BlackBerry Key2 Review: Legacy keyboard design gets a fresh, useful twist

The BlackBerry Key2 features an enhanced design, slightly powerful processor, more RAM, latest Google Android operating system and a dual camera set-up on the back.

Technology News : Canadian smartphone brand BlackBerry, licensed to India-based Optiemus Infracom, on July 23 launched the BlackBerry Key2, a successor to the BlackBerry KeyOne, which had a full-QWERTY keyboard. Compared to the predecessor, the Key2 not only features an enhanced design but also gets a slightly powerful processor, more RAM, latest Google Android operating system, and a dual-camera set-up at the back. The Amazon-exclusive touch and type smartphone goes on sale today i.e. July 31.

In current times, when almost all smartphones have begun to look almost the same, the BlackBerry Key2, with a rectangular touchscreen-cum-physical-keyboard design, offers a fresh new experience. But, is it worth going back to legacy keyboard design, which one ditched in favour of the all-screen mobile phone format? Let’s find out:

BlackBerry Key2

Key Features

The BlackBerry Key2 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 system-on-chip, paired with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage – expandable to up to 256 GB using a microSD card. The dualSIM smartphone boots the Android Oreo 8.1 operating system out of the box, custom-tuned by BlackBerry. The customised OS features the BlackBerry Hub, a unified messaging inbox, which combines all emails, texts and messages from social media accounts at one place. It also allows managing multiple email accounts without switching between apps, with support for Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Exchange accounts, etc. As for security, the Key2 comes with the BlackBerry DTEK app that enables users to check and manage app permissions.

The BlackBerry Key2 offers almost vanilla Android experience, so it feels free of clutter and operates swiftly. The phone shows no lags or stutters anywhere and responds well to touch and keyboard inputs. Writing long articles, uploading attachments and sharing multimedia content also show no problem for the BlackBerry Key2, and the phone works optimally in all situations.

Battery

The phone’s small screen, power-efficient processor and optimised operating system make it go for more than a day on a fully charged 3,500 mAh battery. The device supports the Qualcomm quick-charge technology, yet it takes almost 2 hours to go from zero to 100 per cent.

Read the Verdict → BlackBerry Key2 Review

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News Source : BS

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 with S-Pen to launch on August 9: Things to know

In a series of teaser videos posted on Twitter, Samsung hinted that the Galaxy Note 9 would have a bigger capacity battery, ample internal storage and better internet connectivity.

 

Technology News : South Korean electronics giant Samsung is gearing up for the launch of the Galaxy Note 9 on August 9. Purported details of the upcoming Note-series flagship smartphone with S-Pen for digital inking capabilities has been making rounds on the web. However, the latest piece of information has come from the company’s official social media channels where Samsung posted a series of teaser videos hinting that the phone would have a bigger capacity battery, ample internal storage and better internet connectivity.

In the first teaser video shared on July 26 on Twitter, the company showed an iPhone-like user interface with a low battery message popping up forcing user to lower brightness, disable WiFi and GPS, and close the recently opened apps to save some power. The tweet carries a message, “On August 9 2018, power will no longer be a problem” hinting that the Note 9 would pack a bigger capacity battery. The Galaxy Note 9 is rumoured to come with a 4,000 mAh battery, which would be good 700 mAh more than its predecessor and 500 more than the Galaxy S9+.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The next teaser video shared on July 27 focusses on internal storage issues. The video shows a user trying to download a presentation, but could not due to no internal storage. To free up some space, user starts deleting memories in the form of videos and photographs and also removes apps to make room for new download. The teaser video comes with a message, “From August 9 2018 onwards, you won't have to choose” hinting that the Note 9 come with higher storage options. The phone is reported to get 256GB and 512GB internal storage variants, along with 64GB and 128GB models.

The last video teaser focusses on phone’s internet connectivity highlighting how a sluggish phone can hamper overall internet speed. The video teaser shows user trying to send a file to someone but couldn’t upload the file even after switching between 4G and WiFi, and closing background processes access to data connection. The video has been shared with a message, “Time for a change of pace,” hinting that the Note 9 would feature some sort of enhancement to improve internet speed. In the Galaxy S9+, the company introduced carrier aggregation technology and promised an increased internet speed by up to....continue reading

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Batman, Superman and more at world's largest indoor theme park in Abu Dhabi

Warner Bros has opened its new $1-billion Warner Bros theme park to the public on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi

 

International News : Warner Bros Abu Dhabi, inaugurated a one-of-a-kind destination that boasts of 29 state-of-the-art thrill rides. It has interactive family-friendly attractions as well as live entertainment. There are also plenty of dining options --- from grab ‘n go to full-service restaurants and shopping opportunities.

The place is located on Yas Island, 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport and 50 minutes from Dubai.

Tickets to the fun-filled destination are now available. You will find options to purchase both daily admission tickets and annual passes on the tickets page of Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi. All new products and special offers are also regularly updated on the website.

World's Largest Indoor Theme Park

It is one of the world’s largest fully air-conditioned indoor theme parks that will remain open round the year, making it an ideal family destination no matter the season or the weather.

The complex is built across 1.65 million square feet (153,000 square metres).The park is owned by Miral Asset Management. It is developed at an estimated cost of $1billion.

The site has unveiled details about one of its most anticipated crowd-pullers. Batman fans can have the chance to walk the streets of Gotham City alongside notorious Super-Villains such as The Joker, The Riddler, Scarecrow and Harley Quinn.

You can also pick up a souvenir of your choice, including an exclusive range of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi logo merchandise. You can find a wide choice of adult fashion, accessories, jewellery, gifts as well as...continue reading

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News Source : BS

Fate of the nation must not be allowed to hang by the horn of a cow

The lynchings then are explicitly the front line of forces seeking to retain power in 2019 - a campaign where the political is brutally intended to ride on a fake spiritual.

