Category: -Top News

Europe reels under second Covid-19 wave

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 17 October 2020
No Comments on Europe reels under second Covid-19 wave

Pedestrians wearing face masks are seen in Berlin

Pedestrians wearing face masks are seen in Berlin (IANS)

Europe has continued its battle with a second wave of the novel coronavirus, with several countries reporting a record surge in the number of single-day confirmed cases.

On Friday, Germany, Greece and Slovenia set new records for daily cases, a day after Italy, Portugal and Lithuania hit their single-day highs, reports Xinhua news agency.

German national disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), said that new Covid-19 infections in the country broke Thursday’s record with 7,334 cases confirmed within one day, bringing the total number to 348,557.

Thursday’s daily figure of 6,638 had marked a jump of some 1,500 over the day before. The previous daily infection peak, at around 6,300 cases, was registered in March, German news agency dpa reported.

Increased infection numbers were linked particularly to private celebrations with family and friends. However, there were also more Covid-19-related outbreaks reported in older people’s homes and nursing homes, according to the RKI.

A man wearing a face mask walks past a shop in London, Britain

Meanwhile, France confirmed 25,085 Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, increasing the total count to 834,770.

The number of new infections was lower than a record 30,621 registered on Thursday, but it remained at a high level unseen during the first wave.

In Italy, the first European country battered by the pandemic, 10,010 new coronavirus infections were reported on Friday, pushing the total number to 391,611,.

Due to the grim development, countries have started to turn to tougher measures against the second wave.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday defended his government’s coronavirus restrictions as “the right and responsible thing to do” in the fight to curb the spread of the disease in the country.

“Without action, our health service will be overwhelmed,” he said. “I want to avoid another national lockdown.”

Also on Friday, the region of Kozani in northern Greece became the first area of the country to enter lockdown during the second wave of the pandemic.

Authorities announced that until October 29, protective face masks will be compulsory everywhere, and public gatherings and traveling outside the region are forbidden. Retail shops, restaurants, cinemas, and gyms will remain closed for two weeks.

In Cyprus, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said that because of the possibility of the coronavirus to get out of control in the country, President Nicos Anastasiades would chair a meeting of the scientific team advising the ministry to consider new restrictive measures.

eople wearing face masks walk on the Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris, France (Xinhua/Gao Jing/IANS)

In Slovenia, new restrictions kicked in as of Friday in the country’s so-called “red” regions.

Two more of Slovenia’s 12 statistical regions have been turned from “orange” into “red” on the coronavirus incidence meter, which means that lockdown restrictions now apply in nine regions in total.

Bars, restaurants and sports facilities will close in all “red” regions on Saturday as part of the tightened coronavirus measures.

-Top News USA

US rejects Russia’s proposal to extend nuclear treaty

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 17 October 2020
No Comments on US rejects Russia’s proposal to extend nuclear treaty

Moscow, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin (Sputnik via Xinhua/IANS)

The White House rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal earlier in the day to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) for at least one year without conditions.

“President Putin’s response today to extend New START without freezing nuclear warheads is a non-starter,” US President Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said on Twitter on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.

O’Brien reiterated the US proposal of an extension of New START for one year, during which both countries cap all nuclear warheads, referring to both strategic and tactical ones.

“We hope that Russia will reevaluate its position before a costly arms race ensues,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Putin proposed to extend the New START without conditions for at least a year for further negotiations.

“I have a proposal, namely, to extend the current Treaty without any conditions for at least a year in order to be able to conduct meaningful negotiations on all issues that are governed by agreements of this kind,” Putin said at a meeting with permanent members of the country’s Security Council.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov earlier this week rebuffed Washington’s position on freezing nuclear arsenals. “The US position in favour of freezing has long been known to us, it is unacceptable to us.”

The Russian chief arms control negotiator also noted that Russia would refuse any agreement on the New START that was timed to coincide with the US presidential election.

In 2010, Washington and Moscow signed the New START, which stipulates the limits to the numbers of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems by both. This last remaining nuclear arms control treaty in force between the two nuclear superpowers will expire on February 5, 2021.

The treaty can be extended for at most five years with the consent of the two countries. Without an extension, the US and Russian nuclear arsenals would be unchecked for the first time since 1972.

