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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

COVID cases in India climb to over 5 lakh, deaths at 15,685

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus cases in India saw the highest single-day spike of 18,552 in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 5,08,953, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The death toll due to the virus rose to 15,685, with 384 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours.

So far, 2,95,881 patients have recovered all over the country.

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.

Other states with high corona cases are Gujarat (30,095), Uttar Pradesh (20,943), Rajasthan (16,660) and West Bengal (16,190).

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 7,106, followed by 1,771 in Gujarat and 957 in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital rose to 24,92, while 47,091 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

Meanwhile, the government of Jharkhand yesterday extended the lockdown to combat COVID-19 till July 31. The Assam government also announced a two-week lockdown in Guwahati from Sunday midnight.

However, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, said there would be no fresh lockdown in Bengaluru to control the spread of the coronavirus.

-RJV

J&K: 5 BSF personnel, 5 minors among 213 new cases, tally at 6,762

Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed another surge in Covid-19 cases with five BSF personnel, three policemen and five minors among 213 fresh cases, taking the total number of cases to 6,762.

Officials said that among new 213 new cases that were detected in Jammu and Kashmir today, 74 were tested positive at SKIMS, 70 at CD hospital, 13 at JVC Bemina, 34 at Army’s Command Hospital Udhampur and rest at other hospitals. “Among new cases were five BSF men, three cops and five minors also,” they said.

Among 213 new cases, 155 belong to Kashmir division while 58 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 5,266 including 3,088 recoveries and 80 deaths while the total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached 1,496 including 992 recoveries and 11 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir is 2,591 including 2,098 from Kashmir and 493 from Jammu.

With 113 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 4,080 which is 60.33 percent of the total cases.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 7 from Kulgam, 10 from Srinagar, 18 from Shopian, 63 from Baramulla, 5 from Anantnag, 17 from Kupwara, 1 from Bandipora and 23 from Pulwama in Kashmir division while 58 from Jammu 40 from Udhampur, 5 from Kuthua, 7 from Rajouri, 3 from Reasi, 2 from Poonch and one from Samba.

As per officials figures, 751 positive cases including 11 deaths and 494 recoveries are from Kulgam, 795 including 22 deaths and 234 recoveries are from Srinagar, 704 including 518 recoveries and 10 deaths are from Shopian, 627 including 6 deaths and 456 recoveries are from Anantnag, 748 including 14 deaths and 359 recoveries are from Baramulla, 508 including 369 recoveries and 05 deaths are from Kupwara, 284 including 238 recoveries and 01 death are from Bandipora, 409 including 172 recoveries and 04 death are from Pulwama, 358 including 186 recoveries and 07 deaths are from Budgam, 82 including 62 recoveries are from Ganderbal.

In Jammu, 322 including 255 recoveries and 7 deaths are from Jammu district, 257 including 160 recoveries and 1 death from Udhampur, 213 including 154 recoveries are from Ramban, 211 including 128 recoveries are from Kathua, 135 including 69 recoveries from Samba, 120 including 93 recoveries and one death are from Poonch, 101 including 1 death and 37 recoveries from Rajouri, 72 including 54 recoveries and 1 death are from Doda, 40 including 26 recoveries are from Reasi and 25 including 16 recoveries are from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 2,71,009 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 39,303 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 2,591 persons are in hospital isolation while 31 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 1,81,320 persons have completed surveillance period and 47,673 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 3,38,903 samples are available out of which 3,32,141 tested negative while 6762 have been tested positive. Among them, 2,591 are active and 4,080 persons have recovered while 91 have died.

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