ARMY CHIEF REVIEWS SECURITY SITUATION ALONG THE LAC IN HIMACHAL PRADESH AND UTTARAKHAND


The Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande is currently on a three day forward area visit to the LAC in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. This is the maiden visit of the Army Chief to this sector after taking over as the Chief of the Indian Army. The Army Chief is accompanied by Army Commander, Central Command and GOC, Uttar Bharat Area.


During visits to the forward posts, the COAS is being briefed by local commanders about the prevailing situation along the borders. Taking a first-hand assessment of the operational preparedness in forward areas, the Army Chief is scheduled to witness the high altitude operational capabilities of deployed formations, including mountaineering skills and long range patrolling. The COAS is also reviewing the ongoing infrastructure and development work and the Army-Citizen connect in the forward areas.


While interacting with the Commanders during his visit, the Army Chief emphasised the need for vigil and alertness along the borders. He expressed his satisfaction on the rapid improvement of defensive posture and operational readiness of formations. He appreciated the absorption of modern technology in undertaking persistent surveillance.


The COAS, during his interaction with the troops deployed on the forward posts, appreciated their high morale and exhorted them to maintain the high standards of professional excellence. He also complimented the excellent synergy between the Army, CAPF, Civil Administration and Police towards operational effectiveness and sustainable development in the border areas.


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SC/RSY/GKA




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Fake reviews on E-Commerce platforms under Centre’s radar


To gauge the magnitude of fake reviews on E-Commerce platforms which mislead consumers into buying online services or products and to prepare a roadmap ahead, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) in association with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) will be holding a virtual meeting on Friday, 27th May, 2022 along with various stakeholders.


The discussions will be broadly based on the impact of fake and misleading reviews on consumers and possible measures to prevent such anomaly. In this regard, Secretary DoCA, Shri Rohit Kumar Singh has written to all stakeholders: E-Commerce entities like Flipkart, Amazon, Tata Sons, Reliance Retail and others besides, Consumer Forums, Law Universities, Lawyers, FICCI, CII, Consumer Rights Activists etc. to participate in the meeting.


Along with the letter, Shri Singh has also shared a Press Release of European Commission dated January 20th, 2022 highlighting results of an EU-wide screening on online consumer reviews across 223 major websites. The screening results underlines that at least 55% of the websites violate the unfair commercial Practices Directive of the E.U. which requires truthful information to be presented to consumers to make an informed choice. Further, in 144 out of the 223 websites checked, the authorities could not confirm that traders were doing enough to ensure that reviews were authentic, i.e., if they were posted by consumers who had actually used the product or service that was reviewed.


The letter states that ‘It is relevant to mention that with growing internet and smartphone use, consumers are increasingly shopping online to purchase goods and services.  Given that e-commerce involves a virtual shopping experience without any opportunity to physically view or examine the product, consumers heavily rely on reviews posted on e-commerce platforms to see the opinion and experience of user who have already purchased the goods or service. As a result, due to fake and misleading reviews, the right to be informed, which is a consumer right under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is violated.’


‘Since the issue impacts people shopping online on a daily basis and has a significant impact on their rights as a consumer, it is important that it is examined with greater scrutiny and detail,’ the letter states.


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AM/NS




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Hong Kong – CE reviews Immigration Department’s Passing-out Parade cum 60th Anniversary Grand Parade (with photos)

CE reviews Immigration Department’s Passing-out Parade cum 60th Anniversary Grand Parade (with photos)

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     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Passing-out Parade cum 60th Anniversary Grand Parade of the Immigration Department (ImmD) today (December 30) to review 171 officers on parade, including 45 Immigration Officers and 126 Immigration Assistants.

      

     As the first disciplined service to introduce Chinese-style footdrill, the ImmD adopted a totally Chinese style for the flag raising ceremony and the footdrill performance of the 60th Anniversary Grand Parade. In the Chinese-style footdrill performance, the parade marched in step and lined up to form the numerals “1961” to represent the year of establishment of the ImmD, the abbreviation for the department “IMMD”, and the Chinese numerals “60” to symbolise the ImmD’s 60 years of serving the Hong Kong community. In addition, the youth were also engaged in the parade. Members of the Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps (IDYL) marched into the venue in the Chinese-style footdrill performance, holding the national, regional and departmental flags, which were taken over by the Flag Party to perform a Chinese-style flag raising ceremony, with the Immigration Band playing the national anthem live and guests rising to sing.

      

     In her speech, Mrs Carrie Lam said despite the many challenges over the years, the ImmD remained dauntless and forged ahead bravely, tiding over one difficulty after another with positive attitude and professionalism. She also commended the ImmD for its remarkable achievements in the past six decades, repeatedly winning great acclaim from citizens and visitors. For instance, the Next Generation Electronic Passport System was given the Award of the Year at the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2021 in recognition of the ImmD’s efforts and contributions in harnessing information technology to provide quality public service experience for the community.

      

     She also appreciated the ImmD’s incorporation of an element of youth engagement in the parade, which reflected its active role in promoting youth training and its dedication to nurturing new blood who had positive energy and had aspirations for serving the community and to ensure passing on the baton to the new generation.

