Microsoft announced a $1 billion investment in OpenAI, a lab co-founded by Elon Musk to develop "artificial general intelligence."
The investment is the start of a long-term partnership between the two organizations. OpenAI will ensure its services work on Microsoft's Azure cloud platform, and the companies will collaborate on new supercomputers.
OpenAI's stated mission is to develop "artificial general intelligence," or AGI. In layman's terms, AGI is AI that can think like a human (possibly even better) while carrying out complex tasks autonomously. Whether or not an AGI would immediately decide to incinerate humanity a la Skynet remains to be seen, but OpenAI at least claims its artificial intelligence would be safe and beneficial for the human race. Read more...
Mashable bites into a creamy, nutty, gooey, and sometimes stinky world during our first-ever Cheese Week.
I like pretty much every type of cheese imaginable. Burrata? Gimme. Manchego? With honey, please. Brie? Pour me a glass of Pinot to pair.
Most of my cheese takes are pretty uncontroversial, but I do have one opinion that I generally keep to myself. It's embarrassing, and not something you would know about me unless we've ever been roommates. But I don't see a reason to hide it anymore: I love to eat shredded cheese straight from the bag, and I will not apologize for it.
Shredded cheese is pretty much only good for specific situations: Melting into scrambled eggs, sprinkling on top of mac and cheese before baking it, crafting the perfect quesadilla. It's also really satisfying to eat alone, standing in front of your fridge, probably in the dark, and yes, with your hands. Read more...
TL;DR: The cult-favorite Dyson Airwrap is back in stock — get it for $549.
If you follow the beauty tech industry at all, you know that the Dyson Airwrap has been flying off of shelves since its launch in October 2018. It’s constantly out of stock. We saw it come back in May, and it quickly sold out again.
But guess who’s back, back again. The Dyson Airwrap is back, but maybe don’t tell your friends until you get your hands on it — who knows how long we have until it sells out again. Dyson had a list of 113,000 people waiting to purchase the innovative curling tool.
People love the $549 Airwrap because you’re able to curl, wave, smooth, and dry your hair without causing excessive heat damage. It uses high-speed air flow that causes hair to attach to its surface, creating texture without totally frying the ends. It’s seriously innovative and earned a well-deserved spot on our list of best curling irons and styling wands. Read more...
While today's smartphones are loaded with Google Maps or Apple Maps, they are merely quick solutions for traveling short distances. Believe it or not, getting a dedicated GPS device for your car or truck is still the best way to get to your destination safely and with ease.
Companies like Garmin and TomTom specialize in safe car travel and update their maps and traffic reports whenever changes occur on the road. GPS devices also offer the peace of mind that you'll never get lost, even when you're in a new location — including remote areas. They can also help you find the nearest restaurants, shopping mall, rest area, and other locations that might be considered off-the-beaten-path. Read more...
Bluetooth speakers allow us to experience music no matter where we go. Whether it's listening to classical pieces from Mozart or the newest BTS song 10 times in a row, you shouldn't have to enjoy your favorites through your phone's speaker and a cupholder. But with so many great Bluetooth speakers to choose from, how do you know which ones are the best? Read more...
Listening to music is so much more than a distraction when you're alone in public. It can have a profound effect on your state of mind, and it's the reason we're willing to spend iPad-level cash on headphones instead of opting for a pair in the checkout line. Listening to music (or podcasts, or audiobooks) can be an integral part of getting through that daily commute or a restless transatlantic flight. Read more...
TL;DR: This productivity-boosting touchscreen Dell Inspiron 24 3480 monitor is on sale for $749.99, saving you nearly $170 or 20%.
The end of July can feel like the end of summer. We can't help but count down the days to the monotonous work week without rooftop happy hours and summer Fridays, and that impending doom can really put a damper on work and the creativity flow.
The Dell Inspiron 24 3480 Touch All-in-1 monitor could be the motivation boost you need to continue cranking out good work, and it's on sale for $170 off.
So you're in the market to buy a new laptop? We have some advice: Don't let big tech companies with multimillion dollar marketing campaigns fool you into thinking you have to pay upwards of $1,000 to get a quality notebook.
The Inspiron 11 3000 by Dell is a small, compact laptop created for personal use. With it, you get 100GB of cloud storage and two gigs of RAM, which stands for random access memory.
Storage: 32GB
Memory: 4GB, DDR4
Features: one USB 3.1, one USB 2.0, HDMI port, microSD slot, 11.6-inch HD (1366 x 768) Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display, AMD A6-9220e Processor, Radeon R4 Graphics with AMD APU
This HP laptop is engineered without a fan, so it should be quiet and comfortable to use on your lap while you enjoy 10 hours of battery life.
Storage: 32GB
RAM: 4GB
Features: one USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, HDMI port, microSD slot, 11.6" diagonal HD sva Anti-Glare wled-backlit 1366 x 768, Intel Celeron N3060 up to 1.6GHz, Intel HD Graphics 400
The Ideapad 120s is a stylish modern take on the laptop computer, combining high performance processing power with a sleek exterior. It comes in two sophisticated colors and has an HD anti-glare screen so you can experience true visual clarity.
Storage: 64GB
RAM: 2GB
Features: two USB 3.0, one USB-C, HDMI port, microSD slot, 11.6” HD 1366 x 768 Anti-Glare, Intel Celeron N3350 Processor, Integrated Intel HD Graphics 500
The designers of the Acer Swift 1 created a simple but pleasing to look at laptop with some pretty impressive specs.
Storage: 64GB
RAM: 4GB/8GB
Featured: one USB 2.0, two USB 3.0, one USB-C, HDMI port, SD slot, 13.3-inch, 1080p with 1920x1080 resolution display, Intel Core 1.10 GHz processor, Intel HD Graphics 505
The Aspire E Series laptops by Acer have many appealing features for everyday use. This one has a thin, lightweight design so you can take Windows 10 with you on-the-go.
Storage: 1,000GB
RAM: 4GB
Features: two USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, one USB-C, HDMI port, SD slot, 15.6" Full HD Widescreen LED-backlit display, Intel Core i3-7100U Processor, Intel HD Graphics 620
The ASUS Transformer Mini is a ultra-thin and has wide display viewing angles so you can have a comfortable experience no matter where you find yourself.
Storage: 128GB
RAM: 4GB
Features: one USB 3.0, one MicroUSB, Micro HDMI port, MicroSD slot, 10.1-inch LED backlit HD 1280x800 glare touchscreen display, Intel Atom Quad Core x5-Z8350 Processor, Intel HD Graphics
The Dell Latitude works in Laptop, Tablet, or Tent Mode and is designed for use with a variety of Microsoft learning apps. A built-in webcam makes for easy photography or for making Skype calls.
Storage: 64GB
RAM: 4GB
Features: two USB 3.1, HDMI port, USD Card Reader slot, 11.6” HD IPS 16:9 1366 x 768 Touch with Corning Gorilla Glass NBT display, Intel Pentium Processor N4200
The HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop is one of the best utility notebooks under $500. It's powerful, lightweight, and durable.
Storage: 500GB
RAM: 8GB
Features: two USB 3.1, one USB-C, HDMI port, SD card reader slot, 14-inch diagonal HD SVA anti-glare micro-edge WLED-backlit multitouch-enabled edge-to-edge glass 1366 x 768 display, Intel Pentium processor, Intel HD Graphics 620
TL;DR: The comfortable PlayStation DualShock 4 controller is available in a bunch of different styles on Amazon for up to $20 off of their original prices.
When playing video games is a serious hobby for you, it’s important to have a great console (or PC) to play them on, as well as an entertaining assortment of games. What doesn’t always get the same amount of thought and consideration, though, is what you’re using to play your games with (aka your controller). You’ll want something comfortable — something you could see yourself holding in your grip for hours on end without feeling like you’re slowly developing arthritis. Read more...
We're calling it now: Air fryers are the Instant Pot of 2019.
We're always on the lookout for new kitchen gadgets that will make cooking easier and more fun — so pumped was an understatement we first heard claims of a countertop appliance that can make our favorite greasy foods less unhealthy, all with speed similar to an Instant Pot. Air fryers started popping into mainstream eye in Spring 2017, and now that they've had their chance to marinate in the market (food pun intended), it feels like an appropriate time to compare the best ones. Read more...
If you're looking to do something to benefit your health, juicing could be a great place to start. A fresh juice allows you to get the most out of your fruits and vegetables, extracting vitamins and nutrients that would otherwise be depleted through other cooking methods. Not to mention, of course, they can be delicious and refreshing. Read more...
I specifically remember the fateful day in middle school science class when we learned about cellular biology and how we’re made up of these tiny little things — and that those tiny little things shed off our bodies and become part of our environmentsCute!
While it’s best to not overthink the types of allergens, bacteria, and particles we’re surrounded by, it is comforting to know you can easily purify the air around you to breathe a bit better. But really, if you’re looking to rid your environment of airborne toxins, it takes more than the aesthetic glow of a Himalayan salt lamp. Read more...
Sometimes buying an older model of a tech product means you can score a good-quality item at a desirable pricePortable speakers are no exception — you can find a well-reviewed Bluetooth speaker for cheap if having the latest and greatest model isn’t a top priority for you.
The Sony Extra Bass series has gone through a couple iterations, but the SRS-XB01 still provides good sound quality, and you can get it on sale for $19.99 at Walmart, down from $34.99. (The price is shown once you add the speaker to your cart.) Read more...
The year is 2021. Lil Nas X has released the 97th remix of "Old Town Road." All is right with the world.
