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Written evidence submitted by TDA, Visit Cornwall, Destination Plymouth, English Riviera BID Company, Visit Devon, Visit Somerset and Visit Dorset
Call for evidence:
Impact of Covid-19 on DCMS sectors
Response on behalf of the Great South West
This response has been developed by TDA, Torbay Council’s economic development company, on behalf of the Destination Management Organisations (DMO) in the Great South West.
The Great South West is the ‘powerhouse’ brand to promote the partnership between the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Heart of the South West, and Dorset. It aims to deliver £45Bn of economic benefit and become the leading region for the green and blue economy. The Great South West is led by a powerful alliance of business leaders, LEPs, universities, colleges and local government.
1.1. All areas of the regions tourism and the visitor economy has been hugely impacted from the pandemic ranging from; language schools, cruise ships, events, cultural activities, visitor attractions, food and drink establishments, as well as hotels, B&B’s and self-catering accommodation providers. Evidence also suggests that the regions food and drink producers and suppliers are experiencing significant adverse effects as a result of the impact on the tourism sector.
1.2. As the pandemic is a global crisis, international visitors have not been able to visit the region and in fact, some of the earliest impacts were felt from foreign students from the language schools returning home prematurely as the pandemic hit Europe. As well as cancellations of overseas tour operators from Germany, Italy, France and Spain who cancelled trips and planned visits to attractions almost overnight when the respective countries went into lockdown.
1.3. Initially the domestic tourism segment of the market was not affected. However, from the end of February to the official start of lockdown at the end of March the cancellation of domestic bookings snowballed, with the entire sector closing down, and some parts not even reopening since the winter shut down, and many DMOs being forced to actively discourage visitors from the region while following government guidance.
1.4. A recent survey undertaken by the South West Research Company in April 2020 suggests that 95% of tourism businesses across the region were closed during April as a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic, 1% had been closed for part of the month whilst 3% had remained open.
1.5. Between February and April, it is estimated that approximately £1.7Bn of anticipated tourism business turnover has been lost across the South West region, this breaks down to 98% of all turnover in April being lost (£1.2Bn), 72% of March’s turnover (£462M) and 8% of February’s turnover (£60M). Of those tourism and hospitality businesses, which were still open in April, around 88% of them were operating at decreased turnover levels compared to April 2019.
1.6. Additionally, during April it is estimated that as a consequence of the lost tourism spend, approximately a further £230M of indirect expenditure has been lost through the supply chains which support the regions tourism businesses. Within the SW, tourism and the food and drink sector are highly integrated. The regions farming industry, cheese and ice cream manufacturers, artisan bakers and producers, and the fishing sector have all been directly impacted as a consequence of the tourism sector.
1.7. Looking ahead, it is estimated that £1.9Bn of turnover from forward bookings between May and August from staying visitors has been lost to date within the region. Approximately £671M of spend would have occurred in the accommodation sector, while the other £1.2Bn would have taken place in other tourism sectors such as food and drink, attractions/ entertainment and transport activities. This figure is based on cancellations and does not include bookings which would have likely taken place, as visitors would have booked nearer to the time of their visit.
1.8. As a result of the lost tourism spend from staying visitors, approximately £355M across the supply chain of tourism related businesses on the purchase of local goods and services in the region is also unlikely to occur during the same period.
1.9. Quantifying the lost revenue to the sector as a result of day visits which will not take place in the future is challenging, as it will be heavily effected by behavioural factors. However, for the period between May and August in 2018 day visitors spent around £1.8Bn in the region.
1.10. Across the SW it is estimated that between March and April, around 76% of those employed in the tourism sector were furloughed, 11% laid off, 4% were on unpaid leave, and 10% were still working – of which 6% were on reduced hours while the remaining 4% were working unchanged hours.
1.11. 57% of all businesses said they had suspended any plans to hire additional seasonal staff as a result of COVID‐19. When analysed, those that had previously stated they had hired staff, this percentage rose to 77%.
1.12. Across the region’s tourism sector, around 16% of businesses were confident of surviving the coming months, 24% felt making cut backs would be their only way to survive, and 51% were not confident about the future of their business, the remaining 9% were currently unsure at the moment.
1.13. For the majority of tourism businesses this is a very scary time with businesses reporting:
2.1. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Grant Fund, Local Authority Discretionary Fund, tax deferral, and VAT holiday have all been very much welcomed and supported by the DMO’s across the GSW. However, despite this support there have still been a number of significant redundancies and administrations within the GSW region.
2.2. The speed at which the Job Retention Scheme was implemented, the process, and payment for furloughed staff was relatively swift. However many people have fallen through the ‘cracks’ in support, particularly seasonal staff and the many self-employed who work in the visitor economy and are still waiting to be assessed for any payment. Whilst the furlough scheme is generous, it has not been comprehensive enough to protect seasonal workers; around a sensitive time for the sector which was recruiting ahead of Easter with new staff missing out, due to the eligibility criteria pending on the Real Time Information (RTI) submission. In the vast majority of cases, submissions of the RTI are made by payroll advisors/ bookkeepers or accountants on behalf of the companies and tend to be submitted around the time in which staff are paid, resulting in new employees starting around the end of February or beginning of March being excluded from the support.
2.3. Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Grants along with the latterly introduced Local Authority Discretionary Fund are being accessed by those across the sector which are eligible. However, there are some businesses particularly across the GSW geography who don’t pay business rates, yet have on going costs that are not eligible. Companies such as boat charters, mobile catering units and tour guides are all affected but are unable to access the grants. This issue is magnified in different areas across the GSW, in which the rates in prime locations tend to be higher, along with the way businesses are rated is not always consistent across the LA’s (there being geographical discrepancies for similar premises). Similarly, the Local Authority Discretionary Grant has resulted in inconsistencies across the sector, particularly in the case of Language Schools which have not seen a consistent approach across the country from the different LA’s.
2.4. Business intelligence has indicated that the rateable value eligibility cap for the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Grant is not high enough particularly for big venues, independent pubs, and large hotels.
There has been a cohort of businesses particularly in the sector which have not been able to access any support due to being above the £51K rateable threshold and also not being successful in accessing support from banks through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBIL). There have been a significant number of redundancies already reported across the GSW hospitality and tourism sector, with the recent announcement of the Specialist Leisure Group going into administration with the loss of over 2,500 jobs of which the majority will be from the GSW. A number of performance venues within the arts and culture sector are also at risk of closing permanently in the near future without any direct support.
2.5. Business survey results have indicated that the Job Retention Scheme and Business Rate Grant has been accessed by almost all businesses which operate in the Night Time Economy, over 75% of serviced accommodation providers, attractions, and those in the retail sector, and over 66% of restaurants, and tourist related transport providers. For 43% of businesses, this support has made a significant difference to survival, however questions remain over the provision of ongoing support and in line with the Government’s Recovery Plan and Roadmap timelines. There is growing concern across the sector that if businesses are unable to operate with social distancing measures in place they will have to close and with no idea when they can reopen again.
2.6. A single co-ordinated support response from VisitEngland, providing a single point of concise guidance for the sector would have been helpful to the wider industry, as many of the smaller independent businesses are not members of relevant industry groups.
2.7. Support from the banks and insurance companies has created additional unnecessary burden and stress on companies within the GSW tourism and hospitality sector. Mainly of those within the local industry were unsuccessful in their CBILs application, with the minorities tending to be larger more established businesses. Support from insurance companies to the sector has been very poor, and clauses in policies have prevented some hotels from being able to provide temporary emergency accommodation for the homeless or venerable adults and children which are under LA care. Greater support from the Association of British Insurers is needed to ensure the tourism sector is covered for business interruption, particularly if there is no end in sight for the virus.
3.1. It is likely that the sector will experience a ‘lost year’ if the continuation of lockdown continues and as we move towards another winter, many businesses in the GSW tourism sector will simply not survive. Measures such as a 14 day quarantine period for international visitors inbound to the UK will impact on a significant proportion of the 24,060,000 staying visitors which stay overnight each year in the GSW. This pandemic may provide an opportunity for the domestic tourism market to grow whilst international markets are restricted. Anyone relying on a large percentage of overseas visitors will need to consider concentrating on domestic visitors. Key segments of the visitor market such as business tourism, international students/ language schools, as well as international leisure tourists - who tend to have a greater propensity, travel in the shoulder months, and contribute a significant proportion of the total annual visitor spend to the GSW, will all be heavily impacted.
3.2. Operating under social distancing measures will have a greater impact on the hospitality and attractions segments within the sector. Additional resources and financial investment will be required to ensure rules and measures are being complied. However, equally this will result in restricted visitor numbers/ covers and lower levels of turnover – eroding profit margins in a sector which relies on reserves built in the summer to survive the leaner winter periods.
3.3. It is broadly expected by the GSW DMO’s, that a return to pre-Covid levels or similar will be unlikely until the 2022 season, with 2020 being a ‘lost season’, with no international tourists due to the knock on impact of both the domestic and overseas airline industry, and severely reduced domestic visitor numbers. Whilst tourism businesses may be open, the usual visitors may not have the confidence to travel, the funds available, may not feel leisure spending is their priority, or not feel safe returning to venues until the threat of the virus has vanished or become negligible.
3.4. Weddings, events, coach tours, and business tourism also make up a significant part of many hospitality venues income. Venues are reporting severe cash-flow issues where events or show tickets have been purchased but the shows have been postponed until 2021. A deposit voucher scheme backed by the government would assist venues and the events industry supply chain in weathering the storm.
3.5. Much of the 2020 season will be lost, and the long term impact will take years for the sector to recover. Businesses closures and high levels of unemployment will result and the economy taking a massive dive. We have already seen larger hotels in the GSW entering into administration, with many smaller ones now announcing significant redundancies. Long term support is required for the businesses in the sector to ensure there is an industry to come back to.
3.6. Longer term, it is essential that the tourism industry receives continued ongoing support. If restrictions mean that parts of the industry cannot open until Autumn 2020, many will not survive as they will be entering the off peak season, and not built up cash reserves over the peak months. If continued, phased social distancing measures means they cannot operate at previous levels of capacity, financial support will be required to see them through this restricted period in order to safeguard jobs and businesses. Trading at reduced capacity is financially unsustainable as the industry will continue to incur high fixed costs and the majority of the variable running costs while receiving a fraction of their revenue compared to previous. In a sector which is already less financially resilient and venerable compared to others, the cost of removing support in a region where tourism is key to the economy, will impact the livelihoods of over 247,209 people.
3.7. Staff will require training, systems will need to amended, equipment installed, and hygiene and safety issues will need to be addressed. Investment to ensure the correct measures are taken by businesses within the sector will all come at a cost. Financial assistance to ensure these measures are implemented in a heavily face-to-face sector where customer experience is so important, will be vital.
3.8. It is also expected that the demographic of visitors will change. Currently there is a large proportion of visitors who are in the older 60+ and over 70+ brackets, and tend to visit during the shoulder seasons, dependent on their health conditions and confidence to travel. Tourism businesses in the GSW will require additional support to help attract new visitors to the region by adapting their product. DMO’s need support from VisitEngland to identify and attract new markets to the regions through targeted marketing campaigns, data and research.
3.9. Across the GSW region there are a number of DMO’s, all are structured and funded differently with varying remits to manage and or market the destination to visitors and provide services to industry. The DMO’s have all been financially affected by the crisis. VisitEngland has provided financial support for DMO’s through the Destination Management Resilience Scheme Grant however this is only until the end of July and DMO’s now face an uncertain future due to loss of commercial income through traditional membership. For some DMO’s, current funding runs out 31st July and they face closure in August. A further detailed report on this is being submitted to DCMS.
4.1. Lessons learnt from the financial crisis in 2008 have provided a ‘blue print’ for helping shape the national economic emergency response. A rapid response with quick, accurate and transparent coordinated communication is crucial in order to contain panic and mitigate negative impacts. To have been swifter in a response to the pandemic and following examples of good practice in countries such as New Zealand and Germany, who were ahead of us and acting accordingly to stop the spread of the virus earlier in containing the infection.
4.2. As a sector it would have been helpful for nationally recognised organisations such as VisitEngland to have acted as a central point in disseminating and coordinating information to those in the tourism sector, and as we move into transition to support with practical guidance on ensuring those are implementing safety measures.
4.3. If central Government want to control a staged opening then there needs to be some form of regulation for all accommodation providers, for example Air BnB should not be allowed to operate for holiday makers and visitors before the regulated providers.
4.4. A co-ordinated and joined up multi sector approach to re-opening the coast and countryside will be required to avoid congestion and any excessive visitor pressure on land, coast, communities and wildlife.
4.5. Communities need to be supported and led by clear and timely Government guidance, to embrace the return of visitors to their area and be assured that the industry is operating safely. Delays in official guidance being published runs the risk of people/ businesses/ other organisations producing their own and confusing the messages.
5.1. The GSW are working collaboratively on a Tourism and Visitor Economy Recovery Plan, led by a new partnership working group, to bring the sector back into operation, supporting businesses to open safely and with a long term strategy in place covering the next three years – to react, recover, and revitalise.
5.2. DMO support - immediate sustainability funding for a minimum of two years, provided at regional level to support delivery of projects and activities to re-open, stabilise and grow the tourism and visitor economy.
5.3. The Government reviews the structure and funding of all DMO’s nationally for the long term and in conjunction with Tourism Sector Deal ambitions.
5.4. The industry needs to know the ‘rules of the game’ and in what stages lockdown will be released without this we can’t evolve. Even if the recovery plan/ roadmap changes, at least there will be some indication of the order in which businesses can start up again. Industry appreciates dates can change however, early indication of the direction of travel, including clarify of information and guidelines is needed to support businesses.
5.5. Assistance with some kind of accreditation or kite mark to build visitor confidence that the tourism businesses which are re-opening are ‘safe’ and are complying with guidance. There is concern by DMOs of the financial impacts businesses will face to adhere and implement the required guidelines. Financial support will be required to help businesses invest in the correct safety measures, training, and equipment.
5.6. Throughout the evolution of the pandemic, we have seen businesses looking at new innovative ways of adapting. Across the GSW sector we have seen businesses taking to social media and utilising digital platforms to promote new product offerings, whether that be restaurants offering local takeaway, food and drink manufacturers/ processors/ distributors selling online direct to consumers, or attractions providing virtual experiences. Changes have also included altering opening hours (mainly to continue operating with reduced staffing levels), social distancing considerations, and switching marketing to focus on local and domestic. Support to help SMEs in the tourism sector to better utilise digital tools, particularly in ensuring their businesses have a digital presence and are advertised on the right platforms including the adoption of online booking and payment systems, in order to ensure booking processes and payment are easy and simple.
5.7. While over the next two to three years, the majority of businesses across the GSW operating within the visitor economy will be on local and domestic markets encouraging staycations and day visitors. A domestic marketing campaign to support ‘Great British tourism’ with investment for DMOs to develop distinct product offerings and place marketing to encourage holiday makers to holiday at home, when previous choices were overseas. This would also support the opportunity to capitalise on the changes in consumer behaviour forced by lockdown to consider sustainability/ climate change issues.
5.8. As has been implemented in other countries, a government backed deposit voucher scheme would assist accommodation providers, venues, and events with cash flow issues, where they have bookings but not received payment, but still have outgoing costs.
5.9. Consideration of an additional bank holiday/s to increase opportunities for family domestic breaks outside of school term time, and encourage consumer spending, as proposed by VisitEngland is very much welcomed
5.10. At a local level the relaxation of planning restrictions to maximise year-round operation of currently seasonal businesses to encourage full-time employment, and help extend the season.


