Tag: CLAT

NATIONAL NEWS

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passes away

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar has passed away at the age of 92 after suffering a multi-organ failure. The Bharat Ratna awardee was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia and tested positive for the coronavirus disease in January. She is survived by her 3 sisters – Usha Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Meena Khadikar and brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar. She began her career as a singer back in 1942 and never looked back. She recorded innumerable songs in over 36 Indian and foreign languages. She gave us musical gems such as Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo, Lag Jaa Gale, Yeh Kahan Aage Hain Hum and Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, among others. Having led an eventful and rich life of several milestones, Lata Mangeshkar was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1990. For her contribution to Indian music, she also was bestowed with Padma Bhushan in 1969 and Bharat Ratna in 2001.

Kotak General Ins. Partners CARS24 to offer Motor Insurance for used cars

Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company has signed an agreement with Cars24 Financial Services Private Limited (CARS24 Financial Services) to provide motor insurance services to used car buyers. Under the partnership, used car buyers from Cars24 will be directly provided with Kotak General Insurance’s comprehensive motor insurance plans. The partnership will provide a trustworthy and faster way to avail of motor insurance with a fully digital insurance process. Customers can also avail of cashless claims servicing at Kotak General Insurance’s platform of garages and enable convenient claim settlement services.

LIC tie-up with Policybazaar for digital distribution of life insurance

Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has tied up with Policybazaar to digitally offer a wide range of Life Insurance and investment products to its customers across India. This is LIC’s first association with a private insurance aggregator, which has mainly relied on its 1.33 million agents for distributing products. To facilitate seamless digital distribution of life insurance products and boost financial inclusion across India. The benefit of the tie-up: The alliance will provide insurance services in smaller cities to ensure financial inclusion and social security. It will increase its penetration digitally in rural and remote areas and offer a wide range of term and investment products to the customers.

India records win in 1000th ODI

India beat West Indies by six wickets at Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on February 6, 2022. This was India’s 1000th ODI match. Skipper Rohit Sharma, who is back after recovering from an injury, scored 60 runs off 51 balls helping India achieve the target of 177 runs in just 28 overs. The visitors were bowled out for 176 in 43.5 overs with Yuzvendra Chahal taking four wickets and Washington Sundar grabbing three wickets. India is now one up in the three-match ODI series.

Powerthon 2022 launched for enabling advanced technology in Power Distribution

Union Power Minister RK Singh launched Powerthon 2022 to enable participants to find innovative solutions based on advanced emerging technologies to solve the complex problems in power distribution and ensure quality and reliable power supply. The hackathon will see participation from startups, Technology Solution Providers (TSPs), educational and research institutions, equipment manufacturers and state power utilities and other power entities. The participants will be briefed on the current challenges faced across the power distribution sector and then invited to participate and showcase their technology-driven solutions to solve complex problems.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Sri Lankan foreign minister on 3-day visit to India

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L Peiris arrived in Delhi, India on February 7, 2022 for a 3-day visit. India’s Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla is expected to call on the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister. India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar will also hold a meeting with the visiting Sri Lankan foreign minister in the evening.

Bangladesh signs deal to purchase 420 broad-gauge railway wagons from India

Bangladesh signed an agreement with India on February 6, 2022 for the procurement of 420 broad-gauge wagons. The agreement was signed in Dhaka between the Bangladesh Railways project director Mizanur Rahman and India’s Hindustan Engineering and Industries Limited. The agreement is worth Tk. 231 crore and it will be implemented within 27 months of the contract’s signing. It will be implemented with the joint funding of the Bangladesh Government and Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Rolling Stock Operation Improvement Project.  

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

PM Modi inaugurates 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Hyderabad-based ICRISAT

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Patancheru, Hyderabad. During the occasion, PM also inaugurated two research facilities of ICRISAT, which were Climate Change Research Facility on Plant Protection and Rapid Generation Advancement Facility. These two facilities are dedicated to the smallholder farmers of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Prime Minister also unveiled a specially designed logo of ICRISAT and launched a commemorative stamp issued on the occasion. Its objective is to conduct agricultural research for rural development, in Asia & sub-Saharan Africa.

