What makes 'Namaste' the perfect greeting in the times of Covid-19 pandemic

 

As people the world over are choosing to ditch the handshakes and hugs for fear of contracting the coronavirus, namaste is becoming the perfect pandemic greeting.

Hands over the heart in prayer pose. A little bow of the head. A gesture of respect. An acknowledgment of our shared humanity. And no touching.
As people the world over are choosing to ditch the handshakes and hugs for fear of contracting the coronavirus, namaste is becoming the perfect pandemic greeting.

As a scholar whose research focuses on the ethics of communication and as a yoga teacher, I’m interested in how people use rituals and rhetoric to affirm their interconnectedness with one another – and with the world.

Namaste is one such ritual.

I bow to you

As people the world over are choosing to ditch the handshakes and hugs for fear of contracting the coronavirus, namaste is becoming the perfect pandemic greeting So namaste means “I bow to you.” This meaning is often reinforced by a small bow of the head.

In Hindi and a number of other languages derived from Sanskrit, namaste is basically a respectful way of saying hello and also goodbye. Today, namaste has been adopted into the English language, along with other words from non-English sources. Many words, when borrowed, keep their spelling but acquire new meanings. This is the case with namaste – it has shifted from meaning “I bow to you” to “I bow to the divine in you.”

Swiggy, Zomato pause gamification feature after Google sends notices

 

Gurugram-based Zomato confirmed that it has received a notice from Google.

Food delivery firms Zomato and Swiggy have paused their sports-based cashback games on their apps after Google sent them notices for violating Play Store policies related to sports-betting activities, according to multiple sources. The development came days after digital payment company Paytm’s app was briefly delisted from the Play Store for violating Google’s policy dealing with sports-betting.

Gurugram-based Zomato confirmed that it has received a notice from Google. “We believe that the notice is unfair, but we are a small company and have already realigned our business strategy to comply with Google’s guidelines,” said Zomato company spokesperson. “We will be replacing Zomato Premier League with a more exciting program by this weekend.”

Swiggy declined to comment on the issue, but according to the sources the Bengaluru-based food delivery firm is in discussions with the Google team. “Google has given Swiggy time to clarify, but the company has already paused the gamification (feature) on the app,” said an industry source who wished to remain anonymous. “It is not just Zomato and Swiggy, many companies have received such notices from Google.”

Many firms have come up with gamification features to engage with customers especially during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Zomato Premier League, an in-app gamification feature, allowed users to make predictions about the IPL game and earn rewards, while as Swiggy was running ‘Match Day Mania’ offers during the IPL event.

Earlier Paytm had also launched a UPI cashback and scratch cards campaign. Its payments app was delisted from Play Store. Paytm had said Google, too, regularly runs similar scratch card campaigns in India.

India to build 100-bedded hospital, 22,000-seater stadium in Maldives

 

India will build a 100-bedded cancer hospital 22,000-seater cricket stadium in Hulhumale here, under the USD 800 million Line of Credit (LoC) that was extended to the country last year.

India will build a 100-bedded cancer hospital 22,000-seater cricket stadium in Hulhumale here, under the USD 800 million Line of Credit (LoC) that was extended to the country last year, according to the Indian Embassy in Maldives on Wednesday.
"A 100-bed state-of-the-art Cancer Hospital will be set up in Hulhumale under the USD 800 million Line of Credit extended to the Maldives. This project will build on the already close bilateral cooperation in the health sector and include a robust component of human resource dvpt," Indian Embassy here tweeted.

"A modern cricket stadium using the latest technology and a capacity to seat 22,000 spectators will also come up in Hulhumale under the USD 800 million LoC," it said in another tweet.

Indian embassy also said that the development projects in the Hulhumale will benefit both the visitors and residents.

"Honoured to partner with Housing Development Corporation Ltd. Dvpt. of Central Park and renovation of the Arrival Jetty in Hulhumale are grant projects close to our heart. While the Park is the perfect place for leisure and fitness activities, the Jetty will benefit visitors and residents alike," it wrote on Twitter.

 

Google's Nest Audio smart speaker coming to India soon: What's new and more

 

The Nest Audio smart speaker will soon be available exclusively on Flipkart, and on select retail stores.

