Month: May 2020

‘Major chunk of economy is active now’: Highlights from PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the lifting of coronavirus-forced lockdown curbs, locust attacks in parts of India and the International Day of Yoga in his radio address Mann Ki Baat on Sunday.

Here are the highlights from the latest Mann Ki Baat address:

• When last time I spoke with you, passenger trains, buses, air services were closed but this time curbs have been lifted. Shramik Special trains, other special trains and flights have resumed with adequate precautionary measures.
• A major chunk of economy is active now.
• There should be no laxity in maintaining six feet distance (do gaj doori), wearing masks and staying indoors as much as possible. We need to be more vigilant now.
• Due to everyone’s support, fight against COVID-19 is being fought strongly.
• A multitude of countrymen from villages and cities, from small scale traders to startups, our labs are devising even new ways of fighting against coronavirus; with novel innovations.
• There is no section in our country that is unaffected by the difficulties caused by the disease. However, the worst affected are the poor and the labourers. Their pain, their agony, and their ordeal can’t be expressed in words.
• When we look at other countries, we realise how big is the achievement of Indians. Our population is many times more than other countries, challenges are different still COVID-19 didn’t spread so rapidly as in other countries and fatality rate is also notably lower.
• I firmly believe that the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign will take the country to greater heights in this decade. The Ministry of AYUSH also has done a unique experiment this time to increase the practice of yoga in your life.
• I request all of you to participate in an international video blog ‘My Life, My Yoga’ competition and through this, be a part of International Yoga Day.
• Considering the migrant labourers, the need of the hour is devising a new solution. We are ceaselessly taking steps in that direction. Establishment of a migration commission is being deliberated upon.
• Recent decisions taken by the central government have opened up vast possibilities of village employment, self-employment and small scale industry.
• While eastern part of India is facing natural calamity caused by cyclone, many parts of the country are under locust attack. These attacks have reminded us how much damage this small insect can cause.
• A few days ago, number of Ayushmaan Bharat beneficiaries crossed over 1 crore. If the poor had to pay for their treatment in hospital then they had to spend cumulatively around Rs 14,000 crore. Ayushman Bharat has saved money of the poor people.

On Saturday, Modi marked the first anniversary of his second term on Saturday by writing an open letter to his countrymen, asserting that India has started traversing on the path to “victory” in its long battle against COVID-19 while acknowledging “tremendous suffering” of migrant workers among others.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Tamil Nadu issues Unlock 1.0 rules: Theatres, malls, places of worship, schools shut till June 30

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Tamil Nadu has decided to let the ban on inter-state buses, local trains and the metro remain until June 30, even as the nation begins Unlock 1.0 starting Monday. In a government order, the state also announced that the ban on places of worship, theatres, malls, gyms, schools and colleges would continue.

In its list of relaxations, however, the state government has allowed bus transit to resume in all districts except Chennai, neighbouring Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu and Thiruvallur, starting Monday.

In districts where bus transit is allowed, only 50 percent of the state transport’s existing fleet will operate, while only 60 percent of bus seats will be occupied at all times.

While the ban on inter-state transport continues, private buses would be allowed to operate along designated, government-approved routes. A standard operating protocol for bus travel would be issued by the state.

Guidelines for Chennai

The administration has also permitted autorickshaws and cabs to ply in Chennai, while ruling that domestic help can also get back to work in the city.

IT firms in Chennai would be allowed to operate with 20 percent of its employee strength, subject to an upper limit of 40 employees. Other private companies must operate at only 50 percent employee strength.

Although malls will stay shut, the government clarified that standalone showrooms and large shops could re-open.

However, in Chennai, these stores would have to operate with only 50 percent of its staff and run without air-conditioning. Only five customers would be allowed at a time in each of these establishments so as to enforce social distancing.

While the Tamil Nadu government has said that it will allow dine-in services at restaurants starting June 8, only 50 percent of an establishment’s covers will be allowed to function. Air-conditioning at these restaurants would have to be turned off. The same rule applies to tea shops, where only 50 percent of its tables can be occupied by patrons.

