Month: June 2020

Rs 90,000 crore to be spent more on providing free ration to poor for five more months, says PM Modi

@narendramodiPrime Minister Narendra Modi today announced free food grains to 80 crore people across the country for five more months.  

The Prime Minister  Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana has been extended  till the end of November this year.

Under the scheme announced in the wake of COVID- 19 pandemic, 5 kg free wheat or rice along with 1 kg whole chana will be provided to each member of a family per month.  Its  extension will cost over Rs. 90 thousand crore.
Addressing the nation Tuesday evening, Mr. Modi noted that in the last three months,  Rs. 31 thousand  crore have been transferred to the Jan Dhan accounts of almost 20 crore poor families, Rs. 18 thousand  crore have been transferred to the bank accounts of more than 9 crore farmers and Rs. 50 thousand crore are being spent on PM Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, which has been started to provide employment opportunities.

He stressed that the country is moving towards the institution of ‘one nation, one ration card’, which will be of immense benefit to the poor who travel to other states in search of work.

Mr. Modi said, if one  looks at the death rate due to corona, India is still in a very stable situation  as compared to other countries.  

The Prime Minister added that timely measures like lockdown have saved many lives. Mr. Modi, however, said  ever since unlock one started, people have shown negligence.

He urged  them to take all necessary precautions for fighting novel Coronavirus.  

He also said, regulations need to be followed with the same seriousness as during Lockdown, especially in the Containment Zones.

The Prime Minister added that people  must maintain discipline and those   not following the rules, need to be stopped and made aware.  He warned that nobody is above the rule.

Mr. Modi  also hailed farmers and honest tax payers for their contribution in making the welfare scheme successful.  

The Prime Minister said that in the coming times, the government will continue to take further steps to empower the poor and the needy. Economic activities will also be enhanced, with due precautions in place.

He reiterated the pledge to work towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and to be vocal for local, while also asking people to be careful, use mask and face cover and continue following the mantra of maintaining do gaz doori.

Mr. Modi said, the country is entering in Unlock 2  and the season of cough, fever and cold is also about to start and in such a situation the countrymen should  take care of themselves.

Today, if the government is able to provide free food grains to the poor & the needy, the credit goes to two sections. First, the hardworking farmers of our country and second, the honest taxpayers. I thank you from my heart: PM Modi

The ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme will benefit those poor people who leave their village and go elsewhere for employment or other needs: PM @narendramodi

Sagarmediainc :

Free food scheme for the poor

Expansion of Garib Kalyaan Anna Yojna.

Poor to Get free Ration every month per family up to November.

Scheme to cost 1.5 L Cr. 5kg wheat/ rice free per family.

Scheme extended till November.

One Nation One Ration card

PM Modi address to nation steps taken to help poor during the Corona crisis.

PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana will be extended until November end, extension to cost over Rs 90,000 crore: PM Narendra

PM Modi address counts on,

Adhere Lockdown guidelines with utmost diligence.

Centre free food 90KCr.

PM Garib Anna Yohjna.

Festival time poor free food.

One Nation. One Ration card.

PM lauds honest tax payer.

Under PM Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana, Government will provide free ration to 80 crore poor brothers-sisters for next five months. Every member of the family will get 5 kg wheat or rice. Also, every family will get one kilogram whole chana per month, free of cost: PM Modi

#Sagarmediainc.updated 2.50 PM

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam has said that the national security law will not undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy.

Carrie Lam added that Hong Kong was not afraid of the possible sanctions that the United States is prepared to impose over the city’s new security law.

“No sanctions can scare us, we are psychologically prepared,” Lam said at a briefing, adding that many of the city’s industries using these dual-use products are likely to find an alternative, and the restrictions will have with little impact on Hong Kong.Sputnik input.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam refused to answer reporters’ questions on the passing of the law at a weekly press conference ahead of her Executive Council meeting, saying it would be inappropriate for her to comment.

US Senate passed a bill that would put sanctions on Chinese officials, businesses and banks that erode the autonomy of Hong Kong

Trump administration put new restrictions on high-tech exports to the territory.

