text:
Home Guide to Opisthobranchs Aplysiida Akera bullata
Akera bullata O. F. Müller, 1776
Akera bullata (blue) @ Etang de Thau, France by Pascal Girard
Akeroidea
Akeridae
Akera
Acera bullata (Müller O.F., 1776)
Acera bullata var. nana Jeffreys, 1867
Acera elegans Locard, 1886
Aceras elegans Locard, 1886
Akera flexilis Brown, 1844
Bulla akera Gmelin, 1791
Bulla elastica Danilo & Sandri, 1856
Bulla farrani Norman, 1890
Bulla fragilis Lamarck, 1822
Bulla hanleyi Adams A. in Sowerby G.B. II, 1850
Bulla norwegica Bruguière, 1792
Bulla resiliens Donovan, 1801
Eucampe donovani Leach, 1847
With a maximum reported length of about 60 mm, it has an elongated body provided with two large parapodial lobes. Body is coloured pale grey to orange, often streaked anteriorly with blotchy lines of purplish-brown, covered with white and dark spots. The head is indented in the front part, somewhat expanded laterally to form flattened tentacular lobes. The eyes are located in the periphery of the head. The shell is large, up to 40 mm, bubble-like, fragile, glossy, up to six characteristic whorls forming a rather flat spire. The shell cannot contain the entire body of the animal and it is visible from its rear side. The mantle ends at the back with a thin and long appendage which protrudes from the shell.
Classified as a primitive Anaspidea, it has a life form resemblant to Cephalaspidea, as the front of the animal's body is intended for digging and, in fact, this sea slug spends most of its life buried in mud or silt, only coming out during the breeding season. During mating season (March and April in the Mediterranean) these animals can be found forming long chains of individuals crawling the sea bottom. The egg spawn is formed by a tangled light yellow cord, similar to the spawn of sea hares but thinner, less bulky and lighter in color. The large parapodial lobes cover the lateral and dorsal areas of shell when the animal is at rest, but they are used for evasive swimming action when disturbed. When it swims, due to its bulky shell, it does so in a very particular way, with the head up, the shell down and the parapodia forming a moving "skirt" around the animal. It feeds on algae, as do other sea hares.
Akera, god from Egyptian mythology, symbol of the earth and more particularly of the underground life. Originally represented by a piece of earth with a human head, later representations show two opposite man heads or two opposite lion heads. It could also be from Greek [Ker] = horn and [a] privative: could also mean that has no body processes as most other sea hares do.
Bullata, from Latin "Bullatus", meaning "inflated", "water-bubble like", "empty", in reference to its shell.
It is present in NE Atlantic waters, from Norway to the Canary Islands, Madeira and Azores, also along the Mediterranean Sea. Present in all Iberian waters. In Catalonia it has been found in the Bay of Roses, and in the Ebro Delta.
Known georeferenced records of the species: Akera bullata
This species closely resembles many species of the genus Haminoea, both are physically similar and live in a similar substrate, but Akera has a more elongated body, with far larger parapodia, and egg size and shape are fundamentally different from those of Haminoea. Also the shell of Akera has 6 turns, while Haminoea has far less turns. The eyes of Haminoea are located close to the center of the head, while in Akera they are on the periphery of the body. Differentiation is often difficult because literature is scarce.
Eastern Mediterranean: ★☆☆☆☆
Atlantic Ocean: ★★☆☆☆
This chart displays the monthly observation probability for Akera bullata based on our own records.
1246567 Akera bullata items 1 entomological-society-of-america author asc 1 https://opistobranquis.info/wp-content/plugins/zotpress/
Adams, A. 1850. Monograph of the family Bullidae. G.B. Sowerby II (ed.), Thesaurus Conchyliorum, vol. 2: 553-608, pl. 119-125.
Altimira, C. 1977. Moluscos testáceos recolectados en el litoral de la parte norte de la provincia de Gerona (Mediterráneo occidental español) 2a parte. Investigación Pesquera 41 (3): 569-573.
Ballesteros, M., and J. Templado. 1996. Opistobranquios de las islas Baleares y de las Columbretes In: Libro de Résumenes XI Congresso Nacional de Malacología. D. Moreno (ed.): 40-41. Sociedad Española de Malacología. Almería, Spain.
Brown, T. 1844. Illustrations of the Recent Conchology of Great Britain and Ireland, with the Description and Localities of all the Species, Marine, Land, and Fresh Water. Drawn and Coloured from Nature. Second Edition, Greatly Enlarged. Smith, Elder & Co.
Bruguière, J. G. 1789. Encyclopdie méthodique ou par ordre de matières. Histoire naturelle des vers. Pancoucke, Paris. Vol. 1, part 1, p. 1-344 [june 1789]; Vol. 1, part 2, p. 345-758 [13 Feb. 1792; dates after N. EVENHUIS, 2003, Zootaxa, 166: 37; Zootaxa, 207]; Atlas pl. 1-189 [1791]; pl. 190-286 [1797] pl. 287-390 [1798] pl. 391-488 [1816: edited by Deshayes].
Danilo, F., and G. B. Sandri. 1856. Elenco nominale dei gasteropodi testacei marini raccolti nei dintorni di Zara. Zara.
Di Pompeo, D. 2002. "L'Akera bullata". Supplemento al Bollettino Malacologico 38(1-4):18-19; 2 illus.
Donovan, E. 1801. The natural history of British shells, including figures and descriptions of all the species hitherto discovered in Great Britain, systematically arranged in the Linnean manner,with scienfific and general observations on each. Printed for the author, and F. & C: Rivington, London : vol. 1 [1800], pl. 1-36; vol. 2 [1801], pl. 37-72; vol. 3 [1801], pl. 73-108; vol. 4 [1803], pl. 109-144; vol. 5 [1804], pl. 145-180, all with unpaginated text and indexes.
García-Gómez, J. C., J. L. Cervera, F. J. García, J. A. Ortea, S. F. García-Martin, A. Medina, and L. P. Burnay. 1991. Resultados de la campaña internacional de biología marina "Algarve 88": moluscos opistobranquios. Bollettino Malacologico 27 (5-9): 125-138.
Gmelin, J. F. 1791. Vermes. In Gmelin J.F. (Ed.) Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Editio Decima Tertia, Aucta Reformata. Tome 1, Pars 6 (Vermes). E. Beer, Lipsiae [Leipzig], pp. 3021-3910.
Göbbeler, K., and A. Klussmann Kolb. 2010. Out of Antarctica?-New insights into the phylogeny and biogeography of the Pleurobranchomorpha (Mollusca, Gastropoda). Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution. 55: 996–1007.
Göbbeler, K., and A. Klussmann Kolb. 2010. The phylogeny of the Acteonoidea (Gastropoda): molecular systematics and first detailed morphological study of Rictaxis punctocaelatus (Carpenter, 1864). Journal of Molluscan Studies. 76: 303–316.
Hidalgo, J. C. 1917. Fauna malacológica de España, Portugal y las Baleares. Trabajos del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales. Serie Zoología (Madrid) 30: 752 pp.
I.C.Z.N. 1959. Opinion 539. Protection under the Plenary Powers of the specific name bullata Müller (OF), 1776, as published in the combination Akera bullata (Class Gastropoda). Bull Zool Nomencl. 20(pt.6): 65-76.
Jeffreys, J. G. 1862. British Conchology. London, van Voorst : Vol. 1: pp. CXIV + 341 [1862]. Vol. 2: pp. 479 [1864] Il frontrespizio reca la data 1863 ma in effetti pubblicato nel 1864. Vol. 3: pp. 394 [1865]. Vol. 4: pp. 487 [1867]. Vol. 5: pp. 259 [1869]. J. Van Voorst.
Leach, W. E. 1852. A synopsis of the Mollusca of Great Britain. John van Voorst. London: 376 pp.
Locard, A. 1886. Prodrome de malacologie française. Catalogue général des mollusques vivants de France, 2. Mollusques marins. .: iv, 1-778.
