The much-vaunted continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE) for Classes 6 to 9 is out and the CBSE is bringing in a revised assessment structure following its decision to restore Class 10 Board examination from 2017-18 academic session.

"To increase the confidence in the students to start preparing for Class 10 Board examination when they join the upper primary stage in Class 6, the CBSE has decided to implement the uniform system of assessment, examination pattern and issue of report cards for Classes 6 to 7 also on the similar pattern," the Central Board of Secondary Education said in a circular.

"This new scheme will bring the uniformity in the system of assessment and examination for classes 9 and 10 in all the CBSE affiliated schools," said the CBSE. 

It said that due to the disparities in the systems of assessment and examination among the various CBSE affiliated schools, students of Classes 6-9 face problems on migrating to another school. 

The CBSE, which currently has 18,688 affiliated schools, said it was imperative to have a uniform system of assessment, examination pattern and report cards for Classes 6 to 9 for ease of students and other stakeholders. 

A large and growing crack on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko recorded by European Space Agency's Rosetta mission suggests that the comet might split up one day, says a new study.

A 1,600-foot-long fracture that runs through the comet's neck was spotted in August 2014. The fracture was found to have increased in width by about 100 feet by December 2014.

In images taken in June 2016 by the Rosetta probe, a new 500- to 1,000-foot-long fracture was identified parallel to the original fracture spotted in August 2014.

"The large crack was in the neck of the comet, a small central part that connects the two lobes," said the study's leader Ramy El-Maarry from the University of Colorado at Boulder in the US.

"The crack was extending, indicating that the comet may split up one day," El-Maarry said.

The study published in the journal Science summarises the types of surface changes observed during the two years that the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft spent investigating the comet.

Notable differences are seen before and after the comet's most active period — perihelion — when it reached its closest point to the Sun along its orbit.

"As comets approach the sun, they go into overdrive and exhibit spectacular changes on their surface," El-Maarry said.

Between August 2014 and September 2016, Rosetta orbited comet 67P during the comet's swing through the inner solar system.

"We saw a massive cliff collapse and a large crack in the neck of the comet get bigger and bigger," El-Maarry said. 

"And we discovered that boulders the size of a large truck could be moved across the comet's surface — a distance as long as one-and-a-half football fields," he pointed out.

Rosetta is a European Space Agency mission with contributions from its member states and NASA.

Former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson feels that Indian team will be “nervous” considering the pacer-friendly conditions of Dharamsala where Steve Smith and his boys should feel more confident.

“Dharamsala is an amazing ground and the only times I have seen it are with grass on (the pitch). So I think that's why the Australians will probably be confident and India will be a little bit nervous. I think they've been overconfident in this series and I think the scoreline shows that,” Johnson told Fox Sports.

The Aussie pace bowling great feels that Pune Test hero Steve O'Keefe may have to make way for Jackson Bird in seamer-friendly conditions when the fourth Test gets underway from Saturday.

“I think we're going to lose a spinner out of this Test match,” he said.

“The spinners have been great throughout the series. There's been a lot of pressure on the spinners to go out there and perform and I think they've had some good patches and some bad patches. But that's the game. It's a tough one because they have both had their moments in this series, but I think you have got to go with experience.

“I think Nathan Lyon will get a lot more bounce and he has been turning the ball quite nicely. But then again, you've got to look at left- and right-hand combinations,” Johnson said.
Johnson feels that Bird will be more suitable for Dharamsala track.

“If it's more of an Australian kind of wicket, I think you'll see Nathan Lyon bowl and Bird come in as the third quick.

Johnson, a veteran of 73 Tests is happy that Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh saved the game for Australia providing them with psychological advantage.

“(The result in Ranchi) gives Australia a huge advantage I think. For them (India) to know that it's not about Steve Smith and David Warner, other guys in the team can perform and can play out for a draw. They dug in and played exceptional cricket.”

“They (Australia) will be pumped after that. Even though it was only a draw, to them it will feel very good and very positive. Because they have collapsed a lot in the past. That's why I'm confident Australia will win.”

Just days after becoming the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government on Tuesday formed anti-romeo squads in the state to ‘protect the honour of women’ as promised in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) manifesto.

The UP police have ordered to form ‘anti-romeo dals’ near colleges, malls and parks in a bid to curb eve-teasing and ensure safety of college girls.

