K’taka University includes lesson on late actor Puneeth Rajkumar’s philanthropy

By Raamesh Koirala

Rajesh Gurung, a young photojournalist at ‘The Himalayan Times’, had received an assignment from his editorial team -- to get a photograph of Charles Sobhraj. The serial killer had been spotted at Thamel [an area in Kathmandu popular among tourists] and the newspaper was keen to get pictorial evidence. From September 14 to 16, Rajesh hung around Thamel, observing everyone closely. On the third day, his manhunt came to an end. He clicked several snaps of Charles Sobhraj, keeping his camera in stop-motion to capture every second of Charles’s exit from the communication centre in Thamel. On September, a front-page news story appeared in ‘The Himalayan Times’. ‘Annapurna Post’, another newspaper from the same publishing house, also picked it up. The man known the world over as ‘The Serpent’ has come calling to Kathmandu. Charles Sobhraj, the internationally well-known ex-criminal and now a free man, has been camping in Thamel for the last fortnight. The ostensible reason for his visit is that he is attempting to forge ties with Nepalese entrepreneurs to export pashmina and possibly start a mineral water factory. Three days later, on September 20, the two newspapers ran another story about Sobhraj. This time, it was not as positive about the man’s business plans. The report was run under the headline ‘The Serpent is Finally Caught’ and it said: “Ironic as it may seem, Charles Sobhraj Gurumukh, known worldwide as ‘The Serpent’, was arrested from a local casino late last night by a special team of the Kathmandu Police. “The team, headed by Deg Bahadur GC, the deputy superintendent of police at the Valley Crime Investigation Branch, zeroed in on Sobhraj after a painstaking search spread over three days. The manhunt began on Wednesday when ‘The Himalayan Times’ and ‘Annapurna Post’ broke the story about Sobhraj being in Kathmandu. “Following the report, the police began searching in hotels in Thamel and the Naya Bazaar area. They learnt that Charles had hired a room in The Garden Hotel in Naya Bazaar, but eventually found the room to be empty. The police then began looking in the casinos. He was apprehended by the police when he was having dinner at the casino and thereafter taken to the Kathmandu District Police Office. “The man who once pompously claimed that he could smuggle in an elephant through the customs check at the Tribhuvan International Airport is today cooling his heels in the regional police office, Bhrikutimandap.” That day, the international media had been flooded with the breaking news. Speculation had been endless. After all, Charles Sobhraj had been arrested in Nepal from the Royal Casino, from the very heart of the capital city of Kathmandu. What had he been doing there? Had he intentionally come back to Nepal to get arrested for murders committed 30 years ago? Or was the whole thing a mistake? September 20, 2003. Early in the morning, Charles was taken to the immigration department with an initial charge of passport forgery. The police prepared a case against him for entering Nepalese territory with two different passports -- one Dutch and the other French. He appeared in public later that day, covering his face with a red handkerchief as the police dragged him to the Kathmandu District Court. It was widely believed that the police was keeping him in custody for further investigations under the Immigration Act of Nepal. But the truth was different. Mr Baral, the deputy inspector general who headed the Valley Police Office, divulged it to the media in a press conference. He said the police department was not able to interrogate him properly because of a three-day national strike. The department was working on finalizing a chargesheet against him, a chargesheet much more serious than passport forgery. “He is guilty of committing premeditated murders of two foreign nationals in Nepal,” said Mr Baral. “He cannot escape the law anymore.” “Mr Charles Sobhraj, what do you have to say about your arrest?” Journalists fell over each other as they tried to get an interview with Charles, even as the police pushed him inside the van. “This is my first visit to Nepal. I have not committed any murders in Nepal.” The police van sped out of the exit gate of the Kathmandu District Court, leaving his words and his conviction hanging in the air. Later that day, the police remanded him, not entertaining any of his justifications or demands. For an entire month, they were busy preparing a chargesheet against him. From time to time, the police happily shared some of their findings with the media -- and the public. If they took delight in grilling him about the murders he had committed, they did not hide it. The police unearthed it all, one by one.

(Excerpted from ‘Charles Sobhraj - Inside The Heart Of The Bikini Killer’ with the permission of the publisher, Rupa)

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Hyderabad, Dec 26 (IANS)

Hyderabad Metro Rail has won Public Relations Society of India’s prestigious national award for its colourful pictorial coffee table book titled “Hyderabad Metro Rail. - A Pictorial Overview”. About 2000 photographs have been used in the book. Kailash Vishwas Sarang, Minister of Medical Education, Government of Madhya Pradesh presented the award to Malladi Krishnanand, CPRO at the PRSIA National conference at Bhopal on Sunday. In the true spirit of the adage “a picture speaks thousand words,” this 800 page coffee table book covers the entire gamut of Hyderabad Metro Rail events, right from the conceptual stage of the project to the current day operations, presented aesthetically. The book also chronicles with fascinating photographs of the various hurdles faced during the brisk construction stage of metro pillars, viaduct and stations. The book provides an insightful information to the readers who are interested to know about Hyderabad Metro project, in detail. HMRL MDA NVS Reddy congratulated Mr Krishnand on receiving the national award. Bengaluru, Dec 22 (IANS) The fans of late Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar are celebrating as Bengaluru University has included a lesson in ‘Vaanijya Kannada - 3’ textbook prescribed for B.Com students. The third semester students will read a lesson on late superstar Puneeth. The lesson is a chapter culled out from ‘Neene Rajakumara’ book written by journalist Sharanu Hullur. Neene Rajakumara book was released recently by Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, wife of the late superstar. The book had seen record sales and it was claimed that it is the highest selling biography in Kannada language. The fans of Puneeth had demanded to include his life story and philanthropic activities in school textbooks as they serve as an inspiration. The fans have appreciated the move of Bengaluru University and on celebration mode. Puneeth Rajkumar always supported social causes and generously contributed to charities and foundations. He breathed last on October 29, 2021. Puneeth was supporting 26 orphanages, 16 old age homes and 19 gaushalas. He ran Shakti Dhama, a shelter for homeless women and girls. He supported thousands of girl students. All this came to light after his death and at the height of Covid fears, Kanteerava Indoor stadium where his body was kept saw more than 20 lakh footfalls. The family of Puneeth donated his eyes and then, donating eyes became a movement throughout the state as lakhs of people and his fans came forward to donate their eyes.