Malaquias, M. A. E., J. Mackenzie-Dodds, P. Bouchet, T. M. Gosliner, and D. G. Reid. 2009. A molecular phylogeny of the Cephalaspidea sensu lato (Gastropoda: Euthyneura): Architectibranchia redefined and Runcinacea reinstated. Zoologica Scripta 38(1): 23-41.
Moreno, D., and J. Templado. 1998. Nuevas aportaciones al conocimiento de los opistobranquios del sureste español. II. Iberus 16 (2): 39-58.
Morton, J. E. 1972. The form and functioning of the pallial organs in the opisthobranch Akera bullata with a discussion on the nature of the gill in Notaspidea and other tectibranchs. Vel 14(4): 337-349.
Müller, O. F. 1776. Zoologica Danicae Prodromus seu Animalium Daniae et Norvegiae indigenarum characters, nomine, et synonyma imprimis popularium. Havniae. XXXII, 274 pp.
Oskars, T. R., P. Bouchet, and M. A. E. Malaquias. 2015. A new phylogeny of the Cephalaspidea (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia)based on expanded taxon sampling and gene markers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 89 (2015) 130–150.
Ozturk, B., A. Dogan, B. Bitlis-Bakir, and A. Salman. 2014. Marine Molluscs of the Turkish Coasts: An Updated Checklist. Tübitak, Turkish Journal of Zoology 38.
Prkić, J., A. Petani, Ð. Iglić, and L. Lanča. 2018. Stražnjoškržnjaci Jadranskoga Mora: Slikovni Atlas i Popis Hrvatskih Vrsta / Opisthobranchs of the Adriatic Sea: Photographic Atlas and List of Croatian Species. Ronilaćki Klub Sveti Roko, Bibinje.
Riedl, R. 1983. Fauna und Flora der Mittelmeeres, ein systematischer Meeresfuhrer fur Biologen und Naturfreunde, 836 pp. Paul Parey, Hamburg & Berlin.
Rinaldi, E. 1988. Primi rinvenimenti di Akera bullata OF Mueller, 1776 sulla costa Romagnola. Boll. Malacologico 24(1-4): 25-26.
Rudman W.B. et al. 1998. Akera bullata accessed through: Sea Slug Forum on 2014-12-14. (http://seaslugforum.net/showall/akerbull).
Rufray, X., P. Girard, S. Le Bris, T. Menut, C. Santarelli, and X. Salvador. 2021. Liste commentée des limaces de mer de la lagune de Thau, Hérault. Les cahiers de la fondation Biotope. 36: 1–189.
Smith, I. 2012. Akera bullata accessed through: The Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland on 2015-05-18. (http://www.conchsoc.net/spaccount/Akera-bullata).
Thompson, T. E., and D. R. Seaward. 1989. Ecology and taxonomic status of the aplysiomorph Akera bullata in the British Isles. J. Molluscan Stud. 55:489-496.
Thompson, T. E., and D. R. Seaward. 1986. Observations on the opisthobranch mollusc Akera bullata in the Fleet, Dorset; pp.17-22 In: Biology of the Fleet, Dorchester, Dorset Council.
Toll, L., and M. Ballesteros. 2017. "Opistobranquios" (Mollusca: Gastropoda) de la colección malacológica Lluís Dantart. Spira 6 (2017): 171–184.
Valdés, Á., and K. Barwick. 2005. First record of Akera Müller, 1776, from the Eastern Pacific, with the description of a new species. The Nautilus 119(1): 43-49.
European Sea Slugs by Morddyn
Marine Species Identification Portal
Pontes, Miquel, Manuel Ballesteros, Enric Madrenas (2023) "Akera bullata" in OPK-Opistobranquis. Published: 13/08/2014. Accessed: 01/02/2023. Available at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/DFZi1)


International desk – Indian election commission has stopped the release of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi until the country's national polls are over as the commission believes making public the film may vitiate the election level playing field.
Directed by Omung Kumar, the biopic "PM Narendra Modi" depicted Modi's courage, wisdom, patience, dedication to his people, political strategy and leadership was supposed to release on April 11.
"Any biopic has the potential to disturb the level playing field during the election should not be displayed in the electronic media," the commission was quoted by Indian broadcaster NDTV.
The staggered national election of India is set to begin on Thursday.
The commission, in its order outlining its decision, said it was vital that "the power of media is not used in such a manner which affects the general conduct" of the elections, reported the broadcaster.
Any complaints on this matter will be examined by a panel headed by a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge, the election commission said.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to consider a petition by a Congress leader seeking to stop the release of the film.
"Too much of court time is wasted on these non-issues," the court observed.
The top court also said it was for the Election Commission to decide if the film tilted the balance in favour of the ruling BJP, as alleged by the opposition Congress.
The film's release close to the national election violated the code of conduct, alleged the Congress, which earlier told the Election Commission that the film was "no artistic venture. It is a political venture".
The Congress responded, saying it's a "bogus film of a flop hero, a flop producer and is made on a flop person who has proved to be a zero", according to NDTV.


OXFORD, Miss. – For the first time, scientists have observed ripples in the fabric of space-time called gravitational waves, arriving at the earth from a cataclysmic event in the distant universe. This confirms a major prediction of Albert Einstein's 1915 general theory of relativity and opens an unprecedented new window onto the cosmos.
The gravitational waves were detected at 4:51 a.m. Sept. 14, 2015 by both of the twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory detectors in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington. The LIGO Observatories are funded by the National Science Foundation and were conceived, built and are operated by the California Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The discovery, accepted for publication in the journal Physical Review Letters, was made by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes the GEO Collaboration and the Australian Consortium for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy, and the Virgo Collaboration using data from the two LIGO detectors.
The black holes collided with each other at nearly half the speed of light, said Katherine Dooley, UM assistant professor of physics and astronomy and senior member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.
LIGO research is carried out by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, a group of more than 1,000 scientists from universities around the United States and in 14 other countries. More than 90 universities and research institutes in the LSC develop detector technology and analyze data; approximately 250 students are strong contributing members of the collaboration.
UM has been a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration since 2007. Cavaglià founded the group at UM and has contributed to understanding artifacts of the instrument data that come from sources other than gravitational waves, a critical component for being able to positively identify a gravitational wave signal. Since 2012, Cavaglià has served as the collaboration's assistant spokesperson.
Dooley joined UM this past fall after having worked for over nine years on building and improving the LIGO and GEO600 detectors. The detectors use laser light to measure infinitesimal changes in the distance between mirrors mounted 2-1/2 miles (4 kilometers) apart.
"The detected gravitational waves changed this distance by one-billionth of a billionth of a meter, about one-thousandth the diameter of a proton," Dooley said. She designed techniques to control the angular pointing of the laser beam, helping push the limits of the precision measurement technology that was needed to make this detection possible.
Cavaglià, Dooley, UM post-doctoral research assistant Shivaraj Kandhasamy and three doctoral students from the UM-LIGO team are among the authors of the discovery paper. The UM LIGO team also includes a master's student, an undergraduate and three undergraduate exchange students from Italy.
The entire university community shares in the excitement of this extraordinary achievement, UM Chancellor Jeffrey S. Vitter said.
The discovery was made possible by the enhanced capabilities of Advanced LIGO, a major upgrade that increases the sensitivity of the instruments, compared to the first-generation LIGO detectors, enabling a large increase in the volume of the universe probed – and the discovery of gravitational waves during its first observation run.
LIGO was originally proposed as a means of detecting these gravitational waves in the 1980s by Rainer Weiss, MIT professor emeritus of physics; Kip Thorne, Caltech's Richard P. Feynman Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Physics; and Ronald Drever, Caltech professor emeritus of physics.
The LSC detector network includes the LIGO interferometers and the GEO600 detector. The GEO team includes scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), Leibniz Universität Hannover, along with partners at the University of Glasgow, Cardiff University, the University of Birmingham, other universities in the United Kingdom and the University of the Balearic Islands in Spain.
Several of the key technologies that made Advanced LIGO so much more sensitive have been developed and tested by the German UK GEO collaboration. Significant computer resources have been contributed by the AEI Hannover Atlas Cluster, the LIGO Laboratory, Syracuse University and the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.
