On Monday, Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" featuring Billy Ray Cyrus made history as the longest-running No. 1 track to ever hit the Billboard Hot 100.
The prestigious record required a daunting 17 weeks as the most popular song across radio and online streaming within the United States. The accolade was previously shared by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day" and Luis Fonsi's "Despacito" — both of which ended their No. 1 reigns at a 16-week tie.
"Did I know it would become the longest-running No. 1 song of all time?" Lil Nas reflected of his track's surprise success on Twitter.
"No! But I am so thankful that this blessing has been placed upon me. This song has changed my life, and the way I see the world around me in less than a year." Read more...
It's 2019 and Papa Roach has the funniest tweet of the day.
The angsty rock band whose songs you probably listened to while brooding in the early 2000s decided to pay some mind to politics and tweet their very ownlyrics at President Trump.
On Monday, Papa Roach quote tweeted Trump's "NO COLLUSION, NO OBSTRUCTION, TOTAL EXONERATION. DEMOCRAT WITCH HUNT!" tweet from Saturday and added some famous lyrics from their 2000 hit "Last Resort." They made quite the parody track.
Mashable's readers (and writers) are known for being OBSESSIVE about the things we love. You may say we kind of geek out about things. Okay, fine, we *are* geeks. Whatever, geeks are awesome.
But sometimes, awesome can use a bit of assistance in the dating department. Not because there aren't enough geeks out there — how do you think Avengers: Endgame became the highest-grossing film of all time? (Thanks to geeks, that's how.) Dating as a geek requires combing through normies and too much dating through the same group of localsFor women, it can involve a lot of creepy guys who want their manic pixie dream girlFor men, it can involve a lot of simply trying to not be that guy. If you're in the majority of geeks who are a little bit introverted, dating can be hella intimidating. Read more...
This year at the Ohio State Fair's butter display, American Dairy Association Mideast memorialized the Apollo 11 astronauts in more than 2,200 pounds of butter. Read more...
Just like we groan when we see Christmas decorations hit the shelves in September, there’s a somber feeling when back-to-school sales crop up when it seems like summer just kicked off. Whether you like it or not, though, the 2019-2020 school year is just around the corner and you’ve got to go into it prepared.
Notebooks and pencils are probably the last thing you want to be dropping your summer job savings on, but we believe that spending money on school stuff is a little easier when you know you aren’t paying full price. So, we’re here to help ease the transition by presenting you with the best deals we’ve found on tech, dorm essentials, and school supplies. Read more...
Steadily high dew points have made for a soupy summer, and with storms predicted across much of the country for early August, you can expect a lot of frizz in your forecast.
You'll need to bring out the big guns to keep your hair sleek and smooth — namely, a Chi flat iron.
The Chi brand is known for high-end styling tools that are made to last, and its straighteners are no exception. (Another Mashable writer has had hers for eight years, if that tells you anything about their durability.) You'd typically pay a premium for that kind of quality, but right now Walmart has Chi's award-winning G2 professional flat iron on sale for just $90.93 — $109 less than its listed price on Chi's own website. Read more...
Modern photography is a multi-step process. Clicking the button on the camera is really just the first step. If you really want your photos to stand out and reach influencer status, it's all in the post-production process. Sure, you can spruce up your snapshots on Facetune as most Instagrammers do, but everyone knows Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom reign supreme.Modern photography is a multi-step process. Clicking the button on the camera is really just the first step. If you really want your photos to stand out and reach influencer status, it's all in the post-production process. Sure, you can spruce up your snapshots on Facetune as most Instagrammers do, but everyone knows Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom reign supreme. Read more...
The new teaser for the upcoming ninth season of American Horror Story goes hard on the slasheriffic vibe of classic '80s horror movies. The teasers refer to "Camp Redwood," an idyllic lakeside campground that looks as fun as it does deadly, and the double appearance of a masked killer hearkens back to the OG campground stalker Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise. It's possible Camp Redwood is the setting for AHS: 1984, or just a part of its ever-expanding mythos of terror.
American Horror Story: 1984 premieres September 18th. Read more...
Google's fighting back against leakers. Instead of letting them reveal new features for its upcoming Pixel 4, Google took matters into its own hands and announced them early.
In a blog post, Google revealed its next flagship Android smartphone will have a face unlock feature and a "Motion Sense" feature that uses radar to recognize hand gestures.
Though many phones have a face unlock feature — new iPhones use 3D-based Face ID and Android phones use their own 2D-based facial recognition — Google says it'll work differently on the Pixel 4.
We have ourselves a new "Old Town Road" remix, people. Well, sort of.
Three days after Lil Nas X announced he was visiting Twitter's New York headquarters to replace Jack Dorsey as CEO for the day, the @TwitterMusic account dropped a nearly three-minute-long video of the rapper's time in the office, along with the words, "Old Town Road (CEO Remix)."
In the video, Lil Nas X sits down with Dorsey and declares, "I want to take over your position." Dorsey replies, "You're walking into a super stressful job." Ha ha.
Lil Nas X then sits before Dorsey for a "job interview," during which time the two discuss everything from Dorsey's salary to his love for meditation during stressful times. (Spoiler alert: Lil Nas X sucks at meditating.) Read more...
The school year is slowly creeping up (maybe not so slowly anymore). And, as you may know, every good student needs a laptop or tablet to aid them in studying, completing assignments, and the occasional Netflix binge.
Lucky for you soon-to-be students, we’ve pulled together a few of the best deals on these personal devices for this week to prepare you for the impending school yearMacBooks, Galaxy Tabs, IdeaPads, and many more are all here — you have a lot to pick from, so choose wisely.
Get yourself organized and ready for when you have to start hitting the books this semester — check out the best laptops and tablets on sale this week (already out of school? Take a look at our guide for the best graduation gifts). Read more...
Outside the Graffiti Mansion in Las Vegas, which had been custom painted with tags like #JanaForever in honor of the couple's special day, influencers dressed to the nines and teenagers in plain jeans and t-shirts crowded outside the heavy metal gates in hopes of either getting in, or getting a photo. Inside, Tana Mongeau, Jake Paul, and a reported 300 guests were celebrating love, clout, and a whole lot of spon-con.
Whether the two have actually been dating, let alone committed enough to plan a life together, has been debated by their fans and their close family members. No matter the veracity of their relationship, though, the union of Tana Mongeau and Jake Paul is the union of two empires. Read more...
The weeks during the end of July and beginning of August are notorious for creating that inevitable summer rut. However, what it lacks in holidays or big sale events, it makes up for in moviesSpider-Man: Far From Home, The Lion King, Midsommar, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood are just a few films that audiences are loving.
Some will come to DVD and streaming sites sooner than others, but one thing is for sure: If you missed these movies in theaters (or just want to recreate the experience), a 4K TV is a must. (Did we mention Avengers: Endgame on Blu-ray is finally available for pre-order?) Read more...
Remember the time when you had to roll up your sleeves and use mops, rags, and your trusty vacuum to clean your home? Boy, we're so glad we're way past that.
Thanks to technology, we now have robot vacuums (and mops) that can do our dirty work for us. But the only thing harder than scrubbing the floors is picking a robot vacuum that can accommodate your space and budget.
But worry not, we've rounded up a list of refurbished options (read: good as new) that are capable of tidying up your home in a snap. Even better, they're all on sale: Read more...
There just aren't enough smartphones in the world, so TikTok's parent company is going to make one.
Yes, you read that right: ByteDance, the company behind the app that's like Vine if the videos were longer and had more copyrighted music, is going to make a smartphone. ByteDance made the announcement on Monday, saying it would partner with Chinese firm Smartisan Technology to produce the phone, per Reuters.
A ByteDance smartphone has been rumored for months, with the idea being that it would come pre-installed with the company's many popular apps as a selling point.
Gaming on a PC is a different experience than doing so on a console and TV. While there are plenty of reasons why PC gaming is better, one area it falls short is the display — playing on a laptop screen or desktop monitor can’t compete with a full-fledged TV. But a good monitor can seriously enhance your playtime.
A Dyson V7 (or similar upright vacuum from Bissell or Hoover) is fine for tackling rooms quickly and grabbing messes on hard floors, but deep cleaning carpets is where a wrench gets thrown into the works.
Changing lives since March 2019, the new V11 supposedly has 20% more suction than the V10 (which was already one of the reliable stick vacuums currently out there)It's $100 off at Walmart today, which is a huge deal — a device this new and this in-demand doesn't need to go on sale for customers to flock. Read more...
Did you know PC gamers take pride in the nickname "PC master race?" These are the folks who delight in the fact that PC gaming is just so much better than playing on a console, and if this Reddit thread is any indication — this way of thinking isn't going away any time soon.
While it can take a year or two for gaming consoles to adapt to updated technology, PCs see that improvement hit almost instantly. New rigs and laptops hit the market faster, as opposed to consoles that make you wait for months until their release. Read more...
While you may not have $2000 to drop on some higher performance gaming laptop, you can still get reliable gaming performance with the Dell Gaming Laptop G5587.
My first gaming laptop cost $1,500 ten years ago, and that was considered affordable. It wasn't a top-of-the-line model, but it wasn't a slouch either, sporting one of the better mid-tier graphics cards and a reliable processor/RAM combination.
But my, how things have changed.
Today, you can go on Amazon and find plenty of laptops for less than $1000 that would have been at least $1,500 a few years ago, thus opening doors to people who want to try out PC gaming for themselves. But sorting through all of the options and deciding which is best presents its own unique challenge. Read more...
Street parking, especially in a city, is always a nightmare. There are never any open spaces, and the rules for when you can legally park are always in the fine print of a tiny sign three blocks away.
Sometimes, though, parking on the street can be inconvenient for unexpected reasons. Enter in, the farmer's market.
Twitter user @ayeeelyse was being a responsible adult after a night out drinking and decided not to drive home. She left her car parked on the street, but when she went to retrieve it the next morning, she was in for a big surprise.
Was being responsible and didn’t drive home after happy hour last night. Came back to pick up my car and it’s in a fucking farmers marketpic.twitter.com/JXSwnrpPFj
Ever wish you could print out the entirety of your personal Instagram page? Your Facebook photos? That one amazing tweet you published two years ago that didn’t get the love it deserved? (Or maybe you just want a nice camera — check these out.)
You can do all of that (and more) with the Canon Ivy mobile photo printer — and right now, you can get one for yourself for almost $30 off the original price over on Amazon.
The Canon Ivy printer is small enough that you can take it with you pretty much anywhere to print your best snapshots and selfies while on-the-move. Simply connect to the printer via Bluetooth and start producing physical copies of your fondest memories. With the Canon Ivy companion app, you can even edit your pictures with filters, borders, and fun graphics to help liven up your latest images. The compatible Canon printer paper is also the perfect size to carry around in your wallet or even stick to most surfaces thanks to their adhesive backs. Read more...
UPDATE: July 29, 2019, 11:47 a.m. EDT After just under an hour, Slack appeared to be back online.
Slack confirmed just before noon ET, "We’re back up and running again."
Some customers may be experiencing degraded performance in Slack or having trouble accessing their workspaces. We're sorry for the disruption and will let you know as soon as we have more news to sharehttps://t.co/StdgaZCq0K
While everyone eagerly awaits Samsung's Galaxy Note 10, Apple's "iPhone 11," and foldable phones like the Galaxy Fold and Mate X, Chinese companies continue to push the limits of smartphone design.
Chinese tech giant Oppo has unveiled its newest mobile innovation: a display that curves around the edges at such an extreme angle that you can't see any visible bezels.
Dubbed the "waterfall screen," the curved glass wraps around the left and right sides of the phone at an 88-degree angle and is even more aggressive than the curved screens on Samsung Galaxy phones and the OnePlus 7 Pro.
Taking borderless smartphone innovation to new heights, we're thrilled to give you a first look at 'Waterfall Screen' technology. 🤯
The popularity of gaming PCs has exploded in recent years. Sure, there are plenty of people who won’t abandoned their beloved consoles. But a large number of gaming enthusiasts have been shifting their attention. And with good reason.
For starters, the games are cheaper and the breadth available is truly astounding. After all, console exclusives are (mostly) a thing of the past. You can use your PC to play the latest strategy and simulation games as well as the top offerings in eSports and first person shooters. Additionally, thanks to the PC’s open platform, you also have access to a wide array of wildly inventive independent games. No matter your penchant and preferences, you’re always guaranteed to find something that matches your mood, skill and desires. Read more...
TL;DR: Get an AeroGarden in-home garden system for up to half off when you order from Amazon.
So long as this miserable summer heat wave lingers, the tomato plant sitting out on your fire escape isn't long for this world. A day or two of missed waterings, and bam — the poor little guy will wither and die along with your dreams of fresh, homemade salsa.
But it doesn't have to be this way.
AeroGarden's in-home garden systems are a means to grow fresh herbs and veggies year-round in your kitchen without a whole lot of work on your part. On sale on Amazon now for up to 50% off, its setups foster a healthy growing environment indoors using a combination of grow lights and hydroponics. (That's a fancy word for a setup in which plants grow in nutrient-rich water — no soil required.) Once you fill one of its gardens with water, pop in the included seed pods, and add a dash of AeroGarden's liquid plant food, the system will take care of the rest; its gardens use sensors to mimic the effects of sunlight and remind you when to add more water and plant food. Read more...
Today's lesson in Cooking as a Grown-Ass adult: Blenders are used for more than frozen margs in summer and collecting dust in winter.
Hot soup without a stove, coffee without a coffee maker, and whipped cream without a hand mixer are just a few of the tasks these multitasking appliances can tackle. Similar to the way the mystical Instant Pot replaces a sauté pan or slow cooker, blenders can expand your meal possibilites tenfold without the clutter of multiple machines. Read more...
The obsession with robot vacuums is obviously the fact that they make your life 100 times easier, but there's a hard part to the process: picking one.
"Roomba" and "robot vacuum" are essentially interchangeable terms at this point, but the robot vacuum market ain't what it was in 2005. Though we totally back nearly ever Roomba model, there's a whole new world of brands that you should be considering. Read more...
