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Watch: Viral video purportedly shows a Chinese professional demonstrating how an anal swab is collected for Covid test

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Viral video purportedly shows a Chinese professional demonstrating how an anal swab is collected for Covid test

A video is going viral on social media that purportedly shows a Chinese healthcare professional demonstrating the process through which an anal swab is collected for Covid-19 test. The demonstration was carried out on a mannequin.

According to claims being made on social media, foreigners traveling to China will be tested through an anal swab test.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that the test involves the insertion of a saline soaked cotton swab about 3 to 5 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) inside the anus of the person being tested. According to Chinese authorities, it is more accurate than the method involving the throat. However, some people have complained of inconvenience after being subjected to the test.

“Intriguingly, SARS-CoV-2 detection was positive in the anal swab of two patients and negative in throat swab and sputum samples,” a group of Chinese researchers said in a study published in the Future Microbiology journal. Thousands of people in China have already been subjected to the anal swab test. However, it is not yet clear whether the virus already defecated is still infectious.

Philadelphia allowed unqualified “college kids” to distribute COVID-19 vaccine, they stole doses and turned away elderlies who had signed up for vaccination

OpIndia Staff
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Philadelphia allowed unqualified “college kids” to distribute COVID-19 vaccine, they stole doses and turned away elderlies who had signed up for vaccination

Despite housing some of the most reputed hospitals and medical institutions in the country, Philadelphia appointed a start-up ‘Philly Fighting COVID’, a self-described “group of college kids”, with hardly any health-care experience, to set up and manage the city’s first and largest coronavirus mass vaccination site.

The result was not surprising—a failure of epic proportions. Elderlies were left with teary-eyed when they realised that the forms that they had filled to receive the vaccines won’t be honoured.

The group had discreetly switched to a for-profit model without publicising the change. Besides, it also added changes in privacy policies that would allow it to sell users’ personal data. One of the volunteers alleged that the 22-year-old CEO of the 9-months-old start-up pocketed vaccine doses. Another one claimed it was a free-for-all where vaccines were up for grabs for the volunteers who injected each other and posed for photos.

Philadelphia severs ties with Philly Fighting COVID after allegations of mishandling vaccine distribution surfaces

Now, the city in Pennsylvania has severed ties with the Philly Fighting COVID, saying it has lost trust in the organisation, after a spate of controversial decisions taken by the group and its CEO. It is also being reported that prosecutors are now looking into the “concerning” allegations.

On Monday night this week, the Philadelphia Health Department announced that it is ending its partnership with Philly Fighting COVID after learning that the group had become for-profit and changed its data policy to allow possible sales of users’ information.

The decision to snap ties with Philly Fighting COVID was taken after allegations of mishandled vaccine doses surfaced. Several reports have alleged the group’s bungled handling of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution and the lack of health-care experience of the organisation’s executive leaders.

None of the executive team of the organisation held a degree in medical or public health

As per a report published by Philadelphia magazine, the callow group’s “executive team” had not a single person with a medical degree or advanced degree in public health. The CEO of the company, Andrei Doroshin included his experience as teaching at a high school film class, producing videos of people long-boarding and practising parkour, and founding a nonprofit in his resume.

In his interview with “Today”, Doroshin said that his lack of experience in the medical field would help him in thinking differently and come up with out of the box solutions to speed up vaccination process. In yet another interview, Doroshin expressed hope of setting up a McDonald’s -like a franchise and asserted that the best practices of vaccine distribution can go “out of the window”.

The company started drawing suspicion last week after WHYY reported that Philly Fighting COVID had suddenly withdrawn from hosting coronavirus testing clinics in predominantly Black and Latino neighbourhoods. On Saturday, anxiety regarding the city’s largest COVID-19 vaccine centre swelled when senior citizens, who had queued up for hours to be vaccinated at the Pennsylvania Convention Center were turned away because the group had inadvertently permitted far too many people to sign up.

Volunteers for the group accuse CEO Doroshin of taking home left over COVID-19 vaccine jabs

Philly’s leaders openly bragged about how they were going to become rich. A volunteer of the organisation claimed they were going to become millionaires by billing insurance providers for providing COVID-19 vaccines that their organisation got it for free.  

According to the nurse who volunteered for the group, the situation was utterly chaotic. The nurse, Katrina Lipinsky, confessed to the media organisations that her medical credentials were not sought or verified by the group before she started administering vaccines. Lipinsky also added that dozens of vaccines were left unused after elderlies were turned away on Saturday.

She also alleged that she saw Doroshin putting 10 to 15 of those doses in his bag and taking them with him when he left. It is being alleged that the CEO of the group attended a small gathering that night and a photo of him administering an unspecified syringe to an unknown person in a private home has emerged.