Several universities designed, built and tested key components for Advanced LIGO: The Australian National University, the University of Adelaide, the University of Florida, Stanford University, Columbia University in New York and Louisiana State University.
Virgo research is carried out by the Virgo Collaboration, consisting of more than 250 physicists and engineers belonging to 19 different European research groups: six from Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in France; eight from the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare in Italy; two in The Netherlands with Nikhef; the Wigner RCP in Hungary; the POLGRAW group in Poland and the European Gravitational Observatory, the laboratory hosting the Virgo detector near Pisa in Italy.
For more information on the UM LIGO team, go to http://ligo.phy.olemiss.edu/.


The traditional pilgrimage to Our Lady's island of Zečevo Traditionally pilgrims are going to the island of Zečevo by boats or on foot to celebrate the apparition of Our Lady on 5th May.
Traditionally pilgrims are going to the island of Zečevo by boats or on foot to celebrate the apparition of Our Lady on 5th May. Miraculous apparition occurred in 1516, and shepherdess Jelena and numerous witnesses confirmed this miracle celebrated more than 500 years. Numerous customs, stories and legends are associated with the apparition. For believers, this is an interesting event that connects us with the past, but also gives us new strength for the future, and every year processions to the island of Zečevo are organized in May and August.


Discussion in 'Icons From The Past' started by loonaka, Apr 12, 2009.
I wasn't sure if I should post this thread here or in the music section, but I think they all had such an amazing style and that's the reason for deciding to post it here, but feel free to move it.
The GTOs were a "groupie group" that consisted of Miss PamelaSunset Strip scene. Their only album, Permanent Damage, was released in 1969.
(Pamela Des Barres, née Miller), Miss Sparky (Linda Sue Parker), Miss Lucy, Miss Christine (Christine Frka), Miss Sandra (Sandra Leano), Miss Mercy (Mercy Fontentot) and Miss Cynderella (Cynthia Wells). The group hailed from the area around Los Angeles in the late 1960s, with most of the girls being denizens of the Miss Pamela and miss Sparky met while attending Cleveland High School. Miss Christine had travelled to LA from San Pedro with Miss Sandra, and both lived in the basement of Frank Zappa's log cabin in the mid 1960s. Miss Christine was the live-in nanny for Zappa's children, Dweezil and Moon Unit, before Miss Pamela took over the position during the late 1960s. Miss Mercy had emigrated from the Haight Ashbury hippie scene to LA due to "boredom", alleging she "couldn't be a hippie forever". Miss Cynderella was an addition to the group brought by Mercy after the nucleus of the group had been formed. This accounts for Cynderella's presence in some, but not all of the GTOs publicity shots.
i read ms. des barres book about being a groupie and about her time in the GTO's "im with the band". i highly recommend it.
Yeah me too, I loved the book!!
I'm fairly certain that last photo is of French actress Mireille Darc from a film she did in the Sixties.


In the United States, there are only three poisonous spiders, the black or brown widow and the brown recluse. The bites of both spiders can be life threatening to your dog.
The black widow is known to most people. Another related spider is the brown widow, which also has the characteristic hourglass on the bottom of the abdomen The spider may bite and not inject venom, or may inject a full load of venom. The venom is a potent neurotoxin, opening channels at the presynaptic nerve terminal and causing massive release of acetylcholine and norepinephrine, both of which can cause sustained muscular spasms and paralysis. It causes one or more of the following symptoms: paralysis, muscle tremors and cramping, abdominal rigidity, severe muscle pain, manifested by howling, whining, and other loud cries, trouble breathing, excessive drooling, restlessness, increased blood pressure and heart rate, inability to stand, vomiting, diarrhea, and death. This is an extremely painful event for the dog. Immediate treatment is necessary.
Older dogs and young dogs are more at risk of dying. Dogs with high blood pressure or heart problems also die at a higher rate than healthy dogs.
Diagnosis of the bite is difficult because so many other things can cause each of these symptoms in isolation. The veterinarian will take a blood sample and urinalysis, and perhaps a stool sample. If the dog has vomited up a spider, take it with you to the veterinarian for identification. The veterinarian will also look for a bite site, localized swelling and fang marks.
This situation is very serious. The dog will be hospitalized and the symptoms treated. Intravenous fluids, anti-venom, anti-spasmodics, and pain medicine will be administered. The dog will need to be monitored to make sure that these medications are helping. Once he leaves the hospital, the veterinarian will examine the wound site once a week until it is healed. Weakness, fatigue, and insomnia may persist for months, and the dog may die from the bite.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to prevent this problem. Black and brown widows like to hide in dark corners and under things. Eliminating the spiders will help protect your dog.
The brown recluse is also a dangerous spider. These spiders are reclusive and non-aggressive. They typically bite when trapped in bedding and a human or dog rolls over on them. The bite then causes a reaction at the site of the wound where the tissue dies. This necrotic wound can spread and is very slow to heal, leaving the dog vulnerable to infections. Occasionally, the wound becomes gangrenous. If the venom happens to be injected into the blood stream it can cause this necrotizing problem in internal organs. The faster the wound is diagnosed, the better the chance that the damage can be minimized.
The veterinarian will take a through history of the dog from you. The wound can mimic other types of wounds, so a history is necessary. Blood analysis, urinalysis, and the presence of venom in the bloodstream will tell the veterinarian that the bite is from a brown recluse. The test for venom in the bloodstream is not used unless the veterinarian suspects a brown recluse bite.
A mild case of poisoning will be treated with routine wound care. Severe poisoning may require the excision of the wound site to stop the necrotizing of the site.


With trustworthy excellent method, very good standing and excellent client provider, the series of items produced by our firm are exported to many countries and regions for Gas Powered Hydraulic Power Unit , Gas Powered Hydraulic Power Packs , Motorized Hydraulic Power Units , we now have realized the importance of supplying high quality products and also the greatest before-sales and after-sales services.
"We support our consumers with ideal good quality merchandise and large level provider. Becoming the specialist manufacturer in this sector, we have attained wealthy practical encounter in producing and managing for Gas Powered Hydraulic Power Unit , Gas Powered Hydraulic Power Packs , Motorized Hydraulic Power Units , We believe that good business relationships will lead to mutual benefits and improvement for both parties. We've got established long-term and successful cooperative relationships with many customers through their confidence in our customized services and integrity in doing business. We also enjoy a high reputation through our good performance. Better performance is going to be expected as our principle of integrity. Devotion and Steadiness will remain as ever.


text:
No 10 demands trains without guards as rail strike talks intensify
Chris Price
December 5, 2022, 11:44 a.m. ·38 min read
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch - Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Ministers are facilitating eleventh-hour talks with rail unions as demands for driver-operated doors emerge as a major sticking point.
Train operators and representatives from the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union (RMT) are today locked in discussions after an 8pc pay rise was rejected on Sunday evening.
Government sources said ministers were working in the background to help facilitate a resolution. Representatives for train operators are leading the talks, however, they added.
Union leaders were left enraged on Sunday evening after train operators made the nationwide implementation of driver-operated doors as a condition of an 8pc pay deal.
Industry sources said that driver-operated doors, which negates the need for a guard on-board some services, was a "red line" for unions.
"They would not agree to a 20pc pay rise if that was left in there," a source said.
Train operators and unions are now frantically trying to find a breakthrough before the end of play today, when strike rosters for next Tuesday's industrial action are effectively set in stone.
That's all for today. Thanks for following along and tune in again tomorrow for more market updates. Before you go, here's some of our top stories from today:
Vodafone boss ousted following share price slump
B&Q eyes rollout of dozens of convenience stores across UK
More than 200,000 leave workforce with reported long Covid
Thames Water made £2m of profit a day during summer hosepipe ban
Toyota launches six electric cars as it backs away from hydrogen
Toyota, the world's biggest car maker, has launched six new electric models in a sign of shifting focus from its previous bet on hydrogen as the green fuel of the future.
My colleague Howard Mustoe writes:
Toyota will sell the new plug-ins in Europe by 2026 as part of a plan to comply with targets within the bloc to phase out petrol and diesel sales by 2035.
