Man gets corona twice with more severe symptoms second time

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Man gets corona twice with more severe symptoms second time

A 25-year-old man in the US has caught Covid twice, a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal showed, indicating exposure to the virus may not translate to total immunity.

According to the Lancet, it is the first confirmed case of a US patient becoming reinfected with Covid-19, and the fifth known case reported worldwide.

In a case study, the patient from Washoe County in Nevada, had two positive tests for SARS-CoV-2, the first on April 18, 2020, and the second on June 5, 2020, separated by two negative tests done during follow-up in May 2020.

“Genomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 showed genetically significant differences between each variant associated with each instance of infection. The second infection was symptomatically more severe than the first,” the study authors from the University of Nevada, wrote.

The researchers revealed that the patient presented to a community testing event held by the Washoe County Health District on April 18, 2020.

He had symptoms consistent with viral infection (sore throat, cough, headache, nausea, and diarrhea), which had started on March 25.

The patient had no history of clinically significant underlying conditions, and no indications of compromised immunity were identified.

During isolation, the patient’s symptoms resolved (reported on April 27, 2020) and he continued to feel well until May 28, 2020.

On May 31, 2020, the patient sought care at an urgent care center with self-reported fever, headache, dizziness, cough, nausea, and diarrhea, at which time chest radiography was done and he was discharged home.

Five days later (on June 5, 2020), the patient presented to a primary care doctor and was found to be hypoxic with shortness of breath. He was instructed to go to the emergency department after the provision of oxygen.

“Genetic discordance of the two SARS-CoV-2 specimens was greater than could be accounted for by short-term in vivo evolution,” the researchers wrote.

These findings suggest that the patient was infected by SARS-CoV-2 on two separate occasions by a genetically distinct virus. Thus, previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 might not guarantee total immunity in all cases.

“All individuals, whether previously diagnosed with Covid-19 or not, should take identical precautions to avoid infection with SARS-CoV-2. The implications of reinfections could be relevant for vaccine development and application,” they noted.

Lakshya Sen enters pre-quarters of Denmark Open

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Lakshya Sen enters pre-quarters of Denmark Open

Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen on Tuesday made a winning return to the badminton circuit as he defeated France’s Christo Popov in straight games to enter the second round of the Denmark Open.

Sen, who held a 3-1 head to head record against Popov, defeated the Frenchman 21-9, 21-15 in just 36 minutes to make it to the next round of the Super 750 event. He is most likely to face Vittinghus of Denmark in the pre-quarters.

Meanwhile, Olympic hopeful Kidambi Srikanth, who had claimed the Denmark title three years back, will begin his tournament campaign on Wednesday against world number 52 Toby Penty of England.

Ajay Jayaram will take on local favorite and world no 3 Anders Antonsen in the opening round and Subhankar Dey will compete against Canada’s Jason Anthony Ho-Shue in their respective first-round encounters on Wednesday.

The Denmark Open has marked the resumption of the BWF calendar which has been on a halt since March following the outbreak of novel coronavirus.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) had earlier intended the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup team events to mark the restart of the badminton calendar, but the tournaments were canceled after several countries pulled out due to safety concerns arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic. The BWF also canceled the Denmark Masters, which was set to start two days after the end of the Denmark Open.

Maternal blood test may predict birth complications: Study

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Maternal blood test may predict birth complications: Study

A blood test commonly used to detect fetal genetic abnormalities may help predict complications associated with pregnancy before symptoms develop, say, researchers, including one of Indian-origin.

The study, published in the journal Epigenetics, links certain cell-free DNA signatures to adverse outcomes in pregnancy, including ischemic placental disease and gestational diabetes.

The findings are the first to show that genetic material shed from the placenta into the mother’s blood (circulating cell-free nucleic acids) during the first trimester of pregnancy could potentially be used to predict these potentially serious complications.

Although the analysis of genetic material in the mother’s blood has been used to screen for genetic abnormalities in a pregnancy, this is the first time these specific methods have been used as a way of a more accurate prediction.

“Our research points to a promising approach that could improve outcomes for mothers and their babies using existing technologies,” said study lead author Sherin Devaskar from the University of California, Los Angeles in the US.

“If confirmed in larger studies, cell-free DNA blood tests may help identify issues in the placenta as an indicator of a healthy mother and fetus,” Devaskar added.

