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Bengaluru: In a legal notice issued by Bomman and Bellie, the mahout couple made famous by the Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers’, is seeking a goodwill gesture’ of Rs 2 crore from filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves.

In the legal notice, a copy of which is PTI has obtained, it is stated that the couple were promised a proper house and an all-terrain multi-purpose vehicle and sufficient financial support as a one-time lump sum payment (without mentioning the amount) as compensation for their time, based on the income generated from the project.

The legal notice also said that on the one hand, the couple were introduced as “the real heroes” to the elite, celebrities, sports persons and political leaders, gaining wide publicity for them. But on the other hand, the filmmaker got all the financial benefits from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and the Prime Minister of India, the notice stated.

When PTI reached out to Bomman, he said he was advised not to talk about the case anymore and asked us to get in touch with his lawyers for further information.

Chennai-based social activist Pravin Raj, a lawyer by profession, who said he has known the couple for almost a decade, said he put them in touch with a law firm in Chennai when the couple approached him.

“Both Bomman and Bellie are disappointed with Gonsalves, who had promised them monetary help as well as help with the education of Bellie’s granddaughter, while making the film. But she now refuses to give even a fraction of the enormous profits made by the film,” said Raj.

He said the couple have been following the documentary maker around, doing what she was asking them to do, in the hope that when the film did well, they would all prosper together.

“Instead, Gonsalves is not even picking up the phone when Bomman calls,” added Raj.

Advocate Mohammed Mansoor who is handling the case said four days ago he received a reply notice from Sikhya Entertainment Pvt Ltd, on behalf of Gonsalves.

“In that, she has flatly refused any more help stating that she has already given money to the couple. I will be sending her a rejoinder in a couple of days after consulting with my clients,” said Mansoor.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued by Sikhya Entertainment Pvt Ltd to the PTI, it is stated: “The goal in creating The Elephant Whisperers’ has always been to highlight elephant conservation, the tremendous efforts of the forest department and its mahouts Bomman and Bellie. Since its launch, the documentary has raised awareness of the cause and had a real impact on the mahouts and cavadis community.

“Chief minister of Tamil Nadu M K Stalin has made donations towards assisting the 91 mahouts and cavadis who look after the state’s elephants, constructing eco-friendly houses for the caretakers and developing an elephant camp in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

“The documentary has been celebrated by heads of state across India, and the Academy Award is a moment of national pride that has brought widespread recognition for the work of mahouts like Bomman and Bellie.

“All claims made are untrue. We have deep respect for all of the contributors of this story, and remain driven by the desire to create positive change.”

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Sunday, 6 August 2023

Article 370 ushered in peace in J&K, Oppn parties demand restoration

Kashmiri Pandit employees hit out at J-K LG over salary remark, asks admin to sack them

Srinagar: On the fourth anniversary of Article 370’s abrogation, the government on Saturday highlighted that the “historic” decision has ushered in peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir, while opposition parties, including the PDP and the Congress, held protests demanding restoration of statehood.

The BJP marked the day with a public meeting in Srinagar and its leaders there said that following the 2019 decision, there has been no shutdowns in the Kashmir Valley, and with the situation getting better, the Union Territory has hosted international events and witnessed record tourist footfall.

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The biggest change after the abrogation of the article is that the common people of Jammu and Kashmir are living life according to their own wishes, Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha said in Srinagar.

The Centre on this day in 2019 had revoked Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

During an event in Odisha capital Bhubaneswar, Shah said, “On August 5, 2019, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi had taken the historic decision to scrap Article 370. On this occasion, I thank the prime minister on behalf of the people of the country.”

“The historic decision to scrap Article 370 taken on this day in 2019 ushered in a new dawn of peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir,” the home minister tweeted.

Highlighting changes in Jammu and Kashmir post-2019, LG Sinha said, “Pakistan-sponsored shutdowns by terrorists and separatists, due to which schools, colleges and business establishments used to remain closed for about 150 days a year, have ended.”

“The biggest change that is visible on the ground is that the common people of Jammu and Kashmir are living life according to their own wishes. Street violence has ended,” he said while talking to reporters after an event in Srinagar.

“The dreams of the youth of Kashmir have got wings now and in the days to come, their contribution to nation building will not be less than anyone,” Sinha said and added that Jammu and Kashmir will soon regain its lost glory for which it was known across the world.

During the day, while Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti claimed she and some senior leaders of her party were placed under house arrest, and several others detained, the National Conference (NC) said its headquarters Nawa-i-Subah was “sealed” and no one was allowed to go inside.

“I’ve been put under house arrest along with other senior PDP leaders today. This comes after a midnight crackdown where scores of my party men are illegally detained in police stations. GOI’s (Government of India) false claims about normalcy to the SC (Supreme Court) stands exposed by their actions driven by paranoia,” Mehbooba tweeted.

She said on one hand, giant hoardings calling upon Kashmiris to “celebrate” the abrogation of Article 370 have been put up across Srinagar, whereas “brute force is being used to choke the actual sentiment of the people”.

In a Twitter post, the NC said, “True to form and in keeping with the clampdown on mainstream democratic activities organised by parties opposed to 5th Aug 2019, the JKNC office has been sealed by the police. No one is being allowed in or out of the office.”

