India Narrative

Brazil football legend Pele has congratulated Juventus for their ninth consecutive Serie A title win and hailed Cristiano Ronaldo , who according to him is “the modern athlete”. 35-year-old Ronaldo finished as Juventus’ top scorer in the league with 31 goals in 32 appearances. “@Cristiano is the modern athlete, who shows everyone that success always comes to those who are dedicated and love what they do. Also, I would like to congratulate my fellow Brazilians @douglascosta, @alxsndro12 and @daniluiz2. Great work winning the @seriea title, @juventus,” Pele wrote on Instagram. Ronaldo had earlier dedicated the title victory to the victims who have suffered the most during this unprecedented time put forward by the coronavirus pandemic. Juve got over the line on Sunday by beating Sampdoria 2-0 at home. This was their 36th title in the Italian top flight. Ronaldo, who scored the opening goal in this encounter, took to social media to express his happiness after winning back-to-b

It seems that the ongoing pandemic and preventive measure to stay indoors is taking a toll on Bollywood heartthrob Vicky Kaushal , who yearns to break free. The actor took to Instagram to share his thoughts along with a still from his 2018 release “Manmarziyaan”, in which he can be seen jumping from the terrace of one building to another. “Day 15366837…” he wrote as a caption. The image amused his fans, who commented: “Bhaag Vicky Bhaag”. Another user wrote: “How’s the Josh”. Earlier this month, Vicky shared a throwback photograph of himself at a gym and said that he misses machines. Vicky’s Instagram image showed him flaunting a perfectly-chiselled body. The actor completed his look with black basketball shorts, baseball cap and sneakers. In the backdrop, gym equipment can be seen as the actor poses in front of a large mirror. “I miss machines. #majormissingmonday,” he wrote alongside the image, which currently has 7,25,000 likes. Vicky was last seen in Bhanu Pratap Si

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu today called for protecting and promoting various Indian languages through the use of mother tongue in different fields from education to administration. Calling for imparting education in the mother tongue up to primary school, the Vice President stressed that a language would gain popularity only through widespread usage. Naidu said it was a fallacy to think that progress could be achieved only if education was pursued in English. “Research has shown that those who are proficient in their mother tongue can learn other languages with equal ease,” the Vice President said while inaugurating an online webinar on ‘Knowledge Creation: Mother Tongue’ organized by the Department of Telugu, University of Hyderabad and the Telugu Academy. For instance, he said that about 90 per cent of the Nobel laureates (barring Nobel Peace prize recipients) up to 2017 were those who completed their education in their respective mother tongue. Similarly, another surv

How do you punish a country which doesn’t regret unleashing a global pandemic, takes pride in the repression of religious and ethnic minorities at home, and is disturbing world peace with its nefarious expansionist designs? You give it the charge of a United Nations human rights panel. How do you reward someone who has ignored a country’s brutalities, gross abuses of human rights and instead praised its aggressive expansionist projects? You appoint the person to monitor free speech in the world. Shocking but true—this is exactly what the United Nations has done in the past few months while the world has been busy tackling a pandemic. Quietly and shrewdly, China has climbed to the top of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) panel; it is now calling the shots, including picking the world body’s human rights investigators. Jiang Duan, Minister at the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China, to the Human Rights Council’s Consultative Group from April 1, 2

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation ’s decision to levy a professional tax, as well as its plan to increase property tax on commercial properties apart from one per cent hike in property transfer tax, has riled people who are already affected in the wake of coronavirus crisis. Ashok Kumar, an advocate at south Delhi’s Saket courts, asserted: “These steps will break the back of the common man. Many are already finding it tough to make both ends meet. This is simply wrong.” While the SDMC hopes to garner a whopping Rs 170 crore through the hiked taxes levied on people living in its jurisdiction, people aren’t convinced it is the right time. While efforts have been afoot for many years now to introduce the professional tax, it was shelved every time in the face of political opposition. The professional tax will make the salaried class and self-employed persons like Ashok rework their monthly budgets. Apart from lawyers, doctors, CAs, architects, and other self-employed profes

Five of the 36 medium multi-role Rafale fighter jets built by French aircraft manufacturer Dassault landed safely at the IAF airbase in Ambala today afternoon. Significantly, the frontline IAF airbase is likely to be used in case of conflict at the northern or the western borders. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet, “The Birds have landed safely in Ambala.” “The touchdown of Rafale combat aircraft in India marks the beginning of a new era in our Military History. These multirole aircrafts will revolutionize the capabilities of the @IAF_MCC,” the minister added. Interestingly, the new additions, the fighter stable of Indian Air Force, are named after current Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria. Of the two squadrons of the Rafale fighters, one would be based in Ambala for the western borders in Pakistan, while the second squadron would be based Hasimara in West Bengal and will be dedicated for the China border where Indian and Chinese People’s Li

