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bigyack-com · 4 years

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Number of Covid-19 cases breach 21,000-mark in India, fatalities at 681 - india news

The number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients reached 21,393 on Thursday and fatalities rose to 681, according to Union health ministry data.India now has 16,454 active cases and the number of people who have been cured stands at 4,257 the health ministry’s dashboard showed at 8 am.Maharashtra reported 6,710 cases of the coronavirus disease, including 789 discharged patients and 269 deaths. Gujarat has now become the second-worst hit state with 2,407 active cases and Delhi follows with 2,248 infections.The government on Wednesday promulgated an ordinance to make attacks on health care workers non-bailable with maximum punishment of seven years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fine. The ordinance received President Ram Nath Kovind’s assent later in the day.The Union Health Ministry also advised chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories to adopt adequate measures in ensuring the safety of health workers involved in Covid-19 services.The Indian Medical Association (IMA) called off its proposed ‘white alert’ and ‘black day’ protests scheduled for April 22 and 23 following a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah through video conference on Wednesday. The doctors’ body has been demanding that the Centre bring a law to protect healthcare workers from rising attacks at a time when they are battling Covid-19. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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India dials up medical diplomacy, sends 85 mn HCQ tablets to 108 countries - india news

India has dialled up its medical diplomacy, sending loads of medicines to 100-plus countries over the last two weeks to help them fight the Covid-19 pandemic. A top government official told Hindustan Times that India is supplying nearly 85 million hydroxychloroquine tablets and close to 500 million paracetamol tablets to the 108 countries.This is apart from the 1,000 tonnes of paracetamol granules that have been sent to make tablets.“As we speak, a total of 4,000 plus consignments to 60 countries are being cleared for dispatch,” the government official cited above said. In all, the medicine supplies will cover 108 countries.Many of the supplies have been made through special Indian Air Force flights, foreign evacuation charters and even diplomatic cargo.It is a huge exercise, and complicated too given that most countries, including India, have shut flight operations. As one example, officials speak about how Indian HCQ tablets to be delivered to the Dominican Republic, which is the current President of the UNSC, were placed as diplomatic cargo on a US evacuation flight to Atlanta, Georgia. This diplomatic cargo will then be flown from New York to the island in the Carribean region in a Dominican charter later on Thursday. The HCQ tablets sent as gifts to Mauritius and Seychelles were loaded on special Indian Air Force planes on Wednesday for delivery. For reaching the medicines to Afghanistan, efforts are being made to send the medicine by a special charter.According to South Block officials, 5 million HCQ tablets and a large quantity of paracetamol has been either supplied or in the process of being supplied to 31 countries as grant assistance to combat Covid-19.“The emphasis has been on clearing consignments to those friendly countries first which are badly affected by the virus. We will also be clearing requests from some other countries who have sought help in this hour of need. This will be done in a day or two,” said a senior official.Basically, India has decided to supply all the drugs that were lying in special economic zones or 100 percent export oriented units after ensuring that there was an adequate buffer stock for domestic requirements in a worst-case scenario.“Broadly, almost everything that was ready and lying at the airports/ports that cannot be used domestically as on April 14 has been cleared for exports,” said a Ministry of External Affairs official.India has already supplied 80 million HCQ tablets to 24 countries through commercial contracts including US, UK, Russia, France, Spain and Netherlands. It has also supplied large quantities of paracetamol to 52 countries including Italy, Sweden and Singapore. In some cases, both HCQ and paracetamol tablets were supplied. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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‘Society, government need to be more considerate towards people with disability’ - other sports

