IRCTC scam: RJD chief Lalu Prasad gets interim bail till Jan 19 from court

Special Judge Arun Bharadwaj granted relief to Prasad after he was produced before the court through video conference from a Ranchi jail

A Delhi court Thursday granted interim bail till January 19 to RJD chief Lalu Prasad in two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation IRCTC scamcases filed by the CBI and the ED.

Special Judge Arun Bharadwaj granted relief to Prasad after he was produced before the court through video conference from a Ranchi jail, where he is lodged in another case, as he was unable to come due to health reasons.

The court directed both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file their replies to Prasad's application seeking regular bail in both the cases.

The cases relate to alleged irregularities in granting operational contract of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm.

The court had earlier granted regular bail to Prasad's wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav in the CBI case, while they are on interim bail in the ED matter, which was extended till January 19, the next date of hearing.

 

AgustaWestland scam: Christian Michel's bail plea order reserved for Dec 22

Christian Michel was in CBI custody for 15 days

A Delhi court Wednesday reserved for December 22 its order on bail plea of Christian Michel , alleged middleman charge-sheeted and arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case.

The 57-year-old British national told the court that he was not required for custodial interrogation and no purpose will be served by keeping him further custody.

Michel was in CBI custody for 15 days.

He was arrested in the UAE and extradited to India on December 4. The next day, he was produced in the court, which allowed his five-day custodial interrogation by the CBI which was later extended by five more days.

Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

Read More On → AgustaWestland scam

 

Telangana poll result: KCR takes oath as chief minister for 2nd term

Rao was unanimously elected leader of the TRS Legislature Party by the newly-elected MLAs

TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao , who led his party to a resounding victory in the assembly elections, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Telangana for a second straight term Thursday.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Raj Bhavan.

On Tuesday, Rao was unanimously elected leader of the TRS Legislature Party by the newly-elected MLAs.

In the December 7 elections, the TRS won 88 seats in the 119-member assembly, trouncing the Congress-led People's Front, which ended up with a tally of 21.

The police department Wednesday issued a traffic advisory asking the public to avoid the Raj Bhavan road between 12 pm and 3 pm in view of the swearing-in of Rao, and take alternative routes to their destinations.

The gazette notification by the Election Commission constituting the new assembly was issued during on Wednesday.

Today KCR along with TRS MPs, will plan party's strategy for the ongoing Parliament session. According to sources, a meeting of the party's state executive would be held in the party headquarters, Telangana Bhavan, on Friday.

 

India vs Australia 2nd Test: Ashwin, Rohit ruled out, Kohli mulls options

Ashwin's unavailability is a big loss as he had taken a six-wicket haul at Adelaide to help India record their first win in a series opener in Australia

India's premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and batsman Rohit Sharma have been ruled out of the second Test starting on Friday, dealing a double blow to the visitors at a time when opener Prithvi Shaw is yet to recover from an ankle injury.

With the trio unavailable for selection, India included Hanuma Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in a 13-man squad announced on eve of the second Test.

While Shaw injured his ankle while fielding in the sole warmup game before the series opener, Ashwin suffered an abdominal strain and Rohit hurt his back during the first Test which India won by 31 runs.

"Prithvi Shaw is recovering well from his left ankle injury but still undergoing treatment. R Ashwin has a left-sided abdominal strain. He is receiving treatment at the moment. Rohit Sharma jarred his lower back while fielding in the 1st Test at Adelaide. He is undergoing treatment. He too is ruled out of the second Test," read a statement from the BCCI.

"The team management is closely monitoring these players and a call on their availability for the third Test will be taken at an appropriate time," it added.

Read More On → INDIA VS AUSTRALIA

 

500,000 patients received treatment under Ayushman Bharat: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also stated that India is much ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030

At the Partner's Forum on maternal and child health held in the capital on Wednesday, prime minister Narendra Modi said 500,000 patients had received treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the first ten weeks after the launch. The government has approved claims worth Rs 7 billion, the prime minister said. The Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched in September to provide cashless treatment for 500 million citizens.

Modi added, "Officers have been asked to identify 117 'aspirational districts'. Each such district has been entrusted to a team that works across sectors like education, water and sanitation, rural development with top-most priority to health and nutrition." The government's vaccination programme has reached 32.8 million children and 8.4 million pregnant women in the last three years. Vaccines for 12 life-threatening diseases like pneumonia and diarrhoea are provided under the Mission Indradhanush vaccination programme.