The company, known for its Prius hybrid, threw its weight behind hydrogen when it launched the Mirai in 2014, a large family car with a range of more than 300 miles.
But the fuel has not enjoyed a wide take up. Despite faster refuelling than for battery cars, hydrogen pumps are few and far between and the gas has been largely confined to buses and other vehicles which return to a base where they refuel each day.
Footasylum opens first store since JD Sports sale
Footasylum advert
Shoe retailer Footasylum has opened its first store since it was sold by JD Sports, as it hailed a "strong pipeline" of new shops even amid fears cost-of-living pressures will force customers to cut back.
Footasylum said it was opening the store in Brookfield Shopping Park in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, months after the purchase by private equity firm Aurelius Group completed. This is the first shop it has opened since April 2021.
JD Sports was forced to sell Footasylum by UK competition regulators following a lengthy investigation into its initial takeover. It had bought the retailer for £90m in 2019, and sold it at £37.5m in August this year.
Footasylum said it was planning more openings next year to add to its 60-strong estate, and said it was currently experiencing "strong demand" in the run up to Christmas.
PwC to shut offices over Christmas to save energy
Accountancy giant PwC is shutting most of its offices in Britain over Christmas and New Year for the first time to save energy as power supplies come under mounting pressure this winter.
The group - which employs around 24,000 staff and has 19 sites across the UK - said it would shut its main London office at Embankment Place, while a number of its regional offices will also close between December 23 and January 3.
PwC said there would be workspaces in nearby offices for staff who want to go into the workplace during those times.
Kevin Ellis, chairman and senior partner at PwC UK, said the group wanted to "do our bit to reduce energy consumption".
Shein to invest $15m in improving factories
Chinese fashion retailer Shein has pledged to pour $15m (£12.3m) into upgrading factories in its supply chain, as it said it had found two sites were workers were staying longer than local regulations allowed for.
Shein said the cash would go into improving the suppliers' factories, and had cut orders from two of its producers by three-quarters until they complied with its "code of conduct".
It follows an investigation by Shein which found that in two of its factories, the maximum working hours were 13.5 per day and 12.5 per day respectively. The former had workers taking at least two to three days off per month, with the latter did not have a fixed structure for days-off. Shein had conducted the investigation following a documentary on its supply chain.
It said: "While these are significantly less than claimed in the documentary, they are still higher than local regulations permit. Shein has therefore given both suppliers until the end of December to rectify the situation and reserves the right to take action against them if they fail to do so by then."
Sky moves in to home insurance to steal a march on its streaming competitors
House of the Dragon - HBO
Sky is to start selling home insurance as the media giant tries to branch away from TV amid fierce competition from streaming rivals.
As my colleague James Warrington reports:
It is understood the company will begin selling insurance products on price comparison sites from this week ahead of a full rollout in January.
The venture, dubbed Sky Protect, will be underwritten by Zurich UK and will initially be available as a standalone product.
The launch marks Sky's first move into Britain's £7bn home insurance market and reflects efforts by bosses to broaden its customer base with new offerings.
Read more about the planned move here.
Disney to be replaced in Russia by new station
Disney Channel replaced Russia - Jeff Daly/Getty Images
Disney Channel will soon be replaced in Russia by a new children's TV station called "Solntse".
Solntse, which means "sun" in Russian, will start broadcasting at 6am on Dec 14, according to its parent company Media1, airing films, animations and "all-Russian" TV shows.
Among its post-premiere line-up are Western-made feature films such as "Snowflake, the White Gorilla" and "Family Heist", as well as Russian-made comedies such as "Breakfast at Dad's" and "Kitchen in Paris".
Disney Channel, Russia's second highest rated children's TV station, is set to stop broadcasting after more than 12 years.
Disney said in March that it was pausing all business in Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including content and product licensing, but that some channels would take time to pause due to contractual nuances.
General view of a B&Q DIY store - John Sibley/Reuters
B&Q is expanding its presence on the high street with new B&Q Local convenience stores, while rising costs force many other retailers to close shops.
My colleague Daniel Woolfson has the details:
The DIY and home improvement retail giant has been trialling smaller high street stores since 2020, but now plans to launch two stores in London's Palmers Green and Camden districts with the new name in the first quarter of 2023.
They will be the first to bear the B&Q Local brand, which B&Q recently applied to register as a trademark.
Graham Bell, chief executive of B&Q, said: "Depending on the test and trial we could probably see quite a few - there are 50 odd catchments where we're not represented. But it's finding the physical location and getting planning permission."
B&Q's plans to open new shops come as soaring inflation and energy prices are forcing many big retailers to reduce costs by closing shops.
Read how other retailers are scaling back.
Pound slips as data shows US economy resilient
The pound has lost value against the dollar after growth at US service providers unexpectedly accelerated in November.
The Institute for Supply Management's PMI - a measure of business activity - jumped by the most since March 2021, suggesting the largest part of the economy remains resilient.
The surge in business activity pushed the index, which parallels the ISM's factory output gauge, to the highest level since the end of 2021.
The pound slumped 0.3pc immediately after the news and is down 0.7pc on the day to just above $1.22.
Tesla 'to lower production at Shanghai factory'
Tesla - REUTERS/Aly Song
Tesla reportedly plans to lower production at its Shanghai factory in the latest sign demand in China is not meeting expectations.
The output cuts will take effect as soon as this week, with sources estimating the move could reduce production by about 20pc from full capacity, according to Bloomberg.
This was the rate at which the factory ran in October and November.
The decision was made after the automaker evaluated its near-term performance in the domestic market, one of the people said, adding that there's flexibility to increase output if demand increases.
A Tesla representative in China declined to comment.
The carmaker's shares fell 4.6pc to $185.83. The stock is down about 47pc this year.
Plans to take stablecoin provider public cancelled
Bob Diamond - Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The investment vehicle run by former Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond has cancelled plans to take crypto company Circle public in the latest blow to the digital asset sector.
Concord Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company of which Mr Diamond is chairman, will no longer go-ahead with a merger with Circle, which runs USD coin, a US dollar-pegged stablecoin.
Circle had announced plans in July 2021 to become a publicly-listed business via a merger with Concord Acquisition Corp. That was scrapped today.
Mr Diamond said: "I remain confident in Circle's regulatory-first approach to building trust and transparency in the financial industry, which has never been more important, and I will continue being an advocate for the company as it continues to grow."
Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and chief executive of Circle, said:
Concord has been a strong partner and has added value throughout this process, and we will continue to benefit from the advice and support of Bob Diamond and the broader Concord team.
We are disappointed the proposed transaction timed out, however, becoming a public company remains part of Circle's core strategy to enhance trust and transparency, which has never been more important.
Britain sending gas to Europe in rare role reversal
Storage cylinders at the Shetland Gas Plant - ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
Britain is sending natural gas to mainland Europe at a time when the fuel would typically be kept at home, in a rare role reversal as a cold snap boosts demand.
UK flows through the Interconnector pipeline to Belgium, the biggest of the two links between the regions, are the highest for the time of year since at least 2016.
That is unusual for December, when exports normally stop or even reverse as it gets colder and heating demand jumps in Britain.
As the European Union cuts its reliance on Russian gas, Britain's North Sea production, ample supplies from Norway and liquefied natural gas terminals make a good substitute.
UK gas prices have also been lower than in Europe in the past few months, which has spurred traders to keep exporting to the continent.
It comes as natural gas prices in Europe jumped as a cold snap boosted demand for the fuel, eroded reserves and drove worries about supply risks.
Benchmark futures surged as much as 9.2pc today, with unseasonably cold temperatures expected to stay in northwest Europe and Britain for at least two more weeks.
Wall Street opens lower
Wall Street's main markets opened lower as investors awaited more data to gauge the Federal Reserve's next move at its rate-setting meeting later this month.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.6pc to 34,223.05, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.7pc to 4,044.43.
The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite was down 0.8pc to 11,394.97.
Social housing landlord faces calls for board to quit
Social housing landlord Home REIT is facing calls for a new leadership team from an activist shareholder in the wake of an attack from a short seller last month.
The Boatman Capital Research has published an open letter calling for members of the board to resign.
