Sunday, 31 May 2020

Anger over police killings shatters landscapes in dozens of US cities

People set fire to police cars, threw bottles at police officers and busted windows of storefronts, carrying away TVs and other items even as some protesters urged them to stop
Protectors in Minneapolis. Photo: Reuters
Another night of unrest in every corner of the country left charred and shattered landscapes in dozens of US cities on Sunday as years of festering frustrations over the mistreatment of African-Americans at the hands of police boiled over in expressions of rage met with tear gas and rubber bullets.
Cars and businesses were torched, the words I can’t breathe were spray-painted all over buildings, a fire in a trash bin burned near the gates of the White House, and thousands marched peacefully through city streets to protest the death of George Floyd, a black man who died Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on his neck until he stopped breathing.


His death is one of a litany of racial tragedies that have thrown the country into chaos amid the coronavirus pandemic that has left millions out of work and killed more than 100,000 people in the US, including disproportionate numbers of black people. “We’re sick of it. The cops are out of control,” protester Olga Hall said in Washington DC. “They’re wild. There have just been too many dead boys.”

China came little farther this time, will resolve diplomatically: Rajnath

Indian and Chinese troops used to come face to face on the LAC many times but this time the situation is different, said the defence minister in a TV interview
Rajnath Singh
As Indian and Chinese troops remain engaged in a tense border standoff, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday asserted that the government will not allow India’s pride to be hurt under any circumstances even as he said bilateral talks were on at military and diplomatic levels to resolve the row. Singh also said that he conveyed to US Defence Secretary Mark T Esper during a telephonic conversation on Friday that India and China have an existing mechanisms to resolve “problems” through talks at diplomatic and military levels.
In the midst of the flare-ups between Indian and Chinese armies, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he was “ready, willing and able to mediate” between the two countries. He reiterated the offer on Thursday as well. The Ministry of External Affairs indirectly rejected the offer two days ago, but Singh became the first central minister to speak on India’s position on the issue with clarity.


In an interview to ABP News, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Indian and Chinese troops used to come face to face on the LAC many times but this time the situation is different. He also said that Chinese troops have come in a little farther than usual this time. In an interview to ABP News, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Indian and Chinese troops used to come face to face on the LAC many times but this time the situation is different. He also said that Chinese troops have come in a little farther than usual this time…Read More

Unlock 1.0 kicks in: Hotels, malls, places of worship to open from June 8

With this, the Centre has outlined a plan to reopen nearly all activities outside of containment zones starting Monday.
malls, retailers, sanitation, disinfectant, retail, shops, brand, clothes, shopping, spending, sale, consumer
The Centre on Saturday eased the lockdown curbs significantly while announcing what it said was ‘’unlock 1’’ with an “economic focus”. With this, the Centre has outlined a plan to reopen nearly all activities outside of containment zones starting Monday. Places of worship, hotels, restaurants and malls can resume business by June 8, it has said. Coinciding with this, some states have extended the lockdown for 15 to 30 days.
For areas in containment zones, the Centre has extended the lockdown till June 30. It’s up to the local authorities to demarcate containment and buffer zones. According to available data, Delhi has 122 containment zones including in commercial and residential areas, while Mumbai has 684. Around 90 per cent of the containment zones in Mumbai are in slums and chawls, including 11 in Dharavi. Kolkata had 286 such zones before the onset of cyclone Amphan, Bengaluru has 25, Pune 65 and Pimpri Chinchwad another 46. With lockdown 4.0 ending on Sunday, the Centre has issued detailed guidelines for phased reopening of all prohibited activities….Read Full Story

