7 killed, 45 injured as Bikaner-Guwahati Express derails in Bengal

 At least seven people were killed and more than 45 injured when 12 coaches of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express train derailed and some overturned near Domohani in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district

At least seven people were killed and more than 45 injured when 12 coaches of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express train derailed and some overturned near Domohani in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on Thursday, an official said. The accident occurred around 5 pm in an area under the Alipurduar division of Northeast Frontier Railway, an NFR spokesperson said in Guwahati. “Seven passengers have died so far. We recovered four bodies from the accident site while three people died in hospital,” Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara Basu said, adding at least 45 passengers were injured in the accident.

“Since some of them are in a critical condition, the death toll may go up. We are now using cranes for removing the damaged compartments,” she said, adding rescuers thoroughly searched each coach for survivors and bodies through darkness and thick fog. The injured are being treated at hospitals in Maynaguri and Jalpaiguri. Commissioner, Railway Safety, will conduct an inquiry into the cause of the accident, a railway official said in New Delhi….

US Supreme Court blocks federal vaccine mandate for large businesses

 The US Supreme Court has blocked the Joe Biden administration’s rule requiring employees at large US businesses to get vaccinated against Covid-19 or be subject to frequent testing

The US Supreme Court has blocked the Joe Biden administration’s rule requiring employees at large US businesses to get vaccinated against Covid-19 or be subject to frequent testing, but it allowed the administration’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers receiving funds from the federal government to go ahead.

The High Court ruled 6-3 to block the vaccine-or-test mandate for private employers, with its conservative majority basing their ruling on the argument that the White House has overstepped its authority by imposing the rule devised by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on businesses with 100 or more employees, since Congress has not given OSHA the power to enact such a rule. The mandate would have affected more than 80 million people, Xinhua news agency reported.

“OSHA has never before imposed such a mandate. Nor has Congress. Indeed, although Congress has enacted significant legislation addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, it has declined to enact any measure similar to what OSHA has promulgated here,” said the unsigned majority opinion.

2021 sixth hottest year on record, last 8 years the warmest, says NASA

 Earth’s global average surface temperature in 2021 tied 2018 as the sixth warmest year on record, and the past eight years are the warmest, according to an independent analysis done by NASA and NOAA.

Earth’s global average surface temperature in 2021 tied 2018 as the sixth warmest year on record, and the past eight years are the warmest, according to an independent analysis done by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USA.

Continuing the planet’s long-term warming trend, Global temperatures in 2021 were 0.85 degrees Celsius above the average for NASA’s baseline period, according to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York. NASA uses the period from 1951-1980 as a baseline to see how global temperature changes over time. “Collectively, the past eight years are the warmest years since modern recordkeeping began in 1880. This annual temperature data makes up the global temperature record — which tells scientists the planet is warming,” a NASA release said.

According to NASA’s temperature record, Earth in 2021 was about 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than the late 19th century average, the start of the industrial revolution. “Science leaves no room for doubt: Climate change is the existential threat of our time,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Eight of the top 10 warmest years on our planet occurred in the last decade, an indisputable fact that underscores the need for bold action to safeguard the future of our country – and all of humanity.”…

'Sulli Deals' form of hate speech in India, must be condemned: UN official

 Harassment of Muslim women in India through social media apps such as “Sulli Deals” must be condemned and prosecuted as soon as they occur, a UN Special Rapporteur has said

Harassment of Muslim women in India through social media apps such as “Sulli Deals” must be condemned and prosecuted as soon as they occur, a UN Special Rapporteur has said. UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Dr Fernand de Varennes took to Twitter to raise concern on the issue of minorities in India, saying Muslim women in India are harassed and sold in social media apps.

“#Minority Muslim women in #India are harassed & ‘sold’ in #socialmedia apps, #SulliDeals, a form of #HateSpeech, must be condemned and prosecuted as soon as they occur. All #HumanRights of minorities need to be fully & equally protected, Varennes said in a tweet on Tuesday. The Delhi Police last week arrested Aumkareshwar Thakur, 26, who is believed to be the creator of “Sulli Deals” app from Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, the first arrest made in the case.