Google on Wednesday announced a new smart speaker with improved audio output at its ‘Launch Night In’ event. Named Nest Audio, the smart speaker is coming to India later this month. It will be available in chalk and charcoal colours, exclusively on Flipkart, and on select retail stores.
As for the upgrades, the Nest Audio is touted to be 75 per cent louder and has 50 per cent stronger bass than the original Google Home, which was launched around four years ago. The smart speaker features a 19mm tweeter for high frequency coverage and vocals and a 75mm mid-woofer for the bass.

“Nest Audio’s sound is full, clear, and natural. We completed more than 500 hours of tuning to ensure balanced lows, mids and highs so nothing is lacking or overbearing.

The bass is significant and the vocals have depth, which makes Nest Audio sound great across genres: classical, R&B, pop and more. The custom-designed tweeter allows each musical detail to come through, and we optimised the grill, fabric and materials so that you can enjoy the audio without distortion,” Google said in a blogpost.

The Nest Audio features ‘Media EQ’, which lets the smart speaker to automatically tune itself to whatever you are listening to: music, podcasts, audiobooks, etc. The speaker’s built-in ‘Ambient IQ’ lets it also adjust the volume of Assistant, news, podcasts and audiobooks based on the background noise in your home.

Donald Trump to far-right extremists: 'Stand back and stand by'

 

Trump didn't condemn white supremacist groups and their role in violence in some American cities this summer, branding it solely a left-wing problem.

US Election 2020: President Donald Trump on Tuesday didn't condemn white supremacist groups and their role in violence in some American cities this summer, branding it solely a left-wing problem and telling one far-right extremist group to stand back and stand by.

Almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing," said Trump, whose exchange with Democrat Joe Biden left the extremist group Proud Boys celebrating what some of its members saw as tacit approval.

He was responding to a question from debate moderator Chris Wallace, who asked the president if he would condemn white supremacist and militia groups that have shown up at some protests. Wallace specifically mentioned Kenosha, Wisconsin, where a white teenager was charged with killing two protesters during demonstrations over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. Trump has repeatedly blamed antifa, which stands for the anti-fascist movement.

I'm willing to do anything. I want to see peace," Donald Trump said. What do you want to call them? Give me a name." Proud Boys, Democrat Joe Biden chimed in, referencing a far-right extremist group that has shown up at protests in the Pacific Northwest. The male-only group of neo-fascists describes themselves as western chauvinists, and they have been known to incite street violence.

Proud Boys, stand back and stand by, Trump said. But I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem.

 

World Bank seeks board approval for $12 bn Covid-19 vaccine financing plan

 

Malpass told Reuters in an exclusive interview that the initiative, part of $160 billion in coronavirus aid financing pledged by the multilateral lender, is aimed at helping countries procure vaccine.

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World Bank President David Malpass said on Tuesday he is seeking board approval for a $12 billion (£9.33 billion) coronavirus vaccine financing plan to help poor and developing countries secure a sufficient share of vaccine doses when they become available in the coming months.

Malpass told Reuters in an exclusive interview that the initiative, part of $160 billion in coronavirus aid financing pledged by the multilateral lender, is aimed at helping countries procure and distribute vaccines early to healthcare and other essential workers and expand global production. He said the board was expected to consider the plan in early October.

Global competition for early coronavirus vaccine doses is already fierce, months ahead of any approvals, as wealthy countries move to secure supplies.

The U.S. government has pledged over $3 billion to secure hundreds of millions of doses of vaccines under development by Britain's AstraZeneca Plc and by U.S. drug giant Pfizer Inc and Germany's BioNTech SE <22UAy.F>.

Malpass said the World Bank plan aimed to put poor and middle-income countries, where the virus is spreading most rapidly, on the same footing as richer countries by ensuring they have financing to secure supplies and a system for distribution, which will encourage drugmakers to meet their demand.

Uber Technologies weighs purchase of BMW-Daimler ride-hailing venture

 

Uber expressed interest in a potential acquisition of Free Now after the venture's efforts to attract additional investors struggled to gain traction.

Uber Technologies Inc. is considering a purchase of Daimler AG and BMW AG’s ride-hailing joint venture Free Now, a deal that could boost its market share in Europe and Latin America, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Uber expressed interest in a potential acquisition of Free Now after the venture’s efforts to attract additional investors struggled to gain traction amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. Any deal could be complicated by the challenging market ride-hailing companies face, which could make it more difficult to agree on a price, one of the people said.

