Category Archives: National

Games & Sports, National

Lakshya Sen Aims to Become the ‘Virat Kohli’ of Indian Badminton

Leave a comment

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, August 30, 2024, Kolkata: Indian badminton sensation Lakshya Sen has expressed his ambition to become the “Virat Kohli of Indian Badminton,” following his impressive performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite falling short of winning a medal, Sen’s remarkable journey to the semi-finals captured the hearts of fans and showcased his potential to become a dominant force in the sport.


In the semi-final match, Sen faced off against the world’s top-seeded player, Viktor Axelsen, in a fiercely contested match that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Although Sen ultimately lost to Axelsen, his performance demonstrated resilience and skill. He narrowly missed out on a bronze medal after a close defeat by South Korea’s Lee Ji Gr in the third-place playoff. Despite the disappointment of missing out on a podium finish, Sen earned widespread praise for his sportsmanship and determination.

In a recent interview on the popular podcast “The Ranveer Show,” Sen spoke candidly about his aspirations and his admiration for cricketing legend Virat Kohli. “My dream is to be the Virat Kohli of Indian Badminton in the next few years,” Sen said. “Kohli has given a lot to Indian cricket, and I want to have a similar impact in Indian badminton.”

Sen’s comparison to Kohli, one of the most iconic figures in Indian sports, reflects his desire to not only excel individually but also to elevate Indian badminton on the global stage. “We trained together for two weeks, and I faced him in the semi-finals,” Sen said, referring to his recent training sessions with Axelsen. “I have won against Axelsen in the past, and I know I am on the right track and have to keep pushing forward.”

Axelsen, who has often spoken highly of Sen, praised the young Indian player once again in a recent interview. “Lakshya is an amazing player,” Axelsen said. “He has shown in these Olympics that he will be a gold medal contender in the next four years. He is a tremendous talent, and I wish him success.”

Lakshya Sen’s meteoric rise in the world of badminton has been nothing short of spectacular. Born in Almora, Uttarakhand, Sen quickly made a name for himself with his aggressive playing style and mental toughness. Trained at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru, Sen has been steadily climbing the ranks and earning accolades on the international circuit. His victories over top players, including past wins against Axelsen, have established him as one of India’s brightest badminton prospects.

Sen’s declaration to become the “Virat Kohli of Indian Badminton” signals his intent to dominate the sport with the same intensity and commitment that Kohli has shown in cricket. Kohli, known for his unmatched work ethic, leadership, and consistency, revolutionized Indian cricket during his tenure as captain, leading India to several historic victories. Sen hopes to bring a similar transformation to Indian badminton, inspiring a new generation of players.

Following his Olympic performance, Sen has returned to rigorous training, aiming to build on his strengths and work on areas of improvement. With his eyes set on the 2028 Olympics and other major international tournaments, Sen is determined to bring home accolades and make his mark in the sport. His next target is to win major titles like the All England Open and the BWF World Championships, which will not only solidify his position as a world-class player but also bring glory to Indian badminton.

The badminton fraternity and fans alike are excited to see what the future holds for Lakshya Sen. With his talent, drive, and ambition, he could very well become the next big name in Indian sports, following in the footsteps of legends like Virat Kohli.
Education, Misc, National, Regional, States

Society Drifts Away from Moral Education

Leave a comment

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, August 30, 2024 : We are all somewhat familiar with Napoleon’s famous saying: “Give me an educated mother, and I will give you a civilized nation.” Even Napoleon recognized that there is no substitute for education. While alternative education through self-learning is valuable, traditional education is essential to integrate society, build an ideal society, and create a strong nation in the present era of globalization. True education is necessary because strong leadership emerges from a well-educated populace, and we need to be well-educated to keep pace with globalization and technological advancements.

Today, as a society, we have moved far away from religious and moral education, which has led to chaos and a severe degradation of morality. To address this, various levels of government institutions and civil society must play a critical role in fostering moral education. A bridge must be built between civil society and the government to establish stability and balance, which is crucial for a stable government system.

It is important to remember that democratic systems are now institutionalized, and we practice democracy through these institutions. This highlights the importance of education for the proper practice of democracy. Along with spreading education throughout society, we must also prioritize moral education and the practice of ethics. Neglecting moral education is akin to abandoning civilization itself.

The current social system often seems contrary to the ideals of a civilized society. Therefore, we cannot overlook the basic aspects of education and training, such as raising awareness and respecting women’s dignity. If social awareness increases, it will encourage underprivileged families to send their children to school. At the same time, socio-economic development should be accelerated by creating more employment opportunities. This ensures that after completing their education, educated citizens have access to quality job opportunities.

