Noose tightening around Pinarayi Vijayan’s former secretary

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Noose tightening around Pinarayi Vijayan’s former secretary

As reports of the gold smuggling case surfaced, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan first gave a clean chit to M. Sivasankar, his now sacked principal secretary and also the IT secretary. But as things turned hot, Vijayan removed him from the two posts and when the case became murkier, he suspended him from service.

A senior IAS official, Sivasankar was the main man in the Chief Minister’s Office and hence it was natural that Vijayan would defend him.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case, will soon question him.

The NIA has the custody of the prime accused P.S. Sarith, Swapna Suresh, Sandip Nair, and their relations with Sivasankar are now out in the open.

Vijayan who took a tough position initially seems to be backing down. At the CPI-M’s state secretariat meeting held here on Friday, he was in a defensive mode – probably for the first time since he took over in 2016.

The CPI-M state secretary always has an invisible grip over their government and this was very visible when V.S. Achuthanandan was the Chief Minister (2006-11) and Vijayan was the party secretary.

The tiff between the two at that time made headlines and at one point in time, both were removed from the politburo, and later only Vijayan was reinstated.

But after Vijayan became Chief Minister in 2016, he has reigned supreme and the present party secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan plays second fiddle.

However, after Friday’s CPI-M party meet, though Balakrishnan said they are strongly behind Vijayan and his government, inside reports indicate that the party is not happy with the way things have transpired in his office.

This unhappiness was visible when reports surfaced that the state government will examine all the consultancies given to various agencies and the staff members attached to Sivasankar’s office were transferred out.

What has hit Vijayan very hard is that Sivasankar was responsible for posting the main accused Swapna in a prime post in the IT department with a huge salary, despite her being just a Class X pass.

The probe has now begun about her graduation certificate which was produced to get her the IT job.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Crime Branch is also on the back foot, as they were dilly-dallying in completing a probe ordered by the Kerala High Court in 2018, where an Air India official had to face the heat based on a fake letter, which he believed was fabricated by Swapna and her close aides.

The NIA team is now collecting evidence against the accused from the capital city, where the smuggling gang operated.

The Customs which first arrested Swapna and Sandip have already questioned Sivasankar for close to nine hours and the NIA which is yet to quiz the IAS officer is expected to serve a notice to him shortly.

With Vijayan also washing his hands off Sivasankar, it remains to be seen what would be the course of the investigation as both the Congress and the BJP have already demanded that the office of Vijayan be included in the probe.

The gold smuggling case which has large ramifications first surfaced when Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, was arrested by the Customs Department on July 5 when he was facilitating the smuggling of 30 kg gold in diplomatic baggage to Thiruvananthapuram from Dubai.

It turned murkier when the name of Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here and employed with the state IT Department, surfaced. The case turned full circle when their links with Sivasankar were revealed.

Tendulkar expects Broad to have ‘plenty to show’ on the field

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Tendulkar expects Broad to have ‘plenty to show’ on the field

Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar expects England fast bowler Stuart Broad to have ‘plenty to show’ during his time on the field during the second Test against West Indies.

Broad was surprisingly dropped in England’s first Test against West Indies, which they eventually lost.

“There is a spring in @StuartBroad8’s walk and I have a feeling that he is out on the field with plenty to show. #ENGvWI,” Tendulkar tweeted.

Broad has been selected for the second Test and is yet to have too much to do with the ball. He bowled five of the 14 overs that the West Indies faced in their first innings on Day 2 but Broad was part of a 42-run partnership for the last wicket with Dom Bess that helped take England past the 450-run mark.

He scored 11 runs while Bess scored 31 off 26 deliveries.

England lost three wickets in the first 35 overs on Day 1 but an epic 260-run stand for the fourth wicket between opener Dom Sibley and Ben Stokes helped turn the game in their favor.

The partnership lasted almost three full sessions and both players scored centuries. Sibley’s dismissal on 120 off 372 balls ended the stand and Stokes was eventually dismissed on 176 off 356 balls.