Maybe not. But if there are any constants in the world right now, it's that everyone wants to ride the wave of yeehaw energy from Lil Nas X's smash hit. The latest remix bandwagon jump featured Young Thug and viral star Mason Ramsey.
But how many Old Town Roads are too many? Everyone from Dolly Parton to Guy Fieri seem to want to get the horses in the back. When will we hit a critical mass of roads?
Apparently not for the foreseeable future — old YouTube legends of song parody and autotune, schmoyoho, have thrown their cowboys hats into the mix. According to the video they stole the remix, stole a time machine from Area 51, and brought the first three minutes back to 2019. Read more...
TL;DR: The combination Ninja Foodi pressure cooker and air fryer is $199.99 at Amazon, $50 off its original price.
Air fryers and pressure cookers have basically become everyone’s kitchen must-have in the past year. And we can see why: Pressure cookers promise to quickly cook meals while still providing you with that golden crispy fresh-out-of-the-oven quality while air cookers offer straight-from-the-drive-thru french fries without the fat and oil.
The Ninja Foodi pressure cooker and air fryer combines these appliances to create your new favorite kitchen device (sorry, Keurig). The Ninja Foodi cooks up to 70% faster than other cookers and fries with 75% less fat. Forgot to take meat out to cook for dinner? No need to order UberEats, the Foodi easily and quickly transforms frozen food to crispy. Read more...
A French submarine missing for over 50 years has been found in the Mediterranean.
The wreck of the Minerve, according to Agence France-Presse, was discovered off the port of Toulon, on the south coast of France, with the find announced by officials on Monday.
A private vessel reportedly found the submarine, which went missing five decades ago on Jan. 17, 1968 with 52 sailors aboard.
"We have just found the Minerve. It's a success, a relief and a technical feat," wrote Defence Minister Florence Parly on Twitter, as per a translation by Google. "I'm thinking of the families who have been waiting for this moment so long." Read more...
You may not have known you wanted to see Shaquille O'Neal having the time of his life in a Tomorrowland mosh pit, but you did. And now all your dreams have come true.
The NBA star and extremely tall celebrity made a real impression at the Belgian music festival over the weekend, popping up both in the front row and in the pit for Kill the Noise, a DJ from New York.
Mashable bites into a creamy, nutty, gooey, and sometimes stinky world during our fist-ever Cheese Week.
From the childhood nostalgia of a cheap boxed Kraft to elaborate family traditions at Thanksgiving, mac and cheese is pretty damn near the perfect food — a sacred, precious dish; the holy grail of comfort food. Which is why we have a very serious issue to talk about today.
There have been a number of reports of hooligans committing most heinous crimes against our beloved dairy dish. Who did this? Is it the lactose intolerant? The vegans?
We're digging into the worst crimes against mac and cheese. It's not pretty. Read more...
If "HBO's Catherine the Great" isn't enough to convince you on the spot, know this: Catherine the Great overthrew her own husband in a coup, then established Russia as a powerhouse on the global stage. She remained in power for 34 years and to this day remains the country's longest-serving female leader.
She also, in the words of her Wikipedia entry, "took many lovers, often elevating them to high positions for as long as they held her interest." Queen.
Catherine the Great is coming to HBO as a miniseries sometime in the fall. Read more...
The first A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood trailer is so heartwarming.
It's only about 2 minutes of footage, but it's immediately clear that Tom Hanks is the perfect actor to portray Mister Rogers in this biopic, donning the iconic Mister Rogers sweater and emitting an overwhelming aura of comfort — a human weighted blanket.
Hitting theaters this November, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood explores the inimitable children's show host life and impact on others through the lens of his relationship with journalist Lloyd Vogel (who is based on real-life Esquire journalist Tom Junod). Read more...
Mashable bites into a creamy, nutty, gooey, and sometimes stinky world during our first-ever Cheese Week.
Manicures inspired by cheese are always a gouda idea.
From short to long, oval to square, real or acrylic, there are a million ways to wear your nails. Fun fact: Acrylic nails were accidentally invented in 1955, when a dentist by the name of Frederick Slack tried to fix his own broken nail with some dental acrylics. I highly doubt Mr. Slack believed his quick fix would go on to become a booming industry. Or that people would get, er, creative — and make their nails look like cheese.
Which brings us to today. Cheese nails may not be the most popular trend around, but to some, they're a delicious form of self-expression. Read more...
This may seem like a clip from some kind of coming-of-age movie, but it appears to be real life.
On Sunday, Zach Pierce shared the above Nest security cam footage on YouTube and Reddit. The video shows a panicked kid running into his driveway, jumping into a handy garbage bin, and closing the lid. 30 seconds later, a police officer — who is clearly looking for him — stalks by.
According to Pierce's comments on Reddit, the kid stayed in the bin — which reportedly "smells of cat piss and baby poop" — for a solid 30 minutes. The end of the video shows him climbing back out again, acting casual at first, and then sprinting off down the road. Read more...
TL;DR: Scoop a versatile WD My Passport portable hard drive for £39.99. This is normally priced at £65, saving you 38 percent.
Storage capacity is like gold dust, especially if you are the type to collect a massive amount of photos, videos, and music.
Storage shouldn't be an issue. You shouldn't feel like you can't snap away at your breakfast, or video that sunset, or immediately download the entire Lion King soundtrack. You just need a little help from a portable hard drive.
WD My Passport portable hard drives are available in an array of vibrant colours, and fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, so you can take your content with you wherever you go. Don't let that fool you into thinking that storage isn't the priority here though, as these devices have up to 4TB of capacity. Read more...
TL;DR: Pick up the comprehensive Kaspersky Total Security for £19.99. This is usually listed at £39.99, saving you 50 percent.
It really isn't easy looking after your family, especially now that the online world has invaded our everyday lives. With all the various apps, devices, and websites being used on a daily basis, it takes a lot to protect your family from hackers and ransomware.
To feel confident that everyone is protected, you need antivirus software that can stand up to viruses, malware, spam, and any other nastiness lurking out there. Once this is in place, your family can shop, surf, socialise, and stream safely. Read more...
So you want to bump up your home security, but you don't know what system to opt for? We understand that it's an important decision, especially when it concerns your family's safety, and that's why you need to get it right.
One of the most important things to remember is that every home is different, with a unique set of angles. It is therefore massively beneficial to have a completely wireless system, so you can get precisely the shot you need — inside or out. That's exactly what you get with the Arlo wireless home security camera system. Read more...
Mondays can be a drag, especially after a weekend filled with fun. It's important to do everything you can to make the first day of the week as bearable as possible, like staying hydrated, and shopping for the best deals.
We have lined up a strong selection of the very best deals in the UK, to pull you through the day. You can save on a wide range of speakers, electric toothbrushes, electric shavers, security cameras, smart scales, and much more. All the biggest brands are included, with discounted Sony, Arlo, Ultimate Ears, Philips, and Braun devices available.
These are the best deals from across the internet for July 22. Read more...
If you've not yet watched the Big Little Lies Season Two finale, avert your eyes now. Spoilers abound.
Renata Klein isn't afraid to tell it like it is.
So when she bumps into Mary Louise (Meryl Streep) in Starbucks in the Season 2 finale of Big Little Lies, Renata (Laura Dern) says what some of us can but dream of saying to our worst enemies.
When Mary Louise says that nannies are "more trouble than they're worth sometimes," a moment of sheer unadulterated rage ensues. It's honestly mesmerising.
"What did you just say? What did you just say?" Renata replies before launching into a monologue. Read more...
My dad was one of the only people on Earth with a good-for-life, go-anywhere-you-choose pass from American Airlines. Then they took it away. This is the true story of having — and losing — a superpower.
Rents higher than New York, London or San Francisco for apartments half the size. Nearly one in five people living in poverty. A minimum wage of $4.82 an hour. Inside the economic roots of Hong Kong's protests.
Locals say Epstein was flying in underage girls long after his conviction for sex crimes — and authorities did nothing to stop him. "It was like he was flaunting it," says an employee at the airstrip on St. Thomas. "But it was said that he always tipped really well, so everyone overlooked it."
American corporations are spending trillions of dollars to repurchase their own stock. The practice is enriching CEOs — at the expense of everyone else.
Amateur and professional chefs alike could use this Damasukasu 3-Piece Japanese AKUMA Master Chef Blade Set & Whetstone: with a 12-degree cutting edge and precision-balanced design, use them to slice and dice ingredients with ease.
The former basketball superstar, and current TV analyst, is well known for his diverse interests off the court — including being an avid electronic music fan.
India is now on the way to becoming the fourth country — in addition to United States, China and the former Soviet Union — to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface.
While searching for photographs that depict black young women and girls living free in the second and third generations born after slavery, Saidiya Hartman finds a disturbing image.
For 45 years, a restaurant in Thailand has been cooking and serving the same neua tune soup from the same large pan. And, honestly, it looks pretty good.
Authorities in Indonesia want to hand Komodo Island back to the dragons. They want to close it to mass tourism, and expel the inhabitants who have lived alongside the earth's largest lizards for generations.
When a group of loft owners were confronted with a proposed tower that would have blotted out their views, they gave a developer $11 million to not build.
I had to decide: Take on three orders at once and risk falling behind? Stick with Uber Eats, which was running a $10 bonus for doing six deliveries by 1:30, or try for a Postmates bonus?
The Korean supergroup's devoted following and chart-topping success have won them comparisons to the Beatles. Why was I surprised to get swept up in their magic?
Secretly recorded phone call shows unprecedented view into how thousands of concert tickets for major tours have been sold first on the secondary market — where resellers can mark up prices — without being offered to the public at face value.
