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Nearly two-thirds of the auto industry's loan requirements are taken care of by the private and foreign lenders in the country, a report said on Tuesday. Referring to data dating back to June 2020, Crif High Mark, a credit information company, said state-owned lenders lead by loan volumes, accounting for nearly 35 per cent of the loans. In terms of value of the loans extended, private sector lenders have the largest share at 41.4 per cent, foreign banks accounted for 24.4 per cent and state-owned lenders came third with 19.6 per cent share, the report prepared by the company in association with Sidbi said. The auto industry had been facing problems because of the fall in economic growth and regulatory changes before the pandemic itself. From an asset quality perspective, the non-performing assets (NPA) ratio on the loans taken by auto and auto components industry declined to 9.59 per cent as of June 2020, the report said. It can be noted that starting March 2020, the RBI had given a six-month moratorium on loan repayments and allowed lenders not to recognize non-payments as NPAs. After the end of the relief period, the Supreme Court had ordered a standstill on loan recognition. Out of the total credit availed by the auto and auto components sector, term loans constitute 48 per cent, followed by working capital loans at 33 per cent and other funded credit facilities at 18 per cent, it said. As of June 2020, NPAs of term loans stand at 14.7 per cent while the same for working capital loans were at 5.2 per cent, the report said. There were total 1.29 lakh borrowers in the sector as of June, it said, adding that in terms of number of loans availed, 91 per cent was by micro, small and medium enterprises. The overall credit outstanding to the industry went up by 1 per cent in the June quarter to Rs 1.13 lakh crore, which is 12 per cent of the sectoral turnover of Rs 9.4 lakh crore. The top 8 automobile clusters together constitute 80 per cent of the credit portfolio as of June 2020, it said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

The newest venture of Royal Park Hotels and Resorts Company, Ltd. aims to connect travelers and locals in Kobe, a bustling city with sets of unique small shops and restaurants. Following recent launches in Osaka and Kyoto The Royal Park Canvas - Kobe Sannomiya is the group's first hotel in the Hyogo Prefecture further strengthening its presence in the Kansai area, on the West side of Japan. On January 21st, 2021 Royal Park Hotels and Resorts Company, Ltd. opens the doors of its newest hotel, The Royal Park Canvas - Kobe Sannomiya. With its stylish interior, the new 170-room Lifestyle Hotel wants to appeal particularly to couples and families who appreciate a stylish though authentic environment and like to connect with the local culture. Both interior and exterior design of the hotel embrace images of the ocean and the mountains which are surrounding the city. One of the hotel's prime features is an open structure, the "CANVAS Lounge", which links with the terrace. A great space to start or finish the day, providing tea and coffee, it is open to hotel guests and locals alike and meant to stimulate exchange and communication. The hotel is also planning events open for travelers and citizens such as Jazz performances, since Jazz music came to Japan through Kobe, other music events and maybe classes in local handicrafts. Kobe, globally known for the famous Kobe beef, is the 6th biggest Japanese city located in the Hyogo Prefecture, Kansai, the western part of Japan. Less than 40km from Osaka, the Port city, which was one of the first to open to foreign trade in the 19th century, has become increasingly po[CENSORED]r as a travel destination in Japan charming its visitors with a mix of cosmopolitan atmosphere and local Japanese traditions. Sannomiya is the center of Kobe city and the hotel is located in a bustling area with small quirky shops and restaurants. Kobe-Sannomiya has a history of traditional and unique shops as for example "Maxim". The famous hat shop established in 1940 has been providing headgear to Japan's Olympic athletes, airlines and the imperial family. The area Sannomiya is also well-known for its many varied international and Japanese eateries. Kobe is also known as the cradle of "Yoshoku" which is style embracing Western foods with a particular Japanese-style adaptation. It emerged first in Kobe with the opening of Japan to the West.

As President Donald Trump entered the final year of his term last January, the U.S. recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19. Not to worry, Trump insisted, his administration had the virus “totally under control.” Now, in his final hours in office, after a year of presidential denials of reality and responsibility, the pandemic’s U.S. death toll has eclipsed 400,000. And the loss of lives is accelerating. “This is just one step on an ominous path of fatalities,” said Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University and one of many public health experts who contend the Trump administration’s handling of the crisis led to thousands of avoidable deaths. “Everything about how it’s been managed has been infused with incompetence and dishonesty, and we’re paying a heavy price,” he said. The 400,000-death toll, reported Tuesday by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the po[CENSORED]tion of New Orleans, Cleveland or Tampa, Florida. It's nearly equal to the number of American lives lost annually to strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, flu and pneumonia combined. With more than 4,000 deaths recorded on some recent days — the most since the pandemic began — the toll by week's end will probably surpass the number of Americans killed in World War II. “We need to follow the science and the 400,000th death is shameful,” said Cliff Daniels, chief strategy officer for Methodist Hospital of Southern California, near Los Angeles. With its morgue full, the hospital has parked a refrigerated truck outside to hold the bodies of COVID-19 victims until funeral homes can retrieve them. “It’s so incredibly, unimaginably sad that so many people have died that could have been avoided,” he said. President-elect Joe Biden, who will be sworn in on Wednesday, planned to take part in an evening ceremony Tuesday near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington to honor the 400,000 dead. The bell at the Washington National Cathedral was set to toll 400 times. Other cities around the U.S. planned tributes as well. The U.S. accounts for nearly 1 of every 5 virus deaths reported worldwide, far more than any other country despite its great wealth and medical resources. The coronavirus would almost certainly have posed a grave crisis for any president given its rapid spread and power to kill, experts on public health and government said. But Trump seemed to invest as much in battling public perceptions as he did in fighting the virus itself, repeatedly downplaying the threat and rejecting scientific expertise while fanning conflicts ignited by the outbreak. As president he was singularly positioned to counsel Americans. Instead, he used his pulpit to spout theories — refuted by doctors — that taking unproven medicines or even injecting household disinfectant might save people from the virus. The White House defended the administration this week. “We grieve every single life lost to this pandemic, and thanks to the president’s leadership, Operation Warp Speed has led to the development of multiple safe and effective vaccines in record time, something many said would never happen,” said White House spokesman Judd Deere. With deaths spiraling in the New York City area last spring, Trump declared “war” on the virus. But he was slow to invoke the Defense Production Act to secure desperately needed medical equipment. Then he sought to avoid responsibility for shortfalls, saying that the federal government was “merely a backup” for governors and legislatures. “I think it is the first time in history that a president has declared a war and we have experienced a true national crisis and then dumped responsibility for it on the states,” said Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health care policy think tank. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tried to issue guidelines for reopening in May, Trump administration officials held them up and watered them down. As the months passed, Trump claimed he was smarter than the scientists and belittled experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top authority on infectious diseases. “Why would you bench the CDC, the greatest fighting force of infectious disease in the world? Why would you call Tony Fauci a disaster?” asked Dr. Howard Markel, a medical historian at the University of Michigan. “It just doesn’t make sense.” As governors came under pressure to reopen state economies, Trump pushed them to move faster, asserting falsely that the virus was fading. “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” he tweeted in April as angry protesters gathered at the state Capitol to oppose the Democratic governor’s stay-at-home restrictions. “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” In Republican-led states like Arizona that allowed businesses to reopen, hospitals and morgues filled with virus victims. “It led to the tragically sharp partisan divide we’ve seen in the country on COVID, and that has fundamental implications for where we are now, because it means the Biden administration can’t start over," Altman said. “They can’t put the genie back in the bottle.” In early October, when Trump himself contracted COVID-19, he ignored safety protocols, ordering up a motorcade so he could wave to supporters outside his hospital. Once released, he appeared on the White House balcony to take off his mask for the cameras, making light of health officials' pleas for people to cover their faces. “We’re rounding the corner,” Trump said of the battle with the virus during a debate with Biden in late October. “It’s going away.” It isn’t. U.S. deaths from COVID-19 surpassed 100,000 in late May, then tripled by mid-December. Experts at the University of Washington project deaths will reach nearly 567,000 by May 1. More than 120,000 patients with the virus are in the hospital in the U.S., according to the COVID Tracking Project, twice the number who filled wards during previous peaks. On a single day last week, the U.S. recorded more than 4,400 deaths. While vaccine research funded by the administration as part of Warp Speed has proved successful, the campaign trumpeted by the White House to rapidly distribute and administer millions of shots has fallen well short of the early goals officials set. “Young people are dying, young people who have their whole lives ahead of them,” said Mawata Kamara, a nurse at California’s San Leandro Hospital who is furious over the surging COVID-19 cases that have overwhelmed health care workers. “We could have done so much more.” Many voters considered the federal government’s response to the pandemic a key factor in their vote: 39% said it was the single most important factor, and they overwhelmingly backed Biden over Trump, according to AP VoteCast. But millions of others stood with him. “Here you have a pandemic," said Eric Dezenhall, a Washington crisis management consultant, "yet you have a massive percent of the po[CENSORED]tion that doesn’t believe it exists.”

