Latest news with #Standards
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
DGCA audit finds violations by Turkish Airlines
India's aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation has identified multiple safety and compliance violations by Turkish Airlines during a recent series of inspections at major Indian airports, raising concerns over the airline's adherence to international and domestic aviation standards. The audit comes amidst scanner on Turkish companies following the country's support to Pakistan during the recent geopolitical conflict. DGCA said that it conducted Safety Oversight and Ramp inspections of Turkish Airlines' passenger and cargo flights at Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru between May 29 and June 2. It found multiple deficiencies like at Bengaluru Airport, inspectors discovered that a marshaller—a ground staff member responsible for directing aircraft during taxiing—was operating without proper authorization or a valid competency card. Such credentials are mandatory under Indian aviation regulations to ensure the safe movement of aircraft on the ground. In Hyderabad and Bengaluru, the airline's ground handling agent, Globe Ground India , was found to be operating without a formal Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Turkish Airlines. Essential ground equipment, including ladders, trolleys, and Ground Power Units (GPUs), lacked proper accountability and monitoring. The absence of formal handovers from the previous ground handler, Celebi , further compounded the issue. In another case, DGCA inspectors found cargo containing hazardous materials, specifically explosives, was transported without the requisite permissions from the regulator. DGCA said that it has directed Turkish Airlines to address these violations promptly and ensure full compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards. With worsening relations between the two countries, Turkish firms have found themselves under increased glare. In May, the government has also revoked security clearance for Turkish ground handler Celebi, DGCA last week approved an extension of IndiGo 's wet lease agreement with Turkish Airlines for three months, for operating two Boeing 777 aircraft on its Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul after the airline submitted an undertaking to terminate the lease within this extended period.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Don't cancel the em dash — it's more than just a ChatGPT trademark
Grammar nerds will attest to the versatility of the em dash, not to be confused with the shorter en dash (–) or the even shorter hyphen (-). The em dash allows writers to freely — and wildly — spill their thoughts onto paper, interrupting their own prose to expand or clarify as necessary. It brings a certain dramatic flair to an otherwise straightforward sentence. Lately, though, the em dash has earned a strange reputation. Readers have branded it — rather cruelly — as a mark of artificially generated text. Historically, the em dash has had its fair share of naysayers. Philip B Corbett, who retired last month after serving 35 years at the New York Times, and 14 of those as their Standards editor, had cautioned writers against the overuse of dashes. 'Used sparingly and carefully, the dash can be a helpful device. But as I've noted before, a profusion of dashes can be a sign of overstuffed sentences or convoluted prose,' Corbett noted in a 2012 article. He also warned that the use of parentheses within dashes, creating what he called the 'Russian-doll effect', makes for difficult writing. One can't disagree with Corbett. The use of any punctuation should be to aid the reader and not the other way around. While writing this piece, I came across a fascinating website called 'Just The Punctuation', which strips texts of all their words, leaving behind the punctuation. These tiny marks are proof that, since the dawn of mankind, human beings have strived to communicate effectively with one another. When carefully crafted, these dots and dashes convey a message: breathe, take a moment to reflect, what do you think? A true artist among grammarians, the em dash steps in when the comma isn't enough for emphasis, or when the information could be glossed over if contained in a parenthesis. It can even replace the colon when the relationship between the text and the following information isn't strictly formal, but more flexible — when the information is a suitable, yet not completely necessary addition. This multifaceted role has also lent it a kind of ambiguity that has divided editors for ages. Is it lazy to rely on the em dash when the writer can't think of a more suitable punctuation mark? Or is it the mark of a writer unbridled by the rules of grammar? The em dash had slowly faded away from modern texts with the emergence of QWERTY keyboards that came equipped with only the hyphen. Even the en dash, used to define a range, say 5 pm–6 pm, receded into the shadows. The hyphen, which was originally meant to connect words to form a common idea, took over the en dash's role. And the em dash was replaced almost entirely with the less dramatic comma or colon. Writers did not want to take the effort of typing out two hyphens for a forgotten punctuation mark. Now that the em dash is back, many argue that it's a dead giveaway of AI-generated text. Some suggest that ChatGPT overuses, if not misuses, the em dash. Public forums such as the OpenAI developer community board and Reddit have lengthy discussions on ways to stop ChatGPT's em dash spree. Em dash loyalists assert that it is a mark of good writing, and ChatGPT may have picked it up from the academic papers and journals it is trained on. Take, for instance, the works of novelist Joseph Conrad. I was introduced to the impressionist genius in my college literature course. His texts are littered with em dashes. In a 1896 letter to his publisher about his first story, An Outpost of Progress, Conrad wrote: 'It is a story of the Congo. There is no love in it and no woman — only incidentally. The exact locality is not mentioned. All the bitterness of those days, all my puzzled wonder as to the meaning of all I saw — all my indignation at masquerading philanthropy have been with me again while I wrote. The story is simple — there is hardly any description. The most common incidents are related — the life in a lonely station on the Kassai, I have divested myself of everything but pity — and some scorn — while putting the insignificant events that bring on the catastrophe.' Conrad employed the em dash, using it for all its intents and purposes. It gave his sentences a sort of intriguing hesitation. He used it to fracture thought, to layer emotion, and to make space for contradiction. And he wasn't alone. Emily Dickinson made the dash her signature, giving her poems a unique cadence. American author J D Salinger used it to trail into afterthoughts. To call the em dash a ChatGPT export is to deny it this legacy. So yes, the em dash may now embellish Instagram captions and garnish long emails, but I for one welcome its newfound notoriety. May the em dash — the purveyor of impulse, a vessel for context and a gateway to digression — remain a lasting imprint of human messiness. Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She writes feature stories and explainers on a wide range of topics from art and culture to international affairs. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. She also edits our newly-launched pop culture section, Fresh Take. ... Read More
Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Couples on State Pension given £1,600 warning over retirement risk
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has put the annual cost of a comfortable retirement for a couple at £60,600 The cost of a comfortable retirement for a couple has rocketed to an astonishing £60,600 a year. This post-tax income number has gone up by £1,600 from the previous year, reveals new research by the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA). For a more modest lifestyle after retirement, couples now face an annual post-tax increase of £800, with costs hitting £43,900. Conversely, those aiming for just the basics in later life will find themselves spending £800 less, as figures drop to £21,600 per annum for couples. In an effort to set clear expectations for retirement spending, the PLSA's Retirement Living Standards (RLS) were formed together with Loughborough University's Centre for Research in Social Policy, based on thorough conversations with Britons about their anticipated retirement lifestyles, reports the Express. Through this study, they've laid out their guidelines for living comfortably after work ends: Comfortable Standard of Living Annual income: £60,600 (couple) Greater financial freedom Includes regular overseas holidays, generous home improvements, and extensive social/leisure activities Moderate Standard of Living Annual income: £43,900 (couple) More financial security and flexibility Includes a car, a few holidays a year, and more frequent leisure activities Minimum Standard of Living Annual income: £21,600 (couple) Covers basic needs with some leftover for occasional treats Includes a week-long UK holiday, dining out once a month No budget for a car; relies on public transport Zoe Alexander, PLSA's Director of Policy and Advocacy, noted: "We're not just seeing changes in costs, we're seeing changes in how retirees live." She added: "Retirement isn't a one-size-fits-all experience. The Standards recognise that retirees can share costs, often with a partner, and that can make a huge difference to affordability in later life." The latest research underscores the critical role of the State Pension, particularly for those on the minimum level. By 2025/26, a couple receiving the full new State Pension, which amounts to £11,973 per person or £23,946 combined, would be able to cover the costs associated with the minimum standard of living. The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) is urging people to utilise its findings as a guide for future planning, adapting the information to fit personal lifestyles and mixing elements from various living standards. Notably, the data indicates that to achieve a comfortable joint annual income after tax of £60,600, supplementing the State Pension, each partner in a couple would need a private pension pot ranging between £300,000 and £460,000 to purchase an annuity – a lifetime income. For a moderate lifestyle in retirement, it's estimated that each individual would require a private pension savings of £165,000 to £250,000 to secure an annuity that would top up their State Pension. Professor Matt Padley, Co-director of the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University, commented: "Our research on what the public agree is needed in retirement at these three different levels continues to track changes in expectations, shaped by the broader economic, social and political context." He also noted: "The consequences of the cost-of-living challenges over the past few years are still being felt, and we've seen some subtle changes in public consensus about minimum living standards in retirement, resulting in a small fall in the expenditure needed to reach this standard." Zoe Alexander stated: "For many, retirement is about maintaining the life they already have, not living more extravagantly or cutting back to the bare essentials. The Standards are designed to help people picture that future and plan in a way that works for them." Tom Selby, AJ Bell's Director of Public Policy, noted that the required size of private pension pots "might feel intimidating". He advised: "The key is to focus on saving as much as you can afford from as early as possible, taking advantage of incentives like employer contributions, tax relief and tax-free investment growth." At present, the minimum pension contributions are 8% of incomes; however, this falls short of the necessary amount, he warned. "The big danger here is that, without a scaling up of minimum contributions, millions of people will sleepwalk into a retirement shock and be forced to choose between working longer or living on less money in their later years," he said.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Preity Zinta moves Chandigarh court against Punjab Kings co-owners Mohit Burman, Ness Wadia
Punjab Kings (PBKS) IPL franchise co-owner and Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has approached the Chandigarh district court seeking to declare as illegal and invalid the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited – which owns the PBKS team – held on April 21, 2025. Zinta, who is one of the directors of KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited and holds a 23 per cent stake in the company, filed a civil suit alleging that the EGM was convened and conducted in violation of the Companies Act, 2013, and secretarial standards. The court has issued notices to the respondents—KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited and co-directors Mohit Burman and Ness Wadia. The matter is scheduled for hearing on May 27, where arguments on an interim injunction will be presented. Represented by advocate Sangram Singh Saron, Zinta claims that the EGM was conducted unlawfully by Burman, with the support of Wadia, despite her objections raised via email on April 10. She alleges that the meeting was held without adhering to proper procedures, especially regarding the election of the chairperson. According to Zinta's petition, when the meeting commenced, she and fellow director Karan Paul objected to the appointment of Ness Wadia as chairperson, citing Principle 5.1 of Secretarial Standards, which requires directors to elect a chairperson among themselves if none is pre-designated. Zinta and Paul suggested appointing either of them, leading to a split vote among the four attending directors. Despite the deadlock, Burman and Wadia proceeded with the meeting and allegedly appointed Muneesh Khanna as an additional non-executive director, which Zinta claims is a breach of the company's Articles of Association as well as corporate governance norms. Zinta has urged the court to prevent the company and the other directors from acting on any resolutions passed during the contested EGM. She also seeks an injunction restraining Khanna from acting as a director and wants a halt on any further board or general meetings without the participation of both her and Paul until the civil suit is pending before the Chandigarh court.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CooperCompanies' 2024 Sustainability Report Showcases Efforts that Benefit People and the Planet
