South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics' stock price plunged on Friday after it was announced that its vice president and heir to the business conglomerate was arrested over his alleged role in a corruption scandal.

Samsung Electronics, one of the stocks that holds the greatest weight in the Seoul Stock Exchange, opened with a sharp decline, hitting 0.60 per cent, and by 9.30 am, was down 0.47 per cent to stand at 1.892 million won ($1,653), Efe news reported.

Earlier in the day, Seoul Central District Court authorised Lee Jae-yong's arrest after "new charges and evidence" were presented. 

Following the order, the 48-year-old tycoon was immediately arrested and sent to Uiwang Prison, southwest of Seoul.

Lee's arrest comes after prosecutors heading the corruption case that led to the impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-hye asked for a second arrest warrant against the tycoon on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Samsung Group said it would do its best "to ensure that the truth is revealed in future court proceedings", and again denied allegations of bribery or receiving favours from Park.

South Korean experts believe that the country's largest conglomerate will temporarily suspend all of its operational restructuring as well as new investment plans following the arrest of its de facto leader, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Prosecutors now have 20 days to formalise the detention or release him on probation.

Lee is accused of instructing the conglomerate to give financial support to Choi Soon-sil, nicknamed the "South Korean Female Rasputin", in exchange for the government's backing of a merger between two of the group's subsidiaries.

The same court in Seoul rejected an earlier request for his arrest in January, citing a lack of evidence.

However, prosecutors this week argued that after three weeks of further investigation, they had obtained new evidence and filed new charges.

In addition to bribery, Lee is accused of obstruction of justice and the violation of a law on the transfer of assets abroad.

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics' stock price plunged on Friday after it was announced that its vice president and heir to the business conglomerate was arrested over his alleged role in a corruption scandal.

Samsung Electronics, one of the stocks that holds the greatest weight in the Seoul Stock Exchange, opened with a sharp decline, hitting 0.60 per cent, and by 9.30 am, was down 0.47 per cent to stand at 1.892 million won ($1,653), Efe news reported.

Earlier in the day, Seoul Central District Court authorised Lee Jae-yong's arrest after "new charges and evidence" were presented. 

Following the order, the 48-year-old tycoon was immediately arrested and sent to Uiwang Prison, southwest of Seoul.

Lee's arrest comes after prosecutors heading the corruption case that led to the impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-hye asked for a second arrest warrant against the tycoon on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Samsung Group said it would do its best "to ensure that the truth is revealed in future court proceedings", and again denied allegations of bribery or receiving favours from Park.

South Korean experts believe that the country's largest conglomerate will temporarily suspend all of its operational restructuring as well as new investment plans following the arrest of its de facto leader, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Prosecutors now have 20 days to formalise the detention or release him on probation.

Lee is accused of instructing the conglomerate to give financial support to Choi Soon-sil, nicknamed the "South Korean Female Rasputin", in exchange for the government's backing of a merger between two of the group's subsidiaries.

The same court in Seoul rejected an earlier request for his arrest in January, citing a lack of evidence.

However, prosecutors this week argued that after three weeks of further investigation, they had obtained new evidence and filed new charges.

In addition to bribery, Lee is accused of obstruction of justice and the violation of a law on the transfer of assets abroad.

After weeks of dilly-dallying, postponements and cancellations, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to campaign for the Congress in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections on Friday.

According to senior Congress leaders of Uttar Pradesh unit, Priyanka will be showing up with brother Rahul Gandhi in Rae Bareli, a parliamentary seat held by her mother Sonia Gandhi.

The absence of Priyanka, who is a great crowd puller and is among the 40 'star campaigners' the party has listed for the polls, had reportedly upset the cadres, specially in the family bastion of Amethi-Rae Bareli, where she has been campaigning in previous elections.

This time, the Congress has entered an alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP).

Informed sources said many campaign programmes of Priyanka Vadra had been made and cancelled in the past owing to the seat-sharing formula on these seats continuing to be an irritant.

