Alan Clawley comes face to face with the realities of a 'low carbon' economy: "What's in it for me?"

How a warden's intervention put a life back on track.

Covid-19 has caused a huge irreparable dent in Indian retail trade which will have a devastating effect on the whole country said CAIT National President BC Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal.

The data could get worse, which “should be expected as the lockdown continues to get prolonged,” CMIE chief said. “Initially, a lockdown only hurts the most vulnerable labor that is informally employed in unorganized sectors. Gradually, it starts hitting the more secure jobs. Startups have announced lay-offs and industry associations have warned of job losses.”

Ampify is the name behind the iOS apps Launchpad, Blocs Wave and Groovebox, which have together amassed over 15 million downloads. Ampify now brings you its latest music-making software, Ampify Studio, available for free on MacOS and Windows. After announcing Ampify Studio at NAMM 2020 in LA and releasing as public beta software, Ampify Studio […]

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The Unfinished has launched the Humankind 2020 promotion, a collection of limited edition charity synth soundsets. For those who don’t know, Humankind is a collection of synth soundsets (of 64 patches each), with 50% of the proceeds going to charity. This time around I have chosen The Trussell Trust, a wonderful charity who help provide […]

The post The Unfinished launches Humankind 2020, adding soundsets for RePro, U-No-LX and The Legend appeared first on rekkerd.org.

GBR Loops has announced the release of Indian Electric Bass, a free virtual electric bass instrument for Native Instruments Kontakt. It is for those who create Indian modern romantic & sad songs. Indian Electric Bass gives you a completely natural feel of the electric bass. In Kontakt it is completely devoid of any kind of […]

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Indossa has announced the release of Classic Synths for OP-Z, a collection of samples from some classic ’80s ‘odd-ball’ synths, programmed for the OP-Z multimedia synthesizer and sequencer from Teenage Engineering. The pack also comes with some bonus 808 sounds and drum samples. 80’s Synth Waves programmed for OP-Z! Mount your OP-Z in content mode […]

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Organic Loops has released an immersive selection of authentic flute parts with Indian Bansuri Flute, a royalty free sample pack featuring a huge range of keys, tempos and playing styles. This is a huge, 2.26GB helping of flutes from legendary recording artist KV Balakrishnan (AKA KV Balu). You’ll hear riffs, melodys and hooks played in […]

The post Organic Loops launches Indian Bansuri Flute and Disco Soul & Boogaloo Rhythms appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Industrial Strength Samples has launched Pharmaceutical Movie Clips sample pack featuring a collection of vocal samples. The content provided has been sorted thru and does not contain any offensive samples that are directed to any one or any one group of people. It’s comical and pretty hardcore at the same time. Pharmaceutical Movie Clips offers […]

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SampleScience has announced the release of its free instrument plugin Analog Waveforms, featuring the basic waveforms of the Mopho analog monophonic synthesizer from Dave Smith Instruments. Each waveform has been sampled note by note across 7 octaves (each sample being 10 seconds in length) which gives an accurate and genuine sonic representation of an analog […]

The post SampleScience releases Analog Waveforms free rompler plugin for Mac and Windows appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Plugin Boutique has announced a spring sale on Soundtoys, with discounts of up to 80% off regular on its audio effects plugins. The sale includes popular plugins such as Decapitator and Crystalliser, as well as the Soundtoys 5 Bundle comprising all 21 Soundtoys plugins. Saturate, compress, and distort with Decapitator, Radiator, and Devil-Loc. Get a […]

The post Soundtoys Spring Sale with up to 80% off Soundtoys 5 Bundle & individual plugins appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Plugin Boutique has launched an exclusive sale on the Palindrome granular morph plotting sampler by Glitchmachines, offering a 75% discount for the next few days. The basic concept behind Palindrome is to fuse four granular samplers with a coordinate plotting grid and complex modulation sources in order to facilitate the creation of morphing sound effects […]

The post Glitchmachines Palindrome granular sampler plugin on sale at $19 USD appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Eventide Audio has announced the release of its new dual-voice pitch shifter plugin for Windows and Mac. MicroPitch is the latest incarnation of an iconic effect originated by Eventide in the 1970s. With each generation, Eventide has added to, refined, enhanced and built on its legendary predecessors. MicroPitch is a fine-resolution pitch shifter providing effects […]

