April 2017

at 0



दुनिया में हज़ारों-लाखों सभ्यतायें मौजूद हैं. सबके अपने अलग-अलग अनुष्ठान हैं, जो कई बार हमें अजीब लगते हैं. जैसे सेक्स को ही ले लीजिये. कई लोगों के लिए ये दो आत्माओं का मिलन है जबकि कुछ लोगों के लिए ये शारीरिक ज़रूरत. आज हम आपको दुनिया के कुछ ऐसे सेक्स अनुष्ठानों के बारे में बता रहे हैं, जिन्हें जान कर आप दंग रह जायेंगे.

1. प्राचीन मिस्र के निवासियों का ये विश्वास था कि नाइल नदी उनके देवता Atum के वीर्यपात से बनी है. इसी को आदर्श मानते हुए प्राचीन मिस्र निवासी नाइल नदी में जा कर हस्तमैथुन किया करते थे.


Source: pinterest 

2. प्राचीन समय में Marquesas द्वीप में बच्चों का अपने माता-पिता को सेक्स करते देखना आम था.

Source: time 

3. मिस्र की 'सिवा' जनजाति में होमोसेक्शुअल होना आम बात है. यहां नॉर्मल लोगों को शक की नज़रों से देखा जाता है.

Source: thenightmareseries 

4. दक्षिणी प्रशांत महासागर के Mangaia द्वीप में बूढ़ी औरतें 13 साल के युवकों के साथ सेक्स करती हैं ताकि उन्हें समझाया जा सके कि अपने पार्टनर को किस तरह खुश रखना है.

source: coxblo 

5. Inis Beag नाम के एक छोटे से द्वीप के पुरुष अपने अंडरवियर कभी नहीं उतारते. उनका मानना है कि सेक्स सेहत के लिए हानिकारक होता है.

source: kenwroy 

6. कंबोडिया में Kreung जनजाति के लोग अपनी बेटियों के लिए 'Love Hut' बनाते हैं, जहां उनकी बेटी अपने मनचाहे पार्टनर के साथ संबंध स्थापित कर सकती है.

source: toptenz 

7. छत्तीसगढ़ के Muria जनजाति के लोग ऐसे शयनगृहों का निर्माण करते हैं, जहां वो भावनात्मक रूप से जुड़े बिना किसी से भी संबंध स्थापित कर सकते हैं.

source: staticflickr 

8. इंडोनेशिया में 'पोन महोत्सव' के दौरान आदमी अपनी पत्नी के अलावा किसी अन्य महिला से संबंध स्थापित करने के लिए आज़ाद रहता है.

source: layoverguide 

9. हावाइयन (Hawaiian) कल्चर में आदमी अपने सेक्स ऑर्गन का कोई न कोई नाम ज़रूर रखता है.

source: gurl 

10. नेपाल की कई जनजातियों में एक स्त्री के कई पति होते हैं और वह सबके साथ संबंध बनाती है.

