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Bioiberica Receives Frost & Sullivan’s 2025 European New Product Innovation Award for Clinically Validated Native Type II Collagen

The recognition highlights Bioiberica’s science-led innovation, clinical differentiation, and manufacturing excellence in the European innovative collagen market.

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce that Bioiberica has received the 2025 European New Product Innovation Recognition in the innovative collagen solutions industry for its outstanding achievements in clinical validation, ingredient differentiation, and evidence-based product development. This achievement reflects Bioiberica’s consistent leadership in advancing scientifically validated collagen ingredients, strengthening its competitive position, and enabling customer-centric innovation in a complex and rapidly evolving European joint health and nutrition landscape.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and execution. Bioiberica excelled in both by aligning long-term scientific strategy with market demand while executing with precision, consistency, and regulatory discipline. “Bioiberica distinguishes Collavant® n2 by providing mechanistic clarity and efficacy both in terms of joint comfort and potential cartilage preservation, setting it apart in a market that often lacks transparent clinical substantiation,” said Sreedevi Kakkad, Senior Research Analyst, TechVision at Frost & Sullivan.

Guided by a long-term growth strategy centered on science-first innovation, clinical research, and vertically integrated manufacturing, Bioiberica has demonstrated strong agility in the European collagen solutions market. Its sustained investment in native type II collagen research and pharmaceutical-grade production capabilities has enabled the company to address both clinical and lifestyle nutrition segments while maintaining full traceability and regulatory alignment.

Innovation remains central to Bioiberica’s approach. Collavant® n2, a native type II collagen ingredient derived from chicken sternum cartilage, preserves the collagen’s molecular structure and delivers efficacy at a low daily dose of 40 milligrams through an immune-mediated mechanism of action. Unlike denatured collagen peptides that rely on gram-level dosing, Collavant® n2 offers a differentiated formulation strategy supported by randomized, controlled clinical trials demonstrating support in joint comfort, mobility, and functional performance

“We’re honored to receive this prestigious award, and we’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to this milestone – from our exceptional scientists and technical experts to our production specialists, regional distributors and more,” comments Antonio Vendrell, Marketing & Communications Director at Bioiberica. “To us, collagen is much more than just a molecule. It is a tool that, through in-depth research and refinement, unlocks virtually limitless opportunities for health and wellbeing innovation. Through our continuous efforts to clinically characterize the benefits of Collavant® n2, as well as our initiatives to dispel common myths and misconceptions in the collagen market, we hope to empower our industry partners to unlock the next generation of collagen innovation.”

Bioiberica’s commitment to customer success further strengthens its market position. The company supports finished-product manufacturers through clinical substantiation, formulation guidance, regulatory documentation, and validated delivery formats, including capsules, gummies, functional foods, and lifestyle-oriented nutrition products. Its collaborative approach reduces formulation risk and enables partners to accelerate commercialization while maintaining scientific credibility and compliance with European regulations.

Manufacturing integrity and reliability are a foundation of Bioiberica’s value proposition. Through a vertically integrated supply chain within the SARIA Group, the company maintains full control over sourcing, processing, and production of Collavant® n2 in Europe. independent NutraStrong Collagen Verification reinforce ingredient consistency, traceability, and customer trust. Bioiberica’s circular economy model aligns operational excellence with sustainability and global regulatory readiness.

Frost & Sullivan commends Bioiberica for setting a high benchmark in scientifically backed collagen innovation, manufacturing transparency, and customer collaboration. The company’s ability to integrate robust science, operational discipline, and market education continues to shape the future of the European innovative collagen solutions industry and support evidence-based product development at scale.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the New Product Innovation Recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and execution, resulting in measurable differentiation, customer value creation, and strengthened competitive positioning. The recognition honors organizations that advance their industries through credible innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition
Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.
Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:
Tarini Singh
E: Tarini.Singh@frost.com 

About Bioiberica
Bioiberica is a global life science company with over 50 years’ experience in the research, production and commercialisation of molecules of high biological and therapeutic value for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and food industries.

