Unacademy Tutor Fired Over Remark Says Firm Acted "Under Pressure"

Unacademy sacked teacher Karan Sangwan on Saturday alleged that the firm terminated his service under pressure from trolls on social media who misinterpreted his generic remark to vote for educated candidates.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Karan Sangwan said he made the generic remark on his YouTube channel and not during his lecture at Unacademy.

"Why did termination happen? There is a pressure which gets built and you burst under its load. You (Unacademy) could not deal with the pressure. Therefore, under pressure you had to take an action which you may have not desired to or you desired to...I don't know. I can't say anything about what your intentions were?" Mr Sangwan said.

Mr Sangwan said that Unacademy acted against him without hearing him out.

"You directly sent me a termination notice," Karan Sangwan said, adding that to hide the pressure, Unacademy used the term "code of conduct" without defining a political statement.

He said that Unacademy cited views expressed by a Twitter account as an example in the termination notice. "Someone else's views were imposed on me," Mr Sangwan said.

Mr Sangwan said that he was hurled abuses, called anti-national and death threats were issued to him by trollers "who appeared to be illiterate" after his video was spread on August 13.

Unacademy co-founder Roman Saini said that Karan Sangwan was in breach of contract and therefore the company had to part ways with him.

Mr Saini in a tweet on the matter said Unacademy is an education platform that is deeply committed to imparting quality education.

"To do this we have in place a strict Code of Conduct for all our educators with the intention of ensuring that our learners have access to unbiased knowledge. Our learners are at the centre of everything we do. The classroom is not a place to share personal opinions and views as they can wrongly influence them. In the current situation, we were forced to part ways with Karan Sangwan as he was in breach of the Code of Conduct," the co-founder said on August 17.

Mr Sangwan said the situation changed in his favour after he shared information about his termination on August 17 in a messaging group that was leaked on social media and this time lakhs of people supported him. Several politicians questioned the action of Unacademy and if his appeal to vote for an educated candidate was wrong.

Karan Sangwan said that he made a generic statement without naming anyone on his YouTube channel which was not mentioned by Unacademy.

He said that people supported him after information about his termination went out but still no one from Unacademy contacted him.

"I made a statement. You are taking it on yourself when I have not taken any name. Why are you taking it on yourself? I have not said it," he said.

He also criticised the conduct of a news channel, without naming the entity, that his interview was edited to further fan the controversy.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Not Pandya. This Player Might Be Rohit's Deputy For Asia Cup, WC: Report

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah appears to be a strong contender to become vice-captain of the Indian team, alongside all-rounder Hardik Pandya, for the upcoming Asia Cup as well as ODI World Cup, starting October 5. While Pandya has been made the regular T20I captain, Bumrah, who has made an international comeback against Ireland in the ongoing T20I series that started on Friday, is set to give tough competition to the colourful Baroda all-rounder.

"If you look in terms of leadership seniority, Bumrah is ahead of Pandya as he captained the Test team in 2022. He has also been ODI vice-captain before Pandya during the ODI tour of South Africa.

"Don't be surprised if you see Bumrah being made ODI deputy to Rohit for both Asia Cup and World Cup. There is a reason why he was handed captaincy in Ireland instead of Ruturaj," a BCCI source in know of things told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

Pandya has had a successful stint as IPL skipper for Gujarat Titans, leading the team to the title in its maiden appearance in 2022 and to runners-up finish in 2023.

However, a lot of people feel that a shrewd tactician like Ashish Nehra has also played a lot of role in Gujarat Titans' success.

As far as the Indian team is concerned, Pandya lost his first bilateral series (T20I) in the West Indies where some of his decisions like not bowling Axar Patel or bringing Mukesh Kumar at the death were criticised.

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Singer Post Malone Reveals He Lost Nearly 25 Kg By Avoiding This Drink

American rapper and singer Post Malone recently lost around 55 pounds (nearly 25 kg) and has finally revealed the secret behind his body transformation. Appearing on Joe Rogan's podcast, Mr Malon confessed that he cut out one item in particular from his diet that helped him lose weight. 

"Soda is so bad. It's good but so bad," Post Malone shared on the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast earlier this week. However, the singer, whose birth name is Austin Richar Post, also added that he still occasionally rewards himself with an ice-cold soda, if he puts a stellar performance. 

"[If] I had a great show, and you know what, I'm feeling a little bit naughty. I'm gonna have myself a Coke on ice," he said, adding that he allows himself to drink the cola in moderation.

