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IBM announced today that it is acquiring Langauge Analysis Sytems (LAS). I interviewed LAS co-founder and CEO Jack Hermansen just a few weeks ago for the March issue of Global By Design and came away very impressed with the company.
LAS helps the government and companies such as banks and retailers analyze and manage names across a variety of languages and cultures. They’ve analyzed more than a billion names and can use this information to prevent scams, improve personalization, dedupe lists, and so on.
IBM and LAS partnered back in December and I guess IBM felt it needed to pounce — a smart move.
“The global economy is outpacing our clients’ ability to keep up with a changing world of customers, competitors and partners, and can impede their ability to capitalize on emerging opportunities…” said Ambuj Goyal, general manager, Information Management at IBM.
So what else does IBM see on the horizon that will help its clients keep pace? Will IBM see the need to acquire a language services provider like a Lionbridge or someone smaller? Or what about statistical machine translation via Language Weaver?
Here’s an excerpt from my interview with Jack Hermansen:
- Q: Why do corporations need to invest in your software in addition to their existing CRM and commerce software tools?
A: Quite simply, corporations invest in LAS software to get the most out of the names in their databases. Whether the ultimate reason is risk management, fraud reduction, or improving customer relationships — and whether the processing is data cleansing, name matching, gender identification or cultural classification — it comes down to having the best software available to manage databases of names, one of the most valuable assets that an organization has.
People don’t often think of names as compact databases of knowledge about a person, but that is precisely what they are. In our multicultural society, understanding the components of a person’s name can provide valuable information about the name’s origins, its cultural variations, and the meanings of the different elements within a name. To date, names have been treated as no more than character strings, when in fact they are full of information.
Maria Luz Rodriguez v. de Luna, for example, is the widow of a Mr. Luna. Most people — and all systems — in the data world are simply unaware of this kind of potentially valuable information. Access to this vital layer of data awareness has never before been more necessary; nor has it ever been as readily available as it is today, the result of decades of research and development.
As consumers, we are growing more and more irritated by the insensitivity with which companies (and their computer systems) treat our names. Every person, no matter how common or unfamiliar their name may seem, has experienced this mishandling of his or her name. And, until recently, we have all grudgingly put up with it. But now, people are throwing away mail that has garbled their name in address labels, and are dismissing salespeople who mispronounce their names.
Until LAS products became available, corporations could not effectively personalize much of their correspondence because — outside of familiar Anglo names — there was no accurate way of identifying an individual’s proper surname or even the gender of an individual in order to create a respectful salutation. This is especially frustrating to marketers, who know that everyone, particularly those from cultures with unfamiliar names, are much more receptive when they hear someone address them appropriately.
At last, there are products available to make this easier for everyone to do. Smarter searching and locating, more effective customer communications, fewer gaffes with people’s names: these improvements to fundamental business processes should be attractive to any company that deals with personal names.


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Superior transformed its manufacturing processes to speed production, cut waste and boost profits. For example, the company introduced software that allows its sales staff to design a kitchen with customers and send the order directly to the factory.
“Now, no one touches an order,” says Scott Hodson, Superior’s President and CEO. “We eliminated all of the non‑value‑added costs that customers weren’t prepared to pay for.”
Tough decisions and more than $2 million in timely investments have paid off. The company is now solidly profitable and posted sales of more than $41 million in 2013, up from $28 million in 2009. It has also doubled its store count in Saskatchewan and Alberta to six and is on track to reach $45 million in sales in 2014.
Superior’s transformation is an example of how Canadian manufacturers are changing to become more productive and customer focused in the face of intensifying competition at home and abroad.
Radical change needed
When Hodson joined Superior in 2008, he and the new leadership team knew the company needed radical change to survive.
Amid falling sales, the company posted a large loss in 2009, leading its primary lender to pull its line of credit. That’s when BDC’s Business Restructuring Unit stepped in to help the company devise a turnaround plan.
Superior started the turnaround by spending more than $1 million to map every process from initial customer contact to kitchen design and installation.
That initiative helped the company reduce the number of software systems it was using to two from a whopping 17, and slash its administrative staff by more than two‑thirds. Those cuts were just part of a painful restructuring that saw the employee head count almost halved to 200 employees.
A turnaround plan
BDC’s Business Restructuring Unit allowed the company to postpone its principal payments on BDC loans. It also made concessions on Superior’s sale of non‑core assets and provided an operating‑line‑of‑credit guarantee that allowed the company to better manage its cash flow, execute the restructuring plan and secure a new line of credit.
Five years later, the company has returned to sustainable profitability and is fully on side with lenders. The employee count has risen to 250.
The company spent months speaking to its home builder and home owner customers about their needs and expectations.
Tracks customer service
In response, the firm began tracking a series of service performance measures—including quality control, on‑time delivery and other key performance indicators. It built an online portal where staff could monitor how their customers’ orders were progressing and see real‑time service statistics.
A dedicated project team worked with an external software provider to develop the virtual showroom feature.
Hodson says that technology helps his sales staff remove much of the anxiety home owners feel when making what may be a once‑in‑a‑lifetime decision on a kitchen upgrade. Most importantly, it was technology that none of his competitors were using at the time.
A scalable business
Hodson’s plan is to grow Superior’s market share in Alberta, which currently stands at less than 10%, while continuing to increase its 35% share of the kitchen cabinet market in Saskatchewan. Doing so means constantly looking at the bottom line and automating processes.
“If you’re dependent on manual, traditional ways of doing things, you can’t scale your business,” Hodson says. “That’s why we needed to focus on automation and logistics.”
Consider the impact of major organizational change on your employees. “The reason we got through it was because our people embraced the change,” says Scott Hodson, president and CEO of Superior Cabinets.
Give employees a stake in your company’s success. “I share financial information with our employees twice annually and we’ve just implemented a profit‑sharing plan for 2014,” Hodson says.
Listen to your customers. Superior Cabinets spent months consulting with customers about key elements of its client experience and growth strategy.
Be prepared to invest in change. Superior Cabinets spent upward of $2 million streamlining processes and introducing customer‑friendly technology to its kitchen showrooms and manufacturing facilities.

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Leftover Turkeys: Here’s to the post-holiday standouts
(Page 3 of 4)
The women’s hoops league set a new record low this season in attendance.
Fewer than 7,500 fans on average showed up at WNBA games in 2012. That’s a decrease of about 500 fans per game from the previous season and 3,400 less spectators than attended games in 1998.
The San Antonio Silver Stars deserve some of the blame. The team saw its attendance drop more than 10 percent this season.
Only three of the WNBA’s 12 teams experienced an increase in attendance.
The Nov. 18 race in Austin, the first of 10 planned over the next decade, drew nearly 120,000 fans to the new Circuit of the Americas track.
What the race didn’t do is attract TV viewers.
SportsBusiness Daily, an affiliated publication, reports that the Austin F1 race generated a 0.4 rating on the Speed network, which equates to about 688,000 viewers. That’s not much of an audience for a marquee event that bills its international appeal.
The same network televised the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford EcoBoost 200 two days before the F1 event — to an audience of about 200,000 more viewers.
In fact, SportsBusiness Daily reports that Fox televised four F1 races in the summer (three of them tape delayed). The network drew an average of 1 million viewers for each of those broadcasts.
Just because consumers are gullible is no reason for the nation’s retailers to gang up on them like a swarm of lineman on a vulnerable quarterback.
Black Friday wasn’t enough? We had to add Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday — and now a push for Mobile Tuesday?
I’d like to suggest a new special day: Take-Back Tuesday.
W. Scott Bailey covers health care, tourism, sports business, economic development; he also plans and edits some special reports.
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SomaDetect, an agriculture technology startup that measures milk quality from every cow at milking, won the FoodBytes! New York Judges’ Choice Award. SomaDetect uses sensors that fit into existing milking equipment to measure the fat and protein content of dairy as well as somatic cells — an indication when a cow is suffering from mastitis — progesterone, and antibiotics.
It’s that time of year again to recognize the innovators and entrepreneurs driving the agrifood tech sector forward with the AgFunder Innovation Awards. These are peer-selected awards based on votes placed by you, our 45,000-strong network.


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Naughty Notts’ neighbours are the worst in the country
Stop being noisy
Nottingham residents are officially the worst neighbours in the country.
Beating out competition from every city in the UK, a survey found that 51% of Notts locals don’t speak to their neighbours very often, if at all and 30% don’t trust their neighbours.
Perhaps unsurprisingly due to the amount of noise complaints in Lenton, only 11% of locals would class their neighbours as friends.
Nationally, only 5 per cent of 18-24 year olds speak to neighbours “very often”, compared to 37 per cent of over 65s, suggesting that maybe your grandma is right about the youth of today.
According to an independent survey by online blinds retailer Direct Blinds, getting to know neighbours is more popular with oldies, as a massive 95 per cent of those over 55 know their neighbour’s name.
But even though we don’t know our neighbours names, 76 per cent of people are still willing to lend items such as gardening tools and DIY products to their neighbours.
The most generous cities in the UK are Newcastle and Glasgow, where at least eight in 10 are willing to lend a cup of sugar to a neighbour.
Alongside Notts, Scousers and people from Leeds are the stingiest, with less than a quarter of people from Liverpool willing to lend something to their neighbour.
Notts residents made almost 750 noise complaints about house parties in the last year and a half.
Police statistics revealed 729 noise complaints in Nottingham student areas from September 2013 to February 2015.