A group of international AI researchers and data scientists have collaborated to design software capable of estimating the carbon footprint of computing operations. The open-source software package, called CodeCarbon was designed by a consortium of AI and data-science companies. The hope is that the software will enable and incentivize programmers to make their code more efficient and reduce the amount of CO2 generated by the use of computing resources. According to ITP, the new CodeCarbon software package was developed by a team of AI research groups lead by AI research company Mila, along with Comet.ml, Haverford College in Pennsylvania, and GAMMA. Not only does the software estimate the amount of CO2 produced by the use of computing resources, but it also provides developers with advice for reducing their carbon energy footprint. Training AI models can require a lot of energy. As explained by ArsTechnica, researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst estimated the total cost of creating and training certain AI models, and team found that training the natural language network BERT once generated approximately as much carbon as a round trip flight between San Francisco and New York. Meanwhile, training the model multiple times until it is optimized could generate as much CO2 as 315 different passengers taking that same flight. Why exactly do AI models consume so much energy and generate so much CO2 as a byproduct? Part of the answer lies in how AI models are trained and optimized. To get even small improvements over the existing state of the art algorithms, AI researchers might train their model thousands of times over, making slight tweaks to the model every time until an optimal model architecture is discovered. AI models are also growing in size all the time, becoming more complex every year. The most powerful machine learning algorithms and models like GPT-3, BERT, and VGG, have millions of parameters and are trained for weeks at a time, amounting to hundreds or thousands of hours of training time. GPT-2 had approximately 1.5 billion parameters within the network, whereas GPT-3 has around 175 billion weights. This ends up using hundreds of kilograms worth of CO2. CodeCarbon has a tracking mechanism module that logs the amount of power used by cloud providers and data centers. The system then uses data pulled from publicly available sources to estimate the volume of CO2 generated, checking statistics from the electrical grid that the hardware is connected to. The tracker estimates the CO2 produced for every experiment using a particular AI module, storing the emissions data for both projects and the entire organization. The founder of Mila, Yohua Bengio, explained that while AI is an incredibly powerful tool that can tackle many problems, it often requires a substantial amount computer power. Sylvian Duranton, Managing Director of the Boston Consulting Group, argued that computing and AI will continue to grow at exponential rates around the world. The idea is that CodeCarbon will help AI and computing companies restrain their carbon footprint as they continue to grow. CodeCarbon will generate a dashboard that allows companies to easily see the amount of emissions generated by the training of their machine learning models. It will also represent the emissions in metrics developers can easily understand, such as miles driven in a car, hours of TV watched, and typical energy consumption by a household in the US. The CodeCarbon developers expect that the software will not only encourage AI researchers to try and reduce their own carbon footprint, but that it will encourage greater transparency regarding emissions overall. Developers will be able to quantify and report on emissions generated by a range of different AI and computing experiments. The team responsible for creating CodeCarbon hopes that other developers will take their open-source tool and enhance it with new features that will help AI engineers and researchers curb their environmental impact even further.

NVIDIA launched their G Sync ultimate specification to quite some fanfare and it originally had extremely strict standards on the nit and gamut rating of the display but it looks like the company is lowering its standards (quite literally) to allow more monitors to meet the mark. While the level of nits required previously was VESA's HDR1000 standard (1000 nits), the new standard now accepts displays as low as 600 nits - which is almost half the luminance rating. NVIDIA responds to G-SYNC ultimate specification change: "G-SYNC Ultimate was never defined by nits alone nor did it require a VESA Display HDR1000 certification" Before we go any further, here is NVIDIA's statement on the change (via Videocardz): Late last year we updated G-SYNC ULTIMATE to include new display technologies such as OLED and edge-lit LCDs. All G-SYNC Ultimate displays are powered by advanced NVIDIA G-SYNC processors to deliver a fantastic gaming experience including lifelike HDR, stunning contract, cinematic colour and ultra-low latency gameplay. While the original G-SYNC Ultimate displays were 1000 nits with FALD, the newest displays, like OLED, deliver infinite contrast with only 600-700 nits, and advanced multi-zone edge-lit displays offer remarkable contrast with 600-700 nits. G-SYNC Ultimate was never defined by nits alone nor did it require a VESA DisplayHDR1000 certification. Regular G-SYNC displays are also powered by NVIDIA G-SYNC processors as well. The ACER X34 S monitor was erroneously listed as G-SYNC ULTIMATE on the NVIDIA web site. It should be listed as “G-SYNC” and the web page is being corrected. While it may seem like a cop-out from the company, it is worth adding that OLED displays do indeed offer infinite contrast (because the pixels are self-emissive) and incredibly deep blacks, and I would happily take an OLED with 600-700 nits over a non-OLED display with 1000 nits any day. That said, Advanced multi-zone edge-lit displays do not offer infinite contrast or deeper blacks and a VESA HDR1000 rated display will almost always outperform the former. NVIDIA has also mentioned that the rating of the display in question (which could only hit up to 550 nits) was accidental and it falls under the standard GSYNC category and not GSYNC Ultimate (even though GYSNC is powered by the GSYNC processor as well). All that said, a rating is only as good as the products in the market and since the market is clearly not ready to ship 1000 nit displays to everyone (at least not for a few years), it absolutely makes sense for NVIDIA to go down this route and bring more displays into their fold. With microLED in the works (a technology that can go up to 5000 nits brightness) to replace OLED, we probably only have a few years before the entire display market is disrupted anyway so I am not particularly miffed by their decision here. Until the bezel-less microLED displays become mainstream, OLED will be my preferred choice of display (and also my recommendation to anyone), even over a 1000 nit non-OLED display.

