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CBI Claims Major Breakthrough in NEET-UG Exam Paper Leak with Arrests in Patna

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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced Tuesday a major breakthrough in its investigation into the NEET-UG exam paper leak with the arrest of two men in Patna. Among the arrested is Pankaj Kumar, also known as Aditya, a Bokaro resident and 2017 civil engineering graduate from NIT-Jamshedpur. Kumar is accused of stealing a sealed question paper box from an aluminium trunk sent by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to Hazaribag after tampering with it. His arrest followed that of Rajkumar Singh, a guest house owner in Hazaribag, who allegedly assisted Kumar in stealing and passing the papers to exam mafias, according to sources. NIT Jamshedpur spokesperson Sunil Bhagat said it is difficult to comment on Kumar’s conduct during his college days. “The college has to visit the record book to know about his performance in the semester exams,” he said. The arrests could uncover the origin of the conspiracy and the extent of the nationwide network involved in the paper leak, according to sources. Earlier, the CBI arrested Ehsanul Haque, the sacked principal of Oasis School (NEET centre in Hazaribag), vice principal M Imtiaz Alam, and Hazaribag journalist Jamaluddin. Sources revealed that the private school principal and vice principal mentioned Rajkumar’s guest house during questioning. Journalist Jamaluddin allegedly provided Rajkumar’s name during his interrogation, linking them to the paper leak conspiracy. Some examinees were allegedly kept at Rajkumar’s guest house, where they were given the leaked questions and answers to memorize a day before the exam. Nine sets of question papers were dispatched from SBI Hazaribag to various exam centres. The papers received by Oasis School had tampered seals, leading to the discovery of the school’s involvement. NTA provided details about a partially-burnt question paper found at a play school in Patna’s Khemnichak area, which served as a safe house for medical aspirants.

CBI Claims Major Breakthrough in NEET-UG Exam Paper Leak with Arrests in Patna Read More »

FTC Requests More Information on $6.4B IBM Planned Acquisition of HashiCorp

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made a “second request” for additional information around IBM’s (IBM) plan to acquire cloud software company HashiCorp (HCP) for $6.4 billion. HashiCorp said Monday that it received the request last week, and the companies plan to “promptly respond to the Second Request and to continue working cooperatively with the FTC.” IBM and HashiCorp still expect the acquisition to be completed by the end of 2024, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). FTC Assessing Competitive Impacts of Deal The FTC defines a “second request” as part of the deal monitoring process that “typically asks for business documents and data that will inform the agency about the company’s products or services, market conditions where the company does business, and the likely competitive effects of the merger.” HashiCorp did not disclose what information or documents the agency requested, but the review suggests the FTC could have concerns about whether the acquisition would be harmful to competition in the cloud computing space. The deal was originally announced in April, with the sides also stating at the time that it was expected to close by the end of 2024. IBM said in announcing the deal that it was the next step in the company’s “deep focus and investment in hybrid cloud and AI.” Latest in String of FTC Investigative Moves Under the Biden administration, the FTC has stepped up its enforcement efforts, taking a more stringent approach to antitrust policy under Chair Lina Khan. Energy giants Marathon Oil (MRO) and ConocoPhillips (COP) said Friday that they had recently received a second request from the FTC over a deal announced in May that would see ConocoPhillips pay $22.5 billion to acquire Marathon. IBM shares were up less than 1% at $184.35 as of about 11:45 a.m. ET Monday. HashiCorp stock was down less than 1% at $33.44.

FTC Requests More Information on $6.4B IBM Planned Acquisition of HashiCorp Read More »

Gujarat Government Announces Rollback of Decision to Increase MBBS Fee in Medical Colleges, Details Here

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The Gujarat government has announced a rollback of its recent decision to significantly increase fees for MBBS courses in medical colleges run by the Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society (GMERS). This move comes in response to widespread protests across the state against the steep fee hike. State government spokesperson and health minister Rushikesh Patel made the announcement, assuring that a new circular with revised fees for the 13 GMERS medical colleges will be issued soon. Speaking to media persons in Gandhinagar, Patel emphasized that the government is committed to making decisions in the best interests of students and urged families to remain calm as they work on providing fee benefits through various schemes. The rollback decision follows intense pressure from multiple quarters, including students, parents’ associations, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and political opposition. The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) had taken a strong stance against the fee hike, with state Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil threatening protests at all levels if the increase was not reversed. The original fee hike, announced on June 28, had raised annual fees for state and all-India quota seats by 66% from ₹3.3 lakh to ₹5.5 lakh. Management quota fees saw an even steeper increase of 87%, from ₹9.07 lakh to ₹17 lakh, while NRI quota fees were bumped up by 13% from $22,000 to $25,000 per annum. Critics argued that such substantial increases contradicted GMERS’s original mission of providing affordable medical education and strengthening Gujarat’s healthcare sector. The IMA’s Gujarat chapter had written to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, expressing concern that the fee hike would make medical education nearly impossible for poor and middle-class students. GMERS, established 14 years ago, operates 13 medical colleges across the state with a total of 2,100 seats. Of these, 75% are reserved for the state quota, 10% for the management quota, and 15% for the NRI quota, with 75 seats allocated to the all-India quota. This is not the first time GMERS has faced backlash over fee increases. In 2023, a similar hike was retracted following protests.