West Bengal launch open-air classroom programme ‘Paray Shikshalaya

West Bengal government has launched an open-air classroom programme Paray Shikshalaya (Neighbourhood Schools) for primary and pre-primary students. Under the ‘Paray Shikshalaya’ project, primary and pre-primary students of government schools will be taught in open spaces. The state government will also provide mid-day meals to the students of ‘Paray Shikshalaya’. The para teachers and primary school teachers would be part of this project. They will provide elementary education to children of Class 1-5.

GoI approved the renaming of three places in Madhya Pradesh

The government of India (GoI) has approved the renaming of 3 places in Madhya Pradesh, Hoshangabad Nagar as “Narmadapuram”, Shivpuri as “Kundeshwar Dham” and Babai as “Makhan Nagar”. In 2021, the government of MP led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan has proposed the renaming of the 3 places in Madhya Pradesh. The approval for the renaming was granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The Hoshangabad Nagar named after Hoshang Shah, the first formally appointed Sultan of the Malwa Sultanate of Central India was renamed as Narmadapuram. Babai has been renamed after the renowned journalist and poet Makhanlal Chaturvedi. Makhanlal Chaturvedi was born in Babai, MP. The government has named a national university of journalism and communication at Bhopal after Makhanlal in 1992.

Professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani named as new NCERT director

Professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani has been appointed as the new Director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). He has replaced Hrushikesh Senapaty, who finished his term a year ago. The new director has been appointed for a period of five years with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post, or till he attains the age of 65 years, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Professor Saklani has been awarded with Distinguished Academy Award by Punjab Kala and Sahitya Academy, Jalandhar for Historical writing in 2005. The new director is a member of the Academic Council of Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani. Professor Saklani is also a life member in the Indian History Congress; Uttarakhand History and Culture Association and of Book Club IIAS Shimla.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female is observed on 6th February globally. This day is sponsored by the United Nations for their efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation. It was first introduced in 2003. This year theme of International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female: Accelerating Investment to End Female Genital Mutilation. Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women.

China locks down city of 3.5 million near Vietnam border

China locked down a city of 3.5 million near the Vietnam border on February 7, 2022 after over 70 coronavirus cases were detected in the past three days. China is the only major world economy that is still sticking to a staunch zero-Covid policy. The nation is on a high alert for any outbreaks as it hosts the Beijing Winter Olympics. The officials in the southern Guangxi region announced that no one would be allowed to leave the city and residents in some districts will be confined to their homes.

NATIONAL NEWS 

UP best state tableau in Republic Day Parade 2022

The Uttar Pradesh state tableau was selected as the best state tableau, while Maharashtra tableau was selected as best in popular choice category. The UP tableau showcased the glorious history of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, while Maharashtra tableau showcased the five state components including state bird, state animal, state tree and state flower. 

ISRO targets to launch Chandrayaan 3 in August 2022

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is targeting to launch Chandrayaan 3 mission in August 2022. Similar to Chandrayaan 2 mission, the mission will include a modified lander and a rover. It will not include an orbiter and as it will use Chandrayaan 2 orbiter to communicate with the Earth.  

India nominates Hoysala temples for World Heritage Sites

India has nominated Karnataka’s Hoysala Temples for World Heritage Sites List for 2022-23. According to Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, these temples represent one of the highest points of human creative genius and stand testimony to the rich historical and cultural heritage of our country.

PR Sreejesh named World Games Athlete

PR Sreejesh, Indian men’s hockey goalkeeper, has been named World Games Athlete of the Year 2021. He has become the second Indian to win World Games Athlete after Indian women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal. PR Sreejesh had played a crucial role in India winning bronze at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Indian Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra nominated for Laureus World Breakthrough

Indian Olympic Gold medalist Neeraj Chopra has been nominated for Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award 2022. He has been nominated for the award along with six others including Daniil Medvedev, Pedri, Emma Raducanu, Ariarne Titmus and Yulimar Rojas. He is the third Indian to be nominated for the award after Vinesh Phogat and Sachin Tendulkar. 