Returnal sees developer Housemarque going back to its arcade roots, and the game is shaping up well so far. This third person shooter blends together fast-paced, responsive gunplay with various rogue-lite elements, and we're hoping for an entertaining, highly replayable romp. It's Housemarque's biggest game yet, and we can't wait to play it for ourselves. Fortunately, it isn't too far away. In two months, the game will crash land on PlayStation 5, and we can all enjoy the terrifying time loop that main character Selene gets herself into. If you really can't wait and want to lay down some cash, pre-orders are open now. Well, they've been open for a little while, but we thought you'd be interested in seeing the pre-order bonus. Whether you pre-order physically or digitally via the PS Store, you'll secure yourself a pair of in-game suits for Selene. Pictured above, you'll unlock the ASTRA Model 9 Prototype Suit and the ASTRA Model 14 Tactical Suit. It's unclear at this point if these outfits grant any gameplay benefits, or if they just look cool. Given this is Housemarque and this is a crazy arcade action game, we wouldn't be surprised if they came with some sort of perk, but we'll have to wait and see.

Even the most ardent glass-half full defenders of the automotive industry might be getting a bit nervous as more existential surprises spring out of left-field. Automotive industry investors braved the coronavirus-inspired sales slump in 2020 hoping for a sharp “V” shaped recovery. The virus returned and the “V” was flattened, but long-range forecasts still promised sunlit uplands, soon. Now the industry has been blind-sided by another crippling, unscripted guest, a shortage of microchips. This seemed at first like maybe a month-long problem, but it could last until 2023, according to industry analysts at Fitch Solutions. At least these problems look solvable and promise a return to profitable business as usual. Except for this new bombshell from investment bank Morgan Stanley MS -1.6%. Traditional automakers seeking to revolutionize their production by switching from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles (EV) could be wasting their time because they will never shake off the long-term link with fossil-fuel burning. The danger from crippling law-suits alleging environmental damage makes investing in these so-called “legacy” manufacturers dangerous. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas put it this way in a recent research note, describing a talk with an Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) client. “Adam, the legacy (manufacturers) trying to launch their own EVs is like trying to plant a delicate orchid in a radioactive forest,” Jonas said. Jonas said in a report after a conversation about General Motors GM -3% and Ford, that as long as they represent a business that continues to make ICE vehicles, ESG investors would be unwilling to expose themselves to unquantifiable, and potentially compounding, environmental liability. AI 50: America’s Most Promising Artificial Intelligence Companies Those Hacked Source Code Breaches At Microsoft, Nissan, Mercedes Are Ominous Lessons For Self-Driving Cars AI: Empowering A Better Way To Do Business This would presumably apply across the board to all ICE makers. “We are just now beginning to engage with a new class of investors who believe that the value of the ICE business may actually be quite negative – potentially to the tune of a negative value that exceeds the market cap of the entire legacy auto company today,” Jonas said. Jonas adds this to his report. “We believe the chances of legacy (manufacturers) to successfully transition to EVs while being attached to the same company that continues to manufacture ICE vehicles may be remote,” Jonas said. Other experts take a similarly jaundiced view of the prospects for traditional automakers, assuming they will be swept away by upstart and well-funded high-technology companies like Apple AAPL -1.4%, Alphabet Inc’s GOOGL -0.2% Googl GOOG -0.2%e, or Amazon AMZN -0.7%. Not Bernstein Research analyst Arndt Ellinghorst, who expects great things from some traditional automakers in 2021. “We obviously object to this view and, interestingly, we receive an increasing number of calls where well-respected investors are questioning this (negative) narrative. Our conviction is that the autos multiple should improve in 2021,” Ellinghorst said. Ellinghorst believes auto shares are undervalued and prospects are good, and said this in a report. 1) On the back of our changed lifestyles, we all experience that "the car" is the personal mobility winner from the pandemic. 2) We also remain convinced that some traditional (manufacturers) will play a leading role in electric and connected mobility. 3) Industry self-help from improved pricing, cost management and capital allocation will support earnings and cash flows. Ellinghorst expects some traditional manufacturers will be able to handle the switch to electric vehicles and connected mobility when momentum hits full stride. But this might be derailed if the current chip shortage continues. Many big carmakers have announced month long slowdowns or stoppages in production. Investment bank UBS expects all major manufacturers will be hit in the first quarter of 2021. Fitch Solutions reckons it could be much more serious, and last for a couple of years. “It is difficult to say exactly how long the semiconductor shortage will last, however, by our estimates we believe the shortage could continue until the beginning of 2023,” Fitch Solutions said in a report. Fitch said the industry has failed to update its supply chains from the so-called “just-in time” model to a more diversified system, while next-generation vehicles demand more semiconductors and this could lead to a shortage of supply of vehicles posing a risk to sales growth, certainly in 2021. The shortage is hitting all the big auto makers in the U.S., Europe, China and Japan. We currently forecast that global vehicle production will rebound just 5% in 2021, from an estimated contraction of 19.3% in 2020,” Fitch said. Meanwhile there are plenty of positive sales forecasts out there, despite these negative noises. Investment researcher Evercore ISI EVR +0.6% is bullish. “Global growth is rebounding faster than expected after bottoming at a stronger-than-feared level. Unprecedented fiscal and monetary support coupled with human ingenuity in the form of vaccines, treatments, and personal safety measures mitigated the economic and market impacts of a once-in-a-century shock,” Evercore ISI said in a report. “Vaccine rollouts, a continuation of fiscal and monetary support and the general decline in uncertainty will contribute to economic momentum and strengthening fundamentals,” it said. French consultants Inovev expects European sales to increase about 9% in 2021 to 15.1 million, by 3% in 2022 to 15.5 million and hit 16.5 million in 2025. “We will not return to 2019 levels before 2030 in Europe. Globally, we will return to 2019 levels as early as 2024,” Inovev said in a report.

Lawrence Willington was born in India and raised in Saudi Arabia. His fitness journey started in 2007 and since then he has never stopped training. He believes that common people can stay fit & healthy and can maintain a good muscular physique with a normal daily diet. Hi, my name is Lawrence Willington. My goal is to have the most positive impact on the life of the people that I work with, helping them to become the healthiest & happiest version of themselves. I also want them to look the best they ever have this also covers performance, mindset, motivation and lifestyle. I started my fitness journey in 2007 and since then I have never stopped training. I tried to follow different generic programs and many different types of diets, taking all sorts of supplements, doing insane exercises yes they did gave me short term results but I could never sustain them as they were too restrictive, boring or just too hard to implement. But I finally found the right formula. That there is no right way the only right way is the one that works for you. With so much conflicting and contradictory information out there it can be very frustrating and confusing to know what to do. I have designed a program that can be done by everyone on daily basis no matter if you have full time job, busy parent, want to gain weight, want to lose weight young or old I can always find something that works for them. I am very passionate about helping people to find the right balance in their life. So that they can enjoy their lives to fullest whilst looking, feeling and performing how to they want to. I love working with people and being a coach. My goal is to make them understand that even with their busy lives they can maintain a healthy diet and a fitness training routine which will help them to be successful with their goals, because I believe it’s the best way to feel and perform. I give them something that is fun and easy to do, when it’s fun and easy you will want to repeat it. When you want to repeat it, then It becomes a habit and when it becomes a habit then it is a part of your lifestyle. I believe everyone deserves the right to good health and to be happy with themselves inside and out. My Goal is to promote holistic well being and the importance of fitness among the youth. Sports is a very positive outlet to utilize your energy and it helps to build healthy body and mind. Other social media accounts.

