wear headsets daily may still be years away.
The new Apple Vision Pro headset is displayed during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, California, June 5, 2023.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
Apple Vision Pro.
Apple Vision Pro.
Eye tracking often uses small sensors to see where the user’s gaze is resting. It works well, according to people who had controlled hands-on demos earlier this week. “Meta’s headset has a similar feature, but it doesn’t work nearly as well as it does on Apple Vision, if it works at all,” wrote CNBC’s Steve Kovach.
The controller-less, gesture-based interface has been a goal of the VR industry for years.
“I think it’s pretty well-known in the industry that eye-plus-pinch is magical. It’s even faster than the computer mouse. And it’s easier to learn,” said Hu.
Apple even brought up its record on new computer interfaces as one reason to believe in the potential of Vision Pro.
“So, in the same way that Mac introduced us to personal computing and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro will introduce us to spatial computing,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said at the launch.
The Apple ecosystem
Apple CEO Tim Cook stands next to the new Apple Vision Pro headset.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
The VR industry has waited years for Apple’s formal entry. Developers and experts believed Apple could set the standard once it launched its own headset. It invented the iPhone, and it could be inventing the next major mainstream computing product now.
“You have this element that Apple never comes into an industry until they really know this is going to be something special,” said Sean Mann, CEO of RP1, a technology firm working to enable immersive online experiences.
Apple is likely to have the strongest pipeline of apps that could take advantage of the unique aspects of a VR headset. It already has millions of software developers, and the Vision Pro will support iPhone and iPad apps at launch. No other headset has that.
“Apple has the unique ability to catalyze developer interest in new platforms,” Greengart said. “For the Apple Vision Pro, the App Store is going to be there on day one.”
Plus, Apple has a product ecosystem it can integrate with, from iPhones, Apple Watches and even the Mac. The headset can even function as a massive Mac monitor for getting work done.
Apple also has retail stores that are well-suited to be a first experience in virtual reality for people who are curious about the technology. Apple’s headset needs significant configuration, including head scans and custom lenses for people who wear glasses. But if any company was well-suited to provide those demos to give them the best chance to elicit a “wow,” it’s Apple.
“No one else in the industry has what Apple has. Apple has the phone, they have the watch, they have the desktop and now they have a headset, and they all work with each other,” Mann said. “Something that I capture on my cell phone now could easily be shown in my new Vision Pro, and that ecosystem doesn’t exist in any other VR manufacturer.”
Getting developers excited for an untapped market
The industry is still nascent. Data from Forrester, a research firm, found 79% of online adults don’t currently use a VR headset.
“It can be read as, ‘My gosh, most people aren’t going to use this device,’ or it can be read as, ’Hey, there’s an opportunity to now penetrate an untapped market with something that will help everyday users,” said Mike Proulx, a research director at Forrester.
It’s expected to be a low-volume product, however, selling hundreds of thousands of units over the year, according to TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, versus the tens of millions of iPhones Apple sells in a quarter.
But many people in the VR industry think that’s fine for this kind of product, which isn’t meant for the mainstream yet due to its price, its clunky battery pack and its novelty.
Instead, it’s possible to see the Vision Pro as a sort of developer’s kit. Sure, some Apple fans and enthusiasts will buy it, and everyone wants to try it, but what it’s really doing is kicking off a gold rush for software developers to make must-have apps for the platform.
Eventually, similar to other computers, prices for Apple’s Vision Pro could come down, updated models could become slimmer and lighter and it could become a must-have like a smartphone.
“I talked to a lot of developers who are already in the XR space, and all of them have said they’re interested in getting this headset and getting their hands on it and using it. Every single one of them,” said Anshel Sag, an analyst at Moor Insights.
When the iPhone introduced multitouch, advanced phone cameras and mobile internet, it birthed Uber and Instagram. Now, it costs $3,500 to start tinkering with software that could become an everyday experience for regular people as the market potentially expands.
“If you could’ve gotten the iPhone two or three years before it was released, and had access to understand the hardware, don’t you go for that? How much would you pay for that? This is the future today,” Chennavasin said. “If I was a developer, $3,500 is a small price to pay for that.”


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Project Green and the Microsoft Lumia Android. Well that title’s a mouthful, but what in the world does it all mean?
Well, thanks to prominent leakers @evleaks and @tktechnews, we might have our first information about a high-end Nokia Android device.
