India tally rises to 440K; Patanjali launches ayurvedic drug for Covid-19

According to government data, the situation in India is not as alarming as some of the other countries, given a limited spread on a per-capita basis

India reported nearly 15,000 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 440,215, an increase of 3.5% according to the Health Ministry.The country’s death toll has crossed the 14,000 mark with 312 fatalities in a day. India is the fourth-most-affected country by total cases, and eighth by death toll.

According to government data, however, the situation in India is not as alarming as some of the other countries, given a limited spread on a per-capita basis. India has 30.04 coronavirus cases per 100,000 population, which is just a little more than a third of the global average of 114.67, the health ministry has said, referring to the WHO Situation Report 153, dated June 21.

In a piece of good news, India’s unemployment rate fell to its pre-lockdown level of 8.5 per cent in the week ended June 21. The rate had spiked from 8.75 per cent in March to 23.5 per cent in April and peaked at 27 per cent in May. Baba Ramdev-led Patanjali Ayurved, meanwhile, is launching a medicine, ‘Coronil’, for treating Covid-19 in Haridwar today. Acharya Balkrishna, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Patanjali, had earlier this month claimed that an Ayurvedic medicine developed by the company has been able to cure Covid-19 patients within 5-14 days…Read More

Mumbai terror attack accused Rana not a flight risk: Attorney to US court

US District Judge Jacqueline Chooljian of the Central District of California has scheduled his bond hearing for June 30

Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana, who was rearrested in Los Angeles on an extradition request by India for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, is not a flight risk, his attorney has told a US court and proposed a $1.5 million bond for his release. Rana (59), was recently released from jail on compassionate ground after testing positive for Covid-19. However, he was rearrested in Los Angeles on June 10 following an extradition request by India.

US District Judge Jacqueline Chooljian of the Central District of California has scheduled his bond hearing for June 30. Rana should be released on a robust bond: secured by approximately $1.5 million in property pledged by family and friends and under the supervision of his daughter, Lemaan Rana, a matriculating medical student and PhD candidate, Amy Karlin, the Interim Federal Public Defender said in the court submission on behalf of Rana.

India seeks his arrest on a number of offences, including the conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit forgery for the purpose of cheating, and murder under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He is sought for his role in 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Karlin argued that the criminal charges against Rana are largely identical to those for which he already went to trial — namely, that Rana conspired with his childhood friend and Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist David Coleman Headley to carry out the terror attack in Mumbai which left 166 people, including six Americans, dead….

Galwan clash: PM must be mindful of his words, says Manmohan Singh

On Friday, Modi had said, at an all-party meeting: "Neither is anyone inside our territory nor are any of our posts captured."

Without charging Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly, former PM Manmohan Singh said Modi must “always be mindful of the implications of his words.”

“At this moment, we stand at historic crossroads. Our government's decisions and actions will have serious bearing on how future generations perceive us. Those who lead us bear the weight of a solemn duty. In our democracy that responsibility rests with the office of the Prime Minister. The prime minister must always be mindful of the implications of his words and declarations on our nation's security as also strategic and territorial interests," Singh said, in his first reaction after the India-China clash at Galwan Valley in which 20 soldiers lost their lives.

On Friday, Modi had said, at an all-party meeting: “Neither is anyone inside our territory nor are any of our posts captured.” The Congress questioned the statement and questioned whether Modi meant Indian territory had been ceded to China. The PMO warned everyone not to derive a "mischievous interpretation" of PM Modi's remark.

"The prime minister's observations that there was no Chinese presence on our side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) pertained to the situation as a consequence of the bravery of our armed forces. The sacrifices of the soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment foiled the attempt of the Chinese side to erect structures and also cleared the attempted transgression at this point of the LAC on that day," the government said...

US H1-B visa ban: Who is affected by Trump’s new rules on work visas?

