Women voters in a queue in front of a polling booth in Leh on Thursday. -Excelsior/Morup Stanzin
Women voters in a queue in front of a polling booth in Leh on Thursday. -Excelsior/Morup Stanzin
A woman hugs her son as he surrendered before Army and police in Sopore on Thursday. -Excelsior/Abid Nabi
A woman hugs her son as he surrendered before Army and police in Sopore on Thursday. -Excelsior/Abid Nabi
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressing national symposium in Srinagar on Thursday.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressing national symposium in Srinagar on Thursday.
Govt issues warning to Twitter; conveys strong disapproval over map misrepresentation
NEW DELHI, Oct 22: The Government has shot off a stern letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, conveying its strong disapproval over misrepresentation of the Indian map, and asserted that any attempt by the micro-blogging platform to disrespect the country’s sovereignty and integrity is totally unacceptable.
In a strongly-worded letter, IT Secretary Ajay Sawhney has warned the platform that such attempts not only bring disrepute to Twitter but also raises questions about its neutrality and fairness as an intermediary.
IT Ministry sources told PTI that Sawhney shot off a stern letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, conveying strong disapproval of the government over misrepresentation of map of India.
Earlier, Twitter had shown geo-location of Leh in Jammu and Kashmir, People’s Republic of China.
The IT secretary, in his letter, has reminded Twitter that Leh is the headquarter of Union Territory of Ladakh and both Ladakh as well as Jammu and Kashmir are integral and inalienable parts of India, governed by the Constitution of India.
The government had asked Twitter to respect the sensitivities of Indian citizens, and has also made it clear that any attempt by Twitter to disrespect sovereignty and integrity of India, which is also reflected by the maps, is totally unacceptable and unlawful.
Issuing a stern warning, the IT secretary has said that such attempts not only bring disrepute to Twitter but also raises questions about its neutrality and fairness as an intermediary. (PTI)
Cybersecurity tops corporate priorities in India now: Study
Bengaluru, Oct 22: Organisations in India are seeing a significant increase in the cybersecurity challenges they face amid the shift to mass remote working, a new study by Cisco shows.
According to the study, 73 per cent of organisations in the country have experienced a 25 per cent or more jump in either cyber threats or alerts since the start of COVID-19.
Cisco’s’Future of Secure Remote Work Report’revealed many Indian organisations were unprepared to make the accelerated transition to a remote workforce at the outset of COVID-19.
About two-thirds (65 per cent) of organisations adopted cybersecurity measures during COVID-19 to support remote working.
The studyis based on a survey of over 3,000 IT decision-makers globally, including over 1,900 respondents across 13 Asia Pacific markets, including India.
It highlights the cybersecurity challenges companies faced as they shifted the majority of their employees to a remote working arrangement in a really short period of time.
With users connecting from outside the corporate walls,secure access defined as the ability to verify identity and establish trust no matter how, where, or when users log in, is the top cybersecurity challenge faced by the largest proportion ofIndianorganizations(68 per cent)when supporting remote workers.
Other concerns raised by organisations include data privacy (66 per cent) and protection against malware (62 per cent).
“Now, as remote work continues to garner traction, organisations are turning their attention to building a robust cybersecurity foundation, with cloud security emerging as the top investment for 31 per cent of companies in reinventing their workplaces post COVID-19,” saidVishak Raman, Director, Security Business, Cisco India & SAARC.
Endpointsare a growingchallenge for organisationsto protect,as users connect fromtheir home Wi-Fi or use their personal devices to connect to corporate applications.
About two in three respondents stated that office laptops/ desktops (66 per cent) and personal devices (58 per cent)poseda challenge to protectin a remote environment,followed by cloud applications at 42 per cent, according to the study.
One trend that emerged in recent months is that a hybrid workplace where employees move between working remotely and in the office is the future.
The findings of this study further underlined that.
Over half(53 per cent) of the organisations in Indiasaid they expectmore than half of their workforceto continueworking remotely post-pandemic.
This compares to an average of just 28 per cent of organisations with more than half of their workforce working remotely before the pandemic.
The good news is that as businesses prepare for this hybrid workplace, cybersecurity now tops corporate priorities, with84 per cent of organisations in India saying that cybersecurity is now a top priority for them.
What is even better is that they are translating this into concrete action.
The study highlights that 77 per cent of organisationsin the regionplanto increase their future investment in cybersecurity due to COVID-19.
