Day: June 27, 2020

Is Wearing a Face Mask All Summer Bad for Your Skin?

Look, no one wants to wear a face mask. But even as states open back up and the urge to forget COVID-19 ever happened becomes almost irresistible, it’s good to remember that wearing a mask in public places is not about you, it’s about keeping other people safe from a disease that has killed more than 115,000 people in the U.S. alone.

That said, if wearing a face mask has proved problematic in late winter and spring, it’s going to get much worse when the sweat, sunscreen and sweltering temperatures of summer come into play. You may have already dealt with an unfortunate bout of maskne (that’s mask acne, for people who aren’t keeping up on the new COVID lingo), but when you’re essentially creating a hot box around half your face, strange skin issues will follow.

To help you save face this summer, literally, we got in touch with Dr. Jaime Davis, Board Certified Dermatologist and Medical Director and CEO of Minnesota’s Uptown Dermatology and SkinSpa, who has already been dealing with these conditions among patients.

What sunscreen pairs best with a face mask? What materials should you avoid when buying one? And what issues should men, a generally dermatologically naive bunch, be aware of? Dr. Davis answered all these questions and more.

What kind of face mask should I wear in summer?

Before even talking about the type of mask, Dr. Davis pointed out that many issues are cropping up due to overuse. “Wear the mask when necessary, but remove it as soon as it is not necessary,” she said. “Try to avoid prolonged stretches of mask wearing.” This falls in line with current CDC guidelines that recommend “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.” Also, if you have severe breathing issues, it’s important to note that the CDC exempts you from that recommendation.

In terms of materials, Dr. Davis recommends masks with moisture-venting features, which it should be said does not mean cutting a hole in it. While she says that medical-grade options are the most protective, they’re also the most occlusive (in other words, they provide the tightest seal, which is good for stopping virus transmission but potentially bad for your skin); instead, she recommends homemade alternatives “made from tightly woven soft cotton fabric that has been washed in unscented soap, rinsed well of any residual detergent, and dried without fabric softener.”

I’ve developed a rash from my mask. What is it?

While you shouldn’t self-diagnose a rash or other skin irritation, one issue Dr. Davis has dealt with at her practice that people should be aware of is allergic reactions to face-mask materials. She points specifically to “the metal nose bridge (if nickel is in the alloy) or elastic (rubber allergy) or any textile-specific coatings on the fabric.” The nickel issue will be familiar to people who wear earrings or other jewelry, and may be more of a concern for people wearing medical or medical-style coverings.

If you think you’re experiencing an allergic skin reaction, be sure to seek out professional help from a dermatologist. Even if you’re nervous about venturing out to a doctor’s office, Dr. Davis notes that her Minneapolis practice has been offering e-visits which have been, in her words, “freaking fantastic!” She notes that insurance is covering the online sessions, care can be delivered quickly and there’s always the potential for an in-person follow-up, so check with your local dermatologist.

How do I avoid and treat maskne?

Not all acne is the same and it should not be treated the same; the same goes for maskne. Dr. Davis says she’s dealt with both acne rosacea (“inflammatory acne exacerbated by heat and humidity of occlusive masks”) and acne vulgaris (“pimples and plugs from excess oil”) in the current mask-wearing age, but notes people should seek a professional opinion if their acne doesn’t go away. If face wash isn’t part of your regular grooming arsenal, she says to use a mild cleanser like Cetaphil twice a day, which may solve your problem.

What sunscreens go well with masks?

The biggest conversation around sunscreen in recent years has been mineral versus chemical. Basically, chemical sunscreens are the most popular products you’ll find on shelves, available from companies like Banana Boat and Coppertone, but some of them are being banned because they’re unsafe for marine life. Mineral sunscreens are generally considered to be friendlier to oceans and the environment, but in terms of protecting you from skin cancer while wearing a mask, Dr. Davis says you’ll be better off with chemical versions.

“Mineral-based sunscreens sit on top of the skin and could be rubbed off by the mask. Chemical-based sunscreens absorb into the skin and generally provide longer-lasting protection,” she says. “Brands that are generally well tolerated by sensitive skin include Vanicream and Cetaphil.” If you have a favorite brand already, she suggests using SPF 30 or higher for normal daily use. And yes, you should be applying sunscreen on your face every day. However, Dr. Davis also notes that if you’re wearing a snug-fitting or tightly sealed mask, you could develop a sensitivity to the sunscreen.

