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21 May 2020, Contactless Payment
For a long time cash has been king in the Vending market. However, with innovation in contactless payment technology and corresponding growth in consumer adoption, momentum has steadily grown towards a time in the near future when the majority of vending machines only take contactless payment.
That was in a world before COVID-19, a Global crisis the likes of which few of us have experienced and none will ever wish to experience again. Though cash use was predicted to decline over the coming years, COVID-19 has catalysed an acceleration in this decline, due mainly to findings by Scientists that ‘infected’ cash was causing human to human transmission of the disease.
LINK ATM has undertaken weekly consumer research with YouGov since early March to understand how shopping habits and cash payment has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conclusions are stark for retail and hospitality services where there is still a dependency on cash payment. Alongside the estimated 50% of consumers who no longer carry cash, the findings point towards a further significant shift in the use of contactless payment by the 50% of consumers who still do carry cash.
Source: LINK ATM
To minimise personal risk and prevent further transmission of the virus, more consumers than ever utilised contactless during the pandemic. With that behaviour firmly established in the last few months are unlikely to return to payment using cash. The authorities also played their part by increasing the contactless payment limit from £30 to £45 on 1st April 2020. Thus encouraging consumers to opt for contactless transactions rather than handing over cash.
Stephen Jones, chief executive of UK Finance commented: “The payments industry has been working closely with retailers to be able to increase the contactless payment limit to help customers with their shopping at this critical time for the country.
“This will give more people the choice to opt for the speed and convenience of purchasing goods using their contactless card, helping to cut queues at the checkout.”
Although increasing the spending limit in itself may not be relevant to vending, it will foster a positive and lasting change in consumer behaviour and attitudes. In tern, that will ultimately accelerate the adoption of contactless payment to the extent that it will become the de-facto payment method for all transactions. Hard cash in its current form will simply be unable to survive this fundamental shift in consumer behaviour.
IMAGE CREDIT: REUTERS/DADO RUVIC
In a recent Mastercard survey focused on the implications of the coronavirus pandemic, 82% of respondents worldwide now view contactless as the cleaner way to pay. 74% state they will continue to use contactless payment post-pandemic. Some even avoided withdrawing or handling potentially dirty cash all together, with ATM transactions down by over 60% since lockdown began.
Today consumers are fearful due to concerns that cash handling is dirty and may be another way COVID-19 can be transmitted and spread. The retail industry has accentuated this hysteria with many shops and supermarkets refusing to accept cash payments, offering card transactions only.
“I know a lot of merchants are putting signage up at the point of sale, ‘Please use contactless” said Linda Kirkpatrick, a Mastercard Executive who works with banks and credit unions.
This change in consumer behaviour and attitude towards cash, combined with concerted efforts by retailers and banks to drive consumers towards contactless payment, has major implications for vending. Vending machines with cash only payment will be increasingly unusable by the vast majority of the population.
Vianet Smart Machines provides an innovative end to end contactless payment solution for automated retail, vending and self–service machines.
Whilst contactless payment offers consumers a clean, flexible and low risk payment option, the benefit for vendors of utilising this technology cannot be understated. Machines equipped with contactless payment regularly experience increased sales, with corresponding growth in machine profitability and significant improvement in operating cashflow.
Managing Director of Smart Machines, Rob Little said “Make no mistake, this pandemic is a serious wake-up call for an industry dependent on cash payment. The consequences are stark in that we are now faced with the possibility of business viability being challenged by too few consumers carrying cash and too many machines not equipped to accept any form of payment other than cash. If that is not a challenging enough prognosis, when many operators required cash to survive this crisis it was locked inside machines in customer premises that could not be accessed. Given that scientific experts are forecasting further outbreaks of the virus in winter and beyond, it is critical that vendors are as prepared as possible for that scenario. The industry solution lies in adapting rapidly to this powerful shift in consumer behaviour and mitigating the threat of future outbreaks by equipping vending machines with contactless payment capability”
The vending industry has huge potential to thrive from this pandemic by responding positively to changing consumer behaviour. Contactless payment will play a pivotal role in that response as it benefits both the consumer and the vendor. Put simply, there is no downside risk, and with the cash from contactless transactions available in your bank in a matter of days, that can only mean a stronger and more robust business.
Facts around the revolution of contactless payment. source: UK Finance. www.ukfinance.org.uk.
JW Vending are testament to the revolution of contactless payment in the vending industry and the success of Vianet’s Smart Machines solution. JW Vending’s Chris Worgan said “We have been using Vianet for nearly 4 years. Their product has been invaluable to us and we are seeing enormous gains as contactless payments continue to rise dramatically. In the last 4 months alone we have seen a complete sea-change in payment – with almost two thirds of our sales now being made through contactless transactions. On top of this, we have been consistently impressed by their exceptional customer service and knowledgeable representatives.”
Vianet offer an end to end solution offering both data communication and contactless payment. Their Smart Machines products include their vitel™ NANO telemetry device, that operates in conjunction with Vianet services to provide real-time management of Smart Machines. This extracts data electronically from the machine controller and transfers this data at regular intervals to Vianet hosts system via a mobile network connection, creating customer-specific reports can then be viewed over a secure internet web site. vitel™ NANO supports operation as an MDB Cashless System operating in harmony with the Vianet Contactless payment solution.
With their own in-house engineering and support team, set up and installation of these products into existing vending machines, as well as new machines couldn’t be easier. The contactless payment solution is compatible with all major vending machine manufacturers, and is a PCI accredited solution providing secure protection of the operator and customer’s money and card holder data.
Interested to find out more? Smart Machines powered by Vianet can drive your vending business forward and help you increase your revenue. Speak to us today


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Developers working with software developed by Cyanogen have access to a new open source platform SDK that is loaded with APIs from the company itself and the CyanogenMod community.
Over the next few months, Cyanogen should have a stronger force in penetrating emerging markets. The software developer has plans to hire talent for an office that would open this summer in either Bangalore or Dehli. The new office in India would be home to as many as fifty employees, all helping Cyanogen bring its software to the billions of people located in that part of the world.
Expect to see Cyanogen acquire startups, too, as a way to expand its portfolio.
Via: Fone Arena
As of yesterday, T-Mobile is pushing out a new firmware upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.1, bringing the device to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.
Among all of the hardware manufacturers using Android as their operating system, the Chinese companies seem to be the most reluctant on going all-in with Google’s offering.
Motorola’s Moto E (2nd Gen) recently got the update to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, and now it looks like it’s the first generation’s turn.
Despite recent confirmation that Galaxy Note 2 wouldn’t be receiving Lollipop, Samsung Danmark took to Twitter that some variants of the device would be getting it.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2’s out of Denmark (CSC code: NEE) will get the update. In another tweet, Samsung Danmark said both the Galaxy Note 2 (GT-N7100) and the Galaxy Note 2 4G (G5-N7105) will get Lollipop. However, the updates will occur at different times, and there is currently no info as to which one will come first.
It’s a known fact that old technology–even if its only three years–often doesn’t get updated to the latest and greatest, such as Android 5.0 Lollipop. We’ve seen this time and time again with Samsung and LG devices. Thankfully, Galaxy S4 owners aren’t apart of that crowd, and users touting the device on Sprint should be getting the update sometime today.

domain: news


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Factbox-From Meta to Peloton, companies slow hiring as economy sputters -Breaking
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO : The Peloton logo appears on a sign in Manhattan, New York City. This was taken January 25, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
(Reuters) – Many companies are now considering laying people off or freezing their hiring due to decades of high inflation.
Elon Musk, who stated last Friday that he had a “superbad feeling” about economic conditions, plans to trim Tesla’s workforce (NASDAQ) by approximately 10% according to Reuters. This was in an internal email.
Musk backedtracked Saturday, stating that while the total number of electric-vehicle makers will rise over the next twelve months, the number and quality of their salaried employees should not change.
Here’s a list of other companies which have made announcements about layoffs and/or frozen hiring in an effort to reduce costs.
Alibaba (NYSE: Alibaba Group China may reduce its workforce by more than 15%, or around
China has imposed a strict regulatory clampdown on the company, which resulted in 39,000 people being laid off.
Rising prices and slower sales growth
Cazoo is an European online retailer of cars and said that it was going to reduce its workforce
Cazoo Group is reducing its spending by around 15% to save cash.
Carvana Co (NYSE 🙂 Carvana announced that it will layoff approximately 2,500 employees or 12%.
Coinbase (NASDAQ 🙂 Coinbase will continue its hiring freeze into the future.
Global Inc has a variety of offers that can be accepted to address current macroeconomic conditions.
Getir Turkey’s Getir will reduce its workforce by 14% due to the rising costs of living.
Global inflation and cost, a source who has knowledge told Reuters
April 25, 2010.
Gorillas, a German grocery app, will lay off 300 employees to reduce its workforce.
Kagan Sumer Chief Executive, Gorillas Administrative Staff in Half
Henkel AG (OTC:) & Germany’s Henkel, the company behind Schwarzkopf, said on May 5 it would cut
Co KGaA occupied approximately 2,000 positions because of low demand for shampoos and hair spray.
As well as increasing costs and issues in global supply chains.
Klarna Swedish firm Klarna announced that on May 23, it had slashed 10% of its 7,000-strong staff
Fear of an inflation spike and a sudden increase in the cost of living have caused a dramatic rise in employment.
The recession and war in Ukraine are affecting business sentiment.
Lyft Inc (NASDAQ: ) In May, Inc stated that they will reduce the number of employees and cut budgets.
Meta Facebook (NASDAQ 🙂 parent Meta stated in May that it would slow down its growth.
Move About Sweden’s Move About Group announced on May 20 that it would eliminate 17 of its 40 jobs
Group AB was created by the indirect effects from war in Ukraine as well as an exaggerated cost base.
Netflix (NASDAQ: ) Netflix announced in May it had laid off around 150 workers, most of them in the U.S.
Slowing growth is a concern for the streaming services company.
Peloton (NASDAQ 🙂 In February Peloton announced that it was cutting approximately 2800 corporate jobs.
Interactive revitalize sagging sales.
Robinhood (NASDAQ 🙂 In April, the retail trading platform stated that it was laying off about 9 percent of its employees.
Markets Inc employees are full-time
Snap Inc (NYSE:) In May, CEO Evan Spiegel told employees that the company would slow down hiring.
Tencent Chinese Company Tencent struggles to deal with slowing economic growth.
The Holdings may reduce its workforce by between 10 and 15% this year.
Twitter Inc (NYSE.) Parag Agrawal, CEO of social media company Social Media Company stated that the company would pause.
Hire and examine existing job listings to decide if any are “should be”.
Uber (NYSE : Uber) Uber is cutting back on hiring, and will reduce marketing spending.
Technologies incentives activities were reported by Reuters in May. It was based on a letter sent to the CEO.
Valmet Oyj Valmet stated that it is currently in discussions for temporary layoffs up to a year.
Three months with approximately 340 employees participating in the talks at the valve factory
In Helsinki, due to lower orders caused in part by the conflict in Ukraine and COVID-19
China has restrictions
Source: Regulatory Filings, Reuters Stories, Company Websites


