Category: India

Debarghya “Deedy” Das, a venture capitalist of Indian origin, has sparked a big conversation about the dangerous air quality in India. He says it’s a serious health problem that many people seem to ignore. Currently living in San Francisco, Das took to social media to share his experiences, which resonated with many people but also got some criticism.

Feeling the Air Quality Crisis Firsthand

Das, who used to live in Kolkata and moved to the U.S. for college, talked about how he feels whenever he visits India. He said, “Every time I’m in India, my eyes water, I sneeze a lot, and I see many people coughing.” His parents think these symptoms are just allergies, but they go away when they visit him in the U.S.

During a recent wedding in Delhi, Das spoke with guests from the U.S. who were shocked by how bad the air quality was. At first, they were polite, but then they expressed their concern about the air being unsafe, even for simple things like exercising outdoors.

Air Quality Issues Go Beyond Delhi

Even though Delhi is famous for its pollution problems, Das pointed out that bad air quality is not just a problem there. He said, “The idea that only winter in Delhi is bad is silly. Even Bangalore, which is seen as cleaner, has people coughing and dealing with allergies. I lived there for a year and know it’s true.”

Das believes that it’s not a show of strength to tolerate bad air. He argued that “surviving tough environments is not something we should brag about. It’s a problem that needs our attention.”

Mixed Reactions Online

Many non-resident Indians (NRIs) and people from India agreed with Das’s points, seeing them as important. But some didn’t like what he said and felt he was exaggerating. Others thought he was just weak. Despite the mixed feedback, his original post gained over 1.9 million views, 28,000 likes, and more than 1,000 comments.

The discussion sparked by Das’s comments shines a light on an important issue that affects millions all over India. While some dismissed his worries, many viewed his remarks as a call to action on environmental problems that threaten public health.

Das reminds us that air quality isn’t just about how comfortable we are; it’s about keeping the health of everyone in the country safe. As he put it, “We live in denial of a serious health crisis.”

The Indian rupee fell to its lowest level ever on Tuesday, mainly because the US dollar got stronger and the Chinese yuan also dropped. The rupee reached a low of 84.7575 before it slightly recovered, closing the day at 84.6850. A trader from a government bank said that the rupee bounced back a little as demand for dollars decreased and the yuan stopped losing value.

Earlier in the day, the rupee was able to prevent bigger losses thanks to the Reserve Bank of India’s actions in the money market. The RBI sold dollars to help the rupee and made trades to balance out the dollars in the market.

Due to these actions, the prices for dollar-rupee futures went down significantly. The expected return on a one-year dollar investment also dropped below 2% for the first time since August. Worries about India’s slowing economy, a steady flow of money leaving the country, and the weakness of the yuan have kept pressure on the rupee. India’s GDP growth in September fell to the lowest level in a while, which means the RBI might cut interest rates sooner than we thought, while money leaving the stock market is expected to continue, weakening the rupee further.

After many years of stability, it seems like the Reserve Bank of India has loosened its grip on the rupee, according to analysts from ING Bank. The expected ups and downs of the rupee have increased, with the one-month forecast volatility reaching its highest point in six months at 3% on Tuesday. Lastly, the dollar index was slightly lower at 106.2 after rising 0.5% on Monday, while currencies from other Asian countries were mixed.

In Telangana’s Mulugu district, security forces encountered a group of seven Maoists early Sunday morning. This clash came just a week after two tribal men were killed by suspected Maoists for allegedly being informers for the police.

The special anti-Maoist unit, called the Greyhounds, spotted the Maoists in the Chalpaka forest around 5:30 AM and ordered them to surrender. However, instead of giving up, the Maoists shot back. In the end, seven of them were killed, including a notable figure named Bhadru, also known as Papanna. He was the commander of the CPI (Maoist) in the Yellandu-Narsampet area and was part of the Telangana State Committee.

The other six killed were identified as Egolapu Mallaiah (43 years old), Mussaki Deval (22), Mussaki Jamuna (23), Jai Singh (25), Kishore (22), and Kamesh (23). Police said Bhadru led this group. Security forces recovered weapons from the scene, including AK-47 and G3 rifles, which they confiscated.

This incident marks the first major confrontation with Maoists in the area in several years. There has been concern about the Maoists trying to regain influence in Mulugu. Just a week earlier, on November 21, two tribal men named Uika Ramesh and Uika Arjun were killed for supposedly spying for the police. Ramesh was the secretary for the local Gram Panchayat. A note found with their bodies claimed they were providing information to the authorities. It is still unclear if the seven Maoists who were killed were involved in those murders.

