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SECTOR | 09 May 2025, 02:33PM

Freed Palestinian student accuses Columbia University of inciting violence

Business Standard

A Palestinian student arrested as he was about to finalise his US citizenship accused Columbia University on Thursday of eroding democracy with its handling of campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war. Mohsen Mahdawi, 34, who led anti-war protests at the Ivy League school in New York in 2023 and 2024, spent 16 days in a Vermont prison before a judge ordered him released on April 30. He spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday, a day after pro-Palestinian protestors clashed with campus security guards inside the university's main library. At least 80 people were taken into custody, police said. Mahdawi said instead of being a beacon of hope," the university is inciting violence against students. Columbia University is participating in the destruction of the democratic system, Mahdawi said in the interview. They are supporting the initiatives and the agenda of the Trump administration, and they are punishing and torturing their students. A spokesperson for Columbia University, .

Education

SECTOR | 09 May 2025, 01:48PM

AI's potential depends on ethical governance, equitable access: Expert

Business Standard

AI's potential will be fully realised only if its governance is ethical, access equitable, and impact globally and equally distributed, an education expert said at the Deep Tech Summit here in Morocco. At the summit, hosted by the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) here, academics and business experts brainstormed and explored the foundational role of artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping scientific, entrepreneurial and industrial innovation. Hicham El Habti, president of UM6P, said AI is rewriting playbooks of the industry, but its complete potential can be realised only if its governance is ethical. "AI today is a general-purpose technology that demands general-purpose responsibility. It is rewriting the playbooks of industry, reshaping value chains, and reimagining public goods. And yet, its potential will only be fully realised if we ensure that its governance is ethical, its access is equitable, and its impact is globally and equally distributed. "The debate today i

Education

SECTOR | 09 May 2025, 07:35AM

Pope Leo XIV's name choice shows his commitment to social justice

Business Standard

Pope Leo XIV's choice of name signals a commitment to social justice which is very much in line with the late Pope Francis' global ministry. I think a lot us had a question mark when they elected an American, and then he selected the name Pope Leo XIV, said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University. It really means to me he will continue the work of Leo XXIII. Pope Leo XIII, who was head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers' rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age. He criticised both laissez-faire capitalism and state-centric socialism, giving shape to a distinctly Catholic vein of economic teaching. The name is a deep sign of commitment to social issues," said Imperatori-Lee. I think this (new) pope is saying something about social justice, by choosing this name, that it is going to be a...

Education

SECTOR | 08 May 2025

Indian Bank and IIT-Madras conduct Innovision Hackathon 2025

Business Line

The hackathon's objective is to promote innovation, support entrepreneurship and develop practical solutions in FinTech and Cybersecurity for the banking sector

Education

SECTOR | 08 May 2025

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clash with security guards at Columbia univ

Business Standard

Pro-Palestinian protesters wearing masks and keffiyehs clashed with security guards Wednesday after staging a protest inside Columbia University's main library. Videos and photos shared on social media showed dozens of protesters pushing past campus security officers and racing into the building. The group then hung Palestinian flags and other banners on bookshelves in an ornate reading room. Some also appeared to have scrawled "Columbia will burn" across framed pictures. Other videos showed campus security officers barring another group of protesters from entering the library, with both sides shoving to try and force the other group aside. University officials said in a statement that the protest is so far isolated to one room in the library. They say protesters were asked for identification and ordered to disperse, but none immediately complied. "They have been told that failure to comply will result in violations of our rules and policies and possible arrest," the officials said

JNU teachers begin month-long protest over promotions, probation delays

Business Standard | 08 May 2025

Education

SECTOR | 08 May 2025

Over 30% girls, 13% boys in India sexually violated before age 18: Lancet

Business Standard

Over 30 per cent of girls and 13 per cent of boys in India experienced sexual violence before turning 18 years old in 2023, according to an analysis published in The Lancet journal. Estimating the prevalence of sexual violence against children in over 200 countries between 1990 and 2023, the study found that the highest rates were recorded in south Asia for girls -- ranging from 9.3 per cent in Bangladesh to 30.8 per cent in India. Around the world, about one in five girls and one in seven boys are estimated to experience sexual violence before turning 18. Researchers, including those from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, US, also found that sub-Saharan Africa had the highest rates of sexual violence among boys aged under 18, varying from about eight per cent in Zimbabwe to 28 per cent in Cte d'Ivoire. Sexual violence against children is a critical public health and human rights issue. Consequences of sexual abuse affect one's long-term hea

Education

SECTOR | 07 May 2025

Cabinet clears 72,000 cr push to expand IIT infrastructure, upgrade ITIs nationwide

Business Line

Together, these moves aim to bridge the gap between academia, industry, and employability, while fulfilling the education and skilling aspirations of India's youth.

Cabinet approves Rs 11,829-cr expansion of five IITs, 6,576 new seats added

Business Standard | 07 May 2025 2 more

Education

SECTOR | 07 May 2025

Columbia University lays off 180 after Trump pulls $400 mn for antisemitism

Business Standard

Columbia University said Tuesday that it will be laying off nearly 180 staffers in response to President Donald Trump's decision to cancel $400 million in funding over the Manhattan college's handling of student protests against the war in Gaza. Those receiving non-renewal or termination notices Tuesday represent about 20% of the employees funded in some manner by the terminated federal grants, the university said in a statement Tuesday. We have had to make deliberate, considered decisions about the allocation of our financial resources, the university said. Those decisions also impact our greatest resource, our people. We understand this news will be hard. University spokesperson Jessica Murphy declined to say whether more layoffs were expected, but said Columbia is taking a range of steps to create financial flexibility, including maintaining current salary levels and offering voluntary retirement incentives. Research will also be scaled back, with some departments winding down .

Education

SECTOR | 07 May 2025

Cuet-UG postponed, now to begin on May 13, city intimation on May 7: NTA

Business Standard

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG has been postponed and will now begin from May 13, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced on Tuesday night. The exam was originally slated to begin on May 8. In a late-night announcement, NTA said the exam will now be conducted from May 13 and city intimation slips will be issued by May 7. While the exam was scheduled to begin on Thursday, the agency had not announced the subject-wise date sheet. According to sources, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has just concluded the mammoth task of conducting the medical entrance exam NEET-UG, which was under scanner last year and its integrity questioned. The CUET-UG, which is a gateway to undergraduate admissions in the country, has seen a record 13.5 lakh applications this year. In a pattern shift from last year, the exam will be conducted only in the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. In the first edition of the exam in 2022, CUET-UG was plagued by technical glitches. Also, as a result

Shingles vaccine may reduce heart disease risk by 23%, says report

Business Standard | 06 May 2025 3 more

Education

SECTOR | 04 May 2025

Consider inflation while providing aid to farmers, says VP Dhankhar

Business Standard

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday advocated Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in fertiliser subsidies for farmers based on the US pattern and demanded that inflation be factored in while providing financial assistance to agriculturists, like the salaries of legislators and MPs. Addressing faculty members and students of the Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agriculture University in Gwalior, the vice president said, "The Prime Minister has factored in inflation while revising the salaries of legislators and MPs, so why not when supporting farmers? Assistance provided to farmers must also account for inflation". Emphasising the need for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in fertiliser subsidies, Dhankhar said, "In the United States, all aid provided to farmers is given directly, not through intermediaries. Just like we have the PM-KISAN scheme in India, the Indian government also spends heavily on fertiliser subsidies. "It is now a matter for both reflection and research. If the same money i

Visa crackdown leads international students in US to rethink summer travel

Business Standard | 04 May 2025