5 books to celebrate the season

Is there anything more traditional for the holiday season than cuddling up with a good book? We’re very excited about Christmas because it’s coming up so quickly. Books are undoubtedly one of the nicest parts of Christmas since they bring that additional touch of magic and help to kick off the holiday festivities. The holiday and Christmas spirit have taken over at this time of year. The air is magical, and everyone can sense it. One of the best Christmas activities this holiday season is curling up with a good book. Like your favourite holiday films, books are the perfect companion. Decorate your tree, prepare a cup of hot cocoa, and sit in because this selection of Christmas books will undoubtedly make you feel festive! These novels capture the spirit of the season and are great for readers of all ages to enjoy. The British Council Digital Library has selected a selection of novels that will have you turning the pages all year long, from time-honored classics to intriguing mysteries to Christmas tales for kids.

1. Little Women by Louisa May

Alcott

‘Little Women’ is a coming-of-age novel. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details their passage from childhood to womanhood. It explores timeless themes such as love and death, war and peace, conflict between personal ambition and family responsibilities.

2. A Christmas Carol by Charles

Dickens

‘A Christmas Carolre’ counts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.

3. A Christmas Memory by

Truman Capote

“A Christmas Memory” is a short story which takes place in the 1930s. Seven-year-old Buddy knows that the Christmas season has arrived when his cousin, Miss Sook Falk exclaims: “It’s fruitcake weather!” Thus begins an unforgettable portrait of an odd, but enduring friendship between two innocent souls.

4. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by

Agatha Christie

‘Hercule Poirot’s Christmas’ is a work of detective fiction. The book features the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and is a locked room mystery. The premise is a family reuniting for Christmas, and they find the host of the gathering murdered in a private room. Poirot’s investigation explores the victim’s methodical and vengeful nature.

5. The Christmas Swap by Sandy

Barker

Chloe, Jules, and Lucy meet at a Maui resort kids’ club, aged 11, forging a lifelong friendship spanning two decades and three continents. Twenty-two years later, they decide to swap Christmases, none of them expecting the hilarity and romantic escapades that will ensue.

Children’s Literature, what went wrong?

By Neha Jain

Literature has been one of the fields that have contributed significantly to society - its culture, practices, goals, and aspirations. We can even go so far as to say that literature has played an instrumental role in shaping society from time to time. However, literature as a term is vast and comprises of several subsets. But there’s one kind that most of us would have been taught in various forms - children’s literature. Children’s literature, while offering all of the mentioned benefits, offers the additional advantage of providing a means of communication with the child. It helps inculcate in the child the morals valued in the culture by presenting them as relatable stories. Therefore, it’s as important as studying science and mathematics as it helps carve out the essence of the child’s personality. Over the past decade, however, children’s literature has almost been in a slump. Publishing houses have been going out of business, and very few storytellers have grasped the young audience’s attention. This can be partly attributed to the decline in children’s reading habits and the outdated nature of some of the fairy tales traditionally read out to them. At this juncture, one must consider whether children’s literature is a dead field. This question warrants an analysis of the past and present developments in the field, for in this analysis is embedded its future potential.

The past and present of Children’s literature

Children’s literature has traversed a convoluted path, especially in the West. All political events have impacted the kind of stories told to children. This includes the gender of the protagonist and the role that they play in the story. For example, the insistence on the female character to have fair skin and a slim waist reflect the European standards of beauty that most women were expected to ascribe to. An extension of this is that the male protagonist is brave and chivalrous and expected to rescue the woman in danger- almost a replica of the Victorian knight. One can only imagine the impact of these stories on a dark-complexioned girl or on a boy who feels scared in the face of danger. The underrepresentation of specific sectors of the population is another problem that may have contributed to the disenchantment of children with these stories. For example, hardly any stories deal with issues of sexuality or cast children in gender antagonist roles. They encourage the attributes of blind obedience, cruelty, and even helplessness, which may be detrimental to the personality development of most modern children.

What does the future hold?

Children’s literature or stories for children have to be recreated to suit the needs and preferences of the child. This includes plots, characters, and even the modality of storytelling. For example, stories that deal with modern-day concerns, like bullying, grief, childhood sexual abuse, and issues of sexuality, are likely to be much more helpful for children. These stories will also allow adults to communicate with their children about complex matters and, in a way, foster open communication and emotional connection between the parents and their wards. Another essential aspect that needs to be encouraged is the personalisation of stories. Children connect better with the protagonist of the story when they can name the character and choose the story’s plotline. It allows them to fully harness their imagination and creativity. The reader goes on adventures, not from the lens of a distant character but from that of a character that is familiar to them. Such stories do not force upon the child a gender role. On the contrary, they offer flexibility of choice. For example, there can be a female dragon slayer or a male home keeper. No’ normal’ is defined; hence, no stigma is attached to gender-incongruent behaviour. Literature, unlike the hard sciences, is not fixed. It evolves with time and prominent traditions. Children’s literature is no exception to this rule. It has to find a way of communicating with the child about matters that present themselves in their life in a way they can understand. It is important to remember that the goal of literature is to liberate or use fantasy to combat the realities of life. Not changing the children’s stories to align them with modern issues will mean that the same somewhat stereotypical standards are being enforced on children. According to many experts, this is almost oppressive. Therefore, personalised stories based on current issues are the future of children’s literature. With children’s literature gradually rising from its slump, thanks to digital platforms leaving no stone unturned to ensure its protected, we can safely say that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

(Neha Jain, Author, Merlinwand)

A-list boutique experiences for last-minute year-end holidays

The event also featured a mega cultural bonanza with traditional performances

The Kingdom of Bhutan gathered to commemorate its 115th National Day. All Bhutanese and the monarchy enjoys much deserved respect in the Himalayan kingdom. Bhutan has been blessed take great delight in celebrating the country’s National Day, which is a significant annual event. The primary event this year was hosted in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, while celebrations were held all around the nation (and even to Bhutanese living overseas). The National Day is celebrated in commemoration of the coronation of the first king of Bhutan, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck, on this day in 1907. Bhutan has never been colonized in its history, and on December 17, 1907, the country was united as one nation under one leadership in the form of the monarchy. Bhutanese people love their King, with the extraordinary and visionary leadership of the Wangchuck Dynasty. The major policies of Bhutan have always been guided by the vision of The Kings who have and continue to work tirelessly to ensure the country’s peace, prosperity and happiness of its citizens. The development philosophy of the Kingdom of Bhutan, namely ‘Gross National Happiness’ is also one the legacies of the Monarchy, introduced by His Majesty the Fourth King and is aimed towards sustainable and balanced development that is integral to social, economic and cultural wellbeing of the nation and its people.

