Month: June 2021

Citing non-compliance of New Intermediary Guideline Rules by Twitter, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Saturday sent a final communication to Twitter asking them to comply immediately with the requirements of the new guidelines failing which resultant consequences as enjoined in the law shall follow.

A letter issued by the Ministry to the social media platform stated that the New Intermediary Guideline Rules have become effective from May 26. After expiry of 3-month period given to social media intermediaries for compliance, Twitter is yet to appoint India based Chief Compliance Officer, Nodal Contact Person and Grievance Officer.
“The provisions for significant social media intermediaries under the Rules have already come into force on May 26 2021 and it has been more than a week but Twitter has refused to comply with the provisions of these Rules. Needless to state, such noncompliance will lead to unintended consequences including Twitter losing exemption from liability as intermediary available under section 79 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. This has clearly been provided under rule 7 of the aforesaid Rules,” stated the letter.

It further said, “This is with reference to this Ministry’s letters dated May 26 2021 and May 28 2021 regarding compliance with the subject Rules and your corresponding responses dated May 28 2021 and June 2 2021. MeitY is dismayed to note that your responses to the Ministry’s letters neither address the clarifications sought by this Ministry nor indicate full compliance with the Rules.”

It also stated that it is clear from the responses of Twitter that till date has not informed about the details of the Chief Compliance Officer as required under the Rules, added that the Resident Grievance Officer and Nodal Contact Person nominated by the social mdia platform is not an employee of Twitter Inc. in India as prescribed in the Rules.

It also said that the office address of Twitter Inc. as mentioned by it is that of a law firm in India, which is also not as per the Rules.

The Ministry in its letter to Twitter stated that the refusal to comply demonstrates the socila media platform’s lack of commitment and efforts towards providing a safe experience for the people of India on its platform.

The world’s largest democracy has been among the first countries in the world, outside the parent country of Twitter Inc., to enthusiastically adopt the Twitter platform, said the Ministry, adding that despite being operational in India for more than a decade, it is beyond belief that Twitter Inc. has doggedly refused to create mechanisms that will enable the people of India to resolve their issues on the platform in a timely and transparent manner and through fair processes, by India based, clearly identified resources.

Leave alone proactively creating such a mechanism, Twitter Inc. is in the inglorious bracket of refusing to do so even when mandated by law, it added.

The minitry further stated that the people of India, who use the Twitter platform, deserve and demand a fair mechanism to address their grievances and resolve their disputes. Users who are abused on the platform or are harassed or are subject to defamation or sexual abuse or become victims or a whole range of other abusive content must get a redressal mechanism that the same people of India have created through a due process of law, it said.

“Though with effect from May 26 2021, in view of Twitter Inc’s non-compliance with the Rules as noted above, consequences follow. However, as gesture of goodwill, Twitter Inc. is hereby given one last notice to immediately comply with the Rules, failing which the exemption from liability available under section 79 of the IT Act, 2000 shall stand withdrawn and Twitter shall be liable for consequences as per the IT Act and other penal laws of India,” the ministry’s letter to Twitter concluded.

This comes amid withdrawl of verified blue badge by Twitter from the verified accounts of Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and several Sangh functionaries.

Twitter had removed the blue badge from the personal Twitter handle of Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu, @MVenkaiahNaidu. Although, the official handle of the Vice President of India @VPSecretariat continues to have the blue badge. Later today, issuing clarificaton that since the account was inactive since July 2020, as per Twitter verification policy, the social media platform may remove the blue verified badge and verified status if the account becomes inactive or is incomplete, the badge was restored. (ANI)

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced that markets will re-open in the national capital and metro services will be resumed from June 7 with conditions.

Briefing the mediapersons, Kejriwal said, “Lockdown will continue with more relaxation in other activities. Shops in markets and malls to be opened on an odd-even basis from Monday. The shops will be allowed to open from 10 am to 8 pm. The private offices will be allowed to function with 50 per cent staff.”
“In government offices, Group A staff will be allowed to function with 100 per cent capacity while group B with 50 per cent staff. Delhi Metro to resume services with 50 per cent capacity,” said the chief minister.