The effects of the proclamation may not be immediately felt as the issuance of work visas had already dramatically declined due to the coronavirus pandemic

US President Donald Trump suspended the entry of certain foreign workers on Monday until the end of the year, a move the White House said would help the coronavirus-battered economy, but which business groups strongly oppose. The effects of the proclamation may not be immediately felt as the issuance of work visas had already dramatically declined due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The following visa categories are affected:

H-1B: The United States grants 85,000 H-1B visas every year to ‘high-skilled’ workers, often in the technology industry. They are generally valid for up to six years. In fiscal year 2019, the Department of State issued 188,123 H-1B visas for both new applicants and renewals. Some 131,549 were for Indian citizens, followed by 28,483 for mainland Chinese citizens.

ALSO READ: Donald Trump blocks H1B visa as businesses say it will hurt US recovery

Only 143 H-1B visas were issued in May 2020, compared with 13,678 in May 2019, according to Department data.

H-2B: H-2B visas are for seasonal non-agricultural labor. The United States issues 66,000 per year, although it sometimes grants additional visas based on demand. They are generally valid for up to three years and are popular in industries like food processing, hotel work, and landscaping. In fiscal year 2019, the Department of State issued 97,623 H-2B visas for both new applicants and renewals. Some 72,339 were for Mexican citizens…Read More

Pakistani troops shell forward areas along LoC; internet restored in valley

Pakistan has violated the ceasefire over 800 times this year

Pakistani troops opened fire and lobbed mortar shells at forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri and Poonch districts on Monday in violation of a ceasefire agreement, PTI reported. “At about 0330 hours today, Pak army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing of small arms and intense shelling with mortars along LoC in Krishnagati Sector in Poonch district,” a defense spokesman said.The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly, he said. Exchange of fire was going on when last reports came in from the area, the spokesman said.

“Again at about 0530 hours Pak army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector, district Rajouri,” he said. Pakistan has been violating the ceasefire agreement three to four times a day in the past fortnight, officials said. Pakistan has violated the ceasefire over 800 times this year.

ALSO READ: Delhi Police on high alert after intelligence inputs about terror attack

Meanwhile, Mobile Internet was restored in Srinagar district late on Sunday night, 17 hours after it was snapped in view of an encounter between militants and security forces, officials said.The Internet on mobile devices was restored at 11 pm on Sunday, the officials said. It was snapped in the district at 6 am after the encounter broke out in the Zoonimar area of the city. Three militants were killed in the encounter.

Army changes LAC combat rules after China clash: Key points in pictures

Sources said the government had asked the Army to adopt a different tactical approach in guarding the border – the LAC – with China

Use of firearms in face-offs

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After an incident of the violent face-off with China in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army has changed its rules of engagement on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which would allow field commanders to order troops to use firearms under “extraordinary” circumstances.

Full freedom in dealing with situation

The sources said the armed forces have been given full freedom to deal with any act of aggression by China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de-facto border between the two countries. At the all-party meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the armed forces had been given a free hand to take all necessary steps.

Financial powers

In another development, sources said the defence ministry has extended the financial powers given to three vice service chiefs to purchase ammunition and weapons up to Rs 500 crore per acquisition.

‘Be fully prepared’

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asked India’s top military brass to be “fully prepared” to take any unprecedented action at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China…Read More

Donald Trump may announce foreign workers’ visa restrictions today

Asked if there would be exclusions from the new restrictions, Trump said very few.

President Donald Trump said late on Saturday he would announce new restrictions on visas within a couple of days to block the entry of certain foreign workers and protect Americans struggling with a job market devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re going to be announcing something tomorrow or the next day on the visas,” he told Fox News Channel. Asked if there would be exclusions from the new restrictions, Trump said very few. “You need them for big businesses where they have certain people that have been coming in for a long time, but very little exclusion and they’re pretty tight,” he said. “And we may even go very tight for a period of time.” Trump, who has been expected to announce new restrictions, declined to provide further details.