If you’ll remember, last month on GeekSided I posted a particularly pointed opinion piece bemoaning the premature death of a fictional, worthwhile Nokia Android device. To this point, Nokia under Microsoft has been restricted to Windows Phone and a forked version of Android that seems more likely to be a feeder OS for Windows Phone than an actual Android phone.
It looked like that would be the end of Nokia’s Android experiment - I would love nothing more than to be wrong about it. Thankfully, recent leaks and rumors are pointing to the possibility that Microkia is gearing up to release a Lumia Android phone.
First, @evleaks shared a bombshell on Twitter that Nokia is developing yet another Android-powered phone in addition to the Nokia X2 that was announced just a few weeks ago. Somewhat interestingly, the phone will be Lumia-branded, which has to this point been reserved for Windows Phone devices.
After that tidbit of information, @tktechnews chimed in with an interesting rumor. Stephen Elop himself, former CEO of Nokia and current Executive VP of Devices and Services at Microsoft, was seen and heard speaking about a mysterious Project Green. Furthermore, Elop had a device in his hand. What is Project Green? It seems to be the codename for Nokia’s larger Android ambitions, as @tktechnews clarified that the R&D device in hand was in fact a Lumia Android.
How reliable is this information? These are respectable leakers we’re talking about here, but there’s definitely a level of uncertainty here. I know others will agree, I just can’t imagine what the strategy for a higher-end Android device under the Microsoft brand. Perhaps it will become clearer as the Nokia X2 comes closer to fruition – but will Nokia-Microsoft continue to use Android as a feeder OS to Windows Phone?
I’m not sure what the answer is here, but Microsoft certainly has some more surprises up its sleeves. A few days ago, Neowin uncovered images of an upcoming Nokia Windows Phone device that is complete with “Nokia by Microsoft” branding. To this point, Microsoft has only been licensed to use Nokia branding on feature phones. By all accounts, this phone is a full-fledged smartphone – perhaps Microsoft has finally acquired the licensing needed to use Nokia branding on smartphones.
Why does this matter? It might not, but perhaps Microsoft would prefer not to have their own branding front and center – and instead “Nokia by Microsoft” – on a high-end Android handset.
This is all speculation, but the prospect of a true Lumia Android is too exciting not to share with our readers. So what do you think? Is a big-time Lumia Android coming or will this mythical program be shuttered by Microsoft before it ever sees the light of day?


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CITU district president P Shankar Rao criticized the decision to invite tenders for issuing fitness and break certificates to big companies district wise. He stated that the central government’s directives and the state government’s agreement to increase the fees for fitness certificates will burden motorists with an additional cost of Rs 1000 crores. This is in addition to the already high taxes and penalties imposed on the transport sector. The increase in toll from 700 to 15,000 rupees for the sake of fitness is unfair to the 1.46 crore motorists in the state.
Previously, fitness certificates were not required for two-wheelers, own cars, and other non-transport vehicles. However, now all vehicles, including two-wheelers, will need to obtain fitness certificates. The fees for these certificates range from 800 to 15,000 rupees depending on the type of vehicle. There is concern that private companies may charge much higher fees than those set by the government. The entire process of issuing fitness certificates is being handled by private companies under the guise of automatic testing stations.
Furthermore, the tenders for this process were filed under false names, which goes against the rules and regulations.


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Intel Innovation 2023 officially kicked off today, with media, analysts and Intel partners gathering from around the world. As always, the event started with a keynote from none other than Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO. The running theme this year is undoubtedly AI, with Intel positioning itself to be a key leader in this rapidly growing computing segment. Specifically, Intel wants to enable developers with the tools to create locally run AI applications, enhancing user privacy and paving the road for AI enhancements for all kinds of use cases.
Gelsinger opened up his keynote with Intel’s latest phrase – Siliconomy. Essentially, as Intel sees it, Silicon is set to drive the world’s economy. Over the past five years, there has been a 4X increase in the number of connected devices and over the next ten years, that is expected to increase to 15X. This in turn opens up new opportunities for developers to grow, with a huge customer base to deliver new software innovations to. Intel hopes that its hardware and tools will be at the heart of all of that.