This specialisation positions Bioiberica as a leader in the manufacture of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) heparin, as well as a world reference in the production of other biologically-derived APIs and scientifically-backed branded ingredients, suitable for mobility, digestive health and skin & beauty.

Bioiberica’s long-standing reputation is the result of its passion for life and science. Through its vertically-integrated supply chain, the company has complete control of its end-to-end production processes – ensuring the highest quality, safety and full traceability of its products. With production sites in Europe and the US, Bioiberica currently exports to more than 80 countries worldwide.

Committed to our partners’ success, Bioiberica is the perfect partner with which to explore new opportunities and developments in human, animal and plant health.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Antonio Vendrell
Marketing & Communications Director 
Bioiberica
communications@bioiberica.com
(+34) 93 490 49 08 

Madeline Callaghan
Senior Account Executive 
BDB (Barrett Dixon Bell) 
bioiberica@bdb.co.uk
(+44) 161 925 470

Seven New Ambassadors Present Credentials to Lao President

President Thongloun receiving ambassadors
Seven newly appointed foreign ambassadors representing Thailand, Finland, Egypt, Georgia, Austria, Lithuania and Slovakia visited Lao President. (Photo by Pathedlao)

On 17 February, President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith received letters of credence from seven newly appointed foreign ambassadors.

The ambassadors represent Thailand, Finland, Egypt, Georgia, Austria, Lithuania and Slovakia. Some are based in Vientiane, while others reside in Hanoi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore with concurrent accreditation to Laos.

During the ceremony, President Thongloun congratulated the envoys and expressed confidence that their experience would help expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation. 

He also highlighted opportunities to boost trade, investment and tourism, and encouraged the ambassadors to visit other provinces to better understand local development and promote investment opportunities to businesses from their respective countries.

In response, the ambassadors thanked the President for the warm welcome and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation with Laos.

On the same day, President Thongloun appointed three new Lao ambassadors to serve in the United Kingdom, Cambodia and Kuwait. 

He urged them to promote Laos’ foreign policy priorities, implement existing cooperation agreements, and attract greater international support, investment, and tourism. 

He emphasised that diplomatic efforts will contribute to socio-economic development and support the government’s goal of graduating from Least Developed Country status in 2026.

Drug Crimes Lead 2025 Crime Statistics Despite Overall Decline

Laos drug crime statistics 2025 seizure reported
Deputy Minister and Head of Office of the ministry Soulina Keopaseut at the meeting to report crime information. (Picture by Lao Security News)

Drug-related offences remained the most common crime in Laos in 2025, with authorities recording 3,660 cases nationwide, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Police detained 5,643 suspects, including 531 women and 322 foreign nationals. While drug cases fell by 111 compared to 2024, they continued to account for the largest share of criminal activity.

Authorities seized 244 million methamphetamine pills, 5,686 kilograms of ketamine, and 4,483 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Smaller quantities of marijuana, heroin, and opium were also confiscated. Officers impounded 133 cars, 547 motorcycles, 26 firearms, and cash in Lao kip and foreign currencies equivalent to about USD 60,000.

In Bokeo Province alone, police handled 293 drug cases and detained 380 suspects. Seizures included 151.9 million methamphetamine pills, 3,071 kg of crystal meth and 4,765 kg of ketamine. Police also destroyed 36.45 hectares of opium plantations and confiscated vehicles, weapons and other assets linked to trafficking operations.

Regional Pressure from the Golden Triangle

At the regional level, trafficking routes linked to the Golden Triangle, where Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand meet, continue to pose significant risks, the authorities said.

A 2025 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime noted a record 236 tonnes of methamphetamine were seized across East and Southeast Asia in 2024, a 24 percent increase from the year before. The agency warned that production in Myanmar’s Shan State continues to drive trafficking routes through Laos and neighbouring countries.

