UGC panel recommends academic session in varsities from Sept
Two committees were constituted by the UGC to look into the issues of academic loss and online education in the wake of the lockdown in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. One of the committees led by Haryana University Vice-Chancellor RC Kuhad was formed to look into the ways of conducting exams in universities amid the lockdown and work on an alternate academic calendar. The second committee, to suggest measures to improve online education, was led by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) V-C Nageshwar Rao. Both the panels submitted their reports on Friday.........Read more
Delhi Violence: 13 Dead so Far, Police Seal Roads Between Ghaziabad-Northeast Delhi
Police have put barricades and sealed all the roads that lead to Ghaziabad from Northeast Delhi. Ajay Kumar Pandey, DM said, “keeping in mind the violence in Delhi we have sealed the borders. There is peace in our district. We have closed all the wine shops in nearby areas.” According to Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) hospital, 13 people have died since yesterday due to the unarrested violence in Delhi.........Read more
'Won't allow Delhi to become Syria': BJP sharpens attack on Shaheen Bagh protest
With the Delhi assembly polls just over a week away, the BJP has upped its ante against anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh, with a top party functionary on Wednesday saying the national capital will not be allowed to become "Syria". The agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) at Shaheen Bagh began in mid-December following a violent protest against the law at Jamia Nagar.........Read more
What Happened To National Emobility Plan, SC Asks Indian Govt
This was in response to a petition filed by NGO ‘Centre for PIL’. The petitioner was represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan. Bhushan highlighted that the government of India has not taken enough steps to develop the EV charging infrastructure, even though the price of these vehicles have reduced since 2012. He also noted that the government was required to invest INR 14,500 Cr for the implementation of NEMMP-2020, as of 2018. However, it has only allocated less than INR 600 Cr for the same, Bhushan added.........Read more
OnePlus 8 Pro appears on Geekbench, could sport 12GB of RAM and Snapdragon 865 SoC
As per the listing, the device could bring with itself 12GB of RAM and come with Android 10 out of the box. The listing on the benchmarking website also reveals that the phone is codenamed Kona and will be equipped with Qualcomm’s flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 865. The listing has revealed that the device recorded a single-core score of 4296 and a multi-core score of 12531 on Geekbench. ........Read more
CJI Ranjan Gogoi Recommends Justice SA Bobde as His Successor
Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde is all set to be the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) as incumbent Ranjan Gogoi on Friday recommended his name, by writing a letter of appointment, as the next CJI. ........Read more
Stalled escalators, empty water coolers at UN as budget crunch hits
Secretary General Antonio Guterres laid out the looming cutbacks he said would mean fewer flights and receptions, limits on hiring, fewer documents, reports and translations and even an end to water coolers. Guterres called the crunch the "worst cash crisis facing the United Nations in nearly a decade.........Read more
Mohali gets investigation centre to tackle cyber crime, fourth such establishment in country
A state-of-the-art digital investigation training and analysis centre (DITAC), aimed at strengthening anti-terror capabilities in the face of growing cyber terror threat, was inaugurated here on Monday. Inaugurating the centre, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said the emerging cyber threats had necessitated the enhancement of online technical intelligence systems. It is the fourth such establishment in the country. The other three such units exist in Gurgaon, Guwahati and the state of Uttarakhand, a official release said. Stressing the importance of a robust intelligence-gathering apparatus, especially for a border-state like Punjab which shares 553-km border with a hostile neighbour, Amarinder Singh said the state’s geographical location made it extremely vulnerable to infiltration and smuggling of narcotics. With cyber crime emerging as a graver unconventional threat, it was vital to reinvent and relook techniques all the time to ensure the safety and security of people online, he said.........Read more
Eminent lawyer and former Union minister Ram Jethmalani dies at 95
Eminent lawyer and former Union minister Ram Jethmalani died at his Delhi residence on Sunday. He was 95 years old. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “extremely saddened at the passing away of legendary lawyer Ram Jethmalani ji. An institution in himself, he shaped criminal law in post-independence India. His void would never be filled and his name will be written in golden words in legal history.”........Read more
Facebook will ban ads that tell people in U.S. not to vote
