News Digest: Man booked for forcing girl to convert

		THE TIMES OF INDIA
		Monday, February 20, 2023
		Today's Headlines

		India
		Man booked for forcing girl to convert Major event at Agra Fort days after ceiling cracks MP OKs new excise policy to rein in tipplers More India News»

		Science
		Duo with rare blood group rush to Vietnam to help 26-day-old baby Many Indians from Hanoi, including the Indian embassy and the business community, came together to arrange their e-visas, tickets, blood tests and paperwork in 24 hours, even though their air-dash had a bittersweet ending as their blood couldn’t be used due to reactivity issues. It was, however, a lesson in goodwill, they said. Pregnant women are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later in life: Study Study finds how irregular sleeping habits increase risk of atherosclerosis in older people More Science News»

		Technology
		Amazon changes back-to-office policy: Read CEO Andy Jassy's email to employees It's time to return to the office for Amazon employees. The employees of the ecommerce giant have been asked to work from the office at least three days per week starting May 1, according to an email sent by CEO Andy Jassy. The email has also been posted on the company’s blog. In October 2021, the company said that it was up to individual team leaders to decide their in-office policies. Amazon joins companies like Apple, Walmart and Disney in announcing back-to-office policy. It is likely that other technology giants too will make return to office mandatory in the coming days. 'mPassport Police app' launched: What it is and all other details The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has introduced the 'mPassport Police app'. The app aims to streamline and expedite police verification during the passport issuance process. Police verification is an integral part of the passport issuance system and over the years several steps have been taken to streamline it. To further expedite this important process, the external affairs ministry has introduced ‘mPassport Police app’. The ministry of external affairs is the nodal ministry for the issuance of passports in the country. Here's how ChatGPT-maker OpenAI says it tackles biases ChatGPT was launched last year. While some heap praises on the AI chatbot's ability to deliver human-like responses, others target both OpenAI and ChatGPT, accusing them of bias. The company has now addressed the issue explaining how ChatGPT’s behaviour is shaped and how the company plans to improve ChatGPT’s default behaviour. More Technology News»

		Business
		Over 94% value erosion found in 165 IBC liquidation case The value erosion is surprising because lenders always make sure there is a margin or promoter's contribution before granting a loan. If a bank extends a loan for a Rs 1,000 crore investment, it ensures a promoter contribution of Rs 200 crore. Meta launches subscription service priced at $11.99 a month Meta Platforms on Sunday announced that it is testing a monthly subscription service, called Meta Verified, which will let users verify their accounts using a government ID and get a blue badges.The subscription bundle for Instagram and Facebook, to be launched later this week, also includes extra protection against impersonation and will be priced starting at $11.99 per month on the web or $14.99 a month on Apple's iOS system and Android. BioNTech sees UK trials on cancer vaccines starting this year More Business News»

		Sports
		India vs Australia: KL Rahul stays in Test squad but loses VC role Despite a poor run of form, KL Rahul has managed to hold on to his place in the Indian squad for the final two Test matches of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Interestingly, the BCCI statement signed by Jay Shah on Sunday, didn’t mention Rahul as the vice-captain for the series unlike the first two Tests. Rahul had even led the Indian team in Bangladesh in December when regular captain Rohit Sharma was ruled out due to injury. 2nd Test: India beat Australia to retain Border-Gavaskar Trophy Ravindra Jadeja's arm balls became a lethal weapon on a slow turning track of the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi as India retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by beating Australia by six wicket in the second Test. Sweep shots not a good option on Kotla pitch, says Ravindra Jadeja Australia came to the second Test in Delhi with a pre-determined ploy to tackle spin with sweep shots and it backfired for the visitors as they suffered a collapse on the third day. Hosts India defeated the visitors by six wickets inside three days to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series. More Sports News»

