India's rise on the global stage dominated headlines in 2023, and the effects of that are on witness in 2024 and beyond. India's affluent class is growing and is set to surpass the 100 million mark in a few years. So, what are the factors that are leading to this wealth boom in India and what does this mean for the global economy?

India's affluent class to reach 100 million by 2027

US Department of Education has concluded its inquiry into a shocking sexual misconduct incident at the Takoma/Silver Spring Campus of Montgomery College in Maryland. The investigation centered around a professor who, in 2019, brazenly asked female students to strip during class.

Under the guise of conducting a medical assessment, the professor shamelessly demanded that these young women remove their shirts, leaving them clothed only in sports bras. Such a request was utterly uncalled for, as there was no legitimate reason for clothing removal and the demand was totally unnecessary for the assessment, according to&nbsp;Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR).&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dog-suffocates-in-scorching-car-as-careless-pet-owners-enjoy-tour-of-taj-mahal-611528">Dog suffocates in scorching car as careless pet owners enjoy tour of Taj Mahal</a>

The professor also made inappropriate comments about the students' nipples and breast positioning, and demanded the removal of lab coats worn by some students for modesty. The OCR's findings were detailed in a press release on Wednesday, reported Fox News.&nbsp;

<h2>College's investigation and actions taken</h2>

Following a three-month investigation, Montgomery College concluded that the professor had created a hostile environment based on sex. The professor was immediately placed on leave upon the filing of a report and was subsequently terminated. The OCR commended the college for its swift response and its mostly compliant actions with regard to Title IX guidelines.

<h2>Title IX compliance and notification</h2>

The OCR initiated its investigation in response to a student's claim that the college had discriminated against her by not promptly and equitably addressing her sexual harassment complaint.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-witnesses-its-hottest-june-since-records-began-nearly-140-years-ago-met-office-611507">UK witnesses hottest June since records began nearly 140 years ago: Met Office</a>

While the office determined that the college followed Title IX guidelines, it found that the college failed to notify affected students about the conclusion of the investigation.

<h2>Additional steps</h2>

To address the notification issue and ensure the end of a hostile environment, OCR issued a resolution agreement. The agreement mandates that the college provide written notice to all students who were in the class, informing them of the completed investigation and outlining the steps taken to eliminate the hostile environment.&nbsp;

Watch | Japan set to release contaminated Fukushima water into Pacific, angering China

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Furthermore, the college must share documentation from a 2022 campus climate survey with OCR and take necessary steps to address any relevant information from the survey.

<h2>Supportive services and student impact</h2>

Impacted students were offered supportive services such as counseling, academic assistance, and tuition reimbursement. One student expressed that she believed she failed the class due to the harassment, and the college provided her the opportunity to re-enroll in the course at their expense.

Montgomery College's spokesperson, Marcus Rosano, expressed the college's support for the determinations and resolutions outlined in the Department of Education's final report. The spokesperson declined to disclose the professor's identity in compliance with college policy regarding personnel matters.

Moreover, Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando said, "I do think the most important thing happened when this horrible sexual harassment happened, the person was removed immediately when the complaint came in and they were shortly thereafter fired. I think that worked."&nbsp;

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US Department of Education has concluded its inquiry into a shocking sexual misconduct incident at the Takoma/Silver Spring Campus of Montgomery College in Maryland.