Vaccination pace in children shows youth's sense of responsibility: PM Modi

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the “sense of responsibility” of the country’s youth and said it manifested in the pace of Covid-19 vaccination in the 15-18 years age group

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the “sense of responsibility” of the country’s youth and said it manifested in the pace of Covid-19 vaccination in the 15-18 years age group that has covered over two crore children since its rollout this month. Virtually inaugurating the 25th edition of the National Youth Festival here, Modi also said his government’s recent decision to increase the legal marriage age of women to 21 years was for the betterment of “our daughters” and ensure that they had a career and also the time.

Hailing the pace of vaccination of the 15-18 years age group, he said this showed the “sense of responsibility” of the youngsters, especially witnessed during the pandemic period. “The role of the youth in the success of our covid vaccination programme is being witnessed altogether at a different level. We are seeing that the youth in the 15-18 years age group are getting themselves vaccinated at a quick pace. In such a short time, over two crore children have been vaccinated. This exemplifies the sense of responsibility in today’s youth and my confidence in a bright future of the country is further strengthened,” he said.

South Korea authorises Novavax Covid-19 vaccine, imports Pfizer pills

 At least 21,000 of Pfizer’s antiviral pills, called Paxlovid, will arrive in South Korea on Thursday, with another 10,000 more expected to arrive by the end of the month, the health ministry said

South Korea is turning to additional pharmaceutical tools as it looks to pre-empt a surge of COVID-19 omicron infections, authorising the use of Novavax Inc’s vaccine on Wednesday and preparing to distribute the first of Pfizer’s antiviral pills.

At least 21,000 of Pfizer’s antiviral pills, called Paxlovid, will arrive in South Korea on Thursday, with another 10,000 more expected to arrive by the end of the month, the health ministry said. The pills, which were authorised for emergency use in December, will begin being used in treatments for more than 1,000 people per day starting on Friday, the ministry added “By priority, oral treatment is planned to begin first for patients aged 65 or older, or patients with reduced immunity at home and residential treatment centres,” a ministry spokesperson told a briefing. Paxlovid was nearly 90% effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in patients at high risk of severe illness, according to data from the company’s clinical trial.,,

After backing China Evergrande, this firm is world's worst-performing bank

 An ill-fated push into property lending has instead turned China Minsheng Banking Corp. into one of the biggest casualties of the real estate debt crisis that’s roiling Asia’s largest economy

It was once hailed as the future of Chinese banking, a privately run lender that would mint money by outmaneuvering its state-owned rivals. An ill-fated push into property lending has instead turned China Minsheng Banking Corp. into one of the biggest casualties of the real estate debt crisis that’s roiling Asia’s largest economy.

Battered by mounting losses on loans to developers including China Evergrande Group, Minsheng’s stock tumbled 31% in the 12 months through last week — the worst performance in the 155-member Bloomberg World Banks Index. Hedge funds and other short sellers are more bearish on the lender than any of its global peers.

People familiar with Minsheng’s operations say the bank, founded in 1996 as China’s first non-state controlled lender, is now in damage control mode. It has restructured its real estate finance group to give more power to local branch managers, made reducing holdings of property debt a top priority for 2022 and plans to cut salaries for some staff by half, the people said, asking not to be named discussing private information….Read More

Assam to change middlemen system causing loss to rice farmers: CM

 Assam CM Himanta Sarma said due to lack of proper procurement mechanism and committed efforts, majority of the paddy produced in the state is procured by middlemen

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that due to lack of proper procurement mechanism and committed efforts, majority of the paddy produced in the state is procured by middlemen depriving the farmers of fair price. He said that the state government, in a bid to remove the middlemen system, has therefore decided to bring an end to such a situation so that farmers could be economically benefited.

In a bid to sensitise the farmers on the paddy procurement drive and to expedite the process, the Assam government would organise special ‘Gaon Sabhas’ across the state on January 16, he announced this while interacting with Deputy Commissioners, Circle Officers of the districts, agricultural officers through video conference from Janata Bhawan, the state government headquarters.