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Apple’s upcoming iPhone is rumored to introduce a fingerprint reader and near-field communication chip for mobile payments. The fingerprint reader will add security for users, protecting their iPhone’s information for NFC sharing and payments, according to a report on gottabemobile.com.
More retailers are adopting NFC payments, so the rumor about Apple introducing mobile payments is not far-fetched. A chip in the device will store and transmit payment information at checkout. Security measures must be improved if the device transmits important information, which reflects the rumor that iPhone will have a fingerprint reader.
The next iPhone will focus on security, compared to iPhone 4S’s Siri. Biometric authentication under, or built into, the Home button has been in the works since before the release of the iPhone 5. With advanced security, consumers can feel comfortable using their iPhones’ NFC to make payments at checkout.
“Apple’s $356 million Authentec purchase in 2012 set the company up for a more secure iPhone 5S. Authentec was best known for mobile biometric security before the Apple purchase,” explains Josh Smith, journalist at Gotta Be Mobile. Smith goes on to suggest that iPhone 5S will come in different colors, repositions their camera, and may have wireless charging.


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The reduction in the number of outstanding shares can result in the stock of a company going one way or another but unfortunately for Asia Broadband Inc (OTCMKTS:AABB), it had a negative effect on its stock.
Yesterday, the company announced that its board of directors and the higher management concluded the retirement of as many as 120 million restricted common shares. The shares were retired to the treasury. It is a significant development for the company, considering the fact that Asia Broadband retired 13 million extra outstanding shares in the company than had been announced previously in May this year. However, in this regard, it is perhaps important to point out that the company expects to retire more shares in the future.
It is a part of Asia Broadband’s initiative to unlock more value for its shareholders. When the number of outstanding shares gets lower then it usually leads to a spike since the shares become rarer. However, the company’s actual shareholders were not particularly thrilled with this move from Asia Broadband, and the stock actually tanked by as much as 10% yesterday.
It is not going to be interesting to see if the stock can actually make a recovery over the coming days. Asia Broadband also noted that later on this week it is going to be able to provide an update with regards to the progress that has been made in the development of its cryptocurrency exchange project. It is one of the more ambitious projects at Asia Broadband at this point.
The Asia Broadband Inc (OTCMKTS:AABB) stock has been in considerable focus among investors for most of the year and the stock has garnered strong gains as well. Although the Asia Broadband stock is still up by as much as 133% so far in 2021, it has corrected sharply and declined by 40% from its May-end high of 24 cents a share.
However, the latest correction might also prove to be an opportunity for new investors and hence, it could be a good move to take a look at recent developments. The company has moved into the crypto space recently with the launch of its gold-backed AABBG token.
On Tuesday, Asia Broadband announced that it has put plans in motion that is going to see the company expanding its foot print into Central America by pushing demand for its AABBG token. The company is going to start this project at El Salvador.
In order to achieve its objectives, Asia Broadband is going to work with some of the major retailers in the country. The aim is for those retailers in El Salvador to accept payments that are made by customers in AABBG tokens. Retailers are going to be offered handsome discount incentives and commissions if they do start accepting the AABBG token.
While this was an important announcement from the company, there was another key development that took place last month. On May 27, the company announced that the Board of Directors at Asia Broadband and the company’s management approved a move for retiring and returning as many as 107 million units of restricted common shares to the treasury.
The reduction in the number of shares to such a degree could be seen as a welcome move by many shareholders and could also lead to more optimism about the Asia Broadband stock from new investors.


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How to make sure your business doesn't lose out in lockdown
Money is still available via government schemes to help small companies cope with the latest Covid restrictions. David Prosser outlines what you can get, and how to get it.
For small businesses struggling to cope with the latest lockdown, new financial assistance from the government is limited. But help is still available from the schemes set up the first time around. Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s headline announcement last week was a new lockdown grant scheme aimed at retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. In England, this scheme, administered through local authorities, pays grants of up to £9,000 to companies in the sectors forced to close, with the exact amount depending on the rateable value of your business premises. There will be similar payments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Start with your local council
To check whether you are eligible, contact your local authority, though it should be making payments automatically rather than requiring applications. Firms outside the retail, hospitality and leisure industries may also receive help, with £594m available for a discretionary fund that councils can use to support firms beyond the main scheme.
These new grants are in addition to the Local Restrictions Support Grants scheme launched before Christmas. That pays up to £1,500 for each 14-day period that your business is forced to close because of lockdown measures, or up to £2,100 for each 28-day period it remains open but severely affected by the restrictions. Again, the size of the grant you will receive depends on the rateable value of your business premises. Local authorities are also administering this scheme.
On top of this new support many of the programmes launched last year have been extended, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), which will remain open until April 2021. The CJRS is the scheme through which firms can furlough their staff – lay them off for a temporary period – and have their wages paid by the state. The state will pay at least 80% of staff wages up to £2,500 a month. Employers must pay national insurance and pension contributions for each employee. Two flagship loan schemes have also been extended, with applications accepted for both the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Bounce Back Loan programme until 31 March. The former offers finance of up to £5m; the latter provides advances of up to £50,000. If you have previously used the schemes, but not borrowed the full amount, you can apply for more funding.
Finally, don’t overlook the option of deferring tax payments. Businesses were given the option of deferring VAT due during the second quarter of last year and this can now be paid back in monthly instalments over the period to March 2022.
And if you are covered by the self-assessment system, the bill you would normally pay at the end of this month does not have to be settled until January 2022. This is also the deadline for any income tax due in July 2020 that you chose to defer.
More money for the self-employed
Self-employed workers hit financially by the Covid-19 crisis have until 29 January to apply for the latest iteration of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). But hundreds of thousands will miss out on the SEISS unless the government extends it. This round offers grants worth 80% of your average monthly trading profits, paid in a single instalment to cover three months’ worth, but capped at £7,500.
Crucially, to make a claim, you must have been eligible for previous rounds of the SEISS (even if you didn’t claim). That means you must have earned the majority of your income from self-employment in the 2018-2019 tax year; recorded a profit of less than £50,000; and drawn down this profit as income rather than company dividends.
Excluded UK, a group that represents people struggling to secure help from the government, says more than three million people are missing out on schemes such as the SEISS because of the eligibility criteria.
The Federation of Small Businesses this week unveiled proposals for a version of the SEISS offering similar levels of redress to self-employed workers set up as small companies, rather than sole traders, and paid via dividends. This could help more than one million people. But so far the government has consistently refused to extend the SEISS or to launch a similar scheme for those missing out.