30-year-old para-athlete Manasi Joshi gained recognition after she clinched a gold medal at BWF Para-badminton World Championships last year. After a competition-heavy 2019, Manasi was eyeing a berth at the Tokyo Paralympics, with qualifying tournaments approaching. But the coronavirus pandemic tore the sporting calendar to shreds as tournaments all over the world started getting suspended. Just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown in India, Manasi, who was at her badminton academy in Hyderabad, flew back home to Ahmedabad to be with her family.At home, during a grocery run, Manasi realised the difficulties a person with disabilities has to face amid the nationwide lockdown, at a time of an unprecedented public health emergency. Speaking to Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview, the para-badminton star gave a glimpse of her life at home amid lockdown:“Lockdown has affected my training. My academy in Hyderabad got closed, so I returned home to Ahmedabad to stay with my parents. Luckily, I reached before the lockdown was imposed, otherwise, I would have to stay in Hyderabad alone. I am doing home-workouts, keeping in touch with my physio, trainer and my dietician. They have planned a proper schedule for me. They are helping me to figure out what training I can continue to do during the lockdown.“There is a limit to what exercises I am able to do at home, though. There are a lot of cardio-exercises I am unable to do. We had created a gym as per requirements, but now I have to readapt to my current requirements. So, it is obviously a problem. But we are trying to adapt to whatever situation we are having.“In the meantime, I have enrolled for an online course on ‘Disability Awareness and Support by University of Pittsburgh’. I have been reading and keeping myself busy. I am writing emails, talking to people. I had a busy year in 2019, so I didn’t get time to be social with people or connect with my friends. So, now is the time to get all those things going. I am keeping in touch with people. Every day, I try to contact my friends and check up with them how things are going, and what is happening in their lives.“I am also cooking at home. It was a hobby of mine, but then I started cooking to survive. But now, I can cook to experiment, which I enjoy. I made South Indian food for my family the other day. We used to have a cook aunty who would come to my place and cook some amazing delicacies. I tried to cook Palak paneer, and beans in her style. I try to put a twist in everything, and do some experiment with it. I made a different type of Frankie, which turned out to be really tasty. So, I am trying to experiment with my cooking, and eat different stuff. But of course, following my diet (laughs).“I also watch TV. I watched Special-Ops on Hotstar. It was quite interesting. I didn’t get much time to read anything, though. I keep myself busy 24X7.“With Paralympics getting postponed by one year, it has exceeded my hopes of going to Tokyo and to compete for a medal. So, this hope is keeping me quite motivated these days. One year is a lot of time for me to work on my development. It’s definitely a blessing in disguise for me.“Last year, we had a lot of tournaments. Every 15-20 day we used to play a tournament. I had broken one of my prosthesis when I was in China for my World Championships. After that, even though I tried to change the cue part of my prosthetic, I was unable to reach the alignment that I used to play at. So, now I have the time to adapt and learn to play with my new prosthesis.“I, now have time to learn different skills and styles. I have also placed an order for running prosthetics. So, I am also planning to learn running this year. I have kind of forgotten how to run. So, I am hopeful this will be helpful in training. I am keeping my fingers crossed.“I am following the WHO guidelines on how to prevent oneself from coronavirus - washing hands, wearing masks in public, maintaining social distance. Another thing I keep doing is keeping my prosthetic devices clean. At home, I use crutches, and walkers, so I keep their surfaces clean by wiping them with sanitizer.“At our household, we take turns to buy groceries. So, I also went out one day and I realised that it’s not easy for me. I had to stand in the queue for too long. Usually, I would just sit and wait for my turn, and not stand in the queue. But these days, I don’t want to contaminate myself. “People know me, my disability was quite visible, I was in my shorts. But nobody gave up their tokens for me. People who were distributing tokens, did not think that they should think about putting me ahead in line, so I won’t have to stand for too long. I had only gone to buy essentials, and not for fun.“I went for vegetable shopping later, and there were people pushing me in order to get their shopping done first. When people push me, I lose my balance, even if I am just standing.“I really wish people and government are considerate and kind enough to allow people with disabilities and senior citizens to give them a chance to get their grocery shopping done first. I really appreciate how these supermarkets are still running in these times. But I just wish there could be some rule to allow people with disabilities to go first, but then it would also be better if people become considerate themselves.“It struck me that I live in Hyderabad alone, and what if I was there on my own. At least, here, I have my siblings, here. If I ask them to go grocery shopping, they will do it for me, they are super supportive. But then, in our household, we treat everyone equally. I believe in being independent. I don’t want to be dependent on anyone. But I would request authorities to understand and be a little more kind and considerate.“People with disabilities have to touch other surfaces to know where we exactly are, and at this time, people are advised not to touch. People with disabilities are at higher risk of catching COVID-19, we are the ones who need more attention. We should keep in mind that disabled people are also vulnerable members of the society who are getting more affected by the lockdown. We should think about larger things than ‘my own problem’.“I cannot go on to just say that everything is perfect if it is not. People are empathic, but to sensitise the general public, we have to create more awareness. If I say that you need to help people with disabilities, all people say is that we will get groceries for them. That is not the type of help I require, all I need is mere ko pehle jaane do. If you don’t wish to give your token, it’s fine. But at least tell authories inko pehle jaane do.“We need to change how people react to disaster in such a scenario, and how we treat the vulnerable sections of the society. We have to think from a different perspective when we are devising a plan on how to tackle this pandemic.”As told to Karan Prashant Saxena Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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In PM Modi’s 11-min message to people in lockdown mode, a pep talk and a task - india news

