China's "Great Firewall" system of online censorship blocks domestic access to nearly a quarter of the foreign news organisations accredited to report in the country, a press watchdog said Tuesday.

Beijing bars its citizens from accessing the publicly available websites of 23 per cent of 215 international news organisations that have journalists based in China, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) said in a statement.

Thirty-one per cent of news organisations that publish primarily in English, the most widely spoken foreign language in China, are blocked, the FCCC said in a statement.

The numbers were determined via an analysis by the press club and GreatFire.org, which tracks Chinese online censorship.

The statement was released on the final day of the China-organised sixth annual World Internet Conference in the eastern city of Wuzhen, which the ruling Communist Party uses to further its argument that governments should be able to police their own online turf.

"China's internet controls have been used to block a growing list of global news sources," the FCCC said.

"Those digital blocks run counter to the ethos of internet openness, and prevent Chinese access to valuable sources of independent reporting on international matters, as well as China's own domestic affairs."

The blocked sites include the BBC, Bloomberg, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Yomiuri Shimbun and many others, it said.

The FCCC said according to the government 536 foreign journalists have accreditation to report in China.

The so-called "Great Firewall" is considered the world's biggest and most sophisticated censorship apparatus.

It blocks a slew of foreign sites including Facebook and Twitter, and Google shut down its search engine in China in 2010, refusing Beijing's requirement to censor search results.

China's "Great Firewall" system of online censorship blocks domestic access to nearly a quarter of the foreign news organisations accredited to report in the country, a press watchdog said Tuesday.

China's "Great Firewall" system of online censorship blocks domestic access to nearly a quarter of the foreign news organisations accredited to report in the country, a press watchdog said Tuesday. Beijing bars its citizens from accessing the publicly available websites of 23 per cent of 215 international news organisations that have journalists based in China, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) said in a statement. Thirty-one per cent of news organisations that publish primarily in English, the most widely spoken foreign language in China, are blocked, the FCCC said in a statement. The numbers were determined via an analysis by the press club and GreatFire.org, which tracks Chinese online censorship. The statement was released on the final day of the China-organised sixth annual World Internet Conference in the eastern city of Wuzhen, which the ruling Communist Party uses to further its argument that governments should be able to police their own online turf. "China's internet controls have been used to block a growing list of global news sources," the FCCC said. "Those digital blocks run counter to the ethos of internet openness, and prevent Chinese access to valuable sources of independent reporting on international matters, as well as China's own domestic affairs." The blocked sites include the BBC, Bloomberg, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Yomiuri Shimbun and many others, it said. The FCCC said according to the government 536 foreign journalists have accreditation to report in China. The so-called "Great Firewall" is considered the world's biggest and most sophisticated censorship apparatus. It blocks a slew of foreign sites including Facebook and Twitter, and Google shut down its search engine in China in 2010, refusing Beijing's requirement to censor search results.

China blocks almost a quarter of accredited foreign news sites: Watchdog

Diwali, the festival of lights, is just around the corner; and while all of us must stay away from crackers, there's no harm in pampering our loved ones with some gifts! Here&nbsp;we hand-pick some of the best products in our tech gift guide! So get set, there are plenty of options to suit all kinds of budgets coming your way.

<h3>Under Rs 5000</h3>

Are you looking to buy a present under 5,000 rupees? Here's a list of four gadgets that cost about that much. These quirky yet handy devices are sure to make Diwali more memorable for the lucky receivers.

Xech iSoothe eye massager 
This gift idea is for those who spend a lot of time peering into screens. The Xech iSoothe is an automated massager for the eyes. It claims to relax and rejuvenate tired eyes within minutes. Priced at Rs 4,999, it is designed by an Indian company Xech. The headset looks sturdy and has a good build quality. Also, the controls are neatly placed on one side. It is comfortable to wear and the foldable design makes it portable. Xech iSoothe massages the area around the eyes and forehead and stimulates blockages. The user can feel the&nbsp;difference within ten&nbsp;minutes. It uses a combination of intelligent air pressure, vibration techniques, and gentle infrared heat to soothe away stress, strain and aches. The iSoothe comes with five different massage modes, automatic, fresh, smart, lenses and sleep mode. Users can choose the mode as per their requirement. And that’s not all, it comes with embedded speakers which means you can enjoy music along with the massage.

Carvaan Go 
This one is for those who love the golden era Hindi songs. The Carvaan Go is the most compact music player Saregama has released so far. Like other Carvaan audio players, this one can also play your favourite evergreen Hindi songs, but its USP is that it’s portable, lightweight and slim; which means you can easily slip it into your pocket and take it wherever you go which makes it the true companion for travellers. Encased in a metal body, the Carvaan Go has premium looks. &nbsp;There are a few buttons to control the different features of the device and they are neatly designed and aesthetically placed. It is priced at Rs 3,990. The Carvaan Go comes pre-loaded with 3000 evergreen Hindi songs from celebrated artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, and Mohammed Rafi.

Songs are categorised not just by the name of the singers but also, as per moods such as happy, sad or romantic. It also has 50 curated playlists to match your activities like driving, walking and travelling. The Carvaan go also includes FM, as well as a MicroSD card slot so that you can tune into your own playlists too. The user also can easily connect the player to earphones or external speakers via Bluetooth and Aux.

We say it’s a good gift item for those who love to collect all things retro.

Mi soundbar 
Next up in our list is Xiaomi's Mi soundbar, which is touted to offer a home theatre-like experience at an affordable price. Priced at Rs 4,999, the Mi Soundbar has a slim and minimalistic design and you can either mount it on the wall or just keep it on a table; either way, it nicely blends with the aesthetics of the living room. This compact soundbar includes multiple connectivity options such as Bluetooth, S/PDIF, aux-in, and line-in connectivity ports that allow you to connect it to any television or mobile device. Not just the design, the audio quality is also very good and gives the surround sound experience. The Mi Soundbar can be a good addition to your friend’s living room this Diwali.

Shifu Plugo 
Our gift guide isn’t just about adults, we have something in store for kids also. An augmented reality-based educational toy, Shifu Plugo can turn electronic devices into a great source of learning. It comes with different types of gaming kits and it’s targetted at children over the age of five. The price of this toy is Rs 2,499. Shifu Plugo is also very easy to set up. Just download the Plugo app unfold and set the gamepad, which houses a magnetic area to play games; and then just attach a compatible tablet or a smartphone.

Shifu Plugo allows children to play different games, such as the link game, which comes with hexagon-shaped building blocks. It's fun and challenging at the same time. There are several games too that are compatible with this kit. The Shifu Plugo claims to improve children’s logical reasoning, boost their mental abilities, and enhance their problem-solving skills. Quite a fun way to brighten up Diwali for children.

Under Rs 10,000

Huami Amazfit GTR 
There are many smartwatches available under 10,000 rupees, but the Huami Amazfit GTR is the one that ticks all the right boxes. In terms of design, the watch has very premium looks. The dial is made of aluminium and gives quite elegant looks. It is also slim and doesn't weigh much which makes it comfortable to wear for long hours. The watch is priced at Rs 9,999. The display of this watch is another highlight. It has a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen which is a treat to the eyes. The display is vibrant, highly responsive and offers a smooth experience. Most importantly, it’s visible in bright sunlight!

That’s about the look and feel.&nbsp;Huami Amazfit GTR is simple to use; just install the Amazfit app to pair the watch with your phone. Once that's done you can access all the data of the watch with the phone. Like many other smartwatches, the Amazfit GTR uses a set of sensors to track the number of steps, calories burned, heart rate and sleep patterns. It not only records but also offers smart analysis of all the activities undertaken. Also, you can receive call alerts and read messages on the watch. The user can also personalise the watch before strapping it on your wrist as it comes with a hundred watch faces to give you plenty of variety.

The battery life is also good. It can last for around a week with basic usage. The Amazfit GTR is also water-resistant which is a pleasant surprise for a watch at this price range. It is water-resistant to a depth of 50 metres which means and can be used for activities like swimming and snorkelling. 
 
Skullcandy Indy 
Wireless earbuds are all the rage these days. So why not surprise a loved one with a wireless audio device? Like most wireless earbuds, the Indy comes with its own storage case that doubles up as a charger. All you need is a micro USB cable. The sound quality is good and loud enough with decent bass. Its noise cancellation is also excellent.

It scores a perfect ten when it comes to comfort. The fit is snug enough to keep the buds in place without being tight. The case is pretty handy and lightweight and will fit easily in a small bag, or even a trouser pocket. You’ll keep looking for buttons on the earbuds and the case, but there are none as it has the tap technology. You can change songs, adjust volume, and manage calls just by tapping your earbuds. How minimalist is that!

The earbuds' battery lasts for around 3-4 hours. All in all, these wireless earbuds make a good present.

Under Rs 20,000

Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 smartphone printer 
If you have dear ones who love to collect photographs, this would be a thoughtful gift. The Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 smartphone printer can print smartphone photos with ease, to bring those heartwarming moments to life. The instant printer has a neat design with a few buttons. Just like a regular printer, it has a separate compartment to accommodate print sheets and outlet that dispenses the printed photos.

The led lights near the dispenser will update you about the number of sheets left inside. The printer is it’s light-weight and easy to use and it can be paired with your phone via wifi. Photos can be printed from the phone’s gallery or from social media accounts like Instagram and Facebook. The printer gives good photo quality and reasonably detailed. The colours and contrast are good as well. It is priced at Rs 13,499. All in all, we think the printer is value for money.

Kent CamEye 
Kent CamEye is an interesting product for your car. The device aims to ensure the safety of the vehicle as well as the passengers. The device has two cameras, one on each side, that record everything that's happening both inside and outside of the car while the entire footage is live-streamed to your phone. Since it's always on, Kent CamEye live-streams videos to your phone and keeps you up to date with the whereabouts of the car.

It also alerts you if your driver is being rash, over-speeding, or taking intentional detours for personal work. It also alerts you if the driver sleeps in the car with the AC on. The CamEye combines the work of a dash-cam, and a GPS tracker, making for a neat safety device. The security camera offers a lot of features and they work smoothly. It is also very easy to pair it with your phone. The CamEye is priced at 17,999 rupees and comes with a free subscription of 3 months.

&nbsp;

Diwali, the festival of lights, is just around the corner; and while all of us must stay away from crackers, there's no harm in pampering our loved ones with some gifts!

Diwali, the festival of lights, is just around the corner; and while all of us must stay away from crackers, there's no harm in pampering our loved ones with some gifts! Here we hand-pick some of the best products in our tech gift guide! So get set, there are plenty of options to suit all kinds of budgets coming your way. Under Rs 5000 Are you looking to buy a present under 5,000 rupees? Here's a list of four gadgets that cost about that much. These quirky yet handy devices are sure to make Diwali more memorable for the lucky receivers. Xech iSoothe eye massager This gift idea is for those who spend a lot of time peering into screens. The Xech iSoothe is an automated massager for the eyes. It claims to relax and rejuvenate tired eyes within minutes. Priced at Rs 4,999, it is designed by an Indian company Xech. The headset looks sturdy and has a good build quality. Also, the controls are neatly placed on one side. It is comfortable to wear and the foldable design makes it portable. Xech iSoothe massages the area around the eyes and forehead and stimulates blockages. The user can feel the difference within ten minutes. It uses a combination of intelligent air pressure, vibration techniques, and gentle infrared heat to soothe away stress, strain and aches. The iSoothe comes with five different massage modes, automatic, fresh, smart, lenses and sleep mode. Users can choose the mode as per their requirement. And that’s not all, it comes with embedded speakers which means you can enjoy music along with the massage. Carvaan Go This one is for those who love the golden era Hindi songs. The Carvaan Go is the most compact music player Saregama has released so far. Like other Carvaan audio players, this one can also play your favourite evergreen Hindi songs, but its USP is that it’s portable, lightweight and slim; which means you can easily slip it into your pocket and take it wherever you go which makes it the true companion for travellers. Encased in a metal body, the Carvaan Go has premium looks. There are a few buttons to control the different features of the device and they are neatly designed and aesthetically placed. It is priced at Rs 3,990. The Carvaan Go comes pre-loaded with 3000 evergreen Hindi songs from celebrated artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, and Mohammed Rafi. Songs are categorised not just by the name of the singers but also, as per moods such as happy, sad or romantic. It also has 50 curated playlists to match your activities like driving, walking and travelling. The Carvaan go also includes FM, as well as a MicroSD card slot so that you can tune into your own playlists too. The user also can easily connect the player to earphones or external speakers via Bluetooth and Aux. We say it’s a good gift item for those who love to collect all things retro. Mi soundbar Next up in our list is Xiaomi's Mi soundbar, which is touted to offer a home theatre-like experience at an affordable price. Priced at Rs 4,999, the Mi Soundbar has a slim and minimalistic design and you can either mount it on the wall or just keep it on a table; either way, it nicely blends with the aesthetics of the living room. This compact soundbar includes multiple connectivity options such as Bluetooth, S/PDIF, aux-in, and line-in connectivity ports that allow you to connect it to any television or mobile device. Not just the design, the audio quality is also very good and gives the surround sound experience. The Mi Soundbar can be a good addition to your friend’s living room this Diwali. Shifu Plugo Our gift guide isn’t just about adults, we have something in store for kids also. An augmented reality-based educational toy, Shifu Plugo can turn electronic devices into a great source of learning. It comes with different types of gaming kits and it’s targetted at children over the age of five. The price of this toy is Rs 2,499. Shifu Plugo is also very easy to set up. Just download the Plugo app unfold and set the gamepad, which houses a magnetic area to play games; and then just attach a compatible tablet or a smartphone. Shifu Plugo allows children to play different games, such as the link game, which comes with hexagon-shaped building blocks. It's fun and challenging at the same time. There are several games too that are compatible with this kit. The Shifu Plugo claims to improve children’s logical reasoning, boost their mental abilities, and enhance their problem-solving skills. Quite a fun way to brighten up Diwali for children. Under Rs 10,000 Huami Amazfit GTR There are many smartwatches available under 10,000 rupees, but the Huami Amazfit GTR is the one that ticks all the right boxes. In terms of design, the watch has very premium looks. The dial is made of aluminium and gives quite elegant looks. It is also slim and doesn't weigh much which makes it comfortable to wear for long hours. The watch is priced at Rs 9,999. The display of this watch is another highlight. It has a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen which is a treat to the eyes. The display is vibrant, highly responsive and offers a smooth experience. Most importantly, it’s visible in bright sunlight! That’s about the look and feel. Huami Amazfit GTR is simple to use; just install the Amazfit app to pair the watch with your phone. Once that's done you can access all the data of the watch with the phone. Like many other smartwatches, the Amazfit GTR uses a set of sensors to track the number of steps, calories burned, heart rate and sleep patterns. It not only records but also offers smart analysis of all the activities undertaken. Also, you can receive call alerts and read messages on the watch. The user can also personalise the watch before strapping it on your wrist as it comes with a hundred watch faces to give you plenty of variety. The battery life is also good. It can last for around a week with basic usage. The Amazfit GTR is also water-resistant which is a pleasant surprise for a watch at this price range. It is water-resistant to a depth of 50 metres which means and can be used for activities like swimming and snorkelling. Skullcandy Indy Wireless earbuds are all the rage these days. So why not surprise a loved one with a wireless audio device? Like most wireless earbuds, the Indy comes with its own storage case that doubles up as a charger. All you need is a micro USB cable. The sound quality is good and loud enough with decent bass. Its noise cancellation is also excellent. It scores a perfect ten when it comes to comfort. The fit is snug enough to keep the buds in place without being tight. The case is pretty handy and lightweight and will fit easily in a small bag, or even a trouser pocket. You’ll keep looking for buttons on the earbuds and the case, but there are none as it has the tap technology. You can change songs, adjust volume, and manage calls just by tapping your earbuds. How minimalist is that! The earbuds' battery lasts for around 3-4 hours. All in all, these wireless earbuds make a good present. Under Rs 20,000 Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 smartphone printer If you have dear ones who love to collect photographs, this would be a thoughtful gift. The Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 smartphone printer can print smartphone photos with ease, to bring those heartwarming moments to life. The instant printer has a neat design with a few buttons. Just like a regular printer, it has a separate compartment to accommodate print sheets and outlet that dispenses the printed photos. The led lights near the dispenser will update you about the number of sheets left inside. The printer is it’s light-weight and easy to use and it can be paired with your phone via wifi. Photos can be printed from the phone’s gallery or from social media accounts like Instagram and Facebook. The printer gives good photo quality and reasonably detailed. The colours and contrast are good as well. It is priced at Rs 13,499. All in all, we think the printer is value for money. Kent CamEye Kent CamEye is an interesting product for your car. The device aims to ensure the safety of the vehicle as well as the passengers. The device has two cameras, one on each side, that record everything that's happening both inside and outside of the car while the entire footage is live-streamed to your phone. Since it's always on, Kent CamEye live-streams videos to your phone and keeps you up to date with the whereabouts of the car. It also alerts you if your driver is being rash, over-speeding, or taking intentional detours for personal work. It also alerts you if the driver sleeps in the car with the AC on. The CamEye combines the work of a dash-cam, and a GPS tracker, making for a neat safety device. The security camera offers a lot of features and they work smoothly. It is also very easy to pair it with your phone. The CamEye is priced at 17,999 rupees and comes with a free subscription of 3 months.

