After nearly two weeks of peaceful protests, chaos returned to Hong Kong as hundreds of anti-government protesters threw bricks and gasoline bombs at police, who responded with tear gas. https://t.co/BLxO4v77pp
Syrian government forces massed in northwest Syria in an apparent bid to press an offensive against jihadists and allied rebels that has heightened tensions with neighbouring Turkey https://t.co/bX0405hACqpic.twitter.com/6wcDqZLZVf
At least 5 people rushed to hospital after lightning strikes tree at East Lake Golf Club following the suspension of play at the Tour Championship in Atlanta
In this introduction to his book "The Mosquito," Timothy C. Winegard profiles the creature that has changed the course of war and empire, and survived every attempt to wipe it out.
The Deadliest Hunter of Humans on the Planet? The Mosquito
In this introduction to his book "The Mosquito," Timothy C. Winegard profiles the creature that has killed the most people in history, changed the course of war and empire, and survived every attempt to wipe it out.
We are at war with the mosquito.
A swarming and consuming army of 110 trillion enemy mosquitoes patrols every inch of the globe save Antarctica, Iceland, the Seychelles, and a handful of French Polynesian micro-islands.
The biting female warriors of this droning insect population are armed with at least 15 lethal and debilitating biological weapons against our 7.7 billion humans deploying suspect and often self-detrimental defensive capabilities. In fact, our defense budget for personal shields, sprays, and other deterrents to stymie her unrelenting raids has a rapidly rising annual revenue of $11 billion.
The second-in-command of a Navy submarine was fired this week, making him the third senior leader of a ship to be dismissed in two days.
Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Cebik was removed Monday from his position as executive officer of the USS Jimmy Carter over concerns regarding his personal judgment. Two other senior officers were removed for the same thing Tuesday.
Such dismissals are by no means unusual, current and former Navy officers told the Washington Examiner. A 2004 Navy inspector general report found that 78 officers were removed for similar reasons between January 1999 and June 2004, an average of slightly more than one per month.
* Astronaut Anne McClain was accused of accessing her estranged wife Summer Worden's bank account while she was in space * Worden filed an identity theft complaint with the FTC against McClain * Her parents also filed a complaint with NASA's Inspector General * McClain said that she was just checking up on Worden's finances * Worden's parents claim that McClain's actions were part of a custody battle over her son, who she gave birth to a year before the couple were married
NASA is looking into claims that an astronaut accessed her estranged wife's bank account from space during a six-month stint on the International Space Station.
Decorated astronaut and US Army lieutenant colonel Anne McClain has been accused of improperly gaining access to Summer Worden's online bank account using NASA computers, the New York Times reported.
McClain allegedly accessed the bank account as part of a 'highly calculated and manipulated campaign' to obtain custody of Worden's son, who she had given birth to about a year before the couple got married.
Seoul (AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test-firing of a "super-large multiple rocket launcher", state media reported Sunday -- further muddying the waters for any resumption of denuclearisation talks.
Pyongyang fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles on Saturday, Seoul's military said, the latest in a series of launches in recent weeks in protest at US-South Korean joint military exercises, which wrapped up nearly a week ago.
Kim said the "newly developed" system was a "great weapon," and expressed "high appreciation" for the scientists who had designed and built it, the country's official Korean Central News Agency said.
* Adrian Darya 1, which was called Grace 1, updated destination to Mersin, Turkey * But mariners can put in any destination - so Turkey may not be its true target * The supertanker was released on Sunday night after a tense five-week standoff * Vessel had destination as Kalamata, Greece, though port couldn't offload tanker * US state department then pressured Greece not to aid the vessel, which it didn't
An Iranian-flagged oil tanker pursued by the US amid growing tensions between Tehran and Washington has changed its listed destination to a port in Turkey after Greece said it would not risk its relations with America by aiding the vessel.
The crew of the Adrian Darya 1, formerly known as the Grace 1, updated its listed destination in its Automatic Identification System (AIS) to Mersin, Turkey, a port city in the country's south and home to an oil terminal.
But mariners can input any destination into the AIS, so Turkey may not be its true port of call.
Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami says Tehran has tested a new missile, but did not provide further details.
Iran has test-fired a new missile, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said, according to the country's Tasnim news agency.
"Our country is always the arena for testing a variety of defence and strategic systems and these are non-stop movements towards the growth of our deterrent power," Major General Hossein Salami said on Saturday.
"And yesterday was one of the successful days for this nation," he said, without providing more information about the missile.
Army says it carried out airstrikes near Damascus to foil 'imminent' IRGC plot to hit sites inside Israel with UAVs armed with explosives; Syria claims it downed Israeli missiles.
Israeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes in Syria to thwart a planned attack on Israel by Iran-backed fighters using armed drones, the Israel Defense Forces said Saturday night.
The Israeli military said its strike late Saturday targeted operatives from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force as well as Shiite militias who had been planning on sending "kamikaze" attack drones into Israel armed with explosives.
The U.S. reportedly plans to open a consulate in Greenland for the first time in decades amid President Trump's interest in the island.
The State Department, in a letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, said the move to reopen the consulate in Greenland's capital of Nuuk was part of a larger plan to increase American presence in the Arctic.
The U.S. has a "strategic interest in enhancing political, economic, and commercial relationships across the Arctic region," the letter said.
WNU Editor: In my opinion, Greenland is one of the world's most valuable pieces of real estate. It is not only resource rich, but it is strategically located. And while it has ties to Denmark, the 58,000 people who live there have been governing themselves for the past decade .... Greenland Votes Massively In Favour Of Self-Rule (November 26, 2008).
On a side note, President Trump is not the only one who is interested in Greenland ....
Hanover, New Hampshire (CNN)During a town hall Friday afternoon, former Vice President Joe Biden asked a New Hampshire audience to imagine what it would have been like if Barack Obama had been assassinated when he became the Democratic nominee for president in 2008 and how it would've affected the country.
The scenario came as Biden discussed the impact that the 1968 assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy had on his own life and how that had prompted him to run for office.
"My two political heroes were MLK and Bobby Kennedy. My senior semester, they were both shot and killed," Biden said during a health care town hall at Dartmouth College. "Imagine if, God forbid, Barack Obama had been assassinated after becoming the de facto nominee. What would have happened in America?"
WNU editor: Since the beginning of this blog I have more than once mentioned my worst nightmare .... the assassination of a major world leader like the U.S. President. I know that it was a long day and he was tired, but former Vice-President Biden's hypothetical question about an Obama assassination should not have been asked. There are more than enough crazy people out there who may interpret a hypothetical question from a public figure like Joe Biden into something that it is not.
WASHINGTON -- A majority of Americans oppose impeaching President Donald Trump, according to a new poll by Monmouth University released Thursday.
The data point -- with 59% of those surveyed responding that Trump should not be impeached and compelled to leave office -- comes as Trump's approval rating remains at 40% in the same poll.
In the poll, there is a clear partisan divide on whether the House Judiciary Committee should pursue an impeachment inquiry. While 72% of Democrats believe such an inquiry is a good idea, only 39% of independents and 8% of Republicans share that belief.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y. confirmed the launch of an impeachment inquiry by his House panel earlier this month in an interview on CNN.
WNU Editor: The push to impeach President Trump started before he was even inaugurated. After two and a half years it is now time to either proceed .... as House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler confirmed he was going to do earlier this month .... or to drop the case. The ball is now in the Democrats court.
DARPA's Subterranean Challenge aims to make cave exploration a more robotic affair.
Outside its cavernous passageways, the mine's entrance is emblazoned in red lettering that reads "Safety Research Coal Mine." This site is just one of two mine systems at the Bruceton Research Center in Pittsburgh. They were once part of a full mine system but were split apart for research purposes after the U.S. Bureau of Mines leased 38 acres of land from the Pittsburgh Coal Company in 1910.
For more than a century, the U.S. government has been using these facilities to create and assess technologies that will help keep miners safe. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Pittsburgh Research Laboratory tests everything you could imagine, from how coal dust behaves to how to improve rescue missions when disaster strikes.
But tests were put on hold for eight days this August. Instead, the mines served as a testbed for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) latest endeavor: The Subterranean Challenge, or Sub-T for short.
* Leaders of the world's most affluent countries are in Biarritz after Trump threw shade at several of them * Threatened to tax French 'like they've never seen before' and said leaders at G7 are 'friends for the most part' * His kinship with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Trump's only natural ally, will be put to test at the summit * Trump's relationship with France's Emmanuel Macron is currently strained: the U.S. claims that the French leader hung the U.S. leader out to dry on Russia but the two will have an unscheduled lunch together Saturday * G7 leaders except for Trump have said that that Russia should not be readmitted * Trump and world leaders attending are expected to clash on several fronts - US wants to talk about trade and tariffs and Macron wants to focus on the climate
Donald Trump made nice with Emmanuel Macron on Saturday afternoon, breaking bread with him before the official open of the G7 at the posh Hotel du Palais in Biarritz.
Trump threatened to tax French wine and disparaged fellow leaders outside the White House. He offered a detente at Hotel du Palais, however, as he held emergency talks with his host.
He said the pair had been 'friends for a long time' and 'have a lot in common' with one another.
'And every once in a while, we go at it just a little bit, not very much,' he acknowledged. 'But we get along very well. We have a very good relationship.'
WNU Editor: The media focus is on President Trump being the disruptive force at this year's G7. But it has been French President Macron who has thrown this summit into disunity .... Macron Rips Up Agenda for His G-7 in a Fit of Climate Fury (Bloomberg).
According to a South Korean newspaper, North Korea has a special bombing range complete with mockups of South Korean F-15K Slam Eagle jets. Is this for its advanced fleet of MiGs? No, apparently the range is for its ancient An-2 biplanes.
Seoul-based Chosun Ilbo reported Thursday that outside North Korea's Sondok Military Airport, the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force (KPAAF) has intricate grass cut-outs in the shape of various pieces of South Korean hardware, including their advanced F-15K jets purchased from the United States.
Second Fleet commander Vice Adm. Andrew "Woody" Lewis, second from right, at the 2nd Fleet Establishment Ceremony on the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, August 24, 2018. US Navy/Mass Comm. Specialist 1st Class Gary Prill
* August 24 marks one year since the US Navy reestablished its 2nd Fleet, which was deactivated in 2011 as part of a cost-saving and reorganizational effort. * The world changed during those seven years, and the fleet has focused on preparing to operate high-end forces in contested spaces, writes fleet commander Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis.
One year ago in Norfolk, Virginia, aboard USS George H.W. Bush at the establishment ceremony for US 2nd Fleet, I directed the fleet to be ready to fight — ready to fight so that we do not have to.
The last time 2nd Fleet existed, the world looked very different than it does now: Today maritime superiority, vital to our national security, has been placed at risk by resurgent powers, namely Russia and China, seeking to supplant the US as the partner of choice around the world.
Infantry squads will soon experience combat training simulations that feature an enemy capable of learning soldiers' tactics and habits, so the battle is never the same twice.
Army modernization officials are counting on this type of realism from the Microsoft-built Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), which is scheduled to be ready for fielding in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021.
U.S. Air Force Major General James Dawkins, head of Eighth Air Force, the service's top strategic bomber unit, speaks at the ceremony at Plant 42 on Aug. 20, 2019.
The upgrades the B-2 and its sustainment program are getting now will have a direct influence on the capabilities of the B-21 in the future.
The War Zone recently had a chance to visit Northrop Grumman's facilities at the Air Force's Plant 42 complex as part of an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the first flight of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. Northrop said it has and continues to leverage lessons from the B-2 program to support work on the new B-21 Raider, but also highlighted how it is still adding "game-changing" capabilities to the existing Spirits, including major upgrades as part of the Defensive Management System Modernization program, as well as improving the processes for sustaining and maintaining the bombers. America's stealth bombers still have many years of life left in them and will find themselves flying alongside B-21s, at least for a period, as the Air Force begins to take delivery of the new aircraft in the next few years.
People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers shout as they practise with knives during a training session on snow-covered ground at a military base in Heihe, Heilongjiang province March 18, 2015. REUTERS/China Daily
* China's military is well on its way to besting the US's technologic edge, due to rapid economic and military development. * By stealing already-extant weapons technology, China is developing advanced weapons at a rapid pace. It's also figuring out how to disrupt the US's battlefield systems, working on long-range weapons, and leading the way on artificial intelligence. * China is also developing highly secretive weapons which might include, "directed energy weapons, advanced space weapons, electromagnetic railguns, high-powered microwave weapons, or even more exotic arms," according to former Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work.
China's military power is quickly becoming the greatest threat to US military primacy. From posturing in the South China Sea to damaging hacking campaigns, the Chinese government is investing more time and resources into its military strategy, and it shows.
A June report from the Center for a New American Security, co-authored by former Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work, outlines the ways China's strategy and technology threaten to best the US in a great power struggle — and what the US can do to maintain its military primacy.
* US president reacts to Beijing's latest move by stepping up tariffs and lashing out at 'enemy' Xi Jinping in flurry of tweets * Communist Party mouthpiece says country has the strength to continue and warns the will to defend its core interests is 'indestructible'
China on Saturday said it would continue fighting the trade war with the US "until the end" after the two sides slapped further tariffs on each other's goods.
