Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon Wear 4100 chip for wearables

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Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon Wear 4100 chip for wearables

Global chipmaker Qualcomm on Wednesday announced it’s latest Snapdragon Wear 4100 platforms including Snapdragon Wear 4100+ as well as Wear 4100 for the next-gen smartwatches based on Google Wear OS and Android Open Source Platform (AOSP).

With the Wear 4100 platform, Qualcomm has promised lofty improvements in performance-related aspects as well as improvements in battery efficiency.

“Snapdragon Wear 4100 platforms brings richer, enhanced experiences to next-generation connected smartwatches,” Pankaj Kedia, Global Business Head, Smart Wearables Segment, Qualcomm Technologies, said in a statement.

According to Qualcomm, the new wearables platform boasts of up to 85 percent faster performance and up to 25 percent lesser power consumption, compared to the earlier Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform.

The new chipsets are built on a dramatically smaller process, now 12nm, with modern Cortex-A53 processor cores, and in the case of the 4100+, there is a new low-power coprocessor that can take even more load off of the main processor.

Qualcomm has announced a partnership with two companies to launch the first smartwatches with Snapdragon Wear 4100.

The first wearable will be Mobvoi TicWatch Pro NextGen, using a Wear 4100+ and running Wear OS.

The next will be the BBK Z6 Ultimate, which is a kid-focused smartwatch, using the Wear 4100 and running custom Android software.

PhonePe records 150% growth in loan EMI repayments

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PhonePe records 150% growth in loan EMI repayments

Digital payments platform PhonePe on Wednesday said that it has seen over 150 percent growth in loan EMI repayments category on its platform since March this year.

The loan EMI repayment category provides users with the convenience of making repayments at will or by setting up an auto-debit on a specified date.

PhonePe currently has over 60 lenders integrated into its platform, including providers of microfinance, housing loans, consumer durable loans, and short term liquidity loans, among others.

“The loan providers find our platform attractive given our user base of 200+ million across the country and seamless technology integration at the backend,” Ankit Gaur, Head of Online Business, In-app Categories & Switch BD, PhonePe, said in a statement.

“We are actively working to expand our lender base to over 100 by the end of this year to cater to a larger number of users across the country.”

PhonePe said it has already tied up with some of the nation’s biggest private non-banking lenders such as Bajaj Finance, Home Credit, Muthoot, DMI Finance, HeroFinCorp, Tata Capital among others.

“We have enabled the easy discovery of lenders with instant access to large players like Home Credit, Bajaj Finance, etc. We have kept the process user-friendly with just four steps to facilitate friction-free payments,” Gaur said.

“We also don’t charge anything extra to our users for making the loan repayment using our platform.”

UPSC allows Civil Services aspirants to change exam centres

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UPSC allows Civil Services aspirants to change exam centres

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has decided to allow candidates for the Civil Services (preliminary) examination, 2020 scheduled to be held on October 4 to change their exam centers in view of coronavirus pandemic.

The opportunity to change the centers will also be applicable to Indian Forest Service (preliminary) examination, 2020 which will also be held along with the Civil Services examination all over India on the same date as per the revised schedule.

Keeping in view a large number of candidates and requests received for change of exam centers, the Commission said it was decided to give them an opportunity to submit a revised choice of centers.

“The option to change the centers for Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2020 and Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2020 is also being made available to the candidates,” the Commission said.

The requests for change in exam centers will be considered against an additional or enhanced capacity intimated by the respective centers for accommodating additional candidates.

The time window for submitting revised choices of centers will be operational in two phases — July 7-13 (till 6 pm) and July 20-24 (till 6 pm) on the Commission’s website https://upsconline.nic.in.

The candidates are advised to visit the website and submit their choices of centers for the above examinations if required.

The UPSC also clarified that requests for change of centers will be considered based on the principle of “first-apply-first allot” basis and once the capacity of a particular center is met with, the same will be frozen.

The candidates who cannot get centers of their choice due to the ceiling will be required to choose centers from the remaining ones, it said.

All the conditions and eligibility mentioned in the examination notice issued on February 12 of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2020 and the Indian Forest Service Examination, 2020 will remain unchanged.

The Commission will also make a withdrawal window available to the candidates on the website from August 1-8. “Candidates must note that once the application has been withdrawn by the candidate, it cannot be revived in future under any circumstances.”

