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COVID-19 India Update: India logs 48,786 new cases, 1005 fatalities

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NEW DELHI: India added 48,786 new cases of coronavirus taking the total tally to 3,04,11,634, while the national recovery rate improved to 96.97 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

The COVID-19 death toll rose to 3,99,459 with 1,005 fresh fatalities.

According to the data published at 7 am, cumulatively 33. 57 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.

The active cases have further declined to 5,23,257 comprising 1.72 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 96.97 per cent.

As many as 19,21,450 tests were conducted on Wednesday taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for detection of COVID-19 in the country to 41,20,21,494.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.54 per cent .

It has been less than five per cent for 24 consecutive days, the ministry said, adding the weekly positivity rate has declined to 2.64 per cent.

Recoveries continue to outnumber daily new cases for the 49th consecutive day.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 2,94,88,918, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.

31 per cent, the data stated.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23.

The 1,005 new fatalities include 221 from Uttarakhand, 142 from Kerala, 141 from Maharashtra, 113 from Tamil Nadu and 111 from Karnataka.

A total of 3,99,459 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 1,21,945 from Maharashtra, 35,040 from Karnataka, 32,619 from Tamil Nadu, 24,977 from Delhi, 22,591 from Uttar Pradesh, 17,708 from West Bengal and 16,052 from Punjab.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg expected in court after indictment

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NEW YORK: New York prosecutors are expected to announce the first criminal indictment Thursday in a two-year investigation into Donald Trump’s business practices, accusing his namesake company and its longtime finance chief of tax crimes related to fringe benefits for employees.

The charges against the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, remained sealed Wednesday night but were to be unveiled ahead of an afternoon arraignment at a state court in Manhattan, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The people were not authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation and did so on condition of anonymity.

There was no indication Trump himself would be charged at this stage of the investigation, jointly pursued by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats.

Trump did not respond to reporters’ shouted questions about the New York case as he visited Texas on Wednesday, but earlier in the week, the Republican had blasted the New York prosecutors as “rude, nasty, and totally biased” and said his company’s actions were “standard practice throughout the U.S. business community, and in no way a crime.”

The planned charges were said to b e linked to benefits the company gave to top executives, like the use of apartments, cars and school tuition, the people familiar with the matter told the AP.

Messages seeking comment were left with a spokesperson and lawyers for the Trump Organization. Weisselberg’s lawyer, Mary Mulligan, declined to comment. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to comment.

Vance, who leaves office at the end of the year, has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into a variety of matters involving Trump and the Trump Organization.

His office has looked into hush-money payments paid to women on Trump’s behalf and truthfulness in the company’s property valuations and tax assessments, among other matters.

Vance fought a long battle to get Trump’s tax records and has been subpoenaing documents and interviewing company executives and other Trump insiders.

James assigned two lawyers from her office to work with Vance’s team after her office found evidence of possible criminal wrongdoing while conducting a separate civil investigation of Trump.

Weisselberg, 73, had come under scrutiny, in part, because of questions about his son’s use of a Trump apartment at little or no cost.

Barry Weisselberg, who managed a Trump-operated ice rink in Central Park, testified in a 2018 divorce deposition that Trump Parc East apartment was a “corporate apartment, so we didn’t have rent.”

Barry’s ex-wife, Jen Weisselberg, has been cooperating with both inquiries and given investigators reams of tax records and other documents.

The case against Allen Weisselberg — a loyal lieutenant to Trump and his real estate-developer father, Fred — could give prosecutors the means to pressure the executive into cooperating and telling them what he knows about Trump’s business dealings.

The Trump Organization is the business entity through which the former president manages his many entrepreneurial affairs, including his investments in office towers, hotels and golf courses, his many marketing deals and his television pursuits. Trump sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, have been in charge of the company’s day-to-day operations since he became president.

Although Trump isn’t expected to be charged Thursday, allegations against the company bearing his name raise questions about his knowledge of — or involvement in — business that practices prosecutors suspect were illegal.

James Repetti, a tax lawyer and professor at Boston College Law School, said a company like the Trump Organization would generally have a responsibility to withhold taxes not just on salary, but other forms of compensation — like the use of an apartment or automobile.

Such perks wouldn’t be considered taxable income if they were required as a condition of employment, Repetti said, such as providing an apartment for the convenience of an employee who is required to be at the office or worksite at odd or frequent hours, or allowing the use of a car for business purposes.

Another prominent New York City real estate figure, the late Leona Helmsley, was convicted of tax fraud in a federal case that arose from her company paying to remodel her home without her reporting that as income.

The Trump Organization case involves possible violations of New York state tax laws.

