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Nepal Covid-19 tally crosses 12,300; death toll 28

New Delhi (NVI): 554 new positive coronavirus cases have been reported from Nepal, taking the toll in the Himalayan nation to 12,309, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Population said, 434 males and 120 females are among the newly infected persons. In total, 10,940 males and 1,369 females have contracted the disease.

As of today, coronavirus has spread to all 77 districts of Nepal, as per the reports.

The ministry also said that, Nepal has performed 210,876 sample tests through the PCR method so far.

Apart from this, 136 persons have recovered from the hospitals in last 24 hours. With this total recovery cases stands at 2,834, of which 2,592 are males while 242 females.

Currently, 9,447 people are in isolation and 65,712 in quarantines across the country.

Meanwhile, another COVID-19 related deaths have been reported in Nepal today. With this, death-toll from coronavirus infection in the country has reached 28.

-RJV

Hizb wiped out from Pulwama’s Tral, 29 terrorists active in south Kashmir: IGP

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): In south Kashmir districts, 29 foreign terrorists are active who are hiding in upper reaches while Hizbul Mujahideen has been weakened in southern districts of the Valley but wiped off completely from Pulwama’s Tral area, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Vijay Kumar today said.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a wreath laying ceremony of a CRPF man who was killed in yesterday’s terrorist attack at Bijbehara, IGP said that militancy has not been wiped from South Kashmir yet but has been largely weakened.

“There are 29 foreign militants active in South Kashmir, who are hiding in upper reaches of southern districts and are not coming down. When our sources would give accurate information about them, we will go after them,” Kumar said.

“Militancy has not been wiped out from South Kashmir yet but we are in a process of doing that,” he said. “There have been massive jolts to the various terrorist outfits in South Kashmir this year. The remaining terrorists are being cleaned gradually. However, the Tral area, that has been the hot bed of militancy, has for the first time since 1989, no active Hizb terrorist. ”

Interestingly, Director General of Police (J&K) Dilbagh Singh recently said that Hizb has lost over 50 terrorists this year while Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have lost 20 each including top commanders.

Responding to a query whether security forces have shifted their focus to north Kashmir, the IGP said that the number of terrorists in north Kashmir is less as compared to south. “We have already started anti-militancy operations in north Kashmir also. Recently, we killed two local terrorists in Sopore area of Baramulla,” he said.

The IGP further stated that, “Both, human as well as technical intelligence is helping us to develop credible leads about the presence of terrorists. We develop leads and act against terrorists and later on identify the militant outfits they belong to.”

Talking about the attack at Bijbheara in which a CRPF man and a five-year-old boy were killed, he said eye-witnesses and police sources have identified the terrorist involved in the firing. “His name is Zahid Das and he is affiliated with the J&K Islamic State outfit. He came on a bike and fired indiscriminately in which a CRPF man and minor boy got killed,” he said, adding that “a massive manhunt has been launched to nab Zahid.”

-CHK

Delhi University postpones open book exams for final-year students by 10 days

Delhi University
Delhi University

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi University (DU) today postponed its online open-book examinations (OBE) for final-year students by 10 days citing rising cases of COVID-19. Exams earlier scheduled to start on July 1 will now begin on July 10.

The University will announce new dates for the final-year undergraduate and postgraduate exams including the School of Open Learning and the Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB), on July 3, 2020.

According to the notification by Delhi University, guidelines for the DU open book exam will remain same as announced before. Mock tests for the open book exams will start from July 4.

In addition to this, the notifications regarding conduct of OBE for persons with disabilities (PwD) and visually impaired (VI) students will also remain the same, DU informed.

Reportedly, the open book exams have been furiously resisted by both teachers and students of DU citing issues like absence of study material for many students and lack of internet connectivity in various parts of the country, among others.

So far, the contagious respiratory disease had infected 77,240 people and claimed 2,492 lives in the national capital.

-CHK

2.4 mn children face hunger and aid shortages in Yemen amid COVID-19: UNICEF

(Source: @UNICEF)

New Delhi (NVI): Approximately 2.4 million children under the age of 5 in Yemen were pushed to face hunger and malnutrition due to huge shortfalls in humanitarian aid funding amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new UNICEF report.

In an official statement, UNICEF said that in the next six months, an additional 30,000 children could develop life-threatening severe acute malnutrition and the overall number of malnourished children under the age of five could increase to a total of 2.4 million.

A report by the organization stated that, after five years of war in the country, Yemen’s devastated health system and infrastructure struggles to cope with coronavirus pandemic, the already serious situation for children is likely to deteriorate considerably.