Also Read :  Conspiracy theories around George Soros surge as Floyd protests sweep US

Critics have said Trump looked set to use the pandemic to achieve his longstanding goal of limiting immigration into the United States. His tough stance on immigration is central to his pitch to voters as he runs for re-election. Major American companies, particularly in the tech sector, have urged Trump to refrain from blocking the flow of foreign workers into the United States, saying it would hurt the economy. The new action would be Trump’s latest step to restrict immigration in response to the pandemic and economic fallout.

In April, he ordered a temporary block on some foreigners from permanent residence in the United States. He also announced new health-focused rules in March that allow for the rapid deportation of immigrants caught at the border and virtually cut off access to the US asylum system.At the same time, he announced the land borders with Canada and Mexico would be closed to non-essential crossings, a measure that has been extended several times.

Delhi Police on high alert after intelligence inputs about terror attack

Intelligence agencies have alerted police on the possibility of four to five men entering the national capital with an intention to carry out a terror attack

The Delhi Police has been put on high alert following intelligence inputs about a probable terror threat in the national capital, PTI reported. Intelligence agencies have alerted police on the possibility of four to five men entering the national capital with an intention to carry out a terror attack. The sources, as reported by PTI, said all the 15 police districts have been put on high alert along with elite units of the Crime Branch and the Special Cell. Special vigil is being maintained on Delhi’s borders and a close watch is being kept in market areas and hospitals, which are seeing a large influx of patients these days, they said. Security agencies are on heightened vigil in view of the India-China standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Four terrorists including a Pakistani national were killed in two separate encounters at Srinagar and Kulgam during past 24 hours, Kashmir Police said. On a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of terrorists in Zadibal area of district Srinagar, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police and CRPF in the area.

“During the search operation, the hiding terrorists were repeatedly appealed to surrender through family members & community members of the area but instead they started firing indiscriminately upon search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter,” an official release by Kashmir Police said…Read Full Source

US jobless claims total 1.5 mn last week despite reopening amid Covid-19

The new report also showed that the four-week moving average, a method to iron out data volatility, decreased by 234,500 to reach 1.8 million

The number of initial jobless claims in the United States totalled 1.5 million last week despite continuous reopening efforts across the nation, the Labor Department said.In the week ending June 13, the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits decreased by 58,000 from the prior week to 1,508,000, the 11th weekly decline in a row but remaining high on a historical basis, Xinhua news agency reported.

With the latest numbers, over 45 million initial jobless claims have been filed over the past 13 weeks as Covid-19-induced recession sent ripples through the US labor market, indicating the mounting economic fallout of the outbreak.

The new report also showed that the four-week moving average, a method to iron out data volatility, decreased by 234,500 to reach 1.8 million.The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending June 6 were in California, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, New York, and Maryland. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 14.1 per cent for the week ending June 6, unchanged from the previous week’s revised rate. The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending May 30 was 29.1 million, a decrease of 375,522 from the previous week, according to the report…

Ladakh standoff: Plan to start construction of Ayodhya Ram Temple suspended

The decision comes days after a violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh left 20 Indian Army personnel dead

Amid the Indo-China border standoff, the Ram Mandir trust has put on hold its plan to begin the construction of the temple in Ayodhya. The decision comes days after a violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh left 20 Indian Army personnel dead. Expressing concern over the killing of Indian soldiers, the trust which has been charged with the construction of the temple after the historic Supreme Court verdict last year, said a new date will be decided soon.

ALSO READ: Ram temple in Ayodhya: Trust’s meeting postponed due to Covid-19 lockdown

“The decision to begin construction (of temple) will be taken according to the situation in the country and will be announced officially,” Anil Mishra, member of the trust told PTI. In an official communique, the trust said that the situation at the India-China border is serious and defending the country is most important. The trust also paid tributes to the soldiers. Meanwhile, different Hindu organisations staged protests against China in Ayodhya. While Hindu Mahasabha activists burned the Chinese flag, activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) burned the effigy of Chinese President Xi Jinping and smashed Chinese-made products.