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Egyptian-based logistics startup Trella raises $3.5 million for scaling
Trella, an Egyptian-based logistics startup, has raised $3.5 million in a recent funding round led by Avanz Capital.
This significant investment will enable Trella to expand its operations further, enhance its technology platform, and solidify its position as one of the leading players in the logistics industry. With the newly secured funding, Trella plans to expand its operations, strengthen its presence in existing markets, and explore opportunities in new geographies.
The investment will also be allocated towards enhancing its technology platform, which leverages data-driven insights and machine learning algorithms to optimize freight matching, improve efficiency, and deliver a seamless logistics experience.
Launched in 2022, Trella aims to address the logistics challenges businesses face in emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. The platform connects shippers with carriers by leveraging technology, streamlining the process and providing real-time visibility and transparency throughout the transportation journey.
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Birmingham Will Still Celebrate Fashion's Night Out This Year, Even if New York Isn't
Even though the official Fashion's Night Out is on hiatus this year, PSD Director John Heiney said the city will still celebrate fashion and shopping this fall with an event that's "uniquely Birmingham."
News that Fashion's Night Out is on an indefinite hiatus in the United States this year isn't stopping the fashion-forward folks in Birmingham.
According to Principal Shopping District Director John Heiney, Birmingham still has plans to move ahead with its fourth annual downtown fashon event this fall — even if models won't be walking the catwalks elsewhere.
Founded in 2009 by Vogue editor Anna Wintour in New York City, Fashion's Night Out was a "celebration of shopping" and an attempt to bring attention to the role fashion retailing plays in the economy. In 2012, the event had expanded to stores in more than 500 cities nationwide and 30 cities around the world.
Those cities included Birmingham, which launched its first Fashion's Night Out in 2010. Fifteen downtown merchants, from Tender to Caruso Caruso, participated last year's event, showcasing their fall collections, offering beauty makeovers and serving complimentary appetizers and drinks.
In fact, Birmingham was one of the few downtowns in Michigan to host a coordinated Fashion's Night Out last year, Heiney said.
"Businesses love this event because it is all about fashion, shopping and fun," Heiney said last year. "It is a great night to stroll downtown and check out our boutiques, salons and restaurants."
However, according to Women's Wear Daily, the event also forced retailers and designers to spend more, especially at a time when designers were staging fashion shows.
Eventually, the sponsors of the official event — Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and NYC & Co. — decided to put Fashion Night's Out on hold for 2013.
"We are immensely proud of the program and are grateful to all of our partners in fashion and retail," Steven Kolb, chief executive officer for the CFDA, told the website. "In addition to giving retailers a positive boost, Fashion Night's Out also served to highlight the incredible economic impact and the millions of jobs that the fashion industry supports."
However, Fashion's Night Out will go on as planned internationally, as well as in any city looking to celebrate fashion and shopping — like Birmingham.
According to Heiney, his office is still working on plans for an event that will be "uniquely Birmingham" this fall, though details are still unavailable.
- Fashion's Night Out Hits Downtown Birimingham Thursday
- Viewfinder: Weather Doesn't Stop Shoppers at Fashion's Night Out
What do you think of Fashion's Night Out? Do you think Birmingham should do more to attract shoppers?