“These steps betray the nervousness of the administration and render hollow their claims regarding great improvements in the last four years,” it added.

In Jammu, the Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT), the People’s Conference and the PDP staged separate protests to mark the day.

Congress members led by the party’s J-K chief, Vikar Rasool Wani, held a demonstration outside the party’s headquarters at Shaheedi Chowk, demanding restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, protection of land rights and 100 per cent reservation for locals in jobs.

“We are observing August 5 as ‘black day’ since the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of our state into UTs (union territories) in 2019…we demand immediate restoration of statehood along with state subject laws,” Wani told reporters.

Slamming the BJP government at the Centre, he alleged that all its promises have fallen flat.”There is no change in Jammu and Kashmir, contrary to the claims of the BJP which had talked about industrial investment, prosperity, and model state. The reality is that the people are suffering due to economic distress and high inflation while our health and education sectors are in shambles,” the J-K Congress president said.

People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone said it is a “sad day”. It is a sad reminder of the “disempowerment of the people of J-K. The process of disempowerment continues”, he tweeted and added that also, “the belittling of institutions, individuals and the people of J-K continues”.

Later talking to reporters, the separatist-turned-mainstream politician said, “This is now the fourth year (since the abrogation) and our government is so confident of the situation that they cannot even dare to hold (assembly) elections because they know what the anger of the people is.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Manish Sahni led a protest outside the party’s office at Channi Himmat in Jammu.

He alleged that after four years, “the situation in the region has deteriorated to the extent that youngsters are desperate for jobs, Pakistan-sponsored narco-terrorism is ruining lives, and Kashmiri migrant pandits are still waiting for their return and rehabilitation”.

Sahni also demanded restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. Talking to reporters after the BJP public meeting in Srinagar, party spokesperson Thakur Abhijeet Jasrotia said this programme was held to open the eyes of those leaders who are trying to “provoke” the people in the name of Article 370.

“These leaders are propagating lies, but the common people and the poor want development…Today, people have risen above dynastic politics, and they do not want any Abdullah or Mufti to befool them,” he said in an apparent reference to National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supremo Mehbooba Mufti.

During the meeting, BJP leaders highlighted the changes in Jammu and Kashmir after the Centre’s 2019 decision, with Jasrotia saying there used to be shutdowns for the most part of the year in the Kashmir Valley, but now, there are no strikes. BJP leader Ashok Koul said post-2019, “Kashmir has changed, stone pelting has ended, separatism has ended.”

“International events have taken place here. There has been a record number of tourist arrivals,” he said.

West Pakistani refugees, Gurkhas and Valmiki Samaj members took to streets in Jammu and Samba districts and celebrated the fourth anniversary of the article’s abrogation, saying it facilitated them to get citizenship of Jammu and Kashmir after a long wait of several decades.

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Earthquake today: Tremors felt in Delhi-NCR, other parts of North India as quake of 5.8 magnitude jolts Afghanistan

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Saturday, 5 August 2023

Jackie Shroff recalls how Rajinikanth braved crowd of 500 people on Jailer set to say ‘bye’ to him: ‘He is the humblest superstar’

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Friday, 4 August 2023

Hyderabad: Gang of transgenders rob 2 men lured via dating app

Ahmedabad: Man robbed of Rs 20 lakh in broad daylight

Hyderabad: Two men were allegedly robbed by a gang of transgenders who had got in touch with them through a dating app. The victims were lured into meeting the gang members in Banjara Hills area, police said. Police have registered two separate cases in this regard.

The two victims got in touch with the gang members through a popular dating application.

Both the victims were asked to visit Bholanagar area in Banjara Hills, police said. “The accused lured them into removing their clothes and captured their videos. After threatening to make the videos public, the robbers forcibly took away their belongings,” said Banjara Hills Circle Inspector M Narendar.

The police have registered cases and launched a manhunt to arrest the accused persons. Police suspect many people might have been robbed by the gang in similar manner.

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Mob with Bajrang Dal members damages Ambedkar bust in MP village, assaults Dalits: Police

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Thursday, 3 August 2023

MoS Muraleedharan thanks Iranian envoy Iraj Ilahi for early release of 8 Indian fishermen

New Delhi: Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan met the Ambassador of Iran to India Iraj Elahi at his office in New Delhi on Wednesday and expressed gratitude to the Government of Iran for the early release of eight Indian fishermen.

Muraleedharan also sought intervention for the early release of the remaining fishermen.

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Taking to his Twitter official handle, Muraleedharan stated, “Happy to meet the Ambassador of Iran to India H.E. Iraj Elahi at my Office. Discussed bilateral matters and consular issues. Thanked the Government of Iran for the release of 8 Indian fishermen recently. Sought intervention for early release of the remaining fishermen.”

Muraleedharan also discussed bilateral matters and consular issues with Iranian envoy Iraj Ilahi.

Happy to meet the Ambassador of Iran to India H.E. Iraj Elahi at my Office.

Discussed bilateral matters and consular issues. Thanked the Government of Iran for the release of 8 Indian fishermen recently. Sought intervention for early release of the remaining fishermen. pic.twitter.com/p51LD0R5Hs
— V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) August 2, 2023

Earlier in June, the Iranian government detained eleven fishermen from India, who went for deep sea fishing from Ajman in the United Arab Emirates and allegedly crossed into Iranian waters.