The New Age author, 2020 candidate and internet meme opens up about her unlikely campaign, industry ties and her "self-inflicted" wound on anti-vaccine statements.
On a drizzly morning last summer, Patricia Jackson opened her door to two strangers. They told her they had come on behalf of a man named Angelo Robinson. Ms. Jackson grew cold at the mention. Angelo Robinson was the man who had shot and killed her sister, Veronica, 21 years earlier.
One afternoon, when my son was nine, I downloaded GarageBand to his iPhone to help with the boredom of a long wait at a doctor's office. Instead of pacing or escalating into a meltdown, he spent the entire hour and a half practicing, learning, and composing.
The disgraced financier wove a tangled web of high society types, corporate bigwigs and academic elites. A clear picture is challenging, but here's a partial accounting.
"Just drive through that fence," the voice says into my headset. I'm a bit rattled, having spun off the track and straight to the wrong side of said fence, just moments into my first drive of the 2020 Chevrolet Stingray.
Cancer researchers have long noticed that doses of chemo drugs that reliably kill cancer cells in laboratory cultures tend to be strikingly less effective in actual patients.
Billionaires like Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, among others, are displaying profound enthusiasm in regard to the notion of exploiting space.
(BEIRUT) — An airstrike struck a busy market in a rebel-held town in northwestern Syria on Monday, killing at least 16 people, according to opposition activists and a war monitoring group.
The airstrike took place in the town of Maaret al-Numan and also wounded more than 30 people, according to the reports from the region which has witnessed intensive airstrikes and bombardment on daily basis as Syrian troops, backed by Russian air cover, try to push their way into the enclave near the Turkish border.
Idlib province, in the northwestern corner of Syria, is the last major rebel stronghold in the country outside the control of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Syrian government forces launched their offensive in Idlib province in late April and fighting has killed more than 2,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
But the troops have made little progress since the push started.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the fighting on the ground in Syria through a network of activists, said the number of casualties from Monday’s airstrike was likely to rise due to the large number of wounded. The Thiqa news agency, an activist collective in northern Syria, gave a higher death toll, saying the strike killed 20 people.
On Sunday, government bombing in Idlib killed at least 11 civilians according to the Observatory and first responders.
Despite the heavy bombardment, Assad’s troops have been unable to make any significant advances against the rebels or the al-Qaida-linked militants and other jihadi groups who dominate Idlib province. Militant groups have hit back hard, killing an verage of more than a dozen soldiers and allied militiamen a day in recent weeks.
The struggling campaign underscores the limits of Syria’s and Russia’s airpower and inability to achieve a definitive victory in the country’s long-running civil war, now in its ninth year.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam failed Monday to allay public anger over violent attacks in the city overnight, condemning what she called “riotous” protesters who vandalized a Chinese government building before expressing “regret” that a gang of men armed with rods and cudgels attacked demonstrators and others in the early hours of the morning.
A day of mostly peaceful protests descended into violence late Sunday as police clashed with demonstrators in a central neighborhood while, across the harbor, an organized mob attacked protesters, journalists and passersby in the most barbaric episode of protest-related violence since the unrest began in early June. The latter incident caused public outrage as authorities were accused of doing little to stop the violence.
Outside the Central Police Station, columns of police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds of protesters following a tense standoff during which demonstrators hurled projectiles at officers. Some of the demonstrators had earlier been seen defacing the facade and insignia of the Chinese government’s liaison office, seen as a direct affront to Beijing.
“The [Hong Kong] government hereby strongly condemns a few radical protesters who viciously surrounded and stormed the Chinese Liaison office, and they defaced the national emblem, openly challenging our country’s sovereignty,” Lam, the city’s chief executive, said at a press conference. Using language more frequently seen in Chinese state mouthpieces, Lam said the protesters “hurt the feelings of the people and angered the entire city.”
More troubling to many in Hong Kong was the violence that unfolded in the outlying neighborhood of Yuen Long, where a mob of men wearing white shirts and armed mostly with sticks, believed to be members of “triad” gangs and apparently targeting protesters, indiscriminately attacked passengers at a subway station. At least 45 people were injured in the melee, according to the city’s hospital authority, including a lawmaker and several journalists. Witnesses said police were slow to respond, and when they arrived they were ineffective.
Lam, joined by Security Secretary Lee Ka-chiu and Police Commissioner Stephen Lo, described the violence as “shocking” and vowed to pursue and prosecute those accountable. “I hereby offer my strong condemnation. Hong Kong is a city with rule of law, we do not tolerate the occurrence of any violence,” Lam said. She later added that an early-morning government statement panned as insufficient was made before authorities “had all the facts.”
Pro-democratic lawmaker Claudia Mo, a key figure in the protests, said Lam’s attempt to conflate the two scenes may only widen the rift between her government and an increasingly distrustful public.
“Every time she comes out to speak she only angers more people,” Mo tells TIME. “I don’t blame her for condemning people for desecrating the Chinese emblem… but the imbalance of trying to lump these two scenes together, on one side it’s just vandalism where the attack targets are objects.”
“But in Yuen Long,” Mo added, “what happened almost amounts to a terrorist scene.”
The protests in Hong Kong, a former British colony, began over a bill that would allow extradition to China, and have continued with no sign of losing steam for seven consecutive weeks. Lam eventually yielded to public pressure and suspended the bill, which she has declared “dead,” but refused to officially withdraw it.
The protests have snowballed into a broader movement demanding more democratic freedoms in the semiautonomous territory, which was handed over to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 under an agreement called “one country, two systems.” The deal was meant to ensure Hong Kong’s autonomy for 50 years, but many feel Beijing is steadily chipping away at their freedoms.
— With reporting by Hillary Leung and Aria Hangyu Chen / Hong Kong
(JERUSALEM) — Israeli work crews on Monday began demolishing dozens of Palestinian homes in an east Jerusalem neighborhood, in one of the largest operations of its kind in years.
The demolitions capped a years-long legal battle over the buildings, built along the invisible line straddling the city and the occupied West Bank. Israel says the buildings were erected too close to its West Bank separation barrier. Residents say the buildings are on West Bank land, and the Palestinian Authority gave them construction permits.
In the wake of a recent Supreme Court decision clearing the way for the demolitions, Israeli work crews moved into the neighborhood overnight. Massive construction vehicles smashed through the roofs of several buildings, and large excavators were digging through the rubble.
According to the United Nations, some 20 people already living in the buildings were being displaced, while 350 owners of properties that were under construction or not yet inhabited were also affected.
Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war. The international community considers both areas to be occupied territory, and the Palestinians seek them as parts of a future independent state.
Israel annexed east Jerusalem and considers it part of its capital — a step that is not internationally recognized. But the competing claims to the territory have created myriad legal complexities.
Israel built its separation barrier in the early 2000s in a step that it says was needed to prevent Palestinian suicide bombers from reaching Israel from the West Bank. The Palestinians say the structure is an illegal land grab because it juts into the West Bank in many places.
Sur Baher is one of those places. In negotiations with residents, Israel built the route of the structure in Sur Baher inside the West Bank to prevent dividing the village and disrupting life, according to court documents.
However, residents, claiming it is impossible to get Israeli building permits in east Jerusalem, began building the apartment buildings in the West Bank part of the village with permission from the Palestinian Authority. Early this decade, the Israeli military ordered the construction to stop, saying it could not permit high-rise buildings so close to the separation barrier.
Israel’s Supreme Court this month rejected residents’ final appeal, clearing the way for the demolitions.
According to Ir Amim, an Israeli advocacy group that promotes equality and coexistence in the city, Israel has stepped up demolitions of unauthorized Palestinian properties in east Jerusalem.
It said Israel demolished some 63 housing units in the first half of this year, compared to 37 during the same period last year. Palestinian residents of east Jerusalem say it is nearly impossible to get a building permit from Israeli authorities.
(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said Sunday evening that he will not resign in the face of public furor over an obscenity-laced leaked online chat, but he will not seek reelection or continue as head of his pro-statehood political party.
Protesters said they were not satisfied by Rosselló’s concessions, and pledged to continue demonstrations that have filled the streets of Old San Juan for more than a week.
“He’s stretching things out. We had hoped he’d taken the decision to resign. He’s making the people’s pain last longer,” said Emmarie Morales, a protester from southeast coastal town of Patillas. She said the governor’s decision would not end the protests. “He’s given us more strength to protest. We aren’t going to sit around watching Netflix.”
In a brief video posted on Facebook, Rosselló also said he looked forward to defending himself against the process of impeachment, whose initial stages are being explored by Puerto Rico’s legislature.
“In spite of everything, I recognize that apologizing isn’t enough, that only my work will help restore confidence …,” the governor said. “Facing that scenario, I announce to you that I will not seek reelection next year.”
The 889 pages of chat on the encrypted app Telegram between the governor and 11 close allies and members of his administration, all men, showed the governor and his close advisers insulting women and mocking constituents, including the victims of Hurricane Maria.
Since the chat leaked July 13, hundreds of thousands of outraged Puerto Ricans have marched to Rosselló’s official residence in the largest protest movement on the island since Puerto Ricans successfully demonstrated to demand an end to U.S. Navy military training on the island of Vieques more than 15 years ago.
Puerto Rico’s justice secretary, Wanda Vázquez, would assume the governor’s role under the territorial constitution’s line of succession if Rosselló should quit.
The upheaval comes as the U.S. territory is struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria and trying to restructure part of $70 billion in debt amid a 13-year recession in this territory more than 3 million American citizens who do not have full representation in Congress or a vote for president.