US Department of Education has concluded its inquiry into a shocking sexual misconduct incident at the Takoma/Silver Spring Campus of Montgomery College in Maryland. The investigation centered around a professor who, in 2019, brazenly asked female students to strip during class. Under the guise of conducting a medical assessment, the professor shamelessly demanded that these young women remove their shirts, leaving them clothed only in sports bras. Such a request was utterly uncalled for, as there was no legitimate reason for clothing removal and the demand was totally unnecessary for the assessment, according to Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Also Read | Dog suffocates in scorching car as careless pet owners enjoy tour of Taj Mahal The professor also made inappropriate comments about the students' nipples and breast positioning, and demanded the removal of lab coats worn by some students for modesty. The OCR's findings were detailed in a press release on Wednesday, reported Fox News. College's investigation and actions taken Following a three-month investigation, Montgomery College concluded that the professor had created a hostile environment based on sex. The professor was immediately placed on leave upon the filing of a report and was subsequently terminated. The OCR commended the college for its swift response and its mostly compliant actions with regard to Title IX guidelines. Title IX compliance and notification The OCR initiated its investigation in response to a student's claim that the college had discriminated against her by not promptly and equitably addressing her sexual harassment complaint. Also Read | UK witnesses hottest June since records began nearly 140 years ago: Met Office While the office determined that the college followed Title IX guidelines, it found that the college failed to notify affected students about the conclusion of the investigation. Additional steps To address the notification issue and ensure the end of a hostile environment, OCR issued a resolution agreement. The agreement mandates that the college provide written notice to all students who were in the class, informing them of the completed investigation and outlining the steps taken to eliminate the hostile environment. Watch | Japan set to release contaminated Fukushima water into Pacific, angering China × Furthermore, the college must share documentation from a 2022 campus climate survey with OCR and take necessary steps to address any relevant information from the survey. Supportive services and student impact Impacted students were offered supportive services such as counseling, academic assistance, and tuition reimbursement. One student expressed that she believed she failed the class due to the harassment, and the college provided her the opportunity to re-enroll in the course at their expense. Montgomery College's spokesperson, Marcus Rosano, expressed the college's support for the determinations and resolutions outlined in the Department of Education's final report. The spokesperson declined to disclose the professor's identity in compliance with college policy regarding personnel matters. Moreover, Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando said, "I do think the most important thing happened when this horrible sexual harassment happened, the person was removed immediately when the complaint came in and they were shortly thereafter fired. I think that worked." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

US: Professor who demanded female students to strip in class fired

Islamabad says it has the right to defend itself. Will this doctrine boomerang? Priyanka Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Pakistan is heading for a civil war

President Joe Biden's administration will announce a new rule Thursday drastically cutting the use of a group of powerful&nbsp;greenhouse&nbsp;gases&nbsp;commonly found in refrigerators and air conditioners, officials said.

The super-pollutants, known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), can be hundreds to thousands times more&nbsp;potent&nbsp;than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, exacerbating the climate crisis.

A set of new actions unveiled by the government "are expected to reduce emissions by the equivalent of 4.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2050," White House national climate advisor Gina McCarthy told reporters.

"That's as much as three entire years of emissions from our power sector."

Last year, Congress passed a law with support from both Democrats and Republicans to phase&nbsp;down&nbsp;HFCs by 85 percent below baseline levels within the next 15 years.

The move has support from US industry, which sees it as an opportunity to manufacture and sell their non-HFC refrigerants to the world.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/seat-is-ours-and-will-remain-that-way-france-rubbishes-reports-about-giving-up-unsc-seat-to-eu-414968">Also read |&nbsp;'Seat is ours and will remain that way': France rubbishes reports about giving up UNSC seat to EU</a>

Under the new actions, the government will also&nbsp;crack&nbsp;down&nbsp;on&nbsp;the illegal production and sale of HFCs, and support research into new alternatives.

The reductions would bring the United States in line with commitments called for by a treaty signed in Kigali in 2016, even though the world's number one economy has not yet ratified the deal.&nbsp;

If similar reductions are implemented worldwide, it can prevent up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of planetary heating by the end of this century, Environmental Protection Agency chief Michael Regan told reporters.

The Paris climate accord of 2015 calls for the world to hold warming to 1.5C to avert a future filled with extreme weather events, desertification, mass species extinction and food insecurity.&nbsp;

HFCs were not always considered bad news.

They were first introduced in the 1990s, before their powerful heat-trapping properties were understood, to replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that had been found to erode the ozone layer.

President Joe Biden's administration will announce a new rule Thursday drastically cutting the use of a group of powerful greenhouse gases commonly found in refrigerators and air conditioners, officials said.

President Joe Biden's administration will announce a new rule Thursday drastically cutting the use of a group of powerful greenhouse gases commonly found in refrigerators and air conditioners, officials said. The super-pollutants, known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), can be hundreds to thousands times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, exacerbating the climate crisis. A set of new actions unveiled by the government "are expected to reduce emissions by the equivalent of 4.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2050," White House national climate advisor Gina McCarthy told reporters. "That's as much as three entire years of emissions from our power sector." Last year, Congress passed a law with support from both Democrats and Republicans to phase down HFCs by 85 percent below baseline levels within the next 15 years. The move has support from US industry, which sees it as an opportunity to manufacture and sell their non-HFC refrigerants to the world. Also read | 'Seat is ours and will remain that way': France rubbishes reports about giving up UNSC seat to EU Under the new actions, the government will also crack down on the illegal production and sale of HFCs, and support research into new alternatives. The reductions would bring the United States in line with commitments called for by a treaty signed in Kigali in 2016, even though the world's number one economy has not yet ratified the deal. If similar reductions are implemented worldwide, it can prevent up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of planetary heating by the end of this century, Environmental Protection Agency chief Michael Regan told reporters. The Paris climate accord of 2015 calls for the world to hold warming to 1.5C to avert a future filled with extreme weather events, desertification, mass species extinction and food insecurity. HFCs were not always considered bad news. They were first introduced in the 1990s, before their powerful heat-trapping properties were understood, to replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that had been found to erode the ozone layer.