The new Brand Bhutan is centred on the next generation, the nation’s future guardians, as Bhutan is undergoing a dramatic transformational journey under the personal direction of His Majesty The King across all sectors, including the public service, tourism, education, and many others. During the National Day event, Bhutan’s Orders, Decorations, and Medals are awarded to recognize groups and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the country. There is always much anticipation for the awards. “This day has profound significance in the lives of every Bhutanese. We gather to remember and pay respects to our great forefathers who worked tirelessly for the wellbeing of our country and people and who ensured to hand over a strong and sovereign nation to us. It is the day where all the generations come together to not only rejoice, but reflect and pass our solemn vows, recommit to the cause of the nation and rededicate to building a better future,” said Dorji Dhradhul, the Director General of the Department of Tourism. “We congratulate all Bhutanese on this wonderful occasion,” he concluded. In order to forge a new path following the pandemic and strengthen the nation’s fundamental philosophy of pursuing sustainable growth, Bhutan has revised its tourist policy. The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), which supports initiatives promoting Bhutan’s economic, social, environmental, and cultural development, increased from USD 65 to USD 200 per person, per night. Bhutan is speeding up its efforts to maintain its status as one of just a few carbon-negative countries in the world since it is a country that is sensitive to the consequences of climate change (experiencing melting glaciers, floods, and unpredictable weather patterns) (in 2021, Bhutan sequestered 9.4M tonnes of carbon against its emission capacity of 3.8M tonnes). The Kingdom also unveiled a new brand, “Bhutan Believe,” which embodies its resolve to concentrate on laying the groundwork for future generations and adjusting its trajectory to keep pace with modern advancements. A fresh vision for the Kingdom and its goals for the next generation are intended by the new brand. It is also helpful for those seeking an exceptional and once-ina-lifetime travel experience. Similarly, His Majesty the Fourth King also had a vision for the nation’s tourist strategy. When Bhutan first opened its doors to tourism in the 1970s, the nation made a conscious and deliberate decision to pursue “High Value, Low Volume” tourism. Ironically, it was also a moment when the global economy was struggling. As a result of this visionary programme, which is now admired and valued by many people around the world, Bhutan now has a strong “Brand Bhutan” that is nurtured by its virtues, and essence.

The event also featured a mega cultural bonanza with traditional performances by the Royal Academy of Performing Arts and other groups selected by a committee which coordinates the celebrations, as well as a concert featuring popular Bhutanese performers.

Planning a last minute getaway away from the run-off-the-mill 5-star hotels?

Looking for experience-based vacation options? Look no further—we’ve made the calls and compiled an A-list of 7 boutique

Cheetahgarh Resort & Spa, Rajasthan

There is not an iota of roughing out at this jungle resort - a complete package of all things luxurious and authentic experiences of the Land of the Shepherds and Leopards, Jawai. Being the only hotel with a lake within its premise and villas that overlook the rocky hanging boulders of the Aravali, birding and leopard

spotting begin from the balconies of your rooms! And then there are the warm Rabari village experiences, safaris in super-customized 4X4 jeeps, and the incredible culinary spread and cocktail concoctions at their clubhouse. WH Cheetahgarh Resort & Spa is a happy 3-hour drive from Udaipur or Jodhpur.

Spice Village, Kerala

Looking to stay in a place that doesn’t feel like a concrete jungle? Spice Village located near the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady is modelled on the traditional swelling of the Mannan tribe of the forests here, including the unique thatching with elephant grass. Year after year, the resort works with the tribal community to rethatch these roofs using their unique technique. Understated, earthy luxury with intention, conception, dwellings, cuisine and experiences fundamentally based on the native Manan tribe and the cardamom hills of the Periyar forest, Spice Village is a wondrous spice garden of orchards and vines. Choose from villas with or without private pools and revel in the thrills of the Asian Elephant habitat with plantation visits, naturalist-led nature walks, Periyar forest hiking, bamboo rafting, etc. Getting to the property is convenient with a 5-hour drive from the Kochi airport or a 3-hour drive from Kottayam. hotels that are still open. These are conveniently located, purposefully lavish resorts, tiny boutique hotels, wellness resorts, and jungle lodges

that blend opulent comforts with thrilling travel experiences while honouring the places they stand and the people they coexist with.

Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort, Himachal

The Himalayas is a treasure trove of Incredible India. Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort is set in the majestic Shivalik range within the Himalayas, a nature lover’s paradise. The beautifully laid-out resort boasts 62 deluxe rooms and two opulent family suites each of which has an en-suite bathroom with a bathtub and shower that face out into the Shivalik range. The resort has state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to the enrichment of physical, and spiritual health, beauty, and well-being. The therapies offered are a mix of traditional Ayurveda and international experiences. The resort offers a large number of outdoor activities like mountain bicycling, zipline, archery, and Burma Bridge among others. Make time to chill by the poolside and enjoy a stunning sunset. Or else opt for a sensual pampering in the hot tub and infinity pool with beautiful views of the mountains in the daytime and clear starry skies at night. The bonfire in the evening and the festive music will keep your spirits up. Moksha is just one hour drive from the Mohali international airport, a short drive from Chandigarh, and a five-hour drive from Delhi.

WH Tadoba Vanya Vilas Resort & Spa, Maharashtra

Located close to Nagpur and just a kilometer and a half away from the forest gate, this premium resort of lavish cottages and luxury tents is a gateway to the popular tiger haven of Tadoba. Expect 65 acres of unspoiled beauty, 5-star facilities, great food, and the warmest hospitality. And add to this, a rejuvenating spa and thrilling safaris - perfect for a memorable break.

