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Saturday is Heroes’ Day at Kroger Field, which means they’re breaking out the football field-sized American flag for the national anthem, and now, we know they’ll have a voice to match it. Jordan Smith will sing the anthem on Saturday, the perfect choice to honor our nation’s men and women in service. The Harlan, Kentucky native shot to stardom when he won season nine of NBC’s The Voice in 2015, and released his debut album in March 2016. In January 2016, he sang the anthem at a game in Rupp Arena:
There are still plenty of tickets available for the game, so do yourself a favor and secure yours. All active and reserve members of the armed forces along with police, firefighters and first responders are eligible to receive two complimentary tickets to the game by presenting a valid service ID, while supplies last. Tickets will be available at the Joe Craft Center ticket office beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5 and throughout game week from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Tickets can also be picked up on game day beginning at 8 a.m. at the Kroger Field ticket office, located between gates 9 and 10.
Along with complimentary tickets for heroes, UK Athletics is proud to offer specially priced tickets for the Eastern Kentucky game that will benefit Homes For Our Troops (HFOT). Fans can order tickets directly through a special website, UKathletics.com/HeroesDay, and $5 of every $30 ticket sold through this site will go directly to HFOT.
Go Cats. Go America. Go Jordan Smith.


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Anti-ageing market develops in grey zone
The Swiss Centre for Technology Assessment (TA-Swiss) is warning that the growing market for anti-ageing products needs proper surveillance.
In a report, it says that companies are already trying to cash in demand from people seeking to stave off the effects of time without considering the impact on their health.
TA-Swiss launched its study after realising that current research could lead in a few years time to substances and technologies that could slow the effects of ageing. But also after seeing that there are already products being promoted as anti-ageing with healthy sales.
"Anti-ageing products are in a grey zone between health and nutrition," said Adrian Rüegsegger of TA-Swiss. "When it comes to pharmaceuticals, the regulatory process is clear, but anti-ageing products are often sold as if they have a medical effect even though they do not require any authorisation before going on sale."
With a growing elderly population – and in 40 years time, more than a third will be older than 60 - there is already plenty of demand for these products and the market will continue its expansion according to the assessment centre.
"It's normal for people to want these products as the population ages. That's why we think there should be more regulation of these products," Rüegsegger told swissinfo.
The study focused on whether anti-aging products have any real use, are good for people's health and safe. This includes finding out if a healthy population needs to consume these products in a preventive fashion.
"There is for example not much point in healthy people consuming vitamin supplements if they eat healthily, even if advertising tells them otherwise," said Rüegsegger.
TA-Swiss suggests there are much simpler ways of guaranteeing older people's health. Healthier food choices, exercise and social contact are often enough, the report says, with medications reserved for sick people.
"Nobody has shown that taking pharmaceuticals as a preventive measure has any useful effect," points out Rüegsegger.
"If clinical studies were to show that a product has a useful preventive effect, then it would be a good thing," he added. "The problem is that there is plenty of marketing making such claims, but nothing to back it up."
The report says that part of the anti-ageing process should be the early detection of medical problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes that often crop up as people get older. By identifying existing health conditions, steps can be taken to make sure they do not develop into something worse.
The main recommendations of the study's authors include scrutinising anti-aging products and seeing if they actually have a beneficial effect. "If they do, there is no reason to ban them," added Rüegsegger.
Another recommendation is to not authorise products that present a risk or have no real effect, while better nutrition, exercise, and regular medical check-ups should also be considered as part of the anti-ageing process.
While the report calls for tighter legislation and regulatory processes, including more rigorous controls of products, TA-Swiss warns though that it might be of little value if the effort isn't coordinated internationally.
"These products can also be purchased via internet," said Rüegsegger. "It wouldn't make much sense if Switzerland were the only country to implement an authorisation process."
swissinfo, Scott Capper
Anti-ageing medicine is defined by some specialists as the application scientific and medical technologies for the early detection, prevention and treatment of age-related problems.
According to TA-Swiss, the aim of these processes are to provide people with the best quality of life during their later years, the idea being to age successfully.
The biggest emphasis should be on prevention at an early stage. If injuries occur, they should be "repaired" medically or cosmetically. And elderly people who can no longer fight the ageing process should be helped by electronic aids or robots.
The centre provides discussion papers that are as independent as possible on the opportunities and risks of new technologies.
TA-Swiss, which serves as a study centre for the government's Science and Technology Council, encourages dialogue between citizens and scientists through participative events such as discussion forums.
It also observes scientific trends. Its aim is to identify controversial developments and carry out studies on selected issues.
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Tata Chemicals is among the top three losers on the BSE currently; the stock opened weak and went down over 6.5% to an intraday low at Rs.927.50. Its 52-week low stands at Rs.773.90.
The stock price slumped after the company cut prices for light and dense soda ash by 3-4% across India.
This cut in prices follows the global trend where prices have been on a decline since March. The consistent fall in prices is on account of the huge capacity addition expected to go on stream from next month in China’s Inner Mongolia region by Yuan Xing Energy.
Though its not verified news about the capacity, news is that Yuan Xing’s capacity of 1.5 mtpa will go on stream in May’23 and this will be graded up further to 5 mtpa by Dec’23.
Given the contract prices with USA and other exports, Tata Chemicals’ Q4FY23 earnings will not be impacted but we could see some effect in H1FY24.


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Mario's nipples are breaking the internet
Super Mario Odyssey, Nintendo’s upcoming release, shows everyone’s favourite character living his absolute best life. But some fans are getting riled up about something else.
The gaming giant released a seven-minute preview of the Switch game on Wednesday, which shows Mario navigating various kingdoms in a range of outfits.
But it was one particular still, which shows the former plumber shirtless and frolicking on a beach in polka dot swim shorts, that really got the internet talking.
Just when you thought you’d seen Mario in all his guises, he reveals he has actual nipples – a revelation which caught many Twitter users off guard.
Naturally, it became the perfect meme fodder.
In the game, fans can also look forward to seeing Mario in a safari get-up, in a sombrero, and sporting a tortoiseshell backpack as he journeys around the world.
Super Mario Odyssey will be released on October 27 for Nintendo Switch.


