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By Natasha Chaku Melbourne, Apr 6 () Over 360,000 Australians have applied for accessing their superannuation under a recently rolled out relief measure by the federal government that allows early withdrawal of the funds for those facing financial crunch because of the coronavirus crisis.The move, which was announced by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently, will allow those who have lost their jobs and are suffering from financial hardships as a result of COVID-19 to access up to 20,000 Australian dollars (USD 12,153) in super with no tax deduction.According to a report in the ABC, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) had already received 361,000 registrations till last week and it was still to estimate the total number of eligible candidates.To be eligible for the superannuation, people must have had their working hours reduced by 20 per cent or more or be sole traders whose turnover has fallen by at least 20 per cent.The government is expecting up to 27 billion Australian Dollars (USD 16.3 billion) to be withdrawn by about 1.5 million people under the scheme.According to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, the withdrawal would amount to less than 1 per cent of the almost 3 trillion Australian Dollars currently saved in superannuation.Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus deaths in the country reached 41 on Monday and the total number of infections rose to 5,787.The death toll has doubled in the past week, with three new fatalities in New South Wales, two in Victoria and one in Western Australia.Health officials of the state of New South Wales confirmed the deaths of three men in their 80s.In Victoria, Health Minister Jerry Mikakos tweeted that a 55-year-old man died in hospital and an 80-year woman died at home due to the disease.In Perth city in Western Australia, an octogenarian died in Royal Perth Hospital on Monday. NC RS RS

COVID-19: Over 360,000 Australians apply for superannuation

By Fakir Hassen (Eds: Rephrasing intro, correcting name throughout) Johannesburg, Jul 11 () A top health official in South Africa has said that about 50 to 66 per cent of all the adults infected with the COVID-19 disease in the country are asymptomatic, with many infections going undetected. The coronavirus, which first emerged in China's Wuhan city, has claimed 3,860 lives in South Africa with over 2,50,000 confirmed cases. "The majority of COVID-19 infections are going unnoticed," according to Dr Shabir Madhi, the leader of the South African leg of an international vaccine trial headed by the University of Oxford. In an interview with CNBC on Friday, Madhi said the high number of asymptomatic cases was causing difficulties in vaccine trials. The enrolment process has shown that far more people are asymptomatic than what was previously believed, he said. He estimated that only about 10 per cent of all COVID-19 cases are being officially reported. Madhi said around 80 per cent of all children who are infected are asymptomatic. The clinical trials require people who have not been infected by the virus. Part of the enrolment process for the COVID-19 vaccine trial involves the screening of individuals. Qualifying participants are randomly allocated into one of two groups -- vaccine group or placebo group. Madhi said the results on whether the vaccine works as protection against COVID-19 would be available by the end of November this year, but the trials may be extended into the second quarter of next year. He warned against 'undue' optimism, reminding that only 10 per cent of vaccines that go into clinical trials are eventually licensed for use. "Right now there are approximately 200 vaccines that are being developed (around the world) for COVID-19. "It would be a huge accomplishment if, over the next 12 to 18 months, we are successful in showing that even one out of every 20 of the vaccines that go into human studies are safe and provide some protection against COVID-19," Madhi said. He said that for the next year at least, the only reliable protection against the COVID-19 would be the non-pharmaceutical interventions of handwashing, sanitisation and social distancing. FH IND CPS