Daimler and BMW’s shopping of Free Now reflects their focus on generating cash and improving efficiency within their core automotive operations. Carmakers have been scaling back their mobility-service ambitions, with General Motors Co. shutting down its Maven car-sharing business earlier this year and Ford Motor Co. ceasing its Chariot shuttle service in 2019. “If external investors aren’t willing to provide capital, why should Daimler/BMW put more money in?” Bernstein analysts Arndt Ellinghorst and Thanos Hadjiantonis wrote in a note.

“The traditional industry has begun to realize it’s been wasting a lot of time, effort and money by trying to compete in these areas with questionable medium- and long-term returns.

”There’s no certainty the deliberations will lead to a transaction, and other bidders could emerge, the people said. Representatives for Uber and BMW declined to comment, and a Daimler spokeswoman said the company doesn’t comment on speculation.

Steady growth to record crash: How pandemic recast Trump's economic record

 

Stacked against his campaign promises from 2016, Trump's record was mixed on issues including eliminating the trade deficit and locking in 3% annual economic growth.

By Howard Schneider

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden hold the first of three debates Tuesday night ahead of the Nov. 3 election, and the economy is expected to be a key topic.
At issue: What did Trump accomplish for the economy in three tumultuous years of trade wars and tax cuts? How much blame should he bear for the mass layoffs and slump triggered by the coronavirus pandemic? Can Biden convince voters he will be a better steward of the world's largest economy?

Before March, Trump had a clear argument for reelection. Record-low unemployment and rising wages were helping the less well-off, while a record stock market buoyed richer Americans.

Even at that point, however, growth seemed to be slowing as the impact of 2017's tax cut, which slashed taxes for companies, ebbed.

Stacked against his campaign promises from 2016, Trump's record was mixed on issues including eliminating the trade deficit and locking in 3% annual economic growth. (See graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2P4ZAuG)

From perhaps the broadest barometer - job creation - the economy under Trump actually slowed from the trend begun during former President Barack Obama's second term, before the pandemic hit.

GlaxoSmithKline CEO optimistic Covid-19 vaccine widely available in 2021

 

The group's most advanced project is with French partner Sanofi and the two have said they hope to get approval for their candidate next year.

By Ludwig Burger

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline, the world's largest maker of vaccines, said she was optimistic the industry will be able to make an immunisation against COVID-19 widely available next year.
"I share the optimism that we will have solutions next year. The challenge here is getting to the scale that is required," GSK CEO Emma Walmsley said at an online event of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on Tuesday.

GSK is contributing adjuvants, efficacy boosters that play a vital role in many vaccines, in several development alliances for potential future vaccines against the novel coronavirus that has claimed more than a million lives globally.

The group's most advanced project is with French partner Sanofi and the two have said they hope to get approval for their candidate next year.

Walmsley stressed the industry's unprecedented speed of developing an immunisation did not compromise safety because trials were not smaller than usual and regulators and companies were taking steps in parallel that were previously done consecutively.

"We are condensing timelines that can take 10 years into two years. But people should feel very reassured that the way we do that is (due to) a completely different level of collaboration with regulators," the CEO said.

"We are putting our funds at risk, governments have put funds at risk so that we don't restrict the scale, which is really important in a trial for vaccines," she added.

 

Explained: The story behind the Apple versus Fortnite App Store battle

 

The court case involving Apple and Epic Games, the maker of the video game Fortnite, is the result of the gamemaker's rebellion against rules and fees set by Apple.

Perhaps it’s a sign of our times that a potentially landmark battle with antitrust implications is shaping up over digital pickaxes. The court case involving Apple and Epic Games, the maker of the video game Fortnite, is the result of the gamemaker’s rebellion against rules and fees set by Apple in its role of gatekeeper for apps on its iPhones and iPads.

What’s the case about?

In August, Epic’s billionaire founder, Tim Sweeney, announced that he would no longer abide by Apple’s rule that all purchases of apps and items within apps designed for its iOS-based devices go through Apple’s payment system. After he activated Epic’s own payment system, Apple kicked Fortnite out of its app store. It also threatened to make it hard for developers using Epic’s tools to build games. In response, Epic sued in federal court; it also sued Google over the same issue Apple soon counter-sued.

