Month: August 2020

As many as 60,963 new coronavirus cases in India in the last 24 hours, taking the total cases to over 23 lakhs, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

834 new coronavirus deaths reported in India and the cumulative toll has reached 46,091.

The total number of coronavirus cases has climbed to 23,29,639 including 6,43,948 active cases, 16,39,600 cured/discharged/migrated.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 7,33,439 samples, the highest so far were tested for COVID-19 on August 11.

Over 2.60 crores samples have been tested so far. (ANI)

Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden has chosen his running mate this Tuesday, after a months-long search that began with several dozen options and has ended at Senator Kamala Harris.

The California Democratic senator has been riding steady in the vice presidential race, with most observers – including those in Biden World – thinking she always remained the favourite.

Even though in recent days, she’s been uncomfortable with the rash of headlines about the perceived tensions with Biden and his team, this nomination puts things into perspective.

This was where a young Kamala Harris spent time in the late 1960s, at a house in Lusaka, Zambia, that belonged to her maternal grandfather — PV Gopalan, an Indian civil servant on assignment in an era of postcolonial ferment.

The Indian government had sent Gopalan to help Zambia manage an influx of refugees from Rhodesia — the former name of Zimbabwe — which had just declared independence from Britain. It was the capstone of a four-decade career that began when Gopalan joined government service fresh out of college in the 1930s, in the final years of British rule in India.

“My grandfather was really one of my favourite people in my world,” Harris, California’s junior US senator, said in a recent interview.

Kamala has Indian heritage. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, a Tamil Indian-American who became a leading cancer researcher and activist, passed away from colon cancer in 2009.

From Kamala’s name (Shyamala gave her and her sisters Sanskrit names to connect their heritage with their identities) to Kamala’s focus on immigration and equal rights, Shyamala has had a profound influence and lasting legacy on her high-flying daughter.

After graduation from the University of Delhi, Shyamala got a PhD in nutrition and endocrinology from UC Berkeley. She stayed there for her career as a breast cancer researcher, then later worked at the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin–even eventually being a part of the Special Commission on Breast Cancer.

In addition to inspiring Kamala through service, she was also a civil rights activist. She passed this activism on to her daughter. (ANI)

Pakistan has ‘jeopardised’ its relations with Saudi Arabia by giving unusual ultimatum demanding an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) on Kashmir, said a former Pakistani diplomat.

Through an opinion piece in The Diplomat, Pakistan former Ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, chided Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s blunt warning to ally Saudi. He said Pakistan seems to be having difficulty with understanding some fundamental realities of international relations.

Recently, Qureshi told the OIC to convene a Council of Foreign Ministers over the Kashmir issue, or else Pakistan would “call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on Kashmir”.

Qureshi stated that as Pakistan pulled out of the Kuala Lumpur summit after Saudi Arabia’s “request”, it now expects Riyadh to “show leadership on this issue”.

“Given that asymmetric reality, successive Pakistani governments have acted humbly with the Kingdom’s leadership. But humility or gratitude runs contrary to the core narrative of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s populist government,” Haqqani wrote.

“The frequency with which Khan takes U-turns, however, shows a lack of understanding on key issues, both domestic and international, and failure to grasp that what he says and does affect the lives of 210 million Pakistanis,” he added.

Haqqani said that the Saudi do not look kindly upon ultimatums and “will be especially offended when it comes from a country that has frequently sought economic bailouts from the Kingdom”.

Riyadh has helped Islamabad many times including helping in paying for Pakistan’s first batch of F-16 fighter aircraft in the 1980s and providing USD 6 billion loans that helped Pakistan tide over its balance of payments crisis just two years ago.

“Saudi Arabia is also a significant employer of expatriate Pakistani labour and a major source of remittances,” Haqqani wrote.

Haqqani, the director for South and Central Asia at the Hudson Institute, said that burgeoning Saudi economic ties with India have irked Pakistanis who see world affairs as a “zero-sum game” between India and Pakistan.

Pakistan seems to be having difficulty with understanding some fundamental realities of international relations.

“But due to Pakistan’s inability to transform itself into a productive economy, the country’s bilateral trade with Saudi Arabia stands at a meagre USD 3.6 billion. Saudi trade with India, on the other hand, has risen to USD 27 billion and is expanding further,” he wrote.

For now, Haqqani said that the fall out of Qureshi’s “public insult” to the Saudis has been a demand to return the USD 3 billion Riyadh lent on a short-term basis and a delay in the renewal of the agreement to defer payment on oil supplies. He said that Pakistan borrowed USD 1 billion from China to start returning the Saudi loan, a classic case of borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.

“Promising to bring in fresh faces to run Pakistan, Khan has actually ended up with the same old establishment supported technocrats and evergreen politicians who join every government supported by the establishment,” he wrote. (ANI)

The first COVID-19 vaccine in the world has been registered by Russia on Tuesday, reported Sputnik.

“As far as I know, for the first time in the world, a vaccine against the novel coronavirus infection was registered this morning,” President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying at a meeting with the government.

