India’s largest credit card company, SBI Cards, is encouraging customers to avail of its own repayment plan
Credit card companies are incentivizing those willing to pay their dues following the repayment moratorium, while some have increased penalties for errant customers in a move to check defaults.
India’s largest credit card company, SBI Cards, is encouraging customers to avail of its own repayment plan or the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) restructuring scheme to repay their dues.
Under its internal scheme, titled Easy Repayment Scheme, customers can convert the outstanding dues into a 15-month loan at a lower interest rate of 13% by paying an irregularity amount.
While the RBI restructuring scheme is available only to delinquent customers who have missed payments by more than 90 days, SBI Cards says it aims to benefit a wider group of customers.
“We have been able to enrol large numbers of customers in these schemes, and the way it works is if you don’t enrol into a payment plan, you cannot sustain the revolver interest, which is 40% plus. So you come to a scheme, you get more time. Your rate comes from 40%-plus to 12-20%, which is the rate for these schemes. You get two years in the RBI scheme and 15 months in our scheme. So it’s a win-win situation for both. Many are good customers. For instance, 55% had never missed a payment for the last 24 months," SBI cards managing director and chief executive officer Ashwini Kumar Tewari said in an interview.
A 8 September Macquarie report observed that while this is a business-as-usual practice, the focus on it under the current environment is much higher. The report added that the interest income for SBI Cards may be significantly lower as the equated monthly instalment (EMI) loans have much lower interest rate than revolver loans. But the extent of defaults can be avoided under these schemes, resulting in better profitability.
On the other end of the spectrum, credit card issuers such as HDFC Bank and RBL Bank have raised late payment fees to deter customers from defaulting.
While HDFC Bank is said to have raised late payment fees by 16-20% for small overdues (up to ₹10,000) and by 50-75% for large overdues ( ₹25,000 and above), it has also increased the interest rate on revolver balances on some credit cards from 3.49% monthly (i.e., 41.88% annually) to 3.6% monthly (i.e., 43.2% annually).
HDFC Bank has also hiked the rate on revolver loans to 43.2%, with effect from September, from 41% earlier.
“We had tweaked penal charges in the month of April. The average realization may be higher. These charges are effective from September now that the moratorium period is over. We need to see how the repayment picks up post this as it will be the first month when the higher rates come into effect," said Harjeet Toor, head, retail and credit cards, RBL Bank.
Banks have also been cautious in growing their credit card base during the past six months. They have been weeding out weak and unprofitable customers.
According to a Macquarie report, Axis Bank saw a net reduction in their cardholder count by 175,000, RBL Bank by 70,000 and ICICI Bank by 45,000 in the first quarter of the current financial year.
At the industry level, net reductions were 450,000. While both HDFC Bank and SBI Card witnessed net reduction during April and June, they have swung back into net positive additions momentum during June.
“Market started sourcing cards from June onwards. We started a little later. We have reached 55-60% of volumes. We would want to see the payment behaviour of customers for September and October before we scale up to our original run rate," said Toor.
Business in terms of credit card spending is, however, back to near pre-covid levels for many banks and credit card companies. With the onset of the festive season, credit card companies are expecting a growth in spends of 15-17% compared to 25% last year.
Maya Moore Now Wed, To Wrongfully Jailed Man She Helped Free
Basketball star Maya Moore has married Jonathan Irons, the Missouri man she helped work to free from prison after a 22yearold wrongful conviction.
Last Updated: September 17, 2020, 3:30 AM IST
NEW YORK: Basketball star Maya Moore has married Jonathan Irons, the Missouri man she helped work to free from prison after a 22-year-old wrongful conviction.
Moore and Irons appeared together on ABC’s Good Morning America on Wednesday to discuss their social justice efforts and their relationship. Moore revealed that the two married this year, shortly after Irons was released on July 1.
Moore, a two-time Olympian who won four WNBA titles with the Minnesota Lynx, put her career on hold in 2019 to focus on ministry work, criminal justice system reform and the specific case of Irons, who was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 1998 as an 18-year-old on burglary and assault charges.
The case stemmed from a non-fatal shooting of a homeowner in the St. Louis area when Irons was 16, but a county judge ruled on March 9 that his defense provided enough evidence to prove his wrongful conviction.
After Moore learned of his case and helped take up his cause, she and Irons developed a friendship on frequent visits to the prison. Irons said in the ABC interview that he asked Moore to marry him before he was released but wanted her to wait to answer until he was out.
The 31-year-old Moore said she wasn’t sure yet about resuming her basketball career. This is the second straight WNBA season she’s missing.
