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Top six employers' Budget bill
BRITAIN'S biggest six private sector employers alone will pay an additional £100m in National Insurance, it emerged today, amid mounting business anger over Chancellor Gordon Brown's multi-billion pound tax grab.
North Sea oil companies, the television industry and other sectors expressed dismay at the scale of the additional taxes. Even the seemingly innocuous lifting of duty on alcopops will have a major effect, hitting the drinks industry for £170m next year. 'Is it a Budget for enterprise? No it's not,' said Ian Fletcher of the British Chambers of Commerce.
Among the biggest casualties of the NI rise is British Telecom, which is thought to be budgeting to pay £20m to £25m more in NI, while the biggest banks will also be clobbered. Royal Bank of Scotland is likely to see a £20m addition to its NI bill. About 90,000 of its 99,000 employees are UK-based and its payroll costs last year were £3bn. Barclays bank is facing a similar tax rise, while Lloyds TSB is looking at an additional £13m, according to industry estimates.
The big supermarkets groups are major casualties, although the £4,615 earnings threshold, below which no NI is paid, limits the damage because of the thousands of low-paid and part-time workers they employ. Tesco, which employs 185,000 people in Britain and paid a total wages bill of £1.83bn last year, is estimated to be facing a £15m NI bill increase.
'It's a tax on employment and it will particularly hit companies like Tesco,' said spokesman Greg Sage. 'We're creating 9,000 jobs this year. It's going to be a big cost for us.' Sainsbury's, with 140,000 UK employees, is likely to be another major casualty, paying an estimated £12m more. Its total wages bill last year was £1.63bn.
The Treasury estimates that the extra NI will cost employers £3.9bn next year and £4.1bn the year after. It has raised employers' NI from 11.8% to 12.8% of employment costs above the threshold from next April.
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In the spring of 2022, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union under the French Presidency agreed on ground-breaking laws that will shape the global digital economy for years to come. With the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU will significantly change how consumers and companies experience the internet. The spillover effects of these laws – termed the “Brussels effect” – in the United States and other jurisdictions will only become visible over time. Yet, already today, we see that the EU’s trailblazing role has reignited a stalled policy debate in the United States.
Like the European Union, the United States is coming to terms with the economic and societal impact of big tech platforms. Companies such as Google and Facebook have a firm grip on their product ecosystems. With that power, the big tech companies were able to build barriers to entry into their products, which reduce competition, consumer choice and, ultimately, innovation, to the detriment of US consumers and companies alike. Moreover, the US Capitol riots of 6 January 2021 showed that the amplification of fake news online has ripple effects in the real world, while highlighting that US regulators could not rein in the algorithms of social media platforms before the damage had been done.
Given the truly global nature of the internet and the business activities of large technology companies, inaction and a lack of alignment are not an option
The EU has found its answers to these challenges. The DMA will break open certain markets to allow for more competition and consumer choice, and the DSA regulates the responsibility of platforms for illegal content, products and services that are posted on their websites. While the European Parliament’s contribution to the DMA-DSA package sharpened the Commission’s proposals to address such issues, the United States Congress has only proposed, but not passed, legislation.
Several bills to address the societal and economic impacts of large online platforms have been introduced in the US Senate, with some of the most prominent being the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA), the Open App Markets Act, and the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act. They all address a subset of the issues that the DMA and the DSA tackle, but so far lag behind the EU’s ambitious twin legislation.
As the US midterm elections approach, it will be difficult for the bills to muster the necessary votes in Congress. While members of Congress appear hesitant, the Biden administration has thrown its weight behind the AICOA. Surprisingly, the embrace of this regulation came only a week after the political deal on the DMA had been struck in Brussels. Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter’s and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo’s public support of more platform regulation stood in marked contrast to the criticism the US government had levelled against the DMA and my initial report as the rapporteur just earlier this year. This change of stance shows that we need a deepened transatlantic cooperation on digital regulation to avoid misconceptions and proactively set the global agenda on tech regulation together.
Over the course of the DMA negotiations and beyond, I worked towards that goal. I have continuously engaged with key decision-makers in the US government, in Congress and in Silicon Valley to explain the EU’s digital policy goals. With the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the discussions on digital regulation have taken on a new urgency. It is clear to me that the US government, civil society and competitors of the big tech companies now see the need for regulation, both on the issues of economic access and competition as well as on transparency, fighting the amplification of illegal and harmful content, and user protection on online platforms.
These shared EU-US views are also highlighted in the conclusions of the second meeting of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in May 2022. Through the TTC, the US administration and the European Commission have committed to working on these issues, yet so far cooperation and tangible output have been limited, with low-hanging fruits being harvested first.
We need a deepened transatlantic cooperation on digital regulation to avoid misconceptions and proactively set the global agenda on tech regulation together
However, in order to safeguard our democratic liberal societies, the US and the EU need to become bolder and even more ambitious in aligning their agenda on digital and internet regulation. The basis for our sustained peace and prosperity has been the model of a state that guarantees fair and free markets while setting a high standard of consumer protection. The EU, its Member States and the US have worked together towards these goals by shaping many of the post-Second World War institutions that still contribute to a rules-based global economic order today.
Given the truly global nature of the internet and the business activities of large technology companies, inaction and a lack of alignment are not an option. The US and the EU must become global co-leaders in digital regulation to realise our vision of an open, free, secure and innovative digital economy that works for all people. To this end, we must also engage the broader forum of like-minded partners within the Group of Seven.
Our shared vision directly competes with that of illiberal countries such as Russia or China who nowadays administer their own version of the internet. The race to set the future rules governing the internet and the digital economy is ongoing, and as the speed and thoroughness of the DMA and the DSA negotiations have shown, the European Parliament is working hard to win it. Now, it is up to our US colleagues to follow suit.

domain: news


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Fishkind Economic Conversations page block
07/21/2016 - 3:16pm in Fishkind Commentaries
“Unusual.” “Unprecedented.” Even “sort of bonkers." That’s how economic analyst Hank Fishkind describes financial markets recently.
07/14/2016 - 11:17am in Fishkind Commentaries
Economic analyst Hank Fishkind says the latest US employment report shows 287,000 added jobs for June – good news after a couple of shaky months. But the encouraging report comes as financial markets grapple with “Brexit.”
07/06/2016 - 2:50pm in Fishkind Commentaries
Economic analyst Hank Fishkind says there are four major structural changes underway right now that will shape the economic environment over the next twenty years. He tells 90.7’s Nicole Creston about the Big Four and how they will affect us.
06/23/2016 - 11:20am in Fishkind Commentaries
Do you value your privacy online? A recent Pew poll says most Americans do, but that they also feel like they’ve lost control of some of their personally identifying information – or “P.I.I.,” as 90.7’s economic analyst Hank Fishkind calls it. That’s your name, email address, cell phone number, and so on. Fishkind has a pop quiz to see how much we understand about the intersection of privacy, the internet, and the economy.
06/01/2016 - 3:37pm in Fishkind Commentaries
Florida’s housing market remains strong, especially in central Florida. But the market has weakened in south Florida. 90.7’s Amy Green talked with 90.7 economic analyst Hank Fishkind about the latest trends.
05/17/2016 - 9:30am in Fishkind Commentaries
With the resurgence in consumer spending, 90.7 economic analyst Hank Fishkind predicts continued growth to boost the overall health of the economy.
05/10/2016 - 3:00pm in Fishkind Commentaries
We’ve heard from 90.7’s economic analyst Hank Fishkind that both the U.S. economy and Florida’s look good…on paper. But many people still think the economy is on the wrong track because they’re not feeling the recovery. Fishkind says there are several factors contributing to this disconnect between economic growth and public perception. One is that the rate of growth has been slow, and another is that wages have stagnated. But also, he says, the recovery has been uneven.
05/03/2016 - 11:10am in Fishkind Commentaries
Last week was not a good one for the economy, according to 90.7 economic analyst Hank Fishkind. GDP growth was just .5 percent in the 1st quarter of the year, down from already weak numbers. The stock market sold off sharply and investors moved money into US treasury bonds…where it’s safe, but lower-yield. But Fishkind says thanks to job and population growth – especially in Central Florida – the situation is not gloomy, even though it may seem that way.
04/26/2016 - 2:02pm in Fishkind Commentaries
Housing market data were the big economic news last week. 90.7 economic analyst Hank Fishkind walks us through the numbers, but first, he takes a look at what those numbers tell us and why housing markets are important to the economic outlook in general and particularly in Florida.


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What’s your favourite kind of holiday? The image of cheap holidays that readily springs to mind for most of us is surely a lazy sunny day on the beach, with an umbrella keeping off the glare, a drink in your hand and a half-read cheesy novel by your side.
It would appear that this mental image holds true in the real world as well, according to the latest Consumer Trends survey published by the UK travel association ABTA. By far the largest proportion of respondents – a hefty 37 per cent – said that the kind of cheap holidays they most looked forward to were the old-fashioned beach break.
However, the massive growth in holiday options among Britons, thanks to such innovations as cheap flights online, direct booking and personalised breaks, has also led to other types of holiday becoming popular. City breaks are an increasingly important choice for the budget-conscious traveller and are also very convenient, since a city break can take place over a weekend with just a two or three-hour flight to short-haul destinations in Europe or north Africa. Such city breaks can be combined with a holiday focusing on the cultural attractions of a destination, or a holiday can be entirely built around such an aim, with “cultural pilgrimages” across a country’s historical sites or art galleries.
Both holiday types also made a good showing in the ABTA survey, with 17 per cent of respondents saying that city breaks were their favourite kind of holiday and 11 per cent backing cultural escapes. Family holidays were considered the most conducive to good company, with 42 per cent opting for this choice, compared to 35 per cent who enjoyed holidaying with just their partner the most and 16 per cent who preferred booking cheap holidays with friends.