In the letter, addressed to director Simon Moore, Boatman detailed a string of concerns, including that the landlord failed to conduct sufficient due diligence on some of its tenants and inflated the value of its property portfolio.
Home REIT's share price has tumbled 33pc to 51.3p since short seller Viceroy Research published a report last month questioning the financial health and governance of the business. Its stock price is down 40pc since September.
Its shares are down 5.1pc today.
New strike day adds to rail chaos
Next week's wave of strikes just got worse after union leaders said engineers would walk out on Great Western Railway.
Unite said the workers will take action on Dec 15 on the line, which connects London to the west of England and parts of Wales.
Strikes have already been announced by members of the RMT for Dec 13, 14, 16 and 17 across much of the network.
Workers represented by the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association are also walking out on those days.
Pound falls from earlier highs
The pound has edged off multi-month highs against the dollar as traders, investors and analysts started to speculate whether the greenback's recent bout of weakness was coming to an end.
Sterling, which hit a more than five month high of $1.235 in Asian trading, dropped at much as 0.5pc to $1.223. It is presently flat at just below $1.23.
Trading has become choppier in recent weeks as the dollar fell from the multi-decade highs it reached against most peers earlier in the year.
Investors had started to hope the US Federal Reserve's December meeting will mark the start of a slower pace of increases - boosting rival currencies - but markets appear less confident in that outcome after figures on Friday showed wage rises are persisting.
No 10 refuses to rule out legislation to curb strike impact
Downing Street would not rule out expanding legislation aimed at curbing the impact of strikes.
Legislation on imposing minimum service levels on transport services during strikes has already been put forward, although MPs have not begun debating it.
While there are no current plans to widen its scope, No 10 said the situation was being kept under review. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said:
Our focus on legislation with regards to strikes is on minimum service levels, the Bill that we introduced in October is the first step in achieving this.
We are keeping under review what is the right balance with regards to strikes. We won't hesitate to bring forward changes if we judge they are required.
Wall Street poised to fall at opening bell
US futures slipped as uncertainty about the path of American rate policy stifled potential gains from China's move to ease Covid restrictions.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials and the S&P 500 were each down about 0.4pc before the bell, while those on the Nasdaq 100 were down 0.3pc.
Treasury yields climbed, lifting the dollar into positive territory. The two-year rate most sensitive to policy rose to the highest this month.
A hotter-than-expected US jobs report last week along with a jump in average hourly earnings point to fresh inflation risks and more bond volatility.
The S&P 500 is on course for its biggest fourth-quarter gain since 1999 amid hopes that US inflation has peaked and bond yields have stabilized.
RMT rejected 'the right offer', says Downing Street
Downing Street has urged the RMT union to "think again" over strikes which threaten to bring travel chaos to the rail network over Christmas.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) offered an 8pc pay rise and guarantee of no compulsory redundancies before April 2024 but it was rejected by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said it was the "right offer".
Asked whether Rishi Sunak wanted the RMT to put the offer to its membership, the spokesman said:
That fundamentally is a decision for the RMT.
But we do think this is the right offer, it is a significant improvement on what they were offered before and we are confident it represents a good offer for their membership that provides them a significant uplift in pay and certainty they will get a further uplift the following year.
The spokesman said the strikes could still be avoided: "We continue to urge the RMT to think again. There is still time."
How workers became 'unsackable' despite a looming recession
The coming downturn may not see a wave of job losses. Tom Rees explains why:
The economy may be faltering but the biggest problem for Andy Walker's engineering firm is one usually associated with a boom: too few workers.
"Everyone you speak to in the industry seems to be struggling to get trades people," says Walker, managing director of Lancashire-based Walker Engineering.
"I think we lost a lot [of workers] in Covid around the 60 year age that decided enough was enough."
Workers enjoyed a golden period in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, as a shortage of staff helped bid up wages across the economy and drove a glut of job hopping.
Many may fear the era of the almost "unsackable" worker is ending almost as quickly as it began. But employers and economists say this downturn could avoid the wave of job losses typically seen in a recession.
Read how mass labour hoarding could provide a boost to the economy's recovery.
Meet the farmer turning number plates into a cash cow
Hares backs his own buzz and has two vehicles with farmy numberplates – BB09 COW and V23 MOO - Jay Williams
A business-brained cattle farmer is making hay while the sun shines selling farm-themed number plates.
Erica Crompton has the details:
A personalised registration number won't make a jot of difference to the speed of your vehicle, but one in 12 Britons has splashed out on them.
Now, the newest car fad not only bolsters your status but, with a dash of humour, it also proves you're not a stick-in-the-mud.
From HI6 MOO and HAY 8OY to BA12 HAY, farm-inspired number plates are here, courtesy of business-brained beef farmer Olly Hares.
You may have seen one already driving along a mud-splattered country lane or got a whiff of HU63 POO when picking up your free-range turkey from the farm this winter.
Read more and a brief history of number plates.
Ticket and station staff discuss Network Rail offer
Separately to the RMT negotiations, the executive of the union that represents ticket and station staff will also meet this afternoon to discuss the Network Rail offer.
A spokesman for the TSSA said on Sunday night:
We are glad that the Government has finally given authority to the employers to make offers in an attempt to resolve our dispute.
We are considering the details of these offers very carefully and will be consulting our reps tomorrow.
'Genuine optimism' RMT could be forced into ballot on deal
The RMT has delayed a meeting of its national executive this morning until this afternoon, writes Oliver Gill.
That meet was scheduled to consider a separate 9pc pay deal offered by Network Rail.
Industry sources said there was genuine optimism that the RMT would be forced to put the Network Rail deal to a ballot of its members.
They said there would be a "rebellion" among RMT members if they were not allowed to vote on a 9pc wage increase at a time when they would forgo eight days of pay for strikes over Christmas.
Discussions between the RMT and train operators are not as advanced as those with Network Rail, the company that owns rail infrastructure such as stations, tracks and signals.
But with the assistance of the Government, which until now has sought to steer clear of the dispute, a deal between operators and the RMT could be struck that would also be sufficient to convince the union's national executive to put it to the ballot.
The RMT has 40,000 members, split roughly 50/50 between Network Rail and train operators.
Thames Water profits near £400m despite leaks
Thames Water profits were nearly £400m over six months - Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
Thames Water made nearly £400m in profit over the last six months despite a jump in leaks amid hot summer weather.
The utilities giant said it showed "good progress" in its recent turnaround programme following a series of operational changes.
The firm revealed that pre-tax profits leapt to £398m for the six months to the end of September, swinging from a pre-tax loss £581m over the same period last year.
It admitted to an "exceptionally high level of operational incidents resulting from drought" over the period, after hot summer weather which resulted in hosepipe bans.
It saw "deterioration" in water incidents like leaks and supply interruption, although it reported a 43pc reduction in complaints and 29pc fall in backlogs for the period.
Revenues increased by 3% to £1.1 billion for the half-year, driven by increases to its tariffs, it said.
Nearly quarter of people with long-Covid leave labour market
More than 200,000 Britons who left the labour market in the year to July said they were suffering from long-Covid, official data show.
In July, 23.3pc of people aged 16 to 64 years with self-reported long-Covid were economically inactive, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The odds of inactivity, excluding retirement, were about 40pc higher for working-age people reporting long-Covid seven to 12 months after their infection, compared with before they were infected with the virus.
Fixed mortgage rates back below 6pc
Mortgage rates - ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The cost of a two-year fixed-rate mortgage has fallen below 6pc for the first time in almost nine weeks, as the crisis in lending caused by the mini-Budget eases.
The average two-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 5.99pc today, according to Moneyfacts.
The last time the rate stood below that threshold was Oct 4 when home loan rates were spiraling in the aftermath of former prime minister Liz Truss's ill-fated fiscal event.
The average five-year fixed-rate deal also fell to 5.78pc, after dropping below 6pc almost a fortnight ago.
It is the latest sign of stabilization in the UK mortgage market, with banks relaxing some repayment terms and distressed asset investors hunting for opportunities.
French and German shoppers hit by cost-of-living crisis
The eurozone has suffered the biggest tumble in retail sales of 2022 as inflation-battered shoppers in Germany and France begin to tighten their belts.
