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Bill Gates steps down from Microsoft board

Bill Gates

New Delhi (NVI): Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has stepped down from the company’s board of directors, the company has announced.

Gates, 64, is to dedicate more of his time to his charity, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and philanthropic priorities including global health and development, education, and his increasing engagement in tackling climate change.

With a net worth of USD 103.6 billion, Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen, who died in 2018. Gates was the CEO until 2000 when Steve Ballmer took over the role. Microsoft’s current CEO, Satya Nadella, took over in 2014.

Gates was the director of the board at Microsoft until 2014 but began dedicating more of his time to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2008.

Microsoft did not announce a replacement on the board to Gates but said that it will now consist of 12 members.

Bill Gates remains one of Microsoft’s main shareholders owning 1.36 per cent in shares.

It is one of the most highly valued company’s in the world, valued at $1.21 trillion.

“It’s been a tremendous honor and privilege to have worked with and learned from Bill over the years,” Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella said to the media.

‘World tourism suffers $30-50 bn loss due to COVID-19’

New Delhi (NVI): The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has estimated a loss of USD 30 to 50 billion in international tourism receipts in 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

UNWTO has revised its 2020 prospects for international tourist arrivals to a negative growth of 1 per cent to 3 per cent, translating into an estimated loss of USD 30 to 50 billion in international tourism receipts.

UNWTO offers a first assessment pointing to a decrease in international arrivals and receipts in 2020, an official statement said.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, UNWTO predicted a positive growth of 3 per cent to 4 per cent for this year.

This first assessment expects that Asia and the Pacific will be the worst affected region, with an anticipated fall in arrivals of 9 per cent to 12 per cent.

Public health measures need to be implemented in ways that minimize any unnecessary disruption to travel and trade. Since the start of the outbreak, UNWTO has been working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure this is the case.

Estimates for other world regions are currently premature in view of the rapidly evolving situation.

UNWTO underscores that any estimate must be treated with caution and is likely to be updated.

UNWTO calls for financial and political support for recovery measures aimed at tourism, and to include support for the sector in the wider recovery plans and actions of affected economies.

The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak will be felt across the whole tourism value chain.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili furthermore stresses that “small and medium-sized enterprises makeup around 80 per cent of the tourism sector and are particularly exposed with millions of livelihoods across the world, including within vulnerable communities, relying on tourism”.

Political and financial commitments are key to ensure that tourism can lead wider economic and social recovery, as proven in past disruptions on the back of the highly resilient nature of the sector and its ability to bounce back strongly.

In recent decades, tourism has come of age and is now firmly established as an important contributor to sustainable development, economic growth, employment and international understanding.

As the UN agency responsible for tourism and sustainable development, UNWTO stands ready to provide guidance and support for recovery measures of its members, the private and public tourism sector, including organizers of tourism events and fairs.

Coronavirus: India has 2 deaths, 81 positive cases

New Delhi (NVI): The number of people testing positive for coronavirus has increased to 81 in India, which has already reported two deaths so far.

A 69-year-old woman, who died in Delhi last night, was the second person to fall victim to the deadly disease. She had contracted the virus from her son who had travelled to Switzerland and Italy and is under quarantine at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in the national capital.

Earlier, one person had died in Karnataka due to the virus two days back. The 76-year-old man died after returning from a month-long visit to Saudi Arabia on February 29.

Health Ministry today said new cases have emerged from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

A 25-year-old Agra woman, whose husband and a Google employee tested positive for novel coronavirus in Bengaluru earlier this week, has also tested positive.

In view of this development, Google has asked its employees in Bengaluru to work from home.

Infosys has also evacuated its building in Bengaluru. The tech giant started evacuation following reports of an employee coming in contact with a suspected coronavirus patient.

Public gatherings and events have been cancelled by government and other authorities in virtually all parts of India due to the coronavirus scare. Even the sporting events like annual IPL has been postponed.

The global death toll due to coronavirus has reached almost 5,000, while the global number of cases has surpassed 1,32,000, according to WHO.