The post Eventide’s MicroPitch pitch shifter for Windows and Mac on sale at intro offer appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Splice has launched some new samples and presets on its Splice Sounds label. Mario Luciano Sample Pack Vol. 2 — Musician, composer, and arranger, Mario Luciano is back with his second volume of sounds for Splice. Using 100% all-analog keyboards, instruments, and vintage mixing equipment to craft his samples, you’ll find some truly unique gems […]

The post Splice launches new sounds from Mario Luciano, Nicky Romero, Josh Pan and X&G, and !llmind appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Over the past few weeks, chief executives of Unilever, Mondelez, Hershey's Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola and Kimberly Clark have said India’s Covid-19 lockdown protocols had led to severe supply chain disruptions and labour shortages, hurting business in the key market.

Mondelez, owner of Cadbury’s, said its sales in the first phase of the lockdown was reduced to nil due to closure of plants, lack of have people from the distribution centers and non-availability of trucks.

FMCG major Hindustan Unilever on Thursday reported a decline of 3.93 per cent in consolidated profit to Rs 1,512 crore for the fourth quarter, impacted by the coronavirus crisis from mid-March.

The maker of Dettol and Lizol disinfectant reported best ever global sales growth for the March 2020 quarter as customers stocked up on hygiene products amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, with like for like growth up 13%, higher market share and strong growth in e-commerce.

PepsiCo India had volunteered to support the scale up of India's COVID-19 testing capacity through support provided to FIND.

In view of the fresh guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 1 and after evaluating the ground situation, the company has resumed production at all manufacturing locations, Dabur India said in a regulatory filing.

The 5.7% stake in Hindustan Unilever that is now on the market, was accepted by GSK as payment for the sale of the malted drink brand and other nutrition brands to Unilever, agreed in late 2018.

“While during the early days of lockdown basic essentials got sold, with time some discretionary sales are coming back,” said Devendra Chawla, MD at Nature’s Basket and Spencer’s Retail that saw 30-60% growth in sales for cold cuts, exotic vegetables, assorted breads and cakes, cookies, international sauces, organic range of staples in last ten days.

The staff delivering the meals wear protective gear like masks and gloves to ensure safety. Since Covid – 19 outbreak, Burger King says that it has further strengthened its restaurant procedures around food safety, cleanliness and hygiene and increased its sanitization frequency in all restaurants across the country.

The European baby care brand is planning to invest USD 2 million in the country to build their brand in addition to the launch of more than 80 products in the market.

Mothercare is the latest brand after Mango, Forever 21 and Sephora, among other global labels, to change hands from DLF Brands.

I got Michael Pollan’s book “How to Change Your Mind” because I am interested in how hallucinogenic drug use influenced the counter-culture of the 1960s. From the full title of Pollan’s book, you know it's an ambitious work. “How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence” barely fits on the front of the soft cover edition released in May. And even that doesn’t fully describe what’s inside. “How to Change Your Mind” has three distinct parts: the history of hallucinogens, descriptions of the author’s experiments taking LSD, magic mushrooms and, yes, the venom of the Colorado River Toad, and then accounts of recent research on using hallucinogens to treat addiction and depression and to help terminally ill people lose their fear of dying. That’s a lot to cover in one book. Pollan was at his best writing about the history of LSD. Pollan reports that early research found LSD was a promising

Ravi Saxena, MD, Wonderchef emphasizes that it is the best time to award industry status to retail sector for overall economic growth.

“He is well-acquainted with the working culture of large global brands, which puts him at the right position to take charge of reinforcing Stovekraft’s position as the market leader in the FMCD (fast moving consumer durables) space,” chairman and MD Rajendra Gandhi said.

“We see this second round of investment from TCA as a token of faith. We have grown 500% over the previous financial year and on track for very aggressive growth next year as well.” said Jagadeesh Kumar of The Indus Valley.

Established in 2000, Indigo Paints is a relatively new entrant to the decorative paints industry that is dominated by the like of Asian Paints, Berger and Nerolac.

From Rs 12 crore in FY09, the Pune-headquartered company, which is gunning for an IPO, closed FY19 with revenue of Rs 600 crore. Here Jalan talks to TOI about his plans for the company.

"To ensure the safety of our customers, we are recalling all TROLIGTVIS travel mugs marked "Made in India". We urge customers to return the product to any of our stores for a full refund. We apologise for any inconvenience this recall may cause," the world's largest furniture retailer said.

