No return to old normal for foreseeable future: WHO chief

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No return to old normal for foreseeable future: WHO chief

There will be no return to the “old normal” for the foreseeable future as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and too many countries were still headed in the wrong direction, the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.

“The virus remains public enemy number one, but the actions of many governments and people do not reflect this,” Xinhua news agency quoted WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at as saying a regular briefing on Monday.

He noted that mixed messages from leaders are undermining trust, which is the most critical ingredient of any response, while the only aim of the virus is to find people to infect.

Things are going to “get worse and worse and worse”, he warned, unless governments communicate clearly with their citizens and roll out a comprehensive strategy focused on suppressing transmission and saving lives, while populations follow the basic public health principles of physical distancing, hand washing, wearing masks, coughing etiquette and staying home when sick.

COVID-19 has been gaining its momentum lately.

According to Tedros, Sunday saw a record of 230,000 cases reported to WHO, of which almost 80 percent were from just 10 countries and about half from just two countries.

“But it does not have to be this way,” he said, asking every single leader, government and individual “to do their bit to break the chains of COVID-19 transmission and end the collective suffering”.

To control the disease and get on with people’s lives, Tedros said, three things are required. The first is to focus on reducing mortality and suppressing transmission; the second is to focus on an empowered, engaged community that takes individual behavior measures in the interest of each other.

And the third is a strong government leadership and coordination of comprehensive strategies that are communicated clearly and consistently.

“We weren’t prepared collectively, but we must use all the tools we have to bring this pandemic under control. And we need to do it right now,” he added.

At the WHO briefing on Monday, health experts also said there was evidence to suggest that children under the age of 10 were only very mildly affected by Covid-19, while those over 10 seemed to suffer similar mild symptoms to young adults.

To what extent children can transmit the virus, while it appears to be low, remains unknown.

On Tuesday, the number of global coronavirus cases crosses the 13 million mark, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

The total number of cases currently stood at 13,070,097, while the fatalities rose to 572,411, the University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update.

The US accounted for the world’s highest number of infections and fatalities at 3,363,056 and 135,605, respectively, according to the CSSE.

Brazil came in second place with 1,884,967 infections and 72,833 deaths.

Singer Rahi Sayed: I feel responsibility to represent youth of Kashmir

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Singer Rahi Sayed: I feel responsibility to represent youth of Kashmir

The Kashmiri singer-songwriter Rahi Sayed is quite overwhelmed by the response to his new single “Sarmast”. He says, coming from a place like Kashmir, he feels a certain responsibility to represent the youth of the state in the right manner.

“I absolutely feel the responsibility to represent the youth of Kashmir in the mainstream. We need more representation. I live in Srinagar but my father is originally from Pulwama, the place where the attack happened (in 2019). When I am interviewed just after the release of the song, people find it hard to believe that a singer-songwriter is coming from Pulwama, a place that they looked at as a ‘bombed place’. But Pulwama is not that. Our Kashmir is beautiful. So, I think it is a big responsibility for me to show Kashmir the way it is, not the way it is shown,” Rahi told IANS.

He added: “Every time when tourists come to Kashmir, they usually say that ‘we have heard so much (of the negativity and violence) about Kashmir but this is nothing like that’. My friends keep asking me if it is safe to visit Kashmir and I keep telling them that of course, it is. We are very hospitable people. We even open our doors to strangers and show our hospitality. I want people to know this side of reality too.”

“Sarmast” is written in the tribal language of Garo and Rahi has composed it besides singing the song. According to the artiste, one of his mentors, Shubhoshekhar Bhattacharjee, encouraged him to do the collaboration that encapsulates the folk culture of Meghalaya and Sufism into one.

“As a singer, I have the gift of music and poetry that Allah has given me. I want to reach out to people all over with my music,” mentioned the singer.

NZ opposition leader resigns

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NZ opposition leader resigns

New Zealand’s opposition party leader Todd Muller resigned on Tuesday after less than two months in the role.

“It has become clear to me that I am not the best person to be the leader of the Opposition and leader of the New Zealand National Party at this critical time for New Zealand,” he said in a statement.

