Big B enraged as trolls say ‘I hope you die of Covid-19’

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Big B enraged as trolls say ‘I hope you die of Covid-19’

Amitabh Bachchan has reacted sharply to trolls in an open letter he wrote from the Covid-19 ward in a Mumbai hospital.

He penned the note to anonymous trolls who have been wishing his death due to the novel coronavirus. “they write to tell me… ‘I hope you die with this COVID”.

“Hey, Mr. Anonymous… you do not even write your Father’s name,… because you do not know who Fathered you… there are only two things that can happen… either I shall die or either I shall live. If I die you won’t get to write your diatribe anymore, by weathering your remark on a celebrity name… pity.”

He added: “The reason for your writing to be noticed was that you took a swipe at Amitabh Bachchan… that shall no longer exist… !! If by God’s grace I live and survive you shall have to be ‘weathering’ the ‘swipe’ storm, not just from me, but on a very conservative level, from 90+ million followers.”

“I have yet to tell them to… but if I survive I shall… and let me tell you they are a force incensed… they traverse the entire World… from the West to the East from the North to the South … and they are not just the Ef of this page… that extended family shall in the flash of an eye become ‘extermination family’!! All I shall say to them is… ‘thok do saalon ko’.”

After his granddaughter Aaradhya and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan tested negative for coronavirus and was discharged from hospital, Big B had penned an emotional letter on his blog.

“They go home, the little one and Bahurani .. and the tears flow out .. the little one embraces and tells me not to cry ..’ you’ll be home soon’ she assures .. I must believe her…” he had written on Monday night.

Big B also shared that as the day passed by, in the evening he sat and contemplated “on that which brings vexation… in averse sleep hours the writing thoughts run through the mind and brain… tomorrow or as soon as it is day break shall I bring it all to book .. scathing, defiant, angered, indignation profound…”

Arjun Kapoor recalls shooting for ‘Mubarakan’

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Arjun Kapoor recalls shooting for ‘Mubarakan’

Actor Arjun Kapoor on Tuesday went down the memory lane and shared a throwback video from the shooting of Mubarakan, which was released three years back.

Taking to Instagram stories, Arjun posted the clip in which we can see him practicing on the “Hawa Hawa” song from “Mubarakan”. “Scrolling through my phone and look what I found. Miss dancing on ‘Hawa Hawa’. 3 years of Mubarakan,” Arjun shared.

Directed by Anees Bazmi, “Mubarakan” also stars Anil Kapoor, Athiya Shetty, and Ileana D’cruz.

As the film completed three years, Athiya also took to Instagram and remembered shooting for it. She uploaded an old picture in which the lead actors could see sharing a light moment.

“3 years of ‘Mubarakan’,” Athiya captioned the image.

Speaking of Arjun’s upcoming projects, he will be seen opposite Rakul Preet Singh in a rom-com next.

If you’re pregnant and COVID-19 positive, you’re not the first one

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If you’re pregnant and COVID-19 positive, you’re not the first one

Being a nurse for over a decade and having worked with over a thousand patients, my experience has taught me that when doctors and nurses work together, we are able to provide the best possible care to a patient.

As nurses we fade into the background, the common misconception being we aren’t as important as doctors; but we are who the patient turns to when they feel overwhelmed, the ones they seek out to take care of themselves when they are at their most vulnerable and the ones who make patients feel optimistic even in the most trying of times.

Early this year when the pandemic hit, healthcare workers like myself from every state braced ourselves, we knew that the storm was coming, and we were prepared. While the nation went into lockdown, healthcare facilities began stocking up on ventilators, oxygen masks, PPE kits, and other necessities which would prove useful in the fight against COVID-19.

It was frightening waiting for the inevitable influx of patients that would test positive once the lockdown was lifted. There were apprehensions that the infection would spread to us, that the system would get overburdened and that things will not end well.

For me was the added fear of the wellbeing of my baby. I was pregnant and scheduled to go on maternity leave when the lockdown came into force. My family is in Kerala, my husband in Kuwait and I was alone in Delhi, at home, and on compulsory paid leave. I am not going to lie; it was slightly daunting. It’s not the best of positions to be in when you are expecting a child.

The day before I was due, I was tested for COVID 19; unexpectedly I tested positive. I had shown no symptoms at all. There was nothing wrong with me. I was completely asymptomatic.

The first thought that went through my head was – will my baby be fine? The second – will I be fine? The psychological impact as soon as you know you are COVID-19 positive, even if you are asymptomatic is immense. However, I did not allow the fear to get the better of me and was focused on the tiny human who was about to enter the world, stayed safe, and virus free. I was scared for my baby.