After an internal policy battle, the Trump administration is set to announce later this week that it will once again waive five different nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, preserving a key part of the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal. The decision will upset Iran hawks in Washington and be welcomed by Russia, China, European allies and the Iranian leadership. The issue is emblematic of the tension inside the administration over the implementation of President Trump's "maximum pressure" policy.
In an Oval Office meeting last week, Trump sided with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who argued that the administration should again renew sanctions waivers related to five separate parts of Iran's nuclear program. Mnuchin prevailed over the objections of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton, according to six administration officials. Pompeo, who is the lead official on the issue, will nevertheless support Trump's decision when it is announced later this week.
Mnuchin, these six officials said, argued to Trump that if the sanctions were not again waived as required by law by Aug. 1, the United States would have to sanction Russian, Chinese and European firms that are involved in projects inside Iran that were established as part of the 2015 nuclear deal. The Treasury Department asked for more time to navigate the collateral effects of these sanctions.
WASHINGTON, July 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his choice for the next U.S. spy chief as someone who could "rein in" intelligence agencies that "have run amok," fueling concerns Trump seeks assessments that support his own views.
Trump's choice of Republican Representative John Ratcliffe of Texas as the next director of national intelligence, has been greeted with scant enthusiasm by his fellow Republicans and charges by former intelligence officials and Democrats that he is unqualified and will frame intelligence to suit the president.
Ratcliffe, a member of the House Intelligence Committee for six months, would replace Dan Coats, whose judgments on Iran, North Korea and Russia's interference in the 2016 elections clashed with Trump's views, earning the president's disdain.
Sailors on the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford during its commissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Julio Martinez Martinez
(CNN)The $13-billion USS Gerald R. Ford is already two years behind schedule, and the U.S. Navy's newest aircraft carrier is facing more delays after the Pentagon's top weapons tester concluded the ship is still not ready for combat despite expectations it would be delivered to the fleet this September.
According to a June 28 memo obtained by CNN, Michael Gilmore, the Defense Department's director of operational test and evaluation, said the most expensive warship in history continues to struggle launching and recovering aircraft, moving onboard munitions, conducting air traffic control and with ship self-defense.
"These four systems affect major areas of flight operations," Gilmore wrote in his report to Pentagon and Navy weapons buyers Frank Kendall and Sean Stackley. "Unless these issues are resolved ... they will significantly limit CVN-78's ability to conduct combat operations."
Seoul (CNN)North Korea on Wednesday launched yet another round of projectiles, US and South Korean officials confirmed.
"North Korea launched multiple projectiles in the early morning from around Hodo Peninsula in South Hamgyong Province," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) told CNN, adding that it was on the alert for further launches.
"Our military is tracking and watching the related movement in preparation to additional launches, and is maintaining readiness posture."
* At least 52 people are dead in prison riot between rival gangs in Brazil * The riot broke out on Monday at 7am local time at Altamira Regional Recovery Center in the northern state of Pará and lasted for five bloody hours * Gang members from one prison block invaded another and set a room on fire * Several prisoners died of asphyxiation in the fire and 16 were decapitated in the conflict * Two correctional officers were held hostage during the riot and later released * Brazilian authorities have not named the two rival gangs involved in the attacks * The prison has a capacity of 200 detainees but was occupied by 311 prisoners * The bloody violence comes two months after a riot in Amazonas state jail left 55 inmates dead
At least 52 people have been killed in a jail in northern Brazil today in a bloody conflict between rival gangs that left 16 decapitated, an official has confirmed.
The 'rebellion' began at around 7am in the Altamira Regional Recovery Center, in the northern Pará state, where gang members from one prison block invaded the prison annex and reportedly set part of it on fire.
Sixteen of the dead were decapitated in the bloody five-hour-long clash that ended around midday (3pm GMT), an official from the Para state government's penitentiary department said.
It was the latest violence to rock the country's overpopulated and deadly prison system.
A senior Chinese official has alleged that authorities in the far-western region of Xinjiang have released most detainees held in government internment camps, but refused to be drawn on how many people remained in the mass detention program.
During a rare press conference in Beijing Tuesday, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Chairman Shohrat Zakir, fiercely defended the controversial camps into which the United States State Department has said up to two million Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities have been held against their will in the past two years.
Speaking to reporters, Zakir, the country's top Uyghur official, described the camps as being "hugely positive" for the region. "I don't know how it's become such an international focus. It's probably due to unbalanced information," he said.
The Air Force has begun to look at whether there's increased risk for prostate cancer among its fighter pilots. A new investigation by McClatchy shows just how serious the problem may be.
The fighter pilot study was requested by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein after he was contacted by concerned veterans service organizations in 2018, according to the report obtained by McClatchy.
At the heart of the Air Force study was a question of whether extended exposure in the cockpit to radiation may be linked to increased risk of prostate cancer.
The study said "pilots have greater environmental exposure to ultraviolet and ionizing radiation ... (fighter pilots) have unique intra-cockpit exposures to non-ionizing radiation." The Air Force study was conducted by the 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
* US Navy Seal Master Sergeant Jonathan J Dunbar, 36, and British Special Air Service Sniper Matt Tonroe, 33, died in March 2018 during a mission in Syria * At first their death was reported as a roadside bomb explosion * An investigation concluded that they died after an explosive in Dunbar's possession detonated, killing them both and injuring five others * The UK's Ministry of Defence revealed the report conclusions on Saturday * Tonroe, of Manchester, was embedded in Seal Team 6, the same unit that killed Osama Bin Laden, and was the first British person to die fighting terror in Syria * Dunbar, of Austin, Texas, joined the army in May 2005
A US Navy Seal unintentionally killed himself and a British soldier while fighting ISIS in Syria after he accidentally detonated a grenade, the UK's Ministry of Defense revealed Saturday.
US Navy Seal Master Sergeant Jonathan J Dunbar, 36, was killed in March 2018 alongside British Special Air Service Sniper Matt Tonroe, 33, during a joint undercover mission to kill extremists in Manbij in northern Syria.
At first it was reported that they both died in a roadside bomb explosion but a new report revealed they died after 'explosives' carried by allied American forces detonated.
Tonroe, of Manchester, UK, was embedded in Seal Team 6, the same unit that killed Osama Bin Laden, and became the first British person to die fighting terrorists in war-torn Syria.
* Kurdish Al-Hol refugee camp under threat from relatives of former ISIS fighters * About 7,000 refugees crammed into site complaining of lack of aid and facilities * Guards have been stabbed and aid workers stoned many stay loyal to militants * So-called 'Muhajirat' female jihadists are said to be behind the latest stabbings * Children also throw stones at authorities in camp on the orders of their mothers
Guards have been stabbed and aid workers stoned by the families of ISIS fighters as the group's black flag is flown over a Syrian refugee camp.
The wives and children of the so-called 'caliphate' are reportedly sticking by the jihadists and waiting for orders from their leader.
Months after the defeat of the jihadist proto-state, families of ISIS fighters are among 70,000 people crammed into the Kurdish-run Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria.
Swarming around journalists, women clad-in-black complain of poor medical assistance, a lack of aid, and boiling tents.
When Americans watch news coverage of any contemporary event, no one's surprised to see it turn political. We live in a time when we can expect almost any topic – whether it's school shootings, movie awards, climate change, or a sports event – to be packaged by members of one "side" to make their political point or use it as ammunition against the opposing political party. As we have seen with President Donald Trump's 4th of July parade, the USS John S. McCain controversy and Trump's transgender military ban, military events and policies are not exempt from this trend, and young service-members must begin preparing to serve in an increasingly politicized environment.
WNU Editor: For as long as I can remember the U.S. military has always been heavily politicized. Presidents and politicians always want to put their stamp on the military, and President Trump is not an exception to the rule.
Critics say Republican Representative John Ratcliffe is too inexperienced and too political to become US director of national intelligence (AFP Photo/ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS)
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump's choice of a lawmaker with limited experience to oversee the massive US intelligence community has sparked concerns over the possible politicization of crucial national security decisions.
Trump announced the nomination Sunday of Republican Representative John Ratcliffe to replace Dan Coats as Director of National Intelligence, the person who coordinates the 17 agencies that make up the US intelligence community.
Coats is leaving after 24 months during which Trump has regularly ignored and undermined his spy chiefs, keeping them in the dark especially on his plans for relations with Russia.
While the departure is not a surprise, the choice of Ratcliffe has sparked worries among lawmakers.
WNU Editor: I had to laugh when I read this analysis from AFP. The U.S. intelligence community has always been politicized, and Presidents always stack the upper echelons of the community with their loyalists. What has been different in the past two and a half years is that some in the community appear to have made it a mission to target President Trump when he was running to be President, before he took the oath of office, and I would say even when he became President.
I am pleased to announce that highly respected Congressman John Ratcliffe of Texas will be nominated by me to be the Director of National Intelligence. A former U.S. Attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the Country he loves. Dan Coats, the current Director, will....
US director of national intelligence Dan Coats is leaving his job next month, ending a two-year tenure marked by President Donald Trump's clashes with intelligence officials.
Mr Trump announced Mr Coats's August 15 departure in a tweet on Monday (AEST), in which he thanked Mr Coats for his service.
He said he would nominate Republican congressman John Ratcliffe for the post and name an acting official in the coming days.
Mr Ratcliffe has frequently defended Mr Trump, and he fiercely questioned former special counsel Robert Mueller last week during a House Judiciary Committee hearing.
Russian police reacted with force and arrested more than 1,000 people during opposition protests in Moscow. As the nervousness of Russia's rulers increases, so does the courage of its opposition, writes Mirodrag Soric.
Law enforcement officers clash with protesters during a rally in Moscow (Reuters/M. Shemetov)
Victories give you strength. And during the clashes between state forces and the opposition in Moscow, it's the latter which emerged as the moral victors.
Who, after all, could possibly defend the actions of a police officer taking a baton to a woman already beaten to the ground simply because she dared to voice her desire for free and democratic elections?
Who on earth would applaud secret service operatives carting away youths who they had beaten bloody, because they exercised their right to demonstrate?
Who could take the side of masked state operatives setting their viciously trained dogs upon protesters?
WNU Editor: All of these protests are being primarily driven by people under the age of 40. And while concerns over democracy and freedom of speech are high on the list for the protesters, much of these protests are being driven by economic fears and frustration. The life of an average Russian today is like this: (1) Everyone is working, but to have a better life everyone needs to take on a second job and/or start a small business. The economy is doing well because the official stats do not incorporate the growth of small businesses, but you have to put 70 - 80 hours a week to do well. (2) Sanctions have resulted in the absence of many cheap western goods. This has resulted in a spike in inflation as more expensive goods fill this void. Inflation is something that no Russian likes to see. (3) Housing in the cities have become incredibly expensive. My cousin from Moscow is visiting me this week, and he is giving me a heads-up on how expensive housing and land has become in Moscow and St-Petersburg. To say that my mouth dropped when I learned all of this is an understatement. (4) Corruption is not as bad as it was during the Soviet days, but it is still bad among senior levels in government. And while the older generation always treated corruption as a away of life, the younger generation have no tolerance for this. (5) The Kremlin's move to regulate and limit the internet is producing a backlash among the under 30 crowd. This generation loves being wired to the world, and I know from my cousins kids they are 100% angry about this.
My prediction for the future. The Kremlin and President Putin have lost touch on what the people want in the major cities. I think this is because Russian President Putin is slowly withdrawing from the day to day activities of running the state, especially on domestic issues. By the looks of it and from what people are telling me, he is committed to retiring after the end of this term. What this means is that others who want his job are now positioning themselves to place their allies and supporters in positions of power, and they are exercising themselves in ways that are rankling many Russians. This weekends brutal crackdown on protesters is a harbinger of what is to come, and I will not be surprised if it will gets worse before President Putin officially retires.
A Russian doctor has said the opposition leader's symptoms suggest that he might have been targeted with a "toxic agent." Berlin has urged Moscow to release over 1,300 prisoners arrested during Navalny-backed protests.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's personal doctor, Anastasiya Vasilyeva, said Monday that an unidentified "toxic agent" may have caused his health to deteriorate while in police custody. Navalny was rushed to a Moscow hospital on Sunday but was since reported to be in "satisfactory condition" and taken back to jail.
"He was poisoned by some sort of unknown chemical substance, it's unclear whether what he has is contact dermatitis or not - but he was in a life-threatening condition," she told reporters.
"And now they are sending him back to the same place where that same toxic, chemical substance might be again."
A MYSTERIOUS NASA aircraft flying unusually low to the ground has sparked alarm in California, with speculation that the aircraft was monitoring the volatile San Andreas Fault.
BORIS JOHNSON can win millions of low-income voters over to the Tories by tackling the economic divide that has left deprived parts of the UK feeling ignored by Westminster, a report suggested last night. Research by polling firm ComRes found the Brexit debate had intensified concerns that many communities were "being let down, ignored and patronised by a distant political establishment".
EMMANUEL MACRON has been hit by a huge blow, after the French economy recorded a surprise slowdown - sparking alarm in the major EU country about the consequences of Boris Johnson's no deal Brexit.
FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron's government has set up a panel of experts to assess the impact of a draft trade deal between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur over major concerns about the accord. Paris, which has voiced concerns over the risk of a surge in South American agricultural exports to the bloc which critics brand "unacceptable".
VLADIMIR PUTIN will send over 100 military jets and helicopters to Crimea for a military drill that aims to strike fear into Russia's Western adversaries.
TWO HURRICANES are currently tracking across the Pacific Ocean near the Hawaiian Islands creating dangerous surf conditions. But what is the latest on each of these hurricanes?
In its latest effort to increase pressure on Taiwan, Beijing said it will suspend a program that allowed individual tourists from 47 Chinese cities to travel to Taiwan, citing the current state of relations between the two sides.
The ban is effective from Aug. 1, according to a statement Wednesday from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and means that Chinese nationals can only travel to Taiwan as tourists if they’re part of tour groups. The scheme had been in place since 2011 under the more China-friendly administration of former President Ma Ying-jeou.
The ministry’s statement didn’t provide any further details as to the reason for the ban. The unexpected move comes as China attempts to isolate Taiwan and Tsai Ing-wen, it’s independence-leaning president. The move may also be aimed at hurting her re-election chances in January’s presidential election.
China Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying declined to answer a question about the decision, asking reporters at a briefing in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon to talk to the relevant department for Taiwan affairs. The Mainland Affairs Council in Taipei declined to comment immediately when contacted.
“This is a shock to all of us. We are all very worried about it,” Benny Wu, chairman of the Taipei Association of Travel Agents, said by phone. “This will have a huge impact on Taiwan’s tourism and economy. Hotels, restaurants will all be affected.”
Spending by foreign tourists accounted for about 2.2% of GDP in 2017, the last year for which data is available, according to the tourism bureau. China was the largest single source of people visiting Taiwan and accounted for almost one third of total visitors to the island in May 2019, according to a Bloomberg calculation based on data published by Taiwan’s tourism bureau.
(BANGKOK) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday he’s very hopeful for a quick resumption in nuclear talks with North Korea despite the North’s recent weapons tests that have clouded already uncertain prospects for a return to the table.
Pompeo told reporters accompanying him to an Asian security conference in Thailand that some preliminary work on a new round of talks has been done but no dates have been set. He said he’s waiting to see if North Korea’s foreign minister comes to Bangkok for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and is confident they will meet if he does. The State Department says the lead U.S. negotiator, Stephen Biegun, will be in Bangkok for North Korea-related discussions but has not released his schedule.
“We think they’ll be started before too long,” Pompeo said. “I’m very hopeful.”
Talks have been stalled since President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s summit in February in Hanoi that broke up over disagreements about sanctions relief and what actions the North would have to take in exchange. But they agreed to restart the talks when they met at the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas in June. At the time, U.S. officials spoke of the negotiations resuming in a matter of a few weeks.
“It’s taken a little bit longer than that,” Pompeo said. “There’s been a little bit of preliminary work to be done. I never want to set a date (but) I hope before too long we will have Special Representative Biegun sitting with what I think will be a new counterpart from North Korea.”
Since the latest Trump-Kim meeting, however, and just in the past week, the North has conducted two short-range ballistic missile tests. And, the two sides remain at odds on a definition of denuclearization. The U.S. says sanctions cannot be removed until the process is complete, although it has said some concessions are possible in return for partial steps.
The annual ASEAN security meeting has been used in the past as a venue for U.S.-North Korea talks and although the North has signaled that its top diplomat may not attend this year, Pompeo was nonplussed.
“We don’t anticipate that the North Koreans will be at the event in Bangkok, but if they are, I’d look forward to the chance to meet with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho,” he said, saying such a meeting “would be great.” ”We’ll see if they are there, and if they are there, I am confident we’ll meet.”
Even if such a meeting does not occur, Pompeo will have a full plate of thorny issues to contend with in Bangkok.
Among them, rising tensions with China over its increasingly assertive behavior in the South China Sea, hostility toward pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and mass detentions of Muslims and other minorities in the western region of Xinjiang. Pompeo will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday as talks on ending a bitter U.S.-China trade dispute wrap up in Shanghai.
Pompeo will also be seeking in Bangkok to ease brewing tensions over trade between U.S. allies Japan and South Korea that threaten to disrupt Seoul’s electronics industry and draws on long-standing bitterness over Japan’s actions toward Korea during World War II. The dispute also threatens to poison relations at a time when Washington would prefer to see a united front in dealing with North Korea.
.On Friday, Pompeo will meet the Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers separately before convening a three-way meeting among them.
“We will encourage them to find a path forward. We think it’s important,” Pompeo said aboard his plane. “They’re both great partners of ours; they’re both working closely with us on our efforts to denuclearize North Korea. So, if we can help them find a good place for each of their two countries, we certainly find that important to the United States, indeed, as well as to each of those two countries. I hope we’ll have a good conversation and we can help get to a good place.”
Singapore’s state-owned broadcaster apologized this week for an ad campaign that sparked accusations of “brownface” after an ethnically Chinese actor darkened his skin to play characters of other races, Agence France-Presse reports.
The advertisement for an electronic payment system featured Singaporean actor Dennis Chew portraying four different characters, including what appeared to be an Indian man and a Malay woman in a headscarf. Each character held a plate of food purchased electronically to promote cashless transactions.
Critics questioned why broadcaster Mediacorp didn’t hire a multiracial cast reflective of the diverse city-state. The island of nearly 6 million is 74% ethnic Chinese, 13% ethnic Malay and 9% ethnic Indian, according to the CIA World Factbook.
The ad quickly ignited outcry on social media.
“They could have hired an artist for every single race? Is it really hard?” one Twitter user said, according to AFP.
“Brownface in a Singaporean ad in 2019. I thought we already went over this,” local magazine editor Ruby Thiagarajan tweeted on Monday.
Via its celebrity management agency, Mediacorp apologized “for any hurt that was unintentionally caused.” The broadcaster did not confirm whether the ad had been pulled.
The incident follows in the wake of several other “blackface” and “brownface” controversies.
Earlier this month, an Italian airline apologized after facing criticism for a promotional video featuring an actor wearing blackface to portray former President Barack Obama. In February, singer Katy Perry pulled two of her namesake-branded shoes after complaints that the design resembled blackface.
Princess Haya Bint al Hussein, the wife of Dubai’s leader, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, asked a court in London for a “forced marriage protection order,” Reuters reported Tuesday.
She also filed for a “non-molestation order” and applied for wardship, which means the couple’s children could be placed in the hands of the court for major decisions.
The sheikh, a 70-year-old billionaire who is also the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, has reportedly sought to have his children return to Dubai. He was not present in court amid the pair’s high-profile legal battle.
The couple married in 2004, but the 45-year-old princess, who is the daughter of King Hussein of Jordan, left Dubai earlier this month claiming to be in fear of her life. She is believed to be living in a London mansion valued at about $107 million with the couple’s two children.
The British court system says that a forced marriage protection order can be implemented to “protect the person who has been, or is being, forced into marriage.” A government website says that a protection order can be used, for example, to stop someone from being taken out of the U.K.
An official at the United Arab Emirates Embassy in London declined to comment on the matter, Reuters reports. “The UAE government does not intend to comment on allegations about individuals’ private lives,” an embassy official said.
Princess Haya is the sixth and youngest of the sheikh’s wives and a well-known international figure. She studied at Oxford, and was a former member of the International Olympic Committee.
The princess and the sheikh confirmed their custody battle in a statement earlier this month.
“These proceedings are concerned with the welfare of the two children of their marriage and do not concern divorce or finances,” they said via their lawyers in a joint statement issued by the High Court, Reuters reports.
Princess Haya is the third female relative of Sheikh Mohammed’s to flee the UAE. Last year, one of the Sheikh’s daughters from a previous wife reportedly tried to escape imprisonment by her family. In a video Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed al Maktoum posted on YouTube she said, “If you are watching this … either I’m dead, or I’m in a very, very, very bad situation.” Her older sister, Sheikha Shamsa, reportedly failed in an attempt to run away from the family’s U.K. estate in 2000.
(HONG KONG) — Supporters rallied outside a court in Hong Kong on Wednesday ahead of an appearance by 23 fellow protesters who have been charged with rioting.
Standing in a heavy rain, they chanted “Reclaim Hong Kong, revolution of our times” in what has become a familiar refrain. They are protesting China’s influence in the city, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory with its own laws and legal system.
Police said late Tuesday that 44 people had been charged with rioting and one other with possessing offensive weapons. It wasn’t immediately clear if the others would appear in court later.
They were detained after clashes with police at an unauthorized protest in the western part of Hong Kong island on Sunday.
The riot charges are the most serious brought since protests began last month. News of the charges prompted quickly organized protests outside two police stations.
Several hundred people gathered in the streets outside the Kwai Chung police station in quickly organized protests that ran late into the night. Some threw eggs at the building. Police used pepper spray to try to disperse them.
Fireworks were set off just before 3 a.m. at another police station, injuring six men. Video footage on social media appeared to show a car driving by the Tin Shui Wai police station as fireworks flared where protesters were gathered.
Five people were taken to a hospital for their injuries and the sixth man declined medical treatment at the scene, police said. It wasn’t clear who was responsible.
(SEOUL, South Korea) — South Korea’s military said North Korea conducted its second weapons test in less than a week Wednesday, firing two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast in a move observers say could be aimed at boosting pressure on the United States as the rivals struggle to set up fresh nuclear talks.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missiles were launched from Wonsan, a city the North pushes as a vacation destination but that it also uses as a regular launch site.
It said both missiles were believed to have flown about 250 kilometers (155 miles) at a maximum altitude of 30 kilometers (19 miles) and that the South Korean and U.S. militaries were trying to gather more details.
The test would be yet another North Korean violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and comes as the country’s negotiations with the U.S. over its nuclear weapons program are at a stalemate and as Pyongyang has expressed anger over planned U.S.-South Korean military drills.
“The North’s repeated missile launches are not helpful to efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and we urge (North Korea) to stop this kind of behavior,” the South Korean statement said.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe briefly told reporters the launches were “no threat to Japanese national security.”
Last Thursday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles that Seoul officials said flew 600 kilometers (370 miles) and as high as 50 kilometers (30 miles) before landing in the sea.
North Korea’s state media said those tests were supervised by leader Kim Jong Un and were designed to deliver a “solemn warning” to South Korea over its purchase of high-tech U.S.-made fighter jets and the planned military drills, which Pyongyang calls an invasion rehearsal.
Even though North Korea is banned by the U.N. from using ballistic technology in any weapons launches, it’s unlikely that the nation, already under 11 rounds of U.N. sanctions, will be hit with fresh punitive measures. Past sanctions were imposed only when the North conducted long-range ballistic launches.
Japan’s Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters Wednesday that the most recently launched weapons did not reach Japan’s exclusive economic zone and that officials were still analyzing details, including the flight distance and trajectory.
“It is extremely regrettable that North Korea continues firing the missiles that violate the U.N. resolutions,” Iwaya said.
Observers say a low altitude flight by the missiles indicate North Korea may have been testing their ability to avoid being intercepted.
Earlier last week, Kim also visited a newly built submarine and expressed his satisfaction with its weapons system. North Korea said its deployment was “near at hand.”
In a private briefing to lawmakers Wednesday, South Korean military intelligence officers said they’ve determined that the submarine likely has three launch tubes for missiles, according to Lee Hye-hoon, head of parliament’s intelligence committee. If confirmed, it would be North Korea’s first operational submarine with missile launch tubes, some experts said.
North Korea acquiring the ability to launch missiles from submarines would be an alarming development because such missiles are harder to detect in advance. Experts say the submarine North Korea used to test-fire missiles in recent years should be regarded as a test platform with a single launch tube. They say other North Korean submarines only have torpedo launch tubes.
Wednesday’s launches came hours after a senior U.S. official said President Donald Trump sent Kim mementos from his brief visit to an inter-Korean border town late last month.
The official said a top staffer from the National Security Council hand-delivered photographs from the leaders’ June meeting at the Korean Demilitarized Zone to a North Korean official last week. The Trump administration official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.
The DMZ meeting was the third summit between Trump and Kim. At their second meeting, in Vietnam, Trump rejected Kim’s demand for widespread sanctions relief in return for dismantling the North’s main nuclear complex, a partial disarmament step.
During the DMZ meeting, Trump and Kim agreed to resume nuclear diplomacy in coming weeks, but there hasn’t been any known meeting between the countries. Some experts say North Korea wants a U.S. promise to ease sanctions, accept a slow, step-by-step disarmament process by the North or for the U.S. to make other concessions once the diplomacy restarts.
Speaking to reporters accompanying him to an Asian security forum in Thailand, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he’s very hopeful for a quick resumption in the nuclear talks. He said he’s waiting to see if North Korea’s foreign minister comes to the meeting in Bangkok and is confident the two will see each other if he does.
Despite a recent lack of progress in nuclear diplomacy, both Trump and Kim have said they have maintained good relations with each other. After last Thursday’s missile launches, Trump tried to downplay the significance of the tests, saying that “short-range” was the most important detail. He said North Korea fired “standard” missiles that many countries possess.
South Korea’s military said the flight data of the weapon launched last week showed similarities to the Russian-made Iskander, a short-range, nuclear-capable missile. A North Korean version could likely reach all of South Korea — and the 28,500 U.S. forces stationed there — and would be extremely hard to intercept.
Before last week’s launches, North Korea last fired missiles into the sea in early May, and experts said those were also Iskander-like missiles. During Wednesday’s briefing, the South Korean military intelligence officers said that an analysis of North Korea-dispatched photos showed that the North fired four missiles on two days, according to Lee, the lawmaker. South Korea earlier said the North fired a total of three missiles at the time.
After entering talks with Washington, North Korea has suspended nuclear and long-range missile tests, and Trump has said that is proof that his North Korea policy is working well and has eased the danger of a war with the North.
In 2017, Trump and Kim exchanged crude insults and threats of destruction as Kim oversaw a series of high-profile nuclear and missile tests meant to build nuclear missiles capable of reaching the continental United States.
A spot of brightness recently emerged amid the the gray desert sand and the dark steel fencing laid across the border of Sunland Park, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico: flamingo pink see-saws that cut through the border wall were installed over the weekend, allowing American and Mexican children an opportunity to play together — with the very wall that separates them serving as part of the playscape.
The three see-saws, which were in use for about a half hour of play-time on Sunday, were intended to bring togetherness and unity to people on either side of the border. The duo responsible, Ronald Rael, an architecture professor at UC Berkeley, and Virginia San Fratello, an interior design professor at San Jose State University, first conceived of the project ten years ago. (Rael and San Fratello are also the co-founders of the 3D printing company Emerging Objects.)
In a caption accompanying a video and pictures of the see-saws in use, Rael wrote that that the project was “One of the most incredible experiences of my and [San Fratello’s] career, bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the border wall.”
The installation was put to use by the children on both sides of the fence. Rael and San Fratello both posted images on social media showing kids — and some adults — playing together on the seesaws. According to San Fratello, the children lived close to the border fencing in both countries, and were already outside when the see-saws were installed. “As soon as someone comes up to the border wall, they come up and will engage you,” she tells TIME. “When we showed up with the teetertotters, they were there and ready to play.”
