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In fact, Amazon FBA often makes mistakes, and if the seller is unfortunately subject to arbitrary chargebacks, it can actually apply for a claim from Amazon. Writing ...
News on December 11th, eBay recently released an announcement, introducing the update of the returned goods policy published in the article, and explaining the exception of the "jewellery and watches" category ...
The State Council Information Office held a press conference at 2:30 pm on December 9, 2019 (Monday), and invited the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Commerce Ren Hongbin, the Department of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Commerce ...
From February 1 next year, all small-scale taxpayers can issue special tickets.
On December 10th, it was learned from foreign media reports that Bukalapak, one of Indonesia's largest e-commerce markets, said that CEO and co-founder Achma ...
Britain is a highly developed capitalist country. It is one of the four largest economies in Europe. Its citizens have a high standard of living and a good social security system ...
In recent years, as the strength of Chinese companies continues to increase, more and more companies have gone abroad and gone global. In the process, the trademarks of Chinese companies ...
Black Friday ended, AliExpress also recently published its own Black Five battle report. In the opening 18 minutes, the platform is ...
Everyone who has been and is doing Amazon knows the importance of FBA to an Amazon account. Since Amazon introduced FBA in 2007, its own platform ...
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The European Commission has opened two antitrust investigations into Apple over its App Store and Apple Pay services’ compliance with EU competition rules.
The first complaint will examine Apple’s App Store policies, following separate complaints from Spotify and Japanese firm Rakuten relating to Apple’s 30 per cent commission fee on music streaming subscriptions and ebooks purchased through the App Store.
Apple announced its App Store ecosystem had facilitated more than half a trillion dollars ($519bn) during 2019 on Monday, claiming 85 per cent of the total was accrued by third-party developers and businesses.
Margrethe Vestager, head of the EU’s antitrust division, said it appeared as though Apple had obtained a “gatekeeper role when it comes to the distribution of apps and content to users of Apple’s popular devices”.
“We need to ensure that Apple’s rules do not distort competition in markets where Apple is competing with other app developers, for example with its music streaming service Apple Music or with Apple Books,” she said.
“I have therefore decided to take a close look at Apple’s App Store rules and their compliance with EU competition rules.”
Spotify claimed Apple had abused its dominance in the App Store to favour its own Apple Music streaming platform in its complaint lodged to the Commission last year, accusing the company of “tilting the playing field to disadvantage competitors”. Retail company Rakuten followed suit in March, alleging Apple’s 30 per cent cut on books sold through the App Store was anti-competitive.
The second complaint concerns whether Apple’s contactless payment system, Apple Pay, violates EU competition rules.
Ms Vestager said it appeared as though Apple sets the conditions for how the services is used within third party’s apps and websites, limiting the ‘tap and go’ function on iPhones to Apple Pay alone.
The Commission plans to investigate whether the practices stifle competition from rival mobile payment solution providers.
Complainants ‘simply want a free ride’
A spokesperson for Apple said the company “follow[s] the law in everything we do and we embrace competition at every stage because we believe it pushes us to deliver even better results”, adding the complaints made against it came from companies “who simply want a free ride”.
“It’s disappointing the European Commission is advancing baseless complaints from a handful of companies who simply want a free ride, and don’t want to play by the same rules as everyone else. We don’t think that’s right — we want to maintain a level playing field where anyone with determination and a great idea can succeed.
“At the end of the day, our goal is simple: for our customers to have access to the best app or service of their choice, in a safe and secure environment. We welcome the opportunity to show the European Commission all we’ve done to make that goal a reality.”

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Climate change for biopharmaceutical companies in general, and Baxter specifically, are of concern for 3 main reasons within supply chain management
- Damage to manufacturing plants: Baxter has manufacturing plants situated near coastal areas, which could be susceptible to severe weather shocks. For example, they have 3 manufacturing facilities in Puerto Rico, which has experienced a record number of hurricanes recently. For example, Hurricane Maria earlier this year disrupted the country’s power grids, disabling the plants and causing a severe shortage of saline solutions, for which Baxter is the market leader in. This has resulted in many hospitals scrambling to get enough saline, including having to choose alternative saline providers.
- Damage to inventory stockpiles of raw materials and/or finished goods: Similar to the comment above, severe weather can damage either sources of raw materials or finished goods, which will cause random hits to total supply of a product
- Sharp increase in demand of drugs due to natural disaster and/or long-term environmental changes: Lastly, natural disasters can lead to a spike in demand for various drugs, including drugs that dose through IV, all of which require saline for injection.
Baxter’s management team has a multi-pronged approach to addressing climate change and supply chain.
- Short term
- Rationing sales: Immediately after the supply shocks, they can ration the product based on historical demand from hospitals. However, while this leads to all hospitals getting some of the product (e.g., saline solution), it still isn’t enough to fully address the hospitals needs
- Regulatory support: The FDA temporarily granted a license for Baxter to supply US-based hospitals through their other manufacturing facilities located in Ireland and Australia.3
- Schedule emergency shipments of finished goods prior to predictable natural disasters: Baxter shipped out all of its finished goods before the hurricanes hit
- Medium term
- Broaden manufacturing: They have been somewhat hesitant to fully buy into actively managing supply chain risk due to severe weather, such as AHA’s push for the FDA to emphasize finding suppliers within the US that aren’t as susceptible to natural disasters
- Work more closely with newly created hurricane task force from FDA. The FDA also helps with logistics, including arranging for power generators to be moved to locations of interest. Baxter can more fully cooperate with the FDA and other players in the industry to develop these types of contingency plans
- Long term
- Sustainability: Baxter is working with all regulatory agencies to meet and exceed regulations on climate change for their business operations (green buildings, limiting emissions, etc.)
There are 3 other steps that they can take a look at in order to address these risks
- Get full FDA approval for their entire supply chain, or at least a portion of it. This would mean that the FDA would allow them to permanently import saline from manufacturing plants outside of Puerto Rico (e.g., Australia and Ireland). Currently, the vast majority (if not all) of their saline that is approved for sale in the US come from only Puerto Rico. They can further de-risk by spreading this to more than just the US. For example, getting EMA approval from multiple manufacturing facilities to ship saline solution into Europe.
- The same argument above also applies to their sources of raw materials, which is also fairly concentrated.
- They can also proactively reach out to legislators to work on getting incentives to minimize supply chain disruptions due to weather-related events, as healthcare counts as a public good. This would enable government (or other players such as insurers) to take on some of the costs involved in de-risking the supply chain and ensuring that patients have access to quality healthcare, since they also benefit from healthier patients
Some outstanding questions may include
- De-risking the supply chain may require significant upfront costs, as they increase inventory or seek additional regulatory approval and/or renovate manufacturing and storage facilities. If the costs outweigh the benefits to Baxter, to what extent should they go ahead and implement these solutions, and who else should bear the burden of some of these costs?
- Is there a way to engage other stakeholders (e.g., insurance companies, providers, and even other biopharma/med tech companies) to tackle the risks involved with climate change on healthcare supply chain?
1) Ventola, C. Lee. “The Drug Shortage Crisis in the United States: Causes, Impact, and Management Strategies.” Pharmacy and Therapeutics 36.11 (2011): 740–757. Print.
2) Loftus, Peter, and Jonathan D. Rockoff. “Baxter Says Saline Shipments Disrupted in Hurricane-Wracked Puerto Rico.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 27 Sept. 2017, www.wsj.com/articles/baxter-says-saline-shipments-disrupted-in-hurricane-wracked-puerto-rico-1506545326.
3) McGinley, Laurie. “Hospitals Scramble to Avert Saline Shortage in Wake of Puerto Rico Disaster.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 11 Oct. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/10/09/hospitals-scramble-to-avert-saline-shortage-in-wake-of-puerto-rico-disaster/?utm_term=.a56608109c87.
4) Ramsey, Lydia. “We’re Running out of Commonly Used Drugs – and Hospitals Say It’s ‘Quickly Becoming a Crisis’.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 10 Nov. 2017, www.businessinsider.com/drug-shortages-are-getting-worse-american-hospital-association-2017-11.


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Beyond Good & Evil 2 was finally announced at E3 2017 after a long time. We couldn’t hear any news from Beyond Good & Evil 2 for a while. The developing process of the game will take much time. Today, this silence is broken, and the date for the new gameplay video of Beyond Good & Evil 2 has been given.
A new video from Beyond Good & Evil 2
In an interview with EveryEye site, the producer of the game Guillaume Brunier told that Ubisoft‘s new gameplay video will be released on December 10th. Although we expected the new gameplay video to be released at the Game Awards ceremony, we learned that we have to wait a few extra days for this video. It is not clear how long is the video and what it will focus on yet.
We expect to see a playable demo of Beyond Good & Evil 2 until 2020. It was previously explained that this demo will belong to the beta phase of the game. In short, we will have to wait at least another 2-3 years for the release of the game.