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the support shown by the people of the country in making the fight against coronavirus disease a success is unprecedented. He also hailed the efforts put in by different state governments and local administration to make 21-day lockdown a success.“The lockdown completes nine days today. The discipline and service you showed during this period is unprecedented. People and administration have successfully tried to ensure this routine is followed,” PM Modi said in his 11-minute-long video message on Friday morning.“The way you came out to thank coronavirus warriors on March 22 set an example for the world. It showed the country can fight the battle against Covid-19 together,” he added.The Prime Minister also gave a pep talk to people, urging them to keep fighting the deadly disease.“Many of you think what a single person can do? How will they be able to fight this battle? And how long will you spend your time under lockdown? We are at home, but not alone. We have the strength of 130 crore countrymen,” PM Modi said in the video message.He then urged the countrymen to switch off the lights at their home, and light a lamp or torch for nine minutes on April 5 (Sunday) “to show the darkness caused by Covid-19 the power of light”.India is expected to remain under complete lockdown until mid-April in a bid to stop the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak that’s infected more than 2,000 people with deaths climbing to 72.As part of its preparations to exit the lockdown, PM Modi asked chief ministers on Thursday to formulate staggered plan, according to a government statement. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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Covid-19 update: Science and tech group set up to look into long-term solutions - india news

With the entire world battling the Covid-19 infection that has killed at least 35,000 people, Indian scientists have come together to help front-line healthcare workers by devising cheaper ventilators, new diagnostics kits that can be manufactured in the country, innovative personal protective equipment, and newer ways to disinfect hospitals.Now, scientists are looking for long-term solutions like vaccines and drugs to protect against the disease.Technology is also aiding the government in training its nurses and doctors on various measures to tackle the disease through webinars during the lockdown. Telemedicine is also being offered with out-patient clinics in hospitals getting disrupted.The country’s principal scientific advisor (PSA), K VijayRaghavan, took to Twitter on Sunday night to inform people about the ongoing science and technology activities. A science and Tech core group has been set up under him that will set priorities and guide research work for Covid-19.Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

“We have a powerful enemy designed, by chance, over millions of years. It is powerful but unintelligent. Its ways are getting better known each day. For success, we must be relentless, use our science at the right time and place and act intelligently and not randomly. So, our scientists’ task is to address all aspects of the short-, medium-, and long-haul; in a manner where we are never fatigued, but the virus is. We each need to play our part to help the government’s and the world’s efforts succeed,” said Prof VijayRaghavan on Twitter. We have a powerful enemy designed, by chance, over millions of years. It is powerful but unintelligent. Its ways are getting better known each day. For success, we must be relentless, use our science at the right time and place and act intelligently and not randomly. 3— Principal Scientific Adviser, Govt. of India (@PrinSciAdvGoI) March 29, 2020The department of science and technology (DST) is mapping the needs of healthcare workers and supporting the projects that have been identified. There are three areas the DST is focussing on –ventilators that can be manufactured easily, better protective equipment for healthcare workers, and solutions for disinfecting places.“We have already started receiving various designs for ventilators – we are looking for models which are cheap, easy to make so that the production can be scaled up quickly, and are easy to use even at home. Then, we are looking at various types of protective gear, especially body suits for the healthcare workers, and then we are looking at solutions for disinfecting places,” said Prof Ashutosh Sharma, secretary, DST.The PSA gave a shout-out to the team from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, which developed a low-cost ventilator that is currently being validated. It can be manufactured using indigenous components at a cost of Rs 70,000 instead of the Rs 4 lakh that the ventilators currently being used cost. The team was headed by Amitabh Bandyopadhyay from the department of department of biological sciences & bioengineering. A startup, Scitech Park, from Pune, supported by a DST incubation centre, has developed a negative ion generator that can reduce the viral load in an infected area. A grant of R 1 crore has been given to the company to scale up the project.The department of biotechnology is also setting up a research consortium to look for newer diagnostic kits, repurposed and novel molecules that can protect against the disease, and vaccines.Two diagnostic kits developed by Indian companies have been approved for commercial use by the National Institute of Virology, Pune.Healthcare workers are also relying on technology – webinars have been organised by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi to train doctors and nurses across the country and a 24*7 consultation centre has been started which can provide clinical guidance to doctors across the country. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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India enters partial lockdown: Top 5 things to keep in mind - india news