There are still challenges, though, that need to be addressed.
While almost all(97 per cent) organisations have made changes to their cybersecurity policiesto support remote working,further simplicity and educationare needed.
According to the study, 60 per cent ofIndian organisationssaid thathaving too many tools/ solutions to manage was a challenge faced in reinforcing cybersecurity protocols for remote working, followed by a lack of employee education and awareness (55 per cent).
“Deploying multiple cybersecurity tools reinforces a fragmented and complex security environment that is prone to risks arising from human error. This calls for the implementation of a comprehensive and integrated security approach that can provide a seamless experience for users as well as IT teams,”Ramanadded. (PTI)
Daisy Edgar-Jones to star in ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’
Los Angeles, Oct 22: “Normal People” breakout Daisy Edgar-Jones will headline the upcoming drama movie “Where the Crawdads Sing”.
Based on author Delia Owens’ 2018 novel of the same name, the film hails from Reese Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine.
The story takes place in the mid-20th century South and centres on Kya, a young woman who is abandoned by her family and has to raise herself all alone in the marshes outside of her small town.
However, when her former boyfriend is found dead, Kya is thrust into the spotlight, instantly branded by the local townspeople and law enforcement as the prime suspect for his murder.
According to Variety, Olivia Newman will direct the feature from a script by Academy Award-nominated writer Lucy Alibar.
Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter are producing for Hello Sunshine with Elizabeth Gabler, Erin Siminoff and Aislinn Dunster are overseeing the project for 3000 Pictures.
Earlier this year, Edgar-Jones and actor Paul Mescal earned praise from the critics for their performances in Hulu and BBC Three’s “Normal People”.
The show, an adaptation of author Sally Rooney’s critically acclaimed and bestselling novel of the same name, follows the tender but complicated relationship between Marianne and Connell from the end of their school days in a small town west of Ireland to their undergraduate years at Trinity College. (PTI)
Aurobindo Pharma gets USFDA nod for pain treatment injection
New Delhi, Oct 22: Drug firm Aurobindo Pharma on Thursday said it has received final approval from the US health regulator for its generic Acetaminophen injection, used in the treatment of pain in adult and paediatric patients.
The company has received the approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Acetaminophen injection, 1,000 mg/ 100 mL single-dose vial, Aurobindo Pharma said in a BSE filing.
The product will be launched in December 2020, it added.
It is a generic version of Mallinckrodt’s Ofirmev injection.
According to IQVIA data, the approved product has an estimated market size of USD 339 million for the twelve months ending August 2020, Aurobindo Pharma said.
Acetaminophen Injection is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate pain in adult and paediatric patients 2 years and older. It is also set to treat moderate to severe pain with adjunctive opioid analgesics in adult and paediatric patients 2 years and older, and reduction of fever, the company noted.
This is the 75th abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) to be approved out of the Unit IV formulation facility in Hyderabad, used for manufacturing injectable and ophthalmic products, it added.
The company now has a total of 449 ANDA approvals (421 final approvals and 28 tentative approvals) from the USFDA, Aurobindo Pharma said.
(PTI)
Ashok Leyland launches ICV trucks under Boss range with BS-VI powertrains
NEW DELHI, Oct 22: Commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland on Thursday said it has launched BS-VI compliant Boss LE and LX trucks with price starting at Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
These two vehicles will address the 11.1 tonne to 14.05-tonne gross vehicle weight (GVW) market, Ashok Leyland said in a statement.
Customers can choose from multiple combinations – loading span from 14 feet to 24 feet and body type options of high side deck, fixed side deck, drop side deck, cab chassis, container and tipper, it added.
“We have been on track with our plans, despite the challenging year we are all facing. Starting with the AVTR launch, followed by DigitAL Nxt suite of digital solutions, BADA DOST and now the BOSS ICV trucks, we aim to give our customers the latest and most advanced products and technology,” Ashok Leyland MD and CEO Vipin Sondhi said.
With this launch in the Boss range, the company’s ICV offering is now one of the best in the market, he noted.
“ICVs are seeing a spurt in demand and this is the best time to introduce our proven I-Gen6 BS-VI technology in one of our best-selling brands in the portfolio. These launches will further strengthen our portfolio and help us achieve our vision of being in the global top 10 CV makers,” Sondhi said.