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With the imposition of 5% GST on packaged groceries, milk and milk products, prices of packaged and branded grocery items like atta (wheat flour), dal (pulses), besan (gram flour), maida (refined wheat flour) and poha have gone up considerably, except that of edible oil, which witnessed a waning in prices of Rs. 20 to Rs. 30 per kg.
Before GST was imposed on July 18 on grocery items, branded edible oil, rice, and tea were already under the purview of GST, so it has not impacted their prices.
With festivals coming around, prices of grocery and milk products may see a further hike due to an increase in demand, but as of now, the impact of an increase in demand on prices is not seen.
There has been an increase in the prices of atta, dal of all varieties from tur to chana dal, maida, besan, poha, murmura in the same proportion as the GST imposed (5%). For example, tuar dal, which was selling for Rs. 100 per kg, is now priced at Rs. 105 per kg, moong, which was selling at Rs. 99 per kg, is now selling at Rs. 104 per kg, and atta at Rs. 30 per kg from Rs. 25, but prices of edible oil have come down considerably.
People, particularly the middle classes, have started buying packaged goods because of their concern for hygiene and quality. The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) was also promoting the sale and use of packaged and branded goods so that people get quality products to eat; but then, the government all of a sudden came up with the idea of imposing 5% GST on commodities like poha and atta, which has no justification but an attempt to give an upper hand to retail store chains because when a person goes there, he doesn’t haggle for prices, which he does in small stores.
The imposition of GST on grocery and milk products has not only affected household budgets but also snacks like samosas, kachoris, and bread pakoras.
In the pre-Covid days, if someone sold a samosa for Rs. 10 per piece, people would raise their eyebrows, but now it’s being sold for Rs. 15 per piece. Prices of sweets, snacks in hotels, and food have gone up too.


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Bitcoin miners have experienced unusual volatility in rewards due to the expanding footprint of bitcoin inscriptions over the past 12 months, with bitcoin NFTs having a growing impact on the DeFi sector. While block rewards are fixed at 6.25 BTC per block for this cycle, the additional transaction fees paid to miners have varied significantly.
Throughout 2023, fees ranged from 3.9 BTC to 0.08 BTC per block, peaking in May, falling off through summer, and then making a winter comeback to reach a height of 3.3 BTC by December 16. In dollar terms, miners made as much as $139,117 per block and as low as $2,582. This fee variation aligned with the spikes in bitcoin Inscription activity throughout the year.
Inscriptions are similar to NFTs on other blockchains and are created by inscribing individual bitcoin satoshis with data. This process turns the smallest denomination of fungible bitcoin into non-fungible assets most commonly known as Ordinals. It is similar to turning pennies into unique pieces of art or engraving new text onto the coins.
Launched in early 2023, the Ordinals protocol saw huge initial interest as collectors embraced the concept of adding unique data to individual satoshis, creating a sense of scarcity and potential collectability within the bitcoin network. This surge in activity quickly drove up demand for block space, a limited resource that records all bitcoin transactions.
When a bitcoin transaction is submitted, it goes into a queue called the mempool. During the 2023 transaction fee peaks, the mempool became increasingly filled with Ordinals inscriptions, causing transaction sizes to bloat as bitcoin blocks accommodated the additional data. This increased size directly contributed to higher transaction fees on the network as miners naturally prioritize transactions with higher fees attached to increase their revenue.
The increased competition for this coveted block space made regular bitcoin transactions significantly more expensive during heightened inscription activity. Smaller transactions had to bid higher to compete with large transactions in terms of cost per virtual byte. Consequently, larger-sized transactions within the mempool put upward pressure on fees as users competed to have their transactions confirmed.
Ordinals drove bitcoin transaction fees to record levels for a non-bull market period, but this momentum has recently subsided. As the chart below illustrates, before the Ordinals craze, fees had not surpassed 2,000 satoshis per vByte since the 2021 bull run.
Historically, miner revenue has been primarily derived from block rewards. The upcoming halving event will cut these rewards to just 3.125 BTC. With a bitcoin price of around $50,000, any miners who spend more than $25,000 in energy to mine 1 BTC will no longer be profitable. Therefore, transaction fees could soon start to rival block rewards in importance. Presently, miners receive around $14,000 in transaction fees per block and $323,750 in mining rewards.
After the halving, mining rewards will drop to $161,875, meaning if another surge in inscriptions occurs, some blocks may generate more in transaction fees than block rewards in 2024. For instance, on the afternoon of February 3, miners received an average of $180,486 in transaction fees.
DeFi On Bitcoin Could Be A Lifeline For Miners.
While Ordinals are currently well below their 2023 peak, the sector is far from dead. Investment into bitcoin Layer-2s, DeFi, alternative inscription methods and Ordinals marketplaces is increasing, and even MicroStrategy
Bitcoin DeFi TVL exploded from $300 million on February 8 to $1.65 billion in just 11 days. Most new investments have flowed through bitcoin Layer 2 startup Merlin Chain. Backed by venture firms including OKX Ventures, ABCDE, Foresight Ventures and Arkstream Capital, its Merlin Seal event saw over $700 billion in bitcoin and $300 million BRC-20 tokens staked by users hoping to acquire governance tokens in the new chain.
As Bitcoin-based DeFi platforms mature, they may bring increased traffic and associated fees to the blockchain, further aiding miners. While transaction fees have yet to offset declining block rewards fully, they show growing potential.
Challenges And Controversy Of Bitcoin Transactions
The shift towards a fee-driven model is not without controversy. Higher fees could potentially make everyday bitcoin transactions less affordable, pushing users away from the core blockchain, which some believe contradicts the original vision of bitcoin as accessible 'electronic cash.'
Proponents of this argument worry that rising fees could relegate Bitcoin to a specialized settlement and store of value layer for luxury digital assets, undermining its role as a more general transactional currency. However, advocates of decentralized Layer-2 solutions, like the Lightning Network, may argue that they provide ample channels for daily payments using bitcoin while minimizing on-chain fee overhead.
The potential for bitcoin to act as a global event sequencer for financial transactions, utilizing the Lightning Network for small transactions and the mainnet for preserving critical international settlements, makes increasing fees less of an issue. When the cost of a bitcoin transaction becomes untenable for daily transactions, it does so because the worth of its blockspace is valued that highly.
Thus, despite concerns, the evolving structure of bitcoin's transaction fee market reflects a maturation of the world's largest blockchain. It highlights the growing recognition of bitcoin as a foundational layer for various digital assets and decentralized applications. This may necessitate a recalibration of expectations for bitcoin transactions.
Going forward, analysts will monitor whether rising fee revenue can indeed bolster network security and sustain Bitcoin's long-term growth without block rewards. Transaction fees remain a complex topic, impacting miners, developers, and the broader Bitcoin community as the leading digital assets enter an exciting new phase of its existence.
In addition, the longer-term effects of inscriptions on the bitcoin network will remain subject to debate. It's uncertain if this will remain a niche practice or expand into a significant new use case for bitcoin. Further developments may be necessary to balance the needs of Inscription advocates and those interested in simpler bitcoin transactions.


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At its annual shareholder meeting, Nintendo Company’s president Shuntaro Furukawa mentioned that the gaming giant is well aware that at the current limitations of technology, cloud gaming isn’t yet possible on the level which they want it to be, but that the company recognizes the potential for the technology to be a proper distribution medium for gaming. Nintendo, to date, hasn not delved into developing a cloud gaming system of its own, but the Japanese-based corporation hasn’t suffered for its decision as of yet. Consoles like the switch still make a significant impact on the market, and director Shigeru Miyamoto states that he doesn’t think cloud gaming is going to completely replace consoles for gaming.
Console Game Streaming
One thing is sure: the technology market stands still for no corporation, and Nintendo is known to have dropped the ball in the past. Not recognizing the popularity of CDs over cartridges (and in the process losing a considerable volume of its market share to Sony) is one of the more prominent examples in recent memory. However, the company is already dedicating considerable efforts into creating a streaming system that can utilize partnership deals. The aim of this endeavour is to develop and maintain a Nintendo-specific cloud gaming offering. The details on the project are however yet subject to speculation. The levels of success of this project are still heavily guarded, and no one in the industry can be entirely sure how far Nintendo has advanced on this track. Despite that secrecy, the admission from President Furukawa suggests that, while they might not be as invested in cloud gaming as Sony, Microsoft, and Google, Nintendo still has something to say on the market. As a result, it would be amiss to rule them out as a contender in the next generation of the console wars.