India’s GDP growth projected at 8-8.5 percent in FY23

  Economic Survey 2021-22 has projected India’s GDP growth at 8-8.5 percent in Fiscal Year 2022-23. The survey Survey 2022 was tabled by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.  The survey has also estimated the GDP growth for the ongoing financial year 2021-22 at 9.2 percent.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Queen Elizabeth II to become Britain’s first ruler to reign for 70 years.

Queen Elizabeth II, the world’s longest-reigning living monarch, will be Britain’s first monarch to rule for 70 years on February 6, 2022. She was born as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor and not the direct heir to the throne but became the next heir after her uncle King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry an American divorcee. She was crowned the Queen of England in 1952 after the passing of her father King George VI. 

Australia to reopen borders to foreign tourists on February 21, after almost 2 years

Australia will reopen its borders for foreign tourists on February 21st after a hiatus of almost two years.  The nation had shut its borders for international tourists in March 2020, at the very beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, fully vaccinated tourists will be allowed to travel to Australia.

 

NATIONAL NEWS

US regains top spot as India’s trade partner in 2021.

The United States was India’s top trading partner in the calendar year 2021 with a trade of $112.3 billion. The US is followed by China on second. The value of trade between India and China was $110.4 billion. In 2020, China was India’s top trading partner and the US was in the second rank. In 2019 USA was India’s top trading partner and China was on second. India’s list of top ten trading partners also includes the UAE, Saudi Arab, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Iraq, Indonesia and South Korea.

Senior scientist GA Srinivasa Murthy appointed director of DRDL Senior scientist GA Srinivasa Murthy has been appointed director of Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Hyderabad. He joined DRDL in the year 1987 and made significant contributions in the area of structural dynamics, ground resonance testing, electrical integration and checkout for various projects of the missile complex. G A Srinivasa Murthy completed his BE in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Andhra University in 1986 and pursued his ME in Digital Systems from Osmania University in Hyderabad.

Ravi Mittal named as new Chairman of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India

The former secretary, Department of Sports, Ravi Mittal has been appointed as the Chairman of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), as per the notification issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. He is a 1986 batch IAS officer from Bihar cadre. He will serve as the Chairman of IBBI for a term of five years or till he attains 65 years of age, whichever is early. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India is the regulator for overseeing insolvency proceedings and entities like Insolvency Professional Agencies, Insolvency Professionals and Information Utilities in India.

SBI tie-up with Ministry of Culture for Development of Atmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design

The State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and National Culture Fund (NCF) of the Ministry of Culture, for Development of Atmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design (ABCD) at L1 Barrack, Red Fort, in Delhi. The main objective of Project ABCD is to highlight, promote and celebrate the products that have the Geographical Indication sign to give a boost to Economic Value Addition to GI products from India. The ABCD project will be implemented by IGNCA, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture through the ministry’s NCF fund. SBI will sponsor the project under CSR with a contribution of Rs. 10 crores for the implementation of the ABCD Project.

RBI cancels the licence of Nashik’s Independence Co-operative Bank Limited 

The Reserve Bank of India has cancelled the license of Independence Co-operative Bank Ltd., Nashik, Maharashtra w.e.f February 03, 2022. The major reason for the cancellation of the license by RBI is that bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects. This means that it does not comply with the provisions of Section 11(1) and Section 22 (3) (d) read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The bank has stopped operation from the close of business on February 3, putting depositors of the bank in trouble. They would however receive up to Rs five lakh from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), after the bank’s liquidation. RBI has told the Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies in Maharashtra to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator. As per the data submitted by the bank, more than 99 per cent of the depositors are entitled to receive the full amount of their deposits from DICGC.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Winter Olympics host China welcomes Year of Tiger

