Year: 2020

Locusts had entered Rajasthan in April and have covered 50,000 hectares of land so far. Uttar Pradesh has also reported the attacks and there is an alert for Maharashtra as well as Delhi. The swarm, which has entered the country earlier than expected, is said to be the worst attack in 27 years.   According to reports, states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and UP have been battling the locust attack that reportedly emerged in East Africa.   On Monday, residents of Jaipur woke up to the scary sight of thousands…

The Director-General of International Labour Organization (ILO), Guy Ryder has expressed his deep concern at the “unilateral suspension” of labour laws by various state governments.   The trade unions had complained to the ILO against the ordinances passed by some state governments suspending labour laws. In a letter to the trade unions, Karen Curtis, Chief, Freedom of Association Branch of the ILO, said the ILO Director-General has immediately intervened, “expressing his deep concern at these recent events and appealing to the Prime Minister to send a clear message to Central…

A few days after the Vizag tragedy, that cost destruction, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the State government to seize the LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam and ruled that none will be allowed inside without obtaining prior permission from the court.   A division bench comprising Chief Justice GK Maheswari and Justice Kanneganti Lalitha issued interim orders recently and the same were uploaded on the court’s website. It may be recalled that the court has taken suo motu cognizance of the Vizag gas leak and also heard two petitions filed on the incident.   As per…

Zee Media building in Noida has been sealed after 28 live COVID-19 cases out of 51 samples were detected in the organization following a letter issued from Gautam Buddh Nagar District Surveillance officer. Extreme containment measures to prevent the spread of the disease have been recommended which include keeping the fourth floor area sealed till all reports of employees are received.   Rapid response teams were immediately dispatched to the location and screening of all employees was undertaken. The close contacts of positive patients were selected and sent for tests.…

Maharashtra cabinet minister and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has tested positive for coronavirus in Mumbai. Congress leader Ashok Chavan is the current PWD minister of Maharashtra.   “He contracted the infection a few days back and is now undergoing treatment,” an official added.   The former Chief Minister’s condition has been described as asymptomatic.   He is the second Cabinet Minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government to test positive after Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad was diagnosed last month. After nearly a month’s treatment, Awhad was fully cured and…

India recorded 6,977 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s tally to 1, 38,845 and the death toll to 4,021, pushing the country to the 10th spot on the list of worst-hit nations, just below Turkey. The United States remains the worst-hit country in the world, followed by Brazil, whose coronavirus curve India is feared to be mimicking. China, where the new coronavirus originated earlier this year, is now at the 14th spot. According to the Union health ministry, a total 154 deaths were reported in 24…

A new legislation in the US, which proposes to give preference to individuals educated in the US while granting H-1B and L-1 work visas, might spell trouble for Indian IT firms if it becomes a law.   According to immigration experts, though many such bills have been proposed during the presidency of Donald Trump, most have not become law. However, the high unemployment rate in the US because of the COVID-19 crisis might make such legislation a reality.   “If this turns into a law, it will definitely impact Indian…

As the country is stepping towards healing, and transportations is on the way to rework, the Health Ministry has issued guidelines for domestic travel by air, trains and roads which include that asymptomatic passengers will monitor their health for 14 days while those with symptoms will be screened at the nearest health facility.   The states and UTs will ensure that thermal screening is carried out at the point of departure and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board the flight, train or bus.   During boarding and travel,…

The US Navy has successfully tested a new high-energy laser weapon that can destroy aircraft mid-flight and  also can shoots down drone mid-air, the Navy’s Pacific Fleet said in a statement Friday.   The US Navy’s ‘USS Portland’ ship had on May 16 tested a laser weapon capable of destroying aerial, sea, and land-based threats, a press release by the Pacific Fleet six days later informed, adding that the new weapon will be “redefining war at sea for the Navy.”   The ‘USS Portland’ is the 11th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock…

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said banks had been asked to extend loans automatically to eligible borrowers without ‘fear of 3Cs — CBI, CVC and CAG’. It is really encouraging towards the industrial growth.   She said clear instructions had been given in a meeting with CEOs and MDs of public sector banks and financial institutions on Friday that the banks should not be scared to extend loans as 100% guarantee is being given by the government.   In case of default, the individual bank or official will be hauled up,…