China deploys two more divisions of troops across LAC

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China deploys two more divisions of troops across LAC

Even as Indian and Chinese militaries talk to de-escalate and disengage at borders in eastern Ladakh, Indian intelligence agencies said on Wednesday that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has brought in troops of two more divisions across Line of Actual Control at disputed areas.

This will escalate the matter even though South Xinjiang military chief Major-General Liu Lin had agreed to disengage troops from Galway Valley during talks with Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, the commander of Leh-based XIV corps.

“In total, China has deployed around 24,000 soldiers more in Eastern Ladakh region,” said sources, adding that a division comprises of 12,000 soldiers. Sources further stated that the Chinese forces have also brought in heavy guns, tanks, and fighter aircraft across the Line of Actual Control in a bid to aggravate the border situation.

In the Tibet region, China generally stations two divisions of troops. But now they have brought in two more divisions from far away locations. This clearly signifies that they are not committed to their consensus of disengagement.

India is closely watching the development across the Line of Actual Control and has decided to carry out mirror deployment in the region.

In the meantime, on Tuesday, the talks between the Indian and Chinese military delegates to resolve the border issue in eastern Ladakh went on for around 12 hours. The meeting which started at 10.30 a.m. ended at 11 p.m. on Tuesday night, the sources said.

The meeting took place at Chushul wherein India has put a strong message that China’s People’s Liberation Army troops have not been aided by the disengagement consensus.

This was the third meeting between the two sides. The last two meetings at Corps Commander level were held on June 6 and June 22.

While Tuesday’s meeting was held in Chushul on the Indian side, the previous two took place in Moldo on the Chinese side.

“All contentious areas during the current stand-off were discussed to stabilize the situation,” the sources added.

China has agreed to move back to Pangong Tso but they did not. India claims Line of Actual Control at Finger 8 and Chinese are sitting between Finger 4 and Finger 5. Similarly, differences exist in Depsang and Demchok.

On June 22, the talks took place for around 11 hours, and the dialogue was held in a cordial, positive, and constructive atmosphere and there was a “mutual consensus to disengage”. “Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed,” the Indian Army had stated.

The meeting took place on the lines of the one they held at the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting (BPM) point in eastern Ladakh on June 6.

Also, Major General level dialogue took place for three consecutive days after the barbaric attack at patrolling point 14 in Galway valley on June 15 night where 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

The dialogue was carried out to ease out the tense situation and to release 10 Indian soldiers, including four officers, who were in Chinese captivity.

Major General Abhijit Bapat, who is the Commander of the 3 Division of the Indian Army, had raised several points with the Chinese with regard to the incident on the night intervening June 15-16.

June 15 was the first time the Indian Army faced casualties in a clash with China’s People’s Liberation Army since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.

China is also said to have used thermal imaging drones to trace the Indian Army soldiers scattered on the treacherous terrain before brutally attacking them.

Custodial deaths: Rajini demands action against police officials

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Custodial deaths: Rajini demands action against police officials

Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth on Wednesday expressed shock at the way the Sathankulam police officials behaved with a Magistrate who had gone to the police station to inquire into custodial deaths and said the concerned officials should be punished.

In a tweet, Rajinikanth said he was shocked to hear of the manner in which the police officials spoke and behaved in front of the Magistrate inside the Sathankulam police station even as there was widespread condemnation of the brutal torture and killing of a father and son by the police.

The reason for Rajinikanth’s anger lies in the report submitted by Kovilpatti Judicial Magistrate M.S. Bharathidasan who was asked to inquire into the case of brutal torture of P. Jeyaraj and his son J. Bennicks by the Sathankulam police on June 19 and their subsequent deaths.

Jeyaraj and Bennicks had been booked for not closing their mobile shop in time on June 19 by the Sathankulam police. They were sent to judicial custody and lodged in Kovilpatti jail on June 21.

Jeyaraj died on June 22 night and Bennicks on June 23 morning in judicial custody, allegedly due to the police torture.

In his report to the Madras High Court, Magistrate Bharathidasan said that when he had gone to the Sathankulam police station, Additional Superintendent of Police D. Kumar and Deputy Superintendent of Police C. Prathapan did not even greet him nor acknowledge his presence.

