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A NEW survey released today (Wednesday 1 September) reveals almost half of Brits (46 per cent) got sunburnt this year. Of those who got burnt, a third (32 per cent) admitted their motivation was to get a tan. And half of those who burnt whilst trying to get a tan would risk burning again next year.
The recent salmonella outbreak and egg recall has dominated the news for over a week now and renewed calls for stronger food safety agencies and policies. See Also: What You Need to Know About the Egg Recall However, while it doesn’t make the newspapers, by far the biggest cause of food-borne illness is improper handling in the home. A few simple habits can greatly reduce the risk of food contamination in your kitchen.
The rest is here:
Your Food Safety Toolkit
Oesophageal cancer rates in men have risen by 50 per cent over the last 25 years, according to new figures published by Cancer Research UK today.
Q. I am interested in identifying foods that would be bad for someone with acid-reflux related conditions like GERD and Barrett’s Espophagus. Is there something on NutritionData.com that would tell me if a food is acidic and should be avoided
Read the rest here:
Got reflux? Acidic foods aren’t the problem
An experimental drug designed to treat cancers with a particular genetic fault has shown promising results in a small clinical trial.
Read this article:
Trial drug ‘effective’ against cancers with faulty BRAF gene
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has released draft guidance which recommends the drugs bortezomib and thalidomide as first-line therapies for some patients with multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that affects cells in the bone marrow.
Originally posted here:
NICE recommends bortezomib and thalidomide for multiple myeloma
As consumers have grown increasingly worried about the potential harm from BPA in plastic water bottles and canned food, food manufacturers have mounted a massive campaign aimed at convincing us that we’re over-reacting.
A new study suggests that tobacco companies may be using online video portals, such as YouTube, to get around advertising restrictions and market their products to young people.
Tobacco industry may be using online videos to market products
We keep hearing that eating more whole grains is good for your heart. See also 15 Grains to Eat More Of For example, Dr
Here is the original post:
Are we getting the whole story on whole grains?
Understanding calories Calories are a measure of the amount of energy in food. Knowing how many calories are in our food can help us to balance the energy we put into our bodies with the energy we use


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ATLANTA – Metro area leaders today announced the first-round winners of the inaugural Atlanta Metro Export Challenge, a grant program powered by Chase which boosts support for small and medium-sized businesses looking to begin exporting ...
ATLANTA – Metro area leaders today announced the first-round winners of the inaugural Atlanta Metro Export Challenge, a grant program powered by Chase which boosts support for small and medium-sized businesses looking to begin exporting or to increase their export programs. Thirty-five companies from metro Atlanta were selected as semi-finalists in the competition and will each receive a reimbursement grant of up to $5,000 to apply toward expenses related to building export capacity and activities.
Nearly 70 companies, ranging in size from pre-revenue startups to small and established medium-sized businesses, applied for the 35 available grants. The semi-finalists represent a wide array of industries, including traditional and advanced manufacturing, professional services, food and beverage, apparel and technology companies. Women-owned and minority-owned businesses are among the semi-finalists. Also, grant awardees represent 12 different counties, eight of which are within the metro Atlanta 29-county region.
To see the full list of grant awardees, click here.
Grant winners demonstrating export success during the first half of 2016 will be invited back for the second round of competition this summer at Pitch Day – a Shark Tank-style pitch session before a panel of judges. The semi-finalists must share their export success and future plans for export development for a chance to win additional prize money. At Pitch Day, companies will present their exportable product or service, their export success with the initial grant, and a business plan detailing how they will use additional grant funds to increase exports. The top three companies will receive $20,000 (1st Place), $10,000 (2nd Place), and $5,000 (3rd Place).
“We are excited to play a role in the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge,” said Mary Waters, Deputy Commissioner for International Trade at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “This spirited competition is a perfect way to engage innovative companies and prompt them to take full advantage of the support services we offer to bolster their international sales.”
“I am pleased to see more than a dozen businesses from the City of Atlanta receive a grant through the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge, which gives these companies the resources they need to grow their export programs,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “In the twenty-first century economy, companies with an export component are more profitable and more likely to grow and succeed.”
The Atlanta Metro Export Challenge will distribute a total of $210,000 over the course of the competition. This competition is one of the key components of the Atlanta Metro Export Plan (MEP), an initiative launched in June 2015 to stimulate economic growth in the region and create quality jobs through exports. The grants competition aims to encourage area companies to export and drive business growth by increasing international sales of local products and services. The program was created through a grant from JPMorgan Chase as part of the firm’s ongoing work to promote global competitiveness in metros around the country.
”The more we support small businesses efforts to broaden their opportunity, the stronger our economy becomes, and exports are key to meaningful, sustainable growth,” said David Balos, market leader for JPMorgan Chase in Georgia.
Promoting participation from small businesses will help boost metro Atlanta’s exports—right now, the region ranks 64th among the nation’s largest metros in export intensity – or exports as a percentage of economic output – despite being the 14th largest exporter in the U.S. Exports are shown to add jobs to regional economies. The International Trade Administration reports that for every $1 billion generated in exports, an additional 5,800 new jobs are created.
“The Metro Export Challenge is a great incentive for companies to think about cultivating job growth by increasing their exports. It’s encouraging that many of our region’s companies are taking the initiative to grow their business through exports and reach new customers in international markets,” said Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
“We are thrilled that one of our local companies was awarded this grant. The funds will help this homegrown business increase their overseas sales which we anticipate will lead to more jobs and local investment here in Fayette County,” said Carlotta Ungaro, president & CEO of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce.
The Atlanta MEP is being implemented by multiple organizations, including the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the City of Atlanta working in partnership with several other regional and local economic development agencies, public and private organizations. The MEP is the first phase of Atlanta’s participation in the Global Cities Initiative (“GCI”), a joint project of the Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase that aims to help leaders in U.S. metropolitan areas reorient their economics toward greater engagement in world markets.
About the Metro Atlanta Chamber
The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) serves as a catalyst for a more prosperous and vibrant region. To advance economic growth and improve metro Atlanta's quality of place, MAC is focused on starting, growing and recruiting companies to the 29-county metro Atlanta region. The Chamber is also focused on growing the region's innovation economy by promoting and strengthening connections to drive Atlanta's innovation and entrepreneurial culture. MAC is committed to being an active voice for the business community, serving as an advocate for a competitive business climate and telling Atlanta's story. For more information, visit www.metroatlantachamber.com
About JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

domain: news


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Ship With U.S. Soybeans Changes Course From China to Vietnam
(Bloomberg) -- A ship carrying U.S. soybeans changed destination from China to Vietnam on Saturday as exporters find new buyers for American supplies amid an escalating trade war.
Bulk carrier Audacity left Louis Dreyfus’ Pier 86 terminal in Seattle on Oct. 21 for Qingdao, China with 69,244 metric tons of soybeans, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection data and vessel data compiled by Bloomberg. After six days, it changed course to Phu My, Vietnam, the data show. Louis Dreyfus didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
U.S. soybean trade with China has plunged amid a tariff tit-for-tat. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s imports of U.S. soy have risen 93 percent this year, USDA data show.
©2018 Bloomberg L.P.


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After KFC ran out of chicken and closed more than half of its 900 restaurants across the United Kingdom, a London police department has asked people not to report the gastronomical inconvenience as an emergency worthy of police attention.
“Please do not contact us about the #KFCCrisis,” tweeted the Metropolitan Police Service for the London East End Borough of Tower Hamlets, using the popular hashtag.
“[I]t is not a police matter if your favourite eatery is not serving the menu that you desire.”
Please do not contact us about the #KFCCrisis – it is not a police matter if your favourite eatery is not serving the menu that you desire.
— Tower Hamlets MPS (@MPSTowerHam) February 20, 2018
Many Britons craving the fried treat stood disappointed in front of the fast-food eateries’ closed doors, while the company announced it ran into “a couple of teething problems” with its new delivery partner.
Disaster. Took the Grandkids out to dinner at KFC only to see that it's shut down. Some chicken shortage. Took them to McDonald's but it's not the same. Crying in the bathroom. Can't show weakness in front of them. #KFCCrisis
— Ron Sanderson (@R_Sanderson1952) February 19, 2018
— Gladstone (@TreasuryMog) February 19, 2018
“We’ve brought a new delivery partner onboard, but they’ve had a couple of teething problems—getting fresh chicken out to 900 restaurants across the country is pretty complex!” the company stated on Twitter on Feb. 17. “We won’t compromise on quality, so no deliveries has meant some of our restaurants are closed, and others are operating a limited menu or shortened hours.”
The Colonel is working on it. pic.twitter.com/VvvnDLvlyq
— KFC UK & Ireland (@KFC_UKI) February 17, 2018
“We know that this might have inconvenienced some of you over the last few days, and disappointed you when you wanted your fried chicken fix—we’re really sorry about that,” KFC stated on its website.
On Feb. 20, KFC tweeted: “Good news, over half of our restaurants are now back open! Our teams are working flat out to open the rest.”
Good news, over half of our restaurants are now back open! Our teams are working flat out to open the rest. Equilibrium will soon be restored. pic.twitter.com/ZXgijpBR7L
— KFC UK & Ireland (@KFC_UKI) February 20, 2018
The company provided a website where customers can check if their preferred restaurant is open.
KFC has recently switched its delivery company, Bidvest, for DHL and German group QSL. So far the change hasn’t gone smoothly.
“If you were one of KFC’s 750 franchisees you could order your replacement chicken and other supplies and usually within about 24 hours a lorry from Bidvest would appear outside your store with what you needed. The stores were used to that kind of just-in-time ordering, and that’s what’s caught them out,” said technology analyst Chris Green, according to the Guardian.
“It is doing huge brand damage to KFC. The franchisee can’t go off and buy chicken from a wholesaler. Their contracts with KFC prevents them from going to third parties. And KFC can’t put its name on chicken it didn’t supply. The franchisee and KFC have both got both hands tied behind their backs.”