Facebook Inc will ban ads that discourage people from voting ahead of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, according to its second annual Civil Rights Audit published on Sunday. Facebook pledged to put its new “don’t vote” policy prohibition into effect in the fall, before the 2019 U.S. elections on Nov. 5, Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said in a blog post announcing the report. Last year, Facebook expanded its policies against voter suppression by banning posts that spread misinformation on voting methods, election dates and times, and polling locations. Those rules include banning intimidation tactics such as misrepresentations on whether votes will be counted. The new “don’t vote” policy is in its developmental stages and the company is seeking advice from voting organizations. Facebook said the policy is likely to only apply in the United States in its initial release and will not include the policing of organic posts from users. Facebook said it works proactively to remove malicious election-related content. The company is now encompassing “do not vote” ads in its efforts to ward off coordinated efforts to influence elections. The social media giant has been used to spread misinformation about previous elections. ........Read more
Economist Surjit Bhalla Resigns From Economic Advisory Council to PM Modi
Economist Surjit Bhalla resigned from the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (PMEAC or EAC-PM), a think tank-like body that advises the Prime Minister of India (PMO) on crucial economic issues.........Read more
Indians—men and women—are drinking more alcohol than a decade ago
At $38 billion (Rs2.7 lakh crore) India’s alcohol market is among the world’s fastest growing. Globally, 6% of the industry’s growth (pdf) was driven by India. Indians have a preference for whisky, consuming half of the world’s production. The country is also the world’s largest producer of whisky.........Read more
Odd-Even Scheme Will Not Be Applicable To Two-Wheelers: Supreme Court - NDTV CarAndBike
The Supreme Court has decided to exempt two-wheeler users from the odd-even rule this year. Nadkarni represented the Delhi government and claimed that there were 68 lakh two-wheeler users in Delhi and said that it will be impossible to accommodate two-wheeler motorists using other means of transport.........Read more
TRAI slaps fine on Reliance Jio, Airtel and others for not meeting service quality norms
Regulator TRAI has imposed penalties on major telecom operators, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular (now merged), for slipping on various service quality benchmarks for the March quarter.........Read more
Kofi Annan, former UN secretary-general, dies at 80
Kofi Annan, one of the world's most celebrated diplomats and a charismatic symbol of the United Nations who rose through its ranks to become the first black African secretary-general, has died. He was 80. ........Read more
2018 Hyundai Santro (AH2 Hatchback) Official Design Sketch Released
Hyundai has officially released the design render images of its upcoming small cars, codenamed AH2. Expected to be named as the Hyundai Santro, the car will be launched in India around mid-October 2018........Read more
Rahul Gandhi's Hug Has Lowered Decorum of House, Says LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan
The Prime Minister was sitting in the House in his capacity as the PM and not as Narendra Modi. We should keep this in mind before making any move or gesture,” Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said, referring to Gandhi’s sudden show of affection for PM Modi.........Read more
PM Modi Inaugurates Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Holds Road Show in an Open Jeep With Nitin Gadkari
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of Delhi-Meerut Expressway today. Soon after the inauguration, the PM began his road show on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway alongside Union Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.........Read more
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday took pride in cricketer Rashid Khan's performance in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). ........Read more
Smriti Irani removed from I&B ministry, Piyush Goyal's finance minister till Arun Jaitley's back
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday temporarily assigned charge of the ministries of finance and corporate affairs to railway minister Piyush Goyal till Arun Jaitley recovers from a kidney transplant while removing the controversy-scarred Smriti Irani from the high-profile I&B ministry. Smriti's loss will be sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore's gain. The Olympic medallist, who was closely engaged with the Indian squad which participated in the Commonwealth Games and also served as junior minister in I&B, will now hold full-scale charge of the ministry.........Read more
Smriti Irani removed from I&B ministry, Piyush Goyal's finance minister till Arun Jaitley's back
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday temporarily assigned charge of the ministries of finance and corporate affairs to railway minister Piyush Goyal till Arun Jaitley recovers from a kidney transplant while removing the controversy-scarred Smriti Irani from the high-profile I&B ministry. Smriti's loss will be sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore's gain. The Olympic medallist, who was closely engaged with the Indian squad which participated in the Commonwealth Games and also served as junior minister in I&B, will now hold full-scale charge of the ministry.........Read more
Jarvis, someone has stolen Robert Downey Jr’s original Iron Man suit, worth Rs 2.6 crore
The original Iron Man suit worn by Robert Downey Jr in the first Marvel Cinematic Universe movie in 2008 has been stolen. Police are investigating the disappearance of an expensive Iron Man suit from a Los Angeles movie prop storage facility and the suit’s estimated value is $325,000.........Read more
Drinking affects mouth bacteria linked to diseases