Modi indicates restricting imports of goods that can be made in India

With this, the Centre has outlined a plan to reopen nearly all activities outside of containment zones starting Monday.
malls, retailers, sanitation, disinfectant, retail, shops, brand, clothes, shopping, spending, sale, consumer
The Centre on Saturday eased the lockdown curbs significantly while announcing what it said was ‘’unlock 1’’ with an “economic focus”. With this, the Centre has outlined a plan to reopen nearly all activities outside of containment zones starting Monday. Places of worship, hotels, restaurants and malls can resume business by June 8, it has said. Coinciding with this, some states have extended the lockdown for 15 to 30 days.
For areas in containment zones, the Centre has extended the lockdown till June 30. It’s up to the local authorities to demarcate containment and buffer zones. According to available data, Delhi has 122 containment zones including in commercial and residential areas, while Mumbai has 684. Around 90 per cent of the containment zones in Mumbai are in slums and chawls, including 11 in Dharavi. Kolkata had 286 such zones before the onset of cyclone Amphan, Bengaluru has 25, Pune 65 and Pimpri Chinchwad another 46. With lockdown 4.0 ending on Sunday, the Centre has issued detailed guidelines for phased reopening of all prohibited activities….Read Full Story

Thursday, 28 May 2020

Capgemini COO Thierry Delaporte becomes new Wipro CEO and MD

Neemuchwala will step down as CEO on June 1 while executive chairman Rishad Premji will oversee day-to-day operations of the company until Delaporte takes over on July 6
Thierry Delaporte
IT services major Wipro on Friday said it has appointed Capgemini Group veteran Thierry Delaporte as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, effective July 6, 2020. In January this year, the company had said its CEO and Managing Director Abidali Z Neemuchwala had decided to step down from the company. Abidali Neemuchwala will relinquish his position as CEO and MD on June 1.
Rishad Premji will oversee the day-to-day operations of the company until July 5, Wipro said in a statement. “Until recently, Thierry Delaporte was the Chief Operating Officer of Capgemini Group and a member of its group executive board. During his 25 year career with Capgemini, he held several leadership roles,” it said. He also oversaw Capgemini’s India operations, and led the group’s transformation agenda, conceptualising and driving several strategic programs across various business units, it added.
“Thierry has an exceptional leadership track record, strong international exposure, deep strategic expertise, a unique ability to forge long-standing client relationships, and proven experience of driving transformation and managing technological disruption. We believe that Thierry is the right person to lead Wipro in its next phase of growth,” Rishad Premji, Chairman of Wipro, said.


Delaporte will be based in Paris and will report to Rishad Premji. “I look forward to working closely with Rishad, the board, senior leadership and the hugely talented employees of Wipro to turn a new chapter of growth and build a better tomorrow for all our stakeholders,” Delaporte said…Read More

Coronavirus facts vs myths: Don’t believe these WhatsApp tips on Covid-19

Coronavirus rumours: The spread of misinformation via WhatsApp in many ways mimics how Covid-19 itself moves through societies – from individual to individual, group to group
coronavirus, coronavirus myths
With the total number of coronavirus cases across the world rising consistently, the fear of death and insecurity is mounting. Worse, there is still a big question mark on a possible treatment for Covid-19. And, in the midst of this crisis, misinformation has been spreading virally. On WhatsApp, which boasts over 2 billion users worldwide, and other social messaging networks like Twitter, Facebook and TikTok, the spread of misinformation in many ways seems to mimic how Covid-19 itself moves through societies — from individual to individual, group to group.
Here is afact-check on some of the common myths being circulated on social media and messaging platforms:
1. Myth: Drinking alcohol protects against coronavirus
Fact: Drinking alcohol does not protect you against Covid-19, and can in fact be dangerous. The harmful use of alcohol increases your risk of health problems, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
2. Myth: Thermal scanners can detect coronavirus
Fact: Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people who have a fever. However, they cannot detect people who are infected with Covid-19. There are many causes of fever.
3. Myth: Hydroxychloroquine, Gilead’s remdesivir, and other drugs can cure coronavirus
Fact: While several drug trials are ongoing, there is currently no proof that either hydroxychloroquine or any other drug can cure or prevent Covid-19…


Facebook launches ‘Collab’ music-making app to take on TikTok: Details here

Named Collab, the app is currently available for iOS devices and requires invite to download
Facebook Collab
From a messaging app for Apple Watch to meme creator and discovery platform, Facebook is experimenting on several consumer-focused apps under a new team called ‘NPE Teams, from Facebook’. The new addition to the list is a music collaboration app, which allows content creators and fans to create, watch, and mix and match original music videos. Named Collab, the iOS app will be available through invite-based modfel. To request access, you need to sign up for a waitlist. Invites will be send in batches, starting with people in the US and Canada.
“Collabs are three independent videos that are playing in sync. With the app, you can create your own arrangement by adding in your own recording or by swiping and discovering an arrangement to complete your composition. No musical experience is required,” said the NPE Teams, from Facebook in a blogpost. The content created using Collab app can be published on other platforms, including Facebook-owned Instagram and Facebook Stories.