		Education
		Jamia Hamdard organises a seminar on 'Life and Works of Late Prof. Abul Hasan Siddiqi' Mr Arif Mohammad Khan in his speech presented the importance of Duty Society and focused on the duties of citizens from a larger perspective. He said that nowadays people generally fight for their rights and neglect their responsibilities, if we focus on our duties we can develop a healthy society and prosperous country. He also enlightened the Quranic Teachings of equality, humanity and the importance of education. CBSE 12th Hindi Exam Tomorrow: Check marking scheme, sample paper, exam guidelines CBSE Class 12 Hindi Board Exam 2023 is scheduled to be conducted on February 20 in a single shift from — 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Candidates can refer to this article to check the Marking Scheme (MS), Sample Question Paper (SQP) and other important exam day instructions. PSTET Registration 2023: Application process begins for Punjab TET on pstet2023.org, apply here The Punjab State Council of Educational Research and Training has started the online application form for Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test, PSTET-2023 on the official website at pstet2023.org. The online registration for PSTET 2023 will remain active from February 18 to February 28, 2023. More Education News»

		Environment
		Endangered African penguin chicks hatch at Arizona aquarium An Arizona aquarium is celebrating the hatching of three endangered African penguin chicks, saying the tiny additions are genetically valuable as zoos and aquariums around the world work to ensure the species' survival through breeding programs and conservation efforts. 27 feedback loops, or global warming accelerators, add urgency to respond to climate crisis: Study Scientists have identified 27 global warming accelerators known as amplifying feedback loops, including some that the researchers said may not be fully accounted for in climate models. Scientists said that the findings added urgency to the need to respond to the climate crisis. In climate science, amplifying feedback loops are situations where a climate-caused alteration can trigger a process that causes even more warming, which in turn intensifies the alteration. Antarctic sea-ice cover hits record low for 2nd year in a row More Environment News»

		World
		US believes China considering giving Russia weapons: Blinken The top diplomats of the two superpowers met at an undisclosed location on the sidelines of a global security conference in Munich, just hours after Wang scolded Washington as “hysterical” in a running dispute over the US downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon. North Korea fires unspecified ballistic missile: South Korea military Three teenage girls and gunman dead in Texas shooting More World News»

		Environment
		Endangered African penguin chicks hatch at Arizona aquarium An Arizona aquarium is celebrating the hatching of three endangered African penguin chicks, saying the tiny additions are genetically valuable as zoos and aquariums around the world work to ensure the species' survival through breeding programs and conservation efforts. 27 feedback loops, or global warming accelerators, add urgency to respond to climate crisis: Study Scientists have identified 27 global warming accelerators known as amplifying feedback loops, including some that the researchers said may not be fully accounted for in climate models. Scientists said that the findings added urgency to the need to respond to the climate crisis. In climate science, amplifying feedback loops are situations where a climate-caused alteration can trigger a process that causes even more warming, which in turn intensifies the alteration. Antarctic sea-ice cover hits record low for 2nd year in a row More Environment News»

		Hyderabad
		Centre inisted on meters for borewells in Telangana: T Harish Rao Finance minister T Harish Rao on Sunday called upon farmers to realise that the BJP government at the Centre insisted chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to install electricity meters at agricultural borewell motors and held back 30,000 crore when KCR refused to do so. Telangana Congress president A Revanth Reddy to resume padayatra today from BRS stronghold After a two-day Shivaratri break, Telangana Congress president A Revanth Reddy will resume his padayatra from Warangal West assembly constituency on Monday. Mallu Ravi puts hat in Congress Working Committee ring; Telangana footprint after 10 years? Telangana Congress senior vice-president Mallu Ravi has decided to throw his hat in the elections to the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the apex decision making body of the grand old party. More Hyderabad News»

		Chandigarh
		Chandigarh Transport Undertaking revenue from long route buses rises by Rs 29 crore in 1 year The best use of the technology, constant manual checking and physical monitoring on each and every route, regular checking and matching of revenue receipts, penalty in case of fraud in ticketing and taking care of employee issues led to a visible improvement in all the segments of the Transport Department of the Chandigarh administration in the past one year. Data has revealed that Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) has shown a remarkable rise in the past ten to twelve months in several segments, including revenue and number of passengers. Shaken Panchkula asks CM Manohar Lal Khattar to end stirs at housing board light point Local residents have written a letter to Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and home minister Anil Vij to not allow protesters to block the housing board light point owing to traffic and security problems. Eatery caught serving booze illegally in Sector 9 Chandigarh The excise department of the UT administration has caught a restaurant serving liquor illegally in Sector 9 D. The restaurant, "Cowboy Rodeo", was found serving liquor to its customers without obtaining the necessary permissions from the department. More Chandigarh News»