When compared with nondrinkers, men and women who had one or more alcoholic drinks per day had an overabundance of oral bacteria linked to gum disease, some cancers, and heart disease. By contrast, drinkers had fewer bacteria known to check the growth of other, harmful germs.........Read more
PM Modi Missing in Time's 100 Most Influential People 2018
In comparison to the Time magazine '100 Most Influential People' of 2017, US President Donald Trump, Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong-Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping were once again featured on the list. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on the Time list for 2017, he is missing from the 2018 list. No Indian political leader was spotted on the list, although Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone and India Cricket skipper Virat Kohli were on the list, as well as Ola Cabs co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal.........Read more
ECB to propose '100-ball' competition
The concept proposes two eight-team competitions - for men's and women's teams - consisting of 15 traditional six-ball overs, and a final 10-ball over, a 20-delivery shortfall on traditional T20 matches. The proposed approach was presented by the ECB to the chairmen and chief executives of the first-class counties and MCC on Thursday, and has been unanimously supported by the board of the new competition.........Read more
The picture of 28-year-old student Victor Salazar engulfed in flames won the prestigious World Press Photo of the Year award. Taken on May 3, 2017, the image captures the moment that a national guard motorcycle seized by protesters exploded, setting Salazar alight. Schemidt, who is Venezuelan but based in Mexico for the past 18 years, spent two months documenting the protests in his home country.........Read more
Call Nirav Modi Back To India, Orders Delhi HC To Firestar Diamond
For aiding the ongoing investigation in the ongoing PNB scam, Delhi High Court on Monday directed the "fugitive" diamantaire Nirav Modi's company, Firestar Diamond, to ask him to return to the country. The company's lawyer sought relief on a technicality that Firestar International had authorised the filing of petitions by its subsidiary, Firestar Diamond, post which a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and I S Mehta passed the direction.........Read more
Karnataka govt clears minority status for Lingayats
In a political gamble close to the assembly polls, the Siddaramaiah government decided on Monday to declare Lingayats as a religious minority and include the Veerashaivas who follow Basavanna as a group within the community.........Read more
Plastic made from plants may solve waste problem
The Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence at the University of York has been working with the plastics industry to create a new generation of bio-based polyesters. These are often used to make fibres for clothing, as well as films and containers for liquids and foods. The resulting materials are entirely plant-based, recyclable and — importantly — fully biodegradable.........Read more
After PNB scam, PSU banks to appoint special agency to monitor loans above Rs 250 crore
After scam worth thousand crores unearthed in Punjab National Bank, Finance Ministry reportedly asked the public sector banks would appoint a special agency to keep a check on the status for all loans above Rs 250 crore. ........Read more
PNB fraud: Chief Bank Manager Bechu Tiwari, two others arrested
Punjab National Banks Brady House branch (Mumbai) Chief Manager Tewari was arrested along with Yashwant Joshi, Scale II Manager (Forex department) and and Praful Sawant, Scale I officer (Export), after their day long questioning by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths in Mumbai.........Read more
Abu Salem moves European Court of Human Rights to cancel his extradition to India
Underworld don Abu Salem has once again moved the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), pleading to cancel his extradition to India and transfer him back to Portugal. In his fresh plea, Salem claimed his conviction in the 1993 blasts cases is yet another breach of an extradition order by the Indian government.........Read more
U.S. Senate stumbles into shutdown as Rand Paul blocks vote
The government stumbled into a midnight shutdown Thursday as a rogue Senate Republican blocked a speedy vote on a massive, bipartisan, budget-busting spending deal, protesting the return of trillion-dollar deficits on the watch of Republicans controlling Washington.........Read more
Delhi honour killing: 'Nobody came for help, I carried my bleeding son on e-rickshaw,' says mother
The mother of a 23-year-old Ankit Saxena who laid with her bleeding son on the busy streets of Delhi's Raghubir Nagar on Thursday said her cry for help remained unanswered for almost half an hour as onlookers passed by and even e-rickshaw and auto-drivers refused to rush her injured son to the hospital. ........Read more
UIDAI Says Aadhaar an Identification, Not Profiling Tool
The UIDAI on Sunday sought to allay fears over data protection and privacy issues around the 12 digits biometric identifier, asserting that Aadhaar is an identification, not a profiling tool. It also stressed that Aadhaar data is governed by strong laws.........Read more
4 malicious Google Chrome extensions discovered, affected half a million users
The malicious extensions discovered are Change HTTP Request Header, Nyoogle, Lite Bookmarks, and Stickies. Although likely used to conduct click fraud and/or search engine optimization (SEO) manipulation, these extensions provided a foothold that the threat actors could leverage to gain access to corporate networks and user information. The researchers have already informed Google, and it appears Google has since removed all four malicious extensions from the Chrome Web store.........Read more