Now since both the alliance partners have withdrawn five candidates each from their side, she is said to have agreed to come and campaign.

She was one of the main negotiators with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav when the alliance talks were on the brink of collapse.

While her name has been repeatedly appearing in the star campaigner list of the party, she is likely to restrict herself to Amethi-Rae Bareli only, an informed party source said.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to address a rally on February 20.

She has so far kept herself away from campaigning as she is reportedly not in "the best of health".

Rae Bareli goes to polls on February 23 and Amethi on February 27.

After weeks of dilly-dallying, postponements and cancellations, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to campaign for the Congress in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections on Friday.

According to senior Congress leaders of Uttar Pradesh unit, Priyanka will be showing up with brother Rahul Gandhi in Rae Bareli, a parliamentary seat held by her mother Sonia Gandhi.

The absence of Priyanka, who is a great crowd puller and is among the 40 'star campaigners' the party has listed for the polls, had reportedly upset the cadres, specially in the family bastion of Amethi-Rae Bareli, where she has been campaigning in previous elections.

This time, the Congress has entered an alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP).

Informed sources said many campaign programmes of Priyanka Vadra had been made and cancelled in the past owing to the seat-sharing formula on these seats continuing to be an irritant.

Now since both the alliance partners have withdrawn five candidates each from their side, she is said to have agreed to come and campaign.

She was one of the main negotiators with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav when the alliance talks were on the brink of collapse.

While her name has been repeatedly appearing in the star campaigner list of the party, she is likely to restrict herself to Amethi-Rae Bareli only, an informed party source said.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to address a rally on February 20.

She has so far kept herself away from campaigning as she is reportedly not in "the best of health".

Rae Bareli goes to polls on February 23 and Amethi on February 27.

Nearly 200 people demonstrated in front of the White House as part of the "Day without Immigrants" movement against the immigration policies of US President Donald Trump, a media report said.

In an effort to show Trump that the work of immigrants is necessary for the "prosperity" of the country, Mexicans, Salvadorans, Hondurans and Colombians, among others, protested on Thursday, Efe news reported.

They took off their work uniforms and took on the role of activists.

Many immigrants left their jobs and refused to buy anything or take public transport in the US capital and in other major cities across the country to dissociate themselves from the US economy and demonstrate their importance.

Dominican national Maria Sorial chose not to show up to work in solidarity with the movement, as did her colleagues, who are mostly Latinas.

"We (the Latinos) do the work that Americans don't want to do. We clean the offices, the hotels and the houses, we take care of their children, we work in the construction sites and we feed them food. Let's hope that …will help the President realize how important we are to the country's economy," Sorial said.

Demonstrators culminated their protest in front of the White House after marching for more than 4.5 km from Mount Pleasant, the city's most important Hispanic neighbourhood.

Children who had taken the day off from school, small business owners and catering workers were among those carrying protest placards and the flags of their home countries on the march to the White House.

"It's hard work, and we do it for minimum pay, so I don't think Americans want to do it," Norma Escobar, an undocumented Guatemalan woman who lost her job "without any explanation" at a restaurant on Monday, said.

"I especially ask the President not to deport us, because we are afraid to go back to our countries. There is a lot of violence there. They have killed my brother," she said through tears.

Norma Salvador, a Salvadoran woman who has been working in cleaning and hospitality since arriving in Washington more than a decade ago and whose two siblings have been deported, said she had faith that the power of protest would help to bring recognition to the work of immigrants.

Nearly 200 people demonstrated in front of the White House as part of the "Day without Immigrants" movement against the immigration policies of US President Donald Trump, a media report said.

In an effort to show Trump that the work of immigrants is necessary for the "prosperity" of the country, Mexicans, Salvadorans, Hondurans and Colombians, among others, protested on Thursday, Efe news reported.

They took off their work uniforms and took on the role of activists.

Many immigrants left their jobs and refused to buy anything or take public transport in the US capital and in other major cities across the country to dissociate themselves from the US economy and demonstrate their importance.

Dominican national Maria Sorial chose not to show up to work in solidarity with the movement, as did her colleagues, who are mostly Latinas.

