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Germany, France to enter into lockdown as second covid wave sweeps Europe

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered their countries back into lockdown as a massive second wave of coronavirus infections threatened to overwhelm Europe before the winter.

“The virus is circulating at a speed that not even the most pessimistic forecasts had anticipated,” Macron said in a televised address. “Like all our neighbours, we are submerged by the sudden acceleration of the virus.”

Under the new French measures which will come into force on Friday until at least December 1, people will be required to stay in their homes except to buy essential goods, seek medical attention, or exercise for up to one hour a day. They will be permitted to go to work if their employer deems it impossible for them to do the job from home. Schools will stay open.

Meanwhile, Germany will shut bars, restaurants and theatres from November 2-30 under measures agreed between Merkel and heads of regional governments. Schools will stay open, and shops will be allowed to operate with strict limits on access.

During the month-long emergency lockdown, private gatherings will be limited to 10 people from a maximum of two households. Professional sports events will be allowed to be held only without spectators.

Furthermore, people will be asked not to travel for private, non-essential reasons, and overnight stays in hotels will be available only for necessary business trips.

“We need to take action now,” Merkel said. “Our health system can still cope with this challenge today, but at this speed of infections it will reach the limits of its capacity within weeks.”

France has surged above 36,000 new cases a day. Germany, which was less hard-hit than its European neighbours early this year, has seen an exponential rise in cases.

In Germany, cases rose 14,964 to 4,86,972 in the last 24 hours. Deaths jumped by 85 to 10,281, heightening fears for the health system after Merkel warned it could hit breaking point if infections continue to spiral.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus infections in France have surged past 1.2 million while the number of fatalities stands at 35,823 in the country.

-CHK

Air quality deteriorates to ‘severe’ category in parts of Delhi

Delhi Air
(File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The air quality in many parts of Delhi inched closer to the ‘severe’ category this morning, as the level of pollutants rise in the atmosphere.

According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (CPCB) data, air quality index (AQI) is at 401 in Anand Vihar, 405 in Alipur and 410 in Wazirpur, all three in ‘severe’ category.

Delhi recorded an overall air quality index (AQI) of 392 at around 10 am. The 24-hour average AQI was 297 on Wednesday, 312 on Tuesday, 353 on Monday, 349 on Sunday, 345 on Saturday and 366 on Friday.

In RK Puram, the AQI was recorded at 376, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category. Similarly, the AQI in ITO was 384, 311 in Lodhi Road and 387 in Punjabi Bagh.

The higher levels of pollutants also reduced the visibility in various parts of Delhi, as thin layer of smog was also witnessed this morning.

Moreover, the air monitoring agencies have warned that the AQI in Delhi-NCR will slip further over the next few days due to the reduced wind speed.

The share of stubble burning emissions from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in national capital’s PM 2.5 levels has also increased to 23 per cent, the maximum this season so far, which deteriorated the situation further, the air quality monitor SAFAR said.

It added that accumulation of locally generated pollutants and increased external intrusion due to north-north westerly level winds from regions where stubble is burnt will be major reasons for the increase in PM2.5 levels.

-RJV

ISRO to launch EOS-01 and 9 international satellites on Nov 7

The PSLV C-49 is assembled at the launchpad (Source: @ISRO)

New Delhi (NVI): Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch EOS-01 satellite along with nine international customer satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota on November 7.

This will be the 51st mission of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C49), ISRO’s workhorse. “The launch is tentatively scheduled at 1502 hrs IST on November 7 subject to weather conditions”, ISRO said in a statement.

EOS-01 is an earth observation satellite intended for applications in agriculture, forestry and disaster management support, the space agency said.

The customer satellites are being launched under commercial agreement with New Space India Limited (NSIL), Department of Space.

In view of the strict COVID-19 pandemic norms in place at the launch centre, gathering of media personnel is not planned at SDSC SHAR and the viewing gallery will also be closed, ISRO said.

However the live telecast of the launch will be available on ISRO website, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels, it added.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases exceed 44.4 million worldwide

Coronavirus cases surge past 85 million mark worldwide
(File/Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): More than 44.4 million people around the world have been infected with the coronavirus, and over 11,73,270 have died from the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

At least 29.9 million patients have been cured and recovered globally.

In the US, the total number of coronavirus cases have exceeded 8.85 million while the total number of fatalities have surpassed 2,27,600 in the country.