Love it or hate it, AI is the future, with the tech industry at large focusing keenly on taking advantage of machine learning and AI to enhance a number of industries. A few novel use cases for AI were demoed on stage today – the first comes from this year’s Intel Ignite innovation winner, Deep Render, a company working on AI driven compression technology. Currently, Deep Render’s algorithm has enabled 5X smaller video file sizes but they want to scale this up to 50X. In a comparison video shown on stage, we see a small video clip running in H.264 compared to the Deep Render compression solution and the results were quite impressive, delivering a notably sharper image with less artefacts, while also being 5X smaller than the H.264 video, which showed plenty of artefacting. The use cases here are numerous, with the ability to shrink download sizes. This could have huge implications for streaming services and media archives, reducing bandwidth use due to smaller file sizes, while also saving on space in data centres. If this could be applied to games, we may start to see a reduction in the number of 150GB+ downloads to more sensible numbers. Smaller files and higher quality should make everyone happy.
Another on-stage demo is a new app called Rewind. This is essentially an AI-powered digital assistant, capable of analysing your screen and audio to then assist you with finding information, recovering data, transcribing speech and writing emails. The key part here is that it runs locally, preserving privacy and security, rather than relying on cloud computing.
Intel has also focused a little on leveraging AI to improve human senses. In an example, we saw an app controlling a smart hearing aid, allowing it to adjust between focused and ambient modes. In focus mode, the user can block out more background noise to better hear their own conversation, but it can dynamically adjust to ambient if someone is trying to gain your attention. Gelsinger envisions a future where AI can be used to improve other senses too, with augmented reality-enabled glasses being an example but it is unclear how AI fits into that equation.
Intel will be looking to usher in the age of the AI PC, with efficient chips that can run local AI-powered apps later this year with the first Intel Core Ultra processors, arriving in December. This will be the first chip to use the Intel 4 node, packing EUV, foveros packaging, AI acceleration, WiFi 7 and a hybrid architecture with new P and E cores. In a demo, an Acer representative came up on stage with one of the first Intel Core Ultra-powered laptops. Using an application leveraging OpenVINO, the laptop was able to generate an AI image almost instantaneously, vastly speeding up stable diffusion.
Intel Core Ultra (Meteor Lake) is just the beginning though. Gelsinger and Co also gave us our first look at Lunar Lake, which is still pretty far off on the roadmap, but Intel already has systems running with these chips in place. In a demo using Audacity, a Lunar Lake powered system was able to quickly generate a song ‘in the style of’ Taylor Swift. The lyrics were basically incomprehensible, but for a first demonstration, running locally on an efficient consumer-oriented system, it was a decent first showing. The Lunar Lake demo continued with text to image, leveraging AI through Gimp and OpenVINO to generate art at the click of a button.
Looking ahead, Intel’s Arrow Lake processors utilising the Intel 20A node are on track, with silicon shown on stage today. In 2025, we will see Panther Lake, using the Intel 18A node, completing the company’s mission of five nodes in four years.
On the Xeon front, Emerald Rapids will be with us in just a matter of months. The new-gen Xeon chips will be launching in mid-December, but Intel already has its sights set on 2024, with next year’s Xeon upgrade, codenamed Sierra Forest, to bring new hybrid cores. Development is progressing ahead of schedule. Previously, we heard that Sierra Forest would offer 144 cores but Intel has since bumped that number up to 288, which is just a ludicrous number. This is achieved through two dies in one package, so it will be big, performant and naturally, expensive.
Intel began to fall behind in the node race a few years back and has since been working hard to rectify this and claw its way back into a leadership position. Looking ahead, Intel plans to introduce the first HI NA machines, which will replace EUV lithography.
Switching over to using glass substrates, Intel will be able to build more efficient and densely packed chips in future generations.
Currently, Intel is investing $100 billion into its fabrication facilities and as we saw with the launch of Intel Foundry Services, the company is looking to produce not only for itself, but for customers across the industry as well. In a Q&A after the keynote, Gelsinger noted that while Intel and Nvidia are competing in some areas, such as Intel’s Gaudi AI accelerator vs. Nvidia’s H100, they are still keen collaborators and partners in other areas. Gelsinger hopes that Nvidia will eventually be a Foundry Services customer and adopt the UCIe universal chiplet design, which is catching on with support from over 120+ companies.
All of this future-looking tech talk wouldn’t be complete without touching on quantum computing. This is an area Intel has been working in for quite a while but in a twist, Intel is using Silicon qbits and is currently the only company to do so. If they can get this working, Intel could bring quantum-powered chips to the masses thanks to its ability to produce silicon on a huge scale. We’re still some years off though, with Intel predicting quantum supremacy in the 2030s.