What was Epic unhappy about?

That Apple and Google charge fees of up to 30 per cent to developers using their app stores. Consumers spent $50 billion worldwide on the App Store and Google Play in the first half of 2020, according to Sensor Tower estimates. That generated billions of dollars in highly profitable revenue for the companies. Some developers have derided this as an unfair and unwarranted tax, especially since it applies not just to the purchase of an app, but to anything bought within one.

Why does Apple do that?

Apple says that the App Store’s success is directly related to its iron-clad rules because it spends significant resources to police apps and maintain high quality standards. Its payment system ensures that consumers using the store have a seamless and easy experience and are protected from fraud. But a growing number of developers say Apple is simply finding excuses to maximise profits.

US elections: Trump taxes are 'national security' issue, says Nancy Pelosi

 

The top-ranked Democrat in Washington has called US President Donald Trump's alleged tax avoidance a question of "national security"

Us elections 2020:  The top-ranked Democrat in Washington has called US President Donald Trump's alleged tax avoidance a question of "national security".

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, asked whether Trump owed money to foreign interests, following an article on his financial records by the New York Times.

It alleges Trump paid only $750 in federal income tax in both 2016 and 2017. The President called the report "fake news", the BBC reported on Monday.

Speaking on NBC, Nancy Pelosi said the report showed that "this president appears to have over $400 million in debt".

"To whom? Different countries? What is the leverage they have?" she asked, adding: "So for me, this is a national security question."

"The fact that you could have a sitting president who owes hundreds of millions of dollars that he's personally guaranteed to lenders, and we don't know who these lenders are," she said, and suggested that Trump may be indebted to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"What does Putin have on the president politically? Personally? Financially?"

According to the explosive report in the New York Times - which says it obtained tax records for Trump and his companies over two decades -- Trump paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years. It adds that the president is personally responsible for more than $300m in loans, which will come due in the next four years.

Twitter Inc appoints Rinki Sethi as new information security head

 

Twitter Inc appointed Rinki Sethi as its chief information security officer, the social media company said in a tweet.

(Reuters) - Twitter Inc appointed Rinki Sethi, a former information security executive at IBM, as its chief information security officer, the social media company said in a tweet.

https://www.business-standard.com/topic/twitteron Monday
Rinki Sethi had previously worked as the vice president of information security at cyber-security firm Palo Alto Networks Inc, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Reuters reported in July that Twitter, which had been without a security chief since December, stepped up its search in the weeks before the breach of high-profile accounts on its platform.

Earlier in July, the company had reported a breach where hackers accessed its internal systems to hijack some of the platform's top voices including U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden and reality TV star Kim Kardashian and used them to solicit digital currency.

 

Soy, oat, almond, rice, coconut, dairy: Which milk is best for our health?

 

As to which milk is best, there's no simple answer. Dairy milk tends to come out on top for nutrient quality, though soy is a good substitute from a nutrition perspective.

A trip to the supermarket presents shoppers with an overwhelming number of milk choices. And far from just being the domain of the modern hipster, plant-based milk alternatives are going mainstream.

These alternatives may be suitable for people who are intolerant to dairy milk, or have ethical or other personal preferences. They tend to be lower in saturated fats and energy than dairy milk, but also lower in protein (except soy) and calcium (unless fortified). Some are also high in added sugars.

As to which milk is best, there’s no simple answer. Dairy milk tends to come out on top for nutrient quality, though soy is a good substitute from a nutrition perspective. And it should be noted these alternatives aren’t technically milks, as they’re not derived from mammals.

Nevertheless, the nutritional quality of the different alternatives varies considerably, so it’s important to take note of these differences when making a selection.

Dairy milk

Milk provides us with important nutrients including calcium, protein, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin D, riboflavin (B2), zinc, phosphorus and iodine. The quantity and quality of cow’s milk proteins is high, with both whey and casein containing all nine essential amino acids. Milk plays an important role in bone health and is a particularly rich source of dietary calcium.

Research investigating the ability of the body to absorb and utilise calcium determined the best-absorbed calcium source is dairy milk and its derivatives.

 

Microsoft to release update allowing iPhone users to play Xbox games soon

 

Microsoft is about to release a new update to the Xbox App on iOS which will let the users stream and play Xbox One games on the iPhone.

