The Sparrow

India’s first #news portal introducing Immersion Journalism.

[thesparrownews]

The Inconsistent Country-wise Legality Of Cryptocurrency

There is an ongoing battle in many countries regarding the future role cryptocurrency will play in their financial institutions.

Early on June 8, Bitcoin fell by 10 percent to $32,000, from trading at $40,000 at the end of last week. The current value of the entire cryptocurrency market has dipped to below $1.5 trillion, a recurring theme in the saga of the ebb and flow of crypto prices. Many news outlets correlate the latest dip with former US President Donald Trump calling it a “scam against the dollar”. Moreover, the impact of the recovery of Colonial Pipeline Co.’s ransom by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) proves that crypto prices are possibly susceptible to government control.

The volatile nature of cryptocurrencies is associated with the way we perceive their value, often tipping between “a store of value” and “method of value transfer”. A store of value is similar to the way we trade with gold – an asset that can be saved and exchanged for goods and services in the future and the value of which is predictable to an extent. Whereas, a method of value transfer is anything used to transmit property in the form of assets from one party to another. The undefined terminal value makes crypto prone to swing to news events. The repercussions of government rules on Bitcoin prices were observed in May 2021, when the Chinese government barred financial and payment institutions from dealing in cryptocurrencies, which led to a 30 percent plunge in value. Apart from this, Elon Musk’s opinion is often cited as a crucial element that determines crypto’s rise and fall in value.

[thesparrownews]

High Internet Usage, Digital Illiteracy Made India The Biggest Source Of COVID Misinformation

A recent study on COVID-19 misinformation has unveiled the rampant spread of social media misinformation on the pandemic in India. The study conducted by Md. Sayeed Al-Zaman – a researcher from the University of Alberta in Canada – stated that India has produced and spread the maximum amount of misinformation on the pandemic through social media platforms, mostly because of the high internet penetration rate, increasing social media consumption and the lack of internet literacy among users.

“Of all the countries, India (18.07 per cent) produced the largest amount of social media misinformation, perhaps thanks to the country’s higher internet penetration rate, increasing social media consumption and users’ lack of internet literacy,” stated the study.

The study – ‘Prevalence and Source Analysis of COVID-19 Misinformation in 138 Countries’ – was published in Sage’s International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions journal. It purportedly analysed 9,657 pieces of misinformation circulated in and from 138 countries. Among the top four countries affected by misinformation were India (15.94 per cent), the US (9.74 per cent), Brazil (8.57 per cent) and Spain (8.03 per cent).

Citing an IAMAI-Kantar ICUBE report, the study stated that heavy usage of internet in the country can be one of the major reasons for the spread of misinformation. It noted that there were 299 million internet users in the previous year, which is 31 percent of India’s rural population. In urban India, the use of internet rose by 4 percent amidst the pandemic, taking the count of internet users to 323 million in 2020, which is 67 percent of the total urban population that year. An earlier report by Statista stated that that there are over 340 million Facebook users in India and if “India’s Facebook audience were a country then it would be ranked third in terms of largest population worldwide”.

[thesparrownews]

Why Did Centre Halt Delhi’s Doorstep Delivery Of Ration?

The central government halted Kejriwal’s doorstep delivery of ration scheme a week before it was to launch, terming it a scam.

[thesparrownews]

Here's How The G7 Global Tax Affect Companies In India

Finance ministers at the G7 summit agreed to rectify the global corporate minimum tax rate. Read to know how it will affect Indian companies

[thesparrownews]

Decoding China’s Three Children Policy

The policy presents new challenges to China's socio-economic development, creating a wider gender imbalance and violating reproductive right

[thesparrownews]

Mohamed Thaver’s New Book 'In Plain Sight' Has A Gripping Narrative

Mohamed Thaver in his book reveals the experiences of a novice crime reporter. Read an exclusive interview with the author.

[thesparrownews]

Maharashtra Government Announces 10% EWS Quota For Marathas

The Maharashtra government has decided to provide 10% reservation to the economically weaker section of the Maratha community.

[thesparrownews]

Pregnancy During COVID-19: Here’s What Experts Have To Say

There are speculations between ‘avoiding corona during pregnancy’ or ‘avoiding pregnancy during COVID-19’. Read more here.

Pregnancy during a pandemic is turning out to be a more treacherous experience due to several involved health risks to women and the child as well.

[thesparrownews]

CPI (M) and CM Vijayan have come under scrutiny after incumbent health minister KK Shailaja was excluded from Kerala's new cabinet.

Kerala's 'COVID Slayer' KK Shailaja Dropped From New Cabinet

CPI (M) and CM Vijayan have come under flak for excluding previous health minister KK Shailaja from the new Kerala cabinet.

[thesparrownews]

State-owned DD News is set to have it's own worldwide news network – DD International – "to project India’s point of view globally."

Read full article to know more.

Centre To Launch DD International, Will Portray The "India Story"

Centre will be launching a global news channel – DD International – modelled on the UK’s BBC, to build "India’s image" .

[thesparrownews]

Ceuta, North Africa saw an influx of 8000 migrants who illegally entered the Spanish autonomous city, swimming across the border from Morocco through the sea route.

Ceuta Border Emergency: A Product of Pandemia

Thousands of Moroccan migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on the North African shore, through the ocean.

[thesparrownews]

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya recently claimed that the Muslim staff at a BBMP COVID-19 War-Room in Bengaluru has been taking bribes to allow beds to patients from economically advantaged families.

Bengaluru Bed Scam: Tejasvi Surya Condemns Muslim Workers

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya blamed Muslim frontline workers for what was actually an official discrepancy in the allotment of beds in Bengaluru.

[thesparrownews]

Ode In Anand District Is Caring For Its COVID+ Patients Via Donations

The hospital in Ode, Anand has 25 COVID+ patients. But resources are acute and more patients are expected to come in as the crisis continues

In Ode, a small town in Anand district, the townsfolk and a municipal councillor along with a local doctor are caring for patients and their relatives at a local hospital. And, not all patients at Siddhivinayak Hospital are residents of Ode.

The expenses to are being taken care of by the townsfolk and courtesy of donations from local organisations.

[thesparrownews]

Amidst the pandemic, an oral condition has become common, known as the ‘Mask Mouth’. A non-clinical condition arising due to prolonged uses of surgical or face masks is resulting in increased use of mouth fresheners.

An Oral Condition, 'Mask Mouth' Is Rising Due To Prolonged Use Of Masks

A non-clinical condition, Mask Mouth is arising due to prolonged use of face masks, and is resulting in an increase use of mouth fresheners.

[thesparrownews]

Israel-Palestine Violence Escalates; Middle East On Brink Of New War

Israel hit Hamas-based set up in Gaza, allegedly in an act of retaliation. World leaders and experts fear the region is on precipice of war.

A first major incident since the Abraham Accords, Israel hit Hamas-based set up in Gaza, allegedly in an act of retaliation.

[thesparrownews]

While the death toll is on a constant rise and patients are dying from the lack of availability of oxygen concentrators, the PMO has initiated the construction of the Central Vista Project.

Read more about how this project has been termed an "Essential Service" during the pandemic.

Central Vista Project To Continue As An Essential Service During COVID

The Central Vista Redevelopment Project, now classified as an "essential service" will be allowed to continue during countrywide lockdown.

[thesparrownews]

RBI eased KYC compliance of accounts until December 31, 2021, encouraging stricter adherence to lockdown rules.

RBI Relaxes KYC Compliance Norms Till End Of 2021

RBI governor directed banks and regulated financial entities to not penalise customers for failure to update KYC, till the end of the year.