source: waglestreetjournal 
Continue reading

at 0
मुंबई। एक बार फिर से मशहूर फिल्ममेकर करण जौहर को ट्विटर पर कुछ लोगों ने गलत ढंग से निशाना बनाया है। बात केवल हंसी-मजाक की होती तो समझ में आता लेकिन इस बार तो कुछ लोगों ने मर्यादा की सारी सीमा लांघ दी, जिस पर करारा जवाब करण ने दिया है।
दरअसल हाल ही में करण जौहर का एक इंटरव्यू ट्विटर पर लोड हुआ था। इस इंटरव्यू वीडियो में पत्रकार बरखा दत्त करण का साक्षात्कार ले रही थीं, जिस पर एक ट्विटर यूजर राहुल त्रिपाठी ने अभद्र टिप्पणी कर दी।
'एक छक्का दूसरे छक्के का इंटरव्यू ले रहा' उस यूजर ने लिखा ये देखो एक छक्का दूसरे छक्के का इंटरव्यू ले रहा है। जिसको करारा जवाब देते हुए करण ने ट्वीट किया, मैं उम्मीद करता हूं कि आप जल्द ठीक हो जाएंगे। अपनी दवाइयां लेना ना भूलें। यह पहली बार नहीं है, जब ट्विटर पर उनका मजाक उड़ाया गया हो। सेरोगेसी की मदद से पिता बने करण ने इससे पहले एक साक्षात्कार में कहा था कि ट्विटर पर कई बार उनका मजाक उड़ाया जा चुका है। कऱण-शाहरुख के रिश्ते पर भी गंदी बातें लोग अक्सर उनकी पर्सनालिटी पर सवाल खड़े करते हैं तो वहीं कुछ लोग उनके और शाहरुख खान को लेकर भी गंदी-गंदी बातें करते हैं। फिलहाल करण की ओर से करारा जवाब पाकर उम्मीद की जा सकती है कि गंदे कमेंट करने वाले लोग को अक्ल आ जाएगी।
'एक छक्का दूसरे छक्के का इंटरव्यू ले रहा' 
उस यूजर ने लिखा ये देखो एक छक्का दूसरे छक्के का इंटरव्यू ले रहा है। जिसको करारा जवाब देते हुए करण ने ट्वीट किया, मैं उम्मीद करता हूं कि आप जल्द ठीक हो जाएंगे। अपनी दवाइयां लेना ना भूलें। यह पहली बार नहीं है, जब ट्विटर पर उनका मजाक उड़ाया गया हो। सेरोगेसी की मदद से पिता बने करण ने इससे पहले एक साक्षात्कार में कहा था कि ट्विटर पर कई बार उनका मजाक उड़ाया जा चुका है। कऱण-शाहरुख के रिश्ते पर भी गंदी बातें लोग अक्सर उनकी पर्सनालिटी पर सवाल खड़े करते हैं तो वहीं कुछ लोग उनके और शाहरुख खान को लेकर भी गंदी-गंदी बातें करते हैं। फिलहाल करण की ओर से करारा जवाब पाकर उम्मीद की जा सकती है कि गंदे कमेंट करने वाले लोग को अक्ल आ जाएगी।
Continue reading

at 0
BHOPAL: A community panchayat in a village in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh has asked a man to marry off his five-year-old daughter to expiate his 'sin' of killing a calf.

The bizarre development came to light when the girl's mother approached the district administration on Friday.

Tarapur, the village in Aron tehsil where this diktat was issued, is dominated by Banjara community.

"Girl's mother approached us, requesting to stop the marriage. A panchayat (community body, not gram panchayat) was convened four months ago which ordered the family to marry off their child," said additional district magistrate Niaz Khan.

"A team of officials visited the village yesterday. We have asked the woman Anganwadi (pre-primary school) worker in the village to keep an eye on developments and report to us," the ADM said.

The complainant said that some four months ago, her husband hit a calf with a stone to shoo it away from their field, but the animal later died. A community panchayat was convened, which ostracised the family.

To atone, the family should go on pilgrimage and organise a feast for the entire village later, the panchayat said.

The family agreed, but the boycott didn't end even then.

The panchayat allegedly said there were several marriageable youths in the village, but marriages were not being solemnised because of calf's death.

"The panchayat said therefore the family would need to marry off their daughter as per local custom," Khan said.

Not stopping there, the panchayat fixed the girl's marriage with an eight-year-old boy from Vidisha district.

The mother decided to defy this coercion and approached the administration on April 14.

The administration asked four persons including fathers of the girl and the `groom' to execute bonds of Rs 20,000 each under the Criminal Procedure Code. If the bond is violated, police can take action in anticipation of "breach of peace" against the person.

"We are monitoring the situation," the ADM added.