Smartwatch to soundbar: Your complete Diwali gift guide suiting all kinds of budget ranges

China on Sunday said it aims to become a "great power" in the online world and took a swipe at Washington on trade, kicking off its annual conference promoting the Communist Party's controlled and censored version of the internet.

US-China rivalry is increasingly playing out in the digital sphere, as Beijing pursues dominance in next-generation technology while Washington takes measures to cripple Chinese tech firms like Huawei.

China heavily monitors and censors its internet, with US titans Facebook, Twitter and Google all hidden behind a so-called "Great Firewall" that also blocks politically sensitive content.

At the yearly World Internet Conference, held in the picturesque ancient canal town of Wuzhen since 2014, Chinese officials talked up the country's tech prowess.

"We have become a cyberspace power of 800 million netizens," the head of the Communist Party's propaganda department, Huang Kunming, said in a keynote address.

Huang added that in the future, China "will unceasingly expand the fruits of internet development and forge ahead from a cyberspace 'big power' to a cyberspace 'great power'".

The propaganda chief also denounced "cyber-hegemony and bullying" by other countries, using language typically reserved for the United States, which he said were behind confrontation in the high-tech world.

'Internet sovereignty'

The US is threatening crippling sanctions on Huawei, which is expected to be a leading player in the advent of ultra-fast 5G communications that will make many new technologies possible.

"Some countries have placed restrictions on and suppressed other countries and companies, escalating uncertainty and even antagonism in cyberspace," Huang said, without naming the United States directly.

The US commerce department also earlier this month said it will blacklist 28 Chinese entities it says are implicated in rights violations and abuses in China's Xinjiang region, where an estimated one million mostly Muslim minorities are held in internment camps.

President Xi Jinping has previously sketched out plans for China to gain dominance,&nbsp; with heavy assistance from the government,&nbsp;in key future technologies by 2025, a strategy that has caused US alarm.

The conference has faced foreign criticism as an attempt to whitewash the Communist Party's cyberspace controls in the name of "internet sovereignty" rather than viewing the web as an open global resource.

In the past, the event has drawn leading US tech CEOs such as Apple's Tim Cook and Google's Sundar Pichai.

But with the US-China tensions simmering, this year's conference lacks any high-profile US figures.

Silicon Valley has also been embroiled in recent efforts by Beijing to step up pressure on foreign companies deemed to be in support of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

Earlier this month Apple removed an app criticised by mainland China for allowing Hong Kong protesters to track police, a move which sparked fierce criticism and accusations of bowing to China.

China on Sunday said it aims to become a "great power" in the online world and took a swipe at Washington on trade, kicking off its annual conference promoting the Communist Party's controlled and censored version of the internet.

China on Sunday said it aims to become a "great power" in the online world and took a swipe at Washington on trade, kicking off its annual conference promoting the Communist Party's controlled and censored version of the internet. US-China rivalry is increasingly playing out in the digital sphere, as Beijing pursues dominance in next-generation technology while Washington takes measures to cripple Chinese tech firms like Huawei. China heavily monitors and censors its internet, with US titans Facebook, Twitter and Google all hidden behind a so-called "Great Firewall" that also blocks politically sensitive content. At the yearly World Internet Conference, held in the picturesque ancient canal town of Wuzhen since 2014, Chinese officials talked up the country's tech prowess. "We have become a cyberspace power of 800 million netizens," the head of the Communist Party's propaganda department, Huang Kunming, said in a keynote address. Huang added that in the future, China "will unceasingly expand the fruits of internet development and forge ahead from a cyberspace 'big power' to a cyberspace 'great power'". The propaganda chief also denounced "cyber-hegemony and bullying" by other countries, using language typically reserved for the United States, which he said were behind confrontation in the high-tech world. 'Internet sovereignty' The US is threatening crippling sanctions on Huawei, which is expected to be a leading player in the advent of ultra-fast 5G communications that will make many new technologies possible. "Some countries have placed restrictions on and suppressed other countries and companies, escalating uncertainty and even antagonism in cyberspace," Huang said, without naming the United States directly. The US commerce department also earlier this month said it will blacklist 28 Chinese entities it says are implicated in rights violations and abuses in China's Xinjiang region, where an estimated one million mostly Muslim minorities are held in internment camps. President Xi Jinping has previously sketched out plans for China to gain dominance, with heavy assistance from the government, in key future technologies by 2025, a strategy that has caused US alarm. The conference has faced foreign criticism as an attempt to whitewash the Communist Party's cyberspace controls in the name of "internet sovereignty" rather than viewing the web as an open global resource. In the past, the event has drawn leading US tech CEOs such as Apple's Tim Cook and Google's Sundar Pichai. But with the US-China tensions simmering, this year's conference lacks any high-profile US figures. Silicon Valley has also been embroiled in recent efforts by Beijing to step up pressure on foreign companies deemed to be in support of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. Earlier this month Apple removed an app criticised by mainland China for allowing Hong Kong protesters to track police, a move which sparked fierce criticism and accusations of bowing to China.

China talks up technology prowess in face of United States rivalry

Alphabet (Google) subsidiary Wing has become the first company in the United States to deliver packages by drone.

In Christiansburg, the small Virginia town was chosen as Wing's test location, the 22,000 residents can order products normally shipped by FedEx, medicine from Walgreens and a selection of candy from a local business, all of which will arrive via drone.

Wing, which already operates in two Australian cities as well as Helsinki, announced in a statement that the first drone-powered deliveries had taken place Friday afternoon in Christiansburg, "paving the way for the most advanced drone delivery service in the nation."

One family used the Wing app to order Tylenol, cough drops, Vitamin C tablets, bottled water and tissues, the statement said.

An older resident ordered a birthday present for his wife. Although the majority of the delivery was done by a FedEx truck, the last mile was completed by drone.

The yellow and white drones are loaded with packages at a local centre of operations called the "Nest," where Wing employees pack them with up to three pounds (1.3 kilograms) of goods, deliverable within a 10-kilometre radius.

Once they have arrived at their destination, the drones don't land. Instead, they hover above the house and lower the package with a cable.

Other companies are working to launch similar services, most notably Amazon, UPS and Uber Eats. But Wing was the first to obtain a license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), authorising company pilots to fly multiple drones at the same time.

Alphabet (Google) subsidiary Wing has become the first company in the United States to deliver packages by drone. In Christiansburg, the small Virginia town was chosen as Wing's test location, the 22,000 residents can order products normally shipped by FedEx, medicine from Walgreens and a selection of candy from a local business, all of which will arrive via drone.

Alphabet (Google) subsidiary Wing has become the first company in the United States to deliver packages by drone. In Christiansburg, the small Virginia town was chosen as Wing's test location, the 22,000 residents can order products normally shipped by FedEx, medicine from Walgreens and a selection of candy from a local business, all of which will arrive via drone. Wing, which already operates in two Australian cities as well as Helsinki, announced in a statement that the first drone-powered deliveries had taken place Friday afternoon in Christiansburg, "paving the way for the most advanced drone delivery service in the nation." One family used the Wing app to order Tylenol, cough drops, Vitamin C tablets, bottled water and tissues, the statement said. An older resident ordered a birthday present for his wife. Although the majority of the delivery was done by a FedEx truck, the last mile was completed by drone. The yellow and white drones are loaded with packages at a local centre of operations called the "Nest," where Wing employees pack them with up to three pounds (1.3 kilograms) of goods, deliverable within a 10-kilometre radius. Once they have arrived at their destination, the drones don't land. Instead, they hover above the house and lower the package with a cable. Other companies are working to launch similar services, most notably Amazon, UPS and Uber Eats. But Wing was the first to obtain a license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), authorising company pilots to fly multiple drones at the same time.

Google completes first drone delivery in United States

The European Union's powerful anti-trust authority on Wednesday ordered United States chipmaker Broadcom to immediately halt certain practices, in an unprecedented salvo against US big tech.

The European Commission took the extremely rare move of ordering the interim changes from one of Silicon Valley's pioneer companies while the EU's investigation was still underway, citing the "irreparable" threats to competition.

"Broadcom's behaviour is likely, in the absence of intervention, to create serious and irreversible harm to competition," the EU's Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

"We have strong indications that Broadcom, the world's leading supplier of chipsets used for TV set-top boxes and modems, is engaging in anticompetitive practices," she said.

With the order, Vestager significantly stepped up her scrutiny of US tech giants, where investigations usually dragged on for years before companies were fined or ordered into compliance.

The ongoing investigation centres on Broadcom's highly popular TV and modem chipsets, devices that offer television and internet access to customers at home or work.

The commission said it has obtained information that Broadcom may be requiring firms to buy only its components or granting them rebates and other advantages if they buy high quantities.

The commission said it had also heard Broadcom maybe bundling products or deliberately undermining the "interoperability" between Broadcom products and other products.

The commission in June sent a "statement of objections on interim measures" to Broadcom requiring it to swiftly stop such alleged practices.

The European Union's powerful anti-trust authority on Wednesday ordered United States chipmaker Broadcom to immediately halt certain practices, in an unprecedented salvo against US big tech.

The European Union's powerful anti-trust authority on Wednesday ordered United States chipmaker Broadcom to immediately halt certain practices, in an unprecedented salvo against US big tech. The European Commission took the extremely rare move of ordering the interim changes from one of Silicon Valley's pioneer companies while the EU's investigation was still underway, citing the "irreparable" threats to competition. "Broadcom's behaviour is likely, in the absence of intervention, to create serious and irreversible harm to competition," the EU's Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. "We have strong indications that Broadcom, the world's leading supplier of chipsets used for TV set-top boxes and modems, is engaging in anticompetitive practices," she said. With the order, Vestager significantly stepped up her scrutiny of US tech giants, where investigations usually dragged on for years before companies were fined or ordered into compliance. The ongoing investigation centres on Broadcom's highly popular TV and modem chipsets, devices that offer television and internet access to customers at home or work. The commission said it has obtained information that Broadcom may be requiring firms to buy only its components or granting them rebates and other advantages if they buy high quantities. The commission said it had also heard Broadcom maybe bundling products or deliberately undermining the "interoperability" between Broadcom products and other products. The commission in June sent a "statement of objections on interim measures" to Broadcom requiring it to swiftly stop such alleged practices.

European Union orders emergency anti-trust measures against chip-maker Broadcom

India, one of the world's largest consumers of oil and coal, is investing $60 billion to build a national gas grid and import terminals by 2024 in a bid to cut its carbon emissions, the oil minister said on Sunday.

India has struggled to boost its use of gas, which produces less greenhouse gas emissions than coal and oil, because many industries and towns are not linked to the gas pipeline network.

Gas consumption growth was running at 11 per cent&nbsp;in 2010 but growth slid to just 2.5 per cent&nbsp;in the financial year 2018/19.

Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters at India Energy Forum by Ceraweek that companies were investing $60 billion in the network and building new gas import facilities to link all states by mid-2024 when the government's term ends.

"I am not talking about a potential investment. This number relates to the project that is under execution," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously set a target to more than double the share of gas in India's energy mix to 15 per cent&nbsp;by 2030.

India's biggest gas utility Gail Ltd&nbsp;has said it was close to completing the 2,660 km&nbsp;Urja Ganga pipeline project, connecting the eastern states of Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. The pipeline will have the capacity for 16 million standard cubic metres per day (mscmd) of gas.

"The Urja Ganga project ... will be ready by the end of 2020," Pradhan said on the conference sidelines.

India's overall gas consumption is about 166 mscmd.

The minister said the government had started building the northeast gas grid to connect eight states in northeastern India, a region bordering Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and China. He said the grid would be ready by 2023.

He added that, before the end of the government's current term, "India will be connected by a pipeline ring that will help transport gas from any corner of India to a demand centre."

Most of India's liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals are in the west, making it difficult for the industry in the east and elsewhere to secure regular gas supplies.

India, one of the world's largest consumers of oil and coal, is investing $60 billion to build a national gas grid and import terminals by 2024 in a bid to cut its carbon emissions, the oil minister said on Sunday.

India, one of the world's largest consumers of oil and coal, is investing $60 billion to build a national gas grid and import terminals by 2024 in a bid to cut its carbon emissions, the oil minister said on Sunday. India has struggled to boost its use of gas, which produces less greenhouse gas emissions than coal and oil, because many industries and towns are not linked to the gas pipeline network. Gas consumption growth was running at 11 per cent in 2010 but growth slid to just 2.5 per cent in the financial year 2018/19. Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters at India Energy Forum by Ceraweek that companies were investing $60 billion in the network and building new gas import facilities to link all states by mid-2024 when the government's term ends. "I am not talking about a potential investment. This number relates to the project that is under execution," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously set a target to more than double the share of gas in India's energy mix to 15 per cent by 2030. India's biggest gas utility Gail Ltd has said it was close to completing the 2,660 km Urja Ganga pipeline project, connecting the eastern states of Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. The pipeline will have the capacity for 16 million standard cubic metres per day (mscmd) of gas. "The Urja Ganga project ... will be ready by the end of 2020," Pradhan said on the conference sidelines. India's overall gas consumption is about 166 mscmd. The minister said the government had started building the northeast gas grid to connect eight states in northeastern India, a region bordering Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and China. He said the grid would be ready by 2023. He added that, before the end of the government's current term, "India will be connected by a pipeline ring that will help transport gas from any corner of India to a demand centre." Most of India's liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals are in the west, making it difficult for the industry in the east and elsewhere to secure regular gas supplies.

India investing $60 billion on gas grid to link up nation by 2024

Thanks To Technology, Only Will Power Is Needed To Walk Even If You Are Paralysed

Gravitas: Where There Is A Will, There Is A Way

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg will testify before the United States&nbsp;House Financial Services Committee on October&nbsp;23 as the company faces growing scrutiny from US&nbsp;lawmakers.

Zuckerberg will testify at a hearing titled "An Examination of Facebook and Its Impact on the Financial Services and Housing Sectors." It will be his first appearance before a US&nbsp;congressional committee since April 2018 although last month he was on Capitol Hill to meet privately with some lawmakers.

Facebook confirmed Zuckerberg will testify. The world's largest social media company faces scrutiny from lawmakers, the Federal Trade Commission and a group of state attorneys general.

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg will testify before the United States House Financial Services Committee on October 23 as the company faces growing scrutiny from US lawmakers.

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg will testify before the United States House Financial Services Committee on October 23 as the company faces growing scrutiny from US lawmakers. Zuckerberg will testify at a hearing titled "An Examination of Facebook and Its Impact on the Financial Services and Housing Sectors." It will be his first appearance before a US congressional committee since April 2018 although last month he was on Capitol Hill to meet privately with some lawmakers. Facebook confirmed Zuckerberg will testify. The world's largest social media company faces scrutiny from lawmakers, the Federal Trade Commission and a group of state attorneys general.

Facebook CEO to testify before United States house panel on October 23

Deutsche Bank&nbsp;is creating a new technology division in a strategy shift designed to reduce complexity and lower costs while transforming systems that have held back the bank for years.

The German lender's<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-congressional-probe-finds-possible-lapses-in-deutsche-bank-controls-report-247969"> legacy IT systems have been blamed in part for the bank's failure</a> to control costs and for its slow progress in keeping up with the wave of financial technology innovation across the industry.

Technology has long been a problem for Deutsche Bank. Former Chief Executive John Cryan complained in 2015 about "lousy systems" and "very slow processes", and former operations chief Kim Hammonds last year described Deutsche as "vastly complex" and the "most dysfunctional" workplace she has known.

The central technology division announced on Monday will be led by Bernd Leukert, overseeing tech security, data and innovation functions among others, the bank said in a note to employees seen by Reuters.

"At its heart, our technology strategy empowers our businesses to control 'what' is produced, while technology has control of the 'how'. In the past, the 'how' offered too much optionality and did not consistently follow group-wide architecture and tooling," it said.

The lender also established a board-level Technology, Data and Innovation Committee in May and has vowed to invest $14.2 billion&nbsp;in technology by 2022.

It will be doing so amid a technology arms race in banking. Research from UBS this year found that JPMorgan&nbsp;has budgeted $11.4 billion for technology in 2019 alone.

In its note to staff, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deutsche-bank-says-to-slash-18000-jobs-by-2022-233897">Deutsche Bank also said that moving systems to the cloud</a> would not happen overnight, meaning it would continue to invest in legacy infrastructure on which it operates today.

However, it pledged to continue to reduce the number of applications and barriers to technology functions.

"We have a bank-wide commitment to strengthen engineering expertise in the bank by increasing the share of expert internal technology staff," it said.

Deutsche Bank is creating a new technology division in a strategy shift designed to reduce complexity and lower costs while transforming systems that have held back the bank for years.

Deutsche Bank is creating a new technology division in a strategy shift designed to reduce complexity and lower costs while transforming systems that have held back the bank for years. The German lender's legacy IT systems have been blamed in part for the bank's failure to control costs and for its slow progress in keeping up with the wave of financial technology innovation across the industry. Technology has long been a problem for Deutsche Bank. Former Chief Executive John Cryan complained in 2015 about "lousy systems" and "very slow processes", and former operations chief Kim Hammonds last year described Deutsche as "vastly complex" and the "most dysfunctional" workplace she has known. The central technology division announced on Monday will be led by Bernd Leukert, overseeing tech security, data and innovation functions among others, the bank said in a note to employees seen by Reuters. "At its heart, our technology strategy empowers our businesses to control 'what' is produced, while technology has control of the 'how'. In the past, the 'how' offered too much optionality and did not consistently follow group-wide architecture and tooling," it said. The lender also established a board-level Technology, Data and Innovation Committee in May and has vowed to invest $14.2 billion in technology by 2022. It will be doing so amid a technology arms race in banking. Research from UBS this year found that JPMorgan has budgeted $11.4 billion for technology in 2019 alone. In its note to staff, Deutsche Bank also said that moving systems to the cloud would not happen overnight, meaning it would continue to invest in legacy infrastructure on which it operates today. However, it pledged to continue to reduce the number of applications and barriers to technology functions. "We have a bank-wide commitment to strengthen engineering expertise in the bank by increasing the share of expert internal technology staff," it said.

Deutsche Bank in strategy shift to address tech woes

Twitter Inc said late on Tuesday that the social media website and its dashboard management platform TweetDeck was hit with an outage, with thousands of global users left in the dark.

"You might have had trouble Tweeting, getting notifications, or viewing DMs. We're currently working on a fix, and should be back to normal soon", the company said in a tweet, which did not give further details.

Outage monitoring website Outage.report received more than 4,000 reports of the incident globally, including Japan, Canada and India.

A Twitter representative had earlier told Reuters that the company was investigating issues with TweetDeck, which is used by reporters and other content creators for monitoring tweets from multiple Twitter accounts.

Log in attempts by users of TweetDeck seemed to be redirecting users to Twitter's website.

Twitter Inc said late on Tuesday that the social media website and its dashboard management platform TweetDeck was hit with an outage, with thousands of global users left in the dark.

Twitter Inc said late on Tuesday that the social media website and its dashboard management platform TweetDeck was hit with an outage, with thousands of global users left in the dark. "You might have had trouble Tweeting, getting notifications, or viewing DMs. We're currently working on a fix, and should be back to normal soon", the company said in a tweet, which did not give further details. Outage monitoring website Outage.report received more than 4,000 reports of the incident globally, including Japan, Canada and India. A Twitter representative had earlier told Reuters that the company was investigating issues with TweetDeck, which is used by reporters and other content creators for monitoring tweets from multiple Twitter accounts. Log in attempts by users of TweetDeck seemed to be redirecting users to Twitter's website.

Twitter, TweetDeck suffer global outage, thousands hit

Accessing everything from Wikipedia to Google Maps <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/600000-rohingyas-in-myanmar-still-at-serious-risk-of-genocide-united-nations-249971">in Myanmar</a> is about to get a lot easier when it finally adopts the universal code underpinning phone and online communication next week.

Tech experts say the move to bring the country more in step with the rest of the digital world is crucial, but will cause "chaos" in a rocky transition period.

Myanmar is the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/myanmar-army-drops-lawsuit-against-religious-leader-who-complained-to-trump-of-persecution-248749">last nation</a> to embrace unicode that has significant numbers of people online. Without it, most users see international content -- and a lot from within the country -- as lines of meaningless symbols.

Household name websites can be impossible to read while translation and voice recognition software do not work.

October 1 is "U-Day", when Myanmar officially adopts the new system. From then on, all electronic communication from government offices, telecoms companies, banks and media must be in Unicode by law.

Myanmar became a global code anomaly due to isolation under its former military junta.

Microsoft and Apple helped other countries standardise years ago, but Western sanctions meant Myanmar lost out.

IT pioneer Zaw Htut, 47, describes this as the final battle won in a decades-long code "war".

"This is like changing to democracy," he enthuses.

However, making the switch to Unicode will be a turbulent ride, and he warned that initially there will be "chaos".

Facebook -- the main social media platform in the country -- has developed automatic conversion software to give users a "seamless experience", says strategic response team member Sarah Oh.

But many will suddenly be unable to read messages on other apps and from banks or phone operators, while those who switch will no longer be able to communicate with friends still using the old system.

'A lot of confusion'

A homegrown rival to Unicode called "Zawgyi" (pronounced: zaw-jee) -- meaning wizard -- evolved in Myanmar's detached digital ecosystem.

Its popularity exploded as the country opened up from 2011 and smartphone use soared.

Today around 90 per cent of people use Zawgyi instead of Unicode.

Incompatible without fiddly plug-ins, it only allows people to communicate in Burmese with other Zawgyi users, excluding the nation's minority languages.

Its clunkiness also means search functions do not work, crippling data storage systems.

According to tech experts, it could take years to achieve full migration.

Zaw Htut compares the abrupt switch to Unicode with the former junta's overnight decision for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nasa-pioneers-malaria-predicting-tech-in-myanmar-248770">Myanmar</a> to drive on the right instead of the left.

"But we're digitally empowering the nation," he said.

Joox, a regional version of Spotify, said it is impossible to convert the millions of Burmese language songs on its app.

With the deadline looming, celebrities and influencers are hammering home the need to convert while technicians prepare for a deluge of queries.

An army of volunteers are helping in online forums and offline at teashops.

"There's a lot of confusion," explains computer science student Tin Lat Nandar, 23, as she updates retirees' phones at a Sunday drop-in session.

Yangon street vendor Mi Mi, 35, says she has heard about the switch but does not want to change.&nbsp;

"I don't know how to do it", she said.

An estimated 10 to 15 per cent of mainly older phones will not be advanced enough to convert.

Many cheaper, illegally imported devices even come pre-installed with the old system -- putting those too poor to buy newer models at a clear disadvantage.

Still others are excited at the wealth of information now at their fingertips.

"I'll be able to read Wikipedia in Burmese," says a beaming Aung Kyaw Oo, 62, as he leaves a drop-in session.

Accessing everything from Wikipedia to Google Maps in Myanmar is about to get a lot easier when it finally adopts the universal code underpinning phone and online communication next week.

Accessing everything from Wikipedia to Google Maps in Myanmar is about to get a lot easier when it finally adopts the universal code underpinning phone and online communication next week. Tech experts say the move to bring the country more in step with the rest of the digital world is crucial, but will cause "chaos" in a rocky transition period. Myanmar is the last nation to embrace unicode that has significant numbers of people online. Without it, most users see international content -- and a lot from within the country -- as lines of meaningless symbols. Household name websites can be impossible to read while translation and voice recognition software do not work. October 1 is "U-Day", when Myanmar officially adopts the new system. From then on, all electronic communication from government offices, telecoms companies, banks and media must be in Unicode by law. Myanmar became a global code anomaly due to isolation under its former military junta. Microsoft and Apple helped other countries standardise years ago, but Western sanctions meant Myanmar lost out. IT pioneer Zaw Htut, 47, describes this as the final battle won in a decades-long code "war". "This is like changing to democracy," he enthuses. However, making the switch to Unicode will be a turbulent ride, and he warned that initially there will be "chaos". Facebook -- the main social media platform in the country -- has developed automatic conversion software to give users a "seamless experience", says strategic response team member Sarah Oh. But many will suddenly be unable to read messages on other apps and from banks or phone operators, while those who switch will no longer be able to communicate with friends still using the old system. 'A lot of confusion' A homegrown rival to Unicode called "Zawgyi" (pronounced: zaw-jee) -- meaning wizard -- evolved in Myanmar's detached digital ecosystem. Its popularity exploded as the country opened up from 2011 and smartphone use soared. Today around 90 per cent of people use Zawgyi instead of Unicode. Incompatible without fiddly plug-ins, it only allows people to communicate in Burmese with other Zawgyi users, excluding the nation's minority languages. Its clunkiness also means search functions do not work, crippling data storage systems. According to tech experts, it could take years to achieve full migration. Zaw Htut compares the abrupt switch to Unicode with the former junta's overnight decision for Myanmar to drive on the right instead of the left. "But we're digitally empowering the nation," he said. Joox, a regional version of Spotify, said it is impossible to convert the millions of Burmese language songs on its app. With the deadline looming, celebrities and influencers are hammering home the need to convert while technicians prepare for a deluge of queries. An army of volunteers are helping in online forums and offline at teashops. "There's a lot of confusion," explains computer science student Tin Lat Nandar, 23, as she updates retirees' phones at a Sunday drop-in session. Yangon street vendor Mi Mi, 35, says she has heard about the switch but does not want to change. "I don't know how to do it", she said. An estimated 10 to 15 per cent of mainly older phones will not be advanced enough to convert. Many cheaper, illegally imported devices even come pre-installed with the old system -- putting those too poor to buy newer models at a clear disadvantage. Still others are excited at the wealth of information now at their fingertips. "I'll be able to read Wikipedia in Burmese," says a beaming Aung Kyaw Oo, 62, as he leaves a drop-in session.

