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  • IIT KGP researchers develop e-Classroom for teachers

    Kolkata: Researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed a software which can be of immense help to teachers who are currently facing challenges as the entire classroom session has shifted to online mode in different educational institutions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Prof Raja Datta of Electronics and Electrical Communication Department with his postgraduate students developed the software, the current version of which can be used within a campus LAN, an IIT Kharagpur spokesperson said on Saturday.

    Talking about the software ‘Deekshak’, Datta said, “it is now a single session platform where the teacher would concentrate on the screen with the teaching materials while being able to view queries on a live chat box where each student can send in their queries.”

    Students also have access to a doubt box where they can click to “raise their hand” and wait for the teacher to address it, as is done in a physical classroom.

    Teachers can also share documents with the students through the platform and even update notes on the documents in real-time, Datta said.

    Deekshak is a low bandwidth web-based software and can be accessed using any computer or even a cell phone.

    Teachers can also record attendance of the students on the platform.

    The software has been tested at IIT Kharagpur during the initial phase of social distancing with about 40 hours of classes being conducted with a total of approximately 300 students.

    IIT Kharagpur, Director Prof Virendra K Tewari said, “We need platforms for addressing challenges faced by India and Deekshak is designed to cater to Indian academia, be it the bandwidth issue, or user interface or storage.”

    He said, “Deekshak is one step towards that goal through which the teachers would be able to offer more personalised interaction while focusing better on the act of teaching.”

    IIT Kharagpur has applied for the copyright registration of Deekshak and is in search of a start-up company for its maintainability.

    Further development of Deekshak is also underway to improve its features and make it secure so that it can be made available for use in academia, said Datta.

  • Pakistan batsmen are scared of playing shots: Inzamam

    PTI

    New Delhi: Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has slammed the Pakistan batsmen for their defensive approach against England in the ongoing Test series, saying they are “scared of playing their shots”.

    Inzamam said Pakistan batsmen need to play aggressive cricket if they want to beat England in the second Test here and level the three-match series.

    “Pakistan batsmen were scared of playing their shots. If you look at most of their dismissals, their bat was behind their leg,” Inzamam said on his YouTube channel.

    “When you meet the ball, your bat should be ahead of your leg. You are getting caught at slips because you are employing a defensive approach.”

    Pakistan struggled to reach 126 for 5 on the opening day which saw just 45.4 overs being bowled due to rain. Day two was no different with only 40.2 overs possible as bad light forced early stumps with Pakistan at 223 for 9, courtesy an unbeaten 60 by wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan.

    The 50-year-old Inzaman, who scored 8830 runs in 120 Tests and 11739 runs in 378 ODIs, said only an aggressive brand of cricket can help Pakistan outwit England at home.

    “I request the batsmen and team management to play aggressive cricket, in order to beat England. Otherwise, we will be depending on rain to save us in this Test,” he said.

    Pakistan had lost the opening Test by three wickets at Old Trafford to concede a 0-1 lead to England in the three-match series.

  • J-K announces LG’s gold medal for public servants

    PTI

    Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday announced the Lieutenant Governor’s gold medal for honesty, integrity and meritorious public service for the year 2020.

    The officers who have been awarded for the medal include Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Mohit Gera, Anti Corruption Bureau director Anand Jain, Finance Department special secretary Shamim Ahmad Wani, Geology and Mining director Vikas Sharma, Reasi Deputy Commissioner Indu Kanwal Chib, Director Sheep Husbandry, Kashmir, Abdul Salam Mir, and Director Horticulture, Jammu, Ram Savak.

    M Y Itoo, director-general Budget, Finance Department; Rajeshwar Singh, senior superintendent of police; Dr Shashi Sudhan Sharma, HoD Department of Micro Biology, GMC, Jammu and Dr Anjum Farhana, HoD Department of Microbiology, GMC, Srinagar are the other nominees.

    The award carries a Gold Medal, Rs 51,000 cash, a citation and a certificate, an official spokesperson said.

  • KU to hold PG entrance exams offline from Ist week of Sept tentatively

    Srinagar: The University of Kashmir (KU) Saturday said it will conduct the Postgraduate (PG) entrance examination offline in the first week of September.

    Top officials at the varsity said they are planning to conduct the entrance test in three headquarters.

    The official informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that “In order to maintain the prescriber guidelines of the government, we are planning to hold the entrance test at headquarters of North campus, South campus and main campus of Srinagar.”

    He further said, “The exams will be conducted via offline mode.”

    Meanwhile, a notification with regard to conduct of PG entrance test was issued by Directorate of Admissions and Competitive Examinations.

    “It is notified for information of all candidates who have submitted online applications form and have deposited the requisite entrance test fee within the stipulated date and time for admission to various PG courses, 3-year LLB and 5-year BA LLB courses for session 2020, KU is going to conduct the entrance test of these courses tentatively from the first week of September 2020.”