CEO Doroshin admits taking doses to his home but defends his organisation regarding the privacy updates

Philly Fighting COVID-19 CEO admitted yesterday that he indeed took the vaccine doses home and administered them to his friends. “I understand that I made that mistake. That is my mistake to carry for the rest of my life, but it is not the mistake of the organisation,” Andrei Doroshin told NBC’s “Today” show.

However, the CEO of the company on Tuesday refuted the allegations levelled against his organisation. Doroshin said that the company never has and never would sell, share or disseminate any date collected as it would violate HIPAA rules.

Doroshin also apologised for “any miscommunication”, stating that Philly Fighting COVID switched its focus from testing to vaccine and its intention was never to “cause confusion or harm”. Defending his organisation, Doroshin said his group did not have the resources or the bandwidth to handle both testing and vaccinations at the same time, adding that becoming for-profit was imperative for expanding the organisation.

Anna Hazare’s indefinite fast against farm laws ends before it even begins, was to start from Jan 30: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Anna Hazare’s indefinite fast against farm laws ends before it even begins, was to start from Jan 30: Details

Anna Hazare has called off his agitation against the recently passed farm laws after a meeting with former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis. Earlier, he had announced that he will sit on an indefinite fast at his hometown Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra from January 30.

Anna Hazare has said that he has called off the protest after the central government decided to work on 15 core issues.

The 84-year-old activist had said earlier that the government was not sensitive towards the demands of farmers. “I have been agitating for important demands of farmers for the last four years. It seems like the government is not taking proper decision on the issue of farmers. The government is not sensitive towards the farmers,” he had said in a press statement.

Anna Hazare stated, “We have kept our demands before the Central Government time and again. I have written letters to the Prime Minister and Union Agriculture Minister five times in the last three months. Representatives of the government are discussing the matter but they haven’t reached proper solution regarding the demands so far.”

“So, I will start a fast from the Yadavbaba Temple in Ralegan-Siddhi on January 30, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination,” he had stated. Anna Hazare announced today that the fast has now been adjourned.

Mumbai court grants bail to rape accused after mother of victim requested his release for marriage with daughter: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai court grants bail to rape accused after mother of victim requested his release for marriage with daughter: Details

In a bizarre incident, a special court in Mumbai granted bail to a 25-year-old man who raped and impregnated a 16-year-old girl after he expressed willingness to marry the minor girl. 

According to reports, the POCSO Act court granted bail to the accused, who is already married, after it found that their relationship was ‘consensual’. The 16-year old’s mother has also submitted an affidavit seeking the release of the accused stating that her daughter had given birth to their daughter.

The court also noted that the man was ‘willing’ to marry the minor after two years when she is an adult.

Meanwhile, the police had opposed the bail of the accused as there was no evidence to show that the man’s first wife had consented to his second marriage. The police also alleged that the man had lured the minor girl who was not aware of the consequences and now intends to take undue advantage by offering to marry her.

Accused’s community allows him to marry more than once

However, the lawyer representing the case said that the man was allowed to marry more than once in the community of the accused.

Hearing the argument, the court passed the order saying that it cannot be said the first marriage of the accused was not within their knowledge. The court said that as it is submitted that the minor intends to marry him and the accused is also willing to marry her once she turns 18 and the affair is a consensual relationship, there was no need to keep the accused behind bars.

The court further said that, there was nothing to reject the bail application of the accused.

Details of the case

According to the prosecution, the accused is an acquaintance of the girl’s father. The minor girl and the accused had consensual resulting in minor girl becoming pregnant. The and the girl had kept her pregnancy a secret.

As the minor girl informed the accused about her pregnancy, he threatened her not to disclose his identity as the father of her unborn child.

The mother of the victim noticed the body changes and suspected that her daughter was pregnant. Later, the family found out the accused and lodged a complaint against the accused. The accused was arrested on October 23.

TRP Scam: ‘Cannot be forced to implicate or exonerate any channel’, Hansa Research files rejoinder to Mumbai Police’s counter-affidavit

OpIndia Staff
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TRP Scam: ‘Cannot be forced to implicate or exonerate any channel’, Hansa Research files rejoinder to Mumbai Police’s counter-affidavit

The Hansa Research Group has filed a rejoinder at the Bombay High Court following a counter-affidavit filed by the Mumbai Police in response to its original petitioned filed at the Court in October 2020. In its rejoinder, the Hansa Research Group has reiterated that they were being pressurized to implicate ARG Outlier Media, the owner of Republic TV.

Hansa Research Group observed in the rejoinder that controversial cop Sachiz Vaze (Respondent 1 in the rejoinder), who is leading the investigation into the TRP scam, has not come forward to deny the allegations levelled against him by the group in their initial petition.

