Month: December 2020

India’s COVID-19 recovery rate improves to 95.83%

The country’s COVID-19 recovery rate has reached to 95.83 per cent. During the last 24 hours, more than 21 thousand COVID patients have recovered.

Health Ministry said, the total number of recoveries has gone up to over 97 lakh 82 thousand.

The actual caseload currently comprises only 2.72 per cent of the total positive cases. Presently, the total number of active cases in the country is around two lakh 77 thousand.

During the past 24 hours, 20 thousand 21 new cases were reported taking the total number of positive cases in the country to over one crore two lakh.

The Ministry said, that effective implementation of the strategic and graded Test, Track and Treat approach has led to higher recoveries and lower fatality.

Currently, India’s Case Fatality Rate is at 1.45 per cent, which is one of the lowest globally. During the last 24 hours, 279 deaths were reported taking the toll to one lakh 47 thousand 901.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research, more than seven lakh 15 thousand tests were conducted during the last 24 hours.

The total number of samples tested so far has reached 16 crore 88 lakh.

Centre to hold another round of talks with farmer unions tomorrow

The Central Government has invited the protesting farmer unions for talks tomorrow to end the impasse over the three farm laws.

This will be the sixth round of talks between the government and farmers to end the deadlock.

The Centre had written to the 40 protesting farmer unions and invited them for talks.

Apart from the farm laws, discussions will be held on MSP and on legislations related to air quality and the electricity.

Kisan Rail service is measure to increase farmers’ income: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off the 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal through video conferencing on Monday.

In his address, Mr Modi said, Kisan Rail service is a measure to increase the income of the farmers and it will bring a big change in the economy related to farming.

He said, it will also increase the strength of country’s cold supply chain. The Prime Minister said, it shows the commitment of the government to serve the farmers.

He said, it is also proof, how fast our farmers are ready for new possibilities. Mr Modi said, Kisan Rail and Krishi Udan have a big role for farmers so that they can sell their crops in others states. 

He said, new technologies are being incorporated into Indian agriculture. The Prime Minister said, government is giving priority to storage linked infrastructure and processing industries associated with value addition in farming products.

The Prime Minister said, a facility like Kisan Rail has given millions of small farmers of West Bengal a huge facility.

PM Modi to inaugurate New Bhaupur-New Khurja section of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the New Bhaupur-New Khurja section of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, EDFC  at 11 AM today  through video conferencing.

The 351-kilometre New Bhaupur- New Khurja section of EDFC is situated in Uttar Pradesh and is built at a cost of Rs. 5,750 crore.

The section will open new vistas of opportunity for the local industries such as aluminium industry in Kanpur Dehat district, dairy sector in Auraiya, textile production in Etawah, glassware industry in Firozabad and locks and hardware in Aligarh district.

The section will decongest the existing Kanpur-Delhi main line and will enable Indian Railways to run faster trains.

During the event, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate EDFC’s Operation Control Centre (OCC) at Prayagraj.

This will act as the command centre for the entire route length of the EDFC.

The Centre is one of the largest structures of its type globally, with modern interiors, ergonomic design and best-in-class acoustics.

ARYA RAJENDRAN: YOUNGEST MAYOR IN THE HISTORY OF INDIA

On Monday 28th December 2020, Arya Rajendran a 21-year-old graduate student from Kerala created history becoming the youngest Mayor in the country. She was elected as the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram corporation, the largest urban body in Kerala. Arya, a second-year BSc Mathematicss student of the All Saints College here, won from the Mudavanmughal ward of the city corporation, bagging 2,872 votes, 549 more than the rival Congress candidate. The Thiruvananthapuram district secretariat of the ruling CPI(M) had recommended Arya Rajendran’s name for the post of Mayor as two of their Mayor candidates of CPI(M) failed to win the election from their respective wards. After she was elected Mayor, Arya took the oath administered by  Collector Navjot Khosa inside the closely packed council hall of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

Arya Rajendran began her political journey as a child activist in Balasangam, the children’s wing of CPI(M) in Kerala. At present, she is the state president of Balasangam and state committee member of Student’s Federation of India (SFI). 

