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Guwahati, Oct 29 (IANS) Gauhati University on Wednesday issued a detailed clarification to counter what it described as “widespread misinformation and misreporting” regarding the conferment of honorary degrees, asserting that no individual has the authority to unilaterally decide on or confer Honoris Causa degrees.In a statement, the university said the conferment of honorary doctorates — such as Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) or Doctor of Science (D.Sc) follows a rigorous, multi-tiered statutory process involving scrutiny, approval, and concurrence from several governing bodies. “The conferment of Honoris Causa degrees is a collective institutional decision taken after thorough consideration at multiple statutory levels. No individual or office-bearer has the authority to unilaterally con...

Thiruvananthapuram Oct 29 (IANS) In a sweeping welfare push ahead of the local body elections, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday announced a host of new benefits targeting women, youth, pensioners, and workers in the unorganised sector.Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Vijayan said that poor women, including transwomen, who are not covered under any existing welfare scheme, will receive a new Women’s Security Pension of Rs 1,000 per month.He also announced a monthly scholarship of Rs 1,000 for unemployed youth from families with an annual income below Rs 1 lakh, aimed at supporting those pursuing higher studies or skill training.The welfare pension has been raised by Rs 400 from Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,000, benefiting lakhs of pensioners across the state. Kudum...

Thiruvananthapuram Oct 29 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday announced a freeze on the PM SHRI in the state and the formation of a seven-member committee of state ministers, headed by Education Minister V. Sivankutty, to review the scheme."Until the committee’s report is received, implementation of the PM SHRI scheme will remain frozen,” the Chief Minister said after Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, adding that the decision would be officially conveyed to the Centre.Vijayan, however, side-stepped a volley of questions on his change of position, saying all should wait for the committee to come back with their review report.The announcement comes as the rift within the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the contentious Central education scheme appears to have blown o...

Patna, Oct 29 (IANS) As Bihar gears up for the Assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed a massive public meeting in Sakra constituency of Muzaffarpur on Wednesday, where he launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling NDA government, alleging that PM Modi “cares only about votes” and not the suffering of the people.“Narendra Modi is not concerned about anything except votes. If you tell him to dance on the stage and then promise to vote for him, he will start dancing. He can do anything to get votes,” he said, addressing the crowd amid rain.LoP Rahul Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of dramatising religious sentiments for political gain.“During Chhath, people were bathing in the Yamuna River and offering prayers, while Modi was bathing in a sp...

Chennai, Oct 29 (IANS) Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder and actor-politician Vijay has announced that a special meeting of the party's General Council will be held on November 5 in Tamil Nadu's Mamallapuram, to deliberate on the organisation's next course of action and major internal decisions. In a heartfelt statement addressed to party cadres, Vijay said the upcoming meeting would mark the beginning of a renewed phase in TVK's political journey after a period of purposeful silence."My greetings to the comrades who live in my heart. After a meaningful silence in our political journey, I am writing to speak to you and invite you," he said.The actor-turned-politician asserted that the party had successfully withstood attempts by its detractors to malign and undermine it. "Even though ...

New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) Personal bias and blind belief are time and again reigniting the claim that childhood vaccines are increasing the risk of autism -- a neurological condition, said health experts on Wednesday.Recently, a self-published report by the US-based McCullough Foundation claimed that vaccination is “the most significant preventable driver” of autism.The report, not being peer-reviewed, has garnered significant attention from many anti-vaccine campaigners, including Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu.“There are many people who take an anti-vaccine stand. We saw the damaging effects of their propaganda during the early part of the pandemic -- when tens of thousands of people died of severe Covid-19 simply because they were afraid to vaccinate,” Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan of the Indian Medi...

New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) In a fiery address in Muzaffarpur, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing them of betraying the youth and turning governance into political theatre.The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said PM Modi’s politics was driven by “drama and deception,” citing the PM’s recent symbolic “Yamuna bath” during Chhath Puja.“There was no Yamuna ji there—just a pond filled with clean water for Modi ji. Clean water was brought through pipes for his photo-op while the real India bathes in polluted water,” LoP Rahul Gandhi said.“If you ask Modi ji to dance for your vote, he will do it. Try it—say, ‘Modi ji, don’t give speeches, just da...

Hyderabad, Oct 29 (IANS) One person was washed away in floods while another was rescued as heavy rain lashed parts of Telangana on Wednesday under the impact of cyclone Montha, which weakened into a deep depression after crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of the day while administration has been put on alert in view of the forecast of more heavy rains. A DCM vehicle was washed away in flood waters, and its driver went missing in Khammam district.The vehicle was swept away in the Nimmavagu stream near Janaram bridge in Konijarla Mandal. The locals tried to warn the driver not to venture into the waters, but he didn't pay heed, and in a few minutes, the vehicle was swept away. The driver, too, was washed away with the vehicle.In Vikarabad district, a man who was swept away ...

Kolkata, Oct 29 (IANS) An engineering student of Jadavpur University (JU) allegedly committed suicide by jumping off a moving train, said the police on Wednesday. The incident occurred on Tuesday night near Kansai Halt station in Medinipur, West Midnapore district, when he was returning home from Kolkata to Bankura with his mother.The body has already been recovered by the Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel.According to police sources, the deceased was identified as Soham Patra, a third-year student of printing technology at Jadavpur University.The deceased, identified as Soham Patra, was a resident of the Bankura police station area.The police said Soham, along with his mother, boarded the Howrah-Adra Rani Shiromani passenger train on Tuesday night.According to Kharagpur GRP source...