Senior economics reporter Tom Rees has the latest:
Sales slipped 1.8pc in October compared to the previous month as consumers struggled to cope with record inflation in the region.
Consumers in the eurozone have been resilient in the face of soaring living costs but households reined in spending on non-essentials as a gloomy winter approached.
It marked the sharpest monthly drop since December 2021 while sales fell 2.7pc year-on-year.
Of the region's biggest economies, shoppers cut back most in Germany and France with sales sinking 2.8pc and 2.7pc, respectively.
Melanie Debono, economist at Pantheon Macro, warned that retail sales are "in for a rough fourth quarter".
She said: "With services spending, such as on restaurants, also likely easing, as consumers forgo outings to ensure enough funds for energy bills, and consumer confidence still depressed, we think overall household spending will fall in quarter four too."
Oil climbs higher amid price cap
Oil has continued to advance after China made further progress toward reopening, Opec+ kept output steady, and sanctions on Russian crude kicked in.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, and US-produced West Texas Intermediate were both up 1.8pc to $87.14 and $81.48 a barrel respectively.
China's key urban centers including Shanghai announced further easing of Covid restrictions over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Opec+ - the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies - on Sunday agreed to maintain production at current levels, pausing to take stock of the global market.
To further punish Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine, the European Union, in tandem with the G7, agreed to cap Russia crude prices at $60 a barrel, while banning most seaborne imports from today.
While penalizing Russia, the price level is meant to encourage continued Russian oil exports. The Kremlin said it is working on a response, and that it will not recognize the rules.
Sainsbury's pledges more to price-cutting drive
Sainsbury's - REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Sainsbury's is investing an extra £50m to try to keep down its prices and compete with budget rivals Aldi and Lidl as the cost of living crisis bites.
Britain's second largest supermarket will target £15m of that into making shoppers' Christmas spend more affordable, trying to keep the ingredients for a festive roast at less than £4 per person.
It had already pledged to spend £500m on lowering prices over the next two years.
The company said this is the most the retailer has ever spend on battling price inflation.
UK economy 'faces toughest non-Covid spell since financial crisis'
The UK economy faces its toughest non-Covid spell since the financial crisis, according to a closely-watched survey that signalled the country is in the midst of recession.
Our economics editor Szu Ping Chan has analysed the data:
Activity in Britain's dominant services sector shrank in November amid higher costs, falling new orders and continuing staff shortages, according to the S&P Global UK Services PMI.
The headline reading remained unchanged at 48.8 from October, keeping the index at its lowest level since January 2021 and well below the 50 level that divides growth from contraction.
Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global said the reading was consistent with the economy shrinking by 0.4pc in the final three months of the year. This would follow a 0.2pc contraction confirmed by official figures for the three months to September. Outside the pandemic, this would be the first six month period of decline since 2009.
"This is the toughest spell the UK economy has faced since the global financial crisis excluding only the height of the pandemic," said Mr Williamson.
He added that businesses had pared back hiring plans, with many bosses forced to meet pay demands from existing staff in order to keep them on their payrolls. Many were passing on higher costs to customers, but said stiff competition meant their ability to do this was reaching its limit.
"An overall gloomy mood prevails to restrain business optimism at one of the lowest levels seen over the past decade. Clearly, risks to the near-term outlook remain tilted to the downside of the dominant services sector," said Mr Williamson.
Turkish inflation eases for first time in more than a year
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes that high borrowing costs lead to higher prices, against traditional economic thinking - Murat Kula/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Annual inflation in Turkey slightly eased in November for the first time in more than a year, although it remains close to 24-year highs.
Consumer prices for the year rose by 84.4pc in November, down from 85.5pc recorded in October, the Turkish Statistical Institute announced.
The monthly inflation rate was 2.9pc in November, compared with 3.5pc in the previous month.
It is the first time that annual inflation has eased since May 2021.
While the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have stoked inflation around the world, economists believe that inflation in Turkey was additionally fuelled by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's belief that high borrowing costs lead to higher prices. Traditional economic thinking says that raising rates helps rein in inflation.
Turkey's central bank has slashed interest rates by 5 percentage points since August, down to 9pc despite high inflation that has deepened a cost-of-living crisis in the country.
Credit Suisse shares rise amid reports of Saudi Crown Prince investment
Credit Suisse - REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Credit Suisse shares climbed as much as 6.4pc in early trading, extending gains after breaking a record 13-day losing streak on Friday.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is preparing to invest around $500m (£407m) as an anchor investor into the Credit Suisse's soon-to-be carved out investment bank, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Other investors may include former Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond's Atlas Merchant Capital, according to the report.
The Saudi National Bank, which is 37pc owned by the nation's sovereign wealth fund, is an anchor investor in Credit Suisse's ongoing efforts to raise $4bn (£3.3bn) in capital. It will eventually hold a 9.9pc stake in the bank.
Credit Suisse shares traded at 3.1 Swiss francs (£2.70) in Zurich, and have lost about 63pc of their value this year.
Services sector continues decline in 'toughest spell since financial crisis'
Britain's service sector continued to decline last month, according to new data from an influential survey.
The S&P Global/CIPS UK services PMI survey showed a reading of 48.8 in November, in line with expectations. Any reading above 50 is considered growth, below that means the sector is shrinking.
The score is unchanged from October when the score had been lower than at any time since January 2021, when the UK was still under Covid-19 restrictions.
Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said:
A change of government and its new economic policies may have helped arrest some of the financial market volatility after September's 'mini-budget' but the economic picture remains stubbornly unchanged.
The overall rate of economic contraction has held steady compared to October, indicative of GDP falling at a quarterly rate of 0.4pc.
As such, this is the toughest spell the UK economy has faced since the global financial crisis excluding only the height of the pandemic.
iPhone maker 'to be fully up-and-running in late December or January'
Foxconn - REUTERS/Ann Wang
Apple supplier Foxconn expects its Covid-hit Zhengzhou plant in China to resume full production around late December to early January, after worker unrest last month disrupted the world's biggest iPhone factory.
The world's largest contract electronics maker said revenue in November fell 11.4pc year on year reflecting production problems related to Covid-19 controls at the major iPhone factory.
In a statement, it said the "overall epidemic situation has been brought under control", adding it has started to recruit new employees and was gradually "restoring production capacity to normal".
Foxconn said November revenue for its smart consumer electronics business, which includes smartphones, declined year on year partly due to a portion of shipments being impacted by production disruptions in Zhengzhou. It did not elaborate.
The Zhengzhou plant has been grappling with strict Covid-19 restrictions that have fuelled discontent among workers over conditions at the factory.
New car registrations up nearly a quarter
New cars at the port of Southampton - Steve Parsons/PA Wire
New car registrations increased by 23.5pc in November compared to the same month last year according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
There were 142,889 new cars registered last month but the total number for the year is still 3.4pc off the pace of the numbers at the same time in 2021.
Diesels have suffered the biggest fall in demand, with new registrations down nearly 40pc on the same time last year, while electric vehicles enjoyed a 38pc increase, with their market share standing at 10.6pc.
RMT demands to meet rail bosses today after rejecting 8pc pay rise
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Union chiefs will meet with negotiators representing train operators today in a last ditch effort to avoid strikes that will cause chaos over Christmas.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union (RMT) demanded a meeting with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents 14 train operators, after rejecting an eight per cent pay offer.
Further negotiations will go ahead today as rail bosses try to avoid walkouts later this month that threaten to wreck the holiday travel plans of millions of people.
Rail strikes are set to go ahead on Dec 13 and 14, and again on Dec 16 and 17.
Although the strikes are a week away, reaching an agreement is urgent because around a week's notice is needed to alter driver schedules.
Sir Keir Starmer called for both sides to give ground in the talks.
The Labour leader told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "Both sides need to compromise, both sides need to finish the negotiations and the Government needs to drive them forward."
Meanwhile, Network Rail offered a 9pc pay rise to the RMT with no compulsory redundancies until Jan 2025.
The RMT national executive will meet later this morning to consider the Network Rail offer.
