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Every publisher wants to scale its video operation, but The Times of London is better placed than most through last year’s acquisition of video platform Unruly.
This weekend, the publisher launched a branded video for children’s charity the NSPCC, created by agency Don’t Panic, with planning and distribution by Unruly. The two-minute video features advice on how to talk to kids about the incident. It’s a sensitive and emotional subject: Since November, the free counseling hotline ChildLine has recorded 374 calls from children worried about terrorism. The Times needed to hit the right note for the NSPCC and tailor the message accordingly.
“We needed to know whether this content elicited the right emotions,” said Catherine Newman, marketing director at The Times. “We didn’t want to sensationalize the topic. We needed to reassure and inform. We had to come from a point of intelligence, trust and integrity.”
To hit this, The Times tested short clips of the film and got back real-time analytics through Unruly’s proprietary ShareRank technology, the company’s algorithm that identifies what parts of a video influence sharing behavior.
The video appears on The Times site and its social channels, and Unruly distributes it to other platforms on the open Web — like Mumsnet and Netmums — that reach its target of parents between 35 and 44 with an interest in current and world affairs. It links back to a hub on the subject with The Times editorial.
“Without Unruly, we would have a very basic media plan,” Newman points out. “Did we reach X audience, and how many likes did they give us? We need to go far deeper. We know likes are not just the key to success, we must be able to encourage to purchase. It’s a far more sophisticated strategy.”
Newman, former global brand and business to business director at the Financial Times, is in charge of the subscription revenue business and tasked with growing audiences across digital. While she believes The Times content is worth paying for, she conceded there’s an appetite to produce more video outside of the paywall to extend the reach beyond the publisher’s 400,000 digital and print subscribers. Not all video content is available to everyone — all videos are hosted on The Times and Sunday Times site. Most then go on to its YouTube channel, and Facebook and Twitter are used to boost them.
For as much of its video output as possible, The Times works with Unruly, but all previous efforts have been marketing campaigns. The campaign with the NSPCC is the first that includes The Times editorial too, though only through related articles from The Times hub, like this “How the Paris terror attacks changed our children’s lives.” Last weekend, it hosted a marketing video featuring Jeremy Clarkson promoting the driving section in The Sunday Times Magazine. The 40-second video had a 90 percent completion rate, 64,000 out of the 69,000 views were viewed all the way through. (An Ooyala study puts industry average of video completion rates from publishers at about 70 percent.)
Through testing different video clips through ShareRank, some with Jeremy Clarkson or with other actors, Newman said, “we learned that having Clarkson address the camera would get us the authenticity we wanted. We’re learning more about what the audience wants, what should be said, how it’s addressed. It’s allowing us to create much better briefs.”
In March, The Times will re-release its Unquiet Film Series, produced at the end of 2014 to showcase its writers and their values for a global audience. It’s currently using Unruly’s technology to find out how the films should be re-edited for a U.S. audience to tweak things like humor, which can be culturally subjective.
Eventually, The Times hopes to answer the old attribution questions. With agency partner Mindshare, it is working on an attribution model for its video content. In six month’s time, hopes to show what role video plays in driving subscriptions.
“As marketers, we need to know what levers work,” Newman added. “Would you release more video if you knew it would boost subscribers? Yes. Would you release more video if you didn’t know what it did? You have to ask yourself ‘why’?”
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Whereas supply and takeout have lengthy composed a hefty slice of enterprise for QSRs, off-premise eating turned a lifeline for a lot of throughout the pandemic shutdowns of 2020.
“QSR chains with drive-thrus or sturdy supply operations posted the strongest leads to 2020,” says Kevin Schimpf, Technomic’s senior supervisor of business analysis. “Chains like Domino’s, Wingstop and Chipotle, which have invested closely of their digital ordering platforms, tended to see the perfect efficiency figures over the past yr.”
Although off-premise eating will proceed to be a key a part of enterprise for QSRs, operators are hoping on-premise eating will proceed to return within the yr forward after seeing indoor eating areas sit empty for a lot of 2020.
THE GROWTH FORECAST
QSR business gross sales declined by 5.5% in 2020, based on Schimpf. After a troublesome yr, some operators that had been more durable hit than others are wanting forward with uncertainty. “We hope this summer time issues get near regular however … the business was hit so laborious and with all eating places coping with totally different circumstances, I wouldn’t be shocked if issues weren’t totally again to regular till 2022,” says Ben Jacobs, co-owner of Tocabe, an American Indian eatery with two Denver-area places. “It’s actually laborious to consider being again to the best way issues had been when you have got misplaced over 50% of your annual gross sales. It will take severe time to rebuild.”
Wanting forward, Technomic forecasts that complete QSR business gross sales will develop 8.2% in 2021, Schimpf says. “There may be a lot pent-up demand as issues begin to open up, and as vaccinations begin to improve throughout the nation,” says Tabassum Zalotrawala, chief improvement officer at Chipotle. “I feel that whereas … off-premise and digital eating was the superhero for 2020, on-premise eating would be the celebrity for 2021.”
TRENDS + INNOVATIONS
›› QSRs proceed to diversify the methods clients can get their meals, whether or not that be through walk-in orders, drive-thru, supply through their very own app, third-party supply apps or cellular ordering with contactless or curbside pickup. Nontraditional restaurant codecs— digital kitchens, drive-thru solely, mobile- ordering solely—proceed to development. “We’ve continued to drive innovation to fulfill our clients’ evolving wants and the digital kitchen we opened final yr was one variation,” Zalotrawala says of Chipotle. “What of us can anticipate to see is a number of variations of that opening this yr. It may very well be the Chipotlane [digital-order pickup drive-thru] solely; it may imply no eating room in any respect; any of that’s potential.”
›› Operators are getting inventive with branded merchandise that goes past the same old bottled sauces or dressings. This spring, Tocabe launched an internet market known as Tocabe Indigenous Market that sells Native-made dry items corresponding to wild rice, beans and cornmeal in addition to its personal dry rubs and blue cornbread combine. “We hope this helps help our model philosophy by extending our attain and entry to clients past metro Denver, together with persevering with to help Native meals manufacturing and serving to to help neighborhood members by getting meals into their houses,” Jacobs says.
›› Expertise stays an innovation driver on this phase. Zalotrawala says that Chipotle will proceed to leverage expertise, corresponding to robotics and AI. A chief instance is the launch of its customer support chatbot, Pepper, on its cellular app final summer time. “When you have any questions on your order, or complaints or something of that kind, a buyer can chat with Pepper and simply get them resolved,” Zalotrawala says.
3.88M The variety of QSR workers in america.1
$239B Whole income of the QSR business in america in 2020, down from $273 billion in 2019.1
26% The rise in drive-thru restaurant visits in April, Might and June 2020 throughout pandemic shutdowns.2
$33.2B The anticipated market dimension of the American quick-service supply sector by 2022.1
59% The proportion of drive-thrus that added plastic boundaries between drivers and workers at pickup home windows.3
1 Statista, March 2021
2 The NPD Group, September 2020
Three Fast-Service Unmasked: SeeLevel HX Annual Drive-Through Research, 2020