The commerce ministry issued a statement calling on Washington not to "misjudge the situation and underestimate the determination of Chinese people" after US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on Chinese imports. "The US should immediately stop its wrong action, or it will have to bear all consequences," the statement said.
US President Donald Trump waves a Vietnamese flag as he is greeted by students during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi in February.
* The two former arch-enemies have been brought together by a combination of greed and a shared fear of emerging threats in the post-American era, Richard Heydarian writes
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
So goes an ancient Middle Eastern proverb, which has reverberated across millennia with strategic pungency. In many ways, the same logic is driving one of the unlikeliest alliances of the 21st century, namely between the United States and Vietnam.
What has brought these two former arch-enemies together is a combination of greed, in the form of booming bilateral trade, and a shared fear of emerging threats in the post-American era, especially in Asia.
And it's precisely China where these two impulses have intersected in a singular strategic focus. The upshot is a blossoming silent alliance which has grown in proportion to an intensified strategic rivalry between China and the West.
HANOI (Reuters) - A Chinese survey vessel on Saturday extended its activities to an area closer to Vietnam's coastline, ship tracking data showed, after the United States and Australia expressed concern about China's actions in the disputed waterways.
The Haiyang Dizhi 8 vessel first entered Vietnam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) early last month where it began a weeks-long seismic survey, triggering a tense standoff between military and coastguard vessels from Vietnam and China.
The Chinese vessel continued to survey Vietnam's EEZ on Saturday under escort from at least four ships and was around 102 kilometers (63 miles) southeast of Vietnam's Phu Quy island and 185 kilometers (115 miles) from the beaches of the southern city of Phan Thiet, according to data from Marine Traffic, a website that tracks vessel movements.
The Chinese vessel group was followed by at least two Vietnamese naval vessels, according to the data.
(BIARRITZ, France) — The posturing by leaders of the G-7 rich democracies began well before they stood together for a summit photo.
French President Emmanuel Macron, the host, cornered Donald Trump at the American leader’s hotel with an impromptu lunch invitation. It was something of a power move by Macron, who pushed the Amazon wildfires to the top of the agenda at a summit Trump hoped to use to persuade allies they can avoid economic disaster by following his low-tax, low-regulation mantra.
European Council President Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson traded barbs over who would go down in history as “Mr. No Deal” and take the blame for a Brexit departure from the European Union that threatens to go off the rails.
And nearly everyone kept a trade threat close at hand.
Just before boarding Air Force One for France, Trump tweeted yet another threat of new tariffs on French wine in retaliation for France’s digital services tax. Macron greeted him warmly as a “very special guest,” but had already called for an end to the trade disputes that he said threatened global growth.
Tusk said the three-day summit in the seaside resort of Biarritz would be “a difficult test of the unity and solidarity of the free world and its leaders.” For a meeting where the disputes traditionally happen in private, the results were looking grim.
Even as Tusk, who presides over the council of leaders of the 28-member European Union, said the last thing the bloc wanted was a trade dispute with the United States and called for “an end to trade wars,” he promised to retaliate against U.S. products if Trump carries through on the wine tariffs.
Macron has said the summit would not end with a final statement, as he had little expectation that Trump will agree to anything about fighting climate change even as the issue shot to the top of the agenda with the widespread fires in the Amazon . He already rejected Trump’s request to let Russia rejoin the group five years after being expelled over its seizure of Crimea. And he is trying to hold together the European line on the Iran nuclear deal over U.S. objections.
“We have disagreements, and at times there are caricatures. But I think that the great challenges that we have: Climate, biodiversity, the technological transformation, the fight against inequality, this global insecurity, we will only resolve them by acting together, by reconciling,” he said.
But sitting across from Trump ahead of their unscheduled two-hour lunch, Macron said he hoped to lead Europe toward lowering taxes, in an acknowledgement that fiscal stimulus could blunt a coming recession. He warned against escalating trade disputes, even after threatening to block an EU trade deal with several South American states, including Brazil over the Amazon fires.
Ireland joined in the threat. German Chancellor Angela Merkel disagreed, with her office saying Saturday that blocking the deal with the South American trade bloc, Mercosur, won’t reduce the destruction of rainforest in Brazil, although she backed Macron’s proposal to discuss the fires at the summit.
At last year’s summit in Charlevoix, Canada, Trump left early and repudiated the final statement in a tweet from Air Force One. This year, Macron said, there will be no final statement.
Instead, diplomats say Macron could issue his own summary of the discussions.
Lowered expectations are nothing new for the G-7, but this year’s intent seems to be just to avoid diplomatic catastrophe, salvage the possible, and show voters that their leaders have a role on the world stage. One force that could push leaders together is their joint vulnerability to an economic slowdown, especially the ones who, like Trump, are facing elections in the next year or two.
Disputes on trade have unsettled the global economy because businesses don’t know where tariffs will be imposed or what the trading system will look like in a world that has become dependent on supplies of materials, parts and goods flowing through intricate cross-border supply chains.
Given lowered expectations the most important summit outcome would be “to do no harm,” said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank in London. “Have a discussion without a bust-up, no repeat of Charlevoix, please.”
A “dream result” would be the EU, U.S. and Japan agreeing to jointly tackle their trade issues with China, but “with America-First Trump that seems too much to hope for,” he said.
All eyes will be on the dynamic between Trump and Johnson , two figures who relish the unpredictability they have sown. Johnson is under intense pressure to pull Britain out of the EU and many see his relationship with the United States as key.
“My message to G-7 leaders this week is this: the Britain I lead will be an international, outward-looking, self-confident nation,” he said.
Despite the barbs, Johnson and Tusk sat across a small table with Macron, Merkel, and Italy’s caretaker leader Guiseppe Conte, who was its prime minister until just a few days ago.
Conte is not the only G-7 leader in a weak position.
Merkel is in her last term of office. Canadian leader Justin Trudeau, up for re-election this fall, is at the center of a political scandal . Macron himself is deeply unpopular at home, and the yellow vest protesters who have plagued him since last year have followed him to Biarritz. Only Japan’s Shinzo Abe, who overwhelmingly won re-election earlier this summer, appeared solid back home.
And even Abe faced his own diplomatic tangle, as South Korea backed out of an intelligence sharing deal with Japan over a trade dispute — and over U.S. objections.
Well outside Biarritz, police fired water cannon and tear gas at about 400 anti-capitalist protesters blocking roads in Bayonne. Earlier Saturday thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully from the area to the Spanish border to demand more action against climate change and economic inequality.
Biarritz itself was in a subdued mood after being locked down during the final week of the summer break for most of France. The appropriately named Bellevue congress center where the leaders gathered Saturday night overlooks the carefully raked sandy beach beloved by surfers and swimmers alike. It was empty.
(RIO DE JANEIRO) — Backed by military aircraft, Brazilian troops on Saturday prepared to deploy in the Amazon to fight fires that have swept the region and prompted anti-government protests as well as an international outcry.
Some 44,000 troops will be available for “unprecedented” operations to put out the fires, and forces are heading to six Brazilian states that asked for federal help to contain the blazes, Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo said. The states are Roraima, Rondonia, Tocantins, Para, Acre and Mato Grosso.
The military’s first mission will be the deployment of 700 troops to the area around Porto Velho, capital of Rondonia, Azevedo said. He added that the military will use two C-130 Hercules aircraft capable of dumping up to 12,000 liters (3,170 gallons) of water on fires.
An Associated Press journalist flying over the Porto Velho region Saturday morning reported hazy conditions and low visibility. On Friday, the reporter saw many already deforested areas that were burned, apparently by people clearing farmland, as well as a large column of smoke billowing from one fire.
The Brazilian military operations came after widespread criticism of President Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the crisis. On Friday, the president authorized the armed forces to get involved in putting out the fires, saying he is committed to protecting the Amazon region.
“It shows the concern of Bolsonaro’s government about this issue,” Azevedo said. “It was a very fast response.”
The defense minister noted U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer in a tweet to help Brazil fight the fires, and said there had been no further contact on the matter.
Bolsonaro has previously described rainforest protections as an obstacle to Brazil’s economic development, sparring with critics who say the Amazon absorbs vast amounts of greenhouse gasses and is crucial for efforts to contain climate change.
The Amazon fires have become a global issue, escalating tensions between Brazil and European countries who believe Bolsonaro has neglected commitments to protect biodiversity. Protesters gathered outside Brazilian diplomatic missions in European and Latin American cities Friday, and demonstrators also marched in Brazil.
The dispute spilled into the economic arena when French leader Emmanuel Macron threatened to block a European Union trade deal with Brazil and several other South American countries. He wants Group of Seven leaders meeting at a summit in France this weekend to discuss the Amazon crisis.
“First we need to help Brazil and other countries put out these fires,” Macron said Saturday.
The goal is to “preserve this forest that we all need because it is a treasure of our biodiversity and our climate thanks to the oxygen that it emits and thanks to the carbon it absorbs,” he said.
Bolivia and Paraguay have also struggled to contain fires that swept through woods and fields, in many cases set to clear land for farming. A U.S.-based aircraft, the B747-400 SuperTanker, is flying over devastated areas in Bolivia to help put out the fires and protect forests.
Fires are common in Brazil in the annual dry season, but they are much more widespread this year. Brazilian state experts reported nearly 77,000 wildfires across the country so far this year, up 85% over the same period in 2018.
President Donald Trump’s tweeted claim on Aug. 20 that American Jews who vote for Democrats show “great disloyalty” provoked disgust and dismay among many Jewish commenters in the U.S. and Israel, who accused him of invoking a centuries old anti-Semitic trope.
Trump’s tweet came just days after he urged Israel to prevent Democratic Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from visiting the country, claiming the progressive lawmakers hate Israel and “all Jewish people.” On Aug. 21 he doubled down on his assertion that voting for Democrats was disloyal to “Jewish people and … very disloyal to Israel,” in a speech to reporters that also made reference to a right-wing conspiracy theorist’s description of Trump’s being beloved to Israelis “like he’s the King of Israel” or the “second coming of God.”
Questions of loyalty have a long history as an anti-Semitic trope, having for hundreds of years dogged Jewish diaspora communities and foregrounded political persecution in Europe. In the U.S., similar claims of dual loyalty provided a pretext for dismissal of Jewish-American leaders’ calls for earlier intervention in the Second World War, which some isolationists saw as principally a “Jewish cause.” And as recently as March this year, senior Democrats rebuked Omar over comments many saw as an invocation of the dual-loyalty trope.
In his book, We Stand Divided: The Rift Between American Jews and Israel, on sale Sept. 10, American-born Israeli writer Daniel Gordis explores the roots of the complex relationship between the state of Israel and American Jews. In a conversation with TIME—edited for length and clarity—in the wake of Trump’s remarks, Gordis discussed how the President has further complicated that already fraught relationship and why his use of Israel as an election wedge is so dangerous.
TIME: Let’s start with President Trump’s use of the word “disloyal” in reference to American Jews who vote Democrat. Why is that term so loaded?
GORDIS: Since early modernity, Jews have faced the challenge of seemingly being accepted in the societies in which they live, but at the same time being suspected of being not entirely of those societies. The greatest example of that is of course Germany at the beginning of the 20th century, where Jews were doing very well; they were welcomed into some of the professions and making their way in academia. But underneath the surface there was always this question of, ‘Are the Jews really German? Can you really be a German, or a Frenchman, or what have you, if you’re a Jew?’ And of course, in Europe, that exploded in the early 20th century, and then with the Third Reich went beyond anything anybody had imagined. So for Jews this notion of dual loyalty has always been a red flag.
How different were the circumstances faced by Jewish people who emigrated to the U.S. in the early 20th century, in terms of this notion of dual loyalty?
It seemed that America was going to be the exception to the longstanding issue. But it was never quite that simple. Woodrow Wilson said—not just to Jews but to millions of immigrants making their way to America—that you can’t have any other nationalist loyalties and still be really American. On the surface, of course, there’s nothing problematic about that: here’s a President welcoming immigrants. But he’s saying if you want to be in, we want you all in. [Then] comes the Balfour declaration [of British support for a Jewish state], and that puts American Jews in an exceedingly difficult position. The way American Jews chose to manage the tricky road, between the declaration of a Jewish State on the one hand and their loyalty to America on the other, was a kind of soft-pedal Zionism. They gave money and made other contributions but they were not the enthusiastic embracers of Zionism many Jews in Eastern Europe became. It appeared that this worked. It seemed for a long time that Jews in America were really an exceptional diaspora community, in the sense that their situation was an exception to the hundreds-of-years-old pattern.
Trump, and some of his Jewish-American supporters, later suggested he was referring to disloyalty to Israel rather than to the United States. How do you read that?
Even if Trump did mean disloyal to Israel—which I don’t think he did—who is the President of the United States to tell American Jews about their loyalty to an entirely different country? It’s worth remembering that a couple of months ago, Trump met with a group of American Jews shortly after he had spoken to Netanyahu. He said to them, “I’ve just spoken to your prime minister.” Of course, Netanyahu is not their prime minister; they’re American citizens, not Israelis.
