Category: Breaking News

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, billions of people around the world are relying on social media and messaging platforms to stay connected. Big tech has also donated millions of dollars in relief efforts and teamed up with medical organizations to disseminate accurate medical information about COVID-19. Services such as Facebook, once under fire for collecting personal data, are now sharing anonymized metadata to help track virus outbreaks. However, fake news is ratcheting up on social media and messaging platforms, and how big tech handles the influx could go a long way…

The Odisha government has come up with an ordinance with a provision of imprisonment of up to two years for those who violate lockdown regulations by amending Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.   As per the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, any person who will not obey any regulation or order made under the Act, is liable for imprisonment up to two years or with a fine of up to Rs 10,000 or with both.   However, all offences under the Act shall be cognisable and bailable, Asit Tripathy, Odisha’s…

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will for the first time hold a closed session on Thursday to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 74,000 people and infected over 1.3 million globally.   Council President for the month of April, the Dominican Republic, said it has formally scheduled a closed video-teleconferencing (VTC) “regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the issues that fall under the UNSC mandate”.   UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will participate in the session on Thursday afternoon as a briefer. It remains to be seen…

Amid COVID-19, Japan is willing to fund its companies to shift manufacturing operations out of China, as the disruptions caused to production by the pandemic, has forced Japan to rethink the business deal between two major trading countries.   As part of its economic stimulus package, Japan has earmarked $2.2 billion to help its manufacturers shift production out of China.   China is Japan’s biggest trading partner under normal circumstances, but imports from China have slumped by almost half in February due to lockdowns to curb the spread of the…

The head of International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently said that the fatal pandemic coronavirus will push the global economy into country’s Greatest Depression, as the world’s poorest countries will suffer the most.   “We anticipate the worst economic fallout since the Great Depression,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said, in remarks previewing next week’s virtual meetings of the 189-nation IMF and its sister lending organisation, the World Bank.   The IMF will release an updated world economic forecast on Tuesday that will show just how quickly the coronavirus outbreak has…

Employees Provident Fund Organization, EPFO, has processed about 1.37 lakh claims disbursing 279.65 crore rupees under a new provision to help subscribers fight COVID-19. The provision for a special withdrawal from the EPF Scheme to fight COVID-19 pandemic is part of the Prime Minister’s Garib Kalyan Yojana announced by the government . The remittances of the money have already started taking place. EPFO is also accepting the date of birth recorded in the Aadhaar card of a subscriber as a valid proof for rectification of the date of birth in PF records. The…

Chief Admiral of Indian Navy Karambir Singh asked the Navy personnel to ensure that vital operational assets such as ships and submarines remain free from the Corona virus. In a video message to all Navy personnel, he said,  Corona virus pandemic is unprecedented.    “Our ships and aircraft are on standby to support the government and civil administration. We are ready to extend support not only to our country but to Indian Ocean region nations, island territories of our country,” the navy chief said.   “The coronavirus pandemic is unprecedented…

There is no deny in the fact that, the global economy could slump into recession in 2020.  It also says that aggregate demand is expected to be impacted adversely by likely recession in the global economy, caused by disruptions in global supply chains, travel and tourism, and lockdowns in many economies including Indian economy.The impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the Indian economy and job market. The effect comes as the country is under a 21-day lockdown as part of larger efforts to curb spreading of coronavirus infections in India.…

Centre Credits Rs 500 credits To Over 4 Crore Women Jan Dhan Account Holders. The amount is being released by the ministry and will be credited to more than 20.39 crore Jan Dhan accounts of women by the end of April first week, officials said. The first installment of Rs 500 to over four crore Jan Dhan accounts of poor women on Friday as part of a relief package in view of the lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Rural Development Ministry said.The amount is being released by the…

Amid COVID-19 pandemic spread and the paramedical staff working continuously to treat the patients, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar made an announcement in the favour of the medical personnel.   Khattar announced that his government will double the salary of the medical personnel deployed on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle.   “As long as the COVID-19 pandemic lasts, those who are involved in care, treatment or testing of COVID-19 patients, will be paid double the amount of their salary” the Chief Minister said.   The state government…