Tariffs, trade barriers: How India plans to protect domestic biz from China

Bilateral trade between China and India was worth $88 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2019, with a trade deficit of $53.5 billion in China’s favour, the widest India has with any country

India plans to impose higher trade barriers and raise import duties on around 300 products from China and elsewhere, two government officials said, as part of an effort to protect domestic businesses. The plan has been under review since at least April, according to a government document seen by Reuters, and is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recently announced self-reliance campaign to promote local products. The new duty structures are likely to be gradually outlined over the next three months, said the sources, who asked not to be named as the plan is still being finalised. India’s finance ministry and trade ministry, which is involved in the discussions, did not respond to requests for comment.

ALSO READ: How should India tackle China in Ladakh

The government is considering raising import duties on 160-200 products and imposing non-tariff barriers – such as licensing requirements or stricter quality checks – on another 100, according to the officials. The decision will target imports worth $8-10 billion with the aim of deterring non-essential lower quality imports which render Indian products uncompetitive, said the first official, who has direct knowledge of the plans.

“We are not targeting any country, but this is one of the ways to reduce a trade deficit that is lopsided with countries like China,” the second official said. Bilateral trade between China and India was worth $88 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2019, with a trade deficit of $53.5 billion in China’s favour, the widest India has with any country.

‘China may have provoked’: Pompeo condoles death of Indian soldiers

Pompeo said the Communist Party has used the pandemic they helped worsen as a smokescreen for ratcheting up their oppression of Hong Kong

The United States on Thursday expressed its deepest condolences to India on the loss of lives of its soldiers in violent clashes with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh early this week. We extend our deepest condolences to the people of India for the lives lost as a result of the recent confrontation with China, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet, hours after his meeting with top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi.

We will remember the soldiers’ families, loved ones, and communities as they grieve, said Pompeo. The State Department did not say if the recent India-China confrontation along the Line of Actual Control in East Ladakh appeared during the Pompeo-Yang talks in Hawaii.

A day earlier, the White House had said President Donald Trump is aware of the fierce clashes between the Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Laddakh. Twenty Indian Army personnel, including a Colonel, were killed in the clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley on Monday night, in the biggest military confrontation in over five decades that has significantly escalated the already volatile border standoff between the two countries…Read More

Covid-19 has claimed lives of 45 Maharashtra cops so far: State govt

“3,820 police personnel have tested positive for Covid-19. Of these 2,754 have recovered and 45 have tragically succumbed,” Anil Deshmukh’s tweeted

Forty-Five police personnel have lost their lives due to Covid-19 in Maharashtra till Thursday out of the 3,820 who tested positive for the infection so far. This information was shared by Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh through his official Twitter handle.

“3,820 police personnel have tested positive for Covid-19. Of these 2,754 have recovered and 45 have tragically succumbed,” Deshmukh’s tweet read. In a series of tweets, Deshmukh informed that “There’s been a steady rise in the number of Covid-19 calls on the police helpline 100. As many as 1,03,707 such calls have been received. 268 instances of assaults on policemen have seen 851 arrests.”

Over six lakh people have been quarantined so far in the state and the Maharashtra government is running 122 relief camps, where 4,138 workers from other states, have been provided refuge and other necessities, according to the Home Minister. As per the Public Health Department, Maharashtra has 1,16,752 confirmed COVID-19 cases. This includes 59,166 cured and discharged patients, while the death toll due to the infection stands at 5,651 as of today…

Trump sought China’s help to win 2020 US election, claims Bolton’s memoir

The book, ‘The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir’, is due to be published on June 23, but the Trump administration has sued to block its distribution

In a stunning accusation against his ex-boss, former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has claimed in his new book that President Donald Trump personally asked his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping to help him win the 2020 presidential election, CNN reported.