“Today, I have the great responsibility to direct my efforts, and those of my administration, to keep searching for ways and means for us, united before God, to be able to keep guiding our island,” the governor said.
On Monday morning, tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans were expected to take over one of the island’s main highways to demand Rosselló’s resignation as legislators considered whether to take the first steps of the impeachment process.
Arriving late Sunday to prepare for Monday’s march was Nicole Quintana, a 32-year-old dentist, along with her husband and their 3-month-old son.
“We had to do it for him,” she said, gesturing to her son. She said they drove about two hours from the coastal town of Isabela to participate. “Finally people have said: ‘Enough is enough. This ends here.'”
Pressure on Rosselló to step down has grown throughout the week as the chorus calling for his resignation grew to include Puerto Rico music superstars Ricky Martin, Bad Bunny and Residente and a string of U.S. politicians including Congress members from both parties, several Democratic presidential candidates and Puerto Rico’s non-voting representative in Congress.
Rosselló was elected governor in November 2016 with nearly 50% of the vote, and he had already announced his intention to seek a second term. A graduate of MIT with a doctorate in genetics, he is the son of former Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Rosselló, who flew to the island to marshal support after the chat was made public.
The governor belongs to the New Progressive Party, which seeks statehood for the island, and he is also a Democrat. Most of his time has been spent seeking federal funds since Hurricane Maria devastated the island on Sept. 20, 2017, and battling austerity measures implemented by a federal control board that Congress set up to oversee the island government’s finances.
The upheaval against Rosselló prompted at least four cruise ships to cancel visits to Puerto Rico, and many officials worry about the impact a resignation would have on the already fragile economy as the island rebuilds from Maria, a Category 4 storm that caused more than an estimated $100 billion in damage.
Another concern is the recent string of arrests involving federal corruption charges targeting Puerto Rico officials, among them two former agency heads, including former education secretary Julia Keleher.
(DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan) — A female suicide bomber struck outside a hospital in Pakistan on Sunday as the wounded were being brought in from an earlier shooting against police, in a complex assault claimed by the Pakistani Taliban that killed a total of nine people and wounded another 30.
Salim Riaz Khan, a senior police officer in Dera Ismail Khan, said gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on police in a residential area, killing two. He says the bomber then struck at the entrance to the hospital, killing another four police and three civilians who were visiting their relatives. He said eight police were among the wounded, and that many of the wounded were in critical condition.
Inayat Ullah, a local forensics expert, said the female attacker set off 7 kilograms (15 pounds) of explosives packed with nails and ball-bearings.
The blast damaged the emergency room and forced it to shut down, according to a hospital official, who said the wounded were taken to a military hospital. The official spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed the attack but did not acknowledge that the bomber was a woman. The group has launched scores of attacks going back nearly two decades, but almost all of them were carried out by men.
Pakistan’s military has carried out several major operations in recent years against the Pakistani Taliban and other militants in areas along the porous border with Afghanistan. The violence has declined, but the militants still make their presence known through occasional attacks, mainly targeting security forces and religious minorities.
Later on Sunday, police said they had arrested 16 suspects in the attack, all of whom belong to banned organizations. Police officer Habib Ahmed said authorities also seized weapons during the manhunt.
Canada’s national police force live-streamed a press conference regarding a double homicide on Friday and added animated cat-like features to the presiding officer.
Facebook’s video technology has the capabilities of overlaying the recording with filters that distort or change the video’s subject. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police of British Columbia appear to have used a Facebook filter on Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, who led the briefing, that included whiskers and cat ears.
The national police later clarified on Twitter that the use of the filter was inadvertent.
The B.C. RCMP are giving a press conference on the two people murdered on the Alaska Highway, and they have the cat ear filter on. pic.twitter.com/j8GvkvKA4u
In the briefing, police were updating the press on the deaths of an American woman and her Australian boyfriend, whose bodies were found along a remote highway in British Columbia.
A similar live-streaming blunder occurred in northwest Pakistan when a regional prime minister, Shaukat Yousafzai, appeared to apply the same Facebook cat filter to a virtual version of a press conference for local constituents in June.
(Bloomberg) — The U.K. sought to lower tensions after Iran seized a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, an incident that increased friction in one of the world’s critical energy chokepoints.
The U.K. demanded the immediate release of the Stena Impero and on Saturday summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires, Mohsen Omidzamani, in London. While the government threatened Iran with “serious consequences” and advised U.K. ships to avoid the area, ministers on Sunday sought to dial down the rhetoric.
“We need to try and de-escalate this,” Defense Minister Tobias Ellwood said in a Sky News interview. “Our first and most important responsibility is to make sure that we get a solution to the issue to do with the current ship, make sure other British-flagged ships are safe to operate in these waters and then look at the wider picture of actually having a working proper professional relationship with Iran.”
Tensions have been flaring in the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks as Iran lashes out against U.S. sanctions that are crippling its oil exports and after the seizure of one of its tankers near Gibraltar. The Strait accounts for about a third of the world’s seaborne oil flows, and Brent crude rallied as much as 2.4% on Friday’s news.
The U.K. plans to take further measures this week, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a statement without giving details on what action would be taken. The Sunday Telegraph said diplomatic and economic measures, including a freeze on Iranian assets, are being considered and the U.K. may push the European Union and United Nations to reimpose sanctions on Iran. But on Sunday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond sought to downplay that threat.
“We’ve already got a wide raft of sanctions against Iran, particularly financial sanctions, so it’s not clear that there are immediate additional things that we can do but we are of course looking at all the options,” Hammond said in a BBC interview. Still, “it was an illegal act and we’re going to pursue every possible diplomatic route to resolve this issue.”
Iran doesn’t have any assets that the British government could seize, according to Ali Naghi Seyyed-Khamoushi, head of the Iran-Britain Joint Chamber of Commerce in Tehran. Any sanctions would not affect Iran’s exports and imports to any great extent, he said, according Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
With U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May set to leave office on Wednesday, the latest clash with Iran presents a diplomatic headache for her successor. The favorite to be named the new Conservative Party leader is Boris Johnson, and his opponent, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, on Saturday tweeted that that British shipping will be protected in the Persian Gulf.
U.S. Central Command has announced a “multinational maritime effort” called Operation Sentinel to “increase surveillance of and security in key waterways in the Middle East to ensure freedom of navigation in light of recent events in the Arabian Gulf region.”
Tensions between Iran and the West have been rising since U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 multi-nation agreement with Iran to limit its nuclear program. The U.S. reimposed the sanctions that had hobbled the Iranian economy and has been pressuring European allies to respect the sanctions and curtail their trade with Iran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that the ship entered the strait from the wrong direction, wasn’t paying heed to maritime regulations and could potentially have collided with other vessels. State television said the ship will be held until judicial assessments are complete.
Stena Bulk, the ship’s owner, said on Sunday that a request to the authorities at the port of Bandar Abbas — where the vessel is anchored — to visit the 23 crew members had been acknowledged. The company hasn’t yet received a formal response.
The firm said on Saturday it had been told that the crew members are in good health. It has been given no instructions about the fate of the ship.
Iran has also suggested its actions are in retaliation for the British seizure of the Grace 1 tanker off Gibraltar. A court in Gibraltar ordered the continued detention of the vessel for another 30 days, after it was held on suspicion of taking oil to Syria. Iran denies that was the destination.
In recent weeks the U.K. Navy has escorted some tankers out of the region, while the U.S. said it downed an Iranian drone just days ago. The latest incident cooled hopes that the U.S. and Iran would soothe tensions by entering into negotiations.
In Washington, Trump said he will be “working with the U.K.” and suggested the latest developments justify his harsher approach toward Tehran. “This only goes to show what I’m saying about Iran: trouble, nothing but trouble.”
Protests in Hong Kong against alleged police violence descended into more chaotic clashes Sunday night as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse angry, black-clad demonstrators hurling bricks, umbrellas and glass bottles at officers, while elsewhere in the city a mob apparently targeting protesters attacked dozens of passengers at a subway station.
Masked demonstrators, many covered up with plastic cling wrap and other protective gear, yelled chants of “Hong Kong police: You know the law, you broke the law!” as they advanced against retreating police lines around 10 p.m. local time in a downtown neighborhood called Sheung Wan.
Hong Kong Police said on Twitter that they advanced to clear the area because the Central Police Station “was under attack,” as protesters threw bricks and “petrol bombs” at officers. Several pro-democratic lawmakers, who support the protests, initially positioned themselves between police and demonstrators to try and de-escalate the situation. Following a tense standoff, police fired several rounds of tear gas toward the crowd and were met with more fury. Local media reported that police fired rubber bullets, though it is unclear how many were injured.
Meanwhile in an area called Yuen Long, police were accused of responding too slowly as protesters came under attack by groups of men in white shirts with wooden sticks and other weapons. Lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting and several local journalists were among those injured. Videos shared on social media showed chaotic scenes unfolding in a train station, where members of the mob at one point were seen cornering people on a train and beating them. The violence at Yuen Long marked an unprecedented escalation as the organized mob wreaked indiscriminate havoc in what appears to have been a complete absence of authorities.
Organizers say hundreds of thousands withstood sweltering heat to join in the seventh consecutive week of mass demonstrations that have plunged the city into a political crisis and galvanized resistance to Beijing’s growing influence in the China-ruled territory. The demonstrations have been largely peaceful, but have fallen into a pattern of descending into violence after assembly permits expire and protesters stay behind against police warnings.