The Collab is not the first app from NPE Teams. This month itself, the team behind experimental apps rolled out two other apps – CatchUp and Hobbi. The CatchUp app works like a Messenger; it helps you stay in touch with the people by showing if they are available to talk. However, unlike Messenger, the app does not auto set the availability. Instead, you need to indicate that you are available to talk and call.

Coronavirus lockdown: Final-yr college exams will surely be held, says govt

If the situation caused due to the coronavirus does not improve by July, then the first-year students can be promoted based on internal assessment
b-school
HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, in an interaction with 45,000 higher education institutions on Thursday said college final exams would be held for sure across India. “Final exam to honge hi (will definitely take place),” said Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
Important instructions for 1st year college students
If the situation caused due to the coronavirus does not improve by July, then the first-year students can be promoted based on internal assessment.
Important instructions for 2nd year college students
The intermediate year or semester students can be promoted by giving 50 per cent weightage to internal assessment and 50 per cent to previous academic performance if exams are not held in July.
Final year college students
End-term exams will be conducted. “If the situation does not improve by July then, new dates or modes of conducting exams can be thought of but the exam will take place for final year students,” HRD Minister said.
UGC suggestions on the ongoing crisis


The University Grants Commission (UGC) had suggested holding exams for all students in July The UGC had suggested earlier that colleges can also innovate in their assessment parameters. This has lead to several universities and colleges to opt for online mode of examination…Read More

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Maharashtra SSC result 2020: Average marking for cancelled Geography exam

Maharashtra state board result 2020: MSBSHSE has decided to cancel SSC Geography exam and give average marks to students on the subject
exam results
Maharashtra SSC result 2020: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has decided to award an average of marks obtained in other subjects for the Class 10 Geography paper, which was cancelled because of coronavirus lockdown. The exam was scheduled to be held on March 23. Over 1.7 million students appeared for SSC exams in Maharashtra, which were scheduled between March 3 and 23.
“Since the pending Geography paper was cancelled, the board has decided to award SSC students an average of marks obtained in written examination of other subjects,” a circular stated. A similar rule will be applied in case of a vocational subject exam for differently-abled students, it stated. “An average of marks obtained in written, oral, practical and internal evaluation of other subjects will be awarded for the subject,” the notice read.
The Maharashtra class 10 result will be available on the official website – mahresult.nic.in.
Steps to check Maharashtra Board class 10th result 2020 when it is declared
1. Visit the official website – mahresult.nic.in
3. MSBSHSE result page will appear on the screen
4. Enter your Roll Number and other details
5. Click View Result


6. Save a copy of the result

MSBSHSE has not yet confirmed the date on which Maharashtra SSC result 2020 will be announced

Covid-19 crisis: 9 migrant deaths on Shramik Special trains since Monday

Railways on Wednesday said that these passengers had pre-existing health conditions
Vasai: Migrants from Uttar Pradesh leave from Suncity due to no train facility to their native places following only one train was going to Odisha, during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown. (PTI Photo)
As extreme heat, hunger and dehydration add to the woes of returning migrant workers, nine passengers have been found dead in Shramik Special trains since Monday and they included a woman whose toddler son was seen trying to wake her up in a heart wrenching scene at a railway platform in Bihar.
While a few deaths on board the non-air conditioned trains were also reported earlier after they were launched on May 1 to ferry migrant labourers to their home states, the Railways on Wednesday said most of the deceased had pre-existing health conditions, news agency PTI reported.The nine deaths on different trains heading to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar occurred since Monday but were reported by the Railways and civil authorities in the two states on Wednesday.


A video about the toddler son tweeted by Sanjay Yadav, an aide to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and which has gone viral, shows the child walking unsteadily up to his mother’s body, tugging at the blanket placed over her, and when failing to wake her up, covering his own head with it.