"We (the Latinos) do the work that Americans don't want to do. We clean the offices, the hotels and the houses, we take care of their children, we work in the construction sites and we feed them food. Let's hope that …will help the President realize how important we are to the country's economy," Sorial said.

Demonstrators culminated their protest in front of the White House after marching for more than 4.5 km from Mount Pleasant, the city's most important Hispanic neighbourhood.

Children who had taken the day off from school, small business owners and catering workers were among those carrying protest placards and the flags of their home countries on the march to the White House.

"It's hard work, and we do it for minimum pay, so I don't think Americans want to do it," Norma Escobar, an undocumented Guatemalan woman who lost her job "without any explanation" at a restaurant on Monday, said.

"I especially ask the President not to deport us, because we are afraid to go back to our countries. There is a lot of violence there. They have killed my brother," she said through tears.

Norma Salvador, a Salvadoran woman who has been working in cleaning and hospitality since arriving in Washington more than a decade ago and whose two siblings have been deported, said she had faith that the power of protest would help to bring recognition to the work of immigrants.

FIFA insisted on Friday there is no conclusive proof that heading a ball causes an increased risk of brain disease, after the release of a study on footballers who died from dementia.

"To our very best knowledge, there is currently no true evidence of the negative effect of heading or other sub-concussive blows," football's world body said in response to calls by British neurological experts for greater research.

"Results from studies on active and former professional football players in relation to brain function are inconclusive," a spokesman said in a statement.

The spokesman acknowledged that professional players are "more exposed to all football activities including heading from early childhood than recreational players."

But FIFA said: "Fortunately, football (soccer) does not belong to the high-risk sports for brain and head injuries."

A British study said professional footballers are at heightened risk of developing a brain disease that can cause dementia and is usually found in boxers and American football players.

The study, published in the Acta Neuropathologica journal, looked at 14 retired footballers with dementia who started playing football and heading the ball in childhood or early teens.

Post-mortem exams on six of the players found that four showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), far in excess of the average rate of 12 percent found in the general population.

It is the first time CTE has been confirmed in a study involving ex-football players.

"The findings of our study show a potential link between playing football and CTE," lead researcher Helen Ling, from University College London's Institute of Neurology said.

"Large-scale study is needed and cooperation from professional bodies such as the FA (Football Association) and FIFA will be required," she said.

All of the ex-players involved had been referred to a psychiatry service in Swansea, Wales between 1980 and 2010.

Twelve of the 14 died with advanced dementia.

FIFA said that it has been "actively following the issue of head and brain injuries" for more than 15 years including publishing scientific studies with international sports federations and research groups.

It said rule changes toughening sanctions for elbow to the head blows and introducing a head injury protocol in 2014 had cut head injury numbers.

FIFA quoted one international study on children aged seven to 12 years which indicated there was "one concussion with ball contact every 200,000 playing hours."

"FIFA will continue to monitor the situation of head injuries, maintaining constant contact with current and on-going studies regarding long-term neurocognitive changes, both in male and female football players," the spokesman said declaring the health of players to be "a top priority in developing the game."

FIFA insisted on Friday there is no conclusive proof that heading a ball causes an increased risk of brain disease, after the release of a study on footballers who died from dementia.

"To our very best knowledge, there is currently no true evidence of the negative effect of heading or other sub-concussive blows," football's world body said in response to calls by British neurological experts for greater research.

"Results from studies on active and former professional football players in relation to brain function are inconclusive," a spokesman said in a statement.

The spokesman acknowledged that professional players are "more exposed to all football activities including heading from early childhood than recreational players."

But FIFA said: "Fortunately, football (soccer) does not belong to the high-risk sports for brain and head injuries."

A British study said professional footballers are at heightened risk of developing a brain disease that can cause dementia and is usually found in boxers and American football players.

The study, published in the Acta Neuropathologica journal, looked at 14 retired footballers with dementia who started playing football and heading the ball in childhood or early teens.

