The Weekly Focus Edition 4
Apps Ban in India
On Monday, the Indian government made a bold move by banning the use of 59 Chinese origin apps. The government stated the apps violated the sovereignty and integrity of Indian users, the defense of India, and public order. Some of the popular apps that were included on the list are Tik Tok, CamScanner, UC Browser, Shein, Shareit, and WeChat. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo supported India on the ban of these applications. Many Indian users are looking for an effective Non-Chinese replacement for some apps. Here are a few-
Instead of Tik Tok, you can use
Roposo (Indian Origin)
Lomotif (Singaporean Origin)
Dubsmash (German Origin)
Mitron (Indian Origin)
Instead of CamScanner, you can use
Photo Scan (Made by Google)
Office Lens (Made by Microsoft)
Docs Scanner (Made by Zoho, Indian cooperation)
Which apps are Chinese and which are not?
In the ongoing speculation about apps being Chinese, lots of rumors have also emerged. Some apps which are widely believed to be Chinese, are not. Pubg, a Battle Royale app that is considered Chinese is South Korean. However, Tencent, an internet-based platform in China bought the rights to test and build a mobile version of Pubg but scrapped it soon after failing to get regulatory approval. Another app considered Chinese is Zoom. However, zoom communications is an American US-based company. Eric Yuan, the founder, and CEO of Zoom is an American Chinese however he has American Citizenship, and is listed on the NASDAQ.
Hong Kong Security law
China introduced a new security law on Tuesday aimed at protesters in Hong Kong, it includes harsh punishments for various new 'crimes'. The first person arrested had unfurled the Hong Kong flag during demonstrations, and the security law includes 66 Articles and more than 7000 words. Vandalizing government buildings is now deemed as an act of subversion, and damaging public transport is a terrorist activity punishable by a lifetime in prison. This added fuel to the fire as the protesters sought international help. Australia could possibly be the second country after the UK to allow visas and provide refuge to all Hong Kong citizens.
Unlock Phase 2 in India
In the announcement made by the Prime Minister on Tuesday, he mentioned Unlocking Phase 2 will commence on the next day outside containment zones. Here is everything you need to know about Unlock 2.
In Unlock 2, state borders cannot be sealed anymore and an Interstate Travel Pass will not be necessary to travel across states. Flights and train capacity will be increased and now 5 people can be in a shop at a time. Schools, Colleges, Theatres, Gyms, Swimming pools will remain shut. The Lockdown in Containment Zones will be extended to July 31st, with only essential services permitted in Containment Zones.
Other News
~ The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, providing food for 80 crore poor people, has
been extended till November this year.
~ Asteroid Day was celebrated on 30th June.
~ Bayern Munich beat Wolfsburg to win yet another Bundesliga title.
~ A ten-day total lockdown has been imposed in Thane, Kalyan, and Dombivali from 2nd July.
~ Lionel Messi scored his 700th Goal earlier this week in a ghost stadium.
~ Patanjali to sell Coronil as an Immunity Booster, not a COVID cure.
~ The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is getting street lights to prevent accidents.
Markets this week-
Nifty- 10,551- +158.8
Sensex- 35,843 +709. 52
This Week's Weather Forecast
The IMD has released an Orange Alert, an alert for heavy rain, for six states including Maharashtra. Mumbai should brace for heavy rainfall over the weekend, and for the rest of the week as well. The high for the week is 32 degrees celsius, and low 26. The weekend will be rainy and cloudy, and we may have a thunderstorm or two. Monday and Tuesday will continue to be cloudy and rainy. Wednesday will have heavy rains, mostly accompanied by a thunderstorm, while Thursday may be slightly drier but the cloudy skies will persist.
What's Going On in Space?
Even Astronomers are puzzled hearing this news; A massive star has seemingly vanished from space with no explanation. The star is supposedly located 75 million light-years away, and a decade ago the light of the star is said to have brightened its entire host galaxy. It is officially known as PHL 293B and nicknamed as Kinman Dwarf, and last summer when astronauts checked on the star it was roughly 100 times brighter than the sun. Since the star has quite a strong wind it is easy to distinguish it from others, and therefore the sudden disappearance of the star has shocked astronomers all around the world. A possible theory suggests this could be two black holes colliding in deep space and emitting a burst of light and energy. Astronomers have apparently seen the invisible. When two black holes collide it is invisible however, this was seen because of the presence of light and energy.
Article written by Krishnav Bubna
This Week in History
Franz Ferdinand, the Archduke of Austria gets assassinated by a group of Serbian nationalists, provoking the start of World War 1. Out of the group of 7 assassins, 6 failed their attempt to assassinate him, and only the last one succeeded in murdering Franz.
June 30th, 1860, the famous debate regarding Charles Darwin’s Theory of evolution takes place in Oxford. This is considered to be one of the greatest days for science in history.
Fact of the Week
People don't call dogs man's best friend for nothing!
Dogs can sniff out human cancer!
Joke of the Week
I just got fired from my job at the keyboard factory.
They told me I wasn't putting in enough shifts.
Leisure-
Credits- Dilbert Comics Official
Credits- Garfield Comics Official