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UNICEF lays plan to deliver Covid-19 vaccines to over 92 low-income countries

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New Delhi (NVI): UNICEF is working with more than 350 partners – including major global airlines and freight providers – to step up efforts to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to over 92 low and lower middle-income countries around the world as soon as vaccines become available.

To kickstart preparations, UNICEF together with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), briefed major global airlines last week on the expected capacity requirements and discussed ways to transport close to 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021, according to a statement released by UNICEF.

This is in addition to the 1 billion syringes that need to be transported by sea-freight, the statement read.

This virtual meeting comes close on the heels of the first-ever logistics event held virtually by UNICEF to discuss the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines.

The landmark discussion brought together more than 350 logistics partners, including air freight operators, shipping lines and global logistics associations.

In the coming weeks, UNICEF is also assessing existing transport capacity to identify gaps and future requirements, said the agency.

UNICEF said it was working on a “mammoth operation”, to deliver vaccines to poor countries such as Burundi, Afghanistan and Yemen as part of COVAX, a global Covid-19 vaccine allocation plan with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Since January, UNICEF has delivered more than US$190 million worth of COVID-19 supplies such as masks, gowns, oxygen concentrators and diagnostic test kits in support of countries as they respond to the pandemic.

In addition to this, last month, UNICEF began a process to stockpile more than 1 billion syringes by 2021 to guarantee initial supply and pre-position in advance of COVID-19 vaccines.

-CHK

PM speaks to TN, Puducherry CMs in the wake of Cyclone Nivar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): With Cyclone ‘Nivar’ expected to make landfall on November 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke with the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and assured all possible support from Centre.

In a tweet, PM Modi said, “Spoke to Tamil Nadu CM Shri E Panneerselvam and Puducherry CM Shri V Narayanasami regarding the situation in the wake of Cyclone Nivar. Assured all possible support from the Centre. I pray for the safety and well-being of those living in the affected areas.”

Earlier in the day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that Nivar has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on November 25.

Meanwhile, the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry have been placed on high alert after the depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression.

“Deep depression has intensified into a cyclonic storm —NIVAR over south-west Bay of Bengal — (Cyclone alert for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts – Yellow Message),” the IMD tweeted.

Following the issuance of the yellow alert, the Tamil Nadu government reviewed the situation, asking the respective district administrations to be on guard in the wake of the alert.

Apart from this, the government of Tamil Nadu also announced suspension of bus transport services in Delta districts from this afternoon until further orders.

Furthermore, precautionary measures were also announced keeping in mind the effects of cyclone Nivar in this region.

-RJV

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

Covid cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed 91 lakh-mark and currently stands at 91,77,841 after 37,975 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll stands at 1,34,218 after 480 new fatalities were reported during the same period.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 17,84361, followed by Karnataka with 8,74,555 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,62,758 positive cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 4,656

Andhra Pradesh- 8,62,758

Arunachal Pradesh- 16,092

Assam- 2,11,682

Bihar- 2,30,094

Chandigarh- 16,769

Chhattisgarh- 2,25,497

Dadra and Nagar Haveli– 3,325

Delhi- 5,34,317

Gujarat- 1,98,899

Goa- 46,901

Haryana– 2,19,963

Himachal Pradesh- 34,781

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,06,548

Jharkhand- 1,07,688

Karnataka- 8,74,555

Kerala- 5,66,452

Ladakh- 7,945

Madhya Pradesh- 1,94,745

Maharashtra- 17,84,361

Manipur- 23,650

Meghalaya- 11,397

Mizoram- 3,710

Nagaland- 10,852

Odisha- 3,14,629

Puducherry- 36,718

Punjab- 1,47,057

Rajasthan- 2,47,168

Sikkim- 4,736

Tamil Nadu- 7,71,619

Telangana- 2,65,049

Tripura- 32,493

Uttarakhand- 71,632

Uttar Pradesh- 5,28,833

West Bengal – 4,59,918

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 61

Andhra Pradesh- 6,948

Arunachal Pradesh- 49

Assam- 975

Bihar- 1,227

Chandigarh- 263

Chhattisgarh- 2,746

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 8,512

Goa- 677

Gujarat- 3,876

Haryana- 2,216

Himachal Pradesh- 560

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,641

Jharkhand- 953

Karnataka- 11,678

Kerala- 2,071

Ladakh- 101

Madhya Pradesh- 3,172

Maharashtra- 46,653

Manipur- 238

Meghalaya- 110

Mizoram- 5

Nagaland- 61

Odisha- 1,657

Puducherry- 609

Punjab- 4,631

Rajasthan- 2,181

Sikkim- 100

Tamil Nadu- 11,622

Telangana- 1,437

Tripura- 370

Uttar Pradesh- 7,582

Uttarakhand- 1,162

West Bengal- 8,072

However, a total of 86,04,955 people have been cured and discharged. The total active cases stands at 4,38,667 in the country.