Alongside enforcement, local prevention efforts have expanded. In June 2025, the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse with education campaigns, youth activities and anti-drug seminars, highlighting cross-border cooperation and community action alongside enforcement.

Overall Crime Down in 2025

Nationwide, police recorded 6,996 criminal cases in 2025, excluding traffic accidents and fires, marking an overall decrease in crime cases by 353 cases compared to 2024.

After drug offences, ranked as the second most common crime with 1,651 cases, followed by 700 economic crimes. Cases of murder, human trafficking, and kidnapping each remained below 100. 

Authorities reported total damage from criminal activity exceeding USD 4.7 million, including cash, gold, and vehicles.

For 2026, the government plans to prioritize national security and public order, focusing on safeguarding national stability, strengthening the welfare and capacity of security forces, and expanding international cooperation.

Japan’s Abandoned Baby Monkey Punch-kun Goes Viral, Has the World in Tears

Punch-kun, a six-month-old monkey at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, has captured hearts worldwide after being abandoned at birth and finding comfort in a plush orange toy.

Punch-kun, a six-month-old Japanese macaque abandoned at birth, has captured millions of hearts worldwide, and global attention, as he transitions from clutching an orange stuffed toy for comfort to finding his place in the troop at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo.

According to local reports, abandoned by his mother shortly after birth, and rejected at first by his peers, the infant’s story went viral in early February 2026, sparking the hashtag #がんばれパンチ,  roughly translated as #HangInTherePunch, amid millions of online views, drawing supporters from across Japan and around the world, and driving record visitor numbers at the zoo.

In a statement posted on social media on 15 February, zoo officials said staff were stunned by the unexpected turnout. 

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who visited us today,” the zoo wrote. “All the staff were surprised by the unexpected turnout, something they had never experienced before.”

Early Challenges and Viral Fame

Punch-kun was born on 26 July 2025, weighing just 500 grams. His mother, suffering from stress after her first birth during the heat of summer, showed no signs of caring for him, a rare but documented occurrence in macaques. From the very next day, zoo staff began hand-rearing him with milk feeds, providing an orange plush orangutan doll as a surrogate companion.

Videos of Punch-kun dragging the toy while napping, eating, or burying his face in it during moments of anxiety exploded across social media platforms. The footage drew record crowds to the zoo, with long queues forming as visitors hoped to catch a glimpse of the endearing pair.

Reintegration with the Troop

In mid-January 2026, zoo staff reintroduced Punch-kun to the “monkey mountain” enclosure, home to dozens of macaques. Initially hesitant and scolded by peers for lacking social skills, he retreated repeatedly to his plush companion for reassurance.

But things changed quickly

Punch-kun began engaging in mutual grooming and joining fellow macaques in play, though still keeping the doll close. As of 18 February, he was observed receiving care from another member of the group, a key sign of trust in primate social dynamics, bouncing back from reprimands with remarkable resilience.

Zoo updates confirm his ongoing integration. He now engages daily in troop interactions and is maturing rapidly, though occasional periods of isolation persist. 

While full adaptation is still in progress, optimism prevails, and the world continues to watch.

Indonesia’s MDI Ventures Doubles Down on Execution and Trust to Unlock Regional Portfolio Value

The Telkom-backed VC reinforces cross-sector partnerships and compliance standards to
unlock scalable portfolio growth across Indonesia’s state-linked ecosystem.

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — After investing across the AI, cybersecurity, and blockchain sectors through portfolio companies such as Cyfirma, Whale, and IDRX throughout 2025, MDI Ventures is now sharpening its strategic focus on maximizing portfolio value by strengthening synergies with Telkom Group and the broader SOE (BUMN) ecosystem. MDI positions itself as a bridge between startup innovation and enterprise needs, ensuring collaborations are structured, relevant, and execution-ready.