Spectators likely to return to stands in England from October

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Spectators likely to return to stands in England from October

In what could be the biggest positive news for sports fans in England, spectators could return to stands October onwards. So far, fans have had to be content with following all live sporting action on TV or OTT platforms.

England recently saw Premier League and lower division football and also international cricket return following a four-month-long hiatus put forward by the coronavirus pandemic. But spectators had to be kept away considering the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

However, according to British PM Boris Johnson, fans can be allowed to attend matches, in a controlled manner, from October.

“All of these measures should be done in a COVID secure way,” Boris Johnson told reporters as per the Guardian.

“From October we intend to bring back audiences in stadia and allow conferences and other business events to recommence, again these changes must be done in a COVID-secure way subject to the successful outcome of pilots,” he added.

The authorities have already announced test events where fans will be present to witness the action from close quarters. According to the report, the events also include a friendly match between County sides Surrey and Middlesex at the Oval on July 26-27.

“For months, millions of us have felt the void of being unable to go to the match to support our team or attend a top-class sporting event. So I am pleased we are now able to move forward with a plan to help venues safely reopen their doors to fans,” British Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston told reporters as per the Guardian.

“I recognize not every sport, team or club has the benefit of huge commercial revenue and it is often their dedicated fans that are the lifeblood which helps keep them going.

“By working closely with sports and medical experts, these pilots will help ensure the safe return of fans to stadia,” he added.

Covid-19 spread in Telangana raises question over ‘Prajavani’

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Covid-19 spread in Telangana raises question over ‘Prajavani’

With over 150 employees in the offices of district collectors and revenue department in Telangana infected with Covid-19, ‘Prajavani’ or the weekly public grievances redressal day is giving jitters to the staff.

Collectors, Revenue Divisional Officers (RDOs), and Thesildars or Mandal Revenue Officers (MROs) are in a dilemma whether to go with the programs held every Monday or cancel them.

Fifteen employees each have been tested positive in the offices of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district collectors in the last couple of days. Twelve employees in six other district collectorates have also contracted the virus.

Several employees in the offices of RDOs and MROs have already tested positive. An MRO died of coronavirus in Mancherial district.

‘Prajavani’ is conducted every Monday at the offices of district collectors, RDOs, and MROs. District collectors, additional collectors, deputy collectors, and other district officials attended the program held at the offices of all 33 district collectors.

People submit applications to the officials about their problems and seek their redressal. The applications pertain to correction in land records, pensions, ration cards, caste certificates, and benefits under various government schemes.

Hundreds of people turn up at collectorates, RDO, and MRO offices to lodge their complaints. Employees concerned receive the complaints and upload them on the website. After the applicants call on the officials concerned, orders are issued on the action to be taken. At least 7-8 staff members have to speak to the people while registering their grievances.

Some employees in the revenue department said this was leading to the spread of the virus. Concerned over the recent spike in cases, the officials have installed boxes at MRO offices so that the people can drop in their complaints.

The Covid-19 cases in the offices of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district collectors have sent the other staff members in a tizzy. Several top officials have stopped coming to offices and few have gone into home quarantine as they had come into contact with those who tested positive.

Three drivers and 12 other employees at Hyderabad collectorate tested positive during the last couple of days.

Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy are the two worst affected districts, accounting for over 70 percent of more than 42,000 cases reported so far in the state.

The state secretariat and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) recently saw many employees testing positive for Covid-19.

The staff at RDO and MRO level are scared as they not only have to attend the meetings but also make field visits to conduct an inquiry into land-related matters or identify beneficiaries for schemes like double bedroom houses for poor.

RDOs and MROs at few places in the state have already asked people not to come to the office but either drop in their applications in the boxes installed outside the offices or contact the village revenue officers on WhatsApp.

Some district collectors are considering the proposal to conduct ‘Prajavani’ through video conferencing to avoid assembly of a large number of people at their offices.

Telangana Revenue Employees Services Association (TRESA) president V. Ravinder Reddy has demanded that the government cancel all the meetings and public interaction programs till Coronavirus is completely contained.

“Several employees who tested positive are facing severe hardships as they are unable to pay the hefty bills at private hospitals. To save the employees from further inconvenience the government should cancel all meetings and such programs where they have to interact with people,” he said.