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A look at which airlines have the highest demand and need to be upgraded next year.
1 of 6 ABA Journal aviation news and analysis, aviation news, travel aviation, travel, travel travel ABA, airlines, travel AABB, airline, ABAB, travel article ABA Bulletin, Aviation News, Aviation, Aviation Travel, AAB, airlines AABA, travel destination AABBA, destination ABABA, ABL, destination, destination source The ABA has released its annual aviation travel forecast, the fourth edition of which includes a comprehensive look at air travel demand and the airlines that will be upgrading.
The forecasts look at the travel demand for the coming year, the travel needs of passengers, and the impact of planned upgrades on demand and supply.
While demand is expected to remain stable, there is expected demand to increase by 0.7 per cent in the next year as airlines add capacity.
Demand for domestic flights is expected by 7 per cent.
Airbus has the highest growth in demand, with demand for domestic passengers at 6.9 per cent compared with 3.3 per cent for domestic trips and 1.4 per cent domestic flights booked by Ryanair.
British Airways, which is also expanding capacity in its fleet, is expected increase demand by 2.4 to 5.6 per cent this year, according to the forecast.
United, Delta, Frontier and Alaska have seen the largest growth in travel demand, as their passenger numbers increase.
Demand for international flights is forecast to increase 1.2 per cent, to 17.2 million from 15.9 million.
The forecast also says that demand for international passengers is forecast by 0 to 3.5 per cent per year for 2019.
Airbus is also the main beneficiary of a projected increase in demand for its regional flights, with more than 1 million international passengers expected to travel to Europe this year.
Demand for regional flights has also been forecast by airlines to grow by more than 5 per cent by the end of 2019.
Airline demand growth is expected in the second half of 2020, as demand increases in the US and China.
According to the ABA forecast, demand for regional travel is expected growth of 1.9 to 4.3 percent in 2019 and 1 per cent to 2.3 to 4 per cent of demand in 2020.
The US is expected only to see growth of 0.3-0.5 percent.
The forecast says demand for passenger services will continue to be a strong driver of demand growth for the next two years.
“Demand for passenger service is expected for the second-half of 2020 to grow 3.9-4.1 per cent,” the AAB report says.
“Demand for services will remain strong in 2019 with growth of 3.1-3.7 percent in the United States and 3.2-3,8 per cent globally.”
Demand for commercial flights is also forecast to grow in the third and fourth quarters of 2019, with airlines increasing demand by 3.4 and 3 per cent respectively.
The airlines that are expected to be expanding capacity next year are Southwest, United, Alaska, Frontier, American and Delta.
The forecast expects demand for flights to continue to rise by 0 per cent a year over the next five years.


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Apple Music senior director Ian Rogers – in reply to another Twitter user – has indicated Apple Music will be compatible with the Sonos internet-connected speaker system as soon as possible.
@jeffmc it will be ASAP, but not at launch
— ian c rogers (@iancr) June 25, 2015
Although Beats Music did have native support on the popular internet-connected speaker system, there have been no announcements about a partnership with Apple Music so far. In the tweet, Rogers confirms that there will be no Sonos integration at launch.
Earlier this month, a Sonos representative said:
“Sonos will not have Apple Music on it at launch but we fully expect to support them when they’re ready to focus on the home listening experience. Right now they’re fully focused on mobile .”
For the short term, Apple Music users will be forced to workaround the issue via a connected Apple TV or AirPort Express to get the music streaming into their Sonos equipment. Apple Music can also be streamed via Bluetooth to wireless speakers.
Apple Music debuts as part of iOS 8.4 on Tuesday, June 30 at 8AM Pacific time. The Beats 1 streaming radio station will begin its first broadcasting day one hour later, at 9AM PST.


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Effort to expand cold beer sales fizzles in tight vote by legislative commission
The prospect of getting a cold six-pack at your local grocery store has once again fallen flat.
After a nail-biter vote, a panel working to revise Indiana’s alcohol laws will not recommend allowing pharmacies, grocers and convenience stores to sell cold beer — something that has long been the well-protected province of liquor stores.
The recommendation failed even though the vote was 8-7 in favor. That's because 9 of the 17 members had to vote in favor of the recommendation for it to pass. Two members — Gina-Gail Fletcher and Alex Huskey — were absent.
The tight vote was even more dramatic because one member — Judge William Boklund — switched his vote in the middle of the roll call, joining proponents of cold beer access.
The result was a big blow for consumers who want to be allowed to buy cold beer for carryout at convenience, grocery and drug stores. Right now, only liquor stores are permitted to sell cold beer for carryout in Indiana, with few exceptions.
"With all due respect," Sen. Eric Bassler, a supporter of expanded cold beer sales, said ahead of the vote, "if this doesn’t get out of this commission, it will die."
Lawmakers created the Alcohol Code Revision Commission in the wake of a controversy over a loophole that temporarily allowed the sale of cold beer at two Rickers convenience stores. The commission already has approved a recommendation to allow Sunday carryout sales.
Many will see in the cold beer vote the hand of the small but powerful liquor store industry, which has fought for years to maintain its virtual monopoly on cold beer.
"Right now special interests are driving public policy. The public is not," said Chairwoman Beverly Gard said in explaining her support for a cold beer expansion.
The liquor store industry recently struck a deal with big box retailers like Walmart and Target to support Sunday carryout sales and oppose expanded cold beer sales. The unlikely alliance rankled the convenience store industry and cold beer supporters.
Indiana is the only state in the nation that regulates beer based on temperature and two recent public opinion polls show that a strong majority of Hoosiers want expanded cold beer and Sunday alcohol sales.
The panel, which includes eight lawmakers and nine others appointed by legislative leaders, also voted to recommended increased fines for those who sell to minors, increased alcohol permit fees, and a 25 percent increase to the state's alcohol taxes.
Money from those tax and fee increases will go toward enhanced enforcement and problem-solving courts.
It also voted to recommend requiring trained and licensed 21-year-old clerks at grocery, drug and convenience stores that sell alcohol. Those retailers also would be required to confine beer and alcohol to one area of their stores.
Gard, the chairwoman, said the commission's final report will reflect the close nature of the cold beer vote.
Ultimately, lawmakers will have final say over whether to take up the issue when they convene in January for the 2018 legislative session.
But the issue was already considered a tough sell among lawmakers, even with a recommendation from the commission. Without it, the prospects for expanded cold beer sales are dim at best.
Jay Ricker, owner of the Rickers gas station chain, said he would continue to push for cold beer despite the outcome of Friday's final commission meeting.
"At 8-7, while it doesn't go on as a formal recomendation, we're not done with this," he said.
He already has lawmakers lined up to sponsor a cold beer bill during the legislative session, he said.
But Rep. Ben Smaltz, who as chairman of the House Public Policy Committee is a gatekeeper on alcohol issues, said he only plans to prioritize the commission's recommendations.
"I give weight to what we've done here," he said. "If it's a recommendation of this committee for the General Assembly, I think it's going to get he weight it deserves. If not, then I just don't see that being a reasonable track, because that fully discounts the entire process we just went through."
Call IndyStar reporter Tony Cook at (317) 444-6081. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.


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A week-long strike by truckers in South Korea threatens to be the latest bottleneck in the global supply chain after industry bosses warned production of Samsung computer chips in Asia was being disrupted .
As the global flow of goods faces obstacles such as lockdowns in China and war in Ukraine, Tuesday saw the first concrete sign that the strike was affecting South Korea’s world-leading semiconductor industry.
The Korea International Trade Association (Kita) said a Korean company that produces isopropyl alcohol (IPA), a raw material for cleaning chip wafers, is facing complications when shipping to a Chinese company which, in turn, supplies wafers to a Samsung Electronics factory in China.
Kita said in a statement that around 90 tonnes, or a week’s worth of shipments, had been delayed.
Samsung Electronics did not immediately comment. It produces NAND flash memory chips, used for data storage in data centers, smartphones and other tech gadgets, at its factory in Xi’an, China.
The strike has already cost South Korea’s industrial sector more than $1.2 billion in lost production and unfulfilled deliveries.
The Truckers’ Union said in a statement on Tuesday that it would continue its general strike and condemned the Department of Transport for being “neither willing to discuss nor able to resolve the current situation”.
The union is protesting against soaring fuel prices and demanding minimum wage guarantees. Four rounds of negotiations with the government failed to find a compromise.
On Friday, the police arrested several dozen drivers for blocking traffic and disrupting the movement of goods near the factories. Fifteen have been arrested for allegedly obstructing business outside a liquor factory near Seoul.
The Cargo Truckers Solidarity union said production at Hyundai’s largest factory complex was cut in half last week due to component shortages caused by the strike.
Samsung’s Xi’an factory had seen production halted earlier this year due to Covid-19 restrictions in the Chinese city, prompting a global firming in NAND prices.
The tech giant has two production lines in Xi’an that manufacture advanced NAND flash products, which account for about 43% of its total NAND flash memory production capacity and 15% of the overall global production capacity, according to TrendForce. .


