India Suspends All Visas For A Month Over Coronavirus Scare

The government suspends all Indian visas in the wake of spread of coronavirus spread in the country and the World Health Organization declaring it a pandemic. All existing visas — except diplomatic, official, UN/International organisations, employment and project visas — will be suspended till April 15.

The visa suspension will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure. Earlier the visa facility was partially suspended from the COVID-19 nations.

Highlights of the news

• The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. It means that it has affected the globe and infected a large number of people.

• The government communique related to visa suspension reads that visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is kept in abeyance till 15 April 2020.

• It also said that all incoming travellers from COVID-19 nations after February 15, would be kept in quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

• International traffic through land borders will be directed to designated check posts with robust screening facility.

• India has a total of 67 confirmed coronavirus cases. Fresh cases are reported from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Kerala and Karnataka.

• The Maharashtra government has banned ticket sale for IPL 2020 opening match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in the wake of rising coronavirus cases.

• Health being on the State List, every state is asked to take whatever measure it can take to contain the spread of coronavirus infection.

Source: https://bit.ly/3aPXq8w

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India Had A Total Of 58 Coronavirus Cases On Tuesday

With 11 fresh cases of coronavirus were reported from Kerala and Karnataka, the total number of coronavirus cases in India reached to 58 on Tuesday. Meanwhile the central government airlifted 58 Indians from Iran, one of the worst-hit by the outbreak.

Highlights of the big story

• The evacuation from Iran was the second in two weeks by Indian Air Force’s larges military aircraft, C-17 Globemaster.

• Kerala has shut its cinema halls down till March 31 in the wake of 12 new cases in three days.

• 8 new cases were reported from Bengaluru, Delhi, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Punjab and Pune.

• The 63-year-old woman from Jammu and Kashmir with a travel history to Iran was among the two cases that were declared “high viral load cases”.

• Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that over 8.74 lakh passengers coming from foreign countries had been screened. Also, the cruise ships are prevented to dock at Indian ports.

• Billions of dollars were wiped off global markets including domestic market on Monday.

• The Manipur government closed all entry points with Myanmar to prevent spread of coronavirus.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi defers his visit to Bangladesh next week after detection of coronavirus cases in the country. He was called to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

• The coronavirus scare could cost the global economy between $0.1 and $2.0 trillion warned UN economists. Also, they asked to increase spending to prevent the infection.

Source: https://bit.ly/2IC691Y

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Coronavirus Shows Signs Of Slowing In China But It Is Increasing Outside China

While the coronavirus is still a major health issue in other countries, China reported a slump in the number of new infections and death in more than a month on Tuesday. Recently, three residents of a nursing care facility near Seattle died of coronavirus infection.

China records lowest number of coronavirus infections

There were only 125 confirmed cases and 31 coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours in China. And it is the lowest figure of officially confirmed coronavirus cases since January, when Xi Jinping issued his first public orders on coronavirus.

In Hubei Province, 2,410 coronavirus patients were released from medical facilities. Hubei is the area where the epidemic erupted and took enormous form. China restricted movement of 700 million people in order to contain the infection. But experts warned that the real test of coronavirus will be when China frees its citizens from the lockdown state.

Coronavirus outside China

South Korea had a total of 4,800 confirmed cases on Monday. It saw the second largest outbreak after China. In Europe, the people were warned to prepare for a bigger outbreak of coronavirus. In Iran that was the largest outbreak in Asia; there were 1,501 confirmed cases. Coronavirus has spread to 70 countries. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world has reached 90,000 and number of deaths reported are 3,000. In the US, the infection has reached 100 mark.

Source: https://nyti.ms/2TjLHJr

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Delhi Pro And Anti-CAA Violence: 13 Dead, 150 Injured And CBSE Exams Postponed

Delhi violence by pro and anti-CAA protestors left 13 people killed and more than 150 including a child injured. Armed mobs had a free run in the northeast Delhi just 15 km from the US President Donal Trump and his family. There were stones and glasses strewn on the streets and people were sitting behind closed doors.

Delhi police was criticized for delayed action that led to loss of life and property of the people. Also, CBSE had to postpone the board exams to be held in affected areas. Delhi police responded with brute force. Also, the National Security Advisor AjitDoval visited the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Northeast Delhi to take stock of the situation.

Highlights of the event

  1. The Union Home Ministry said ruled out calling in the army saying that the situation was under control and there was adequate police force to control the mob.
  2. But Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik first contradicted the ministry’s claim by saying that there was lack of force but later he gave another statement saying that police have full support of ministry.
  3. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal along with Deputy CM Manish Sisodia prayed before the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and urged people to stop violence.
  4. Delhi Police cleared the sit-in protest by a group of anti-CAA supporters at the Jaffrabad Metro Station.
  5. Section 144 promulgated in the northeast Delhi to ban large gatherings. Delhi Police also appealed for peace.

Source: https://bit.ly/3aieX9p

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A Kerala Groom Comes On A Camel Holding Anti-CAA Placards And Gifts Constitution In Meher

In Kerala, a bridegroom led his marriage party holding a placard with anti-CAA slogan. The incident was reported from Thiruvananthapuram. The groom was Haja Hussain and he was a riding a camel with anti-CAA placard in his hands.

A bridegroom protested against CAA

Haja Hussain, the bridegroom, arrived at the wedding venue in Vazhimukku about 20 km from Thiruvananthapuram with anti-CAA placards in his hands. He was riding on a camel and accompanied by his friends and relatives in large numbers. The placard in his hands read “Reject CAA, Boycott NRC and NPR”.

Protesting CAA

Haja Hussain said that he opposed CAA and chose to highlight his protest in a unique way. Finally, he decided to go to the groom’s house protesting against CAA. But it wasn’t all. He had more plans to show his protest. He would give his wife a copy of the Constitution of India in addition to the Meher. In Muslim wedding, bridegrooms give gold of money to bride. It is a tradition called Meher in Islam.

Haja Hussain is a local businessman and like many other people, he is also opposed to the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act and thinks that CAA should rejected by all.

Source: https://bit.ly/2vpiLWS

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Valentine’s Day Week: Know What To Gift On Which Day

The Valentine’s Week begins on 7th February with Rose Day celebrations but people wait for this week all the year. Valentine’s Day falls on 14th February but the celebrations continue for entire week starting February 7. It is called Valentine’s Week.

Valentine’s Week – Dates and things to do

This week is all about friendship, love and gifts. It is an occasion and an opportunity to make friends, express your love and enjoy the excitement of giving and receiving gifts. If you are confused about dates and gifts then this Valentine’s calendar would help.

It begins with Rose Day on 7th February; On 8th February, it would be Propose Day; On February 9, you celebrate Chocolate Day and on 10th February comes the Teddy Day.

Rose Day, 7 February:Begin the celebrations with gifting beautiful roses to each other. You can buy rose flowers for your friends.

Propose Day, 8 February: Your rose would carry the message of love and make it easier for you to express your love before that special person.

Chocolate Day, 9 February: With the rose gift accepted and love expressed, its time to have some sweets.

Teddy Day, 10 February: Now you are in love. You can give your love interest a teddy. It would be start of gifting.

Promise Day, 11 February: Nothing is sweeter than words. You can make a promise to your love interest.

Hug Day, 12 February: Its time to give a warm hug to each other.

Kiss Day, 13 February: It is a very important day before the Valentine’s Day. You can make most of the day.

Valentine’s Day, 14 February: It is what you were … Read the rest

Delhi L-G Asks For Making Necessary Arrangements For Security Of Protestors And Voters At Shaheen Bagh

The Lt. Governor asked police to boost security around Shaheen Bagh area after a man fired two rounds in air at the protestors. The police would put up more barricades to prevent outsiders from creating trouble at the protest site.

Shaheen Bagh protest

Since December 15, hundreds of people including men and women have been staging a sit-in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) at the Shaheen Bagh.

But the protest came into news when a man brandished a pistol to the protestors and fired two rounds in air. The police present at the site swung into action and apprehended the shooter.

Enhanced security for Shaheen Bagh protestors

The police have been asked to keep a close watch over the people visiting the Shaheen Bagh area. There would be barricades to prevent people from approaching the protest site and those that want to visit the site would be frisked. Also, the police would take help of locals to prevent any untoward incident from happening. The securing arrangements have been enhanced in the wake of Delhi elections on February 8.

Shaheen Bagh gearing up for elections

The police were asked to make necessary arrangements for smooth access for all sections of society to exercise their franchise on February 8. The police are responsible for instilling confidence in the voters and general public through effective measures taken for public security.

Source: https://bit.ly/2GIDZSe

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World Hindi Day: Why Is It Celebrated On 10 January?

Every year 10 January is celebrated as World Hindi Day I India and across the globe. It was the UPA government under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh took the decision of celebrating the World Hindi Day in 2006. 10 January was chosen for celebrations with the objective to aid in the expansion and development of the Hindi language.

Chhattisgarh CM congratulated on World Hindi Day

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel congratulated the world on the World Hindi Day and said that out culture and development were recognized by Hindi. He quoted a Hindi poem to highlight the role of language in the growth and development of a nation. Bhupesh Bhagel said that it was our responsibility to give respect to our language. Children should be taught moral stories in Hindi so that they develop a liking towards Hindi. Also, Hindi should be introduced and developed at the international level.

Importance of 10th January

In order to make Hindi acceptable for communication at an international level, the government started World Hindi Seminars and the first seminar was held on 10th January 1975 in Nagpur. It is for this reason that Dr. Manmohan Singh declared January 10 as the official date for celebrating the “World Hindi Day”.

Hindi in universities

Today Hindi is taught in over 130 universities across the globe. Fiji, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, has even given the official status to Hindi. Also, the Indian embassy celebrated the first World Hindi Day in Norway.

Source: https://bit.ly/2tIBFYe

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Tamil Nadu Farmer Builds Temple For PM Modi

Impressed with the PM Narendra Modi, a Tamil Nadu farmer built a temple for Modi on his farmland. He said that he had benefited by welfare schemes like the Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi.

Modi’s temple

The 50-year old farmer, P Sankar, said that he received Rs 2,000 (Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi) scheme for farmers, gas (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana) and toilet (Individual Household Latrine Scheme) facilities. It was the centre’s welfare schemes that prompted him to construct a temple for Narendra Modi.

Temple design

Situated in a sleepy Erakudi village about 63 km from Tiruchirappalli, the temple measures 8×8 in size. Built at a cost of Rs. 1.2 lack, the temple has a tiled roof and a traditional “kolam” (rangoli) to welcome the visitors. At the centre of the temple, stands a bust of Narendra Modi. P Sankar performs aarti daily in this temple.

Modi’s bust in the temple

The bespectacled bust of PM Modi features white beard and hairstyle matching with the real personality of the PM. It sports a pink kurta and blue shawl and tilak on forehead. Also, it is adorned with garlands and flowers. P Sankar also wants to performa proper Kumbabishekam (consecration) for the temple.

Portraits at the temple

In addition to Modi, there are portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, noted freedom fighter and Congress icon K Kamaraj, AIADMK stalwarts M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, Home Minister Amit Shah and Tamil Nadu Chief Minsiter K Palaniswami.

Source: https://bit.ly/2Zo8CES

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Chandrayaan-3 Would Cost ISRO Rs. 75 Crores

Chandrayaan-3 is now official and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has started working on the ambitious project. It has sought Rs. 75 crores for this mission but the fund would be in addition to the existing budget of ISRO.

ISRO needs Rs. 60 crores for the expenditure for buying machinery, equipment and other capital expenditure for Chandrayaan-3 mission. Also, it needs Rs. 15 crores for meeting the revenue expenditure head. ISRO needs this money quick because it is preparing for the Moon landing mission next November.

ISRO’s budget for 2019-20

ISRO has demanded Rs. 666 crores over and above the funds granted in the original 2019-20 budget.The Rs. 75 crores are 11% of the Rs. 666 crores. Rest of the funds would be utilized for the following programmes.

Rs. 8.6 crores for the proposed human spaceflight programme expected to be implemented in 2022.
Rs. 12 crores for development of small satellite launch vehicle.
Rs. 120 crores for development of launchpad for small satellite launch vehicle.

But the largest demand for funds has been raised by UR Rao Satellite Centre and Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Together they need Rs. 516 crores for assembling and testing facilities and development of the spaceport respectively.

Government confirms ISRO’s demand

Sources in the central government have confirmed that ISRO has demanded more funds to meet its expenditure. The Department of Economic Affairs deals with ISRO has started the process of clearing the fund. And the department has assured that ISRO would get fund for both the projects.

Source: https://bit.ly/2PmGSvX

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