Following that, Muraleedharan met with the families of the fishermen — who have been detained by the Iranian authorities for allegedly crossing the border — in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

He assured that the Union government is in touch with the Iranian Foreign Ministry and expressed confidence in getting consular access to meet the detained fisherman.

Among eleven fishermen, seven are from Kerala, of which five are from Anchuthengu in the Thiruvananthapuram district and two are from Paravoor in the Kollam district.

The families of the fisherman have been requesting the government to come forward and bring the details of the fishermen.

Father Justin of the Church said that the people are worried about the situation and thanked the MoS for visiting the families of the fishermen.

“This is very unfortunate for the fisherman. 85 per cent of the people work in the area near the border of Iran. This is the case for the last 35 years, but nothing like this ever happened. I was in touch with MoS Muraleedharan, and he responded immediately. I appreciate that. Furthermore, he has taken the step and come here to meet these people. This is something credible on his part,” he said.

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Cong high command reads out the riot act to Karnataka ministers: ‘Zero tolerance for corruption’

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Wednesday, 2 August 2023

Google is latest, but ChatGPT is more reliable for medical info

New York: When you need accurate information about a serious illness, should you go to Google or ChatGPT?

The study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, showed that Google provides the most current information, but query results are skewed by service and product providers seeking customers.

ChatGPT, meanwhile, provides more objective information, but it can be outdated and lacks the sources of its information in its narrative responses, the researchers found.

“If you pick the best features of both, you can build a better system, and I think that this is what will happen in the next couple of years,” said Vagelis Hristidis, a professor of computer science and engineering in University of California, Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering.

A team of scientists submitted 60 queries to both Google and OpenAI’s ChatGPT that are typical submissions from people living with dementia and their families. The researchers said they focused on dementia because more than 6 million Americans are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or a related condition and caregivers of people living with dementia are among the most engaged stakeholders in pursuing health information.

Half of the queries submitted by the researchers sought information about the disease processes, while the other half sought information on services that could assist patients and their families.

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The results were mixed.

“Google has more up-to-date information, and covers everything,” Hristidis said.

“Whereas ChatGPT is trained every few months. So, it is behind. Let’s say there’s some new medicine that just came out last week, you will not find it on ChatGPT.”

While dated, ChatGPT provided more reliable and accurate information than Google. This is because the ChatGPT creators at OpenAI choose the most reliable websites when they train ChatGPT through computationally intensive machine learning. Yet, users are left in the dark about specific sources of information because the resulting narratives are void of references.

Google, however, has a reliability problem because it essentially “covers everything from the reliable sources to advertisements”, Hristidis said. In fact, advertisers pay Google for their website links to appear at the top of search result pages. So, users often first see links to websites of for-profit companies trying to sell them care-related services and products.

Finding reliable information from Google searches thus requires a level of user skill and experience, Hristidis said.

Further, Google and ChatGPT both scored low for readability scores, which makes it difficult for people with lower levels of education and low health literacy skills.

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Tuesday, 1 August 2023

Pakistan, China ink deals to boost CPEC phase 2

Islamabad: Pakistan and China on Monday signed six key documents to help undertake the second phase of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects under a new model, further cementing the all-weather strategic relations between the “iron brothers”.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng witnessed the signing ceremony held here to mark 10 years of the CPEC, a collection of infrastructure and other projects under construction throughout Pakistan since 2013.

The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s Balochistan with China’s Xinjiang province, is opposed by India as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

In his remarks, Vice Premier He conveyed President Xi Jinping’s message of China’s firm support to Pakistan’s prosperity and development.

He, who is a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party, underlined that Pakistan-China friendship was unique and had withstood the vicissitude of time due to deep fraternal ties between the peoples of the two nations.

He reiterated that as an “iron brother and strategic partner,” China would continue its existing economic and financial support to Pakistan.

He also conveyed Beijing’s willingness to enhance Pakistan’s agro and food exports to China.

Both countries signed a document on the joint cooperation committee on CPEC; MoU on establishing an export exchange mechanism within the framework of CPEC; a protocol of phytosanitary requirements for the export of dry chillies from Pakistan to China and a Document on the final report on the feasibility study of realignment of KKH Phase -II.

Both sides also signed through diplomatic channels an MoU on the industrial workers exchange programme.

Prime Minister Sharif expressed pleasure over the signing of documents and thanked the Chinese Vice-Premier for visiting Pakistan to celebrate 10 years of the CPEC.

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He recalled that 10 years ago, the CPEC was signed between then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Xi and implementation was started within no time.

Sharif said that under the CPEC, more than USD 25 billion in investment has taken place in sectors like power, road, hydel power, and public transport.

“Now we are entering the second phase,” the prime minister said.

“Today, we signed certain important documents which will further enhance cooperation and undertake the second phase of CPEC under a new model,” he said.

He said the second phase of the CPEC would feature business-to-business investment in agriculture and information technology to enable Pakistan to export its products according to Chinese standards and requirements.