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Indianapolis — The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has announced that Ken Erdmann will serve as chairman
New York — Vizio used a press preview here Wednesday to introduce a new 55-inch screen size to its a high-
Bentonville. Ark. — Wal-Mart president/CEO Lee Scott will step down, effective Feb. 1, after
Beaumont, Texas — Two major hurricanes in September contributed to sales volatility during Conn
Yes, Virginia, there will be an International CES in 2009, even amid the economic shocks of this fall.
Holmdel, N.J. — Vonage
Osaka, Japan — In an effort to improve its cost efficiency and price competitiveness,
New York — D&M Holdings joined music industry professionals and audio journalists to spread the word about high-performance audio to
Ridgefield Park, N.J. –
By Lisa Johnston
New products on display at the American International Toy Fair, held in N
New York — The Anti-Defamation League’s National Consumer Technology Industry divisio
Los Angeles — Fifteen industry leaders were inducted into the Consumer Electronics Hall of
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Paul Thurrott of Windows IT Pro reports that within days, Microsoft is expected to make its Surface RT tablet available to a broader retail audience. Currently the ARM-based Windows 8 tablet is sold through Microsoft's online store, and through its 32 brick-and-mortar stores scattered throughout the United States and Canada. But soon the tablet will reportedly be offered in traditional retail locations as well.
"This was always going to happen in very early 2013, but the software giant has apparently decided to ramp up the speed and make it happen before the holiday selling season is over," Thurrott stated, adding that his information stems from one of his "most trusted sources".
Microsoft reportedly was going to sell the tablet overseas in retail chains due to the lack of physical Microsoft Store locations. Meanwhile in the States, the Redmond company was rumored to launch Surface RT in Staples and Best Buy come January. But based on the new insider information, Microsoft's plan seems to have changed, moving the date into December instead.
Thurrott goes on to claim that news of Microsoft only selling $500,00 to 600,000 Surface RT tablets is "probably incorrect". Sources close to Microsoft's Surface RT sales numbers claim that the device is actually selling very well given a modest, Microsoft-limited distribution. Even more, Surface RT sales represent "one of the few bright spots in what is becoming an increasingly dire late-2012 launch season."
For now, potential customers can purchase the Surface tablet with Windows RT here. The 32 GB version without the Touch Cover retails for $499. However customers wanting the 32 GB version with the Touch Cover must shell out $599, and those wanting 64 GB of storage and a Touch Cover will be required to scrape up $699. The Redmond company also sells the Touch Cover separately for $119.99, and the Type Cover for $129.99.
Earlier this week, Forbes reported that "almost no one is buying" Microsoft's Surface RT tablet. Boston-based brokerage firm Detwiler Fenton said that Microsoft will likely sell less than one million units in the December quarter because of a lack of distribution – aka the tablet's unavailability in popular stores like Best Buy, Staples, Walmart and more. Mixed reviews and a $499 starting price isn't helping move units either.
Maybe this is why Surface RT is hitting retail stores early – to bring sales up before the quarter ends? We'll find out soon enough.
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There are brick and mortar Microsoft stores?Reply
Krog216There are brick and mortar Microsoft stores?SUPER ULTRA MEGA FACEPALM CUBEDReply
Krog216There are brick and mortar Microsoft stores?Reply
Uh, there's a thing called Best Buy, Staples, Office Max, Walmart, and Target.
Krog216There are brick and mortar Microsoft stores?Reply
I've been to one. A complete copy of Apple at every level.
At my local Microsoft store they even leased the space right next to Apple and have the setup exactly the same as Apple.
Surface was DOA when they did not want stores like Best Buy, Staples, Walmart etc to sell it.
When people (like you) don't even know they have stores, don't really buy from them online, nor have seen the product, who is going to pre-order this? Not many. When they try to charge around the same as an iPad, who is going to buy it? Not many. When they release 2 version RT & Pro, how many are going to commit to buying one? Not many.
Hence why Microsoft's projection of 4 million RT sold are being reduced to 2 million and are more realistically being estimated at 1.3 million.
Krog216There are brick and mortar Microsoft stores?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_StoreReply
Only 32 (Apple has almost 400) but you won't get the Apple "experience" there.
wemakeourfutureI've been to one. A complete copy of Apple at every level. At my local Microsoft store they even leased the space right next to Apple and have the setup exactly the same as Apple.Reply
Burger King also does that sometimes. They would wait for McDonald to do the research and make the move, and then build their own restaurant right across the street.
This was a move that should have been done within a week of its release. Until people know what Surface can do, people are not going to buy it online, site unseen. It'll be interesting to see how much this move helps.Reply
Microsoft is late to the party as usual. There are Microsoft stores about an hour and a half away from me, but they're very difficult to get to with traffic and then parking problems. Microsoft set up a kiosk in an easier-to-get-to mall about 45 minutes away. However, when I visited they only had Surface RT tablets and someone was returning one for failing to run their favorite programs (duh). Putting Surface RT in regular stores like Best Buy is a no-brainer. Having held back from those retail outlets shows how clueless Microsoft's management is. Apple continues to run circles around them.Reply
Microsoft really needs to clean house. It's been one blunder after another with Surface and Windows 8. I can easily see Surface going the way of Zune in a year or two.
They need to expand to the retail store so people can actually see the thing and use it and feel the difference between the covers when typing and get an idea of what they're buying rather than dump $700 online for something they have only seen in Youtube videos.Reply
If Microsoft does not start selling in other retail stores, the Surface will continue to get poor to modest sales. Many people have never heard of Microsoft stores, and those who have don't want to drive hours just to try one out. Even in the surface TV ads they do not tell people where to get the Surface, regardless of if you see it on TV and want it, you're not going to know where to get it. Even Apple doesn't restrict its iPads to Apple stores, why should Microsoft do it if they have a fraction of the stores?Reply


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January 5, 2022
Samsung introduced its largest curved monitor ever, the 55-inch Odyssey Ark, which will come with a special stand, enabling it to rotate vertically when it is released Q3. The flexible and curved gaming screen debut came at the end of Samsung’s Gaming Hub presentation at CES, although immersive lifestyle applications (like workouts and movies) were also demonstrated in a socially responsible keynote themed “Together for Tomorrow.” The Gaming Hub will come with select 2022 Samsung monitors and TVs, and will include access to the cloud libraries of Nvidia GeForce, Google Stadia, Utomik and others as part of Samsung’s Bespoke smart TV menu due later this year.
Samsung emphasized that the personalized aspect of sharing the planet means one size does not fit all, a philosophy applied to everything from appliances to ambient lighting. The new portable Freestyle screen projects images at up to 100 inches and doubles as a mood light when not being used to display. Targeting a Gen Z and millennial audience, the versatile device is the size of a small can light and weighs 1.8 pounds.
The Odyssey Ark (above) is a quantum dot Mini LED display featuring a 16:9 aspect ratio. The monitor can be pivoted and tilted on the height adjustable stand to achieve a user’s ideal viewing angle. “For gamers, it wraps around your field of view so you can see both ahead and beside you when playing ‘Flight Simulator,'” reports Engadget. “But it can also be flipped 90 degrees into a portrait orientation for work, showing a Zoom feed, spreadsheets and whatever else you need to see.”
Customized options for refrigerators, vacuums and more are available through Samsung’s Bespoke appliance lineup that also includes dishwashers, ranges and over-the-range microwaves as well as washers and dryers. And tying it all together, Samsung’s Family Hub, connecting users to their AI-informed appliances through six SmartThings services that manage household chores.
To that end, Samsung also announced itself a founding member of the Home Connectivity Alliance (HCA), geared toward fostering interoperability between devices across brands, and enhancing consumer security and safety.
As the first keynote of CES 2022, Samsung’s vice chairman, CEO and head of Device eXperience (DX) Jong-Hee (JH) Han was welcomed to the stage with a fist-bump from CTA president and CEO Gary Shapiro. Han opened with a focus on “everyday sustainability,” emphasizing even incremental steps can lead to big change.
A partnership with Patagonia “will help fight plastic pollution by enabling Samsung washing machines to minimize microplastics from entering waterways through laundry cycles,” according to Samsung’s CES news release. Separate from floating plastics, “scientists estimate that the ocean floor alone is now home to over 14 million tons of what are called ‘microplastics,’” according to Samsung.
“This is a serious problem, and not one we can solve on our own,” Patagonia director of philosophy Vincent Stanley said via virtual appearance at Samsung’s keynote, describing the initiative as “a perfect example of the kind of collaboration we all need to help turn the tide of climate change and restore nature to health.”
The company is also reducing its carbon footprint with a first-of-its-kind SolarCell Remote, which eliminates battery waste with a built-in solar panel that can be charged both day and night. By 2025, Samsung plans to make all of its TVs and phone chargers operate on “near-zero standby power,” consuming almost no energy when not in use.


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YouTube launches music subscription service
YouTube Music Key will be available starting from $7.99 per month
YouTube has announced the launch of its long-awaited music subscription service, YouTube Music Key.
The new service, which starts at a price of $7.99 per month allows users to stream ad-free music videos and to download them for offline use.
"You've asked us for ways to listen to music without ads, to keep playing music videos even if you lock the screen or start using another app, and to play music even if you're not connected to the Internet. That's why today we're introducing YouTube Music Key beta" YouTube said in its blog.
YouTube Music Key will be first available through an invite to its "biggest music fans", who can try out the beta version for six months at no charge.
The subscription will also include access to Google Play Music.


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The Central Bank of The Bahamas is to launch its Sand Dollar central bank digital currency (CBDC) in October, edging out global powers like China and Sweden to become the first country to roll out a nationwide digital currency. The new currency will be used in the entire archipelago with 400, 000 people, and it was piloted on the islands of Exuma and Abaco since 2019.
As CoinGeek reported, the Sand Dollar eyed to make the country’s financial system more resilient in the face of natural disasters.
Sand Dollar transfers are made by mobile phone, and would be availed to over 90% Bahamians. Users would be able to make payments even while offline. Each Sand Dollar is pegged to the Bahamian dollar, which is, in turn, pegged to the U.S. dollar. There are, currently only 48,000 Sand Dollars in circulation. As Bloomberg reported, new Sand Dollars will be “minted” as demand grows and will only be issued when physical Bahamian dollars are retired to keep from skewing monetary policy. Also, Sand Dollar accounts are subject to the same rules as traditional bank accounts, with anti-money-laundering and know-your-client safeguards in place.
The nationwide rollout is now only a few weeks away, officials at the Central Bank of Bahamas have revealed. Speaking to Bloomberg, assistant manager of e-solutions at the bank Chaozhen Chen stated that the CBDC will promote financial inclusion in the island nation.
He stated, “A lot of residents in those more remote islands don’t have access to digital payment infrastructure or banking infrastructure. We really had to customize the effort and the solution to what we need as a sovereign nation.”
Keith Davies, the CEO of local payment service provider Kanoo believes that the Sand Dollar will make the payment settlement process much more efficient. Kanoo has been one of the local firms piloting the digital currency.
“Once a Sand Dollar transfer happens, it’s final and irrevocable because it’s fiat currency. It is the essence of a settlement system,” he remarked.
As CoinGeek reported in August, the central bank included the Sand Dollar on its official balance sheet for the first time ever. The report revealed that there was $48,000 worth of the digital currency in circulation.
The central bank also sought to allay fears that the launch of the Sand Dollar would open up a digital currency Wild West. New Sand Dollars will only be minted to replace physical Bahamian dollars and will be subject to the AML and KYC rules that govern the banking and financial services providers.