Microsoft is about to release a new update to the Xbox App on iOS which will let the users stream and play Xbox One games on the iPhone.

According to Mashable, this obviously isn't the same as cloud gaming and is something that's only probably useful to owners of Xbox One consoles. The new feature which includes remote play will let the user stream Xbox games directly from his/her own console over WiFi or mobile internet.

To make use of this, users will have to log in to their Xbox accounts and make sure the console's got access to power. While making use of remote play, the console won't start with a sound or show that it's powered on with the light at the front.

The new iOS update isn't available for all users yet though as Microsoft is only testing it with TestFlight members. But since the Android-counterpart of the application has been rolled out already, the application should soon be publicly available on iOS too.

As reported by Mashable, apart from letting the user stream Xbox games, the application also will also let them manage console space and delete games. The player can also download and share game clips from your gaming sessions via the application.

Cyberattack hobbles Universal Health Service's hospitals across US

 

Computer systems across a major hospital chain with facilities across the nation were down on Monday due to what the company termed an unspecified technology security issue"

Computer systems across a major hospital chain with facilities across the nation were down on Monday due to what the company termed an unspecified technology security issue".

Doctors and nurses had to rely on paper.

Universal Health Services Inc, which operates more than 250 hospitals and other clinical facilities in the US, said in a short statement posted to its website on Monday that its network was offline and doctors and nurses were resorting to back-up processes including paper records.

The Fortune 500 company, with 90,000 employees, said patient care continues to be delivered safely and effectively and no patient or employee data appeared to have been accessed, copied or misused".

The company also has hospitals in the United Kingdom, but its operations in that country were not affected, a spokeswoman said on Monday night.

UHS provided no details about the incident, but people posting to an online Reddit forum who identified themselves as employees said the chain's network was hit by ransomware overnight Sunday.

The posts echoed the alarm of a clinician at a UHS facility in Washington, DC, who described to The Associated Press a mad scramble, including anxiety over determining which patients might be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

John Riggi, senior cybersecurity adviser to the American Hospital Association, called it a suspected ransomware attack", adding that criminals have been increasingly targeting the networks of health care institutions during the coronavirus pandemic.

US voters believe winner of election should fill court vacancy, shows poll

 

Biden retains a clear lead over Trump, 49 to 41% in presidential race, says poll.

A clear majority of voters believes the winner of the US presidential election should fill the Supreme Court seat left open by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, according to a national poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College, a sign of the political peril President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans are courting by attempting to rush through an appointment before the end of the campaign.

In a survey of likely voters taken in the week leading up to Trump’s nomination on Saturday of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the high court, 56 per cent said they preferred to have the election act as a sort of referendum on the vacancy. Only 41 per cent said they wanted Trump to choose a justice before November. More striking, the voters Trump and endangered Senate Republicans must reclaim to close the gap in the polls are even more opposed to a hasty pick: 62 per cent of women, 63 per cent of independents and 60 per cent of college-educated white voters said they wanted the winner of the campaign to fill the seat.

The warning signs for Republicans are also stark on the issue of abortion, on which Judge Barrett, a fiercely conservative jurist, could offer a pivotal vote should she be confirmed: 60 per cent of those surveyed believe abortion should be legal all or some of the time. The poll suggests that Donald Trump would reap little political benefit from a clash over abortion rights: 56 percent said they would be less likely to vote for Trump if his justice would help overturn Roe v. Wade, while just 24 per cent said they would be more inclined to vote for him.

Beyond the coming battle over the court, the survey indicates that Trump remains an unpopular president.

Local preference move unlikely to give push to solar gear makers

 

For any procurement by the Central government agencies and nodal departments, the preference would be given to local products for which there is sufficient local capacity.

The recent policy decision of the Centre to prefer local equipment for renewable energy projects may further its drive for 'Make in India' products but is unlikely to provide any major push to the domestic solar manufacturers.

The ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) in a notification issued last week said that for any procurement by the Central government agencies and nodal departments, the preference would be given to local products for which there is sufficient local capacity. The notice enlisted close to 80 products ranging from solar cells and modules to wind turbine, electrical equipment for hydro, biogas etc.