Thankfully at the hospital, they had arranged everything for me. My chief nursing officer immediately informed the Zonal director of the hospital, and they arranged an ambulance and a bed for me. I was brought to the hospital and admitted immediately. The support from the entire administration overwhelmed me. With new guidelines being issued every day, I could see that they were stressed. At the time, information about the virus was limited, its progression and the character it takes on was larger than life.

I was fortunate to have one of my peers tend to me twenty-four seven. Doctors’ Nymphea and Umesh helped me give birth to a beautiful girl, who is two months old today.

Thankfully, my baby tested negative, but to ensure she was not at risk, the nurse who took care of me, whisked her away and tended to her for the next 14 days, till I tested negative. After that, the hospital moved me to a hotel to complete my quarantine period, at their cost.

The team was my family through this happy but fearful time. I was one of theirs and they were rallying for me, helping me stand on my feet when I was at my most vulnerable.

I am now in Kerala, with my family. I wrote this so that every woman who is expecting, who may or may not be Coronavirus positive, might find comfort in my story. My role as a nurse is to support you, as a patient, and while I may not be able to do so physically, I hope my experience gives you the strength you need. After all, I am not the only one who is giving birth in the midst of a highly contagious virus.

Delhi-NCR to receive heavy rain on Wednesday, Thursday: IMD

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Delhi-NCR to receive heavy rain on Wednesday, Thursday: IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday sounded an orange alert for the national capital for the next two days and stated that the city is likely to experience moderate rain with one or two spells of heavy rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday evening.

The weather bureau warned that heavy rainfall could lead to disruption of traffic due to flooding of roads, waterlogging in low-lying areas, and disruption of municipal services like water and electricity.

“Delhi-NCR is very likely to experience moderate rain with one or two spells of heavy rainfall (more than 65mm) during the evening of July 29 to July 30, 2020,” according to the Delhi’s Regional Weather Forecasting Centre.

IMD has four color-coded warnings as per the intensity of any weather system — green, yellow, orange, and red. An orange alert is given to authorities to be prepared.

Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD’s regional forecasting center said: “Currently monsoon trough is running close to foothills of Himalaya. From the evening of July 28, monsoon trough i.e. line of low pressure would shift southwards and continue to pass very close to Delhi-NCR, during the evening of July 28 to July 30.”

He added that during the night of Tuesday and Wednesday, Southwesterly winds from the Arabian sea and Easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal will reach Haryana, Delhi-NCR, western Uttar Pradesh and north-east Rajasthan.

“Under influence of these systems heavy to very heavy rainfall would also occur over these areas,” he said.

According to the IMD, Safdarjung observatory, which provides representative figures for the city, recorded a rainfall of 226.8 mm in July. There were 12 rainy days this month. The observatory had recorded the all-time wettest July in 2003 when it recorded the rainfall of 632.2 mm.

Meanwhile, the maximum and minimum temperature on Tuesday will hover around 37 and 28.7 degrees Celsius but will drop to 35 and 26 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, and 33 and 25 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

The air quality of the national capital is in the satisfactory category, with the particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 and 10 microns, which are too small to be filtered out of the body, mounting to 77 and 25 micrograms per cubic.

BSP MLAs’ merger with Cong: Raj MLA files 2nd plea in HC

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BSP MLAs’ merger with Cong: Raj MLA files 2nd plea in HC

A day after the Rajasthan High Court dismissed BJP MLA Madanlal Dilawar’s plea over the merger of Rajasthan BSP with the Congress, he filed a second petition in the High Court on Tuesday.

Dilawar has challenged the Rajasthan Assembly Speaker’s decision taken on July 24 to dismiss his plea demanding disqualification of BSP MLAs under the anti-defection law.

Dilawar, in his first petition, alleged that despite his complaint being submitted to the Speaker C.P. Joshi in March regarding the BSP MLAs’ defection, no action was taken by him in the last many months.

Six BSP MLAs had merged with the Congress in September 2019 and also supported it during the recent Rajya Sabha polls.

Dilawar, in March this year, submitted a complaint to the Speaker in this context which was unattended till July 24.

Around noon on Monday, Dilawar staged a sit-in at the office of the assembly secretary, P.K. Mathur. “The secretary told me that my petition had been dismissed. He told me that a detailed order will be provided on the email. I am waiting for that,” Dilawar later said.

Meanwhile, the single bench of Justice Mahendra Kumar Goyal on Monday dismissed Dilawar’s petition calling it infructuous after Additional Attorney General R.P. Singh informed the court that the Speaker has already decided on the complaint on July 24. Senior lawyer Harish Salve represented Dilawar’s case.

In his petition filed in the HC on Friday, Dilawar said the Speaker declared the six BSP MLAs — Sandeep Yadav (Tijara), Wajib Ali (Nagar), Deepchand Kheria (Kishangarh Bas), Lakhan Meena (Karauli) and Rajendra Gudha (Udaipurwati) as having merged with the Congress on September 18, 2019.