As per the report, Kumar did not respond properly when asked for documents.

The Sathankulam police personnel mocked and threatened the judicial officials, according to the report.

When asked to submit their batons for evidence, the police officials first tried to behave as if they had not heard anything.

But when he insisted police officials submitted their batons except for constable Maharajan who made a disparaging remark – ‘you can’t pluck anything’ – against Bharathidasan.

Maharajan, when asked to submit his baton, first said his baton was at his native place, then said it was at his police quarters residence and finally said he was not given a baton at all.

The report also said one police official ran away when asked for his baton.

Bharathidasan also reported that the CCTV camera storage system did not have any image of June 19 and earlier.

Despite the system having sufficient memory space, it was configured to erase the images on a daily basis.

A woman police constable Revathy, at the Sathankulam police station, in her deposition before Bharathidasan had said that Jeyaraj and Bennicks were beaten with batons throughout the June 19 night.

According to Bharathidasan’s report, Revathy also said the victims’ bloodstains were on the batons of the station police officials and on tables.

She said the batons and the tables should be secured so that the evidence is not lost, the report stated.

Expressing fear that she may be targeted later, Revathy was initially reluctant to sign a printout of her statement but later on, being assured of her safety she signed the document.

The Madras High Court Bench in Madurai which took up the case suo moto had said there was prima facie evidence to register a murder case against the Sathankulam police officials.

The court also transferred the probe into the deaths of Jeyaraj and Bennicks to the Crime Branch Crime Investigation Department (CBCID) to gather and protect the evidence till the case is handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The High Court has initiated criminal contempt cases against three police officials – Additional Superintendent of Police Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police Prathapan, and constable Maharajan – for their behavior at the Sathankulam police station in front of Magistrate Bharathidasan.

Six die in NLC India boiler blast, TN CM announces compensation (Ld)

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Six die in NLC India boiler blast, TN CM announces compensation (Ld)

Six workers were killed and 17 others injured when a boiler in a thermal power unit (TPS II) of NLC India Ltd exploded on Wednesday, officials said.

The NLC India’s integrated mining-cum-power plant is located in Neyveli in the Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu.

The injured have been admitted to NLC India hospital.

It is the second major boiler blast in NLC India. In May, four persons were killed when a boiler in the TPS II exploded.

The company’s TPS II consists of seven units of 210 MW each.

The cause of the boiler blast is yet to be ascertained.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami expressed grief over the deaths and announced a compensation of Rs 300,000 each to the bereaved families.

Palaniswami also announced Rs 100,000 each to severely injured workers and Rs 50,000 each to other injured.

Boiler explosion at a thermal power plant in Tamil Nadu

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Boiler explosion at a thermal power plant in Tamil Nadu

Six people died and 16 suffered burn injuries in a boiler explosion at a thermal power plant in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu this morning.The blast took place at a power plant of the central government-owned NLC India Limited in Cuddalore, about 180 km from state capital Chennai. This is the second blast at the power plant in two months.All those injured were rushed to the Apollo Hospital in Chennai, officials said.

“The boiler was not in operation. We are investigating the incident,” R Vikraman, one of the directors of the power plant, said.”Among the sixteen injured, six are regular employees and 10 are contract workers. We are collecting details of those who died,” he added.

In a tweet, Union Home Minister Amit Shah condoled the deaths. “Anguished to learn about the loss of lives due to a blast at Neyveli power plant boiler in Tamil Nadu. Have spoken to CMOTamilNadu and assured all possible help. CISFHQrs is already on the spot to assist the relief work. Praying for the earliest recovery of those injured,” he wrote.

The company generates 3,940-megawatt electricity. The plant where the blast took place accounts for 1,470 megawatts. The company employs 27,000, including 15,000 contractual workers.

Several deaths linked to accidents at industrial units have been reported in the last two months.

On Monday, two people were killed and four were hospitalized after gas leaked at the Visakhapatnam unit of the firm Sainor Life Sciences.

In May, 11 people, including two young children, were killed and over 1,000 were hospitalized after gas leaked overnight at the LG Polymers facility in Vizag. The incident was compared by many to the 1984 Bhopal Gas leak, one of the worst industrial disasters in history when gas leaked from a pesticide plant operated by Union Carbide and killed over 3,500.

