Latest news with #HMI
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: 'Santan Berlada' actor Khairul Azhar dies at 70
KUALA LUMPUR: Actor, comedian and singer Khairul Azhar, best known for the popular 1980s sitcom Santan Berlada, passed away at his home in Taman Sri Andalas, Klang, at 10.37pm last night. He was 70. It is understood that the deceased was discovered unconscious in his car by his personal assistant. A medical team, contacted thereafter, confirmed Khairul's death. Beyond his acting and hosting career, Khairul was a prominent member of the Santan Berlada trio, alongside the late Ali Mamak and Accapan, with whom he also released a studio album. His passing marks the end of an era, as all three original members of the iconic trio have now departed. News of Khairul's demise was also shared by 1990s singer Anna Zanariah on Facebook, who penned a heartfelt tribute. "In 1997, when I was an artiste, I already knew him. The first time we met was on RTM for the HMI programme. "I was in the singing segment, and he was in the comedy segment. Suddenly, we were able to meet in the same organisation," she wrote. Anna added, "We continued to work together from 2000 to 2001 until he retired. Although retired, his contract was renewed for a few more years because the 'big boss' liked him." "We have so many memories together. He was always a reference point if I got an 'emcee job'. "Safe journey home, brother Khairul Azhar of Santan Berlada, my mentor is no more. "He left on a glorious Friday night. Paying that you'll be in heaven. God willing. April 1, 1955 - May 29, 2025. Al Fatihah," she concluded. Khairul was also known for his musical talent, serving as the drummer for the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) combo. His remains will be laid to rest at the Kampung Raja Uda Islamic Cemetery, Klang, after Friday prayers today. In addition to Santan Berlada, Khairul's extensive career included numerous roles in dramas and telefilms, as well as a memorable appearance in the film Mat Som alongside Imuda.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Pioneer expands R&D centre in Bengaluru, plans to start in-car product manufacturing in India by 2026
BENGALURU: Pioneer India Electronics, a subsidiary of Japan's Pioneer Corporation, which is into car entertainment and mobility solutions, on Wednesday inaugurated its new Research & Development (R&D) centre in Bengaluru. The company said it is strengthening its local footprint through R&D centres in Gurugram and Bengaluru and plans to begin in-car product manufacturing in India in 2026. The Bengaluru R&D centre is designed to drive innovation across a comprehensive range of automotive and mobility technologies addressing the growing demand for smart, safe, and affordable mobility across developing and urban markets, senior executives said. The centre will work closely with Pioneer's global network of R&D and engineering centers, focusing on the Automotive Vision & Sensing Technologies (dash cams, digital mirrors, 360° vision amongst other camera systems), Digital Cockpit & Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) and Connected solutions for two-wheelers, among others, they added.
Top Gear
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Ferrari Roma Spider Interior Layout & Technology
Yep, along with everyone else, Ferrari has opted for capacitive multi-touch controls on the steering wheel. The touchpad on the left spar operates the adaptive cruise control, meanwhile the audio and other functions are navigated via a touchpad on the right. And they're exactly as painful to use as they sound. They deactivate after 15 seconds of inactivity while you're on the move to avoid accidentally pressing anything, and require a double tap to switch back on. Beautifully made, and a lovely place to sit. But Ferrari's bold adventures in the world of HMI continue. It starts with the engine start/stop button, which is a touchpad on the bottom of the steering wheel. And it gets worse from there. As ever, some things are just better done using physical buttons rather than jabbing at a screen or trying to persuade your thumbs to get onboard. The long-serving wheel-mounted manettino remains tangible and elegant proof of this thesis. What about the screens? The main instrument display is a configurable 16in curved HD screen with some seriously hi-def graphics. As before, you can configure it in various ways (after a lot of frustration), but almost always end up having the rev counter front and centre. The 8.4in central screen allows you to control the aircon and multimedia (though you do at least get physical switches and scrolls on the rear of the wheel to cycle between radio stations/songs and adjust the volume), as well as providing the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto interfaces that'll do most of the connectivity heavy lifting. And we love the gear selector panel that mimics the open gate of classic Ferrari manuals. These are the elements drivers will interact with most often. All the usual ADAS – advanced driving assist systems, including lane assist and its associated (dys)functionality – are also all present and correct here. Urgh. Fortunately a shortcut on the wheel allows you to switch it all off. And believe us, you'll want to, unless you like being serenaded by warning chimes.