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Virtual Reality (VR) has made significant advancements in 2015 and looks to continue that trend in the years to come. It even helped save a life. The problem is that unless you’re OK with Google Cardboard or other cardboard-like VR goggles, a standalone mobile phone VR headset — like the Samsung Gear VR — is quite pricey.
Thankfully we can always count on China to produce more affordable options and with FiresVR, proper smartphone VR gear could become easily accessible to everyone.
Dubbed the “Xiaomi of China’s VR industry”, FiresVR is looking to shake up the pricing of quality VR headsets with its new JiDome-1. Although China has produced many cardboard-like VR pieces in the country, the JiDome-1 is the first “serious” VR product that can be compared to the likes of the Gear VR.
The JiDome-1 has a high-precision 9-axis gyroscope and proximity sensor as well as redefined weak interaction buttons. It also has a built-in air-cooling system with a balanced cooling efficiency and working noise. This cooling system will hopefully work well to keep your device cool and stave away moisture or fogging.
While the Gear VR is only compatible with Samsung devices, this JiDome-1 is compatible with a variety of Android smartphones as long as they meet the design requirements. For now, it is already compatible with 30% of all Android devices but FiresVR wants to push it to exceed 50% compatibility in 2016.
As a proverbial cherry on top of the icing, the device is currently being sold at RMB199 (around RM131.60) which is a whole lot cheaper than what the Gear VR goes for. There is a catch, though: When it goes on sale in Q1 of 2016, it will only be available to developers, but it is expected to reach consumers in the second quarter of 2016. Because of that, a consumer price has not yet been released.
If you can’t wait that long, there’re always more options for VR headsets, head on over to our gadget gift guide for more information.


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MARKHAM, Ont. – Honda Canada says it will voluntarily recall more than 107,000 vehicles because of a potential problem with the front passenger side airbag inflator.
The automaker says inflators in affected vehicles may deploy with too much pressure, which may cause the inflator to rupture and cause possible injuries.
Honda says it knows of one crash attributed to the airbag problem, but it is not aware of any injuries or deaths related to this issue.
The recall covers almost 81,000 Honda Civics and about 11,000 Acura 1.7 EL vehicles from the 2001-2003 model years, 6,140 CR-V vehicles from the 2002-2003 model years and almost 10,000 Odysseys from the 2002 model year.
Honda says owners of all affected vehicles are encouraged to take their vehicles to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive a recall notification, which will be mailed out starting in late May.


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Honor introduced a trio of flagships earlier this year – Honor 30, Honor 30 Pro, and Honor 30 Pro+. 1.5 months after the launch in China, the lineup is finally going international and the first market to get them is Russia.
However, only the Honor 30 and Honor 30 Pro+ are currently available – theres no mention of the Honor 30 Pro at all.
The Honor 30 arrives with Kirin 985 chipset, flat 6.53 display, and a 40 MP main camera. Only one of its memory options is currently up for pre-order – 8/256GB. The initial price is RUB39,990 – thats about $565/510 or 15% more expensive than it is in China.
The Honor 30 Pro+ is priced at RUB54,990, which is the equivalent of $777/700, once again, for an 8/256 GB memory combo.
All the gifts Yandex is giving to Honor 30 owners
While these prices seem high, Honor Russia offers plenty of gifts – every device comes with Honor Magic Earbuds, and a bumper case or a tripod selfie stick. Also, if a purchase is made until June 30, you get the equivalent of up to RUB10,000 in Yandex goods – up to RUB5,000 for Yandex.Eda (the Russian equivalent of Uber) and the same equivalent for Yandex.Taxi (a local cab service).
The Russian platform also offers 90-day free trial of Yandex Plus and three movies from KinoPoisk HD.


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Sports Direct's biggest headache is integrating its House of Fraser buy, but its latest results show it forging ahead with developments at the rest of the business, although this is denting turnover at some chains.
Another day, another profit warning. This time it was budget fashion retailer Bonmarché Holdings serving up bad news with the firm saying its Black Friday trading figures were “extremely poor, particularly in stores”.
Macy’s is closing its online store on Tmall, Alibaba's Chinese-language B2C e-commerce platform, marking the department store's exit from the country. The e-store will stop all operations on December 31.
Premium fashion trade show Jacket Required will be showcasing a larger number of eco brands at its upcoming event in January as part of its goal of promoting a more sustainable future for the industry.


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No. PR- 066
June 22, 2021
The PHDCCI Economic and Business Momentum (EBM) Index
April 2021 economic activity significantly higher than April 2020: PHD Chamber
Though the second wave of Covid-19 has severely impacted the country as compared to the first wave in 2020 with record active cases, daily new cases and deaths, lead economic and business indicators have shown a higher growth in April 2021 as compared with April 2020. PHDCCI Economic & Business Momentum (EBM) Index of 25 lead economic and business indicators at 99.8 for April 2021 is significantly higher as compared with 78.3 for April 2020 at the base of 2018-19 = 100, said Sanjay Aggarwal, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in a press statement issued here today.
PHDCCI EBM Index 2018-19=100 April 2017 April 2018 April 2019 April 2020 April 2021
95.8 100.2 101.3 78.3 99.8
Source: PHD Research Bureau, PHDCCI EBM Index
Lead economic and business indicators such as cement, steel, consumer durables, GST collections and external commercial borrowings have shown a noteworthy improvement in April 2021 as compared to the April 2020, said Sanjay Aggarwal.
However, sequentially, the PHDCCI EBM Index has shown a slight decline for April 2021 to the level of 99.8 as compared to 100.3 for March 2021. Amid an uncertain economic environment created by 2nd wave of coronavirus, the trade and industry have been impacted by the restrictions in various parts of the country, depressed demand and investment scenario and reduced spending on non-essential items, said Sanjay Aggarwal.
PHDCCI EBM Index 2018-19=100 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021
99.3 99.2 100.3 99.8
Source: PHD Research Bureau, PHDCCI EBM Index
Based on the April economic activity and movement of EBM Index, a significantly higher growth trajectory is anticipated for Q1 FY 2021-22. The quarterly movement of PHDCCI EBM Index and quarterly GDP growth rates are highly correlated at 0.9 as depicted in Chart-2, said Sanjay Aggarwal.
Chart-1 : PHDCCI EBM Index: Monthly Trend (Base: 2018-19=100) Chart-2 : PHDCCI EBM Index (Base: 2018-19=100) and GDP Growth Rates (in %): Quarterly Trend
Source: PHD Research Bureau, PHDCCI EBM Index; GDP growth figures compiled from MOSPI
Going ahead, effective policy measures are needed once again to support demand and to have a multiplier effect on production possibilities, expansion of employment in factories, expansion of capital investments and overall virtuous circle of the growth trajectory, said Sanjay Aggarwal.
There is a need to lower interest rates for consumers and businesses, lesser compliances for MSMEs vis-à-vis ease of doing business at the ground level and a lower tax regime to increase the personal disposable income of the people, he said
Frontloading the National Infra Pipeline expenditure would provide a much needed multiplier effect to create aggregate demand in the economy and to strengthen the economic recovery, said Sanjay Aggarwal
More and more direct benefit transfers needs to be considered for the urban and rural poor under the various welfare schemes in addition to the free distribution of dry rations till Diwali as already announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, he said
A substantial stimulus to create effective strides for futuristic growth trajectory and to diminish the daunting impact of the second wave of the pandemic coronavirus on trade and industry would be crucial to support the economic momentum in this extremely difficult time, said Aggarwal
At least 75% of the population of country needed to be vaccinated with both doses of vaccination by December 2021 to do away with the uncertainty in the economy, said Sanjay Aggarwal.
PHDCCI EBM (Economic and Business Momentum) Index has shown steady recovery from the lows of 78.3 in April 2020 to 85.7 in May 2020, 91.6 in June 2020, 95.5 in July 2020, 95.9 in August 2020, 96.5 in September 2020, 96.8 in October 2020, 98.4 in November 2020, 99.2 in December 2020, 99.3 in January 2021, 99.2 in February 2021, 100.3 in March 2021 and 99.8 in April 2021, with a base of 2018-19=100.
PHDCCI EBM Index is a composite index of 25 lead economic and business indicators with base year at 2018-19=100, which considers the demand and supply indicators to present a broad perspective of the economy. The 25 indicators include the IIP Consumer durable goods, IIP Consumer non-durable goods, IIP Capital Goods, IIP Intermediate Goods, Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Petroleum Refinery Products, Fertilisers, Steel, Cement, Electricity, Consumption of Petroleum products, Export Merchandise, Export Services, India Freight Traffic, Credit to Agriculture, Credit to Industry, Credit to service sector, Personal Loans, GST Collections, SENSEX, FDI Equity Inflows, External commercial borrowings and Unemployment.
Full PHDCCI EBM Index report attached
PHDCCI EBM Index
|Sr No||Economic Indicators||Apr-20||Apr-21||(Apr’21 – Apr ’20)|
|1||IIP Consumer durable goods||5||93||88|
|2||IIP Consumer non-durable goods||64||125||61|
|3||IIP Capital Goods||8||89||81|
|4||IIP Intermediate Goods||39||120||81|
|8||Petroleum Refinery Products||81||107||25|
|13||Consumption of Petroleum products||58||105||47|
|14||Export Merchandise Growth||50||147||97|
|16||India Freight Traffic||98||107||9|
|17||Credit to Agriculture||104||111||7|
|18||Credit to Industry||102||100||-1|
|19||Credit to service sector||111||101||-10|
|22||SENSEX (Daily average)||112||177||65|
|23||FDI Equity Inflows||74||73||-1|
|24||External commercial borrowings||54||129||75|
|Composite Weighted Index||78||100||22|
Source: PHD Research Bureau, PHDCCI EBM Index Note: For calculation purpose, the FDI figure for April 2021 is average of last 3 months; figures are rounded off
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry


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GUILFORD, Maine — The owners of Herring Brothers’ store on Route 15 in Guilford were busy Monday cleaning up a mess left behind by vandals who entered the store through a front window during the night.
Police said they believe the same individuals also entered Countryside Meats in Dover-Foxcroft the same night. Entry into that business was through a back window, according to Sgt. Gary West of the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department. No vandalism was reported at the store, but less than $100 in cash was taken, he said.
At the Herring Brothers’ store, the vandals did “fairly significant” damage, according to Investigator Guy Dow of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department.
Owners Andrea and Tom Gilbert said Monday evening that cartons of eggs were tossed about the building, the meat from the coolers was discarded onto the floor, bottles of beer and pickles were broken, a wall mount of a Highlands cow head was pulled from a wall and broken, the office was ransacked and hand lotion was poured into a copy machine.
Andrea Gilbert also noted that some deli turkey meat was placed onto a counter and stabbed with carving knives.
The owners, who are now back in business, estimated the damage at $700.


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In today’s homepage story we publish the first in atwo-part Q&A with Winding Tree founder andCEO Max Izmaylov. In conversation with him this week, he recommended a fascinating new video from technologist, serial entrepreneur and bitcoin expert Andreas Antonopolous.
If you watch one video this week, we recommend thisone!
Aside from explaining why today’s hierarchical organisations, which are increasingly corrupted by power and often led by ‘sociopath CEOs’, no longer work for the information age, he also clarifies something that is often stated as fact: That blockchain is the technology that underpins bitcoin.
“Blockchain isn’t the tech behind bitcoin, it is one of the technologies - it is actually the database, the artefact, the ledger that is produced. But here is the really interesting thing: how is it produced. And the way it is produced in bitcoin and thousands of other cryptocurrencies and blockchains, that use a similar recipe, is on a completely flat, peer-to-peer non-hierarchical network where nobody knows or trusts anybody else.
"Where we are able to engineer an emergence of an artefact, a ledger that records transactions that everybody can trust, that no one has the power to change, to modify after the fact, that removes the trust from the person to a mathematical construct that is neutral. That process is called consensus. It is the fundamental invention behind bitcoin and all the other digital currencies as a way to achieve trust at massive scale on a completely flat network. It allows us to achieve such a level of trust that we can conduct transactions worth billions of dollars…”
Phew! Something to think about!
It’s not too late to join us in Amsterdam next week for some fascinating blockchain insights


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It is not surprising that FinTech has taken a sharp turn since 2020 and that has now been distinctly evident in 2022.
SwissCognitive Guest Blogger: Utpal Chakraborty, Chief Digital Officer, Allied Digital Services Ltd., AI Researcher – “Foundation for the Digital Journey of a Bank” – “Fintech Global Trend 2022”
I would say, FinTech is no more the traditional one, but it has been able to evolve itself to match the current demand and future to a great extent. Probably same goes for InsurTech and RegTech that will be noticeable in coming few years.
Also, the FinTech firms are trying to expand their horizon beyond traditional areas of banking & finance and trying to come out from the comfort zone and explore something where competition is still less.
The same trend was noticeable in the Fintech Festival India 2022 took place from 20th till 22nd July 2022. The grand event hosted almost 8000+ Business Visitors, 500+ Delegates across 35+ Sessions & Discussions on different topics. With 100+ Speakers from the industry across the globe and with over 100+ Exhibitors and Sponsors, FinTech Festival India has been able to proclaim global stage like it got featured on Times Square, Nasdaq.
Although the traditional players like Digital Payments, Remittances, Financial Analytics and AI Powered Banking & Customer Care Solutions showcased their capabilities but the companies and solution took centre stage this time were Blockchain, Crypto, Web 3.0 & AI, Metaverse, NFTs, Wearable Devices for financial transactions. Along with all those obvious and expected players, few other startups that attracted my attention were No-Code & Low-Code platforms, PaaS solutions and Cyber Security for the financial industry and few of the InsurTech and RegTech solutions.
If I now compare this trend with the Global FinTech trends – We can easily notice the evolution of Blockchain is going to transform the entire financial landscape, maybe it will take some time for widespread adoption, but no one can stop this revolution. Blockchain being at the core for transactions and execution of Smart Contracts, Crypto as a community currency and NFTs (Non-fungible Token) defining the ownership of assets in the virtual universe called “Metaverse”. Looks bit unrealistic and difficult to digest for many, specially finding a right use case for such NewGen technologies for financial sector but trust me; things have already started happening and some banks have already started building utilities in the Metaverse around banking services. So, it will be not wrong if we say that Web3.0, Blockchain, AI, Metaverse and the peripheral technologies is going to redefine the customer experience across industries.
While moderating a session on Metaverse in the Banking World in the event, it was enlightening for me from my co-panellists that NFTs (Non-fungible Tokens) have already paved their way to the mainstream finance. In fact, they can be used to represent ownership of any unique asset, such as a certificate for an object in the digital or physical realm. NFTs are digital asset representations that are likened to digital passports because each token contains a unique, non-transferable identification to distinguish it from other tokens. Unique NFT data makes it easy to verify ownership and transfer tokens between owners while transacted. NFTs contain ownership information for easy identification and transfer of tokens between token holders.
InsurTech and RegTech has already taken a great momentum. Also, concepts & solutions like Buy-Now-Pay-Later and Fintech Payroll solutions will make their way very soon in countries like India. Concepts like Salary-on-Demand, Advance Salary and Crypto-Payroll is going to revolutionize the way we see traditional payroll & finance today.
Web3.0 powered by Mixed Reality & AI is going to come at forefront in a big way and Facebook is going to set the benchmark for all others that what experience users can expect from a “Meta” environment and what all utilities can be availed, and financial industry will not be an exception.
The Rise of “Digital-Only” Banking or “Neo-Bank” is going to spark the adoption of NewGen solutions including in the areas of RegTech, because these two need to go hands in hand to actually bring in an adaptive culture in the financial world.
I was expecting few players and solutions on the sustainability front in the event – solutions encouraging Financial Inclusion and Green Finance, but unfortunately either there were none or escaped from my eyes. But I am sure this is an area where we can expect some cognitive solutions which will be able to quantify the contribution of a financial organization todays sustainable & green finance by measuring various parameters from different financial initiatives.


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An Austrian start-up has revealed plans to start selling a self-filling water bottle that extracts humidity from the air and condenses it into drinkable water at a rate of up to 0.5 litres per hour - provided it's a really humid day.
Developed by the team at Fontus, the solar-powered device uses hydrophobic surfaces to repel and funnel the drops of condensation in the bottle, which means so as long as the air around you isn't too polluted, you'll have access have a constant supply of clean drinking water.
"This is simply condensation of the humidity that is contained in the air," Fontus founder Retezár Kristof told Denise Chow at Live Science. "You always have a certain percentage of humidity in the air, it doesn't matter where you are - even in the desert. That means you would always potentially be able to extract that humidity from the air."
The water bottle - which is currently getting the crowdfunding treatment to facilitate mass-production - is being marketed as an aid for long-distance cyclists who don't have time to stop off and top-up. When it goes on sale, it'll come with a bike-attachment, as seen in the video below.
That's the first-world application of the technology, but the benefits are obvious for the 1.2 billion people in the world who are living in areas where clean water is scarce.
"The idea was to solve a global problem: water issues in areas of the world where there is very little groundwater but very high humidity," Retezár said. "My intent was to invent a machine or device that would be able to filter the humidity in the air and turn it into drinkable water."
The device is made up of a solar panel, a condensing chamber lined with hydrophobic surfaces, and a very basic filter to keep dust, dirt, and bugs out of the mix. It works by taking in warm, humid air, which is condensed down into water droplets that are funnelled into the water bottle below because the hydrophobic surfaces prevent them from sticking.
"Because they're hydrophobic, they immediately repel the condensed water that they created, so you get a drop flow [into the bottle]," Retezár told Live Science. "Basically, you're taking air in a vapour state and converting it into a liquid state."
When it hits the market, the bottle will come in two models - the 'Airo', and the 'Ryde', which is being made specifically for cyclists. Retezár and his team say if you've got with temperatures 30 to 40 degrees Celsius (86 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit) and 80 to 90 percent humidity, you can hit that impressive 0.5 litres per hour fill-rate.
The developers have also mentioned the possibility of adding a carbon filter to the mix, which could be used to filter out clean water from more polluted areas.
Now, all of this does sound pretty awesome, but of course it does - Fontus wants to sell a lot of these things. While the principle of the thing sounds like it would work as advertised, until we see tests from independent parties, we have to remain skeptical.
According to Eric Mack at Gizmag, the company says it plans to release third-party white paper data at some point, which will include "reference temperature, humidity settings, duration, and resultant volume of water created", and separate 'validation tests' are going to be funded by some of those crowdfunding dollars.
Watch this space.


