editor - The Purbottar

05 Jun

India orders 300 million doses of an unapproved coronavirus vaccine

editor0 CommentsHealthCovid-19, INDIA, Vaccine

India has ordered 300 million doses of an unnamed amd unapproved vaccine from Indian firm Biological E. The coronavirus vaccine is is in Phase 3 trials, and had showed "promising results" in the first two phases, the federal government said in a statement. However, the $206m order has not received emergency approval. India has administered just over 220 million jabs so far, although much of its 1.4 billion population is now eligible for the vaccine. Less than 15% of the country has received at least one dose of the vaccination, largely because of a severe shortage of doses. India is…

05 Jun

Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts suspended for two years

editor0 CommentsBusiness, Technologyfacebook, international, POLITICS, Trump

Former US President Donald Trump was barred indefinitely from Facebook and Instagram in January in the wake of posts he made on the US Capitol riots. Facebook said Mr Trump's actions were "a severe violation of our rules". Mr Trump said the move was "an insult" to the millions who voted for him in last year's presidential election. Facebook's move comes as the social media giant is also ending a policy shielding politicians from some content moderation rules. It said that it would no longer give politicians immunity for deceptive or abusive content based on their comments being newsworthy. Mr…

04 Jun

GMAT Exam: GMAC introduces enhancements

editor0 CommentsNorth EastAADHAAR CARD, AWA, GMAC, GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has introduced enhancements to the GMAT online exam. Now candidates have more choice and flexibility to bring their best on test day, and confidently meet their business school goals. GMAC is the administrator and owner of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The enhanced online experience further aligns with the test center exam with these features added: (i) Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), (ii) Select exam section order, (iii) Two 8-minute optional breaks, (iv) View unofficial score immediately, (v) Schedule GMAT online exam appointments up to 6 months in advance. Candidates can learn more about the…

04 Jun

JICA’s initiatives for ecosystem revitalization

editor0 CommentsBusinessECOSYSTEM, GREEN INDIA MISSION, JICA, WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

This year’s World Environment Day theme ‘Ecosystem restoration’ echoes of how it is high time that human beings take effective steps towards reviving their environment. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), through its supported projects, intends to continue to contribute to positive change by curbing greenhouse gas emissions, actively investing in clean energy, transportation and infrastructure and societies adapting to climate change are a few measures that can contribute towards Ecosystem Restoration. JICA has invested 1.3 trillion Japanese Yen (approximately Rs 87,000-crore) towards metro development projects in Indian cities that are supposed to contribute to curtail approximately 1.6 million tons of…

04 Jun

US students who took India’s Covaxin, Russia’s Sputnik V, asked to get re-vaccinated

editor0 CommentsNorth East

Since March, over 400 US colleges and universities have announced students get Covid-19 vaccinations, ahead of the Autumn semester but those who have been inoculated with India's indigenous Covaxin or the Russian-made Sputnik V are being asked to re-vaccinate as these vaccines have not yet been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). Rukmini Callimachi reports in the The New York Times that Milloni Doshi, a 25-year-old student from India, who is due to start her master's degree this fall at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, has been administered two doses of Covaxin. Now, Columbia has told…

04 Jun

‘Publicity’: Delhi HC junks Juhi Chawla’s suit against 5G; imposes Rs 20-lakh fine

editor0 CommentsNorth East

The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed the lawsuit by actress Juhi Chawla against the implementation of 5G network technology in the country. The court ruled the plea was filed to gain "publicity" and that the plaintiffs, Chawla and two others, have abused the process of law. The Delhi High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh on the plaintiffs. Justice J R Midha said the plaintiffs have abused and misused the process of law and wasted the court's time. The court added it appeared the suit was filed to attract publicity. This was clear as Juhi Chawla…

04 Jun

Alleging ‘harassment’ by Mysuru deputy commissioner Rohini Sindhuri, civic chief Shilpa Nag resigns

editor0 CommentsNorth East

In what comes as an apparent tussle between Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers in Karnataka, Mysuru city corporation commissioner Shilpa Nag on Thursday resigned from her post alleging harassment by Rohini Sindhuri, her senior and the deputy commissioner of the district, over coronavirus disease (Covid-19) management. In a press conference announcing her resignation, Nag said, "There is no conducive atmosphere for me to discharge my duties. No one should ever face a situation like this." Rejecting the allegation of harassment as untrue, deputy commissioner of Mysuru district Rohini Sindhuri said, "The Mysuru City Corporation was submitting unsigned and contradictory ward-wise…

04 Jun

Karnataka State Government plans to send legal notice to Google

editor0 CommentsBusinessGoogle, INDIA, international, karnataka, TECHNOLOGY

After Google search with the keywords of "ugliest language in India" showed Kannada as the top result, India's Karnataka state says it plans to send a legal notice to Google. On Thursday, Google released a statement apologising for "the misunderstanding and hurting any sentiments". Many, including leaders from the southern Indian state, expressed their outrage at the search result on Thursday. It has fixed the search results following a massive outrage. Karnataka minister Aravind Limbavali demanded an apology from the tech company saying that this was an attempt by Google to insult the pride of Kannadigas [Kannada speakers]. "The Kannada…

04 Jun

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announces some relaxations to restrictions in West Bengal

editor0 CommentsHealthCovid-19, Health, INDIA, Lockdown, Mamata Banerjee, west bengal

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, announced some relaxations to the current restrictions in the state, while addressing a meeting at Nabanna today. Retail stores can now be kept open from 12 noon-4 pm, informed the CM. Hotels and restaurants can be kept open with a 50% workforce from 5 pm to 8 pm only if the workers are vaccinated and all safety measures must be followed. She annoumced free vaccines for the workers of rice mills and flour mills like ration shop workers. The CM further said that partial exemptions are also being considered in the case of shopping malls. There…

04 Jun

Serum Institute of India sought indemnity protection against prosecution

editor0 CommentsNorth EastCovid-19 vaccine, Covishield, Niti Aayog, Serum Institute

Serum Institute of India has sought indemnity protection against prosecution arising from any adverse effects for people taking its Covishield vaccine. The Centre, which has come under severe criticism for the slow progress of inoculation, expects to vaccinate one billion people by the end of this calendar year. Niti Aayog member (health) V. K. Paul had recently said that Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine is likely to be available in India from July. The pharma giant could supply around 5 crore doses between July and October, but it has harped on indemnity as a major requirement. Mumbai-based firm Cipla, which is looking…