Further, Mr Malone admitted how much he weighed before and after his efforts. He said that he used to weigh 240 pounds (nearly 109 kg) before he cut soda from his diet. Without having the sugary drink, he said that his weight dropped 185 pounds (almost 84 kg). 

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Mr Malone's revelation about his weight comes after his fans began to speculate that he was doing drugs when they noticed his dramatic body transformation. In April, the singer also clarified on Instagram that he is not doing drugs. 

"I wanted to say that I'm not doing drugs, I've had a lot of people ask me about my weight loss and I'd suppose, performance on stage. I'm having a lot of fun performing, and have never felt healthier," he wrote. 

"I guess dad life kicked in and I decided to kick soda, and start eating better so I can be around for a long time for this little angel," he added.

Post Malone is well-known for his songs like 'Sunflower', 'I Like you', 'Rockstar', 'White Iverson', 'Goodbye', and others. He is also the recipient of multiple awards including three American Music Awards, ten Billboard Music Awards and an MTV Video Music Award.

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"Superfast" Battery Offers 400 Km Driving Range From 10 Minutes Charge

A Chinese battery maker, which is a major supplier to Tesla, has launched what it claims is the first-ever "superfast charging" battery capable of delivering 400 kilometres of range from just a 10-minute charge. 

China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) unveiled its latest product, dubbed Shenxing or "god-like movement". According to The Independent, the company on Wednesday said that its new lithium-ion battery would open up a new era for electric cars as it aims to solve EVs' charging and range limitations. 

On a full charge, the battery holds enough charge to travel over 700 km without needing to recharge. It is also able to refuel up to 400 km of range in 10 minutes, said Gao Han, chief technology officer of CATL's e-car division, as per TechCrunch. 

According to the company, Shenxing is the "world's first 4C superfast charging LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery" - a type of battery chemistry that Elon Musk's car company Tesla widely adapted in 2021 for its shorter-range cars. 

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CATL explained that the increase in battery capacity and charge time was achieved through a "brand-new superconducting electrolyte formula" that results in improved conductivity. "The future of the EV battery technology must remain steadfastly anchored at the global technology frontier, as well as the economic benefits," said Dr Wu Kai, chief scientist at CATL, as per The Independent. 

"As EV consumers shift from pioneering users to ordinary users, we should make advanced technology accessible for all and enable everyone to savour the fruits of innovation," he added. 

CATL announced that mass production of the battery is expected to be underway by the end of 2023 and shipping to begin in 2024. The company did not reveal which automakers would be the first to receive the batteries. But as per the outlet, its customers include BMW, Honda, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo, among others. 

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"Nation Stands With Bereaved Families": Amit Shah After 9 Soldiers Killed In Ladakh Accident

Condoling the demise of Indian Army soldiers in an accident near Leh in Ladakh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved families.

According to defence officials, as many as nine Indian Army personnel were killed and one was injured after their vehicle fell into a gorge in Ladakh.

Taking to the social media platform, X, formerly called Twitter, Amit Shah said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Ladakh in which we lost our valiant soldiers, as their vehicle fell into a gorge. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. My sincerest condolences to them. May the injured recover at the earliest."

Deeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Ladakh in which we lost our valiant soldiers, as their vehicle fell into a gorge. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. My sincerest condolences to them. May the injured...

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 19, 2023

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda also condoled the deaths of nine soldiers.

"Deeply pained to hear about the loss of our Army personnel in a tragic road accident near Leh in Ladakh. The nation will forever be in debt for their service. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families. May the Almighty give them strength to bear this pain. I am praying for the speedy recovery of the injured," Nadda took to the social media platform, X, formerly called Twitter.

According to officials, the accident occurred around 6.30 pm. "The troops were moving from Karu garrison to Kyari near Leh," they added.

Further information is awaited.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Ridiculous, Shame": Sourav Ganguly On Jadavpur University Student's Death

A week after the death of an undergraduate student in West Bengal's Jadavpur University, Former cricketer Sourav Ganguly on Friday called the incident "ridiculous" and urged for strict laws to be implemented in the universities.

"These are institutions where children come to study that should be the main focus. This is ridiculous and a shame. The law has to be very strict," Sourav Ganguly said.

The student was died after allegedly falling from the balcony of the university's hostel on the night of August 9. He was allegedly subjected to ragging before his death.