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OR WAIT null SECS
This symposium looks at various methods used to detect PFAS in foods, cosmetics, packaging, and commercial products.
The first talk starts at 9:40 am, by Oliver Cawdell of Vista Analytical Laboratory, looks at maximizing analytical recovery of PFAS in food matrices. Their study compares the use of the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) technique to solid-phase extraction (SPE) for varying types of food samples. A suite of 41 PFAS was targeted for all techniques.
Next, at 10:30 am, Carin Huset of the Minnesota Department of Health will present a talk on PFAS in homegrown produce. Homogenization and a dispersive SPE were used to prepare samples in a variety of produce types. Isotope dilution and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) were used for quantification of seven PFAS of interest.
The final talk, starting at 11:05 am, will be given by Wendy Young of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Recently the FDA has developed methods for total diet study samples and has been working with states and other stakeholders on sample analysis. The FDA is also currently assisting states with validating methods. This discussion on the past, present, and future analysis of PFAS in food and food packaging at the FDA also will address the need for future interlaboratory studies.


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For the first time ever in it short history (the original iPad tablet was launched by Steve Jobs at a keynote in April 2010), iPad’s year-over-year growth will slow. Research firm IDC says that YoY sales of the iOS-based iPads will fall by just under 13%.
Total tablet shipments for Apple for the year are estimated to be about 65 million units. Market leading Android powered tablets (which are made by several partners that license the operating system from Google) are expected to top 159 million units.
Overall the tablet market in 2014 is expected to grow 7.2%.
If IDC’s projections are to be believed, the news doesn’t get much better for Apple – at least when it comes to tablets. Of the top three platforms, Apple is the only one expected to slow in growth. From 2014-2018, analysts predict the CAGR for iOS-based tablets to be -1%. Windows, traditionally a laggard in the mobile space, could be the beneficiary, and is expected to see some 38% of growth in tablet shipments over the same time frame.
Meanwhile, shareholders appear unfazed by the news.
Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) market cap, teasing the $700 billion mark, is (yet again) at an all-time high.
While tablet sales have been important to Apple’s mobile strategy, it’s the iPhone that carries the day. The iPhone is, in a word, essential. To both its maker and user. Most consumers today never leave home without a smartphone. The same can’t be said about a tablet – often it is seen as a nice-to-have, a device handy for down-time on the couch, or spare moments for social networking.
Then there’s the saturation challenge.
Most of us already have tablets of one form or another. For many they’re “good enough” and don’t warrant the upgrade cycles that the daily driver that is the iPhone does.
With the new, dual-prong strategy — regular-sized iPhone 6, and phablet-sized iPhone 6 Plus — Apple has potentially increased revenue streams from its smartphone line. Previously, buyers who wanted a large screen device needed to look to Android (for devices such as the Nexus 5 or Samsung Galaxy Note 3). Such is no longer the case.
Also offsetting slowing tablet sales: wearables.
While it remains to be seen if the Apple Watch will be a hit (it doesn’t ship until Q1 2015), just the idea alone of being able to address an entirely new market is a tantalizing prospect for shareholders.
[IDC Worldwide Tablet Shipment Report for 2014]


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It’s been awhile, but you may recall the announcement of a game called Chrous. The game was a space combat title from Deep Silver and a new development studio under them called Fishlabs. It looked quite promising, but there’s been pretty much radio silence about the game for over a year now. Well, it seems that may be changing very soon.
On the official Twitter for Fishlabs, they released a brief video, which you can see below. It shows very little outside a small snippet from gameplay, but does say they are ready to make an announcement tomorrow, September 23rd. There’s obviously no word on what that could be, but it seems a release date could be in the cards. We’ll just have to stay tuned.
Chorus has been announced to release on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC and Stadia. You can check out the developer’s vision for the game, which includes story, gameplay, and more through here.
The clock is ticking… Who's ready for our big announcement tomorrow? pic.twitter.com/dnhkV0cxuB
— Deep Silver FISHLABS (@DSFishlabs) September 22, 2021
Share Your Thoughts Below (Always follow our comments policy!)


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Travel expert plans to resume publishing of the travel books, which the Web giant acquired but killed last month.
The late science-fiction writer inspired and intrigued millions with his "deceptively dry voice of cosmic wonder."
The doyen of science fiction writers celebrates his 90th birthday with hopes and expectations for Earth and beyond.
Clarke, who wrote, among other things, '2001: A Space Odyssey,' has died, according to news reports.
The e-retail giant's streaming service will now include hundreds of additional episodes of "Nova," "Masterpiece," and other PBS shows.
Michael Huseby, who started as CFO and was promoted to president last year, will lead the bookseller's retail, college, and Nook Media operations.
Test your wits against the BBC's updated edition of the maddeningly challenging "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" text adventure game.
Google commemorates a century of puzzle-fueled procrastination with a playable doodle of its own.
The electric carmaker's chief executive met with Adrian Perica and "probably" Apple CEO Tim Cook last spring, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report.
Singing Wookiees wearing Snuggies? Harvey Korman cooking in drag? Jefferson Starship hologram jam band? Crave's Bonnie Burton tells why the infamous TV special is so bad it's great.