“I hope we will be able to start mass production of this medication in the near future, which is very important,” he further said.

The President also said one of his daughters has been given a shot of the COVID-19 vaccination.

“One of my daughters got vaccinated. In fact, she took part in an experiment. After the first vaccination, she had a [body] temperature of 38 degrees [Celcius, 100 degrees Fahrenheit], the next day slightly higher than 37 [degrees], that’s all,” he said.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko has informed that the COVID-19 vaccine of Russian Microbiology Research Center Gamaleya has been registered. The vaccine proved to be safe and effective, he added.

According to the latest global update by the Johns Hopkins University, a total number of 20,092,855 people have been tested positive of coronavirus and 736,254 deaths have been reported so far.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared the outbreak of the new coronavirus a pandemic on March 11. (ANI)

Former Rajasthan Deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Tuesday thanked Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and party leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi for noting and addressing his and ‘the aggrieved” MLAs grievances, stating that he will continue working for a better India to deliver on promises made to the people of Rajasthan.

“I thank Sonia ji, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and INC India leaders for noting and addressing our grievances. I stand firm in my belief and will continue working for a better India, to deliver on promises made to the people of Rajasthan and protect democratic values we cherish,” Pilot tweeted.

This comes after Pilot along with his supporting MLAs attended a meeting with a three-member committee led by Congress General Secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal and senior party leader Ahmed Patel to address the issues raised by Pilot and the rebel legislators.

The meeting took place here in the national capital and all the leaders were seen maintaining social distancing and wearing face masks as a precautionary measure in view of COVID-19.

The crisis faced by the Congress government in Rajasthan appears to have ended with the party, stating on Monday that Pilot had “committed to working in the interest of the Congress party and the Congress government in Rajasthan” and “a three-member committee” has been formed to address the issues raised by Pilot and “the aggrieved” MLAs.

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi welcomed “back” party leader Sachin Pilot as he lauded the “teamwork under Rahul Gandhi” over the resolution of the political crisis faced by party government in Rajasthan.

He also lauded Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, saying that his political instincts rarely fail him.

“Welcome back Sachin. A constructive and enjoyable phase of Rajasthan building awaits. Congrats for teamwork under Rahul Gandhi, his tireless team, incl Venugopal, Surjewala Maken who became residents of my home state. Not to forget pol instincts of Gehlot which rarely fail him,” Singhvi said.

Venugopal was involved in efforts to find a solution to the crisis. Party leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Ajay Maken had been camping in the state to extend their help to the Gehlot government in handling the crisis.

The political crisis resulted from differences between Pilot and Gehlot coming out in the open. Pilot was removed as Deputy Chief Minister last month.

After Pilot and 18 MLAs loyal to him did not attend meetings of the Congress Legislature Party, the party had issued disqualification notices against them which were challenged by them in court.

The rebel MLAs had said that they were in the Congress and fighting for their issues against the chief minister.

Earlier party leader Shashi Tharoor had hoped for an amicable resolution of the crisis.Pilot met former party chief Rahul Gandhi earlier in the day and expressed his grievances. The party said Pilot was “committed to working in the interest of the Congress party and the Congress government in Rajasthan” and “a three-member committee” will be formed to address the issues raised by Pilot and “the aggrieved” MLAs.

In a statement, Venugopal said Pilot and Gandhi had “a frank, open and conclusive discussion”.

“Sachin Pilot has met with former Congress President Rahul Gandhi and expressed his grievances in detail. They have had a frank, open and conclusive discussion. Pilot has committed to working in the interest of the Congress party and the Congress government in Rajasthan,” he said.”

Following this meeting, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has decided that the AICC will constitute a three-member committee to address the issues raised by Shri Sachin Pilot and the aggrieved MLA and arrive at an appropriate resolution thereof,” he said. (ANI)

The top Indian military brass has informed a Parliamentary panel that it was ready for a long haul on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and is prepared for deployment in the harsh winters in the Eastern Ladakh sector.

While briefing a Parliamentary panel, the Indian military brass led by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat informed that de-escalation between the two sides may take a longer time but the Indian side was ready for any eventuality and have made arrangements for it in the Ladakh sector, sources said.

The CDS and top military officers were briefing the panel about Chinese aggression along the LAC.

The Chinese had been building up along the border with India in the garb of an exercise and transgressed into India after swiftly moving troops from there in Xinjiang to the Indian front quickly.

The Chinese have brought in more than 40,000 troops and have been maintaining that strength since April-May timeframe.

India and China have also held several rounds of military-level talks but they have not been able to achieve much success as China seems to be buying time to pressurise India.

India is also well-prepared and has asked China to disengage from friction points and Depsang Plains and has built up heavily to counter any further Chinese misadventure there.

The Indian Army lost 20 soldiers in the Galwan valley clash on June 15 where the Chinese too had suffered casualties but have not admitted it till now.