Myanmar to become last country to adopt Unicode for communication

An Australian maker of drones used to spot sharks near surf beaches has partnered with online retailer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-tech-awakening-us-workers-at-google-amazon-join-climate-protests-250927">Amazon.com</a> Inc and other firms to create a drone service that could protect tourists from crocodiles in holiday destinations.

The project was initiated by the government of the northeastern state of Queensland after the privately-owned Ripper Group successfully used drones to identify sharks in the neighbouring state, New South Wales.

"It gives them a second set of eyes over the top of the human element to try and make it safer for crocodiles and the humans," Ben Trollope, the Chief Executive of Westpac Little Ripper drones, said in a telephone interview from Brisbane.

The Ripper Group has partnered with Amazon Web Services in developing the capability of the new drone service, including reducing delays in transmitting footage, Trollope added.

"Amazon have been vital... They've opened up their whole capability, which has allowed us to quickly get to somewhere that could have taken quite a long time", he said.

The drones use an algorithm created with the University of Technology in Sydney. According to developers, it can identify 16 different types of marine species and has an accuracy rate of 93 per cent.

The algorithm is adjusted to separate crocodiles from mangroves in northern Queensland's dense rainforest areas, a factor the ocean drones do not have to contend with.

"Everything is research for us. We're continually collecting data, teaching the algorithm to get smarter," Trollope added.

The drones featured at the World of Drones Congress in Brisbane on Thursday, where images were beamed in from a demonstration at a Queensland crocodile park.

Drone sponsor Westpac Bank, which has also sponsored drones that can both spot sharks and drop rescue devices to people in trouble since 2016, has sponsored rescue service helicopters for more than 40 years.

Queensland government data from January 2018 shows that four of 11 crocodile attacks since 2011 were fatal, including one in 2017 in the northern holiday area of Port Douglas.

An Australian maker of drones used to spot sharks near surf beaches has partnered with online retailer Amazon.com Inc and other firms to create a drone service that could protect tourists from crocodiles in holiday destinations.

An Australian maker of drones used to spot sharks near surf beaches has partnered with online retailer Amazon.com Inc and other firms to create a drone service that could protect tourists from crocodiles in holiday destinations. The project was initiated by the government of the northeastern state of Queensland after the privately-owned Ripper Group successfully used drones to identify sharks in the neighbouring state, New South Wales. "It gives them a second set of eyes over the top of the human element to try and make it safer for crocodiles and the humans," Ben Trollope, the Chief Executive of Westpac Little Ripper drones, said in a telephone interview from Brisbane. The Ripper Group has partnered with Amazon Web Services in developing the capability of the new drone service, including reducing delays in transmitting footage, Trollope added. "Amazon have been vital... They've opened up their whole capability, which has allowed us to quickly get to somewhere that could have taken quite a long time", he said. The drones use an algorithm created with the University of Technology in Sydney. According to developers, it can identify 16 different types of marine species and has an accuracy rate of 93 per cent. The algorithm is adjusted to separate crocodiles from mangroves in northern Queensland's dense rainforest areas, a factor the ocean drones do not have to contend with. "Everything is research for us. We're continually collecting data, teaching the algorithm to get smarter," Trollope added. The drones featured at the World of Drones Congress in Brisbane on Thursday, where images were beamed in from a demonstration at a Queensland crocodile park. Drone sponsor Westpac Bank, which has also sponsored drones that can both spot sharks and drop rescue devices to people in trouble since 2016, has sponsored rescue service helicopters for more than 40 years. Queensland government data from January 2018 shows that four of 11 crocodile attacks since 2011 were fatal, including one in 2017 in the northern holiday area of Port Douglas.

Amazon to save lives with drones capable of spotting crocodiles in Australia

Facebook on Monday said that it had made a deal to buy a startup working on ways to command computers or other devices using thoughts instead of taps, swipes, or keystrokes.

CTRL-labs will become part of Facebook Reality Labs with an aim at perfecting the technology and getting it into consumer products, according to Andrew Bosworth, Vice-President of Augmented and Virtual Reality at the California-based social network.

"We know there are more natural, intuitive ways to interact with devices and technology," Bosworth said in a post at Facebook announcing the acquisition.

"And we want to build them. The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/libra-facebook-unveils-cryptocurrency-meant-to-be-new-global-currency-228282">vision</a> for this work is a wristband that lets people control their devices as a natural extension of movement,"&nbsp;he added.

Bosworth explained that the wristband will decode electrical impulses such as those sent to hand muscles telling them to move certain ways, such as clicking a computer mouse or pressing a button.

The wristband will translate impulses into signals a device can comprehend, having thoughts rather than mouse clicks or button presses prompt actions on computers, according to Facebook.

"It captures your intention so you can share a photo with a friend using an imperceptible movement or just by, well, intending to," Bosworth said.

"Technology like this has the potential to open up new creative possibilities and reimagine 19th century inventions in a 21st century world," he added.

He spoke of how thought-commanded interactions might dramatically alter how people experience augmented or virtual reality scenarios, which currently feature hand-held controls.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-unveils-new-portal-video-chat-tv-streaming-devices-250423">Facebook</a> did not disclose financial terms of the deal to buy New York-based CTRL-labs, but unconfirmed media reports said it paid more than $500 million.

After Facebook bought virtual-reality gear startup <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-unveils-upgraded-wireless-oculus-headset-vr-push-167899">Oculus</a> in early 2014 in a deal valued at $2 billion, social network Co-Founder and Chief Mark Zuckerberg heralded the technology as the next major computing platform.

Oculus has since built a line of virtual reality gear, pushing down the price and eliminating the need to be plugged into a computer with its Quest VR headset.

In Early 2017, Facebook announced projects aimed at allowing users to use their minds to type messages or their skin to hear words.

The projects were the focus of a team of scientists, engineers, and system integrators with a goal of "creating a system capable of typing 100 words-per-minute straight from your brain," Facebook said at the time.

Such brain-computer interface technology currently involves implanting electrodes, but Facebook wanted to use sensors that could be worn to eliminate the need to surgically intrude on the brain.

Such technology could, for example, let people fire off text messages or emails by thinking, instead of needing to interrupt what they are doing to use smartphone touchscreens.

Facebook on Monday said that it had made a deal to buy a startup working on ways to command computers or other devices using thoughts instead of taps, swipes, or keystrokes.

Facebook on Monday said that it had made a deal to buy a startup working on ways to command computers or other devices using thoughts instead of taps, swipes, or keystrokes. CTRL-labs will become part of Facebook Reality Labs with an aim at perfecting the technology and getting it into consumer products, according to Andrew Bosworth, Vice-President of Augmented and Virtual Reality at the California-based social network. "We know there are more natural, intuitive ways to interact with devices and technology," Bosworth said in a post at Facebook announcing the acquisition. "And we want to build them. The vision for this work is a wristband that lets people control their devices as a natural extension of movement," he added. Bosworth explained that the wristband will decode electrical impulses such as those sent to hand muscles telling them to move certain ways, such as clicking a computer mouse or pressing a button. The wristband will translate impulses into signals a device can comprehend, having thoughts rather than mouse clicks or button presses prompt actions on computers, according to Facebook. "It captures your intention so you can share a photo with a friend using an imperceptible movement or just by, well, intending to," Bosworth said. "Technology like this has the potential to open up new creative possibilities and reimagine 19th century inventions in a 21st century world," he added. He spoke of how thought-commanded interactions might dramatically alter how people experience augmented or virtual reality scenarios, which currently feature hand-held controls. Facebook did not disclose financial terms of the deal to buy New York-based CTRL-labs, but unconfirmed media reports said it paid more than $500 million. After Facebook bought virtual-reality gear startup Oculus in early 2014 in a deal valued at $2 billion, social network Co-Founder and Chief Mark Zuckerberg heralded the technology as the next major computing platform. Oculus has since built a line of virtual reality gear, pushing down the price and eliminating the need to be plugged into a computer with its Quest VR headset. In Early 2017, Facebook announced projects aimed at allowing users to use their minds to type messages or their skin to hear words. The projects were the focus of a team of scientists, engineers, and system integrators with a goal of "creating a system capable of typing 100 words-per-minute straight from your brain," Facebook said at the time. Such brain-computer interface technology currently involves implanting electrodes, but Facebook wanted to use sensors that could be worn to eliminate the need to surgically intrude on the brain. Such technology could, for example, let people fire off text messages or emails by thinking, instead of needing to interrupt what they are doing to use smartphone touchscreens.

Facebook buys startup working on 'mind control of machines'

Online video content is a new addiction for Indians. An average viewer is now watching the online content about eight hours 28 minutes each week, more than the time they spend viewing TV every week, according to a survey.

Many users get hooked to Youtube and digital videos to the extent that they spend hours in a day consuming content it has to offer.

Be it checking the schedule of your bus or train. To the weather and the news.All create a dependency on digital media which further fuels smartphone addiction.

So when it comes to internet adoption trends - many reports say that India is growing as one of the leading markets in the world.

An e-marketer forecast has revealed that India is likely to overtake the US in terms of time spent on digital videos by the year 2020.

While popular apps like Youtube, Tiktok and online platforms like Hotstar and Netflix drive up the number.

A major contributor to this trend - is the rise of short digital videos.

The report says that the average daily time spent by Indians online is likely to increase from 1 hour 20 minutes in 2017 to 2 hours 21 minutes by next year.

Not just this - India consumes the highest data per user and subscriber in the world.

The telecom regulatory authority of India has estimated this to be around 7.69 gigabytes per month.

Now almost all of this is happening due to access to cheap android smartphones and 4G cellular data.

But it certainly has some advantages to it.There is no doubt that the usage of digital videos is exploding in India.

According to reports, nearly 70 per cent of online viewers resort to youtube to learn something.

Digital videos have also become an important source for consuming news. From trailers to movie clips to song launches, social media has become an indispensable part of the Indian film industry.

Social media's journey has not only been deeply linked to the internet growth story of India but also to video consumption habits of Indians.

Through online channels, Indian viewers largely watch movies, followed by news, TV shows and sports, amongst others.

Online video content is a new addiction for Indians. An average viewer is now watching the online content about eight hours 28 minutes each week, more than the time they spend viewing TV every week, according to a survey.

Online video content is a new addiction for Indians. An average viewer is now watching the online content about eight hours 28 minutes each week, more than the time they spend viewing TV every week, according to a survey. Many users get hooked to Youtube and digital videos to the extent that they spend hours in a day consuming content it has to offer. Be it checking the schedule of your bus or train. To the weather and the news.All create a dependency on digital media which further fuels smartphone addiction. So when it comes to internet adoption trends - many reports say that India is growing as one of the leading markets in the world. An e-marketer forecast has revealed that India is likely to overtake the US in terms of time spent on digital videos by the year 2020. While popular apps like Youtube, Tiktok and online platforms like Hotstar and Netflix drive up the number. A major contributor to this trend - is the rise of short digital videos. The report says that the average daily time spent by Indians online is likely to increase from 1 hour 20 minutes in 2017 to 2 hours 21 minutes by next year. Not just this - India consumes the highest data per user and subscriber in the world. The telecom regulatory authority of India has estimated this to be around 7.69 gigabytes per month. Now almost all of this is happening due to access to cheap android smartphones and 4G cellular data. But it certainly has some advantages to it.There is no doubt that the usage of digital videos is exploding in India. According to reports, nearly 70 per cent of online viewers resort to youtube to learn something. Digital videos have also become an important source for consuming news. From trailers to movie clips to song launches, social media has become an indispensable part of the Indian film industry. Social media's journey has not only been deeply linked to the internet growth story of India but also to video consumption habits of Indians. Through online channels, Indian viewers largely watch movies, followed by news, TV shows and sports, amongst others.

India to overtake United States on time spent on internet videos: Survey

By Pushan Dutt

Japan and South Korea are showing no signs of resolving an escalating trade dispute, which traces back to 1910. It now poses a threat to the world’s tech supply chain and has potentially severe consequences for the global economy. And the dispute is being played out within a complex confluence of historical grievances, domestic politics, the ongoing US-China trade war and a looming global recession.

Japan has officially removed South Korea from its list of trusted trade partners that receive preferential treatment for importing sensitive Japanese-made goods, as of August 28. The list of goods includes chemicals that are crucial to producing the semiconductor memory chips found in most modern electronic devices.

This means that Japanese companies will now have to apply for a licence to export the chemicals to South Korean companies, a process that could take up to 90 days. Semiconductors are South Korea’s top export item. With manufacturers reliant on the chemicals from Japan, any delay in their production could pose a significant threat to the country’s economy and the South Korean currency, the won, which has already dropped 8 per cent against the US dollar this year.

From a global perspective, South Korea semiconductor giants Samsung and SK Hynix, which supply 60 per cent&nbsp;of the world’s memory chips, have warned that they can’t rule out production disruption if the Japanese export restrictions remain in place. Any delay to supply could cause serious disruption to global tech supply chains and significantly impact other tech giants, like Apple and Huawei, who use memory chips and displays from Samsung.

