Latest news with #Gupta
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Techie says Hyderabad lacks ‘buzz' but still outshines Bengaluru, Pune and Gurgaon: ‘No one shames you for…'
A techie who recently completed two years in Hyderabad took to LinkedIn to reflect on what sets the city apart from India's other major hubs, such as Bengaluru, Pune, and Gurgaon. In his post, the software developer highlighted what he thinks the city lacks but also mentioned what it offers. The post prompted many to nod their heads in agreement. Siddhant Gupta started his post by saying that Hyderabad doesn't have the 'cool breezy weather of Bangalore,' 'scenic treks like in Pune,' or 'neon-lit nightlife of Gurgaon.' He then listed several other points about what he thinks the city offers. One of the points he referred to is the language row, which is often observed in other cities like Bengaluru. Gupta claimed that in Hyderabad, people don't shame others for not knowing the local language and treat everyone with the same kind of respect. 'Hyderabad may not have the 'buzz' of other metros. But it has heart. And sometimes, that's all that really matters,' he continued. He further humorously referred to the famous dish from the city - Hyderabadi Biryani. An individual commented, 'Yep, I enjoy the place. If you can get up early enough to go out to run in the early mornings, Hyderabad is awesome with peaceful roads.' Another joined, 'I have been here for more than 3 years now and reading this feels like exactly reading out my brain. The people here (very, very sensible) are the best part. Hyderabad is Hyderabad because of the people here.' A third remarked, 'I had a similar experience 2 years in Hyderabad… There could not have been a better place for my first job. Amazing memories being there.' A fourth wrote, 'Wonderful post. This perfectly encapsulates the emotions of every outsider who chanced upon Hyderabad and made it their home.'
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Delhi govt to increase hospital bed availability, upgrade medical infra
Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday announced that her government is working towards a sharp upgrade in Delhi's healthcare infrastructure, aiming to increase hospital bed availability from 0.47 beds per 1,000 people to at least three. Speaking at a public event in her constituency of Shalimar Bagh, Gupta said the city's poor health care capacity was a legacy of years of neglect. 'I may not make grand promises, but I can say with certainty that Delhi now has a government that works,' she said. 'In our first 100 days, we have taken multiple policy decisions to address long-standing issues that had left people frustrated.' She said a high-level health committee meeting held on Tuesday revealed an alarming gap in infrastructure. 'The WHO recommends two beds per 1,000 people, but Delhi doesn't even have one. This is a serious concern. We are now working towards a goal of three beds per 1,000 residents,' Gupta said. The announcement came amid a mild uptick in Covid-19 cases, though the government has stressed there is no cause for panic and preparations are in place for any eventuality. The government, she added, has already started initiatives such as the distribution of Ayushman Bharat health cards to senior citizens, offering financial protection across all socio-economic backgrounds. 'It's an unprecedented move to support the elderly across sections,' she said. At a separate event marking her government's completion of 100 days in power, Gupta expressed gratitude to the people of Delhi for the BJP's landslide victory. She said the synergy between the Centre, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the state government was now beginning to show results on the ground. 'There is coordination between Delhi, MCD and the Centre. All of us are working toward a developed Delhi. The people's vote has changed the city's fate,' she said. Gupta is set to present a detailed 'report card' of her government's first 100 days, at a mega event at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on May 31. Earlier on Wednesday, she toured parts of Shalimar Bagh to inspect ongoing development projects. In Pitampura, she inaugurated newly constructed footpaths at SU and UU Parks and unveiled upgraded roads and civic infrastructure in NP, PD, and QD blocks. Reflecting on her journey from councillor to CM, Gupta said, 'When I was elected in 2007, these parks were barren and neglected. We added paths, toilets, swings, open gyms — and now, as CM, I pledge to turn this space into a beautiful 'Amrit Udyan'.' She also announced the completion of a new Ring Road stretch between Madhuban Chowk and Mukarba Chowk, constructed at a cost of ₹13 crore. 'It is our resolve to make every neighbourhood clean, beautiful, and safe. This wave of development will not stop,' Gupta said. With the BJP government approaching the 100-day milestone, the CM has sought to frame the party's tenure as one of decisive action, infrastructure revamp, and visible public service delivery — a contrast, she said, to 'governments that only fought and failed to fix.'