Gujarat Government Announces Rollback of Decision to Increase MBBS Fee in Medical Colleges, Details Here Read More »

Six Children Die of Suspected Chandipura Virus in Gujarat Since July 10

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Six children have died due to suspected Chandipura virus in Gujarat since July 10, with the total number of cases of the infection rising to 12, state Health Minister Rushikesh Patel has said. “Samples of the 12 patients have been sent to Pune’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation,” he said on Monday. Chandipura virus causes fever, with symptoms similar to flu, and acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). It is transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes, ticks, and sand flies. The pathogen is a member of the Vesiculovirus genus of the family Rhabdoviridae. Patel said that four of the 12 patients were from Sabarkantha district, three from Aravalli, one each from Mahisagar and Kheda in Gujarat, while two patients were from Rajasthan and one from Madhya Pradesh. They received treatment in Gujarat. “Six deaths due to suspected Chandipura virus have been reported in the state, but only after results of the samples it will be clear whether they were caused by the Chandipura virus,” he said in a statement. “Five out of six deaths have been reported from the civil hospital in Himatnagar in Sabarkantha district. All 12 samples, including eight of patients at the civil hospital in Sabarkantha, have been sent to Pune’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation,” Patel said. Paediatricians at the Himatnagar civil hospital had suspected Chandipura virus as the cause of death of four children on July 10 and sent their samples to NIV for confirmation. Later, four more children at the hospital showed similar symptoms. “Chandipura virus is not contagious. However, intensive surveillance has been undertaken in the affected areas. We have screened 18,646 persons in 4,487 houses. The health department is working round-the-clock to prevent the spread of the disease,” Patel said.

Six Children Die of Suspected Chandipura Virus in Gujarat Since July 10 Read More »

Relativity Acquisition Corp Signs Letter of Intent for $500 Million Merger with Mazaii Corp Ltd.

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Relativity Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (“Relativity”), announced that it has entered a letter of intent (“LOI”) for a proposed business combination that will result in Relativity acquiring 100% of the outstanding equity and equity equivalents of Mazaii Corp Ltd. (“Mazaii” or the “Company”). The Transaction values the Company at an initial enterprise value of U.S. $500 million. Mazaii Corp Ltd. Mazaii Corp Ltd. is a Montreal-based innovator in the iGaming industry, specializing in the creation and distribution of cutting-edge online casino games and betting solutions. The company supplies its advanced gaming content and technology to prominent brands within the sector, enhancing their platforms and player experiences. Through strategic acquisitions, Mazaii Corp expands its market reach and strengthens its product offerings across key regions, including Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia. Tarek Tabsh, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Relativity Acquisition Corp., commented, “The iGaming industry is experiencing rapid growth, with increasing acceptance and legalization in various regions. Growing consumer demand, driven by the increasing penetration of smartphones and internet access, further fuels this expansion. The Mazaii international platform provides a significant opportunity for scalability and revenue growth. This transaction will enhance Mazaii’s competitive advantage and market positioning.” Eli Baazov, Mazaii’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are thrilled to share the transformative journey of Mazaii in revolutionizing the online gambling arena. We have fortified our position, expanded our market reach, and enhanced our innovative service offerings. With our in-house intellectual property and continuous organic growth, we are confident in our ability to disrupt the gaming landscape and achieve highly favorable results for our shareholders beyond 2024. This is just the beginning of our journey, and we are excited to shape the gaming industry’s future.” The completion of the transaction is contingent upon several factors, including due diligence, negotiation of a definitive agreement, regulatory approvals, and approval by the board and stockholders of both companies. Additional details will be disclosed upon reaching a definitive agreement. The transaction is anticipated to be finalized in the second half of this year, subject to unforeseen circumstances. About Relativity Acquisition Corp. Relativity Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company sponsored by Relativity Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, formed to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. About Mazaii Corp Ltd. Mazaii Corp Ltd. is a Montreal-based innovator in the iGaming industry, specializing in the creation and distribution of cutting-edge online casino games and betting solutions. The company supplies its advanced gaming content and technology to prominent brands within the sector, enhancing their platforms and player experiences. Through strategic acquisitions, Mazaii Corp expands its market reach and strengthens its product offerings across key regions, including Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements regarding possible business combinations, financing thereof, and related matters, as well as all other statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and information currently available to them. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to certain factors detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Relativity Acquisition Corp Signs Letter of Intent for $500 Million Merger with Mazaii Corp Ltd. Read More »