COVID-19: Over half of infected adults in S Africa are asymptomatic: Officia

By Fakir Hassen Johannesburg, May 18 () The South African government and leading scientists advising it on the COVID-19 pandemic are at loggerheads over the implementation of the lockdown, now in its 52nd day and at level 4 of a five-level risk-adjusted approach. The disagreement came as the scientists joined business leaders and labour unions in warning that the delay in easing the restrictions is destroying the economy as millions of jobs are shed and poverty increasing. A comment in an interview with news website News24.com by Dr Glenda Gray, a member of the ministerial advisory committee (MAC) on coronavirus, has earned support of other members of the panel. Gray, who is also chairperson of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and an internationally recognised HIV researcher, called for a complete removal of the lockdown, saying it is not based on "sound scientific advice". Gray said instead interventions such as handwashing, wearing masks, social distancing and prohibitions on public gatherings, should be put in place. Some of Gray's colleagues on MAC have come out in support of her, citing that a "false impression" was being created about the level of consultation with scientists on the lockdown, the Sunday Times reported. MAC member Prof Shabir Madhi from Wits University, who chairs its public health committee, said the government was "ill-informed". He said MAC was not asked about measures involved in lifting the lockdown. In a webinar earlier in the week, Madhi got huge support when he said the lockdown was flawed. But Acting Director-General of the Department of Health, Dr Anban Pillay, told the weekly that Gray's comments were surprising given that implementation was not within MAC's jurisdiction. "Gray is a professor in infectious diseases, paediatrics and vaccinology, but not in implementation of a lockdown and easing of lockdowns. In fact, there is no expert on this in the world because we are all learning," Pillay said. "But you can't simply say because you are an expert, you are telling us what to do and we should follow it. Because at the end of the day, she is not accountable, she is just an adviser. It is the government that is accountable, it is the president and the minister who will account to the country," Pillay said. Pillay also emphasised that while the committee was made up of leaders in their fields, their mandate was to advise the Minister of Health, who will decide whether to agree or disagree with the advice. Pillay said up to 90 per cent of the committee recommendation have been adopted almost verbatim. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize also told the weekly that it was "untrue that we don't take the MAC seriously". "We have asked the ministerial advisory committee to advise us on a lot of issues and for each issue they set up a team, and research and deliberate before producing their recommendation. Those advisories come to the minister who makes the decision of how to implement. There is a lot of debate that goes into those final advisories," Mkhize said. "In some instances I attend their meetings and they report to me, and MECs sometimes. So if anybody was unhappy with anything, they could have expressed so directly to me," he said. MAC chairman Prof Salim Abdool-Karim said none of the about 50 advisories to the Health Department had been rejected. "In addition, MAC has been working on advisories over the last several days related to 10 issues, including the easing of the lockdown and the alert level regulations," Abdool-Karim added. The latest statistics showed that there were 14,355 COVID-19 infections across South Africa, with 261 deaths and 6,478 recoveries. FH RDKRDK

S African government, scientists at loggerheads over COVID-19 lockdown

Berlin, May 6 (AP) German Chancellor Angela Merkel is meeting Wednesday with the governors of the country's 16 states to discuss further loosening restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic. With the number of new cases in Germany averaging around 1,000 in recent days, pressure to relax the rules further has grown. Business leaders in particular have warned that the economy could suffer long-term damage from the lockdown, which has been light compared to some other European countries. German media reported Wednesday that a draft plan would give states significant room to reopen all schools, hotels and restaurants, but require them to clamp down swiftly on any big outbreaks. The dpa news agency and weekly Der Spiegel reported that authorities would need to reimpose restrictions on any county that reports 50 new cases for every 100,000 inhabitants within the past week. (AP) INDIND