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University Fancards, LLC has announced that its officially licensed Alabama Mastercard® Gift Card will be sold at the home of Crimson Tide football, Bryant-Denny Stadium, starting this fall. Gift card sales at the stadium are part of Alabama’s ongoing efforts to go cashless at sporting events.
This year, all points of sale at Alabama Athletics events for concessions and retail will be cashless. Beginning with the Tide’s football home opener on Sept. 3, fans who bring cash to pay for concessions will be directed to designated kiosks to exchange for Fancards in $20 increments at two locations within Bryant-Denny Stadium.
- Location 1 – Lower Level (1st Floor), Section AA (near Concession S126)
- Location 2 – Upper Level (8th Floor), Section NN-8 (near Concession N804)
Fans who want to beat the lines on gameday may purchase Fancard gift cards from participating retailers around the state, including Walmart, Dollar General, CVS and more and load your card with $20 - $500 before heading to the game. The nearest retailer can be found by visiting the myFancard.com Gift Card page.
Fans who would like to use their cash and want a longer-term payment solution can sign up for the Alabama Fancard Prepaid Mastercard at myfancard.com. Fans can also sign up and manage their account through the Fancard Mobile app on the Apple® App Store® or Google Play® Store. Fancard reloadable cards are compatible with Apple Pay® or Google Pay®, and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Fancards has been a proud partner of Crimson Tide Athletics since the company’s founding in 2015. Since then, Fancards has worked with Crimson Tide Athletics to provide experiences for fans including game tickets, stadium tours, and other cardholder benefits.


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The Rise of the Perfect Pop-Up Store
“From wine bars and coffee shops, to fashion and arts and crafts, retailers of all sizes are using pop-up stores as a way to increase sales, experiment with new ideas and to truly innovate.
Pop-up shops were created by the financial crash in 2008 as an alternative to long retail leaseholds, and since their inception they have gone mainstream. The UK’s pop-up industry is currently worth over £2.3 billion a year and with almost 30% of British businesses beginning their entrepreneurial journey as a pop-up, it’s safe to say that the phenomenon isn’t going away any time soon.
There are a number of reasons why pop-ups are thriving in today’s cities. For one, brands are drawn to them as it provides them with an opportunity to explore new geographic markets without commiting to a brick-and-mortar location.” - Ana Milevskaja, Senior Director, Product Marketing and Demand Generation


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Virgin Mobile creates 200 Wilts jobs
Hello - is it me you're looking for?
Virgin Mobile is creating 200 new jobs at its Wiltshire HQ in Trowbridge.
The new positions are in Virgin's customer support centre and will take staff numbers at the company to almost 1,500 employees.
Virgin Mobile reports that business is booming and expects soon to report strong sales figures for the first three months of 2002.
The company hopes that it can attract new people from the region who have recently been made redundant.
Virgin mobile - the UK's fifth mobile operator - is a 50-50 joint venture company between Virgin Group and T-Mobile and has more than 1.6 million customers. ®


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The state of the market according to PCarMarket
Before we begin, some ancient history: In the year 2019, one of the challenges facing the collector car market was sellers expecting too much money for their cars. Their unwillingness to budge from said expectations led to a bunch of no-sales at auction—most notably Pebble Beach—and had many industry watchers (including us) suggesting sellers needed to reset their expectations. Then COVID happened. Its far-reaching fallout, which included millions of people stuck at home with trillions in stimulus money, turned supply-and-demand on its head and lit a fire under classic car prices that are still burning hot. Yet listen to Jim Barry, senior vice president at the popular online auction platform PCarMarket, and it sounds like we might gradually be returning to 2019.
“Right now, we have a lot of sellers getting respectable offers, but the cars just aren’t moving, because [sellers] are so far ahead of the actual market,” he said.
We’re data-driven folks over here at Insider, but there’s only so much you can glean from the harsh glow of a spreadsheet, which is why we also talk to people. Industry sentiment factors into many of our metrics, including the Hagerty Price Guide and the Hagerty Market Rating. Of late, we’ve been hearing some words of caution creep into our conversations, even if the overall take is still that business is good.
Indeed, Barry emphasizes that things have been very good for PCarMarket. As the name suggests, Porsches of all shapes, sizes, and ages fill the bulk of PCarMarket’s runlist, but nowadays a healthy assortment of Autobahn bruisers, late-model exotics, American muscle, and even the occasional EV supertruck can be found between the platoons of 997s and Boxsters. Practically all of it selling for prices that would have stunned Barry (and us) not long ago. “We’re doing really well with AMG Mercedes, even later models that used to be hard to sell,” Barry said. “I’m talking about stuff like a 2018 SL63, a car that was tough to sell even at auction in general. Now, that stuff is flying off the shelf and gone up in value. I think we sold three of them in the past week.”
Yet when we spoke earlier in May, one of Barry’s main talking points was sellers expectations, and how that might impact the market in the coming months.
“The sellers are getting really, really, really, crazy with their prices.”
“I think the challenge any sales platform is facing—whether that be a dealer, an auction or third party—is that the people who have the cars, don’t really want to sell them. It’s creating these obscenely high prices, and obviously there is a shortage of new cars, so some people naturally flocking to used and collector cars as an alternative.
“In other words, the sellers are getting really, really, really crazy with their prices, and it’s creating an environment contrary to the one we saw a few months ago, where we saw everyone selling.”
“It’s greed coupled with lack of knowledge. Dealers have cars out there for obscenely high asking prices; whether they get them or not, no one knows. [Collector car] Dealers are just buying up everything, and they are a big part of the reason the prices are so high, as they’re trying to horde all the inventory. But, you can’t blame them for that, as there’s nothing else you can do. People walk into your showroom and see nothing, they’re walking out and never coming back.”
“Case in point: we had a GT3 Touring where $350,000 wasn’t enough for the seller, and I think the sticker was like $215,000 or something like that. He based his ask on the fact that dealers are asking $400,000 in some circumstances, if one comes up. Are they getting that? I don’t know. But, to get $140,000 over sticker is nothing to sneeze at.”
“The cycle begins anew”
“Other than the baseline state of the economy, I think what’s driving the current Porsche spike is simply supply and demand. You have a car you don’t want to sell, but as prices continue to rise up and up and up, you’re eventually forced to sell. Let’s say I have a 993 in my garage I bought for $35,000 back in 2012, and I discover that it’s now worth $120,000; maybe I don’t want to sell, but I have to. So, as people begin to unload things, the prices come down, and the cycle begins anew.”
A correction could be coming for the flotsam
“Blue chip cars are blue chip cars, so they’re always going to be something. But, the stuff that always rises with the tide, like the 997 Cab with PDK dragging 90,000 miles and a bad Carfax that should be worth $35,000 is getting $55,000 because the market is crazy right now? Yeah, I believe there will be a big correction on stuff like that.”
But 996s may still be too cheap
“I was a kid in college when the 996 came out. People say these cars are ugly, and undesirable, right? I was a subcontracted detailer at Manhattan Motorcars when the 996 was new, and I watched people come in and pay almost $200,000—the sticker was around $125,000—they’d pay up to $80,000 premiums, and if the car was so ugly, and so bad, why were people doing that?”
“I’ve never not liked the 996, and I still think they are too cheap. Considering what you must spend to land in a new 911, and you can get a car like it for $30,000? $40,000? It’s still way too cheap. Hey, I remember when 964s were like that—I was a dealer for a long time before this, and people would offer me 964s all day for $15,000, $20,000. Now, they’re a fortune.”
“If it’s not the top, then we’re not too far away from it”
“A lot of the guys are just looking at these things as a hybrid situation. They want the car, but they do think about what their exit looks like, and I believe a decent amount of buyers and enthusiasts think along those lines.”
“There are a lot of people that just go out and buy what their agent tells them to based on future value, and that’s just not going to change. But, I think a lot of people are getting out right now, because if it’s not the top, then we’re not that far away from it.”


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2 November 2009
TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, urged the Government to begin measuring the monetary value of UK video game exports and imports. TIGA encouraged the Government to take action after the Government revealed in a response to a parliamentary question from the Conservative MP, Philip Davies, that it did not have comprehensive data measuring the UK’s trade performance in relation to video games.
Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:
“TIGA research shows that a typical UK game development business generates 46 per cent of its turnover from the export of games. Our successful video games sector exports games all over the world.
“Unfortunately, the UK Government does not accurately assess the trade performance of our video games industry. The only data that exist is partial and incomplete. Royalties, licence fees and trade in services associated with video games are not identified by the UK Government.
“Knowledge industries like the video games industry could play a significant role in the UK economy in the future. If we are to assess the performance of knowledge industries such as the video games industry, then the UK Government must start to collect accurate data concerning the trade performance of the video games industry.”
Notes to editors:
Philip Davies asked the following parliamentary question and revealed the following data on October 26th 2009:
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value of (a) video game exports and (b) video game imports was in each year from 2001 to 2008.
Ian Lucas, Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform: Full figures are not separately identifiable for trade in video games as a whole: royalties, licence fees and trade in services associated with video games are not separately identifiable; nor are trade in goods figures for video games not for use with a television receiver. The figures in the following table are for trade in goods for video games for use with a television receiver (Harmonised System code 950410) recorded in the overseas trade statistics.
2001 71 216
2002 139 465
2003 104 387
2004 68 283
2005 86 285
2006 11 516
2007 182 1,026
2008 220 1,140


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In 2021, Google revealed that it has plans to bring Android games to Windows PCs during The Game Awards. It essentially means that Google will release an Android app store for Windows, but it will remain limited to games. Now, Google is implementing the same. It has rolled out an option for users to sign up for the limited beta of the new Google Play Games for PC. However, there is a catch, at least for now, the option is currently limited to Hong Kong, South Korea, or Taiwan.
Also Read: AMD AM5 Platform Is Here To Stay, Will Support AM4 Coolers.
List of games under Google Play Games beta
Google has not released the full list of games for beta, but here are some of the games that testers can enjoy:
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Summoners War
- State of Survival: The Joker Collaboration
- Three Kingdoms Tactics
Note: Google has stated that the list of games will differ according to region.
Moreover, Google has also revealed that users under beta can play games thanks to a standalone application made by Google. Even then, we are not sure whether or not games will be functional at beta’s launch. Plus, we also cannot comment if all the games will support the entire features.
Minimum system requirements
In order to play the games, you need to have the following system configurations:
Windows 10+ (v2004), at least an 8-core CPU, 8GB of RAM, 20GB of faster SSD space, and a few selected gaming GPUs. In short, you will need a top-notch gaming machine to play the games, but you don’t need Windows 11.
Anyways, Google has mentioned that it will lower these requirements in the future.
In any case, we will have to wait to get our hands on the new Android-game-on Windows platform from the test market.
Also Read: Huawei P50 Pro and P50 Pocket to Launch Globally.