Latest News : There is the Brahminical belief that the surest way to cross the perilous Vaitarni river on the way to heaven is to hang by the tail of a cow.

Well, what do you know, this seems equally true of crossing the majority mark in the Lok Sabha.

Consider the statement by an RSS leader that cow-related lynching will stop only if people ceased to consume beef. Clearly, Indresh Kumar seems privy to things on the ground that we merely speculate about.

An even more explicit admonition has come from Vinay Katiyar: Muslims ought not to touch cows. What could be a more no-nonsense enunciation of the right-wing political bottom line.

Cow Lynching

Had the cow been wholly a subject of faith and not of politics, Kiren Rijiju, a cabinet minister at the Centre, could hardly be spared by the lynch mobs, having declared that he eats beef and will continue to do so. Or Manohar Parrikar, chief minister of Goa, for saying beef will be available in the state. Nor would the fortunes of beef-eating Meghalaya have remained unaffected had the Bharatiya Janata Party’s political stakes there not been so high.

The lynchings then are explicitly the front line of forces seeking to retain power in 2019 – a campaign where the political is brutally intended to ride on a fake spiritual.

You may shout hoarse that this cynical praxis not only conceals the failure of the Narendra Modi government on multiple fronts, but bids fair to cause a grievous long-festering wound to the body politic. For whom it is fatally important to hold on to the reins of state power – a well-defined and well-understood political-ideological legacy informing that imperative – anything is par for the course. Any new fake morality may be constructed to...continue reading

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News Source : BS

Bill seeking death penalty for child rape passed: Things you should know

According to the new bill, there will be stringent punishment for rapists of girls under 12

Latest News : The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2018, which will allows the death penalty to those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12.

The bill seeks to replace an ordinance promulgated by the government in April after an outcry over the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2018 was supported by most members across the political spectrum and passed by a voice vote, PTI reported. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said, "The stringent law was aimed at providing safety to minor girls."

Death Penalty for Child Rape

Here are few things you should know about the Bill:

1. According to the new bill, there will be stringent punishment for rapists of girls under 12. The punishment for rape of a woman aged under 12 years will be rigorous imprisonment of at least 20 years but may extend to imprisonment for life or death.

2. The minimum punishment in cases of rape of women has been increased from the rigorous imprisonment of seven years to 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment.

3. According to the bill, in case of rape of a girl under 16 years, the minimum punishment has been increased from 10 to 20 years, extendable to imprisonment for rest of life.

4. The punishment for the gangrape of a girl below 16 years will invariably be imprisonment for the rest of life of the convict.

5. The measure also provides for speedy investigations and trial. The time limit for the investigation of all cases of rape has been prescribed, which has to be mandatorily completed within two months.... Continue reading

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News Source : BS

Employers eager to hire try a new policy: ‘No Experience Necessary’

Employers say they are abandoning preferences for college degrees and specific skill sets to speed-up hiring and broaden the pool of job candidates.

 

Latest News: Employers say they are abandoning preferences for college degrees and specific skill sets to speed-up hiring and broaden the pool of job candidates. Many companies added requirements to job postings after the recession, when millions were out of work and human-resource departments were stacked with resumes. Americans looking to land a first job or break into a dream career face their best odds of success in years.

Employers say they are abandoning preferences for college degrees and specific skill sets to speed-up hiring and broaden the pool of job candidates. Many companies added requirements to job postings after the recession, when millions were out of work and human-resource departments were stacked with resumes. Across incomes and industries, the lower bar to getting hired is helping self-taught programmers attain software engineering roles at Intel Corp. and GitHub Inc., the coding platform, and improving the odds for high-school graduates who aspire to be branch managers at Bank of America Corp. and Terminix pest control. “Candidates have so many options today,” said Amy Glaser, senior vice president of Adecco Group, a staffing agency with around 10,000 company clients in search of employees. “If a company requires a degree, two rounds of interviews and a test for hard-skills, candidates can go down the street to another employer who will make them an offer that day.”

News Employer Policy

In the first half of 2018, the share of job postings requesting a college degree fell to 30% from 32% in 2017, according to an analysis by labor-market research firm Burning Glass Technologies of 15 million ads on websites like Indeed and Craigslist. Minimum qualifications have been drifting lower since 2012, when companies sought college graduates for 34% of those positions. Long work-history requirements have also relaxed: Only 23% of entry-level jobs now ask applicants for three or more years of experience, compared with 29% back in 2012, putting another 1.2 million jobs in closer reach of more applicants, Burning Glass data show. Through the end of last year, another one million new jobs were opened up to candidates with “no experience necessary,” making occupations like e-commerce analyst, purchasing assistant and preschool teacher available to novices and those without a degree.

It all marks a sharp reversal from the immediate aftermath of the financial crisis, when employers could be pickier. Economists say job requirements were harder to track then, because many companies didn’t post positions publicly and many resumes weren’t delivered electronically. Now, recruiters say, the tightest job market in decades has left employers looking to tamp down hiring costs with three options: Offer more money upfront, lower their standards or...read more

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News Source : BS

Grand alliance against BJP is like 'band, baja, barat' without groom

Naqvi also sought to blame the Congress over Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's recent emotional outburst.

Politics of India : The proposed "Mahagathbandhan" (grand alliance) against the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls looks like a "band, baja, barat" without a groom, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Monday.

There would be no vacancy for the prime minister's post in 2019. "The 'Mahagathbandhan' is like the 'band, baja, barat' are ready but the groom is absent. There are nearly two dozen candidates who are staking claim for the post of prime minister," he said.

Several parties such as the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), along with other outfits, are planning to form a front to counter the BJP in the 2019 general election.