However, on Friday, three more persons were arrested in connection with the case.

The total number of arrests in the case stands at 12 at present.

Jadavpur University (JU) authorities has rolled out various measures, including making identity cards mandatory for visitors to enter the campus at night and installing CCTVs at strategic points.

According to the circular issued on Thursday, identity cards issued by the university will be mandatory for entering the campus from 8 pm to 7 am.

As per the authorities, this would help curb the entry of outsiders to the campus.

"All individuals who want to enter the University campus between 8.00 PM to 7:00 AM will have to carry valid Identity Card(s) issued by

Jadavpur University. It will have to be produced on demand," it said, adding that if a person does not have an ID card issued by the university, he or she will have to produce some other valid proof of identity and enter the details of the person, where he or she is going to meet in a register kept at the gate of the university.

It also said that vehicles, including two-wheelers entering the campus, will have to now bear stickers issued by the university.

"Two-wheelers or four-wheelers must have a JU sticker issued by the University. The Vehicles without JU stickers must provide their registration number at the gate of the University before entering. The security persons should keep the noting of all such vehicles. A valid ID card of the vehicle's driver or the passengers will have to be produced on demand," the circular added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Lucy Letby: From Nurse To Child Murderer

The trial of nurse Lucy Letby, who was on Friday found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill another six, was one of the longest in British criminal history. 

Here are some of the key points.

Lucy Letby 

Originally from Hereford in western England, Letby studied nursing at the University of Chester.  "I have always wanted to work with children," she told Manchester Crown Court during her trial.

Letby graduated in 2011 and started full-time at the Countess of Chester Hospital the following year, joining the neo-natal unit.  In 2015, she qualified to work on intensive care babies, which would have allowed her to work with the sickest babies in the unit. 

She had an active social life, attended salsa classes, travelled and went to the gym, the court heard. 

Victims

Letby was accused of harming 17 babies, some of them just days old, between June 2015 and June 2016. In the majority of cases she is believed to have injected them with air but prosecutors also accused her of introducing insulin or too much milk.

The jury found her guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others on the 22nd day of deliberations. She was found not guilty on two counts of attempted murder and the jury could not reach a verdict on six attempted murder charges.

Among her victims were a twin brother and sister and two triplet boys. The names of the babies were not allowed to be reported and are instead referred to as baby A through to Q.

Letby is said to have on several occasions carried out Facebook searches for the parents of babies that she allegedly attacked. She said she would look up to people when she was thinking about them. 

Suspicion  

The neo-natal unit saw a "significant" increase in the number of babies dying and suffering serious collapses during the period in question, prosecutor Nick Johnson said at the trial. 

A search for the cause revealed "one common denominator" and that was Letby, he added.  Following the deaths of two triplets in June 2016, Letby was removed from the neo-natal unit and placed on clerical duties.

"It was life-changing, in that moment I was taken away from the support system I had on the unit, I was put in a role I did not enjoy and I had to pretend it was voluntary," Letby told the court. 

Letby said it was "devastating" when she received a letter from the Royal College of Nursing that blamed her for the deaths of the babies. She told the court she was prescribed anti-depressants, which she is still taking, and admitted to having thoughts of harming herself.

Arrests And Search  

Letby was arrested and released twice, with her first arrest in July 2018. On her third arrest in 2020, she was formally charged and placed into custody. 

Among the items found during a search of Letby's home was a Post-it note on which she wrote: "I don't deserve to live. I killed them on purpose because I'm not good enough to care for them". "I am evil I did this," she wrote in capital letters.

Letby claimed the note was written around the time she was removed from the neo-natal unit, leaving her feeling like she "had done something wrong".

The prosecution said police also found a "large quantity" of hospital paperwork relating to several of the children that she is accused of harming.

Letby's Defence 

Representing Letby, lawyer Ben Myers said it's important that "blame is not heaped on that woman", while there may be others who made mistakes or systems that had failed. 

He described Letby as a "dedicated nurse", who "cared deeply" for the babies and their families. 

Mr Myers also said there was "no direct evidence" of Letby committing the crimes and pointed to the condition of the babies at birth, saying they were "clinically fragile". He also said the unit had staffing issues at the time.

Letby has repeatedly denied hurting or wanting to hurt the babies, saying "that's completely against what being a nurse is". She had suggested that a "gang" of four hospital consultants had conspired to pin the blame on her "to cover failings at the hospital".

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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