US Senate Majority Leader strongly calls for mask wearing

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US Senate Majority Leader strongly calls for mask wearing

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that wearing a mask cannot be stigmatized, calling for facial masks in public amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We must have no stigma, none, about wearing masks when we leave our homes and come near other people,” McConnell said from the Senate floor on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Wearing simple face coverings are not about protecting ourselves. It is about protecting everyone we encounter,” he added.

He said that until there is a vaccine Americans needed to find a “middle ground” with “new routines, new rhythms and new strategies” between widespread lockdowns and life pre-coronavirus, wearing a mask is part of it.

The top Senate Republican’s remarks came after a number of Republican senators have suggested President Donald Trump to promote wearing masks or wear a mask himself when appropriate.

Republican Senator Lamar Alexander, the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, told CNN on Sunday that if Trump wore a mask in public it would encourage his supporters to also wear masks so as to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, said last week that he would “prefer” that Trump wore a mask “because people would follow” his example, according to a report from The Hill.

Vice President Mike Pence said on CBS News on Sunday that the White House was trying to defer to governors and other local officials on wearing a mask.

Also on Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said a federal mandate to wear masks in public was “long overdue” and faulted the president for not setting an example by wearing one in public himself.

Trump has been under growing pressure from both Republicans and Democrats to set an example for the country by wearing a face mask amid the current surge of the number of US coronavirus cases, local analysts observed.

India bans 59 Chinese apps over national security concerns

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India bans 59 Chinese apps over national security concerns

The Indian government on Monday banned nearly 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat, and UC Browser and Xiaomi’s Mi Community over national security concerns as India-China bilateral relations remain strained after the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galway Valley clash with Chinese PLA troops in eastern Ladakh.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a list of 59 Chinese apps that are now banned in the country.

“These measures have been undertaken since there is credible information that these apps are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of the state and public order,” said a MeitY statement.

The ministry received complaints from various sources including several reports about the misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers that have locations outside India.

“The compilation of these data, its mining, and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defense of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures,” the statement read.

The MeitY said the move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile users.

“There have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of our country,” said the government.

Other Chinese apps in the banned list are Club Factory, SHAREit, Likee, Mi Video Call (Xiaomi), Weibo, Baidu, Bigo Live, and more.

Earlier this month, Indian intelligence agencies red-flagged these Chinese apps over the safety and privacy issues of users.

The government needs to either block access to these apps or advise people to stop their use, according to the intel inputs, said the agencies.

The report comes amid growing chorus from Indian activists to boycott Chinese products due to the border tensions between the two countries in Ladakh.

The recommendations of the intelligence agencies have the backing of the National Security Council Secretariat which determined that certain China-linked applications could be detrimental to the country’s security, said the report citing an unnamed government official.

It is digital ‘Aatma Nirbhar’ moment: Indian app makers

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It is digital ‘Aatma Nirbhar’ moment: Indian app makers

After the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps over national security concerns, desi app developers on Monday hailed the move, saying this will help the Indian app ecosystem prosper.

The Indian government banned popular Chinese apps like TikTok, WeChat, UC Browser, and Xiaomi’s Mi Community and more to safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile users.

“This is a welcome move from the government against platforms that have had serious privacy, cybersecurity, and national security risks. We expect the government to continue their support for the Indian startup ecosystem,” Berges Malu, Director, Public Policy, ShareChat, told IANS.

ShareChat is an Indian video creation app similar to short-video making app Tiktok. The app allows users to communicate and interact with other users on the platform.

ShareChat currently serves more than 60 million monthly active users in 15 different Indian languages. Most of its active users hail from tier-2 and tier-3 cities (like TikTok), with the majority of them relying on 2G networks.

Naveen Tewari, Founder, and CEO, InMobi Group said that this is the digital ‘Aatma Nirbhar’ moment that most Indians have been rooting for.

“As the number one top video app on the Google Play Store, Roposo is very well positioned to lead this movement. Roposo will continue to build on the trust and love that 55 million Indian users have placed in us,” said Tewari.

