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Fig. 1 Granite rock chip sample with pyrites in it being examined by Chief Geologist Denis Walsh Fig. 2 Location of AIS Resources three properties – Yalgogrin, Fosterville Toolleen and Kingston Fig. 3 Lines to be surveyed by IP with existing mines and Gold contours and augur results in background Fig. 4 Progress so far on Day 3 of the IP Survey Fig. 5 Proposed Gradient Array IP coverage (hatched area) within EL6030 over the Asia-Wyalong mine. Fig. 6 Earthwatch Map showing location of EL5891 and ELA6030 and historic gold mines in yellow. Fig. 7 Shows the survey data with aqua coloured gaps highlighting anomalies, with the white area at the top of the figure being the Fosterville mine in the background. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A.I.S. Resources Limited (TSX: AIS, OTCQB: AISSF) (the "Company" or "AIS") is delighted to report that Fender Geophysics commenced the Induced Polarization Geophysics survey at EL5891 on Monday 11 January 2021. Approximately 36 line kilometres will be measured. This survey will detect the presence of sulphides (that associates with gold) and other highly conductive elements. Low-resistance anomalies such as areas with sulphides if present will be observed. Phil Thomas CEO commented, “This is a really exciting week for us. When the IP lines go over those sample areas that assayed 24gm/tonne of gold, the extent of the mineralization between the drill and augur holes will be closely watched. To top it off, recently we took a rock chip sample with significant pyrite in it and if this is prevalent the IP survey will light up like a Christmas tree! Our intention is to define major drill hole locations and have our drillers there as soon as we can schedule them.” Fig. 1 – Granite rock chip sample with pyrites in it being examined by Chief Geologist Denis Walsh:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e37a3039-3884-433b-bb71-f7a236749079 Explanation of Induced PolarizationThe induced polarization method makes use of the capacitive action of the subsurface to locate zones where clay and other chargeable minerals are located within the host rock. With IP you can get a firm indication of conductive elements in the ground if it holds a charge because two maps are produced i.e., resistivity (conductivity) and IP—at the same time. This is important for mineral exploration—identifying economically important minerals, including gold, copper, and silver. Early on, pyrite and massive sulfide minerals were deposited by hydrothermal fluids. These minerals have a huge IP signature, especially when disseminated as smaller grains in a rock matrix, which we can use when exploring for these minerals. Work at Yalgogrin Includes: IP survey will be conducted over the highest auger and drill results on EL5891.The proposed survey is to cover approximately 75% of EL 5891 (1.2km x 1.5km) with Gradient Array IP and the line spacing will be approximately 50m.A gradient array IP of approximately 2 sq km in ELA6030 is being designed for the Asia Wyalong shaft and mine, and an area to the south.Magnetic survey over ELA6030 with a focus on the Asia Wyalong and Talmore historic mine areas will follow;All landowner and government approvals were received to conduct the low Impact exploration. Fig. 2 – Location of AIS Resources three properties – Yalgogrin, Fosterville Toolleen and Kingston:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74753188-42f6-4b22-8035-f48cf2eb0b30 Fig. 3 – Lines to be surveyed by IP with existing mines and Gold contours and augur results in backgroundhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e502d8b9-7be9-4086-bca5-b7429ae8e274 Fig. 4 – Progress so far on Day 3 of the IP Survey:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/08a298b3-3ad9-496a-a8fb-7f8bcaa38091 Fig. 5 – Proposed Gradient Array IP coverage (hatched area) within EL6030 over the Asia-Wyalong mine:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4640e64c-a07e-4e9f-b1c4-518d84b8f28f Asia Wyalong MineApproximately 10.1km southwest of Yalgogrin is a group of workings comprising of the Asia-Wyalong Mine, Rowe and Preston’s Mine and the Sheehan Mine. The Talmore mine is approximately 2km away from the Asia Wyalong mine. The main workings comprise of three shafts up to 91.5m deep, drives, crosscuts, winzes, stoping and shallow pits extending about 15.3m over the surface. The work was mostly carried out between 1932 and 1936 on a number of quartz veins between 0.76 and 2.2m wide. They strike 340o, with a near vertical dip. Altogether