“The IRS routinely looks for abuse of fringe benefits when auditing closely held businesses,” Repetti said. “The temptation for the business is that it claims a tax deduction for the expense, while the recipient does not report it in income.”

Don’t precipitate MBBS rural service issue, Karnataka HC tells govt

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BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court directed the State Government not to precipitate the matter for two weeks pursuant to the notifications issued with regard to online registration of undergraduates who have completed MBBS during 2021 for compulsory rural service. However, this interim order is confined to 184 MBBS candidates who have approached the court and the government is at liberty to proceed with implementation of notifications issued over online registration with regard to other candidates, except petitioners, the court added. Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum passed the interim order after hearing the petition filed by Dr N Prarthana and 183 others.

The petitioners have challenged the notification issued by the state government on June 8 and a corrigendum dated June 17, asking the undergraduates who have completed their MBBS on government seats during the year 2021 to register online for rural posting. The petitioners have further contended that the notifications issued by the State Government is discriminatory in nature, as it excludes other undergraduates of the same batch and previous batches. The notification is contrary to Karnataka Compulsory Service by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, the petitioners further alleged.

BSY meets Guv Vajubhai Vala raises eyebrows

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BENGALURU: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa called on Governor Vajubhai Vala impromptu on Wednesday evening, raising eyebrows in political circles. While Raj Bhavan said it was a courtesy call and the CM claimed he was visiting Vala to check on his health after the eye surgery, it came at a time when BJP leaders continue to meet party central leaders and when speculation is rife that a cabinet reshuffle is on the cards.

After the meeting with the Governor, Yediyurappa expressed confidence that he will continue in his post for the next two years. “I have the responsibility to ensure good work for the State for the next two years. I am entrusted with the challenge of bringing the party back to power with 130 seats after two years. I give this assurance to the people and cadres of BJP,” he said. “The governor gave me a patient hearing on various issues. We didn’t discuss politics but about the State’s welfare and Covid management. He has appreciated our government’s work and has given suggestions,” he added.

In Mysuru, BJP state vice-president and Yediyurappa’s son Vijayendra claimed that the leadership change is a “closed chapter”. He said, “BJP state in-charge Arun Singh has clearly said Yediyurappa has given good administration and will complete his full term as chief minister. There is no need to discuss it again and again.”

BJP insiders have maintained that Vala is the BJP central leadership’s point person for communicating with the State government remotely.  Wednesday’s meeting too is being viewed as Yediyurappa receiving a feedback from the governor and conveying his stand over recent developments in the party to the central leadership through Vala. Sources close to the CM  said that the cabinet reshuffle is being considered later in July or August when Yediyurappa completes two years in office.

Delta variant to become dominant strain of COVID-19 in coming months: WHO

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GENEVA: The World Health Organization has said the Delta variant of COVID-19 is now present in nearly 100 countries as per conservative estimates, and warned that in the coming months the highly transmissible strain will become the dominant variant of the coronavirus globally.

Given the increase in transmissibility, the WHO warned that the Delta variant is “expected to rapidly outcompete other variants and become the dominant variant over the coming months.”

The world body noted that the tools that exist today to combat the coronavirus “individual, community level-public health and social measures, infection prevention and control measures that have been used since the beginning of the pandemic” remain effective against current variants of concern (VOCs), including the Delta variant.

“Although the increased transmissibility of VOCs (Variants of Concern) means that measures may need to be maintained for longer periods of time, particularly in a context of low vaccination coverage, these measures must be targeted, time-bound, reinforced and supported by member states,” it added.

Last week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Delta variant is the -most transmissible- of the variants identified so far and is spreading rapidly among unvaccinated populations.

“I know that globally there is currently a lot of concern about the Delta variant, and WHO is concerned about it too. Delta is the most transmissible of the variants identified so far spreading rapidly among unvaccinated populations,” Ghebreyesus had said.

He had noted that as some countries eased public health and social restrictions, there was a corresponding increase in transmission around the world.

As per latest figures, cases of the Alpha variant have been reported in 172 countries, territories or areas, Beta in 120 countries (one new country), Gamma in 72 countries (one new country) and Delta in 96 countries (11 new countries).

For the first time in several weeks, the highest numbers of new COVID-19 cases were not reported from India.

The update noted that at 521,298, the highest numbers of new cases were reported from Brazil during the June 21-27 week, followed by India (351,218 new cases, a 12 percent increase over the previous week), Colombia (204,132 new cases, 5 percent increase), Russia (134,465 new cases, 24 percent increase) and Argentina (131,824 new cases, 11 percent decrease).

The South-East Asia Region reported over 573,000 new cases and over 13,000 new deaths, a 5 percent and a 33 percent decrease respectively compared to the previous week.