When the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign announced last summer it planned to bring its entire campus back in the fall by using an unproven test its own researchers developed, it was seen as a big gamble. But after a semester during which the school saw its positivity rate plunge below 1%, with no major outbreaks, hospitalizations or deaths, the university’s testing protocol has become a model. And despite a spike in cases nationwide, the self-developed test is helping UIUC feel confident there won’t be a huge spike in cases when students start arriving for spring semester this week. Across the nation, other universities took notice of UIUC’s success and are adopting the protocol. The University of Notre Dame started using the saliva-based tests in the fall, and the University of Wisconsin and Millikin University downstate are rolling out the protocol this month. State schools in Illinois are also partnering with the flagship university. Northern Illinois University started using UIUC’s testing protocol last week, and Illinois State University will begin using the tests as soon as it receives emergency authorization from the FDA, according to spokesmen from both universities. The World Health Organization chief on Monday lambasted drugmakers’ profits and vaccine inequalities, saying it’s “not right” that younger, healthier adults in wealthy countries get vaccinated against COVID-19 before older people or health care workers in poorer countries and charging that most vaccine makers have targeted locations where “profits are highest.” Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus kicked off WHO’s week-long executive board meeting — virtually from its headquarters in Geneva — by lamenting that one poor country received a mere 25 vaccine doses while over 39 million doses have been administered in nearly 50 richer nations. “Just 25 doses have been given in one lowest income country — not 25 million, not 25,000 — just 25. I need to be blunt: The world is on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure,” Tedros said. He did not specify the country, but a WHO spokeswoman identified it as Guinea. “It’s right that all governments want to prioritize vaccinating their own health workers and older people first,” he said. “But it’s not right that younger, healthier adults in rich countries are vaccinated before health workers and older people in poorer countries. There will be enough vaccine for everyone.” Read the full Associated Press story here. 9:27 a.m. Illinois’ positivity rate falls for 9th consecutive day Illinois’ seven-day positivity rate fell for a ninth consecutive day as another region’s coronavirus metrics improved enough to allow limited indoor dining. The statewide seven-day positivity rate dropped to 6.1%, the lowest that figure has been since Oct. 25. The improvement of that metric over the last week-and-a-half is significant because experts use it to gauge how rapidly the virus is spreading in the state. Last Sunday, Illinois’ seven-day average positivity rate was 7.9%. As a result of the state’s encouraging trend, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has started to loosen business restrictions for some of the state’s 11 regions, including Region 2, which joined Region 5 Sunday as the only two regions that have moved into Tier 1 mitigation. That means bars and restaurants in Region 2, which covers 20 north central counties, and Region 5, which covers most of the south counties, can resume limited indoor service. Other regions — including Chicago (Region 11) and its surrounding suburbs (Region 10) — are expected to move down to Tier 2 mitigation “in the coming days,” Pritzker said Friday. That will allow for larger venues, like casinos, museums and big-box retailers to increase their capacity, and bring back indoor fitness classes and recreation programs. New cases State health officials on Sunday announced 4,162 new and probable COVID-19 cases, which were found among the latest batch of 96,845 tests reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health in the last day. Health officials also reported an additional 29 virus-related deaths, including 24 recorded in the Chicago area over the last 24 hours. Analysis & commentary 1:52 p.m. Stop making driver’s license renewals a pandemic risk After months of practicing human avoidance, wearing a mask whenever outside, communicating with my children, grandchildren and friends only via the computer, and grocery shopping at times reserved only for seniors, you are requiring me to report to the nearest Driver Services Facility for road and vision testing before April 2021 when I turn 82 years old. May I suggest that my testing (and all seniors with spotless driving records) be delayed until we are vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. That should happen during this year. I don’t need to remind you about the skewed mortality rate by people my age during this pandemic. Hopefully, after I am vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and perhaps after your Driving Service employees are also vaccinated, we will be safe co-mingling with the mixture of people waiting, and often waiting for more than an hour, to be serviced at your Driver Service Facilities.

The best website builder for portfolios will make it easy to publish and manage your photographs and other artwork online. Creating a new website is a lot easier than it used to be – rather than learning HTML and CSS, you can just click and drag with your mouse and have something very professional-looking on the internet in minutes, and portfolio website builders are no different. The increased use of this software online means you've got a selection of the website builders for portfolios to choose from. However, with so many great selection of tools to choose from, it can be difficult to pick out the best portfolio website builders from a crowd of so many. To help you narrow down your choice, we've picked five portfolio website builders that offer a good balance of price points and features. All of these website builders for portfolios offer simple ways of customizing your pages once they're online, so you can regularly change the look of your work, and make sure your talents are always being well promoted on the web. Here then are what we think are the best portfolio website builders.Build your next website for as little as $12 per month With world-class designers creating templates for every use case, Squarespace can help make your idea stand out online. Get started with one of our best-in-class website templates and customize it to fit your needs. Use the exclusive Squarespace voucher code TECHRADAR10 to get that price on the cheapest package.VIEW DEWant your company or services to be considered for this buyer’s guide? Please email your request to desire.athow@futurenet.com with the URL of the buying guide in the subject line. We've also featured the best free website builders and the best website hosting services.

Thermaltake has announced new CPU coolers in its TOUGHLIQUID AIO Liquid cooler series. These new coolers are split evenly into the TOUGHLIQUID ULTRA and TOUGHLIQUID ARGB Sync cooler series. These AIO CPU coolers utilize the TOUGHFAN 12 high-performance fans and offer varying radiator sizes ranging from 240mm to 360 mm. The ARGB versions feature a price of $119.99 for the 240 mm up to $149.99 for the 360 mm, while the ULTRA models feature a price of $209.99 for the 240 mm model and $239.99 for the 360 mm. Thermaltake's new AIO coolers feature either RGB lighting or an LCD screen while featuring up to a 2,500 RPM fan speed Thermaltake has announced new CPU cooler models, two in the TOUGHLIQUID ULTRA CPU cooler series and two in the TOUGHLIQUID ARGB Sync Cooler series. The new ULTRA CPU coolers offer two sizes, either a 240 mm model or a 360 mm. While the ARGB Sync models three different sizes, a 240 mm size, a 280 mm size, and a 360 mm mod Kenny Lin, the CEO of Thermaltake, said, "Intuitive hardware monitoring and advanced personalization are what the THOUGLIQUID ULTRA series brings to the market; the important information like CPU temperature, frequency, and performance usage can be displayed in real-time on the smart 2.1" LCD monitor. Users can also personalize the display with GIF pictures or with custom RGB lighting modes through our RGB software. Thermaltake is giving PC builders even more customization options with this next-gen AIO watercooler." The ULTRA AIO coolers feature fantastic performance, with a fan featuring a maximum fan speed of 2,500 RPM. This fan utilizes a 2nd generation hydraulic bearing and LCP based for maximum cooling performance and quiet operation. While the ARGB CPU coolers are a much more budget-friendly version, having RGB lighting instead of an LCD screen. The ARGB CPU Cooler's fans feature a maximum fan speed of 2,000 RPM. The ARGB CPU coolers utilize the same fan bearing and blades as the ULTRA AIO Coolers. A two-year limited warranty will back these AIO coolers, and they are expected to be available in the USA and Canada in Q1 of 2021. The TOUGHLIQUID ULTRA AIO Coolers feature a price range from $209.99 up to 239.99, while the TOUGHLIQUID ARGB Sync features a price range of $119.99 up to $149.99.

