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Hirsch Organizes for Digital Identity Growth
Rob Zivney Appointed VP Business Development
Santa Ana, CA, November 4, 2009–Hirsch today announced it is again expanding its resources for digital identity market growth by appointing Rob Zivney to the newly created position of vice president, business development.
Early this year, Hirsch Electronics merged with leading smart card reader manufacturer SCM Microsystems, Inc. Last month, the combined company announced an agreement to acquire Bluehill ID AG, which consists of a leading group of identification technology offerings and services. Rob Zivney, while vice president of marketing for Hirsch, has pioneered Hirsch’s initiatives in identity, credential and access management (ICAM) using smart cards in vertical markets, especially the federal government sector. In order to assure Hirsch’s position as a leading global systems provider of smart card-based identity solutions for access control, Zivney has accepted the new position of VP business development to focus on growing this business.
“I have enjoyed building the Hirsch brand and putting in place the many capable people that can carry on the day-to-day marketing activities,” said Mr. Zivney. “However, for the past few years, I really have been focused on initiatives that make Hirsch a driving force in the move to digital identities for access control. These initiatives include standards development, industry trade organization participation, market/product definition, government relations and other activities that eventually led to the merger with SCM.”
Mr. Zivney is on the Security Industry Association (SIA) Board of Directors, is the chair of the SIA Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Working Group and serves on standards committees for both SIA and ASHRAE’s BACnet. He has testified before the U.S. Congress on behalf of the security industry regarding implementation of the PIV card mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12).
“The next generation of physical, logical and network access control security requires the use of trusted digital identities,” commented Larry Midland, executive vice president of SCM Microsystems, Inc. and president of Hirsch Electronics. “Through the combined use of smart cards, PIN codes, biometrics and certificates, trust can be increased, leading to enhanced security of personnel, facilities and digital information. Therefore, we need to focus our management team on the opportunities for convergence that cross technological, organizational and traditional boundaries. Rob is the right man for the job.
“Rob has the vision to bring the opportunities back to our R&D team so we can continue to create the leading edge solutions for identity, credential and access management,” continued Mr. Midland. “He has been an advocate for standards, new systems architectures, public key infrastructure (PKI), biometrics, encryption, interoperability, and being first. We believe his new focus will build on his strengths in these areas and position our newly combined companies for even more growth in the digital identities arena.”
About Hirsch Electronics
Hirsch designs and manufactures security systems for worldwide markets. Hirsch’s security and identity management systems integrate access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, digital certificates, smart cards and biometrics. Hirsch is part of SCM Microsystems, Inc., provider of the world’s broadest range of smart card reader technology. Together, Hirsch and SCM bring convergence to reality by integrating physical and logical security. Their solutions enable organizations and individuals to secure their facilities, information and electronic transactions. (NASDAQ: SCMM, Prime Standard: SMY) http://www.HirschElectronics.com


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In a boost for North Devon EV drivers and holidaymakers, Osprey has partnered with the local council to more than double car-charging sites in the council area.
Three new and super-fast EV rapid chargers have just been energised in Belle Meadow car park in the heart of Devon, the company said. North Devon is set for 15 electric vehicle charging stations, up from seven, bringing rapid charging to residents, businesses, and the six million tourists who visit the district each year.
Belle Meadow car park is up and running with three super-fast chargers, each offering 100 miles of charge in 25 minutes (with compatible EVs). This will be followed by charging stations at Ilfracombe, Lynton, South Molton and Barnstaple, which will transform the charging landscape in this largely rural area, Osprey said.
Explaining the need for more public charges, the company said access to charging is one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption. There are concerns that more rural areas where charge points are traditionally less common, such as North Devon, risk being left behind in the EV transition if there is not visible reassurance of ample public charging.
“No region should be left behind in the transition to cleaner transport,” said Patrick Sherriff, Property Director of Osprey Charging. “North Devon have made a choice to future-proof their communities and protect the environment, with a safe, reliable, accessible rapid charging service. Osprey’s investment in high-power charging stations in Devon makes choosing an electric vehicle possible not only for the millions of seasonal visitors to the area, but crucially to the local residents and businesses who might otherwise be nervous of making the transition.”
As EV uptake increases across the country ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles, more and more of these visitors will require EV charging to complete their journeys and continue to visit, the company said.
“We are firmly committed to encouraging cleaner transport across the district; cherishing and protecting our environment is one of the council's corporate priorities,” said Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at North Devon Council, Councillor Malcolm Prowse.
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Cannabis IPOs have been red hot in 2018.
Tilray (TLRY), one of the largest cannabis companies operating in Canada and the US, is a great example.
This early industry leader began trading on the US-based NASDAQ exchange on July 20 at $24.20. Today shares are up more than 300%, trading above $100.
These kind of huge gains in a short amount of time are unusual.
However – I see another cannabis IPO ready to go off on Thursday that reminds me a lot of Tilray.
Acreage Holdings is set to become the largest cannabis IPO in the history of the US cannabis industry.
Shares are scheduled to start trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange on Thursday, November 15
Estimates are predicting Acreage could be worth around $4 billion after the IPO – potentially making this the largest IPO in the history of the US cannabis industry.
There are two reasons this should be an exciting cannabis IPO.
Acreage is an Early Industry Leader in the High-Growth US Cannabis Industry
Just like almost every other industry, bigger is better in cannabis. Simple math says that low-cost cannabis producers will benefit from better scales of economy. Acreage is already one of the biggest cannabis companies in the US.
The company has an impressive portfolio of cannabis assets, starting with cultivation all the way down the supply chain to dispensaries.
Acreage currently operates in 12 states, including high-growth states California, Oregon and Massachusetts.
Here’s a closer look at some of its greenhouses and dispensaries.
CALIFORNIA – HSRC NORCAL
- Operates license to cultivate cannabis for distribution to dispensaries in the state
- 10,000 sq. ft. production facility
- Cultivation facility distributes to approximately 50 Bay Area dispensaries
ILLINOIS – NATURE’S CARE COMPANY, COMPASS
- Holds one of 22 licenses to cultivate and process cannabis
- Holds four of 53 licenses to dispense cannabis products
- Operates two dispensaries
- 35,000 sq. ft. of operational cultivation space (and an additional 35,000 square feet under construction)
MASSACHUSETTS PRIME WELLNESS CENTERS
- Holds three licenses
- Has 68,000 sq. ft. of cultivation space available for expansion
- Prepared for the adult-use market in 2018
Moving forward Acreage will continue to expand. After the IPO, Acreage will have hundreds of millions in cash on the balance that it will use to expand current facilities and potentially acquire smaller competitors.
Acreage Has the Best Political Connections in the North American Cannabis Industry
Acreage has the best political connections in the entire US cannabis industry.
In the US, Acreage has hired former Speaker of the House John Boenher to serve on its advisory board.
Boenher was one of the most powerful US politicians and has spent the last 30 years operating deep in US politics.
In Canada, former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney has been offered a seat on the Board of Directors when the IPO is complete.
Mulroney was Canadian Prime Minister from 1984 to 1993 and was a central figure in the creation and negotiation of NAFTA.
Acreage has also named the former Governor of Massachusetts Bill Weld to its Board of Advisors.
This is a powerful and very well connected political team – and that is a huge competitive advantage for Acreage. It will help the company influence cannabis legislation and secure hard to get operating permits.
The Final Word on the Acreage Cannabis IPO
Acreage is an early industry leader in the high-growth US cannabis industry. It also has the best political connections. I am expecting a lot of interest in Acreage when shares begin trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange on Thursday, 11/15/18.
About the Author
Michael Vodicka is an equity analyst with more than 20 years of experience trading and investing. His research has been featured in some of the industry’s most respected publications. He has been investing and leading investors in the cannabis sector since 2013.


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The relationship between the e cig and Hollywood has been beneficial in creating public awareness for them, but will it contribute to their downfall?
Austin, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/30/2013 -- That e cig has been a runaway success is no secret, the rate of growth that it has been experiencing has been seen as impressive, and that there are Hollywood dates that have been seen using e cigarettes is helping the sales of e cigarettes. They range from Great Gatsby star Leonardo DiCaprio, to Donnie Brasco actor Johnny Depp and even famed activist Jenny McCarthy have all been seen with them both on a personal and public basis. For some they are using them to smoke instead and for others they have become the corporate face of top electronic cigarette brands.
Whilst the e cig started off as a fad in its early years, it has now grown to become what analysts call the next obvious step in smoking with analysts at Wells Fargo Financial saying that they will overtake traditional tobacco smoking within the next decade. There have also been claims that by 2020 the vapor cigarettes industry will be worth at least $20 billion per year. However this relationship has been seen as encouraging the glamorization of e cigarettes to minors.
This has been one of the major concerns of the FDA that will be releasing the proposed regulations for the electronic cigarette brands within a week. They have raised concern after a CDC report claimed that between 2011 and 2012 there was a 100% increase in the number of high school and middle school students that have been using the e cig amid reports from politicians urging the FDA to act quickly and address this matter.
Whilst there has not yet been a conclusive study that proves the e cig does have adverse effects on the health of the smoker, what is known is that there has been a increase in the number of claims from that are using the best e cig on the market and they are claiming that they are experiencing a much better and a seemingly healthier lifestyle than they had when they were smoking tobacco cigarettes. This has made great inroads in making sure that electric cigarettes are getting to be more and more socially acceptable.
DigitalSmoke.Org is one of the best e cig reviews sites and they have gained a reputation of being balanced and non biasness as well as taking into consideration the opinions of users. They are also among the top e cig news review sites that deals with all global news that is associated with this industry.
For further information see here.
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text: In April 2014 Lochlain Feeley became 2 Sisters "newly created role of bakery md for the UK manufacturer" which processes foods ranging from poultry meat to biscuits. Before joining Greencore, Feeley was md of chilled foods firm Uniq, shifting over when Greencore bought it two years ago. He has worked in food industry management for the past 30 years, according to 2 Sisters, and will be based at the firm’s Gunstones bakery in Dronfield, Derbyshire. Having already left Greencore, Feeley had been working as a consultant most recently. Meanwhile, Veepul Patel, previously bakery md, has relinquished that role, but retained his responsibilities as food-to-go md at the business."