It was also stated that India is much ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030. 12.6 million accounts under the 'Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana' have been opened.

 

Google has 'no plans' to launch Chinese search engine: CEO Sundar Pichai

Pichai told the committee he would be 'fully transparent' with policymakers if the company brings search products to China

Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai told a US congressional panel on Tuesday that the Alphabet Inc unit currently has "no plans" to launch a search engine in China but did not rule out a future launch.

Pichai, who testified before the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, had told U.S. lawmakers in a letter in August that providing such a search engine would give "broad benefits" to China but that it was unclear whether Google could launch the service there.

Pichai told the committee he would be "fully transparent" with policymakers if the company brings search products to China.

"Right now, there are no plans to launch search in China," Pichai testified. "Getting access to information is an important human right, so we always are compelled across the world to try hard to provide that information."

Lawmakers and hundreds of Google employees have raised concerns that Google would comply with China's internet censorship and surveillance policies if it re-enters the Chinese search engine market.

 

Babri demolition anniversary: Hindu outfits to hold programmes in Ayodhya

VHP will observe 'Shaurya Diwas' on December 6 to be followed by Gita Jayanti celebrations on December 18

As the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections near, the temple town of Ayodhya has become the cynosure of all eyes with the December 6 Babri Masjid demolition anniversary likely to act as a political potboiler.

Days after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) organised 'Dharam Sabha' in Ayodhya to seek support for construction of a grand Ram temple, the ring-wing outfit will observe 'Shaurya Diwas' on December 6 to be followed by Gita Jayanti celebrations on December 18.

Gita Jayanti marks the advent of Bhagavad Gita, the sacred text of Hindus.

"Shaurya Diwas (which marks the demolition of Babri Masjid) will be traditionally celebrated. In Ayodhya, VHP along with various Hindu organisations are likely to hold a number of religious programme, including 'hawan', so that a grand temple of Lord Ram is built in Ayodhya," VHP spokesperson in Ayodhya, Sharad Sharma told PTI.

2018 marks the completion of 26 years of demolition of Babri Masjid.

"Special prayers will be offered to Goddess Saraswati so that she can help the people, especially politicians, in removing any obstruction in the path of construction of Ram temple," Sharma said.

"Sarva baadha mukti hawans (hawans seeking to get rid of all obstructions) will be held. Tributes will also be paid to the 'karsewaks' who faced the bullets," he said.

Elaborating further, the VHP leader said similar Dharam Sabha was scheduled to be held in Delhi on December 9 in which over 5 lakh people are likely to participate. Read More

 

Google AI plays safe, blocks gender-based pronouns like 'him' and 'her'

Google's technology will not suggest gender-based pronouns because the risk is too high that its 'Smart Compose' technology might predict someone's sex or gender identity incorrectly

Alphabet Inc's Google in May introduced a slick feature for Gmail that automatically completes sentences for users as they type. Tap out "I love" and Gmail might propose "you" or "it." But users are out of luck if the object of their affection is "him" or "her."

Google's technology will not suggest gender-based pronouns because the risk is too high that its "Smart Compose" technology might predict someone's sex or gender identity incorrectly and offend users, product leaders revealed to Reuters in interviews.

Gmail product manager Paul Lambert said a company research scientist discovered the problem in January when he typed "I am meeting an investor next week," and Smart Compose suggested a possible follow-up question: "Do you want to meet him?" instead of "her."

Consumers have become accustomed to embarrassing gaffes from autocorrect on smartphones. But Google refused to take chances at a time when gender issues are reshaping politics and society, and critics are scrutinizing potential biases in artificial intelligence like never before.

"Not all 'screw ups' are equal," Lambert said. Gender is "a big, big thing" to get wrong.

Getting Smart Compose right could be good for business.

Read More On → GOOGLE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

 

Here are the first pictures of Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh wedding

Here are the first visuals of Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh's marriage from Villa Del Balbianello at Lake Como in Italy

DEEPIKA DAZZLES IN SABYASACHI'S RED AND GOLD LEHENGA

Bollywood's power couple, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh tied the knot in a traditional Konkani wedding on Wednesday. Today, they got married again to a Sindhi-style wedding. While Deepika is a Konkani. Ranveer belongs to a Mumbai-based Sindhi family.

THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER!

Deepika wore a red and gold lehenga, and Ranveer was dressed in white, with most guests dressed in pastels, keeping with the subtle and classy vibe of the upscale wedding venue. Their marriage took place in Italy's scenic Lake Como.

Read More On → Ranveer Singh Deepika Padukone Wedding Pics

Modi govt asked Tata to explore buying stake in Jet, rescue airline: Report

Tata Sons in talks with government about potential haircut to state-run banks on Jet's loans

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has sought Tata Sons Ltd's help to rescue struggling Jet Airways India Ltd, people familiar with the matter said.

Tata Sons is in talks with the government about a potential haircut to state-run banks on Jet's loans while Airports Authority of India may forego some of its dues, one of the people said, asking not to be identified as the discussions are private. The Tata Sons' board is due to deliberate on the matter on Friday, the people said.

Tata spokesman declined to comment while aviation ministry spokesman did not answer multiple calls and a text message sent to his mobile phone.

Read our full coverage on Jet Airways

 

Arundhati Roy writes on politics of 'perfect majority', 'satanic minority'

'As elections approach... 'expect more arrests, lynching, killing', Roy says in a letter to arrested Bangladeshi writer Shahidul Alam, on PEN International's Day of the Imprisoned Writers

Each year, PEN International highlights the cases of five persecuted writers – be they imprisoned, facing prosecution or otherwise at risk – that are emblematic of the type of threats and attacks faced by writers and journalists around the world.

Arundhati Roy : This year, PEN International is campaigning for Dawit Isaak imprisoned in Eritrea, Miroslava Breach Velducea killed in Mexico, Oleg Sentsov imprisoned in Russia, Shahidul Alam detained in Bangladesh and Wael Abbas imprisoned in Egypt. Writers David Lagercrantz, Jennifer Clement, Tom Stoppard, Salil Tripathi and Khaled Hosseini are taking part in this year’s campaign. To join PEN’s action, click here.

Here is the full text of Roy’s letter to Shahidul Alam

 

Xiaomi Mi Band 3: Budget smartwatch doubling up as health, fitness tracker

Priced at Rs 1,999, the Mi Band 3 has a lot to offer to fitness enthusiasts - regular heart rate and sleep pattern monitoring, fitness and heath tracking, route tracking, and much more

Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi, known more for its affordable smartphones, is also a key player in the smart wearables segment. Riding on the success of the Mi Band 2, launched in 2016, the company has now launched an upgraded Mi Band 3 , with a bigger touch-enabled screen, more health and fitness features, and an improved heart rate sensor for accurate monitoring.

In terms of design, the Mi Band 3 continues with the dual-element design that has been part of the Mi Band-series all along. The smart wearable has a tiny capsule unit that fits in the wrist strap made from thermoplastic elastomer. However, unlike the predecessor, this smart band gets a bigger OLED touch screen covered with curved glass, along with a capacitive key for easy operations.

The Mi Band 3 is primarily a smartwatch that also doubles up as a health and fitness tracker, and a heart rate monitor. Therefore, it is not a complete replacement for full-fledged health and fitness tracking modules or a heart rate monitor. Unlike the previous version, the Mi Band 3 has a touch screen that makes it easy to switch between different modes. To select and enter a mode, a long press is required on the capacitive home button below the screen.

The Mi Band 3 supports several modes, making it one of the most feature-rich products in the budget smart wearable segment. Although an entry-level smartwatch, the Mi Band 3 supports sleep tracking using the built-in heart rate monitor – something seen mostly in expensive fitness trackers. The feature might not return accurate results all the time, but it works flawlessly and shows details that make understanding sleep patterns easy. Another interesting feature of the device is heart rate monitoring, which can be set to regular or an interval-based one. Unlike sleep monitoring, the heart rate monitor is close to accurate and works well. However, it requires the band to be placed on the wrist properly.

Read our full coverage on Xiaomi

 

CBI vs CBI: After CVC submits report, SC to now hear Verma plea on Nov 16

The Supreme Court will also peruse the decisions taken by Rao from October 23, including transfer of investigations and change of investigating officers and may pass some appropriate orders on them

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Monday filed its preliminary probe report relating to CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma in a sealed cover in the Supreme Court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul took the report on record and fixed the next hearing on November 16.