I am trying to really just breathe from this long, long battle, Moore said. Theres a lot of unknowns for a lot of us right now.
Urmila Matondkar Posts Note on 'Revenge and Patience' After Kangana Ranaut Calls Her 'Soft Porn Star'
Kangana Ranaut (L), Urmila Matondkar
Urmila Matondkar shared a quote by Shivaji Maharaj on social media after Kangana Ranaut referred to her as a 'soft porn star'.
Last Updated: September 17, 2020, 7:37 AM IST
Urmila Matondkar supported Jaya Bachchan's comment in Rajya Sabha, where the actress-turned-politician said that people who have made their name in the film industry are tarnishing it's image. Jaya referred to BJP MP Ravi Kishan's comment in Lok Sabha earlier in which the Bhojpuri and Bollywood film star said that drugs is entering India from the neighbouring countries of Pakistan and China and destroying the youth of the country and that the film industry is not unaffected by drugs consumption.
In an interview, Urmila also countered Kangana Ranaut, who had earlier said that 99% of film industry stars are drug consumers, saying, "The entire country is facing the menace of drugs. Does she (Kangana) know Himachal is the origin of drugs? She should start from her own state."
On Wednesday, Urmila and Kangana's fight took an unpleasant turn. While speaking to Times Now, Kangana said that she saw a very derogatory interview by Urmila in which she was talking about her and was ‘teasing’ her throughout the interview. “Pulling faces, making a mockery out of my struggles, and attacking me on the basis of the fact that I’m trying to please BJP for a ticket. Well, one doesn’t have to be a genius to figure for me it isn’t very difficult to get a ticket,” Kangana said.
Further, she added, “Even Urmila, she is a soft porn star. I know it’s very blatant. But she isn’t known for her acting for sure. What is she known for? For doing soft porn right? If she can get a ticket, why won’t I get a ticket?”
Trump doubles down on vaccine timeline, contradicts top expert
Polls show a majority of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the pandemic.
By Michael Mathes, with Elodie Cuzin in Wilmington
President Donald Trump expressed renewed confidence Wednesday that a viable Covid-19 vaccine would be ready by October, directly contradicting a top administration health expert and facing fierce criticism from his Democratic election rival Joe Biden.
Trump sowed confusion about the issue with an extraordinary public rebuke of one of his top health experts who said masks were a leading weapon for fighting the pandemic and that a vaccine was unlikely to be widely available until mid-2021.
"I think he made a mistake when he said that. That's just incorrect information," Trump told reporters referring to Senate testimony by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Robert Redfield.
"We're very close to that vaccine as you know... We think we can start sometime in October" or shortly thereafter, Trump said.
Updated graphic on COVID-19 vaccines in development being tracked by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine. Russia has developed the first vaccine offering "sustainable immunity" against the coronavirus, President Vladimir Putin announced August 11. Photo: AFP / John SAEKI
"I believe he was confused," he said of Redfield. "I am just telling you we are ready to go as soon as the vaccine happens."
Redfield told lawmakers Wednesday that a "very limited" distribution to priority groups including first responders could begin in November and December, but that full implementation would take many more months at least.
"I think we're probably looking at late second quarter, third quarter 2021" before a safe and effective vaccine would be available to the general public, he added.
Redfield tweeted his support for a potential vaccine Wednesday evening, but cautioned Americans to be vigilant about mitigating viral spread in the meantime.
"The best defense we currently have against this virus are the important mitigation efforts of wearing a mask, washing your hands, social distancing and being careful about crowds. #COVID19"
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden also accused President Trump of politicizing the hunt for a Covid-19 vaccine Photo: AFP / JIM WATSON
The contradiction between Trump and health experts on an issue that has become a focal point of the 2020 election campaign highlighted the lack of trust Biden said he and the public have in the president's handling of the pandemic, which has killed nearly 200,000 Americans.
"When I said I trust vaccines, and I trust the scientists, but I don't trust Donald Trump -- this is what I meant," Biden tweeted after Trump's remarks.
Barely an hour earlier the Democratic nominee said Trump's refusal to take key steps to tackle the pandemic, like instituting national guidelines on social distancing and testing, were "utterly disqualifying" for the presidency.
The Democratic nominee, speaking after receiving a briefing by public health experts, said he supported a rapid Covid-19 vaccine to help American life return to normal, but said the process should be guided by science and safety, not politics.
US President Donald Trump has said he expects a Covid-19 vaccine could be released before the November 3, 2020 election, but experts are more cautious Photo: AFP / MANDEL NGAN
On Tuesday Trump accelerated his own already optimistic predictions, saying a vaccine may be available even before the November 3 presidential election.