Dilawar, the MLA from Ramganj Mandi constituency in Kota district, petitioned the Speaker on March 16, seeking disqualification of the BSP MLAs under the 10th schedule of the Constitution (anti-defection law).

Speaking to IANS, Dilawar said, “We have taken the fresh plea in court alleging that the merger is wrong. The Speaker did not attend my petition even after 130 days. However, immediate action was taken by him on the Congress whip Mahesh Joshi who complained against 19 rebel MLAs. I gave a gentle reminder to the Speaker on July 18 to attend to my petition, however, without allowing me to represent myself, my petition was dismissed by him,” he alleged.

“While I kept demanding the copy of the order, it was not given to me but was directly presented in the High Court and on the same basis, my petition in High court was dismissed,” he added.

The decision was taken on technical ground and not on merit and hence we have approached the High Court again, Dilawar said further.

Vitamin D deficiency may increase Covid-19 risk: Study

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Vitamin D deficiency may increase Covid-19 risk: Study

In a fight against the deadly coronavirus, Israeli researchers have found that low levels of Vitamin D in the blood are associated with an increased risk of Covid-19 infection.

Vitamin D is a hormone, produced in the skin during exposure to sunlight, and helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which are needed to keep bones, teeth, and muscles healthy.

“We wanted to evaluate associations of low plasma vitamin D level with the likelihood of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection and hospitalization using real-world data,” the study authors wrote.

For the current study, published in the journal FEBS, the research team examined data of 7,807 people who recently underwent a Covid-19 test as well as a vitamin D blood test.

The findings showed that low levels of vitamin D in the blood were identified as independently associated with the likelihood of Covid-19 infection.

According to the study, of 7,807 individuals, 782 (10.1 percent) were Covid-19 positive and 7,025 (89.9 percent) were negative.

The researchers found that the mean plasma vitamin D level was significantly lower among those who tested positive than negative for Covid-19.

During the research, the team also revealed that Covid-19 positive participants were younger and more likely to be males.

“In analyses, age over 50 years, male gender and low-medium socioeconomic status were also positively associated with the risk of COVID-19 infection; age over 50 years was positively associated with the likelihood of hospitalization due to coronavirus,” the authors wrote.

“Univariate analysis demonstrated an association between low plasma level and increased likelihood of COVID-19 infection and of hospitalization due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” they noted.

In May, another study published in the journal BMJ, Nutrition, Prevention and Heal stressed that there is currently insufficient scientific evidence to show vitamin D supplements can be beneficial in preventing or treating Covid-19.

Previous studies in this area have found that lower vitamin D status is associated with acute respiratory tract infections, however, limitations of the findings of these studies were identified.

Findings from the majority of studies were based on data gathered from population groups in developing countries and cannot be extrapolated to populations from more developed countries due to external factors.

NASA’s next Mars rover cleared for launch on July 30

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NASA’s next Mars rover cleared for launch on July 30

NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission has cleared the launch readiness review, the last significant checkup before the mission receives final approval to proceed with the launch.

NASA is targeting 7.50 a.m. EDT on July 30 for the launch of the rover on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

“Our @NASAPersevere rover is GO for launch on July 30,” NASA said in a tweet on Monday after the review.

The launch window is approximately two hours, with a launch opportunity every five minutes.

The weather is 80 percent go for launch, according to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

The rover will land in Mars’ Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021.

The mission — designed to better understand the geology and climate of Mars and seek signs of ancient life on the Red Planet — will use the robotic scientist, which weighs just under 1,043 kgs and is the size of a small car, to collect and store a set of rock and soil samples that could be returned to Earth by future Mars sample return missions.

It also will test new technologies to benefit future robotic and human exploration of Mars.

NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance is part of America’s larger Moon to Mars exploration approach that includes missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.

‘TN order to pay Rs 10,000 as servant allowance to retired babus wrong in principle’

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‘TN order to pay Rs 10,000 as servant allowance to retired babus wrong in principle’

At a time when retired Chief Secretaries and Additional Chief Secretaries are drawing a monthly pension of about Rs 1.2 lakh per month and are also receiving retirement benefits, it is wrong in principle to take Rs 10,000 per month towards servant allowance, said a retired bureaucrat.

He was referring to the Tamil Nadu government’s recent order whereby retired Chief Secretaries and Additional Chief Secretaries can draw Rs 10,000 per month or Rs 1,20,000 per year as servant allowance.

“Chief Secretaries and Additional Chief Secretaries will be drawing a pension of about Rs 1.2 lakh per month. They would have also got a sizeable kitty as retirement benefits – provident fund, gratuity. By the time they retire, they would have got their own home. Post-retirement they may also be getting some consulting income,” M.G. Devashayam, retired IAS officer and social activist told IANS.