Full-strength workforce outside Chennai

Outside of Chennai, IT, other private and manufacturing firms have been allowed to run with full employee strength. However, 20 percent of an IT firm’s employees will have to work from home, the government order mandated.

Hotels and resorts, the order said would be allowed to accommodated medical, police and government officials, and serve as quarantine facilities for visitors from other states.

Tourist activities continue to be banned at the state’s popular travel destinations: Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Navigating banks, office spaces, public transport after lockdown, says Goa advisory

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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With the country gearing for gradual relaxations in the COVID-19 lockdown norms from June 8, the Goa Health Ministry has compiled a comprehensive list of dos and dont’s, which spell out precautions that need to be taken in various aspects of life, including in public places, dealing with house-help or using public transport.

The handbook which has been prepared by the Goa Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development and the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine of the state’s top medical facility, the Goa Medical College, also contains a set of precautionary guidelines for housing societies, educational institutions and government offices.

The handbook advises, that domestic help should use hand sanitisers before entering and leaving homes.

“If any refreshments or meals are to be served to them, the same may be given in a tiffin or appropriate container, to consume it at their home,” the handbook states.

“Watchmen and security guards may be instructed not to touch ID cards, letters, licenses, etc., while allowing people to enter the housing compounds; without wearing gloves,” the guidelines says.

Advising banks to relocate their cheque drop boxes outside the bank’s interiors, the handbook also instructs tellers to “sanitise their hands frequently and preferably after every transaction”.

“Guards manning the ATMs should be provided with sanitisers and they should ask every customer to sanitise their hands every time they enter to make a transaction,” the handbook specifies, adding that thermal guns should be used to check temperatures of employees and visitors in every workspace, run by both private and government agencies.

In its guidelines related to precautions to be taken while using public transport, the handbook states that “vehicles should be sanitised or disinfected preferably after each trip, and certainly at the end of the day”, adding that drivers and conductors should always wear masks and compel passengers to wear masks too.

“Drivers, helper, conductors should wash their hands or take bath and wash their clothes at the end of the day and maintain proper hygiene,” the handbook states.

While urging private and government office heads to ensure the standard precautionary measures like availability of hand sanitiser, maintaining social distancing and ensuring basic hygiene, the handbook also states, that every office should create a task force or a vigilance team to supervise social distancing, cleanliness, while urging employers to arrange periodical psychological counselling for employees.

“Every office should formulate a Resilience Plan, with details of helpline numbers, nearest hospitals, deep cleaning and sanitation schedules, proper seating arrangements and facilities to attend to the visiting public or clients,” the handbook advises.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Trump postpones G7 summit amid pandemic, invites India to join

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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US President Donald Trump has announced that he would postpone the G7 Summit until September.

Calling G7 “a very outdated group of countries”, Trump also told reporters on Saturday that he would like to invite Russia, South Korea, Australia, and India to join the summit, reports Xinhua news agency.

The announcement about postponing the G7 Summit came after it was announced that German Chancellor Angela Merkel would not attend the summit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The time, venue, and format of this year’s G7 summit have been in a constant state of change.

The White House said in March that the summit, originally scheduled to take place at Camp David in June, was cancelled due to COVID-19 and leaders would have a video-conference instead.

Last week, Trump suggested reconvening the summit in-person at Camp David “on the same or similar date”.

Officials said earlier this week that the summit was planned to be held at the White House near the end of June.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Hotel industry welcomes move, says “will follow health safety SoPs”

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India’s hotel industry has welcomed the Centre’s norms under ‘Unlock 1′, which allow them to re-commence operations.

These norms are part of the fifth phase of the nationwide lockdown which was announced on Saturday for the containment zones till June 30, providing relaxations for the hotel industry from June 8 onwards.

This phase relaxes many restrictions on businesses.

Hotel Association of India Vice President K.B. Kachru said: “The pandemic and consequent lockdowns have had disastrous impact on the hotel sector.”

“We welcome the government’s decision to allow restaurants, hotels and malls to open in areas outside the containment zones from June 8. We hope this landmark decision will pave the way for graded resurgence of the hotel industry,” Kachru said.

He urged the Centre to consider setting up of a Tourism COVID 19 Fund for enabling the tourism industry to meet its salary and working capital needs.