Rael and San Fratello began conceiving the project while doing architectural work near the border following the passage of the Secure Fence Act of 2006. “We had been traveling in that region and saw the increased border security and the construction of the wall over the years,” San Fratello says. “We started to develop these counter proposals and commentary as a way of rethinking what the border is.”
While the border is quite literally a dividing line between the United States and Mexico, San Fratello says that is “also a place where people come together. We wanted to create scenarios that would celebrate togetherness. And also highlight the ridiculousness of the border wall.”
They did not seek permission from either government before the installation, she says. In a statement to TIME, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official says U.S. Border Patrol agents “encountered a small group who identified themselves as local university faculty/staff at the border wall. They had placed boards through the wall and appeared to be playing with residents of Mexico while recording the engagement.”
“The group removed the boards and left the area without incident after it was established that there was no advance coordination,” the statement continues. “Agents ensured that no people/goods were crossed during the encounter.”
Though the border has become politicized since Donald Trump was elected President following a campaign built on the promise of wall between the United States and Mexico, San Fratello emphasized that she and Rael had been doing projects like this long beforehand. Rael had previously given a TED Talk highlighting novel hypothetical uses for the border wall — as fencing for a baseball field, say, or as a giant instrument. “Honestly, [Trump’s] presidency has just brought attention to the work that we’ve been doing,” San Fratello says.
“Children and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side,” wrote Rael on Instagram.
According to San Fratello and Rael worked with artisans in Juárez to build the see-saws. They are made of lightweight steel, she explains, and “designed to be installed quickly and easily using the wall itself as a fulcrum.”
“We could literally set [them] up in one minute,” she says.
They chose the location because it was a place where people in either country could directly approach the fence. The see-saws were painted hot pink to “pop and be vibrant, but also to honor the women who died during the femicides and the time of violence in Juárez,” says San Fratello, referring to the hundreds of women and girls murdered in Ciudad Juárez since 1993.
San Fratello says she and Rael hope, “that people will see this act of joy and happiness and positivity and togetherness and realize that we’re all the same, on both sides of the fence. And that we want the same things for our lives and for our children.”
The New York-born musician has been in custody since July 3 after a fight broke out in Stockholm. He could face up to two years in a Swedish prison if convicted.
The court’s ruling may come down to whether the alleged victim was struck with a bottle — a topic discussed at length on the first day of what is expected to be a three-day trial.
Prosecutors say the rapper and two other suspects “deliberately, together and in agreement” attacked 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari, who is now asking for 139,700 Swedish kroner ($14,700) in damages for his injuries, lost income and damage to his appearance, according to the Associated Press. A$AP Rocky’s lawyer has said the rapper and his companions were acting in self-defense.
A lawyer for Jafari, Magnus Stromberg, told the Associated Press that the beating started when one of A$AP Rocky’s bodyguards “grabbed [Jafari] by the neck and dragged him away.” Court documents show photos of Jafari with “cuts, bruises and blood-stained clothes.”
Slobodan Jovicic, a defense lawyer for A$AP Rocky, denied the accusation that a bottle was used in the attack on Jafari. “I’m pretty sure that when we are done, we’re going to show that no bottle has been used or not in the way that the prosecutor is claiming anyway,” Jovicic said.
Jovicic also said that he would call the rapper’s bodyguard as a witness. He said that he found Jafari’s testimony to be “pretty interesting storytelling.”
Asked whether political influence could affect the verdict, Jovicic told reporters: “Absolutely not.” Jovicic said the verdict would depend on the evidence and arguments put forth by the prosecution and defense.
The case has gained widespread attention in the U.S. after numerous prominent names, including President Donald Trump and Kim Kardashian, weighed in and asked Swedish authorities to release A$AP Rocky. Trump, especially, has been vocal about the case, saying that he was “very disappointed” in the Swedish prime minister after he refused Trump’s request to secure bail for and help free the musician.
Very disappointed in Prime Minister Stefan Löfven for being unable to act. Sweden has let our African American Community down in the United States. I watched the tapes of A$AP Rocky, and he was being followed and harassed by troublemakers. Treat Americans fairly! #FreeRocky
Sweden does not have a bail system and the country’s constitution forbids any government ministers, including the prime minister, from trying to intervene in an active legal case, Swedish law experts have said.
Sweden’s prime minister emphasized the independence of the country’s judiciary in response to Trump’s comments, both before and after the rapper was charged.
The fight involving A$AP Rocky came to light through videos posted online. A video clip published by a Swedish newspaper appeared to show the rapper violently throwing a man to the ground. Another video posted on celebrity news site TMZ appears to show A$AP Rocky and others punching a man on the ground. The rapper also posted a video on his Instagram that appears to show two men trailing him and one of them hitting his bodyguard with his headphones. A$AP Rocky had told the two men in the video: “We don’t want to fight you all, we’re not trying to go to jail.” He later addressed the camera, saying, “We don’t want no problems with these boys. They keep following us.”
Jovicic, the rapper’s lawyer, said during a press conference on Tuesday, that he does not have an opinion on whether the rapper should have posted a video to Instagram or not but said “it’s good for my client’s case” that footage exists beyond what was posted on TMZ.
Prosecutors have said they have “access to a greater amount of material than that which has previously been available on the internet.”
Human trafficking is an epidemic in and of itself. But it’s also a symptom of other deeply-rooted, international challenges — the refugee crisis, civil conflict, poverty, and more. This is a generally accepted truth. But there’s another root cause that is rarely, if ever, discussed: authoritarianism.
Each year, the U.S. State Department releases a trafficking report that categorizes countries according to the strength of their anti-trafficking efforts. There are four categories: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 Watchlist, and Tier 3. For a country to be categorized as Tier 1, its government should have gone above and beyond in prosecuting traffickers, protecting victims, preventing new trafficking cases, and partnering with civil society to come up with new solutions. In this year’s report, published in June, 94% of Tier 1 countries have democratic governments. Meanwhile, just 6% of ranked authoritarian states make it into that category. Tier 3’s list is 90% authoritarian and 10% democratic.
The correlation is clear, and, as the Human Rights Foundation notes, persists from year to year. Yet few anti-trafficking experts and advocates discuss the relationship between weak anti-trafficking policies and authoritarianism. This year’s trafficking report urges governments to “look inward” to address trafficking within their own borders making it distinct from past reports. Doing so requires transparency, accountability, the rule of law, and free and public discourse — rare resources under authoritarian regimes. Yet the words “democracy” and “authoritarianism” are never even mentioned in the State Department’s report. And this oversight is not new: Year after year, the report fails to discuss how authoritarianism contributes to human trafficking.
Take Thailand, for example. This year’s trafficking report ranks Thailand in Tier 2, among authoritarian states like Zimbabwe and Tajikistan, as well as democracies like Germany and Denmark. But even as Thailand has “increased efforts” in anti-trafficking, its military junta has increased repression as well, shutting down opposition media outlets, expanding censorship, and prosecuting hundreds of dissidents.
In a climate where advocates are ruthlessly silenced, anti-trafficking reforms have been implemented top down, without consultation from the community. As the rule of law weakens, the country has convicted fewer traffickers and launched a paltry number of investigations. And with recent mass arrests of protesters and ongoing criminal trials against activists, it’s unlikely that victims or their advocates feel able to push for the full implementation of reforms.
The international community has been able to pressure Thailand to address trafficking. For example, after the Guardian’s damning 2014 investigation about slavery in the fishing industry, the Thai government increased its efforts to combat labor trafficking, even creating a new court dedicated to addressing human trafficking. But without deeper, institutional change, the effects were short-lived.
Lasting change would require upending the Thai court system entirely to re-establish rule of law; engaging civil society and victims of trafficking directly to learn from their experiences; and reforming the electoral system so government representatives are truly accountable to voters. In the absence of this systemic reform, slavery continues to be rampant in the Thai fishing industry, and recent government-run investigations into trafficking are no more than a “theatrical exercise for international consumption,” according to Human Rights Watch.
But is this really a surprise? Why would we expect a country ranked “Not Free” by Freedom House for the last five years to do right by its citizens?
As advocates, we often discuss global challenges as if they are unconnected to political systems. The U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, for example, make no mention of democracy or basic freedoms like free expression. Yet authoritarianism both causes and exacerbates many of global development crises. According to the Human Rights Foundation’s research, 25 of the 30 poorest countries are ruled by authoritarian regimes; 96% of the world’s refugees in 2017 came from countries with authoritarian regimes; and of the 20 countries in the world with the worst access to basic drinking water, 18 are ruled by authoritarian regimes. Promoting democracy can pave the way to change.
At the 2019 Oslo Freedom Forum, former U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein urged the human rights community to work together to defend all rights and freedoms equally — not just because the rights to free expression, assembly, and association are fundamental, but because collaborating makes us stronger. If we don’t unite, if we don’t recognize the connection between issues like trafficking and authoritarianism, he says, “we will never have the density within the movement, the strength within the movement, to overcome the dangers that exist before us.”
Every year on this day we talk about what we’re doing to end modern slavery. But clearly, we’re not doing enough. If we really want to end human trafficking, we need to work together to empower its victims by advocating fundamental rights. Democracy must be a part of the conversation.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex may have just welcomed their first child together, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor — but Harry already has an idea of how he’d like to see his family evolve. And it has a lot to do with the state of the environment.
In a lengthy and wide-ranging interview between Prince Harry and famous primatologist and environmental activist Jane Goodall, the two discussed being a steward of the environment even before having kids. Goodall suggested having “not too many!” The Duke’s response: “Two, maximum!”
Harry went on: “But I’ve always thought: this place is borrowed. And, surely, being as intelligent as we all are, or as evolved as we all are supposed to be, we should be able to leave something better behind for the next generation.” Goodall concurred: “But, in fact, we’ve stolen their future. Not all of it. But we’ve got to try and pay a little of it back. And get together to try and heal some of the harm, and at least slow down climate change.”
Prince Harry has been a longtime supporter of environmental causes, while Goodall’s most recent efforts have focused on getting young people involved in community development, conservation and leadership.
It’s been a good week already for fans of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their famous friends, as Meghan Markle shared the news of her role as guest editor for British Vogue. Since then, the magazine has been distributing tidbits from the upcoming September issue, including this exchange between Harry and Goodall and a conversation between Markle and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
In any case, it looks like little Archie may end up with only one sibling — maximum! — if Markle is on board with her husband’s plan.
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APGENCO AE Result 2019| APGENCO AE Results 2019 Pdf Here @ www.apgenco.gov.in – APGENCO conducted the AE examination. A large number of candidates applied for the APGENCO AE jobs attended the written exam. Now, all the applicants are eagerly waiting for the APGENCO Trainee AE Result 2019. Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited Exam Result is available at the official website www.apgenco.gov.in. So, candidates can also check the APGENCO Results on our page. Candidates can also check the APGENCO Assistant Engineering Cut off, Merit List from the below sections.
APGENCO Results 2019 – apgenco.cgg.gov.in
Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited announced the recruitment notification to fill Multiple vacancies for Asst Engineering posts. And a large number of aspirants interested in APGENCO Jobs applied for the Assistant Engineering vacancies. And the APGENCO Board successfully conducted the AE exam. Moreover, Candidates having the AE admit cards are only eligible to attend the exam. Participants of the Assistant Engineer Exam are eagerly waiting for the APGENCO AE 2019 Results date. The officials will declare the APGENCO Trainee Asst Engineer Result 2019 in the month of August 2019. So, Aspirants get ready with your hall ticket number to check your APGENCO AE 2019 Results. www.apgenco.gov.in is the official website to download APGENCO AE Result 2019.
APGENCO AE Result 2019 – Overview
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Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APGENCO)
The Cut off marks for the APGENCO AE exam are given here. Candidates can check the category wise APGENCO Trainee AE cut off Marks. Cut off marks give the idea regarding the minimum marks required to get qualify in the APGENCO Results 2019. Cut off marks are decided by the Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation based on the number of applicants appeared for the exam.
APGENCO 2019 Results – GENCO AE Exam Merit list 2019
The APGENCO Board announced to release the AE Results in this week of August. So, candidates can also check the APGENCO AE Merit list 2019 on the official web portal www.apgenco.gov.in. The merit list is obtained by entering your hall ticket number. The Merit list contains the names of the candidates shortlisted for the next round. Merit list is prepared based on the overall performance of the candidate. Moreover, Aspirants can check all exam results on our page All India Results.
How to check APGENCO Result 2019 Online?
At first, log on to the official website of APGENCO i.e., www.apgenco.gov.in
Now, the home page of Andhra Pradesh GENCO will appear on the screen.
There check for the APGENCO AE Result 2019.
Then, click on the Result link.
Now, a new window asking for your details will appear on the screen.
Enter the hall ticket/registration number, date of birth and other valid data of the candidate.
Verify the entered details and then click on the submit button.
Now, APGENCO Assistant Engineering Result Pdf will obtain.
Check your name in the merit list.
Download the Results PDF.
Finally, take the print out of Andhra Pradesh GENCO AE Result 2019.
After the completion of AE written exam candidates are curious to know their APGENCO AE Result 2019. But the Board will take a few days time to announce the results. Before the results release candidates can check the APGNCO AE 2019 key. APGENCO Trainee AE answer key is available on our site recruitment.guru. Answer key helps to estimate the score you secured in the exam. So, stay tuned to our page for the latest updates on APGENCO.
apgenco.gov.in AP GENCO Trainee AE Result 2019
Here is the good for the candidates appeared for the APGENCO AE exam. The Board will release the APGENCO AE Result 2019 soon on its official site www.apgenco.gov.in. So, we are providing the direct link to check the Andhra Pradesh GENCO Assistant Engineering Result 2019. We update the link as soon as they are released by the APGENCO Board. Participants need to have your hall ticket number to Download your APGENCO Trainee AE Result 2019. We update every information regarding the APGENCO AE Answer key, APGENCO Cut off, Merit list 2019. So, keep visiting our site regularly.