In the gallery below you can see all of our photos from the presentation. You can find the VOD, HERE.
KitGuru Says: Intel crammed a lot of announcements into a short 90-minute timeslot here. It went by fast, so it will take some time to digest all of the new information. Did any of you watch the keynote on the livestream? What do you think of Intel’s latest developments and roadmap updates?


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Personal trainer Lee Axon has been shortlisted for a prestigious fitness industry award, beating off strong competition to make the finals.
Lee Axon who created the T4 Training system and brand who works from Xercise4less Sunderland has been shortlisted in the Gym Based Personal Trainer of the Year category at the National Fitness Awards, an annual event which recognises excellence and achievement throughout the health and fitness industry.
The awards are organised by leading fitness industry magazine Workout, with support from headline sponsor ServiceSport, and in each category up to seven finalists have been selected, who will now go through to the next stage of the judging process where they will be out to impress by showcasing first-hand the great work they do as trainers – and revealing how they are making a huge difference to their clients’ health and wellbeing.
This stage involves an interview with a member of the Workout team who will compile a comprehensive report, which will then be passed on to an expert judging panel to decide the lucky winners.
Trophies will then be handed out at a glittering awards ceremony on Friday December 1 at The Athena in Leicester, which will be hosted by international fitness expert Dean Hodgkin & presenter, fitness expert and Wonder Woman Amazon, Jenny Pacey.
National Fitness Awards’ event director Judith Halkerston said: “All our shortlisted facilities should be really proud of their achievements in being chosen as a finalist as the calibre of entries has been amazing.”
Lee spoke to us on the phone and was “delighted to have been given this opportunity to be recognised by his peers for my tireless work since I started – I really am humbled”.


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Vichy International Limited will issue virtual currency coins called Medical Cannabis (MCan) on the blockchain operated by a smart contract.
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The survey, released by the National Retail Federation (NRF), shows that 61.1% of shoppers will bargain hunt over the Thanksgiving weekend, which is consistent with data from last year. But, only 18.3% of those who said they would or might shop that weekend said they would do so on Thanksgiving Day, down from 23.5% last year. MarketWatch reports this indicates that about 11% of consumers overall plan to go deal-hunting that day.
“We could witness a sea change this holiday season as consumers’ reliance on extremely deep discounts over the biggest shopping weekend of the year shifts to more of a ‘wait- and-see’ mentality around what retailers will be offering on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay in a press release.
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Combine alcohol and slushies on a warm sunny day and what do you have? A winner.
This Premier store has been selling a range of flavours of boozy slush drinks which have been going down a treat with thirsty shoppers in April during the warm weather.
New flavours are constantly being brought in for the icy mixture, from rhubarb and custard to lemon and grapefruit using Brothers cider.
They've also thrown in Iron Bru and Monster energy drinks into the mix to play with the flavours.
A spokesman at the store in Town Street, Sandiacre, told Nottinghamshire Live: "We are sticking with Brothers ciders for the slushies as they’re my personal favourite and have supported our business in the past.
"So far we’ve done rhubarb and custard cider and toffee apple.
"They’ve both sold out on each weekend and have tasted fantastic.
"We’re selling them for £3.50 each and offer to deliver locally.
The store is going to bring in marshmallow cider for this weekend coming and grapefruit and lemon cider after that.
"I ask my customers what they want to try and I go with the majority."
The store adds it will check the ID of shoppers wanting to pick up a boozy slush.


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They found 90 per cent of the products marked as vegan to be unsatisfactory as they failed their tests for traces of dairy or had inaccuracies in their labelling.
They included vegan alternatives for chocolate truffles, pizzas, burgers, muffins and wraps.
According to a recent poll by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), 76 per cent of 2,000 people believed products advertising themselves as vegan were free from animal products.
John Herriman, the chief executive of the CTSI, told The Guardian that the ambiguity from the “lack of legal definition” of vegan could be “exploited” by food businesses.
He said: “Perhaps of greater concern is that this ambiguity can have disastrous and sometimes tragic consequences for those with allergies to animal-derived products, like milk and eggs.
“We are aware that people have sadly lost their lives because of this and are therefore calling for more clarity on what can and can’t legally be described as vegan and plant-based food.”
