GEORGE GALLOWAY has predicted that Emmanuel Macron will soon "be history" as the French President struggles to hold onto power amid record-breaking protests against his rule.
PAKISTAN has violated a ceasefire with India after one person was killed and three other injured, with the Indian army now responding "strongly and effectively".
ANGELA MERKEL has been hammered by yet another crisis after the manufacturing sector in Germany plunged more than forecasted in November, sparking renewed fears of a chaotic recession.
LEO Varadkar is seeking the backing of two controversial members of Ireland's Dail, or Parliament, in a desperate bid to cling to power as demands grow for the Taoiseach to call a general election.
VIDEO footage has captured the chilling moment the Ukrainian passenger plane carrying 176 people crash landed as CCTV recorded the fiery wreck which killed everyone on board.
WITH barely 11 months left to thrash out the nuts and bolts of Britain's trading relationship with the EU before the end of the transition period, the bloc's Brexit negotiator has highlighted three key areas he intends to focus on, warning: "The clock is ticking".
INCREDIBLE footage has captured the exact moment that an alleged Iranian missile struck Ukrainian Airlines Boeing 737 before it crashed, killing all 176 passengers on board.
(BEIRUT) — Unidentified planes struck targets in Syria near the border with Iraq on Friday, reports said, triggering “a huge explosion” amid soaring tensions in the region between the U.S. and Iran.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the planes targeted positions belonging to pro-Iran militias in the Boukamal area, near the border with Iraq. The Britain-based organization which documents the war in Syria through a network of activists on the ground said the planes struck among other targets weapons depots and vehicles belonging to the militias.
It reported several explosions in the border area. Deir Ezzor 24, an activist collective that reports on news in the border area, said that the planes struck trucks carrying weapons and depots for ballistic missiles in the area. Omar Abu Laila, a Europe-based activist from Deir el-Zour who runs the group, said the attack triggered “a huge explosion” heard in the Syrian-Iraqi border.
The Sound and Picture, another activist collective in Syria’s eastern Deir el-Zour area, said “unidentified planes” struck militia targets in Boukamal.
There was no immediate comment from Syria or Iraq, and the reports could not be independently confirmed.
The U.S. carried out military strikes in the area on Dec. 29, killing 25 members of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia in retaliation to a rocket attack on a military base in Iraq that killed a U.S. contractor. The U.S. blamed that attack on a Iranian-backed Iraqi militia.
Israel has also struck Iran-backed militias in the area in the past.
The reported airstrikes came days after a U.S. drone strike killed Iran’s most powerful general after he landed at Baghdad airport, drawing angry calls for revenge and escalating tensions to the brink of an all-out war between the two sides.
Iran responded by firing a barrage of missiles at military bases in Iraq that host U.S. troops. Since then, both sides have signaled they were stepping back from further escalation but tensions remain high and the region on edge.
Amid the soaring tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to Syria this week for talks with President Bashar Assad in Damascus. Russia has been a key ally for Assad, offering crucial military and political backing throughout the country’s civil war.
The area struck Friday is key to a land corridor for Tehran that links Iran across Iraq and Syria through Lebanon. The Observatory report on Friday claimed that Putin had informed Assad during the visit of a U.S. intention to “close” the land corridor for good.
A Ukrainian International Airlines flight that crashed in Iran Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board, was likely shot down by Iranian forces, U.S. intelligence suggests.
While the crash of Flight 752 is a tragedy, the likely cause of the crash might not be entirely surprising, given the flurry of threats and tit-for-tat attacks exchanged between the Untied States and Iran over the last week. While civilian air travel is considered to be very safe, there is a long history of civilian aircraft being accidentally shot down in times of conflict.
“I don’t think it’s all that unusual,” Arnold Barnett, an aviation safety expert and a Professor of Statistics at the MIT Sloan School of Management, tells TIME. “I think given that war so often involves aerial fighting these days, you could argue that planes should be careful.”
In fact, both Ukraine and Iran have their own tragic histories of civilian aircraft being shot down during geopolitical conflicts. In July 2014, 298 people were killed when Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was shot down in Ukraine’s Donetsk region by Russian separatists. In 1988, 290 people were killed when a U.S. ship shot down Iran Air Flight 655.
Barnett argues that airlines should err on the side of caution when considering the threat of sending flights through conflict zones — and urges civilian passengers to pay attention to warnings from the U.S. State Department and elsewhere.
“Planes being shot down accidentally—this is not something that’s never happened. And especially in wartime situations where you think it might happen, of course I think people should be thinking about it,” Barnett says.
Here’s what you need to know about some of the deadliest attacks on civilian aircraft.
Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 (Feb. 21, 1973)
More than 100 people were killed when a Libyan flight traveling from Tripoli via Benghazi to Cairo was shot down by Israeli fighter planes and crashed into the Sinai desert. The aircraft was about 100 miles off course, Major John T. Phelps II wrote in the U.S. Armed Forces journal Military Law Review.
Israel claimed the plane had entered Israeli airspace in Egyptian territory occupied by Israeli, and that the Israeli planes had directed the aircraft to land, but that the plane did not respond.
A co-pilot who survived the crash later said the plane had known that the Israeli planes had asked them to land, but they had decided not to because of the bad relationship between Libya and Israel, although the inflight record indicated that the pilot thought he was in Egypt and that the other planes were Egyptian, Phelps wrote.
Phelps asserted that the Libyan jet’s actions were likely viewed as “hostile” by the Israeli forces.
“The situation in the Sinai was anything but normal. Relations between Egypt, Libya, and Israel were tense and the threat of war was ever-present,” Phelps wrote.
Korean Air Lines Flight 007 (Sept. 1, 1983)
During some of the tensest moments of the Cold War, a Soviet fighter plane shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007, which had been traveling from New York to Seoul via Anchorage, Alaska. All 269 people on board, including U.S. Congressman Larry McDonald, were killed. The flight had traveled more than 300 miles off course and ventured into Soviet airspace, where it was shot down near Moneron Island west of Sakhalin Island. It crashed into the Sea of Japan.
The Soviets asserted that the aircraft had been sent on a spy mission, and that the plane had deliberately been sent into Soviet airspace, the New York Times reported. The U.S. denied that assertion.
Iran Air Flight 655: (July 3, 1988)
In the midst of the Iran-Iraq war, the U.S. and Iran had just faced off in Operation Praying Mantis, a daylong naval battle between American forces and Iran in the Persian Gulf, which had been triggered by a U.S. ship striking an Iranian mine.
U.S. Navy missile cruiser USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655 traveling from Bandar-e Abbas, Iran, to Dubai, UAE, as it traveled over the Strait of Hormuz, a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. All 290 people on board died. The passenger plane, which was traveling in Iranian airspace, had been misidentified as a fighter jet, according to the United States.
While the U.S. asserted that the plane was outside the civilian corridor, this proved to be untrue. The U.S. government later apologized and after eight years said it would compensate the victims’ families, according to the Associated Press.
Siberia Airlines Flight 1812: (October 4, 2001)
Not all airliner shoot downs have occurred during times of war. The Ukrainian Air Force shot down Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 over the Black Sea in an apparent accident, killing 78 crew and passengers. The flight had been en route from Israel to Novosibirsk, Russia, and many of the passengers were Russian-born Israelis, according to the Associated Press.
Ukraine’s military initially denied responsibility for the incident, but later admitted that an errant missile from a military exercise on the Crimean peninsula could have cause the crash. Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Oleksander Kuzmuk, admitted that Ukrainian forces were involved and apologized to the victims’ friends and families.
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17: (July 17, 2014)
In 2014, Ukraine was again the site of tragedy—this time, in the midst of conflict with Russia. Russian separatists shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 as it traveled over the Donetsk region in Eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people onboard. A subsequent investigation found that the plane had been downed by a warhead launched in eastern Ukraine by a Buk missile system.
The Public Prosecution Service of the Netherlands announced last June that it will prosecute four suspects—all affiliated with Russian separatists—for causing the crash and murdering the people on board.
(MIAMI BEACH, Fla.) — To combat human trafficking during the Super Bowl, law enforcement officials said Thursday that they need hotel workers, ride-hailing service drivers and security personnel to be especially alert.
These are the people most likely to encounter the victims and perpetrators of trafficking — and would be able to provide authorities with tips and evidence of the crime taking place, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said at the “No Room for Trafficking” conference, held at the Fontainebleau Hotel.
The people most likely to be enslaved for sex work are young girls, officials said. They noted that events such as the Feb. 2 Super Bowl, with all its attendant parties, are ripe for human and sex trafficking. They also noted that trafficking occurs throughout the year, not just during major events.
“We’re enlisting people to help law enforcement,” said Moody, who chairs a statewide task force on human trafficking. “Most of the cases begin with anonymous tips. That’s how we’ll catch these guys.”
The hospitality industry is taking notice. Cecil Staton, president and CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, said it’s bad business for people who run hotels to allow human trafficking.
“No honest hotelier wants human trafficking on their property. We are all about collaboration,” Staton said.
Mary Rogers, vice president and general manager at the Fontainebleau, said all of the hotel’s employees receive regular training on possible signs of human trafficking : rooms where people come and go at all hours, cash payments and young women who never leave their rooms.
“We just encourage everyone to report anything they see that looks suspicious,” Rogers said. “We really, really encourage that culture.”
Similarly, authorities want ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft, as well as taxi drivers, to be aware of what is being said in their vehicles and to recognize when something doesn’t seem right. Moody was participating in a training event for Uber drivers later Thursday.
“It has to be a concerted effort that never stops,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. “It will take all of our efforts to make this happen.”
Representing the NFL at Thursday’s event was Miami Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson, who said the human trafficking issue has special resonance to him because he grew up with five sisters.
“It can happen to anyone,” Wilson said. “It’s important for me to use my platform to get the message out.”
The office of Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle operates a hotline for tips and reports about human trafficking: 305-FIX-STOP or 305-349-7867.
(BERLIN) — A young man in Germany has died four years after being poisoned by a co-worker and falling into a coma.
The state court in Bielefeld, which convicted the suspect in the case last year, confirmed the death on Thursday, German news agency dpa reported. It said the 26-year-old’s parents spoke about their son’s suffering during a trial last year.
A 57-year-old man, identified only as Klaus O. for privacy reasons, was sentenced to life in prison last March after the court in Bielefeld, 330 kilometers (205 miles) west of Berlin, found him guilty of attempted murder.
The defendant, who has appealed the verdict, had peppered co-workers’ food with mercury and other substances over several years, leaving one in a coma and two others with serious kidney damage.
He was arrested in May 2018 after surveillance video showed him putting a suspicious powder on a colleague’s sandwich at their workplace in the town of Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock.
(TOKYO) — Tokyo Olympic athletes beware — particularly larger ones. The bed frames in the Athletes Village at this year’s Olympics will be made of cardboard. Sturdy cardboard.
“Those beds can stand up to 200 kilograms,” explained Takashi Kitajima, the general manager of the Athletes Village, speaking through an interpreter.
That’s about 440 pounds, and surely no Olympic athlete weighs that much. “They are stronger than wooden beds,” Kitajima added.
He also took into account the possibility of a wild room celebration after, say, a gold-medal victory. “Of course, wood and cardboard would each break if you jumped on them,” he said.
The single bed frames will be recycled into paper products after the games. The mattress components — the mattresses are not made of cardboard — will be recycled into plastic products.
The mattress is broken up into three distinct sections, and the firmness of each can be adjusted.
The idea was to use materials that could be remade after the Olympics and Paralympics. But the cardboard frames and supports should give the rooms a spartan look.
Organizers showed off the beds and a few other furnishings on Thursday at their headquarters. The entire Athletes Village complex will be completed in June. The Olympics open on July 24 followed by the Paralympics on Aug. 25.
“The organizing committee was thinking about recyclable items, and the bed was one of the ideas,” Kitajima explained, crediting local Olympic sponsor Airweave Inc. for the execution.
Organizers say this is the first time that the beds and bedding in the Athletes Village have been made of renewable materials.
The Athletes Village being built alongside Tokyo Bay will comprise 18,000 beds for the Olympics and be composed to 21 apartment towers. Even more building construction is being planned in the next several years.
Real estate ads say the units will be sold off afterward, or rented, with sale prices starting from about 54 million yen — or about $500,000 — and soaring to three or four times that much. Some fear the apartments will flood the market, possibly impacting property values.
The units will be sold off by various real estate companies. Ads suggest many of the units will be slightly larger than a typical apartment in Tokyo, which is about 60-70 square meters — or 650-750 square feet.
(LJUBLJANA, Slovenia) — A wooden statue mocking U.S. President Donald Trump was burned to the ground Thursday in Slovenia, the birthplace of his wife Melania, authorities said.
The nearly eight-meter (26-foot) high construction, erected last year in a village in northeast of Slovenia, showed Trump with his trademark hair style, blue suit, white shirt and a long red tie. His right arm — fist clenched — was raised high like that of New York’s Statue of Liberty.
Slovenian police are looking for the culprits.
When triggered, a mechanism inside the statue opened a red-painted mouth and shark-like teeth used to appear. “Like all populists, the statue has two faces,” its creator, Tomaz Schlegl, said when he unveiled the statue last August. “One is humane and nice, the other is that of a vampire.”
Although the construction quickly became a tourist attraction, some local villagers were unhappy with its appearance, pledging to torch it by Halloween, Oct. 31. It had to be moved to another village in the area.
Milan Balazic, the mayor of Moravce where the statue ended up, said that unknown arsonists burned it. He said the torching of the statue “is symbol of intolerance toward artistic projects in our society.”
It’s not the first time in Slovenia that a member of the Trump family has been carved in wood.
A life-size sculpture of the U.S. first lady cut from the trunk of a linden tree was unveiled in her hometown of Sevnica last June, drawing mixed reactions from residents.
The first lady, born Melanija Knavs, changed her name to Melania Knauss when she started modeling. She settled in New York in 1996 and met Trump two years later.
There are mixed feelings about Melania in Slovenia where hopes were high that she would promote her picturesque Alpine home country after Trump took office. But she has rarely mentioned Slovenia in her public appearances, and hasn’t visited the small central European country since Trump’s inauguration.
Families huddle on a once picturesque beach as their homes burn behind them. Baby koalas, their fur singed, cling to their mothers as they face a fiery demise. And military helicopters whomp overhead, searching the charred landscape for stragglers looking for a last-minute escape.
These bracing scenes illustrate a terrifying reality on the ground in Australia, where more than two dozen people and millions of animals have died in wildfires that have destroyed more than 25 million acres since December and that are not expected to be contained anytime soon. The blazes, so large that they’ve created their own weather systems, have sparked widespread panic, prompted a military deployment and caused billions of dollars in damage. “We’re in the middle of a war situation,” says David Bowman, director of the Fire Centre Research Hub at the University of Tasmania.
The infernos have also captured the world’s attention. While climate-linked disasters aren’t new–from the uptick in deadly heat waves to increasingly powerful hurricanes, floods and blizzards–images of such destruction often fail to resonate and are quickly forgotten in the next day’s news cycle. But what’s happening in Australia feels different. Haunting pictures of cute koalas, kangaroos and wallabies that have died en masse tear at our heartstrings. And as cynical as it may sound, the fact that the devastation is occurring in a wealthy, English-speaking country reminds even the most privileged observer that money alone cannot buy immunity from the wrath of nature. “You have the perfect storm of a story,” says Anthony Leiserowitz, who directs the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. “[It] is happening on literally the other side of the planet, yet it seems to be resonating in this country.”
Most significantly, the Australian fires are burning at a time when the world is becoming increasingly attuned to the catastrophic dangers of unchecked climate change. Activists, a series of dire scientific reports and other recent extreme, climate-linked events–including wildfires more than 7,000 miles away in California–have perhaps succeeded in sharpening the mind. Whether global leaders are able to translate this newfound awareness into meaningful political action is the next test.
There’s no question about the link between the Australian wildfires and climate change. The country’s famed bush–the continent’s vast, often dry expanse that is sparsely inhabited but filled with vegetation–has always been prone to wildfires. But a warming climate has heightened the risk: decades of worsening droughts have killed off plants, grasses and trees, creating tinder for fires, and warmer average temperatures have created furnace-like conditions in which fire can easily spread. Last year was Australia’s hottest and driest on record, with temperatures in some parts of the country topping 120°F in December, according to government data. A 2019 report from the Australian government concluded that climate change had already “resulted in more dangerous weather conditions for bushfires in recent decades.”
But Australia’s current leadership remains largely in denial about the problem. Along with the U.S., Russia and Brazil, Australia–where coal mining is a significant industry and a powerful lobby–is one of just a handful of countries with national politicians who have steadfastly refused to consider bold action to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. But while U.S. President Donald Trump outright denies the science of climate change, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has taken a different tack in recent months. He isn’t contesting that climate change is real or that it has worsened the bushfires. Instead, he argues that his country can’t do anything about it because Australia’s greenhouse-gas emissions make up only a small share of the global total. “To suggest that with just 1.3% of global emissions, that Australia doing something differently, more or less, would have changed the fire outcome this season,” he told an Australian radio station, “I don’t think that stands up to any credible scientific evidence at all.”
It’s not clear if, or for how long, Morrison’s position will remain politically tenable among his fellow citizens. Last year, 61% of Australians said their government should take urgent action “even if this involves significant costs,” according to a survey from the nonpartisan Lowy Institute. That number is up 25 percentage points since 2012. “There’s been a backlash against Scott Morrison,” says Lowy’s Daniel Flitton. “Issues to do with the environment have been key to the downfall of successive Prime Ministers in Australia.”
Morrison’s dismissive rhetoric on climate change makes him an outlier among democratic leaders, who are for the most part rushing to proclaim all they’re doing to save the planet. But his position points to a dilemma: he is correct, of course, that Australia cannot single-handedly prevent climate change in the country’s backyard. Instead, nations–including those that aren’t emitting that much on their own–must act collectively to embrace policies that reduce emissions. Whether global leaders act boldly will determine if the heartbreaking images from Australia that have now gripped the world are a tragic aberration or a look at what’s to come.
In the early 1980s, a young Taiwanese student newly enrolled at the London School of Economics heard a knock at her dormitory door. A pair of bedraggled British students were there to ask Tsai Ing-wen if she wanted to subscribe to a newspaper. In the spirit of collegiality, she readily agreed. “It was only later that I discovered it was a communist newspaper,” she tells TIME, laughing. “I eventually told them to keep my check but just stop sending the newspaper.”
More than 30 years later, Taiwan’s political leader is still fending off unwelcome leftist overtures. Elected President of the self-governing island of 23 million in 2016, Tsai set out to steer it further from China’s orbit. Taiwan has its own military, its own passport and the world’s 21st largest economy. But ever since 1949, when Mao Zedong’s forces ended a civil war by chasing the Nationalists to the island 100 miles (160 km) off the mainland, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has considered it a renegade province that must be reunited with China, by force if necessary. Through most of the Cold War, the capitalist enclave was shielded by the West. But in a world China now aims to lead after embracing market forces, Taiwan’s position has grown only more vulnerable.
So has Tsai’s. The Chinese strongman Xi Jinping in January 2019 declared unification across the Taiwan Strait the “great trend of history,” and his campaign to that end has gathered in intensity; Tsai’s first term was marred by diplomatic isolation, tightening economic screws and repeated threats of invasion. Taiwan finds less and less room to maneuver between forced reunification and resorting to force to remain independent. Tsai took a substantial risk in December 2016, when she phoned U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election victory. The call was the first between American and Taiwanese leaders since the U.S. recognized the CCP’s dominion over China, including Taiwan, in 1979. In an interview with TIME, Tsai called the conversation a “very natural thing.” But it was deemed an affront by Beijing, one compounded when Trump suggested the U.S. might revisit the question of Taiwan’s status as a part of China.
The mercurial U.S. President adds a new wobble of uncertainty to the tightrope Taiwan has been walking for 70 years. Historically, even after embracing Beijing, the U.S. has maintained a strong, unofficial alliance with Taiwan. But as Trump has become entangled with China on matters from trade to cyberespionage, some in Taiwan worry that the famously transactional American leader might view their country as a pawn to be exchanged for something else, like a preferential trade deal.
“If Taiwan becomes a major issue between Trump and Xi, nobody knows what Trump might do,” says Professor Shelley Rigger, an East Asia expert at Davidson College in North Carolina.
As Taiwan approaches elections on Jan. 11, the question for its people is whether they still trust Tsai to safeguard their democratic way of life. Her main opponent, Nationalist candidate and Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu, hopes to convince voters that working closely with an increasingly influential and assertive Beijing will ultimately better protect the island’s de facto sovereignty. “Taiwan has one choice–to engage with China, because we can’t hide,” Han recently told students at Stanford University.
But Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party does not endorse the idea that island and mainland are the same country. Formal independence for Taiwan is a key goal in its party charter. Beijing says any move to “secede” would be met with a military response, and Tsai has pragmatically sidestepped the issue while in power. But her policy of prioritizing ties with other Asian nations has deeply troubled the Communist Party leadership, as has her full-throated support of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
Now the future of Taiwan–without rival the freest place in the Chinese-speaking world–as a U.S.-allied, liberal, democratic beacon in Asia is under “constant assault,” Tsai says, as Beijing tightens the noose on restive populations at its periphery, from Xinjiang to Tibet to, of course, Hong Kong. The CCP sees this election as an opportunity to do the same to Taiwan, Tsai says–something she is determined to prevent. “Beijing would like to see a divided Taiwan, to see our economy and development stall, to create a better foothold to influence cross-strait relations,” she says. “However, when it comes to Taiwan’s sovereignty, democracy and freedom, I believe our people are mostly in agreement.”
Tsai, 63, is a technocrat and former academic who has tried to shrug off a reputation for aloofness with a dizzying schedule of campaign events. On a single day, TIME followed her to a kindergarten, a farm, a technology conference and half a dozen temples. On another, she inspected frogman drills at military camps before tea at an artists’ retreat.
She is hoping this kind of retail politics can reverse a decline in her popularity over her first term in office, driven by party divisions; unwelcome pension reforms; and embarrassing scandals, like bodyguards caught using official trips abroad to smuggle cigarettes. Her decision to make Taiwan the first place in Asia to legalize marriage equality sparked a fierce conservative backlash. Still, Tsai, herself never wed, remains proud of the achievement, which “shows that Taiwan is an open and inclusive society and a rather mature democracy.”
She’s also suffering from the kind of resurgent populism afflicting democracies the world over. The viral rise of Tsai’s Nationalist opponent has been precipitous enough to be called the “Han wave.” His chest-thumping speeches and outlandish promises during his successful mayoral campaign–to drill for oil in the contested South China Sea and bring casinos and Formula One to Kaohsiung–have naturally drawn comparisons to the 45th U.S. President. “You cannot have a conversation about Han Kuo-yu without Donald Trump coming up,” says Rigger. “Everybody sees the parallels between those two guys.”
Tsai isn’t blind to the risks. “The rise of disinformation and populism have brought great challenges to leaders and governments around the world,” she says. Yet the challenge is greater for Taiwan with a rapacious Beijing lurking and, she believes, pulling the strings. In the months leading up to the vote, Taiwan has been hit by a tsunami of false reports masquerading as news stories in its partisan and sensationalist media, often targeting Tsai. Her administration and independent analysts say a large proportion originate in the CCP’s United Front propaganda department, though the Chinese government denies any such campaign.
So Tsai is fighting back in kind, charming voters with renewed zeal and posting social-media videos of her frolicking with the two cats and three retired guide dogs she’s adopted. The key to protecting Taiwan’s democracy, she says, lies in “public participation in our efforts to counter disinformation.” It has worked, if her improved numbers are anything to go by.
A widening lead might also be explained by the ongoing turmoil in Hong Kong, which for over six months has been convulsed by increasingly violent pro-democracy protests against encroachment by Beijing. Last January, Xi suggested Hong Kong’s system of semiautonomy–known as “One country, two systems”–might eventually be a model for Taiwan. But that idea had little support among Taiwan’s citizens then, and even less now that unrest has engulfed the former British colony. “[The Hong Kong situation] has, of course, negatively affected the Taiwanese people’s trust in China,” says Tsai.
Still, Taiwan has been sucked into the escalating crisis. Its citizens have marched in support of Hong Kong’s right to self-determination and offered safe harbor to fleeing protesters. In October, Taiwan expelled a mainland tourist for vandalizing a public memorial in support of the demonstrations. Tsai sees a dire warning for her people in the leeching of freedoms there. “Seeing these developments in Hong Kong, the Taiwanese people feel the need for a leader who can stand firm, insist on what has to be insisted upon and clearly express their will,” says Tsai.
If Tsai is re-elected this month, she will have to helm Taiwan through a period of deep uncertainty, as Beijing’s geopolitical clout continues to grow. Today, the island, officially known by the archaic pre-civil-war name Republic of China, is blocked by Beijing from joining the U.N. or potentially lucrative free-trade groupings. It is now recognized by only 15 countries after seven switched to Beijing during Tsai’s first term.
Beijing is also squeezing the island economically. In August, it stopped the free movement of independent Chinese tourists to Taiwan, a free-spending cohort that comprised 82,000 arrivals per month in 2018. The burning question for Taiwan is how far Beijing is prepared to go. “China is already taking steps similar to what Russia did in Crimea,” says Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu, referring to the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula. Moreover, he says, were China’s slowing economy to foment domestic unrest, then Taiwan might find itself “a very easy scapegoat.”
In order to mitigate the risk, Taiwan has sought to spread its influence indirectly, building cultural, economic and humanitarian ties. During the recent presidential crisis in Venezuela, for example, Taiwan was one of the few actors able to send much-needed aid over the border from Colombia. To boost its soft power, Taiwan offers international cooperation in unconventional areas such as media literacy and disaster recovery. “Many of our allies still support Taiwan because they share the same values with us and will not be swayed by China’s economic inducements,” says Tsai.
Yet because few small nations can ignore Beijing’s dollar diplomacy, Taiwan’s ties with the U.S. have taken on newfound importance. The U.S. has moved in recent years to offset China’s attempts to isolate its wayward province, much to Beijing’s ire. In March 2018, Trump signed the bipartisan Taiwan Travel Act, which boosts the exchange of high-level officials. Then, last October, a U.S. bill to protect Taiwan from Chinese diplomatic pressure won Senate approval. That same month, former Republican presidential-primary candidate Ted Cruz became the first U.S. Senator in 35 years to join Taiwan’s National Day celebrations, cementing a “friendship that has never been more important as Taiwan stands up to the Chinese Communist Party’s oppression,” he tells TIME.
One of Tsai’s first priorities if re-elected will be to build on these overtures from allies in Congress. She may need them, as China’s ambitions are widely believed to stretch further still. In the South China Sea, it has militarized disputed islands and reefs into fortifications dubbed “unsinkable aircraft carriers.” In September, the Pacific nations of Kiribati and the Solomon Islands each restored diplomatic ties with China, a move Tsai’s government believes may give Beijing an enhanced foothold in the region. “China took them by strategic design,” Wu says. “If the international community does not react strongly, China might make changes to the Pacific in the same way as the South China Sea.”
Although Beijing insists these and other fortifications are defensive in nature, Tsai isn’t buying it. “China’s military capacity is still growing, and it harbors expansionist intentions,” she says. The danger is that the alarm bells might be ignored by a world so entwined with Beijing economically, including the U.S. But for Taiwan, there’s no choice. The islanders will, as ever, be standing in the breach.
Major General Qasem Soleimani was born in 1957 to a self-described “peasant” family in Kerman, the sunbaked province in southeastern Iran famed for its pistachios, rose water and hospitable inhabitants. Family debts forced him to leave school and earn a living as a construction worker at age 13. By his late teens, Soleimani was swept up in the country’s growing political fervor that culminated in one of the greatest geopolitical earthquakes of the past half-century: the 1979 revolution that replaced a U.S.-allied monarchy, led by Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, with a viscerally anti-American theocracy, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Like young men from poor families throughout the world, Soleimani achieved upward mobility by joining the military. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) was set up to supersede a national army Khomeini did not trust, and Soleimani cut his teeth as a soldier by helping to ruthlessly crush a rebellion of Kurds in northwest Iran, an estimated 10,000 of whom were killed. In 1981, he was among hundreds of thousands dispatched to counter the invasion of Iran by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Soleimani served mostly on the front line, distinguishing himself as a leader, then went on to confront drug traffickers in Kerman, the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan and, reportedly, antigovernment protests inside Iran.
But Soleimani came into his own after the attacks of 9/11 and the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, which flank Iran. Soleimani was tasked with sabotaging the American effort in Iraq. He did this initially by unleashing al-Qaeda members detained in Iran after fleeing Afghanistan–including several members of the bin Laden family and Jordanian radical Abu Musab al-Zarqawi–and allowing them to inflame Iraq. Then he trained Iraqi Shi’ite militias, and provided them extraordinarily lethal roadside booby traps that could penetrate any U.S. armor. The efforts took the lives of as many as 1,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq, making Soleimani the single most hated adversary in the world for two generations of American military commanders.
So how did the man live to 62? A former senior U.S. intelligence official on Iran told me that when previous Administrations discussed assassinating Soleimani, two questions were usually contemplated: Does he deserve to die? And, is it worth the potential risks? The answer to the first question tended to be affirmative. The answer to the second was always inconclusive.
It still is. The five days after Soleimani’s assassination on Jan. 3, by a drone’s missile fired on the order of President Trump, were among the most fraught in the four decades of enmity between the U.S. and Iran–and a bowel-shaking lesson in the speed with which full-blown war can appear all but inevitable, even when neither side actually wants one.
“The fact that we have this great military and equipment … does not mean we have to use it. We do not want to use it!” Trump said, in a televised address that had the feel of stepping onto firm ground from a roller coaster.
Soleimani was killed early on a Friday. By Tuesday evening Washington time, Tehran was doing what it had never done before–firing a barrage of rockets from its own soil toward U.S. troops stationed in Iraq. The time it took to count heads at the bases in Erbil and in the dusty reaches of Anbar province was excruciating for more than the families of service members stationed there.
American blood had emerged as Trump’s red line in dealing with Iran. A U.S. death presumably would require a lethal military reply from a President who had entered the spiral of escalation quite late, at the point where the circles narrow and everything moves very fast. For seven months, the normally bellicose U.S. President had declined to answer mounting attacks by Iran with reciprocal U.S. military action. “We had nobody in the drone,” Trump said, after Iran shot down a massive aircraft in June. “It would have made a big difference.” Holes blasted in oil tankers and an extraordinarily bold air assault on Saudi Arabia’s main oil facilities were received as Iran’s response to the economic sanctions Trump had imposed after unilaterally withdrawing from the international agreement that had arrested Iran’s nuclear program. If we cannot sell oil, Tehran was saying, no one else should be able to either. The Commander in Chief answered every attack with an eagerness to sit down and talk, just as he had with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
Then, on Dec. 27, one of the militias handled by Soleimani killed an American contractor in a rocket barrage on a U.S. base in Iraq. Trump finally retaliated in kind, ordering U.S. warplanes to strike the militia two days later, killing 25. Iran responded by sending unarmed militiamen to swarm the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, where they burned a reception center. While Tehran has a long history of looting embassies, what infuriated Trump was comparisons with the overrunning, by Libyan militants in 2012, of the consular office in Benghazi, where the death of the U.S. ambassador became an obsession for some in the GOP, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. “The Anti-Benghazi!” Trump tweeted. When military advisers brought a menu of options to answer for the embassy vandalism, Trump stunned them by picking the killing of Soleimani. He later said the general was planning an “imminent” strike on U.S. interests, but has not elaborated.
But if the drone strike sped the U.S. and Iran down the road to war, both sides were looking frantically for an off-ramp. Iran seemingly showed the way, opening the path to de-escalation by the nature of its barrage.
Consider: before launching the strike, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced the retaliation would come from Iran’s own military, not proxy forces. What form did it take? Iran has weapons precise enough to elude a U.S. Patriot antimissile battery and take half of Saudi’s oil production offline, which it did on Sept. 14. Instead, Tehran sprayed ballistic rockets toward a vast air base and a token number toward the base in Erbil. Both facilities were braced for the attack. Several rockets failed to explode.
“All is well!” Trump tweeted a few hours later, radiating relief that no one was killed. The next morning, flanked by generals at the televised address, he announced “additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime.”
Dangers remain. Still to be avenged is the militia leader killed along with Soleimani, a project more than one Iraq militia vowed to undertake. And Iran may not be finished. It has a long history of indirect covert action, from cyberattacks to terrorism. A former senior U.S. intelligence official said Iran may go further this time, potentially targeting current or former senior U.S. officials of similar rank to Soleimani. But the conflict Tehran favors least is the kind it appears to have avoided: conventional war. So it was no surprise that a couple of hours after launching the rockets, Tehran announced through its Foreign Minister that its retaliation had “concluded,” and headed for the casino door with its winnings.
Inside the Islamic Republic, the impact of Soleimani’s death will take years to appreciate. But its immediate effect was to throw the regime a lifeline. Only weeks earlier, an abrupt hike in gas prices brought into the streets not the elite and middle class who normally protest but tens of thousands of the working-class Iranians whom Khomeini called “the real owners of the revolution.” The regime answered by shutting down the Internet and killing as many as 1,500 people.
Soleimani’s assassination changed the subject. With his cocked eyebrow and soft personal manner, he had been among the most celebrated officials in the country, hailed by “moderates” and hard-liners alike. In life, he made Iran–however brutally, especially in Syria–the most consequential player in the Middle East, evoking the days of empire that may reside in the breasts of even many Iranians who despise the theocracy. (Persian General, read one of the posters rushed out.) And in death, he found the place akin to sainthood that prominent martyrdom holds in Shi’ite Islam, with its narrative that begins with the fatal 7th century defeat of the Prophet’s family in battle.
“Enemies felt humbled by the magnificence of the Iranian nation’s turnout for the funeral of Martyr Soleimani,” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tweeted Jan. 8, referring to crowds that included Tehran residents who had marched in 2009, in bloody antigovernment protests dubbed the Green Movement. The surge in unity does not change stubborn realities for Khamenei, 80. Iran’s economy remains in shambles, and its interference in the region still inspires protests in Lebanon and Iraq, where Soleimani directed militias and snipers to attack and kill demonstrators. But hostile attention from Washington is pure oxygen to a regime founded in opposition to it.
Since the 444-day hostage crisis that ended Jimmy Carter’s presidency, Iran has exulted in playing an outsize role in American domestic politics. Ronald Reagan’s presidency was tainted by the Iran-contra affair, George W. Bush’s presidency was demoralized by Iranian machinations in Iraq, and negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program consumed the latter part of Barack Obama’s presidency.
Trump ran on an election platform of reducing America’s presence in the Middle East and avoiding “stupid wars.” But his erratic approach–provoking an escalation cycle while simultaneously making clear his aversion to conflict–only increased Tehran’s appetite for risk. And so thousands of U.S. troops have arrived in the region, every one as a buffer against an emboldened Iran. “On almost a daily basis, the military has had to react to the President’s decisions rather than plan for them,” says Chuck Hagel, a former U.S. Defense Secretary and Republican Senator from Nebraska.
During the tense wait for Iran’s retaliation, Trump threatened to counter it by bombing a list of 52 targets in Iran, including cultural sites: a clear violation of international law. Though his Secretaries of State and Defense disavowed this threat, when reporters asked Trump to clarify he first doubled down, then two days later backed off. It is the Trump paradox: everything the President of the United States says must be taken seriously; nothing that Donald Trump says can be taken seriously.
With that paradox comes confusion over why the U.S. has forces in the Middle East. The best reason is to fight ISIS, which lost its caliphate but remains an insurgency, especially in the Iraqi countryside. Soleimani had served to both fuel and fight Sunni extremists, who prey on Shi’ites. But the backlash from his assassination spurred U.S. commanders to confine their forces to base; operations against ISIS were suspended.
Worse, outrage by Iraqi politicians brought calls to expel U.S. forces from the country, where the U.S. has spent more than $1 trillion and thousands of lives. Expulsion makes no military sense: without U.S. airpower and special operators, ISIS would still hold much of Iraq. But after Iraq’s parliament passed a nonbinding resolution ordering American forces out, the U.S. command in Iraq issued a letter suggesting it was packing its bags.
The letter was a mistake, but one that gladdened hearts in Tehran. Getting U.S. forces out of Iraq was, after all, the mission Khamenei gave Soleimani. His mandate expanded to the equivalent of a four-star general, CIA chief and Secretary of State. The Shi’ite foreign legion of 50,000 he cultivated projected Iranian power across the Middle East. And if his vocation made it unlikely Soleimani would die a natural death–Khamenei had called him a “living martyr”–his assassination may prove to be a force multiplier. Sensing that the notion of the U.S. leaving Iraq has now become credible, Iranian leaders are upping the stakes, calling for the expulsion of U.S. forces from the entire Middle East.
Fast forward to August 2020. Imagine news from Iran that a dozen U.S. sailors have been detained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards navy. Instead of releasing them in a timely fashion, as it has in the past, Iran demands that all American troops first vacate the entire Middle East, an impossible request. Three months from Election Day, how does Trump react?
–With reporting by W.J. HENNIGAN/WASHINGTON
Sadjadpour is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
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UP ITI Result 2020 – Get UP ITI SCVT & NCVT 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Semester Exam Results here @ admissionscvtup.in 2019 – Uttar Pradesh UP SCVT/ VPPUP ITI has announced the Fourth Round Allotment Result for the ITI Govt. and Private Admission in Various Trades 2019. Those candidates who have applied for this Exam Can Download Result from the below link. Applicants can find the quick link to access your UP ITI Fourth Round Seat Allotment. The result link has activated for both Government and Private colleges, applicants need to enter the Registration number and Date of Birth.
Latest Update 23rd November 2019:UP ITI Result for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Semester exams will be announced soon. Students can keep track of this page for more latest updates.
UP ITI SCVT NCVT 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Semester Result 2020– UP ITI result for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th semester of NCVT and SCVT programs for 2020 Announced. Separate results have published for ITI courses offered under NCVT and SCVT. The UP ITI Result 2020 published on separate dates on the official website of UP SCVT. After the publication of UP ITI Results, we have updated the result link. Applicants can get a direct link from the table to get your SCVT NCVT 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Semester Results.
UP ITI SCVT & NCVT 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Semester Result 2020
UP ITI SCVT NCVT 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Semester Result 2020– UP ITI result for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th semester of NCVT and SCVT programs for 2019 Announced. Separate results have published for ITI courses offered under NCVT and SCVT. The UP ITI Result 2020 published on separate dates on the official website of UP SCVT. After the publication of UP ITI Results, we have updated the result link. Applicants can get a direct link from the table to get your SCVT NCVT 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Semester Results.
UP ITI SCVT & NCVT 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Semester Result
UP ITI SCVT NCVT 1st Semester Result 2020 – Click Here UP ITI SCVT NCVT 2nd Semester Result 2020 – Click Here UP ITI SCVT NCVT 3rd Semester Result 2020 – Click Here UP ITI SCVT NCVT 4th Semester Result 2020 – Click Here
UP ITI 4th Round Seat Allotment Result 2020Declared– SCVTUP has announced UP ITI Fourth Merit List/List of selected candidates for the 4th round counseling on 12th September 2019. All candidates who will participate in 04th round counseling will be able to check their name in the 04th round college allotment result. All candidates are advised to stay in touch with this page for more latest updates. All those Students can check UP ITI Counselling 2019 Result from the direct link. Students are just by clicking one direct link UP VPPUP ITI Result 2020 to know your status.
UP ITI 4th Round Seat Allotment Result 2020 – Govt College
UP ITI 3rd Round Seat Allotment Result 2020 – SCVTUP has announced UP ITI Third Merit List/List of selected candidates for the 03rd round counseling. All candidates who will participate in 03rd round counseling will be able to check their name in the 03rd round college allotment result. As per the latest update, UP ITI 03rd Round Seat Allotment Result 2020 has announced on 29thAugust 2019. All candidates are advised to stay in touch with this page for more latest updates. All those Students can check UP ITI Counselling 2019 Result from the direct link. Students are just by clicking one direct link UP VPPUP ITI Result 2020 to know your status.
UP ITI 02nd Round Seat Allotment Result 2020 – SCVTUP will soon announce UP ITI Second Merit List/List of selected candidates for the 2nd round counseling. All candidates who will participate in 2nd round counseling will be able to check their name in 2nd round college allotment results are now waiting for the 2nd Merit List. As per the latest update, UP ITI 2nd Round Seat Allotment Result 2020 will be announced in August 2019. All candidates are advised to stay in touch with this page for more latest updates. All those Students can check UP ITI Counselling 2019 Result from the direct link. Students are just by clicking one direct link UP VPPUP ITI Result 2020 to know your status.
UP ITI 01st Round Seat Allotment Result 2020 – To get an Admission for UP ITI Students have appeared for the Counselling process of UP ITI Seat Allotment. And currently the UP SCVT ITI Admission 2019 officials have released the UP ITI Seat Allotment Result 2020 for the first round. The UP ITI Admission 2019 Team has released the UP ITI Seat Allotment 2019 for the Government and Private Colleges on 27th July 2019. All those Students can check UP ITI Counselling 2019 Result from the direct link. Students are just by clicking one direct link UP VPPUP ITI Result 2020 to know your status.
Candidates those who have appeared for the UP ITI Counselling 2019 can check your First round seat allotment result from the below link. Moreover, applicants can get the complete UP ITI Seat Allotment 2019 from the official website admissionscvtup.in 2019. In addition to this here we have mentioned the UP ITI Merit List 2020 Date, UP ITI First Round Seat Allotment result date, UP ITI Registration @www.vppup.in link. We advise the Students to keep track of this page to get the Second, Third, Fourth & other Round Seat Allotment Result. Because we will update the latest result link it will activate after the announcement of the Result.
UP ITI Cut off 2019 will play an important role in the UP ITI Admission 2019, because based on the UP ITI Cut off marks students will get the seat allotment. If the Students get the UP ITI Cut off 2019 then students can select the colleges by their choice. The officials will announce the Cutoff marks and which is based on some categories. All those students may get the UP ITI Merit List. This will be based on the VPPUP Merit list & cut off marks. If the applicants get the high Cut off marks, applicants’ names will attain into the Merit list.
