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Showing posts from January, 2022

O’ Mitron is dangerous than Omicron: Tharoor jibe and the way it irks the BJP

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Sashi Tharoor aimed the jibe at PM Modi, but the BJP is not very happy about it Social media is abuzz with various takes on a Sashi Tharoor comment targeted at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is the election season and such jibes take centre stage every time they are uttered. This one, however, is making Tharoor’s fans have a good laugh, while the BJP is seeing red. Tharoor, a senior leader of the Congress party and the MP from Thiruvananthapuram is a man known for his amazing way with words. This time too, it was indeed a play of words, and the jibe has hit the spot that Sashi Tharoor wanted it to. But, the BJP is not very happy about it. Tharoor jibe ruffles BJP feathers When Tharoor said 'O Mitron' is far more dangerous than Omicron, it indeed was an attack on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and had stemmed from the way the Prime Minister addresses gatherings.  Tharoor went on to add that “we are measuring the consequences of the latter every day in increased polarisation...

Taxpayers expect a lot from FinMin in Union Budget 2022-23

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Common man hopes to see a slew of sops in Union Budget 2022-23 On February 1, when the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rises in Parliament to present the Budget for Financial Year 2022-23, the taxpayers in the country will have a clutch of expectations. The Finance Minister also knows this well, and she is expected to bring in a slew of reforms that would be scrutinised thoroughly by the common man. Among the many proposals, pushing up the limit in standard deduction limit could be one that is expected the most. There had been a clamour for this already, and the taxpayers are hopeful that the Finance Minister would consider doing this. A relief in income tax is, as usual, prime on the minds of the people that make up the majority of the population. Taxpayers look for Budget sops Deduction that is allowed from the gross salary income of salaried individuals and pensioners is what standard deduction means. When such a deduction is allowed, it cuts down on the taxable salary inc...

Will Congress move to hold the Left close force BJP in Manipur see red?

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Congress looks to make a dent in Manipur BJP fortress, and has formed a pre-poll alliance with like-minded Left The Congress in Manipur is faced with a peculiar situation. Once upon a time, the strongest political force in the north eastern state, the Congress has seen the ground underneath its feet being eroded in a fast manner. The advent of BJP as a formidable force had kept many in the Congress baffled. The past five years have seen many a Congress leader shifting loyalties. Many including MLAs elected on Congress tickets switched over to the BJP. The scenario has gone from bad to worse for the grand old party and the only way to keep eyeballs on itself would be fight. And so the party is cosying up to the Left parties in the state with the hope of finding lost ground. The Congress shift towards camaraderie with the Left may be seen as having the prime goal of decimating the BJP in Manipur. Besides the Left parties, the Congress party is also forming a pre-poll alliance with Janata...

Pregnant women ‘unfit’: SBI needs to explain how it makes such guidelines

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If pregnancy is of more than 3 months, women will be considered temporarily unfit, states SBI guideline It looks like State Bank of India has courted trouble with its latest medical guidelines. As per the banking major’s medical guidelines, which came out on December 31, ...if pregnancy is of more than three months, women will be considered temporarily unfit and they may be allowed to join within four months after delivery of child. This clause comes as a bolt from the blue for women who have been offered employment by the SBI. Calling women with more than three months of pregnancy as ‘temporarily unfit’ has spurred the ire of men and women alike. Stopping women who are over three-month pregnant from joining work is being seen as discrimination. SBI norm ‘discriminatory and illegal’ The SBI norm is not just discriminatory, but illegal too, believes the Delhi Commission for Women. And the women’s body has shot off a notice to State Bank of India seeking an explanation on what makes it s...

You will soon be able to unlock your Apple iPhone using Face ID while wearing a mask

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Apple’s first developer beta for iOS 15.4 promises to allow Face ID to unlock an iPhone even when a face mask is worn. The current world has a major role for face masks.  Covid-19 is calling all the shots, and the global citizens are at the mercy of the spot of the vicious protein that threatens to ruin lives and livelihood. Use of hand sanitisers, face masks and a bit of common sense are what the healthcare experts have been calling for. Face masks have actually become a must-wear accessory across the world. The advantages of wearing masks have already begun showing. Apart from keeping the coronavirus spread at bay, masks have also brought about a significant reduction in other airborne ailments and irritants. Apple first developer beta for iOS 15.4 The technology world has also found it imperative to spur innovation around the face masks. Apple is actually doing it. The first developer beta for iOS 15.4 is a move in that direction. Apple has outed the first developer beta for iOS 15....