-CHK

Delhi’s air quality worsen again, AQI slips to ‘very poor’ category

Air quality
Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): The air quality in parts of Delhi worsen again with Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the ‘very poor’ category this morning, as the wind speed reduced.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded 361 at around 9 am.

In Anand Vihar, the AQI stood at 413, Ashok Vihar (407), Chandni Chowk (410), Jahangirpuri (424), Patparganj (411) and Vivek Vihar (426), all the six stations in the ‘severe’ category.

An AQI between 0-50 is marked good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101- 200 is moderate, 201- 300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor and 401-500 is considered severe.

Earlier, the national capital’s AQI remained in the ‘severe’ category on November 15 but it improved since and remained in either the “poor” or the “moderate” category until November 22.

Meanwhile, the officials at the government agencies have predicted that Delhi’s air quality is expected to worsen by tomorrow due to slow winds and low ventilation.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air monitoring agency, SAFAR also said that, PM2.5 has now become the lead pollutant instead of PM10 as a characteristic of wintertime.

“Winds are forecast to slow down and low ventilation is predicted. The AQI is likely to deteriorate towards the high end of ‘very poor by Tuesday and likely to stay at the high end of very poor on November 25,” it added.

Apart from this, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that a western disturbance over the hills is likely to slow wind speed and also increase temperature in Delhi.

Mercury level also dipped in the national capital today, with an IMD forecast of 10 degree Celsius minimum and 25 degree Celsius maximum temperatures.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases surpass 59.1 million worldwide

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 59.1 million people around the world have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, while the death toll is nearing 13,95,861, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. Over 37.4 million patients have recovered from the deadly disease globally.

In the US, the number of coronavirus infections have surpassed 12.4 million while the number of fatalities due to the deadly contagion have crossed 2,57,000.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases are nearing 61 lakh-mark while the number of deaths have surged past 1,69,400 in the country.

Meanhwile, Mexico’s health ministry reported 7,483 additional cases of the novel coronavirus and 250 more deaths in the country, bringing the official number of cases to 1,049,358 and the death toll to 101,926.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 13,554 to 9,42,687. The reported death toll rose by 249 to 14,361, the tally showed.

China recorded 22 new Covid-19 cases on November 23, up from 11 cases a day earlier, the national health authority said on Tuesday.

Belize’s Prime Minister Johnny Briceno has tested positive for Covid-19, and will remain in isolation for the following two weeks, after which he will be tested again, the prime minister’s office said in a statement on Monday.

Daily Covid-19 cases in France at near two-month low. France reported 4,452 new Covid-19 infections on Monday, the lowest daily tally since September 28, suggesting a second national lockdown is having an impact.

-CHK

India’s COVID tally surge past 91.7 lakh; death toll mounts to 1.34 lakh

corona
(File/Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): India has reported 37,975 fresh coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the overall caseload to 91,77,841, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll has reached to 1,34,218 with 480 fatalities reported during this period.

So far, 86,04,955 patients have been cured and recovered all over the country while active cases remained below 4.40 lakh and stands at 4,38,667.

With this, the recovery rate also further improves to 94 per cent in the country.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 17,84361, followed by Karnataka with 8,74,555 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,62,758 positive cases.

Other states with a high virus hit included Tamil Nadu (7,71619), Kerala (7,66,453) and Uttar Pradesh (5,28,833).

Meanwhile, of the total deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 46,653 fatalities, followed by Tamil Nadu with 11,622 deaths.

Delhi reported 4,454 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the tally to 5,34,317, while the death toll from the virus has reached 8,512 in the national capital.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, more than 13.36 crore samples tested for COVID-19 up to November. Of these, 10,99,545 samples were tested yesterday.

Furthermore, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal orders immediate procurement of 1200 BiPAP machines for new ICU beds in the national capital. The BiPAP machines will be procured immediately from CSIR on nomination basis, said Chief Minister’s Office.

-RJV

Massive protests in Gilgit-Baltistan against Pak army, Imran Khan govt

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan has been rocked by massive violence and protests against the Pakistan army and Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party over poll-rigging in recently held Legislative Assembly elections on November 15.

Law and order situation has been continuously deteriorating in Gilgit Baltistan where the Pakistan government forcibly held the elections.

The elections were held in Gilgit-Baltistan in 24 constituencies of the Legislative Assembly. Several human rights activists and observers in Gilgit Baltistan have voiced their concerns over the role of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as results are seeming in its favour.

The people of GB are now protesting against the state-sponsored terrorism by the Pakistan government accused of poll-rigging. People have also been protesting against the PTI government’s role in selection of unpopular candidates in respective constituencies.

Protesters from the region have shared pictures of violence and fire in the constituency, holding the Imran Khan government responsible for the mess.

Thousands of people turned up on the streets, carrying flags to protest, just days after the elections. The protests have against the rigged polls have been continuing, with incidents of several tires being set on fire and many roads blocked for hours.

Pakistan army and Imran Khan, who is considered to be its proxy, forcibly conducted the elections amidst relentless protest by the people of the region who have been raising their voices against the Pak government’s illegal occupation for years.