In procurement of all goods and services or works in respect of which there is sufficient local capacity and local competition, only Class—I local supplier shall be eligible to bid irrespective of purchase value, the ministry said, reiterating a June notification by the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal trade.

Class-I local supplier pertains to any supplier or service provider, whose goods, services or works offered for procurement, has local content equal to or more than 50 per cent.

“This order shall be applicable in respect of the procurements made by all agencies under the MNRE, including government companies and by the states and local bodies, making procurement under all central schemes where the project is fully or partially funded by the government,” said the MNRE order.

 

Life support helped many critically ill Covid-19 patients survive: Study

 

According to a new international study, the life-support option known as ECMO appears to be saving lives for many of the critically ill Covid-19 patients.

According to a new international study, the life-support option known as ECMO appears to be saving lives for many of the critically ill COVID-19 patients.

The 1,035 patients in the study faced a staggeringly high risk of death, as ventilators and other care failed to support their lungs. But after they were placed on ECMO, their actual death rate was less than 40%. That's similar to the rate for patients treated with ECMO in past outbreaks of lung-damaging viruses, and other severe forms of viral pneumonia.

The new study published in The Lancet provides strong support for the use of ECMO - short for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation -- in appropriate patients as the pandemic rages on worldwide.

It may help more hospitals that have ECMO capability understand which of their COVID-19 patients might benefit from the technique, which channels blood out of the body and into a circuit of equipment that adds oxygen directly to the blood before pumping it back into regular circulation. Small studies published early in the pandemic had cast doubt on the technique's usefulness.

Still, the international team of authors cautions that patients who show signs of needing advanced life support should receive it at hospitals with experienced ECMO teams and that hospitals shouldn't try to add ECMO capability mid-pandemic.

 

Global leaders at UN meet: If virus does not kill us, climate change will

 

The pandemic has muted the U.N. meeting, with world leaders speaking not from the podium in New York but via video from home.

In a year of cataclysm, some world leaders at this week's annual United Nations (UN) meeting are taking the long view, warning: If Covid-19 doesn't kill us, climate change will.
With Siberia seeing its warmest temperature on record this year and enormous chunks of ice caps in Greenland and Canada sliding into the sea, countries are acutely aware there’s no vaccine for global warming.

“We are already seeing a version of environmental Armageddon,” Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said, citing wildfires in the western US and noting that the Greenland ice chunk was larger than a number of island nations.

This was meant to be the year “we took back our planet,” he said. Instead, the coronavirus has diverted resources and attention from what could have been the marquee issue at this UN gathering. Meanwhile, the UN global climate summit has been postponed to late 2021.

That hasn't stopped countries, from slowly sinking island nations to parched African ones, from speaking out. “In another 75 years, many ... members may no longer hold seats at the United Nations if the world continues on its present course,” the Alliance of Small Island States and the Least Developed Countries Group said.

The main goal of the 2015 Paris climate accord is to limit the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, but scientists say the world is on track to soar past that. A new study found that if the world warms another 0.9 degrees Celsius (1.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the West Antarctic ice sheet will reach a point of irreversible melting. It has enough water to raise global sea levels by 5 meters (16 feet).

Committed to raise health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP: Harsh Vardhan

 

Harsh Vardhan reiterated the the Narendra Modi government's commitment to increase the expenditure on public health to 2.5 per cent of India's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday reiterated the the Narendra Modi government's commitment to increase the expenditure on public health to 2.5 per cent of India's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025.

"The Union Government is committed to increasing the public healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP from the existing 1.15 per cent to 2.5 per cent by 2025," he said in the third episode of 'Sunday Samvaad', a weekly interaction he has been holding with his social media followers every Sunday for the last three weeks.

Harsh Vardhan noted that the committed leap in the share means an actual rise of 345 per cent from the current expenditure.

He also added that the 15th Finance Commission's high-level group on health has concurred that healthcare spending must be raised substantially in the next five years in view of the present pandemic.

Similar commitments have been made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Health Minister J.P. Nadda in recent years as well.

In 2017, Nadda, now the BJP President, had said that the Central government would increase the total health expenditure to 2.5 per cent of the GDP by 2025. Similarly, Modi, while addressing the Partners' Forum in 2018, had said that the government is set to increase its spending on public health to 2.5 per cent of the GDP.