As China gears up to host Winter Olympics, climate change talk gains centre-stage

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A study has said that Winter Olympics stand threatened by climate change The Winter Olympics is scheduled to get off to a start on February 4 in China. However, considering the fact that it is all about competing in artificially-created environments, the charm of the Winter Olympics stands reduced. When China hosts the latest edition of the Winter Olympics, it will go down in history as the first Winter Games to fully dependent on artificial snow. This, by no means, is an achievement. On the contrary, it throws up the need for nations around the world to seriously look at the effects of climate change.   It has been revealed by way of a study that climate change is threatening the future of the Winter Olympics. This would be because venues suitable to host the Winter games would be rare around the globe in no time How Climate Change is Threatening the Winter Olympics A Sport Ecology Group-produced study by Britain's Loughborough University and the Protect Our Winters campaign group...

Google to pump in $1 Bn in Airtel; to pick 1.28% in Indian telco

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The Google investment comes as it believes that Airtel is at the forefront of shaping India’s digital future India’s status as the world’s second largest internet market has tech behemoths like Google eyeing more stake in it.  In what could be a landmark event, Google has now lined up investment to the tune of $1 billion in the country’s telecom giant Airtel. As part of the plan, Airtel will see Google pump in $700 million to pick up 1.28 per cent stake in Airtel. Besides this, another $300 million will be spent on explore multi-year commercial agreements with India’s second largest telecom operator. An extension of Google for India Digitization Fund With the deal, Airtel and Google will be looking towards expanding the telecom operator’s offerings in India so that it would cover a wider range of Android gadgets through what they call “innovative affordability programs”. Further, the two companies would also look towards tying up with smartphone companies to prompt the manufacture of a...

Post-83, cricket-themed flicks set to charm Bollywood fans

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‘Mr and Mrs Mahi’, starring Janvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao is the latest in Bollywood’s cricket menu. Cricket is the flavour of the season in Bollywood. Going by the number of cricket-themed flicks that are being made, it looks like producers in Bollywood are eyeing some good revenue by lining up cricket themes for the new ventures. The latest that has hopped on to news space is a film that has been titled ‘Mr and Mrs Mahi’. Featuring Janvi Kapoor and her ‘Roohi’ co-star Rajkummar Rao, the film looks like it could be along the lines of the true life of a popular cricket star. Janvi Kapoor has already begun training at a cricket camp in preparation for her role. Going by her Instagram account, her latest post gives us the idea that she is practicing cricket seriously so as to get into the skin of the character she is supposed to play. Janvi Kapoor drops hints of cricket role Janvi’s post with a picture that has her donning a cricket helmet has all in it to evoke good amount of anticipat...

Will Congress be able to tackle Pratapsinh Rane’s withdrawal from contest in Goa?

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Senior Congress leader in Goa Pratapsinh Rane, pitted against daughter-in-law in Poerim, has withdrawn from the contest citing age The current election season has been bringing to the Congress party a slew of setbacks. We have already seen many senior leaders jumping ship to switch allegiance to other parties such as the BJP. The Goan scene is also gifting the Congress with setbacks and the latest one doesn’t concern defection by a leader. At the centre of all it is Pratapsinh Rane, one of the most popular leaders of the Congress party. Rane who was fielded by the Congress as its prestigious candidate in the constituency of Poerim, has made it known that he is withdrawing from the contest. Rane has decided on these lines after the BJP fielded his own daughter-in-law against him for the Poerim Assembly seat. The father-in-law vs daughter-in-law fight for Poerim was beginning to heat up the poll scene, but Rane has decided to withdraw his candidature for the constituency. Age is the reas...
There may be only a few people in the world who would want to make it to Nepal's Everest Base Camp in their lifetime Bordering India and China, Nepal lies in the belt of the majestic Himalayas. The Himalayan country of Nepal is a dream place for adventure lovers. There are hundreds of tourist destinations that attract thousands of tourists every year. There may be only a few people in the world who would want to make it to Nepal's Everest Base Camp in their lifetime. Thus, if you are one of them, here are the things to consider while traveling to Nepal.  Understand Your Visa Status Indians don't need a visa to travel to Nepal. But, if you are a citizen of a country other than India, then you will need a visa to enter Nepal. Don't worry, Nepal offers arrival visas. You can apply for a visa at Tribhuvan International Airport yourself and get a visa in a short time. Besides, if you are a citizen of Afghanistan, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Somalia, Ghana, Cameroon, ...