Continue reading

at 0
भारत के वर्तमान प्रधानमंत्री “नरेन्द्र मोदी जी” आज भारत के सबसे ज्यादा चर्चित व्यक्ति हैं। केवल भारत में ही नहीं बल्कि विदेशों में भी उनके नाम के अनेकों प्रसंशक हैं। माननीय नरेन्द्र दामोदरदास मोदी (पूरा नाम) भारत के 15 वें प्रधानमंत्री हैं एवं ऐसे पहले प्रधानमंत्री हैं जिनका जन्म स्वतंत्र भारत (यानि 1947 के बाद) में हुआ।
नरेन्द्र मोदी जी का जन्म 17 सितम्बर 1950 को गुजरात के मेहसाना जिले में वडनगर नाम के कस्बे में हुआ। पिता दामोदर दास मोदी और माँ हीराबेन के 6 बच्चों में से ये तीसरे नंबर के थे। इनके घर की आर्थिक स्थिति बेहद खराब थी। माँ दूसरों के घर में जाकर बर्तन साफ़ करती थी और पिता की एक छोटी सी चाय की दुकान थी।
एक कच्चे मकान में पूरा परिवार रहता था। गरीबी के कारण दो वक्त का खाना भी सही से नसीब नहीं होता था। संघर्ष भरे माहौल में मोदी जी ने बहुत छोटी उम्र में ही जीवन के कई ऊँचे नीचे पड़ाव देख लिए थे। बचपन से ही इनको पढाई लिखाई का बेहद शौक था।
यूँ तो ये पिता के साथ चाय की दुकान पर हाथ बंटाया करते थे लेकिन जब भी मौका मिलता ये पुस्तकालय जाकर घण्टों पढ़ाई करते। ये बचपन से ही स्वामी विवेकानंद एवं उनके विचारों को अपना आदर्श मानते थे।
13 वर्ष की आयु में नरेन्द्र की सगाई जसोदा बेन चमनलाल के साथ कर दी गयी। लेकिन कुछ पारिवारिक समस्याओं के कारण 1967 में मात्र 17 वर्ष की उम्र में ही ये घर छोड़ कर चले गए। ये घर छोड़कर उत्तरी भारत में स्थित स्वामी विवेकानंद द्वारा स्थापित हिन्दू आश्रम एवं कोलकाता के बेलूर मठ ऐसे ही कई आश्रामों का भृमण करने लगे। इन्हीं दिनों में इन्होंने जीवन को गहराई से जाना अपनी सोच को सुधारा और करीब 2 साल बाद फिर से वापस घर आ गए।
इसके बाद मोदी जी आर.एस.एस. (R.S.S.) के सदस्य बने और पूरी मेहनत से आर.एस.एस. के लिए काम करने लगे। इतनी व्यस्तता के बावजूद मोदी जी पढाई करना नहीं छोड़ा और राजनीति विज्ञान में डिग्री प्राप्त की। वो दिन रात लोगों की सेवा करते लोगों से जुड़ते और उनकी समस्या को करीब से जानने की कोशिश करते।
1975 में भारत में राजनैतिक झगडे चल रहे थे तो उस समय की प्रधानमंत्री इंदिरा गाँधी ने कई राज्यों में आपातकाल घोषित कर दिया और आर.एस.एस. संस्था को बंद करने को कहा लेकिन मोदी जी फिर भी गुप्त रूप से लोगों की सेवा में लगे रहे और आर.एस.एस. का प्रचार चलता रहा। उनके इस काम से खुश होकर उनको भाजपा में शामिल किया गया।
2001 में गुजरात में भयंकर भूकंप आया जिसकी वजह से गुजरात को बहुत नुकसान झेलना पड़ा। उस समय की सरकार के राहत कार्य से नाखुश होकर भाजपा वालों ने मोदी जी को गुजरात का मुख्यमंत्री बना दिया। मोदी ने उस भूकंप से गुजरात को उबारने में जी तोड़ मेहनत की और वो सफल भी हुए और वो गुजरात में बेहद लोकप्रिय हो गए।
गुजरात की जनता ने भी उनको लगातार चार बार मुख्यमंत्री चुनकर भारत के सबसे बेहतर मुख्यमंत्रीयों में शामिल कर दिया।
इसके बाद 2014 के लोकसभा चुनाव में प्रधानमंत्री उम्मीदवार के रूप में भाजपा ने मोदी को उतारा और पूरे भारत में मोदी के नाम की लहार इतनी तेजी से दौड़ रही थी कि काफी लोगों ने पहले ही मोदी को प्रधानमंत्री मान लिया। खासकर युवाओं ने मोदी को विशेष प्रोत्साहन दिया।
उनके नेतृत्व में भारत की प्रमुख विपक्षी पार्टी भारतीय जनता पार्टी ने 2014 का लोकसभा चुनाव लड़ा और 282 सीटें जीतकर अभूतपूर्व सफलता प्राप्त की। भारत के राष्‍ट्रपति प्रणव मुखर्जी ने उन्हें 26 मई 2014 को भारत के प्रधानमन्त्री पद की शपथ दिलायी और आज वे स्वतन्त्र भारत के 15वें प्रधानमन्त्री हैं और कुशलता पूर्वक भारत की सेवा कर रहे हैं।