For the study, the researchers followed a diverse group of pregnant women between February 2017 and January 2019, testing their blood periodically throughout gestation.

By the end of the study, 160 participants had given birth, with 102 maternal and 25 cord plasma samples were taken along the way.

They found that during the first-to-early second trimester, placenta-specific DNA increased among those women who went on to develop gestational diabetes.

They also identified several differentially expressed genes and were able to create a model with a predictive value for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

“The novelty of this research is being able to break down a mother’s DNA and be able to hone in on the health of the placenta – something that researchers have never been able to do before,” said Devaskar.

“This research warrants application of automated methodologies in multi-center trials to improve future testing and screening for all women,” she noted.

New Apple Watch update comes with fix for battery drain issue

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New Apple Watch update comes with fix for battery drain issue

Apple has released watchOS 7.0.2 with a fix for a bug which could cause the battery in the Apple Watch to drain more quickly, as well as addressing issues with the ECG app.

“watchOS 7.0.2 contains improvements and bug fixes, including, addresses an issue that could cause the battery to drain more quickly. Resolves an issue that prevented some users from accessing the ECG app in regions where it is available,” the company said in a press note on Monday.

The update is the second release since watchOS 7 was rolled out to the users in September.

watchOS 7.0.2 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.

To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be in the range of the iPhone.

Apple in September released watchOS 7, the newest version of the watchOS operating system designed to run on modern Apple Watch models.

The watchOS 7 update is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 4, Series 4 as well as Series 5 models but cannot be installed on the first-generation Apple Watch, Series 1 or Series 2 Apple Watch models.

Advocate kills parents over property dispute

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Advocate kills parents over property dispute

An advocate, Durgesh Prasad, shot dead his father and mother in the Meerganj area in Bareilly district on Tuesday, following a property dispute, police said.

Lalta Prasad, the father, has two sons and four daughters. The 72-year-old man had given one house to Durgesh and another to his younger son Umesh while he lived with his wife in the third house.

There was a dispute between him and Durgesh over the passage to the house.

Durgesh came to meet his father on Tuesday and sprayed him with bullets. When his mother came out on hearing the gunshots, she was also fired upon by the son.

Both died on the spot and Durgesh is absconding after the incident.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rohit Singh Sajwan, said that the two bodies had been sent for post mortem and police teams have been set up to search for the accused.

CSIR to be knowledge partner of UP

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CSIR to be knowledge partner of UP

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will become a knowledge partner of Uttar Pradesh, for which an MoU will soon be signed.

A government spokesman said that the CSIR will provide technology-based support for development in the areas of infrastructure, water-source protection, agriculture, health protection, chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, defense technology, etc in Uttar Pradesh.

Pharma parks will also be developed in the state with the help of CSIR.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given his nod for partnership with CSIR, a prestigious institution of the Science and Technology Ministry.

The Uttar Pradesh government has also decided to sign an MoU with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Under a formal contract to be inked between the state government and CSIR in a month, the latter will give suggestions to implement the state’s proposed pharmaceutical policy.

Telangana Assembly passes amendments to GHMC Act

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Telangana Assembly passes amendments to GHMC Act

The Telangana Assembly on Tuesday passed amendments to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Act 1955, which among other things, made it mandatory for the State Election Commission to take the state government’s concurrence while conducting the elections.

The Assembly, which is holding a special session to pass amendments to various laws, passed the Bill for an amendment to GHMC Act by a voice vote.

Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development K.T. Rama Rao told the House that the government’s concurrence for conducting the polls is necessary in view of any contingency like the Covid-19 pandemic and heavy rains.

The amendment comes at a time when the poll body is making preparations for the ensuing elections.

The term of current GHMC is ending in February next year and the polls are likely to be held in November-December.

KTR, as the Minister is popularly known, said the amendments were aimed at making the elected representatives more accountable and provide better services to people.

He said no government in the past amended GHMC Act to ensure the development of Hyderabad as a world-class city.

The amendment has given legal status to 50 percent reservation for women in GHMC.

The Minister recalled that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government through a Government Order in 2015 provided a 50 percent reservation to women in 150-member GHMC.

He said it was because of TRS that the urban body now has 79 women corporators.