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In the early days of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, John Krasinski shined a light on the uplifting stories of the world with Some Good News, a charmingly lo-fi web series in which the Quiet Place director gave the spotlight to good deeds amid the overwhelming dread and rising body count of the pandemic. It was a nice little gesture, and one that was even Emmy-qualifying, but Krasinski seemingly appeared to wrap it up months ago to package the idea for a more traditional news outlet. But unexpectedly, Krasinski brought it back for the holidays with the help of Dwayne Johnson — excuse me — “Dwanta Claus.”
It’s a special holiday edition of Some Good News, back in its cute ramshackle webseries format before it gets a shinier traditional TV update, and Krasinski is celebrating the best time of the year by enlisting a few celebrity guests. In addition to Johnson, we have George Clooney giving an update on the weather, and Justin Timberlake offering to replace Krasinski as host (which may very well happen, considering Krasinski won’t host the coming CBS version).
Krasinski also did his regular upbeat news updates, spotlighting neighborhood parades, acts of charity for the homeless, as well as well-meaning fan art of Krasinski after having eaten a few too many Christmas cookies.
But the biggest spotlight wasn’t given to special guest Dwayne Johnson, but to a dad who had put all of his comic book memorabilia for sale on eBay to pay for his kids’ Christmas presents. During his segment with Krasinski, the dad was surprised by the appearance of Johnson, donning a Santa hat embroidered with the name “Dwanta,” and a matching fur-trimmed red coat (though apparently no undershirt, because you know, he’s the Rock). Johnson agreed to cover his kids’ wish lists and provide him with an exclusive trip to DC Comics, plus a signed Black Adam script once he’s finished shooting the upcoming Warner Bros. DC comic book film featuring the famous Shazam! villain.
It’s a wonderful little segment that may even warm your cold heart…which was probably pierced a tiny bit by Krasinski selling out and re-packaging Some Good News for CBS.
Source: Read Full Article


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Reports that the Belgium Gaming Commission has made firm declarations about Star Wars Battlefront 2's loot boxes were apparently wide of the mark.
Yesterday we and many other outlets reported on comments from a spokesperson for the organization in which he appeared to condemn the loot boxes after a week of investigation.
However, a new translation - as reported by VG247 - suggests these were just comments from a minister rather than official condemnation from the Belgium Gaming Commission.
In other words, EA DICE is left waiting to see what they get when the Belgium Gaming Commission cracks the seal on its eventual report. Hopefully commission report RNG is better than Battlefront 2's loot boxes, eh?Load Comments


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Brickmania Space Race Theme Featured by BrickNerd
We’re proud to announce that Brickmania’s Space Race theme for 2021 has been featured in a first-rate article by BrickNerd! Specifically, this article takes a look at the Gemini Spacecraft – Crewed Orbital Vehicle and Titan II GLV – Gemini Launch Vehicle designed by Amanda and Camera Guy. These being their first kits created for Brickmania after joining the team years ago, there is quite a story behind their design and production – be sure to check it out!
Read the article HERE.


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Chris Poole delivered the most powerful 10 minutes of Web philosophy of the afternoon at Web 2.0. The man formerly known as moot - founder of anonymous image sharing den 4chan and its new, better-lit cousin, Canvas, gave us a rousing and principled picture of what the big players get wrong about online identity.
"Google and Facebook would have you believe that you're a mirror," he said, "but in fact, we're more like diamonds." - multi-faceted. It was an appeal reminiscent of the one he gave at SXSW earlier this year, but it hit harder. Google Plus has since arrived, and Poole says it's even worse than Facebook for the future of online identity.


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Investments in brands, 2023 election campaigns will drive growth this year – Adelusi
By Abimbola Mohammed
Media expert Femi Adelusi, Founder/ Group CEO, BrandEye/Mediaplus, and President of Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), has reinstated his belief in Nigerian agencies and the growth level they will attain this year.
He made this known during an interview with MARKETING EDGE while speaking on MIPAN projection for the year 2022. The media expert projected an increase in this year’s investment being a year before the election.
“This year, the investment behind brands and marketing is going to grow, considering it’s a year before election. Before now, brands pulled back from investing because of the pandemic. But now that we can say, to a large extent, that the time is over, brands have seen the need to invest. We believe they will also like to do it before the presidential election of 2023,” he said.
According to Mr. Adelusi, the year 2022 provides a unique opportunity to catch up with post-COVID losses and also for a pre-election year for brand investment.
“Our projection is that investment will grow, also because of the audience measurement system and the efforts by government to provide data for audience tracking – this will encourage advertisers. So, we hope to grow in double digits this financial year and if that happens, it means all our members will increase.”
Speaking on how to increase the number of new members for the association, Mr. Adelusi said the activeness of APCON will help drive more members to MIPAN and other sectoral bodies as it will also prepare the ground for much more collaboration and growth in membership.
“APCON’s guideline as published in AISOP addresses many important areas in the ‘business’ of advertising. This, I believe, will help drive professionalism and will, by extension, encourage increased membership of MIPAN and other sectoral bodies.”


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Cummins Inc. has lodged a settlement in the U.S. District Court for D.C. agreeing to pay a $2.1 million penalty for violating the Clean Air Act. What did Cummins do? Well, it "shipped more than 570,000 heavy duty diesel engines to vehicle equipment manufacturers nationwide without pollution control equipment included" between 1998 and 2006. Even with that many engines sold, Cummins has agreed to recall only 405 of them because that is all that "were found to have reached the ultimate consumers w
Australia's largest biodiesel producer, Australian Biodiesel Group, has announced that it is looking to raise AUD$15.9 million (US$12.4 million) to launch a new business plan after a difficult year in 2006. The money will be via a rights issue at 5c per share which values the company significantly below its current share price.
- Volvo shoots for self-drivers by 2021
- Jeep spends $1 billion on factories
- Find Parts & Accessories for your vehicle!
- Obama rolls out new EV plan
- Infiniti dealers ranked best, Tesla worst
- Compare Volvo XC90 and Lincoln MKX


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3 months ago, you'd never have expected these to be trending in Singapore (and in Asia) but the onset of COVID-19 coronavirus has changed everything
Read on to find out what 3 trends COVID-19 Coronavirus brought back in Singapore!
Long before the coronavirus outbreak, masks have already been used by celebrities to hide their identities, normal folks to combat air pollution in Asian countries facing the issue and in Japan where people are very conscious about not spreading their germs to others. However, you can hardly find anyone in Singapore wearing a mask in December 2019 given that we thankfully don't have air pollution and simply don't have the culture of wearing masks.
Fast forward 1 month+ and you can see masks appearing everywhere... from celebrities
and for some concerned pet owners, even their cats.
It is unclear if wearing masks actually reduce the likelihood of contracting the virus but well, people are not taking any chances if they can secure a mask. Unsurprisingly, this has led to a mask-wearing trend as more and more people look towards reusable cloth masks with designs.
No longer just a protective face cover, masks are now becoming the newest fashion statement!
Those who have tried wearing a mask would know how inconvenient it is to wear a mask while you're having long hair.
Other than looking not so aesthetically pleasing, strands of hair get stuck along the straps, leaving you wondering if wearing that mask is even useful at all. A group of people decided that enough is enough... instead of spending time on their hair, they decided to shave it all off.
Yes, we're talking about nurses and doctors who are taking extreme measures such as shaving their heads to minimize the risk of contamination.
People are not going as extreme as the nurses but hairstylists have been telling us that more and more people are cutting their hair short to make mask-wearing more comfortable.
Buzz cut by Picasso Hair Studio
It's not only the guys. We hear that more ladies are opting to cut their hair shorter to reduce the risk of bacteria spreading, make mask-wearing more comfortable and of course, make themselves cooler in this warm weather.
Short bob with highlights by Flamingo Hair Studio @ Tanjong Pagar Neil Rd & Tiong Bahru
So if you're thinking of cutting your hair short, there is no better time than now!
If you need some inspiration, head over to our article on 30 short and chic haircuts you can actually get in Singapore.
Sanitizers and other hygiene products, along with masks, are in high demand as all of us step up hygiene routine to combat coronavirus. Such cleaning supplies have been wiped off the shelves the moment they arrive.
Some enterprising florists however, have gone one step further to create a new Anti-Coronavirus Sanitizer Bouquet.
On top of giving flowers, these bouquets include masks, sanitizers and even condoms as they are known to be the hot items people panic buy in this season.
This is not something we would have imagined giving in 2019 but hey, the arrival of coronavirus makes this a pretty fun gift for your loved ones, don't you think?
Do you know of other trends that come about from the Coronavirus?
Share with us below!


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Jo Malone kicked off her beauty career as a facialist before founding two beauty brands
Inspired by the roses from the south of France, Jo Loves has launched a new fragrance to mark 25 years of founder Jo Malone’s contribution to the beauty industry.
Malone started off her career in beauty as a facialist before she began blending her own products.
She then went on to create her eponymous brand Jo Malone London, which she stepped down from in 2006 after selling the business to Estée Lauder.
While her most recent venture Jo Loves launched in 2011.
The new Rose Petal 25 perfume (£115) uses a blend of bergamot, saffron, lychee, rose water, Turkish rose and Bulgarian rose on a bed of rose de mai absolute, rose absolute and ambrette seed.
Commenting on the new scent, Malone said: “I have loved the scent of rose petals all my life so this year, to celebrate 25 years of being a shopkeeper, I have captured every memory of what this beautiful flowers means to me in Rose Petal 25.”
The product is now available exclusively from joloves.com and spacenk.com.


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WHERE TO WATCH
PwC Built a Game to Get Employees Digitally "Fit"
February 14, 2018
Updated 3mo ago
Tom Puthiyamadam, Digital Global Leader at PwC, said that a scoring system in its new app allows employees to gauge shortcomings and improve upon them.
Snap To Release New Spectacles With Two Cameras For $350
Nov 19, 2018
Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn Arrested for Under-Reporting Salary: Reports
Nissan Motors Chairman Carlos Ghosn was arrested following a whistleblower report that he had under-reported his compensation and used company assets for his personal benefit, according to [reports]
Nov 20, 2018
Tech and Retail Stocks Plunge, Erasing Market Gains in 2018
The U.S. stock market plunged on Tuesday ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, mostly fueled by investors abandoning tech stocks. Following disappointing earnings, declines in Target and select retailers pulled the retail sector and the markets lower still.
Nov 20, 2018
Snap CEO Keeps Long-Term Vision Despite Internal Turmoil
Despite Snap's sinking stock price and boardroom tensions, CEO Evan Spiegel is focused on the long-term, not with the worries of Wall Street. That's according to a new report from The Information. Reporter and author of the piece, Tom Dotan, joined Cheddar and explained the inner workings of the company.


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Samsung announced and showed off its new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge handsets at its Samsung Unpacked 2015 event not too long ago now, but the South Korean giant has reportedly received a huge 20 million pre-orders for their new handsets.
The news is coming from a "top executive at a leading mobile carrier in Europe" according to The Korea Times. This executive remained anonymous, but they did say: "Samsung received some 20 million pre-orders for the S6 and S6 Edge _ 15 million of S6 and five million of the S6 Edge from mobile carriers, worldwide. This is the record".
The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge handsets will be available next month in select markets.
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Bisnis Indonesia, 8 January 2019
Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Trade and Promotion Head Master P. Tumanggor on Monday (January 7) said the ever-growing demand for crude palm oil (CPO) from Pakistan might compensate for a lack of CPO demand from India and the European Union. However, he also hoped that Indonesia could sign a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with India, considering that a similar agreement has been signed between India and Malaysia. The agreement between India and Malaysia had helped to boost global CPO price for a week. Gapki Executive Director Mukti Sardjono also encouraged the government to accelerate the implementation of its PTA with Pakistan.
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CARACAS, VENEZUELA — For beer and whiskey-loving Venezuelans, Easter this year may not be an alcohol-soaked drinking fest.
President Hugo Chavez has imposed a ban on alcohol sales during Holy Week in an attempt to reduce accidents and crimes, prompting a run on liquor stores.
The decree prohibits alcohol sales on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday next week. A more limited ban -- restricting sales to between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., including at restaurants and bars -- went into effect Friday and will last through April 9.
The sudden, unprecedented measure confused many Venezuelans who raced to stash up before Friday, thinking that would be their last chance to buy for more than a week.
Items compiled from Tribune news services


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Fuel price skyrockets, as litre sells for N500 in Ondo
Petrol dealers in Ondo state have increased the price of petrol to N500 per litre.
This development followed the adjustment in the pump price by NNPCL.
This came after President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration announced that the petrol subsidy was gone.
Long queues characterised the few filling stations that dispensed the product across the state even as residents groaned over scarcity.
While many had been selling the product for N500 since the President made the announcement, others who have been hoarding the product, started selling at N500 per litre after Wednesday’s adjustment by the NNPCL.
Both independent and major marketers in the state sold the product at the rate of N500 per litre.
A commercial driver, Limidi Adeyemi, who was interviewed said most of the filling stations that are selling have increased their pump price to N500.
According to him “It’s not surprising anymore in the state because we’ve been buying petrol at the rate of N500 per litre since the President made the ill-timed announcement.
Meanwhile, commercial drivers plying both inter and intra state, have increased transport fares by 100 and 200 per cent depending on the routes.
Civil servants and students were seen tracking to their offices and school following the hike in fares.


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As Bajaj sets to launch the all new ‘next-generation’ Pulsars in the coming months, rumored to be in October to commemorate 10 years of existence of the Pulsar brand in India, we see what could be the final update that the current generation Bajaj Pulsar’s get. The upgrade is purely cosmetic. The engine now get a new coat of golden matt brown, the body gets decals that make the Pulsar come in two different combinations of colours, namely black-blue and black-red.
There is a lot of hype around the next generation Pulsar variants, which is supposed to have a all new chassis, engine tech from the KTM‘s, design on the basis of the Pulsar 135 LS expect it to be liquid cooled and a 4 valve single cylinder. October being the month that Pulsars were initially introduced, it is likely that Bajaj would want to target this month and celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Pulsar in India. There are still only speculations around what capacity these bikes would be of. We would love to see a 300-250CC LC 4V, a little too ambitious? Stay tuned as we try and bring you more inside news.


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Vivo V15 Pro specifications have been leaked just days ahead of its formal launch. The Vivo phone, which is expected as the successor to the V11 Pro, is found to sport a 6.39-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED FullView display. The upcoming smartphone also appears to have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 SoC along with 6GB RAM. Additionally, the price of the Vivo V15 Pro has also been rumoured. Vivo is launching the V15 Pro in India on February 20 and has already started teasing its key features.
Tipster Ishan Agarwal has leaked a specifications sheet on Twitter that is professed to be of the Vivo V15 Pro. The specifications sheet details the key specifications of the smartphone as well as reveals its expected price that appears to be around Rs. 33,000.
If we believe the leaked specifications sheet, the Vivo V15 Pro will come with a 6.39-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED Ultra FullView Display panel and include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 SoC, coupled 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. The smartphone also appears to have a 3,700mAh battery along with a "Dual Engine" fast charging technology.
Vivo recently confirmed that the V15 Pro will come with a 32-megapixel pop-up selfie camera, similar to the Nex that was unveiled last year. The upcoming handset was also found to have a 48-megapixel Quad Pixel primary sensor at the back -- a part of the triple rear camera setup.
However, the leaked specifications sheet shows that the triple rear camera setup of the Vivo V15 Pro will also include an 8-megapixel secondary sensor and a 5-megapixel tertiary sensor.
We weren't able to independently verify the authenticity of the specifications sheet. It is, therefore, recommended to consider the rumour with a grain of salt.
To recall, the Vivo V15 Pro is launching in India on February 20. The Chinese company hasn't revealed the price and availability schedule of the phone. However, the model appears to go on sale at least through Amazon.in in the coming days. A dedicated microsite has already been created by the online marketplace for the new model.


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American construction brand Terex has turned to Scania to power its TR60 dump truck. The company, which used to be part of General Motors, chose the 16.0-litre Scania V8, which produces 515kW (700hp) and 3183Nm from just 1500rpm. Its TR60 is a rigid dump truck that can carry loads of 55 tonnes over tough terrain. Terex, which takes its name from the combination of Latin words for earth and king, also uses 9.0-litre and 13.0-litre Scania engines for its TA articulated dump truck models.
The Victorian Transport Association has applauded the Victorian government’s decision to allow more efficient trucks to use more of the state’s road network. Under the new regime, trucks carrying ‘‘cubic freight’’, measuring up to 36.5m and weighing 68.5 tonnes will be allowed to travel on certain roads in regional areas. B-double trucks running in certain areas of Melbourne will be limited to 30m. VicRoads will have the power to allow loads of up to 77.5 tonnes, when assessing applications. The trucks must not exceed 90km/h and operators must sign up to the Intelligent Access Program and meet conditions under the Performance Based Standards scheme. The VTA says the increased access and conditions represent a fair balance.
Truck driver log books are set to be overhauled. The National Transport Commission has announced it will revise the National Driver Work Diary in conjunction with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), industry and governments. These changes are being carried out so the official log book reflects the requirements of the new regulations that have been set-up with the establishment of the NHVR this year. Log books are used to record when drivers’ working hours to ensure they are not driving, loading or unloading beyond the prescribed limits that are set to try to reduce fatiguerelated accidents.
Global sales of Volvo Trucks are at a five-year low after the first three months of the year. The value of its sales at the end of the first quarter dropped by 25 per cent compared to last year, which was particularly strong. Volvo says weak orders at the end of last year are behind the drop and that all regions, except for South America, showed weak demand. The Swedish company, which launched its new FH heavy truck in Europe late last year, says orders have increased and it expects sales to bounce back to normal in the next three months.
Unimog’s Australian importer is organising a tour of the German factory that makes the truck and those companies that produce innovative accessories for the model. Uniqco Special Vehicles imports Unimogs and has expanded to sell the tools that are designed to fit them, including Mulag tunnel washing systems, Faun waste collection and road sweepers and Zagro rail shunting gear. Interested parties can sign up for a tour that will visit the Mercedes-Benz factory where the trucks are build, a Unimog museum, the Mercedes museum, and the headquarters of Zagro, Faun and Mulag. For more information on the 11-day tour, which leaves next March, email firstname.lastname@example.org.
Terex dump truck: Now with 16.0-litre Scania V8


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Hong Kong-based Bowtie Life Insurance has raised $30 million in Series A funding and become the first company in the territory to receive a “virtual” license to provide online-only services.
Sun Life Financial confirmed it had made a strategic investment in Bowtie. The company’s other backer is reportedly Hong Kong X Technology Fund, an angel investment vehicle tied to the Hong Kong X Foundation....
Chinese gene therapy specialist Exegenesis Bio has received $20 million in Series B funding led by Legend Capital. It will be used to support clinical development of the company’s drug portfolio.
Alibaba Group has led a $300 million round for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Xpeng Motors. It comes barely two weeks after the company closed an extended Series C round of $500 million.
EDBI, the investment arm of Singapore’s Economic Development Board, has invested in Vesta, a US-based fraud and payment technology start-up with ambitions to expand into Asia.
Hana Financial has invested KRW100 billion ($85 million) in a portfolio of Korean waste to energy (WTE) projects controlled by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).


