The annual college application frenzy often prioritizes rankings over individual fit. Experts suggest this approach teaches students that identity is a performance. Admissions officers seek genuine engagement, not just achievements. Parents are advised to encourage curiosity and allow for failure. This fosters courage for real attempts, aligning with university goals.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alerted the Election Commission about a 'grave conspiracy' to manipulate electoral rolls ahead of the polls. She alleges the BJP, in league with the ECI, is attempting to add non-residents to voter lists, a process she claims has already caused hardship and deaths. Banerjee demands an immediate halt to this 'undemocratic exercise'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Rs 3,300 crore semiconductor plant in Sanand, Gujarat. This facility by Kaynes Technology will produce over 7 lakh chips daily. India is strengthening its position in the global semiconductor supply chain. The nation is committed to self-reliance in manufacturing. This marks a crucial step in India's ambitious plans for the electronics sector.

The BJP's Kerala election manifesto pledges a Rs 3,000 monthly welfare pension for needy women and seniors, alongside 20,000 litres of free water per household. The party also promised two free LPG cylinders annually for poor families and a Rs 2,500 monthly health card. Key development plans include an AIIMS and a high-speed rail network.

«Air defense crews and mobile air defense teams have shot down 44 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, seven loitering munitions, and 78 heavy combat quadcopters,» the battlegroup spokesperson Ivan Bigma said

Nobody has heard from him, the US president said

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, March 31st

The system neutralized over 50,000 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles

The increase in refining volumes was mainly due to major maintenance work carried out in 2024, the company noted

Malawi has lost approximately K52.705 billion in African Development Bank (AfDB) funding after the institution revised downwards its African Development Fund (ADF-16) allocation for the 2023–2025 cycle from K174.6 billion to K121.895 billion, citing weak compliance with procurement rules, financial management gaps and deteriorating governance indicators. The AfDB says the revision follows weaker Country Policy […] The post AfDB Withdraws K52.7 Billion as Malawi Faces Mounting Donor Compliance Concerns appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The Ambassador of China to Vanuatu, Li Minggang, and Ambae Malvatumauri chief representative, Chief Charlie Titiro, say the Ambae tar-seal road project is vital for safety during disasters.

Communities in East Pentecost have called for an extension of the Laringmat pico-hydro power network following the recent official commissioning of the project.

There is evidence that literacy and numeracy results of Vanuatu students are declining. Without a strong foundation in learning, students often fail to thrive later in school or when they enter the workforce.

The Supreme Court of Vanuatu has awarded former diplomat Noah Patrick Kouback—now Director General (DG) of Trade—a total of VT592,515 in unpaid provident fund contributions, while dismissing the majority of his VT17 million employment claim against the Republic of Vanuatu.

Diesel prices for utilities are expected to rise in April by 26% in Port Vila and 13% in Luganville.

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today.1. Over 1 million households to receive U Save, S&CC rebates in April: MOFMore than one million Singaporean HDB households will receive U-Save and Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates in April as part of the permanent GST Voucher scheme... » READ MORE2. Woman hit with $1,500 phone bill after racking up 222GB: 'How could I have used so much data?'

Malaysia has increased enforcement measures at checkpoints bordering Singapore to prevent subsidised items from being taken across the border, The Star reported on Tuesday (March 31).These include more checks by the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency, a Malaysian Home Ministry official told The Star.Raising concerns that Singaporeans might head to Johor to stockpile essentials amid the Middle East conflict, the official added: «We do not want people to smuggle subsidised packet cooking oil or other subsidised items such as sugar, flour and rice.»Fuel is also an issue and officers will be flagging any motorists who take back petrol in containers.Speaking at a screening operation involving 20 officers that took place last Thursday at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex, the official explained: «The main reason is to curb any form of smuggling and for people to adhere to the regulations set by the agencies.»

