From first aid kits to stretcher, wheelchair, medicines and BP apparatus, we are well equipped, Chennai Metro Rail officials said. On February 24 at 10.20 a.m., P.M. Rajeev was behind the wheel in a Chennai Metro train when he received an emergency alarm from a passenger in the last coach about a co-passenger fainting. The train had crossed Nehru Park and was heading to Egmore Metro Rail station.Mr. Rajeev immediately informed the operational control centre. The centre in turn informed J. Rajesh, the station controller of Egmore Metro Rail station. In a few minutes, Mr. Rajesh arrived at the platform…
Author: Mike Harrison
The bill cleared the House on a party-line vote of 219 to 212. The House approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill early Saturday in a win for President Joe Biden, even as top Democrats tried assuring agitated progressives that they’d revive their derailed drive to boost the minimum wage.The new president’s vision for flushing cash to individuals, businesses, states and cities battered by COVID-19 passed on a near party-line 219-212 vote. That ships the massive measure to the Senate, where Democrats seem bent on resuscitating their minimum wage push and fights could erupt over state aid and other issues.Democrats…
Myanmar was shaken by a wave of pro-democracy protests since a military coup toppled civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. Myanmar police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Yangon on Saturday, according to an AFP reporter, after the country’s ambassador to the United Nations broke ranks to make an emotional plea for action against the military junta.The country has been shaken by a wave of pro-democracy protests since a military coup toppled civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.It was unclear if any live rounds were used as police chased protesters and journalists from…
Johnson & Johnson stressed its vaccine was proven to work with a single shot, and could be stored long-term at standard fridge temperatures A U.S. panel on Friday recommended Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose COVID-19 shot for emergency approval, as some of the world’s most powerful countries issued a unified call for better vaccine access for poorer nations.The United States is the world’s hardest-hit country, and its emergency use authorization — which is now expected shortly — of the J&J vaccine would follow those for the Pfizer and Moderna doses.“We’re going to use every conceivable way to expand manufacturing of the…
The Trump administration had insisted on a so-called safe harbour clause in the OECD tax that effectively would have allowed big tech companies to comply voluntarily, blocking progress on a deal. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told her G20 colleagues on February 26 that Washington is dropping a push for a controversial provision in a global digital tax, opening the door to a likely agreement.The U.S. shift — part of a broader repositioning by President Joe Biden from the “America First” agenda of former President Donald Trump — prompted immediate praise from Germany and France, which said a deal was…
A select list of stories to read before you start your day. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved of an operation to capture or kill dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered in 2018, according to a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment released on Friday in a manner choreographed to limit damage to U.S.-Saudi ties.West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on February 26 questioned the reasons for thr Election Commission of India decision to hold the 2021 Assembly polls in the State in eight phases.India’s economy resurfaced to growth territory in the third quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2020-21, clocking a 0.4% rise in the…
3-member committee will visit Gahirmatha and Rushikulya beaches, consult all stakeholders The Orissa High Court on Friday ordered the constitution of a three-member committee for consultations with stakeholders and verifying compliance of earlier court orders on conservation of endangered Olive Ridley turtles. According to the Orissa HC order, the team will comprise Kartik Shanker, Associate Professor at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru; Susanta Nanda, Director, Forest and Environment Department, Odisha; and Mohit Agarwal, Amicus Curiae in the matter. Taking cognisance of a media report on the death of Olive Ridley turtles, the Orissa High Court…
In a bid to regain foothold in the highly-competitive Indian smartphone market, Micromax plans to introduce 4-5 devices every quarter, including an ‘aggressively- priced’ 5G device this year, company’s co-founder Rahul Sharma said on Friday.Micromax, which made a comeback in the smartphone market late last year with two smartphones under the ‘in’ brand, will be bringing in models in the price band of ₹7,000-₹25,000.“We currently have two products, and the response to them has been dreamy,” said Mr. Sharma.“We will launch another product in March, around Holi and April onwards, the plan is to bring in 4-5 products every quarter…
While early J&J supplies will be small, the company has said it can deliver 20 million doses by the end of March and a total of 100 million by the end of June. U.S. health advisers endorsed a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson on Friday, putting the nation on the cusp of adding an easier-to-use option to fight the pandemic.The Food and Drug Administration is expected to quickly follow the recommendation and make J&J’s shot the third vaccine authorized for emergency use in the U.S. Vaccinations are picking up speed, but new supplies are urgently needed to stay…
The report contained inaccurate information and conclusions, says the Saudi Foreign Ministry Saudi Arabia said it rejected completely “the negative, false and unacceptable” assessment of the U.S. intelligence report released on Friday that found Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had approved the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler approved an operation to capture or kill the Washington Post columnist in 2018, the U.S. report said, as the United States sanctioned some of those involved but not the crown prince himself.”The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia completely rejects the …. assessment in the report pertaining to…