Kejriwal informed a team of doctors and experts will be set up to examine the demand of medicines to tackle the WhatsApp forwards of medicines.

On preparation against potential third wave of COVID-19, the chief minister said, “We are making arrangements considering a peak of 37,000 cases in mind. A pediatric task force has been made. A storage capacity of 420 tonnes of oxygen is being created. Indraprastha Gas Limited has been asked to set up a plant to produce 150 tonnes of oxygen. 25 oxygen tankers are being brought. 64 small oxygen plants are being established. Buffer stocks of potential medicines will be made.”

Kejriwal said two genome sequencing laboratories will be set up for the detection of new variants.

With a dip seen in active COVID-19 cases, Delhi had begun the unlocking process from May 31 with factories and the construction sector resuming operations.

The national capital has been under lockdown since April 19 in view of the massive surge in Covid-19 cases in the second wave of the pandemic. The city’s healthcare infrastructure and crematoriums were hugely overburdened. The situation has, however, improved significantly.

Now the infection rate of COVID in Delhi has come down to less than one per cent.

In the last 24 hours, 523 fresh COVID-19 cases and 50 deaths have been recorded in the national capital.

However, the daily number was a bit higher than the day before when Delhi reported 487 COVID cases. The number of active cases in Delhi stands at 8,060. The new fatalities pushed the COVID death toll in Delhi to 24,497. (ANI)

World Environment Day, which is celebrated annually on June 5 across the globe, is one of the biggest events organised by the United Nations (UN) to generate awareness about the significance of nature. The day is celebrated to tell people that nature should be respected for its values.

In 1972 after discussions on environment-related issues during the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, the United Nations Assembly established World Environment Day. Two years later in1974, it was first observed in the US. The theme of the first World Environment Day was ‘Only One Earth’.
In 1987, the idea of rotating the centre of these activities started so that different countries can get the opportunity to host the event. Since then, various host countries have been celebrating it, and the idea for rotating the center of these activities started.

The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is
‘Reimagine. Recreate. Restore.’
, as 2021 marks the beginning of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Pakistan, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), will be the global host for the day to highlight the importance of ecosystem restoration this year. The event has a participation of over 143 countries annually.

The term ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ means to assist in ecosystems’ recovery, which has been degraded by deforestation, pollution, and other human activities. It can also be promoted by taking measures to conserve the ecosystem which is still intact.

Ecosystem restoration can be done in other ways including planting trees, greening cities, changing diets or cleaning up rivers and coasts, and rewilding gardens. Rich biodiversity and green ecosystems yield immense benefits.

The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration following a proposal and resolution for action by over 70 countries around the globe. The UN Decade runs from 2021 till 2030, which is also the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals and the timeline scientists have identified as the last chance to prevent catastrophic climate change.

The main concept behind observing World Environment Day is to focus on the importance of the environment and to remind everyone that the environment should not be taken for granted. As per the UN, this day gives us an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by communities, enterprises and individuals in preserving and enhancing the environment.

World Environment Day is observed across the world to respect and acknowledge everything that the environment has given mankind and to take the pledge that to protect it. (ANI)

Everybody is aware of the benefits of green tea. From aiding weight loss to reducing the risk of heart diseases, green tea is touted as an elixir for well-being. So, can a cup of green tea help fight COVID-19? A new study suggests that it might!

According to the study, published in the journal ‘RSC Advances’, green tea could help in tackling COVID-19.
A compound found in green tea called gallocatechin may help in the development of a drug that can combat the SARS-CoV-2.

A Swansea University academic is investigating how green tea could give rise to a drug capable of tackling the deadly disease.

Dr Suresh Mohankumar carried out the research with colleagues in India during his time at JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research in Ooty prior to taking up his current role at Swansea University Medical School.