Grand Alliance Against BJP

Naqvi took a dig at the Congress for projecting Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate after the recent extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting and later withdrawing his name, apparently due to reservations expressed by other parties.

"The Congress first announced that its prime ministerial candidate was Rahul Gandhi. However, within 12 hours, they withdrew it. This could be the first such incident, wherein the Congress withdrew it (Gandhi's name) within 12 hours. It was withdrawal even before nomination. This is how the 'Mahagathbandhan' looks like," the minority affairs minister said.

Naqvi also sought to blame the Congress over Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's recent emotional outburst, when the JD(S) leader said he was swallowing the pains of running a....read more

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News Source : BS

Tax payers will pay Rs 1 trn to 'Mr 56's friend' for Rafale deal: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi had alleged on Friday that "Mr 56's friend" would actually benefit "$20 billion", equivalent to Rs 1.30 trillion, through offset contracts in the Rafale deal.

Rafale Deal Row : Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the tax payers would have to pay Rs 1 trillion over the next 50 years to "Mr 56's friend" for maintaining the 36 Rafale aircrafts that the country was buying.

Gandhi has been taking a swipe at Modi using the "56-inch-chest" remark that the latter had made at elections rallies in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress had also been questioning the prime minister about when he would show that "broad chest" while dealing with Pakistan and China.

"Over the next 50 years, Indian Tax Payers will pay Mr 56's friend's JV, 100,000 Cr to maintain 36 Rafale Scam jets, India is buying," Gandhi tweeted.

Rafale Scam Row

The Congress chief attached an investor presentation of Reliance Infrastructure, saying there was "truth" in it, which would soon be denied "as usual" by Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a press conference.

Gandhi had alleged on Friday that "Mr 56's friend" would actually benefit "$20 billion", equivalent to Rs 1.30 trillion, through offset contracts in the Rafale deal.

The Congress has been attacking the BJP government over the Rafale deal, alleging favouritism in granting the offset contract to Reliance Defence in violation of the rules. It had accused Modi and ......read more

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Facebook's biggest one-day stock wipe-out leaves Mark Zuckerberg $15 bn poorer

Of 47 analysts covering Facebook, 43 still rate the stock as "buy", two rate it "hold" and only two rate it "sell".

 

International News → Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg's fortune took a more than $15 billion hit on Thursday, as the social media company suffered the biggest one-day wipeout in US stock market history a day after executives forecast years of lower profit margins.

At least 16 brokerages cut their price targets on Facebook after Chief Financial Officer David Wehner startled an otherwise routine call with analysts by saying the company faced a multi-year squeeze on its business margins.

That "bombshell," as one analyst termed it, played into concerns on Wall Street that Facebook's model could be under threat after a year dominated by efforts to head off concerns over privacy and its role in global news flow.

Shares closed down almost 19 per cent at $176.26, wiping more than $120 billion off the company's value or nearly four times the entire market capitalisation of Twitter Inc .

US Stock Market

Slowing revenue growth initially pulled the stock down nearly 9 in after-hours trading on Wednesday before losses picked up on the margin outlook.

"Over the next several years, we would anticipate that our operating margins will trend towards the mid-30s on a percentage basis," Wehner said on a conference call with analysts.

Facebook's margin fell to 44 per cent in the second quarter from 47 per cent a year ago as it spent heavily on security and initiatives to convince users the company was protecting their privacy.

The company also said revenue growth from emerging markets and the company's Instagram app, which has been less affected by privacy concerns, would not be enough to repair the damage.
The impact on the rest of the FAANG group of high-flying tech stocks was marginal.

Read Full Updates → Facebook Share Drop

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News Source : BS

US media dying to see me make mistake, follows me like never before: Donald Trump

His criticism came a day after the White House barred a CNN reporter from attending a presidential event.

International News → US President Donald Trump said the American media was "dying to see" him make mistake, as he continued his public criticism of the press a day after the White House barred a reporter from attending one of his events.

"Look at all those cameras. All those cameras, every stop I get all these cameras. This never happened to (former president Barack) Obama. This never happened to (George W.) Bush. This didn't happen," Trump told his supporters in Iowa yesterday, referring to the camera journalists present at the event.

"They just follow. They're dying to see us make a little bit of a mistake," he said.

His criticism came a day after the White House barred a CNN reporter from attending a presidential event, arguing that it expects "everyone to be respectful of the presidency."

The decision invited strong protests from journalists.

US, EU 'love each other': Trump

The White House Correspondents Association condemned the "misguided and inappropriate decision" to bar the reporter from attending a Rose Garden event after she shouted a question at Trump during an Oval Office media availability.

Today, Trump said the news media analyzes his every word. "They say, did he say that? Could it have been?" he said. The news media, he said, follows him "like never before".

Trump urged his supporters to spread the word about the good work he is doing. "The good news is: we can get the word out... And the word that I get out is what's happened to steel in this country over the last six months," he said, making a case for his steel and aluminum tariffs, that they are helping US workers.
"Even though we've been here for a little more than a year and a half, but we really hit it big over the last six months with what we've done," Trump said.

Trump's run-ins with the American media began soon after his presidency began in January last year. He has previously accused the media of spreading "fake news" and for closely scrutinising....continue reading

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News Source : BS

Imran Khan's economic challenge: Rescue, Resuscitate, Reform Pakistan

Imran Khan's economic vision is bold and if he gets it right Pakistan could be a transformed country

 

International News → With cricketer turned politician Imran Khan on the cusp of becoming the next Wazir-e-Azam of Pakistan, his economic vision has the potential of transforming Pakistan's stuttering economy. But his road to redeem Pakistan's economy could ruffle a lot of feathers, including that of the Pakistan army which has a major role to play in Khan's rise to the top. Khan certainly faces an uphill task – the nation he will lead sits at the bottom of the pile on several important social and economic parameters.

