Businessman shot dead in posh Agra colony

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Businessman shot dead in posh Agra colony

A 44-year-old businessman, Lalit Kathpal, was shot dead allegedly by three bike-borne men near his home in Agra’s posh Kamla Nagar colony.

The attack happened on Wednesday evening. The victim’s brother Rinku told the police that three men on a motorbike snatched away the bag that Kathpal was carrying and fired a shot that killed his brother, who was driving a two-wheeler. The bag that was snatched away contained a tiffin and had no cash, according to the family.

The family runs a cycle-rickshaw assembling unit at the Ghatiya market. The two brothers were returning home after closing the establishment.

“The armed bandits hit Lalit’s leg with a stick, resulting in imbalance and he fell down on the ground. When I shouted and screamed for help they fired a shot at my brother,” Rinku told the police.

Lalit Kathpal was declared dead by doctors in the emergency ward of the S.N. Medical College.

Senior police officials reached the site within minutes of the incident. Senior Superintendent of Police Bablu Kumar said a team had been constituted to crack the case.

A new police station was opened on August 18 in the Kamla Nagar colony. Most of the residents of this colony are traders and businessmen.

Lyon beat PSG to enter Women’s Champions League final

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Lyon beat PSG to enter Women’s Champions League final

Wendie Renard’s 67th-minute header saw reigning champions Olympique Lyon claim a 1-0 win in their all-French semi-final against Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) and enter the summit clash of the ongoing Women’s Champions League.

On Wednesday night in Athletic Club Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium, Renard’s far-post header came after a dangerous in-swinging cross from Majri Amil from a free-kick after a foul that saw PSG’s Grace Geyoro sent off for a second yellow card, reports Xinhua news agency.

The goal brought to life a game that had become scrappy, after a first-half which had seen PSG begin on assuming dominance, but failed to create clear-cut chances.

Lyon gained more control as the game progressed with Delphine Cascarino a constant threat down their right flank and, following a free-kick she won, German international Dzsenifer Marozsan should have opened the scoring only to fire wide from around six yards.

The second half was an ugly affair until Renard’s goal, and it looked as if Renard’s header was going to make it plain sailing for Olympique, however, a needless foul from Nikita Parris, who was also sent off after pointlessly clattering into PSG keeper, Christiane Endler with 15 minutes left to play, made it 10 against 10 and threw PSG an unexpected lifeline.

In the closing minutes, Lyon began to sit deeper and deeper, inviting their rivals to attack them, but despite several anxious minutes of PSG’s pressure and some obvious nerves from the reigning champions, PSG was never able to really test Sarah Bouhaddi in the Lyon goal.

Olympique Lyon will now face Wolfsburg — who on Wednesday defeated FC Barcelona — in Sunday’s final.

Twitter replacing ‘Retweets and comments’ with ‘Quotes’ button

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Twitter replacing ‘Retweets and comments’ with ‘Quotes’ button

Twitter has started testing a new Quotes listing with a small subset of users that will replace the ‘Retweets and comments’ section on the main page on the tweets.

Not every user is happy with the new feature that aims to declutter the experience on the micro-blogging platform.

In May, Twitter rolled out a separate listing of ‘Retweets’ and ‘Retweets with Comment’ in each tweet, that allowed users who clicked on the ‘Retweets’ button to view both those Retweets with comments and those without all on one screen.

Twitter is now experimenting with a simplified ‘Quotes’ listing below the tweet.

“The dilemma for Twitter will be around clarity – do users understand the reference to ‘Quotes’ in this capacity enough for it to work as an effective listing change?” reports Social Media Today.

Social media commentator Matt Navarra spotted this new engagement metric.

“Twitter seems to be favoring using ‘Quotes’ instead of ‘Retweets with a comment,” he tweeted.

Reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong also reported seeing the new listing in the back end code of the Twitter app.

The new feature has received mixed reviews from the users who are part of the random test.

Some users said the placement of the new metric was confusing.

“This new putting ‘quotes’ on the right of likes is so confusing. I see the number and automatically think the tweet has an absurdly low number of likes @Twitter if you’re gonna keep randomly updating the UI then at least make it sensible by putting quotes in the middle,” one user commented.

Apple iOS 14 to severely hit our online advertising: Facebook

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Apple iOS 14 to severely hit our online advertising: Facebook

Facebook has acknowledged that Apple’s upcoming iOS 14 may lead to an over 50 percent decline in its Audience Network advertising business.

Facebook Audience Network is an in-app advertising network for mobile apps.