Prudential and Vodafone lead way on FTSE 100
The export-oriented FTSE 100 has edged higher after a slow start after the CBI warned a recession will likely last until the end of next year.
Investors are also on the edge ahead of PMI business activity data for the month of November, which is respected to remain in contraction.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 is up 0.1pc to 7,559.49, with Prudential leading the way, up 3.4pc, followed by Vodafone, which has just revealed the departure of chief executive Nick Read. Its shares were up as much as 2pc.
Meanwhile, the mid-cap FTSE 250 is up 0.1pc to 19,388.94.
China's yuan highest in nearly three months
China's yuan was among the best performers in the currency markets overnight, breaking below the seven per dollar level for the first time in almost three months.
It comes as Chinese leaders take a more pragmatic approach to fighting Covid after recent protests across the country that also called for more political freedoms.
The harsh zero-Covid strategy - which saw major cities including Beijing and Shanghai face lockdowns for months - has been blamed for a sharp slowdown in economic growth this year and sent shudders through markets.
Vodafone boss quits following share price slump
The chief executive of Vodafone will step down later this month following a slump in the company's share price and warnings over job cuts.
My colleague Matthew Field has the latest:
Nick Read, who has spent two decades at Vodafone and four years as chief executive, will stand down on Dec 31.
His abrupt exit comes amid intense talks with Three about a merger of Vodafone and its rival's UK mobile divisions.
Vodafone's share price has fallen 40pc since Mr Read, 58, was appointed in October 2018.
The executive was responsible for a series of major strategic deals at the telecoms giant, completing the acquisition of Liberty Global's Germany business for €18bn and selling off its European towers arm in a €20bn float.
Read how its German acquisitions have struggled to pay off.
Tentative open for UK markets
A slow start for markets in London despite traders welcoming more easing of strict Covid restrictions in China that have hammered the world's number-two economy.
The FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 both opened flat at 7,558.03 and 19,391.47 respectively.
Rail unions refuse to save Christmas from 'catastrophe' after rejecting 8pc pay rise
Rail unions have rejected an eight per cent pay offer that would have averted debilitating Christmas train strikes.
Robert Mendick, Oliver Gill and Daniel Martin have the latest:
The walkouts later this month threaten to wreck the holiday travel plans of millions of people.
The rejection of the offer from rail bosses means national strikes are set to go ahead on Dec 13 and 14, and again on Dec 16 and 17.
It comes amid a spate of industrial action during advent, with nurses set to walk out for two days and Royal Mail workers planning strikes in the busiest period for Christmas deliveries.
Ambulance workers and civil servants, including Border Force officials, have also backed strike action but are yet to confirm dates.
See our calendar showing all the strike action taking place this month.
UK must 'start taking action' on investment, says CBI
Confederation of British Industry director general Tony Danker said the UK must "start taking action" on investment if it is going to avoid a recession that is "longer and deeper than it needs to be".
He warned most businesses are going into 2023 "not really sure what to do", thinking "there may be some growth left in the economy" but "all the headwinds" are telling them they should "plan for recession".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If we're going to avoid this recession being longer and deeper than it needs to be, then we need to start taking action the Prime Minister himself recommended earlier in the year.
"We have to start to take these seriously... or we're not going to change that pattern of low business investment."
Oil rises as G7 price cap comes into force
Oil prices have begun to rise this morning after the G7 and EU price cap on Russian seaborne oil came into force.
The West wants to limit Moscow's ability to finance its war in Ukraine, though Russia has said it will not abide by the measure even if it has to cut production.
The G7 nations and Australia on Friday agreed a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian seaborne crude oil after European Union members overcame resistance from Poland. Russia is the world's second-largest oil exporter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the world had shown weakness by setting the cap at that level while Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Sunday it was a gross interference that contradicted the rules of free trade.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, is worth more than $86 a barrel, up 0.8pc this morning, while US-produced West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is 0.9pc to nearly $81.
Vodafone boss's departure comes after share price decline
Nick Read's departure comes after a 35pc decline in Vodafone's share price this year, from a high of 139.5p in February to 91.1p on Friday.
Vodafone's shares last traded at that level in October 2002, after the dotcom bubble of the late 1990s burst and technology stocks tumbled around the world.
During his four years in charge, Mr Read led the mobile group through the pandemic, sold assets to increase its focus on Europe and Africa, and spun out its towers infrastructure into a separate unit.
Despite the changes its shares had remained in the doldrums and the group cut its full-year outlook last month.
Vodafone boss to step down
Vodafone chief executive Nick Read - Angel Garcia/Bloomberg
Vodafone chief executive Nick Read is to step down.
Margherita Della Valle has been appointed in an interim role.
Jean-François van Boxmeer, chairman of Vodafone, said:
On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Nick for his commitment and significant contribution to Vodafone as group chief executive and throughout his career spanning more than two decades with the company.
During his four years as chief executive, he led Vodafone through the pandemic, ensuring that our customers remained connected with their families and businesses. He has focused Vodafone in Europe and Africa as a converged connectivity provider and led the industry in Europe in unlocking value from tower infrastructure.
Margherita has recently been taking a broader operational role within the company and the board fully supports her as interim group chief executive.
If England's World Cup victory has put you in a good mood that you want to savour, you may not want to read the CBI's latest outlook for the British economy.
Britain will be in recession until the end of next year, with the economy weighed down by the triple whammy of high inflation, low growth and weak investment by businesses, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
The country is already in a recession that will last until the end of 2023, according to the business lobbying group, which has downgraded its outlook for next year to a 0.4pc contraction, having previously predicted 1pc growth.
Although the CBI believes inflation peaked at 11.1pc in October, it predicts it will remain significantly above the Bank of England's 2pc target throughout 2023, ending the year at 3.9pc.
That will continue the squeeze on households and, therefore, also on consumer spending, which will in turn weigh on business investment. The CBI thinks this will falling from mid-2023 onwards.
Its outlook improves for 2024, when it believes the economy will grow by 1.6pc, thanks to inflation falling and the squeeze on households alleviating.
Tony Danker, the CBI's director-general, said: "Britain is in stagflation – with rocketing inflation, negative growth, falling productivity and business investment.
"We will see a lost decade of growth if action isn't taken. GDP is a simple multiplier of two factors: people and their productivity. But we don't have people we need, nor the productivity."
5 things to start your day
1) British Gas requests to shut down dozens of companies over unpaid bills - Winding-up petitions mark a more aggressive approach to post-pandemic debt collection
2) Opec cartel warns of immediate action on oil output ahead of Russia sanctions - Warning comes as EU caps Russian oil at $60 a barrel in bid against Moscow
3) EU to overhaul state aid rules in response to Biden's green energy plans - Subsidies risk sparking an exodus of cash from Europe
4) Roll out congestion charges nationwide, bus operators tell ministers - Proposal includes a £7 daily charge to make buses more attractive
5) Workers at hazardous nuclear waste site test positive for drugs - Random testing has been carried out on 741 workers over the past year
What happened overnight
Asian shares were mostly higher and oil prices rose after the European Union and the G7 agreed on a boycott of most Russian oil and a price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian exports.
Hong Kong's benchmark jumped 3.8pc and the Shanghai Composite added 1.6pc.
Hopes for fewer disruptions to manufacturing and trade have risen as Chinese authorities begin lifting some of the most onerous restrictions imposed to contain outbreaks of the coronavirus, even as they say their zero-Covid strategy is still in place.
China recently saw several days of protests across cities including Shanghai and Beijing as public frustration with the Covid-19 curbs boiled into unrest. Some demanded Chinese President Xi Jinping step down in an extraordinary show of public dissent in a society over which the ruling Communist Party exercises near total control.
In other Asian trading, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 climbed 0.2pc to 27,820.40 and the Kospi in Seoul shed 0.6pc to 2,419.32.
The Hang Seng in Hong Kong was up 715 points at 19,392.45 and the Shanghai Composite added 52 points to 3,207.94. In Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.3pc to 7,325.60.
