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Coronavirus: Fears of global pandemic as virus spreads rapidly

New Delhi (NVI): South Korea today confirmed 161 new cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as the total number climbed to 763, according to Yonhap news agency.

Two more people have died in the country due to the infection, bringing the total number of deaths to 7.

As new cases are reported around the world, the virus outbreak has led to rising fears that it could become a pandemic.

Yesterday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in put the country on highest possible alert in its fight against coronavirus.

Around 7,700 troops have been quarantined after 11 military members were infected.

North Korea has quarantined 380 foreigners in a bid to stop the coronavirus from breaking out. The foreigners are mostly diplomats stationed in the capital Pyongyang. Although, there have not been any reported cases of COVID-19 in North Korea.

Iran has also confirmed 43 cases of the virus and eight deaths till now, the highest toll outside mainland China.

The virus, which emerged in China, has spread to at least 29 countries.

Meanwhile, Kuwait and Bahrain reported their first cases of the virus, while Turkey, Pakistan and Armenia closed their borders with Iran, as Tehran reported more coronavirus infections and deaths. Neighbouring Afghanistan also introduced travel restrictions, according to media reports.

At least 152 cases and three deaths were also reported in Italy, prompting emergency measures in Europe.

In the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus emerged, healthy non-residents who are not under quarantine – and have not shown any symptoms – will be allowed to leave.

The city has been on lockdown since January 23, with authorities cutting off transport links in and out of the city.

More than 2,590 people have died from the virus in China, with some 77,150 cases confirmed cases reported, the National Health Commission announced.

Schools reopen in Kashmir after 7 months

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Educational institutions in Kashmir reopened today after remaining shut for nearly seven months following the abrogation of Article 370, in August last year.

Long queues of students wearing school bags and going to the schools were seen this morning.

“We are happy to come back to our schools after a long time,” said one of the students.

The parents were seeing accompanying their wards, while many students were seen exchanging pleasantries with their friends.

“We are happy that our kids are going to school today. Last year, education sector was badly hit,” said Rahim Ahmad, a parent.

On December 9 last year, the government had ordered winter vacation for all government educational institutions and recognised private schools up to higher secondary level from December 10 to February 22, 2020.

Every year, schools in the Valley break for winter vacations from December 15 to March 1. But this year, after the tension, while offices and other departments resumed normal work, students have stayed away from schools mostly after August 5.

The government resumed schools officially, but they mostly remained empty. This year, while the winter break is being announced, a majority of students will miss seven straight months of their classwork.

Kashmir School Education Director Mohammad Younis Malik said all arrangements had been put in place and the timing for the schools falling within Srinagar’s municipal limits will be 10 am-3 pm, while in the rest of Kashmir division, the timing will be 10.30 am-3.30 pm.

The director urged the teachers to work with dedication for building capacities of the students for their better future.

“It’s our responsibility to extend our support to them and redouble efforts to get their syllabus completed well in time,” the director said.

He instructed the field officers to visit schools regularly to monitor the follow up of academic planner for timely accomplishment of the set targets.

Clear weather in Delhi, temperature settles at 10.8 degrees

New Delhi (NVI):The national capital woke up to a pleasant weather today as minimum temperature settled at 10.8 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature today is expected to be around 27 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The overall air quality in the national capital today is in “moderate” category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 135 which falls in the “moderate” category.

The IMD said that there will be a gradual fall in minimum temperature by 2 to 3 degree Celsius over Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh during next three days.

“No significant change temperature is expected in rest of the country,” it added.

Meanwhile, the Western Disturbance over the northern parts of Jammu and Kashmir was responsible for dropping the temperatures across the northern plains.

PMGSY roads e-inaugurated in J&K by Jitendra Singh

New Delhi (NVI): Every possible help to the district administrations in their endeavor towards overall growth and development in Jammu and Kashmir will be assured, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh said today.

He was speaking at an event to e-inaugurate various roads constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

These roads have been constructed in Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts of the Jammu division.

The total length of these roads is over 137 km and has been constructed at a cost of Rs 74.74 crore.

During the meeting, he also reviewed the progress of all centrally sponsored schemes (CSSes) being executed in Udhampur district.

Jitendra Singh also said that the main focus of the central government is to empower the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

He advised officials to cooperate and ensure that all funds and functions are transferred to PRIs as per government circulars.

