Author: Rasmita Jena

  • Modi Promotes North-East Development at Astalakshmi Festival

    Modi Promotes North-East Development at Astalakshmi Festival

    On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about the many steps taken by the Central and state governments to help the North-East region grow over the past ten years. He emphasized that this effort has led to job creation and less violence in the area, as he addressed the Astalakshmi Mahotsav festival in Delhi, which celebrates the eight North-East states.

    Modi said, “This is the time for the North-East to shine. We have seen great progress, but it wasn’t always easy. In the past, governments focused on areas with more votes, but now we are dedicated to developing the North-East.”

    He pointed out that many young people in the region have turned from violence to building a better future thanks to new policies. There have been many peace agreements, and the government has worked to solve border disputes among North-Eastern states. Modi noted that the Special Armed Forces Powers Act (AFSPA) has been lifted in several districts, leading to a significant drop in violence.

    Describing the North-East as a treasure trove of resources, Modi praised the region’s talents in farming, arts, and unique products, many of which are recognized globally. He emphasized the importance of tradition, textiles, and tourism in boosting the North-East’s identity.

    He believes the future of India belongs to the East, especially the North-East, stating, “Integration through better roads and connections has raised the development of the North-East to new heights.”

    Modi also lauded the Nupi Lan movement in Manipur, which was led by women, as an example of female empowerment in the North-East. He claimed that his government has done more for the region in the last decade than any previous governments. Since the 1990s, funds allocated to the North-East have increased significantly.

    Finally, Modi announced plans to connect the North-East with the rest of India through emotional, economic, and environmental ties. The government is working on building more highways and improving air and train travel, and the North-East will play a role in the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor discussed during the G-20 meeting.

  • Join the Free TCS iON Course to Boost Your Career Skills!

    Join the Free TCS iON Course to Boost Your Career Skills!

    The job market is always changing because of new technology and trends. Students getting ready to start their professional careers need to learn key skills that will help them feel confident in the workplace.

    To stand out, graduates should focus on improving their communication skills, teamwork, business behavior, and understanding of finance and technology. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is offering a free 15-day digital course called TCS iON Career Edge – Young Professional to help students gain these important skills.

    About the Course:
    This special course will help students learn the skills they need for success in today’s job market. The course covers:

    – Soft Skills to get along well with coworkers
    – Communication Skills to make a great impression
    – How to write strong resumes
    – Proper business behavior for the office
    – Basic Accounting and IT skills
    – An introduction to Artificial Intelligence

    Course Details:
    The course includes 15 different lessons designed to prepare students:

    1. Communication Skills
    2. Presentation Skills
    3. Soft Skills
    4. Career Guidance
    5. Resume Writing
    6. Group Discussion Skills
    7. Interview Skills
    8. Business Etiquette
    9. Effective Email Writing
    10. Telephone Etiquette
    11. Accounting Basics
    12. IT Basics
    13. Overview of Artificial Intelligence 1 (from NPTEL)
    14. Overview of Artificial Intelligence 2 (from NPTEL)

    Learning Method:
    Participants will enjoy videos, case studies, and online learning that they can do at their own pace.

    If you want to learn more, check out the official website for the TCS iON Career Edge course!

  • Sandeep Reddy Vanga: Family, Criticism, and His Next Big Film!

    Sandeep Reddy Vanga: Family, Criticism, and His Next Big Film!

    Sandeep Reddy Vanga is a young and talented director known for his unique style in films. He’s directed three movies: “Arjun Reddy,” “Kabir Singh,” and “Animal.” Although he’s gaining fame, he sometimes faces criticism, especially about how he portrays mother characters in his films. Recently, he appeared on the show “Indian Idol 15,” where he talked about his journey and the support from his family.

    He shared a story about how he challenged his mother, saying he would become a director before using the 2 lakhs he earned working at McDonald’s and Subway in Sydney while studying. Sandeep explained that his family wanted him to be an engineer or doctor, but since he didn’t score high enough for MBBS, he chose physiotherapy. However, he soon realized he wasn’t passionate about that and instead loved photography, leading him to film school in Sydney. It took him several years to finally become a director.

    When singer Shreya Ghoshal asked if his family supported his film school dreams, he replied that his family, especially his mother, was very supportive. She helped with film school fees and the production of “Arjun Reddy.” He had many meetings with producers, but ultimately, they decided to produce the film themselves.

    Sandeep also addressed the criticism about mothers in his movies. He said, “I’m very close to my mom, and because our relationship is so good, there’s no drama to write about. If I make a story about a mother and son, it will be positive and full of good vibes.”

    Currently, Sandeep is celebrating one year since his film “Animal,” which starred stars like Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol. The film did well at the box office, but some people criticized it for being disrespectful to women. He is now set to work on a new film called “Spirit” with Prabhas, which is a cop story that hasn’t started filming yet. Rumors are that it will also feature actor Don Lee.