India has also slammed Pakistan for its decision to hold election in the region and said any action to alter the status of the militarily-occupation has no legal basis.

Amidst the widespread protests in the region, India on Thursday hit out at Pakistan for holding elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, saying it was aimed at hiding Pakistan’s illegal occupation of its territory.

During a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava asserted that Gilgit-Baltistan was an integral part of India since 1947.

-ARK

Jaishankar to visit Bahrain, UAE and Seychelles from Nov 24-29

Jaishankar

New Delhi (NVI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will begin his three-nation tour to Bahrain, UAE and Seychelles from November 24 to 29 during which he will be meeting his counterparts and also the top leadership of these countries.

In the first leg of his three-nation tour, Jaishankar will visit Bahrain on November 24-25. It will be his first visit to the country as EAM.

He will personally convey condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India to the Bahraini leadership on the demise of Prime Minister of Bahrain Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on November 11, according to an official press release.

Jaishnkar will also hold talks on bilateral issues as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. Bahrain hosts more than 3,50,000 Indians and both countries have worked together to face the Covid-19 pandemic. Flights are operational between both countries under an air bubble arrangement.

In the second leg, the Foreign Minister will visit UAE on November 25-26. He is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister of UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on November 26. Both leaders will take forward the excellent cooperation between India and UAE under our comprehensive strategic partnership and exchange views on various regional and international issues.

EAM will also discuss ways for Indian workers to resume their jobs in UAE in the post-Covid scenario. More than 3 million Indians live and work in UAE.

India and UAE have maintained close high-level contacts during the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the pandemic.

EAM has also spoken to the UAE Foreign Minister several times in the past few months. They also co-chaired the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting in September 2020. A meeting of the High Level Task Force on Investments (HLTFI) was co-chaired by our Minister of Commerce and Industry & Railways and Chairman, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) in early November.

In the last leg of his tour, EAM will travel to Seychelles on 27-28 November 2020. EAM will call-on the newly elected President of Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan to present greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss with him the priorities of the new Government and avenues for further strengthening India-Seychelles bilateral relations.

Jaishnkar will also hold bilateral consultations with the newly appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde.

Notably, the External Affairs Minister has travelled to Russia for SCO summit and Japan for QUAD meeting, during the pandemic.

-ARK

All set for DDC polls, no candidate prevented from campaigning: J&K EC

Over 65% voter turnout in 2nd Phase of Panch By-elections: J&K SEC

Lubna Fayaz

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commissioner KK Sharma today said that all formalities to conduct the DDC elections at the end of this month have been completed and that no candidate has been prevented from campaigning for the polls.

While addressing a press conference here, he said that from the security of the candidates to the elections and counting of votes, all arrangements have been finalised.

While talking about complaints received from PAGD (People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration), he said that under security arrangements, no candidate has been stopped from campaigning.

“If we receive any such complaint from anywhere, the election commission would take action,” Sharma added.

He further said that there are two types of candidates in Kashmir. One who is already under security cover and the other who is first time into the fray.

“The security is important for both of these groups. Security arrangements won’t stop anyone from campaigning.”

While talking more about security, he said that this time, the administration has been asked to be alert given the weather situation.

“Arrangements are in place for the security personnel as well,” he added.

The State Election Commissioner (SEC), Sharma, chaired a meeting here yesterday to review law and order situation and security arrangements for the polls.

DDC elections will be conducted in eight phases between Nov 28 and Dec 19; counting will take place on December 22.

-ARK

FS Shringla to visit Nepal from Nov 26 to 27, amid strained ties

New Delhi (NVI): Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will be on a two-day official visit to Nepal on November 26 and 27, during which he will meet his counterpart and other Nepalese dignitaries to discuss the wide-ranging bilateral cooperation between the two countries, the External Affairs Ministry said today.

This will be Shringla’s first visit to Nepal since he assumed charge, MEA said. The Foreign Secretary’s visit to Nepal comes amid strained relations between the two countries over a border row earlier this year.

“The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and the priority India attaches to its relations with Nepal,” MEA said in a statement.

The Ministry further stated that India has historical and civilization linkages with Nepal. “In recent years, bilateral cooperation has strengthened, with several major infrastructure and cross-border connectivity projects completed with India’s assistance,” it said, adding that the Foreign Secretary’s visit will be an opportunity to further advance India’s bilateral ties with Nepal.

The strains emerged after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. Nepal protested it, claiming that it passed through its territory.

Days later, Nepal came out with a new map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as its territories. Subsequently, in June, Nepal’s Parliament approved the new political map of the country featuring areas, which India maintains belong to it. India termed the move as “artificial enlargement” of territorial claims by Nepal.

Earlier this month, Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane paid a three-day visit to Nepal and met his Nepali counterpart General Purna Chandra Thapa in Kathmandu. The Army Chief also presented medical equipment for two field hospitals of the Nepali Army.

-ARK

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