		Ahmedabad
		SIT: Half of Morbi cables may have broken before tragedy The SIT said Morbi municipality’s chief officer Sandipsinh Zala should not have signed the maintenance agreement with Oreva Group -- maker of Ajanta wall clocks -- without obtaining prior approval from the civic body’s general board. The agreement was signed on March 8, 2022, and the contract was for a period of 15 years. CS topper to renounce world in ceremony on February 22 Aashi Mehta, 25, had her life sorted out when she got All-India Rank (AIR) 16 in Company Secretary (CS) and second rank in Mumbai in 2017. She landed a well-paying job and also gave her direction to earn money and pursue her interests. 'Urban sprawl affecting Ahmedabad's water balance' In the past two years, the city has witnessed only a few days of heavy rainfall. It is therefore concerning that the waterlogging that was reported in many areas was caused by moderate rain. While it lays bare the state of the urban infrastructure, it also tells us that less and less water is now percolating into the ground due to the built environment. More Ahmedabad News»

		Chennai
		Spectator gored to death in manjuvirattu near Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu A 25-year-old man was gored to death in a manjuvirattu event at Vaarpattu village near Ponnamaravathi in Pudukkottai district on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as R Siva, 25, of Kannanur in Sivagangai district. AICTE norms for deploying faculty in Tamil Nadu The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to allow faculty from civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering branches to teach courses in emerging areas after they complete 10-credit online courses. Metro's barricades give way for motorists in Chennai With the construction of the phase-2 metro rail along the 10km Porur-Poonamallee stretch almost complete, blue barricades are being removed in some places to give more road space for motorists. More Chennai News»

		Bangalore
		As Karnataka govt pushes new bus pass offer, unorganised sector feels ignored While chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday announced free bus pass facility for 30 lakh working women in the organised sector, allocating Rs 1,000 crore for it, workers in the unorganised sector appear to have been left in the lurch. Tabla, violin and oud in a multi-cultural medley Bengaluru: Coffee brewers clash over cuppas for chance to compete in Athens The fragrance of coffee beans wafted through the air at Orion Mall in Rajajinagar on Sunday as a steaming competition was under way. After all, it was a clash of coffees as some talented baristas from across the country competed to see who could brew the best. More Bangalore News»

		Bangalore
		As Karnataka govt pushes new bus pass offer, unorganised sector feels ignored While chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday announced free bus pass facility for 30 lakh working women in the organised sector, allocating Rs 1,000 crore for it, workers in the unorganised sector appear to have been left in the lurch. Tabla, violin and oud in a multi-cultural medley Bengaluru: Coffee brewers clash over cuppas for chance to compete in Athens The fragrance of coffee beans wafted through the air at Orion Mall in Rajajinagar on Sunday as a steaming competition was under way. After all, it was a clash of coffees as some talented baristas from across the country competed to see who could brew the best. More Bangalore News»

		Mumbai
		Actor Kartik Aaryan parks car in filmy style, Mumbai cops script 2 penalty receipts The first challan of Rs500 was issued to the actor for parking his vehicle in the wrong direction. The second for Rs750 was issued under the Motor Vehicle Act for Disobedience of Police order /direction. “The actor has been fined Rs1,250 for violating two traffic rules when he visited the temple. He has paid the fine,” a police officer at the Dadar traffic police division told TOI. Underground Juhu parking: Protest held : Juhu citizens gathered at Pushpa Narsee Park on Sunday morning opposing BMC's plan for underground parking. In a letter to be sent to BMC chief IS Chahal, they have urged BMC to reconsider the plan to develop parking facility below the open space. Bombay HC relief for old couple, stays landlord son's cases on them Granting relief to an elderly couple who alleged harassment by their late landlord's son, Bombay high court has stayed criminal cases filed by him against them. More Mumbai News»