As a staunch party activist hailing from a hardcore Marxist family, she said: “I have faced the election with confidence and courage. I am ready to shoulder any responsibility entrusted with me by my party. My dream is to take forward politics and my studies together.”

Arya being elected as the mayor of the capital city of Kerala in itself is a declaration from CPI(M), that age and gender will never be used as a constraint in determining a true leader. She is redefining the existing norms by setting an example to the youth, especially girls who are reluctant to come to the forefront of politics at a young age. 

When asked about her role model, Arya was quick and clear with her answer. 

“When it is a party like the LDF (Left Democratic Front) there will be many people to be cited as models – it is a party of cadres. Like our respected Chief Minister who has proven to be a crisis manager during these difficult times, and the influence he’s had on the common man. It is very important to be a leader who stands with the people at times of crisis,” she said.

Arya being elected as the Mayor of the capital city can be seen as the first of many changes from CPI(M) in Kerala ahead of the forthcoming assembly elections. After a stunning victory in the civic election across the state, CPI(M) is aiming to continue their winning streak to the upcoming assembly elections and thereby creating the history of becoming the first government to continue for two consecutive terms since its inception in 1950.

MoRTH extends validity of vehicular documents till 31st March 2021

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has extended the validity of vehicular documents such as driving licenses (DLs), registration certificates (RCs) and Permits till 31st of March 2021 in the light of need to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The Ministry issued a directive to the States and Union Territory administrations in this regard on Sunday.

The Ministry had earlier issued advisories on 30th March, 9th June and 24th August this year regarding extension of validity of documents related to Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.

It was advised that the validity of Fitness, Permit (all types), License, Registration or any other concerned documents may be treated to be valid till 31st of December this year.

The advisory said, taking into consideration the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , it is further advised that the validity of all of the above referred documents may be treated to be valid till 31st March 2021.

This covers all documents whose validity has expired since 1st Feb, 2020 or would expire by 31st March 2021.

All the States and Union Territories have been requested to implement this advisory in letter and spirit so that the citizens, the transporters and various other organizations which are operating under this difficult time during Covid Pandemic may not get harassed or face difficulties.

Daily new Covid-19 cases in country drops below 19, 000 after six months

India has scaled a significant peak in the fight against the global pandemic.

The daily new caseload of Covid 19 has dropped below 19 thousand after six months.

The Union Health Ministry said, India’s total active caseload has fallen to around two lakh 78 thousand, which is the lowest after 170 days.

The country has reported a trend of sustained decrease in the number of active cases.

India’s present active caseload consists of 2.74 per cent of India’s Total Positive Cases.

During the last 24 hours, more than 21 thousand people recovered and discharged.

The country’s COVID-19 recovery rate has also reached 95.82 per cent.

EAM Dr. S Jaishankar meets business leaders in Qatar; highlights investment opportunities in India

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar met business leaders in Qatar and highlighted the investment opportunities in India.
 
Dr. S Jaishankar reached Doha on Sunday on a two-day visit to the Gulf nation.
 
He began his trip with the India-Qatar Business Roundtable.
 
The External Affairs Minister appreciated the commitment for strengthening business partnerships between the two countries.
 
In a tweet, Dr. S Jaishankar said, he briefed them about new opportunities flowing from ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
 
He thanked chairperson of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI)  Sheikh Khalifa and Chairman of Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) Sheikh Faisal.
 
Dr. Jaishankar also visited the Qatar National Musuem where he learned about the historical connections between India and Qatar.
 
In a tweet, the Minister said, Gujarat was an important door for commerce and contacts.
 
Later in the day, Dr. Jaishankar virtually interacted with the Indian community in the country and appreciated their contribution to meet the COVID-19 challenge.
 
He also urged their participation in the development of a “New India.
 
During the visit, the External Affairs Minister will hold detailed discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani on strengthening bilateral relationship.
 
He will hold talks with his counterpart on bilateral issues as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
 
The Minister will also convey special gratitude to the State of Qatar for taking care of Indians during the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
This is Dr. S Jaishankar’s first visit to the country as External Affairs Minister.

PM Modi to flag off 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal at 4:30 pm today through video conferencing.