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Clovis’ craft beer scene is heating up: ‘We see a lot of potential out here’
Updated April 04, 2018 03:36 PM
You may not think of Clovis and its cowboy culture as a hot spot for craft beer. But that could be changing, as this growing city has begun attracting craft beer makers who see the potential for creating something special.
The city is already home to four breweries or tasting rooms, with a fifth to open soon and a sixth in the works. A few are clustered in an industrial area just east of Old Town Clovis, tucked in among muffler shops, gravel companies and warehouses. It’s the kind of vibe some craft brewers appreciate.
It’s not about being fancy, they say, it’s about making solid beers that people like.
Several craft brewers said they are drawn to Clovis because of the fierce loyalty to local business, the tight-knit community and a growing fan base of craft beer drinkers.
Tactical Ops, one of three breweries in Clovis, opened a new brewery and tasting room three months ago to lots of thirsty customers. Its original location remains on Shields between Fowler and Armstrong avenues.
The new brewery and tasting room in Clovis has a military theme, seats 49 and offers 12 to 14 beers, including stouts, IPAs, and ales.
Recently, Dechow and fellow brewer Brett Elsberry were putting the final touches on their popular honey blonde ale that’s made with locally sourced honey from Enzo’s Table in Clovis.
Elsberry said weekends are busy and customers are drinking as much beer as the brewery can produce.
“It’s very possible that we may be looking for a third location,” Ellsberry said. “We are growing and trying to keep our beer in stock. And all of this is just by word of mouth and social media.”
As a testament to the brewery’s growth, Ellsberry recently left his day job as a pharmacy technician after 18 years to work full-time at the brewery.
“We are pretty optimistic about things right now,” he said.
Other breweries that have opened in Clovis include 559 Beer at 356 Pollasky Ave. and Zone 9 Brewing at 1450 Tollhouse Road.
On the horizon are Kings River Brewing Company at 1050 San Jose Ave. that expects to open in about 30 days and MachineHead Brewing Co., 52 W. Palo Alto Ave. , is planning to open this fall.
All of that is in addition to the House of Pendragon tap room at 1345 N. Willow and Riley’s Brew Pub, 2674 Owens Mountain Pkwy.
Clovis city officials couldn’t be happier about the organic growth of the local craft beer scene. Shawn Miller, business development manager for the City of Clovis, said the city is helping when it can, but the breweries are truly doing it on their own.
“We are just trying to clear the decks and left stuff happen,” Miller said.
Miller sees the potential of creating a special event linking the city’s trail system with several of the breweries in the area. The Old Town Clovis Craft Beer Crawl that features a mix of California breweries is already a popular springtime event.
“We know there is a value in having people come to town for special events,” Miller said.
Elsberry said there may be just a handful of breweries now, but there will be more.
Brad Edmunds, an owner of Zone 9 Brewing, agrees that the city is ripe for more breweries. He said people in Clovis are eager for more dining, drinking and entertainment options. Plus, his customers are into trying new and different craft beers. Zone 9 brews a variety of beer, including a peach hefeweizen, a German style wheat beer; a coconut coffee porter and a New England-style IPA that’s infused with mango.
“It’s fruity on the front, creamy in the middle and hoppy on the end,” Edmunds said.
Two of the newest breweries in Clovis will be open in the coming months.
King Chan is the brewer and owner of Kings River Brewing. His brewery and tasting room is not far from the others in south east Clovis and hopes to be open in about 30 days.
His tasting room has rustic and Americana touches and will accommodate about 25 people.
Chan, who has been a home brewer for 15 years, is skilled at making several styles of beer including a milk stout, an IPA, and an ale with a clean, crisp taste of a lager.
Chan is confident that people visiting the Clovis breweries will find enough variety in beer styles to satisfy everyone’s tastes.
One of the cities newest brewers, Rob Arabian of MachineHead Brewing Company, promises to bring some more excitement to the budding craft brew scene. Arabian’s brewery will be open this fall in a new industrial complex on Palo Alto, west of Clovis and south of Herndon avenues.
“We are going to be launching several different type of programs that a lot of people usually drive to places like San Diego for,” Arabian said.
Arabian is careful not to reveal too much about his beers, other than to say he will be making some “barrel-aged stuff and juicy IPAs.”
He also said there will be plenty of space for food trucks to park and he may do some beer-themed dinners. Arabian says he didn’t think twice about where he wanted to open his brewery.
“I really love the vibe of this city,” he said. “It’s a place that appreciates classic, local favorites, but also is home to hip new restaurants, coffee shops and breweries. It feels like the perfect fit for us.”


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Graphite developer Syrah Resources has clinched a second supply deal with Japanese major Marubeni Corporation, this time for 50 000 t/y of spherical graphite.
The five-year offtake agreement would afford Marubeni the exclusive right to import and sell coated and uncoated spherical graphite from Syrah’s Balama mine, in Mozambique, in Japan and Korea.
Marubeni’s clients included some of the largest battery manufacturers in those two countries.
“This agreement with Marubeni represents the largest spherical graphite offtake agreement that has been signed globally to date,” said Syrah MD Tolga Kumova.
The offtake agreement followed on an earlier deal between the two companies in which Marubeni had agreed to buy 20 000 t/y of flake graphite.
“Marubeni has worked closely with Syrah to conduct premarketing activities in Japan and Korea for nearly 18 months. Extensive test work have been performed on numerous samples provided by the company, and results have shown that Balama spherical graphite is superior to current material supplied from China, exceeding customers’ expectations,” commented Marubeni general manager Ryoichi Mano.
As the latest offtake agreement only covered Japan and Korea, Syrah believed further opportunities were available in China, North America and Europe.
The company has completed an internal economic assessment on a proposed spherical graphite facility in the US, which was underpinned by growing interest by major lithium-ion battery manufacturers.
“The Marubeni agreement has validated our strategy and steadfast belief that the lithium ion battery market will be the major source of growth for the graphite sector in the upcoming years,” said Kumova.
A 2015 feasibility study estimated that the Balama project would require capital investment of about $138-million to deliver a 380 000 t/y operation. During the first ten years of operation, the mine was expected to produce at an average rate of 365 000 t/y graphite concentrate and deliver a free cash flow of $160-million a year.
Source: Mining Weekly


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Microsoft has confirmed it has no plans to produce future versions of its XNA development software.
Rumours began yesterday when an email leak surfaced, stating that both the framework and DirectX were to be retired from Microsoft’s program. A Microsoft rep later confirmed to Polygon that there won’t be any future versions of XNA – though the firm will continue to invest in DirectX.
"Microsoft is actively investing in DirectX as the unified graphics foundation for all of our platforms, including Windows, Xbox 360, and Windows Phone," the rep said. "DirectX is evolving and will continue to evolve. We have absolutely no intention of stopping innovation with DirectX.
"XNA Game Studio remains a supported toolset for developing games for Xbox 360, Windows and Windows Phone. Many developers have found financial success creating Xbox LIVE Indie Games using XNA. However, there are no plans for future versions of the XNA product."
Developer and consumer opinions seem to suggest that the apparent doom this spells for Xbox Live’s Indie Game channel as we know it, is no big deal. Just so long as Microsoft replaces it – preferably with something better.


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Colette will celebrate 20 years with party and limited edition offerings
Colette is celebrating its 20th anniversary with limited edition items and a party boasting a giant ball pit.
The Paris retailer has worked with countless brands over the years and recently added Yves Saint Laurent back to its list after creative director Anthony Vaccarello salvaged their ties.
Now, to mark two decades in the business, Colette's creative director Sarah Andelman is going above and beyond for the special occasion. Holding the birthday bash at museum Les Arts Decoratifs on Monday night (20Mar17), Andelman has teamed up with firm Snarkitecture to create an instalment called The Beach featuring 300,000 recyclable plastic balls for guests to jump in and enjoy.
On top of this customers can also get their hands on 20 new limited edition items, including blue and white woken Nike sneakers, a polka dot top by contemporary brand Maud Heline and a T-shirt by Celzer featuring the words ‘1997 Paris finest Colette 20 years young 2017’.
Discussing Colette’s approach to style and the exclusive items on offer, Andelman told WWD: “We never set out to appeal just to fashion victims, because we see the store as a meeting place and a crossroads. The products do the talking. We are like the party cone bag, and the magic is in the mix...
“We set out from the start to offer things you couldn’t find elsewhere. It was not about having a store full of exclusives, because that would be impossible.”
The Nike shoes have already sold out, with Alderman citing that particular collaboration as one of the most satisfying she's ever worked on along with Hermes’ Brides de Gala silk scarf.
Colette has some big fans, including musicians Pharrell Williams and Drake and models Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid.
As for her favourite customer, Andelman gushed: “That would be Mr. (Karl) Lagerfeld. We don’t usually talk about it, and I would never want him to think I am using him for publicity purposes. But in this era of Instagram, it’s hard to keep secrets. I think he comes roughly once a week.”