During the hearing, interim CBI Director M Nageswar Rao also filed his report on decisions taken by him from October 23 till date as head of the agency. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that former apex court judge A K Patnaik supervised the CVC inquiry which was completed on November 10. The CJI observed that the Registry was open on Sunday also but no intimation was given to the Registrar regarding filing of the report. Later the SG tendered an apology and said though he was not explaining the circumstances there was delay on their part in submitting the report.

Highlights of today's hearing:

— CVC filed its preliminary probe report relating to CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma in sealed cover in SC.

— SC took CVC report on record and fixed plea of CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma, NGO Common Cause for hearing on November 16.

— Interim CBI Director M Nageswar Rao also filed report on decisions taken by him since October 23 as head of agency.

— Former SC judge A K Patnaik supervised CVC inquiry, which was completed on November 10.

Read our full coverage on CBI vs CBI

 

'Thugs of Hindostan' is like Koffee with Karan, albeit without the gossip

It's time we retire the films that put the stardom of actors above content and form

Movies appeal to us for a variety of reasons. Some stand out for their ‘what’ (content), some for their ‘how’ (form), some for their both ‘what’ and ‘how’. Then there’s the fourth kind: the one about ‘who’. This is the cinema of the privileged – the moneyed producers who make the ‘who’ possible, the factor transcending ‘what’ and ‘how’. The main curiosity here revolves around the stars. That gets multiplied if the makers manage a casting coup: convincing two big names, not known for their collaboration, to share screen time. That in itself is enough – to the extent that the craft of filmmaking becomes irrelevant. The audience gets its doze of voyeurism: watching stars react to each other. It’s a bit like Koffee with Karan, albeit without gossip and with some pretense of storytelling.

Such films will always be in demand because we don’t just love our stars, we revere them. Which is why it’s not surprising that the cinema of ‘who’ hits the theatres during festivals. This Diwali, we have Vijay Krishna Acharya’s Thugs of Hindostan, produced by Yash Raj Films, featuring stars that have never acted in a film together: Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan. A period drama, Thugs of Hindostan is set in 1795 when the East India Company has begun its rapid colonisation of the country. Resistance comes through a band of thugs, led by Khudabaksh Azaad (Bachchan), who aspires to free the Indian subcontinent – Hindostan – from the foreign rule. Then there’s another thug, the small-time conman Firangi Mallah (Khan), thoroughly devoid of conscience and purpose, hired by the British to capture Azaad and dismantle his group.

Read More On → Thugs of Hindostan Movie Review

 

In pics: Samsung unveils Infinity Flex, the much-awaited 'foldable' phone

Samsung's foldable phones promise the screen of a small tablet in a pocket-sized device

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled its much-anticipated foldable phone in San Francisco on Wednesday, urging Android developers to start writing apps for it.

Samsung needs to get the foldable phone right to reverse steep declines in profit for its mobile division and restore some of the cachet its brand has lost to Apple Inc .

Samsung Foldable Smartphones promise the screen of a small tablet in a pocket-sized device.

Justin Denison, senior vice president of Samsung Electronics America's Mobile Product Strategy and Marketing, showed a prototype with a screen he said measured 7.3 inches diagonally.

Read our full coverage on Samsung

 

This girl became the Instagram queen of Iraq. And then was shot to death

Ms. Fares's likeness remains repeated in this internet hall of mirrors: swathed in a hotel robe, getting her hair done on Eid al-Fitr, playing video games, flaunting her intricate tattoos

On Oct. 9, the Iraqi author Sinan Antoon tweeted, “Killing those who are other/different has become a ritual/hobby, practiced by individuals for fun, after having been institutionalized by the state, political parties and militias for years.” His tweet referred to reports that an Iraqi teenager had been butchered on a Baghdad street by an assailant who thought he looked gay. But Mr. Antoon could have been referring to any of the young Iraqis who have tried to break free of the rigid social codes governing both genders only to suffer vicious reprisals.