-Top News China India News USA

India Purchases Winter Clothing For Troops From U.S

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 16 October 2020
No Comments on India Purchases Winter Clothing For Troops From U.S

Siachen: Chief of Army Staff General M.M. Naravane during his maiden visit to the forward posts in Siachen sector, after assuming charge, on Jan 9, 2020. He was accompanied by Lieutenant General YK Joshi, Chief of Staff, HQ Northern Command and Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, General Officer Commanding, âFire & Furyâ Corps. He was briefed on the operational readiness being maintained in the Sector by Commander, Siachen Brigade. (Photo: IANS)

Amid the standoff with China which has necessitated deployment of augmented army presence at the Line of Actual Control, India has gone for urgent purchase of additional high-altitude winter clothing from the US for troops deployed at forward locations in eastern Ladakh…writes Suman Sharma.

The winter clothing has been purchased under the Logistics Exchange Memorandum Agreement (LEMOA) between India and US. The agreement facilitates logistical support, supplies and services between the armed forces of the two countries, and includes clothing, food, lubricants, spare parts, medical services, among other essentials.

Do we need another Mountain Strike Corps against Chinese aggression on Indian border (IANS)

India is also looking to European markets to get more winter clothing for immediate requirements as its soldiers are braving temperatures of minus 25 degrees Celsius as they occupy 13 critical heights in south of Pangong Lake in Ladakh.

The seventh round of India-China military talks on October 12 at Chushul to resolve the border dispute in eastern Ladakh ended in deadlock, after around 11 hours of deliberations. The de-escalation of forces at the LAC during the winter is highly unlikely now and India has to set up a huge logistical arrangement.

On August 30, India occupied critical mountain heights like Rechin La, Rezang La, Mukpari, and Tabletop, that were unmanned till now, on the southern bank of the Pangong Lake. It also made some deployments near Blacktop also.

The deployment came after the Chinese tried to make a provocative military move. Now, dominance at these 13 peaks allows India to dominate Spangur Gap under Chinese control and also the Moldo garrison on the Chinese side.

The Indian Army now has to stock up winter items for around 35,000 extra troops deployed at the forward locations. Most of the friction points in Ladakh like Pangong Lake and Galwan Valley where the face-offs have occurred are 15,000 feet above the sea level.

Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria had, earlier this month, stated that India sees China digging in for the winter along the disputed border, and that India is taking action based on the ground realities.

Also Read-Study: Lockdown Improved Air Quality

-Top News

Nuclear capable Prithvi-II night trial successful

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 16 October 2020
No Comments on Nuclear capable Prithvi-II night trial successful

India on Friday successfully conducted another night trial of indigenously-developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II ballistic missile from a defence test facility off Odisha coast, DRDO sources said…reports India Daily News.

The short-range surface-to-surface missile was test-fired from the launching complex III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 7.30 p.m. as part of user trial by the Strategic Forces Command, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said.

India`s nuclear-capable missile Prithvi-II missile being launched from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea in Balasore, Odisha on Jan.7, 2014. The missile has a maximum range of 350 km and capability of carrying warheads of upto 1000 kgs was successfully tested for its full range.

This was the second successful night trial of Prithvi-II missile in less than a month.

Earlier, the Indian Army successfully conducted a night trial on September 23.

Prithvi-II is capable of attacking targets at a range of 350 km.

Also Read-Study: Lockdown Improved Air Quality

-Top News India News

‘Nation Fights Against Malnutrition Amid Covid’

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 16 October 2020
No Comments on ‘Nation Fights Against Malnutrition Amid Covid’

modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India has been providing free ration to about 80 crore poor for the last 7 to 8 months during coronavirus pandemic, which entails a cost of around Rs 1.5 lakh crore…

Modi said this after releasing a commemorative coin of Rs 75 denomination to mark the 75th anniversary of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The Prime Minister also dedicated 17 recently developed biofortified varieties of 8 crops to the nation.

“India is fighting a strong battle against malnutrition during Covid crisis with the help of farmers, anganwadi workers, scientists and ASHA workers.

Modi

“They are the basis of the movement against malnutrition. They have made us self- reliant with godowns full of food grains and also helping to reach out to the poor.

“After 2014, we have changed the approach and closed all silos and started working on multidimensional aspects and strategy,” the Prime Minister said

Modi said that Indian government was working to give more strength to the small farmers. “The government is working to give MSP that is 1.5 times the input cost.”

Modi also congratulated the FAO for receiving this year’s Nobel Peace Prize and thanked the agency for accepting India’s proposal for declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millet.

The journey of FAO in making the vulnerable classes and masses stronger, economically and nutritionally, has been unparalleled.

India has rolled out an ambitious POSHAN Abhiyaan to target over 100 million people to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anaemia, and low birth weight.

HODEIDAH, Sept. 28, 2018 (Xinhua) — A malnourished child lies on a bed at a hospital in Hodeidah city, Yemen, on Sept. 27, 2018. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed/IANS)

Malnutrition is a global problem with two billion people suffering from micronutrient deficiency. Nearly 45 per cent of deaths among children are linked to malnutrition.

The 17 new biofortified varieties of 8 crops dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister will have up to 3.0-fold increase in nutritional value.

These varieties, along with other food ingredients, will transform the normal Indian thali into ‘nutri-thali’. These varieties have been developed by utilising local varieties.

The high-zinc rice has been developed from landraces of Assam rice collected from Garo Hills and those of finger millets from Gujarat’s Dang district.

ICAR has started Nutri-Sensitive Agricultural Resources and Innovations (NARI) programme for promoting family farming linking agriculture to nutrition, nutri-smart villages for enhancing nutritional security and location specific nutrition garden models are being developed and promoted by KVKs to ensure access to locally available, healthy and diversified diet with adequate macro and micronutrients.

Patna: School students participate in an essay competition during a programme organised on the 135th birth anniversary of India’s first President Rajendra Prasad, in Patna on Dec 3, 2019. (Photo: IANS)

The production of bio-fortified crop varieties will be upscaled and linked with government programmes of midday meal, Anganwadi to reduce malnutrition and make India Kuposhan Mukta through naturally enriched food ingredients. This will also usher in higher income of farmers and will open new avenues of entrepreneurship development.

India has had long association with the FAO, with Indian Civil Service officer Binay Ranjan Sen acting as the Director General of FAO during 1956-1967. The World Food Programme, which has won the Nobel Peace Prize 2020, was established during his term.

India’s proposals for the International Year of Pulses in 2016 and the International Year of Millets 2023 have also been endorsed by FAO.

Also Read-Study: Lockdown Improved Air Quality

-Top News COVID-19

Ebola drug remdesivir ineffective against Covid-19: WHO

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 16 October 2020
No Comments on Ebola drug remdesivir ineffective against Covid-19: WHO

How remdesivir can save lives in nations with lower hospital capacity.

Trials with four drugs conducted among 11,000 patients in 30 countries “appeared to have little or no effect” on survival and on the progression of the disease among hospitalized patients…Reports Asian Lite News

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday dashed hopes that the Ebola drug remdesivir and three other existing medications could be useful tools against Covid-19.

The UN health agency’s Solidarity Trial involved remdesivir, the HIV treatment lopinavir/ritonavir, the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and Interferon, which was developed for multiple sclerosis, said dpa international.

The European Union had placed its bets on remdesivir. The European Commission announced a contract this month to secure additional supplies of the antiviral drug for up to 500,000 patients.

Despite questions about its effectiveness, remdesivir was the first drug to receive EU approval to treat severe cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

US President Donald Trump has received remdesivir as well as the anti-inflammatory medication dexamethasone and other drugs following his recent novel coronavirus infection, according to his doctors.

Although dexamethasone was not included in the WHO trials, it was shown to reduce mortality among hospitalized Covid-19 patients in a British study.

Also read:One in 10 in world may have had Covid 19: WHO

-Top News Arab News

Biden Presidency Ideal For Middle East Crude Oil Sector: Report

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 16 October 2020
No Comments on Biden Presidency Ideal For Middle East Crude Oil Sector: Report

Joe Biden.

A Biden presidency is likely to be a huge win for the Middle East to gain back the market share as it restricts shale production and can be supportive for crude oil prices.

According to a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services, for years, if not decades, OPEC members have been jousting for market share, which is, of course, the reason why the latest Saudi-Russia oil price war happened in the first place.

“A Biden presidency is likely to be a huge win for the Middle East to gain back the market share as it restricts shale production and can be supportive for crude oil prices,” the report said.