The government banned the Chinese apps after it received complaints from various sources including several reports about the misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers that have locations outside India.

“Banning Chinese apps is a great initiative to ensure the privacy of the Indian users’ data and to protect the country against the potential threat these apps pose to our national security,” said Piyush, CEO & Founder, Rooter.

“The Indian technology ecosystem has come a long way in the last 5-6 years and is at par with the capabilities of any other startup ecosystem in the world,” he added.

Other Chinese apps in the banned list are Club Factory, SHAREit, Likee, Mi Video Call (Xiaomi), Weibo, Baidu, Bigo Live, and more.

COVID-19: Under pressure English FA cuts 82 jobs after losses

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COVID-19: Under pressure English FA cuts 82 jobs after losses

Citing a shortfall of 300 million pounds ($370 million) over four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down the sport and restarting behind closed doors with no fans in stadiums, the English Football Association is set to make 82 people redundant, it said in a statement.

“COVID-19 has had a significant impact on The FA and we now have a greater understanding of the long-term and irreversible effect of the pandemic on our finances,” the statement on FA’s official website, thefa.com, read.

“The high level of uncertainty in our landscape means that we have had to plan for a whole range of potential scenarios. As previously communicated, we are currently planning for potential losses of approximately £300million. As a not-for-profit organization, this will hit us hard.

“Following much consideration of the situation we find ourselves in, we have reached a position where we have formulated proposals to begin a consultation process around reducing the size of our overall team at The FA. These proposals are to reshape the organization with the level of resources available in this smaller budget.

“Today we are proposing to make 124 positions redundant. Because we halted recruitment the day we left the offices in March, we are able to take 42 vacant positions out of the structure, which means that we are proposing to remove 82 roles from the organization.

“We recognize that this is an incredibly difficult time for those employees who have been affected by these proposals and we will do everything we can to support them during a consultation period, which will start soon,” the statement from Mark Bullingham, FA chief executive, added.

The FA owned Wembley Stadium was due to host seven games at the European Championship including the semifinals and finals next month but the tournament was postponed by a year.

The events such as concerts and two NFL regular-season games, that were due to be staged at English soccer’s 90,000-capacity national stadium this year have also been called off.

Alia Bhatt: Would love to do investigative limited TV show

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Alia Bhatt: Would love to do investigative limited TV show

Actress Alia Bhatt is looking forward to making her digital debut with the premiere of her film “Sadak 2”, and says she is open to the idea of diving deep into the streaming platform.

She even shared the genre on her wishlist: An investigative limited TV show.

“Actors not only in the West but over here also are working directly on the OTT. (Web) has created a huge opportunity for actors to showcase their talent,” she said while using the recent success of web series like Sushmita Sen-starrer web series “Aarya” and “Special Ops” series to support her point.

“If I’m offered something that I connect with, I would love to do an investigative type limited TV show. It would be quite interesting,” she added.

Alia’s “Sadak 2” is skipping the traditional theatrical route, and going for a digital platform.

The film marks the return of Mahesh Bhatt as director after two decades and is a sequel of the 1991 hit “Sadak”, which featured Pooja Bhatt and Sanjay Dutt in the lead roles.

Without revealing much about the plot, the actress said that “Sadak 2” is not a recreation.

“The film has different love stories and also has (an element of) thrill. The villain is someone very different and totally unexpected,” Alia said.

“Sadak 2” also stars Aditya Roy Kapur.

The actress said that working on the film was a homecoming in its true sense.

“That the whole family is coming to make a film together. That emotion is of another level altogether… I always wanted to be picturized in a song from the Bhatt camp, which has been famous for its music,” she added.

Alia also released the first poster of the film, which showed Mount Kailash at the end of a long road. She also read out a message from her father, which explained the thought behind the poster.

“Mount Kailash, the ageless mountain, has the footprints of gods and sages. It is the abode of the god of all gods, Lord Shiva. So do we really need anything else or actors in that sacred space? Since the beginning of time humanity found its shelter in Kailash. This is a place where all search ends. ‘Sadak 2’ is the road to love,” she said.