China is celebrating the Spring Festival, it’s the most important annual festival as it entered the Lunar new “Year of the Tiger”. Last year was celebrated as the Lunar Year of the Ox. According to the Chinese Zodiac calendar, the Year of the Ox has ended and the Year of the Tiger has begun from February 1, 2022, and will end on January 21, 2023. In Chinese culture, the tiger symbolizes bravery, vigor and strength and it is believed that it can lift people from adversity and usher in final auspiciousness and peace. Each year is named after one of 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac in a repeating cycle. This year, Spring Festival celebrations coincide with the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Exim Bank extends a $500 million credit line to Sri Lanka

Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on behalf of the government of India, extended a line of credit of $500 million to the government of the socialist republic of Sri Lanka for financing the purchase of petroleum products. The fund will be used by the Island nation for the purchase of petroleum products. With the signing of this new LOC agreement, the total LOC extended by Exim Bank to Sri Lanka till date has reached 10, taking the total value of LOCs extended to USD 2.18 billion.

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell named the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award 2021

New Zealand cricketer, Daryl Mitchell has been named the winner of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Spirit of Cricket Award 2021. This award is given to him for his gesture of refusing to take a single in the high-pressure 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Semi-Finals against England as he felt he had “obstructed” the way of bowler Adil Rashid at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. He has become the 4th New Zealand player to win the award after Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson. The ICC Spirit of Cricket Award is annually awarded by the ICC to recognise the player most notable for “upholding the ‘Spirit of the Game’”.

NATIONAL NEWS

Sovereign Green Bonds announced in Budget 2022. 

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced during the Budget 2022 presentation that Sovereign Green Bonds will be a major part of the Central Government’s Borrowing Programme 2022-23. Green Bonds are financial instruments that are issued by any sovereign entity

Statue of Equality to be inaugurated in Hyderabad on February 5

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating a 216-feet tall ‘Statue of Equality in Hyderabad on February 5, 2022. The statue commemorates 11th-century Bhakti Saint Sri Ramanujacharya.

India first to qualify for four consecutive U19 World Cup finals

India has become the first-ever team to qualify for four consecutive ICC U19 World Cup finals. India reserved its final berth after defeating Australia by 96 runs in the semi-finals. 

ISRO targets to launch Chandrayaan 3 in August 2022

Union Minister Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha that the Chandrayaan 3 mission is scheduled for launch in August 2022. The mission will include a lander and a rover, similar to the Chandrayaan 2 mission, which had failed to soft-land its lander module on the lunar surface. 

India to face England in U19 World Cup final on February 5th India will be facing another unbeaten team, England in the ICC U19 World Cup final on February 5, 2022. The ICC U19 World Cup final will be played on February 5th at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound in Antigua. 

IPL 2022 to be held in Mumbai and Pune, playoffs likely in Ahmedabad

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly confirmed recently that IPL 2022 will be held in Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra. The playoffs are likely to be held in Ahmedabad but a formal decision is likely to be taken at a later stage. BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said that the final decision on the venues for the knockout stages will be taken later. 

Yash Dhull third Indian to score century in ICC U19 World Cup

India U19 skipper Yash Dhull has become the third Indian to score a century in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup after Virat Kohli and Unmukht Chand. Yash Dhull’s century knock came in India’s semi-final match against Australia in ICC U19 World Cup 2022. Dhull along with deputy skipper Shaik Rasheed put up an incredible 204-run partnership for the third wicket. This was the second biggest partnership of the tournament. The Indian U19 skipper said after the win that the plan was for him and Rasheed to bat till the end and it worked. 

Indian diplomat to skip Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 over Galwan soldier row

Indian diplomat in Beijing has decided to boycott Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 opening and closing ceremony after China chose a soldier, who fought in the Galwan Valley clash against Indian troops in 2020, as a torchbearer. India’s foreign ministry called it “regrettable” while announcing the diplomat’s decision. The Ministry said that it indeed regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicise an event like the Olympics. Indian media channel Doordarshan said that it will not live telecast the opening or closing ceremony. Only one Indian athlete will be participating in the Winter Olympics in Beijing. 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

NASA’s Artemis 1 mission to Moon delayed till March

 NASA’s ‘Artemis 1’ mission, which aims to return humans to the Moon, has been delayed until March. The mission was scheduled for launch earlier in February. NASA informed that the ‘Space Launch System’ rocket and Orion spacecraft will not be rolled out for testing “no earlier than March 2022”. NASA has added additional time to complete closeout activities inside the Vehicle Assembly building before rolling the integrated rocket and spacecraft out for the first time.