Alongside fostering economic balance in society, there must be a revival of respect for work, life, and mutual respect for one another. The government should step forward to improve the quality of life. It is also crucial for developing countries to allocate more budget resources for education than their developed counterparts. Furthermore, teachers should be properly evaluated and valued. The focus should be on nurturing individuals with a strong moral and humanitarian consciousness.

Education should be seen as a spiritual and intellectual pursuit rather than merely a mundane one. As Swami Vivekananda’s Vedanta philosophy points out, education must impart spiritual awareness, leading to greater strength, self-confidence, and respect for others in shaping one’s life.

National, Politics

लद्दाखमा पाँच नयाँ जिल्ला सिर्जना गर्ने निर्णय : समृद्ध अनि विकसित बनाउने प्रधानमन्त्री नरेन्द्र मोदीको परिकल्पना

Leave a comment

पी आई बी, २६ अगस्त २०२४ : केन्द्र शासित प्रदेश लद्दाखलाई विकसित अनि समृद्ध बनाउने प्रधानमन्त्री नरेन्द्र मोदीको परिकल्पना अनुरूप, गृह मामिला मन्त्रालयले पाँच नयाँ जिल्ला सिर्जना गर्ने निर्णय लिएको छ।

यस ऐतिहासिक निर्णयबारे एक्स मञ्च (ट्वीटर)मा सूचित गर्दै केन्द्रिय गृह तथा सहकारिता मन्त्री अमित शाहले यस निर्णयका साथै जान्स्कर, द्रास, शाम, नुब्रा र चाङथाङको नयाँ जिल्लाले जनमानसको निम्ति तय लाभ घर-आँगनमा पुऱ्याउनका साथै प्रत्येक कुना-कन्दरासम्म शासनलाई बढावा दिने बताएका छन्। यी नयाँ पाँच जिल्लाको गठनपछि, अब लद्दाखमा लेह अनि कारगिलसहित कूल सातवटा जिल्ला हुनेछ।

क्षेत्रफलको हिसाबले लद्दाख धेरै ठूलो केन्द्र शासित प्रदेश हो। हाल लद्दाखको दुईवटा जिल्ला छ – लेह र कारगिल। यो भारतको सबैभन्दा कम जनसङ्ख्या भएको इलाका हो। विकट अनि दुर्गम भएका कारण, हाल जिल्ला प्रशासनले तृणमूल स्तरसम्म पुग्न धेरै कठिनाईको सामना गर्नुपरिरहेको थियो। यी जिल्लाको गठनपछि, अब सबै केन्द्र सरकारका साथै लद्दाख प्रशासनको जनकल्याण योजना सजिलैसँग जनमानससम्म पुग्नेछ भने धेरैभन्दा धेरैले यसको लाभ उठाउन सक्नेछन्। गृह मन्त्रालयको यो महत्त्वपूर्ण निर्णय लद्दाखको उत्तरोत्तर विकासको निम्ति धेरै उपयोगी साबित हुनेछ।

पाँच नयाँ जिल्ला गठनको निम्ति सैद्धान्तिक अनुमोदन दिनका साथै गृह मन्त्रालयले लद्दाख प्रशासनलाई नयाँ जिल्ला गठनका विभिन्न पक्ष जस्तै मुख्यालय, सीमाना, संरचना, पद सिर्जना लगायत जिल्ला गठनसित सम्बन्धित अन्य बुँदाहरूको मूल्याङ्कन गर्न सममति गठन गरी तीन महिनाभित्र प्रतिवेदन बुझाउन निर्देश पनि दिएको छ। उक्त समितिको प्रतिवेदन प्राप्त भएपछि, लद्दाख केन्द्र शासित प्रदेशले उक्त प्रतिवेदनको आधारमा नयाँ जिल्ला सिर्जनाको निम्ति अन्तिम प्रस्ताव थप कार्वाहीको निम्ति गृह मन्त्रालयलाई पठाउनु पर्नेछ।

लद्दाखका जनमानसको निम्ति अपार सम्भावना सिर्जना गर्न नरेन्द्र मोदीको सरकार प्रतिबद्ध छ।

National, Techno/ Science

Cabinet approves the Department of Science and Technology scheme namely ‘Vigyan Dhara’

Leave a comment

PIB, 24 AUG 2024, 2024, New Delhi : The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved continuation of the three umbrella schemes, merged into a unified central sector scheme namely ‘Vigyan Dhara’ of Department of Science and Technology (DST).