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Apple's newest Mac accessories use the same proprietary connection as its iPhones and iPads, dashing the hopes that it would embrace a more universal alternative.
iPad and iOS news
The number of smart home devices that work with Siri is growing: here's everything we've tested so far.
The latest iPad is a 12.9-inch powerhouse that offers an optional keyboard and stylus.
Microsoft has taken the wrapping off the latest version of its two-in-one Surface Pro device -- let's see how it stacks up against its chief competitors.
Android 6.0 is here, but not every Android phone will get the update at the same time. Here's what you need to know about upgrading.
Apple's tiniest tablet is an overdue upgrade.
A long time ago, in a film studio far, far away, a ragtag alliance of unknown extras donned alien masks to shoot a low-budget sci-fi movie. New documentary "Elstree 1976" tells their stories -- CNET met its director, Jon Spira.
Technically Incorrect: He's given little North an iPad. Now she's apparently being pestered to buy things.
The Blocks smartwatch is meant to be customized and upgraded piece by piece to give you a choice of features like better battery life and GPS.
The full-sized keys and flexible hinge are both nice touches, but the Typo for iPad Air doesn't deliver as much as its price tag demands.


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Mercedes-Benz promised to launch twelve new products in the Indian market during 2016. Now the German luxury car maker confirms its next model launching in India will be on February 24, 2016. The new Mercedes-Benz model is being called as the 'Edition E' for Indian markets.
E-Class is the highest selling luxury sedan in the country till date. Mercedes-Benz commenced its journey into India with the E-Class twenty years ago. To mark and celebrate this occasion, Mercedes-Benz will be offering the 'Edition E' exclusively in India.
In terms of design, Mercedes-Benz 'Edition E' is not expected to witness any drastic changes. We could see special badging and an exclusive paint scheme with limited model productions. The interiors could be spruced up for a more premium and unique experience within the cabin.
The Edition E by Mercedes-Benz India will be powered by both a petrol as well as a diesel engine. No mechanical changes are expected with the 'Edition E', it will be the same E-Class in a special edition avatar for the Indian market.
Expect more details and specifications to emerge as we get closer to Edition E launch on February 24, 2016. You can receive updates by following #20YearsOfEClass via Twitter. We will be present at the launch and will share as much information as possible from the venue.


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While most folks may not be able to get their hands on the upcoming HTC Wildfire just yet, a phone that looks a lot like it has surfaced on a Netherlands-based auction site, starting at EUR300. This device looks slightly different from the pictures we’ve seen before, as it seems to sport a physical trackball instead of the optical trackpad that’s more common nowadays. Most likely the device was a leaked prototype, though we probably won’t be able to find out, since the auction ended with it going for EUR350. Are you looking forward to the HTC Wildfire?
Next Story: Acer eBook reader prototype spotted at Computex


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The brand new Scarborough Food & Drink Festival is on it’s way to the Yorkshire Coast! Taking place on the 12th – 13th May 2018.
A fantastic 2 day celebration of food and drink, exhibiting, live cookery demonstrations and a selection of musical entertainment throughout the weekend.
The Yorkshire Post and The Scarborough News are combining forces with Scarborough Borough Council to create a seafront kitchen hosted by top chef Stephanie Moon and featuring guest appearance from Michelin Star chefs including Andrew Pern and James MacKenzie.
If you’re passionate about food and drink there’ll be a heavenly combination to stimulate the senses. There’ll be live cookery demonstrations from local chefs, artisan food specialists exhibiting delicious produce, traditional real ales, Pimms and cocktail bars and some of Yorkshire’s finest restaurants serving their signature dishes.
Steph Moon the compere of the event says: “I’m very excited to be involved. It’s a brand new event for Scarborough and it’s free, so I’d encourage everyone to come along”.


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A passenger walks through Reagan National airport as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to keep airline travel at minimal levels and the U.S. economy contracts in the first quarter at its sharpest pace since the Great Recession, in Washington, April 29, 2020.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
Data from navigation tool Apple maps tells a different story depending on the mode of transportation. While requests for driving and walking directions have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, transit directions continue to recover much more slowly. Though that may change as more employees return to work in urban centers like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, requests for transit directions are still at half of what they were in early March.
Restaurant bookings through reservation service OpenTable dropped to zero in late March and throughout April before picking back up in May once states eased restrictions on in-person dining. While bookings have risen to a level of being down 60% compared to last year, the upward trend has the potential to stall out as states like Texas and Florida pause their reopening plans amid coronavirus outbreaks.
Hotels’ occupancy rates have continued their upward trend and now measure at 44%, according to data from global hospitality research company STR. The new figures mark the tenth consecutive week occupancy rates have increased. Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia as well as Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida were both top travel markets that saw occupancy rates of 54% and 49% respectively. However, New York City had an occupancy rate of 44%, down from 46% the week prior.
The number of passengers traveling each day through airport security checkpoints is down more than 70% compared to last year, according to data from the Transportation Security Administration. The numbers represent continued improvement for the troubled air travel industry. American Airlines announced Friday that it will resume flying full planes on July 1 after having a 70% capacity limit for flights.
Though mortgage applications for purchasing a single-family home are 18% higher compared to the same week last year, they did see a slight decrease from last week, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Even with continued high unemployment and economic uncertainty stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, the MBA said the home purchase market is still strong.


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EMC is putting replication and recovery into the hands of VMware administrators with a software version of its RecoverPoint appliance that's designed for cloud computing.
VMware has assembled a package that combines its desktop virtualisation software with its tools for managing mobile devices, giving administrators a unified suite to manage all of their end-users' application requirements.
Click through all the products being released at VMworld this week
"Brave" is the current watchword for virtualization software giant VMware.
VMware wants to bring enterprise-class reliability to OpenStack by releasing a distribution of cloud hosting software that runs on top of the virtualization stack.
Three of technology’s latest ‘movers and shakers’ share lessons at VMworld 2013 closing session, talking Romo robots, MaKey MaKey and MakerBot.
The jam-packed VMworld show this week in San Francisco has been VMware's launchpad for flights deeper into storage, an area that the company thinks is due for more virtualization.
Click through to see all the latest from the show in San Francisco.
VMware's big splash in software-defined networking with its NSX network hypervisor comes with partnerships already in place to flesh out its virtual networks.
Dell has been relatively quiet about its modular data-center products, but on Tuesday it showed off a new design it has started selling to large "hyperscale" customers, which include big Internet firms like Microsoft and Facebook.
Verizon Business is tapping into the popularity of VMware technology with a cloud computing service designed to let customers easily move workloads between their own infrastructure and Verizon's cloud.
VMware announced a new program on Tuesday through which service providers will offer pay-as-you-go computing services similar to those from Amazon Web Services.
VMware this week had to reassure industry observers that it will not ban competition from the VMworld conference, after bloggers took the company to task for releasing a policy change that appeared to prevent competing vendors from demonstrating prod...
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Posted by Vicky Hernandez, Partner
Delayed decision on business rates creates window to design a bold new tax regime
The government has delayed making a decision on introducing a new tax on online sales in its March Budget following dramatic growth in online sales during the COVID pandemic. It had been widely anticipated that this would be accompanied by a shake-up of the business rates regime and throw a much-needed lifeline to struggling high streets.
We now expect the current business rates holiday to be extended, says retail lawyers Royds Withy King, and we hope this means that the government will take on board calls for a simple sales tax that will extend to all retailers and be matched by the scrapping of business rates.
“The introduction of an online sales tax has the potential to polarise our fragmented retail landscape further. It would not be helpful if successful online retailers were targeted with a so-called ‘Amazon tax’ and retailers with hybrid models extending to both bricks and mortar and online sales ended up stuck with both business rates to pay and an element of online sales tax, which could be near impossible to calculate.
“A flat tax on all sales that is countered by the scrapping of business rates for all retailers would be preferrable. The scrapping of business rates could be achieved in a targeted way using changes introduced to the use classes order in September 2020.
“There will, of course, be challenges with the boundaries between online and offline sales often blurred, yet these are addressed regularly by landlords in turnover rent leases. Government, landlords, local authorities, retail tenants and their advisers should work together to explore all opportunities.
“Scrapping business rates would also provide the opportunity to reimagine high streets, helping to protect the valuable sense of community that exists and needs to be nurtured.”
For more information contact Vicky or our specialised Retail Sector team
0800 923 2073 Email us
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Engl has announced a new version of its Fireball amp head.
With 100W of power (the previous model had 60), the Fireball 100 still features dual channels, but the manufacturer claims it will have a “darker, lower midrange focused tone.”
It also features a new “Midrange Boost” (with footswitch control) and special “Bottom” switch.
No pricing or availability info yet.
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- Flash sale on Mr. Black's Eterna reverb pedal Today and tomorrow, the Eterna reverb pedal is available with a discount from Mr. Black's online store.