He asked Block Development Council chairpersons to submit the list of left out areas that require road connectivity to the PMGSY department in consultation with PRIs.

The minister said, “Under the government’s initiatives, a large number of industries are to be established in the Union Territory.”

Singh also asked the local youth to come forward and join hands with industrialists to become entrepreneurs.

He chaired a meeting of the Kathua district development coordination and monitoring committee today.

Jitendra congratulated the department for completing the projects in time and said that the central government under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed for overall development of J&K.

Among other Divisional Commissioners of all the six districts, officers and officials of the concerned departments and public representatives were present on the occasion.

SC has led progressive social transformation: President

Ram Nath Kovind addresses valedictory session of the International Judicial Conference 2020. (Source: @rashtrapatibhvn)

New Delhi (NVI): President Ram Nath Kovind today hailed the efforts of Indian Judiciary in pursuing the “cherished goal of gender justice” and described the Supreme Court as “pro-active and progressive”.

Adressing the valedictory session of the International Judicial Conference here, he said, “From issuing guidelines on preventing sexual harassment in the workplace two decades ago to providing directives for granting equal status to women in the Army this month, the Supreme Court of India has led progressive social transformation.”

He was giving his address on the topic ‘Judiciary and the Changing World’.

Kovind said landmark verdicts of the Supreme Court have strengthened the legal and constitutional framework of India and its bench and bar are known for their legal scholarship and intellectual wisdom.

“The recent move towards introducing an alternative dispute resolution mechanism is expected to reduce the burden on the court to a considerable extent,” the President said.

“Dispute resolution through mediation and conciliation would help resolve the problem amicably in an effective manner instead of resorting to a lengthy litigation process,” he added.

He said that courts in India have been adapting to new technologies and also considering the potential of artificial intelligence to speed up justice delivery.

He also expressed happiness that the judgments of the Apex court are being made accessible to common people in vernacular languages. He termed this effort as “extraordinary” as it caters to the linguistic diversity of the nation.

He also lauded judiciary’s role in harmonising environmental protection and sustainable development. President Kovind also highlighted the challenges faced by the judiciary with the evolution of information and technology saying that the questions like data protection and right to privacy have emerged.

PM Modi to inaugurate Global Investors Summit 2020 in Srinagar

 Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI):  The first ever Global Investors Summit in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to be held on May 26 and 27, 2020 to attract investments in different sectors in the Union Territory.

The event will most likely be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The inaugural function of the summit is expected to be held in Srinagar.

Global Investors’ Summit 2020 aims to exhibit investment opportunities available in different sectors including tourism, film tourism, horticulture & post harvest management, agro and food processing, in the newly formed UT of J&K.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh are expect to the attend the ceremony.

The newly-formed Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has also inked Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth over Rs 2,100 crore during its investment summit roadshow in Mumbai.

At present, Government of Jammu and Kashmir is developing two IT parks, ICD in Samba and have identified industrial land of over 6,000 acres across 20 districts to develop state-of-the-art industrial parks.

The J&K Government has also removed all the toll barriers to enable seamless inward and outward movement of raw materials and goods.

Students from J&K, Ladakh on ‘Watan Ko Jano’ tour

Jammu (NVI): A group of 200 students from various parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories have embarked on a 10-day ‘Watan Ko Jano’ tour as part of youth exchange programme.

The tour has been organised by Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Council, Department of Social Welfare under the aegis of Department of JK Affairs in the Union Home Ministry.

During the tour, the children will get an opportunity to visit monuments and places of historical and cultural significance in Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer and Pushkar etc.

Flagging off the trip, Farooq Khan, Advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor, said it is a great opportunity for the children to witness unity in diversity of India.

He said such tours expose children to different cultures and areas of the country and go a long way in their overall personality development.

The tour was flagged off in presence of Executive Director, Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Council and other officers.

Advisor Khan also inspected construction-cum-renovation works on Maulana Azad Stadium.

He inspected several sections and pavilions and took stock of the work going on and asked for their expeditious completion.

Global supply chains affected due to coronavirus

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus outbreak that has hobbled China’s economy is increasingly affecting the world economy and supply chains.

As COVID-19 spreads, its effect on business is amplified. Not only are Chinese factories affected by lockdowns and quarantines, production sites in other countries are already running low on parts because of shortages from China.

Apple works with suppliers in forty-three countries, all of which receive components from the company’s contract manufacturers in China and as a result, is facing a considerable shortage these days.