  • Dr. Yatish Agarwal Appointed as Vice Chancellor of GS University, Hapur

    Dr. Yatish Agarwal Appointed as Vice Chancellor of GS University, Hapur

    Prof. (Dr.) Yatish Agarwal has recently taken on the role of Vice Chancellor at GS University in Hapur. He has an M.D. in Radiodiagnosis from the University of Delhi and a D.Sc. from Allahabad and Rajasthan.

    GS University mainly focuses on healthcare education. It offers MBBS, MD, and MS programs at GS Medical College and Hospital. The university also has an Ayurvedic medical college, a nursing college, and many other health science courses.

    Dr. Ankit Sharma, the Pro-Chancellor, believes Dr. Agarwal’s extensive teaching experience will greatly help the university. Before this, Dr. Agarwal was the Dean of the University School of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in Delhi.

    Dr. Agarwal has written over 60 books, selling more than 3 million copies. He has also written numerous articles, radio shows, and TV serials. Since 1981, he has been a regular writer for the Manorama Year Book and has contributed to leading national newspapers in both English and Hindi.

    He has received many awards for his work, including the Distinguished Services Award from the Indian Radiological and Imaging Association in Delhi (2021) and other prestigious honors from the Government of India and various organizations.

  • Sebi Launches New Investor Charter for Better Protection & Trust

    Sebi Launches New Investor Charter for Better Protection & Trust

    On Friday, India’s capital markets watchdog, Sebi, introduced a new plan to protect investors and make the stock market more trustworthy. This updated plan promises to keep investor information private and gives people the right to withdraw their money fairly from any stock market product or service.

    Sebi also improved the way it handles complaints. With the new version of SCORES (Sebi Complaints Redress System) called SCORES 2.0, complaints go directly to the companies involved first, and if needed, Sebi will step in to help resolve any issues. They also launched a SMART ODR (Online Dispute Resolution) portal, which allows people to solve their market-related problems online, making it easier and quicker.

    The goal of this new plan is to help investors understand the risks of their investments while making sure they are treated fairly. Sebi urges everyone to work only with approved market companies and to keep their contact and KYC (Know Your Customer) information updated. Investors should also speak up about their problems within certain time limits.

    The updated plan includes helpful tips for investors, like keeping records of transactions, knowing about risks and fees, and understanding how to file complaints. Sebi warns against risky practices like making cash payments above set limits and sharing sensitive account information. This move aims to make investing easier with new digital solutions.

  • NHAI Updates Highway Builders Rating System for Better Road Safety

    NHAI Updates Highway Builders Rating System for Better Road Safety

    The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a new system to rate companies that build and take care of national highways. This system is aimed at making sure roads are built well and are safe for travelers.

    Here’s how it works: Each company will get a score based on their performance. They will be rated from “excellent” to “failed.” If a company scores below 70 out of 100, they will be called a ‘non-performer’ and won’t be allowed to get new highway projects until they improve their score.

    The ratings will be updated every six months. This will happen at two levels: for each project and for the overall company. You can find the scores on the NHAI website and social media.

    To calculate these scores, NHAI will consider the condition of the road and how well the company fixes any issues. 80% of the score will come from something called the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), while 20% will come from how well the company uses the NHAI One App to report and fix problems.

    The PCI will check for things like bumps, potholes, cracks, and other issues on the road. Special technologies, like laser measurements, will be used to ensure accuracy.

  • Iran Boosts Military Support for Assad as Rebels Gain Ground

    Iran Boosts Military Support for Assad as Rebels Gain Ground

    Iran is planning to send missiles and drones to Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad fight against rebel groups. An Iranian official, who didn’t want to share their name, told Reuters that Iran is ready to send military equipment and increase the number of its military advisers in Syria. Right now, Iran is already giving help in the form of intelligence and satellite support.

    Assad is an important ally for Iran, as he is part of a group they call the “Axis of Resistance” against Israel and U.S. influence in the Middle East. Recently, rebels have been gaining ground in their fight against Assad, which is a big worry for both Iran and Syria.

    The official mentioned that Iran and Russia are working together to help Assad. They believe that Syria has not asked for ground troops from Iran yet, and instead, they want to focus on increasing airstrikes with Russia’s help.

    At the same time, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran, and Russia are set to meet in Doha to talk about the situation with the rebels. Turkey supports the opposition to Assad. Iran has urged Turkey not to align with the U.S. and Israel because they think these countries want to weaken Iran and its allies.

    Additionally, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will also be meeting with the foreign ministers of Iraq and Syria in Baghdad to discuss how to handle the situation in Syria. Iran and Iraq are even looking at working together on defense projects through various groups and military forces.

  • Labuschagne and Bumrah’s Heated Exchange Lights Up 2nd Test Match!

    Labuschagne and Bumrah’s Heated Exchange Lights Up 2nd Test Match!