there are six parallel lines within a 60m wide strip. They parallel the cleavage and in addition there are numerous smaller crosscutting veins. The richest gold is reported to have come from the intersection between the main veins and the smaller veins. Officially, a total of 21.225kg of gold was won from ore yielding 0.036kg/t. We propose to complete the IP survey, geochemical sampling and a magnetic survey. Following these studies we will do a partial leach bulk sample analysis. Fig. 6 – Earthwatch Map showing location of EL5891 and ELA6030 and historic gold mines in yellow:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0f866a55-7fa8-4693-9d3f-532ba552bb26 Toolleen – Fosterville EL6001Early processing of ground penetrating radar is showing some prospective structures (aqua areas on lines). When this is combined with other data it will provide a clearer picture of the structures on the Exploration Licence area. Fig. 7 – Shows the survey data with aqua coloured gaps highlighting anomalies, with the white area at the top of the figure being the Fosterville mine in the background:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b5502622-f17d-4e5d-94ea-42293b1f2865 Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Phillip Thomas, BSc Geol MAIG who is a Qualified Person under the definitions established by the National Instrument 43-101. About A.I.S. Resources LimitedA.I.S. Resources Limited is a publicly traded investment issuer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange focused on precious and base metals exploration. AIS’s value add strategy is to acquire prospective exploration projects and enhance their value by better defining the mineral resource with a view to attracting joint venture partners and enhancing the value of its portfolio. The Company is managed by a team of experienced geologists, with a track-record of successful capital markets achievements. In November 2020, AIS received TSX-V approval to acquire the New South Wales Yalgogrin Gold Project JV, the Fosterville-Toolleen Gold Project and the Kingston Gold Project in Victoria Australia. A.I.S. Resources LimitedFor further information, please contact:Phillip Thomas, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1-747-200-9412 Email: pthomas@aisresources.com OrMartyn Element, Executive Chairman Tel: +1-604-220-6266Email: melement@aisresources.com Website: www.aisresources.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. More particularly, this press release contains statements concerning the anticipated use of the proceeds of the Private Placement. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The intended use of the proceeds of the Private Placement by the Corporation might change if the board of directors of the Corporation determines that it would be in the best interests of the Corporation to deploy the proceeds for some other purpose. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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WASHINGTON — Donald Trump will walk out of the White House and board Marine One for the last time as president Wednesday morning, leaving behind a legacy of chaos and tumult and a nation bitterly divided. Four years after standing on stage at his own inauguration and painting a dire picture of “American carnage," Trump departs the office twice impeached, with millions more out of work and 400,000 dead from the coronavirus. Republicans under his watch lost the presidency and both chambers of Congress. He will be forever remembered for the final major act of his presidency: inciting an insurrection at the Capitol that left five dead, including a Capitol Police officer, and horrified the nation. Trump will be the first president in modern history to boycott his successor’s inauguration as he continues to stew about his loss and privately maintains the election that President-elect Joe Biden fairly won was stolen from him. Republican officials in several critical states, members of his own administration and a wide swath of judges, including those appointed by Trump, have rejected those arguments. Still, Trump has refused to participate in any of the symbolic passing-of-the-torch traditions surrounding the peaceful transition of power, including inviting the Bidens over for a get-to-know-you visit. By the time Biden is sworn in, Trump will already have landed at his private Mar-a-Lago club in West Palm Beach, Florida, to face an uncertain future, but not before giving himself a grand sendoff — with a red carpet, a military band and even a 21-gun salute. Guests have been