The social networking app said on Wednesday that it will not collect the Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) on its own apps on iOS 14 devices.

The IDFA is a random device ID number assigned by Apple to a user’s device. Advertisers use this to track data so they can deliver customized advertising. The IDFA is used for tracking and identifying a user (without revealing personal information).

In June, Apple announced iOS 14 updates that, among other changes, require apps to ask users for permission to collect and share data using Apple’s device identifier.

“We believe this approach provides as much certainty and stability that we can provide our partners at this time. We may revisit this decision as Apple offers more guidance,” Facebook said.

Additionally, Facebook will remind users that they have a choice about how their information is used on Facebook and about its Off-Facebook Activity feature, which allows them to see a summary of the off-Facebook app and website activity businesses send to Facebook and disconnect it from their accounts.

Facebook said it will release an updated version of the Facebook SDK to support iOS 14.

“The new version of the Facebook SDK will provide support for Apple’s SKAdNetwork API, which limits the data available to businesses for running and measuring campaigns,” the company said.

In light of these limitations, and in an effort to mitigate the impact on the efficacy of app install campaign measurement, Facebook will also ask businesses to create a new ad account dedicated to running app install ad campaigns for iOS 14 users.

“We expect these changes will disproportionately affect Audience Network given its heavy dependence on app advertising,” the social network acknowledged.

Like all ad networks on iOS 14, advertisers’ ability to accurately target and measure their campaigns on Audience Network will be impacted, and as a result, publishers should expect their ability to effectively monetize on Audience Network to decrease.

“Ultimately, despite our best efforts, Apple’s updates may render Audience Network so ineffective on iOS 14 that it may not make sense to offer it on iOS 14,” Facebook lamented.

The company said industry consultation is critical for changes to platform policies, as “these updates have a far-reaching impact on the developer ecosystem”.

Google partners hotels to provide contact-free, secure stay

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Google partners hotels to provide contact-free, secure stay

Google has announced it is partnering with hotels of every size with its new Assistant-powered hospitality solution as the global markets open slowly and people plan travel.

The Google solution is available at hotels including Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale, Dr. Wilkinson’s Resort in Calistoga, Gale and Shelborne South Beach in Miami, Gansevoort Meatpacking, and Synergy Chelsea in New York City, Hotel Zena, and Viceroy DC, as well as Village Hotels in the UK.

From a Nest Hub smart display set up in each hotel room, hotels can tailor the guest experience with Google to specifically address common service requests from guests through a simple voice command.

“At some hotels, you can also start a fast check out using Google Assistant when your stay is over so you don’t have to stand in line,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

Google Assistant can also surface a mid-stay survey to gauge satisfaction level, and the hotel is notified if something is going poorly.

Hotels can even promote current or upcoming specials by providing a summary when you ask “Hey Google, tell me about the specials.”

The Nest Hub is also for hands-free, in-room entertainment.

Guests can access YouTube to find news, music, and exercise videos, all through voice command.

“You can connect your phone via Bluetooth to play your own music, too. The new experience can also be configured by the hotel to let you control and manage devices in the room, like blinds, TVs, lights, and more,” Google said.

The customers can ask for the weather forecast, learn about local sites, and get news updates from Google Assistant.

They can find updated hours for restaurants and shops, as well as other info related to Covid-19 (including symptoms and prevention provided by the CDC) in the area.

“You won’t need to sign in to the device, and no activity will be linked to your personal account,” Google said.

There is no camera on the Nest Hub, and the physical mic switch can be turned off for additional privacy.

“No audio is ever stored, and any activities will be immediately wiped from the device when it’s reset for the next guest,” the company added.

West Indies name squad for England tour, Anisa Mohammed opts out

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West Indies name squad for England tour, Anisa Mohammed opts out

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has named an 18-member squad for the five-match T20I series to be played against England next month. The five T20Is will be played from September 21-30 at the Ancora County Ground, Derby.

This series will be the first time women’s cricket is played at the international level since the final of the ICC T20 World Cup played between Australia and India at the MCG on March 8. Several series since – like India tour of England, Australia tour of South Africa and South Africa tour of England – has been canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

West Indies will also be without their lead bowler Anisa Mohammed as she opted out of traveling amidst all the restrictions and precautions that are being taken owing to the widespread pandemic.

“All players were given the option to decline selection for any COVID-19 related concern. Anisa Mohammed was the only potential selectee who declined the invitation to travel to England,” CWI said in a statement.

