Latest news with #II
Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
10 major city roads riddled with potholes
Kochi: Almost 50 stretches across 10 major city roads are riddled with potholes, finds a reality check carried out by TOI. The situation is making daily commuting a nightmare for commuters. Poor repair works, frequent digging by Kerala Water Authority, heavy rains, along with road and Metro construction activities, have worsened the condition, resulting in frequent traffic snarls at these places. Monsoon rains have also worsened the situation. Some of the major roads that are currently in poor condition include Kaloor–Kadavanthra (KK) Road, Palarivattom-Kakkanad Road, Thammanam–Pullepady Road, Edappally-Cheranalloor Road and Stadium Link Road. The Stadium Link Road is particularly alarming, especially in front of the IMA office, where the stretch is riddled with multiple potholes. In a symbolic protest, residents even planted a sapling in the middle of the road, where potholes are filled with rainwater. "The road was in a damaged state for the past two months. There were several complaints and even protests, but the authorities failed to act. One lane was repaired recently, but that too needs urgent attention," said Raju, who runs a restaurant on Stadium Link Road. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The boy meets a dog on the street - no one expected what happened next. Women's Method Learn More Undo Benny, who operates a tea shop nearby, echoed the same concern. The ongoing Phase II expansion works of Kochi Metro, combined with continuous heavy rainfall, have further worsened the Palarivattom–Kakkanad stretch. As a result, the stretch experiences long traffic snarls even during non-peak hours. Potholes have resurfaced on several stretches of KK Road, starting right from Kaloor Junction. The situation is the same at Kathrikadavu–Thammanam stretch. The road and a small bridge, which is part of the stretch, are also riddled with potholes. Kathrikadavu–Pullepady Road is no better. Even the portions that were recently repaired are now in a bad state. The Pullepady bridge is also filled with potholes. "The road journey from the city centre to Kakkanad has become a nightmare. During peak hours, it can take up to an hour to cover the stretch," said Arjun, a representative of Kochi Next Forum. "The ongoing Metro construction has severely disrupted smooth traffic flow and the potholes caused by incessant rain have only made things worse," he added. But Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) authorities clarified that the works were progressing at a fast pace and there were proper arrangements to ensure smooth traffic. Pachalam Junction, stretch from Edappally to Kunnumpuram ROB on NH 66, High Court Junction on Abraham Madamakkal Road and Jawahar Nagar Road, Ramankutiyachan Road connecting SA Road with Ernakulam South area, Janatha Road in Vyttila, Kizhavana Road connecting MG Road and Panampally Nagar and Venduruthy Bridge Road near Thevara are also in a bad condition. Goshree Bridge, a vital link connecting Vypeen region to the city centre, has become severely pothole ridden. Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) chairman K Raghuraman, said the road was repaired twice in recent months, especially ahead of former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar's visit to the city. However, continuous heavy rains caused fresh damage. "We are planning to carry out repair works in the coming days. The persistent rain forced us to postpone maintenance several times. Once the weather clears, we will begin the repair work without delay," he said. Mayor M Anilkumar assured that road repair works under the corporation's jurisdiction would be resumed once the weather improves. "One lane of KK Road was already repaired. The other lane can only be fixed after the rains subside," the mayor said. He added that nearly 80% of city roads were currently in good condition, while the damaged stretches were mostly due to ongoing pipeline work under AMRUT water supply scheme. "These works are progressing across various parts of the city," he added.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Proton passes its first SOC 2 Type II audit, verifying its business security credentials
Proton, which provides VPN and secure mail services, has passed its first SOC 2 Type II audit. Completed in July 2025, this comes in addition to annual third-party security audits of Proton VPN's processes. SOC 2 Type II is a widely recognized standard for business security. It confirms that robust systems are in place, and that security processes are consistently followed in practice across the organization. Proton is best known for Proton VPN and Proton Mail, but also provides calendar, storage, password management, and crypto wallet tools. All of these services are covered by Proton's SOC 2 Type II security auditing. The Service Organization Control (SOC) audit framework tests how providers handle sensitive information, covering both control systems and their implementation. Running the audit demonstrates a commitment to data security, and it's particularly important in areas such as finance, healthcare, and regulated industries where security compliance is critical. In sectors such as these, SOC 2 compliance is a baseline requirement. The result brings Proton VPN into line with competitors such as NordLayer, NordVPN's business solution, which has also passed a SOC 2 Type 2 audit and has ISO 27001 certification. Other leading providers like Surfshark and ExpressVPN have not yet run SOC 2 audits, though they do have independent security testing programs which support the claims of their no-logs policies. Proton's SOC 2 Type II auditing process was run by Schellman, an independent auditing firm with experience in the technology sector. In preparation, the firm sought to formalize and document its processes and controls across areas including access management, incident response, risk assessment, and system monitoring. Proton reports that this process didn't involve any larger overhaul of its services, however. Following this, Schellman inspected how Proton's security controls are implemented across its infrastructure, running technical reviews, assessing documentation, and interviewing staff. At