He said, “Nature’s oldest pharmacy has always been a treasure of potential novel drugs and we questioned if any of these compounds could assist us in battling the Covid-19 pandemic?”

The researchers screened and sorted a library of natural compounds already known to be active against other coronaviruses using an artificial intelligence-aided computer programme.

“Our findings suggested that one of the compounds in green tea could combat the coronavirus behind Covid-19,” Dr Mohankumar said.

Associate Professor Dr Mohankumar emphasised that the research was still in its early days and a long way from any kind of clinical application.

“The compound that our model predicts to be most active is gallocatechin, which is present in green tea and could be readily available, accessible, and affordable. There now needs to be further investigation to show if it can be proven clinically effective and safe for preventing or treating Covid-19,” Dr Mohankumar noted.

“This is still a preliminary step, but it could be a potential lead to tackling the devastating Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.

Dr Mohankumar has worked in pharmacy education, research and administration around the world for more than 18 years and recently moved to Swansea to join its new MPharm programme.

Head of Pharmacy Professor Andrew Morris said, “This is fascinating research and demonstrates that natural products remain an important source of lead compounds in the fight against infectious diseases. I’m also really pleased to see this international research collaboration continuing now that Dr Mohankumar has joined the Pharmacy team.”

Dr Mohankumar added he is now looking forward to seeing how the work can be developed, “There now needs to be appropriate pre-clinical and clinical studies and we would welcome potential collaborators and partners to help carry this work forward.” (ANI)

Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, who seems to be on a throwback spree, shared two latest pictures from her archives, that melted the hearts of many on social media on Friday.

She took to her Instagram handle and shared a post that had her childhood picture, in which she could be seen posing on a beach. The next one was a recent video of the actor where she could seen having fun at the beach.
“Because no matter who we are,” Alia wrote as caption, along with an emoji of a cloudy sky with the sun.

In the comments section, Jacqueline Fernandez wrote, “Awww”.

Ayushmann Khurrana’s wife and author Tahira Kashyap dropped a few heart emojis. Meanwhile, Alia’s mother and actor Soni Razdan commented “Awww baby”.

She also shared yet another happy picture of herself sporting a multicolour dress, perfect for Pride month. The caption read, “We all have one planet in common.”

A while ago today, Alia had posted two pictures on Instagram. The first one had her dressed in a yellow co-ord with daffodil prints and a hat. The second picture was from her childhood. In both the photographs, she sat on the beach.

On the movie front, Alia has a lot of projects in her kitty. She will be seen in ‘Gangubai Khatiawadi’ by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, ‘RRR’ with Ram Charan and Jr. NTR and ‘Brahmastra’ with Ranbir Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan.

Apart from the film projects, Alia has been actively working on humanitarian grounds too. She has collaborated with renowned journalist Faye D’Souza to share relevant information about COVID-19 resources on social media. (ANI)

Member Health NITI Aayog Dr VK Paul on Friday said India has overtaken the United States in terms of the number of people who have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

“As per the data, the number of people who have received at least one dose of vaccine in India is 17.2 crore. We have overtaken the US in terms of the number of people in our country who have received the first dose of vaccine,” Paul said.
Asserting that country needs more time to achieve high coverage of vaccination, he said: “When the peak is declining and we suddenly get into same behaviour as a society like in January and February, it (the virus) will come back again in a certain way. We have to buy time to ensure that we achieve high coverage of our vaccination.”

Meanwhile, Union Health Ministry’s Joint secretary, Lav Agarwal commented about the drop in the number of active cases, and said, “There has been a continuous decrease in districts reporting more than 100 average daily new cases; 257 districts report more than 100 daily cases.”

The ministry also stated that 377 districts have been reporting less than 5 per cent case positivity currently.

India’s daily new COVD-19 cases reported a decline on Friday as the country recorded 1,790 less cases as compared to Thursday.