Since early June, organizers say millions have marched in the series of demonstrations against a now-suspended bill that would have allowed extradition to mainland China. The city’s embattled leader Carrie Lam declared the bill “dead” but has not officially withdrawn it, and the movement has snowballed to demand more democratic freedoms as anger toward her Beijing-backed government spilled out into the open and united large swaths of society.
Sunday’s march, organized by the Civil Human Rights Front, demanded that the government fully withdraw the bill, retract its characterization of recent protests as a “riot,” ensure accountability for alleged instances of police violence toward protesters, and grant citizens the right to freely elect the city’s leadership. CHRF estimates 430,000 people attended; the group’s estimates regularly conflict with much lower police figures.
“In the whole world, it is only our government that thinks these protesters are rioters,” Jimmy Sham, co-convener of CHRF, said in a speech at the start of the march before crowds erupted in chants of “Democracy now!” and “Free Hong Kong!” Anger at times focused on Lam, the chief executive, with Sham denouncing her as a “pathological liar” and some demonstrators hoisting signs decrying her “tyranny.”
The former British colony was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under an agreement called “one country, two systems,” which guaranteed 50 years of political autonomy in the economically liberal financial hub. But critics of the unelected government say Beijing is steadily chipping away their freedoms and reneging on its promise of universal suffrage.
The so-called “leaderless” protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful and mostly comprised of young activists mobilized online, though sporadic clashes have occurred between police in riot gear and small groups of more radical demonstrators. Police have on several instances deployed tear gas, pepper spray and other crowd control measures to disperse them, sometimes resulting in injuries.
“We really need an investigation headed by an impartial judge in order for us to move forward,” says Sammy, a research assistant at a university who declined to use his last name because of security concerns. Protesters say an existing police investigative mechanism cannot be trusted to ensure accountability, but Lam has said she will not establish an independent inquiry.
On Friday, more than 30 high-profile civil society leaders, former government officials and others signed a statement urging Lam to launch such a probe in the interest of reconciliation. “The chief executive should show her political and moral courage to resolve the ongoing conflicts in society,” the statement read. “Political problems have to be resolved by political means. The government should not put frontline police officers near flashpoints of political conflicts.”
Hong Kong police, once dubbed “Asia’s finest,” have come under intense criticism since June 12, when tear gas, pepper spray and bean bag rounds were used to disperse tens of thousands of demonstrators who had amassed near the government headquarters. More than 80 people were injured during the melee, and groups including Amnesty International accused the police of using “excessive force.”
Pockets of violence have since been reported at several events. A massive rally on July 1, the anniversary of the territory’s “handover” to China, culminated with the storming of the Legislative Council as a small group of mostly masked, black-clad activists — now the de facto uniform of the movement — smashed through glass walls with a battering ram and ransacked parts of the building. (The intruders did, however, leave cash in exchange for soft drinks plundered from the building’s pantry.)
Last Sunday, demonstrators took their fight to the residential neighborhood of Sha Tin, a popular destination for mainland Chinese shoppers. Police corralled protesters — many of whom were reportedly already leaving — inside a shopping mall where they then deployed pepper spray, engaging in physical confrontations with several young activists. Local media outlets reported that at least 28 were hospitalized and 37 arrests were made as a result of the flare-up.
Clashes between police and protesters have eroded public trust in the city’s law enforcement. Police presence was relatively subdued for most of the day despite heightened security concerns after authorities discovered a huge cache of explosive materials in a warehouse possibly linked to a pro-independence activist. Three suspects are in custody and a motive is still being investigated, according to CNN.
Police initially asked organizers of the Sunday rally to cut it short half-way through their proposed route, but later ceded way to the massive crowds. Water-filled barriers were moved out of the way and decorated by passing protesters with messages scrawled on Post-It notes. The colorful collages of neatly penned Cantonese memos have become iconic of the movement. So-called “Lennon walls,” named after a key site in the 2014 protests known as the Umbrella Movement, have sprung up throughout the city like miniature pop-up galleries on walls, street signs, and overpasses — even on demonstrators’ bodies.
By 5 p.m. local time police had already begun urging demonstrators to leave the central district of Admiralty, where the main march ended and many began milling around near government buildings. Some resumed marching toward China’s liaison office, seen as an emblem of Beijing’s encroachment and a frequent target of protests. A few protesters, their identities hidden behind open umbrellas, vandalized the front of the building with graffiti; others hurled eggs at its facade.
The Hong Kong government issued a statement strongly condemning “protesters who blatantly challenged the national sovereignty” of China by defacing the building and the national insignia. The statement said authorities “will deal with these acts in a serious manner in accordance with the law,” and expressed concern that “a small number of radicals” were inciting the masses to commit violent acts.
Steve Lee, a 27-year-old architect, says there are differing views on where the movement will go from here. “Many people say we need to escalate actions, but actually I disagree,” he tells TIME. “I’m hopeful that coming out and showing up every weekend will eventually result in change.”
— With reporting by Aria Hangyu Chen, Abhishyant Kidangoor and Kamakshi Ayyar / Hong Kong
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PORTUGAL is a popular tourist destination for many - but Brits hoping to enjoy some summer sun this year could be forced to change their plans as the country is engulfed by flames. Express.co.uk bring you the latest fires information as 30 people have been injured in the raging blazes.
ELON MUSK's enigmatic "alcohol" tweet had fans debating whether it was an announcement on future rocket fuel, a personal confession or a contrived riddle to catch out only the most lucid of his legion of followers.
UP BTC Results 2019 – Students, Here you can download UP D.El.Ed BTC Allotment Result. Pariksha Niyamik Adhikari, Uttar Pradesh has Started to choice filling by online, @ updeled.gov.in. Also, we advise the Students to UP D.El.Ed.form fill up your choice before the last date of UP D.El.Ed.form fill Up Date i.e, 30th July 2019. UP D.El.Ed is formally known as UP BTC, This is a Counselling Process in which Candidates get a rank on the basis of Class 10,12 and Graduation mark. The seat will be allocated in the Diploma in Elementary Education Course.
UP BTC Results 2019 Latest News | UP D.El.Ed.2019 Exam Date
This is a State level Counselling process, hence UP D.El.Ed.2019 Admission will grant only for the Colleges which is located in UP. Examination Regulation Authority Allahabad UP has recently uploaded the Online Counselling Schedule, Rank Card for 2 Years Course UP BTC/UP D.El.Ed.2019 Admission 2019-20. Those Candidates Who have Applied for this Exam can Download Online Counselling Schedule Notice/ Rank Card, UP BTC Results now. Here we have provided a quick link to download Counselling Schedule, Rank Card/Merit List.
UP Pariksha Niyamik Pradhikari Allahabad is organizing UP BTC 2019 Admission & Counselling Process. Applicants can check the complete details from the UP D.El.Ed. official website 2019 i.e, updeled.gov.in. Moreover, candidates can check the UP BTC Results 2019 latest news from this page at any time. All those events of UP D.El.Ed.2019 will happen as per the schedule provided below. The Phase 1 Counselling Schedule for UP D.El.Ed 2019 has been released. Candidates can check the UP BTC 2019 Phase 1 Counselling Notice from the below link.
UP BTC Cut off 2019 | UP BTC Results
Candidates need to get the qualifying marks/cutoff marks as mentioned below to get admission in Government/Private colleges. Category-wise cut off marks for government and private colleges were mentioned here.
Category wise Cut off
Government College Cut off
Private College Cut off
General (UR)
220-230
Above 190
OBC
215-225
Above 185
SC/ST
205-215
Above 180
Candidates who have shortlisted in the rank list/merit list are eligible to get admission in Diploma in Elementary Education course. After checking the merit list, candidates will be informed to fill their choices of colleges. Candidates can select their preferred colleges to get admission. Based on the rank of the applicants, the admissions will be offered. The Candidates can fill their choice of College and Course from 17th July to 30th July 2019. The last date for admission is 05th August 2019 and the classes will commence from 06th August 2019.
UP BTC Merit List 2019 @ updeled.gov.in
Aspirants applied for the D.El.Ed course in the state of Uttar Pradesh can download the merit list/rank list from the official website, updeled.gov.in. UPBEB has released the state rank list on 16th July 2019. Candidates qualified for the merit list will get admission in D.El.Ed course in the state of Uttar Pradesh in any of the Government/Private colleges. Aspirants can check the information of UP D.El.Ed colleges and seats from the following.
Total DIETs
66
Total DIET seats
10600
Total D.El.Ed colleges
2818
Total private D.El.Ed college
2751
Total private college seats
200950
Steps to check UP BTC D.El.Ed Merit list 2019
Click the following official website link –updeled.gov.in
On the homepage, you will find the link of UP BTC (D.El.Ed.) Merit list, Click on it
It will redirect to a new page
Next, select your course, enter registration number, date of birth, security code and click on login to check your rank
Applicants State rank will be displayed on the screen
Download the UP BTC Results
Direct link to download UP D.El.Ed Merit list 2019
Latest Nainital Bank Limited Recruitment 2019 is here. Nainital Bank Clerk Notification is announced to fill 230 vacancies of Officer and Clerk posts. Job Seekers looking for Nainital Bank Recruitment can use this opportunity. Eligible can participate through Online. Candidates can begin applying for the desired post from 29th June 2019. Interested can check the Nainital Bank Clerk Jobs Notification 2019 before applying for the vacancy. The applicants can apply for the posts released under Nainital Bank Recruitment 2019. The Online Application would close on 31st July 2019. Interested and Eligible should apply before the last date. Check below for various details regarding educational qualification, age limit, pay scale, and other details about Nainital Bank Jobs.