Sachin Vaze is Respondent No. 1

The Hansa Research Group stated in its rejoinder, “The petitioners were compelled by the unwarranted pressure and harassment to move this Hon’ble court for an independent investigation. The non denial by the first respondent and non traversal of the crucial averments reinforce the prayer made. The petitioners have no interest in any particular media channel, they cannot be compelled to implicate or exonerate any channel. Whatever facts are in their knowledge, have fully shared with the investigating agency.”

The rejoinder also said that the allegations of abetment and aid are a “figment of imagination”. It said that such allegations are based on the respondents’ “surmises and presumptions and has no iota of evidence to support.”

Hansa Research Group rejoinder

The rejoinder also mentions that the counter-affidavit filed by the Mumbai Police does not deal with the October 27, 2020 letter in any shape or form. It also noted that the current reply had been fied only after two and a half months since the petition was served and “that too with general denials of allegations in a formal form”.

Hansa research Group rejoinder

Sachin vaze is a controversial cop who has been suspended earlier for his involvement in the custodial death of a 27-year-old software engineer. He was also accused of running an extortion racket.

The company which operates the Bar-O-Meters of BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council), had moved the Bombay High Court seeking transfer of the probe into the TRP Scam from Mumbai Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The petition had said that “the petitioners are continuously held at the Crime Branch for long hours and threatened with arrest and repeatedly pressed to make false statements.”

The report by Hansa Research based on which the FIR in the TRP case was registered, names India Today as the channel which had bribed households with the bar-o-meters to watch the channel, and it does not name Republic TV as alleged by Mumbai police. The FIR also names India Today and Republic TV finds no mention in the FIR too.

West Bengal: Trouble for TMC continues as party leader Rajib Banerjee resigns from the party and assembly days after quitting the ministry

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Trouble for TMC continues as party leader Rajib Banerjee resigns from the party and assembly days after quitting the ministry

On Friday, Trinamool Congress leader Rajib Banerjee resigned from the party, hours after resigning as a member of the assembly. He joins the list TMC leaders to quit the party ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

In a letter addressed TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Rajib said, “I do hereby tender my resignation as a Member of All India Trinamool Congress as well as from all other positions held by me in the party and its associates with immediate effect.” He added, “I am thankful for all the challenges and opportunities that has been afforded to me and I will always value my time spent as a member of the party.”

Screengrab of Rajib Banerjee’s letter to Mamata Banerjee (Photo Credits: ANI)

Rajib Banerjee had also sent a copy of the letter to the President of All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) party, Subrata Bakshi. Before quitting the party, he had tendered his resignation from the assembly earlier today. He had met the Speaker at the Assembly and submitted his resignation as MLA at about 1.30 pm.

The resignation of Rajib Banerjee as a TMC member comes amidst rumours of him joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In the run-up to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, several heavyweight leaders have deserted the Trinamool Congress and defected to the BJP.

In a Facebook post, he said, “This is to inform you all that I have submitted my resignation as a member of All India Trinamool Congress with immediate effect.” Recounting his journey with the TMC, he added, “During my tenure, I have worked with some wonderful people and great leaders and tried to fulfil my responsibility with hardwork and zeal. I wish all my former colleagues all the very best for the futures to come. I will be forever grateful to our Chairperson for giving me the opportunity to work for the betterment of West Bengal.”

Earlier Rajib Banerjee had resigned as West Bengal Cabinet Minister

Rajib Banerjee, who was appointed as the Minister-in-Charge of the Forest Department in the West Bengal cabinet, had resigned from his position last Friday (January 22). In a letter addressed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the TMC leader had written, “I regret to inform you that I hereby tender my resignation from my Office as Cabinet Minister being in charge of Forest Department on today, i.e. on 22nd of January 2021. He had also sent a copy of the letter to West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for necessary action.

Farmers should not even move an inch, protests will now spread all over India: Rahul Gandhi

OpIndia Staff
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Farmers should not even move an inch, protests will now spread all over India: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has held a press conference to speak about the ongoing farmer protests. In the presser, Rahul Gandhi has held the government responsible for the Red Fort violence. Gandhi asked how did the government allow the protestors to enter the Red Fort.

Rahul Gandhi ignored condemning the Red Fort attackers, instead, he lied through his teeth, claiming that the farm laws will ‘destroy the Mandi system, and will prevent the farmers from seeking legal remedies. Begining his presser, Gandhi said that the first law will destroy the mandi system and the agricultural markets, the second law will allow unlimited storage of grains and will make it impossible for farmers to negotiate prices. He claimed that the third law will make it impossible for farmers to go to court. The real provisions of the farm laws and underlying facilities can be read here.