    On Day 1 of the 2nd Test match in Adelaide, Marnus Labuschagne and Jasprit Bumrah had a lively exchange. Playing with the pink ball at night, Bumrah put pressure on the Australian batsmen, including Labuschagne, with his tricky bowling. Bumrah successfully bowled out opener Usman Khawaja after a 10-over wait for a wicket.

    In the 13th over, Labuschagne still hadn’t scored when the Indian team, led by Virat Kohli, began teasing him. Bumrah bowled to Labuschagne, who defended the ball well. After collecting the ball, Bumrah shot a look at Labuschagne, but instead of backing down, Marnus said something back, almost challenging Bumrah. Kohli and Rishabh Pant laughed, and even Bumrah smiled as he went back to bowl.

    The fun didn’t stop there! Bumrah outsmarted Labuschagne on the next ball and jokingly charged at him. Labuschagne responded with a big smile and shook his head, showing there was no hard feelings. Everyone felt the excitement in that over, and even the commentators agreed that things were heating up.

    “This is fierce Test cricket, and Marnus is not backing down,” said Adam Gilchrist during the match, while Kerry O’Keefe added, “It’s a boxing match, isn’t it?”

    Together with Nathan McSweeney, Labuschagne kept the Indian bowlers at bay, scoring 61 runs by the end of Day 1, and bringing Australia’s total deficit under 100 runs before stumps.

  • Pandsera Police Uncover Massive Fake Medical Degree Scam

    Pandsera Police Uncover Massive Fake Medical Degree Scam

    The Pandesara police have discovered a huge scam involving fake medical degrees that has been going on for almost 20 years! They arrested 14 people, including the main leaders of this crime.

    The two main men behind this scam are Dr. B.K. Ravat and Dr. Rasesh Gujarati from Ahmedabad. They sold fake medical degrees to over 1,500 people who were not qualified to be doctors. Each fake degree, known as a Bachelor of Electro Homeopathic Medicine (BEMS), cost Rs 75,000. The police believe these two made at least Rs 10 crores from this illegal business!

    Dr. Ravat has a real medical degree in Ayurvedic Medicine, and Dr. Gujarati has a Diploma in Homeopathy. They created fake degrees under an imaginary organization called the “Board of Electro Homeopathic Medicine.” The police began investigating when they noticed many unqualified doctors running clinics in Pandesara.

    What the Police Found:

    During their searches, the police found many fake documents:
    – Blank and filled fake degree certificates
    – Applications and ID cards for fake doctors
    – A list of over 1,600 people whose names were on the scam’s website

    They also discovered records of payments made by unqualified practitioners using these fake degrees.

    How They Exploited People:

    The scam had two ways to get fake degrees:
    1. People paid Rs 75,000 for a degree and then Rs 3,000 every year to keep it active.
    2. They also charged Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 each month to make sure no one bothered their fake doctors.

    To force people to pay, Gujarati had associates who threatened those who didn’t comply. They sent fake cancellation notices using made-up documents from their pretend board.

    Creating a Fake Website:

    To make the scam look real, they set up a website called behmgujarat.com. It listed names and registration details of fake degree holders. This website helped them collect renewal fees and convince quack doctors that their fake degrees were real.

    Money and Legal Action:

    Dr. Ravat earned a commission for signing fake degrees and making diplomas that looked real. Police are looking into bank records to find out how much money was stolen over the years.

    Two FIRs (First Information Reports) have been filed against the gang for cheating, extorting money, and breaking the Gujarat Medical Practitioners’ Act. Many of those arrested included individuals responsible for threatening others and creating fake documents. Authorities are now worried about how these fake degrees might affect public health.

  • Netflix’s ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’: A New Magical Journey

    Netflix’s ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’: A New Magical Journey

    By Sarah Morland – In Havana, Cuba, workers got ready on Friday for the big screen debut of a new Netflix series based on one of Latin America’s favorite books, “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” This unique show, filmed entirely in Colombia, is based on the famous novel by Gabriel García Márquez, who won a Nobel Prize. The story follows the Buendía family over seven generations in a made-up town called Macondo. It’s a key book in the magical realism genre, which mixes real life with magical elements.

    The director, Alex García López, shared that this story beautifully shows the journey of people and how they face their fates. He believes it connects deeply to current political issues around the world. The first two episodes will be shown at the Havana film festival, even though people in Cuba can’t easily access Netflix.

    Netflix worked closely with García Márquez’s sons to create this adaptation. They promised to film everything in Colombia and keep the dialogue in Spanish, making it a true representation of the book. With stunning costumes and beautiful scenery from Colombia’s beaches, the series aims to impress viewers.

    However, García López pointed out that Latin America has much more to offer than just stories of crime and poverty often portrayed in popular shows. Netflix is exploring various Latino works to share a wider picture of the culture.