Major Industry player such as Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & Group CEO – OYO Hotels & Homes said: “We welcome the government’s decision to reopen hotels. We are excited and prepared to host guests with the new sanitised stay experience.a

Similarly, Nakul Anand, Executive Director, ITC, and Chairman of the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH), thanked the Centre for reallowing the commencement of business operations of hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services under Unlock 1.

“We welcome the government’s decision to reopen hotels. We are excited and prepared to host guests with the new sanitised stay experience. Right from our app to hotel teams, we are working to ensure proper sanitisation of hotels as well as maintaining social distancing with the guests. We along with our asset partners, look forward to delivering a safe, secure and comfortable experience for our guests,” said Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and Group CEO, OYO Hotels & Homes.

On its part, Merrill Pereyra, Managing Director, Pizza Hut Indian Subcontinent, said: “This is a welcome announcement from the government and all our stores are fully prepared to serve the valued customers. All our stores are equipped to offer contactless dining wherein right from accessing the menu to making payments, the process will be digital.”

In a statement, Zubin Saxena, Managing Director and Vice President, Operations, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “We are looking forward to resuming operations within the government guidelines.

“Apart from hygiene, our go forward business model is concentrated on leveraging the synergies of our network which we believe will work in a sustainable manner to ensure business uplift overtime. We remain dedicated to exceeding guest expectations in the new era of hospitality that awaits us.”

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Overnight rain, gusty winds bring mercury down in Delhi

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Overnight rain, accompanied with gusty winds of up to 60 km per hour, brought the mercury down in the national capital on Sunday, the weather department said.

The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative figures for the city, recorded 9.2 mm rainfall. On Saturday, it recorded the maximum temperature six notches below normal.

The Palam Observatory gauged 5mm rainfall overnight.

The weatherman has predicted light rain and thunderstorm with winds gusting up to 50 kilometers per hour over Delhi-NCR on Sunday.

Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 35 and 22 degrees Celsius respectively.

With another western disturbance being expected in northwest India in the first week of June, a heat wave is not likely to return to Delhi-NCR before June 8, the weather department.

Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the India Meteorological Department’s regional forecasting centre, said the effect of the current western disturbance and easterly winds will reduce significantly by Sunday evening.

He said the maximum temperature in Delhi-NCR is likely to increase by two to four degrees Celsius from June 1 to June 3.

“However, the mercury will remain below 40 degrees Celsius over most places and heat wave conditions will not return,” he said.

A fresh western disturbance and southwesterly winds along with the formation of a low pressure system in the Arabian Sea will bring moisture to Delhi-NCR, Srivastava said.

These two systems will lead to thunderstorm and light rain over Delhi-NCR between June 3 and June 5.

“A heat wave is unlikely over northwest India till June 8,” he said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Russia plans coronavirus vaccine clinical trials in two weeks

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Russian scientists plan to start clinical trials within two weeks on a vaccine to combat the novel coronavirus, the health minister was quoted as saying on Saturday as authorities approved the country’s first anti-COVID-19 drug.

Russia has the world’s third-highest toll of coronavirus infections after the United States and Brazil, and Kremlin officials have said the nation’s researchers are working on almost 50 different vaccine projects.

“The tests are under way and we plan to start clinical trials in the next two weeks,” Health Minister Mikhail Murashko was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency. He said volunteers had been selected to take part in the trials.

Drugmakers worldwide are rushing to develop treatments and vaccines for the virus that has caused 3,64,000 deaths globally.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund said the Health Ministry had approved Avifavir for the treatment of COVID-19.

It was developed on the basis of a drug known generically as favipiravir.

RDIF said Avifavir had proved highly effective in treating patients with coronavirus in the first phase of its clinical trials. The final stage of clinical trials is under way, with the participation of 330 patients.

There are currently about 10 coronavirus vaccines being tested in humans and experts have predicted that a safe and effective vaccine could take 12 to 18 months from the start of development.

One of the Russian vaccine projects is being undertaken by the state-run Vektor Institute in Siberia, whose director general, Rinat Maksyutov, said on Saturday he hoped to complete clinical trials in mid-September.

Maksyutov said vaccine trials on animals had been successful.

