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Wednesday, December 17, 2025
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MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar inaugurates the first Internet Exchange for Uttarakhand in Dehradun

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The Commune
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Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, inaugurated today the first Internet Exchange in the state of Uttarakhand, hosted at Dehradun, through a virtual inaugural ceremony from Delhi. The inauguration of the 10th internet exchange of NIXI in India will help in enhancing and improving the quality of Internet and Broadband services in Uttarakhand.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said “6 years back, in the year 2015,  PM laid the foundations of Digital India with the objectives of bringing efficiency, ensuring corruption free governance, promoting entrepreneurship, creating jobs and developing competencies in certain strategic areas of technology by increasing the size of the digital economy.”

Today, each and every paisa goes directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer hence, ensuring transparency and accountability. He added that post covid, the digital economy is growing at a fast pace with addition of many new jobs and Unicorns in the technology sector. The sector is able to attract a huge volume of investments..

Talking about the growth of digital technology in the pandemic period, the Minister said that over the last 18 months, the world suffered through the worst pandemic of the 21st century. It disrupted our day-to-day activities and had a significant impact on our economy. The pace with which our economy has bounced back, a lot of that has to do with our early investments made in the Digital India Programme.

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar committed that the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology will support the efforts of bringing digital revolution in Uttarakhand. This exchange at Dehradun not only will benefit the netizens of Dehradun but promote the arrival of more Internet Service Providers and more Content Delivery network at Dehradun. It shall make the Digital ecosystem more robust and reliable

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar also announced that the next Internet Exchange in Uttarakhand will be at Nainital District.

Sh. Anil Baluni, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Government of India and Sh. Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary (Meity)/Chairman NIXI, Ministry of Electronics and IT delivered the Keynote during the inauguration function. The event was attended by Sh. BansiDharBhagat, Cabinet Minister, Govt. Of Uttarakhand, Sh. Ganesh Joshi, Cabinet Minister, Govt. Of Uttarakhand, Sh. Umesh Sharma Kau, MLA, Sh. KhajanDass, MLA, Sh. Sunil Uniyal Gama, Mayor of Dehradun and Sh. Madan Kaushik, BJP State President.

National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is a not-for-profit organisation working since 2003 for spreading the internet technology to the citizens of India through the following activities: –

– Internet Exchanges through which the internet data is exchanged amongst ISPs and between ISPs and CDNs.

– Selling, managing and operation of .IN country code domain and . भारत IDN domain for India.

– Selling, managing and operating Internet protocol (IPv4/IPv6) as authorised by APNIC, Australia.

NIXI is planning to launch many small nodes like this in Tier-2 & Tier-3 cities in the near future so as to improvise the entire internet ecosystem in India and enable the netzines to access internet at low cost with high speeds.

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Australia approves Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN as WHO drags its feet

By
The Commune
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In a major boost and recognition for the indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine, Covixin and its maker Bharat Biotech on November 1, the Australian Government’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) under the Department of Health recognised this made-in-India Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin to and gave a traveller’s vaccination status.

This news is also a very important foreign policy victory for the Modi government and could not have come at a better time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending the G-20 summit where he met with leaders who nineteen nations plus India that control eighty five per cent of global GDP.

As the World Health Organisation (WHO), keeps dragging its feet, this recognition has been approved for anyone of age 12 and above who have been vaccinated with Covaxin.

In a statement, Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell AO, said, “Australian Government recognises Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for the purpose of establishing a traveller’s vaccination status.”

In the statement issued by TGA, the Australian government also recognized BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China) for the purpose of travel for anyone between the ages of 18 and 60. The statement read, “Today, the TGA determined that Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech, India) and BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China) vaccines would be ‘recognized’ to establish a traveller’s vaccination status. This recognition is for travellers aged 12 and over who have been vaccinated with Covaxin, and those 18 to 60 who have been vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV.”

It further said that “potentially reduce the likelihood that an incoming traveller would transmit COVID-19 infection to others while in Australia or become acutely unwell due to COVID-19.” It added that the vaccine sponsor or WHO has provided the supporting information.

With the approval of Covaxin and Covishield (manufactured by AstraZeneca, India), citizens of India and other countries who have been vaccinated with these two vaccines can travel to Australia as the summer begins and the Australian government will hope to see a surge in tourism and also this decision will benefit students as well as skilled and unskilled workers.

WHO is still deliberating to give approval for Covaxin and has set November 3 as the date of the next meeting to decide.