One of the amendments to the GHMC Act also provides for the creation of four committees in each division – youth committee, women committee, senior citizens committee, and eminent citizens committee. Each panel will have 20 members.

“This move will prepare 1,500 member army in the city to ensure things like increasing green cover, checking unauthorized construction and encroachments, solid waste management, development of parks and sports infrastructure,” he said adding that the committees will enhance people’s participation in governance.

KTR reiterated that the government is committed to developing Hyderabad as a world-class city. He said under the leadership of Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao the city was on the path of speedy development.

The amendment to GHMC Act would also make it mandatory for the adaptation of TS-BPASS, the online building permission system with self- certification which was passed by the Legislature last month.

Through another Bill, the government proposed to amend the Indian Stamp Act to take away the land registrar’s power to fix the land price. A third bill was tabled to amend the New Revenue Act to make the process of converting agricultural land to non-agriculture land hassle-free. With this amendment, the conversion can be done online through the Dharani portal which is set to be launched from Dasara.

The government also tabled a Bill for the amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure.

As soon as the House met for the special session, the ministers concerned tabled the Bills. The House dispensed with the Question Hour to directly take up the Bills.

The Bills, after their passage by Assembly on Tuesday, will be sent to the Legislative Council, which is meeting on Wednesday to pass the amendments.

Earlier, Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Legislative Council chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy reviewed the arrangements for the conduct of the brief session amid the Covid -19 incidence in different parts of the State, especially the GHMC limits.

Last month, the Legislature Session had to be cut short after a couple of legislators and some members of Legislature staff and security personnel had tested positive for Covid-19.

Low demand for firecrackers ahead of Diwali worries traders

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Low demand for firecrackers ahead of Diwali worries traders

Amid the ongoing corona pandemic, the traders in the national capital are worried as there is very low demand and sale of firecrackers ahead of Diwali.

Firecracker factories remained closed due to the pandemic imposed lockdown. Therefore, their hopes of doing brisk business this year have been dashed.

Due to pollution and ban on the sale of conventional firecrackers, the trade has already been severely impacted for the last few years. People celebrate Diwali and Dussehra burning firecrackers, but the demand from them is on the wane now.

Though Diwali is nearly a month away, the supply of firecrackers in the market is much lower this time as compared to last year. Shopkeepers selling green firecrackers last year are sitting idle this time.

The green firecrackers are in accordance with the Supreme Court guidelines and conform to the standards of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) of the Union Ministry of Oil and Natural Gas.

The firecrackers are made at the famed Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu as also in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

Delhi’s Jama Masjid area has a 250-year-old firecracker market. There are nearly nine to 10 firecracker shops here and some are even 100-year-old. Though firecracker shops here are open throughout the year, several popular firecrackers, including “fuljhadi” (sparklers) and “anar” (flower-pot) are available at all these shops.

However, this time new varieties of green firecrackers have been made and are available in the market. Green firecrackers reduce pollution by 30 percent and are more expensive than conventional firecrackers.

Firecracker trader Amit Jain told IANS, “Due to Covid-19 all factories remained closed and the demand for firecrackers is also low this year as people have been out of work for the last six months which has adversely impacted the financial condition of the workers in the industry.”

He said, “This year there is only 20 percent demand for firecrackers and supply is even much lesser. In fact, for the last five years, traders in fireworks have switched business.”

“Now most people work according to the season such as selling colors during Holi, selling kites, working at weddings, etc. Though shopkeepers have permanent licenses for selling firecrackers they are not doing business-like in the past. Business can’t be conducted as usual this year owing to Covid-19, but in the coming year if the financial condition improves then one can expect brisk business again,” he added.

According to sources, the licensing department of the Delhi Police has also sought applications for the sale of firecrackers this year. As many as 260 firecracker traders have applied for temporary licenses till now. However, in Delhi, nearly 200 to 250 firecracker traders have permanent licenses.

Rajiv Jain, President of the Delhi Fireworks Traders Association, told IANS, “Every year or the other misfortune befalls firecracker traders just days before the festival of Diwali. Should the Explosives Act passed by Parliament be scrapped? The firecrackers industry works throughout the year, but a ban on firecrackers is imposed 10 days before Diwali while people of all religions are involved in this trade.”