मोदी जी की कुछ प्रमुख योजनाएं –

धन योजना
स्वच्छ भारत अभियान
मेक इन इंडिया
डिजिटल इंडिया

Continue reading

at 0
ये हम सभी जानतें हैं कि प्रधानमंत्री की सुरक्षा की जिम्मेदारी एसपीजी (विशेष सुरक्षा दल) 'स्पेशल प्रोटेक्शन ग्रुप' नाम की संस्था के पास होती है। एस.पी.जी (S.P.G) पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री एवं उनके परिवार की सुरक्षा का ध्यान भी रखती है| प्रधानमंत्री जहाँ से गुजरते हैं, उनके चप्पे-चप्पे पर एसपीजी के अचूक निशानेबाज तैनात होते हैं। एसपीजी के जवान FNF-2000 असॉल्ट राइफल, ऑटोमैटिक गन और 17-एम नामक खतरनाक पिस्टल जैसे आधुनिक हथियारों से लैस रहते हैं| लेकिन क्या आप जानतें हैं कि अगर प्रधानमंत्री चाहे तो वे इस सुरक्षा को लेने से इंकार कर सकते हैं|
PM SPG
क्या अपने कभी ध्यान दिया है कि इन बॉडीगार्ड्स के हाथ में ब्रीफ़केस या सूटकेस भी होता है| आप चाहे तो इसकी झलक 26 जनवरी की परेड में देख सकते हैं| लेकिन क्या आपने कभी सोचा है कि इस ब्रीफ़केस मे आखिर क्या रहता है?
PM SPG briefcase
Source: www. qph.ec.quoracdn.net.com
यह सूटकेस वास्तव में न्यूक्लियर बटन होता है जिसे प्रधानमंत्री से कुछ फ़ीट दूर रखा जाता है और यह सूटकेस बहुत पतला दिखता है| असल मे यह एक पोर्टेबल बुलेट प्रूफ शील्ड या पोर्टेबल फ़ोल्डआउट बैलिस्टिक शील्ड होती है जिसे हमले के दौरान खोला जा सकता है जो कि एनआईजी लेवल-3 की सुरक्षा प्रदान करती है। जब भी सुरक्षा बलों को किसी भी खतरे या संदिग्ध गतिविधि का अंदेशा होता है, वे प्रधानमंत्री को सुरक्षित करने के लिए उस शील्ड को नीचे की ओर झटका देते हैं जिससे वह शील्ड खुल जाती है| देखा जाए तो यह एक तरह से ढाल का काम करती है जोकि अति विशिष्ट व्यक्तियों को तत्काल और अस्थायी सुरक्षा देती है।
Nuclear protective shield
Source: www.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com
इस ब्रीफ़केस में एक गुप्त जेब भी होती है जिसमें पिस्तौल को रखा जाता है |
SPB Briefcase
क्या आप जानतें हैं कि भारतीय परमाणु हथियारों को कब और कैसे इस्तेमाल करना है, इसका निर्णय लेने का एकाधिकार भारत के प्रधानमंत्री को नहीं है। यह निर्णय लेने का अधिकार परमाणु कमान प्राधिकरण (Nuclear Command Authority) को है|
एसपीजी के साथ एक काउंटर अटैक टीम (कैट) CAT (Counter Assault Team) भी होती है| इस टीम के पास “एफ. एन-2000”, पी-90, ग्लोक-17, ग्लोक-19 और “एफ. एन-5” जैसे हथियारों को इस्तेमाल करने की कला भी होती है| इस टीम को कठोर प्रशिक्षण के माध्यम से प्रशिक्षित किया जाता है और इसकी  खासियत है कि प्रधानमंत्री पर किसी भी हमले के दौरान यह तेजी से कार्रवाई करती है।
Counter Assault team
Source: www.cache3.asset-cache.net.com
एसपीजी देश के विशिष्ट व्यक्तियों के अलावा राजनयिक यात्राओं पर आए दुनिया भर के नेताओं और अंतरराष्ट्रीय मेहमानों को भी सुरक्षा प्रदान करती  है, आप उन्हें हर जगह हर कोने की जाँच और हर संभावित खतरे को नष्ट करते देख सकते हैं।
एसपीजी कैबिनेट सचिवालय के तहत आता है और इसके महानिदेशक भारतीय पुलिस सेवा के अधिकारी होते हैं| एसपीजी के कमांडो का चुनाव “केन्द्रीय सशस्त्र पुलिस बल” और “रेलवे सुरक्षा बल” के जवानों में से किया जाता है| लेकिन इसकी कमान आईपीएस या आरपीएफ के अधिकारियों के हाथों होती है। एसपीजी लगातार विशिष्ट व्यक्तियों को सर्वोच्च सुरक्षा प्रदान कर रहा है।