In We StandDivided, you quote Israeli essayist A.B. Yehoshua, who said American Jews are “partial” Jews while Israelis are totally Jewish, while also examining depictions from writers like Amos Oz and Philip Roth of what it means to be Israeli or American Jewish. Where do Trump’s statements fit in the spectrum of views on that subject?
American Jews have a longstanding fraught relationship with Israel—for the reasons mentioned above, and in recent decades it’s gotten more complicated because of the [Israeli-Palestian] conflict. American Jews, especially the 70-something percent who vote Democrat, are looking at the relationship with Israel through almost suspicious eyes. How is Israel going to embarrass us? How is it going to compromise our progressive values? How is it going to compromise our standing with African Americans and so forth? What Trump has done is made Israel a partisan political issue. American Jews now worry that this is becoming something like abortion or gun control, that the policy needle is going to shift depending on the who the president and congress are.
Doesn’t Netanyahu bear some responsibility for that politicization? His campaign team put up pictures of him with Trump in Tel Aviv during the campaign season, and it appears that he caved to Trump saying Israel should ban Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from visiting.
Friends in government tell me Israel really was going to let the two Congresswomen in. They weren’t going to be happy about it, but they were going to do it, because they understood that not doing so looked terrible. A lot of people believe it was that Trump tweet that drew a line in the sand. I do think Netanyahu going to a joint session of Congress in the Obama years, when he was not wanted by Obama, was a big mistake. But at the moment he is trying to navigate uncharted waters with Trump. It’s important to remember that the typical Israeli sees the U.S. recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and the moving of the embassy to Jerusalem and they think “Trump is our friend.” Portraying himself as Trump’s partner serves [Netanyahu] well in election season.
We StandDivided discusses the differences between Israel as a “particularist” state, in its Jewishness, and the U.S. as a universalist one—but the U.S. is clearly struggling now with questions of who gets to be American. Is that dynamic changing?
America’s greatness was Emma Lazarus’ “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” America was so good to the Jews because it was fundamentally welcoming of everyone who wanted to make the best of what America had to offer. The minute you undermine America’s universalist acceptance, you undermine the very bedrock of what has made America such a safe haven for the Jews. When you couple that with the distinctly anti-Jewish sentiment of white supremacists, and with the synagogue shootings, [President Trump’s rhetoric is] making America a very different place: much less hospitable and much less safe for Jews.
As an American-born Israeli author who spent the first 40 years of his life in the U.S., how do you personally feel about Trump’s questioning of Jewish-American loyalty?
As someone who is very American and Israeli at the same time, I can say that it’s a sad, sobering and somewhat frightening time. Trump is at the core of that. Trump making Israel one of his pet issues is going to make American Jews’ relationship with Israel more fraught and more complicated and in the end, that’s just not good for the Jewish people. Jewish people have always stuck together through thick and thin, no matter what they disagreed about politically or theologically. Trump is a much greater danger to the future of the Jewish people than most people recognize.
(BIARRITZ, France)— Police have fired water cannon at about 400 anti-capitalist protesters blocking roads in a town near the venue of the G-7 summit in southwest France.
A few protesters threw rocks at police but the crowd in Bayonne was largely peaceful, with some activists dancing.
Police responded with warning shots and then water cannon. The incident took place near a bridge barricaded by police as part of extensive security measures around the Group of Summit meeting that opens Saturday.
Earlier Saturday thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully from the area to the Spanish border to demand more action against climate change and economic inequality. U.S. President Donald Trump is among leaders at the summit that runs through Monday.
(LONDON) — Britain’s Prince Andrew responded to intense media scrutiny of his links to Jeffrey Epstein by issuing a statement Saturday denying any knowledge of criminal behavior by his one-time friend who killed himself in a New York jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
“At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction,” Andrew said in the written statement, referring to Epstein’s 2008 conviction after pleading guilty to prostitution-related state charges.
Epstein served 13 months behind bars. Andrew again said it was a “mistake” to visit Epstein after his release in 2010.
Queen Elizabeth’s son also expressed “tremendous sympathy” for Epstein’s victims.
Epstein, 66, killed himself Aug. 11 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy.
Saying he wanted to clarify their “association,” Andrew said, “I met Mr. Epstein in 1999. During the time I knew him, I saw him infrequently and probably no more than only once or twice a year. I have stayed in a number of his residences.”
Saturday’s statement was not the first time Andrew has commented on Epstein.
Earlier this month, Andrew rejected suggestions he may have been involved in Epstein’s crimes. That statement came after the Mail on Sunday newspaper obtained a Dec. 6, 2010, video showing Andrew inside Epstein’s New York home waving goodbye to a young woman. The video was recorded after Epstein’s 2008 conviction.
(HONG KONG) — Hong Kong protesters threw bricks and gasoline bombs at police, who responded with tear gas, as chaotic scenes returned to the summer-long anti-government protests on Saturday for the first time in nearly two weeks.
Hundreds of black-clad protesters armed with bamboo poles and baseball bats fought with police officers wielding batons on a main road following a march against “smart lampposts” that was sparked by surveillance fears.
The chaotic scenes unfolded outside a police station and a nearby shopping mall as officers in riot gear faced off with protesters who set up makeshift street barricades.
The violence interrupted nearly two weeks of calm in Hong Kong, which has been gripped by a turbulent pro-democracy movement since June.
Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd after repeated warnings “went futile,” the government said in a statement. By early evening, most of the protesters had dispersed.
Earlier in the day, some protesters used an electric saw to slice through the bottom of a smart lamppost, while others pulled ropes tied around it to send it toppling and cheered as it crashed to the ground.
The protest march started peacefully as supporters took to the streets to demand the removal of the lampposts over worries that they could contain high-tech cameras and facial recognition software used for surveillance by Chinese authorities.
The government in Hong Kong said smart lampposts only collect data on traffic, weather and air quality.
The protesters chanted slogans calling for the government to answer the movement’s demands. The protests began in June with calls to drop a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong residents to be sent to China to stand trial, then widened to include free elections for the city’s top leader and an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality.
“Hong Kong people’s private information is already being extradited to China. We have to be very concerned,” organizer Ventus Lau said ahead of the procession.
The semiautonomous Chinese territory has said it plans to install about 400 of the smart lampposts in four urban districts, starting with 50 this summer in the Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay districts that were the scene of Saturday’s protest march.
Hong Kong’s government-owned subway system operator, MTR Corp., shut down stations and suspended train service near the protest route, after attacks by Chinese state media accusing it of helping protesters flee in previous protests.
MTR said Friday that it may close stations near protests under high risk or emergency situations. The company has until now kept stations open and trains running even when there have been chaotic skirmishes between protesters and police.
Lau said MTR was working with the government to “suppress freedom of expression.”
Also Saturday, Chinese police said they released an employee at the British Consulate in Hong Kong as scheduled after 15 days of administrative detention.
Simon Cheng Man-kit was detained for violating mainland Chinese law and “confessed to his illegal acts,” the public security bureau in Luohu, Shenzhen, said on its Weibo microblog account, without providing further details.
The Chinese government has said that Cheng, who went missing after traveling by train to mainland China for a business trip, was held for violating public order regulations in Shenzhen, in a case that further stoked tensions in Hong Kong, a former British colony.
The British government confirmed his release.
“We welcome the release of Simon Cheng and are delighted that he can be reunited with his family,” the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement, adding that Cheng and his family had requested privacy.
Cheng, a Scottish government trade and investment officer, was a local employee without a diplomatic passport.
The Global Times, a Communist Party-owned nationalistic tabloid, said Thursday that he was detained for “soliciting prostitutes.” China often uses public order charges against political targets and has sometimes used the accusation of soliciting prostitution.
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THE WEST is on the cusp of a "world war" against China and Russia, an expert has sensationally claimed - adding that there is already a "war situation" developing between Washington and Beijing.
THE AMAZON rainforest has been hit by record numbers of fires this year as blazes continue to rage across the 'lungs of the planet'. So how can you help?
WILDFIRES in the Amazon rainforest have hit record numbers, with satellites from space capturing the thick smoke that has covered more than half of Brazil. Express.co.uk brings you the latest size and containment news and the most up-to-date satellite images and maps.
THE EU has responded fiercely to US President Donald Trump's threats of trade tariffs, claiming that it will protect bloc member states from economic belligerence with "genuine determination."
LPSC Recruitment 2019 – Walk-in for 87 Technician Apprentice Vacancies. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre is expecting for the eligible candidates to fill the Apprentice Vacancy. LPSC has announced a circular for 87 openings. Selected candidates will be placed on Kerala. Hence interested candidates can attend the walk-in and make the job yours. Liquid Propulsion Centre @ www.lpsc.gov.in. recruitment planned to conduct walk-in on 7th September 2019. Selected aspirants will provide training for 1 year in the respective trade.
Diploma completed candidates who are searching for Central Government Jobs can use this chance released under lpsc.gov.in LPSC Recruitment for Apprentice job. Technician Apprentice vacancies are available under various trade. Eligibles make use of this great opportunity and get LPSC Careers. Refer to the below-mentioned section for the eligibility criteria, application fee, and selection process. The application also refers to the LPSC Recruitment Notification form more details. It is important that aspirants appearing for walk-in should satisfy the eligibility criteria as per the LPSC Notification.
Candidates who want to work in Liquid Propulsion Systems Recruitment 2019 must meet the following Eligibility Criteria. Aspirants who have completed Diploma and willing to work in Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, ISRO can apply for this LPSC Vacancies 2019. Job Seekers are selected for these Jobs based on the performance in Walk-in. Individuals go through this article to know more information about Eligibility criteria and many other details regarding LPSC Recruitment for Technician Apprentice Jobs. Get all the latest updates about the board and their recruitment details @www.lpsc.gov.in.recruitment.
Educational Qualification:
First Class(not less than 60%) in Diploma (3 Years) from a State Technical Board/ University in the respective trade
Age Limit for LPSC Careers:
Maximum Age Limit – 35 Years
Age Relaxation:
SC/ ST – 40 Years
OBC – 38 Years
PWD – 45 Years
Apprentice Stipend:
Candidates selected for the ISRO LPSC Careers will get a stipend for 1 year during the training period as
Rs. 3542/-
Application Fee:
Do a check through the LPSC Recruitment 2019 Notification for Application Fee details.
Selection Process:
Walk-in-Interview.
How to Apply for Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre Recruitment 2019?
Download the LPSC Recruitment 2019 Notification.
Read the given eligibility details completely.
Make sure that you are eligible for the LPSC Apprentice Job 2019.
Eligibles can attend the Walk-in with your Curriculum Vitae and essential document copies.
Appear for the walk-in on a scheduled date and time.
Walk-in Venue:
Government Polytechnic College, Kalamassery, Ernakulam District, Kerala – 683104.
Liquid Fluid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC) is the lead Center for development and affirmation of earth-to-circle impelled drive stages for Launch Vehicles and besides the in-space impetus frameworks for Spacecrafts. The LPSC activities and workplaces are spread over its two grounds viz., LPSC Headquarters and Design Offices at Valiamala/Thiruvananthapuram, and Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Unit at LPSC, Bangalore/Karnataka.
LPSC is vested with the obligation of the plan, progression and structure planning of unrivaled Space Propulsion Systems using Earth Storable and Cryogenic Propellants for ISRO’s Launch Vehicles and Satellites. Progression of fluid control valves, transducers, power the board devices and other key pieces of Liquid Propulsion Systems are similarly under the area of LPSC.
LPSC Valiamala is the Center Headquarters, accountable for R and D, System Design/Engineering and Project Management limits. The Fluid Control Components Entity and the Materials and Mechanical Engineering Entity are arranged here isolated from the Earth Storable and Cryogenic Propulsion Entities, managing the inside endeavors of the Center.
Delhi University Recruitment 2019 – Apply Online for 91 Assistant Professor Vacancies. The University of Delhi invites Online Application from the eligibles to fill up the openings for Assistant Professor. Candidates who have completed MD or equivalent in the respective trade can apply for the DU Professor Vacancy. The DU Recruitment Portal receives Online Application form from 21st August 2019.
Aspirants worked as Senior Resident or Tutor or Demonstrator or Registrar in a concerned specialty for 3 years are eligible for the Delhi University Recruitment 2019. DU Apply Online Link will be opened until 11th September 2019 for the Assistant Professor Post. Aspirants looking for Teaching Jobs in Delhi can apply for Delhi University Recruitment.
Overview of Delhi University Assistant Professor Jobs2019
Eligibility Criteria for DU Recruitment Assistant Professor Job
Educational Qualification:
Completed MD/MS/DNB/ MBBS with M.Sc./ M.Sc. with Ph.D./ M.Sc. with D.Sc. from a recognized institution/ university.
After completing the Post-graduate degree should have teaching experience for 3 Years as Senior Resident/ Tutor/ Demonstrator/Registrar in a concerned Specialty in a recognized teaching institution.
Age Limit for DU Recruitment:
Maximum Age Limit – 40 Years
Delhi University Recruitment Age Relaxation:
Age Relaxation for SC/ST/OBC and PwBD candidates will be offered as per Government of India norms.
Salary Details:
Candidates selected for the Delhi University Recruitment 2019 will get a salary based on the Pay Level 11 of 7th Central Pay Commission Pay Matrix, in various Departments.