Sharif also thanked President Xi for sending his special envoy to Pakistan, showing solidarity for people-to-people friendship and showing to the world that both countries were bound in a great and unique relationship.

“We are all-weather friends and iron brothers. This friendship will continue and will not tolerate any kind of obstacle in its way,” Prime Minister Sharif said.

He assured that Pakistan was ready to contribute towards Chinese President Xi’s vision of the shared destiny of progress and prosperity as he showed confidence that Pakistan would stand on its own feet.

“We will emulate the Chinese model of development to achieve peace and prosperity in the country,” he said, adding that Pakistan and China enjoy a unique relationship.

Meanwhile, President Arif Alvi conferred Pakistan’s second-highest civil award, Hilal-i-Pakistan (Crescent of Pakistan), on Chinese Vice Premier He during an investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadar here on Monday.

The award was given to the Chinese dignitary to honour his role in the promotion of bilateral ties between Pakistan and China.

The visit by the vice premier comes as Pakistan narrowly escaped defaulting on foreign obligations.

China played a significant role in helping cash-strapped Pakistan by rolling over more than USD 5 billion in loans.

The CPEC, which was initially a USD 46 billion project, later on, expanded to USD 62 billion.

The key agreement for the CPEC projects was agreed in 2013 but it was formally launched when President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan in 2015.

The BRI was launched by Chinese President Xi in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.

The BRI is seen as an attempt by China to further its influence abroad with infrastructure projects funded by Chinese investments all over the world.

The initiative also led to allegations of smaller countries reeling under mounting Chinese debt after Sri Lanka gave its Hambantota port in a debt swap to China in 2017 on a 99-year lease.

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Monday, 31 July 2023

Discussion on no-confidence motion moved by Congress likely on August 2 in LS

New Delhi: Discussion on the no-confidence motion moved against the Narendra Modi government by the main opposition Congress, is likely to be initiated in Lok Sabha on August 2, sources aware of developments said.

They informed that the business advisory committee (BAC) of Lok Sabha under chairmanship of Speaker Om Birla is expected to meet on Monday, where the business for the week is to be finalised.

Sources said that there is a likelihood that the date for the discussion on the no-confidence motion is likely to be finalised for August 2 during the meeting.

While the BAC meeting is scheduled for Monday, the Prime Minister will be on a day-long visit to Pune on August 1, so the discussion on the no-confidence motion is likely to be initiated on August 2, they added.

As per norms, the Prime Minister has to reply to the discussion on the no-confidence motion.

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The no-confidence motion had been admitted in Lok Sabha on July 26. Moved by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi under Rule 193, the motion said that it has no trust in the central council of ministers. Once the Speaker announced the receipt of the no-confidence motion, he had sought to know the number of MPs who supported the move.

All the Congress, Left, Trinamool Congress, the JD-U, the National Conference, the NCP, the AAP, Samajwadi Party, and Shiv Sena-UBT MPs had stood up to show their support to the proposed no-confidence motion on July 26.

When the discussion will begin in Lok Sabha on the no-confidence motion, either Gogoi or any other MP from the Congress will initiate it.

The discussion is normally allotted a time slot of 10 to 12 hours. The motion had been moved by the Congress, as the government has not heeded to the opposition coalition INDIA’s demand of Prime Minister Modi coming to Parliament and speaking on the situation prevailing in Manipur, which has been in the grip of ethnic violence since first week of May.

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Pharmacy diploma courses: Failed first year students get one-time chance to clear papers

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Sunday, 30 July 2023

Biden administration urged to make priority dates current for Indian Green Card applicants

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Washington: A group of US lawmakers has urged the Biden administration to take executive action to make priority dates current for Green Card applicants from India to reduce the 195-year-long wait period which has left them in a constant state of limbo.

Led by Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi and Larry Bucshon, the bipartisan group of 56 lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas requesting the administration take executive action to provide relief to high-skilled employment-based visa holders.

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In their letter, the US lawmakers also appealed to the administration to mark all dates for filing of employment-based visa applications in the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ published Employment-Based Visa Bulletin as “current”.

A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to the US as evidence that the bearer has been granted the privilege of residing permanently.

The current situation surrounding the seven per cent country cap on employment-based Green Card allocation is causing severe repercussions, particularly for countries such as India, where the backlog has reached an astonishing 195 years, said Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS USA) in a separate appeal to the US President Joe Biden.

This backlog disproportionately affects Indian tech professionals, who constitute a significant portion of the highly skilled STEM talent and US-educated graduates, playing a crucial role in maintaining the United States’ competitive edge in the technology industries, it said.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.

However, the backlog has created a significant barrier, hindering these talented individuals from contributing meaningfully to the country’s growth and innovation, the FIIDS observed.

This year, the FIIDS has made several efforts in addressing the concerns of the immigrant Indian community, in particular those related to Green Card and H-1B visas.

“We started efforts to get relief to Indian H-1Bs who are stuck in Green Card processing. We launched a change petition, we are approaching representatives, various other organisations and influencers. We are reaching out to the Bureau of consular services in the state department as well as the USCIS in the DHS to take administrative action to make the priority dates current for green card applicants,” Khanderao Kand from FIIDS said.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

The lawmakers in their letter said that marking all dates as “current” would allow employment-based applications to be filed regardless of applicants’ country-based priority date. This would provide relief to thousands of individuals attempting to legally navigate the US immigration system and could potentially also make some eligible for employment authorisation documents to change jobs, start businesses, and travel abroad to visit family without penalty, it said.