This approach emphasizes measurable synergy outcomes, including pilot projects progressing to implementation, clearly defined go-to-market pathways, and collaborations that can be scaled across multiple entities.

“One of the biggest challenges when startups work with enterprises or SOEs is ensuring from the outset that the solutions truly address business needs and are executable,” said Roby Roediyanto, Director of MDI Ventures. “MDI helps align enterprise needs with the most relevant portfolio solutions, then works closely with both sides to move the process from discussion to implementation and go-to-market.”

One example of this approach is the collaboration between Digiserve by Telkom Indonesia and MDI Ventures’ cybersecurity portfolio company Cyfirma. Cyfirma’s Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) capabilities have now been integrated into Telkom Solution’s portfolio, enabling enterprise customers not only to detect cyber threats but also to understand associated risks and take preventive measures earlier. Supported by Cyfirma’s technology and Digiserve’s go-to-market strength within Telkom Solution, the offering is better positioned to address enterprise cybersecurity needs in a timely and scalable manner.

At the same time, MDI Ventures underscores that trust is a critical foundation for consistent value creation. As a corporate venture capital (CVC), strong governance and transparency are essential to maintaining credibility across investment and partnership processes—particularly as interactions among founders, corporate partners, investors, and vendors become increasingly fast-paced and intensive.

As part of its commitment to strengthening synergy and stakeholder trust, MDI Ventures, in collaboration with the Indonesia Venture Capital Association (AMVESINDO), hosted Synergy Innovation Week 2025 at the end of last year. The initiative brought together MDI portfolio companies, Telkom Group, and various state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to explore structured and execution-focused partnership opportunities.

A key highlight of the week was the Ventures Forum, a strategic dialogue session that convened representatives from the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the Deputy Attorney General for Civil and Administrative Matters (Jamdatun), the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), and the Ministry of Creative Economy (Ekraf). The forum underscored a collective commitment to governance alignment, regulatory clarity, and trust as critical foundations for a sustainable and resilient innovation ecosystem.

“Our goal is not to generate one-off synergies, but to build a repeatable and scalable way of working,” Roby added. “That’s why we oversee the process from opportunity identification to impactful collaboration, while safeguarding integrity through consistent governance—so successful collaborations can be replicated and expanded over the long term.”

As part of its trust-building initiatives, MDI Ventures has also obtained ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) certification and retained its Indonesia Trusted Company designation at the Indonesian Institute for Corporate Governance (IICG) Award toward the end of 2025.

Looking ahead, MDI Ventures will continue to deepen portfolio synergies through a more structured and execution-oriented approach, while ensuring trust remains a core operational foundation. This strategy is expected to expand sustainable collaboration opportunities across its portfolio, partners, and the broader innovation ecosystem.

Indonesia’s MDI Ventures Doubles Down on Execution and Trust to Unlock Regional Portfolio Value

The Telkom-backed VC reinforces cross-sector partnerships and compliance standards to
unlock scalable portfolio growth across Indonesia’s state-linked ecosystem.

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — After investing across the AI, cybersecurity, and blockchain sectors through portfolio companies such as Cyfirma, Whale, and IDRX throughout 2025, MDI Ventures is now sharpening its strategic focus on maximizing portfolio value by strengthening synergies with Telkom Group and the broader SOE (BUMN) ecosystem. MDI positions itself as a bridge between startup innovation and enterprise needs, ensuring collaborations are structured, relevant, and execution-ready.

This approach emphasizes measurable synergy outcomes, including pilot projects progressing to implementation, clearly defined go-to-market pathways, and collaborations that can be scaled across multiple entities.

“One of the biggest challenges when startups work with enterprises or SOEs is ensuring from the outset that the solutions truly address business needs and are executable,” said Roby Roediyanto, Director of MDI Ventures. “MDI helps align enterprise needs with the most relevant portfolio solutions, then works closely with both sides to move the process from discussion to implementation and go-to-market.”