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Over the past couple of months, augmented reality glasses have become all the rage at the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office). Although as of now, Google one of the only companies to formally debut their device (Project Glass). Now it seems that Microsoft’s Research department looks to enter the game as well.
The patent abstract states that it is for “A system and method to present a user wearing a head mounted display with supplemental information when viewing a live event” (USPTO). Furthermore, the head mounted display would allow a user to watch a live event through a semi-transparent display. At the same time, objects and information can be shown without interrupting the user’s view of the live event.
This sounds pretty epic, but when is it coming? While we can’t say for sure, since this is Microsoft Research technology. Sometimes these kinds of projects turn into commercial efforts quickly, sometimes they never do. We do know that Project Glass prototypes have already been sold to developers and will arrive in 2013. Additionally, the consumer versions are poised to be released in late-2013 or early-2014.
Would you enjoy wearing augmented reality glasses? Is this technology the future of mobile? Let us know in the comments below.
[ Source ]


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Allegiance Retail Services and Foodtown said Thursday that John Derderian has been named the new president of the companies, effective June 1.
Derderian, who is currently VP – sales/marketing/member development for Allegiance, will succeed Michael Stolarz, who will remain as a senior advisor to Allegiance, its board of managers and its executive management team through the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition in the succession plan.
Stolarz was appointed president of Allegiance in 2011. Derderian, a former Pathmark executive, joined Allegiance in 2012.
David Maniaci, the chairman and CEO of Allegiance Retail Services, LLC and Foodtown, Inc., stated, “The Board of Managers of Allegiance is grateful to Mr. Stolarz for his dedication and wisdom in guiding Allegiance through a challenging period for the independent grocery industry, and has every confidence that Mr. Derderian will provide leadership which will position Allegiance and its patrons for long term prosperity.”
Allegiance, based in Iselin, N.J., functions as a retail services cooperative for the benefit of its patrons, which independently own and operate 88 grocery stores in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Allegiance provides advertising, merchandising, administrative and collectivized purchasing services to its patrons. Foodtown owns and controls the Foodtown marks, and provides advertising services to its patrons.
|Suggested Categories||More from Supermarket News|


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The nominations are in, it's time to decide who deserves the crown for 2019!
Intel's latest 10-core has received a hefty price cut, but is it worth the cash?
We take a look at Gigabyte's sub-£500 TRX40 board to see if it can compete with the excellent ROG Strix TRX40-E Gaming.
We round up our product and news highlights for each month of 2014 - see if you agree!
New ground up tank models and effects set to make for a significant graphical upgrade.
2014 is set to be a stellar year in gaming and here are the five reasons why.
Just wishing you all a great start to the new year!
Cooling specialist Phanteks enters the case market for the first time, with a £200 full tower beast.
AMD's first ARM-based processor will be arriving next year.
Microsoft has decided to continue supporting Windows XP until 2014, and will actively encourage business users to 'downgrade' from Vista.
January 24 2020 | 12:00
Copyright © 2000 - 2020, bit-tech.net. All rights reserved.


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Dangote Cement has reported a revenue of N292 billion in the second quarter ended 30 June 2016 indicating an increase of 20% over the N242 billion figure posted in the corresponding period in 2015.
According to the reports filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the company’s profit for the period reached N106.3 billion, representing a small drop of 3% from N123.1 billion declared a year earlier.
Dangote Cement has more than doubled production capacity since 2013 and said in April it may increase cement capacity by a further 77% by the end of 2019.
Cement sales volumes in the period increased by 60%, bolstered by record volumes in its home market, where the company announced a price cut last September, as well as new plants elsewhere on the continent.
New research by GlobalData’s MEED has shown that the commercial value of construction contracts issued in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) fell by more than 50% in the first eight months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.


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- ⏰ 15 minutes ago
- Medhi Naitmazi
Last year everyone announced that the iPhone 13 would notably come with satellite connectivity to enable communication from remote locations in the event of an emergency. Although this iPhone ultimately didn’t get this feature, rumor has it that the next iPhone 14 will have it.
Well, according to a new report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the upcoming Apple Watch 8 could also come with this additional tech that offers the ability to make calls and texts in all circumstances.
Apple Watch 8 connectivity rumor
In his Power On newsletter, the reporter says the Apple Watch will also get this feature, although Gurman believes Apple’s schedule could be this year or 2023, either Apple Watch Series 8 or Apple Watch Series 9. According to the journalist , Apple’s partner Globalstar ordered many satellites earlier this year.
Whether on the iPhone or the Apple Watch, this technology would offer an alternative to the Garmin inReach Explorer and SPOT wearable satellite communication devices with similar characteristics.
Recent signs suggest that Apple and its apparent satellite partner Globalstar Inc. could be closer to launching such a feature. In February, Globalstar announced it had reached an agreement to purchase 17 new satellites to provide “continuous satellite services” to a “potential” — and unnamed — customer who had paid hundreds of millions of dollars.
While we await confirmation, it’s worth remembering that rumors have suggested Apple could release three new Apple Watches this year – the regular model, a new SE, and a brand new extreme sports watch (a beefed-up Apple Watch 8). The first and the last would be fitted with the satellite module.
Already last year, Gurman had expressed doubts about the start of satellite communication with the iPhone 13 and stated that the hardware was not yet ready. It remains to be seen whether this year will be the right one and which markets will benefit from it. France shouldn’t be there.


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– Mahindra to launch five new electric SUVs
– All EVs to use the new INGLO platform
Mahindra recently announced its direction towards greener electric mobility with two new sub-brands, XUV and BE. As a part of its Born Electric Vision, the firm will introduce five new electric SUVs, starting with the XUV.e8, XUV.e9, BE.05, BE.07, and the BE.09. Each vehicle will feature a distinctive body style and represent different segments. However, all five models will sit on a new modular INGLO platform derived from Volkswagen Group’s MEB architecture.
The XUV.e8: December 2024
Mahindra has officially revealed launch timelines for four of these five models. And the first model to arrive in India will be the XUV.e8 in December 2024. Not only will it use the new platform but will be equipped with an all-wheel-drive system. The XUV.e8 could generate between 335bhp and 389bhp. This electric SUV is believed to be based on the combustion-powered XUV700.
The XUV.e9: April 2025
The XUV.e9 is a blend of SUV and Coupé body styles and hence appears sportier than the XUV.e8. Its India launch will take place four months after the market launch of the XUV.e8, that is, April 2025. The XUV.e9 is well under 4,800mm in length and has a wheelbase of 4,775mm, but it is longer than the XUV.e8. Notably, it is the longest among the five new electric models.
The BE.05: October 2025
Under the BE sub-brand, Mahindra will bring three distinctive SUVs to the market, starting with the BE.05 in October 2025. The BE vehicles distinguish themselves from the XUV twins with their unique styling. The BE cars radically reinterpret the design philosophy of Mahindra. More to the point, the BE.05 appears to be a sporty and tech-laden offering as the brand has emphasised its aerodynamics and the technology it brings along.
The BE.07: October 2026
While the BE.05 is a coupé-style SUV, the BE.07 concept is a proper SUV featuring bold proportions. And the carmaker has scheduled the launch of this SUV for October 2026. What’s more? Mahindra has bestowed it with three 12-inch ultra-wide screens incorporated into in single unit. Then, the BE.07 also comes with a large glass roof and camera-based outside rear-view mirrors.
Unlike the said four vehicles, Mahindra did not reveal any information about the BE.09. Mahindra calls the BE.09 “a head-turning SUV grand tourer with a chiselled design”. It further claims that the coupé-like SUV will provide “a first-class experience” for four passengers.


