
PhD needed to run a canteen? Chinese university's bizarre job post goes viral
A university in China's Nanjing raised eyebrows after it listed a canteen manager role requiring a doctoral degree on its official website.Southeast University, one of China's top-tier institutions, recently found itself in the middle of a heated online debate in the country. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the university advertised a vacancy for an office manager to oversee its canteen operations, but what stood out was the requirement: a PhD.advertisementAccording to the report, the role involved managing food preparation, monitoring canteen contractors, handling administrative work, ensuring food safety, and overseeing general operations.
Candidates must also be proficient in English and office software. While preference will be given to those with experience in food and nutrition, the listing also noted that Communist Party membership would be an added advantage, the report said.The annual salary? Around 180,000 yuan (Rs 20.8 lakh approximately). What sparked widespread online backlash in China was not the job profile, but the qualifications attached to it.According to the report, social media users in China questioned the need for such a high academic standard for a role that, on the surface, seems operational.In response to the criticism, a staff member from the university clarified that the candidate was not expected to cook, SCMP reported, citing a local news outlet. The preference was simply for those with academic backgrounds in food, culinary arts, or nutrition, and ideally, relevant certifications.advertisementWhile the internet debated the qualifications, one thing remained clear: landing this role might need more than just kitchen experience.

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Time of India
6 minutes ago
- Time of India
Peak XV trims stake in Zinka Logistics in Rs 302 crore bulk deal; ADIA, MIT among buyers
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel Bengaluru-based logistics tech company Zinka Logistics Solutions , popularly known as BlackBuck, witnessed a block deal on Tuesday. A group of marquee institutional investors picked up stakes, while existing investor Peak XV Partners pared down its holding. The total block deal value is around Rs 302 to data from the stock exchanges, nearly 59 lakh shares changed hands. Among the buyers were global institutional names such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).ADIA purchased 23,02,574 shares at a price of Rs 420 per share. ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund acquired 11,42,856 shares at the same price, while MIT picked up the largest chunk -- 24,65,945 shares -- at Rs 420 per the sell side, Peak XV Partners Investments VI offloaded 12,10,588 shares at a higher price of Rs 444.71 per share, likely booking gains on their earlier of the latest available data, promoters held 27.7% of Zinka, while the public held 72.3%. Foreign investors made up a large chunk of the public shareholding, with several high-profile names such as Tribe Capital, Sands Capital, Accel, and B Capital featuring on the largest public shareholder was Quickroutes International, holding over 9% stake. Among mutual funds, SBI Technology Opportunities Fund held 6.62%, while Bandhan Core Equity Fund and Invesco India Contra Fund held smaller Logistics is one of India's leading tech-driven logistics platforms specializing in full-truck load (FTL) freight. Founded in 2015, the company has transformed the traditional trucking ecosystem by digitizing operations for both fleet owners and its mobile and web-based solutions, Zinka connects truckers with businesses in real-time, offering seamless booking, GPS-based tracking, digital payments, and documentation. The platform serves a wide range of industries including FMCG, manufacturing, and e-commerce, providing reliable long-haul transportation across company also assists truckers with services like fuel cards, insurance, and toll management, aiming to improve their efficiency and reduce idle time.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)


The Print
9 minutes ago
- The Print
In meetings with world leaders, all-party delegations convey India's policy of zero-tolerance towards terrorism
'We can talk to them in Hindustani. We can talk to them in Punjabi. We can talk to them in English. There is no problem in finding common ground with Pakistan. The problem is finding a common vision for decency, for peace. We want to be left in peace, to grow and develop. They don't want to leave us alone. They want to harass us,' he said. 'You (Pakistan) crack down on this infrastructure of terrorism that is visible everywhere in your country. Then, of course, we can talk,' Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation to Brazil, said while talking to PTI Videos. Brasilia/Brussels/Cairo, Jun 3 (PTI) All-party parliamentary delegations on Tuesday effectively communicated India's firm message of zero tolerance towards terrorism to several countries, stressing that New Delhi can talk to Islamabad if it takes significant action against the terror infrastructure that is visible everywhere in the country. 