the end of the process, Proton successfully achieved the standard required for SOC 2 Type II validation. In a statement, Proton's Head of Security, Patricia Egger, said, 'Proton was built on the idea that privacy is a human right – and trust still has to be earned... Proton's SOC 2 Type II attestation proves that our security isn't just technical – it's operational. We meet strict, independently audited standards for how we handle data, systems, and processes.' And that matches what we've found with Proton's products. Based on our testing, we rate Proton VPN as one of the best VPNs available, noting that it particularly stands out for its advanced security features. Proton has taken a number of steps to prove the security of its systems. All the firm's apps are open source, meaning that the developer community is free to inspect the codebase and report on any issues or vulnerabilities that could compromise its software. Supporting this, the company has a public bug bounty program that offers rewards of up to $10,000, and the organization also runs regular penetration testing on its services. In addition, Proton VPN runs an annual third-party audit of its no-logs policy. This is carried out by Securitum, a major security auditing company based in Poland. The third and most recent audit was published in July 2024. Reporting on this, Proton published detailed notes on the questions that Securitum asked and what it found, going beyond the executive summaries that other providers sometimes offer on their audits. Alongside this, Proton achieved ISO 27001 certification in May 2024. This is an international standard for information security management systems, with best practice standards for managing data security. The firm also has HIPAA support and GDPR and Swiss DPA compliance, meeting further regulatory requirements for business users. We extensively tested the product for our full Proton VPN review and didn't find any evidence of DNS leaks or issues with the product's kill switch feature. Looking ahead, Proton states that it is committed to increasing transparency, to developing its security infrastructure, and to helping businesses better assess its services. In addition, Proton reports that the results of the SOC 2 report are available for customers on request and that its team will be happy to discuss the findings of the audit. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Live location of traffic inspectors to be monitored to ease monsoon mess in Delhi
New Delhi: The monsoon is adding to the usual challenges that Delhi commuters face almost on a regular basis—broken-down buses, non-functional traffic signals or absence of traffic cops. To reduce the mess, Delhi Traffic Police 's Zone II is taking steps to strengthen its coordination mechanism by tracking the live locations of all traffic inspectors (TIs). With vehicle speeds dropping due to slippery roads and visibility concerns during the rain, even minor glitches can trigger major snarls. Traffic Police Zone II will now enhance real-time field monitoring by tracking the TIs. The goal is simple but crucial—ensure quicker signal repair and immediate response to vehicle breakdowns. The zone covers areas under New Delhi, southern and western ranges. "There are 28 traffic circles under Zone II, each headed by an inspector-rank officer," said additional CP (traffic) Dinesh Kumar Gupta. "While we already monitor peak-hour traffic with the help of DCPs and ACPs, we will now push for tighter, more accountable field coordination. TIs will now be required to share their live locations periodically and that will be checked. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo The mechanism existed earlier, too, but we are strengthening it further. " You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Breakdowns and faulty signals may seem like routine complaints, but the data tells its own story. On average, Zone II receives at least two complaints daily about vehicle breakdowns and two more about signal faults. Gupta said minor signal issues were typically resolved within 12 hours while major faults were addressed in three days. All complaints are personally inspected by the traffic inspector concerned to ensure timely redressal. "The aim is to minimise commuter inconvenience. In monsoon months, these quick turnarounds become even more critical," Gupta added. With more rain ahead, better coordination could be the difference between a frustrating jam and a smooth ride.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
WiFEX: Ten winters and countless hours of fieldwork unravels India's winter fog
The Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX), launched in 2015 at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), New Delhi, has completed a milestone — ten years of dedicated research into North India's dense winter fog and its impact on daily life and aviation safety. 'The key aim as to generate high quality observational data and develop a reliable resolution fog prediction model. In the next phase, WiFEX-2 will be expanded to other major airports in North India,' Dr M Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, GoI said on Tuesday. Dr Ravichandran along with other officials visited the WiFEX and System for Air Quality and Forecasting Research (SAFAR) control room at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) on Tuesday. On the occasion a state-of-the-art atmospheric chemistry laboratory as inaugurated and the website of an Early Career Researchers' Hub for Earth Sciences as also launched. Dr Ravichandran later spoke to media persons about ho accurate forecasts under WiFEX have provided significant operational benefits to airlines including reductions in flight diversions and cancellations. 