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In this second part of his report on Nigeria’s wasting agricultural land, KUNLE FALAYI digs into the country’s rice smuggling as a major problem contributing to low capacity by farmers
Crossing from the Nigerian side of the notorious Idiroko border to Benin Republic is like walking across one street to another.
Like a thoroughfare in a commercial neighbourhood, both the Nigerian side of the border and the Beninese side play host to a plethora of businesses that take advantage of the consistent traffic.
A visitor seeking to cross into Benin Republic on foot without a passport has nothing to worry about as our correspondent would learn.
With as little as N500 rolled and inserted into the waiting hand of an immigration officer sitting at a desk on the Nigerian side, one is waved through the gate that separates the tiny Francophone country from the seventh most populous country in the world.
But this is not how the Idiroko border got its notoriety.
Here, rice smugglers get rich with ease despite the fact that the Federal Government has banned the importation of rice through land borders since March 2016.
The Idiroko border yields some of the highest number of smuggled rice in the country and plays host to the most ruthless smugglers in the business.
As recently as May, a bloody shootout between rice smugglers from the Idiroko border and Customs officials resulted in the death of a driver and the burning down of some patrol vehicles of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Between January and September 2016 alone, the Nigeria Customs Service seized 5.85 million kilogrammes of rice smuggled in through the land borders. That translates to 117,000 bags in 50kg packages.
The spokesperson for the NCS, Mr. Joseph Attah, stated that the service made rice seizures 1,933 times in 2016. The total duty paid value of those seizures is N1,299,433,530 ($3.5m)
Between January and June 2017 alone, the NCS had already intercepted large scale smuggled rice 1,156 times. The seizures have combined DPV of N746, 977,000 ($2m).
Yet, findings suggest that these seizures are mere tips of the iceberg compared with the actual amount of smuggled rice which make it into the Nigerian market.
‘Rice ban made us rich, we too enrich Customs men’
Despite the Federal Government’s promise of self-sufficiency in rice production in the country before the end of 2018, the massive smuggling of rice continues to be the industry’s biggest enemy, our correspondent has learnt.
At the Idiroko border, business of rice smuggling booms more than ever.
But while the Nigeria Customs Service wages a war against rice smugglers, it struggles to track some of its men who have turned informants to smugglers.
Some smugglers told Saturday PUNCH that shipping rice in large quantities into Nigeria is almost as easy as crossing on foot at the border despite the ban on rice.
The tonnes of rice that exactly get through the land borders of Nigeria may never be known. But a two-day investigation at the Idiroko border was revealing.
At Idiroko, both rice merchants and smugglers with whom they work hand-in-hand are wary of intrusive questions that may expose their illegalities.
But our correspondent would later meet Sunday Delani (surname has been changed to protect his identity) who made startling revelations about the business.
He did not mince words in saying that rice smuggling was booming at the border in collusion with some Customs officials.
Delani laughed off the idea that bringing in rice from across the border must be tougher now since the ban.
“It has never been this easier to bring in rice to Nigeria. In fact, if we buy 10,000 bags (50kg bags) of rice this week, we will deliver it to you.”
The first time our correspondent contacted him, he was stuck in a forest with a vehicle he was using to transport a shipment of rice from across the border which had a flat tyre.
For that shipment, Delani paid a total of N2.5m to his friends in the Customs service.
He said, “This is the last batch of 2,500 bags I am bringing in and on each bag, we paid N1,000. Actually, they are supposed to be 3,700 bags but the woman I am delivering the rice to has not paid for the remaining 1,200 bags. But I am angry right now because the Customs have taken some of the bags.
“It is not unusual. After we have paid them for the shipment, they still collect a few bags, which they take to their office as seizure. We call it ‘sacrifice’.
Unfortunately, the cost of those bags used as ‘sacrifice’ would be deducted from what the owner of the merchandise is supposed to pay me.”
A few hours spent talking to some smugglers at the border soon revealed that the concept of ‘sacrifice’ was seen as a necessity by both smugglers and Customs men.
They said it is the only reason they are able to operate successfully and still help their informants among the Customs officials to save face.
Like Delani, a 41-year-old man, Victor, an apparently fake name he chose because he was reluctant to share his trade secrets, has smuggled rice into Nigeria for more than a decade.
Victor had lived most of his life in Cotonou, Benin’s port city.
When he eventually opened up, his explanation about the concept of ‘sacrifice’ was similar to what Delani said.
He said, “There are times we load up to 35 vehicles because the Customs men don’t allow large shipments at once. So, if we have a shipment of about 4,000 bags of rice, we have to share them into more than 30 smaller vehicles.
“Sometimes, they may give us discounts by foregoing the payment over three of those 35 vehicles. But on the remaining 32 vehicles, they get at least N1,000 on each bag of rice loaded in which we pay by cash during each journey.
“When it is time to offer a ‘sacrifice’, our insiders inform us and we do what is necessary. We go across the border and buy cheap and bad quality rice and load it up in rickety vehicles. We take this to a designated spot and abandon it. The Customs then take this and parade it as ‘seizure.’
“Then all you read and see is about seizures of smuggled rice in the news.”
On the day Delani took our correspondent on a tour of his customers’ shops at the border, the unassuming stocky man in his late 30s, walked around the area like he owned the place, introducing our correspondent as a prospective customer.
Since 1999, Delani had regularly smuggled goods across the border – usually rice and vehicles. To import goods legally as well, he said he is the man to call upon.
He became so familiar with the border area that when it was time for him to get married, he again went across the border to choose a Beninese wife.
Once across the border in Benin, Delani took our correspondent from one rice merchant to another, each of whom hailed him by his first name. The regular business they did together was obvious.
Each shop visited had few bags of rice, which he explained were merely for display.
In each shop, there were at least 20 different rice brands with names like Cap, Aroso, Day to Day, Simba, Happy, Nanji, Reve, Master Chef – all showing that they were products of either Thailand or India.
Delani explained that customers choose the brand of their choice and the shop owner proceeds to a warehouse to arrange the shipment.
At the shop of one of Delani’s customers, a Beninese woman popularly called Iya Aroso by those familiar with her, counted a bundle of Nigerian currency. She spoke Yoruba fluently.
“How many bags of rice do you even need sir?” she directed her question to our correspondent.
Five thousand bags, she was told.
“Can you give me till tomorrow?” she replied.
Delani would later assure that each of the traders could arrange up to 10,000 bags at a moment’s notice as long as money was ready.
“I had to quit the smuggling of rice for a while because it became increasingly hard and unprofitable. When it was legal to import it through this border, the Customs men were very tough on us. But as soon as the government banned it, some Customs men found us a solution,” he said.
What the land border ban created, according to him, is a system that allowed some Customs officials to make huge amount of money.
The 2017 National Corruption Survey released recently by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics shows that Customs officials are the fourth most corrupt government officials in the country.
Delani said, “What we were paying as import duty on rice before the ban went into the pockets of Customs men now. We are having a swell time because the ban is forcing people to patronise us. We in turn make Customs officials rich.
“Since the importation was banned last year, I have taken more than 10,000 bags of rice across the border.
The number of bags of rice I smuggle in a week depends on scarcity of rice in Lagos.”
In the two days our correspondent spent around the border, Saturday PUNCH observed that there was no sign of any vehicle conveying rice in large quantity.
Delani laughed when asked about this and went on to explain that the smuggling business had become more organised than many people realised.
He said, “I work within a group of about seven (smugglers). The least any of us handles is 1,000 bags. When people say rice importation has been banned through the land borders, people like us just laugh.
“We have a leader. How we operate is that each person shops for the rice he has been contracted to supply. Any week we have a large shipment, we gather everything together. We load them up on the same trailers.
“Sometimes, it may be 5,000 bags altogether and sometimes 4,000. Then, our leader approaches our contacts in the Customs to arrange how the cargo gets through the border.
“We pay the Customs officials N1,000 on each bag of rice and we are issued a time, date and route we could pass through that is not being monitored. Usually, we cross the border around 11pm.”
On the Benin side of the border, a five-minute motorcycle ride takes one to an expansive compound used as a park by trailers loaded with various kinds of goods waiting to cross into Nigeria.
Delani and other smugglers who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that large shipments of rice were loaded in trailers at the park.
From the trailers, they are then distributed in smaller vehicles on days of shipment. These are days when smugglers receive signals from their “friendly” Customs officials that the coast is clear for them to take their shipments across the border.
“Many of those trailers are filled with rice,” a guide said as he gestured at the hundreds of trailers parked in the compound covered with tarpaulin.
The Comptroller of Customs, Ogun State Area Command, Sani Madugu, under whose jurisdiction the Idiroko border falls, explained that it was true that rice smuggling in the area was alarming. He is also bent on fishing out corrupt officials under his command.
“We are seizing rice on a daily basis and we store them in our warehouse. Usually, we take them to the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps in the country. For instance, the Ogun State Command actually contributed 18,000 bags to the IDPs recently. That is 30 trailers of rice at 600 bags per trailer. Yet, we still have so much in our warehouses. This is how bad the problem is,” he said.
According to Madugu, it is a challenge keeping an eye on the numerous informal borders through which smugglers bring in rice on a daily basis.
He said in addition to this, motorcycles loaded with six or seven bags each and making numerous journeys through difficult terrains, were making Customs’ job increasingly difficult.
He said he was aware of the collusion with some men in the service as an intelligence unit was always on the lookout for such officials who were usually fired when caught.
He told Saturday PUNCH, “The Nigeria Customs Service is doing a lot in apprehending officers who collude with smugglers. Recently, the service dismissed some officers because they were sabotaging the efforts of the service by giving information to smugglers or helping them to get contraband through the border.
“Fighting smugglers is not an easy job because it is a very lucrative business. Some young men and women make up to N300,000 per month through petty smuggling. You can imagine how much the major smugglers make.
“However, we are devising new means to curtail their activities. And the problem is not just rice. We recently intercepted 5,000 cartons of frozen poultry products on a single night. We destroyed everything.”
Rice production Vs rice smuggling
When the Federal Government banned the importation of rice through Nigeria’s land borders as part of efforts to make the country self-sufficient, local producers and rice farmers’ unions in the country were in celebration.
Being the 11th highest consumer of rice in the world after Brazil makes the market a passport to wealth for every farmer.
But stakeholders say as long as the country is unable to control its rice smuggling problem, development in the industry will continue to be weighed down.
In November 2016, the NCS raised the alarm that one million tonnes of smuggled rice was heading for Nigeria.
in January, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development also alerted that 571,000 cheap rice had just arrived Benin Republic, adding that it was fairly certain they were headed for Nigeria.
The Managing Director of Agro Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mbaram, said whatever smuggling was going on at the Idiroko border was a tiny fraction of the smuggling being carried out at the northern borders of Nigeria with Niger.
“I have reports of trailer-loads of rice coming into the country every single day. A trailer load of rice is not a coin that you put in your pocket. It is a massive vehicle that cannot even go through bush paths. So, the fact that these trailers move on the road freely without being intercepted suggests a high level of collusion with Customs officials. The report we are getting is that the smugglers pay Customs officers at those land borders in the North up to N400 on each bag,” he said.
Import duty on rice at the seaports increased to 60 per cent but this seems to only make smuggling the solution for rice merchants who cannot afford the huge duties.
Vice President of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Segun Atho, said, “With the current duty on rice at the seaport, there is no sane businessman who would want to import rice through the seaports.
“Unfortunately, most of the smuggled rice which Nigerians eat is expired because freshly produced rice from other countries is costly.
“Some of the expired rice have been in stores for eight to 10 years and are sold for less than a quarter of the price of the fresh ones.”
Professor of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Idris Ayinde, who has conducted extensive research on Nigeria’s unsustainable food importation, explained that he was aware that rice smugglers worked in connivance with Customs officers, who are vested with the responsibility of checking the problem.
He said, “The wives of military and paramilitary officials are also involved. I personally know the wife of a top police officer who is involved. She would always have rice stocks even when all the warehouses in town are dry.
“Unfortunately, the process of smuggling, which we call border trading in economics, does not add any value to the Gross Domestic Product, which shapes the economy of a country.”
This story was supported by Code for Africa’s impactAFRICA fund and the Bill & Melinda Gate Foundation.