SC asks Centre to identify private hospitals for free Covid-19 treatment

Three-judge bench led by CJI says there are private hospitals that have been given land either free of cost or at nominal rates, so they should treat coronavirus-infected patients for free
Covid-19 crisis: Health infra still a fight two months after lockdown
As Covid-19 cases crossed 150,000, claiming more than 4,300 lives in the country, the Supreme Court has asked the government to identify private hospitals which can treat Covid-19 patients for free or at a minimum cost. The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, hearing the matter via video-conferencing, observed that there are private hospitals which have been given land either free or at nominal rates and they should treat coronavirus infected patients for free. “These charitable hospitals should treat patients for free,” the bench said and posted the matter for hearing after one week.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said since it was a policy issue, the government would need to take a decision on the matter. Mehta said he would file a response. The bench was hearing an application filed in a plea that sought a direction for regulating the cost of Covid treatment in private hospitals across the country.


Private hospitals, however, are concerned that the move would put further strain on their resources, arguing that it may not be a sustainable move. “If the government can take care of our costs, we are happy to treat patients for free…Hospitals are already under stress and they are not making money in Covid… We have to pay salaries, buy protective equipment… At this rate, it will be hard for the healthcare sector to survive,” said Alok Roy, chair-Ficci Health Services Committee and chairman, Medica Group of Hospitals…

Uttarakhand Police to file FIR against those spreading forest fire rumours

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said old pictures of forest fires in Chile and China are being circulated on social media platforms to claim that fire broke out in the forests
Why it's a wild summer in Uttarakhand
An FIR is being registered against people, who are spreading rumours about fire in the forests of Uttarakhand, and stringent legal action will be taken against them, said Ashok Kumar, Director General (law and order) on Wednesday. “Some people have spread rumours on social media that a massive fire has broken out in forests of Uttarakhand. It is not true. Photos being shown belong to 2016 when the fire had broken out. Some photos from foreign countries have also been used,” Kumar told ANI.
“I would like to appeal to people to not spread rumours. FIR is being registered against people who spread rumours. Stringent legal action will be taken against them,” he said. Earlier, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said old pictures of forest fires in Chile and China are being circulated on social media platforms to claim that fire broke out in the forests of Uttarakhand.


“A misleading propaganda, using old pics of forest fires of 2016 and 2019 and that of forest fires in Chilean and Chinese forests, is raging on social media. I request everyone to not believe in such motivated campaign. Fire incidents reported until yesterday is way less than previous years,” Rawat said in a tweet…Read More

Over 30,000 rescued under Vande Bharat Mission till May 25: Hardeep Puri

India had launched the largest evacuation exercise to repatriate Indians stranded abroad due to coronavirus-induced lockdown
flights, airlines, aircraft, passengers, aviation
India has evacuated over 30,000 stranded Indians on 158 flights from different countries under Vande Bharat Mission till Monday, said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.The minister announced that another 49,000 people will be repatriated till mid-June.”Mission Vande Bharat flies high. Till May 25, more than 30,000 people have returned to India on 158 flights from different countries and more than 10,000 people have flown out of India on 164 flights. Another 49,000 people will be able to fly until mid-June 2020,” Puri tweeted on Tuesday.


India had launched the largest evacuation exercise to repatriate Indians stranded abroad due to coronavirus-induced lockdown. The exercise began on May 7 and its second phase started on May 16. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently announced that the second phase of the mission has been extended to June 13. On Tuesday, 3,393 Indians returned on 19 flights from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Manila, Cebu, Vancouver, Tel Aviv, Singapore, Birmingham, New York, Moscow, Karaganda, Bishkek and Minsk.

