LONDON – Keir Starmer’s debut at prime minister’s questions drew attention for his handling of child poverty policies rather than the usual grilling as expected. Starmer faced queries from the Scottish National Party regarding his stance on the two-child benefit cap. Despite the lack of aggressive questioning from the opposition, the issue of child poverty took center stage during the session. Labor’s recent uprising on welfare limits also prompted scrutiny during the session. While Starmer emphasized his government’s commitment to addressing child poverty, the suspension of seven lawmakers for voting against the government’s welfare policies underscored underlying tensions. The parliamentary exchange shed light on the early challenges facing Starmer’s government post-election.
Flipkart GOAT Sale 2024: Massive Discounts on SSDs, SD Cards, and More – Last Day!, India
Flipkart GOAT Sale: From SSDs to SD cards, the Flipkart GOAT sale offers a variety of offers for customers. These offers include bank offers, price cuts and no-cost EMI. However, today is the last day to order as the Flipkart GOAT sale will end on July 25. Here are the best offers on storage devices.
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C at up to 60% off
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD at up to 70% off
SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD at up to 41% off
WD Blue SN580 NVMe SSD 1 TB at 15% off
WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD at 42% off
SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card at 66% off
SanDisk Ultra microSD UHS-I cards at up to 47% off
Pixel 8 Price Drop: Google Flagship Selling At ‘Lowest Price Since Launch’ During Flipkart GOAT Sale 2024; Should You Buy?
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C is an essential office tool, especially for mobile users looking to increase productivity. These days, with hybrid models and work-from-home options, this flash drive makes file transfers between many devices on the go — including the newest iPhone 15 — smooth. It has both USB Type-C and Type-A connectors, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface, and a remarkable read speed of up to 400 MB/s, so data transfers are quick. With its vivid colour options and 1TB capacity, it can accommodate a wide range of tastes.
The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD fits your mobile lifestyle and accelerates every move. With fast NVMe solid-state performance featuring up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds, this high-capacity drive is compatible with the Type-C port and offers durability. The drive comes with password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption and a 5-year warranty. Moreover, the drives come with up to three-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance, making it a reliable option to store your valuable content. The drive is available in three colour options: Black, Monterey, and Sky Blue. Available in capacities up to 4TB*.
WD Blue SN580 NVMe SSD: WD Blue SN580 NVMe SSD is designed for people who are looking for faster speeds while working on data-heavy files. Offering up to 2TB* of storage in a slim M.2 2280 form factor, this SSD allows seamless storage for applications, data, and media such as photos, 4K videos, and music, all in one drive. Ideal for those handling large raw files, effortlessly launching applications, loading, editing, and publishing content with PCIe Gen 4.0 speeds up to 4,150 MB/s (1TB and 2TB1 models) and benefit from fast file copies with nCache 4.0 technology.
WD My Passport HDD: Another handy gadget to consider is an external hard drive. Of course, you want your data to be safe after all. WD My Passport HDD is the best device for ensuring backup of your data, photos, videos, music, documents, etc. The portable WD My Passport HDD comes with an ultra-slim form factor and offers massive capacities of up to 5TB, thus making it the go-to drive for data backup.
iPhone 15 Price Drop: Ahead Of Flipkart GOAT Sale 2024, Apple’s Latest Flagship Selling For Under Rs 65,000; Check Prices, Offers, Specs Here
SanDisk Ultra microSD UHS-I cards are Ideal for Android devices, Chromebooks, and Windows laptops, the new 1.5TB* microSD card with read speeds up to 160MB/s offers massive space for more of what matters. It is the world’s fastest 1.5TB* microSD UHS-I card with transfer speeds up to 150MB/s read* when paired with a SanDisk MobileMate USB 3.0 microSD card reader builds upon SanDisk’s strong and long-lasting legacy of innovation in storage. This can expand storage in a flash for host devices that support UHS-I microSD cards, such as Android smartphones and tablets, Chromebooks, and Windows laptops.