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Regulators and Industry players weigh in on both the benefits and challenges of integrating blockchain systems into existing gaming operator platforms.
Sec. Raul Lambino kicks off the discussion by stressing that as a regulator, developing rules and regulations based on industry best practices will facilitate the adoption of blockchain technology in the gaming industry.
Blockchain as a tool, would not only streamline payments, money transfer, compliance and data authentication across key players but it can also be a regulator’s best ally in monitoring the activities of its operators, in enforcing gaming laws, ensuring data privacy, preventing anti-money laundering and terrorist financing, and most importantly in protecting the gaming public from fraud and unjust gaming practices.
CEZA is yet to determine whether or not it will mingle its regulations on Financial Technology Solutions and Offshore Virtual Currency Exchanges with its existing Online and Land-Based Casino Regulations. There is a growing demand in the online gaming industry for the use of blockchain and digital assets as a channel and mode of payment, however as a regulator, CEZA has yet to develop and approve of a framework that would ensure consumer protection, exercise rules on responsible gaming, and enforce various gaming standards and regulations across different jurisdictions.


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Fueled by traditional products as well as relative newcomers, individual life insurance sales increased 4% in new annualized premium in 2011, marking the second consecutive year of growth, according to LIMRA International.
A sustained resurgence in whole life sales, driven largely by a growing consumer appetite for safer permanent products with premium and cash value guarantees, has been accompanied by stronger sales of emerging life insurance products, such as indexed universal life and term universal life, observes Kathy Ho, a research actuary at LIMRA. Which products are seeing the most growth?
Whole life premium increased 9% in 2011 compared to 2010, according to LIMRA, the sixth consecutive year of what Ho terms “phenomenal growth.” Consumers are flocking to whole life not just for safety but for simplicity, she says. “There are not a lot of ins and outs with the product.”
Overall in 2011, according to LIMRA, insurance companies issued 2% more individual life policies than they did the previous year, just the fourth year in the past 30 that annual policy sales increased. Strong universal life (UL) sales were a big reason, and much of that strength came from indexed universal life. Premiums for indexed UL increased an impressive 38% in 2011, in tandem with a 30% rise in policy count. Consumers, especially those in the 60 to 70 age bracket, like the indexed UL proposition of greater potential upside accompanied by protection from downside risk, says Ho. As a result, she and LIMRA expect indexed UL sales to remain strong in 2012, with more carriers entering the fray to give buyers a broader product selection.
Another UL product, term universal life, is carving out a niche in the life insurance market, notes Ho. It, too, is finding appeal among older, 60-something consumers, but it’s also establishing a foothold in business planning and wealth transfer applications. Affordability is a key selling point, as term UL premiums tend to be “much cheaper” than those of traditional UL, she says. Giving policyholders the flexibility to convert into a permanent policy via a relatively straightforward process adds to the allure of term UL.


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Pace Micro, Philips Set-Tops Spin Box as Home Gateway
The digital set-top box is quickly evolving from a glorified tuner box into a high-end home gateway.
That's the vision of U.K.-based set-top developer Pace Micro Technology plc and Dutch consumer-electronics giant Philips Consumer Electronics Co. Both companies will send high-end set-tops capable of much more than tuning digital video into the field this year.
"There's a whole range of applications we see emerging that use that gateway," said Jos Swillens, president of Philips' set-top division, who added that the company is working with "all major players"-including Open-TV Inc., Canal Plus S.A., Liberate Technologies and Microsoft Corp.-to develop applications for high-end set-tops.
The notion of a high-end digital set-top flies in the face of the cable industry's long-held model of low-cost, inexpensive digital set-tops to eventually be made available to price-conscious consumers at retail.
But both Pace and Philips believe the futuristic capabilities of their boxes-with electronic-commerce, home-networking and advanced video features-will entice consumers to digital interactive-TV services and offer operators new streams of revenue.
"We've been talking a lot to the industry about where the set-top box will migrate," Swillens said. "Clearly, there's a move away from the low-cost set-top," he added, and a move toward a box with more processing power, more graphics capability, extensive input/output functionality (such as fire wire and universal serial bus) and a high-speed return channel.
Swillens' vision will quickly move into the field in the third quarter as United Pan-European Communications N.V. (UPC) will launch a digital-TV service in Amsterdam using a high-end, dual-processor Philips box with a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification return channel.
The boxes' MIPS-based (million instructions per second) chips use 3-D rendering and graphics coder-decoders developed by Philips Semiconductors' former TriMedia Technologies Inc. unit. Tri-Media became an independent company in March, with Philips and Sony Corp. as investors.
The Philips box introduced by UPC this year will run applications enabled by the "Microsoft TV" platform.
For its part, Pace has gradually developed set-tops incorporating elements that transform the functionality of the set-top into an e-commerce and communications hub for the home. The goal is to equip the set-top so that it serves as a gateway for a "networked home," where devices are linked to the outside world via the broadband connection.
Under this scenario, Pace senior vice president of global marketing Andrew Wallace said, the set-top supplies video and data information to other TVs, PCs and personal data assistants through wireless, wireline or power-line home-network connections.
Pace's first step in this direction, according to Wallace, occurred 18 months ago, when the company realized the importance of incorporating a hard drive into a set-top and worked with software maker NDS Ltd. to accomplish the task.
The latest version of the box integrates a 29-gigabyte hard drive into a digital receiver. The hard drive uses NDS' conditional-access technology to ensure that content saved on it is encrypted.
The hard drive enables both time-shifted programming and video-on-demand applications, as well as targeted interactive advertising. The hard drive allows for several ads to be downloaded, with only targeted ads displayed, Wallace said.
The box was designed to deliver NDS' extended TV concept. Dubbed "XTV," it uses "smart" software to select and store programming. The box will be available later this year in volume, according to Wallace.
Philips also sees storage in the set-top as a big steppingstone to a fully interactive gateway box.
Swillens cited the eventual incorporation of CD-R (compact disc-recordable) and DVD capabilities. DVD is an option Pace is exploring.
After adding storage to the set-top, the next step for Pace was initiated last year, when it integrated a Cisco Systems Inc. DOCSIS modem into its "Di4100" set-top, Wallace said. More than 250,000 of these set-tops are being deployed in the United Kingdom by MSOs Telewest Communications plc and Cable & Wireless Communications plc for e-commerce and VOD services.
It's the hard drive and integrated modem that "make the whole concept of a [home] gateway possible today," Wallace said.
The next step Pace will take is to include wireless connectivity in a set-top. The wireless link will be achieved through a base station connected to the set-top's Ethernet port, which transmits data to a PC with a receiving station connected via a USB port.
Using Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology, the scheme allows a PC to receive data, such as Web pages, at a rate of 500 kilobits per second. The wireless link is intended to feed multiple TVs in the home with multiple applications, including voice over Internet protocol.
The range of the setup is 100 meters "in open air," Wallace said, and 50 meters in a typical home.
Further utilizing the wireless link, Pace will introduce in the first half of next year the "Shopping Mate," a handheld device with a bar-code reader that links wirelessly to a set-top. A consumer can scan grocery items, and the bar codes are stored in the handheld to be moved over to the set-top hard drive wirelessly. Theoretically, a prospective shopper can then view a shopping list on the TV screen and send it off via the modem connection to the grocery.
Tailored shopping lists for special occasions, for example, can be stored on the drive and accessed later.
Network operators can make money by grabbing a slice of the grocery order. Wallace sketched a scenario of a family paying $30 per month for digital TV and spending $600 per month on groceries. "If an MSO can take 1 percent of that food bill by capturing that revenue and sending it through the set-top, [the operator] can increase revenue by 20 percent," he added.
The Amsterdam rollout of Philips' turbocharged box was part of a strategy to develop a future-proof architecture that is not only high-performance, but that also offers the consumer a box with a longer life.
Through software upgrades, Swillens said, a box could be upgraded to support emerging formats that are unknown today, much like the now ubiquitous MP3 audio format, which quickly jumped onto the scene from virtual obscurity.
Philips will ramp up its research and development and call on its vast consumer-electronics expertise to execute its set-top vision.
New generations of Philips' boxes will include storage, voice control, Java and HAVi support, the latter referring to the Home Audio-Video Interoperability specification based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' 1394 specification.
It will also support the Moving Picture Expert Group's MPEG-4, which is rapidly moving off the drawing board and into set-tops. At last month's National Association of Broadcasters convention, Philips demonstrated a set-top displaying streamed MPEG-4 content.
MPEG-4 is an emerging video-compression technology that allows quality video to be streamed at bit rates of 600 kbps to 700 kbps. Unlike MPEG-2, which is a "frame-based" video and audio technology, MPEG-4 specifies a description of audio/visual scenes in the form of "AV objects," which can be natural or computer-rendered, aural or visual, two- or three-dimensional. These objects can be hyperlinked, or they can trigger other multimedia events.
MPEG-4 enables a lot of new applications, and will play a significant role in Philips' plans, Swillens noted.
Targeting the vast market for video games, Pace is considering integrating a game console into its boxes. Without naming names, Wallace said, Pace has worked on such a concept with one of the top game-console makers-Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Nintendo of America Inc. and Sega Enterprises Ltd.
Such a configuration would allow gamers to download gaming titles, saving a trip to the video store and giving operators another opportunity to capture a slice of revenue.
The missing part of this Cadillac set-tops equation is price. While Pace and Philips believe that new functionality means new revenue sources for operators, Swillens also pointed to the creative retail partnerships the satellite and PC industries have forged as examples of how discounted digital boxes can be sold at retail along with programming services. He sees no reason why that model can't be re-created for high-end set-top boxes.
Not all set-top makers are buying into the high-end gateway concept, though.
Denton Kanouff, vice president of marketing for Motorola Inc.'s digital-network-systems unit, said Motorola Broadband Communications Sector is focused on "what is the least expensive and best way to deliver services to the customer. To date, the gateway concept is the most expensive way to go."
At the same time, Kanouff pointed out that Motorola's "DCT-5000+" set-top, introduced last September, contains a DOCSIS cable modem, an IDE (integrated drive electronics) hard-drive interface and optional personal-video-recording capability.
Motorola has shipped 250,000 of its less-expensive digital set-top, the "DCT-2000," and it will ramp up marketing of the DCT-5000+ later this year.
According to published reports, the DCT-2000 is shipping in volume at under $300 per box, while the DCT-5000 is priced at about $100 more. Given the added horsepower and features of the Pace and Philips boxes, it can be assumed that they will sell for more than the DCT-5000.
With home networking, PVR and e-commerce beginning to capture mind share among consumers, incorporating these features in a set-top may help cable operators to attract digital subscribers, if they can make the price palatable.
Pace and Philips hope new capabilities and features will attract consumers to high-end set-tops. "Innovation is going to be a key factor that will drive the future of the set-top," Swillens said.
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SAN FRANCISCO — After being rebuffed Monday by Yahoo Inc., Microsoft Corp. fired back by saying it planned to move quickly and by whatever means necessary to clinch the deal to buy the Internet company.
It did not elaborate on what steps it planned to take but called its $44.6 billion offer "full and fair." Analysts have said Microsoft could sweeten its offer, nominate its own slate of directors to Yahoo's board or tender the offer directly to shareholders.
"It is unfortunate that Yahoo has not embraced our full and fair proposal to combine our companies," Microsoft said in a statement. "Based on conversations with stakeholders of both companies, we are confident that moving forward promptly to consummate a transaction is in the best interests of all parties."
Microsoft said investors, consumers and advertisers would benefit from combining the two companies, which would create a more formidable No. 2 competitor to Google Inc. in Internet search and online advertising.
The deal would be the largest in Microsoft's 33-year history.
Yahoo shares gained 67 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $29.87, while Microsoft shares dipped 35 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $28.21.
Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Yahoo formally rejected Microsoft's $44.6 billion takeover bid before the stock markets opened, saying it "substantially undervalues" the Internet pioneer.
Yahoo said its board had "unanimously concluded that the proposal is not in the best interests of Yahoo and our stockholders." It said the bid, which Microsoft made Jan. 31, failed to take into account Yahoo's strong brand, global Web audience, investments in advertising technology and growth potential.
"There is a clear path to a higher offer," said Ken Marlin, managing partner of Marlin & Associates, a technology-focused investment bank. "The board knows it and is already engaged in the elaborate kabuki dance to get there. They will."
The decision was reached by Yahoo's board Friday and reported over the weekend. The statement did not explain how Yahoo planned to deliver the payout that shareholders would have received by selling to Microsoft.
No other bidders have emerged for Yahoo.
"The board of directors is continually evaluating all of its strategic options in the context of the rapidly evolving industry environment and we remain committed to pursuing initiatives that maximize value for all stockholders," the statement said.
Analysts say Yahoo's board is maneuvering to wrest a higher bid from Microsoft. Microsoft's half-cash, half-stock offer of $31 a share Feb. 1 at the time represented a 62 percent premium, but the decline in Microsoft's shares had lowered the stock portion to around $29.
Yahoo's stock has plunged more than 40 percent in the three months before Microsoft's bid.
Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft could sweeten its offer and pay anywhere from $35 to $40 a share for Yahoo, analysts say.
Microsoft would like to avoid a hostile takeover to avoid alienating Yahoo employees and to increase the odds of clearing regulatory hurdles, analysts say. But in Microsoft's offer letter, Chief Executive Steve Ballmer implied that the company would be willing to turn the bid hostile. "Microsoft reserves the right to pursue all necessary steps to ensure that Yahoo's shareholders are provided with the opportunity to realize the value inherent in our proposal," he wrote.
RBC Capital Markets Internet analyst Jordan Rohan said Monday that the rejection was not a surprise and signaled that Yahoo was merely making a counteroffer in a highly choreographed negotiation.
"Yahoo management has already exhausted the patience of its largest, longest-suffering shareholders and [Microsoft's] offer allows them to save some face," he wrote in a report to clients.
The rejection could set the stage for a battle with Yahoo pushing for $40 a share. At least one group of shareholders will be pushing for a quicker resolution.
"I'm disappointed that it's a flat rejection without an explanation for why Yahoo is so undervalued by the street or what their plan as a board is to better monetize these overlooked assets they have," said Eric Jackson, who heads a group of Yahoo shareholders campaigning to sell their shares as a block. "I hope this is just bravado negotiation, not a serious consideration to go it alone. That wouldn't serve shareholders."