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Atlanta Korean taco restaurant Yumbii’s first OTP location opens in Alpharetta across from Avalon
An Alpharetta location of Korean taco and burrito restaurant Yumbii is opening this spring in the former Bezoria space of the Atwater Mall across from Avalon on Old Milton Parkway. This is the first Yumbii location to open outside the perimeter since opening in Atlanta’s Brookwood Hills neighborhood six years ago.
Known for its mix of Korean and Mexican dishes, Yumbii will serve the restaurant’s full menu of tacos and burritos stuffed with bulgogi, Korean fried chicken and panko-crusted tilapia as well as sandwiches, such as a Philly topped with Sriracha queso and cucumber kimchi and hot wings with Sriracha honey sauce.
In addition to tacos and burritos, expect Alpharetta’s menu to also feature Yumbii’s popular sesame fries, salads and build-your-own rice bowls, and serve beer, wine , tequila and margaritas.
Founded as a food truck by Carson Young in 2010, Yumbii now includes restaurants in the Brookwood Hills and Toco Hills neighborhoods. Two new city locations will open at Moores Mill Mall on Marietta Boulevard this spring and Midtown Promenade on Monroe Drive in the fall, alongside two new outposts of Young’s storefront, the Queso Shop.
Like Yumbii, Young launched the Queso Shop as a food truck in Los Angeles, eventually moving its base of operations to Atlanta in 2019. Last year, Young opened the Queso Shop as a take-out storefront in Piedmont Heights and expanded the menu to include family meals. , margarita mixes, a surfer burrito and loaded crispy tater tots. The window closed a few months later, but a new location is set to open this winter next to Yumbii at Toco Hill Mall, which is also home to Spiller Park Coffee.
2685 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta. yumbii.com.