He also pointed out that there are thousands of people without job security and assured monthly salary in the country.

“Already people do not have a good opinion about the bureaucracy. India is not a rich country,” Devashayam added.

The ‘servant allowance’ order was issued by Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam last month at a time the government is implementing several cost-cutting measures including curtailing some employee benefits.

Shanmugam is set to retire in a couple of months’ time after his extension.

“While the number of retired Chief Secretaries may be small whereas the number of retired Additional Chief Secretaries will be high,” Devashayam pointed out.

The government order also mentions the names of several retired IAS officers who had sent a letter in this regard.

According to the order, former President of Tamil Nadu IAS Officers Association and other retired Additional Chief Secretaries had requested the state government to extend the post-retirement benefits to them which have been extended by neighboring states like Karnataka.

The government order citing the similar arrangements made for retired judges of the Madras High Court has decided to permit retired Chief Secretaries and Additional Chief Secretaries to appoint one ‘Nominal Muster Roll’ at wages of Rs 10,000.

This is in addition to the telephone and medical reimbursement allowances. When contacted for reaction, senior retired IAS officials declined to comment.

2011 World Cup title was a gift from us to Sachin paaji, says Kohli

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2011 World Cup title was a gift from us to Sachin paaji, says Kohli

India skipper Virat Kohli was at his candid best when teammate Mayank Agarwal quizzed him about things both on and off the field in a freewheeling chat on the latter’s show ‘Open Nets with Mayank’.

In the second installment of the video, uploaded on BCCI.tv, Mayank asked Kohli as to why the skipper picked him during the crucial Australia tour of 2018. He became the 295th man to represent India in the longest format and that too in the Boxing Day Test.

“Abe tu mujhe Apne tareef ke liye bulaya hai kya yahan pe? Show pe bulaunga and apni tareef karwaunga (Have you called me to talk about you only. It’s like I’ll call him on my show and make him speak good things about me),” Kohli laughed when Mayank asked him why he was picked for the Australia tour.

“For me the biggest marker is how a person approaches a game. So for example when you opened and we made (Hanuma) Vihari open with you…we had seen Vihari the way he played. He would come towards the ball, he was brave, he was sure of himself,” Kohli said.

“And the first opportunity was presented to him he said ‘I am going to do it’. That to me matters more than anything else because I opened in my first series for India and I hadn’t opened before. I said yes to an opportunity and things worked out fine for me.

“So a guy who wants to get into the difficult stuff will come out either with his head high or learning, there is no loss in that. So that is what stood out.

“I had seen you play at RCB and I knew you would play international bowlers with absolute conviction. You were performing well in first-class cricket for a while and in a dominating way,” he added.

Mayank then asked him about the famous photograph in which Kohli is seen lifting Sachin Tendulkar on his shoulders after India won the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede stadium.

“Feeling was firstly of gratitude that we have won the World Cup. Invariably, everyone’s feeling was centered around Paaji (Tendulkar) because we knew this was his last chance to win a World Cup,” Kohli said.

“Whatever he had done for the country for so many years, n number of games he won for India and gave us motivation and inspiration.

“This was I guess a gift from all of us. Prior to this moment, he always kept giving, but at this moment it all came to a fulfilment,” he added.

Mayank also quizzed his about the time when he replaced wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps briefly during a match against Bangladesh in 2015.

“Kabhi Mahi bhai se puchiyo how did this happen (Try and ask Mahi Bhai as to how did this happen). He said ‘yaar do teen over just keep wickets (Mate please keep wickets for couple of overs)’. I was keeping wickets and also adjusting the field,” Kohli revealed.

“Then I understood he has a lot on his plate when he is on the field because he has to focus on every ball and also adjust the field.

“The one problem was Umesh was bowling and he was bowling gas. I thought naak pe lag jaegy ball (what if I get hit in the face) and I wanted to wear a helmet but then thought bohot beizati ho jaegy (it would be very humiliating),” he added.

Ex-captain of wheelchair cricket team picks manual labour over begging

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Ex-captain of wheelchair cricket team picks manual labour over begging

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of almost each and every individual in the country, regardless of what their socio-economic status is.

One such story is about the former captain of the Indian wheelchair cricket team who has been forced to take up the job of a laborer to make a living. Rajendra Singh Dhami has resorted to manual labor due to the lack of funds. He currently breaks down stones to be used in construction for a road under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

“I was training in Rudrapur in March when the COVID-19 lockdown was enforced. After that, I returned to my native village Raikot in the border district of Pithoragarh,” Dhami told IANS.

“Initially I thought the lockdown will be for a few days but it got extended and that’s when the problem started for my family.

