Year: 2023

India’s new broadcasting bill to regulate not only OTTs but also individuals putting online news content

Manish Kumar

The proposed Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, seeks to directly regulate streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+Hotstar  Although YouTube will not comply with the act as it is a social media intermediary, the paid version of YouTube, YouTube Premium, will qualify as an OTT broadcasting service.  Independent journalists with YouTube channels and Instagram accounts, where they post news for professional reasons, will have the same obligations as an OTT broadcaster.  The meaning of an OTT broadcasting service excludes social media intermediaries and their users, experts say clause…

Telangana elections: Congress eyes resurgence to challenge KCR in citadel; bets big on voters’ desire for change

Manish Kumar

Congress bets big on Telangana voters’ desire for change & anger against corruption  We are definitely very close but can’t be sure of an outright victory. That’s why Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge are making that last-ditch effort, says a senior leader.  In Delhi, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has been relegated to a marginal force compared with powerful regional parties.  For nearly three years between 2015 and 2018, the Congress party had no significant or large public rally in Telangana.  After Andhra Pradesh…

Google likely to invest $4 million in BharatGPT-maker CoRover; India’s answer to OpenAI, ChatGPT

Manish Kumar

Google is likely to be investing nearly $4 million in Indian AI start-up Corover.ai, as per media reports.  Corover is in the process of developing a Large Language Model (LLM) called BharatGPT.   It is said to be able to support over a dozen Indian languages and India’s answer to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.  BharatGPT can process diverse data formats, including images, audio, video, and maps, unlike ChatGPT, which predominantly handles text.  CoRover currently extends its AI virtual assistant services to prominent organizations such as IRCTC, LIC, Max Life Insurance, NPCI, and the…

Stones Pelted at Rourkela-Bhubaneswar Vande Bharat Express train in Odisha: this is not the first time in the country

Manish Kumar

In yet another incident of stone pelting on Vande Bharat Express, the Rourkela-Bhubaneswar (20835) train was targeted by unidentified miscreants in Odisha.  The incident took place between Meramandali and Budhapank on the Dhenkanal-Angul railway section in the state.  Similar incidents occurred in other parts of the country. However, no passengers have been harmed in any of the incidents so far.  Earlier in July Stones were pelted at the Bhopal-Delhi Vande Bharat Express.  Later in August this year, the Vande Bharat Express train attacked in Uttar Pradesh   The Vande Bharat…

Alia Bhatt is the latest target of deepfake video after Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif; Govt Swings into Action

Manish Kumar

Alia Bhatt becomes the latest victim of deepfake, obscene video surfaces online.  Deepfake videos have raised serious concerns about the use of AI. Alia Bhatt is the new victim of deepfake and her obscene video is doing rounds on the internet.  Last week, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw met social media platforms to discuss the issue of deepfakes.   Before Alia Bhatt, actors Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, and Kajol were targets of deepfakes.  Actors and celebrities are easy targets of deepfakes because there is ample footage and images of them…

Ex-Bureaucrat VK Pandian Joins Biju Janata Dal; begins his political journey by officially joining the ruling Party

Manish Kumar

In a significant development, 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian on Monday marked the beginning of his political journey by officially joining the Biju Janata Dal.  Odisha Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik has inducted his former secretary into the BJD.  VK Pandian joined the BJD in the presence of ministers and several senior leaders of the party.  Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi had earlier termed VK Pandian’s appointment as the 5T Chairman as a ‘soft landing’ in politics.   She alleged that CM Naveen Patnaik has no control over…

President suggests All-India Judicial Service select and nurture young talents in the judiciary

Manish Kumar

President Droupadi Murmu suggested the creation of an all-India judicial service that can select brilliant youngsters and nurture their talents from lower levels to higher levels in the judiciary.  President Murmu said one way to hasten this diversification process can be the creation of a system in which judges can be recruited from varied backgrounds through a process that is merit-based, competitive, and transparent.  President Murmu said that a more varied representation of India’s unique diversity on the Bench and Bar definitely helps serve the cause of justice better.  President…

SONICWALL ACQUIRES SOLUTIONS GRANTED

Manish Kumar

MILPITAS, Calif.— SonicWall, a global cybersecurity leader, announced the acquisition of Solutions Granted, Inc. (SGI), a top Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), delivering world-class cybersecurity solutions to hundreds of Managed Service Providers (MSPs). The acquisition reinforces SonicWall’s commitment to its valued partners and extends its portfolio to include U.S.-based Security Operations Center services (SOCaaS), Managed Detection and Response (MDR), and other managed services that are tailor-made for MSPs and MSSPs. “IT teams have turned to MDR and other managed services to identify and triage digital threats – it’s a critical need…

Gautam Singhania-Nawaz Modi split; Nawaz Modi has reportedly demanded 75% of Gautam Singhania’s fortune of $1.4 billion

Manish Kumar

Business tycoon Gautam Singhania recently announced his separation from his wife Nawaz Modi on social media and this news left everyone shocked.  Nawaz has accused the billionaire industrialist of assaulting her and one of their daughters in a fit of rage.  Nawaz Modi has reportedly demanded 75% of Gautam Singhania’s fortune of $1.4 billion for the divorce settlement.  This is not the first time we saw the demand of a staggering amount for the divorce settlement. In the past, many Bollywood celebs have got a huge alimony after divorce.  Business…

The world’s biggest iceberg is on the move after 30 years; Read to know the concerns and what’s next

Manish Kumar

The iceberg, named A23a, is finally on the move after being stuck to the ocean floor for more than 30 years.  A23a is a massive iceberg that is more than twice the size of Greater London, covering an area of about 4,000 square kilometers.  The iceberg, formerly part of Antarctica, is finally on the move after being stuck to the ocean floor for more than 30 years.  The iceberg broke away from the Antarctic coast in 1986, but it became stuck in the Weddell Sea and resembled a sort of…