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Delhi polls: 16.89% increase in poll booths

New Delhi (NVI): This time, Delhi will have 13,659 polling stations for the Assembly elections as compared to 11,763 in 2015, a jump of 16.89 per cent, according to the Election Commission.

The National Capital goes for polls on February 8. The results will be declared on February 11.

The spike in number of poll stations come as the ECI has decided to extend the facility of a postal ballot for “absentee voters”, people with disability and those above 80 years of age in all 70 assembly constituencies.

In October last year, the government had amended election rules to allow “absentee voters” to vote by postal ballot.

People who can have the option to seek postal ballot paper for casting their vote include electors on duty at the polling station, electors who are above 80 years of age and the electors marked as ‘Persons with Disabilities’ in the Electoral Roll. The facility of absentee voter status was provided for the first time in the country in seven Jharkhand assembly constituencies which went to polls in December 2019.

The high stake poll battle will see a triangular contest with the AAP hoping to retain power on the plank of development while the BJP and Congress will try to unseat the Kejriwal-led party.

Of the total assembly seats, there are 58 general category seats and 12 reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates.

The last Legislative Assembly Elections in Delhi were conducted in 2015. Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had won 67 out of the total 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly.

Coronavirus: MEA begins process to evacuate Indians from Chinese province

External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar (File)

New Delhi (NVI): India has initiated preparations for evacuation of its nationals from China’s Hubei Province in view of the outbreak of deadly infectious disease new coronavirus.

While giving this information, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, “Our @EOIBeijing is working out the logistics & is in touch with the Chinese govt. authorities & our nationals on this matter. We will continue to share updates.”

As per reports, Air India has kept a Boeing 747 plane on standby for the evacuation of Indians stuck in China’s Wuhan city, the epicentre of novel coronavirus outbreak. The death toll due to the infectious disease has climbed to 106.

Yesterday, the MEA had said that the Indian Embassy in Beijing is in touch will all Indians, including students in Wuhan and Hubei province. The ministry also added that until now, no Indian in China has been affected by the virus.

According to the latest report by WHO, out of 2,798 cases reported to the global health body so far, a whopping 98 per cent are in China. The WHO in its report also said that of the 37 cases outside China, 36 had travel history to Wuhan or other cities in China.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has set up a helpline for queries on the novel coronavirus. “A  24*7 Call Centre is active for responding to queries on #ncov2020,” the Ministry said in a tweet today. The 24/7 helpline is +91-11-23978046.

“If you seek any help, you may call to know details about District and State Surveillance Officers & in case of any clinical query connect with Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) Officer,” the Health Ministry added.

Coronavirus: Its prevention and treatment

(Image courtesy: CGTN)

New Delhi (NVI): Here’s what you should know about the coronavirus which has already claimed several lives in China and is spreading to more countries:

Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV)?

No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria. This is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.

Does the new coronavirus affect older people, or are younger people also susceptible?

People of all ages can be infected by the virus. Older people & those with pre-existing medical conditions appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

Can pets at home spread the new coronavirus?

At present, there is no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs, cats can be infected with the virus. However, it is always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with pets

Are there any specific medicines to prevent or treat the new coronavirus?

To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the virus. WHO is helping to accelerate research and development efforts with a range of partners.

Rs 12,000 crore transferred directly in accounts of 6 crore farmers: PM

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that earlier this month, a new record has been created by transferring an amount of Rs 12,000 crores to the bank accounts of 6 crore farmers through direct transfer.

The prime minister was addressing the third Global Potato Conclave at Gandhinagar, Gujarat through Video Conferencing today. He said India has become one of the top three nations in production of certain food grains and food products due to hard work of farmers and the government policies.

“The priority of the government is to reduce middlemen and other layers between the farmer and the consumer,” he said.

“The government’s emphasis is also on promoting agricultural technology-based start ups so that farmers’ databases and agri stacks needed for smart and precision agriculture can be used,” he added.

The PM said that the Government is taking rapid steps towards the goal of doubling the income of farmers by 2022.

He also listed the steps taken by his government to promote food processing industries at every level like opening the sector to 100 per cent FDI, helping in value addition and value chain development through PM Kisan Sampada Yojana.

The Prime Minister said that it is significant that the 3rd Global Potato Conclave is being held in Gujarat, the leading state in Potato production and productivity in the country.

“While the area under potato cultivation increased by about 20 per cent in India in the last eleven years, it has increased by about 170 per cent in Gujarat during the same period,” he said.

Modi said that due to policy initiatives and decisions, the state is using modern methods of agriculture like sprinkler and drip irrigation for cultivation, along with the best cold storage facilities and linkages to the Food Processing Industry.

He said today Gujarat has major potato processing companies and that most of the potato exporters are also based in the state. “This has led to the emergence of the state as a major potato hub in the country,” he said.

On the occasion, he also urged the scientists to provide solutions to various issues in agriculture through modern biotechnology, Artificial Intelligence, Block chain and Drone Technology.

“The greatest responsibility of the scientific community and policy makers is to see that no one is left hungry or malnourished,” he added.

The Conclave is being organized by Indian Potato Association (IPA) in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, and ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla and International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru.

Teen bravery award winner who fought terrorists to save family

Soumyadip Jana (Source: @narendramodi)

New Delhi (NVI): Bravery has no age, neither a particular definition. 14-year-old Soumyadip Jana is one such example of bravery who has been awarded the prestigious National Bravery Award this year for showing exceptional courage. Here is his story.