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After launching maternity and teen wear, Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma set to foray into UAE
When actor, producer and investor, Alia Bhatt wanted to launch a business of her own, she wanted to start something different. She launched a sustainable kidswear brand—Ed-a-Mamma.
As the company was launched during the pandemic in 2020, the team decided to first start with ecommerce at FirstCry in October of that year. The Ed-a-Mamma range now has grown from 160 options in 2020 to 1,800 in Autumn-Winter (AW'22), which is more than a 1000% increase.
Ed-a-Mamma touched Rs 1 crore top line in the first month of its launch despite being exclusively available on FirstCry. The brand recently rolled out its maternity wear range and has announced a clothing line for teens.
Natural stop towards the world
Ed-a-Mamma is now looking to expand into the UAE. In a conversation with the YourStory Gulf edition, Alia says, "It was a natural next step to expand to the UAE. We've been getting a lot of queries from other countries and the multi-cultural environment makes UAE a great location to expand the business.”
According to Iffat Haider Jivan, Business Head, Ed-a-Mamma, the GCC region opens up several opportunities.
“We wanted to take our time to understand the India market first, we are doing reasonably well, we decided to go beyond India. The UAE seemed like the right market for it,” says Iffat.
The team will initially focus on D2C and not an offline engagement. Ed-a-Mamma’s offshore office will be set up in December.
“I spent three weeks in the region and then we decided to launch the brand, it is a very strong and well thought out decision. We have seen the market and understand the gaps, we know that there are other brands that are doing well,” says Iffat.
Starting with UAE, the team also wants to expand into Europe and then different parts of the world.
Made in India for the world
Speaking of why she had started with Ed-a-Mamma Alia says, “I wanted to start my own label. When you become semi-successful, you start looking back to see if you can start something of your own. I was interested in clothes and fashion, and when I looked deeper, I realised there was no dearth of clothes or fashion labels for people in the age group of 25 to 45 years. The competition, in fact, is high.”
So shifting gears, she launched a sustainable kidswear brand. “I wanted to focus on bridging a need gap. I thought we may have to move away from fashion and focus on a gap that lies in another product. There was a need for a world-class children’s clothing brand, which is Made in India,” she adds.
Alia has also invested in the likes of Phool and Nykaa. Speaking of her investments, she says, “I invest in people. And I invest in a good story. If the story is right, the numbers will follow. Be it any role- entrepreneur, investor or actor - storytelling is my main focus,” says Alia.
Growing the brand
Iffat says the team initially had a six-month period with FirstCry, and after that, the brand was launched on several online platforms, including Myntra.
Ed-a-Mamma launched its own website in May 2021. By July 2022, it touched a top-line revenue of Rs 2 crore.
The idea is every season add something new to the product line and expand on the product line. Ed-a-Mama’s focus is on making sustainable products affordable. “We are not charging a premium to be sustainable,” adds Iffat. The team works only with SEDEX-approved factories, for fair and ethical trade practices. SEDEX is an ethical trade platform that aims to make global supply chains more efficient.
“The philosophy and ethos should not have any compromises. You cannot be sustainable without being ethical,” says Iffat.
Ed-a-Mamma Maternity Wear, for example, has been developed using natural, breathable fabrics such as cotton, linen, and viscose, which are gentle on the skin.
“The Middle Eastern countries appear to be enthusiastically working towards building a sustainable fashion regime. For example, the Arab Fashion Council (AFC), launched the AFC Green Label, supporting sustainable designers, in an attempt to promote a more ethical and responsible fashion industry in the Gulf region,” says Safir Anand, IP lawyer and strategist of Anand and Anand.
“We are planning to add more vertical categories in and around the mommy and child segment. The brand is constantly innovating to bring different products and collections in each category for different occasions and seasons. For now, our plan is to expand into teens and baby wear in the next quarter,” says Alia.
Edited by Affirunisa Kankudti


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HIGH POINT — As the managing director, investments, for Wells Fargo Advisors, James E. Holmes III has spent most of his professional career studying the impact of a global economy on individual investors, and later this month, the financial services veteran will bring that lifelong career journey to attendees at the 2023 Furniture Today Leadership Conference.
With more than 32 years of experience consulting with clients in all aspects of their wealth management needs, Holmes says he is looking forward to meeting with Leadership Conference attendees and using his skillset to help them think about their own financial goals.
“I use a client’s present and future goals to help create their financial roadmap,” he said. “I feel that wealth management planning and developing an appropriate asset allocation are two vital functions used to empower them to help make the right decisions for their lifestyle.”
As he prepares for the conference, Holmes is also monitoring global and national issues that could influence profit and financial stability in 2024. However, despite many unsettling factors in the current world economy, Holmes said that he is currently optimistic about what’s ahead next year and beyond.
“Consumers make up some 70% of gross domestic product in the U.S.,” Holmes said. “Over the past three years through a global pandemic, rapidly rising interest rates and the most significant inflation in 40 years, the consumer has remained amazingly resilient. As indicated by record home sales, durable goods purchases and consumer discretionary spending — see Starbucks’ latest earnings report — the U.S. consumer has continued to prop up the world’s strongest economy.
“While the threat of a recession, unsettled geo-political conflicts (Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Hamas conflict) and next year’s election cycle looms large, our economy has held up quite well,” he continued. “Driven by innovation and efficiency, I think the future looks bright for our country to continue as a global leader for the future.”
Prior to working at Wells Fargo Advisors, Holmes was a senior financial consultant at Stephens Inc. and financial advisor and director at Alex Brown & Sons Inc., as well as its successor, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Prior to his years in the investment industry, Holmes worked for Wachovia Bank & Trust Co., the Greater Winston Salem Chamber of Commerce and was a Vice President of the Webb Companies, a commercial real estate development firm.
A full agenda, including Holmes’ event, for the 2023 Furniture Today Leadership Conference is available on the event page. To learn more or register for this year’s event, visit the conference website.