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Growing in tandem is the Ubud Food Festival, a epicurean event that shines the spotlight on the Indonesian and Asian cuisine. This year, the festival will run from April 13 to 15. In its fourth edition, the annual festival has built up its status as one of go-to food events in Asia. Best of all, Bali is just a three-hour flight away from Singapore.
This year, expect a gastronomic line-up of more than 100 gourmet events that include collaborative chef dinners, cooking demonstrations, film screenings, workshops, food tours and forum discussions. Close to 100 chefs, restaurateurs, farmers and entrepreneurs will take part.
Chef Rydo’s innovative cuisine is in tandem with the festival’s theme, ‘Generasi Inovasi’, which is ‘Innovative Generation’ in Bahasa Indonesia. The theme is inspired by Indonesia’s young and tech-savvy population, who are driving the nation’s booming economy. Through the lens of ‘Generasi Inovasi’, the festival celebrates innovative and sustainable ideas in Indonesia’s food industry, which creates a distinct food culture.
Ms Janet DeNeefe, founder and director of the Ubud Food Festival notes that innovation has boosted the prominence of the international status of Indonesian produce and cuisine.
She says: “Over the past year, we've seen a huge increase in artisan Indonesian products produced for the domestic and international market by social enterprises, such as JAVARA Indonesia, an artisanal produce purveyor. These companies work directly with farmers to teach them how to become 'farmerpreneurs', resulting in beautifully packaged, high-quality products.”
She points out that more top chefs and restaurants in Jakarta have also been gaining international recognition with the Jakarta's Best Eats Awards and Guide were launched by FoodieS magazine this year.
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Teater Kuliner (Culinary Theatre) in the Festival Hub, which has free entry, celebrates the diversity of Indonesian cuisine from little-known Balinese ingredients and West Timorese smoked pork to Papuan snacks, while the Food for Thought stage will have 18 panel discussions with culinary experts, covering topics such as the impact of apps on the dining industry and whether the farm-to-table movement is actually improving farmer livelihoods.
Be in the thick of kitchen action at the The Kitchen Stage at Indus restaurant, the ticketed cooking demo stage. There will be 18 high-energy cooking demos, including three culinary battles between the chefs.
Flying the Singapore flag high are a handful of chefs who are based in the Republic. Chef Sun Kim of two-Michelin-starred Meta will hold a four-hands dinner with Maurizio Bombini, executive chef of Mandapa of Ritz-Carlton Reserve Resort in Ubud. The South Korean chef will also share his recipe for crab meat and salted egg bibimbap at The Kitchen Stage.
Chef Rishi Naleendra of one-Michelin-starred modern Australian restaurant, Cheek By Jowl, will whip up fish with leek and bonito butter at The Kitchen Stage. He will also cook at the sold out World Class Culinary Collective, sharing the kitchen at the famed Ubud dessert restaurant Room4Dessert with Mejakawi’s Benjamin Cross and KAUM’s Wayan Kresnayasa.
Another acclaimed chef, Petrina Loh of Asian fusion restaurant Morsels will present her signature dish of steamed Venus clams in fig broth at The Kitchen Stage, and will be commandeering Asian restaurant Hujan Locale kitchen for her special event Wildly Creative Fusion. Daniel Chavez, chef-owner of OLA Cocina del Mar and TONO Cevicheria in Singapore will share his secret to making Tiger’s Milk, a citrus-kissed Peruvian ceviche.
Ms DeNeefe hopes that international visitors will leave the festival with a “newfound fascination for the incredibly diverse cuisines of the archipelago, and that they share our excitement for the exciting future of Indonesia's culinary industry”.
She adds: “For Indonesians, I hope they leave with boosted pride in their extraordinary culinary heritage and remarkable aptitude for innovation. Indonesian food is never, ever dull!"
For more information on Ubud Food Festival 2018, go to www.ubudfoodfestival.com
Main photo credit: Anggara Mahendra


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Blue Rodeo has been named the official ambassadors of Record Store Day 2014 in Canada
According to a news release posted Feb. 14 at Blue Rodeo.com, the veteran Canuck roots rockers will be the official reps of the Canadian edition of the annual celebration of independent record stores, which is set for April 19.
Fans can check out a video the multi-Juno Award winners discussing their love of record collecting at RecordStoreDayCanada.com.
Commenting on his lifetime passion for vinyl, vocalist - guitarist Greg Keelor said, "Growing up, records were our religion. They were our statements of cool. We carried them from party to party, rec room to rec room, symbols of our hipness. It's funny, things haven't changed that much."
Co-frontman Jim Cuddy adds, "Record stores are so much more than just merchandise sellers. They are a social service. Like-minded people sharing their love and knowledge of music."
The 2012 Canada Hall of Fame inductees kicked off the east coast leg of their In Our Nature Tour Jan. 30 in Summerside, PEI and will wrap up the tour on March 2 in Montreal, QC at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier - Place des Arts.
Blue Rodeo's next stop is a two-night stand Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 at Toronto's Massey Hall.
For more details, visit BlueRodeo.com.
Did you know? Blue Rodeo's 2013 studio album "In Our Nature" is the band's first studio outing since 2009's "The Things We Left Behind.


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Greening agriculture - opportunity for Vietnam’s growth
Vietnam can become a logistics center for agriculture and food in the Asia-Pacific region.
The greening of agriculture is not a burden but a need and an opportunity that Vietnam should determine to grasp. This is also a responsibility for tens of millions of farmer households, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said.
The minister said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will assign the Vietnam National University of Agriculture to coordinate with the ministry’s agencies to implement each step of the agriculture greening scheme.
“The Departments of Crop Production, Livestock Husbandry and Fisheries, those which are related to green agriculture need to take specific steps to start implementing it from today,” Hoan said.
|Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan. Photos: Phi Nhat|
According to the minister, Vietnam is realizing an initiative of the World Economic Forum in a production chain of commodities including coffee, rice, tea, vegetables, seafood, pepper, livestock, and agrochemicals. The initiative, "New Vision for Agriculture”, is aimed at sustainable and responsible agricultural development.
Over the past 10 years, the country has been considered to have demonstrated a significant commitment to promoting a more sustainable growth path and efforts in both climate change adaptation and mitigation. This is reflected in a large number of strategies, plans, resolutions, and revised documents.
Under the National Green Growth Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Government on October 1 2021, the ministry will develop and implement sustainable, low-emission agriculture towards a circular economy, cleverly adapt to climate change and improve competitiveness for green agricultural products.
Building and developing new rural areas based on green and sustainable models such as eco-villages and smart villagesthat adapt to the climate is also a direction to take.
Restructuring the agricultural sector is designed around three pillars: ecological agriculture, modern urban areas, and smart farmers in line with the strategic orientations of the country.
Minister Hoan believed with geo-economic strengths, Vietnam can completely become a logistics center for agriculture and food in the Asia-Pacific region, a processing center for agro-forestry-fishery products for Southeast Asia.
Speaking at a high-level policy forum on November 30, Carolyn Turk, World Bank (WB) Country Director for Vietnam said agriculture is one of the main drivers of climate change as greenhouse gas emissions from this sector account for 18% of total emissions. Emissions are expected to generate 120 million tons of CO2 by 2030, of which up to half will come from the rice industry.
Vietnam is also facing negative impacts of climate change such as sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, extreme rainfall, and drought.
|Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam|
In addition, Vietnam is also facing internal challenges such as reduced productivity in the industry, pressures from increasing output, and requirements for the quality of agricultural products.
“We believe Vietnam urgently needs to maintain its desired position as one of the strong agricultural producing countries in the world,” she underlined.
The WB will continue to cooperate, provide technical support, expand investment activities together with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to identify and look forward to a bright future for Vietnam's agriculture industry, according to the WB country director.
Vietnam has made a strong commitment at COP26 to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030 and this is a challenge for the rice industry.
Turk said: “The future of Vietnam’s agriculture will be based more on knowledge while resource-intensive practices and carbon footprint need to be reduced. Vietnam also needs to be more sensitive to global needs to produce products that are safer for the environment.”
The WB strongly encourages the Vietnamese government to move towards public investment in a green food system and emission reduction. In fact, the WB, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development along with many provinces and cities are developing a project to support the development of agricultural value chains to reduce emissions in the future.
Experts from the WB expected a strong partnership with the private sector, a close partnership to enhance skills and drive investment where the private sector can contribute to high-value agricultural transformation more productive, and lower emissions.
Vietnam needs a technical platform and technologies to promote farmers’ participation in sustainable agricultural development, according to Steven Jaffee, a WB senior economist.
Being of the same mind, Jikun Huang, Director of the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said a mechanism to encourage farmers’ incentives is extremely important as this is a key indicator to ensure the promotion of participation and adoption of innovation, he said.
“Drawing on the lessons learned from China’s experience, in order to increase farmers’ incomes, improve food security and develop sustainable agriculture, Vietnam urgently needs political commitments in institutional reform, support policies, and investment in agriculture,” Huang emphasized.
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Network Marketing is the 21st-century business. Future of network marketing in India is very promising. A report by KPMG in India and FICCI publishes a whopping growth of ₹645 billion by 2025.
Network Marketing was introduced in the 1980s in India. In less than two decades, the direct selling industry has created 5 million self-employment opportunities. The scope of network marketing in India is increasing every year. Network Marketing was first started in the USA. USA has around 60% of the population involved in MLM.
During the launch of Make In India, the honorable prime minister Mr. Narendra Modi mentioned:
If the poor get jobs, the purchasing power of families will increase.
Every year India is generating a workforce of 12 million people. So India needs to create job opportunities for all of them. Direct sales not only provides income opportunities but also provides skills in sales, management, human behavior, and speaker. These skills can be used outside the industry.
Mr. Narendra Modi during Skill India launch said:
Unemployment India’s biggest concern, direct selling at rescue.
In spite of several years of substantial increase and contribution in the Indian economy, this industry is considered regardless of business. This is because of the Ponzi and Money Circulation schemes. Due to lack of knowledge, people fall in the scams and started blaming the whole industry.
This was the biggest hurdle in further growth of the industry. On 9th September 2016, the Indian Government issued the guidelines to regulate the MLM companies in India. Before the regulatory, there were 3000+ legal/illegal companies in India. After the regulatory, 90% of fake Ponzi schemes companies were shut.
Women are dominating the MLM business with 58% of the workforce.
There are so many network marketing/MLM companies out there. So before associating a clarity is required. Choose Best Company For Network Marketing and Top 10 MLM Companies In India might help you to select your MLM company.
The network marketing industry has the potential to create an important social and economic impact in India. FICCI and KPMG estimate that the industry has the capacity to reach the size of INR 645 billion by 2025, which is driven by the increase in consumer markets and the reach of direct sales at comparable levels globally.
Network marketing will provide self-employment opportunities to India’s large workforce.
Network Marketing involves 58% of women workforce.
- KPMG and FICCI Report – KPMG-and-FICCI-Report-2016
- List of registered direct selling companies in India
- Unemployment India’s biggest concern, direct selling at the rescue


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1:16 a.m. April 10, 2018
- By Rex Nutting
The U.S. economy is fine now, but watch out for 2020, top economist says Winning forecaster expects the Fed to be cutting rates as the stimulus fadesThe U.S. economy is in good shape today, but the best economic forecaster of the month says it’ll fade by 2020.
10:12 a.m. Dec. 20, 2017
- By Jeffry Bartash
Tax cuts may deliver caffeine rush to economy, but jolt of adrenaline might not last long Economists question thrust and timing of Trump’s ‘massive’ tax cutsWhich is it? Are the sweeping tax changes more like a shot of caffeine for an already stimulated economy that will wear off quickly? Or are they positive changes to the DNA of the U.S. economy that will drive improved performance over time and help the middle class?
11:49 a.m. Nov. 28, 2017
- By Tom Teodorczuk
Jay-Z leads 2018 Grammy nominations Rap and hip-hop artists dominate music’s biggest awards night Rap and hip-hop artists dominate music’s biggest awards night
6:34 a.m. Oct. 30, 2017
- By Bob Sullivan
Why are millennials moving to these small towns? You may be surprised to see where they are movingSky-high home prices have millennials looking for alternatives to the big cities that usually attract young workers.
6:10 a.m. Sept. 14, 2017
- By Greg Robb
Case for Fed interest-rate hike in December helped by latest inflation data Market sees greater than 50% chance of move after August CPIThe case for a Federal Reserve rate hike in December was helped by the firm consumer price print in August.