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Fueled by the ongoing rise of e-commerce, and the need for sophisticated distribution networks and ever-more efficient supply chains, logistics is attracting strong interest from all real estate stakeholders across all markets. The environment is dynamic and the opportunities remain competitive.
Logistics has become, according to many investor surveys, one of the most preferred asset classes both in the private and public sphere for 2019. Capital is likely to continue being invested for a number of reasons: for instance, while logistics has become an excellent portfolio diversifier for institutional investors, as a sub-sector it is still less ‘institutionalized’ than sectors such as office, retail or residential.
In addition, in Europe returns remain very attractive on a relative basis to other sectors – about 150 bps + spread – and relative to bonds (about 450 bps spread). And increasing construction costs and land scarcity combined with historical lows in terms of vacancy rates are leading to upward pressure in terms of rents.
The focus is truly global, too. Asia benefits from several trends supporting the growth of the sector, including increasing exports, rises in domestic consumption, fast-growing middle classes, very strong e-commerce penetration rates and structural reforms. Japan, India, China and Australia currently dominate the focus, but peripheral Asian markets could soon move onto investors’ radars.
In China, the reorientation of the economy from an export-led model to a domestic consumption-based one, coupled with the region’s highest e-commerce penetration level, are very strong drivers for continued growth. In India, a fast-growing middle class and a dedicated government-led push on infrastructure and manufacturing are creating compelling opportunities for investors.
Amount of Allianz Real Estate’s €60bn AUM accounted for by logistics
Allianz Real Estate has itself materially increased its allocation to the logistics sector, both through direct and indirect investments, over the past few years.
Logistics accounted for €4.8 billion of the firm’s circa €60.1 billion in total AUM as of June 30, 2018. Since then the logistics investments of Allianz have rapidly increased by around another €1 billion, with further acquisitions around the globe. After further investments in Europe, we completed two logistics transactions in a short period of time in Asia: a 50 percent stake in a portfolio of core modern logistics assets in China; and a partnership with ESR Group in India. Recently, Allianz committed to invest around €150 million in logistics buildings in the Nordics and another €290 million in the UK, which underlines our trust in British real estate investments.
Challenges may be ahead, but overall outlook is positive
Looking ahead, the sector will not be wholly immune from challenges. The astonishing rise of e-commerce usage as well as increased global trade has helped drive the growth of the sector: an economic downturn or crisis will likely not only test the resilience of this sector but also the will of institutional investors, particularly those that may be overweight single sectors and not adequately diversified.
However, the commensurate rise of sub-sectors in the logistics industry, such as hi-tech smart distribution centers, more urban facilities and the demand for ‘last-mile’ logistical capabilities, means it is likely to remain a key investment opportunity for many years.
The dynamics reshaping the retail sector, away from the high street to online services and prime shopping centers, will continue to support logistics. Increased demand for more technological innovation – for example, drones or automated delivery methods – will also keep logistics very much in the headlines and in the minds of multi-sector institutional investors such as Allianz.


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“The Cascadia and DD15 pairing results in an extremely fuel efficient on-highway commercial vehicle that will positively impact bottom lines,” said Melissa Clausen, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks.
“Through this unique program, we are pleased to help these owner/operators meet their business needs while they test out the Cascadia in their day-to-day lives.”
The three participating owner/operators are: Henry Albert, 44, of Statesville, N. C.; Dick McCorkle, 63, Noblesville, Ind.; and Kurt Grove, 49, of Sapulpa, Okla.
“I am honoured that Freightliner chose me to participate in this project,” Albert said. “I’m really looking forward to experiencing just how fuel efficient we can get these trucks to operate. I also am anxious to drive the Cascadia because of how quiet it will be.”
The owner/operators have had their Cascadias since Aug. 19.
“The Slice of Life trucks are already generating significant interest among other truckers who want to know more about what it is Kurt, Dick and Henry are a part of,” said Jamie Cabrera, manager, owner/operator product marketing for Freightliner Trucks. The trucks and drivers will be available at the Mid-America Trucking Show March 19-21 in Louisville, Ky.
Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News


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Exporting cassava to Thailand has never been tougher for Cambodian farmers, who say Thai authorities are erecting non-tariff barriers as a protectionist measure. Does the ASEAN Economic Community’s vision of free trade work in reality? Sor Chandara of the ‘Phnom Penh Post’ reports for the ‘Making AEC Work’ series, ‘Reporting ASEAN:2015 and Beyond’ programme.
With the freer movement of labour, capital, investment and goods across Southeast Asia, multinational corporations (MNCs) look set to benefit from deeper economic integration under the ASEAN Economic Community. Industry leaders weigh in with their expectations of what the AEC means for their organisations and ideas on how to speed up the integration process in this article from ASEAN UP.
Will the greater skills mobility under the ASEAN Community be is an inclusive type of economic integration, and contribute to a reduction in income or wealth inequality? The Asian Development Bank’s Shang Wei Lin tackles the issue in this article in’ The Nation’.
Vientiane takes centre stage this year, as ASEAN chair. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is also becoming a magnet for competing powers, but some analysts say it is a potential coming of age for the relatively isolated country, says this article from The Straits Times.
Giving back to the community. Being an inclusive business. A business that makes partners out of its suppliers and the communities around it. These are some of the ways Philippine businesses define corporate social responsibility (CSR), a habit that is acquiring more relevance against the backdrop of ASEAN integration.
Separated from mainland South-east by vast oceans, the Philippines is often seen as more interested in the West than in its own neighbours. Will the ASEAN mindset grow in the Filipino psyche now that the ASEAN Community has been launched?
Indonesia controls – through reference pricing – the imports of products like shallots. It’s meant to protect local producers, but there often isn’t enough supply and consumers find the prices of this basic kitchen spice high. What’s the balance between a barrier to trade and a protection tool for domestic interests? Kanis Dursin reports for the ‘Making AEC Work’ series, part of the ‘Reporting ASEAN: 2015 and Beyond’ media programme.
The third largest producer of palm oil in the world, Thailand is facing domestic and international challenges in its management of the prized crop. Although oversupply, high costs and lack of competitiveness in terms of pricing are ongoing concerns, the country is adamant about protecting the sector, as Kornchanok Raksaseri of ‘Econ News’ finds out in this ‘Making AEC Work’ story, part of the ‘Reporting ASEAN:2015 and Beyond’ programme.
Boosting bilateral trade volumes to reach $10-12 billion in 2017 will be a key concern for Thailand and Myanmar. To achieve the target, the two neighbours will need to combat smuggling and ease certain restrictions, explains Kyaw Hsu Mon of ‘The Irrawaddy’ in her story for the ‘Making AEC Work’ series, ‘Reporting ASEAN:2015 and Beyond’ programme.
Thailand is a major exporter of halal products, but hasn’t found it easy to export to Indonesia, home to the biggest Muslim population and thus the biggest consumer base for halal products. Thai officials propose that ASEAN pushes for a unified halal standard, but this does not seem likely anytime soon, explains Sathapat Phaethong (@Sathapat_P) of ‘Sawasdee ASEAN’ in this video report for the ‘Making AEC Work’ series, part of the ‘Reporting ASEAN: 2015 and Beyond’ media programme.
Deforestation is a key concern in Myanmar, where total forest cover has reduced by a third in the last 15 years. The thriving illegal timber trade is to blame, explains Kyaw Hsu Mon of ‘The Irrawaddy’ in her story for the ‘Making AEC Work’ series, ‘Reporting ASEAN:2015 and Beyond’ programme.
As this year’s haze episode affects Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand, businesses are trying to look beyond governments to address this recurring problem – by using market and consumer tools. Candida Ng reports.
Experts discuss a mix of weapons with which to fight corruption and bribery in the world of business and government, all to encourage responsible, ethical business as norms of doing business in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Diana Mendoza reports.
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Japan’s economic ties with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) go back decades, but future linkages between them will take deeper root with the emergence of the ASEAN Community and be led by the youth from both sides, Suvendrini Kakuchi reports from Tokyo.
Beyond corporate social responsibility, which norms can work as ‘responsible business practices’ as ASEAN heads toward greater integration with the ASEAN Community’s launch in December 2015? Businesses, civil society and others are pushing to raise the bar on issues like human rights, decent work and fighting corruption, reports Diana Mendoza.
Amid the heated debates and discussions around this year’s haze episode in Southeast Asia, ASEAN’s agreement on transboundary haze pollution has gotten little attention – or mention. It lies all but buried in the embers of frustration of Indonesia’s neighbouring countries, reports Kanis Dursin* from Jakarta.
Strong outside, weaker inside? ASEAN needs to address its internal contradictions before it can achieve true integration and be considered a regional powerhouse. Ahead of the ASEAN Community’s launch, Johanna Son takes a closer look at the ASEAN way in this story for ‘The Irrawaddy’ under the ‘Reporting ASEAN: 2015 and Beyond’ series.
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TOKYO, Aug 8 (Reporting ASEAN) – Japan has had long-running, deep engagement with Southeast Asia. But the region’s deeper integration through the upcoming ASEAN Community provides a new opportunity for the country to emerge as an Asian leader – at a time of disquiet about rival China these days.