Day 2 of flight resumption: Over 42,000 ferried; 2 test Covid-19 positive

The air carriers also resorted to cancellation of several flights on the second day of resumption of services due to truncated schedules following requests from several states owing to the coronavirus
Passengers, airlines, aviation, protective gear, Delhi International Airport, coronavirus, lockdown, flights, domestic
Domestic airlines ferried nearly 42,000 passengers on 325 flights till 5 pm on Tuesday on the second day of resumption of services.Two travellers were tested positive for coronavirus, perhaps the first time since the flights resumed, while an AirAsia flight carrying 74 people made an emergency landing in Hyderabad.
The air carriers also resorted to cancellation of several flights on the second day of resumption of services due to truncated schedules following requests from several states owing to the coronavirus crisis posing difficulties to hundreds of passengers at several airports. The number of cancellations was not immediately available though Tuesday’s passenger load indicated more travellers taking to flights compared to Monday.
Airlines also began operating from Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday while flights will resume in West Bengal from Thursday that is expected to increase the passenger traffic. Officials said several of the flights operated on Monday were half empty.
IndiGo airline said one of the passengers who travelled on its Chennai-Coimbatore flight on Monday evening has tested positive for Covid-19. The low-cost carrier said the passenger was sitting with all precautionary measures like gloves, mask and face shield and he is currently quarantined at a Coimbatore medical facility.

Tuesday, 26 May 2020

Senior Indian, Chinese Army commanders in talks to defuse tension in Ladakh

Parallel diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Beijing are also working towards a peaceful resolution.
The challenge for India is to compete with a host of smaller Asian nations
High-level Indian and Chinese military commanders met at designated points along the LAC (line of actual control) on May 22 and May 23 to defuse the current situation in Eastern Ladakh. Sources told ANI that parallel diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Beijing were also working towards a peaceful resolution. Since the beginning of May, Chinese army has been involved in several incidents in Eastern Ladakh, along the LAC.
While the Indian and Chinese military commanders are talking face-to-face in Ladakh, diplomatic efforts are underway in the national capitals of the two countries to resolve the situation. The Indian Army has been effectively responding by building and deploying its own capabilities in Eastern Ladakh, including the Galwan sector. Sources have told ANI that no compromise will be made with regard to maintaining the sanctity of India’s borders and that while India believes in peace, it is firm and resolute when it comes to the defence of its territory.


This has been reflected in spirit even in the four or more agreements between India and China, which have historically formed the mechanism for border management. The mechanisms are still in place and working at a bilateral level. Two of them are of 1993 and 1996 and there is a CBM (Confidence Building Measures) in place since 2005 and a border agreement since 2013.

WHAT ARE LOCUST ATTACKS

Locust Attack
Why is locust attack in news? Locusts normally arrive during July-October, but have already caused chaos in Rajasthan. At a time India is battling coronavirus pandemic, locusts present a new worry with their potential for exponential growth and crop destruction. Standing crops and vegetables in Rajasthan, Punajb, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh face a major threat as swarms of locust have been reported a month in advance. There is an alert for Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Delhi as well.
Locusts in India, Pakistan Lcusts are normally seen in India between July-October and mostly as solitary insects or in small isolated groups. Their being spotted along the India-Pakistan border before mid-April this time — and coming after the damage they caused to the growing rabi crops along western Rajasthan and parts of northern Gujarat during December-January — has raised the alarm bells.Read More..

Human trials for Covid-19 vaccine may begin in 6 months: ICMR Official

“The virus strain isolated at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) laboratory in Pune will be used to develop the vaccine”
coronavirus, test
As India ranked 10th in the global infection list, overtaking Iran, which was an early hotspot of coronavirus, India’s top medical body has said the human trials of Covid-19 vaccine may begin at least in six months. Speaking to IANS, Dr. Rajni Kant, Director Regional Medical Research Centre and Head at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said, “The virus strain isolated at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) laboratory in Pune will be used to develop the vaccine, and this strain has been successfully transferred to the Bharat Biotech International Ltd. (BBIL). It is expected that the human trials of the vaccine will begin in at least six months.”
Queried on the focus areas as India inches closer to 140,000 Covid-19 cases, Kant said we should not get anxious about the rapid increase in numbers, especially in the past week, which saw 5,000 Covid-19 cases daily, instead focus on protecting the most vulnerable group “We should not fear from increasing Covid-19 cases. The elderly and people with comorbidities need protection. This is the highly vulnerable group, and we need to deploy resources and develop strategies to keep the mortality rate as low as possible in this group,” said Kant.


