unwelcome resident of the digital world in which most media outlets work The value of interactive and digital reporting is very clear when it comes to breaking news and current affairs. Ask most journalists about features, however, and the response is likely to get a little more hazy. The fact is, most long-form journalists are still working out how (or even if) new and online platforms will contribute to and improve their stories.The complexities of digital journalism can be broken down into the following features:1. Losing profoundnessWe always think first of GIFs, videos and lists when we think of online content. The general assumption (although not strictly precise) is that most online readers are not interested in long reads, preferring something short, easily digestible and quickly exchanged instead.As a consequence, the knee-jerk reactions of many media outlets is to push their authors to keep their story word counts to a minimum and play up photos. Most journalists, however, see this as a “dumping down” of their work, for a few extra clicks, sacrificing depth, insight and good writing.2. Re-learning the instruments of trade The most basic instrument that journalists work with is the written word. In particular, long-standing journalists rely on both their investigative skills and their language proficiency to tell their stories.Then, being ordered to do what you do can be more than a little disconcerting, but with a completely different collection of resources. It’s a huge, scary leap to learn that sometimes a video, a picture, or even a photo can work better than your words.3. More than just window dressing, creating multimedia Many journalists (and their editors) grudgingly pay lip service to the concept of going digital without making full use of the online platform’s potential. It is good to embed a YouTube video or a picture slideshow, but digital journalism should be about making the digital elements an integral part of the post, another component of the story that is told in a way that can not be printed, rather than an afterthought.4. Mastering professional skills There is no way around the fact that it takes a certain amount of technological ability to integrate digital elements into feature writing. In their own online and social media sites, some may already use these skills, and others may find them reasonably easy to pick up. However, many journalists struggle to learn the different digital instruments they need to use, especially with the pace at which technology continues to evolve.5. Attitude -AttitudeMost journalists regard digital media as something that they have not signed up for. Writing is their field; they don’t make videos, podcasts and interactive maps. They also see time spent on this “online stuff” away from their real work as time spent.The problem is that these interactive elements are not seen as an extension of their writing, a way of bringing the story to the reader a different dimension. In several ways, a journalist who says, “This is not my job” is one of the greatest stumbling blocks to the online evolution of journalism.

Srinagar: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Sunday claimed he and his family, including his father and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah, have been put under house arrest by authorities.

This is the naya/new J&K after Aug 2019. We get locked up in our homes with no explanation. It’s bad enough they’ve locked my father (a sitting MP) & me in our home, they’ve locked my sister & her kids in their home as well, Omar wrote on Twitter.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also posted photographs showing police vehicles outside the gates of his residence in the Gupkar area of the city here.

Omar also alleged that his house staff was not being let inside.

Chalo, your new model of democracy means that we are kept in our homes without explanation but on top of that the staff that works in the house aren’t being allowed in and then you are surprised that I’m still angry & bitter, he said in another tweet.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had on Saturday too claimed that she was placed under house arrest ahead of her visit to the family of Athar Mushtaq — one of the three alleged militants killed in an encounter in Parimpora locality here in December last year.

“Placed under house arrest as usual for trying to visit the family of Athar Mushtaq killed allegedly in a fake encounter. His father was booked under UAPA for demanding his dead body. This the normalcy GOI wants to showcase to the EU delegation visiting Kashmir (sic), she had said on Twitter.

Dehradun/Tapovan, : Two bodies were recovered early on Sunday from the Tapovan tunnel after a seven-day rescue operation to reach around 30 people trapped in it after a flashflood-hit Joshimath area of Chamoli district.

The bodies have recovered from the Tapovan tunnel where a massive search and rescue operation has been underway for a week, Chamoli District Magistrate, Swati S Bhadauria, said.

One of the bodies has been identified as that of a man from Narendra Nagar in Tehri district.

Rescue teams have been battling against odds to reach out to the trapped people at the site of the flood-ravaged Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project.

The district magistrate had said on Saturday that 38 bodies have been recovered so far from the flood-hit areas of Chamoli district while 166 are still missing after the disaster.

Kurnool (AP): Fourteen people, including eight women and a child, were killed and four others injured when a mini bus collided with a lorry in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh early on Sunday, police said.

The incident took place at around 4 am when a group of people hailing from Chittoor district of the state were travelling in the mini bus towards Hyderabad.

They were all on their way to Ajmer in Rajasthan, he added.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the driver of the bus apparently lost control and the vehicle first crashed against the road median and then rolled to the other side of the road hitting a lorry, the official said.

The injured have been hospitalised and the condition of two is stated to be serious, police said.

Tokyo, Feb 13: A strong earthquake hit off the coast of northeastern Japan late Saturday, shaking Fukushima, Miyagi and other areas, but there was no threat of a tsunami, officials said.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said there were no irregularities at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, which experienced meltdowns following a massive quake and tsunami 10 years ago.