Post-mortem exams on six of the players found that four showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), far in excess of the average rate of 12 percent found in the general population.

It is the first time CTE has been confirmed in a study involving ex-football players.

"The findings of our study show a potential link between playing football and CTE," lead researcher Helen Ling, from University College London's Institute of Neurology said.

"Large-scale study is needed and cooperation from professional bodies such as the FA (Football Association) and FIFA will be required," she said.

All of the ex-players involved had been referred to a psychiatry service in Swansea, Wales between 1980 and 2010.

Twelve of the 14 died with advanced dementia.

FIFA said that it has been "actively following the issue of head and brain injuries" for more than 15 years including publishing scientific studies with international sports federations and research groups.

It said rule changes toughening sanctions for elbow to the head blows and introducing a head injury protocol in 2014 had cut head injury numbers.

FIFA quoted one international study on children aged seven to 12 years which indicated there was "one concussion with ball contact every 200,000 playing hours."

"FIFA will continue to monitor the situation of head injuries, maintaining constant contact with current and on-going studies regarding long-term neurocognitive changes, both in male and female football players," the spokesman said declaring the health of players to be "a top priority in developing the game."

Fugitive movie director Roman Polanski plans to return to the United States, his lawyer said on Thursday, and is seeking assurances he will do no further jail time over the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl.

The award-winning director of "The Pianist" and "Chinatown" has been on the run for almost 40 years but claims he reached a plea deal in the case which would keep him out of jail, attorney Harland Braun told AFP.

Braun has written to Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Scott Gordon to unseal a secret transcript of the testimony of the prosecutor in the Polanski case.

The filmmaker was accused of drugging Samantha Gailey before raping her at a friend's house in Los Angeles in 1977.

He admitted having unlawful sex with a minor, or statutory rape, as part of a plea bargain and spent 42 days in Chino State Prison before being released.

He claims Judge Laurence Rittenband reneged on his deal and told prosecutors Polanski should spend up to 50 years in prison, and the filmmaker fled to Europe.

He spent almost a year in custody in Switzerland as authorities tried to extradite him back to the US but a Polish court ruled Polanski has served his time under the plea deal.

Braun believes the secret testimony supports Polanski's claim that had an agreement to serve just 48 days.

"After we confirm the contents, we will urge the court to recognise the Polish decision resulting from a litigation initiated by the (district attorney) and in which the DA participated," Braun said.

"If the court accepts the principle of comity, Roman can come to Los Angeles and to court without fear of custody.”

West Indian all-rounder Marlon Samuels was on Thursday cleared to bowl in international cricket after his action was found to be legal, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced here.

The 36-year-old was last reported for bowling action during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka in October 2015 and was subsequently suspended for 12 months in December 2015 after an independent assessment revealed he had employed an illegal bowling action for the second time in 24 months.

"The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that following remedial work and reassessment, the bowling action of West Indies Marlon Samuels has been found to be legal, and the player can now resume bowling in international cricket," the ICC said in a statement.

"On January 29, Samuels underwent a reassessment of his bowling action at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his off-spin deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions."

"The umpires are still at liberty to report Samuels if they believe he is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action from the reassessment. To assist the umpires, they will be provided with images and video footage of the bowler's remodelled legal bowling action," the statement added.

If Samuels is reported again, he will be required to undertake further analysis of his bowling action at an ICC accredited testing centre. 

US President Trump has said he will issue a new executive order on immigration by next week.

Also, the Justice Department lawyers asked a federal appeals court to hold off on taking action in the legal battle over his initial travel ban until that new order is in place, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

In a news conference at the White House, Trump said the new order would "comprehensively protect our country", and he hinted that it might contain new vetting measures for travelers. Trump's first order temporarily barred citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from entering the United States, ostensibly so officials could review and tighten screening procedures.

"Extreme vetting will be put in place, and it already is in place in many places," Trump said. He said the administration "had to go quicker than we thought" because a federal appeals court refused to lift the suspension on his travel ban.