Application Fee:
UR/OBC/EWS Candidates – Rs. 500/-
SC/ ST/ PwBD/ Women Candidates – NIL
Pay the Application Fee through Demand Draft in favor of “Principal, University College of Medical Science, Payable at Delhi.
Application Fee is Not to be Refunded.
Selection Process:
Interview.
How to Apply Online for Delhi University Recruitment 2019?
Click on the Apply Online link and get into the Registration Page
Complete the Registration Process and note down the Registration Number and Password
The University of Delhi, calmly known as Delhi University (DU), is a college open central school, arranged in New Delhi, India. It was built up in 1922 by an Act of the Central Legislative Assembly. As a college school, its standard limits are segregated between the academic parts of the school and joined forces schools. Containing three schools, two assets, and 750 understudies at it’s setting up, the University of Delhi has since transformed into India’s greatest establishment of higher learning and among the greatest on earth. The school starting at now includes 16 assets and 86 workplaces scattered over its North and South grounds.
The Vice-President of India fills in as the University’s chancellor.DU is a person from the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Association of Indian Universities, and Universitas 21, an overall arrangement of research-genuine colleges.DU has graduated various prominent graduated class, including seven heads of state or government and two Nobel laureates.
Central Administrative Tribunal Recruitment 2019 – Apply Offline for 72 Vacancies. Center Administrative Tribunal Authorities has advertised a notification to fill eligible candidates for the vacancies. Aspirants can make use of this great opportunity to get Central Government Job. There are 72 Vacancies allocated for Registrar, Caretaker, Stenographer, and Other Posts. Eligibles who want to apply for Central Administrative Tribunal Recruitment can apply through Offline mode. Aspirants can send your application from 24th July 2019.
The last date for the receipt of Application form is 30th August 2019. Candidates will be selected on deputation basis for a period of one year. The Aspirant who wishes to apply for the Central Administrative Tribunal jobs should meet the below eligibility condition details like educational qualification, age limit. We have provided the eligibility details as per the notification. The eligibility for the as follows.
Overview of Central Administrative Tribunal Recruitment 2019
Central Administrative Tribunal Vacancy 2019 Details
Post Name
No.of. Vacancies
Registrar
05
Joint Registrar
04
Deputy Registrar
05
Principal Private Secretary
01
Deputy Controller of Accounts
01
Court Officers/ Section Officers
24
Private Secretary
07
Accounts Officer
07
Assistant Library and Information Officer
02
Court Master/Steno
05
Junior Accounts Officer
03
Caretaker
06
Stenographer
01
Photocopier
01
Total
72
Eligibility Criteria for Central Administrative Tribunal Recruitment 2019
Educational Qualification:
Registrar/ Joint Registrar/ Deputy Registrar
Completed a degree in Law
Experience – Minimum 5 years of regular service in the grade of Pay band-3
Court Officers/ Section Officers/ Caretaker
Completed a degree from a recognized university/institution.
Holding analogous post on regular basis. or
Persons working under the Central / State Government / High Court / Subordinate Courts
Experience – Minimum 8 Years regular service in the posts of Assistant or equivalent in the scale of Pre-revised Pay Band-2 (court officer)/ Pay Band-1 (Caretaker)
Refer Official Notification for further details.
Age Limit for Central Administrative Tribunal Recruitment:
Maximum Age Limit – 56 Years
Age Relaxation:
As per the Govt. Norms.
Salary Details:
Post Name
Salary
Registrar
Rs. 37,400 – Rs. 67,000/-
Joint Registrar
Rs. 15,600 – Rs. 39,100/-
Deputy Registrar
Principal Private Secretary
Deputy Controller of Accounts
Court Officers/ Section Officers
Rs. 9,300 – Rs. 34,800/-
Private Secretary
Accounts Officer
Assistant Library and Information Officer
Court Master/Steno
Junior Accounts Officer
Caretaker
Stenographer
Rs. 5,200 – Rs. 20,200/-
Photocopier
Application Fee:
Do a check through the Central Administrative Tribunal Recruitment 2019 Notification for Application Fee details.
Selection Process:
Written Examination
Interview
How to Apply Offline for Central Administrative Tribunal Recruitment 2019?
Click on the Central Administrative Tribunal Notification.
Download and read the given details carefully.
Download and take a print out of Central Administrative Tribunal Application Form is given below.
Fill all the details like your name, DOB, educational details, etc..
Enclose important documents if it is asked.
Finally, post the application form to the address given below on or before the last date.
Postal Address:
Principal Registrar, Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, 61/35, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi – 110001.
Important Date for Central Administrative Tribunal Recruitment 2019
Starting Date to Submit the Application Form
24th July 2019
Last Date to Submit the Application Form
30th August 2019
Important Links for Central Administrative Tribunal Job 2019
The Central Administrative Tribunal had been set up under Article 323 – An of the Constitution for arbitration of debates and grumblings with regard to enlistment and states of administration of people designated to open administrations and posts regarding the issues of the Union or different specialists under the influence of the Government. In the announcement of item and reasons on the presentation of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 it was referenced. The Central Administrative Tribunal is going by Hon’ble Chairman Sh. Equity L. Narasimha Reddy, previous Chief Justice of High Court of Patna.
There are 66 Hon’ble Members in different Benches of the Tribunal out of which 33 are Legal Members, including the Hon’ble Chairman and 33 are Administrative Individuals. Subject to different arrangements of the Act, a Bench comprises of one Judicial Part and one Administrative Member. The Central Administrative Tribunal has been built up as a master body including Administrative Members, what’s more, Judicial Members who by ideals of their particular learning are better prepared to administer expedient and powerful equity. The states of administration of Hon’ble Chairman and Members are equivalent to the material to a Judge of High Court according to the Administrative Tribunals (Amendment) Act, 2006 (1 of 2007), which happened on 19.02.2007
KMC Recruitment – Apply Offline for 165 Staff Nurse Vacancies. Kolkata City NHUM Society announced a job notification for 165 Staff Nurse Post. KMC Application form for the Staff Nurse post will be accepted from 02nd September 2019. However, the duly filled application should be submitted on or before 09th September 2019. Make sure you are fulfilling the eligibility conditions that are prescribed for the Staff Nurse Post in KMC Recruitment Notification.
Aspirants shortlisted by the engagement panel will have posting at Urban Primary Health Centers of different boroughs under KMC on a contractual basis. This Notification is released for the candidates having a residence at West Bengal and registered properly in the Nursing Council. Interested be soon with the application process. Applications will be accepted only during a short period.
KMC Staff Nurse Recruitment 2019 under NHUM Society
Eligibility Criteria for Kolkata Municipal Corporation Recruitment 2019
Educational Qualification:
Completed B. Sc Nursing Course / GNM Training course from an institution recognized by Indian Nursing / West Bengal Nursing Council.
Should be registered under West Bengal Nursing Council.
Possess good proficiency in Bengali.
Age Limit:
Maximum Age Limit – 64 Years
Age Relaxation:
As per the Govt. Norms.
Salary Details:
Rs. 17,220/- Per Month
Application Fee:
Aspirants willing to apply for the KMC Recruitment have a check through the Notification for Application Fee details.
Selection Process:
Panel for engagement will shortlist the applications based on the mark obtained on basic qualification.
Interview
How to Apply Offline for Kolkata KMC Staff Nurse Recruitment 2019?
Click on the KMC Job Application Form link given below
Download and take a print out of it.
Enter all the required details in the Application Form.
Paste your recent Photograph.
Attach photocopies of essential certificates.
Take a Xerox of the duly filled application form.
Finally, submit the application form with the xerox copy of the application form and other documents listed below at the address provided below.
Essential Documents attached to the KMC Recruitment Application form
Age Proof (Madhyamic or equivalent examination certificate)
All mark sheets and pass certificates of the academic area
West Bengal Nursing Council registration certificate.
Category/ Caste Certificate
ID Proof (Aadhar Card/ Passport/ Voter ID)
Address Proof (Aadhar Card/ Passport/ Voter ID)
NOTE – Application can be submitted from 02nd September 2019 (11.00 AM – 04.00 PM) to 09th September 2019 (11.00 AM – 04.00 PM) excluding the holidays.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation or KMC (once in the past Calcutta Municipal Corporation or CMC) is responsible for the urban system and association of the city of Kolkata. This city administrative body regulates an area of 205 square kilometers (79 sq mi). Its witticism, Purosree Bibardhan, is recorded on its image in Bengali substance. KMC is passing by Firhad Hakim the present Mayor of Kolkata.
Under the heading of the essential Minister of Local Self-Government in Bengal, Sir Surendranath Banerjee, the Calcutta Municipal Act of 1923 made a game plan for the liberation of women and the choice of a Mayor of Kolkata consistently. Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das was the essential Mayor of KMC with Subhas Chandra Bose as his Chief Executive Officer. Later community executives fuse Deshapriya Jatindra Mohan Sengupta, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bidhan Chandra Roy, Nalini Ranjan Sarkar, Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque, and for the 2010–2015 and 2015–2018 term, Sovan Chatterjee.
HP Police Bharti Recruitment 2019 – Apply Offline for 92 Constable Vacancies. Himachal Pradesh Police Department has advertised a notification to fill up 92 Vacancies. Interested can drop your application for the CTS Constable Posts. HP Police Recruitment Application Process starts from 21st August 2019. Individuals interested in Police Jobs can make use of this opportunity. For more details read the below section and check with your eligibility level.
Aspirants who have completed diploma after matriculation can apply for this HP Police Recruitment. Candidates will be selected on the basis of direct recruitment by considering the scores in written test, Physical Efficiency, and Personality Test. Qualified candidates will get posting on Shimla. Aspirants should submit the handwritten application form either personally or through register/ speed post on or before 1st September 2019.
Overview of HP Police CTS Constable Recruitment 2019
Eligibility Criteria for HP Police Constable Recruitment 2019
Educational Qualification:
Passed 10th/ Matriculation from a recognized board.
Completed Engineering Diploma course in Computer Science/ Electronics & Communication/ Information Technology from a recognized university/ institution.
Age Limit:
Maximum Age Limit
General/ EWS – 25 Years
Age Relaxation:
SC/ ST/ OBC – 27 Years
Home Guards (General/OBC/SC/ST/Gorkhas) – 28 Years
Ex-Servicemen – 45 Years
Physical Standards:
Name of the Category
Male
Female
Chest (for male candidates only)
General.
5′-6″.
5′-2″.
31″X32″.
SC/ST.
5′-4″.
5′-0″.
29″X30″.
OBC.
5′-6″.
5′-2″.
31″X32″.
EWS.
5′-6″.
5′-2″.
31″X32″.
Home Guards (General/OBC).
5′-6″.
5′-2″.
31″X32″.
Home Guards (SC/ST).
5′-4″.
5′-0″.
29″X30″.
Home Guards (Gorkhas).
5′-4″.
5′-0″.
29″X30.”.
Ex-Servicemen (General).
5′-6″.
–
31″X32″.
Ex-Servicemen (SC/ST).
5′-4″.
–
29″X30″.
Salary Details:
Rs. 5,910 – Rs. 20,200/- Per Month
Application Fee:
General candidates – Rs. 140/-
SC/ ST/ OBC/ BPL/ EWS – Rs. 35/-
Pay the application fee through Demand Draft or IPO in favor of Superindent of Police, HP.
HP Police Recruitment Selection Process:
Written Test.
Physical Efficiency
Personality Test.
How to Apply Offline for HP Constable Recruitment 2019?
Download the Official Notification given below.
Go through the given details completely.
Ensure if you are eligible for the HP Police Recruitment.
Download the Application form through the link given below.
Fill the application form as your own.
Enclose all the necessary documents as required.
Post the application form to the concerned address.
Postal Address:
Superindent of Police, Communication & Technical Services, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-171002.
Himachal Pradesh Police go under the direct control of Department of Home Affairs, Government of Himachal Pradesh. The Himachal Pradesh Police is going by Director General of Police (DGP). Himachal Pradesh as political element appeared on fifteenth April 1948. It was established by incorporating the regal States of Chamba, Mandi, Suket, Sirmaur and 26 littler states known as the Punjab Hill States. Along these lines, in 1954 Bilaspur, which was then a section “C” State, was likewise converged with Himachal Pradesh. In 1960 District Kinnaur was cut out of District Mahsu which was prior established by blending 27 slope states. After the re-association of Punjab in 1966, Shimla, Kangra, Kullu, Lahaul, and The area was additionally converged with the Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh.
Locale Kangra was trifurcated, what’s more, Una and Hamirpur Tehsils were made into isolated Districts. A few territories of Mahasu District were converged with Shimla District while the others framed the new Region of Solan. In request to guarantee appropriate organization of Police work, an official of the status of Supdt. of Police in British India was selected. In 1948, after the constitution of the Union Territory, endeavors were made to streamline the Police power in the State to carry it at standard with different powers of the India Association. The Police power drawn from various States having changing foundations, what’s more, conventions were amalgamated to frame the H.P. Police.