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STRANDS National Launch at January ISSE/Long Beach
STRANDS Hair Color Pulled Out All the Stops
At ISSE/Long Beach on January 25-27 at the Long Beach Convention Center, the traffic was brisk and many colorists stopped by the company’s beautiful exhibit – double the size of last years – to “Discover STRANDS … and Ignite Your Color Passion”.
They had the opportunity to meet with STRANDS Founder and CEO Mirela Marinescu and Marketing Director Karina Rizvanbegovic and check out the money-saving show promotions. Mirela said, “We got to hear from many more colorists this year why they are LOVING our 60-shade permanent and ammonia-free cream color line. Of course the Argan Oil and Keratin for vibrant color, incredible shine and lasting coverage were the stars”.
Strands has extended its special show pricing promotion on both the REFLEXIONS™ low-ammonia color (33 shades) and COLOR LUST™ ammonia-free formula (27 shades) through March and you can find that right here.


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Catcha Digital and U Mobile have entered into a branded content partnership for the new MSN Malaysia Tech (“MSN Tech”) channel. U Mobile is the first brand to connect with MSN Tech, tapping into its fast growing reader base. Launched in September this year, MSN Tech has been visited by more than 260,000 unique users, serving over 2 million page views. MSN Tech is the go-to source for all things gadgets, games and technology. It has since grown to be the second highest traffic channel on MSN.com.my, following closely behind the news channel.
In a recent Global Web Index study, the top two purchases of MSN and Windows Live users are mobile phones and broadband plans.
Catcha Digital is the strategic partner of Microsoft Advertising in Malaysia, covering both MSN Malaysia (MSN.com.my) and Windows Live, and is the exclusive advertising partner for Lowyat.net.
[spoiler title=”Show Official Press Release”]
For Immediate Release
U MOBILE BRINGS THE LATEST IN TECHNOLOGY TO MSN.COM.MY READERS THROUGH BRANDED CONTENT PARTNERSHIP IN NEW MSN TECH CHANNEL
15 November 2011, Kuala Lumpur – Catcha Digital and U Mobile entered into a branded content partnership agreement on the new MSN Malaysia Tech (“MSN Tech”) channel (MSN.com.my/Tech), making U Mobile the first brand to connect with MSN Tech fast-growing reader base.
Damon Rielly, General Manager of Catcha Digital said, “We are happy to have U Mobile as a sponsor of our newly launched MSN Tech channel which is the go-to source for all things gadgets, games and technology. Since its introduction, MSN Tech was visited by more than 260,000 unique users consuming close to 2 million pageviews. As a partner, U Mobile gets to leverage on this traffic in an ideal contextual environment where MSN readers have elevated interests in all things tech.”
According to a Global Web Index study, the top two purchases of MSN and Windows Live users are mobile phones and broadband plans. In addition, they are more likely to research before they buy.
Dr. Kaizad Heerhee, Chief Executive Officer of U Mobile said, “As the nation’s most dynamic and innovative telco service provider, we are always looking for big ideas to help connect our brand with consumers. U Mobile is currently offering the fastest mobile broadband service with blazing speed of up to 42Mbps which translates to great video and audio streaming experiences. By working with Catcha Digital and Microsoft Advertising, we are able to further enhance our customer outreach via MSN Tech’s high readership.”
MSN Tech was launched in September this year and has quickly grown to be the second highest traffic channel on MSN.com.my, just behind the news channel. While traffic numbers surpassed expectations, Damon explained that it is not surprising as tech is what MSN readers are passionate about. “We listen to our readers and launch channels according to market demand. There are more channel launches planned from now till the next year. What’s coming list includes automotive, wedding, Korean entertainment, men’s interest and the list goes on which makes 2012 very exciting for us,” he said.
Catcha Digital is the strategic partner of Microsoft Advertising in Malaysia, covering both MSN Malaysia (MSN.com.my) and Windows Live, and exclusive advertising partner for Lowyat.net.


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Through social media, some stories have a life of their own. AutoGuide.com has compiled a list of this week’s most shared stories through Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Luxury, exotic and technology were the trending topics this past week, with the debut of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG coupe. News on the even hotter LaFerrari Spider and FXX also…
One of the largest German luxury car producers. Mercedes is a famous luxury brand building a range of vehicles, some of which focus on performance. Models to watch: CLA
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG coupe has been officially revealed.
Through social media, some stories have a life of their own. AutoGuide.com has compiled a list of this week’s most shared stories through Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
Whether you’re shopping for a sports car, SUV or all-purpose wagon, AutoGuide.com’s most watched videos have you covered.
Mercedes-Benz has added another package to its popular CLA 250 model.
If you’re excited for the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT, we’ve got a treat for you.
Mercedes-Benz is reviving the Maybach badge for the new S-Class, though it may spread to more vehicles in the Benz lineup.
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG isn’t just getting a facelift.
Each year, Strategic Vision releases its Total Quality Index, which it says includes positive and negative product experiences on vehicles including reliability, actual problems, driving excitement and other measures.
Mercedes-Benz has just revealed an autonomous truck that the company vows will be on the road by 2025.
Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz have officially announced plans for a new manufacturing plant in Mexico.
This week’s most watched videos from AutoGuide.com‘s YouTube channel represent a variety of reviews. In the luxury sedan segment is our Mercedes-Benz S550 review while our video bidding farewell to the Toyota FJ Cruiser with the Trail Teams Ultimate Edition also garnered plenty of attention. Lastly, we had the opportunity to review the all-new Porsche Macan crossover….
Through social media, some stories have a life of their own. AutoGuide.com has compiled a list of this week’s most shared stories through Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Most popular this past week is the news that Ferrari is planning to turbocharged all its V8 models in the future. In addition, the debut of the Aston Martin Vision Gran…
Mercedes-Benz is already testing its next-generation E-Class sedan.
Since 1999, Engine Technology International Magazine has awarded the International Engine of the Year Award and this year’s winners have been announced.
It appears that Daimler and Nissan have finalized their joint venture deal to produce vehicles in Mexico.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class sits above almost all others when it comes to luxury cars, but the new Pullman edition will be second to none.
Not a minute into the drive to the track and the drops of rain started to appear. Sitting for our classroom session at the newly renovated pavilion at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (formerly Mosport) east of Toronto, Canada and the ominous clouds didn’t hold back on the drama, soaking the 2.5 miles of asphalt in…
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class actually has a larger battery than the German automaker is advertising.
Luxury sedan shoppers were all over AutoGuide.com‘s YouTube channel this past week. Our most watched video from June 8 to June 15 is a comparison of the 2014 Cadillac CTS and the 2015 Hyundai Genesis while our review of the Mercedes-Benz S550 garnered plenty of views as well. Lastly, German sports car lovers indulged in…
Mercedes-Benz is looking to “significantly” increase its production capacity in the U.S.
Mercedes just revealed its refreshed CLS ahead of the official debut during the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Mercedes is giving a sneak peek of what to expect when the 2015 CLS-Class debuts at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
If you own a Mercedes-Benz SUV, chances slim that you will see it again if it is stolen.


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Unilever Nigeria Plc has declared a turnover of N62 billion for the financial year ended December 2020.
Also, the board assured shareholders of its commitment to good corporate governance to drive sustainability and efficiency across the company’s operations.
The chairman of the firm and the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, while speaking at the Unilever’s 96th annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos, commended the shareholders for their trust and loyalty to the firm despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the year under review.
He added that the company would remain strategic in its approach to attaining sustainable growth and profitability. According to the company’s financial report, there was a 2.4 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue from N60.8 billion to N62 billion in the year under review.
The increase was driven by 7.3 per cent year-on-year growth in its food products, which was slightly offset by a three per cent revenue drop in the home and personal care segments. These results reflect a challenging operating environment
Speaking on the results, Achebe stated that even though 2020 was a year of significant disruptions and volatilities impacting the operating environment, Unilever Nigeria continues to build its resilience to navigate the impact of headwinds.
He added that the company remains focused on its strategy to deliver sustainable growth both in the medium and long-term riding on the pillars of operational efficiency, cost optimization, purposeful brands and increasing market share across key categories.
Read the Source post on Leadership News – Nigeria News, Breaking News, Politics and more.