Chokhi Dhani Resort, Rajasthan

The resort offers a unique setting where guests immerse in the rich Rajasthani culture. This Rajasthanivillage-themed resort promotes the local heritage and culture that is indigenous to Rajasthan. Chokhi Dhani Resort offers guests an opportunity to experience traditional artistry, culture, and its delectable cuisine all under one roof. Chokhi Dhani Resort is a part of the village ‘Chokhi Dhani’ that is famous for

the music and dance performances by locals. The most well-known of them is the performance by the nomad tribe showcasing Kalbeliya, Ghoomar, and Chari dance forms. Apart from this, the Bamboo Acrobatics, Terah Thali Dance, and the Traditional Fire Act showcase the daring acts done by various folk artists which leave the audience intrigued, speechless, and in awe of their heritage.

Fazlani Natures Nest, Maharashtra

Christmas marks the beginning of the festive season we wait for all year long. What better way to celebrate this year’s Christmas & New Year holidays than in a property that combines wellness with some fun activities? There are a host of activities for you to enjoy like pottery, kite flying, trekking, and nature walks. You can calm your mind and body with a session of yoga or meditation or experience forest bathing at the resort. Besides the tastefully done-up Spa and Wellness Centre, Fazlani Natures Nest is also equipped with a gym and a unique outdoor 3-tier swimming pool in a spectacular outdoor setting. If you are a music lover, karaoke is at your disposal. Enjoy a bonfire in the evening and relish a sumptuous especially curated lunch and gala dinner! Getting to the property is convenient with a 2-hour drive from the Mumbai airport or a 1-hour drive from Pune airport.

New Delhi, Dec 26 (IANS) From a crewed NASA mission to private spacecraft roaring to explore the Moon, the year 2023 promises to be the final lap towards sending humans, including a woman and a person of colour, to the lunar surface in 2024. On November 28, Orion spacecraft reached its maximum distance from Earth during the Artemis I mission when it was 268,563 miles away from our home planet. Among the accomplishments for NASA’s human spaceflight programmes, the agency successfully launched, for the first time, its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which put NASA’s Orion spacecraft on a path that travelled farther than any spacecraft built for astronauts has been before. The US space agency has completed manufacturing the booster segments and delivered the engine section to Kennedy for the Artemis III mission, which will be humanity’s first return to the lunar surface in more than 50 years and land the first woman on the Moon. The agency has also completed numerous key Artemis milestones that will ensure not only a human return to the lunar surface, but longterm exploration on and around the Moon in preparation for sending the first astronauts to Mars. To date, the agency has identified 13 candidate landing regions near the lunar South Pole where the next American astronauts on the Moon could land during Artemis III, selected Axiom Space to provide the moonwalking system, including spacesuits, that astronauts will use during Artemis III, as well as awarded a task order to Collins Aerospace to develop new spacesuits for the International Space Station. NASA also awarded a contract modification to SpaceX to further develop its Starship human landing system to meet agency requirements for long-term human exploration of the Moon, including a second crewed landing demonstration mission during Artemis IV, and announced a call to companies to provide proposals for sustainable lunar lander development as the agency works toward a regular cadence of Moon landings beyond Artemis IV. It has issued a draft request for proposals for Lunar Terrain Vehicle services to solicit companies’ feedback and completed desert analog missions with crew in a simulated lunar environment to test pressurized rover operations and moonwalks for future Artemis missions. Meanwhile, private Moon missions are also shaping up, slowly but steadily. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa in December announced an eight-person private mission around the Moon, carrying artists and creative professionals on a SpaceX flight. The crew will have DJ Steve Aoki, musician Choi Seung Hyun, choreographer and performer Yemi A.D., photographer Rhiannon Adam, YouTuber Tim Dodd, photographer Karim Iliya, filmmaker Brendan Hall, and actor Dev D. Joshi, with snowboarder Kaitlyn Farrington and dancer Miyu as backup crew members. “I hope each and every one will recognise the responsibility that comes with leaving the Earth, traveling to the moon and back,” Maezawa said in a video making the announcement. In 2018, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk revealed that Maezawa, Founder of Japan’s largest online clothing retailer Zozotown will be the first private customer to ride around the Moon on the company’s future rocket, the Big Falcon Rocket (BFR). According to The Verge, Maezawa plans to fly on the trip as early as 2023, with artists onboard, as part of his “dearMoon” mission.

Five mobile games that will win the hearts of Indian players in 2023

By Ayushi Jain

New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS) Mobile gaming has taken India by storm this year, with the popularity of mobile games surging among the youth, especially millennials and Gen Z. India’s gaming market reached $2.6 billion in revenue this year, which is expected to quadruple to $8.6 billion by 2027, according to a report by Lumikai, a gaming and interactive media venture capital fund. India is home to 507 million gamers, of which about 120 million are paid gaming users, with at least $20 revenue per user. With 15 billion downloads, India was the world’s largest consumer of mobile games in FY22 (fiscal year 2022). Nearly 48 per cent of gamers spend money on mid-core games, while 65 per cent of paying gamers claimed they had engaged in in-app purchases at least once, the report mentioned. Indians are spending an average of 8.5 hours per week on mobile games. Three big trends are changing the mobile gaming industry -- better gameplay, improving graphics and new monetisation models. As the gaming community is growing in India like a rollercoaster, developers are trying their best to offer new games to satisfy the gamers. Here are the top 5 mobile games that may make their mark in 2023:

1. Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile from gaming company Activision Publishing is a tactical shooting game with Battle Royale mobile game experience. The game will allow for up to 120 live players in a match on mobile. It is the next era of the Call of Duty franchise. The game will be available on both iOS and Android devices, and is expected to release next year. However, pre-registrations for the game have started on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

2. Underworld Gang Wars (UGW)

Underworld Gang Wars (UGW) from the Mayhem-Studios is the most promising upcoming battle royale mobile game which will be rooted in India and is built for gangsters. It will be available on both Android and iOS devices, and pre- registrations for the game are open and even crossed over 2 million. The game features a gang war between two opposing sides. It’s up to the gamers “to pick a side and defend it with your might”.