The multi-commodity train service will carry vegetables such as cauliflower, capsicum, cabbage, drumsticks, chillies, onion, as well as fruits like grapes, oranges, pomegranate, banana and custard apple.

Loading and unloading of perishable commodities will be permitted at all enroute stoppages with no bar on size of consignment.

The Central Government has extended a subsidy of 50 per cent on transportation of fruits and vegetables.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal will also be present on the occasion.

AIR correspondent reports that the first Kisan Rail was introduced from Devlali to Danapur on 7th of August this year, which was further extended upto Muzaffarpur.

As a result of good response from the farmers, its frequency was also increased from weekly to three days in a week.

Kisan Rail has been a game changer in ensuring fast transportation of agriculture produce across the nation.

It provides a seamless supply chain of perishable produce.

PM Modi to inaugurate India’s first-ever driverless train operations on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India’s first-ever driverless train operations on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line at 11 AM today through video conferencing.

These innovations will herald a new era of travelling comfort and enhanced mobility.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the fully operational National Common Mobility Card service on the Airport Express Line.

This will enable anyone carrying a RuPay – Debit Card issued from any part of the country to travel on the Airport Express Line using that card.

This facility will become available on the entire Delhi Metro network by 2022.

AIR correspondent reports that the Delhi Metro currently operates on a network of about 390 kilometres with 285 stations.

Delhi Metro has been a pioneer in introducing technology driven solutions for passenger comfort and this is another step in the same direction.

With the commencement of driverless trains, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will enter the elite league of seven percent of world’s Metro networks which can operate without drivers.

The driverless metro trains will be fully automated, which will eliminate the possibility of human error.

After the start of driverless services on the Magenta Line between Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden, the Pink Line of Delhi Metro between Majlis Park and Shiv Vihar is expected to have driverless operations by the mid of next year. 

Impotance of Side hustle in life

Having a side hustle, or maybe a few of them is amazing. Whether you’re a high-paying student, a professional skilled worker with a weekend job, a stay-at-home mom, almost anyone can use a side-hustle in life. The recent closure of Covid-19 (at the time of writing this blog post), the demands for social liquidity, and the economic downturn, further strengthened the importance of having a variety of revenue streams.

As a self-improvement blogger, I will highlight 5 benefits of refining your side-gig, with examples:

  1. Organize your interests
    While a side-gig is a great way to earn an income, it does not have to be an obligation or a job. Most people start by getting used to their hobbies and then grow into money-making jobs. Some even take up the full-time ministry, having reached a point of no return.

Working from home, being my manager, doing different things for over 6 years (at the time of writing this blog post). In addition to my work, I started this blog in 2018 as a hobby, to support me in the pursuit of my life goals, while sharing what I learn and discover with my students. While the main purpose of my blog is not to make money, I have partnered with other relevant products.

  1. Start a business
    Developing hobbies, skills, abilities, in your own way can be a viable business approach. You can also choose to be a solopreneur, by starting and running a business yourself. A self-employed person can benefit from working from home without additional hiring costs, hiring freelancers, and providing essential services to better focus on his or her own work.

Some side effects and solopreneur ideas to consider are:

Blogging. It takes time to grow your audience, so choose something that suits you. Describe your best personas (personas) to attract the right clients.


Voting. Do you do more to make videos and talk than to write? Consider starting a YouTube channel or IGTV on Instagram.

Podcasting. If you are shy or do not feel comfortable with a camera, perhaps starting a podcast is good for you.
Be productive. You can choose to blog, vlog, or podcast. Maybe more than one, if you can manage all the work. With a side hustle, you naturally need a product or service that you can sell. Otherwise, you will not make money. If you are a freelance newbie who will sell yours right now, you can start right now with ads, relevant links, sponsored posts, reviews, and freelance. However, you need enough traffic to start seeing results and making sales.
Freelancing is a popular trend. There is a special variety to choose from. Start by considering what you already know, studying, polishing your skills, and perhaps even taking a formal course at a later time. Network to be known, combine customer testimonials and enter emails where needed.
Sell ​​digital services. Sell ​​your photos, music, writing, influence, and other digital creative resources on platforms that connect buyers and sellers.

