Finance gurus say Russian economy must do better ? RT

The Russia Forum 2012. Day Two (RIA Novosti / Alexey Kudenko)

Could do better is the ?end of term? report on Russia from experts meeting at the Russia Forum 2012 in Moscow.

They all agree Russia should be a successful within the world economy, but it still isn?t using the cards it?s been dealt efficiently.

?Russia is a very good space and ironically what were its weaknesses now become its strengths, because it is not as integrated in the global economy as some people like it to be?, says Satyajit Das, the author of ?Extreme Money?. ?But the other important thing that it is rich in two things: the first it is rich in energy, the second it has got very strong agriculture and recent growth was underpinned by agriculture. And those two things will serve you very well?And of course, Russia has very strong defence industry,? he added.

But the strong parts of Russian economy such as oil, gas and raw materials, as well as strong state protectionism keep it from modernization, experts warn.

Sergey Guriev, the rector of Russian New School of Economy stressed, the dependence on oil could negatively affect the rouble:?The Russian currency is a paper version of oil. But we shouldn?t overestimate our confidence in the rouble, if oil prices go down, the rouble will definitely go down.?

Raghuram Rajan, Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago, says Russians should be laid back just because they have lots of land and resources.

?The key issue is overdependence on commodities and how do you make a break from that to utilise the population to become more innovative?, he said.

?State capitalism works at the early stages of growth, when a lot of has to be done. It also works in industries like extraction industries. But it becomes much more difficult for innovative enterprises to have a bureaucracy?.

Former Russian Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin is of one mind with Mr Rajan: ?We provide subsidies and benefits incoherently. We have favourites who get these benefits. It should be significantly cut.?

The need for Russia to move from a resources-based economy to a production-based one has been voiced by the government, country?s politicians and economists. ?The fast growing emerging market countries are countries which have developed broad base industries that are able to send a range of reasonably sophisticated products to the world. Russia still remains very much a commodity exporter and we don?t see a Samsung in Russia, we don?t see the kinds of export capabilities that are developed in Brazil?, says Economics Professor Charles Wyplosz.

Some experts question the Russian resource-based economy belongs with the other emerging BRIC countries: Brazil, India, and China. The idea was voiced by economist Nouriel Roubini at the World Economic Forum in Davos, but many disagree.

?I think we should interpret some of what he says as a provocation for the Russian authorities and Russian policy makers to increase the pace of reform as Russia is faced with severe challenges as is the world economy,? said Marcos Troyjo, Director of the BRICLab at Columbia University.

Roubini also emphasized the country needs ?structural reforms, direct investment, privatisation and less government interference in the economy?.

Creating a healthier investment environment along with more effective judicial system are essential to attract investments and to boost business, experts underlined. Sberbank Chief German Gref believes the changes will come after the Presidential elections in Russia. ?The investment climate in Russia will definitely change it?s impossible that it will remain as it is. We are in 120th place worldwide for investment attractiveness,? said Greff at the Troika Dialog Forum. ?I believe in a positive trend, but it should improve quick enough to overtake rivals. And this will depend on the efficiency of a future government?.

Professor Rajan says it?s the private sector and small business that should be driving the economy. ?Russia led the world in a number of technologies. How to rewind this innovation but in a private sector?That to my mind is the key, because the world needs innovation. How do you bring it to Russia? Create small companies, enterprises, they will employ the smart people here?.

Joining to WTO will also contribute to Russia?s economic development, though some sectors would be challenged, experts say. With WTO accession the Russian economy could grow 3-11% depending on the time frame, according to David G. Tarr, Consultant and Former Lead Economist at the World Bank. ?But I think the right approach is not to subsidise declining sectors, which defeats the purpose of liberalization, but rather to focus on people. If people are laid off you need to develop programs to help them find the better and higher paying jobs?, he added.

Source: http://rt.com/business/news/russia-economy-forum-opinions-443/

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Panasonic headed for record $10 billion annual loss (Reuters)

TOKYO (Reuters) ? Japan's Panasonic Corp forecast a record annual net loss of $10.2 billion on Friday, joining beleaguered rivals Sony and Sharp in a sea of red ink as they struggle to fix their broken TV businesses and overcome criticism that they have lost their way.

Panasonic said it was headed for a loss of 780 billion yen ($10.24 billion) for the year to March, dwarfing expectations for a loss of around $6.2 billion. The loss was almost entirely due to big restructuring charges and writedowns, including to its Sanyo Electric unit.