The Boss platform offers multiple applications, including usage for parcel and courier, poultry, white goods, agri perishable, e-commerce, FMCG, auto parts and reefer, among others.
Customers can choose from two cabin options and expect multiple improvements over BS-IV technology like up to 7 per cent higher fluid efficiency, up to 5 per cent higher tyre life, up to 30 per cent longer service intervals and up to 5 per cent lower maintenance cost, Ashok Leyland said.
Boss ICVs will be available as a fully-built option with ergonomic and safety features for the driver. It comes bundled with digital solutions like i-Alert, and remote diagnostics. (PTI)
Issuing fake passes at Lakhanpur
Taking undue advantage of the people wanting to save on time while entering the UT of Jammu and Kashmir at gateway of Lakhanpur, two cops were found issuing fake passes and were subsequently arrested . One Inspector too was placed under suspension for dereliction of duty. It is matter of concern that those who were supposed to maintain strict vigil and take care in ensuring proper entry of people after fulfilling mandatory formalities, not taking more than 10 minutes at all, were resorting to such a practice . It also adversely reflects the temperament and approach towards respecting order and obeying rules by some travellers that just to cut down on five to ten minutes, they should encourage getting such illegal ”back entry”. Undesirable elements , terrorists, drug peddlers and criminals could steal such short cut opportunity to enter the UT which could be dangerous for life and property of the people.
It is only when higher authorities in Police Department received numerous complaints about issuing fake passes to travellers that the said action was taken. In other words, the vigilance radar of the police force at such a strategic entry point is evidently nonexistent that only after lot many complaints by the people reaching the higher ups in the Department drove them to take the said action . Moreover, the authorities should make the entry point of Lakhanpur more facilities oriented.
Lockdown gone but not the virus
Those of us who least expected the Prime Minister exclusively talking about the continuing lurking dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic during his address to the nation on Oct 20, in the evening, must have realised the importance of the subject since he, like a Head of the family , shared concerns and precautions about the Coronavirus with the family members of 135 crore people. Notwithstanding the habitual criticism of some opposition parties about his not ”touching other topics”, it must be realised that it was the life of an average Indian that mattered more than any collateral issues to be debated and discussed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address was not only absolutely timely but of great value looking to the prospects of people feeling complacent about continuing to follow strictly the precautionary protocol against the Coronavirus in the light of series of approaching festivals. Psychologically, some people may have started feeling somewhat relaxed in respect of observing precautionary code since lockdown was completely lifted . Linking lifting of lockdown with feeling somewhat insulated could prove very costly not only for an individual but bringing home a basket of troubles of menacing proportions for family , in particular children and the elderly, is what passionately was shared by the Prime Minister in his address with the countrymen. Said the Prime Minister with a cautionary note that “Lockdown has ended but the virus is still there”.
Going by the expert medical advice , if there were any effective measures even better than an expected vaccine , they were – wearing a mask covering nose and mouth, keeping physical distance of at least two metres and frequent hand washing. The same advice was repeated by the Prime Minister and while it was neither any costly affair nor any sort of giving any type of trouble yet it was a guarantee against contracting any infection which could prove fatal. Why should the country not know and feel proud of as well that India had ”managed” the virus in a far better way than most of the advanced countries where fatalities per million were 600 as against 83 in India. Again, on a comparative analysis , where there are 25000 COVID cases per one million population in countries like the US and Brazil, the corresponding figure in India is 5500 . On the treatment side, India has managed a bedding capacity of 90 lakh patients and there are 12000 quarantine centres helped by as many as 2000 laboratories. These figures put India at a very comfortable and commanding position but again, there was no room , absolutely nothing of the sort, for resorting to any laxity which could prove only perilous .
We know a multifaceted and multi cultured country like India has special significance for our festivals which could be celebrated fully even amidst the pandemic, though advisable with a comparative subdued profile, but the spirits could get dampened due to application of laxity in precautionary norms, and hence both the things needed to be kept in mind. The Prime Minister made it clear that until a vaccine is found, for which lot of work was underway , people needed to be careful and never be callous . Removing any room of speculations about reaching out to the vaccine individually, whenever launched, the Government was making all efforts to ensure that it reached every Indian. Invoking the Holy scripture of Ramcharitmanas and sage Kabir not to take fire, enemy and disease lightly , the Prime Minister advised to continue to remain in precautionary mode with no let up or relaxation.