Without this administrative action, which was also used during the administration of President George W Bush, individuals are left in a constant state of limbo and, in some cases, are punished for utilising a pathway of legal immigration by being forced to stay with one company or organisation due to their Green Card status, they said in the letter.

“I’m proud to join my colleagues in urging the Biden administration to address bureaucratic delays in our legal immigration system that are holding back our economy while leaving so many families in limbo,” Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said.

“By using its authority under the existing law, the administration can ease this burden while strengthening our economy and helping to create jobs,” he said.

Congressman Bucshon said, unfortunately, due to bureaucratic red tape in “our nation’s legal immigration system, they are caught in the visa backlog and don’t have the flexibility to change jobs, start businesses, and travel abroad without penalty”.

“I believe that it’s important for the administration to act within the current law to make it easier for these legal immigrants to navigate our immigration system and continue making a positive contribution to our nation and our economy,” Bucshon said.

President of Immigration Voice Aman Kapoor said that “this commonsense measure proposed in the letter by Congressmen Krishnamoorthi and Bucshon would be an absolute game changer to provide basic human rights such as the ability to change jobs and travel for nearly one million high skilled immigrants whose status in the US can end at any moment and is entirely dependent upon the whims of their employer”.

The entire basis for this problem is a “discriminatory” immigration system that requires Indian nationals to have to wait “200 years for a Green Card while people from 150 other countries have no wait at all”, Kapoor said.

“We now call on the Biden administration to do the right thing and heed the call of this rare bipartisan letter and give high-skilled immigrants here for over a decade the same rights to work and travel that people being paroled into the US for the first time just this week have,” he said.

“We are no less deserving of basic human rights and fairness than anyone else and we hope the Biden administration will agree,” Kapoor said.

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SC sets aside Calcutta HC order suspending doc’s licence in contempt proceedings

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court has recently said that the power to punish a medical practitioner for “misconduct” rests exclusively with the National Medical Commission.

A bench comprising of Justices BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol was hearing a special leave petition filed by a doctor against Calcutta High Court’s orders suspending his license to practice medicine in contempt proceedings.

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The High Court order passed on July 14 last year, extended the period of suspension till August 19, 2022. It also issued a showcause notice on why the petitioner’s suspension should not be affected for two more years.

Contempt proceedings were initiated on the application of a private party in a case relating to demolition of an unauthorised structure which was constructed by the appellant in deviation with the Siliguri Municipal Corporation’s sanctioned plan.

“A perusal of the provisions of this Act (National Medical Commission Act, 2019) as well as the now repealed, Medical Council Act, 1956 shows that the power to punish a registered medical practitioner for ‘misconduct’ rests exclusively with the body envisaged under this Act,” the top court said.

Also, it said that in exercise of contempt jurisdiction, court can prescribe prescribe imprisonment of a term upto 6 months or a maximum fine of Rs 2,000, as per the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

The Supreme Court Court said that it has no hesitation in holding that the punishment handed down to the contemnor is entirely foreign to the Contempt of Courts Act and, therefore, unsustainable.

“The judgment (of the high court)… is set aside. The licence of the appellant, to practice medicine is revived,” it said while allowing the appeal.

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First consignment of spare parts for Gokhale bridge girder arrives in the bay

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Saturday, 29 July 2023

CWC tells HC custody of child surrendered by mother handed over to biological father

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Cricket World Cup: Online tickets sales could begin by August 10, physical tickets needed to enter stadiums

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Friday, 28 July 2023

Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja shine as India steamroll West Indies in first ODI

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Thursday, 27 July 2023

Education is key to human dignity and economic development

schools in hyderabad

By Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam

I have always believed that education is the key to economic growth and human development. Quality education is a necessary precondition to advance in social sciences and humanities, science and technology, as well as agriculture and healthcare sectors. It ensures efficient public administration as well as private sector growth. Above all, education guarantees an individual’s right to a dignified life.

This is why we see that ilm (knowledge) recurs as a theme throughout the Qur’an and the Prophetic traditions. That knowledge is an absolute value is evident from the very first Qur’anic revelation. Knowledge is so valuable in Islam that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Acquisition of knowledge is incumbent on every Muslim.”

Alarming Report

While going through The Economist (July 1), I was startled to find a report on the state of education in India. The report says India’s economic dreams are in danger because of the country’s unskilled, jobless youths. Interestingly, there’s also a story on education in Vietnam, titled ‘Best in class’, where the report on education in India ends. And I was surprised to find that Vietnamese children “go through one of the best schooling systems in the world, a status reflected in outstanding performances in international assessments of reading, maths and science.”

Now the question that comes to my mind is: “Why does Indian education system paint a bleak picture, and what is behind the success story of Vietnam’s education system.”

The report has the answer. First, it appreciates the economic potentials India has and the strides it has made in education.

It says, “India is expanding at an annual rate of 6% and its GDP ranks fifth in the global pecking order. Its tech industry is flourishing and green firms are laying solar panels like carpets. Many multinationals are drawn here … India’s huge youth bulge—some 500m of its people are under 20—should be an additional propellant.”