3. Rainbow Six: Mobile

Tactical shooter game Rainbow Six: Mobile is a competitive and multiplayer first-person shooter experience game. Gamers can compete in the game’s classic ‘Attack vs. Defence’ game modes. Gamers can play as an Attacker or Defender in fast-paced 5 versus 5 matches and face intense close-quarter combat while making timely tactical decisions. The Ubisoft-owned game will be available on both iOS and Android devices. The game developer in September had announced that it is rolling out a closed beta version to some gamers who pre-registered the game.

4. Battlefield Mobile

Battlefield Mobile is from the video game company Electronic Arts. It is an action shooter game where gamers can play high intensity player versus player combat in epic large-scale battles. The game allows players to explore massive 3D destructible maps and wartime environments at the scale only Battlefield can bring to mobile. It will be available on both Android and iOS devices, and is expected to launch in early 2023. However, pre-registrations for the game have started at the application stores.

5. Dragon Siege: Kingdom Conquest

Dragon Siege: Kingdom Conquest’ is a massively multiplayer (MMO) casual fantasy game from NDREAM Corporation. In this game, players can start an exciting adventure at the Fantasy World, Dragonia. Gamers can expand their village, farm and harvest resources, and can even battle with other players. They can also build their troops in real-time and can enjoy strategic combat. This game will only be available on Android devices and pre-registrations for the game have started on the Google Play Store.

(Ayushi Jain can be reached at ayushi.j@ians.in)

Twitter didn’t remove suicide prevention tool, it is fake news: Musk

New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS) Twitter CEO Elon Musk has denied that the micro-blogging platform removed suicide prevention feature for its users, said the reports were “fake”. Media reports earlier claimed that Twitter removed a feature that promoted suicide prevention hotlines and other safety resources. “False, it is still there,” the new Twitter owner said in a tweet. The reports, quoting Twitter executives, claimed the feature was removed and was being revamped. Replying to a user, Musk said: “Twitter doesn’t prevent suicide”. “The message is actually still up. This is fake news,” he added. The disappearance of the #ThereIsHelp banner, even if it was only momentary, led to criticism of Twitter from some consumer safety advocates, report Engadget. A Twitter user said: “Mental health support and crisis prevention tools to help integrate with social platforms is incredibly important. Tumblr for example has been doing a great job now”. “Fake News and its publishers should also be blocked on Twitter for a certain period of time,” another Musk follower posted. The #ThereIsHelp banner pointed users to suicide prevention hotlines and other safety resources when searching for certain content on Twitter.

By Shrey Srivastava

New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS) The Indian smartwatch market has not only grown exponentially on the home turf, but also performed exceptionally well at the global level. And the domestic players expect to repeat the feat in 2023, with the expectation to overtake both Chinese and global rivals. In Q2 2022, India overtook China to become the second-largest smartwatch market globally for the first time, growing 347 per cent (yearon-year), according to Counterpoint Research. China, which ranked second in Q1, was pushed down to the third place with a 10 per cent (year-on-year) decrease in its shipments. According to Prabhu Ram, HeadIndustry Intelligence Group, CMR, homegrown smartwatch brands will seek to raise their domestic value addition to further increase their overall competitiveness, not just against the Chinese, but global smartwatch brands. “After catering to value-conscious buyers in the affordable and competitive Indian smartwatch market, the smartwatch brands will aim to increase their market pie by targeting higher price tiers,” Ram told IANS. Indian brands such as Fire-Boltt and Noise took top spots in the global market share in the June quarter (Q2) amid macro uncertainties such as inflation and geopolitical tensions. Commenting on the company’s growth, Amit Khatri, Co-founder, Noise, told IANS that they have been at the forefront of India’s smartwatch market with a 30 per cent share, “also becoming the only homegrown brand to make it to the top 3 smartwatch brands globally”. “We closed FY22 at Rs 850 crore and aim to close FY23 at Rs 2,000 crore. Being one of the first Indian brands to localise the production of smart wearables in India, we are bullish about ramping up our Make in India efforts by bringing 80 per cent of manufacturing to India by year-end,” Khatri added. According to Arnav Kishore, Founder and CEO at Fire-Boltt, 2022 has been the best year for the company so far. “We witnessed tremendous growth this year and bagged the No. 1 spot in the smartwatch category in two consecutive quarters (Q1 and Q2). We also climbed up in our global rankings and today we are the fourth largest smartwatch brand in the world,” Kishore told IANS. The company will move towards 100 per cent localisation in the next three months, in terms of its India manufacturing plan, he said. At the moment, Fire-Boltt is at 70 per cent localisation. In Q3 2022, India’s market grew 171 per cent (year-on-year) to become the biggest smartwatch market globally, according to Counterpoint. Noise grew 218 per cent (year-onyear) to regain the top spot in the Indian market, while Fire-Boltt ranked second. Another homegrown, high-end consumer electronic brand, Boult Audio, also made its mark in the Indian market. Being among the top three audio brands in India, Boult further spread its horizons and ventured into the smartwatch market in 2022. “It is creating a niche in the smartwatch category too and is establishing itself as a premium brand choice among Indian consumers,” said Varun Gupta, Founder and CEO, Boult Audio. By 2026, Boult endeavours to reach out to more than 100 million customers worldwide. “As we embark upon 2023, Boult aims to strengthen its market position in the smartwatch category in India,” Gupta told IANS.

(Shrey Srivastava can be reached at shrey.s@ians.in)