      

     Lastly, Mrs Carrie Lam called on passing-out officers to stay true to their original aspirations and founding mission, ride out difficulties, and serve Hong Kong and contribute to the motherland with all their efforts. She hoped that the ImmD would continue to uphold the principles of putting people first and striving for excellence, and make sustained efforts to expand its scope of services and enhance the existing services in support of the sustainable development of the country as well as Hong Kong.   

PM Reviews preparations for facilitation of India’s contingent at Tokyo-2020

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has reviewed preparations for facilitation of India’s contingent at Tokyo-2020. The Prime Minister will also interact with the Olympics bound athletes on 13th July to wish them luck.

In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said, “Reviewed preparations for facilitation of India’s contingent at @Tokyo2020. Discussed the logistical details, their vaccination status, the multi-disciplinary support being given. 

On behalf of 130 crore Indians, I would be interacting with the Olympics bound athletes on 13th July to wish them luck. Let us all #Cheer4India.”

Reviewed preparations for facilitation of India’s contingent at @Tokyo2020. Discussed the logistical details, their vaccination status, the multi-disciplinary support being given. pic.twitter.com/JELGZsls3X

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2021

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DS/SH

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The reviews are in! Billy Dering soars with “Utopia Project

This is the first book in a trilogy from the Ocean County author.

Utopia Project- Everyone Must Die

Utopia Project- Everyone Must Die

TOMS RIVER, N.J.June 22, 2021PRLog — “An addictive read… planetwide casualties and careful pacing open this attention-grabbing science fiction trilogy,” according to Kirkus Reviews of “Utopia Project- Everyone Must Die”, the first book in a trilogy by Ocean County author Billy Dering.

The sought-after book debuted on May 1 and has been given star-studded reviews and praise ever since. Frostbite Publishing says, “I really enjoyed reading this story. It was one I could not put down. The tension and desire to know how it ends kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole thing.”

Defined as dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction, “Utopia Project- Everyone Must Die” takes you on a journey where several powerful countries conspire to develop the ultimate solution for population control. The secret government project’s endgame is to create a utopian society. The plan goes awry when somehow a select few individuals survive global genocide.

With 65 reviews and a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Amazon, one reviewer says, “Billy Dering must have been tending bar the night Plato, Aldous Huxley and Jack Finney wandered in, threw down a few cold ones, and started telling stories. Utopia Project is a haunting love story woven around timeless philosophical themes and placed within a chillingly contemporary setting. Adequate character development is often missing from fast-paced, action novels but the author has managed to give us both form and substance.”

Dering spent the first 18 years of his life growing up on the New Jersey shore. After high school, his life took him on a path through South Carolina, Louisiana and finally back home to Ocean County, NJ where he currently resides.

Dering wrote the very first scene of Utopia Project when he was in middle school. “Intrigued by the dystopian/post-apocalyptic genre, I was inspired to write a story in that genre that was filled with action, adventure and drama,” Dering said. “I continued to write additional scenes throughout my college years at Clemson University in South Carolina where I was often called ‘Billy the Kid’ by my peers.”

Dering later transferred the name over to the lead character in the Utopia Project – Kid Carlson. “It was just so fitting,” Dering added. “In many ways, Kid is me.”

Dering eventually took a break from college and went back home to New Jersey. The endeavor is what made Dering decide to focus the majority of Utopia Project in the Garden State. In fact, the geographic area that showcases the Atlantic Ocean, Barnegat bay and the forests of the Pinelands National Reserve, serve as the book’s primary backdrop.

OnlineBookClub.org gives Utopia Project a 4/4-star rating, and says, “Billy Dering is excellent in interweaving intrigue and imagination. Another main strength the novel has is its imagery and intrigue – both are consistent and ever-present.”

An observer of life, people and society, Dering used the book as an outlet to create a utopia while reflecting on what makes us human. “From moment one, Utopia Project was about creating a utopia, initially on some ships, but then becoming the new world,” he said. “Although it took me many years to write and work through the many facets of this trilogy, I always knew how the story would end.”

An IndieReader review says, “The premise of ‘Utopia Project- Everyone Must Die’ is an interesting one, the characters are engaging, the action moves forward fairly briskly.

One GoodReads.com reviewer notes that, “http://www.prlog.org/”Utopia Project- Everyone Must Die’ is the start of a three-book series you do not want to miss. It is a great read. The author is a master storyteller who’s well-anchored imagination weaves a credible yet unthinkable tale that brings together love, hope, loyalty and courage all in the face of overwhelming odds for human survival.”

The overarching purpose of the book is to compel the reader to pause and look at the world we live in and where it is going, according to Dering. “Like any great story, I want Utopia Project to be so immersive that it draws you into its world but makes you reflect on your own,” he said.

And, based on the reviews thus far, Dering is well on his way to achieving his goal.

To purchase your copy of Utopia Project- Everyone Must Die, click here. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093T6S653)

About Billy Dering

Billy Dering spent the first 18 years of his life growing up on the Jersey Shore. After high school, his life took him on a path through South Carolina, Louisiana and finally back home to Ocean County, NJ. A business administrator by profession, Dering has written many published pieces, and is now applying his love of writing in crafting his own post-apocalyptic novels. He has always been an avid reader of all genres, especially post-apocalyptic, dystopian and techno-thrillers. Dering also enjoys outdoor recreation, songwriting, guitar playing, sports and the soul-soothing ambiance of the sea (especially when the beach and boardwalk are deserted!). Dering lives in Toms River with his wife,  two children and one nephew.