There were no immediate reports of irregularities from other nuclear plants in the area, such as Onagawa or Fukushima Dai-ni, government spokesperson Katsunobu Kato told reporters.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake had a magnitude of 7.3, raising it from a preliminary magnitude of 7.1.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said that some 860,000 homes were without power as a result of the quake, but electricity was gradually being restored, according to Kato.

Kato said there was no danger of a tsunami from the quake. He said that some trains in northeastern Japan had stopped running, and that other damage was still being checked.

Video from public broadcaster NHK TV showed some pieces of a building wall had broken off and fallen to the ground, and pieces of glass were scattered at a store. Items fell off shelves because of the shaking, NHK said.

NHK aerial footage showed a portion of a highway blocked by a landslide in Soma, a city in Fukushima prefecture.

The extent of damage from the landslide was not immediately clear, Kato said.

He said there were several reports of minor injuries from the quake, such as a man getting hit by a falling object.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake was centered about 60 kilometers (37 miles) beneath the ocean.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga headed into his office immediately after reports of the quake, and a crisis center was set up there.

The shaking was felt in Tokyo, to the southwest.

The same northeastern area was slammed by a quake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in March 2011.

Experts warned of aftershocks over the next several days, including possibly larger quakes.

He will lay foundation for the extension, renovation and modernisation of the Grand Anicut Canal System (Rs 2,640 crore) and also for the Discovery Campus of II T Madras (Rs 1,000 crore).

CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate three works, completed at a cost of Rs 4,486.40 crore and will lay foundation for two more projects to be executed at a total cost of Rs .3,640 crore.

The completed works to be inaugurated are: Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension completed at a cost of Rs 3,770 crore, fourth railway line between Chennai Beach and Attipattu (Rs 293.40 crore), electrification of single line section in Villupuram – Cuddalore – Mayiladuthurai – Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur (Rs 423 crore).

He will lay foundation for the extension, renovation and modernisation of the Grand Anicut Canal System (Rs 2,640 crore) and also for the Discovery Campus of II T Madras (Rs 1,000 crore). Though the Prime Minister is visiting Tamil Nadu amidst speculations about finalisation of the AIADMK-led alliance, the BJP leaders said his visit is official in nature and not political.

P Sudhakar Reddy, co-incharge of BJP affairs in Tamil Nadu, at Thiruvotriyur told reporters that there are less chances for alliance-related talks during the Prime Minister’s visit on Sunday. “Once the election notification is issued, talks about alliance will begin,” he added. BJP in-charge for Tamil Nadu, CT Ravi too said the same.

Sources said Bangaur Adigalar is likely to call on the PM at Nehru Indoor Stadium where the inaugural and foundation laying function is held. Amidst the tight schedule of Modi, 15 minutes have been reserved for informal meetings. Adigalar and others are likely to meet him. CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam are also expected to meet him there.

Under the agreement, Singh said both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner in these areas

NEW DELHI: India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement of troops from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Rajya Sabha today.

Under the agreement, Singh said both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner in these areas.

The defence minister assured the House that India has not conceded anything while entering into the disengagement process, adding there are “some outstanding issues” with regard to deployment and patrolling at some other points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

“I am happy to inform the House today that as a result of our well thought out approach and sustained talks with the Chinese side, we have now been able to reach an agreement on disengagement in the North and South Bank of the Pangong Lake.

“It has also been agreed to convene the next meeting of the senior commanders within 48 hours after the complete disengagement in the Pangong Lake area so as to address and resolve all other remaining issues,” he said.

Singh said the agreement reached with the Chinese side for disengagement in the Pangong lake area envisages that both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner.

“The Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the North Bank area to east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3,” he said.

“A similar action would be taken in the South Bank area by both sides. These are mutual and reciprocal steps and any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both North and South Bank area will be removed,” Singh said.

Indian and Chinese militaries were locked in a bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh for over nine months.

BENGALURU: Karnataka government removes restrictions placed over holding certain pooja and melas in temples due to COVID-19. Starting from this month, temple organisers can hold Jaathre (mela) and other pooja services with all precautionary measures.

According to the Circular issued by the State endowment commissioner, there was a demand from devotees to hold Utsav/Mela at various temples. February, being one of the auspicious months, every year Jaathres are held across the State.

Circular said temple organisers following all the safety guidelines issued by Union government, State government and DCs can hold these Utsav and Poojas. With this, temples can hold Rathotsava (Chariot pulling), Pavithrotsava, Anna Dasoha (free meals), Vishesha pooje (Special pooja) and other services will be resumed like before.
 
Starting from March 2020, as per the guidelines, due to increase in COVID-19 cases, there were restrictions on public entering temple premises, thus restrictions was imposed on nithya pooje (regular pooja), melas, cultural programmes and even restricted to distribute prasada, theertha and free meals. They even have restricted guests and lodges near temples to close.

However, in September, partially it was allowed to open, where devotees were allowed to enter temples maintaining social distancing and other measures were imposed. However, restrictions were placed on providing prasada and free meals to devotees.