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BY ELISSA STEIN | The windows sport “Store Closing” signs. Almost every aisle has empty shelves. A countdown of how many days are left greets patrons as they enter the front door.
Anxious conversations are occurring in supermarket aisles, at the cash registers, on sidewalk corners, in building lobbies, and at school pickups, colored with shock, disappointment, anger and frustration.
“Where will I go for basics?” is the most frequently heard concern.
In the past few years, local supermarkets have been closing and haven’t been replaced with anything comparable. The former Gristedes space on 14th St. is now a discount mart. What was once D’Agostino on University Place is the upscale Agata & Valentina. And the former Sixth Ave. storefront of Jefferson Market, another longtime neighborhood staple, remains empty.
Now, as first reported two weeks ago in The Villager, the Food Emporium, on Sixth Ave. at 12th St., is slated to close its doors, in early May.
With each closing, shoppers have faced an increasing challenge on where to find basics without having to leave the neighborhood. While some mention Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods as alternatives, they’re not. Not that there isn’t a place for an olive bar and fair-trade cocoa. But people also want the option of buying half-sour pickles and Swiss Miss — not to mention Jell-O, Brillo and Ore-Ida fries, Reynolds Wrap and garbage bags — without having to board a bus.
It’s particularly an issue for the elderly. One local resident knew of people in her building who visited the Food Emporium three times a day, since they couldn’t carry all their purchases in one trip. For such senior Villagers, traveling to more expensive stores is prohibitive, due to both the distance and cost.
And what about when the Rudin residential redevelopment project at the former St. Vincent’s brings in hundreds of new apartments?
Some have already noted an increase in their buildings’ FreshDirect deliveries. While that might be convenient for some, added deliveries will further back up already congested streets and sidewalks.
The thought of yet another drugstore in an area congested with drugstores has residents writing to local politicians, planning boycotts of Food Emporium’s new tenant and signing petitions protesting the change. Between the Rite Aid, Ricky’s, Ansonia and Bigelow’s on Sixth Ave., and the two Duane Reades on Seventh Ave., one wonders if companies think Villagers have an insatiable appetite for drugstores.
This supermarket closing is about a cash-poor parent company and a valuable location, but the bigger reality is the Village is changing. Real estate prices continue to rise and many local businesses can no longer survive. No matter how frequently we patronize our favorite shops, in the end, changing neighborhood demographics will continue to shape how we shop and live in the future.


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Twitter starts advertising for small businesses
I always wonder why Twitter is so popular and
how will it make money. I also thought that tweeting and being on twitter is a
big time waste but slowly I am learning the concept and the theory behind
twitter followers and twitter marketing. Thanks to Harrison Lee, co-founder and
CMO at Tweetalicious , a daily
deals tweet shop.
I found twitter has better impact on your followers than
displaying traditional banner ads. People usually follow what they are
interested in and what they believe in. That makes more sense.
Recently in an announcement, Twitter is unveiling an advertising
system that will enable advertisers to create and manage their marketing
campaigns and budgets without having to deal with sales representatives. This advertising
system may be similar to Google Adwords where advertisers can sign up and
create a campaign, budget and target their audience.
Here is another interesting story. Since twitter is a hot commodity,
may already be worth $10
Billion now so any business wants to use twitter to advertiser, they will
have to go through American Express credit card only. This is another way
twitter makes premium dollars. In a deal, American Express will buy $100 in
Twitter ads for each of the first 10,000 qualified businesses in the U.S. that
sign up at http://ads.twitter.com/amex .
In an interview, Twitter CEO Dick Costolo said, "I
don't look at what other companies are doing," he said. "We don't
think in terms of building this company for a particular IPO date. We are
trying to build this company for the long term."
Twitter may be the the second most popular social media networking online community after Facebook. Who knows the actual numbers but Facebook may have over 800 million users and Google+ may get 400+ million users by the end of year 2012.


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Apple has just revealed its iPhone 7 unlike its rumors which to some is a wonder to buy and to some the same old thing. Since last night Apple is trending due to its launch event in which Tim Cook unveiled the new features of iPhone 7 and 7s which will be available from September 16th and on wards in Gulf and western countries. iPhone to some is a status symbol which offers the same specs as other cell phones but with high cost.
Apple shares in Market:
Cost is a main feature to target the audience with your valuable product. Tim cook has designed this product on the same old features and there is nothing as amazing which can grab the attention of other people except the die hard Apple lovers. Apple shares have fallen in the market though last night a little boost has seen in Apple shares. 53 percent of the cellular market is owned by Samsung Company and other 13% and rest by the Chinese companies including Huawei and Xiaomi in which Apple is struggling to make its place.
Why iPhone 7 will not win hearts?
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7s will not win hearts because it has no magical feature. It has introduced the same water resistant feature that has already introduced by other companies and Sony users have experienced it quite well.
It has removed that 3.5mm jack and iPhone users will have to pay extra money to buy that wireless earphones which the company has introduced to double user experience.
Camera feature in iPhone 7s is not a new thing as Sony Xperia and Samsung Galaxy has introduced these all specs years ago and in much cheaper prices. iPhone 7s Dual camera is something which user has to experience though.
No battery life improvement (2% is not a number to boast about).
No cord with headphones and if you need you have to buy one Aux cord
People will love more wireless charging than wireless earphones which they will going to lose in 2mins.
Maximum storage of 32Gb, 128GB and 256GB
Quad core to enhance the performance
It kills off its 16GB storage
Jet black color is included which will make these phones more attractive
To most of the users one iPhone cost them their kidney and as Eid ul Azha is around the corner hence this will cost them their animal. To the Apple lovers it is effortless, wireless and magical. No matter what iPhone lovers will still going to buy it, if you are one of them then do let us know why you will buy it and which feature has impressed you much?


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GUANGZHOU, China, Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Onion Global Limited (“Onion Global”, the “Group” or the “Company”) (NYSE: OG), a next-generation lifestyle brand platform that connects the world’s fresh, fashionable, and future technology-based brands to young people in China and across Asia, today announced new strategic initiatives to upgrade the Group’s business in 2023, which include the planned launch of a new business platform (tentatively named Fairlady) by the end of 2022. To help women achieve personal growth and self-enhancement, the new platform will focus on cultivating and serving a community of female users, offering various high-quality resources and features relevant to knowledge, business, consumption, networking and social activities. The mission of the platform is to lead and accompany female users on a continuous journey of self-enhancement and empowerment.
Mr. Cong (Kenny) Li, Founder, and CEO of Onion Global, commented, “Since the beginning of this year, the overall consumer market has entered a cyclical downturn due to factors including global macroeconomic uncertainty and the ongoing impact of the pandemic on consumption. While many of these disruptions are beyond our control and will not change in the short run, our management team remains highly committed to our new business growth strategy. We believe this strategic direction will ultimately ensure our future long-term growth by enabling all-round resource integration and empowerment of our cornerstone businesses, including our excellent global brand portfolios and merchandise supply chain, as well as our social sales platform consisting of nearly 800,000 KOCs.
The key elements of our strategy include: (1) a commitment to broadening our expected future profit sources; (2) improvement of the Group’s overall internal controls and management, cost optimization and enhanced operational efficiency; (3) the launch of a platform focused on women’s personal growth and self-enhancement, to accumulate quality users on a wider scale, sustainably enhancing our scale and business value; and (4) conducting new technology research and development (“R&D”) in fields ranging from biotech-based consumer goods to Web 3.0, to maintain our competitiveness in products for future development. We believe that these strategic initiatives will drive new business growth and create new opportunities, and we will strive to execute on them to drive long-term shareholder value.”
Since day one, Onion Global has been committed to providing users with all-round platform-level consumer services through brand cooperation, brand incubation, product R&D and omnichannel marketing. Capitalizing on the rise of the female economy, based on years of analysis and insights into female consumers’ consumption behaviors and trends, Onion Global will launch a new platform for female users, providing a series of services including knowledge building, business monetization, resource connection and social interactions by accompanying their growth. These services will help women face the various uncertainties of the current environment and respond to the challenges of the era with a more flexible growth mindset, ultimately creating comfortable lives and achieving self-fulfillment.
As the internet continues to evolve, the new Web 3.0 era is also leading to changes in technologies and marketing strategies. Onion Global will proactively embrace Web 3.0 through exploring the application of new technologies, creating new spaces and scenarios for users to connect and interact through Web 3.0 technology, promoting digital virtual IPs and providing brands with live streaming and short video advertising marketing channels. The Group is also considering building an NFT platform for Chinese traditional cultural IPs. The Group will build a reliable, effective and sustainable growth model across multiple dimensions including new business, new technology and new marketing, thereby ultimately achieving success amid uncertainty.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, the Company’s forecasts, general observation of the industry, and business outlook, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “target,” “aim,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “potential,” “estimates” “continue,” “is/are likely to,” or other similar statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Onion Global’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Onion Global does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
About Onion Global Limited
Onion Global Limited (NYSE: OG) is a next-generation lifestyle brand platform that connects the world’s fresh, fashionable, and future technology-based brands to young people in China and across Asia. The Company’s mission is to be the dream factory of lifestyle brands for young people. The Company’s platform offers an integrated solution to develop, market, and distribute new and inspiring branded products, thereby reshaping the lifestyle shopping and consumer culture in China. Onion Global Limited has been listed on New York Stock Exchange since May 2021.
For more information, please visit: http://ir.msyc.com/.
Investor Relations Contact
Onion Global Ltd.
Mr. Eric Yuan
In the United States:
Ms. Linda Bergkamp


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Formula 1 Esports Series now to ChinaPosted on: Jul 26, 2019 By smartlaunch in News and trends,
Formula One launched an esports series across China on Thursday with the promise of the top two local gamers making it all the way to the Pro Draft stage of next year’s virtual world championship. For the first time in history, racing fans and enthusiasts in China will have the opportunity to take part in this sport.
The China championship starts on August 4 in Shanghai and will feature regional qualifications and finals with the best 100 going through to a Grand Final at the end of the year. Fans will be able to participate in a warm-up qualifying event at CapitaMall LuOne in Shanghai from July 29 to August 3.
The Formula One Esports Series has proven a hit globally since launching in 2017, with reported 109,000 gamers from 156 countries entering this year’s global qualifying competition. The F1 Pro Series season, which got underway in April, also doubled its prize money to USD 500,000.
Esports club Mousesports is based in Hamburg in Germany and is said to be the most successful espor..
The New York-based fashion brand Public School, has risen into the public consciousness as one of t..


