Gaming

The government’s proposal to tax online gaming at the highest rate under the goods and services tax (GST) has the sector concerned about its prospects for future expansion. It was reported that a proposal from the group of state finance ministers to collect a 28% GST on casinos, and horse racing, along with online gaming, is expected to be reviewed by the GST Council at its upcoming meeting on June 28. Online gaming should be taxed at the entire value of the consideration, including the contest entry fee paid by the player upon participation in the game, according to a recommendation made by the Group of Ministers led by Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma. However, executives and online gaming industry experts have expressed concerns. According to them, it could slow down the expansion of online gaming companies and force fantasy sports companies to provide smaller prize pools, which could cause their loyal customers to quit the platforms in pursuit of greater games. … [Read more...] about GST Plan for Online Gaming Concerns Industry Experts About Future Growth

Since finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement of 5G rollout by private telecom operators in this year’s Budget, speculations have been made on how the technology would change the digital landscape of India. There is a clear demand for improved and better infrastructure related to the 5G rollout. But in the 5G era, things cannot stay the same as they were in the 4G period. For example, to lay fibre or put up other infrastructure, telecom carriers must pay different amounts of money in different states. But most of the time, clearance for infrastructure deployment takes a longer time. So, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is working on a nationwide right of way (RoW) site for speedier infra approvals to ensure that these issues do not arise with 5G. 5G and Semiconductor Recently in a report released by the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), it was predicted that the introduction of 5G in India will raise demand for semiconductors. … [Read more...] about From Semiconductor to Gaming, Applications of 5G Will be Huge in India

An international soccer match in Chile took an unexpected turn over the weekend after a pitch invading dog halted play. On Saturday, the Chile women's national soccer team played host to South American rivals Venezuela at the Estadio La Granja, Curicó. A friendly match serving as a warm-up for the Copa América Femenina, the game wasn't exactly action-packed with Chile mustering just one shot on target and Venezuela ultimately triumphing 1-0 thanks to a brilliant Mariana Speckmaier goal eight minutes from time. However, by then, the match's main highlight had already been and gone. That came in the 37th minute when, for reasons still unknown, a dog decided to run onto the pitch. Pitch invaders are nothing new in the world of soccer, but dog interlopers are a little less common. There are myriad reasons why someone may want to enter the field of play. Some do it for attention , others to protest a particular issue. Then are those who simply get carried away by the … [Read more...] about Playful dog halts soccer game after invading pitch for strokes—”Red card”

Technology investor Naspers said on Monday its full year profit fell 16% as it reinvested its earnings into other businesses and as the contribution from its shareholding in Tencent dropped after a stake sale last year. The South Africa-listed company posted core headline earnings for the year ended March 31 of $2.1 billion, down from $3.5 billion a year ago, it said in a statement. Naspers, which holds 28.78% stake in the Chinese internet gaming and social media group Tencent through Amsterdam-listed subsidiary Prosus NV, recorded revenues of $36.7 billion, up 24% from last year. … [Read more...] about Tencent-stakeholder Naspers posts 16% drop in full year profit

My childhood sporting memories are crystal clear. No, I don’t mean winning the bean bag race in primary school or scoring my first 50 on the cricket pitch. I’m talking about those captivating, inspiring and majestic moments that I watched on free-to-air television. The ones that were mesmerising and still live on in the deep recesses of my brain, etched there, like some kind of beautiful slow motion sporting montage. I remember World Cup USA ’94. Diana Ross missing a penalty in the opening ceremony, Baggio missing the deciding one in the final, Romario, Bebeto, et al – and the little sticker book I had to write all of the results in (and still have tucked away in a box in my spare room). I remember the Grand National in 1996. The excitement of heading home to watch it after I’d been to see Toy Story at the cinema for a friend’s birthday party. Mum and dad had recorded it on VHS so we could all watch it together – and the horse we’d picked won. I remember Atlanta … [Read more...] about As a TV presenter, I know the secret to Wimbledon