The Chief Minister said that due to dedicated efforts of the state government, Central and various other government agencies including Food Corporation of India, 10 lakh MT of paddy would be procured from farmers at minimum support price of Rs 1,940 per quintal. He said that the state government has geared up to carry out the paddy procurement in a mission mode and has notified 194 paddy procurement centres in the state, out of which 166 have been already opened.

'Bulli Bai' app case complainant receives threat calls; probe launched

 Mumbai Police’s cyber department registered a Non-Cognizable (NC) offence against an unidentified person after a complainant in the Bulli Bai app case told them that she had received threat calls

Mumbai Police’s cyber department registered a Non-Cognizable (NC) offence against an unidentified person after a complainant in the Bulli Bai app case told them that she had received threat calls on her phone, an official said on Monday.

The complainant told the police that the caller threatened her over the phone and asked why she revealed their names and filed FIR against them, the official at the Cyber police station in the Bandra Kurla Complex said. An NC case was registered against an unidentified person on Saturday, he added. He said the police are investigating how the caller got the mobile phone number of the complainant. No FIR was registered and further investigation is underway, the official added.

The case pertains to the creation of the ‘Bulli Bai‘ app, which targeted Muslim women by putting up their images online for “auction”. Mumbai cyber police had arrested Shweta Singh and Mayank Rawal from Uttarakhand and Vishal Kumar Jha from Bengaluru. The Delhi police’s special cell, which has also registered an FIR in the case, on January 6 arrested one Niraj Bishnoi from Assam. According to the police, Bishnoi was the main creator of the app.

Andhra govt imposes night curfew, issues fresh guidelines amid Covid surge

 The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday imposed a night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am to check the rise in Covid-19 cases in the state

The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday imposed a night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am to check the rise in COVID-19 cases in the state. The decision was taken following the review meeting held by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy with the officials of the health department on the COVID-19 situation. Theatres, multiplexes and cinema halls will be operational with 50 per cent occupancy or alternate seating arrangements. The government has also imposed restrictions on public gatherings, allowing 200 people outdoor and 100 inside the auditorium.

Wearing of masks is mandatory at public places and penalty of Rs 100 will be levied for the violation. Religious places in the state should follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and wearing of a mask is compulsory inside the premises. Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) must be conducted for urgent testing. One COVID-19 care center will be set up in each segment….

India's toxic air gets worse, pollution in 132 cities below standards

 India is failing in efforts to improve its toxic air quality, with the number of smog-plagued cities increasing since the launch of a national program to tackle the issue

India is failing in efforts to improve its toxic air quality, with the number of smog-plagued cities increasing since the launch of a national program to tackle the issue. A total of 132 cities now have pollution levels deemed below national standards, from 102 cities when the National Clean Air Programme began in 2019, according to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

Limited funding, the lack of tighter emissions standards for industries including metal smelters to oil refineries and slow progress on adding monitoring stations are all factors hampering work to improve air quality, CREA said. India’s government “should start acting on a war scale,” to hit targets to curb pollution, authors Shivansh Ghildiyal and Sunil Dahiya said in the report. “Stringent actions should be implemented across sectors to reduce emission loads.”

More than 90% of India’s population lives in areas where air quality is below World Health Organization standards, with coal-fired power plants, factories and vehicles among the major sources of pollution. The problem worsens during winter due to the burning of crop stubble by farmers, typically blanketing northern cities, including the capital New Delhi, in a choking smog.

Madhya Pradesh police constable suspended for keeping long moustache

 A Madhya Pradesh Police constable has been suspended for refusing to cut his hair and trim his over-long moustache, despite being instructed by his senior officials.

A Madhya Pradesh Police constable has been suspended for refusing to cut his hair and trim his over-long moustache, despite being instructed by his senior officials. The suspension order, issued on Friday to constable Rakesh Rana, posted as a driver in MP Police’s motor transport wing, surfaced on social media on Sunday.