He said, “You must announce that Diwali will not be celebrated in 2021 so that we don’t engage in firecracker business for the whole year and halt our work. The whole year we eagerly await Diwali but unfortunately, the ban on firecrackers is announced at the last minute which is absolutely wrong. A person who engages in his work through ethical means for a whole year is finally labeled as engaged in illegal trade.”

“In 2018, the Supreme Court banned the sale and burning of firecrackers in Delhi citing pollution caused by them.”

However, there will be no shortage in the availability of green firecrackers in Delhi. This time at least 50 types of firecrackers will be available in the Delhi markets.

With Khushbu, BJP adds more star power in TN

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With Khushbu, BJP adds more star power in TN

With actor Khushbu Sundar joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Tamil Nadu unit of the party has added more star power.

Khushbu joined the BJP on Monday.

Several popular actors and others from the Tamil movie field have joined the BJP in the state in recent times.

The list of actors and movie field celebrities who have joined the BJP in the state are Khushbu, Radha Ravi, Gouthami, Namitha, Gangai Amaran, Kutti Padmini, Gayathri Raghuram, S.Ve. Shekher, Perarasu, Kasturi Raja, Power Star Srinivasan, Pyramid Natarajan, and others.

On Monday, apart from Khushbu, former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) official Saravana Kumar also joined the BJP.

He is the second former bureaucrat to have joined the BJP after K.Annamalai, a 2011 batch IPS officer who resigned from service in 2019.

Sometime back DMK’s Deputy General Secretary V.P.Duraisamy also joined the BJP.

After that DMK MLA K.K. Selvam criticized his party President M.K. Stalin and expressed his support to the BJP.

Selvam was later dismissed from the DMK. However, he has not joined the BJP as of now.

The BJP is luring some disgruntled leaders in the DMK in order to project that it is growing in the state and one sparrow does not make a summer, DMK spokesperson and Member of Parliament T.K.S.Elangovan had told IANS earlier.

Be that as it may, punning on the word ‘Annamalai’, a hit movie starring Rajinikanth, Khushbu, and Radha Ravi, a jovial message is going around the social media.

The message reads: “Annamalai has come (referring to retired police officer Annamalai), Annamalai’ heroine (Khushbu) has also come and only the hero is remaining”.

Soft oil prices shoot up OMC margins even in depressed market

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Soft oil prices shoot up OMC margins even in depressed market

Soft global oil prices on Covid-19 related demand concerns has brought cheers to the Indian oil refining companies as the demand recovery in the domestic market is shooting up auto fuel marketing margins to record high levels.

The auto fuel net marketing margin for India refiners is estimated at Rs 4.44 per liter in H1FY21. This is considered high even as Covid badly impacted the oil sector in the first quarter period with sharp demand destruction and free fall for oil prices.

The net marketing margin determines how much a company is making on the retail sales of auto fuels such as petrol and diesel. Even with lower or falling fuel prices, margins for companies have remained high.

According to a research note on the oil sector by ICICI Securities, based on the positive movement of net margin for Indian refiners, the FY21 estimate on margin has been raised by 32 percent to Rs 3.3 per liter.

The brokerage report said that the net margin has to be just Rs 2 per liter or higher in H2 for the FY21E net margin to be Rs3 per liter or higher. But with net margin at Rs 3.08 per liter in Q3FY21 to date, Rs 3.07 per liter on October 11, and Rs 3.03 per liter at the latest prices, the estimate could go up further.

“We have raised our FY21E auto fuel net marketing margin estimate by 32 percent to Rs 3.3/l from Rs 2.5/l earlier; our revised estimate implies a net margin of Rs 2.58/l in H2FY21E,” ICICI Securities said in its report.

Along with projections for higher marketing margin, good news for oil companies has also come from a sharp recovery in auto fuel consumption in September.

Consumption of diesel was down just six percent YoY in September 2020 vs 19-21 percent YoY in July-August, and of petrol was up 3.3 percent YoY in September 2020 vs down 10-8 percent YoY in July-August 2020. Total petroleum product consumption is also down just 4.4 percent YoY in September 2020 vs 12-16 percent in July-August.

Based on the movements, the brokerage has now estimated FY21 petrol volume decline of 10 percent YoY vs 15 percent YoY earlier.

Dhoni chosen ‘T20 ka king’ in a viewer-based survey

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Dhoni chosen ‘T20 ka king’ in a viewer-based survey

Former India skipper MS Dhoni has been declared as ‘T20 ka king’ in a recent online survey conducted by Sports Flashes, the country’s first online sports radio channel.