The benefits of Aadhaar, India’s biometrics-based unique national identity system–the world’s largest–are unclear and the impact of direct benefit transfers it will be used to deliver to the poor is not studied enough, a new study published by an arm of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has concluded.........Read more
India's first employment policy in next Budget
The government will soon provide its first National Employment Policy (NEP) that will have a comprehensive roadmap outlined for all the employers and workers in a bid to create quality jobs across all sectors through economic, social and labour policy interventions.........Read more
FIFA suspends Brazilian soccer president Marco Polo del Nero
Marco Polo del Nero was suspended as president of Brazil’s soccer confederation on Friday, two years after he was indicted in the United States on charges of racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. FIFA said Del Nero was under an ethics investigation and has been banned for 90 days from all soccer activities.........Read more
Wiz Khalifa and Jason Derulo to visit India in December, here's what's in store for them
The ‘king of everything’ Wiz Khalifa and the ‘undefeated’ recording artiste Jason Derulo are visiting India for the first time ever in December. As they take stage for the TimeOut72 at Vagator, Goa, the duo are said to be keen on utilising the time exploring the locales and indulging in everything desi. Jason will perform on December 27, while Wiz will entertain the crowd on December 28.........Read more
Phad paintings: Rajasthan's travelling temples are fading away after half a millennium
There are less than 10 artists practicing it full-time today. “Most people interested come and learn the art at the school started as a hobby,” There is very little appreciation for folk art forms in India and as a result, the profession is not a lucrative one.”........Read more
Sabarimala board chief says letting women in will turn temple into ‘sex tourism’ spot
The chief of the board that runs Kerala’s Sabarimala temple has said that allowing women inside will lead to “immoral activities” and turn the place into a “spot for sex tourism like Thailand”.........Read more
Over 450 people arrested in Jammu this year for drug trafficking
The Inspector General of Police S D Singh Jamwal said that at least 453 people have been arrested in Jammu till August this year. Notably, in a bid to curb drug trafficking police has seized large haul of narcotic substances including charas, brown sugar and heroine.........Read more
Allahabad errupts after BSP leader Rajesh Yadav shot dead, 12 detained for arson
Large-scale violence erupted in Allahabad on Tuesday following murder of a BSP leader Rajesh Yadav. Supporters of the BSP leader set ablaze a government bus, torched several vehicles and shops and indulged in heavy stone pelting forcing police to open fire, use tear gas shells and lathi-charge. About a dozen people were detained in connection with the arson.........Read more
Samsung’s 'foldable' Galaxy phone gets certified in S.Korea, may launch in 2018
The long-awaited smartphone with a foldable display has now been certified in Samsung’s home market, South Korea. According to Let’sGoDigital, the phone has appeared in a filing from the Korean National Radio Research Agency (NRRA), bearing a model number SM-G888N0. Also, in the filing the device is listed out as a “radio equipment for global LTE communication,” while it was spotted as a “smartphone” at the Wi-Fi Alliance.........Read more
Baba Ramdev lobbying to bag Rs 700 crore mid-day meal contract for Patanjali, says report
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev is reportedly lobbying to bag Rs 700 crore mid-day meal contract for Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. Ramdev and his men are reaching out to influential people in the national capital to get the contract which is currently being managed by 10 entities.........Read more
Gujarat floods: Narendra Modi announces Rs 500 crore interim aid as toll rises to 83
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected regions of Gujarat, on Tuesday announced an interim aid of Rs 500 crore for the state. He also said that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh will be given from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund to the families of those killed in the deluge and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured.........Read more
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran aims to break into the top-70 after stunning world No 8 Wong Chun Ting
Fast-forward to the present and the coach’s decision, all those years ago, looks to have had paid off completely with Sathiyan taking significant upward strides in his career. Whether it’s winning his first International Table Tennis Federation title at the Belgium Open in 2016, or even upsetting world No 8 Wong Chun Ting for his team, the Dabang Smashers against DHFL Maharashtra United in the Ultimate Table Tennis league.........Read more
7th Pay Commission: Additional HRA applicable in these states
Following the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, additional HRA for civilian employees of the Central government has been announced. The government said in an order that this would take effect from July 1 2017. The states being covered under additional HRA are the North Eastern Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and Ladakh.........Read more
Suspected Kannur-based IS operative nabbed by Delhi police from IGI Airport