Recruitment of Nainital Bank Careers 2019 Details Overview
Eligible Criteria for Nainital Bank Clerk Jobs Notification 2019
Educational Qualification
Probationary Officer
The Candidate must be a Graduate/ Post Graduate with minimum 60% marks from a recognized university
Essential- Knowledge in Fundamentals of Computer Operation
Experience- 1-2 years of experience in banking/ financial institutions will be given preference
Specialist officer
The Candidate must be a Graduate/ Post Graduate with minimum 60% marks from a recognized university
The Candidate should hold a Master’s Degree( Full time) in Business Management/ Business Administration/ Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management with a minimum of 60% marks with Specialization in Human Resource Management
Experience- 1-2 years of experience in the related field will be given preference
Specialist Credit officer
Candidate should qualify Chartered Accountant/ ICWA or Graduate/ Post Graduate with minimum 60% marks from a recognized University or AICTE approved reputed institute.
Experience- Minimum 2 years experience in the field of credit in public/ Private Sector Bank or reputed Financial Institution
Clerk
The Candidate must be a Graduate/ Post Graduate with minimum 55% marks from a recognized university
Essential- Knowledge in Fundamentals of Computer Operation
Age Limit for Nainital Bank Vacancy
Name. of. the. Post
Lower Age Limit
Upper Age Limit
Probationary Officer
21
28
Specialist officer
21
28
Specialist Credit officer
25
35
Clerk
21
27
Selection process for Nainital Bank PO, SO & Clerk Recruitment 2019
The candidates who apply for the Nainital Bank Careers 2019 will be selected through
Written Examination
Interview process
Application Fee for Nainital Bank Jobs 2019
The aspirants have to pay the Application Fee through Online Mode.
The Application Fee will Not Be Refunded
Application Fee for the posts Probationary Officer, Specialist officer, and Clerk is Rs. 1000/- (including GST)
Application Fee for the posts Specialist Credit officer is Rs. 1500/- ( including GST)
Nainital Bank Clerk Salary Details
The candidates selected for the Nainital Bank Clerk Notification will get the salary as mentioned below
Probationary Officer & Specialist officer
Rs. 23,700-980/7-30560-1145/2-32850-1310/7-42020 with Special Allowance @ 7.75 % of Basic Pay + Dearest Allowance thereon
CTC would be approximately Rs. 7.00 lacs P.A
Specialist Credit officer
Rs. 31705- 1145/1-32850-1310/10-45950 with Special Allowance @ 7.75 % of Basic Pay + Dearest Allowance thereon
CTC would be approximately Rs. 9.00 lacs P.A
Clerk
Rs. 11765- 655/3-13730- 815/3- 16175- 980/4- 20095- 1145/7- 28110- 2120/1-30230- 1310/1-31540 with Special Allowance @ 7.75 % of Basic Pay + Dearest Allowance thereon
CTC would be approximately Rs. 3.60 lacs P.A
How to Apply ONLINE for Nainital Bank Clerk Jobs Notification 2019?
Click the “Apply Online” link for Nainital Bank Vacancy 2019.
Select the desired post you are going to apply.
Complete the Application Registration process for Nainital Bank Recruitment
Pay the Application Fee through Online
Upload the Scanned copies of essential documents specified in Nainital Bank Clerk Notification
Submit the Application form after checking the details entered in it.
Take a print out of the Application form for future reference.
Points to be Noted:
The candidate should have a valid mail ID for registration, intimation for Hall Ticket will be sent to mail ID provided during the registration process.
Scanned Copies to be enclosed with the application form
Photograph and Signature of the candidate
Left thumb impression of the candidate
Handwritten declaration in English to be in candidates own handwriting.
The text for the declaration is ” I ____ (Name of the candidate), hereby declare that all the information submitted by me in the application form is correct, true and valid. I will present the supporting documents as and when required “
Hall Ticket for Nainital Bank Limited Recruitment 2019
Candidates can download the hall ticket for the written examination before ten days for the exam from the official website using the registration number and password obtained at the time of Online Application registration process.
The candidate should carry the hall ticket and original ID proof with photo and photocopy during the written examination.
Important Dates for Nainital Bank Clerk Jobs Notification 2019
Starting Date to Apply Online
29th June 2019
Closing Date to Apply Online
31st July 2019
Closing Date to edit application details
31st July 2019
Last Date to printing the application
29th July 2019
Exam Date
Last week of July(tentatively on/ around 27/28-07-2019)
Important Links for Nainital Bank Clerk Recruitment 2019
The Nainital Bank Limited (NTB) (known as Nainital Bank) is a book business bank came to existence in the year 1922. The bank is a backup of Bank of Baroda. The bank has extended to Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and has more than 139 branches in Rajasthan, Delhi, and Haryana. It has moved toward becoming TTC (Ten Thousand Crore) Company and means to be most client-driven bank of India, as a planned bank by the Reserve Bank of India. Nainital bank is related to Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank, LIC, National Insurance Company Limited, etc. Currently, NBL has 135 branches in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan. It likewise gives online offices, aside from Personal Banking, Business Banking, Rural, and Agricultural Banking. The Nainital Bank Limited is enlisted as book business manage an account with Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the national bank of India.
JNVU Results 2019 – Dear Folks!! It’s time to check your BA/BCom/BSc & Course Exam Results from here. Yes, here we have a piece of good news for you. Jai Narain Vyas University has declared the results for various Courses. Recently the University has published the results for M.A I Sem Economics, Home Science, M.A III Sem Economics, MA I Sem Psychology, M.A I Sem Journalism and Mass Communication, B.E III Sem, B.A LL.B VII Sem, BBA LL.B VIII Sem and other Courses results are available here. Here we have provided a direct link to download and verify the JNVU Results from the below table. Students those who have been appeared for those examinations can check the results from the official website of the University i.e, jnvu.co.in. We advise the Student that regularly check the official website of the University to get the latest updates regarding the Examination results.
Jai Narain Vyas University Results 2019 || JNVU Results 2019
The JNV University uploads all its University and Affiliated colleges JNVU Online In Result on its official result portal. Students can prefer this page to obtain the Regular, Supply and JNVU Revaluation Result 2018. In fact, we comprise the various JNVU MA Result. Students can check this page for the latest Result Jai Narain Vyas University. Also, students can find the page links of the JNVU M.A, LL.B Result and JNVU MBA Result in the below sections. Here, we update the JNVU Revaluation Result of the various Semesters. Verify the article and download the JNVU Old Result of Regular/ Private examination at the Jai Narain Vyas University Results. Hence more, the JNVU Results in 2019 of Odd and Even Semester enlisted in the below sections. We advise the Students to regularly check the official website of the University to get the latest updates regarding the Exam Results.
Latest JNVU Exam Results 2019
Name of the Exam
Announcement Date
Download Link
B.SC.(HOME SCIENCE) Final Year Special Re-evaluation Examination Result
Jai Narain Vyas University (JNVU, formerly known as University of Jodhpur) is an educational institution in Jodhpur city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Established in 1962, the university took over the four colleges of Jodhpur run by the state government. The university provides education and research facilities to the residents of the region and to the wards of defense and paramilitary forces along the border of Pakistan. Courses are offered in humanities, sciences, social sciences, law, engineering, commerce and business management, information technology, and languages. There are more than 30 undergraduate programs, 40 postgraduate programs, and 5 diploma and certificate courses.
JNVU Supply/Revaluation Results
Students have a chance to apply for the revaluation, if the students may get low marks in the examination, they can apply for the Revaluation results. So again the head of the Examiner will review the answer paper. After revaluation, students may get high marks. Still, if anyone got low marks, they can apply for the Supplementary Examinations. For Revaluation/Supplementary, students should pay the fee. Students can get all the results from this page Regular, Revaluation and Supplementary Results. Students of the Jai Narain Vyas University can also get all Results Also. Just we are advising the Students to frequently visit this page to get latest updates of all JNVU Results 2019.
A U.S. passport will get you into many countries, but not everywhere. Brazil, China, India, Russia, and Vietnam all offer travel to U.S. citizens, but expect to pay a premium to visit.
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Your FICO score is used by creditors to determine the overall credit risk of any individual consumer. This score is calculated by using a proprietary tool developed by the Fair Issac Corporation (NYSE:FIC). Each major credit bureau in the United States - Experian, Equifax (NYSE:EFX) and TransUnion - uses Fair Issac's technology to calculate a FICO score for any borrower.
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Having guaranteed income after retirement is undeniably appealing. However, there are a number of risks to consider before rolling your 401(k) into an annuity.
