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Google introduces ‘Fact-Checked’ labels to identify misleading photos

Tech giant Google announced the introduction of ‘Fact-Checked’ labels and will start identifying some misleading photos in its specific search tool. This will help in confirming the authenticity of the images and curb fake news thus allowing netizens to make more informed decisions about the content they consume.

According to Mashable, the fact-check label will appear on any image that is included in an article that fact-check a photo or another claim. This new feature will help stopping the information which is not authentic and that might lead to spread of misinformation. In fact, Google used these fact-checking labels for years in its main search results and also on video streaming site YouTube.

It was also disclosed by the search giant in December that fact checks appeared more than 11 million times each day in search results. As per blog-post of Google’s product manager Harris Cohen, when a user searches for an image, some of the images will reflect a ‘Fact Check’ label just below the thumbnail of the image. Once the image is clicked for enlarging, the short summary of the fact-check will show up.

Google said, in both cases, if the fact-check article is about a specific image or the fact-check article contains that image, the fact-check label would appear. The company added that these sources rely on ClaimReview, which is an open-source method and is allowing publishers to indicate search engines that the content that has been fact-checked.

IN-SPACe to promote private endeavors in Indian space sector

Dr. K Sivan, the Secretary, DOS/Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced the establishment of IN-SPACe under the Department of Space as a separate vertical for allowing and regulating the activities of the private industry in the Indian space sector.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe) is an autonomous nodal agency. It will play an instrumental role in elevating private players in the space sector. It is expected to speed up growth, create jobs, and pave way for innovation, thereby becoming a significant asset in the global space economy. In order to assess requirements and to manage activities, it has its own independent Directorates for Technical, Legal, Safety & Security, Monitoring as well as Activities Promotion.

The decision of widening the space sector is to transform India to become self-reliant in this industry by following a set of socio-economic reforms. The objective is to tap the potential of India’s space industry by enabling private enterprises and start-ups to engage in space exploration activities. In addition to that, the reforms will help to mitigate large investments to organize facilities to conduct space activities under the guidance of ISRO.

This will open doors for the private sector to take the opportunity to carry out research and development activities and be a part of interplanetary missions. Hoping to put India on the map of the global space sector, the Department of Space believes it is a “new turn in the arena of space” for India.

India to contribute USD 10 million to UNRWA in the next two years

Addressing an Extraordinary Virtual Ministerial Pledging Conference for UNRWA, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan announced that India will contribute USD 10 million to United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in next two years.

Capacity enhancement through training and building durable institutions is a major plank of our developmental assistance to Palestine. Muraleedharan said, when some certain countries withdrew funding, India stepped up its annual pledge from 1.25 million USD to 5 million USD in 2018. This year India has already disbursed two million dollars and will soon release balance three million dollars.

250 annual scholarships are provided to Palestinian youth and officials apart from regular planned training programs.The current project grant is around 72 million dollars. He said “India appreciates the support and untiring work of host countries, donors, and UNRWA to ensure millions of our Palestinian brothers and sisters who went homeless lead a life of honor”.

He said as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to haunt the lives of people across the world, resulting in the governments to push for their healthcare socio-economic needs of the people, and realizing the capacities to help others in every possible way. Victory over this crisis needs a collective and focussed action. Despite the increase in need in domestic demand for medical supplies amidst rising cases, India is assisting countries in critical needs.

Russia supports India’s bid for UNSC permanent seat

India’s bid for the permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has got strong backing from Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the Russia, India, and China (RIC) meeting discussed probable reforms of the United Nations and India is a strong nominee to become a permanent member of the UNSC.

“We support India’s candidacy”, Mr. Lavrov added.

Lavrov also backed India’s move on adopting comprehensive convention on combating terrorism. “It is clear that international terrorism is far from elimination. I would like to use this opportunity to reaffirm our support to India’s initiative on adopting a comprehensive convention on combatting terrorism.”