Queried on the focus areas as India inches closer to 140,000 Covid-19 cases, Kant said we should not get anxious about the rapid increase in numbers, especially in the past week, which saw 5,000 Covid-19 cases daily, instead focus on protecting the most vulnerable group “We should not fear from increasing Covid-19 cases. The elderly and people with comorbidities need protection. This is the highly vulnerable group, and we need to deploy resources and develop strategies to keep the mortality rate as low as possible in this group,” said Kant.

Coronarvirus intermission? More than 80% of film audience miss theatres

That and more is what ‘Back to the Theatre’, consulting firm Ormax Media’s report on the ‘Expected theatre-going behaviour in India post Covid-19,’ states
Overlooked no more: Alice Guy Blache, world's first female filmmaker
This is something squabbling theatre chains, studios, and even over-the-top (OTT) providers should read. Audiences are missing theatres desperately and will go back to them within two-three weeks of them reopening. All those hours of films on television and OTT have not reduced the audience’s need for the theatrical experience. However, the precautions taken for social distancing and sanitisation by theatres will play a crucial role in their decision to visit. They would rather have theatres keep the ticket price unchanged and spend money on implementing safety measures than discount ticket prices.
That and more is what ‘Back to the Theatre’, consulting firm Ormax Media’s report on the ‘Expected theatre-going behaviour in India post Covid-19,’ states. It is based on online interviews with 1,000 people across 58 cities in India.Since Ormax self-funded the research, the sample is small but it is “representative,” asserts Shailesh Kapoor, chief executive officer, Ormax Media. Each of the respondents is a regular theatregoer — watched a film in a theatre at least once in two months.


More than 80 per cent of the Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu film audience miss the theatres. Note that these are the three largest segments of the Rs 19,100-crore Indian film business. Much of the report is bound bring cheer to the industry. There are, however, two things that could be downers…Read Full Story

Monday, 25 May 2020

Over 500 flights take off, but states create plane confusion at airports

Maharashtra clears air, says short-term visitors exempt from isolation
Passengers, airlines, aviation, protective gear, Delhi International Airport, coronavirus, lockdown, flights, domestic
It was a day of delight and despair for passengers as domestic airlines resumed flights on Monday after two months of suspension. While more than 39,000 people flew on Day One, several hundred remained stranded due to last minute cancellations.
Even as airlines were supposed to operate 33 per cent of the approved summer schedule, they were forced to rework their itineraries late Sunday evening following many rounds of discussions between the Centre and states. The original schedule turned upside down as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, allowed operations with only limited number of flights…
Industry sources estimated the average passenger load on Monday at around 55 per cent, with IndiGo operating half the total flights. For some flights, fewer than 10 passengers turned up. Alliance Air’s Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Dehradun flights flew with two and three passengers only, executives confirmed.


While flights from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Northeast states saw 100-plus passengers each, Bengaluru and Mumbai-bound flights from the Capital had lower number of passengers. Short-duration visitors, including business travellers, will not be required to undergo isolation in Maharashtra, the state said in its standard operating procedures for domestic air travel on Monday…Read More

Covid-19 crisis: Thackeray, Piyush Goyal fight it out over migrant trains

Piyush Goyal in his tweets demanded list of passengers from the Maharashtra government on the basis of the guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs
Vasai: Migrants from Uttar Pradesh leave from Suncity due to no train facility to their native places following only one train was going to Odisha, during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown. (PTI Photo)
The demand for more Shramik special trains by Maharashtra to transport stranded migrants led to a political tug of war on Sunday, with Union Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal retorting with a dozen tweets stating that his ministry was ready to send as many trains as required, if the state can ensure that it will not return empty. The war of words started with a statement by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday that though his state had demanded around 80 Shramik trains a day, the Centre is providing only 30-40 a day.
Maharashtra has already made a list of migrants who want to go to their native states, he added. Soon after this statement, Goyal took a dig at Thackeray through a series of tweets till 2 am on Monday night. Thackeray is the second state chief minister after West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee, with whom Goyal is in a duel over Shramik trains.
Goyal in his tweets demanded list of passengers from the Maharashtra government on the basis of the guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs, stating the source state will have to provide a list of passengers to the national transporter and also to the destination state.