Acting on information received from the United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the special cell of the police nabbed the accused, who had stayed in Syria and Turkey.........Read more
Search on for missing IAF chopper in Arunachal Pradesh
A massive ground search operation is on for the second day on Wednesday in Arunachal Pradesh for a missing Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter with three operating crews on board. “Rescue teams from the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police along with state police were trekking through the jungle and hill areas between Yupia and Hoj Telam in Papum Pare district to locate the missing chopper,” ........Read more
Junaid Khan Murder: Delhi Government Employee Among Four Arrested
Less than a week after the murder of 15-year-old Junaid Khan on a train to Mathura, the Haryana railway police on Wednesday arrested four people, including a Delhi government employee.........Read more
No India Launch For Ducati Multistrada Enduro Pro
Ducati has announced that the top-spec Ducati Multistrada Enduro Pro will not be launched in India anytime soon. Instead, the company is offering add-on features from the Ducati Performance package, which will equip current Multistrada bikes to make them more in spec with the top-of-the-line Enduro Pro.........Read more
Climate Change Could Threaten Up To 2 Billion Refugees By 2100
Charles Geisler, a sociologist at Cornell University, spent much of his career researching where poor people go when rich corporations swoop in and buy the land out from under their feet. Geisler began collating climate and demographic research, and came to a dire conclusion: By the year 2100, rising sea levels could force up to 2 billion people inland, creating a refugee crisis among one-fifth of the world’s population.........Read more
Panama leaks: ED seizes foreign assets worth Rs 7 cr of Delhi jeweller
The Enforcement Directorate has attached foreign assets worth Rs 7 crore of a Delhi-based jeweller in connection with its probe into foreign exchange violation in the Panama Papers leak case.........Read more
Supreme Court directed the CBSE board to release the results of NEET
The Supreme Court today asked the CBSE to declare the results of the NEET examination for admission to MBBS and BDS courses by putting a stay on the Madras High Court order restraining publication of results.........Read more
Calf with ‘human-like’ features worshipped as Lord Vishnu’s avatar in Muzaffarnagar village
In UP’s Muzaffarnagar, the body of a dead calf is being widely worshipped by locals who have hailed it as an incarnation of the Hindu god Lord Vishnu because of a body deformity which makes its face look like that of a human.........Read more
Banana farms in this Kerala block are being blamed for the death of babies
The Adivasis of Attapady believe the use of pesticides in the farms is harming their children. Now a government official has asked for an investigation.........Read more
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg is adding Rs 58,000 cr to his personal wealth every year
The Facebook CEO's wealth currently stands at $62.3 billion, up from $11.9 billion in 2012 when the company's IPO made its debut in the stock market........Read more
Techies well taken care of, no need for union: Balakrishnan
Whenever there is a downturn, there is always noise about unions coming into play in the IT industry but it never sustained, ex-Chief Financial Officer of Infosys Ltd, V Balakrishnan said.........Read more
Vishay Dubey, first Army officer to climb Everest without oxygen
Colonel Vishay Dubey became the first Indian Army officer to climb the Mount Everest without artificial oxygen. Four other climbers also scaled the peak without oxygen in the worst weather conditions in last 10 years. Seven snow Lions successfully completed the summit after spending two of the most difficult nights before the summit attempt. Army congratulated the team leader for keeping organisational aim above the personal glory. More than 4,000 people have climbed Mount Everest, but fewer than 200 have done so without oxygen. And Vishay Dubey added his names to the list of oxygen-less ascents of the world’s tallest mountain.........Read more
With 180% growth, Chinese smartphone vendors set to wipe out Indian brands
Chinese vendors captured 49 per cent of the Indian mobile phone handset market in the first quarter of 2017 -- a 180 per cent (year-on-year) revenue growth -- threatening to wipe out domestic players from the overall handset segment.........Read more
Sabarmati Express blast: Former research scholar acquitted after 16 years for lack of evidence
A Barabanki court on Saturday acquitted a former Aligarh Muslim University research scholar who was arrested in 2001 in connection with the blast in Sabarmati Express in 2000, Gulzar Ahmed Wani was freed because of lack of evidence. Another person, Mobin, who was also accused of orchestrating the blast, was acquitted by the court as well.........Read more
Women can say triple talaq, Muslim law board tells Supreme Court
Arguing through Ejaz Maqbool, the board submitted before a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar that a woman had four options before entering into a marital relationship, including insisting on registering the marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.........Read more
Build 2017: Microsoft wants to use artificial intelligence to make work environment safer
Microsoft is working on a visual recognition software which utilizes multiple cameras around a workplace. Connecting the camera feeds with the smart software which includes information about objects and people, the platform will enable businesses to monitor work in real time, enforce policies and even search for people and objects.........Read more
