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Maha teacher wins $1mn Global Teacher Prize 2020 for promoting girls education

Maharashtra teacher wins $1mn Global Teacher Prize 2020 for promoting girls education
Ranjitsinh Disale when he was announced the winner of The Global Teacher Prize 2020

New Delhi (NVI): A primary school teacher, Ranjitsinh Disale, from Maharashtra has won USD 1 million annual Global Teacher Prize 2020 for his efforts to promote girls education in India.

He was also awarded in recognition of his efforts of initiating a quick-response (QR) coded textbook revolution in India.

The 32-year-old teacher from Paritewadi village, in Maharashtra’s Solapur district emerged as the winner from 10 finalists from over 12,000 selections from across the world for the annual prize.

Notably, the award was established by the Varkey Foundation and is given in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Ranjitsinh Disale was announced the winner of the Global Teacher Prize 2020 at a virtual ceremony aired from the Natural History Museum in London.

After winning the prize, Disale immediately announced that he would share half the USD 1 million prize money with the nine other finalists.

Disale joined the Zilla Parishad Primary School at Paritewadi in Solapur in 2009. At the time, the school was in a rundown building and attendance was low and teenage girl marriages were common, according to the reports.

He then ensured to provide the textbooks available in the local language for the students and also embedded the textbooks with unique QR codes to give students access to audio poems, stories, assignments and video lectures.

The impact of his interventions has been that there are now no reported teenage marriages in the village and 100 per cent attendance of girls at the school.

In addition to this, Disale’s school went on to become the first in the state of Maharashtra to introduce QR codes and after submitting a proposal and successful pilot scheme, the state ministry announced in 2017 that they would introduce QR coded textbooks across the state for all grades.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases exceed 65.2 mn globally; death toll tops 15 lakh

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 65.2 million people around the world have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, while the death toll has crossed 15,06,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. Over 41.9 million patients have recovered from the deadly disease globally.

The number of coronavirus infections in the US have surpassed 14.1 million while the number of fatalities due to the deadly contagion have crossed 2,76,000.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases have crossed the 64 lakh-mark and stands at 6,487,084 while the number of deaths have surged past 1,75,000 in the country.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 23,449 to 1,130,238. The reported death toll rose by 432 to 18,034, the tally showed.

Costa Rica has signed an agreement with pharmaceutical companies Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE for the manufacture and delivery of 3 million Covid-19 vaccines next year, the office of President Carlos Alvarado said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, South Korea said it is considering tightening its social distancing rules as it reported 629 new coronavirus cases on Friday, the most since the first wave of infections in the country peaked in late February.

Mexico’s health ministry on Thursday reported 11,030 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 608 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 1,144,643 cases and 108,173 deaths.

-CHK

India’s COVID-19 tally surge to 95.7 lakh, death toll at 1.39 lakh

Covid-19
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India has reported 36,594 fresh coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the overall caseload to 95,71,559, Union Health Ministry said.

The country’s death toll has reached to 1,39,188 with 540 fatalities reported during this period.

So far, 90,16,289 patients have been cured and recovered all over the country while active cases stands at 4,16,082 .

However, the national recovery rate improved to 94.20 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 per cent in the country.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases surpassed 18,37,358 followed by Karnataka with 8,89,113 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,70,076 positive cases.

Other states with a high virus hit included Tamil Nadu (7,86,163), Kerala (6,20,049), Kerala (6,20,049) and Uttar Pradesh (5,49,228).

Meanwhile, of the total deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 47,472 fatalities, followed by Karnataka with 11,821 deaths.

Delhi has registered 5,82,058 cases of coronavirus, while the death toll from the virus has reached 9,424 in the national capital.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), more than 14.47 crore samples tested for COVID-19 up to December 3. Of these, 11,70,102 samples were tested yesterday.

Apart from this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a virtual meeting today with floor leaders of all parties to discuss the present situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

-RJV

PM extends greetings on Navy Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended greetings to all personnel of the Indian Navy on the occasion Navy Day.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, “Navy Day greetings to all our valorous navy personnel and their families. The Indian navy fearlessly protects our coasts and also renders humanitarian assistance in times of need. We also remember India’s rich maritime tradition over centuries.”

He also shared a special video on Indian Navy history and highlighted the commendable work the Navy did to protect our country.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also saluted the courage and valour of the Indian Navy.

“On the occasion of #IndianNavyDay2020 my greetings and best wishes to all personnel of this outstanding force. The Indian Navy is at the forefront of keeping our seas safe by ensuring maritime security. I salute their valour, courage and professionalism,” Defence Minister tweeted.

Navy Day is celebrated across India every year to honour the achievements and role that the force has played in ensuring peace and security of the country.

The day is specifically observed on December 4 as on this date, Operation Trident was launched during the Indo-Pakistan 1971 war.

It was the day when Indian warships attacked Karachi port and killed over 500 Pakistani Navy personnel. It blocked the Pakistani port from getting potential supplies.

-RJV

India conveys concerns to China over building of dam on Brahmaputra river

MEA

New Delhi (NVI): Amid reports over China building a major hydropower project on the Brahmaputra river in Tibet, India today said that it carefully monitors all developments on the river and has conveyed its concerns to Beijing as a “lower riparian state with considerable user rights”.