“Where is the list for 125 trains from Maharashtra? As of 2 am, received list of only 46 trains of which five are to West Bengal and Odisha, which cannot operate due to cyclone Amphan. We are notifying only 41 trains for today despite being prepared for 125,” the minister Tweeted. The Indian Railways had started Shramik trains from May 1 to May 23, around 2,600 trains were operated transporting over 3.5 million passengers,” he said…Read More

Bengaluru airport introduces ‘contactless journey’ to contain Covid-19

According to the BIAL, the features include pre-entry process, where the passengers have to wear masks and carry e-boarding or printed passes
Bengaluru Airport
The Bengaluru airport management is introducing a unique feature of parking-to-boarding contactless journey for the passengers as the domestic flight resumes from Monday. In order to contain coronavirus transmission among passengers and staff, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) introduced the new feature of contactless journey right from pre-entry check to security check and boarding.
“Contactless would be the buzzword at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru when operations resume from May 25,” the BIAL said in a statement on Sunday. With a greater emphasis on minimum touch and minimum exposure between passengers and airport personnel, BIAL aims to minimise all physical contact at the airport.


The technology will continue to enable a seamless airport journey, with greater emphasis on health and safety, the statement said. “We have introduced innovative contactless procedures to minimise exposure at the airport,” Hari Marar, managing director and chief executive officer of BIAL, said. “These enhancements demonstrate our continued commitment to keep our passengers safe in this environment.”

Sunday, 24 May 2020

I am doing fine after taking a two-week course of hydroxychloroquine: Trump

Trump has spent weeks pushing the drug as a potential treatment or prophylaxis for Covid-19 against the cautionary advice of many of his administration’s top medical professionals

Trump says he has finished taking hydroxychloroquine as coronavirus therapy

President Donald Trump says he’s doing fine after taking a two-week course of an unproven malaria drug for Covid-19. Trump was addressing his disclosure last week that he was taking hydroxychloroquine and a zinc supplement. He said the regimen was meant to help prevent infection after two White House staffers tested positive for the coronavirus.
Trump has spent weeks pushing the drug as a potential treatment or prophylaxis for Covid-19 against the cautionary advice of many of his administration’s top medical professionals.Trump was addressing his disclosure last week that he was taking hydroxychloroquine and a zinc supplement. He said the regimen was meant to help prevent infection after two White House staffers tested positive for the coronavirus. Trump has spent weeks pushing the drug as a potential treatment or prophylaxis for Covid-19 against the cautionary advice of many of his administration’s top medical professionals.


Speaking in an interview aired on the Sunday news program Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson, Trump said that “I just finished the course of drug treatments and to the best of my knowledge, here I am. If it’s something that helps, that’s all I want.”

States need to ask for permission if they want UP workers back: Adityanath

States need to ask for permission if they want UP workers back: Adityanath
Vasai: Migrants from Uttar Pradesh leave from Suncity due to no train facility to their native places following only one train was going to Odisha, during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown. (PTI Photo)
Any state that wants migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh back has to seek permission from the government and need to ensure their socio-legal-monetary rights, Chief Minister Adityanath said on Sunday. Upset that migrant labourers were “not properly taken care of” by various states in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown, Adityanath said, “These workers are our biggest resource and will give them employment in Uttar Pradesh as state government is going to set up a commission for their employment.”
“They are our people… and if some states want them back, they have to seek permission from the state government,” Adityanath said in an interaction with the RSS-affiliated publications ‘Panchjanya’ and ‘Organiser’.

As per feedback received from migrant workers who reached Uttar Pradesh, Adityanath said safeguarding their rights should get utmost attention and importance, news agency PTI reported. “All migrant workers are being registered and their skills mapped. Any state or entity interested in inviting migrant workers will need to assure and provide for their socio-legal-monetary rights,” he said. About the commission, Adityanath said it has been proposed to look into various factors associated with migrant workers’ rights and to prevent exploitation while providing an official framework to ensure socio-economic-legal support for them…Read More

14th BRICS summit to review current global issues, reach key agreements

  At the   14th BRICS summit   which is to be hosted by China in a virtual mode on 23-24 June, the member nations will review the current gl...