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's son accused of benami transactions
Son of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Dr Yathindra has been accused of illegal transactions. In a complaint filed with the income tax department, Varthur Kanaka Das has claimed that Dr Yathindra used his firm to make benami transactions worth crores. The complainant has demanded a thorough probe into the same.........Read more
Sennheiser HE 1 Are World's 'Most Expensive' Headphones at Rs 45 Lakh, Here's Why
Sennheiser claims that the headphones deliver ‘a frequency response that extends beyond the range of human hearing’. As a result, the Sennheiser HE 1 have recorded ‘the lowest total harmonic distortion ever measured in an audio reproduction system’. Sennheiser claims to have brought the distortion down to 0.01 percent.........Read more
N.Korea test-fires ballistic missile in defiance of world pressure
North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Saturday shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that failure to curb Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes could lead to "catastrophic consequences".........Read more
Maruti Suzuki to procure battery packs from Suzuki JV in hybrid cars push
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd will procure lithium-ion battery packs from a newly formed joint venture (JV) between Suzuki Motor Corp., Toshiba Corp. and Denso Corp. as the country’s largest carmaker looks to build a portfolio of hybrid cars.........Read more
Jammu and Kashmir receives Rs 19k crore from PM's package
The Centre has released an amount of Rs 19,000 crore out of the Rs 80,000-crore development package for Jammu and Kashmir announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was disclosed at a high-level inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday.........Read more
NCERT textbooks to be reviewed
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) will review the quality of the NCERT textbooks in June to decide if they can be made mandatory for Classes 1 to 12 in all the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools from the next academic session beginning 2018.........Read more
NSE IPO: The most eagerly awaited show after Bb 2
While movie lovers are hotly debating as to why Kattappa killed Baahubali, stock market investors appear to be eagerly looking forward to the big ticket Rs 10,000 crore-plus IPO of the National Stock Exchange (NSE).........Read more
12th Century Jaisalmer Fort might lose UNESCO World Heritage tag
Twelfth century Jaisalmer Fort, the only living fort in the world and a Unesco world heritage site monument is in a dilapidated state. The fort is losing its glory mainly due to the leakage of water and might also loose UNESCO World Heritage tag.........Read more
Banks want RBI, finance ministry to tweak CDR norms
Bankers have asked the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the finance ministry to tweak the corporate debt restructuring (CDR) norms, such as allowing turfing out the management and changing the covenants of loan agreements, said executives privy to the discussions.........Read more
IIT Kharagpur to introduce Vastu Shastra
The country’s oldest and largest IIT will introduce the rudiments to first and second-year undergraduate architecture students this August, while those pursuing post-graduation or research scholars in infrastructure will get a detailed grounding on the subject.........Read more
More Than 3,00,000 People Displaced From Mosul, Says UN
The UN’s International Organisation for Migration estimates the number of people currently displaced to be 302,400, the office of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq said.........Read more
Microsoft will sell a customised version of Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+
Yes, Microsoft will be selling its own version of the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+ in the US. No, that doesn't mean it will run Windows 10, instead of Android Nougat, but it looks like Cortana will be making an appearance on this version of the phone.........Read more
10 Income Tax Rules That Will Change From April. See Details Here
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced a number of income tax changes in Budget 2017. In addition, some amendments were also introduced in the Finance Bill that was passed by the Lok Sabha.........Read more
Before email, there was V-mail: The WWII program that scanned letters onto microfilm
A V-mail letter would be written on a piece of standardized stationery, then photographed and transferred onto a roll of microfilm. Upon reaching its destination, the letter would be blown back up to a readable size and printed. Using the V-Mail process, 1,600 letters could be crammed onto a roll of film the size of a pack of cigarettes. 2,000 pounds of cargo became 20, and 37 mail bags became just one.........Read more
Manoj Sinha frontrunner for UP chief minister post
Union Minister Manoj Sinha seems to be the frontrunner for the post of chief minister in Uttar Pradesh. The BJPs top decision-making body on Sunday authorised party chief Amit Shah to select the chief ministerial candidates for UP, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. ........Read more
AP 2nd in child trafficking; Vijayawada one of the main transit hubs
AP has the shameful distinction of being ranked second among the states in India from which the most number of humans are trafficked, while India is ranked a high fourth among 167 countries globally that traffick people, according to a report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).........Read more