He said the decision is “effective immediately”, reports Xinhua news agency.

“The role has taken a heavy toll on me personally, and on my family, and this has become untenable from a health perspective.”

Deputy leader Nikki Kaye has been confirmed as the acting leader after Muller’s resignation, with the party holding an emergency caucus meeting Tuesday morning, local media reported.

Muller’s announcement comes after the National Party was trapped by a scandal of leaking private information of COVID-19 patients over the last week.

He was elected as the leader of the New Zealand National on May 22, while Kaye was named his deputy.

They were scheduled to lead the New Zealand National Party to the general elections on September 19.

California indoor businesses to shut amid surging COVID-19 cases

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California indoor businesses to shut amid surging COVID-19 cases

California authorities have announced that indoor activities at restaurants and museums would be closed statewide while other operations, including barbershops and hair salons, in 30 of 58 counties would be shut as well due to a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases.

According to the state government’s official website, effective from Monday, all counties must close indoor operations in the sections including dine-in restaurants; wineries and tasting rooms; movie theatres; card rooms, zoos, and museums; and family entertainment centers such as bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages, and arcades, reports Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, 30 counties, where 80 percent of California residents live, will now be required to close indoor business operations in fitness centers, places of worship, offices for non-critical sectors, personal care services, hair salons and barbershops, and malls.

Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted the announcements, saying the state made the decision because “COVID-19 cases continue to spread at alarming rates”.

As of Monday, California had more than 326,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 7,000 total deaths, according to a tally by the Los Angeles Times.

The state’s data monitoring system showed that 109,910 new cases and 1,104 deaths have been reported in the past 14 days.

Also in a joint statement on Monday, Los Angeles and San Diego school districts, which have nearly 870,000 students combined, said the new school year will start online only since the pandemic is not yet under control.

“Instruction will resume on Aug. 18 in Los Angeles Unified and Aug. 31 in San Diego Unified, as previously scheduled,” the statement said, adding that “both districts will continue planning for a return to in-person learning during the 2020-21 academic year, as soon as public health conditions allow”.

The decision was made amid President Donald Trump administration’s threat to withhold federal funding from schools that do not reopen for in-person instruction this fall.

The US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on Sunday renewed her push for schools to reopen.

However, the two school districts argued in Monday’s statement that the authority should provide confidence to local residents that opening schools in the middle of a public health crisis are the best option for children, saying: “The federal government must provide schools with the resources we need to reopen in a responsible manner.”

The Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California and the 2nd largest public school district in the country with 734,641 students and 26,556 teachers, while the San Diego Unified School District represents about 135,000 students and 6,500 teachers.

Google, Facebook join lawsuit against student visa restrictions

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Google, Facebook join lawsuit against student visa restrictions

Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and other tech firms have joined the lawsuit filed by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) last week to block Donald Trump administration’s decision to ban foreign students taking only online courses.

In a joint brief, the tech companies including PayPal said the student visa restrictions will “inflict significant harm” on their businesses reports The Hill.

“America’s future competitiveness depends on attracting and retaining talented international students,” the companies said in the brief.

“Individuals who come here as international students are also essential to educating the next generation of inventors,” they added.

Some 180 academic institutions in the US have joined the lawsuit.

On July 6, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had unveiled new guidelines for F-1 and M-1 visas given to students restricting them to only students who take in-person courses or a combination of online and in-person courses.

Those who take only online courses would not be eligible for the visa.

As many universities switch to online teaching because of COVID-19 restrictions, not all foreign students can take in-person courses and they could be denied visas or fall out of visa status and have to leave the US.

Google, Facebook join lawsuit against student visa restrictions

The 22-page document issued by the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration representing 180 higher education institutions showed nationwide support for rescinding the guidance.

“ICE’s new policy serves only to severely disrupt international students’ educational attainment, and our country is worse off for it,” said Miriam Feldblum, executive director of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration in a statement posted on the group’s official website.

“This quasi-international student ban represents another unfortunate assault by the administration against immigrants and higher education,” she added.