Direct link to check AP GENCO Assistant Engineer Result 2019
Download Andhra Pradesh GENCO Trainee AE Result 2019
MP PAT Result 2019Declared | Get MPPEB PAT Admission Result here @ peb.mp.gov.in – Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) has Recently Uploaded Result for the Admission of Pre Agriculture Test MP PAT 2019 on 30th July 2019. This PAT exam successfully conducted on 29-30th June 2019. So many candidates of across India appeared for this MP PAT exam 2019. Now, this the results time. Students are eagerly awaiting the announcement of Madhya Pradesh PAT Results 2019. MPPEB has announced the results on its official website www.vyapam.nic.in. So, for those candidates excited about their MP PAT 2019 result, we have provided a direct link below in this post.
How to check Online Madhya Pradesh PAT Entrance Exam result 2019?
Visit the official website @ www.vyapam.nic.in.
Then click on the Result tab.
There will be a link on the home page MP PAT Results 2019.
Now, Click on the link “MP PAT Result 2019“.
Enter the details like roll number, and other valid data of the student in the provided fields.
Later, click on submit button.
Now, the MP PAT 2019 result will appear on the screen.
At last, Take the printout of the result for further use.
Professional Examination Board conducted the Pre-Polytechnic Test (PPT) Exam on 09th May 2019. The Examination results were announced by the MP PAT on 01st July 2019 at 5.40 PM. Click on the below link to download the MP PAT Pre-Polytechnic Test Results 2019.
Check Pre-Polytechnic Test (PPT) Results 2019 – Click Here
Madhya Pradesh MP PAT Result 2019
Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) takes the authority to conduct the MP PAT exam every year. MP PAT is Madhya Pradesh Pre Agriculture Test. For this academic year also, it had issued the notification welcoming the students who want to take admission under B.Tech (Agriculture), B.Sc (Agriculture/Horticulture/Forestry) courses. Students can check all India Results on our page recruitment.guru.
A huge number of students across India who want to get admission to various management streams had applied for this MP PAT exam 2019. The MPPEB Board accepted all these applications. As declared earlier, the MPPEB conducted the MP PAT Test on 23rd April 2019 at various exam centers in Madhya Pradesh. Those students appeared for the PAT exam can check the MP PAT entrance exam result 2019 on the official website www.vyapam.nic.in.
MP PAT Result 2019 – MP PAT Entrance Test Result 2019
Madhya Pradesh Pre Agriculture Test Details
Name of the organization
Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB)
The students who appeared for the MP Pre Agriculture Test are now eagerly waiting for the announcement of the MP PAT result 2019. Students can check the MP Vyapam PAT Result on the official website www.vyapam.nic.in. The results will be announced by the MPPEB in the month of May/June 2019. Students can check the PAT entrance exam 2019 result by entering the hall ticket number. So, students can also check the MP Pre Agriculture Test result2019 on our page. we update the MP PAT 2019 result as soon as released by the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board. The cutoff marks available along with the secured marks. So, For any details regarding the minimum qualifying mark, you can refer to the link provided by us. Students can also check any Entrance Exam Results on our page recruitment.guru.
MP PAT Entrance Exam Merit list cut off Marks 2019 @www.vyapam.nic.in.
All the appeared candidates for the Pre Agriculture test exam of Madhya Pradesh can check the merit list on the official website. The cut off marks of MP PAT results 2019 are also given by the MPPEB. These marks are based on the number of candidates appeared for the exam. Cut off marks gives the idea for the candidates regarding the minimum marks required to qualify for the exam. Hence, Qualified students only get the admissions for B.Tech, B.Sc courses in the colleges of Madhya Pradesh.
The MPPEB Board will release the Madhya Pradesh Pre Agriculture Test Results 2019 in the last week of May 2019. So, students can check the MPPAT Exam 2019 result on our page. We update every information regarding the results. Stay tuned to our page for the latest information regarding the admit card, answer key, counseling dates. Best of luck Guys for your MP PAT 2019 results.
Direct link to check MP Pre Agriculture Test Entrance Result 2019
Supreme Court Result 2019 – All the candidates who were appeared in the written examination of the Supreme Court Jr. Court Attendant / Chamber Attendant, Law Clerk now searching for the result. The Result of Supreme Court JCA/CA Written Exam 2019 has published on the official website at www.sci.gov.in in. We have shared the direct link to check your result here. Interested candidates can follow the below given direct link to check the Supreme Court Jr. Court Attendant Result and SCI Law Clerk Final Result 2019.
SCI Law Clerk Final Result 2019 – Supreme court of India (SCI) has recently uploaded the final result for the Post of Law Clerk Recruitment 2019 on 30th July 2019. Those candidates who have appeared this Recruitment Exam can download Final result now. Here we have provided a quick link to check and download your SCI Law Clerk Final Result 2019. Supreme Court of India (SCI) has declared the Law Clerk Interview Result. Candidates can download the Result from the link provided in the table. However, applicants can check your results from the official website www.sci.gov.in.
Junior Court & Chamber Attendant Result 2019 – Dear Applicants!! We know that everyone may wait for the Supreme Court Exam Result 2018-2019. Yes, it’s almost one year from the Supreme Court Junior Court Attendant Exam Date. Finally, the Supreme Court of India is all set to release the Supreme Court Junior Court and Chamber Attendant Result 2018-2019. We are here to help you out from the Result announcement. Because we will provide a quick link to analyze your result with other candidates and predict your result. Applicants can click the below link to download your Junior Court & Chamber Attendant Result 2019.
Junior Court & Chamber Attendant Result 2019 – Available Soon
The higher officials of the Supreme Court of India have announced the preliminary Examination Answer Key for both Junior Court Attendant and Chamber Attendant. Applicants those who have taken part in the Supreme Court Attendant Examination can check their answer with the Answer Key. It will help the Candidates to know their status. Also, we advise the applicants to prepare for the next round of Interview. The Supreme Court Attendant Merit List 2018-2019 and Cut off Marks will announce it by officials.
Supreme Court Exam 2018-19, the officials will publish the Cut Off Marks list. This will play an important role in the Interview and it will help to attain the Merit List. Candidates should get the minimum or equal to the Cut Off Marks. The Cutoff marks will differ for every candidate. Because the officials will consider some categories to set the Cutoff marks for all candidates. For all these, Candidates should secure more marks, so that it will be easy for the Applicants to achieve the Supreme Court JCA and Chamber Attendant Result 2018-2019 Cut Off Marks.
Supreme Court Attendant Merit List 2018-2019 | Supreme Court Result
After Uploading the Supreme Court Attendant Result 2018-2019 the officials will publish the Merit List. Supreme Court Attendant Merit List 2018-2019 will consist of Name of the Candidates, Marks. If the Candidates name will appear in the top merit list, they will get a huge priority in their Interview Process. According to the merit list, the Candidates will be select in the Interview. Based on the Merit list they will call for the Interview Process.
Steps to check Supreme Court Attendant Result 2018-2019
Applicants should click the official website Supreme Court of India link i.e. www.sci.gov.in
In the Home page, click on the Recruitment button which on the left side of the page
Candidates need to click on the Supreme Court Attendant Result 2018-2019 tab
Now they can see the Supreme Court Junior Court and Chamber Attendant Result 2018-2019 in PDF format
Check the name and marks which is mentioned in the result
Download or take a print out of the file for further reference.
Direct link to download Supreme Court Result 2018-19
ANU Results 2019 – Nagarjuna University has announced examination results according to the semester wise. Students can get the updated ANU Results Pharmacy 2019 along with the ANU Revaluation Results 2019. Candidates who have written the semester exam for UG, PG, Professional Courses, B.Tech and B.Arch, M.Tech, Pharmacy Programming Courses can check and download the ANU BTech Results from the below section. Here we are providing a direct link for Nagarjuna University Results 2019.
ANU Exam Results 2019-20
Number of Candidates are doing UG, PG, B.Tech and B.Arch, M.Tech Courses & ANU Results Pharmacy Programming Courses with different streams in Nagarjuna University. Students who have gone through the semester examination conducted by the University, its time check out exam results. Here this article will give you the updated ANU BTech Results 2019 along with Mark Sheets. Candidates can get the ANU Exam Result and Mark Sheet 2019 here at free of cost.
Updated ANU Results 2019 | Nagarjuna University Exam Results 2019
IV SEM. – M.Sc. COMPUTER SCIENCE, M.SC. PHYSICS, M.A. SANSKRIT, M.A. MAHAYANA BUDDHIST STUDIES, M.SC. ELECTRONICS & INSTRUMENTATION TECH., M.SC. STATISTICS, M.SC. MATHEMATICS, ZOOLOGY, M.A. ECONOMICS, SOCIOLOGY, POLITICAL SCIENCE, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, M.Sc. MICROBIOLOGY, M.A. HINDI, M.Sc. AQUACULTURE, M.SC. BIOCHEMISTRY, M.L.I.Sc., M.SC. BOTANY, M.A. TELUGU, M.Sc. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, M.Sc. OILS, FATS & PETRO PRODUCTS, M.Sc. GEOLOGY, M.A. RURAL DEVELOPMENT, M.H.R.M., M.Sc. NANO-BIOTECHNOLOGY – APRIL, 2019
Department of Biotechnology – The Centre was established in the year 1994, inaugurated by the then Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, C. R. Bhatia.
Department of Biochemistry
Department of Chemistry
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Department of Engineering & Technology
Department of Political Science & Public Administration
Department of Sociology
Department of Economics
Department of Telugu & Oriental Languages
Department of Zoology
Department of Botany
Department of Commerce & Business Administration
Department of Adult Education
Department of Electronics & Instrumentation Technology
Department of Environmental Science
Department of Geology
Department of Mathematics
Department of Physics
Department of Rural development
Department of Social Work
Department of Statistics
Department of Library and Information Science
Department of Women’s Studies
Centre for Scientific Socialism
Department of MA & Journalism and Mass Communications
Centre for Buddhist Studies
Centre for Kashmiri studies
Department of NanoTechnology(5 years integrated)
DEPARTMENT OF NASA TECHNOLOGY
Department of MBA(HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION)
DEPARTMENT OF MBA(TRAVEL&TOURISM MANAGEMENT)
Department of Human Resource Management
Department of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed)
How to Download Acharya Nagarjuna University Results 2019?
Visit the Official Website of Nagarjuna University @nagarjunauniversity.ac.in
In the home page, check out for the Results Tab.
Select for the category which you want to get the results.
Then select the respected semester examination link displayed.
Enter your Hall Ticket Number and then click on Submit button.
Within a few minutes, you will get the required results.
Students can now download OR take a screenshot for future use.
Acharya Nagarjuna University – Overview
Name of the University
Acharya Nagarjuna University
Courses Offered
UG, PG, Professional Courses, B.Tech and B.Arch, M.Tech, Pharmacy Programmes
Acharya Nagarjuna, the more profound of Madhyamika Buddhism is one of the greatest philosophers India has ever produced. The Buddhists of China, Japan and Tibet river him to be the Second Buddha, who once again set in the motion the wheel of Dharma. He endowed with metaphysical profundity and logical acumen has reaffirmed the basic ideas of Buddhism, apart from providing reinterpretation, clarification and amplification of new concepts of Buddhism. He focused on the fundamental problems of human existence, human aspiration and human actions. He found solutions to them through intuition and reflective thought. He applied and practised these solutions and his doctrine and experience become a norm to motivate rational and sensitive minds of different generation in different countries with a varied cultural environment. Hanayama Shinsho recognizing Nagarjuna's contribution has opined that 'he may well be called the progenitor of Mahayana thought'.
Regular/ Supplementary Results of ANU
Acharya Nagarjuna University conducts regular as well as supplementary examination for those who are studying under the University. Those students who have failed in the main semester examination has one more chance of getting passed in the exam. Those who wish that their examination paper should be evaluated once again to improve their scoring can use up the revaluation opportunity. For every semester Students can apply for the revaluation after the announcement of the main examination results. The Acharya Nagarjuna University will take a week or more to process the exam papers to announce the ANU Revaluation Exam Results. To get the updated revaluation results to check out the Official Website @nagarjunauniversity.ac.in. Students requested a stay in touch with our website as that we announce the updated Regular and Revaluation ANU Results BTech as soon as released in the Website.
Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) New Delhi Recruitment 2019
CCRUM Recruitment 2019- Apply Offline for 67 Vacancies. CCRUM Notification is here for Research Officer and Other Posts. Candidates looking for Uttar Pradesh Government Job can apply for this Vacancies. Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine Recruitment 2019 going to stuff eligible candidates for Research officer Posts. Eligible can send their Applications from 27th June 2019.
Interested and eligible candidates may apply for these posts such as Research Officer, Research Assistant, and Investigator. The Application form for CCRUM Recruitment will not be accepted after 26th August 2019. Selected candidates will be placed in research or other programmes in Unani Medicine Council. Applicants should submit their application before the Last Date. Get more details about the vacancies in CCRUM Recruitment 2019 loaded below.
Unani Medicine Council Recruitment 2019 – Job Overview
Eligibility Criteria for Ministry of AYUSH-CCRUM Recruitment 2019
Complete list of CCRUM Recruitment eligibility conditions is given below. Applicants should make sure about the fulfillment of these eligibility conditions before applying for Research Officer, Research Assistant, and Investigator Posts.
Educational Qualification
For Research Assistant
Post Graduate in concerned discipline from a recognized university
Aptitude for Research
Desirable – Knowledge in Urdu/Arabic/Persian
For Investigator
Post Graduate in Statistics stream from a recognized institution
Experience – 3 years in Statistical field in a recognized institution in the field of
collection
compilation
interpretation of statistical data
Medical and Health Statistics (Preferable)
Desirable
Knowledge in Urdu/Arabic/Persian
Knowledge of computer Operations
For Research Officer (Unani/Pathology/Bio-Chemistry)
Post Graduate(M.D) in Unani/Pathology/Bio-Chemistry from an institution recognized by MCI or CCIM or State Register of Medical Council.
Register in Central Register of MCI or State Register of Medical Council.
For Research Officer – Clinical Pharmacology
Post Graduate in concerned discipline from a recognized university
Experience – 3 Years in the teaching/research field of Clinical Pathology stream.