Then, the report says, “…although India’s brainy elite hovers up qualifications, education for most Indians is still a bust. Unskilled jobless youngsters risk bringing India’s economic development to a premature stop.”

India has done a commendable job as far as building infrastructure is concerned. “A decade ago only a third of government schools had hand washing facilities and only about half had electricity; now around 90% have both. In the last decade, nearly 400 universities have been established in India. Enrolment in higher education has risen by a fifth.”

However, the country is still doing “a terrible job” of making sure that those who go to schools learn essential skills. Alarmingly, less than half of the country’s 10-year-olds— prior to the pandemic— were able to read a simple story despite going to schools regularly. The pandemic has made the situation worse.

What Gives Vietnam an Edge?

Education in Vietnam is a national priority. “Provinces are required to spend 20% of their budgets on education, which has helped regional equity.”

Parents’ commitment to education and a conducive environment fosters children’s propensity to learn. These children “learn more at school, especially in the early years”.

However, the biggest reason that gives a competitive edge to the Vietnamese students is “the calibre of its teachers”. Most of these teachers are “not necessarily better qualified; they are simply more effective at teaching”. They get frequent training and are free to use their discretion to make classes more engaging.

It is interesting to note that the teachers who are posted to remote areas are paid more. Above all, teachers are evaluated on the basis of pupil performance.

Causes of Educational Malaise

The Economist has enumerated a few causes of the educational problems in India, which include jam-packed curriculums with “too little time for basic lessons in maths and literacy”, “poorly trained” and “badly supervised” teachers.

It has also noted that harnessing teachers in unrelated duties, such as administering elections and policing social-distancing rules during the pandemic, has a detrimental effect on education. This is why a large number of families send their wards to private schools, which educate “about 50% of all India’s children”.

How to Fix It?

The magazine rightly suggested that we need to spend more on education. “Last year the outlays were just 2.9% of India’s GDP, low by international standards.” Education system needs to be reformed by taking inspiration from models in other Asian countries such as Vietnam.

The Economist recommends collecting data about “how much students are learning”. It urges politicians to “stop disputing data that do not show their policies in a good light”. And it also asks politicians to stop meddling with textbooks.

Quality of Education Matters

When India enacted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, I had appreciated the government’s move and written about it. In my article I had expressed some of the concerns that The Economist is raising today.

In my article I wrote that it was a significant legislation that would ensure free and compulsory education to children between the age of six and fourteen. And it would enable people to develop skills, capacity and confidence to strive for realisation of other rights.

However, I wrote, we should also keep in mind that this fundamental right to education does not mean that any education would be sufficient to fulfil our aspirations. I quoted former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, Katariana Tomasevski, who said: “education could be meaningful when it was available, accessible, acceptable and adaptable.”

4 A’s in the Indian Context

I described these 4 A’s in the Indian context. Availability means that education is government-funded, free, and there are adequate numbers of schools and trained teachers who may ensure quality education to children in their neighbourhood.

Accessibility means that the education system is accessible to all without any discrimination, but ensures positive steps for the marginalised sections of the society.

Acceptability means that the education curriculum is relevant and of good quality with cultural acceptability for all, especially the minorities.

Adaptability means that the education serves needs of the society and it is suitable to specific contexts like religious education, etc.

Equality of Opportunity

Equality of opportunity to have good quality education must be made available for all and sundry. There must not be any discrimination on the basis of caste, class, region or religion. However, affirmative action and inclusive education should always be part of our educational policy. Education must benefit all, not just small elite.

Therefore, we should pay special attention to students who belong to marginalised and underprivileged sections of the society as well as those with disabilities or special needs. To achieve this end, we have the idea of reservations, which is an Indian version of Affirmative Action.

Empowering women, minorities, Dalits and Tribals through reservations can go a long way in building a peaceful society and powerful economy. Therefore, politicians should rise above party politics and implement the idea more vigorously.

Dealing with Moral Chaos

We always need to remember the purpose of education, which is to equip students with technical skills so that they could have decent income and livelihood. It is also the purpose of education to inculcate students with moral values and socially acceptable habits.

A good grounding in moral values and social skills has to be part of the beginning stages of school as well as home training in order to deal with the present moral chaos.

A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body

Besides focusing on imparting good quality education and moral training, we should also be concerned about our children’s physical and psychological wellbeing.

Parents and teachers must encourage children to eat healthy food and have a daily regimen of exercise. Parents should also focus on raising emotionally healthy kids.

Challenges of AI

In a previous article I have already highlighted the prospects and dangers of Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning. However, I would like to reiterate that we have to prepare ourselves for the challenges posed by AI.

A large number of people are going to be rendered jobless as AI takes over jobs done by people. Western countries are expected to sustain all the early causality. Thus, they are relentlessly preparing to face the challenges.

We’ll have to make sure that AI does not destroy our society by making rich more richer and poor more poorer and rendering marginalised sections of society further vulnerable.

We have to meet the present-day challenges of unemployed and unemployable youth, economic and social inequality, issues with psychological wellbeing and physical health of our children, moral chaos, and Artificial Intelligence. And there is one answer to all these problems: good quality education and teaching of moral values!

