SAN JOSE – Some San Jose small businesses that owe back rent can apply for a rent relief starting March 1, according to the city. The city of San Jose has set aside $2.75 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide up to 400 grants of up to $15,000 each to small businesses towards owners’ outstanding COVID-related rent debt. Business owners that own at least 51 percent of their company must submit a completed application, meet all program and federal requirements and provide documentation to be eligible for funding. Businesses must be currently active, located in a commercial building within San Jose, have 10 or fewer full-time employees and owe 60 days or more of back rent as of Dec. 9, 2022, to qualify for grant eligibility. Businesses can only apply if they were in business before March 24, 2020, and they must provide IRS tax returns from either 2020 or 2021 to confirm their annual gross receipts were below $3 million. Home-based businesses, franchises, nonprofits and religious organizations will not be considered for the grants. The Small Business Development Center, which administers the grant program on behalf of the city of San Jose, said the […]

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___ Cautious but steady consumers buoying hopes for US economy WASHINGTON (AP) — Call it the Goldilocks consumer. Defying high inflation and sharp interest rate hikes, Americans keep spending — a trend that, if sustained, could keep the economy humming just enough to help avoid a much-predicted recession. Surveys show that consumers on average don’t expect today’s still-high inflation to last for very long. That confidence could lead them to moderate their spending habits and wage demands, which would help slow inflation over time. If the combination lasts, it could make it easier for the Federal Reserve to tame inflation without derailing the economy. As inflation eased, the Fed would be able to curtail its rate hikes, making a recession less likely. ___ Is Bing too belligerent? Microsoft looks to tame AI chatbot Microsoft’s newly revamped Bing search engine can write recipes and songs and quickly explain just about anything it can find on the internet. But if you cross its artificially intelligent chatbot, it might also insult your looks, threaten your reputation or compare you to Adolf Hitler. The tech company said this week it is promising to make improvements to its AI-enhanced search engine after a growing […]

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The acquisition of 29.9 percent of Atos’ Evidian digital transformation, big data, and cybersecurity business by Airbus, should a deal be reached, would be a major shift in the competitive European cybersecurity market, but other potential suitors of Evidian including Thales and Group OnePoint may still be looking for deals. ARTICLE TITLE HERE Global solution provider Atos Thursday confirmed rumors that aerospace giant Airbus is looking to acquire a 29.9-percent stake in Atos’ Evidian cybersecurity business. Paris-based Atos said Airbus has offered to acquire nearly a third of Evidian as part of what it termed a long-term strategic and technological agreement. Atos said Airbus will conduct due-diligence on Evidian while the two negotiates “mutually satisfactory terms” on strategic and technological partnerships. Rumors of Airbus’ possible interest in acquiring part of Atos’ Evidian business were reported as early as January 1. At that time, both Atos and Airbus declined to discuss what they said were rumors. Advertisement Evidian was formed out of Atos’ decision in early 2022 to divide itself into two separate companies. Atos would maintain the company’s focus on managed infrastructure services, digital workplace, and professional services. Evidian would focus on digital transformation, big data, and cybersecurity. Atos […]

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An Emirati man is seen near the logo of ADNOC in Ruwais, United Arab Emirates May 14, 2018. REUTERS/Christopher Pike DUBAI, Feb 17 (Reuters) – ADNOC will sell 4% of it gas business in an initial public offering (IPO), according to a newspaper notice and an emailed statement on Friday. ADNOC Gas’s offering is set to be open from Feb. 23 to March 2 for institutional investors, while retail investors can subscribe until March 1, according to the notice in the National newspaper and the statement. Shares are expected to begin trading on March 13. ADNOC holds a 95% stake in ADNOC Gas, and prior to the offering, it transferred 5% of the share capital of ADNOC GAS to Abu Dhabi National Energy Company. (TAQA.AD) Following the IPO, ADNOC is expected to own roughly 91% of ADNOC Gas. Should the deal go through, ADNOC Gas expects to target payments of dividends of $1.625 billion in the fourth quarter of this year for the first half of 2023, according to a ADNOC Gas intention to float document emailed on Friday. ADNOC Gas plans to offer a further $1.625 billion in the second quarter of 2024 for the second half of […]

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The Boeing logo is seen on the side of a Boeing 737 MAX at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 20, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra WASHINGTON, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Boeing (BA.N) said on Thursday it is merging its aircraft financing arm into its commercial airplanes business unit as part of a push to simplify its corporate structure. After the retirment of Boeing Capital Corp (BCC) President Tim Myers this spring, Boeing said it will "realign" the financing arm within the commercial airplane unit while still maintaining "strong coordination" with the company’s treasury arm. Airfinance Journal earlier reported the move. Boeing Capital, a subsidiary of Boeing, provides asset-based financing and leasing to prospective commercial jet buyers. By moving the financing organization under its commercial airplane unit, the Boeing hopes it can simplify the buying process for customers. The realignment will "focus resources on our core work of supporting our customers and their financing needs," Boeing Chief Financial Officer Brian West said in an internal memo viewed by Reuters. A Boeing spokesperson said the shift will provide airline customers "with more consistent support" for arranging aircraft financing. Rob Martin, finance chief for the commercial airline business, and Boeing Treasurer […]

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Hong Kong CNN — One of China’s top investment bankers has become unreachable, according to his company. China Renaissance, an investment bank and private equity firm based in Beijing, said in a Thursday filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange that it “has been unable to contact” Bao Fan, its chairman and CEO. Shares of the company plunged as much as 50% in Hong Kong on Friday following the news. The stock last traded 29% lower. “The board is not aware of any information that indicates that Mr. Bao’s unavailability is or might be related to the business and/or operations of the group,” the firm said in the filing. Bao is known as a veteran dealmaker in China’s tech industry. He helped broker the 2015 merger between two of the country’s leading food delivery services, Meituan and Dianping. Today, the combined company’s “super app” platform is ubiquitous in China. Bao started his investment banking career in the late 1990s at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse and later went on to serve as an adviser to the stock exchanges in Shanghai and Shenzhen. His team has also invested in US-listed Chinese electric vehicle makers Nio (NIO) and Li Auto, and […]

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Critical infrastructure Today’s columnist, Ilan Barda of Radiflow, offers four ways for security teams to better protect OT environments. (Photo by Jens Schlueter/Getty Images) The digital revolution has ushered in a new generation of streamlined manufacturing, operations, and logistics. But beware, this new world of connectivity brings with it great risk. Each new internet-connected device, whether it’s a large manufacturing robot or a small sensor, carries with it the burden of joining a local network in accordance with the latest cybersecurity practices. So putting too many roadblocks, such as limiting access via firewalls or making access so difficult it impedes productivity, potentially limits its ability to communicate freely with other devices or send critical diagnostic reports back to stakeholders. On one hand, manufacturing has now become the world’s most targeted industry according to IBM Security’s 2022 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index. On the other hand, the promise of greater business growth through connected devices has motivated many companies to continue forward while ignoring cybersecurity risks over plant efficiency and modernization. For the first time in five years, operational technology (OT) facilities are an even bigger target than the finance or insurance industries. We can attribute this to both taking advantage […]

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Parable Coffee was created out of necessity, co-founder Ben Willis said, to pay essential workers in the service industry as if they were in fact essential. The coffee shop opened its doors on South High Street downtown in June 2022 after operating as a popup out of Commune on Parsons Avenue. The shop came about in a unique partnership with the Columbus Downtown Development Corp., which also was formed out of necessity. Downtown retail shops were clobbered by the Covid pandemic, and now city leaders are working to support and diversify the segment. Today, the city and CDDC are piloting programs to support small business downtown, offering shops such as Parable discounted rent in the former Lazarus building. The CDDC also opened Common Thread last fall on South 3rd Street in a space that houses several fashion designers and retailers. CDDC President Amy Taylor said space was carved out of the parking garage originally built for the City Center mall, which, in its own way, was a symbol of downtown retail’s downfall when it closed. Today, creating a vibrant retail scene is a key priority in the new downtown strategic plan, approved by Columbus City Council last year. The […]

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David Kohl, Ph.D. agriculture economist, encouraged attendees in a recent presentation at the Northern Corn and Soy Expo in Fargo, North Dakota, to "get rid of toxic people" in their farm business. Kohl has traveled more than 10 million miles in his career, given more than 7,000 presentations and published more than 2,500 articles. “Get rid of toxic people,” David Kohl, Ph.D. and Professor Emeritus of Virginia Tech, said to a crowd of farmers and agribusiness professionals at the sixth annual Northern Corn and Soy Expo at the FargoDome on Feb. 14 in Fargo, North Dakota. Kohl was referencing his creamery business saving on payroll expenses during COVID and not seeing a reduction in productivity by getting rid of toxic people. Productivity stayed the same while payroll expenses were reduced significantly. “And those toxic people can be family!” Kohl followed up, with a roar of laughter from the agriculture crowd and in many of our minds listening in the crowd, we thought of specific situations in our own farms, ranches, and ag businesses. Kohl has traveled more than 10 million miles, given more than 7,000 presentations and published more than 2,500 articles in his illustrious career. He spent more […]

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Founder of Regenerate , a training firm focused on sustainable performance for high-pressure career professionals and fast-paced companies. getty Do the adages about leading and building a team that you heard while climbing the career ladder still apply in today’s modern workplace? When you’re managing knowledge workers, utilizing technology and leading in an always-on culture, the landscape is different. The needs are different. It stands to reason that the wisdom you need to lead successfully will be different as well. Leaders come into their role having internalized advice and feedback they heard as they advanced their careers. These commonly overheard leadership adages come from a good place but may deserve a second look. Are you living these principles the way you intend, or do they need detoxification? 1. ‘It’s the results that matter.’ As a leader, you may use this phrase to remind yourself to be flexible and use productivity as the most important measuring stick. • Do your actions back up this philosophy? They don’t if you’re reactive when you get a directive from a senior leader or if you still demand team members work set hours (or, even worse, if you track their screen time ). • […]

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