If you do end up with an unfortunate mask-shaped sunburn, the dermatologist-recommended salve is a cool, moist compress on the burn over a thin layer of 1% Hydrocortisone cream, which is available over the counter at local drugstores.

What other skin issues should I be aware of?

If you’ve got facial hair, you may be having problems with beard folliculitis, which is basically inflammation or infection in the hair follicles, similar to razor bumps. Dr. Davis says men have been experiencing this issue when short whiskers get caught in masks as their facial hair grows out. To avoid it, she advocates for beard commitment: either let it grow out or keep a close shave. “It’s that five o’clock shadow or weekend of not shaving that is the stuff which gets caught and causes folliculitis,” she says.

In a similar vein, the last issue she’s noticed is seborrheic dermatitis, which is a condition that generally leads to dandruff on the scalp but can also manifest in dandruff of the face (yes, 2020 is only getting worse). Thankfully, the solution is generally simple. “People are skipping showers during the pandemic and we’re seeing a lot more dandruff,” Dr. Davis says. So to keep face dandruff at bay just do what she already recommended and wash your face at least once a day.

Copyright © 2020 InsideHook. All rights reserved.

How to be Your Own Best Friend When You’re Grieving

“This is a moment of suffering. Suffering is part of life. May I be kind to myself in this moment. May I give myself the compassion I need.” ~Kristen Neff

Understand your limitations, while gently pushing beyond them.


Being self-compassionate includes being self-aware and empathetic.

Include the people in your life who will help you regain your strength. And stay away from those who drain your energy.
Being self-compassionate includes minimizing the amount of time you spend with people who drain your energy. This is a great rule for us to follow at all times, but now it is even more important. You are running on empty both physically and emotionally, and you need take care of yourself first. Remember put your own oxygen mask on first!

Trust your intuition.

A friend who I had fallen out of touch with learned that I was navigating the death of my mother and my husband. The good news for me is that she had forgotten my address. I say that because she began bombarding me with messages about how she needed to come be with me. I needed someone to come take care of me, and I could not be by myself.

In the past, I had watched her method of taking care of others, and while she meant well and had a heart of gold, she was loud, and she was overbearing. Her way to take care of someone was to take over every aspect of their life. As an introvert, all I wanted was quiet. I could not imagine having someone in the house with me, telling me what was best for me.

Tell your inner critic to be quiet.


You would think that during a time such as this, your inner critic would just be quiet. But that’s not what inner critics do, is it? Your inner critic might be telling you things like:

“You should stop crying so much.”

“Why aren’t you crying more? What’s wrong with you?”

“You should be able to concentrate on your work.”

“You should be more productive.”

“You should, you should, you should…”

There is no such thing as should, there is only what is. Pay close attention to what you are feeling.

Don’t use self-compassion as an excuse for self-destruction.


Being self-compassionate is not a free pass to being self-destructive. It does not mean that it is okay to eat a pint of ice cream every day or to drink a pint of vodka every day. Keep an eye out for self-destructive behaviors.

You still have responsibilities, and you will handle those responsibilities. This is the time to really sort through the difference between what are nice things to do and what are required things for you to do. Paying your rent or your mortgage, let’s call that required. Going to an event because someone said it would be good for you, let’s call that optional.

Being self-compassionate does not mean you never do anything difficult. The day comes when you need to go back to work, or interact with the public, or attend social functions. Be aware of your limitations.

Keep an eye on yourself.


You are going to have days where all you want to do is stay under the covers. This is normal. Allow yourself a day to mope. However, do not allow yourself to spend seven days a week under the covers.

Most days you want to get out of bed at a normal time and get dressed. Groom yourself, whether you are leaving the house or not. Eat healthy meals. Resume your exercise routine. Keep in touch with the right people, the people who do not drain your energy.

If you are having severe difficulties getting up and getting dressed and handling day-to-day living, then get help. Seek out grief support groups and counseling. Ask trusted friends for help. Nobody said you had to go through this alone.

Allow grief to be a part of your life.


I found that I was able to return to instructing and also to attending classes within a week. On my way to teaching, I would cry in the car all the way to class. When I was in front of the class, I was able to concentrate on my students and, for that short period of time, I was able to forget about my sadness.

Once I left the classroom and got back in my car, I would cry all the way home. I learned to keep a good supply of tissues and eye makeup with me at all times. And I learned not to judge myself for needing to cry.