China parliament passes national security law for Hongkong.

Apex court not to be in Hongkong.

US UK EU UN voice fear autonomy to Hongkong.

State-run Xinhua News Agency reported initial details of the draft last Saturday, including plans to establish a Beijing-led national security bureau in Hong Kong, empowering the chief executive with the ability to select judges to handle national security crimes whilst giving Chinese authorities jurisdiction in such cases.

Philip Dykes Hongkong bar chair said law would undermine city freedom. International community on say analytical the UK intervention is important, still to be public. CNN

Noteworthy to note, the content of the legislation has yet to be disclosed in full, leaving local officials in the dark.

Hongkong Tweet describe ,Hong Kong streets quiet despite calls for protests over China‘s National Security Law, passed unanimously without any input from the HK gov’t. It seems this new law — and the threat of massive punishments — may already be having a chilling effect

Victoria into the another lockdown and was the last to lift restrictions and ten postcode got a second lock after hybrid spike.

Victoria registered 75 new cases of #COVID19 yesterday.

Victoria suburbs 37,000 doors have been knocked on by public health authorities, particularly in the state’s 10 hotspot suburbs.

“There have been some 233 new cases of coronavirus since last Thursday, since that testing blitz began,” he said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has put 10 suburbs in lockdown due to the outbreak of #COVID19 in the state.

andrew_lund. Local lockdowns will take effect from 11:59pm tomorrow. Stay at home restrictions in place until July 29 in postcodes 3038, 3064, 3047, 3060, 3012, 3032, 3055, 3042, 3021 and 3046.

“That is an unacceptably high number and one that poses a real threat to all of us, not just in those hot spot suburbs but indeed in every suburb and ultimately every community across our state.”

The suburbs with the highest number of new cases were Broadmeadows, Fawkner and Albanvale. 9news report

India Govt bans 59 mobile apps including TikTok, Helo, WeChat prejudicial to sovereignty & integrity of India.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian reacts to India banning Chinese apps: “China is strongly concerned, verifying the situation,” he said. 

#Sagarmediainc

India bans 59 Chinese apps including Helo, WeChat and Tiktok. Economic strike to China Rail Road project shelved Huawei 5G to be avoided.

Government has banned 59 mobile apps which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.

Believe it or not, TikTok on Tuesday said it is in the process of complying with the government’s order on blocking of the app, and asserted that it has not shared information of Indian users with any foreign government, including that of China.   

Electronics and IT Ministry said in a release that these apps were banned in view of information available they are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of the country, defence of the country and security of state and public order.

The banned apps include TikTok, Helo and WeChat.

Over the last few years, India has emerged as a leading innovator when it comes to technological advancements and a primary market in the digital space.

At the same time, there have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of the country.

The Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.

The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these malicious apps.

This Ministry has also received many representations raising concerns from citizens regarding security of data and risk to privacy relating to operation of certain apps.

The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) has also received many representations from citizens regarding security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon public order issues.

Likewise, there have been similar bipartisan concerns, flagged by various public representatives, both outside and inside the Parliament of India.

There has been a strong chorus in the public space to take strict action against Apps that harm India’s sovereignty as well as the privacy of our citizens.

On the basis of these and upon receiving of recent credible inputs that such Apps pose threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, government has decided to disallow the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices.

Is it easier for trillion FB user to check hate speech with such calibrated strength as EU doing on E TV channels or internet users. An early check could be plausible but as users spike check is tough.

Mark Zuckerberg just became $7.2 billion poorer after a series of companies pulled advertising from Facebook’s network.

Disney, ProcterGamble, Walmart, ATT, Cricketnation, sprint, Nytimes Amazon, Reebok,Bestbuy,HP.

Major companies HomeDepot, Clorox, Adidas Ford, Starbucks, Verizon, Honda’s U.S. division, Patagonia, The North Face, REI, Hershey, pfizer, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, have publicly joined the boycott, to Adv.in Facebook network.

FB unclear what affected bottom line boycott.