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Blokotech and Xprizo are teaming up to change the payment game for customers in Southeast Asia and the Gulf countries. They want to make online paying way smoother and more secure, especially for gambling and betting players.
Xprizo's got their wallet that will let people pay all kinds of ways — credit cards, debit cards, other digital wallets, even straight up bank transfers. There's going to be safe encryption so your money and info stays secure. You can track payments and manage your account whenever. Moreover, 24/7 support as well, so you always got backup.
Co-Founder and General Manager of Blokotech, Salvatore Messina, commented that he is dedicated to providing world-class gaming solutions and this Xprizo partnership is helping them take it to the next level. He wants to set new standards for the industry in India and the UAE.
Meanwhile, Xprizo's CEO Richard is also stoked about joining their forces. He said that combining their payment expertise with Blokotech's sick gaming platform means a cutting-edge solution for players. Secure and easy payments all day.
This news comes after Xprizo secured something similar with African payments company M-Pesa in September. And Blokotech just launched their own gaming platform last October across casinos and sportsbooks. Big moves all around!


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Sony’s Solution To PS5 Shortages Is To Make More PS4 Consoles, Confusing Gamers!
Netizens, video game fans, and gamers are now confused about Sony's most recent announcement regarding the PS5 shortages as it includes making more PS4 consoles.
As per recent reports, Sony has confirmed that they will continue producing more PlayStation 4 consoles (PS4) to tackle the problem of the ongoing PlayStation 5 console (PS5) shortages.
Adding on to the announcement, Sony confirmed this decision with their assembly partners in late 2021. Notably, the continued production will add around one million PS4 consoles to roll out into the market.
In January of 2021, Sony previously announced that they had halted production of all models of their PS4 Slim, excluding the "Jet Black" model, and PS4 Pro models in Japan, so that their production lines would be freed up for their PS5 consoles.
Specifically, Sony's strategy will have more PS4 units this 2021 to help offset some of the pressure on the company's PS5 production. This will be easier for Sony as PS4 consoles use less advanced chips, are simpler to make, and give a budget-friendly alternative to the PS5.
Following their announcement in January of last year, as of July 2021, Sony was able to sell over 10 million units of the PS5 worldwide since launching the console in November of 2020.
Sony finds it difficult to produce PS5 consoles as semiconductor chips have been in short supply since 2020, with the shortages pointing towards longer demand queues for affected industries such as computer hardware, game consoles, and other industries.
Furthermore, personnel shortages due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as varying trade agreements and a rise in cryptomining, are some of the factors affecting the PS5 console shortage.
Stay tuned for more news and updates regarding Sony and the PS5 console!


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Disruption. Disintermediation. Destruction. Those are de factos of life when technology rolls into town and throws a digital wrench into an existing industry. Travel reservation sites challenge travel agents. Digital content delivery strains local and chain booksellers. Algorithmically armored car services send traditional taxis on a one way trip towards a seemingly inescapable demolition derby.
Yeah, it’s like Uber for WTF, but that’s how business works. New technologies and strategies strain the old way of doing things; some survive, some don’t.
But news is different.
One can easily argue that traditional media properties are getting what they deserve after largely failing to adapt to the digital and mobile uprising; a shift that has been ferocious, but one that they could see coming for more than a decade. Adapt or die. Those are the options and many publishers have done too little of the former to avoid the latter. Consumers shifted their reading habits, marketers changed the rules of the game and added measurement to the mix, and now Apple is giving readers the option to block ads altogether.
It’s hard to feel sorry for the news organizations that have utterly failed to pay enough attention to the top story of a generation. It’s one thing to bury the lede. It’s another to allow it to bury your industry.
But if you can’t feel sorry for news orgs, then at least feel sorry for yourself. Because news really is different. The demise of reporting outfits is not only about the loss of jobs and the diminishing of fortunes, it’s a severe blow to society. It represents the potential silencing of the only voice many people have.
Consider Tin Lin Tun who was sold into a bizarre and brutal world of fishermen enslavement in Indonesia. Today he’s back home and explains: “I’m sure my parents think I’m dead. I’m their only son. They’re going to cry so hard when they see me.” Tin Lin Tun’s parents will see him again thanks to the reporting on this issue by the Associated Press.
Consider the Ohio reporter who helped convict more than 100 rapists by spending years reporting on the issue of neglected rape kits in Cleveland.
Need something closer to home? Consider the story of Volkswagen and the software that fooled emissions regulators and car buyers for years. Yes, it’s true that it was West Virginia University researchers who performed the tests and uncovered the deception. But that was a year and half year ago. Did you hear about it then? Nope. But you know about the story now because of journalists.
Consider a whole host of recent stories by the incredible reporters at Reveal. Organizations like Reveal and ProPublica can keep investigative reporting alive because they operate as non-profits. But they can’t do it alone. For-profit journalism, even with its flaws, is an absolutely critical pillar upholding the values of a free society.
So yeah, they might deserve it all. The ad blocking software, the new upstarts eating their lunch, the new economic demands for streamlined operations and more creative revenue strategies. But we don’t deserve it. And more importantly, the voiceless victims of atrocities and unfairness don’t deserve it.
Everyone who gets into any business knows the rules. But the rules have to be different when we’re talking about news. What’s the answer? I’m not sure. But I am sure that we all have a stake in finding one. That much, at least, is still a black and white issue.