Israeli PM Netanyahu to Address Congress on Gaza War Amid Growing Dissent
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address Congress on Wednesday, aiming to shift the focus of the American public from domestic politics to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. With the war in Gaza at a critical juncture, Netanyahu seeks to rally support for his actions, which have faced criticism for the high number of Palestinian casualties and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As attention shifts from internal political debates in the US to international affairs, Netanyahu’s speech is seen as a pivotal moment in garnering American backing for his government’s approach to the conflict. Not all members of Congress plan to attend the address, with some citing opposition to the war in Gaza as their reason for boycotting the speech. The relationship between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden has become strained over the prolonged conflict, with Biden expressing concerns over Israel’s actions and the need for a resolution. The meeting between the two leaders scheduled for Thursday is anticipated to address these contentious issues as they navigate a complex diplomatic landscape.
SeedBlink Ranks Top 250 Global Fintech Companies in 2024, Romania
SeedBlink, a Romanian company founded in early 2020, which created a co-investment platform for technology startups, has been included in a global top 250 fintech companies list by CNBC and Statista.
The company is in the Alternative Finance category, along with Kickstarter, Fundbox, Crowdcube, Oak North, Patreon, PeerBerry, Republic, and SunFinance.
According to the CNBC and Statista ranking, the category includes crowdfunding platforms that help businesses raise capital either by selling shares or offering rewards to supporters. It also includes non-banking lending institutions that provide capital to companies and platforms that facilitate personal loans funded by private or institutional investors through online platforms, as an alternative to traditional lending.
I am thrilled to share that SeedBlink has been included in the top 250 global fintech companies for 2024, as announced today by CNBC and Statista. This remarkable achievement is a testament to our extraordinary team, our shareholders, and, of course, our community of investors, as well as the innovative startups we have collaborated with over the past four years, commented Andrei Dudoiu, co-founder of SeedBlink.
The ranking does not provide a classification of the 250 companies based on criteria such as revenue, attracted funding, or the most recent valuation. All companies in each category are listed in alphabetical order.
Companies must register on a platform to be considered for the ranking.
Rajasthan’s Budget Boosts Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship, India
Rajasthan recently unveiled its Budget for 2024-25, focusing on empowering youth and startups in the state. The policy includes the establishment of Atal Innovation Studios and Accelerators, introducing the Atal Entrepreneurship Programme, and allocating funds to support innovation and entrepreneurship. With a strong emphasis on skill development and fostering a conducive environment for startups, the state government aims to drive economic growth and create job opportunities for the youth. The initiatives announced in the Budget align with Rajasthan’s commitment to promoting innovation and nurturing entrepreneurial talent, further solidifying its position as a frontrunner in the startup ecosystem.
Indian Government Eliminates Angel Tax, Boosting Startup Investments
The Indian government has removed the angel tax for all classes of investors, a move that is expected to enhance foreign investments and strengthen the startup ecosystem. This decision addresses the long-standing issue of taxing investments rather than income and aims to reduce disputes and litigation, thereby fostering innovation.
In a significant move to promote foreign investments, the Indian government has scrapped the angel tax for all classes of investors, according to top officials.
Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of DPIIT, emphasized that the decision will not only attract foreign investments but also strengthen the country’s startup ecosystem, which is one of the largest in the world.
‘It was an ease of doing business issue as well as a tax issue. Investments should not get taxed,’ Singh explained, addressing the rationale behind the move.
Known as the angel tax, this levy was a 30% income tax on funding raised by startups if their valuation exceeded the company’s fair market value. The removal aims to reduce disputes and provide policy stability, helping entrepreneurs raise funds without relocating abroad.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal noted that the reform will specifically benefit emerging sectors like deeptech, AI, and clean energy, which require substantial early-stage capital.
Australian Government to Impose Heavy Fines on Tech Giants Over Child Abuse Material_Compliance Urged by February 2025
CANBERRA, July 24 (Xinhua) — The Australian government will issue significant fines to technology giants that fail to report on how they are combating the spread of child abuse material on their platforms.
The government on Wednesday issued legal notices to technology companies including Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, requiring them to report to the eSafety Commissioner every six months for the next two years on the measures they have in place to tackle online child sexual abuse.
The companies will have until February 15, 2025, to provide the first reports on how they are combating child abuse material, livestreamed abuse, online grooming, sexual extortion, and, where applicable, the production of child abuse material using generative artificial intelligence (AI).