The squad, which has one uncapped player in Kaysia Shultz, will undergo coronavirus tests this week before taking a charter flight to the UK on August 30.

“It is with pleasure that we are able once again to have our West Indies Women’s team involved at the international level,” Ann Browne-John, the lead selector for women’s and girls’ cricket, said.

“This tour to England gives our players a great opportunity. The larger eighteen (18) member squad also gives an opportunity to have young developing players involved; like the two players from Guyana, left-arm bowler Kaysia Shultz and all-rounder Shabika Gajnabi. It also gives the opportunity to the young Trinidadian off-spinner Karishma Ramharack to get some international experience.”

“CWI is pleased to be restarting its international women’s program with a tour to England, where the standard of women’s cricket has grown tremendously, CWI’s director of cricket Jimmy Adams said.

“We thank the ECB for their invitation and the added opportunity to travel with a larger squad affords us the chance to introduce a few younger players to this level of the game, and fast track their development. With so much uncertainty surrounding cricket scheduling currently, this is a timely opportunity for our women to resume competitive cricket at the highest level,” he added.

West Indies squad: Stafanie Taylor (c), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Britney Cooper, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Lee-Ann Kirby, Hayley Matthews, Natasha McLean, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Kasia Schultz, Shakera Selman

Juan Martin del Potro undergoes new surgery on troublesome knee

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Juan Martin del Potro undergoes new surgery on troublesome knee

Former world No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro has undergone surgery on his troublesome right knee for the third time in less than two years as he attempts to jumpstart his stalled career.

Doctor Roland Biedert, the favored orthopedic surgeon of Roger Federer, carried out the procedure at a clinic in Bern, Switzerland, his management team said on Wednesday, reports Xinhua news agency.

“del Potro and Biedert had been in contact since January,” read the statement on Twitter. “In recent months, Delpo followed his doctors’ advice and even tested the knee on a tennis court in Buenos Aires, but the pain persisted. After their first meeting in Bern, Biedert recommended new surgery.”

The statement did not provide details of the operation but said the 31-year-old Argentine would be discharged “in the next few days”.

del Potro has not played since June 2019, when he suffered a fractured patella for the second time in nine months during the Queen’s ATP 500 tournament in London.

He underwent surgery in Barcelona just days later but remained beset by pain and was forced to twice postpone his return to the ATP tour last year.

The 2009 US Open champion has grappled with a long list of injuries in recent years and extended periods on the sidelines saw his career ranking drop to 1,045th place in 2016.

In 2018, he won two ATP titles and reached the final of the US Open, where he was beaten by Novak Djokovic.

del Potro is currently 128th in the ATP men’s singles rankings, despite more than 14 months on the sidelines.

Kapil Sharma: Feels incomplete to shoot my show without live audience

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Kapil Sharma: Feels incomplete to shoot my show without live audience

Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma feels comedy can help people forget about their problems for a while, and so he says there should more shows in the genre right now.

His comedy show, “The Kapil Sharma Show”, has been regaling fans since 2016, and Kapil feels when it comes to comedies, it’s more the merrier.

“We get so many messages and posts from people saying if they were stressed, watching the show helped them overcome certain situations or they just felt relieved and forgot about their problems for a while. I think comedy has that effect on people,” Kapil told IANS.

“After a long and tiresome day, all one wants is to forget about whatever that has happened, even though it’s for a little while, and relax. So yes, more comedy shows should be on the air,” he added.

Like others, he was also at home during the lockdown, but he did learn one thing.

“The biggest lesson that I have learned in life is that nothing is constant. Therefore, one shouldn’t take anything for granted. There will always be good and bad times in life. But the bad times always teach something important and help us sail through,” he shared.

He has resumed work now and he feels “absolutely great to come back on the set with all my co-actors and the crew”.

“There is so much positive energy, I see broad smiles on people’s faces, there is motivation to do so much more,” said Kapil.

He also got a new look. “Since we were all starting afresh, I thought why not change my look as well. A clean-shaven look is a classic style. As an entertainer, just like I keep experimenting with the portrayal of different characters on the show, I like experimenting with my look as well,” said Kapil, who has now let go of his beard.

Unlike fiction shows, his project involves the audience too. Now, there is no live audience. They have been replaced by cardboard cut-outs.

“For all these years that I have been working, the audience has played a huge role in my success. Whenever I perform, I get a reaction and that helps me build on it further. Since we can’t host the audience onset (due to the pandemic), you will see cardboard cut-outs of audience reactions now. It does feel incomplete to shoot without an audience, however, Archana (Puran) Ji makes up for it — she and her laughter are equal to 100 people on set,” he quipped.