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The new features for the chrome browser on theios include integrated lens support Users will soon be able to use their device’s camera to search for images, both newly captured and existing ones in their camera roll. NetChoice said that these practices include preventing customers from switch providers in search of lower costs, stronger service offerings and more innovative solutions for their businesses. The comments responded to the March request from the US Agency for information on security issues and competition in the lucrative market for data storage and computing power in the so called cloud.
The company also works with tech startups to develop in house innovations that address business challenges and implement viable projects. The company has its own formula of using technology to achieve business outcomes that hinges a lot on in house capabilities and other synergies. The company has achieved precise monitoring of differential pressure within the filter bags by using IIoT devices. With the aid of hi tech advancement, we can take immediate action to uphold stringent emissions control standards.
He said that his government wants to make this decade a “tech decade” or “Techade” during his visit to the National Science Foundation. According to the report, the US Navy, NATO and NASA are some of the agencies that have been using these chips. It calls for strict regulation and oversight of technology. generative artificial intelligence could be used for malicious purposes such as deepfakes, misinformation, identity theft and cyberattacks according to the group.
The market for high quality, indigenously developed products for the engineering and technology sectors has seen a growing demand for aluminum. The world’s largest multimedia news provider is the news and media division of Thomson Reuters. Business, financial, national and international news is delivered to professionals via desktop terminals, the world’s media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.
With China’s economy decelerating and political tensions high, corporate America has taken steps to shift away from the country. Apple opened two retail stores in India earlier this year, after moving some production to the country. Weak infrastructure and unskilled labor make it difficult for U.S. businesses to expand their businesses in India.
The fabric filters installed after the electrostatic precipitators in chimneys capture particulate matter and prevent it from escaping into the atmosphere. A partnership has been announced between a South Korean gaming company and an automotive couture icon. With this update, you can get your hands on both the La Voiture Noire and the Grand Sport Vitesse, with additional secret colour themes to unlock. The Federal Cartel Office warned the parent company of the search engine that it intended to prohibit certain anti competitive practices. According to NASA, this space rock is travelling towards Earth at a rate of kilometers per hour.
Intel Will Be Building Its Chip Manufacturing Business In The New Era
The hack poses a serious risk of identity theft and fraud for the victims and is one of the largest in US history. The personal data of millions of Americans who applied for driver’s licenses or vehicle registration has been compromised. The company confronts them with experience, data, skills and proactive action despite challenges such as legacy infrastructure.
CNBC has learned that General Atomics is nearing a deal to sell new drones to New Delhi at a time when the country is trying to beef up its security. Marriott’s Tony Capuano and Cummins’ Jennifer Rumsey will send their CEOs to India, according to multiple sources. As China’s economy weakens, top U.S. corporate executives are making it a priority to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his state visit to the White House. The PRNJ community includes over 20,000 journalists who are logging into their accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets the community to verify their identity as a member of the press.
All Media And Entertainment Can Be Viewed
The week’s most significant technology industry press releases from PR Newswire include a new laser weapon for the Air Force and humans’ struggle to identify artificial intelligence generated content. More green technologies, more renewable energy sources, and working towards net zero carbon operations are some of the ways in which Vedanta is looking to move forward. Additive manufacturing has the potential to change production processes and is one of the ways it is looking to build advanced manufacturing capabilities. Increased efficiency, reduced water consumption, improved power plant efficiency, optimised supply chain, enhanced asset management and superior quality control are some of the noteworthy results of the technology initiatives. The technology iron is hot in areas like operations, manufacturing and supply chain management through robotic process automation, to streamline and automate business and industrial processes.
A Consumer Group In Europe Warns Of Generative Ai Risks
According to sources close to Modi, the Indian leader is hoping to alleviate those concerns and see more U.S. companies commit to manufacturing there. Sources previously told CNBC that Modi met with Musk on Tuesday to discuss opening a factory in the country as well. Musk told reporters after the meeting that he will be visiting India next year, and that India has more promise than any large country in the world.
We don’t opt for off the shelf digital solutions; instead, we believe in co creating customised solutions with renowned technology giants. The company is conscious of its carbon footprint Tech News by offering a green range of aluminum. Machine learning and the industrial internet of things have been strong proponents of using technology to do so in a cost effective manner.


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By Walter P / March 13th, 2018
It has been announced that NieR: Automata has surpassed 2.5 million in shipments and digital sales. The game which was released around this time last year had reached a million last April. That number also included digital sales and numbers shipped. So how do all you feel about these numbers?
NieR: Automata is now available for the PlayStation 4 and PC. You can check out what we thought about the game here.


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The South Australian Department of Health has lifted its nearly half-year ban on the Apple iPad after a review of the device by its technology staff.
Divisions could apply for an exemption to acquire an Apple iPad if a legitimate business driver existed.
The ban was lifted on Oct. 4, some three months later than initially planned.
"Both clinical and business use of iPads is subject to an approval process within SA Health so as to ensure security and inter-operability issues are carefully considered," the department said in a statement to ZDNet Asia's sister site, ZDNet Australia.
"SA Health has a responsibility to ensure that computer assets under its control are adequately secured and are used in a consistent and appropriate manner."
Victorian Premier John Brumby has pledged over A$300,000 (US$227,640) to purchase upwards of 500 iPads for schools, and about A$500,000 (US$484,350) to supply the same number of devices to graduate doctors, nursing practitioners and advanced practice nurses to use while treating patients.
This article was first published at ZDNet Australia.


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The United States is getting ready for its long holiday weekend to celebrate its independence from British rule 240 years ago. The United Kingdom’s decision to declare its independence from the European Union last week is still rippling through the global economy generally and business travel specifically with The Telegraph reporting on the uncertainty Brexit is having on business travel.
Travel Daily News has also compiled a useful summary of travel industry reactions to Brexit. The same outlet is also reporting that nearly 40 percent of airlines don’t have an effective cash-flow forecasting solution in place to respond properly to the turmoil posed by Brexit. The Brexit vote is also adding uncertainty to the proposed expansion of London’s Heathrow Airport – one of the busiest hubs in the world, per Buying Business Travel. Ryanair is following suit, and shifting its focus on EU growth after the Brexit vote, per Buying Business Travel.
Brexit could, at least, lead to travel bargains for travelers from the United States to both the United Kingdom and Continental Europe, according to USA Today. Despite short-term benefits for American travelers to the U.K., The Economist reports that airlines and travelers could be among the biggest losers from Brexit.
According to Skift, Brand USA’s goal of bringing 100 million inbound travelers to the United States by 2021 is falling short. Brand USA is citing the 10 percent decrease in Canadian travel due to the strong dollar as one of the key culprits.
With the United States getting ready for its long Independence Day holiday weekend, USA Today examines how airports and the TSA are preparing for the year’s busy travel season. Key travel tip from the article: avoid airports on Fridays. It is the busiest travel day of the week.
American Airlines is making some changes to its shuttle service, according to Frequent Business Traveler. The shuttle services will drop one round-trip flight in the evening reducing the number of round trips between Boston and New York to 15, while the New York-Washington, D.C., route will cut back to 13 round trips eliminating two mid-day round-trip flights and one evening round-trip flight.
On the carrier side of things, Bloomberg reports that one of the airline’s with the lowest levels of customer satisfaction and on-time service – Spirit Airlines – is working to improve its status.
As far as the Big Three U.S.-based carriers are concerned, the U.S. State Department is not expected to seek official consultations with the governments of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to discuss whether Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways have unfair competitive advantages over their U.S. counterparts, according to Skift. The Big Three were claiming that their Gulf counterparts were violating Open Skies initiatives.
What are the best mid-scale hotels for travelers? USA Today conducted a survey of its Road Warriors business traveler panel and Hilton Garden Inn came out on top with many citing the size and comfort of its rooms as well as its additional amenities.
London hotel group GLH Hotels has launched a tool that allows guests to choose the exact room the want to stay in before making the reservation, per Buying Business Travel. The Choose Your Own Room feature allows travelers to view, compare and book the specific room that they want. The New York Times is reporting that many hotel spas are now offering services designed specifically to combat jet lag.
BWDisrupt cites GBTA data showing that India has been witnessing the most escalated growth rate in corporate travel in the entire world, and reports on how that growth is changing business travel throughout India.
Your list for this week comes from USA Today: