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2016- The hottest year in the history?

The results were out. 2015 was declared as the warmest year in the history of mankind. Ever since the temperatures were being recorded from the year 1880, last year has been concluded as the hottest year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has declared that “During 2015, the average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was 1.62 Fahrenheit (0.90 Celsius) above the 20th century average.” Ever since the onset of industrialization, global warming has been a by-product of the changing life style. But some politicians were quick to defend the industrial policies. They blame in on the El Nino effect.   El Nino effect is a case where the tropical waters in the Pacific Ocean get warmer. The excess heat generated in the ocean would be trapped in the atmosphere resulting in scorching temperatures. But El Nino seems to just another cause for global warming. The emission of carbon gases by the industries is thought to be the real culprit. “Since 1997, which at the time was the warmest year on record, 16 of the subsequent 18 years have been warmer than that year,” declares the NOAA report which proves that El Nino is not the only cause. And here is the expectation. Basing on the data collection till now, 2016 is expected to beat the record of 2015 for the warmest year. So! Let’s get ready to face the heat.

Professor Vs. Militants

Syed Hamid Hussain might be one of those who died in yesterday’s attack on Pakistan University. But his death doesn’t seem to be quiet. Syed Hamid Hussain is just 34 years old and was a professor in chemistry. On Wednesday morning Hamid was taking a class for his students, while he heard the gun fires. Hamid has immediately advised his students not to panic and flee out of the class. He instead took his pistol and started firing shots at the militants. This resistance was unexpected by the militants. Hamid kept firing at the militants which gave valuable time for the students to get out of the scene through the back wall. Hamid was severely injured in the fight, but hasn’t backed up. He kept facing the militants till his last breath. Hamid’s act is praised to be heroic and is seen to be a martyr. Ever since the militants attacked the school in Peshawar and took the lives of 132 innocent kids, the teachers in northwest Pakistan were allowed to keep licensed revolvers with them to protect themselves and the students. Now that seems to be a good move!

HRD Minister Smriti Irani Addressing Media

HRD Minister Smriti Irani Addressing Media  

Rahul Thakkar wins the Oscar award

It’s been six years since an Indian has gone closer to the Oscar awards. But Rahul Thakkar is going to win an Oscar this year. Probably many people are not aware that the Academy presents a separate set of awards for ‘Scientific and Technical achievements’. These are given to the people whose effort has led to development of technology in motion pictures. And Rahul is going to win it this year! Unlike the other Oscars, these awards would be given off in a separate ceremony and the winners would be announced before hand. The winners would be awarded in a formal dinner held two weeks prior to the main award function. Rahul Thakkar is chosen for his contribution in ‘DreamWorks Animation Media Review System’. "Over its nearly two decades of development, this pioneering system enabled desktop and digital theater review. It continues to provide artist-driven, integrated, consistent and highly scalable studio-wide playback and interactive reviews," read the statement issued by Academy. ‘DreamWorks Animation Media Review System’ is known to enable the VFX artists to generate animations of higher quality. Shrek (2001), which won the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature was animated by Rahul in such manner.

Militants storm the Pakistan University

The Bacha Khan University in Charsadda of northwest Pakistan has been hit by militants today. At least 20 people were feared to be killed and 50 more seems to be injured in the attack. The militants have entered the university today morning and have captured two blocks. Many civilians were suspected to be trapped in those two blocks. The army was quick to tackle the situation and has killed four of the militants. The military operation is still in force and three more militants were suspected to be alive in the premises. The campus was earlier bustling with 3000 students and 600 guests and luckily, most of them were evacuated at the onset of the attack. Charsadda is just 50 kilometers away from Peshawar where the militants has stormed a school in December 2014 and has killed 132 children. With the present assault on the university, militants seem to get gruesome enough to aim at the soft targets!

TRAI goes hard against FACEBOOK

  Face book has been promoting the cause of ‘free basics’ of internet along with its telecom partner Reliance. It has been requesting the public through various media to support the free basics campaign. Some of the posters by FB seem to portray the situation as a social revolution. They almost hint that ‘free basics’ is necessary to make the world a better place to live! Ever since the Telephone Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked for a public opinion regarding the free basics, Face book has come up with huge campaign in support of free basics. ‘Free basics’ is a platform where the mobile users could get access to certain internet sites without paying a dime. It was previously launched as ‘internet.org’, but after facing severe criticism, the campaign was renamed as ‘Free basics’. ‘Free basics’ certainly sound to be a great initiative. But, here is the criticism. ‘Free basics’ would allow only a few selected sites such as Facebook! So it’s initially seen as a ploy by the Facebook to conquer the internet world! It also means that the mobile operators would charge various rates for various sites! TRAI has been opposing such partiality and has asked for a public opinion. But, Facebook has been clever enough to enter the public debate and turn it in its favour. The campaign of Facebook seems to yield positive results for the company, because most of the emails that TRAI received have voted for ‘Free basics’. On a letter written by TRAI on 18th January, it has severely critisised Facebook for influencing the public in its favour. It has alleged that Facebook has not conveyed the real concerns of TRAI such as differential pricing, and has been manipulating the public opinion. What else can TRAI do?