Continue reading

at 0
Samsung has unveiled its new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8, at its "Unpacked 2017" event in New York.
Sporting an all-glass design, curved screen, digital home button and wireless charging, the Galaxy S8 is set to go head-to-head with Apple's iPhone 7 - and the iPhone 8 when it launches later this year.
Whether you bought a Galaxy Note 7 and were forced to return it due to overheating issues, or you've simply been holding out on an upgrade to see what Samsung has in store, the Galaxy S8 is unlikley to disappoint with its roster of high-end specs.
From its slim design and barely-there bezels to its eye-catching display and biometric security features, this is undoubtedly one of the best smartphones money can buy right now.
Samsung has unveiled its new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8, at its "Unpacked 2017" event in New York.
Sporting an all-glass design, curved screen, digital home button and wireless charging, the Galaxy S8 is set to go head-to-head with Apple's iPhone 7 - and the iPhone 8 when it launches later this year.
Whether you bought a Galaxy Note 7 and were forced to return it due to overheating issues, or you've simply been holding out on an upgrade to see what Samsung has in store, the Galaxy S8 is unlikley to disappoint with its roster of high-end specs.
From its slim design and barely-there bezels to its eye-catching display and biometric security features, this is undoubtedly one of the best smartphones money can buy right now.

Continue reading

at 0


As of February 2017, nearly 80% of female traffic comes from mobile devices (71% smartphones and 8% tablets), compared to about 69% for men.
In the UK, that number is even higher, with 86% of female traffic coming from mobile devices - 15% more than men.
While men still account for the vast majority of pornography consumed online, around a quarter is thought to be consumed by women.
Now a new report has revealed that women are actually more likely to watch porn on their mobile phones than men.
Currently, about 72% of worldwide traffic to porn sites comes from smartphones and tablets, with the remaining 28% coming from desktops. However, mobile use is much higher with women than men.
As of February 2017, nearly 80% of female traffic comes from mobile devices (71% smartphones and 8% tablets), compared to about 69% for men.
In the UK, that number is even higher, with 86% of female traffic coming from mobile devices - 15% more than men.
Continue reading

at 0

Days after the Pokémon GO Easter event drew to a close , gamers are already anticipating a new update to the massively popular smartphone game.
The update may come in the form of another event and introduce shiny versions of Pokémon that are even harder to catch.
Reasons for the update are to do with huge fluctuations in Pokémon "individual values" and movesets. This indicates that the same characters would have different abilities depending on the trainer level - definitely a bit suspicious.
We’ve received a lot of reports via Twitter and e-mail that the mechanics of wild Pokemon encounters have changed dramatically, most likely in preparation of the release of Shiny Pokémon," explained Pokémon GO hub .
"Trainers have reported that wild Pokemon no longer have the same core stats for every player that encounters them.
"The following stats are now unique per player and determined for that player (and his level) on entering the encounter."
The site explains that something similar happened when developer Niantic Labs introduced shiny Pokémon for the first time.
The only creature that was given the shiny treatment was Magikarp but as it was during a special Water Festival, it was impossible to predict its average spawn rate or location.
There's been no official word from Niantic about whether or not a new event or update is on the horizon. However, the company has promised big things for 2017 .
Continue reading

at 0

A new report says that Dwayne Johnson’s feud with Vin Diesel was over “who gets the best action scenes, who gets the hottest girl, who shows off their body more, and who gets the most face time.”
Dwayne Johnson will return to star in the ninth Fast & Furious film after burying the hatchet with Vin Diesel, a new report says.
Johnson and Diesel, the stars of The Fate of the Furious, the latest in the record-breaking action series, have reportedly moved on from their much-discussed feud. Johnson had posted an angry Instagram message in August 2016 claiming that a male co-star had got his “blood boiling” on the sets of the eighth film.
This is my final week of shooting #FastAndFurious8. There's no other franchise that gets my blood boiling more than this one. An incredible hard working crew. UNIVERSAL has been great partners as well. My female co-stars are always amazing and I love 'em. My male co-stars however are a different story. Some conduct themselves as stand up men and true professionals, while others don't. The ones that don't are too chicken shit to do anything about it anyway. Candy asses. When you watch this movie next April and it seems like I'm not acting in some of these scenes and my blood is legit boiling - you're right. Bottom line is it'll play great for the movie and fits this Hobbs character that's embedded in my DNA extremely well. The producer in me is happy about this part😉. Final week on FAST 8 and I'll finish strong.