According to an excerpt from his upcoming memoir published by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, during one notable interaction between Trump and Xi at the G-20 Summit in Osaka last June, the US President “stunningly” turned the conversation to the upcoming 2020 election.Bolton went on narrating in the book that Trump had “stressed the importance of farmers and increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome,” adding that he “would print Trump’s exact words, but the government’s prepublication review process has decided otherwise.” 

ALSO READ: Trump signs order on police reforms after meeting victims’ families

The former NSA also said the conversation turned back to the trade deal, and Trump “proposed that for the remaining $350 billion of trade imbalances (by Trump’s arithmetic), the US would not impose tariffs, but he again returned to importuning Xi to buy as many American farm products as China could.” The book, ‘The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir’, is due to be published on June 23, but the Trump administration has sued to block its distribution, claiming that it contains classified information and would compromise national security.

Covid-19 Factoid: India’s recovery rate now better than world average

Among the worst-affected countries, Germany has the best recovery rate for coronavirus

The global count of coronavirus cases is now at 8,299,389, with 446,929 deaths. More than 4 million people have now recovered from the virus. The US continues to have the highest death toll in the world, followed by Brazil and Russia. In India, there are now 155,227 active cases, while 186,934 patients have now been cured. The death toll stands at 11,903 at present, with more than 2,000 in just one day because of reclassification of deaths. India now has the eighth highest number of deaths in the world.

Here are some data points on the coronavirus pandemic:

#1. Germany has the best recovery rate among worst-affected nations

Among the worst-affected countries, Germany has the best recovery rate, with over 90 per cent of its cases having recovered. It is followed by Iran and Italy, which had been some of the earliest epicentres when the outbreak began. India’s recovery rate has managed to be above the world average of 52.4 per cent by a sliver. In the US, which has the highest number of cases globally, the recovery rate is around 40 per cent.

2. India witnesses substantial rise in its death rate

India’s death rate has jumped significantly this month. It jumped 2.9 per cent to 3.4 per cent on June 17 because of reclassification of deaths that caused that 2,000 plus jump in fatalities in a single day. Until June 11, death rate had been static at 2.8 per cent, before increasing incrementally…

India elected non-permanent member of UN Security Council for 2-year term

Along with India, Ireland, Mexico and Norway also won the Security Council elections held Wednesday

India was elected as non-permanent member of the powerful UN Security Council for a two-year term on Wednesday, winning 184 votes in the 193-member General Assembly. Along with India, Ireland, Mexico and Norway also won the Security Council elections held Wednesday. India was a candidate for a non-permanent seat from the Asia-Pacific category for the 2021-22 term. Its victory was a given since it was the sole candidate vying for the lone seat from the grouping.

New Delhi’s candidature was unanimously endorsed by the 55-member Asia-Pacific grouping, including China and Pakistan, in June last year. Previously, India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the Council for the years 1950 1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992 and most recently in 2011-2012.

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday conducted elections for President of the 75th session of the Assembly, five non-permanent members of the Security Council and members of the Economic and Social Council under special voting arrangements put in place here due to Covid-19 related restrictions…Read More

What is dexamethasone? A drug that boosts Covid-19 survival chance

Low-cost, widely-used steroid dexamethasone is first to show life-saving promise

A cheap and widely used steroid called dexamethasone has become the first drug shown to be able to save lives among Covid-19 patients in what scientists said is a “major breakthrough” in the coronavirus pandemic. Trial results announced on Tuesday showed dexamethasone, which is used to reduce inflammation in other diseases such as arthritis, reduced death rates by around a third among the most severely ill of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital.