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Scrubbing up well! Imperial Leather soap and St Tropez fake tan maker celebrates strong sales
The maker of Imperial Leather soap and St Tropez fake tan has seen strong sales of a new range aimed at people aged 18 to 24
The maker of Imperial Leather soap and St Tropez fake tan has seen strong sales of a new range aimed at people aged 18 to 24.
Toiletries giant PZ Cussons said its washing and bathing division in the UK has been robust while its beauty division performed well in the year to May 31.
Finance chief Brandon Leigh also flagged ‘strong initial sales’ of a new sub-brand of its Sanctuary range, which it launched last month, saying: ‘We have seen customers being more watchful on what they spend as inflation bites, but young shoppers don’t appear to be holding back on buying new products.’
The company is due to release its full-year figures next month.
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Commenting on today’s sale of O2 broadband to Sky, Marie-Louise Abretti, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, says: “Selling off the broadband part of the business might lead to O2 focussing on giving customers the best mobile experience. In the last year, O2’s customer support has slipped, so a renewed focus could lead to a reverse in fortunes. And while previously O2 has given its broadband customers good customer service, Sky has upped its game, which means that O2 customers won’t be sacrificing the level of service they’ve come to expect.
“Sky also offers truly unlimited downloads with no traffic management, as well as the possibility of life in the fast lane thanks to superfast fibre broadband. A variety of Sky rewards will also be a real sweetener – especially for those who stick with O2 mobile, who will enjoy the best of both worlds of perks. And luckily, the cost of a Sky home phone and broadband package won’t come at much of a premium – the added bonus of truly unlimited broadband could cost O2 mobile customers just £3 a year more.
“However, customers may be concerned about how the transition is handled by Sky. Following TalkTalk’s take-over of Tiscali in 2009, Ofcom hit the providers with £3 million in fines for wrongly billing customers, mainly caused by problems with integrating accounts. It’s vital that Sky learns from this and ensures that consumers don’t lose out as part of this deal.
“Meanwhile O2 could see a loss of mobile customers, who, no longer being able to enjoy a cheaper broadband service by doubling up with their mobile, may start shopping around for a better deal.
“While some customers will be worried about the hassle of finding a new provider, it could be a great opportunity for them to ensure they’re getting the best broadband – and mobile – deal for their needs. For Sky TV fans in particular, this could be a great time to bundle products – which can be both cheaper and more convenient.”
Based on O2 basic broadband package for O2 mobile customers of £6.25 a month, and £13 line rental, equaling £231 for a year. This is compared with Sky’s basic package of 6 months free and then £10 a month and line rental of £14.50 a month giving a total cost of £234 for the first year. This is a difference of £3.
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|Clemson announces football season ticket applications available, new payment plan|
|Wednesday, March 12, 2014 4:30 PM-||
IPTAY donors can now renew their season ticket orders and order additional single-game tickets for the 2014 Clemson football season at ClemsonTigers.com, the athletic ticket office announced Wednesday. Season ticket prices remain $330 for the second-consecutive year, and season ticket holders can save $8 off the order fee by renewing tickets online. Hard copies of the season ticket application will be mailed in late March to all IPTAY donors.
The ticket office also announced a new payment plan, allowing donors to split the total application cost into automatic monthly payments. An initial 33.5% payment is due upon ordering, with a second payment on April 7 and final payment on May 7.
IPTAY donors may also order single-game tickets with their season ticket application. Single-game tickets are assigned by IPTAY level and points within each level after season ticket locations have been finalized.
Based on availability, additional season tickets and any single-game tickets are made available to the general public during the summer.
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- NFL.com ranks Gallman as a Top 10 CFB running back
- WATCH: Clemson Football Hype Video 2016
- Clemson ranked in Top 5 of Phil Steele's Preseason Poll


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Good news for the food production and preparation industry.
According to a new report by Quarterly Economic Outlook Planning For First Quarter of 2018,
“The majority of segments of the US core economy are expanding, and leading indicators corroborate expectation of accelerating growth into the first half of 2018.” (packagingworld.com)
This includes one of the US’s biggest industry — food production and preparation. There has been a steady rise in global demand, and the prices of commodities have also increased, causing the growth of the food production sector.
The report also states:
“US consumers are finding themselves in an optimal economic situation consisting of rising real wages, low unemployment, low inflation, low interest rates, a rising stock market, and relatively-low commodity prices.”


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The Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the hotel that opened six months ago with a $5 million Victoria’s Secret fashion show, is trying for a more family-friendly image. This week, “Live! with Regis and Kelly” was filmed at the hotel. The hotel chefs have added more child-friendly foods to their restaurant menus, and the hotel staff took Kelly Ripa’s children on a tour of the pastry kitchen.
|Miami investors score EB-5 funding for charter school in south Miami-Dade|
|Missoni Baia, Paseo Miami and Coconut Grove Playhouse submit new plans|
|Investment firm tied to Sol Goldman buys Manalapan mansion|
|Red light camera millionaire buys two bayfront Belle Meade homes|
Joint venture scoops up office complex


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One of America's automotive Big Three might soon be under the control of a Chinese automaker.
Great Wall Motors has signaled an interest in acquiring some or all of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Reuters reports, citing a phone conversation with someone at Great Wall's press office. The official would only say that the company is interested in acquiring FCA and offered no further details.
Fiat Chrysler, on the other hand, isn't saying much of anything. "In response to market rumors regarding a potential interest of Great Wall Motors in the Jeep brand, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles confirmed that it has not been approached by Great Wall Motors in connection with the Jeep brand or any other matter relating to its business," a Fiat Chrysler spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
If this deal were to go through, with a value approaching $20 billion, Fiat Chrysler would become China's single largest overseas automotive deal, far outpacing Geely's purchase of Volvo. Great Wall's value is slightly below Fiat Chrysler's, as well.
While the deal could well include all of Fiat Chrysler's brands, Automotive News reports that Great Wall is primarily interested in Jeep. Jeep is the most valuable part of Fiat Chrysler right now, followed closely by Ram. Automotive News said a Great Wall spokesman told the outlet that it wanted to become the world's largest SUV manufacturer.
Fiat Chrysler has been looking for a merger for some time now, citing a need to consolidate resources and reduce wasted capital. American and European automakers, including General Motors and Volkswagen, brushed off the idea in its earlier stages. Eyes turned to China recently, but several large Chinese automakers also denied an interest in purchasing Fiat Chrysler -- until Great Wall, that is.


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Hitting the fundraising trail in 2020?
Your best opportunity may be at the South’s Capitol of Capital on April 24.
The call for startups to join Wild Pitch at DIG SOUTH Tech Summit in Charleston is now open!
Connect with more than 200 top-shelf investors, 2200+ attendees and get deals done.
Selected teams will receive 2 all-access badges (plus a DIG NATION membership) to attend the full DIG SOUTH Tech Summit. Meet the South’s top founders, entrepreneurs, executives and experts.
DIG SOUTH Tech Summit connects leading global brands like Oracle, Blackbaud and IBM to the South’s hottest mid-market companies and scalable startups. The Summit runs April 22-24 in Charleston. Tracks include include Emerging Tech, Scalable Business Growth, Digital Marketing, hands-on workshops and more.
Apply to Wild Pitch
Register for DIG SOUTH Tech Summit
Partner with DIG SOUTH
Join DIG NATION: The South’s Tech Tribe (and get a free badge)
See you on April 24!
The DIG Team
P.S. Did we mention the Summit is held in Charleston, the world’s #1 destination with a world-class dining scene? It’s spectacular in April!
🚁 AUSTIN – Inventory tracking drones. Pensa Systems, a startup founded in Austin in 2016, has built its business on this concept — pairing computer vision technology with AI’s learning capabilities and the mobility of drones. And Pensa announced it has raised $10 million in additional seed funding to further develop its systems and make inroads in the massive retail market. Learn more.
💻 ATLANTA – Video platform. Atlanta-based Motivo, the first HIPAA-compliant video platform to connect clinical supervisors to mental health professionals, has raised $2.2 million in seed financing. Cox Enterprises led the investment round, with participation from SEI Ventures, ECMC, Great Oaks VC, The Jump Fund, Emmett Partners, Next Wave Impact Fund and multiple angel investors. Take a look.
📈 RALEIGH – Growing capabilities. Allstacks, a startup focusing on improvements in software development through use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, is planning to grow its workforce and expand its capabilities at both its Raleigh headquarters and a second office in Austin, Texas, after closing on $4.7 million in new capital. Tech it out.
💪🏽 DURHAM – Doubling workforce. Just five years ago, CloudFactory was working out of a “tiny little phone booth office” in Durham’s American Underground. Not anymore. This cloud software startup — which depends on a global workforce, along with its proprietary technology, to perform basic tasks for any company — has got new digs. It’s also flush with cash after landing $65 million in growth equity funding from FTV Capital, and it’s scaling big time. Get the deets.


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Asus has launched the firm’s first ultrabook devices, the 11-inch Zenbook UX21 and 13-inch Zenbook UX31.
Confirming for the first time that at least one manufacturer has managed to hit Intel’s promised $999 price point, the Taiwanese notebook giant confirmed that the Intel Core i5-2467M based Zenbook UX21 will cost £849.
The money buys a 1366 x 768 11.6-inch display, 128GB SSD, 4GB of RAM, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a five-hour 35Wh batery, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, micro HDMI and VGA interfaces all crammed into a chassis just 17mm at the thickest.
The Zenbook UX31 is £999, adding a larger 13-inch screen with 1,600 x 900 resolution as well as an SD card reader. Higher-end models will offer larger storage and faster Intel Core i7 processors.
The new Zenbooks will go on sale in the US today. They will be available in the Uk from October 21st.