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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Dallas, TX, United States, 2006/03/17 - Omega Environmental Technologies, a world-wide distributor of aftermarket mobile air conditioning parts, will debut a new catalog featuring parts specifically for trucks and off-road vehicles next week at the Mid-America Trucking Show..
Omega Environmental Technologies, a world-wide distributor of aftermarket mobile air conditioning parts, will debut a new catalog featuring parts specifically for trucks and off-road vehicles next week at the Mid-America Trucking Show.Offering a full line of compressors, condensers, evaporators, accumulators and other necessary components, Omega is one of the few companies providing truck operators and fleet managers a “one-stop shop” for air conditioning components.
“For years we have offered these parts and tools to the truck and off-road market,” said Tommy France, vice president of sales for Omega. “Our new catalog makes it faster and easier for truck operators and service technicians to find their specific parts.”
In addition to the new catalog, Omega has invested in high-tech solutions for maximizing the ordering process.
Earlier this year, Omega announced an upgrade to its supply chain technology, enabling the company to connect directly with carriers and logistics partners to increase the efficiency, speed, and tracking of products moving from suppliers to customers. Cycle times have been reduced by up to seven days.
“We are always looking for creative ways to make it easier for customer to do business with Omega,” said Thom Davis, Omega CIO. “One of the key ways to achieve this goal is by creatively leveraging technology.”
The new catalog will be available at the Mid-America Trucking Show, March 23 – 26, at Booth 7003.
Omega Environmental Technologies is a worldwide distributor and custom manufacturer of mobile A/C parts and systems. Omega was founded in 1989 in Dallas by Graciela Davis, who was awarded female / minority entrepreneur of the year by Ernst Young LLP, USA Today and NASDAQ in 1996. Carrying a complete line of compressors, evaporators, condensers, reels of hose and hose assemblies, expansion valves and accumulators, as well as the components for rebuilding compressors, Omega is a one stop shop for all aftermarket A/C products for every type of vehicle.


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Level 257, Namco USA Inc.'s Pac-Man themed concept restaurant, is having a birthday party for our hungry friend and you, dear reader, are on the guest list.
This Memorial Day weekend, just west of Chicago in Schaumburg, Ill., fans can join professor Toru Iwatani, the leader of the Namco team that designed the original Pac-Man, as well as the legendary arcade champion Billy Mitchell for a party to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the game's release.
"For one extravagant weekend," said a press release, "Level 257 invites Pac-Man fans to join them in celebrating the legendary video game in 1980’s style." Perks for those in attendance include free bowling and free arcade games. There will even be a chance to go head-to-head against Mitchell on the classic cabinet.
Of course, Pac-Man himself will be in attendance to have the first slice of his custom cake made by Chicago's own Toni Patisserie.
The main event will be an appearance by Jerry Buckner of Buckner & Garcia, who will reprise his classic song "Pac-Man Fever" for those assembled.
The event is open to the public and admission is free, so consider this your invitation to at least tour the facilities there in Schaumburg should you happen to be in the area. VIP tickets are available for $35 per person, and grant access to a special "yellow tie" reception on Friday night. Select guests will get to mingle with Iwatani, Mitchell and other Pac-dignitaries and walk away with a limited edition swag bag.
Throughout the weekend props from Sony Pictures' upcoming movie, Pixels, will be on display, as well as a demo of Bandai Namco Entertainment's new Pixels game. You can find out more at Level 257's website.


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Boutique British car maker, MG, is set to make the biggest change to its iconic badge since the company was founded almost a century ago.
The brand is testing a new identity on the stunning E-Motion electric sports car concept revealed today at the Shanghai motor show, replacing its traditional hexagonal logo with a more stylised round badge as part of a softer, European-inspired new design language that will eventually make its way across MG's existing range of hatchbacks and SUVs.
Shao Jingfeng, the chief designer for MG's parent company Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corporation (SAIC), told Drive at a preview of the E-Motion that he is expecting some backlash from traditional owners but said the change was necessary to integrate the badge into the more organic style.
"I make a little test with this car," he said.
"It is so difficult to use this [old badge] into our design, because it looks like a big nose. It is too pointy. It has too many angles that it doesn't fit with this new style.
"I don't want our cars to look angry with this badge, I want to make it look more like a friend."
It is the first alteration to the famed Morris Garages (MG) badge for over 90 years.


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Home Tags Meat
Germany’s considering a new tax on meat — but it might not be a model for Democrats who want Americans to eat fewer hamburgers
German politicians are considering a controversial tax on meat to boost animal welfare, fight climate change, and improve human health.
Why online-meat-delivery startups and imitation-meat brands are simultaneously thriving in today’s food world
Specialty meat companies and plant-based meat substitutes are becoming more popular. Here's how the two industries are thriving simultaneously.
Rastelli’s sells top-quality meat and seafood to restaurants around the world — you can now order it online and have it delivered to your ...
Rastelli's offers various plans of steak, chicken, shrimp, salmon, and more. We enjoyed the experience on all fronts, from convenience to taste.
Deonisy Khlebnikov, 22, and Gatis Lagzdins, 29, took bites out of dead squirrels at the Soho Vegan Food Market in London.
There’s a reason legendary butcher Pat LaFreida endorsed this $1,200 at-home overhead grill — I’ve been using it, and there’s ...
The Otto Wilde OFB grill isn't cheap, but it does cook restaurant-grade steak, pizza, and fish in under 10 minutes. It's also endorsed by Pat LaFrieda.
Customers who buy Whoppers or Crispy Chicken Burgers from the new "50/50 menu" could instead receive a meatless Rebel Whopper or Rebel Chicken King.
The brand has already found its way into Burger King and Cheesecake Factory restaurants across the country with its "bleeding" plant-based burgers.
Arby’s has flipped the vegan ‘meat’ trend on its head with the ‘megetable,’ a carrot made out of turkey that looks and t...
Arby's latest creation is a "megetable" called the "Marrot," a carrot made of meat that looks and tastes just like the orange vegetable.
Cooking the perfect steak doesn't have to be difficult. Here are some easy tips for cooking steak, according to chefs and culinary experts.
People are outraged after someone said they swapped the labels on meat and vegetarian products at a supermarket for a joke
Many people slammed label switching, describing it as inconsiderate and potentially life-threatening, after a Facebook user's post went viral.


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#IBMCodePatterns, a developer’s best friend.
#IBMCodePatterns provide complete solutions to problems that developers face every day. They leverage multiple technologies, products, or services to solve issues across multiple industries.
Click here to know more
Dell G7 15 7500 has launched in India as the latest gaming laptop in the company’s premium G7 series. The new G7 15 boasts of the latest 10th generation Intel Core processors paired with NVIDIA...
Dell India launched the new XPS 13 and XPS 15 earlier last month, however, the XPS 17 was ominously missing from the announcement. We were informed that the XPS 17 was definitely headed to India,...
Dell india has today announced updates to its gaming portfolio, launching the new Alienware m15 R3 and new gaming laptops in the Dell G series portfolio. Also announced today is the Dell G5 15 SE,...
Dell has launched its new XPS 13 and XPS 15 laptops in India. The latest iteration of Dell’s XPS series of laptops are said to have been redesigned to offer a “superior” computing experience with...
Digit caters to the largest community of tech buyers, users and enthusiasts in India. The all new Digit in continues the legacy of Thinkdigit.com as one of the largest portals in India committed to technology users and buyers. Digit is also one of the most trusted names when it comes to technology reviews and buying advice and is home to the Digit Test Lab, India's most proficient center for testing and reviewing technology products.
We are about leadership — the 9.9 kind Building a leading media company out of India. And, grooming new leaders for this promising industry