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PayPal has acquired a start-up called Card.io, which lets developers read credit card information using a smartphone's camera.
"We first met with the team at card.io when we were working on integrating their technology into the PayPal Here mobile app," said Hill Ferguson, vice president of global product over at PayPal.
"While working with them, we were simply blown away by the creativity and drive of their employees," explained Ferguson. "They are a passionate and independent team that likes solving large, complex problems and we wanted them to join us."
Ferguson says that Card.io's employees will join the PayPal team in San Jose to "create new experiences to make it even easier for consumers and merchants to use the PayPal digital wallet."
Despite the acquisition, Card.io says that its software development kit will remain available for developers to use in their applications.


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Bulgaria's National Revenue Agency (NRA), the government organisation in charge of administering state taxes and social security contributions in the eastern European nation, has issued new taxation guidelines for digital currency.
In a post on 2nd April, the NRA indicated that income from the sale of digital currencies such as bitcoin will be treated as income from the sale of financial assets and taxed at a rate of 10%.
Effectively, earnings from bitcoin trades will be taxed on the same level as ordinary income and corporate income in Bulgaria.
Explained the NRA:
This differs from guidance from the US Internal Revenue Service, which called for digital currency to be taxed as property, thereby allowing capital gains taxes to be imposed on each trade.
One source in Bulgaria suggested that the guidelines merely prevent its citizens from declaring bitcoin as non-taxable income, and that gains realized on purchases are not subject to taxation.
Timing and impact
The release comes in advance of the NRA's 30th April 2013 tax deadline, and includes guidance on where bitcoin gains should be reported on tax forms.
Perhaps most notably, however, the announcement does not seem to have big-picture implications for how digital currencies will be classified or regulated. The NRA's announcement compares bitcoin as a financial instrument, not a currency.
Further, Stamen Gorchev, founder of Bulgaria-based bitcoin informational website Hash.bg and member of the newly launched Bulgarian Bitcoin Association, stressed that the guidance amounted more to an ad-hoc announcement, and that the NRA has no legal authority to determine the status of bitcoin.
Bulgaria's Financial Supervision Commission has reviewed the matter, but does not have the authority to determine the legal status of a currency in the country, according to Gorchev.
He indicated that the FSC sent a letter to the National Bank asking for regulation on the matter in August, 2013.
Gorchev indicated that the move was perhaps motivated by a desire on the part of the NRA to reduce the risk that citizens would use bitcoin to avoid tax payments, however, he suggests this intent may backfire.
He notes the NRA does not require taxpayers to submit documentation that proves income from bitcoin trading, and that this comment has been raised on social media outlets by the local community.
As a result, Gorchev explained, this could cause problems for the local government:
Gorchev indicated Bulgaria's guidance differs from the recent IRS guidance in that it mostly covers those who earn income from trading digital currencies.
Furthermore, Gorchev indicated that gains realized on bitcoin purchases aren't taxable:
Regulation to follow?
A member of the European Union since 2007, the announcement is notable as it illustrates how different states are approaching taxation and regulation in lieu of formal guidelines from higher authorities.
For example, on 25th March, Denmark declared that it would not tax gains and losses from casual bitcoin trading, a different approach than that announced by Bulgaria yesterday.
Still, Gorchev indicates that Bulgaria is likely to wait for such guidance from the EU as opposed to issuing its own regulation.
Cathedral Alexander Nevski image via Shutterstock
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Tennessee Makes Sharing Netflix Passwords Illegal
As of July 1, it will be a crime in the state of Tennessee to use somebody else's login information on sites like Netflix and Rhapsody.
While the legislation is primarily aimed at hackers who steal and sell passwords in bulk, the bill's sponsor Rep. Gerald McCormick acknowledged that, technically, the law also makes it illegal for a wife to use a husband's login information.
It is highly unlikely that such family sharing would ever be prosecuted, according to McCormick. However, a college student who gives his Netflix password out to all of his dormmates could now be in legal trouble.
Under the new law, stealing less than $500 of entertainment is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of $2,500. More than $500 would be a felony, with stiffer penalties.
What do you think? Do you consider the excessive sharing of passwords "stealing?"


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Julien Manceaux, senior economist at ING, notes that the French manufacturing PMI index showed some resistance in October, increasing slightly and remaining above the 50.0 level.
“It’s only a matter of time before it drops below 50.0 and confirms activity contraction.”
“On the contrary, the service sector still seems unaffected by the industrial troubles. The latter is due to a slowdown in investments and a contraction of external demand while the service sector is still benefiting from high consumer confidence. The service PMI indicator rebounded in October, from 51.1 to 52.9, which is above its 3Q19 average (this being the best quarter in more than a year) and a recent INSEE survey showed that hiring intentions have not been higher in the last 16 months. It is therefore too soon to see a contagion from the industrial gloom to services.”
“As the French economy is more reliant on services than on the industry which represent around 15% of value added (half the German figure), we believe that this week’s surveys confirm that the French economy should resist the current global slowdown for longer. 3Q19 GDP growth will be published next week and is likely to show a still strong domestic demand, paving the way for a 1.3% GDP growth this year. However, the last official projections for 2020, at 1.2%, are already looking rosy.”