Down from yesterday’s 1,34,154 cases, India today reported 1,32,364 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the country’s infection tally to 2,84,41,986, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday.

India’s active caseload further declined to 16,35,993 as active cases decreased by 77,420 in the last 24 hours. The active cases in the country have been less than 2 lakhs since eight successive days. (ANI)

The widening differences between Punjab Congress leaders – Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu intensified with their wives joining them in the conflict.

A day after Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s wife and Lok Sabha member from Patiala, Preneet Kaur targeted Navjot Singh Sidhu for ‘ignoring’ Amritsar, Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur hit back at her stating that she need not worry about Amritsar which is being handled ‘very efficiently’, adding that her husband who is providing ration to the people from his savings, will not leave his people in the lurch.

“While COVID was devastating people, you were not in Patiala for almost a year but in your farms. Do not bother about Amritsar East, it’s being handled very efficiently. He will not leave his people in the lurch. He used his savings to provide ration to his people,” tweeted Navjot Kaur, wife of cricketer-turned-politician today.

This comes amid the second and the last meeting of the three-member panel, constituted by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to resolve differences among its leaders in Punjab Congress, is underway at the party’s ‘war room’ at 15, Gurdwara Rakabganj road in the national capital.

Following the first round of meeting between the three-member panel on Monday, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday reached the party’s ‘war room’ at 15, Gurdwara Rakabganj road in the national capital.

The panel constituted by the Congress president to resolve differences among its leaders in Punjab Congress held its first meeting on Monday with 25 MLAs here.

This is the last meeting of the Congress panel constituted to resolve factionalism in Punjab Congress, informed senior Congress leader and panel member Harish Rawat.

“Today is the last meeting (of the Congress panel constituted to resolve factionalism in Punjab Congress). Our president is going out for some 2-3 days, we will submit the report soon,” Rawat told ANI.

Apart from Rawat, the three-member panel formed by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi includes Mallikarjun Kharge, and JP Aggarwal. The meeting is likely to take place at 11 am at Congress Headquarters.

The agenda of the meeting is to resolve the widening differences between its leaders – Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu, said Congress sources.

Sidhu has already appeared before the panel on Tuesday and maintained his sharp stance and said that he has conveyed the truth of Punjab to the high command in a “loud voice”.

Speaking to the media personnel Sidhu had said, “I have come at the call of the high command. Whatever he asked in the interest of the party made him aware. I have conveyed the voice of the people of Punjab which are coming tearing the ground. I have come to bring out the voice of grassroots in Punjab. My stand was, is and will be the same. The democratic power of the people of Punjab, the power of tax should go back to those people. I have come by publishing the truth. Truth is tortured, not defeated.”

Apart from Sidhu, on Tuesday, one of the big names was MLA Pargat Singh who spoke in front of the panel. Pargat had said, “Many MLAs have complained about the Captain in front of the panel.”

Sidhu is the biggest name among the leaders who raised their voice against the chief minister, so from a distance, this dispute appears to be Captain against Sidhu, but in reality, it is the election promises of Amarinder Singh versus Congress which were not fulfilled.

The biggest issue among them is the issue of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. Congress leaders feel that if concrete action is not taken in this matter, then Congress will suffer a huge loss in the elections.

Punjab Chief Minister also has the responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Captain’s opponents accuse him of being close to Sukhbir Singh Badal and not taking any action against him for that reason.

Now, eight months before the election, the demand to replace Captain is gaining momentum. The Congress leadership has formed a committee to stop the rebellion, but the challenge before the committee is very complex. The most complicated thing is that this dispute is not limited only to the tussle between Captain and Sidhu.

In two days, a panel set up by Sonia Gandhi has met more than 50 Punjab MLAs in Delhi. Some have spoken of unity and discipline in the party, while some leaders have demanded the change. (ANI)

Even as the Congress has been fiercely critical of the Central Vista project in the national capital, its government in Rajasthan has initiated construction of 160 “luxurious flats” for MLAs near the state assembly in Jyoti Nagar.