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Xiaomi’s 48 billion RMB confiscated by Indian law enforcement? Relevant parties have responded
Indian law enforcement confiscated 48 billion RMB from Xiaomi Relevant parties have responded
【PhoneAuto News】Recently, PhoneAuto noticed that regarding the official confiscation of 4.8 billion yuan by the Indian law enforcement agency against Xiaomi, Xiaomi officials responded in the same way as before: “Xiaomi adheres to legal and compliant operations globally and complies with relevant laws and regulations in its places of operation.”
According to relevant media reports, the Indian agency responsible for combating financial crimes has issued a formal notice to Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi Technology’s subsidiary in India, the company’s executives, and three banks (Deutsche Bank, HSBC, and Citibank) on the 11th of this month, accusing them of illegally transferring funds overseas and allegedly violating the “Foreign Exchange Management Act.” The Indian agency said that the reason why the three banks received the notice was that they were suspected of allowing overseas remittances to be used as patent fee payments without conducting due diligence and obtaining necessary documents. Previously, the Indian Central Enforcement Bureau froze 55.51 billion Indian rupees (approximately 4.8 billion yuan) from Xiaomi’s bank account, and this notice may mean that the frozen funds will be officially confiscated.
- Uncertain about which phone to choose for 618? These four phones can effectively solve your dilemma
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According to IDC’s quarterly global smartphone tracking report, India’s smartphone market shipped 144 million units by the end of 2022, a year-on-year decrease of 10%, the lowest in recent years. In the fourth quarter of 2022 alone, India’s smartphone shipments fell to 30 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 27%. Currently, Xiaomi is still the largest smartphone manufacturer in the Indian market, occupying 21% of the market share in 2022, ahead of Samsung’s 18.1% and vivo’s 15.9%, but Xiaomi’s share has declined by 25% year-on-year.
- Interview with Swift Student Challenge Winner Dai Zanglong Everyone can code, don’t set too many limits for yourself
- Samsung S24 Ultra camera specifications leaked 200 million-pixel main camera and fine-tuned telephoto lens
- Huawei Mate60 Pro rendering exposed! Details have been changed, 5G may make a comeback
- Yu Chengdong denies Qualcomm’s resumption of supplying 5G chips to Huawei This is fake news
- Redmi K60 Ultra exposed With the support of MediaTek Dimensity 9200, it is expected to break 14 million in benchmark tests
- Has the official image of OnePlus Nord 3 been leaked? Is it confirmed that this is not OnePlus Ace 2V?
- Huawei Smart Lock Series 618 Limited Time Offer Enhance Home Security and Comfort


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According to the preliminary figures, during the business year 2021 the company sales revenues of InterCard AG Informationssysteme increased from EUR 20.7 million to EUR 23.1 million. The increase is due primarily to the consolidation of our new majority holding IDpendant, which is included for the entire year for the first time. Moreover, the InterCard Group has started into the new business year 2022 with a very good backlog of orders.
As was to be expected, the concern result was still negatively affected by the closures in the universities which form our core market as a result of the pandemic. Nonetheless, according to the preliminary figures the EBITDA amounted to TEUR 1,848 (previous year: TEUR 2,315), the EBIT amounted to TEUR 702 (previous year: TEUR 1,175) and the EBT amounted to TEUR 548 (previous year: TEUR 1,047). It was during 2021 that the financial effects of the pandemic reached their high point. By contrast, the previous year 2020 had begun with high revenues during the first quarter.
Our university customers have opened again and have thus evidently largely put the problems of 2021 behind them. Thus installations in our previous core market, the universities, are generally possible again.
Against this background, as of the end of 2021 InterCard has now completely ended the short working hours which it had taken advantage of in the interim period and is currently recruiting new staff in sales, both nationally and internationally, in order to accelerate the marketing of the new system also beyond the university sector.
You can read more about InterCard and our new identification system SECANDA on www.intercard.org.


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The Biden administration has finalized a slate of highly-anticipated environmental regulations curbing gas-powered vehicle tailpipe emissions as part of its broader efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming.
In a joint announcement Wednesday, the White House and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled the most aggressive multi-pollutant emission standards ever finalized. While the regulations target gas-powered vehicles, they are explicitly designed to push wider nationwide adoption of electric vehicles (EV) and, according to officials, are expected to ensure nearly 70% of all new car sales are zero-emissions within a few years.
“President Biden is investing in America, in our workers, and in the unions that built our middle class and established the U.S. auto sector as a leader in the world,” White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said in a statement. “The President’s agenda is working.”
“With transportation as the largest source of U.S. climate emissions, these strongest-ever pollution standards for cars solidify America’s leadership in building a clean transportation future and creating good-paying American jobs, all while advancing President Biden’s historic climate agenda,” added EPA administrator Michael Regan.
NEW REPORT UNMASKS TRUE COSTS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANDATES: ‘REMAIN MORE EXPENSIVE’
President Biden, left, and Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael Regan. (Getty Images)
Under the new regulations, which will be formally announced at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., later on Wednesday afternoon, automakers will be forced to rapidly curb the emissions of greenhouse gases, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from new passenger cars, light trucks, and larger pickups and vans beginning with model year 2027 vehicles.
According to administration officials, the regulations will help “tackle the climate crisis” by reducing the transportation sector’s carbon dioxide emissions by a staggering 7.2 billion metric tons over the course of the program, which will be in effect through 2032. Officials also told reporters on a press call that the regulations would reduce the amount of oil consumed in the U.S. by billions of barrels within three decades.
17 RETIRED MILITARY OFFICIALS RAISE ALARM ON BIDEN’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE PUSH
When the tailpipe emissions rules kick in, automakers will be compelled to increase production and sales of EVs, plug-in hybrids, traditional hybrids and fuel cell vehicles. Under one “low cost” model EPA outlined in the rule, officials said automakers would be forced to ensure 56% of light-duty car sales are battery electric and another 13% are hybrid by 2032.
The regulations represent a version of the so-called “alternative C” approach detailed in EPA’s original proposal first publicized in April 2023. The White House originally projected last year that, under the rule, up to 67% of new vehicle sales would be battery electric by 2032, but after a lengthy public comment period and meetings with automakers and labor groups, it scaled down the regulations.
President Biden said Wednesday that EPA’s regulations ensure the nation meets his goal that 50% of all new car sales are electric by 2030. (Anna Moneymaker/Pool/Getty Images | Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
“Three years ago, I set an ambitious target: that half of all new cars and trucks sold in 2030 would be zero-emission,” President Biden said in a statement. “I brought together American automakers. I brought together American autoworkers. Together, we’ve made historic progress. Hundreds of new expanded factories across the country. Hundreds of billions in private investment and thousands of good-paying union jobs. And we’ll meet my goal for 2030 and race forward in the years ahead.”
While the EPA rule represents a scaled down version of what the agency proposed last year, especially in the early years of the regulations, industry groups and Republican lawmakers said the end result would remain unchanged. They argue the regulations reduce consumer choice and will lead to higher costs across the board.
VULNERABLE HOUSE DEM BUCKS PARTY ORTHODOXY, BLASTING HIS STATE’S PROPOSED EV MANDATE
In a joint statement on Wednesday, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers President and CEO Chet Thompson and American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers called on Congress to intervene and block the plan.
“At a time when millions of Americans are struggling with high costs and inflation, the Biden administration has finalized a regulation that will unequivocally eliminate most new gas cars and traditional hybrids from the U.S. market in less than a decade,” they said. “As much as the President and EPA claim to have ‘eased’ their approach, nothing could be further from the truth.”
“This regulation will make new gas-powered vehicles unavailable or prohibitively expensive for most Americans,” the two industry leaders continued. “For them, this wildly unpopular policy is going to feel and function like a ban.”
Even factoring in generous federal and state subsidies, the average cost of an EV is about $52,500, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, while the average gas subcompact car costs $24,000. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
In addition to energy groups, a wide slate of industry groups representing farmers, consumers and auto dealers have similarly warned of the consequences of the EPA’s regulations.
“This decision will not only severely hamper the administration’s ability to reach its own climate goals, but it will also hurt family farms and rural communities that rely heavily on the sale of biofuels. On top of that, it will remove consumer choice from the market,” said National Corn Growers Association President Harold Wolle.
BIDEN ADMIN SET TO FINALIZE MAJOR GAS CAR CRACKDOWN OVER WARNINGS FROM AUTOMAKERS, ENERGY INDUSTRY
According to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an industry group that represents major automakers, 9.3% of total car purchases in the U.S. last year were electric or plug-in hybrids – up from 7% in 2022. That uptick was driven largely by purchases in California and urban areas where the majority of EV purchases are made.
At the same time, EVs remain far more expensive than traditional, gas-powered cars. Even factoring in generous federal and state subsidies, the average cost of an EV is about $52,500, while the average subcompact car costs $24,000.
Reps. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., left, and Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., introduced the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act in July. The bill was passed on a bipartisan vote in December. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Alliance for Automotive Innovation President and CEO John Bozzella noted Wednesday that, while the EPA’s adjusted EV targets are “still a stretch goal,” they were more reasonable than the ones first proposed.
“Moderating the pace of EV adoption in 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 was the right call because it prioritizes more reasonable electrification targets in the next few years of the EV transition,” he said.
VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS UPHOLD STATE’S EV MANDATE DESPITE GROWING OPPOSITION: ‘DEFY COMMON SENSE’
Additionally, a wide range of Republican lawmakers immediately blasted the regulations and vowed to take action to overturn them before they are implemented.
“The Biden administration’s approval of an EPA rule that essentially forces Americans to buy electric vehicles is just another example of the president’s reckless and misinformed regulatory agenda,” Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, told Fox News Digital. “I strongly urge President Biden to reverse this misguided decision and allow American families to decide which vehicle is best for them. The free market — not government mandates — must prevail.”
Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, recently led a letter of more than 130 Republican lawmakers calling on the Biden administration to back off EV mandates. (Rod Lamkey-Pool/Getty Images)
Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., who, along with Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., introduced the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act in July, also ripped the regulations. The CARS Act, which would nix EPA’s tailpipe regulations, passed in a House vote of 221-197 in December, but it has yet to receive a Senate floor vote.
“Top-down government edicts cannot change the demand of consumers overnight, yet this is exactly the Biden administration’s plan,” said Walberg. “This rule restricts the choices of American consumers and will price millions out of the market, eliminate American jobs, and forever link our auto industry with the Chinese Communist Party.”
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Additionally, Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, both members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, vowed to introduce new resolutions blocking the regulations finalized Wednesday. They said in a joint statement that the plan is “delusional” and would require an act of Congress to move forward.