Depression more prevalent during menopause transition: Study

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Depression more prevalent during menopause transition: Study

Depression has been shown to be prevalent during menopause, affecting as many as 70 percent of women transitioning into menopause, say, researchers.

The study, published in the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), not only confirms the high prevalence of depression but also the greatest risk factors for it in postmenopausal women, as well as any relationships with anxiety and fear of death.

“The findings are consistent with existing literature and emphasize the high prevalence of depressive symptoms in midlife women, particularly those with a history of depression or anxiety and chronic health conditions,” said study researcher Stephanie Faubion, NAMS medical director.

With the decrease in hormone production during menopause, women are more prone to a number of psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, irritability, nervousness, sadness, restlessness, memory problems, lack of confidence and concentration, and a loss of libido.

At the same time, as women age, the fear of death becomes more pronounced.

Depression and anxiety, which are the most common psychological problems that occur during the menopause transition, likely increase that fear, the researchers said.

For the current findings, the research team picked 485 postmenopausal Turkish women aged between 35 and 78 years.

The researchers sought to determine the frequency of depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women, the variables affecting it, and the levels of anxiety and fear of death.

They then evaluated the relationship between all these variables and postmenopausal depression.

They found that depression in postmenopausal women is a common and important health problem that requires further study.

In this specific study, 41 percent of the participants were confirmed to experience some form of depression.

In addition, the researchers identified those risk factors that most affected depression in postmenopause.

These included being a widow or separated from one’s spouse, alcohol consumption, any medical history requiring continuous medication, the presence of any physical disability, physician-diagnosed mental illness, and having four or more living children.

“Women and the clinicians who care for them need to be aware that the menopause transition is a period of vulnerability in terms of mood,” Faubion said.

15% VAT hike comes into effect in Saudi

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15% VAT hike comes into effect in Saudi

Saudi Arabia’s decision to raise the value-added tax (VAT) rate to 15 percent came into effect on Wednesday on all goods and services subject to it in markets across the Kingdom, after a royal decree was issued on May 11, state media reported.

The Saudi General Authority of Zakat and Income called on all taxpayers who are registered in the VAT to verify the readiness of their facilities, and learn about all transitional provisions related to raising the tax rate, by reviewing the guidelines, Gulf News quoted the state-media report as saying.

The authority also urged citizens and residents to ascertain the items of the tax invoice, including store name, date of purchase, tax number, and VAT, calling for cooperation with and reporting any violation business if these elements are not available, through its website and app.

The adjusted tax applies to all supplies of taxable goods or services imported into the Kingdom.

In early May, Saudi Arabia announced it would triple its VAT from 5 percent to 15 percent as part of measures to shore up its economy hit by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and low oil prices.

The government also said it will suspend the cost of living allowance as part of the austerity steps.

Saudi Arabia is one of the most affected Middle Eastern countries with 190,823 COVID-19 and 1,649 deaths.

No Chinese goods in food ministry now: Paswan

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No Chinese goods in food ministry now: Paswan

Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan has said that his ministry has closed the door for Chinese products. Paswan said that no Chinese goods will come to his department anymore and a circular to this effect has already been issued.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Paswan said that from now on foreign products will also be tested as per the standard set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

After this decision, the purchase of goods directly by his Ministry and the departments and organizations under his Ministry will not include products from China.

The Food Corporation of India and the Central Warehousing Corporation also come under the Union Food and Public Distribution Ministry.

The circular issued by the ministry on June 23 stated that no goods manufactured in China would be purchased from the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal or any other source.

This decision comes after the incident in Galway Valley in Ladakh in which 20 Indian soldiers, including an officer, were killed in a clash with Chinese troops last month.

After the incident, there is a wave of anger all over the country against China and people are boycotting Chinese goods.

Paswan said “Rules are being framed to check foreign goods standards. These rules will apply not only to Chinese products but also to products coming from other countries.”

He said the way Indian goods are tested on foreign standards in the same way, foreign goods will be tested in India. “We will stop foreign goods if our standards are not met,” Paswan said.

Paswan has been active in delivering foodgrains to every nook and corner of the country by implementing the free grain distribution scheme – Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) during the corona crisis. So far, 1,03,53,715 tonnes of foodgrains have been distributed, which is 87 percent of the total quota for three months.