A conflict with deep roots 
 
Japan has given no indication that it will change its mind. It claims the restrictions are a response to a national security concern, alluding to leaks to North Korea.

With no evidence put forward to support this, the likely scenario is that Japan’s action is part of an escalating and ongoing dispute involving historic grievances that date back to Japan’s colonisation of the Korean peninsula more than a century ago. During World War II, Japan conscripted more than 670,000 Koreans as forced labourers to support its military ambitions.

The recent decision to remove South Korea from trusted trade partner status originates with a South Korean high court ruling in October 2018. The court ordered Japanese companies to compensate individual victims of forced labour including the “comfort women” – Korean women taken as sex slaves and forced to work in war-time brothels.

Japan insists that most of the necessary compensation was settled as part of a $500m payout under a treaty signed in 1965 and then a new agreement that was reached in 2015. But the current South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, created a taskforce in 2018 which concluded that the 2015 agreement did not reflect the opinions of the victims, especially their demand that Japan admit direct responsibility. Tokyo refuses further discussion of this issue and the bilateral relationship has continued to deteriorate.

The dispute is an emotional one for both countries. Thousands of South Korean protesters have marched on the Japanese embassy in Seoul, to express their displeasure at being downgraded as a trading partner. Many South Koreans have also vowed to boycott Japanese products, and there are reports that petrol station operators have been urged to stop refuelling Japanese cars.

Global slowdown

Both Japan and South Korea are integral to the world economy and disruptions will have spillovers that will go beyond the two antagonists. The most immediate threat is to the global tech supply chain, but any slowdown increases the likelihood of a worldwide recession.

The dispute has come at a particularly bad time. Major economies are currently experiencing weak growth with negative numbers coming out of the UK and Germany and a general slowdown in the US, China and India. With the world’s two largest economies, the US and China, involved in an escalating tariff war that is chilling business investment, confidence and trade flows across the world, the Japan/Korean trade spat will only add to business uncertainty.

There is little indication as to when these disputes will be resolved, or in whose favour. Add to this the chaos surrounding Brexit and businesses are left wondering what will happen next. Not surprisingly, firms are already adopting a wait and see attitude, postponing investment and waiting for clarity amid increasing uncertainty, as bond markets &nbsp;send alarming signals of a looming recession.

Shifting power, weaponising trade

In the past, the US would have stepped in to prevent any flare up between its two South-east Asian allies from getting going out of hand. But the Trump administration has been hesitant to get involved, despite the important role both countries play in monitoring North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

In a telling sign of shifting power in the region, China has already offered to step in and help mediate the dispute. The foreign ministers of the three countries met recently but failed to set a date for the annual meeting of their leaders.

China considers stability a priority and has been actively seeking to bolster regional economic integration as its relationship with the US sours. It will also be worried about the impact the Japan-South Korea trade spat could have on large Chinese technology companies like ZTE and Huawei, which rely on US suppliers like Qualcomm for chips and semiconductors. But if the US trade sanctions cut off this source of supply, they will be looking to South Korea for the vital components.

Another concern globally is Japan’s use of national security to justify its trade policy. This weaponising of trade follows Donald Trump’s citing of security concerns when putting tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. China sees the trade war as an attempt to disrupt its core development strategy, the Made in China 2025 plan, prevent it’s reemergence as a world power and views the trade dispute through the lens of security and sovereignty.

World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules which govern trade between countries are, to a large extent, based on norms. They include a national security exemption clause which relies on members applying it in good faith. Once member states start taking advantage of the provision, there is likely to be a cascading effect, tempting more countries to weaponise this exemption in a tit-for-tat trade war.

(Pushan Dutt is Professor of Economics, INSEAD) 
 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-a-century-old-dispute-between-japan-and-south-korea-threatens-the-global-supply-of-smartphones-122502">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

By Pushan Dutt Japan and South Korea are showing no signs of resolving an escalating trade dispute, which traces back to 1910. It now poses a threat to the world’s tech supply chain and has potentially severe consequences for the global economy.

By Pushan Dutt Japan and South Korea are showing no signs of resolving an escalating trade dispute, which traces back to 1910. It now poses a threat to the world’s tech supply chain and has potentially severe consequences for the global economy. And the dispute is being played out within a complex confluence of historical grievances, domestic politics, the ongoing US-China trade war and a looming global recession. Japan has officially removed South Korea from its list of trusted trade partners that receive preferential treatment for importing sensitive Japanese-made goods, as of August 28. The list of goods includes chemicals that are crucial to producing the semiconductor memory chips found in most modern electronic devices. This means that Japanese companies will now have to apply for a licence to export the chemicals to South Korean companies, a process that could take up to 90 days. Semiconductors are South Korea’s top export item. With manufacturers reliant on the chemicals from Japan, any delay in their production could pose a significant threat to the country’s economy and the South Korean currency, the won, which has already dropped 8 per cent against the US dollar this year. From a global perspective, South Korea semiconductor giants Samsung and SK Hynix, which supply 60 per cent of the world’s memory chips, have warned that they can’t rule out production disruption if the Japanese export restrictions remain in place. Any delay to supply could cause serious disruption to global tech supply chains and significantly impact other tech giants, like Apple and Huawei, who use memory chips and displays from Samsung. A conflict with deep roots Japan has given no indication that it will change its mind. It claims the restrictions are a response to a national security concern, alluding to leaks to North Korea. With no evidence put forward to support this, the likely scenario is that Japan’s action is part of an escalating and ongoing dispute involving historic grievances that date back to Japan’s colonisation of the Korean peninsula more than a century ago. During World War II, Japan conscripted more than 670,000 Koreans as forced labourers to support its military ambitions. The recent decision to remove South Korea from trusted trade partner status originates with a South Korean high court ruling in October 2018. The court ordered Japanese companies to compensate individual victims of forced labour including the “comfort women” – Korean women taken as sex slaves and forced to work in war-time brothels. Japan insists that most of the necessary compensation was settled as part of a $500m payout under a treaty signed in 1965 and then a new agreement that was reached in 2015. But the current South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, created a taskforce in 2018 which concluded that the 2015 agreement did not reflect the opinions of the victims, especially their demand that Japan admit direct responsibility. Tokyo refuses further discussion of this issue and the bilateral relationship has continued to deteriorate. The dispute is an emotional one for both countries. Thousands of South Korean protesters have marched on the Japanese embassy in Seoul, to express their displeasure at being downgraded as a trading partner. Many South Koreans have also vowed to boycott Japanese products, and there are reports that petrol station operators have been urged to stop refuelling Japanese cars. Global slowdown Both Japan and South Korea are integral to the world economy and disruptions will have spillovers that will go beyond the two antagonists. The most immediate threat is to the global tech supply chain, but any slowdown increases the likelihood of a worldwide recession. The dispute has come at a particularly bad time. Major economies are currently experiencing weak growth with negative numbers coming out of the UK and Germany and a general slowdown in the US, China and India. With the world’s two largest economies, the US and China, involved in an escalating tariff war that is chilling business investment, confidence and trade flows across the world, the Japan/Korean trade spat will only add to business uncertainty. There is little indication as to when these disputes will be resolved, or in whose favour. Add to this the chaos surrounding Brexit and businesses are left wondering what will happen next. Not surprisingly, firms are already adopting a wait and see attitude, postponing investment and waiting for clarity amid increasing uncertainty, as bond markets send alarming signals of a looming recession. Shifting power, weaponising trade In the past, the US would have stepped in to prevent any flare up between its two South-east Asian allies from getting going out of hand. But the Trump administration has been hesitant to get involved, despite the important role both countries play in monitoring North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. In a telling sign of shifting power in the region, China has already offered to step in and help mediate the dispute. The foreign ministers of the three countries met recently but failed to set a date for the annual meeting of their leaders. China considers stability a priority and has been actively seeking to bolster regional economic integration as its relationship with the US sours. It will also be worried about the impact the Japan-South Korea trade spat could have on large Chinese technology companies like ZTE and Huawei, which rely on US suppliers like Qualcomm for chips and semiconductors. But if the US trade sanctions cut off this source of supply, they will be looking to South Korea for the vital components. Another concern globally is Japan’s use of national security to justify its trade policy. This weaponising of trade follows Donald Trump’s citing of security concerns when putting tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. China sees the trade war as an attempt to disrupt its core development strategy, the Made in China 2025 plan, prevent it’s reemergence as a world power and views the trade dispute through the lens of security and sovereignty. World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules which govern trade between countries are, to a large extent, based on norms. They include a national security exemption clause which relies on members applying it in good faith. Once member states start taking advantage of the provision, there is likely to be a cascading effect, tempting more countries to weaponise this exemption in a tit-for-tat trade war. (Pushan Dutt is Professor of Economics, INSEAD) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How a century-old dispute between Japan and South Korea adds to global trade uncertainty

The world is getting technologically advanced. From China to the US to India, Tech It Out gets you all latest trends from across the globe. This time, we decided to travel to the world’s most wired city - Seoul. Check out the most-exciting inventions from South Korea where technology is at play literally everywhere.

Tech It Out visits South Korea

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is the fastest-growing field of employment in the world, and also one of the largest fastest growing sectors.

Traditionally, STEM sector industries have been male-dominated, but in recent years, there has been a rising interest in hiring women for these jobs. One of the underlying reasons for the opening up of the technologically advanced employment sectors for women is the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies.

The evolution of AI-based automation has made technology capable of performing an ever-increasing number of applications. We are not only witnessing enhanced automation, but also superior ease of usage. With machines becoming smarter, faster and highly intuitive, the time is ripe for women to master them to their advantage in the world of employment.

For example, coding is getting simpler by the day. Today, it is easy to find apps and training options online, which make it easy for women from non-tech backgrounds to easily code and create programmes.

The globally-renowned MIT in the USA has been focusing on developing learning and training facilities that help attract more girls towards technology. &nbsp;Under the MIT Solve initiative, a game titled Erase All Kittens (EAK) has been developed. This game is designed to inspire girls to learn coding with professional languages such as HTML and CSS in a fun-with-learning style.&nbsp;

Until now, women had been less involved with technology since their traits like intuitiveness, adaptability, and social etiquettes made them better suited at skilled non-tech jobs. However, technology and smart machines are taking over almost all areas of operations, including STEM.&nbsp;

Being adaptive to change gives women unique dynamics that can help them master AI-based technologies in a better way than men. When it comes to mathematics or logical reasoning, there might not be much difference in capabilities of men and women, but when it comes to problem-solving, creative or intuitive thinking, women have proved their mettle time and again.&nbsp;

Back in the 1960s, Jean E Sammet developed Formula Manipulation Compiler or FORMAC, which was an early stage FORTRAN-based computer algebra system.&nbsp;

It went on to become the first large-scale computer language that helped in symbolic manipulation of mathematical formulas. The creator of Domain Name System (DNS) that is used globally was also a woman: Elizabeth Feinler.

The entry of women in technology and automation-oriented workplaces is not only beneficial from a gender perspective, but also from the commercial standpoint.&nbsp;

It has been observed that companies with a diverse workforce, which include a substantial number of women, perform 15 per cent better than companies that are male-dominated. It is amply clear that the lack of women in technology-dominated fields like IT is not due to lack of capability, but because of mental and social blocks.&nbsp;

In fact, it is quite interesting to observe that the percentage of women in tech in India (35 per cent of total workforce) is much higher than countries like United Kingdom (17 per cent) and United States (20 per cent). This is an indicator of the fact that women in India are taking to technology better than their western counterparts.&nbsp;

A report by Brookings Institution states that women (48 per cent) scored better than men (45 per cent) when it comes to handling digital technology.

According to me, one of the main reasons why women can and should dominate the future of automation and technology is the transformation towards design thinking. The AI-powered technologies of today are rapidly becoming simplified and with voice and gesture-based automation, the role of complex UIs will keep getting diminished.

The need of the hour is going to be women-driven and women-oriented design thinking and that’s where women are inclined to excel. Using AI-based tools, women can master digital technology better, as already evidenced by the Brookings Institute report.&nbsp;

About 70 per cent of young girls show interest in STEM (US data) and there is a need to convert that interest into a career in today’s automation-driven environment.&nbsp; 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-indian-women-more-tech-savvy-than-western-counterparts-2785144">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is the fastest-growing field of employment in the world, and also one of the largest fastest growing sectors.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is the fastest-growing field of employment in the world, and also one of the largest fastest growing sectors. Traditionally, STEM sector industries have been male-dominated, but in recent years, there has been a rising interest in hiring women for these jobs. One of the underlying reasons for the opening up of the technologically advanced employment sectors for women is the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies. The evolution of AI-based automation has made technology capable of performing an ever-increasing number of applications. We are not only witnessing enhanced automation, but also superior ease of usage. With machines becoming smarter, faster and highly intuitive, the time is ripe for women to master them to their advantage in the world of employment. For example, coding is getting simpler by the day. Today, it is easy to find apps and training options online, which make it easy for women from non-tech backgrounds to easily code and create programmes. The globally-renowned MIT in the USA has been focusing on developing learning and training facilities that help attract more girls towards technology. Under the MIT Solve initiative, a game titled Erase All Kittens (EAK) has been developed. This game is designed to inspire girls to learn coding with professional languages such as HTML and CSS in a fun-with-learning style. Until now, women had been less involved with technology since their traits like intuitiveness, adaptability, and social etiquettes made them better suited at skilled non-tech jobs. However, technology and smart machines are taking over almost all areas of operations, including STEM. Being adaptive to change gives women unique dynamics that can help them master AI-based technologies in a better way than men. When it comes to mathematics or logical reasoning, there might not be much difference in capabilities of men and women, but when it comes to problem-solving, creative or intuitive thinking, women have proved their mettle time and again. Back in the 1960s, Jean E Sammet developed Formula Manipulation Compiler or FORMAC, which was an early stage FORTRAN-based computer algebra system. It went on to become the first large-scale computer language that helped in symbolic manipulation of mathematical formulas. The creator of Domain Name System (DNS) that is used globally was also a woman: Elizabeth Feinler. The entry of women in technology and automation-oriented workplaces is not only beneficial from a gender perspective, but also from the commercial standpoint. It has been observed that companies with a diverse workforce, which include a substantial number of women, perform 15 per cent better than companies that are male-dominated. It is amply clear that the lack of women in technology-dominated fields like IT is not due to lack of capability, but because of mental and social blocks. In fact, it is quite interesting to observe that the percentage of women in tech in India (35 per cent of total workforce) is much higher than countries like United Kingdom (17 per cent) and United States (20 per cent). This is an indicator of the fact that women in India are taking to technology better than their western counterparts. A report by Brookings Institution states that women (48 per cent) scored better than men (45 per cent) when it comes to handling digital technology. According to me, one of the main reasons why women can and should dominate the future of automation and technology is the transformation towards design thinking. The AI-powered technologies of today are rapidly becoming simplified and with voice and gesture-based automation, the role of complex UIs will keep getting diminished. The need of the hour is going to be women-driven and women-oriented design thinking and that’s where women are inclined to excel. Using AI-based tools, women can master digital technology better, as already evidenced by the Brookings Institute report. About 70 per cent of young girls show interest in STEM (US data) and there is a need to convert that interest into a career in today’s automation-driven environment. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Indian women more tech-savvy than western counterparts