TMZ now reports that the feud began because of “real estate”. By this, they mean that the two lead stars were involved in an argument over “who gets the best action scenes, who gets the hottest girl, who shows off their body more, and who gets the most face time.”
“It became a big issue for Dwayne and Vin, but ultimately, Dwayne acknowledged it was Vin’s movie -- he’s listed #1 on the call sheet,” the report continued. Diesel is indeed the face of the franchise, having appeared in all but one film since its 2001 debut. He is also given top billing - ahead of Johnson - in The Fate of the Furious.
Johnson’s had ranted because Diesel, allegedly, arrived late on set. The two exchanged heated words.
Continue reading

at 0
Domestically, the movie is lagging behind Furious 7, which took $250 million over its first two weekends, but with strong performances in foreign markets it is still expected to cross the $1 billion worldwide benchmark later this week.
Directed by F Gary Gray of Straight Outta Compton fame, Furious 8, also featuring Charlize Theron, Tyrese Gibson and hip-hop star Ludacris, follows Diesel’s Dom Toretto, who is coerced into joining forces with a cyber-terrorist played by Theron.

Universal’s The Fate of the Furious topped the North American box office for a second weekend, industry data showed Monday, taking $38.4 million as it closed in on $1 billion worldwide.
The eighth installment in the high-octane series starring Vin Diesel and Dwayne The Rock Johnson shattered records on its opening weekend with global revenues of more than $500 million, and that figure has since surged to $908.3 million

Domestically, the movie is lagging behind Furious 7, which took $250 million over its first two weekends, but with strong performances in foreign markets it is still expected to cross the $1 billion worldwide benchmark later this week.
Directed by F Gary Gray of Straight Outta Compton fame, Furious 8, also featuring Charlize Theron, Tyrese Gibson and hip-hop star Ludacris, follows Diesel’s Dom Toretto, who is coerced into joining forces with a cyber-terrorist played by Theron.

Continue reading

at 0
Fate of the Furious star Charlize Theron says she thinks men have it easy, while women have to struggle through a lot even today.
The 41-year-old actor says it is a societal problem, reported Elle magazine.
“I do think that men have it a lot easier than women. I think men are forgiven for their mistakes much easier than women. It’s a societal thing. I think we allow men to get away with things and we’re harsher with women,” says Theron.

Actor Charlize Theron attends the premiere of Universal Pictures' The Fate Of The Furious at Radio City Music Hall. (AFP)
The Fate of the Furious actor says sometimes women end up being the “worst enemies” of other women.
“We’ve got to work on that. I don’t like that. We keep talking about that but we’re sometimes the worst enemy of other females and we have to change that,” she adds.
Continue reading

at 0
President Donald Trump could celebrate his 100 days in office on Saturday with a shutdown of the federal government if negotiations underway on a spending bill fail, over funding for a wall along the border with Mexico, his signature poll promise.
It’s really up to him, and he is standing his ground, for now at least. “The Wall is a very important tool in stopping drugs from pouring into our country and poisoning our youth (and many others)!,” the president wrote on Twitter on Monday.
The Trump administration is seeking a massive budgetary allocation for defence, another poll promise of the president, and also with an eye on the 100-day mark Trump is expected to announce his ambitious tax overhaul plan on Wednesday. 
The president is pushing Republicans to try one more time to pass a legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare despite the failed first attempt, which Trump has said was only the start to the negotiating process and not final attempt.
This appears to be a hectic week. 
The two chambers of congress, which resume work this week after a two-week recess, have until Friday, April 28, to thrash out a new spending bill for the president’s signature to keep the federal government funded for another year.
Failure to come up with one will not lead to a shutdown necessarily — they can keep the government funded through a short-term interim bill — and keep negotiating till arriving at a legislation all parties are happy to sign off on. The last government shutdown was in 2013.
The real sticking point this time is Trump’s wall, which is likely to cost the US an estimated $21.6 billion if Mexico refuses to pay for it as it has vowed to. The president indicated in a Sunday tweet the US will have to pay for now.
“The Democrats don't want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs and very bad MS 13 gang members,” he wrote, adding, “Eventually, but at a later date so we can get started early, Mexico will be paying…”
The administration is rushing to line up achievements for the president to talk about as he completes 100 days, a watershed moment he has appeared to both dismiss and acknowledge, depending perhaps on the way he sees his young presidency seem to be going.
Trump is scheduled to talk about his achievements at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, the day after the federal government runs out of funding if negotiations fail, and the White House has already started rolling out what looks like a list of the highlights.
But Democrats are in no mood to give in on the President’s wall. “The Democrats do not support the wall,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told NBC Sunday.
“The burden to keep it (the government) open is on the Republicans … building a wall is not an answer. Not here or any place.”
Despite the fact Republicans control congress, they need Democrats in both chambers to pass the spending bill — at least eight in the senate and some in House to offset the votes of conservatives who could go could against the party line.
Continue reading