UP ITI Merit List | UP VPPUP ITI Result
Students will be called for the Counselling process based on the UP ITI Merit List 2020. If the applicants get secured top 10 UP ITI Merit List 2018-19, they can attend the Counselling process. Also, Students can choice filling the application form for the Colleges. Applicants can get the UP ITI Admission 2019 easily with the UP ITI Merit List. Students should attend the counseling process with the ITI Certificate Download. Although here we have given some steps to download UP ITI First Round Seat Allotment Result.
How to check the UP ITI First Round Seat Allotment?
Initially visit the official website of the State and Private I.T.I. Entry i.e, admissionscvtup.in
On the home page click on the Seat allocation process
A new page will be open, in that click on the link UP ITI Seat Allotment Result 2020
UP ITI First Round Seat Allotment page will be open,
Enter the registration number and Date of Birth to get यूपी आईटीआई परिणाम 2019
Applicants can check and download the results for further reference.
OSSSC Jr Clerk Previous PapersFree Pdf is available. Download Odisha SSSC Junior Clerk Old Question Papers for Free of Cost. Also, get the Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission Solved Papers in addition to the OSSSC Jr Clerk Previous Papers.
OSSSC Junior Clerk Previous Papers Pdf
Aspirants who applied for the OSSSC Recruitment are now searching for the Jr Clerk Previous Year Papers for the Exam. For all those candidates we provided Last 5 years Odisha SSSC Question Papers with Solutions. Candidates who Preparing for the Exam can get the OSSSC Junior Clerk Previous Papers for better preparation. With the given Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission Old Question Papers they can perform well in the Exam.
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OSSSC Jr Clerk Exam Model Question Paper Pattern Pdf
Before Going to attend the Exam, Aspirants must know the Exam Syllabus and Pattern. Here, we provided the Exam Pattern along with Syllabus for Odisha SSSC Jr Clerk Exam. We have given Exam Pattern as per the official advertisement. Aspirants can get the subjects to be prepared from the OSSSC Junior Clerk / Junior Assistant Syllabus. Therefore to get an idea about the Scheme of Exam we provided the Exam Pattern in a tabular form below.
Odisha SSSC Exam Pattern for Jr Clerk
Exam Paper
Exam Type
Topics
Marks
Duration
Paper 1
Objective Type
General Awareness
80
2 Hrs
Basic Computer Knowledge
40
Paper 2
Objective type
Mathematics (including Reasoning and Aptitude Test)
70
2 Hrs
English
20
Odia
30
Computer Practical Test
30
30 Min
Total Marks
270
4 1/2 Hrs
Odisha SSSC Jr Clerk/ Jr Assistant Solved Papers pdf
Are you searching for the Solved Papers for Odisha Junior Clerk Exam? Then you can get them here for free of cost. We are providing you the exact subject wise OSSSC Sample Papers & Model Papers. With the given OSSSC Jr Clerk Previous Papers prepare well for the Exam. First of all, Aspirants should make a better plan for proper and effective preparation. Use these Odisha SSSC Junior Clerk old question Papers as a reference in your preparation. The given Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission Model Papers are for reference only. Don't expect the same questions the final Exam. For more information regarding the Odisha SSSC Junior Clerk Previous Papers, You can visit the Official Site – www.osssc.gov.in
The Hartron Previous Papers are available here for download. We have updated the article by all study materials. So, check the entire article and download the Hartron Old Question Papers of SET C Exam 2020. Also, interested aspirants can check the attached Hartron Informatics Limited Exam Pattern 2020. Refer the Solved Question Papers for a better understanding of questions asked in the State Eligibility Test in Computer Appreciation & Applications (SET C) Exams.
Interested and eligible applicants can also visit the official website of Hartron Informatics Limited (HIL) @ hartron.org.in for Latest and Updated SET C Sample Papers. Moreover, you can get the Hartron SET C Exam Dates in the following sections.
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Individuals applied for the HARTRON SET C Exam can download the SET C Previous Papers Pdf from the links provided below. Referring the below papers will help candidates to prepare themselves for the exam. Hence, they can appear for the exam confidently and can get a good mark. Therefore, click on the links and save the Hartron SET C, DEO Previous Papers for future reference.
Punjab Revenue Department Recruitment 2020, Apply Online | 1000+ Vacancies | Patwari Posts: Vacancy in Punjab Government for Graduates!!!!!. Punjab Revenue Department has released a Job notification to fill up 1000 Candidates for Patwari Posts. Applicants who are willing to apply for these vacancies can apply Online. Candidates can get a direct link to apply for the Punjab Revenue Department Vacancy. Aspirants who are eligible can apply Online from 10th January 2020 to 31st January 2020.
Punjab Revenue Department Recruitment 2020
Online applications are invited for filling up the Patwari vacancies under the Revenue Department for Punjab. Before applying candidates are advised to ensure that they fulfil the stipulated eligibility criteria. Applicants can scroll down to know eligibility, educational qualification, experience, salary, and other details.
The Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation & Disaster Management is headed by the Financial Commissioner Revenue, who is also Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Punjab in respect of Revenue Department. These Divisions divided into Districts, which are headed by the Deputy Commissioners, who also exercise the powers of Collector and Registrar under Indian Registration and Stamp Acts. Along with this, Districts are divided into Sub-Divisions, Tehsils, and Sub-Tehsils. Sub Divisions has headed by Sub Divisional Magistrates, Tehsils are headed by Tehsildars and Sub-Tehsils are headed by Naib Tehsildars. There are 22 districts, 91 Sub-Divisions, 91 Tehsils and 81 Sub-Tehsils in the State of Punjab.
KRIDE Jobs 2020 – Apply for 37 Sr. DGM, Assistant Manager & Other Posts in Bangaluru!!!! Job Seekers!! Apply Offline for 37 Assistant Manager, Sr. DGM, Sr. Manager & Other vacancies. The Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K RIDE) Invited applications from experienced, dynamic and motivated candidates of Indian nationality, having relevant work experience, for the following posts on Deputation/contract basis. Interested and eligible candidates can send the duly filled application form to the prescribed venue on or before the last date on 27th January 2020.
KRIDE Jobs 2020
To meet with the immediate requirement of experienced personnel for Engineering / Finance / HR departments, applications are invited for the following posts on Deputation/contract basis. Job seekers who are looking for a career in the Karnataka Government can make use of this opportunity. Important dates and links are given below. Refer to the below-provided details and enroll yourself for the K RIDE New Vacancies.
Overview of K RIDE Recruitment 2020
Name of the Organization
Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K RIDE)
Candidates can get complete details of KRIDE Jobs Assistant Manager, Sr. DGM, Sr. Manager & Other from the below sections.
Educational Qualification:
Post Name
Academic Qualification
General Manager ( Civil )
Bachelor Degree or Equivalent Degree in Civil Engineering from Govt. recognized University/institute
General Manager ( S&T)
B. E/ B. Tech or equivalent rn Electronics / Electronics and Communication / Electrical and Electronics from Govt. recognized University / Institute.
Sr. DGM ( Civil )
Bachelor Degree or Equivalent Degree in Civil Engineering from Govt. recognized University/institute
Sr. DGM (Electrical)
Bachelor Degree or Equivalent Degree in Electrical Engineering from Govt. recognized University /institute
Sr DGM (S&T)
B. E/ B.Tech or equivalent degree in Electronics and Telecommunication I Electronics and Communication I Electrical and Electronics from govt. recognized University / Institute
Sr. DGM (Finance)
Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India OR Member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India
Sr Manager (Civil)
Bachelor Degree or Equivalent Degree in Civil Engineering from Govt. recognized University/institute
Sr. Manager (Electrical)
Bachelor Degree or Equivalent Degree in Electrical Engineering from Govt. recognized University Institute
Sr Manager (S&T)
Bachelor Degree or Equivalent Degree in Electronics & Communication / Computer Science / Telecommunication from Govt. recognized University / institute
Sr. Manager (Finance)
Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India / Institute of Cost Accountants of India
Sr. Manager (HR)
MBA in Human Resource Management in Government recognised University / Institute
Assistant Manager (Civil)
Diploma Course in Civil Engineering OR B.E / B.Tech in Civil discipline from Govt. recognized Institute / University
Assistant Manager (Electrical)
Diploma Course in Electrical Engineering OR B.E / B.Tech (Electrical) from Govt. recognized institute / University
Assistant Manager (S&T)
Diploma Course in Electronics and Communication / Tele Communication Or BE I B Tech in Electronics and Communication / Tele Communication from Govt. recognised institute / University
Assistant Manager (Finance)
MBA in Finance from a recognized University institute
Assistant Manager (HR)
MBA in Human Resources from Government recognized University / institute
Age Limit – K RIDE Recruitment in Karnataka:
Basis of Assistant Manager, Sr. DGM, Sr. Manager & Other job notification 2020 candidate age should be
Minimum Age Limit – 18 Years
Maximum Age Limit – 57 Years
Salary Details:
E2:50000 – 160000/- – E2 Grade (Manager)
E1: 40000 – 140000/- – E1 Grade (Deputy Manager)
E0: 30000 – 120000/- – E0 Grade (Asst. Manager)
Application Fee:
Candidates can refer to the KRIDE Jobs Notification for more information.
Selection Process
Interview.
How to Apply for KRIDE Jobs 2020?
All the Eligible candidates can apply for January-2020 Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited Assistant Manager, Sr. DGM, Sr. Manager & Other recruitment as mentioned below:
Download the KRIDE Jobs notification 2020 given below.
Ensure that you are eligible for the K RIDE Vacancy
Download the application form and take a print.
Fill the blanks with the proper details.
Attach the essential document copies asked for the Assistant Manager, Sr. DGM, Sr. Manager & Other Post.
Recheck the documents enclosed and details are given properly.
Pay the Application Fee as per your Category. (If applicable only)
Post the duly filled application form to the following prescribed address.
Postal Address:
Managing Director / Rail infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited, MSIL House, No. 36, 7th Floor, Cunningham Road, Bangalore – 560052, Karnataka
1. What is the mode of application form K RIDE Recruitment 2020? A. Applications for K RIDE Recruitment will be accepted only in the Offline mode. Candidates can apply for Assistant Manager, Sr. DGM, Sr. Manager & Other posts by following the steps given above
2. Where will the candidates be placed after selection? A. The selected candidates can be placed in Karnataka which has an office of the Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited.
3. What are the important dates I must know for K RIDE Jobs 2020? A. Candidates must make note of the following date
Starting Date of Application – Started
Last Date To Apply Online – 27th January 2020
4. What is the Maximum Age limit for K RIDE New Vacancies? A. The candidate must be below 57 years of age.
5. What is the selection process for K RIDE Careers? A. Candidates will be selected based on Interview.
NRRMS Recruitment 2020, Vacancy in Tamilnadu Government for 12th Pass Candidates!!!!!. National Rural Recreation Mission Society has released a Job notification to fill up 1993 Candidates for VP Facilitators, Coordinator, Computer Assistant & Other Posts. Applicants who have completed 12th class with Computer Knowledge can apply for these Vacancies through Online. Get a direct link to apply for NRRMS Jobs 2020. Applicants who are willing to apply for this Central Govt Jobs can apply Online until 30th January 2020.
NRRMS Recruitment 2020
Online applications are invited for filling up the following vacancies under the National Rural Recreation Mission Society funded by the World Bank on its project of Deendayal Upadhyay Rural Infrastructure Development (DDU-RID) for Tamil Nadu. Before applying candidates are advised to ensure that they fulfill the stipulated eligibility criteria. Applicants can scroll down to know eligibility, educational qualification, experience, salary, and other details.
Eligibility Criteria for National Rural Recreation Mission Society Recruitment 2020
Educational Qualification:
Post Name
Academic Qualification
District Project Officer
Post-Graduate degree with 1+ years/Graduate degree with 3+ years post qualification experience in social /community development sector, out of which at least 1 Year should be on a relevant domain.
Accounts Officer
Post-Graduate / Graduate degree with 2+ years post qualification experience in Finance/Accounts related works.
Technical Assistant
Graduate with at least 6 months DCA and proficiency in computer typing, data entry and report generation and good knowledge of MS-Office with 1+ years of post-qualification experience in MIS related works. BCA, BSc(IT) and other technical courses will be given prefer
Block Data Manager
Graduate degree with proficiency in computer typing, data entry and report generation and good knowledge of MSOffice with 1+ years of post-qualification experience in MIS related works. BCA, BSc(IT) and other technical courses will be given prefer
Communication Officer
Graduate degree with 2+ years post qualification experience in social /community development sector, out of which at least 1 Year should be on a relevant domain
Block Field Coordinator
Graduate / 10+2 with 2+ years post qualification experience and knowledge in computer applications
Multi-Tasking Official
Graduate / 10+2 with 2+ years post qualification experience and knowledge in computer applications.
Computer Assistant
10+2 / HS with at least 6 months Diploma in computer applications.
Coordinator
10+2 / HS with knowledge in computer applications
VP Facilitators
10+2 with 1+ years post qualification experience and knowledge in computer applications will be preferable
Age limit:
Post Name
Age Limit
District Project Officer
23-43 Years
Accounts Officer
22-43 Years
Technical Assistant
21-40 Years
Block Data Manager
21-38 Years
Communication Officer
21-38 Years
Block Field Coordinator
18-38 Years
Multi-Tasking Official
18-40 Years
Computer Assistant
18-38 Years
Coordinator
18-40 Years
VP Facilitators
18-38 Years
NRRMS Jobs Salary Details:
Post Name
Gross Salary (Rs) PM
District Project Officer
Rs. 26,560/
Accounts Officer
Rs. 22,650/-
Technical Assistant
Rs. 19,650/-
Block Data Manager
Rs. 17,730/
Communication Officer
Rs. 17,650/
Block Field Coordinator
Rs. 16,630/-
Multi-Tasking Official
Rs. 16,500/-
Computer Assistant
Rs. 16,700/
Coordinator
Rs. 16,660/-
VP Facilitators
Rs. 16,660/
Application Fee:
General / OBC / MOBC Candidates – Rs.250/-
SC / ST Candidates – Rs.150/-
BPL Candidates – Rs. 150/-
NRRMS Career Selection Process:
Written Test
Computer Proficiency Test
How to Apply for NRRMS Tamilnadu Recruitment 2020?
Steps to Apply for National Rural Recreation Mission Society Recruitment 2020:
Initially, candidates can apply through ONLINE registration system on NRRMS official website i.e. nrrmsociety.com
Check for the NRRMS Recruitment notification for Computer Assistant, Coordinator & Other posts
Download the pdf and read the given instructions carefully
Candidate before starting online registration should keep the properly scanned copies of necessary documents ready.
Fill in all the necessary details asked in the application form
Upload scanned copies of your recent photograph, signature and scanned copies of necessary documents
Pay prescribed application fee
Finally, press on submit button
After successful submission of application forms take a print out of application form.
Important Dates for National Rural Recreation Mission Society Recruitment 2020
Frequently Asked Questions About NRRMS Recruitment 2020:
1. What is the mode of application form NRRMS Tamilnadu Recruitment 2020? A. Applications for NRRMS Recruitment will be accepted only in the Online mode. Candidates can apply for Computer Assistant, Coordinator & Other posts by following the steps given above
2. Where will the candidates be placed after selection? A. The selected candidates can be placed in Tamilnadu which has an office of National Rural Recreation Mission Society (NRRMS).
3. What are the important dates I must know for NRRMS Computer Assistant Jobs 2020? A. Candidates must make note of the following date
Starting Date of Application – 03rd January 2020
Last Date To Apply Online – 30th January 2020
4. What are the eligibility criteria for the National Rural Recreation Mission Society Recruitment 2020? A. Candidate should have the 12th Pass/ Graduate to be eligible for NRRMS Jobs. The candidate must be below 43 years of age.
5. How much will I be paid for NRRMS Vacancy 2020? A. Candidates will be paid Basic pay of Rs.26,560/-.
6. What is the application fee that I will have to pay for NRRMS Tamilnadu Recruitment 2020? A. General / OBC / MOBC Candidates will have to pay – Rs. 250/- as application fee and SC / ST / BPL Candidates have to pay Rs. 150/-.
About the National Rural Recreation Mission Society (NRRMS):
At the heart of every human experience is the desire to survive and prosper. To live without fear, hunger or suffering. To imagine how your life could be better and then have the means to change it. Yet, every day, 1.4 billion people – nearly one-fifth of the world's inhabitants – cannot fulfill their most basic needs, let alone attain their dreams or desires.
Our initiatives are Creating an institutional architecture through NRRM Society for the fight against poverty, Enabling and empowering for the poor to access better livelihoods and improve their standards of living would be one of the key objectives of NRR Mission in India. NRRMS aims to improve rural livelihood options and work towards the social and economic empowerment of rural poor and women.
NABARD Assistant Manager Jobs 2020 Notification released @ www.nabard.org || 154 Assistant Manager Grade ‘A’ Vacancies in NABARD Careers: National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) being one of the premier Banking Institutes of India. Applications are invited from Indian citizens for the post of Assistant Manager in Grade ‘A’ in the Subordinate Service in National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Applicants who are waiting for the Central Govt Jobs in Across India can apply for this post through Online. The link will be LIVE from 10th January 2020 to 31st January 2020.
NABARD Recruitment 2020
Candidates can apply only ON-LINE on the NABARD website www.nabard.org between 10th January 2020 and 31st January 2020 NABARD is an all India Apex Organization, wholly owned by the Government of India and is equal opportunity employer. Before applying, candidates should read all the instructions carefully and ensure that they fulfill all the eligibility criteria for the post. Here we have provided the complete details of NABARD Bank Assistant Manager Vacancies.
Assistant Manager in Grade A (Rural Development Banking Service)
139
Assistant Manager in Grade A (Rajbhasha Service)
08
Assistant Manager in Grade A (Legal Service)
03
Assistant Manager in Grade A (Protocol & Security Service)
04
Total
154
Eligibility Criteria for NABARD Assistant Manager Recruitment 2020
Candidates who are interested in applying for NABARD Bank Assistant Manager Jobs must fulfil all the below-listed eligibility conditions without fail. Check Educational Qualification, age limit, selection process, examination pattern, Salary for NABARD Jobs for Graduates 2020.
Educational Qualification:
Office Attendant Group ‘C ‘– A candidate should check the NABARD Assistant Manager Jobs 2020 Notification for more information.
Age Limit – NABARD Bank Vacancy 2020:
According to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Norms.
NABARD Recruitment 2020 Notification @ www.nabard.org || 73 Office Attendant Group ‘C’ Vacancies in NABARD Careers: National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) being one of the premier Banking Institutes of India. Applications are invited from Indian citizens for the post of Office Attendant in Group ‘C’ in the Subordinate Service in National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Applicants who are waiting for the Central Govt Jobs in Across India can apply for this post through Online. The link will be LIVE from 25th December 2019 to 12th January 2020.
NABARD Recruitment 2020
Candidates can apply only ON-LINE on the NABARD website www.nabard.org between 25th December 2019 and 12th January 2020 NABARD is an all India Apex Organization, wholly owned by the Government of India and is equal opportunity employer. Before applying, candidates should read all the instructions carefully and ensure that they fulfil all the eligibility criteria for the post. Here we have provided the complete details of NABARD Bank Office Attendant Vacancies.
Vacancies & Reservation for the post of Office Attendant (OA)
State/Office
UR
SC
ST
OBC
EWS
PWBD
EXS
EXS
DISEXS
Andhra Pradesh
01
06
14
03
Arunachal Pradesh
01
Chhattisgarh
03
Goa
01
Gujarat
03
Haryana
04
01
Himachal Pradesh
01
Jammu & Kashmir
01
Karnataka
03
Karnataka (BIRD Mangaluru)
02
Kerala
02
01
Maharashtra (HO-Mumbai)
07
08
06
02
Meghalaya
01
Mizoram
01
Nagaland
02
New Delhi
03
Odisha
01
01
Rajasthan
02
01
01
Telangana
01
01
Uttar Pradesh
06
02
Uttrakhand
02
Tripura
01
Total
48
01
09
13
02
73
Eligibility Criteria for NABARD Office Attendant Recruitment 2020
Candidates who are interested in applying for NABARD Bank Office Attendant Vacancies must fulfill all the below-listed eligibility conditions without fail. Check Educational Qualification, age limit, selection process, examination pattern, Salary for NABARD Jobs for Graduates 2020.
Educational Qualification:
Office Attendant Group ‘C ‘– A candidate should have passed 10th Standard (S.S.C./Matriculation) from the concerned State/UT coming under the State/Regional Office to which he/she is applying.