India’s fight against Sars-Cov-2 will see residents of several states come to terms with the new reality of ‘lockdown’ necessitated by the need to prevent community transmissions and it will help to know what it entails in five key points.1. The lockdown directives vary with states as per specific Epidemic Disease rules, 2020, but they mostly exempt essential services, such as Banks, ATMs, hospitals, police, water, power, media, sanitation, municipal services, supply of milk, groceries, food and pharmacies. Online services and home delivery of food are also exempted. The state governments have exempted certain state specific services depending upon their own assessment.2. While there is no ban on using private vehicles, their movement could be questioned in the 75 districts that reported positive Coronavirus cases and were put under lockdown following a directive by the Central government on Sunday. To restrict movement of people, the modes of transport including buses, trains and metros have been shut and section 144, prohibiting the assembly of more than four people under CrPC, have been imposed to enforce social or physical distancing in most states. Several governments including Delhi have announced suspension of inter-state bus services too, which means only essential travel for emergencies or for unavoidable reasons, are allowed. Domestic flights will however operate.3. People are allowed to go out but only for essential needs like medicine, withdrawal of money, groceries, hospital visits for emergencies, food takeaways etc, however, they are not allowed to dine at restaurants, visit public places in groups. Telangana has specified that only one person per family will be allowed to step out for essential work. 4. Residents of housing societies or gated communities will be encouraged to not use community facilities like gymnasiums, clubs, parks, swimming pools etc but can step out for morning walks etc as long as they are not walking in a group and maintaining a safe distance from fellow walkers.5. It is important to understand that along with the lockdown several other restrictive provisions continue to be in place in most states with penal provision for violations of social distancing measures like closure of gyms, pubs, eateries, hotels, public recreational facilities etc. One can invite sanctions and penal provisions not only by continuing to operate such facilities but even by becoming a party to using it. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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‘Virat Kohli is the best batsman in the world’: West Indies legend lauds Indian skipper - cricket

West Indies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was present in India for the Road Safety World Series 2020 this month, has given a huge praise to India captain Virat Kohli. Speaking in an interview to Sportstar, Chanderpaul picked Kohli as the best batsman in the world. “Obviously, it’s Virat Kohli. He has been working on all the aspects of his game, and the results are showing,” he said.“He is working hard on his fitness; he works on his skills. You see him putting in the hard work, and he is one of those guys who always wants to do well. He’s proven it, day in and day out,” the former left-handed batsman added.“You have to give credit to him for that. It’s not easy to stay at the top of your game for so long. You got to put in your work, and the results are showing,” the 45-year-old further said.Also read: ‘Best thing about him is…,’ Pakistan legend Javed Miandad reveals what he loves about Virat KohliMeanwhile, Pakistan legend Javed Miandad had also praised the Indian captain in a Youtube video earlier this week. ‘Whenever he wants to score, he can. He is powerful and has the ability to clear the ropes easily. But the best thing about him is that he is humble. It is visible that he loves his cricket a lot and respects his fellow cricketers a lot,’” he had said in the video.“I have seen his conduct and he is friendly with the opposition also. I have played cricket at the same level, I can say this. Indian cricketers are now said to be aggressive. But there has to be some aggression on the field. However, there has to be a limit,” he added. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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Coronavirus update: Covid-19 forces Delhi lockdown till March 31, borders to be closed - india news

A lockdown will be imposed in Delhi till March 31, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday, announcing unprecedented curbs amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) that has infected 27 people in the city-state.All private offices will remain closed but employees — both permanent and contractual — will be considered on duty, Kejriwal said. Companies will have to provide them salary, he said at a press conference also attended by lieutenant governor Anil Baijal. “We have decided to impose a lockdown in Delhi from 6am tomorrow (23rd March) to the midnight of March 31,” Kejriwal said, announcing stringent measures taken to stop the spread of the highly contagious Sars-Cov-2 virus, which causes Covid-19. That capital’s borders will be closed during this period.ALSO WATCH | COVID-19: India observes Janta Curfew; streets and roads desertedFollow live updates on coronavirus crisisThough Kejriwal announced all domestic flights flying into Delhi will be cancelled, an official of aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a clarification soon after, saying all domestic flights to and from the national capital airport will continue to operate.Dairies, grocery shops, chemists and petrol pumps will remain open, Kejriwal said, adding that essential services including medical services will function. But no public transport services, including private buses, autos and e-rickshaws, will be allowed during the lockdown, and just 25% of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus fleet will be on the roads to carry people delivering essential services.“During the lockdown, no document or proof will be sought from people if they say that they are out on streets to provide or avail any essential service,” he said.“We know people will face difficulties, but lockdown is necessary to contain the spread of coronavirus,” he said.On Sunday, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) that prevents the assembly of four or more people were clamped in Delhi. The order bans demonstrations, protests, processions among other types of assemblies for social, cultural, political, religious, academic and sports. Also, Delhi Metro, along with other metro services across the country, have been suspended till March 31. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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Dating in the time of coronavirus: Chat online, meet much later - sex and relationships