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Every generation has its’ family friendly vehicle. For the baby boomers, it was the station wagon. Our generation X folks probably remember the station wagon becoming the minivan. For generation Y, sales numbers and increased popularity amongst new mothers dictate that the Crossover is the new family vehicle.
In 2011, crossovers beat out minivans in sales 5 to 1 overall. On a model to model basis, crossovers sold twice as many units or more than their minivan counter parts. For example, the top selling crossover sold over 70 thousand units. While the top selling minivan only moved 34 thousand units.
Many analysts in the automotive industry speculate that the social stigma surrounding the minivan led to its’ downfall. Everyone has heard the suburban stereotype about the soccer mom in the minivan. Newer generations don’t like to see themselves as ‘old’ or becoming as ‘uncool’ as their parents.
Chrysler is known for making quality and popular minivans. They have released statements earlier in the year that they have no plans of stopping production on minivans. Last week, however, CEO of Chrysler Sergio Marchionne announced that there would be no 2014 Chrysler minivans. In fact, Chrysler will be replacing its’ minivan line with a new crossover series.
Chrysler abandoning the minivan in favor of the crossover certainly drives the point home. As if sales numbers, social stigmas and the consumer voice were not enough. But it does beg the question “Won’t the crossover inevitably be usurped in the next generation?” Of course it will.
Crossovers range in style and price. Families from most income brackets could potentially own one that fits their lifestyle, from the bare-bones Kia Sorrento to the sporty luxury of the Porsche Cayenne.


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As of Saturday, this Bud is not for employees of Anheuser-Busch breweries anymore - at least while at work.
Workers are prohibited from drinking free beer on their breaks, the end of a long-standing tradition that fell by the wayside last year during national contract negotiations between Anheuser-Busch Inc. and its unions.
An Anheuser-Busch spokesman admitted that the tradition is as old as the brewing industry itself but said, "It is a practice which Anheuser-Busch and the brewery workers' unions have agreed is no longer appropriate in 1986."
The no-drinking clause was part of an agreement that was worked out in national contract talks last year.
In exchange for giving up their beer breaks, production workers were given the option of receiving two cases of beer for home consumption monthly, or increases in fringe benefits.


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FORGET about a winter warmer because Starbucks has unveiled its latest drink to be added to the Christmas menu.
The Festive Cold Brew is a seasonal twist on the all year round Cold Brew, and is made with a spice syrup and finished with orange and cranberry pieces.
The popular coffee chain is challenging the idea of a wrapping up warm for the colder months and offering customers a chance to cool down with the newest drink.
The Cold Brew is available on the menu all year round but it is served with a shot of vanilla sweet cream instead of the spiced syrup.
Like it's name suggests, it's a cold coffee served over ice. Starbucks brews the coffee for 20 hours in cool water and customers usually sip it through a straw.
You'll be able to try the new addition in cafes from November 2, for £3.10 for a Tall.
If you're put off by the thought of drinking something warm when on a break from Christmas shopping then this probably for you.
But coffee lovers who can't resist a hot drink will be pleased to know that the Gingerbread Latte, the Toffee Nut Latte, the Eggnog Latte and the Fudge Hot Chocolate will be returning to the menu too.
The eggnog latte is probably the most controversial drink on the menu but nevertheless it's going to be back in time for Christmas.
Eggnog is a festive drink made from milk, cream, sugar, whipped egg whites and egg yolks traditionally drunk in the US and has a love it or hate it taste.
This festive twist on the latte is made from real eggnog and espresso and topped off with a dusting of ground nutmeg for the perfect finish.
A LATTE TROUBLE? Starbucks’ Christmas cup design has already leaked online and not everyone is happy with it
Every year fans get excited about what the newest design for the Christmas cup will be.
But already the coffee chain's top secret Christmas cup design has already been leaked online - and not everyone is impressed with it.
The drinks on the festive menu cost £3.15 for a short cup and £3.20 for a short Fudge Hot Chocolate, and are also available from November 2.
Starbucks is being very secretive about what's on the food menu this year, but last year they had a whole range of festive paninis and sandwiches - with a baguette for vegetarians too.
MORE CHRISTMAS GOODIES
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- You can now add up to four pronouns to your Instagram profile.
- You choose the pronouns from a list. Instagram is encouraging users to submit suggestions for more.
- The feature is currently available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
Instagram has added a dedicated field for users to list their pronouns on their profile.
You can choose up to four pronouns to display, which appear in gray next to your name.
Users can change or remove their pronouns at any time, and can choose whether their pronouns are displayed publicly or just to followers.
Previously, users could manually add their pronouns to either their bio or their display name.
To add your pronouns, open up your Instagram profile on the app and click "edit profile." Click pronouns, and start typing. A list of suggestions will pop up. Each one you tap will be added to your profile, up to four pronouns.
You can only choose pronouns from this set list, though Instagram said it would continue to update this over time and encouraged people to share pronouns suggestions. Mashable said that it found 41 pronoun options on the current list.
The update is currently only available in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, but the social-media site said it planned to roll the feature out more widely in the future.
LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD, which Mashable reported was one of the organizations Instagram consulted on the pronoun list, says using pronouns in your social media bio can normalize the sharing of pronouns and "help foster a more trans-friendly social media environment."
The move has received praise from users, but some people on Twitter criticized the fact that Instagram only lets users choose pronouns from a set list.
—juno 🐶 (@eggplantbear) May 11, 2021
"Instagram has always been a place where users can express and be themselves — and with this latest feature, Instagram is excited to normalise pronoun usage while promoting a more thoughtful community," a spokesperson told Insider.
LinkedIn has rolled out the option for users to add pronouns to their profile, too. Unlike Instagram, LinkedIn doesn't use a list and instead allows users to free type their choice of pronouns.


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Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Next Level was founded in 2003. Its products are sold blank to promotional product, ad specialty and other decorated apparel markets. Core products include tees, tank tops, hoodies and jackets.
"Next Level is an established platform operating in the rapidly growing fashion basics category with significant avenues for future growth," said Blue Point principal Jeff Robich in a statement. "The company's leading position, strong relationships and brand reputation with the major distributors and decorators make this a great opportunity for Blue Point to be a value-added partner and help facilitate the company's continued growth."
Blue Point has been an active buyer of companies in the apparel space having acquired Top of the World LLC in 2017, a headwear company in Oklahoma, and Michigan apparel designer and distributor J. America Inc. in 2016.
"Blue Point knows the apparel sector extremely well and we are excited for what is to come in our partnership," said Joe Simsoly, founder and CEO of Next Level, in a statement. "Blue Point's strategic approach and resources will help further develop and diversify our ability to provide quality, fashionable apparel to our customers."
The deal marks the first investment in Blue Point IV, the firm's fourth middle market buyout fund that closed at its hard cap of $700 million earlier this year.
In addition to Cleveland, Blue Point has offices in Seattle, Charlotte, N.C. and Shanghai, China. The firm typically invests in businesses generating between $20 million and $300 million in annual revenue.