Brazil, remains number one COVID-19 affected country in Latin America with nearly 5.46 million cases. The country’s death toll stands at 1,58,456.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Turkey has risen by 2,305 to 3,68,513 within the past 24 hours marking the largest daily increase since April 29. The death toll rise to 10,027 in the country.

Italy reported 24,991 new cases of COVID-19 within 24 hours with a notable rise in cases from the Lombardy region. The total number of coronavirus cases surpassed 5,89,700 in the country, while death toll stands at 37,905.

Meanwhile, in Europe, both Germany and France will go back into nationwide lockdown amid a massive second wave of COVID-19 infections.

Germany has also announced a partial lockdown on starting from November 2. The country registered a daily record high of 14,964 new cases over the past 24 hours, taking the national caseload to 464,239, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

-RJV

Children in poorest countries lost 4 months of schooling since pandemic began

New Delhi (NVI): Children from low-income countries have lost almost four months of schooling since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report.

The joint report by UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank showed, “Children in low-and lower-middle-income countries have lost nearly four months of schooling since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to six weeks of loss in high-income countries.”

The organizations conducted survey on national education responses to COVID-19 carried out in nearly 150 countries between June and October.

The report highlighted that school children from poorest countries missed schooling because they were the least likely to access remote learning and to be monitored on their learning loss during the pandemic.

They were also the most likely to have delays to their schools reopening and to attend schools with inadequate resources to ensure safe operations.

Robert Jenkins UNICEF Chief of Education said, “We don’t need to look far to see the devastation the pandemic has caused to children’s learning across the world. In low- and lower-middle income countries, this devastation is magnified as limited access to remote learning, increased risks of budget cuts and delayed plans in reopening have thwarted any chance of normalcy for schoolchildren.”

“Prioritising reopening schools and providing much-needed catch-up classes are critical,” he added.

Notably, more than two-thirds of countries have fully or partially reopened their schools and one in four have missed their planned reopening date or not yet set a date for reopening, most of which are low- and lower-middle-income countries, the report said.

“One in five low-income countries reported that remote learnings days count as official school days, recognising the low-impact of remote learning measures, compared to three-quarters of countries worldwide,” it added.

Of the total 79 countries, 40 per cent of low-and lower-middle-income countries have either already experienced or anticipate decreases to their country’s education budget for the current or next fiscal year.

Moreover, most countries reported that student learning is being monitored by teachers, a quarter of low- and lower-middle-income countries are not tracking children’s learning.

Around two in three of low-income countries were introducing measures to support access or inclusion for those at risk of exclusion.

The report further said that, to continue teaching during school closures, more than 90 per cent of high- and upper-middle-income respondents required teachers, compared to less than 40 per cent of low-income country respondents.

“The pandemic will notch up the funding gap for education in low and middle-income countries. By making the right investment choices now, rather than waiting, this gap could be significantly reduced,” said Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education.

Apart from this, almost all countries included remote learning in their education response, in the form of online platforms, TV and radio programmes and take-home packages, as per the report.

In addition to this, 9 in 10 countries facilitated access to online learning, most frequently through mobile phones or offering internet access at subsidized or no cost, but the coverage of this access was extremely varied.

“6 in 10 countries provided materials to help guide parents in home-based learning, while 4 in 10 countries provided psychosocial counselling to children and caregivers during school closures,” the report added.

However, these efforts were more common among high-income countries and in environments where resources were already available.

-RJV

India’s COVID tally crosses 8 million; death toll tops 1,20,500

COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): India coronavirus tally has crossed the 8-million mark and currently stands at 80,40,203, with a single-day rise of 49,881 new cases in last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry said.

The death toll in the country has gone up to 1,20,527 with 517 new fatalities being reported during the same period.

So far, 73,15,989 patients have recovered all over the country, while active cases stands at 6,03,687. The recovery rate also improves further to 90.99 per cent.

However, the slower pace of daily infections and an improved recovery rate have led to a fairly drastic decline in active cases.

In terms of total number of cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state with 16,60,766 coronavirus cases followed by Andhra Pradesh with 8,14,744 cases, Karnataka with 8,12,784 positive cases.

The other worst affected states included Tamil Nadu (7,16,751), Uttar Pradesh (4,76,034) and Delhi (3,70,014).

In terms of fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 43,554 deaths followed by Tamil Nadu 11,018, ministry said.