"In a bid to check incidents of eve-teasing and passing of comments on women and girls, anti-Romeo dals will be constituted at the police station levels and action under the Goonda Act will be taken against wrongdoers," A Satish Ganesh, Inspector General (IG) of Lucknow Zone said.

While campaigning in Uttar Pradesh for the state assembly elections, BJP president Amit Shah said the party would help in the crackdown of eve-teasing by forming anti-romeo squads if the party is voted to power.

"In Uttar Pradesh, every college would be provided with anti-Romeo squad. Our girls would be safeguarded. These anti-Romeo squads would allow girls to study without fear in college campuses," Amit Shah said in Meerut.

Manchester United defender Phil Jones has been replaced due to his injury from the England football squad for the friendly against Germany on Wednesday and the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Lithuania on March 26.

The English Football Association did not report what kind of injury Jones has suffered, but said coach Gareth Southgate has "no immediate plans to call up a replacement". But, with Gary Cahill suspended for Sunday's game against Lithuania, the coach will assess his options following Wednesday's match, reports Efe.

England will face Germany on Wednesday in Dortmund, four days before hosting Lithuania at the Wembley Stadium here.

Southgate's options to replace Jones are Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City) and Michael Keane (Burnley).

At least 33 persons were killed during air raids, believed to have been carried out by the US-led international coalition, against a school sheltering displaced people in the Syrian province of al-Raqqa, a media report said on Wednesday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that all the victims of the attack on Monday night were displaced people from other parts of the country, living in a school in al-Mansoura area, the Islamic State's main stronghold in Syria, Efe news reported.

The 33 bodies were taken out from under the debris of the school that was apparently targeted in the air strikes.

Residents from the area told SOHR that about 40 displaced families from the provinces of Homs and Aleppo were living in the school.

SOHR did not rule out a rise in the deaths as there could be bodies still under the rubble.

Since March 8, international coalition warplanes have intensified their attacks against the city of al-Raqqa and areas located east and west the homonymous province, where at least 116 civilians, including 18 minors, were killed during the bombings.

Former Belgium football team head coach Marc Wilmots has signed a two-year contract to be in charge of the Ivory Coast national team.

Ivorian football federation head Augustin Sidy Diallo on Tuesday specified that the contract of the 48-year-old Belgian coach will be for two years. During a press conference, Diallo described the appointment as the right decision, reports Efe.

Wilmots left Belgium after their elimination from the UEFA Euro 2016 quarter-finals against Wales.

The Belgian coach will succeed French Michel Dussuyer, who resigned after the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, when the Ivory Coast failed to advance through to the group stage.

Poor broadband connectivity has severely affected banking services in parts of the Northeast for the last two weeks, an MP from Arunachal Pradesh said on Wednesday and asked the Centre to address the issue.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Congress member Ninong Ering said lakhs of people have been affected by disruption of the banking services due to poor internet connectivity.

"How will people go for cashless transactions when the internet connectivity is very poor? The banking services have been affected in various areas of the Northeast for last two weeks. The problem must be addressed at the earliest," he said.

He said laying of optical fibre cable has been affected in the Northeastern region due to "red tapism" and the central government should intervene in the matter.

AIUDF member from Assam Badaruddin Azmal talked about delay in finalising the National Register of Citizens in the state and asked the Centre to look into the issue.

BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab sought relaxation of norms under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme so that infrastructure development of small cities can also be taken up under it.

The Centre has planned to invest nearly one lakh crore rupees for strengthening infrastructure of 500 cities under the Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme.

The Atal Mission covers cities and towns with a population of one lakh and above, Mahtab noted and said it should be brought down to 35,000 population so that small cities can also benefit.

Poor broadband connectivity has severely affected banking services in parts of the Northeast for the last two weeks, an MP from Arunachal Pradesh said on Wednesday and asked the Centre to address the issue.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Congress member Ninong Ering said lakhs of people have been affected by disruption of the banking services due to poor internet connectivity.

"How will people go for cashless transactions when the internet connectivity is very poor? The banking services have been affected in various areas of the Northeast for last two weeks. The problem must be addressed at the earliest," he said.

He said laying of optical fibre cable has been affected in the Northeastern region due to "red tapism" and the central government should intervene in the matter.

AIUDF member from Assam Badaruddin Azmal talked about delay in finalising the National Register of Citizens in the state and asked the Centre to look into the issue.

BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab sought relaxation of norms under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme so that infrastructure development of small cities can also be taken up under it.

