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The sleuths at CarPix have nabbed the next Soul testing in the desert, and even with the camouflage disguise, our spies say it looks like the redesign has left the Soul slightly lower and a little wider. Additionally, the headlights have a more squared-off, masculine appearance. This prototype features a larger lower grille, with the Kia corporate grille moved farther upward.
And while the prototype above is likely a look at the bread-and-butter model, AutoExpress is reporting the new generation may spawn a convertible variant. This appears to be purely rumor at this point and thus should be taken with one very big grain of salt, but Kia clearly has aspirations for the range beyond a single bodystyle. It has shown a number of envelope-pushing Soul-based concepts, including the Soul'ster pickup that sported an open roof. That concept was rumored to be headed for production at one time, but was later said to be killed due to the flaccid global economy.
A more likely spinoff is a Soul GT with augmented performance and sportier aesthetics. There is reason to believe that a GT model could come with a different bodystyle – after all, the Soul-based Track'ster concept that stole the Chicago Motor Show earlier this year was a three-door.
Either way, the Soul appears poised to be the last "box car" standing – The segment-pioneering Honda Element is already out of production and both the Scion xB and Nissan Cube face murky futures.


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Bridgewater CIO Ray Dalio:'China's Digital yuan will be a viable alternative for many investors’
Ray Dalio, the founder of the world's largest hedge fund and a billionaire investor of Bridgewater Associates. He has mentioned that the digital yuan will be more competitive than the digital dollar.
On Monday In an interview with CNBC, Dalio specified that “he thinks the U.S. will issue a digital dollar one day” and "it will surely be viable." But it won't be the cheapest one, with its price possibly hit by rising U.S. debt levels, he said.
On the other hand, the digital yuan will be more inexpensive in terms of pricing and return, stated Dalio. It will be "an actual viable alternative" to several investors if it is accepted internationally and comes with attractive interest rates, he mentioned.
Yuan: A top reserve currency
Dalio also believes China's yuan to become a top reserve currency preferably than expected. China is presently the world's biggest trading nation, meaning it is the quantity of one country in exports and imports. Dalio expects more trade and more financial transactions to be denominated in yuan.
Digital yuan, the world’s reserve
The DCEP (short for Digital Currency, Electronic Payment), and China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) is the indication among state-backed digital currencies. It is expected to be launched before the Winter Olympics in Beijing next year.
The country has widely tested the protocol over the past three years, in expressions of both legality and technological prowess. It rolled out the DCEP in limited testing last year. Millions of dollars worth of transactions reportedly occurred within the first month of challenging alone.
The Bridgewater boss further expected the digital yuan to one day, possibly, become one of the world’s leading reserve currencies. It is part of the eight reserve currencies renowned by the IMF but falls behind Swiss francs, US dollars and British pound. Meanwhile, Dalio’s comments come weeks after he understood he held Bitcoin as traditional markets appeared weighted down with the risks of inflation.
CBW - External Analyst

domain: news


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Yesterday, once again, there was a chapter of the open clash between Facebook and Apple on privacy
An interview with Tim Cook, CEO of the iPhone production company, has responded peremptorily to the various criticisms that Mark Zuckerberg has raised in recent weeks, directed at Apple’s new privacy strategies.
Before we get into the latest episode of what has now become a saga, let’s try to understand the origins of this conflict.
Apple has been focusing its attention for some time, including in marketing campaigns, on the issue of privacy and the defense of the confidentiality of its users.
In reality, this is also a fundamental element in the philosophy with which Apple produces its software, because it does not consider the interference in the habits of its users and the recording of their behavior a detail on which to build a business.
This conceptual approach also translates into technological solutions that the company routes and inserts in its devices.
If you use Safari, the Internet browser application on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, to perform an online search, only the words necessary for that same search are transmitted to the servers.
When the same operation is carried out using the Google page, the position is transmitted, what type of smartphone you are using, as well as a series of additional information that users are often unaware of.
Even when using Apple Maps web browsing, the anonymous identification code of a device never matches the user’s name.
Apple knows that a certain device with a certain code at a certain time is in the heart of Rome, but it does not know whose phone it is.
This way of managing privacy goes in the direction diametrically opposite to that of Facebook, but also that of Google, who make data collection a part of their business.
Like MisterGadget.Tech tells us in these hours, the new version of the iPhone software, which is now about to be released, will introduce a series of restrictions on what companies can track within a smartphone or tablet.
That is, very specific limits are established on what an application can see of what we do with the phone.
First of all, because there will be a new privacy label with which companies will have to explain in a clear, transparent and more than understandable way what information they collect from their users.
In addition, users will be asked to give their explicit consent for a particular application to record their behavior while using the smartphone.
Therefore, it will be essential to press a button and voluntarily approve a question such as: Do you want Facebook to track your activities when you surf the Internet?
It is evident that a very high percentage of users will answer no.
A fairly mixed response emerged from the administration of the social network at first, accusing Apple of harming local businesses and reducing their ability to promote their business.
Later, Facebook began to talk about reducing its turnover and therefore the damage caused to investors by the company that makes the iPhone. The focus has changed even more recently.
Mark Zuckerberg specified a few days ago that Apple’s restrictions will likely push more users into direct selling within the Facebook app, and thus this will translate to an advantage for the social media giant.
Only time will tell if this version is reliable.
Today’s interview with the New York Times responds to many of these arguments through the words of Apple CEO Tim Cook, who not only expresses amazement at the reaction unleashed by Facebook, but seriously closes the discussion by stating that it is difficult to argue against user privacy. .
To the question: “What do you respond to criticism from Facebook?”, The answer was peremptory.
All we’re doing, Kara, is giving the user the option to get tracked or now. And I think it’s hard to argue against that. I was surprised that there has been a pushback on this up to this point.
Tim Cook – New York Times April 5
The CEO of the company was also asked if he thinks it is true that Apple’s new options are hurting Facebook’s business, but Tim Cook responded rather harshly.
Since your job is to find the best ways to scale up and utilize Apple’s business, you don’t know the dynamics that drive other companies’ business. A fancy way of saying that what the effect is on Facebook’s revenue is not one of your main interests.
As always, we rely on experts to get a balanced opinion on the matter: more than one leading voice in the technology and innovation segment believes that Apple’s approach to privacy is the best in the digital field.
On the opposite front, however, shortly over the weekend we discovered that 533 million Facebook users have seen their personal information end up online and of these 37 million are Italian.
Also in light of what has happened in recent days, knowing what confidential data companies collect and how they store it is a fundamental aspect of our digital life.


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India’s antitrust body has hit Alphabet Inc’s Google with a $113.04 million fine after it ruled it had abused its market position to promote its payments app and in-app payment system.
The US tech giant forced app developers to use its in-app payment system, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said on Tuesday, noting selling of in-app digital goods makes up an important means for developers to monetise their work.
The CCI’s move is the latest setback for Google in one of its priority markets, where it was fined another $162 million on Thursday for anticompetitive practices related to Android. Google is also facing a separate probe into its business conduct in the Indian smart TV market.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest order. It had called CCI’s Thursday decision “a major setback for Indian consumers and businesses”, adding it will review the order and decide its next steps.
“The Commission hereby directs Google to cease and desist from indulging in anti-competitive practices,” CCI said in a statement on Tuesday.
It said Google should not restrict app developers from using any third-party billing or payment processing services, either for in-app purchases or for purchasing apps.
Google has faced criticism globally for mandating that software developers using its app store must use a proprietary in-app payment system that charges commissions of up to 30% on purchases made within an app. Of late, the company has begun to allow alternative payment systems in more countries.
Google’s Android operating system powers 97% of India’s 600 million smartphones, according to Counterpoint Research.
- Reuters with additional editing by Sean O’Meara


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SKZ starts testing respiratory masks
Initiative for containing the coronavirus pandemic
The SKZ's accredited test laboratory has procured a machine for testing respiratory masks (FFP 1, FFP 2 and FFP 3), which will be available from calendar week 22. This test device makes it possible to carry out a number of the most important tests, such as inhalation and exhalation resistance and passage of particles through filter masks.
As early as the beginning of April, the SKZ in Würzburg was classified as systemically important by the authorities because, among other things, numerous indispensable product tests are carried out here for the health, hygiene and infrastructural sectors.
Due to the corona crisis, there is currently a very high demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), e.g. respirators.
So-called filtering facepiece respirators (FFP) are an effective means of reducing the risk of infection, since the coronaviruses are essentially transmitted via a droplet infection.
However, there are worldwide bottlenecks regarding the production capacities for the liner material required for FFP masks. According to recent news reports, this situation has led to millions of defective and thus unsuitable protective masks made in China having entered the European market. This instance makes it clear how important it is to test the suitability and adequacy of these products.
As advised by the EU Commission, in the context of the health threat caused by COVID the 19 market surveillance authorities may define simplified procedures for the procurement of so-called corona pandemic respirators (CPA). By means of a summary procedure, technically suitable masks shall be approved for provision," explains Dr. Jürgen Wüst, deputy managing director of SKZ-Testing.
This is where the SKZ's activities come in. An automatic testing machine has been ordered that is to carry out a number of important tests out of a reduced CPA test programme. The masks' particle permeability, for example, can be checked by the machine using paraffin oil mist, a so-called paraffin aerosol. By atomizing paraffin oil, an aerosol of paraffin oil droplets is generated with defined particle size distribution. The concentration of the aerosol is measured at each side of the tested filter. The lower the permeability of the filter masks, the higher their protective effect.
"In this context," continues Wüst, "it is important to know that, apart from offering our customers initial tests of protective masks, we can also carry out quality tests on incoming deliveries."
The SKZ test laboratory will also advise customers with inquiries regarding the testing of various personal protective equipment, such as gloves, coats or face protection, in order to make a valuable contribution to containing the corona pandemic.
Testing plastic products in accordance with more than 1,000 standards and technical regulations, the SKZ's test laboratory is independent, neutral and accredited in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. Test activities usually go hand in hand with the measures for quality assurance, which are initiated by an inspection body of type A, accredited according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020.
In addition, the SKZ's product certification body is accredited according to the DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065 standard, thus demonstrating its extensive expertise as a conformity assessment body.
Deputy managing director Dr. Jürgen Wüst is delighted that apart from offering their customers initial tests of protective masks, SKZ-Testing can also carry out quality tests on larger quantities of incoming deliveries.