ALSO READ: Covid-19 crisis: Green shoots visible in the economy, PM Modi tells CMs

The preliminary results suggest the drug should immediately become standard care in patients with severe cases of the pandemic disease, said the researchers who led the trials. The researchers said they would work to publish the full details of the trial as soon as possible, with some scientists saying they wished to review the evidence for themselves. Britain’s health ministry wasted no time in acting on the findings, saying the drug had been approved for use in the state-run health service, export restrictions had been introduced, and Britain had stockpiled 200,000 courses of the treatment.

ALSO READ: Galwan Valley clash: 20 Indian soldiers killed in face-off with China

Britain’s health ministry wasted no time in acting on the findings, saying the drug had been approved for use in the state-run health service, export restrictions had been introduced, and Britain had stockpiled 200,000 courses of the treatment…

Covid-19 crisis: Green shoots visible in the economy, PM Modi tells CMs

In a similar forum on Wednesday, he will meet CMs of some of the worst-hit states including Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh

On a day when India’s Covid-19 tally crossed 340,000 and the death toll hovered at around 10,000, Prime Minister Narendra Modi complimented the country for its recovery rate at over 50 per cent. Almost two weeks after the nationwide lockdown was relaxed, the PM in a virtual interaction with chief ministers of some 21 states and Union Territories said on Tuesday that green shoots of economic growth had started showing. In a similar forum on Wednesday, he will meet CMs of some of the worst-hit states including Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

ALSO READ: Galwan Valley clash: 20 Indian soldiers killed in face-off with China

While warning against complacency, he said timely action had prevented a potential catastrophe but India was recovering rapidly. In his meeting with the CMs Punjab, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, the Northeastern states and some UTs, the PM said the economy was fast reaching the levels where it was before the pandemic had hit India while referring to cooperative federalism in dealing with the Covid crisis.

Almost all offices (public and private) were open, people were returning to work and the streets were busy with commuters, he pointed out. In a reminder of what it took to save a large part of the population from the infection, the PM told the chief ministers that discipline of washing hands frequently and using masks needed to continue…Read More

Galwan Valley clash: 20 Indian soldiers killed in face-off with China

First deadly clash on the disputed border since four Assam Rifles jawans were ambushed and killed by Chinese border guards in October 1975.

In a steep escalation of the ongoing Sino-Indian border face-off in eastern Ladakh, soldiers of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) attacked and killed 20 Indian soldiers, including a colonel, on Monday night.This is the first deadly clash on the 3,488-kilometre disputed border since four Assam Rifles jawans were ambushed and killed by Chinese border guards in October 1975.

In a statement on Tuesday morning, the army said: “During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday (Monday) night with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers. Senior military officials of the two sides are currently meeting at the venue to defuse the situation.”

ALSO READ: Face-off in Ladakh result of China’s attempt to change status quo: MEA

Late on Tuesday evening, another statement from the army said: “17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand-off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total of those killed in action to 20.”

The statement also said: “Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020.” There were unconfirmed reports that five PLA soldiers were also killed in the clash. Senior officers recounted extreme Chinese brutality to the Indian prisoners, with some of them being pushed over cliffs and soldiers’ bodies being recovered from the Galwan River.

China's Great Wall Motor commits Rs 7,600 crore investment in India

The company has committed an investment of $1 billion (about Rs 7,600 crore) in India in a phased manner with an estimated employment for over 3,000 people

Chinese auto major Great Wall Motor (GWM) on Tuesday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maharashtra government for its manufacturing facility in the state which it had acquired from General Motors (GM). The company has committed an investment of $1 billion (about Rs 7,600 crore) in India in a phased manner with an estimated employment for over 3,000 people. “This would be a highly automated plant in Talegaon (near Pune) with advanced robotics technology integrated in many of the production processes,” Parker Shi, managing director of Indian subsidiary of GWM, said.