The construction work started on May 20 this year amid the second wave of COVID-19.
The project for construction of 160 luxurious flats for MLAs has been initiated by Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB). Each flat will be built over an area of 3,200 square feet and comprise four bedrooms, a Housing Board official said.

The official said the plan is to construct 160 flats at a cost of Rs 266 crore.

“The work has started on time. This project is right in front of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly and 160 flats are being constructed. Each flat will be on 3,200 square feet. It will have four bedrooms and separate parking space,” he said.

The official said Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) had proposed 176 flats but Rajasthan Housing Board approved the proposal for construction of 160 flats. The project is slated to be completed within 30 months and the Rajasthan Housing Board is expecting to complete it before the scheduled time.

Asked about the project, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra said “it is being undertaken in accordance with the law”.

The Congress has repeatedly criticized the BJP-led Central government for going ahead with Central Vista project amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had last month termed Central Vista project a “criminal wastage”. The redevelopment project in the heart of national capital involves construction of a new Parliament building and a common central secretariat. (ANI)

By Sushil Batra

New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed the lawsuit filed by actress-environmentalist Juhi Chawla against the setting up of 5G wireless networks in the country. Bench of Justice JR Midha while passing the judgement said that plaintiffs (Juhi Chawla and other two petitioners) abused the process of law and imposed costs of Rs 20 lakh on them.

The Court, in its order, said: “It appears that the suit was filed for publicity. Plaintiff Juhi Chawla circulated link of the hearing on social media which created the disruption thrice. The Delhi Police shall identify the persons and take action against those who created the disruptions.”

The Court on Wednesday had kept the order reserved in the matter.

During the hearing on Wednesday, had posed several questions to Advocate Deepak Khosla, who appeared for plaintiff Chalwa in the matter. It asked whether the plaintiff had approached the government through any representation before coming to the Court.

The Court had further asked Khosla that where is the cause of action for coming to the Court? If they (government) take decision against you, then you can come, the Court had suggested.

The actor, who has been actively creating awareness on harmful effects of Radio Frequency radiation (RF), on May 31, had filed a lawsuit against implementation of 5G mobile technology in India.

She claimed that 5G technology exposes people and animals to RF radiation that is 10 to 100 times greater than it exists today.

According to the petition, the plaintiffs sought direction to the “arrayed defendants” to certify that 5G technology is safe for humans and every type of living organism and to produce their studies regarding RF radiation in support.

The spokesperson had further said that if not already conducted, efficient research should also be conducted without the participation of private interests. (ANI)

A movie based on the life story of business tycoon Subrata Roy will soon be under making and while the big announcement comes on Friday, more details will be officially announced on June 10, marking the 73rd birthday of the Sahara India Pariwar founder.

Indian film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh confirmed the news on his Twitter handle on Friday and wrote, “IT’S OFFICIAL… SUBRATA ROY BIOPIC ANNOUNCEMENT… Biopic on #SubrataRoy to be announced on his birthday [10 June 2021].”
The official note read, ‘Biopic on business tycoon Subrata Roy to be made. Makers to officially announce the film on Subrato Roy’s 73rd birthday, 10th June 2021’.

Meanwhile, Roy, who is currently out on parole since 2016, stayed in Tihar jail for over two years. The Supreme Court in 2012 had ruled that Sahara group companies violated securities laws and illegally raised over USD 3.5 billion.

The companies said monies were raised in cash from millions of Indians who could not avail banking facilities. SEBI could not trace the investors and when Sahara firms failed to pay up, the court sent Roy to jail.

In 2020, Netflix had released a three-episode docuseries titled ‘Bad Boy Billionaires’, out of which one focused on the Sahara Group chairman.

Later, according to a report, Sahara Group had issued a statement and called the series “ill-motivated, incorrect, misleading documentary depicted through some disgruntled people who hold personal grudges” against the company. (ANI)