About two months after, I was scheduled to travel to teach a corporate class across the country. I went, because I thought it might be good for me to leave the house and because I believed that I could be sad anywhere.

I was right; in some ways it was good for me, and it was true, I could be sad anywhere. Living my life was not about denying the grief, it was about supporting myself in a way that I could get back to the business of living, and, for me, the business of living included making room for grieving.

Don’t impose an end date on your grief.


Even while I was teaching others how to plan and schedule and meet deadlines, I began to realize that there is no specific timeline for grief. There is no magic date on which your sadness expires. As you move forward your days will be different. Your grief will change from a sharp stabbing pain, to a dull ache. Do not let anyone tell you when you should ‘get over it.’ Everyone’s path is different.

Please be your own best friend.
You are the one who knows yourself the best. Be kind. Do not use your own self-talk to say things that you would not say to others. Your best friend is grieving, and he or she above all others deserves your compassion.

How USA plans to help India, corner China and the real story of Tibet`s repression

In order to counter Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), the US is reviewing its global deployment of forces in Asia by reducing them from Europe. 

New Delhi: Amid India-China border standoff along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, a threat of the Third World War appears to be looming large. The global community seems to have realised this but the United States is the first country to openly criticise China’s aggressive policies.

The US has officially stated that it is reviewing its global deployment of forces to counter the growing Chinese military threat to countries like India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this in response to a question during the virtual Brussels Forum 2020 of the German Marshall Fund on Thursday.

In order to counter China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the US is reviewing its global deployment of forces in Asia by reducing them from Europe. American military bases in many European countries were established to deal with the threat of Russia for years. Now, China and its Communist Party have emerged as the biggest threat to the world. Under the force posture review, the US is reducing the number of its troops in Germany from about 52,000 to 25,000.

China has been fast expanding military and economic influence in the strategic Indo-Pacific region, triggering concern in various countries of the region and beyond. China is currently engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. It has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs under its controls in the region.

Pompeo also said that China’s PLA was indulging in provocative military actions, while referring to the ongoing military standoff in eastern Ladakh where the PLA killed 20 Indian soldiers on June 15 during a violent face-off, and also cited China’s continued aggression in the South China Sea.

If there arises a situation of the Sino-India war, America may come out in support of India, but it would lead to the third world war. Then the countries like Pakistan and North Korea may side with China, while America, Japan, Australia along with India would oppose China’s aggression. Countries like Russia, however, may face the dilemma of choosing an old friend India or China.

The question arises why should such a situation come. Rather, the world should unite to question China against its expansionist policies and military activities, which if not stopped now, would create a crisis for the world.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s statement indicates at American strategy to encircle China, but the real siege of the Communist nation will be from Southeast Asia. America has taken the name of countries of this region, especially Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, which are facing the military wrath of China in the South China Sea.

The US entered into an agreement with the Philippines since 1988, while Vietnam has also come closer to the US amid threats from China and is getting the US Navy’s support in safeguarding its coastline. American defence cooperation with Indonesia and Malaysia has gradually increased, while in Singapore, the US has an agreement to use the latter’s Air and Naval bases.

If America’s military presence in these countries increases further, China is likely to be encircled from all the directions in case of any major confrontation. China is very aggressive in this region as well as in the ​​East China Sea. It had openly issued a military threat to Taiwan by sending its fighter jets, but Taiwan repulsed that move.

The US military does not have a permanent base in Taiwan, but it often comes here for training and patrolling. Currently, three US aircraft carriers are stationed near Taiwan. In the Asia-Pacific region, the US military bases are in South Korea and in Japan to deal with China and its friend North Korea.

In South Korea, over 28,000 troops of the US Army, Air Force, and Navy are already stationed. This region has about 15 small and large US military bases. In Japan, the US has about 23 small and large military bases with over 54,000 troops. The 7th largest fleet of the US Navy, with about 50 warships and 20,000 naval soldiers always remain ready in Japan.

Along with South Korea and Japan, about 5,000 US troops are permanently stationed in Guam, a small island, where the US Air Force has it base.

Meanwhile, China’s real expansionist face can be witnessed in the nations where it has established its authority. Tibet is one such nation that testifies the atrocities committed by the Communist Party of China and its ruthless army. People who ran away from the erstwhile Buddhist nation still remember those atrocities.

In Ladakh, Zee News visited one such village where the refugees, who fled from Tibet, now live there for years. They recall as to how China first enticed Tibetan people with ration and money and then grabbed their land, and destroyed their culture as well as places of worship.