And just like that, someone's created a mod for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition that makes the game run at 60 frames-per-second on PS5 (and PS4, kind of). The mod's author, MrWright, has posted a brief rundown of how it works over on YouTube, and it's safe to say that Skyrim has never ran better on PlayStation consoles. You read the headline correctly, by the way. As the mod's description explains, you can indeed have Skyrim running at 60fps without sacrificing Trophy functionality. Below is a quick step-by-step breakdown of how to get it working. Download and enable the 60fps mod Boot up a save (or start a new one) Quit back to the main menu (without closing the game entirely) Disable the 60fps mod in the mod menu Skyrim should now run at 60fps even without the mod enabled, allowing for Trophies (as long as you're not using any other mods) Repeat steps 1 through 5 each time you open Skyrim Again, if you have any other mods enabled, Trophies will still be unavailable. And yes, this mod does technically work on PS4 and PS4 Pro as well, but the results aren't nearly as noticeable compared to when the game's running on PS5 through backwards compatibility. So there you have it: Skyrim running at (around) 60fps on PS5. Are you tempted to return to the world of the Dragonborn with this mod? Shout in the comments section below.

Coupa Software's (NASDAQ:COUP) platform connects businesses with suppliers, helping them manage the way they spend money. This simplifies everything from purchasing inventory to making payments, creating operational efficiencies that lead to cost savings for customers and increased sales for suppliers. Last year, Coupa stock surged 132%, easily outperforming the broader S&P 500. But investors haven't missed their chance yet -- here are five reasons Coupa is still a good investment. 1. Software-as-a-service mode Coupa sells its software through a subscription model known as software as a service (SaaS), meaning it's distributed through the cloud. This has two benefits: First, it creates recurring revenue in the form of subscription fees, leading to a stable business. Second, SaaS businesses are cost-effective and highly scalable. This means Coupa can grow rapidly as its customer base expands, because the company incurs very little cost to support each additional customer. That also keeps Coupa's cost of revenue low, which results in a high gross margin. For example, Coupa's gross margin was 62% in its fiscal third quarter (ended Oct. 31, 2020), indicating the company has the potential to be very profitable. 2. Value for its customers The primary way Coupa creates value for customers is through cost reductions. The company's scale allows it to offer pre-negotiated discounts to customers, and it enables small buyers with similar purchasing needs to band together, using their collective buying power to get better prices. Customers also realize cost savings in other ways. For example, by digitizing the processes of procurement, invoicing, expense reporting, and supplier payments, Coupa's platform reduces duplicate or unnecessary purchases, simplifies invoice management, reduces the risk of fraud, ensures regulatory compliance, and helps control employee travel expenses. It even integrates multiple payment options through partnerships with companies, including JPMorgan, Mastercard, and PayPal. Likewise, by simplifying and automating various portions of these processes, Coupa helps its customers reduce labor expenses, which helps them save money and increase profitability. Artificial intelligence plays a part in how the company analyzes data gathered across its platform. Coupa calls this "Community Intelligence," and it enables the platform to make recommendations that help customers better manage their spending. For instance, Community Intelligence helps businesses reduce supply chain problems by recommending low-risk suppliers. It also helps businesses measure their performance compared to peers, find cost savings opportunities, and identify potential fraud on invoices or employee expense reports. Tying this together, customers would typically need a combination of competing products to achieve these same capabilities. But Coupa provides all of this functionality with one platform. That's why Coupa has been recognized as the leader in this market by both Forrester Research and Gartner. Investors should take note of this, because companies that provide meaningful value for customers are often rewarding investments. 3. Rapidly growing customer base Between fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2020, Coupa's customer base grew 37% annually. And in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, Coupa reported 1,000 customers with annual account values exceeding $100,000, a 33% increase from the previous year. This marks an acceleration from 24% growth in the second quarter. Also noteworthy, Coupa estimates that the average customer's lifetime value (the total amount of revenue the company realizes from a customer over time) is six times greater than the costs of acquiring that customer, meaning each new customer represents a 500% return on investment. 4. Strong network effect Coupa's platform creates a network effect that helps protect its business from larger rivals like Oracle and SAP. As more customers join Coupa, it increases the incentive for suppliers to join, and as more suppliers join, it further incentivizes new customers to join, and so on. This advantage becomes even more powerful over time. For example, as Coupa's customer base expands, so does the company's power to negotiate pricing discounts, which creates further value for customers. 5. Solid financial performance The ongoing focus on creating value for customers and the company's clear competitive edge have helped it grow revenue 186% and free cash flow 984% in the last three years -- much faster than its aforementioned competition. Investors should also note that while Coupa is not profitable, the company's ability to generate positive free cash flow is a good sign. It means Coupa can maintain and grow its business without needing to issue more debt or equity. Despite this strong growth, the company's trailing 12-month revenue was just $490 million -- that's less than 1% of its $56 billion market opportunity, according to management. In other words, Coupa still has plenty of room to grow in the coming years. A final word Investors should pay attention to Coupa's customer growth in the coming quarters. This metric is the primary driver of revenue and a key component of the company's competitive advantage. If growth slows, it could be a sign that the company is encountering challenges as it scales the business. However, Motley Fool co-founder David Gardner has a saying: Winners tend to keep on winning. That's why -- given Coupa's strong past performance and tremendous market opportunity -- this company still looks like a good long-term investment. Should you invest $1,000 in Coupa Software Incorporated right now? Before you consider Coupa Software Incorporated, you'll want to hear this. Investing legends and Motley Fool Co-founders David and Tom Gardner just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Coupa Software Incorporated wasn't one of them. The online investing service they've run for nearly two decades, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has beaten the stock market by over 4X.* And right now, they think there are 10 stocks that are better buys.

It looks like the tides have turned and Intel CPUs are now being sold at cheaper prices compared to AMD's Ryzen offering while featuring a higher number of cores and threads. The Core i9-10850K is the prime example of this which offers higher cores, threads, and clock speeds than AMD's 8 core & 16 thread Ryzen 7 5800X. Intel Core i9-10850K CPU With 10 Cores Now Cheaper Than AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X With 8 Cores The Intel Core i9-10850K was launched back in July 2020 for a price of $450 US. The chip was meant to be an alternative to the Core i9-10900K which was facing yield issues and supply shortages when it launched. Almost every tech outlet that had tested the chip called the Core i9-10850K as the best gaming CPU for its price and performance. It delivered the same performance as the expensive i9-10900K for $50 US lower and now, the chip can be found for a price of around $400 US which puts it in a very competitive position against AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X. The Intel Core i9-10850K can be seen listed at various retailers for a price lower than AMD's 8 Core Ryzen 7 5800X. The lowest price it's listed for is $399.99 US and that's over at Microcenter. Retailers including Amazon & Newegg have the chip listed for a lower price point than what it was being sold at launch. At Microcenter, the Ryzen 7 5800X is listed for $449.99 US which is $50 US higher than i9-10900K. Core i9-10850K CPU - $399.99 US (Microcenter) Core i9-10850K CPU - $419.99 US (Amazon US) Core i9-10850K CPU - $429.99 US (Newegg US) Core i9-10850K CPU - £429.98 (SCAN UK) Core i9-10850K CPU - £410.38 (CCL Online) Intel Core i9-10850K CPU Specifications Summing up the specs, the Intel Core i9-10850K CPU (BX8070110850K) features 10 cores and 20 threads. The final clock speeds for the chip are configured at 3.60 GHz base (3.70 GHz on the Core i9-10900K) & 5.2 GHz boost (5.3 GHz on the Core i9-10The TDP for the Core i9-10850K is the same as the Core i9-10900K, set at 125W (PL1) default state and 250W (PL2) boost state. The CPU is compatible with the LGA 1200 socket featured on both the Z490 and Z590 series motherboards.For this price, the Intel Core i9-10850K is an impressive chip considering it has more horsepower than the Ryzen 7 5800X at a lower price point and even offers better single-core performance than the more expensive Ryzen 9 3900X. The Ryzen 9 5900X on the other hand is on a whole different level but at the same time, costs much more too. With that said, Intel is going to launch its next-gen Rocket Lake CPUs in March with the new flagship 11900K CPU being the highlight but the recently leaked benchmarks point out that the 10 core 10th Gen parts might retain a slight edge over their Cypress Cove based successors.