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Posts for March, 2012
A new vendor will be serving breakfast, lunch and snacks in renovated space in the RiverCenter atrium at Schlitz Park, beginning in early May.
Davians Foodservice and Management will run Schlitz Park Cafe in the RiverCenter building, off E. Cherry St. at the Milwaukee River, according to a statement from the office park. Davians also will offer catering for the park's tenants, and the renovation will add a patio for warm-weather dining. About 4,300 people work at the office park.
The cafe replaces Elliott's Off-Broadway Deli. Libiamo, the Italian restaurant in what had been the former brewery's Old World-style tavern, is closing this month. The park's Coffee With a Conscience shop, however, is remaining.
Some organic ingredients at Schlitz Park Cafe will come from Growing Power, the urban farm founded by Will Allen, and Growing Power also will compost cafe kitchen scraps.
Made-to-order and grab-and-go items will be offered, including sandwiches such as creative grilled cheese, salads, soups and flatbread pizzas. Davians is consulting with a dietitian as it develops its menu.
The food truck Fast Foodie plans to use electric bikes this summer for greater reach.
Fast Foodie will use the bikes to sell its globacos — tacos with global flavors — and seasoned potato chips ("Ethiopian Love Dust" is one of the spice blends).
Owner Jackie Valent said using the green bikes “will allow us to not only grow by 400% but also serve places we currently cannot due to the size of our current food truck.”
Fast Foodie plans to send four of the bikes downtown, to the east side and on the south side for breakfast, lunch and dinner (the area is dictated by the bikes’ battery capacity). They also will be at farmers markets in those areas.
The food truck’s website will tell customers where the bikes will be each day.
Valent said the bikes by a company called Thrust were designed for urban food delivery, but Fast Foodie will modify the bikes to make them certifiable food carts.
Fattoni’s Deli & Catering, 7212 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, has started cooking up breakfast on the weekends.
From 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday, options include pancakes, eggs any way — including omelets — with bacon and toast; oatmeal with apple and cinnamon; and a breakfast burrito. Items are around $7 or less.
Diners can take it to go, but the order-at-the-counter deli also has seating for about two dozen.
Trinity Three Irish Pubs is throwing its first wine dinner at 7 p.m. March 6, serving small plates such as lobster empanada.
The dinner will feature Trapiche wines; other dishes expected on the menu include pork belly confit and pan-seared escolar, by chef Ramses Alverez.
The dinner is $50, or $90 a couple. Reserve seats at (414) 278-7033.
Trinity is at 125 E. Juneau Ave.
Two chefs from Madison made the list of nominees for Food & Wine magazine's People's Best New Chef contest.
Diners can go online to vote for their favorites through March 11. The finalists and winners will be announced March 12. It's a prelude to the magazine's announcement of the country's best new chefs as chose by the editors.
Braise-the-restaurant is taking up chef David Swanson's Braise-on-the-Go's farm dinners and moving them inside. The new Walker's Point restaurant will start holding monthly Sunday Suppers, with a farmer as guest.
The first three-course, family-style dinner will be 6 p.m. March 25. On the menu is suckling pig; it will be paired with a beer from just down the street, Milwaukee Brewing Co.'s Booyah, a saison. The visiting farmer will be Peter Seely of Springdale Farm in Plymouth.
This dinner is $55, which includes a glass of beer, tax and tip; future dinners will cost around $45 to $55.
Reservations are required. Hold a seat at the table with a credit card by calling the restaurant at (414) 212- 8843. Reservations also can be made online.
Braise is at 1101 S. 2nd St.
Chefs (and spouses) Lisa Kirkpatrick and Paul Zerkel, who departed Roots restaurant in Brewers Hill at year's end, have entered their next phase: Butcher, Baker.
Butcher (Zerkel), Baker (Kirkpatrick) for now is a pop-up restaurant -- a restaurant that assembles for one night's service in borrowed space before moving on -- but its Facebook page asserts its goal is to be a restaurant in the traditional sense.
It had its first dinner Tuesday night, serving a half of a heritage-breed pig in four courses encompassing American and world flavors, paired with cocktails mixed with house-made ingredients by Katie Rose of Burnhearts bar.
Only 10 guests who sent a message to Butcher, Baker's Facebook page received invitations to the first dinner. For a shot at a future dinner, ask to be on the email list at firstname.lastname@example.org. The next dinner is expected to be April 1.
Another dining opportunity is afoot in burgeoning Walker's Point. Carte Blanche Studios, a theater and gallery space at 1024 S. 5th St., next will be serving sandwiches and other lighter fare.
Carte Blanche, which opened four years ago in Cream City brick building, plans to launch the café in spring, said general manager Adam White.
The target date is May 1; a name for the café is still being decided.
It would be open daily for lunch and dinner, initially serving soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and panini. Jerry Garcia, who was chef at Hotel Metro, helped develop the menu; it would be expanded later, White said.
“We’re trying to go healthy” with the menu, he said. “I’d like a greener menu as much as possible,” with ingredients coming from local producers and farmers markets.
To start with, the café would have counter service. It would have seats for about 50 and a stage where performances could be scheduled for diners.
Besides hosting performances and art exhibitions, Carte Blanche also hosts private events.
The first day is Saturday, when it opens at noon. Regular hours start next week, when it will open at 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and noon Saturdays and Sundays.
It will open with about 15 menu items: small plates such as tapenade, hummus and artichoke dip, soups, homemade pretzels and cheese and sausage plates. Prices will range from around $5 to $9.
Two of its own beers (brewed under contract until the brewpub gains approval to brew on site, expected in a month or two), Robert's Rye and 505 stout, will be available on tap, as will six other Wisconsin craft beers.
It also will have a small selection of red and white Wisconsin wines and Wisconsin spirits.
Sweet Mullets is in the industrial park off Old Highway 16, at N58-W39800 Industrial Road; (262) 456-2843.
The owners of Hotel Foster, a bar with Victorian decor and craft cocktails at 2028 E. North Ave., will be opening a bar in Bay View.
They announced on social media that the bar will be called Boone & Crockett -- sounds like it will have an old-timey vibe, too -- and is targeted to open sometime in spring. It will be going in at 2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
That's the site of Gumby's Pub, a bar owned by Russ Chicks that opened a year ago. It's still open, and will remain open at least through the end of the month, Chicks said.
"They made me an offer I couldn't refuse," he said. In the meantime, "It's going to be business as usual," with St. Patrick's Day festivities planned.
Gumby's was named for former Brewers player Jim Gantner, who is Chicks' brother-in-law.
Look for more details here as they become available.
Justin Carlisle, the chef at Umami Moto on Milwaukee St., has updated the entrees at the Asian fusion restaurant.
Dishes are more seasonal, and diners might notice that the overfished Chilean sea bass has been removed from the menu. Instead they'll find black cod ($22), a velvety, delicious and sustainable fish in what's become a classic preparation: seasoned with miso.
Also on the menu are dishes such as pork ($21, in photo above by Carlisle), with carrot puree, apricot mostarda and malted pork sauce. Kobe-style sirloin ($34) is served with turnip, red sorrel and nuoc mau, the Vietnamese caramel sauce.
Carlisle, who was chef at celebrated Madison restaurants including Restaurant Muramoto and Harvest, has been tweaking the Umami Moto menu since joining the restaurant last year. Below is his hamachi sushimi with orange.
The “Night on the Town” series is continuing March 21 with drinks and appetizers at the Belmont Tavern at 6 p.m., followed by a three-course dinner at Ward’s House of Prime at 6:30 p.m.
The evening caps off with a return to the Belmont for music by piano player Joe Hite at 8:15 p.m.
Diners’ choice for the three courses include entrées of prime rib, sea bass, veal Marsala or filet with scallops.
It’s $65; make reservations by email at Linda@whiskeybarmilwaukee.com.
The Belmont is at 784 N. Jefferson St.; Ward’s is at 540 E. Mason St.
Get 'em while they last: Tickets are on sale for the SloPig Milwaukee heritage hog tasting and chef competition set for April 22 at the InterContinental Milwaukee.
Tickets can be purchased online. They're $100, or $150 for a VIP ticket, which allows early entrance and access to a VIP area.
SloPig is patterned after a successful event in Madison last year: Chefs from Milwaukee and Madison will be competing to see who produces the best dish from a heritage-breed pig. Participants also will choose their favorite punch, created by Milwaukee and Madison bartenders.
Besides the tastings and competitions, the event will have a butchery demonstration, art displays and live music.
SloPig so far has had one "Pig and Punch" dinner leading up to the big event, and the next one will be April 13 at Great Lakes Distillery. Besides pork-centric food and punch, ice carving and a butchery demo are planned. It's $20. Tickets for that also are available online.
Michael White, the New York chef and Beloit native, is planning another place in New York, Eater.com reports, and this one will be a midcentury-style cocktail bar with a supper club feel to it.
Eater earlier said it would be a Wisconsin-themed restaurant but has updated its post.
White also is writing a cookbook, "Cook Like an Italian," with author Andrew Friedman.
He's a James Beard Award semifinalist for best chef in New York City, for his work at the fine-dining Italian seafood restaurant Marea (where he's also a partner); Marea received a Beard Award for best new restaurant in 2010.
White -- whose focus is Italian cuisine, having gotten his start at Spiaggia in Chicago when Paul Bartolotta was chef there -- also is a partner in Osteria Morini, with locations in New York and New Jersey, and Ai Fiori in New York. Last year, he opened his first restaurant overseas: Al Molo, in Hong Kong.
Chefs from Milwaukee's Hinterland, Madison's L'Etoile and Chicago's Michelin-starred Longman & Eagle will take part in three Wisconsin open-air farm dinners in August, organized by the California-based Outstanding in the Field.
It's the first time a chef from Milwaukee is taking part in the group's farm dinners. Tickets go on sale at 1 p.m. March 20 through OITF's website; the dinners tend to sell out despite the $200 price tag.
The events are part of a national series of farm dinners. Here's the Wisconsin lineup:
Aug. 11 -- Tory Miller of L'Etoile and Graze restaurants at Sassy Cow Creamy in Columbus, with host farmers James and Jenny Baerwolf, and Robert and Jenny Baerwolf.
Aug. 12 -- Dan Van Rite and Kelly Qualley of Hinterland at beef-producer Dietzler Farms in Elkhorn, with host farmers Bob Dietzler and the Dietzler family.
Aug. 13 -- Jared Wentworth of Longman & Eagle at Dietzler Farms.
The dinners, with seats for more than 100 people, open with passed appetizers. Each family-style, four-course dinner includes a tour of the farm, wine with dinner and discussions with the producers; the Aug. 12 event also will serve Hinterland beer.
Going back to the cuisine where small plates started, Espana Tapas House will open Wednesday at 800 N. Plankinton Ave. with a menu featuring Spanish tapas and paella.
Some of the traditional dishes will be tortilla, the omelet with potatoes and onions; asparagus with saffron aioli; grilled squid; albondigas, the beef and pork meatballs; and baked goat cheese with roasted tomato sauce.
Espana's menu goes beyond the small plates, though, with salads and entrees, such as Serrano ham-wrapped pork tenderloin.
The large space, which last housed Butch's Clock Steak House, has been divided into several dining areas, including curtained booths and a room for parties. Guests also will be able to dine at the bar, where the wine list is Spanish. Espana also will have specialty cocktails.
The restaurant will open at 4 p.m. daily, and will serve food late, with a limited menu after 10 p.m. Espana is expected to be open until midnight Monday to Thursday, later on Friday and Saturday. Weekday happy hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight.
And for those already pondering where to park around Plankinton and Wells: The website says there will be valet parking.
To contact: (414) 988-9468.
Nashotah House Theological Seminary is having three fish fry dinners that are open to the public, and guests will have a chance to view the 360-acre campus.
The Friday fish fries, a fundraiser to help students with school expenses, will be 5 to 7:30 p.m. this week, March 30 and April 6 in the dining room of Adams Hall.
Dinners are $10, or $8.50 for students and $5 for children 4 to 11, with a choice of cod or perch.
Students will lead tours of the campus.
Nashotah House is at 2777 Mission Road in Nashotah.
The SURG restaurant group announced today it's closing Charro, its pan-Latin restaurant at 729 N. Milwaukee St., after service Saturday, March 24.
The concept "never worked for us," SURG partner Omar Shaikh said. He's been pleased with the quality of the food and the service of late, but said the food hadn't been consistent over the years. He said the group has a potential new concept for the space but isn't in a rush to implement it.
Charro in the meantime will serve as the commissary for the group's Bradford Beach concession stand in summer. Its employees will have opportunities to work at the group's other restaurants, such as Ryan Braun's Graffito, which is adding servers for patio season, and to the restaurant expected to open around late April at 17900 W. Blue Mound Road in Brookfield, previously also a Charro restaurant.
Charro downtown opened in December 2008 with more of a Mexican and Tex-Mex focus to the menu; it shifted to pan-Latin about a year ago.
Charro's chef, Aaron Patin, will lead the group's new restaurant in Brookfield on Blue Mound Road. The name of the restaurant hasn't been released yet, but the the focus would be American cuisine, with a casual decor, farm-to-table elements and wood-fired grill. The menu would include steaks, seafood and casual plates.
The bar area would be sports-focused, and the restaurant would be family friendly, the statement suggests.
Jake's Burger, the successor to Haute Taco in Brookfield, launches on Friday.
Besides the burgers with custom toppings -- built like the burgers at Jake's steakhouse in Pewaukee, with a blend of short rib, brisket and sirloin -- the restaurant will have salads, sides and some other sandwiches.
On the beverage side, look for milkshakes (spiked and not), craft beers, craft cocktails and wines.
Hours will be 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday for dinner, and 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Jake's Burger will have two happy hours -- 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to close Tuesday to Friday.
Jake's Burger is in Sendik's Towne Center at 18905 W. Capitol Drive. Haute Taco closed there in February.
It's ever easier to find multicourse special dinners paired with beers and wines, for a set price. Have a look at some of the events coming up:
Beer dinner at 5 O’Clock Club
The brewmaster of Stevens Point Brewery will be on hand for a five-course dinner paired with Point beers on April 17 at Pewaukee’s 5 O’Clock Club.
Opening the meal will be a chilled seafood trio of house-cured salmon, grapevine-smoked scallop and lobster mignonette, paired with Point’s Nude Beach, an American pale wheat ale. The main course is olive oil-poached grass-fed beef tenderloin with ale pan reduction, duck-fat Parmesan croquette, watercress chimichurri, roast carrots, ramps and asparagus, served with 2012 Black Ale.
The $50 cost includes beers, tax and tip. To make reservations or for more info, call the restaurant at (262) 691-9960. The 5 O’Clock Club is at N28-W26658 Peterson Drive, off Highway G.
Alsatian wines at Lake Park Bistro
Hear about Alsatian wines — including Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir — from a family member from France’s Lucien Albrecht winery during a dinner May 17 at Lake Park Bistro.
The five-course dinner, at 6:30 p.m., is $75. Reserve a seat by calling (414) 962-6300. Lake Park Bistro is at 3133 E. Newberry Blvd.
Goose Island beers at Tess
Premium vintage ales and a reserve ale from Chicago’s Goose Island Beer Co. will be paired with five courses at Tess on April 24.
The courses include lamb two ways — grilled house-made merguez sausage and braised lamb breast with apple-sweet potato hash and green peppercorn sauce — paired with Pepe Nero, a farmhouse ale brewed with black peppercorns.
The dinner is $54. Make reservations by calling (414) 964-8377. Tess is at 2499 N. Bartlett Ave.
Napa wines at Dream Dance Steak
Try Hill Family Estate wines from California's Napa Valley, guided by the founder's son, at a five-course dinner April 5 at Dream Dance Steak.
Courses include venison wrapped in house-cured bacon, with port agrodolce, fingerling potatoes and celery-leaf salad, paired with Hill Family Origin wine, a red blend.
The event starts at 6 p.m., with dinner at 6:30. It's $65. For information or reservations, (414) 847-7883.
Perhaps longtime customers of the Mexican restaurant Conejito’s Place on the near south side have wondered whatever happened to server Alicia “LaLa” Guerra, who worked there for more than 25 years.
She opened her own restaurant, that’s what.
LaLa’s Place opened about a month ago at 3470 E. Layton Ave., Cudahy. That’s the former La Salsa space.
Guerra is again waiting on customers and calling them "honey." She’s made some cosmetic changes to the 20-table restaurant and is planning more of them.
The menu offers everything from breakfast plates — such as huevos con chorizo ($5.75) — to lunches and dinners, such as bistec a la tampiquena ($10.50), a large plate of skirt steak with onions, green peppers, cheese and onion enchilada, rice, beans and tortillas.
Some of the popular menu items include Mr. Barillas Special ($8.25), a large burrito with two kinds of meat, cilantro, onions, avocado and sour cream ($8.25), and the tacos al pastor dinner ($7.75) with rice, beans and tortillas.
Guerra is celebrating with a grand opening Saturday, with specials in the afternoon.
LaLa’s is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, although it might close up around 10 on a quiet night. Contact the restaurant at (414) 744-4417; it’s on Facebook.
Cuisine, the fine-dining restaurant operated by MATC culinary students at the college’s downtown campus, is moving to a more visible location and will be open during summers.
It will move from the sixth floor of the main building, 1015 N. 6th St., to the first floor, said Milwaukee Area Technical College spokeswoman Kathleen Hohl.
The targeted opening date for the new location is July 9, or thereabouts. The college also will start offering summer culinary courses, meaning the restaurant will remain open during the summers.
Previously, Cuisine has been open during fall and spring semesters only.
MATC also will open a bakery-café on the first floor next year, as reported Wednesday in the Food section.
Cuisine typically serves lunch Tuesdays through Thursdays except during exams and school breaks. See more about the restaurant at matc.edu/cuisine.
Here’s an alternative to french fries and fatty foods: Fresh Healthy Eatery & Juice Bar opened this week at the Shops of Grand Avenue downtown.
It’s in the space formerly occupied by the Chocolate Factory on the mall’s second floor. Fresh’s owner is Tony Yanakiev, who also owns Fresh Eco Café in the Mequon Pavilions shopping center.
Guests can order at the counter and have lunch in the café’s 40 seats or, if they’re in a rush, can get sandwiches and salads from the grab-and-go counter or a self-serve soup island.
Besides the juice bar, power shots (such as wheatgrass and ginger) and smoothies, Fresh has four kinds of soups daily, sandwiches, salads and raw desserts, with vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free items on the menu.
Sandwiches (all $7.39) include pressed chicken and house-made pesto, and the Veggie Delight, avocado, tomatoes and sprouts with Fresh’s tofu spread.
A served-all-day breakfast bowl is a dairy-free granola parfait, layered with blended acai berry, blueberry, strawberry and banana.
Diners can place larger orders in advance by calling (414) 459-3711; see the full menu online.
Its tagline of “a new American diner” is a clue to what North Avenue Grill in Wauwatosa is about.
The restaurant, which is expected to open around mid-April at 7225 W. North Ave., will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, and it’s keeping the counter, stools and booths that have been in place for years, even before its last occupant, Daymaker Café.
“We really want to honor that tradition but make it contemporary,” said Jon Anne Willow. She’s opening the café with Mehrdad J. Dalamie, Michael Gull and Patti Wenzel.
So the interior is getting an update, and the menu will focus on food made from scratch, with gluten-free and vegan options.
Willow and Dalamie were the first owners of Bremen Café in Riverwest, and Dalamie, who will be North Avenue Grill’s chef, also was an owner of the Spanish restaurant Don Quixote when it was on N. Downer Ave., Willow said.
One partner’s diagnosis of gluten intolerance last year pointed up the challenges of avoiding gluten at restaurants. North Avenue Grill will have separate prep areas to help avoid cross-contamination, she said.
Some of the menu items planned are corned beef or chicken hash ($8) and poached eggs in red-wine sauce on grilled sourdough with bacon, mushroom and onion ($8.75) for breakfast; appetizers such as mirza ($7), roasted eggplant, goat cheese, curry-garlic tahini and tomato; and burgers ($6.50 to $10), including turkey and vegan patties.
North Avenue Grill is on Facebook; the phone number will be (414) 453-7225.
More validation that summer’s on the way: Hi Hat Garage, 1709 N. Arlington Place, will open for lunch at 11 a.m. weekdays starting Monday.
The Garage will stay open straight through until bar time throughout summer. Look for a new menu in May.
Robins, daffodils, a new drinks menu... It's spring at the Hamilton, 823 E. Hamilton St. And to help the lounge roll out its spring drinks designed by Bittercube, Ira Koplowitz of the bitters-making company will be guest-tending bar tonight.
Some of the new, lighter drinks for spring on the menu are Windsor Forrest (Citadelle gin, green Chartreuse, lime and rosemary tincture) and Etiquette & Lace (Buffalo Trace bourbon, Cocchi Americano, Pimm's, raspberry syrup and Bittercube Jamaican No. 2 bitters).