Rachel Reeves is still refusing to follow a host of countries, including Australia, Spain and Poland, in trimming duty on fuel at the pumps in response to chaos in the Middle East.

SMRT-owned point-to-point transport operator Strides Premier has raised its street hail fares and time-based unit fare since Monday (March 30).In an announcement on Tuesday (March 31), it said the increase in street hail fares by 1 cent per distance and time-based unit fare — which came into effect on Monday — are part of measures to support its taxi and private-hire vehicle (PHV) driver-partners.Other measures include a one-time $50 fuel credit that can be used at Strides Premier's in-house fuel station at Changi South; fuel savings of up to 35 per cent compared to prevailing market rates at its in-house fuel station; and up to $500 in fuel credits for new PHV or driver partners.Strides Premier noted that drivers are feeling the strain from rising fuel costs, adding that stakeholders are coming together to help ease the pressures collectively.Said CEO Ang Wei Neng: "Our taxi and PHV driver-partners are the backbone of our business, and in times of rising fuel prices, we stand by them.

Electricity and gas tariffs will increase from April to June amid rising fuel prices due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.Grid operator SP Group said in a statement on Tuesday (March 31) that household electricity tariffs will increase by 2.1 per cent from the previous quarter to 29.72 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) after Goods and Services Tax.This means that the average monthly electricity bill for four-room HDB flats will increase by $1.96.Checks by AsiaOne on the Open Electricity Market’s price comparison website showed that fixed-price retail plans for residences currently ranged between 28.80 cents and 29.18 cents per kWh.Meanwhile, City Energy said that gas tariff will increase from April to June, from 23.63 cents per kWh to 23.89 cents per kWh, attributing the hike to the Middle East war which began on Feb 28.«The town gas tariffs in the subsequent quarters are expected to increase further as the full effect of the elevated fuel prices are incorporated,» said City Energy.

More than one million Singaporean HDB households will receive U-Save and Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates in April as part of the permanent GST Voucher scheme. In a statement released on Tuesday (March 31), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said the rebates will help to offset utilities expenses and S&CC for lower- and middle-income HDB households. Eligible households will receive up to $190 in U-Save rebates and up to one month of S&CC rebates in April, depending on their flat type, the ministry added. The U-Save rebates amount for April and July 2026 will include the additional U-Save rebates announced during Budget 2026.In total, households can receive up to $570 in U-Save rebates and 3.5 months of S&CC rebates.  The rebates are disbursed quarterly in April, July, October, and January each year, with the April payout marking the first quarterly disbursement for 2026. 

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has flagged social media companies X and TikTok for «serious weaknesses» in proactively detecting and removing egregiously harmful content.The two firms did not adequately act against the child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEM) and terrorism content uploaded to the respective platforms, said IMDA on Tuesday (March 31).The industry regulator issued letters of caution to the two social media services to place them both under enhanced supervision.The warning requires them to regularly provide updates on implementing rectification measures, which is enhancing their automated detection systems to flag violations.The Code of Practice for Online Safety - Social Media Services requires designated social media services to proactively detect and swiftly remove CSEM and terrorism content before they are viewed by users.In its Online Safety Assessment Report in 2025, IMDA identified 73 cases of CSEM that originated from or targeted Singapore users on X, up from 33 in 2024.On TikTok, 17 cases of terrorism content shared by Singapore-based accounts were found.

[New Zimbabwe] While the opposition leaders were busy tearing at and besmirching each other on digital media, ZANU PF was laying down a marker at the ongoing public hearings on the Constitutional Amendment Bill.

[allAfrica]

[allAfrica]

Mountains that normally see their peak snowpack in March are brown this year, thanks to a spring heat dome that baked western U.S. for much of the second half of the month. That's raising alarm bells for the fire season that's already ramping up.

As of Wednesday, the federal government will require provinces and territories to start to pay for primary care services, including those provided by nurse practitioners. The new policy aims to ensure Canadians aren't being billed for «medically necessary services.»