“There is a slight overall decrease in the number of cases reported this week, mostly due to the decrease in the number of cases reported in India,” the update said, adding that a number of countries, including Myanmar (112 percent increase), Indonesia (60 percent increase) and Bangladesh (48 percent increase), reported large increases in the number of newly reported cases for this week.

In the region, the highest numbers of new cases were reported from India (351,218 new cases; 25.5 new cases per 100,000; a 21 percent decrease), Indonesia (125,395 new cases; 45.8 new cases per 100,000; a 60 percent increase), and Bangladesh (36,738 new cases; 22.3 new cases per 100,000; a 48 percent increase).

The highest numbers of new deaths were reported from India (9038 new deaths; 0.7 new deaths per 100,000; a 45 percent decrease over the previous week), Indonesia (2476 new deaths; 0.9 new deaths per 100,000; a 39 percent increase), and Bangladesh (624 new deaths; 0.4 new deaths per 100,000; a 45 percent increase).

“Well into the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global situation remains highly fragile. While at the global level, trends in cases and deaths have been declining in recent weeks, there is significant variation by region, by country and within countries,” the update said.

It said in all WHO regions, there are countries reporting sharp increases in cases and hospitalisations.

There are a number of factors contributing to this, including the emergence and circulation of more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2, increased social mixing and mobility, uneven and inequitable vaccination; and considerable pressure to lift public health and social measures, the WHO said.

Gym trainer booked for cheating techie promising him to get a six pack in Bengaluru

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Pramesh Jain

The South Division police of Girinagar police have booked a gym trainer for cheating a 26-year-old techie offering him to help get a six pack .

The victim,Koushik K,stated in his complaint that he got enrolled in the empower fitness centre and paid the fee of Rs 3,000 for three months.

The accused offered to help him get the desired results within three months and took Rs 1.4 lakh.

Since the accused Mohan Kumar was not a certified trainer and due to an unscientific exercise routine,Kaushik developed health complications and was under medical treatment for one week .

Later Mohan Kumar forced him to get a personal loan of Rs 6 lakh to help him and promised to pay him in instalments.

Initially Kumar paid a few instalments but later refused to pay following which Kaushik started getting calls from the banks to repay the loan.

When Koushik confronted Mohan threatened him with dire consequences and refused to pay a total of Rs 6.2 lakh dues he said in his complaint.

Senior officer told reporters,Based on the complaint the police summoned Mohan Kumar and questioned him.

Mohan claimed that the duo had entered an agreement to run the gym in partnership and Koushik invested money.

As per the agreement the duo was supposed to share the profit but due to covid pandemic the business was under loss.

The police have now asked Mohan to get the agreement papers and released documents for further investigations.

Bengaluru Riots: NIA arrests SDPI president and key conspirator in KG Halli violence case

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Pramesh Jain

Making a major breakthrough in the Bengaluru riots Case,the National Investigation Agency has arrested Syed Abbas,a key conspirator who was absconding ever since the riots rocked the city.

As per NIA, Abbas was the key conspirator for the rioting that took place in KG Halli on 11th August 2020.

The accused Syed Abbas,38,resident of   Govindpur,was wanted for his involvement in conspiracy and rioting at KG Halli police station.

NIA Spokesperson said,Abbas has been accused of rioting and part of unruly mob which armed with deadly weapons who had unlawfully and attacked and injured many police officers.

They had also set fire to KG Halli Police Station using Petrol bombs.Government vehicles parked in the vicinity of the police station were damaged and set on fire, the NIA release,said.

The NIA had re-registered the case in September 2020 and taken up the investigation.Earlier NIA had charge sheeted 138 accused persons in the case.

Investigation has revealed that accused Syed Abbas is the president of SDPI Nagawara,Ward.

He along with his co-conspirators including other charge sheeted accused persons are office bearers of SDPI (Nagawara ward)and were actively involved in burning vehicles and attacking police officers on duty at KG Halli Police Station.

Accused Syed Abbas was produced before NIA Special Court, Bengaluru and taken on 06 days custody by NIA.Further investigation are on.

On August 11th 2020,Bengaluru witnessed rioting at KG Halli Police Station by an unruly mob armed with deadly weapons who had unlawfully gathered outside the station.The violence had broken out over a derogatory social media post against Islam by Navin Kumar,nephew of Pulikeshinagar MLA Akhanda Sreenivasa Murthy.

The mob had attacked and injured many police officers.They had also set fire to KG Halli Police Station using petrol bombs.Government vehicles parked in the vicinity of the police station were damaged and set on fire.

The case was originally registered at KG Halli Police Station in Bengaluru. NIA had re-registered the case and taken up the investigation. Five months after taking over the investigation, the NIA had chargesheeted 138 accused persons in the case.

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