Hershey’s chief marketing officer, Jill Baskin, said the chocolate maker is joining the July boycott of Facebook and cutting its ad spending on the social network by a third for the rest of 2020. 

More than 90 brands are halting advertising on Facebook in July in a campaign to force the company to crack down on harmful content. Unilever is going further by doing so “through the end of the year” and extending its boycott to Twitter.

Facebook $56 billion wiped off its market value on Friday after major advertisers said they would be boycotting the social network.

Metro Rail services, Schools, Colleges, Cinemas and Gyms to remain closed till the July 31.

Centre has issued new guidelines for Unlock -2 to open up more activities in areas outside the Containment Zones. The new guidelines will come into effect from tomorrow and the process of phased re-opening of activities has been extended further. It said, the lockdown will continue to be implemented strictly in the Containment Zones till 31st of July this year. The Home Ministry has said that the new guidelines are based on feedback received from States and UTs, and extensive consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments.

Under the new guidelines of Unlock -2, Metro Rail service, operation of Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will not be allowed. Similarly, social, political, sports, entertainment,  academic,  cultural and religious functions and other large congregations will not be permitted. The Ministry said, dates for opening of these will be decided separately, based on the assessment of the situation. It said, all  activities, except these will be permitted outside containment zones. The Ministry said,  after extensive consultations with States and Union Territories, it has been decided that schools, colleges and coaching institutions will remain closed till 31st of July.

As per the guidelines, night curfew timings are being further relaxed and curfew shall be in force from 10  PM to 5 AM. Further, relaxations in night curfew have been given for seamless operation of industrial units in multiple shifts, movement of persons and goods on National and State Highways, loading and unloading of cargo and movement of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and airplanes. It said, domestic flights and passenger trains have already been allowed in a limited manner and their operations will be further expanded in a calibrated manner.

It said, shops depending upon their area, can have more than 5 persons at a time. However, they have to maintain adequate physical distance.

Training institutions of the Central and State Governments will be allowed to function with effect from 15th of July.  SOP in this regard will be issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.

International air travel of passengers has been permitted in a limited manner under the Vande Bharat mission.  Further opening up will take place in a calibrated manner. The guidelines said, containment Zones are required to be carefully demarcated by the State Governments with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19, after taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the Health  Ministry. Within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and only essential activities allowed.

These Containment Zones will be notified on the websites of the concerned District Collectors and by the States and information will also be shared with the Union Health Ministry. 

Greece will begin re-opening to international travelers on July,01.

Greece won’t allow direct flights from UK, Sweden until July 15

 

On 28 April, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a relaxation of lockdown measures in the weeks ahead, with a particular focus on opening up the country for the summer.

Tourism accounts for about 25% of Greek GDP, and one in five jobs.

Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis visits the archaeological museum of Santorini, following the easing of measures against the coronavirus disease, on the island of Santorini, Greece.

Direct flights from Britain and Sweden to Greece will not be allowed until July 15, Greek authorities said on Monday. They will also use EU guidelines to determine which countries were considered at high risk of spreading the novel coronavirus.

British holidaymakers are a primary market for the Greek tourism sector, which is facing a plunge in bookings due to the pandemic.

Greece reopened its main airports in Athens and Thessaloniki to more international flights on June 15, and will reopen all others on July 1. While flights from most European destinations will be permitted from that date. “The whole process of opening up is dynamic, and there will be a continuous review of the situation,” Reuters quoted Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as saying.

Earlier this month, Sweden said it would lift its advice against non-essential travel to Greece and nine other European countries from June 30.

Boat sinks in Buriganga near Dhaka

At least 28 people are reported dead as a passenger vessel sank in Buriganga river near the Shyambazar area of Dhaka on Monday morning. The official news agency BSS reported that the search and rescue operations are continuing even while 28 bodies have been recovered so far from the river.

According to the Fire Service official involved in the rescue work, the Dhaka bound launch from Munshiganj sank after hitting another river vehicle around 9.30 in the morning on Monday. The passenger launch was carrying more than 50 people.

Rescue operation is being conducted by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), fire service, river police, coast guard and Bangladesh Navy’s diving team