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Now school students across the country can learn to develop an app for free

By
The Commune
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NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission has launched the ALT App Development Module for school children across the country. The ALT App is an online course and is completely free. There are six project based learning modules and online mentoring sessions. Children can learn to develop mobile apps in various Indian languages and earn certificates. Also, to build capabilities and acumen for app development within school teachers, periodic teacher training sessions will be conducted on the AIM App Development course.

NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer Amitabh Kant has said that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about big disruption, which is being tackled through the use of technology to assist everyday life activities. The Prime Minister has been encouraging people to use technology and discover a new way to make India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Mr. Kant said, it is very important and essential for the young Indians to learn skills at a young age and to enable them to become the next generation of technology leaders.

Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission R Ramanan while speaking on the occasion said, the launch of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge has inspired young students at school, university, and industry level. NITI Aayog is now bringing the skills of app development to the young tinkerers of Atal Tinkering Labs to integrate the skills of apps development enhancing the usability and reach of their innovations.

Source: AIR News

Facebook and Instagram ban content on gay conversion

By
Preetika Parashuraman
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Content regarding conversion therapy that aims at forcefully changing an individual’s sexual orientation has finally been banned on all social media platforms by Facebook and Instagram. 

“We don’t allow attacks against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity and are updating our policies to ban the promotion of conversion therapy services.” Tara Hopkins, Instagram’s public policy director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa said in a statement to CNN.

Research has shown the numerous negative effects that conversion therapy, such include – depression, drug use and suicide.

According to Instagram, the ban is applicable worldwide as a part of the expansion of hate speech policies. The ban is aimed at shutting down organisations in Africa, Europe, the US and other religions trying to promote the practice online. Germany is the only country where conversion is banned, the report noted.

Facebook is also looking at banning political ads in the US ahead of elections in November. It is in the discussion stage and nothing has been finalised as of now, Bloomberg noted.

United States President Donald Trump and former Vice President and democratic nominee Joe Biden have spent a combined $29.2 million on ads, according to the company’s self-reported data.

 

Mobile application to help farmers in Mizoram

By
Preetika Parashuraman
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The Mizoram government launched a mobile application for farmers that will provide them with the latest information on agriculture. 

The mobile application will have various features such as information on cultivation of various crops, maximum requirement for seeds and estimated total production in first cultivation, and protection of crops from pest infestation.

“The state government has been making massive efforts to alleviate the difficulties faced by farmers, who have been greatly affected by the coronavirus induced lockdown,” said Agriculture Minister C Lalrinsanga

He launched the mobile application with high hopes that it will be of immense help to the farmers.

He also said that the technological and mechanical innovation in the agricultural sector of the state will not only transform their practice but will also generate income simultaneously.

Before this was the ‘farmers helpline,’ which benefitted the farmers greatly too, he further added.

The application is available in Google Play Store.

Source: PTI

Trump ‘finally’ wears a mask during a hospital visit, internet erupts in shock

By
Vaibavi Jayakumar
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US President Donald Trump wore a mask for the first time since the advent of the pandemic, and the internet erupted over this turn of events. He was seen visiting the Walter Reed military hospital outside Washington, where he met wounded soldiers and health care workers. At the medical facility, Trump walked by media gathered for a carefully staged photo opportunity wearing a navy blue mask emblazoned with a presidential seal embossed in gold. He said only “thank you” as he passed.

Donald Trump who had been a strong advocate against masks, was heard saying, “I’ve never been against masks but I do believe they have a time and a place,” as he left the White House. He added that he “sort of liked” how he looked with one on, likening himself to the Lone Ranger, a fictional masked hero who with his Native American friend, Tonto, fought outlaws in the American Old West.

This is the same man that had mocked the CDC’s regulations to wear masks in public places as the pandemic started becoming rampant in the United States. Notably, he had also previously criticized Presidential rival candidate Joe Biden for wearing masks in public.

This new stance by the US President has caused a storm on social media. Many even wondered if this is a result of the recently recorded 66,528 coronavirus cases on Saturday, a new daily record for the country.

(source: BBC, Al Jazeera)

Siddha treatment gets thumbs up from Supreme Court Judge Justice Indira Bannerjee

By
The Commune
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Supreme Court Judge Justice Indira Bannerjee has in a statement given a testimony to the efficacy of the ancient traditional Siddha medicine saying that it has helped cure her aches and pains, cough, nd sore throat. She said that she has been undergoing Siddha Varmam Therapy under the guidance of Dr. K. Elavarasan, Siddha Consultant of Ayush Clinic in the President Estate, Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Tamil Nadu Minister Ma Foi K Pandiarajan took to Twitter to share the news and said “Resounding testimony by Hon. SC Judge & former CJ of TN, Ms Indira Banerjee of the efficacy of #Siddha medicine system esp #KabaSuraKudineer for treatment !”

“I regularly underwent therapy under Dr. Elavarasan till the imposition of the lockdown on account of the pandemic. The therapy was very effective.” She also said that she is now taking regular shots of immunity booster Kabasura Kudineer and has also purchased 50 bottles of the same to be distributed to her staff at her residential office and for her family members.

She said that she has been taking Siddha medicines as per Dr. Elavarasan’s advice for sore throat, cough, aches and pain which has cured her of the ailments.

She congratulated Dr. Elavaravarasn and wished him success for his efforts who has been working towards administering Kabasura Kudineer en masse and also creating awareness on diets, hygiene practices, exercises, therapies, etc.