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi govt to draft policy on community dogs: CM
A day after the Delhi high court directed the city government to formulate a policy for the rehabilitation of community dogs, chief minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday said that the government is working on the same and will involve all stakeholders to find a long-term solution. 'This is a problem for everyone — the public and the voiceless animals too. We are looking to create a platform which will cater to residents as well as those working for animals,' Gupta said while responding to a resident in her constituency during a public event. 'There are laws — dogs can't be kept in shelters and they cannot be removed from their streets. We are searching for a long-term solution, one that causes neither residents nor animals any distress. It is a policy matter...,' she said. On Tuesday, a bench of justice Mini Pushkarna, concerned over increasing instances of dog bites in the Capital, directed the city government to formulate a policy for the 'rehabilitation of community dogs at an institutional level' so that they can be gradually removed from the streets. 'A policy decision must be taken by stakeholders to ensure community dogs are rehabilitated and phased out from public roads and streets,' the court had said. The direction, however, experts said could be in contradiction to the law. Presently, agencies follow the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which prohibit relocation of community dogs, except for sterilisation and vaccination. A dog cannot be removed from any area in the city, barring for sterilisation purposes, the rules state. Once treated, dogs must be returned to their original locality. A detailed register needs to be maintained for each dog, and it needs to be released at the same place or locality from where it was captured. Animal rights activists say that forming a wider policy may not only be 'legally untenable but also impractical.' Instead, they called for the need to address larger issues in Delhi's infrastructure and the ABC programme. 'This is a mature stand by the Delhi chief minister. While judicial or executive officers may seek short-term, quick fixes, no government in Delhi till date has worked on strategies to resolve the problem scientifically in the long run — beginning with proper implementation of ABC rules, designating feeding points, more funds and proper awareness drives,' said Gauri Maulekhi, an activist and trustee at the People for Animals (PFA). Sonya Ghosh, another animal activist, who has filed several pleas in the HC on community dogs, said the government needs to first focus on improving the existing veterinary hospitals. 'There are already 77 veterinary hospitals under the animal husbandry department, but none of these hospitals is being utilised for the ABC programme. Until sterilisation is done effectively, we cannot find a solution,' Ghosh said, who has also worked with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to designate feeding spots in the city. 'This is also another challenge — residents resist the need to set up feeding points which leads to conflicts.' Resident Welfare Associations too called for a balanced approach. Atul Goyal, who heads URJA United RWAs Joint Action — a collective body of RWAs, said identifying designated feeding spots in each neighbourhood would be a good start. 'The issue of community dogs has become very divisive, with people on both sides. The problem has arisen because of lack of implementation of norms for sterilisation and feeding points. In case of an extremely aggressive dog, some kind of shelter home may be developed but this cannot be done for all dogs. We don't want a society either where there are no dogs,' he said. Other RWAs meanwhile advocated for mass sterilisation and vaccination. 'This should be the top priority,' said BS Vohra, who heads East Delhi RWA joint front. 'If a significant population is sterilised now, the impact will become visible 2-3 years. In many places in East Delhi, it has become impossible to step out alone during night due to packs of dogs, but relocation is not a solution,' he said. Ashok Bhasin, who heads the North Delhi RWA, also said that the population of community dogs has increased significantly in north Delhi due to the alleged failure of the sterilisation drives by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. 'MCD also picks up dogs from one site and drops them at some other locations 1-2km away. There should be a priority to vaccinate and neuter the dogs,' he said. Sunayana Sibal, an animal activist, who has worked on the implementation of pet shop rules and ABC rules, said that ABC centres in Delhi are crumbling and require attention. 'Unless the ABC program is implemented in its true earnest, this issue is bound to fester and flare up in a cyclical manner,' she said.