The scheme has been extended till November. Expressing happiness, Paswan said this will provide great relief to more than 80 crore poor people of the country in this hour of crisis.

Paswan said there is enough stock of foodgrains in the country. He urged the states to lift the grains for the months ahead to ensure smooth distribution under PMGKAY.

Mohena Kumari tests COVID-19 negative

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Mohena Kumari tests COVID-19 negative

Television actress Mohena Kumari has finally tested COVID-19 negative after a month-long battle with the virus.

The actress took to Instagram to share the news with her fans on Wednesday.

“We finally tested Negative of coronavirus… after a month! We’d like to thank all the Doctors and Health care professionals for doing the best they could with whatever information was available to the world about this virus, at AIIMS RISHIKESH.”

She also shared a message of gratitude towards the doctors and healthcare professionals on the occasion of Doctor’s Day on Wednesday.

“Today we celebrate the work of Doctors and Healthcare professionals in our country. In my life, I have met some wonderful doctors, nurses, compounders, and other medical staff… I’d like to thank all of them for their Honest Efforts to help people to ease or eradicate their pain.”

“I really hope and pray that all doctors are doing the same for people of all ages, strata, and religion. People put immense faith in doctors and we always hope for doctors to reciprocate that with selfless care and humanity. I’d like to wish all the selfless, honest, diligent, and hardworking doctors a very Happy National Doctors Day. Thank you for your service. #doctorsday2020” wrote the “Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai”.

Mohena Kumari had tested COVID-19 positive at the beginning of June. Her husband Suresh Rawat, father-in-law Satpal Maharaj, who is Uttarakhand’s tourism minister, and mother-in-law were also found to be COVID 19 positive.

On June 13, the family returned home from the hospital despite still being COVID-19 positive. They have been living in isolation at home since then.

Marginal hike in price of non-subsidized LPG cylinder (Ld)

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Marginal hike in price of non-subsidized LPG cylinder (Ld)

The price of non-subsidized LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) cylinders has been marginally increased with effect from Wednesday.

In Delhi, non-subsidized LPG cylinders will be costlier by Re 1. According to the Indian Oil website, the price of a 14.2-kg non-subsidized gas cylinder in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai have been increased from Rs 593 to Rs 594, from Rs 616 to Rs 620.50, from Rs 590.50 to Rs 594 and from Rs 606.50 to Rs 610.50, respectively, from July 1.

However, the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has been reduced by Rs 4 from Rs 1,139.50 to Rs 1,135.50 in Delhi while in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai its price has been increased.

The price of a 19-kg LPG cylinder for commercial use has been increased from Rs 1,193.50 to Rs 1,197.50 in Kolkata, from Rs 1,087.50 to Rs 1,090.50 in Mumbai and from Rs 1,254 to Rs 1,255 in Chennai.

Thai cafe sues US govt for spreading COVID-19

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Thai cafe sues US govt for spreading COVID-19

A cafe in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province has filed a damage lawsuit against the US government for allegedly spreading the COVID-19 pandemic, it was reported on Wednesday.

Sawant Wianthong, the owner of Ooh Cafe at DK Park food center, filed the case in court on June 26 seeking 450,000 baht ($14,572) in damage compensation, plus a 7.5 percent interest per annum, for which he held the US government accountable, reports Xinhua news agency.

He said his cafe had closed and lost considerable incomes during the last three months due to lockdown measures against the pandemic in the province.

Thailand has imposed anti-pandemic measures under a health emergency rule nationwide.

The country has so far reported 3,173 COVID-19 cases, with 58 deaths.

ZEE5 announces TikTok rival HiPi for Indian users

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ZEE5 announces TikTok rival HiPi for Indian users

Entertainment app ZEE5 on Wednesday announced a short video-sharing platform HiPi in a bid to take on TikTok which is among the 59 Chinese apps banned by India in view of security risk.

ZEE5 said it has partnered with over 300 creators initially to bring curated content on the platform which will be launched “within 30-60 days”.

“It is on beta right now. It will be live very shortly. It is undergoing user testing to refine the final nuances of how the application behaves. We are taking feedback from the close groups and making refinement to the product,” Rajneel Kumar, Business Head, Expansion projects and Head Products at ZEE5, told IANS.