    KU further directed the aspirants to prepare themselves for the upcoming entrance examination and access the official website of KU for further updates.

    “The syllabus is already available on the KU official website under the admissions window. Furthermore, the schedule of entrance test will be issued separately,” reads the notification—(KNO)

  • 532 new coronavirus cases, 7 deaths recorded in J&K

    PTI

    Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday recorded 532 new cases of coronavirus, taking the tally to 28,021, while seven people died due to the disease in the last 24 hours in the union territory, officials said.

    “Seven COVID-19 patients have died over the past 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir,” the officials said.

    They said two deaths were reported from Jammu region, while five were from Kashmir valley.

    With the fresh deaths, the toll of coronavirus patients in the union territory has risen to 527 of which 486 are from the valley and 41 are from the Jammu region, they said.

    Meanwhile, the union territory recorded 532 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infected people to 28,021, the officials said.

    While 108 of these new cases were from Jammu region, 424 were from the valley, they said.

    There are now 6,818 active cases in the union territory, while 20,676 patients have recovered from the infection, they added.

    The cases detected on Saturday included 66 people who had returned to the union territory recently.

    The officials said Srinagar district in central Kashmir recorded the highest of 108 new positive cases followed by 64 in Jammu district.

  • “Testing times” for Indian democracy: Sonia Gandhi

    PTI

    New Delhi: In her Independence Day message, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said these were “testing times” for Indian democracy and people need to introspect if there is freedom in the country to ask questions, disagree or seek accountability.

    Since independence, India has tested its democratic values from time to time and constantly developed them, Gandhi said.

    She alleged that “the present government, it seems, is standing contrary to democratic system, constitutional values and established traditions. These are also testing times for Indian democracy”.

    Gandhi said today all citizens need to introspect and think what freedom means.

    “Is there freedom in the country today to write, to speak, to ask questions, to disagree, to have views, to seek accountability?” she asked, and added that “as a responsible opposition this is our responsibility that we make every effort and struggle to keep India’s democratic independence intact.”

    India is not only famous across the world for its democratic values and pluralism of different languages, religions, and sects, but it is also known for facing adversity with unity, she said in her message on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day. Her message was in Hindi.

    “Today, as the entire world is struggling with the coronavirus pandemic, India will have to unitedly defeat this pandemic and set an example. I can say with full confidence that all of us together will come out of this pandemic and the state of severe economic crisis,” Gandhi said.

    Gandhi also referred to the Galwan Valley clashes in eastern Ladakh in June, saying that 60 days have passed since 20 Indian soldiers, including Colonel Suresh Babu, laid down their lives, achieving martyrdom.

    “I pay tributes to them and salute their bravery, and urge the government to honour their valour and give them due respect. Thwarting the Chinese incursions and protecting the sovereignty of motherland would be the greatest tribute to them,” she added.

    She wished the countrymen on Independence Day, and hoped for a bright democratic future for the country.

  • I-Day: 2G Mobile internet services restored in Kashmir

    PTI

    Srinagar: Internet services on mobile devices were restored in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday after remaining suspended for several hours as a precautionary measure on the occasion of Independence Day.

    Mobile internet services were cut in the early hours of the morning as stringent security arrangements were put in place for Independence Day celebrations across the Valley, a police official said.

    Though the services were snapped as a precautionary measure, mobile phone services, which used to be suspended for the duration of the Independence Day ceremony, functioned as usual, he added.

    The internet services were restored later in the day as the official function was over at Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium here, the official said.

    Suspension of mobile phone services and internet on mobile devices as part of the security drill have become routine since 2005, apart from a few occasions. Security agencies added this step to the security drill after militants triggered a blast outside the Bakshi Stadium during the Independence Day parade in 2005.

    Services are also snapped in a district if there is an encounter going on there to prevent miscreants from assembling crowds near the gun battle scene.

    The government had imposed a ban on SMS services in the state following the 2008 Amarnath Land Row agitation, the 2010 summer agitation and after the hanging of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru.

  • Consider me retired: M S Dhoni calls it quits

    PTI

    New Delhi: Two-time World Cup-winning former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from international cricket on Saturday, ending over one year of suspense and also an era during which his often unorthodox leadership and finishing skills became the stuff of legends.

    The 39-year-old will, however, compete in this year”s IPL, which gets underway in the UAE from September 19 after being moved out of India due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. from 1929hrs consider me as retired,” Dhoni posted on his instagram handle.

    The announcement came a day after he joined his Chennai Super kings teammates at the side”s home base for a short training camp ahead of the players” departure to the UAE next week.

    His last outing in India colours was during the lost World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in July last year.

    One of the best runners between the wickets was run out following a hard-earned 50 in that tense game, shattering Indian hopes and leaving him in a state of disbelief.

    Ever since he went on a sabbatical after that match, speculation raged over his future but he stoically avoided a response for over a year.