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Fake AI Tools Lure Social Media Users In Global Malware Scam
Cybercriminals are exploiting the booming interest in artificial intelligence (AI) tools to spread malware through fake ads on Facebook and LinkedIn, a new report has revealed. According to cybersecurity firm Mandiant, a Vietnam-linked hacking group is behind a widespread scam that uses realistic-looking online ads to trick people into downloading malicious software. The ads claim to promote popular AI platforms—like Luma AI, Canva Dream Lab, and Kling AI—but instead redirect users to fake websites designed to steal personal information. 'These attackers are tapping into the public's growing fascination with AI to carry out digital theft,' said Yash Gupta, a senior manager at Mandiant. 'A site that looks like an exciting new AI tool could actually be stealing your passwords, credit card numbers, or social media accounts.' Millions Exposed Mandiant's investigation, which began in late 2024, has uncovered thousands of ads linked to the scam, with many of them reaching audiences in the millions. A sample of 120 Facebook ads targeting European users alone had a combined reach of over 2.3 million people, the report said. The hackers, identified by researchers as UNC6032, use a rotating set of websites and fake business pages to keep the scam alive. In some cases, they also hijack real user accounts to spread the ads. Once a victim clicks the ad and visits the fake AI site, the page appears to offer an AI-generated video or image service. But instead of any real AI functionality, the website automatically downloads malware that installs itself in the background. That malware, known as STARKVEIL, is capable of stealing sensitive data and secretly sending it back to the attackers. Global Victims While the fake ads have been found mostly on Facebook, Mandiant also spotted smaller campaigns on LinkedIn. In one example, a fraudulent website was registered in September 2024 and promoted to tens of thousands of users within a day. Victims include both individual users and employees of businesses across various industries. 'This isn't just a consumer issue,' Gupta said. 'These stolen credentials can give attackers access to corporate networks, making it a risk for organisations too.' Tech Platforms Respond Mandiant says both Meta (Facebook's parent company) and LinkedIn were cooperative and proactive in responding to the findings. Meta had already begun taking down many of the malicious ads and domains before Mandiant alerted them to additional activity. However, the report warns that the threat is far from over. The attackers continue to launch new ads and websites daily, constantly adjusting tactics to avoid detection. How to Stay Safe Experts advise people to be cautious when clicking on social media ads—especially those that promote unfamiliar AI tools. To stay safe: Visit websites directly rather than through ads Double-check URLs before downloading software Use up-to-date antivirus protection Report suspicious ads to the platform The scam is part of a growing trend in cybercrime where criminals take advantage of popular tech trends to deceive the public. With AI tools rising in popularity, experts say this likely won't be the last attempt to turn AI hype into a cyber threat. 'Criminals go where the attention is,' Gupta said. 'Right now, that's AI.'
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Pause in US student visa interviews makes families review plans
Mumbai: Increased scrutiny of international students' social media activity and a pause in US visa interview appointments have triggered more concern among Indian students aspiring to study in the US. With the roadmap unclear and digital vetting deepening, many feel caught in a wave of uncertainty about their academic futures. In some cases, parents are considering putting plans for foreign education on hold for a year or look for alternatives in Australia or Europe. Dr. Karan Gupta, a career guidance counsellor, confirmed that "students who already have visa appointments can proceed as planned," but those without one "will have to wait longer till appointments open." He said social media profiles "are being scrutinised more closely," a practice that, while not new, has now intensified. US secretary of state Marco Rubio has in a recent cable to US embassies indicated the need to widen screening of foreign students for social media activity that promotes anti-semitism or indicates a desire to participate in political movements. This heightened focus on their digital activity is prompting many students to review their online profile and past activity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How to seamlessly scale and efficiently manage network traffic - Google Cloud: Future of Infrastructure CIO | Google Cloud, AMD Undo "If their political opinions or views don't align with that of the US, they're going to face problems," Gupta explained. However, he said this was not an invasion of privacy since the content is publicly posted. A student at Pennsylvania State University had a different perspective: "To be honest, it is really scary. Just hearing about how many international students had their visas cancelled is nerve-racking." Education consultant K.P. Singh echoed these concerns, stating that digital vetting "has actually been in place for over two years now," but "the US govt is now moving toward formalizing it with defined parameters." Singh noted that about 10% of his students express anxiety, though "parents are debating whether to defer their children's plans by a year or look for alternatives like Australia or Europe." The lack of clarity and consistency in the US govt's approach is especially troubling. According to the Penn State student, "There really is no pattern to who is getting sent back. It's all very messed up." Mental health is also taking a hit. "A lot of students are very stressed and it's taking a toll on their mental health," they said, adding that the university has arranged special counselling sessions. Despite these hurdles, Dr. Gupta assures students that universities are supportive. "They are telling students not to panic and proceed as planned." Yet, as visa policies evolve, the future remains uncertain—leaving students in a precarious balancing act between their academic aspirations and an increasingly watchful immigration system.