Pertinently, the building of a dam across the Brahmaputra river could significantly reduce the quantum of water following into India. The reports of China constructing a dam, that surfaced this week, can add to the already existing tensions between the two countries over border row in Eastern Ladakh.

While responding to a media query, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Anurag Srivastava said that India has taken note of the reports and carefully monitors all developments on the Brahmaputra River.

“As a lower riparian State with considerable established user rights to the waters of the trans-border rivers, Government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas,” the MEA spokesman said.

He added that the Chinese side has also conveyed to India on several occasions that they are only undertaking run-of-the-river hydropower projects which do not involve diversion of the waters of the Brahmaputra.

“Various issues relating to trans-border rivers are discussed with China under the ambit of an institutionalized Expert Level Mechanism which was established in 2006, as well as through diplomatic channels,” Srivastava said, adding that India intends to remain engaged with China on the issue of trans-border rivers to safeguard the interests of both countries.

MEA’s comments today came after a report in the Chinese state media that Beijing was planning to construct a major hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra. India has registered its concerns over Chinese plans to build dams on trans border rivers in the past as well.

Meanwhile, China has played down its plan to build a major dam in the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson today said that there is no need to have “any anxiety” over the project and Beijing will continue to have “good communication” with lower riparian states – India and Bangladesh.

-ARK

PoK woman contesting DDC elections in North Kashmir

Neyaz Elahi

Kupwara (NVI): A woman from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), married to a former militant, is contesting District Development Council (DDC) polls from Dragmulla block of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Sumiya Sadaf, originally a resident of Muzaffarabad in PoK, told NVI said that she arrived in Kashmir ten years ago, after marrying a local militant from Batargam in Kupwara village, who had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) for arms training.

“I am from Muzaffarabad, married to local from North Kashmir’s Kupwara. We both arrived here taking the Nepal route under militant rehabilitation policy,” she said.

However, Sadaf is not the first woman from PoK, who has jumped into the election fray. In 2018, two women from PoK, Arifa and Dilshada, married to former militants had won panchayat posts in North Kashmir’s Kupwara.

“People asked me to contest the upcoming DDC Elections. Since I am associated with Self Help Group and visit and help a lot of people in Dragmulla area, they persuaded me to fight these elections. I am hopeful of winning this election,” she said.

The election symbol of Sadaf is ‘Laptop’. There are 12 candidates in the fray while Sadaf is the only woman contesting from the said block.

I have no connection with politics. “The locals especially women virtually forced me to file nomination papers. They trust me and love me. I never feel I am from other part of Kashmir,” she said.

In response to a question, Sadaf said that it is difficult for the government to provide jobs to everyone. “If I win, I would persuade and motivate people to become self-employed. Everyone has the ability to be an entrepreneur and here we can focus on this subject and people, particularly women can start their own ventures,” she said.

She appreciated the government for the support it is offering under the ‘Umeed’ Scheme. Women Self Help Groups (Umeed) in Jammu and Kashmir have greatly contributed to the ‘emancipation’ of rural women. In J&K, there are approximately 4.20 lakh women members of around 42 thousand Self Help Groups (SHGs) formed under the Ministry of Rural Development’s Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission.

“I am also a part of the Self Help Group and whatever I have learnt and whatever contacts I have made; it is because of these Self Help Groups,” Sadaf said.

“The Kashmir in Pakistan is my birthplace and Indian Kashmir is the place of my husband. I love both parts and wish for peace and development on either side,” she said.

-ARK

India-China face-off: Core issue is to ‘strictly’ follow bilateral border pacts, says MEA

India-China face-off: Core issue is to 'strictly' follow bilateral border pacts, says MEA

New Delhi (NVI): India today said that the core issue with respect to its border stand-off with China is that both sides need to strictly follow various bilateral agreements and protocols in their entirety, including the 1993 and 1996 agreement on maintenance of peace and tranquility along the LAC.

The remarks were made by MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava, in response to a query on a US commission report that states that China had planned the Galwan Valley clash.

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, in the report submitted on December 1, described the nearly eight-month-long India-China standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as the “most severe border crisis in decades”.

According to the report, the Chinese government had planned the clash with Indian troops in Galwan Valley in June, which led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. China is yet to disclose its casualties. The violent clashes triggered a massive escalation of tension between the two countries.

The MEA spokesman, when asked about the US panel report, referred to the press statement issued by India following the telephonic conversation between the foreign ministers of the two countries in the aftermath of the clashes.

“I would refer you to the press release put out by the Ministry of External Affairs after the conversation between External Affairs Minister and the State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Mr. Wang Yi on 17 June 2020 in the immediate aftermath of the violent face-off in Galwan Valley on 15 June 2020 where 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives while protecting India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.

“I would stress that the core issue remains that both sides need to strictly follow the various bilateral agreements and protocols in their entirety including the 1993 and 1996 agreement on maintenance of peace and tranquility along the LAC in the border areas which require that there should not be amassing of troops, each side should strictly abide by and respect the LAC and should not take any unilateral action to alter it,” he added.