The death toll in the national capital surged to 6,396 while another 3,34,240 patients have been cured so far, healthy ministry data shows.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 10,65,63,440 samples tested for COVID-19 up to October 28. Of these 10,75,760 samples were tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan yesterday said, the continuously rising national recovery rate and progressively falling active cases of coronavirus infection have proven the success of COVID-19 containment strategy.

-RJV

France thanks India after it voices support for Macron

France

New Delhi (NVI): France tonight thanked India for coming out in support of its President Emmanuel Macron amidst attack on him from radical Islamists and Pakistan.

“Thank you @MEAIndia. France and India can always count on each other in the fight against terrorism,” French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain tweeted while embedding the statement issued by Indian External Affairs Ministry.

His tweet came after MEA said, “We strongly deplore the personal attacks in unacceptable language on President Emmanuel Macron in violation of the most basic standards of international discourse.”

In the statement, the External Affairs Ministry also condemned the brutal terrorist attack that took the life of a French teacher in a gruesome manner that has shocked the world and offered India’s condolences to his family and the people of France.

French school teacher was beheaded by a radical Islamist on a busy Paris road, days after he had shown caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed to his students in France earlier this month.

Macron had slammed the radicals after the gruesome incident, for which he is being attacked by radical Islamists and Pakistan.

 

Smriti Irani tests Covid-19 positive

Union Minister Smriti Irani

New Delhi (NVI): Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani today announced that she has tested positive for coronavirus.

Smriti Irani took to Twitter to share her diagnosis. “It is rare for me to search for words while making an announcement; hence here’s me keeping it simple — I’ve tested positive for Covid,” Irani wrote.

She also urged people who had come in close contact with her to get themselves tested for Covid-19.

The 44-year-old actor-turned-politician had been actively campaigning for the Bihar elections, seeking votes for the National Democratic Alliance government in the state.

Home Minister Amit Shah, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Shripad Yesso Naik, Nitin Gadkari, Prahlad Singh Patel and Ramdas Athawale are the other central ministers who had contracted the virus.

-CHK

Indian troops standing firm, talks for peaceful resolution to continue: Rajnath

New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said that talks with China for peaceful resolution of the ongoing border crisis would continue even as Indian troops are standing firm in forward areas.

While addressing the ongoing Army Commanders’ Conference, Singh expressed gratitude and said, “It is our national responsibility to ensure availability of best weapons, equipment and clothing to our troops braving extreme weather and hostile forces to defend our territorial integrity.”

Rajnath Singh complimented the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for its efforts to build infrastructure in forward areas and working under difficult conditions to connect far-flung areas.

The Indian Army’s apex leadership is comprehensively deliberating upon all aspects of existing security scenarios, situation along the borders and in the hinterland and challenges for the present security apparatus in the ongoing conference.

In addition, the conference is also focussing on issues pertaining to organisational restructuring, logistics, administration and human resource management.

Referring to the situation along the Western borders, he complimented the Indian Army’s response to cross border terrorism and ceasefire violations.

“I compliment the excellent synergy between the CAPF/ Police forces and the Army in tackling the menace of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. It is due to the synergised operations in the Valley that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is moving to a stable and peaceful environment conducive for overall growth and development,” he said.

Singh reaffirmed the faith of the billion-plus citizens on the Indian Army as one of the most trusted and inspiring organisations in the country. He reiterated the stellar role played by the Army in guarding our borders and fighting terrorism apart from providing assistance to the civil administration whenever called for.

He also appreciated the role played by Indian Armed Forces in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. He remarked that “Actions of Indian Army truly ensure the integrity and sovereignty of our great nation.”

In addition to this, the Defence Minister lauded the forces for the high standard of operational preparedness and capabilities which he experienced firsthand during his visits to forward areas. He also paid tributes to the bravehearts of Galwan, Kashmir and the North East for making the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of the motherland.

He further said that the “Creation of CDS and DMA is a momentous decision in Indian history and the concept of Integrated Battle Groups, Integrated Theatre Commands and Integrated Air Defence Commands will be game changers in the way Indian Armed forces fight future wars.”

He also remarked that, “These were a result of the decision by Prime Minster Modi to undertake decisive reforms for transformational change to improve operational capability.”

He also alluded to the establishment of the Defence Cyber and Space Agencies which will enhance the kinetic potential of the forces.