The World Bank estimates that Pakistan's GDP growth rate will decline to 5 per cent in 2019 from 5.7 per cent in 2017. In 2018, Pakistan won't grow more than 5 per cent. In 2020, it will grow at 5.4 per cent – significantly lower than other South Asian nations like India and Bangladesh. In 2017, its per capita GDP grew by 3.6 per cent – again lower than India and Bangladesh but better than Sri Lanka.

Pakistan Election Results

In 2016, almost 5 million children in Pakistan were out of school. The country has the lowest primary school enrollment rate in the region. It has more child laborers than other nations in the neighborhood. Its labor participation rates are abysmal. It ranks 147 in the Ease of Doing Business Index – better than Bangladesh. Suicide bombings, armed insurgency and military coups are the order of the day gnawing away the nation's soul every single day. In many ways, the Pakistan Imran Khan is inheriting is a tinderbox waiting to explode.

One of the key aspects of Khan's economic reform program which he dubbed as a “five-point emergency plan” in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) manifesto, which could ruffle many feathers and generate a political backlash from his opponents, pertains to radically reform the way Pakistan spends its Rs 4.75 trillion (1 USD equals 129 Pakistani rupees) budget. Khan has promised that among other things, he would be looking to reduce the defence budget of Pakistan.

While Khan hasn't specified how he intends to get Pakistan’s all-powerful military to reconcile to this, his plan is to trim Pakistan's $9.6 billion military budget which accounts for almost a fifth of the country's total budget.

Read More → Imran Khan's economic challenge

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News Source : BS

Priorities fake news issue over payments service plans: Govt to WhatsApp

WhatsApp has been told that the fake news issue is far more important than other plans in the current circumstances.

Latest News → IT Ministry is keen to see WhatsApp priorities curbing of fake news on its platform, against the backdrop of lynching incidents claiming many lives, over its plans to launch payments service, as per a senior government official.

The official told PTI that WhatsApp's payment service matter had figured in the meeting on Monday between IT Secretary Ajay Prakash Sawhney and top WhatsApp executives, including COO Matthew Idema.

The meeting saw the executives outlining the steps initiated by the Facebook-owned company recently to combat circulation of fake messages which incited lynching incidents in several parts of the country.

Whatsapp Fake News Issue

The ministry is of the view that WhatApp needs to resolve on priority basis the overhanging issue of misinformation and take more steps to control the rampant abuse of its platform for circulation of fake messages.

WhatsApp has been told that the fake news issue is far more important than other plans in the current circumstances, said the official, who was privy to the recent discussions.

WhatsApp did not respond to an emailed query.

The official noted that there are outstanding concerns over Whatsapp's proposed payment service plan, including how and where will the data of users be stored in the backdrop of RBI's instructions, mandating that data be stored in India.

The government wants greater clarity on how the storage issue is being handled by WhatsApp and these matters are under discussion, the official said, adding that detailed examination is required also given that....continue story

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News Source : BS

Maratha Quota Stir: Internet blocked in Navi Mumbai after clashes, arson

Police on Wednesday evening lobbed teargas shells and used baton-charge in the Kopar Khairane area after a group of protesters stoned vehicles and clashed with local people.

Mumbai Bandh → Internet services in the neighboring Navi Mumbai township have been suspended since early Thursday.

The decision was taken in the wake of the situation in areas like Kopar Khairne, which witnessed violence during the Maratha quota agitation on Wednesday, he said.

The situation in Kopar Khairne was still tense, the official said.
Last evening, the police had lobbed teargas shells and used baton-charge in Kopar Khairane area after a group of protesters stoned vehicles, clashed with local people and indulged in arson. Miscreants had also set fire to a police outpost.

Maratha Quota Stir

The incidents took place after the Maratha organisations, seeking reservations in government jobs and education, had called off the bandh.

A group of protesters who were returning home last night had hurled stones at vehicles of local people in Kopar Khairane, a police official earlier said.

Later, some members of local communities had gathered at the spot and clashed with protesters, he said.

The mob then hurled stones in which some offices and shops were damaged.

They also set fire to a police chowky (outpost) near D-Mart supermarket in sector 6.

Five to six cars and over a dozen two-wheelers parked in front of the chowky were also vandalised and torched.....continue reading

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News Source : BS

First lake of liquid water discovered on Mars

The lake, however, would not be drinkable, and lies almost 1.5 km beneath the icy surface in a harsh and frigid environment.

International News → A massive underground lake has been detected for the first time on Mars, raising the possibility that more water -- and maybe even life -- exists there, international astronomers. Located under a layer of Martian ice, the lake is about 20 km wide, said the report led by Italian researchers in the US journal Science. It is the largest body of liquid water ever found on the Red Planet.

"This is a stunning result that suggests water on Mars is not a temporary trickle like previous discoveries but a persistent body of water that provides the conditions for life for extended periods of time," said Alan Duffy, an associate professor at Swinburne University in Australia, who was not involved in the study.
Mars is now cold, barren and dry but used to be warm and wet. It was home to plenty of liquid water and lakes at least 3.6 billion years ago.

Scientists are eager to find signs of contemporary water, because such discoveries are key to unlocking the mystery of whether life ever formed on Mars in its ancient past, or if it might persist today.

First lake of liquid water discovered on Mars

Being able to access water sources could also help humans survive on a future crewed mission to Earth's neighbouring planet. This particular lake, however, would not be drinkable, and lies almost 1.5 km beneath the icy surface in a harsh and frigid environment.

Whether microbial forms of life lie within is a matter of debate. Some experts are skeptical of the possibility since the lake is so cold and briny, and mixed with a heavy dose of dissolved Martian salts and minerals. The temperature is likely below the freezing point of pure water, but can remain liquid due to the presence of magnesium, calcium, and sodium.

