Latest news with #and
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Govt proposes extending labourers' workday
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has put forward a contentious proposal to amend the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, aiming to increase the standard workday for employees from nine to ten hours, with overtime potentially extending to twelve hours daily. The draft amendment, currently under stakeholder review, has ignited a fierce debate between industry leaders and labour unions over its implications for workers' rights and economic productivity. The Labour Department convened a stakeholder meeting at Vikasa Soudha, chaired by Secretary Rohini Sindhuri, to gather input from factory owners, hoteliers, and union representatives. According to sources, the proposed changes would also raise the quarterly overtime cap from 50 hours to 144 hours and include provisions for Saturday and Sunday holidays. Industry stakeholders have largely endorsed the proposal, arguing it will boost productivity and streamline operations. However, labour unions have vehemently opposed the changes, labelling them as anti-worker and detrimental to employee well-being. Critics warn that extended hours could exacerbate mental and physical health issues, disrupt work-life balance, and potentially reduce job opportunities by encouraging a two-shift system over the current three-shift model. The amendment remains in the consultation phase and requires approval from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly to take effect. As discussions continue, the government faces the challenge of balancing economic ambitions with the need to protect workers' rights, with further stakeholder meetings planned to refine the proposal.
Hamilton Spectator
4 hours ago
- Science
- Hamilton Spectator
Sunshine abounds as the summer solstice arrives
Peak sunshine has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere — the summer solstice. Friday is the longest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical summer. It's the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the shortest day of the year and winter will start. The word 'solstice' comes from the Latin words 'sol' for sun and 'stitium' which can mean 'pause' or 'stop.' The solstice is the end of the sun's annual march higher in the sky, when it makes its longest, highest arc. The bad news for sun lovers: It then starts retreating and days will get a little shorter every day until late December. People have marked solstices for eons with celebrations and monuments, including Stonehenge, which was designed to align with the sun's paths at the solstices. But what is happening in the heavens? Here's what to know about the Earth's orbit. Solstices are when days and nights are at their most extreme As the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at an angle relative to the sun. For most of the year, the Earth's axis is tilted either toward or away from the sun. That means the sun's warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet. The solstices mark the times during the year when this tilt is at its most extreme, and days and nights are at their most unequal. During the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice, the upper half of the earth is tilted toward the sun, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year. This solstice falls between June 20 and 22. Meanwhile, at the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the sun — leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23. The equinox is when there is an equal amount of day and night During the equinox, the Earth's axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight. The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That's because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time — though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet. The Northern Hemisphere's spring — or vernal — equinox can land between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. Its fall – or autumnal — equinox can land between Sept. 21 and 24. On the equator, the sun will be directly overhead at noon. Equinoxes are the only time when both the north and south poles are lit by sunshine at the same time. What's the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons? These are just two different ways to carve up the year. While astronomical seasons depend on how the Earth moves around the sun, meteorological seasons are defined by the weather. They break down the year into three-month seasons based on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on Sept. 1 and winter on Dec. 1. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Science
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sunshine abounds as the summer solstice arrives