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- Auto dealers are sitting on way more electric cars than they are gas-powered ones.
- Cox Automotive said in June that new EV inventory is having a "field of dreams" moment.
- Having more inventory means more test drive opportunities and better deals.
By one key measure, there are nearly double the amount of EVs compared to gas cars at dealerships right now — and that could help solve two of today's biggest problems with car shopping.
New car inventory on dealer lots is sitting at about a 54 days' supply, according to Cox Automotive. But for electric vehicles, that number is almost two times as much, with 92.2 days' supply at dealerships — up 343% from a year ago.
That's good news for buyers hoping to test drive an EV before buying, something that hasn't always been easy amid supply shortages in recent years. It's also likely to help prices keep going even lower as inventory stacks up.
"I called it the 'field of dreams' moment in terms of new EV inventory and supply," Jeremy Robb, senior director of economic and industry insights, said during a Cox mid-year review. EV sales are up this year, but "are not going up to the same extent that inventory is going up.
"The jury is out right now on what's going to happen with all this new inventory there," he added. But it could solve a few big hurdles.
One of the issues with EV adoption in recent years has been availability. Many automakers weren't producing EVs at scale yet, especially in the US, and thus the supply of the cars at dealerships had been limited. They also had reservation systems and long waitlists that meant it was unlikely a customer would be able to walk into a store and find an EV for purchase.
That was a turnoff for many consumers considering going electric, and led some to just buy a gas-powered vehicle that they could see and go home with that day.
Now, car companies are ramping up EV production, bolstering their manufacturing and supply chains, and churning out more electric cars. In fact, some electric models have more availability than others now.
The sudden influx in EVs on lots could help reduce frustration with not being able to find an EV in-store. The fact that there are likely more to test drive or even just take a look at could make a huge difference in adoption, too.
More EVs on the lots might mean more deals are yet to come
But Cox Automotive said the contrast between new EV inventory and new car inventory overall could also impact pricing later in the year.
Consumers have already seen new EV prices creep down over the past several months. In the second quarter last year, a new EV cost $65,560 on average, according to Cox. Now, they're closer to $55,436 — a substantial drop though generally, still costly.
Pricing could take a greater fall if inventory continues to stack up on dealer lots.
The industry got used to charging high prices for little inventory throughout the pandemic supply-and-demand crunch. As that eases and more cars sit at dealerships (a result of production recovering from parts constraints, combined with high interest rates softening buying demand), automakers and dealers are having to offer deals and incentives just to clear inventory.
The same could be especially true for EVs at some point, especially as consumers stay price-sensitive amid the broader economic environment.
After all, one of the least expensive EVs, the Bolt, has been canceled. Even with optimism over reinvented EV tax credits, automakers are having to get creative with cuts. Hyundai just dropped its Ioniq 6 (one of the lower-end EVs available) by $5,000.
Correction: August 16, 2023 — An earlier version of this story imprecisely described June dealership figures. Auto dealerships in June had nearly double the supply of electric vehicles compared with gas vehicles as defined by days of supply, not by the total number of vehicles available.


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Filipinos want brands to take a stand
Zero poverty, quality education, and good health and well-being are the three social issues that Filipinos care most about—and they expect brands to become more involved in addressing these issues, too.
This is one of the key findings of “Purpose In Asia,” a report published recently by global market research company Kantar, which looks at the role brands play in issues that matter highly to their Asian consumers. The study also looks at the impact of brand purpose and authenticity on business.
Through an online survey conducted by digital data collection company Lightspeed, the research gathered insights from more than 3,000 respondents over the age of 18 in nine markets: Australia, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan.
To ensure alignment on the definition of social issues, the study used the framework of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Social media analysis was also conducted.
The research shows that 90 percent of the region—and 97 percent of Filipinos—favor brands that are engaged in social issues, provided that these are causes that they care personally about.
While climate change and gender are the two topics that dominate global media, Kantar’s findings show that in Asia, the issues that matter are those that are closer to home.
Here in the Philippines, people are concerned about eradicating poverty; their health and well-being (especially with vaccination scares surrounding dengue); and quality education, as it is “seen as a stepping stone out of poverty (similar to other developing markets such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand).
The study adds that brand engagement with such issues will result in better business, as almost 80 percent of Filipinos surveyed said they would buy brands aligned with their views, while over 70 percent said they would be happy to pay “a little more” for brands with sustainability credentials.
For the majority of respondents across the region, TV still reigned as the king of information dissemination on different issues.
However, when it comes to facilitating active participation among consumes, social media is the rising star—66 percent of Filipino respondents said they had liked posts on social media around an issue they cared about; 63 percent said they had shared a post or an article.
Facebook, unsurprisingly, is the favored social media site of the majority of respondents across the region (85 percent).
The study classifies those surveyed into four personalities based on how they interact with issues online: 1) Not Involved (43 percent), or those who are less likely to take any issues-based action and interact on social media (usually 45 years and older, and come from developed markets such as Australia, Singapore and Korea); 2) Direct Action (12 percent), those who are most likely to do something about issues that concern them both offline and online (Gen Z-ers, millennials under 34; emerging markets such as India); 3) Social Media Follower (18 percent; slightly higher in the Philippines at 25 percent), those highly active on social media, but less so offline, and are less likely to change their behavior based on something they’ve read about an issue (across all ages); and 4) Campaigner (27 percent), those who actively share their views on issues across different social platforms and expect brands to do so, too (younger market; more in Thailand and the Philippines compared to other countries).
Given such insights, the report says brands can take these five courses of action: educate consumers about their issues of concern; initiate and fund programs surrounding these issues; fund organizations directly involved in these issues; run campaigns to raise awareness; and change business practices to support these issues.
“Brands have understood the power of purpose for a number of years now. However, the challenge lies in identifying what resonates across the diverse landscape of Asia, and then engaging in an authentic way,” says Joy Lee, regional digital consultant for Kantar’s Insights Division.
“Brands now have permission to get involved and make a difference. The good news is that this isn’t necessarily about making a lot of noise on the global stage. It can also be about supporting local initiatives and driving small but meaningful change where it matters most to people,” Lee adds.
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A digest of important news from sources selected by our local editors. Delivered weekday mornings.
Cincinnati’s largest landlord feels pretty good about the road ahead, now that it’s driving away from the train wreck that was the recession.
“We couldn’t be positioned any better,” said Jon Burger, senior vice president of Duke Realty Corp.’s Cincinnati operations, with 18.5 million square feet of office and industrial assets. “The amount of capital we’ve been able to generate in the last year has put us in a very strong position.”
Burger said the Indianapolis-based real estate company raised more than $1.6 billion from equity, debt and other financing transactions. That has enabled Duke to be more selective in evaluating lease transactions and purchase offers on its local properties.
“Some of the other guys out there are struggling. We can do transactions that others can’t,” he said. “We’re not chasing the stupid deals. But if a deal makes sense, we’re going to chase it.”
In the first four months of 2010, Duke has signed leases totaling 1.2 million square feet. The largest is a five-year, 598,000-square-foot lease at the Hebron Industrial Park. The tenant, HK Systems, a provider of material handing and logistics solutions, did not return calls seeking comment.
Other new leases include Sunny Delight’s new headquarters at Pfeiffer Place in Blue Ash and a 7,300-square-foot lease signed by Carepoint Partners LLC at 8280 Kenwood Commons.
“The net rents have compressed a little bit, but tenants are still paying a bit of a premium to be in better assets and in some of the better submarkets,” Burger said.
Duke sold three Governor’s Pointe retail properties for $27.5 million in February. It sold a 400,000-square-foot industrial building in the Monroe Business Center in April. Data provided by CoStar Group indicates Duke fetched a price of $17.52 per square foot for the industrial property and $75.12 for the retail space.
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Virgin Atlantic used the cover of New Year’s day (a day when a lot of people aren’t paying attention to the miles & points world) to cynically increase the cost of a significant number of awards for travel with Delta without any notice whatsoever. Now, it would appear as if Virgin may be about to backtrack on some of the changes and that we may see entirely different award costs (for some routes) appear at some point this week.
What Did Virgin Atlantic Do?
On New Year’s day, Virgin Atlantic unveiled a new distance-based award chart for award bookings on flights operated by Delta.
For flights between the UK and the US, Virgin Atlantic maintained its usual region-based standard and peak season award charts (mileage costs are for roundtrip travel)…
…but for all other Delta operated awards, the chart now looks like this (mileage costs are for one-way travel):
Moving to a completely distance-based award chart for most awards booked on Delta has seen a variety of one-way Business Class awards increase between 100% and 175% while a few Economy Class awards actually dropped in cost.
Whichever way you look at it, this news equated to a massive devaluation of Virgin Atlantic’s already weak loyalty currency and the fact that this was all done without notice and on a day that was clearly chosen as a good day to bury bad news, just makes things worse.
Devaluations are a fact of life in the miles and points world and that’s just something we all have to deal with and move on from. No one, however, should have to deal with an airline gutting a significant aspect of its loyalty program with no notice. That sort of behavior is pathetic and shameful.
Well, apparently the folks in charge of Virgin Atlantic’s award charts are incompetent as well as shameless and underhand.
Head For Points has been officially told that the charts displayed on the Virgin Atlantic website are incorrect and that the new distance-based award chart is not meant to apply to routes operated by the Virgin Atlantic/Delta/Air France/KLM joint venture. The joint venture doesn’t cover domestic flights within the US or non-transatlantic flights but it does cover most routes that Delta operates between the US and Europe.
On the face of things, that sounds like a little bit of good news but there’s a sting in the tail to what HeadForPoints has been told. A further update from Virgin reportedly said the following:
“With regards to US-Europe flights, we are still finalising the details on the pricing on these routes and the website does not currently reflect the final prices. This will be updated early next week and we will be in contact with clarification.”
Ok, so what appears to have happened is that Virgin Atlantic was in such a hurry to get the devaluation done on 1 January (when it hoped as few people as possible would notice) that it published the new award chart without actually knowing what the final award chart would look like.
Let’s just pause to think about that for a moment. By its own admission, Virgin Atlantic chose to publish utter garbage rather than wait a few days until it had all the details of the devaluation agreed.
That’s just incredible.
Also, that’s not the end of the bad news.
Not only will the new distance-based award chart apply to Delta’s domestic and transpacific routes, but the new pricing will also apply to transatlantic bookings that involve a domestic connection.
If you’re booking an award for non-stop travel between Atlanta and Paris (for example) the cost of that award will be based on whatever chart Virgin Atlantic ends up publishing at some point this week. If, however, you’re booking an award for travel between Orlando and Paris that routes through Atlanta, the cost of the award will be based on the new distance-based chart. That’s going to be a very expensive award to book.
Virgin Atlantic is now charging up to 175% more for select Business Class awards flown on Delta but we won’t actually know how much Delta awards across the Atlantic (excluding the UK) will cost until the team in charge of Virgin’s award charts gets its act together and corrects the error from New Year’s day.
This whole episode has done Virgin Atlantic no favors whatsoever. The airline’s entire brand is based around being warm, caring, and customer-friendly but it’s hard to push that image when no notice devaluations like this make it very clear that underneath the veneer, lies a cold and calculating corporation that’s really no better than any other airline out there.
A little ironically, Virgin Atlantic has always made a big noise about how it’s more of a people’s airline than British Airways and how it’s a lot more caring too, but in the cold light of day isn’t Virgin’s latest move one of the most “British Airways” things that it has ever done?