On the personal front, the actress said she is spending her lockdown period by learning guitar and doing meditation.

“I thought learning guitar would be easy, but it is hard. I have also started taking meditation classes and helps me keep calm during this time.. I have also spent my time watching content on my TV,” she said.

“Sadak 2” will release on the streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar under Disney+ Hotstar Multiplex.

Google tests tool to show COVID-19’s impact at community level

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Google tests tool to show COVID-19’s impact at community level

Google on Monday said it is piloting a new feature in partnership with local news publishers to understand how COVID-19 is impacting different communities.

The company said it would test the News feature in a few geographic areas in the US and Canada in the COVID-19 special section of the app, where users can view community reopening timelines, plus updates around business and school openings.

They can also see the status of the local healthcare infrastructure, public transportation, events, and sections with resources for residents looking for or wanting to help families in need.

“We will also continue to expand our coverage across the U.S. and Canada, and plan to bring this feature to products beyond the Google News app in the future,” the company said in a statement.

Google said it is also working to ensure that reliable local news and information about the coronavirus is easily discoverable in Google Search and Google Assistant.

“When people look for coronavirus information in Search, they’ll see the existing top stories carousel of articles, in addition to a new dedicated local news carousel highlighting timely, accurate news about their community,” the company announced.

It has also expanded a new carousel highlighting tweets from local and health authorities so these important and up-to-date announcements are more easily available. This feature is now available in more than 30 countries.

Google has also seen a significant uptick in people tuning in to local radio on Google Assistant.

The company recently provided emergency funding for more than 5,300 local news organizations and launched a Support Local News campaign to encourage people and businesses to subscribe, donate and advertise across local news outlets in the US and Canada.

As traditional media outlets urge social media giants to give their dues for using their news content especially during the difficult Covid-19 times, Google last week announced a new licensing program to pay publishers for high-quality content.

To be launched later this year, the program will help participating publishers monetize their content through an enhanced storytelling experience that lets people go deeper into more complex stories, stay informed and be exposed to a world of different issues and interests.

Rashmika Mandanna has surprised Mahesh Babu Family

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Rashmika Mandanna has surprised Mahesh Babu Family

Rashmika Mandanna has surprised Mahesh Babu and family by sending them a special gift hamper. Rashmika has sent a basket full of delicious goodies including Avocados, Mango pickle and other organically grown foods. Along with the gift hamper, Rashmika has sent a hand-written note to the Superstar couple. This act of Rashmika is winning praise from Superstar’s fans.

None other than Mahesh Babu’s wife and former actress Namrata Shirodkar took to social media and revealed Rashmika’s gift hamper to Mahesh. Namrata has thanked Rashmika for sending such a beautiful gift all the way from Coorg where Rashmika is staying with her family. Namrata said this is the first gift hamper Mahesh Babu has received in COVID times. She also said she got such a lovely gift in this monsoon. Acknowledging the gift received, Namrata Shirodkar wrote, “Thank you for all the delicious goodies rashmika !! all the way from Coorg monsoon season mango pickle our first gift hamper in COVID times happy monsoons !! stay home stay safe”

It can be noted that Mahesh Babu is the first big star hero with whom Rashmika has acted. Rashmika got a big break after working with Mahesh Babu in Sarileru Neekevvaru. Rashmika is now paired up with Allu Arjun in Sukumar’s directorial Pushpa. Rashmika is pinning high hopes on Tollywood and is expecting to pair up with all the big stars in Telugu. Recently, she has turned down a movie alongside Nani as she didn’t want to play second fiddle to Sai Pallavi. Looks like Rashmika is making her moves well.

Study links high BP with eye health in children

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Study links high BP with eye health in children

Young children with narrow retinal artery diameters are more likely to develop higher blood pressure while children with higher blood pressure levels were more likely to develop retinal microvascular impairment during early childhood, claim researchers in a new study.

High blood pressure, the main risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), can manifest as early as childhood, and the prevalence of high blood pressure among children continues to rise.

In previous studies, analysis of blood vessels in the retina has shown promise as a predictor of CVD risk among adults.