How Research Forests Help Grow Healthier Trees
Why Brazil's Yanomami are being decimated by disease, mining
Sandi Toksvig laments 'untenable' C of E stance on gay marriage
Alon Shaya Pairs His Pimiento Cheese with Fried Saltines for a Winning Super Bowl Snack
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2023 / Rayonier If you could go back in time 50 years and observe a commercial forest, you would notice a vast difference from the forests today. Modern trees grow faster, straighter and healthier than ...
Severe malnutrition and disease, particularly malaria, are decimating the Yanomami population in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, and on Jan. 20 the federal government declared a public health emergency. While many in Brazil were left wondering how the calamity could materialize seemingly overnight, it didn't come as a surprise to those familiar with the Yanomami's circumstances, who have issued warnings for several years. An estimated 30,000 Yanomami people live in Brazil's largest indigenous territory, which covers an area roughly the size of Portugal and stretches across Roraima and Amazonas states in the northwest corner of Brazil's Amazon.
Comedian says she asked archbishop of Canterbury to come out as gay ally but was told progress would be 'glacial'
"It has a kick of spice from the pimento peppers, tang from the hot sauce and vinegar, and a creamy, spreadable texture," says the chef-owner of Saba in New Orleans and Safta in Denver
Video shows crash in Johnson County where woman's car was dragged by semi for 8 miles
The video shows a semi truck dragging a Kia along the highway with a woman inside. The truck driver drove for miles before police pulled him over.
Toronto adding more police on public transit following violence and budget criticism
Toronto police are increasing their presence on city transit in light of recent violence, the force's chief said Thursday, despite criticism that more officers would not address deteriorating social conditions that could be at the root of the situation. Chief Myron Demkiw said more than 80 officers are expected to be in place at Toronto Transit Commission locations across the city to reduce victimization, prevent crimes of opportunity and enhance public safety. "We have moved quickly together, w
WKBW - Buffalo Scripps
West Side Bazaar to relocate to new home on Main Street in Buffalo
West Side Bazaar businesses will soon relocate to the former Expo Market on Main Street in Buffalo after the Grant Street location was impacted by a fire that occurred in September.
KGTV - San Diego Scripps
Volunteers participate in countywide homeless count for San Diego
San Diego County is working to get a more accurate number of how many people are living on the streets and what resources they need to secure housing.
Gabrielle Union Explains Why Her 'Bring It On' Movie Sequel Is Still A Work In Progress
The beloved original film was released more than 20 years ago.
MUN hosts $109K conference at high-end Fogo Island Inn
Last fall, the president of Memorial University chaired a conference that cost nearly $110,000 — more than half of which came directly from university coffers. The four-day Arctic Forum, which involved nearly 40 delegates from Canada and Norway, took place in St. John's and at the high-end Fogo Island Inn from Nov. 3-6. "Holding the event at the Inn helps attract top delegates and presenters while highlighting Newfoundland and Labrador as a premier destination for world-class events and conferen
The 29-year-old's family lawyers say he was beaten non-stop by Memphis police like "a human piñata".
Numerous Baby Elephant Seals in California Killed by January's High Tides and Strong Storms
High tides and intense rainstorms in California have washed away a high number of newborn elephant seals from the Piedras Blancas Rookery
WXYZ-Detroit Videos
Nearly 42 reports of aircrafts targeted by lasers in metro Detroit in 2022
A laser light incident targeting an MSP helicopter Tuesday appears to have been intentional and malicious.
Pacific Dental Services Foundation Announces Winter 2022 Dental Assistant Scholarship Recipients and Celebrates Year in Review
In 2022, the PDS Foundation awarded over $276,000 in scholarships to dental assistants, totaling over $1.1 million in scholarships since 2016.IRVINE, CALIF., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Pacific Dental Services® (PDS) Foundation is proud to announce that 13 dental assisting (DA) students were awarded a total of $65,000 as the Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarship recipients for Winter 2022. The virtual awards celebration took place Dec. 17, 2022 and recognized students from ni
Do you have to report crypto on taxes? Yes. Here's what you should know about form 8949
Crypto losses can be deducted from your taxes or income at up $3,000 a year. But you can carry the losses forward in future tax years.
Voices: Why Adam Schiff and Katie Porter won't wait for Feinstein as they jump into California's Senate race
California has become a hotbed for anti-Trump sentiment. Voters in the state might want a more pugnacious Democrat
The Detroit Lions confirmed the news, remembering him as a "model teammate and wonderful young man."
Alex Murdaugh trial - live: First responders describe grisly crime scene as jury hears 911 call about murders
First day of testimony concludes in Alex Murdaugh's trial for the murders of wife Maggie and son Paul
TIM LAMB GROUP WELCOMES MARK BEFORD TO THEIR TEAM OF DIRECTORS
Columbus, OH, Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Tim Lamb Group is pleased to welcome Mark Beford to their team of directors. Beford, who has had an expansive 40-year career in the automotive industry, is responsible for consulting with dealership owners to help facilitate seamless transactions with the sale or purchase of a dealership. For 30 years, Beford owned and operated multiple automotive franchises with his wife Connie. During this time, he successfully executed multiple buy/sell agre

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


3% Sales Tax = More JOBS!
Your friends' emails will be deleted after sending. We respect their privacy. As sender, you will get our campaign updates. You can opt-out any time. Your email will not be shared with any third party. .
For media interviews, or to have a spokesperson present to your group (classrooms, social groups, churches, town halls, political organizations and events, rallies, etc.), please contact the Alliance to Roll Back Taxes.
©2010 Alliance to Roll Back Taxes. All Rights Reserved.
Design and Development by Re:Vision.


text:
Robocalls Hijacking Your Voicemail Is 'Invasive and Abusive,' Say Lawmakers
Ringless Voicemails are "Unwanted, Invasive, and Abusive", 11 US Senators claim
June 15, 2017, 7:06 PM UTC / Updated June 15, 2017, 11:28 PM UTC
By Michael Cappetta and Jo Ling Kent
There is a new type of automated call sneaking up on American consumers: ringless voicemails, the quieter cousin of what some people call the "annoying robocall." The messages go straight to voicemail, without ringing your phone.
"I've received at least a hundred of these voicemails," said Sue Merritt, president of Lenox Fit in Lenox, Massachusetts. And they often come from area codes where she has important contacts.
"I'm a cancer survivor, I still get calls from my hospital in Boston, so for example when a 617 area code comes up I feel very compelled to deal with that right away," Merritt told NBC News.
How Robocalls Are Hijacking Your Voicemail
June 15, 201701:39
She says robocalls and ringless voicemails are interrupting day-to-day operations at her business, and have an impact on her staff's productivity.
As ringless voicemails are deployed by more business and political groups, the Federal Communications Commission is considering a petition to officially allow them, exempting them from 'Do Not Call' rules.
Stratics Networks, a Toronto-based technology company with offices in the United States, claims to be the inventor of the ringless voicemail technology. Stratics says that this technology has been successfully used by a doctor's office to remind a patient of an upcoming appointment, or a school reminding a parent of a school event.
"Ringless voicemail drops are a non-nuisance form of messaging and are an alternative to robocalls. It really does put the power in that consumer's hand where they can essentially listen to the message or not listen to the message," Josh Justice, CEO of Stratics, told NBC News.
On Wednesday, 11 senators sent a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai calling ringless voicemails "unwanted, invasive, and abusive," and urged Pai to protect consumers from ringless voicemails.
And attorneys general in three states — Massachusetts, New York, and Kentucky — along with consumer advocacy groups, are pushing back.
Ringless voicemail is "hijacking consumers' voicemail boxes," say critics. But the company behind the technology insists it's a non-nuisance method of passing on information.
"These businesses are completely hijacking consumers' voicemail boxes. It's a critical way that most people communicate these days for their jobs, for safety reasons, with their family," said Margot Saunders of the National Consumer Law Center.
Privacy experts advise consumers to never return the voicemails, and consumers who want to complain should contact the FCC or file a complaint.
For Merritt, the messages are also hurting her ability to run her small business.
"You can't get that time back," she said.
Michael Cappetta
Michael Cappetta is a producer at NBC News covering business and technology.
Jo Ling Kent
Jo Ling Kent is the business and technology correspondent for NBC News.