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Builders Have Bad News for Donald Trump's Housing Market
Builder confidence in the U.S. housing market fell sharply in May, marking its lowest level since November 2023, according to a new report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Developers are contending with a sluggish selling season and mounting economic pressures. The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) dropped six points to 34, mirroring the November 2023 reading and only slightly above December 2022's low of 31. The downturn comes at a sensitive moment for President Donald Trump, whose administration faces growing scrutiny over trade policy and inflation. Per the NAHB, persistent uncertainty around tariffs, rising building material costs, and sustained high interest rates have rattled builder sentiment. These headwinds have forced builders to slash prices during the peak homebuying season. The decline in builder confidence poses challenges for a housing sector central to Trump's economic messaging. The spring season—typically one of the most active periods for home sales—has failed to gain traction. In response, 34 percent of builders cut home prices in May, up from 29 percent in April, with an average price reduction of 5 percent. Sales incentives remained elevated, with 61 percent of builders offering them, according to the NAHB. The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index is based on a monthly survey asking builders to rate current sales conditions, expectations for the next six months, and prospective buyer traffic. All three components declined in May: current sales dropped eight points to 37, future sales dipped one point to 42, and buyer traffic slid to 23. A reading below 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as poor than good. The timing of the latest survey data is also notable. Approximately 90 percent of builder responses were collected before the May 12 announcement that the U.S. and China had agreed to suspend tariffs for 90 days to resume trade talks. The U.S. and China agreed to lower their rates by 115 percentage points. This agreement lowered the tariffs imposed on Chinese goods by President Donald Trump to 30 percent and those imposed on U.S. goods by Beijing to 10 percent. Trump initially announced his sweeping global tariffs on April 2, including a baseline 10 percent on all imported goods and "reciprocal" tariffs. While this may offer some future relief, it did not factor into the May confidence reading. Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "Builders face the usual challenges of volatile commodity prices, but add in the unpredictable impact of tariffs, and it gets even tougher. Price swings on materials make it hard to maintain stable margins, adding pressure to an already tight market." Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek: "Uncertainty around tariffs and the unknown construction costs are certainly playing into homebuyer and builder sentiment, but I really think the driver is overall housing prices and interest rates. A lot of people are choosing to stay on the sidelines, waiting for the housing market to soften and interest rates to tick down, with the hopes they can find a home and mortgage that is more affordable." While builders await the effects of the temporary tariff suspension and potential tax reforms, confidence levels remain vulnerable to broader economic shifts. "Builders buy in bulk and rely on stable margins. When input costs are unpredictable, it's nearly impossible to price homes accurately," Thompson said. "This affects both the affordability for buyers and the profitability for builders, creating a ripple effect throughout the market." Any sustained progress in trade negotiations or monetary policy adjustments could help boost sentiment in the months ahead. Until then, developers are likely to continue leaning on price cuts and incentives to attract hesitant buyers. "Just like any market, the housing and interest rate markets are nearly impossible to time, and that could be costing potential homebuyers dearly... Waiting for a housing and interest rate correction or crash may be costing consumers more than it's worth," Powers said. Related Articles Florida's Population Makes Major ShiftTexas Housing Market Enters 'Major Correction Phase'America's Most Expensive Area Sees Surge in People Trying to Sell HomesHousing Shortage Hurting Middle-Class Americans Most 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
19-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Builders Have Bad News for Donald Trump's Housing Market
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Builder confidence in the U.S. housing market fell sharply in May, marking its lowest level since November 2023, according to a new report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Developers are contending with a sluggish selling season and mounting economic pressures. The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) dropped six points to 34, mirroring the November 2023 reading and only slightly above December 2022's low of 31. Why It Matters The downturn comes at a sensitive moment for President Donald Trump, whose administration faces growing scrutiny over trade policy and inflation. Per the NAHB, persistent uncertainty around tariffs, rising building material costs, and sustained high interest rates have rattled builder sentiment. These headwinds have forced builders to slash prices during the peak homebuying season. The decline in builder confidence poses challenges for a housing sector central to Trump's economic messaging. The spring season—typically one of the most active periods for home sales—has failed to gain traction. In response, 34 percent of builders cut home prices in May, up from 29 percent in April, with an average price reduction of 5 percent. Sales incentives remained elevated, with 61 percent of builders offering them, according to the NAHB. What To Know The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index is based on a monthly survey asking builders to rate current sales conditions, expectations for the next six months, and prospective buyer traffic. All three components declined in May: current sales dropped eight points to 37, future sales dipped one point to 42, and buyer traffic slid to 23. A reading below 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as poor than good. The timing of the latest survey data is also notable. Approximately 90 percent of builder responses were collected before the May 12 announcement that the U.S. and China had agreed to suspend tariffs for 90 days to resume trade talks. The U.S. and China agreed to lower their rates by 115 percentage points. This agreement lowered the tariffs imposed on Chinese goods by President Donald Trump to 30 percent and those imposed on U.S. goods by Beijing to 10 percent. Trump initially announced his sweeping global tariffs on April 2, including a baseline 10 percent on all imported goods and "reciprocal" tariffs. While this may offer some future relief, it did not factor into the May confidence reading. A real estate sign is seen in front of a house for sale in West Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. A real estate sign is seen in front of a house for sale in West Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images What People Are Saying Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "Builders face the usual challenges of volatile commodity prices, but add in the unpredictable impact of tariffs, and it gets even tougher. Price swings on materials make it hard to maintain stable margins, adding pressure to an already tight market." Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek: "Uncertainty around tariffs and the unknown construction costs are certainly playing into homebuyer and builder sentiment, but I really think the driver is overall housing prices and interest rates. A lot of people are choosing to stay on the sidelines, waiting for the housing market to soften and interest rates to tick down, with the hopes they can find a home and mortgage that is more affordable." What Happens Next While builders await the effects of the temporary tariff suspension and potential tax reforms, confidence levels remain vulnerable to broader economic shifts. "Builders buy in bulk and rely on stable margins. When input costs are unpredictable, it's nearly impossible to price homes accurately," Thompson said. "This affects both the affordability for buyers and the profitability for builders, creating a ripple effect throughout the market." Any sustained progress in trade negotiations or monetary policy adjustments could help boost sentiment in the months ahead. Until then, developers are likely to continue leaning on price cuts and incentives to attract hesitant buyers. "Just like any market, the housing and interest rate markets are nearly impossible to time, and that could be costing potential homebuyers dearly... Waiting for a housing and interest rate correction or crash may be costing consumers more than it's worth," Powers said.