The first farm laws enable farmers to sell their products anywhere in India, not just the local Mandis and APMCs, The government has stated repeatedly that Mandis will stay and the central government is even taking several steps to further empower and develop Mandis. The government has also asserted that MSPs will not be repealed. The amendment essentials commodities act and the promise to abolish APMCs was a part of Congress’ own manifesto in 2019.

Rahul Gandhi further continued his baseless claims, stating that the government is harassing farmers and benefitting certain individuals. He added that the farmer protests will not halt here, but will now be spread to every city all over the country. Rahul Gandhi asserted that only the farmers in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and UP have understood the laws well and hence they are opposing it. He also said that the protestors should not concede an inch to the government.

The Congress has been lying and spreading deliberate misinformation over the farm laws. The reality is that most farmers in several states have welcomed the new laws and the so-called protests are limited to certain specific ‘farmer unions associated with some political parties.

FBI arrests NYT columnist for working as Iran govt’s secret agent in the USA, says he earned at least $265,000 for ‘pushing propaganda’

OpIndia Staff
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FBI arrests NYT columnist for working as Iran govt’s secret agent in the USA, says he earned at least $265,000 for ‘pushing propaganda’

A regular contributor to the American daily newspaper, The New York Times, who was arrested by FBI agents at his home in Watertown, Massachusetts, on January 18, has confessed to working at the behest of the Iranian Government.

The federal government accused Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, also known as “Lotfolah Kaveh Afrasiabi, of acting as a secret foreign agent of the Iranian government in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). According to reports, Afrasiabi has been charged in New York City federal court with acting and conspiring to act as an unregistered agent of Iran. The US Attorney’s Office accuses him of pushing propaganda.

According to reports, the Iranian apologist had been lobbying US officials to support the Iranian government’s agenda. In a press release made by the US Department of Justice following Afrasiabi’s arrest, Acting US Attorney Seth DuCharme said: “Afrasiabi allegedly sought to influence the American public and American policymakers for the benefit of his employer, the Iranian government, by disguising propaganda as objective policy analysis and expertise.”  

The assistant director-in-charge of the FBI William F Sweeney added in the same press release that “Afrasiabi never disclosed to a Congressman, journalists or others who hold roles of influence in our country that he was being paid by the Iranian government to paint an untruthfully positive picture of the nation”.

The federal authorities said that Afrasiab allegedly used his position to push propaganda on behalf of the Iranian government without ever registering as a foreign agent and was, in turn, paid by the government of Iran for his services.

According to the authorities Afrasiabi has been paid by the Iranian diplomats assigned to the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in New York City, to a tune of at least $265,000, since 2007. And since then the journalist, whom NYT describes as a “political scientist and expert on Iran’s foreign affairs”, has written several articles, opinion pieces, made TV appearances in which he “advocated for positions, policies and perspectives” favoured by Iranian officials after seeking “approval, direction and guidance” from Iranian officials.

“He has received about $265,000 in checks drawn on the International Model United Nations’ (IMUN) official bank accounts since 2007 and has gotten health insurance through the IMUN’s employee health benefit plans since at least 2011”, the US Attorney’s Office alleged.

Afrasiabi is accused of emailing Iranian officials in January 2020 with advice for “retaliation” for the US military airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani, head of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, an elite unit that handles Iran’s overseas operations.

Afrasiabi at the time proposed the Iranian government “end all inspections and end-all information on Iran’s nuclear activities pending a United Nations Security Council condemnation of the United States’ illegal crime,” according to the criminal complaint filed against him in Brroklyn. Afrasiabi claimed the move would “strike fear in the heart of the enemy.”

If convicted, Afrasiabi would face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Blast near Israel Embassy in Delhi being investigated as attempted terrorist attack: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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Blast near Israel Embassy in Delhi being investigated as attempted terrorist attack: Reports

An IED Blast was reported outside Jindal House near the Israel Embassy in Delhi. Three cars have been damaged and forensic teams say that black powder was used. Jindal House is located at 5 APJ Abdul Kalam Road while the Israel Embassy is located at Bungalow 3. NSG and NIA teams have reportedly rushed to the spot.

The Delhi Police has confirmed the blast. The explosives were reportedly not very powerful.

Delhi Police said in a statement that no injury has been reported during the Jindal House blast. “Initial impressions suggest mischievous attempt to create a sensation,” the Police said.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has issued a statement and said that the matter in being investigated by Indian authorities. They also said that the Foreign Minister were being regularly updated regarding the same and have been instructed to take all necessary security measures.

The blast is being investigated as an attempted terrorist attack and the Israel Ambassador has been assured security to the mission and all diplomats.

Delhi was stormed by protesters recently during the Republic Day when Khalistanis ran riot at the national capital and hoisted the Sikh Flag at Red Fort. It is not clear as of this moment who is responsible for the blast. Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Note: The report has been updated with new information.

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