Technology has helped him to “engage with people without their actual presence”.

“People can now get in touch with us and express their interest and we will be more than happy to video call them. Not just them, we can interact with their whole family through this call,” he shared.

There are other safety measures too taken by the team on set. “From sanitization to temperature checks and people working in PPE suits, we are taking all preventive measures in our capacity while shooting. Personally, we are all very careful and conscious. Our display of affection has also changed. Now we consciously maintain a distance and greet each other with a namaste. We shoot with a limited number of crew and even our personal staff who accompanies us on the set are minimum.

“We have a hand sanitizer readily available on the stage for guests. But it gets used by Archana ji more often than not,” he quipped.

‘Dhoom’ turns 16, writer-filmmaker Vijay Krishna Acharya looks back

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‘Dhoom’ turns 16, writer-filmmaker Vijay Krishna Acharya looks back

Filmmaker-writer Vijay Krishna Acharya, who wrote screenplays for all three films of the Dhoom franchise, besides directing the third installment, recalls being pleasantly surprised with the public reaction to the first film.

The first “Dhoom” film released on August 27, 2004. Starring John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan, Esha Deol, Rimi Sen, and Uday Chopra in pivotal roles, the action-adventure was about a gang of bikers who engage in a robbing spree in and around Mumbai. A police officer joins hands with a local mechanic to bust the gang.

Viktor, as he is widely known as in the industry, said: “Honestly, as a writer, one always looks for appreciation, and I’m often unaware of the commercial aspect of things. I think all films are creative enterprises first and commerce is a by-product of that. But I think we were all pleasantly surprised by the response to the film (the first ‘Dhoom’).”

“We were confident at the script stage that the film was an entertainer, a film which was not taking itself too seriously. Perhaps that is what struck a chord with the young among the audience, along with the energy of the action and of course ‘Dhoom Macha le’ by Pritam. The only person who kind of foresaw the possibility of a sequel was Adi (producer Aditya Chopra) and he wrote me a mail before the release saying, do think about a sequel!” Acharya recalled.

Acharya’s idea to have a villain with a moral compass was ingenious because one often roots for the villain to win.

He said: ” ‘Dhoom’ is more in an anti-hero world rather than a villain in the traditional sense. In the first ‘Dhoom’, the anti-hero is a rebel. Even though he is a thief, his persona is essentially a rebellious one.”

“There is something about youth and bikes and energy, none of which was a planned thing. It just seemed to come organically, instinctively. The bank robbers are essentially cocking a snook at the establishment, which unconsciously is a thread that runs through all the films of the ‘Dhoom’ series,” he summed up.

Experts call US ban against TikTok as wake-up call

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Experts call US ban against TikTok as wake-up call

Some experienced US lawyers predict that TikTok hardly has the opportunity to win the lawsuit that the company has filed over the US government’s executive order of banning any transaction with its parent company ByteDance, but the move is not unnecessary.

“We cannot at this point predict the outcome of the litigation with certainty, a US court will be reluctant to rule against the President on an issue of national security,” Dan Rules, the managing partner of the Shanghai Office of Squire Patton Boggs, told Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.

Rules is a business lawyer who focuses on helping Chinese companies understand and cope with legal, political, and other issues while investing abroad. He has spent his entire career at Squire Patton Boggs, one of the 30 largest law firms in the world.

“Traditionally the US courts have tended to respect and defer to the US executive branch on such matters,” he said. “The evidentiary requirements and burden of proof on TikTok will be high.”

Earlier this month, the administration of President Donald Trump cited the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and issued executive orders banning any US transactions with TikTok and WeChat, starting in 45 days.

TikTok, a Los Angeles-based tech firm, filed a lawsuit over the executive order on Monday, arguing that the executive order is unconstitutional and misuse of the IEEPA.

Bobby Chesney, a professor from the University of Texas School of Law, also gave a very pessimistic account in his blog posted Tuesday after analyzing each of the claims that TikTok raised in its indictment.

Chesney noted that, for TikTok, how to define “success” to its challenge to the administration is a real question, saying that if the video-sharing, music and social networking service company with about 100 million American users just tried to keep the company in regular operations until then, it could be.

He said it is possible that the district court might take some preliminary procedural steps, such as issuing a stay, granting a preliminary injunction, denying a motion to dismiss, which will help the companies, TikTok and ByteDance, fend off the mid-September imposition of sanctions at least for a time.