The author is chairman of Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by authors in the opinions section are not supported or endorsed by the organisation. No warranties from our side will be given for the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information.

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Wednesday, 26 July 2023

Manipur strife quite similar to Gujarat riots of 2002: Dipankar

dipankar bhattacharya

Patna: CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya on Tuesday likened the ethnic strife in Manipur to communal riots that broke out in Gujarat when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the western state’s chief minister.

Addressing a press conference here, he claimed that “politics of ethnic cleansing” in the north-eastern state will become “a major issue” in the forthcoming elections just as the 2002 riots had dominated the discourse during the Lok Sabha polls of 2004.

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“We see lots of similarities between what is happening in BJP-ruled Manipur at present and what took place in Gujarat in 2002. The government in Manipur seems to be following Modi, who had tried to brush aside Gujarat riots by invoking regional chauvinism”, alleged Bhattacharya.

“The one difference between the situation then and now is that these days, with the proliferation of social media, we get to know many things which governments may like to suppress. A case in point is the atrocities suffered by the two women”, said the CPI(ML)-L leader, referring to the video clip of May 4, which recently went viral.

“One of the rape victims in Manipur was married to a soldier who fought in Kargil. Another old woman, who was buried alive, was wife of a freedom fighter. So much for the BJP’s boasts of patriotism”, said Bhattacharya.

“Manipur is just an extreme case of the politics of mob violence that the BJP has promoted across the country, which get reflected elsewhere in lynchings by cow vigilantes”, said the CPI(ML)-L leader.

He also deplored the suspension of AAP MP Sanjay Singh from Rajya Sabha, demanding its immediate withdrawal, and expressed “solidarity with all who had staged a dharna all through the night inside the Parliament”.

“We are also with the popular sentiment which seeks dismissal of Manipur Chief Minister, whose government has drawn flak from the very Governor of that state. We also support the demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation”, added Bhattacharya.

“Above all, we are appalled at the deafening silence the Prime Minister has maintained over the entire episode. When he chose to touch upon the issue, he tried to drag in crimes against women in other states, which were different even though no less reprehensible”, alleged Bhattacharya.

The CPI(ML)-L leader, who has agreed to become a part of the united opposition, also expressed bewilderment over the prime minister drawing parallels between the acronym ‘INDIA’ and East India Company established by British colonizers.

“The PM should know that India that is Bharat is the opening phrase of the very first Article of the Constitution. Though the BJP has always had scant respect for the Constitution. The CAA was a flagrant violation of the ideals espoused in the Constitution’s preamble”, he alleged.

“Nonetheless, the PM should be mindful that India is the very name by which the country is known abroad where he is so happy to enjoy the limelight”, Bhattacharya remarked.

“Overall, the situation in the country seems ripe for a strong mass movement of which we will definitely be a part. We are sure that the politics of ethnic cleansing will become an issue in all elections in the near future just like the communal carnage of 2002 had become in 2004 Lok Sabha polls. The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s calls for Raj Dharma had gone unheeded”, said Bhattacharya.

The CPI(ML)-L leader, whose party supports the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar from outside, also said he expected the administration in the state to be more sensitive towards mass protests by teachers’ job aspirants and ASHA workers.

“The government must talk to representatives of these agitators and work out an amicable solution. At the conference of opposition parties in Bengaluru, a resolution was passed in which a commitment was made that the governments in states ruled by INDIA constituents shall be different in terms of style and substance. The Bihar government must walk the talk. Nitish Kumar must live up to his reputation for good governance”, added Bhattacharya.

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Tuesday, 25 July 2023

Govt forms committee to audit charity beds in 430 trust hospitals

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Karnataka to streamline counselling with combined allotment for engineering, medical, dental seats

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Monday, 24 July 2023

Maha: 22 deaths in Thane, 13 in Palghar since start of monsoon, say officials

Heavy rainfall

Thane: Twenty-two persons have died in Thane and 13 in Palghar district in rain-related incidents since the start of monsoon this year, officials said on Sunday.

Thane Collector Ashok Shingare gave the information about deaths in his district after chairing a review meeting on Saturday.

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He said 300 persons are lodged in shelters in the district.

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been station in Kalyan since the region is flood-prone, he said.

Palghar District Disaster Management Cell chief Vivekanand Kadam told PTI 13 persons have died since monsoon began.

He also said 399 houses have been partially damaged, while 79 people had to be shifted to a shelter in Vasai.

“An NDRF team is stationed in Vasai area of the district to tackle monsoon-related emergencies,” Kadam said.

While, two animals have been electrocuted in Palghar, a total of four animals have perished in floods in Thane during this period, officials said.

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Water level in dams improves, but remains lower than last yr

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Waterlogging at airport as torrential rainfall hits Ahmedabad

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Despite IMD’s yellow alert, rain to continue for a week

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Batra, Bajor power Bengaluru Smashers’ win over Puneri Paltan in UTT

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Worker electrocuted while cleaning sewage line

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Andhra Pradesh CM congratulates Satwiksairaj, Chirag for winning Korean Open

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Sunday, 23 July 2023

French players’ union backs Kylian Mbappe as PSG depart for Asia tour sans star amid contract row

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Saturday, 22 July 2023

Gurbani telecast from Golden Temple: SGPC asks PTC to continue, Mann says ‘dirty move’ to appease Badals

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Friday, 21 July 2023

Stalin writes to Union Minister; seeks release of Cauvery water by Karnataka

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday wrote a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, urging him to direct the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) for directions to Karnataka government to release the prescribed volume of Cauvery river’s water to the state.