BJP wants to see the SP candidates’ list, but Akhilesh Yadav wouldn’t just give in

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BJP wants to see the candidates’ list so that it can aim at polarising the polls, SP feels The election scenario in Uttar Pradesh has all the traits of a potboiler. The poll scene in the state is closely watched by almost everyone in the country, and may be by those overseas beings interested in Indian politics too. UP has always been the focus point whenever elections are announced. A large state, which has a major say when it comes to political affairs of the nation as a whole, is obviously a much monitored terrain. And that makes it important for parties vying to grab the maximum number of seats in the UP Assembly. With Akhilesh Yadav and his poll strategies aimed at a Samajwadi Party win this time around gaining traction, the BJP has been experiencing a lull as the poll dates near. BJP leader and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s latest utterances could even point to a sense of concern as the SP wagon chugs ahead. BJP has to fight SP, Congress and Mayawati’s BSP and decimate them to...
Are You Ok?, a music video by Ton Chanseyma, Cambodia's top singer, has gone viral in Cambodia, garnering over 117 million views since its recent release on the CAM-POP Galaxy Navatra. Ton Chanseyma, Cambodia's youngest singer, is receiving high praise from viewers on CAM-POP Galaxy Navatra's YouTube channel for her captivating song. So much so that the top advertising firms have begun to line up to sign Chanseyma for the branding of well-known companies in Cambodia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaIZnQrgASU The music video has been released recently featuring melodies and lyrics by Cambodian real estate tycoon Leng Navatra, who owns the banner of Galaxy Navatra production. The song is written in English by Heng Long, composed by Tempo Tris, and directed by Rawyer, Juedy, Run Sokheng.  Ton Chanseyma said, “Are You Ok? is the first song to gain stupendous popularity among music lovers in Cambodia. The entire team at Galaxy Navatra productions has worked very hard t...
Case Ace is helping students create a glorious career trajectory by imparting right skills and providing relevant opportunities.  With colleges functioning mostly via virtual mode from last 1.5 to 2 years and students writing Open Book Exams, there’s hardly anything which students are learning that paves a strong future for them with regards to economic opportunities after their studies. At such a juncture Case Ace, an initiative by Sandesh Dholakia to provide employable skills to students is rapidly is emerging as a popular option amongst aspirants from streams like economics, commerce, public policy and finance. Case Ace’s founder Sandesh is a management consultant and currently Asia Pacific chair at International Finance Students’ Association (IFSA). He has won multiple national & international laurels. Some of the key ones include – One of the youngest Indians to represent the nation at Commonwealth Youth Parliament, Global Top 10 Harvard’s Annual Case Competition, Global T...

