Photo: Forbes
WhatsApp Users Made Over 1.4 Billion Calls On New Year's Eve 2020
Social media giant Facebook, while sharing its annual milestones reported that over 1.4 billion voice and video calls were made through whatsApp on the New Year's Eve (NYE) 2020. Resulting from higher digitalization during pandemic, WhatsApp calls were 50% higher than in NYE 2019. However, WhatsApp had also exceeded the group calling limit from four to eight users. Moreover, the global usage of live broadcasts also surged to 55 million on… read-more
Tags: Facebook, WhatsApp, Coronavirus Pandemic, Technology
Courtesy: Hindustan Times
Photo: The Economic Times
Apple Pulls iOS App 'Vybe Together' Promoting Parties During COVID-19
Tech giant Apple has removed an iOS app 'Vybe Together' which encouraged underground parties during the pandemic. The app's TikTok account, which promoted weekend gatherings, was also removed. Citing its Instagram page, experts believe it was earlier launched as ‘Trendies.” Moreover, started with a tagline "Get your rebel on, Get your party on,” its Instagram page now dons with the sole post claiming "We DO NOT CONDONE LARGE GATHERINGS."
Tags: Apple, iphone, Vybe Together, Coronavirus Pandemic, iOS
Courtesy: WION
Photo: India.com
Indore Cop Teaches Slum Kids Pro Bono During Pandemic
In a unique endeavour, an Indore cop Sanjay Sanwre is imparting pro bono tuitions near Lalbagh palace to slum children who couldn't afford to attend online classes owing to the pandemic. Reportedly, around 40 students attend his classes every Sunday. Moreover, he offers free stationery materials to children who attend the class. Sanware said, "We are trying that these children will not have to face what we faced in our childhood".
Tags: indore, Police, Coronavirus Pandemic, free education
Courtesy: Hindustan Times
Photo: Arre
Report Says Zoom Users Anxious During Calls, Technical Glitches
Results from a survey conducted by a UK-based design agency Buffalo 7 has revealed over 70% of the video-conferencing app Zoom users faced a "Zoom Anxiety". Not knowing to fix a technical issue, presenting on a video call, and being unable to read the caller’s body language have been the major reasons cited by the subjects. Moreover, respondents have felt Zoom calls worse than telephonic calls and in-person meetings.
Tags: Zoom, Covid-19, Anxiety Disorder, Coronavirus Pandemic, Pandemic impact
Courtesy: The Hindu
Photo: Free Press Journal
Maharashtra Govt Launches Campaign To Find Hidden TB And Leprosy Cases
Maharashtra has started a month-long door-to-door campaign to detect new tuberculosis and leprosy cases. Planning to screen 8.66 crore people, the government has made a team of two health workers, who will visit 20 rural and 25 urban households each day. They will also collect samples from the suspects. With this, authorities aim to find the hidden TB and leprosy cases which did not appear at hospitals during the pandemic.
Tags: Maharashtra , testing, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, campaign, Coronavirus Pandemic
Courtesy: Indian Express
Photo: Khaleej Times
IATA To Launch Digital Health Passports To Ease Air Travel During Pandemic
International Air Transport Association is set to launch ‘IATA travel pass’ to ease the travelling during the current pandemic situation. The pass will act as a digital health passport that aims to "manage, share and verify [COVID-19] test data matched with traveller identities" to support the safe reopening of borders. The IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac said that the pass would be rolled… read-more
Tags: business, International Travel, Coronavirus Pandemic
Courtesy: Khaleej Times
Photo: Representational Image/Vital Record
Singapore: Study Says COVID-19 Can Travel More than 6 Metres Under Dry Conditions
Scientists from Singapore's STAR'S Institute discovered that a 100-micrometre cough particle with a wind velocity of 2 m/s can head out up to 6.6 meters and much further under dry conditions. They also found that evaporating droplets are dangerous since they can be inhaled deep into the lungs. They further assessed that wearing masks along with physical distancing is effective since it leads to less droplet deposition on others.
Tags: Coronavirus, Study, Coronavirus Pandemic
Courtesy: The Hindu
Photo: Canadian Budget Binder
Covid-19 Impact: 174M People to Lose Jobs in Tourism Industry
According to World Travel and Tourism Council, 174 million people will lose jobs in travel-tourism industry, as a post-pandemic effect. Despite global relaxation on restrictions, quarantine conditions by many countries are still hampering tourists. However, the projected figures are lower than expected due to recovery made by domestic travels. The Council also fears the contribution of industry to GDP would be reduced by 53%.
Tags: Travel, Tourism, Covid-19, Coronavirus Pandemic, LockdownExtension, Unemployment
Courtesy: BW Business World
Photo: New Indian Express
Mizoram Reports its First COVID-19 Death
After sustaining months of pandemic, Mizoram reported its first death due to COVID-19 on October 28. Reportedly, the deceased was hospitalised for over 10 days and was 62 years old. He is also said to have been suffering from other co-morbidities. Mizoram has also reported one reinfection case and was the only state in India to have not witnessed a death due to the coronavirus.
Tags: Coronavirus, Coronavirus Pandemic, Mizoram, Covid deaths, India
Courtesy: Livemint
Photo: ABC News
EU Leader's Summit Could Not Survive COVID-19 Scare As Staff Tests Positive
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen left in-between from 'EU Leader’s Summit' in Brussels after one of the staff-members tested Covid-19 positive. However, she informed that she has tested negative, and is in precautionary self-isolation. Although images from the venue showed Leyen mingling with EU member representatives, she followed proper social distancing and leaders were seen sanitising hands and welcoming with elbow bumps… read-more
Tags: Ursula von der Leyen, European Union, Brussels, Summit, Covid-19, Coronavirus Pandemic
Courtesy: The Hindu