The order, issued by Assistant Inspector General Prashant Sharma, said that Rana faced action for not improving his appearance. “During a check, constable Rakesh Rana was found with hair and moustache grown long. He was instructed to cut his hair and trim his moustache as his turnout was awkward, but he did not follow the order,” it read. The order said Rana’s absurd and ugly moustache had left a negative impression on other employees and as he failed to comply with order, he was suspended as part of disciplinary action…

46 inmates, 43 staffers of three jails in Delhi test positive for Covid

 Forty-six inmates and 43 staffers of three jails in Delhi have tested positive for Covid-19, officials said on Monday.

Forty-six inmates and 43 staffers of three jails in Delhi have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Monday. “All the infected inmates as well as staffers have been under isolation and are recovering,” said a senior jail official. According to data shared by the jail authorities, 46 inmates tested positive till Sunday — 29 inmates in Tihar and the remaining 17 in Mandoli jail. Among the 43 infected staffers, 25 are from Tihar, 12 from Rohini jail and six from Mandoli jail.

As part of the steps taken to contain the spread of the viral disease in Tihar, Mandoli and Rohini jail complexes, prison dispensaries have been turned into Covid care centres. An oxygen plant in Tihar will be functional soon, officials said. Many medical isolation cells have been set up for inmates showing slight symptoms of COVID-19, they said. Those who test positive but are asymptomatic will be kept in separate isolation cells within the same jail. The 120-bed hospital in Tihar and the 48-bed facility in Mandoli have been converted into Covid Health Centres.

Foxconn India iPhone plant to reopen on January 12: Govt officials

 The Foxconn plant, located in the state of Tamil Nadu, was closed on Dec. 18 following protests over 250 of its workers being treated for food poisoning

Apple Inc supplier Foxconn will reopen an iPhone manufacturing facility in southern India on Wednesday with 500 workers, government officials and a legislator in the region where the plant is located told Reuters. The Foxconn plant, in the town of Sriperumbudur near the Tamil Nadu state capital of Chennai, employed about 17,000 people but was closed on Dec. 18 after protests over 250 of its workers who fell sick with food poisoning.

Apple has since placed the factory on probation after discovering that some dormitories and dining rooms did not meet required standards. Foxconn and Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. K Selvaperunthagai, a member of the state assembly for the area, said the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin told the assembly late on Friday the plant would reopen on Wednesday with 500 workers.

Government officials have said Foxconn intended to resume production gradually but have not said when the full workforce would be back on the job. Foxconn has been making the iPhone 12 and testing production of the iPhone 13 at the Sriperumbudur facility, its only plant in India, government officials have said. Apple has eight other suppliers in India.

'Power of the Dog' is the best film at Golden Globes that nobody watched

 Netflix Inc.’s “The Power of the Dog” won best dramatic film and Walt Disney Co.’s “West Side Story” best musical or comedy at a Golden Globes Awards

Netflix Inc.’s “The Power of the Dog” won best dramatic film and Walt Disney Co.’s “West Side Story” best musical or comedy at a Golden Globes Awards ceremony held privately without a live or online audience, after a scandal prompted a Hollywood boycott of the event. “West Side Story,” the Stephen Spielberg-directed remake of the 1961 classic, also took home trophies for Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose as best actress and best supporting actress. Jane Campion won best director for “The Power of the Dog.”

The ceremony, held Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, had none of the high-profile celebrity arrivals or cheeky host commentary it was known for in the past. After its longtime media partner, NBC, bowed out last year, the event’s owner, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, originally intended to stream the show on its website but dropped even those plans last week. The association has come under fire over the past year for its lack of diversity and business practices, prompting a boycott by the stars, publicists and studios that supported it for the past eight decades…Read More

14-day quarantine for international arrivals who test positive in Karnataka

 Amid the surge in Covid-19 cases in the state, the Karnataka government on Thursday ordered 14 days quarantine for international passengers who test positive at airports

Amid the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state, the Karnataka government on Thursday ordered 14 days quarantine for international passengers who test COVID-19 positive at airports. As per the circular, “international arrivals from both ‘At-risk’ countries and ‘Non-at-risk’ countries who test positive for Covid-19 at airports but are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic to undergo 7-day institutional quarantine and followed by further 7-day home quarantine.”