The University of California (UC) also announced plans to file suit against the ICE.

4-year-old found hanging from tree in UP

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4-year-old found hanging from tree in UP

The body of a four-year-old boy, who had gone missing from his house in Aliganj area, has been found hanging from a tree with injury marks on his face, police said.

The body was found late on Monday, the same day after he went missing.

Preliminary investigations revealed the boy was possibly sodomized and later killed. On being informed, Bareilly SSP Shailesh Pandey rushed to the spot.

Based on the complaint of the victim’s father, an FIR has been registered in the case under IPC Section 302 (murder), against a suspect whose bicycle and slippers were found near the spot.

The suspect has been identified as Prempal and a search for him is underway.

According to SSP Shailesh Pandey, “The suspect, Prempal, 25, had come to the victim’s house along with one of their relatives. On Monday morning, he was playing with the boy when both of them suddenly went missing. Initially, the family thought Prempal had abducted their boy, but a few hours later, they found the body of their son hanging from a tree.”

He further said that the motive behind the murder seems sexual assault, but the police are waiting for the autopsy report to confirm the same.

Sensex drops over 300 points, finance, banking stocks plunge

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Sensex drops over 300 points, finance, banking stocks plunge

The key Indian equity indices opened on a negative note on Tuesday with the BSE Sensex falling over 300 points.

The domestic indices declined in line with the fall in the Asian markets. Heavy selling was witnessed in banking and finance stocks.

Around 10.16 a.m., Sensex was trading at 36,359.28, lower by 334.41, or 0.91 percent from the previous close of 36,693.69.

It opened at 36,517.28 and has so far touched an intra-day high of 36,538.10 and a low of 36,331.33 points.

The Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange was trading at 10,721.80, lower by 80.90 points or 0.75 percent from its previous close.

Another Vikas Dubey accomplice arrested

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Another Vikas Dubey accomplice arrested

The Kanpur Police have arrested another member of the Vikas Dubey gang, Shashikant alias Sonu, on Tuesday from the Mela Tiraha area in Kanpur.

Addressing a press conference in Kanpur, Additional Director General (ADG) (Law and order) Prashant Kumar said that on the information provided by Shashikant, the police have recovered an INSAS rifle and 20 live cartridges from his house. This was looted by the miscreants from the police on the night of the incident.

“We have also recovered an AK-47 and 17 cartridges from the house of Vikas Dubey in Bikru village,” the ADG said.

The house was demolished by the police on July 4.

The ADG said that Shashikant had confessed to his involvement in the shootout in which eight policemen were killed on July 3 in Bikru village. The arrested criminal has also named the other accused in the crime.

The ADG said that of the 21 accused, four had been arrested, namely Shyamu Bajpai, Jahaan Yadav, Daya Shankar Agnihotri, and now Shashikant.

He said that six of the accused, including Vikas Dubey, Amar Dubey, Prabhat Mishra, Bauan Dubey, Prem Prakash Pandey, and Atul Dubey had been killed in encounters.

“Eleven of the accused are at large and will be arrested soon,” the official said.

The ADG refused to take any questions at the press conference and left abruptly.

Rahul Dev among first few actors to resume filming after lockdown

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Rahul Dev among first few actors to resume filming after lockdown

Rahul Dev is among the actors who have hit the sets soon after shooting resumed post lockdown, and he is enjoying being back at work.

“I’ve been among the first few actors to resume filming and the change has been refreshing. After three months of being under lockdown, I did miss the sets and facing the camera. It was a good feeling to be back at work,” Rahul told IANS.

Talking about shooting amid the pandemic and the precautions taken, the actor informed: “A large difference has been the use of face masks, keeping safe distancing and meticulous hygiene. Apart from that, there is insurance for actors, technicians, and crew members,” replied the actor.

Dev has already wrapped up shooting a few portions of his upcoming flick “Velapanthi”.

