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Fuel prices slashed, petrol at Rs 70.29 in Delhi today

petrol
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New Delhi (NVI): Following a huge fall in crude oil prices on Monday, petrol prices in Delhi slipped to an over eight-month low.

If you are in the National Capital, then you will have to pay Rs 70.29 per litre for petrol and Rs 63.01 for diesel.

Diesel and petrol prices witnessed a reduction across all major metropolitan cities in the country. Fuel prices have been on the decline since February 27 on international trends.

Yesterday, petrol and diesel prices in Delhi went down by 30 paise per litre and 25 paise per litre respectively.

Petrol prices slipped below the 71 mark for the first time in eight months on Monday.

In Mumbai, petrol is selling at Rs 75.99 per litre and diesel at Rs 65.97 per litre. In Chennai, a litre of petrol will now cost Rs 73.02 per litre whereas diesel will be Rs 66.48 per litre. In Kolkata, a litre of petrol will now cost Rs 72.98 per litre while diesel will be Rs 65. 34 per litre.

International fuel prices tumbled most in decades overnight on March 8. The collapse was caused by sinking demands due to coronavirus outbreak worldwide.

On March 9, Global oil benchmark Brent crude futures plunged nearly 30 per cent to USD 31.02 per barrel after top exporter Saudi Arabia launched a price war in response to a failure by leading producers to strike a deal to support energy markets.

Pak F-16 jet crashes in Islamabad during parade rehearsal 

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New Delhi (NVI): A Pakistan Air Force F-16 jet crashed in Islamabad today during rehearsals for the upcoming military parade at the Pak capital, killing the pilot on the spot, media reports said.

Pakistan Air Force Wing Commander Noman Akram lost his life as the jet crashed near Shakarparian in Islamabad. The jet was taking part in the rehearsal for March 23 fly-past.

Pak Air Force Pilot Noman Akram who was killed in the crash today

The rehearsals were taking place for the annual military parade that is set to be held in Islamabad this month to celebrate Pakistan Day.

Security forces have surrounded the area of the crash and no loss of life or property has been reported till now, reports said.

Sherry Rehman, Pakistani politician and former diplomat shared the video of the incident and said, “Praying for the safety of our pilots”.

Coronavirus: Educational institutes, clubs to be shut in Srinagar from tomorrow

Srinagar Municipal Corporation

Srinagar (NVI): All educational institutions, public clubs and stadiums in Srinagar will be closed from tomorrow till further orders, in the wake of coronavirus, city mayor Junaid Azim Mattu said today.

Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has taken the step as a preventive measure to keep the viral infection away, Mattu said, while adding that the decision would allow the municipal body to sterilise and sanitise schools and colleges.

“Under a special set of statutory provisions, SMC has ordered closure of all educational institutions, public clubs, sports clubs, indoor and open stadiums, coaching centers within #Srinagar City Limits till further orders. The order within SMC limits takes effect from tomorrow,” Mattu tweeted.

He added that the decision has been taken under section 285 of the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 – “Special measures in case of out-break of dangerous or epidemic disease (or threatened by an outbreak)”.

The mayor also informed that the resolution has been passed unanimously. “There is no scope for confusion,” he said in another tweet.

On Monday, a 63-year-old woman was tested positive for COVID-19, making it the first confirmed case in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, two residents of Jammu and Kashmir were admitted at a hospital with coronavirus-like symptoms.

Coronavirus tightens its grip; Italy worst-hit outside China

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New Delhi (NVI): The whole of Italy – a country of some 60 million people – was placed under quarantine as the government stepped up efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak that has killed 631 people and affected more than 10,000.

Coronavirus has killed 168 more people in Italy in the past 24 hours, the highest toll in a single day since the start of the outbreak in the country.

In addition, leaders from the European Union are promising to do “whatever it takes” to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, as Italy reported its biggest single-day death toll since the disease was first detected there last month.

South Korea has released its latest update, reporting 242 new coronavirus cases. The total number of cases in the country now stands at 7,755.

Japan confirmed 59 new cases of coronavirus infection yesterday, the biggest one-day rise since the start of the outbreak, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, Nadine Dorries, a junior health minister in the UK government, has been diagnosed with the coronavirus and is in isolation.

Indonesia has reported its first death from coronavirus of a 53-year-old woman, a health ministry official said.

Globally, more than 4,000 people have died from the coronavirus and over 113,000 cases have been confirmed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

About 64,000 people have recovered around the world.