In the letter, the Chief Minister said: “I urge your personal and immediate intervention on this issue and request you to direct the CWMA to issue directions to Karnataka to abide by the monthly schedule prescribed by the Supreme Court and to make good the shortfall.”

He also pointed out to the Union Minister on the risk being faced by the Kuruvai farmers due to Karnataka not releasing the prescribed quantity of water.

The Chief Minister said that the Mettur dam that was opened for Kuruvai cultivation on June 12, have water only to irrigate the fields for 20 days.

He also said that even though the onset of the monsoon was delayed, it has picked up pace in July.

Stalin said that Karnataka, however, has not released any water to Tamil Nadu from the two scheduled reservoirs.

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In a letter to the Union Minister, Stalin further said: “Since the monsoon rainfall in Tamil Nadu is less, the Kuruvai crops depend only on flows from Mettur reservoir, which in turn depends on releases from Karnataka. We have been taking all efforts to manage the crisis with judicious water management.”

The Chief Minister said that the demand and supply gap is very significant and it could be met only by water release from Karnataka.

He said that the CWMA, had in its letter dated July 4, advised Karnataka to ensure the water flow at Billigundalu as per the final award of the CWDT modified by the Apex court.

He also added that even after the CWMA’s intervention, Karnataka has not made any efforts to adhere to the monthly schedule prescribed by the Supreme Court.

The Chief Minister also said that the standing Kuruvai crops could be saved only if Karnataka releases water immediately.

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Kremlin defends Putin’s decision to attend BRICS summit online

Kremlin defends Putin's decision to attend BRICS summit online

Moscow: The Kremlin on Thursday defended its decision not to let President Vladimir Putin travel to South Africa next month to attend the BRICS Summit in person, saying Moscow has done this before and the Russian leader will still be able to exchange views with his counterparts from the grouping online.

“We are talking about full participation. It will be both the president’s address and — if necessary — participation in an exchange of views,” Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a request to specify the format of Putin’s participation.

BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The association’s 15th summit will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 22-24.

It will be the first BRICS Summit to be hosted in person since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global restrictions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will personally represent Russia at the event. President Putin is facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) for alleged war crimes.

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Lavrov has on many occasions represented the country at international events, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, adding that Moscow has adopted this practice in the past.

“It’s up to us to decide and a decision has been made. This practice has been used more than once,” she said, commenting on Putin’s decision not to attend the summit in person.

When asked if the move stemmed from the ICC arrest warrant against Putin, Zakhrova warned against looking for “hidden meanings.” “Russia takes part in many international events this way, like many other countries,” she added.

On March 17, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova, alleging that they were responsible for “unlawful deportation” and transfer of population, including children, from Ukraine to Russia.

Moscow has said that since Russia was not party to the ICC Rome Statute, the court’s decisions were legally void for the country.

On Wednesday, South African Presidential Spokesman Vincent Magwenya told Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency that Pretoria and Moscow took into consideration South Africa’s obligations under the Rome Statute when deciding on the form of President Putin’s participation in the BRICS summit in August.

“The commitment to South Africa’s successful hosting of the summit, the historic nature of this upcoming BRICS summit, and a recognition of South Africa’s legal obligations to the Rome Statute guided the deliberations over the participation of Russia during the summit,” Magwenya said in response to a question.

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After Manipur video, NE CMs, leaders speak up: ‘Whole region needs a solution… only Centre can provide it’

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Thursday, 20 July 2023

Merger to enable HDFC Bank to take big exposure in infra projects: CEO

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‘Those accusing govt of budgetary deprivation are hypocrites’: Tripura law minister Ratan Lal Nath

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Cyber fraudsters dupe 2 Hyderabad businessmen of over Rs 1 crore

Hyderabad's HACK Summit 2023: Addressing cybersecurity challenges

Hyderabad: Cybercrime Police Station on Wednesday filed two separate cases of businessmen being cheated by cyber fraudsters to the tune of tens of lakhs.

In the first incident, a businessman from Borabanda received a message from an unknown phone number promising high profits on investment in crypto currency. The man contacted the phone number and followed the directions provided by the fake company executive. He transferred Rs. 47 lakhs to the bank accounts provided by them and waited for the returns. When there was no response from the fake executive, he realised that he had been cheated.

The other person, who was duped over a part-time trade promising huge returns, is a resident of Secunderabad. He ended up losing Rs 65 lakhs, police said. The cyber fraudsters contacted him and assured to provide him guidance to start part-time trading.

Further investigations into both cases are underway, police said.

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Alarming Report

What Gives Vietnam an Edge?

Causes of Educational Malaise

How to Fix It?

Quality of Education Matters

4 A’s in the Indian Context

Equality of Opportunity

Dealing with Moral Chaos

A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body

Challenges of AI

Wednesday, 26 July 2023

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