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Dollar Tree is proving once again that its brick and mortar value proposition is still attracting scores of shoppers.
The discounter reported a boost in same store sales and profit for the fourth quarter.
The company continues to appeal to shoppers by putting the right product in front of potential customers based on an area's economics and demographics, a strategy that has so far insulated it from online competitors. At a time when many retailers are contracting, Dollar Tree opened more than 600 new stores in 2017.
For the period ended Feb. 3, same store sales at Dollar Tree rose 2.4%. Net income rose to $1.04 billion, or $4.37 per share, from $321.8 million, or $1.36 per share, a year earlier. Net sales rose to $6.36 billion from $5.64 billion.
"I am proud of our team's performance in the fourth quarter and our results for 2017," stated Gary Philbin, President and Chief Executive Officer. "For the quarter, we posted positive same-store sales in our Dollar Tree and Family Dollar banners, while improving gross margin and leveraging costs. For the year, we opened 603 new stores, exceeded $22 billion in sales and improved our operating margin by 80 basis points. I would like to thank each of our associates for their dedicated work and continued efforts throughout the year to deliver value, convenience and our brand standards to our customers every day."
The Chesapeake, Va.-based company recorded a tax benefit of $583.7 million in the latest quarter due to changes in the U.S. tax code.
As a results of the savings from the new tax law, the company plans to invest $100 million over the next year on:
- Employee training
- Employee raises
- Improved retirement benefits
- And adding paid maternity leave for eligible associates
Dollar Tree said it expects net sales for the first quarter of 2018 to range from $5.53 billion to $5.63 billion, based on a low single-digit increase in same-store sales. It expects profit in the range of $1.18 to $1.25 per share.
Philbin added: "I am excited about entering a new year with significant opportunities ahead for our business. We are gaining traction from the work that has been done over the past several years and, with solid execution, we are confident we can build on our momentum to grow and improve our business. At the same time, we intend to continue focusing on delivering great values and convenience to our shoppers, while improving our operating performance and returning value to our shareholders for the long-term."
Dollar Tree operates 14,835 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces.


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Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited announced that the first shipment of LIM iron ore sailed today bound for China.
The Salt Lake City departed the Port of Sept-Iles at 4.50am EDT on October 3rd 2011 carrying a total of 167,167 wet tonnes of iron ore.
This ore was sold to the Iron Ore Company of Canada under the arrangements LIM has entered into with IOC for the sale and shipping of all of LIM's calendar 2011 iron ore production. The sale price for the iron ore is based on the actual realized prices to Chinese customers, less an allocation for handling, loading, shipping and sales costs.
Mr John Kearney chairman & CEO of LIM stated "This is a momentous day in the history of LIM and is the culmination of six years of endeavor. We are very proud to join the limited group of Canadian mining companies exporting iron ore and we are particularly proud that we have done so whilst maintaining our independence and without taking on debt. We now look forward to expanding on this first sailing in the months and years to come.


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Consumer staple clients keep 3PL Dedicated Logistical Services moving
Kevin Clark was a fresh-faced, 25-year-old recent college graduate when he founded Dedicated Logistical Service Inc. Sixteen years and at least 1,000 customers later, Clark has patiently watched DLS evolve from a home-grown logistics service to a $30 million-a-year company.
The firm has weathered the recession and is gradually returning to revenue it achieved in 2008 — its best year to date — even as the economy recovers and clients become less averse to managing their own shipping needs.
“I don’t know any other way to put it — our success is based on our strength in relationships,” he says.
While such a claim runs the risk of sounding cliche, Clark notes that while many competing firms have pursued a higher profile in the industry through marketing and advertising, DLS has relied on existing customers to provide it with leads for new business. And it’s not because the firm has anything against cold-calling.
“That’s what we take to the bank,” he says. “A lot of people are advertising and getting their names out there, but we just haven’t. We’ve been fortunate to grow of our own accord.”
The characteristics of DLS’ client base have also played into its sustained success. DLS has retained a core of about a dozen clients since Clark founded the company in 1996 and he estimates about 75 percent of them deal in “consumer staple-type industries” like hygiene products, paper-based goods and tires.
Among them is Jones Fiber Products Inc. Alan Posner, vice president of sales for the Humbolt, Tenn.-based manufacturer of flame retardant fibers, says he had used multiple logistics companies prior to DLS — until 15 years ago.
Cole Epley covers banking and finance; health care; law; insurance; and economic development. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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How can Chinese enterprises become smart buyers
after launching what may be the most eye-catching acquisition in the world this year in June, fuchengyu, chairman and CEO of CNOOC, told western media that the result of this acquisition will make him "either a hero or a martyr."
among the overseas acquisitions of Chinese enterprises in the past year, Fu is indeed facing the most arduous challenge: his bid for Unocal, an American oil company, is not only the largest overseas acquisition effort of Chinese enterprises so far, but also the third largest all cash acquisition in the world, and the enterprise size of CNOOC is less than one twentieth that of its rival chevron
after CNOOC announced its withdrawal from the bidding on August 2, the possibility of Fu becoming a "hero" has been ruled out - although this CEO with western educational background has broken through the paradigm of Chinese enterprise leaders in western public opinion; However, the strong opposition from American political circles showed us an image of a "martyr" who had died in a campaign against China
putting Fu's personal reputation aside, CNOOC's setback will also exacerbate such a widespread concern: can Chinese Enterprises - to borrow the jargon of Wall Street - 4: if there is a long period of time after the experiment without machines, "close deal"
the failure of CNOOC is only the latest case in a series of frustrated overseas mergers and acquisitions of Chinese Enterprises: in the past few months, the efforts of Minmetals Group to acquire Noranda, a Canadian mining company, China Mobile to bid for Pakistan Telecom, and Haier to bid for Maytag, an American household appliance manufacturer, have been seen as sounding the horn of large-scale global mergers and acquisitions of Chinese enterprises. But now, these bidding efforts have failed one after another, making Lenovo's acquisition of IBM's personal computer business the only success story at present
"this will definitely make Chinese enterprises spend more time on research, and then invest time and money to make similar takeover offers in the United States," said Andy Rothman, China strategist at CLSA in Shanghai
there is no need to worry that the overseas acquisition impulse of Chinese enterprises will stop at this point. Stimulated by the government's "going out" policy, coupled with the demand for energy and strong consumer brands, cross-border mergers and acquisitions of Chinese enterprises will only increase unabated. That's why, even with the lessons of CNOOC, NAC still reached a purchase agreement with rover, which has been ill for a long time, while Huawei and ZTE were able to carry 5 tons of stolen goods in two hours on the buyer list of Marconi communications. PetroChina, China's largest oil and gas company, targeted Kazakhstan oil company. The bid of US $4.18 billion has created the largest transnational acquisition in China at present
in fact, the longer the cold-rolled strip steel as the main raw material has been reflected in the last round of setbacks, the greater the risk that investors and target companies will consider "China discount" when conducting overseas mergers and acquisitions - the lack of settlement ability of Chinese buyers will increase the transaction risk and reduce the attractiveness of their generous bidding conditions - the greater
for those Chinese enterprises that want to survive in the increasingly globalized economic environment, there is no retreat on the road of internationalization - once the ice breaking move of internationalization is made, the test waiting for peer enterprises is a quasi "prisoner's dilemma". Despite the setbacks of TCL's cross-border M & a experiment, domestic entrepreneurs betting on overseas enterprises should still agree with the logic of Li Dongsheng's decision to make Thomson acquisition: in the first 10 years of this century, if Chinese enterprises do not make a breakthrough in internationalization, it is difficult to achieve anything in the global industrial system - the experience of European, American, Japanese and Korean enterprises shows that those enterprises that survive the trend of economic globalization, Both are gradually internationalized while rapidly improving their scale and competitiveness
obviously, this will be a big test of their two-line combat ability: to suppress domestic competitors in the low-end market, while competing with multinational companies in the high-end market. Although enterprises such as Lenovo and TCL do not lack such capabilities, the difficulty of this two-line battle obviously exceeds their expectations: the pattern among Chinese local players is far from settled, and market reshuffles occur frequently; The rapid penetration and counterattack of multinational companies in the Chinese market are accelerating the elimination of Chinese enterprises
once they choose the fast track of M & A, they will face the test of rapidly improving their M & a skills for the first time on the international M & a stage, which is the key to the collective walking of the last round of M & A. If China wants to truly build a number of world-class multinational oil delivery valve companies after the completion of experiments, our enterprises must become smart buyers and ensure that most enterprise leaders do not become "martyrs" like Fu Chengyu - the era of personal heroism in Chinese enterprises is over


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Mining giant Lonmin kicks off the reporting week with its final results on Monday.
Lonmin has staged a recovery over the last couple of months, but the share price could come under further pressure upon release of these results.
Nick Raynor, investment adviser at retail stockbroker The Share Centre, said: "Recent wage talks with staff have collapsed, so we expect further strikes at the company's mines and this will impact production. Mining companies have had a good time recently, but Lonmin has had to deal with the pressure of strikes, poor power supply and brokers downgrading in their droves."
Burberry will post its interim management statement on Tuesday.
External factors such as the rising price of cotton and the planned VAT rise in the new year coupled with weaker rading updates from other clothing retailers suggest these interim figures are going to have to be good for the share price to maintain its current levels.
Raynor said: "Talk of a takeover bid has helped to keep the share price higher, but we think it is unlikely to occur, hence our sell recommendation."
On the same day ITV is scheduled to update the market with an interim management statement.
The broadcaster''s share price has seen a recovery over the last six months as a change in management and cost cutting has helped improve figures all round.
Credit check firm Experian will issue its interim management statement on Wednesday. These results are expected to be robust and in line with Experian's competitors.
Retailer Mothercare is also due to send out a trading update onWednesday.
Its overseas operations now extend to India and China and analysts will hope to see signs of success and that these areas are contributing to the company's bottom line.
National Grid posts its interim management statement on Thursday.