Age Limit – NABARD Bank Vacancy 2020:
As on 1st December 2019, Age Limit for NABARD Recruitment 2019 for Office Attendant is as follows,
Minimum Age – 18 Years
Maximum Age – 30 Years
Age Relaxation
SC/ ST – 5 Years
OBC – 3 Years
PWBD – 10 Years
Ex‐Servicemen – 3 Years
Widows/divorced women/ women judicially separated who are not re‐married – 10 Years
Candidates who had ordinarily been domiciled in the State of Jammu and Kashmir between 1st January 1980 and 31st December 1989 – 5 Years
Selection Process for NABARD Bank Recruitment 2020:
Online Tests
Language Proficiency Test (LPT)
NABARD Office Attendant Salary:
Basic pay of Rs.10940/- p.m. in the scale of Rs.10940-380(4)-12460-440(3)-13780-520(3)-15340- 690(2)-16720-860(4)-20160-1180(3)-23700 applicable to Office Attendants in Group ‘C’ and they will be eligible for Dearness Allowance, Local Compensatory Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and Grade Allowance as per rules in force from time to time. At present, initial monthly gross emoluments are approximately Rs. 24000/-
Application Fee for NABARD Jobs 2020
SC/ST/PWBD/EXS – Rs.50/-
Others – Rs. 450/-
How to apply for NABARD Recruitment Notification 2020?
Firstly, visit NABARD Official website i.e. www.nabard.org
Check for the NABARD Recruitment Notification pdf below.
Ensure that you meet all the above-listed eligibility points.
Click on Apply Online Link provided below.
Candidates should register themself on the application
Fill in an application form with all necessary details
Attach scanned copies of necessary documents
Pay prescribed application fee
Finally, hit on the submit button to complete your application process.
Frequently Asked Questions About NABARD Recruitment 2020:
1. What is the mode of application form NABARD Recruitment 2019-20? A. Applications for NABARD Recruitment will be accepted only in the Online mode. Candidates can apply for Office Attendant, Assistant Manager posts by following the steps given above
2. Where will the candidates be placed after selection? A. The selected candidates can be placed anywhere in any state of India which has an office of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.
3. What are the important dates I must know for NABARD Jobs 2020? A. Candidates must make note of the following date
Starting Date of Application – 25th December 2019
Last Date To Apply Online – 31st January 2020
4. What are the eligibility criteria for NABARD Bank Office Attendant Jobs? A. Candidate should have passed 10th Standard (S.S.C./Matriculation) from the concerned State/UT coming under the State/Regional Office to which he/she is applying to be eligible for NABARD Jobs. The candidate must be below 30 years of age.
5. What is the selection process for NABARD Bank Careers? A. Candidates will be selected based on Online Tests and Language Proficiency Test (LPT).
6. How much will I be paid for NABARD Jobs 2020? A. Candidates will be paid Basic pay of Rs.24000/- p.m.
7. What is the application fee that I will have to pay for NABARD Office Attendant Recruitment? A. SC/ST/PWBD/EXS candidates will have to pay – Rs. 50/- as application fee and other candidates have to pay Rs. 450/-.
History of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD):
NABARD was created following the recommendations of the B.Sivaraman Committee (by Law 61 of the Parliament of 1981) of 12 July 1982 to implement the law of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development of 1981. NABARD Bank replaces the Rural Planning and Agricultural Credit Department (ACD). and the Credit Cell of the Reserve Bank of India and the Agricultural Refinancing and Development Corporation (ARDC). It is one of the major agencies that provide credit for the development of rural areas. NABARD is the specialized bank for agriculture and rural development in India.
The initial NABARD corpus was 100 crore. Following the review of the composition of the capital stock between the Indian Government and the RBI, the capital disbursed as of 31st May 2017, amounted to Rs. 6,700 crore, while the Indian government had 6,700 crores (100%). participation). The authorized share capital is 30,000 crore. NABARD's international partners include organizations affiliated with the World Bank and global development agencies active in agriculture and rural development. These organizations help NABARD by advising and providing monetary support for the improvement of the population in rural areas and by optimizing the agricultural process.
RPSC Syllabus 2020PDF is available here at free of cost. Interested candidates who are seeking for the RPSC Syllabus can download it here. We have given the complete details of the RPSC Syllabus 2020 Pdf and Exam Pattern on this page. Download the topics mentioned in the Rajasthan PSC Syllabus and Test Pattern to get an idea about the exam. Also, we have provided the detailed Rajasthan PSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern here. Hence, read the below section to be aware of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission Syllabus 2020. Interested Candidates can apply here at RPSC Recruitment 2020.
Candidates also follow the RPSC Previous Papers Link to get the detailed information of RPSC. It is a great chance for the contenders to collect all the necessary information and prepare for the exams well. To stay updated with every information related to RPSC here and grab the opportunity before its too late.
RPSC Teacher Syllabus 2020 PDF
Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) has released a recruitment notification for School Lecturer posts for many subjects Teachers in Rajasthan. The candidates who have applied for RPSC Recruitment 2020 of 1st Grade Lecturer post can check the RPSC 1st Grade Lecturer syllabus pdf given in our article to start preparing for the exam. For, much more details like exam pattern, exam date, and previous papers go through the further article.
Rajasthan JLO Syllabus 2020 – Rajasthan Public Service Commission has planned for JLO Exam. Aspirants who have applied for RPSC JLO Recruitment and searching for the Syllabus to start your preparation use this section. Here we have given the RPSC JLO Exam Pattern & Syllabus details. You can download the RPSC JLO Exam Syllabus Pdf given in our article to start preparing for the exam.
Constitution of India with special emphasis on Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and enforcement of rights through writs, Functioning of High Court and Supreme Court and attorney general.
150
50
3 hours (150 Minutes)
Civil Procedure Code and Criminal, Procedure Code. Provisions required to be referred generally in Government Office will be given importance.
150
50
Evidence Act, Limitation Act, Interpretation of Statutes, drafting, and conveyancing.
150
50
Hindi
75
25
English
75
25
Total
600
200
Selection Procedure:
Competitors must face the following selection rounds:
RPSC had released a notification to fill various Assistant Engineer posts. Since RPSC AE Prelims Exam is already over, candidates who are selected in the exam need to prepare well for the Mains exam beforehand. For this purpose, here we have given RPSC Assistant Engineer Mains Syllabus 2020 along with the Exam Pattern. Therefore, applicants stay tuned to our page recruitment.guru to know more about RPSC Exam Date, Syllabus, Selection Process, etc.
Here we have updated the latest exam pattern for Assistant Engineer Combined Competitive Exam. The RPSC competitive exam consists of 2 stages i.e Prelims and Mains. Since the Prelims exam is over, here we are giving the exam pattern of Mains Examination. Check the details carefully and start preparing for the exams using RPSC AEN Previous Papers by clicking on the link given in the below section of the article.
RPSC Assistant Engineer Mains Exam Pattern 2020
Papers
Name of the Subject
Number of Marks
Paper-I
Hindi
100
Paper-II
Social aspects of Engineering
100
Paper-III
Optional subject (2 Papers)
200 (for each Paper)
Paper-IV
Optional Subject (2 Papers)
200 (for each Paper)
The Main Exam consists of Conventional types of questions.
Paper-I & II are compulsory subjects.
Paper-III & IV are optional subjects (Each subject consists of 2 papers).
Rajasthan Public Service Commission released a recruitment notification for various Food Safety Officer posts. Candidates who are all interested in this post have already applied for the exam. Now, waiting for the exam date to get released. Thus, prepare for the exam as soon as possible by checking RPSC FSO Syllabus 2020 and the Exam Pattern before starting to prepare for the exam to understand the structure of the exam.
Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection
Bifurcation of Rajasthan and its Administrative, Economic, Social
Cultural, Political, and legal implications/problems
General Science
Economic development in India since independence.
Geography of India with a focus on Rajasthan.
Social-economic & political history of modern India
Events of national and international importance.
Current affairs- international, national and regional.
Indian polity governance: constitutional issues
Public policy, reforms & e-governance initiatives
Reasoning Ability
Seating Arrangement: Circular table as well as Line (North and South).
Puzzle.
Blood Relations.
Number series.
Inequality or Decision Making.
Data Sufficiency.
Statement and Argument.
Passage and conclusion.
Coding and decoding.
Syllogism.
Order and ranking.
Besides, Making judgments.
Logical Reasoning.
Input-Output.
Intelligence Ability
Assertion and Reason
Logical Sequence of Words
Sequential Output Tracing
Direction Sense Test
Analogy
Classification
Number, Ranking & Time Sequence Test
Logic
Miscellaneous Logical Puzzles
Mirror Images
Water Images
Mathematical Operations
Data Sufficiency
Alphabet Test
Blood Relations
Miscellaneous
Situation Reaction Test
Verification of Truth of the Statement
Analytical Reasoning
Puzzle Test
Decision Making
Arithmetical Reasoning
Inserting the Missing Character
Embedded Figures
Series completion
Coding-Decoding
Logical Venn diagrams
RPSC Fisheries Development Officers Syllabus 2020 PDF
RPSC Syllabus 2020: Hello Folks !!! The Rajasthan Public Service Commission will plan the Fisheries Development Officers position Written Examinationto recruit the candidates. Here, we provided the RPSC Fisheries Development Officers Syllabus 2020 on this page for the convenience of the aspirants. To get qualify in the Rajasthan PSC Fisheries Development Officers' examination you have to collect the RPSC FDO Syllabus 2020 and also the Exam Pattern.
We advise the applicants to start the exam preparation now onwards to get high marks. To help out the candidates, our team recruitment.guru has provided all the information about the latest RPSC Fisheries Development Officers syllabus and Exam Pattern. By this Latest RPSC FDO Syllabus 2020, candidates can easily crack the exam by preparing well for the topics. Participants need to check the official job notification of the Fisheries Development Officers Posts 2020 to gain more detailed information about RPSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern along with the RPSC Previous Papers.
RPSC Fisheries Development Officers Exam 2020 – Overview
Do you know the exact pattern of the RPSC Examination 2020? If No! then check the Rajasthan PSC Fisheries Development Officers Exam Pattern 2020 tabulated below. Rajasthan FDO Written Exam consists of two papers Paper I and Paper-II. Moreover, get enter into the examination hall applicants need to show their RPSC Admit Card 2020 which would be downloaded before 1 week of the examination from the official portal.
RPSC Fisheries Development Officers Exam Pattern 2020
PART-A
Paper
Name of the Subject
Number of Marks
Number of Questions
Time Duration
Paper-I
General Studies & Mental Ability
150
150
150 Minutes
Paper-II
Subjects (Common)
300
150
150 Minutes
PART-B
Interview
50
Selection Procedures:
Most of the job hunters are eagerly waiting to get the job at Rajasthan PSC which a secure career path for them. If you are one in that group then you need to work hard. Because selection will be purely based on the applicant’s performance and skills which are shown in the following rounds.
Disaster management: vulnerability profile, prevention, & mitigation strategies, Application of Remote Sensing & GIS in the assessment of Disaster
Economic development in India since independence.
Events of national and international importance.
Current affairs- international, national and regional.
General Science
Social- economic & political history of modern India
Indian polity governance: constitutional issues, public policy, reforms & e-governance initiatives
Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection
Logical reasoning, analytical ability, data interpretation.
Data Analysis:
Basic data analysis (Summary Statistics as mean and variance coefficient of
variation etc.,
Visual representation of data
Interpretation
Tabulation of data
Bifurcation of Rajasthan and its Administrative, Economic, Social, Cultural, Political, and legal implications/problems, including
Division of employees, their relocation & nativity issues.
Loss of capital city, challenges in building the new capital and its financial implications.
Effect of bifurcation on commerce and entrepreneurs.
Impact of the bifurcation on river water sharing and consequential issues.
The task of post-bifurcation infrastructure development & opportunities for investments.
Rajasthan REORGANISATION ACT, 2014 on AP and the arbitrariness of certain provisions.
Implications for financial resources of state government.
Socioeconomic, cultural and demographic impact of bifurcation.
Division and rebuilding of common Institutions.
Rajasthan Fisheries Development Officers Syllabus 2020
Respiration and osmoregulation in fishes
The endocrine system of fishes
General principles of Taxonomy, outline classification & General characters on Non-Chordates and Chordates
Phylum Chordata – class – Pisces – classification – general Morphology & Anatomy of chondrichthyans and ostrich-types and Osteichthyes – general distribution of fish
Food & feeding habits with special reference to Digestion in Fish
Reproductive system and breeding habit in fishes
Fish growth – Morphometric and Meristic characters
Adaptations – migration of fishes
Parental care of fishes
A general study of Parasitic & Pathogenic Protozoans, Helminthes, & Arthropods with reference to Fish & Prawn culture
Rajasthan PSC Paper II Syllabus for FDO Exam 2020
Study of a major group of plankton & their importance in aquaculture
Brackish water aquaculture Brackish water fishery resources – management of brackishwater ponds.
Freshwater aquaculture freshwater fishery resources preparation and management of ponds Aquatic weeds & control
Freshwater aquaculture freshwater fishery resources preparation and management of ponds – Aquatic weeds & control
General Principles of Ecology aquatic ecosystem concerning freshwater brackish water and marine environment
The Economic Importance of Fisheries Fish by-products.
A general account of fish & prawn diseases and their control
Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) recently released a notification for 23 Senior Scientific Officer posts. Applicants who have applied for RPSC SSO Exam 2020 and are searching for RPSC Senior Scientific Officer (SSO) syllabus 2029 download pdf cam find it on this page along with www.rpsc.gov.in Senior Scientific Officer (SSO) exam pattern details.
Download RPSC Senior Scientific Officer Syllabus Pdf
Physics
Mathematical Methods of Physics
Electromagnetic Theory
Classical Mechanics
Solid State Physics
Atomic & Molecular Physics
Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics
Experimental Techniques
Data analysis
Nuclear and Particle Physics
Quantum Mechanics
Forensic Physics
Wild Life Forensics
Computer Forensics
Instrumentation
Forensic statistics
Psychological Techniques in Forensic science
Foot Print, Shoe Print, and Tyre Marks
Forensic Ballistics
Wound Ballistics
Terminal Ballistics
Explosive
Interior Ballistics
Exterior Ballistics
Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Interdisciplinary topics
Physical Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Forensic Chemistry
Fire and Arson Investigation
Wild Life Forensics
Explosive
Psychological techniques in Forensic science
Computer Forensics
Forensic Toxicology
Introduction to Forensic Science
Instrumentation
Forensic statistics
Plant Poisons and their examination
Insecticide and Pesticide
Poison
Metallic Poisons
Analysis of Toxic anions
Botany
Cellular organization
System Physiology: Plants
Molecules and their Interaction Relevant to Biology
Fundamental Processes
English
Antonyms.
Sentence Arrangement.
Sentence Improvement.
Passage Completion.
Substitution.
Error Correction (Phrase in Bold).
Sentence Completion.
Transformation.
Synonyms.
Fill in the blanks.
Joining Sentences.
Error Correction (Underlined Part).
Para Completion.
Spotting Errors.
Idioms and Phrases.
Active and Passive Voice.
Spelling Test.
Prepositions.
General Awareness
Indian Financial System.
Books & Authors.
Capitals & Currencies.
Current Ministers & Governors.
Current Affairs.
Sports.
Government Schemes
Science & Technology.
Abreviations and Economic Terminologies.
Summits & Conferences etc.
General Knowledge
Environment.
Indian Culture.
Botany.
Famous Days & Dates.
Indian History.
Basic GK.
Indian Politics.
Famous Books & Authors.
Chemistry.
Inventions in the World.
Basic Computer.
Indian Parliament.
Geography.
Indian Economy.
Zoology.
Sports.
Physics.
Reasoning Ability
Analogy.
Directions.
Clocks & Calendars.
Mirror Images.
Number Ranking.
Arithmetical Reasoning.
Blood Relations.
Cubes and Dice.
Alphabet Series.
Decision Making.
Statement Conclusion.
Non-Verbal Series.
Number Series.
Coding-Decoding.
Quantitative Aptitude
Boats & Streams
Profit & Loss
Ratios & Proportions
Problems on Ages
Number System
Mensuration
Compound Interest
Time & Distance
Percentages
Fundamental Operations
Permutations & Combinations
Geometry
Simple Interest
Problems on squares, cubes
Time & Work
Least Common Multiple (LCM) & Highest Common Factor (HCF)
Simplifications
Averages
Allegations & Mixtures
Probability
Partnerships
Discounts
RPSC PRO Syllabus 2020 Pdf
Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) PRO Recruitment 2020 notification was released for filling 23 Public Relation Officer Posts under the Information & Public Relations Department. The application process starts on 27th June 2020 and the last date to apply will be on 26th July 2020. RPSC Public Relations Officer (PRO) Syllabus Pdf 2020 details and links are given in the below sections of the article along with exam pattern details. However, go through further sections of the article for much more information like exam dates, previous papers, etc.
Rajasthan PSC PRO Notification 2020 – Overview
Description
Details
Board Name
Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC)
Post Name
Public Relation Officer (PRO)
Category
Syllabus
Exam Date
Update Soon
Official Website
rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in
Selection Process:
Written Exam
Interview
RPSC Public Relation Officer (PRO) Exam Pattern 2020
Part B
Topics
Marks
A
Traditional, Print, Electronic & New Media
100
B
General Awareness
C
Hindi & English Language
D
Concept of Public Relations, purpose, elements, tools
E
Concept of news, Value of News essential of news writing
The exam will be of Objective type questions.
Number of questions will be 120
The duration of the exam is 2 hours.
all questions in the exam carry equal marks.
Negative marking will be there in the exam. exact negative marking details will be notified soon.
Download RPSC Public Relation Officer (PRO) Syllabus 2020
Rajasthan RPSC PRO Syllabus 2020 – Part A
General awareness about Rajasthan
Various developmental schemes of Government of Rajasthan
Salient features of Indian Constitution
Fundamental rights and duties
parliament and state legislative assemblies and councils
Rural development and panchayat raj
Right to Education, MNREGA
Rajasthan PSC Public Relation Officer (PRO) Syllabus Pdf – Part B
Concept of news
News value
Essential of news writing, news story structure
Inverted pyramid, various types of reporting
Feature – Concept, and meaning, unique article, success story, features syndicates
Photojournalism, pictures, selection, and editing, writing captions
RPSC PRO Exam Syllabus 2020 – Part C
Characteristics of various media – traditional, print, electronic & new media and their role in public awareness
Historical development of journalism in Rajasthan
General principals of writing for electronic media, news portal, blogs
Definition, and characteristics of online media
Interactivity, and new media
Important laws relating to media –Law of Defamation, Press, and Registration of Books Act, Copyright Act, Press Council Act, RTI
Rajasthan Public Service Commission PRO Syllabus – Part D
Concept of Public Relations, purpose, elements, tools, and functions
Publicity, propaganda, advertising, structure, and working of Public Relations Departments of State Government
Media planning, PR in crisis management
Organizing press conferences and tours
Press briefings
VVIP visits
Preparing PR campaigns
Rajasthan PSC PRO Syllabus Pdf Download – Part E
Proficiency in Hindi and English Language
Translation from English to Hindi & Hindi to English.
Rajasthan Public Service Commission released vacancies for ACF & Forest Range Officer Grade I Posts. There are 169 vacancies in number. Rajasthan PSC Syllabus for ACF and Forest Range Officer Grade I Posts are provided here. Refer to the RPSC ACF Syllabus to prepare for the written exam. In the below section, you can get the complete details of Syllabus for RPSC and Exam Pattern for Forest Range Officer Grade I Posts.
Check the detailed RPSC ACF Syllabus and Exam Pattern to crack the exam. This will help you to crack the exam in an effective manner.
RPSC Syllabus 2020 Pdf – RPSC Forest Officer Syllabus for General Studies
Current Events – Rajasthan, National, International.
Indian History.
Geography – Rajasthan & India.
Culture & Heritage – Rajasthan & India.
Indian National Movement.
Physics.
General Science.
Science & Technology.
Chemistry.
Indian Economy.
Art.
General Polity.
Literature etc.
RPSC RAS Syllabus 2020 PDF
Rajasthan Public Service Commission releases the vacancy details for State and Subordinate Service. The RPSC RAS / RTS Mains exam date is released. The exam is on 25th & 26th June 2020. Hence, before that, applicants should prepare for the exam by referring to the RPSC RAS Syllabus 2020 Pdf and Exam Pattern.
Candidates who have applied for the RPSC RAS RTS Exam can refer to the RPSC RAS Syllabus and Exam Pattern in the below section.
Rajasthan PSC RAS/RTS Prelims Examination Test Pattern 2020
Name of the Subjects
Marks
Duration
General Knowledge & General Science
200
3 Hours
It is an Objective Type.
There are 200 marks and 3 hours to complete the test.
Rajasthan PSC RAS/RTS Mains Examination Test Pattern 2020
Papers
Name of the Subjects
Marks
I
General Studies – I.
200
II
General Studies – II.
200
III
General Studies – III.
200
IV
General Hindi and General English.
200
It consists of papers General Studies I, II, and III, General Hindi and General English.
Each paper consists of 200 marks.
Download RAS Syllabus 2020 Pdf
Here is the detailed RPSC RAS Syllabus for the RAS RTS Exam. Interested and eligible applicants can check and download the Pdf of Syllabus here. Checking the RPSC RAS Syllabus and Exam Pattern helps you to prepare for the exam.