“‘Velapanthi’ is a comedy in which I play a dangerous yet endearing Haryanvi don. Most of my dialogues are in colloquial Haryanvi, with some incorrect English words. The character’s name is Zoravor Singh Milk Wala, which in itself is very funny. It’s a breezy appearance and in the climax adds to the twists and turns. The part has been written with a fair amount of liberty,” informed the actor.

From playing completely negative characters to roles with a funny twist, does he enjoy the change? The actor replied: “Change is always refreshing, whether it was a couple of straight-faced comic situations in ‘Mubarakan’, where I play the patriarchal head of the family, or the series ‘Who’s Your Daddy’, where the character’s naiveness lends to the comedy.”

“I would like to explore roles that are intense and real, (I am) yet to land something like that,” he added.

Rahul has several big screens as well as web series projects lined up. He will be seen in the film “Torbaaz” alongside Sanjay Dutt, the web series “Poison 2” where he plays a cop, and Nikkhil Advani’s forthcoming web series “Moghuls” among others.

India’s Covid cases cross 9L-mark with over 28K new cases

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India’s Covid cases cross 9L-mark with over 28K new cases

India recorded a spike of more than 28,000 cases for the second consecutive day in the last 24 hours, pushing the tally to 9,06,752 cases with a death total of 23,727, the Health Ministry’s data stated on Tuesday.

India crossed nine lakh mark from eight lakh within three days. India had crossed the 8 lakh Covid-19 cases on July 11.

According to data, India witnessed a spike of 28,498 fresh cases taking the total number of cases to 9,06,752 and with 553 deaths in the last 24 hours, the total number of fatalities crossed 23,727.

According to Health Ministry data, as many as 5,71,459 patients have recovered, over twice the number of active patients who stand at 3,11,565.

The rate of recovery has touched 63.02 percent. India, however, remains the third worst-affected country after the US and Brazil.

During the last 24 hours, 2,86,247 samples were tested, as the testing lab network continues to expand. As on date, more than 1,194 labs have enabled people to undergo coronavirus tests.

Maharashtra remained the worst-hit state, with 2,60,924 cases and 10,482 casualties followed by Tamil Nadu with total 1,42,798 cases, including 2,032 deaths.

With 1,246 new coronavirus cases and 40 deaths in the last 24 hours, the national capital recorded a total tally of 1,13,740 cases and 3,411 deaths.

States with more than 10,000 cases included Gujarat (42,722), Uttar Pradesh (38,130), Rajasthan (24,936), Madhya Pradesh (18,207), West Bengal (31,448), Haryana (21,894), Karnataka (41,581), Andhra Pradesh (31,103), Telangana (36,221), Assam (16,806), and Bihar (17,959).

On the global front, the overall number of global COVID-19 cases has surpassed the 13 million mark, while the deaths have increased to more than 572,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

Covid-19 takes 93 lives in Agra in around 100 days

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Covid-19 takes 93 lives in Agra in around 100 days

More than the lack of medical facilities, it is the critical delay in testing samples of Covid-19 to ensure early treatment of patients, that has taken a heavy toll of lives in Agra which has recorded 93 deaths in around 100 days.

So cumbersome and time-consuming is the process of sampling that most suspected cases go unreported. “People on their own are reluctant to come forward to give samples, as they have to wait for long and go through an agonizing procedural process. The patients are also scared of being sentenced to quarantine in facilities that are ill-equipped, and reportedly unhygienic,” explained a health worker attached to an NGO.

So far Agra has tested only 30,510 samples. The SN Medical College, district hospital and the JALMA center run by the ICMR, have a collective testing capacity of more than a thousand daily.

“If only people could get samples checked without fear and delay, and confined to friendly hospitalization, the results would show a marked improvement. The private nursing homes are compounding the problem by squeezing the victims and when things get out of control, the patients are referred to government hospitals,” complained a family member of a victim.

In the last 24 hours, 14 fresh cases have been reported in Agra, while Firozabad reported 23 and Kasganj 12.

Agra district magistrate P.N. Singh said the total now stands at 1,411 cases, of which 1,154 had recovered. The number of active cases is 164.

More than 1,550 teams under the COVID Surveillance Programme, scheduled to end July 15, have surveyed over lakh homes and collected health-related data.