Time for ‘cockroaches, not unicorns’: Layoffs, funding winter set to continue

New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS) Thousands lost jobs amid deepening funding winter in 2022 as massive layoffs by the tech companies this year alone surpassed the levels from the Great Recession the world went through in 2008-2009 that began with Lehman Brothers collapse. In 2008, tech companies laid off about 65,000 employees, and a similar number of workers lost their livelihoods in 2009, according to data by global outplacement and career transitioning firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. By comparison, over 1,000 tech companies laid off more than 1,52,000 employees this year globally, surpassing the Great Recession levels of 2008-2009. More than 91,000 workers in the US tech sector were laid off in mass job cuts in 2022, according to a Crunchbase tally. Over 17,000 tech employees were shown the door in India, led by edtech companies like BYJU’s, Unacademy, Vedanta and others. The startup ecosystem’s funding winter could last another 12 to 18 months and the industry may face “a lot of turmoil and volatility”, Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy has warned. The fact is that only two startups in India, Shiprocket and OneCard, attained unicorn status (valuation of $1 billion and above) in the JulySeptember period, according to a PwC India report. “There was a definite downturn in Q2 of this year and the quality deal flow had dried up substantially, as investors at large were wary of deploying dry powder,” said Rushit Shah, CoFounder of DevX Venture Fund. The startups which raised at astronomical valuations were given a reality check by the market and brought to sanity. “Reducing the burn happened to be the new mantra, which led to layoffs especially in the edtech sector in a gloomy environment,” Shah told IANS. According to Shrijay Sheth, Founder, legalwiz.in, 2023 will continue to be the year of sustenance for most, and funders will continue to remain more cautious. “Both valuation multipliers and funding opportunities will go more conservative. Startups must build better units economics as opposed to expensive acquisitions driven growth channels,” said Sheth. Geo-political issues, global supply chain crisis and other macro issues are expected to prevail. “Mostly, the serious funding houses will prevail while we will see visitors in the VC world take a break,” Sheth added. India saw a massive 35 per cent drop in funding this year, from $37.2 billion in 2021 to $24.7 billion. Edtech startups witnessed a significant 39 per cent drop compared to the same period last year, according

to Tracxn. The late-stage investments fell by 45 per cent, from $29.3 billion in January-November 2021 to $16.1 billion for the same period this year. According to Yash Shah, Co-founder and CEO, Clientjoy, �growth at all costs’ is no longer a philosophy entertained by investors. “During these times, founders must push themselves to identify and optimise their conversion funnels that directly show a reduction in their acquisition costs and push the company towards at-least unit level profitability, if not complete profitability,” he said. Ambitious projects and long term initiatives with low probability of success that employed talent at the cutting edge of technology are being put on hold and survival has become the priority. “The market will turn eventually and disciplined founders and top talent will reap disproportionate benefits once this funding winter is over. This is the time for cockroaches and not unicorns,” said Shah.

Multicloud strategy will dominate Indian enterprises in 2023

By Shailender Kumar

The year 2022 was unquestionably a year of technological dynamism, particularly in the cloud space, as new cloud computing models came to the fore. With businesses increasing their investment in cloud, they continue to prioritise flexibility, agility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. One observation that stands out to me, based on several discussions I’ve had with customers over the past year, their requirement is simple: a cloud that does not limit their operations and one which allows them to choose the best cloud option for key workloads. A significant IT trend has emerged in recent years -- customers are realising that a single public cloud cannot meet all their business needs. A multi-cloud strategy will be the de facto approach to ensure customers can get the benefit of the best services from more than one cloud provider. A multicloud environment is often the right choice for organizations to balance price, performance, and agility in a world with many cloud-based services and solutions. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure supports robust multicloud solutions, enabling simpler management while minimizing integration complications and security risks. This strategy is typically driven by workload, business, and data governance requirements. When designing a multicloud solution, it’s essential for companies to consider network latency, data movements, security, orchestration, and operation management, which ultimately drive their architectural decisions. Organisations are looking for cloud providers that can collaborate with one another and offer on-demand services. Cloud providers are already managing this trend by clustering their cloud capabilities together to reduce latency -- we are actively doing this in Oracle. We have created offerings that operate seamlessly across cloud infrastructures and applications. Oracle Interconnect for Azure is one such partnership where customers run more than one application across two different clouds. We also offer Oracle Database Service for Azure which is an Oracle-managed service for Azure customers, even Oracle MySQL HeatWave on AWS -- an OCI fully managed database on AWS compute with machine learning-powered automation and built-in advanced security features. It enables OLTP and OLAP in one MySQL Database service -- without ETL duplication. Companies will adopt the best public clouds for each of their key workloads, and its adoption will grow throughout the next decade. Even traditionally, risk-averse industries like financial services are embracing multicloud -- based on key competencies and benefits each cloud provider offers. Likewise, regulators have jumped on the multi-cloud bandwagon. One of our Oracle Cloud Infrastructure customers, Reliance General Insurance is one such firm. The world is changing, businesses and workloads are getting more complex and with that the way we use technology is different. The efficacy and demand for multiple clouds will only increase as agility and optimization retain top business priorities among customers. Cloud providers will be tasked with ensuring that their offerings -- both infrastructure and applications -- integrate with other cloud providers rather than operate in silos. Customers want their cloud solution providers to work well together so they can establish operational efficiency and deliver the ultimate customer service.

(Kumar is Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director, Oracle India and NetSuite JAPAC)

Beijing, Dec 27 (IANS) China’s National Health Commission has announced that it will no longer be publishing daily Covid-19 infection figures, as the virus rips through the population with the abandonment of rolling lockdowns, mass tracking of citizens and compulsory testing, according to a media report. “As of today, we will no longer release daily statistics on the pandemic, with any data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention for the purposes of reference and research,” the health ministry said on its official website, RFA reported. The announcement came as China said on Monday that beginning January 8, it will put an end to a mandatory quarantine on arrival for overseas travelers that had been in place since March 2020. It also followed a leaked ministerial document dated December 20 -- which analysts said was likely the result of computer modeling in the absence of widespread testing -- said around 250 million people may now be affected with Covid-19 following the lifting of control measures, RFA reported. Officials had already warned that the development of the current outbreak had become “impossible to track” in the absence of mass testing. High-profile pro-government commentator Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of the Global Times, said the figures released in recent days had been “seriously distorted”, and believed by no one, RFA reported. The announcement came amid anecdotal evidence of skyrocketing death rates and overwhelming pressure on hospitals. A hospital in Taizhou city recently announced that it had passed two million emergency room visits in recent days, while a video clip uploaded on social media by a Shanghai resident on Sunday showed hundreds of people lining up to get served at the city’s Baoxing funeral parlor, with the line stretching out of the gate and onto the street. An official in China’s political and legal committee system, the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s law enforcement hierarchy, said the massive pressure on crematoriums in the city had prompted municipal civil affairs bureau officials to take control of the sector, RFA reported. Nobody is now allowed to transport the remains of their dead relatives to funeral homes, but must wait for them to be picked up by funeral home staff. The official said the current wave of infections is driven by government pressure to reboot the economy after months of damage under Xi Jinping’s zero-Covid policy, and suggests the government is pursuing “herd immunity”. “They are expressly telling people who have tested positive to go to work, to spread the infection as fast as possible,” the official said. “It’s like this all over the country now,” he said, RFA reported.