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In addition to the Golf, Bulli and Beetle, the Passat is probably the Wolfsburg-based car that most people think of when they hear the brand name VW.
As a station wagon, limousine and the original sloping roof version, the Passat has become an icon worldwide – as a taxi in China, as a family coach in the Netherlands and as a limousine in the United States, and has been since 1973.
Now, according to “Automotivie News Europe”, the Passat 2022 should be discontinued – at least the sedan. The US model should also disappear, and there should be other versions as a variant. The reason given is the switch to e-cars and SUVs, but demand for Passat models has been falling for years.
We look back on almost 50 years of automotive history and seven generations of a German car that conquered the world:
This is how the VW Passat has changed over the years
This article was published by NewsABC.net in December 2020. It has now been reviewed and updated.


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This annual flagship event will dive deep into the science, business, policy, and technology behind smart protein, a key future pillar of our climate, nutrition, and public health security goals
The Good Food Institute India (GFI India), the central expert organization and convening body in the ‘alternative protein’ or ‘smart protein’ sector, is back with its annual flagship event, The Smart Protein Summit from November 10-12, 2021.
Set against the backdrop of the Global Conference of Parties (COP26), the Smart Protein Summit will advance critical discussions and actions towards building a new pillar of the green economy.
The essential Summit on smart protein is curated and convened by The Good Food Institute India (GFI) and supported by sponsors who are central to the food, agricultural, and biotech landscape: Title Sponsors AAK, ADM, IFF, Laurus Bio; Key Sponsors Buhler, Connell, Griffith Foods, Reliance Industries Limited, Symega, Sun Nutrafood, VKL.
The Summit’s 1,500+ attendees will hugely benefit from the perspectives of over 70 speakers and thought leaders across science, government, research, venture capital, development, enterprise, and industry on one common platform.
The Summit will focus on further growing the smart protein ecosystem for India to lead in the smart protein space race, in keeping with countries like Canada, Israel, the Netherlands, and the UK – who are centering smart protein within their economic growth stories.
The keynote speakers for the Smart Protein Summit 2021 are Suresh Narayanan, MD & Chairman of Nestle India Limited; Siraj Chaudhary, MD & CEO, NCML, Former Chairman, Cargill India, Board Member of Tata Consumer Products, Tata Coffee, Jubilant Ingrevia, and others; and Uma Valeti, MD, CEO/Founder at UPSIDE Foods.
The Summit will have panelists such as Genelia Deshmukh, Co-Founder of plant-based startup Imagine Meats, Arun Seth, public sector leader and Board Member of Narayana Health, Jubilant Foodworks, Kent RO; Gauri Devidayal, Co-Founder, Food Matters and restaurateur at Magazine Street Kitchen & Mag Street Cafe; Rajeev Chitrabhanu, Founder, Magnetic VC; Anya Eldan, VP, Israel Innovation Authority; Srivalli Krishnan, Senior Program Officer, Global Development at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other stakeholders that move the smart protein sector forward like no one else.


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Ghana’s leading in-store payments service provider, The Blu Penguin has been adjudged the Fastest Growing Fintech in the country at this year’s Ghana Business Standards Awards.
The Ghana Business Standard Awards (GBSA), held on at the plush Movenpick Hotel under the theme “Celebrating Organizations Committed to Remarkable Business Standards Geared Towards Sustainable Growth”, was to celebrate organizations committed to remarkable business standards in their sectors and industry leaders breaking barriers of excellence across the Ghanaian business region and the world at large.
The Blu Penguin was among several firms and individuals who walked away with laurels on the night. Its award hinged largely on the performance of its flagship and game-changing in-store payments solution, BluPay, which is currently the most widely used and most recommended product by merchants and banks in the country.
The citation that came along with the award read that “This award is in recognition of BluPay’s widespread footprint nationwide and the mix of merchants from multi-national enterprises to local SMEs all of which are benefitting from BluPay in-store collection services.”
BluPay is an application that empowers businesses/merchants to effortlessly accept payments through mobile money and cards from their valued customers.
The app has successfully integrated various local mobile money networks like MTN Momo, Vodafone Cash, AT Money, and even ZeePay to seamlessly enable payments to merchants. It also extends its functionality to accommodate Visa, Mastercard, and contactless ( tap an pay) transactions, ensuring a wide range of payment options.
BluPay is designed for installation on POS devices or smartphones to streamline the payment process. The app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, which ensures that, no matter the platform, the app can provide all merchants with a seamless payment experience.
Currently, over three (3) million Ghanaians have transacted on The Blu Penguin’s platforms (particularly BluPay) representing 10% Ghana’s population and growing.
Founder and CEO of Blu Penguin, Tenu Awoonor said Blu Penguin’s exceptional growth, innovation, and substantial impact on merchant businesses over the past few years, particular through BluPay, has been instrumental in its achievements.
“We truly understand the needs of business owners and how to solve their problems and safeguard their funds. With BluPay, our merchants “Never Miss a Sale” and that’s a mantra we live by,” he said.
Tenu Awoonor, affectionately called the BluMan, stated that the user-friendly nature of the BluPay App, enables cashiers to swiftly adopt the system and commence accepting payments without hassle, adding that the app’s remarkable capability to seamlessly integrate all payment channels into a single app makes it convenient for merchants.
Additionally, business owners utilizing the BluPay app enjoy access to a dedicated portal. The portal enables business owners to monitor transactions in real-time from anywhere in the world even if they are not in the store.
“Again, our merchants receive their transacted funds on time everyday without fail, ensuring they have adequate capital to run their businesses withous worries,” Awoonor said.
Payment links, APIs, ShopKeeper, Dashboard
In addition to BluPay, the company also provides payment links and API integration solutions tailored for online stores, enhancing their payment capabilities.
Again, the company has a sales and inventory management app known as the ShopKeeper, which allows any seller to track all their sales and inventory in real time right on their smartphone device.
“No need to purchase expensive systems, simply download it from the Play Store,” the CEO said.
The company also provides banks with a Transaction Management Dashboard, which allows them to monitor, control and update the terminals within their network in real-time as well as identify and troubleshoot faulty terminals remotely.
Apart from Ghana, the company also has footprints in Cote d’Ivoire and DR Congo, where it is planning to start full operations soon.
In terms of what the future holds, Tenu Awoonor said “Our focus is directed towards strengthening our presence in Swipe4Cash within Ghana.”
He explained that “Swipe4Cash represents a service where we provide agents with the means to facilitate quick cash availability for individuals holding bank cards. It’s a way for agents to earn extra income and also provide convenience to areas where ATMs are not readily available.”
The CEO said the company is also planning to provide an open API that allows diverse B2B fintech services to seamlessly integrate, so companies can build their own customized financial solutions easily.
“As a company, it is our mission to see the businesses that use our services grow and scale. We are currently working on a credit financing scheme for merchants. With this, they can scale their businesses to the next level,” he stated.
The Blu Penguin is a Licensed Payment Services Provider (PSP) that specializes in providing in-store payment services such as POS, payment links, USSD for merchants that simplifies the collection of payments through a single App connected to all providers.
The company specializes in digital solutions that improve the sales and collection process for business owners so they can be reassured that their funds and inventory are secure, and sales are properly reconciled in real time even if the business owner is away.
The Blu Penguin was founded by its CEO, Tenu Awoonor, who was onetime CMO at Tigo, then a VP of Strategy at Airtel Nigeria covering West Africa. The company officially launched and came to market in 2018.
Ghana Business Standard Awards
Ghana Business Standards Awards brought together business players and recognized local and international companies meeting business standards involved in various sectors. The intent is to propel outstanding organizations, products and services meeting local and international standards through high media coverage.
The awards scheme is also designed reward industries, businesses and individual that adhere to local business standard requirements and set an exemplary standard for both local and international businesses, while to encouraging various organizations to strive to meet local and international standards in their delivery of service.


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The video platform YouTube has launched a new video analytics service going far beyond the already available ranking services YouTube Charts and the ranking of popular videos by categories. The new service YouTube Trends, which is represented by the YouTube Trends blog, is operating in realtime and giving further insights into the usage on and beyond the YouTube video platform by analyzing the viral spreading of videos on the web. The service is really comfortable by predicting upcoming hot videos based on algorithms and experiences and by delivering demographic data including local data, the most viewed videos assorted by age groups and genders.
The service has just launched and will come up with further features in the future. Probably the url youtube.com/trends will be the home of the new service, which currently is referring to the blog YouTube Trends. At present a dashboard to use YouTube Trends is located at youtube.com/trendsdashboard.
Last but not least a review of the popular videos of 2010 has been published, which is called YouTube Rewind.