Talking about the OPEC approach, Trump would likely continue practicing Twitter oil diplomacy, which he started in his first term to urge OPEC plus producers to increase or cut supply during their meetings in Vienna. He takes credit for helping to negotiate an end to the March oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

“Under Biden, any US diplomacy toward OPEC might return behind the scenes. Antitrust legislation against OPEC would only see renewed interest if gasoline prices soar,” the report said.

Crude oil investors are facing a confused stance as US President Donald Trump’s presidency brings stability and Presidency under Joe Biden might bring uncertainty and more volatility in the market.

Prices can remain in levels of $45 as President Trump would like to keep prices at this level to make sure gasoline prices remain in control, which remains a main concern of taxpayers in U.S.

If U.S. voters decide to stay the course, the current push for energy dominance through increased drilling will continue. He is seen as a promoter of Shale which might put pressure as any stimulus and benefit to shale sector would lead to overproduction and more responsibility on OPEC plus to cut production and bring balance in the market.

Compared with a second term of the Trump administration, a Biden presidency could be a positive for U.S. oil and gas drillers because tougher regulations on hydraulic fracturing would likely reduce production, raising crude prices to levels of WTI $45-$55 in coming months after elections. If they elect a new president, the challenger has pledged to end new drilling on public lands and move toward a carbon-free future.

With his $2 trillion plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Joe Biden might seem a far-from-ideal president for the Texas oil and gas industry. Looks like for Crude oil to rally, markets are praying for Vice President Biden to win and bring back optimism in the market as demand recovery is stalling and it might take more months for crude demand to recover.

A Biden win will likely be an upward catalyst for oil prices because it will increase costs for shale patch and will likely result in a weaker U.S. dollar, the report said.

However, headwinds remains to this optimistic view that if sanctions are pulled off from Venezuela or Iran, they might re-emerge as a significant oil exporter, it might put pressure on prices and can force adjustment in production for the three big oil producers and likely a reduction in through cycle prices which can push additional pressure on prices and bring back glut fears and push prices to levels of $35.

Also Read: Oil prices decline as US crude stockpiles surge

Also Read: Challenges mar OPEC’s 60th anniversary

-Top News EU News UK News

UK Prepares For a No-Deal Brexit

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 16 October 2020
No Comments on UK Prepares For a No-Deal Brexit

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that as the European Union (EU) Summit in Brussels refused to offer London a Canada-style deal, Britain will prepare to embrace a no-trade deal scenario.

Johnson’s remarks came following the EU Summit discussions on Brexit on Thursday. EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said he will continue intensive talks in the coming weeks and the EU hopes to reach a deal with Britain, but not at any price, Xinhua news agency reported.

Johnson said Britain wanted nothing more complicated than a Canada-style relationship. But to judge by the latest EU summit in Brussels, that won’t work for the EU because they want the continued ability to control Britain’s legislative freedom and fisheries.

“And given that they have refused to negotiate seriously for much of the last few months, and given that this summit appears explicitly to rule out a Canada-style deal, I have concluded that we should get ready for January 1 (2021) with arrangements that are more like Australia’s based on simple principles of global free trade,” the Prime Minister said.

The Australia-style arrangement is an euphemism for failure to reach a free trade agreement with the EU, which means the Britain-EU trade will fall back on World Trade Organization (WTO) rules in 2021.

He called on British businesses, hauliers and travelers to get ready since there are only 10 weeks until the end of the transition period due on December 31, 2020.

Boris Johnson (L) meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in London (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua/IANS)

Johnson said Britain is willing to discuss the practicalities with the EU where a lot of progress has already been made, on such issues as social security, aviation, nuclear cooperation and so on.

“But for whatever reason it is clear from the summit that after (more than) 45 years of membership they are not willing — unless there is some fundamental change of approach — to offer this country the same terms as Canada,” he said.

Johnson said Britain will prepare to embrace the Australia-style arrangement with complete confidence, adding that Britain will prosper mightily as an independent free trading nation, controlling its own borders, fisheries, and setting its own laws.

Prior to the EU Summit, Johnson held a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. Both leaders had said an agreement needs to be struck in October to ensure there is enough time for ratification.

Meanwhile, Johnson and Macron also discussed the coronavirus crisis in their bilateral discussions as a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections was reported in their countries.

The discussion took place at a time when Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines to check the spread of the virus in the world.