NASA to retire ISS in January 2031

NASA is planning to retire the International Space Station (ISS) in January 2031 and has laid out a detailed transition plan. The space agency is planning to open the ISS for commercial activities in its final decade of operational life. NASA plans to “deorbit” the ISS and crash it into the Pacific Ocean in January 2031. Before its retirement, NASA is looking forward to a decade of results from research and technology development aboard the space station. 

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Union Budget 2022: Sharp hike in capital expenditure; no changes in Income Tax 

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2022 on February 1. She said that the Budget proposals for this financial year rest on health and well-being, infrastructure, inclusive development, energy transition and climate action, financing of investments and ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’. India’s economic growth estimated at 9.2% to be the highest among all large economies, she said, adding that 60 lakh new jobs will be created under the productivity-linked incentive scheme in 14 sectors.  The ‘Effective Capital Expenditure’ of the Central Government is estimated at ₹10.68 lakh crore in 2022-23 or about 4.1% of the GDP, factoring in Grants-in-Aid to States for creating capital assets, Sitharaman said. This is a little over 27% more than the revised estimate of ₹8.4 lakh crore for the current year, which in turn is nearly 28% higher than the 2020-21 allocations for such capital spending.  Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents the Union Budget 2022-23 in the Lok Sabha, in New Delhi on February 1, 2022.   The Centre’s own spending on the capital account, is being raised to ₹7.50 lakh crore from the coming year, which Sitharaman emphasised is over 2.2 times the outlay in 2019-20. Budget 2021-22 had allocated ₹5.54 lakh crore for capex, which has been raised to nearly ₹6.03 lakh crore in revised estimates.  “The sharp increase in capital expenditure, particularly focused on infrastructure, and efforts to enhance digital connectivity to all villages, is much needed,” said Fifteenth Finance Commission Chairperson N.K. Singh. However, he was a bit disappointed that the Bharatnet project to connect all villages will now be ready by 2025 as indicated by the Budget speech. “They should have taken some measures to accelerate this,” he noted.  Other significant announcements include the launch of a digital currency, e-passports and a slew of infrastructure projects. Edible oil, wearable electronics, imitation jewellery, polished diamond are to be cheaper. The fiscal deficit has been kept at 6.9% of GDP. While some tax relief measures were announced for persons with disabilities, there has been no change in personal income tax rates. 

MGNREGA budget slashed by 25% amid high rural unemployment 

The Centre’s ₹73,000 crore allocation for the flagship rural jobs scheme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), in 2022-23 is 25% lower than the ₹98,000 crore revised estimate for the scheme in the current year, reverting to the same insufficient amount allocated in the last budget. In fact the MGNREGA did not find any mention during the Union Finance Minister’s Budget speech on Tuesday.  Rural employment activists and non-BJP State governments reacted with outrage, accusing the government of crippling a key safety net during an employment crisis, while some economists said the Centre had missed a critical opportunity to revive consumer demand in the rural economy.  MGNREGA is a demand-driven scheme, guaranteeing 100 days of unskilled work to any rural household that wants it. During the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, when the scheme was ramped up and given its highest-ever budget of ₹1.11 lakh crore, it provided a critical lifeline for a record 11 crore workers. In the next financial year 2021-22, the budget allocation dropped to ₹73,000 crore, resulting in the scheme running out of funds and putting its balance sheet in negative territory by October.  A group of MGNREGA workers in Palakkad. File   Supplementary allocations then pushed up the revised estimates to ₹98,000 crore, but workers say they paid the cost in delayed wage payments and artificial suppression of demand, while some State governments were forced to dip into their own coffers to meet costs.  “The cut comes at a time when the country is going through its worst ever employment crisis. MNREGA is crucial because it reaches out to the last person in the line. With the current allocation, we will have a repeat of last year, when the funds ran out midway through the year and many crucial works will have to be stalled,” said Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal. 