“The designated buildings with necessary facilities, attached to Government Health Facilities shall function as Government Covid Care Centres (CCCs) to manage asymptomatic and mild symptomatic cases and for which the stay is free of cost for the passengers,” the circular reads.

“ldentified budget hotels, 3 star and 5-star hotels attached to Private Health Facilities shall function as Private CCCs on payment basis for passengers. However, those who develop symptoms during their stay at CCCs shall have to be immediately shifted to the Health Facility for further treatment and management,” it said.

NEET-PG admissions: SC allows counselling with 27% OBC and 10% EWS quota

 The Supreme Court cleared the decks for postgraduate medical counselling and admissions, including OBC and EWS reservations for the current academic year, 2021-22

The Supreme Court on Friday cleared the decks for postgraduate medical counselling and admissions, including the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and economically weaker sections (EWS) reservations for the current academic year, 2021-22.

A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and A.S. Bopanna upheld the constitutional validity of 27 per cent reservation for OBC and 10 per cent EWS for the NEET-UG and NEET-PG. However, the top court added that it would decide on the rationale of criteria of Rs 8 lakh income for EWS category in March this year.

On Thursday, after conducting a day-long hearing on petitions challenging the validity of EWS quota in postgraduate medical admissions and the Centre’s argument favouring the quota, the court said there is a situation, where in national interest, the counselling has to begin, which was also a key demand of protesting resident doctors…

I-T dept recovers Rs 8 crore, 3 kg gold in raids on MP businessmen

 The Income-Tax department has recovered Rs 8 crore in cash and three kilogram gold besides incriminating documents in raids on the premises of businessman Shankar Rai and his brothers in MP

The Income-Tax department has recovered Rs 8 crore in cash and three kilogram gold besides incriminating documents in raids on the premises of businessman Shankar Rai and his brothers in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district, an official said on Friday.

The raids, which began on early Thursday, were still continuing, Income Tax (Investigations) Jabalpur circle joint commissioner Munmun Sharma told PTI. During searches so far, Rs 8 crore in cash has been recovered. Of this, Rs 1 crore was found hidden in a water container, the official said. Besides, gold weighing three kilogram has been recovered, she said.

The official said I-T sleuths have found incriminating documents related to the wealth amassed by the Rai brothers. The papers found during the searches suggest the Rais had bagged contracts of liquor shops and were running luxury buses in the names of their staffers, she added. Sharma said the I-T department has announced a cash reward of Rs 10,000 for anyone who provides information to them regarding the wealth of Shankar Rai and his brothers….Continue

India’s Covid-19 cases set for new highs as Omicron spreads rapidly

 Government officials have privately said they are working under the assumption that daily infections will surpass the record of more than 414,000 set in May

India’s daily Covid-19 cases jumped to 117,100 on Friday, a five-fold increase in a week and on course to overtake its previous infection peak as the fast-spreading Omicron variant replaces Delta in cities.

Government officials have privately said they are working under the assumption that daily infections will surpass the record of more than 414,000 set in May, given what has happened in countries such as the United States where daily cases recently rose past 1 million. “We will clearly surpass our record shortly and reach a new peak by early February,” M.D. Gupte, a former director of the state-run National Institute of Epidemiology and an immunisation adviser to the government, told Reuters.

“Given the size of our population, we will report more daily cases than the U.S. But what we have seen is that these cases are much more mild, so the need for hospitalisation and oxygen and all that is not picking up.” He said India’s high rate of infection during a previous major wave in April and May, as well as vaccinations, would mean a reduction in the severity of the illness for those infected by the Omicron variant.

Over 200 resident doctors in Mumbai hospitals test positive for Covid-19

 At least 220 resident doctors at government hospitals in Mumbai have tested positive for coronavirus in the last three days, a senior office-bearer of their association said on Wednesday.

At least 220 resident doctors at government hospitals in Mumbai have tested positive for coronavirus in the last three days, a senior office-bearer of their association said on Wednesday. Ganesh Solunke, president of the J J Hospital chapter of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), said 73 resident doctors at this state-run hospital in central Mumbai have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 72 hours.