Priyanka Chopra turns 38, B-Town wishes pour in for b’day girl

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Priyanka Chopra turns 38, B-Town wishes pour in for b’day girl

Bollywood took to social media on Saturday, to wish Priyanka Chopra Jonas on her 38th birthday.

Kareena Kapoor, who worked with Priyanka in “Aitraaz”, posted a picture from the set of “Koffee With Karan”, where she can be seen with the birthday girl.

“Happy birthday Priyanka. May you continue to inspire the world. Hugs from across the globe,” she captioned the image.

Anushka Sharma wrote: “Happy birthday Priyanka. You are strong, a fighter, and inspiration to many. Here’s wishing you a splendid birthday.”

Along with her wish, Anushka shared a still from “Dil Dhadakne Do”, the film where the two actresses had shared screen space.

Sonam Kapoor posted a picture where she is seen hugging Priyanka.

“Happy birthday, Priyanka. I hope you have a fantastic day today, and I can’t wait to meet you in person,” Sonam wrote.

Sharing a selfie on Instagram stories, Huma Qureshi wrote: “My girl crush teaching me how it’s done. Happy birthday.”

Actress Rakul Preet Singh called Priyanka a “rockstar”.

Actor Maniesh Paul tweeted: “Happy birthday @priyankachopra keep shining…stay blessed.”

Priyanka is currently spending time with her husband Nick Jonas in their home in Los Angeles.

Bihar rivers in spate, 30 blocks affected by floods

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Bihar rivers in spate, 30 blocks affected by floods

All major rivers in Bihar are in spate and are flowing above the danger mark, flooding 30 blocks across eight districts in the state.

The Bihar water resources department said on Saturday that the Bagmati river is flowing above the danger mark at Katounjha in Sitamarhi, Beniabad in Muzaffarpur, and Hayaghat in Darbhanga. The Kamla Balan river is flowing above the danger mark in Jhanjharpur while the Mahananda has crossed the danger mark at Dhengraghat in Purnia.

However, the water of the Kosi river has receded, coming down from 1.49 lakh cusecs at 6 a.m. on Saturday near Veerpur barrage to 1.47 lakh cusecs at 8 a.m. The Gandak river was at 1.52 lakh cusecs at 8 a.m. near the Balmikinagar barrage.

Water resources secretary Sanjeev Hans said most of the rivers had crossed the danger mark but the water level is likely to fall. The water resources department and the district administration are on high alert, he added. Officials have reached the locations where flooding has occurred.

He said, “The small dam constructed under MNREGA at the Kamala river has been partially damaged near Bhojpatti village on the left bank and near Popapur village on the right bank.”

Disaster management additional secretary Ramchandra said his department is on high alert following the rising water level in various rivers of Bihar.

With the increase in the water level of the rivers, 147 panchayats in 30 blocks across eight districts of Sitamarhi, Shivhar, Supaul, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj and east Champaran have been partially affected and relief camps have been set up.

“Two relief camps have been set up in Supaul and Gopalganj, housing 1,063 people. Eight community kitchens have been set up in Gopalganj, two in Supaul, and 11 in Darbhanga. The 21 community kitchens feed nearly 11,000 people every day,” Ramchandra said

COVID-19: Paraguay postpones football restart

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COVID-19: Paraguay postpones football restart

The Paraguayan Football Association (APF) has postponed the restart of its first division season after coronavirus outbreaks at three clubs.

Doce de Octubre, Guarani, and San Lorenzo reported several positive cases in the latest round of testing conducted this week, the APF said in a statement, reports Xinhua news agency.

“This decision has been taken to protect … the lives of all people involved and contribute to national efforts to combat the pandemic,” the statement read.

In addition, the APF ordered all first division clubs to carry out new tests of players, coaches, and other staff members.

The Apertura tournament had been due to resume on Friday with a clash between San Lorenzo and General Diaz. The APF said the next match day had been postponed until at least July 22.

Libertad leads the Apertura standings with six wins, one draw and one defeat. They are four points clear of second-placed Olimpia, with Nacional and Guarani one point further back.