The discovery was made using radar instruments on board the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter, which launched in 2003. The tool is called the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS), and was designed to find subsurface water by sending radar pulses....continue reading

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 News Source : BS

Maratha Quota Stir: Mumbai tense; buses attacked, slogans against CM Devendra Fadnavis

Agitators gathered at various locations in the Mumbai region and the neighbouring Raigad and Palghar districts

 

Mumbai Bandh : Protesters attacked public buses in Mumbai, and the neighboring Thane and Navi Mumbai as the bandh called by Maratha outfits over their demand for reservation began this morning. Two BEST buses were attacked by agitators in Kanjurmarg and Bhandup suburbs of Mumbai.

In view of the stone-pelting on buses, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) partially suspended its services in those areas and expects to resume it when the situation improves, an official of the transport body said.

Protesters also hurled stones at a public transport bus in Wagle Estate area of the neighboring Thane city. They blocked some areas there, including the key Teen Hath Naka junction, resulting in long queues of vehicles on the road leading to Mumbai. A bus was also attacked in Ghansoli area of Navi Mumbai following which the city transport authority suspended its services in the area, an official said.

Agitators gathered at various locations in the Mumbai region and the neighbouring Raigad and Palghar districts.

At some places, protesters raised slogans against Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Public Works Department Minister Chandrakant Patil for allegedly insulting sentiments of the Maratha community.

The suburban railway services on the western, central, harbor and trans-harbor lines were not affected, officials said. Around 7 million people travel in local trains daily in the Mumbai region.
The Maratha Kranti Morcha, which is spearheading the agitation for reservation in jobs and education, has called for the shutdown in Mumbai and some neighboring districts today. Another outfit, the Sakal Maratha Samaj, called for the bandh in Navi Mumbai and Panvel areas.

A constable died and nine other policemen were injured amid suicide attempt by three agitators during the violence.

Agitators had clashed with the police and torched vehicles at several places, while Internet services were suspended in rural areas of Aurangabad district to prevent any untoward incident. In Jalna, the police had fired in the air to quell protests.

Read more → Maratha Quota Stir

Sterlite Tech rises 7% on strong Q1 results, record order book position

The stock rallied 7% to Rs 324 on the BSE after the company reported nearly two times increase in net profit on YoY basis in June quarter and an all-time high order book position of Rs 60.34 billion.

Share Market News»Shares of Sterlite Technologies have rallied 7% to Rs 324 per share on the BSE in early morning trade after the company reported nearly two-times increase in its net profit on year on year (YoY) basis in June quarter (Q1FY19) and an all-time high order book position of Rs 60.34 billion.

The company posted net profit of Rs 1.21 billion, up 99%, on YoY basis, driven by growth in revenues and expansion of margin profile. Revenues grew 18% at 8.77 billion over the previous year quarter.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margin improved 700bps to 29% in Q1FY19 from 22% in Q1FY18.

The Company has also given strategic guidance for net income growth of $100 million in FY20, which is expected to be expedited with the recently announced acquisition.

Sterlite Technologies has been demonstrating sustainable growth historically, with a 47% CAGR growth in net income in the last three financial years.

On its next growth cycle, building infrastructure for 5G backhaul, fibre-to-the-home, data centres and Internet of Things related applications, the Company’s key financial performance metrics continued to be healthy, the company said in a press release.

At 09:45 am; the stock was trading 6.5% higher at Rs 321 on the BSE, as compared to 0.38% rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. A combined 2.11 million equity shares changed hands on the counter on the BSE and NSE so far.

↓↓↓ Check Live NSE/BSE Stock Price ↓↓↓

Sterlite Tech Share Price

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Bajaj Finance market cap crosses Rs 1.5 trillion; Bajaj Finserv hit new high

Bajaj Finance (Rs 2,648) and Bajaj Finserv (Rs 6,533) hit their respective record highs, rallied 5% on the BSE in intra-day trade on Friday.

Share Market News » Shares of Bajaj Finserv (Rs 6,533 per share) and its lending and wealth advisory arm Bajaj Finance (Rs 2,648 per share) have hit their respective record highs on the BSE in intra-day trade so far on Friday after reporting a strong set of numbers for the quarter ended June 2018 (Q1FY19).

Both these stock were trading higher by 5% each, as compared to 0.45% rise in the S&P BSE Sensex at 10.17 am. In past four months, Bajaj Finance (up 62%) and Bajaj Finserv (up 32%) have outperforming the market by surging more than 30%, against 11% rise in the benchmark index.

A sharp rally in Bajaj Finance stock has seen the market capitalisation (market cap) of the company crossing Rs 1.5 trillion today. Currently, with Rs 1.52 trillion market cap, Bajaj Finance stands at number 16th position in overall market cap ranking; the BSE data shows.

After a strong close in FY18, Bajaj Finance started FY19 with a bang as it reported 35% AUM (assets under management) growth and 60% pre-provisioning profit growth on year on year (YoY).

The company reported an 81% YoY jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 8.36 billion in the June quarter, helped by better operating expenses and increase in fee income. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 4.61 billion in the same quarter last year.

Calculated margin at 11.9% was 95bps higher on YoY basis, largely driven by increasing proportion of high-yield segments and some benefit from capital infusion. Asset quality remained improved with GNPAs at 1.4%. Portfolio quality is at its record best, barring the 2&3W segment.

“After dominating the mass affluent space, Bajaj Finance is now on its way to becoming a diversified NBFC with big plans in the mortgage space. We expect 29% loan book the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over FY18-20E, margins around 11% and average credit costs at 130bps to drive earnings CAGR at 36%,”analysts at Antique Stock Broking said in result review.