invited, but it is unclear how many will attend. Even Vice-President Mike Pence plans to skip the event, citing the logistical challenges of getting from the air base to the inauguration ceremonies. Washington has been transformed into a security fortress, with thousands of National Guard troops, fencing and checkpoints to try to stave off further violence. Aides had urged Trump to spend his final days in office trying to salvage his legacy by highlighting his administration’s achievements — passing tax cuts, scaling back federal regulations, normalizing relations in the Middle East. But Trump largely refused, taking a single trip to the Texas border and releasing a video in which he pledged to his supporters that “the movement we started is only just beginning.” Trump will retire to Florida with a small group of former White House aides as he charts a political future that looks very different now than just two weeks ago. Before the Capitol riot, Trump had been expected to remain his party’s de facto leader, wielding enormous power as he served as a kingmaker and mulled a 2024 presidential run. But now he appears more powerless than ever — shunned by so many in his party, impeached twice, denied the Twitter bullhorn he had intended to use as his weapon and even facing the prospect that, if he is convicted in his Senate trial, he could be barred from seeking a second term. For now, Trump remains angry and embarrassed, consumed with rage and grievance. He spent the week after the election sinking deeper and deeper into a world of conspiracy, and those who have spoken with him say he continues to believe he won in November. He continues to lash out at Republicans for perceived disloyalty and has threatened, both publicly and privately, to spend the coming years backing primary challenges against those he feel betrayed him. Some expect him to eventually turn completely on the Republican Party, perhaps by flirting with a run as a third-party candidate as an act of revenge. For all the chaos and drama and bending the world to his will, Trump ended his term as he began it: largely alone. The Republican Party he co-opted finally appeared to have had enough after Trump’s supporters violently stormed the Capitol, hunting for lawmakers who refused to go along with Trump’s unconstitutional efforts to overturn the results of a democratic election. But although Washington may have had enough, Trump retains his grip on the Republican base, with the support of millions of loyal voters, along with allies still helming the Republican National Committee and many state party organizations. The city he leaves will not miss him. Trump rarely left the confines of the White House, except to visit his own hotel. He and his wife never once ate dinner at any other local restaurant; never ventured out to shop in its stores or see the sites. When he did leave, it was almost always to one of his properties: his golf course in Virginia, his golf course in New Jersey, his private club and nearby golf course in Palm Beach, Florida. The city overwhelmingly supported Biden, with 93% of the vote. Trump received just 5.4% of the vote — or fewer than 18,600 ballots — not enough to fill the Washington Capitals hockey arena. Jill Colvin, The Associated Press
Several virtual events have been planned due to the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns.
Greece will approach talks with Turkey next week over their disputed territorial claims in a hopeful spirit but will not discuss issues it considers as sovereign rights, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday. Mitsotakis was speaking ahead of a parliamentary vote on a bill extending Greece's western territorial waters to 12 nautical miles from six currently, days before NATO allies Greece and Turkey resume exploratory talks over contested maritime claims in the Aegean.
World number three Thomas was heard using a derogatory word towards himself after missing a par putt in Hawaii.