Budget has no vision for employment generation: Opposition

Opposition parties were united in their criticism of the Union Budget 2022 for its lack of initiatives to increase employment opportunities or reduce inflation. The Budget, they said, aimed only to benefit the rich. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also the Finance Minister of the State tweeted, “Budget has zero for common people, who are getting crushed by unemployment and inflation. Government is lost in big words signifying nothing. A pegasus spin budget.”  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also echoed similar sentiments. “People had high expectations from the budget especially during the COVID pandemic. The budget disappointed the people. There is nothing in the budget for the general public. Nothing to reduce inflation,” he tweeted.  The unemployment crisis that the country is going through has not been addressed, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said. He tweeted: “India has 200 million missing jobs today. No urban employment guarantee announced. MGNREGA allocation remains the same as last year ₹73000cr, which fell short by nearly ₹50000cr. A criminal assault on the livelihood of our youth.”  Yechury also pointed out that the BJP government’s promise to double farmers’ income had also come to naught. “Finance Minister proudly announces ₹2,37LCr as MSP on wheat & paddy directly credited to farmers’ accounts. This is less than the MSP payments in 2020-21, which was ₹2.478LCr. Criminal assault on farmers continues,” he said. 

Over half of all news shows have aggressive content: Study 

A study by Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) of 31 primetime television news and talk shows in 12 languages including English, found aggression in more than 50% of all news shows and in 85% of talk shows. The focus of this study was not on news bias or framing but on the performance of the reporter or the anchor.  The study also found the biggest expression of aggression was in tone of voice (76.76%), while sound and visual effects came in at 60%. The number of male anchors with an aggressive tone of voice (78.13 %) was only marginally higher than that of their female counterparts (75.28%); panels moderated by male anchors showed far higher (54.55%) aggressive behaviour on several metrics than those moderated by women (12.07%).  Further, panels moderated by male anchors revealed relatively more (54.55%) aggressive masculinist behaviour on several metrics than those moderated by female anchors (12.07%).  More shouting by speakers over one another was also observed in male-moderated panels (48.75%) as compared to female-moderated panels (15.52%).  

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Amazon to shut down publishing house Westland 

Much to the disappointment of book lovers, Westland, one of the largest publishing houses in India, is being shut down by e-commerce giant Amazon, they announced on Tuesday.  The publishing company, which was acquired by Amazon from Trent Ltd, a subsidiary of Tata Group, in 2016, has published works of several bestselling authors including Amish Tripathi, Chetan Bhagat, Ashwin Sanghi, Rashmi Bansal, Rujuta Diwekar, Preeti Shenoy, Devdutt Pattanaik, Anuja Chauhan and Ravi Subramanian.  “After a thorough review, we have made the difficult decision to no longer operate Westland. We are working closely with the employees, authors, agents, and distribution partners on this transition and we remain committed to innovating for customers in India,” said Amazon in a statement.  The news regarding the closure came as a shock to the editors, Westland team members and its public relations agency, who according to a staff member requesting anonymity, were informed about the decision only today. It was particularly sad for bestselling fiction writer Ashwin Sanghi, who wrote his debut novel with Westland in 2008 and went on to publish a “dozen books” over that many years.  “It is sad to see the exit of a publishing institution. The Westland team is one of the finest in the business and there are many emotions and memories of my publishing journey with them that shall always remain with me,” Sanghi told PTI.  

Google is planning to stop offering the unlimited plan to store WhatsApp backups. 

Google is planning to stop offering the unlimited plan to store our WhatsApp backups and will allow only a certain quota to store WhatsApp backups for free, in a limited plan, according to Wabetainfo, a leading news portal about WhatsApp. The search giant will send notifications to users when Google Drive is almost full and when the limit is reached but detailed information about the new storage plan is unknown right now. Currently, WhatsApp backups for Android users don’t count against their Google Drive storage due to an agreement between WhatsApp and Google. This is an advantage for Android users since Apple doesn’t offer an unlimited plan to store backups on iCloud.