RAS Pre Syllabus for History of Rajasthan
Leading Personalities of Rajasthan
Important Tourist Places of Rajasthan
Rajasthani Culture and its tradition and Heritage
Religious Movements
Saints and Lokdevtas of Rajasthan
Local Festivals
Folk Music and Folk Dance
Freedom Movement
Political Awakening and Integration
Arts Paintings and Handicrafts
RPSC Pre Syllabus for Indian History – Ancient
Salient Feature and Major Landmarks of Ancient and Medieval India
Rajasthan Public Service Commission releases the vacancy details for Assistant Agriculture Officer. Applicants should prepare for the exam by referring to the RPSC AAO Syllabus 2020 Pdf and Exam Pattern. In the below section, we have updated the detailed Rajasthan PSC AAO Syllabus and Test Pattern in a detailed manner.
The written exam is in both objective & Subjective type.
The written exam is two papers Paper I & Paper-II.
Paper I is for General Hindi & General Knowledge.
Paper-II is for Agriculture.
The duration of time for each paper is for 2 Hours.
Download RPSC AAO Syllabus 2020 Pdf
Here is the detailed RPSC AAO Syllabus for Assistant Agriculture Officer Exam. Interested and eligible applicants can check and download the Rajasthan Public Service Commission Syllabus 2020 Pdf here. Checking the detailed Syllabus and Exam Pattern will help you to prepare for the exam in a better way.
RPSC Agriculture Officer Syllabus for General Hindi
Sandhi.
Upasargh.
Samas.
Meanings.
Synonyms.
Correction of Sentences.
Error Detection.
Spellings Correction.
Fill in the Blanks.
Translation of Sentences from English to Hindi.
Muhaware.
Lokoktiyan etc.
Rajasthan Public Service Commission Syllabus Agriculture Officer for General knowledge
Are you looking for the RPSC Grade 2 Sr Teacher Syllabus? Then, here it is. Candidates who have applied for Grade II Senior Teacher Posts can get the RPSC 2nd Grade Teacher Syllabus and Exam Pattern in Pdf format. Read the entire section to get and download the RPSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern for Senior Teacher Gr II Competitive Exam 2020. This can help you to score maximum marks in
RPSC 2nd Grade Syllabus 2020 – Exam Details
Name of the Organization
Rajasthan Public Service Commission
Name of the Posts
Sr. Teacher Gr II Comp. Exam 2020
No. of Vacancies
Various
Category
Syllabus
Official Website
www.rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in
Rajasthan PSC Grade – II Senior Teacher Exam Pattern
Paper – I Exam Pattern:
Exam Type
Topics
No. of Questions
Marks
Duration
Objective Type
Geographical, Historical, Cultural and general knowledge of Rajasthan
40
80
2 Hrs
Current Affairs of Rajasthan
10
20
General knowledge of world and India
30
60
Educational Psychology.
20
40
Total
100
200
Paper-II Exam Pattern:
Exam Type
Topics
No. of Questions
Marks
Duration
Objective Type
Knowledge, of secondary and senior secondary standard about a relevant subject matter
90
180
2 1/2 Hrs
Knowledge of graduation standard about a relevant subject matter
40
80
Teaching methods of relevant subject
20
40
Total
150
300
Download RPSC 2nd Grade Syllabus 2020 Pdf
Here is the detailed Syllabus for Sr. Teacher Gr II Comp. Exam RPSC 2020. Interested and eligible applicants can check and download the RPSC 2nd Grade Syllabus GK 2020 here. Checking the RPSC Sr. Teacher Grade II Syllabus and Exam Pattern helps you to prepare for the exam.
Rajasthan Public Service Commission Syllabus – General Knowledge of Rajasthan
Location.
Extent.
Relief features.
Climate.
Drainage.
Vegetation.
Agriculture.
Livestock.
Dairy development.
Population distribution.
Growth.
Literacy.
Sex ratio.
Religious composition.
Industries.
Planning.
Budgetary trends.
Major tourist centers.
Rajasthan PSC Syllabus 2020 Pdf – General Knowledge of World & India
Rajasthan Public Service Commission releases the vacancy details for Sub Inspector. Hence, before that, applicants should prepare for the exam by referring to the RPSC SI Syllabus 2020 Pdf and Exam Pattern. In the below section, we have updated the detailed Rajasthan PSC SI Syllabus and Test Pattern in a detailed manner.
It contains Two Papers, i.e., General Hindi & General Knowledge.
Duration of the Each Paper 2 hrs.
The medium of the exam is in English or Hindi.
Download RPSC Syllabus 2020 Pdf
Here is the detailed Rajasthan Public Service Commission SI Syllabus for Sub Inspector Exam. Interested and eligible applicants can check and download the Rajasthan Public Service Commission Syllabus 2020 Pdf here. Checking the RPSC AAO Syllabus and Exam Pattern helps you to prepare for the exam.
Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Syllabus and Exam Pattern is now available for various posts. Candidates can get the detailed structure of the syllabus for the exams conducted by JSSC. Hence, the syllabus and exam pattern pdf has been attached at the webpage. Aspirants are suggested to download the pdf and make use of it for the exam preparation. Candidates may also get the exam date from all the exams. To know more details about JSSC Syllabus scroll down the webpage.
Candidates can get the Jharkhand SSC Special Branch Constable Syllabus from here. Interested exam appearing aspirants can download the syllabus and exam pattern pdf from the below section. Moreover, the exam will have been scheduled tentatively scheduled on 01st Week or 02nd Week of September 2020. Make sure to download the pdf content for better preparation.
JSSC Special Branch Constable Syllabus 2020
The Commission has released the syllabus for 1012 Special Branch Constable Officers. We have provided the syllabus details along with the exam pattern. Aspirants are suggested to download the syllabus pdf and start the exam preparation from now onwards. Candidates are having a lot of time to make your exam preparation. Make use of the time prepare well. Make use of this webpage for the details regarding JSSC Special Branch Constable Syllabus and exam pattern.
JSSC Special Branch Constable Syllabus 2020 – Overview
JSSC Special Branch Constable Exam will be conducted both by Objective Type & Multiple Choice of Questions.
The exam will cover 175 marks on the total.
There would be Negative Marking according to the Board.
Applicants will be also asked the Race.
Physical Eligibility:
Category
Height
Chest Minimum
GEN/BC/EBC
160 cm
81 cm
SC/ST
155 cm
79 cm
Female
148 cm
NA
Running Male
1 Mile in 07 Minute
Running Female
1 Mile in 10 Minute
High Jump
4 Feet (Only Male)
Long Jump
12 Feet (Only Male)
Gola Fek
15 Feet (Male) & 10 Feet (Female)
Race
Male – 10 KM in 60 minutes
Female – 05 KM in 40 minutes
JSSC Special Constable Syllabus 2020
General English
Grammar.
Shuffling of sentence parts.
Idioms and phrases.
Spot the error.
Sentence structure.
Spellings.
Detecting Mis-spelt words.
Adjectives.
Clauses.
One word substitutions.
Vocabulary.
Fill in the blanks.
Shuffling of Sentences in a passage.
Improvement.
Passage.
Verbal ComprehenConstableon passage
Antonyms.
Synonyms/ Homonyms.
Verbs.
Mathematics
Number Systems.
Decimals & Fractions.
Whole Numbers.
Fundamental Arithmetical Operations.
Mixtures & Allegations.
Profit & Loss.
Data Interpretation.
Percentages.
Ratios and Proportions.
The rate of interest.
Mixture & Alligator.
Discount.
Time and Distance.
Time & Work.
General Knowledge
Scientific Observations.
History of India.
India and It's Neighboring Countries.
MuConstablec & Literature
Indian Economy.
Political Science.
Geography of India.
Indian Culture & Heritage.
Books & Authors.
Important Dates.
International issues.
National and International Current Affairs.
General Intelligence
Verbal Classification.
Making Judgments.
Verbal Reasoning.
Essential Part.
Analogies.
Statement and Argument.
Logical Deduction.
Artificial Language.
Matching Definitions.
Number Series.
Letter and Symbol Series.
Theme Detection.
Cause and Effect.
Logical Problems.
Statement and Conclusion.
Jharkhand SSC Special Branch Constable Syllabus 2020 PDF – Download
Download Jharkhand JSSC Excise Constable syllabus 2020 along with exam pattern details on this page. The candidates who are interested in Jharkhand Police Jobs can make use of this and start preparing for Jharkhand JSSC Excise Constable exam 2020. However, for much more details visit the official site i.e. www.jssc.nic.in
Jharkhand Police Excise Constable Syllabus 2020
JSSC Board released a notification for the recruitment of 531 Jharkhand Excise Constable posts. Interested applicants can check subject wise Jharkhand SSC Excise Constable syllabus 2020 in below section of the article along with exam pattern details.
Since there is a lot of competition for JSSC Jobs, applicants need to prepare well for the exam. In addition to that, you can also check for JSSC Previous Year question papers by clicking on the link that is given in the below sections of the article.
Hindi/English/Urdu/Santali/Bangla/Mundari/Kharia/Kurukh/Kurmali/Khortha or any other first language, the exam will be conducted according to the preference of the candidate.
The exam will be of objective type questions.
Every question carries 3 marks.
Every wrong answer will result in 1 mark deduction of marks.
Min 30% required in Part A, to get qualified for Part B.
Download Jharkhand Police Syllabus 2020 Pdf for Assistant Police Exam. Eligible participants of Jharkhand State Police Department Recruitment 2020 Written test can get Exam Syllabus & Test Pattern. Therefore, Download Jharkhand Assistant Police Syllabus Pdf 2020 from this page. – www.jhpolice.gov.in.
Jharkhand Police Syllabus Pdf 2020 for Assistant Police Exam
Individuals those applied for Jharkhand State Police Department Jobs of Assistant Police can be recruited through Written examination. Therefore the aspirants, those appearing for the written exam might be looking for Syllabus and Exam Pattern. In this article, we presented the Jharkhand Assistant Police Exam Syllabus 2020 Pdf. The syllabi have the subject topics that needed for Written test preparation. Hence, before beginning the preparation, one should refer to the exam syllabus and thereby make a schedule accordingly.
You can also visit the official website www.jhpolice.gov.in for more details regarding the JH Police Exam 2020. To qualify the Written-test, with good score practice the Previous year Jharkhand police question paper in Hindi. In our website, we also provided the Old Question papers for Assistant Police Exam. Thus, Download Jharkhand Police Syllabus Pdf & Model Papers in below sections.
The JH Police Department issued an Employment News about the Assistant Police Recruitment. The Candidates those applied can be shortlisted for the Written exam. Hence, we provided the JH Police Syllabus Pdf for Assistant Police Exam 2020. In this article, you can also get the free download pdf if given on the official website www.jhpolice.gov.in.
Then, candidates can either download the syllabi or Note down the topics for the Written test. Furthermore, details like Jharkhand Govt Jobs Notification, Vacancies, Eligibility, Jharkhand Police Exam dates can be updated in Notification link. So, Click on the Notification link below to get the latest news on the hiring process.
After referring Exam Pattern, check the JH Police Assistant Police Exam Syllabus 2020. The syllabus consists the exam topics that might come across in the Written test. Based on the syllabi make a schedule for Exam preparation. So, have a look the Syllabi presented below and Note down the topics for Exam preparation.
Jharkhand Asst Police Syllabus 2020 Pdf: General Knowledge
The provided Jharkhand Police Syllabus Pdf 2020 is for reference purposes only. Candidates need to utilize these syllabi as a backing. We may not guarantee that the same related subject topics questions are obtained in the examination. Visit the official website www.jhpolice.gov.in for Assistant Police Exam Details.
Indian Air Force Recruitment 2020: Apply for Various Airmen Vacancies @ airmenselection.cdac.in. Indian Air Force has recently released its job notification to hire candidates for Airmen vacancies. The officials are inviting online application from candidates via the Indian Air Force Recruitment Notification 2020. This intake is for 01/2021 to join as Airmen in Group X Trades and Group Y Trades. All candidates aspiring for defence jobs can make good use of this opportunity as there are various vacancies for Airmen posts. The online application for IAF Recruitment has started. Candidates can apply till 20th January 2020. Applicants must make sure they are eligible before applying for these posts.
Indian Air Force Recruitment 2020-21
To check whether the candidate is eligible or not, they can read the details given in the sections below. They can also refer to the Indian Air Force Recruitment Notification 2020 for more details. Candidates can click on the official website link to get more details about IAF. The Indian Air Force Apply Online link is available below for candidates so that they can start applying with the ease of one click. Start Applying now to be part of IAF Careers.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is an elevated part of the Armed Forces of India. Its faculty and its air resources are positioned fourth among the world's aviation based armed forces. It's primary crucial to verify Indian airspace and complete an air war during an equipped clash. It was authoritatively settled on October 8, 1932, as helper aviation based armed forces of the British Empire that respected Indian air administration during World War II with the prefix Royal. Other significant activities did by the IAF incorporate Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Cactus and Operation Poomalai.
The IAF's strategic past a promise to threatening powers, with the IAF partaking in United Nations peacekeeping missions. The leader of India has the position of Supreme Commander of the IAF. Starting on July 1, 2017, 139,576 staff individuals were serving in the Indian Air Force. The Chief of Air Staff, a Chief of Air, is a four-star officer and is liable for the majority of the operational order of the Air Force. There will never be more than one assistance professional in the IAF simultaneously. On January 26, 2002, Singh turned into the first thus far the main five-star IAF official.
Mumbai: One of the peeves that some Tata group directors held against Cyrus Mistry, the ousted chairman of Tata Sons, was about not honouring his stated intention to relinquish his Irish citizenship that he expressed while being considered for the top job, people aware of the matter said.In an interview held in the first week of September 2011 to shortlist a chairman candidate for Tata Sons, the selection committee comprising of N A Soonawala, R K Krishnakumar, Lord Bhattacharyya and Shirin Bharucha had raised a question on Mistry's Irish citizenship and whether he would relinquish his foreign nationality. 73180894 Mistry had allayed all apprehensions then by stating that regardless of whether he got the job (Tata Sons chairmanship), he was considering this (relinquishing his foreign citizenship status) for some time.ET has reviewed the note that summarised the interview.The Tatas have not raised this issue in any legal forum so far, but legal sources close to the group said many such intentions expressed by Mistry were never backed up by any concrete action from his side.Mistry continues to be an Irish citizen and has been touted by the Irish media as one of the richest Irish nationals, Tata Group sources said.People close to Shapoorji Pallonji group claimed that Mistry did submit his papers for Indian citizenship. "That didn't happen because as per the law, Mistry would have to stay in the country for 11 months after application," one of them said.The Tata Group selection committee had also interviewed many international candidates for the Tata chairman's role, lawyers close to SP group said, indicating that the group was at that time open to hiring an expatriate for the top job.Officials at SP group also said Noel Tata, half-brother of Ratan Tata, is an Irish citizen. He is married to Aloo, Mistry's sister. "If Tatas are so concerned about Cyrus's citizenship, how come they have Noel, an Irish citizen, on the Tata Trusts," an official riposted.However, the other side contended that Noel Tata was not a contender for the chairman's post and therefore it was a wrong comparison.Responding to ET's queries, lawyers from SP Group said: "All the issues raised by the Tata Group in legal proceedings have been deliberated at length and rejected by the hon'ble courts. Any new allegation, however, baseless it may be, will be dealt with at the appropriate forum."The Mistry family had to give up their Indian citizenship and become Irish citizens in 2003 because the Indian government did not approve of dual citizenship.Some people close to Tata Trusts have strongly reacted to the statement Mistry made on Sunday, that he is not interested in returning as the chairman of Tata Sons but would "vigorously pursue all options to protect our rights as a minority shareholder including a seat on the board". They refuted the existence of any agreement or legal right for the Mistry family to demand a board seat. A Tata Trusts official alleged that Mistry is "mischievously attempting to portray an incorrect picture of the affairs of Tata Sons in order to wrestle a board seat for his family entities."A strong legal rejoinder in the Supreme Court is underway and officers preparing legal submissions for Tata Group and the Trusts referred to their submissions before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that prove that the Mistry family companies became shareholders of Tata Sons in 1965.Yet, it was only in 1980, 15 years later, that Pallonji Mistry (Cyrus Mistry's father) was invited to the board of Tata Sons. That was in his professional capacity, with no linkages to the shareholding of his family companies in Tata Sons, a legal officer said. Pallonji senior exited the board of Tata Sons in 2004, and it was only in 2006 that Cyrus Mistry was invited to join the board of directors.The group has challenged Mistry to produce any written document that establishes any legal right his family entities have to nominate a director on the board of Tata Sons. To bolster their case, they have cited court papers that indicate that the SP group has voted in favour of every right of Tata Trusts incorporated in Articles of Association of Tata Sons.
You may now be able to start a new business in five days with minimal processes. The government is set to slash the requirements & time taken for starting a new business from 10 process and 18 days to five processes and as many days.Ten key services, including name reservation, incorporation as well as registration for various taxes such as goods and services tax, will soon be available via two forms instead of multiple individual ones at present.The Ministry of Corporate Affairs will in a month unveil the two new forms — 'Spice Plus' and 'Agile Pro' — which will replace six forms currently required to avail of these services, a government official said.These two forms will provide access to GSTIN, PAN, TAN, ESIC, EPFO, DIN, bank accounts and professional tax."The new forms will be web-based and much easier to use. The Spice Plus (incorporation form) will allow you to apply for name and incorporation in the same form besides other paservices," the official said. Businesses will now have to register with the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) at the time of incorporation, the official said. Inclusion of director identification number (DIN) and registration for professional tax along with registrations of permanent account number (PAN), tax deduction and collection account number (TAN) and GST identification number (GSTIN) at the time of incorporation would greatly improve the ease of setting up a business. 73178951 World Bank's latest Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) report has measured the number of days required to set up a business in India at 18, and the number of processes at 10.On the World Bank's list, India is ranked 136th out of 190 economies in the category of ease of starting a business.Improving ease of doing business has been a key agenda of the government, with India climbing 14 ranks to 63rd in the latest rankings.The official said the ministries of corporate affairs, finance and labour, as well as the state government of Maharashtra had coordinated to bring about this reform.The government had also tied up with eight banks to help newly registered businesses apply for bank accounts at the time of incorporation, the official said.
MUMBAI: Flipkart cofounder Sachin Bansal has acquired DHFL General Insurance from Wadhawan Global Capital (WGC) for around Rs. 100 crore, people in the know of the deal said. The transaction is seen as a distress sale for WGC, which used to run bankrupt home financier Dewan Housing Finance, one of the persons said.Bansal's bet on the insurance firm is part of his broader ambition in financial services industry, and comes on the back of multiple investments he has made to bulk up his portfolio of firms in the sector. 73180951 The deal has been routed through Navi Technologies, formerly BAC Acquisitions which Bansal had founded along with IIT-Delhi batchmate Ankit Agarwal after selling stake in Flipkart in 2018.Sources said Bansal has bought out the entire stake in the insurer, held by Kapil Wadhawan-owned WGC."Navi is actively scouting for opportunities in BFSI space," a spokesperson for the company said when contacted by ET. "Specifically, it is interested in the intersection of technology and financial services, where we believe technology can be harnessed to improve access and availability of financial services," the spokesperson said.Rs 400 Cr AUMA spokesperson for WGC did not comment. Dewan Housing, which was the flagship company of WGC, is currently facing bankruptcy resolution in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). WGC, which owns 39% in the mortgage lender, used to manage more than $22 billion of assets through its lending, investment and protection platforms before Dewan Housing was taken to the NCLT.DHFL General Insurance has about Rs 400 crore assets under management."Bansal wants to get a footing into the banking and financial services sector. There has been a lot of talk about him being keen on obtaining a banking licence and has been looking at opportunities in the asset management space," a source said.Bansal's move to step into the insurance sector comes on the back of Navi Technologies acquiring a majority stake in Chaitanya Rural Intermediation Development Services, which runs a microfinance platform. Having picked up more than 90% stake in Chaitanya, he took over as its chief executive last year. He had at the time said he would invest ?739 crore in the NBFC.Recently, Navi bought out Bengaluru-based MavenHive for an undisclosed sum, bringing on board employees along with founders Bhavin Javia and Anandha Krishnan.Among the most active entrepreneur investors, Bansal has been actively backing startups for the past few years. After his departure from Flipkart, he began focussing on financing through debt in the past year, backing startups like Bounce, Vogo and a host of financial services companies such as Altico Capital and IndoStar Finance.In one of his largest investments, he had pumped in Rs 650 crore into Ola.As for WGC, early last year it sold a 49.04% stake in Avanse Financial Services, another group company where Dewan Housing held 30.63%. The Warburg Pincus group was the buyer.PE funds managed by Blackstone acquired a 97.7% stake in Aadhar Housing Finance, which included the entire stake held by existing controlling shareholders, WGC and Dewan Housing, in June last year.