“There are no medical issues and this is purely a proactive initiative keeping the safety of our customers in mind,” the Swedish furniture and home products retailer said on its website, urging consumers to stop using the Troligtvis-branded travel mugs immediately.

With already three stores in Bengaluru and one in Chennai, the company now plans to open two new stores in Hyderabad with an investment of Rs 5 crore, it said. In the next 12 to 18 months, WoodenStreet further plans to open 4 additional stores in South India, along with a third store in Hyderabad.

Johan Andersson, the store's logistics boss whose team found them, had just read that hospitals were suffering from a shortage of masks amid the coronavirus outbreak so he rang up Sahlgrenska University Hospital - Sweden's biggest - in Gothenburg and asked if they were interested.

Speaking Grief is a multi-platform project that aims to create a more grief-aware society. The public television documentary, Speaking Grief, premieres Tuesday, May 5 th at 8pm on WPSU-TV. It will also air on public TV stations around the country starting this month. Our guest on this edition of Take Note (recorded from home, via telephone to observe social distancing) is Lindsey Whissel Fenton of WPSU, producer & director of the film, who talks about the project, how we can overcome the taboo against talking about grief, and how we can learn how to support those who grieve.

As a part of WPSU’s radio, TV and web project “The Vietnam War: Telling the Pennsylvania Story,” we’re bringing you oral history interviews with Vietnam veterans. Cindy Bardo talked with her friend Gaylon Klobe, who spent a career in the U.S. Army and did three tours in Vietnam.

“Come look!” announced my husband on an early spring morning over a month ago. “I have a surprise!” I followed him out to the backyard, and there rising up out of the cold brown earth, were a myriad of green stems with sheathed yellow flowers just beginning to make themselves known. “Two hundred daffodils!” my husband beamed brightly. “I planted them last fall in honor of our 50th wedding anniversary. Looks like they made it through the winter.” Although our 50th anniversary isn’t till June, we had scheduled a celebration trip to the island of Kauai in March, but as the frightening days of the corona virus quickly escalated, that trip was canceled. So many others have had to do the same, canceling weddings, spring breaks, graduations, and sadly, even funerals. So instead of sitting on a beach looking out at the blue Pacific as a rosy sun slid into the sea, we are sheltered at home looking out the windows to our leafless backyard. The bright spot, however, is that those 200 daffodils

FM Nirmala Sitharaman had announced about a 10% cut in corporate income tax in September 2019 to boost the economy.

The five per cent increases, which will take the tariffs to 15-25 per cent, and are due to roll out in stages through December and target some popular items, such as laptops, mobile phones and some shoes.

Sharing the reasons for the slowdown in the shoe industry, shoe manufacturer Pradeep Kumar said: "The main cause is the flood that most part of the country is facing. Due to sluggish sales, we are also short of funds."

Every year, leather shoes worth over Rs 3,000 crore are exported to European countries from Agra. The US and several African countries are also important destinations for Agra footwear, say industry sources.

The pandemic is also likely to catalyse the shift to e-commerce.

Puma operates 365 owned stores in India, and over the past three years, has signed up cricketer Virat Kohli, boxer Mary Kom, footballer Sunil Chhetri and actress Sarah Ali Khan to endorse its products.

According to the company, Puma's collaboration with the Indian cricket captain saw a massive rise in sales in FY2019 with sales through One8 accounting for almost 10 per cent of its overall sales, and cementing the leadership position by a wider margin.

In a letter to the brand’s business partners, Bjorn Gulden, global CEO of Puma SE, announced Ganguly’s elevation in the company adding that that he will continue to work out of Puma’s India head office in Bengaluru.

​​​​Voganow Fashion owned Brune & Bareskin sells leather jackets, footwear, bags and accessories for men on online platforms such as Myntra, Jabong and Snapdeal.

“We have bagged a multi-million dollar order from the Ministry of Defence to make rucksacks for the Indian army. It is an unchartered territory but creating an ideal rucksack for an Indian jawaan who spends maximum time outdoors in challenging terrain will be good learning. The order will be executed next year,” said Siddharth Sood, cofounder of Wildcraft India.

While early movers like Rolex, Omega and Tag Heuer entered India in early noughties, a clutch of global luxury watches like Panerai are now placing bets on the Indian market, keeping in mind a longer investment horizon. In a bid to create a deeper connect with the Indian consumers, Panerai launched two MS Dhoni special edition watches on Wednesday.