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MP crisis: BJP moves SC over floor test

New Delhi (NVI): The Bharatiya Janata Party moved the Supreme Court today soon after the Madhya Pradesh Speaker NP Prajapati adjourned the Assembly till March 26 without holding the floor test.

However, the apex court will take up plea filed by former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and nine other MLAs demanding floor test tomorrow. Chauhan and the nine MLAs have demanded a floor test within 12 hours. Even as the budget session was scheduled to begin at 11 am today, the assembly was adjourned in view of the coronavirus. It was immediately adjourned after Governor Lalji Tandon completed his address and left the Assembly.

The political turmoil in the state began after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress last week along with 22 MLAs, who sent their resignations to the Speaker. Scindia had then taken the MLAs to a hotel in Bengaluru to prevent them from interacting with the Congress or revoking their resignations.

Over 6,300 people dead across the world due to coronavirus

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 6,300 mark while confirmed cases have exceeded 153,000 globally, according to reports in foreign media.

While CGTN reports 6,388 deaths globally, Johns Hopkins University in the US has reported that more than 6,500 people have died due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, corona death cases saw a spike in Italy yesterday, as it announced 3,590 new cases and 368 deaths in just 24 hours.

In another development, three EU states bearing the brunt of the pandemic in Europe have all recorded their highest death tolls for a single day.

Italy reported 368 deaths bringing its total to 1,809, Spain recorded 97 more deaths for a total of 288, and France reported 29 deaths, giving a total of 120, according to international media reports.

The United Kingdom also saw a single-day record, with 14 new deaths and a total of 35. Governments across Europe have responded by curbing the movements of citizens and tightening borders.

Pakistan has also recorded its largest single daily jump in coronavirus cases on Sunday, with at least 52 people confirmed to have the virus, health officials say.

The Qatar Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) also announced 64 new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Gulf nation, taking the total number of cases to 401.

The United States and countries across Europe are closing schools, entertainment venues and all but essential services, as they step up efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 outbreak was first reported in the city of Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, in December 2019. Experts have attributed the outbreak to a novel coronavirus that has since spread across China and abroad.

However, coronavirus cases and deaths saw a decline in China after the virus gained momentum in other parts of the world.

Another batch of 53 Indians evacuated from corona-hit Iran

New Delhi (NVI): A fourth batch of 53 Indian nationals, including 52 students and a teacher arrived in Jaisalmer today, taking the total number of people evacuated from the coronavirus-hit country to 389.

External Affairs Minister S Jaisahnkar tweeted as soon as the flight landed in Jaisalmer in the morning.

“Fourth batch of 53 Indians – 52 students and a teacher – has arrived from Tehran and Shiraz, #Iran. With this, a total of 389 Indians have returned to India from Iran. Thank the efforts of the team @India_in_Iran and Iranian authorities,” he tweeted.

All the evacuated nationals who were airlifted from Tehran and Shiraz were moved to the Army Wellness Centre in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

Yesterday, the third batch of 234 Indians stranded in coronavirus-hit Iran was brought back. They were also taken to the same quarantine facility of the Indian Army in Jaisalmer.

The second batch of 44 Indians was brought back from Iran via a special Air India flight on Friday.

The first batch of Indians from the virus-hit country was evacuated on Tuesday.

Iran is one of the worst coronavirus-hit countries outside of China, with the death toll of more than 700.

Light rains expected over Northwest India in coming days

Light rains in Delhi
Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): Isolated light rains are expected in parts of Punjab and Haryana in the coming days.

During the last 24 hours, the weather of entire Northwest India remained dry.

The maximum temperatures also increased by two to three degrees, according to SkymetWeather.

The intense weather activities in the last few days have led to crop damage over many parts of Punjab, Haryana, West Uttar Pradesh and some parts of North Rajasthan.

In Delhi, the maximum temperature today was recorded at 25 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 15 degrees Celsius.

According to IMD, the maximum and minimum temperature is now expected to increase over the next few days.

Modi proposes jt fight by SAARC nations against COVID

PM Modi hosted a video conference for SAARC leaders on combating COVID-19 on March 15

New Delhi (NVI): In a bid to broaden the scope of fight against coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today brought on single platform all the 8 members of SAARC grouping with a proposal for partnership, transcending differences in view of the pandemic.

He held a video conference with leaders and representatives of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives and Pakistan and proposed setting up of a COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which could be based on voluntary contributions from all the member nations.

On part of India, Modi pledged USD 10 million for the Fund.

After PM Modi, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Maldives President Ibrahim Solih, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Nepal PM K P Oli and Bhutan PM Dr Lotay Tshering also spoke on the coronavirus situation in their countries and efforts being made by their governments to contain the virus.

Pakistan was represented by Dr Zafar Mirza, Advisor to PM Imran Khan.

During the interaction, Modi called for coordinated efforts among SAARC member nations as he spoke about the steps taken by India to meet the challenge.