Following Amitabh Bacchan and Abishek, Aishwarya Rai and Aradhya also test positive for COVID-19

By
Vaibavi Jayakumar
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Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bacchan and his son Abhishek Bacchan tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday and were admitted to the Nanavati Hospital. Following this, their entire family underwent testing for coronavirus infection. The senior Bacchan had announced this on his Twitter handle.

On Sunday afternoon, Aishwarya Rai and her daughter Aradhya also tested positive for coronavirus. While Amitabh and his son had displayed minor symptoms, the latter two had been asymptomatic. They were then advised to be under home quarantine, and undergo medical services at home. Jaya Bacchan had tested negative for the virus.

Doctors confirmed that Amitabh’s vitals were stable, and that he was responding well to medication. “Total 16 people from the Bachchan family have been tested including guards and maids. Other reports will come tomorrow,” said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner, BMC. ”Aishwarya and Aaradhya are both asymptomatic, BMC will take written declaration from them if they want to take treatment at home. Or else, they will also be shifted to hospital,” added Kakani. As per BMC, their swab samples were taken yesterday for RT-PCR test. Their positive reports came today.

Following this, celebrities from all over the world tweeted their wishes and prayers for the Bacchan family to get well soon.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

Nearly 1300 test positive for COVID-19 at Indonesian Military Academy

By
Preetika Parashuraman
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As Indonesia is struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19, nearly 1300 people at a military academy were tested positive for COVID-19. 

Initially 30 people were hospitalized with mild symptoms. Then the Indonesian Army Officer Candidate School was asked to strictly adhere to quarantine protocols.

Of the 1,280 confirmed infections, 991 were cadets and the rest were staff and their family members. Most were asymptomatic cases.

The outbreak was first detected when two cadets went to a medical facility after complaining of fever and back pain.

They were tested for COVID-19 and the results were positive. This sparked a mass swab testing at the academy. The academy has about 2000 staff and cadets.

The governor of West Java apologised for the outbreak.

He asked the residents to co-operate and follow social distancing and other prevention measures.

He urged them to specifically restrict movement around the academy until the situation comes back to normalcy.

Indonesia is the hardest-hit country in South-east Asia, with more than 74,000 active cases of Covid-19 and over 3,500 deaths.

The real toll is widely believed to be much higher, owing to the low-scale testing methodology of Indonesia.

The World Health Organisation recently urged Indonesia to do more testing.

Source: AFP

Mysterious devotee leaves gold biscuits at Tirumala temple

By
Vaibavi Jayakumar
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A mystery devotee has left 20 ‘gold biscuits’ at the hundi of the Tirumala Thirupathi Devasthanam Temple, reported a temple official on Sunday. They were said to weigh 2 kg and were found on Saturday, when the officials were counting the day’s collection at the temple.

Singhal, who is an official in the temple trust committee, said that about 2.5 lakh devotees thronged the shrine during the month. Meanwhile, about 67,000 devotees, who had booked tickets online for worship, did not visit the temple for different reasons, including COVID-19 related issues, Singhal said.

The TTD trust runs the centuries-old temple, and the total cash offerings, excluding the gold biscuits, amounted to ₹16.7 crore post the reopening of the temple after the lockdown was released. Around 91 members of the temple trust have been tested positive for coronavirus ever since the reopening of the temple, when 3,569 employees were tested.

Meanwhile, the total coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh stands at 25,422, while the death toll is at 292.

(Source: PTI, Livemint)

These grandparents have left netizens gushing with their message to their grandson

By
Vaibavi Jayakumar
-

A Twitter user called Matt G has posted a video message that his grandparents had reportedly left on his door cam while he was on vacation. This clip has gone viral and has left netizens in awe.

In the short clip, one can see two elderly people walking towards the door. The grandfather, with a big smile on his face, can be seen looking at the camera and saying, “Hey Matt, we drank all your beer buddy”. The grandmother, on the other hand, while waving at the camera, can be heard saying, “have a wonderful vacation, we love you”. The clip ends with both of them leaving the vicinity.

This clip garnered more than 7 million views, and over a million likes and reshares on Twitter from when it was posted on July 9. This has also invoked a lot of comments from the Twitterati, who can’t stop gushing over it.

(Source: Republic)

Trouble brews for Nepal politics as new Madhesi Party gets approved by poll panel

By
Vaibavi Jayakumar
-

The Janata Samajbadi Party (JSPN), which was formed quite recently, got the nod from Nepal’s election commission and got officially registered. This party comprises mainly of Madhesis, people who are of Indian origin. This spells trouble for the country’s political scenario, which is already in a state of turmoil.

The JSPN was formed after the recent merger between the parties Samajbadi Party Nepal and Rashtriya Janata Party Nepal. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had been delaying the registration for this party because of the backlash he has been facing in his ruling Nepal Communist Party. Due to this factor, despite the merger having happened in April, the license was issued only on Saturday.

This is because of the fact that, despite their support towards Oli’s decision towards the amendment of Nepal’s map, the new Citizenship Amendment Bill proposed by the Oli government that that would place a threshold of 7 years for foreign women marrying Nepali citizens to get Nepali citizenship, has not sat well with the JSPN.

This new party is expected to cause a paradigm shift in Nepal’s politics, as there is a large amount of backlash against Oli, asking him to step down from his Prime Ministerial position.

Back in 2015, the Madhesis had revolted against Nepal’s constiutional amendment that sought to politically marginalized them by giving them lesser representation in the Parliament. Close to 50 people were killed in those protests and the resulting blockade sent the country in an economic and humanitarian crisis.

(Source:Hindustan Times)

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TheCommune
The Commune is a news and views portal focusing on social and political issues of the southern part of India with a focus on Tamil Nadu.
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