North East - The Purbottar

24 May

Teamwork Arts Announces Digital Literature Series.

editor0 CommentsNorth East

When the whole world is in the grab of very dangerous and life taking virus. Times which we had not ever foreseen or can even quite comprehend. Times which have made us distance ourselves physically from one another even as we value and understand the importance of the human connection. This is also a time when we turn to the hope-instilling powers of literature. The iconic Jaipur Literature Festival has always celebrated the glory of the word and the spirit of the community that books build. The Festival believes in linking people through the universal language of art and literature…

24 May

May : Mental Health Awareness Month,What are frontline workers doing to stay mentally fit.

editor0 CommentsNorth East

The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has left the world with no other options except to being in a state of trauma. What once was thought to be only a fiction — quarantine and social distancing — has now become commonplace globally as governments make concerted efforts to fight the spiralling coronavirus outbreak. According to a study by ‘The Lancet’, a well-known medical journal, the psychological impact of such a scenario can be great leading to mental health concerns from anxiety and anger to sleep disturbances, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With the each passing day , the significant…

23 May

A Trans US-India Team Aims To Create Instagram’s Largest Network Of People Who Are Physically Distancing.

editor0 CommentsNorth East

The page (@6ftlove), created by New York-based urban planner, Sabah Usmani, is a reminder that though we are staying six feet apart physically, we are all still connected emotionally.“6ftlove is both a design project and a global solidarity movement to fight the spread of COVID-19,” says Sabah. The team invites people to send in their experiences of isolation, submitted in any language. Almost every day, they profile an individual’s story, with an illustration and a quote of how they are navigating the outbreak and dealing with physical distancing. “We are gathering stories spanning a diversity of experiences, backgrounds, and geographies.…

23 May

A Comparison Of Aarogya Setu Aap With Other Contact Tracing Apps.

editor0 CommentsNorth East

India is among the three countries to make the app mandatory. India is among the four countries to not have limitations on the use of data. Aarogya Setu’s code is not open sourced thus hampering transparency. According to a database maintained by MIT Technology Review, Aarogya Setu, India’s contact-tracing app to combat COVID-19, poses significant risks to the privacy of the user compared to similar apps in other countries. Though there is little clarity on the design and security of the app, it has been made mandatory in some places. The apps in China and Turkey pose greater risks for…

23 May

Facebook: Builds Shop For Small Business To Go Online .

editor0 CommentsNorth East

Facebook has introduced Shops, a tool to help small businesses set up free online store-fronts. The social media company said it would help the small businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic and thrive in a retail space, which is going through a digital makeover. Any seller can list their business on the online platform and connect with customers. They can customise the look and feel of their Shop with a cover image and showcase their brand on this new tool, Facebook said. “I am hopeful that it is going to play some role in helping small businesses get through this period…

23 May

New Google Maps Features, Windows 10 Update.

editor0 CommentsNorth East

Google Maps has received several updates over the last two months. It appears that the app is now getting a new real-time location sharing interface on both Android and iOS devices. The interface update is also available to Google Maps users in India. It appears that the new location sharing UI was rolled out via a server-side update. It is important to note that the new update does not include new features, but overall changes the look and feel of the location-sharing interface. In the new interface, Google has made visual changes to the sharing window as well as added…

23 May

‘Zero Cases Of COVID-19 By May 16’ Forecast Was Misinterpreted , Says NITI Aayog Member V.K Paul.

editor0 CommentsNorth East

'No one has ever said that the coronavirus cases will be zero by a particular date', Niti Aayog member VK Paul said, and apologised for any misconception on the matter. Last month, Paul made a presentation at a Health Ministry briefing in which he explained how the lockdown helped curtail the spread of the virus. In one of the slides, the curve showed active cases plummeting to zero by May 16. This is the first time Dr. Paul has acknowledged the issue at a public forum. His presentation suggested that the first lockdown had prevented India from seeing a 1,00,000…

22 May

Domestic Flight Passengers Do Not Need 14-Day Quarantine.

editor0 CommentsNorth East

Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday announced there will be no 14-day quarantine for passengers on domestic flights. The minister said that only one-third of the flights will be allowed to operate under strict rules when domestic flight services resume on May 25. "In case you test positive, then you will not even be permitted to enter the airport or board flights," Puri added while discussing the revised SOPs that flyers need to follow when flights start on May 25. The Centre decided to start the domestic flight services from the next week after two months. Travellers…

22 May

Pakistan Passenger Plane Crashes Near Karachi .

editor0 CommentsNorth East

Flight PK8303, carrying 91 passengers and eight crew, was trying to land at Jinnah International Airport. Provincial health officials confirmed at least 37 fatalities, but a far higher death toll is feared. At least three passengers survived. The pilot had reported a loss of engine power and subsequently issued a mayday.Flight PK-303 from Lahore was about to land in Karachi when it crashed at the Jinnah Garden area near Model Colony in Malir, just a minute before its landing, they said. The PIA Airbus A320 carrying 99 passengers and eight crew members has crashed into the Jinnah housing society located…

22 May

Universities To Conduct Online Exams In June.

editor0 CommentsNorth East

After online classes, some city colleges have decided to let studentstake exams from home. Some institutions will conduct end of semester exams online to avoid delay in the academic calendar. A consensus was arrived at a meeting of University Vice Chancellors that was convened by Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel on Thursday. The decision comes amid several universities going back and forth over the examination schedule with many being compelled to defer them subsequently. While deciding to prioritise final-year examinations, the meeting deemed it wise to commence the examinations only after the completion of school-level examinations to prevent a sudden spurt in…