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Terror on Halloween: Man dressed as “Joker” goes on a stabbing spree in Tokyo subway

By
The Commune
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Life imitated art in the Japanese capital of Tokyo when a man dressed in Batman’s Joker costume went on a stabbing spree with at least 17 people reportedly injured and one in a serious condition.

As per the latest reports, a 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and according to Japanese media, the attack took place on Sunday, when the Japanese capital was full of Halloween revellers, many of whom were in costume.

The attacker was wearing a green shirt and indigo suit just as the joker when he viciously attacked people with a knife and sprayed hydrochloric acid on passengers.

https://twitter.com/NewsForAllUK/status/1454824376528945158

A video clip published by NHK showed passengers running for their lives as the train was filled in smoke with flames also visible. Photos taken from cell phone cameras that were posted on Twitter showed people climbing through windows to escape the Keio line train at a station.

The line operator said services had been partially suspended after “an incident involving injuries” took place just before 8pm near Kokuryō in the city’s western suburbs.

“At first I thought it was something like a Halloween event. But I rushed away as a man carrying a long knife came in. I was very fortunate not to be injured,” a man who was on the train told NHK.

“He held a knife and started spreading liquid,” she said. “He was committing this act without showing any emotion, just mechanically. I think that brought fear to everyone.”

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‘Porno in Vedas’: After Karuppar Koottam, another Tamil YT channel spews hatred against Hindus

By
The Commune
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A YouTube channel named U2 Brutus which is known for being a vocal supporter of the ruling DMK has put out a video titled “Pornography in Vedas” in which the host who identifies himself as ‘Minor’ and an alleged Saivite scholar named Prakash derogate the Vedas, the holy scripture of the Hindus.

In the video, the anchor asks Prakash to explain the ‘pornography’ present in the mantras that is chanted during Hindu wedding ceremonies. The alleged Saivite scholar quotes one Srinivasacharya to make his case about how the Veda mantras chanted during wedding ceremonies of Hindus contains ‘obscene’ and ‘pornographic’ content.

He says that the ‘Arya’ Vedas is different from the Tamil Mantras, the rhetoric peddled by the DMK and other ideologues of anti-Hindu bigot EV Ramaswamy Naicker.

“The ‘Arya’ Vedas clearly mentions that the bride who is leaving her house and entering her husband’s house is leaving her virginity with Agni”, Prakash says.

He goes on to say that the Vedas mention about Agni, Soman and Gandharvan ‘attain the bride’ before she gets married off to the groom.

The alleged Saivite scholar later goes on to mention about how Tamil mantras of the Aandal Pasuram are devoid of such ‘obscene content’ of the ‘Arya’ Vedas.

He asks Tamil people to chant Pasurams, Devarams and Thiruvasagams during marriage instead of Sanskrit Veda mantras.

This is not the only video that has been released by U2 Brutus. There are about 9 videos that spews venom against Vedas and Hinduism. These videos too feature the alleged Saivite scholar Prakash.

It is noteworthy to mention that MK Stalin, who is now the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had on multiple occasions said that if one were to look at the meaning of the mantras chanted during Hindu wedding ceremonies, it would turn out to be ‘disgusting’.

CM Stalin had recently met several YouTubers  who are vocal supporters of the DMK.

Earlier, member of the Karuppar Koottam YouTube channel who were arrested for putting abusive and vulgar videos of Hindu Gods were released from jail following the DMK’s rise to power.

Karuppar Koottam had derogated the devotional hymn ‘Kandha Sashti Kavasam’ sung in praise of Lord Murugan.

The Indu Makkal Katchi has condemned the videos put by U2 Brutus. In a tweet, IMK had tagged DMK Dharmapuri MP Dr. Senthikumar asking if action will be taken against the owners of the channel.

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Taliban issues religious diktat, Muslims must not befriend infidels

By
The Commune
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For those in India who are proponents of having diplomatic relations with the Taliban, news of this law was introduced by The Prevention of Vice Manual wherein the Taliban discourages people from “helping, befriending… infidels” should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Taliban officials in provinces controlled by them in Afghanistan are now imposing rules that harsher than the abusive, puritanical policies announced by their leaders in Kabul.

According to the Human Rights Watch (HRW), Taliban authorities do not comply with the rights protections of minorities.

Heather Barr, associate women’s rights director at Human Rights Watch said, “The Taliban’s world view and abusive practices have been relatively consistent, as this manual demonstrates,”. 

“Countries that spent the last 20 years promoting human rights in Afghanistan need to negotiate with the Taliban to try to end worsening rights violations, including against women and girls,” she added.