Railways might offer diabetic diet

7 crores of Indians were thought to be suffering from diabetes. If the figure is not alarming enough, the International Diabetes foundation is warning of the number to cross over 12 crores by the year 2040. The diabetic patients often find difficulty in having a sugar free meal while they travel on trains. They have to accept those additional calories along with the rest or should starve for hours together. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda seems to be concerned about the issue. He has urged the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to make ‘diabetic diet’ available in the trains- “As the patient of diabetes has a very specific dietary regimen to be adhered to at all times, it would be beneficial if all diabetic patients travelling in railways have an option of getting diabetic diet in trains,” Nadda said in his letter to Prabhu on January 15. With India becoming the diabetic capital of the world, the Railway ministry might certainly act on the suggestion. So, we can soon choose a diabetic diet in the trains.

Hangover free liquor after Hydrogen bomb

North Korea might have stunned the world this month with its testing of Hydrogen bomb. It’s now time for another explosion. This time, a liquor factory in North Korea has claimed to have invented the first hangover free liquor in the world. The ‘Koryo liquor’ is made out of a medicinal plant called Ginseng and scorched rice. Replacing sugar with these ingredients would not let the hangover to set in, claim the inventors. The state run newspaper The Pyongyang Times declared the invention to the world in praising words "Koryo Liquor, which is made of six-year-old Kaesong Koryo insam (gingeng), known as being highest in medicinal effect, and the scorched rice, is highly appreciated by experts and lovers as it is suave and causes no hangover… it has already been registered as a national scientific and technological hit", boasts the news paper. Well then! North Korea has now tested something that is safe!

Stabbed her Boyfriend and confessed on Facebook

Dorian Powell (21) of California was found dead in his apartment. He was stabbed to death. While police were waiting for the clues to decide the culprit, the murderer has revealed herself. A post has appeared on the Facebook of his lover repenting for the murder. Nakasia James posted online that she had killed her lover Dorian during a conflict. ‘Just going to tell you before I get caught, last night my ex was drunk off and was fighting with me, he hit me in the face and was really fighting and I got the knife and stabbed him. Didn’t think I would hurt him but he died and I’m on the run. But god knows I didn’t mean to stab him and I was mad after he socked me in my eyes and just picked something up. But sorry lord. Hopefully you forgive me! And sorry Dorian Powell. RIP’ was the post of Nakasia on Facebook. Nakasia was quick to delete the post, but not before a few shares! And yes, she is now under detention!

ISIS threatens MODI

An anonymous letter is bringing shivers to the Goa police. Last week the state secretariat has received a postcard threatening Indian Prime Minister Nrendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. “Since you are not allowing to eat cow-meat (beef), you will be taken care of,” stated the letter. The word ISIS was mentioned on the postcard as a signature. The letter seemed to be posted locally. Even as the Goa police distributed the copies of the letter all over the area for investigation, it might be a hard chance to find the culprit. Though it might be an act of a juvenile, the security agencies have taken the issue in a serious tone. They wish to take more precaution while Parrikar stays in Goa. Parrikar happens to be a native to Goa and is the first BJP chief minister for the state.

Oscars to be boycotted?

The much awaited Oscar awards night is getting darker with controversies. Noted film maker Spike Lee and actress Jada Pinkett Smith in separate messages on Monday said that they would not be attending the February 28 awards ceremony. A few more celebrities might join the list in the coming days. Reason! Not even one black was nominated in any of the four acting categories. Though actors like Idris Elba and Will Smith delivered great performances this year, they were completely ignored. Critics cry a foul in the process of nominations. Because, for the second year in a row, no black actor was nominated for acting category! In a video posted on her Facebook actress Jada Pinkett Smith went harsh against the Oscar awards. Though Jada Smith herself is a popular actress and singer, she is much known as wife of Will Smith.  "Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power. And we are a dignified people, and we are powerful," said Jada in her post. The members of the ‘The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ were often criticized for being partial towards male white actors. Recently a twitter account named #OscarsSoWhite was getting viral in the social media for shedding some light on such bias!