The scheme has three broad components:

Science and Technology (S&T) Institutional and Human Capacity Building,
Research and Development and
Innovation, Technology Development and Deployment.
The proposed outlay for the implementation of the unified scheme ‘Vigyan Dhara’ is Rs.10,579.84 crore during the 15th finance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

The merger of the schemes into a single scheme would enhance efficiency in fund utilization and establish synchronization among the sub-schemes/programs.

The primary objective of the ‘Vigyan Dhara’ scheme is to promote S&T capacity building as well as research, innovation and technology development towards strengthening the Science, Technology and Innovation ecosystem in the country. Implementation of the scheme will strengthen the S&T infrastructure of the country by fostering well-equipped R&D labs in the Academic Institutions.

The scheme endeavours to promote research in areas such as basic research with access to the international mega facilities, translational research in sustainable energy, water, etc. and collaborative research through international bilateral and multilateral cooperation. It will also contribute to building critical human resource pool to strengthen the science and technology landscape and expand the R&D base of the country towards improving the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) researcher count. Focused interventions will be taken up to enhance the participation of women in the field of Science and Technology (S&T) with the ultimate goal of bringing gender parity in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). The scheme would reinforce the efforts of the government towards promoting innovations at all levels, starting from school level to higher education, and for the industries and startups through targeted interventions. Significant support will be extended to increase collaboration between academia, Government, and also with industries.

All the programs proposed under the ‘Vigyan Dhara’ scheme would be aligned with the 5-year goals of DST towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The research and development component of the scheme will be aligned in line with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). Implementation of the scheme would follow the globally prevailing yardsticks while in alignment with the national priorities.

Background:

Department of Science & Technology (DST) acts as the nodal department for organising, coordinating and promoting S&T activities in the country. Three central sector umbrella schemes were being implemented by DST towards promoting Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in the country viz. (i) Science and Technology (S&T) Institutional and Human Capacity Building, (ii) Research and Development and (iii) Innovation, Technology Development and Deployment. These three schemes have been merged into the unified scheme ‘Vigyan Dhara’.

National, Techno/ Science

मन्त्रीमण्डलले उच्च प्रदर्शन भएको बायोमेन्युफेक्चरिङलाई बढ़ावा दिनका लागि बायोइ3 (अर्थव्यवस्था, पर्यावरण र रोजगारका लागि जैव प्रौद्योगिकी) नीतिलाई मञ्जुरी दियो

Leave a comment

पी आई बी, नयाँ दिल्ली, २४ अगस्त २०२४: प्रधानमन्त्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदीको अध्यक्षतामा भएको केन्द्रीय मन्त्रीमण्डलले आज जैव प्रौद्योगिकी विभागको प्रस्ताव ‘उच्च प्रदर्शन भएका बायोमेन्युफेक्चरिङलाई बढ़ावा दिनका लागि बायोई3 (अर्थव्यवस्था, पर्यावरण र रोजगारका लागि जैव प्रौद्योगिकी) नीति’ लाई मजुरी दिएको छ।

बायोई3 नीतिका मुख्य विशेषताहरूमा विषयगत क्षेत्रमा अनुसन्धान एवं विकास तथा उद्यमशीलतालाई नवप्रवर्तन सञ्चालित समर्थन सामेल छ। यसले बायोमेन्युफेक्चरिङ र बायो-एआई हब र बायोफाउण्ड्री स्थापना गरेर प्रविधि विकास र व्यावसायीकरणलाई गति दिनेछ। हरित विकासको पुनरुत्थानशील जैव अर्थव्यवस्था मोडललाई प्राथमिकता दिनुका साथसाथै यो नीतिले भारतको कुशल कार्यबलको विस्तारलाई सहजता प्रदान गर्नेछ र रोजगारी सिर्जनामा तीव्रता ल्याउनेछ।

कुल मिलाएर यो नीतिले सरकारका ‘नेट जिरो’ कार्बन अर्थव्यवस्था र ‘पर्यावरणका लागि जीवन शैली’ जस्ता पहलहरूलाई अझ बलियो बनाउनेछ र ‘सर्कुलर बायोइकोनोमी’ लाई प्रवर्द्धन गरेर भारतलाई त्वरित ‘हरित विकास’ को बाटोमा अघि बढाउनेछ। बायोई3 नीतिले भविष्यलाई बढावा दिनेछ र अगाडि बढाउने छ, जुन वैश्विक चुनौतीहरूका लागि अधिक टिकाऊ, अभिनव र उत्तरदायी छ अनि विकसित भारतको लागि बायो-भिजन प्रस्तुत गर्दछ।