NEW DELHI: Mobile phone retailer bodies are disappointed with the competition watchdog's call to ecommerce companies to self-regulate discounting and transparency, and have urged the government to form a separate regulatory body to oversee fairness in retail practices of the likes of Amazon and Flipkart.The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Wednesday released a study on etailers' business practices, advising them to adopt a self-regulatory approach and come up with transparent policies on search ranking, discounting and treatment of user data.The All-India Mobile Retailer Association (AIMRA) and the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) have, in the past, moved CCI and the Department of Industries and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with a demand for a separate watchdog to ensure a level playing field for offline and online trade.On Thursday, they said CCI's recommendations were no solution. "Knowing well the unfair and monopolising business tactics of ecommerce companies, what is preventing CCI from taking action? Why these recommendations and soft view on irregularities?" CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal tweeted.CAIT national secretary Sumit Agarwal also tweeted, "The report gives enough details as to how ecommerce marketplaces are indulging in unethical business practices such as predatory pricing and deep discounting."The CCI report said it can probe unfair practices by etailers on case-to-case basis to investigate issues such as deep discounts, exclusive agreements between platforms and suppliers, business terms and platform neutrality. But traders believe CCI's provision is against their interests, as poor traders do not have the resources to file lawsuits against ecommerce giants and indulge in long battles which might take years to get resolved.73178834 "If they (ecommerce players) wanted to self-regulate, they would have never indulged in unfair practices and flouted FDI norms in the first place," said Arvinder Khurana, president, AIMRA. Khurana said CAIT and AIMRA representatives are likely to meet commerce minister Piyush Goyal next week to put forward their concerns."Regulatory mechanisms cannot change in India overnight as it can hurt FDI interests," said a person who did not wish to be identified. "That is the reason the government will do due diligence before taking any such step."Retailer associations have been relentlessly campaigning against exclusive deals, cashback offers and 15-20 day prior launches by mobile brands on their online channels. Post multiple grievances submitted to mobile manufacturers, Vivo, Oppo and Realme have assured their retail partners that they will simultaneously launch products,variants at the same price across channels.As per AIMRA, more than 30,000 brickand-mortar store traders have shut shop since the 2019 festive season due to pricing pressure, which is killing offline trade. Around two million mobile traders closed their stores on Wednesday in solidarity with the campaign against etailer malpractices. Offline channels contribute 60% in the overall mobile sales, according to industry estimates.
NEW DELHI: Mobile phone retailer bodies are disappointed with the competition watchdog's call to ecommerce companies to self-regulate discounting and transparency, and have urged the government to form a separate regulatory body to oversee fairness in retail practices of the likes of Amazon and Flipkart.The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Wednesday released a study on etailers' business practices, advising them to adopt a self-regulatory approach and come up with transparent policies on search ranking, discounting and treatment of user data.The All-India Mobile Retailer Association (AIMRA) and the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) have, in the past, moved CCI and the Department of Industries and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with a demand for a separate watchdog to ensure a level playing field for offline and online trade.On Thursday, they said CCI's recommendations were no solution. "Knowing well the unfair and monopolising business tactics of ecommerce companies, what is preventing CCI from taking action? Why these recommendations and soft view on irregularities?" CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal tweeted.CAIT national secretary Sumit Agarwal also tweeted, "The report gives enough details as to how ecommerce marketplaces are indulging in unethical business practices such as predatory pricing and deep discounting."The CCI report said it can probe unfair practices by etailers on case-to-case basis to investigate issues such as deep discounts, exclusive agreements between platforms and suppliers, business terms and platform neutrality. But traders believe CCI's provision is against their interests, as poor traders do not have the resources to file lawsuits against ecommerce giants and indulge in long battles which might take years to get resolved.73178834 "If they (ecommerce players) wanted to self-regulate, they would have never indulged in unfair practices and flouted FDI norms in the first place," said Arvinder Khurana, president, AIMRA. Khurana said CAIT and AIMRA representatives are likely to meet commerce minister Piyush Goyal next week to put forward their concerns."Regulatory mechanisms cannot change in India overnight as it can hurt FDI interests," said a person who did not wish to be identified. "That is the reason the government will do due diligence before taking any such step."Retailer associations have been relentlessly campaigning against exclusive deals, cashback offers and 15-20 day prior launches by mobile brands on their online channels. Post multiple grievances submitted to mobile manufacturers, Vivo, Oppo and Realme have assured their retail partners that they will simultaneously launch products,variants at the same price across channels.As per AIMRA, more than 30,000 brickand-mortar store traders have shut shop since the 2019 festive season due to pricing pressure, which is killing offline trade. Around two million mobile traders closed their stores on Wednesday in solidarity with the campaign against etailer malpractices. Offline channels contribute 60% in the overall mobile sales, according to industry estimates.
NEW DELHI: India's upcoming coal auctions will have no financial or technical qualification criteria for bidders, easing entry for interested firms, but will impose penalties strict enough to prevent companies from squatting on mines."The coal ministry has decided against keeping any entry restrictions based on technical or financial criteria, which means there are not likely to be any net worth requirement for firms. The government will incentivise expeditious coal production by firms than restricting entry to ensure serious players," a senior coal ministry official said.The coal ministry will soon issue draft auction rules and they will be discussed with stakeholders before finalisation, he said. The rules will propose relaxed norms to ensure wider participation in the auctions to increase coal availability. The centre expects coal demand of 1,250 million tonnes in 2024, which can in no way be met by state-run Coal India alone, forcing the country to move to this market-driven approach.73178667 The Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 promulgated by Union Cabinet on Wednesday proposed removal of the requirement to auction mines to companies 'already engaged' in coal mining in India. The ordinance opens up the coal sector completely for commercial coal mining for all local and global firms by clearing restrictions on end-use and prior experience in auctions. The ordinance had not received President's consent till this report went to press.The official said companies that have enough money to pay upfront payment, in instalments, and deposit performance guarantee or earnest money deposit can participate in the auctions. "The upfront payment will be asked in instalments and the performance guarantee will be kept at levels that dissuade bidders from defaulting or squatting on mines," another official in the ministry said.Welcoming the ordinance, Ashok Khurana of Association of Power Producers said the extent of private participation would be contingent on "auction design and 'quality of mines" put up for auction. ET had on November 19, 2019 reported that the coal ministry will auction coal blocks for commercial coal mining on revenue-sharing basis.
Continuation of the growth trend in the sector, huge valuation premium given to leaders like Reliance Retail and Avenue Supermart, more than Rs 1,500 crore of investments by Amazon into Future Retail and clear ecommerce plans would drive a re-rating in the shares of Indian retail companies, according to analysts.Shares of Trent, Future Retail, Shoppers Stop, Spencer's Retail and Aditya Birla Fashion have gained between 4 per cent and 6 per cent since January 1. Analysts expect Future Retail, Aditya Birla Fashion, VMart, Spencer's, Arvind Fashion and TCNS Clothing to likely outperform the market in 2020.Growth in the retail sector is expected to pick up in the first half of fiscal 2021, because of a likely improvement both in consumer sentiment and liquidity environment, said Kaustubh Pawaskar of Sharekhan. "Companies having sustained same-store-sales growth, steady improvement in operating margins and stable balance sheet will continue to trade at a premium to companies having volatile profitability and stress balance sheet." 73181623 Reliance Industries recently offered the shareholders of its Reliance Retail subsidiary an option to swap their units with the parent company's shares.The swap ratio valued the retail business at around Rs 2.5 lakh crore, or a price-to-earnings of 64x. Avenue Supermart, which runs the D'Mart retail chain, currently trades at a PE of 106 times with a market cap of Rs 1.18 lakh crore."Within the sector, players with strength in private labels will continue to outperform others," said Abhimanyu Sofat, the head of research at IIFL Securities. Over the long term, stocks like Avenue Supermarts and Trent will outperform other due to their unique business models, Sofat said.Retail fashion companies have accelerated the pace of store addition in the recent past, mainly in Tier II/III/IV cities. Westside has superior store economics in the fast-fashion segment, while Zudio and V-Mart enjoy that in the value-fashion category.The store economics of Aditya Birla Fashion-owned Pantaloon is likely to improve, as revenue contribution from mature stores increase with the highest ever store addition in in FY2019."Future Retail with the largest store network will be the biggest beneficiary of the increasing change in consumer spending habits," said Alok Shah of Edelweiss Securities. "Having cracked the hypermarket model with Big Bazaar, the company is on the journey of store expansion and turnaround in the convenience store format, Easy Day."As per a recent report by the World Economic Forum, rural per capita consumption will grow 4.3 times by 2030, outpacing urban India where it is projected to be three-and-a-half fold.While India's top 40 cities will form a $1.5 trillion opportunity by 2030, there will be an opportunity to unlock $1.2 trillion spending in developed rural areas with 240 million consumers, by improving access to organised and online retail."Like other retail operators, VMart is expected to be a beneficiary of high operating leverage once spending in non-metros picks up," Reliance Securities analyst Priyank Chheda said. "ABFRL's (Aditya Birla Fashion) lifestyle brands are likely to continue its leadership position in fashion segment. Pantaloons' segment is all set to witness profitable growth after years of investments leading to improved capital efficiency ratios and higher incremental RoCE (return on capital employed)."
ET Intelligence Group: Tata Global Beverages (TGB) and Bajaj Consumer Care (BCC) are getting outsiders from unrelated consumer businesses to helm their respective fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies.The two CEOs are coming on board at a difficult time for the industry, when consumer demand has turned sluggish amid economic slowdown. Investors of each company are likely to have different expectations from the new appointees since stock of TGB hit a record high last month while that of BCC's has slid 55 per cent from its record high seen in January 2018.Sunil D'souza, currently the managing director of Whirlpool India, is replacing TGB CEO Ajoy Misra, a company veteran, who retires in April this year.D'souza has his task cut out at the mid-sized TGB. One involves overseeing the integration and subsequent leverage of the consumer brands of Tata Chemicals (in salt, spices, pulses, etc.) that are being acquired by TGB; second will be to improve the return on capital employed of the consolidated business.The brand presence and market penetration of the company's beverage and water brands need to be increased. The profitability of the business, which remains exposed to volatility in prices of tea and coffee in global markets, also warrants attention. Incidentally, D'souza leaves a successful legacy at Whirlpool. The stock of the consumer durable company soared 68 per cent in 2019 against the 19 per cent gain posted by the ET Consumer Durable Index and 12 per cent by the benchmark Nifty 50 index. 73181281 Jaideep Nandi, the new CEO of BCC who has joined the company this month, is a veteran from the paints industry leader Asian Paints. He is joining the smallsized FMCG company at a time when its business has been going through a difficult period of contracting growth in the hair oil category and slowdown in rural demand.Last April, BCC hired management consultant Bain & Co on board to chalk out its strategy for growth — appointment of a new CEO seems part of that strategy. Promoters have pared the company's debt through selling their stake. The new CEO needs to push the company's market share in the hair oil category as well as improve profitability through cost rationalisation and change in product mix.FMCG companies have traditionally changed CEOs during volatile times and that has often resulted in better shareholder returns.During 2013 and 2014, eight leading companies of the BSE FMCG Index appointed a new CEO. In four of these companies (HUL, Marico, Britannia and Nestle), the performance of the company's stock remarkably improved in the year following the change at the top.In five of these companies (HUL, Marico, Britannia, Godrej Consumer Products and Colgate Palmolive), a change at the top led to superior operational performance over the trailing four quarters, characterised by double-digit revenue growth and improvement in operating margin.
BENGALURU: The government plans to change the proposed rules for policing online content such that the tough monitoring measures and takedown rules apply only to big social media firms, according to a senior government official.In 2018, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) proposed to amend the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 to make social media firms more accountable for the content that they host.The IT Act currently provides a legal shield for technology intermediaries. Industry associations and cloud companies have objected to the proposed rules, which apply to all technology platforms despite it being framed to tackle the problem of 'fake' news on social media."The rules are meant only for social media content and, therefore, other ecommerce or streaming technology firms such as Amazon and Netflix must not worry about content takedown, traceability and grievance officer," the official said.IT industry lobby group Nasscom and Amazon Web Services (AWS) said last year that the rules must apply only to social media companies and not to technology intermediaries such as cloud platforms and the IT and business process management (BPM) sectors.AWS said such intermediaries will have to bear the cost of complying with provisions that do not apply to them. Facebook, YouTube and TikTok are among the companies expected to be impacted by the amendments to the guidelines.Notification of the new rules is likely to be done by January 15, MeitY said in an affidavit to the Supreme Court last year.
Man posing as U.P. minister stays at Goa guest house, arrested The Goa Police have arrested a man for allegedly posing as a minister from Uttar Pradesh, submitting fake documents and staying at a State guest house
Will not allow cases against those who plotted PM Modi assassination to be withdrawn: Union Minister Mahendranath Pandey The Bhartiya Janta Party MP from Chandauli said governments in some states were working to undo all the good work done by the Narendra Modi government against the naxal 'menace'
పేద పిల్లల భవిష్యత్తుకు రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వం అండగా ఉంటుందని హామీ ఇచ్చారు ముఖ్యమంత్రి వైఎస్ జగన్మోహన్ రెడ్డి. డబ్బులు లేక పిల్లలు చదువుకు దూరమయ్యే పరిస్థితి ఉండకూడదని అందుకే అమ్మ ఒడిని తీసుకొచ్చామన్నారు. చిత్తూరులో అమ్మ ఒడి పథకాన్ని జగన్ ప్రారంభించారు. అమ్మ ఒడి కోసం వచ్చే ఏడాది నుంచి 75 శాతం హాజరు మాత్రం తప్పనిసరి చేస్తామన్నారు. ఈ ఏడాది మాత్రం 75 శాతం అటెండెన్స్ నుంచి మినహాయింపు ఇస్తున్నట్టు చెప్పారు. అమ్మ ఒడి కింద […]
రాజధాని పేరుతో అనవసర రాద్దాంతం చేయడం చంద్రబాబు మానుకోవాలని సూచించారు మంత్రి పెద్దిరెడ్డి రామచంద్రారెడ్డి. అమరావతి పేరుతో చంద్రబాబు అనవసరం రాద్దాంతం చేస్తున్నారని విమర్శించారు. కేవలం కొన్ని వందల కుటుంబాలకు లాభాన్ని చేకూర్చేందుకే చంద్రబాబు ఆరాటపడుతున్నారని … రాష్ట్రంలోని మిగిలిన ప్రాంతాలు అభివృద్ధి చెందాల్సిన అవసరం లేదా అని ప్రశ్నించారు. 40 ఏళ్ల నుంచి రాయలసీమ ప్రజలు డిమాండ్ చేస్తున్న హైకోర్టు నేడు వస్తుంటే… దాన్ని అడ్డుకోవడం ఎంతవరకు సమంజసమని ప్రశ్నించారు. వెనుకబడిన ఉత్తరాంధ్రలో పరిపాలన రాజధాని […]
రాజధాని అమరావతిలోనే ఉండాలన్న వాదనకు భిన్నంగా రాయలసీమ, ఉత్తరాంధ్ర ప్రజలు వారి అభిప్రాయం చెబితే సీపీఐ వింటుందని చెప్పారు ఆ పార్టీ రాష్ట్ర కార్యదర్శి రామకృష్ణ. రాజధాని మాత్రం అమరావతిలోనే ఉండాలని తాము చెబుతామన్నారు. ఉత్తరాంధ్రకు వెళ్లినా, రాయలసీమకు వెళ్లినా తమ పార్టీ అమరావతికే అనుకూలమని స్పష్టం చేశారు. రాయలసీమ, ఉత్తరాంధ్ర అభివృద్ధి చెందాలని తామూ కోరుకుంటామని… కానీ రాజధాని మాత్రం అమరావతిలోనే ఉండాలన్నారు. మచిలీపట్నంలో జేఏసీ సమావేశాన్ని అడ్డుకునేందుకు ప్రభుత్వం ప్రయత్నిస్తే అది వారి మూర్ఖత్వమే […]
తెలంగాణ మున్సిపల్ ఎన్నికలపైనా జనసేన చేతులెత్తేసింది. పార్టీ పెట్టి ఇన్నేళ్లు గడిచిన తర్వాత కూడా పోటీకి కాకమ్మ కబుర్లు చెబుతోంది. కొన్ని ప్రత్యేక పరిస్థితుల కారణంగా తెలంగాణ మున్సిపల్ ఎన్నికల్లో గ్లాసు గుర్తుపై పార్టీ పరంగా పోటీ చేయడం లేదని ప్రకటించింది. ఎన్నికల్లో పోటీ చేయాలన్న ఆసక్తి ఉన్న కార్యకర్తలు ఇండిపెండెట్లుగా పోటీ చేయండి అని ఓ సలహా పడేసింది. పోటీ చేసే కార్యకర్తలకు పార్టీ మద్దతు ఉంటుందని ప్రకటించింది. గ్లాసు గుర్తే వాడుకోకుండా చేసిన తర్వాత […]
At CES 2020, one of the more well-represented gadget categories was definitely consumer robots – but none was more adorable than MarsCat, a new robo-pet from industrial robot startup Elephant Robotics. This robot pet is a fully autonomous companion that can respond to touch, voice and even play with toys, and it’s hard not to love the thing after spending even just a brief amount of time with it.
MarsCat’s pedigree is a bit unusual, since Elephant Robotics is focused on building what’s known as ‘cobots,’ or industrial robots that are designed to work alongside humans in settings like factories or assembly plants. Elephant, which was founded in 2016, already produces three lines of these collaborative robots and has sold them to client companies around the world, including in Korea, the U.S., Germany and more.
This new product is designed for the home, however, not the factory or the lab. MarsCat is the startup’s first consumer product, but it obviously benefits immensely from the company’s expertise and experience in their industrial robotics business. With its highly articulated legs, tail and head, it can sit up, walk play and watch your movements, all working autonomously without any additional input required.
While MarsCat provides that kind of functionality out of the box, it’s also customizable and programmable by the user. Inside, it’s powered by a Raspberry Pi, and it ships with MarsCat SDK, which is an open software development library that allows you to fully control and program all of the robots functions. This makes it an interesting gadget for STEM education and research, too.
MarsCat is currently up for crowdfunding on Kickstarter, with Elephant having already surpassed its goal of $20,000 and on track to raise at least $100,000 more than that target. Elephant Robotics CEO and co-founder Joey Song told me that it actually plans to ship its first batch of production MarsCats to users in March, too, so backers shouldn’t have to wait long to enjoy their new robotic pet.
There are other robotic pets available on the market, but Song thinks that MarsCat has a unique blend of advanced features at a price point that’s currently unmatched by existing options. The robot can respond to a range of voice commands, and will also evolve its personality over time based on how you interact with it: Talk to it a lot, and it’ll also become ‘chatty;’ play with it frequently and it’ll be a playful kitty. That, combined with the open platform, is a lot to offer for the asking backer price of just $699 to start.
Sony’s Aibo, the canine equivalent of MarsCat, retails for $2,899 in the U.S., so it’s a bargain when considered in that light. And unlike the real thing, MarsCat definitely doesn’t shed, so it’s got that going for it, too.
It’s been less than a year since SiriusXM completed its $3.5 billion acquisition of streaming music service Pandora, but the two companies have already leveraged their collective assets to boost each other’s services. For example, SiriusXM talk shows arrived on Pandora as podcasts, while a Pandora-powered station now streams popular songs for both sets of listeners. Now, the company is considering tying the two services together in a different way — by packaging them as a discounted bundle.
What that bundle deal will look like isn’t yet known.
Pandora today offers four tiers of service: a free ad-supported version, the $4.99/month Pandora Plus service, and the $9.99/month Spotify rival Pandora Premium. It also offers a multi-user Pandora Premium Family plan for $14.99/month.
SiriusXM, meanwhile, also offers its own set of packages, with the most popular being a $5/month plan for the car and home (via an Echo device), an $8.25/month plan for in and out of the car, and an $8/month plan for streaming outside the car only.
Before rolling out a bundle deal, the company wanted to know what sorts of package price points and features customers would respond to best.
The company confirmed it’s been testing different cross-promotions, including those aimed at both Pandora and SiriusXM subscribers that offered discounts if you sign up for the other service. Essentially, the company wants to know what price point makes sense for consumers when it comes to subscribing to both services.
Today, these cross-promotions are aimed only at people who already subscribe to one or the other service, so it’s not really being marketed as a “bundle” deal yet. It’s just a promotion, if you want to get technical about the terminology.
“We would email our Pandora listener base or the SiriusXM listener base — we would test it with different user bases as a promotion,” Chris Phillips, SiriusXM/Pandora Chief Product Officer & Head of Technology, told TechCrunch. “We actually have a formal study going on to do it,” he said.
SiriusXM and Pandora haven’t yet settled on what a potential bundle deal will look like, but it aims to make a decision based on its tests this year.
“The power of the Sirius brand and power of the Pandora brand are very distinct. And people see unique value in the two,” Phillips added.
One challenge, however, is that people don’t understand that SiriusXM and Pandora are now one company, so the promotional emails confused them.
I'm still genuinely confused by @SIRIUSXM trying to bundle a Pandora subscription into my plan with them. Isn't Pandora a direct competitor? Can someone explain? pic.twitter.com/srbuW74DqI
Similarly, people often find the language around “Pandora-powered” stations in SiriusXM confusing, as well.
@SIRIUSXM I'm thinking about subscribing. What does it mean "Personalized stations powered by Pandora"? Does it include a subscription to @pandoramusic? Thanks!