		Delhi
		Cops reunite stolen dog with its owner in south Delhi Delhi Police has reunited a woman with her 8-year-old dog that was stolen from CR Park on February 17. A Badarpur resident who works as a security guard had allegedly sold the dog for Rs 2,000. He has been arrested, police said. 4-year-old, sole witness to double murder in Delhi, to testify against father The alleged murder of a 24-year-old woman and her 18-month-old son by her husband in northwest Delhi's Shakurpur will be taken to its logical conclusion by the couple's four-year-old son who survived the bloodbath. The child is set to testify before a court this week, sources said. 'Raahgiris' reclaim streets in heart of Delhi after 3-year break Scores of people came out on a sunny Sunday to reclaim the streets of Connaught Place as part of 'Raahgiri Day', organised by the New Delhi Municipal Council, in assocation with Delhi Police. More Delhi News»

		Delhi
		Cops reunite stolen dog with its owner in south Delhi Delhi Police has reunited a woman with her 8-year-old dog that was stolen from CR Park on February 17. A Badarpur resident who works as a security guard had allegedly sold the dog for Rs 2,000. He has been arrested, police said. 4-year-old, sole witness to double murder in Delhi, to testify against father The alleged murder of a 24-year-old woman and her 18-month-old son by her husband in northwest Delhi's Shakurpur will be taken to its logical conclusion by the couple's four-year-old son who survived the bloodbath. The child is set to testify before a court this week, sources said. 'Raahgiris' reclaim streets in heart of Delhi after 3-year break Scores of people came out on a sunny Sunday to reclaim the streets of Connaught Place as part of 'Raahgiri Day', organised by the New Delhi Municipal Council, in assocation with Delhi Police. More Delhi News»

		Delhi
		Cops reunite stolen dog with its owner in south Delhi Delhi Police has reunited a woman with her 8-year-old dog that was stolen from CR Park on February 17. A Badarpur resident who works as a security guard had allegedly sold the dog for Rs 2,000. He has been arrested, police said. 4-year-old, sole witness to double murder in Delhi, to testify against father The alleged murder of a 24-year-old woman and her 18-month-old son by her husband in northwest Delhi's Shakurpur will be taken to its logical conclusion by the couple's four-year-old son who survived the bloodbath. The child is set to testify before a court this week, sources said. 'Raahgiris' reclaim streets in heart of Delhi after 3-year break Scores of people came out on a sunny Sunday to reclaim the streets of Connaught Place as part of 'Raahgiri Day', organised by the New Delhi Municipal Council, in assocation with Delhi Police. More Delhi News»

		Allahabad
		65 years on, UP assembly set to change its rulebook The state assembly is set to change its rulebook after 65 years of its existence. The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the UP Legislative Assembly, 1958, has been the foundation for conduct of proceedings in the Vidhan Sabha since it was formed and finally, this year, around 70% of it is being revised or removed. IIT experts training teachers on science, tech related subjects Allahabad HC rejects SP MLA's bail plea in fake Aadhaar case The Allahabad high court on Friday rejected the bail application of Samajwadi Party MLA from Kanpur, Irfan Solanki, in connection with a case of allegedly using a fabricated Aadhaar card for air travel. He is presently lodged at the Mahrajganj jail of the state. More Allahabad News»

		Bhopal
		Five killed, 35 injured in two accidents in MP's Sheopur and Anuppur 16 students from Kerala injured after bus overturns in MP; vehicle helper killed Edu dept officer removed for taking bribe More Bhopal News»

		Bhubaneswar
		Odisha government's plan to manage water resources data The government has initiated the process to set up a State Water Informatics Centre (SWIC), a body dedicated to handle and monitor water resources data from flood water, groundwater, surface water and rainwater among others. Drink milk to avoid calcium, Vitamin D deficiency, say doctors Orthopaedics have observed that milk intake among people of Odisha is extremely low in the daily diet regimen as a result of which there is acute vitamin D and calcium deficiency. New guidelines for recruiting anganwadi workers, helpers in Odisha The state government has revised the eligibility criteria for the appointment of anganwadi workers (AWW) and anganwadi helpers (AWH). As per the minimum prescribed qualification, anganwadi workers and helpers should have passed 12th standard and the age limit should be between 18 and 35 years. Earlier, the education qualification was limited to clearing Class X. The education criteria will be applicable in the case of newly engaged anganwadi workers and helpers. More Bhubaneswar News»

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