HiPi will be first available for Android users before rolling out on iOS. The platform will be available within the ZEE5 which is “on a journey to build a super-app”.

ZEE5 already has original content, movies, fun kids content, Live TV and news, music, and games on the platform.

HiPi will be free for users as it will be an advertisement-driven platform, not subscription-based, Kumar said, adding that all data of users will be stored in the country.

“We have put a lot of emphasis on content moderation in order to build a safe environment,” he said.

The verified content creators on the platform will be able to share revenue on the basis of traction of their videos, he said.

HiPi will also have other social media features like the ability to “Follow” and “Like” content, Kumar said.

Trump again slams China over COVID-19 pandemic

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Trump again slams China over COVID-19 pandemic

US President Donald Trump has once again slammed China over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which America is struggling to contain amid a sudden surge in the number of new confirmed cases across several states.

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday night, Trump said: “As I watch the Pandemic spread its ugly face all across the world, including the tremendous damage it has done to the USA, I become more and more angry at China. People can see it, and I can feel it.”

Trump’s tweet came amid the escalated tension between Washington and Beijing since the last few months and also on the same day when China announced retaliation against the US after it announced revokation of Hong Kong’s special status, reports Efe news.

Washington revoked Hong Kong’s special status amid the threat of the dual-use technologies falling into the hands of the Chinese Army.

Moreover, less than two weeks ago, Trump signed a legislation favour of the Uyghur rights which seeks sanctions against the Chinese officials alleged of torturing the group and other Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang province.

These measures come amid the continuous tensions between the two countries due to trade dispute and coronavirus crisis, for which Trump blamed China and even renamed the virus as “Chinese Virus,” and “Kung Flu”.

As of Wednesday morning, The US accounted for the world’s highest number of infections and fatalities with 2,629,372 and 127,322, respectively, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

Furthermore, the pandemic has created economic strain on the country and its management.

According to surveys, the pandemic has reduced Trump’s re-election possibilities.

A poll published on June 26 indicated that Trump’s approval ratings were at their worst level (40 per cent) following protests against police brutality in the US and amid a surge in coronavirus infections in the country.

A record 58 per cent of voters disapprove of the job Trump’s doing at the White House, according to a new survey conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion together with the National Public Radio and PBS NewsHour.

Four killed, 17 injured in NLC India boiler blast in TN

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Four killed, 17 injured in NLC India boiler blast in TN

Four workers were killed and 17 others injured when a boiler in a thermal power unit (TPS II) of NLC India Ltd exploded on Wednesday, officials said.

The NLC India’s integrated mining-cum-power plant is located in Neyveli in the Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu.

The injured have been admitted to NLC India hospital.

It is the second major boiler blast in NLC India. In May, four persons were killed when a boiler in the TPS II exploded.

The company’s TPS II consists of seven units of 210 MW each.

The cause of the boiler blast is yet to be ascertained.

Tectonic disruption in the e-commerce and retail space: eBay India

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Tectonic disruption in the e-commerce and retail space: eBay India

In an interview with IANS, Vidmay Naini, Country Manager, eBay India said the unprecedented times have called for a tectonic disruption in the e-commerce and retail space.

The e-commerce industry has witnessed a huge spike in demand and order volumes. Consumers are seen ordering in things that they would usually buy from a physical store, for example, products in the grocery and personal care category, he added.

He added that consumers have also been making use of the lockdown to develop new hobbies hence an upward trend in demand for products in the Origami, home & gardening activities as well as cooking and baking essentials has been observed at eBay.

“The one thing that I have derived from all this is that online shopping is here to stay and the recent digital – adoption will be permanent. The convenience and safety offered by moving online will continue to be as important as it is today because consumers might still be paranoid about stepping out in crowded areas like malls”, he added.

eBay’s focus in India is to facilitate Cross Border Trade (CBT) for Indian sellers. “Our CBT business has been in operation for over a decade wherein we provide our platform(s) to help Indian sellers list and sell merchandise to over 174 million buyers who shop on various global platforms of eBay whether in the US, UK, Germany, Australia, etc”, he added.

“Currently, our focus is purely on B2C cross border business. We would not want to speculate the future or make any statement on plans for e-commerce within India”, Naini said.