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Investors had plenty of reason to believe the news was true: A verified Litecoin Twitter account tweeted a link to the announcement, which appeared on the GlobeNewswire press release service. The press release seemed legitimate enough, including (fabricated) quotes from Walmart CEO Doug McMillon. Walmart had just posted a job for a cryptocurrency expert to work at its corporate headquarters. And several major news agencies picked up the news.
The ad, however, was bogus, a Walmart (WMT)
spokesperson confirmed. Walmart does not accept Litecoin and Litecoin deleted its tweet. One hour after the publication of the ad, Litecoin the price
went from over $ 220 to $ 178 – roughly where it was trading before the fake post came out.
It is not yet clear who the crooks are, but the ploy is likely a pump and a dumping ground. This is when people buy an asset and usually raise the price with false news to sell it once the price starts to soar.
GlobeNewswire deleted the press release minutes after CNN reported and issued a correction, urging investors and media to ignore the announcement. But a spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Although the press release appeared genuine at first glance, it did contain telltale signs of fake news. It contained the fake “walmart-corp.com” website as the email address of Walmart’s Marketing Director. He used a partial title for McMillon. And it was the first and only press release Walmart had published on GlobeNewswire.
Litecoin was also an odd choice for Walmart. Although it is among the oldest cryptocurrencies on the market, it is not among the top 10 largest digital coins and is generally not among the most actively traded – although that changed on Monday when several billion Litecoin dollars have changed hands, according to the online trading platform. Coinbase
Pumping and dumping systems are generally reserved for less regulated markets, such as penny stocks and cryptocurrencies, where regulators and investors have less knowledge of the markets and less ability to detect criminal activity. . While unusual, the forged press release from a company the size of Walmart was not the first of its kind.
The past few months have been hectic for cryptocurrencies, which have been on the rise in recent years. Bitcoin, which hit an all-time high of nearly $ 65,000 in April, fell to $ 28,800 in June after China stepped up its crackdown on digital currencies. It is now around $ 44,000.
Regulatory concerns have also increased around digital currencies. The Senate added a provision to its $ 1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed last month that imposes more federal regulation on cryptocurrencies and could increase the number of cryptocurrency users who should report the statements to the Internal Revenue Service. The bill must now be approved by the House before it can go to President Joe Biden’s desk.
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What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos


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EMP: Trace Welcomes Action Sports Heavy Hitter Brad Blankinship as Chief Operating Officer
May 11, 2015
Trace – the action sports tracker – is thrilled to appoint industry veteran Brad Blankinship as its new Chief Operating Officer. Backed by more than 15 years of experience in action sports, Blankinship has played an active role as an advisor to the Trace brand since its humble beginnings; the team could not be more excited as he transitions into a permanent role at the company.
“We’re very excited to have Brad join the team,” said Trace Co-Founder, David Lokshin. “Brad has held senior positions at three action sports companies who have pioneered categories and become mainstays in their respective area. Brad’s had success everywhere he’s gone and is already making a huge impact at Trace.”
Blankinship comes to Trace from helmet producer, C-Preme, a division of BRG Sports, Inc. Prior to his work in mass retail, he led the growth of lifestyle brands including RVCA and Paul Frank. Blankinship’s background in mass retail and lifestyle branding will prove invaluable as the Trace brand prepares for its global launch.
“I met David and Anatole Lokshin about a year ago, shortly after the launch of their very successful Kickstarter campaign,” said Blankinship. “I've been inspired and impressed by Trace since the day we met. I'm very excited to be joining such talented and creative team with what I believe is a game changing, innovative product. I am looking forward to helping drive a successful future for the Trace brand.”