Climate change and energy usage are the need of the hour in India. Energy, in particular, renewable and sustainable energy, is becoming increasingly necessary due to India’s exponentially increased levels of population, pollution, international presence and trade over the past few years. In fact, it is safe to say that the way India handles energy development will determine the long-term health of the economy. While it’s easy to say that India should adopt sustainable growth, implementation comes with multiple challenges for policymakers, the Centre and state governments. &nbsp;

For starters, the Centre needs to first sort out expenses and allocations of creating and enforcing green energy and its productive use across industries. Additionally, the Modi government also faces significant economic challenges which makes implementing sustainable growth tricky. First, unregulated markets are moving towards regulated markets, but the pace and trend is impossible to track. Next, new industries like e-commerce are growing exponentially, and once again, the pace is unpredictable over the next few years. Yet another factor is the unpredictability of the monsoon season annually. PM Modi needs to somehow integrate green technology and the economic agenda to work together. The aim? In no sector should the market break and cause environmental alarm. &nbsp;

The effects of climate change are now clearly visible with altering sea levels, melting ice caps and changing temperatures. Consequences can be detrimental, quickly fatal, on a large scale if action is not taken right away. The effects of climate change combined with Indian-linked disturbances such as flooding, droughts, pollution and over-exploitation of resources inevitably result in changes in agricultural productivity. This in turn, significantly impacts the Indian economy. &nbsp;

Let’s look at how India currently uses energy. At present, India’s energy is a combination of coal, nuclear energy, hydropower and bio-energy including wind, biogas, bio-diesel, etc.). It is also interesting to note that a significant portion of India’s primary energy comes from forest and agricultural waste. This includes animal waste, wood chips, biofuels, etc. And along with bio-energy, India now also produces the world’s cheapest solar power. &nbsp;

India’s growing population and growing GDP is already faced with the challenge of countering India’s climate change, water, energy and sustainable development. Consumption is increasing and citizens of New India are attaining a better quality of life. This will only increase which in turn rapidly depletes vital natural resources like water. And if India faces more years with weak monsoon, a crisis like what is happening in Chennai over the past four months will be nationwide. Although every Indian resident needs to play a part by adopting sustainable living, the government really needs to play a pro-active role in solving the problem and clearly guiding industries.&nbsp; 
 
This means that individual policies need to be made across every sector and implemented immediately. Furthermore, along with the current aggressive international relations focus, policy-makers should work on required policy adjustments for sustained growth. An excellent example is to try to copy the Nordic commitment; multiple countries are eliminating fossil fuels completely from energy sources by 2020.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The time has also come for energy usage and climate change to be addressed (instead of just discussed) at the international level. A body like the United Nations needs to actively step in and give directions for curbing large-scale environmental pollution in India. It also needs to see through implementation working with the centre. One way is to use existing schemes like Swachh Bharat and engage citizens on a larger scale. Furthermore, agencies like the IEA could also give directions or even help provide India with sustainable sources for development (in smart cities for example) and for global growth. &nbsp;

An important note in our favour: Green technology is not only cheaper, but also labour intensive. Skilled and unskilled employment will constantly be needed for the long-run with its use. In other words, the more we use green technology, the more employment increases. A win-win for India. &nbsp;

Over the next five years, it is essential that the Modi government strongly push and perfect schemes that implement both solar and bio-energy usage. One way to do this is to have the industry grant tax deductions or exemptions for research and development of green innovation. Bio-fuels should also have low taxes or be exempted from taxes completely and higher taxes should be imposed on fossil fuels and fossil-based chemicals. Additionally, green fuels should be exempted completely from taxes. During his election rallies, PM Modi also stressed that sugarcane is used in the production of biofuel; this production should increase exponentially. Modi should also introduce a severe tax or penalty for pollution and emissions as well. Water allocation and management should also be addressed as soon as possible through the new ministry created by the Centre. &nbsp;

NDA 2.0 under PM Modi has already begun these efforts. Moreover, in his latest Mann Ki Baat episode, the PM stressed the importance of conserving water to citizens. This has not only made them more conscious of the severity of the situation but engaged them to be more civically responsible. I am happy that this government cares and is all about action. The new term has only just begun, but I am confident that it is this Prime Minister who will propel New India forward, and that too, sustainably so. &nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

Climate change and energy usage are the need of the hour in India. Energy, in particular, renewable and sustainable energy, is becoming increasingly necessary due to India’s exponentially increased levels of population, pollution, international presence and trade over the past few years.

Climate change and energy usage are the need of the hour in India. Energy, in particular, renewable and sustainable energy, is becoming increasingly necessary due to India’s exponentially increased levels of population, pollution, international presence and trade over the past few years. In fact, it is safe to say that the way India handles energy development will determine the long-term health of the economy. While it’s easy to say that India should adopt sustainable growth, implementation comes with multiple challenges for policymakers, the Centre and state governments. For starters, the Centre needs to first sort out expenses and allocations of creating and enforcing green energy and its productive use across industries. Additionally, the Modi government also faces significant economic challenges which makes implementing sustainable growth tricky. First, unregulated markets are moving towards regulated markets, but the pace and trend is impossible to track. Next, new industries like e-commerce are growing exponentially, and once again, the pace is unpredictable over the next few years. Yet another factor is the unpredictability of the monsoon season annually. PM Modi needs to somehow integrate green technology and the economic agenda to work together. The aim? In no sector should the market break and cause environmental alarm. The effects of climate change are now clearly visible with altering sea levels, melting ice caps and changing temperatures. Consequences can be detrimental, quickly fatal, on a large scale if action is not taken right away. The effects of climate change combined with Indian-linked disturbances such as flooding, droughts, pollution and over-exploitation of resources inevitably result in changes in agricultural productivity. This in turn, significantly impacts the Indian economy. Let’s look at how India currently uses energy. At present, India’s energy is a combination of coal, nuclear energy, hydropower and bio-energy including wind, biogas, bio-diesel, etc.). It is also interesting to note that a significant portion of India’s primary energy comes from forest and agricultural waste. This includes animal waste, wood chips, biofuels, etc. And along with bio-energy, India now also produces the world’s cheapest solar power. India’s growing population and growing GDP is already faced with the challenge of countering India’s climate change, water, energy and sustainable development. Consumption is increasing and citizens of New India are attaining a better quality of life. This will only increase which in turn rapidly depletes vital natural resources like water. And if India faces more years with weak monsoon, a crisis like what is happening in Chennai over the past four months will be nationwide. Although every Indian resident needs to play a part by adopting sustainable living, the government really needs to play a pro-active role in solving the problem and clearly guiding industries. This means that individual policies need to be made across every sector and implemented immediately. Furthermore, along with the current aggressive international relations focus, policy-makers should work on required policy adjustments for sustained growth. An excellent example is to try to copy the Nordic commitment; multiple countries are eliminating fossil fuels completely from energy sources by 2020. The time has also come for energy usage and climate change to be addressed (instead of just discussed) at the international level. A body like the United Nations needs to actively step in and give directions for curbing large-scale environmental pollution in India. It also needs to see through implementation working with the centre. One way is to use existing schemes like Swachh Bharat and engage citizens on a larger scale. Furthermore, agencies like the IEA could also give directions or even help provide India with sustainable sources for development (in smart cities for example) and for global growth. An important note in our favour: Green technology is not only cheaper, but also labour intensive. Skilled and unskilled employment will constantly be needed for the long-run with its use. In other words, the more we use green technology, the more employment increases. A win-win for India. Over the next five years, it is essential that the Modi government strongly push and perfect schemes that implement both solar and bio-energy usage. One way to do this is to have the industry grant tax deductions or exemptions for research and development of green innovation. Bio-fuels should also have low taxes or be exempted from taxes completely and higher taxes should be imposed on fossil fuels and fossil-based chemicals. Additionally, green fuels should be exempted completely from taxes. During his election rallies, PM Modi also stressed that sugarcane is used in the production of biofuel; this production should increase exponentially. Modi should also introduce a severe tax or penalty for pollution and emissions as well. Water allocation and management should also be addressed as soon as possible through the new ministry created by the Centre. NDA 2.0 under PM Modi has already begun these efforts. Moreover, in his latest Mann Ki Baat episode, the PM stressed the importance of conserving water to citizens. This has not only made them more conscious of the severity of the situation but engaged them to be more civically responsible. I am happy that this government cares and is all about action. The new term has only just begun, but I am confident that it is this Prime Minister who will propel New India forward, and that too, sustainably so. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Energy, green technology to define New India

US&nbsp;Secretary of State<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-wishes-north-korea-would-not-test-missiles-244479"> Mike&nbsp;Pompeo</a>&nbsp;said on Tuesday the United States was not sending "mixed&nbsp;messages" on&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;Technologies and he does not believe a&nbsp;US&nbsp;blacklist of the Chinese telecommunications giant will block a trade deal with Beijing.

"I don't think there's a&nbsp;mixed&nbsp;message at all,"&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;said in an interview with CNBC.

"The threat of having Chinese telecoms systems inside of American networks or inside of networks around the world presents an enormous risk, a national security risk," he said.

Washington blacklisted&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;in May, alleging the Chinese company is involved in activities contrary to&nbsp;US&nbsp;national security or foreign policy interests.

The United States extended a reprieve that permits&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-gives-huawei-another-90-days-reprieve-from-ban-amid-economic-blacklist-244165">Huawei</a>&nbsp;to buy components&nbsp;from&nbsp;US&nbsp;companies to supply existing customers, the Commerce Department said on Monday, but it also moved to add more than 40 of&nbsp;Huawei's units to its economic blacklist.

President Donald Trump, however, indicated over the weekend there would be no <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-extend-huaweis-partial-reprieve-on-supply-curbs-sources-243540">extension</a>, saying what would happen would be the "opposite."

"We’re actually open not to doing business with them,” Trump said on Sunday.

Huawei, the world's largest telecommunications equipment maker, is still prohibited&nbsp;from&nbsp;buying American parts and components to manufacture new products without additional special licenses.

The&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;dispute coincides with a trade war between the world's two largest economies.

Talks are at a standstill for now, with the threat of greater tariffs and other trade restrictions hanging over the world economy.

Asked if Chinese President Xi Jinping was stalling negotiations because of&nbsp;US&nbsp;actions toward&nbsp;Huawei,&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;said: "That's not been our experience. That is not what's happening today."

"I think he's prepared to engage in a complex set of trade negotiations,"&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;told CNBC. "So, no, he hasn't walked away, he hasn't said 'I won't talk if you do these things.'"

The United States in May added&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;to the so-called Entity List, effectively banning the telecom giant&nbsp;from&nbsp;buying parts and components&nbsp;from&nbsp;American companies without government approval.

Shortly afterwards, the Commerce Department allowed&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;to buy some American-made goods to minimize disruption for its customers, including rural&nbsp;US telecommunications companies that use&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;equipment in their networks.

Pomepo conceded "the world was late to the game" and let Chinese telecommunications companies get a jump start on providing supplies for the networks of the United States and its allies. He said it will take time to unravel&nbsp;from&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;and other Chinese systems.

"There's enormous costs in some of these transitions. You can't rip and tear it all up at once," he said. "So our effort is to put together a pathway where ... the risk&nbsp;from&nbsp;Chinese Communist Party-connected telecom companies isn't present in the United States or the trusted networks in which the United States participates all over the world."

Huawei&nbsp;has repeatedly denied it is controlled by China's ruling Communist Party.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday the United States was not sending "mixed messages" on Huawei Technologies and he does not believe a US blacklist of the Chinese telecommunications giant will block a trade deal with Beijing.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday the United States was not sending "mixed messages" on Huawei Technologies and he does not believe a US blacklist of the Chinese telecommunications giant will block a trade deal with Beijing. "I don't think there's a mixed message at all," Pompeo said in an interview with CNBC. "The threat of having Chinese telecoms systems inside of American networks or inside of networks around the world presents an enormous risk, a national security risk," he said. Washington blacklisted Huawei in May, alleging the Chinese company is involved in activities contrary to US national security or foreign policy interests. The United States extended a reprieve that permits Huawei to buy components from US companies to supply existing customers, the Commerce Department said on Monday, but it also moved to add more than 40 of Huawei's units to its economic blacklist. President Donald Trump, however, indicated over the weekend there would be no extension, saying what would happen would be the "opposite." "We’re actually open not to doing business with them,” Trump said on Sunday. Huawei, the world's largest telecommunications equipment maker, is still prohibited from buying American parts and components to manufacture new products without additional special licenses. The Huawei dispute coincides with a trade war between the world's two largest economies. Talks are at a standstill for now, with the threat of greater tariffs and other trade restrictions hanging over the world economy. Asked if Chinese President Xi Jinping was stalling negotiations because of US actions toward Huawei, Pompeo said: "That's not been our experience. That is not what's happening today." "I think he's prepared to engage in a complex set of trade negotiations," Pompeo told CNBC. "So, no, he hasn't walked away, he hasn't said 'I won't talk if you do these things.'" The United States in May added Huawei to the so-called Entity List, effectively banning the telecom giant from buying parts and components from American companies without government approval. Shortly afterwards, the Commerce Department allowed Huawei to buy some American-made goods to minimize disruption for its customers, including rural US telecommunications companies that use Huawei equipment in their networks. Pomepo conceded "the world was late to the game" and let Chinese telecommunications companies get a jump start on providing supplies for the networks of the United States and its allies. He said it will take time to unravel from Huawei and other Chinese systems. "There's enormous costs in some of these transitions. You can't rip and tear it all up at once," he said. "So our effort is to put together a pathway where ... the risk from Chinese Communist Party-connected telecom companies isn't present in the United States or the trusted networks in which the United States participates all over the world." Huawei has repeatedly denied it is controlled by China's ruling Communist Party.