“We started screening entry into India from mid-January itself, while also gradually increasing restrictions on travel.

The step-by-step approach has helped avoid panic,” said PM Modi while opening the session.

He said India has made special efforts to reach out to vulnerable groups. “We have worked to quickly ramp up capacity in our system including through training our medical staff across the country,” he said.

Modi further informed other leaders that India has evacuated nearly 1400 Indians from different countries and mentioned that some of the citizens from neighboring countries were also helped to be able to return back to their native places.

After the members shared their thoughts on the situation and steps taken, PM Modi also spoke on the way forward and measures to be taken to combat COVID-19.

He said that India is assembling a Rapid Response Team of doctors and specialists, along with testing kits and other equipment. “They will be on stand-by, to be placed at your disposal, if required,” he said.

During the interaction, PM said India is ready to help its SAARC members as it can quickly arrange online training capsules for their emergency response teams. “This will be based on the model we have used in our own country, to raise the capacity of all our emergency staff,” he added.

“We had set up an Integrated Disease Surveillance Portal to better trace possible virus carriers and the people they contacted. We could share this Disease Surveillance software with SAARC partners, and training on using this,” he said.

“Looking ahead, we could create a common Research Platform, to coordinate research on controlling epidemic diseases within our South Asian region. The Indian Council of Medical Research can offer help coordinating such an exercise,” he added.

The PM further suggested that all SAARC member nations can ask their experts to brainstorm on the longer-term economic consequences of COVID-19, and how “we can insulate our internal trade and our local value chains from its impact.”

Modi also called for evolving common SAARC Pandemic Protocols which can be applied on all the borders as well as within the borders in such situations.

The idea of the video conference was proposed by PM Modi on Friday as he called upon SAARC members to set an example to the world in their fight with COVID-19. The member nations had responded to PM’s initiative while lauding his leadership potential in the region.

Coronavirus: 2,157 persons put under surveillance in JK

Jammu (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government today said that 2,157 travellers and persons in contact with suspected coronavirus cases have been put under surveillance in the Union Territory.

According to the daily media bulletin on novel coronavirus (COVID-19), 1,829 persons are under home quarantine and 29 persons are in hospital quarantine while 131 persons are under home surveillance.

Further, the bulletin said that 101 samples have been sent for testing, of which 87 tested as negative and only two cases have tested positive, so far while as reports of 12 cases are awaited till March 15, 2020. Meanwhile, 168 persons have completed their 28 days surveillance period.

According to the bulletin, home quarantined persons and their family members are requested to cooperate with the local surveillance teams/health authorities and strictly follow the guidelines for home quarantine issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Public in general has been requested to strengthen surveillance mechanism by making self-declaration about their foreign travel history to local health authorities. “Moreover all social, religious and political organizations are urged to avoid large gatherings,” reads the advisory.

Medical masks, according to the advisory should not be used by healthy persons who are not having any symptoms because it creates false sense of security that can lead to neglecting other essential measures such as washing of hands. “In fact erroneous use of masks or continuous use of a disposable mask for longer than 6 hours or repeated use of same mask may actually increase risk of getting infection.”

Stressing on the social distancing, the advisory urged people not to panic and avoid unnecessary travel, use of public transport; avoid crowded places and large gatherings. “People must take basic precautions for personal hygiene; frequent hand washing with soap & water; and observing coughing & sneezing etiquettes. If anyone has fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, seek medical care at the earliest.”

To avoid any misinformation, people are urged to rely only on the information released by the government through the daily media bulletin to print and electronic media.

Farooq urges JK parties to unite, bring back all detained in jails outside UT

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Two days after his release from detention, National Conference President and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today urged all political leaders in the UT to unite and press for bringing back all J&K detainees lodged in outside jails.

“Before we allow politics to divide us I appeal to all political leaders here to unite behind the call to the union government to bring back all detainees from J&K in prisons outside pending their release. While we would like to see them all released as soon as possible, pending that they should be shifted to J&K. This is a humanitarian demand and I hope others will join me in placing this demand in front of the government of India,” Farooq Abdullah said in his first official statement after being released from detention under PSA on March 13.

“I believe a free and frank exchange of political views is essential so that we can take stock of the momentous changes that J&K has seen after 5th August 2019 we are still some way away from an environment where such political discourse will be possible. This is especially so considering the number of people detained in August last year who remain in jails outside J&K,” he said.

The NC leader further said that he is aware that compared to hundreds of Kashmiri families he has been far more fortunate. “I was detained at home and my family had access to me. Yesterday when I went to meet my son Omar, also detained under the Public Safety Act, I had to travel a kilometer from my home to be able to see him. For families of most of the detainees meeting their loved ones is not nearly as easy. Their loved ones have been detained in jails spread across a number of states. They get two visits a month for which they have to spend large sums of money they can ill afford traveling to & staying in the vicinity of these prisons,” Farooq said.