SAN RAMON, Calif., May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CooperCompanies ('Cooper') (Nasdaq: COO), a leading medical device company, published its 2024 Sustainability Report. The report showcases the company's initiatives to foster positive change for both people and the planet and provides expanded and updated sustainability performance data. In 2024, CooperCompanies maintained strong partnerships to reduce its plastic footprint, earned a number of sustainability certifications, and supported employee growth with significant investments in learning and development programs for employees. 'Our 2024 Sustainability Report reflects Cooper's commitment to help people experience life's beautiful moments while benefiting people and the planet,' said Al White, Cooper's President and CEO. The report is guided by multiple frameworks for evaluating sustainability performance, with continued alignment to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standards, a leading investor-focused sustainability reporting framework. Read more in the Cooper 2024 Sustainability Report. About CooperCompaniesCooperCompanies (Nasdaq: COO) is a leading global medical device company focused on helping people experience life's beautiful moments through its two business units, CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision is a trusted leader in the contact lens industry, helping to improve the way people see each day. CooperSurgical is a leading fertility and women's healthcare company dedicated to putting time on the side of women, babies, and families at the healthcare moments that matter most. Headquartered in San Ramon, CA, CooperCompanies has a workforce of more than 16,000, sells products in over 130 countries, and positively impacts over fifty million lives each year. For more information, please visit Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements,' as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements relating to guidance, plans, prospects, goals, strategies, future actions, events or performance, and other statements, of which are other than statements of historical fact, including all statements regarding planned sustainability programs and goals, the anticipated impact of sustainability activities, and product and technology plans, are forward-looking. To identify these statements, look for words like 'believes,' 'outlook,' 'probable,' 'expects,' 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'could,' 'seeks,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'estimates,' or 'anticipates,' and similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements necessarily depend on assumptions, data, or methods that may be incorrect or imprecise and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause our actual results and future actions to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements are: adverse changes in the global or regional general business, political, and economic conditions, including the impact of continuing uncertainty and instability of certain countries, man-made or natural disasters and pandemic conditions that could adversely affect our global markets, and the potential adverse economic impact and related uncertainty caused by these items; the impact of international conflicts and the global response to international conflicts on the global and local economy, financial markets, energy markets, currency rates, and our ability to supply product to, or through, affected countries; our substantial and expanding international operations, and the challenges of managing an organization spread throughout multiple countries and complying with a variety of legal, compliance, and regulatory requirements; compliance costs and potential liability in connection with U.S. and foreign laws and healthcare regulations pertaining to privacy and security of personal information, including, not limited to, those resulting from data security breaches; a major disruption in the operations of our manufacturing, accounting and financial reporting, research and development, distribution facilities or raw material supply chain; a successful cybersecurity attack; disruptions in supplies of raw materials, particularly components used to manufacture our silicone hydrogel lenses; new U.S. and foreign government laws and regulations, and changes in existing laws, regulations, and enforcement guidance, which affect areas of our operations including, but not limited to, those affecting the healthcare industry; new competitors, product innovations or technologies; reduced sales, loss of customers, reputational harm and costs and expenses, including from claims and litigation related to product recalls and warning letters; failure to receive, or delays in receiving, regulatory approvals or certifications for products; legal costs, insurance expenses, settlement costs and the risk of an adverse decision, prohibitive injunction or settlement related to product liability, patent infringement, contractual disputes or other litigation; risks related to environmental laws and requirements applicable to our facilities, products or manufacturing processes, including evolving regulations regarding the use of hazardous substances or chemical in our products; risks related to environmental, social and corporate governance issues, including those related to regulatory and disclosure requirements, climate change and sustainability; and other events described in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the 'Business,' 'Risk Factors,' and 'Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations' sections in the our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024. We caution readers that forward-looking statements reflect our analysis only on their stated date. We disclaim any intent to update them except as required by law. Contact:Kim DuncanVice President, Investor Relations and Risk Management925-460-3663ir@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