    The reticent man from Ranchi will, however, go down as one of the finest to have played the game for India, turning up for the country in a whopping 350 ODIs, 90 Tests and 98 T20 Internationals.

    The last leg of his career was, however, marred by a drop in form, prompting several critics to question his resolve to continue.

    But he nevertheless signs off as an ODI legend with 10,773 runs, averaging more than 50 despite batting between No.5 and 7 for a major chunk of his career.

    In the Test format, from which he retired in 2014, Dhoni accumulated 4876 runs at an average of 38.09 and led India to more wins (27) than anyone else before him.

    However, runs are not the parameter on which Dhoni”s career can be truly judged.

    Considered a punter by some and a master strategist by several others, it was Dhoni”s captaincy, wondrous reading of match situations and the jaw-dropping hand-speed behind stumps that had the cricket world mesmerised.

    A leader even after he gave up the official tag of the leader, Dhoni will be remembered as the nonconformist, who made risks look like well thought-out strategy.

    Whether it was handing the ball to rookie Joginder Sharma in the final over of the 2007 World T20 or pushing himself ahead of man-in-form Yuvraj Singh in the 2011 50-over World Cup, Dhoni”s instincts rarely failed him.

    For the record, India lifted the trophy on both occasions, propelling him to cult status in a country which remains hopelessly in love with all things cricket.

    The IPL was also his happy hunting ground where he was the revered ”Thala”, leading the Chennai Super Kings to three trophies.

    The most significant of those titles came last season when the side made its return to the event after a two-year suspension for its official Gurunath Meiyappan”s role in the 2013 spot-fixing scandal.

    CSK CEO Kasi Vishwanathan recently stated that the big-hitting batsman will continue to play for the franchise at least till 2022.

    Dhoni spent the past year training with his unit in the Territorial Army, where he is an honorary lieutenant colonel, trying his hand at organic farming at his home in Ranchi, and occasionally hitting the nets to send the media and fans into a tizzy.

  • No Statehood, 4G till militancy is breathing in Kashmir: Ashok Koul

    Srinagar: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday clarified that neither Statehood will be given nor high-internet speed will be restored till militancy is breathing in Kashmir.

    According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), BJP General Secretary (Organization) Ashok Koul said that no statehood will be restored till peace completely prevails in Kashmir. He added the restoration of high-speed internet facility is also subjected to the situation.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have made it clear in the Parliament that J&K won’t be given statehood back till militancy is over in Valley”, Koul said.
    He added that statehood will be restored and 4G internet services will also be made available when militancy will be overpowered completely and there will be peace all across the Valley.

    Citing an example, Koul said when BJP leaders and workers will be able to roam freely in every part of Valley, statehood will be given back.
    In response to a question, BJP leader said that regional parties in J&K will come out like frogs soon dates for LA elections will be announced.

    “These political parties boycotted ULB and Panchayat plls but took part in Parliament elections. Let date for Assembly polls are declared, these parties will come out from their bills like frogs”, Koul said.

    Earlier Koul hoisted tri-color on party headquarter of Srinagar and greeted countrymen including people of Jammu and Kashmir on eve of Independence Day. He said people should celebrate this day with great zeal. (KNS)

  • COVID-19: Admin concerned as Kashmir’s contact tracing is 1 to 4 persons

    Srinagar: In a major concern, the contact tracing has been just one to four persons in different districts of Kashmir.

    This has been revealed in a recent communication to officers of the health department by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole.

    “Target for contact tracing should be 8 to 10 persons per case, but it is only 1 to 4 in different districts. The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir directed that all the district contact teams shall act more pro-actively and trace at least 7 contacts for each positive person,” a government document reads, a copy of which lies with news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

    A senior official said the government was concerned that the rate of contact tracing was less in Kashmir. “If any person is positive, we are able to find only one or two persons whom he or she has contacted. The failure to found the contacts has become a cause of concern for the administration,” the official said.
    Jammu and Kashmir has recorded over 28,000 positive cases and majority have been reported from the valley.

    Till August 14, the government said 409414 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for observation which included 41737 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 7027 in isolation and 47531 under home surveillance. Besides, 312599 persons have completed their surveillance period.

    A government advisory says that the best way to protect themselves from COVID-19 is by maintaining physical distance of at least 2 meter from others, frequently cleaning hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer or washing them with soap and water and following good respiratory etiquette and hygiene.

    As a measure for social distancing in public places and workplaces wearing a face cover is compulsory.

    The advisory explained that early detection of COVID-19 can prevent the spread of disease so we need to be responsible for the well-being of ourselves and everyone around us. “Not disclosing symptoms could put the life of individuals and their families at risk. In case of symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing report early. Do not fear, call COVID-19 helpline numbers and seek medical advice”.
    Advisory has further exhorted upon the people not to step out of home, unless absolutely necessary. “If you have to move out for unavoidable reasons, ensure that you wear a mask and practice social distancing, personal hygiene and frequent hand washing with soap and water.”(KINS)