One example of this approach is the collaboration between Digiserve by Telkom Indonesia and MDI Ventures’ cybersecurity portfolio company Cyfirma. Cyfirma’s Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) capabilities have now been integrated into Telkom Solution’s portfolio, enabling enterprise customers not only to detect cyber threats but also to understand associated risks and take preventive measures earlier. Supported by Cyfirma’s technology and Digiserve’s go-to-market strength within Telkom Solution, the offering is better positioned to address enterprise cybersecurity needs in a timely and scalable manner.

At the same time, MDI Ventures underscores that trust is a critical foundation for consistent value creation. As a corporate venture capital (CVC), strong governance and transparency are essential to maintaining credibility across investment and partnership processes—particularly as interactions among founders, corporate partners, investors, and vendors become increasingly fast-paced and intensive.

As part of its commitment to strengthening synergy and stakeholder trust, MDI Ventures, in collaboration with the Indonesia Venture Capital Association (AMVESINDO), hosted Synergy Innovation Week 2025 at the end of last year. The initiative brought together MDI portfolio companies, Telkom Group, and various state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to explore structured and execution-focused partnership opportunities.

A key highlight of the week was the Ventures Forum, a strategic dialogue session that convened representatives from the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the Deputy Attorney General for Civil and Administrative Matters (Jamdatun), the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), and the Ministry of Creative Economy (Ekraf). The forum underscored a collective commitment to governance alignment, regulatory clarity, and trust as critical foundations for a sustainable and resilient innovation ecosystem.

“Our goal is not to generate one-off synergies, but to build a repeatable and scalable way of working,” Roby added. “That’s why we oversee the process from opportunity identification to impactful collaboration, while safeguarding integrity through consistent governance—so successful collaborations can be replicated and expanded over the long term.”

As part of its trust-building initiatives, MDI Ventures has also obtained ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) certification and retained its Indonesia Trusted Company designation at the Indonesian Institute for Corporate Governance (IICG) Award toward the end of 2025.

Looking ahead, MDI Ventures will continue to deepen portfolio synergies through a more structured and execution-oriented approach, while ensuring trust remains a core operational foundation. This strategy is expected to expand sustainable collaboration opportunities across its portfolio, partners, and the broader innovation ecosystem.

comforte AG and ITSS Global Launch Solution to Minimize Sensitive Data Exposure for Temenos Transact Banks

New integration adds data-centric protection to Temenos Transact, streamlining compliance, secure modernization, and AI analytics.

WIESBADEN, GERMANY – EQS Newswire – 18 February 2026 – comforte AG, a global leader in data-centric security, and ITSS Global, a premier Temenos delivery partner, have announced a collaboration to help retail, commercial and private banks using Temenos Transact eliminate the risks associated with clear-text personally identifiable information (PII) and payment data across core banking systems and their connected environments.
As banks accelerate digital transformation and data-driven programs such as fraud prevention and AI, exposure of sensitive data across systems has become a growing concern. Regulators and industry standards worldwide are also raising the bar for how banks protect sensitive data and prove control across connected environments, including PCI DSS, privacy requirements, and resilience expectations. The comforte and ITSS collaboration addresses these challenges with a co-developed solution that extends data protection into Temenos Transact environments without complex customization.
Delivered by ITSS as part of its Temenos services, the integration leverages comforte’s TAMUNIO technology for centralized policy management, tokenization, and controlled de-tokenization, keeping sensitive data protected across environments while still supporting reporting, analytics, and downstream processing, including fraud detection workflows and AI-driven insights built on Transact data.

Turning Security into an Enabler
“The modern threat landscape demands a shift from securing systems to securing the data itself,” said Henning Horst, CTO at comforte. “Today’s regulators and auditors expect readable data to stay out of places it doesn’t belong. Together with ITSS, we help banks prove that control and move faster on analytics, fraud initiatives, and AI programs using protected data.”