"We're within weeks of getting it, you know -- could be three weeks, four weeks," he told a town hall question-and-answer session with voters in Pennsylvania aired on ABC.
Democrats have expressed concern that Trump is pressuring government health regulators and scientists to approve a rushed vaccine in time to help his uphill bid for reelection.
Trump also raised eyebrows when asked at the town hall why he had downplayed the gravity of the pandemic in its early months.
"I didn't downplay it," Trump replied. "I actually, in many ways, I up-played it in terms of action."
But Trump himself told journalist Bob Woodward during taped interviews that he had deliberately decided to "play it down" to avoid alarming Americans.
The president, who is rarely seen wearing a mask in public and long refused to push Americans to adopt the habit, told the town hall that "a lot of people don't want to wear masks and people don't think masks are good."
The comment caught wide flak, including from Biden, who also knocked Trump for saying the Democrat declined to institute a mask mandate.
"I'm not the president, he's the president," Biden whispered into the microphone.
Trump's anti-mask message got a dressing down of sorts by Redfield too, as the CDC director held up a medical mask to senators and said "I might go so far as to say that this facemask is more guaranteed to protect me against Covid than when I take a Covid vaccine."
Trump rejected the assertion outright, and noted that he called Redfield to ask him what he meant.
"I think there are a lot of problems with masks," Trump said. "It's not more effective than a vaccine."
Biden routinely appears at campaign events wearing a mask, and usually takes it off to deliver a speech. Trump, who is trailing in pre-election polling, has mocked Biden for wearing a mask.
Polls show a majority of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the pandemic.
Will be one of the first handsets to get new updates
CONS
Low internal memory, needs SD card
No strong USP
Verdict
The Karbonn Sparkle V is definitely a good buy if you want a sturdy smartphone at a small budget. If you like to keep your smartphone updated then your best bet is an Android One handset. However there are many other smartphones in the range which offer similar specs and better performance capabilities, thus for now there isn't anything unique or any strong differentiating factor when it comes to Android One. A slightly lower price could've made a huge difference and made the smartphone much more desirable.
BUY Karbonn Sparkle V
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Karbonn Sparkle V detailed review
Android One is finally out and the first three smartphones look similar and offer the same set of specifications. This will not only allow Android to penetrate deeper into tier-2 and tier-3 markets, it will boost the sales of Indian smartphone OEMs. We take a look at the smartphone offering from Karbonn which is the Sparkle V, priced at Rs. 6,399
SPECIFICATIONS
-Display: 4.5 inch IPS display with 854x480 resolution (218ppi)
-Battery: 1700mAh
-Storage: 4GB, expandable via microSD card
-Camera: 5MP rear with LED flash, 2MP front
-SoC: Mediatek MT6582
-CPU: 1.3GHz quad-core
-GPU: Mali-400
-RAM: 1GB
-Operating system: Android 4.4.4
-Connectivity: 3G, W-Fi, Bluetooth, Dual-SIM
BUILD AND DESIGN
Since Google is directly supporting OEMs by providing the latest software updates, their main concern now is to focus on the hardware and also the final finishing of the device. The Karbonn Sparkle V looks pretty good and takes a lot of inspiration from the Nexus 5, thus having a flat profile. The smartphone is all plastic with the back having a rubberized matte finish. The front has a 4.5-inch IPS panel display with a resolution of 854x480 pixels which offers vibrant colours and a respectable amount of brightness. The touchscreen response is excellent and we didn’t face any issues. The bezels are however wide and the handset could've been much better if Karbonn had trimmed them down a bit.
Above the display we can see the front facing 2MP camera, a bunch of sensors, a notification LED, and the earpiece which again reminds us of the Nexus 5 with a round perforated design. The microUSB is at the bottom, the 3.5mm audio jack on the top, and the power/lock key along with the volume rocker keys are on the right. The back has the 5MP camera with an LED flash and the whole module is raised from the main body. The back also has the Karbonn and Android One branding along with the loudspeaker. The back panel comes off to reveal the battery, two microSIM card slots and a microSD card slot.
The Sparkle V does very well in the design department considering it costs only Rs.6,399. It certainly doesn’t feel inexpensive in the hand, rather it is one of the most well made devices from Karbonn in the sub-7k segment. It isn’t one of the slimmest smartphones, but it definitely fits well in the hand and doesn’t feel bulky. We have checked out the other two Android One smartphones (Micromax and Spice) as well and technically they look very similar and are fitted with exactly the same hardware.