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Samsung’s latest audio gear is heating up the competition in the wireless personal audio space. After struggling with whether it was a Gear or Galaxy item, the Galaxy Buds were born as the successor to the Gear Icon X, separating the earphones from the smartwatches and fitness trackers into a companion for Galaxy devices.
At last year’s Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds, positioned as accessories for the S10. They had all the features other competitors were missing, like good audio quality with low latency, and a charging case that wirelessly charged from the back of the Galaxy S10.
This year, the Galaxy Buds+ were unveiled with some serious upgrades and some technical pointers from Samsung’s acquired premium audio companies, Harman, JBL, and AKG. The earphones feature noise-cancelling capabilities, like the Apple AirPods Pro and Huawei FreeBuds 3.
The major difference is in the design. Instead of sticks hanging out of one’s ears, it features an in-ear pod design. The outer end of the earphones also have a large surface area for controlling music and video by touch.
Inside the box, it comes with the buds, a wireless charging case, and several eartips for users to get a better in-ear fit. The various ear tips sizes are important because they don’t anchor on one’s ear, like the stick designs from Apple and Huawei.
The eartips are also important for a good seal, considering they come with noise cancellation. This is vital for isolating one from other noises for maximum fidelity from one’s listening experience. There’s also an option in the Galaxy Wearable app to intelligently filter out some of the outside audio. The feature is called Ambient Aware and Samsung says it can block out most external noise and can let through important information like flight announcements, oncoming traffic, or a user’s order number at a restaurant.
To help this, there are two microphones positioned on the outside and another on the inside. This is to make sure audio inside a user’s ear canal isn’t the same as on the outside, which helps it dynamically noise cancel. The internal microphone also helps users when they’re on a call in a crowd, by dynamically picking up their voice from audio within the canal and separating it from the noisy crowd.
The big sell from this is the 11-hour audio playback from a single charge. This is a huge leap from the Huawei FreeBuds 3’s 4 hours, and Apple’s AirPods Pro’s 5 hours. After the 11 hours, one can pop the earphones into the case for some extra juice. If it’s important to get back to the music, one can leave the earphones in the charging case for 3 minutes to provide an extra hour of playback. In total, it packs another full charge from flat, from the case, meaning users can expect 22 hours of playback.
The earphones can be paired with Android and iOS via the Galaxy Wearable app for Android and Galaxy Buds+ app on iOS to make use of all the features.
The Galaxy Buds+ will come in white, black, and cloud blue. Pricing and availability in South Africa has not yet been announced.
Read the announcement from Samsung on the next page.
TikTok takes on COVID-19
The fastest growing social media platform in the world has also become an epicenter of public education about the coronavirus, attracting more than 30-billion views, writes ARTHUR GOLDSTUCK
The young have been getting a bad rap for wanting to party on while COVID-19 sends the world into lockdown. But a different movie is playing itself out on the social platform that is growing fastest among teenagers: TikTok.
Awareness campaigns by TikTok itself, collaboration with the International Red Cross, and spontaneous videos made by TikTok creators have combined into a barrage of information, education, awareness and social consciousness around the coronavirus.
Both globally and in South Africa, TikTok’s COVID-19 campaigns have gone viral.
The local #HayiCorona challenge, designed to remind people not to touch their face and wash hands regularly, has passed 1.5-million views. The TikTok collaboration with the International Red Cross, the #WashingHands challenge, has passed 12.6-million views.
One of the best-known participants in these challenges is the past year’s icon of South African talent, the Ndlovu Youth Choir, took up the global challenge with a 20-second hand-washing video. It put together a performance that brings tremendous energy to what can be a clichéd message, and ends with a punt for the Department of Health’s WhatsApp information service. The video can be viewed below.
“On a global scale, TikTok also partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure that, while creators are still having fun and expressing themselves on the platform, they stay informed with COVID-19 information coming from a reliable source,” a TikTok spokesperson told us. “Through the partnership, the WHO has created an informational page on TikTok that offers information to curb the spread of the coronavirus as well as dispelling myths.”
The page can be viewed at https://vm.tiktok.com/GHTEGf
TikTok has hosted a number of livestreams with WHO experts, attracting users from more than 70 countries, tuning in for live question and answer sessions. It has also introduced labels on coronavirus-related videos, to point users to trusted information. Resources are also offered directly in the app and in a dedicated COVID-19 section of TikTok’s Safety Center, at https://www.tiktok.com/safety/resources/covid-19.
If users simply want to explore videos on the topic, they can search via the #coronavirus hashtag, or click on https://vm.tiktok.com/swKbn4. The hashtag has had an astonishing 33.8-billion views, indicating the scale of activity and interest around the topic on the platform.
Read more on the next page about how South Africans have embraced the campaign.
On World Backup Day: backup, backup, backup
It was World Backup Day yesterday, 31 March, at a time when business continuity is threatened as never before. That makes calls for protecting email and defending against ransomware all the more urgent.
The global coronavirus pandemic has brought into stark relief many organisations’ lack of business continuity plans and policies. With more than two billion people around the globe in forced lockdown in wide-ranging government efforts to stem the tide of infections, an unprecedented number of employees are working remotely.
This interruption to the normal way of work is precisely what an effective and resilient business continuity strategy should plan for, says Heino Gevers, cybersecurity specialist at Mimecast.
“Companies need uninterrupted access to critical business applications during times of disruption, including safe and secure web and email access for workers that are now operating outside the normal perimeters of the organisation,” he says. “In addition, comprehensive backup and archiving solutions should be ready to restore access to critical business applications should there be any unplanned downtime to ensure continuity until the crisis passes.”
According to Gevers, the current global crisis is likely to push business continuity up the list of priorities for many organisations that have been disrupted by the effects of the coronavirus.
“Organisations are facing new challenges to their productivity; for example in terms of technical support. If a remote user is infected with malware or ransomware, how does the IT team restore that device or do any remediation without being able to physically access it?”
Gevers advises that organisations implement tools that enhances the data protection capabilities of commonly-used tools such as Office365 and can leverage archived data to provide quick recovery of email data in the event of accidental loss, malicious attacks or technical failure.
“As adoption of cloud-based business applications grow in the wake of forced lockdowns around the globe, companies need to ensure they have the tools to recover in any situation,” he says. “This includes a data management strategy that combines archiving, backup and data protection capabilities to allow for quick restoration of critical systems and applications in the event of disruption.”
Jasmit Sagoo, head of technology at Veritas for the United Kingdom and Ireland, warns that this is a golden age for cybercriminals looking for ransomware opportunities.
“As the global cost of ransomware continues to grow, this World Backup Day,
Veritas is saying: ‘don’t pay up, back up!’,” he says. “Ransomware is
said to generate an estimated annual revenue of $1 billion a year, and
companies who are not consistent in backing up their data are allowing
criminals to line their pockets.
“Ransomware attacks exist only because some businesses can’t survive unless the hackers give them back their data. So, the key to survival is removing that reliance and being able to regain access to data, without engaging with the cybercriminals. The best way to do that is with a sound backup strategy.
“Sagoo advises organisations to create isolated, offline backup copies of their data to keep it out of reach of any attackers. They then need to proactively monitor and restrict backup credentials, while running backups frequently to shrink the risk of potential data loss. Businesses should also test and retest their ransomware defences regularly.
“Ransomware strikes without warning and it doesn’t discriminate between its targets – it can happen to any organisation, large or small. Despite their best efforts, most companies will fall to at least one attack. What distinguishes one victim from another is the ability to bounce back, which ultimately depends on its backup strategy.
“When ransomware hits, organisations that aren’t prepared often feel helpless to do anything other than to submit to their attacker’s demands. That’s why we’re urging all businesses to use World Backup Day as a catalyst to get ahead of the situation and get their data protected.”


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Dogs are a man’s best friend but what use is a night with your favourite mate if you can’t offer them a drink.
Well, now you can as BrewDog has launched a craft beer for canines – Subwoofer IPA.
It’s made with the same base ‘wort’ as their beers for humans but this one has been specifically designed for dogs.
It’s alcohol and hop-free, non-carbonated and even contains vitamins and probiotics.
Packed with citrus overtones and a familiar malt backbone, the brew is perfect for all four-legged friends.
The Subwoofer IPA concept was originally developed by the kitchen team at BrewDog’s bar team in Liverpool who launched a prototype beer for pups and saw huge demand from the city’s dog-loving community.
Dog owners can now buy a bottle of Subwoofer IPA for £2.50 across BrewDog’s network of 39 UK bars, as well as via its online shop.
To launch the new pooch friendly brew, on Sunday 2 December BrewDog will be giving the first 20 dogs through the door of each UK BrewDog bar the chance to win a case of the dog-friendly Subwoofer IPA.
In addition to the top prize up for grabs, each of the first 20 dogs will also be gifted a ‘doggy bag’, containing a bottle of Subwoofer IPA and dog treats.
BrewDog co-founder James Watt said: ‘Following the crazy success of our Liverpool bar team’s canine-friendly craft beer experiment, we wanted to refine a recipe to offer a delicious, refreshing beer for every dog who visits us nationwide.
‘The result has been tried and tested and approved by our panel of pups, meaning the thousands of dogs that visit our bars each week can now get a taste, too.’


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Vandals on the University of Idaho Moscow campus can have robots deliver food from several Idaho Eats locations, including Qdoba, True Burger, Einstein Bros Bagels and Cravings by Joe via Starship Technologies’ fleet of 15 autonomous food delivery robots.
Cami McClure, assistant vice president for auxiliary services at U of I, says: “We’re excited to bring this service to a wide array of our dining options.
“The university community is eager for on-campus dining delivery and now, with Starship Technologies, we are able to offer a fun, fast and friendly way to deliver.”
U of I is the first university in Idaho to introduce robot food delivery service. Students and employees can now use the Starship Food Delivery app (iOS and Android) to order food and drinks to be delivered anywhere on campus, within minutes. The delivery service works in conjunction with Idaho Eats meal plans and Vandals may pay using Dining Dollars.
The app allows users to watch the robot’s journey in real time through an interactive map. Once the robot arrives, the user will receive an alert, and they can meet the robot and unlock it through the app.
The delivery usually takes just a matter of minutes, depending on the menu items ordered and the distance the robot must travel. Robots can carry the equivalent of about three shopping bags of groceries.
Starship is already providing services to campuses across the country, including UT Dallas, University of Houston, University of Nevada, Reno and Bowling Green State University.
Ryan Tuohy, senior vice president of business development and sales at Starship Technologies, says: “We are very pleased to expand our services to Idaho.
“We think the entire campus community will love seeing the robots roaming around campus and appreciate the convenience of on-demand deliveries, whether that means skipping long lines, sleeping in or getting deliveries for late night studies.”
Starship plans to hire students to work with the Starship fleet.
Mo Alhabashneh, Idaho Eats resident district manager, says: “We’re thrilled to be the first to welcome the Starship robots to Idaho and the Vandal community.
“This innovative technology will enhance our level of service and make our dining options readily available to all Vandals wherever they find themselves on campus.”


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Oppo has announced that ColorOS 12 will arrive in India on October 11. The new ColorOS update based on Android 12 will arrive on more than 110 devices and bring new additions, including a revamped user interface, performance-oriented features and more.
ColorOS 12 was first announced in September this year and Oppo also revealed new additions like Quick View maps, 3D Omoji avatars and more. Oppo is also set to introduce a new gesture mechanism that, when triggered, will allow users to size individual app windows, much like different windows on a computer are handled.
The launch of ColorOS 12 will be streamed live on YouTube and you can check it out via the link embedded below.
It is not yet known which Oppo phones will benefit from the new update, but we expect them to arrive first on the flagships of the Find X and Reno series. Some Oppo F and A series phones are also expected to receive the update.
Regardless of which phones are supported, the ColorOS 12 update is likely to be rolled out in batches and users of older phones may have to wait a while for the update to reach them.
Oppo Find X3, OnePlus 9 series to get ColorOS 12 beta
Earlier this week, an article on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo also suggested that Oppo and OnePlus will bring a beta of ColorOS 12 to the Oppo Find X3 and OnePlus 9 series respectively. While the Oppo Find X3 will get an A.27 version of the skin, OnePlus phones are expected to sport a different A.11 version.
- Android 12 Based Oppo ColorOS 12 Announcement: Check New Features, Eligible Phones
- Oppo unveils ColorOS 12 based on Android 12: here’s when OnePlus phones will get it
- Oppo launches ColorOS 12 for global users
- ColorOS 12 based on Android 12 will be announced on October 11
- Oppo presents the new ColorOS 12 following the OnePlus merger


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This October, the REC currency (short for Recurs Econòmic Ciutadà, or Citizen’s Economic Resource) has been launched in 10 different neighbourhoods of the Besòs hub, as part of a pilot project and also a more extensive EU project to promote local, independent and rooted commerce. It is an exchange system for citizens that is complementary and equal to the euro that enables payments to be made between the mobile phones of customers and commercial establishments instantly, easily and at no extra cost.
Eighty-eight shops and market stalls are taking part in this experience, the first that have signed up to accept payment in RECs. Anybody that wishes to can redeem euros for RECs and use them in the…
Original published: 2018-10-04 18:48:10 Read the full Barcelona News here
Some local news is curated - Original might have been posted at a different date/ time! Click the source link for details.