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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), a leading soccer club in France, has joined the Chiliz Chain as a validator. The Chiliz Chain serves as the foundation for Socios, a platform that offers fan tokens for sports enthusiasts.
Chiliz Chain: A Blockchain for Sports Fans
The Chiliz Chain is a blockchain designed specifically to cater to the needs of sports brands, such as soccer clubs. It is a fork of the Binance Smart Chain and employs a staking-based consensus mechanism, with CHZ as its native token.
The Socios app enables fans to acquire fan tokens using CHZ. These tokens grant fans exclusive access to their favorite clubs and the ability to participate in minor club decisions, such as the design of match-day merchandise.
PSG’s Fan Token and Validator Status
PSG launched its fan token in 2018 in partnership with Socios. The club has committed to using the revenue generated from validating the Chiliz Chain to repurchase fan tokens.
To become a Chiliz Chain validator, PSG staked over 10 million CHZ, valued at approximately $1.3 million based on current market prices.
Market Capitalization and Token Buybacks
Currently, the PSG token is trading at around $3.64, showing a slight increase due to the news of PSG’s validator status. Token buybacks could potentially reduce the supply, leading to an increase in token value.
Despite its current value being significantly lower than its peak of nearly $60 in 2021, PSG’s fan token remains among the top fan tokens by market capitalization, as reported by CoinGecko.
Socios Fan Token Offerings
Socios offers a diverse range of fan tokens, primarily for soccer clubs. It also includes some Formula One teams and the UFC platform for mixed martial arts.
However, Socios does not offer fan tokens in the United States due to regulatory uncertainties and market conditions.
Regulatory Challenges in the US
US sports leagues and advertisers have taken a step back from crypto partnerships due to regulatory challenges and lawsuits related to failed crypto companies.
For example, the NBA faces a class action lawsuit for failing to prevent the Dallas Mavericks’ promotional deal with Voyager Digital, a crypto brokerage that later filed for bankruptcy.
Recent events have prompted US sports entities to distance themselves from the realm of cryptocurrencies for the time being.
Glossary of Terms
- Blockchain: A decentralized, distributed ledger that records transactions across a network of computers.
- Fan Token: A digital asset that allows fans to engage with their favorite sports teams.
- Staking: A process of holding cryptocurrencies in a wallet to validate transactions and earn rewards.
- Validator: A node in a blockchain network that verifies transactions and maintains the network.
Credit and rights: BITboosters


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Sony Corporation, One of the largest producers of video-game players, has investigated its PlayStation Network hack and after 4 days of interruption, they admitted that external intruders are responsible for causing this inflection.
Sony said that they are still investigating to know whether consumer information retrieved after intruders attacked its PlayStation Network and Qriocity web services. Meanwhile they had closed the network willingly “in order to perform a complete investigation and to get full details of what occurred and what triggered the problem”.
The inflection, which occurred on April 21, is denying about 75 million users globally from using the network to play games and watch movies. According to Sony Corp. operations of Qriocity, that provides movies and music for web-connected devices of Sony, also affected due to halt in its services.
Patrick Seybold, Sony’s senior director of social media, said, “An external intrusion on our system has affected Qriocity services and our PlayStation Network. We are doing everything possible to settle this condition faster, and we once more thank you for your endurance.”
He has also published an online post expressing regret for the inflection, and confessing the rupture of safety.
Satoshi Fukuoka, a representative for Sony Japan, said, “Consumers will be able to play on site but they won’t be able to play against others”.
He further said, “Sony is reinforcing its network’s security to confirm the efficient and safe operation of its services and has no guess when it will resume the services”.


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SJP COLLECTION BY SARAH JESSCIA PARKER
Sarah Jessica Parker‘s SJP Collection is almost here. The capsule of 25 Italian-made ...
February 4, 2014
Sarah Jessica Parker‘s SJP Collection is almost here. The capsule of 25 Italian-made shoes includes lace-up booties, slip-on sandals, strappy heels with a bow appliqué, ballet flats, and, sexy t-strap pumps, all which emphasize the feminine design of the line.
“I thought about launching my own line for a long time,” Sarah Jessica Parker told InStyle.com. “It just feels like an enormous privilege to be doing it now with George and with Nordstrom, which is really my dream retailer. Hopefully, women will be able to tell from the first collection that I’m inspired and that I’m serious about it.”
But it’s more than just dreaming up designs, Parker is dipping her toe into the entire process. “I’m involved every step of the way,” she says. “I want customers to be delighted with how the shoe is presented, how much care we’ve taken, the unique color combinations and even the shape of the heel. Ultimately, I’m striving to produce a shoe they haven’t yet seen on the market.”
The launch is set for February 28th at Nordstrom stores and online.


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COURTAULDS NET FELL 23.7% IN ’95
Byline: James Fallon
LONDON — Courtaulds Textiles PLC cited poor retail conditions in the U.S. and unusually warm weather in Europe, as it reported after-tax profits fell 23.7 percent to $40.3 million (26.4 million pounds) at current exchange. Sales rose 6.3 percent to $1.71 billion (1.12 billion pounds) in the year ended Dec. 31.
The results compare with after-tax profits of 34.6 million pounds on sales of 1.05 billion pounds the previous year. Earnings per share fell 24.6 percent to 39 cents (25.4 pence) from 33.7 pence. Figuring in the after-tax profit decline was a loss of $6 million (3.9 million pounds) on a business sale, and an $8.1 million (5.3 million pounds) loss on discontinued operations. A year earlier, the loss from discontinued operations was 600,000 pounds.
Noel Jarvis, chief executive, said cutbacks in retail inventories were a major problem following an unusually hot summer last year in France and the UK.
Most of the firm’s business in the U.S. is in stretch fabrics and lace. Stretch fabric sales continued to gain last year, Jarvis said, but lace sales “declined due to fashion trends and retailer pressure on garment prices. Demand fell away at the end of the year as retailers and garment makers reduced stocks in response to lower than expected retail sales.”
Courtaulds Textiles wants to expand its business in the U.S. and is in the middle of an experiment to supply private label lingerie to retailers there. It increased its investment in the project during the year, Jarvis said, adding that total development spending last year was $6.2 million (4 million pounds) covering projects in France and China as well as America.
Despite the difficulties in the U.S., Courtaulds Textiles said its fabrics division had a 9.6 percent increase in operating profits to $38.5 million (25.2 million pounds) from 23 million pounds on a 10.4 percent rise in sales to $637.2 million (417.1 million pounds) from 377.9 million pounds.
In branded apparel — which includes Georges Rech, Well socks and Gossard intimate apparel — operating profits rose 26.5 percent to $13.33 million (8.6 million pounds) on a 17.3 percent increase in sales to $386.26 million (249.2 million pounds). This compares with operating profits of 6.8 million pounds on sales of 212.5 million pounds in 1994. The company said Georges Rech “made a significant advance helped by stronger designer clothing markets in continental Europe” but the socks and hosiery markets remained difficult because of the warm weather and operational problems.
Private-label apparel manufacturing, mainly for Marks & Spencer PLC, had a 4.4 percent drop in operating profits to $26.97 million (17.4 million pounds) from 18.2 million pounds. Sales rose 9.1 percent to $518.94 million (334.8 million pounds) from 306.8 million pounds. Knitwear, casualwear and sock sales were hit by the warm weather in the UK, although men’s underwear saw significant growth, the firm said.
Spinning operations posted a loss of $306,000 (200,000 pounds) against a profit of 2.2 million pounds a year earlier.


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Those of you who keep up with our US market sales reports will have noticed that Kia Soul EV has got off to a slow start.
Sales have been kind of sluggish this year, which has left us wondering why more customers are not excited about this vehicle.
What we have discovered is that a big part of the low sales problem has to do with low availability, which is brought on by not enough vehicles being produced in Korea.
That’s a real shame, because judging by the reviews, this is an electric vehicle that people all over the world want to drive!
SK Innovation, a Korean EV battery supplier, has just announced that they will be more than doubling the number of batteries they produce for electric vehicles.
The electric car demand is increasing fast, which is why SK Innovation is boosting its annual battery production volume fom 10,000 units to 30,000.
This is good news for Kia, as this is the company who suplies the electric batteries for both the Kia Soul EV and the Ray EV models.
Before we all get too carried away, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t mean that Kia will now be able to make 30,000 EV’s per year.
This is because SK Innovation also supplies batteries to an automaker in China, and not just to Kia for the aforementioned models.
Some of those 30,000 batteries are going to be headed to China as well.
The extra supply will still mean that Kia will be able to boost their production numbers.
Their initial goal was to sell 5,000 Soul EV’s in year one, and then gradually increase that number beyond 10,000 units.
With more batteries now available to them, the production numbers of the Soul EV can be doubled or tripled, making it easier to meet demand, and thus increase sales.


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The Government of Pakistan is losing up to $80 Million a year due to the smuggling of used tires from India and China.
In 2010, smuggled tires in Pakistan consisted of 20 percent of the total passenger car tire market, while imported tires stood at 37 percent and domestic tires at 43 percent. Smuggled tires made up 52 percent of the light truck market, and 47 percent of the trucks/buses tire market.
The used tires end up in Pakistan because China and India dump scrap materials in bulk in Pakistan.
Source: Hina Mahgul Rind, “‘Smuggling of tyres causes annual losses worth $80m’,” News International, October 11, 2012.


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Among the five distribution channels through which voluntary benefits are sold, the employee benefit broker channel saw the largest market share gain in 2015.
Last year, the channel accounted for 60 percent of all voluntary sales, an increase of three percentage points compared with 2014, an Eastbridge report found.
Sales of voluntary benefits rose 3.6 percent to $7.1 billion last year compared with 2014. In addition, sales through employee benefit brokers rose at more than twice that rate from 2014 to 2015, the research showed.
The employee benefits broker segment, whose primary business lines are employer-funded benefits with medical coverage high on the list, generated just under $4.3 billion in new voluntary sales in 2015, an increase of 7.8 percent compared to 2014, according to Eastbridge.
The research by Eastbridge Consulting Group is released every spring as part of the company’s “U.S. Voluntary/Worksite Sales Report.” The report is compiled from data from more than 60 carriers in the group and individual voluntary benefits market.
Career segment brokers, with a second-place 2015 market share of 16 percent, lost ground last year, the research found. Sales delivered through that channel dropped 5.8 percent last year compared with 2014, Eastbridge said.
Brokers in the “classic” segment - brokers who focus on voluntary products as a primary line of business - saw their market share in 2015 rise less than 1 percent to make up 12 percent of voluntary benefit sales, the researchers reported.
Specialist brokers, - brokers who also focus on voluntary benefits product sales mostly as wholesalers - saw their market share rise by 1.8 percent at the end of last year over 2014. Specialists commanded 10 percent of voluntary sales market share last year.
The “occasional” benefit broker segment - a property/casualty broker with the occasional voluntary benefit sale - saw its share drop 3.6 percent last year. In 2015, the segment represented only 3 percent of voluntary benefits sales, the research found.
Voluntary benefits are paid for 100 percent by the employee through a payroll deduction. The benefits are offered in addition to shared benefits for which the employer and the employee contribute toward the premium.
Employers, who make voluntary benefits available at their discretion, don’t contribute to premiums and simply elect to make voluntary benefits available to workers.
Employees like the benefits as they allow workers to supplement coverage they already have, and are eligible to buy the coverage through group rates.
Workers find these voluntary benefits valuable as insurance companies shift more of the cost of coverage onto employees.
Product Category Sales Leaders
Of the $7.1 billion in voluntary benefit sales in 2015, life insurance accounted for the largest share in terms of product sales, Eastbridge said.
The research found that 27 percent of voluntary sales went to life insurance products, with term life leading the way.
Term life sales, at more than $1.5 billion, rose 9 percent in 2015 compared with 2014. Universal life and whole life dropped by almost 10 percent last year compared with 2014, the Eastbridge report found.
Critical illness insurance saw the highest year-over-year product line growth rate, with sales rising to $491 million in 2015, a 25 percent increase from 2014.
Many industry analysts have attributed the year-over-year increase in sales of critical illness coverage to insurance companies narrowing primary health coverage and shifting the cost of primary medical onto employees.
As primary coverage becomes more expensive and demand for extra coverage for catastrophic illness grows, the voluntary benefits market pie continues to expand, said Gil Lowerre, president of Eastbridge Consulting.
“The (voluntary benefits) market continues to grow and produce positive results,” Lowerre said in a news release. “Breaking the $7 billion mark in new sales is a milestone.”
Accident insurance sales rose 11 percent last year to $943 million. But hospital indemnity/supplemental medical sales dropped 12 percent last year to $535 million from the previous year as some insurers choose to eliminate limited benefit medical plans.
Disability insurance sales rose 3 percent to $1.4 billion in 2015 compared with 2014. Sales of short- and long-term disability insurance rose in 2015 by 2 and 3 percent respectively compared with 2014, the Eastbridge report also found.
Cancer insurance sales, however, were flat at about $346 million, Eastbridge said.
InsuranceNewsNet Senior Writer Cyril Tuohy has covered the financial services industry for more than 15 years. Cyril may be reached at email@example.com.
© Entire contents copyright 2016 by InsuranceNewsNet.com Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted without the expressed written consent from InsuranceNewsNet.com.


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IT SHOULD come as no surprise that Tomkins PLC, the British conglomerate, bears a striking resemblance to the Hanson PLC of old. Gregory Hutchings, chairman of Tomkins, learned the business at the knee of Lord Hanson, when he worked for him in the early 1980s, before leaving in 1984 to run his own show at Tomkins, then a maker of buckles and fasteners.
Like his mentor, Mr. Hutchings has used Tomkins as an acquisition vehicle, buying companies, whipping them into shape, and often selling them to finance the hunt for bigger game. The Tomkins empire is sometimes dubbed "guns to buns," reflecting its Smith & Wesson Corp. firearms-making unit and its Ranks Hovis McDougall bakery.
Just as Tomkins has emulated Hanson's initial tactics, it now appears to heading for a similar fate. Its fortunes and its share price have been fading since the early 1990s, when conglomerates had glamour-stock status. In January, its share price sank to a seven-year low of 200 pence (currently dollars 3.12).
The fall from grace has occurred for a variety of reasons. Increasingly accurate evaluation of the value of conglomerates has not been to Tomkins's advantage. "In the 1990s, we have developed more sophisticated performance measures, and their return on capital has failed to exceed its cost of capital by a meaningful amount," said John Nuttall, of WestLB Panmure, who has a "sell" rating on the stock.
Frustrated analysts noted the company has failed to deliver on promises made in 1997 that it would sell some businesses, focus on selected industries and clean up its balance sheet. "The whole momentum of disposals came to a halt starting in mid-1998," said Arend Dikkers, an analyst at Salomon Smith Barney Inc.Continue reading the main story
Other clouds hang over the stock. Smith & Wesson is one of several gun makers that have been hit by a rash of lawsuits from American cities claiming millions of dollars in damages for an alleged lack of safety devices on handguns and for gun-related violence. "That hasn't helped," said Mr. Nuttall. Nor did Tomkins's explusion in March from the blue-chip Financial Times-Stock Exchange 100 index, even though it had been announced.
Still, the company's stock price has recovered to just over 300 pence a share, bolstered by a pounds 100 million share buyback. Mr. Dikkers, one of the few to recommend the shares near their bottom in March, is maintaining his buy rating with a target of 340 pence over the next 12 months, provided, he emphasized, the company fulfills its promises.
Mr. Nuttall, by contrast, said the picture remained unfavorable. He said Tomkins was not sufficiently strong in any of its businesses, leaving it vulnerable to price squeezes.
The stock's weak performance has fueled speculation over Tomkins's future. There have been rumors it may move its headquarters to the United States, where it gets about 40 percent of its revenue, and theoretically, a warmer welcome from investors. There have also been reports that it will announce a spin-off, most likely of Ranks Hovis unit. Under one scenario, shareholders would receive a share in Ranks, and one in a Tomkins that would concentrate on construction components and industrial and automotive equipment businesses.
More may be known about the next chapter in the Tomkins saga on Monday, when the company announces earnings for the financial year that ended in April.
It may also announce a spin-off. "The board has to make good on its promises," said Mr. Dikkers. "My view is that they don't have the option of standing still."Continue reading the main story


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The Ford Bronco has returned as a family of off-roaders, but there’s room for more.
In July, the 2021 Ford Bronco was revealed in two- and four-door forms alongside the smaller Bronco Sport with turbocharged powertrains, four-wheel drive, and off-road capability.
Ford’s not done. A higher-performance Bronco has been in the mail since day one. Ford teased the 2021 Bronco Raptor (or Warthog) flying through the air in September. On Tuesday, the off-roader was spotted roaming the streets of Michigan.
“Bronco and Bronco Sport are meant for high-speed off-road driving and we have plenty of excitement ahead,” said Ford spokesman Jiyan Cadiz in July.
Here’s how a more capable Bronco might take shape.
2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
The most powerful 2021 Ford Bronco announced so far has a 2.7-liter turbo-6 that makes 310 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. A high-speed…


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California-based manufacturer ViewSonic is no stranger to the tablet game. In recent months we’ve met the ViewPad 10pro, ViewPad 7x and ViewPad 10e. It’s all a rich tapestry of tablet goodness. Ahem.
Not to be outdone by the growing number of manufacturers going down the budget tablet route, ViewSonic will sell the spanking new ViewPad e70 for even less than the Amazon Kindle Fire.
The ViewSonic ViewPad e70 was announced at CES 2012, and while many of the details are still a bit vague at this early stage, we do know that the Ice Cream Sandwich-rockin’ tablet will go for just $169.99.
Confirmed ViewSonic ViewPad e70 specs include a 7in display, a modest 1GHz processor, 4GB internal storage, 1080p HDMI output and some sort of front-facing camera.
"ViewSonic is committed to delivering advanced technology designed with the consumer in mind," bawled Michael Holstein, ViewSonic’s vice president of business development.
"Featuring the latest Android operating system, along with leading apps and services for entertainment content, the ViewPad E70 continues the ViewSonic tradition of bringing feature-rich products to new markets."
Estimated arrival date for the ViewSonic ViewPad e70 is “late Q1”. For those in the States, at least.


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Citi has explored how Asia acts as a time machine that can transport other regions into a new world of commerce, entertainment, and healthcare. The investment bank estimates Asia adopts new technologies 8–12 years ahead of the West, making the region a time machine to the future.
The bank’s recent report looks specifically at seven areas – super apps, mobile payment, social commerce, short-form videos, eSports, webtoons, and digital health – that are currently essential elements in the Asia marketplace.
According to the report, while infrastructure has historically been underdeveloped relative to the West, Asia’s high internet connectivity, young and increasingly affluent and urban demographics, and entrepreneurial spirit have driven the region to adopt many technologies at a faster pace. In doing so, Asia provides a glimpse of what the future could look like in more developed, Western economies.
|Asia is also the first region to introduce several social commerce formats such as livestreaming e-commerce, helping it to become the undisputed 'time machine' for social commerce globally. |
“We hope the report provides fresh insights on current differences in technological adoption between Asia and the West, as well as a potential path for how these same technologies will shape markets in the West in the future,” said Ramachandran A.S., Vietnam Citi country officer.
“Vietnam is also ahead of the curve in some emerging areas. Early adoption of mobile technologies has enabled Vietnam and Asia to explore and develop new forms of digital commerce before other regions,” added Ramachandran.
Asia is the region with the highest mobile payment penetration. In 2021, digital/mobile wallets accounted for nearly 70 per cent of the e-commerce transaction value in Asia, more than double the share in North America or Europe.
The high prevalence of QR code purchasing and point-of-sale systems across Asia means consumers can instantly pay for almost everything through their mobile devices.
Super apps – mobile apps that integrate multiple functions under one umbrella – have developed in Asia at a scale unseen in other regions. The top five super apps in Asia have over 2.8 billion aggregate active users.
Asia is also the first region to introduce several social commerce formats such as livestreaming e-commerce, helping it to become the undisputed 'time machine' for social commerce globally.
For example, US social commerce is expected to grow to around $100 billion in 2025 while Asia already reached over $400 billion in 2021.
In Asia, digital healthcare is significant in terms of both scale and penetration. Studies suggest the adoption rate of digital healthcare in developing Asia is 2.5 times the rate in the US. The region’s digital healthcare revenues totalled $73.8 billion in 2022, accounting for over half of the global total.
| ||Vinexpo Asia returns to the heart of Asia |
The Vinexposium group is ramping up its commitment to Asia by turning Vinexpo Asia into a key annual event for the wine and spirits industry across the region.
| ||Hong Kong pioneers a sustainable future for an 'Asian century' |
Hong Kong wants to grasp green financing and sustainable investment opportunities across Asia. Dr. Patrick Lau, deputy executive director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), spoke with VIR’s Luu Huong about how Hong Kong could make progress in the new era.
| ||Fintech future in store for smarter M&A deals |
Cross-border merger and acquisition deals are being altered as a direct result of increasing inflation. Nevertheless, foreign investors are exploring untapped potential in the fintech industry to stay competitive in the digital era.
| ||The Blockchain Bookshelf: A future technological foundation |
The Vietnam Blockchain Association (VBA) and Alpha Books JSC revealed the Blockchain Bookshelf on August 5 in Hanoi following the execution of a strategic partnership agreement.


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Mzansi’s favourite puppet Chester Missing has taken the mickey out of rapper’s flashy lifestyles which has hogged headlines over the past few weeks.
The satirical puppet, who belongs to ventriloquist Conrad Koch, is known for his spicy and witty comments on topics making headlines in the country.
So it was only a matter of time before ol’ Chester shared his views on rapper’s ‘flashy’ lifestyles.
The puppet poked fun at rapper’s who flaunt how much money they spend on a daily basis.
I spent R80 at PEP. Do I qualify to be a rapper yet?
— Mr. Missing (@chestermissing) January 17, 2017
“U can either glorify flashing wealth and celeb worship, or be against poverty and inequality. Doing both is like a vegetarian who eats chicken,” Chester said.
Chester’s comments come just days after rapper AKA hogged headlines for flexing about his vacation to Phuket, Thailand.
Despite being called out on it the rapper went on to flaunt his lifestyle in the faces of his haters.
During a shopping spree on vacation, AKA shared pictures of his designer gear ranging from Gucci wallets and Givency t-shirts, to fancy shades. And the rapper didn’t forget to mention that he had dropped R80,000 on all those fancy clothes.


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Research in Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry Curve 9300 has been spotted bearing the T-Mobile logo, indicating that the network provider could soon launch the smartphone in the UK and US.
Images of the new smartphone were found by BlackBerry-focused news site BBgeeks, which reports that the smartphone will not only be available to T-Mobile in the UK and US, but also in Canada via network service provider Rogers.
Experts have predicted that the new Curve 9300 will be an upgrade of the Curve 8520, but will not be upgradable to BlackBerry OS 6, which brings iPhone like touch capabilities to the smartphone series.
According to the information leaked by BBgeeks, the Curve 9300 smartphone will come with a 624MHZ processor, 256MB RAM, 256MB ROM, a two-megapixel digital camera and 3G functionality.
RIM's BlackBerry remains the most popular smartphone in the US, but has seen its market share begin to decrease as it faces increasing competition from Apple’s iPhone and devices based on Google’s Android mobile OS.


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By the end of June 2020, tens of thousands of people had filed lawsuits against Bayer alleging that Roundup® weed killer products caused their cancer or their loved one’s deaths. On June 24, 2020, Bayer offered more than $10 billion to settle most of the cases pending in United States courts.
Roundup Cancer Cases
American consumers began buying Roundup in 1974. From 1974 until at least 2017, glyphosate was the main ingredient in Roundup weed killer products. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have found that glyphosate may cause cancer in humans. Glyphosate warnings have been issued by groups such as the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, and some countries, such as France, have decided to end glyphosate use.
In the United States, companies such as Bayer may continue to use glyphosate in products such as Roundup. Yet, people who have been exposed to Roundup have developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Currently, researchers do not yet know if there is a certain amount of Roundup exposure that causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and any amount of exposure may increase a person’s risk of developing this type of cancer.
Tens of thousands of people who have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after Roundup exposure or whose loved ones died from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after Roundup exposure have filed lawsuits. The lawsuits allege that Roundup caused their cancer and that they were not adequately warned about the cancer risk before using Roundup products.
As of July 2020, only three of the cases had gone to trial. The plaintiffs (Dewayne Johnson, Edwin Hardeman, and Alva and Alberta Pilliod) were successful in all three cases. Juries awarded each plaintiff tens of millions of dollars. Although the court later reduced these verdicts, the plaintiffs still made significant financial recoveries because the juries found that Roundup was a substantial contributing factor in causing the plaintiffs’ cancers. Bayer appealed in all three cases and the appeals are currently pending.
The Roundup Settlement
Bayer bought Monsanto, the company that sold Roundup, in 2018. Now, Bayer is the potential defendant in at least tens of thousands of lawsuits.
On June 24, 2020, Bayer made a settlement offer to resolve many current and future Roundup cancer cases. The settlement provides financial certainty for the company. The settlement terms include:
- $8.8 to $9.6 billion to resolve Roundup cases that are already filed in court
- $1.25 billion in a separate agreement to resolve potential future litigation. These cases will be part of a class agreement that is subject to court approval.
The settlement does not:
- Have Bayer admitting any liability or wrongdoing
- Include the three cases that have already gone to trial and are pending appeal
- Stop Bayer from continuing to sell Roundup products.
Glyphosate-based Roundup products are still on the market in the United States. However, in 2017, non-glyphosate Roundup options were also introduced.
The settlement must be approved by the court and is reported to account for about 95% of pending Roundup cancer litigation in the United States.
Take Action Now If You Have a Roundup Case
Your time to file a Roundup injury lawsuit could end soon. If you have been exposed to Roundup at work or home and you experience any non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma symptoms, then we encourage you to learn more about your rights today. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma symptoms and treatment can significantly interfere with your life and shorten your life expectancy. If you were not warned about the risks of Roundup exposure, then you deserve to make a legal recovery.
Don’t let your chance at recovering fair compensation slip away because you did not meet a deadline. Instead, we encourage you to contact our Wisconsin Roundup injury lawyers for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will thoroughly review your case, and we always offer video or phone consultations if that is easier for you. Call us today or fill out our online contact form to learn more about whether your potential Roundup claim should be settled.


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Jordache Enterprises has moved to seize the former Versace mansion in Miami Beach.
VM South Beach, which is affiliated with New York-based Jordache, filed a federal foreclosure lawsuit on Dec. 23 - the last business day before Christmas - against mansion owner Casa Casuarina and managing member Peter T. Loftin. It concerns a $25 million mortgage that the plaintiff purchased from German bank WestLB AG on Dec. 16.
The 23,462-square-foot hotel at 1116 Ocean Drive was built in 1930. It is most famous, or some would say infamous, as the site where famed fashion designer Gianni Versace was shot dead at the front gate in 1997.
Jordache is best known for its fashion lines, including jeans, but it is also a major real estate investor.


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SK Hynix, South Korean memory semiconductor supplier of DRAM chips and flash memory chips, has completed stage one of its acquisition of Intel’s SSD and NAND businesses.
This follows recent official Chinese approval of the deal, which will see Intel being paid over $7 billion.
To handle its new SSD business, SK hynix formed a new subsidiary, called Solidigm. It will be spearheaded by Rob Crooke, former Intel SVP and GM for the company’s Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group, while Lee Seok-hee, president and co-CEO of SK hynix, will take up the position of executive chairman. Solidigm will be headquartered in San Jose, California.
Exiting low-profit positions
The overall deal is worth $9 billion, but the plan was always to split the work into two stages. The first stage, which has now been completed, includes transferring Intel’s semiconductor fabrication plant, Dalian, located in China, to SK Hynix. It also includes transferring some employees and intellectual property.
The second stage, however, won’t be completed before 2025. Until then, Intel will use some of the WAFER design and intellectual property to produce NAND wafers at the Dalian factory.
When the deal is finalized, though, Intel will no longer produce NAND flash memory. It still plans on producing workstations for years to come.
Even though Chinese regulatory hurdles have been overcome, some restrictions will be in place. As reported by Tom's Hardware, there will be some pricing limits for finished products and components, as well as supply expansion assurances for enterprise-class PCIe and SATA components, for the next five years.
"Solidigm is poised to be the world's next big semiconductor company, which presents an unprecedented opportunity to reinvent the data memory and storage industry," said Crooke. "We are steadfast in our commitment to lead the data industry in a way that can truly fuel human advancement."
Intel is continuing down the path of detaching low-profit, capital-intensive operations, in favor of higher-earning projects, Tom’s Hardware claims. Intel’s company that develops technologies for self-driving cars, Mobileye, will also be taken public next year. However, as things stand right now, Intel plans on being the company’s majority owner.
- You should also check out our list of the best business laptops right now


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Twitch has changed its pricing for Turbo across the globe; it published a full country-by-country breakdown on its help site. Current Turbo members will get a three-month grace period before the price hike hits, Twitch said in an email to users. It won't automatically renew at the new price, though; you'll need to opt in before the three months is up, or your subscription will be halted.
As The Verge notes, subscriptions in some countries are getting a price cut. To take advantage of that, though, you'll need to cancel your subscription and resubscribe.
Current Turbo subscribers are not happy. On the r/Twitch subreddit, users roundly attacked the move, with one saying: “Yea no thanks. I paid for turbo because it was relatively cheap and worked 99% of the time. A casual 60% price increase in my region. No thanks I’ll go back to adblocking and throwing a couple of dollars at the streamers I watch each month."
Aside from offering an ad-free experience, Turbo gives subscribers more emojis, custom chat username colors, and added broadcast storage. In the price-hike email, Twitch says “more updates [are] on the way for Turbo to make it even better and more relevant to our community.”
Amazon-owned Twitch recently gained a new CEO after co-founder Emmett Shear stepped down in March after 16 years at the helm of the company. The price hike also comes after Amazon embarked on a series of mass layoffs so far this year.


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25 September 2013 17:37 [Source: ICIS news]
LONDON (ICIS)--Demand for fully-refined paraffin wax remained lower than expected given the time of year, sources said on Wednesday, with plenty of product available.
Sources were again surprised at the downward pressure on the fully-refined market. Consumer demand for candles remains subdued as a result of economic weakness across Europe.
“My opinion is that after holiday season we were expecting [that the] market would be much stronger that it is today. I was expecting a little bit more demand for paraffin in general,” said a western European distributor.
“This is probably the reason why some paraffin wax suppliers are reducing prices. We see it is happening [the market improving] but not as much as expected,” he added.
The ongoing fall in the low-sulphur vacuum gasoil FOB (free on board) Rotterdam price, from a peak of $814/tonne (€602/tonne) on 27 August to $751/tonne on 24 September, gave slack wax producers more room to adjust their prices while maintaining margins. Nonetheless, the ex-tank Rotterdam price remained stable at €825-850/tonne on strong demand and ongoing and upcoming turnarounds, including Shell's Permis refinery and Kuwait Petroleum's Rotterdam refinery, limiting supply.
The distributor added, “Slack wax market [is] a little tight still, with Kuwait Pet and Shell refineries undergoing schedule maintenance. This is creating a shortage of slack wax towards October/November, but on the other side raw material prices went down.”
At the Poland-Belarus border, far more product was available, and slack wax traded at €800/tonne. One trader said there are 2,000-3,000 tonnes of product available beyond what would be expected on the market at this time of year. They added that a 2,000 tonne vessel had brought more slack wax into Poland in the past fortnight.
Sources said Chinese origin waxes were bring traded only in small quantities because a lack of available transport vessels was pushing up freight costs. Quality and price continues to vary enormously, with very low grade wax available for as little as $1300/tonne CIF NWE and higher quality at over $1500/tonne CIF NWE. Waxes in the 52-54 degree melt point range traded in the range $1,400-$1,460/tonne CIF NWE. Liquid wax demand continued to outstrip slab wax.
Semi-refined wax was seen trading at €790-850/tonne CPT (carriage paid to) on the Poland-Belarus border. A trader said the price was lower than expected, held down by candle makers prepared to increase the amount of slack wax in their manufacturing process.
A Polish trader said, “Due to the current market, semi-refined is a bit cheaper than it should be. It means that producers are not about to increase prices for semi-refined because candle makers choose slack wax instead of paraffin. Too much semi-refined and slack on the market.
($1 = €0.74)?xml:namespace>
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Mississauga 7-Eleven withdraws application to serve liquor
Published November 18, 2021 at 6:28 pm
7-Eleven appears to be further downscaling plans to serve liquor on-site in its stores in Mississauga and Peel Region.
In March, InSauga learned that the popular convenience-store chain was asking the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for permission to serve beer and wine. The plans included three stores in Mississauga and two in Brampton.
Now it is down to two in Mississauga, and one in Brampton. On Thursday, an ACGO spokesman confirmed that 7-Eleven has withdrawn an application at 2330 Battleford Rd. in Mississauga. It has already withdrawn an application at 150 Main St. N. in Brampton.
Applications at stores in Mississauga (6980 Lisgar Dr. and 3965 Thomas St.) and Brampton (140 Father Tobin Rd.) are under review, though.
“The other applications submitted by 7 Eleven continue to be reviewed by the Licence Appeal Tribunal, which is an adjudicative tribunal independent of the AGCO and part of Tribunals Ontario,” the ACGO’s Raymond Kahnert said.
The Peel Regional Labour Council, which represents workers in both cities, sent a celebratory tweet on Wednesday (Nov. 17) that credited “people power” for swaying 7-Eleven to withdraw its plan.
Last March we rang the alarm on the dangerous plans that 7-Eleven pushed forward for on-site consumption of alcohol in their Gas Stations across #Peel. We recently heard that people power has won against corporate interest and their application to the AGCO has been withdrawn!
— Peel Regional Labour Council (@PeelLabour) November 17, 2021
The labour council expressed concern in March about the plan creating potential issues with impaired driving, noting that all three Mississauga locations are also gas stations. It also raised concern about underage drinking, an increased potential for alcoholism-related diseases, and a “creeping privatization” that would lead to job losses at LCBO stores and hurt government revenue streams that pay for “schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford promised during election campaigning in 2018 to make beer and wine available in corner stores, grocery stores and big-box stores. It was added to the latter two stores in 2019.insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies


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Press Release - For Immediate Release
Electronic Payments Advances Ranking, Places itself among The Nilson Report’s Top Merchant Acquirers in the U.S. for the Fourth Consecutive Year
Electronic Payments, a leading national provider in payment technologies and services, announced that it has been named to The Nilson Report’s 2015 list of Top Merchant Acquirers in the U.S. for its fourth consecutive year. Advancing its position to 39th, Electronic Payments maintains its status as one of the fastest growing privately held payment and transaction processing companies in the nation.
A top provider of progressive payment and point of sale solutions, Electronic Payments has steadily grown its revenue base by offering turn-key, cost-effective payment technologies and programs for its ISO, agent and merchant partners. Through its recent acquisition of Exatouch and successfully launching the industry’s first Clover™ Placement Program, the company has further advanced its initiatives within the point of sale market sector, increasing its processing volumes by 12%.
“Point of sale is our future,” stated Michael Nardy, Founder and CEO of Electronic Payments. “The payments industry has been headed in this direction for quite some time and we proactively approached the shift in technology through the development of innovative, cost-effective point of sale solutions for businesses across the country.”
The Nilson Report represents 72 top merchant acquirers in the United States, including Bank of America, First Data, Chase Commerce Solutions and numerous other reputed companies. Top U.S. acquirers in 2015 are ranked according to purchase volume on credit, debit and prepaid payment cards. Visit www.nilsonreport.com for additional information.
Director of Marketing
(800) 966-5520 ext. 286


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A new entertainment and dining concept is coming to Wilmington.
The Buccini/Pollin Group, Inc. (BPG) is bringing Wilma’s, a new concept at 902 N. Market St., to the city this fall. The 5,700 square-foot space, formerly occupied by Ernest & Scott Taproom, will be transformed into a duckpin bowling alley and pinball arcade with a food and drink menu, the company announced.
Wilma’s will become the place for “boisterous games & dangerously good times” in downtown Wilmington, BPG said.
“Downtown residents and visitors alike have continually requested more things to do in Wilmington that are not solely focused on food and alcohol,” said Rich Snyder, BPG Director of Food & Beverage in a news release. “While we certainly support the thriving culinary scene in Wilmington, we believe Wilma’s will strike the perfect balance between recreation and dining, no pun intended.”
Ernest & Scott Taproom closed to the public on Jan. 10. Gift cards and Groupon vouchers will be honored at Chelsea Tavern, located at 821 N. Market St. Both restaurants are operated by Joe Van Horn of Open Doors Hospitality Group, who purchased the restaurants after the sudden passing of founder Scott Morrison in 2016.
“I am proud to have kept Morrison’s legacy alive at Ernest & Scotts,” Van Horn said in a news release. “He saw the promise of Market Street very early on, and I know he would have been proud to see the growth that Downtown Wilmington has experienced recently. Wilma’s is a welcome addition to Market Street as our neighborhood continues to progress into the next decade.”
Chelsea Tavern will continue to host Ernest & Scott’s favored events, like the Cinco de Mayo Block Party and seasonal Cigar Dinners, while also ramping up its own event calendar in 2020 in honor of the restaurant’s 10th anniversary on Market Street.
An updated food menu and changes to the interior and exterior of Chelsea Tavern are also on the horizon for 2020.
“We are excited to announce these new offerings at Chelsea as we enter into our tenth year on Market Street, and we look forward to another ten to come alongside our new neighbors,” Van Horn said in a news release.


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DOVER – The Dover Chamber was pleased to welcome Macaroni Kid Seacoast to the Chamber, as part of HRCU’s Small Business Chamber Grant program.
Holy Rosary Credit Union started this program as a way to support small business success. HRCU understands that joining a local Chamber to access education, networking and marketing opportunities are vital in growing a business. The grant provides funding for a small businesses’ first year of membership and allows small businesses to join the Chamber.
“I know first-hand the value of a chamber membership and to help a small business take advantage of all a chamber has to offer is a win for not only the business but for the chamber to engage a new active member,” said Brian Hughes, President & CEO of HRCU. “After meeting Dawn, I have no doubt she’ll be take full advantage of the opportunity.”
Macaroni Kid Seacoast publishes weekly, local e-newsletters and websites featuring events, activities, products and places for moms, kids, and families. Macaroni Kids’ goal is to enrich communities by connecting libraries, schools, recreation and community centers and other organizations that create programming and fun for kids.
For more information, visit their website at seacoast.macaronikid.com email Dawn Tomlinson at email@example.com.


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BUFFALO, N.Y. — It's an iconic place filled with fond memories of shopping for food and local goods for many Western New Yorkers. Now, New York State is investing several million dollars to enhance the Broadway Market, and they want input from the public on how to do it.
The funding is coming from Empire State Development and the Buffalo Billion. They've hired local architecture firm CJS Architects to lead the revitalization effort. The firm will host a virtual public meeting Tuesday night to gather ideas for improvements.
The goal is to turn the Broadway Market a year-round destination that can draw crowds beyond the popular Easter season. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, CJS has been surveying the public online about improvements they'd like to see, such as changes to the interior and exterior of the market, food selection, and adding events like farmers markets and concerts.
This effort adds to a recent $2 million investment from the City of Buffalo to make improvements to the Market.
"The Market historically has played an important role as a center for year-round, international, owner-operated, affordable fresh and prepared food shops and neighborhood services," a press release from Empire State Development read. "As the community around it has changed, the Market is now seeking to maximize its relevance to Broadway-Fillmore and to expand its customer base in order to serve as a sustainable stimulus to neighborhood development, as well as an attraction for the region."
Tuesday's Zoom meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Here's everything you need to know to participate in the meeting.
- Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85184786793
- Phone: (929) 205-6099
- Webinar ID: 851 8478 6793, Password: 842562
Those who cannot participate in the virtual meeting are encouraged to complete an online survey by June 30 by following this link.


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MTN, Etisalat rated top telco brands in Africa and Middle East
A new report by Brand Finance has ranked MTN as the "most valuable and strongest telecoms brand" in Africa, while Etisalat was the leader in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region as a whole.
The independent brand valuation consultancy's annual report ranks the world's 150 top telecoms brands and the 2020 Report sees South Africa-based operators MTN and Vodacom make the list, ranked at numbers 43 and 61 respectively. Kenya's Safaricom made the list at number 93, rising four places from last year. Morocco's Maroc Telecom fell just outside of the top 100, to 105th place, while Nigeria's Glo Mobile was 118th and Senegal's Sonatel was in 135th place.
In Africa, MTN was ranked as the top telecoms brand, moving up five spots, with a brand value of US$3.3 billion. Johannesburg-headquartered MTN has 250.8 million group subscribers and operates in 21 territories, 17 of which are on the African continent.
"MTN's brand value was boosted by a solid overall performance for the year, despite challenging economic conditions and regulatory challenges in some markets. Africa's biggest telcos brand, MTN has grown its subscriber level steadily over the past year and boosted its revenues. Customers spending more on data services and MTN's 5G rollouts have meant the brand is well placed to cater to this growing demand," the report said.
The authors believe MTN's existing network infrastructure will be challenged by the upcoming transition from 4G to 5G mobile phone services, but its solid brand strength will put it in a strong position to compete in the future.
"MTN is to be commended for its performance in its home market as well as further afield. They are increasingly recognized throughout Africa by their customers as providing a high quality service, because their brand image is deeply rooted on more than just marketing campaigns," said David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance.
Emirati giant Etisalat was ranked as the most valuable and strongest telecoms brand in the Middle East and Africa. It rose three places from 2019 to be ranked the world's 16th most-valuable telecoms brand, with a brand value of US$8.5 billion.
"As the premier digital and telecommunications partner of the upcoming Expo2020 in Dubai this October, all eyes will be on Etisalat as it prepares to excite the Expo's expected 25 million visitors with a seamless 5G connectivity that brings the event's themes to life," the report said.
Abu Dhabi-headquartered Etisalat has over 148 million customers in 16 countries across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, with a wide portfolio of brands including Mobily, Ufone, Maroc Telecom, PTCL and Etisalat Misr.
In Africa its operations are extensive, with full or part ownership of operators in 11 African nations. According to the group's website, these include operations in Morocco, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Niger and Central African Republic.
Some international telcos with African operations also made the Brand Finance list, including Vodafone (9th), Orange (10th), Airtel (35th), Ooredoo (41st), Zain (51st) and Tigo (76th).
— Paula Gilbert, Editor, Connecting Africa


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ST. LOUIS, January 22, 2008 – Emerson Climate Technologies, a business of Emerson (NYSE: EMR), today announced that thermostats produced by its White-Rodgers® Division will feature the Emerson logo, beginning in early 2008. The move is designed to fully leverage the expertise of White-Rodgers, while elevating the thermostats to align with Emerson’s commitment to innovation and new technology within HVACR electronics.
During 2008, the company will launch new thermostat designs with the Emerson brand. Over the course of the year, all thermostats will be transitioned to carry the Emerson brand. White-Rodgers will still be the manufacturer of thermostats, and will be identified as such on product packaging and other promotional materials. The Emerson branding will only apply to electronic products such as thermostats. White-Rodgers products such as IAQ equipment, gas valves and ignition controls will continue to carry the White-Rodgers brand.
“It is the commitment of Emerson as a global leader to provide our customers the most advanced electronics and communicating products. In the HVACR and appliance industries, these advances in electronics and the resulting products will drive a great deal of innovation,” said Mark Bulanda, president, White-Rodgers. “By placing the Emerson brand on our White-Rodgers thermostats, we’re communicating that commitment to our customers.”
Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2007 were $22.6 billion. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.
About Emerson Climate Technologies
Emerson Climate Technologies, a business of Emerson, is the world’s leading provider of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions for residential, industrial and commercial applications. The group combines best-in-class technology with proven engineering, design, distribution, educational and monitoring services to provide customized, integrated climate-control solutions for customers worldwide. Emerson Climate Technologies’ innovative solutions, which include industry-leading brands such as Copeland Scroll and White-Rodgers, improve human comfort, safeguard food and protect the environment.
White-Rodgers, part of Emerson Climate Technologies, has been a leading provider of home comfort solutions, including thermostats, gas ignition controls, electronic and media air cleaners and humidifiers since 1937.White-Rodgers programmable thermostats are among the most accurate on the market. White-Rodgers is headquartered in St. Louis.


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Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari SP / River City Ransom SP is a “remake” of the NES classic (featuring improved graphics, new gameplay systems, new story content, and more), and it was initially supposed to launch on April 28th. But back in April, Arc System Works announced that the game was delayed to June 2nd, officially in order to improve the game’s quality.
Unfortunately, it looks like the game has been delayed a second time. This morning, Arc Systems announced that Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari SP / River City Ransom SP would not come out on June 2nd after all. Once again, it’s the game’s quality which is to blame (at least, officially…), which is why the company chose to delay it once more.
But this time around, Arc System Works didn’t give a new release date for Rivery City Ransom SP, and explains that it will be announced later down the line. Our Upcoming Releases page has been updated.
Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari SP / River City Ransom SP (3DS) is coming to Nintendo 3DS in Japan. It is not to be confused with River City: Tokyo Rumble (the western version of a previous Nintendo 3DS game, which will be shown and playable at E3 in June).
Source: Arc System Works


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The Enjoy Troy Co. hosted a community screen-printing event on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014. Downtown Troy business owners, neighbors and friends met at the Lucas Confectionery wine bar to print 200 re-usable shopping totes with the “enjoy troy.” symbol. The bags will be available around downtown during “Small Business Saturday,” Nov. 29. and will include a list of shopping “incentives” offered by shops and restaurants.
Watch this adorable video from the event, created by Rhe Potenza, owner of Truly Rhe, a women’s boutique located at One Broadway in downtown Troy.
You can find these totes and a wide array of “enjoy troy.” stocking stuffers and gifts in our online store, at Artcentric Gallery and other downtown Troy retail locations.
This event was part of Troy’s “Mall-ternative” campaign, created by the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District to promote our city as a holiday shopping alternative to the suburban malls.
Troy’s Mall-ternative experience includes extended business hours, festive events like the Troy Turkey Troy and the Victorian Stroll, and a world-class urban fabric to explore.
But it’s the people and the sociable community that really can’t be beat! Troy is Open for Business.


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7 min read
The opinions expressed by the entrepreneur's contributors are their own.
"It's not going away and we have to face this reality." This is what the CEO and founder of a high-tech manufacturing startup with 180 employees said to his management team in early July to convince them that they need a strategic fulcrum for COVID-19.
Before that, the startup's executives went step by step, putting out the various COVID-related fires that flared up: supply chain disruptions, canceled orders, employees struggling to set up from home, or needing flextime to manage children older relatives.
When the CEO saw more of the bigger picture, he realized that the company was going in the wrong direction. One of the board members recommended my recently published book on Strategic Panning to Adapt to COVID and Plan for Post-Pandemic Recovery.
After a quick read, the CEO convinced the other leadership team that the company needs to perform a strategic pivot to address COVID. He had his executive assistant contact him and arranged a facilitated strategic retreat to fight the pandemic, which was my sixth of nine such engagements. This article summarizes my experiences in helping a number of companies – five startups, three established midmarkets, and one business unit of a Fortune 300 company – immerse themselves in our new abnormal reality.
Related Topics: 5 Changes Business Managers Should Consider
Demanding business model assumptions
Without exception, the first step is to reassess assumptions about the company's business model. That means first short meetings with the management team in which we discuss the kind of fires they are exposed to.
For example, the production startup faced a new challenge in selling its high-tech products. Known for its superior quality, the products were previously off the shelf; The company actually struggled to keep up with demand.
Now the startup's sales force has reported that the decision-making process has changed. Accounting put a lot more pressure on the operations managers to prove that the quality of the products brought a sufficient ROI. Couldn't they do with cheaper options?
While the startup invested in innovation to ensure the quality of its high-tech products, it didn't have a clear measure of the ROI for innovation. Ultimately, operational staff focused on quality, not ROI. As a result, some customers apologetically chose to buy cheaper alternatives.
Other companies have faced a number of similar problems in sales and other areas. Often times, the news surprised other members of the executive team, even the CEO. Everyone was busy fighting fires in their own areas.
Gather internal information
With a greater awareness of the business model assumptions challenged by the pandemic, the next step is to gather internal information for a revised strategy and business model.
Those who run a department and are present at the strategic retreat get feedback from their direct reports on how each department's goals, structure, and relationship with clients (external or internal) are being revised in light of the assumptions challenged in three scenarios can be.
In the first scenario, a vaccine with over 90 percent effectiveness would be found by spring 2021, and the pandemic would be largely over by spring 2022. In the second scenario, this vaccine would be discovered by spring 2022 and most of the pandemic by spring 2023. We would never find a vaccine more than 50 percent effective, just as we haven't found a vaccine more effective than the flu
Related: 9 Ways Leaders Can Support Their Team During A Crisis
Next comes the strategic retreat. It should be a two-day event, with one day for comprehensive strategic planning and one day for operationalizing the strategy.
The team at the high-tech manufacturing startup struggled to accept the changing market demands. The operations team established a sense of identity and team spirit around innovation as a core value. Marketing and sales made innovation a fundamental element of their pitches. They kept turning away from the reality they need from innovation to measurement of ROI.
The CEO and I kept steering them back. I had to use all of my moderation skills to keep the conversation on track, a particularly challenging task as it was a virtual retreat.
The management team of a late-stage SaaS startup with more than 500 employees was surprised that the vast majority of their direct employees shared the feeling of burnout from home and "zoom fatigue". In this area, as an expert in emotional and social intelligence, I could provide significant support.
It is important to realize that these problems are not solely due to burnout. It goes much deeper.
Pandemic mental health issues like anxiety / depression / trauma / grief COVID-related pragmatic challenges like having kids staying at home Social isolation from friends, family and community events, and our past outside hobbies and entertainment Poor work-from-home environments with inadequate home offices – Attitudes lack of skills for effective virtual communication and collaboration. The fulfillment of the basic human needs – sense of connectedness, tribe, purpose, and purpose – that we naturally get from work is deprived of it
Achieving this doesn't just require financial support for home office setups or flexible working hours to cope with pragmatic pandemic challenges. It also requires professional development in effective virtual communication and teamwork. In addition, professional development in emotional and social intelligence is required so that employees can identify and fill the emotional and social gaps that the pandemic has left.
The next day should focus on operationalizing the strategic changes in the business model. You need to address potential threats and opportunities in a variety of future scenarios and revise the previous day's strategy if necessary. These scenarios must include at least the three different COVID futures described above and several different potential economic recovery scenarios (K, U, W, V, L).
A start-up for corporate data analysis with over 120 employees recognized an unexpected opportunity. Long attempts have been made to get some lucrative customer accounts from several competitors. The startup's CEO knew that most competitor executives were hostile to COVID.
The startup decided to adjust marketing and sales to demonstrate the steps it was taking to be pandemic-proof. Sellers called the customer accounts of competitors and informed them of these steps and offered support if the pandemic lasted longer than the most optimistic predictions and the competitors were unable to meet their previous high standards.
Related topics: Tips for adapting your business model to the new normal
Next steps and follow up
At the end of the operations day, determine specific next steps for each new initiative you've discussed. Decide on the approximate resource requirements and success metrics. Select a member of the leadership team who will be responsible for running the initiative while others may be involved in the effort. Finally, prepare a report for the Board of Directors on the retreat highlighting how the strategic fulcrum will help the company adapt to different scenarios of COVID and economic recovery.
Follow any next steps in the weekly executive team meeting or any other executive team forum your company already uses. Then hold a half-day event in one month in which you evaluate the strategy change and, if necessary, make corrections to the strategy and / or implementation. Do the same in three months.
While nothing can guarantee success, I can guarantee that these steps will maximize your chances of not only surviving but thriving in these troubled times.