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January 17, 2017 – Australia – QuickStriker, a map-based bulletin board for you to announce or explore events in your community using iPhone geolocation will officially launch a Kickstarter campaign for garnering widespread support and the necessary financial backing. These funds will cover server costs, advertising expenses to develop a user base, and ongoing research and development to create an Android version. The support of the public will enable them to grow their number of users by allowing them to expand their advertising efforts.
QuickStriker allows users to post or search for posts on a map. With a simple tap on one button, users can find out about what is happening in their communities. The app will bring up everything people have posted within 2km of the user’s location and show them as pins on a map.
With the QuickStriker app, users can filter items by category, subcategory and distance. They can display all items on the map in a list format. They can add photos and some other items to the favorite list, and to crown it all, they can send in-app messages to each other.
“We in QuickStriker are very excited for the upcoming launch of our new app. So If you are looking for a smart way to make money, sell items, offer your services, find like-minded people to organize clubs, post or find lucrative jobs , announce special events, recruit people , advertise vacancies, and much more. There’s absolutely no limit to what can be posted because there are many ways you could use the app”, said Cheryll Mendez, QuickStriker co-founder.
The world of social media apps can be daunting initially, but QuickStriker hopes to make the transition from the traditional to the innovative, as seamless as possible. Those that are interested in using and learning more about the latest applications will be wise to check out their website, www.quickstriker.com as soon as possible.
Pricing on the backer rewards is limited to their Kickstarter supporters. The prices will be very different on launch day, so save big and save up on credits on Kickstarter.
To support the Kickstarter campaign visit: www.kickstarter.com/projects/quickstriker
Company Name: QuickStriker
Contact Person: Cheryll Mendez


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NBT Brunei will unveil a new Toyota model on its microsite on January 2, 2020, the first time it will launch a car on the digital platform.
In a press statement, the car dealer said the exclusive digital car launch will be a first for Brunei and NBT.
“This is going to be a historic moment for Brunei Darussalam,” it added.
The portal features a timeline infographic and daily trivia that can be “unlocked” over the span of 11 days.
The infographic will highlight the new Toyota model’s exterior components and safety features.
The public stand a chance to win prizes by taking part in the daily trivia about the Toyota brand and NBT.
Participants are required to log into the microsite and those who provide correct answers will have the opportunity to win prizes.


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House Speaker Pro Tem Tanner Magee, R-Houma, is renewing his efforts to centralize sales tax collections in the state, this time taking a sort of backdoor approach.
Magee prefilled House Bill 429 as a constitutional amendment that would allow—but not require—all retailers to remit local sales and use taxes directly to the state for distribution.
The bill is prefaced on a new software program that will be rolling out in July for remote sales tax collections. That software, as it’s being designed now, however, is targeted only for out of state, online sales, due to the current jurisdictional power of the commission, says Luke Morris, assistant secretary in the state Department of Revenue.
Morris confirmed the software is being developed under previous legislative mandates and is directed by the Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers. The commission is working with a company called Avenue to develop the program, which will require remote sellers to register and file tax returns to remit the exact amount of sales taxes due back to the commission. The commission will, in turn, divide the revenue between the state general fund, at the 4.45% rate, and local collectors based on each parish’s varying rates. The current system collects only a flat 8.45% tax rate. The state’s average combined state and local sales tax rate is 9.45%, according to the Tax Foundation.
Magee’s bill would open up the new software to all retailers in the state, including brick and mortar.
“If they’re doing the website, online software for out of state, why wouldn’t we make it available to all the people who sell stuff in the state, not just online?” he says. “Why have two systems? … Why not give you the option to participate in what other people are participating in?”
As the law stands now, the commission’s jurisdiction is limited only to remote sellers, so that’s what the software is being built for. If the Legislature, and voters, approve expanding the use of the software, it would have to be redeveloped to accommodate the added levels of local tax exemptions, Morris says.
Magee sponsored a bill last year that took a direct approach to creating a centralized system, but it never made it out of the House Ways and Means Committee. That bill was more explicit in removing the full authority of local governments to collect their sales and use taxes.
Magee is hoping that this optional version will make it less objectionable to local collectors and legislators.
“This is getting the same thing through different methods,” he says, essentially “backdooring centralized sales tax collections.”
If passed this go-round, the measure would be put on the Nov. 3 ballot for voters to decide.
The idea of a centralized system has been vehemently opposed by local sales tax collectors and municipal groups like the Louisiana Municipal Association, the Louisiana School Board Association and the Louisiana Police Jury Association, but has been supported by business groups like the Louisiana chapter of the National Federation for Independent Businesses, LABI, Council For A Better Louisiana, the Public Affairs Research Council and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.
Louisiana and Oregon are the only states that do not have a centralized system for collecting sales taxes.
In the Senate, Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, has filed a related bill that would narrow definitions of what constitutes as a marketplace, marketplace facilitator and seller, remote sale, and remote seller—and sets up the framework for when each entity would register with the commission and remit sales taxes.


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Tutanota, a provider of an encrypted email service, has begun to accept donations in bitcoin, ether, bitcoin cash and monero in order to test payment processing using cryptocurrencies, the company announced in a blog post.
The German firm noted that it wants to support decentralized payment systems that are independent of centralized processors such as credit card companies and banks.
The company believes decentralized payments could support an anonymous email service for human rights activists, whistleblowers, and journalists who require special protection.
Tutanota originally planned to offer cryptocurrency acceptance last year for its professional and premium-level plans. This feature was postponed, however, on account of the need to recreate the company’s encrypted email client to upgrade performance and add features more rapidly.
The company’s new email client and its new Android app are presently in beta, with an iOS app scheduled to follow.
Read More - Click The Link In Bio


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And after his death, DC wrote in his eulogy: "He changed the way we look at heroes, and modern comics will always have his indelible imprint, his infectious enthusiasm that reminds us of his love for these stories." Excelsior (Stan Lee's mantra 'Excellence'), Stan. "
There are several Litecoin wallets to choose from! Such a good wallet - Electrum Litecoin wallet! View exclusive reviews on Electrum.
Bitcoin wallet Electrum now supports Lightning online payments, according to Coindesk on July 11. It has previously been reported that Bitcoin Wallet Electrum has released a beta version of Electrum 4.0, adding support for the Bitcoin Lightning Network.
This isn't the first time Thatectrum has appeared in a fake version, with hackers developing a fake encrypted wallet, Electrum, in December, resulting in the theft of nearly 250 bitcoins worth about $1 million. In January, GitHub discovered a fake Electrum wallet called "Electrvm" designed to steal users' money. In February, users of encrypted wallets Electrum and MyEtherWallet reported that they were facing phishing attacks.
Dry goods . . . Lightning VS Thunder: Watchtower Mode (middle): Privacy protection and scalability in watchtowers.
PartyB's Enclave received data from TX Manger and used PartyB's private key, Privat Key, to decrypt the symmetric key. The contents of the TX are then decrypted with a decrypted symmetric key. Return the correct TX content to TX Manager after decryption is complete.
ampr_addr_str_safe += "EEEEE" # padding
What my friends should be concerned about is, what impact will this financial crisis have on Bitcoin?
Electron Cash is only a version of Electrum, so if you're used to Electrum, you won't have any problems.
According to Johnwick.io, we will continue to monitor and track the further flow of funds after a recent user submitted a coin-losing incident claiming that the download used an Electrum wallet had been phishing and that more than 700 bitcoins had been lost, and that the stolen address had been added to the Devi AML system. It is reported that malicious websites (electrumsecure) fake Electrum website phishing attacks, to guide users to download and use the wallet, in order to steal the user's private key and other sensitive data. Devi Security Labs is here to remind users not to install unknown sources of Electrum wallets, to avoid asset losses. Electrum Official Website: electrum.org Electrum Phishing Website: electrumsecure.