In 2017, Celia Marsh, 42, who had an acute dairy allergy, ate a super veg vegan wrap contaminated with milk from Pret a Manger’s Bath store.
The yoghurt dressing in the wrap was later found to be contaminated with traces of milk protein stemming from a starch manufactured in a facility handling dairy products.
In 2022, Maria Voisin, senior coroner for Avon, made several recommendations in a report following an inquest into Mrs Marsh’s death, including improved reporting of anaphylaxis incidents and a robust system to ensure food labelling is current.


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According to reports by Motorbeam, the Nissan Terrano will hit Indian markets in October starting at Rs. 8.90 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). Nissan has taken note of the poor demand for the petrol version of the Duster, which is the equivalent model offered by their sister brand Renault. Due to this, the Nissan Terrano will be offered with a 1.5-litre diesel engine only and no petrol engines be will available. Motorbeam also claims to have a studio picture, as posted on their site, which isn’t the same as the official sketch released by Nissan a few weeks ago.
The compact SUV will be offered in four variants [...]
After reports from Autocar India about Nissan producing its own version of Renault’s Duster, Nissan has confirmed the rumours by announcing the Terrano and releasing an official sketch.
The Terrano will be produced at Nissan’s Oragadam plant alongside the premium hatchback Micra, Sunny sedan and Evalia urban class utility vehicle, expanding Nissan’s locally-built model range to four.
I am delighted to reveal both the name and the very first image of what will be a very important model for Nissan. You can see from the sketch that the Terrano has a bold and distinctive design that I am confident will appeal to our growing customer base in India, as will its [...]
It has been reported by Autocar India, that Nissan is going to flex its alliance with Renault to spin off a Duster of its own. Just as it did with the Sunny, Nissan will resurrect the Terrano nametag, a moniker once used for the Pathfinder when it was introduced way back in 1993 and discontinued in 2006. The new model will feature unique sheetmetal to give it a look similar to other Nissan SUVs. But the interior as well as the powertrain is expected to be the same, meaning there will be a range of gasoline and diesel four-cylinder engines with both manual and automatic gearboxes and front- or all-wheel drive. However, the Terrano is expected to be priced [...]


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had to issue a guidance warning last week as the company gauged potential supply chain hiccups stemming from the coronavirus outbreak in China, a week after
made a similar move.
Microsoft became the latest mega-cap technology company to warn that the coronavirus will negatively impact its current-quarter results. In a press release, the company said that the $10.75 - $11.15 billion revenue guidance for its More Personal Computing (MPC) segment (provided on January 29) -- which was a wider-than-normal range to provide for the virus impact -- would come in lower.
“Although we see strong Windows demand in line with our expectations, the supply chain is returning to normal operations at a slower pace than anticipated at the time of our Q2 earnings call. As a result, for the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, we do not expect to meet our More Personal Computing segment guidance as Windows OEM and Surface are more negatively impacted than previously anticipated. All other components of our Q3 guidance remain unchanged.”
In the December quarter reported on Jan 29, the MPC wing accounted for 35.8% of the company's total revenue. This segment also includes the Xbox video gaming products and services and internet search advertising.
PC Devices To Take a Hit
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said on Thursday, “It fans the flames on coronavirus worries,” and “Apple and Microsoft now confirm the negative impact the Street had feared.” Other than the immediate impact on sales, there are inventory and other issues throughout the electronics supply chain that will impact a broad spectrum of companies in the sector.
Already some research firms have started cutting their outlooks for certain industries. Supply chain analytics firm Trendforce said that labor shortages and travel restrictions in China would have an impact on electronics/consumer items like smartphones, smartwatches and computer panels.
David Wong of Instinet LLC agrees: “We think there may be risk to demand in most electronic end markets, though we believe the end markets associated with consumer purchases might have the most potential downside. We remain cautious on the chip industry overall and selective in our chip and chip-equipment stock picks.” Moreover, he expects the impact to be prolonged: “We think that many investors, and companies, may have underestimated the risk of the current issues impacting electronics end market demand through 2020.”
On February 27, International Data Corporation (IDC) lowered its forecast for personal computing devices (PCDs), inclusive of desktops, notebooks, workstations, and tablets: "According to new projections from the Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, overall PCD shipments will decline 9.0% in 2020 reaching 374.2 million by year's end."
The IDC forecast was attributed not just to the spread of COVID-19 "hampering supply and leading to reduced demand," but also their estimates for the Windows 7 to Windows 10 transition creating tougher year-over-year growth comparisons.