Its grim outlook follows loss forecasts at Sony and Sharp Corp - almost $17 billion combined for the three Japanese electronics firms - highlighting the impact of fierce competition from foreign rivals such as South Korea's Samsung Electronics, weak demand and a strong yen.

Panasonic, which is in the process of shedding 17,000 jobs by end-March, also missed third-quarter market forecasts, diving to a loss of 197.6 billion yen from a profit a year earlier.

With TVs becoming smart - linked to other devices like tablets and smartphones - an inability to win in the TV market risks hobbling sales across their consumer electronics line-up.

"They don't seem like a company that's progressing towards a particular goal," said Yuuki Sakurai, CEO and president of Fukoku Capital, which managed assets worth $7.6 billion as of last March. "What exactly is this company good at? What does it want to do? They don't have answers to these questions."

Makoto Kikuchi, CEO of Myojo Asset Management in Tokyo, noted Panasonic, Sharp and Sony all have structural issues, and need to come to grips with problems in their TV businesses.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Panasonic President Fumio Ohtsubo gave no indication he planned to ditch the TV business.

"I don't think it's a business that has lost its growth potential," he said, adding Panasonic wanted to "develop TV in a different manner" by exploring growth in sales to businesses rather than direct to consumers.

The near-term outlook for better TV sales is grim.

By 2015, flat panel industry research company DisplaySearch expects annual global sales of liquid crystal TVs to contract by 8 percent to $92 billion. Even worse, plasma sets, a market that Panasonic dominates, will shrink 38 percent to $7 billion.

If Panasonic's market share "keeps shrinking by 10 percent or so they may need to prepare some more restructuring," said Shiro Mikoshiba, analyst at Nomura Holdings in Tokyo.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded the debt ratings of Panasonic and Sony last month and retained a negative outlook for both, citing their continued losses on TVs.

It's not only the TV unit, however, that poses a risk to profits and is keeping investors away from Panasonic shares, say analysts.

Panasonic shares initially fell on Friday, extending a slide to their lowest in more than 30 years, but later rallied to close 1.2 percent higher ahead of the quarterly results.

"One silver lining is that there is investment being made for the future," said Hiroyuki Fukunaga, CEO of Investrust.

"You could take the added restructuring costs as a serious move by the company to reform and improve its business. You could look at this as the bottom, to show all the losses and then move aggressively towards the next quarter," he said.

Sony on Thursday pressed its reset button by announcing that Kazuo Hirai will succeed Howard Stringer as CEO in April, sparking an 8 percent surge in its share price on Friday, its biggest one-day percentage gain in almost a year.

Ohtsubo, who like Stringer at Sony, has called the shots at Panasonic for the past six years, has so far shown no intent to step aside.

"Its last record net loss in 2001/02 was because of the impact of a sudden slump in PCs after the IT bubble burst, but there was hope then for growth in flat-screen TVs," said Hideyuki Suzuki, general manager investment research at SBI Securities.

"This time, and not just for Panasonic, it doesn't feel like they've got rid of all the rot."

SANYO DRAG

Buying Sanyo was part of a strategy to focus Panasonic more on business-to-business markets such as car parts and green technologies, rather than selling to more fickle retail consumers.

Panasonic makes everything from refrigerators and bicycle pumps to fax machines, light bulbs and nose hair trimmers. Its most profitable business currently is white goods, including fridges and washing machines.

"We decided to purchase (Sanyo) in the summer of 2008 and ... the competition (environment) has changed since then and the yen has strengthened very much," said Panasonic Managing Director Makoto Uenoyama.

Sanyo had a quarterly operating loss of more than 20 billion yen.

Panasonic, which trimmed its forecast for the number of flat-screen TVs it will sell, does expect to make an operating profit for the year, though this is now seen at just 30 billion yen, down from a previous 130 billion yen.

Last year, Panasonic had an operating profit, which excludes one off items, of 305 billion yen.

($1=76.15 yen)

(Additional reporting by Taiga Uranaka, Daiki Iga and Yoko Kubota in TOKYO; Editing by Mark Bendeich, Edmund Klamann and Ian Geoghegan)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/earnings/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120203/bs_nm/us_panasonic

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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT LOVE

Greetings Brothers & Sisters,

In this the third installment in our five-part series: Domestic Violence Against Black Women. We are taking a look at just when "Enough" is in fact enough.

The article re-posted below is from the October 2011 edition of Heart & Soul Magazine.
(Heart & Soul is one of the leading premier magazines geared exclusively toward the health, wealth & love relationships of the black man & black woman)

What we wanted to do today is examine just when "this pattern of behavior" ie., domestic violence became acceptable in the black community & just how much is the black woman suppose to take before she finally stands up and declares, "Enough is Enough".