हाम्रो वर्तमान युग जलवायु परिवर्तन न्यूनीकरण, खाद्य सुरक्षा र मानव स्वास्थ्य जस्ता केही महत्त्वपूर्ण सामाजिक मुद्दाहरूलाई सम्बोधन गर्न टिकाऊ तथा परिपत्र प्रथाहरूलाई प्रवर्द्धन गर्नका लागि जीवविज्ञानको औद्योगिकीकरणमा निवेश गर्ने उपयुक्त समय हो। बायो-आधारित उत्पादहरूको विकास गर्न अत्याधुनिक आविष्कारहरूलाई गति दिनका लागि हाम्रो देशमा एक लचिलो जैव विनिर्माण पारिस्थितिकी प्रणालीको निर्माण गर्नु महत्त्वपूर्ण छ।

उच्च प्रदर्शन जैव विनिर्माण औषधिदेखि लिएर सामग्रीसम्म उत्पादहरूको उत्पादन गर्ने क्षमता, खेती र खाद्य चुनौतीहरूलाई सम्बोधन गर्ने र उन्नत जैव-प्रविधि प्रक्रियाहरूको एकीकरणको माध्यमद्वारा जैव-आधारित उत्पादहरूको उत्पादनलाई प्रवर्द्धन गर्ने क्षमता हो। राष्ट्रिय प्राथमिकताहरूलाई सम्बोधन गर्नका लागि बायोई3 नीतिले उच्च मूल्यको जैव-आधारित रसायन, बायोपोलिमर र इन्जाइम; स्मार्ट प्रोटीन र कार्यात्मक खाद्य पदार्थ; सटीक जैव चिकित्सा; जलवायु लचिलो कृषि; कार्बन क्याप्चर र यसको उपयोग; समुद्री र अन्तरिक्ष अनुसन्धान जस्ता रणनीतिक/विषयगत क्षेत्रहरूमा फोकस गर्नेछ

Crime, National

Delhi High Court grants interim protection from arrest to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar

Leave a comment
‘In the facts of the present case, the court is of the opinion that the petitioner be not arrested till the next date of hearing’, said Justice Subramonium Prasad
PTI, New Delhi, 12.08.24 : The Delhi High Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest till August 21 to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who has been accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits.

Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice to the Delhi Police as well as the UPSC on the anticipatory bail plea by Khedkar, and asked them to file their responses.

“In the facts of the present case, the court is of the opinion that the petitioner be not arrested till the next date of hearing,” Justice Prasad said.

The court listed the case for further hearing on August 21.

Khedkar allegedly misrepresented information in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022 to get reservation benefits.

On July 31, the UPSC cancelled Khedkar’s candidature and debarred her from future exams.

On August 1, a sessions court here had denied anticipatory bail to her and said there are serious allegations against her, which “require a thorough investigation”.

Khedkar had approached the sessions court, saying she faces “immediate threat of arrest”.
International, National

Empty churches turn into malls: Decline in visitors result to prevailing emptiness

Leave a comment
The closings stem largely from a drop in church attendance during the Covid pandemic, and fewer people, especially younger adults, affiliated with religious organisations than in the past
Ellen Rosen, NYTS,  New York, 05.08.24  : A polling station at South Phoenix Missionary Baptist Church during the Arizona state primary election in Phoenix on July 30

Lisa Tofano was baptised, confirmed and married at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Lake Opeka in Des Plaines, Illinois. When she and her husband, John, visited the church last fall, however, it wasn’t to worship but rather to celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary at what the church had become: the Foxtail on the Lake, a restaurant.

The transformation was not easy: The shuttered church needed an 18-month, $6 million gut renovation, and a new 3,000sqft kitchen, before it could start offering items like paella and beef shawarma, said David Villegas, a managing partner of Foxtail, who said he had been “a bit nervous” before the restaurant’s opening in November about the reaction of former parishioners. For Tofano, though, “a church is more about the people than the building”, she said.
Across the country, the number of empty churches and other houses of worship is sharply rising, and these structures, often unique architectural gems, have become huge draws for business owners.

Eileen Lindner, a sociologist and Presbyterian minister who is a former editor of the Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches, which analyses census data on religious organisations and houses of worship, said that she expected as many as 100,000 Protestant church properties to close by 2030. That figure, which may come close to 20 per cent of all existing Protestant churches, is a significant increase over the past decade, Lindner said.