Another example of disruption is that ships carrying refrigerated cargo containers of chicken from the US to China are being diverted to ports in Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam as ports are running out of space for refrigerated containers that need to be plugged into electrical sources.

With regards to the Indian perspective, the outbreak of the virus in China has hit manufacturing and exports sectors, particularly medicines, electronics, textiles and chemicals. This is not insignificant as China is India’s biggest source of intermediate goods, a sector worth $30 billion a year. Up to 70 per cent of active pharmaceutical ingredients and close to 90 per cent of certain mobile phone parts come from China.

Global efforts to control the epidemic are underway by multiple nations and coordinated international initiatives are being undertaken. It is advised that basic hygiene be followed such as washing of hands regularly and wearing masks in public spaces like airports and train stations.

Commercial data and analytics company, Dun and Bradstreet, estimate that there are around 22 million businesses (90% of all active businesses in China) within the regions impacted by COVID-19. This is likely to impact at least 56,000 companies around the world with suppliers either directly or indirectly.

Another major concern has been that US buyers had already started moving their sourcing away from China before the spread of the virus. Much of the manufacturing moved to Southeast Asia and Taiwan, with the onset of nCoV, this shift has increased its pace.

The effects of coronavirus on supply chains is already evident and much rests upon the international scientific and healthcare response to the outbreak. Countries are not taking the issue lightly and are making concerted efforts to quarantine, provide medical access and control the spread of the disease.

Parts of South and West India to receive light showers

Rainfall
Representational/ file image

New Delhi (NVI): Scattered rains are expected in coastal Tamil Nadu and other parts of the state over the next two to three days.

The intensity of these rains will remain mainly light to moderate over most regions including Chennai, according to Skymet weather.

North Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and parts of Madhya Pradesh may also see light rain and thundershowers with strong gusty winds.

Hailstorm activities are likely to affect at isolated places in North Chhattisgarh, East Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal.

Moderate to dense fog is likely to occur at isolated places in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and the northeastern states.

Meanwhile, Delhi and NCR region showed no change in the minimum temperature recorded at 13 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature today is expected to be around 24 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD said that there will be a gradual fall in minimum temperature by 2 to 3 degree Celsius over West India during next three days.

“No significant change in temperature is expected in rest of the country,” it added.

Narnaul in Haryana and Rajasthan’s Pilani recorded 9.0 degrees  Celsius, according to IMD.

Amritsar in Punjab and Sikar in Rajasthan both recorded minimum temperature at 12.0 and 10.0 degrees Celsius respectively.

Bikaner recorded minimum temperature at 12.0 degrees Celsius.

Patiala in Punjab and Rangia in Assam both recorded a minimum temperature at 11 degrees Celsius.

Apart from this, Hisar in Haryana and Chandigarh recorded a minimum temperature at 12.0 degree Celsius each.

In Delhi, the overall air quality today is in “moderate” category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 77 which falls in the “moderate” category.

Coronavirus: With 6 deaths, Iran shuts schools and cultural centres

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): After six deaths due to coronavirus, Iranian authorities have ordered closure of schools, universities and cultural centres  in more than a dozen affected provinces in a bid to contain the outbreak, according to media reports.

The order comes after the sixth death from coronavirus was reported in Iran, the highest in any other country outside mainland China.

Ali Aghazadeh, governor of the Markazi province, said that tests of a patient who recently died in the central city of Arak were positive for the virus.

So far, 28 cases have been confirmed in Iran, but it was not immediately clear if the sixth fatality was among those cases.

Italy’s prime minister announced a ban on people entering or leaving new coronavirus hotspots as the number of confirmed infections rose sharply to 79, in an outbreak that has claimed two lives in the country.

“In zones considered hotspots, neither entry nor exit will be authorised without special permission,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said during a news conference, adding that businesses and schools in the areas would be closed.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote to Bill Gates after the billionaire’s foundation committed $100 million in emergency funding to help China bolster epidemiological research, emergency intervention, and the research and development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics, according to state media.

Almost 100 people died of the novel coronavirus in mainland China, as the global death toll hit 2,461.

According to China’s National Health Commission (NHC), there were 97 new deaths reported in mainland China on Saturday, all but one of which were in Hubei, the province at the center of the outbreak. Of the total deaths, 2,442 have been in reported from China.

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