President Lobsang Sangay of Tibet’s government in exile told Zee News how China and its army persecuted Tibetans even today, adding that 10 lakh Tibetans have so far been massacred and 98 percent of their monasteries have been ruined.

After the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959, 560 Tibetan citizens reached Ladakh. Currently, there are 7500 Tibetan refugees all over Ladakh. They lived in tents and camps until 1975 but were later settled in Angling, Choklamsar and Jangthang villages of Ladakh.

Although Tibetan refugees are grateful to India, they still aspire for the liberation of Tibet from China’s occupation.

 

Theory vs Practices : Super Conjunctive Comparison !!!!!!

I want to justify titles with several popular quotes-

Credit : Third Party Reference

“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is.” – Jan L.A. van de Snepscheut

“The people heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately practiced the contrary.” – Benjamin Franklin, The Way to Wealth.

“Theory is when you know everything but nothing works. Practice is when everything works but no one knows why. In our lab, theory and practice are combined: nothing works as and no one knows why!” – Anon.

“Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not tried it.” – Donald E. Knuth, The Art of Computer Programming

“At school, we learn the theory to do the practice, but they didn’t teach you that in real life you learn from the practice to know the theory.” – Goitsemang Mvula

“An economist is someone who says, when an idea works in practice, ‘let’s see if it works in theory.’” – Walter W. Heller

“Well, it may be all right in practice, but it will never work in theory.” – Warren Buffett on how the academia considers his investment techniques.

“I have a name for people who went to the extreme efficient market theory—which is “bonkers.” It was an intellectually consistent theory that enabled them to do pretty mathematics. So I understand its seductiveness to people with large mathematical gifts. It just had a difficulty in that the fundamental assumption did not tie properly to reality.” – Charlie Bonker

“Before I got married I had six theories about raising children; now, I have six children and no theories.” – John Wilmot.

“Very simple was my explanation, and plausible enough—as most wrong theories are!” — H.G. Wells, The Time Machine

“In Theory everything is possible; however, I live in Practice and the road to Theory has been washed out.” – Anon.

“In my relativity theory I set up a clock at every point in space, but in reality, I find it difficult to provide even one clock in my room.” – Albert Einstein

“If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.” – Albert Einstein

“A theory with mathematical beauty is more likely to be correct than an ugly one that fits some experimental data,” – Paul Dirac.

“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose yours.” – Harry S Truman.

“If Edison had a needle to find in a haystack, he would proceed at once with the diligence of the bee to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search… I was a sorry witness of such doings, knowing that a little theory and calculation would have saved him ninety per cent of his labor.” – Nikola Tesla, New York Times, 19 October 1931

“How empty is theory in the presence of fact!” – Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

“It doesn’t matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn’t matter how smart you are. If it doesn’t agree with experiment, it’s wrong.” – Richard P. Feynman.

Always remember, theory and practice are just theoretically related…

Reference – https://divyanshspacetech.wordpress.com

How Important Is Your Sleep?

Our lives are fast. Time does not wait for us and we do not wait for the time. Neither can catch up to each other. There are days when you have so much work and tasks to do that sleep feels like an impossible reality. You have to submit the report to your boss in the office, you have to pick up groceries from the market on your way home, you have to read a bedtime story to your kid and see that they complete their homework. There isn’t enough time left and you end up going to bed late and getting up early. And then there are days when you are determined to get your eight hours of sleep at any cost. You don’t mess around with unnecessary work and end up getting a good night’s sleep.

alarm

Sometimes sleep seems like a perfectly fine waste of time. Why should you spend close to one-third of your life sleeping when instead you could gear up and do something more useful? You could, after all, achieve great success in those lost hours. Not sleeping should be the thing responsible for your body, right?

This is the part where your brain tricks you. Sleep is essential for forming memories. It is responsible for your brain’s physiological maintenance. When your body is asleep, your brain is still awake acting like a mental janitor by clearing out all of the junk that has accumulated as a result of your daily thinking.