“My brother, who also used to work in a hotel in Gujarat, had to come back to our home because of the lockdown. My father is above 60 and he is now not in a condition to work as a laborer. That’s why I started working under the MGNREGA scheme,” he adds.

The life of Dhami, who played as an all-rounder in cricket and has represented the Indian team in 10-15 matches, presents an inspiring story of not giving up despite numerous struggles. He contracted polio while he was just 2-years-old and when he was 18, he suffered from paralysis because of which a majority of his body is disabled.

“I don’t want to beg on the roadside. I want to live my life with pride,” stresses Dhami who is paid Rs 400 for the eight hours of work he does on a daily basis under the MGNREGA scheme.

A post-graduate in history, Dhami also is a B.Ed degree holder. “I did want to go into the teaching line but there are many difficulties in the selection process for divyangs.”

He reveals that in 2014, he came to know about disabled cricket through social media. “It was through Facebook that I came to know that there is wheelchair cricket. From there my interest grew and I thought I could play at the highest level for India and I did.”

Dhami, who is also the captain of the Uttrakhand wheelchair cricket team, says that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, he used to make money through sponsorships.

“Before the pandemic, for the para games, we used to get the TA, DA. Individuals used to get money through prize money.

“In a personal capacity, I used to look for sponsors for the tournaments which I played and through that, we used to make our living.

“The wheelchair association of India couldn’t help us that much because they too were dependent on tournaments and sponsors,” he adds.

Dhami says that during the crisis, no help has been provided by the state government or the sports ministry. “I have not only written letters but have met many officials in the state government in person, but to no avail. They simply ignored my complaints and requests.”

However, despite facing such hardships, Dhami doesn’t want to beg and is committed enough to tackle his problems with sheer pride and utmost dignity. “I want to be a role model for people like me who are disabled. I want to inspire them to live a life with full confidence and pride.”

“I want to set an example before people that disabled people can also excel in their lives and make the nation proud,” he adds.

Dhami has also been providing training to the kids in his village. “I want to train them so that they can also play for the state and the country in the coming days.”

He says that the government should look after the disabled people and provide them with jobs so that they can earn their living. “Just by naming divyang, the purpose is not served. They have set up NGOs, made laws for divyangs which is good. But the government should also think about the livelihood of disabled people.

“When there are elections, the government provides us with wheelchairs and security guards who take us to the polling booths. But once the elections are over, they forget about us. The government should provide us with a monthly source of income so that we can earn our bread and butter. They should provide jobs to those of us who are educated and pensions to the elderly,” he said.

Pfizer, BioNTech start late stage clinical trial of Covid vax

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Pfizer, BioNTech start late stage clinical trial of Covid vax

US-based Pfizer and German biotech firm BioNTech have announced the start of a late-stage clinical trial of a Covid-19 vaccine jointly developed by the two companies.

The Phase 2/3 study will involve up to 30,000 participants between 18 and 85 years of age, the two companies said on Monday.

The vaccine candidate, BNT162b2, recently received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Fast Track designation, encodes an optimized SARS-CoV-2 full-length spike glycoprotein (S), which is the target of virus-neutralizing antibodies.

“The Phase 2/3 study protocol follows all the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance on clinical trial design for COVID-19 vaccine studies,” Kathrin Jansen, Senior Vice President and Head of Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, said in a statement.

“Our selection of the BNT162b2 vaccine candidate and its advancement into a Phase 2/3 study is the culmination of an extensive, collaborative and unprecedented R&D program involving Pfizer, BioNTech, clinical investigators, and study participants with a singular focus of developing a safe and effective COVID-19 RNA vaccine.”

Pfizer and BioNTech last week announced that the US government had agreed to pay $1.95 billion for 100 million doses of a potential Covid-19 vaccine jointly developed by them.

“The initiation of the Phase 2/3 trial is a major step forward in our progress toward providing a potential vaccine to help fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and we look forward to generating additional data as the program progresses,” said Ugur Sahin, CEO, and Co-Founder of BioNTech.

During preclinical and clinical studies of four BNT162 RNA vaccine candidates, BNT162b1 and BNT162b2 emerged as strong candidates based on assessments of safety and immune response.

Pfizer and BioNTech selected BNT162b2 as the candidate to progress to a Phase 2/3 study based on the totality of available data from its preclinical and clinical studies, including select immune response and tolerability parameters.

Monday marked the beginning of another late-stage Covid-19 vaccine trial as pharmaceutical company Moderna announced the start of a phase-3 clinical trial to evaluate an investigational vaccine known as mRNA-1273.

This trial will also include 30,000 participants.

Amazon introduces new home screen design for Alexa app

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Amazon introduces new home screen design for Alexa app

Amazon on Tuesday introduced a new home screen design for the Alexa app with updated navigation to help customers get things done quickly.