Hazaribag School Centre Faces Retest for CUET-UG Amid Paper Leak Allegations

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The Hazaribag school centre, under scrutiny for an alleged NEET-UG paper leak, is back in the news. Out of 1,000 CUET-UG aspirants for whom the National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting a retest on July 19, 250 candidates are from Oasis Public School in Hazaribag. According to NTA sources, the retest is necessary due to the distribution of question papers in a language not chosen by the candidates and issues with “missing data” for some aspirants. The agency announced the retest schedule on Sunday but did not address the delay in the results, which are already over two weeks late. The final answer key has also not been released. The official notification on Sunday stated that grievances submitted by candidates up to June 30, and complaints sent to rescuetug@nta.ac.in between July 7-9 (before 05.00pm) have been reviewed. The re-examination will be conducted for the affected candidates on July 19 in computer-based test mode. The public notice did not specify the number of candidates or the nature of the grievances. However, sources indicate multiple issues, including “missing data” for some aspirants. According to NTA sources, the “1,000 candidates are spread across six states, and some grievances include time lost due to the distribution of the wrong question paper.” The distribution of incorrect question papers also occurred during the NEET-UG exam on May 5, leading NTA to grant grace marks for the lost time. However, following opposition and pleas in Supreme Court against the inflation of marks, NTA withdrew the results and announced a retest for 1,563 candidates, 813 of whom attended the exam on June 23. Sources also mentioned that NTA has not been able to retrieve data for some candidates. “Some data are missing, so these candidates will have to take the test again on July 19,” said the source, without revealing how the data was misplaced. This raises questions about how long NTA will take to release the results. Initially scheduled for June 30, the results were delayed due to the paper leak allegations involving NEET-UG and UGC-NET. On July 7, the agency released the provisional answer key for CUET-UG 2024, indicating a retest for candidates if grievances were validated. “Initially, it was decided to announce the results for the remaining candidates before the retest, and subsequently for the rest. However, a final decision is yet to be made,” said the source, indicating further uncertainty. Delhi University has already indicated that a three-week delay in results would delay the university’s academic calendar by two weeks. It now appears the delay will extend to nearly four weeks, further affecting the academic calendar for the first-year undergraduate students for the 262 participating universities.

Hazaribag School Centre Faces Retest for CUET-UG Amid Paper Leak Allegations Read More »

Rajasthan Education Dept Asks Students and Teachers to Plant Trees for Extra Marks

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The Education Department of Rajasthan has introduced a new initiative where students and teachers will be awarded five extra marks for planting trees. This scheme aims to help students who score low marks in exams and teachers who need performance improvement. The initiative will see every child in government schools across Rajasthan responsible for planting five trees on the school premises, with each tree tagged with the student’s name and details. The number of trees that survive until the end of the school session will determine the number of extra marks added to the student’s annual report card, with each tree worth one point. For teachers, if a tree they plant survives for a year, it will contribute to their total points for transfer considerations. This policy, called ‘Plant A Tree Get A Number,’ emphasizes the government’s focus on tree plantation. Additionally, the Panchayati Raj Department has mandated a statewide tree plantation drive on August 8, during which Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will inaugurate the Amrit Mahotsav of tree plantation. If more than 200 saplings are planted in a village, the government will provide a helper, and geotagging of saplings will be conducted. The BJP-led government in Rajasthan is committed to increasing the state’s green cover, planning to plant 7 crore trees in a massive plantation drive. An investment of Rs 4,000 crore over five years under Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan has been announced. Furthermore, to reduce pollution and carbon emissions, an electric-vehicle-based transport system will be introduced in tiger reserves like Ranthambore and Sariska for pilgrims visiting Trintetra Ganeshji and Pandupole.