UI AND PERFORMANCE
For the ones who have been asking about Android One, let us tell you that it isn't a new version of Android. It is basically a project where Google has tied up with device makers to provide them the latest software updates for low budget smartphones. Google has also confirmed that as soon as the next version (Android L) is released, all the Nexus devices and Android One devices will be the first ones to get the new update.
The Karbonn Sparkle V runs on the latest version currently available on most of the Android devices which is version 4.4.4. The UI is stock and exactly like one would see on a Nexus device. The only addition to it was some custom wallpapers from Karbonn. You get all the Google based apps as well as the updated version of Newstand which comes with new Indian based content. Karbonn has gone ahead and has also included apps like Snapdeal, Moneycontrol, OLX, etc. The UI feels very smooth and it seems that Google has done a god job in providing a bug-free experience on the handset. It is actually more fluid than other Karbonn smartphones that we have tried in the past.
The smartphone handles games very well and surprisingly we saw a smooth performance when we played Asphalt 8 and Injustice: Gods Among Us on the smartphone. We thought that the MediaTek SoC wouldn't be able to provide enough power but apparently it has been optimized well. Yes, there are heating issues but nothing out of proportion.
One major concern is the internal memory which is just 4GB out of which you only get 2.27GB. The camera app doesnt let you shoot pictures until you have microSD card, so if you are planning to buy this device, make sure you expand the memory. Another issue was the loudspeaker, we thought that it is a bit low on volume and at times we even missed some calls because we couldn't hear the ringtone.
The Sparkle V feels quite capable of handling multitasking and we managed to open about 10-12 apps at the same time without having any issues. However, the handset heats up when you run a number of apps, especially graphics intensive.
Here are the benchmark results:
CAMERA
There is a 5MP camera at the back with an LED flash which is capable of shooting 1080p videos. Thankfully auto-focus is available which means you wont be left with blurry pictures. The camera isn't extraordinary but gets the job done. Pictures taken indoors are soft and a bit grainy. Outdoors the pictures come out quite good although the camera struggles at times with correct exposure so it's better to manually adjust it.
The same exposure issue can be seen while making videos, also the audio quality on videos is not up to the mark.
Here are some pictures taken with the camera, click on images to enlarge:
Compared to other smartphones in this category, the Sparkle V has a pretty decent camera. The only thing that bugged us was the fact that the camera app will not let you shoot pictures until you have a memory card.
CONLUSION
Android One seems like a good way to provide the Nexus experience at an affordable price. If you are looking for a feature rich smartphone, then the Sparkle V will not impress you. Yes there are smartphones with much better hardware and performance capability, but this handset is very stable and with full support from Google, it isn’t a bad option at all.
One can also go for the Moto E, the Asus Zenfone 4 or the Xiaomi Redmi 1S which fall in the same price bracket.
Digit caters to the largest community of tech buyers, users and enthusiasts in India. The all new Digit in continues the legacy of Thinkdigit.com as one of the largest portals in India committed to technology users and buyers. Digit is also one of the most trusted names when it comes to technology reviews and buying advice and is home to the Digit Test Lab, India's most proficient center for testing and reviewing technology products.
We are about leadership-the 9.9 kind! Building a leading media company out of India.And,grooming new leaders for this promising industry.
Catering to the ever-growing audience of sports enthusiasts, the BackBeat FIT 305 features a rugged build and design that is not too common at its price point. However, weak audio performance, and a couple of snags in the build area too, bring its overall appeal down.
BUY Plantronics BackBeat FIT 305
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Plantronics BackBeat FIT 305 detailed review
Due to the evolution of user behaviour and demands, a particular informal sub-category of earphones has made its presence increasingly felt in recent times. That category is of wireless sports earphones, designed and built to cater to a gym-going, fitness enthusiast audience that prioritises features like a good build, ruggedness, noise isolation over fidelity. The BackBeat FIT 305 is meant for that exact demographic through and through. How well does it satisfy its requirements? Let’s find out.
Design and Build
As always, this is where sports headphones have to truly shine. We’re not saying that audio doesn’t matter for them, however, if the build doesn’t suit active usage, they’re likely to be rejected right out of the box. It’s safe to say that the BackBeat FIT 305 is unlikely to suffer this fate due to its sports-oriented design and build.
The design is IPX5 rated and features P2i coating so you’re safe against sweat damage, rain and spills. The cable is a nylon braided piece, with reflective material weaved into it, making it easily identifiable at night. Due to the nature of the fabric, it also doesn’t cause as much friction against the skin as a rubber coating. We’re not entirely sure if it is due to the coating, but the earbuds on the FIT 305 are highly prone to attracting dust.