“Primary prevention strategies are needed to focus on screening retinal microvascular health and blood pressure in young children in order to identify those at increased risk of developing hypertension,” said study lead author Henner Hanssen from the University of Basel in Switzerland.

“The earlier we can provide treatment and implement lifestyle changes to reduce hypertension, the greater the benefit for these children,” Hanssen added.

For the current findings, published in the Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers sought to predict the development of high blood pressure in children over four years based on retinal blood vessel measurements

Researchers screened 262 children ages six to eight from 26 schools in Basel, Switzerland, in 2014, for baseline blood pressure and retinal arterial measurements. Both measures were taken again in 2018.

Blood pressure measurements at both baseline and follow-up were performed in a sitting position after a minimum of five minutes of rest and were categorized based on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ blood pressure guidelines.

Results from the analysis indicate that children with narrower retinal vessel diameters at baseline developed higher systolic blood pressure at follow-up.

The findings showed that children with higher blood pressure levels at baseline developed significantly narrower arteriolar diameters at follow-up, depending on weight and cardiorespiratory fitness.

“Early childhood assessments of retinal microvascular health and blood pressure monitoring can improve cardiovascular risk classification,” said Hanssen.

Researchers noted limitations of their study include that they could not confirm blood pressure measurements over a single 24-hour period, so they would not account for “white coat” hypertension, a condition where patients have high blood pressure readings when measured in a medical setting.

YSRCP leader booked for ‘letting loose dogs on Hyderabad police’

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YSRCP leader booked for ‘letting loose dogs on Hyderabad police’

Hyderabad police on Monday registered a case against leading film producer and leader of Andhra Pradesh’s ruling YSR Congress Party, Prasad V. Potluri for allegedly letting loose his pet dogs on police officers who had gone to his residence for investigation of a complaint against him.

PVP, as Prasad is popularly known, his wife and another person were booked under the Indian Penal Code Section 353 (Assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty).

The case was registered at Banjara Hills police station on a complaint by sub-inspector D. Harish Reddy, who along with another officer and a home guard, had gone to PVP’s house in posh Jubilee Hills.

The police officers had gone as part of the investigations into a complaint lodged by a person with Banjara Hills police last week, alleging that PVP was stalling his house construction and threatening him.

When the team reached PVP’s house they were stopped at the main gate by a person and when they told him about the purpose of the visit, he went inside and came back only to inform them that PVP and his wife have asked him not to allow anybody in. When they tried to enter the house, five dogs came charging towards them, making them flee the place.

PVP had joined the YSRCP on the eve of 2019 elections and contested unsuccessfully as the party candidate from Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat.

‘Nayee Padosan’ actor Aslam Khan on directing song ‘Private Jatt’

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‘Nayee Padosan’ actor Aslam Khan on directing song ‘Private Jatt’

Actor Aslam Khan, who featured in movies like “Rafoo Chakkar” and “Nayee Padosan”, has directed a new upcoming song titled “Private Jatt”.

“This song is very special and memorable for me because over the last two to three months I have not shot anything, and this is the last song before the lockdown that I shot.

“For the first time, it took me almost 30 days to edit the song. This has been one of the most difficult shoots I ever had,” Aslam shared.

The video of “Private Jatt” features popular TikTokers. It is sung by Shruti Pathak and Shree.

“It is a complete masala song. the track bears a resemblance to David Dhawan’s films,” Aslam added.

AIADMK leader ‘kicks’ TN policeman, DMK MLA protests wrong identification

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AIADMK leader ‘kicks’ TN policeman, DMK MLA protests wrong identification

AIADMK leader and former member of Parliament and Tamil Nadu Assembly K. Arjunan has courted controversy over assault on a police officer on duty at a toll plaza in Salem even as a DMK lawmaker cried foul as he was wrongly identified as the attacker.

A video clip of the incident involving Arjunan was posted on social media, but some wrongly identified the assailant as DMK lawmaker Vagai Chandrasekar.

