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KOLKATA: Almost every day, one or two children are landing up at the school gates or at bus stops with a runny nose or slight temperature, who are being sent back home for the fear that they might infect others. These children are being sent to school by their parents who fear that they will miss out on the ongoing exams. This is especially true for classes X and XII who are currently writing their pre-board exams in many schools. Taking note of this trend, schools have now announced that parents need not worry about their unwell children missing out on exams. Parents have been told that for unwell children, separate on-site examinations will be held. Online counselling sessions are being held where not only school principals but also subject teachers are interacting with parents of sick kids. It was natural for children to fall sick in this season and not all fever was Covid, but chances could not be taken at this time, said a school official. One such school is South ... » Learn More about Don’t send unwell kids to campus, they will be allowed to write separate tests: Kolkata schools

'If our troops on the frontlines were sleeping for two hours, they can perhaps now sleep for 2.5 hours because when the adversary is right in front, then you can't even blink your eyes, you have to be absolutely alert.' IMAGE: A view of Indian and Chinese troops and tanks disengaging from the banks of the Pangong Tso lake area in eastern Ladakh. Photograph: ANI Photo "The Chinese, even if they pull back 100-150 kilometres behind, it will not be difficult for them to come back. Wth the kind of infrastructure they have, they can return into the areas in about six to eight hours," warns Lieutenant General Sanjay Kulkarni PVSM, AVSM, SC, SM, VSM (retd). General Kulkarni commanded a brigade and a division on the Line of Actual Control. In the concluding part of his interview with Rediff.com 's Archana Masih, the general discussed why it is important to remain vigilant even after the disengagement with China. Part 1: 'Nothing seems to have gone China's way' ... » Learn More about Ladakh: ‘We have to be careful for years’

Who knows, the moment of truth in Ladakh may also augur for a giant leap toward a boundary settlement with China in the fulness of time. IMAGE: Indian Army tanks during the disengagement process in Ladakh. Photograph: ANI Photo The 9th round of talks at the army commanders' level between India and China resulted in a breakthrough that since achieved the successful disengagement of troops on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh. This in turn provided the ambience for the 10th round of talks , which would presumably address disengagement elsewhere in Ladakh as well as patrolling issues in Depsang. The breakthrough at Pangong Tso was a good thing to happen -- as also its efficient implementation by the two armies 'in a phased, coordinated and verified manner.' It must be savoured as a net gain on the road to peace. But, curiously, the opposite seems to be happening. The reduction of military tensions in Pangong Tso has become a ... » Learn More about Time for India, China to give peace a chance

It has been obvious that the Sino-Pak axis would conspire to weaken India's sovereignty in Jammu and Kashmir, if not wrest Kashmir, says David Devadas. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in Benaulim, Goa, October 2016. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters The government finally appears to have got some measure of the severity of the crisis that faces India. It took the feisty Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to finally point at the Dragon in the room. Mehbooba announced on Saturday, July 15, morning that China was 'intervening' in Kashmir. Tragically, it was not until China used the Doklam standoff to explicitly state that it could intervene militarily in Jammu and Kashmir that the country's vast web of think-tanks, security analysts, intelligence honchos, officers, and politicians figured out that this was possible. It is tragic because China's role has been clear since it stated ... » Learn More about The Dragon in the Valley