The President's comments and the Justice Department's request to the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit mean that the administration – at least for now – is pumping the brakes on the furious court battle to restore the travel ban.

Instead, the administration indicated in its filing that it expects that a revamped executive order will eliminate judges' concerns, even those the Justice Department views as unfounded.

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who had successfully sued to block the travel ban, wrote on Twitter that the Justice Department filing, in particular, "recognizes the obvious – the President's current Exec Order violates the Constitution."

"President Trump could have sought review of this flawed Order in the Supreme Court but declined to face yet another defeat," Ferguson wrote.

The legal wrangling, though, is far from over, and even a new executive order will not necessarily end the need for it. What happens next will largely depend on how significantly the rewritten order departs from the original.

Justice Department lawyers wrote that the revisions would be meaningful.

Ahead of the three-day practice cricket match against Australia at the Brabourne Stadium from Friday, India A skipper Hardik Pandya on Thursday said he is trying out a few new tricks to earn his maiden Test cap.

Hardik said he is ready to wait for his turn in Test cricket and left it to India skipper Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble to decide whenever he is ready to represent India in whites.

"I will be pretty happy if I make a debut (in the series against Australia). As I said opportunity will come when it is supposed to come. It is all about process and I am doing it right now," Pandya told reporters here.

"Everything comes at the right time. Whenever they (Kohli and Kumble) feel that I am ready to play Test cricket I will be playing the game. But as I said Test cricket is something amazing to learn, so I am learning new tricks in my game and I am just trying to improve."

Pandya said it boosts his confidence when Kohli and Kumble back him as a seaming all-rounder. 

"Definitely it helps a lot when someone like Virat bhai and Anil Sir (back me), it grows your confidence when two legends like them support, you know that your captain is backing you, it is always helpful. I am learning a lot of things from them and other players. It helps a lot," he said.

Commenting on Friday's game against the Australians, Pandya said it would provide a very good opportunity for the youngsters to impress the selectors ahead of the four-Test series.

"It will be good opportunity for all of us, specially me to perform and get the opportunity to play in the Test series, it will be a good opportunity for the youngsters as well, who are there to show what they have."

"We are not treating it as a practice game, it's an opportunity for all of us to do something amazing and get recognised in the selectors' eyes."

"I have played against Australia A. This will be an amazing experience. Australians, you all know how they are and how aggressive they are, it will be nice competition for all of us," he added.

The 23-year-old, who was ruled out of the Test squad after injuring his right shoulder ahead of the Mohali Test against England in November, has played seven One-day Internationals (ODI) and 19 T20s so far.

The heir of South Korean giant Samsung was on Friday arrested as part of a probe into corruption and influence-peddling that caused President Park Geun-Hye to be impeached.

"It is acknowledged that it is necessary to arrest (Lee Jae-Yong) in light of a newly added criminal charge and new evidence," a court spokesman said in a statement.

Lee Jae-Yong, Samsung Electronics vice chairman, is accused of paying nearly USD 40 million in bribes to Park's secret confidante to secure policy favours.

He was already being held at a detention centre after appearing in court yesterday as judges deliberated whether to issue an arrest warrant.

Lee, the son of the Samsung group boss Lee Kun-Hee, has been quizzed several times over his alleged role in the scandal that has rocked the nation.

The 48-year-old, described as a key suspect in the scandal, narrowly avoided being formally arrested last month, after the court ruled there was insufficient evidence.

But prosecutors on Tuesday made a second bid for his arrest, saying they had collected more evidence in recent weeks.

His arrest, the first for a Samsung chief, is likely to send shock waves through the group, which is a major part of the South Korean economy and includes the world's largest smartphone maker, Samsung Electronics.

It is already reeling from the debacle over the recall of its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device and reports have suggested it could face sanctions from overseas authorities if Lee is punished.

The scandal centres on Choi Soon-Sil, who is accused of using her close ties with Park to force local firms to "donate" nearly USD 70 million to non-profit foundations which Choi allegedly used for personal gain.

Samsung was the single biggest donor to the foundations.