Health department officials collected 67 samples of the inmates of the temporary jail at the MD Jain Inter College. All those arrested are first lodged in this temporary jail for 14 days and only when the report comes, are they transferred to the district or the central jail.

On Monday markets opened in all areas, except in the buffer and the containment zones.

UK’s new immigration rules ends EU freedom of movement

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UK’s new immigration rules ends EU freedom of movement

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has unveiled plans for a post-Brexit immigration system for the UK, which will end the freedom of movement for millions of European Union (EU) nationals.

On Monday, Patel unveiled a 130-page document outlining new immigration rules following the country’s departure from the EU after almost 50 years of membership, reports Xinhua news agency.

It will be centered around a points system to determine who will be allowed into the UK, and who will be refused access.

When the new rules come into effect from January 1, 2021, residents of the EU’s 27 member states will be treated equally to arrivals from the rest of the world, reports Xinhua news agency.

But EU citizens who started living in the UK by December 31, 2020, will still be able to apply to settle in the country under the bloc’s settlement scheme until June 30, 2021.

More than 3.7 million EU citizens have so far made applications to settle in the UK.

In its immigration document, the Home Office said the new points-based system will be a fair system, treating people from every part of the world equally.

“The British people voted to take back control of our borders and introduce a new points-based immigration system. Now we have left the EU, we are free to unleash this country’s full potential and implement the changes we need to restore trust in the immigration system and deliver a new fairer, firmer, skills-led system from January 1, 2021,” Patel said.

People applying to work in Britain will also need a level of English language to support integration, ensuring migrants can live and be part of the wider community in the UK.

In a written statement to the House of Commons, Patel said: “At a time where an increased number of people across the UK are looking for work, the new points-based system will encourage employers to invest in the domestic UK workforce, rather than simply relying on labor from abroad.

“We are also making necessary changes, so it is simpler for employers to attract the best and brightest from around the world to come to the UK to complement the skills we already have.”

A new graduate route will allow international students to stay in the country once they have completed their studies for two years for students gaining a masters’ degree, and three years for students who have completed a Ph.D. degree.

A global talent scheme will also allow scientists and researchers to head to the UK without a job offer.

However, the new rules will exclude thousands of low-pay care workers who traditionally head to the UK to form the backbone of staff looking after the elderly and disabled.

Instead, the government wants care staff to be recruited from among the British population.

Under the new system, the UK’s frontiers will be closed to non-skilled workers, posing fears that the country’s care system could find it hard to recruit staff.

Currently, thousands of low-paid care workers from around the world are employed in homes caring for disabled and elderly people.

Speaking to journalists, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain’s new points-based immigration is not about slamming the gates, promising there will be enough recruits for the social care sector.

Batterygate: Apple to pay $25 each to affected iPhone users

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Batterygate: Apple to pay $25 each to affected iPhone users

Apple has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit against ‘Batterygate by paying affected US customers $25 each for slowing down their older iPhone models without notice.

The proposed settlement will see Apple provide a cash payment of approximately $25 to each eligible iPhone owner who submits a claim, which adds up to a total payout of between $310 million and $500 million, reports GSMArena.

The exact amount each person will receive may slightly vary based on the number of claims received.

According to the settlement, the payouts from Apple will cover the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, and SE devices that ran iOS 10.2.1 or later or iOS 11.2 or later.
The phones will also need to have been purchased and used before Dec. 21, 2017, the day after Apple admitted to the speed-throttling practice.

There is a specific website for users to submit a claim, which must be done online or by mail.
All claims must be submitted online or received by letter mail by October 6, 2020, or else payment is forfeited, said the report.

Apple admitted in 2017 that the software update slowed down certain iPhone models with degraded batteries. The iPhone maker said that the update was necessary to prevent unexpected shutdowns and preserve the life of the devices.

However, the Cupertino-based tech giant also apologized for not communicating to users properly and offered affected customers cut-price iPhone battery replacements.

France’s consumer fraud group imposed a 25 million euros fine on Apple for deliberately slowing down certain older iPhone models.