Coming to iOS and Android, the update aims to give customers access to frequently-used app features directly from the home screen while navigating a simplified layout to find everything they need.

“We are rolling out this update worldwide over the next month, and we expect all existing app customers to have access to the update by late-August. New customers can download the Alexa app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store,” the company said in a statement.

As consumers use the app, they will now see personalized suggestions on their home screen based on what they care about most, like accessing reminders or listening to an Audible Book.

One will now see the Alexa button at the top of the home screen to make it easier to immediately find the app and start talking.

One can also still enable a hands-free experience, where they can just say “Alexa” whenever the app is open on the screen.

New users will see suggestions to get started with Alexa, to play songs from Amazon Music, or to manage their shopping list.

In addition, one can now select “More” on the bottom navigation bar to bring up app-wide features such as Reminders, Routines, Skills, Settings, and more.

Teachers protest non-payment of salaries in DU colleges

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Teachers protest non-payment of salaries in DU colleges

Disappointed over continuous delay in the release of salaries to the staff of Delhi University colleges fully funded by the Delhi government, the aggrieved teachers hit the streets here on Monday.

Under the banner of the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA), dozens of teachers from different colleges gathered outside the Delhi Assembly and protested against the state government on the issue.

Despite restrictions on public gatherings in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the teachers rallied outside the Assembly and blamed the Delhi government for this “medically unwise” step.

“We have been forced to stage this protest despite the risk of corona infections and police action. The Delhi government is continuously delaying the release of grants to 12 colleges of the university. The inadequate funds are leading to delay in the release of salaries of these colleges’ staff,” said DUTA President Rajib Ray.

Ray said that the association has already informed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal about the protest.

“We had hoped he would address the matter, but we did not receive any reply from him. So if any mishap occurs, the onus would be on the Kejriwal government,” he remarked.

The Delhi government grants funds to 28 colleges of the University of Delhi. While 12 of these colleges are 100% funded, 16 are partially funded by the Delhi government.

The protesting teachers complained that the Delhi Government had been “very irregular with the release of grants” to the 12 colleges for more than a year now, resulting in break-in salary disbursement to employees since April.

“Since these 12 colleges are 100% funded by the Delhi Government, the employees can be paid salaries only if it releases adequate grant-in-aid in time. However, not only has the Delhi Government been irregular with the release of grants, but even the release of sporadic grants are utterly inadequate. So much so that in some colleges, employees have been paid only part of their salaries since April,” Ray alleged.

Apart from their salaries, the teachers also complained that their employee benefits are also pending.

“It is important to note that the grants are the only source of funding for these 12 colleges. Thus, not only salaries but even crucial reimbursements like medical bills will not be taken up until adequate funding arrives. The arrears of the 7th Central Pay Commission and vacation salaries of ad-hoc teachers for 2019 remain unpaid,” the DUTA leader explained.

“Amid the pandemic, the Delhi government’s apathy is forcing us to undergo tremendous financial hardships,” a teacher from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College rued.

Besides, the teachers also complained that Infrastructural development and maintenance have gone for a complete toss in the absence of adequate funding.

“There has been the creation of no new posts or courses in the last few years because of the shortage of funding,” another teacher from Maharaja Agrasen College said.

The DUTA threatened to intensify the protest in the coming days if the Delhi government kept lingering on their demand for the immediate release of grants to the 12 colleges.

Busting myths around hemp oil

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Busting myths around hemp oil

Hemp or hemp seed oil is a popular ingredient for beauty and skincare products. However, it does come with its own set of popular myths.

Ritika Jayaswal, CEO and Founder of Nourish Mantra, dispels some of them.

Myth:

Hemp oil is a source of THC – delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol

Reality:

Hemp oil is gaining popularity and is used for various purposes. Washed hemp seed does not contain THC. The tiny amounts of THC contained in industrial hemp are in the glands of the plant itself. Sometimes, in the manufacturing process, some THC and CBD containing resin sticks to the seed, resulting in traces of THC in the oil produced, but the concentration of these cannabinoids in the oil is minuscule.

Myth:

CBD hemp oil is legal in India?

Reality:

If CBD products are extracted from hemp, then they are legal to purchase and use in India. Products above 0.3 percent THC content are classified as cannabis products therefore illegal in the country.

Myth:

Hemp oil is psychoactive

Reality:

People have a misconception that hemp oil makes you high (psychoactive) or intoxicates the same way as THC does; this is not the case.

Myth:

Hemp oil and CBD oil are the same

Reality:

Hemp oil is made from hemp seeds and there is no CBD content in it. Whereas CBD oil is made from leaves, flowers, and stalks of the hemp plant; these are the main source of cannabidiol.