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Bajaj Finance Share Price

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Bajaj Finserv Q1 net profit up 41% to Rs 8.26 billion, revenue jumps

For the life insurance arm, new business premium in the quarter grew to Rs 7.2 billion, as against Rs 6.8 billion earlier.

Share Market News » Bajaj Finserv, holding company of the Bajaj Group’s financial services companies, had net profit growth of 41 per cent to Rs 8.26 billion for the quarter ended June from the same period a year before.

Bajaj Allianz General Insurance’s gross written premium grew 23 per cent to Rs 24.3 billion. Underwriting profit increased significantly to nearly Rs 1.3 billion, from Rs 120 million in the same quarter of FY18.

Net profit for the general insurer grew 37 per cent to Rs 2.9 billion. The combined ratio improved to 90.2 per cent, from 95.8 per cent in the comparative period.

For the life insurance arm, new business premium in the quarter grew to Rs 7.2 billion, as against Rs 6.8 billion earlier. Group new business revenue grew to Rs 4.25billion, from Rs 3.9 billion.

Overall, premium revenue was Rs 13.6 billion, up 18 per cent from the same quarter a year before.

S Sreenivasan, chief financial officer at Bajaj Finserv, said: “We are going to be a little cautious on crop insurance this year, as the conditions are a bit tight — reinsurers have reduced commissions and there have been price corrections. While retail health grows at 28 per cent, group health is not that profitable for us. We are consciously, in the life insurance business, trying to diversify our customer segments and balance our product mix. Today, 61 per cent of our business is Unit-linked, as compared to 70 per cent last year. Traditional protection products made up 39 per cent of our business this quarter.”

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RBL Bank's Q1 result meets estimates; profit up by 35% to Rs 1.9 bn

The bank's provision coverage ratio grew by 250 bps over the previous quarter to 60.41 per cent.

Share Market News » Private sector lender RBL Bank’s first-quarter net profit rose 35 per cent due to rise in interest income. RBL bank’s net profit rose to Rs 1.9 billion in the quarter ended June, in comparison to Rs 1.4 billion in the year-ago quarter. The bank's net interest income rose 46 per cent on a y-o-y basis.

The net interest margin (NIM), the difference between the yield on advances and cost of fund, grew to 4.04 per cent, against 3.8 in the previous quarter and 3.54 in the year-ago quarter. "We have crossed the milestone of 4 per cent and expect to maintain NIM at this level or even improve it, said Vishwavir Ahuja, MD and CEO of RBL Bank.

The gross non-performing assets (NPAs), as a percentage of total advances, in the present June quarter, stood at 1.4 per cent, flat against the previous March quarter. In the year-ago quarter, the gross NPA ratio was at 1.46 per cent.

The bank's provision coverage ratio grew by 250 bps over the previous quarter to 60.41 per cent. "60 per cent is considered a prudent level of provision. This is a comfortable level and we will continue to improve it," said Ahuja.

The deposit and credit grew at 27 per cent and 36 per cent respectively in the full-year period. Wholesale loans form 59 per cent of the bank's books while retail forms 41 per cent. While most of the wholesale loans of the bank comprise of working capital with a tenure less than two years, Ahuja said that the bank was moving towards a greater share of retail loans. "Both segments are showing strong growth and the book would be 50:50 in the next 2-3 years," he added.

Of the total advances, 33 per cent is unsecured. The unsecured book mainly comprises of Microbanking and card business. The capital adequacy ratio for the quarter was 14.23 per cent, an improvement against 13.06 per cent in the previous quarter. The bank does not plan to raise capital for the next seven to eight quarters. During the quarter, the bank took 100% stake in Swaadhar Finserv, which targets Microbanking and medium and small entrepreneurs.

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RBL Bank Share Price

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Kotak Mahindra Bank consolidated Q1 net up 17% to Rs 15.74 bn

Total income up 15% YoY to Rs 99 bn; Gross NPA at 1.93% for the quarter, against 2.24% a year ago and 1.95% in the immediately preceding quarter ended March 2018.

Share Market News » Private lender Kotak Mahindra Bank reported 17 per cent rise in its fiRs t quarter (Q1) consolidated net profit on account of higher interest and fee income. The asset quality of the bank’s loan book also improved during the quarter.

Profit after tax at the consolidated level rose to Rs 15.74 billion for the quarter ended June 2018, from Rs 13.47 billion in the year-ago period. Total consolidated income rose 15 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 99 billion.

At the standalone level, the bank reported a 12.3 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 10.25 billion, against Rs 9.13 billion in the year-ago quarter. Gross non-performing assets (NPAs), as a percentage of total advances on a consolidated basis, fell to 1.93 per cent for the quarter, against 2.24 per cent in the year-ago quarter and 1.95 per cent in the previous March quarter.

Net NPA stood at 0.77 per cent for the present quarter, against 1.07 per cent in the year-ago quarter and 0.86 per cent in the March quarter. Net interest margin for June 2018 quarter stood at 4.2 per cent, against 4.3 per cent in the previous March quarter and 4.5 per cent in the year-ago quarter.

The bank expects strong loan book growth going forward. “We expect a loan growth in 20 per cent range and margins to stabilise in the 4.1–4.3 per cent range,” said Jaimin Bhatt, president and chief financial officer, Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Kotak Mahindra Bank consolidated Q1 net up 17% to Rs 15.74 bn. At the standalone level, its provisioning more than doubled from Rs 2.04 billion to Rs 4.70 billion on account of worries in the small and medium enterprise (SME) segment and also mark-to-market (MTM) hit on its gilt portfolio.