“That prospect has real value for the companies,” the blog read. “Indeed, if TikTok and ByteDance can keep this plate spinning throughout the pending 90/120-day period, that’s a considerable victory – even if the claims ultimately would all fail.”

Rules agreed that the lawsuit could buy time for ByteDance to close the deal on the sale of TikTok to any of several possible US companies interested in purchasing, including Microsoft, Twitter, and Oracle.

The Business Insider reported Wednesday that US investors in ByteDance, including big firms like Sequoia Capital and General Atlantic, are now backing Oracle as the tech firm has the advantage of strong political connections to Trump.

“I would expect a sale, not shutdown or spinoff, as a sale may present the best way for ByteDance to realize the value in this challenging situation,” he said, adding that whatever the result would be, it would be a “wake-up” call to Chinese companies and the global internet industry.

“Even if the US wins the litigation, there is some risk that the US government will be perceived by the global industry to have acted arbitrarily against ByteDance/TikTok. That could have longer-term repercussions for the industry in the US and make other foreign investors more hesitant.”

“At a minimum, other Chinese companies in the internet sector will remember this and likely be more hesitant about making large acquisitions or investments in this sector in the US,” the veteran lawyer said.

“I see the TikTok situation as a wake-up call for Chinese companies,” said Rules, who has been working in China during the past 25 years. Usually, Chinese companies establishing businesses in the United States has sought to “stay under the radar,” generally complying with US laws and operating without attracting attention, he explained.

“The TikTok case demonstrates that any Chinese company may attract the attention of the US government, and the US government has an arsenal of tools that might be used to threaten the success of the business.”

“China’s government has generally exercised considerable restraint in recent months with respect to the US,” he warned, “but at some point the Chinese government may feel impelled to take action or to speak out more forcefully on behalf of Chinese companies in the US.”

Global Covid-19 cases surpass 24mn: Johns Hopkins

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Global Covid-19 cases surpass 24mn: Johns Hopkins

The overall number of global coronavirus cases has surpassed the 24 million mark, while the deaths have increased to over 824,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

As of Thursday morning, the total number of cases stood at 24,085,646 and the fatalities rose to 824,368, the University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update.

The US accounted for the world’s highest number of cases and deaths at 5,821,195 and 179,708 respectively, according to the CSSE.

Brazil came in second place with 3,717,156 infections and 117,665 deaths.

In terms of cases, India ranks third (3,234,474), and is followed by Russia (968,297), South Africa (615,701), Peru (607,382), Mexico (573,888), Colombia (562,113), Spain (419,849), Chile (402,365), Argentina (370,188), Iran (365,606), the UK (330,934), Saudi Arabia (310,836), Bangladesh (302,147), Pakistan (294,193), France (291,374), Italy (262,540), Turkey (262,507), Germany (239,010), Iraq (215,784), Philippines (202,361), Indonesia (160,165), Canada (128,380), Qatar (117,742), Ukraine (112,650), Bolivia (110,999), Ecuador (110,549), Israel (108,403) and Kazakhstan (105,075), the CSSE figures showed.

The other countries with over 10,000 deaths are the Mexico (62,076), India (59,449), UK (41,552), Italy (35,458), France (30,549), Spain (28,971), Peru (28,001), Iran (21,020), Colombia (17,889), Russia (16,638), South Africa (13,502) and Chile (10,916).

With spike in Covid-19 cases, Delhi CM says tests will be doubled

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With spike in Covid-19 cases, Delhi CM says tests will be doubled

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday alerted that there has been an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the national capital in the past few days, adding that testing will be doubled in a week.

“From the last few days, there has been a slight spike in coronavirus cases. After August 17, we have witnessed that the cases are between 1200 to 1400. Delhi recorded 1,693 cases in the last 24 hours,” Chief Minister Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal added that his government is prepared to deal with the rise in cases. “I have directed that the number of tests will be doubled in the coming days,” he said.

Delhi is currently testing nearly 20,000 people daily, which Kejriwal said, will be increased to 40,000 in a week. “We have adopted the strategy of test and isolate.”

He, however, asserted that other parameters have not changed much. Recovery rate is more than 90 percent and the death rate is 1.4 percent, among the lowest in the country.

“There was a time when more than 100 people were dying. It has now dropped to less than 20 and sometimes 10,” he said, adding that no person has died in home isolation since July 14.