Download ICDS Syllabus Pdf for Supervisor (Female Only), Anganwadi Workers & Anganwadi Helper (आंगनवाड़ी सेविका और आंगनवाड़ी सहायिका) exam 2019. The Candidates who have applied for the notification can check the latest syllabus along with exam pattern here. Check the below section of this page to get more information about the Integrated Child Developer Services Exam Syllabus 2019.
ICDS Syllabus 2019 Pdf
Integrated Child Developer Services board wants to examine Female Supervisor, Anganwadi Helper & Anganwadi Assistant exam. The Eligible candidates who applied for this post can get the examination details here like Syllabus, Test Pattern, Exam Date & Other.
Candidates can also get the Integrated Child Developer Services Exam Pattern. Getting placed in any kind of Central Government job is not that easy as simple. An individual need to prepare a lot to get qualify in this examination. Thus, We have updated all the required ICDS Test Pattern and Exam Syllabus here. Contenders can get it for free of cost. To know more details about ICDS Syllabus aspirants can check the below sections of this page.
WBPSC ICDS Syllabus 2019 Pdf – www.icds-wcd.nic.in
Applicants who are applying for the Female Supervisor, Anganwadi Supervisor, Anganwadi Helper & Other posts can go through the below links for the detailed Syllabus –
WB PSC ICDS Supervisor Syllabus 2019 is updated here. Applicants who have applied for the Female Supervisor Posts can get here the complete West Bengal PSC ICDS Supervisor Syllabus along with Exam Pattern. Download the syllabus pdf from the below sections.
Under the Department of Women & Child Development & Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal a total of 2954 vacancies is released for the posts of Female Supervisor. Aspirants who have applied for the Supervisor posts need to appear for the Written Examination. The Preliminary Examination is going to be conducted on 11th August 2019Postponed to 01st September 2019. So, aspirants go through the complete ICDS Supervisor Exam Syllabus 2019 here.
ICDS Supervisor Selection Process:
Preliminary Exam
Mains Exam
Viva Voce Test
ICDS Female Supervisor Exam Pattern 2019
WBPSC ICDS Prelims Exam Pattern 2019
Subjects
Total Marks
Duration
General Knowledge
100
1 Hour
Arithmetic
Reasoning (Verbal & Non-Verbal)
The written examination will consist of Objective Type Questions
The total questions will be 100 and the total marks will be 100
The total duration of the examination is 1 Hour
There will be negative marking for every wrong answer
WB PSC ICDS Mains Exam Pattern 2019
Name of Paper
Subject
Full Marks
Duration
Paper I
English
100
90 min
Paper-II
Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Nepali/Santali
100
90 min
Paper III
General Studies & Current Affairs
100
90 min
Paper IV
Arithmetic
100
90 min
The mains examination will consist of Descriptive Type Questions
Integrated Child Developer Services board is going to conduct the Anganwadi Helper & Anganwadi Assistant exam. Applicants who have applied for ICDS Recruitment can get here the complete ICDS Anganwadi Helper & Assistant latest Syllabus. Also, get the updated Integrated Child Developer Services Anganwadi Exam Pattern. Thus, We have updated all the required ICDS Anganwadi Helper & Worker Test Pattern and Exam Syllabus here.
Integrated Child Developer Services (ICDS) has released various vacancies for the Anganwadi Supervisor, Anganwadi Helper & Anganwadi Worker posts. Its a great opportunity for the aspirants who are searching for Central Government Jobs across India. So, go through the below ICDS Anganwadi Helper Syllabus Pdf link.
ICDS Anganwadi Supervisor Selection Process
Written Examination
Interview
Integrated Child Developer Services Test Pattern 2019
If the ICDS Board conducts any written examination than aspirants can proceed on with the below-given Exam Pattern and Syllabus Details.
S No
Name of the Subject
1
General Awareness
2
Reasoning
3
Computer Knowledge
4
English
5
Aptitude
The exam will be in Objective type.
The subjects in this exam are General Knowledge, English, Computer Knowledge, Reasoning, etc.,
The Integrated Child Developer Services Board announced a Notification in Employment News to conduct the Anganwadi Helper & Anganwadi Assistant exam in the coming days. The Exam date will be announced soon once officially released. For any kind of Competitive or Entrance exam Syllabus and exam pattern is very important. Because this will help the individual to get good marks in the examination. Well, We have updated all the required ICDS Anganwadi Assistant exam syllabus along with Test pattern here. Candidates can download it for free of cost. To get more related jobs like ICDS Recruitment candidates can check here Government Jobs.
Download ICDS Anganwadi Assistant Syllabus 2019
Here Aspirant can find subject wise Integrated Child Developer Service Anganwadi Assistant & Helper Syllabus. Contenders are advised to make use of this article and prepare well for this exam. The Subject-wise ICDS Anganwadi Syllabus is given below.
ICDS Syllabus 2019 – General Awareness
Important Dates
Books and Authors
Awards and Honors
General Polity
Capitals of India Abbreviations
Countries and Capitals
Sports
Indian Economy
Science Inventions and discovers
Science & Technology
National & International Organization
Current Affairs
Budgets Five years plans
Games
Anganwadi Assistant Syllabus 2019 – General English
The above given ICDS Anganwadi Assistant & Helper Syllabus and Test Pattern are for the sake of candidate’s Preparation. Aspirants can also check the Official Website www.nalanda.bih.nic.in for more information about the ICDS Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2019. Good Luck !!
Are you searching for UPTET Syllabus 2019? Then, bingo!!! you are in the right destination. Here we have given UPTET Recruitment 2019 syllabus along with exam pattern details. However, go through the entire article to score better marks in the exam and get selected for the post.
UPTET Syllabus 2019 Pdf
UPTET Job Notification 2019 yet to release by Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Board (UPBEB) for various posts in the upcoming months. Interested candidates keep in track with this article to get all the updates related to UPTET 2019 notification syllabus in Hindi.
UPTET exam contains 2 papers organized by UPBEB Board through which primary schools (Class 1 to 5) and upper primary (Class 6 to 8) Teachers recruited. Aspirants who want to teach students from class 1 to 5 need to pass paper 1. Similarly, applicants interested in teaching students from class 6 to 8 need to pass paper 2. To crack the exam successfully it is important to prepare according to syllabus & exam pattern for the exam. Further, check the below section to know the exam details.
To crack the exam successfully it is important to understand the exam pattern. it gives an idea about the structure of the exam and the type of questions asked in the exam. Check the table given below to get detailed exam pattern information.
Uttar Pradesh TET Paper 1 Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2019
Topics
No of Questions
Exam Duration
Mathematics
30
150 Minutes
Child Development and Teaching
30
Language 1 (Hindi)
30
Language 2 (English, Urdu, Sanskrit)
30
Environmental Studies (EVS)
Thirty (30)
Total
150 Q
UPTET Paper 2 Exam Pattern & Syllabus 2019
Topics
No of Questions
Exam Duration
Language 1
30
150 Minutes
Language 2
30
Child Development and Teaching
30
Science & Mathematics OR Social Science
60
Total
150 Q
The exam will be of objective type questions.
Qualifying marks will be 90.
UPTET Exam Paper will be bilingual in both Hindi & English
Uttar Pradesh Adhyaapak (अध्यापक) Syllabus 2019 in Hindi Pdf
The detailed syllabus of UPTET Primary & Upper Primary Teachers in present under this section. Candidates can also download UPTET official syllabus pdf through the link that is given in the below section of the article.
Uttar Pradesh Teacher Eligibility Test Syllabus 2019 Paper 1 Exam
The important topics to refer to crack paper 1 exam successfully is given in this section. Check it out !!!
UPTET Primary Syllabus for Child Development & Pedagogy
The concept of development and its relationship with learning
Principles of Child Development
The basic processes of learning and teaching, learning strategies of children, as a social activity, learning: the social context of learning.
Child as a Problem Solver and a Scientific Investigator
Understand child’s errors as an important concept of learning in children, important steps in the learning process. Inspiration and sensations, inspiration and learning
Factors contributing to learning
Child-centered and progressive education concepts
The critical vision of the formation of intellectualism
Multi-dimensional intellectualism
Linguistic and contemplative society as gender formation: gender roles. Gender bias and educational behavior
Explain the differences based on the diversity of individual differences, language, caste, gender, community, religion among the learners.
Differences between assessment and evaluation of learning for learning, school-based assessment
Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation: Sense and Behavior
To evaluate the level of preparation of learners; Preparation of suitable questions for classroom teaching and thoughtful thinking and achievement of the learner.
Effect of heredity and environment
Socialization processes: Social world and child (teachers, guardians and friends)
Piaget, Colberg, and Vygotsky: Construction and Illustrated Perspectives
UPTET 2019 Syllabus Language Hindi
Language Comprehension
Pedagogy of language development
Spotting error/ Sentence Correction
Idiom and Phrases
Fill in the blanks
Antonyms and synonyms
Uttar Pradesh UPTET (English/Urdu/Sanskrit) Language Syllabus
Language skills
Comprehension
Pedagogy of language development
UP TET Maths New Syllabus in Hindi Pdf
Number system
Shapes and geometry
Data handling
Measurements and units
UPTET Environment Syllabus 2019 in Hindi Pdf
Family and friends
Shelters
Water, travel
Things we make and do
Food and nutrition
Syllabus of UPTET 2019 Paper 2 Exam
The topics to refer before going to attend the paper 2 exams is given under this section. Read further to know more about it.
UPTET Child development & pedagogy Syllabus in Hindi
Child development concept
Inclusive learning and understanding language children with special needs
Learning and pedagogy
UP TET Syllabus for Language I (Mandatory/Compulsory)
Unseen Passage
Language Pedagogy
Grammar
UPTET Syllabus for Language II (Mandatory/Compulsory)
Mathematics – Number system & simplification, percentage & ratio, time, work, speed &distance, algebra & mensuration, geometry, average, profit & loss, pedagogy of mathematics
Science – Food & Materials, How things work, moving things, people and ideas, natural phenomenon and resources, the world of the living, pedagogy of science
Social studies – History, geography, social and political life, economics and static GK, UP Related questions, social studies pedagogy
UPTET Syllabus 2019 – Important Links Need to be Considered
Welcome to IOCL Trade Apprentice Syllabus 2019 page. Candidates who are applying for the posts of Trade and Technician Apprentice can get here the complete syllabus details along with the exam pattern. However, here we have updated the Syllabus and Exam Pattern for Apprentice in the sections below. Have a clear look and understand the IOCL Syllabus and Exam pattern details. The IOCL Syllabus & Exam Pattern gives an overview of the Written Examination. So, Check details and download the free Pdf from the link given.
IOCL Apprentice Syllabus 2019
Getting the right syllabus before any examination is the best thing any aspirant can get. So, here we provide the right syllabus along with the Exam Pattern. Candidates who have applied for the posts of Trade & Technician Apprentice can go through the details mentioned below. Aspirants can get here the Indian Oil Corporation Limited Apprentice Exam Pattern 2019.
The Indian Oil Corporation Limited Recruitment is released for the Trade & Technician Apprentice posts for 176 vacancies. The application process will start from 5th August 2019 to 18th August 2019. Visit the recruitment.guru IOCL Notification 2019 page given below to know more details.
IOCL Trade Apprentice Selection Process
Candidates applying for the posts of Trade and Technician Apprentice need to undergo the following selection criteria:
Written Examination
Interview
IOCL Trade Apprentice Syllabus 2019 Details
IOCL Trade Apprentice Accounts Exam Pattern 2019
S.No
Topics
No of Questions
Time
1
General Aptitude including Quantitative Aptitude
100
90 Mins
2
Reasoning Ability
3
Basic English language Skills
The Exam Pattern for the Various posts under Trade Apprentice i.e. Fitter, Electrician, Electronic Mechanic, Instrument Mechanic & Machinist and under Technician Apprentice i.e. Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Civil, Electrical & Electronics & Electronics are given below:
Want to find AP Grama Sachivalayam Syllabus Pdf 2019? Then, you are in the right place for your search. Here you can find the Syllabus for AP Grama Sachivalayam Jobs 2019. However, for much more details go through below sections of the article and start preparing for the exams. Can also get additional details at ap.gov.in website.
AP Grama Sachivalayam Exam Syllabus 2019
Andhra Pradesh Grama Sachivalayam Syllabus hast not yet released by the Board yet. But, here we have given exam pattern & syllabus details that can be referred to prepare for the exam successfully. Later, as soon as the AP Board releases the AP Grama Sachivalayam exam pattern & syllabus details it will be updated here.
AP Grama Sachivalayam Notification 2019 pdf for the post of Grama engineer, Digital assistant, MPEO, Lineman, Gopalamitra, Women police assistant & others will be released soon. Totally 40000 AP Sachivalayam vacancies are expected this time by Andhra Pradesh (AP) Government. Since the exam date is not yet announced, we will update the official dates as soon as AP Grama Sachivalayam notification PDF is released. The applicants can apply from 15th July to 15th August 2019 by checking AP Grama Sachivalayam Apply Online 2019 details present on the official site.