Twelve lakh people participated in the survey on the various social media platforms of Sports Flashes, as per an official release of the channel.

A total of 128 cricketers were selected from all over the world from different teams and started an interesting and enthralling battle of 127 matches, comprising different stages.

The cricketers were selected based on their past performances and the current Indian Premier League (IPL) values by an expert panel and commentators of Sports Flashes. The voting for all these 127 matches was contested on social media handles of Sports Flashes.

The survey was undertaken in stages similar to the cricket leagues which were live for the last 32 days. In the semifinals, Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh were up against each other in the first semi-final, while the current Indian captain Virat Kohli was locking horns with his deputy Rohit Sharma. The Final was between Dhoni and Virat Kohli. The audience selected MS Dhoni as the winner of the ‘T20 ka King’ title.

On the survey, Raman Raheja, Founder, Sports Flashes said, “This result shows that even after announcing his retirement from international cricket, fans still consider MS Dhoni as the king of cricket and value all that he has done for his country in the past; he is a true legend of the game.”

“The survey was undertaken to understand the engagement level of cricket lovers with their icons. 40 lakh views were achieved in 32 days. This shows cricket cannot be displaced from its position as the favorite sport in India,” he added.

Dhoni, who made his international debut in 2004, announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15 this year after representing India in 350 ODIs, 90 Tests and 98 T20Is.

Currently, he is leading Chennai Super Kings in the 13th IPL edition being played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Microsoft launches Surface Pro X for commercial customers in India

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Microsoft launches Surface Pro X for commercial customers in India

Microsoft on Tuesday announced that its thinnest and most connected 2-in-1 device Surface Pro X is now available for commercial customers in India.

The new Surface Pro X 16GB/256GB LTE (platinum and black) will cost Rs 1,49,999 while the Surface Pro X 16GB/512GB LTE (platinum and black) will be available for Rs 1,78,999.

According to the company, the latest updates to Surface Pro X offer a new configuration that includes Microsoft’s next-generation custom processor and a new Platinum finish, along with new app experiences, resulting in longer battery life and increased performance across all Surface Pro X devices.

“We now bring new updates to Surface Pro X, including new app experiences, enhanced performance and a new platinum finish, delivering a new experience to those who need to be connected, productive, and creative at any time,” said Rajiv Sodhi, Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft India, said in a statement.

Microsoft refreshed its top-end Surface Pro X SKUs by adding the new Microsoft SQ 2 processor — the fastest processor in its class.

Surface Pro X comes with web-first experiences like Microsoft 365, Microsoft Edge, Netflix, Spotify, and more, while supporting thousands of the existing Windows apps like Google Chrome, Firefox, and Whatsapp.

The company said it will introduce three new colors for the signature keyboard: platinum, ice blue, and poppy red, all with the same built-in storage and wireless charging for the Surface Slim Pen.

In the device, Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Teams have also been made faster while using less battery with new versions optimized for Windows on ARM, with plans to expand support for running x64 apps.

For developers, the Visual Studio Code has also been updated and optimized for Windows on ARM.

“This results in overall faster performance and longer battery life, with Surface Pro X now getting up to 15 hours of battery life across both configurations,” the company said.

Very low risk to newborns from moms with Covid-19: Study

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Very low risk to newborns from moms with Covid-19: Study

New research adds to the growing body of evidence that women who have Covid-19 are less likely to pass on the infection to their babies during childbirth if precautions are in place.

The findings, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, suggest that more extensive measures like separating Covid-19-positive mothers from their newborns and avoiding direct breastfeeding may not be warranted.

“Our findings should reassure expectant mothers with Covid-19 that basic infection-control measures during and after childbirth–such as wearing a mask and engaging in breast and hand hygiene when holding or breastfeeding a baby–protected newborns from infection in this series,” said study author Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman from Columbia University in the US.

The researchers examined outcomes in the first 101 newborns born to Covid-19-positive mothers at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital.
To reduce the risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to newborns after delivery, hospital staff practiced social distancing, wore masks, and placed Covid-positive moms in private rooms.

The hospitals provided the mothers with educational materials about Covid-19 and shortened hospital stays for all mothers without complications from delivery.

Most of the newborns roomed with their mothers, including during the first postpartum checkup. Infants who roomed with their moms were placed in protective cribs six feet away from the mothers’ beds when resting.

Direct breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact with babies were strongly encouraged, provided the moms wore masks and washed hands and breasts with soap and water.

“During the pandemic, we continued to do what we normally do to promote bonding and development in healthy newborns, while taking a few extra precautions to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus,” Gyamfi-Bannerman said.

Only two of the newborns tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 but had no clinical evidence of illness. Physicians followed up with about half of the infants, including the two that tested positive for the virus, during the first two weeks of life, and all remained well.

A number of pediatric and health organizations have released interim guidelines for pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2, recommending the separation of mothers and newborns during their hospital stay, no direct breastfeeding, and bathing newborns as soon as possible

“These recommendations were made in the absence of data on rates of mother-to-newborn SARS-CoV-2 transmission and are based on experience with the mother-newborn transmission of other infectious diseases,” said study lead author Dani Dumitriu.

“But some of the recommendations conflict with what we know about the developmental benefits of early breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact. Our study shows that these measures may not be necessary for healthy newborns with Covif-positive moms,” Dumitriu added.

Apple Watch Series 6: Redefines health with blood oxygen sensor

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Apple Watch Series 6: Redefines health with blood oxygen sensor

As respiratory problems increase in North India amid stubble burning, along with a surge in Covid-19 caseloads, Apple Watch Series 6 is here with a reliable Blood Oxygen sensor to conveniently measures the oxygen saturation of the blood so you can better understand overall fitness and wellness levels at home.

Mind you that measuring oxygen saturation or SpO2 levels via Watch Series 6 is only helpful in monitoring blood oxygen levels and can signal to patients when it’s time to go to the hospital and take proper treatment.

Even for those who have recovered from Covid-19 but the lungs are not fully recovered and suffer from low oxygen, home monitoring of oxygen saturation via Apple Watch Series 6 can guide them to oxygen therapy to maintain oxygen saturation in optimum range within the blood.

Apple maintains that all data is visible in the Health app, and the user will be able to track trends over time to see how their blood oxygen level changes.

Apple Watch Series 6 is loaded with watchOS 7 that brings Family Setup, sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, new workout types, and the ability to curate and share watch faces.

Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS) starts at Rs 40,900 while Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular) begins from Rs 49,900 and is available on the newly-launched Apple Store Online in India.

Let us find out more about Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular) that has transformed the way certain health and fitness parameters are now being measured on a wearable.

Apple Watch Series 6 has a new dual-core processor based on A13 Bionic in iPhone 11 and the upgraded S6 SiP (System in Package) runs up to 20 percent faster, allowing apps to also launch 20 percent faster while maintaining the same all-day battery life.

The whole app experience is buttery after a smooth set-up and iPhone pairing.

Apple Watch Series 6 offers faster charging, completing a full charge in under 1.5 hours, and improved battery life for tracking certain workouts, such as indoor and outdoor runs.

An enhanced Always-On Retina display on the wearable is up to 2.5 times brighter than Apple Watch Series 5 outdoors when the wrist is down.

When their wrist is down, you can now access Notification Centre and Control Centre, tap on complications and swipe to change faces without having to wake their watch screen.

One great feature is Family Setup in watchOS 7 that extends Apple Watch to the entire family members who do not have an iPhone to benefit from the connectivity, safety, and fitness features of Apple Watch.

Kids can take advantage of communication and personalisation capabilities, access Emergency SOS at any time, enjoy an activity rings experience that has been optimized for them, and use a new mode called Schooltime, which can help them stay focused and attentive while learning at home or in the classroom.

watchOS 7 also offers optimized features for older adults like a refreshed X-Large face that shows the time and a rich complication at a glance.

The elderly at home can also benefit from a new Health Checklist in the Health app on the iPhone, which offers the ability to track whether health features like fall detection have been enabled in one centralized view.

With watchOS 7, you get seven new watch face options.

There is a new handwashing detection that lets the Apple Watch listen for sounds of water and then starts a 20-second timer to remind you to wash hands for the appropriate amount of time (a must tool in the pandemic times).

Conveniently accessible on the wrist, Apple Maps includes cycling directions and Siri now offers language translation.

This time, the bands and loops offer a tailored and comfortable fit without traditional clasps or buckles.

In an industry first, the ultra-light Solo Loop introduces a stretchable band design that comes in two materials — soft silicone and braided yarn.

A precision-braiding machine interweaves the 16,000 polyester yarn filaments, made of 100 percent recycled material, with ultrathin silicone threads, giving unique stretchability and a distinct look to the Braided Solo Loop.

The first-of-its-kind Leather Link wraps elegantly around the wrist, effortlessly attaching on the other side with flexible molded magnets.

Conclusion: With revolutionary Blood Oxygen monitoring and a fully-packed watchOS 7, Apple Watch Series 6 redefines the whole smartwatch experience while keeping you abreast of some of your key health and fitness parameters 24/7.

Wear it to enjoy the seamless connectivity and super app experience, as staying with the segment leader has its own benefits, like proven track record and a sense of accuracy as you traverse various health and fitness features on the Watch.

Yahoo Groups to shut down from December 15

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Yahoo Groups to shut down from December 15

Facing a steady decline in usage over the last several years, Yahoo has made the decision to shut down Yahoo Groups from December 15.

Verizon, which bought Yahoo in 2017, announced the decision on Tuesday which marks the end of the road for one of the largest message board systems on the Web of its time.

“Yahoo Groups has seen a steady decline in usage over the last several years. Over that same period, we’ve witnessed unprecedented levels of engagement across our properties as customers seek out premium, trustworthy content,” the company said in a message posted on the website.

“While these decisions are never easy, we must sometimes make difficult decisions regarding products that no longer fit our long-term strategy as we hone our focus on other areas of the business”.

The Yahoo Groups service was launched in 2001 and could not compete against new platforms like Reddit, Google Groups, and Facebook Groups.

On October 12, the creation of new groups will be disabled and on December 15, people will no longer be able to send and receive emails from Yahoo Groups.

The website will no longer be accessible too. Yahoo Mail will continue to function normally.

“The emails you have sent and received will remain in your email, though beginning December 15 messages will not be sent or received from your group members. If you try to email your group after December 15, your message will not be delivered and you will receive a failure notification,” the company informed.

That US wireless communications service provider Verizon bought Yahoo’s tottering internet business for a mere $4.8 billion in 2017.

Mexico to play football friendly with South Korea on Nov 14

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Mexico to play football friendly with South Korea on Nov 14

Mexico will play football friendly with South Korea next month to warm up for the 2021 Gold Cup and the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.

The fixture will be played in Austria on November 14 at a yet-to-be-confirmed venue, the Mexican Football Federation said in a statement, reports Xinhua news agency.

Mexico has won seven and drawn two of their 13 previous meetings with South Korea.

Gerardo Martino’s men are among five teams that have already qualified for the last phase of 2022 World Cup qualifiers in the North American, Central American, and Caribbean (CONCACAF) region. The others are the United States, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Honduras.

The 2021 Gold Cup – the CONCACAF region’s premier international competition – will be played from July 10 to August 1.

Mexico beat the Netherlands 1-0 in a friendly in Amsterdam last week and face Algeria in the Hague on Tuesday.

55,342 new cases recorded as India shows declining trend of daily spike

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55,342 new cases recorded as India shows declining trend of daily spike

India’s tally on Tuesday mounted to 71,75,880 with a spike of 55,342 coronavirus cases, the lowest since August.

India recorded around 55,000 cases on July 31 (55,078), August 4 (52,050) and August 18 (55,079).

India is showing a trend of declining average daily cases over the past five weeks. After a month, on October 9, active cases fell below the 9 lakh mark and have steadily followed a downward slope since the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said.

Out of the total cases so far, 8,38,729 are currently active, 62,27,295 have been discharged, while 1,09,856 lost the battle against the pandemic.

While the recovery rate stands at 86.78 percent, the fatality rate is 1.53 percent, the data from the Ministry data showed.

Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit with a total of 15,35,315 cases including 40,514 deaths; followed by Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.

According to the data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India conducted 10,73,014 sample tests in a single day on Monday, taking the total number of samples tested so far to 8,89,45,107.

Google launches Nest Thermostat for more energy savings at home

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Google launches Nest Thermostat for more energy savings at home

In a bid to help people further save energy at home, Google has launched a new Nest Thermostat — an easy to use, and energy-saving thermostat that people can control from anywhere with the Google Home app.

It can even monitor heating and cooling systems and detect potential issues early, all for just $129, the company said in a statement late on Monday.

“Saving energy is the biggest reason people consider upgrading from a programmable thermostat, and the new Nest Thermostat can help find ways to save that aren’t possible with your traditional one,” said Ruchi Desai, Senior Product Manager, Google Nest.

Quick Schedule (in the Home app) will help users set a custom temperature at different times and on different days.

It offers suggested pre-set temperatures that balance comfort and energy saving.

With the ‘Savings Finder’ feature, Nest Thermostat is constantly looking for small optimizations that will help people save energy at home.

“It proactively suggests small tweaks to your schedule that you can accept using the Home app. For example, it might suggest a small change to your sleep temperature to help aid sleep while saving you more on energy,” Desai said.

The Nest Thermostat uses ‘Soli’ technology for motion sensing and phone’s location to check if you’ve left the house and automatically sets itself to an Eco temperature so you don’t waste energy when you’re not there.

“You can install your own Nest Thermostat in 30 minutes or less. It works in the majority of houses, and you can check if it works in your home before purchasing with our online Compatibility Checker,” Desai informed.

In addition to the Home app, one can also control the thermostat with voice using Google Assistant on your Nest speaker or display, or with Alexa on other smart devices.

If your Nest Thermostat notices that something’s not right, it sends an alert via the Home app or email. This feature will start rolling out to all eligible Nest thermostats in the US and Canada later this month.

OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei ‘quits’ ahead of flagship launch

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OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei ‘quits’ ahead of flagship launch

The co-founder of Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus Carl Pei has reportedly left the company ahead of the flagship OnePlus 8T series and the affordable Nord N10 series launch.

Two separate sources speaking with TechCrunch confirmed that Pei has left OnePlus.

According to the report, Pei is starting “a new venture” and “is in talks with investors to raise capital.

Pei’s Twitter bio still reads “#NewBeginnings @oneplus” and his LinkedIn profile still lists him as a co-founder of OnePlus.

Pei was looking after the successful OnePlus Nord lineup and previously the flagship models from OnePlus.

Emily Dai, who is currently in charge of the company’s operations in India, maybe appointed as the head of the Nord product line globally.

Pei and Pete Lau started OnePlus back in 2012 and have led the company from a tiny smartphone brand to one that leads in several markets, including India.

A few months ago, Lau was reassigned to look after product development and planning for Oppo, Realme, and OnePlus.

OnePlus 8T 5G is set for a global launch on October 14. It will run OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 and comes with a 120Hz refresh rate.

The OnePlus 8T will succeed in the OnePlus 7T that launched in India in September 2019.

The device may feature a 6.55-inch AMOLED display just like the regular OnePlus 8.

The smartphone is expected to come with four cameras at the back, with a 48MP primary lens joined by a 16MP wide-angle module, 5MP macro, and 2MP portrait lens, according to the report.

Paytm payment gateway announces same-day bank settlement

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Paytm payment gateway announces same-day bank settlement

Paytm on Tuesday announced the same-day settlement facility for all kinds of fund transfers on its payment gateway that will help businesses that depend upon the immediate availability of funds to pay down-stream partners.

The feature can be accessed from Paytm Merchant Dashboard or Paytm for Business app.

The minimum amount that can be transferred is Rs 50, and the maximum amount is Rs 2 lakh in a single transfer request, the company said in a statement.

The merchants can define frequencies and the funds will transfer automatically.

Frequencies can be once a day, twice a day, or even three times a day.

“The feature is especially useful in this post lockdown period when businesses are getting ready for the upcoming festive season. Every single day reduced from their working capital cycle is a big relief for them,” said Saloni Malhotra, Vice President, Paytm.

In the last five years, Paytm has grown from 40 million transactions per month to 400�450 million monthly transactions in FY20.

Malhotra said the company will soon introduce merchant-facing APIs (application programming interfaces) for triggering on-demand settlements and checking outstanding payable amounts.

According to RedSeer Consulting, the payment gateway aggregator market in India currently stands at Rs 9.5 trillion and is expected to grow by 2.4 times driven by large value transactions.

It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19 percent in the next five years to reach Rs 22.6 trillion by FY25.

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