Five school playgrounds in Haryana’s Mewat go solar

New Delhi (NVI): Children can now play badminton even after sunset at five playgrounds in rural government schools in Haryana’s Mewat district, thanks to the illumination done by Signify, a leader in lighting, under its CSR programme called ‘Khel Jyoti’.

These playgrounds have badminton courts that are illuminated using high-mast LED lighting, powered by solar energy. The programme has benefitted more than 1,200 school children and will create more opportunities for young sportsmen.

Signify has partnered with the Gurgaon-based SRF Foundation for this project, which will be further expanded to 18 more playgrounds in the same district in its next phase, potentially benefiting an additional 5,000 students, according to a statement issued by the company.

Under the Khel Jyoti program, Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) seeks to create opportunities for young and budding sports talent to play for longer hours even after sunset and enhance their skills by lighting up their playgrounds. It also aims to strengthen a child’s physical fitness and holistic development.

“Even though India is a country of 1.3 billion people, it has only produced a handful of Olympians and talented sportsmen owing to lack of adequate sporting facilities. With more than half of its population under the age of 25, there is a lot of potential for India to leverage its demographic advantage and create its mark in international sports in the future,” said Natasha Tandon, Head – Integrated Communications and CSR for Signify in India.

“At Signify, our vision is to unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. By illuminating their playgrounds using solar power, we enable budding athletes to come out and play even after sunset and practice their sport more rigorously without any constraints,” she added.

Dr. Suresh Reddy, Director, SRF Foundation said, “SRF Foundation has been working in 42 government schools across 19 villages in Nuh block, Mewat district of Haryana for the past decade. Our students have represented their block at both District and State Level Badminton Competitions and have secured leading positions in all the categories consistently.”

He added, “We are delighted to facilitate Signify’s ‘Khel Jyoti’ Program as it enables our students to enhance their expertise and actualize their expanding potential in badminton even during the evening hours.”

Rain likely in parts of Punjab, Haryana, UP

Photo Credit: (Sakshi Bhardwaj, NVI)
New Delhi (NVI) Rain, along with thundershowers, is expected in northern parts of Punjab and Haryana as well as northwest, west Uttar Pradesh, according to weather forecasters.
During the last 24 hours, northern parts of Punjab,  Haryana and Delhi and NCR as well as northwest, west Uttar Pradesh witnessed good rains and thundershowers.
Ambala in Haryana received 7 mm of rain during the last 24 hours, while Patiala in Punjab received 7 mm, Delhi 1 mm, Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh received 1 mm, Lucknow 12 mm and Varanasi 18 mm.
Now, rain activities will gradually subside. By March 15, there will be a significant decrease in rains over Punjab and Haryana.
However, Northwest Uttar Pradesh may continue to receive light rains and thundershowers tomorrow as well. So, temperatures are expected to remain below normal over most parts of Northwest India until tomorrow.
Apart from this, Western Disturbance has reached Jammu and Kashmir. Due to this effect, the cyclonic system has developed over Central Pakistan and adjoining Punjab and Haryana.
A trough is extending through this system up to Bihar. Also, a trough is active from Vidarbha to Tamil Nadu. An opposite cyclonic circulation is seen over the Bay of Bengal.

Govt approves tax reimbursement scheme for exporters

New Delhi (NVI): With an aim to enhance Indian exports at the International markets, the government today approved the scheme for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) for exporters.

Under this scheme, a mechanism would be created for reimbursement of taxes/duties/levies, at the central, state and local level, which are currently not being refunded under any other mechanism, but which are incurred in the process of manufacture and distribution of exported products, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs said in a statement.

To make Indian exports cost-competitive and create a level playing field for exporters in the International market, this scheme is going to give a boost to the domestic industry and Indian exports, the statement added.

“Items will be shifted in a phased manner from existing scheme MEIS to RoDTEP with proper monitoring & audit mechanism,” CCEA said adding the refunds under the RoDTEP scheme would be a step towards “zero-rating” of exports, along with refunds such as Drawback and IGST.

It added, “This would lead to cost competitiveness of exported products in international markets and better employment opportunities in export-oriented manufacturing industries.”

In line with the vision of Prime Minister, various export-oriented industries are being reformed and introduced to better mechanisms so as to increase their productivity, boost exports and contribute to the overall economy.