With governments clamping down on social interactions to contain the coronavirus spread, dating sites are discouraging dates and asking users to get to know each other virtually instead.“We don’t know who needs to hear this, but now is NOT the time to go out with your date to a bar,” leading match-maker OkCupid tweeted on Monday.“FaceTime, Skype, call, text, call, message on our app.... all very romantic right now,” it added.Dating sites contacted by AFP refused to divulge their traffic since Covid-19 starting shutting down US cities this week but it appears their usage is far from slowing.Even if some academics would like them to suspend their activities entirely.“It’s time to shut down Tinder and all online dating services,” tweeted US writer Matt Stoller.“No more internet-enabled interactions among random people until the #coronavirus crisis has passed,” he added.Joking about the coronavirus has become popular on dating sites, although not necessarily effective at endearing matches to each other.“If someone seems like they’re not taking the crisis seriously or they’re making fun of it for me personally that’s a turnoff,” said comedian and author Lane Moore.She helped created the show “Tinder Live,” in which she interacts with matches in real time, and thinks coronavirus could be an “opportunity” for people to bond.“I’m talking to a guy right now who I met on Tinder Live and we’re both talking about how this coronavirus COVID-19 stuff is impacting our lives so that can be a good way to know somebody,” she said.Moore, from New York, says many of the men she meets on Tinder want to cut the conversation short and jump straight to meeting in the flesh.She thinks it’s a good thing that now men are being forced to chat more first. “That’s something that women have always wanted because it’s an opportunity to meet someone you like the first time but also try to make sure that they’re safe,” Moore explained.The dating site Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) is proposing several different ideas for remote interactions, including an online video game date.“This is going to be important for us to think outside the box in crazy times like this,” said CEO Dawoon Kang.CMB is also organising an online group discussion, which it has never done before.Yale University student Ileana Valdez and five friends spent just a few hours setting up a dating site for students whose classes have been canceled and campuses are deserted.The site, OKZoomer, a nod to the popular expression “Ok boomer” which millennials use to refer to older people, picked up 6,500 users in less than a week, according to Valdez.“Social distancing allows us to focus on conversations and building up existing and new relationships,” the computer science student told AFP via email.She feels that the big dating apps are focused on “hookups,” and argues that OKZoomer sets the ground for “meaningful relationships.” For example OKZoomer’s algorithm does not prioritize proximity, unlike most major dating sites.Other sites are emerging too, such as “Quarantine Together,” whose slogan is “Get close even when you can’t be close.” Moore, the comedian, isn’t convinced that the new coronavirus will spark a dating revolution though.“I can imagine that once all of this settles down the men who don’t really want to be having a conversation will probably go back to one-word answers.”Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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#Stayhomechallenge trends on Twitter as people remain indoors to fight coronavirus - india news

As coronavirus tightens its grip across the globe, more and more people choose to stay in the comfort of their home and observe social distancing to stave off the virus. Microblogging website Twitter is abuzz with hashtags like #stayhomechallenge and #quarantinelife in the wake of the coronavirus scare. Tang. Check. Bread. Check. #stayhomechallenge pic.twitter.com/nUcAhrr4JU — Al Bundy (@4_TouchDowns) March 16, 2020 On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his reply to a post on Twitter said that “avoiding non-essential travel and minimising social outings are welcome steps”. Celebrities and eminent personalities have also urged people to stay home and say no to public gatherings. A wise call. Avoiding non-essential travel and minimising social outings are welcome steps. #IndiaFightsCorona https://t.co/0pRrbmfXXm — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 16, 2020 Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger took to Twitter yesterday and posted a video of him petting his pets “Whiskey and Lulu” and urging everyone to stay home, wash hands and avoid going out. “Say no to restaurants, no going out. Stay at home, eat at home,” Schwarzenegger said in the video. Hollywood star Tom Hanks, who tested positive for Covid-19, also urged fans to take care of themselves and each other in his Instagram post. The actor has been released from the Australian hospital where he was in isolation since testing positive for the coronavirus last week. Director Baz Luhrmann was reported to have taken to self-isolation after coming in contact with Hanks. Scores of celebrities have been posting online videos and posts on preventive measures against coronavirus and what can one do while observing self-isolation. Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty recently posted a video on how to exercise at home as gyms and other fitness facilities remain shut in the wake of coronavirus in many regions. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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YES Bank’s Rana Kapoor approved bad loans worth Rs 20,000 crore: ED - mumbai news