People in 30-50 age group sleep the least due to childcare, working life UN chief issues global alert on Int’l Day of Epidemic Preparedness

London, Dec 24 (IANS) People sleep less in mid-adulthood than they do in early and late adulthood, finds a new study. The researchers said the decline in sleep during mid-life may be due to demands of childcare and working life. Sleep duration declines in early adulthood until age 33, and then picks up again at age 53, according to the findings published in Nature Communications. Across the study sample, people sleep an average of 7.01 hours per night, with women sleeping 7.5 minutes longer than men on average. The study led by University College London, University of East Anglia and University of Lyon researchers involved 730,187 participants spread over 63 countries. “Ours is the first large study to identify these three distinct phases across the life course. We found that across the globe, people sleep less during mid-adulthood, but average sleep duration varies between regions and between countries,” explained Professor Hugo Spiers from University College London’s Psychology and Language Sciences

department. People who report sleeping the most are in Eastern European countries such as Albania, Slovakia, Romania and the Czech Republic, reporting 20-40 minutes extra sleep per night and the least in South East Asian countries including the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. People in the UK reported sleeping slightly less than the average. People tended to sleep a bit less in countries closer to the equator. The researchers found that navigational ability was unaffected by sleep duration for most of the sample, except for among older adults (aged 54-70) whose optimal sleep duration was seven hours, although they caution that the findings among older adults might be impacted by underlying health conditions.

BF.7 is Omicron with mutations, won’t lead to severe disease: Experts

United Nations, Dec 28 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a global “wake-up call” on the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, which is observed annually on December 27. “The world must come together. Covid-19 was a wake-up call,” Guterres said in his message for the international day, Xinhua news agency reported. “The costs have been catastrophic,” he said, noting that since the pandemic struck, millions of lives have been lost, and hundreds of millions have fallen ill; economies have been shattered, health systems stretched, and trillions of dollars lost. Moreover, progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals has been “thrown off track”, the top UN official said. “Developing countries were often left to fend for themselves, shamefully denied the vaccines, tests or treatments they needed to protect their people,” he said. Covid-19 will not be the last epidemic or pandemic humanity faces, he warned. “As a global community, we must heed the harsh lessons of Covid-19 and make bold investments in pandemic preparedness, prevention and response,” said the UN chief. Guterres underscored the need for better surveillance “to detect and monitor viruses with epidemic potential”; resilient health systems supported by universal health coverage; and a “well-trained, well-equipped and well-paid” health workforce. “We also need equitable access to vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and life-saving technology for all countries,” Guterres added. He highlighted the need to “fight the scourge” of misinformation and pseudoscience with science and fact-based information, reminding that a pandemic cannot be fought country by country. “On this International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, I urge all countries to stand with our efforts to ensure the world is equipped and ready to take on the health challenges to come,” he said. The first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, marked on December 27, 2020, was called for by the UN General Assembly to advocate the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for and partnership against epidemics.

By Avinash Prabhakar

New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS) The current Covid surge in many countries including China is believed to be driven by Omicron sub-variant BF.7. India has also so far reported four cases of this variant that includes two from Gujarat and two from Odisha. Unlike China, the new substrain of coronavirus has not affected India disastrously even as the first case of this variant was detected months ago. However, the Centre has directed all states and Union Territories to remain cautious and ramp up the genome sequencing to track the variants. The BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5, which, Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-chairman, National IMA Covid taskforce, calls ‘great-grandson of Omicron’. “BF.7 is a great-grandson of Omicron, which has a greater ability to infect previously infected or vaccinated people than the original Omicron. This property is called immune evasiveness. It essentially is the same virus as Omicron, but with additional mutations... There is no indication that it causes more severe disease,” he said while talking to IANS. Dr Jayadevan told IANS that after Omicron was spotted in November 2021 in South Africa, it covered the globe in just one-and-a-half-month. India saw BA.1 version first, followed by BA.2, which caused the third wave in January-February 2022. “Since then, BA.2’s sons, daughters and grandchildren are circulating in India but have not caused any large waves.” Giving credit to high vaccination coverage and naturally acquired immunity among those who survived past Covid-19 infection, Dr Jayadevan said that when Western countries suffered under the subsequent BA.5 version of Omicron, most parts of India did not witness a proportionate rise in BA.5-linked cases. “A few months ago, when BF.7 was first reported, scientists were initially excited about it because it appeared simultaneously in several countries at once. It was found especially in Belgium and also in Denmark, Germany, and France. Naturally, there were initial concerns that it would outgrow its siblings. That did not happen. For example, in the US, BF.7 currently forms only 3.9 per cent of the circulating variants. That is possibly because it was outclassed by newer and more capable versions of Omicron such as BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and XBB afterwards,” he opined. There is no indication at this time that BF.7 or its ancestor BA.5 have made any impact in India. It has also been reported in northern China. Continued genomic surveillance is required - all over the world - firstly due to the fast-changing nature of the virus, and secondly, because some people with compromised immune systems could harbour the virus for long periods of time, Dr Jayadevan advised on the recent growing Covid scare. “Covid-19 is constantly mutating, the RNA strand of the virus replicates and will make mistakes resulting in mutations, which can introduce important changes, helping the virus to adapt or survive better and increase the ability of the virus to spread faster,” said Public Health Expert and Director, Bone and Joint Institute, Fortis Escort Hospital Dr Kaushal Kant Mishra. He said that studies across the globe have established that being a subvariant of Omicron, it is highly infectious and spreads faster than other variants. “We have observed the increasing trends of joint pain, upper body pain, URI and vertigo,” he said, adding that as “no study till now has linked these symptoms with the new variant so we can’t say that these are the symptoms”. However, the most common symptoms include congestion, sore throat, cough, fatigue and runny nose.