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Wall Street brokerages expect Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMTX) to report $56.53 million in sales for the current fiscal quarter, Zacks reports. Three analysts have issued estimates for Aemetis’ earnings, with the highest sales estimate coming in at $62.00 million and the lowest estimate coming in at $50.00 million. Aemetis posted sales of $37.33 million in the same quarter last year, which would indicate a positive year-over-year growth rate of 51.4%. The company is scheduled to issue its next earnings results on Monday, March 21st.
On average, analysts expect that Aemetis will report full-year sales of $205.39 million for the current fiscal year, with estimates ranging from $197.00 million to $214.00 million. For the next financial year, analysts anticipate that the firm will report sales of $260.46 million, with estimates ranging from $238.00 million to $291.00 million. Zacks’ sales averages are an average based on a survey of sell-side research firms that follow Aemetis.
Aemetis (NASDAQ:AMTX) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 11th. The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.55) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.30) by ($0.25). During the same period last year, the business earned ($0.59) earnings per share.
Shares of Aemetis stock traded up $1.12 during trading on Thursday, reaching $18.54. 409,901 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,152,160. Aemetis has a twelve month low of $1.96 and a twelve month high of $27.44. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $18.62 and a 200-day moving average price of $13.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $616.47 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.20 and a beta of -0.34.
In related news, EVP Andrew B. Foster sold 1,300 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.00, for a total transaction of $29,900.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrew B. Foster sold 8,548 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.08, for a total value of $120,355.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 140,921 shares of company stock valued at $2,561,450 over the last ninety days. 14.65% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. bought a new stake in Aemetis in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,102,000. Merewether Investment Management LP raised its stake in Aemetis by 179.3% in the second quarter. Merewether Investment Management LP now owns 642,342 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $7,175,000 after buying an additional 412,379 shares during the period. OLD Mission Capital LLC bought a new stake in Aemetis in the second quarter valued at approximately $968,000. Marshall Wace North America L.P. raised its stake in Aemetis by 818.5% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace North America L.P. now owns 400,967 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $4,479,000 after buying an additional 357,312 shares during the period. Finally, DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its stake in Aemetis by 780.4% in the second quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 543,177 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $6,067,000 after buying an additional 481,477 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 47.48% of the company’s stock.
Aemetis, Inc is a renewable fuels and biochemical company, which engages in the acquisition, development, and commercialization of technologies that replace traditional petroleum-based products. It operates through the North America and India geographical segments. The North America segment manages Keyes Plant in California, the cellulosic ethanol facility in Riverbank, the cluster of biogas digesters on dairies near Keyes, California, the Goodland Plant, Kansas and the research and development facility in Minnesota.
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GreenlandMX is known as one of the most specialised retailers for off-road motorbikes in Europe. Their online store offers an impressive catalogue of the highest quality brands in the industry, with the best pricing to match! The company has experience of more than 15 years in the internet e-commerce world and has now become the go-to company for European customers. Visit GreenlandMX.com to check out their impressive range of products!
Davy Pootjes just cannot catch a break! The Dutchman, who secured his first podium in the MX2 division a year ago, crashed whilst training with the F&H Racing team in France and sustained a broken forearm. The impact of the crash was not even what caused the injury, it was the fact that the rear tyre chewed the arm up. Pootjes explained the incident in more detail in the social-media statement below.
“Last Wednesday while training in France my rear wheel hit my arm quite bad, which resulted in a broken forearm. Got surgery in France the same day and the day after we transferred myself to Dr. T. Claes in Belgium where I now [have been] since Thursday.”
Pootjes is not piloting Austrian machinery for the first time in his professional career this term, but has not made his debut with the F&H Shop team (an offshoot of F&H Racing). It remains to be seen just how many races he is going to miss with his latest arm injury. This post will be updated as more news becomes available.
Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: Ray Archer


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New Delhi– With all but 50 items removed from the highest GST rate slab, collections in October fell to Rs 83,346 crore from over Rs 92,000 crore in September, official data showed on Monday.
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections received in November totalled Rs 83,346 crore till November 27, a Finance Ministry release here said.
A total of “50.1 lakh returns have been filed for the month of October till November 26, 2017”, it said.
Over 95.9 lakh tax payers have been registered under the GST so far, out of which 15.1 lakh are “composition dealers” who are required to file returns every quarter, it added.
The Central government has released a compensation of Rs 10,806 crore to the states for July and August, while a compensation of Rs 13,695 crore for September and October is being released, the union ministry said.
“The states’ revenues have been fully protected taking base year revenue as 2015-16 and providing a projected revenue growth rate of 14 per cent,” it said.
The GST collection in July was over Rs 95,000 crore, while in August, it was more than Rs 91,000 crore. September’s indirect tax collection stood at over Rs 92,150 crore.
Commenting on the fall in revenue, the government said it was the result of lowering of rates by the GST Council in their biggest revamp of the rate structure made in its last meeting.
“Since the overall incidence of taxes on most of the commodities has come down under GST, it would naturally have some implication on the revenues of the government.
“Since implementation of some of the main features of GST such as matching of returns, e-way bill as well as reverse charge mechanism have been postponed, the tax compliance may not be up to the mark,” it said.
Besides, because of the initial requirement of paying Integrated GST (IGST) on transfer of goods from one state to another state, there was an additional cash flow of IGST in the first 3 months.
“As and when the final transaction of these goods takes place, the credit for IGST is being utilized for payment of SGST and CGST and therefore, the inflow of new taxes is low,” it said.
A senior Finance Ministry official said that while tax compliance may not be up to the mark, the numbers would improve as various features of GST, earlier postponed, are implemented. (IANS)


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Acer Liquid Z630 DUO makes an appearance in a Belgian store starting at 200 EUR
We are currently waiting for the official release of the Acer Liquid Z630 – a budget smartphone part of the new Liquid lineup from Acer. It has quad-core 1.3 GHz Mediatek MT6735 processor, 1GB of RAM, 5.5-inch IPS HD (720 x 1280) screen, 8MP main and 8MP front-facing camera and a huge 4000 mAh battery.
All this will cost you just €199 and we know this thanks to two Belgian online retailers – Exellent and Art & Craft. Both seem to be offering the dual-sim version and we can’t wait to have our hands on the phablet and see how it stacks up against the fierce competition in the mid-range segment of the market.


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Incorporated in 1976, Bebe Stores (NASDAQ:BEBE) designs, develops and produces contemporary women's apparel and accessories. They market their products under bebe, BEBE SPORT and 2b brand names through their retail stores located in the United States, Canada and internationally licensed stores.
BEBE reported its Q3 fiscal 2014 results on May 8, 2014. Net sales were down 17.2% to $93.5 million from $112.9 million in the prior-year quarter. Comparable store sales for the quarter ended Apr 5, 2014, fell about 5.7%. Sales decline was primarily due to the loss of a retail week in January, coupled with the shutdown of 19 non-performing stores, since Q3 last fiscal year.
Results were also greatly impacted by adverse weather conditions, which led to nearly 136 temporary store closures. Moreover, the shift of Easter into late April had a negative impact on the company's Q3 sales. Net loss for the quarter was $24.3 million, or $0.31 per share, compared to prior-year quarter loss of $49.3 million or $0.62 per share.
For Q4, Bebe forecasts same store sales to be flat. Gross margin is expected to improve sequentially, while net loss is expected to be in the mid-teens per share range.
Estimates Revised Downwards
As a result of the earnings miss and weak guidance, analysts have been revising their estimates downwards in the last few days. Zacks consensus estimate now calls for a loss of $0.67 per share for the current fiscal year and a loss of $0.28 per share for the next year, compared to a loss of $0.46 per share and $0.16 per share respectively, 30 days ago.
The following "Price & Consensus" chart shows the downward estimates revisions for the stock:
Declining estimates sent BEBE to a Zacks Rank # 5 (Strong Sell).
Investors seeking exposure to "Retail-Apparel/Shoes" industry could look at Citi Trends (NASDAQ:CTRN), which currently enjoys a Zacks Rank # 1 (Strong Buy).
The Bottom Line
After remaining in a rather tight range for almost a year, this stock had seen unusual interest in February on reports that the company had hired a strategic advisor to explore a potential sale. But the investor optimism for the stock was short lived and the shares declined again after the retailer released its preliminary results for Q3 in late April.
Operating with a weak product line in a highly competitive industry implies that the company is unlikely to see better days anytime soon. Further recent retail sales numbers suggest that the sector still remains pressure and has failed to rebound after a brutal winter. The industry has a rather unimpressive Zacks Industry rank of 211 out of 265 (bottom 20%) currently.


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The Pixel 4 has several issues.
‘Motion Sense’ isn’t the greatest and the Pixel 4’s battery is too small. Another concern is we recently learned from savvy Android Reddit users that the device’s refresh rate drops from 90Hz to 60Hz once the device’s brightness is below 75 percent.
More investigation from the Android users discovered that if the location is still bright enough — with Ambient Lighting turned on — the phone will stay at 90Hz.
The Verge contacted Google about the concern, and the Mountain-View company supplied the publication with a statement.
“We designed Smooth Display so that users could enjoy the benefits of 90Hz for improved UI interactions and content consumption, while also preserving battery when higher refresh rates are not critical by lowering back down to 60Hz.”
In some conditions or situations, however, we set the refresh rate to 60Hz. Some of these situations include: when the user turns on battery saver, certain content such as video (as it’s largely shot at 24 or 30fps), and even various brightness or ambient conditions.
We constantly assess whether these parameters lead to the best overall user experience.
We have previously planned updates that we’ll roll out in the coming weeks that include enabling 90hz in more brightness conditions.”
This isn’t the only update Google will roll out for its pair of new flagships.
The Mountain View-based company will roll out another update that requires your eyes to be open for face unlock. That update will release in the coming months, but this refresh rate update should drop in the next few weeks, according to Google.
Source: The Verge
Correction: 10/24/2019: Refresh rate will drop when brightness dips below 75 percent, not battery.