Rana Kapoor, co-founder of YES Bank, sanctioned loans worth Rs30,000 crore, of which those worth Rs 20,000 crore have turned into non-performing assets (NPA) and need to be probed, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Wednesday, seeking his custody. The court has granted ED Kapoor’s custody till March 16.ED counsel Sunil Gonsalves told the court that Kapoor and his family are linked to 78 companies, which the agency is scanning. He said the agency was checking if the Rs 20,000 crore was diverted to the 78 companies linked to Kapoor and his family and if there was quid pro quo.The special judge, however, sought documents from the agency to support their claim, to which the agency produced records of forensic audit of the bank.Kapoor’s lawyer Satish Manashinde objected to the plea, saying when Kapoor left the bank, the NPA account was only 1% of the total loan. He alleged that Kapoor has been made scapegoat. The defence raised questions on searches conducted by the ED at Kapoor’s house much before the case was registered. Manashinde argued that when the ED conducted the searches, the CBI had not registered a case. “Predicate offense was registered much later by the CBI and before that ED began probe and case of ED was registered,” the lawyer contended.As per law, the ED can begin a probe only after a predicate offence is registered by other agency for financial fraud.The ED countered the issue and claimed the searches were conducted in respect of case of money laundering against DHFL. The agency said they found material related to money laundering by Kapoor during the searches and hence a separate case was registered later.Manashinde further contended that when Kapoor left the bank, its condition was much better, but the management which subsequently took over failed. “I can’t be held responsible for the failure of the present management,” Manashinde argued.Manashinde denied the allegations that Kapoor received kickbacks for giving loans. He added that no bribe was taken. He was highest paid banker and received almost Rs50 crore a year from the bank since 2004 till recently, Manashinde argued, adding he had received awards from various institutions as the best banker. The defence further argued that there cannot be allegations of money laundering in the transactions of bank with DHFL, as the money taken was much prior to the said transaction.Kapoor’s lawyer argued, “For four months, he was in London and was paying off debts. He was also in talks with the RBI to take over the bank and was meeting with government officers. A week later, a case was registered.”The agency claimed that Yes Bank bought debentures worth Rs 3,700 crore of DHFL. In lieu for it, DHFL sanctioned a Rs 600-crore loan to Doit Urban Ventures Pvt Ltd, a company in which Kapoor’s daughters are directors. The loan was given without adequate collateral.The defence said that all the three daughters have given security and they are capable of returning the loan amount of Rs 600 crore and it was never in the form of kickbacks. He also said there are documents to show how the said money is utilised.The Enforcement Directorate (ED), meanwhile, will question key management persons of Yes Bank over the alleged irregularities. “They have to be confronted with the accused. The documents are voluminous and need to be checked,” the agency’s counsel told court. “Under the guise of these loans, funds have been siphoned off. We need to find how the amount travelled,” Gonsalves said. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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E-comm firms struggle to curb price gouging, shortage of hand sanitizers amid coronavirus fears - tech

Coronavirus affected people continue to rise across the globe. As the toll reaches 42 in India, hand sanitizers have gone missing from the shelves of major e-retailer platforms in the country. While Grofers, Big Basket and Prime, which is Amazon’s grocery delivery service, have completely run out of hand sanitizer stocks, Amazon India’s e-retail website and Flipkart have a severe shortage of frontline hand sanitizer brands such as Dettol, Lifebuoy, Himalaya. Instead what you do find on these e-commerce sites are sanitizers from unpopular companies that a lot of users might not have heard about.What’s adding to this apparent hand sanitizer shortage is the price surge. In many cases, retailers are selling hand sanitizers at a price that is thrice the market price of the item. Buyers have even taken to Twitter to share their concern. Some even shared screenshots of the overpriced goods on the platform. Here’s what they had to say: A 30ml bottle of @HimalayaIndia hand sanitizer usually available for less than Rs 50 is being sold on @Flipkart for Rs 999 or $13. Buyers on the platform black marketing while @Flipkart turns a blind eye. @jagograhakjago @PiyushGoyal @PiyushGoyalOffc pic.twitter.com/Tq3aCRwbEh— CounterIntuitve (@CounterIntuitve) March 8, 2020 Who said hand sanitizer is not available!! For 30 ml is only ₹999 ⁦⁦@flipkartsupport⁩ ⁦@Flipkart⁩ This is so bloody cheap that anyone can afford this!! #handsanitizer #CaronavirusIndia pic.twitter.com/AGldvTGlG3— Himanshu Kumar (@Himansh62551016) March 7, 2020 Companies are actually Working hard to help people by selling a 30 ml Hand Sanitizer for only ₹999 and mind that that’s with a discount of ₹1. Please do something @Flipkart for those who are selling products over the MRP price. @flipkartsupport #CaronavirusIndia— Himanshu Kumar (@Himansh62551016) March 7, 2020 @drharshvardhan @DrHVoffice @PMOIndia @narendramodi Pranam 🙏 hand sanitizer bottles which should not cost more than ₹ 100/- Are now openly & shamelessly sold for ₹ 600/- by pharmacies across New Delhi and Gurgaon; please take some action 🙏#coronavirusindia #Coronavid19 pic.twitter.com/B6rzn0Ib1u— Vishal Singh Jain (@oneiroplos) March 8, 2020 Himalaya Drug Company, which is one of the prominent makers of hand sanitizers in the country has issued a statement on its official social media page clarifying that it has not increased the prices of the good in the country. “This is to clarify that we have not increased the rates of our PureHands Hand Sanitizers. The rates of our hand sanitizers have been illegally increased by unauthorised third-party sellers,” Himalaya India wrote in a statement. pic.twitter.com/9sKL5EXNwX— Himalaya India (@HimalayaIndia) March 6, 2020 As far as the shortage is concerned, Hindustan Unilever, which markets Lifebuoy products, in a statement to The Economic Times has confirmed that while certain areas in the country may witness shortage due to increased demand, however the company has enough stock to meet the demands. Reckitt Benckiser, which markets Dettol hand sanitizers, and Himalaya drug company have said that they are expanding production to meet the demand.Despite an adequate stock, hand sanitizers from these frontline brands continue to remain missing from the shelves of these e-retail platforms. We have reached out to some of the e-retailers to determine how they are coping with the shortage of hand sanitizers on their platforms.While Big Basket has refused to comment, Amazon, Flipkart and Grofers are yet to comment on the matter. We will update this story as soon as we hear from them. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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Coronavirus scare: ‘Don’t simply walk into any clinic or hospital,’ say doctors - india news

