STANDARD
Provisional registration framework proposed for allied healthcare professionals
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions has proposed a provisional registration framework for eligible professionals, with provisions for bridge courses, supervised clinical training and competency assessments before regular registration. The draft regulations also propose an online registration system and invite public and stakeholder feedback until December 4.
OpenAI to discontinue old ChatGPT voice modes from Dec 11; users to shift to live voice mode
OpenAI will discontinue the Advanced and Standard voice options in ChatGPT from December 11 this year, moving users to its newer Live voice mode as the company looks to simplify the voice experience and focus on improving its latest technology.
Terminator: Rise of the AI sceptics
The Republican Party’s midterm defeat could reshape America’s AI policy, giving Democrats greater influence over regulation and safety standards. While Trump has backed a unified federal framework to accelerate AI development, Democratic lawmakers favour stronger safeguards. The shift may create unexpected political allies for major AI companies seeking tighter rules.
Delhi pollution: Supreme Court flags rising vehicle emissions, seeks crackdown plan from 4 states
The Supreme Court has flagged rising vehicular emissions as an urgent concern in the Delhi-NCR pollution crisis, seeking action plans from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. It has sought details of enforcement against over-age and non-compliant vehicles, inter-state coordination and a time-bound roadmap to strengthen emission checks.
Keralam to expand petrol pump checks if ethanol irregularities found
Keralam's Civil Supplies Department is conducting inspections of petrol samples from various outlets. This initiative follows concerns about high ethanol levels reported in Karnataka. Sample tests will determine if the fuel quality meets the required standards. Legal actions may be pursued if ethanol levels exceed permitted limits during these inspections. Initial findings will be available within ten days, ensuring consumer safety and quality fuel supply.
Front-of-pack labelling: Food CEOs rush taste tweaks as new rules loom
Packaged food companies in India are responding to regulatory pressures by introducing no-added-sugar and low-salt alternatives. Executives recognize the challenge of maintaining taste while making these healthier options. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India plans a major change in food packaging regulations. These changes could significantly impact the sale of everyday packaged products. Companies will likely expand their product variants to meet health demands.
Supermodel Paulina Porizkova wants women to celebrate grey hair and wrinkles: 'Imagine if older beauty were respected'
Paulina Porizkova questions societal beauty standards regarding aging and promotes the appreciation of older women. She highlights how wrinkles and grey hair can represent wisdom and confidence instead of flaws. In a recent Instagram video, she challenges women to redefine beauty and embrace the aging process. Porizkova has previously discussed the invisibility of older women in society due to beauty pressures.
Congress slams Modi govt for being in 'denial' on impact of air pollution on mortality
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh condemned the Modi government for denying air pollution's significant mortality impact. He referred to a FICCI-EY report indicating around 2 million death cases linked to pollution in 2023. The report urges reforms like tightening PM2.5 and ozone standards to WHO levels for better public health. Ramesh emphasized the need for revamping the National Clean Air Programme to address these alarming issues.
Who is Danielle Cribb? Marine captain's profile mysteriously disappears from Navy's Blue Angels website after mentor Scott Laux's dismissal
The mysterious disappearance of Marine Captain Danielle Cribb's biography from the Blue Angels website has sparked curiosity and speculation. This comes on the heels of Marine Major Scott Laux's sudden removal from the squadron for undisclosed reasons related to performance standards. The situation is particularly intriguing given Laux's mentorship of Cribb. However, the Navy has yet to clarify Cribb's status or the reasoning behind the biography's removal.
FSSAI seizes food products worth Rs 81.8 crore, suspends over 1,100 licences in nationwide drive
FSSAI seized 3,279.57 metric tonnes of food products worth an estimated Rs 81.80 crore and suspended 1,133 licences during a nationwide inspection drive covering 56,431 establishments between September 1 and November 5. The regulator also cancelled 52 licences, sealed 314 establishments and initiated 410 prosecutions over food safety violations.