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There has been a significant improvement in how the American people view FoMoCo ever since the automaker decided not to ask Washington for federal loans. According to an independent study conducted by Aloft Group Inc., 63 percent of U.S. consumers have a “positive perception” of FoMoCo.
The study said that prior to GM and Chrysler asking the government for bridge loans last fall, 41 percent of Americans had a positive perception of Ford.
“Changing consumers’ perception of a brand is typically a slow and uphill process,” said Aloft CEO Matt Bowen “This is very unusual in that this positive brand perception upswing occurred in a relatively short time frame and under intense global scrutiny of the auto industry.”
Alfot found that 33 percent of those surveyed said they will be more “willing to consider buying a Ford since Ford chose to not take the bailout money.” 24 percent believe that Ford does not need federal aid.
– By: The Daily Auto Editor
Source: Detroit News


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Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway surged to a record high this week, helping increase its valuation this year by more than $100bn — the equivalent of Ford and Halliburton combined.
The “Oracle of Omaha”, whose sprawling railroad-to-confectioner conglomerate is now worth $780bn, has enticed investors despite a quarter that revealed the negative effects of the cooling US economy on some of its biggest portfolio companies, and few new investments.
Longtime investors said there were good reasons Berkshire’s shares have risen 16 per cent this year.
“The fact the economy has stayed resilient even if overall growth has been subdued, that is a very positive thing,” said Christopher Rossbach, chief investment officer of J Stern & Co, a longtime shareholder. “[Buffett] has a very nice balance of exposure to good businesses.”
Among investors helping push the stock to new highs are retail traders. Trading data analysed by Goldman Sachs this week underlined the point: retail investors have placed many more buy than sell orders for Berkshire shares.
JPMorgan Chase strategists noted there was persistent demand for the company’s vastly cheaper B shares, which currently trade at $357, and for its $543,680 class A stock, traditionally a quieter market.
The bank’s analysis showed bidding for the B shares had picked up particularly with retail investors in recent days, with a growing imbalance between buy and sell orders. It is a fact that is often observed in Berkshire stock; Buffett himself has said that the company’s large cohort of long-term shareholders limits trading in the stock.
Many shareholders have been invested in Berkshire for years or decades. Jay Winthrop, a principal at Douglass Winthrop Advisors, noted that it had an “unusual collection of shareholders and it tilts heavily to individuals and families”.
Berkshire’s second-quarter results this month indicate what is driving the enthusiasm.
Profits for the quarter were nearly $36bn, including $10bn of operating earnings — a 6.6 per cent year-on-year rise and a measure of the profitability of its vast business portfolio.
Investors were buoyed by the fact that Geico, the company’s auto insurance unit, posted a second consecutive quarterly profit after more than a year of losses.
They also seemed unfazed by Buffett’s report that he had found few appealing companies to invest in and was pumping cash into short-term government debt instead.
Berkshire was a net seller of $8bn of stocks in the second quarter, and $10.4bn in the first quarter. Meanwhile, interest income on Berkshire’s $147bn cash and Treasury bill portfolio is on track to top $5bn this year.
“Right now someone with cash is in a very nice situation,” said Rhys Williams, chief strategist at Spouting Rock Asset Management. “With all the things that could go bump in the middle of the night, that probably plays to his strengths.”
The performance of Berkshire’s stock portfolio also cheered investors: the value of its stake in Apple grew by nearly $60bn in the first half of the year after a sharp rise in the iPhone maker’s shares.
“It’s just a math problem,” Winthrop said. “If you have more than 20 per cent of your market cap tied up in Apple in a year like this, you’ll have that move the dial on Berkshire’s share price.”
Investors said these factors offset the negatives. The 6.6 per cent rise in operating profit was partly driven by Berkshire’s recent acquisitions, including its takeover of insurance-to-toys conglomerate Alleghany. Its 25 per cent stake in Occidental Petroleum means part of the oil company’s profits are reported on Berkshire’s income statement.
The results also contained evidence that the US economy is no longer running at the speed it was when stimulus measures fuelled a post-pandemic rebound.
Berkshire’s BNSF Railway, which runs from California to Illinois, reported a decline in shipping revenues and said consumer and industry demand had fallen. The slide in the housing market hit Berkshire’s building products business, as well as its real estate broker and manufactured homes businesses.
It also reported “lower revenues at . . . nearly all of our other consumer products operations”, which includes battery brand Duracell, clothing company Fruit of the Loom and motorhome company Forest River.
There was also a disclosure that, at other companies, would have been the main headline news. Berkshire-owned electric utility PacifiCorp warned that it was facing claims of more than $7bn related to 2020 wildfires in the states of Oregon and California, had “probable losses” of $1bn and could incur “significant additional losses” as cases move through the courts.
It was a fact that few shareholders raised as a concern. As is usually the case, they were more focused on Buffett’s investment decisions.
Darren Pollock, a portfolio manager at Cheviot, said that while an “optimistic stock market is at least in part behind Berkshire’s rise”, the gains in Apple, its successful investments in energy and Japanese trading houses were also a factor.
“Buffett and his acumen are in vogue again,” he said. “The market’s perception — certainly not the reality — regarding his ability waxes and wanes over time. On a few occasions in the past quarter-century it was fashionable for some in the market to believe, wrongly, that Buffett had ‘lost it’.”