Here are a few reasons why should you make sleep a priority

  1. Fatigue: Sleep deprivation results in fatigue, low energy throughout the day, and poor concentration. You have an irritable mood and are inattentive.
  2. Immunity: Your immune system is more likely to break down when you have burned the candle at both ends. It can cause abnormal thyroid function and growth hormone secretion.
  3. Prediabetes: Sleep deprivation causes impaired glucose tolerance, or higher than normal blood sugar levels.
  4. Stress: Not having enough sleep causes elevated levels of cortisol (stress hormone). You are likely to have neurological disturbances including visual illusions, hallucinations, blurred vision, memory lapses, and droopy eyes.

sleepSo the next question automatically becomes how to make sleep a priority? Here are a few suggestions you could practice:

  1. Enticing bed routine: Our brain loves patterns. Save appropriate activities until the minutes leading up to bedtime. This signals your brain that sleep is on the horizons and your brain treats it as a reward.
  2. Streamlined and peaceful bedroom: By re-purposing your sleeping space you are tricking your brain, making it difficult to go to bed. Leave your gadgets, snacks, and work stuff out of the room for a blissful sleep.
  3. Consistent bedtime: Although easier said than done but try to maintain a consistent routine. Research shows that the most beneficial hormone secretions and bodily recovery occur between the hours of 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
  4. Sleep is an investment: The busier you are during the day, the less time you have to sleep. Re-prioritize your schedule and invest some hours in your sleep. A little extra sleep is instrumental in health and work benefits too.

Image Courtesy: GOOGLE

Google adds more security features, New users to benefits the Most

So Google adds more security features for new users. We all know that Google collects our statistics to make the user journey better. But that is simply the vibrant factor we are looking at. But no longer the security and privacy worry being raised. To make things extra impervious and better, Google has now determined to exchange the way it collects and save users’ data. Hence Google adds more security features. According to these features, it will now delete them by using default.

Google’s attempt for better security

The new Google privacy function will now auto-delete your place History, search, voice and YouTube undertaking records through default. This has been announced via a blog post. So, if you enable get entry to your area history, search history, and extra data, you will be capable to allow the auto-delete alternative. All can be done from the Activity settings. However, if you have already finished that, your settings won’t trade. But instead, Google will give you a regular reminder about the auto-delete controls. By this, you can change them each time and also alternate them every time you desire.

Announcement

Alphabet and Google Sundar Pichai have announced new security improvements. It will keep your information safe. This includes adjustments to its statistics reservation practices throughout core merchandise. This is necessary because it holds much less information by way of default.
Location History is off by default. Your auto-delete option will be set to 18 months by default when you first turn it on. This is starting from today itself.
Web and App Activity auto-delete will also default to 18 months for new accounts.

Flip the setting

“It simply indicates the data will be assembled through all the actions you do. It will then mechanically and continuously deleted right after 18 months. This will be done as a substitute than stored until you select to delete it.
“You can continually flip these settings off. And even trade your auto-delete option as well,” Pichai stated in a statement late Wednesday.

Auto-delete control

Google final the latest year to gave rise to auto-delete controls. This control gives customers the desire to have Google robotically. And it can help continuously delete Location History, search, voice and YouTube history. But it may take from 3 t0 18 months. Google says it’s only possible when location and web history are turned on.

“But we will keep reminding you about the auto-delete controls. This can be done via in-product notifications and emails. Hence you can choose the auto-delete setting that works for you,” stated Pichai.

On YouTube, auto-delete will be set to 36 months via default. But this is only if you create a new account or turn on your YouTube History for the first time.
Current customers can, however, choose the 3 or 18 months auto-delete option.

Is this also applicable for Gmail and Drive?

“Default retention periods will now not follow to other products like Gmail, Drive and photos,” stated Pichai.
Google stated it will make it simpler to access key Google Account controls from Search.

Soon, when you’re signed in to your Google Account, you’ll be able to search for matters. This may include “Google Privacy Check-up” and “Is my Google Account secure?” And discipline only viewed to you will exhibit your privateness and protection settings. This is important so that you can except issues assessment or alter them.

Access to Incognito mode

“We’re also making it less complicated to access Incognito mode in our most popular apps, with the aid of long-pressing on your profile picture in Search, Maps and YouTube,” stated Pichai.

It’s on hand on the Google App for iOS and coming quickly to Android and different apps.

We’re also in progress to make it work to continue to be in Incognito mode. This would be available across Google apps, like Maps and YouTube, and will have greater to share soon,” he added.
Each year, extra than 200 million human beings go to privacy Checkup.
The organization is increasing it to new programming languages entirely of Java and Go. And also releasing additional tools to assist builders to use machine getting to know to beautify privateness protections.