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As we are inching closer to the launch of the OnePlus Nord 2, the rumour mills are constantly churning one leak after another. And now, the latest leak has revealed the specifications of the much-anticipated smartphone including its colour options. Recently the pricing and the design of the device was also leaked on the web. But the latest reveal shows the phone sporting a hole-punch display and triple camera sensors placed inside a rectangular-shaped camera module on the back of the phone.
OnePlus Nord 2 has been leaked again on the web revealing its specifications and colour options just ahead of the official launch. The leaked renders of the upcoming smartphone show the design and are tipped to arrive in two colour options of Gray Sierra and Blue Haze. The device is also expected to be available in a third Green Woods colour option but for the 12GB RAM with 256GB storage option. The leaked renders of the phone also show an alert slider and the power button on the right side of the frame whereas the volume key is positioned on either side.
Moreover, OnePlus Nord 2 is also tipped to come in a 6.43-inch full-HD+ Fluid AMOLED display with 1,080×2,400 pixels of resolution. The screen offers a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 410ppi pixel density along with a 90Hz refresh rate support. The device is confirmed to run on OxygenOS 11.3 along with two OS updates and three years of software support. Under the hood, it is likely to equip a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 AI SoC paired with 8GB RAM with 128GB storage and 12GB RAM with 256GB storage.
In terms of cameras, the OnePlus Nord 2 is likely to come with a triple rear camera set up consisting of a 50-megapixel IMX766 sensor. An 8-megapixel secondary sensor and a 2-megapixel tertiary sensor. Upfront there will be a 32-megapixel sensor for taking selfies and video calling. The front camera is said to offer camera modes such as dual video, nightscape ultra, group shot 2.0, and more.
OnePlus Nord 2 is also stated to ship a 4,500mAh battery with 65W Warp Charge support. Additionally, the phone will also include an in-display fingerprint sensor.
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October 31, 2019
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) today announced its collaboration with Gap Inc. to foster sustainable development of the industry. Our shared mission is to develop eco-friendly production processes and technology solutions that enable the industry to move from a linear model to a circular model across the life-cycle of textiles. Two initial research areas have been identified: separation of spandex from used garments and denim decolourisation for recycling.
You can read the full release from HKRITA here.
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The Union Budget-2017 carries significant prospects for manufacturing brands. The FM has included provisions meant to boost electronic manufacturing by promoting MSIPS and EDF. Such policies would further receive funds worth 745 crores in FY18, hence, promoting indigenous manufacturers and attracting innovation and technology prowess engineered by foreign countries. And while the manufacturing sector celebrates policy changes, we further appreciate the streamlined delivery of these products, via the GST bill. These announcements are further in sync with the overall emphasis on transitioning India into a digital economy, empowered with fast internet access, cyber-security and access to smartphones. It is heartening to see the union budget for FY18 support the right to progress by shifting the focus back on to rural economy and agriculture; which truly resonates with our brand proposition. The provisions put forth in the budget are going to improve the buying capacity, digital lifestyles and affluence of the rural India and we at itel, welcome these changes and look forward to the promising year ahead.
@Technuter.com News Service


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Ripple seeks and is achieving revolutionizing financial services, while Bitcoin and Ethereum seeks to displace them.Bitcoin has undergone quite a transformation this year. either to the moon or that the coin will crash and burn.
I have always been excited by innovation and I attribute one memory in particular to igniting this passion: the Christmas when my brother got a Nintendo.However, I noticed that almost no one was mentioning Bitcoin on the forum.Maybe if enough of us go to that website and post about it, it might break through the censorship and ignorance.If the non-conspiracy theorists are being force-fed propaganda, and the conspiracy theorists are being blinded to Bitcoin, then that results in a concerted effort to undermine the rising popularity of Bitcoin.
In a mess of hundreds of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, there is a question for investors, which of them will crash and burn and which will stand to make fast moving investors a fortune.How can we know for certain that Bitcoin is gaining in popularity and widespread usage.What about bitspend.net, a website you can use to purchase anything from any website with Bitcoin.
Helicopter Money Will Crash & Burn - BRAINFEED.TVQuote Ripple is not a Cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or Ethereum.In this ideology the government is a parasite on the rest of the economy, and if left alone the market will naturally soar.Here he makes a bald assertion that Bitcoin is only being hoarded, gambled away, and speculated on.By PC Tech Magazine - January 15, 2016. 0. 320. Share on Facebook.
Tulip mania was really only about the trading price of rare tulips for specific types of goods.
FARK.com: (9522059) Bitcoin is unsustainableAs long as the media vilifies the supporters of the currency as people who just want to support illegal drug trade, illegal porn, terrorism, and the like, then the brainwashed are just subconsciously conditioned to view Bitcoin supporters as members of that same vilified group.Estimating the price of wildly fluctuating Bitcoin, which is much more than.Therefore it makes little sense to buy anything, because it will be cheaper later.
How high do you expect. they think the chinese communist party will crash and burn causing major instability in.Not with a bang, but with a whimper. Most thought it will crash and burn on.Granted, he did try to make the case that since Bitcoin is only a speculative commodity then the bubble popping will cause it to crash and burn.I can send you Bitcoin with just my phone and yours, with no one like PayPal, Chase, or Citi overseeing the transaction.
However, tulip mania differs from Bitcoin in a very obvious way: Bitcoin is a payment system as well as a commodity.
However, they are usually saved by the central bank intervening to guarantee the price or by a government bail out.I have a hard time understanding how Bitcoins would go up in value while the economy would crash and burn due to.
Where are all the Bitcoin naysayers?. - Godlike Productions
ShortMaster (@ShortMaster2) | TwitterWhat could a joint venture with Banks and Bitcoin mean for the Bitoin community.This entry was posted in Bitcoin Conspiracy on April 12, 2013 by bitcoin0conspiracy.
Im afraid bitcoin will crash and burn when the IMF launches its global digital currency in a perfect execution of the Hegelian dialectic.Well, it is based on the market capitalization of the commodity.Also, here he is again trying to make the argument that deflation is bad.


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At a time when Amazon India is facing protests by small traders for alleged discriminatory practices and the competition watchdog has initiated a probe to ascertain charges whether it indulges in deep discounting, the company’s global CEO Jeff Bezos extended an olive branch.
At a company event on Wednesday, Bezos said that the company will invest an incremental $1 billion in the country in digitising small and medium businesses and export $10 billion worth of ‘Make in India’ goods by 2025. The initiative will digitise 10 million medium and small enterprises and enable setting up digital centres in 100 cities and villages to help businesses get online to sell their goods and will offer support in marketing and logistics.
The $1 billion investment announced on Wednesday adds to $5 billion of investments in India announced by Amazon since 2014.
Amazon currently hosts over 5 lakh domestic sellers on its India marketplace while over 60,000 local manufacturers and brands are exporting their Make in India products to customers worldwide on Amazon.
“The 21st century is going to be the Indian century. In this 21st century, the most important alliance is going to be the alliance between India and the United States,” Bezos said.
Even as Bezos extended an helping hand, more than 5 lakh traders under the aegis of CAIT (Confederation of All India Traders) held protests across 300 cities on Wednesday to showcase their opposition to his visit. CAIT represents over 7 crore traders.
Amazon and Walmart-controlled Flipkart command close to 80% market share in the country’s e-commerce sector and have made large investments to consolidate their presence. Earlier this week, Amazon infused Rs 1,715 crore ($242.19 million) in fresh capital in two of its India entities, Amazon Pay and Amazon Wholesale. In October last year, Amazon Seller Services, the marketplace entity of Amazon India received Rs 3,400 crore in fresh capital from its US parent. In June, Amazon injected Rs 2,800 crore in the company. The e-commerce major infused about Rs 7,250 crore in its India marketplace in three tranches in 2018.
With protests from small traders and brick and mortar players, the government has been tightening norms for e-commerce firms having foreign direct investment. For instance, about a year back, the FDI norms were tweaked to prevent such firms from selling products of the entities in which they hold stake or whose inventory they control. It also disallowed them from asking a seller to sell any product exclusively on their platforms. Separately, the government is also in the process of devising an e-commerce policy to create a level-playing field between online and offline players.
With complaints landing at the country’s competition watchdog, Competition Commission of India, on Monday a probe was ordered against Amazon and Flipkart to ascertain charges of deep discounting, exclusive arrangements and preferential listing of sellers.
Bezos, who’s expected to meet several senior government functionaries, is likely to take up these issues. He’s also reported to have sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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Source: Financial Express