Consanguineous marriages: When blood relatives tie the knot

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Consanguineous marriages contribute to certain ailments, but there are ways to prevent them Merriam Webster Dictionary defines  Consanguineous   as part of a family of blood relatives that descend from the same ancestor. Latin sanguis meaning ‘blood’. Another meaning says the word refers to people descending from the same ancestor. In lay terms it refers to brothers and sisters, first cousins from either side of the parents’ families. When these relations intermarry, the marriage is called a  Consanguineous marriage . I was happy in my own little world being a teacher and helping mould young  minds  into eager learners. Then I joined the Devnar Junior College for the visually challenged and dived into this whole new world ---- where the narrow confines of societal rules have generated an unusually large number of visually challenged (read blind) kids.  The farsighted ophthalmologist Padmashree Dr Sai baba Goud has started a school for the blind in Secunderabad. The Devnar school (and n...
MyFlowerApp.com offers same-day delivery of flowers, cakes, personalised gifts, plants, and home décor anywhere in India If you are looking to send flowers and gifts to your loved ones and have thought about it late, there isn’t any need to worry anymore. For, a company that ensures same day delivery of these gifts is just a click away.  Catering to customers who would want send gifts and make sure that their delivery happens the same day, all you need to do is to knock at the online space that houses MyFlowerApp.com. The company has been effectively providing unique service by deploying online technologies to help you let your loved ones that you actually care for them. Be it any occasion like a birthday, a wedding anniversary, wedding day, office event or simply an occasion to say you care, MyFlowerApp.com is there for you. MyFlowerApp.com, as the name suggests, promises same-day flower delivery anywhere in India, be it in any corner of the country. Apart from flowers, cakes, a...
Consanguineous marriages contribute to certain ailments, but there are ways to prevent them Merriam Webster Dictionary defines Consanguineous as part of a family of blood relatives that descend from the same ancestor. Latin sanguis meaning ‘blood’. Another meaning says the word refers to people descending from the same ancestor. In lay terms it refers to brothers and sisters, first cousins from either side of the parents’ families. When these relations intermarry, the marriage is called a Consanguineous marriage. I was happy in my own little world being a teacher and helping mould young  minds  into eager learners. Then I joined the Devnar Junior College for the visually challenged and dived into this whole new world ---- where the narrow confines of societal rules have generated an unusually large number of visually challenged (read blind) kids.  The farsighted ophthalmologist Padmashree Dr Sai baba Goud has started a school for the blind in Secunderabad. The Devnar school (an...

Proud moment for regional cinema as Jai Bhim gets featured on Oscars YouTube channel

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Jai Bhim, directed by T J Gnanavel and starring Suriya, had surpassed The Godfather and The Shawshank Redemption on IMDb Jai Bhim, the legal drama helmed by T J Gnanavel, had been making waves not just in the local and national circuits, but the international arena too ever since it started streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The film has been in the news ever since people began watching it as it was streamed in various geographies. Soon the Suriya-starrer found its place above classics such as ‘The Godfather’ and 'The Shawshank Redemption' on  IMDb  holding high a rating of 9.6. The film, which was based on a true life incident that shook the people’s conscience in Tamil Nadu, came about as a game changer in all respects, and brought with it the hope of better films to come. Read full article by clicking link below :  https://www.digpu.com/entertainment/jai-bhim-on-oscars-youtube

Malabar looks to lure travellers with Fam 2 Malabar 500 push

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Fam 2 Malabar 500 will bring 500 tour operators to 7 north Kerala districts The Malabar region, in north Kerala, has always been a sought after destination by travellers from all over the globe. The charm that the region offers in the form of beaches, hill stations, forts and traditional festivals are often written about. Of late, the department of tourism in Kerala is looking to welcome more travellers by way of luring top tour operators from India and abroad to attract domestic and foreign visitors to the seven northern districts of the state, which form the Malabar region. As part of this an initiative termed ‘Fam 2 Malabar 500’ has been rolled out, which will see around 500 tour operators from India and abroad being brought to Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasaragod districts this year to familiarise themselves with the possibilities of the region to emerge as a vibrant tourism hub. Fam 2 Malabar 500 seen as a game changer The initiative will help m...

SkyDrive would soon let you fly in a compact, electric flying machine

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SkyDrive has made its flying car in such a way that it can vertically take off and land with stability. The Japanese, as ever before, have been at the front of innovative lifestyle technologies. The latest from Japan kitty that is sure to make one look up to the sky in adoration is a new electric flying car. Flying out from the stables of an aero tech startup based in Tokyo is a new ultralight, compact flying machine that could help you cover distances in a jiffy. It also does away with the carbon-emissions concern. The new machine comes as an electric car that flies. The new electric flying machine with the model name SD-03 was shown off by SkyDrive at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year. The SD-03, which was presented in full scale at the mega consumer electronic event made heads turn, indeed. SkyDrive completes pilot testing of flying car The company has reportedly finished piloted testing of the flying car. SkyDrive's flying car has been made in such a way that it ca...

BJP-Congress battle in Manipur; Who will have the last laugh?