Wales boss Wayne Pivac says that mental strength will be vital during a three-Test series against world champions South Africa. Just over three months after losing at home to Italy, Wales face the Springboks at altitude in Pretoria next Saturday. Games in Bloemfontein and Cape Town follow, with Wales returning to a country where they have never toppled their hosts on home soil. Ten previous Tests in South Africa all went the Springboks’ way – by an average scoreline of 41-14 – while Wales have only won four of the last 12 games against all opponents. “Nobody likes finishing on a sour note with a poor performance,” Pivac said, reflecting on the 22-21 Guinness Six Nations loss to Italy in March. Recommended By-elections show voters have run out of patience with Boris Johnson “It is a long time between drinks, as they say. For us, it is about making sure we reflect on that time wisely. From a mental point of view as well where we apply ourselves, … [Read more...] about Wales focusing on mental strength ahead of South Africa test

Kevin Harlan's call of the Super Bowl pitch invasion has gone viral as a clip of the incident has been viewed more than a million times on Twitter. Harlan, who was commentating on the game for Westwood One radio, has been widely praised for his humorous reaction to the fourth quarter invasion. The video, shared to Twitter by Timothy Burke via Ryan Lacey, has been viewed more than 1.5 million times, shared more than 15,000 times, and has amassed more than 37,000 likes at the time of writing. As the intruder ran across the field, Harlan narrated his journey to the goal line and said: "Someone is running on the field, some guy with a bra. And now he's [...] chased, he's running down the middle of the 40, arms in the air and the victory salute. "He's pulling down his pants. Pull up your pants, my man! Pull up those pants." The rest of his brief appearance on the pitch was narrated as if he were a football player, as Harlan said: "He's being chased to the 30, he breaks [...] … [Read more...] about Kevin Harlan’s streaker play-by-play viewed over 1.5 million times

In the summer of 2005, Sajid Mir had been at the Feroze Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi, packed amidst the hundreds of ecstatic Pakistani cricket fans who cheered their team as it powered its way to a record 159-run victory over India. Mir, though, was in India for a game of his own. The top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander's undercover visit was the first of a series of surveillance missions which culminated in the November, 2008, attacks on Mumbai. The Lashkar intelligence operative whose reconnaissance enabled the attack, Pakistani-American jihadist David Headley, reported to Mir. From a safehouse in Karachi, Mir guided the assault team using a voice-over-internet line, personally ordering the execution of several hostages. Now, western intelligence sources have told The Hindu , Mir is being held in a safehouse run by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, along with the man who travelled with him to New Delhi — a former Pakistani military officer and military trainer … [Read more...] about Sajid Mir’s war against the world

Pakistan on Thursday said that it has put the trial of seven Mumbai attacks suspects on the fast track and any delay in proceedings is due to India’s failure to decide on a request to allow a judicial commission to interview key officials in India. In a response to the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s remarks on Wednesday that confidence between the two countries cannot be restored till Pakistan takes action against the “real culprits” behind the Mumbai incident, Interior Minister Rehman Malik indicated that New Delhi should provide more evidence to enable Islamabad to act against other suspects. “As far apprehending those responsible for the attacks is concerned, seven accused are in jail. Their trial is being conducted properly and we have put it on fast track,” Mr. Malik told reporters at the Karachi airport early on Thursday morning. “The delay in that trial is not on our part because we had a demand for a judicial commission (to visit India). Our Interior Secretary met … [Read more...] about Malik asks India to allow judicial team to interview officials

Saying “no” to colleagues or superiors is not always easy. And yet, it is sometimes essential. With concrete arguments and polite answers, it’s possible to say “no” nicely in a calm and confident way. Here are a few things to consider. It’s not easy to say “no” to your supervisor, is it? Especially when they ask to do a task at the last minute, just before going home, or worse, before leaving for the weekend. But there’s no need to overload yourself, as this could increase your stress level at work. And ultimately, you won’t gain much from the experience except extra hours in the office. Saying “no” can be essential for maintaining a healthy balance at work. And saying it politely and diplomatically will make you an excellent coworker. There is no right way to say “no” at work – no magic formula that works every time. But there are some things that can be helpful to bear in mind. Prioritise your priorities The first thing to do before accepting or turning down a new … [Read more...] about Workplace: How to say ‘no’ to your boss politely