Peak sunshine has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere — the summer solstice. Friday is the longest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical summer. It's the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the shortest day of the year and winter will start. The word 'solstice' comes from the Latin words 'sol' for sun and 'stitium' which can mean 'pause' or 'stop.' The solstice is the end of the sun's annual march higher in the sky, when it makes its longest, highest arc. The bad news for sun lovers: It then starts retreating and days will get a little shorter every day until late December. People have marked solstices for eons with celebrations and monuments, including Stonehenge, which was designed to align with the sun's paths at the solstices. But what is happening in the heavens? Here's what to know about the Earth's orbit. Solstices are when days and nights are at their most extreme As the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at an angle relative to the sun. For most of the year, the Earth's axis is tilted either toward or away from the sun. That means the sun's warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet. The solstices mark the times during the year when this tilt is at its most extreme, and days and nights are at their most unequal. During the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice, the upper half of the earth is tilted toward the sun, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year. This solstice falls between June 20 and 22. Meanwhile, at the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the sun — leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23. The equinox is when there is an equal amount of day and night During the equinox, the Earth's axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight. The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That's because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time — though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet. The Northern Hemisphere's spring — or vernal — equinox can land between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. Its fall – or autumnal — equinox can land between Sept. 21 and 24. On the equator, the sun will be directly overhead at noon. Equinoxes are the only time when both the north and south poles are lit by sunshine at the same time. What's the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons? These are just two different ways to carve up the year. While astronomical seasons depend on how the Earth moves around the sun, meteorological seasons are defined by the weather. They break down the year into three-month seasons based on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on Sept. 1 and winter on Dec. 1. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Courier-Mail
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Kyle and Jackie O breakfast show could plummet to ninth-most-listened-to breakfast radio show in Melbourne
Don't miss out on the headlines from Music. Followed categories will be added to My News. What are the chances the Kyle and Jackie O breakfast show will plummet to ninth-most-listened-to breakfast radio show in Melbourne in upcoming 2025 radio ratings surveys? The $200 million duo recorded a disastrous 5.1 share in the latest survey, the results of which were released this week. That result, a drop of 0.7 on the previous survey when parent company ARN threw a multimillion-dollar cash giveaway at the program to bolster ratings, saw the show drop from seventh most popular radio show to eighth in the southern capital. With savings hard to come by, the radio company (whose share price was trading at 49c on Thursday, well down on the YTD high of 76c in December) must be happy it went ahead with the tongue in cheek billboards 'Thanks for making us the (crossed out #1) 8th most popular show' at the start of the year. Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson had another drop in their Melbourne ratings. Picture: Instagram MORE: Rich Aussie radio stars' secret millions exposed In Sydney the Kyle and Jackie O program remains the most listened to FM radio program on the dial, however down south radio pundits are predicting a further decline in future months as ARN turns off the marketing tap off to save some coin. With that, say industry insiders, there's a chance sports station SEN, with its AFL breakfast line-up, will squeeze the duo out for eighth place. Only one point currently separates the two stations. On the upside for ARN, Sandilands and 'O' have been calling in sick a fair bit of late. Sandilands has previously admitted he is only entitled to a finite number of sickies a year. In 2020 he said it was 11. For every day he calls in sick beyond that figure his pay is docked. Given in 2019 he claimed he was fined $28,000 per shift, which cost him $250,000 for the year, with inflation factored in – along with his wildly increased salary – we think it within the realms of possibility he might be fined $50,000 a shift today. Which means that if he calls in sick on 20 occasions (above and beyond his approved schedule of sick days), this could save ARN $1 million this year. 'I'm ill, [but] I have to be here for the ridiculously big fine the company give me if I dare be sick,' he told listeners back in 2023. 'What other job fines someone for not showing up to work sick?' Sandilands was off air on Friday, his second day away this week. Shareholders could be forgiven for wanting to hand the man a bucket. REALITY BITES The producers of the upcoming Logies Awards won't have to manufacture the drama if The Real Housewives of Sydney find their way to the ceremony in August. News of the cast's nomination arrived like a bunker buster bomb in the inboxes of Housewives Krissy Marsh, Nicole Gazal-O'Neil, Terry Biviano, Sally Obermeder, Kate Adams, Caroline Gaultier, Victoria Montano and Martine Chippendale this week. After months of radio silence from the program's producers, the Housewives received a letter. While some Housewives had been waiting for news of unresolved disputes and others of hoped-for work, the author of the letter made no reference to the myriad issues that tested production staff and spurred threatened legal allegations last year. The cast of Real Housewives of Sydney who are up for a Logie for Best Structured Reality Show. Picture: Supplied He also skipped over the fact some of the Housewives were peeved they hadn't been told they might be up for a Logie for the Matchbox program which was broadcast on Foxtel/BINGE. Rather, the executive put the vast array of simmering conflicts to one side to inform the women he was 'unbelievably happy and proud' they'd received a Logie nomination for Best Structured Reality Show. 