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A woman walks a banner advertising Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note at a subway station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. After more than three weeks of trial in the U.S. and two days of deliberations, the nine-person jury said Friday that Samsung copied Apple's iPhone and iPad and ordered the South Korean firm to pay more than $1 billion in damages.
Apple's swift victory in defense of its iPad and iPhone designs with a jury verdict of patent infringement against Samsung is likely to have wide-ranging effects on other device makers that run Google's popular Android operating system - and on their customers.
It could mean higher prices for the coolest features, different choices in mobile devices, and devices that work in less familiar ways. It means Apple's rival smartphone and tablet makers, and Google, will have to scramble harder.
Nine jurors late Friday found that Samsung violated six out of seven of Apple's patents at issue. ...


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With women dominating more and more in the auto industry (and proudly so!), we couldn’t help but notice that some of the sexiest cars at this years show were designed or engineered by some of our favorite girls. These ladies have formed a legion that’s become a satellite circling the industry, and they’re all independently determined to leave their signature stamp on car design and engineering.
Research from Michigan-based women’s networking group Inforum shows that women hold 27% of entry-level roles in the auto industry and 18% of mid-leadership jobs, and the numbers are growing. Perhaps we can thank head honcho and girlboss Mary Barra, the CEO of GM, who is absolutely killing it at the helm of the biggest automaker in the United States; whatever it is, we’re inspired! Take a look at some of the ladies behind this weekends cars:


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Bajaj Auto sold 2.55 lakh units of 2Ws in June 2020, down by 27 percent
Pune based automobile manufacturer Bajaj Auto has released its sales figures for June 2020. The company had sold a total of 1,46,695 units in the domestic market, down by 26 percent compared to that of June 2019 which were 1,99,340 units. Exports numbers stood at 1,08,427 units, which have dipped by 29 percent compared to that of June 2019's sale of 1,51,951 units. The total numbers for June 2020, add up to 2,55,122 units, registering a decline of 27 percent compared to 3,51,291 units in June 2019.
The commercial business saw a sales performance of 4,494 units in June 2020 in the domestic market, which was 29,885 units in June 2019 amounting to a drop of 85 percent. The exports for commercial business stood at 18,481 units in June 2020, 21 percent lower than that in June 2019 which was 23,448 units. In total, Bajaj Auto sold a total of 22,975 commercial vehicles in June 2020, 57 percent lower than that in June 2019.
The YTD performance saw Bajaj Auto sell a total of 1,85,981 units of 2Ws during Apr-Jun 2020 which was 6,10,936 units during Apr-Jun 2019, a decline of 70 percent. Exports of 2Ws were 2,13,948 units this year, a decline of 55 per cent compared to 4,71,691units during the previous. In total, the 2W YTD sales saw a decline of 63 percent, with a sale of 3,99,929 units compared to 10,82,627 units. The commercial sales performance during Apr-Jun 2020 are 5,282units which were 86,217units during Apr-Jun 2019, reporting a drop of 94 percent. Exports of commercial vehicles during the quarter was 37,892 units, down by 52 percent compared to 78,330 units in the same period last year. Collectively, this amounted to a drop of 74 percent in commercial sales compared to that done in the same period last year. In terms of total sales, which includes 2Ws and commercial vehicles, during Apr-Jun 2020, the company sold a total of 4,43,103 units, 64 per cent lower than that done in the same period last year.


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A viral video that shows four African-American shoppers being accused of theft at the Twin Cities Premium Outlets in Eagan has caused anger and outrage and sparked accusations of racism of mall personnel and of Eagan police.
It’s not clear what led up to the point when the four shoppers at the mall were surrounded by police and mall security, but the feeling of the four is clear – they say it is an obvious case of racial profiling.
The video, which was posted on March 11 to social media by one of the accused, Art Haggins – just hours after the stop happened – shows police questioning the shoppers in the mall courtyard about possible stolen items. According to Haggins, the group was accused of stealing $11 worth of makeup from the Makeup Outlet. Police said they were called by an employee in the mall who accused the group of shoplifting. The group was searched and showed receipts for all of their purchases and even at one point in the video it shows the contents of a purse scattered on the ground. Haggins said the contents scattered from his girlfriend’s purse as an officer pulled the purse away from her. In the video at least six Eagan police officers can be seen questioning the shoppers. According to Haggins there were at least two additional Eagan police officers on the scene.
“I felt embarrassed, mortified … insulted,” said Haggins. “I really had to practice my anger management skills. They searched all of us, they searched my 13-year-old daughter and they even made my girlfriend take off her shoes.”
Haggins said there was absolutely no reason for the group to have been singled out other than the color of their skin.
“I mean we were there to spend money. We shopped in a few stores. We even bought some stuff from the makeup store,” said Haggins.
According to Det. Desiree Schroepfer, the spokesperson for the Eagan Police Department, the incident was handled appropriately even though the call was for minor shoplifting – an accusation that turned out to be unsubstantiated.
“There’s no such thing as a routine call and with the number of suspects the response was warranted,” said Schroepfer, who said they were called out by a mall employee.
Although the search of the individuals yielded no stolen items and no arrests were made, Schroepfer said it doesn’t mean a crime did not occur.
“We’re not charged with determining innocence or guilt, but (police are charged with determining) if there’s probable cause to make an arrest,” said Schroepfer, who said the mall has been the target of multiple shoplifting rings.
The outlet mall opened for business in August of last year and since its opening Eagan police have been called out on close to 870 calls with just under 140 of those calls being for theft. Schroepfer said she did not have statistics on the ethnicities of those accused of committing crimes at the mall as the department does not breakdown reports by race. She also did not have the statistics for how many called were substantial enough for an arrest to have been made.
Angered by the stop, one of the accused is heard on the video saying she wanted to return to the store from which they were accused of stealing so they could get their money back for items purchased, but as seen on the video – which has been viewed more than 170,000 times – the group was told by police that they were no longer allowed anywhere in the mall or they would be arrested for trespassing. Officers said the mall had the right to determine who could be on the grounds, as it is private property. Since the video has gone viral mall officials have said the group is again welcome at the outlet, but according to Haggins none of the group has been contacted by mall officials or by police.
“We were embarrassed for no reason and I definitely want to take action,” said Haggins. “You can’t treat people like that no matter what color they are.”
Since the video Haggins posted has gone viral at least two African-Americans have come forward with claims of being harassed and racially profiled by the mall and Eagan police.


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The Indian economy was showing signs of recovery in early 2021 after being hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Post the recessionary phase, the Indian economy registered a growth rate of 0.41 percent in Q3FY21. Improvement was also evident in the performance of other high frequency indicators. However, the economic recovery got seriously impacted as the second wave hit the country. Various states enforced lockdowns of varying severity that negatively impacted economic activities.
Last year, the economy was dealing with a severe supply shock. The imposition of national lockdown impacted the movement of goods and services. For instance, even when the economic output was registering a sharp decline, the domestic economy witnessed price levels rising. In Q1FY21, India’s GDP growth rate contracted by 24 percent whereas the inflation rate as measured by Consumer Price Index (CPI) registered a growth of 6.57 percent in the same quarter. The combination of declining economic output and rising inflation has even initiated a debate on whether the economy would enter a stagflation trap. The supply disruption caused by the national lockdown mainly contributed to the rising inflation rate. Thus, the economy was dealing with severe aggregate supply shock than aggregate demand shock. The stagflation scenario has been a major hurdle for both the government and the central bank.
In the current scenario, with the second wave, demand shock is taking the grip on the economy. To quote the RBI bulletin “the biggest toll of the second wave is in terms of a demand shock – loss of mobility, discretionary spending and employment, besides inventory accumulation”. As per the RBI bulletin, aggregate supply is less impacted in the second wave. According to economic theory, a demand shock is a sudden event that increases or decreases demand for goods or services temporarily. A positive demand shock increases aggregate demand and a negative demand shock decreases aggregate demand.
Economic uncertainty along with the fear of high health expenses would force everyone to cut down spending. There will be a fear of more job losses, climbing up of unemployment rate and lower income growth in the economy. As per the CMIE survey, unemployment rate in April’21 was at 7.97 percent compared to 6.5 percent in March’21. In such an uncertain atmosphere, one could also witness a change in the composition of consumer spending as people will be prioritising their spending. The general tendency would be to save more and consume less. Yet, the depleted savings of Indian households is a cause of concern as the country is dealing with the second wave. As per the estimates of the RBI, household financial savings as a percent of GDP after touching the unprecedented high of 21.0 percent in Q1FY21, regressed closer to the pre-pandemic level at 10.4 percent. The increased household savings in Q1FY21 contributed to the pent-up demand that pushed the economy to the recovery path. It is estimated that the household financial savings rate would go further down in Q3FY21. Similarly, household debt to GDP ratio rose sharply to 37.1 percent in Q2FY21 from 35.4 percent in Q1FY21.
Amidst the second wave, there is pressure on both the government and Central bank to announce new measures to support the economy. However, unlike the last year, there is limited space for both the government and central bank to come up with new measures. Yet, the Central Bank announced few measures to support the ailing economy. For instance, to support lending, the Governor announced Special Long-Term Operations (SLTRO) for small finance banks and categorised lending to MFIs as priority sector lending. Similarly, restructuring scheme was announced by the RBI governor that could bring some relief to the borrowers.
The external environment India has to deal with is different from that in the last year. The developments in the global economy are not favourable for the Indian economy. Last year, most of the economies were dealing with an unprecedented crisis. Central banks across the globe came up with loose monetary policy measures, including quantitative easing in some advanced economies. Presently, inflation is making a return in some developed economies, especially in the US. In such a scenario, the change in the monetary policy stance could be an added challenge for the domestic economy. To deal with this external shock, there should be a strong domestic economy. Vaccination drive is a major step in this regard.


