1. ICSE tells HC, Class 10 board exams in Maharashtra to be held in July
On Friday, the ICSE or ndian School Certificate Examination board told the Bombay High Court that it’s standard 10th examinations would be conducted in July. The Maharashtra government, however, said that exams won’t be conducted due to the ever-increasing COVID-19 pandemic. Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, Advocate General told the court that conducting exam in such pandemic situation won’t be feasible to which the ICSE board, in its affidavit has said that it does not require the state government’s permission for conducting the examinations. Previously, the ICSE exams were scheduled between February 27 to March 30, but exams from March 19 onwards were called off due to the coronavirus lockdown across the country.
2. India China situation along border under control: Army Chief
Speaking on the extending border tensions prevailing between India and China, Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane has said, “The “situation along our borders with China is under control”. He also added that a series of meetings conducted between senior military commanders from both nations had resulted in “a lot of disengagement” and that “all perceived differences that India and China have will be set to rest. While responding to ANI, General Naravane said, “I would like to assure everyone that the entire situation along our borders with China is under control. We’re having a series of talks which started with Corps Commander level and has been followed up with meetings at local levels between commanders of equivalent ranks.”
3. Anil Ambani taken to bankruptcy court by SBI to recover Rs1,200 crore
SBI (State Bank Of India), under the personal guarantee clause of the bankruptcy law, has filed an application in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to recover more than Rs 1,200 crore from Anil Ambani, businessman, and chairman of the Reliance Group. Anil Ambani had extended personal guarantee to the loans taken for Reliance Communications and Reliance Infratel. His spokesperson in a statement has said, “The matter relates to a corporate loan availed by Reliance Communications (RCom) and Reliance Infratel (RITL) and is not a personal loan of Ambani.” Reliance Communications, in early 2019 had filed for bankruptcy.
4. New COVID-19 cluster emerges in China. 11 residential areas sealed
A new coronavirus cluster linked to a meat market in China’s Beijing has emerged. Eleven residential estates have been sealed after the virus’s emergence. According to the People’s Daily, samples have been collected so far from merchants and employees at the meat market, which have tested positive for the virus. The virus was detected on chopping boards used for imported salmon at the market. Following this, wholesale meat markets in the city were shut down.
5. Cricket: Due to coronavirus pandemic, India’s tours of Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka cancelled
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that India won’t be traveling to Zimbabwe for a one-day international series in August due to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes after the decision to postpone India’s limited-overs tour to Sri Lanka. As reported by Reuters, Jay Shah said, “The BCCI is determined to take steps towards the resumption of international and domestic cricket, but it will not rush into any decision that will jeopardise the efforts put in by the Central and State governments and several other respective agencies in containing the spread of the coronavirus.” BCCI yet to roll out the revised dates.
6. Chhattisgarh schools, colleges to start admission process from July
State Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey on Friday said that the admission process in Chhattisgarh schools and colleges will begin from July. As reported by ANI, Choubey said, “It has been decided that the admission process in schools and colleges will commence in Chhattisgarh from July 2020. The decision on the further process will be taken as per the situation arising due to COVID-19. We will decide the starting of the new session as per the Centre’s guidelines.”
7. Indian crew stranded on cruise ship in UK for 3 month seek help from govt to return
Approximately 650 Indian crew stranded onboard a cruise ship in Southampton UK, for nearly three months have now appealed to the government to help them return to their country. They held placards reading ‘Frustrated and depressed’. One of them said they were given dates to fly back thrice, but the flights had to be canceled due to a change in documentation requirement by the Indian government.
8. Maha govt reduces charges of coronavirus test by private labs
Rajesh Tope, Maharashtra Health Minister said that the state government has lowered the the rates of the COVID-19 tests conducted by private laboratories from Rs 4,500 to Rs 2,200 in order to provide relief to people. “Rs 2,200 will be charged for collecting the swabs through viral transport media (VTM) from hospitals, while it would cost Rs 2,800 for collection of swab from home. Earlier, the charges were Rs 4,500 and Rs 5,200 respectively. The revised rates are the maximum these labs can charge. District collectors can negotiate with private labs to reduce the rates further,” Mr. Tope said. “If the private labs charge more than the prescribed upper limit, legal action would be taken against them,” he added.
9. For the first time, Baby Dragons go on display in Slovenia
3 Baby dragons also known as ‘juvenile olms’, were put on display for the very first time in an aquarium in Slovenia’s Postojna Cave, where they hatched in 2016 in rare successful breeding. Only 30 people are permitted to visit these dragons per day. Olms are blind, and they can live up to 100 years. They are sometimes called “human fish” due to their “fleshy” color.
10. Contract for procurement of Body Bags cancelled by BMC after allegation of scam
After social activist Anjali Damania alleged the BMC for a scam, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) cancelled a contract for procurement of body bags used to wrap dead bodies. She said that the bags were being purchased at a higher price and the contract was offered to a firm that had absolutely no experience in making body bags whatsoever. The BMC is now prepping to propose a new tender for the same.
11. US regulator has ruled that Mahindra’s off road vehicle Roxor is a copy Jeep
AU.S. regulator ruled that India’s Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd has violated the the intellectual property rights of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s (FCA) Jeep brand, thus barring the sale of the vehicles in question. The regulator claimed that Mahindra’s off-road vehicle Roxor is a copy of Fiat Chrysler’s Jeep Wrangler. An order was issued by the International Trade Commission prohibiting sale or import of the infringing vehicles and parts. On the other hand, Mahindra in its defense said that the vehicle is no longer in production and the 2020 Roxor model had “significant styling changes” in its appearance.
12. US admin to enforce Obama-era healthcare protection for transgenders
US administration has finalized a rule that overturns Obama-era protections for transgender people against sex discrimination in health care. “The Department of Health and Human Services said it will enforce sex discrimination protections “according to the plain meaning of the word ‘sex’ as male or female and as determined by biology.” This rewrites an Obama-era regulation that sought a broader understanding shaped by a person’s internal sense of being male, female, neither or a combination”, reported Associated Press.
13. Gomathi Marimuthu, Asian champion runner banned for 4 years for doping
Asian champion runner Gomathi Marimuthu has been banned for four years for doping and has been stripped off of her 800-meter title. The 31-year-old Indian will be banned until May 2023, The Athletics Integrity Unit said. She had tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone at 2019 Asian track championships in Qatar in April.