'It's such an honour for everyone involved in the success of the series to be recognised by our industry and, of course, the public,' he trilled joyfully. 'You all have my sincere thanks for every moment you have contributed, every heartache, every laugh, and every insight into your fabulous lives. What a rollercoaster.' Production on the third season of the program was mired in behind-the-scenes dramas which came to a head in episode nine amid allegations of drunken fights, verbal taunts, tantrums and walkouts, one legal threat and the claim, brought by one participant, that Matchbox had failed to create a safe work environment during the shoot. Addressing this in broad terms, Matchbox stated it is 'committed to a respectful work environment' when the question was put at the end of 2024. MAFS 2025 experts John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Alessandra Rampolla, which is also in the running for Best Structured Reality Show. Picture: Channel 9 There was so much friction between Housewives by the time the show wrapped it reportedly prompted producers to abandon plans for a season launch party in February. Despite the lingering resentment between Housewives, when there's a glamour party in the offing, you can bet there will be demand for tickets. Concerning this, the exec – sounding a tad harangued – begged for patience. 'Please bear with everyone,' he pleaded. 'I don't have any concrete answers … I don't have any influence …' The program is up against Gogglebox, Married At First Sight, Muster Dogs and Married At First Sight in the category which has to make it a long shot. SINCLAIR'S BALI WEDDING The wedding of one-time A Current Affair reporter Hannah Sinclair has to have created a rostering nightmare for Nine's news bosses. Nine's London-based Europe correspondent is set to tie the knot to her partner Mitchel Burke in Bali this weekend. Half of Nine's of news team appears to have decamped to Canggu outside Kuta for the nuptials. The bride kicked off her weekend celebrations with a pretty in pink hen's party on Thursday. Among Nine staff in attendance included Tiffany Genders, Lizzie Pearl, Gabrielle Boyle, Kelly Fedor, Ashley Carter and Today weatherman Tim Davies. Channel 9 reporter Hannah Sinclair with her fiance Mitchell Burke. Picture: Supplied Channel 9 reporter Hannah Sinclair celebrating her Hen's Day. Picture: Supplied Nine's rostering crisis started early in the week when another batch of staff headed to Malta for Delta Goodrem's wedding to Matthew Copley. Most prominent among them at that wedding was Richard Wilkins along with son Christian, part-time Niner Renee Bargh and ex Nine reporter Airlie Walsh. SYDNEY IT COUPLE OFF TO FRANCE Having offloaded a family home in Point Piper and renovated a home in Double Bay, Sydney retailer, philanthropist and Lowes Menswear heir Joshua Penn is newly focused, he says, on relocating to the French Riviera next year with husband Ben Palmer. The couple, who are parents to two youngsters, are keen to give their children an 'international upbringing' at their Villa Marisol in Cap 'd'ail. The 1908 built Belle Epoque mansion – 'a palace,' says Penn – was once the site of Roaring Twenties parties attended by the likes of 'banana skirt' dancer Josephine Baker. Josh Penn and Ben Palmer with children Blake and Brooklyn in May 2022: Image Instagram Linda Penn with son Joshua Penn and his husband Ben Palmer and their son Brooklyn attended the Gold Dinner 2025 at The Royal Botanic Gardens on June 11. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage The uber rich playground of Monaco is only a short drive away which appeals to Penn who plans to expose son Brooklyn, 7, and daughter Blake, 4, who were born in the US to a surrogate, to the European lifestyle. The grandson of the founder of the Lowe's Menswear business, Penn is a successful businessman in his own right. He co-owns luxury Double Bay fashion outlet Belinda International as well as the online interior design store Palmer & Penn with his husband of 11 years. Last week Penn and his mother Linda presided over the Sydney Children's Hospital's Gold Dinner fundraiser which raised $83 million for charity. TEN UNVEILS RON BURGUNDY NEWS PROMO The promo for Network Ten's soon to be unveiled 10 News+ program dropped during the week and what a blast from the past it was. The program's new hosts Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace are front and centre of the promo which pledges 'the truth comes first' in a spot which teases politics, international conflicts and consumer issues as front and centre of the new show. The duo's serious walking stand-up with dramatic musical backing is already drawing comparisons to other new programs – though not the serious news-based shows Ten might hope. It's Will Ferrell in News Anchor and Working Dog's nineties comedy