at 0
The Central Board of Secondary Education, the country’s biggest school board, has decided that extra marks given to Class 12 students to help clear a paper will be mentioned on mark-sheets.
Known as “grace marks”, these are given in cases where a student’s score narrowly misses the passing-mark.
The decision was part of proposals discussed by top officials of the education ministry and counterparts in the state.
They included a move to do away with moderation — the practice of revising marks upwards — which could result in lower cut-offs in university entrances, such as the Delhi University.
States have also agreed to do away with the policy of moderation, and several of them may follow CBSE in declaring the grace marks as well.
HT had first reported about states planning to do away with moderation on April 12.
“CBSE has decided it will not spike marks at all. This will be implemented for this year’s board exam itself. It will award grace marks which will also be reflected in the mark sheet and the website will also clearly mention the mechanism used to give grace marks and to what extent,” said a senior official. Officials said as CBSE has decided to lead by example it will put pressure on other boards to follow.
“Some states are already doing it. This will bring greater transparency and it will provide a level playing field,” the official said.
“This could lead to slight dip in cut-off but it is difficult to quantify. Also, CBSE is not the only Board as we have many students from state Boards who apply to DU,” said a Delhi University official who did not want to be named.
There were a few states that expressed apprehension over mark-sheets reflecting the grace marks, saying it could be seen as a stigma but others argued that it will be unfair for those who pass without the extra marks.
States have also said they will continue with their own policy for grace marks. “The lower the marks, the higher are the benefits of moderation. So it is unfair for those who work hard. Many states have been doing this to ensure their pass percentage remains intact. However, this unnecessarily increases the cut-offs,” said a senior official.
In the past, the CBSE and state boards have awarded up to 10% to 15% cent extra marks in various subjects such as mathematics and physics. However, these extra marks are subject to the ceiling of 95%, as far as CBSE is concerned.
The CBSE also decided that instead of the current All India Senior Secondary Examination, Rest of the World and a separate exam for Delhi, CBSE will have only one exam across the country to ensure difficulty levels are uniform.
It has also been decided not to include the marks awarded for extracurricular activities (ECA) in the final tally of marks. They would be reflected separately on the mark sheet, preferably in the shape of grades.
“To ensure students who participate in ECA are given benefits it has been decided that a credit system will be evolved in consultation with the higher education department so that universities give them preference over those who have got the same marks,” said a senior HRD official.
Kerala will not be able to do away with the practice of moderation from this year as the final marks that it awards include the extracurricular activities too and it will not be able to change the marking system.
To ensure greater parity in examination and syllabus, it has also been decided that states can progressively adopt NCERT syllabus for core subjects such as mathematics, science, and they can continue with their regional variatio
Continue reading

at 0
India’s renowned Banaras Hindu University (BHU) will soon be conducting its pen-and-paper undergraduate entrance test (UET) for admission to its undergraduate courses. Admit cards for the UET have been released and can be downloaded here. Established in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, BHU is one of the largest residential universities in Asia, with over 20,000 students. The exams will be held from April 30 to May 31 and the results will be out in the first week of June. Counselling will also be done simultaneously. Do remember, after dowloading the card, you have to affix a passport size photograph on it. Formerly named Central Hindu College, BHU is a public central university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. More details on the courses are available here. India’s renowned Banaras Hindu University (BHU) will soon be conducting its pen-and-paper undergraduate entrance test (UET) for admission to its undergraduate courses. Admit cards for the UET have been released and can be downloaded here. Established in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, BHU is one of the largest residential universities in Asia, with over 20,000 students. The exams will be held from April 30 to May 31 and the results will be out in the first week of June. Counselling will also be done simultaneously. Do remember, after dowloading the card, you have to affix a passport size photograph on it. Formerly named Central Hindu College, BHU is a public central university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. More details on the courses are available here.
Continue reading
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)