Upcoming features

Furthermore, Google will make Password Checkup (the tool to be aware of if your password has been compromised) a part of Security Checkup (the device to shield your Google account). They will continue to invest in the privacy and security of the users. Google adds more security features will help more in securing our privacy. Already added features as well as the upcoming features, is the parts by which we can take a breath of relaxation for the security of our data.

Three Things Not to Do When Applying for a Job

Once we earn our college degree, the next step for most of us is to start applying for jobs. All the papers, exams and countless hours spent in classes have prepared us to take the first steps towards our dream career. The job search can be stressful, but avoiding these three pitfalls will help you stand out from the other applicants:

Skipping over the application.

If an organization requests that you complete an application, make sure you take the time to complete it. Simply attaching a resume or writing “please see resume” in the application blanks is not sufficient and will send you straight to the “No” pile. Applications allow the employer – particularly the human resources department – to control which information is provided so that they can streamline the reviewing process. However, resumes put control in the hands of applicants, who often provide information that is unnecessary or disorganized. The more the reviewer has to work to find relevant information, the less likely it is you will get an interview. You can still attach your resume, but the completed application is the first thing the organization will look at when they decide who to interview. 

Hounding the organization. 

You submitted your completed application by the deadline, but you haven’t heard anything. What do you do? One thing you don’t want to do is call the organization several times a week to find out when you’re going to be interviewed. The hiring process takes time, especially when an organization receives hundreds of applications for a single position. Calling once a week to check on your application is appropriate, but calling more frequently is considered hounding – even harassing – and it isn’t going to reflect favorably on you or increase your chances of being hired.

Making a bad impression.

There are several moments throughout the job application process where it is crucial that you make a good impression. If you are attending a networking event, make sure you dress appropriately and conduct yourself professionally because you never know if you will meet a future employer. If you submitted an online job application, an employer would likely request a phone interview before bringing you in to meet the hiring manager. Don’t take the call if you’re in the middle of something else; instead, make an appointment for when you will be available to talk without distractions. If you are lucky enough to get an in-person interview, remember that you are essentially being interviewed by everyone in the organization, from the hiring manager to the secretary. First impressions matter, even when you’re chatting with someone who doesn’t seem to have any authority in the hiring process, such as the receptionist. Be friendly, professional and engaged when you meet your potential future colleagues.
Starting the job hunt isn’t easy, but paying attention to the little things will make a difference. Observe the old saying of “crossing your t’s and dotting your i’s” in regard to your application and/or resume, hold back on the frequency with which you contact the organization regarding your application, and project a professional and friendly image when interacting with anyone associated with the company. These are all ways that you can make a favorable impression, increase your chances of getting an interview and land your dream job.
Jack McCallum has been with the online business department at Herzing University since 2011. When not teaching, she serves as the President/Principal Consultant for HR Balance LLC, a consulting company specializing in human resources management, organizational development, leadership coaching, and training/development. She started HR Balance LLC in 2003 after years of serving in a leadership capacity for a variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations. A keynote speaker and presenter, Jack has served as an industry expert for radio and print media.

>Coronavirus update: Record 18,500 new cases in India in 24 hours, 2.9 lakh cured so far

Coronavirus cases in the country have breached the 5 lakh-mark after India registered 18,552 new cases in the last 24 hours. The new cases have crossed the previous record of 17,296 that was registered on Friday. The total number of people in India who tested positive for coronavirus has reached 5,08,953.

The current total includes 1,97,387 active cases. 2,95,881 Covid-19 cases have been cured or discharged from the hospital. The total recovery now stands at 58.13%. The death tally has also increased to 15,685.

Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state in the country with 1,52,765 cases. Out of the total cases in the state, 79,815 have recovered from the coronavirus disease and 65,844 are still active. The state has reported a total of 7,106 deaths so far.

The national capital is second in terms of total cases. Delhi’s Covid-19 tally now stands at 77,240. The capital has registered 2,492 deaths, so far and 47,091 have recovered out of it. The tally of active cases stands at 27,657.

Delhi Chief Minister conducted a press conference on Friday claiming that the current situation in the capital is under control. He also claimed that the testing rate has been increased by three times.

Tamil Nadu has reported 74,622 total cases of coronavirus and the death tally in the state has grown to 957. Out of the total cases in the state, 32,308 are active and 41,357 have recovered.

Globally, the Covid-19 cases have increased to over 9.4 million and the death toll has reached over 4,80,000, as per the World Health Organisation on Friday. The total increase in cases was over 1,77,000 in 24 hours and the deaths over the same period were reported at 5,116. The United States continues to be the worst affected country with over 4.7 million cases. Brazil is the second-worst affected country with over 1.1 million positive cases. India is fourth in the list.