'No mixed messages' from US on Huawei: Mike Pompeo

Is Siri or Alexa making us impolite?

Shares in Ferrari went into reverse on Friday as the Italian luxury carmaker failed to lift its guidance for 2019 despite strong results in the first part of the year.

Releasing its second quarter results, the company confirmed that it was on track for the higher end of the guidance range for all relevant figures. However, that left some disappointed that there was no upgrade signalled.

"The market was expecting them to raise their guidance for the year," a Milan-based trader said.

Trading in Milan-listed shares was halted for excessive declines after a 6.9% drop and they were down 3.95% by 1024 GMT.

For&nbsp;2019, Ferrari forecasts its adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to rise around 10 per cent to between 1.2-1.25 billion euros. Sales are seen growing by more than 3 per cent to more than 3.5 billion euros.

In the second quarter, core earnings rose 8.7% led by robust deliveries of its Portofino and 812 Superfast models.

Adjusted EBITDA came at 314 million euros ($348 million) in the April-June period, in line with analyst expectations, according to a Reuters survey.

Shares in Ferrari went into reverse on Friday as the Italian luxury carmaker failed to lift its guidance for 2019 despite strong results in the first part of the year.

Shares in Ferrari went into reverse on Friday as the Italian luxury carmaker failed to lift its guidance for 2019 despite strong results in the first part of the year. Releasing its second quarter results, the company confirmed that it was on track for the higher end of the guidance range for all relevant figures. However, that left some disappointed that there was no upgrade signalled. "The market was expecting them to raise their guidance for the year," a Milan-based trader said. Trading in Milan-listed shares was halted for excessive declines after a 6.9% drop and they were down 3.95% by 1024 GMT. For 2019, Ferrari forecasts its adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to rise around 10 per cent to between 1.2-1.25 billion euros. Sales are seen growing by more than 3 per cent to more than 3.5 billion euros. In the second quarter, core earnings rose 8.7% led by robust deliveries of its Portofino and 812 Superfast models. Adjusted EBITDA came at 314 million euros ($348 million) in the April-June period, in line with analyst expectations, according to a Reuters survey.

Ferrari core earnings rise but shares slide after no upgrade to guidance

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/responsibility-for-what-happens-next-lies-with-japan-south-korea-president-moon-jae-in-on-trade-confrontation-240091">South Korean government</a> has launched a new learning website for companies puzzled by Japan's recent trade restrictions against the country amid growing confusion over changes of rules about buying Japanese goods.

The website&nbsp;is up and running since Thursday, a day before Japan decided to drop South Korea from the so-called "white list" of easy trade countries in midst of a growing dispute between the two countries over their wartime past.

"There have been myriads of requests from companies that need a clear picture of what getting removed from the white list means," a South Korean trade ministry official told Reuters on Friday, referring to the reason for the website.

The website titled "Know the Japanese restrictions Right" offers a list of sensitive items which can face tightened regulations and guidelines for companies to provide information to Japanese suppliers if they need approval.

Businessmen can also sign up for a face-to-face meeting with government officials via the website.

South Korea's removal from the favoured trade countries list may require South Korean firms to take extra administrative procedures to obtain import permits, potentially slowing down purchases of a wide range of Japanese goods that can be used for weapons production.

The country's President Moon Jae-in on Friday said South Korea would not be "defeated again" by its neighbour, laying bare decades-old animosity at the root of a row over fast-track export status.

"I can see challenges won't be small. Our companies and people have the capacity to overcome this ordeal...We can do this," Moon told a cabinet meeting.

The South Korean government has been hosting a series of seminars for industry groups from semiconductor sectors to the automobile industry as companies scramble to prepare for new trade environment with Japan.

"This is such a confusing time for everyone regardless of which industry you are in," said an official at a South Korean major electric car battery maker.

"The rules are so vague and confusing that almost no one knows how to comply and what to do. It's like an unopened black box," the official added, asking not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The South Korean government has launched a new learning website for companies puzzled by Japan's recent trade restrictions against the country amid growing confusion over changes of rules about buying Japanese goods.

The South Korean government has launched a new learning website for companies puzzled by Japan's recent trade restrictions against the country amid growing confusion over changes of rules about buying Japanese goods. The website is up and running since Thursday, a day before Japan decided to drop South Korea from the so-called "white list" of easy trade countries in midst of a growing dispute between the two countries over their wartime past. "There have been myriads of requests from companies that need a clear picture of what getting removed from the white list means," a South Korean trade ministry official told Reuters on Friday, referring to the reason for the website. The website titled "Know the Japanese restrictions Right" offers a list of sensitive items which can face tightened regulations and guidelines for companies to provide information to Japanese suppliers if they need approval. Businessmen can also sign up for a face-to-face meeting with government officials via the website. South Korea's removal from the favoured trade countries list may require South Korean firms to take extra administrative procedures to obtain import permits, potentially slowing down purchases of a wide range of Japanese goods that can be used for weapons production. The country's President Moon Jae-in on Friday said South Korea would not be "defeated again" by its neighbour, laying bare decades-old animosity at the root of a row over fast-track export status. "I can see challenges won't be small. Our companies and people have the capacity to overcome this ordeal...We can do this," Moon told a cabinet meeting. The South Korean government has been hosting a series of seminars for industry groups from semiconductor sectors to the automobile industry as companies scramble to prepare for new trade environment with Japan. "This is such a confusing time for everyone regardless of which industry you are in," said an official at a South Korean major electric car battery maker. "The rules are so vague and confusing that almost no one knows how to comply and what to do. It's like an unopened black box," the official added, asking not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

South Korea launches 'Let's Learn Japan's Restrictions' website for puzzled businesses

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's revenue grew roughly 30% in the first half after select teams secured critical supplies to keep production going despite US&nbsp;technology export restrictions, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The United States has put Huawei on an export blacklist citing national security issues, barring US&nbsp;suppliers from selling to the world's largest telecommunications equipment maker and No.2 maker of smartphones, without special approval.

Huawei's revenue growth of 30% in the first half is a slowdown from 39% in the first three months of 2019 but is up sharply from 2018. It has so far managed to boost revenue by aggressively securing contracts for fifth-generation networking equipment,&nbsp;Bloomberg said.

The company is said to have rewarded a number of employees for helping it accelerate revenue despite US&nbsp;ban, Bloomberg added.

Huawei declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.

Huawei last month cut revenue expectations for the year, with its founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei saying the company had taken a harder-than-expected hit from the US ban.

The firm has denied its products pose a security threat.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's revenue grew roughly 30% in the first half after select teams secured critical supplies to keep production going despite US technology export restrictions, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's revenue grew roughly 30% in the first half after select teams secured critical supplies to keep production going despite US technology export restrictions, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The United States has put Huawei on an export blacklist citing national security issues, barring US suppliers from selling to the world's largest telecommunications equipment maker and No.2 maker of smartphones, without special approval. Huawei's revenue growth of 30% in the first half is a slowdown from 39% in the first three months of 2019 but is up sharply from 2018. It has so far managed to boost revenue by aggressively securing contracts for fifth-generation networking equipment, Bloomberg said. The company is said to have rewarded a number of employees for helping it accelerate revenue despite US ban, Bloomberg added. Huawei declined to comment on the Bloomberg report. Huawei last month cut revenue expectations for the year, with its founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei saying the company had taken a harder-than-expected hit from the US ban. The firm has denied its products pose a security threat.

Huawei first-half revenue up about 30% despite US ban

Is a peek into the future worth your privacy in the present? That concern was pushed to the spotlight this week with the resurgence of a smartphone app that uses artificial intelligence to transform your current face into your younger and older selves. People raised fears on Twitter and other social media sites that on iPhones, FaceApp would be able to see and upload all your photos, including screenshots with sensitive financial or health information or photos of children with the names of their schools in the background. That's not actually true, but the scuttle serves as a good reminder to think twice before downloading new apps. Even large, mainstream apps routinely collect user data.

Myths and risks seen in FaceApp use

The BBC defines the gig market as ‘a labour market characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs.’

The term ‘Gig Economy’ has gained popularity in the last few years. Educational gap, changing attitude towards work, flexible schedule and integrated technology are contributing to an evolving gig market.

The share of gig economy workers in the global marketplace rose to 15.8 per cent in 2015, as compared to 10.1 per cent in 2005.

Experts suggest that half of the population will adopt freelancing by 2020 as both employees and employers find this market more flexible, result-oriented and monetarily profitable.

According to one estimate, 66.6 per cent of companies, including start-ups and large corporations, are hiring gig workers to reduce labour costs.

There are obvious reasons why employers are keen to hire gig economy workers. These workers present an extremely flexible option for businesses aspiring to expand in different verticals, but face seasonal ups and downs.

Such employers have short-term requirements for talent who can help them cultivate businesses in different fields while remaining cost-effective.&nbsp;

Companies like Uber and TaskRabbit depend heavily on gig workers who deliver nimble and satisfactory services to their potential customers.

About 44 per cent of gig workers possess a university degree and 28 per cent are skilled with practical jobs like courier service, driving and more. Companies hire them on a contractual basis for a desired period to get their work done professionally. Freelancers are generally skilled workers, who deliver quality output in less time as compared to the regular workforce in a company.

Moreover, employers with budgetary constraints benefit by hiring talented gig workers on a project-to-project basis.

Businesses like Amazon Flex, Handy and other popular names have set up their market based on gig economy workers. Handy is an eminent app for cleaners and handymen who assist its clients with cleaners and helpers. The business pays $22 an hour to the cleaner and $45 per hour to helpers.

Start-up and large businesses can hire experts for every work profile in the gig economy market. Companies no longer need to struggle with long-term hiring drives where the stability of the employee plays an important part, along with the added cost of work station, infrastructure and regular employee-benefit policies.On the flip side, freelancers get their desired work and the liberty to work anytime from anywhere. More than 68% of freelancers have improved their quality of life by earning on their terms and conditions.

Technology has brought employers and gig economy workers together on a single platform through the Internet and smartphones. Online portals like Fiverr, SEOClerk, Gigbucks, Fiverup and many others have offered a common platform to both the entities where workers can draw up their profiles, which showcase their expertise, along with sample works. Businesses can review the samples and hire candidates who are desirable and meet their business and budgetary needs.&nbsp;

These interactive portals help them to discuss, share feedback, submit work and offer updates on payment transfers, in the process, promoting authenticity and transparency while making communication feasible and easier.

Considering the factors, which mutually benefit the market and its players, the gig economy is expected to increase by 43 per cent&nbsp;globally.

Employees are happily saying goodbye to tedious 9-to-6 jobs to find peace and balance in their lives. Moreover, the freelance market lets them choose their productive time without having to compromise on the quality of their personal lives. Cementing the base of the gig economy, Google has announced that its partnering staffing organisations need to pay gig workers at least $15 per hour along with health benefits.

Policies in favour of freelancers are encouraging more prospective gig workers to join the market. Businesses like GreenLight, Icon, Trupo, Steady are introducing retirement, financial and benefit products for such workers. Such policies, recognising equality and validation of freelance work, are sure to empower the gig economy market and businesses as well.

This entire process demands collaborative effort and contribution from advocates, government and employers to co-exist smoothly, while facilitating sustainable evolution. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the<a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-the-gig-economy-is-well-and-truly-here-to-stay-2770247"> original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The BBC defines the gig market as ‘a labour market characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs.’ The term ‘Gig Economy’ has gained popularity in the last few years.