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For Reliance digital and retail, it may now be payback time
It is said that good projects and good business ideas always find investors. The state of the market hardly matters. That was proven most eloquently by Reliance when it monetized its digital stake in the midst of testing market conditions. RIL now looks all set to monetize its retail franchise and the process has already begun. What could the Reliance group be driving at?
Investors are back with cash
In the last few days, Reliance Retail has raised close to Rs.26,000 crore via sale of stake in Reliance Retail Ventures. Five of the PE funds that invested in Jio Platforms have also invested in Reliance Retail. These include KKR, TPG, Silver Lakes, General Atlantic and Mubadala Investments. Other investors that had taken a stake in Jio Platforms, like ADIA and Vista Equity are also expected to be in talks with Reliance for a stake in Reliance Retail. While Jio got valuations closer to $70 billion, Reliance Retail is getting valuations of $60 billion.
RIL has raised Rs.1.53 trillion from stake sale in Jio Platforms, Rs.26,000 crore from RRVL, Rs.25,200 crore from Brookfield, Rs.7,500 crore from BP and Rs.52,300 crore from the rights issue. In addition, it is also planning to monetize its infrastructure assets via an INVIT and raise another Rs.40,000 crore. In short, by the end of 2021, RIL could be sitting on Rs.2 trillion of cash even after becoming net zero debt company.
Digital & retail payback time
The intent of Reliance group appears to be quite clear. Over the last decade, the refining and chemicals business has bank-rolled the retail/digital businesses of the Reliance group. Both these are now in maturity mode. Jio Platforms is already the largest telecom player in India with a 42% market share and Reliance Retail is the largest organized retail player that is nearly 7-times the size of its nearest competitor. While profits may still take time to build up for Jio Platforms and for retail, they have the advantage of premium valuations in the business. Clearly it is payback time for digital and retail and that is already happening through stake monetization. But, where will this money go into.
Watch out for O2C and Pharma
In the last AGM, Mukesh Ambani has already outlined plans to convert the oil- to-chemicals (O2C) business into more of a sustainable energy franchise. That will call for massive investments and it’s really payback time for digital and retail. If they cannot bankroll as cash cows, they need to bankroll the O2C business with valuations. That is what we are now getting to see. Remember, Reliance has a strong life sciences franchise that has been quietly working on the COVID- 19 vaccine. As opportunities in APIs and CRAMS open up, RIL may fall back up its digital and retail valuations to fund these projects. After all; why not?
Targeted Keywords – Retail Data Monetization, Data Monetization Examples, Data Monetization Business Models, Data Monetization Use Cases, Data Monetization Pricing, Data Monetization


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Autocar will reveal the car industry’s 100 most influential British women this summer.
A panel of judges from Autocar and the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) will select winners in a series of categories, as well as one individual who will be named Britain’s most influential woman in the automotive industry.
The announcement will form a key part of an event created to encourage more women into the automotive industry and to address challenges they face in both entering and progressing in it.
The winners will be announced at the inaugural Great British Women in the Car Industry event on 8 July 2016, where a follow-up panel debate will also discuss the challenges and issues involved.
Autocar editorial director, Jim Holder, said: “We have started this event to stimulate debate about the attractiveness of the industry we love as a place to work for everyone. At present, women are underrepresented in the automotive industry, but it is our belief that a positive focus on the numerous opportunities that a career in the industry can offer can have a real impact in reversing that trend.
“For instance, only 9% of the UK’s engineering workforce is female, the lowest percentage in Europe, and less than 16% of engineering and technology undergraduates are women. Despite this, 64% of engineering employers state that a lack of new talent is a threat to their business and reports suggest that there is a shortfall of 55,000 new recruits a year if the UK’s engineering industry is to reach its potential.”
The Autocar Great British Women in the Car Industry judging panel will be chaired by Haymarket Media Group’s automotive Brand Director Rachael Prasher.
The panel – Jim Holder, Steve Cropley, Rachel Burgess, Mel Falconer, and Vicky Parrott from Autocar’s editorial department, plus SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes and director of communications and international, Tamzen Isacsson – will pick their winners at a judging day on 19 May.
They will select one overall winner, plus individuals representing a series of categories – Executive, Design, Product Development, Manufacturing/Purchasing, Communications, Sales, Marketing, Motorsport, HR, and Rising Stars.
Mike Hawes said: “UK Automotive employs around 800,000 people in the UK and, with record exports and productivity levels, it is an exciting industry to join. We’re delighted to support this new initiative by Autocar to identify the most influential British women in the car industry and to promote them as role models to inspire young people considering career prospects.


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Many people worry that eating healthy food costs too much money. But some great, nutritious food costs less than $1.
Many people want to eat healthy, but think it will be too expensive. But divinecaroline.com explains there are many nutritious items for less than $1.
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Danish, Dutch, Hindi, Indonesian, Norwegian, Swedish and Thai support for both Android handsets and iPhones will be added "in the next few months", with "more languages on more devices" set to follow suit "throughout the year". Google Assistant, a voice-powered personal assistant found on iOS and Android, now responds to eight languages. Through Google's Assistant Carrier program, the search giant says that wireless providers will be able to work with the digital assistant to let subscribers access customer support, add new services and get information about their monthly plan.
As for multilingual support, the languages are English, French and German to begin with. "Multilingual" capabilities are coming in English, French and German first, allowing you to switch between the three at any time without fear of running into a language barrier with your Google Assistant. As for covering so many languages, it will be easier for any user to speak in their native at home, and any other language at work or while with friends, and so on. What are they? Routines allow you to "get multiple things done with just a single command".
In addition to these features, Google also announced some major language upgrades for the Assistant today. Importantly it's cross-device capable: you can tell your Google Home to remind you to call the insurance company when you get to work, and the Assistant on your phone will flag that up when you get to the office. This is an expansion of what Google has been helping OEMs with over the a year ago in creating device-specific commands with the Assistant. Keep following our space for the next update about Google Assistant as it surfaces.More news: Alex Garland on 'Annihilation' and Why He Cast Natalie Portman
Google has partnered with Android phone makers LG, Sony, and Xiaomi initially, and it will start by making specific camera-related commands for these manufacturers.
Phone carriers will also be able to develop their own custom integrations with Google Assistant.
Plus, Google Assistant is learning a bunch of new languages. And by on the road, we mean that Google has plans to make Assistant available to consumers all around the world.
Of course, the Google Home smart speaker stays in one location itself - but it can be used to create the location-based reminders you want to be alerted about later on your phone.


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Labor officials in China's southern province of Guangdong said Thursday they
are investigating reports that fast-food chains such as McDonald's and KFC pay
their part-time workers less than the minimum wage of about US$1 an hour.
McDonald's and Yum Brands Inc. spokesmen in China responded by saying their
companies abided by the law but were seeking clarification about regulations for
part-time workers, especially for students.
A spokesman for the Guangdong Provincial Labor and Social Security Department
said officials were looking into reports from workers and local media that staff
in the fast-food outlets were being paid up to 40 percent less than the local
A McDonald's outlet in Shaoyang, Central China's
Hunan Province. [newsphoto/file]
"If those foreign companies are actually violating our labor law, they will
definitely get punished according to the relevant laws and rules," said the
spokesman, who like many Chinese would give only his surname, Zhang.
"I can't comment much since now we don't have the results yet," Zhang
The claims first surfaced in a report by the local newspaper New Express
Daily, which said its reporters, posing as job applicants, found that
McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut were paying part-time staff as much as 40 percent
less than the minimum wage for Guangdong, which is 97 cents per hour.
The New Express Daily report said McDonald's was paying part-timers only 52
cents an hour, while it said part-timers at KFC earned 61 cents and at Pizza Hut
The report also accused the restaurants of demanding part-time employees work
the hours of full-time staff but failing to pay them any full-time staff
Neither McDonald's nor Yum, which operates both KFC and Pizza Hut, responded
directly to the allegations regarding their wage rates.
But McDonald's issued a statement Thursday saying that McDonald's Guangdong
Co. was meeting with local labor officials to "clarify our crew source and
employee systems now."
"As a fully responsible employer, we always follow the relevant government
laws and rules. We offer our employees wages which meets the country's relevant
standards," the McDonald's statement said.
Yum Brands issued a statement saying the allegations resulted from confusion
over whether the laws pertaining to part-time workers included students, who
according to the New Express Daily constitute 70 percent of part-time staff in
such fast-food outlets.
"This was caused by a newly introduced regulation. We are working with the
government to seek clarification of these laws," it said. "Yum has always
strictly adhered to Chinese laws and regulations."
It was unclear if there was some reason why students would be exempt from
labor laws. However, labor officials in Guangdong said that as of Jan. 1, the
minimum wage applied to both part- and full-time workers.


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100% Capri Founder and Designer Antonino Aiello
With Covid lessening its grip on society, travel restrictions easing and summer settling in, all eyes are once again on the most coveted destinations Europe. And among trendsetting locations, such as St. Tropez, Mykonos, Capri and Portofino, a new force in luxury fashion is defining summer style.
For well-heeled consumers, the premium linen brand 100% Capri represents what is desirable about summering in Europe—airy, sensuous, and artful elegance and sophistication with a vibe that is now accessible to luxury consumers pretty much for the first time since Covid hit.
Designed by renowned philanthropist Antonino Aiello, 100% Capri has seen rapid retail and online growth in the months leading up to summer while satellite stores have expanded worldwide to cover boom markets like Dubai and Miami.
Aiello decided in investing in the seaside communities where his label is flying off the racks. In Capri, Aiello has dedicated a portion of 100% Capri's revenues to local civic institutions that keep the towns running during the off season (and during the pandemic).
As Entrepreneur Magazine went on to elaborate, “Aiello believes that prominent Capri business owners have to offer prosperity feedback loops from the private to the public sector in Capri, that can spread the influx of wealth the Island expects to receive post-Covid back into the Island’s administrative systems to enable Capri to make a full return to its pre-pandemic brilliance.”