Foreign Ministers of the RIC have discussed reforms of the United Nations during the trilateral meet held through video conferencing. UNSC has five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a two-year term recently. The two-year term will begin on January 1, 2021. This is the eighth time India has been voted as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

The voting concluded at the UN Headquarters in New York on June 17. India was the only country from the Asia-Pacific group and won the election by polling 184out of 192 valid votes.

Nehru-Gandhi Family: A threat to national security

Ever since the Galwan Valley faceoff, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been trying his best to defame the Central government and even tried to give spin-offs to what was said during the All-Party meeting held on June 19 to try and gain some political points. However, his words found no takers. None of the opposition parties towed his line with many coming out and calling it as a ‘manufactured controversy‘. Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma of the National People’s Party said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s answers reflected India’s strong stand and added that it is best to ignore other commentaries which are neither factual nor desired. The Congress leader was even called out by a soldier’s father who asked him to not indulge in politics over the death of soldiers.

Except for the Gandhi family and the persons whose survival depends on the crumbs the family puts, others have stood in solidarity with the government. However, Rahul Gandhi’s unending jibes at the Centre have raised eyebrows with many questioning the intent behind.

Against this backdrop, details of the Gandhi family’s connection with the Communist Party of China and other entities have been emerging that would disturb anyone concerned with the well-being of this country.

Congress – CPC Nexus

If one were to observe Rahul Gandhi’s tweets it may seem like he cares so much about our soldiers and fiercely standing against the Chinese aggression. However, people are smart enough to look through his crocodile tears and call his bluff. In this age of information, there is very less that one can hide. Not long ago in May, the party made its MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to delete his tweet praising the Indian Army. In the tweet Mr. Chowdhury likened China to ‘venomous snakes’ and called them as ‘Yellow expansionists’ while urging the government to accord diplomatic status to Taiwan. It was reported that the MP’s tweet did not “please the Congress’ leadership”.

In August 2008, the Sonia Gandhi-led Congress and the Communist Party of China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) “for exchanging high level information and cooperation between them”. The MoU also said that the two parties would “consult each other on bilateral, regional and international developments”. The deal was signed by none other than the then Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on the Indian side and current Chinese President Xi Jinping who was then the Vice President of the country.

Now this is not an agreement that was signed between two governments. As reported, “it was strictly on party-to-party” basis and in China, it is the Communist party that runs the government.

Before the signing of the MoU, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi held meetings with Xi Jinping and other Communist leaders and held discussions on “mutual interest”.

Earlier in October 2007, Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi led a Congress party delegation to China. They had interacted with a number of leaders who, as IANS reported, “were likely to play an important role in China in the near future”.

Now, it would not be surprising if Communists in India signed a MoU with Communists in China. However, what one should note is that China went ahead and signed the MoU with the Congress party despite knowing that the party was not in good terms with the Indian Left. It was reported that the CPC signed the document to build a relationship with the Congress and in particular the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Not just this, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, an extension of the Congress party with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, P Chidambaram, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi as board members, had received funds to the tune of 1 crore from the Chinese governmentin three years.

They had used this money to carry out several studies on how a “free-trade agreement” between India and China was desirable and required and also organized seminars and conferences on the same.

Interestingly, India’s trade deficit with China increased by 33 times between 2003-2004 and 2013-14.

The Doklam Episode

In 2017, Rahul Gandhi clandestinely met Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui at a time when India was handling the Doklam standoff. Initially, the Congress party brushed it as fake news but the party faced major embarrassment when Chinese embassy themselves confirmed the meeting between Rahul Gandhi and the Chinese envoy on their website. Again in 2018 Rahul Gandhi himself revealed about a secret meeting with Chinese Ministers during his Kailash trip. This meeting was also kept a secret initially but later Rahul Gandhi had accidentally revealed it while addressing a town hall meeting at Bhubaneswar.