The Indian Army has moved in around two additional divisions in the Ladakh sector where already two formations are deployed for guarding against both Pakistan and China. (ANI)

Former President Pranab Mukherjee is on ventilator support after undergoing a brain surgery at the Army Research and Referral hospital, where he was admitted on Monday morning after testing positive for COVID-19, sources said on Tuesday.

“On a visit to the hospital for a separate procedure, I have tested positive for COVID-19 today. I request the people who came in contact with me in the last week, to please self isolate and get tested for COVID-19,” Mukherjee tweeted on Monday afternoon.

On Monday, President Ram Nath Kovind wished for the speedy recovery of Mukherjee who tested positive for coronavirus on Monday.The Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted, “President Kovind spoke to Sharmistha Mukherjee and enquired about the health of her father, the former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee who is hospitalised after being tested positive for COVID-19. The President wished him a speedy recovery and good health.”Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Army Hospital (R&R) in New Delhi and met the doctors to enquire about the health of the former President.Taking to Twitter, Singh wrote, “Visited the Army Hospital (R&R) in New Delhi and met the doctors to enquire about the health of former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee Ji. I pray for his well being and speedy recovery.”Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also prayed for speedy recovery of the former President.”Wishing former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee speedy recovery,” Gandhi wrote on Twitter.Banerjee said she is concerned about the former President and wished he got well soon.”Concerned to hear about former President Pranab Mukherjee Da testing positive for COVID-19. My prayers are with him and his family during this time and I wish him a speedy recovery,” said the West Bengal Chief Minister through her twitter handle. (ANI)

The first high-tech Spice Park is ready for the saffron growers of Jammu and Kashmir. The purpose of this park built in Pampore district is to increase the quality and quantity of saffron production and solve the grievances of the growers in the Valley.

People doing saffron farming were earlier facing issues in drying, testing, packaging and proper marketing of their produce. But after getting the Union Territory status recently, Kashmir’s saffron got geographical indication (GI) which brought cheers on the faces of its growers.

The attraction of this high-tech spice park is a scientific laboratory and testing section where scientists will be testing saffron and monitoring other things to check the moisture of the product which is vital to maintain the quality.

“Earlier farmers use to separate stigma, dry the plants etc in their house which was totally unscientific and the quality was also not maintained. Because of that, they never used to get the deserving price in the market. The objective of the government is to maintain the quality of the saffron. We are processing here the flowers of the saffron plant…growers can get the separation done here. We will give them the dry saffron,” said Khurshid, Quality Manager Spice Park.

Talking about the packaging of the saffron, Mudasir Amin, an employee at the packaging section, said, “The testing of saffron will be done first and then it’s sampling is done. We have three grades – 1, 2 & 3. Based on the grades, the packaging would be done. We have two types of packaging- manual and automatic. The packaging of saffron will be done according to weight and quality.”

“Kashmiri saffron is the best in the world. Though our competitor is Iran, but in terms of quality, our saffron is the best. The values of major components are present more in Indian Saffron. The pricing has also improved. Moreover, the pace of development has also enhanced after Jammu and Kashmir has got the status of Union Territory. Even in terms of funding, monitoring and implementation the region has been developed,” said Altaf Ajaz Andrabi, Director Agriculture Department Kashmir.

Andrabi further informed ANI that this park has been built at a whopping cost of Rs 37 crores.

“Right from flower picking to e-marketing, every facility is available in this park under one roof. So this is the biggest achievements of the farmers. The GI tag is also another feather in the cap,” he added.

On a closer look, growers start the plucking process of the saffron plant in between September to October. At present, they can fulfil all their formalities including the registration process so that they sell their products hassle-free on an online platform this season and also give a boost to the economy. (ANI)

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Monday met state Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya on Monday and requested him for early enactment of legislation to provide 75 per cent reservation in private sector jobs for youth of the state.

In a tweet, Chautala said he met the Governor and discussed several important issues.

“I requested him for priority approval to provisions under which people of the state will get 75 per cent reservation in jobs,” he said.

There is a proposal to provide 75 per cent of the new employment to local candidates for jobs with some conditions.

Chautala told reporters that he appealed to the Governor to guide the state government by sharing his suggestions.

He also said that Haryana should also enact the law on the lines of Andhra Pradesh and added that there should be amendments to Factory Act and Labour Act.

On the question regarding registry of land and Intkal, Chautala said that he had discussed the matter with officials from Forest Department, HSIIDC, HSVP, Panchayati Raj, Urban Local Bodies, Haryana Police and all related departments to start the registration process as soon as possible.

Haryana government had temporarily halted the registries in order to make the information of registry of land and Intkal available for the public.

Chautala had earlier said that to make the information of registry of land and Intkal available for the public, the Revenue Department will upload a copy of e-Jamabandi and a copy of registry-deed as a sample on its website so that both the buyer and the seller could study these before making a deal.

Haryana proposes to bring an ordinance related to registration of lands to curb fraud so that the irregularities of registries can be checked. (ANI)