Safe Implementation into Temenos Transact
“As banks modernize their Temenos environments, the real security challenge is no longer the perimeter. It is protecting sensitive data as it moves across core systems, analytics platforms, and the cloud,” said Somasundaram M, Regional Sales Director, MEA at ITSS. “Through our partnership with comforte, we enable Temenos clients to embed data-centric tokenization directly into their transformation journeys. This significantly reduces breach exposure, supports compliance with evolving regulatory mandates such as PCI DSS 4.0 and GDPR, and allows banks to adopt cloud, analytics, and AI-driven use cases without compromising data sovereignty or performance.”

To learn more or request a briefing, visit comforte.com. You can alsocontact us via email: sales@comforte.com / marketing@ITSSglobal.com.Hashtag: #comforteAG

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About comforte AG

comforte AG is a leading provider of data-centric security solutions that empower enterprises to protect sensitive information throughout its lifecycle while maintaining its usability for business operations. Headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany, comforte is a trusted partner for global enterprises across various industries. The TAMUNIO data security platform automates the discovery, classification and protection of data within complex IT environments. With over 25 years of expertise, comforte safeguards data for over 300 global customers, including industry leaders like Visa and Mastercard, enabling them to drive digital transformation, optimize operations, and achieve sustainable growth with confidence.
For more information, visit comforte.com and follow comforte AG on LinkedIn.

About ITSS
ITSS Global is a Geneva-headquartered technology services and solutions provider with a presence in more than 25 strategic locations worldwide. Since 2001, ITSS Global has delivered best-in-class outcomes through deep banking expertise and strong technical capabilities, supporting organizations with end-to-end IT modernization and operational excellence. The company provides expertise across infrastructure, cybersecurity, and managed services—helping clients enhance performance, strengthen security, and scale with confidence.

A multi-certified Temenos partner, ITSS Global has supported 300+ clients globally as a system integrator across the full Temenos suite, while also delivering complementary solutions that extend and enhance the Temenos core—enabling future-ready banking transformation through cloud adaptability, AI enablement, and continuous innovation.

For more information, visit and follow ITSS on and .

“Yiwu” Dazzling the World in the Year of the Horse

YIWU, China, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from Yiwu Media Convergence Center:

On the stage of the CMG(China Media Group) 2026 Year of the Horse Spring Festival Gala, Yiwu made a stunning eight-minute appearance, showcasing the city’s commercial vitality, inclusive spirit, and development miracle to a global audience. Though not its first time in the international spotlight, the performance once again ignited overseas fascination with this county-level Chinese city.

Across social media, Yiwu-related topics have remained highly visible, from the Milan Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup 2026 to the viral “KuKu Ma” (Crying Horse).

Supported by Yiwu’s foreign trade network, “KuKu Ma” swiftly went global. The Straits Times of Singapore analyzed the trend as evidence of Chinese manufacturing’s keen understanding of consumer emotion, highlighting industrial upgrading. PR Newswire noted that “Made in Yiwu” products continue to reach households worldwide.

Following the Yiwu sub-venue for the 2026 Spring Festival Gala broadcast, international interest surged. Viewers called Yiwu “Friendly”, “Inspirational”, and a “Dream Land”, with many saying, “I want to visit this year”. A foreign resident proudly called himself a “Yiwuise”, inspiring others to follow suit.

Before the Spring Festival, Yiwu’s promotional videos appeared on screens across 20 countries and five continents. From street markets to the “World Supermarket”, images of the Global Digital Trade Centre, new energy vehicle factories, and the China-Europe Railway Express showcased the city’s transformation worldwide.

Media outlets including The Manila Times, Vientiane Times, Singapore’s TNGlobal, and Germany’s FinanzNachrichten carried the story.

“Yiwu represents the future,” said Alex, a Finnish businessman who has worked in the city for over a decade. “People once thought it was just about small commodities, but now its own brands are going global. This is a Yiwu full of creativity and momentum for the times.”