One potential solution is to pick one consumer-facing brand and merge assets, including both programming and apps.
When asked if the two apps may merge into one in the future, Phillips said the company is “looking at what those opportunities might be.”
In the meantime, the company continues to explore how it can enhance both products using assets it has from the respective products.
“We are cross-pollinating content and features…into the distinct [user interfaces],” he said.
A recent example of this includes a new button within the SiriusXM app that allows you to launch a Pandora station based on what you’re currently streaming. And this new Pandora-powered station can then play right in the SiriusXM app — you don’t have to launch Pandora separately to hear it.
Efforts like this are aided by the fact that SiriusXM immediately put the two companies’ development groups together following the acquisition.
“We’re giving listeners choice. But when we give them choice, we want them to be able to have the best of what we offer in many places,” noted Phillips, of these sorts of integrations. “In the future, the idea that there’s a single opportunity — we’re looking at what that might be,” he said.
Nothing is yet determined, so all these plans could change, of course.
SiriusXM ended 2019 with around 30 million self-pay satellite radio and a record high of 34.9 million total paid subscribers. In 2020, SiriusXM forecasts revenue of $8.1 billion and earnings of $2.5 billion (adjusted EBITA).
Combined, Pandora and SiriusXM reach 100 million U.S. listeners per month.
Ring is now a major player when it comes to consumer video doorbells, security cameras — and privacy protection.
Amazon acquired the company and promotes its devices heavily on its e-commerce websites. Ring has even become a cultural phenomenon with viral videos being shared on social networks and the RingTV section on the company's website.
But that massive success has come with a few growing pains; as Motherboard found out, customers don't have to use two-factor authentication, which means that anybody could connect to their security camera if they re-use the same password everywhere.
When it comes to privacy, Ring's Neighbors app has attracted a ton of controversy. Some see it as a libertarian take on neighborhood watch that empowers citizens to monitor their communities using surveillance devices.
Others have questioned partnerships between Ring and local police to help law enforcement authorities request videos from Ring users.
In a wide-ranging interview, Ring founder Jamie Siminoff looked back at the past six months, expressed some regrets and defended his company's vision. The interview was edited for clarity and brevity.
TechCrunch: Let’s talk about news first. You started mostly focused on security cameras, but you've expanded way beyond security cameras. And in particular, I think the light bulb that you introduced is pretty interesting. Do you want to go deeper in this area and go head to head against Phillips Hue for instance?
Jamie Siminoff: We try not to ever look at competition — like the company is going head to head with… we’ve always been a company that has invented around a mission of making neighborhoods safer.
Sometimes, that puts us into a place that would be competing with another company. But we try to look at the problem and then come up with a solution and not look at the market and try to come up with a competitive product.
No one was making — and I still don’t think there’s anyone making — a smart outdoor light bulb. We started doing the floodlight camera and we saw how important light was. We literally saw it through our camera. With motion detection, someone will come over a fence, see the light and jump back over. We literally could see the impact of light.
So you don’t think you would have done it if it wasn’t a light bulb that works outside as well as inside?
For sure. We’ve seen the advantage of linking all the lights around your home. When you walk up on a step light and that goes off, then everything goes off at the same time. It's helpful for your own security and safety and convenience.
The light bulbs are just an extension of the floodlight. Now again, it can be used indoor because there’s no reason why it can’t be used indoor.
Following Amazon's acquisition, do you think you have more budget, you can hire more people and you can go faster and release all these products?
It’s not a budget issue. Money was never a constraint. If you had good ideas, you could raise money — I think that’s Silicon Valley. So it’s not money. It’s knowledge and being able to reach a critical mass.
As a consumer electronics company, you need to have specialists in different areas. You can’t just get them with money, you kind of need to have a big enough thing. For example, wireless antennas. We had good wireless antennas. We did the best we thought we could do. But we get into Amazon and they have a group that’s super highly focused on each individual area of that. And we make much better antennas today.
Our reviews are up across the board, our products are more liked by our customers than they were before. Jamie Siminoff
Our reviews are up across the board, our products are more liked by our customers than they were before. To me, that’s a good measure — after Amazon, we have made more products and they’re more beloved by our customers. And I think part of that is that we can tap into resources more efficiently.
And would you say the teams are still very separate?
Amazon is kind of cool. I think it’s why a lot of companies that have been bought by Amazon stay for a long time. Amazon itself is almost an amalgamation of a lot of little startups. Internally, almost everyone is a startup CEO — there’s a lot of autonomy there.
Security and encryption experts from around the world are joining a number of organizations to call on India to reconsider its proposed amendments to local intermediary liability rules.
In an open letter to India's IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday, 27 security and cryptography experts warned the Indian government that if it goes ahead with its originally proposed changes to the law, it could weaken security and limit the use of strong encryption on the internet.
The Indian government proposed (PDF) a series of changes to its intermediary liability rules in late December 2018 that, if enforced, would require millions of services operated by anyone from small and medium businesses to large corporate giants such as Facebook and Google to make significant changes.
The originally proposed rules say that intermediaries — which the government defines as those services that facilitate communication between two or more users and have five million or more users in India — will have to proactively monitor and filter their users' content and be able to trace the originator of questionable content to avoid assuming full liability for their users' actions.
"By tying intermediaries' protection from liability to their ability to monitor communications being sent across their platforms or systems, the amendments would limit the use of end-to-end encryption and encourage others to weaken existing security measures," the experts wrote in the letter, coordinated by the Internet Society .
With end-to-end encryption, there is no way for the service provider to access its users' decrypted content, they said. Some of these experts include individuals who work at Google, Twitter, Access Now, Tor Project and World Wide Web Consortium.
"This means that services using end-to-end encryption cannot provide the level of monitoring required in the proposed amendments. Whether it's through putting a 'backdoor' in an encryption protocol, storing cryptographic keys in escrow, adding silent users to group messages, or some other method, there is no way to create 'exceptional access' for some without weakening the security of the system for all," they added.
Technology giants have so far enjoyed what is known as "safe harbor" laws. The laws, currently applicable in the U.S. under the Communications Decency Act and India under its 2000 Information Technology Act, say that tech platforms won't be held liable for the things their users share on the platform.
Many organizations have expressed in recent days their reservations about the proposed changes to the law. Earlier this week, Mozilla, GitHub and Cloudflare requested the Indian government to be transparent about the proposals that they have made to the intermediary liability rules. Nobody outside the Indian government has seen the current draft of the proposal, which it plans to submit to India's Supreme Court for approval by January 15.
Among the concerns raised by some is the vague definition of “intermediary” itself. Critics say the last publicly known version of the draft had an extremely broad definition of the term "intermediary," that would be applicable to a wide-range of service providers, including popular instant messaging clients, internet service providers, cyber cafes and even Wikipedia.
Amanda Keton, general counsel of Wikimedia Foundation, requested the Indian government late last month to rethink the requirement to bring "traceability" on online communication, as doing so, she warned, would interfere with the ability of Wikipedia contributors to freely participate in the project.
A senior executive with an American technology company, who requested anonymity, told TechCrunch on Wednesday that even as the proposed changes to the intermediary guidelines need major changes, it is high time that the Indian government decided to look into this at all.
"Action on social media platforms, and instant communications services is causing damage in the real world. Spread of hoax has cost us more than at least 30 lives. If tomorrow, someone’s sensitive photos and messages leak on the internet, there is currently little they can expect from their service providers. We need a law to deal with the modern internet’s challenges," he said.
Lime is hoping to achieve profitability this year by laying off about 14% of its workforce and ceasing operations in 12 markets, Axios first reported.
"Financial independence is our goal for 2020, and we are confident that Lime will be the first next-generation mobility company to reach profitability,” Lime CEO Brad Bao said in a statement to TechCrunch. “We are immensely grateful for our team members, riders, Juicers and cities who supported us, and we hope to reintroduce Lime back into these communities when the time is right."
That means Lime is shutting down in Atlanta, Phoenix, San Diego, San Antonio, Linz, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Lima, Puerto Vallarta, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
This is not the first time Lime has pulled out of markets. Over the span of about a year, Lime exited at least 11 markets while it entered 69 new ones. Between 2018 and 2019, competitor Bird pulled out of 38 markets and entered 36 new ones.
Mark Zuckerberg won’t be spending 2020 focused on wearing ties, learning Mandarin or just fixing Facebook. “Rather than having year-to-year challenges, I’ve tried to think about what I hope the world and my life will look in 2030,” he wrote today on Facebook. As you might have guessed, though, Zuckerberg’s vision for an improved planet involves a lot more of Facebook’s family of apps.
His biggest proclamations in today’s notes include that:
AR – Phones will remain the primary computing platform for most of the decade but augmented reality could get devices out from between us so we can be present together — Facebook is building AR glasses
VR – Better virtual reality technology could address the housing crisis by letting people work from anywhere — Facebook is building Oculus
Privacy – The internet has created a global community where people find it hard to establish themselves as unique, so smaller online groups could make people feel special again — Facebook is building more private groups and messaging options
Regulation – The big questions facing technology are too thorny for private companies to address by themselves, and governments must step in around elections, content moderation, data portability and privacy — Facebook is trying to self-regulate on these and everywhere else to deter overly onerous lawmaking
These are all reasonable predictions and suggestions. However, Zuckerberg’s post does little to address how the broadening of Facebook’s services in the 2010s also contributed to a lot of the problems he presents:
Isolation – Constant passive feed scrolling on Facebook and Instagram has created a way to seem like you’re being social without having true back-and-forth interaction with friends
Gentrification – Facebook’s shuttled employees have driven up rents in cities around the world, especially the Bay Area
Envy – Facebook’s algorithms can make anyone without a glamorous, Instagram-worthy life look less important, while hackers can steal accounts and its moderation systems can accidentally suspend profiles with little recourse for most users
Negligence – The growth-first mentality led Facebook’s policies and safety to lag behind its impact, creating the kind of democracy, content, anti-competition and privacy questions it’s now asking the government to answer for it
Noticeably absent from Zuckerberg’s post are explicit mentions of some of Facebook’s more controversial products and initiatives. He writes about “decentralizing opportunity” by giving small businesses commerce tools, but never mentions cryptocurrency, blockchain or Libra directly. Instead he seems to suggest that Instagram store fronts, Messenger customer support and WhatsApp remittance might be sufficient. He also largely leaves out Portal, Facebook’s smart screen that could help distant families stay closer, but that some see as a surveillance and data collection tool.
I’m glad Zuckerberg is taking his role as a public figure and the steward of one of humanity’s fundamental utilities more seriously. His willingness to even think about some of these long-term issues instead of just quarterly profits is important. Optimism is necessary to create what doesn’t exist.
Still, if Zuckerberg wants 2030 to look better for the world, and for the world to look more kindly on Facebook, he may need to hire more skeptics and cynics that see a dystopic future instead — people who understand human impulses toward greed and vanity. Their foresight on where societal problems could arise from Facebook’s products could help temper Zuckerberg’s team of idealists to create a company that balances the potential of the future with the risks to the present.
Every new year of the last decade I set a personal challenge. My goal was to grow in new ways outside my day-to-day work…
All of that genetic material that 23andMe has been collecting is finally being used for commercial drug development — specifically dermatological drugs.
The company inked an agreement with Spanish pharmaceutical developer Almirall, which concentrates on medical dermatology treatments, for the development of dermatological treatments based on an antibody developed by 23andMe.
The monoclonal antibodies that 23andMe has identified from research it conducted on the genetic material of its customers block small proteins known as IL-36 cytokines, which are linked to skin conditions including psoriasis and lupus, and other inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Crohn’s disease.
As part of the agreement (whose financial terms were undisclosed), Almirall secured the rights to develop and commercialize the antibody for use in treatments worldwide.
Roughly 80% of the 10 million people who have signed up for the 23andMe service have consented to have their genetic material used for drug discovery, according to the company. And 23andMe claims that it has the largest set of genotypic information paired with phenotypic data points contributed by customers. Basically… it’s got a lot of genetic material from wealthy folks around the world.
“Working with Almirall, we’re pleased to be furthering 23andMe’s mission of helping people benefit from genetic insights,” said Kenneth Hillan, M.B., Ch.B., Head of Therapeutics at 23andMe, in a statement. “As a leader in medical dermatology, we felt Almirall was the best company to take this program forward and ultimately develop an effective therapy for patients.”
Almirall said it will continue to develop the antibody all the way through clinical trials in humans and onto the market.
The deal with Amirall marks the first successful licensing agreement between 23andMe and a drug developer and is a huge step forward for the company in its efforts to prove that it can make money beyond simply selling genealogical information to people willing to part with their entire biological identity to get it.
OrCam is expanding its product lineup with new devices that tackle new use cases. OrCam's best-known device is the OrCam MyEye 2 — a tiny device for people with visual impairment that you clip on your glasses to help you navigate the world around you.
At CES, OrCam announced that the MyEye 2 is getting new features. In addition to being able to point at text and signs to read text aloud, recognize faces and identify objects and money notes, you'll be able to let the device guide you.
For instance, you can say "what's in front of me?" and the device could tell you that there's a door. You can then ask to be guided to that door. The MyEye 2 is also getting better at natural language processing for interactive reading sessions.
When it comes to new devices, OrCam is expanding to hearing impairment with the OrCam Hear. It can be particularly useful in loud rooms. The device helps you identify and isolate a speaker's voice so you can follow a conversation even in a public space. You pair it with your existing Bluetooth hearing aids.
Finally, OrCam is introducing the OrCam Read, a handheld AI reader. This time, you don't clip a camera to your glasses, you take the device in your hand and point it at text. The company says it could be particularly useful for people who have reading difficulties due to dyslexia.
Now that 2020 has started, Uber, DoorDash and Lyft are taking additional steps to undermine a new California law that would help more gig workers qualify as full-time employees. These moves entail product changes, lawsuits and ramped-up efforts to get a ballot initiative in front of voters that would roll back the new legislation.
Let’s start with the most recent development; yesterday, Uber sent a note to users announcing that it’s getting rid of upfront pricing in favor of estimated prices, unless they’re Uber Pool rides.
“Due to a new state law, we are making some changes to help ensure that Uber remains a dependable source of flexible work for California drivers,” Uber wrote in an email to customers. “These changes may take some getting used to, but our goal is to keep Uber available to as many qualified drivers as possible, without restricting the number of drivers who can work at a given time.”
Uber says it also has to discontinue rewards benefits like price protection on a route and flexible cancellations for trips in California. For drivers, that means they won’t see estimated earnings and drivers in surge arteas will no longer see fixed dollar amounts.
"AB5 threatens to restrict or eliminate opportunities for independent workers across a wide spectrum of industries, including trucking, freelance journalism and ridesharing,” an Uber spokesperson told TechCrunch. “As a result of AB5, we've made a number of product changes to preserve flexible work for tens of thousands of California drivers. At the same time, we've put forward a progressive package of new protections for drivers, including guaranteed minimum earnings and benefits, so voters can choose to truly improve flexible work in November.”
While Uber is essentially saying this is something the company must do, it’s worth noting that this is not some requirement of the new law; this is Uber’s attempt to beef up its case that it’s legally allowed to classify drivers as independent contractors. Since much of the rationale for determining whether or not a worker is an employee comes down to control, removing upfront fares and ditching penalties for rejecting fares could help Uber make a case that its drivers are operating on their own accord.
Assa Abloy, the world's largest lock maker and the parent company of August Home and Yale, announced some new products at CES this week. The company didn't talk about doorbell cameras at all — it could be related to recent Ring's controversies.
As a well-known brand when it comes to smart lock in the U.S., August Home is iterating and refining with new products without any groundbreaking change. This time, the company is introducing a new August Wi-Fi Smart Lock.
This is the fourth generation lock from the startup that got acquired by Assa Abloy. It is 45% smaller than the previous version and it features a Wi-Fi chip on the device itself. It means that you no longer need to plug a bridge that connects to your Wi-Fi network and communicates with your lock.
As a result, battery life should be a bit worse on the new device. The company says that you can expect 3 to 6 months of battery compared to 6 months with the third generation device.
Like previous versions of August devices, it integrates directly in the deadbolt so that you don't have to replace your lock altogether.
While August Home is quite popular in the U.S., the same can't be said in Europe. It turns out that the lock market is quite fragmented with different locking system depending on the country.
But Yale is releasing a smart door lock called Linus that works pretty much like August Home locks in Europe. Yves Behar has designed both the new August Home lock and the Yale Linus lock. The company has designed different mounting plates so that it fits with as many European homes as possible.
You can lock and unlock your door using your phone, temporarily hand out digital key to guests and more. The Linus lock isn't connected to the internet, so you have to get a bridge in case you're interested in that functionality. There are integrations with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Airbnb and IFTTT.
When it comes to apps, the August Home and Yale apps are now identical. The company is just keeping both names for branding reasons.
Yale also took advantage of CES to announce a Smart Cabinet Lock that can lock your medicine cabinet for instance. The company has integrated that lock into a delivery box that you can put in front of your house. There's a new smart safe as well.
The automobile industry has experienced considerable change when it comes to powertrain and cabin technology features in the past decade, but what about boats? They’re also getting some cutting-edge upgrades made possible by the same technologies that are improving the power and performance of smartphones, and Sea Ray debuted a new top-end outboard boat at CES 2020 that puts a lot of that on display in one big, beautiful package.
The Sea Ray SLX-R 400e has one feature in particular that’s brand new and could easily trickle down to other pleasure craft, should it catch on with boaters: The Fathom e-Power system developed by partner Brunswick, which helped Sea Ray put together the innovative SLX-R 400e. This is an electrified part of the seacraft’s powertrain, featuring a lithium-ion battery pack with a high enough storage capacity that it can handle powering all the accessory systems on board the boat, including its entertainment features.
The SLX-R 400e’s main engines are still powered by traditional fuel — and there are three 450 hp V8 Mercury outboard engines to drive the 40-foot boat. But the Fathom e-Power system means that when you’re just sitting on the water entertaining up to 21 of your closest friends, you’re not burning fuel, making it “more eco-friendly” and providing more power longer than traditional alternators.
[gallery ids="1931297,1931296,1931295,1931294"]
In addition to the e-Power system, the Sea Ray SLX-R 400e also features joystick piloting, giving you more precise control over orientation of the outboards while being user-friendly for people who don’t necessarily have a lot of experience piloting boats.
The cockpit is equally futuristic, with multiple 16-inch displays providing a comprehensive overview of the boat’s status and systems. The boat-wide audio system even boasts AirPlay support for streaming from Apple devices.
This isn’t just a concept: Sea Ray is actually going to be selling this to consumers, with availability set for sometime later this year.
Underserved areas are becoming hot, hot, hot, from the standpoint of venture capitalists and their own backers.
In October, Steve Case’s Revolution announced that a second Rise of the Rest Seed Fund had closed with $150 million in commitments. In November, Drive Capital, a Columbus, Ohio-based venture firm that was started by two former Sequoia Capital partners and focuses on largely Midwestern startups, revealed in SEC filings that it had raised a fresh $350 million in capital commitments across two funds. Meanwhile, last month, Hyde Park Venture Partners, a Chicago-based early-stage software-focused venture firm that’s focused on the “mid-continent,” announced on Medium that it had closed its third fund with $100 million.
Now, J.D. Vance — who rose to fame after penning a memoir (“Hillbilly Elegy”) but who has also worked as an investor, including as principal for Peter Thiel’s Mithril Capital Management and more recently as a managing director with Revolution — has swung open the doors of his own Midwest-focused venture fund, Narya Capital, based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The outfit has so far raised $93 million in capital commitments for its debut fund, and its investors include Thiel, along with some other heavyweight names, including Marc Andreessen, Eric Schmidt and ExactTarget co-founder Scott Dorsey — who also now runs a Midwest-focused venture firm and startup studio.
Vance isn’t talking publicly yet about the fund — it’s still in fundraising mode — but judging by an SEC filing first flagged by Axios, he isn’t going it alone. Colin Greenspon, who was partner at Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and a former managing director at Mithril, is joining him as co-founder and partner.
According to the outlet Columbus Business First, the two are also joined by partner Falon Donohue, who spent more than four years as the CEO of VentureOhio, a nonprofit organization that aims to increase access to venture capital for Ohio entrepreneurs. Donohue had also started a seed-stage venture firm in Columbus called Sadie Ventures back in 2018.
The firm’s SEC filing shows a target of $125 million.
Its name — like that of Mithril — derives from the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien. While mithril is a fictional metal, Narya is a magical ring that (according to fan pages) has the power to inspire others to resist tyranny, domination and despair.
According to data from PitchBook and CB Insights in association with Hyde Park, the Midwest has seen a meaningful uptick in venture investment in recent years, jumping from $2.7 billion in 2016 to $4.3 billion by 2018.
Other funds to close in recent times include Great North Labs, which closed its first fund with $23.7 million in capital last June to invest in early-stage tech startups across the Upper Midwest in the U.S. As we reported over the weekend, a firm that invests expressly in startups from “Park City to Kansas City” just attracted more than $16 million in backing for its newest fund, too.
Jake Jolis is a partner at Matrix Partners and invests in seed and Series A technology companies including marketplaces and software.