India to launch new cheque book rules from January 1, 2027? RBI clarifies
RBI has clarified that there will be no changes to the standard CTS cheque books in 2027. Social media messages claimed new cheque books with security features would be introduced from January 1. The central bank has emphasized these claims are misleading and factually incorrect. RBI urges the public to rely only on information published by the bank.
AI Can Measure How ESG Really Impacts the Bottom Line
Advances in large language models are making rigorous sustainability analysis dramatically faster and cheaper, allowing investors and other stakeholders to connect companies’ disclosed environmental and social risks directly to financialperformance in a matter of hours rather than weeks. Applying a simple methodology to ExxonMobil, the authors used AI to map sustainability-related issues to specific financial statement line items and estimate their impact on earnings and value, demonstrating both the promise and the limitations of AI-assisted analysis. As these capabilities become widely accessible, the competitive advantage long held by ESG ratings agencies, standard setters, and sustainable fund managers may erode, shifting attention from proprietary scores toward transparent assumptions and financial consequences. Human judgment remains essential to validate AI-generated outputs, but the broader trend is clear: sustainability analysis is becoming more democratized, financially grounded, and adaptable, with significant implications for how investors, regulators, and other institutions assess corporate performance and value creation.
E20 petrol supplied by PSU oil firms meets prescribed quality standards: Oil Min
The government's statement confirmed compliance of 893 petrol samples with prescribed ethanol content standards. Karnataka's Department of Food contested these findings, claiming higher ethanol levels in some petrol samples. Oil marketing companies asserted their sampling procedures were not followed during inspections in Karnataka. They requested access to sampling documentation and proposed joint testing of the ethanol content.
Nov-Jan ban on non-Delhi vehicles below BS-VI standards to be in force every year
Delhi government plans to ban non-Delhi-registered vehicles below BS-VI emission standards beginning November 1. This ban will continue annually until January 31 to improve air quality. Vehicles using Compressed Natural Gas or electric power are exempted from these restrictions. The transport department is enforcing rules with 250 personnel at key entry points across the city. The Commission for Air Quality Management has implemented emergency measures due to severe pollution levels.
Eyewear regulation Bill may come up in Parliament's winter session; MP Gopchade seeks national vision-care board
Rajya Sabha member Ajeet Gopchade has proposed a private member's Bill for regulating eyewear products and vision-care services. He has urged the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to assess creating a National Optical/Vision Care Board. The proposal aims to ensure consumer protection and quality standards in vision-care. The existing Medical Devices Rules, 2017, may need strengthening for better oversight.
IOCL, BPCL, HPCL dispute Karnataka's claim of excess ethanol in petrol, seek fresh tests
Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation have disputed Karnataka's ethanol content claims in petrol. They reported testing showing their supplies adhere to prescribed ethanol standards. The companies also raised concerns about the sampling and testing methods used by the state government. They noted discrepancies in density readings related to the alleged high ethanol content.
IRS releases 2027 tax brackets: How new income tax rates and standard deductions for single, married and senior filers could affect your tax bill
Tax brackets 2027: The IRS has raised all seven federal income tax bracket thresholds for 2027 and increased the standard deduction for single, married and head-of-household filers. The changes also include higher capital gains limits, a larger Child Tax Credit and additional tax breaks for eligible seniors.
How to identify pure gold: 5 important tips for buyers during the festive season
During the festive season, it is essential for buyers to ensure the gold they purchase meets purity standards. They can use the BIS Care app to verify the HUID of jewellery. Checking for the three hallmark marks ensures authenticity and quality before making a purchase. Buyers should also verify the jeweller's BIS registration details before finalizing a transaction.
FSSAI accuses PepsiCo of ‘duping’ consumers by marketing Sting, Adrenaline Rush as 'energy drinks'
FSSAI has told the Delhi High Court that PepsiCo India deliberately markets its Sting Energy and Adrenaline Rush beverages as energy drinks to mislead consumers, despite the absence of prescribed standards for the category. The regulator has opposed the company's request for a 12-month extension to exhaust existing packaging material, citing public health concerns.
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