US to crack down on potent class of greenhouse gases

Japan, the land of anime and manga which enjoys great readership all over the world, will be getting its first high school “manga studies” department in the country, local authorities announced on Monday.

The department is expected to come up at Kumamoto Prefectural Takamori High School in the town of Takamori as early as spring 2023, the Kumamoto Prefectural Board of Education said.

The move is aimed to revitalize the school by tapping both the public and private sectors to give students the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts, including professional manga artists.

Manga—commonly referred to as comics all over the world—are a part of Japanese popular culture, constituting a large market&nbsp;worth almost 613 billion Japanese yen in 2020.

Manga is a type of comic specifically produced in Japan which follows a certain style that was developed in the country as a mixture of Japanese and foreign influences.&nbsp;

According to the prefectural education board, there are already university departments and special high school courses where students can study manga to an expert level, but establishing an entire high school department dedicated to the craft is a first in Japan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/record-breaking-japans-anime-film-demon-slayer-lands-in-us-cinemas-366564">Record-breaking Japan's anime film 'Demon Slayer' lands in U.S. cinemas</a>

Under a partnership agreement with Tokyo-based manga publisher Coamix Co., manga artists and editors will teach drawing techniques, manga knowledge, and other facets of the industry.

During the partnership agreement signing ceremony held at the Kumamoto Prefectural Government headquarters on September 8, Coamix board member Shuichi Mochida said, “We'd like to lay out a framework under which students can make their professional debut while attending the school.”

Prefectural education board head Yoichi Koga added, “We'll proceed with the preparations so that it (the new department) can become a model for enhancing the appeal of prefectural high schools.”

According to an estimate, France represents about 40% of the European manga market published in the country. In the United States, manga comprises a small (but growing) industry.

Apart from the US and Europe, manga reportedly enjoys great readership in other English-speaking nations like Canada, Australia and New Zealand with manga being quite popular in Australia compared to other English speaking countries.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japan, the land of anime and manga which enjoys great readership all over the world, will be getting its first high school “manga studies” department in the country, local authorities announced on Monday.

Japan, the land of anime and manga which enjoys great readership all over the world, will be getting its first high school “manga studies” department in the country, local authorities announced on Monday. The department is expected to come up at Kumamoto Prefectural Takamori High School in the town of Takamori as early as spring 2023, the Kumamoto Prefectural Board of Education said. The move is aimed to revitalize the school by tapping both the public and private sectors to give students the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts, including professional manga artists. Manga—commonly referred to as comics all over the world—are a part of Japanese popular culture, constituting a large market worth almost 613 billion Japanese yen in 2020. Manga is a type of comic specifically produced in Japan which follows a certain style that was developed in the country as a mixture of Japanese and foreign influences. According to the prefectural education board, there are already university departments and special high school courses where students can study manga to an expert level, but establishing an entire high school department dedicated to the craft is a first in Japan. Also read | Record-breaking Japan's anime film 'Demon Slayer' lands in U.S. cinemas Under a partnership agreement with Tokyo-based manga publisher Coamix Co., manga artists and editors will teach drawing techniques, manga knowledge, and other facets of the industry. During the partnership agreement signing ceremony held at the Kumamoto Prefectural Government headquarters on September 8, Coamix board member Shuichi Mochida said, “We'd like to lay out a framework under which students can make their professional debut while attending the school.” Prefectural education board head Yoichi Koga added, “We'll proceed with the preparations so that it (the new department) can become a model for enhancing the appeal of prefectural high schools.” According to an estimate, France represents about 40% of the European manga market published in the country. In the United States, manga comprises a small (but growing) industry. Apart from the US and Europe, manga reportedly enjoys great readership in other English-speaking nations like Canada, Australia and New Zealand with manga being quite popular in Australia compared to other English speaking countries. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan to get its 1st high school ‘manga studies’ department, to start classes by 2023

The Taliban’s acting higher education minister on Sunday imposed a ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan, saying that “the women will be allowed to study in university, but they won’t be sitting in the same classroom with the men.”

