Day: October 9, 2024

BSNL Pledges to Improve Service Within 6 Months: Parliamentary Committee Assured of Upgrades

Manish Kumar

BSNL’s Role in India’s Telecom Sector Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is India’s state-owned telecommunications company, offering landline, mobile, and internet services across the country. Founded in 2000, BSNL has been a key player in connecting India’s rural and urban populations. However, in recent years, the company has faced challenges such as declining market share and lagging behind private competitors in terms of technology and service quality. Despite these issues, BSNL remains vital to India’s telecom landscape, particularly in rural and remote areas, and is actively working to revamp its…

2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded for Groundbreaking Protein Research

Manish Kumar

Recognizing Innovations in Protein Design and AI-powered Structure Prediction David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John M Jumper have been honored with the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their pioneering work on proteins, which play a vital role in nearly all biological processes. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the laureates on October 9, 2024, recognizing their extraordinary contributions in two distinct yet interrelated areas: computational protein design and protein structure prediction using artificial intelligence (AI). Two Paths to Revolutionary Protein Discoveries The Nobel committee awarded David Baker one half of the…

Haryana’s New Government: Key Challenges and Priorities for Progress

Manish Kumar

Addressing Governance Challenges in a Changing Haryana As Haryana embarks on a fresh chapter under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, the challenges ahead are both complex and urgent. Poll outcomes often reveal the underlying issues that the public is concerned about, and in Haryana, these include unemployment, farm distress, and inadequate infrastructure. As the new government begins its tenure, it must move beyond political rhetoric and deliver on promises made during the election campaign. This requires not only addressing governance challenges but also laying the groundwork for inclusive growth…

Florida Braces for Devastating Impact as Hurricane Milton Approaches

Manish Kumar

Massive Evacuations Underway Amid Warnings of “Once-in-a-Century” Storm Florida is in full crisis mode as it prepares for the imminent landfall of Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm that is forecast to bring massive destruction to the state’s west coast. With evacuation orders affecting over a million residents, state and federal officials are urging people to leave their homes before it’s too late. The storm, described by some as the most powerful in a century, has prompted President Joe Biden to postpone international trips in order to oversee the emergency…

North Korea Severs Road and Rail Links with South Korea Amid Rising Hostilities

Manish Kumar

The Complex History of North-South Relations The relationship between North and South Korea has been fraught with tension and hostility ever since the Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The two nations have remained technically at war for over 70 years, with occasional diplomatic efforts to ease tensions often overshadowed by military provocations, nuclear threats, and deep ideological divides. While South Korea, with U.S. backing, has embraced democracy and rapid economic development, North Korea remains an isolated, authoritarian state under the leadership of Kim…

Hezbollah and Israel: A Longstanding Conflict Escalates as Netanyahu Urges Lebanon to make the country Free from Hezbollah

Manish Kumar

The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has its roots in the broader geopolitical struggles of the Middle East, where Lebanon’s Hezbollah, a Shiite Islamist political and militant group, is a significant actor. Founded in the 1980s with Iranian support, Hezbollah has grown into a powerful political and military force, primarily based in Lebanon. Over the decades, tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have flared into periodic military confrontations, the most notable being the 2006 Lebanon War. Hezbollah’s military activities, heavily backed by Iran, continue to challenge Israeli sovereignty, and the conflict…

Shagun Parihar: The Young BJP Leader from J&K Whose Triumph Honors a Legacy of Sacrifice

Manish Kumar

Shagun Parihar, a rising star in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), recently made headlines for her victory in the Kishtwar constituency of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). At just 29 years old, Shagun’s political journey is both inspiring and deeply personal, shaped by family tragedy and a sense of duty to her community. Her father and uncle were killed in a terror attack in 2018, making her electoral win a testament to resilience and a dedication to peace. A Narrow Victory in Kishtwar In a closely contested race, Shagun Parihar won…

RBI Keeps Repo Rate Steady at 6.5%, Shifts Policy Stance to Neutral

Manish Kumar

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has opted to keep its key lending rate, the repo rate, unchanged at 6.5%, signaling caution amidst inflation concerns and economic growth needs. This decision, announced after the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) three-day meeting, reflects the central bank’s balanced approach in navigating India’s current macroeconomic landscape. RBI Holds Repo Rate Steady On Wednesday, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das revealed that the MPC, by a majority of five out of six members, voted to maintain the repo rate at 6.5%. The repo rate, which has stayed…

Congress Alleges Electoral Manipulation in Haryana: “Victory Snatched from Us”

Manish Kumar

As the Haryana Assembly election results defied earlier predictions, the Congress party has raised serious concerns over the outcome, alleging manipulation in the electoral process. According to party leaders, the results do not reflect the will of the people, and they plan to take legal action. This comes as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a third consecutive term in the state, in contrast to exit poll projections that had forecast a Congress victory. Congress Claims “Deliberate Defeat” At a press conference on Tuesday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the…

Second Edition of Hanle Dark Sky Reserve Star Party Observed in Ladakh

Manish Kumar

Expert astro-photographers and amateur astronomers came together at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve between 29 September to 4 October 2024, for the second Star Party. The unique event was organised by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in collaboration with Department of Wildlife Protection of UT Ladakh, and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and was attended by more than 45 astronomy enthusiasts from across the country. Hanle and the surrounding region are host to some of the darkest night…