The most famous of these victims has been Tara Fares . When she was killed in September, Ms. Fares, who had 2.8 million followers on Instagram, was the sixth most popular person on Iraqi social media. At 22, she was a self-created celebrity who mixed sexy fashion shoots with video diaries in which she fired back at her conservative critics. Ms. Fares was shot dead in Baghdad’s Camp Sarah neighborhood while riding in her Porsche.

When I read about Ms. Fares’s murder, recognition hit me like a punch. Though I am 13 years her senior, when I was her age, I also worked as a scantily clad internet model. I also reinvented myself on social media, posting endless photos of myself, trying to build a following that would somehow translate into something more. Back then, qualified only for menial jobs, I also saw my looks as a fast-closing door to freedom and used them as best I could. But I am in the United States, and she was in Iraq. The stakes for Ms. Fares were far higher. Her courage was of a different magnitude from mine. Read More

 

What ails Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved?

According to a recent IIFL report, sales of Patanjali products have halved from two year earlier levels.

After clocking in sales of Rs 120 billion in financial year 2017 – 18 (FY18), Baba Ramdev – led Patanjali Group could now enter the slow lane. According to a recent IIFL report co-authored by Percy Panthaki, Avi Mehta and Sameer Gupta, sales of Patanjali products have halved from two year earlier levels.

The report, based on on-ground channel checks in Mumbai, suggests the development, could prove to be a boon for listed players like Dabur and Colgate Palmolive (India).

“Dabur is expected to benefit in categories such as oral care and hair care. We have already witnessed market share in honey rebound to earlier levels for the company. In other personal care categories, Patanjali sales were never material, but in these categories, Patanjali may have witnessed a decline and hence positive for the FMCG space in general,” the report says.

From humble beginning as a pharmacy in 1997, Patanjali has forayed into core FMCG products like toothpaste, shampoos, cornflakes and instant noodles over the past 20 years. Recently, it announced a foray into the dairy segment by launching milk and milk-based products, including curd and cheese, targeting sales worth Rs 10 billion from the segment.

Here are five key issues that Patanjali is grappling with, according to IIFL:

Distribution system

Splitting distribution by product vertical has created an unwieldy system with poor servicing levels, says the IIFL report. That apart, the ordering process has become more complicated now. Gaps in timely servicing have resulted in an increase in the frequency of stock outs in certain categories, which has eventually led to the retailer not keeping that product at all.

Read More On → Patanjali Ayurved

 

Statue of unity: Sardar Patel was synonymous with trust and integrity, writes PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering a special tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, says the great unifier was also responsible for building India's great cooperative sector

The first half of 1947 was a critical period in India’s history. The end of colonial rule was certain and so was India’s partition, but what was uncertain was whether there would be more than one division. Prices were rising, food shortages were common but over and above everything else, the unity of India was under severe strain.

It was in these circumstances that the States Department came into being in June 1947. Among the chief aims of this Department was to give impetus and top priority to negotiations vis-à-vis India’s relationship with the over 550 Princely states, which were as diverse as they could get, be it in size, population, terrain or economic situation. No wonder Mahatma Gandhi remarked, “The problem of the states is so difficult that YOU alone can solve it.”

In vintage Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel style, he went about his work with precision, firmness and administrative efficiency. Time was less and the task was herculean…but this was no ordinary person, it was Sardar Patel, who was determined not to let his nation down. One by one, he and his team negotiated with the Princely states and ensured that they all became a part of free India.

It was due to the round-the-clock effort of Sardar Patel that the map of India is what it is today!

Read More On → Statue of unity

Article Source : Business Standard / BS

Kohli fastest to reach 10000 runs; Tendulkar, others pour in wishes

Virat Kohli broke icon Sachin Tendulkar's record, becoming the fastest player to reach 10000 ODI runs

Virat Kohli broke icon Sachin Tendulkar's record, becoming the fastest player to reach 10000 ODI runs. Kohli took just 205 innings to achieve the feat.

Click Here To Read More On → VIRAT KOHLI 10000 RUNS

 

Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, dies of cancer at 65

Microsoft said Allen's 'contributions to our company, our industry and to our community are indispensable'

Billionaire Paul Allen , who founded US software giant Microsoft with Bill Gates in the 1970s, died Monday after his latest battle with cancer. He was 65.

"My brother was a remarkable individual on every level. While most knew Paul Allen as a technologist and philanthropist, for us he was a much loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend," Allen's sister Jody said in a statement.