Furthermore, the health system is teetering closer to collapsing. After years of conflict, only half of health facilities are operational, with huge shortages in medicine, equipment and staff.

Around 9.58 million children do not have sufficient access to safe water, sanitation, or hygiene and this poor access to water and sanitation is stoking the spread of COVID-19, as per the report.

Besides, the United Nations recorded 3,467 children, some as young as 10-year-old, recruited and used by armed forces and groups over the last five years and with schools closed, 7.8 million children are not able to access education in the country.

“If we do not receive urgent funding, children will be pushed to the brink of starvation and many will die. The international community will be sending a message that the lives of children in a nation devastated by conflict, disease and economic collapse, simply do not matter,” said Sara Beysolow Nyanti, UNICEF Representative to Yemen.

“We cannot overstate the scale of this emergency as children, in what is already the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, battle for survival as COVID-19 takes hold,” Nyanti said.

UNICEF is appealing for aid worth USD 461 million for its humanitarian response in Yemen, with an additional USD 53 million for its COVID-19 response alone. It said that, so far UNICEF has received just 10 per cent of the funds required for the COVID-19 response and around 39 percent of the humanitarian aid funding.

However, UNICEF is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the authorities across Yemen to get life-saving aid to children in desperate need.

Nyanti also said that, “UNICEF is working around the clock in incredibly difficult situations to get aid to children in desperate need, but we only have a fraction of the funding required to do this. Children in Yemen need lasting peace and stability in their country,” she added

-RJV

Locust swarm clouds over Gurugram, bordering districts of Delhi put on alert

(Source: Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): A swarm of desert locusts have reached the outskirts of Delhi, after descending upon Gurugram today morning. The crop-destroying locusts are expected to head towards Uttar Pradesh.

The skies over many parts of Gurugram, including Cyber Hub turned dark, but the migratory pests are likely to spare Delhi for now.

However, the adjoining districts of the national capital have been put on alert.
The Haryana government has issued a high alert after locusts entered Rewari and Gurugram districts, with officials saying that all necessary measures have been taken, according to media reports.

Gurugram residents were last evening asked to keep their windows shut as precaution against a locust attack by the city administration as a swarm was sighted in an adjoining district.

Many residents of Gurugram shared videos from their high-rise perches after being alarmed by the invasion of locusts, which settled on trees, rooftops and plants. In addition to this, the district administration has asked residents to make clanging noises by beating utensils to ward off the insects.

Earlier In May, India withstood a destruction desert locust outbreak. The crop-destroying swarms first attacked Rajasthan and then spread to parts of Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

-RJV/CHK

NALCO clocks all-time high physical performance; net profit of Rs 138 crore

Subrat Kumar Sarangi

Bhubaneswar (NVI): The National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Central PSU located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, earned a net profit of Rs 138.23 crore in financial year 2019-20, successfully handling the market downturn by improving productivity and sales.

NALCO, a Navratna CPSE which comes under Ministry of Mines, despite being adversely impacted by about Rs 2,900 crore due to fall in global metal prices, the company has continued to remain profitable and achieved a net turnover of Rs 8,426 crore.

The export turnover of the company for the fiscal was Rs 3,511crore, according to a statement released by the company.

However, weathering the sluggishness in the international metal market and falling London Metal Exchange prices, NALCO has continued to remain profitable by successfully handling the market downturn.

Riding on overall growth in production, improving productivity and sales, the company has been registering profit every fiscal since inception.

In addition to this, the Navratna CPSE has also achieved significant growth in production and sales.

Furthermore, Bauxite production of 73.02 lakh MT in mines and 21.61 lakh MT of Alumina Hydrate in alumina refinery, have been the highest-ever since company’s inception.

Both mines and refinery of NALCO has been performing beyond its installed capacities. The company also produced 4.18 lakh MT of Aluminium metal in FY19-20.

Sridhar Patra, CMD, NALCO, has attributed the success to the teamwork and dedication of the employees.

“We are optimistic that in the long run with our focus on increasing the production in mining and refining segments, opening up of the new coal blocks, backward integration in supply of key raw materials like caustic soda, we shall be able to tide over present economic crisis,” Patra said.

-CHK

India placed better than many nations in fight against COVID: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): India is much better placed than many other nations in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic but “we have to be even more careful now”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today as the corona cases continued to record rapid increase.

“The world is fighting a strong battle against a global pandemic. COVID-19 is not only a physical sickness that is a threat to lives of people. It also takes our attention to unhealthy life-styles,” he said.