Nefarious Activities of Congress

Congress leader Anand Sharma went to South Africa in September 2019 and met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the African National Congress headquarters “to discuss issues of mutual interest between the two parties”. He had met several leaders of the ANC and also engaged with academic and think-tanks there. Just earlier this month, South Africa launched an anti-racism campaign led by Ramaphosa. It was meant to be an initiative to give support to the #BlackLivesMatter protests in USA. The campaign was launched digitally on June 5 in which Anand Sharma was one of the guest speakers. However, this campaign had received flak from within that country for its hypocrisy as many blacks within South Africa faced discrimination and brutality even now. During his address, Anand Sharma called for people in India to stand up for human rights and justice. This came when the protests in US took a violent turn with anarchy on the streets. It is to be noted that when Prime Minister Modi visited South Africa in 2016, a group of ANC members and Islamists protested against his visit.

Now the ANC and INC have a MoU between them. The INC was accused of funding ANC’s election campaign in 2009. Incidentally, CPC too was accused of the same. All these makes one question the nature of MoUs that the Congress has signed with these two other parties in these two countries.

The Congress under Sonia Gandhi when it was in power appointed several questionable individuals to the National Advisory Council, an unconstitutional decision making body for the Gandhi family to exercise control over the country because Antonio Maino couldn’t become Prime Minister. Harsh Mander, an agent of Italian Secret Service and associated with the notorious George Soros was a NAC member along with individuals associated with dubious organizations like Oxfam. Shivshankar Menon former National Security Advisor (from 2010 to 2014) and currently a trustee of the Crisis Group with George Soros was also part of NAC. George Soros through his Open Society Foundations has been funding NGOs, think-tanks and academia to break this government and India at any cost.

These are serious matters that need to be investigated that have serious implications on the country’s sovereignty and security. Given the track record of the Nehru-Gandhi family, it is highly possible that they won’t think twice to put the entire nation at risk in their lust for power. Thanks to Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani who has called for an NIA probe into the MoUs signed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Having this much of filth behind their back, the wicked family has the audacity to question the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has been working tirelessly round the clock for the development of this country and also protecting our nation from toxic forces both within and outside the country. It would do well for the Congress and for the country, if the party releases itself from the clutches of the family.  If not, the party might have to carry sins that this family has brought upon.

France reopens Eiffel tower for public after 104 days

France has reopened the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the public after a three and half month long lockdown. This marks an important milestone in France’s road to recovery from the global pandemic.

This is the longest that the tower has been shut down since World War II. Strict hygiene and safety measures have been put in place for the re-opening.

As France recently opened its doors go tourists, those that are coming in are pleasantly surprised by this move from the French government. Only two floors of the tower has been reopened. The elevator service is currently suspended and the visitors are forced to take the stairs. Those who made the climb on Thursday were rewarded with far-away views and a light breeze in scorching summer weather.

The monument that had lost close to 27 million euros ($30 million) from the lockdown that started in March, is looking to recover from it in the coming months. Unfortunately, the Louvre museum will remain closed until July 6th.

Meanwhile, France’s coronavirus cases are at 1,61,000 while the death toll is at 29,731.

BJP corporator becomes local hero after he manually cleans manhole

Mangaluru based BJP corporator Manohar Shetty has been earning appreciations from all quarters after he manually got down a manhole to clean a clogged pipe. He belongs to the Kadri-Kambala ward, where there had been repetitive complaints by the public about the overflowing water due to the clogged pipe.

Due to the recent rains,the drain pipe which had been clogged with garbage had started overflowing. This had caused an obstruction to the traffic, leading to public nuisance.

When it came to the notice of the ward’s corporator, Shetty tried to hire labourers who could clear the drain, but they had refused to enter because of the danger in entering the storm drain during monsoon season. He had then asked for the city Corporation to send in the mechanical device with a high speed jet, so as to clear the drain.