"Paul's family and friends were blessed to experience his wit, warmth, his generosity and deep concern... At this time of loss and grief for us -- and so many others -- we are profoundly grateful for the care and concern he demonstrated every day."

Allen died just two weeks after publicly revealing that the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma he fought into remission nine years ago had returned. The incurable cancer affects white blood cells.

Allen managed his business and charitable endeavours at Vulcan Inc.

He was also active with the Allen Institutes of scientific research and owned professional US sports teams the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers. He was part owner of the Major League Soccer team the Seattle Sounders. Read More

 

Sexual harassment: Why #MeToo storm before Lok Sabha polls, asks M J Akbar

Modi and BJP President Amit Shah have decided to back Akbar despite RSS second-in-command Dattatreya Hosabale coming out in support of the #MeToo movement

Union minister M J Akbar , facing charges of sexual harassment that go back to his time as newspaper editor, has not only refused to step down but insinuated that the approaching Lok Sabha elections had a bearing on the allegations.

Speaking on Sunday after his return from his official visit abroad, he said he would take legal action against the women who had alleged sexual harassment by him.

Akbar’s holding out, sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said, stemmed from the seeming support he received from the party leadership. However, the sources also said Akbar was likely to be dropped as minister.

Though there is little political cost to the BJP if Akbar goes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has had a track record since his time as chief minister of Gujarat of backing his ministers even when they have faced criminal charges and have been chargesheeted. For the time, Akbar has been given an opportunity to defend himself, party sources said.

Modi and BJP President Amit Shah have decided to back Akbar despite Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) second-in-command Dattatreya Hosabale coming out in support of the #MeToo movement. Party sources said support to Akbar had yet again underlined that Modi and Shah thought little of the mainstream English language media and did not want to be seen to have succumbed to pressure mounted by it.

Read More On → #MeToo Movement

 

Google Plus is shutting down after massive data exposure of 500K accounts

The technical bug was detected as part of an effort called Project Strobe started by Google early this year

Tech giant Google is shutting down its social networking site Google Plus after a technical glitch was found to have compromised accounts and personal information of over 500,000 of its users.

The announcement in this regard was made by Ben Smith, Google Fellow and vice-president of engineering, in a blog post Monday, in which he noted that the Indian-American headed company could not confirm which users were impacted by the bug.

"However, we ran a detailed analysis over the two weeks prior to patching the bug, and from that analysis, the profiles of up to 500,000 Google+ accounts were potentially affected. Our analysis showed that up to 438 applications may have used this API," he said.

"We found no evidence that any developer was aware of this bug, or abusing the API, and we found no evidence that any profile data was misused," Smith said.

The technical bug was detected as part of an effort called Project Strobe started by Google early this year. It is a root-and-branch review of third-party developer access to Google accounts and Android device data and of our philosophy around apps' data access, he wrote.

"This project looked at the operation of our privacy controls, platforms where users were not engaging with our APIs because of concerns around data privacy, areas where developers may have been granted overly broad access, and other areas in which our policies should be tightened," Smith said.

The Wall Street Journal, which was the first to report about it said that a software glitch in the social site gave outside developers potential access to private Google+ profile data between 2015 and March 2018, when internal investigators discovered and fixed the issue. Read More

Article Source : Business Standard / BS

Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL launch on Oct 9: Know expected specs, features

Although, there has been no confirmation around the specifications and features, let's take a look at the leaked specifications and features of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

Search engine and technology giant Google is gearing up to launch the third generation Pixel smartphones on October 9. Touted as the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the upcoming smartphones are expected to be designed similar to their respective predecessors -- Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. However, as a part of upgrade, the upcoming phones would get new format screens, an improved operating system, enhanced camera modules and support for wireless charging.

Although there has been no confirmation around the specifications and features, let’s take a look at the leaked specifications and features of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Business Standard

Design and Display

The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are reported to continue with the design of the Pixel 2-series. However, due to new format screens, both the devices would have a new outlook. The Pixel 3 is reported to get an 18:9 aspect ratio screen, possibly of a 5.5-inch. The Pixel 3 XL, on the other hand, is reported to get a notch-based screen, possibly of 6.7-inch. BS The notch in the Pixel 3 XL is also reported to be bigger than any other smartphones with the same screen format. The bigger notch could be due to a dual camera module on the front, details of which are still unknown. On the back, the phone is reported to get a glass body with a matte paint job on the lower side, as seen in the Pixel 2-series smartphones. The glass body would enable wireless charging capabilities in the phones, making them first Google-branded smartphones to support this feature.