It is also accused of separately giving millions of euros to Choi to bankroll her daughter's equestrian training in Germany.

The court is also deliberating an arrest warrant for another Samsung executive, who is also the head of Korea Equestrian Federation, over bribery charges.

Samsung said in a statement on Wednesday that it had "not paid bribes nor made improper requests to the president seeking favours".

Lee has effectively taken the helm of Samsung — South Korea's biggest business group — since his father suffered a heart attack in 2014.

Prosecutors are probing whether Samsung had paid Choi to secure state approval for the controversial merger of two Samsung units seen as a key step towards ensuring a smooth power transfer to Lee.

The merger in 2015 of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries was opposed by many investors who said it wilfully undervalued the former unit's shares.

But the deal went through after Seoul's state pension fund — a major Samsung shareholder — approved it.

Samsung is South Korea's largest business group and its revenue is equivalent to about a fifth of the country's GDP.

India is the second leading country from where students migrate to the US for higher studies.The major pull of the colleges is their globally acclaimed courses, state-of-the-art infrastructure and an opportunity to gain first-hand industry experience while learning. The Missouri State University offers courses with the right blend of academic and industry exposure that equips one with necessary skills and knowledge required to excel in a global arena.

The university offers flexible programmes to match one’s interest with full accreditation at a competitive fee. The student-faculty ratio is excellently high, which increases one’s possibility of having one-to-one interaction with the professors. Students pursuing programmes are exposed to a wide range of subjects that will lead them to multiple career opportunities depending upon the programme they have opted for. For example, candidates looking for a career in engineering and related fields can opt for mechanical engineering technology degree, which prepares them for a high skill, demand, growth and pay career. One with such degree can find themselves working with aerospace systems, automotive performance, mechanisms and devices, energy and sustainability, automation and control. 

The training quality and course curriculum have always acquired an edge over the programmes offered by other international universities. The Career Centre of Missouri State University serves students, alumni and employers with counselling, internship and full-time job searches, and vocational and educational information. Whether a student needs assistance finding the first job after graduation or is ready to change careers, this centre has services available. It has a variety of options to employers and alumni who would like to be mentors to students.

Job shadowing is one such that enables one to gather information on careers even before deciding on a course of study. Students can visit work sites, during which they “shadow”, observe, and ask questions about individual workers. It provides the following opportunities:

Informational interviews: This allows one to learn more about possible career paths by meeting, talking to and interviewing professionals in the field. 

Mock interviews: It helps build confidence in students to keep their nerves calm during an actual interview. 

E-mail networking with student: This makes alumnus available to respond to students’ questions, concerns, or requests for information via e-mail.

Resumé and cover letter reviews: The career center hosts an event “resumé madness” for different colleges. Students bring their resumés for a quick review and receive tips and suggestions. 

Speaking to student organizations: The centre provides professional development to student organisations on campus. At MSU a varied mix of people offer enormous learning outside the classroom, students interact  and work with people coming from various corners of the world. This experience assists them to evolve and succeed globally. 

The writer is Associate Vice-President for International Programmes, MSU

In the era of digital revolution businesses can’t dare to move without the Internet. Today, the entire world is dependent on IoT and no doubt the benefits are far more than the pitfalls but one can’t afford data leaks and hefty losses. Cyber criminals are not just targeting the big corporate houses, government agencies, departments, banks, but even research institutes are encountering hacking and spying activities frequently. This is the prime reason of the growing IT security companies and the rising demand for professionals in both public and private organisations. 

By 2020 the value of the burgeoning cyber security market is expected to touch $170 billion, almost 100 per cent growth in the present industrial value. In 2015, Cisco presented a report which claims that there will be a need of 6 million professionals globally by 2019, but the world wouldn’t be able to meet this huge demand due to a dearth of skilled manpower in this domain. The projected shortfall is as high as 1.5 million.

In the US alone, more than 2, 09,000 jobs are unfilled as per the Bureau of Labour Statistics. The Indian IT Security market was about $77 billion in 2015, with an expected growth rate of eight per cent annually. A report released by Nasscom suggests that cyber security services would create revenue of over $35 billion annually and efforts to protect data shall lead to employment opportunities for about 1 million professionals in the near future.