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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google is paying a $22.5 million fine to settle the latest regulatory case questioning the Internet search leader's respect for people's privacy and the integrity of its internal controls.
The penalty announced Thursday by the Federal Trade Commission matches the figure reported by The Associated Press and other media outlets last month. It's the most that the FTC has ever fined a company for a civil violation.
The rebuke resolves the FTC's allegations that Google Inc. duped millions of Web surfers who use Apple Inc.'s Safari browser.
Google had assured people that it wouldn't monitor their online activities, as long as they didn't change the browser settings to permit the tracking.
Google broke that promise, according to the FTC, by creating a technological loophole that enabled the company's DoubleClick advertising network to shadow unwitting Safari users. That tracking gave DoubleClick a better handle on what kinds of marketing pitches to show them.
The FTC concluded that the contradiction between Google's stealth tracking and its privacy assurances to Safari users violated a vow that the company made in another settlement with the agency in October.
The latest settlement doesn't affect a separate FTC inquiry over whether Google has been abusing its dominant position in Internet search to highlight its own services over rivals and drive up online advertising prices. The settlement also doesn't come with any admission from Google of wrongdoing.
The company has acknowledged that DoubleClick was tracking Safari users, but insists the monitoring wasn't by design.
All Google wanted to do, according to the company, was create a way for Safari users to press on a button to signal they recommended an ad. Google said it didn't realize its tinkering altered Safari's automatic privacy settings in a way that allowed for broader surveillance.
After the circumvention was publicized in February by a graduate student at Stanford University, Google stopped the tracking on Safari. The company says it never collected any personal information.
"We set the highest standards of privacy and security for our users," Google said Thursday.
Google's actions, though, have cast doubts about the sincerity of its commitment.
The Safari intrusion is the latest privacy stumble at Google, whose dominant Internet search engine and popular email service provide valuable peepholes into people's minds.
In 2010, Google set up a social networking service called Buzz that exposed people's email contacts. Following an FTC investigation, Google agreed to 20 years of oversight and a pledge not to mislead consumers about privacy issues. That's the pledge that the FTC says Google broke with Safari.
Google also got in trouble for collecting personal data transmitted over unprotected Wi-Fi networks as Google cars cruised neighborhoods around the world taking pictures for the company's online mapping service.
The FTC didn't take action against Google for scooping up the Wi-Fi data, although the Federal Communications Commission fined the company $25,000 earlier this year for impeding its investigation into the matter.
As it did with the secret tracking on Safari, Google has framed those privacy breaches as inadvertent slips.
That defense is wearing thin, according to David Vladeck, the director of the FTC's bureau of consumer protection.
"In some ways, as a regulator, it's hard to know which answer is worst: 'I didn't know' or 'I did it deliberately.' Both are bad," Vladeck told reporters on a Thursday conference call.
The FTC hopes the fine will force Google to pay better attention to its practices.
"It's a big company," Vladeck said. "It's grown very quickly, but the social contract is if you are going to hold on to people's most private data, you have got to do a better job of honoring your privacy commitment."
Those terse remarks underscore Google's increasingly tense relationship with regulators around the world. Both the FTC and the European Commission are engaged in broad antitrust investigations of Google. The company, which is based in Mountain View, California, has submitted a list of concessions in an attempt to settle Europe's probe, while the FTC's inquiry remains open.
Although the $22.5 million fine is a record for the FTC, it won't leave much of a financial dent at Google. The company had $43 billion in cash at the end of June and generates $22.5 million in revenue roughly every four hours.
"This record fine will send a signal to a lot of Internet companies, but there's still some question whether the FTC has the authority and resources to rein in an entity as big and powerful as Google," said Carl Tobias, a Richmond University law professor who followed the Safari case.
Bad publicity may be the bigger blow for Google, which takes so much pride in its scruples that it has adopted "Don't Be Evil" as its corporate motto.
"This has to sting. They don't want to lose too much goodwill," said Justin Brookman, director of consumer privacy for the Center for Democracy & Technology.
The FTC's willingness to settle with Google without an admission of wrongdoing troubled one of the agency's own commissioners, J. Thomas Rosch. He voted against the settlement because he didn't believe the agreement was in the public interest without Google admitting liability.
But the FTC's four other commissioners voted in favor of the settlement.
"We don't get anything out of an admission other than a good headline," Vladeck said. "It is not of any practical value to us."
The fine surpasses a nearly $19 million penalty that the FTC slapped on a telemarketer accused of duping people into believing they were donating to charities.
Without providing specifics, the FTC said the Google fine represents several times more than what Google made from the targeted ads that it distributed through Safari.
Consumer Watchdog, a California group that has emerged among Google's most strident critics, said it may challenge the settlement unless Google admits it broke the privacy promise made with the Buzz settlement.
"The commission has allowed Google to buy its way out of trouble for an amount that probably is less than the company spends on lunches for its employees and with no admission it did anything wrong," Consumer Watchdog complained.
News of the FTC's fine didn't faze investors as Google shares added 12 cents to close Thursday at $642.35. Although it was modest, the gain was still enough to boost Google's market value by about $39 million, nearly twice the amount of the fine.


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What’s Next for Mobile Workers?
This time next year, mobile workers will account for more than one-third of the world’s total workforce. According to a forecast from industry analysts at International Data Corporation (IDC), the mobile worker population will reach 1.3 billion by 2015, or 37.2 percent of the global workforce.
The dramatic growth of this global mobile worker population is being driven, in part, by the expanding availability of purpose-built technology to meet their needs. Mobile devices now offer processing power, connectivity, functionality and performance capabilities comparable to that of a desktop computer, while at the same time becoming increasingly lightweight and ultra-portable. This evolution has helped many new types of workers get out from behind their desks, while improving productivity for field-based workers of all kinds.
Since the early 1990s, Panasonic has collaborated with Microsoft to bring mobile computers to market for workers around the world. Our design and engineering teams work together closely to ensure that our devices meet customer needs and take advantage of cutting-edge innovations, while providing the performance and reliability our customers expect. Although we’ve always had a collaborative relationship, as tablets have created new opportunities to improve enterprise mobility and transform the user experience, our relationship has become closer and continues to evolve.
In this video from International CES 2014, Panasonic IT Products Business Unit Director Hide Harada and Microsoft OEM Division Corporate Vice President Nick Parker discuss this partnership and our new Toughpad tablets:
The results of this partnership were evident at International CES earlier this month, where we unveiled two new tools to transform the way you get the job done.
- The Toughpad FZ-M1 is the thinnest and lightest rugged 7-inch fanless tablet with a 4th generation Intel Core i5 processor available today – enabling enterprise-class productivity on the go with Windows 8.1 Pro and numerous configuration options.
- The Toughpad 4K UT-MA6 tablet is the high performance model of our groundbreaking 20-inch, Ultra HD tablet unveiled last year. With an Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA Quadro GPU and Windows 8.1 Pro, it’s built to serve as a mobile workstation for professionals in fields such as computer-aided design (CAD) and video editing.
What’s next from us? Earlier this month at the NRF 2014 EXPO, we also announced that we’re working closely with Microsoft to deliver enterprise-class mobile devices based on the Windows Embedded 8 Handheld platform. This latest collaboration will enable us to expand our rugged mobile computing portfolio with innovative new handheld devices bringing Windows Phone 8 technologies to enterprise customers via reliable hardware. Stay tuned for some forthcoming announcements on new handheld devices running the Windows Embedded 8 Handheld platform for workers in a diverse range of fields.


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Archiv für » September, 2010
A new study set to be presented at the World Safety Conference is suggesting that employing a “graduated driver licensing” scheme, placing restrictions on drivers who have just passed their tests, in the UK could save up to 200 lives and prevent 1,700 serious injuries on an annual basis. The level of restrictions could extend […]
Earlier this year British Airways flight BA1462 performed the first ‘perfect flight’ between Heathrow Airport and Edinburgh Airport, setting an important environmental milestone for the aviation industry. Every aspect of the flight, from backing away from the airport, taxiing and a continuous descent approach, was optimised to cause minimal delays and emissions during the journey.
Car design supremo, Professor Gordon Murray, has unveiled his latest idea and it’s a far cry from the legendary McLaren F1 supercar. The T.25 is a lightweight city car for up to 3 passengers that Prof. Murray has been working on for a considerable time and is thought to herald a breakthrough in City Car […]
Over the last few months we have been expanding the ways of providing our customers with excellent service. We’ve opened up ourselves to the internet by blogging, answering queries through our twitter account @SixtUK and have begun to interact with customers on numerous consumer forums. The main driving force behind our online presence is Gary […]
As cars increase in complexity and the amount of technology under the bonnet grows, it quite easy to make comparisons between the modern car and a personal computer. Pretty much every car manufactured has some form of electronic management system employed within the car like traction control or anti-lock braking, but these systems are increasing […]
You haven´t booked your rental car for Croatia, yet? Then you will now have the chance to book your Sixt car with special conditions. Book an Opel Zafira for only € 70 per day including theft protection, collision damage waiver, personal accident insurance, premium location fee and one additional driver. With unlimited mileage you are discovering […]
French Guyana soccer team “ASC Rémire” – founded in December 1974 – is one of the best soccer clubs, based in the city of Rémire-Monjoly in French Guyana. In September 2009, Sixt French Guyana became a sponsor for ASC Rémire. The goal is, to sponsor young people under 13 years, which want to become future […]
If you’re heading to the Algarve during September or October you’ll struggle to find a better deal on car hire at Faro Airport than our special €110 per week offer. This very special offer is only available on sixt.co.uk so make sure you don’t miss out. For just £92 a week you can enjoy the […]
David Walliams and Matt Lucas, the creative talents behind the Little Britain series, have started filming their latest TV project at Stansted Airport. The new series “Come Fly with Me” is set to be a spoof version of airport documentaries such as Airline and Airport.
Iron Maiden’s lead singer, Bruce Dickinson, is well known for singing loudly to the gathered crowds at his concerts, but he will be singing from a completely different hymn sheet in his new job role as the Marketing Director of Astraeus Airlines. The singer, who is also a fully-qualified commercial pilot, has been a Captain […]


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In India, tomato costs have skyrocketed attributable to negative weather stipulations, leading to a wave of social media memes that humorously compare the label of tomatoes with other commodities.
A delayed monsoon, heavy rains in obvious growing regions, and increased-than-regular temperatures final month have vastly impacted tomato output, inflicting costs to magnify fivefold this year.
Table of Contents
The importance tomatoes preserve in India
Whereas tomato costs on the total upward push all over the lean production months of June and July, the impact this year has been particularly excessive.
Tomatoes and onions preserve great significance in India, and label surges can in general spark protests.
As per Bloomberg, earlier ruling political occasions in India have lost elections attributable to their inability to retain an eye on onion costs, which, alongside with tomatoes, are notable substances in staple dishes.
The excessive food costs could perhaps perhaps moreover pose challenges to the central financial institution’s efforts to power economic development and preserve inflation retain an eye on.
McDonald’s chucks tomatoes off its menu
The soaring tomato costs have even ended in shortages at some establishments. A McDonald’s restaurant in Fresh Delhi needed to assign up a sight citing the short-timeframe unavailability of tomatoes attributable to the inability to obtain adequate portions that meet quality standards.
A tomato meme fest
The rising costs and the McDonald sight have sparked a meme fest. Social media platforms esteem Twitter are stuffed with tomato-connected memes, humorously highlighting the label surge.
Some memes compare tomato costs to petrol, whereas others jokingly said that vegetable distributors can now be seen accompanied by loan officers.
Own a have a look at some hilarious memes the surging tomato costs have prompted:
Less gaze, by this year discontinue who breaks whose records.
Meanwhile ,you have to to perhaps restful proceed believing that this govt. is keeping the inflation as much as the stamp !!!
Supreme meme to depict contemporary arena!!!! pic.twitter.com/QRt363nYN6
— Akul اکول ಅಕುಲ್ ਅਕੁਲ (@akul_jaiswal) November 23, 2021
Mother: I am pondering of shopping an Iphone
Ma: Beta build cash, then make investments in some tomatoes
— Mukesh Khanwani (@khanwani97) July 7, 2023
Oh how the mighty have ‘risen’
The retail label of tomatoes in Fresh Delhi has reached 160 rupees ($1.forty five) per kilogram, when in contrast to 22 rupees initially of 2023.
In distinction, petrol costs in the capital are around 96 rupees per litre. The surge in costs has even ended in tomato-connected crimes, equivalent to the theft of 150,000 rupees price of tomatoes reported by a farmer in Karnataka.
Consistent with the customers affairs department of the food ministry, tomato costs in general upward push all over June-July and October-November attributable to diminish production seasons in main growing areas. The costs are expected to originate declining when harvesting begins in August.