'Based on this success WiFEX is no progressing to its next phase WiFEX- II and these capabilities ill be expanded to major airports in North India so the advanced instruments can better predict localised fog events at airport runways,' he said. Led by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), with support from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), WiFEX is one of the world's fe long-term open- field experiments focused solely on fog — an elusive winter hazard that regularly disrupts air, rail, and road transport across the Indo-Gangetic Plain. What began at IGIA — India's busiest and most fog-affected airport — has grown into a robust observational network now reaching Jewar Airport, Noida, and Hisar, Haryana, covering key aviation corridors across North India. Over the past decade, WiFEX scientists have deployed advanced instruments, micrometeorology towers, ceilometers, and high-frequency sensors to collect detailed data on temperature layers, humidity, wind, turbulence, soil heat, and aerosols — building an unmatched dataset that reveals ho dense fog forms and disperses. 'These insights have powered the development of a high-resolution (3 km) probabilistic fog prediction model, which no stands among the region's most advanced tools for operational forecasting. This model can reliably predict hen fog will begin, ho dense it will be, how long it will last, and when it will clear — achieving more than 85% accuracy for very dense fog (visibility below 200 metres),' Dr. Sachin Ghude, Project Director, WiFEX and SAFAR explained. WiFEX is stepping into its next phase — WiFEX-II — which will extend localised, runway-specific fog predictions to more airports in North India. By in stalling dedicated sensors at additional sites, airport operators will gain real-time data to help them activate response plans and ensure operations remain safe and efficient — even in the thickest fog. 'After ten winters and countless hours of fieldwork, WiFEX is shining example of hat sustained, focused re- search and collaboration can achieve. By connecting observations to models and models to real-world decisions, WiFEX proves that science can clear the path forward,'Dr Suryachandra Rao, Director , IITM added. 'By this November Wi-FEX-2 will be launched at Noida, Jaipur, Varanasi and plans are underway for introducing the systems at Guwahati,' Dr Ghude said. IITM scientists explained that for airlines, pilots, air traffic controllers, and passengers, this means fewer costly diversions, fewer delays, safer runways, and more informed travel during the challenging winter fog season. 'We also need to reduce false alarms and the WiFEX -2 will help us address this pertinent issue,' Dr Ghude added. Meanwhile, at forward locations, the Indian Armed Forces have expressed a need for similar fog prediction solutions, IITMexperts said. They pointed out that while sophisticated instruments are available at IGI Airport in New Delhi, the accuracy of predictions at the requested locations depends on the availability of local weather and cloud data. On the NISAR satellite Dr M Ravichandran, responding to queries on the NISAR satellite – jointly developed by NASA and ISRO and scheduled for launch soon said that they would wait for data. The NISAR satellite will examine water bodies, forest loss and so on. He also said that they were collaborating with ISRO to request the launch of a new satellite. —INSAT-3DS is a dedicated meteorological satellite launched by ISRO to enhance weather forecasting and disaster warning capabilities. According to the expert as part of their transition to the fourth-generation series, preparatory work is underway. 'On August 23, we will outline and prioritise our satellite data requirements for weather monitoring. Each sector will be formally informed about these priorities and their relevance,' he said. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
USA Today
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
When will 'The Last of Us' Season 3 come out? HBO boss talks future of series
When will fans see the last of "The Last of Us"? In a recent interview with Variety, HBO and HBO Max content chair Casey Bloys confirmed the acclaimed series is aiming to debut its third season about two years from now. But Bloys said it has not been determined whether that will be the final season. "The series is definitely planned for 2027," Bloys told Variety. "(Creator) Craig (Mazin) is still working it out whether it will be two more seasons or one more long season. It hasn't been decided yet, and I'm following Craig's lead on that." "The Last of Us" is an adaptation of the video game franchise of the same name, and its second season was based on the 2020 game "The Last of Us Part II." But because the second game is so lengthy and narratively complex, only about half of the story of "Part II" was included in Season 2, which centered on Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) quest for revenge against Abby (Kaitlyn Dever). Season 3 of "The Last of Us" will continue adapting "The Last of Us Part II." The plot is set to shift focus to Abby, who becomes the main protagonist in the second half of the game, with Ramsey likely to have a reduced role. 'The Last of Us' Season 3: Everything we know so far from the game Once the HBO series has finished telling the story of "The Last of Us Part II," the show is expected to end, as there is no third game in the franchise to use as source material. Mazin has also said that two more seasons may be required to adapt the remainder of the game. "There's no way to complete this narrative in a third season," Mazin said in an interview with Collider published in May. "Hopefully, we'll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth. That's the most likely outcome." Ahead of Season 3, the series went through a significant shakeup behind the scenes. Neil Druckmann, the creative force behind the "Last of Us" video games, who also created the HBO adaptation with Mazin, announced on July 2 that he will not be creatively involved in the show moving forward. He said he is stepping away to focus on his work creating video games at Naughty Dog. The same day as Druckmann's surprise announcement, Halley Gross, who wrote "The Last of Us Part II" game with Druckmann, also said she is stepping away from the HBO series. She previously served as an executive producer and writer on the show. 'The Last of Us' game creator steps away from show in shakeup before Season 3 In his interview with Variety, Bloys said it was "fantastic to have Neil involved" in the HBO series but that he understands "why he needs to focus on" his video game work. "I believe he's given us a good blueprint with the show," Bloys added. "And obviously Craig is a pro, so I think we'll be in excellent shape. I'm not worried at all."