series Frontline that readily come to mind. Walkley Award-winning journalist Amelia Braceand investigative journalist Denham Hitchcock will front Network 10's new 10 NEWS+. Picture: 10 News The new 10 NEWS+ promo is giving real Ron Burgandy Anchorman vibes. Ten executives weren't too thrilled with this writer's thoughts, published here last week, on the program's chances of success in the competitive timeslot which The Project made its own for 16 years. We wonder if they did take on-board however our point that with some outstanding mature female journos already on Ten's books – Chris Bath, Jennifer Keyte and Sharyn Ghidella to name a few – they might have looked in-house for talent rather than hire a large roster of 30-something reporters. Apparently the idea of incorporating a mature woman's voice did hold some appeal to producers after all – so they've recruited former 60 Minutes reporter Jennifer Byrne to voice-over the promo tail. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY WHERE'S HAMISH? Where is ABC Sydney mornings presenter Hamish Macdonald? Macdonald posted a 5.5 share in survey three radio ratings released this week. That result was down on his previous two surveys and two whole percentage points lower than his dumped predecessor Sarah Macdonald posted in her last complete survey in 2024 (survey seven, a 7.5 share). In audience share terms, that equates to roughly one third of Sarah Macdonald's audience going missing on her replacement's watch. ABC Radop Sydney Mornings presenter Hamish Macdonald. Picture: ABC And why wouldn't an audience switch off when Macdonald himself isn't in the chair. After negotiating a four-day working week before signing on to the job in January, Macdonald surprised fans by taking two weeks off in March. Now it's June and he's off air again, for a month or more, replaced by, Kath Robinson, the wife of Seven reporter Chris Reason. On May 29 the presenter announced: 'From Monday I'll be on leave for a few weeks … After that I'll be on assignment for a few weeks.' That's 'a few weeks' plus 'a few weeks' which Macdonald has said ' … was all planned long before I was asked to join you in the Mornings.' It's not hard to see why some have questioned whether his heart's in the job. Originally published as Kyle Sandilands could be docked $1m in pay for sick days
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
IT employees raise red flag, Karnataka's labour department says no change in weekly hours
Bengaluru: Even as the Karnataka labour department insists that proposed amendments to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act-1961 will not breach the 48-hour weekly cap, the state's tech workforce remains unconvinced. The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU), which led a protest in Bengaluru, argued that the proposed amendments would institutionalise excessive workloads. The department, however, claims the changes are intended to provide "flexibility" to employers and employees, allowing them to complete their weekly quota over fewer days. At the centre of the controversy is the department's plan to increase daily working hours from 9 to 10, and the maximum permissible overtime from 50 to 144 hours per quarter. This could allow for up to 12-hour workdays, including overtime. Citing long-standing concerns over unpaid overtime and chronic overwork, many fear the draft amendments will legalise exploitative practices that have become rampant in the IT and ITeS sector. "Even if you cap the week at 48 hours, that still averages to about 9.6 hours over five days. Add the legalised overtime — about 2.5 hours per day — and we're back to 12-hour shifts. And overtime compensation? It doesn't exist in practice," an IT employee said. Employees told TOI that existing loopholes enable companies to demand long hours without paying for them. The fear now is that the amendments will provide a legal cover for what is currently an unspoken but widely followed practice. KITU general secretary Suhas Adiga, who attended a recent stakeholders' meeting organised by the department, pointed out lack of transparency. "We asked for data on how many employees are working overtime and what they're paid. The minister admitted that not a single company responded. There's no data. No accountability," he said. KITU's official stance is that the move will exacerbate health risks, erode work-life balance, and push employees further into burnout. Chitra Banu, KITU member, was unequivocal in her stance. "It won't get implemented; we won't let it happen." Not everyone in the industry opposes the move. Adithya M, who works at a Bengaluru-based startup, said: "I've been working 10–12 hour days anyway. My body and mind are used to it. This isn't a big deal for startup folks." According to union leaders, this is precisely the problem — the new norms are merely catching up with exploitative realities instead of challenging them. "Now that 144 hours of overtime per quarter is legal, we're just putting a rubber stamp on what's been happening illegally," KITU secretary Sooraj Nidiyanga said. The labour department maintains that the changes are aligned with International Labour Organisation (ILO) norms and are part of broader efforts to modernise labour law. But the discontent from the ground tells another story — one of disconnect between legislative intent and lived experience. For now, the IT sector's fears remain unresolved, with trust in short supply and clarity even shorter.