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New business formats represented by online service-oriented platforms are flourishing in Shenzhen, spurring the creation of new jobs for different groups, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported yesterday.
New technologies give birth to new business formats, which in turn bring about new occupations that recruit a large number of people. In Shenzhen, over 300,000 people are couriers, takeout deliverymen, truck drivers and online taxi drivers, according to the Daily report.
Shenzhen is speeding up the construction of a digital economy innovation and development pilot zone. The scale of Shenzhen’s digital industry has ranked first among the large and medium-sized cities in China.
New occupations such as robot operators, drone pilots, cloud-based virtual network security officers of unmanned delivery vehicles, data taggers and driverless car security operators have emerged in the city because of the digital economy’s new business formats.
Chen Zeshen graduated from the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering of Shenzhen Polytechnic in 2022. Generally speaking, most of the jobs that match his major are from the traditional manufacturing industry.
Chen would probably have entered the production line of a carmaker if he didn’t join Meituan, China’s food delivery giant, and became a cloud-based virtual network security officer.
In a Meituan control room, Chen was absorbed in looking at the electronic display screen of a driving simulator. The screen showed that an unmanned delivery vehicle 50 kilometers away had just picked up the food ordered by a customer and would deliver the food to the designated place according to a set route in 20 minutes.
As a warehouse robot operator in LF Logistics, Kuang Jianfang, nearly 50, works with these robots every day. Compared with the past, the warehouse’s work efficiency has increased several times.
Some specialized talents have emerged, such as algorithm annotators and engineers in the artificial intelligence (AI) field with the rapid development of the AI industry.
At Shenzhen Intellifusion Technologies Co. Ltd., nearly 100 of the 900-strong employees are data tagging staff. With the enterprise’s expansion and the exponential growth of data volume, the demand for data tagging staff is growing.
In recent years, livestreaming economy has also become a noticeable force in Shenzhen’s economic development thanks to the city’s advantages in industrial chains, 5G and internet technologies.
“Selling jewelry online through livestreams is better than selling it offline, because there are no spatial limitations,” a livestreamer identified as Yanyan told the Daily. Yanyan has been selling jewelry through livestreaming since 2020.


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Valve’s New Site Affirms Role of VR in Company’s Future, Teases “Top secret” Games
“We make games, Steam, and hardware. Join us,” says the first line of Valve’s newly redesigned website—in big bold red letters—bringing its look more in line with 2010’s design language than the previous version that screamed ‘late 2000’s’. Along with the new look is a clear emphasis on hardware as a central part of Valve’s future, with VR positioned as the cutting edge of the company’s work.
Google and Facebook are now tantalizingly close to solving VR
Something big happened last week, and I’m not sure anyone really noticed. Both Facebook and Lenovo (with partner Google) released new VR headsets: the Oculus Go ($200) and the Mirage Solo ($400) respectively. Just like plenty of other VR headsets, these devices allow you to fly over mountains in a squirrel suit, watch YouTube on a 100-foot screen, and blast zombies to smithereens.
In-Depth: Therapeutic VR in 2018 is no longer just a distraction (therapy)
Although it hasn’t yet established its place as a mainstream treatment modality, virtual reality has grown from an interesting diversion into a frequent topic of conversation within digital health. As researchers continue to dig their teeth into the immersive technology, it’s becoming clear that this new tool, often associated with video gaming and entertainment, could play a role in addressing some of the long-standing issues of the healthcare industry.
Google AR headset “A65” tipped to rival HoloLens
Google is reportedly developing a standalone Augmented Reality headset to take on Microsoft HoloLens, a cable-free system that does not require a tethered PC to drive it. The rumors come after the launch of the first standalone Daydream headset, the Lenovo Mirage Solo, which packages a full virtual reality system into a single wearable.
Report: Google is Developing a Standalone AR Headset to Rival HoloLens
Google is allegedly developing a standalone augmented reality headset that aims to offer users a tethereless AR experience, German tech publication WinFuture reports.
WinFuture maintains they’ve obtained documents proving the existence of the Google AR headset project, which internally carries the code name ‘A65’. The headsets is said to rely on processors built by Qualcomm, and much like Microsoft’s HoloLens headset, Google A65 is said to function without a tether to a PC, and pack several camera sensors a microphones, offer vocal input.
Social VR’s best platform is the open web, not walled gardens
That mainstream appeal for VR continues to elude the mixed reality industry in Western markets is a point I touched on last week when I encouraged startups to embrace China as a go-to-market. I don’t think it’s so much a case of the Asian market being some anomaly that defies the laws of the hype cycle model but, rather, that its industry is more fluid in adapting and aligning itself to its audience than industry leaders are in the West.
How AR and VR Will Revolutionize the Classroom
With our business and personal lives moving to the digital environment, it makes sense that education — from elementary school through to college, trade schools, and professional development courses — will also migrate to a more technologically focused model. And that includes the influence that virtual and augmented reality will wield in the classroom over the next decade.
27 Ways To Tell A Story In VR
Guess what? Virtual reality is finally here.
Various companies have released goggles, motion tracking technology, omni-directional treadmills.
Beyond the Joystick: Companies Building the Future of VR Locomotion
In Ready Player One’s opening act, Steven Spielberg sets the stage for the capabilities of 2045’s VR hardware. We get to see a VR headset, facial tracking gear, haptic gloves and bodysuit, and most importantly for Wade’s sprinting, an omnidirectional treadmill.
Top 20 Free VR Games (on Steam) – Oculus Rift – HTC Vive
Cherry-picked for you by Ben Plays VR


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BANGALORE:Online hackers are using the occasion of Valentine’s Day to trap people through phishing and other hacking methods.
According to network security firm Trend Micro, India ranks second after the US in the number of spam emails sent out with Valentine’s Day theme. In a report, the company reported that cyber criminals are attacking gullible internet users on many fronts this year.
“Whether it is tricking them into clicking on fake ads found on social media posts or opening malicious email attachments, these lures can lead to a number of online risks,” the report said.
Last-minute shoppers seem to be the most targeted while those looking for a place to party or hunting online for people to meet are also in the crosshairs of the hackers.


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Hong Kong’s Filmart To Put A Sharper Focus On TV And Streaming This Year
March 14, 2019
It’s a sign of the shifting sands in the global content industry when the largest film-trading platform in Asia starts talking up its connections to the worlds of TV and streaming. But that is certainly the case with this year’s edition of the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (Filmart, March 18-21).
Filmart has long had a dedicated ‘TV World’ section, with broadcasters such as Studiocanal, Deutsche Welle and major Asian channels selling their programming, and the market also attracts many buyers from ancillary platforms. But this year, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) — Filmart’s organiser — has made a special effort to encourage the world’s leading streaming and OTT platforms to attend.
In addition to Asian streamers such as iflix, HOOQ, Viu and China’s Youku, iQiyi and Bilibili, visitors this year include global giant Netflix and US-based platforms that focus on Asian content such as Crunchyroll and Viki.
“We want people to know that we’re not just about film, we also have TV — and we want OTT platforms from around the world to be familiar with Filmart,” says Peggie Liu, HKTDC senior service promotion manager. “For the streaming platforms, it’s not just about acquiring content, they also need to do original productions and co-operate with local companies.”
Filmart’s TV and streaming focus is also evident in this year’s seminar programme, which features a series of interviews with industry leaders, including iQiyi CEO Gong Yu; HBO Asia CEO Jonathan Spink; Lionsgate president, worldwide TV and digital distribution Jim Packer; and Sean Park, marketing director for YouTube International Markets. The conference programme also includes sessions on blockchain, VR/AR and documentary distribution, as well as a panel about Asian OTT platforms moderated by Screen International.
But the annual event, which takes place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), is not taking its eye off the world of feature films and theatrical distribution. As usual, Hong Kong and China’s film studios will occupy elaborate booths on the trade-show floor, while pavilions will be hosted by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC),
UniJapan, Independent Film and TV Alliance (IFTA), European Film Promotion (EFP), UniFrance and Film Export UK.
While many of these sellers may be feeling the strain after attending Sundance and Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM) back-to-back, they say they still regard Filmart as an essential pitstop on the international circuit. “Filmart’s value is the ability to meet with Asian buyers who don’t attend the EFM in February, especially with Chinese New Year being at the same time,” says Laura Voros, Highland Film Group’s executive vice president for sales.
SC Films International CEO Simon Crowe describes Filmart as “one of the main international markets”, despite taking place just a few weeks after Berlin. “East Asian buyers are under-represented in Berlin, so it provides an opportunity to catch up with them post-AFM, and you can also start pitching what you’re going to take to Cannes,” says Crowe, who is also chairman of Film Export UK. “It fits nicely in the middle of those two events.”
Lydia Rodman, director of sales for Visit Films, says Filmart is one of the few international markets that hasn’t been slowing down in recent years: “We do deals with clients that we weren’t able to meet in Berlin, as well as package deals with VoD buyers for library titles. For clients I do see in Berlin, I’m often able to get deals papered from conversations started during EFM, or to get early sales on new titles just announced from SXSW or Tribeca.”
But many sellers agree that it’s become more difficult to sell into mainland China following its regulatory restructure (see sidebar) and some of the more mature Asian territories have also become tougher in recent years. Keiko Funato of Paris-based Alpha Violet observes that “the market for arthouse films in Korea and Japan has slowed down considerably”. Crowe describes this as a global phenomenon as audiences increasingly focus on US studio and local-language product: “We’re still selling across every territory, but there’s definitely an economic squeeze going on at the moment, whether it’s the currency situation or local production being preferred.”
Picking up the slack, some of Asia’s developing markets are starting to look more promising. “We see some Southeast Asian markets coming up — especially Vietnam, where box office is growing and there are more active buyers,” says Emico Kawai of Japanese studio Nikkatsu Corporation.
Meet the filmmakers
Outside of its buying and selling activities, Filmart is still regarded as a key event for meeting Asian filmmakers and production companies. This is helped by the fact the market takes place simultaneously with the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), which this year will present 23 projects from 10 Asian territories and an expanded works-in-progress section.
In addition to TV World, thematic pavilions include locations showcase Global Filming Support; Doc World, focusing on independent documentary producers; the Business of IP (BIP) Zone, offering access to lawyers and consultants; and the Hong Kong Animation & Digital Entertainment Pavilion.
Looking beyond this year’s edition, Filmart attendees will be relieved to learn the market will take place slightly later next year, with the dates confirmed as March 25-28. The move follows Berlin International Film Festival’s announcement it will also run later in 2020 (February 20-March 1) to avoid clashing with the Oscars (February 9). Filmart organisers say they made the decision “after taking into consideration the dates of Berlin and MIP-TV, as well as the availability of the HKCEC”.