The Centre has planned to invest nearly one lakh crore rupees for strengthening infrastructure of 500 cities under the Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme.

The Atal Mission covers cities and towns with a population of one lakh and above, Mahtab noted and said it should be brought down to 35,000 population so that small cities can also benefit.

The government on Wednesday said it has not accepted 'most of the demands' of iphone maker Apple which wants to set up manufacturing unit in India.

To a question in Rajya Sabha on whether the government has accepted most of the demands of the iphone manufacturer, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: "No".

Apple India has sought concessions including duty exemption on manufacturing and repair units, components, capital equipment and consumables for smartphone manufacturing and service/repair for a period of 15 years, she said in a written reply.

In a communication to the government, the Cupertino-based technology major has asked for incentives from the Department of Revenue and Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeITy).

Apple also wants relaxation in the mandated 30 per cent local sourcing of components.

It also wants reduction in customs duties on completely- knocked-down and semi-knocked-down units of devices that are to be assembled in the country.

In January, Apple had indicated to the government that it is ready with a blueprint to begin manufacturing iPhones in India, but wants fiscal concessions, including Customs duty waiver on import of components.

Apple executives had made a detailed presentation to an inter-ministerial group headed by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary Ramesh Abhishek on its road map.

With sales tapering in the US and China, Apple is eyeing India — the fastest-growing smartphone market in the world — and looking to set up a local manufacturing unit to cut costs.

It, however, does not manufacture devices on its own and does it through contract manufacturers.

The company sells its products through Apple-owned retail stores in countries like China, Germany, the US, the UK and France, among others. It has no wholly-owned store in India and sells its products through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.

The government on Wednesday said it has not accepted 'most of the demands' of iphone maker Apple which wants to set up manufacturing unit in India.

To a question in Rajya Sabha on whether the government has accepted most of the demands of the iphone manufacturer, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: "No".

Apple India has sought concessions including duty exemption on manufacturing and repair units, components, capital equipment and consumables for smartphone manufacturing and service/repair for a period of 15 years, she said in a written reply.

In a communication to the government, the Cupertino-based technology major has asked for incentives from the Department of Revenue and Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeITy).

Apple also wants relaxation in the mandated 30 per cent local sourcing of components.

It also wants reduction in customs duties on completely- knocked-down and semi-knocked-down units of devices that are to be assembled in the country.

In January, Apple had indicated to the government that it is ready with a blueprint to begin manufacturing iPhones in India, but wants fiscal concessions, including Customs duty waiver on import of components.

Apple executives had made a detailed presentation to an inter-ministerial group headed by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary Ramesh Abhishek on its road map.

With sales tapering in the US and China, Apple is eyeing India — the fastest-growing smartphone market in the world — and looking to set up a local manufacturing unit to cut costs.

It, however, does not manufacture devices on its own and does it through contract manufacturers.

The company sells its products through Apple-owned retail stores in countries like China, Germany, the US, the UK and France, among others. It has no wholly-owned store in India and sells its products through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.

Singer Mariah Carey has announced that her 1994 hit song All I want for Christmas is you will be adapted into an animated movie.

Carey made the announcement over Twitter on Tuesday.

"My song is becoming a movie! You're the first to hear about this exciting news," Carey tweeted while mentioning an official Twitter account for the movie.

Along with the announcement, Carey also attached a teaser video in which she can be seen donning red-and-black plaid pajamas while holding a puppy. 

"I don't want a love for Christmas, there is just one thing I need," she says in the video. 

"All I Want for Christmas is you" follows young Carey, who sees a puppy named Princess at the pet store and suddenly knows exactly what she wants for Christmas. But she must prove that she can pet-sit Jack, a dog who turns Carey and her family's holiday preparations upside down. 

Narrated by Carey herself, the movie will feature a voice cast including Henry Winkler, Lacey Chabert, Breanna Yde, Phil Morris, Laya Hayes and Keiko Agena. 

Singer Mariah Carey has announced that her 1994 hit song All I want for Christmas is you will be adapted into an animated movie.

Carey made the announcement over Twitter on Tuesday.

"My song is becoming a movie! You're the first to hear about this exciting news," Carey tweeted while mentioning an official Twitter account for the movie.

Along with the announcement, Carey also attached a teaser video in which she can be seen donning red-and-black plaid pajamas while holding a puppy. 

"I don't want a love for Christmas, there is just one thing I need," she says in the video. 