Under the Scheme, an inter-ministerial Committee will determine the rates and items for which the reimbursement of taxes and duties would be provided. In line with “Digital India”, refund under the Scheme, in the form of transferable duty credit/electronic scrip will be issued to the exporters, which will be maintained in an electronic ledger. The Scheme will be implemented with end to end digitization, the statement added.

Schools, malls closed in Jammu till Mar 31 to combat corona

Jammu (NVI): The Jammu administration today ordered the closure of all shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools, recreational clubs in the district with immediate effect as a precautionary measure against coronavirus.

Section 144 has been imposed in Jammu to prevent people from gathering at such public places. The order shall remain in effect till March 31.

“District Magistrate Jammu, in exercise of power vested under Section 144 CrPc, has ordered closure of all shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools, recreational clubs in district Jammu with immediate effect. This order shall remain in effect till 31st March, 2020. Any violation of this order shall invite action under Indian Penal Code,” said an official statement.

However, the order, signed by Jammu District Magistrate Sushma Chauhan, stated that Board and competitive exams in the district shall be held as per schedule.

J&K: 2 test positive for corona, 159 complete surveillance

JAMMU (NVI): Two persons have been tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir so far while 159 people have completed a 28-day surveillance period, the UT administration said a statement here, today.

At least 1,743 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance while 1,485 persons are under home quarantine, the J&K government said in a medical bulletin.

People who are in hospital quarantine stand at 18 while 81 persons are under home surveillance, it added.

Further, the bulletin stated that 85 samples have been sent for testing, of which 77 have been tested as negative and only two cases have tested positive, so far while reports of six cases were till awaited.

As per the latest travel advisory issued by the Central Government, all travellers having travel history to coronavirus affected countries are advised to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival.

A home quarantined person has been advised to stay in a well-ventilated single-room preferably with an attached/separate toilet. The administration has also advised people stay away from elderly people, pregnant women, children and persons with co-morbidities within the household.

Home quarantined persons should also restrict his/her movement within the house and under no circumstances attend any social/religious gatherings like weddings and condolences, it added.

“Follow public health measures as per guidelines issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI as this is for the benefit of his/her relatives, friends and population in general,” the advisory reads.

The government has also urged all the social, religious and political organizations to avoid large gatherings. The general public is also strongly advised to avoid going to gymnasiums and swimming pools.

“There is no need to panic, the public is advised to maintain social distancing; avoid unnecessary travel and use of public transport; and also take basic precautions including personal hygiene, frequent handwashing with soap and observing coughing and sneezing etiquettes,” the government advisory reads.

Anyone with fever, cough and difficulty in breathing has been urged to seek medical care at the earliest.

Govt approves construction of 780 km green highway project

highway construction

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet has approved construction of 780 km Green National Highway Corridor Project at a cost of Rs 7,660 crore.

The project focuses on rehabilitation and upgradation of stretches of various National Highways covering a total length of over 780 km in the States of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

It involves an investment of Rs 7662.47 crore which includes a loan component of Rs 3500 crore (USD 500 Million).

The project will set new standards for Green Highway Projects in the form of green cover, utilization of reusable material in laying roads, etc, the government said in a statement.

The project also includes the maintenance of these National Highways stretches for 5 years/10 years after completion of construction, it added.

Indo-Bangladesh bus, train service to be suspended till Apr 15

Anil Malik

New Delhi (NVI): With the Central Government monitoring the coronavirus situation closely at various levels, the Ministry of Home Affairs today said that Indo-Bangladesh passenger buses and trains will remain suspended till April 15.

In a special media briefing on COVID-19 here today, Anil Malik, Joint Secretary from MHA said that along India-Nepal border, 4 check posts will remain open as a preventive measure in the wake of pandemic situation. However, goods train services between the two nations will continue.

For Bhutan and Nepal nationals, visa-free entry will continue, he said.

Apart from this, Malik said that the Government has decided to allow the State Government to use SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) for fighting coronavirus.

International traffic is allowed only from 19 check post out of 37, he said while informing about various measures taken by the Government to tackle the deadly virus outbreak.

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