 

High-level GoM meeting on Covid19 chaired by Health Minister to be held in New Delhi today

The meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers, GoM on COVID-19 chaired by Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, will be held in New Delhi today.
 
The GoM will be briefed about the latest status, response and management of COVID-19 in the country. The GOM is expected to be briefed on the progress made in the spheres of the tasks assigned to the 11 Empowered Groups.
 
It will also be apprised about the growing medical infrastructure in the country.
 
The Group of Ministers (GoM) will have in depth deliberation on containment strategy and management aspects of COVID-19.
 
External Affairs Minister, Civil Aviation Minister, Minister of State for Home, Minister of State for Shipping and Chemical and Fertilizers, Minister of State for Health are part of the GoM. Chief of Defence Staff is also part of it.

Dispassionate scrutiny and reform of all multilateral entities needed: EAM Dr S Jaishankar

Asserting that the world stands at a transformative moment, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has said that a dispassionate scrutiny and reform of all multilateral entities were needed to make them purpose-built for the current times and representative of this century.
 
Addressing a virtual ministerial meeting of Alliance for Multilateralism yesterday, Dr Jaishankar said, it is an empirical fact that every process and institution must evolve to meet the needs of its time. He said, no institution, howsoever important, can remain frozen at the moment of its foundation.
 
The Minister said, this is why India continue to call for reformed multilateralism – one that is relevant for the age in which we live, not when this architecture was erected. He said, our Alliance must stand for a dynamic multilateralism, for a purposeful reform of existing structures, which must continue to serve the international community even more in this complex and uncertain time.
 
Dr Jaishankar said, the world is facing a two-pronged attack of a pandemic and misinformation going viral. He said, in other words, this is an era of both a health crisis and an infodemic.
 
The Minister said, the pandemic has devastated the globalised economic system, apart from taking a toll of over 4 lakh lives and it has fundamentally affected the way people live, work, travel and indeed, relate to each other. He said, suspicion of human interaction is fuelled, more often than not, by fake news, wrong information and targetted disinformation.
 
Dr Jaishankar asserted that the way forward to address both the challenges is similar and said that there is a need to strengthen the belief in scientific approaches. He said, we must set aside politics and focus on facts-whether it is the effort to dispassionately analyse the causes and drivers of the current coronavirus pandemic, or to assess what changes our multilateral health mechanisms need to implement to improve preparations for a future pandemic.
 
Dr Jaishankar said, the Resolution adopted at the World Health Assembly last month is an opportunity to use facts and science to assess our response to this pandemic and take those lessons to prepare better for the future. The Minister said, as Chair of the WHO Executive Board, India is ready to work towards these goals.
 
He said, there is a need to restore the faith in meaningful and equal partnerships. Dr Jaishankar said, trust, partnership and cooperation draw people, societies and countries together especially during crises, particularly when fake news and disease engender isolationism and unilateralism. He said, in this context, India is pleased to be part of cross-regional group presenting a Statement on the ongoing ‘Infodemic’ in the context of COVID-19 at the UN.
 
The “Alliance for Multilateralism” launched by the French and German foreign ministers is an informal network of countries united in their conviction that a rules-based multilateral order is the only reliable guarantee for international stability and peace.

Southwest monsoon covers entire country, 12 days ahead of its normal date

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that Southwest Monsoon has covered the entire country. The normal date for Monsoon to cover entire country is 8th July. IMD said, the Monsoon this year covered the entire country 12 days prior to normal date.
 
In the recent past, such early coverage of Monsoon over the entire country occurred in 2013 when it covered the entire country on 16th June 2013. The early advance over the central and northwest India was facilitated by formation of a low pressure area over Bay of Bengal which moved west-northwestwards and another cyclonic circulation over central India.
 
IMD said, Monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab. During past 24 hours, there has been fairly widespread rainfall activity over West Rajasthan and adjoining Punjab and Haryana.
 

Serological survey begins today in Delhi amid rising of corona cases

The serological survey in Delhi will begin today and it will be carried out jointly by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Delhi Government. Training of all the concerned survey teams was completed on Thursday.
 
AIR correspondent reports that this survey will be conducted in all the districts of Delhi to understand the proportion of population exposed to corona infection.
 
Two age categorizations have been set to conduct the survey, one is for below 18 years of age group and another for above 18 years.
 