Abdul Baqi Haqqani said the Taliban group will respect progress made in women’s rights, but only according to their strict interpretation of Islamic law.

“The... people of Afghanistan will continue their higher education in the light of Sharia law in safety without being in a mixed male and female environment,” AFP quoted Abdul Baqi Haqqani while speaking at a meeting with elders, known as a loya jirga.

He further said their government will ensure that girls and boys are segregated at primary and secondary schools.

“The Taliban wants to create a reasonable and Islamic curriculum that is in line with our Islamic, national and historical values and, on the other hand, be able to compete with other countries,” Haqqani said.

Also read |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-kill-afghan-folk-singer-days-after-having-tea-with-him-409240">Taliban kill Afghan folk singer days after having tea with him</a>

Ever since the Taliban stormed to power in mid-August usurping the western-backed government, the radical Islamist group have repeatedly stressed to rule differently than their 1990s stint when girls and women were banned from education.

However, recent reports of the Taliban killing popular local folk singer Fawad Andarabi and comedian Nazar Mohammad have reinstated fears of the earlier days of the oppressive regime where entertainment was considered a sin as per their understanding of Islamic law.

The Taliban have yet to announce their government, saying they would wait until after the departure of US and foreign forces.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban’s acting higher education minister on Sunday imposed a ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan, saying that “the women will be allowed to study in university, but they won’t be sitting in the same classroom with the men.

The Taliban’s acting higher education minister on Sunday imposed a ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan, saying that “the women will be allowed to study in university, but they won’t be sitting in the same classroom with the men.” Abdul Baqi Haqqani said the Taliban group will respect progress made in women’s rights, but only according to their strict interpretation of Islamic law. “The... people of Afghanistan will continue their higher education in the light of Sharia law in safety without being in a mixed male and female environment,” AFP quoted Abdul Baqi Haqqani while speaking at a meeting with elders, known as a loya jirga. He further said their government will ensure that girls and boys are segregated at primary and secondary schools. “The Taliban wants to create a reasonable and Islamic curriculum that is in line with our Islamic, national and historical values and, on the other hand, be able to compete with other countries,” Haqqani said. Also read | Taliban kill Afghan folk singer days after having tea with him Ever since the Taliban stormed to power in mid-August usurping the western-backed government, the radical Islamist group have repeatedly stressed to rule differently than their 1990s stint when girls and women were banned from education. However, recent reports of the Taliban killing popular local folk singer Fawad Andarabi and comedian Nazar Mohammad have reinstated fears of the earlier days of the oppressive regime where entertainment was considered a sin as per their understanding of Islamic law. The Taliban have yet to announce their government, saying they would wait until after the departure of US and foreign forces. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban 2.0: Women allowed to study, but ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan

A 14-year-old girl ended her life after authorities at the private school where she studied allegedly didn&#39;t allow her to attend classes for not paying the fees, police said.

The girl, a class IX student, allegedly hanged herself from a ceiling fan at her house in Malkajgiri area today evening.

She was feeling humiliated after she was asked to leave the class for non-payment of fees, family members alleged.

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Class 9th student suicide case: Medchal-Malkajgiri District Education Officer (DEO) conducted preliminary investigation, will submit report recommending cancellation of the school&rsquo;s recognition to the commissioner of School Education Department by evening <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hyderabad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hyderabad</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/959321538154631168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Based on the complaint of family members, Malkajgiri police registered a case of abetment of suicide against the school officials. Further investigation is underway.

The 14-year-old was reportedly not allowed to attend class because her school fees had not been paid

A 14-year-old girl ended her life after authorities at the private school where she studied allegedly didn't allow her to attend classes for not paying the fees, police said. The girl, a class IX student, allegedly hanged herself from a ceiling fan at her house in Malkajgiri area today evening. She was feeling humiliated after she was asked to leave the class for non-payment of fees, family members alleged. Class 9th student suicide case: Medchal-Malkajgiri District Education Officer (DEO) conducted preliminary investigation, will submit report recommending cancellation of the school’s recognition to the commissioner of School Education Department by evening #Hyderabad — ANI (@ANI) February 2, 2018 × Based on the complaint of family members, Malkajgiri police registered a case of abetment of suicide against the school officials. Further investigation is underway.

Hyderabad: Girl not allowed to attend school, commits suicide

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