"All I Want for Christmas is you" follows young Carey, who sees a puppy named Princess at the pet store and suddenly knows exactly what she wants for Christmas. But she must prove that she can pet-sit Jack, a dog who turns Carey and her family's holiday preparations upside down. 

Narrated by Carey herself, the movie will feature a voice cast including Henry Winkler, Lacey Chabert, Breanna Yde, Phil Morris, Laya Hayes and Keiko Agena. 

Juventus forward Paulo Dybala is in doubt for Argentina's 2018 football World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia due to a leg injury.

The 23-year-old did not train with Argentina's squad in Buenos Aires on Tuesday as he struggles to recover from a thigh strain he suffered during Juventus 1-0 win over Sampdoria in the Serie A on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Reports in Argentine media said Dybala was likely to miss the clash with Chile at the Monumental Stadium but could still be available for the duel against Bolivia in La Paz next Tuesday.

His absence on Thursday could hand a starting berth to Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, who had been expected to start the match on the bench.

Argentina will also be without Aguero's Manchester City teammate Pablo Zabaleta for the fixtures because of a thigh injury.

Argentina are currently fifth in the South American zone World Cup qualifying standings, eight points behind leaders Brazil.

The top four teams from South America will automatically qualify for the tournament in Russia while the fifth-ranked side will earn a playoff spot.

Juventus forward Paulo Dybala is in doubt for Argentina's 2018 football World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia due to a leg injury.

The 23-year-old did not train with Argentina's squad in Buenos Aires on Tuesday as he struggles to recover from a thigh strain he suffered during Juventus 1-0 win over Sampdoria in the Serie A on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Reports in Argentine media said Dybala was likely to miss the clash with Chile at the Monumental Stadium but could still be available for the duel against Bolivia in La Paz next Tuesday.

His absence on Thursday could hand a starting berth to Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, who had been expected to start the match on the bench.

Argentina will also be without Aguero's Manchester City teammate Pablo Zabaleta for the fixtures because of a thigh injury.

Argentina are currently fifth in the South American zone World Cup qualifying standings, eight points behind leaders Brazil.

The top four teams from South America will automatically qualify for the tournament in Russia while the fifth-ranked side will earn a playoff spot.

The first woman to serve on Facebook's board, who is now the Social media giants Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg has announced the release of her latest book, which focusses on finding meaning and happiness after an adversity.

Titled "Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy," the book has been co-written with author Adam Grant. 

In a Facebook post, Sandberg said that the book focuses on how she learned to find meaning and happiness after the sudden death of her husband, Dave Goldberg, in 2015. 

The title, Sandberg said, has been inspired by a conversation with a friend. 

"A few weeks after my husband Dave died, I was talking to my friend Phil Deutch about a father-son activity that Dave was not here to do. We came up with a plan for someone to fill in so my son would not have to miss out. I cried, 'But I want Dave.' Phil put his arm around me and said, 'Option A is not available. So let's just kick the shit out of Option B,'" Sandberg wrote in a post on Facebook. 

"That became my mantra, and for the past two years I've tried hard to find meaning and happiness in the wake of our despair." 

"Because no one's life is perfect, we all live some form of Option B," she wrote. "It's my deepest hope that Option B will help others learn what I learned: that when life pulls you under, you can kick against the bottom, break the surface, and breathe again."

Sandberg, who previously authored "Lean In" in 2012, she was named in the Time 100, an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world according to Time magazine.

As the Maharashtra resident doctors' strike entered the third day, the state government on Wednesday gave strong warning to the protesting doctors and asked them to resume duty or face action.

"Those doctors who don't return to work by 8 pm on Wednesday will lose 6 months' salary," state Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan was quoted as saying by a news agency.

Meanwhile, Dean of Government Medical College, Nagpur on Wednesday suspended 301 resident doctors in the wake of the strike. In another development, a show cause notice has also been issued by the Bombay Municipal Corporation to the 1,200 protesting doctors.

The Bombay High Court, which was expected to hear the matter on junior doctors' mass leave on Wednesday, will most likely hear it on Thursday.

Reports suggest that because of unavailability of the CJ's bench, the hearing has been postponed to another day.

For the third consecutive day on Wednesday, over 3,000 resident doctors continued their mass casual leave protest against growing incidents of attacks by patients' relatives on them.

Medical services in 17 government hospitals in Maharashtra, including four in Mumbai, were severely affected because of the strike.