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The first trailer for "Grand Theft Auto VI" has hit YouTube in a surprise, ahead-of-schedule post, promising a 2025 release for the latest installment in the mega-popular video game franchise.
True to rumours, the video game will be set in fictional Vice City, reminiscent of Miami, and appears to feature the first playable female character in the franchise.
The early release of the trailer on Monday, prompted by a leak online, came on the eve of Tuesday's scheduled first glimpse for GTA VI and zoomed to almost 40 million views on YouTube in just over six hours.
"Our trailer has leaked so please watch the real thing," Rockstar Games, the company behind GTA, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
"I feel like this GTA will lean much more into the absurdity of America, much more than GTA V did," wrote a member of a Reddit forum devoted to spotting references in the trailer. "Oh absolutely," replied another member of the forum.
"Florida is the #1 craziest place in America, a place where you can get an AR-15 (assault rifle) and a free turkey with a roofing service. I'm so hyped."
Set to the Tom Petty song "Love Is A Long Road," the GTA VI trailer opens with a female character named Lucia being released from prison in what appears to be Florida.
In one scene, an alligator walks in through the front doors of a corner store. In another, a woman in a bathing suit is twerking on the roof of a moving car.
There are also flashes of the usual GTA themes: police raids, car crashes, arrests, and illegal car stunt gatherings referred to as "sideshows" in the real world.
"Grand Theft Auto VI continues our efforts to push the limits of what's possible in highly immersive, story-driven open-world experiences," Rockstar founder Sam Houser said in a statement. (AFP)


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Facetime conversations with your favourite celebrity could soon be a reality with eCommerce and artificial intelligence company Crowd Media (ASX: CM8) securing a vital partnership that will provide access to the best-in-class voice cloning technology.
The partnership is with Europe-based synthetic media company Aflorithmic Labs (AFLR) and has been entered into alongside a strategic investment from Crowd that has acquired a 10% stake in AFLR for AUD $1.77 million, a move that significantly reduces Crowd’s R&D risk if they were to pursue the voice cloning tech themselves.
“What we are doing here is lowering technical risk by engaging an experienced, specialised team, and simultaneously reducing timelines by increasing our execution resources” said Crowd Media Chairman, Steven Schapera.
“From the outside, Aflorithmic may be about AI, but it’s really about the human intelligence of their Founders: having spent a lot of time with many experts, internationally, in this space it is my view that Timo Kunz, Peadar Coyle and Bjorn Uhss lead a team that are at the top of their game. Working together, I believe we can translate the most recent advances in AI research into commercial innovations that will completely reshape the way consumers engage in ecommerce.
“The vulnerable part of our plan was finding the right team to bolt all the pieces together, and Aflorithmic is the silver bullet I was looking for”
Leveraging ALFR’s AI voice synthesis and audio production automation, ALFR brings the audio tech that will replicate a celebrity’s accent, tone and mannerisms as if the celebrity were on the other end of a call. The actual content of what the cloned celebrity says will be driven by Crowd’s AI-driven chatbot technology which has answered more than 180 million user-submitted questions via text-only mediums.
“Crowd has developed a strong and convincing vision of what the future of conversational commerce will look like and has managed to create a fantastic portfolio of best-of-breed synthetic media companies unlike we have ever seen,” said Aflorithmic CEO, Timo Kunz.
“Together with Crowd and their partners, we see the opportunity to fundamentally redesign the way users experience digital commerce and to significantly shape the future of synthetic media as such. The Aflorithmic team is excited to embark with Crowd on this journey together.”
The immersive experience of a fan conversing with their favourite celebrities will come together once combined with visual elements being brought to the project by Forever Holdings, Zoe01 and Uneeq as Crowd previously announced. This visual element is powered by 3D imaging as Crowd recently showed on social media.
Core to rising demand for Crowd’s AI technology is the rapid increase in celebrity connectivity brought upon by social media. As the influencer marketing industry continues to grow rapidly, driven by endorsement deals and social media, influencers have limited time for 1-on-1 conversations. However, that is tipped to change in 2022 when Crowd commercialises their platform to rapidly produce talking heads of celebrities and influencers.
Having brought this vision of conversational commerce and a $2.7m investment to Crowd Media in 2019 when he saw the sheer potential of their chatbot technology, Schapera will lead the charge in the interim.
He takes over following the resignation of CEO, Domenic Carosa who co-founded Crowd Media in 2009 and has been integral to the growth of their chatbot technology. Although Carosa departs to focus on cryptocurrency company Banxa (TSXV: BNXA) which he founded, he will retain a non-executive position and a 6% share in the Company.
Carosa will also consult on Crowd’s 2021 strategy to expand their brand partnership network into fintech and insuretech services, of which he is well-connected internationally and widely-known as an early Bitcoin investor.
“Domenic has demonstrated honesty, integrity, and true grit during his time at Crowd,” said Schapera.
“Under his leadership he now hands over a stable ship, a stronger balance sheet, and – most importantly – a company that now has the capability to translate the most recent advances in AI research into innovations that will reshape the way consumers think about ecommerce experiences and move us closer to our $1B target.”
In an executive capacity, Schapera is best known as the Founder of BECCA Cosmetics which he exited in 2016 via a $300 million sale to Estee Lauder prior to his venture into Crowd Media.
In December 2020, Emerald Financial released an Analyst report on Crowd Media which can be viewed here.
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Max’s hits profits so far on year of rooster
The country’s leading casual dining chain Max’s Group Inc. (MGI) grew its nine-month net profit attributable to equity holders of parent by 8.86 percent year-on-year to P419.25 million on higher restaurant sales.
Including net profit attributable to minority interest, MGI’s net profit rose by 11 percent year-on-year to P421.73 million.
System-wide sales increased by 14 percent to P12.6 billion for the period in review, thus supporting a 12-percent expansion in revenues to P9.04 billion.
Same-store sales growth was at 5 percent for the covered period.
Commissary sales went up by 5 percent year-on-year to P1.02 billion, which MGI said was indicative of the stable performance of its franchising business. Revenues from new franchises, royalty and continuing license fees gained by 8 percent to P432.72 million due to higher recurring income and new contracts.
Cash flow as measured by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) stood at P970.80 million.
“The results underscore our steady growth state notwithstanding the effects of cyclicality, rising input costs and heightened competition. As we channel this momentum into the Christmas season, we are primed for another strong finish to cap off the year,” MGI president Robert Trota said.
For the third quarter alone, attributable net profit was flat at P90.21 versus P91.6 million in the same period last year as MGI grappled with commodity price escalations, increased competition and wet climate.
“While we expect to close 2017 on a high note, we remain confident of our growth prospects heading into next year. We plan to roll out around 80 to 90 stores including 25 to 30 offshore for 2018,” said Trota.
As of the third quarter, MGI opened 58 new stores, both domestically and abroad, bringing its overall network to 660 branches. The company plans to establish 10 to 15 additional outlets for the remainder of the year.
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August 24, 2016
GETI Chooses NorseCorp Anti-Fraud Solution
July 2, 2012
Global eTelecom Inc. (GETI), a Fort Walton Beach, Fla.-based electronic check processor, said it has selected St. Louis-based NorseCorp to provide anti-fraud protection on e-check transactions made online for GETI and its merchant clients.
“GETI’s adoption of NorseCorp’s eCommerce Fraud Prevention service is an important part of our effort to secure and protect our merchants,” said Chris Brundage, COO of Global eTelecom. “Some of our merchants have used the service for credit card transactions with their bankcard processor, and are extremely excited about its ability to significantly reduce fraud. We look forward to seeing similar results for ACH transactions originating from our payment platform.”
Brundage says NorseCorp’s eCommerce Fraud Prevention service enables merchants to leverage real-time intelligence because it proactively gathers information on IP addresses engaged in fraudulent and criminal activity before the transaction. GETI currently provides processing services for more than 55,000 U.S. merchants and says it is adding 2,000 merchants a month to its roster.


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Four More Shots Please! Series 1, directed by Anu Menon for Amazon India has been nominated for an International Emmy Comedy Award. Winners will be announced at the ceremony on 23rd November 2020.
See the full announcement HERE.
You can watch the full series HERE on Amazon Prime Video.
Anu is represented by Rochelle Stevens.


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Electronic Arts Inc. said Tuesday it has agreed to acquire PopCap Games Inc. in a deal worth up to $1.3 billion.
Seattle-based PopCap makes games for mobile phones, tablets, PCs and social networking sites is best known for creating Plants vs. Zombies and Bejeweled.
The purchase follows the gaming giant's foray into mobile gaming in May when it bought Australia-based Firemint and Gilbert-based Mobile Post Production Inc., a firm specializing in customizing mobile apps for different platforms.
Redwood City-based EA plans to pay about $650 million in cash and $100 million in shares of EA for PopCap. The rest of the money from the deal would come in up to $550 million in performance-based payouts.
"EA and PopCap are a compelling combination," said EA CEO John Riccitiello in a prepared statement. "PopCap's great studio talent and powerful IP add to EA's momentum and accelerate our drive toward a $1 billion digital business. EA's global studio and publishing network will help PopCap rapidly expand their business to more digital devices, more countries, and more channels."
Click here to read the press release.


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Much to the excitement of Verizon customers, Nokia Lumia 928 is set to be unveiled on 14th May in London. But that’s not the only device that will be debuting on that day. According to word from China (www.windowsphonebar.cn), another oft-rumored Nokia model will be unwrapped at the same time, the Nokia Lumia 925. The Nokia Lumia 925 codenamed Catwalk is likely to be the international GSM version of the Lumia 928.
At first glance the two devices do not have much in common, but besides the different shells the two devices are expected to have near identical specs including dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, a 4.5 inch octaOLED screen with resolution of 768 x 1280, 1GB RAM 16GB ROM, 8.7 MP sensor and a f/2.0 aperture for terrific shots in low-light conditions, and a 2000mAh non-removable battery.
We’ll be listening out for more information on the Lumia 925 and it may not be too much longer until we see it officially announced if this latest information is accurate. Are you waiting for the Nokia event on May 14 to find out more about upcoming hardware?
Another device that is likely to be unveiled is the PureView EOS. We’ll be waiting to the May 14th event to get the full details of what’s coming into the market.