Besides, 60 resident doctors at the King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital, 80 at the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and another seven at R N Cooper Hospital have also contracted the viral infection, he added. These three hospitals are run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Further, in the neighbouring Thane city, eight resident doctors at the civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital have tested positive for the virus. Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 26,538 new coronavirus cases including 15,166 in Mumbai, the highest-ever daily count in the metropolis, and eight fatalities.

Marriage to education: Why there have been so few women in hallowed IAS

 Of 11,569 IAS officers who entered the civil services between 1951 and 2020, only 1,527 were women

From 1951, when the first woman joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), until 2020, women have made up only 13% of all IAS officers. Of 11,569 IAS officers who entered the civil services between 1951 and 2020, only 1,527 were women, shows an IndiaSpend analysis of the Indian Administrative Service Officers Dataset compiled by the Trivedi Centre for Political Data (TCPD) at Ashoka University.

To be sure, India has come a long way from when the board that interviewed Anna Rajam George, the first woman to pass the IAS exam, actively discouraged her, asking her to consider the foreign or central services instead. George’s appointment letter even came with the condition that “in the event of marriage your service will be terminated”.

The rule was subsequently changed and she continued in service even after marriage. But progress has been slow. In 1970, women made up 9% of those entering the IAS; that proportion rose to just 31% by 2020. Currently 21% of serving IAS officers are women, show data from the National Informatics Centre. The TCPD-IAS dataset is not exhaustive for the two decades from 1951 to 1970, and so the analysis that follows uses its data from 1970 to 2020.

Bihar approves ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to kin of those who died due to Covid

 Bihar Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakhs each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives to Covid-19.

Bihar Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakhs each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives to COVID-19. Meanwhile, the state has seen as many as 12096 fatalities due to COVID-19 till Wednesday. Bihar reported 1659 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. At present, Bihar has a total of 3697 active CCOVID cases, with a 97.84 per cent recovery rate.

Curfews, complacency: India’s new Covid wave brings grim sense of deja vu

 It has been just a few months since the deadly Delta variant ravaged the country, when government leaders underestimated its threat and publicly flouted their own advice.

When the Omicron coronavirus variant spread through India late in December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the nation to be vigilant and follow medical guidelines. Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of the capital region of Delhi, swiftly introduced night curfews, shut down movie theaters, and slashed restaurants and public transport to half capacity.

Then, both men hit the campaign trail, often appearing without masks in packed rallies of thousands. “When it is our bread and butter at stake, they force restrictions and lockdowns,” said Ajay Tiwari, a 41-year-old taxi driver in New Delhi. “There are much bigger crowds at political rallies, but they don’t impose any lockdown in those areas. It really pains us deep in the heart.”

As Omicron fuels a rapid spread of new infections through India’s major urban hubs, the country’s pandemic fatigue has been intensified by a sense of déjà vu and the frustration of mixed signals. It has been just a few months since the deadly Delta variant ravaged the country, when government leaders vastly underestimated its threat and publicly flouted their own advice. The memories of overwhelmed hospitals and funeral pyres working around the clock are still all too fresh here.

CBSE warns against fake info online about second term board exams

 The exams for the first term were conducted during November-December last year

The Central Board of Secondary Education has warned public against fake information circulating on online platforms about second term board exams for classes 10 and 12 “It has been noticed that a few online media platforms are circulating incorrect information and confusing audiences, using expressions such as Breaking News about major exam pattern changes in classes 10 and 12, second term board exams.

“It is clarified in the interest of students that the board had announced the changes in exam pattern in July last year. First term exams have already been completed and the format of exams for the second term will also be as announced last year. Public is therefore advised to only check official website for latest and authentic information,’ the board said in an advisory….Read More

Maha: Social worker Sindhutai Sapkal, 'orphan children's mother', dies

 Sapkal, who had received the Padma Shri last year, had completed 74 years in November. She had been admitted to the Galaxy Care Hospital

Renowned social worker Sindhutai Sapkal, fondly known as ‘orphan children’s mother’, died following a heart attack at a private hospital here, doctors said. Sapkal, who had received the Padma Shri last year, had completed 74 years in November. She had been admitted to the Galaxy Care Hospital here.