The manual which is no different than what the Taliban had imposed back in 1996, instructs religious leaders to advise men on growing their beards, praying or fast as required by religious obligations and those who do not comply are to be reported.

There is also prohibition on parties and listening to music audible outside a home, cinemas, gambling, and “inappropriate use of tape cassettes, dish antenna, computer, and mobile.”

The concept of mahram (a chaperone) for women and older girls has again been introduced that states women “shall be commanded to put on a veil when faced with non-mahrams. Women shall be prohibited from not wearing hijab and veil in public and against non-mahrams,” but adds that these mandates should be enforced in “an easy and kind way.”

During the Taliban’s last reagin from 1996 to 2001, Hindus and Sikhs of Afghanistan were forced to wear yellow badges the same way the Nazis did with Jews when Hitler was in power.

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Nearly 1 lakh jobs created in Manipur by MSMEs

By
The Commune
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the creation of 1 lakh jobs by MSMEs in Manipur.

In reply to a tweet by the Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri N Biren Singh, the Prime Minister said;

“Well done Manipur! Keep up the good work of leveraging the strength of the MSME sector in order to further the state’s progress.”

According to the Manipur is one of the highest ranking States in the North East Region in both Registration of MSMEs and Employment generation in the GoI’s Analysis of Udyam Registration Data.

As per the GoI’s data, a total of 11172 MSMEs were registered from Manipur as of 30th July 2021, which has generated a massive employment of 99568 jobs. We have started witnessing the fruits of our initiatives like Start-Up Manipur, TRIFED etc.

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The plight of migrant workers in pandemic-stricken Singapore

By
The Commune
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Feature Image Credits: BBC

Migrant workers belonging to India working in Singapore have been having a difficult time as they bear the brunt of the pandemic-induced lockdown with many living in cramped dormitories and unsanitary living conditions.

With Singapore witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases, the spread of the disease is rapid in these dorms because of tightly packed bodies and subpar sanitation.

While the well-off expatriates are scrambling to book tickets to be with their families in the festive season, the migrant workers who are mostly from India with a majority of them from Tamil Nadu, are struggling to make ends meet with no money coming in due to lack of jobs. Many of them haven’t seen their families for several years and are hoping against hope to return to their homes back in their country.

Though a majority have been vaccinated, Singapore is restricting arrivals from countries like Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. So, those who return to India stand at the risk of losing their jobs or are made to undergo forced quarantine the cost of which the workers have to bear. The resultant financial burden and the fear of job loss are making the migrant workers to stay put in these dormitories.

According to a report by Bloomberg, as much as 15% of the migrant workers who are involved in repairing roads, building subway stations, manning shipyards, caring for the elderly and children are facing the heat.

Experts and rights activists are hence asking the Singapore government to make travel home more feasible for these workers when the island opens up.

Singapore’s migrants have been living in dorms, old factories, construction sites and other makeshift spaces or sometimes at the work site itself. Those staying in dorms are paid for by the employers. These dorms which are located far away from the glamorous glass buildings of the Singapore city, housed close to 30 people in a single shared room before the pandemic. This was later reduced to 12 in a room and a bathroom for 6 in line with COVID-19 guidelines.

There is also a clear discrimination in how these workers and native public servants are treated. The uniform public housing blocks called HDBs have a strict quota for foreign tenants. A primary reason for this is that the HDB residents’ do not like living near the workers, the Bloomberg News reported previously.

While the Singapore government has been taking some measures problems continue to exist for the migrants. Many allege that those who tested positive for Covid were denied proper treatment. Some of the photos posted online show people sleeping in corridors and outside to avoid giving the disease to others.

Many have also complained that the food that was being given was rotten or infested with insects and worms. When these workers raised their voice demanding these basic requirements, riot police in armored vehicles were sent in.

Those who are grabbing on to the jobs for their paychecks don’t have the luxury to confront their employers and contractors.

In light of this, activists and journalists reporting on the pitiable plight of these workers have been pressing the Singapore government to take action and expedite a dedicated travel line for the workers. They have called for affordable quarantine requirements and job/pay guarantees for existing pass holders upon return.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)

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US returns 248 stolen Indian artifacts

By
The Commune
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india nataraja idols artifacts ancient us usa return
Featured Image Credits: manhattanda.org

In a big win for India in its ongoing effort to get its stolen ancient relics and antiques back, the United States on Thursday (October 28) returned 248 antiques worth about $15 million, or ₹110 crore, to India.