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There’s a simple and attractive case for Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ) at the moment. The legacy exchange business supports what is still a reasonable valuation for Nasdaq stock. Meanwhile, blockchain and cryptocurrency initiatives support further longer-term upside.
Admittedly, to some investors, blockchain and even cryptocurrency might seem to be a bit of a disappointment. Blockchain adoption has been slower than hoped. Bitcoin trades at less than half past peaks. Some altcoins have completely crashed.
But from a long-term perspective, both trends remain intact. Blockchain growth will continue. Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies aren’t fantasy money. Rather, they are the software of the future.
Indeed, other major trends saw volatility in the beginning. The ‘dot-com bubble’ in the late 1990’s burst — but stocks like Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) and eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) still made fortunes for early investors. More recently, cannabis stocks have struggled, but the long-term potential in that industry can’t be denied.
Major trends take time. For blockchain and cryptocurrency, it’s a matter of when, not if. And what makes Nasdaq stock attractive is that the exchange business means investors don’t have to worry too much about the when.
Nasdaq Stock Is Cheap Already
As I write this, NDAQ stock trades at an even 21x next year’s consensus earnings per share estimate of $5.69. That’s a multiple I’d be happy to pay just for the exchange business.
After all, this is a truly wonderful business. Savvy long-term investors look for a competitive moat — and Nasdaq clearly has a deep one. Obviously, the New York Stock Exchange, owned by Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE), is a key rival. But the business is a duopoly, with no real third competitor.
And Nasdaq is heaviest in tech, which is where this market’s growth is and should be going forward. The NYSE has won a few major initial public offerings in the sector, with Uber (NYSE:UBER) likely the best example. But high-tech, high-growth companies continue to choose Nasdaq.
In fact, Nasdaq is leading the NYSE so far in 2020 in terms of capital raised.
Growth has been impressive in recent years, and that should continue. Almost one-third of revenue comes from what the company calls “information services,” including market data. Trading volumes, which had dipped before the coronavirus pandemic, account for only 36% of sales.
This is a business that simply should keep growing for years, if not decades, to come. Economic cycles can have a modest impact by reducing the number of IPOs, but overall Nasdaq’s business will remain resilient.
21x earnings for a defensive, growing business in this market is a more than reasonable multiple. Just looking at what Nasdaq stock is right now, the price seems right.
Blockchain and Crypto
Yet Nasdaq has two potential growth drivers in blockchain and cryptocurrency.
On the blockchain front, Nasdaq has been a leader for some time. It first moved into the space back in 2015, using blockchain for its private securities platform. In 2017, it partnered with Citgroup (NYSE:C) to apply blockchain technology to cross-border payments.
Over time, Nasdaq can use blockchain to settle equity and derivatives trades faster. Applications elsewhere are endless. We’ve seen, on occasion, optimism toward similar plans from Overstock (NASDAQ:OSTK) through its tZero subsidiary. Nasdaq, as an established leader in the industry, has a much better chance of success.
As the regulatory environment surrounding cryptocurrency becomes more clear, Nasdaq can be a leader in that growing field as well. The company already provides market monitoring technology to several exchanges. It has said in the past it’s open to becoming a crypto exchange itself.
How, exactly, Nasdaq’s role in blockchain and crypto plays out admittedly remains unclear. But the company is making progress in both markets. It’s an unquestioned leader in its industry. Its technical knowledge is unsurpassed.
If those trends flower — and I strongly believe they will — Nasdaq is going to benefit.
Look for a Breakout
So we have a business that, on its own, has an attractive valuation. And we have two potentially significant catalysts to growth over the long haul.
That’s an excellent bull case. In recent months, it hasn’t quite been enough to bust NDAQ stock through resistance at $120.
Then again, this isn’t necessarily a short-term trade. It’s a long-term investment. As tough as that resistance has been, if and when Nasdaq stock breaks through, it could well have a breakout ahead. Businesses like this simply aren’t available for long at this kind of valuation. Again, it’s not a matter of if, but when.
Matthew McCall left Wall Street to actually help investors — by getting them into the world’s biggest, most revolutionary trends BEFORE anyone else. The power of being “first” gave Matt’s readers the chance to bank +2,438% in Stamps.com (STMP), +1,523% in Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and +1,044% in Tesla (TSLA), just to name a few. Click here to see what Matt has up his sleeve now. Matt does not directly own the aforementioned securities.


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On Friday, June 16th Amazon announced that the company had a deal in place to buy Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion at a price of $42 a share.
The 13.7-billion-dollar deal, easily the largest by Amazon, will pay $42 per share in an all-cash deal. That’s 27% higher than Whole Foods’ closing stock price of $33.06 the day the deal was announced. Despite the uncertain specifics of the plan once acquired, investors applauded the acquisition and shares of Amazon rose 2.4% to $987.60 the next day. The deal requires approval by Whole Foods’ shareholders and regulators. The companies expect the deal to be completed in the second half of 2017. Amazon will have to pay Whole Foods $400 million if the deal is not completed.
“Millions of people love Whole Foods Market because they offer the best natural and organic foods, and they make it fun to eat healthy,” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement. “Whole Foods Market has been satisfying, delighting and nourishing customers for nearly four decades – they’re doing an amazing job and we want that to continue.” John Mackey, Whole Foods co-founder and CEO, said he agreed to the deal because it is “an opportunity to maximize value” for the company’s shareholders. He will remain the company’s CEO. Whole Foods Market will keep its brand name and remain headquartered in Austin.
Acquiring Whole Foods, with its 450 stores nationwide, represents a dramatic departure from Amazon’s early business model founded on online retailing and related technology.
Amazon’s offer to buy Whole Foods Market could introduce a new phase of retail, with the potential for hybrid stores and an increasingly transparent sense of where goods come from and how they get to consumers. In buying Whole Foods, Amazon suddenly comes into more than 450 physical stores in prime retail locations among upscale buyers. Amazon understands that the physical piece is key.
A clear majority of supermarket customers still want to see, touch, and smell what they buy. Researchers found that even among people who buy groceries online, 74% of their food dollars are spent in brick-and-mortar stores.
Amazon has been testing the waters in brick-and-mortar operations over the past several years as it looks to increase its market share by being where its customers want, in whatever form they want. In the grocery realm, Amazon has opened two “click and collect” stores in Seattle where customers can order online and then drive through to have their groceries loaded directly into their cars at a predetermined time.
There’s been a lot of talk about what’s next for Amazon and Whole Foods Markets. What analysts don’t expect to see is Amazon closing a lot of Whole Foods buildings in order to create what are known as “dark stores.” These are supermarket item fulfillment centers specifically organized to make picking customer orders efficient but not open to customers. That would be a waste of prime real estate. Amazon could do a lot with that real estate, finding ways to give customers options without having to turn stores into mini-fulfillment distribution centers.


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Automation is Customs chief's legacy
By Mai Gevera
Davao City (18 June) -- Bureau of Customs commissioner Napoleon Morales will soon leave the agency with a concrete solution put in place aimed at solving corruption within the bureau.
In his visit to Davao yesterday (June 16), Morales showed confidence that the new commissioner who will take his place would definitely continue what he has started.
Morales institute automation within the bureau through the e-Customs Project; a multi-million grant from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's e-Government fund.
The Project aims primarily to enhance and upgrade BOC's core and support ICT systems nationwide. Through Internet-based and wireless technologies, it will streamline imports and exports processing and improve trade facilitation between BOC and its stakeholders.
"Everywhere we go, there is really corruption. But what we did here is we removed human intervention by upgrading our ICT systems. That was the answer to the problem on corruption." Napoleon said.
Automation resulted to online submission of manifests, import and export declarations, automatic update on entry status, use of Value Added Service Providers, and e-payment through authorized banks.
With the full implementation of the project, Morales expects improved quality of customs service, improved revenue collection, greater customer satisfaction, highly professional workforce, and greater efficiency.
The system, according to Morales has already been instituted and whoever sits as the next commissioner will have to continue and support the system to full implementation.
Right now, BoC has established tighter measures to crack down on the shipments involving fly-by-night players who make transactions through its automation project in the country's major ports.
Even with the presence of technology, Morales sees the need to enhance it further as the bureau found out some loopholes in the system.
Morales said forwarders can no longer deal with BoC unless they get their accreditation and should be on the list of the Philippine Shippers' Bureau, an agency under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The official also recommended for the continued support to sub-ports in each area. This, he said, should be the priority of the next commissioner. (PIA XI) [top]


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All those members of Lifestyle Residency Project, Sector G-13 Islamabad, who have not been able to make payment of quarterly installments in time, are informed that EHFPRO Board of Directors has recently approved an amnesty in surcharge, provided the outstanding installments are paid before 31st March, 2022. It may be noted that as per Policy, a surcharge @ 2% per month (calculated @ 0.066% daily) is levied, in case of delayed payment of principle amount. Surcharge has already been imposed on defaulting members due to late or non-payment of installments as per Payment Schedule.
Members are requested to avail this last and final opportunity of making payment without any penalty. If outstanding dues are not cleared before 31st March, 2022, not only surcharge will be levied but also, in case of prolonged delay, the allotment cancelled, with no rights of re-allotment of apartment.


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Mazda RX-8 R3 - Click above for high-res image gallery
According to the crew at Auto Motor und Sport, the Mazda RX-8 won't be coming back to Europe for the 2011 model year. Why? The rev-rific rotary can't pass the Euro-5 emission standards and a replacement won't arrive until 2013.
Mazda Germany exec, Joseph Alois Schmid, told AMuS that retrofitting the current engine would be too cost prohibitive and the Wankel can't adapt quickly enough to Europe's stringent emission standards.
Although a replacement is in the works – and a hydrogen version could arrive within the next few years – the next rotary mill will have to be significantly reworked to adhere to the new standards. But even a revised rotary could have problems in 2014, when the new Euro 6 emission rules take effect.
[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via TTAC]


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Gender inequality and gender-based discrimination of women at the factory level was mitigated through sensitization and engagement aimed towards:
- Senior and mid-level management
- Supervisors, floor in-charge
- Internal Committee Members
- Peer Trainers
- Factory workers
The project deliverables have been seriously impacted due to massive disruptions in the economy and industry on account of stringent healthcare measures and lockdowns across the country. Most garment factories have not been fully operational since lockdown. Due to the spread of COVID 19 pandemic globally and in India, with subsequent country wide total lockdown since March 25, 2020, our meetings with suppliers to take up Gender Equality Programme in their manufacturing units materialised only after July 2020.


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CNET breaks out the most important things to know when shopping for a new television.
What good is a digital assistant if she can't tell you to leave early because of traffic reports? That's a question asked by Microsoft at any rate.
The most important things to know when shopping for a new laptop, hybrid, or Windows tablet.
When it comes to setting themselves apart, small studios have one especially effective tool in their arsenal.
Almost 2 billion people around the world use smartphones -- typically worth hundreds of dollars a pop on the black market. A former smartphone thief explains their allure to street criminals.
Plus: an Amazon Fire TV Stick for just $24.99 -- assuming supplies last the morning.
A year after exiting BlackBerry, Thorsten Heins weighs in on his time at the smartphone maker and dishes on his current phone.
Biotech startup Suneris has developed a plant-based polymer it says functions like "Lego building blocks for the body," drastically reducing the amount of time it takes to stop a wound from bleeding.
The Philips HTB3525B packs Blu-ray, Smart TV, and Bluetooth into an affordable sound bar, making it a great choice if you're looking for an all-in-one system.
The Internet giant faces yet another tussle with European officials, who want Google to split off its search business.