'They want to cut us this whole bleeding to death India by 1,000 cuts. They're not going to bleed to death so easily. Better forget that idea,' he added. Asked whether nations have been recognising India's stance against terrorism, Tharoor said his delegation has been to four nations — Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Brazil- so far and 'this has been very clear in all the countries we've been to'. 'I would say in all four countries, we've had a very, clear success, if that's the word, I don't like to boast of success. That's for others to judge. But we have got our message through very clearly, including to those who may have had some misunderstandings,' he said, referring to Colombia. Earlier, Tharoor said Colombia withdrew a statement offering condolences to Pakistan for the loss of lives following Indian strikes in response to the Pahalgam attack after his delegation explained Islamabad's relentless support to cross-border terrorism. The delegation held a highly productive meeting with Senator Nelsinho Trad, President of the India-Brazil Friendship Front and President of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. It also called on Amb Celso Amorim, Head Adviser of the Special Advisory to the President of Brazil, and discussed India's position of zero tolerance to terrorism. In London, the delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad concluded its high-level engagements, meeting with UK government ministers, parliamentarians, party leaders, think tanks, and India friendship groups. The delegation received wide-ranging support, reaffirming shared commitments to global security, justice, and strategic partnership, the High Commission of India in London said in a release. The delegation met Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston CBE, Co-Chair of the Conservative Party, and Koolesh Shah, Co-Chair of the Conservative Friends of India. 'They voiced strong support for India's fight against terrorism, acknowledged its global implications, and lauded the Indian diaspora's contribution to the UK,' it said. The delegation also met Labour Party India Friendship Groups-including Labour Friends of India, Labour Convention of Indian Organisations, Sikhs for Labour, and Hindus for Labour. The groups expressed unified support for India's anti-terrorism efforts, emphasising the need to dismantle terror infrastructure and curb terror financing. From London, the delegation will travel to Brussels where it will have interactions at the European Union level and with Belgian authorities. In Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty Tuesday reiterated his country's solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism and welcomed deeper bilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism during a meeting with the all-party Indian delegation led by NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule. The delegation, which is here on the last leg of its four-nation trip, also met Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and discussed India's wide-ranging political, economic and cultural engagement with the 22-member bloc. 'Countering terrorism is a priority to both @arableague_gs and India. The delegation underscored India's unified stance and collective determination to combat terrorism,' the Embassy of India in Egypt said in a post on X. Another all-party delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, concluded its three-day visit to Spain, where it held a series of meetings with officials and civil society representatives to highlight India's 'zero-tolerance' stance against terrorism. 'The delegation concluded its visit having effectively communicated India's strategic approach and firm message of zero tolerance towards terrorism to Spanish government leaders, lawmakers, civil society and the Indian diaspora, strengthening bilateral ties and mutual understanding,' the Embassy of India in Madrid said Tuesday. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to peace as it thanked an all-party Indian delegation, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, for the briefing on New Delhi's approach to combating terrorism. The delegation met Malaysian leaders and briefed them on India's unwavering policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, and sought their cooperation in the collective fight against terrorism, the High Commission of India here said in a post on X. The all-party delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde, concluded a successful three-day visit to Liberia, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to work together in fostering a peaceful, secure, and terror-free world. The all-party group was in Monrovia in the final leg of its four-nation visit to the United Arab Emirates, DR Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. 'The visit not only reflected the enduring friendship between India and Liberia, but also highlighted the two nations' shared, unwavering stance against terrorism. It concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to work together in fostering a peaceful, secure, and terror-free world,' the Indian Embassy here said in a release. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7. Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions. The on-ground hostilities ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10. PTI GRS/SCY/NSA ZH This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.