German chancellor to governors over loosening COVID-19 restrictions

Mumbai, Jun 22 () Amid an organisational restructuring to tide over the COVID-19 woes, apparel maker Raymond has seen about 1,100 employees either resigning or being sacked since April as part of cost-control measures, retrenched employees claimed, but the firm refuted their assertions on non-payment of full dues. About a dozen employees spoke to said the Raymond management sought resignations from them, failing which they were threatened with termination. While some 400 were coerced into resignation, around 700 who did not do so were sacked. Similar notices have been served to 400 more now, they claimed. The Gautam Singhania-led company had 7,087 employees on its rolls as of March 2019, according to the annual report. A company spokesperson, however, refuted the numbers saying queries on the issue "are factually incorrect, malicious and misrepresented with vested interests." "We would further like to state that in line with the prevailing market conditions and unprecedented challenges, the company has undertaken the process of cost rationalisation to minimise the impact on business due to the pandemic. "Basis this rationalisation exercise certain roles were identified to be redundant and the same was communicated to the employees concerned, post which they submitted their resignations," the company spokesperson said. The staff alleged that their salaries were cut by up to 65 per cent since April and before the resignations were sought, and only the basic pay was being paid to those serving notice period. On this, the company spokesperson said, "as per the employment contract, they have been put on the notice period of three months and are being paid in compliance with the terms and conditions. All the said measures and actions are taken as per the laid down procedures and are in the overall interests of all stakeholders." Raymond on June 10 informed exchanges that all its retail stores remained shut during the first and second phase of the coronavirus lockdown with gradual reopening thereafter, while its suiting and shirting fabric manufacturing plants remain shut due to subdued demand. The firm was looking at debt raising and alternate working capital to manage liquidity. "In line with the prevailing market conditions and unprecedented challenges, we have undertaken a process of cost rationalisation and various cost control measures related to sales and marketing, manpower, rentals and others to minimise the impact on business due to the pandemic," it had informed the bourses. spoke to a dozen of the employees but all of them requested not to be named fearing reprisal, as they are serving the three-month notice period after termination by the over 90-year-old group that has two verticals--Raymond Apparel which sells brands like Park Avenue, Parx, Colour Plus; and garmenting and shirting business under Raymond Suitings. The staff allege that their salaries were slashed by up to 65 per cent in April before the resignations were sought from them through WhatsApp calls/messages in early May. During the notice period, they are being given just about their basic pay after deducting income tax on the full salary, resulting in only 25-27 per cent payment.The HR department sent termination messages to only those who didn't tender resignations voluntarily, they said, alleging the huge salary cut that preceded was not conveyed to them personally in writing but was posted on the company website. In mid-April, Singhania in a video message exhorted the staff "to survive at any cost by conserving cash at any cost and to make sure to focus on our collections," and said he'd not draw a penny in salary during the lockdown. According to the employees, Raymond announced huge salary cuts ranging from 20 per cent (who are still employed), 50 per cent to those who are benched now and a hefty 65 per cent to those who have been terminated now. Employees fear more jobs will be lost from the 50 per cent bracket. "What is more, though the official reduction is 65 per cent, we are only getting 25-28 per cent as they are deducting tax on the full salary and what is paid is not even the full basic pay," six of them told requesting not to name them. These employees have spent between 18 months and 12 years with the group in high positions as heads of marketing, logistics, supply-chains. Barring three, all of them have liabilities like home loans, school fees and rentals to pay, among others. "Late April, I was told my division would be recast as some positions have become redundant but was assured of my position. But within 10 days I received a WhatsApp call saying my position too has become redundant and that I have to resign in the larger interest of the organisation, which I refused. Within hours, I was terminated," a person who headed marketing at one of the divisions said. Another person said over 20 jobs were lost from his division, and more are on the way out. "They did not spare even a few who have a couple of months to retire," said the person cited above who was in the supply chain division for the past decade. "The pay-cut announcement was made in May but effective April! he said, adding, "a legal notice is being prepared seeking either re-employment or full salaries." "We aren't opposed to retrenchment. Our only demand is to pay us full salaries during notice period," said another person from the supply chain side and is the only earner in his family with a home loan and two school-going kids. Accusing the management of frequently changing HR policy, another employee said most culling is driven by favouritism. There is no union as the majority of those sacked are in the management cadre, he alleged. "We were even ready for the 65 per cent salary cuts as we have given everything to this company in all these years. Over 1,100 of us were sacked by a company that had won the best-place-to-work-with award just two years ago," said a person from Raymond Suitings who was heading a department. He also said Clause 17 of their appointment letter specifies those serving the three-month notice will be given full salary. BEN AA ANZ ANU ANU

Raymond cuts workforce to tide over COVID-19 woes

Panaji, Jun 17 () Uncertainty triggered by the COVID-19 situation looms over hosting of this year's edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, a senior functionary said on Wednesday. Subhash Faldesai, vice chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) told that the process for booking hotels for international delegates, which begin every year in May, has not started yet. The ESG is a nodal agency to host the annual extravaganza of films, which has been taking place in Goa, its designated permanent venue, since 2004. "There is no word so far from the Directorate of Film Festival or DFF (which functions under the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting)," he said. There is likelihood that current COVID-19 situation in the country and at the uinternational level may impact holding of the next edition in Goa, said Faldesai. He said the ESG has not held any meeting with the DFF since holding of the last year's IFFI edition to discuss preparations for the 2020 event. The last IFFI edition was held between November 20 and 28 at venues spread across Panaji city. As of June 16, the number of coronavirus cases in Goa stood at 629. Faldesai said the ESG is well-equipped to host the festival even if the DFF initiates the process by July-end. Responding to a query, Faldesai said the Goa government might not be able to fund the event this year due to COVID-19-related austerity measures. Faldesai further said the ESG had already begun upgrading its multiplex to the international level. Inox Multimedia Private Limited (IMPL) has been contracted for refurbishing the existing multiplex on Build- Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis. He said the IMPL will pay Rs 54 lakh per month in addition to GST to the ESG after completion of work. The IMPL will get to maintain the multiplex for the next fifteen years, he said. RPS NSK NSK

Uncertainty over hosting IFFI in Goa due to COVID-19?