At the end of the article you will find a very important telephone number you can call 24 hours a day or night, if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence.

Sisters, it is not your fault that the black man you love hits you. It's not. A couple involved in an argument or verbal altercation should not allow it to escalate to a physical fight. Every couple goes through things, all couple have their disagreement however, it should NEVER get to a point where you black woman, are looking at your man (depending on how old he is) like he's the new Ike Turner or the new Chris Brown! Fuck that! We as black woman are strong, educated, beautiful, sexy, classy, we support you when you need us, we mother your black children, we take care of your castle and we love harder than any other woman on the face of the planet! With that being said, Come on black man, why can't you see that beating your woman's ass will NOT make you gain anything other than many many countless nights living in either 1 of 3 places.

1. You can reside in Heartbreak Hotel cause the woman done left your ass for good!
2. You can reside in Jail cause the woman done put your ass there for X amount years.
-OR-
3. You can reside in Hell cause the woman has put your ass there when she fucked around and killed your black ass in her God-given right to self-defense.

Of course, we do not advocate for the number 3 alternative but it can come to pass (in self-defense) if you, black man don't pull it together & pull it together fast baby & keep your damn hands OFF the black woman & to yourself!

That black woman is to be loved & treasured -NOT- brutalized & terrorized! Period!!!

So, with that being said let's take a look at the article below & take to heart and soul what our good friends over at Heart & Soul Magazine so graciously shared with us regarding when "Enough is Enough".

We hope some sister out there takes comfort in our five-part series and finds the strength to do what needs to be done in her own love relationship with her black man. Of course, we here in The Black Fist Organization believe the ONLY true man on the planet for the black woman IS the black man. But when that black man has been trapped in the hells of Babylon for so long that he goes crazy, flips & loses his natural damn mind and commits the heinous evil vicious wicked act of domestic violence against his black woman, then that black woman has the God-given right to raise up on that black man, defend herself then leave his black ass alone!

On a more positive note sister: If that black man can come to grips with his shit & acknowledge he is dead wrong for his brutality & viciousness against You & The Most High God, then it is solely up to you black woman if you want to return to that black man to work it out and resume y'all love thang. Who am I to say leave the black muthafuckah alone for good if he's truly changed & has gotten the necessary mental & emotional help he needs to get his shit back in order to love, protect, honor, and do you right as his beautiful black Queen? I will never say what's right for any black woman & her black man in their own personal relationship because I am not a relationship expert by occupation. However, I don't have to be one to say that if the black man is fucking up & beating your ass black woman then the negro deserves whatever it is YOU feel he deserves the rectify the hurt & pain in your heart and the hurt & pain inflicted upon your body by his big strong brutal swinging fist & vicious hateful abusive words!
Yes. Words hurt! And words are a part of the wicked vicious cycle of domestic violence (abuse).

UNTIL NEXT TIME BEAUTIFUL BROTHERS & SISTERS...
LOVE YOURSELVES & EACH OTHER!!!

PEACE, BLESSING & BLACK LOVE TO ALL!!!

Enough is Enough: Domestic Violence is Not Love

Posted by Editorial Staff on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 ? Leave a Comment

After watching Jennifer Lopez play an abused wife in ?Enough,? my high school friends and I made a pact to come forward if we ever found ourselves in a similar situation. So far, we haven?t had to make good on our promise. But unfortunately, many women aren?t so lucky.

One in four women and one in 13 men will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. And if that weren?t somber enough, an average of three women in America die as a result of domestic violence each day.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline defines domestic violence as ?as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.? And abuse can come in many forms: physical, sexual, emotional, economic and psychological.

In the Black community, 29.2 percent of women and 23.3 percent of men have suffered partner violence, according to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The same survey states 35.5 percent of women and 20.7 percent of men in households with income less than $15,000 per year have suffered violence from an intimate partner.

But domestic violence does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone of any race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation. No one is safe, and young women are especially vulnerable to the devastating effects of domestic violence. A recent survey by Liz Claiborne, Inc. found 43 percent of dating college women have experienced violent and abusive dating and more than one in five reports actual physical abuse, sexual abuse or threats of physical violence.

After the tragic death of University of Virginia lacrosse player Yeardley Love last year, I wondered if I would be able to recognize the signs of abuse in one of my friend?s relationships. On May 3, 2010, Love was found unresponsive in her apartment. Her ex-boyfriend, George Huguely, was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Love?s death.