On February 10 2018, the Sunjuwan Military Station (Jammu) was under a terrorist attack in the wee hours by three heavily armed terrorists.

After entering the military station premises, the militants knocked on Soumyadip Jana’s house. Hearing the commotion near the main door, 13-year-old Soumyadip pushed his mother and sister into a room and locked the door from inside.

After breaking open the main door, the militants tried to enter the locked room. By then, Soumyadip barricaded it with steel trunks and stood against them. The militants threw a grenade to break the barricade before beginning to open fire at the door.

The explosion and gunshots that Soumyadip bore alerted the forces who were able to subsequently nab the terrorists.

He has been operated multiple times since then and is unable to move on his own as the left side of his body is still paralysed. The brave boy cannot see properly due to left hemiparesis, severe right-sided hearing loss and neuro-psychotic impairment.

Master Soumyadip Jana was honoured with the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar by President Ram Nath Kovind, for his act of bravery, this Republic Day 2020.

Of the 2,798 confirmed coronavirus cases, 98% in China: WHO

New Delhi (NVI): The World Health Organisation today said that of the 2,798 cases reported to WHO so far, a whopping 98 per cent are in China.

The global health organisation, in its report released today, also said that of the 37 cases outside China, 36 had travel history to Wuhan or other cities in China.

The death toll due to the fatal virus climbed to 81 yesterday.

“So far, WHO is aware, of one case of human-to-human transmission of coronavirus outside China, in Vietnam,” the WHO said on its official Twitter handle today.

“That’s still one case too many. But we are encouraged that so far we have not seen more human-to-human transmission outside China,” WHO said adding that it is monitoring the situation constantly.

Temperature rises in Delhi; rains likely to bring back chill

New Delhi (NVI): Minimum temperature in Delhi today rose to 10.5 degrees celsius from 8.5 degrees celsius recorded yesterday even as the national capital woke up to rains and thunderstorms. With this, the dip in temperature is likely.
The maximum temperature today is expected to be around 21.0 degrees celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The weatherman has forecast that temperature in Delhi is likely to dip in the next two to three days due to light rain.
Meanwhile, the overall air quality in the national capital today remained in the “very poor” category.
According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR),the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at  313
which falls in the  “very poor” category.
The worst affected areas are Dhirpur, Delhi University, Chandni Chowk, Pusa, Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, IGI Terminal 3 and the neighbouring Noida

J&K: Hizbul Mujahideen militant killed in Anantnag encounter

Representational Image

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in a gunfight with security forces at Arwani area of south Kashmir today.

After police got the information, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly with security forces at Arwani area of Bijbehara in Anantnag district.

During the search operation, the hiding militant fired on the search party leading to retaliation from security forces.

In the ensuing encounter, the militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site. The slain militant has been identified as Shahid Ahmad of Kulgam.

As per police records, he was affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit.

Police said that incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. “All these materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe his complicity in other crimes,” police said.

PRO Defence, Rajesh Kalia also confirmed the news. “Weapon and war like stores were recovered,” he said.

Coronavirus: Embassy in Beijing in touch will all Indians

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): With the coronavirus spreading across the globe, the Ministry of External Affairs today said that the Indian Embassy in Beijing is in touch will all Indians, including students in Wuhan and Hubei province. The MEA also added that until now, no Indian in China has been affected by the virus.

The deadly infectious disease has wreaked havoc in China, with the death toll mounting to 81. The Embassy in Beijing has also reached out to all Indian nationals in Wuhan in Hubei province and assured help in case they encounter a shortage of food, water, and other essential supplies.

The Indian embassy has asked the nationals to share their exact locations, so that the embassy could work with the Chinese authorities to ensure that such essential supplies are sustained.

The Indian Embassy has also mentioned in a tweet that some of the Indian nationals are currently not in possession of their passports, which have been submitted to Chinese authorities for visa extension, work permit or other reasons.

All such Indian nationals in Hubei province and not in possession of their passports have been requested to intimate the Indian Embassy with the details like their name, passport number, the Chinese authority with whom their passport has been submitted and the date of passport submission.

As the coronavirus turned virulent, India is understood to have requested China to permit over 250 Indian students stuck in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus, to leave the city, sources said on Saturday.

Ministry of Health reviews preparedness of states and UTs

Meanwhile, Preeti Sudan, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, chaired a video conference today with chief secretaries and DG (Police) of the five states bordering Nepal (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim) and of other states/UTs, to review their preparedness for prevention and management of coronavirus.

In response to the confirmed case of Novel Coronavirus in Nepal, India has stepped up the vigil at the border of Nepal.

Bodo peace accord signed

New Delhi (NVI): The government today signed an accord with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)- the banned militant group in Assam, paving way towards boosting peace in the Northeast.

NDFB is one of the dreaded insurgent groups of Assam.

The tripartite agreement was signed by the Centre, Assam Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal and the top leadership of the four factions of the NDFB and ABSU. Union Home Minister Amit Shah presided over the signing of the “historic” agreement here today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the accord signed today saying it will “lead to transformative results for the Bodo people”.

In a series of tweets, the PM said, “It (accord) successfully brings together the leading stakeholders under one framework.” he said.

“It will further protect and popularise the unique culture of the Bodo people. They will get access to a wide range of development oriented initiatives,” he said in another tweet.

“We are committed to doing everything possible to help the Bodo people realise their aspirations,” he added.

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