Age Limit:
Minimum Age Limit – 18 Years
Maximum Age Limit
Research Officer – 40 Years
Research Assistant & Investigator – 30 Years
Application Fee:
Applicants should pay the fee through Bank Draft in favor of Director General, CCRUM payable at New Delhi
General Candidates – Rs. 100/-
SC/ST/ OBC Candidates – Rs. 20/-
Salary:
Post Name
Pay Level
Research Assistant (Botany & Chemistry)
Level – 6
Investigator (Statistics)
Level – 6
Research Officer
Level – 10
Selection Process:
Written Examination
Interview
How to Apply Offline for CCRUM Recruitment 2019?
Download the CCRUM Recruitment 2019 Notification
Read carefully the notification before applying to the given posts.
Download the application form through the link provided below.
Candidates applying for more than one post need to send separate application forms.
Fill the form in the given format without any mistakes.
Attach essential documents and demand draft proof.
Send the form to the given address before the last date.
NOTE – Subscribe the Application form envelope with “Application for the post of ___ ”
Postal Address
Assistant Director (Admn.), CCRUM, Jawahar Lal Nehru Anusandhan Bhawan, 61-65, Institutional Area, Opp. D-Block, Janakpuri, New Delhi-110058.
About Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine
Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) is a statutory body under Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, set up in 1971 under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, (Act 48) which was passed in 1970. It is one of the Professional boards under the University Grants Commission (UGC) to screen advanced education in Indian frameworks of prescription, including Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani. It is situated in New Delhi, India. CCIM was set up to propose the benchmarks and practices to be followed in Indian restorative systems. CCIM has additionally been associated with directing the Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Tibb instruction courses at the alumni and post-graduate streams. The Siddha course acknowledgment arrangement of CCIM was addressed through an open intrigue suit
Bihar Polytechnic Result 2019 | Bihar Polytechnic Rank Card 2019 Released on 30th July 2019 @ bceceboard.bihar.gov.in – The Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board has announced the Bihar Polytechnic 2019 Result on Today 30th July 2019. The Students those who have appeared for this Recruitment Examination on 23rd & 24th June 2019 can know your status from the below link. In this article, we have uploaded the Active result link to download your Bihar Polytechnic Result 2019 Rank.
Bihar Polytechnic Result 2019 Date
Students those who are eagerly waiting for the Bihar Polytechnic Result 2019 date and now everyone can check and view your Bihar DCECE Result from the below link. All the registered candidates can check your Bihar polytechnic rank card from the quick link provided in the table. After the BCECE Board Bihar in declaration, Students can check and download your Bihar DCECE Cut Off Marks 2019, Bihar DCECE Merit List 2019 and others. Students can keep track on this page to get the Cut off marks and Merit List. Currently, everyone can check your Bihar paramedical result 2019 from the bottom of the table.
We have dedicated this page to update all the latest information regarding the Bihar Polytechnic 2019 Result. As per the report, Students can get the Bihar Polytechnic Result 2019 Merit List and Cut off Marks after one week from the result date. Here now Students can download the Bihar Polytechnic Result 2019 Pdf by using the below link. Also, candidates can refer to the above table. Because from the table Students can get the Bihar polytechnic results date 2019, PE/ PPE/ PMD/ PM Result link, bceceboard.bihar.gov.in 2019 Paramedical and others.
All those candidates can get complete information about Bihar DCECE Result on the official website bceceboard.bihar.gov.in 2019 result. Students should check the Bihar Polytechnic Result 2019 cut off marks. After the Result announcement, the officials will decide the Cut off marks. This is based on some categories like Number of questions, difficulty level, BCECE Board Bihar categories, and others. Also, candidates get the link of DCECE Bihar Results 2019 for all the courses such as PE/ PPE/ PMD/ PM from this article.
Bihar Polytechnic Rank Card 2019 | Bihar Polytechnic Result 2019 Merit List
The Bihar Polytechnic Result 2019 Merit List contains the applicant’s name, Marks and others. Students should check the complete details of the Bihar Polytechnic Result 2019 Rank card. Before attending the counseling process Students can get the Rank Card/Merit list. This will help the candidates at the time of Counseling. Because based on the Merit List, the Counseling schedule will be arranged. Students can attend the Counselling and choose the college as per their choices.
How to check the Bihar DCECE Result 2019?
Applicants should open the Official website of the Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board @ bceceboard.bihar.gov.in
On the Home Page, you will find various sections such as Latest News and Notice Board on the right-hand side.
Search for the link of DCECE Bihar Results 2019 for all the courses such as PE/ PPE/ PMD/ PM.
Choose your desired course and click on the link.
Download the Bihar DCECE Result 2019 displayed on the screen.
Download it and keep it safe for future use.
Direct link to download Bihar Polytechnic Result 2019
Visvesvaraya Technological University has released the VTU Results 2019 @vtu results.ac.in. Get VTU B Arch Results 2019 and recently released VTU Results 2019 here. Students those who have appeared for the Exams can check the results from the official website of the University i.e, vtu.ac.in. Also, here on this page, we used to update all the regular, supplementary exam results for various courses that are offered by the Visvesvaraya Technological University. Students can get all the updated information regarding the University Examination Results from this page recruitment.guru. So we advise the students to keep connected to this page.
VTU Results 2019 | vtu results.ac.in 2019
The Visvesvaraya Technological University has conducted various Examinations for the students, currently, the Visvesvaraya Technological University has published the VTU B. Arch Results 1st-7th Sem, B.E/B. Tech 1st & 2nd, M.Tech 4th Sem and B.E/B.Tech 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Sem. Here we have provided a direct link to download the results. Also on the official website Students can get the results for CBCS and Non-CBCS also. Apart from the result links applicants can find the steps to check the VTU Results, VTU CBCS Results, VTU Non-CBCS Results & More.
Visvesvaraya Technological University is a collegiate Public State University in Karnataka State of the Republic of India, established by the Government of Karnataka. Apart from a few notable exceptions, VTU has authority over engineering education all over the state of Karnataka. It is a statutory requirement for colleges offering any program in engineering or technology in the state to be affiliated with the university. VTU is one of the largest universities in India with 212 colleges affiliated to it with an intake capacity of over 467,100 undergraduate students and 12,666 postgraduate students. The university encompasses technical and management fields which offer 30 undergraduate and 71 postgraduate courses. It has around 1800 PhD candidates.
VTU Supply/ Revaluation Results
Students, those who have not cleared/ got low marks the University examinations can apply for the Revaluation. This is is a chance for the students to increase their marks in subjects in which they have scored low marks. If students have written the main exam well and still got a low score or having doubt in the correction of the exam paper it is a choice to increase their marks. Currently, the University has released the revaluation results for UG, PG with all-region Students. So Students can check the Revaluation results from the official website as well as on this. We have provided a direct link to get the Supply/Revaluation Results.
RPSC Result 2019 – RPSC Rajasthan Public Service Commission has recently uploaded Reserve List, Pick Up List for the School Lecturer Recruitment Posts 2015 on 09th July 2019. All Enrolled Candidates can download Reserve List, Pick Up List by now from the below link. Also, applicants can check and download the RPSC Result 2019 from the official website i.e, rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in. Here we have provided a direct link to download the Reserve List/ Pick Up List. Moreover, we have given some steps to download the RPSC Result 2019. Applicants can get the complete details of Rajasthan Public Service Commission Result.
RPSC Senior Grade Teacher Grade II Result 2019 – Rajasthan Public Service Commission, RPSC has Recently Uploaded Result for the Senior Teacher Grade II and Special Education Teacher Recruitment 2018 on 30th July 2019. Those Candidates Who have Appeared in this Recruitment Exam Can Download Result now. Here we have provided a direct link to download your RPSC TGT Result (Social Science). Applicants just by clicking one direct link to get your all RPSC Senior Grade Teacher Grade II Result 2019. Moreover, candidates can visit the official website rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in to get complete information.
RPSC Senior Grade Teacher Grade II Result 2019 – Check Here
RPSC PGT School Lecturer Result 2019 – Rajasthan Public Service Commission has invited 13098 Candidates for the Post of PGT School Lecturer. The Organization has conducted the Examination on 17, 26-27th July 2016. Finally, RPSC has announced the RPSC Reserve List/ Pick Up List on 09th July 2019. Applicants those who have appeared the Examination can verify their results from the quick link provided below in the table. The applicants can see the result by individual language Staffs from the direct link.
The written Examination was organized for PGT School Lecturer Posts of Rajasthan based government Schools. The notification out in 2015 and it was a historic entry. They invited Teaching Faculty from the state as a total of 13908 Posts. After a huge gap of almost 3 years commission has uploaded the Non-Joiners Pick Up/Reserve List. RPSC School Lecturer/Teacher Pick Up List 2019 has released now.
The examination was for the recruitment of 13,098 teachers across a number of subjects including Rajasthani, Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Geography, Sociology, Political Science, Drawing, History, Philosophy, Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Commerce, Home Science, Chemistry, Economics, Music, and Sindhi. (Reuters). Candidates are picked up from the reserve Criteria and finally uploaded in the official website. Candidates can check the result from the direct link section. And they can download it for their further use and other stages of RPSC PGT Hiring 2015.
Almost all recruitments in the State of Rajasthan normally carried out by the RPSC. It will find the perfect candidates for recruitment from the initial stage. Then finally will select the right candidate for the Perfect Jobs which is in the Rajasthan State. So, the same happened for the recruitment of school lecturer posts right from the stage of sending the notification.
Steps to check RPSC Reserve List/ Pick Up List
Initially visit the official website of Rajasthan Public Service Commission i.e, rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in
Home page applicants can see the Candidates information, in that click on the results
A new page will be open with all the results
Applicants can check and download the appropriate result
Download or take a print out of the RPSC Reserve List/ Pick Up List for further reference.
Direct link to download RPSC Result
Pick Up List against Non-Joiner/Reject Candidates for School Lecturer(School Education Deptt.) Exam 2015(Commerce) for Boys 08/07/2019
CPCT Admit Card 2019 is Available Now. The Admit Card has been released for Computer Proficiency Certification Test (CPCT). Candidates can download the admit card from 26th July 2019 onwards. Therefore, the CPCT Exam will be held on 03rd August and 04th August 2019. Aspirants can now logon to the official portal cpct.mp.gov.in to download the MP CPCT Hall Ticket. Alternatively, CPCT Admit Card is also available in the direct link provided below.
MP CPCT Admit Card 2019
To download the MP CPCT Admit Card, Candidates have to enter the login credentials. Moreover, Aspirants should download the Hall Ticket prior to take down the examination. They should input their User ID and Password which they had set during the registration process. Admit Card for MP CPCT Exam 2019 is a mandatory document without which candidates will not be allowed into the examination hall. Therefore, Download the admit card by giving valid details.
MP CPCT Hall Ticket 2019 – Overview
Description
Details
Name of the Board
Madhya Pradesh Agency for Promotion of Information Technology
MP CPCT Admit Card download is possible only for the candidates who successfully registered their application at the time of recruitment process. Thus, Aspirants must enter the below-given details as in the application form. Therefore, the MP CPCT Admit Card contains the details of the exam appearing aspirants.
Candidates Name
Name of the Candidate's Father
The venue of the Exam Centre
Date & Time of the Test
Reporting Time to the Exam Hall
Gender (Male/ Female)
Roll Number
Duration of the Online Test
Space for Invigilator's Signature
Registration Number
Name of the Test Centre
Category of the candidates
Space for Applicant's Signature
Name of the Exam Conducting Board
Photograph of the Candidate
Applicant's Date of Birth
Name of the Written Test
Important Guidelines for the Exam Takers
Full Name of the Applicant
Examination Centre Code
Signature of the Board Counselor
MP CPCT Examination 2019
Madhya Pradesh Agency for Promotion of Information Technology has scheduled the CPCT Exam date on 03rd August & 04th August 2019. So, Aspirants can download the admit card as soon as possible to participate in the exam. Participants are suggested to check the entire details about the CPCT Exam on the official portal. Candidates can check with the exam date, exam center, center code and more information from the CPCT Admit Card 2019. Thus, Candidates should get the exam pattern and the syllabus from the official portal. Prepare well for the examination by getting a clear view of the MP CPCT Exam pattern.
Things to Download MP CPCT Hall Ticket 2019
Aspirants are suggested to download the admit card from the below section. Therefore, Candidates will not be allowed to participate in the CPCT Exam without the hall ticket. Not only the admit card, Contenders who failed to take down the original identity proof along with the admit card will also be not allowed to participate in the CPCT examination.
Original Photograph
Voter Card
Pan Card
Employee ID
College ID
PAN Card
Passport
Driving License
Any other ID proof issued by a Gazetted Officer
Bank Pass Book with the photograph
MP CPCT Hall Ticket Download Steps 2019
Click on “CPCT Admit Card” link.
Enter the valid User ID and Password.
And then Login to the admit card page.
Now, the MP CPCT Hall Ticket page will appear on the screen.
Enter the required credentials in the admit card.
After that, check to the entered details in the admit card.
Finally, Submit the hall ticket.
Get down to the download option to get the admit card.
Once downloaded Take a print out of the admit card.
Carry the CPCT Hall Ticket for the CPCT Examination.
Direct Links to Download MP CPCT Admit Card August 2019
LIC ADO Result 2019 | Get Direct link for LIC ADO Prelims Result 2019 @ www.licindia.in results 2019 – Candidates those who are searching for LIC Apprentice Development Officer Result 2019 can download your result from the below link. The Life Insurance Corporation Limited officials conducted the LIC ADO Prelims Exam on 6th and 13th July 2019. Applicants those who have appeared this LIC ADO Prelims Exam can download the result from 29th July 2019 and here we have provided a direct link for you. Moreover, Candidates can download the LIC ADO Pre Result from the official website i.e, licindia.in.
LIC ADO Prelims Exam Result 2019
Applicants those who are interested in this Post can download the LIC Apprentice Development Officer Result 2019 here. LIC ADO Pre & Main Exam Date have declared on the official website and mentioned in the below table. Here we have provided a quick link to download your LIC ADO Pre Result 2019. We have provided steps to download the LIC ADO Result. LIC ADO Prelims Exam conducted on 6th & 13th July 2019. Important thing is that applicants can get the results from according to their region which they have applied.