He appreciated the Army’s efforts to develop niche technologies in collaboration with civil industries including premier educational institutions. He also complimented the in-house development of the “Secure Application for Internet (SAI)”, an application for secure messaging within the Indian Army.

He also stated that, “The Government is focused on enhancing combat capability and ensuring welfare of soldiers”. He said that the Delegation of Financial Powers – 2016, Defence Procurement Manual and the Army HQ Restructuring proposals are currently under review and will be finalised soon.

He also remarked that the announcement of Atmanirbhar Bharat and notification of negative list of imports are big steps towards self-reliance in defence which offer a great opportunity to the Indian defence industry to meet the future requirements of the Armed Forces.

Singh also remarked that the decision to grant permanent commission to women in the Army is another significant decision that will ensure equal opportunities for professional growth to all officers irrespective of their gender.

He also assured the veteran community that all issues related to Ex Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), which he said was one of the government’s flagship schemes, will be addressed expeditiously.

The recent decisions to enhance monitory assistance to ‘Next of Kin’ of all categories of Battle Casualties from existing Rs 2 lakh to Rs 8 lakh granted under ABCWF and removal of minimum service clause for enhanced ordinary family pension are some of the major decisions taken to alleviate problems of our families, the minister stated.

He concluded by saying that, “The Government is committed to facilitate the Army in their forward movement on road to reforms and capability development”.

-CHK

India, UK participate in 10th Economic & Financial Dialogue to boost jobs, investment

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the 10th Economic & Financial Dialogue.

New Delhi (NVI): The landmark 10th Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) between India and the UK saw Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Rishi Sunak, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, make agreements on financial services, infrastructure and sustainable finance to help boost jobs and investments in both the countries.

The United Kingdom and India have a strong investment relationship, with UK and Indian investments supporting over half a million jobs in each other’s economies. Since the first EFD with India in 2007, UK bilateral trade with India has more than doubled to nearly £24 billion in 2019.

At the first session on Global Responses to coronavirus through video conferencing, India and the UK entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City as an international financial centre, including regulatory capacity building support for the new International Financial Services Centre Authority.

Both the countries also agreed on a new UK-India Partnership on Infrastructure Policy and Financing to support the Indian National Infrastructure Pipeline with UK commercial expertise and financing, according to an official statement issued by the British High Commission.

The UK and India further agreed on strengthening cooperation on mobilising private capital into green investment, including through a new UK-India Sustainable Finance Forum, and greening the financial system, the statement added.

In addition to this, they also agreed on a fresh mandate for the industry-led India-UK Financial Partnership to explore closer financial ties in areas including FinTech.

During the conference, an agreement was also reached to create a new Financial Markets Dialogue to remove regulatory and market access barriers for UK and Indian firms.

“Joint investment by UK Research and Innovation and India’s Department of Biotechnology in research collaborations worth up to £8 million to understand the impact of Covid-19 in South Asian populations in the UK and India,” the High Commission added.

The chancellor and finance minister discussed the importance of continuing to work together to deal with the global economic impact of Coronavirus – which the UK and India are already leading as co-authors of the G20 Action Plan – and tackling climate change through sustainable finance.

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said, “The UK’s economic and financial relationship with India has never been more important with the global challenges we face.”

“Today we set out our ambition for even stronger ties, with an agreement that will increase investment and create and secure jobs. We are also committed to working together to lead the global economic recovery as we build back better after the pandemic,” he added.

During the talks, the Chancellor championed UK markets as a source for Indian companies to raise international capital, and welcomed the decision to allow Indian companies to list on the London Stock Exchange – the UK being one of only seven jurisdictions permitted.

India and the United Kingdom enjoy close bilateral relations in diverse areas. India-UK economic ties are important as together they are two of the world’s top seven economies with a combined GDP of over $5 trillion.

A joint statement called the pandemic the “biggest threat” to the global economy in decades, and noted the responses taken by the two governments, including steps to protect lives and livelihoods.

The UK Research and Innovation and India’s Department of Biotechnology will jointly invest up to £8 million for research to understand and address the factors leading to the severity of coronavirus in South Asian populations in UK and in India, the statement read.

“The UK’s Department of Health and Social Care will contribute to India’s Coronavirus Joint Response Plan and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) via the World Health Organization with an initial amount of £600,000,” it added.

This will provide a platform for further bilateral cooperation on AMR through a Fleming Fund partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the future, the statement said.

-CHK

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