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Travel: Finding happiness in Salamanca and Toledo

Loknath Das

I have passed too many autumns to be excited about a toy train ride. Even during my childhood in Kolkata, I hardly ever jumped on a toy train because of two reasons. One, I had a better option: trams. Two, there was just one such train in Communist-ruled Kolkata. But in Toledo, a ride in the city’s tourist toy train from Plaza de Zocodover is the best way to see the medieval marvel that sits pretty on an undulating terrain like an umbrella food cover with the Tagus river wrapped…

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The Most Popular International Travel Destinations in All 50 States

Loknath Das

We all dream of hopping on a plane and jetting off to some picture-perfect destination. Sometimes it’s a warm beach with a cold drink, sometimes a historic city with hidden gems to discover. No matter where you dream of going, you’re likely not alone. Most people in America tend to travel to Mexico, Canada and Europe when they pull out their passports, according to data compiled by Orbitz. And while travel within the U.S. is still the most popular choice for Americans, Mel Dohmen, the senior brand manager for Orbitz, told Travel + Leisure that visits to Southeast…

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Kentucky police use new technology to nab suspects in hours instead of weeks as rapid DNA market takes off

Loknath Das

The Kentucky State Police started using a new DNA test in February that law enforcement officials say could completely revolutionize criminal investigations, analyzing the data in under two hours instead of days or weeks. Colorado-based ANDE Rapid DNA is offering its quick DNA testing to Kentucky state police for free as part of an ongoing pilot program. Kentucky is the first state to use ANDE’s technology for sexual assault cases and it’s getting a lot of notice from other states. ANDE Rapid DNA declined to provide its sales data, but…

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Out of Finance Ministry, Subhash Chandra Garg: No one in govt questioned overseas bonds

Loknath Das

S C Garg (right) takes charge as Power Secretary from A K Bhalla on Friday. (PIB/PTI Photo) Taking charge as Power Secretary, former Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg Friday said “no one in the government” had opposed the idea of sovereign bond issuance during his tenure in the Finance Ministry. On Thursday, the day after he was moved out of the Finance Ministry, Garg said he had applied for voluntary retirement from the IAS with effect from October 31 — he was due to retire in October 2020. Gujarat-cadre officer Atanu…

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Piramal sells entire 10% stake in Shriram Transport for ₹2,300 crore

Loknath Das

New Delhi: Ajay Piramal-controlled Piramal Enterprises Ltd on Monday sold its entire stake of about 10% stake in commercial vehicle financier Shriram Transport Finance Co Ltd., citing a “broader strategy” to leverage opportunities for growth in its financial services business. As of 31 March, Piramal held 22.6 million shares in Shriram Transport, which specialises in financing second-hand trucks, representing a 9.96% stake. The stake sale will fetch Piramal approximately ₹2,300 crore, based on the closing price of the stock on Monday. “Earlier this year in April 2019, Piramal Enterprises Ltd. had announced…

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Technology in the Classroom: The Question Is Not Now “If” but “How”

Loknath Das

Last Thursday, California approved its first budget under Governor Gavin Newsom, making a substantial down payment on education for the state’s high-tech economy. The budget significantly increases the state’s investment in schools and includes new funding for expanding broadband infrastructure in low-income communities and teaching computer science in the schools. These investments advance the effort begun in 2018, when the State Board of Education adopted computer science standards for K-12 students, making it one of only seven states in the nation with such standards. As California focuses its attention on…

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Finance ministry mulling 3-5% tax in Budget on cash withdrawal of 10 lakh a year

Loknath Das

NEW DELHI: Withdrawing a cumulative ₹10 lakh a year can attract 3-5 per cent tax if a proposal going around in the Finance Ministry takes shape in the Budget to track high value cash deals and make digital payments mandatory. In its push towards a digital economy, the central government is thinking of introducing a tax of 3-5 per cent on cash withdrawal of ₹10 lakh in a year, a move to discourage cash usage in the economy and resultant black money. Paying ₹30,000-50,000 for ₹10 lakh annual withdrawal will be seen as a loss, the…

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Finance ministry mulling 3-5% tax in Budget on cash withdrawal of 10 lakh a year

Loknath Das

NEW DELHI: Withdrawing a cumulative ₹10 lakh a year can attract 3-5 per cent tax if a proposal going around in the Finance Ministry takes shape in the Budget to track high value cash deals and make digital payments mandatory. In its push towards a digital economy, the central government is thinking of introducing a tax of 3-5 per cent on cash withdrawal of ₹10 lakh in a year, a move to discourage cash usage in the economy and resultant black money. Paying ₹30,000-50,000 for ₹10 lakh annual withdrawal will be seen as a loss, the…

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7 Hottest Online Education Startups in China

Loknath Das

The rapid technology development has greatly impacted people’s lives. Not only has it changed how people shop, pay, or date, it has also changed how people learn. Online education has come to the forefront in recent years. It is estimated that the scale of e-learning users in China will reach 296 million in 2020. Why is online education so popular? Comparing with traditional offline education model, online education has outstanding advantages. E-learning is flexible, convenient, and rich in resources; combining with AI, VR, AR and other technologies, it can better…

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British Airways passenger forced to travel on seat covered in dried vomit

Loknath Das

After the carrier failed to issue an apology the man shared the photo on Twitter. A British Airways (BA) business class passenger was left feeling ‘disgusted’ when he had to travel in a 10-hour flight on a seat plastered in vomit. Dave Gildea, vice-president of a software company in San Francisco was travelling from London to Seattle when he reportedly upgraded to business class at Heathrow Airport. However, instead of having a comfortable experience, he was dismayed to see vomit all around his designated seat. The 38-year-old man said when…

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