Depending upon the level of sero-prevalence of infection, appropriate public health interventions can be planned and implemented for prevention and control of the disease.
 
As per the Indian Council of Medical Research, periodic sero-surveys are useful to guide the policy makers to conduct surveys in high risk areas or vulnerable population who have been infected in the past and has now recovered.
 
The survey will involve collection of blood samples from randomly selected individuals. Blood samples will be collected for detecting IgG antibodies and it would be conducted using an IgG ELISA kit

Recovery rate of Covid-19 patients improves to over 58%; Exceeds active cases by more than 96,000

Government has said that the recovered cases of COVID-19 has exceeded the active cases by more than 96 thousand. Health Ministry said, the graded, pre-emptive and pro-active steps taken by the Centre along with the States and Union territories for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19 are showing encouraging results.
 
During the last 24 hours, a total of 13 thousand 940 COVID-19 patients have been cured, taking the cumulative figure to two lakh 85 thousand 636.
 
The Ministry said, the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients has reached 58.24 per cent. Presently, there are over one lakh 89 thousand active cases and all are under active medical supervision.
 
The Ministry said, ICMR has inducted 11 new labs in the last 24 hours. India now has one thousand 16 diagnostic labs dedicated to COVID-19. This includes 737 in the government sector and 279 private labs.
 
The numbers of samples tested every day continues to steadily grow. During the past 24 hours, over two lakh 15 thousand tests have been conducted in the labs. The total number of samples tested is over 77 lakh.

India warns China against attempts to alter status quo along LAC

India has warned China that trying to alter the status quo on the ground by resorting to force will damage the peace that existed on the border areas. In an interview to a news agency, India’s ambassador to China Vikram Misri said that Chinese attempt to alter status quo can also have “ripples and repercussions” in the broader bilateral relationship. He said that actions taken by the Chinese forces on the ground have damaged “considerable trust” in the bilateral relationship and demanded that Beijing stop its activities in eastern Ladakh.
 
Mr Misri said, it is entirely the responsibility of the Chinese side to take a careful view of the relations and to decide which direction the ties should move. He said, maintenance of peace and tranquillity on the border is essential for progress in the rest of bilateral relationship between India and China.
 
Indian envoy said Chinese side needs to stop creating obstruction and hindrances in the normal patrolling patterns of the Indian troops. He also rubbished China’s claim of sovereignty over Galwan Valley in Ladakh as “completely untenable”, and asserted that these kinds of exaggerated claims are not going to help the situation.
 

PM says Atma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Abhiyan to provide employment opportunities to migrant workers, promote local entrepreneurship

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Aatma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Abhiyan will providing employment opportunities to migrant workers and promote local entrepreneurship. Mr Modi yesterday inaugurated Aatma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Abhiyan through video conferencing.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi said that UP will benefit immensely from clusters of industries being created to promote such local products across the country under the AatmaNirbhar Rojgar Abhiyan.

Prime Minister said that everyone will be able to surpass the difficulties owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic. He stressed that until a vaccine is found, maintaining Do Gaj ki Doori, covering the face with the mask are the best precautions.

PM expressed satisfaction in the manner in which Uttar Pradesh has turned the disaster into an opportunity, the way people were engaged during this pandemic. He said that other states will also get to learn a lot from ‘AatmaNirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Abhiyan’ and will be inspired by it.

The PM lauded the courage and wisdom shown by Uttar Pradesh, when Corona is in such a major crisis in the world. He said that the way the state succeeded and the way it handled the situation is unprecedented and is praiseworthy.

Mr Modi praised the contribution of doctors, parameds, sanitation staff, police, ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, banks and post offices, transport services and workers in UP.

The Prime Minister lauded the Government of UP making efforts to bring back the migrant labour belonging to the state, by facilitating hundreds of Shramik Express Trains.

He said that more than 30 lakh migrant labor from all over the country returned to their villages in UP in the last few weeks.

The Prime Minister said that the Chief Minister of UP understood the seriousness of the situation and his government worked on a war footing in view of this situation.

The Prime Minister praised the UP government for their unprecedented work in ensuring that the poor don’t go hungry. He said the UP Government acted very promptly in providing free rations to the poor and the migrant labor under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

This was provided for those even without ration cards. He said that in addition to this, about 5 thousand crore rupees were also directly transferred to the Jan Dhan account of 75 Lakh poor women of Uttar Pradesh.