Interested aspirants can check the LIC ADO Pre Result according to their region. The result announcement team will give a separate link according to zones. To download the LIC ADO Result 2019, applicants should enter the Registration number or Roll Number, Date of Birth. Applicants can get the Exact result by just clicking only one link provided below in the table. Also, we will be updating the latest information and live updates to the aspirants at any time. They should keep track on this page to get all the details which we have mentioned above.
LIC ADO Prelims Cutoff will be an important role for the Candidates those who have appeared for the Examination. After the LIC ADO Prelims Result announcement applicants will get the LIC ADO Cutoff Marks. The officials will upload the LIC ADO Cutoff Marks in the Official website. The Recruitment officials will decide the Cut Off Marks based on some categories. It will be the number of questions asked in the Examination, difficulty level, Number of Posts, Previous year cut off marks and others.
LIC ADO Merit List | LIC ADO Prelims Result 2019 Cut off
The higher officials will be announcing the LIC ADO Merit list based on the Cut Off Marks. We wish more candidates name will be available in the Merit List. Because if their name will appear on the Merit list they will get some priority at the time of Interview. Aspirants who have attended the LIC ADO prelims examination can get the LIC ADO Merit List 2019 from the official website. And Aspirants who have shortlisted in the merit list of prelims examination can prepare for the further selection process.
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BENGALURU: The government is looking to set a revenue threshold of Rs 20 crore and a limit of 500,000 users above which non-resident technology companies such as Google, Facebook and Twitter will have to pay direct taxes on profits earned locally, multiple sources in the know of the matter said.These limits are part of the 'Significant Economic Presence' (SEP) concept that was introduced in the budget last year.ET has learnt that the government is also considering if the SEP could be made a part of the draft Direct Taxes Code, which seeks to consolidate laws relating to direct taxes. The draft is expected to be submitted to the finance ministry soon.Multinational tech companies have been accused of paying very little taxes locally despite earning significant revenue and profits from offering services such as online advertising to customers in India. 70458383 It also comes at a time when lawmakers globally, especially in the European Union, are looking at ways to tax Big Tech on profits and revenue generated locally.Google, Facebook and Twitter did not respond to ET's queries on the subject till press time.Global corporations with more than 1 million registered users in India, or those with over 100 paying customers, or ones earning revenue of over Rs 10 crore from customers in India should invoice locally, community feedback platform LocalCircles said in a letter to revenue secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey on Monday.ET has reviewed a copy of the letter.The CBDT had in a notification in July 2018 asked for suggestions to frame rules related to SEP, but the government has not yet finalised it.A sense of urgency, however, has crept in after finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged G20 members last month to fix the issue of taxation of profits made by digital companies.Move to Create Level Playing FieldWhile India is backing the concept of SEP, the EU has indicated that it could levy a tax of 3% on digital revenues generated in the source country. France has, however, announced its own rules to tax digital companies."There is a substantial ambiguity at the international level and getting multiple countries to agree on a uniform protocol to tax digital companies is easier said than done. However, this fluid situation may offer India the opportunity to renegotiate some of the treaties and international trade agreements," said Salman Waris, managing partner at TechLegis Advocates and Solicitors, a Delhi-based specialist law firm.SEP will end up taxing overseas digital companies on par with local firms, at around 35%, the current peak corporate tax rate. "This will not only boost the exchequer at a time when revenue collection is falling, but also create a level playing field between local and global companies," an expert tracking the sector said.ET reported in November that Google had remitted over $2 billion between fiscal years 2014-2018 to the US-based search giant's subsidiaries in Singapore and Ireland. The remittances, classified as costs for "purchase of advertising space", amounted to 50-60% of its overall revenue in India over the period.Tax authorities had argued that these remittances were not cost, but royalties which can be taxed.In October 2017, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in Bengaluru ruled in favour of the tax department, but Google got an interim stay from the Karnataka High Court. The case is still ongoing. Firms like Google and Facebook have started billing users locally, but they do not report the entire transaction value as part of their India revenue. They only report a part of the transaction as commission, while the rest of the money is remitted to overseas entities as cost. India introduced an equalisation levy of 6% on such remittances, one of the highest in the world.
NEW DELHI: IndiGo cofounder Rakesh Gangwal, who is feuding with fellow cofounder Rahul Bhatia over the management of India's biggest airline, said his rivals were hiding behind "sources" and spreading a "false narrative" about the dispute, signalling that they don't seem any closer to a rapprochement."I stand by my issues raised with Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India) and with other governmental and regulatory authorities and am honouring all requests for information from the various agencies," he told ET. "I wish people had the conviction to be directly quoted and not hide behind so-called sources to spread a false narrative in the media."He was responding to reports in which sources close to Bhatia and his InterGlobe Enterprises (IGE) alleged that the Gangwal's complaints were merely a "smokescreen" to conceal his "larger game plan" to take control of the carrier. It was also alleged that Gangwal hadn't replied to agencies seeking clarifications on his complaints.The Bhatia family and IGE together own 38.23% in IndiGo. Gangwal, who owns 36.65% stake, didn't reply to any other questions and said he wouldn't like to fight his case through media.IGE didn't respond to queries. 70458553 "The complaints are being dealt with by the regulators, so they would be in the best position to make that determination," said an IGE source who didn't want to be identified.Co to Expand BoardGangwal had written to Sebi on July 8 seeking its intervention to address what he called corporate governance issues at Indi-Go. He had raised concerns over certain related-party transactions, apart from the absence of an independent woman member on the board, as is required. Agencies including Sebi are looking into the complaints raised in the letter.To address the issues cited by Gangwal's complaints, IndiGo has almost finalised a policy on related-party transactions and has decided to expand the IndiGo board from six to 10 members. According to this plan, the board will include four independent directors, including a woman, as well as five nominees of Bhatia's IGE, besides Gangwal. The CEO of the company will also be a board member. Under the new RPT policy, request for proposals will be floated for all such transactions and a competitive bidding process will be followed for those exceeding a certain threshold. External consultants will be hired to deal with technical issues and transactions. The new RPT policy will be implemented via an amendment in the Articles of Association and any change will require the unanimous approval of all the independent directors.This, however, has not been able to bring about any thaw in the relationship between the warring promoters.
Many banks believed lending to individuals is risk-free given they are better placed with credit scores. But the recent slowdown and vanishing jobs are upending the belief. Defaults in this segment may be the next worry though the magnitude of damage may be contained.Deepak Chopra has been regular in payments of loans all these years. Now he's running from pillar to post to meet the obligations – be it school fees for his son or the home loan instalment. In fact, he is behind schedule on his credit card payment that his bank has been bullying him for a month now to pay up by hook or crook. The former Jet Air employee is helpless.Chopra is not an over leveraged individual who splurged on luxury beyond his means, but he's among the thousands of unfortunate people who took job security for granted and are left with unmanageable liabilities. Millions are joining the ranks of Chopra as the wheels of economy move slowly now.After blindly chasing individuals comforted by their regular income, the spectre of joblessness looms as companies such as Jet, RCom and Alok Industries undergo bankruptcy and the last bastion of banking – retail lending – is facing its worst crisis in a decade. 70458851 "The first casualty will be consumption loans," says Romesh Sobti, MD, IndusInd Bank. "There is a worry over job losses but salary increases have been above inflation fortunately. A couple of years ago, there were job losses in the IT sector but it didn't play out. This time around what is different is that if you default, your credit score takes a hit and you just cannot borrow again."The retail edifice, built on credit information bureau data and faith that individuals behave better than corporates when it comes to honouring their repayment commitments, is under test.While the gross retail loan portfolio has gone up by 1.37% since March 2019, the portfolio at risk, or the borrowing that could get delinquent in 91 to 180 days rose by 8 bps to 0.91% since March, shows data from CRIF High Mark, a credit information bureau. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point. For auto loans, the portfolio at risk has risen 20 bps in the 30 to 90 day period in the last two months."If you go into retail because other loan demand is not there, then that risk will build up," says Aditya Puri, CEO, HDFC Bank. "You have to see how much he has borrowed…. where is his income from, what is the risk of the income going away, whether it is priced well enough."Banks, which have been pushing retail credit for more than five years because of a surge in defaults in corporate loans, have built up risks in that segment due to slack underwriting standards. There is an uptick in defaults by individuals as their incomes are stagnating and some are losing jobs due to companies shrinking their sizes due to poor profitability and bankruptcies.THE BELT TIGHTENINGBajaj Finance, the gold standard in retail lending, is losing some of its sheen. And it has warned that more stress may be ahead.From being liberal in chasing individual borrowers, banks and NBFCs are turning them away fearing a rise in delinquency where it would be a lot more difficult to recover than from a corporate because of the quick erosion in the value of assets."Both salaried and unsalaried segments are moving in a secular manner," said Rajeev Jain, MD and CEO, Bajaj Finance. "In digital products, younger customers have higher propensity to default. So, for example, we will not lend to customers below 25 years of age."The Pune-based company that earned its stripes in retail lending has tightened underwriting standards after provisions rose 69% in the June quarter to ?551 crore. Gross bad loans rose to 1.6% from 1.54%. New disbursements fell 12%."We are going through a volatile period," says Bajaj's Jain. "We will have to be watchful and agile."The early warning signs of stress build-up in the retail loans have started surfacing. HDFC Bank adopted a cautionary stance with an increase in provisioning requirement for unsecured loans, personal loans, credit cards to 120 days from 150 days and slowed down lending in these segments.THE BUILD-UPEquipped with consumer credit behaviour data and an aversion to corporate lending, banks piled up on retail loans as the last resort to show growth. Mortgages, auto loans, personal loans for pleasure trips abroad and loans for durables gained traction in the past five years. Some of them even doubled their portfolio of such loans and the nimble nonbanking finance companies took advantage of easy availability of funds to build the book.The banking system exposure to unsecured loans has risen to an alltime high, RBI data shows. Credit card outstanding grew to Rs 93,600 crore at the end of May versus Rs 74,300 crore during the same period last year. Personal loans grew Rs 6.2 lakh crore versus Rs 5 lakh crore last year.For the last few years, retail loans have been the only saving grace for most banks when corporate loans have all but dried up. Data from the Reserve Bank of India showed that while corporate credit grew at a much slower pace of 6%, loans to the retail segment grew by nearly 17% in a span of one year.While retail has been growing, specific segments like mortgages and auto loans have seen disproportionate surge in banks' books. Of the retail loan book, 20% comprises of mortgage loans for State Bank of India. For HDFC Bank, 18% of its retail book is automobile loans. For Axis and ICICI Bank, mortgage is 38% and 50% of total retail loan book, respectively."The consumption economy is not doing so well, there is a clear impact on mortgages, but the discretionary part which is the personal loans, credit cards and unsecured loans where we don't have a full understanding of the end use, that is growing at a very rapid pace," said Pralay Mondal, head-retail, Axis Bank.THE SUDDEN STOPThe going has been good for nearly a decade after the Lehman Brothers-induced meltdown that impacted jobs in many industries. But it is the job loss that is beginning to haunt lenders now.One of the biggest reasons is the slowdown in automobile and real industries. With automobile sales shrinking from the previous year, companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Renault India are laying off staff, either those who are on their rolls or on contract. Hundreds of component suppliers are also shrinking.Over ten lakh people may be laid off if the auto industry continues to slide, said Ram Venkataramani, president, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India. Currently, the sector employs five million people and contributes 2.3% to the country's GDP.Passenger vehicle sales fell 18.4% in the first quarter, and monthly passenger vehicle sales in June fell by the biggest margin in 18 years. At the end of March, NBFC credit to the auto sector fell by 69% and the gloom is also spreading to the banking sector. While another private peer Kotak Mahindra Bank recorded positive credit growth, it may be looking to pull out of the dealer financing business."We have also found in the last two years in particular, some of the newer banks have been pretty reckless in how they lend to dealers without adequate security," said Uday Kotak, MD of the bank. "There will come a time when we have actually quietly pulled out and let some of them carry the same."The slowing of the economy is beginning to reflect on the individual segments too. GDP grew at its slowest pace in the past five years in the last quarter of fiscal 2019.Bank lending to NBFCs slowed to Rs 6.2 lakh crore at the end of May against Rs 6.4 lakh crore in March. Credit disbursals by non-banking finance companies plunged by a third in the year to March after they were gripped by the liquidity squeeze following the implosion of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services last September.FUTURE IMPERFECT?Whether it is corporate or retail, the choice of credit decides on how well the portfolio performs."If I am buying horses, all of my portfolio should be horses, there should be no donkeys in the portfolio," says Puri. "If you treat consumer loans like biscuits, then paisa hajam khel khatam."The attractiveness of retail lending is that it is high yielding and relatively safer as individuals work overtime to avoid default since it is a taboo in the society. Loans against property, which is for small businesses, or investments in stock markets, are the riskiest.Others such as personal loans, credit cards are as good as unrecoverable in case of defaults. Huge profitability of retail lending and excessive liquidity have led to crowding of the segment and dilution of standards of underwriting to capture business.While a lot of exuberance and confidence came from the availability of credit information bureau scores, banks may have to look beyond the credit scores if they have to protect their portfolios from massive defaults. The credit bureaus appear to be as relevant as the credit rating companies when it comes to corporate loans. In a sense, they are backward looking rather than assessing the current credit position."Cibil score alone is not enough," says Puri of HDFC Bank. "You have to see how much he has borrowed, where is his income from, what is the risk of the income going away, whether it is priced well enough,"One such suggestion is that apart from looking at the credit scores, banks may begin to assess the background and credit standing of the employer itself given that many defaults happen because of the employer going bust."The additional vector of the employer profile should also be added, where is he working, the mobility issue also has to be factored in ... people change jobs due to salary movements. This aspect is true of the salaried base, mobility, employer profile, wage growth and job losses should be factored in," says Sobti.The pain on banks may be a lot less severe than what they faced with the corporate loans because these loans are less chunky. But the irony is that even a small portion could inflict severe pain."I always tell my team, don't tell me that 90% of the portfolio is good, you just need the last 2-3% to go bad to be out of business," says Mondal.(With inputs from Saikat Das & Joel Rebello)