10 Reasons Why The Tech Geek In You Can’t Afford To Miss The Workshops At TechKriti ’17
Techkriti is an annual international technological and entrepreneurial festival held at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Being one of the largest technical festivals in Asia, it attracts over 40,000 people from all over India and abroad. This mega tech fest will start from 23rd March and will last till March 26.........Read more
It would have been better if BJP had given tickets to Muslims, says Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said it would have been better for the Bharatiya Janata Party if it had given tickets to Muslim candidates for the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. He is not the first leader of the ruling party to say this. Home Minister Ranjath Singh and Union minister Uma Bharti had reportedly made similar statements in the recent past.........Read more
Army duped of Rs 6 lakh in rent for land in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
The strange facts of the case came to light after a CBI investigation revealed that a sub-divisional defence estate officer and patwari in Nowshera in J&K acted in cahoots with private persons to "rent" out a piece of land that was actually in POK. ........Read more
Trump fires acting AG after she declines to defend travel ban
President Donald Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates Monday night for "refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States," Yates has betrayed the Department of Justice, the White House statement said.........Read more
India eyes defence equipment deals with UAE
India is not just interested in enhancing trade with the UAE, but is also looking at selling defence equipment during the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to the country. The Brahmos missile, which was jointly developed between India and Russia, could be offered to the UAE later, Indian External Affairs Ministry officials said.........Read more
Samsung Galaxy Note 7: The mystery behind the exploding phones has finally been solved
Samsung has finally revealed what caused its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to spontaneously combust. It was discovered that there was a flaw in both batteries used by Samsung for the Note 7.Originally, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 units that were shipped to the Western markets carried a battery made by Samsung SDI (let’s call this Battery A). The phones shipped to Chinese markets were made by a local Chinese manufacturer (this is Battery B). When phones with Battery A started blowing up, Samsung issued replacements with Battery B.........Read more
Arvind Kejriwal to challenge EC order against him for violating Model Code of Conduct
The Election Commission of India on Saturday censured Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for violating the Model Code of Conduct for his bribe remark, while addressing an election rally in Goa, after the commission found the latter`s reply unconvincing.........Read more
Tennis: Novak Djokovic beaten by World No. 117 Denis Istomin in five-set thriller at Australian Open
Former World No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic bowed out of the Australian Open after he was beaten by unseeded Uzbek tennis player Denis Istomin in a five-set thriller in the second round. The World No. 117 Istomin beat the World No. 2 and six-time Australian Open champion 7-6(8), 5-7, 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in a match that lasted for almost five hours.........Read more
20 engineers score 100 percentile in CAT
Twenty candidates scored an overall 100 percentile in the Common Admission Test 2016. The test is taken by those seeking admissions to the country's top business schools. Though no women scored 100 overall, many did in individual sectionals, according to Prof Rajendra K Bandi, convener of CAT 2016. ........Read more
IAF's wait for own satellite gets longer
The Indian Air Force's wait for its own satellite is getting longer because of a delay in obtaining a dedicated frequency band from the international regulatory body. Isro is looking at a launch window towards the end of 2017 if the scientists are able to ready another indigenous GSLV flight by then.........Read more
Disabled may get 5 per cent quota in colleges from next session
According to the bill, specially-abled persons with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years will also have the right to free education. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, which was passed in the Winter Session, provides for raising reservation in government jobs for persons with benchmark disabilities from three to four per cent and in higher education institutes from three to five per cent.........Read more
Akhilesh Yadav expelled from the Samajwadi Party: Is this mail the reason behind Akhilesh’s sacking?
The 'leaked' mail which lays down supposedly the masterplan of the SP raises more questions than answering them and hence is difficult to be accepted as an evidence. But then who knows?........Read more
Kung Fu Yoga - Official Trailer (2017) - Jackie chan, Disha Patani
Starring : Jackie Chan, Sonu Sood, Aamir Khan, Disha Patani, Riya Sen and Aarif Rahman Kung Fu Yoga is an upcoming multi-lingual action-adventure comedy film...........Read more
Russia sanctions announced by White House
President Barack Obama took unprecedented steps Thursday to retaliate against alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, prompting vows from Russian authorities that Moscow will respond in kind.........Read more
Indian woman’s mysterious death in Britain: Why doesn’t anyone care?