One of the priceless statues is a 12th century bronze statue of  Nataraj, “Lord of the Dance” the Hindu god Shiva in his form as the cosmic dancer. These artifacts were tracked during five different criminal investigations in the last decade. The Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr. said in a statement that these statues are “cultural and cosmic bridges between ancient and modern India”.

“This extraordinary assemblage of artifacts, recovered from five different criminal investigations over the past decade, embodies the timeless cultural and cosmic bridge between ancient and modern-day India,” said District Attorney Vance. “Today’s event also serves as a potent reminder that individuals who maraud sacred temples in pursuit of individual profit are committing crimes not only against a country’s heritage but also its present and future. I am honored to return these 248 pieces to the people of India – our largest such transfer of antiquities to this proud nation. I thank my Office’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit and our partners at Homeland Security Investigations for their assiduous efforts that have resulted in more than 500 treasures being returned to 12 countries since August 2020. I look forward to further repatriations in the near future.”

As of now, 248 items were handed over to India at an event in the presence of Indian Consul General Randhir Jaiswal and US Homeland Security Investigation Deputy Special Agent in In Charge Eric Rosemblet.

Speaking on the occasion, Jaiswal thanked the Manhattan District Attorney for his cooperation and said, “We profusely thank the Manhattan D.A.’s Office for their support and cooperation in the return of antiquities to India and we look forward to our continued engagement to strengthen cultural ties between India and the United States.”

Out of these 248 items, 235 have been recovered from notorious stolen art dealer Subhash Kapoor and his associates who used to bring stolen items from India to Manhattan and sell them through Kapoor’s gallery at Madison Avenue.

Homeland Security New York Executive Special Agent in In Charge Ricky Patel said that these stolen artifacts are part of India’s extensive cultural heritage. “We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners around the world to combat these types of crimes”, he added.

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Protest erupt in JNU as Islamists and Communists organise webinar titled “Resistance to Indian occupation in Kashmir”

By
The Commune
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A webinar organised by students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) was cancelled after it emerged it was an attempt to delegitimise India’s claim over Kashmir and this conference was organised by Ather Zia, a known India hater who is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Northern Colorado.

The webinar was “Resistance to Indian Occupation in Kashmir”, to be organised by the Centre for Women’s Studies (CWS) of the JNU and once this event became public, there was outrage among net citizens and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) which said, “the webinar as it undermined the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of India and the Constitution of India,”.

The webinar was to be organised on Friday (October 29) evening and according to the JNU JNU Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, “The faculty member did not seek the permission of administration before planning such an event.”

“As soon as it came to our notice that an online webinar titled “Gendered Resistance and Fresh Challenges in Post-2019 Kashmir” was going to be organised at 8.30 pm today by Centre for Women’s Studies, JNU, the JNU administration immediately instructed the faculty member organising the event to cancel it. The program was cancelled forthwith,” he added

“After the aggressive and forceful protest by ABVP JNU and due to our proactive stand, the JNU administration had to cancel the anti-Bharat webinar that addressed the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir as ‘Indian occupied Kashmir'”, said ABVP JNU President Shivam Chaurasia.

ABVP JNU Secretary Rohit Kumar said, “We also demand immediate action against the Chairperson of the Centre for Women’s Studies and the concerned faculties who have mindlessly organised such a webinar by twisting facts on the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with the intention to create a distorted narrative on Jammu and Kashmir.”

The leftest-Communists of JNU have a long and proud history of organising anti-India activities at the campus and would publicly cheer when Maoists would kill security forces.

For the CWS webinar, Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar said, “This is a highly objectionable and a provocative subject, which questions the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. JNU can not be a platform to this kind of very questionable webinars. The matter is being inquired into.”

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Watch: Italians welcome PM Modi with Shiva Tandava Stotram

By
The Commune
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Rome on October 29 to attend the 16th G-20 Summit. He was received by senior officials of the Government of Italy and Ambassador of India in Italy.

Prime Minister Modi met the Indian diaspora while on his way to pay respects to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi.

At that time, two Italian women started chanting the Shiva Tandava Stotram which the Prime Minister listened fully.

While in Italy, PM Modi will also visit the Vatican City, to call on His Holiness Pope Francis and meet Secretary of State, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, I will also meet with leaders of other partner countries and review the progress in India’s bilateral relations with them.

Following the conclusion of the G20 Summit on 31 October, PM Modi will depart for Glasgow to attend the 26th Conference of Parties (COP-26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

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