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NEW DELHI: A forensic audit of credit ratings obtained by crisis-hit Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) group entities under the erstwhile management has flagged widespread irregularities, including inducements to get favourable ratings despite adverse financial situation. Citing an interim report of the special audit conducted by Grant Thornton on a mandate from the government-appointed new board, sources said the former top management personnel at IL&FS and its group firms extended favours and gifts to the top executives of rating agencies and their families and also suggested changes in the rating reports before they were made public. While the continuing probe has already led to CEOs of two rating agencies having been sent on leave by their respective boards, fresh details have emerged about suspected attempts by the former top management personnel of IL&FS Group to influence the rating agencies and their top officers for high credit ratings and also to thwart any negative ratings. The new board of IL&FS, which was appointed in October last year after massive defaults by the group post its debt burden ballooning to over Rs 90,000 crore and suspected wrong-doings by the former top management, had mandated Grant Thornton to carry out a a special audit for all high-value transactions undertaken by IL&FS Ltd and some of its group companies for the period between April 2013 and September 2018. The audit is aimed at identifying siphoning or misuse of funds, fraudulent transactions, their modus operandi, quantum of the financial loss and fixing of responsibility. Grant Thornton was also asked to review the ratings provided by various credit rating agencies (CRAs) to major companies of the IL&FS group -- IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (ITNL), IL&FS Financial Services Ltd (IFIN) and IL&FS Ltd. In its interim report, Grant Thornton said it appears CRAs had consistently provided and maintained good ratings over the years until in July/August 2018 when they downgraded ratings for the first time for ITNL due to a default of repayment of commercial papers. During the review period, IL&FS Group had availed rating services from Crisil Ltd, CARE Ratings, ICRA, India Ratings (a Fitch group company) and Brickwork. Officials at the rating agencies denied any lapses on their part and some even said the interim report seems to suggest limited knowledge of the rating process and was based on one-sided information. India Ratings on Saturday said its investigation into the role of a senior director at parent firm Fitch's Singapore office found him in violation of the company's code of conduct and he is no longer an employee. Regarding Grant Thornton's report, a spokesperson at India Ratings and Research said in a statement, "This report was produced without a request for our participation or involvement. We were unaware of its existence until shortly before it found its way into the public domain." A higher rating typically helps a borrower get a lower rate of interest and is aimed at giving investors an assurance about the creditworthiness of the company. Besides, it helps create a wider borrowing landscape for the company and is also often used as a marketing tool in form of a better image in dealing with customers. Grant Thornton said it identified multiple e-mails over the period from 2008 to 2018 which indicate that the IL&FS group was under stress or faced liquidity issues since 2015. The main reasons for the liquidity crunch have been identified as significant increase in debt in the various group companies, majorly ITNL, high capital requirement for ITNL and its various SPVs, decreasing profitability of IL&FS group and support to weaker group companies. It has also identified instances which suggest that CRAs had multiple concerns for the last 6-7 years on the operations of the IL&FS group, but the ratings assigned by them still remained consistently high until they were reversed or downgraded after June-July 2018. Listing potential strategies undertaken by the former top brass of IL&FS to get good ratings or avoid a downgrade, the report said the rationale which is supposed to be drafted by the rating agencies were materially modified on suggestions from the then key employees of the group. In cases where IL&FS became aware that ratings were not going to be favourable, they either delayed the process of rating surveillance or avoided the rating being made public. In certain instances, intentionally incorrect or incomplete information was being provided to the CRAs to avoid rating downgrade. In cases of desired ratings not being received, the IL&FS management used to exert pressure on rating agencies to either withdraw the ratings or approach other rating agencies who would provide the desired ratings. The audit also cited several e-mails suggesting that the CRAs, after meeting with the then key employees of IL&FS, would not downgrade their ratings as initially decided. The special audit has also flagged a potential conflict of interest between IL&FS and CARE, as for the period 2007 to 2013, IL&FS Ltd and IFIN owned equity shares of approximately 5-9 per cent in the rating agency. During the same period, CARE had also provided ratings to instruments of IFIN, ITNL and IL&FS Ltd, indicating a potential conflict of interest as CARE was rating its equity shareholder. "... Based on the review of the emails, it appears that the rating agencies were potentially aware of the issues in the IL&FS group. However, various strategies deployed by the then key officials of IL&FS group and certain favors/gifts provided to rating agency officials suggest the possible reasons for consistent good ratings provided to IL&FS group during the period June 2012 to June 2018," it said. The report has also highlighted instances where CRAs had "initially decided to downgrade the ratings, but a combination of tactics employed by then key employees of IL&FS and favors/gifts extended to key officials of CRAs resulted in either consistent/good ratings or avoidance of rating downgrade".
NEW DELHI: The government is looking to pare down its stake in select state-run entities to up to 26%, setting the stage for some big-ticket strategic sales.A draft note will be put out for consultation before the proposal is finalised, a government official told ET. The department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM) will be asked to formalise a cabinet note by the end of this month, the person said. The move, if implemented, will help create more options for the government to achieve its disinvestment target of Rs 1.05 lakh crore for the current fiscal.Threshold of 26% is being considered as the company law allows a shareholder with stake of over 25% to block a resolution in a company, the official said. 70321414 In her budget speech on July 5, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said the government would modify the present policy of retaining 51% government stake in state-run firms to retaining 51% stake inclusive of the stake of government-controlled institutions.This means that companies in which public institutions such as the Life Insurance Corporation of India have stakes, the government will slash its own holding to below 51%.In a post budget interaction with ET, Atanu Chakraborty, secretary at the investment and public asset management department, had noted that the government has for the first time separated the marriage between control and 51% stake. "We have decided to go below 51% and open much larger investment space for people to come in, including international funds, which is needed," he had said.Chakraborty had also said promoters don't even hold 2-3% in a lot of professionally run companies, and in around 18 Sensex companies, promoter group holding is below 40%.The official cited earlier said the government can command a premium for its 26% holding if it decides to exit the firm at a later date. Experts, however, opine that the government should not hold on to 26% threshold if it is looking to give up management control."Look what happened in the case of Air India," said MP Shorawala, former independent director with state run Concor. Last year, the government had invited expression of interest (EoI) to sell 74% stake in the national carrier but no investor turned up.
BHUBANESWAR: Global financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank should consult developing economies before taking decisions on them, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Executive Director Rabi Mishra said on Sunday. Instead of imposing their decisions on member states, the IMF and the World Bank should consider the realities of the developing economies, he said while speaking at the conclusion of the three-day Kalinga Literary Festival here. Mishra said the top-down approach hardly produces any result as countries such as China does not even attend the meetings of IMF. Decisions of the global financial institutions would be more inclusive if they adopt a bottom-up approach instead of just conveying the desires of the US and UK, he said. The RBI official further said financial regulations in India insulated the economy from the global economic crisis in 2008. On his recently published book 'Systemic Risk and Macroprudential Regulations', Mishra said coordinated approach in decision making is the key feature of a robust economy.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is doing everything at its disposal to be in sync with the government's efforts to accelerate economic expansion, be it interest rate cuts, ensuring sufficient liquidity or enabling more bank lending, governor Shaktikanta Das said in an interview. But global economic uncertainty due to trade tensions, corporate leverage and sector-specific issues have been a drag on growth, he said.Financial sector stability is at the core of the regulator's efforts and it doesn't want to see any systemically important institution get into trouble, Das said. At the same time, there won't be any special favours to nonbanking finance companies (NBFCs) and firms that have engaged in dubious business practices have to face the consequences."Whatever is possible within the role that has been assigned to RBI, we have taken all the possible measures," Das said. "At the same time, we are also focussing on the aspect of financial sector stability… in terms of strengthening supervision and regulation of banks and NBFCs. Whatever is necessary to be undertaken in the future, the RBI will definitely respond."Das dampened expectations that regulatory dispensation may be made available to the struggling NBFC sector, including easy availability of funds."The liquidity window is a misnomer — the RBI cannot be giving clean money, unsecured money to NBFCs," said Das, referring to the industry demand for funding directly from the RBI. "RBI can provide money through the banks. They can do the due diligence and lend money to NBFCs. We have ensured there is adequate liquidity with the banks. We are monitoring the top 50 NBFCs very closely which we have identified on the basis of their past credit behaviour, size and business volume."He said the central bank had discussed the matter with banks. "We have also interacted with the banks and they are trying to find market-based solutions to the problems like bringing in additional promoter equity, initiating stake sale, securitisation of assets," Das said.'Promoters have to Take Hit'"In large cases like IL&FS, banks are expected to go in for faster resolution wherein the promoters have to make sacrifices and banks as well will deal with it appropriately to ensure that a systemically important NBFC does not collapse. I am not referring to any particular NBFC, but if there are governance deficits noticed, certain faulty business practices are noticed, these NBFCs will have to take a larger cut themselves."Demands for a special liquidity window arose after a credit squeeze sparked by the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) default in September last year. With growth hitting a five-year low last year, the clamour for easy money has grown louder.The central bank has reduced the key interest rate by 75 basis points in this rate cycle and shifted its stance to accommodative from neutral. It has lowered the inflation forecast for the fiscal year which opens up more room for interest rate cuts. It has ensured that liquidity is sufficient with banks parking excess funds with the RBI rather than borrowing from it. Das also said that the shift in stance was equivalent to a 25 bps reduction. One basis point is 0.01 percentage point.Das pushed back against speculation that the RBI would easily allow NBFCs that face an asset-liability mismatch to convert themselves into banks."There cannot be an automatic transition of NBFC into banks," he said. "Banking licence is on an on-tap mode and anybody can apply—RBI will examine these requests keeping in mind all regulatory parameters."Investors betting on cryptocurrencies also had their hopes dashed with the governor asserting that issuing currency was a sovereign right and warning that these may end up being pyramid schemes."Issuance of currency is a sovereign function world over,'' said Das. "World over that function has been delegated by the sovereign to the central bank. You cannot have private entities issuing currency instruments because that will completely undermine and destroy macroeconomic and financial stability.'' Ties between the government and the central bank have been warming since Das took over last December."I believe in having consultations with all stakeholders and the government is much more than a stakeholder. Therefore, internal consultations and discussions should resolve all issues," the governor said.