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The deadline is approaching to comment on new rules proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These rules will impact how fresh fruit and vegetables are grown and processed in the U.S.
The FDA is accepting comments on the rules, part of the Food Safety Modernization Act, through Nov. 15.
The rules, as written, “will unfairly burden family farmers, target sustainable and organic farming and reduce the availability of fresh, local food in our communities,” writes the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Farm Aid and other organizations such as Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture are joining together in a call to action to get signatures for petitions that will ask the FDA to change the proposed rules so they do not put safe farms out of business; harm farmers’ soil, water and wildlife conservation efforts; or shut down the growth of local and regional healthy food systems.


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January 2018 Issue
Vol. 11 No. 11
Electronic components manufacturing in India: Poised for growth
Rapid growth in domestic components manufacturing is vital for the sustainable development of the Indian electronics industry. While there is a considerable increase in the demand for electronic components in the country, quite a few challenges still need to be addressed to meet this demand with local products.
Electronics Bazaar Advisory Panel
Thought leaders of India’s ESDM sector, who are advising us on how to facilitate faster growth of electronics industry in India
PCB Board Assembly manufacturing, in action
What do factories in India look like? How are they set up? To answer some of these questions, we have started this photo series. The plant we feature in this series manufactures PCB assemblies.
ROHM takes the two-wheeler EV route in India
The Japanese semiconductor company, ROHM, considers India an important market and expects more than 10 per cent of its global sales to come from this country, by 2022. The company is currently growing at a good pace and plans to consolidate its presence in the Indian market.
Govt Policies & Schemes|
Net zero imports: A distant dream?
The Indian electronics industry is hoping that the government’s plan of introducing a new electronics policy will give it a much-needed boost. Will MeitY’s agenda of achieving ‘net zero imports’ in electronics by 2020 bring about clarity or chaos? Industry leaders are keeping their fingers crossed, but also wonder if this ambitious target is achievable by 2020.
India is a market that looks for cost-efficient products
Pico Technology is a leading manufacturer of PC based oscilloscopes for industrial applications. In conversation with Baishakhi Dutta, senior business journalist at Electronics Bazaar, Sui Li, VP-Asia Pacific sales, Pico Technology, talks about the importance of the Indian market for the company’s business.
India contributes 3 per cent of our global revenue
The growth opportunities in the Indian electronics industry have influenced a lot of overseas firms to grow their business in the country. Baishakhi Dutta, senior business journalist with Electronics Bazaar spoke to Kathy Lai, specialist—international sales department, Tenmars Electronics, to understand the company’s local requirements, the obstacles it faces while operating in India, and to discuss the firm’s future plans and business opportunities.
Elcom allows customers to test and audit new products in the firm’s labs
Set up in 1981, Mumbai based Elcom International is a pioneer in the production of electrical components, electronics and electromechanical solutions. The company is now focusing on developing a world class product mix that caters to the industrial, manufacturing and renewable energy market segments.
Battery chargers: The industry must gear up to meet global standards
Powering up electronic devices efficiently remains a challenge for battery charger manufacturers. This market is now witnessing the advent of multi-functional chargers that are compatible with a variety of new age batteries. In India, the focus has now shifted from increasing the power output and life span of chargers to making these adhere to global standards.


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The Orthodox Union has granted kosher certification to a type of lab-grown meat, a decision that could signal an expansion of the options available under Judaism’s intricate dietary laws.
The O.U., the most prominent kosher certifier in the United States, recognized poultry products from Israeli startup SuperMeat as kosher, the company announced Wednesday. The startup is part of a growing industry that aims to provide an alternative to traditional meat by creating the food in a laboratory from stem cells.
“This collaboration aims to bridge the gap between scientific understanding and halachic adjudication, setting unprecedented standards in the cultivated meat industry,” Rabbi Menachem Genack, the CEO of O.U. Kosher, said in a statement, using a term referring to Jewish law.
The process of certifying lab-grown meat, a years-long quest for SuperMeat, demonstrated the complexity of applying Judaism’s age-old dietary laws to a culinary landscape where the range of foods, and how they are produced, is expanding rapidly — from lab-grown meat to plant-based alternatives and more. It may also represent yet another increase in the number of products kosher consumers can take off supermarket shelves.
“This step represents our commitment to inclusivity and respect for diverse dietary needs, making our cultivated chicken meat accessible to audiences around the world,” Ido Savir, CEO of SuperMeat, said in a statement. “We believe this historic initiative with the Orthodox Union not only broadens the options for kosher consumers worldwide but will also set clear guidelines for other companies in the cultivated meat industry seeking kosher certification, opening new avenues for the Kosher food industry.”
The lab-grown meat industry is in its infancy and may appeal to consumers who enjoy eating meat but oppose slaughtering animals for food. It remains to be seen whether lab-grown meat produced at a mass scale will be cheaper or more environmentally sustainable than regular beef or poultry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture granted its first approval for cell-cultured meat in late June, and SuperMeat first plans to roll out its products in the United States. The company is also looking into halal certification.
“The vast majority of the vegan-vegetarian movement is very supportive,” SuperMeat’s co-founder and CEO, Koby Barak, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in 2016. “And we thank them for really supporting us.”
On the surface, kosher certification for lab-grown meat doesn’t appear to herald a revolution for observant Jewish eaters, especially in places where traditional kosher animal products are already easy to find.
As with regular chicken, the O.U. has certified the lab-grown variety as kosher meat, meaning that it can’t be eaten with dairy products. That separates it from recent plant-based meat alternatives such as Impossible Foods or Beyond Meat, many of whose products are certified as pareve — neither meat nor dairy — meaning that they may be eaten together with all kosher foods.
Plant-based meat has provided a pathway for observant Jews to eat imitations of some archetypal non-kosher foods, such as cheeseburgers or pizza with a meat topping. SuperMeat will not offer those kinds of possibilities.
But Genack said that for Jews who keep a stringent form of kosher laws, SuperMeat’s certification will be a boon. “Theoretically, the impact on prices and availability should be significant,” he said.
That’s because the company’s chicken products are categorized as Mehadrin kosher — the strictest form of kosher supervision. And if the O.U. moves to certify lab-grown beef as kosher, which it has yet to do, it could lead to an increase in the supply of meat that is “glatt” kosher, a term that refers to meat slaughtered from an animal whose lungs are smooth.
The kosher seal of approval came after SuperMeat hosted two rabbinic delegations, and kosher authorities held a series of conversations on Jewish law surrounding the science used in the company’s technology, the Times of Israel reported.
Obtaining kosher certification for lab-grown meat is complicated because the process of cultivating meat from stem cells requires the use of living animals — and kosher law bars the consumption of any part of a living animal. Founded in 2015, SuperMeat’s lab-grown poultry avoids this dilemma by acquiring stem cells from eggs rather than from the living birds themselves. And because the eggs are at an early stage of fertilization, there’s no concern that blood will end up in the product, which would also be prohibited by Jewish law.
“We were looking for something that can be universally accepted as Mehadrin, completely kosher, and that’s what taking the stem cells from the eggs represents,” Genack said.
The cells are planted in a meat fermenter that simulates a bird’s biology. In the fermenter, the cells are provided with heat, oxygen, and plant-based liquid nourishment. They then mature into meat tissue and grow quickly, doubling in mass in just a few hours. When the meat is ready to harvest, the liquid feed is removed.
Other Orthodox rabbis, such as Israeli Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau, have ruled that some lab-grown meat labeled as a meat alternative could be considered pareve. Genack said that at the Orthodox Union, there were different opinions on how lab-grown meat should be classified.
But the agency decided to mark it as meat because it’s derived from an animal and looks exactly like meat.
Leading rabbis in the Conservative movement came to the same conclusion in 2018, ruling that lab-grown meat of kosher animals would be kosher but that disputes over its status and possible confusion meant it should be considered meat.
“Cultured meat should be designated as ‘meaty according to the rabbis’ even though there will be no need for kosher slaughter, inspection for injury, deveining, soaking or salting to remove blood,” wrote Rabbi Daniel Nevins, the author of the legal opinion on the topic that was accepted almost unanimously by the movement’s law committee.
Genack noted that lab-grown pork will remain off-limits because it is derived from a pig, which is not kosher. (The O.U. also declined to give certification to Impossible Pork, even though it is plant-based, because of what Genack called “sensitivities to the consumer.”)
“Anything which you derive from something non-kosher itself is not kosher,” he said. “If you milk a non-kosher animal, the milk is also non-kosher, because it derived from a non-kosher source. So this doesn’t open that opportunity.”