Russia on Saturday reported 181 deaths from the coronavirus in the last 24 hours – down from the record 232 deaths the previous day – bringing the nationwide death toll to 4,555.

Officials said 8,952 new infections had been confirmed, bringing the national tally to 3,96,575 cases.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

COVID-19 News Live: India records highest single-day spike with 8,380 cases; death toll climbs to 5,164

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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COVID-19 News Live: According to the Union health ministry, in the 24 hours, the country reported 193 fatalities and 8,230 cases of the viral infection, the highest single-day tally in India, taking the total number of those infected to 1,82,143 and toll to 5,164.

This is the third consecutive day that the country has registered more than 7,000 new cases. The total number of recovered patients stood at 4,614 over the last 24 hours.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

History in the making: SpaceX propels two NASA astronauts into orbit

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Two NASA astronauts on Sunday entered the International Space Station from SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft after a historic launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the dawn of a new age in commercial space travel.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which is an independent agency for space research, aeronautics and related programmes in the US, confirmed the arrival of astronauts Bob Behnken (49) and Doug Hurley (53) at the ISS.

“This is the first time in human history @NASA_Astronauts have entered the @Space_Station from a commercially-made spacecraft. @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug have finally arrived to the orbiting laboratory in @SpaceX’s Dragon Endeavour spacecraft,” NASA said in a tweet.

They were welcomed aboard the ISS where they became members of the Expedition 63 crew, which currently includes NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy.

The docking had taken place 19 hours after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX company earlier confirmed the successful docking of the NASA astronauts with the ISS, the orbiting laboratory.

“Docking confirmed – Crew Dragon has arrived at the @space_station!” the California-headquartered company announced on Twitter.

Saturday’s liftoff also assumes significance as it marks the launch of humans into orbit from US soil for the first time in nearly a decade.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Behnken and Hurley, lifted off at 3:22 pm EDT Saturday atop the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

With the liftoff, SpaceX became the first private company to launch people into the orbit, a feat achieved previously by only three governments: the US, Russia and China.

The successful launch, which was postponed early this week due to inclement weather, gave Americans something to cheer about as in the last three months they have lost over 100,000 of their countrymen due to the coronavirus that has brought the economy to its knees. More than 40 million people have lost their jobs.

Top US leadership including President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and thousands of curious Americans had gathered to watch the launch live on a bright Sunday afternoon. Congratulating Musk, NASA and the astronauts, Trump described the launch day as a great day for the country.

The President said he spoke with Musk, whom he called one of the “great brains.”

He also spoke with the two NASA astronauts prior to the takeoff. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that “Launch America is the first big step on our roadmap to the Moon for Artemis”.

NASA’s Artemis programme, the US initiative to explore more of the lunar surface, aims to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024.

“This is a dream come true for me and everyone at SpaceX, said Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla.

“It is the culmination of an incredible amount of work by the SpaceX team, by NASA and by a number of other partners in the process of making this happen,” he said.

“Today a new era in human spaceflight begins as we once again launched American astronauts on American rockets from American soil on their way to the ISS, our national lab orbiting Earth,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

The launch of this commercial space system designed for humans is a phenomenal demonstration of American excellence and is an important step on our path to expand human exploration to the Moon and Mars, he said.

“Today, in lifting our ambitions and our imaginations to the heavens, the United States has once more reshaped the future of space travel,” said Joe Biden, former US Vice President and Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee.

Their voyage not only marks the return of American astronauts travelling to space from US soil, but a pioneering new phase of public-private cooperation for the peaceful exploration of space, Biden said as he asserted that the seed of today’s launch was planted by the Obama-Biden administration.

“We planted the seeds of today’s success during the 2009 Recovery Act, which according to NASA, has saved taxpayers up to USD 30 billion and invigorated an aerospace industry in Florida that accounts for more than 130,000 jobs in the state,” he said.

Known as NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2, the mission is an end-to-end test flight to validate the SpaceX crew transportation system, including launch, in-orbit, docking and landing operations.

This is SpaceX’s second spaceflight test of its Crew Dragon and its first test with astronauts aboard, which will pave the way for its certification for regular crew flights to the station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Programme.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow