World Toilet Day, Covid-19 updates, PM Modi, Coronavirus news

19 November 2020

• COVID-19 Updates: Delhi High Court questions Delhi Govt. on COVID-19 rise in capital  

  As deaths due to COVID-19 rise with each passing day in the national capital, the Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Aam Aadmi Party government to file a status report indicating the steps it has been taking to ensure adequate facilities available for cremating those who are succumbing to the deadly virus. 

  "It's disheartening to note that the number of deaths in the national capital has climbed to 131 in a day. Funeral pyres are burning through the night, the crematoriums are overflowing. "Are you conversant?" the high court asked the Delhi government. 

• On World Toilet Day India Strengthens its Resolve of Toilet for All says, PM Modi 

  Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on World Toilet Day said, “The nation strengthens its resolve of Toilet for all.” In a tweet, Modi said “On World Toilet Day, India strengthens its resolve of #Toilet4All. The last few years have seen an unparalleled achievement of providing hygienic toilets to crores of Indians. It has brought tremendous health benefits along with dignity, especially to our Nari Shakti.” 

   

• Union Education Minister to be conferred with Vatayan Lifetime Achievement Award 

  Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ will be conferred with the Vatayan Lifetime Achievement Award at a virtual ceremony on November 21, 2020.  This award will be another in the list of many other national and international awards and honours conferred to the Minister for writing, poetry and other literary works. Pokhriyal has earlier received several awards in the field of literature and administration including Sahitya Bharati Award by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sahitya Gaurav Samman by Former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Bharat Gaurav Samman, Good Governance Award by Dubai Government etc. 

   

   

• Rs 2,000 fine in Delhi for not wearing mask

  The Delhi government on Thursday decided to impose Rs 2,000 fine for not wearing masks in public areas, a four-fold increase from the earlier fine. Earlier, violators were fined Rs 500 for not wearing masks in public places. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Thursday during a press conference held after an all-party meet at Delhi secretariat over the issue to control the pandemic. 

• Salman Khan in isolation as staff test COVID-19 positive 

  Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and his entire family have isolated at home for the next 14 days after the actor's driver and two staff members reportedly tested COVID-19 positive. 

  The staff members who tested positive have been admitted to a hospital in the city and are undergoing treatment, according to an India Today website report. An official update on the report from the actor's office is awaited. 

• UP lawyer sues former US President Barack Obama 

  A lawyer in Pratapgarh district has filed a civil suit against former US President Barack Obama's latest book 'The Promised Land' in which he has mentioned Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, a former prime minister. The lawyer has demanded an FIR be lodged as the book that "insults" the leaders and hurts the sentiments of their followers. 

  Gyan Prakash Shukla, national president of All India Rural Bar Association, has filed the civil suit in the Lalganj Civil Court. 

• PM Modi unveils Bengaluru tech summit in virtual mode 

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday unveiled the 23rd edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2020 in virtual mode through video-conferencing from New Delhi amid the Covid pandemic. Leveraging the digital technology, Modi also addressed the gathering in this tech city and virtual world, which included Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Swiss Confederation vice-president Guy Parmelin.