Apple Days sale returns on Amazon.in

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Apple Days sale returns on Amazon.in

Leading e-commerce giant Amazon.in on Saturday announced Apple Days offering deals and offers on latest iPhone 11 series, Apple Watch, MacBook, and more until July 25.

Potential customers can get the iPhone 11 series for Rs 62,900. One can also avail of an additional discount of Rs 4,000 on iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max using HDFC Bank Debit and Credit Cards.

Meanwhile, iPhone 8 plus will be available for Rs 41,500.

During Apple Days, customers will also receive deals on the latest Apple accessories by saving up to Rs 5,000 on iPad and flat Rs 1,000 off on Apple Watch Series 3 with HDFC Bank Debit and Credit Cards.

One can also avail of an instant discount of Rs 7,000 on Apple Macbook Pro using HDFC Debit and Credit Cards.

Introducing Priyansh

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Introducing Priyansh

Blood test to detect Covid-19 result in 20 mins: Study

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Blood test to detect Covid-19 result in 20 mins: Study

Australian researchers have been able to detect positive Covid-19 cases using blood samples in about 20 minutes and identify whether someone has contracted the virus.

The research team developed a simple agglutination assay – an analysis to determine the presence and amount of a substance in the blood – to detect the presence of antibodies raised in response to the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The researchers at Monash University in Australia were able to identify recent Covid-19 cases using 25 microlitres of plasma from blood samples, the study, published in the journal ACS Sensors, reported.

“This simple, rapid, and easily scalable approach has immediate application in SARS-CoV-2 serological testing, and is a useful platform for assay development beyond the Covid-19 pandemic,” said study researcher Banaszak Holl.

The researchers said that positive cases of Covid-19 cause an agglutination or a clustering of red blood cells, which is easily identifiable to the naked eye.

While the current swab/PCR tests are used to identify people who are currently positive with Covid-19, the agglutination assay can determine whether someone had been recently infected once the infection is resolved.

Agglutination tests based on the commonly employed blood typing methods are a viable option since these blood typing tests are employed in hospitals worldwide with high-throughput, fast (10-30 min), and automated in most cases.

According to the researchers, using a simple lab setup, this discovery could see medical practitioners across the world testing up to 200 blood samples an hour.

At some hospitals with high-grade diagnostic machines, more than 700 blood samples could be tested hourly – about 16,800 each day.

The findings could help high-risk countries with population screening, case identification, contact tracing, confirming vaccine efficacy during clinical trials, and vaccine distribution.

“This test can be used in any lab that has blood typing infrastructure, which is extremely common across the world,” the study authors wrote.

Yuvraj, Jhulan lead wishes for Smriti Mandhana on 24th birthday

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Yuvraj, Jhulan lead wishes for Smriti Mandhana on 24th birthday

Cricket fraternity took to social media to wish ace India women’s cricketer Smriti Mandhana who turned 24 on Saturday. Mandhana has been one of the most consistent Indian batters for a while now and is one of the first names on the sheet in white-ball cricket.

She has so far featured in 51 ODIs and 75 T20Is and has scored 2025 and 1716 runs in the two formats respectively. Mandhana also has four centuries to her name in the 50-over format.

Fast-bowling legend Jhulan Goswami was one of the first to wish Mandhana on her special day and she wrote on Twitter: “A very happy birthday Smriti! I hope this is the beginning of the best year ever. @mandhana_smriti.”

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also wished Mandhana on Twitter and his post read: “Happy Birthday@mandhana_smriti May you continue to excel and keep the Indian flag soaring with pride. Left-handers in the Indian team have a reputation of being very talented, keep that up. My best wishes.”

Another southpaw, Shikhar Dhawan, wished Mandhana and he tweeted: “Happy Birthday@mandhana_smriti. Wishing you loads of luck and continued success.”

Women’s team head coach W.V. Raman wrote on Twitter: “Happy Birthday @mandhana_smriti. Have a lovely day and may God bless you always.”

The BCCI Twitter handle also paid tribute to Mandhana on her special day as they shared a video of her incredible knock in the 2017 Women’s World Cup. Their post read: “First Indian woman to score ODI hundreds in SENA nations. Fastest Indian woman to 2000 ODI runs. Let’s celebrate our very own @mandhana_smriti’s birthday revisiting her fine 90-run knock during the #WWC17.”

Mobile testing vehicles in B’luru for faster Covid detection

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Mobile testing vehicles in B’luru for faster Covid detection

Mobile rapid antigen testing vehicles have been set in motion in the city for quick detection of COVID cases, said an official on Saturday.

“To detect cases quickly, rapid antigen test kits in vans have been launched,” said an official.

The testing vans will now enable symptomatic primary contacts, senior citizens, and people with comorbidities to contact them via helplines to reach their doorstep for a COVID test.

If the throat and nasal swabs test negative, they will be sent to the nearest RT-PCR testing facility for further determination.

One mobile testing facility with a team of three people will be on standby in each of the city’s zones to attend to symptomatic cases.

The testing team will disembark from the van to set up a table to draw the swabs for antigen testing, which takes at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, a rapid antigen testing drive was launched in the city on Friday with 150 volunteers who are microbiology graduates to collect swabs from the virus hotspots, densely populated places, and containment zones.

More than 200 cabs were hired for the testing drive to ferry health workers to identify people with Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).

The government is also seeking a number of volunteers with a background of science education to strengthen COVID containment efforts.

Being the epicenter of the pandemic in the southern state, the number of active cases it hosts rose to 62 percent.

On Friday, the city reported 2,208 COVID positive cases, increasing its tally to 27,496, out of which 20,623 are active.

A Repertoire of Culinary Experiences

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A Repertoire of Culinary Experiences

Indian Hotels Company Limited’s (IHCL) launched its gourmet food delivery platform, Qmin, on Thursday, 17th July in Capital City.

Qmin ensures guests a differentiated delivery experience with an enhanced focus on maintaining stringent protocols of safety and hygiene. This includes contact-less delivery and the mandatory use of protective gear for delivery executives in thoroughly sanitized vehicles. The packaging is eco-friendly utilizing bio-degradable materials, and with customized insulation boxes to preserve the food whilst being delivered.

Culinary experiences commencing with delivering dishes from the treasured restaurants of Taj, Vivanta, and SeleQtions to the comfort of your home, is the first phase of launch in the National Capital Region. Guests can order from eight iconic and celebrated restaurants like the House of Ming and Machan from Taj Mahal, New Delhi; Spicy Duck, Masala Art and Capital Kitchen from Taj Palace, New Delhi; Yellow Brick Road from Ambassador, New Delhi – IHCL SeleQtions and Thai Pavilion and Culina 44 from Taj City Centre, Gurugram.

Speaking on the announcement of this new offering, Mr. Gaurav Pokhariyal, Senior Vice President – Operations, North, said, “Delhi has proudly been referred to as the Food Capital of the country. We are delighted to launch Qmin in Delhi, a repertoire of culinary experiences from our celebrated restaurants. Qmin caters to the increased demand for gourmet food delivery service. Our landmark Hotels have pioneered various cuisines and culinary innovations for over four decades and it is our privilege to bring that experience from our signature restaurants to our guests in the comfort of their homes with utmost attention to hygiene.”

From the legendary Machan, the city’s first 24 hours international dining destination to award-winning and authentic Thai cuisine at Thai Pavilion, the much revered Yellow Brick Road and the Capital’s trendy multi-cuisine kitchen, Capital Kitchen, the repertoire of signature dishes that Qmin offers is sure to delight patrons. The culinary experience will celebrate nostalgia, quality, and authenticity in the comfort and convenience of your home.

Qmin will expand its scope and bring Taj@Home to other cities in the near future. The Qmin mobile application will be launched in Mumbai on July 25th, 2020, followed by the gourmet Qmin Shop in subsequent months presenting epicurean specialties and authentic artisanal brands.

Virtual grooming sessions amidst the ‘new normal’

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Virtual grooming sessions amidst the ‘new normal’

Four celebrity stylists including Jawed Habib, Ambika Pillai, Sanky Evrus, and Pompy Hans will share their perspective on various themes such as styling at home, work from home styling, tips, and tricks for monsoon hair and myths around styling tools.

Havells India kicks off its seven-week #schoolofgrooming campaign with leading celebrity hairstylists to reach out to its style-savvy consumers aiming to enlighten the participants with various aspects of self-grooming amidst the ‘new normal’.

The first live session hosted by hair expert Jawed Habib scheduled on 11th July received massive traction on Facebook with more than 480K views in just 3 days. Themed ‘Styling at Home 101’, the participants learned the basics of the styling and grooming for both men and women.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Ravindra Singh Negi, President – Electrical Consumer Durables, Havells India said, “We are pleased to announce the virtual sessions at a time when customers are in need of professional grooming advice amid the pandemic situation. With various services being inaccessible, online education on self-care is an important step towards building self-esteem and confidence for customers.

With the new brand campaign #schoolofgrooming and leading industry experts as the face, we want consumers to take charge of their looks and own their style with confidence. The idea is to cater to the evolving tastes of our target consumers and stay ahead with the latest grooming trends.”

Upcoming sessions include Ambika Pillai on the 20th, Sanky Evrus, and Pompy Hans.

How not to support someone through ill mental health

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How not to support someone through ill mental health

All of us function because we have a mind of our own. The way we think, the way we feel and the way we interact with our environment describes and determines our mental health.

We are our minds. Our relationships, our memories, our success, our moments of fun, our view of our work and ourselves, are all a function of positive mental health. Mental health and mental ill-health are a continuum, explains Dr. Achal Bhagat, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, and Psychotherapist at Apollo Hospitals, Delhi.

“Mental illnesses are common. There are nearly 200 types of mental illnesses. Some of these are common mental disorders, like anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and psychosomatic problems (physical symptoms because of psychological reasons). The more severe psychiatric disorders include schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder. Alcohol and substance abuse are common forms of mental illness. Mental illness is a dysfunction of our mental functions (thinking, feeling, acquiring, and making sense of information, problem-solving, decision making and judgment).

“This dysfunction is a result of an interaction of biological vulnerability in the form of certain neurochemical changes, and risks in the form of psychological and social difficulties that a person may face. In any community, one in four people is likely to experience a mental illness. Any one of us may experience mental ill-health,” Dr. Bhagat told IANSlife.

If you know someone who is living with a mental health problem, here is what she suggests you should not do to add to their problems:

Do not treat them any differently to any other person, because they have a mental health problem. People living with mental illnesses and mental health problems are people first.

Do not pity them or think less of them. They are not weak or incapable. They are facing a mental health problem and anyone can face mental health difficulties. It does not make them less of a person.

Do not be impatient. Create time, listen, and let them know that you care.

Do not make promises that you cannot keep. Be predictable and consistent in the support that you offer.

Do not be judgemental. We are all judgemental at times and we have opinions. Having opinions about other people and focussing only on some aspects of their personality is disrespectful and comes in the way of someone trusting you. Accept people as they are, without judging them.

Do not be directive. Do not try to determine their solutions, their responses to the difficulties they face. Your solutions may not be relevant to them. What you may find too easy to solve, maybe enormously difficult for them. Your immediate, pat solutions may make them feel that you are trivializing their problems. Gently encourage them to find their own solutions.

Do not be intrusive. Just because they have reached for help from you it does not mean that you need to know all about them. You need to now is your need to be complete, they may not be comfortable telling you everything about themselves.

Do not get into mental arguments with them, if you disagree with someone, let it be. Sometimes you may be so invested in one way of addressing a problem that each time you meet the person you are helping, you may be already having a mental argument with them. Trying to ‘convert’ people to your way of thinking is not helpful.

Do not compare their problems with other people’s problems. Everyone’s distress is individual and it is not less or more.

Do not use platitudes as a means of support. Saying things like “Time will heal” and “It is God’s will” are ways of stopping a difficult conversation not supporting someone.

Do not stop them from expressing themselves, do not question the way they are feeling. Everyone has a right to feel the way they want to.

Do not keep them away from other sources of help. Get information about mental health services and make it available to them.

Do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed. You have to look after yourself too. Being available for someone does not mean that you do not matter.

Do not try to do something to or for people, be with them.

Accenture elevates Sanjeev Vohra as applied intelligence biz head

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Accenture elevates Sanjeev Vohra as applied intelligence biz head

Global professional services company Accenture on Saturday announced to elevate Sanjeev Vohra as global lead of its Applied Intelligence business that helps customers use data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), analytics, and automation to fuel business transformation.

Vohra who is currently Accenture’s growth and strategy lead for technology would also join the company’s Global Management Committee (GMC), it said in a statement.

“We will count on his exceptional business acumen, leadership, and innovation-led mindset to drive our Applied Intelligence business and help our clients discover new ways to harness the power of data and insight to fuel their transformation and growth,” said Annette Rippert, Group Chief Executive, Accenture Strategy & Consulting.

Vohra who joined Accenture in 2002 would oversee a global Applied Intelligence workforce of 40,000, with deep industry expertise and skills in areas including AI, data science, deep learning, machine learning, and data engineering.

Applied Intelligence is Accenture’s approach to scaling AI-powered data, analytics, and automation capabilities for clients.

“Our expertise in defining end-to-end strategy, combined with deep data infrastructure capabilities, cognitive services, and industrialized accelerators help smooth clients’ path to AI adoption, extending human capabilities and supporting clients in scaling AI responsibly,” said Accenture.

Eng vs WI: We must make sure Archer doesn’t feel alone, says Stokes

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Eng vs WI: We must make sure Archer doesn’t feel alone, says Stokes

England all-rounder Ben Stokes believes the team management really needs to support fast bowler Jofra Archer who was excluded for the ongoing second Test against the West Indies following his bio-secure protocol breach.

Archer went home to Brighton between the first and second Tests of the ongoing three-match series against the West Indies, contravening strict guidelines. He was subsequently ruled out of the second Test being played at the Old Trafford. He will now undergo two COVID-19 tests during the five-day isolation period, which have to test negative before his self-isolation period is lifted.

“For us as players, and as the England cricket group, this is a time where our way of operation really needs to come through,” Stokes, who scored 176 to guide England to 469 for 9 declared in their first innings of the ongoing second Test, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“We really need to there to support Jofra right now, because obviously he’s a big talking point, and he is by himself because of everything else going on at the moment.”

“But it’s about making sure that he doesn’t feel like he’s by himself,” he added. “The worst thing that we can do right now, as a team, is to just leave him and say ‘see you in five, six days’ time.

“Times like these for people are very, very tough. You can feel like you are all by yourself, but I don’t think anybody is going to allow that to happen. Jofra is a massive part of this group, as everybody is. If it was anybody else like Jofra, it would be exactly the same way of handling as a team,” he added.

Archer has already apologized for his actions.

“I am extremely sorry for what I have done,” Archer was quoted as saying in an ECB statement.

“I have put, not only myself but the whole team and management in danger. I fully accept the consequences of my actions, and I want to sincerely apologize to everyone in the bio-secure bubble.

“It deeply pains me to be missing the Test match, especially with the series poised. I feel like I have let both teams down, and again I am sorry,” he added.

US Congress urged to pass another COVID-19 relief bill

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US Congress urged to pass another COVID-19 relief bill

Former chiefs of the US Federal Reserve have urged Congress to pass another COVID-19 relief bill as the pace of the country’s economic recovery could be slow and uneven.

At a hearing before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen on Friday warned that the US could face deep, permanent economic damage without further relief packages, reports Xinhua news agency.

They suggested that the next COVID-19 relief bill should focus on three areas: increasing spending on public health; extending enhanced unemployment benefits, and providing further aid to state and local governments.

“Money spent on public health yields a very high return and it means that the economy can get back on its feet more rapidly. We can reopen and put people back to work and of course, we also save lives in the process,” Yellen said at the hearing.

She added that “it would be a catastrophe” not to extend the enhanced weekly unemployment insurance of $600, which is set to expire at the end of this month.

“The unemployment insurance has a humanitarian aspect. We want people to be able to pay their bills and to stay in their homes,” echoed Bernanke, adding that the unemployment insurance will also increase aggregate demand and help the economy generally.

Asked about the potential impact of capping the next COVID-19 relief package at $1 trillion, Yellen said: “I would be concerned about capping it when we know that the needs of the state and local governments alone come close to that and a substantial amount will also be needed for unemployment insurance and for public health needs.”

Last month, Bernanke, Yellen, and another 100 economists urged Congress to immediately pass a “multifaceted relief bill of a magnitude commensurate with the challenges our economy faces” as the COVID-19 fallout continued to ripple through the country.

US output is expected to contract by an annualized rate of 37 percent in the second quarter and by 6.6 percent for 2020 as a whole, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff said on Friday, after concluding an annual Article IV review of the economy.

Trump won’t issue national mask mandate

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Trump won’t issue national mask mandate

US President Donald Trump said he won’t issue an order at the national level mandating the use of masks, even as the country has continued to break its single-day COVID-19 case record.

When asked during a Fox News interview on Sunday if he would consider issuing a national mask mandate to slow the spread of the virus, Trump said: “No, I want people to have a certain freedom and I don’t believe in that, no,” Xinhua news agency reported.

“I don’t agree with the statement that if everyone wore a mask, everything disappears,” the President added.

“Dr. (Anthony) Fauci said don’t wear a mask, our surgeon general — terrific guy — said don’t wear a mask. Everybody was saying don’t wear a mask, all of a sudden everybody’s got to wear a mask,” Trump said.

“And as you know, masks cause problems too. With that being said, I am a believer in masks. I think masks are good.”

Trump has been refusing to wear a mask himself since the pandemic hit the country earlier this year, citing his good health and frequent negative tests for the virus.

He was seen wearing a mask in public for the first time on July 11 while visiting Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, some three months after the CDC recommended that Americans should do so because asymptomatic bearers of the virus could still transmit it to others.

After recording over 70,000 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours for a second consecutive day, the US currently accounted for the world’s highest number of infections and fatalities at 3,641,417 and 139,175, respectively.

Have all our bases covered, can make history in Tokyo: Savita

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Have all our bases covered, can make history in Tokyo: Savita

Indian hockey goalkeeper Savita believes the team has all their bases covered and stand a great chance to win the elusive medal at next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, the Tokyo Olympics have been postponed by a year and are now scheduled to be held in Summer 2021.

“I think we have a great chance to make history at the Tokyo Olympics. We have a good mix of experience and youngsters in our side and all our bases are covered,” Savita was quoted as saying by Hockey India.

“We have competed against top teams in the recent past and we have a strong belief in our abilities. If we play to our potential, we will surely win a medal for India at the Olympics next year,” she added.

The Indian eves have never been able to win a medal in the prestigious quadrennial event. In Moscow Games in 1980, the team finished fourth while in Rio Games in 2016, they finished at the 12th spot.

Recalling the historic qualification for the Rio Olympics, Savita said: “It was fantastic to take part at the Rio Olympics in 2016. We had qualified for the big competition after 36 years and we were very excited to be in the midst of the best athletes from around the world. The feeling was unparalleled when we were soaking in the entire environment at Rio.”

“I feel our team was raw at that time and we made a few mistakes. Now, we have a much stronger side and I am sure we will be able to put the nightmare in Rio behind us. The experience at the Olympic Games will certainly hold us in good stead for the next one in Tokyo,” she added.

The goalkeeper stated that the team has changed their playing style after the Rio Games.

“We have certainly changed the way we operate on and off the field since the 2016 Olympics. We have recorded great victories in the last four years which includes Asia Cup 2017 and FIH Women’s Series Finals Hiroshima 2019.

“It was absolutely amazing to book a berth at the Tokyo Olympics through the FIH Olympic Qualifiers 2019 in front of our home crowd. We desperately needed one goal in the second leg match against the USA and Rani stepped up for us once again in the last quarter of the match.

“We never stopped believing in ourselves and that was the key aspect in our game on that day,” she added.

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