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Bud Walton, the Low Key Wal-Mart Founder, Dead at 73
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) _ James L. ``Bud″ Walton, who took a quieter but no less influential role than his brother Sam in the giant Wal-Mart discount store chain, died Tuesday at age 73.
Walton died in Miami after surgery for a stomach aneurysm he suffered while in the Caribbean for a fishing trip, said Jim von Gremp, a family friend and state representative from Bentonville, where Walton lived and the retailing giant is based.
Sam Walton and his younger brother opened the first Wal-Mart Discount City in Rogers in 1962.
Sam, who died in 1992, was the leader in making the company the nation’s largest retailer, while his brother, as senior vice president and director, specialized in obtaining real estate and getting new stores built.
``He left the vision to Sam,″ said John E. Barnes, vice president-financial consultant, at Smith Barney Inc. in Little Rock.
Last October, Forbes magazine listed Bud Walton’s wealth at $1 billion, ranking him the 83rd richest person in the country. Other Walton relatives are in the top 15.
Walton was a major donor to the University of Arkansas, giving $15 million toward construction of a 19,200-seat arena on the UA campus. The Bud Walton Arena _ jokingly called the Bud Dome or the Bud Bowl _ opened in November 1993.
His gift was recalled by President Clinton, an Arkansas native.
``Bud never forgot his roots. His generosity toward his community and to the University of Arkansas will long be remembered by those he touched,″ Clinton said Tuesday in a statement.
Wal-Mart now has more than 2,000 Wal-Mart stores plus affiliated businesses such as Bud’s Warehouse Outlets, Supercenters and Sam’s Clubs. It operates in 49 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico.
For the 12 months ending Jan. 31, the Bentonville-based retailer earned $2.68 billion on sales of $82.49 billion.
In his biography, Sam Walton said his brother purposely took a secondary role, though ``he has common sense and superior judgment, and I have listened to him more times than folks realize.″
Walton is survived by two daughters and three grandchildren. Funeral arrangements were pending.


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Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
29th March 2023 Issue no. 649
Your industry news - first
We strongly recommend viewing Locks and Security News full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.
IFSEC: Europe's only large-scale security event in 2017
Access the biggest showcase of security products accessible in Europe this year, including thousands of solutions across a global gathering the size of 5 football fields... Taking place in London, 20 - 22 June 2017, IFSEC International gives you exclusive hands-on access to over 10,000 security solutions, live product demonstrations, and networking with over 27,000 security professionals.
Covering every aspect of security, from access control and video surveillance to smart buildings, cyber, border control and so much more, visiting IFSEC International is the perfect way to keep up to date, protect your business and enhance your career in the security industry.
29th March 2017


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“We are the owners of our own time. Having your own business gives you the opportunity to do that!”
Eight years ago, Celina Aguiniga and her husband decided to stop making mattresses for other companies and start their own small business in Burien. “All of our lives, we have worked for someone else and we didn’t want to do that our entire lives. Our vision is to have a better income and a better life,” said Celina.
Celina and her husband connected with Ventures through a program from the city of Burien. They took a 12-week business course from Ventures, and kept in contact to get advice on accounting and working with lawyers to establish Emerald City Mattress. “A lot of things that people need to know when either opening or running their business, we didn’t know before Ventures,” said Celina.
Celina enjoys the entrepreneurial spirit of Burien. “The city of Burien has a lot of opportunity to grow because of all of the resources,” said Celina who shares resources and tips each month with small business owners in the city through the Empresarios Unidos group. She is proud of how much Emerald City Mattress has grown over the years. “When we began, we only had three mattresses on the floor. Now, we have 3800 square feet and it’s full of mattresses!” said Celina.
“The grant helped us survive these hard times.”
The coronavirus pandemic forced Celina and her husband to adapt quickly. At the start of the pandemic, they closed their store for three months to keep their customers safe as scientists learned more about the disease. In June, they slowly began to re-open at 20 percent capacity, but it was challenging to deal with the lost revenue.
To stay afloat, Celina applied for a small business grant from the City of Burien with the help of Ventures. Emerald City Mattress received a $5,000 grant, which they used to cover some of their rent and utilities from the three months their store was closed due to COVID. “The grant helped us survive these hard times,” said Celina.
These days, Emerald City Mattress offers masks to customers and stays open on Sundays to keep their business alive. They are also introducing a new line of mattresses made from memory foam that are infused with essential oils to help people relax during a particularly stressful year.
Despite the challenges of 2020, Celina is still grateful to be a small business owner. “We are the owners of our own time,” said Celina, “having your own business gives you the opportunity to do that!”In Impact, Impact Spotlight, Latino Business Owners, Microfinance, Microloan Spotlight, Our Entrepreneurs


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One dramatic chart shows why electric cars are about to become mainstream
So when car companies are able to make batteries cheap enough to put electric vehicles (EV) on par cost-wise with gas ones, they'll finally have a chance to mainstream.Well, we're just about there.
EV batteries have dramatically dropped in price over the last five years, according to the United Nations-backed report, Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2016, released March 24.In 2010, the global average was $1,000 per kWh. By last year, it had fallen to $350 per kWh.
You can see the incredible change in this chart from the report, with a dramatic drop in cost between 2014 and 2015:
You can see the effects these declines are having on electric cars coming to market today, too.
Aaron Brown/Tech Insider
In 2015, 462,000 people around the world bought electric cars, according to the report - up 59% from the year before.
If batteries keep decreasing in price at this rate, a report from Argonne National Laboratory predicts that electric cars will make up 58% of the light vehicle market by 2030. And by then, non-hybrid gas cars will comprise less than one-fourth of the market.Hopefully in the next decade or so we'll adopt even more renewable energy to charge these cars with, so they can displace even more carbon emissions than they already do.
- Apple iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic won’t be based on 3nm process, confirms TSMC
- The utter chaos and confusion over Remdesivir in India is making the COVID-19 second wave worse
- Atlassian, the maker of Jira and Trello, is looking to hire 300 engineers in India this year
- Night curfew hours extended in UP's Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Kanpur City, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Shravasti and Moradabad districts
- Around 1,700 people test positive for COVID-19 in Hardiwar Kumbh Mela from April 10-14


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Dubai International Chamber inaugurates second European representative office in Milan
Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has inaugurated a new representative office in Milan to boost trade and investment between Dubai and Italy. The opening strengthens the chamber’s presence in Europe following the launch of its London office in June and increases its growing network of international representative offices to 23 worldwide.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230908336191/en/
Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the opening of the new Dubai International Chamber representative office in Italy yesterday. From left to right: Naser Al Khaja, Charge d’affaires at the UAE Embassy in Italy; Letizia Pizzi, Director General of Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo; Veronica Squinzi, Vice President for Internationalization and European affairs, Assolombarda; Salem Al Shamsi, Vice President of Global Markets, Dubai Chambers; Noora AlSuwaidi, Regional Director for Europe and the Americas, Dubai Chambers; Mohammad Al Kassim, Director of Investment Attractions, Dubai Chambers; and Stefano Antonelli, Chief Representative for Italy, Dubai International Chamber. (Photo: AETOSWire)
The official inauguration ceremony for the Milan office was held with the participation of Naser Al Khaja, Charge d’affaires at the UAE Embassy in Italy, and Salem Al Shamsi, Vice President of Global Markets at Dubai Chambers, in the presence of distinguished representatives of the Italian business community.
Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: “Our new office in Milan is set to drive further growth in Dubai's non-oil trade with Italy and other European countries, as well as increased strategic investments from businesses in both markets. The opening comes as part of the Dubai Global initiative, which seeks to establish a powerful network of 50 offices worldwide by 2030.”
The value of non-oil bilateral trade between Dubai and Italy exceeded EUR 8.5 billion during 2022, representing YoY growth of 7%. 228 new Italian companies registered with Dubai Chamber of Commerce during the first seven months of 2023, an increase of 49% compared to the same period in 2022 that brought the total number of Italian member companies to 1,758.
With its strategic location and world-class logistics facilities, Dubai has emerged as a preferred business and trading hub among Italian companies with global ambitions. Dubai International Chamber remains committed to strengthening bilateral trade and investment with Italy as part of its drive to boost non-oil foreign trade to EUR 500 billion by 2026, in line with the goals of the emirate's five-year trade plan.
Dubai International Chamber, one of three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, was established to promote Dubai as a global business hub, attract multinational companies and expand the emirate’s trade ties with promising markets. The chamber has a mandate to meet His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s ambition to increase Dubai’s foreign trade from AED 1.4 trillion to AED 2 trillion by 2026.
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Recover™ Appoints Anders Sjoblom as Chief Executive Officer28.9.2023 11:30:00 EEST | Press release
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Huawei joins the Sisvel Cellular IoT patent pool28.9.2023 11:03:00 EEST | Press release
Sisvel International S.A. (“Sisvel”) today announced that Huawei patents will now be available through its Cellular IoT technology patent pool after the company signed up to the programme as a licensor. The agreement means that more world class IP has been added to a pool which already includes patents from around 25 renowned innovators. At the same time, Sisvel has revealed new royalty rates for the Cellular IoT patent pool, including for devices with a lower selling price. The firm has also expanded its offering to new product verticals. Please see link for more details. The Sisvel Cellular IoT patent pool offers device manufacturers licences - on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms and conditions - to participants’ patent portfolios essential to the LTE-M and NB-IoT standards. “We are excited to welcome Huawei, a major contributor to the development of cellular IoT, as a member,” says Sisvel’s Cellular IoT programme manager, Sven Torringer. “LTE-M and NB-IoT technologies
Quectel Introduces EM060K-EA LTE-Advanced Cat 6 Module28.9.2023 11:00:00 EEST | Press release
Quectel Wireless Solutions, a global IoT solutions provider, is pleased to introduce the EM060K-EA LTE-Advanced Cat 6 module, offered for the EMEA, APAC and Brazil markets. The module, which is available in the M.2 form factor, measuring 30.0mm x 42.0mm x 2.3mm and powered by the Snapdragon® X12 LTE Modem from Qualcomm Technologies Inc, adopts 3GPP Release 12 technology and supports a theoretical peak date rate of 300 Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink. The EM060K-EA can operate in extended temperature ranges from -25 °C to +75 °C, has a dedicated EMEA SKU and features power saving technology to ensure maximised deployment uptime. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230928466648/en/ Quectel introduces EM060K-EA LTE-Advanced Cat 6 module (Photo: Business Wire) Offering LTE-A and UMTS and HSPA+ coverage, the EM060K series has been designed for the global market and covers nearly all tier-one carriers worldwide. The mo
FRESOR's Big Breakthrough Shakes Up the European Vaping Industry28.9.2023 10:00:00 EEST | Press release
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In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.Visit our pressroom