Chicago Marathon cancelled due to COVID-19

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Chicago Marathon cancelled due to COVID-19

The Chicago Marathon, scheduled to be held on October 11 this year, has been canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“The 2020 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, October 11, and race weekend activities have been canceled by event organizers and the City of Chicago in response to the ongoing public health concerns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic,” organizers said in a statement.

“Registered participants for the 2020 Chicago Marathon and International Chicago 5K will have the option to receive a refund for their entry or to defer their place and entry fee to a future race (2021, 2022 or 2023),” the statement added.

In June, the New York City Marathon, which was set to take place on November 1, was also canceled due to health and safety concerns amid the global coronavirus pandemic. The organizers had announced that the marathon would take place on November 7 next year.

This year’s London Marathon, which was supposed to take place on April 24, has already been postponed to October 4 due to the global outbreak of coronavirus.

Barcelona secure Brazilian teenager Gustavo Maia: reports

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Barcelona secure Brazilian teenager Gustavo Maia: reports

Barcelona has exercised an option to sign teenage forward Gustavo Maia from Brazil’s Sao Paulo, according to media reports in the South American country.

The Catalan club paid one million euros ($1.1 million) to acquire the right of first refusal for Maia in March, following the 19-year-old’s impressive performances for Sao Paulo’s under-20 team, writes Xinhua news agency.

According to Globo Esporte, Barcelona agreed to pay 3.5 million euros ahead of a July 15 deadline to proceed with the deal.

Former Athletico Paranaense goalkeeper Neto is currently the only other Brazilian in Barcelona’s squad following the June departure of midfielder Arthur to Juventus.

Maia, who can play as a second striker, winger or an attacking midfielder, joined Sao Paulo’s youth academy as a 14-year-old.

UK mulls doubling terms for assaulting emergency workers

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UK mulls doubling terms for assaulting emergency workers

The UK government has launched a public consultation on doubling maximum prison sentences for assaulting emergency workers.

Currently, people convicted of assaulting police officers, firefighters, prison officers or paramedics face a maximum of 12 months in prison, reports Xinhua news agency.

The government wants the sentence to be doubled to two years, with even higher jail terms for people convicted by courts of causing grievous bodily harm or sexual assaults on emergency workers.

Public consultation on tougher sentences sends a clear message to vile thugs who assault emergency workers, said Home Secretary Priti Patel on Monday.

The consultation will run for four weeks and, depending on the response, legislation could be brought forward.

The move would see the maximum sentence for assaulting an emergency worker doubled for the second time in two years.

Assault covers acts such as a push, shove, or being spat at.

When an emergency worker is seriously injured, prosecutions will take place under more serious offenses such as actual, or grievous bodily harm, or attempted murder that have far longer sentences.

‘Maddam Sir’ cast salutes efforts of police in corona battle

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‘Maddam Sir’ cast salutes efforts of police in corona battle

Actors Yukti Kapoor and Gulki Joshi, who are a part of the TV show “Madam Sir”, have saluted the spirit of the police for their efforts in the battle against the COVID outbreak.

“I was missing the ‘Madam Sir’ team so much and it felt good to be back. Now that we are coming back with new episodes, it is our responsibility to do even more justice to our characters as we are playing police officers,” Yukti said.

“Police officers have been at the frontline during these difficult times and they were out there risking their lives so that we are safe in our homes. So, in my view, police officers are like gods,” she added.

The show features Gulki Joshi and Yukti Kapoor as reel-life police officers.

“I feel that today if we have been able to handle this pandemic a little, it has been possible with the relentless efforts of our frontline heroes like the police force. ‘Madam Sir’, being somewhat a representative of the police force in India, it is our responsibility to do justice to our roles and bring the right message to our audience. So, I feel very proud to be playing this role and I hope we are able to make our police officers feel proud too,” Gulki shared of her role in the Sony SAB show.

Tahir Raj Bhasin is glad that people will experience ’83’ in theatres

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Tahir Raj Bhasin is glad that people will experience ’83’ in theatres

Actor Tahir Raj Bhasin, who steps into the shoes of legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar in “83”, says he is glad that people will get to experience the upcoming film in theatres.

