Illustration: Rahul Awasthi SoftBank-backed Oyo Hotels & Homes has laid off hundreds of employees in the US across divisions like sales, business development and HR since mid-March, recently sacked employees and company insiders told ET. As per some media reports, Oyo had previously laid off about 360 employees, a third of its then staff in […]
Archives for April 2020
With no fresh content, broadcasters rely on old classics, web shows to entertain viewers
Confined to her home during the lockdown, Gwalior-based 37-year old Mansha Kasture is reliving childhood memories with her 8 year-old daughter, Mishika, watching Ramanand Sagar’s epic ‘Ramayana’ on DD National. Kasture is amongst the current generation of parents, who are introducing their kids to old iconic classics on Doordarshan channels during the lockdown period. If […]
For many, digital payments is the way to buy essentials
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi Consumers are increasingly using digital payments to buy essential items and services such as food, grocery, medical supplies, telecom recharges and utility bills, amid the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown in the wake of the Covid-19 virus outbreak. Companies that are processing these digital payments have such transactions surge even as spend-heavy sectors […]
Netflix strengthens its parental controls with profile pin protection & more
Video streaming major Netflix is rolling out a slew of new features to strengthen parental controls on its platform. Parents will now be able to set 4-digit pins for individual profiles that prevent kids from accessing them and also creating new profiles on the service. They will also have the option of removing specific series, […]
G20 energy ministers to meet to foster global cooperation: statement
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia said it would convene a virtual meeting of energy ministers from the Group of 20 major economies on Friday “to foster global dialogue and cooperation to ensure stable energy markets and enable a stronger global economy”. A statement from the Saudi G20 secretariat said the energy ministers, speaking by video […]
House Democrats urge Boeing to take federal aid as plants shut down over coronavirus pandemic
Workers assemble a Boeing 787 Dreamliner at the Boeing Everett Factory in Everett, Washington. Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images U.S. House Democrats representing Washington state have urged Boeing to accept government aid to help weather the coronavirus pandemic after the plane maker’s chief executive balked at the possibility of government equity stakes in exchange for […]
AICPA applauds additional clarity in Treasury FAQs on Paycheck Protection Program
Late Monday night, Treasury and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released FAQs on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the $349 billion small business relief program that is a key part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, P.L. 116-136. Over the past week, the AICPA and our small business funding coalition […]
Ethical AI during a pandemic
Awesome, not awesome.#Awesome“Reading minds has just come a step closer to reality: scientists have developed artificial intelligence that can turn brain activity into text. While the system currently works on neural patterns detected while someone is speaking aloud, experts say it could eventually aid communication for patients who are unable to speak or type, such […]
ETtech Top 5: VCs want Sidbi to ease sops criteria, hiring activity falls & more
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi VCs want Sidbi to ease sops criteria The news A lobby representing private equity firms and venture capitalists has requested state-run Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) to ease the qualifying criteria for its recently announced Covid-19 Startup Assistance Scheme (CSAS). The purpose The was launched by Sidbi as an interim […]
Online pharmacies struggle to keep up with demand
Online pharmacies, including 1MG, Medlife and NetMeds, are operating at 50-70% of their capacity, as they continue to face issues related to intercity movement of goods and staff shortage, two weeks into the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown. Although warehouses are open and delivery staff moving freely, they are operating at sub-optimal capacity. Since there is […]