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Highcon invites all Dscoop Members to attend the Highcon Beam live demonstration event being held Monday, September 26th, 4:00-6:00 PM CET (10:00 - 12:00 AM EST).
We will be broadcasting online a live demonstration of the Highcon Beam digital cutting and creasing machine for mainstream production.
GPA announces the launch of Folex® Pressure Sensitive and Non-Adhesive Synthetics to the North American market, with GPA as the exclusive distributor.
Digital Lizard, a Creel Company, has signed an agreement to be the premier, global beta site for the HP Indigo 50000 — the most productive and versatile digital offering in the HP fleet.
ASU's Print and Imaging Lab is leading the way with digital printing technology. The lab was launched in 2005 with ASU President Michael Crow’s enterprise model that allows students to gain both technical and business experience by positioning the lab as more than a learning environment.
Dscoop is pleased to share this announcement: Vpress, the UK-based market leaders, bring a new level of control and automation to the way documents are created, managed and ordered – saving time, money and improving operations for customers in the US


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Last week Bloomberg Businessweek published a detailed report on the development of the heartburn drug Zantac, which revealed that Glaxo’s own scientists along with various independent researchers warned the company about the potential danger of the drug for years.
Thousands of pages of documents, many of which have never been made public, were reviewed by Bloomberg Businessweek. The documents show that the FDA considered the cancer risks when they approved ranitidine in 1982. Glaxo, however, had not shared a critical study at that time by a Glaxo scientist that found that when combined with various levels of nitrites, which are found in the human digestive system, high levels of the carcinogen N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) were produced. Scientist Richard Tanner’s report was not shared with the FDA, the associate director of clinical research in the US, or the senior medical adviser for gastrointestinal research. Glaxo now says that when testing lower levels of nitrite which are closer to conditions in an actual human stomach, Tanner did not find NDMA.
Glaxo also “backed flawed research designed to minimize concerns and chose not to routinely transport and store the medication in ways that could have eased the problem.” It turned out that ranitidine wasn’t always stable. It is sensitive to heat and humidity, and when exposed to too much of either, it can degrade. This creates conditions for NDMA to form in the drug itself. Consequently, the product label included instructions to store the pills in a dry place that didn’t exceed 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fast Forward to 2019
It wasn’t until 2019 that ranitidine, both in Zantac and in generic brands, was found to be tainted with high levels of NDMA, a probable carcinogen, before being ingested. Valisure, a private lab operating independently of the FDA began testing and said it had found extremely high levels of NDMA in Zantac and several generic versions of ranitidine. The FDA then issued an alert but said it would conduct its own tests of ranitidine. Within a month, at least two dozen countries removed the drug from store shelves, and several makers of the drug acted on their own to stop the supply. This is what finally prompted the release of the Tanner report, which had been kept quiet since 1982.
In April 2020, the FDA forced makers of any version and any dose of ranitidine to stop producing and selling it altogether. They said that even under normal storage conditions, NDMA levels increased in ranitidine. The FDA had deemed that a tiny amount of NDMA, 96 nanograms, was an acceptable amount in any drug. But they eventually revealed that they had detected 357ng of NDMA in a cool mint version of ranitidine. And five months later, they detected 931ng of NDMA.
Where It Stands Today
Although ranitidine is no longer being manufactured or sold, the FDA holds that there are “no consistent signals” that Zantac increases cancer risk. They based this on a statement in a study examining NDMA levels in the urine of people who took ranitidine. The statement relied on seven papers by outside scientists who did find links between ranitidine and breast cancer, and raised concerns about liver cancer. The authors of the papers said they didn’t have enough data to confirm a link. This is what the FDA is basing its current position on, even though three studies since then have found a link between ranitidine and bladder and liver cancers, among others.
More than 70,000 people who took Zantac or the generic ranitidine are suing manufacturers in various US state courts. Boehringer, Pfizer, and Sanofi settled one patient’s case in December, for an undisclosed amount. GlaxoSmithKline may settle also. The manufacturers are facing years of lawsuits in California, Delaware, and other states with the possibility of billions of dollars in damages.
Meanwhile, Sanofi conducted an investigation into how NDMA formed in Zantac tablets. Their hope was to be able to tweak the drug so that it could be approved by the FDA. They were unable to find an acceptable way to make Zantac with ranitidine. Sanofi has instead reformulated an OTC heartburn medication using famotidine, the active ingredient in Pepcid. They’re calling it Zantac.


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Thursday, October 31, 2013
Vast majority of Canadian transit suppliers have boosted R&D budgets, CUTA says
More than 80 percent of transit suppliers have increased their research, development and innovation budgets within the past three years, bringing new products to market and building Canada's economy through domestic sales and exports, the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) says in a new report.
Transit systems are using innovation and modernization to meet rising demand and deal with economic realities, according to the report, which is titled, "R&D and Innovation in the Canadian Transit Industry."
With 70 percent of the North America urban transit bus market supplied by Canadian-rooted companies, Canada is a world leader in transit technology, CUTA officials said in a press release announcing the report's release earlier this week.
Major bus and rail suppliers conduct research, development, design and production activities in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. Among transit suppliers that conduct R&D and innovation activities, 60 percent collaborate with universities, research centers, public institutions or municipalities, the report stated.
CUTA is a national association representing public transit systems, suppliers to the industry, government agencies, individuals and related organizations in Canada.
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Here is an illustration of another UDC innovation from Samsung/ © LetsGoDigital.
In addition, there have been recent rumours that the Galaxy Z Fold 3, which is due for a release in the 3rd quarter of 2021, could currently rely on such a video camera solution. Because the Foldables– like the Note models for years before them– represent the pointer of the spear of what the business is capable of technically, that would make sense. Samsung would have to be really far along in its under-display camera development journey for that to be possible in this reasonably close time frame.
It might be more realistic to envision that this service is being prepared for the Samsung Galaxy S22, which need to then be expected at some point in early 2022. As I said: This is all pure speculation in the meantime, but with this, Samsung would definitely have something in hand to put more pressure on the competitors.
What do you think? When can we realistically expect such a camera from Samsung? And how far do you think you want to go to compromise on the image quality for such benefit?
Samsung recently showcased a very exciting note pad screen which featured, for the very first time, an in-display camera that is in fact functional. At least Samsungs display department is confident enough to keep us upgraded about its development, which gives us hope that note pads from the South Koreans could soon be geared up with a cam like this.
When is the ideal time to first start fantasizing about incorporating this into an upcoming flagship phone from Samsung? Of course, this is just pure speculation, however there is no doubt that Samsung will likewise be believing about how to integrate this technology on their future smart devices.
Samsung would have to be very far along in its under-display camera advancement journey for that to be feasible in this relatively close time frame.
Anyhow, the appearance of this feature on a Samsung product immediately made us wonder whether Samsung may integrate this option on the Galaxy S22 next year.
Samsung Blade Bezel with Under-Display Camera.
On Weibo, Samsung provided us with a small look into the future – a minimum of the future of Samsung laptops. Dubbed the “Samsung Blade Bezel”, Samsung, in a brief vide, flaunted a really thin and light OLED panel with an exceptionally thin bezel. Offered the name, Im guessing thats what theyre calling this display innovation and not scheduling it for an upcoming notebook model, but we are really not interested in that as of now.
The under-display video camera likewise guarantees that the bezels arent too wide.
Wow ⊙ ∀ ⊙! Samsung Display exposes its under-Display camera technology for the very first time, which will be used for OLED note pad screens very first pic.twitter.com/Fu4Ublvsru– Ice universe (@UniverseIce).
January 14, 2021.
Samsung just recently showcased a very amazing notebook screen which featured, for the first time, an in-display cam that is really usable. Now, most of us might have thought that this technology would first appear on mobile phones prior to trickling down to note pads. That does not seem to be the case!.
The subject of under-display cameras has actually made its method around the mobile phone industry for a long time now, without any kind of definite success to date. As remarkable as the clip looks, it is still too far away to inform just how well Samsungs innovation works and what the cameras quality will be like. At least Samsungs screen division is positive enough to keep us upgraded about its development, which gives us hope that notebooks from the South Koreans could quickly be geared up with an electronic camera like this.
Is this also an alternative for the Samsung Galaxy S22?
When is the best time to very first start fantasizing about integrating this into an upcoming flagship phone from Samsung? Thats right, on the very day the South Koreans unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S21. Obviously, this is simply pure speculation, however there is no doubt that Samsung will also be thinking of how to integrate this technology on their future smartphones.
How close Samsung is to production readiness of this technology on note pads and how simple will it be to implement it on smart devices remains debatable. However, the reality that Samsung is dealing with matching services for smart devices is generally old hat.


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Wall Street generally loves it when a banking company announces plans to cut costs, including layoffs. So what would analysts think when a banking company, as part of its sales- building effort, decides to spend $12 million to increase the sales staff by 60% over two years? In the case of Brenton Banks of Des Moines, the response was thumbs up. "To me, you have to be selling just to stay in the game," says Joseph Roberto, an analyst with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. "The ones that are not doing this are not sophisticated." Mr. Roberto and other analysts speak admiringly of Brenton Banks' efforts to generate revenues. They like the steps the bank has taken to build a sales culture, including hiring a sales director and instituting a bank-wide system of sales training and special incentives for cross-selling. This effort has shown up on the bottom line. The bank's net income doubled from $10.3 million in 1996 to $20.3 million in 1998. Stephen Skiba, an analyst with ABN Amro in Chicago, estimates that Brenton Banks' earnings per share will fall 8% this year because of the costs of hiring 120 more workers and related expenses. But he views it as money well spent. "They have staffed up for purposes of creating this sales culture and hopefully, it will create long- term dividends for their shareholders,'' he says. - John Kimelman
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August 20, 2021, 15:41
Princess Diana and her wedding dress designers played the ultimate prank on the press ahead of the big day.
princess diana made history on July 29, 1981 when she walked down the aisle of St. Paul’s Cathedral in a wedding dress designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
Before the big day, the press and the public were very anxious to know what the dress would look like – the style, the color, the shape.
One of the creators, David Emanuel, told us that the press was so eager to know what the wedding dress would look like that they even started rummaging in their trash cans.
He explained that if they were to make sure the dress was kept top secret, he, his ex-wife Elizabeth and Diana would also have a lot of press fun, which led to the ultimate prank.
David told us, “We did the final sketch for Diana and her mother, and then we tore it up. It’s hard to believe, but the press has been poking around in our trash cans for scraps of patterns and pieces. tissue.”
He went on to reveal that to play with the papers, they put baby pink material in their trash cans, which led to a newspaper headline the next day “revealing” that Diana’s dress would be pink.
âWe had a sense of humor about it,â he said.
Speaking about working with Diana on the creation of her iconic wedding dress, David said, âShe was simply exquisite, a lovely, cheerful person to work with. Naughty eyes and beautiful skin. She was just the dream client. .
“We had so much fun, and Diana was full of fun.”
He added that there were only the three of them when it came to creating the dress, and that there was “no paperwork, no interference with Buckingham Palace”.
The Say yes to the dress The presenter also shared with us some of his top tips for saving money on your wedding day as a new search for Grape United Kingdom shows the average Briton thinks he needs to set aside Â£ 26,300 for the day.
Another statistic found by research is that 61% of people think it’s up to the couple to pay for the big day, and that the parents – traditionally those of the bride – shouldn’t have to fork out the money.
David said he was okay with that, explaining: “We live in a different time, in a different world, after this pandemic everything has changed. I think the traditional wedding manual has been thrown out the window. . ”
When it comes to saving money, David’s top tips included renting a wedding dress instead of buying a new one, making your own flower bouquets, and giving up the back. of the hen and the stag.
Clearly, he understands that the wedding dress is an important part of a bride’s day, revealing that the average wedding dresses he looks at is between Â£ 1,000 and Â£ 1,500.
However, he added that the price only increases when the bride then begins to look for “accessories” like a veil and shoes.
âI think it’s time for couples to get together now and really think about what they want, because there are no set rules,â explained David.


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According to my calendar today is the 15th May making it the day of Xiaomi’s next product launch, one of those products could be an updated MiTV 2 with 4K display.
Last year Xiaomi surprised fans with the launch of the original Xiaomi MiTV, a LED TV with Snapdragon 600 processor and Samsung 3D display for a low price. The MiTV also ran Android with Xiaomi’s own MIUI customizations giving the TV gaming and video streaming capabilities.
Less than a year on and rumours are that Xioami are readying the 2nd generation Xiaomi MITV 2 which could be unveiled today at the Xiaomi announcement in Beijing. According to sources the new MITV 2 will get the same 2999 Yuan entry price point but will now feature a much more powerful Nvidia Tegra K1 processor, larger 49-inch screen and will now be a full 4K panel with 3D support!
Also rumoured to launch today are the Xiaomi Mi3s, an updated version of the Mi3 with 4G LTE and a Xiaomi tablet running MIUI. Keep posted for more news.


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WASHINGTON — The underlying rate of US inflation accelerated by the fastest pace in four months in January, the US Labor Department said Friday.
The consumer price index (CPI) increased 0.2 percent, driven by the first increase in gasoline prices since September. Food prices rose 0.2 percent for the second straight month.
The core CPI index, excluding food and energy costs, was up 0.2 percent in January.
Economists were expecting the CPI to rise 0.3 percent in January after remaining flat in the prior month.
The core rate was expected to rise 0.2 percent after rising 0.1 percent in the previous month.
To read more, go to MarketWatch


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Fella Makafui, now known as Mrs Precious Frimpong preceeding her marriage to popular Ghanaian rapstar, is back on the style market and killing it. Yesterday we reveal how the Ghanaian actress and a philanthropist known mostly for her role in the TV series Yolo, Fella Makafui is slowly making a come back to style influencing as below.
Well forget a slow come back, her latest look has her buzzing on various platforms as she sends this silver couture gown trending.
Fella Makafui Sends Ellanore Dress Trending
A break down of the dress from the top shows a cup sleeve round neck maxi length pencil neck, with fur details to the top above a peak-a-boo detailed front with her pearled bodice.
The outfit then drips to the floor with an ash satin skirt adding a tremendous glossy touch to the finish. There couldn’t be a better and more complete red carpet gown style queen look to kick off 2021 with and Mrs Precious Frimpong was not an inch short of beautiful.
The outfit was compased by Dress: Ellanore and the images were shot by @chocolate_shot_it with make up by @makeupby_ashley1. Check her out below and see more styles on our instagram page.
UPCOMING TOP EVENTS!
Hub of Africa Addis Fashion Week will highlight the growing talent of African designers and brands to the international market. It is committed to being a part of the growth of the industry in Ethiopia and the region by making Addis the HUB, encouraging designers, making links between buyers, manufacturers, and international media.
It will bring local and regional key industry individuals with seasoned international industry figures to discuss and share ideas and experiences on how to grow and develop the fashion and garment industry to compete in the global market.
FashionGHANA Honors & Awards are also known as #FGHA began in 2018 as a fixated awarding process in between Accra Fashion Week runway shows. The award was heavily appreciated in 2019 is had a whole day dedicated to the awards night during Accra Fashion Week. After skipping a year during the pandemic in 2020, the event returned in 2021 holding the biggest fashion awards during the year.
This edition will explore the frontiers where the growth of the sustainability movement in Africa is stunted, and entice more eco-friendly brands to shift their focus to the growing African population. Will feature spectacular collections and creative designs from different designers from Ghana and beyond who will light up the runway.
Will be the biggest combined dish of thrilling music and exciting fashion with this new opportunity that will be given to young aspiring designers.
Will feature an ALL STAR cast of crowd-pulling models, prominent politicians from the major parties (to exhibit national cohesion), and professional models.
Ghana’s leading fashion event Accra Fashion Week is scheduled for 7-11 December 2022 following their 5th-year celebration last year in 2021. Accra Fashion Week is a platform for African designers that can be compared to fashion weeks across the major capitals. It aims to fill the void which sees tremendous creativity and culture across the continent with the absence of an operating fashion infrastructure.
The epic event took place at Ghana Dubai in Accra, and saw models march down the steps from the Kwame Nkrumah Monument whilst being followed by a spotlight, before circulating the central fountains. Memories of the exciting night still give chills as guests revisit the experience on youtube.
However, rest assured that 2022 is going to be even more exciting with greater performances and an upgraded designer collection. FashionGHANA.com is sure to bring you the exclusives we did on www.FashionGHANA.com/TV. All last year’s shows are available to watch on youtube. Designer’s registration is ongoing on the AccraFashionWeek.org website.
DIRECTION COLLECTION: OUT NOW!
Follow us on Instagram @FashionGHANA_com | Twitter: @fashionGHANA | Facebook: Fashionghana.com
To Submit stories Email: [email protected] or HashTag #FashionGHANA