Andhra Pradesh Grama Sachivalayam Jobs 2019 – Overview
Description
Details
Board Name
Government of Andhra Pradesh
Exam Name
AP Grama Sachivalayam Recruitment 2019
Post Name
Grama engineer, Digital assistant, MPEO, Lineman, Gopalamitra, Women police assistant, Electricity helper, NREGA Assistant
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Arun Jaitley will be best remembered for two landmark reforms — the goods and services tax (GST) and the insolvency and bankruptcy code — that he ushered in as finance minister. Jaitley, who played a key role in the elevation of Narendra Modi as the party's PM nominee, was entrusted with as many as three ministries when the NDA government came to power in 2014. Later, he came to function as a sort of a super-minister and a troubleshooter for the government, and was often called in to guide reforms in other ministries as well. However, health issues forced him out of active public life after the Modi government returned to power in 2019. A look at Jaitley's record:1. Goods and Services TaxThe biggest tax reform in decades, rolled out in July 2017, has found a better foothold now after some initial glitches. Jaitley's untiring patience during long negotiations with stakeholders before and after the rollout is widely acknowledged. He is also credited with getting all the states on board.2. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)This might well be regarded as a bigger reform than GST in the years to come. For the first time, an orderly, timebound framework was in place to deal with bankruptcies. CRISIL has said Rs 70,000 crore has been recovered via IBC in FY19. Quoting an Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India report, it said almost Rs 2.02 lakh crore of debt pertaining to 4,452 cases has been settled even before being admitted under IBC.3. Monetary Policy CommitteeJaitley was instrumental in ensuring a clear framework was in place to set interest rates under a panel of govt nominees and RBI officials, and in also setting an inflation target (4%) for the central bank.4. NPA Clean-upThe process of cleaning banks' books began under Jaitley's watch. It has helped at least some state-run banks post better numbers. 70822438 5. Bank ConsolidationAlthough earlier governments had expressed the need for and benefit of merging state-run banks, the process started when Jaitley was FM. Five associate banks of State Bank of India and Bharatiya Mahila Bank were merged with SBI, and Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank were merged with Bank of Baroda.6. Macro StabilisationJaitley often said how the Modi govt has transformed a "weak economy". Macro indicators Improved dramatically under his watch. India emerged from the Fragile Five category to become a "bright spark", he would say. 70822459 7. FDI LiberalisationJaitley pushed foreign direct investment reforms and batted for higher overseas investment limits in defence, insurance and aviation, among others. Foreign Investment Promotion Board was abolished for smoother flow of overseas money. 70822468 8. Budget ReformsJaitley was for advancing the budget date to improve public spending. Under him, the govt also did away with the presentation of a separate railway budget.War on Benami DealsHe led the Modi government's anti-black money crusade. He offered black money-holders a chance to come clean through an income disclosure scheme. Then came the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill to crack down on benami deals.Other ReformsA panel headed by Jaitley decided to raise buffer stocks of pulses by over five times instead of tame rising prices. As finance minister, he also steered the financial inclusion drive of the NDA government.
NEW DELHI: Oil is once again proving to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi's friend when his government is making efforts to fend off a possible slowdown in the pace of economic growth. Crude prices dropped sharply on Friday, the day finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a slew of measures to boost business confidence and pump-prime the economy.US crude plunged over 3 per cent to $53.58 per barrel as China announced fresh tariffs on US goods, clouding hopes of revival in global demand. Right on cue, global benchmark Brent, which is more pertinent for India, fell 2 per cent , or $1.19 to trade at $$58.75 per barrel.The price drop could not have come at a better time and will support steps to revive growth. Cheaper oil keeps macroeconomic parameters such as CAD (current account deficit) and inflation in the comfort zone by reducing crude import and subsidy bills. 70813541 Low oil prices will help boost demand and reduce input cost for farmers who use diesel to run farm equipment. Lower subsidy liability frees up funds for social sector and infrastructure spending, which are expected to drive economic activity.A Macquarie Capital report suggests every $10/ barrel fall in oil prices reduces import bill and CAD by $9-10 billion, or 0.43 per cent of the GDP.When Modi took oath as PM for the first time in May 2014, India was paying about $108 per barrel for the mix of crude it buys, known as the 'Indian basket'. By the third year into Modi's first term, the price had more than halved to about $48 per barrel. The crash allowed the government to mop up resources by raising fuel tax and splurge the money on big-ticket social sector schemes.Something similar is happening again. Exploiting the window of heavy downward pull on oil prices, the government raised fuel tax by Rs 2 a litre in the budget to garner about Rs 20,000 crore this fiscal. Another round of fuel tax hike cannot be ruled out if oil continues to slide.The Economic Survey for 2018-19 had projected subdued oil prices as demand concerns on the back of economic slowdown outweighed worries over supplies tightening as a result of extended production cut by OPEC-plus grouping amid loss of Iranian shipments due to US sanctions.Oil has been on an upswing since 2017. Global marker Brent topped $80 per barrel around the time of Karnataka assembly election in May 2018, forcing the government to cut tax twice as fuel prices hit record high. Since then prices have been on a downtrend, except for brief spell beyond $70 in May, and dropped below $60.
State Bank of India Chairman Rajnish Kumar on Saturday said most banks have a comfortable liquidity position and emphasised the need for credit flow in the economy.Kumar also said that India is a part of the world economy, and if there are global headwinds, "we cannot remain unimpacted".Kumar, who was in Guwahati to attend consultation process designed to generate ideas and review performance of banks and their alignment with national priorities, said, " The finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced 32 measures on Friday which are very qualitative in nature. The purpose of these measures to clear many irritants from banking and taxation side. I consider these very significant" He added, "The system right now, in terms of liquidity and enablers for flow of credit right condition is made by government and Reserve Bank of India. The issues and challenges which were coming in the flow of the credit it has been addressed and the finance minister has announced that some more measures will come up which may be can be sector specific.""Banks like SBI are sitting on a comfortable liquidity position. What is needed is flow of credit. There is some new trend about aggregator model... people prefer to use Ola, Uber for their transport. There is some shift visible from people wanting ownership of vehicles. This is a global trend and India is not an exception," Kumar told reporters.He added, "Many of the thing which was on the wish list of the industry has been addressed and soon we will see the credit flow."Kumar said that it is not a recession, in certain sectors there is decline in demand, particularly in auto. "Decline in auto sales is a global trend. However there is no shift in demography in India. Aspiration of youths has not changed. We are country which want higher growth trajectory however we are part of larger global economic systems. When there are global headwinds we cannot remain unimpacted." Kumar hoped that good monsoon will have a positive impact.Increased spending by the government and the upcoming festival season would boost demand. "The second half will be good for economy and banking. The government has announced that it will clear all payments this will improve the credit flow. Right now it more of government intervention however I am hopeful that private sector investment will also revive." Stating the non-performing assets (NPA) level has improved in Assam in comparison to last year, Kumar said, " The bank is working in making service points available in the tea estates of Assam and West Bengal."The SBI chairman announced that blueprint of social banking and the consultative meeting on ideation will be ready by September.
It was a spur-of-the-moment holiday plan for Arvind Singh, a 36-year-old IT professional in Bengaluru, and his family. His wife, Amrita, told him that their two children, ages 10 and 6, had a three-day holiday coming up and they were all very keen to go somewhere. If they tacked on another two days, they could do a five-day trip to Kerala. The only hitch? Some of Singh's money was stuck in the form of delayed travel reimbursements from his office. "So I searched online and took a loan. The good thing was I didn't have to run around to get it processed," says Singh, who took a holiday loan of Rs 70,000 from digital lender Qbera at 14% interest, a rate he is comfortable with, especially when the repayment period is stretched over a year. Singh says he will definitely consider the same option the next time they make a spontaneous holiday plan. Singh is one of the many customers driving the sudden spurt of Indians taking a loan to go on a holiday. The market is at a nascent age but players in both the travel and lending industries confirm that the initial signs are promising. Thomas Cook, in its Summer Trends 2019 report, reported a 50-60% jump in travel loans over the past one year while online travel booking firm MakeMyTrip says travel loans are the fastest growing payment option on its platform today. Digital lender Kissht, which enables customers to pay through EMIs for making purchases even without owning a credit card, says the travel loan segment has grown 60% in the last couple of years (admittedly, on a low base). Similarly, Tata Capital Financial Services says travel is one of the top two reasons customers are availing of personal loans, a category that's been growing 60-65% in the past year-and-a-half for the company. This is a sea change from a few years ago when, Thomas Cook says, there were hardly any takers for the personal loan option it offered to customers making bookings through the company. "It did not take off then because people felt travel was not something they should take a loan for. So we started something called a 'holiday savings account' where you could save for a holiday you will take the next year through a recurring deposit, which is the opposite of a holiday loan. But in the last two years, the loan segment has suddenly opened up," says Abraham Alapatt, president, Thomas Cook India.Daniel D'Souza, president and country head (leisure), SOTC, says the company had a similar experience: when it offered the option of paying for travel via loans, 15 years ago, there were no takers. "But in the past 1-2 years, this has changed and we are also pursuing this aggressively," says D'Souza. 70821806 Multiple reasons are driving this trend, including the overall surge in the number of Indians travelling, both abroad and within the country. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation, 50 million Indians are estimated to travel abroad in 2019, more than double the number in 2017. Domestic tourist visits, too, have increased multi-fold, to 1.65 billion in 2017 from 220 million in 2000. The desire for instant gratification is another driver, with millennial customers, in particular, preferring to travel sooner and not being averse to taking loans for it. Then there is the "affordability and accessibility" of credit, says Qbera founder Aditya Kumar, particularly with the entry of digital lending players that offer instant loans with less cumbersome procedures. If your credit score and other data are in order, the money can hit your account the same day. "These are typically unsecured loans given to customers on the basis of their risk profile and the companies they work with. The rate of interest, about 13-14%, is not too high," says Vivek Chopra, chief product officer, Tata Capital Financial Services. "There is growing awareness over the last few years about using credit to pay for things. That's why we are seeing this jump," says IndiaLends cofounder Mayank Kachhwaha, adding that unsecured credit in general continues to be an under-penetrated category. An IndiaLends study found a surge of 50% in loan applications in the holiday season. Customers typically tend to be between the ages of 25 and 35 years, are located in metro cities and have incomes starting at Rs 35,000 take-home pay a month. Loan sizes vary from Rs 30,000 to a couple of lakhs. "The average would be Rs 50,000," says Lizzie Chapman, cofounder of online lender ZestMoney, which is seeing travel loans growing 100% year-on-year. A quick loan also suggests that travellers do not have to make plans much in advance. SOTC's D'Souza says the company has had customers who wanted to travel to Phuket the next day for a holiday. "And we have helped facilitate that." 70821811 Buoyed by the spike, both travel and lending companies are optimistic about prospects. This is also considered a relatively low-risk category of borrower, since travel indicates a degree of affluence unlike, say, a personal loan to cover hospital expenses. MakeMyTrip, which launched its own credit offering nine months ago apart from tie-ups for loans with banks, is planning to double down on the category. "We are gung-ho about this and are in advanced talks to tie up with two more NBFC partners," says Sumit Agarwal, vice president of online products at MakeMyTrip. Tata Capital Financial Services is running a beta version to offer existing customers end-to-end instant personal loans online, which will be sanctioned in two hours. "Very clearly, there's a shift from asset-based lending to consumption-driven lending," says Tata Capital's Chopra, who says this growth is likely to continue. Ranvir Singh, founder of Kissht, says, "It's a category with a big opportunity, if trends in countries like China are anything to go by."
NEW DELHI: Essential hygiene products such as sanitary napkins, hand wash, disinfectants and adult diapers may soon come under price control. The government is finalising a list of essential hygiene products, which is likely to form the basis for expansion of price control from medicines and medical devices to other important health products.At present, there is only a National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), which also includes some critical medical devices. While the government is revisiting NLEM to make relevant additions and omissions, it is also preparing separate lists for medical devices, disposables and hygiene products.While a price-control regime for hygiene products is in the works, for medicines the government currently regulates prices of around 384 essential medicines, including medical devices such as stents, by imposing a cap on their maximum retail price. For all other drugs, companies are allowed to hike prices by up to 10% annually (on a 12-month moving average basis). Besides, the government has also imposed a cap of 30% on trade margins for 42 cancer drugs."The list of essential hygiene products is in its final stages and is likely to be released over the next two months," an official involved with the process told TOI. The list will be divided into two categories — primary and secondary. While products in the primary category will be price-controlled, the government will ensure availability of even those categorised as secondary at reasonable prices.Once the list is notified, a Niti Aayog committee will take a call on whether there will be an overarching ceiling price or a cap on trade margins. An official indicated it could be a mix of the two — while there can be a price cap for items on the primary list, trade margin limits may be prescribed for those on the secondary list.According to the official, many of these products are commonly used and contribute substantially to household expenditure on health. Though these products are not categorised as pharmaceuticals, they are healthcare products that play a significant role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and are often also used in various medical purposes.However, many of these products, including sanitary napkins, sanitisers and diapers, are exorbitantly priced with soaring trade margins.The practice of using pieces of cloth and rags is still highly common among rural and urban poor. Apart from inadequate awareness, absence of low-cost sanitary napkins is another problem."The idea is to ensure that all these products are available and affordable to the common people as they play a crucial role in disease control and maintaining health and hygiene. Some of these products will be available for free at primary and community health centres," the official said.The list is being drafted by a sub-committee formed under the standing national committee on medicine and health under the secretary, department of health research, and Indian Council of Medical Research director general Balram Bhargava.The standing committee on affordable medicine, under the chairmanship of Niti Aayog member V K Paul, will take a final call on price rationalisation of any medicine and healthcare product. However, the list of essential products will form the basis of price rationalisation by this committee.
