Thursday, September 10, 2026
Home Blog Page 1012

Covid-19: Kejriwal asks all to cooperate, says markets will not be shut in Delhi

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today met the representatives of several market associations in the national capital and assured them that the Delhi government doesn’t wish to shut any market while seeking their cooperation to ensure appropriate Covid behaviour.

While taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said that market associations can play a very important role in ensuring that appropriate Covid behavior is followed at these public places.

Kejriwal further said the representatives assured that anyone without a mask will be provided one for free by mareket associations.

“Met representatives of mkt associations. I removed their anxieties – govt does not wish to shut any market. They assured anyone not wearing a mask in the market will be provided free by mkt associated. All shops will also be asked to keep spare masks and hand sanitisers,” The Delhi CM tweeted.

“Am meeting representatives of market associations today to seek their cooperation to ensure appropriate COVID behaviour at market places. Market associations can play a very important role,” Kejriwal tweeted earlier in the day.

The Chief Secretary of the government of Delhi including senior officers of the government and all the district magistrates were also present in the meeting.

Kejriwal, while attending a briefing on Tuesday had said that the Delhi government has sent a proposal to the Central government for permission to close those markets for few days where norms are not being followed and have the potential of becoming COVID-19 hotspots.

Meanwhile, Delhi has recorded more than 5.10 lakh cases of coronavirus, while the death toll due to the virus stood at 8,041 in the national capital.

-RJV/ARK

Efforts to wreak havoc & destruction in J&K thwarted again: PM on Nagrota encounter

Efforts to wreak havoc & destruction in J&K thwarted again: PM on Nagrota encounter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lauded the security forces for their bravery and professionalism in neutralising four Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists in an encounter in Jammu’s Nagrota, saying that another effort to wreak havoc and destruction by Pakistan in J&K was thwarted.

He said that the presence of a huge cache of weapons and explosives indicated that the four terrorists of Pakistan-based terrorist organistaion had plans to wreak “major havoc and destruction” in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the District Development Council (DDC) polls.

“Neutralising of 4 terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed and the presence of large cache of weapons and explosives with them indicates that their efforts to wreak major havoc and destruction have once again been thwarted,” PM Modi tweeted.

PM’s remarks came after a high-level review meeting on Nagrota encounter with Home Minister Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval and top security and intelligence officials.

He also said that the security forces foiled the terrorists’ plot to target the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir DDC elections.

“Our security forces have once again displayed utmost bravery and professionalism. Thanks to their alertness, they have defeated a nefarious plot to target grassroots level democratic exercises in Jammu and Kashmir,” PM said in another tweet.

In an early morning encounter in yesterday, four JeM terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces near Ban toll plaza in Nagrota district of Jammu on Jammu-Srinagar Highway.

The gunfight which started at around 5 am, also led to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway. 11 AK-47 assault rifles, three pistols, satellite and mobile phones, compass and grenades were recovered from the possession of terrorists.

-ARK

WHO advises against use of Remdesivir for treating COVID-19

Remdesivir
Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): A World Health Organization (WHO) expert panel has advised against the use of the antiviral drug, Remdesivir, for patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, regardless of how severely ill they are.

Scratching one of the few treatments that had shown some initial promise in severe patients, a WHO Guideline Development Group (GDG) of international experts said there was “no evidence based on currently available data that it does improve patient-important outcomes”.

The United States, the European Union and other countries have granted temporary approval for the use of Remdesivir after initial research showed it may shorten recovery time in some coronavirus patients.

President Donald Trump himself was treated with te antiviral drug among other medicines after he tested positive for Covid-19 in October.

The WHO Guideline Development Group (GDG) based its recommendation on a new evidence review comparing the effects of several drug treatments on more than 7,000 patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in four international randomised trials.

The expert panel, which includes four patients who have had COVID-19, concluded that remdesivir “has no meaningful effect on mortality or on other important outcomes for patients, such as the need for mechanical ventilation or time to clinical improvement,” the WHO said in a statement.

In October, the WHO said its global Solidarity trial using Remdesivir in the hospital treatment of COVID-19 had found it had little to no effect on the length of time patients spent in hospital or their survival.

Remdesivir, developed by US pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences for the treatment of Ebola, was one of several drugs that attracted global attention as doctors looked for more effective ways to treat the novel coronavirus.

-CHK

RuPay card Phase-II launched by PM Modi in Bhutan

RuPay card Phase-II launched by PM Modi in Bhutan

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today virtually launched phase two of RuPay card in Bhutan along with his Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering. The card would help Bhutanese tourists in India in shopping and other transactions.

While speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said that he is glad to know that that there have been 11,000 successful Rupay transactions in Bhutan already.

“Had Covid not happened, this number would have been much higher. We are launching the Phase II of the RuPay Card scheme,” the PM said.

The RuPay cards issued by the Bhutan National Bank can be used at ATMs for Rs 1 lakh and for Rs 20 lakh at point-of-sale terminals.

At the launch, PM Modi also spoke about a framework signed by both the countries for peaceful usage of outer space. He said it will give a boost to India-Bhutan ties.

The PM said that India has recently opened its space sector for private enterprises. “This will promote capacity, innovation and skills,” he added.

PM further said that work is going on rapidly to send Bhutan’s satellite to space with the help of ISRO, next year. “For this purpose, Bhutan’s four space engineers will go to ISRO in December, I send my regards to them,” PM said.

Modi also welcomed  Bhutan’s agreement with BSNL on the Third International Internet Gateway.

-ARK

Mumbai schools to remain shut till Dec 31

Mumbai schools to remain shut till Dec 31
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): All schools run by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will remain closed till December 31, in the view of rising COVID-19 cases in Mumbai.

This announcement was made by Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar today, according to media reports.

The schools across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, were scheduled to reopen from November 23 for classes 9 to 12.

According to the state government’s order, other schools in rest of Maharashtra that don’t come under BMC jurisdiction will reopen on November 23.

The state’s education department has made it mandatory for teachers to undergo an RT-PCR test for COVID-19 before schools reopen. Besides, parents will have to sign a written consent before their children attend school, as per the state’s guidelines.

Meanwhile, the schools that are planning to reopen next week will have to follow health, hygiene and other safety measures before and after classes.

So far, Mumbai has registered 2,72,449 coronavirus cases, while the death toll stood at 10,624 in the city.

However, in worst-affected Maharashtra COVID-19 tally went up to 17,63,055 with the addition of 5,535 cases in past 24 hours.

-RJV

Mehbooba and Abdullahs befooling people of J&K through Gupkar: Shahnawaz Hussain

Mehbooba and Abdullahs befooling people of J&K through Gupkar: Shahnawaz Hussain

NEYAZ ELAHI

Srinagar (NVI): Senior BJP leader and the party’s campaigner for DDC polls in Kashmir, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, today said that ‘Gupkar Gang’ is “befooling” people of J&K and showing them dreams which can never turn into reality.

Hussain said that Mehbooba and Abdullahs, partners in the Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), are showing dreams to the people that can never turn into reality. “Kashmir lives in the brain and heart of Narendra Modi. It can be made a tourist hub, but politicians have ruined this picturesque part of India,” he said.

“We all know Article 370 is a history, buried under the earth. Whatever gets buried never gets life again. Leaders who run the ‘Gupkar Gang’ know it well that Article 370 can’t be restored but still they are trying to befool people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he while addressing a presser at the Tourist Reception Center (TRC) here.

Pertinently, District Development Constituency (DDC) elections are being held in Jammu and Kashmir and to campaign for the BJP candidates, top Central leaders from the party are visiting and addressing party workers in Kashmir Valley.

Shahnawaz Hussain arrived here today and addressed a press conference in presence of Kashmir based top party leadership. He is national spokesperson and CEC member of the BJP and a former cabinet minister.

Hussain also echoed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks and described ‘Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration’ (PAGD) as ‘Gupkar Gang’. Amit Shah in a series of tweets had called PAGD as ‘Gupkar Gang’ saying this ‘gang’ has gone global.

In response to a question, Hussain said that Congress is scared of PM Modi and Amit Shah. “We asked Congress to clear their stand on ‘Gupkar Gang’. This party out of fear immediately distanced itself from this ‘Gang’ which is more dangerous than any other common gang.”

He said regional parties like National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party never worked in the interest of people but the leaders of these parties filled their coffers, looted resources of Jammu and Kashmir and resorted to nepotism and corruption.