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Realme recently introduced a couple of new devices in the market of India including a 5G enabled tablet and now the company has officially confirmed to launch yet another device called Realme TechLife Buds T100 in the market of India. The company has unveiled the launching date of the device along with some important specifications as well. Without making any further delay let’s dive into the article to check out the complete details.
It is officially revealed that the company will be launching the Realme TechLife Buds T100 will be official in India on August 18 which means the device will be official alongside the Realme 9i 5G smartphone.
Realme has also confirmed that the upcoming Realme TechLife Buds T100 will feature an in-ear design with angled silicone ear tips as well as a long stem. The upcoming truly wireless earphones is confirmed to feature AI ENC which is said to reduce ambient noise during calls. The device will also offer an advanced composite diaphragm made of PEEK+TPU for a clear bass.
The upcoming Realme TechLife Buds T100 will feature a pebble-shaped charging case and it is also said that the charging case can offer up to 28 hours of battery life. Each earbud is claimed to offer 6 hours of battery life. The Realme TechLife Buds T100 will be available in Black and White colours.
So let’s wait for the official launching of the upcoming devices and we recommend you to stay tuned with us for more information from the technological world at your fingertips.
Read interesting news, reviews as well as tips & tricks on TechnoBugg website, and stay updated with the latest happenings of the tech world on the go with Technobugg App. Also follow on Google News and join our Telegram channel for the latest updates


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Savage on Wheels: 2017 Volvo V60 T5 AWD Cross CountrySavage on Wheels: 2017 Volvo V60 T5 AWD Cross Country Volvo’s V60 Cross Country wagon/crossover wisely borrows some styling pizzazz from the likes of Mazda, then goes about saturating the vehicle with Volvo's usual core competency, safety.
GM attempts to steer the guidelines for driverless carsGM attempts to steer the guidelines for driverless carsGeneral Motors is trying to persuade lawmakers across the country to approve rules that would benefit the automaker.
Huge semis may soon have no one at the wheelHuge semis may soon have no one at the wheelNew self-driving truck start-up aims to cut out the long-haul driver
2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country is versatile luxury2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country is versatile luxuryMotor News Media previews the 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country.


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The deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India recently made a case in favor of CBDCs or Central Bank Digital Currencies. He also drew parallels between the development of Unified Payments Interfaces or UPIs development with blockchain networks. It is worth noting that UPI is a digital payment network introduced by NPCI that interconnects several banking networks within and outside of India.
Rabi Sankar, the Deputy Governor of RBI, was recently participating in discussion with the International Monetary Fund, IMF. His stance on the matter suggested opposition to the development of cryptocurrency markets in the region. It is worth noting that the Indian government has already imposed heavy taxes on crypto investors, up to 50%, which has resulted in major crypto organizations opting to leave the country.
Talking about the success of the UPI network, Rabi Sankar claimed that the localized and fiat-supporting peer-to-peer digital transactions platform UPI could replace the need for private cryptocurrencies in the marketplace. He also claimed that the UPI adoption and transaction growth in the country recorded at 160% in the last five years.
He further explained that, unlike blockchain and private cryptocurrencies, the UPI network is much easier to understand and use. He commented that blockchain technology use cases are still in the development phase despite being introduced six years before the UPI network.
On the other hand, Sankar admitted that a large part of the Indian population does not have access to the UPI network due to the lack of internet and Smartphone access.
Offline Digital Wallet for CBDC
After China banned cryptocurrencies under its jurisdiction last year, the government of India is following its example. In addition to imposing a passive ban on the cryptocurrency industry, the Indian authorities are also working on introducing a new offline digital payments wallet. According to the latest statements of Sankar, the offline wallets will work towards making the UPIs and CBDC facilities available on a larger scale.
Furthermore, Sankar claimed that the Indian banking sector and financial regulators are going to preserve its monopoly on being the central liquidity provider for the masses. He exclaimed that technology is nothing more than a tool, and it cannot be used to issue currencies.
He also derided stablecoins and said that they should not be accepted by consumers as a 1:1 ratio for the local legal tender. In addition, Sankar claimed that stablecoins undermine the value of the Indian rupee.


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Tyson Foods to Close Ponca City Plant; Company officials hope to find a buyer for the facility
Ponca City, Oklahoma – As part of ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency, Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) is closing its Ponca City, Oklahoma, processed meats plant and is shifting production to other company facilities. Tyson officials are trying to find a buyer for the plant, which has been in operation since 1995. The facility closing is expected to result in a non-cash charge to Tyson’s fiscal second quarter earnings of approximately $0.02 per share.
“This is a very difficult decision because it affects the lives of our people, their families and the community; however, it is critically important to our business,” said Dick Belsito, senior vice president of processed meats for Tyson Foods. “After extensive consideration, we’ve concluded closing Ponca City and moving the production to three other plants is necessary to improve the viability of our overall processed meats operations.”
Tyson officials have been in contact with potential buyers of the plant; however, no sale has been completed.
The Ponca City plant produces a variety of deli-style luncheon meats and ham products. This production will gradually be shifted to Tyson plants in Buffalo, New York; Cherokee, Iowa and Houston, Texas.
The Ponca City plant closing will affect approximately 580 people, who today are being given a 60-day notice as required by law. However, the actual termination of operations and displacement of workers will take place gradually. The closing process will begin in late May and will most likely not be completed until sometime in July or August.
Representatives of Tyson’s Human Resources staff will meet with affected Ponca City workers in the coming weeks to discuss other employment opportunities within the company. They will also work cooperatively with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, which will provide information about unemployment benefits and other job opportunities.
“We want to express our appreciation to our Ponca City team members for their hard work and support of the company over the years,” said Belsito. “This decision was based on improving asset utilization, not on their job performance.”
Tyson Foods, Inc., founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 90 countries. The company has approximately 107,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.
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An architect-designed fuel station has been hailed as the first step towards a network of infrastructure that meets the needs of electric cars.
Nissan and Foster & Partners have unveiled a design vision for a future fuel station where design is influenced by zero-emission technology and an increase in electric vehicles on the road.
Elements that are taken into account in the design include harnessing the potential of battery storage and vehicle-to-grid systems, where cars can deliver energy to power lines. The final version of the design will be unveiled later this year.
Foster & Partners head of design David Nelson said: “The aim of our collaboration with Nissan is to highlight the magnitude of the challenge that we face in evolving our cities to meet change. New technologies, alternative forms of fuel and changing trends within our society are all having a huge impact on the way we get around.
“It seems to be clear that electric vehicles will be a major feature of the urban landscape and, as a result, this presents an exciting opportunity to rethink the fuel station for future generations; a new approach to design will create a more integrated and communal role within our towns and cities.”
Nissan director of electric vehicles Jean-Pierre Diernaz added: “Our current refuelling infrastructure model is out-dated and faces an uncertain future unless it rapidly adapts to support the changing needs of consumers. By 2020, there will be almost one million EVs on the road, so it is imperative that there is an infrastructure in place to support this growth.
“This initiative will take the first steps along that road to examine the wider transportation landscape and reimagine the future of mobility, preparing our cities for a more sustainable future.”