  1. Improve your skills
    Just as you learn to sing, and you get better at practicing it, improve your skills with noise. Hobbies help you develop your innate, hidden talents, and by hooking up, you can set the bar high and do your best. That is because the more serious you look at your skills and abilities, the more likely you are to be willing to work on them to achieve the desired results by setting goals.
  2. Self-improvement
    Learning to do the things you love best, is a great source of encouragement and inner inspiration. You can be a great artist, athlete, content creator… Spend your time developing your skills and using them effectively to improve yourself.
  3. Self-care
    The side-hustle is a self-care partner. They go hand in hand. Self-love is not self-love, it is important in life. When you choose something that you truly enjoy, it doesn’t sound like work, but it is work that supports your life.

Business plan
There are endless ways to start a side-hustle, while having fun, growing yourself, and earning more money. You can put it on a full-time salary level, and have a lot of revenue streams. However, check the feasibility of the idea, consider the necessary resources, and other essentials. Having a business plan is a must. Learning business skills can support you in making good use of your side.

In short, the side-hustles are fun, support your self-improvement and self-care. If taken seriously, they can be a great source of income. Would you like to share your thoughts and experiences? If you know someone who will benefit from my blog post, please share it. Thank you !!

FEARLESS BLASTERS WINS FIRST OF THE SEASON

After a continuous winless run of six games, Blasters tasted victory in their seventh game of the season against Hyderabad FC. In the fierce fight between two strong Indian contingents, Blasters came on top after the action-packed 90 minutes.

Kerala Blasters, one of the most followed football clubs in Asia were yet to taste their first victory in the 7th edition of Hero Indian Super League after completing six games. Today’s win was very important for the players and the coach as questions were raised from corners regarding the recruitment policy of Blasters management and the inability of Kibu Vicuna, the head coach of Kerala Blasters in finding out a perfect starting line up out of the squad.

Blasters started with five changes from their match against East Bengal FC as the Malayalee boys Sahal Abdul Samad and Abdul Hakku had their first start of the season along with Sandeep Singh, Jeakson Singh and the Australian Jordan Murray. The foreign centre back pair of Bakary Kone and Costa Nhamoinesu were dropped along with the English striker Gary Hooper and the Indians Seityasen Singh and Rohith Kumar to give way for some fresh legs.

Kerala started with not so lousy momentum and Kibu’s bold move was rewarded well when the local boy Abdul Hakku netted their first goal of the game in the 29th minute from Facundo Pereyra’s well-directed corner. The Argentine’s corner kick found the unmarked Kerala lad inside the box who brought joy to the Blaster’s camp with a stunning bullet header. On the other side, Hyderabad FC’s attempts to level the score went in vain as their strikers couldn’t find the back of the net with a disciplined Blasters defence at the back and vigilant Albino Gomez on the goal. 

It was 1-0 in favour of Blasters at half time and they started the second half with more intensity expecting high pressing from Hyderabad, and this move turned well as Hyderabad was forced back to their defensive duties with Murray and Rahul testing the opponent goalkeeper in regular intervals. The 34-year-old Hyderabad Goalkeeper Subrata Paul was kept on his toes all along the second half by Rahul and Murray. Hyderabad’s poor finishing and final third progression cost them the game as Jordan Murray netted the final nail on their coffin at the 88th minute to win the game for the Blasters 2-0. Sahal, Jeakson and Facundo were booked by the referee in their battle for the ball as the Blasters played and won as a team. This win should serve as a launchpad for the Blasters for the coming games. No one deserved this win more than the Blaster’s coach Kibu Vicuna who brushed aside his personal loss, stuck with the team and made personnel and philosophical changes to win with a clean sheet.

FIFA postpones Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups till 2023 due to coronavirus pandemic

The World football’s governing body, FIFA has cancelled Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups that were scheduled to be played next year due to a coronavirus pandemic. These World Cups will now be played in 2023, with Indonesia still hosting the Under-20s and Peru the Under-17s.

The Bureau of the FIFA Council said, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present challenges for the hosting of international sporting events and to have a restrictive effect on international travel. The governing body said, it became clear that the global situation has failed to normalize to a sufficient level to address the challenges associated with hosting both tournaments, including the feasibility of the relevant qualification pathways.