While it’s been a dismal start to the year for PlayStation news, we at least had a Sony sizzle trailer from CES 2021 to exhaust our collective editorial effort on. In it, the platform holder included some small print which included target dates for a ton of titles, including Pragmata and Kena: Bridge of Spirits. While we didn’t expect many of the intended windows to stick, it was interesting to know what kind of schedule developers had attached to the projects. The platform holder must have gotten a few dissatisfied calls the next day, however, as its YouTube upload of the same trailer has removed all of the target dates from the end of the clip. Gematsu spotted the change with its eagle eyes So, what does all this mean? Well, nothing really. The dates were always just internal targets, and while they could be taken as an indication of roughly when to expect the games, they were never intended as confirmation. Like we said at the start of this article, it’s been a slow month so far, but we’re hoping things will pick up in the coming weeks.

The just-finalized merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and PSA Group is poised to raise the global profile of an under-the-radar chief executive who will lead a vast and massively complex carmaker with quiet intensity. The market debut this week of Stellantis, the group formed by the Italian-American and French auto manufacturers, will function as coming-out party for its leader, Carlos Tavares. He’s spent a 40-year career rising up the ladder of an industry that birthed the modern day celebrity CEO, engineering impressive turnarounds while largely going unrecognized taking commercial flights in and out of Detroit. The day's biggest stories Get caught up with the Evening Briefing. Email Enter your email Bloomberg may send me offers and promotions. Sign Up By submitting my information, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The wiry, hyperactive 62-year-old has shown little desire to be another Lee Iacocca, Dieter Zetsche, Sergio Marchionne or Carlos Ghosn. But whether he comes around to the spotlight or not, he’ll get much more of it steering an empire of roughly 400,000 employees and 14 brands into an uncertain future, where cars increasingly run off of batteries and software and the combustion engine meets its demise. “He’s not selling Carlos, and he doesn’t want to,” said Jim Press, an auto executive who worked with Tavares when the latter headed Nissan Motor Co.’s North American operations. “He develops people and organizations. The guy is a great businessman.” Automotive mega mergers have failed in simpler times. Before Daimler’s disastrous combination with Chrysler around the turn of the century, PSA’s archrival Renault acquired American Motors in a doomed deal the French company reversed from a little over a decade later. For Tavares to succeed with Stellantis, he’ll have to do more than just streamline and slash costs, the playbook he followed in bringing PSA back from the brink. The self-described “performance psychopath” also will have to prove his product chops and catch up on electrification in an era when little seems to matter more to investors. Racing Roots Born and raised in Lisbon, Tavares displayed his early passion as a 14-year-old volunteer at the Estoril track. He has since competed in more than 500 races as an amateur driver and has said he became an engineer because he lacked the talent and money to race professionally. He was scheduled to drive a Lancia Stratos at an annual rally in Monaco this month before Covid-19 forced its cancellation. After graduating from one of France’s top engineering schools, Tavares started his career at Renault in 1981. He headed up partner Nissan’s North America operations for two years before becoming No. 2 to Ghosn at Renault in 2011. In an unusual power play for a top job, he told Bloomberg News in 2013 that since Ghosn was planning to stick around, he would be interested in running General Motors Co. or Ford Motor Co. He left Renault within weeks and took the helm of almost-bankrupt PSA six months later. The French state and China’s Dongfeng Motor Group bailed out PSA by participating in a share sale and 3 billion-euro capital raise. Tavares pruned the model lineup, cut costs and raised vehicle prices. PSA turned its first annual profit in three years. He applied similar tactics with Opel and Vauxhall, the brands GM cast off to PSA in 2017 after racking up about $20 billion of losses over two decades. By slashing development spending and buying out thousands of workers, he swiftly pushed those operations into the black. “The Tavares factor was probably the most underestimated” of PSA’s 2014 turnaround plan, said Societe Generale auto analyst Stephen Reitman. “Opel Vauxhall was seen as maybe a step too far, but he proved that by patiently going around and reasoning with people, they would reconsider positions that had contributed to 20 years of losses.” Five-Slide Rule Bloomberg News spoke with half a dozen people who have worked closely with Tavares. They describe him as ultra-competitive with a dogged attention to detail. He doesn’t tolerate meetings starting late or dragging on and asks underlings to make presentations in five slides or less. Tavares shuns the annual gathering of business elite that Ghosn frequented in Davos, Switzerland, and shows up to glitzy car shows in scuffed-up dad shoes. He often spends weekends tinkering on cars at his suburban Paris home. As head of Stellantis, he’ll answer to dynastic shareholders -- the Agnellis, led by Chairman John Elkann, as well as the Peugeots -- and politics will play an outsize role. The French state will retain a stake in the merged company, and Italy’s deputy economy minister has hinted its government may acquire a shareholding as well. PSA’s outgoing Chairman Louis Gallois has said that since Tavares’s roots are in Portugal, where he owns a vineyard and small vintage-car business, he’ll be an effective neutral arbiter. Stellantis will be an amalgam of model lines with a strong presence in North America’s lucrative truck and SUV segments, thanks to Fiat Chrysler’s Ram and Jeep divisions. PSA’s revitalized Peugeot and Citroen brands also have excelled in Europe and are the envy of Renault. Yet Stellantis won’t have much of a foothold in the luxury-car business. The Alfa Romeo and Maserati lines are struggling and PSA’s DS is tiny. Fiat Chrysler and PSA also have stumbled in China’s vast auto market. “Tavares knows that if the Chinese market is a medium- or long-term goal, Europe is right now Stellantis’ most compelling challenge,” said Carlo Alberto Carnevale Maffe, a professor at Bocconi University in Milan. “He needs to act by cutting costs, recovering profitability and investing in a range of technologies.”

With over 50 per cent (564.5 million) of the Indian po[CENSORED]tion connected to the internet, the shift to 'activity' as opposed to 'location' has become more defined. According to a study every one-in-five respondent orders groceries from their beds or while browsing what is on the television, or even on their smartphones while travelling! "A New Sense of Place", a study conducted by Script (a Godrej Venture) reveals how technology is melding work and play for Indians across cities and generations. The report highlights transformations in lifestyle habits and consumer behaviour. For instance, the living room, which used to be the hub for evening gatherings and cable TV entertainment, is no more the primary choice to watch a movie or TV show. In fact, the survey revealed that 76 per cent admitted to not being in their living rooms if they were watching a show. The first choice of content consumption for both men and women are the bedroom, followed by the kitchen and dining room for only 22 per cent female respondents, and the living room for 26 per cent male respondents. This has, no doubt, given rise to new hangout spots: dining sets, comfy new recliners and sofas which extend to beds, and of course bean bags. Rajat Mathur, Business Head, Script, said: "Technology has brought about a freedom of living which was previously inaccessible. Mobile phones are now the primary screen for today's connected Indian consumers. As a brand, the objective of Script has always been to enable a fluid living experience. At present, people are unbound and empowered, in each moment, to choose the roles and identities that suit their mood, habit or quirk. The physical spaces we live in are now redefined and evolved to suit a multifunctional generation!" The study also found that the concept of a workplace, which has now evolved into a person's device, not the place they go to, is hiding interesting secrets! Nearly half of the respondents admitted to secretly watching content on OTT platforms while at work. Professionally employed Indians now spend 2.35 hours on social media during work hours, as compared to 1.15 hours spent on social media outside work. Also, half the respondents responded to personal messages during work meetings. Interestingly, "being at work" is not considered a bad thing - half of millennials and Gen Z'ers communicated with their bosses on social media while on vacation. At the same time, Indians are not shying away from taking work home - as 67 per cent millennials and 69 per cent Gen Z'ers responded to work-related messages and calls from home.