Kapil Sharma and Navjot Singh Sidhu are facing legal issues after actress Rozlyn Khan sent them a notice. This happened because of something Sidhu said on Kapil’s show about treating cancer. He talked about using neem leaves and turmeric, but doctors believe these ideas could be incorrect and dangerous.

Rozlyn Khan, who is a cancer survivor, is leading the legal challenge against them. She believes these kinds of statements can confuse people and make them turn away from real medicine that is proven to work. She warns that if fans believe in these untested treatments, their health could be at risk. Rozlyn insists that famous figures like Kapil and Sidhu should be careful with what they say, as it could affect many lives.

Sidhu has been a part of Kapil’s shows for a long time. He first appeared as a judge on “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge” when Kapil started getting popular. Sidhu was also in Kapil’s comedy show in 2013, but he was replaced by Archana Puran Singh in 2019 after making some controversial comments about the Pulwama attack.

In a heartbreaking event during the heavy rains caused by Cyclone Fengal in Tamil Nadu, a migrant worker named Chandan lost his life after he accidentally touched a live electric wire while trying to take out cash from an ATM in the Muthialpet area of Chennai.

Chandan, who originally came from Odisha and worked at a private store in Parrys, went to the ATM near his home on Broadway. As he opened the door to the ATM, he touched a metal pole next to an electrical post and got electrocuted. The electric shock was so strong that it threw him onto the road.

Nearby people rushed to help him and took him to a nearby government hospital, but sadly, he was declared dead when he arrived. This tragic incident happened as Tamil Nadu and nearby areas were facing heavy rains and flooding from Cyclone Fengal.

The local police, known as Muthialpet police, are investigating this terrible incident.

While Cyclone Fengal made landfall, it brought strong winds and heavy rains to Tamil Nadu, leading to widespread flooding in hospitals and homes. Roads were covered with water, and many people struggled to find shelter from the storm.

Hospitals, including two state-run ones at Chromepet, had rainwater enter their buildings, affecting patients and staff. Officials worked hard to clear the floodwaters quickly.

Cyclone Fengal is becoming a strong storm in the southwest Bay of Bengal. It’s expected to hit Tamil Nadu and Puducherry by Saturday evening. Because of this storm, local authorities are taking steps to keep everyone safe.

Chennai International Airport will close from 12:30 PM to 7:00 PM on Saturday due to bad weather and strong winds. Passengers should check their flight status before coming to the airport. Airlines, including IndiGo, are warning travelers about possible flight changes and urging everyone to stay safe during the storm.

In Puducherry, police are taking extra steps to keep people safe. They are ensuring that people stay away from beaches and coastal areas, such as Marina Beach. About 300 police officers are monitoring these areas. Fishermen have been told not to go out to sea, and the beaches are closed for safety.

In Tamil Nadu, heavy rain has already started to damage crops in places like Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai. Farmers are worried as more rain is expected, which could cause even more damage. Schools in affected areas are closing to keep students safe, while schools in places like Chennai will remain open.

Currently, Cyclone Fengal is moving northward and is about 470 km from Nagapattinam and 670 km from Chennai. The Indian Meteorological Department warns that heavy rain will continue as the storm gets closer. Emergency teams are ready, and farmers are preparing for possible damage to their crops.

The name ‘Fengal’ was given to this cyclone by Saudi Arabia as part of a naming system used globally. Naming storms helps people recognize them and take necessary precautions.

As Cyclone Fengal comes closer, everyone should be careful, avoid coastal areas, and keep up with news updates. The next few days are very important, and everyone should take the right steps to stay safe

Hindu priest Shyam Das Prabhu was arrested on Friday in Bangladesh, according to Radharamn Das, a spokesperson for ISKCON Kolkata. His arrest follows widespread protests over the detention of another priest, Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is accused of sedition and was denied bail earlier this week.

Radharamn shared Shyam Das’s photo on the social media platform X, saying, “Does he look like a terrorist? FreeISKCONMonks.” He mentioned that the arrest of innocent ISKCON monks is very shocking and disturbing.

In the past few weeks, there have been many protests in both Bangladesh and India, calling for the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das. The Indian government has also expressed serious concern about the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Hindus make up about 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million people. Since August 5, when the Awami League government changed, there have been over 200 attacks on Hindus across 50 districts.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu group in India, condemned what they called “atrocities” against Hindus in Bangladesh. They criticized the current government for not taking action and called for Chinmoy Das’s release.

On the other hand, the Bangladeshi government insists that Hindus are safe and that there is no threat to minorities. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor, stated that they are committed to ensuring a fair trial for Chinmoy Das.