With the coronavirus scare looming and the season of flu at its peak, doctors and medical professionals across the nation are witnessing a surge in the number of flu patients. The doctors in the national capital alone have reported a rise in the number of patients coming in with symptoms of fever, cold and flu. Medical experts believe that most patients usually suffer from cold or regular flu, which they know will get better on its own but they seek medical assurance of not having coronavirus. “Around 50 per cent of those coming in with flu-like symptoms would otherwise have not bothered to visit the clinic had it not been for the Covid-19 scare,” said Dr Rommel Tickoo, senior consultant (internal medicine) at Max Saket, Delhi. Coronavirus outbreak latest updatesDoctors say a travel history to any of the Covid-19 affected countries is the main factor determining whether or not a person may suffer from the virus. Community transmission of the virus, at this point, is not happening. Dr Sunil Sharma, Chief Medical Officer at Pt Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital in South Delhi asked people not to panic, adding that those who have had travelled abroad recently or have been in close contact with any of those who tested positive should immediately reach RML Hospital. “The primary determining factor for us is a person’s travel history or close contact with anyone who has tested positive. The flu season is at its peak right and most people end up getting a viral fever or cough and cold. People should stay home if they aren’t feeling well and wait for symptoms to get better,” Dr Sharma added.Queuing up at hospitals or clinics may expose people to other viruses or stand a chance for others to get infected. Therefore, it is best to report at designated hospitals for coronavirus such as RML hospital or call the helpline number provided by the government. “Flu will heal on its own. Those who suspect Covid-19 should stay at home and call the helpline number because if they come to the hospital they will spread it to others. If they don’t have, they might pick up other infections from the hospital,” Dr Tickoo stated adding that he recommends those with a travel history to any of the high-risk countries to RML or Safdarjung hospital.With five fresh coronavirus cases getting confirmed in Kerala on Sunday, the number of positive cases in India has gone up to 40. Death toll in Italy rose to 366 as the European nation remains the most affected by the virus outside Asia. The country has placed over 15 million under quarantine as the administration struggles to contain and tackle the outbreak. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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Congress, BJP in fresh verbal battle over Yes Bank - india news

The BJP and the Congress sparred over crisis-ridden YES Bank, with the ruling party asking the latter to clarify if they knew of the bank’s loans growing manifold.BJP’s information and technology wing in-charge Amit Malviya put out a tweet taking potshots at the Gandhi family. “Every financial crime in India has deep link with the Gandhis. Mallya used to send flight upgrade tickets to Sonia Gandhi. Had access to MMS and PC . Is absconding. Rahul inaugurated Nirav Modi’s bridal jewellery collection, he defaulted. Rana bought Priyanka Vadra’s paintings...”Malviya’s tweet read.Also Read| Decoding the YES Bank crisis | HT EditorialThis elicited a sharp response from the Congress, which termed the charge “fake”.The Congress said Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra had sold an M F Husain painting of her father Rajiv Gandhi to Yes Bank’s Rana Kapoor for Rs 2 crore and the entire amount was disclosed in her income tax return of 2010.Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said it was a “diversionary” tactic by the government, and said that the bank’s loan book rose from Rs 55,633 crore in March 2014, the year Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, to Rs 2,41,499 crore in March 2019.“Why did the loan book rise by 100% in two years after demonetisation i.e from Rs 98,210 crore in March 2016 to Rs 2,03,534 crore in March 2018? Were PM and FM sleeping, ignorant or complicit?” he asked. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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‘Doesn’t get bigger than this’: PM Modi sends best wishes to Team India ahead of Women’s T20 World Cup final - cricket