The vagaries of the Auckland weather created further drama in the America’s Cup challenger series on Sunday when American Magic capsized while in sight of their first victory. As the wind continued to test the sailers, unbeaten INEOS Team UK needed two attempts to beat Luna Rossa when their first race was abandoned after the strong breeze changed direction further than the allowable limit. Luckless American Magic held a commanding lead over Luna Rossa when it flipped the rounding final mark, flinging the crew into the water. All on board were safely accounted for but the multimillion-dollar yacht appeared significantly damaged and flotation devices were required to prevent it sinking. The havoc contrasted with racing the previous day when light winds saw the “flying” yachts spend almost as much time flailing about on the water rather than soaring above it. INEOS Team UK have won all four of their races, Luna Rossa has won two and American Magic are so far winless in the series to determine which of the 23-metre (75-foot) yachts — which fly above the water balanced on hi-tech foil arms — will challenge defending champion Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup.

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We’re hardly the first to make Grand Theft Auto-slash-Greater Toronto Area jokes, but the comparison is just too apt, here. At 2:30 pm January 13 in Burlington, Ontario, just west of Toronto, police tried to apprehend a car moving at a high rate of speed in a residential area in the east end of the city. The driver took off, but was spotted shortly after heading westbound on the QEW at Walkers Line, reaching speeds of approximately 180 km/h. He took to the shoulder, and was weaving in and out of traffic. Before police could catch up, the driver reportedly stopped his car in the centre westbound lane approaching the Skyway Bridge and got out, clogging and dodging four lanes of live traffic — should we mention the two and three lanes of merging traffic at this bend in the semi-truck-laden roadway? What to do? Why, he crossed the median on foot, of course, and commenced trying to hijack (allegedly, of course) vehicles in the eastbound lanes by first, trying to get them to stop, and then tugging on their door handles. A 43-year-old Burlington man was apprehended after a short foot chase “without further incident,” according to the report. But really. How many more incidents could he have added? He was charged with: Flight From Police Dangerous Operation Breach of Probation Breach of Release Order Possession of a Controlled Substance Halton Regional Police want to talk to anyone with information — 905-825-4777. So do I. I have questions. Who stops for a whackadoodle trying to break into your car? After you call the police, please, contact us at the paper. And please tell me you have a dashcam. Conveniently enough, this all played out within spitting distance of the OPP detachment.

There’s no doubt Genova has one of the best locations of any community in Southwest Florida. When it comes to onsite amenities, Genova once again surpasses all others. And as for quality of construction – one might say the resort-lifestyle’s luxury condominiums are SOLIDLY in the lead. “The quality of construction of our residential buildings was a major factor in many of our residents deciding to purchase a home at Genova,” said Sales Associate Karen Duncan. “They love the fact the buildings are solidly built, which in addition to its obvious benefits, has a side benefit as well.” That side benefit can be summed up in three words: Peace and Quiet. “When our residents are out and about, whether it be shopping, dining or running errands away from Genova, they are part of the hustle and bustle of Southwest Florida,” commented Duncan. “However, when they arrive home, unlock their front door and step into their residence, the outside world fades away and a calmness and quietness envelops them thanks in part to the materials and care taken during our building’s construction phase.” There are a number of reasons the residential buildings at Genova minimize outside noise. First, there is the concrete block construction and the poured concrete floors between levels. Secondly, it is very uncommon to find interior walls insulated, but all of them are at Genova. Add to that the eight-foot solid core doors, impact glass windows and sliding glass doors. “All together, these elements, construction materials, as well as other factors, help reduce noise and add to the peace and quiet our residents truly treasure,” adds Duncan. “Genova is a very fun place to live and play. But, if our residents need a little respite from their busy day – all they need to do is return home.” Duncan said the peace and quiet Genova offers is a much-appreciated selling point when potential buyers first inquire about the community. “As for discussing our quality construction and how it protects from the outside noise, you might say I give potential new residents some ‘sound’ advice,” smiled Duncan. Genova is perfectly located in Estero, just north of Bonita Springs and between Naples and Fort Myers. It’s within a short five-minute drive to Coconut Point mall, less than a 10-minute drive to Miromar Outlets and the Southwest Florida International Airport, as well as just a few minutes from the sugar sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Now is the perfect time to purchase a luxury residence at Genova. The incentive buyers received late last year has been extended into the new year. Buyers can receive $10,000 to $35,000 off options depending on the residence they purchase. “At Genova, buyers are loving the idea of saving money by moving into a condominium that lives like a luxurious single-family home,” said Duncan. “Combine the value of Genova with the incentives we’re offering and it’s an opportunity those searching for the perfect home shouldn’t miss.” Prospective buyers can witness firsthand the many design options, upgrades and single-family home features in Genova’s recently completed model located in Building D. The new model, which is the Spinola floor plan, is a two-bedroom/two-bath plan with 1,476 square feet under air and 2,336 total square feet. Priced from $389,000, the Spinola features a large great room, expansive outdoor living area, gourmet island kitchen, guest bedroom and bath en suite. "The spaciousness of these condominiums needs to be seen to be believed," Duncan said. "When you add in the fact that life here is maintenance-free, it's a win-win for our buyers." Like every Genova residence, the new model in Building D has a private, two-car garage with an 18-foot door, 24-foot depth and remote-control opener. Guest parking can also be found in the under-building garages. The floor plans at Genova also allow for modifications that potential buyers often seek, which many residents take advantage of. These include converting bedrooms to a home office or art studio, adding a double shower to the master bathroom, a multitude of finish options for the flooring, cabinetry and counter tops, combining rooms to make for larger great rooms and adding coffered ceilings and wall niches, which adds architectural interest and additional detail. “Our buyers are always very excited to hear that our floor plans and residences can truly be made their own through the endless upgrade options we offer,” said Duncan. “The flex room that is included in our floor plans gives residents a spare room to use for whatever best fits their needs: an extra bedroom, additional office space or hobby room. It affords them the ability to really showcase their individual personalities.” Each residence in Building E, which represents the final phase in the community, overlooks either a courtyard, atrium or lake, with a number of condos offering a combination. Seven floor plans are available ranging in size from two to four bedrooms and 1,476 square feet to 2,206 square feet. Prices range from the mid-$300s to the $700s. The location aside, the incredible list of amenities at Genova is reason alone to purchase here. An Italian Riviera-style clubhouse is the centerpiece of the community with an expansive gathering room equipped with a large-screen TV, lounge seating and a hospitality prep kitchen, ideal for hosting private events. There’s also a beach-edge, resort-style pool that overlooks one of the community’s lakes, a lakeside sundeck that overlooks Genova’s water features and a covered 25-meter lap pool, perfect for year-round swimming. The fitness center, which hosts classes, as well as private sessions, is a state-of-the-art facility. Adjacent to it lies the aerobics studio for exercise, yoga, Zumba and dance. Locker rooms with showers, as well as a sauna and massage room are also a part of the extensive amenity package. And finally, at the front entrance of the clubhouse, are two regulation bocce courts. Residents of Genova live an active lifestyle thanks to events that are hosted by the community’s resident life director. Currently, residents are able to attend socially distanced events like guest lectures and Food Truck Fridays. Potential buyers can visit the Sales Center and tour select residences Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Prearranged appointments are preferred, but not required. Genova is located at 21530 Strada Nuova Circle, #101, in Estero, at the intersection of Via Coconut Point Road and Corkscrew Road, between U.S. 41 and Three Oaks Parkway. Contact the Sales Center for more information on which floor plans are available to tour. To learn more about Genova’s luxury condominiums and incredible amenities, visit Genova-Florida.com or call 239-948-2929.