Arjunan was returning to Salem from Omalur on Sunday night when police deployed at the toll plaza asked his driver for the e-pass. Arjunan allegedly argued with the police and at one point in time hit a policeman who in turn pushed him away. Subsequently, Arjunan was seen kicking the policeman.

Chandrasekar — who represents Velacherry Assembly constituency — lodged a police complaint against two persons for ‘defaming’ him in the whole affair and urged for action against another person for defaming DMK party.

“These are not isolated postings. Postings defaming our President (DMK chief M.K. Stalin) and other party leaders are virally spread on the social media to misguide the public and with political mala fides,” Chandrasekar said in his complaint.

“Due to the said postings, I am being enquired by members of the public and my party men and the same has caused untold agony to me,” he added.

He said a mere perusal of the video will show that he was not the person seen in the video.

“In spite of this, without verifying the basic facts, these persons are spreading rumors on the social media platforms, which is punishable under the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act,” Chandrasekar said.

Another lock down in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Region

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Another lock down in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Region

Amid surge in Corona cases, Telangana state government is seriously considering imposing another lockdown in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) region. As GHMC in the state turned out to be the epicenter of the pandemic with nearly 90% of the total cases are in the GHMC, Telangana state government is under immense pressure to control the situation.

As the spread in GHMC is rapidly growing, CM KCR has held a meeting with higher officials of the medical and health department today. He has asked officials to come up with an action plan to control the spread of the virus.

In some areas of the GHMC, the government is suspecting that the community spread of the novel Corona Virus has taken place. Though it is not clear, the government wants to take strict precautionary measures in order to avoid the further spread of the virus.

CM KCR admitted that the government has been receiving a lot of requests for the lockdown in Hyderabad for upto 15 days. He said the decision would be taken in three to four days. KCR indicated that the government is considering the plan and likely to take a decision soon.

According to media reports, CM KCR may soon hold a cabinet meeting and take the decision about a lockdown. As the cases have grown drastically in the last few days after the lockdown was lifted, the Telangana state government is now considering to impose a lockdown in the Hyderabad city.

Home Minister Mohamood Ali has tested positive of Covid-19

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Home Minister Mohamood Ali has tested positive of Covid-19

In a breaking news, Telangana Home Minister Mohamood Ali has tested positive of Covid-19 and has been admitted in a private hospital last night. About three days back Mohamood Ali underwent Corona tests and the results arrived as positive.

Also being an Asthama patient, the family members of Mohamood Ali have admitted him in hospital before the Covid-19 tests have arrived. In this gap, the results have shown positive.

Meanwhile the authorities are likely to collect the samples of Mohamood Ali family members and test them. They might be sent to quarantine.

So far three ruling party MLAs have tested positive of the virus and now Ali becomes the first minister to fall victim.

Kamya Panjabi talked about her break-up with Karan Patel

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Kamya Panjabi talked about her break-up with Karan Patel

Actress Kamya Panjabi talked about her break-up with actor Karan Patel in an interview with the Times of India and said that it took her two-and-a -half years to “get back to normal.” The actress, who is married to Delhi-based doctor Shalabh Dang, said that she slipped into depression after breaking-up with the Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actor in 2015.

“After Karan it took me two-and-a-half years to get back to a normal life. It is after two-and-a-half years that I started loving my life. I’m was eating, sleeping on time, talking to my friends and going to work and coming back. It took me two-and-a-half years. After the breakup, I had gone under a shell, I was not eating, sleeping. I didn’t feel like doing anything. I was into depression. I was undergoing counselling and there were lots of things happening.”

She also said that after the after she was finally “living life on her own terms,” she was not “ready to leave it for anyone.” He said, “And now, when I have started living my life, I am not ready to compromise or sacrifice for anyone or for anything. It felt like I was out of jail and I am not ready to go inside it again.”

Kamya Panjabi married Shalabh Dang in February 2020 after dating for seven months. She was married to businessman Bunty Negi from 2003 to 2013 and they have a daughter named Aara.

Kamya Panjabi has featured in soaps like Kehta Hai Dil, Astitva…Ek Prem Kahani and Banoo Main Teri Dulhann and Shakti – Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki, among others.