Jammu and Kashmir police in North Kashmir’s  Bandipore  district arrested three terrorist associates today, officials said. According to details the three arrested have been identified as Abrar Gulzar of Bagh Bandipora, Mohd Waqar resident of Chittay Banday and Muneer Ahmad Sheikh resident of Quil Muqam Bandipora. Kashmir News Police said as per its records they were involved in various subversive activities besides providing logistic support and assistance to active terrorists operating in Bandipora. Police said incriminating material has been recovered from their possession. Police have registered an FIR and further investigation has been initiated.

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 today. 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 per cent 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 per cent) and applying to (64 per cent) jobs in the next two weeks. The active job seekers aim to upskill today for a safer tomorrow as 68 per cent said they will increase their time spent on online learning to harbour long-term

The second operational SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to the International Space Station, Crew-2, will have four astronauts on board, Nasa has said. Nasa astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively, for the mission, the US space agency said. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet will join as mission specialists. Crew-2 is targeted to launch in spring 2021, following the successful completion of both Nasa’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight mission, which is expected to return to Earth on August 2, and the launch of Nasa’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission, which is targeted for late September. The Crew-2 astronauts will remain aboard the space station for approximately six months as expedition crew members, along with three crewmates who will launch via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The increase of the full space station crew complement to seven member

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to transform our daily lives, the Asia-Pacific region has accelerated the increase in overall technology adoption, realising a hybrid new normal of work that comes with its own set of challenges, Microsoft said today. Microsoft, with research from TechRepublic Premium, looked into the impact the pandemic has had on the region’s legacy work styles and business operations. Microsoft found that while organisations have prioritised technology adoption to enable remote working environments and overall business transformation, the change was not driven through technology alone. According to Joe Sweeney, IBRS Advisor and Future of Work Expert, one common response among people in their jobs is to “work harder and not switch off.” Those who have started working from home are fielding calls from their bosses late into the evening, underlining the need to redraw boundaries for out-of-hours contact. Organisations will need to reassess how performance

In a relief to listed companies amid the ongoing pandemic, the Securities and Exchange Board of India ( SEBI ) has extended the timeline for submission of financial results for the quarter ended June, till September 15. As per the norms, the original deadline for submitting the financial results for the period ending June was August 14. In a circular, the regulator said that it has received representations requesting extension of time for submission of financial results for the quarter or half year ended June 30, 2020, due to the shortened time gap between the extended deadline for submission of financial results for the period March — July 31 — and that for the period ending June, which was originally August 14. “After consideration, it has been decided to extend the timeline for submission of financial results under Regulation 33 of the LODR Regulations, for the quarter/half year/financial year ended 30th June 2020, to September 15, 2020,” it said. It has asked the stock e

Adding insult to injury to employees as they protest what they call “a draconian” Leave Without Pay (LWP) policy going up to five years, Air India is on a recruitment drive to hire new people. Air India Express has put out an advertisement to hire in the finance and medical services department. The general principle is that if a company is laying off people and sending them on long leave without pay, then it does not hire fresh personnel. In the advertisement, Air India Express has invited applications from Indian citizens (wherever domiciled) for the posts on a fixed term contract basis. The positions in the medical services department include Chief Medical Officer and Senior Assistant, Medical. The positions open for hiring in the Finance Department include Deputy Chief of Finance, Manager-Finance and Deputy Manager-Finance. Interested and eligible candidates have been asked to submit their applications within 15 days of this advertisement. This will add fuel to the fi

Despite the high-level talks between NSA Ajit Doval and the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi over disengagement and de-escalation on July 5, the Chinese haven’t really gone back. The PLA troops remain where they were–in Indian territory when they sneaked under the cover of coronavirus in April. On the contrary, it seems China has only marginally pulled back, if at all at Galwan Valley but  made new structures   for its troops. At Pangong Tso, it seems rather reluctant. The only difference is that the soldiers of the two countries are not in an eyeball to eyeball confrontation. So, what is China planning? China News The moot point Indians should keep in mind is to accept the situation as it is. The Indian political leadership and the people should steel themselves to the new normal—that China will dig in its heels on the Indian border and skirmishes will happen. More lives are likely to be lost in that desolate mountainous landscape. Dr. Jabin T Jacob, Associate Pr