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(Pocket-lint) - OnLive is dead, long live OnLive! A new company has risen from the ashes of OnLive's recent collapse admid reports that it was $30-$40 million in debt, and will continue with the OnLive name.
A new backer has been found and the company has been swift in responding to customer worries that the content they've paid for will be no longer accessible to them. It has also confirmed that CEO Steve Perlman will remain in charge of the cloud gaming service.
In an open letter to the OnLive Fans community, the new team - which includes some of the staffers previously made redundant - explains that subscribers will have a seamless transition, and that all games previously purchased would remain in their accounts.
"OnLive has a new investor, so we can assure everyone that that there will be complete continuity, and all of your purchases, achievements, Brag Clip videos, etc are all there, with no interruption," it says.
"OnLive has been up and running 24/7 since launch, and we absolutely plan to keep it that way."
As well as undergoing a financial "reboot", OnLive is also looking forward to new services in the future.
"Steve continues as CEO and is currently concentrating on the transition; once this is complete, he’ll be very focused on our next product releases and the vision," the statement says.
"There will be changes to the organisation both with old and new OnLive staff that will be bringing new features and games to the service. There will be more announcements — both large and small, such as the arrival of the Vizio CoStar and the Ouya Kickstarter project, and stay tuned for major announcements coming soon."
The note about Ouya is of particular interest as there are some who are speculating that Ouya may well be one of the new investors in OnLive, considering the enormous sum of money it raised on Kickstarter and the partnership it struck last month before the cloud gaming platform's troubles became known.
When Pocket-lint finds out more on this, or any further developments, we'll let you know.
Are you a subscriber to OnLive? Are you worried about what's going on? Let us know in the comments below...
PC Gaming now has a dedicated hub page!
PC Gaming Week in association with Nvidia GeForce RTX may have come to an end, but you can still find all of that great content as well as all future PC gaming news, reviews, features and more on our dedicated hub page.


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World Meat News
After one year trial to export New Zealand chilled beef and sheepmeat to China both sides confirmed success and exports will be extended.
McDonalds will no longer sells chicken treated with medically important antibiotics, pushed by activists also to offer beef and pork .
The growing Australian cattle export now also head to China from Northern Australia, the first shipment leave this week.
U.S. beef imports to South Korea pass the mark of 1 billion USD in 2017 after heightened demands from Korean families and restaurants.
Canadian beef producers are excited about the potential from a new trade deal with China, which help them to create new market opportunities !
China, the world’s top consumer of pork, is set to approve more imports of French pork, processed meat and speed up beef access.


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Restaurant Information Zomato Begins Dishing Up Advertisements In Its Cellular Apps
International restaurant discovery service Zomato pulled in $60 million in recent funding simply ten days in the past, and now it’s time to ramp up its monetization efforts after the India-headquartered firm launched promoting inside its iOS, Android, Home windows Telephone and Blackberry apps.
Zomato, which covers extra one hundred cities worldwide, already provides advertisements on its web site, nevertheless it says cellular accounts for greater than half of the 30 million month-to-month visits it sees throughout all platforms — that makes this transfer (probably) very vital. Maintaining in thoughts that promoting is especially tough on small screens, Zomato says its advertisements spots are designed so as to add context somewhat than hinder the consumer expertise.
Advertisements solely seem for search — labelled ‘sponsored’ inside the search outcomes web page, to be exact — and are served based mostly on a consumer’s location and the kind of restaurant that’s being looked for. Zomato hopes that this mixture will permit advertisements to be efficient for eating places and beneficial for customers.
“Retailers have been eagerly ready for this for some time, however we took our time as we needed the advertisements to be as related to the buyer as attainable. We experimented a bit over the previous few months, and we consider we have now the proper product in place now,” Pankaj Chaddah, Zomato Co-Founder and COO, stated in a press release.
That’s not fairly all that Zomato is doing to extend income. The corporate is getting ready to start a cashless funds trial — initially in Dubai — and it lately added a ‘Zomato for Enterprise’ app to assist eating places get extra from its platform, presumably with the goal that they may spend extra there too.
Zomato makes all its cash from promoting. The corporate stated it has greater than four,500 paying advertisers throughout 15 nations, however we will anticipate that quantity to extend with this rollout and the continuation of its aggressive internationalization.
The service simply went stay in Dublin, as Chaddah informed TechCrunch’s Steve O’Hear it might earlier this month, and Malaysia and Australia are subsequent in line.
An enlargement to the U.S. is a long run plan which Chaddah stated ought to occur within the second half of subsequent yr. It’s fascinating to notice that Zomato is introducing cellular advertisements now, earlier than that transfer on to U.S. soil — presumably it could possibly be a big cash-spinner there and in addition, probably, a very good hook to get companies away from its many rivals within the States.
This month’s early fundraising exercise took Zomato to greater than $113 million in investor cash thus far, and will probably be fascinating to see how quickly it comes again for additional capital as soon as its cellular advertisements are in full swing.


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Integration is key to digitization - and it’s not just Fintech companies that have embraced it. Financial institutions like banks are now adopting the integrated concept as well. Banks are becoming more accessible and welcoming in a new era of client relations: open banking.
In theory, 2020 should be open banking’s year, but it remains under scrutiny as the focus turns to reinforcing local ecosystems in the current crisis. With the Covid-19 pandemic, banks are focused on gaining user trust and capitalizing on the relentless demand for data ownership.
Open banking allows customers to share personal data with third parties under an agreed process. It applies open APIs created by banks for companies to securely access and integrate data with their platforms. The sharing concept is not new, but in the banking sector, it currently extends to cover two forms of service providers: payment process and account information.
Basically, open banking means people can develop apps and systems that use bank data - this means user-friendly tools for analysis and financial planning as well as greater overall transparency.
Frontrunners in open banking like the UK, Australia and the EU set up the initial standards while South Africa, Latin America and Asia are following to adopt the solution. As of October 2019, there were 188 regulated open banking providers, contributing to 180.6 million API calls, and by January 2020, another 200-plus providers joined the ecosystem and over 200 million API calls were made.
Since open banking is still in its infancy, adoption levels range due to different market dynamics and regulations in each country or region. With Covid-19, regulators have made standards focus on being helpful rather than innovative.
Standardisations are coming in to keep banks, third-party providers and consumers as safe and secure as possible. Rules like the revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) have existed for years in some regions but online transactions and data privacy now require extensive consideration as global business moves indoors.
As standardisations become the priority, the obligation to expand service scope and inclusiveness comes under scrutiny. Dutch digital consultancy firm Innopay says pioneer countries like the UK set the benchmark, mostly based on standardised groundwork. Now other countries are following suit, setting up the right standard has become one of the main principles of open banking besides inclusiveness and a variety of available data.
Globally, open banking is far from settled. Regulations are still under development in most countries, leaving a lot of parties with a stake in fast-tracking their creation. As more industries open up to save themselves from the economic fallout, the situation could change rapidly.
The race now is not only for customer data and technologies but also for survival in the market. Over 10,000 banks in more than 50 countries are implementing open APIs. 87 percent of all countries apply a form of Open API activity, which could potentially lead to an explosion of open banking.
The phenomenon is real and the pressure is even more real with the economic toll of lockdowns. Big and small banks are charging into open banking to get the most end customers and compete with financing providers powered by tech moguls like Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple.
ERSTE Bank Group has developed a series of APIs that exposes their financial products to third parties and integrates them into other platforms and ecosystems. Starling Bank offers an option of marketplaces for customers to access, creating a platform for supply and demand.
OCBC and DBS continue to upgrade their APIs to offer a vast range of payment methods. Bunq has come a long way, considering its limited product but high integration of API functionalities to provide developers access to every option in its product portfolio.
Innovation may not share the same priority status as data acquisition and security for these large players, considering their established status. For small players, however, to go beyond these main pillars could be either a breakthrough or downfall: it is a roll of the dice.
RBS-backed standalone digital bank Bo is a cautionary tale. The general idea was to launch an app-based account with a dedicated payment card, but the bank fell short of the required standard regulatory conditions and selling point, falling victim to the already-crowded UK digital banking market.
Open banking's main goal is the global formation of an ecosystem that seamlessly delivers personalized services and digital experiences to integrate banks and companies worldwide. Using open APIs, open banking has the technological backbone to integrate with various third-party and payment services on a single dashboard.
The race among banks, however, will be challenged by the coming months of recession. Creating inclusive ecosystems and aggregators may not be the only instance of open banking. It is probably not as crucial as standardisations to stay afloat during the pandemic.
Given banking’s dynamic climate, there’s currently no one-size-fits-all solution to revolutionize open banking. Banks can either develop their own ecosystems or integrate with existing ones. Either way, open banking is a growing global force as we continue to unveil a new world of rich, interconnected digital inclusiveness. Still, the question remains whether it is a stop on the track or a detour.