Modi should sack Dattatreya- Kejriwal

  The suicide of Dalit Research scholar Rohit is snowballing over the central government. As Rahul Gandhi was on the way to Hyderabad to console Rohit’s mother, Kejriwal also comes forward to protest against the incident. “It's not suicide. It's murder. It's murder of democracy, social justice n equality.Modi ji shd sack ministers n aplogoize to the nation” was the exact tweet of Kejriwal this morning. In an earlier tweet he blamed the Modi government of being discriminative against the Dalits ‘“Modi government is constitutionally duty bound to uplift Dalits. Instead Modiji’s ministers got five Dalit students ostracised and suspended,” said Kejriwal. Meanwhile the union minister Bandaru Dattatreya finds himself in the biggest crisis in his political career. It was in the August of 2015 that Dattanna has written a letter to the Human Resource minister Smriti Irani that the University of Hyderabad has become a “den of casteist, extremist and anti-national politics”. This letter is said to have prompted the Vice Chancellor Appa Rao to take drastic steps against the Dalit students. Now as the cases of atrocity and abetment of suicide getting filed against Dattanna, he might face some political as well as legal consequences.

Geeta Chopra award for a Telugu kid

The prestigious Geeta Chopra award for bravery was conferred to ‘Shivampet Ruchita’ of Telangana. The award would be presented by the Prime Minister on the eve of Republic Day. Geeta Chopra award is given to kids under the age of 16 years for the display of bravery. Ruchita has shown the glimpse of her bravery as she saved two of her friends from a mishap. On 24th July 2014, Ruchita was travelling in her school bus along with 40 other students. As the bus reached an unmanned level crossing near Masaipet village in Medak district, a passenger train has collided with the bus. This has resulted in the death of 20 students along with the driver. Earlier, Ruchita who saw the train speeding on the track has shouted to driver for a halt. But, the driver who was in a hurry to be on schedule has ignored the shouts and leapt forward. Ruchita expecting the inevitable has pushed two of her friends before leaping out of the bus. The Masaipeta bus mishap has once more evoked a debate on the safety at the unmanned level crossings. Ruchita was now selected for the Geeta Chopra award for her presence of mind. If the driver of the bus had such presence of mind, he could have saved the lives of 20 kids!

Rohit’s suicide letter!

I would not be around when you read this letter. Don’t get angry on me. I know some of you truly cared for me, loved me and treated me very well. I have no complaints on anyone. It was always with myself I had problems. I feel a growing gap between my soul and my body. And I have become a monster. I always wanted to be a writer. A writer of science, like Carl Sagan. At last, this is the only letter I am getting to write. I loved Science, Stars, Nature, but then I loved people without knowing that people have long since divorced from nature. Our feelings are second handed. Our love is constructed. Our beliefs colored. Our originality valid through artificial art. It has become truly difficult to love without getting hurt. The value of a man was reduced to his immediate identity and nearest possibility. To a vote. To a number. To a thing. Never was a man treated as a mind. As a glorious thing made up of star dust. In very field, in studies, in streets, in politics, and in dying and living. I am writing this kind of letter for the first time. My first time of a final letter. Forgive me if I fail to make sense. May be I was wrong, all the while, in understanding world. In understanding love, pain, life, death. There was no urgency. But I always was rushing. Desperate to start a life. All the while, some people, for them, life itself is curse. My birth is my fatal accident. I can never recover from my childhood loneliness. The unappreciated child from my past. I am not hurt at this moment. I am not sad. I am just empty. Unconcerned about myself. That’s pathetic. And that’s why I am doing this. People may dub me as a coward. And selfish, or stupid once I am gone. I am not bothered about what I am called. I don’t believe in after-death stories, ghosts, or spirits. If there is anything at all I believe, I believe that I can travel to the stars. And know about the other worlds. Let my funeral be silent and smooth. Behave like I just appeared and gone. Do not shed tears for me. Know that I am happy dead than being alive. I forgot to write the formalities. No one is responsible for my this act of killing myself. No one has instigated me, whether by their acts or by their words to this act. This is my decision and I am the only one responsible for this.Do not trouble my friends and enemies on this after I am gone. (Extracts from the suicide letter of Vemula Rohit)

A Church in the shape of a Shoe

In modern architecture- every shape could be a possibility. But it’s hard to imagine building a church in the shape of high-heeled shoe. Weird but true! A blue glass structure was built in Taiwan to serve as a church. The 80 feet tall and 36 feet height church was brought up by the local authorities to attract the female worshippers. It was completed in just a few months, but did cost a lot. More than 4 crores of rupees were spent on the construction. The church is situated at the Ocean View Park in Budai town, on the east coast of Taiwan. However, the purpose of the church is only to host the wedding rituals. The daily services done in a church won’t be performed in this building. But, won’t the shoe structure hurt the believers? ‘NO’ seems to be answer. Because, the structure has a heart melting story behind it! The shoe was inspired by a tragic story of a girl named Wang. She suffered from Blackfoot disease and her legs had to be amputated. This has led to the cancellation of her wedding. Since then, Wang has spent her entire life in a local church. Thus, this shoe shaped church was supposed to honour her memory!