On the present situation on the India-China border and the next round of talks, the MEA spokesman said: “The two sides continue to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels with the objective of ensuring complete disengagement in all friction points along the LAC in the Western sector and full restoration of peace and tranquility.

“Both sides have agreed to have another round of Senior Commanders meeting at an appropriate time. As and when we have more information, we will share it with you.”

Despite several rounds of diplomatic and military level talks between India and China, the two sides have not arrived at a concrete outcome yet to resolve the situation. Around 50,000 troops of the Indian Army are currently deployed along the LAC, as a mirror deployment against the as many Chinese troops.

The border standoff, that erupted in early May, will soon enter eighth month.

-ARK

Pak trying to club Kulbhushan Jadhav case with another prisoner’s case: India

Kulbhushan Jadhav
Kulbhushan Jadhav. (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): India today slammed Pakistan for linking Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case with another prisoner’s case while stressing that Islamabad was yet to address the core issues such as making available relevant documents and providing unimpeded, unhindered and unconditional consular access to retired Indian naval officer.

On Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was hearing one of the cases related to the writ petition filed by the Indian High Commission for the repatriation of other Indian prisoners who have completed their sentence in Pakistan’s prisons.

It was not related to Kulbhushan Jadhav but the counsel of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Shahnawaz Noon, raised the matter pertaining to Jadhav.

In a press conference today, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesman Anurag Srivastava said: “Pakistan is trying to link the case of Kulbhuashan Jadhav with another prisoner’s case. In a routine consular practice, Mr. Shahnawaz Noon was selected by our High Commission to appear in the case for release and repatriation of an Indian prisoner, Mr. Mohammad Ismail, who has completed his sentence but continues to be in jail in Pakistan.”

Srivastava said that during the proceedings of the case regarding Ismail, Pakistan Attorney General (Noon) raised the matter pertaining to Jadhav though the two cases are not connected in any way.

The MEA spokesman said that the counsel of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad is reported to have made those statements that are not true and are in contravention of India’s stand in the case. “He appears to have acted under pressure from the Pakistani establishment to make such statements for which he has no authorisation,” he said.

“Mr. Noon has misrepresented the position of the High Commission. He was clearly told by the High Commission that he had no authority to represent either the Government of India or Kulbhushan Jadhav,” he added.

Srivastava further said that Pakistan has failed to respond on the core issues concerning the case including provision of all documents and an unimpeded unhindered and unconditional consular access of Jadhav which would form the basis of an effective review and reconsideration as ordered by the International Court of Justice.

The MEA also rubbished the claim made by Shahnawaz Noon that India’s Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia was ready to appear before the Islamabad High Court in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case.

“Our Mission in Islamabad has written to Mr. Noon reiterating that he has no authority to represent Mr. Jadhav and has no basis to suggest that the Indian Cd’A would appear in the court,” he said.

Noon had reportedly told the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday that Ahluwalia would explain the country’s stance over the appointment of a lawyer for Jadhav.

Srivastava, during the press briefing today, clarified that Noon had not been authorized to appear for the retired Indian naval officer.

Pakistan is trying to get the Indian mission to attend hearings and participate in court proceedings, through such tricks.

In August, the MEA had made it clear that India wants Kulbhushan Jadhav to be represented by an Indian lawyer for filing a review petition against his death sentence in Pakistan, in keeping with the letter and spirit of ICJ judgment that wants a free and fair trial of the former Indian Navy officer.

Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of “espionage and terrorism” in April 2017. India has rejected the charges and maintained that he was abducted from Iran where he had gone in connection with his business and false case has been foisted on him.

Just weeks after the sentence, India had approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.

-ARK

Zimbabwe tightens gathering limits as coronavirus cases rise

New Delhi (NVI): Zimbabwe’s authorities has reintroduced restrictions on gatherings and ordered strict adherence to measures aimed toward slowing the unfold of the coronavirus pandemic amid considerations over rising COVID-19 infections within the nation.

In an information convention, Info Minister Monica Mutsvangwa stated the variety of folks allowed to assemble at occasions of all types was lowered to 100.

Authorities had eased restrictions limiting attendance in gatherings after a decline of confirmed new infections in September – however a sudden spike in latest weeks has pressured the authorities to reinforce restrictions.

Official COVID-19 data shows that new cases have been rising since November and are now averaging 100 cases daily, compared to the previous two months when infections stood at about 25 a day.

As of now, the country has registered 10,129 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 277 related deaths – up from 8,374 infections and 243 deaths a month ago.

-CHK

No night curfew in Delhi for now

COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi government today informed the high court that no night curfew would be imposed in the national capital, or parts of it, for now to contain the coronavirus spread.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Advocate Rakesh Malhotra on increasing coronavirus test centres and getting speedy results.

Delhi government filed a status report in which it said it has issued an order directing status quo be maintained with regard to permitted and restricted activities in the city till December 31.

Since the last week of October, the capital saw an uptick in daily infections with the number breaching the 8,000-mark in November.

So far, Delhi has reported 5,78,324 cases of coronavirus infections and 9342 deaths.

-CHK

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