Delhi NCR, northern districts of Rajasthan receive showers

Light rains in Delhi
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New Delhi (NVI): Delhi-NCR region, as well as northern districts of Rajasthan, have received light to moderate rains and thundershowers.

While Churu received 12 mm rains, Pilani 3 mm, Rohtak 2 mm, Jaipur 2 mm, and Ajmer recorded 3 mm rains. Most parts of Punjab and Haryana are still running dry.

The temperatures have dropped further over most parts of India, right from Indo-Gangetic plains up to the central parts of the country.

Amritsar in Punjab is the coldest city in the plains of India, with its morning temperature settling at 9.8 degree Celsius.

Ludhiana in Punjab, Pilani in Rajasthan and Chittorgarh in Rajasthan recorded minimum temperature at 10.1, 11.1 and 12 degree Celsius respectively.

Apart from this Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan and Fursatganj in Uttar Pradesh recorded minimum temperature at 12.7 and 12.9 degree Celsius respectively.

Coonoor in Tamil Nadu and Ambala in Haryana recorded minimum temperature at 13 and 13.4 degree Celsius respectively.

Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh and Sikar in Rajasthan both recorded minimum temperature at 13.5 degree Celsius.

Meanwhile, Delhi and NCR region also saw a slight increase in minimum temperature to 14.8 degrees Celsius from 10 degrees Celsius recorded yesterday.

The maximum temperature today is expected to be around 26 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

However, now the weatherman expects that these fresh rain activities to cover most parts of Punjab and Haryana as well.

It also expects that the thundershowers to affect Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Isolated rains are possible during the evening hours over Delhi NCR as well.

These rains and thundershower activities are expected to continue until tomorrow that is March 12.

Coronavirus: Forces in J&K cancel holi celebrations

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Security forces have cancelled Holi gatherings across Jammu and Kashmir in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus among its ranks.

The top brass of Army, CRPF, SSB and BSF have directed the commanders to conduct the medical examination of all the security men on daily basis.

Lieutenant Colonel, Abhinav Navneet said as a precautionary measure we have avoided public gathering for Holi celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir this year.

Besides, all the soldiers who are returning home are being screened before joining their battalions.

Like Army, CRPF have also asked their field commanders to take preventive measures for combating coronavirus.

CRPF spokesperson, Neeraj Rathore said that we have directed our forces to ensure washing their hands and avoiding gatherings. These forces have also decided to not celebrate holi this year.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir police have launched an awareness campaign across the police stations regarding spread of coronavirus.

A cleanliness drive including fumigation of buildings is conducted in every police station.

Similarly, the policemen are directed to wash their hands regularly and use masks in crowded places.

The Srinagar administration is putting in place elaborate arrangements as part of preparedness to prevent the spread of noval coronovirus in the district that is spreading around the world.

Starting at the airport the administration has beefed up screening arrangements having set up five help-desks with strengthened support staff and is screening all arrivals including international and domestic travellers before allowing them to proceed to their respective destinations.

The special announcements and outreach are being made at the airport in order to ensure that no one escapes the screening process. Similar arrangements are being made at the railway station to identify those requiring screening and quarantining.

The suspected cases will be shifted to quarantine facilities which have been set up across the district. These facilities have been set up at different private hospitals and nursing homes in addition to healthcare centres located in different health zones of the district.

Coronavirus cases in India reach 56

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New Delhi (NVI): The number of people infected by the new coronavirus in India are now at 56 after Kerala and Karnataka reported 9 new cases today.

Six new coronavirus cases had taken the total number in Kerala to 12.

Meanwhile, Karnataka’s health minister confirmed that three more people in her state had tested positive.

Two Pune residents with travel history to Dubai and one person from Punjab also tested positive on Monday.

In Addition, the legalised border trade with Myanmar came to a grinding halt from Tuesday as the Manipur government closed both the international gates I and II at Moreh, Manipur’s border town.

Earlier, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir reported one new case each.

The disease caused by the virus, COVID-19, has killed nearly 4,000 people across the world, but there have been no fatal infections in India so far.

2 patients with travel history to Malaysia, S Korea quarantined at Srinagar hsptl

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Two male patients with travel history to Malaysia and South Korea have been quarantined at SKIMS, Soura in Srinagar today.

Incharge, Medical Supritendent SKIMS, Ghulam Hassan Yattoo said these two patients have coronavirus-like symptoms and have been quarantined at SKIMS. “Samples have been collected and we are waiting for results,” he said.

