Trump declares national emergency over IT threats
US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency to protect American computer networks from foreign adversaries.
Mr. Trump signed an executive order which effectively bars US companies from using foreign telecoms believed to pose a security risk to the country.
Mr Trump does not name any company specifically in the order. However, analysts suggest it is mainly directed at Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei.
A number of countries - including the US - have raised concerns that the company's products could be used by China for surveillance. Huawei has said its work does not pose any threat. The US is also embroiled in an escalating trade war with China.
Austria approves headscarf ban in primary schools
Austria has approved a law aimed at banning the headscarf in primary schools. However, patka head covering worn by Sikh boys or the Jewish kippa would not be affected, says the government.
The law was proposed by the ruling right-wing government.
Representatives of both parts of the governing coalition, the centre-right People's Party (OeVP) and the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), have said that the law is targeted at the Islamic headscarf.
FPOe education spokesman Wendelin Moelzer said the law was a signal against political Islam while OeVP MP Rudolf Taschner said the measure was necessary to free girls from subjugation.
RBI releases vision document for e-payment system
Reserve Bank of India has released a vision document for ensuring a safe, secure, convenient, quick and affordable e-payment system.
The move comes as the apex bank expects the number of digital transactions to increase more than four times to 8,707 crore in December 2021.
According to RBI release on Wednesday the 'Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019 - 2021', with its core theme of 'Empowering Exceptional E-payment Experience', envisages to achieve "a highly digital and cash-lite society" through the goal posts of competition, cost-effectiveness, convenience and confidence (4Cs).
The RBI said the payment systems landscape will continue to change with further innovation and entry of more players which is expected to ensure the optimal cost to the customers and freer access to multiple payment system options.
India joins global initiative to combat extremism online
India has joined a major global initiative to combat terrorism and extremism online and secure the internet.
The initiative -- 'Christchurch call to action' -- has been named after the New Zealand city where 51 people were killed in an attack on mosques.
It was launched in Paris yesterday by India, France, New Zealand, Canada and several other countries.
The declaration on Christchurch call to action said a free, open and secure internet is a powerful tool by which to promote connectivity, enhance social inclusiveness and foster economic growth.
It said the internet is, however, not immune from abuse by terrorist and violent extremist actors, and there is a need for collective efforts globally to secure the internet from terror groups. This was tragically highlighted by the terrorist attacks in Christchurch which were designed to go viral, it said.
WTO ministerial concludes with countries agreeing on need to resolve dispute settlement crisis
The two-day World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting of developing countries concluded in New Delhi on May 14 with the 22 participating countries reaching a common ground on immediately resolving the dispute settlement crisis.
Roberto Azevedo, Director General, WTO, said that the dispute settlement issue is a deep crisis and all countries have to look for a resolution.
"Business as usual approach is not an option anymore and all members should work for a solution," he said.
The WTO's dispute settlement system is facing a crisis as the US has blocked the appointment of appeals judges since last year, which has now resulted in the shrinking of the numbers from seven to three. Two of the three judges are scheduled to retire on December 10, following which appeals made by WTO members on panel reports can’t be entertained.
RBI appoints R. Gandhi on board of Yes Bank
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed former deputy governor Rama Subramaniam Gandhi as an additional director on the board of Yes Bank for two years, from 14 May 2019 to 13 May 2021, the bank said on Tuesday in a notice to the stock exchanges.
The appointment has been made under sub-section (1) of Section 36 AB of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the private sector lender said. The RBI can, according to this section, appoint additional directors “if the Reserve Bank is of [opinion that in the interest of banking policy or in the public interest or] in the interests of the banking company or its depositors it is necessary so to do, it may, from time to time by order in writing, appoint, with effect from such date as may be specified in the order, one or more persons to hold office as additional directors of the banking company."
Gandhi’s appointment comes against the backdrop of Yes Bank reporting a loss of ₹1,507 crore for the March quarter, driven by a 9-fold increase in provisions. Rating agencies Icra and India Ratings have both downgraded the long-term ratings of the bank.
Hockey India names 18-Member Indian junior men’s hockey team for 8-Nation U-21 Spain tour
Hockey India today named the 18-member Indian junior men's team for the eight-Nation Under-21 Tournament in Spain, commencing on 10th of next month.
The teams which will vie for top honours include the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, hosts Spain and India.The Indian junior men's team will be captained by Mandeep Mor, while Suman Beck will be his deputy.
Shagun best-placed Indian in women's trap at Changwon Shotgun WC
Shagun Chowdhary shot 65 out of 75 to emerge the best-placed Indian at 34th position after day one of the Women's Trapshooting qualifiers at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup Shotgun in Changwon, Korea.
Shagun shot rounds of 21, 21 and 23 to lie at 34th spot with France's Carole Cormenier and China's Wang Xiaojing leading the 59-strong field with scores of 72 each at the year's third Shotgun World Cup stage.
Rajeshwari Kumari, the second Indian in the field on the day, shot 58 to be at 56th position with two more rounds of qualifying remaining.
Odisha: 11-member central team assessing damage caused by cyclone Fani to conclude its visit today
In Odisha, the 11-member central team which is conducting on-the-spot assessment of the damage caused by cyclone Fani will conclude its visit today.
The team led by additional secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Vivek Bharadwaj interacted with the cyclone-affected people in Puri, Cuttack, and Khurda districts.
"Interacting with media persons, Mr Bharadwaj said the people had informed the team about losing the means of livelihood. He said the team would see how the central government can help the affected people.
After winding up its three-day visit today, the team will hold another round of meeting with chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and other senior state government officials at Bhubaneswar before leaving for Delhi.
India's GS Lakshmi first woman on ICC international panel of match referees
India's G.S. Lakshmi has become the first woman to be appointed to ICC's international panel of match referees and will be eligible to officiate in international games with immediate effect.
Claire Polosak had become the first ever woman umpire to stand in a men's ODI, earlier this month.
Lakshmi, 51, who first officiated as a match referee in domestic women's cricket in 2008-09, has overseen three women's ODI matches and three women's T20 International matches.