By Tae Kim The coronavirus is changing the way we work. As more governments implement stricter shelter-in-place orders, corporations and their employees are scrambling to figure out how to conduct business operations in a work-at-home world. First, new hardware is required. Sales of monitors, webcams and laptops are soaring as people build out their home […]
Archives for 2020
ETtech Top 5: VCs, founders to launch Covid-19 grant, early-stage financing drops by a third & more
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi Amazon users vent their anger over delayed deliveries What’s the news? Online shoppers have taken to social media to criticize Amazon India over delays or cancellation of orders of essential items in the past one week, after India imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown to counter the Covid-19 outbreak. Why it matters? While […]
Retailers bulk deliver to RWAs for smooth supply to societies
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi Retailers and online grocery companies have started tapping resident welfare associations (RWAs) to bulk deliver to thousands of households with minimum resources amid the Covid-19 lockdown. Hypermarket chain Spencer’s Retail has placed drop boxes in various housing complexes in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi NCR, among other cities. Residents drop their order […]
Efforts on to line up e-commerce & data laws
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi The commerce ministry, which is giving final shape to the much-awaited e-commerce policy, is soon expected to provide recommendations related to governance of data to the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), which is looking to regulate personal as well as non-personal data. Officials from MeitY as well as Department for Promotion […]
Nykaa scoops up Rs 100 crore in fresh funding from Steadview Capital
Omni-channel beauty and skincare retailer Nykaa has raised Rs 100 crore in fresh funding from existing investor Steadview Capital, the Mumbai-headquartered company announced late on Tuesday. The latest round comes at a time when risk capital investment activity has almost ground to a halt, because of the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic across the globe, […]
Big Tech takes equalisation levy row to US govt
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi A group of seven top industry associations representing internet and technology giants such as Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft and Adobe has sought withdrawal of the new equalisation levy that comes into force from April 1, due to its widespread negative impact on American companies. The associations have written a joint letter to […]
Political parties rely on technology in times of social distancing
The spread of Covid-19 and mandatory social distancing has changed the interaction methods of political parties too. Public meetings have been replaced by video and audio conferencing or communication through social media. With all outdoor activities cancelled, parties are using technology to run basic and urgent business. As the ‘most-tech savvy party’, BJP has been […]
Recovery rebate payments to be issued within 3 weeks
The IRS announced Monday that most qualifying taxpayers will receive recovery rebate payments enacted by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, P.L. 116-136, automatically within the next three weeks without having to take any action (IR-2020-61). According to the IRS, some seniors and others who typically do not file returns will need […]
Irate Amazon users vent online about delayed deliveries
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi Faced with delays or cancellation of orders of essential items, customers have taken to social media to criticize Amazon India in the past one week, after India imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown to counter the Covid-19 virus outbreak. The essentials, such as staples, fast-moving consumer goods and other household items, were ordered […]
Beleaguered cruise ship company Carnival to raise $6 billion in stock and debt, shares jump
Carnival Cruise Line’s Fascination ship. Getty Images Carnival is issuing $6 billion in stock and debt as the beleaguered cruise ship company tries to shore up its finances after suspending operations following COVID-19 outbreaks on at least three of its ships. The company said Tuesday it plans to issue $1.25 billion in stock, $3 billion in […]