Given the current situation and the suppression in the economic activity, MSMEs are trying to revive their businesses and get back up. More and more businesses are realizing the significance of expanding to global markets, he added.

Q: What is eBay India’s emphasis on cross border trade?

A: eBay’s focus in India is to facilitate Cross Border Trade (CBT) for Indian sellers. Our CBT business has been in operation for over a decade wherein we provide our platform(s) to help Indian sellers list and sell merchandise to over 174 million buyers who shop on various global platforms of eBay whether in the US, UK, Germany, Australia, etc.

Our efforts are largely focused on building the enablers for sellers on the platform like eBay’s global shipping (an aggregation of global logistics providers), expanding the business development teams across the country (to bring new sellers onboard). We are committed to fostering the culture of entrepreneurship in India and all Indian sellers, MSMEs, artisans & brands can fulfill their global aspirations with the help of the eBay platform as we offer true partnership & a dynamic marketplace with global reach.

I would also like to add that we believe our seller’s success is our success. We feel proud to support small business owners (SMBs, MSMEs & Artisans). In a nutshell, we not only provide a dynamic marketplace to sell to other countries but also, we provide all the support which is needed from our end to nurture and grow seller’s business at eBay.

Q: How many sellers from India are on the platform?

A: There is a diversity of sellers on eBay who wishes to take advantage of retail e-commerce export. We have a mix of small, medium, and large business selling globally today on our platform who have been able to turn their dreams into business successes. We have over 10,000 active Indian sellers- SMBs, artisans, entrepreneurs, MSMEs, & large enterprises who leverage the eBay platform to sell internationally. These sellers are everywhere – metros, non-metros, and smaller cities/towns.

Q: Will eBay look at e-commerce within India?

A: Currently, our focus is purely on B2C cross border business. We would not want to speculate the future or make any statement on plans for e-commerce within India. We are committed to enabling the B2C cross border business which is to my mind is a massive opportunity for Indian sellers. Also, all our energies and synergies are aimed towards building a robust system for Indian sellers to take local Indian products to global markets.

Q: How are MSMEs responding to global trade opportunities?

A: MSME contributes 30 percent of India’s GDP & close to half of the country’s total export. They are the backbone of the Indian economy; while they can tap new markets in-country, they have enormous potential for an enhanced CBT.

Given the current situation and the suppression in the economic activity, MSMEs are trying to revive their businesses and get back up. More and more businesses are realizing the significance of expanding to global markets. At eBay, we make sure that Indian sellers are cognizant of the opportunity and have the necessary insights to address the global demand.

Q: What are the changes expected in consumer behavior as digital gains traction?

A: The unprecedented times have called for a tectonic disruption in the e-commerce and retail space. Consumer behavior is consistently evolving. There is a significant shift in what the consumers shop for and how. The e-commerce industry has witnessed a huge spike in demand and order volumes. Consumers are seen ordering in things that they would usually buy from a physical store. For example, products in the grocery and personal care category.

Consumers have also been making use of the lockdown to develop new hobbies hence an upward trend in demand for products in the Origami, home & gardening activities as well as cooking and baking essentials has been observed at eBay. However, the category that saw a significantly high never-seen-before uptick was the WFH Essentials category. eBay sellers witnessed a surge in orders of -webcams, headsets, Wi-Fi adapters, office furniture, and speakers, etc.

The one thing that I have derived from all this is that online shopping is here to stay and the recent digital – adoption will be permanent. The convenience and safety offered by moving online will continue to be as important as it is today because consumers might still be paranoid about stepping out in crowded areas like malls. The current situation calls for a new order and a new normal. Hence, more and more efforts should be driven towards creating a congenial and user-friendly platform for better customer experience.

Bengal BJP chief allegedly attacked by Trinamool men

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Bengal BJP chief allegedly attacked by Trinamool men

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh was allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress-backed miscreants at Rajarhat-New Town located on the north-eastern fringes of Kolkata.

The incident took place when the state BJP president went there with his supporters to talk to people in the locality.

“I went there with some of my supporters to talk to people and had tea at Rajarhat market area. But Trinamool supporters stopped me on the way and heckled my party men. When my security personnel tried to stop them, the miscreants also heckled them. I have shifted to a new house in the area. Local Trinamool supporters must be having some serious problems with that. I don’t understand why,” Ghosh said.