Yesterday, a 63-year-old woman was tested positive for coronavirus here, making her the first confirmed case in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir has been put on alert to deal with any threat emerging from coronavirus.

J&K administration Spokesperson Rohit Kansal said they are monitoring the situation closely and have put 400 people under surveillance in Satawari and Sarwal areas of Jammu.

Rohit Kansal said Anganwadi centers in these areas have also been closed till March 31. “Situation under watch; 400 under surveillance in Satawari and Sarwal areas of Jammu. Anganwadi centers in these areas closed till March 31,” Rohit Kansal wrote on microblogging site Twitter on Monday.

The private hospitals and nursing homes where quarantine facilities have been established include Noora Hospital at HMT, Khyber Hospital at Khayam, Kidney Hospital at Sonwar, Ramzana Hospital at Gogji Bagh, Modern Hospital at Rajbagh, Sheikh ul Alam Hospital at Karan Nagar, Mubarik Hospital at Hyderpora, Florence Hospital at Chanpora, Shifa Medical Centre at Magarmal Bagh, Ahmad Hospital at Nowgam, Star Hospital at Nowgam and New City Hospital at Tengpora.

58 Indian pilgrims airlifted from coronavirus-hit Iran

New Delhi (NVI): 58 Indian pilgrims were airlifted today from Iran, one of the worst affected nations in the world by coronavirus outbreak, as the Government started with the evacuation process of citizens stuck in the country.

As soon as the special Indian Air Force aircraft- C-17 Globemaster landed at Hindon airbase in the morning, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar tweeted, “The IAF aircraft has landed. Mission completed. On to the next”.

The latest batch of Indians evacuated from Iran include included 25 men, 31 women and 2 children. The aircraft also carried 529 samples for investigation, as per media reports. All Indians were lifted from Tehran and the special IAF aircraft left for the Iranian capital from Hindon airbase in the morning.

Jaishankar was closely monitoring the latest airlift process as he lauded the efforts by the Indian embassy in Iran and the Indian medical team for “operating under challenging conditions”. He also thanked the Indian Air Force and appreciated cooperation by Iranian authorities.

“Thanks to the efforts of our Embassy @India_in_Iran and Indian medical team there, operating under challenging conditions. Thank you @IAF_MCC. Appreciate cooperation of Iranian authorities. We are working on the return of other Indians stranded there,” he tweeted earlier today.

The minister also shared pics of evacuated Indians in another tweet.

Yesterday, the External Affairs minister had visited Kashmir and met families of students stuck in Iran.

The evacuation this morning is the second in two weeks by C-17 Globemaster, the largest military aircraft in the IAF inventory.

On February 27, 76 Indians and 36 foreign nationals were brought back from the Chinese city of Wuhan, epicentre of coronavirus outbreak, by the IAF aircraft.

Delhi Metro joins ‘Refuse to Ride’ campaign to protect elephants

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Metro has joined hands with Wildlife SOS to promote “Refuse to Ride” campaign which aims at creating awareness among people about how elephants are trained for giving rides to tourists and what tourists can do to help protect them.

Delhi Metro Pink Line sports signage to conserve and protect elephants, a part of the Wildlife SOS “Refuse to Ride” campaign.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) ferries nearly 1.5 million passengers each day. It is now providing passengers an educational ride promoting elephant conservation and protection. The Pink Line metro coaches now carry campaign messaging “Help end the abuse. Refuse to ride elephants”.

In order to empower the public and tourists to combat illegal trafficking of elephants, the campaign resource website www.refuseToRide.org background information on how the demand of elephant rides by tourists creates a demand for brutal exploitation of blind, lame and sick elephants.

The campaign encourages responsible tourism – to bringing positive change in eco-tourism and elephant conservation.

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder & CEO of Wildlife SOS says, “Public awareness is critical as not everyone is aware of the truth behind how elephants are trained to give rides to tourists. The Refuse to Ride Campaign is aimed at educating the public to help them understand how they can make conscious decisions to prevent illegal trafficking of elephants and to support elephant conservation in India. We are grateful to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for supporting this campaign.”

Vedant Mittal, DMRC Operations Head (North), said, “The Refuse to Ride campaign provides a platform to educate people about the plight of elephants in India. The DMRC is pleased to support this noble initiative of Wildlife SOS.”

Geeta Seshamani, Secretary, Wildlife SOS said, “If people understand the brutal and cruel training that goes into making elephants rideable, they will think again before riding a blind, lame or sick elephants.”

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