Britain and the EU started their lengthy and bumpy post-Brexit talks in March after Britain ended its EU membership on Jan. 31, trying to secure a future trade deal before the Brexit transition period expires at the end of the year.

-Top News USA

Trump wants ‘honest election’ to leave peacefully

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 16 October 2020
No Comments on Trump wants ‘honest election’ to leave peacefully

United States President Donald Trump

Trump’s remarks came after less than a month after he had refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he did not win the election, while adding that the result would be challenged in court…Reports Asian Lite News

US President Donald Trump has said that he will accept a peaceful transfer of power following the November 3 election, but said he wanted an “honest election”.

“Peaceful transfer? I absolutely want that. But ideally, I don’t want to transfer, because I want to win,” The Hill news website quoted the President as saying during his NBC News tonw hall in Miami on Thursday night.

The Republican-majority Senate has already passed a resolution reaffirming its commitment to a peaceful transition of power.

Despite a change of heart, Trump on Thursday night accused Democrats of failing to participate in a peaceful transfer when they “spied heavily on my campaign” and “tried to take down a duly elected sitting President”.

“And then they talk about, ‘Will you accept a peaceful transfer?’. The answer is yes, I will. But I want it to be an honest election. And so does everybody else,” he added.

For months, Trump has slammed mail-in ballots, a preferred method of voting this year in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The President has suggested that he would win the election if there was no expansion of mail-in voting, which according to him are “rigged” or “fraudulent”.

Also read:Trump, Biden hold showdown in separate town halls

-Top News

India Aims To Promote Safe Healthy Food

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 16 October 2020
No Comments on India Aims To Promote Safe Healthy Food

Union Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan addresses at the launch of the National Clinical Registry for COVID-19, Vaccine Web Portal, Mobile Stroke Unit and ICMR-NIN Documents, at ICMR headquarters, in New Delhi on Sep 28, 2020. (Photo: IANS/PIB)

Union Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan (Photo: IANS/PIB)

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said that due to the unprecedented challenges faced by the world on account of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on food, nutrition, health, immunity and sustainability…reports India Daily News.

Presided over an event organised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to celebrate World Food Day, he said: The “FSSAI’s Eat Right India movement targets to promote safe and healthy food for everyone in an environmentally sustainable way. It is a part of its mandate to provide safe and wholesome food for all citizens. This will improve the food safety ecosystems and lift the hygiene and health of our citizens.”

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey also joined, via video conferencing, the event, whose theme this year’s event is “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together”.

Ashwini Kumar Choubey. (File Photo: Photo)

A key focus this year is elimination of trans fats from the food supply chain. A food toxin present in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVOs) (e.g. vanaspati, shortening, margarine, etc.), baked and fried foods, trans fat is a major contributor to the rise in non-communicable diseases in India.

Harsh Vardhan said: “Trans fat is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Eliminating CVD risk factor is especially relevant during Covid-19 as people with CVD are predisposed to have serious conditions having an impact on mortality.”

He reminded everyone of the government’s effort to make India trans fat free by 2022, a year ahead of WHO’s target, in synergy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a New India on 75 years of the country’s independence.

Reiterating the game changing potential of ‘Eat Right India’ and ‘Fit India Movement’, the Minister said: “These two movements along with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission and other efforts of the Environment Ministry will improve the health of Indians and heal the environment.”

Expressing his amazement at the marvels of the internet where curious citizens can look up things on the whole gamut of information available, he asked officials of FSSAI to promote awareness and consumer education leveraging technology so that informed citizens can make responsible choices.

Harsh Vardhan also launched the Eat Right Creativity Challenge for schools which is a poster and photography competition and aims to promote healthy dietary habits.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. (Photo: Facebook/@fssai)

He also launched the ‘Eat Smart City’ (challenge) by FSSAI in partnership with Smart City Mission and The Food Foundation, UK which will create an environment of right food practices and habits in India’s smart cities and can set an example for other cities to follow.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, FSSAI CEO Arun Singhal, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and FSSAI were present at the event.

State Food Safety Commissioners, Regional Directors and officers of FSSAI, professionals of scientific panel of oils and fats, officials of international public health organisations, the WHO, the World Bank, members of NePRoFaN – Network of Professionals of Food and Nutrition, prominent food business corporates, industry associations, implementation partners, development partners for Food Fortification were also invited to attend the event through video conference.

Also Read-Study: Lockdown Improved Air Quality