Remember, real love is not abusive. A loving, healthy relationship makes you feel better about yourself, not worse. It builds you up. It doesn?t break you down. If you or someone you know is being abused, please know that help is available and that you are not alone. You can call the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit the website at thehotline.org.

L?Oreal Thompson is the assistant editor for Chesapeake Home + Living magazine, a staff writer for Harford and Howard magazines and a TV blogger for bthesite.com. She is addicted to cupcakes, shoes and all things purple. Follow her on Twitter @LOrealKT.

Source: http://theblackfistblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/domestic-violence-is-not-love.html

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Orlando Vacation Rentals Offer a Step Up to ... - Travel and Leisure

Booking hotel or resort rooms for your vacation is so passe. Imagine going to Disney and then having to endure hundreds, if not thousands of other guests staying at the same hotel or resort as you and your family. All of a sudden the idea of a vacation isn?t so relaxing anymore. Fortunately, there is an alternative and if you don?t like the idea of crowds, then consider renting an Orlando Vacation Rental when the time comes to decide where you?ll be staying while you?re in Central Florida.

What Vacation Rentals Have to Offer

The best part about renting your own villa to vacation in during your stay is that you can enjoy total privacy from other guests while not giving up anything in terms of luxury accommodations. The best of both worlds indeed, especially if you want to have a good night?s rest after spending all day touring the sights and sounds of Orlando.

If you?ve already been to Disney or one of the other theme parks such as SeaWorld or Universal Orlando during the day, then you probably wouldn?t want a ruckus to keep you up during the night while you get some much needed rest for the day ahead, would you? The great thing about the privacy part of a vacation rental is that you can stop worrying about disturbing others, or others disturbing you during your vacation.

As well as having total privacy, another good part about renting your own vacation home is that when you?re traveling as a small party, you?ll certainly appreciate having multiple bedrooms in one residence. Instead of facing the possibility of everyone in your party having to stay at different hotels or spread about all over the place in one hotel, which causes no end of trouble when meeting up for outings, you?ll simply have to rent one single villa to house everyone.

Resort-like Amenities

Not only are the bedrooms inside the villa residence just like luxury hotels, you won?t have worry about missing out on what the luxury resorts have to offer. Every vacation home comes with a swimming pool as standard and if you select the right vacation rental company, you will find that they even have a concierge service that can arrange everything from transportation to dining and shopping to VIP theme park tours.

Vacation rentals also have a lot more to offer than your average hotel room. For instance, there is usually a full size kitchen so you can save money by having meals at home when you feel like it. Vacation rentals typically also have at least two or three TV sets and that can be important when you want to watch your show and someone else wants to watch theirs!

Another great thing about a rental is that it typically has a laundry area so you can save on having to haul a load of extra clothes around with you. Airlines are now starting to charge for each and every bag and that?s where the laundry comes in to save you money and aggravation.

Vacation Rental Locations

In the Orlando area there is a wide range of rental options to choose from. From 1 and 2 bedroom condos and townhouses to spacious 3 to 7 bedroom vacation homes the choice is amazing. The best vacation rentals are located within minutes of Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios so make sure you check how far away the rental of your choice actually is.

Finally, it is wise to book early, as the best vacation rentals go quickly. After all, you don?t want to be disappointed that you didn?t get the perfect Orlando vacation villa for your vacation getaway.

About Nigel Worrall:

Nigel Worrall is President / CEO of Florida Leisure Vacation Homes & Total Real Estate Solutions. He is regularly sought by the media as a vacation home and real estate expert and has featured on NBC, ABC, Fox, CBS. He has also featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times, Newsweek, Chicago Sun Times, Washington Post, Orlando Sentinel, Orlando Business Journal and several other publications. Nigel is also the best selling author of ?Big Ideas For Your Business? (Advantage Media). Nigel serves many clients around the world as a Realtor?, Real Estate Broker, Real Estate Investor, Mortgage Broker and Real Estate Trainer.

About Florida Leisure: Florida Leisure Vacation Homes is the leading vacation home company in the Orlando, Fla. ? Disney area, offering 3-7 bedroom private vacation homes near to all the Orlando area attractions. Each home has it?s own fully equipped kitchen, 3-7 bedrooms, lounge, dining room, laundry, 2 car garage and best of all, private swimming pool. http://www.FloridaLeisure.com

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Source: http://fortalecimientoaeroespacial.org/orlando-vacation-rentals-offer-a-step-up-to-affordable-luxury-on-your-next-vacation/

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The Truth Regarding Very Low Calorie Diets | What is Health and ...