The next game will be really tough

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The next game will be really tough

After defeating Alaves, Atletico Madrid’s manager Diego Simeone said they clinched a ”very important” victory as it will help them cement their position on the La Liga table. “Today’s result was very important to cement our position. Our opponents defended very well and made things very difficult for us in the first half. They also counter-attacked a few times,” Simeone said after the match.

Atletico Madrid secured a 2-1 victory in the match on Sunday and consolidated their third position on the La Liga table as they now have 58 points, four points ahead of the fourth-placed club Sevilla.

Moreover, Simeone now has 195 wins under his belt in the top-flight of Spanish football with this victory. The Argentine has now overtaken Luis Aragones (194) as the coach with the most top-flight wins in the club’s history.

Atletico Madrid will now take on table-toppers Barcelona in the league on July 1. Simeone admitted that the next match is going to be ”really tough” as he wants his team to be in the best possible shape.

“The next game will be really tough, like every time we play in Barcelona. Now it is time to rest and prepare so that we arrive in the best possible shape,” he said.

”Black Lives Matter” emblem on the collars of their shirts

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”Black Lives Matter” emblem on the collars of their shirts

West Indies players will wear a ”Black Lives Matter” emblem on the collars of their shirts during the Test series against England to show solidarity and help raise awareness regarding equality. “We believe we have a duty to show solidarity and also to help raise awareness,” ESPNcricinfo quoted skipper Jason Holder as saying.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given permission and the logo used will be that worn on the shirts of all 20 Premier League football clubs since the sport’s restart earlier this month. It was designed by Alisha Hosannah, partner of Watford captain Troy Deeney, ESPNcricinfo reported. “This is a pivotal moment in history for sports, for the game of cricket and for the West Indies cricket team. We have come to England to retain the Wisden Trophy but we are very conscious of happenings around the world and the fight for justice and equality,” Holder added.

“As a group of young men, we know of the rich and diverse history of West Indies cricket and we know we are guardians of the great game for the generation to come. We did not take our decision lightly. We know what it is for people to make judgments because of the colour of our skin, so we know what it feels like, this goes beyond the boundary. There must be equality and there must be unity. Until we get that as people, we cannot stop,” he added.A three-match Test series between England and West Indies will mark international cricket’s resumption next month. The first Test between both the teams will begin on July 8.

Centre profiteering from increased fuel prices: Goa Congress

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Centre profiteering from increased fuel prices: Goa Congress

Accusing the central government of “profiteering from the miseries of countrymen” amid the coronavirus crisis and an economic downturn, the Congress state unit on Monday demanded a rollback in the increased prices of petrol and diesel.

In a representation to the President of India Ram Nath Kovind, the party alleged that the “repeated and unjust increase in the prices as also central excise on petrol and diesel over the last three months of the lockdown has inflicted insurmountable pain and suffering on the people of India”.

The representation demanded an immediate rollback in fuel prices, especially in view of the low price of crude oil in the global markets.

“Since the lockdown three months ago, the extent of extortion and profiteering by repeated increases in prices and excise duty on petrol and diesel has surpassed all forms of exploitation,” the representation said.

Vicky Kaushal’s latest photo draws hilarious comment from brother Sunny

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Vicky Kaushal’s latest photo draws hilarious comment from brother Sunny

Bollywood heartthrob Vicky Kaushal shared a photograph of himself “prepping in the dark”. However, this time it was not the picture that grabbed the attention of fans but a hilarious comment by his actor-brother Sunny Kaushal.

Vicky took to Instagram, where he shared a picture of himself. In the image, the actor’s silhouette can be seen as he stands next to a window.

“Prep in the dark, till it’s your time to shine,” he captioned the image, which currently has over 794k likes on the photo-sharing website.

To this Sunny wrote: “Ab sab fans belonged ‘Sunny is such a good photographer’ Thanks guys (Now fans would say ‘Sunny is such a good photographer. Thanks, guys.”

His comment currently has over 4510 likes.