The chief minister further said that a few people have died even after recovering from the disease. Even if they test negative, symptoms do not subside, people suffer from breathing issues and require oxygen.

“After recovering, if people have symptoms, they will be given oximeters for a few more days. If the oxygen levels are less, oxygen concentrators will be given to them for free so that they do not need to go to the hospital again,” he added.

Suresh Raina wants to promote cricket in Jammu & Kashmir

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Suresh Raina wants to promote cricket in Jammu & Kashmir

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has volunteered to promote cricket in Jammu and Kashmir by providing opportunities to the underprivileged kids in the union territory.

In a letter addressed to J&K DGP Dilbag Singh, Raina said that he wants to give back to the game by doing his bit. “I have etched a mark on the field of international cricket for 15 years, and thus I would like to make use of the knowledge and skills I learned over the years and pass it onto the next generation,” he wrote.

The 33-year-old, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket, said he wanted to promote the game in schools and colleges in the rural areas. He said his aim was to hunt for talented sportsmen in the rural areas of the union territory to organize master classes and offer skill training.

“My intention is finding out the talented youngsters or children from various parts including schools’, colleges, and rural areas of J&K. Cricket is not just a sport but it evolves a process that could shape and mold a group of individuals with professional ethics, discipline maintained further in their future life, staying fit and healthy both mentally and physically. When a child undergoes the training for any sports activities he or she is automatically adapted to the discipline of lifestyle as well as aware of the importance of physical fitness. These could be the future of our nation,” the letter read.

Last Saturday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had invited Raina to develop cricketing skills in the union territory. In a tweet on their official Twitter handle, the J&K police said, “Congratulation on a successful career @ImRaina. Your contribution to Indian #Cricket, particularly the shorter format is a matter of pride for all of us. Some of your crucial innings which helped #India win many encounters on the playfield are memorable.”

“We are expecting you to work with us in developing the cricketing skills of the youth of #Jammu and #Kashmir. Looking forward to seeing you with our youth here. DGP J&K Sh Dilbag Singh & other ranks of #JKP extend best wishes for your next innings.”

SpaceX Starlink satellites may hamper scientific progress: Report

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SpaceX Starlink satellites may hamper scientific progress: Report

Satellite constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink network could disproportionately affect science programs that require twilight observations, such as searches for Earth-threatening asteroids and comets, astronomers have warned in a new report.

Large constellations of bright satellites in low-Earth orbit will fundamentally change ground-based optical and infrared astronomy and could impact the appearance of the night sky for stargazers worldwide, said the Satellite Constellations 1 (SATCON1) report released on Tuesday.

The report is the outcome of the recent SATCON1 virtual workshop, which brought together more than 250 scientists, engineers, satellite operators, and other stakeholders.

Their goals were to better quantify the scientific impacts of huge ensembles of low-Earth-orbiting satellites (LEOsats) contaminating astronomical observations and to explore possible ways to minimize those impacts.

In May 2019, Elon Musk-owned SpaceX launched its first batch of 60 Starlink communication satellites, which surprised astronomers and laypeople with their appearance in the night sky.

Astronomers have only now, a little over a year later, accumulated enough observations of constellation satellites like those being launched by SpaceX and OneWeb and run computer simulations of their likely impact to thoroughly understand the magnitude and complexity of the problem.

Constellations of LEOsats are designed in part to provide communication services to underserved and remote areas, a goal everyone can support.

Recognizing this, astronomers have engaged satellite operators in cooperative discussions about how to achieve that goal without unduly harming ground-based astronomical observations.

The report offers two main findings.

The first is that LEOsats disproportionately affect science programs that require twilight observations, such as searches for Earth-threatening asteroids and comets, outer solar system objects, and visible-light counterparts of fleeting gravitational-wave sources.

During twilight the Sun is below the horizon for observers on the ground, but not for satellites hundreds of kilometers overhead, which are still illuminated.

As long as satellites remain below 600 kilometers, their interference with astronomical observations is somewhat limited during the night’s darkest hours.

But satellites at higher altitudes, such as the constellation planned by OneWeb that will orbit at 1,200 kilometers, maybe visible all night long during summer and for much of the night in other seasons.

These constellations could have serious negative consequences for many research programs at the world’s premier optical observatories, said the report.

Depending on their altitude and brightness, constellation satellites could also spoil starry nights for amateur astronomers, astrophotographers, and other nature enthusiasts.

The report’s second finding is that there are at least six ways to mitigate harm to astronomy from large satellite constellations.