“BJP doesn’t believe in ‘dynastic rule’ but in democracy. We have fielded even those candidates in these DDC elections who have no political background or are associated with affluent political families. This thing you will never see in PDP and NC that give priorities to their family members,” Hussain said.

-ARK

Entire village except 1 test Covid positive in Himachal’s Lahaul

New Delhi (NVI): Thorang village in Lahaul valley of Himachal Pradesh has witnessed a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases recently. Except one, all 41 residents from the village have tested positive for the virus.

52-year-old Bhushan Thakur was the only person found negative during the testing, according to media reports.

The outspread is being linked to a religious programme which was held few days back. The social gathering is being blamed for the community transmission.

Notably, the district has been one of the worst affected in terms of population ratio in the state.

Thorang village along the Manali-Leh highway has just 42 residents as others have migrated to Kullu for winter. When the villagers voluntarily decided to get tested, 41 out of the 42 residents were found with the virus.

Furthermore, the administration has restricted tourism movement to Teling nullah near the north portal of the Rohtang Tunnel to avoid the spread. Moreover, tourists weren’t allowed to enter Lahaul villages on Thursday as the villages beyond Rohtang Tunnel has been turned into containment zones.

The rising cases in Lahaul Spiti villages have become a matter of concern for officials as 856 people have been found positive so far in the district.

-CHK

Fact check: No pinpoint strikes on terror launchpads inside PoK

Fact check: No pinpoint strikes on terror launchpads inside PoK

New Delhi (NVI): The Central Government has refuted media reports which claimed that Indian Army carried out pinpoint airstrike in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

The Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) busted the fake news carried by various social media outlets.

Earlier, the media outlets reported that the Indian Army carried out ‘pinpoint strikes’ on suspected terror launchpads inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) in response to the Pakistani military’s unrelenting efforts to push the maximum number of terrorists into India.

Debunking the claims , PIB Fact Check Unit took to twitter and wrote, “Several media outlets are claiming that the Indian Armed Forces carried out strikes on suspected terror launch pads across the #LOC.

#PIBFactCheck: This claim is #Fake. There has been no firing across the LOC today.”

PIB has initiated a Fact Check handle to check such viral fake news and messages. One can also submit such messages or claims on PIB’s official website.

-RJV

COVID-19: Northern Ireland to face tough lockdown measures from next Friday

New Delhi (NVI): Northern Ireland is set to face a two-week period of tougher Covid-19 lockdown measures from next Friday.

Under new restrictions, to take effect for two weeks from November 27, non-essential retail and churches will also be shut.

It means cafes and close-contact services, which are permitted to re-open this weekend, will be closed again one week later.

Furthermore, pubs and licensed restaurants, which were due to re-open next Friday, will also remain closed for another two weeks.

No household gatherings of more than one household, other than current bubbling arrangements, will be permitted with exceptions for caring, maintenance, house moves.

However, public parks and outdoor play areas will be permitted to remain open.

Now from next Friday, Northern Ireland will revert back to similar measures introduced in March, with the exception of schools remaining open.

So far, the region has reported 48,229 coronavirus infections and 889 fatalities caused by the deadly contagion.

-CHK

Delhi’s air quality deteriorates to ‘poor’ category; likely to improve soon

Representational image (Source: @twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): The air quality in Delhi deteriorated this morning and was recorded in the ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories in several areas, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said.

According to the CPCB data, air quality index (AQI) around Sirifort was recorded at 287 (poor) and Sri Aurobindo Marg at 291 (poor) and 302 (very poor) at RK Puram.

The national capital’s overall AQI stood at 292 at around 10 am, higher than the average AQI of 283 recorded yesterday.

Yesterday, the officials at air monitoring agencies said that air quality may deteriorate slightly and may touch the lower end of the ‘very poor’ category on November 20-21

As per the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality monitor, SAFAR, the air quality may touch ‘very poor’ Friday and improve slightly on Saturday due to favourable surface wind speed.

It added that the deterioration in air quality to a rise in the contribution of stubble burning to the city’s PM 2.5 levels.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also said that the rise in fire count and a dip in temperature both could be the reasons behind deterioration in air quality.

Meanwhile, the residents of Delhi woke up to a hazy sky in morning, as change in the wind direction increased the share of stubble burning in the city’s pollution slightly.

-RJV

1...1,0111,0121,013...1,733Page 1,012 of 1,733

MUST READ