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Prompted by TİB and the Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Finance yesterday banned the use of a game titled "Knight" at Internet cafés. The host company, K2Network Inc., immediately appealed the banning of its product in court. Şimşek pointed to the large profit that the company made in its Turkish operations, which brought in more than $1 million per month last year. He said the company had increased its Turkish profits from close to $4 million in 2006 to about $9 million in 2007.
"There are thousands of people becoming addicted to games and companies are earning profits without being taxed," he told the Anatolia news agency. Şimşek said the game has been popular in Turkey but even though it is now banned at Internet cafes, it is still being played and no taxes apply. But the ban on the game has been questioned by the All Internet Houses Association's (TİEV) Yusuf Andiç. He said demanding a tax on such games is a "good move," but that the banning of the game is "questionable." He added that 60 percent of Internet gaming takes place in homes.
Internet games are often appealing to and target young people between the ages of 13 and 20. The sector has become even more lucrative in countries such as Turkey because of the demographics of its population.


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The collection of airline-inspired sunglasses, tote bags and other accessories will be available to customers on August 7 via Virgin Airlines' Red Shop platform and in select Banana Republic stores, and flight crew members will sport full Banana Republic-designed uniforms. Another surprising aspect to this unlikely partnership is the fact that the clothes will be modeled by actual flight attendants and other crew members — an unexpected victory for non-models everywhere. (Racked)
Would you wear these high-flying looks?
Image courtesy of Banana Republic.


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When it comes to iOS beta releases, most of the focus nowadays is on iOS 11, which just got its second developer update and first public beta. Apple is also busy beta testing iOS 10.3.3, though, and today that version got a new beta release.
Apple has released iOS 10.3.3 beta 5 to registered developers. If that’s you, then you should be able to grab the update by going to Apple’s Developer Center or by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your iOS device.
There doesn’t appear to be a public beta update available for iOS 10.3.3 beta 5 quite yet, but that should change in the next day or two.
There haven’t been any major new features found in any of the iOS 10.3.3 betas that’ve been released to date, suggesting that this update is focused on bug fixes and performance improvements. That may now sound super exciting, but we do still have iOS 11 to look forward to, which will bring lots of new features with it when it launches to the public this fall.


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Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
5 March 2012 - 18 September 2013
Single Economic Market Outcomes progress report release
Joint Media Release with
Hon Craig Foss MP
Minister of Commerce
Mr Foss and Mr Ripoll met in Sydney today to discuss progress towards realising the long‑term vision of creating a seamless trans-Tasman business environment.
Mr Foss and Mr Ripoll welcomed further progress towards a Trans-Tasman Single Economic Market (SEM) following the release of the Trans-Tasman Outcomes Implementation Group biannual report.
"There has been good progress on the short term SEM Outcomes with most of them now completed," Mr Ripoll said.
Mr Ripoll said, "the report illustrates the benefits for both business and consumers with some of the completed outcomes such as for-profit entities needing to only prepare one set of financial statements to reduce compliance costs, as well as harmonised and coordinated consumer product labelling regimes which will further reduce confusion for consumers."
Mr Foss said he was also impressed with the substantive progress that has been made over the last six months.
"With most of the short-term outcomes now achieved, attention is shifting to achieving the more complex goals," Mr Foss said.
"The lead-up to the 30th anniversary of the Closer Economic Relations between Australia and New Zealand in 2013 is a good time for the Australian and New Zealand Productivity Commissions to undertake the Joint Study on options for further economic integration, which was announced by Prime Ministers Gillard and Key in January this year " Mr Ripoll said.The report can be found on the Trans Tasman Outcomes Implementation Group website
13 April 2012


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People of Color
Bryant Huddleston was banned from speaking at a high school in Arkansas earlier this year for being gay and an LGBT advocate, but now is being heard at Philander Smith College.
VIDEOS: The Revival movie featuring LGBT female artists of color is unlike anything you've seen before
Demonstrating the true abilities of grassroots storytelling, THE REVIVAL has exceeded their fundraising goal and will complete the so-far excellent film, Women and the Word: The Revival Movie.
Translatina Network is hosting the first ever Community Recognition in Spirit Awards this week in New York City, and you’re invited.
The world's leading gay fashion and lifestyle brand has released the first round of 2013's OUT100 and is introducing the winner of the inaugural Readers' Choice Award.


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We are always excited to share our success with you.
Stay up to date on how we are relentlessy making Pay2Home even better for you!
Local FinTech Pay2Home collaborates with 7-Eleven Singapore to delight the underbanked
SINGAPORE, 17 January 2020 Pay2Home and 7-Eleven Singapore have joined innovative forces to deliver unmet customer needs for seamless remittance payments - in cash.
The underbanked in Singapore, which includes hundreds of thousands of migrant workers who remit funds as a basic necessity, are often excluded from fintech innovation, unable to access the full benefits of digital services due to a lack of digital means to pay.
Thanks to the Pay2Home and 7-Eleven Singapore partnership, those without a bank account, debit card or the confidence to use either, may now initiate a remittance transaction using the Pay2Home mobile app and pay instantly with a generated QR-code bill using cash at any 7-Eleven store. The transaction is available for immediate delivery overseas.
Department of Statistics data shows that cash usage remains strong in Singapore, with active circulation at $45 billion in 2018, up from $42 billion in 20171; a high cash adoption rate for a developed economy at about 10% of the country's GDP compared to 2% in Sweden2.
Cash may seem "out of date" in FinTech parlance, Pay2Home co-founder David Hulme explains, however among some segments of the community such as migrant workers, a majority still prefer cash for its convenience and flexibility. In fact, a recent study3 found that only 51% of domestic workers in Singapore had a bank account. Among Pay2Home customers, more than 60% still pay for remittances in cash, regardless if they have a bank account, in some cases.
"FinTech should not only be focused on being technologically advanced, creating faster, more sophisticated solutions. Of course, we do all that," says Mr Hulme. "But it doesn't guarantee adoption or necessarily change the digital take up curve. More importantly, FinTech must serve its customers well, so they can easily access the benefits of any digital service."
Pay2Home has always been channel agnostic when it comes to payment methods despite being one of the earliest adopters of non-cash and new digital payment methods in Singapore, like NETS, FAST, Wallets and the various QR solutions. A strategy that has paid off given the diversity of its clients and that large segments of the community are simply not early adopters of cashless payments.
"Migrant workers in Singapore transact primarily in cash. Many are still paid in cash; they buy in cash; and their home countries are cash economies. If you're catering to a market that prefers cash and is more comfortable with cash, then it's our responsibility as a FinTech to make sure that our digital services are relevant to their needs. It's about financial inclusion and education, but at their pace, not ours."
"7-Eleven is a well-recognised and trusted brand in the cash-based community segment we serve. Collaborating with 7-Eleven Singapore's 400-store network expands this financial inclusion, delivering all the benefits of our digital services, across the Island State."
For 7-Eleven Singapore, which continually seeks to differentiate itself and provide relevant services to the community at large, partnering with Pay2Home helps drive its policy of inclusion forward.
"We are excited to be partnering with Pay2Home as 7-Eleven continues its journey to expand on our services to meet customer's needs. With 400 7-Eleven stores Island-wide as additional payment touchpoints, Pay2Home's underbanked customers can conveniently pay for their remittance transactions without having to queue at a conventional remittance counter," says Mr. Steven Lye, Managing Director of 7-Eleven Singapore.
1Department of Statistics, Singapore in figures 2019.
2Singapore Business Review, Cash and cheques still account for 40% of Singapore Payments, 21 February 2019.
3Today, A third of foreign domestic workers in Singapore in debt, half have no bank account: Report, 13 June 2019.
Pay2Home bridges the gap between the FinTech world and the established payment infrastructure, producing innovative cross-border payment solutions within the supporting regulatory framework.
A homegrown financial institution, formerly invested in by the Economic Development Board of Singapore and a SE Asian bank, Pay2Home has received multiple entrepreneurship and break through business awards. It has been repeatedly ranked as a top 1,000 SME and holds financial services industry licenses in Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.
Founded in 2001 and now with 90 employees, Pay2Home has a history of industry firsts, being the first remittance company to receive regulatory approval to operate online and the first to pioneer purpose built multilingual self-service Money Transfer Machines. It is the only full omni channel remittance operator in the country, defining it as a FinTech with a successful and proven track record.
Established in Singapore in 1983, 7-Eleven has since expanded to more than 400 stores island-wide to become the leading 24-hour convenience chain store. We take pride in serving the Singapore community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 7-Eleven emphasises convenience and value by offering a wide array of quality products, food and services to satisfy the needs of consumers. Think 7-Eleven and what comes to mind are the refreshing Slurpee, Big Gulp and 7Caf' as well as a wide range of quality Ready Meals and sandwiches under 7-Select. 7-Eleven is also a 24/7 one-stop destination for customers who need to access bill payment services in their own time. Our services cover payment of utilities, courier and cash withdrawal.
- Media Relations for Pay2Home
- T: (65) 6813 0595
- E: firstname.lastname@example.org
- Media Relations for 7-Eleven Singapore
- Josephine Luo
- T: (65) 6891 8239
- E: email@example.com