As demand outweigh supply and trends ensure exponential future growth, a career in cyber security is ranked on 8th position among 100 best jobs in 2015 by the US News and World Report. Moreover, the report also highlights the 36.5 per cent annual growth rate in this emerging profession. Various studies confirm that these professionals earn even better than IT personnel. Means, a career in cyber security assures handsome remuneration, job security and opportunities for growth at a fast pace. An average cyber security professional in India earns around 7.8 lakh annually. 

Noticing an increase in the number of candidates desirous of taking up a career in this industry, a number of institutes in India have started with specialised programmes for this field. Notable institutes like the International College of Security Studies, Gurgaon; Amity University, Noida; Sharda University, Uttar Pradesh; Bradhaman Cyber Research and Training Institute, West Bengal; Asian School of Cyber Laws, Maharashtra; The National Law Institute University, Bhopal; Sarvodaya Law College,Karnataka; Amrita School of Engineering, Tamil Nadu and the University of Madras, Tamil Nadu are offering courses on the subject. With the ever-increasing use of the Internet, threats to confidential information and data getting stolen from the cyberspace remain high. Governments and businesses are trying hard to secure their data, more so after an increase in the number of cyber attacks over the web. Another report by Nasscom suggests a growing need for professionals in the coming years, not only as employees but also as entrepreneurs. Cyber security consultancies would see a sharp growth in the near future, providing jobs to a large percentage. If you have an aptitude and passion for cyber security, then scope for career growth is as bright as the future of the industry. 

The writer is Co-Founder, Innefu Labs

With more students graduating from college and university than ever before, students can expect to enter one of the toughest jobs markets on record. In such an unpredictable climate, finding employment or a stable career path can seem especially daunting but where some more traditional industries may be narrowing, others are opening up.

Here are some of the fastest growing jobs within industries with best prospects:

Data analyst: The desire to analyse, manipulate and securely store data is now essential for any business in the current climate. With cognitive computing on the horizon, there is no shortage of work to be done. Development skills, alongside coding and testing skills are key skills the role requires.

Technical architect: The digital age is rapidly taking over all sectors, with software becoming advanced and business needs evolving. These roles are designed to incorporate aspects of leadership and operations, to maintain the structure of the programme. This role not only requires highly skilled workers, but also a worker who is comfortable to delegate and project while the technical skills needed are exceptional it could be mastering the art of management that sets you apart.

Plumber: Plumbers are set to remain in high demand with specific skills needed to perform the role to the required standard. Communications skills are paramount— the ability to explain aspects of the job to customers, suppliers, managers and sub-contractors is unavoidable. Being able to understand drawings of water systems and translate this to the role is crucial. Finally, there are practical skills that the role demands to carry out the job, using specialist tools and equipment. 

Chief customer officer: Due to the changing nature of how customers are buying, retailers need to track online shopping habits. The industry is looking for candidates with multi-channel and social media experience. In fact, it is rare for a company to hire a candidate who does not have social media experience. The role demands an understanding of customer interaction and how retailers engage with clients, requiring strong communication and strategic skills. Be aware of the digital age and a long and healthy career in a wide range of sectors is at your feet.

Senior accountant: With Brexit on the horizon, accountants are being called in to give advice on issues such as corporate tax and restructuring. They are particularly looking for those with business partner skills and commercial acumen, rather than practical financial accounting skills alone. The role requires a heavy involvement with other parts of the business, therefore the ability to translate financial jargon for non-finance people is a key factor when applying for this role. The job also needs individual possessing excellent forecasting skills with good commercial view of risks and opportunities. 

HR manager: HR roles are becoming less transactional and more strategic. Using existing business models, transactional elements are being out-sourced or moved to share service centres. Specialist knowledge of specific HR software is always preferential to an employer, particularly cloud-based software. Organisational skills are vital, combining the ability to manage structural change and handle HR information professionally. Employee engagement is a factor that employers desire from a candidate, to support employees in maintaining a positive association between their work and the business as a whole, thus leading to employee retention.