He was delivering the inaugural address to mark the 90th birth anniversary celebrations of Reverend Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan.

“You would be happy to know that powered by our Corona warriors, India is firmly fighting COVID-19. Earlier this year, some people had predicted that the impact of the virus in India would be very severe. Due to the lockdown, initiatives taken by the Government and a people-driven fight, India is much better placed than many other nations. India’s recovery rate is rising,” PM Modi stated.

Modi also urged everyone to be careful and follow social distancing norms and wear mask.

“A people driven fight has given good results so far but can we let our guard down? No, Not at all. Infact, we have to be even more careful now. Wearing masks, Social distancing, avoiding crowded places, regular hand washing, such things remain important,” he said.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): India saw the highest ever single-day rise in coronavirus cases after 18,552 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases to 5,08,953, according to Health Ministry data.

Meanwhile, the total number of fatalities due to the deadly contagion rose to 15,685 in the country after 384 new fatalities were reported during this period.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 1,52,765, followed by Delhi with 77,240 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 74,622 cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 72

Andhra Pradesh- 11,489

Arunachal Pradesh- 172

Assam- 6,607

Bihar- 8,716

Chandigarh- 425

Chhattisgarh- 2,545

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 26

Delhi- 77,240

Gujarat- 30,095

Goa- 1,039

Haryana– 12,884

Himachal Pradesh- 864

Jammu and Kashmir- 6,762

Jharkhand- 2,290

Karnataka- 11,005

Kerala- 3,876

Ladakh- 946

Madhya Pradesh- 12,798

Maharashtra- 1,52,765

Manipur- 1,075

Meghalaya- 47

Mizoram- 145

Nagaland- 371

Odisha- 6,180

Puducherry- 502

Punjab- 4,957

Rajasthan- 16,660

Sikkim- 86

Tamil Nadu- 74,622

Telangana- 12,349

Tripura- 1,325

Uttarakhand- 2,725

Uttar Pradesh- 20,943

West Bengal – 16,190

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 148

Arunachal Pradesh- 1

Assam- 9

Bihar- 58

Chandigarh- 6

Chhattisgarh- 13

Delhi- 2,492

Goa- 2

Gujarat- 1,771

Haryana- 211

Himachal Pradesh- 9

Jammu and Kashmir- 91

Jharkhand- 11

Karnataka- 180

Kerala- 22

Ladakh- 1

Madhya Pradesh- 546

Maharashtra- 7,106

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 17

Puducherry- 9

Punjab- 122

Rajasthan- 380

Tamil Nadu- 957

Telangana- 237

Tripura- 1

Uttar Pradesh- 630

Uttarakhand- 37

West Bengal- 616

A total of 2,95,881 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 1,97,387 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

-CHK

182nd birth anniv of Bankim Chatterjee

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

New Delhi (NVI): The Bengali literary giant Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the man behind our National Song – Vande Mataram, is remembered on his 182nd birth anniversary today.

Born on June 27, 1838, in Naihati, Bengal Presidency, during British India. He played a key role in the literary Renaissance movement with his impactful writings.

Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu remembered the great writer and poet on twitter and wrote, “Remembering the great nationalist and illustrious author Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on his birth anniversary today.”

Besides, several other people also took to twitter and remembered the great writer.

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay or Chatterjee wrote 13 novels in Bengali, ranging from serious, satirical to critical and socio-political.

His notable works include Durgeshnandini, Radharani, Krishnakanter Uil, Kapalkundala, Devi Chaudhurani, Rajsimha, Ananda Math, Vande Mataram amongst many others.

He also had a Law degree and in 1858, was appointed as a Deputy Collector of Jessore.

-RJV

Global coronavirus cases surpass 97 lakh

World Covid cases

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus cases worldwide have increased to over 97 lakh while the death toll has reached nearly 5 lakh, according to John Hopkins University tally.

More than 48 lakh patients have recovered globally.

The US now has a higher number of reported cases than all European nations put together. It has recorded over 24.5 lakh confirmed cases, with a death toll of over 1,24,000.

South American country Brazil has come up to the second position with 12,74,974 confirmed cases and 55,961 deaths so far.

Beijing registered 17 new domestically transmitted cases on Saturday . The Chinese capital has seen a total of 297 local infections since June 11.

A day earlier, Latin American nation Mexico recorded 6,104 new cases of the coronavirus, with 736 fatalities. The number of coronavirus cases had increased to 208,392 in the country.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO)-led coalition, fighting the coronavirus, needs 31.3 billion USD over the next 12 months to develop and roll out tests, treatments and vaccines, it said.

-RJV

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