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11-30-05 (11:33 PM EST)—- Showji Kawamori At Akiba Robot Festival
Macross creator Showji Kawamori was a featured guest at the Akihabara Robot Cultural Festival 2005″. The event was held on November 26-27 at Akihabara Daibiru in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. Attendees could do several things there such as joining a “Robot Production Classroom” that allowed them to learn about robot assembly, design, and technological development. An “Advanced Robot Seminar” and “Robot Bazaar” that featured goods on sale related to robots was also there. Kawamori spoke at the “Advanced Robot Seminar”, just coming off of his latest work as a mechanical designer and animation director on the Aquarion TV series. Source: Livedoor News
11-30-05 (10:36 PM EST)—- New TMS President Appointed
Tokushi Koga has been selected to be the new president of Tokyo Movie Shinsha. He was formerly the Managing Director of TMS and hails from Sega who recently bought the longtime producer of Japanese Animation in October of this year. Koga joined the TMS in 1995.
11-30-05 (4:22 AM EST)—- Geneon Postpones Hellsing OVA
Geneon Entertainment’s WILDGEESE posted a statement mentioning their release of the HELLSING OVA Volume 1, originally due on December 9th, will now be postponed to January 25, 2006. This includes those who reserved it. An apology was issued to fans and customers from the staff who mention they did not want to compromise the quality. It’s also asked from the fans that they hold out and brace for the January release.
11-30-05 (3:48 AM EST)—- Sony Drops DAT
Last week in Japan, Sony announced it would end the domestic shipment of its digital audio tape recorder (DAT) standard in the first ten days of December. The portable “TCD-D1000” will become their last DAT recorder product. Sony will still support repair and DAT tape sales. The company sent a signal they were dropping backing for the standard in 2004 when they ceased production of their deck type units. This left only the TCD-D100 as the only DAT recorder in their company’s inventory. The volume of shipments of the unit was said to hover around only 100 per month. Those in search of parts for past devices are already aware of how scarce they are to come by. Sony first marketed DAT in 1987 and has sold around 660,000 related products since then. The recorders were extremely popular among journalists in the field recording statements and interviews. Sony has since introduced its integrated circuit and compact disc-based recorders such as the ultra cool $2000 PCM-D1 and HI-MD. DAT was attractive due to its compact size and storage factor of high-quality audio files in sampling frequencies of 48/44.1/32kHz. The first Sony recorder was the deck type “DTC-1000ES” marketed in March of 1987.
11-30-05 (12:01 AM EST)—- Wao Discontinues University Plans
Wao Corporation, who aimed at the establishment of Japan’s first graduate school for the animation profession has announced it’s discontinuing the university project as of November 28th. The prime reason for the move is The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology revealed it cannot authorize the application of the university at this time. A council ruled on the recommendation, speaking for education minister Kenji Kosaka. the council decided it doesn’t have enough people who would dedicate themselves to education and research in animation. According to Wao Corporation, there was a difference in the interpretation of the text of university establishment standards between themselves and the Ministry. Both creative and business side courses were to be offered. Wao’s bid was drawn up last year after Japan’s fundamentals of Education Law were revised allowing graduate schools in the form Ltd. corporations to be established this year. Several private and public companies in Japan have followed suit one after another to establish their own schools.
11-29-05 (11:57 PM EST)—- 1 Million Gundam SEED DESTINY DVD’s Sold
Bandai Visual has announced it’s sold over 1 million copies of Gundam SEED DESTINY on DVD in Japan. With a release starting in February of this year and stretching to the latest which streeted November 25th over 10 volumes of the series have been released in a digital medium. The DVD run is expected to conclude in February 2006 when volume 13 is released.
11-29-05 (10:40 PM EST)—- Blood Manga Preview
The Official Blood+ Website has pdf files featuring sample artwork from the upcoming manga spin-offs of the new Blood anime series. Thanks to Daniel for the link.
11-29-05 (1:40 AM EST)—- Japanese Box Office
Kogyo Tsushinsha Japanese Box Office Rankings November 26-27
1. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
2. Always -Sunset on Third Street-
3. A Moment To Remember
4. The Brothers Grimm
5. Until The Lights Come Back
6. In Her Shoes
7. Spring Snow
9. Into The Sun
10. Under The Same Moon
11-29-05 (1:20AM EST)—- Fate/stay night Manga
Type Moon’s insanely fan popular PC Game, Fate/stay night will be adapted to manga. Kadokawa Shoten’s Shonen ACE will serialize the comic from the February 2006 issue of the magazine (on sale 12/26). Story by Type-Moon, Illustrations by Nishiwaki Datto. As an aside the official website of the forthcoming anime by Geneon Entertainment now hosts video clips of the TV CM Preview and Shop Preview.
11-29-05 (1:00 AM EST)—- Katsuhiko Nagata Manga
The story of an Olympic wrestler (and silver medalist in his class of 69 kg/152.15 lbs & under) and martial artist / K1 fighter Katsuhiko Nagata is being adapted to manga. KINGS ROAD- The Katsuhiko Nagata Story by Aoki Ryou and Uhyo Suke will run for 4 weeks in Weekly Young Sunday Magazine (Shogakukan) from the December 1st-22nd issues. Katsuhiko Nagata announced he’s entering Japanese professional wrestling on the 25th of this month.
11-29-05 (12:12 AM EST)—- Saiunkoku Monogatari To Be Animated
Yukino Sai and Yura Kairi’s Light Novel/Manga series Saiunkoku Monogatari (published by Kadokawa Shoten/Beans Bunko) will be adapted to anime sometime in 2006. A Drama CD


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In late 2016, Qualcomm (QCOM -3.31%) announced its intent to acquire NXP Semiconductors (NXPI -2.76%) for $110 per share. In a bid to appease some large NXP Semiconductors shareholders, Qualcomm raised its bid to $127.50 per share in early 2018.
The deal ultimately fell through, however, when Chinese regulators didn't approve the takeover in time. As a result, Qualcomm was forced to pay a $2 billion breakup fee to NXP Semiconductors.
Check out the latest earnings call transcript for NXP Semiconductors.
As of this writing, NXP Semiconductors trades at just over $93 per share -- a significant discount to what Qualcomm was willing to pay in a bid to grow its total addressable market and bolster its financial performance.
Is NXP Semiconductors stock a buy? Let's take a closer look.
Significant growth opportunities
NXP Semiconductors splits its business into four key end markets. The largest of the bunch is automotive, which made up 48% of its revenue in 2018. Not only is this segment large, but the company is also expecting it to deliver significant growth. NXP Semiconductors' medium-term outlook calls for a three-year revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of between 7% and 10% for this end market. That would outpace the 5% to 7% revenue CAGR that management expects for the industry as a whole.
Next up is the company's industrial and Internet of Things (IoT) business. Although investor enthusiasm for IoT seems to have cooled in recent years, NXP is banking on this segment -- which made up 19% of its 2018 sales -- to deliver between an 8% and 11% CAGR over the next three years. The company is planning to dramatically outgrow the market, which will expand at a 3% to 5% CAGR during that time frame, according to NXP's management.
Tied with the previous segment is the company's communications infrastructure and other segment. This, too, made up 19% of the company's revenue in 2018, but NXP management seems less sanguine about this segment's growth opportunities, calling for segment sales to inch higher at a 0% to 2% CAGR over the next three years. That, discouragingly, is below the 3% to 5% industry revenue CAGR that the company expects. (Clearly, this segment isn't a bright spot for NXP Semiconductors.)
Finally, there's mobile. This is the smallest contributor to the company's revenue, making up just 12% of NXP Semiconductors' revenue in 2019. This segment, per the company, is set to experience a 4% to 6% revenue CAGR over the next three years, which is roughly in line with the 4% to 7% CAGR that management expects for the broader industry.
Overall, NXP Semiconductors thinks its revenue will rise at a 5% to 7% CAGR over the next three years. This doesn't represent an eye-popping amount of growth, but if the company can pull it off, it'll certainly be respectable.
Respectable growth at a low price
If NXP Semiconductors stock were richly priced, then a 5% to 7% revenue CAGR simply wouldn't cut it. However, at current levels, the stock looks quite cheap.
NXP Semiconductors brought in $7.12 in earnings per share during 2018. Based on that figure, the shares are trading at around 13 times what the company earned last year.
That's not terribly expensive to begin with, but what's even more interesting is that analysts expect the company's EPS to climb to $7.59 in 2019, followed by a surge to $9 in 2020. While those are just estimates -- actual results could come in above or below those projections -- they look reasonable to me.
Based on those estimates, NXP Semiconductors stock is trading at a little over 10 times its projected 2020 EPS, which makes it look like a downright bargain.
If you're looking to invest in a high-quality chip company with broad exposure to a number of interesting markets (with an emphasis on the automotive chip market) and you want to pay a reasonable price for solid growth prospects, then NXP Semiconductors stock certainly belongs on your watch list.