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Owner General Motors says in a statement that the iconic US brand “will no longer have a mainstream presence” in Western and Eastern Europe and it will instead focus on growing its Vauxhall and Opel brands in the region.
Dan Akerson, chairman and chief executive of General Motors, says: “Europe is a key region for GM that will benefit from a stronger Opel and Vauxhall and further emphasis on Cadillac. For Chevrolet, it will allow us to focus our investments where the opportunity for growth is greatest.
“This is a win for all four brands. It’s especially positive for car buyers throughout Europe, who will be able to purchase vehicles from well-defined, vibrant GM brands.”
The statement adds the decision was borne from the “challenging business model and the difficult economic situation in Europe.” Chevrolet sales dropped 17 per cent in the 10 months to 31 October, giving the marque a 1.2 per cent share of the market. By contrast, sales of Opel and Vauxhall cars declined 3 per cent with the two enjoying a combined 6.7 per cent share of the market.
A spokesman for Chevrolet says the decision does not threaten its long-term sponsorship deals with Liverpool and Manchester United and that the partnerships will be exploited to grow awareness of the brand globally. – the marque starts a seven-year shirt sponsorship of United from the 2014/15 season and signed a four-year “official partner” deal with Liverpool last July.
He adds: “The partnership with Manchester United and Liverpool FC are of global nature and we intend to continue these relationships to help build our brand around the globe. We are particularly proud that as of the 2014/15 season,Chevrolet will be the shirt sponsor of Manchester United.”
The sponsorships were an attempt to grow the USA brand’s awareness in parts of the world where the two clubs enjoy a large following such as South East Asia. A single brand vision and communications platform Find New Roads was introduced in January.
“Select iconic” vehicles such as the Corvette will continue to be sold in Western and Eastern Europe and Chevrolet will continue to be sold in Russia, GM says.


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March 11, 2019 - Written by David Woodsmith
STORY LINK Euro to Dollar Exchange Rate: EUR/USD Avoids Tumbling Back to Last Week?s Yearly Lows
Despite a lack of fresh strong support for the Euro since last week’s surprisingly dovish European Central Bank (ECB)
decision, the Euro to US Dollar (EUR/USD) exchange rate has avoided further losses today. Investors were hesitant to sell the Euro to its worst levels amid speculation that the Eurozone could be about to see something of a turnaround.
Weak Eurozone data and ECB dovishness dragged EUR/USD over a cent lower from last week’s opening levels of 1.1368. In fact, EUR/USD briefly touched on a yearly low of 1.1183 on Thursday – the worst level for the pair since 2017.
After that, EUR/USD rebounded slightly and closed the week near the level of 1.1235. The pair remained resilient on Monday and trended closely to the level of 1.1240 at the time of writing today.
Today’s German trade data, as well as rising speculation that the worst of the Euro’s performance may be behind it, helped the Euro to hold its ground.
However, the US Dollar remains appealing despite some underwhelming US data in recent sessions, thanks to the overall solid US economic outlook.
EUR Exchange Rates May Have Hit a Low Point
Speculation has risen over the past week that the Eurozone’s economic outlook is showing more optimistic signs following an economic slowdown that lasted longer than analysts expected it would.
Could the Euro itself be about to rebound from its worst levels as well?
Demand for the shared currency was buoyed today, amid a lack of fresh market reasons to sell the currency further, as well as speculation that the bearish bets against the currency may have hit a bottom.
Bets against the Euro recently hit their worst levels since December 2016, and analysts are speculating that if the Euro isn’t in for more losses the currency could be in for a slight recovery.
According to Valentin Marinov, Head of Currency Strategy at Credit Agricole SA:
‘Excessive market shorts do highlight that we may be getting closer to a turning point,
To have a real turnaround in the Euro, however, we would need more tangible evidence of an economic turnaround in the Eurozone. Calling the bottom of the latest Euro selloff has proved to be very challenging.’
Essentially, without much reason to sell the Euro further, Euro investors are highly anticipating further evidence that the Eurozone’s economic activity is starting to see an improvement from the recent slowdown.
USD Exchange Rate Strength Limited as US Retail Slumped over Holiday Season
Despite the importance of retail activity over the winter holiday period, the US retail sector reportedly slumped even further than expected in December.
According to January’s US retail sales results, published this afternoon, the US retail sector just hasn’t been as buoyant as hoped in recent months.
While monthly retail sales improved to a better than expected 0.2% in January, investors were concerned that December’s print had been revised lower from -1.2% to -1.6%.
December’s year-on-year figure was revised lower as well, from 2.3% to just 1.6%.
As a result of the concerning December retail sales data, the US Dollar slipped today despite US business inventories meeting expectations.
According to analysts from Capital Economics, weak car sales were partially to blame for holding back US retail activity:
‘The modest 0.2% m/m gain in headline retail sales was partly due to a 2.4% m/m drop in motor vehicle sales. Unfortunately, the manufacturers’ data show that sales fell further in February.’
EUR/USD Exchange Rate Forecast: US Inflation Due Today
As recent US data is showing signs of slowdown, the Euro to US Dollar exchange rate could be in for further gains if upcoming US data disappoints investors as well.
No notable Eurozone data will be published tomorrow, leaving Euro to US Dollar exchange rate investors to react to US data, as well as any other news that could influence market sentiment.
The biggest US data of the day will be February’s US Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate report, which is expected to have improved just slightly since January.
If US inflation beats forecasts though, it could drag EUR/USD lower as the US Dollar strengthens.
If tomorrow’s Brexit news shocks investors, this could also drive EUR/USD lower as it would cause stronger market demand for safe haven currencies.
The Euro could react to Brexit news tomorrow, but Wednesday’s industrial production stats are more likely to directly influence the Euro to US Dollar (EUR/USD) exchange rate.
International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way,
ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.
TAGS: Euro Forecasts


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~ Sectors such as healthcare, energy & utilities, manufacturing, and retail are expected to benefit the most from large-scale 5G adoption ~
Mumbai, 15th November 2022: Fostering industry transformation, and reimagining conventional systems with 5G, can unleash the potential of digital convergence in a hyper connected society. To present the future opportunities of 5G in the tech industry, Arthur D. Little and The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) have today released their study, titled, “5G – Unfolding India’s era of digital convergence.”
Release was launched on the side-lines of NASSCOM Tech Innovation Conclave (NTIC) 2022 in Mumbai by Mr Brajesh Singh, President, Arthur D. Little India, along with NASSCOM officials. The study aims to present a holistic view of 5G in India, analysing its impact on the economy and related opportunities for different industries while assessing the challenges for ecosystem players in its implementation.
With the recent successful conclusion of spectrum auctions by the Government of India, the country is gearing pace to usher in the new wave of digital services that will drive mobile/internet penetration at the grassroots and serve as the critical enabler of digitalization. Aided by increasing market penetration, a strengthening economy, and sectoral reforms, 5G is expected to power up to 2% of India’s GDP, amounting to $180 bn by 2030.
India currently has the 2nd highest number of telecom users in the world, with 1.1bn users, of which 740 Mn are 4G customers. However, with the launch of 5G in the country, the shift is expected to offer rapid upgradation of customer experience. 5G is expected to create new value through hyper-connectivity and become a catalyst for digital transformation across industries. Sectors such as healthcare, energy & utilities, manufacturing, and retail are expected to benefit the most from large-scale 5G adoption.
Some use cases in these sectors include smart metering, smart grids, efficient consumption, predictive O&M etc in energy and utilities, efficient customer journey, data analytics, and virtual shopping among others in retail, online consultation, robotic surgeries, cloud-based patient profiling and wearables etc for healthcare, and digital transformation, smart factories, intelligent supply & planning, among others in manufacturing sector.
Commenting at the launch of the study, Debjani Ghosh, President NASSCOM said, “The next era of digital connectivity brought forward by 5G has the potential to change the socio-fabric of India and transform societies at large. For India, 5G provides an opportunity for industries to augment the pace of digitization at the grassroots level and for consumers to gain with economies of scale. However, achieving this will require effective ecosystem collaboration between Telcos, OEMs, Infrastructure companies, and the Government to increase consumer adoption and market readiness to unlock large-scale benefits of 5G.”
Barnik Chitran Maitra, Managing Partner, Arthur D. Little India and South Asia said. “With over 500 million 5G users in India by 2030, 5G can be truly transformational for the economy. With public and private 5G networks enabling use cases across multiple sectors such as mobility, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, energy & utilities, 5G can have an impact of over USD 180 Bn on India’s economy in 2030.”
As industries look to 5G to meet the demands of a digitized world, the need for pro-investment policies and modernized regulatory regimes has never been greater. 5G adoption is dependent on multiple factors such as dedicated R&D investments to develop India-specific use cases, enterprise penetration, device affordability, and consumer adoption.
Certain aspects such as adequate infrastructure upgradation and fiberisation for 5G deployment, along with network densification need to be addressed to realize the utmost benefit of the technology across industries. The government needs to equip the ecosystem by catalysing a skilled workforce through effective academic and industry collaboration, implementing robust policies that involve vocational training in rural areas, providing financial incentives and minimizing regulatory overlaps with other ministries for seamless 5G deployment.
Cybersecurity infrastructure and privacy protection mechanisms need to be enhanced to minimize cyber threats and attack vectors. Similarly, steps should be taken to address the power needs of 5G and ensure the adoption of Green 5G to enable sustainable 5G adoption.
About Arthur D. Little
Founded in 1886, Arthur D. Little (ADL) is the world’s first management consulting firm linking strategy, innovation and transformation in tech-intensive converging industries. ADL operates 40 offices globally and serves Fortune 1000 companies, besides leading firms and public sector organizations.
Pioneering the concept of “professional services” in the world, ADL played a key role in the development of business strategy, operations research, the word processor, the first synthetic penicillin, LexisNexis, SABRE, and NASDAQ.