Two years ago, we created the Matrix FinTech Index to highlight what we saw as the beginnings of a 10+ year mega innovation wave in financial services.
The trillion-dollar financial services industry was going to be turned on its head over the next decade, and we were just getting started. At the time, the top 10 publicly traded U.S. fintech companies had just surpassed the $100 billion mark in terms of total market capitalization, 12 unicorns had emerged in the category, and the U.S. VC industry had just poured in $6.7B — a record at the time.
As we predicted last year, the innovation cycle continues, and we are transitioning into its mid-phase. So what happened in U.S. fintech in 2019? In short, monster growth.
On the public side, fintechs delivered resoundingly. PayPal alone gained $26B in market capitalization. On a return basis, the public Matrix FinTech Index continued to crush every major equity index as well as the financial services incumbents. Nicely matching our forecasts, our Index delivered 213% returns over the last three years. The Index outperformed the financial services incumbents by 151 percentage points and the S&P 500 by 170 percentage points.
The Daily Crunch is TechCrunch’s roundup of our biggest and most important stories. If you’d like to get this delivered to your inbox every day at around 9am Pacific, you can subscribe here.
Twitter users will soon have four options to "tailor" the replies to their tweets: anyone can reply, only those followed by the user can reply, only those tagged can reply, or setting a tweet to allow no replies at all.
At CES, Twitter’s head of conversations Suzanne Xie said the feature builds on the already launched ability to hide replies: “We thought, well, what if we could actually put more control into the author's hands before the fact? Give them really a way to control the conversation space, as they're actually composing a tweet?”
Quibi is using a new engineering technology it's calling "Turnstyle," which allows the viewer to move between portrait mode viewing and landscape viewing, seamlessly — and without any black bars to fill the rest of the screen when switching to landscape video.
3. IAC sells CollegeHumor to executive Sam Reich, resulting in 100+ layoffs CollegeHumor will continue on with a new owner and a dramatically reduced team. Reich announced the move on Twitter, saying that digital media holding company IAC "made the difficult decision to no longer finance us," but that it would allow him to "run with the company."
Instead of banning political ads, Facebook is announcing a few tweaks to the information it lets users see about political ads — claiming it's boosting "transparency" and "controls.” Natasha Lomas is not impressed.
Founder and CEO Aaron Rasmussen previously helped to popularize online learning as co-founder and creative director at MasterClass. When Outlier launched last year, Rasmussen told me his goal is to address the growing cost of higher education by offering a more affordable alternative.
Sidewalk Labs and its portfolio company AMP Robotics are working on a pilot program that would provide residents of a single apartment building of 250 units in Toronto with detailed information about their recycling habits. In other words, waste is categorized, sorted and recorded at a materials recovery facility, and Sidewalk will communicate with building residents about how they're doing in their recycling efforts.
Last year was a landmark for online privacy in many ways, with consensus emerging that consumers deserve protection from the companies that sell their attention and behavior for profit. The debate now is largely around how to regulate platforms, not whether it needs to happen. (Extra Crunch membership required.)
If you’ve already completed your Pokédex and battled your way up to become the Champion of Galar, you might’ve figured you were just about done with Pokémon Sword/Shield.
Surprise! More is on the way — for a price, that is.
This morning Nintendo announced that it’s working on not one, but two downloadable expansions for Sword and Shield: The Isle of Armor (arriving June 2020) and The Crown Tundra (coming sometime “in the fall of 2020”). A $30 “Expansion Pass” that’s up for pre-order today gets you both downloads when they arrive.
While this definitely isn’t the first time Nintendo has dabbled with DLC, it is the first time they’ve done so with a main series Pokémon title. Considering that Sword/Shield is one of the best-selling Switch games of all time, it makes sense that Nintendo isn’t quite ready to be done with it.
So what’s new in the expansions?
Each pack will bring new areas to explore, along with new characters, storylines and, of course, Pokémon. Nintendo and GameFreak aren’t getting too specific about how many new Pokémon we’ll see, but do note that the expansions will include brand new monsters, Gigantamax and Galarian forms of existing ‘mon, plus support for an unspecified number of past Pokémon transferable from previous Pokémon titles.
While the expansions won’t ship for a few months, the companies are releasing what they call “a small slice” of the new stuff today via a free update.
Hello and welcome back to our regular morning look at private companies, public markets and the gray space in between.
Today, we're exploring fundraising from outside the venture world.
Founders looking to raise capital to power their growing companies have more options than ever. Traditional bank loans are an option, of course. As is venture capital. But between the two exists a growing world of firms and funds looking to put capital to work in young companies that have growing revenues and predictable economics.
Firms like Clearbanc are rising to meet demand for capital with more risk appetite than a traditional bank looking for collateral, but less than an early-stage venture firm. Clearbanc offers growth-focused capital to ecommerce and consumer SaaS companies for a flat fee, repaid out of future revenues. Such revenue-based financing is becoming increasingly popular; you could say the category has roots in the sort of venture debt that groups like Silicon Valley Bank have lent for decades, but there’s more of it than ever and in different flavors.
While revenue-based financing, speaking generally, is attractive to SaaS and ecommerce companies, other types of startups can benefit from alt-capital sources as well. And, some firms that disburse money to growing companies without an explicit equity stake are finding a way to connect capital to them.
Today, let's take a quick peek at three firms that have found interesting takes on providing alternative startup financing: Earnest Capital with its innovative SEAL agreement, RevUp Capital, which offers services along with non-equity capital, and Capital, which both invests and loans using its own proprietary rubric.
After all, selling equity in your company to fund sales and marketing costs might not be the most efficient way to finance growth; if you know you are going to get $3 out from $1 in spend, why sell forever shares to do so?
Your options
Before we dig in, there are many players in what we might call the alt-VC space. Lighter Capital came up again and again in emails from founders. Indie.vc has its own model that is pretty neat as well. In honor of starting somewhere, however, we're kicking off with Earnest, RevUp and Capital. We'll dive into more players in time. (As always, email me if you have something to share.)
Anu Shukla had found the perfect VP of Engineering to help her build her latest startup, a company called RewardsPay. By that point, she had founded or cofounded several venture-backed startups (she's up to five). The standard, she knew, was a roughly 1.5% to 2% stake for a key employee at the executive level.
But Shukla knew sometimes you need to give up more to get the right person. "At that point, there wasn't much cash in the company," Shukla says of RewardsPay, the company she founded in 2010 to help consumers convert rewards points into a commodity they could spend elsewhere. "This is the person we were asking to come in and build the technology and build our technology team," she adds. He was also someone with experience who could command a sizable salary from a more established company.
Shukla ended up giving him a 3% equity share in the company. He needed to remain motivated to stick around for the long-run, Shukla explains, "and we also knew through subsequent rounds of funding he would become diluted."
Tech's main currency is built on a range of factors
Equity, typically in the form of stock options, is the currency of the tech and startup worlds. After dividing initial stakes among themselves, founders use it to lure talent and compensate employees for the salary cut that they almost inevitably will take when joining a startup. It helps keep employees motivated with the tantalizing prospect of a big payday when the company is sold or goes public.
But how much equity should founders grant the first engineers hired to help them build their product and the new hires that follow? What about that highly coveted VP of Sales brought on once a company has a product to sell? And what about others a young startup seeks to enlist in the cause, including key advisors whose insights and connections might increase its chances of success or perhaps an outside director with the right expertise to join a nascent board of directors?
Properly parceling out equity is a challenge for first-time founders. What stake an employee deserves depends on a range of factors, from skills to seniority and employee badge number.
"Is this employee #5 we're talking about or employee #25?" asks serial entrepreneur Joe Beninato, who has founded or cofounded four startups and worked at another four. "What's the experience of the person coming over? You have to look at each situation individually."
1% or .05%? It depends on position and seniority
Yet while complex, several online guides provide compensation benchmarks that help founders think about the size of each slice of the company they give away when recruiting talent. Index Ventures, for instance, has published a handbook aimed at helping entrepreneurs figure out option grants at the seed level. At a company's earliest stages, expect to give a senior engineer as much as 1% of a company, the handbook advises, but an experienced business development employee is typically given a .35% cut. An engineer coming in at the mid-level can expect .45% versus .15% for a junior engineer. A junior biz dev person should expect .05%, which is the same for a junior person coming in as a designer or in marketing.
And just because someone gets a big title, it doesn't mean you should give away the store. "We see a lot of role and title inflation going on at the seed stage, which is best avoided," warns Reshma Sohoni, co-founder and general partner at Seedcamp, a European seed fund quoted in the Index handbook. "At this stage, you are unsure of who is going to continue the adventure with you."
Timing trumps seniority and experience
When Shukla was building her team at RewardsPay, she gave the earliest engineers joining her team an equity share of between .5% and 1%, depending on both experience and a person's salary requirements. Some were willing and able to work for a minimal salary and higher equity, whereas others asked for higher cash compensation because of their personal circumstances. Regardless, Shulka says, "the early team you put together definitely gets a lot more stock than later employees."
Indeed, in many circumstances, the timing of an employee's decision to join has a disproportionate impact on how much equity is offered. It makes sense: the earlier someone commits to your startup, the more risk the hire is taking on.
If a key hire is the third person joining a two-person team, he or she can almost be considered a co-founder and may get as much as 10% of the company. But if a head of sales or VP of marketing joins once a startup has a product to sell and promote, they may get between 1% and 2%, depending on experience.
"The percentages really vary dramatically," Beninato says. "I don't want to say it's like a decaying exponential, but it's something like that. The first people get more, and it goes down over time."
Time for an employee option pool
Eventually, founders need to think about creating an employee option pool — a more disciplined way to award equity over shaving off more shares with each new hire. "After a seed round, you want to have that employee pool at around 10% or 12%, plus or minus," says James Currier, a four-time founder who is now a managing partner at NFX, an early-stage venture capital firm. Calibrating the precise size of that option pool, Currier and others say, depends on a company's hiring ambitions over the coming 12 to 18 months — through a next funding cycle.
Again, online guides can help. The Holloway Guide to Equity Compensation, for instance, is an 80-page handbook that explains arcane terms such as "cliffs," "claw backs," "single trigger" and "double trigger" that any entrepreneur must know to even understand what their lawyers and advisors are telling them. The guide also identifies landmines to avoid and breaks down the equity ownership of a pair of sample companies whose employee pools range from 9% to 20%.
Over time, founders will need to tinker with the option pool as everyone's shares are diluted with each venture round. "After an A, you want to put it back to 10 to 15%, depending on how many managers you need," Currier says. Adds Anu Shukla, "Usually, the VCs are going to ask for a completely empty option pool where every share is available."
Prepare to negotiate
The size of the option pool must be part of the negotiations with any venture capitalist — and founders would be wise to have thought about the issue before sitting in a VC's conference room. "VCs often sneak in additional economics for themselves by increasing the amount of the option pool on a pre-money basis," warn Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson in their book, Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist. At that point, the option pool is coming from the founders' shares and those of their earliest investor so Feld and Mendelson encourage founders to push back if they feel the VCs are asking for an unduly large option pool.
"The entrepreneur can say, 'look, I strongly believe we have enough options to cover our needs,'" Feld and Mendelson advise. To protect the VCs, they say, offer full anti-dilution protection in case the founders are wrong, and they need to expand the option pool before the next financing.
No one gets everything at once
Equity awards, regardless of their form, are subject to vesting schedules. Traditionally, startups have used a four-year benchmark with a one-year cliff: no ownership until an employee has worked twelve months, and then 25% for each year worked (or an additional 1/48th for every month worked). Yet there's also the growing recognition that building a successful company usually takes a lot longer than four years, and options are about retaining people to build something great. As a result, longer vesting schedules are becoming more commonplace.
The growing time it takes companies to go public or be acquired is also affecting other stock option terms. Typically, employees have had up to 90 days after leaving a company to exercise their options, which can be costly and come with a large tax bill. Now companies are sometimes extending that period well beyond 90 days so that an employee won't end up with nothing if they leave long before they can turn their equity into cash.
Boards of advisors and directors
Equity is also suitable for drawing a different kind of talent to your company: experienced people in the field who won't come to work for you full-time but, if their interests were aligned with yours, might serve as advisors who increase your chances of success. (At this stage of a company, non-founder board members are likely to be its investors, so their equity will be commensurate with the size of their investment.)
Currier, the serial entrepreneur turned venture capitalist, says he typically offered between .1% and .3% of the company to attract an advisor to one of his companies. "What you're hoping for is that one advisor who tells you something that triples the value of your company," he says. "The problem is you don't know which one of the five or six people you'd brought in as advisors will be that person. So you pay them all .2% and hope one gives you that idea that more than pays for itself."
The takeaway: cash is limited, but so is equity
Giving out equity may feel painless. After all, it's an easy way to preserve your cash as you staff your startup with top-notch hires that can significantly increase your chances of success. But take the time to understand the value of what you're giving away, and bring discipline to the process early by creating an employee pool. Then if you have to spend a little extra to get someone really exceptional, as Shukla's RewardsPay had to do, you'll know where you stand.
Wang has plenty of experience in the media industry, having served as CTO at Refinery29 and at Narrativ, a startup that helps publishers make money through commerce. He told me that he was “skeptical” when a recruiter first approached him about the position at BuzzFeed, but as he talked to the team, he was increasingly impressed by the vision and strategy.
For example, he pointed to CEO Jonah Peretti’s recent memo about his plans for 2020, in which Peretti said the company is “fighting for truth and joy, in a world where both are under threat.”
Wang acknowledged that it’s been a tough couple years for digital media, with BuzzFeed itself laying off 250 people at the beginning of 2019. However, he’s hopeful that in the last year, “that tide against publishers … started to turn around.”
Wang added, “It didn't matter what the environment has been for publishers, [BuzzFeed] has always found a way to position itself and adapt along the way.”
During our conversation, he also echoed Peretti’s recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, in which he said that BuzzFeed was slightly unprofitable in 2019 but has plans to turn a profit this year. Similarly, Wang said he wants to help BuzzFeed establish itself as a “profitable, trusted” media company.
“I’m really hoping to see that we can collectively make BuzzFeed the example in the media space — that you can make it happen and build a sustainable company in the media space by combining these components,” he said.
Wang is replacing BuzzFeed’s previous CTO, Todd Levy, who joined health startup Ro last summer. The company’s CTO role is also expanding — where it was previously limited to overseeing engineering, Wang said he’s now in charge of engineering, product, data, design and project management, and that he’ll be “a true business partner and sitting on the executive team.”
He’s scheduled to start on February 3 and will be reporting to Publisher Dao Nguyen.
"Peter's broad skillset and deep understanding of digital media make him the perfect fit to both lead our Tech team and serve as a strategic partner to our executive team," Nguyen said in a statement. "I'm confident that his entrepreneurial spirit and knack for innovation will enhance the user experience for our audience as well as drive meaningful growth for the company as we continue to strengthen and diversify our business."
Lily AI, a startup focused on using deep learning to help brands better convert customers through emotionally tailored recommendations, announced this morning that it has raised a $12.5 million Series A led by Canaan Partners. Prior investors NEA, Unshackled and Fernbrook Capital also took part in the funding event.
Prior to its Series A, Lily had raised just a few million, according to Crunchbase data.
The round caught our eye for a few reasons. First, the investor leading the round — Maha Ibrahim — also led The RealReal’sSeries A. That company, which also sports a focus on the sartorial, went public in 2019. (Ibrahim has also dropped by TechCrunch from time to time, including here.) To see the investor lead an early round in a company operating in a related space was notable.
TechCrunch first covered Lily back in 2017 when it raised $2 million from NEA. At the time it had an iOS application, along with a web app and API designed to help retailers “better understand a woman's personal preferences around fashion” in their “own catalogs and digital storefronts.”
In a phone call with TechCrunch, Gupta said that she and Narayanan decided that “from a business model perspective” their technology was “better for an enterprise product.” The iOS app was eventually deprioritized (in “less than a year” after launch according to the CEO), with the company making a formal move to focus on enterprise offerings in early 2018.
So what does Lily AI do and what is it selling to large retailers? An e-commerce power-up.
How it works
Lily’s founding hypothesis came from Gupta’s time exploring fashion in New York, asking hundreds of women about what they had bought recently (more on the company’s founding story here). What came out of that exercise was the idea that every customer is “roaming around with [their own] emotional context,” how “they think about their body” and “how they react to different types of details and items.”
The CEO thought that if you could get that context into an online shop, it would probably help consumers find what they want, and help the store sell more at the same time. That’s the hypothesis behind Lily AI, according to Gupta, who wants to know the “individual emotional context” of “each customer” when they shop online.
It’s that idea that helped the company raise $12.5 million in its A, more capital by far than it had raised before in total.
The service works in three steps, starting with tech that can pull out myriad more attributes from items in a catalog; the more variables you have the more you can know about any particular product. Gupta told TechCrunch in an email that her company’s “approach captures significantly more detail on each product based on the traits customers look for when buying apparel,” including “style, fit, occasion” and the like.
Then, Lily uses “hashed customer data” that brands already collect, married to its item attribute data to “create a high-confidence prediction of each customer's affinity to every attribute of every product in the catalog,” she continued. From there it’s a recommendation game.
The result of all this work is that “100 percent” of Lily’s customers have seen a “step gain in metrics,” not “just incremental” improvements, according to Gupta. (The company’s website claims a “10x ROI” on customer spend on its products.)
Lily charges for its service on a volume basis.
And there should be lots of that. According to Canaan’s Ibrahim, e-commerce “will continue to grow between 15-20% annually and will represent ~20% of all retail spending in 2020 […] off of an enormous absolute number base of ~$4T of e-commerce spend.” That means Lily has a pretty big market to grow into, which is just what venture investors love to see.
One final thing. During our call, I asked Gupta about privacy. After all, her company is pairing consumer preferences with other information for the benefit of a brand. In our discussion about how her startup protects customer privacy, she said something interesting that I asked her to expand on. Here’s how she described how her firm is built around understanding the feelings of others, or what’s better known as empathy:
We started Lily AI with the goal of helping customers look and feel their best. And I’m so proud that we use ‘Empathy’ as the guiding principle for everything: building products, hiring, retaining talent and establishing company culture.
Not a bad place to build from.
Update: Post updated to reflect that Canaan led The RealReal’s Series A, not C.
Sisense, an enterprise startup that has built a business analytics business out of the premise of making big data as accessible as possible to users — whether it be through graphics on mobile or desktop apps, or spoken through Alexa — is announcing a big round of funding today and a large jump in valuation to underscore its traction. The company has picked up $100 million in a growth round of funding that catapults Sisense’s valuation to over $1 billion, funding that it plans to use to continue building out its tech, as well as for sales, marketing and development efforts.
For context, this is a huge jump: The company was valued at only around $325 million in 2016 when it raised a Series E, according to PitchBook. (It did not disclose valuation in 2018, when it raised a venture round of $80 million.) It now has some 2,000 customers, including Tinder, Philips, Nasdaq and the Salvation Army.
This latest round is being led by the high-profile enterprise investor Insight Venture Partners, with Access Industries, Bessemer Venture Partners, Battery Ventures, DFJ Growth and others also participating. The Access investment was made via Claltech in Israel, and it seems that this led to some details of this getting leaked out as rumors in recent days. Insight is in the news today for another big deal: Wearing its private equity hat, the firm acquired Veeam for $5 billion. (And that speaks to a particular kind of trajectory for enterprise companies that the firm backs: Veeam had already been a part of Insight’s venture portfolio.)
Mature enterprise startups have proven their business cases are going to be an ongoing theme in this year’s fundraising stories, and Sisense is part of that theme, with annual recurring revenues of over $100 million speaking to its stability and current strength. The company has also made some key acquisitions to boost its business, such as the acquisition of Periscope Data last year (coincidentally, also for $100 million, I understand).
Its rise also speaks to a different kind of trend in the market: In the wider world of business intelligence, there is an increasing demand for more digestible data in order to better tap advances in data analytics to use it across organizations. This was also one of the big reasons why Salesforce gobbled up Tableau last year for a slightly higher price: $15.7 billion.
Sisense, bringing in both sleek end user products but also a strong theme of harnessing the latest developments in areas like machine learning and AI to crunch the data and order it in the first place, represents a smaller and more fleet of foot alternative for its customers. "We found a way to make accessing data extremely simple, mashing it together in a logical way and embedding it in every logical place," explained CEO Amir Orad to us in 2018.
"We have enjoyed watching the Sisense momentum in the past 12 months, the traction from its customers as well as from industry leading analysts for the company’s cloud native platform and new AI capabilities. That coupled with seeing more traction and success with leading companies in our portfolio and outside, led us to want to continue and grow our relationship with the company and lead this funding round,” said Jeff Horing, managing director at Insight Venture Partners, in a statement.
To note, Access Industries is an interesting backer which might also potentially shape up to be strategic, given its ownership of Warner Music Group, Alibaba, Facebook, Square, Spotify, Deezer, Snap and Zalando.
"Given our investments in market leading companies across diverse industries, we realize the value in analytics and machine learning and we could not be more excited about Sisense's trajectory and traction in the market," added Claltech’s Daniel Shinar in a statement.
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