However, the share of expenditure for public health has remained stagnant at 1.15 per cent of the GDP, despite the multiple assurances, and the Modi government has faced flak for reduced and consistently low spending on healthcare for years now.

Small apps unite to take on Apple, Google over unfair trade practices

 

On Thursday, the smaller companies said they had formed the Coalition for App Fairness, a nonprofit group that plans to push for changes in the app stores and "protect the app economy".

For months, complaints from tech companies against Apple’s and Google’s power have grown louder. Spotify, the music streaming app, criticised Apple for the rules it imposed in the App Store. A founder of the software company Basecamp attacked Apple’s “highway robbery rates” on apps. And last month, Epic Games, maker of the popular game Fortnite, sued Apple and Google, claiming they violated antitrust rules.

Now these app makers are uniting in an unusual show of opposition against Apple and Google and the power they have over their app stores. On Thursday, the smaller companies said they had formed the Coalition for App Fairness, a nonprofit group that plans to push for changes in the app stores and “protect the app economy”. The 13 initial members include Spotify, Basecamp, Epic and Match Group, which has apps like Tinder and Hinge.

“They’ve collectively decided, ‘We’re not alone in this, and maybe what we should do is advocate on behalf of everybody,’” said Sarah Maxwell, a spokeswoman for the group. She added that the new nonprofit would be “a voice for many.”

Scrutiny of the largest tech companies has reached a new intensity. The Department of Justice is expected to file an antitrust case against Google as soon as next week, focused on the company’s dominance in internet search. In July, Congress grilled the chief executives of Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook about their practices in a high-profile antitrust hearing. And in Europe, regulators have opened a formal antitrust investigation into Apple’s App Store tactics and are preparing to bring antitrust charges against Amazon for abusing its dominance in internet commerce.

FB suspends fake Russian accounts, warns of US polls hack-and-leak threat

 

The Russian foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment after normal working hours in Moscow.

By Jack Stubbs

LONDON (Reuters) - Facebook Inc said on Thursday it has dismantled three networks of fake accounts which could be used by Russia's intelligence services to leak hacked documents as part of efforts to disrupt the upcoming U.S. election.

The company said the accounts, which it suspended for using fake identities and other types of "coordinated inauthentic behavior," were linked to Russian intelligence and people associated with a St. Petersburg-based organization accused by U.S. officials of working to sway the 2016 presidential vote.

The Russian foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment after normal working hours in Moscow. Russia has repeatedly denied allegations of election meddling and says it does not interfere in the domestic politics of other countries.

Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, said there was no immediate evidence that hacked documents were about to be leaked, but by suspending the accounts Facebook hoped to prevent them being used in any subsequent operation.

"Our team watches for the threats and trends that we need to be ready for, and one that we are very aware of ... is a hack-and-leak operation, particularly in the next 6-8 weeks," he told Reuters.

Read More : US Election 2020

Banks sanctioned Rs 1.77 trn to MSMEs under ECLGS: Nirmala Sitharaman

 

Nirmala Sitharaman said that around Rs 1.77 trn credit has been sanctioned by PSBs and private banks to MSMEs and individuals reeling under the slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that around Rs 1.77 lakh crore credit has been sanctioned by Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and private banks to MSMEs and individuals reeling under the slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
However, disbursement against the sanctioned amount stood at Rs 1,25,425 crore to MSMEs till September 21.

"As of September 21, 2020, the total amount sanctioned under the 100 per cent Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) by PSBs and private banks to MSMEs and individuals stand at Rs 1,77,353 crore, of which Rs 1,25,425 crore has already been disbursed," Sitharaman's office tweeted.

The ambit of the scheme was expanded to include MSMEs with a turnover of up to Rs 250 crore and individuals for business purposes.

As of Sept 21, 2020, Rs 9,849.74 crore of loans to individuals have been sanctioned, of which Rs 2,617.08 crore has been disbursed, the Finance Ministry said.

Sitharaman's office further informed that that under the 100 per cent ECLGS, loan amounts sanctioned by PSBs has increased to Rs 79,347.73 crore.

"Under the 100 per cent ECLGS, the loan amounts sanctioned by Public Sector Banks increased to Rs 79,347.73 crore, of which Rs 65,051.89 crore has been disbursed as of September 21, 2020," the Finance Ministry informed.