Dozens of women from Britain have been taken to the Indian subcontinent and just “disappeared”. Both the Indian and British authorities tend to ignore such cases........Read more
Demonetisation: Foxconn sends about 1,700 of its Indian workers on forced leave
The four plants in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh are running at half capacity. The production is directly linked to demand. Lava and Intex have shut down their factories for a week, and are not producing any smartphones or feature phones. Sources at Karbonn have told ET that they may even consider permanently laying off workers if demand does not rise. Industry experts have indicated that the impact on the manufacturing sector because of demonetisation will continue for two to three months.........Read more
Oxford Pupils to Use Gender Neutral Ze Instead of He or She
Oxford University wants its students to use the gender neutral "ze" instead of "he" or "she" when addressing fellow students. One of the world's leading educational institutions has outlined the new guidelines in a students' union leaflet as part of a move to prevent transgender students being offended........Read more
Suzuki SV650 Scrambler Unveiled in France
Suzuki has just launched a Scrambler version of its 2017 Suzuki SV650, joining the list of manufacturers who have jumped on the Scrambler bandwagon. Scramblers seem to be the current favourite in the motorcycling world with the neo-retro design becoming quite the craze.........Read more
Jaipur docs remove 11,816 gallstones from patient
Surgeons operated on a man here and removed a mind-boggling 11,816 stones from his gallbladder. Describing it as a first-of-its-kind medical feat in India, the Sawai Man Singh Government Hospital said the patient had been critical and in extreme pain. He is now recovering, and the hospital believes its work will go into the record books. The surgery was performed by Dr Jeevan Kankaria, under the guidance of Dr R K Jenaw and with the assistance of Dr Mahendra.........Read more
Samsung to unveil shareholder return plans amid calls to split company
Elliott Management demanded the company to divide itself into a holding vehicle and an operating company, and pay out $26 billion in a special dividend........Read more
Smriti Irani Pays Rs.100 To A Cobbler For Repairing Her Slippers; Incident Goes Viral
According to reports, Irani’s slipper strap had snapped as she alighted from a flight to address a session at Isha Foundation. Around 16 Km from the airport, she found a cobbler near Perur in Coimbatore. Irani sat on a stool while the cobbler repaired her slippers. When she refused to take the change, the cobbler put few additional stitches on the Union minister’s slipper.........Read more
Don’t hoard, sufficient notes in supply, says RBI as banks face cash crunch
The Reserve Bank today asked people not to hoard currency as there is sufficient supply of notes, even as banks struggled to manage the rush of people thronging branches across the country to exchange the scrapped high denomination 1,000 and 500 rupee notes........Read more
Maharashtra is the most friendly farmer state in the Country: NITI Aayog
The state of Maharashtra achieves first rank in implementation of various reforms. The state has implemented most of the marketing reforms and it offers best environment for doing agribusiness among all the states and UTs, an official statement said.........Read more
Amar Singh at centre of crisis, but why is he so important to Mulayam Singh Yadav?
Amar came close to Mulayam during the 1996 Third Front government, giving him a chance to liaise with the who's who in Delhi. Amar raised funds for SP , served as a bridge between the party and industrialists and brought Bollywood to Saifai's simplistic politics. ........Read more
Post Surgical Strikes, A Large Number Of Hindus Migrating Towards India
The Hindu refugees entering India do not have plans to go back to Pakistan and want to settle here permanently. For now, these people will stay in camps for displaced Pakistanis in Dali Bai, Kali Beri and Angnwa, in Rajasthan. Violence and atrocities against the minority Hindu community in Pakistan has been persistent for many decades and they were treated very badly. Reports suggest that Hindus in Pakistan have never been seen as the citizen of Pakistan, but thought of as Indians.........Read more
Facebook invests $250m more in VR as Zuckerberg shows off wireless Oculus
Facebook has already invested $250m in developing VR content, and said his goal was to quickly bring about his vision of the future connecting people all over the world through virtual experiences. “We should [all] build software and experiences that follow the way our minds work and the way we process the world,” he suggested to the 2,000-strong audience.........Read more
Activity trackers don't boost health outcomes: Lancet Study
A trial involving 800 full-time workers found that pedometers did not improve activity levels enough to improve health even where an incentive was offered.........Read more
Ministry of Minority Affairs to turn wakf land into cinemas and malls
The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs is planning to develop prime wakf land for commercial use, and utilise the proceeds to fund welfare projects for the Muslim community.........Read more
Oz court clears legal hurdle for Adani's multi-billion dollar Carmichael coal mining project
A top Australian court dismissed an environmental group's plea for overturning the government's approval to the controversy-hit 21.7 billion dollar project........Read more
Tom Hiddleston Meets With Bond Director
Tom Hiddleston could be one step closer to James Bond after he was spotted at the at London's Soho House on Wednesday, with 007 director Sam Mendes. Mendes has directed the last two Bond movies Sky...........Read more