Flipkart, founded in 2007, redefined India's internet commerce industry in a decade. It developed the cash-on-delivery model and made its own billion-dollar logistics unit in an economy rife with a fractured logistics system. After building a business up from scratch, the ecommerce company stirred up the market further in 2018 when Walmart acquired it for $16 billion. All this while, another potentially mammoth business was sprouting under its shadows.The foundation of this business came from Flyte, the digital music and content business Flipkart tried to build in 2012. But the online music store couldn't beat the odds. Neither e-wallets nor paying for music were widespread in India then. A bunch of other reasons also led to the venture closing within a year. But the lack of a smooth online payment process had planted the seeds of a potential money-spinner: a payments platform.The brains behind Flyte, Sameer Nigam and Rahul Chari, used the learnings from their failed venture to exit Flipkart and set up PhonePe in 2015, hoping to ride the coat-tails of India's exploding digital payments ecosystem. Their decision was vindicated in April 2016 when Flipkart acquired PhonePe. It has held its own even against market leader Paytm, which has funding from Alibaba Group and SoftBank. In March, Flipkart approved spinning off the mobile payment platform as a separate unit. PhonePe is now in talks to raise $1 billion, giving it a valuation of $7-8 billion. 70822943 Flipkart's bet is not unfounded. Nigam and Chari, who are back in the company where their idea had germinated, have grown PhonePe's base rapidly. About 12 months ago, PhonePe had under 800,000 businesses on its platform. Today it has over 5.8 million and is adding nearly a million every month. It had 55 million monthly active users in June 2019, against 23 million in June 2018. PhonePe's monthly transaction volume was 335 million at the end of July 2019 from 111 million in July 2018. 70822950 Market leader Paytm, in comparison, has over 350 million monthly active users in June 2019, against 120 million in June 2018. It has seven million businesses on its platform and logs a monthly transaction volume of over 400 million. Though the gap is wide, the competition has taken up the gauntlet. Paytm plans to take its transaction volume from 5.5 billion at the end of 2018-19 to 12 billion by 2019-20. 70822959 The challenge for PhonePe is not just getting more users, but also getting them to spend more on its platform. According to data from market intelligence firm Kalagato, HDFC Bank's Payzapp topped the charts in terms of monthly average transactional value at Rs 2,743.3, Mobikwik was Rs 1,141.6 and PhonePe was third at Rs 973 in March 2019. However, Chari, who is the CTO of PhonePe, says that unlike the competition and the global investor community, PhonePe tracks other metrics such as daily active users as it builds the business. The company has slowed cash burn by reducing cashbacks and other handouts to bring consumers and businesses on board. "We focus on acquisition, retention and share of wealth," he says.Payments business has a lot of scope to grow in segments as diverse as daily groceries and public transport, says Vivek Belagavi, partner-fintech leader, PWC India. This gives firms such as PhonePe room for growth in an underserved market. 70822962 This next stage of PhonePe's evolution will see the company evolve into becoming a broader financial services player. "We will get into mutual funds, insurance and other such categories," says Nigam, the CEO of PhonePe. "We also believe that the open banking system will accelerate, and we would like to play a role there." However, the challenge for the firm is to look beyond these relatively low-margin offerings and make a splash into lending.Vivek Belgavi, partner-fintech leader, PWC India, says these companies should have a wider offering to become profitable. "Sectors such as lending, wealth management and insurance are clear adjacencies for these fintech companies." The focus is to use their original business to build a large customer base and then use newer offerings to build a moat around the payments business. 70822967 That is exactly PhonePe wants to do: leverage the data generated by its businesses to build a distribution pipeline for conventional lenders. "We are trying to build a fintech super app," says Nigam. This means the payments platform will also be a one-stop shop for users uncomfortable visiting multiple apps. Users on the PhonePe app might soon get a window to directly access the services of IRCTC, Flipkart and Fasoos, among others, rather than visit each app.Nigam is confident he has found the customer base. "There is one set of users, primarily in urban India, who are familiar with smartphones and are happy dealing with many apps. PhonePe will be the go-to app for all the needs of such users."Game of AppsSanjay Swamy, cofounder of early stage investor Prime Venture Partners, says smartphones and mobile data are a lot more pervasive in India today. But some segments may not be very conversant with downloading new apps and managing their usage and a super app may well appeal to them, he adds. If these plans fructify, PhonePe's valuations would surge. 70822971 Keybanc Capital Markets, a market analyst tracking Walmart, says the fintech firm could soon be valued at $14-15 billion. In four years, it might be as valuable as its parent, Flipkart. Edward Yruma of Keybanc recently said digital payments at retail stores would grow 20% annually until 2023 and reach $135 billion. Peer-to-peer payments will add another $150 billion to PhonePe's addressable market.While Flipkart's challenge was carving a path to success, PhonePe's will be finding the right space in a market that has dozens of players. Some competitors such as Paytm and Google Pay have deep pockets. Besides, as fintech hasn't percolated beyond small-ticket online payments, getting users beyond the initial 100 million would not be easy. 70822973 Some entrepreneurs such as Anand Kumar, founder of PayNearby, a fintech venture focussed on transforming small retailers into payment points, says one has to go beyond phones and apps. Transforming small stores into financial conduits for phone top-ups and insurance premium payments is the next gold mine. PayNearby has onboarded over 650,000 such retailers across 600 districts and 16,700-plus pin codes to enable such transactions even after banking hours. It also used the lack of widespread operational knowhow of apps among the rural populace to its advantage."These are the limitations of the digital self-service environment," he says. The platform processes Rs 1,340 crore in remittances a month, mostly from unbanked migrant labours. It controls a third of the Rs 9,000 crore market in Aadhaar Enabled Payments Services, which provides basic financial services through low-cost devices maintained by business correspondents. Using this mass of data, PayNearby has applied for a NBFC licence to lend money to this market. Nigam says: "In terms of excitement and interest in the space, digital payments and fintech are where ecommerce was around five years ago."Industry observers, however, say this leap will take some time. "Letting someone pay digitally for groceries online or a tender coconut on the street is very different from trusting someone with your wealth and savings," says the CEO of a digital lending venture, who did not want to be named. "Payments companies are yet to build this trust."The founders of PhonePe agree. Chari, who is also the CTO, says there is a long road ahead. "Consumers need to spend and send before we can make significant inroads into other markets." Nigam says the challenge facing PhonePe is that such apps are not thought of as a substitute for cash.The founders want to grow PhonePe's business on multiple fronts. While the firm started with a focus on cash transactions — blue-collar workers sending money home or urban millennials dividing a bar tab — it has progressed to what Nigam describes as phase 2 of the company's evolution: zero in on consumer lending and pushing customers to use the PhonePe platform more. Nigam says the company is moving towards the third and fourth phases, which will involve helping people manage and grow their money.The first move was made in June 2019 when PhonePe launched its wealth management offering. "We have a bunch of apps on our platform that lets startups, for instance, launch their business online cheaper and also track their inventory," says Chari.Payment fintech companies have started branching out, say experts. "Companies offering payment services in India have been able to create a vast customer base and expand their offerings to rural areas also. There is a strong need for the payment companies to diversify their revenue streams," says Manish Jain, partner, digital and fintech, management consulting, KPMG in India. "Lending provides an opportunity for these companies to utilise their customer base and offer short-term credit."In PhonePe's case, the opportunity is to lean on business ties with millions of small businesses — and not just to process digital payments, but to offer them credit lines to grow. "The payments space is likely to see consolidation due to the low-margin, high-volume nature of business. Some of the large players might look at other strategies of consolidation and acquisition to capture a larger share of the pie," Jain adds.There are 375 companies in payments, 338 in lending, 303 in wealth tech-retail and 58 in emerging fields, says consultancy Medici, putting the number of fintech startups in India at 2,035. Only a few will get funding and a fewer still will grow to any significant scale.The need for a strong payment backbone has not been lost on PhonePe. Nigam and Chari experienced the problem firsthand in October 2014. A surge in traffic had crippled online payment gateways during Flipkart's Big Billion Sale. This caused massive business disruption and frayed tempers all around. "It was quite apparent then that to become a multitrillion-dollar digital economy, the most important part — a payments system — wasn't ready," says Chari. The firm also had to keep pace with shifting consumer preferences — from online payments to mobile-first and driven by mobile-only."We quickly went from an online payment system that used seven or eight hops to no more than two," Chari adds. A key driver for PhonePe's success will lie in its founders and senior executives proving that it can sustain its growth as an independent entity.
It's not right to call them stimulus measures. The FM did away with bad measures that were unnecessarily sending a negative signal about a government which is otherwise reformist in nature and so I am very pleased, says Arvind Panagariya, Former VC, Niti Aayog. Excerpts from an interview with ETNOW.A few days ago you wrote a very widely read and appreciated piece on how the government should deal with the current economic slowdown and the gist of your message was that giving sops to every sector which was hurting is not necessarily the answer, structural changes need to be made. What is your response to the kind of announcements we have seen on Friday with something for everyone? How do you read the effort made by the finance minister?The finance minister gets 10 out of 10. I made a call for a reform package and this is a reform package. We should really call it that and not as some sort of stimulus package. These are measures that some of us had called for, particularly some of the measures in the budget which had imposed criminal penalties if you do not do your CSR; the surcharge on income tax of the institutional investors and so on. These have been removed. These were bad signals and they unnecessarily sent a negative signal about a government which is otherwise reformist government and so I am very pleased. I wish actually that the Finance minister had one more item on that list and number seven which would be the privatisation of many of these public sector enterprises. I would really like to see that on the agenda as well because at the end of the day, we want to be a private enterprise economy not a public enterprise economy. But we can hope for more because the finance minister has promised another set of announcements next week and a third instalment later. A significant part of Friday's announcement seems to be the government stepping in to spend more or to clear blockages in payments. Do you think such measures could have perhaps come in on the 5th of July Budget or was there a wait and watch attitude to see what goes on next?This is all speculations and so it is hard for me to tell. Also there has been a leadership change. Remember, in the finance ministry there has been a change. We do not know who played what role in the measures that were put in place and what was in the budget speech itself. It seems to me though only from the optics of it that the finance minister who had just arrived on the scene had not taken full charge. She clearly held lots of meetings with lots of groups of people and sought her own kind of personal advice from various constituents and then put together the package which at the end of the day looks extremely good. This is the kind of response we might always take. When the opportunity arrives, you know that even when we are in a downturn, that is an opportunity to take reformist measures and that is the time to mobilise all the constituencies and say look we require action, do something which is not of a temporary nature like a subsidy or something for the short term and go home. Instead what has been done is what needs to be done in the longer run. Also, speeding up of the refunds to the MSME and so forth had to be there for good. It is not a temporary measure. By retracting some of the things that have been in the budget, the finance ministry has also given the signal that she is going to respond and if she makes a mistake, she would backtrack. That is a very good signal to give to the market. A very important one. Two two major decisions were taken; a) criminal charges for non-compliance of CSR measures were dropped and it was said these will only be civil liabilities; and b) the withdrawal of the surcharge on FPIs. Was this an admission that things have gone wrong and that this finance ministry is willing to listen and correct.I personally do not say that this is an admission of mistake or something. I like to put a very positive view of it which is that it is a very large system. The finance ministry itself is extremely big and so occasional mistakes happen. At the end of the day, bureaucrats are bureaucrats they are not specialists and so when some mistakes happened and the finance minister took a lead and said she wanted to correct it, she ought to be congratulated wholeheartedly without any feeling that she is admitting her mistake. I think that is a wrong way to react. The measures announced are undoubtedly welcome and will go to some extent to dispel the kind of atmosphere we are seeing right now in the economy, in corporate India etc. But what more is required, especially for increasing demand and consumption? I personally think that the area where the financial markets have to start kicking in follows the government announcing the Rs 70,000 crore upfront recapitalisation. I do not think that the government is at all in any position now to spend actual money of its own on top of what had been promised in the budget. I really think that if you look at what is going on in terms of extra budgetary borrowing by the government to finance expenditures, the fisc, if you take the entire public sector together not just the budget fisc but also the off budget borrowing that is happening or extra budgetary borrowing, you know we cannot ask the government to do more. Let the reforms of financial markets and transmission happen. Banks are saying that they will pass on the 35 bps reduction that the RBI did and that is where the action has to really shift now and not through the government expenditure increases. So banks will now be linking the lending rates to repo rates for a greater transmission. Another big focus and emphasis by the finance minister was on reducing tax terrorism and making interaction faceless. She spoke about this in the budget as well but that in itself, that did not do much. Do you think more work is required on this? It is really a big concern in the larger picture?What happens is that wherever the injury happens, you hear people scream. It seems you hear quite a lot of excessive demands being made on the taxpayers by the tax inspectors and tax collectors. So perhaps some actions certainly is needed and we also know the economic survey had put together some of the numbers on the number of tax cases that the finance ministry brings out and the rates at which they lose very high rate of losses in these cases when they go to high courts. Even at that income tax appellate levels, the tax officers actually they lose their cases in very vast proportions. It does seem that the cases are brought in the quest for bureaucratic safety leads. Some restraint is important because it also leads to a lot of