Scattered among the industrial brick buildings in St. Joseph, Missouri — once the starting point for the pony express — lies the story of government pandemic spending gone awry. Among nearly a half-dozen crumbling structures, some with signs posted that warn of conditions that “may present an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health or the environment" are lingering reminders about HPI Products Inc. That’s the local pesticide company that still has not cleaned up a mess it made over a decade ago. St. Joseph endured 25 years of HPI workers discharging industrial wastewater into the city’s sewer system. In 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered HPI to stop illegally storing hazardous waste in corroded drums and leaking in its warehouse. In 2009, the Department of Justice secured a guilty plea from HPI owner William Garvey in federal court for violating the Clean Water Act and hazardous waste storage laws. Garvey was sent to prison. The following year, the EPA obtained a consent decree against the company to pay cleanup costs. After the EPA violations, HPI Products Inc. was debarred — meaning it cannot seek federal contracts or financial assistance from the federal government — on Jan. 1, 2010. Despite its long history of mismanagement and eventual debarment, HPI was approved this spring for a $441,580 loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program, part of the federal government’s massive pandemic economic relief package, according to a review by NBC News. Companies debarred by the federal government are not supposed to receive these low-interest federally backed loans, according to the requirements for the PPP program. But the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis reported in September that it found more than 600 loans totaling over $96 million went to companies that were excluded from doing business with the government. Then on Jan. 11, the SBA’s inspector general reported the number of loans to debarred firms appears to be more than 950. But neither report named those companies. NBC News, which obtained the loan data under the Freedom of Information Act after a federal court ruling, was able to identify at least 60 debarred businesses worth $32.4 million that were approved for PPP loans. NBC News was among a dozen news organizations that together sued the SBA for release of the information under FOIA. House staffers were able to find more companies because they were given additional identifying information not provided by the SBA to news organizations. The SBA’s inspector general’s latest report said it found “serious concerns about improper payments” in the PPP program, including money going to debarred companies. It said enough still has not been done by the SBA to prevent these companies from getting loans and to prevent their loans from being forgiven. U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., chair of the House Select Subcommittee, said in a statement to NBC News, “The troubling findings by the SBA Office of the Inspector General are unfortunately consistent with the Select Subcommittee’s report in September that SBA approved hundreds of PPP loans to ineligible borrowers who had been debarred or suspended from federal contracting.” “Treasury and SBA must immediately improve oversight and accountability to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not squandered,” he added. “I’m hopeful that the incoming Administration will implement timely measures to improve oversight.” Dodging requirements Since the PPP program began, it has required companies seeking loans to confirmthey have not been debarred. An SBA spokesman said the burden is on companies to provide accurate information, not on banks or on the agency to verify that information. The agency can consider federal criminal or civil prosecution for misrepresentations on government loan application forms like not disclosing being debarred. But Justice Department records show no such cases yet, and the SBA was unable to point to any actions that have cited debarment as a reason for legal action. But the SBA said it is examining loan forgiveness applications and would reject requests from any debarred company it finds. “Debarment is one of those items that makes a borrower ineligible” for forgiveness, and they would need to repay the loan, an SBA spokesman said. With the latest round of PPP loans, approved Dec. 27 as part of a $900 billion economic package, SBA officials say they are trying harder to root out fraud. This time, the SBA is running a computerized check of each company seeking a loan. Applications will be screened by the agency through Treasury Department data systems to confirm the identity of the businesses. These computerized checks that should take less than a day would include confirming tax identification numbers and other information, according to an agency representative. Following the release of the inspector general’s report this week, the SBA said its efforts to better track fraud include working with the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay team to flag debarred firms. While the inspector general reported those steps are not yet fully in place, an SBA representative disagreed and said, “The guardrails are in place.” Debarment triggers Many of the companies NBC News identified were debarred by the EPA for violations of the Clean Air or Clean Water acts. Others were debarred by the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor and the General Services Administration. Recommended In Missouri, HPI has continued to prompt a variety of violations for the small city of St. Joseph. According to a lawsuit filed by the city on Nov. 30, 2020, separate from the EPA actions, HPI has not come into compliance with city code and continues to mix and store pesticides in its “increasingly derelict facilities.” “He has been so successful not complying,” said Janet Storts, a local activist. Told about HPI’s PPP loan, she noted that the company “just got another $400,000 for not doing it right.” EPA confirmed HPI is debarred following the criminal conviction under the Clean Water Act. In the case of HPI, the debarment is specific to the St. Joseph location where the offense occurred, the same location listed for the approved PPP loan. HPI did not respond to requests for comment. Pollutant problems Among other companies NBC News identified as receiving PPP loans and being debarred for EPA violations are Nupro Industries Corporation, an oil and lubricant manufacturer in Philadelphia whose Neatsfoot Oil products are used for caring for items like baseball mitts and horse riding saddles. It was approved for a $300,000 PPP loan even though it has been debarred since 2012. The company is required to monitor pollutants in its industrial wastewater by taking samples and testing for pollutants like pH and ethylbenzene, which can cause respiratory issues and dizziness with acute exposure. From 2006 to 2007, Nupro watered down its test samples to appear in compliance with the pollutant limits, according to EPA records. Nupro was criminally prosecuted and pleaded guilty and paid a $200,000 fine. A.J. Berg, director of operations at Neatsfoot Oil Refineries Corporation, a subsidiary of Nupro, told NBC News the issue had been resolved. But he did not clarify which issue and did not respond to follow-up questions. Continued headaches In the meantime, the city of St. Joseph is still struggling to clean up the mess that HPI has left. Garvey still owns at least 11 buildings in St. Joseph. A third building the company previously owned was in disrepair, and the city spent two years trying to get the company to repair the roof to no avail. After a storm in 2017, the facade of the building collapsed. HPI did not pay for the demolition of the building and instead the city dug into its own funds, spending $390,000. Money was pulled from three funds including the state’s casino gaming initiative, which goes toward Save Our Heritage grants. These grants help owners of historic buildings in the city to make structural and exterior repairs. But the city keeps hoping for some justice. Aimee Davenport, the attorney representing St. Joseph in its current suit against HPI, said in the lawsuit the city is asking for past damages and fees associated with city compliance violations. “It’s an economic harm, public safety issue, and environmental issue. All of it,” Davenport said. “We’re trying to get them back into compliance for the protection of all of it as soon as possible.”