The control module is located a couple of inches below the right earbud, which felt like the perfect place for it to be except for when you start running. Make sure to use the included clip to keep the 305 in place. The only complaint with the module is that the buttons, despite the particular + and - shapes, are a bit hard to detect by touch alone. Perhaps raised platforms for all three buttons would have been a better choice.
Plantronics has made a weird choice on the 305 by making the buds themselves have integrated silicon ear tips and wings. While they’re quite robust, if you have the tendency to wear your earbuds out frequently, this could be an issue as it won’t be easy to replace it with similar buds for the 305. Additionally, due to the same reason, you do not have the option of not using the wings. Another problem with the FIT 305’s build is that residual noise from the wire brushing up against anything is carried straight to the ear. While it isn’t too apparent during music playback, it’s a bit too loud for us during other times.
The added clip is handy and essential during workouts if you wish to ignore the presence of the cable and the control module around your neck. While passive isolation isn’t great, it is not half bad either. Just make sure you get the right earbuds for your fit. We blame the odd design of the earbud sleeves. Also, don’t expect these to blend well in a work environment - these are evidently workout headphones with bright colours meant for the gym and the jogging tracks.
Performance
In the audio performance department, the BackBeat FIT 305 ticks certain unintentional boxes. In any sports-oriented headphones, the lows are expected to be the most formidable aspect of the sound signature. However, the FIT 305 doesn’t handle those well. The bass sounds muddy and flat, which is especially evident when you push the volume to higher levels. Listening to Uptown Funk from Bruno Mars, the ‘duh-doh’ loop in the background sounded too recessed.
The mids are handled quite well, which benefits vocals and hands-free performance. Adele’s vocals in Hello sounds powerful and clear. The metal instrument density of Selkies by Between the Buried and Me doesn’t cause the 305 any trouble either. Even in noisy environments like a public bus, the FIT 305 managed to block out most external sound during our experience.
Call quality on the FIT 305 is great, and you have the wideband-enabled mic to thank for that. In our usage, after a full charge of approximately 90 minutes, the headphones lasted a bit north of 7 hours, which is quite good considering that they weight a measly 14grams. We did not expect any disconnection even at 50 feet, so you’re well provided for in the range department as well.
Verdict
Wireless earphones aimed at the gym are a dime a dozen today. However, in that pile, to find something that hits the right balance of features, pricing, build quality and audio performance is also quite a task. No, the BackBeat FIT 305 doesn’t hit that balance, but it comes significantly close to doing so. If only its audio performance could match up to some of its more capable brethren, it would be a no brainer to recommend the FIT 305, thanks to its already great build quality and gym-friendly design. However, if that isn’t a big issue for you, the FIT 305 does actually provide great overall performance and at the current price of Rs. 3999/- online, is not a bad deal at all.
Digit caters to the largest community of tech buyers, users and enthusiasts in India. The all new Digit in continues the legacy of Thinkdigit.com as one of the largest portals in India committed to technology users and buyers. Digit is also one of the most trusted names when it comes to technology reviews and buying advice and is home to the Digit Test Lab, India's most proficient center for testing and reviewing technology products.
We are about leadership-the 9.9 kind! Building a leading media company out of India.And,grooming new leaders for this promising industry.
Noted history-sheeter and notorious criminal Hazrat Ali Shaikh alias Anwar (29) a resident of Borda, Margao and involved in over 21 criminal cases of various nature including robberies, extortions and gang rape including assault on a businessman on Tuesday night was arrested by South Goa police team headed by senior police inspector of Quepem police station Santosh Dessai. The police said that externment proceedings against Anwar are on before the district magistrate South Goa.
Out of 21 cases, as many as 13 cases have been booked by Margao police against Anwar while Maina Curtorim, Colva, Sanvordem police and Cuncolim police have registered cases against the accused.
Police have also arrested his accomplice Prajot Bhandari (28) a resident of Borda, Margao. Anwar was released a month back from Colvale jail and was absconding, said police.
Maina Curtorim police said that on September 15 at 7 pm a phone call was received from Hospicio Hospital Margao informing that Ryan of Murida, Fatorda was brought to the hospital in an assault case which took place at Ramnagri.
According to police an unknown accused person who was riding a Pulsar motorbike restrained the complainant by blocking his vehicle and assaulted and abused him with filthy language. Further the accused threatened to kill the complainant and gave fist blows causing the complainant grievous injuries.
A team was formed under supervision of SP (South) Pankaj Kumar Singh and consisting of four police inspectors including senior inspector Santosh Dessai who had arrested Anwar in the past. He was traced at Marcel-Ponda alongwith another accused Prajot Bhandari.
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