Imaging

This is one area where Google has shown how important algorithms are and what could be achieved by optimising them. Even with a singular primary camera in the Pixel 2-series, the phones managed to outclass some of the best dual camera phones.

Read More On → Google Pixel 3 , Google Pixel 3 XL

Facebook hack: Why you must avoid logging into sites using a single account

If you found yourself logged out of your Facebook account last week, it's likely you were affected by the hack

Facebook announced on Friday that its engineering team had discovered a security issue affecting almost 50 million accounts. Due to a flaw in Facebook’s code, hackers were able to take over an account and use it in the same way you would if you had logged into the account with a password.

Business Standard : The company says it has now fixed the problem in its code and reset access tokens for those accounts – along with 40 million other accounts that were vulnerable to the flaw. If you found yourself logged out of your Facebook account last week, it’s likely you were affected.

Beyond that, little is known about the extent of the security breach. In its security update, Facebook said:

Since we’ve only just started our investigation, we have yet to determine whether these accounts were misused or any information accessed. BS We also don’t know who’s behind these attacks or where they’re based.

What it means

This is not the worst data breach to date. That accolade belongs to the credit bureau Equifax, which had personal data stolen from the accounts of 147 million people. But, unfortunately for Facebook, there are several flow-on effects from the recent hack.

Read More On → Facebook Hack

 

Man hacked to death on Hyderabad road

A man was hacked to death in broad daylight on a busy road in Hyderabad on Wednesday even as policemen present nearby allegedly stood as mute spectators.

Two men chased a man and hacked him to death with an axe on Attapur road under PVNR Expressway as people watched in horror.

One of the attackers repeatedly dealt blows with the axe till he was certain that the victim lost his life.

Police identified the slain man as Ramesh Goud (38), the main accused in the murder of his friend Mahesh Goud in a sexual jealousy case last year.

Mahesh Goud's father Krishna Goud and uncle Laxman Goud avenged his murder by killing Ramesh, when he was returning home after appearing in a court in the murder case.

Witnesses said a couple of policemen present near the scene of the crime did nothing to stop the killers. Police officials, however, claimed that they had gone to get their batons.

In one video which went viral on social media, a police patrol vehicle was also seen passing by. The officials, however, clarified that the vehicle went a few yards ahead and stopped by the roadside.

Some passersby tried to stop the attackers but in vain. The assailants were not afraid even after seeing the policemen and the patrol vehicle.

The killer in the video is seen buttoning his shirt after striking a series of blows with the axe and raising his hand as if to signal "victory".

Read More On → Hyderabad Attapur News

Article Source : BS / Business Standard

 

I was raped at 16: Padma Lakshmi opens up about being silent on her rape

I understand why a woman would wait years to disclose a sexual assault.

When I was 16 years old, I started dating a guy I met at the Puente Hills Mall in a Los Angeles suburb. I worked there after school at the accessories counter at Robinsons-May. He worked at a high-end men’s store. He would come in wearing a gray silk suit and flirt with me. He was in college, and I thought he was charming and handsome. He was 23.

When we went out, he would park the car and come in and sit on our couch and talk to my mother. He never brought me home late on a school night. Business Standard We were intimate to a point, but he knew that I was a virgin and that I was unsure of when I would be ready to have sex.

On New Year’s Eve, just a few months after we first started dating, he raped me.

I have been turning that incident over in my head throughout the past week, as two women have come forward to detail accusations against the Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Christine Blasey Ford said he climbed on her and covered her mouth during an attempted rape when they were both in high school, and Deborah Ramirez said he exposed himself to her when they were in college.

On Friday, President Trump tweeted that if what Dr. Blasey said was true, she would have filed a police report years ago. But I understand why both women would keep this information to themselves for so many years, without involving the police. For years, I did the same thing. On Friday, I tweeted about what had happened to me so many years ago.