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Recent Thefts From Mail Boxes Under Investigation
Thieves in the Shuswap have been targeting mail boxes.
RCMP Staff Sergeant Scott West says that a number of boxes have been hit "In the Sunnybrae Canoe-Point Road area, Tappen, and Salmon Arm as well, so it's not just one geographic area."
At least one set of damaged mail boxes has already been replaced.
West also has word on a rise in vehicle thefts in Salmon Arm, saying "We have noticed an uptick in thefts from vehicles, as well as theft of vehicles. A lot of the vehicles stolen.. people have left the keys in them."
A Tuesday RCMP release also notes that two trucks have been stolen with ATV's in the back.
Anyone with info on any of these cases is asked to contact Salmon Arm RCMP.


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iOS 18 is expected to be one of the biggest updates in Apple’s history, and if new rumors are to be believed, the version rolling out later this year could well bring some significant changes at the interface.
iOS 18 could well have a new look inspired by visionOS. That’s according to a report from The Verifier, a website that has a dubious reputation when it comes to Apple information leaks. The report states thatiOS 18 will adopt some of the visual elements of visionOS, such as rounded corners, shadows, and depth.
VisionOS, the operating system used in the new Apple Vision Pro, is based on iOS, but it adds some features and improvementssuch as floating windows, dynamic wallpapers and new types of widgets.
iOS 18 could inherit some elements of VisionOS
The Verifier uses tvOS 17.2 as an example of how iOS 18 could be influenced by visionOS. tvOS 17.2 is the latest Apple TV software update, and it introduced a new design for the Apple TV app, with a floating sidebar that resembles visionOS apps. However, the iPhone version of the Apple TV application did not benefit from the same design changeand still follows the traditional design language of iOS.
This report should be taken with a grain of salt, as The Verifier has a mixed track record when it comes to Apple rumors. Additionally, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a more reliable source, recently reported that iOS 18 will feature “ambitious changes across the board,” but he did not specify whether these changes concerned design or functionality.
What we especially expect from iOS 18 is new AI-based featuresas object recognition, text translationand even a brand new version of Siri which should make the personal assistant much smarter.
Although Apple shares some design elements between its operating systems, such as Control Center and Notification Center, the company also maintains distinct design languages for each platform. For example, iOS never adopted the round icons from watchOS or the shadowed icons from macOS Big Sur. It therefore now remains to be seen whether or not IOS 18 will inherit certain elements of VisionOS.


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OBN Purchasing Scheme Planned For Life Sciences R&D Companies Reaches Beyond its First Million
News Jul 01, 2009
Oxfordshire Bioscience Network (OBN), the Oxford based not-for-profit biotech trade association has announced that turnover generated through its purchasing scheme now exceeds £1m, already creating savings of £500,000 per year for OBN's Full Member companies. The scheme was the brainchild of OBN when it was decided that smaller companies would need assistance and advice in the current hostile economic climate, the company says.
In just one year, the idea has grown to encompass the purchasing needs of 30 companies, and continues to see month-on-month growth.
The OBN Purchasing Scheme has been adopted by key players in the Oxford Cluster including the US-subsidiary R&D operations (OSI) Prosidion, BioVex and the very well funded HPA-spin out Syntaxin.
A host of other R&D companies have also taken part, however it is not just medium sized enterprises that have benefited from the concept. Smaller companies have also made useful savings, including glycosylated therapeutic developer Glycoform based at Milton Park.
Commenting on the system, David Scales, CEO of Glycoform said: “We predict over the year we will save more than £10,000. Not much in big pharma terms, but for small companies that can mean the difference between survival and closure. There’s no doubt that the OBN purchasing scheme is really important for our business.”
OBN's scheme has national reach, extending out over most of the UK. The companies taking advantage include Vantia (Southampton), Capsant (Southampton), LFI Molecular (Leatherhead) and Exoctye (Reading). The Scheme also covers MedTech and Diagnostics companies such as new Oxford spin-put Orthox and leading tuberculosis test company Oxford Immunotec. The OBN scheme is open to any UK-based R&D company.
"We are pleased to be able to generate substantial savings for our members by helping them to purchase as a group. The key here is that many of our members are well funded and well organized. In joining our scheme they are demonstrating to their current investors and future investors that they are interested in deploying the invested capital in R&D, rather than paying over the odds" said Jon Rees, CEO of OBN.
OBN's scheme already encompasses the many requirements of an R&D company. These include laboratory equipment and supplies, special gases used in research, employee security screening, stationary - growing its service and product offering in line with member's requests made at regular meetings.
“Fisher Scientific is delighted with the results at the end of the first year of the partnership with OBN as the preferred laboratory supplier for OBN purchasing scheme members”, commented Richard Farmer, Sales Manager of ThermoFisher. “The collaboration has been very successful.”
From a pilot group of 5 companies the scheme has flourished in its first year, it now has over 25 members who on average have saved more than 30% off list price for their lab purchases.”
Chris Locke, OBN's Purchasing Manager added "We listen to our Members' needs, which is why we will roll out our Private Healthcare Insurance group scheme across the membership later this year, along with an Equipment Maintenance group scheme. We will make providing healthcare cover for your R&D staff an affordable benefit, in a climate where purely financial incentives may not fit remuneration budgets."
In of organic chemistry, reactions are notoriously difficult to analyze. As a result, reaction data in chemoinformatics has been much less developed than information about single molecules. In a new project, titled CGRtools, researchers solved a number of problems to better handle reaction information. The software library is significantly richer in functionality than all the existing tools.READ MORE


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The Sidekick handset's been released in so many versions that we’re starting to get confused. Now it’s come to light that another model’s set to slide onto the market within two weeks. According to a report by BGR, the latest model is called, ingeniously, the Sidekick 2008. The website’s managed to lay its hands on, what looks …
Does it have...
...an extra-large 5 key...? http://www.trashbat.co.ck/t12/index.html
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The three major credit reference agencies (CRAs), Experian, Equifax and TransUnion have confirmed that consumer credit scores will be protected when people have agreed ‘payment holidays’ in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Payment holidays refer to a pause agreed between an individual and their lender on regular loan payments. Earlier this month the government announced that homeowners impacted by the crisis can ask their mortgage lender for a payment holiday of up to three months (for both residential and buy-to-let mortgage customers).
To help people applying for payment holidays, CRAs are implementing a special measure called an “emergency payment freeze”. This ensures that an individual’s current credit score is protected for the duration of an agreed payment holiday.
In addition to the Government guidance on mortgage, lenders may be able to make special arrangements across other forms of credit, which may include a payment holiday, reduced payments, paused payments or increased credit limits. These are all covered by the CRA emergency payment freeze agreement, which means that any impact your credit score will be minimised.
Jonathan Westley, Chief Data Officer at Experian said “These are challenging times. While everyone is rightly focused on staying safe and healthy, we know that many people are also concerned about the impact on their income. If you’re worried about meeting regular payments because of the pandemic, it is crucial that you speak to your lenders and other providers as soon as possible so they can help.”
“Many lenders are offering payment holidays or other arrangements to help people who have been affected by the outbreak. Through this new industry agreement, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax are helping protect people’s credit scores during these difficult and unprecedented times.”
Patricio Remon, President of Europe at Equifax, said “Alongside the government and our clients, we want to help households feeling financial strain as a result of coronavirus. Equifax is offering guidance to lenders and credit providers so that they can respond to consumers’ requests for forbearance in a way that minimises the impact on credit files.”
“We continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation and the impact of COVID-19 on consumers and businesses across the UK. Close collaboration between companies and trade bodies across the sector is vital to provide the support consumers and businesses need in this unprecedented time of uncertainty.”


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A Conversation with Matthew Cornford – Social Refuge and Queer Lit
We spoke to Matthew about his huge ambition in setting up award-winning LGBTQ+ bookshop Queer Lit and the newest queer space in Manchester, Social Refuge.
Watch the full interview with Matthew here:
Three years ago, Matthew set up a website where people could buy LGBTQ+ books online after getting frustrated that his local bookshop had no specific section for queer titles. Having initially featured a selection of around 700 different books on the Queer Lit website, Matthew now has more than 4,375 different titles available at the fabulous Social Refuge on Great Ancoats Street – and the collection is continuing to grow. There’s also an in-house coffee shop, an events area and a co-working space.
He told the Manchester Evening News:
“I remember trying to find queer titles in Waterstones on Deansgate and I was getting frustrated that I couldn’t really find anything. I was told that they basically didn’t have a LGBTQ+ section besides in the summer during Pride. Even their own website made it difficult for you to find any queer books.
“I thought ‘let’s fix this’ as I was dying to read more queer books. I read a lot but I don’t always see myself in those books. I like crime novels – really dark and nasty stuff – but the detective never went home to a husband at the end of the night.


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The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square has now launched its new spa and health club, with marks the end of the property’s recent multimillion restoration.
The new addition is home to a ‘mood lit’ 12m pool, thermal area including sauna and steam room, three treatment rooms, and a new gym.
The new spa will be the first spa in Scotland to offer treatments using Oskia, the British range of organic beauty products, while ishga treatments, which use Scottish ingredients from the sea, will also be on offer.
The spa completes The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte’s recent multi-million restoration and refurbishment which includes bedrooms and suites inspired by the ‘golden age of travel’.
Principal touch points have also been added such as signature toiletries, a red bedside telephone, tuck box of treats and a vintage post box.
Johan Scheepers, general manager at The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square said: “The new Spa at The Principal is the final piece of the jigsaw and marks the completion of our beautiful new hotel. We’re excited to see everything come together and believe the Spa has something different to offer, both for hotel guests and for Edinburgh locals. We offer bespoke, flexible packages, and our opening hours mean the spa and health club is accessible all week, mornings, afternoons and evenings so perfect for corporate memberships.”