North East - The Purbottar

03 Jun

CBSE Class 12 exams cancelled, student tweets farewell-day request to PM Modi. Viral story

editor0 CommentsNorth Eastcbse, education, Narendra Modi

After months of suspense, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 board exams were cancelled on Tuesday, leaving students jubilant. PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter to announce the decision. "Government of India has decided to cancel the Class XII CBSE Board Exams. After extensive consultations, we have taken a decision that is student-friendly, one that safeguards the health as well as future of our youth," his tweet read. Soon after the announcement, social media platforms were flooded with hilarious memes and jokes, and many lauded the Prime Minister's decision. However, one tweet took away the cake and…

03 Jun

Vinod Dua sedition case quashed, SC upholds protection for journalists under Kedar Nath verdict

editor0 CommentsNorth Eastjournalist

The Supreme Court Thursday quashed the sedition case registered against senior journalist Vinod Dua in Himachal Pradesh. The verdict was pronounced by a bench led by Justice U.U. Lalit on Dua’s petition seeking quashing of the case registered against him in connection with a video uploaded to YouTube last year. In the video, Dua is criticising the Narendra Modi government’s handling of the Covid-19 lockdown. The bench said that every journalist is entitled to protection under the Kedar Nath Singh judgment that ruled “dissent is not sedition”. Delivered in 1962, the Kedar Nath judgment upheld the constitutional validity of sedition…

03 Jun

Tokyo Olympics to be conducted from July 23rd despite all controversies

editor0 CommentsNorth EastJapan, SPORTS, Tokyo Olympics

Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto warns that the Olympics "must be prepared" to proceed without spectators in the event of a coronavirus outbreak. Japan is dealing with a fourth wave of coronavirus cases, with 10 areas of the country under a state of emergency. There are 50 days until the delayed Tokyo Games begin on 23 July. Hashimoto said, "I believe that the possibility of these Games going on is 100% that we will do this." She added "The question right now is how are we going to have an even more safe and secure Games. "The Japanese people are…

03 Jun

India signs deal with domestic vaccine maker Biological-E for 300 million doses

editor0 CommentsNorth EastVaccine

India's government said on Thursday (Jun 3) it has inked a deal with domestic vaccine maker Biological-E for 300 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for 15 billion rupees (US$205.62 million), the first such order for unapproved shots. The vaccine, which is currently undergoing phase-3 clinical trials, is likely to be available in the next few months, the health ministry said in a statement. The government would be making an advance payment of Rs. 1500 crore to M/s Biological-E for the manufacturing of the vaccines. The vaccine, a RBD protein sub-unit vaccine, will be manufactured and stockpiled by Biological-E from August-December 2021.…

03 Jun

Ready for Amarnath Yatra, decision lies with administration: Chief of Army Staff.(COAS)

editor0 CommentsNorth EastAMARNATHYATRA2021, COAS, INDIA, INDIANARMY

The chief of army staff (COAS), General M. M. Naravane said on Thursday that the army is ready for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, but the decision to hold the Yatra lies with the civil administration. Addressing the media here on Thursday the COAS said, “We are ready for the Amarnath Yatra. We have taken all the necessary steps although the final decision to hold the Yatra lies with the civil administration”. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which organises the annual Yatra, announced on April 22 the temporary suspension of the registration of pilgrims for the Yatra. The SASB had…

03 Jun

16 peacocks/National birds found dead in orchards in Uttar Pradesh.

editor0 CommentsNorth Eastbirds, INDIA, nationalbird, peacock

Sixteen peacocks were found dead in the mango and gooseberry orchards in Baijalpur village in Pratapgarh district. Panic gripped the area as soon as the birds were found dead on Wednesday evening. Initially one peacock was found dead and the villagers immediately informed the forest department. A team of forest officials arrived and took away the dead peacock. Hours later, 15 more peacocks were found dead in the orchards. According to the divisional forest officer (DFO) Varun Kumar Singh, the post-mortem of the first peacock that was found dead on Wednesday, has been done. The cause of death in his…

03 Jun

PM Modi’s call to Bengal BJP leader Mukul Roy creates political buzz.

editor0 CommentsNorth EastNarendra Modi, The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), TMC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up state BJP leader Mukul Roy and enquired about the health of his wife who is in a critical condition and is undergoing treatment in a private hospital. The two-minute conversation between Modi and Roy has triggered political speculation because it came after TMC leader and MP Abhiskek Banerjee made a surprise visit to the hospital on Wednesday evening. Sources in BJP said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Roy at around 10.30 a.m. and enquired about the health of his wife. He also assured all possible assistance to the BJP national vice-president. Though…

03 Jun

India launches global initiative for clean energy innovation.

editor0 CommentsNorth Eastclean energy, clean to green

India on Wednesday launched the Mission Innovation CleanTech Exchange, a global initiative, that will create a network of incubators across member countries to accelerate clean energy innovation. The network, launched virtually at the Innovating to Net Zero Summit hosted by Chile, will provide access to the expertise and market insights needed to support new technologies to access new markets globally. India among 23 governments collectively launched bold new plans to catalyze action and spearheaded a decade of innovation to drive global investment in clean energy research, development and demonstrations.

03 Jun

Serum Institute of India applies to DCGI to manufacture Covid vaccine Sputnik V

editor0 CommentsNorth East

The Serum Institute of India (SII) has applied to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) seeking permission for a test license to manufacture Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V. It is the third vaccine to be approved by India's drugs regulator after AstraZeneca's Covishield - manufactured by SII - and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Russia-made Sputnik V vaccine is currently being distributed in India by Dr Reddy's Laboratories. The SII has already told the government that it will be able to manufacture and supply 10 crore Covishield doses in June, while it is also manufacturing the Novavax vaccine, the regulatory clearance for…

03 Jun

Nasa reveals Venus missions for 2030

editor0 CommentsNorth EastNASA, science, space, Venus

With two new missions to Venus, Nasa plans to examine the planet's atmosphere and geological features. These missions are due to launch between 2028 and 2030. The missions have each been awarded $500m (£352m) in funding. Nasa administrator Bill Nelson said the missions would offer the "chance to investigate a planet we haven't been to in more than 30 years". The missions were picked following a peer-review process and were chosen based on their potential scientific value and the feasibility of their development plans. The last probe to visit the planet was the Magellan orbiter in 1990. However other vessels…