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Kotak Bank Share Price

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HDFC AMC's Rs 28 bn IPO to open on July 25 at Rs 1,095-1,100 per share

The IPO will value HDFC MF, which manages assets worth over Rs 3 trillion, at Rs 233 billion

 

Share Market News » The price band for the initial public offering (IPO) of HDFC Mutual Fund has been set at Rs 1,095 to Rs 1,100 per share. The three-day IPO will open for subscription on July 25, parent HDFC said in a statement on Tuesday.

A total of 25.4 million shares belonging to HDFC and Standard Life are being put on the block in the IPO.

At the top-end, the issue size works out to Rs 28 billion. The IPO size is 20 per cent lower than widely-reported figure of Rs 30 billion. The IPO will value HDFC MF, which manages assets worth over Rs 3 trillion, at Rs 233 billion.

Reliance Nippon MF, which manages assets worth Rs 2.4 trillion, is valued at Rs 136 trillion.

HDFC, which holds 57.3 per cent, will see its stake reduce to 53.2 per cent following the IPO. UK’s Standard Life, which holds 38.2 per cent, will see its stake drop to 30.2 per cent.

In April, HDFC MF had made a pre-IPO share allotment of 1.44 million shares to distributors at Rs 1,050 apiece. Following objections raised by market regulator Sebi, the shares were transferred to private equity major KKR.

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Hindustan Unilever Q1 profit rises 19.17% to Rs 15.29 billion as sales grow

Net sales for the June quarter came in at Rs 93.56 billion, growing 11.37% year over year.

Share Market News » The country’s largest consumer goods company, Hindustan  Unilever (HUL), reported a 19.17 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit on Monday for the April-June 2018 quarter (Q1 FY19), as double-digit sales volume growth continued for the third straight quarter, aided by a lower year-ago base.

Net profit at Rs 15.29 billion was in line with Bloomberg consensus estimates, which came in at Rs 15.40 billion. Revenue, which is net sales plus other operational income, missed Street estimates, however, growing 11.2 per cent year over year to Rs 94.87 billion. Bloomberg consensus estimates had pegged revenue at Rs 96.69 billion for the June quarter. Net sales for the June quarter came in at Rs 93.56 billion, growing 11.37 per cent year over year.

After adjusting for exceptional items, June quarter profit rose 22.5 per cent year over year to Rs 15.88 billion (from Rs 12.96 billion last year), with the stock touching a new high of Rs 1,770 on Monday on the BSE, before settling at Rs 1,753.85, up 0.73 per cent over Friday’s close. 

June quarter volume growth at 12 per cent was in line with Street estimates, though it was marginally ahead of 11 per cent posted by the company in December 2017 and March 2018 quarters, respectively.

Kaustubh Pawaskar, senior research analyst at Mumbai-based brokerage Sharekhan, said, “The double-digit volume growth (for the June quarter) is certainly the big highlight and can be attributed to uptick in rural demand as well as strong traction for launches. With rural consumption improving, we expect volume growth momentum to sustain in the coming quarters.”

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Ashok Leyland Q1 profit up by 233% to Rs 3.70 billion, beats estimate

MHCV volumes including exports increased by 54% to 30647 numbers during the quarter, while LCV volumes increased by 33 per cent to 11481 numbers.

 

 

Share Market News » Ashok Leyland has reported a 233 per cent growth in profit to Rs 3.70 billion during the quarter ended June 2018 as compared to Rs 1.11 billion, a year ago, beatingestimates.
Revenues rose by 47 per cent to Rs 62.50 billion as compared to Rs 42.58 billion.

MHCV volumes including exports increased by 54% to 30647 numbers during the quarter, while LCV volumes increased by 33 per cent to 11481 numbers.

Vinod K. Dasari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland Limited said that the Total Industry Volume registered 84 per cent growth primarily driven by surge in infrastructure spend resulting in higher sale of Tipper and MAVs.

"There was also the impact of base effect. We continued our focus on profitable growth and tight control on working capital, in a market which operated on heavy discounting and credit push.” He further added, “Despite pressure on realization and raw material price increases, I am happy that we continue to post growth with profitability," said Dasari.

ALL has grown significantly in the Intermediate Commercial Vehicles (ICVs). The LCV and Bus business have also posted significant growth. Exports have also grown by 24 per cent, said Dasari, adding that the company will continue to pursue strategy of de-risking the company from cyclicality even as it pursue superior returns.

Gopal Mahadevan, CFO, Ashok Leyland added, “The company had seen a double-digit EBITDA margins for 13 of the 14 sequential quarters.”

Net cash in the Balance Sheet is Rs 11.65 billion. Focus on operating costs, product mix, and material cost optimisation will continue, even as the company pursue growth, said Mahadevan.

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Ashok Leyland Share Price

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ICICI Lombard General Insurance Q1 net profit rises 35% to Rs 2.89 billion

The firm has improved its combined ratio driven by lower loss and expenses ratio.

 

Share Market News » ICICI Lombard General Insurance posted a net profit of Rs 2.89 billion in the first quarter of the current financial year, a 35 per cent increase from Rs 2.14 billion recorded at the end of the same quarter last year.

The firm has improved its combined ratio driven by lower loss and expenses ratio which has boosted its successful performance this quarter.

Gross Direct Premium Income grew by 13.7 per cent to Rs 37.74 billion in Q1 of FY2019, as against Rs 33.2 billion in GDPI earned in the same quarter last year.

Industry-wide growth in premium income among general insurance firms is pegged at 12.2 per cent for the first quarter of this current year.

In terms of health insurance, the company underwrote Rs 7.5 billion (GDPI) worth of policies this quarter as compared to Rs 6 billion in the corresponding period of last year. The loss ratio has reduced by 50 basis points since the last quarter to 85.5 per cent.

Bhargava Dasgupta, managing director and chief executive officer at ICICI Lombard, said: “We are seeing a large amount of growth in volumes and we are focusing on segments which are not very lumpy,” which means that, “we are not writing a lot of the large ticket ‘group’ health portfolios.”