Giving rise to an anomalous situation, China News imported record high PVC from India in June at a time when the two countries are locked in a tussle at the border amid calls for reducing trade flows. China imported a record high PVC 27,207 mt of PVC from India in June — more than five times compared to 5,174 mt recorded in May as India accelerated PVC exports during the Covid 19 lockdown, Global Rubber Markets reported. It is a rare move as the Indian PVC market is net short by close to 2 million mt/year. During the lockdown, India’s PVC demand plunged, prompting cancellation of PVC deliveries to India. Suppliers had to move their cargoes to China to clear excess supplies, it added. Looking forward, market sources said China’s PVC imports from India would likely slow as the lockdown ended early-June. For June delivery, market participants negotiated in May. Polyvinyl Chloride (or PVC for short) is the third most widely produced plastic in the world following polyethylene an

The Donald Trump administration in the US said today it is reviewing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and will reject new applications. “The administration is now undertaking a comprehensive review of the DACA program and the justifications that have been offered for winding DACA down,” a senior administration official said, Xinhua reported. The official said they will adjudicate all applications for renewal on a case-by-case basis, providing one year, rather than the existing two-year renewal. Last month, the US Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to rescind DACA, arguing that the move did not comply with the Administrative Procedure Act and failed to provide adequate justification. However, it also made clear that President Donald Trump had the authority to rescind the program. DACA, created via an administrative memo in 2012 by the previous Barack Obama administration, previously allowed undocumented immigrants brought to t

Housing the second-largest tiger population in the country, Karnataka News celebrated the ‘International Tiger Day’ with a pledge to protect the majestic big cat and conserve its habitat, an official said. “According to the latest census, Karnataka has 524 tigers since 2018 as against 406 in 2014, 300 in 2010, and 290 in 2000. Though the growth in the first millennial decade was 3.4 per cent (2000-2010), it grew 35 per cent by 2014 and 29 per cent by 2018,” the conservation official told IANS here. As per the findings in the “Status of Tiger Co-predators and Prey in India’ report, Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar released in New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh in central India has 526 big cats, up from 308 in 2014, 257 in 2010. and 300 in 2010. Of the estimated 3,900 tigers the world over, India accounts for 2,967 or 76 per cent of them. “Karnataka is a land of rich biodiversity, with national parks and tiger reserves. We are a proud home to the

Researchers have found that calcium and vitamin D deficiencies lead to a higher risk of osteoporosis and poor bone health. For the findings, published in the journal Plos one, the research team examined inadequate nutrient intake and its relationship to poor bone health, specifically the risk of osteoporosis. The team examined the relationship between markers of poverty with calcium and vitamin D intake and osteoporosis in Americans, 50 years and older. “This study continues to demonstrate how prevalent nutrient deficiency is among the US population, and even more so, among lower-income individuals and those with food insecurities,” said Susan Hazels Mitmesser from Pharmavite LLC, the makers of nature made vitamins, minerals, and supplements, who conducted the study. “Yet, we know that nutrient adequacy is imperative in supporting overall health and wellness, including immune health, at a time when that is heavy on everyone’s mind,” she added. According to the study, 25 pe

The Karnataka government has launched a Rs 5,000-crore project to build a life sciences park in the southern suburbs of the tech city, which has the potential to generate about 50,000 jobs, an official said today. Karnataka News “The work on the Bengaluru Life Sciences Park began as Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa laid its foundation stone on 52 acres of land at the Electronics City earlier in the day,” the official told IANS. To be built under the public-private partnership (PPP) by Labzone Corporation, the 9-million square feet mega park’s first phase is scheduled to be completed by December 2022 to house about 150 domestic and overseas biotech firms. “The park was envisioned two decades ago by the state vision group’s chairperson and Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar Shaw to build an ecosystem for promoting and developing biotechnology in the southern state on a global scale,” said Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan on the occasion. With the help of the Institute of B

As the cases of Covid-19 is coming down, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced today the delinking of the hotels that were attached to the hospitals for Covid care. “Some hotels were attached to hospitals to increase the number of COVID beds. In view of the improving situation and all hotel beds lying vacant for the last many days, these hotels are now being released,” Kejriwal tweeted. The national capital had early June registered a threefold increase in the number of Covid-19 cases. As the number surged, the Delhi government then had empowered the district magistrate of 11 districts to use hotels as an extension of the hospital treating Covid-19 patient. Apart from providing room, the hotel also had to provide housekeeping, sanitization, disinfection, and manpower to doctors and nurses based on requirements. Over 4,600 additional Covid-19 beds were created in Delhi by attaching around 40 hotels to various hospitals. But most of these beds were lying vacant du