"Compared to September 3, 2020, there is an increase of Rs 16,335.32 crore in the cumulative amount of loans sanctioned and an increase of Rs 11,711.85 crore in the cumulative amount of loans disbursed by both PSBs and private sector banks combined as on September 21, 2020," it added.

 

Amazon launches new version of Echo devices in India starting at Rs 4,499

 

US technology firm Amazon announced a new version of artificial intelligence-based Echo speakers in the price range of Rs 4,499 to Rs 9,999 a unit.

US technology firm Amazon on Thursday announced a new version of artificial intelligence-based Echo speakers in the price range of Rs 4,499 to Rs 9,999 a unit.

The company at a global virtual event claimed to have reduced voice response of Alexa devices by hundreds of milliseconds using new electronic chips.

"Our team really worked very hard to shave off 100s of milliseconds from Alexa response time. They invented a new AZ1 neural edge processor. It is a new silicon module that has been purpose built to run machine learning algorithms on the edge," Amazon Devices head for India Parag Gupta said.

"We also built new neural speech recognition models that run on Az1. Together they make speech responses faster on Echo Dot," he said.

The company started pre-booking Echo Dot priced at Rs 4,499, Echo DoT with clock for Rs 5,499 and Echo with 9,999 which will be shipped to customers later this year.

"With the new range of Echo devices, we are making it more natural and convenient for customers to interact with Alexa," Gupta said.

 

670 electric buses, 241 charging stations sanctioned under FAME scheme

 

Government has sanctioned 670 electric buses for Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Chandigarh, and 241 charging stations in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and Port Blair.

The Union government has sanctioned 670 electric buses for Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Chandigarh, and 241 charging stations in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and Port Blair under Phase-II of the 'FAME India' Scheme.

Union Minister of Heavy Industries Prakash Javadekar said on Friday, "This is a big push to Prime Minister's vision of eco-friendly Public transportation."

Announcing this in a series of tweets, Javadekar said the decision reflects the government's commitment to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and to address issues of vehicular emissions."

The Department of Heavy Industries (DHI) under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises is administering the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme since April, 2015 to promote adoption of electric/hybrid vehicles (xEVs) in India.

In the first phase of the scheme up to March 31, 2019, about 2,80,987 hybrid and electric vehicles were supported by way of demand incentive, amounting to about Rs 359 crore. Further, DHI sanctioned 425 electric and hybrid buses to various cities in the country with a total cost of about Rs 280 crores. The Department of Heavy Industry had also sanctioned 520 charging stations for Rs 43 crore (approx.) in cities like Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Delhi under Phase-I of FAME India Scheme.

At present, Phase-II of FAME India Scheme is being implemented for a period of three years from April 1, 2019 with a total budgetary support of Rs 10,000 crore.

This phase focuses on supporting electrification of public and shared transportation and aims to support through subsidies, approximately 7000 e-Buses, five lakh e-3 wheelers, 55,000 e-4 wheeler passenger cars and 10 lakh e-2 wheelers. In addition, creation of charging infrastructure is also supported to address the anxiety among users of electric vehicles.

US, India growing cooperation vital to free, open Indian-Pacific region

 

US State Department said that Washington's growing security and diplomatic cooperation with New Delhi is vital to a free, open, and inclusive Indian-Pacific region.

Underlining that the scope of India and the United States partnership continues to expand, US State Department on Wednesday (local time) said that Washington's growing security and diplomatic cooperation with New Delhi is vital to a free, open, and inclusive Indian-Pacific region.

"The pace and scope of the #USIndia partnership continues to expand! Whether it's at @UN or with Quad partners, our growing security and diplomatic cooperation with India is vital to a free, open, and inclusive #IndoPacific," tweeted State Department for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA).

Indian-Pacific region is largely viewed as an area comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea.

China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and its efforts to advance into the Indian Ocean are seen to have challenged the established rules-based system.

Amid China's growing assertiveness in the Indian-Pacific region, foreign ministers of Quad-- India, Japan, the US and Australia--are planning to hold a meeting in Tokyo next month.

The officials are likely to affirm their countries' cooperation to realise the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" vision upheld by Japan and the United States.

Beijing rising assertiveness against counter claimants in East and South Sea has resulted in unprecedented agreement across the Indian-Pacific.