NEW DELHI: The National Broadcast Policy that the information and broadcasting ministry is working on should safeguard media freedom, TV and radio companies have told the government. They have also suggested that the sector should have a regulator of its own, according to people with knowledge of the matter.The I&B ministry has stepped up work on the policy, expected to be announced in the next few months, which will involve a review of all major rules, with a focus on increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the area.Threats of legal action "with punitive damages under the laws of defamation lead to a chilling effect on the publication of free and independent news and put undue pressure on journalists," the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) told the ministry in its submission, ET has learnt. The policy should ensure a safe environment for journalists and the news media industry, it has said.The foundation has also asked for the defamation law to be "reworked" to protect news channels. Several journalists' organisations have previously protested against the continued criminalisation of defamation in India, saying this was a holdover from the colonial era and needed reform.A ministry official told ET that views were being sought from broadcasters and that the policy will mainly aim to remove regulatory barriers and reduce the obstacles for "investments, innovation and consumer interest". The ministry also plans to collect views from content aggregators, distribution platform operators, infrastructure providers, manufacturers of equipment installed at the consumer end and other related devices, the academic community, innovators and startups.The broadcasters have told the ministry that news media regulations in India are not unified. Multiple regulatory bodies have led to issues over the enforceability of decisions, they have said. A single law with one dedicated regulatory body needs to be devised exclusively for the broadcasting sector.Apart from the IBF, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and the Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI) have held meetings with government officials on the proposed policy in the past few days.An IBF member confirmed consultations with ministry officials had commenced a few days ago."The freedom of the news channels serve the larger purpose of the right of the people to be informed of a broad spectrum of facts, views and opinions," the IBF told the ministry, according one of the persons cited above. "The survival of Indian democracy owes a great deal to the freedom of our press. The National Broadcast Policy should provide protection to news channels and (their) journalists as an essential part of the freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed in Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution of India."The submission by private radio operators is said to be similar in nature. Allowing private FM channels to broadcast news is the top demand, said AROI secretary general Uday Chawla. They currently have to carry All India Radio bulletins either live or deferred by 30 minutes. "Though AIR gives us the news for free, many of us don't use it because the format is not exciting. We would want freedom to play news reports and also have self-regulation," Chawla told ET.The IBF wants a dedicated regulator."There is a need for the government to establish a distinct and separate regulator that is staffed by experienced industry professionals who understand the broadcasting sector," an IBF member said. "The policy should provide for a Broadcast Services Regulatory Authority (BSRA) and a Broadcast Services Appellate Tribunal (BSAT) as a part of sectoral regulators." Some of the other demands include implementation of transparent and timebound registration, licensing and approval process, a single-window clearance system to reduce timelines, as well as simplification and reduction of regulatory compliances.The policy will also seek to revamp state-run Prasar Bharati to improve standards besides cracking down on digital piracy and ensuring protection of intellectual property and copyright, a top government official said. It will also deal with sharing of infrastructure across platforms and promoting the indigenous production of consumer hardware to promote Make in India. A review of existing FDI policies to attract investment as well as startups to establish manufacturing facilities has also been proposed by the government.The government has also been asked to allow a self-regulation code for content production and distribution for video streaming by overthe-top (OTT) services. Broadcasters have also sought recognition for industry self-regulatory bodies such as News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA).
NEW DELHI: A forensic audit of credit ratings obtained by crisis-hit Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) group entities under the erstwhile management has flagged widespread irregularities, including inducements to get favourable ratings despite adverse financial situation. Citing an interim report of the special audit conducted by Grant Thornton on a mandate from the government-appointed new board, sources said the former top management personnel at IL&FS and its group firms extended favours and gifts to the top executives of rating agencies and their families and also suggested changes in the rating reports before they were made public. While the continuing probe has already led to CEOs of two rating agencies having been sent on leave by their respective boards, fresh details have emerged about suspected attempts by the former top management personnel of IL&FS Group to influence the rating agencies and their top officers for high credit ratings and also to thwart any negative ratings. The new board of IL&FS, which was appointed in October last year after massive defaults by the group post its debt burden ballooning to over Rs 90,000 crore and suspected wrong-doings by the former top management, had mandated Grant Thornton to carry out a a special audit for all high-value transactions undertaken by IL&FS Ltd and some of its group companies for the period between April 2013 and September 2018. The audit is aimed at identifying siphoning or misuse of funds, fraudulent transactions, their modus operandi, quantum of the financial loss and fixing of responsibility. Grant Thornton was also asked to review the ratings provided by various credit rating agencies (CRAs) to major companies of the IL&FS group -- IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (ITNL), IL&FS Financial Services Ltd (IFIN) and IL&FS Ltd. In its interim report, Grant Thornton said it appears CRAs had consistently provided and maintained good ratings over the years until in July/August 2018 when they downgraded ratings for the first time for ITNL due to a default of repayment of commercial papers. During the review period, IL&FS Group had availed rating services from Crisil Ltd, CARE Ratings, ICRA, India Ratings (a Fitch group company) and Brickwork. Officials at the rating agencies denied any lapses on their part and some even said the interim report seems to suggest limited knowledge of the rating process and was based on one-sided information. India Ratings on Saturday said its investigation into the role of a senior director at parent firm Fitch's Singapore office found him in violation of the company's code of conduct and he is no longer an employee. Regarding Grant Thornton's report, a spokesperson at India Ratings and Research said in a statement, "This report was produced without a request for our participation or involvement. We were unaware of its existence until shortly before it found its way into the public domain." A higher rating typically helps a borrower get a lower rate of interest and is aimed at giving investors an assurance about the creditworthiness of the company. Besides, it helps create a wider borrowing landscape for the company and is also often used as a marketing tool in form of a better image in dealing with customers. Grant Thornton said it identified multiple e-mails over the period from 2008 to 2018 which indicate that the IL&FS group was under stress or faced liquidity issues since 2015. The main reasons for the liquidity crunch have been identified as significant increase in debt in the various group companies, majorly ITNL, high capital requirement for ITNL and its various SPVs, decreasing profitability of IL&FS group and support to weaker group companies. It has also identified instances which suggest that CRAs had multiple concerns for the last 6-7 years on the operations of the IL&FS group, but the ratings assigned by them still remained consistently high until they were reversed or downgraded after June-July 2018. Listing potential strategies undertaken by the former top brass of IL&FS to get good ratings or avoid a downgrade, the report said the rationale which is supposed to be drafted by the rating agencies were materially modified on suggestions from the then key employees of the group. In cases where IL&FS became aware that ratings were not going to be favourable, they either delayed the process of rating surveillance or avoided the rating being made public. In certain instances, intentionally incorrect or incomplete information was being provided to the CRAs to avoid rating downgrade. In cases of desired ratings not being received, the IL&FS management used to exert pressure on rating agencies to either withdraw the ratings or approach other rating agencies who would provide the desired ratings. The audit also cited several e-mails suggesting that the CRAs, after meeting with the then key employees of IL&FS, would not downgrade their ratings as initially decided. The special audit has also flagged a potential conflict of interest between IL&FS and CARE, as for the period 2007 to 2013, IL&FS Ltd and IFIN owned equity shares of approximately 5-9 per cent in the rating agency. During the same period, CARE had also provided ratings to instruments of IFIN, ITNL and IL&FS Ltd, indicating a potential conflict of interest as CARE was rating its equity shareholder. "... Based on the review of the emails, it appears that the rating agencies were potentially aware of the issues in the IL&FS group. However, various strategies deployed by the then key officials of IL&FS group and certain favors/gifts provided to rating agency officials suggest the possible reasons for consistent good ratings provided to IL&FS group during the period June 2012 to June 2018," it said. The report has also highlighted instances where CRAs had "initially decided to downgrade the ratings, but a combination of tactics employed by then key employees of IL&FS and favors/gifts extended to key officials of CRAs resulted in either consistent/good ratings or avoidance of rating downgrade".
BENGALURU: Chinese technology firm ByteDance said it is establishing a data centre in India to store Indian user data locally after several lawmakers alleged that the owner of popular short video sensation TikTok was illegally sharing user data with the Chinese government.Several Parliamentarians, including Congress' Shashi Tharoor, BJD's Pinaki Misra and TDP's Jayadev Galla, have accused short-video app TikTok of illegally collecting and sharing data with China, violating user privacy, spreading misinformation and anti-national messages. Last week, the economic wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh called for banning TikTok until India finalises data protection laws. "Since the launch of our platforms in India, we have stored the data of our Indian users at industry-leading third-party data centres in the U.S. and Singapore. This is in line with our constant endeavour to ensure that we have the best interests of our local users at heart," it said. "We are now in the process of examining options for safe, secure and reliable services for our Indian users within India's borders."ByteDance claims that TikTok has 120 million monthly active users and Helo has about 50 million in India. "As a testimony to ByteDance's recognition of India's efforts to frame a new data protection legislation, we are pleased to announce that we are taking a significant step towards establishing a data centre in India," it said.Most foreign technology companies including Facebook and Google are resisting demand by the Indian government to store critical sensitive data of Indians within the country, citing privacy concerns and higher storage costs.
Surat, Kankaria & tragedy called Engineers Act The first and immediate requirement is to change the act from "Civil Engineers Act" to "Engineers Act" and cover all other branches of engineering therein
Registration of healthcare facilities mandatory These rules aim to make available a database of clinical establishments which are authorised to function and thereby improve public health quality by eliminating quacks
Congress' Nitin Raut wants sociopolitical allies to defeat Sangh Parivar Raut, a former state minister, stressed that Congress would have to create its own "social engineering" model to hold its own in the polls
D Raja elected new general secretary of Communist Party of India The change in leadership came after the party's worst-ever performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections
We need Shiv Sena, just as they need us: Chandrakant Patil State BJP unit's newly minted head says Shiv Sena-BJP alliance will be key to defeating Congress-NCP combine