delays in all sorts of things. The more we computerise this process so that most of the identification or audits is done through computer analysis and thereby reducing human involvement, lesser the chances that frivolous cases will be initiated.I would harp back to something you said a little while earlier; when you pointed out that beyond a point, the government does not have the room to spend and we have set ourselves for fiscal deficit target of 3.3%. Is it a good idea to loosen that target just a little bit to kick start the whole process?What we are not realising here is that there is a large number of public sector agencies today which are not appearing on the budget. They borrow. Food Corporation of India alone borrows more than 1% of the GDP. The Economic Times ran a report about a week or 10 days ago where it referred a Power Point presentation by the CAG to the Finance Commission and that presentation apparently says that there is an additional more than 2% point deficit or borrowing that is happening in the market by these extra budgetary agencies; Food Corporation of India, the Higher Education Financing Authority, NABARD etc. Let me explain a little bit of what is going on there. The Prime Minister is very ambitious, he wants to bring change very rapidly and so what has happened is that a lot of the ministries with extra budgetary borrowing agencies have become competitors. Because ultimately the ministry is measured by how much expense they have done, they have also gone on a borrowing spree and since they are off budget, it becomes a little easier. So off-budget borrowing is expanding and The Economic Times report said that according to the CAG presentation, the 2017-18 fiscal deficit, when you put together all the public sector borrowings was 5.85%. This is the central government alone and the state governments is separate. Compared to that, on the budget, fiscal deficit for 2017-18 actually is reported at 3.46%. So this is true and a 0.25% points added to 3.5% points, I think that is already huge. Therefore to ask the government to do more breach even its budgetary fiscal deficit commitment is a crime. You mentioned one item on your wish list #7 you said which would be the process of disinvestment. A little more detail on that and also what you would like to see next in terms of a framework?Privatisation would again be a very important signal to the markets and would also help in the fiscal deficit. It brings revenues. I feel there are a number of these public sector enterprises where the government's stake is not very much above 50%. In several of these public sector enterprises, which are listed on the stock market, government's stake is in some cases 54%, 58% or 60%. In these cases it is pretty straightforward to bring the stake down below 50%. We could stop once you get it below 50%. A board can actually manage the enterprise and effective privatisation would happen and then the government can still hold 49% of the share in the value of the enterprise because that is worthwhile because in future once the unit goes into private hands, very likely the stock value will rise. That is something that can be done in a relatively short period of time, painlessly bringing some revenue for the government. It also sends a fantastic signal to the markets that the government believes in the private economy rather than use up the public money in repeatedly restructuring these public sector enterprises which almost never recover in the way private sector enterprises would. It is better to let these things to be run by the private sector. So that is one. In the sense that you do not believe any specific sectors should get quote, unquote, "bailouts," it is a statement that was echoed by the chief economic advisor when he spoke to us later as well. There is some kind of sops for the auto sector but then there are other sectors are hurting like the real estate sector. Do you think just changing the set of policies around it will be enough?I just do not believe that we should be doing sops because it simply tells the private sector that oh, you know as long as you are making profit you are fine, the moment you begin to make, losses I would come to your rescue. I think that is a sure-fire recipe for encouraging inefficiency and coming in the way of restructuring of the economy.Auto industry is a perfect example there. So many inefficiencies, so many small plants, a single company doing all kinds of things; two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, commercial vehicles. That only means that they have small plants and in a global economy like ours you cannot do that. No wonder, the car industry has a share of just 0.9% in the export market which is $740-billion strong going by 2017 figures. I personally do not think this is a good idea. If I go by some of the numbers that have been given out in auto industry from top to bottom, including the CEO down to the watchman, Mr Rajiv Bajaj has said in his own company the labour wage bill is 4% of his total costs. If it is 4%, it becomes quite rational for me then to employ a few workers extra and whenever the going gets tough, I say that do something for me, otherwise I will have to lay off these workers. This creates these perverse incentives and in any case the government ought to allow the industry to adjust whenever downturns happens. This is how the American economy reviews itself. An opposing point of view has come forward that, when you compare this to market economies in more developed countries, remember, there are no policy restrictions in these economies. We do admittedly have more policy restrictions for various reasons. So, is it a fair playing ground?I totally agree with you. Let us argue for removing those policy restrictions. I am totally with you on that and this is why I said that the package that the finance minister has announced is a reform package. I do not see this as a stimulus package and that is how we ought to do, I completely agree with you.
Expect smart across-the-board rally but some segments would get a boost. Also multicap portfolio is the order of the day, says Sunil Subramaniam, MD & CEO, Sundaram Mutual. Excerpts from an interview with ETNOW. Is Friday's announcement going to fix the short-term sentiment? Maybe a 200 points rise on Monday morning, a follow up on Tuesday and that's about it?No, this is a more fundamental change because two things are there in the message; first, the economy is back on the agenda. Since December 2017, politics had dominated the agenda with the upcoming election and with doing away with the Article 370. Today, the economy is back on the agenda. Second, has the government signalled two more steps they will announce so that responsiveness is back on the agenda? Even in future, if any problem crops up, the message clearly is that the government will respond to it. Third, the acceptance that wealth creators are not bad guys and wealth creation is welcome. These are very fundamental changes in the thought process and it is not going to be a short term rally or bounce that could be a correction. It is fundamentally about the responsiveness of the government and that growth, economy and capital markets are back on focus, The finance minister made the auto industry related announcements. There was a lot of consultation for clarity and then they came up with an answer. The market will read into that. The market had gone into risk aversion and now the risk will be back on the table. On top of it, FPIs would have been taken by surprise because they were knocking on deaf ears earlier as there was no signal that the government is going to respond. Now that they have responded, FPIs flows will also restitute itself. Across the range, largecap, midcap, smallcap all are going to run up so multicap portfolio is the order of the day. How could markets move from here? Do you think interest will reurn to NBFCs, banks, maybe the CVs and auto companies because each sector has got something from the FM?, There will be a broad-based, across-the-board rally to some extent but one will need to choose. Earlier, the government had intended Rs 70,000 crore to recapitalise weak banks but now they are likely to reallocate that to growth capital needing banks. So, weak banks might not get that capital and they will remain weak. Second, among NBFCs, only good ones are going to be able to get money. So, again the weaker NBFCs would not and there will be a small across-the-board rally but very soon there will be a discerning of which NBFCs would be the beneficiary of this and that demarcation will start happening. For example, if you take the depreciation benefits, the segment which will benefit is that which is going to sell to businesses. A lot of analysis is needed whereby you can find out which is going to be the maximum beneficiary and it will probably take the market a couple of days' number crunching to figure out the scenario. I think there will be a smart across-the-board rally but definitely you would see the specific segments which are going to get a boost. Do you see a scope for a turn in sentiment for mid and smallcap stocks which have got bombed out completely?Yes. The message for the midcap and smallcap stocks has been the revival of the economy. These capital market related thing may not help the mid and small companies but what will help is the government's message that we care about the economy and economic growth and hence mid and smallcaps which are highly leveraged and which are subject to sentimental moves, will see a sharp upswing now. The derating factor of growth gets eased up. The government's actual promise is to come and support any sector which is going through a slowdown. The cyclical element will suddenly get knocked out from the valuations of the mid and smallcaps, saying there is secular growth ahead. For anything which is weak, there is a promise of government support and the market really needs that. I would say there will be a rerating in the mid and small caps across the board because the economy is in a slight downcycle and that will get discounted very quickly. The market will say that this is going to get smoothened out and you can see a secular growth coming in to even these mid and smallcap companies. This will help the valuations and as we know they are at 20-25% discount to the largecaps and I see that gap getting covered up. Earlier,we had discussed how from 2005 calendar year to datem in no single calendar year either the Nifty index, the midcap index or the small cap index has returned two consecutive negative years and in 2018, both smallcap index and midcap index were negative and they say in another four months, these indices can turn positive. It seems that somebody has told that to Nirmala Madam and she has made sure that by the end of this calendar year, mid and smallcap indices will be back in the positive and the green. Is what has been announced for FPIs and domestic investors good enough to revive or give a little fillip to sentiment or is that good enough to maybe have India once again as a darling of all emerging markets?There are two things there; in the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king. So in an era where there is no growth at all, this taxation was the one of the elements which was holding us back and the currency impact came because FIIs were pulling out money. The moment they see that India's growth rate is now supportive and the taxation element has gone away, the sheer flow of FPI money will cause the currency to strengthen and enhance FPIs' return. This year, already India has got double the money of any other emerging markets except for China. And this is after the withdrawals from the post budget period. If you take away, it was actually $11 billion that is 3x. If you look at the forward valuations today for the calendar year 2020 India, global valuations is slightly at a premium to emerging markets. To that extent, India has been a very attractive market and given the outlook on oil prices thanks to Mr Trump pumping the shale gas pumps, we will see the currency pressure on the rupee from an oil perspective easing. I think there is going to be a huge flow of money into India in the context of the withdrawal of FPI surcharge.
MUMBAI: IT firms may see a shift to smaller deals from large ones earlier, as clients engage more vendors to execute digital projects, analysts said.The average timelines and values of large deals, too, have shrunk, they said.While the timeframe has reduced to three years from five before, deal sizes have also fallen to $15 million from $30 million a few years ago, they said."In this market, (IT) providers are hunting for more rabbits than elephants because larger deals are less common these days...," said DD Mishra, senior director analyst at industry consultancy Gartner.As firms move towards digital services, large deals will shrink and get broken up into multiple deals, he said. "So, while they (large deals) look good from a balance sheet perspective, it is becoming prudent to hunt for more profitable, valuable smaller deals," Mishra said.Indian outsourcing companies have been slow to improve digital revenue. "They need to do it faster. The ideal would be 50% coming from digital sources," he added. Cognizant's CEO Brian Humpries said in a recent post-earnings analyst call that it would chase a large number of smaller digital services deals, as the software services company attempts to pivot into a large digital player.Companies like IBM, which did not compete in the mid-market segment, are now aggressively betting on it, said Sanchit Vir Gogia, CEO of Greyhound Research, a technology advisory firm. "IBM signed up 1,050 customers in one year alone in India, these are mostly midmarket customers," he said.Automation, in terms of integration and maintenance of applications, has increased, and consequently, clients require less money to manage applications. "Any deal above $50-100 million then becomes the first to be cut down, sliced and diced," Vir Gogia said.To be sure, top Indian IT service firms such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys have won large deals over the past few quarters as clients look to transform their business by adopting digital services. TCS reported that it won orders worth $5.7 billion in the June quarter, while Infosys said it had secured deals worth $2.7 billion in the period.
Terror alert: Two suspects detained in Coimbatore The two persons, one from Chennai and the other from Coimbatore, are being interrogated at an undisclosed location.
A few days ago sister Sushma left us, today my friend Arun: Prime Minister Narendra Modi PM is on a three-nation tour of France, UAE and Bahrain. He has already visited UAE and France and is currently in Bahrain.
In Arun Jaitley the BJP loses a gentle giant who was a consensus builder In Jaitley, the saffron party loses a gentle giant who had admirers across the political spectrum, and one of its foremost strategist?-intellectual and a consensus builder
'Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's name was a byword for patriotism' These were the words, not of any BJP or RSS leader, but of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi spoken on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's death on February 26, 1966.
Rajneeti, In the age of hashtags Twitter may not admit to banning people based on their political viewpoints, but our panelists refuse to buy this argument. This week's DNA Samwad discussed the drawbacks of the micro-blogging site and called for bringing in regulations to end hate-mongering
Rahul Gandhi, 11 Opposition leaders land in Srinagar, packed off to Delhi The delegation said they planned to visit many parts of J&K to access the situation and wanted to instil confidence among people and start the process of normalisation.
LPSC Recruitment 2019 – Walk-in for 87 Technician Apprentice Vacancies. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre is expecting for the eligible candidates to fill the Apprentice Vacancy. LPSC has announced a circular for 87 openings. Selected candidates will be placed on Kerala. Hence interested candidates can attend the walk-in and make the job yours. Liquid Propulsion Centre @ www.lpsc.gov.in. recruitment planned to conduct walk-in on 7th September 2019. Selected aspirants will provide training for 1 year in the respective trade.
KMC Recruitment – Apply Offline for 165 Staff Nurse Vacancies. Kolkata City NHUM Society announced a job notification for 165 Staff Nurse Post. KMC Application form for the Staff Nurse post will be accepted from 02nd September 2019. However, the duly filled application should be submitted on or before 09th September 2019. Make sure you are fulfilling the eligibility conditions that are prescribed for the Staff Nurse Post in KMC Recruitment Notification.
HP Police Bharti Recruitment 2019 – Apply Offline for 92 Constable Vacancies. Himachal Pradesh Police Department has advertised a notification to fill up 92 Vacancies. Interested can drop your application for the CTS Constable Posts. HP Police Recruitment Application Process starts from 21st August 2019. Individuals interested in 