The Print
16 minutes ago
- The Print
Elon Musk's Starlink to get licence to operate in India soon, says Jyotiraditya Scindia
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In the meantime, Scindia said, OneWeb and Reliance received spectrum allocations on a 'minimal exploratory basis' to begin testing their services. Once licensed, Starlink will likely follow a similar path. 'After this, TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) will provide policy norms for administrative spectrum allocation, which will govern commercial rollout,' Scindia said. The minister emphasised that satellite internet would be vital to bridging India's last-mile connectivity gap, particularly in remote areas, where laying fibre optic cables or installing towers remained unviable. 'In India, there are many regions where no telecom tower can reach and laying OFC is impossible. Satellite is the only option there,' Scindia said. 'It is not about platform competition; it is about giving consumers a choice.' 'As the minister of communications, it is my responsibility to provide a bouquet of services to consumers. The choice of which to use must lie with them,' he added. Also Read: Airtel and Jio are welcoming Starlink to India. Is it a bid to get on Trump's good side? BharatNet 2.0: Expanding ground connectivity Scindia said the Modi government's Rs 1.39 lakh crore BharatNet 2.0 programme, which aimed to connect 2.5 lakh village panchayats and an additional 3.8 lakh villages on demand, would complement the space-based rollout. Key upgrades in the new phase include a shift from a linear to a ring topology, network downtime, and ensuring service redundancy. The project includes a 10-year OPEX (operating expenses) component alongside capital expenditure to ensure long-term sustainability. 'We have moved away from just CAPEX-focused design. Under the ring topology, even if one connection fails, the network reroutes itself. And with OPEX, maintenance becomes the service provider's responsibility,' he explained. 'BharatNet will now connect not just rural India to the nation but also to the world.' Operation Sindoor & national security On matters of national security, Scindia referenced recent military actions in Jammu and Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, asserting the prerogative to give a firm response to threats. 'Those who thought of wiping off the 'sindoor' of our sisters and mothers have been, themselves, wiped out,' he said, underscoring the assertive posture taken by the Modi government. India, he further said, had never believed in initiating conflict. 'But if innocent citizens are targets, the response to a brick will be with a stone,' he stated. Also Read: Musk's 'small man' spat with Polish minister bares widening US-Europe rift over Russia-Ukraine war Shashi Tharoor & 'India First' Doctrine Asked about the criticism of MP Shashi Tharoor within the Congress for his participation in an all-party delegation representing India abroad, Scindia said everyone should view the role of the delegation through the lens of national unity. 'Every person on that delegation went as an Indian. Difficulties arise when the country is not the priority. For some elements, their interests come first. In such cases, neither you nor I need to say anything—the people of India already have,' he said. Revival of BSNL & 5G roll-out Scindia credited the turnaround of BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) to the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, along with the hard work of the BSNL employees. According to Scindia, the installation of 93,000 4G towers, out of a target of 1,00,000, is already complete. Once stabilised, these towers, using the same software core, will be upgraded to 5 G. 'I take no personal credit. The Prime Minister showed the vision, and the BSNL family delivered,' he said. Meanwhile, as of 1 January this year, MTNL was fully merged into BSNL and will now function as a shell entity for debt resolution and asset management. 'Operationally, MTNL (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited) is under BSNL. We will negotiate and settle its debt with banks,' he said. Spam calls, cybersecurity & consumer protection The Union minister also outlined ongoing efforts to curb cyber fraud, spam calls, and mobile misuse. Scindia highlighted the blocking of 1.3 crore spoof calls in a single day over the last few months, along with the deactivation of more than three crore fake mobile connections and 25–30 lakh WhatsApp-linked numbers suspected of misuse. He also reported the launch of a new telecom consumer portal and app to report stolen phones, SIM misuse, and cloned accounts. 'Our responsibility is to ensure both connectivity and safety. Technology must empower—not endanger—our citizens,' Scindia added. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: How should India respond to Trump tariff? Raghav Chadha has an idea involving Starlink