Hospitality manager: They are responsible for the day-to-day management of the business and staff. Such managers should demonstrate passion for their industry with sound financial and business acumen. These demands for financial skills will extend to those with specialist health and safety experience due to the Food Standards Agency pledging to change the way it monitors food business. Aside from exceptional communications skills, managers must have delegation and operations skills in order to maintain a smooth running of the business. Hospitality is a career that satisfies through customer satisfaction and a great deal of creative flair and control.

Information security specialist: The need for info-sec professionals is larger than ever before, and predicted to be on the rise. Those wishing to pursue a career in this sector need to be able to demonstrate intrusion detection, risk mitigation and cloud data security expertise. If you possess all of these skills, you could see your career flourish. 

Java developer: With the constant thirst for new and innovative programmes to allow companies to grow, java developers are in demand.  One must be able to prove you have elaborate java skills. Finally, experience of Industry Standard Build, Integration and Test Frameworks and or Agile will be desirable. The ability to analyse complex problems is a factor that candidates must feel comfortable doing. This career path sees you being involved right from the beginning of the project, so the ability to work independently and as part of a team is something that is very important.

Technical sales advisor: There have been increased job opportunities in the technology sales market this year, which is set to continue. The demand for cyber security products as well as augmented and virtual reality products is continually growing, with tech giants releasing their own products. Specialist knowledge within these categories will certainly make you stand out in a highly talented applicant pool. The ability to communicate confidently will carry a long way in a competitive 
industry. 

The Independent

A symbol of decadence and seduction, sweet smelling orchids have inspired and exemplified a sense of exotic beauty and sophistication as well as celebration and death in many mythologies. Their intoxicating smell and attractive foliage can charm anyone’s heart, making it one-of-a-kind in appearance and medicinal qualities.

According to the Indian Vedic texts, plants under the name vanda have been mentioned as one of the most beautiful groups of orchids. Interestingly, Vanda “Miss Joaquim” variety of orchids has been designated as Singapore’s national flower since 1982 precisely for its vibrant colours, hardiness and resilient-qualities that is said to reflect the country’s true spirit.

Not just in Singapore, but world over these effervescent flowers are known to hold a symbolic sense of stronghold and resolute power. Not considered to be dainty despite its looks, orchids add cheerfulness with a sense of highly developed style.

Each orchid variety has different bloom times. However, it usually sees a good bloom during this time of the year. Taking advantage of the perfect season, orchid festivals are celebrated around the world by different institutions, one being the month-long Orchids Festival 2017 (continuing till 2 March) being celebrated in UK.

Just like every year, this year too, inspired by the colourful plant life and variety found in India, the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew, London, has featured giant floral displays and recreated rickshaws with a slew of exotic orchids adorning the landscape. The exotic foliage forms elephants and peacocks along with a traditional Indian swing, which hangs delicately from the ceilings consisting of Vanda orchids with a floral pond on display beside it. All those showcase typical Indian culture and tradition as it adorns itself with beautiful orchid blooms.

The festival celebrates not just species available in India, but also the use of orchids in religion, medicine and everyday life. Visitors are in for a flavour of India through a vibrant display of exotic horticulture. Considered the largest family of flowering plants, nearly 1,000 variety of orchid species are added to the ever-expanding list. Along with new species, visitors can soak in the pleasant display of inspiring floral arrangements at the festival.

The alluring flower species are perhaps one of the most preferred ones for arrangements and gifts. Although orchids have enjoyed their fair share of popularity, it would not be wrong to say that perhaps, they lost out to rose and lilies and leaned towards the darker popular imagination where they could charm their admirers but could never claim their innocence.

However, the unique thing about orchids is that, with each species and hybrid, it marks a different character. It would not be wrong to say that if orchids were human they would be the prettiest and the strongest kind with a zing of surprise as no two orchids can ever be same!