“Overall we are committed to $1 billion of investment in India in a phased manner, which is directed towards manufacturing world class intelligent and premium products, R&D centre, building supply chain and providing jobs to over 3,000 people in a phased manner,” he added. In January this year, GWM had signed an agreement to acquire the plant from GM. The factory has facilities like logistics distribution centre, training centre, project management building, administrative office building and public facilities centre. GMW will produce its EV and SUV models at the plant…Read More

WHO waits for China to share info on new cases; notes 100,000 cases daily

Tedros noted that it took over two months to reach 100,000 reported cases now that is a daily norm

The emergencies chief of the World Health Organization said he fully expects China to share the genetic sequences from the resurgence of coronavirus that have recently hit Beijing, even though they have not yet done so. Chinese officials said that their examination of the virus shows it originated in Europe, but they have not yet shared the sequences with WHO or the global scientific community.

“We fully expect our colleagues in China will share that information,” said Dr. Michael Ryan at a press briefing on Monday. Ryan said the finding that this virus genome may represent a strain commonly transmitting in Europe is significant but that verifying the hypothesis requires the sequences be shared.

ALSO READ: WHO concerned about Covid-19 impact on women, children, adolescents

Ryan said the new cluster of cases in China was of particular concern given that Beijing had gone 50 days without a new case, but expressed confidence Chinese authorities would be able to contain it. In a story published earlier this month, the Associated Press found China delayed sharing critical virus information with WHO for more than a week after three government labs had decoded the information.

The emergencies chief of the World Health Organization said he fully expects China to share the genetic sequences from the resurgence of coronavirus that have recently hit Beijing, even though they have not yet done so. Chinese officials said that their examination of the virus shows it originated in Europe, but they have not yet shared the sequences with WHO or the global scientific community.

UK begins trial of latest virus vaccine this week with 300 candidates

The British government said 300 healthy people will be immunized with two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed at Imperial, which has been backed by 41 million pounds

Scientists at Imperial College London will start immunising people in Britain this week with their experimental coronavirus shot, becoming the latest entry into the race to find an effective vaccine to stop the pandemic. In a statement on Monday, the British government said 300 healthy people will be immunized with two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed at Imperial, which has been backed by 41 million pounds ($51 million) in government funding.

So far, the vaccine candidate developed by Imperial College London has only been tested in animals and in the laboratory, where it produced much higher levels of antibodies than would normally be seen in infected people. Many scientists have warned that the pandemic might only be stopped with an effective vaccine, which typically takes years to develop.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus vaccine update: US FDA ends emergency use of HCQ drug

In the long term, a viable vaccine could be vital for protecting the most vulnerable, enabling restrictions to be eased and helping people get back to normal life, said Robin Shattock, who is leading the vaccine research. The vaccine uses synthetic strands of genetic code based on the virus. Once injected into the muscle, the body’s own cells are instructed to make copies of a spiky protein on the coronavirus. That should in turn trigger an immune response so that the body can fight off any future Covid-19 infection…Read More

PM Modi to hold virtual meeting with CMs, discuss rising Covid-19 cases

These will be the sixth and seventh meetings between the Prime Minister and various chief ministers on the coronavirus outbreak

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday meet chief ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the country after a weeks-long lockdown to contain the disease was eased. Modi will hold a video conference with the leaders of 21 states and union territories at 3 pm Tuesday, including Punjab, Assam, Kerala and all northeastern states. On Wednesday, also at 3 pm, he will meet with the 15 worst-affected: including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Delhi.

These will be the sixth and seventh meetings between the Prime Minister and various chief ministers on the coronavirus outbreak India saw a jump of over 11,000 novel coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day on Monday, taking the total number of infections to over 3.32 lakh, while the toll rose to 9,520 with 325 more deaths.

ALSO READ: Covid-19 impact: After 60% fall in April, exports shrink another 36% in May

The unlocking of the economy in June 2020 witnessed a rapid fall in the unemployment rate. After clocking 23.5 per cent in April and May, the unemployment rate first dropped to 17.5 per cent in the first week of June and then it took a steeper fall to 11.6 per cent in the second week. This fall is almost as dramatic as the rise in unemployment when the lockdown began..Read More