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Source: http://whatishealthandfitness.co.uk/the-truth-regarding-very-low-calorie-diets/

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Apple hires Dixons chief to drive global retail (Reuters)

LONDON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) ? Apple Inc has hired Dixons Chief Executive John Browett, who revived the British electronics retailer by emphasizing customer service, to lead the iPad maker's global retail expansion.

Apple chief Tim Cook, making his first high-profile hire since taking the helm of the world's largest technology company, lured the well-regarded industry executive to fill a critical post once held by Ron Johnson, another outsider who left Target Corp to join Apple in 2000.

Johnson resigned from Apple last November to join retailer J.C. Penney Co Inc as chief executive.

Browett, Dixons' CEO since 2007, was previously chief executive of Tesco Plc's successful online shopping site. He will oversee Apple's retail strategy and the expansion of its stores around the world, from the current total of around 300.

The executive, credited with freshening Dixons' image with innovative marketing -- including an advertising campaign featuring Darth Vader -- joins Apple as the Silicon Valley giant eyes markets abroad to sustain its growth.

"An outsider with international experience will help guide Apple's global expansion strategy," said RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky. "His experience includes localizing stores for multiple countries."

On Johnson's watch, Apple opened its first retail outlet -- in McLean, Virginia -- in May 2001. It now has a chain of more than 300 stores, which generated an average of $34.1 million each in fiscal 2010 and accounted for 15 percent of the company's net sales.

"(Browett)'s got big shoes to fill," said BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis. "Ron Johnson drove the Apple store as a customer experience with a positive halo effect for the business."

Wall Street views Apple's stores as an important advantage in competing with rivals Google Inc and Amazon.com Inc as well as other traditional PC makers.

"Our retail stores are all about customer service, and John shares that commitment like no one else we've met," said Cook.

INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

Apple's retail success is likely to keep growing over the next few quarters as huge numbers of consumers continue to snap up the company's popular iPhones and iPads. Apple sold 37 million iPhones and more than 15 million iPads during the last quarter, and its cash balance swelled to nearly $100 billion by the end of 2011.

Last week, Apple posted quarterly results ahead of market expectations.

Browett's appointment has sparked speculation in some quarters that Apple may be planning a push in its retail operations in Europe, where his expertise is greatest.

But Gillis said that while Browett's international experience is helpful, he did not appear to have the relevant expertise in Apple's key growth markets in Asia.

In October, Best Buy abandoned plans for a chain of European megastores, while Kesa Electricals, Europe's No. 3 player, effectively paid a bidder to take the British money-losing Comet chain off its hands.

Both companies, as well as Home Retail's Argos business, have struggled to compete with Dixons in the UK as Browett revamped stores, focused on more popular megastores and improved product ranges with a mantra of improving the shopping trip for customers.

Shares of Dixons Retail, Europe's second-largest electronics retailer and owner of the Currys and PC World chains in Britain, fell on Tuesday following the news that Browett would leave in April to join the world's leading smartphone maker as senior vice president of retail, based in California.

Dixons, which also runs Elkjop in Nordic countries, UniEuro in Italy and Kotsovolos in Greece, said Sebastian James would succeed Browett.

James, who was instrumental in executing much of Dixons' turnaround plan, is the company's operations director and a former strategy director at mother and baby products retailer Mothercare.

"We understand that the (Dixons) board had already carried out external bench-marking as part of its succession plans, and had decided that internal candidates would provide the best solution," said Investec analyst David Jeary.

Dixons shares, which rose more than 50 percent in the last month after the well-received Christmas trading update, were down 8.7 percent at 13.95 pence. Apple was up 0.25 percent at $454.12 in afternoon Nasdaq trading in New York.

(Additional reporting by Yinka Adegoke in New York and Juhi Arora in Bangalore; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Chris Wickham and Lisa Von Ahn)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/applecomputer/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120131/bs_nm/us_apple

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UCSD Researchers Create Artificial Cell Membrane

cylonlover writes with an excerpt from a Gizmag article: "The cell membrane is one of the most important components of a cell because it separates the interior from the environment and controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. In a move that brings mankind another step closer to being able to create artificial life forms from scratch, chemists from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and Harvard University have created artificial self-assembling cell membranes using a novel chemical reaction. The chemists hope their creation will help shed light on the origins of life." The full paper is available in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (behind a paywall).

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/5vMwYk23Yr4/ucsd-researchers-create-artificial-cell-membrane

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