The Case for Buying MSFT Up to 28X EPS
Given all this bad news, MSFT shares getting back to pre-December quarter levels in the $150s made the stock very attractive. On Friday, I found the panicky sell-off in big Tech so appealing that I bought the
ProShares 3X Bull leveraged ETF on the Nasdaq 100
TQQQ Quick Quote TQQQ - Free Report
) just to quickly "grab a seat" on the deeply over-sold bull train.
And on Monday morning, I chose MSFT for our weekly
Top Stock Picks
video for an unbeatable combination of attributes...
1. "Port in a storm" safety and stability as enterprise tech dominator
2. Reliable sales and earnings growth of 10-15% each
3. Growth of innovative new platforms like Teams for remote work
Regarding the impact of China supply chain issues, the company hadn't planned to release the new Surface Duo for the Android OS until later this year. And while there is chatter they might do it earlier because this version would only be 4G compatible, investors don't seem too worried because they see the long-term trajectory of the MPC unit.
Jefferies analyst Brent Thill, in a 2/27 research note titled "No Immunity Even for the Elite," wrote "We're adjusting our estimates after MSFT announced that it would not achieve its guidance for its More Personal Computing segment this quarter due to the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 health emergency. The revised expectations were solely due to lowered Surface and Windows OEM expectations and there were no other changes to guidance. We view this as a temporary issue and not indicative of the demand for MSFT products." Thill maintained his $195 price target on MSFT while trimming EPS slightly for the first half.
And on March 1, Dan Ives -- who I just had as a guest on the
Mind Over Money
podcast last month -- wrote this to investors...
Does coronavirus negatively impact the supply chain, cause massive demand uncertainty in the near-term around consumers/enterprises, and ultimately add a major risk profile to valuations and tech stock multiples that has just been rapidly factored into the market over the last week? The answer is a clear YES. However, does coronavirus massively disrupt/erase the long-term transformational bullish trends of cloud computing, 5G, EV, streaming, and cyber security for the next few years? The answer in our opinion is a resounding NO.
To hear Dan opine on this "unprecedented tech bull market driven by themes such as the enterprise move to cloud computing, a transformational 5G super cycle, EV auto demand inflection, streaming cord cutting paradigm shift, and cyber security all representing some of the major game changing trends poised to change the consumer and enterprise landscape for the next decade," check out our interview here...
Investors who missed the great rallies to new highs in Apple and Microsoft this year have been wondering why, and wishing they listened to Dan Ives all last year. And these gems remain among his top stocks to accumulate during this correction.
is near the top of his shopping list too.
Big Data Will Boost Cloud Revenues Over $40 Billion
Finally, it's worth noting that Microsoft's primary growth driver won't be impacted by global slowdown worries, with Intelligent Cloud (IC) growing at over 20% last year and likely to repeat in 2020. Here's what my colleague Dan Laboe wrote in his profile two weeks ago...
Microsoft has become the largest publicly traded company in the US because of its best-in-class management team that has been able to stay ahead of the competitive curve for decades. Microsoft was the largest company by market cap at the turn of the millennium, and 20 years later, this enterprise has taken the helm once again.
This software giant has been a role model for tech start-ups around the world. Microsoft has controlled the computer OS market for decades and is now taking control of the cloud computing market. The effective transition from on-premise software to cloud-based systems has brought this legacy firm back to its place at the top.
Microsoft’s new subscription-based revenue drivers, whether it’s Microsoft Office or one of its many cloud services its offer, has allowed this enterprise to grow out its sales by reliable double-digit percentages YoY. Microsoft offers customers Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) through its platform, Azure, competing in this very lucrative but quickly saturating business with tech giants like
GOOGL Quick Quote GOOGL - Free Report
The $50 billion IaaS industry is proliferating, and more businesses see the benefit of outsourcing their tech infrastructure. Amazon’s AWS has controlled the space as an early mover on cloud computing, but Azure is slowly but surely taking market share. Azure is in an early stage of development compared to AWS, but it is being offered at a fraction of the price, growing at double the rate, and analysts are calling it best-in-class.
(end of Dan Laboe's commentary)
Bottom line: In Microsoft's leading position in these technologies, large investors will continue to find safe harbor in its steady growth. And in a strong bull market, Microsoft shares will very likely ascend over 30X this year's projected $6 EPS.
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.