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent best wishes for the Indian women’s team ahead of their blockbuster ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final against Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday. Harmanpreet Kaur and her troops secured a place in the championship clash after rain washed out their semi-final against England on Friday. India went through on the basis on finishing top of their group.Australian Prime Minister sent a message to PM Modi and his post read: “Hey @narendramodi - Australia v India in the final of the Women’s @T20WorldCup in Melbourne tomorrow. Two great teams in front of a mega crowd at the MCG. It’s going to be a big night and superb match! And Australia all the way.” Hey @narendramodi - Australia v India in the final of the Women’s @T20WorldCup in Melbourne tomorrow. Two great teams in front of a mega crowd at the MCG. It’s going to be a big night and superb match! And Australia all the way.— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) March 7, 2020 Modi replied by saying: “G’day @ScottMorrisonMP ! It doesn’t get bigger than the India vs Australia Final in women’s @T20WorldCup tomorrow. Best wishes to both @BCCIWomen and @AusWomenCricket and greetings on Women’s Day. May the best team win. Like the Blue Mountains, MCG will also be Blue tomorrow!” G'day @ScottMorrisonMP! It doesn't get bigger than the India vs Australia Final in Women's @T20WorldCup tomorrow. Best wishes to both @BCCIWomen and @AusWomenCricket and greetings on Women’s Day.May the best team win. Like the Blue Mountains, MCG will also be Blue tomorrow! https://t.co/CRElLibcSg— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 7, 2020 This is the first time India will feature in a T20 World Cup final and they will be looking to go the distance against defending champions Australia. Indian eves will be high on confidence as they are unbeaten in the tournament so far and also managed to get the better of Aussies in the group stage.India’s entry in the final of tournament stirred up a massive controversy. After India’s semifinal against England was washed out, India went through as there was no reserve day. However, if the Sunday clash is washed out, there won’t be any automatic winners.If the final gets washed out, and no result is attained by the pre-decided time, then the match will be restarted on Monday, which is kept as the reserve day. In case, the reserve day also gets washed out, then the two teams will be sharing the trophy. Read the full article

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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Army to establish quarantine centres for 1,500 people as coronavirus spreads - india news

Indian Army will build quarantine facilities all over the country in the waking of rising coronavirus cases.Tentative locations include Jaisalmer, Suratgarh, Secunderabad, Chennai and Kolkata.Service personnel have also been asked to utilise shopping complex facilities within cantonments and military stations.The Indian Army will establish quarantine facilities for 1,500 people at different locations across the country in the wake of rising cases of novel coronavirus infections outside China, two officials familiar with the move said on Friday.The tentative locations where such facilities will come up as part of the government’s overall efforts to control the spread of Covid-19 include Jaisalmer, Suratgarh, Secunderabad, Chennai and Kolkata, said one of the officials cited above.Service personnel have also been asked to utilise shopping complex facilities within cantonments and military stations and avoid visits to crowded areas, including shopping malls and movie halls, the second official said on condition of anonymity. The army has also asked its personnel to avoid non-essential foreign travel. “In consonance with various advisories issued by the government, the Army Headquarters has issued detailed instructions with respect to preparations and emergency response in tackling Covid-19,” said the first official. The latest advisory includes detailed instructions for actions at various military stations, army formations and service hospitals.

Local military authorities have been asked to exercise control to avoid or postpone non-essential public gatherings, the second official said. The advisory has asked military hospitals to establish isolation wards and have separate out-patient departments for screening of symptomatic cases to prevent avoidable transmission. These hospitals will work in synergy with local civil medical authorities and designated Indian Council of Medical Research laboratories. Also, regular health education and counselling activities will be carried out at all military stations.

The Indian Air Force has also issued guidelines to all HQs on dealing with the spread of the coronavirus. A circular issued on Wednesday said all social, official and welfare gatherings should be postponed or cancelled. Personnel have also been told to avoid non-essential travel. Earlier this week, the navy postponed its biggest maritime exercise called Milan due to the spread of coronavirus. The multi-nation naval drills were to be staged off the Vishakhapatnam coast from March 18 to 28. The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses deferred a key security conference scheduled for next week due to the Covid 19 scare that was scheduled to take place in New Delhi on March 12-13.

Lieutenant General BK Chopra (retd), a former Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services, said, “From natural calamities to outbreak of communicable diseases such as the coronavirus, you can count on armed forces to deliver in an effective and systematic manner.” Read the full article

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