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- 16 Apr 09, 16:45 GMT
Apple's iPhone may be the world's best-known phone, Google Android is making a growing impact, and Samsung, LG and Sony seem to bring out smarter phones every month - but make no mistake it's still Nokia which dominates the mobile phone industry. So when the Finnish phone-maker released results showing a 90% drop in profits the industry could have been excused for running in panic.
So has Nokia, which still has 37% of the global mobile market, lost the plot? Well its share price leaped ahead after the results came out, despite a fall of 19% in the number of phones sold this year compared to last. The market was happy because the news wasn't worse.
Nokia reaffirmed an earlier forecast that the overall market would shrink by 10% this year, pretty shocking for an industry which was used to 20% growth every year, but investors latched on to the idea that the gloom wasn't getting any deeper.
But there are still questions over how well Nokia is competing in the one area of the market that is still growing - "converged mobile devices", as Nokia calls them, or smartphones to the rest of us.
The company only managed to sell 13.7 million smartphones in the first three months of 2009, compared to 14.6 million in the same period last year. But the company's CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo still managed to extract some good news here, claiming that its share of the market had actually ticked up a little since Christmas.
He trumpeted the success of the 5800 Xpress Music phone which was Nokia's number one seller in the first quarter of the year. But this device, touted an iPhone rival, was the company's first mass-market touchscreen phone - and arrived many months after just about everyone else had brought out similar devices.
Nokia seems to have been caught napping by the way smartphones have moved from early-adopter business devices into the mainstream. I remember visiting their Helsinki headquarters in 1999 and finding everyone there tapping away on the first version of the Communicator - and telling me that it made business meetings a bit tricky because colleagues were messaging each other across the table.
That device seemed extraordinarily advanced at the time - and Nokia has continued to develop the kind of phones that appeal to well-heeled early adopter executives. Now, though, everyone wants a device that is both smart and simple, and Nokia has struggled to deliver that combination.
A lot is now being staked on the N97 which arrives in June, and looks an attractive combination of touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard. Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo told the investment analysts that he hoped it would sell a million a month, if the price charged by the operators was right.
But one analyst reminded me that June might be a difficult month to launch a smartphone because that's when a new version of the iPhone may be unveiled. Nokia probably sells forty times as many phones as Apple but the N97 could still find itself overshadowed by the glare of publicity surrounding a new iPhone. Perhaps the Finnish company needs smarter marketing, along with its smarter phones.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


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Currently, Coinbase is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the US. And considering the development in the industry, Coinbase is looking to offer more for its users. Coinbase is considering to add five additional tokens to its platform. It has been reported that the five digital coins that will be included are stellar lumens, Cardano, basic attention token, 0x and Zcash.
However, the blog post clarified on Friday that nothing is final yet for these cryptocurrencies. According to the San Francisco-based crypto exchange, “these assets will require additional exploratory work and we cannot guarantee they will be listed for trading”. One of the things that they are taking into consideration is the limited functionality of some coins. And also, Coinbase is also tiptoeing on certain coins since these coins are yet to be determined as securities or not. And lastly, there is the chance that some of these coins will only be available in certain countries.
Regulatory changes are something that Coinbase is looking into. Bitcoin and Ethereum are the only ones that have been considered as commodities by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Though it has helped in boosting Bitcoin and Ethereum’s price, the rest of the other altcoins are left to question whether or not these digital assets should be considered as securities or not.
And also, Ripple’s situation isn’t also helping. Ripple has been facing lawsuits claiming that the cryptocurrency is actually a security. In fact, because of the regulatory scrutiny that the industry is experiencing, Coinbase only offered four coins.
Why Add The Five Tokens?
Brian Kelly explained as to why they are going to add the digital coins. For one, he explained that Cardano is works something similar to Ethereum. “They have working network” according to him. He also added that “they have a live road map. That’s important. That’s what the (Securities and Exchange Commission) said was important, so it’s not a security”.
For the Basic Attention Token, he said that “you can use Basic Attention Token to pay for content on the web”. As for “Zero x”, he thinks that it has a decentralized protocol.
Stellar, on the other hand, has been compared to ripple. And lastly, Zcash has been considered as “probably one of the most likely” to be approved by the digital currency exchange.
Japan’s Ban on Cryptos Providing Privacy
Since Coincheck was hacked, regulatory changes were imposed. One of which is to ensure that the crypto exchange companies operating are going to meet the standards set by regulators. And also, another change in the way crypto exchanges operate is the call to ban cryptocurrencies that provide extra privacy towards users. These digital currencies included Monero and Zcash.
Now, could it be a good move by Coinbase to allow cryptocurrencies that provide an extra layer of privacy towards its user? We’ve also been informed by the power of cryptos when used anonymously. In fact, Russians were able to make use of Bitcoin in 2016 in order to pay for the website domain and hosting of the website that contained hacked emails pertaining to Hilary Clinton.


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Stephen Foley: Apple and Facebook's love-in will end in tears amid fight for big prize
Stephen Foley is a former Associate Business Editor of The Independent, based in New York. He left in August 2012. In a decade at the paper, he covered personal finance, the UK stock market and the pharmaceuticals industry, and had also been the Business section's share tipster. Between arriving with three suitcases in Manhattan in January 2006 and his departure, he witnessed and reported on a great economic boom turning spectacularly to bust. In March 2009, he was named Business and Finance Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards.
Saturday 16 June 2012
US Outlook The correct unit of measurement when it comes to coverage of Apple product launches is not column inches, but column miles, and there have been more written than usual this week on the escalating rivalry between the iPhone maker and Google. Sure, the newly unveiled iOS 6 operating system is an aggressive attempt to sideline Google's services on the iPhone and iPad. But the showdown really foreshadowed by iOS 6 is the one between Apple and Facebook.
That might sound counter-intuitive, given that iOS 6 is the first Apple operating system to integrate Facebook, allowing users to share photos or their latest Angry Birds scores direct to their Facebook friends, with a single touch.
The Apple-Facebook partnership is not like the Apple-Google love-in of old, when Google's Eric Schmidt sat on Apple's board and Google Maps and YouTube were designed as integral parts of the iPhone experience. That love-in is rapidly unravelling, with iOS 6 ousting Google Maps as the default location app and improvements to Siri, the iPhone's voice-activated search engine.
All the signs are that the Facebook partnership is a hard-nosed business deal reached at the end of some pretty feisty negotiations. Facebook went as far as launching its own camera app for Apple devices, and hinting that it has restarted work on a Facebook Phone to rival the iPhone, as if to telegraph that it has a powerful go-it-alone strategy.
The business impulse that drove Apple and Google apart will do the same for Apple and Facebook. All these companies are fighting for essentially the same prize. They all want to be the indispensable middleman for our mobile experience. They want to be the place collecting and housing the data on our likes and our locations, on our searches and our social network. They want to be the platform on which software developers create their games and other apps. They want to be the broker for advertisers that want to reach us.
Apple, of course, is more interested in protecting the user experience, to sell more of its high-priced devices; Google is bent on monetising our data through ads; Facebook might end up making more money from mobile commerce across its platform than it does from mobile ads, but we'll see about that. What is for sure is that it needs to bring back activity on to the Facebook platform that now happens in third-party apps on Apple's and other mobile devices.
Apple is putting more and more work into iCloud, its digital locker, which mainly contains users' iTunes music. Facebook is where most people keep their photos. The social network and iCloud are conceptually not that far apart.
Apple's iOS 6, meanwhile, hints at the start, just the start, of something the company has failed to achieve, namely its own social network. Ping, its last attempt, was a dismal failure, but iOS 6 builds in a few intriguing features. It allows new and easier photo sharing via Apple iCloud and there are services for keeping track of the location of family and friends.
Don't be fooled by the partnership deal between Apple and Facebook. It is a temporary marriage of convenience. It can't last.
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Irish beef barons eye up slice of American and Chinese markets
New trade deals could make billionaires out of a handful of tycoons who control the Irish beef industry and have already amassed vast personal fortunes, writes Simon Rowe
Ireland's beef barons are licking their lips as a new trade deal paves the way for them to recommence exports to the lucrative US market - and entry to the massive Chinese market looks imminent too.
The US market - the largest consumers of beef in the world - has re-opened to Irish exporters following a deal agreed in January.
The lifting of a 15-year ban imposed on European beef in the wake of the mad cow disease outbreak in the 1990s offers a major boost to processors whose profits were hit by the horsemeat scandal - and a lifeline to hard-pressed Irish beef farmers who face depressed prices at home.
Ireland has also moved a step closer to securing a slice of China's €51bn beef market, following a pre-Christmas meeting between top Irish and Chinese agriculture officials in Beijing.
The world's second largest economy has long-running bans on beef imports from many countries - but Ireland is one of just three countries that China is in talks with about opening up to beef (the other two are Canada and the USA).
If Ireland can capture even a small percentage of the US and Chinese markets, it could make billionaires out of a handful of tycoons who control the beef industry in this country and have already amassed vast personal fortunes.
Three firms dominate the beef processing market in Ireland - Larry Goodman's ABP; Dawn Meats, controlled by the Browne and Queally families; and the Kepak Group, owned by the Keating family. Together they control 60pc of the market.
A further four companies - Liffey Meats, Slaney Meats, Kildare Chilling and Dunbia - account for an additional 25pc of the Irish market.


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The region’s trade share slumped to an historic low of 37.7% in 2021 after failing to keep pace with the broader market.
It was the first time Bordeaux’s market share had ever fallen below 40%. At the time of writing, it has slipped to 32%, according to Liv-ex.
The company divides its main index into a series of sub-indices. Over the past year, the Bordeaux sub-index increased by a modest 11.5%, compared to 43.8% for Burgundy and 51.2% for Champagne.
The main challenger to Bordeaux’s throne is Burgundy. It has surpassed Bordeaux in terms of its price performance and the number of different wines traded over the past year.
In recent weeks, the region has taken a similar share of the secondary market, and it even surpassed Bordeaux on certain occasions. For example, in the week to 7 April, Burgundy captured 28.3% of the market, compared to just 25.3% for Bordeaux.
Liv-ex noted that Bordeaux remains the most prominent player in the fine market, meaning it is often the first to bear the brunt of economic and political headwinds. It has previously been buffeted by Covid-19, Brexit and crackdowns on luxury gift-giving in China, and it has now significantly underperformed the broader market throughout Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A comparison to Burgundy may be perceived as unfair, as the regions yield stylistically different wines. Liv-ex polled merchants to discover which regions were eating into Bordeaux’s market share, and most named Tuscany and California.
The market price for a case of Super Tuscans has increased by 24% over the past year, while the price for a case of top wines within the California 50 sub-index has increased by 25%. That compares to just 12% for the top wines of Bordeaux.
The Super Tuscans attract consistent levels of demand, and they offer a lower point of entry into the fine market than the Bordeaux First Growths, which could explain their greater return on investment.
The number of wines from Tuscany and California trading on the secondary market has steadily increased in recent years, whereas the number of unique Bordeaux wines has decreased by 0.8%.
Bordeaux benefits from removal of “Trump tax”
On a brighter note, Bordeaux has benefited from the United States government’s decision to remove a 25% tax on French wines last year. Vignerons referred to it as the “Trump tax”, which formed part of an ongoing transatlantic tariff war stemming from a dispute over subsidies for Airbus and Boeing.
The USA now accounts for 31% of demand for Bordeaux wines on the secondary market. Continental Europe leads the way with 35%. The market was once UK-led, but British fine wine buyers now account for only 27% of demand, while Asia has slipped to just 7% over the past year.
Liv-ex added that sentiment around en primeur remains lukewarm due to underwhelming returns on investment in recent years. For example, wines from the storied 2010 vintage remain 2% below their en primeur release prices on average, while 2017 wines are still 7% cheaper than they were on release.
The 2021 vintage was the coolest and the second wettest of the past decade, according to data provided by Saturnalia. This should lead to ‘a heterogenous vintage with large gaps in quality between appellations and estates’, according to the report.
Critics are effusive in their praise of the 2019 vintage, but Liv-ex wonders whether they will be so gushing when reviewing the 2021 wines.
‘If it is not a truly ‘great’ vintage, then it does not deserve to be hoarded for years in Bordeaux and eked out incrementally at prices collectors are unwilling to pay,’ concludes the report. ‘The 2019 vintage proved that a well-priced set of wines can find a market, even in difficult times.
‘The uncertainty of a pandemic may be (largely) behind us, but the current headwinds of rising inflation, rising taxes and rising interest rates are rattling the mainstream financial markets and no doubt the wallets of collectors.
‘Here then is another chance to energise the market and inject much needed capital into the distribution network. These wines should be priced to get this vintage out of Bordeaux and into cellars to be enjoyed as the truly great vintages come of age.’


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Southeast Asia’s shift toward a digital economy is reaping dividends as more people gain access to a previously untapped market. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, 70 million people have become digital consumers, according to research by Facebook and Bain & Company.
The Southeast Asia, Home for Digital Transformation report surveyed 16,706 online consumers and more than 20 leaders in six countries: Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The research, conducted in May 2021, aimed to determine home-centric online trends and reveal how the region would change by adopting solutions facilitated by eCommerce startups.
Many observers were curious how the region would cope with the onset of the pandemic, and expectations were low due to the global economic damage. Surprisingly, 2020’s earnings surpassed estimates because of the shift in customer behaviour, spending habits, and access to online shopping and digital services.
Southeast Asian online sellers are confident the region will continue to grow according to Lazada
The increase in digital consumers matches the entire population in the United Kingdom (UK) at 70 million, and projections are there will be 380 million Southeast Asian customers this year. By the end of December, eight-in-ten shoppers 15 years and above will be purchasing online, with the estimated average spending being $381 USD per person.
As online consumption continues expanding, eCommerce startups in Southeast Asia are coming up with various financial technology (fintech) services to meet the demand for ePayments. For example, they offer digital wallets, cryptocurrencies, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), and Pay-as-you-Go (PAYGO) payment models.
The evolution of the consumer economy
After the onset of the pandemic, buyers had to adapt to the ‘new normal’, shifting from in-person retail purchases to online options. Governments and eCommerce businesses alike had to rush their digital transformation strategies and systematic approaches. There were changes to infrastructure, business hours, social contact, along with restriction of movement, all of which hurt local trade.
The survey found that adapting to the new way of life altered customers’ purchasing journeys, with 45% of respondents saying they now shop primarily online. The number of people who cite social media as their top solution for discovering products also tripled during this period. Moreover, 80% of the channels consumers use to find and analyse goods or services before purchase are eCommerce marketplaces, social media, and brand-owned websites.
Businesses also realised they needed to evolve to accommodate and retain customers. Buyers were more willing to try different brands and platforms, changing loyalties on a whim to find the right fit for their needs. The report discovered that 51% of consumers switched their customary brand in the previous three months.
Thailand led the way, with 63% of customers switching their loyalty to a different company. Vietnam was second, with 61%, followed by the Philippines at 51% and Malaysia at 45%. Indonesia and Singapore rounded off the final positions with 44% and 35%, respectively. The reasons mentioned for the shift included pricing, easy-to-use platforms and apps, product availability, fast delivery, and multiple shopping categories.
Another unexpected buyer-loyalty battle has emerged, with 9 in 10 consumers willing to pay extra for products that meet environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. Sustainability has become an essential part of the public’s social and economic approach making companies and governments feel compelled to take steps to protect people and the ecosystem from destruction. Green products are now available for purchase in many categories, including lighting and beauty & cosmetics.
Southeast Asia’s post-pandemic future
The ‘new way of living’ bodes well for eCommerce startups in Southeast Asia and the region’s development. Advances in fintech, agricultural technology (agritech), food technology (foodtech), education technology (edtech), and cloud-based technology provide opportunities for growth, innovation, solutions, and economic prosperity.
Home-centric lifestyles will likely continue post-pandemic, meaning eCommerce startups will continue disrupting traditional sectors, making digital apps and platforms convenient for consumers. Moreover, startup owners should be aware that their buyers are more conscious of preventing an environmental catastrophe. Thus, all products, foodstuffs and services must be sustainable, removing pathogens and significantly reducing greenhouse gases from the processes.
Long-term economic recovery is contingent on the region overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the report, Southeast Asia’s eCommerce gross merchandise value will likely rise from $132 billion USD to $254 billion USD in five years. While the pandemic has encouraged further innovation, these targets will not be possible if movement restrictions and other measures continue to damage trade.
Policymakers should consult stakeholders to create a conducive regulatory climate for startups to thrive. Governments, foreign investors, and local innovators must fund tech projects and industries to deliver significant value to consumers while showing robust support for the green digital economy, the rollout of 5G technology, and the use of mobile wallets.
Taking these approaches will allow businesses access to broader local and global markets and partnerships, which will drive further innovation in Southeast Asia.


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N-Hance Wood Refinishing Franchise News
We’re crazy busy. I think the customer reception is fantastic. The customers are always thrilled this is an option for them. They’re thrilled they don’t have to get rid of their cabinets. [We] can just come in, revitalize them, enhance them, and they’re always quite happy with the end result. It’s been positive.
|Franchise Fee:||$17,123 - $46,050|
|Total Investment:||$57,823 - $168,545|
|Royalty Fee:||$377.66 - $755.30 per month|
|Advertising Fee:||$220 per month|
United States: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY
Browse the latest corporate news from N-Hance Wood Refinishing.
N-Hance Wood Refinishing Aims to Introduce 40 Territories Throughout Texas as Demand for Home Improvement Surges in the Pandemic Era
N-Hance Wood Refinishing® has seen the demand first-hand with some franchise owners reporting double digit increases in consumer leads year-over-year.
Kitchen Renovations on the Rise in 2021; N-Hance Helps Homeowners Make the Biggest Impact for Any Budget
N-Hance Wood Refinishing is sharing advice for homeowners on how to make the biggest impact with their kitchen renovations without breaking their budget as they embark on home improvements in the new year.
As consumers continue to spend more time inside and notice pain points about their homes, N-Hance Wood Refinishing is experiencing record-breaking demand, with most franchisees booked 6-8 weeks out.
Seeing firsthand evidence of this trend is N-Hance™ Wood Refinishing, a national franchise specializing in the refinishing of hardwood floors and kitchen cabinets.
N-Hance Wood Refinishing has announced plans to add 25 new territories throughout Texas, secured through strategic franchise partnerships, within the next three years.
N-Hance™ Wood Refinishing, a national franchise that specializes in the refinishing of hardwood floors and kitchen cabinets, recently announced its partnership with American Forests, the nation's first forest conservation organization founded in...
N-Hance Wood Refinishing has announced plans to add 15 new territories throughout Ohio, secured through strategic partnerships, within the next five years.
N-Hance Wood Refinishing™ Grows at Lightspeed; Aims to Introduce 16 Territories Across Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area
N-Hance Wood Refinishing has announced plans to add 16 new territories throughout Maryland and Virginia, secured through strategic partnerships, within the next five years.
N-Hance is seeking Master Franchise Owners in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
N-Hance, a rapidly growing wood-refinishing and refreshing franchise opportunity, is seeking Master Franchise Owners in Ireland and England as it continues an aggressive international expansion program.
N-Hance Wood Refinishing, the leading nationwide franchise specializing in hardwood floor and kitchen cabinet refinishing, has announced plans to add four new territories to New York state.
A new service has been released by N-Hance® Wood Refinishing that will transform the hardwood floor refinishing industry.
Airing on Saturday, November 10 at 9 a.m. EST/PST, N-Hance Wood Refinishing will be featured on the premier season of TLC’s “Make This Place Your Home”.
Home renovations are about to become much easier for residents in Maryland.
Home renovations are about to become much easier for residents in Alabama.
With more than 470 franchises in North America, N-Hance Wood Refinishing is gaining momentum in Canada through a growing master franchise agreement.
Residents in Alberta will soon have access to NHance’s superior wood refinishing services. NHance Canada Wood Refinishing® recently announced its plans to launch new franchises in Calgary and Edmonton, two of Alberta’s largest cities.
Specializing in kitchen and hardwood floor refinishing, NHance Wood Refinishing has seen great success in terms of franchise sales and service coverage in Ontario.
N-Hance Wood Refinishing was recently ranked in Entrepreneur magazine's Fastest-Growing Franchises list.
Indicating its latest growth milestone, N-Hance Wood Renewal announced plans for aggressive growth in Australia and New Zealand adding more than 40 new territories over the next 10 years.
As the Southeastern coast continues to recover from recent disasters, flooding, and hurricanes, many home owners are faced with mounting costs related to repairs in their homes.
N-Hance Wood Renewal, the largest national franchise specializing in the refinishing of hardwood floors and cabinets, just announced planned growth in the L.A. and O.C. area through strategic franchise partnerships.
N-Hance Wood Renewal announces expansion plans to add 44 new territories through strategic franchise partnerships in the key cities in the Northeast region of the country.
N-Hance Wood Renewal has announced expansion plans to add 30 new territories through strategic franchise partnerships in the lone star state’s largest cities – Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin.
N-Hance Wood Renewal has announced expansion plans to add 25 new territories through strategic franchise partnerships in the Fort Myers and Sarasota markets.
A new product has been released by N-Hance® Wood Renewal that will transform the cabinet and hardwood floor renewal industry.
N-Hance® Wood Renewal Sets Eyes on Expansion in Washington D.C. Metro as Home Improvement Spending Continues to Rise
Home renovations are about to become much easier for residents in the Washington D.C. Metro area as N-Hance Wood Renewal has announced expansion plans to add 15 new territories through strategic franchise partnerships in the coming years.
N-Hance Wood Renewal–the trusted partner of Home Depot for wood refinishing and the renewal of kitchen cabinets and wood floors– will be at the IFE displaying its Lightspeed Instant-Cure wood refinishing technology.
N-Hance Wood Renewal, the national partner of The Home Depot for the refinishing of hardwood floors and kitchen cabinets, is pleased to announce the launch of a new national website.
Looking for more information about N-Hance Wood Refinishing? Take a moment to fill out our quick information request form.


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Videocon A24 smartphone will be priced at Rs 4,699 in India.
The latest budget smartphone runs on Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) OS.
The dual SIM phone is powered by 1.2 GHz processor.
1,450 mAh battery offers enough talk time and stand by time for Indian phone users.
The 4-inch phone comes in White Chrome and Black color casings.
The new smartphone features 3.2MP rear camera and 0.3MP front camera, Videocon said on Wednesday.
Specifications of Videocon A24 smartphone:
- 4-inch WVGA Capacitive Touch Screen
- 1.2 GHz Dual-Core Processor
- 512 MB ROM
- 256 MB RAM
- 3.2 MP rear camera
- 0.3 MP front camera
- Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
- 1450 mAh battery
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi & GPRS Edge for easy web access
- FM Radio with recording
- Expandable Memory upto 32GB
- Dual SIM, Dual Standby


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“Barcelona is an ideal location for the exposition as it is a centrally-located major port and trade hub,” according to Liz Plizga, Show Director for Diversified Communications, the company that produces the exposition.
Barcelona, Spain (PRWEB) July 30, 2014
The third edition of Seafood Expo Southern Europe, formerly named Seafood Barcelona, has surpassed its exhibit space when compared to the same period last year and is expected to continue to grow and increase the presence of new companies. Confirmed exhibiting companies currently represent more than 24 countries, and seafood professionals from over 40 countries have already pre-registered to attend the exposition.
Seafood Expo Southern Europe, which will take place 22-24 September 2014 at the Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via fairground in Barcelona, Spain, continues to strengthen its position as the seafood marketplace for the Mediterranean bringing together the main purchasing decision-makers of fish and seafood from the market. The exposition will once again connect seafood buyers with suppliers of live, fresh, frozen, value-added, processed and packaged seafood, as well as processing and packaging equipment, looking to access the valuable Mediterranean seafood market.
Exhibiting companies from all over the world, including Argentina, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States, among others, have confirmed their participation in the event, giving this year’s edition a strong international representation.
Buyers from Australia, China, Egypt, France, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, Portugal, Peru, Spain, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States and Uruguay, to name a few, have pre-registered to attend, as well as high-volume seafood buyers from other major producing and consuming countries of seafood products from the Mediterranean markets.
“Barcelona is an ideal location for the exposition as it is a centrally-located major port and trade hub,” according to Liz Plizga, Show Director for Diversified Communications, the company that produces the exposition. The city’s economic, social and cultural influence extends throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. “Its convenient access and business opportunities are some of the appealing factors for attendees.”
Mar Santarrufina, Event Director for Alimentaria Exhibitions, remarked on the importance of having this event for the seafood industry, which will once again provide attendees with an opportunity to grow their business. “Each year, the fair brings thousands of professionals from over 75 countries, including importers, exporters, distributors, processors, wholesalers and hospitality and foodservice professionals, who are looking to do business in the important Mediterranean market.”
The event will feature a complete schedule of activities, including a master class series on specific seafood species, culinary demonstrations, a new product showcase, a fish market tour, a conference program, and business matchmaking and hosted buyer programs designed to enhance visitors’ experience at the exposition.
Returning this year is the Hosted Buyer program, an exclusive program that specifically targets top-level buyers with high-volume seafood purchasing power in multi-unit retail, hospitality and foodservice establishments.
Diversified Communications’ online resource SeafoodSource.com is the official media for Seafood Expo Southern Europe. As a leader in global seafood industry news and information, SeafoodSource.com will extensively cover news from the event before, during and after the exposition.
For more information on Seafood Expo Southern Europe, visit http://www.seafoodexpo.com/southern-europe.
About Seafood Expo Southern Europe
Seafood Expo Southern Europe, formerly called Seafood Barcelona, is a three-day seafood specific event serving all seafood categories in the Mediterranean market. Thousands of buyers and suppliers from around the world attend this annual event to meet, network and do business. Attending buyers represent importers, exporters, distributors, wholesalers, foodservice, hotel, catering, processors, and other retail and foodservice companies. Exhibiting suppliers offer the newest seafood products, processing and packaging equipment, and services available in the seafood market. SeafoodSource.com is the exposition’s official media. The exposition is produced by Diversified Communications in partnership with Alimentaria Exhibitions providing outstanding expertise in the trade fair industry and experience in the industries they serve.
About Diversified Communications
Diversified Communications is a leading international media company providing market access, education and information through global, national and regional face-to-face events, eMedia, publications and television stations. Diversified serves a number of industries including: seafood, food service, natural and organic, healthcare, commercial marine, and business management. The company's global seafood portfolio of expositions and media includes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia, Seafood Expo Southern Europe, and SeafoodSource.com. Diversified Communications, in partnership with SeaWeb, also produces SeaWeb Seafood Summit, the world’s premiere seafood conference on sustainability. Based in Portland, Maine, USA, Diversified has divisions in the Eastern United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Thailand and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit: http://www.divcom.com
About Alimentaria Exhibitions
Alimentaria Exhibitions is a Fira de Barcelona company specialising in organising events related to food and beverages, the food and beverage industry and gastronomy. Its main headline trade shows are Alimentaria, Bta.-Barcelona Food Technology, Seafood Expo Southern Europe, Alimentaria&Horexpo Lisboa, Alimentaria México and Alimentaria Brasil. The company is a market leader for food and beverage trade shows in the countries where it operates, managing more than 150,000 net m2 of exhibition space, with 5,000 international food and beverage manufacturing, trade and equipment and technology exhibitors, attracting around 200,000 professionals visitors. http://www.alimentaria.com
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Adam Morris, Marketing Coordinator
Tel: +34 93 452 11 04


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Manufacturers’ optimism declines amid rising inflation: report
Monica FergusonEconomy Industry Operations Manufacturing decline in optimism economic trends material cost rising inflation Sikich Industry Pulse supply chain
The latest Sikich Industry Pulse: Manufacturing and Distribution found that 58 per cent of manufacturers rated their optimism about business prospects over the next six months at a seven or higher on a scale of one to 10. At the same time last year, more than 80 per cent of manufacturers rated their optimism at a seven or higher. And just three months ago, nearly 70 per cent of manufacturers rated their optimism at a seven or higher.
When asked what factors have contributed to the decline in optimism, nearly one quarter of manufacturers cited inflation and economic decline. The report found that 100 per cent of respondents said they have experienced an increase in material cost in the last 12 months, and all but 1 per cent made the decision to pass price increases on to customers.
Demand has increased for two-thirds of manufacturers, and companies are struggling to keep up. Half of companies with revenue under $100 million reported being unable to keep up with their current demand, and 70 per cent of respondents from companies with more than $100 million in revenue said they are unable to keep up with demand. More than 40 per cent of manufacturers cited supply chain challenges as the reason they cannot meet demand, while 39 per cent cited employee shortages.
“Given current economic trends, it’s understandable that manufacturers’ optimism is declining,” said Jerry Murphy, partner-in-charge of manufacturing and distribution services, Sikich. “Yet, increased demand offers some promising news. To keep up, business leaders should diversify their material suppliers and challenge logistics providers to find ways to tighten delivery times. And, to address employee shortages, companies must revisit their talent strategies and implement comprehensive recruitment and talent development programs.”
Talent acquisition was the third-most common reason manufacturers cited for their decreased optimism. Further, nearly 40 per cent of survey respondents reported employee shortages a factor contributing to challenges meeting demand.