New Delhi, Apr 16 () Hyundai Motor India on Thursday said it has handed over COVID-19 advanced diagnostic testing kits to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).The globally proven diagnostic kits worth Rs 4 crore have been imported from South Korea and offer high levels of accuracy, catering to the testing requirements of over 25, 000 individuals, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) said in a statement."These highly accurate diagnostic kits can help the government scale up testing efforts in affected regions and arrest the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in India," HMIL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer SS Kim said.The South Korean automaker has already donated Rs 5 crore to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Relief Fund.It has also augmented the supply of ventilators and other respiratory aids such as the in-house developed Ambu Bag Actuator.Besides, the company said it is distributing masks and other safety kits to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.HMIL has also announced various initiatives for customers including extension of warranty, service timelines. MSS RUJRUJ

Hyundai hands over COVID-19 diagnostic kits to ICMR

By Fakir Hassen Johannesburg, June 19 () Over 300 Indians stranded in South Africa due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions will fly back home in a specially arranged chartered flight on Monday. The India Club of South Africa (ICSA), a socio-cultural organisation of Indian expatriates, has arranged the flight with assistance from the Ethiopian Airlines. The route will be to Hyderabad via Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. As of now, 338 Indians are set to fly home. Almost all the passengers are from south India and over half of them are from Hyderabad. "They will therefore face quarantine restrictions closer to home than if they had been flown to Delhi or Mumbai," said vice president of ICSA John Francis. "It was really painful to see so many Indians stuck in South Africa. There were passengers who had lost family members back home, pregnant women, people who had lost jobs, senior citizens, and depressed people," Francis said. ICSA president Manish Gupta said the flight was arranged with cooperation of India's Ministry of External Affairs, the High Commission Office in Pretoria, Consular Offices in Durban and Cape Town, and South African authorities. Gupta said the ICSA was considering to arrange another flights as about 600 Indians will still be left in South Africa. This will be the third repatriation flight to India from South Africa after the COVID-19 outbreak. The first flight was last month taking around 300 nationals to Delhi and Mumbai in a South African Airways flight. The second flight left on Thursday as part of the 'Vande Bharat Mission' which is India's biggest ever repatriation exercise to bring back Indians from abroad. FH IND IND

COVID-19: Over 300 Indians to be repatriated from S Africa next week

By Natasha Chaku Melbourne, Apr 28 () Over two million Australians have downloaded the new COVIDSafe app launched by the government to speed up contact tracing and minimise the risk of the spread of the deadly coronavirus.The new voluntary app is said to be an important public health initiative that will help keep the people and community safe through early notification of possible exposure."An extraordinary 2.44 million Australians have downloaded and registered for the COVIDSafe app," Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a press conference on Tuesday.The health initiative uses technology to automate and improve what state and territory health officials already do manually.COVIDSafe will speed up the process of identifying people who have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with coronavirus, quickly stopping further spread of the virus in the community."Australians are doing an extraordinary job to flatten the curve and contain the spread of the coronavirus, but we cannot be complacent," Prime Minister Scott Morrison had said while launching the app on April 26.Health Minister Hunt said the country reported 100 cases in seven days and the total number of infections has reached 6,727 as reported by the National incidence centre. A total of 85 people have lost their lives from the deadly disease.He said that Australia has recorded only 12 positive cases in the last 24 hours till 6.30am (local time) on Tuesday."That includes the fact that most significantly there was only one case from an unknown source. Only one case of community transmission across Australia."That is perhaps the most important figure I have had the privilege of raising since coming into this role and dealing with the coronavirus issue," he said."It means that as a country we are not just flattening the curve but we are consolidating it, extending it and securing it,'' Hunt said. NC RS RS

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