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It looks like the BJP-Congress fight is heating up, but NPF could play the final shot Even as so much is being written about the assembly polls scenario in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab , Uttarakhand and Goa, the little state of Manipur has been seeing much action in terms of fight for the ballot. The two parties that are at the centre of all the action are the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, going by what has been happening, the two parties are set to fight it out fiercer than ever. This because, gaining power in Manipur is as important as doing it elsewhere. Considering the political phase the country is in today, both these prominent political outfits wouldn’t want to throw away any opportunity that comes by. Going by the recent ABP-CVOTER Battle for the States survey, the BJP is estimated to poll 36 per cent votes while the Congress could expect 33 per cent votes in the upcoming elections. These estimates make it look like the two parties are closely poised and who will overtake w...

Tech in wrong hands: Car thieves make deviant use of Apple AirTags

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Apple AirTags had made it easier for people to tag and monitor their gadgets in case they got lost. Any innovation is good. But if such new age innovations fall into the wrong hands, it could mean catastrophe. Apple seems to have found that happening in its universe. If you would remember, the Cupertino based technology behemoth had invented the AirTags, which was touted as a major step in the technology arena. These AirTags which made their advent in April last year was seen as a must have tech, considering the rate at which people misplaced their gadgets and were unable to find them. With the arrival of AirTags, it became easier for people to tag and monitor their devices in case they got lost. Apple had made this possible and easy to use by helping device owners to link their gadgets to its own "Find My" network through Bluetooth signals. Made to secure and trace lost items, AirTags had been a hit with many Apple device owners going for it ever since it arrived. Automobile...

Gentleman’s game no more? Kohli behaviour isn’t what cricket needs

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Virat Kohli and team mates display inappropriate behaviour on field in Cape Town cricket test This isn’t cricket! A game known as the gentleman’s game is suddenly becoming not so. It was the game that was put under the scanner, when top-rated players - including the Indian captain Virat Kohli, no less – behaved ungentlemanly at the Cape Town field. It all happened during the ongoing third Test match between India and South Africa at Cape Town. A leg before wicket decision got overturned after a Decision Review System (DRS) call, and the Indians went crazy. The Indian skipper Virat Kohli and a bunch of team mates of the likes of Ashwin and Rahul who found that they were not given what the y deserved, went all out to verbally attack the South African broadcaster Supersport.  A visibly flummoxed Indian team lost their nerve after a controversial DRS call aided South Africa team captain Dean Elgar to get his LBW decision overturned. Shaming cricket The scenario was a heated one and all the...

Kejriwal wants people to pick AAP CM candidate; but will it backfire?

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Will Kejriwal’s call to people to tele-vote on who they want as AAP CM candidate worry Bhagwant Mann? Even as the Punjab unit of the Congress is still undecided as to whether the party’s Chief Minister candidate should be announced before the polls or not, the Aam Aadmi Party has gone a step ahead and done something extraordinary. But, going deeper there’s much more than what meets the eye in terms of internal squabbles. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has said that the voters will have the right to choose their Chief Minister if the party posts victory in Punjab. All the voters will need to do is to dial the number 7074870748 to name their choice of Chief Minister. Kejriwal leaves AAP CM candidate choice to voters And, after the people name their choice, Arvind Kejriwal will announce the party’s face on January 17. The tele-voting campaign is being seen by the party as a major step towards its political journey in Punjab. The phone number is open for calls, WhatsApp and SMS messaging ti...

Sensitising youth on ill-effects of fake news through Satyameva Jayate

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Satyameva Jayate campaign seeks to curb fake news and sensitise the youth on bad effects of misinformation Fake news has turned out to be a menace. The phenomenon of fake news and its ever growing trend has occupied web and social media spaces, and have assumed prominence in an irritatingly sad manner. Even after efforts to curb the spread of fake news have been undertaken from various quarters, the nuisance doesn’t seem to wane. It is in this context that the need to sensitise the younger generation on the ill effects of fake news assumes much significance. In a bid to tackle the menace of misinformation and towards sensitising the youth and college students, a campaign has been rolled out. Christened the Satyameva Jayate Digital Media Literacy Campaign, the efforts are now being extended to all higher education institutions in Kerala. As part of the initiative, a two-day workshop for selected college teachers, who will be the master trainers, was launched on Tuesday in the state capi...