Dublin, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Autoinjectors Market by Type, Application, and End user: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global autoinjectors market was valued at $ 1,509.0 million in 2019 and is expected to reach $ 5,732.6 million by 2027, with a CAGR of 18.1% during the forecast period. An autoinjector is defined as a syringe with a spring-charged needle having a pre-charged dosage of drugs. The system triggers and administers a measured dosage of a drug when pressed into the body with a slicing motion. Autoinjectors are widely used for epinephrine self-administration (to prevent anaphylaxis); by migraine sufferers (for immediate pain relief); or for medical and emergency treatments. Auto-injectors provide multiple benefits such as decreasing needle-related phobia disorder, decreasing risks of needle stuck accidents, ensuring dosage quality continuity, and helping to increase effectiveness. The autoinjector market is expected to register a substantial growth in the future, owing to rise in anaphylaxis cases. In addition, increase in R&D efforts by companies to develop simple, cost effective, and new technology based autoinjectors for treatment of chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis is expected to boost the market growth during the forecast period. However, availability of alternative treatment options is anticipated to hamper the market growth during the forecast period. On the contrary, a fundamental shift from biologics to biosimilars , which are delivered through autoinjectors are anticipated to provide lower cost options to patients opting for prolonged treatment. These factors are expected to provide remunerative opportunities for the market players.Depending on type, the market is categorized into disposable and reusable autoinjectors. The disposable autoinjectors segment dominated the global market in 2019, and is anticipated to continue this trend during the forecast period. The key factors such as rise in prevalence of anaphylaxis and rheumatoid arthritis and further increasing patient preference for autoinjectors drives the growth of this treatment segment.on the basis of application, the market is categorized into rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, anaphylaxis, and others. The anaphylaxis segment held a dominant position in the market, accounting for about 38.5% share of the global autoinjectors market in 2019. By end user, the market is categorized into home care settings and hospitals & clinics. The home care settings segment held a dominant portion in the market, accounting for about 62.8% share of the global autoinjectors market in 2019.North America accounted for the largest share in the global autoinjectors market. Asia-Pacific is expected to witness highest growth rate for throughout the forecast period. Rise in cases of anaphylaxis; rheumatoid arthritis; and other diseases such as anemia and migraine; and further increase in technological advancements by companies are anticipated to drive the overall market growth. KEY MARKET PLAYERS AmgenAntares PharmaBecton Dickinson and CompanyEli Lilly and CompanyJohnson and JohnsonMylan N.V.Novartis AGSHL MedicalTeva Pharmaceutical Industries LtdYpsomed AG Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1: Introduction1.1. Report Description1.2. Key Benefits for Stakeholders1.3. Key Market Segments1.4. Research Methodology1.4.1. Secondary Research1.4.2. Primary Research1.4.3. Analyst Tools & ModelsChapter 2: Executive Summary2.1. CXO PerspectiveChapter 3: Market Overview3.1. Market Definition and Scope3.2. Key Findings3.2.1. Top Winning Strategies3.2.2. Top Player Positioning3.2.3. Key Forces Shaping the Global Autoinjectors Market3.3. Market Dynamics3.3.1. Drivers3.3.1.1. Rise in Anaphylaxis3.3.1.2. Patients Preference to Choose Self-Administration of Injections3.3.1.3. Technological Advancements in Autoinjectors3.3.2. Restraint3.3.2.1. Availability of Alternative Treatment Options Such as General Injections and Oral Tablets3.3.3. Opportunities3.3.3.1. Patent Expiry of Biologics to Fuel Biosimilar DemandsChapter 4: Autoinjectors Market, by Type4.1. Overview4.1.1. Market Size and Forecast4.2. Disposable Autoinjectors4.3. Reusable AutoinjectorsChapter 5: Autoinjectors Market, by Application5.1. Overview5.1.1. Market Size and Forecast5.2. Rheumatoid Arthritis5.3. Multiple Sclerosis5.4. AnaphylaxisChapter 6: Autoinjectors Market, by End-user6.1. Overview6.1.1. Market Size and Forecast6.2. Home Care Settings6.3. Hospitals & ClinicsChapter 7: Global Autoinjectors Market, by Region7.1. Overview7.1.1. Market Size and ForecastChapter 8: Company Profiles8.1. Company Overview8.2. Company Snapshot8.3. Operating Business Segments8.4. Product Portfolio8.5. Business Performance8.6. Key Strategic Moves and Developments Amgen Inc.Antares PharmaBecton, Dickinson, and Company (Bd)Eli Lilly and CompanyJohnson & JohnsonMylan N. V.Novartis AGShl Medical AGTeva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.Ypsomed AG For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/zh7dmr Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
Jones is not displaying any symptoms.