However impractical or unlikely it may sound, the astronomers found that launching fewer or no LEOsats is the only option that can achieve zero astronomical impact.

Among other measures, the astronomers recommended deploying satellites at orbital altitudes no higher than approximately 600 km.

Darkening satellites or using sunshades to shadow their reflective surfaces can also help.

Other recommendations suggest that controlling each satellite’s orientation in space to reflect less sunlight to Earth and minimizing or eventually eliminating the effect of satellite trails during the processing of astronomical images could be useful.

“Make more accurate orbital information available for satellites so that observers can avoid pointing telescopes at them,” said the report.

Telugu superstar Nani: ‘V’ is special since it is my 25th film

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Telugu superstar Nani: ‘V’ is special since it is my 25th film

Telugu superstar Nani says his upcoming film, V, is special because this will be his 25th release.

“For any artist, it is an out-of-the-world feeling to see fans shower you with love and appreciation. The movie is special to me — since it marks my 25th film. To have found such an interesting way to honor all my fans through this unique reveal has been truly exciting,” Nani said.

The trailer of the film was launched on Wednesday. The film delves into the life of a police officer who falls in love with a crime writer. His life takes a turn when a killer puts across a challenge to him with a puzzle to solve. It then leads to a good-versus-evil showdown.

“The trailer is a sneak peek into the action-packed, edge-of-the-seat thrill that the movie promises,” said Nani.

Written and directed by Mohana Krishna Indraganti, the film also stars Sudheer Babu, Nivetha Thomas, and Aditi Rao Hydari.

For the trailer launch, Amazon Prime Video created a specially-dedicated website, which featured a photo mosaic movie poster that included the pictures of 6,45,543 fans across the globe arranged to create the ‘V’ symbol.

Actor Sudheer Babu feels “fans enjoy the atmosphere of a big release”, and that’s why they “didn’t want to take that fun away from them this time”.

“I’m happy to see the fans participating in the trailer launch. They have always been my strength. ‘V’ is an action drama that is worth their weight. Our collective efforts will be appreciated, I’m sure about it. The humongous response for the trailer is an indication of that,” he added.

Nivetha added: “I express my sincere gratitude to all the fans around the world for their constant support and love! They made the trailer launch of our film ‘V’ very special. We’re nearing release and I cannot wait for the audience to watch the film and share their views.”

The film will stream on OTT September 5 onwards.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series in India, starts from Rs 55,999

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series in India, starts from Rs 55,999

South Korean tech giant Samsung on Wednesday brought the Galaxy Tab S7 series in India at a starting price of Rs 55,999 (Wi-Fi variant).

Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ LTE variants will be priced at Rs 63,999 and Rs 79,999, respectively at select retail outlets, Samsung Shop, Amazon as well as Flipkart.

On pre-booking Galaxy Tab S7, one would get keyboard cover at a special price of Rs 5,999, the company said in a statement.

Those who pre-book Galaxy Tab S7+ will get the keyboard cover at a special price of Rs 7,999 after a discount of Rs 10,000 on MRP and cashback up to Rs 6,000 on HDFC credit and debit cards.

Potential consumers of Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ can also avail a special discount of 22.6 percent on the purchase of Microsoft 365 Family originally priced at Rs 5,299.

Microsoft 365 is the productivity suite offered by Microsoft, which encompasses cloud storage, advanced security, and access to premium Microsoft applications.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 features an 11-inch LTPS TFT WQXGA LCD display with 2,560 x 1600 pixels resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.

The tab is powered by the Snapdragon 865+ SoC, coupled with Adreno 650 GPU, 6GB RAM, and 128GB internal storage.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ sports a 12.4-inch WQXGA+ Super AMOLED display with 2,800 x 1,752 pixels resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

The tab is also powered by the Snapdragon 865+ SoC, packs up to 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage. The dual-rear camera setup on the back is similar to that of the standard Galaxy Tab S7.

Defining moments of Indian sports to be recreated in a web series

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Defining moments of Indian sports to be recreated in a web series

Indian sports has witnessed some defining moments in its history which have been etched in our memories and revered by fans over the ages. To relive these historic moments, Baseline Ventures has conceptualized and produced an eight-part web series titled ‘The Finish Line’ which documents eight defining moments from Indian sports by recreating the moment by the actual athletes.

The show will be hosted by Asian Gold medallist squash player Saurav Ghosal. From Abhinav Bindra’s Olympic Gold winning moment in 2008 to Dinesh Karthik’s heroics at the Nidahas Trophy to Parul Parmar’s World Championship win in 2017 to Leander Paes’ Olympic Bronze medal win in 1996, the series will take the viewers back down the memory lane and will give them a first-hand account of these historic moments.

Ghosal, who enjoyed the opportunity to speak with fellow sportspersons, said, “It is an absolute pleasure for me to host a show which gives me an opportunity to have candid conversations with some of the stalwarts of Indian sports.”

“Each one of them has made the nation immensely proud by their deeds and now it is time for the nation to hear their story and take pride in it. I can’t wait for the series to kick-start as my first guest will be none other than Abhinav Bindra who is not only an Olympic Gold recipient but also one of the most inspiring personalities I have ever come across”.

The eight legends who have been confirmed for season 1 of ‘The Finish Line’ are Abhinav Bindra, Viswanathan Anand, Dinesh Karthik, Pankaj Advani, Smriti Mandhana, Leander Paes, Parul Parmar, and Varun Singh Bhati.

Vivo Y20 with triple camera launched in India for Rs 12,990

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Vivo Y20 with triple camera launched in India for Rs 12,990

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo on Wednesday launched an affordable Vivo Y20 device with AI triple camera setup and a 5000mAh battery for Rs 12,990 in India.

The smartphone will be available for purchase starting August 28 in two colors – obsidian black and dawn white.

“Vivo’s youthful Y series has always been about offering a wide spectrum of products with innovative features that meets the specific requirements across the different price range,” Nipun Marya, Director Brand Strategy, Vivo India, said in a statement.

The smartphone comes with a 6.51-inch Halo iView display which features an aspect ratio of 20:9 and HD+ (1600 x 720) resolution.

The device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. The device also has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner that claims to unlock the phone in just 0.22 seconds.

The smartphone packs a massive 5,000mAh battery with 18W FlashCharge technology that may last up to 16 hours with HD-movie streaming and 11 hours of resource-intensive games, the company said.

The smartphone houses a 13MP main camera, 2MP Bokeh camera, and a Macro camera. At the front, the smartphone features an 8MP camera for selfies.

In addition, the smartphone maker also announced a Y20i smartphone with a 5000mAh battery, fast side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and AI triple macro camera for Rs 11,490.

The Y20i will be available on sale starting September 3 at partner retail stores, the company said.

Fire at Secretariat conspiracy to save Vijayan: Chennithala

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Fire at Secretariat conspiracy to save Vijayan: Chennithala

Launching a scathing attack against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday said that the fire at the state Secretariat is a conspiracy to save Vijayan in the gold smuggling case.

The Kerala government, meanwhile, directed Additional Director General of Police Manoj Abraham to conduct a probe into the fire. On Wednesday morning, the team began the probe.

Launching a protest in front of the Secretariat here to demand Vijayan’s resignation, Chennithala said: “All the people of the state saw the action of Mehta yesterday when a fire broke out in the General Administration Department at the Secretariat. He was seen chasing away the media who came to find out what happened. He is no longer Vishwas Mehta — he is ‘Avishwas Mehta’. He has lost credibility as his main aim now is to save Vijayan.”

The fire broke out around 4.30 pm on Tuesday, following which top leaders of the opposition Congress and the BJP reached there.

“Our MLAs, including area legislator and former Minister VS Sivakumar went there to find out what happened. But the police and other top officials did not allow them entry. It was only after I went to the spot that we were allowed entry. The fact of the matter is, this fire is a ‘created one’ meant to save Vijayan as the National Investigation Agency has now reached his doorsteps. We met the Governor last night and briefed him about what happened. We do not want a probe by Mehta; we demand that the NIA should take up this fire case also,” added the Leader of Opposition.

There are reports that gold smuggling case accused PS Sarith and Swapna Suresh had links with officials of the GAD (Protocol) wing, where the fire broke out.

“All heard Vijayan saying that thunder had recently damaged CCTV at his official residence. Soon came another news that CCTV in the Secretariat has also been damaged, and now this fire. Everything is mysterious as Vijayan now leads a gang out to undo everything. We will not rest until he is ousted,” said Chennithala.

The gold smuggling case was unearthed when Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, was arrested by the Customs on July 5 when he was facilitating the smuggling of 30 kg gold in diplomatic baggage to Thiruvananthapuram from Dubai.

Things turned murkier when the name of Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the Consulate, and employed with the IT Department, surfaced. Later, her links with now-suspended IAS officer M Sivasankar, then posted as Principal secretary to Vijayan and also the IT Secretary, came to light.

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