You may want to know if I had been drinking on the night of my rape. It doesn’t matter, but I was not drunk. Maybe you will want to know what I was wearing or if I had been ambiguous about my desires. It still doesn’t matter, but I was wearing a long-sleeved, black Betsey Johnson maxi dress that revealed only my shoulders.

The two of us had gone to a couple of parties. Afterward, we went to his apartment. While we were talking, I was so tired that I lay on the bed and fell asleep.

The next thing I remember is waking up to a very sharp stabbing pain like a knife blade between my legs. He was on top of me. I asked, “What are you doing?” He said, “It will only hurt for a while.” “Please don’t do this,” I screamed.

Read Complete Article → Padma Lakshmi Rape

Article Source : BS

 

Govt extends deadline for filing I-T returns, audit report till October 15

ITR filing by salaried taxpayers and those opting for presumptive income scheme surged 71% to 54.2 million till August 31

The government Monday extended by a fortnight till October 15 the deadline for filing Income Tax Return (ITR) and audit report for financial year 2017-18.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had received representations from stakeholders seeking extension of the last date for filing of returns by taxpayers whose accounts have to be audited.

The CBDT extends the due date' for filing of ITRs as well as reports of Audit (which were required to be filed by the said specified date) from September 30, 2018 to October 15, 2018 in respect of the said categories of taxpayers, the CBDT said in a statement.

However, Business Standard there shall be no extension of the due date for the purpose of section 234A (Explanation 1) of the I-T Act, 1961 pertaining to interest for defaults in furnishing return, and the assessee shall remain liable for payment of interest as per provisions of section 234A of the Act, it added.

As per data released by CBDT earlier, ITR filing by salaried taxpayers and those opting for presumptive income scheme surged 71 per cent to 54.2 million till August 31. These categories of taxpayers had to furnish their ITRs for financial year 2017-18 by last month.

Article Source : BS

Samsung smartphones with flexible, folding screens could soon be a reality

Samsung's flexible OLED screen is likely to be have the most basic level of flexibility

We rarely see a truly remarkable new technology more than once a decade. After years of undelivered promises, such a technology looks finally set to enter the market: the flexible computer screen.

Imagine, a tablet display you can fold up and put in your pocket, a smartwatch whose strap is the screen, or a handbag that is also a monitor and keyboard. Business Standard Nokia originally called this proposed technology “Morph” back in 2008 because of the plethora of applications it would make possible. Now it looks like it will become a reality.

After nearly two decades of work, Samsung is rumoured to be getting ready for the launch of the first flexible smartphone. The company’s head of mobile recently said it was “time to deliver” such a phone, and that the development process for it was “nearly concluded”.

BS : But perhaps more significantly, the Samsung Display division of the company recently said it had developed an “unbreakable smartphone panel” that had passed rigorous safety testing. Even after being subjected to temperatures of 71˚C and -32˚C, and dropped from a height of 1.8 metres, the display showed no signs of damage and functioned normally.

This display is a flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel made of an unbreakable surface with a plastic overlay window attached to it, making it simultaneously lightweight and tough as glass but a lot more robust. Manufacturers have yearned for many years to make displays with flexible, bendable properties and a paper-like feel with electronic functionality. If Samsung has truly found a way to protect a flexible OLED then it has solved a major technical challenge in removing the need for the glass screens used on most other displays today.

Read More On → Samsung Flexible Smartphone

 

Asia Cup 2018 Ban vs Afg highlights:Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 136 runs

Afghanistan and Bangladesh will look to build momentum and confidence going into the Super Four of Asia Cup 2018. Check Afghanistan vs Bangladesh live score updates here

In today’s match of Asia Cup 2018 , Afghanistan, who knocked Sri Lanka out of the multination tournament, will take on Bangladesh at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Bangladesh and Afghanistan might rest their key players given the tight Asia Cup schedule. Afghanistan and Bangladesh both have to play their Super 4 clashes against Pakistan and India, respectively.

This means Afghanistan can stay in Abu Dhabi after the match, while Bangladesh will head to Dubai to meet India on Friday. Bangladesh would rest some of their key players who are injured. Shakib Al Hasan is suffering from a finger injury, while previous match centurion Mushfiqur Rahim is going through a rib injury. The captain, Mashrafe Mortaza, should also rest himself for the dead rubber as taking the strain of back-to-back games makes no sense.

Asia Cup 2018 Live Scoreboard: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Live Score