“She had undergone a hernia surgery one and a half months ago and recovery was very slow. Today she died of a heart attack around 8 pm,” said Dr Shailesh Puntambekar, Medical Director of the hospital. Sapkal, who grew up in extreme poverty and had to suffer immense hardship, went on to set up institutes for orphan children.

Born on November 14, 1948, in the Wardha district of Maharashtra, Sapkal was forced to drop out of school after she had passed Std 4th. At the tender age of 12, she was married to a 32-year-old man. After she gave birth to three children, her husband abandoned her even when she was pregnant. Her own mother and the village where she had grown up refused to help, forcing her to beg to raise her daughters at one point. She overcame these circumstances with sheer willpower and started working for orphans.

'Bulli Bai' case: Mumbai Police makes 3rd arrest, Nepal link found

 The police said that they have arrested one 21-year-old Mayank Rawal and have also detected links to Nepal

The Mumbai Police probing ‘Bulli Bai‘ app have arrested the third accused behind the controversy. The police said that they have arrested one 21-year-old Mayank Rawal and have also detected links to Nepal. Earlier, the police had arrested one engineering student Vishal Kumar Jha and one Shweta Singh. According to the police, Shweta was the mastermind behind the controversy.

She was in touch with a handle, which is being operated from Nepal. On his instructions, she made a Twitter handle with the name of @jattkhalsa07 and started uploading photos of women of a particular religion. Her friend Giyou whom she met on social media was asking her to do all this. He is based in Nepal. The Mumbai Police has recorded the statement of Shweta Singh and Vishal Kumar Jha. Jha is on police remand till January 10 while Shweta’s remand will end on January 5.

Ex-Starlink India head now plans a white paper on broadband, poverty

 Sanjay Bhargava on Wednesday revealed that he now plans to write a white paper on how to ensure countrywide broadband access by 2023 and end poverty by 2030.

Sanjay Bhargava, who has quit as India Director for Elon Musk-run satellite internet company Starlink, on Wednesday revealed that he now plans to write a white paper on how to ensure countrywide broadband access by 2023 and end poverty by 2030. After announcing a dramatic exit as the India head of Starlink operations late on Tuesday, Bhargava posted on LinkedIn that he has always tried to give back to India by blaming no one and inspiring everyone over the last 17 years.

“As I retire, I am thinking of writing a short whitepaper on ‘Good Broadband Pan India by Dec 2023 & Ending Poverty by 2030’. Is this possible?” he wrote. “My concern is that even though my intentions are good my words will be twisted, and all kinds of motives will be ascribed even though my only motive is to provoke thinking to achieve the METRO’s (Measurable Timebound Real Outcomes) outlined in the title,” Bhargava added.

“My tentative deadline to publish (the white paper) is January 15, 2022,” he said. His resignation came after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications in December warned Starlink to get necessary permission required to offer satellite-based Internet services in India.

'Bulli Bai' app case: NCW asks Delhi Police to register FIR in the matter

 The National Commission for Women (NCW) has written to Delhi Police Commissioner regarding the Bulli Bai app case to immediately register FIR in the matter.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has written to Delhi Police Commissioner regarding the Bulli Bai app case to immediately register FIR in the matter. NCW in the letter dated January 2 said that after the Sulli deal outrage this is another incident reported of the same portal GitHub which is “condemnable in the strongest possible words”.

“The Commission is extremely anguished and distressed with the abovementioned crime against a woman on cyber space. You are, therefore, required considering the gravity of the matter to immediately register FIR in the matter,” reads NCW’s letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana.

“The process must be expedited so that the alleged crime is not again repeated by the same portal ‘GitHub’. It is disappointing that even after the lapse of so many months since the “Sulli Deals” outrage, there has been no concrete action taken in the matter which is utterly unfortunate and concerning. The action taken in the matter in both the cases must be apprised to the Commission at the earliest.”..continue..