This is not the first time Sunny has made a hilarious comment on his brother Vicky’s picture.

In April, amid lockdown, Vicky took to Instagram, where he shared a photograph of himself smiling at the camera while lying in what seems like a couch. He captioned the image with a couch and a potato emoji.

Sunny that time commented: “Uth Ja!! Mummy bol rahi hai pankhe saaf ho Gaye, ab dusting Karni hai… (Get up! Mummy says the fans are clean, so get going with the dusting now.)”

On the work front, Vicky will be seen in “Piku” maker Shoojit Sircar’s “Sardar Udham Singh” next. The film is slated to release in January 2021 as of now.

He will also be seen playing Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw is a biographical drama directed by Meghna Gulzar.

Healthy monsoon rains to limit tractor volume fall in FY21

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Healthy monsoon rains to limit tractor volume fall in FY21

Rating agency Crisil expects a well-distributed and normal monsoon to limit the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tractor sales volume this fiscal.

According to the rating agency, despite a 37 percent year-on-year decline in April and May combined, tractor volume will likely be only one percent below last fiscal’s level.

This will be in sharp contrast to a double-digit decline expected for the rest of the automobile industry.

“Lower raw material costs and strong balance sheets bode stable credit outlook for tractor makers this fiscal,” the agency said in a statement.

As per the forecast by the India Meteorological Department, the south-west monsoon to be at 102 percent of the long period average (LPA) in the calendar 2020.

“Crucially, it sees rains well-distributed at 96-107 percent of the LPA in all the four regions. The monsoon’s approach so far has been timely with rains 21 percent above normal in June to date,” the statement said.

“The forecast for July and August — crucial months for Kharif crop — is also encouraging at 103 percent and 97 percent, respectively, over LPA.”

Besides, the report cited that favorable distribution of rains can even offset the adverse impact of a below-normal monsoon, such as in fiscal 2019 when domestic tractor sales volume grew a strong eight percent on a high base and despite monsoon being nine percent below the LPA.

In fiscal 2020, on the other hand, poor month-wise distribution and large state-wise variation in rainfall — despite an above-average monsoon season overall — contributed partly to a 10 percent decline in tractor sales volume.

Additionally, agriculture will be supported by high reservoir levels, seen at a massive 94 percent higher than last year and 71 percent above the average of the past decade.

“Apart from overall adequacy, monsoon needs to be spatially well-distributed by geography and timeliness to propel farm incomes and stoke demand for tractors. The IMD’s forecast is very encouraging for tractor volumes this fiscal,” said Manish Gupta, Senior Director, Crisil Ratings.

Russia probes new pollution at Arctic mining firm

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Russia probes new pollution at Arctic mining firm

Russian officials were investigating a mining company in the Arctic over the pumping of wastewater from one of its processing plants into the nearby countryside, the media reported on Monday.

Norilsk Nickel said it had suspended staff involved in the violation. The pumping has now reportedly stopped, reports the BBC.

It is a new pollution incident involving the firm, known as Nornickel.

Emergency workers are struggling to contain a huge diesel spill from a fuel depot owned by the company.

A local ecologist and reporters from Russia’s independent daily Novaya Gazeta filmed foamy water being pumped into Arctic tundra from the reservoir at the Talnakh enrichment plant near Norilsk.

The reporters said the wastewater was believed to contain heavy metals – nickel, cobalt, and copper – and sulphuric acid, which the firm has denied.

In a statement, Nornickel said “those responsible at the plant have been suspended” for “allowing a flagrant violation of the operational rules at the plant’s tailings reservoir”.

“Nornickel has launched an investigation into what happened, and the firm is working with the ministry of natural resources and the emergencies ministry,” it said.

Russia’s Investigative Committee (SK), which probes serious crimes, has launched its own investigation into the incident.

The diesel spill in late May involved about 21,000 tonnes, some of which contaminated the lake, said the BBC report.

Stretches of the Ambarnaya river, flowing to the lake, turned red from the diesel.

Nornickel has numerous plants in and around the Arctic city of Norilsk, which has long been categorized as one of the world’s most polluted places.

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