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Mobile phones have become ubiquitous these days. They are used for multiple purposes ranging from personal use to mobile banking. Cyber criminals have also realised the importance of mobile phones for committing cyber crimes and financial frauds. This is also the reason why malware writers are also writing mobile phone specific malware to steal confidential and sensitive information.
Mobile cyber security in India has become a cause of concern these days. Mobile phones are now proposed to be used for mobile banking and mobile governance in India. Naturally, we must ensure robust mobile cyber security in India. An electronic authentication policy of India can help in more active and secure mobile usages in India. Mobile governance and e-authentication in India are also closely related and with the proposed electronic delivery of services in India this is also a must have requirement.
For the time being we have no implementable electronic delivery of services policy of India though it may be in pipeline. Indian government is working in the direction of ensuring electronic delivery of services in India. In fact a legal framework titled electronic delivery of services bill 2011 (EDS Bill 2011) has also been proposed by Indian government.
Once the EDS Bill 2011 becomes an applicable law, governments across the India would provide electronic services through various modes, including mobile phones. This requires putting a robust and reliable mobile security infrastructure in India.
However, using of mobile phones for commercial and personal transactions in India is also risky. For instance, the mobile banking in India is risky as the present banking and other technology related legal frameworks are not conducive for mobile banking in India. Similarly, we do not have a well developed e-governance infrastructure in India. As a result India is still not ready for m-governance.
We at Perry4Law and Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) believe that the biggest hurdles before the mobile related uses in India pertain to use of weak encryption standards and non use of mobile cyber security mechanisms in India. Absence of encryption laws in India has further made the mobile security very weak in India.
The ever evolving mobile malware are further increasing the woes of mobile users’ world wide. Recently 50 applications within Google’s official Android Market were found to be contaminated with DroidDream malware. The malware stole sensitive information like phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) Number and the SIM card’s International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number. It then sent it to a command-and-control server. Similarly, other spyware and bugs are also infecting mobile phones worldwide.
It is high time for India to seriously work upon mobile cyber security aspects as soon as possible. The policy decisions in this regard must be taken urgently and must be implemented as soon as possible.
Source: ICTPS Blog.


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Is the MAZDA MX-30 a Hybrid?
The Mazda MX-30 is the latest innovative model from Mazda, and we couldn’t be more excited. Here at Med Center Mazda, we’re love sharing the most up-to-date information on new model releases, which is why we’re sharing everything we know about the 2022 Mazda MX-30.
MAZDA MX-30: EV or Hybrid?
Slated to arrive at dealerships later this year, the 2022 Mazda MX-30 will be available as an electric model. However, Mazda has its eye on cornering the hybrid market as well.
Rumors have been swirling about there being a 2023 Mazda MX-30 Plug-in Hybrid model on the horizon, so whatever your alternative energy interests might be, there’s bound to be a Mazda MX-30 for you.
2022 MAZDA MX-30 Details
While the 2022 MAZDA MX-30 won’t be available as a hybrid, it’s still very much designed to impress. This EV handles like a coupe, but with the elegance and style of a luxury sedan.
Under the hood, you’ll get to take advantage of a lithium-ion battery that is expected to produce around 144 horsepower from the electric motor. You’ll also be able to enjoy over 100 miles of driving range in the 2022 Mazda MX-30, and while EPA estimates haven’t been released, this innovative new ride is expected to have exceptional fuel economy both in the city and on the highway.
The 2022 Mazda MX-30 excels in many areas, but it’s particularly impressive when it comes to sustainability. This new Mazda EV will feature textiles and reusable materials like cork and recycled fabrics inside the cabin, creating an eco-friendly and well-thought-out interior atmosphere.


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From the time Bitcoin digital currency hit the Internet, experts have been trying to predict the future of cryptocurrency money. The bitcoin future price has always been a hotly debated one. This is because the cryptocurrency is traded in a free market and a number of factors influence it. It is not possible for anyone to predict currency futures exactly.
But that’s not stopping experts from giving Bitcoin another try. Most experts feel that Bitcoin currency value could change either way, that is, it could go up or down. In fact, some had even predicted the death of the cryptocurrency several times, but instead it stabilized.
Bitcoin Current Facts
What is a Bitcoin worth? The bitcoin price today is $5915 USD, with a circulating supply at 16.7 million number of coins and total exchanged volume to the tune of around $3900,000,000. You can check out the current Bitcoin price.
There are around 1000 types of cryptocurrency coins seen on Coinmarketcap, so will the Bitcoin digital currency be able to survive the competition, especially Ethereum? Let’s check out what could possibly lie around the corner.Are bitcoins just another bubble about to burst in the future, or does it still have a lot of steam left in it?Click To Tweet
Bullish Run – Bitcoin Projections
Regarding the bitcoin price prediction, according to Quartz, a research analyst at Standpoint claims that Bitcoins will reach $5000 by 2018. According to Thomas Glucksmann, head at Gatecoin, it seems that Bitcoin value will be nearer to $6000 by the end of this year, being one of the bitcoin price forecast. However, there might be some volatility towards the end of the year. According to Charles Hayter of CryptoCompare, Bitcoin could reach $5000 by the year-end.
According to him, Japan is the main reason for breathing positive life into the digital currency Bitcoin. There will be more clarity regarding regulations and this augurs well for the value of Bitcoins.
There have been times before when Bitcoins have been extremely bullish. But these days, it seems to be breaking records continually, leading to positive speculations about bitcoin worth in 5 years. The media is beginning to hail it as the latest asset. How much will bitcoins be worth in 2020? That’s impossible to predict accurately, but optimists put the figure around $25,000
The bitcoin future seems to be bright. In fact, the cryptocurrency got a solid boost when Fidelity gave permission to clients to create a bitcoin account.
- Also Read – How to Become a Millionaire
Investors/Business Houses and Bitcoin Future
Is bitcoin a currency? Well, it is a cryptocurrency. Recently, we are seeing a lot of investors and entrepreneurs investing in the new bitcoin. They see bitcoin as a good alternative to stocks and bonds. In fact, firms like Sequoia Capital have entered hedge funds investing in the digital currency.
Maturing Infrastructure for Bitcoin
Another factor pointing to a bullish prediction for Bitcoins in 2018 is that exchanges like Coinbase GDAX have started maturing speedily improving the financial structure supporting Bitcoins.
Again, another pointer to the bullish trends for bitcoins in the future is that Commodity Future Trading Commission has also given permission for firms wanting to sell Bitcoins and other cryptocurrency options. To top it, there are rumors that central banks are soon going to buy bitcoins as reserves for foreign currency.
Bitcoin – Demand vs Supply
The bitcoin future also appears bright because there is only a limited amount of it available. Anything that is limited in quantity is bound to become valuable with time. Bitcoin mining is like gold mining. There will only be 21 million of bitcoins that will ever be available to the world. Most of it is already here. The btc miner is aware that the mining of bitcoins is reducing every year. More than 80% of bitcoins have already been mined.
According to calculations for the bitcoin future, there will not be any more bitcoins available for mining in the bitcoin farm after the year 2040. We all know the relation between supply and demand. When supply reduces, the demand increases.
Gold Bug or Bitcoin Bug?
According to an analyst, Quartz quotes, that all gold bugs will now turn into bitcoin bugs. This means that all who were hoarding gold for investment purposes will now turn to bitcoins. The value is bound to rise in this case, predicting a bright bitcoin future.
Other Side of the Coin – Is Bitcoin a Bubble?
But the core users of the cryptocurrency are criminals. Many stores like Subway are also accepting payment in Bitcoins. But is bitcoin the future money?While wondering about the future of bitcoin, can it replace cash in the coming years? Click To Tweet
Some detractors of Bitcoin say that it is very slow, in contrast to debit cards. This is because of the increasing block size that is added to its blockchain.
In course of time, it could reach a saturation point and the bubble would burst, making it unusable.
For instance, if you use Bitcoins today, you may have to wait about 10 minutes for your transaction to finish. On the other hand, you could use your credit card for an instant transaction.
Secondly, the transaction fees are also slowly increasing, pointing to a dim bitcoins future.
Thirdly, bitcoins have faced several cases, when they have been stolen from exchanges due to poor security. It is difficult to trace where they were transferred, so it results in a total loss for victims.
Due to such problems, Bitcoin detractors claim that the future for the cryptocurrency remains limited. In fact, it could be just a bubble, with an imminent burst on the cards.
Considering both sides of the coin, we can say that Bitcoin is still very popular. The bitcoin technology of blockchains is being advanced. It doesn’t seem likely that Bitcoins will collapse in the near future.
That said, there are some fundamental questions that need to be answered. The community using the cryptocurrency needs to come to a consensus regarding the way it works.
Before you buy Bitcoins or any other cryptocurrency, do your research. Bitcoins are extremely volatile and you could even lose all your money. It’s always considered a high-risk investment. Your Bitcoin that is worth $6000 today could well be worth only $1000 tomorrow. So don’t invest more than you can afford.
Having said that, Bitcoins do seem to be a good bet, so if you are interested in bitcoins futures trading, buy at a low price, hold on to it and then sell it when the value peaks. Remember you don’t have to buy a minimum of one Bitcoin. You can purchase even a fraction of it, a small unit called Satoshi (named after the creator).