Rajasthan Education Dept Asks Students and Teachers to Plant Trees for Extra Marks Read More »

Zee Entertainment Gains 7% as Board to Consider Fund Raising on July 16

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Shares of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) surged by 7% to Rs 157.20 per share on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) during Friday’s intra-day trade, driven by heavy volumes. This uptick followed the company’s announcement that its board will convene on July 16 to deliberate on a fund-raising plan. In an exchange filing, ZEEL stated, “A meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, inter alia, to consider and approve the raising of funds through the issuance of appropriate instruments along with the terms and conditions of the appropriate instruments, subject to such regulatory/statutory approvals as may be required.” Last month, the board had given its in-principle approval for raising up to Rs 2,000 crore through the issue of securities via various modes, including private placement, qualified institutions placement (QIP), preferential issue, or other methods. By 11:15 AM, ZEEL emerged as the top gainer among the Nifty Midcap 100 index, rising by 6.2% to Rs 156.30. In contrast, the Nifty 50 and Nifty Midcap 100 index saw gains of 0.89% and 0.38%, respectively. A combined 26.16 million shares were traded on the NSE and BSE. Despite this recent surge, ZEEL has underperformed the market in 2024, declining by 45%, compared to a nearly 13% rally in the Nifty 50. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 125.50 on June 4, 2024. In its Q4FY24 earnings update, ZEEL mentioned significant ongoing efforts to implement margin improvement interventions across its business. The company anticipates that these efforts will enhance performance, with major costs incurred in Q1FY25 for implementing these interventions. This is expected to impact margins temporarily, with gradual improvement anticipated from Q2FY25. The company aims for industry-leading EBITDA margins of 18-20% by FY26. Emkay Global Financial Services noted that ZEEL’s Q1FY25 performance might be affected by a shift in advertisement spends, projecting marginal growth of 2% year-on-year for Q1 ad revenues. Subscription revenues are expected to grow steadily due to price hikes, while other sales and services should benefit from movie releases and syndication deals. ZEEL’s profitability may be impacted by one-time interventions as it strives to reach its medium-term targets.

Zee Entertainment Gains 7% as Board to Consider Fund Raising on July 16 Read More »

Assam Declares Special Leaves for Govt Employees to Spend Time with Parents, In-Laws

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The Assam government has announced two days of special casual leaves for state government employees to spend time with their parents or parents-in-law. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) declared these leaves on November 6 and 8 through a post on the social media platform ‘X’. However, the special leaves are not available for employees without living parents, and they cannot be used for personal leisure, as reported by PTI. The post emphasized, “This leave must be used solely for spending time with ageing parents or parents-in-law to honour, respect, and care for them, and not for personal enjoyment.” Government employees in essential services can avail the leave in a phased manner. The Assam Chief Minister’s post underscored the importance of parental blessings and the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of one’s parents. The CMO clarified that these leaves could be combined with other holidays such as Chhat Puja on November 7, the second Saturday holiday on November 9, and Sunday on November 10, providing an extended break for employees. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma initially announced these special casual leaves for spending time with parents and parents-in-law during his first Independence Day speech after taking office in 2021. In addition, on Wednesday, the Assam government introduced a 180-day Child Adoption Leave policy for all women working in state government departments. This decision aligns with Rule 43-B of the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, as reported by HT.

Assam Declares Special Leaves for Govt Employees to Spend Time with Parents, In-Laws Read More »

Survey Reveals 66% of Audiences Are Unsatisfied With Disability and Mental Health Representation in Entertainment

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A recent survey conducted by the Inevitable Foundation has highlighted significant dissatisfaction among audiences regarding disability and mental health representation in the entertainment industry. The “Audiences Are Waiting for Hollywood to Greenlight Disability” report surveyed over 1,000 people and revealed that 66% of audiences are “unsatisfied with current representations of disability and mental health in film and TV.” The survey also found that 40% of audiences, both with and without disabilities, are “very likely” to recommend films or TV shows that authentically portray disability or mental health conditions to friends and family. This indicates a strong desire for more genuine representation in entertainment. Regarding viewing habits, the report noted that 35% of people with disabilities watch over 20 hours of television per week, compared to 25% of people without disabilities. Additionally, 20% of all audiences stated they would subscribe to new streaming services or attend more movies in theaters if these platforms included authentic representations of people with disabilities and mental health conditions. Saga Darnell, head of research and public affairs at the Inevitable Foundation, emphasized the clear dissatisfaction with current film and television options related to disability representation. “The findings from the Greenlight Disability Report are clear that all audiences—disabled and non-disabled people—are very unsatisfied with the film and television options available to them when it comes to disability representation,” Darnell said in a statement. The foundation stressed the potential benefits for entertainment industry leaders who invest in authentic disabled storytelling and ensure multi-dimensional portrayals of characters with disabilities and mental health conditions. Such investment could increase audience satisfaction, foster trust, and tap into an underutilized market segment. Inevitable Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to investing in writers and filmmakers with disabilities to destigmatize disability and mental health globally. Their research aims to bridge the data gap around disability in entertainment, exploring the experiences of the disabled population in the industry, on-screen narratives, and the impact of media portrayals on cultural stigma.

Survey Reveals 66% of Audiences Are Unsatisfied With Disability and Mental Health Representation in Entertainment Read More »