“83” was originally scheduled to hit the screens in April the film has been pushed to Christmas owing to the COVID outbreak.

Has the wait been disappointing? “Actually no, because it’s a period film and not a film that is going to age. It’s an incredibly relevant story. So, whenever it does come out, it will make a great impact. I was moved by the experience of working in the film as well as the nostalgia and its scale. I am so glad that people are going to experience that in a theatre,” Tahir told IANS.

Directed by Kabir Khan, “83” narrates the story of India’s first-ever cricket World Cup victory in 1983. Ranveer Singh stars as the underdog team’s captain Kapil Dev while Deepika Padukone plays Kapil’s wife Romi Dev.

The film also features Pankaj Tripathi, Saqib Saleem, Harrdy Sandhu, Ammy Virk, Jiiva, Sahil Khattar, Chirag Patil, and Adinath Kothare in key roles.

WH urges FDA to reconsider HCQ for COVID-19 treatment

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WH urges FDA to reconsider HCQ for COVID-19 treatment

The White House has urged the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reinstate its emergency use authorization (EUA) for the anti-malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), for COVID-19 treatment.

Weeks ago, the FDA revoked the EUA that allowed for HCQ used to treat certain hospitalized patients with COVID-19, after the agency determined that the drug was “unlikely to be effective in treating COVID-19 for the authorized uses in the EUA” while highlighting potential serious side effects, reports Xinhua news agency.

“White House trade adviser Peter Navarro is leading a Trump administration effort to demand the FDA reverse course,” the Washington Post said in a report on Monday.

“A reversal (on HCQ) would be widely seen as bending to the political will of the White House,” the Washington Post quoted Steven Joffe, a medical ethicist at the University of Pennsylvania, as saying.

As the agency will take the lead in approving a vaccine for the coronavirus in the country, “health experts say it is important for the agency, which was criticized for its initial decision to okay hydroxychloroquine in March, to guard its credibility as it prepares to make these landmark decisions for a public sometimes skeptical of vaccines”, the report warned.

The World Health Organization has vacillated on HCQ use, stopping trials using it, then reinstating it, and again dropping it.

Last month, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that it has halted a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of HCQ as it determined that while there was no harm, the drug was very unlikely to be beneficial to hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

17 US states sue Trump administration over visa rule on foreign students

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17 US states sue Trump administration over visa rule on foreign students

Seventeen US states and the District of Columbia sued the administration of President Donald Trump to reject the federal government’s recent rule stripping foreign students of their visas if the institution they are enrolled in only offers online teaching this fall due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Led by the Massachusetts attorney general’s office, the lawsuit came exactly one week after the US Department of Homeland Security and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released guidelines vowing to invalidate foreign students’ F-1 and M-1 visas if the educational institution they are enrolled in switches to online-only courses, possibly depriving them of their legal status of stay in the United States, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

“The Trump Administration didn’t even attempt to explain the basis for this senseless rule, which forces schools to choose between keeping their international students enrolled and protecting the health and safety of their campuses,” Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement.

The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court in Boston, sought an injunction to stop the entire rule from going into effect, accusing the federal government of engaging in a “cruel, abrupt, and unlawful action to expel international students amidst the pandemic that has wrought death and disruption across the United States.”

Joining Massachusetts in the lawsuit are the attorneys general from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The lawsuit alleged that the administration’s “actions are arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion because they reverse previous guidance without explanation, input, or rationale,” adding that the new guidelines violated “the Administrative Procedure Act – and fail to consider the need to protect public health and safety amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

“The lawsuit includes a request for immediate preliminary relief blocking the rule from going into effect while the case is litigated, and the attorneys general has requested a hearing as soon as possible,” the Massachusetts attorney general’s office said in a press release.

Announced on July 6, the ICE’s controversial order said that international students who are only offered online courses in the upcoming semester “must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in lawful status.”

Those who violate the rules “may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings,” the ICE said.

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