Myth:

Hemp oil is not beneficial for skin issues

Reality:

Hemp oil provides a lot of skin benefits and is suitable for all skin types as it moisturizes without clogging the pores. It balances oily skin while providing hydration and regulates oil production. It also helps in curing acne and reduces signs of aging.

IPL 13: Governing Council meeting on Sunday

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IPL 13: Governing Council meeting on Sunday

The all-important Governing Council meeting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to take place on Sunday. IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel had already informed IANS that the meeting would take place this week and the notice has now been sent to the GC members.

Speaking to IANS, an official of the IPL GC confirmed that the meeting will be held on August 2. “We have been informed that the IPL GC will take place on Sunday and all matters related to the organization of the 13th edition of the IPL will be discussed in the meeting,” the official said.

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Monday that they have received the official Letter of Intent from the BCCI to host the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“We have received the (official) letter and now wait on the decision from the Indian Government which will ink the final deal,” said Mubashshir Usmani, Emirates Cricket Board Secretary-General, in a press release.

While the board waits for a notice from BCCI that the Indian Government has approved to move the IPL from India (to the UAE), Usmani stated both boards have fully mobilized and have instigated discussions with the relevant authorities, including their respective internal working-committees, in preparation of hosting the tournament (touted as starting September 19 with the final proposed for November 8) in a safe, protected environment.

Earlier, speaking to IANS, Patel had said that the September 19 to November 8 window had been blocked for the hosting of the league. “We have had a discussion and we are looking at the September 19 to November 8 window for this edition of the league. We have informed the franchise about the same,” he said.

The window could see some discussion as the England and Australia players will be engaging in a series in the UK till September 15 and that could mean them missing the first few games of their respective franchises. But Patel said it shouldn’t be an issue and these things are set to be discussed in the Governing Council meeting.

“Shouldn’t be a problem. The England-Australia series ends on September 15. So, we should have them flying indirectly to Dubai. We will discuss the final matters in the governing council meeting next week,” he said.

Shivraj Waichal: Web series ‘Idiot Box’ brings alive various emotions

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Shivraj Waichal: Web series ‘Idiot Box’ brings alive various emotions

Actor Shivraj Waichal says he entered the industry with an aim to experience and experiment with different genres.

He added that his new series “Idiot Box” gave him a chance to do both.

“This series brings alive various emotions on screen and encapsulates everything that we grew up enjoying on television,” Shivraj said.

“There is friendship, love, drama, and all the hacks one would possibly try in order to win over his ex. I entered the industry wanting to experience it all, experiment with different genres, and this series made my dream come true in five episodes! You will have to watch it to know what I mean,” he added.

From spies to getting into a surprise heist and fighting with his former girlfriend’s fiance, the Marathi web series depicts all the mushy things that Aakash (essayed by Shivraj) does, to win the love of his life back. In the show, he is seen on a quest to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend.

Directed by Jeet Ashok and Virajas Kulkarni, the MX Exclusive series also stars Shivani Rangoli, Spruha Joshi, Abhijeet Khandkekar, Pushkar Jog, Sanskruti Balgude, Akshay Tanksale, Pravin Tarde, Mrinal Kulkarni, Sunil Barve, and Aashay Kulkarni. The show is dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

Ban on PUBG to remain in Pakistan

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Ban on PUBG to remain in Pakistan

The Pakistan Telecom­munication Autho­rity (PTA) has said that the ban on PlayerUnknown’s Battle Ground (PUBG) will remain in the country in the interest of public order, it was reported on Tuesday.

Last week, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had declared PTA’s move to temporarily suspend the online game void and directed the authority to immediately lift the ban, Dawn news reported.

However, the PTA said PUBG would remain blocked in Pakistan.

In a statement issued on Monday, the PTA said it had issued a detailed order explaining the reasons why it had blocked the online game in accordance with the provisions of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016.

“The PTA provided an opportunity of hearing to concerned parties including PUBG’s lawyers. PTA has also approached PUBG management to inform about a suitable framework to address key concerns,” it added.

The PTA said it had come across various studies, papers, and reports regarding the impact of internet games, specifically PUBG, on the mental as well as physical health of the players, reports Dawn news.

Besides violence and addiction, the authority said PUBG made people less productive.

The academic performance of students was affected as gaming sessions tend to last longer, and a child, who is addicted to gaming, tends to get irritated at the smallest of things or if parents interfere in something, it added.

A joke should be taken as a joke: Anubhav Singh Bassi

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A joke should be taken as a joke: Anubhav Singh Bassi

Stand-up comedian Anubhav Singh Bassi says the art form of comedy is ever-evolving with more people entering the arena, bringing fresh content and audience with them. He also says that a joke should be taken as one, and we need to come to a place of mutual acceptance.