The closings stem largely from a drop in church attendance during the Covid pandemic, and fewer people, especially younger adults, affiliated with religious organisations than in the past. The decline has been happening for decades. In the late
1940s, 76 per cent of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque, but by 2020 that number had dropped to 47 per cent, Gallup polling found.

The result is that congregations are closing or merging with others, leaving some capacious sanctuaries and outlying buildings underused or unused altogether. Many religious organisations are having to rethink how to make the best use of their largest assets — the buildings as well as the underlying land — and give them a second life.

Madeline Johnson, who oversees research at the University of Notre Dame on properties owned by the Catholic church as well as other religious organisations, said not much is off limits for what a church could become. Of the many denominations, the Catholic church might have the most stringent restrictions, Johnson said. The church stipulates that new uses “may be profane but not sordid”. But even that limitation affords a lot of leeway.

With their vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows, the architectural forms of churches have long attracted business owners, despite structural problems that
can add significantly to renovation costs.

When a product design consulting firm, argodesign, outgrew its offices in Austin, Texas, its founders were deliberate in their search for a new space. They saw potential in an abandoned 1930s-era church with a “rose window”, a round shape often found in churches, near the city’s bustling downtown South Congress area. The structure could accommodate up to 70 employees and had a parking space for a car the team had constructed together, said Sonia Prusaitis, the general manager of the office. The firm moved into the property in 2022.

Around the world, houses of worship have been converted to restaurants, breweries, hotels, art centres, theatres and even sports complexes. Some abandoned churches have been transformed into mixed-use developments, blending retail and residential space, and affordable housing.

In 1983, the Gothic revival Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion in New York City was converted into a disco called the Limelight, known for its sometimes drug-fuelled party scene. The structure has since gone through several iterations, including a shopping mall, a gym and a market. In St. Louis, an abandoned church became an indoor skatepark called Sk8 Liborius. (It burned down last year.) And a branch of the Black Art Library in Detroit opened this year in a repurposed church.

The process of transforming something old into something new can hit a number of bumps along the way. New structures may need zoning changes, such as when a church is in a residential neighbourhood that doesn’t otherwise permit commercial uses. For instance, Foxtail, the restaurant in Des Plaines, Ill., needed a zoning variance to sell alcohol.

A new business sometimes needs city, state or federal approval before alterations can take place if the church is a landmark structure or in a historic neighbourhood. Churches are often deconsecrated before the buildings even hit the market.

“One of the great difficulties in repurposing a church is that it’s a pretty specific type of space,” said Ari S. Heckman, a co-founder and the chief executive of the Ash hotel group, which turned a once grand old church in New Orleans into the Hotel Peter and Paul. The space has an eclectic style that merges religious vestiges with modern amenities.

“It’s hard to subdivide in a way that makes sense for a lot of uses, which may be why the original developer couldn’t make it work,” he said.

New York Times News Service
Crime, National, Regional

IJU Condemns Police Brutality Against Journalists in Manipur and Delhi

Leave a comment

KalimNews, PR, New Imphal/Delhi, 6 August 2024: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has strongly condemned recent incidents of police brutality against journalists in Manipur and Delhi. On 1 August, Mutum Rameshchandra, a senior reporter with Impact TV News, was assaulted by a sub-inspector while covering a rally by internally displaced people (IDPs) in Imphal East district. Similarly, on 30 July, Poonam Pandey, assistant editor of the Hindi daily Navbharat Times, was detained by police while covering a Mahila Congress demonstration near Kartavya Path in Delhi. The IJU has demanded immediate action against the police officers involved in both cases.

In Delhi, Poonam Pandey reported that police obstructed her from filming the protest by covering her camera with a black cloth and attempting to seize her phone. Despite identifying herself as a journalist and showing her press ID, she was detained and placed on a bus with the protesters. Pandey also noted the absence of female police officers during the incident, although female CRPF personnel were involved in taking her phone and detaining her.

In Manipur, Mutum Rameshchandra recounted being punched and kicked by a sub-inspector, resulting in injuries to his right chin. His phone was destroyed, and he was struck with a service weapon. The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), affiliated with the IJU, along with the Editors Guild of Manipur, organized a protest march from the Manipur Press Club to Chief Minister Biren Singh’s residence, demanding an impartial inquiry and appropriate action against the offending police officer.

IJU President and former Press Council of India member, Sabina Inderjit, alongside IJU Secretary General and IFJ Vice President, condemned these incidents. Inderjit emphasized that attacks on journalists are becoming increasingly common and represent a direct threat to press freedom. She stated that targeting journalists indicates a deliberate attempt by governments to suppress the free flow of information, urging the media community to unite against these violations of the fourth pillar of democracy.