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Update 21 November 2023: Forbes is no longer being sold to US billionaire Austin Russell after he failed to close the $800m deal on time.
Forbes Media chief executive Mike Federle told staff on Tuesday that the magazine’s parent company had cancelled the transaction with an investment group led by Russell as it “couldn’t deliver the closing”.
Axios reported that Russell was “blindsided by Indian investment firm Sun Group and others who didn’t wire the money they were contractually obligated to send on the day the deal was supposed to close”.
Federle said: “The cancelation of this sale does not affect our day-to-day operations or business goals. In fact, we are well positioned to continue delivering strong results and enhance the value of our incomparable global brand.”
A spokesperson for Russell’s family office said: “The Forbes acquisition was all about impact, and to further the philosophy of business-for-good and philanthropy with the next generation of capitalism. At this juncture, it was determined that it was in the best interest of the parties that the contract be terminated. We wish nothing but the best to the Forbes team.”
Original story, 15 May 2023: Austin Russell, once dubbed “the world’s youngest self-made billionaire“, will acquire a majority stake in Forbes.
Russell, who was previously a Forbes cover star and a Forbes 30 Under 30 alumni, will hold an 82% interest in Forbes Global Media Holdings when the deal closes later this year.
The deal values the 106-year-old media company at almost $800m (£641m) – up from an estimated $630m (£504m) in 2021.
Russell is the 28-year-old American founder and chief executive of self-driving car technology company Luminar, which listed on Nasdaq after a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in December 2020. He was recognised last year on the Philanthropy 50 list as the 36th largest charitable donor in America.
Forbes family out in Austin Russell acquisition
Forbes’ current owner, Hong-Kong based Integrated Whale Media Investments, has retained a minority stake in the company.
IWM purchased 95% of the company, with the remainder kept by the Forbes family, in 2014, and it will now keep one board seat. Although the remaining Forbes stake will be acquired by Russell, Forbes Media chairman and editor-in-chief Steve Forbes will remain involved in the company.
Russell said he was “honoured to be selected by the owners as the new steward” of Forbes. He will not be involved in its day-to-day operations but will “act as a visionary for the brand,” the company said in a press release.
“Today, success should no longer represent wealth accumulation at any cost, but instead be defined by how value is created and the positive ripple effects it can have,” Russell said. “My hope is that Forbes can continue to even better serve its readership by helping objectively inform, recognize, and challenge leaders to tackle society’s biggest challenges under this mission, with high quality content as well as platforms for its business-focused community.”
Steve Forbes said Russell is a “dynamic entrepreneur and thought leader who has built an industry-leading business from the ground up. His energy and vision will enable Forbes to continue and enhance the excellent work for which we are known.”
Jeffrey Yam, managing director of Integrated Capital, said: “When IWM acquired Forbes in 2014, our vision was to keep the legendary brand as a strong force in the media world, fully accelerate Forbes to digital, and leverage the strength of the brand to create new revenue streams. We were able to achieve our goals.
“Now, we are excited to pass the torch to someone who we believe can catapult Forbes’ legacy to even greater heights with his authentic vision to create a new era of capitalism, backed by one of the most recognizable business brands in the world. We believe there is significant opportunity for value growth with the new vision and, as a result, we will be retaining a minority stake. We look forward to the next chapter of the Forbes growth story.”
Forbes said it would now “empower a new board consisting of American media, tech, and AI experts at the top of their fields”.
Recent innovation at Forbes has included its experimentations in Web3 and e-commerce including the sale of its own branded merchandise. In 2022 print magazine revenues made up around 7% of its total, down from 16% in 2019 following increased diversification.
Forbes had planned to go public through a SPAC merger but ditched the idea last summer after it appeared the bad fortunes of the SPAC market would not have done due credit to its underlying value resulting from double-digit revenue and EBITDA growth over the previous year. It subsequently began looking for a private buyer.
Email firstname.lastname@example.org to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog


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Scientists Have Created a Potentially Life-Saviing App But Not So Many Smartphone Users are Willing To Install It - Why is That?
Contact Tracing App needs more people willing to use it to be effective in battling coronavirus pandemic
Teen Drug And Alcohol Use Are Down, Surveys Claim
Drugs and alcohol use of teenagers are down, according to a survey. The "2016 Monitoring the Future" survey showed a continuing decline in the use of illicit substances — marijuana, alcohol and tobacco — and misuse of prescription drugs among teens.
Apple iPhone 7 Top The List Of Holiday Wishlist, A Survey Confirmed
The iPhone is the most wanted gift this year according to a survey conducted by investment firm Piper Jaffray. Other hot tech products at the top of the list were Apple's MacBook (2.1 percent), the Xbox (1.4 percent), and the broad category of "Smartwatch" (0.9 percent).


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First it was a teaser photo, and now it’s time to see a video teaser for Wonder Girls “Like Money“.
For this release, the girls have partnered with Samsung’s ‘Global Contents Partnership’ so that Samsung’s mobile, table, and PC product users will have Wonder Girls content available to them.
“Like Money” will be released digitally on July 10th.
Until then, check out the futuristic video teaser below.
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Insights > Entergy Named 2019 Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative Best Practice Award Winner
Entergy Named 2019 Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative Best Practice Award Winner
For its efforts in continuing to make considerable investments in developing a smarter energy ecosystem, Entergy has been named a 2019 Best Practices Award winner by the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative, the group announced this week during its annual consumer symposium.
The award recognizes leadership from electrical providers who make significant investments in consumer-focused and consumer-friendly innovations, focusing both on successful programs and applicable insights.
"Entergy is thankful to have been recognized by the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative for its customer culture transformation work in 2018," said Raiford Smith, vice president of energy technology and analytics. "We are proud to receive this award for our extensive focus on recognizing customer needs, offering valued products and services and developing new, innovative solutions."
Over the past several years, Entergy has invested heavily in developing a new customer analytics, products and services and customer product engineering organizations to better understand what customers want, deliver those products and services and develop new, supporting engineering capabilities to assist in the delivery of these new products and services.
By transforming the company culture to focus on the end consumer, Entergy is more easily able to uncover critical insights about what customers are looking for and deliver innovative solutions that better meet those needs.


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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) - Retail stocks never recovered from early losses and ended in the red Thursday. The Gap couldn't dodge the downdraft even after Merrill Lynch upgraded the stock.
Mark Friedman, an analyst at Merrill Lynch, upgraded his intermediate term rating on Gap to "strong buy" from "neutral."
He cited four reasons for his upgrade: Gap's fall merchandise has arrived and appears to be living up to expectations, comparable store sales trends in May and June have improved, morale is better than expected, given the departure of CEO Mickey Drexler and the earnings improvement vs. consensus is "significant" as consumers return and margins improve.
"We think the near-term catalysts to drive the stock will be improving monthly [comparable store sales], which should translate into an accelerating earnings recovery," Friedman wrote in a note to clients.
Friedman's 12-month price target is $16, which reflects a multiple of 20 times his 2003 earnings estimate of 77 cents a share.
Shares of Gap were down 7 cents to $11.81.
Within retail, department stores were the best performers. J.C. Penney
rose 5.4 percent. Federated
Discount retailers traded mostly lower. Costco
Drugstores and supermarkets were mostly lower.


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If the Mahindra Thar is based on the Jeep Wrangler, the Force Gurkha has an equally remarkable Mercedes G-Wagon as its lineage.
The US automobile pioneer announced that it is shutting its shop and leaving India. This development has also exposed yet again the uncertainties and challenges gripping the automotive sector in India.
If the upcoming Ola electric scooter could herald a revolution in the automobile industry, we are in for much bigger changes in the field.
While Ola, the multinational ride-sharing company, has launched the scooter at a starting price of Rs 99,999 (ex-showroom), we can expect tax cuts announced by state governments to bring down prices further.
The Tiguan is a common sight on roads in Europe, China, America and other parts of the world. It is also the highest sold SUV in Europe.
The car will be available in Europe, Asia, and the US but the first-drive benefit of the compact SUV comes to India.
Actually, the Gloster can drive on its own without a driver. However, MG Motor is not bringing this feature to India now.
The new Mahindra Thar has generated much excitement not only among auto enthusiasts but also its critics.
Here is the story of the second Aravind that ought to find a place in the history of the automobile industry in India.
Hyundai has carried over just the name, the rest are all new; even the design language is brand new.
Fargo was a station wagon, which means there are no similar car in the market now to compare with.
Apart from a CVT gearbox, the car will also get a new 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine.