Bassi, who has over 18 lakh subscribers on YouTube, may not have many show clips on his channel, but what makes him an internet sensation is the viewership he enjoys. The Indian comedian had a whopping 38 lakh views on a comedy video based on cheating in exams. Success with an audience, he says, depends heavily on how much they relate to your content.

“I try to create something either nostalgic or relatable or it’s a lived experience or a story they’ve heard. They start imagining and it hits them. The relatability factor works best,” he told IANSlife in an interview. Asked a question on the audience finding certain content-sensitive, he says: “I think comedy is influenced by life and evolves with the times we live in. So, we have a diverse spectrum of artists and audience, I believe there is something for everyone. Some people are sensitive about particular kinds of content, it’s true, but it’s okay. Every artist has an audience. This will get resolved as the art form progresses and evolves in India.”

Speaking on comedy and politics being increasingly intertwined, Bassi believes: “It’s hardly a trend, a joke should be taken as one and we need to come to a place of mutual acceptance. The purpose is only to entertain people.”

The law school graduate has much content culled out and spun from his personal experience of hostel life. Between law school and being a stand-up comedian, he says things have panned out pretty well. The entrepreneur and one time UPSC aspirant, says he’s happily ended up with stand-up.

On more and more people wanting to get into comedy he asserts, “I think it’s really far and far. I get texts on Instagram saying people want to try their hands on stand-up comedy. It’s really good that more and more people are giving recognition to the art form. The fresh audience would mean our content reaches far and wide.”

The period of lockdown and no live shows has brought the whole industry to a standstill, with only a handful attempting to do script-writing or online performances. This, however, has not been the case with Bassi. “I tried to write many things, but for a comedian whose art form is basically live, it’s difficult to write content and think whether it’s funny. Till the time you’re not performing it in front of an audience, you cannot determine that. Another thing is, when we did live shows before as comedians, we did not record those shows. We recorded only those sets which we knew we had to release on YouTube or somewhere else. I will try to record as many shows as possible from now onward because if anything like happens again, I must have few videos to release.”

Is he expecting a strong recovery? “I expect a strong bounce-back when it opens, people will step out and buy tickets out of frustration of being home. Plus, many people have saved money on entertainment.”

Most Indians aim to somehow retain jobs to remain confident: LinkedIn

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Most Indians aim to somehow retain jobs to remain confident: LinkedIn

There has been a modest rise in the overall confidence among professionals in India as retaining a job has itself become a strong booster for many in these tough times, LinkedIn said on Tuesday.

Based on the survey responses of 1,303 professionals in India, the LinkedIn ‘Workforce Confidence Index’ revealed rising optimism towards job security as businesses slowly reopened last month in the country.

“Many people are willing to take up to 50 percent cut in their salaries for an assured job. This means that whoever retains a job today, clearly knows that his/her role matters to the organization even in the new reality,” explained HR expert Prabir Jha.

The findings showed that about two in three professionals will increase their time spent searching for (66 percent) and applying to (64 percent) jobs in the next two weeks.

The active job seekers aim to upskill today for a safer tomorrow as 68 percent said they will increase their time spent on online learning to harbor long-term job security and career progression.

However, only one in four senior professionals said they would increase their time spent on searching for jobs in comparison to almost half (45 percent) of the junior workforce.

The showed that only 16 percent of decision makers would increase the number of jobs they apply to when compared to 48 percent of the junior workforce.

“More experienced workers may have savings to support them in the long run,” said Jha, explaining why senior professionals are not as inclined towards increasing their time spent on searching for jobs.

WHO expert calls for quick response to COVID-19 resurgence

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WHO expert calls for quick response to COVID-19 resurgence

Governments should react quickly and communicate transparently to ensure small numbers of COVID-19 cases and clusters don’t “reignite sustained and efficient community transmission”, said a senior expert of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, made the appeal on Monday when talking about the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases worldwide, reports Xinhua news agency.

Countries such as Japan and Australia that have had contained the virus are experiencing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

Japan has reported 4,740 newly confirmed cases to WHO in the past seven days.

“When the measures to suppress the virus are lifted, the virus returns,” Ryan noted.

Some of the resurgences have started from long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, others were happening in places like nightclubs, where people come together and spend a prolonged period of time, said Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead of the WHO Health Emergencies Program.

Meanwhile, Ryan said that in order to efficiently control the resurgence, countries need to have “consistent, clear, sustained interventions,” and to get the interventions down to the community level.

It is equally important that governments be “honest and trustful” and “communicate reality on the ground” to the public.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the overall number of global coronavirus cases stood at 16,407,310 as of Tuesday morning, while the deaths have increased to 652,459.

The US accounted for the world’s highest number of infections and fatalities at 4,287,974 and 148,009, respectively.

Brazil came in second place with 2,442,375 infections and 87,618 deaths.

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