Assam govt launches Dhanwantari scheme for home delivery of medicines

1.Saudi Arabia ends death penalty for crimes committed by minors

After ending the practice of flogging, Saudi Arabia has now ended the death penalty for crimes committed by minors.The death penalty was abolished for those convicted of crimes committed while they were minors.

Instead, the individual will receive a prison sentence of no longer than 10 years in a juvenile detention facility.

Observers are of the opinion that these steps are being taken to blunt the human rights criticism faced by Saudi Arabia at the international level and also an attempt by the Kingdom to carry out reforms as per the vision 2030 projected by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

2.King George Medical University in Lucknow becomes 1st govt hospital in country to successfully launch Plasma Therapy Treatment for COVID-19

The King George Medical University in Uttar Pradesh has become the first government hospital in the country to successfully launch the plasma therapy treatment for the COVID-19 patients.The first dose of the plasma therapy was given to a 58-year old patient.

The plasma was already secured from the three recovered COVID-19 patients who were treated at KGMU itself.

The 58-year old COVID-19 patient who was on ventilator has shown signs of recovery and a second dose of the plasma transfusion therapy can be given.

If this patient recovers successfully then it will be a great step in treating the serious patients with the help of plasma transfusion therapy.

3.Uttar Pradesh government bans all public functions till 30th June

Uttar Pradesh government has banned all public functions till the 30th of June.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officers that no public gathering should be allowed in the state till June 30 amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The move comes after the Chief Minister held a meeting with chairpersons of 11 committees of the state over the COVID-19 situation.

The restriction will have a direct impact on Eid festivities, apart from other religious gatherings.

4.Kerala govt hospital deploys robot to serve food, medicines to COVID-19 patients

A government hospital in Ernakulam, Kerala has deployed a robot to serve food and medicines to coronavirus patients.Malayalam star Mohanlal’s Viswasanthi Foundation donated the autonomous robot to the COVID-19 ward of the Ernakulam government medical college hospital.

The robot named ‘KARMI-Bot’ will be used to assist patients at the medical college’s COVID-19 isolation ward.

The robot is developed by ASIMOV robotics, a company working under maker village of Kerala start-up mission.

The purpose of this project is to limit the interaction between COVID-19 patients and health workers as well as to address the shortage of PPE kits by minimizing its use.

5.Assam govt launches Dhanwantari scheme for home delivery of medicines

The Assam government has launched a new scheme Dhanwantari under which locally unavailable medicines are provided to the patients at home.Medicines below 200 rupees will be provided free of cost to patients.

Under the scheme, locally unavailable medicines due to the lockdown shall be delivered to patients at home.

ASHA workers and multi-purpose workers will collect the medicines and deliver them to the patients’ families.

6.RBI announces Special Liquidity Facility for Mutual Funds of Rs 50,000 crore

The Reserve Bank of India announced a Special Liquidity Facility for Mutual Funds (SLF-MF) of 50,000 crore rupees with a view to easing liquidity pressures on MFs.The RBI has stated that it remains vigilant and will take whatever steps are necessary to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 and preserve financial stability.

The heightened volatility in capital markets in reaction to COVID-19 has imposed liquidity strains on Mutual Funds, which have intensified in the wake of redemption pressures related to closure of some debt MFs and potential contagious effects therefrom.

The Apex bank has said that under the Special Liquidity Facility for Mutual Funds (SLF-MF), the RBI shall conduct repo operations of 90 days tenor at the fixed repo rate.

7.Govt appoints new Secretaries in different Ministries and Departments

The Union Government appointed new Secretaries, Special Secretaries and Additional Secretaries in different Ministries and Departments.Information and Broadcasting Secretary Ravi Mittal has been appointed as the Sports Secretary.

Secretary, Higher Education Amit Khare will hold additional charge of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

CBSE Chairperson Anita Karwal has been appointed as Secretary School Education and Literacy.

Health Secretary Preeti Sudan, who was to retire this month, has been given a three month extension.

Vice Chairman of Delhi Development Authority Tarun Kapoor will be Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas .

Tarun Bajaj will be Secretary Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance.

8.Justice Mohammad Rafiq takes oath as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court

Odisha Governor Professor Ganeshi Lal administered the oath to Justice Mohammad Rafiq as the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.Justice Rafiq will serve as the 31st Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

Justice Rafiq was previously serving as the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court.

Meanwhile, Justice Biswanath Somadder took oath as the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court.

9.Senior Congress leader Badruddin Sheikh passes away following COVID19 infection

Senior Congress leader and councillor in Amdavad Municipal Corporation Badruddin Sheikh passed away following COVID19 infection.He was 68 and active in politics and public life.

He had also served as State Congress spokesperson and Leader of opposition in AMC in the past.

He was under treatment at AMC run SVP -Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel hospital since the third week of April after he detected COVID-19 positive.

10.Former governor, veteran Congress leader Devanand Konwar dies at 86

Former Governor of Bihar and Tripura and veteran Congress leader Devanand Konwar died of old age ailmentsHe was governor of Bihar from July 24, 2009 to March 8, 2013 and of Tripura between March 25, 2013 and June 29, 2014.

He had also served as governor (additional charge) of West Bengal from December 2009 to January 2010.

Konwar had joined the Congress in 1955 as a student leader.

He became a Cabinet minister in the governments of Assam headed by Hiteswar Saikia and later by Tarun Gogoi.

11.Veteran sports photographer Ronny Roy passes away

Veteran sports photojournalist Ronojoy ‘Ronny’ Roy died following a cardiac arrest.There is a lot of speculation that Roy could have died to COVID-19.

Popularly known as ‘Ronny’, he was associated with Bengali daily Aajkaal since 1990s and covered the ICC World Cup in England last year.

Having started from the entertainment section, Roy switched to sports and became a well-known face in the Maidan establishing a good rapport with both players and officials of all disciplines.