Those that fail to deliver reports will face financial penalties of up to 782,500 Australian dollars (516,581.7 U.S. dollars) for each day they do not comply.
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, said the decision to compel the companies to make the reports was based on answers provided to her office in 2022 and 2023 that exposed significant safety concerns regarding protecting children from abuse.
We’re stepping up the pressure on these companies to lift their game, she said in a statement.
Apple and Microsoft in 2022 told the watchdog that they did not proactively detect child abuse content stored on the cloud while messaging services Skype, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, and Discord did not use any technology to detect child sexual abuse in live video chats.
Meta reported to eSafety that it did not always share information between its services when an account was banned for child abuse and eight different Google services were not blocking links to websites known to contain child abuse material.
In our subsequent conversations with these companies, we still haven’t seen meaningful changes or improvements to these identified safety shortcomings, Inman Grant said on Wednesday.
She said response times to reports of child abuse varied between technology companies in 2022 from as little as four minutes to up to 19 days.
USISPF Applauds Landmark Reforms in India’s Union Budget
The Union budget praised abolishes the angel tax and sets a 35% foreign tax rate, boosting global investment. Duty cuts enhance local manufacturing and supply chain efficiency. The budget prioritizes healthcare with cancer drug exemptions, supports innovation, reforms digital taxation and transfer pricing, and promotes ESG financing, safe harbors, and cross-border transactions. The US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) commended the reforms, emphasizing the significant impact on India’s startup ecosystem and international investor confidence. The forum highlighted the strides towards fiscal prudence, healthcare accessibility, and financial sector efficiency, projecting increased economic growth and innovation. The USISPF expressed optimism for India’s future economic prospects and global competitiveness following these strategic budget initiatives.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Kick-Start India Visit for FTA Talks
Britain’s newly-appointed Foreign Secretary David Lammy is set to embark on his first official visit to India, with a focus on boosting bilateral ties and advancing negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations. The Labour government’s commitment to forging a stronger partnership with India is evident as Lammy gears up for discussions on economic, security, and trade-related matters during his visit to New Delhi.
The visit comes at a critical juncture as both countries have been engaged in FTA talks for over two years, aiming to enhance the current trading partnership valued at GBP 38.1 billion annually. With 13 rounds of negotiations completed and the 14th round underway, key issues such as mobility of skilled professionals and import duty concessions are on the agenda to finalize the agreement.
Lammy’s trip underscores the significance of India as a key strategic partner for Britain, particularly in addressing global challenges like climate change and clean energy transition. The Foreign Secretary is poised to engage with Indian ministers, business leaders, and stakeholders to explore avenues for collaboration in areas such as clean power access, technology, and innovation.
As both nations look to unlock their shared potential and drive growth through enhanced cooperation, Lammy’s visit signals a renewed focus on fostering a robust UK-India partnership that benefits not just their populations but also the global community. The Labour government’s approach to strengthening ties with India underscores a commitment to building a more interconnected and prosperous future for both countries.
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Invasive Snails Repelled by Garlic, Attracted to Red: Australian Study
CANBERRA, July 24 (Xinhua) — Australian research has found that invasive snail species can be repelled by garlic and attracted by the color red.
The study, which was published by national science agency the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on Wednesday, revealed unexpected insights into pest snails that researchers said could be used to reduce the threat they pose to crops.
The research team conducted laboratory and field tests on four species of invasive snails and found that they prefer the color red but dislike garlic, and to a lesser extent coffee.
Valerie Caron, a Senior Research Scientist from the CSIRO, said the snails’ attraction to the color red was a surprise because the general scientific consensus is that gastropods cannot see color.
She said the team is ultimately working towards using red as an attractant for trapping and removing invasive snails and repellents, such as garlic, as barriers to protect crops.
Garlic was most effective at preventing snails from reaching food sources under laboratory conditions. Coffee barriers offered only limited protection, especially after 24 hours, with some snails even eating the coffee grounds, Caron said in a media release.
The study was part of a 4.6 million Australian dollar (3.04 million U.S. dollar) Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) national research program designed to provide Australian farmers with new tools and techniques to control pest snails and reduce impact on grain crops.
According to the GRDC, invasive snails and slugs contaminate cereal and legume crops, causing damage worth 170 million AUD (112.4 million USD) every year. ■