First infection of ‘brain-eating amoeba’ reported in S.Korea

Seoul, Dec 26 (IANS) The first infection from Naegleria fowleri, or “brain-eating amoeba,” has been reported in South Korea, the health authorities said on Monday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) confirmed that a Korean national who died after returning from Thailand was infected with Naegleria fowleri, which destroys human brains. The man in his 50s came back to Korea on December 10 after a four-month stay in the Southeast Asian country and was admitted to a hospital next day. He died on Tuesday last week, reports Yonhap news agency. This is the first known infection from the disease in the country, which was first reported in the United States in 1937. Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba commonly found in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, canals and ponds throughout the world. The amoeba is inhaled through the nose and travels to the brain to destroy brain tissue. The KDCA said the odds of human-to-human transmission of Naegleria fowleri are low but asked local residents to refrain swimming in the areas where the disease has broken out.

A total of 381 Naegleria fowleri cases have been reported as of 2018 in the world including in the US, India and Thailand.

China hands over daily Covid data duty to local CDC as nations seek transparency

Will the pandemic become endemic in 2023? Experts hedge their bets

New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS) With Covid infections once again surging in several countries, especially in China which saw over 250 million cases in just 20 days in December, fresh Covid wave fears linger across the world, including in India. While the BF.7 variant of Omicron virus is a cause of concern in China and India, the Omicron subvariant XBB accounts for 18.3 per cent of the Covid-19 cases in the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This marks an increase of 11.2 per cent as the XBB variant continues to drive up cases in Singapore. Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 accounted for about 70 per cent of new cases in the US. www.indianabroad.news The total number of confirmed Covid cases in the US have surpassed 100 million, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, since the pandemic broke out almost three years ago, with a total of more than 1 million deaths. Japan is facing an ongoing eighth wave of the pandemic and the country registered 206,943 new cases. South Korea’s new Covid cases remained below 70,000 for the second straight day on Saturday, while new coronavirus-related deaths hit a three-month high. The chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that he hopes that Covid-19 will no longer be a global health emergency sometime next year. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the WHO Covid-19 Emergency Committee will discuss next month the criteria for declaring an end to the Covid-19 emergency. “We’re hopeful that at some point next year, we will be able to say that Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency,” he said, adding that however, SARS-CoV-2 virus, the culprit behind the Covid-19 pandemic, will not go away. Kirti Sabnis, Infectious Disease Specialist at Fortis Hospital in Kalyan, Mumbai, told IANS that when a pandemic becomes endemic, it means that the disease is present in a particular community or globally, and there is enough immunity among the population to control outbreaks. “Also, the infections can continue Kanpur, Dec 25 (IANS) IIT Kanpur is ready with an artificial heart that would be of great help to people with acute cardiac problems. IIT Kanpur Director, Abhay Karandikar, said that the trial on animals would begin next year. He said, “Now heart transplant will be easy. Artificial hearts can be implanted in serious patients. IIT Kanpur and cardiologists from across the country have developed this artificial heart. Trial on animals will start from February or March. After success in the trial, transplantation can be done in humans in the next two years.” Karandikar said that heart disease was increasing rapidly and a large number of patients were being advised heart transplant. “Artificial heart is being developed to reduce the sufferings of the patients,” he said, adding, “a team /IndianAbroadNews /indianabroadnews 26

of 10 scientists and doctors has prepared this artificial heart. After the success of the trial on animals, heart transplantation in humans will begin within two years.” He said that doctors and scientists should together prepare equipment and implants. He said, “India imports 80 per cent of equipment and implants from abroad. Only 20 percent of the equipment and implants are being manufactured in India. Most of the implants and stents for heart patients are being imported.” He further said, “Covid-19 taught us some hard lessons. Before Covid, ventilators were not made in India. To save the lives of corona-infected, Indian scientists and doctors prepared ventilators in just 90 days. Two companies are manufacturing ventilators in India. Foreign ventilator costs Rs 10 to 12 lakh while

to affect vulnerable members of the community. While an endemic may not experience large outbreaks, it also means that it will not be completely eradicated,” she said. Health experts said that it is harder to predict if Covid-19 will become endemic in 2023 because it is a respiratory virus that tends to mutate, similar to other Influenza viruses. “If multiple mutations change the virus’s protein structure or its ability to attach to cells, it could give rise to new strains. However, if the current protection of the immunity to the virus is sufficient to prevent severe disease or reduce transmission, then definitely Covid can become endemic,” Sabnis said. Indian ventilator is being made for only Rs 2.5 lakh.” It is uncertain when or if Covid-19 will become endemic, but it is unlikely that we will be able to He said, “There is a huge shortage of doctors and paramedical staff in India. There are only 8 doctors per completely eliminate it. 1000 population. This deficiency Experts said that we may see occasional outbreaks, particularly during flu season or if new mutations emerge, as is currently happening in China. cannot be filled at once. However, the government is rapidly opening hospitals and medical colleges. Despite this, the crisis of doctor-staff will continue according to the population and geographical condi“The transmission of the virus in tions. In such a situation, there is a India and the level of immunity need to connect the medical system acquired through previous vaccina- with technology.”tion and community transmission will also influence its potential to become endemic. However, it seems unlikely that there will be significant new outbreaks or that the virus will become endemic in the next 2-3 months,” Sabnis said. Hong Kong, Dec 26 (IANS) China’s National Health Commission (NHC) has stopped publishing daily Covid-19 case data, handing over the charge to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as nations including India ask the country to share actual Covid data on an urgent basis. According to state-run Global Times, handing over the epidemic data calculation to a technical organisation “is a reasonable move to provide professional epidemic figures”. “The NHC will no longer release daily epidemic data from Sunday. China’s CDC will release relevant COVID-19 information for study and reference,” the NHC said in a statement. According to local experts, the move will help shift more resources of related authorities to other key steps like clinical treatment.

IIT Kanpur ready with artificial heart

It is believed, the CDC will largely rely on COVID-19 data reported by clinical diagnosis in medical institutions and monitor overall epidemic trends. China’s NHC began to release the daily new tally from January 21, 2020 when epidemic experts identified that the virus could spread from between humans. However, it will still take days for the CDC to activate the epidemic monitor reporting system and allow the organisation to collect and report infection data effectively. The organisation will roll out the plan in the coming days. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week that he is “very concerned over the evolving situation in China” and appealed for specific data on disease severity, hospital admissions and intensive care requirements. The reports from China suggest that the Omicron BF.7 variant is behind the surge in the country. Indian officials and experts feel that China’s censorship on actual Covid infection data sharing is a major concern for the world as countries prepare to navigate another potential wave.