He said the already onerous financial burden is made worse by the health risk they now face because of COVID-19. “At a time when people are being advised not to travel these families are being forced to put their lives at risk in order to meet their loved ones for a few short but very precious hours,” Abdullah said.

Baseer Khan appointed fourth advisor to JK LG

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan was today appointed as the fourth advisor to Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

In an order issued by Deputy Secretary to Govt of India, Anandi Venkateswaran, “the undersigned is directed to convey approval of the competent authority in this ministry to the appointment of Shri Baseer Ahmed Khan, IAS (JK-2000), as advisor to Lt. Governor of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the effective discharge of his functions as Lt Governor during the period of the notification SO 3937 (E) dated 31th October 2019, or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” the order reads.

The order further reads that the LG of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is requested to issue necessary orders with regard to terms and conditions of his appointment under intimation to this Ministry, reads the order.

A direct recruit KAS officer, Baseer Khan has served as Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, DC Anantnag, DC Kishtwar, DC Udhampur and  Administrative Secretary of different departments.

He was posted as Divisional Commissioner Kashmir in 2016 when the state faced unprecedented law and order problems. In the past three years, Baseer Khan resolved key issues in Srinagar and other districts of Kashmir.

In 2019, the Government of India (GoI) extended his services for a period of one year, after the state government’s request to “keep in view their role in handling crisis-like situations and interests of the state.”

‘Namaste’ goes global amid Corona scare

New Delhi (NVI): With coronavirus spreading through human contact, India’s traditional way of greeting each other with folded hands has gained relevance in the developed countries, particularly among their leaders.

Be it US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or even Prince Charles, everyone is adopting ‘Namaste’ to greet others, instead of a handshake, to avoid human contact and possible contraction of coronavirus.

Netanyahu, who is greatly appreciative of India and it’s culture, was the first world leader to publicly appeal for adoption of ‘Namaste’ as a way of greeting.

Subsequently, Macron decided to meet other leaders and officials with folded hands and by saying ‘Namaste’, instead of shaking hands.

The French President’s resolve was seen when he greeted Spain’s King and Queen on March 11. He replaced the traditional handshake with an Indian-style namaste, pressing his palms together and bowing slightly.

French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain tweeted those visuals and said Macron has decided to meet his counterparts with Namaste.

The French President has retained the “graceful gesture” since his India visit in 2018, the Ambassador wrote.

Trump, after his meeting with the Irish Prime Minister at White House recently, also told journalists that he resorted to Namaste to greet the visiting leader as it was a good way to avoid human contact.

He didn’t forget to mention that he had been to India in the recent past and it was here that such a way is used to greet.

Prince Charles was also seen in visuals doing Namaste to greet another leader after almost shaking hands.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked people to avoid handshakes and greet with ‘namaste’.

As the deadly virus keeps spreading, with the WHO declaring it a pandemic, people are worried about social contact including gestures of meeting like a handshake, hugging and kissing on the cheek, as it might spread the virus.

Not only in India, but public health authorities in Europe have also said that people should avoid shaking hands to curb the spread of coronavirus. The COVID-19 infection could be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact.

UNICEF warns of misinformation about COVID-19 on social media

New York (NVI): Misinformation during times of a health crisis can spread paranoia, fear, and stigmatization, the UNICEF has said in a statement while warning people about fake information on COVID-19 being spread on social media.

The organisation released the statement after a fake online message purporting to be a UNICEF communication was doing rounds on social media. The message appears to indicate that avoiding ice cream can prevent the virus.

“A recent erroneous online message circulating in several languages around the world and purporting to be a UNICEF communication appears to indicate, among other things, that avoiding ice cream and other cold foods can help prevent the onset of the disease. This is, of course, wholly untrue,” read a statement by Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Partnerships.

She said that sound preparation, based on scientific evidence, is what is needed at this time.

In her statement on coronavirus misinformation, Charlotte stated that while many people are sharing information about the virus and how to protect against it, only some of that information is useful or reliable.

She also warned those behind the misinformation.“To the creators of such falsehoods, we offer a simple message: STOP. Sharing inaccurate information and attempting to imbue it with authority by misappropriating the names of those in a position of trust is dangerous and wrong,” she said.

The UNICEF Deputy Executive Director also urged the people to seek accurate information about how to keep themself and their family safe from verified sources, such as UNICEF or WHO, government health officials and trusted healthcare professionals. She appealed to the public to refrain from sharing information from untrustworthy or unverified sources.

“It can be difficult in today’s information-rich society to know exactly where to go for knowledge about how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. But it is critical that we remain as diligent about the accuracy of the information we share as we are about every other precaution we take to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe,” she added.

Charlotte asserted that UNICEF is actively taking steps to provide accurate information about the virus by working with the World Health Organization, government authorities and with online partners like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok to make sure that accurate information and advice is available, as well as taking steps to inform the public when inaccurate information emerges.

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