The BBC defines the gig market as ‘a labour market characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs.’ The term ‘Gig Economy’ has gained popularity in the last few years. Educational gap, changing attitude towards work, flexible schedule and integrated technology are contributing to an evolving gig market. The share of gig economy workers in the global marketplace rose to 15.8 per cent in 2015, as compared to 10.1 per cent in 2005. Experts suggest that half of the population will adopt freelancing by 2020 as both employees and employers find this market more flexible, result-oriented and monetarily profitable. According to one estimate, 66.6 per cent of companies, including start-ups and large corporations, are hiring gig workers to reduce labour costs. There are obvious reasons why employers are keen to hire gig economy workers. These workers present an extremely flexible option for businesses aspiring to expand in different verticals, but face seasonal ups and downs. Such employers have short-term requirements for talent who can help them cultivate businesses in different fields while remaining cost-effective. Companies like Uber and TaskRabbit depend heavily on gig workers who deliver nimble and satisfactory services to their potential customers. About 44 per cent of gig workers possess a university degree and 28 per cent are skilled with practical jobs like courier service, driving and more. Companies hire them on a contractual basis for a desired period to get their work done professionally. Freelancers are generally skilled workers, who deliver quality output in less time as compared to the regular workforce in a company. Moreover, employers with budgetary constraints benefit by hiring talented gig workers on a project-to-project basis. Businesses like Amazon Flex, Handy and other popular names have set up their market based on gig economy workers. Handy is an eminent app for cleaners and handymen who assist its clients with cleaners and helpers. The business pays $22 an hour to the cleaner and $45 per hour to helpers. Start-up and large businesses can hire experts for every work profile in the gig economy market. Companies no longer need to struggle with long-term hiring drives where the stability of the employee plays an important part, along with the added cost of work station, infrastructure and regular employee-benefit policies.On the flip side, freelancers get their desired work and the liberty to work anytime from anywhere. More than 68% of freelancers have improved their quality of life by earning on their terms and conditions. Technology has brought employers and gig economy workers together on a single platform through the Internet and smartphones. Online portals like Fiverr, SEOClerk, Gigbucks, Fiverup and many others have offered a common platform to both the entities where workers can draw up their profiles, which showcase their expertise, along with sample works. Businesses can review the samples and hire candidates who are desirable and meet their business and budgetary needs. These interactive portals help them to discuss, share feedback, submit work and offer updates on payment transfers, in the process, promoting authenticity and transparency while making communication feasible and easier. Considering the factors, which mutually benefit the market and its players, the gig economy is expected to increase by 43 per cent globally. Employees are happily saying goodbye to tedious 9-to-6 jobs to find peace and balance in their lives. Moreover, the freelance market lets them choose their productive time without having to compromise on the quality of their personal lives. Cementing the base of the gig economy, Google has announced that its partnering staffing organisations need to pay gig workers at least $15 per hour along with health benefits. Policies in favour of freelancers are encouraging more prospective gig workers to join the market. Businesses like GreenLight, Icon, Trupo, Steady are introducing retirement, financial and benefit products for such workers. Such policies, recognising equality and validation of freelance work, are sure to empower the gig economy market and businesses as well. This entire process demands collaborative effort and contribution from advocates, government and employers to co-exist smoothly, while facilitating sustainable evolution. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

The gig economy is well and truly here to stay

A US jury cleared California semiconductor designer CNEX Labs Inc of stealing trade secrets from Chinese electronics giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd while awarding CNEX no damages on its own trade theft claims.

Huawei loses trade secrets case against US chip designer CNEX

Amidst The Trade War, Huawei's Business Continues To Flourish.

Gravitas: Is China The King Of Technology?

ZAAP Boombox Review: Hit Or Miss?

The ubiquitousness of technology is such that it affects individuals, communities, societies and nations. &nbsp;Social media played a major role in the Brexit referendum, while Trump uses it to his benefit in the US.&nbsp;

In India, political parties use it to maximise their reach and impact. National security and international business have also become entwined because of technology; take for example the imbroglio about Huawei’s 5G technology in the UK and the arrest of its CFO in Canada. Every few years, new technology is used in a way that jars society and raises questions around morality. The history of technology is also the history of human and national turpitude.&nbsp;

Commercial farming grew on the sweat of slave labour. The success of the industrial revolution was fueled by inhuman working conditions. Eisenhower’s ‘atoms for peace’ resulted in a nuclear arms race. The feel-goodness of early Facebook has morphed into a medium that causes suicide, induces real rage through false news and broadcasts murder.&nbsp;

One can blame the human mind because technology, on its own, is impotent. Innovation and invention are based on problem-solving and creating or feeding a need. There is usually a utopian ideal that fuels these inventions. For example, Mark Zuckerberg wanted to unify and globalise people. In retrospect, he was delusional to assume everyone would live as per his dream. He, like other fellow innovators and inventors, fail to recognise two things. The first is that people have minds of their own and are capable of finding new uses to technology. The second is what Yuval Noah Harari says in his book Homo Deus — human’s ability to think of the future is limited by their minds being stuck to the present way of thinking. Thus, even if one thinks of the future, it is framed by current conditions.

Creativity is a key survival feature and finding new uses to technology is inherent to progress. Did NASA ever think their Velcro would be used to fasten shoes? Were washing machines designed to whip up lassi? This thinking out-of-the-box has also led to stun guns being used by both the butcher and police and, transport being used by terrorists to mow down people.

Though Intelligent design has no scientific basis to explain evolution, many of man’s endeavours have been based on its literal application. Quite a few pedigree dogs are results of selective breeding programmes carried out a few centuries earlier. Is it such a giant leap to argue that eugenics crept out from the success of such work?

Should human progress be measured by how technology percolates into everyday life? Or when technology use interchanges between human and animal? The dis-assembly line developed in the early slaughterhouses of the US to slaughter and carve beef efficiently and cheaply inspired Henry Ford’s assembly line. &nbsp;The argument for and against genetic manipulation crisscrosses its application on crops and humans. Animals, vegetables and humans are pumped with chemicals and hormones to enhance their performance — whatever that may be. Artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation has converted livestock into baby making machines while childless couples see these technologies as a last resort on the road to fulfil the desire of becoming parents.

The choice to introduce technology into every day is a slippery slope. It opens the door to its other potential uses by creating precedents which permit its use for circumstances not initially conceived. Such precedents reduce moral hesitance. When one speaks of laws to regulate these technologies, one is actually seeking to curtail the devious part of human imagination. However, these regulations come a bit late in the day when that technology has already got a foothold.&nbsp;

There are ethics committees for scientific experiments and they focus on the condition of experiments and its morality. Government agencies test chemicals for health and environmental impacts. There are no such bodies for social media platforms, which have a major psychological and physical impact on users. &nbsp;

Society has progressed by meeting its desire for better, more, easier and cheaper. These are relative and differ from individual to individual and from group to group. Thus the routes to reach these goals also vary. It is no surprise then that many are unpleasantly surprised, frequently at that, when technology in the hands of another swings the other way. &nbsp;

Technologies inadvertently convert humans into lab rats. There is now concern about the use of pesticides, plastics, coal for energy, the aha moment for appreciating the negative impact of the technologies took time and are still debated. However, the concern is more compelling for social media platforms because the impacts on society and government are immediate and undeniable.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Facebook and others are tweaking their programmes to prevent hate and false information — things not thought of before release. But these tweaks and laws occur only after society has faced the brunt its abuse. &nbsp;The way society use technology is proof that its members are neither prescient nor have 20-20 hindsight. In fact, it would seem that the relationship with technology is nothing but a series of unfortunate incidents.

Innovators conceive of the use of their technology by society in monochrome — based on their limited and, even biased, perception of it. Just as consumer companies conduct market surveys, are innovators carrying out market research to understand the many other ways this technology can be used when released into society?

Society needs to begin a discussion on the idea of progress and technology. Tales from Robert Louis Stevenson and Mary Shelley to Ray Bradbury and others have a note of caution, which we have yet to heed. 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-things-innovators-must-know-2756186">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The ubiquitousness of technology is such that it affects individuals, communities, societies and nations. Social media played a major role in the Brexit referendum, while Trump uses it to his benefit in the US.

The ubiquitousness of technology is such that it affects individuals, communities, societies and nations. Social media played a major role in the Brexit referendum, while Trump uses it to his benefit in the US. In India, political parties use it to maximise their reach and impact. National security and international business have also become entwined because of technology; take for example the imbroglio about Huawei’s 5G technology in the UK and the arrest of its CFO in Canada. Every few years, new technology is used in a way that jars society and raises questions around morality. The history of technology is also the history of human and national turpitude. Commercial farming grew on the sweat of slave labour. The success of the industrial revolution was fueled by inhuman working conditions. Eisenhower’s ‘atoms for peace’ resulted in a nuclear arms race. The feel-goodness of early Facebook has morphed into a medium that causes suicide, induces real rage through false news and broadcasts murder. One can blame the human mind because technology, on its own, is impotent. Innovation and invention are based on problem-solving and creating or feeding a need. There is usually a utopian ideal that fuels these inventions. For example, Mark Zuckerberg wanted to unify and globalise people. In retrospect, he was delusional to assume everyone would live as per his dream. He, like other fellow innovators and inventors, fail to recognise two things. The first is that people have minds of their own and are capable of finding new uses to technology. The second is what Yuval Noah Harari says in his book Homo Deus — human’s ability to think of the future is limited by their minds being stuck to the present way of thinking. Thus, even if one thinks of the future, it is framed by current conditions. Creativity is a key survival feature and finding new uses to technology is inherent to progress. Did NASA ever think their Velcro would be used to fasten shoes? Were washing machines designed to whip up lassi? This thinking out-of-the-box has also led to stun guns being used by both the butcher and police and, transport being used by terrorists to mow down people. Though Intelligent design has no scientific basis to explain evolution, many of man’s endeavours have been based on its literal application. Quite a few pedigree dogs are results of selective breeding programmes carried out a few centuries earlier. Is it such a giant leap to argue that eugenics crept out from the success of such work? Should human progress be measured by how technology percolates into everyday life? Or when technology use interchanges between human and animal? The dis-assembly line developed in the early slaughterhouses of the US to slaughter and carve beef efficiently and cheaply inspired Henry Ford’s assembly line. The argument for and against genetic manipulation crisscrosses its application on crops and humans. Animals, vegetables and humans are pumped with chemicals and hormones to enhance their performance — whatever that may be. Artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation has converted livestock into baby making machines while childless couples see these technologies as a last resort on the road to fulfil the desire of becoming parents. The choice to introduce technology into every day is a slippery slope. It opens the door to its other potential uses by creating precedents which permit its use for circumstances not initially conceived. Such precedents reduce moral hesitance. When one speaks of laws to regulate these technologies, one is actually seeking to curtail the devious part of human imagination. However, these regulations come a bit late in the day when that technology has already got a foothold. There are ethics committees for scientific experiments and they focus on the condition of experiments and its morality. Government agencies test chemicals for health and environmental impacts. There are no such bodies for social media platforms, which have a major psychological and physical impact on users. Society has progressed by meeting its desire for better, more, easier and cheaper. These are relative and differ from individual to individual and from group to group. Thus the routes to reach these goals also vary. It is no surprise then that many are unpleasantly surprised, frequently at that, when technology in the hands of another swings the other way. Technologies inadvertently convert humans into lab rats. There is now concern about the use of pesticides, plastics, coal for energy, the aha moment for appreciating the negative impact of the technologies took time and are still debated. However, the concern is more compelling for social media platforms because the impacts on society and government are immediate and undeniable. Facebook and others are tweaking their programmes to prevent hate and false information — things not thought of before release. But these tweaks and laws occur only after society has faced the brunt its abuse. The way society use technology is proof that its members are neither prescient nor have 20-20 hindsight. In fact, it would seem that the relationship with technology is nothing but a series of unfortunate incidents. Innovators conceive of the use of their technology by society in monochrome — based on their limited and, even biased, perception of it. Just as consumer companies conduct market surveys, are innovators carrying out market research to understand the many other ways this technology can be used when released into society? Society needs to begin a discussion on the idea of progress and technology. Tales from Robert Louis Stevenson and Mary Shelley to Ray Bradbury and others have a note of caution, which we have yet to heed. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

National security and international business have become entwined because of technology

A new Microsoft study, in collaboration with IDC Asia/Pacific, points toward a boom in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/artificial-intelligence-holds-tremendous-potential-to-transform-education-212578">Artificial Intelligence in India</a>, as a result of which innovations and organisational productivity are likely to go up in the coming years.&nbsp;

Artificial Intelligence is expected to double the rate of innovations in organisations by 2021 in India, the study said.

The research added that the rise of AI doesn't necessarily mean people will be out of work for the want of new technological skills, rather entrepreneurship and initiative-taking will be paramount to the effective implementation of AI.

"It does not necessarily mean an acute need for technological skills. The top future skills identified by business leaders include a very important soft skill needed to create new AI-led innovations – entrepreneurship and initiative taking," said Dr Rohini Srivathsa, National Technology Officer, Microsoft India whose findings were released and published on Microsoft's website.&nbsp;

The research furthered that to adapt to the fast-paced and rapidly changing "digital-first" world, organisations will need to be "fast adopters of best-in-class technology, including AI". "The jobs of today will not be the jobs of tomorrow," it stated.

Digital talent will also need to be invested in. For all of this, an investment in human capital could not be discounted. "Business leaders must have the urgency to invest in workers’ training, as AI cannot progress without skilled individuals," the research stated.

However, the study noted that "there is a necessity for workers to reskill and upskill to remain relevant and play a part in the workforce of tomorrow".&nbsp;

"Business leaders will need to drive cultural transformation within their organizations that values experimentation, agility, proactiveness and a growth mindset," the study read.

However, on surveying workers and business leaders, it was exhibited that they felt that "cultural traits and behaviours that contribute to AI adoption are not being demonstrated today".

A new Microsoft study, in collaboration with IDC Asia/Pacific, points toward a boom in Artificial Intelligence in India, as a result of which innovations and organisational productivity are likely to go up in the coming years.

A new Microsoft study, in collaboration with IDC Asia/Pacific, points toward a boom in Artificial Intelligence in India, as a result of which innovations and organisational productivity are likely to go up in the coming years. Artificial Intelligence is expected to double the rate of innovations in organisations by 2021 in India, the study said. The research added that the rise of AI doesn't necessarily mean people will be out of work for the want of new technological skills, rather entrepreneurship and initiative-taking will be paramount to the effective implementation of AI. "It does not necessarily mean an acute need for technological skills. The top future skills identified by business leaders include a very important soft skill needed to create new AI-led innovations – entrepreneurship and initiative taking," said Dr Rohini Srivathsa, National Technology Officer, Microsoft India whose findings were released and published on Microsoft's website. The research furthered that to adapt to the fast-paced and rapidly changing "digital-first" world, organisations will need to be "fast adopters of best-in-class technology, including AI". "The jobs of today will not be the jobs of tomorrow," it stated. Digital talent will also need to be invested in. For all of this, an investment in human capital could not be discounted. "Business leaders must have the urgency to invest in workers’ training, as AI cannot progress without skilled individuals," the research stated. However, the study noted that "there is a necessity for workers to reskill and upskill to remain relevant and play a part in the workforce of tomorrow". "Business leaders will need to drive cultural transformation within their organizations that values experimentation, agility, proactiveness and a growth mindset," the study read. However, on surveying workers and business leaders, it was exhibited that they felt that "cultural traits and behaviours that contribute to AI adoption are not being demonstrated today".

Rise of AI in India: Digital world will still need investment in human capital, says study

The ZAAP Boombox Joins The Crowded Speaker Market. But Can It Take On The Competition?

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