Many banks believed lending to individuals is risk-free given they are better placed with credit scores. But the recent slowdown and vanishing jobs are upending the belief. Defaults in this segment may be the next worry though the magnitude of damage may be contained.Deepak Chopra has been regular in payments of loans all these years. Now he's running from pillar to post to meet the obligations – be it school fees for his son or the home loan instalment. In fact, he is behind schedule on his credit card payment that his bank has been bullying him for a month now to pay up by hook or crook. The former Jet Air employee is helpless.Chopra is not an over leveraged individual who splurged on luxury beyond his means, but he's among the thousands of unfortunate people who took job security for granted and are left with unmanageable liabilities. Millions are joining the ranks of Chopra as the wheels of economy move slowly now.After blindly chasing individuals comforted by their regular income, the spectre of joblessness looms as companies such as Jet, RCom and Alok Industries undergo bankruptcy and the last bastion of banking – retail lending – is facing its worst crisis in a decade. 70458851 "The first casualty will be consumption loans," says Romesh Sobti, MD, IndusInd Bank. "There is a worry over job losses but salary increases have been above inflation fortunately. A couple of years ago, there were job losses in the IT sector but it didn't play out. This time around what is different is that if you default, your credit score takes a hit and you just cannot borrow again."The retail edifice, built on credit information bureau data and faith that individuals behave better than corporates when it comes to honouring their repayment commitments, is under test.While the gross retail loan portfolio has gone up by 1.37% since March 2019, the portfolio at risk, or the borrowing that could get delinquent in 91 to 180 days rose by 8 bps to 0.91% since March, shows data from CRIF High Mark, a credit information bureau. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point. For auto loans, the portfolio at risk has risen 20 bps in the 30 to 90 day period in the last two months."If you go into retail because other loan demand is not there, then that risk will build up," says Aditya Puri, CEO, HDFC Bank. "You have to see how much he has borrowed…. where is his income from, what is the risk of the income going away, whether it is priced well enough."Banks, which have been pushing retail credit for more than five years because of a surge in defaults in corporate loans, have built up risks in that segment due to slack underwriting standards. There is an uptick in defaults by individuals as their incomes are stagnating and some are losing jobs due to companies shrinking their sizes due to poor profitability and bankruptcies.THE BELT TIGHTENINGBajaj Finance, the gold standard in retail lending, is losing some of its sheen. And it has warned that more stress may be ahead.From being liberal in chasing individual borrowers, banks and NBFCs are turning them away fearing a rise in delinquency where it would be a lot more difficult to recover than from a corporate because of the quick erosion in the value of assets."Both salaried and unsalaried segments are moving in a secular manner," said Rajeev Jain, MD and CEO, Bajaj Finance. "In digital products, younger customers have higher propensity to default. So, for example, we will not lend to customers below 25 years of age."The Pune-based company that earned its stripes in retail lending has tightened underwriting standards after provisions rose 69% in the June quarter to ?551 crore. Gross bad loans rose to 1.6% from 1.54%. New disbursements fell 12%."We are going through a volatile period," says Bajaj's Jain. "We will have to be watchful and agile."The early warning signs of stress build-up in the retail loans have started surfacing. HDFC Bank adopted a cautionary stance with an increase in provisioning requirement for unsecured loans, personal loans, credit cards to 120 days from 150 days and slowed down lending in these segments.THE BUILD-UPEquipped with consumer credit behaviour data and an aversion to corporate lending, banks piled up on retail loans as the last resort to show growth. Mortgages, auto loans, personal loans for pleasure trips abroad and loans for durables gained traction in the past five years. Some of them even doubled their portfolio of such loans and the nimble nonbanking finance companies took advantage of easy availability of funds to build the book.The banking system exposure to unsecured loans has risen to an alltime high, RBI data shows. Credit card outstanding grew to Rs 93,600 crore at the end of May versus Rs 74,300 crore during the same period last year. Personal loans grew Rs 6.2 lakh crore versus Rs 5 lakh crore last year.For the last few years, retail loans have been the only saving grace for most banks when corporate loans have all but dried up. Data from the Reserve Bank of India showed that while corporate credit grew at a much slower pace of 6%, loans to the retail segment grew by nearly 17% in a span of one year.While retail has been growing, specific segments like mortgages and auto loans have seen disproportionate surge in banks' books. Of the retail loan book, 20% comprises of mortgage loans for State Bank of India. For HDFC Bank, 18% of its retail book is automobile loans. For Axis and ICICI Bank, mortgage is 38% and 50% of total retail loan book, respectively."The consumption economy is not doing so well, there is a clear impact on mortgages, but the discretionary part which is the personal loans, credit cards and unsecured loans where we don't have a full understanding of the end use, that is growing at a very rapid pace," said Pralay Mondal, head-retail, Axis Bank.THE SUDDEN STOPThe going has been good for nearly a decade after the Lehman Brothers-induced meltdown that impacted jobs in many industries. But it is the job loss that is beginning to haunt lenders now.One of the biggest reasons is the slowdown in automobile and real industries. With automobile sales shrinking from the previous year, companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Renault India are laying off staff, either those who are on their rolls or on contract. Hundreds of component suppliers are also shrinking.Over ten lakh people may be laid off if the auto industry continues to slide, said Ram Venkataramani, president, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India. Currently, the sector employs five million people and contributes 2.3% to the country's GDP.Passenger vehicle sales fell 18.4% in the first quarter, and monthly passenger vehicle sales in June fell by the biggest margin in 18 years. At the end of March, NBFC credit to the auto sector fell by 69% and the gloom is also spreading to the banking sector. While another private peer Kotak Mahindra Bank recorded positive credit growth, it may be looking to pull out of the dealer financing business."We have also found in the last two years in particular, some of the newer banks have been pretty reckless in how they lend to dealers without adequate security," said Uday Kotak, MD of the bank. "There will come a time when we have actually quietly pulled out and let some of them carry the same."The slowing of the economy is beginning to reflect on the individual segments too. GDP grew at its slowest pace in the past five years in the last quarter of fiscal 2019.Bank lending to NBFCs slowed to Rs 6.2 lakh crore at the end of May against Rs 6.4 lakh crore in March. Credit disbursals by non-banking finance companies plunged by a third in the year to March after they were gripped by the liquidity squeeze following the implosion of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services last September.FUTURE IMPERFECT?Whether it is corporate or retail, the choice of credit decides on how well the portfolio performs."If I am buying horses, all of my portfolio should be horses, there should be no donkeys in the portfolio," says Puri. "If you treat consumer loans like biscuits, then paisa hajam khel khatam."The attractiveness of retail lending is that it is high yielding and relatively safer as individuals work overtime to avoid default since it is a taboo in the society. Loans against property, which is for small businesses, or investments in stock markets, are the riskiest.Others such as personal loans, credit cards are as good as unrecoverable in case of defaults. Huge profitability of retail lending and excessive liquidity have led to crowding of the segment and dilution of standards of underwriting to capture business.While a lot of exuberance and confidence came from the availability of credit information bureau scores, banks may have to look beyond the credit scores if they have to protect their portfolios from massive defaults. The credit bureaus appear to be as relevant as the credit rating companies when it comes to corporate loans. In a sense, they are backward looking rather than assessing the current credit position."Cibil score alone is not enough," says Puri of HDFC Bank. "You have to see how much he has borrowed, where is his income from, what is the risk of the income going away, whether it is priced well enough,"One such suggestion is that apart from looking at the credit scores, banks may begin to assess the background and credit standing of the employer itself given that many defaults happen because of the employer going bust."The additional vector of the employer profile should also be added, where is he working, the mobility issue also has to be factored in ... people change jobs due to salary movements. This aspect is true of the salaried base, mobility, employer profile, wage growth and job losses should be factored in," says Sobti.The pain on banks may be a lot less severe than what they faced with the corporate loans because these loans are less chunky. But the irony is that even a small portion could inflict severe pain."I always tell my team, don't tell me that 90% of the portfolio is good, you just need the last 2-3% to go bad to be out of business," says Mondal.(With inputs from Saikat Das & Joel Rebello)
NEW DELHI: IndiGo cofounder Rakesh Gangwal, who is feuding with fellow cofounder Rahul Bhatia over the management of India's biggest airline, said his rivals were hiding behind "sources" and spreading a "false narrative" about the dispute, signalling that they don't seem any closer to a rapprochement."I stand by my issues raised with Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India) and with other governmental and regulatory authorities and am honouring all requests for information from the various agencies," he told ET. "I wish people had the conviction to be directly quoted and not hide behind so-called sources to spread a false narrative in the media."He was responding to reports in which sources close to Bhatia and his InterGlobe Enterprises (IGE) alleged that the Gangwal's complaints were merely a "smokescreen" to conceal his "larger game plan" to take control of the carrier. It was also alleged that Gangwal hadn't replied to agencies seeking clarifications on his complaints.The Bhatia family and IGE together own 38.23% in IndiGo. Gangwal, who owns 36.65% stake, didn't reply to any other questions and said he wouldn't like to fight his case through media.IGE didn't respond to queries. 70458553 "The complaints are being dealt with by the regulators, so they would be in the best position to make that determination," said an IGE source who didn't want to be identified.Co to Expand BoardGangwal had written to Sebi on July 8 seeking its intervention to address what he called corporate governance issues at Indi-Go. He had raised concerns over certain related-party transactions, apart from the absence of an independent woman member on the board, as is required. Agencies including Sebi are looking into the complaints raised in the letter.To address the issues cited by Gangwal's complaints, IndiGo has almost finalised a policy on related-party transactions and has decided to expand the IndiGo board from six to 10 members. According to this plan, the board will include four independent directors, including a woman, as well as five nominees of Bhatia's IGE, besides Gangwal. The CEO of the company will also be a board member. Under the new RPT policy, request for proposals will be floated for all such transactions and a competitive bidding process will be followed for those exceeding a certain threshold. External consultants will be hired to deal with technical issues and transactions. The new RPT policy will be implemented via an amendment in the Articles of Association and any change will require the unanimous approval of all the independent directors.This, however, has not been able to bring about any thaw in the relationship between the warring promoters.
After two nights of deliberations, promoters of Zee Entertainment Enterprises seem to be leaning towards the binding agreement from a financial investor for a partial stake sale as the transaction moves towards closure, say two people close to the development.The brass of the Essel Group, which owns Zee, have been deliberating the pros and cons of both offers. The deal is expected to close at 17-20 per cent premium over the last sixmonth average market value.Zee has received two offers for the proposed stake sale — a binding one from a financial investor for a partial stake and second non-binding one from a consortium led by US cable major Comcast and also comprising independent fund Atairos, Blackstone and James Murdoch's Lupa Systems, for a controlling stake, including option for an open offer for an additional 26 per cent.A global media baron has played an instrumental role in stitching up the deal for the controlling play. "The offer from the consortium would have led to Chandra ceding control of Zee, whereas the binding agreement from the financial investor will allow him and Punit (Goenka, managing director and chief executive of Zee) to be in control. Naturally, they are favouring the offer from the financial investor," said one of the persons.The identity of the financial investor could not be independently verified till press time. The other person added that the Zee promoters will most likely announce their final decision on Wednesday.70458756 A Zee spokesperson declined to share details of the offers, but added that the Essel Group has reached at "a very advanced stage" of the overall stake sale process of Zee.Last week, Goenka had told ET that the company had received one binding agreement for purchase of stake and was expecting another in the following days.While he did not disclose the identity of the bidders, he had maintained that he was expecting to sign a binding agreement by July-end.Promoters own 35.79 per cent in Zee as of June 2019, of which 63.98 per cent has been pledged with mutual funds and other financial institutions. At current market price, the promoters' stake is worth Rs 13,103 crore (around $1.9 billion).Zee promoters will, however, have to take approval from their board and lenders before finalising any agreement.The deal will give a breather to Chandra, whose Essel Group is facing a severe debt crisis. Chandra had last year announced plans to sell half the promoters' stake, then 41 per cent, in the company.
The sharp correction in the stock market over the past few months has pushed the valuations of several stocks below their book value. Mid-cap companies such as HEG, Gateway Distriparks, Himatsingka Seide, Apollo Tyres, Maharashtra Seamless, NCC, Birla Corp, India Cements, Trident, JK Tyre, among others, are currently trading below their book value. About 105 of the BSE 500 companies are currently quoting below their book value and this number has surged significantly since the beginning of this month with the index falling 6.7 per cent during the period. 70458932 Analysts say when a stock falls below its book value, it means it is cheaply valued. But that need not mean that the worst is over for these stocks, they cautions.
New Delhi: In an attempt to bring in efficiency into its internal functioning as well as minimising paper trail in its functioning, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards crucial installations including airports in the country, is shifting its processes to digitisation.The force has created mobile applications to create a platform for passengers, where they can register complaints, and also for employees, who can now conduct their human resources issues as well as update on security digitally, thus, saving a lot of time and hassle."The intent is to make the system efficient for all our stakeholders by digitising processes. This is influenced by the government's Digital India scheme," said a senior CISF official, who did not want to be identified.He said that these digitisation initiatives have not led to any extra cost to the force. "All these digitisation initiatives have not required any extra fund, as they have been done by the force's inhouse information technology (IT) team," the official said.As part of the schemes, the force has digitised various internal processes including human resource related issues such as the leave applications, salary, etc., of its employees, inventory management, grievance redressal system, monitoring the movement of troops.The force also has a digital platform for passengers, where they can register and look for their belongings that they might have lost or misplaced at any of the airports guarded by CISF. The CISF guards all the vital 61 airports in the country.Theofficial said that they are also planning to use digital mode to keep its personnel updated on the latest security procedures. "In aviation, it's imperative that the personnel are up-to-date with the security procedures. This application will keep them updated on the security procedures," said the official quoted above.CISF has over 1.5 lakh personnel deputed across the country guarding installations such as airports, sea ports, power generating units, metro train system. On top of it, CISF's VIP security group is also involved in protecting about 90 VIPs across the country.
Ahmedabad: Railways official accused of asking Rs 3-lakh bribe The complainant said that the official asked for money to make an entry in the Railway measurement book about his pending dues.
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