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With the soaring cost of energy bills and recent interest rate hikes, there has never been a better time for UK consumers to look at ways to save money by consolidating the services they use. The big focus area at the moment is communications and home entertainment with a raft of companies now offering ‘bundle’ packages. But do consumers see any benefit in opting for bundles?
According to a recent investigation by network solutions reseller Telindus, although 95 per cent of consumers would consider bundled communications packages – TV, home phone, broadband and mobile phone – they hold back because they perceive these packages as either offering poor customer service (50 per cent), poor value for money (45 per cent) or sub-standard products (47 per cent). With over 90 per cent of people saying that customer service is their main criteria when choosing a service provider, followed by price at 88 per cent, it seems as if the vendors have some work to do to change consumer attitudes.
“UK consumers demand the best, and with so many companies vying for their money the service providers have to get the basics right – product, price, customer service – to ensure they prosper,” commented Mark Hutchinson, UK Managing Director at Telindus. “Over three quarters of the people we questioned said that lavish advertising campaigns didn’t sway their purchasing decisions, so service providers have to ensure they are offering truly innovative products at competitive prices with exemplary customer service. The message for the industry is simple – don’t be complacent. Although you have customers now, with so many vendors out there you need to make sure that customer service is your top priority as customers will leave if they think they can get a better deal/service elsewhere.”
Unsurprisingly, 73 per cent of respondents said they are worried about the cost of household bills, revealing a massive potential for this market if only vendors can allay consumer concerns. Despite these concerns, when asked what communications packages they would potentially be interested in, 34 per cent of people said they’d specifically look for ‘Triple Play’ – home phone, TV and broadband – packages, but its seems that ‘Quad Play’ – as Triple Play, but with mobile phone included – is still in its infancy with only nine per cent considering it as an option.
However, the panacea for bundled packages may come over the next four years as the digital TV switch over begins. During 2008 – 2012, analogue TV signals will be turned off, forcing viewers to switch to digital TV. At present, three quarters of people rarely or never review their TV service provider, but this will inevitably change in the next few years as the analogue signal disappears.
“With most technologies or trends there is a tipping point, and the digital TV switch over could be it for bundled communications. Consumers will be forced to look at the likes of Virgin Media and SKY, and may think ‘what the heck’ and consolidate other services into one provider,” added Hutchinson.
The Telindus investigation, carried out during late February 2007, sought to explore UK public attitudes toward bundled communications packages and whether consumers felt that bundling was the way forward in purchasing multiple products from a similar market sector.


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Bajaj Auto total sales dip 10% in May at 313,756 units
Latest News »
- Treat us with respect: Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa to US
- Former CIA agent wants to buy Twitter to kick Donald Trump off
- Narendra Modi to visit Gujarat on 17 Sept to inaugurate Narmada Dam
- Congress says not to ally with NCP for Gujarat assembly polls
- Haryana, Punjab on high alert ahead of verdict in Dera chief Ram Rahim Singh case
New Delhi: Two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto on Friday reported a 10% decline in total vehicle sales in May at 313,756 units.
The company had sold 347,655 units in the same month last year. Its motorcycle sales also declined 10% at 277,115 units as against 307,344 units sold in May last year, Bajaj Auto said in a BSE filing.
The two-wheeler major said its exports fell 3% during the month to 139,709 units from 143,421 units in the corresponding year-ago period.
In the commercial vehicles category, Bajaj Auto’s sales in May decreased by 9% to 36,641 units compared to 40,311 units earlier.


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All Things Considered
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Microsoft releases iLoo, a portable potty that comes with a plasma display, waterproof wireless keyboard and Internet access. The product will appear this year at British music festivals. Hear market analyst Jeremy Davies.
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SK Hynix 16 Gb DDR5 RAM modules will enter production this year, 4,800 - 8,400 MHz expected frequency range
We could say that smartphones already have it better than computers, as Samsung has been producing LPDDR5 memory chips since mid-2019. Of course, the DDR5 standard will clearly be faster than LPDDR5, but computer motherboard integrators and CPU manufacturers are taking their sweet time with proper implementations, waiting for a sign from RAM producers like SK Hynix. Well, the green light is finally on and the first SK Hynix 16 Gb DDR5 modules built on 10 nm nodes are scheduled to enter mass-production this year. The South Korean company just released a more detailed outlook explaining how it intends to proceed in the coming years, plus some of the immediate advantages brought with the jump to DDR5.
When SK hynix first announced the development of DDR5 chips back in 2018, the top frequencies were expected to hit 5,200 MHz. However, these numbers have meanwhile been bumped to 8,400 MHz. This is probably the theoretical maximum, and we shouldn’t expect memory kits to hit those frequencies this year. SK Hynix is aiming for a 50% increase in frequency at launch time, meaning that the first kits should operate at 4,800 MHz (DDR4 JEDEC maximum is 3,200 MHz). Sure, we already have DDR4 kits that can be pushed to 5,000 MHz, so it will not be long before 6,400 MHz DDR5 variants hit the market.
Memory density will be improved, as well, amd we should see 24 GB to 32 GB per single DIMM more often, with the possibility of reaching 64 GB per single DIMM as the technology matures. Other DDR5 improvements over the current DDR4 standard include doubled bank sizes (32 vs 16), doubled burst length (16 vs 8), Same Bank Refresh function for improved access times, lowered operating voltage from 1.2 V to 1.1 V, plus on-die error correction circuitry for reduced server implementation costs.
According to IDC, DDR5 adoption should rise to 22% by 2021, then 43% by 2022. The first DDR5 modules launching this year will most likely be aimed at server-grade solutions like the AMD’s gen 3 EPYC Genoa and Intel’s Sapphire Rapids Xeon platforms, but the first consumer-grade implementations may not be too far off, probably scheduled for late 2021.


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Bitcoin said in a statement on Sunday that the component of Android responsible for generating secure random numbers “contains critical weaknesses, that render all Android wallets generated to date vulnerable to theft.”
It said any wallet app generated by Android, including Bitcoin Wallet, blockchain.info, BitcoinSpinner and Mycelium, could be open to attack.
Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer digital currency which can be used to purchase real-world as well as online goods and services. Bitcoins are "mined" by peers in the Bitcoin network, which authenticates and records every transaction made in the currency, avoiding the need for a central regulator.
Bitcoin said secure updates for the affected applications were currently being developed and advised users to upgrade to the latest versions available in the Google Play Store as soon as they are released.
Users of Android Bitcoin apps should create a new, secure address and send any money in their current wallet back to themselves, they added.
The group did not indicate the total value of the currency which may have been taken.
This is not the first time Bitcoin wallet providers have been exposed to threat. In April this year, hackers targeted the web-based Instawallet, stealing more than 35,000 bitcoins.
Last September, the Bitcoin exchange Bitfloor was also targeted, with 24,000 units – then the equivalent of $250,000 (£158,000) – being stolen.
The problem currently affecting Android apps, where private keys can be recovered if random numbers are used twice, was identified by one blogger as early as January.


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After 25 years in Leawood’s Camelot Court shopping center, Glitters Fine Jewelry is moving to Prairie Village this fall.
Debbie Droskin, co-owner of Glitters, said she searched four years for a new location and said when she pulled into Somerset Plaza at 4601 W. 90th Street in Prairie Village, she felt it was the perfect spot.
Droskin’s mother founded Glitters out of her kitchen in 1980 and had opened a storefront in Ranch Mart Shopping Center by 1985. They later moved to Camelot Court at 119th and Roe in the late 1990s.
Droskin said with those local roots, plus a quarter century’s worth of building a customer base further south, she didn’t want to move too far away.
She stumbled across Somerset Plaza after getting lost on a drive, and didn’t look back.
“It just gave me a breath of fresh air, and that was what I had been looking for,” Droskin said. “ I’m hoping we’ll have fun, more gatherings and update ourselves a little bit — but being the same people, you know, staying the same.”
Two major factors contributed to the long-awaited move, Droskin said: the noise of large commercial construction in the busy area around Camelot Court, which is at 119th and Roe, near Town Center and Hawthorne Plaza; and a younger clientele, who shop differently.
The Somerset Plaza store will be a downsize, but Droskin said it will allow her to manage Glitters’ online store a little more.
Glitters is aiming to be completely moved in and operational at Somerset Plaza by the end of September, Droskin said.
New jewelry designs are also in the works, and will be unveiled with the new store, she said.
One thing that will remain the same, though, is the level of customer service Droskin’s mother instilled in her, her sister and four original employees who still work at Glitters.
“[Customers] can expect the same customer service and a more relaxed environment with the same luxury we’ve had for years,” Droskin said.


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Motorola could be prepping a new handset to steal some thunder from the Samsung Galaxy S3 when it is presented to the world next week.
According to pictures that have emerged on a Chinese website, the phone will be launched as the DROID RAZR HD or the MT887, and is a fully compliant Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone without any hardware buttons.
The phone is likely to come with a 4.3-inch 1,280 by 720 pixels display, a dual core TI OMAP 4430 processor clocked at 1.2GHz, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage, GSM and TD-SCDMA connectivity, an eight-megapixel camera, a 3300mAh battery and Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich.
The fact that it is not a quad core model means that it is more of an update rather than a completely new model. Some would argue that it is a variant of the DROID RAZR given that it could have the same chipset and RAM but a bigger screen and less onboard storage.
Two things that one can expect therefore: (a) Motorola will drop the price of existing smartphones which could mean bargain for some (b) there could well be an additional smartphone launched by Motorola which will take on the One X and the Samsung Galaxy S3.
Source : GFan (opens in new tab)


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This is a video of French bicyclist François Gissy setting a new speed record on his bicycle. That may not sound exciting, but wait until see the video of Gissy’s ROCKET-POWERED bicycle blasting from 0-160 mph in less time than it would take for me to need a new pair of pants! (blowing by the Subaru STi that’s “racing him” in the process!) Enjoy!
Earlier today, LEGO unveiled a gigantic, full scale model of a Star Wars X-wing, and at 11 feet tall and 43 feet long, using over 5.3 million bricks, it’s the largest LEGO model ever created.
The world’s first LEGO school will soon open up in Denmark, where kids will be immersed in a colorful LEGO world of creativity and imagination. Damn lucky Danish kids.