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The ongoing shortage of hospitality workers in Aotearoa is creating tasty job opportunities, with attractive remuneration and cash incentives to lure workers.
Current adverts also show that bartenders and wait staff can now earn up to $30 an hour, with one company in Nelson adding a $5000 sign-up bonus, and a restaurant in Auckland offering $1000 up front.
Restaurant Brands, the business that operates the New Zealand outlets of KFC, Pizza Hut and Carl’s Jr, was advertising for delivery drivers across the country, saying “KFC and Pizza Hut deliveries are exploding”.
Payment for a contract worker was up to $40 per hour, with a guaranteed minimum of $10 per delivery. A $200 cash bonus was also on offer in Wellington.
* Meet the bar owner who’s signed up for a Fair Pay Agreement for hospo workers
* Working holiday visa changes ‘too little, too late’ for struggling hospitality businesses
* Wanted: 65,000 workers for hospitality, tourism sector
Flynn Drummond, general manager of Action Centre, an entertainment complex in Nelson, is currently offering a $5,000 sign-up bonus and up to $29 an hour for a duty manager with barista skills.
The cash incentive has seen the CVs roll in, he said.
“I’ve had interest from across the country and, importantly, from good candidates. Hospitality was traditionally seen as a stepping stone, but more people are seeing it as a career and if you want to attract those people, who you can train up more too, then you have to reimburse accordingly.”
Restaurants, bars and cafes are helping each other out as the staffing shortage continues to upset rosters. Even friends and family are helping out. (Video first published August 5, 2022)
Drummond thinks the staffing crisis will gradually cool.
“Back in September it was so bad that I would have offered even more cash up front but still haven’t been able to find a good person. I was even thinking I would have to supply accommodation.”
Drummond had investigated using an agency to recruit overseas workers.
“People who come here to work in the industry tend to be well experienced. That stream completely dried up since the pandemic, but they’re gradually coming back and hopefully in a few more months we will all be in a better staffing position again.”
Between 14 March 2022 and 12 January 2023 Immigration New Zealand received 46,210 applications for a working holiday visa. Of those, 43,145 were approved.
Andiamo Restaurant in Herne Bay, Auckland, is currently offering $30 for bartenders plus a $1000 cash sign-on incentive, along with a paid day off on your birthday, meals and drinks, training and various discounts.
Kieran Turnbull, general manager of Nourish Group, which operates Andiamo, said the company had used incentives for some time.
“We have used sign-on incentives for the last 18 months, as we navigated a thinning employment pool during the Covid-related border restrictions. Instead of paying a recruitment agency fee, we like to see this go straight into the pocket of the people we employ.”
While sign-on cash incentives did attract staff, he did not see it becoming an industry standard.
“We have seen good use of sign-on incentives, especially with foreign staff, who can use it to help with immigration and relocation costs. It seems a lot of other operators are also doing it, but we don’t see it becoming a norm. As the industry finds its equilibrium with talent, and the ability to get back to uninterrupted trade, we should see a continued focus on wider benefits and opportunities to attract and retain staff over one-off incentives.”
Career development was more likely to retain staff than one-off bonuses, he said.
“Over the past few years, we have invested a lot in recruitment, training and development. Not only does this further their career opportunities, but as an employer, we can retain staff for longer, which is crucial in dealing with ongoing industry staff shortages.”
There have been pay increases across the hospitality industry in the last year, recent Trade Me figures show. In the hospitality and tourism sector, the average salary was up 9% year-on-year to a new high of $58,994.
The national average advertised salary reached a new all-time high of $67,562 in the last quarter of 2022, said Trade Me jobs spokesperson, Patrick Cairns.
“There’s no denying it’s still a competitive market for employers, but with applications on the rise across the board, our data shows it’s a great time to be looking for talent. For those businesses that have attempted to hire over the past couple of years but had little success, our numbers show it might be worth trying again in 2023.”


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(AFR Feature – Sep 30, 2020)
Sydney-based investment company TDM Growth Partners has snared an equity stake in one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer brands, sustainable sneaker start-up Allbirds, which is edging towards an initial public offering. Allbirds, which had its genesis in New Zealand six years ago and is based in San Francisco, raised $US100 million ($141 million) from investors including TDM, Franklin Templeton, T. Rowe Price, Baillie Gifford and Rockefeller Capital Management, taking capital raised to date to $US200 million and lifting its valuation to an estimated $US1.7 billion.
TDM invested about $25 million, at the lower end of its $25 million to $150 million range, and was the only Asia-Pacific region investor in the Series E round, thanks mainly to the investment company’s connections with Allbirds co-founder and co-chief executive Tim Brown.
TDM investor Ed Cowan, a former professional cricketer, struck up a friendship last year with Mr Brown, a former professional soccer player. “I was a huge Allbirds customer and advocate of the brand,” said Mr Cowan, who owns seven pairs of Allbirds shoes and a dozen pairs of Allbirds socks and underwear. “We joined the dots and that friendship began.”
“It was almost awkward to ask about investing in the business, because I didn’t want to spoil a growing friendship,” Mr Cowan said.”On the flipside, you can show no better support for anyone by wanting to have skin in the game on their journey. “Allbirds sales have been growing between 50 and 100 per cent a year for the past few years and are now estimated to exceed $US300 million. “These guys are knocking it out of the park,” said Mr Cowan. “It’s a very large business from a revenue point of view, growth rate and growth opportunity – it’s one of the fastest-growing consumer businesses we’ve ever seen.”
After initially launching online, Allbirds started opening bricks and mortar stores two years ago and now has a network of 21 flagships – 11 in the United States, two in London, two in Europe, four in China, one in Tokyo and one in Auckland. The flagship stores are achieving “best in class” sales per metre metrics, Mr Cowan said, and were boosting brand awareness while driving more consumers to Allbirds’ e-commerce sites. Allbirds plans to use the new capital to open more flagships, push into new online territories, expand into new categories including athleisure, and invest in technology, logistics, warehousing and distribution. Allbird’s points of difference are comfort and sustainability. Its logo-free running shoes, sneakers, slip-ons and flats are made from renewable and recycled materials including wool, sugar-cane-based foam, castor bean oil, tree fibres (Tencel Lyocel) and recycled plastic bottles. Allbirds claims the carbon footprint of its average shoe is 7.6 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent – almost half the carbon emission of standard sneakers – and its goal is to drive emissions to zero.“Business can be a force for positive change, and this additional capital will allow us to further our mission of bringing more sustainable products to people around the world,” said Allbirds co-CEO Joey Zwillinger. Tim Brown initially came up with the idea for runners made from wool when he was playing soccer for the Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand. He started the business through a Kickstarter campaign – selling out of his first production run in days – before linking up with Mr Zwillinger, a San Francisco-based biotechnology engineer. Allbirds shoes have now become the footwear of choice in Silicon Valley and among Hollywood celebrities, some of whom (including Leonardo di Caprio) were early investors in the business. “We think that core focus on sustainable materials and innovation around those materials is really resonating and will continue to grow their very loyal customer base,” said Mr Cowan. “I would say a business of this size would be looking towards the public markets in coming years,” he said. “We are very long-term investors so an IPO for us is not an exit. We are incredibly excited by the opportunity ahead.”
Click below for the Wall Street Journal article on the capital raiseRead The full Article


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Celebrated for its modern, streamlined look and expert soft tailoring, Giorgio Armani has something special planned for loyal Barneys New York shoppers this weekend. From Thursday, January 24, through Sunday, January 27, visitors to the fourth floor of Madison Avenue will have a chance to experience free beauty consultations and application sessions with in-demand makeup artist Ashley Rebecca and celebrity face designer Tim Quinn, Vice-President of Creative Artistry for Giorgio Armani Beauty.
The event celebrates, in part, the launch of the Italian label’s capsule collection, found exclusively at Barneys. The partnership between the store and luxury brand dates back more than 35 years, when Barneys became the first retailer to introduce the label to the American market. As its popularity soared, the designer and his team never wavered from their refined, sophisticated take on fashion, creating looks both modern and timeless.
Mirroring the brand’s ready-to-wear aesthetic, Armani’s cosmetics line features elegant neutral hues and rich lip colors. Its skin-enhancing Crema Nera Supreme Reviving Cream and Firming Plumping Essence are in constant demand for their anti-aging, hydrating properties that reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Mark your calendars! We hope to see you at Barneys Madison Avenue between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. this weekend.