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Almost nine months after it closed its doors permanently, Saint John's Cherry Brook Zoo still has six inhabitants waiting to go to their new homes. All that remains of the once-bustling zoo are two lions, two tigers and two snakes. All six have found new homes, but the hold-up is with the four big cats, explains zookeeper Erin Brown, who has been overseeing the relocation of the zoo's animals. Because they're going to the United States, there's a complicated permit process that often takes six to 12 months, explained Brown. Essentially, the zoo has to prove that the big cats were legally obtained, and that their transfer follows all of the guidelines laid out under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Brown said all of the permits required on the Canadian side of the border have been obtained. The hold-up is in the U.S. She said the COVID-19 pandemic and political unrest south of the border may also have contributed to the delay. "It could be making policies move a little more slowly," she said. When the zoo announced it would close for good last May, there were 80 animals — from 35 different species — living at the zoo, and all had to find new homes, said executive director Martha McDevitt. She said staff spent a lot of time checking out prospective new homes to make sure the animals would be safe and well cared for. "It was a big task," said McDevitt. The zoo had a number of farm-type animals, like miniature donkeys, goats and pigs that went to hobby farms, mostly in New Brunswick. The more exotic animals required a bit more work and they're now spread out at facilities from Nova Scotia to Vancouver. "The big cats were the hardest to find homes for," Brown said. The first step was to notify Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums, an accreditation and advocacy group better known as CAZA. But there weren't any facilities in Canada willing or able to take the big cats. Brown said they eventually started reaching out to sanctuaries, although that wasn't her first choice for the felines. That's when they heard from Popcorn Park in New Jersey, which is part zoo, part sanctuary. The facility has agreed to take the lions and has lined up a new home for the tigers, since it already has a number of tigers. So, until the proper permits are ready to go, the four big cats will remain in Saint John. For McDevitt, they're the hardest animals to say goodbye to. "You can't help but create these special bonds with these animals, especially specific ones," she said outside the tiger enclosure Tuesday morning. "For me personally, it's the big cats, the tigers. When I was a little… child, I wanted to be a tiger when I grew up. "That's impossible, I found out. So being able to work with them has been an absolute dream come true." McDevitt has been with the zoo since 2016 and the lions arrived shortly after she did. The tigers have been at the Cherry Brook Zoo since the summer of 2017. All four were hand-raised at an Ontario zoo before it closed in 2016. "So seeing them leave — and especially them going across the border — is really hard because I may not ever see them again. So that's been hard," said McDevitt. And because they were hand-raised, Brown said the big cats actually like people. "They love interacting with visitors," she said. It was a factor zoo staff considered when they looked at facilities willing to take them. "We had several facilities that offered space as a sanctuary situation, but we chose Popcorn Park because they're going to be in a zoo situation. A lot of these sanctuaries are really more suited to cats that don't like people." She said cats that come from abusive or neglectful situations prefer to live a quiet life with as little human interaction as possible. "But our cats love human interaction. They love seeing visitors. So choosing Popcorn Park was on purpose so that they could have that interaction with visitors." Once all the permits are in place, Popcorn Park will send its own relocation team to fetch the felines. They'll have specialized equipment and people, including a veterinarian. They have specialized cages with wheels that will be rolled right up to the door of their enclosure, and with a little food inside the crate as an added incentive, they cats should go in and be ready to be loaded into a specialized trailer for the ride to New Jersey. In the meantime, thanks to monthly donors who continue to contribute to the zoo — and the occasional one-time donation — life goes on for the big cats. With fewer animals to tend to, staff members have a bit more time to hand-feed and train the cats. With her bucket of cut-up deer meat, zookeeper Megan Gorey puts the lions, Aslan and Frieda — littermates who were born in 2014 — through a series of behaviours that she doesn't like to call tricks. The cats sit and lie down, and offer the correct paw on the fence as instructed. They also stand on their hind legs on command — all for a treat, of course. Gorey also demonstrates how she can draw blood and give injections with Luna, a five-year-old tiger who's been at the zoo since 2017. From the safety of the other side of the fence, Gorey tells Luna to lie down along the fence and as someone else feeds her meat treats, she barely reacts when the needle is used. Long goodbye Brown said she initially worried that a long delay before some of the animals left would be a painful way to say goodbye, but she's actually grateful for it now. She said each animal was able to get fussed over and given extra attention before they departed for their new homes. And with the four cats being among the last to go, it gave staff extra time with the zoo's most popular inhabitants — who just happen to be the biggest eaters as well. McDevitt said it costs a couple hundred dollars per cat per month — and that's even with the donations of roadkill from the Department of Natural Resources. One such donation just happened to arrive Tuesday morning and zookeepers were preparing to hoist entire deer legs up on poles in the cat enclosures to allow them to hunt and earn their meal. Once the big cats leave the Cherry Brook Zoo, the snakes will go as well, said Brown. The snakes will go home with one of the zookeepers, but as long as the zoo remains open for the lions and tigers, the snakes will stay as well.
If investors entered 2020 unsure of their convictions, they know them now. For investors who aren't used to dealing with violent swings in the stock market, it can be a bit unnerving. The good news is that there's a way to remain invested while mitigating this volatility risk.
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The winter sales – what the French call "les soldes" – get underway on Wednesday, against a bleak economic backdrop caused by the coronavirus pandemic, restrictions on movement and claims of unfair competition between the commercial sectors. Millions of shoppers are expected to pour into glitzy department stores such as Galeries Lafayette, BHV and Le Bon Marché over the next five weeks in search of big reductions on shoes, clothes and cosmetics.Independent designer boutiques across the country will also slash prices in an effort to create space for new seasonal stock.But the traditional surge to the tills comes as France battles with a disease that has led to more than 70,000 deaths since January 2020. On 16 January, President Emmanuel Macron's government brought in a nationwide curfew in force between 6pm and 6am.Third lockdown?France's Prime Minister Jean Castex is expected to announce a third national lockdown to fight a more contagious variant of the coronavirus."The first day of les soldes remains in popular imagination an important day," said Jean-Guilhem Darré, of the Syndicat des Independants, which represents artisans and small traders."But les soldes have less importance than before because there are more and more periods when prices are lowered because of ecommerce."You've also now got things like Les French Days, le Black Friday and the big commercial spaces have birthday celebrations. You have the impression that reductions are permanent."SavingsDespite the low prices, the French appear to have been cocking a snook at the bait.It has been estimated that 130 billion euros is stashed away in savings and that reluctance to spend has been more salient since the first national lockdown in March.But that pent-up spending power could be unleashed not only during the sales which end on 16 February but also way beyond."The curfew at the moment isn't that great for business," said Francis Palombi, head of the Confédération des commerçants de France. "But so long as we don't go back into a lockdown, les soldes could bring a small recovery and that would be good news for traders."For shops selling clothes, shoes and bags, the twice-yearly soldes represent 10 percent of their annual turnover."It's a crucial moment," added Darré whose trade union has 25,000 members in France."It gives businesses the money to pay for the goods for the coming season and to pay off the providers for the goods from the previous season."The health crisis, while highlighting the fragility of that system, has also exposed the difficulties facing the traders deemed non-essential.For example, when the lockdown was reimposed in November, bookshops were told they could not open.However, the book counters at the Fnac multi-media department stores remained in operation."You could get a book from Amazon and Fnac but not from one of the little shops, that was just too much," said Darré."Especially when the big stores were places where lots of people were going and were potentialy a health hazard. But that just showed the problems of competition that the smaller businesses have been facing."ChangeThe government eventually relented and opened up the bookshops and the florists, but more damage had been done to operators who, says Darré, have been asking for a fairer commercial playing field where they are not always competing against big-shop promotions.He says his members want a single specific period of reductions rather than the fluid free-for-all.However the SDI's calls have fallen on deaf ears. "The government believes in a free market and survival of the strongest," he added.Equality reigns at least with the 6pm curfew. Nobody wants that. But in the hours before the doors shut, there is a chance for festivity, said Yohann Petiot, the head of the Alliance du commerce, an umbrella body grouping owners of city centre shopping zones as well as independent clothes and shoe shops."You can only hope that les soldes keep the celebration side of things going and that people can get out and enjoy themselves a bit. It is so important at a time like thisBut will they wave the wads from that 130 billion euro pile? Another lockdown is unlikely to help the recovery of the clothing sector. According to initial estimates from the French Fashion Institute, sales fell 17 percent during 2020 under the impact of working from home added to the closures of bars, restaurants, cinemas and theatres."We saw the financial crash of 2008 and 2009 but compared to what is happening now, that was nothing," said Darré."We carried out a survey of our members in December ... 60 percent of them are feeling desperate. They can't make plans and they're depressed. They're in financial difficulties."Even though Macron's administration has helped the beleaguered workforce by allowing businesses to postpone tax payments and guaranteeing loans, Darré said there will be a reckoning."All those things are welcome but they will have to be paid for one day and our members don't know how they'll do it."