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Reliance Industries market cap touches $100-bn mark, stock at record high

RIL became the second Indian company to scale the milestone after TCS.

 

 

Share Market News » Reliance Industries (RIL) market capitalisation (market cap) surpassed the $100 billion mark, after its stock price soaring to a record high of Rs 1,090, up 5% on Thursday on the BSE in intra-day trade. It became the second Indian company to scale the milestone after TCS.

At 11:56 am; RIL market cap stood at Rs 6.88 trillion or $ 100 billion mark, the BSE data shows. The stock was quoting at Rs 1,088, up 4.9%. On comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was up over 1%.

Earlier, Mukesh Ambani-led RIL broke the $100 billion barrier in 2007. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the IT giant, is on top of the rank with Rs 7.57 trillion market cap, data shows.

The rally in RIL comes after it announced an aggressive plan in its 41st annual general meeting and ahead of its June quarter earnings.

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director in the AGM launched ultra high speed fixed line broadband services for homes and enterprises under the brand of JioGigaFiber on July 5. "Fiber will redefine 24/7 emergency help for all homes across India and Jio will offer the most competitive broadband connection."

The oil-retail-to-telecom giant has invested Rs 2.5 lakh crore in fiber connectivity.

RIL's net profits grew by more than 20.6 percent to Rs 36,075 crore in FY18. Reliance's earnings profile underwent a fundamental change this year.

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Reliance Industries Share Price

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Cipla acquires 100% stake in South African pharmaceutical company Mirren

The transaction is subject to the approval by the Competition Commission of South Africa.

Share Market News » Cipla has acquired a 100 per cent stake in Mirren, a South African over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor. The transaction is subject to the approval by the Competition Commission of South Africa.

Paul Miller, CEO of Cipla South Africa, said that once approved, the transaction will enhance Cipla's current OTC portfolio, by adding Mirren's well-established brands like Bronco! cough syrup, Coryx, Tensopyn, and Ultimag. This deal will also increase Cipla's local manufacturing footprint.

Lynton Lomas, director of Mirren, said, "The acquisition by Cipla will help to ensure that, the continued growth that the Mirren brands have achieved over the past three years will be sustained. The wellbeing of Mirren's dedicated staff was one of the biggest deciding factors

About Cipla LTD. (CIPLA) - Company History

Cipla Ltd is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in India. The company focuses on development of new formulations and has a wide range of pharmaceutical products. The product portfolio includes over 1500 products across wide range of therapeutic categories.Cipla Ltd was incorporated in the year 1935 with the name Chemical Industrial & Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd. Khwaja Abdul Hamied the founder of Cipla gave the company all his patent and proprietary formulas for several drugs and medicines without charging any royalty. On August 17 1935 Cipla was registered as a public limited company with an authorized capital of Rs 6 lakh.In the year 1941 as the Second World War cuts off drug supplies the company starts producing fine chemicals dedicating all its facilities for the war effort. In the year 1952 the company set up first research division for attaining self-sufficiency in technological development. In the year 1960 they started operations at second plant at Vikhroli Mumbai producing fine chemicals with special emphasis on natural products. In the year 1968 the company manufactured ampicillin for the first time in the country. In the year 1972 the company started Agricultural Research Division at Bangalore for scientific cultivation of medicinal plants. In the year 1976 they launched medicinal aerosols for asthma. In the year 1980 the company won Chemexcil Award for Excellence for exports. In the year 1982 the company started operations in their fourth factory at Patalganga Maharashtra. In the year 1984 they developed anti-cancer drugs vinblastine and vincristine in collaboration with the National Chemical Laboratory Pune. Also they won Sir P C Ray Award for developing in-house technology for indigenous manufacture of a number of basic drugs.

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Adani Group shares in focus; Adani Power, Adani Enterprises up over 8%

Adani Green Energy, Adani Transmission and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone were up in the range of 2% to 7% on the BSE.

 

 

Share Market News » Shares of the Gautam Adani-led Adani Group companies have rallied by up to 16% on the BSE in intra-day trade in an otherwise subdued market.

Adani Power (up 16% at Rs 20.15), Adani Enterprises (10% at Rs 125), Adani Green Energy (7% at Rs 33.20), Adani Transmission (5% at Rs 167) and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (2% at Rs 378) have surged up to 16%.

On comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was marginally up by 0.10% at 36,276 points at 12:54 pm.

Adani Group emerged as the top bidder for city gas retailing licences, eyeing as many as 52 cities.

Adani Gas bid for 32 cities on its own and another 20 cities in equal joint venture with state-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the PTI report suggested quoting sources.

In past one week, these five Adani Group stocks have outperformed the market by gaining in the range of 5% to 23%, as compared to 1.8% rise in the Sensex.

Gas Retailing Bids:  Adani Group emerged as the top bidder for city gas retailing licences, eyeing as many as 52 cities, while Reliance-BP combine took a close look at bidding but dropped out at the last moment, sources said. GAIL Gas Ltd, the city gas distribution arm of state-owned GAIL India Ltd, put in bids for close to 30 cities, sources privy to the development said.

Adani Gas Ltd bid for 32 cities on its own and another 20 cities in equal joint venture with state-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC). Bidding for the biggest city gas distribution licensing round, offering 86 permits for selling CNG and piped cooking gas in 174 districts in 22 states and union territories, closed today.

India Gas Solutions Pvt Ltd -- the 50:50 JV of UK's BP plc and Reliance Industries, looked very closely to foray into city gas distribution but dropped out at the last moment, the sources said. IGSPL, which was formed to retail natural gas in India, looked at licence for 15 cities but did not place any bid, they added.

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Adani Power Share Price ,  Adani Enterprises Share Price

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News Source : BS