Archives: Shortcuts

Omicron cases in India could peak around the end of January or early February with infected cases likely to range from four to eight lakh, says the Sutra model developed by scientists at IIT Kanpur. Bed availability could peak at around 1.5 lakh. The rise in infections is blamed on the loss of immunity, which […]Read More

Backed by troops from Russia, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym Jomart Tokayev claimed that constitutional order had been “mainly restored” after unprecedented clashes between police and anti-government mobs. Tokayev also confirmed shoot at sight orders had been issued and vowed to destroy the “20,000 bandits” who he claimed had attacked Almaty, the biggest metropolis in Kazakhstan.Read More

France has reported record Covid-19 cases, with 2,71,686 infected. The pressure on hospitals and public services is enormous but the government is trying to avoid a lockdown. Some restrictions have been placed on public crowds with mask requirements including indoors. Candidates for the April presidential elections are also scaling back their campaigns and rallies.Read More

Israel has agreed to release a Palestinian who has been on hunger strike for 141 days. Hisham Abu Hawwash has been held without charge under administrative detention rules, meaning he has been held on the basis of secret evidence, secret even from him. He will now be set free next month.Read More

China could retain tight border restrictions through much of this year, warns a report by Goldman Sachs.  It says the continuing Covid situation and the limited effectiveness of the Sinopharm vaccine could see Beijing not relent on its zero Coronavirus policy, persisting with lockdowns and quarantines. Several key political events are due later this year […]Read More

Iran’s President Ibrahim Raisi will travel to Russia later this month where he is expected to sign a $10 billion defence and security agreement valid for 20 years. Russia could sell Iran a satellite. There’s speculation Iran will also buy 24 Su-35 jets and upgrade its fleet of MiG-29 fighters.Read More

The Delhi High Court has dismissed Future Retail’s plea that the arbitration proceedings with its warring partner Amazon be declared illegal. The court gave no reasons for its ruling. Future Retail is locked in battle with Amazon over the former’s move to sell out to Reliance.Read More

British army medical officer Capt. Preet Chandi is the first woman of Indian origin to reach the South Pole. She took 40 days to complete the 1,126 km trek from Antarctica’s Hercules Inlet while pulling a sled weighing 90 kg comprising her food and clothing. She spent over two years preparing for this venture.Read More

Scientists in France have identified a new Coronavirus strain with more mutations than the Omicron variant. At least 12 people infected with this variant have been identified in the port city of Marseilles and have been linked to travel to Cameroon, west Africa. The new variant has been named IHU but medical experts say there […]Read More

Iran’s ambassador to Kabul says his country will not recognise the Taliban government unless it becomes inclusive. He called for reforms in the governance structure that would open the doors to other ethnic groups. The Taliban said he was interfering in its internal affairs.Read More

Sri Lanka could go bankrupt this year, says the Guardian in a report, pointing to unchecked inflation, loss of tourism caused by the Covid crisis and vast debt repayments to China. The World Bank estimates that 500,000 people have fallen below the poverty line since the pandemic.Read More

Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says his country is ready to host the SAARC summit and India can attend virtually if its leaders do not want to fly to Islamabad. Pakistan was to have hosted the summit in 2016 but India pulled out after the Uri terrorist attack. SAARC operates on consensus and one […]Read More

Sudan’s prime minister Abdalla Hamdok has resigned amid political deadlock and widespread pro-democracy protests. Hamdok, who was removed in a military coup last October and later reinstated, called for dialogue on a national charter and a roadmap for political transition. His resignation came in the wake of security forces violently dispersing demonstrators demanding democracy.Read More

The UK is expected to ease immigration restrictions on Indians, allowing thousands to live and work in that country for up to three years. This could form part of a trade agreement expected to be discussed when UK Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan visits Delhi later this month.Read More

India and Pakistan exchanged lists of nuclear installations that cannot be attacked, a tradition dating back three decades. So far 31 such lists have been exchanged usually on new year’s eve. The details of the list are not known to the public.Read More

China’s property developers will have to pay a staggering $197 billion by the end of January. This would cover workers wages, dollar bonds, onshore notes and so on. The government has told developers, including the Evergrande group, that they must pay their bills or risk social unrest. Many firms are not clear where they will […]Read More

The UK’s Prince Andrew has to medically prove that he cannot sweat. The proof has been demanded by the court hearing a case where the royal is accused of having sex with an underage girl who claims he was sweating profusely during the act. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.Read More

The Omicron graph continues to rise in India with the figure of those infected crossing the 200 mark. Of these 77 have recovered, according to the Union Health Ministry. Maharashtra and Delhi lead with 54 cases each, followed by Telangana 20 and Karnataka 19.Read More

Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Rashid has been directed by the London high court to pay his ex-wife Princess Haya $733 million in a divorce settlement. She retains custody of her two children from the marriage but the Sheikh has to provide for the children’s education and make an initial payment within three months.Read More

Super Typhoon Rai that hit the Philippines on Thursday has left a trail of death and destruction, according to the Red Cross. At least 375 people are dead, with the islands of Mindanao, Bohol and Dinagat reporting extensive damage and high death tolls. There is an acute shortage of drinking water, thousands have no homes […]Read More