He further alleged that some of his party members were beaten by Trinamool-backed goons. “They also vandalized some of our vehicles,” he said.

“My party colleagues will lodge a complaint with the local police. I will also inform the Kolkata Police commissioner about the incident,” Ghosh added.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress’ Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandopadhyay said that it was a small incident. “Every day I hear about such allegations from the state BJP. But we don’t need to worry. It was a very small incident,” he said.

Senior Congress leader and the party’s Lok Sabha MP from Berhampore in Murshidabad Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury condemned the attack on the state BJP chief. “This is absolutely uncalled for. I condemn such attacks,” he said.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said: “Such incidents of Trinamool-sponsored political hooliganism are happening everywhere in Bengal. The ruling formation here is attacking all their political opponents.”

How COVID-19 virus can infect human brain cells

TB Team
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How COVID-19 virus can infect human brain cells

Researchers have found that organoids (tiny tissue cultures made from human cells that simulate whole organs) known as “mini-brains” can be infected by the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The results, published in the ALTEX: Alternatives to Animal Experimentation, suggest that the virus can infect the human brain cells.

“This study is another important step in our understanding of how infection leads to symptoms, and where we might tackle the Covid-19 disease with drug treatment,” said study lead author William Bishai from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the US.

Early reports from Wuhan, China, the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, have suggested that 36 percent of patients with the disease show neurological symptoms, but it has been unclear whether or not the virus infects human brain cells.

In their study, the Johns Hopkins researchers demonstrated that certain human neurons express a receptor, ACE2, which is the same one that the novel coronavirus uses to enter the lungs.

Therefore, they surmised, ACE2 also might provide access to the brain.

When the researchers introduced coronavirus particles into a human mini-brain model, the team found evidence of infection by and replication of the pathogen.

According to the researchers, the human brain is well-shielded against many viruses, bacteria, and chemical agents by the blood-brain barrier, which in turn, often prevents infections of the brain.

“Whether or not the SARS-CoV-2 virus passes this barrier has yet to be shown. However, it is known that severe inflammations, such as those observed in Covid-19 patients, make the barrier disintegrate,” said study senior author Thomas Hartung from the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The impermeability of the blood-brain barrier also can present a problem for drug developers targeting the brain, the study said.

“The mini-brains — which model the growing human brain — contain the ACE2 receptor from their earliest stages of development,” the study authors wrote.

Therefore, the findings suggest that extra caution should be taken during pregnancy.

As of Wednesday morning, the overall number of global COVID-19 cases has increased to over 10.4 million, while the deaths have soared to more than 509,000.

The US accounted for the world’s highest number of infections and fatalities with 2,629,372 and 127,322, respectively, according to Johns Hopkins University.

India records 5.85 lakh corona cases with 17,400 deaths

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India records 5.85 lakh corona cases with 17,400 deaths

India recorded a spike of 18,653 cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 5,85,493, with the number of fatalities mounting to 17,400, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday.

A total of 3,47,978 people have recovered and discharged from hospitals. The recovery rate is 59.07 percent among the COVID-19 patients.

According to the Health Ministry data, 507 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours, taking the COVID-19 death toll to 17,400.

With a spike of 4,878 cases, Maharashtra remained the worst-hit state in the country. The state has a total of 1,74,761 cases, including 7,855 deaths.

Tamil Nadu is on the second spot with 90,167 confirmed cases, of which, 1,201 people have died, 50,074 have recovered and 38,892 are active.

Delhi with a total of 87,360 cases, including 2,742 deaths and 58,348 recoveries.

States with more than 10,000 cases include Gujarat with 32,557 cases and 1,846 deaths, Uttar Pradesh (23,492), Rajasthan (18,014), Madhya Pradesh (13,593), West Bengal (18,559), Haryana (14,548), Karnataka (15,242), Andhra Pradesh (14,595) and Telangana (16,339) cases.

The number of diagnostic labs is continuously increasing. India now has 1,049 diagnostic labs dedicated to COVID-19. These include 761 labs in the government sector and 288 private labs.

The overall number of global COVID-19 cases has increased to over 10.4 million, while the deaths have soared to more than 509,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

As of Wednesday morning, the total number of cases globally increased to 10,434,835, while the fatalities stood at 509,779, the University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update.

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