Since all of these attempts had gone futile, Shetty then decided to take the matter into his own hands and got in with four other workers. It had taken them 6 hours to clear out the garbage and unclog the pipe. Shetty was reported saying, “We can’t force poor people to enter a manhole to clean the pipes for us. If something goes wrong, who will take responsibility? Which is why I decided to do the job myself. We can’t depend on officials for everything”.

This act by him has garnered a lot of praise with images of his act going viral on social media.

Social distancing rules thrown to the wind as hundreds flock to the beach in the UK

With Thursday having been recorded as the hottest day of the month for the country, UK’s citizens threw caution to the air, as the beaches were jam-packed. They were found to have completely ignored the social distancing norms, as they gathered in crowds on the coast.

Not just the beaches, other recreational areas like parks also saw an influx of visitors on Thursday, as people dropped in by hundreds to enjoy the sunny weather.

The images of beachgoers enjoying the sunshine come just a day after Boris Johnson announced a change in social-distancing guidance from two metres to “one metre plus”, which marked the most significant loosening of the lockdown rules since their introduction back in March.

Talking about this on Tuesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “Today we can say that our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end and life is returning to our streets and shops. The bustle is starting to come back and a new but cautious optimism is palpable.”

These crowds come after government reopened restaurants and pubs and the introduction of guidance permits to allow any two households to work in closed gatherings. Notably, these relaxation of norms come after scientists have warned of a potential relapse of the Coronavirus pandemic.

West Bengal extends lockdown till July 31

Due to the rapid Rise in cases in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee has extended the lockdown until 31st July. West Bengal has recorded 15,173 COVID-19 cases so far and 591 deaths.

Originally, the lockdown  was supposed to be ending by the 30th of June. But as the coronavirus cases crossed 15,000, the state government has extended the lockdown in the end of July. This announcement came after discussions at an all party meeting. The Trinamool Congress government has affirmed that the existing relaxations will continue to be present.

This means that all educational institutions will remain closed until the 31st of July, as will the Metro and suburban trains as well as public transport. Restaurants and eateries will continue to function adhering to the guidelines previously imposed in the unlock 1 phase. Places of worship will also remain open, while all officers are ordered the function at 70% attendance on any given day.

West Bengal is not the only state to have reposed lockdown, since Tamil Nadu has also restore the strict lockdown status from 19th June till the end of the month.

Following suit with West Bengal, Karnataka chief minister Yeddyurappa has also warned of a potential lock down restoration. This is because Bengaluru, in particular, has seen a huge rise in cases, with the city crossing the 1,000 cases mark this month. The city has a total of 1,685 cases so far.

Siddha based COVID care centre start treating patients in Chennai

A first of its kind Siddha based COVID treatment centre set up at the Ambedkar Arts College in Vyasarpadi started treating patients from yesterday (June 24) using the ancient method indigenous to Tamil Nadu. The facility was inaugurated by Minister of Tamil Official Language, Tamil Culture and Archeology Ma Foi K Pandiarajan who is also the MLA of Avadi.

5 treatment centres have been commissioned in the Tondiarpet zone, of which the one at Ambedkar College is a Siddha based COVID care facility.

The centre has the capacity to treat 224 patients with provisions for high quality satthvic food, herbal bath and Yoga.

Testing would be done 3 times – One during the time of admission, and the 2 other times after the 7th day and 14th day.

The centre would function under the guidance of esteemed Siddha medical professionals like Dr. Sivaraman and Dr. Parthiban among others.

It is to be noted that the choice of undergoing Siddha treatment is with the patient. Patients are given the choice to undergo treatment either the Siddha way or allopathy way.

Earlier, the state government administered Siddha treatment to 25 prisoners who were infected with COVID19 and all of them recovered thus having a success rate of 100%. The 25 prisoners were given Kabasura Kudineer – a Siddha formulation officially allowed by the Tamil Nadu government, herbal tea, and sunbath for a week.

Minister Pandiarajan said that as that there is great deal of competition in the world to find cure to this virus, and that the role of Siddha would definitely be recognized.