Are our Universities safe!

  Our universities would never rank in the best among the world. But they always seem to create news for all the wrong reasons. This is how! V.Rohit dreamt of becoming a popular science writer like Carl Sagan. He probably could have reached his dream if he wasn’t dead now! This Sunday, Rohit was found hanging to death in his friend’s room. His suicide has sparked yet another debate about the DEADLY politics that were prevailing in our ‘prestigious’ universities. Rohit was a bright student. He loved science and was pursuing his PhD in the Hyderabad Central University. By winning the CSIR scholarship twice, he made it sure to complete his PhD successfully. But something happened in the life of Rohit that changed his fate forever. Rohit belonged to a student union that opposed the hanging of noted terrorist Yakub Memon. This along with a few more such incidents has created riffle between the students unions. The petty issues took an ugly turn as Rohit along with four other students were alleged of assaulting the rival union leader. It was the time when the administration of University should have restored peace among the campus. But they have worsened the situation by boycotting Rohit along with his four friends. The five research scholars were almost socially boycotted in the university. They were neither allowed to stay in the University nor could they participate in the student elections. The access of these five students was limited to their class rooms and the library. Such a weird decision by the University administration has attracted much criticism. Rohit was of course devastated, and might have decided to take a drastic step. Rohit’s suicide might be the breaking news for a few days before it dies out. But his death would certainly leave many concerns to be pacified. The encouragement of caste politics among the students; the role of political leaders in fueling such politics for their benefit; the administration of Universities getting either biased or blind… would be few of many issues that should be dealt seriously!

300 killed and 400 abducted by ISIS

In what is considered to be the worst toll in the Syrian war against ISIS, the ISIS forces have killed at least 300 people in the Deir ez-Zor city in Syria. ISIS was trying to regain its power on Deir ez-Zor. As ISIS faced stiff resistance from the Syrian army along with the residents, the war took a bloody turn. Most of the people who died were thought to be civilians, many of them being women and children. Further, ISIS took 400 civilians under its captivity. Deir ez-Zor plays a key role in the geography of Syria. It is rich in oil and gas fields which provide a good source of income for the militant group. It is closer to the Iraq border which allows the terrorists to spread their forces. Deir ez-Zor is even closer to Raqqa which is the de facto capital of ISIS. Now with the present attack on the city, ISIS was supposed to have 60% of the city under its control. But the victory of ISIS seems to be a worry for the Syrian government. ISIS was able to capture the city despite the resistance from the civilians, army and the Russian Air force. So the question would be… Who can stop ISIS?

Rabri Devi laughs at RSS dress code

It’s not just Lalu that offers news with his controversial statements. His better half Rabri too desires to share some space in the headlines. This time she ridiculed the dress code of RSS. Speaking at the RJD’s national council in Patna, she has critisised the half pants worn by the RSS sevaks. ‘Even the elders of the RSS wear knickers. Are they not ashamed to come in the public wearing them!’ asked Rabri. Rabri, who is known to be the first women chief minister of Bihar, might have gained much confidence after her party has won the state elections of Bihar. Her younger son has become the youngest person to hold the post of Deputy Chief Minister, while her elder son Tej Pratap Yadav occupies the post of Bihar Health Minister. Now with such a backing… who can stop her to make bold statements!

Hindu Sena Chief arrested

The New Delhi police have arrested Vishnu Gupta, the chief of Hindu Sena for vandalizing the Pakistan Airlines office in New Delhi. On Thursday, four members of Hindu Sena has entered the Airlines Office and ransacked the workplace. The computers and furniture of the office is said to be severely damaged. The activists pitched anti-Pakistan slogans and left several pamphlets before they left the place. “India should not have any talks with Pakistan till it stops terrorist activities and should hand over criminals like Dawood Ibrahim and terrorist Hafiz Muhammad Saeed to India,” was the statement in those pamphlets. The incident has clearly strained the weak relations of Indo-Pak. Vishnu Gupta has taken the responsibility for the incident and had indicated that it was in reaction to the Pathankot airbase attack. However, getting arrested is not new for Vishnu Gupta. Vishnu who claims himself to be the only nationalist in the country, often messes with the law. Recently, he was arrested for making a false complaint that Beef is being served in Kerala House. A few over enthusiastic police has not verified the claim and raided the Kerala House in New Delhi. As the complaint proved to be false, the raid of police has created huge controversy in the country. It has even strained the relations between the Kerala state and the central government. This time, Vishnu Gupta seems to strain the relations between two countries!