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Global coronavirus cases mounts to 43.8 million

Coronavirus cases surpass 52 mn globally; US reports record 1.36 lakh infections

New Delhi (NVI): More than 43.8 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and over 1,042,600 have died from the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

At least 29 million patients have been cured and recovered worldwide.

In the US, the total number of coronavirus cases stand around 8.77 million while more than 2,26,670 people have lost their lives due to the deadly virus.

Brazil, remains number one COVID-19 affected country in Latin America, recorded 29,787 cases within 24-hours and surpassed 5.43 million. The country’s death toll stands at 1,57,946.

Russia registered 16,550 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking its total to 15,37,152, the country’s COVID-19 response center said

Moreover, the COVID-19 death toll in France jumped by 523 to 35,541, the largest daily rise since end of April. The total number of confirmed cases in the country stood at 1,198,695, after 33,417 people contracted the virus in the past 24 hours.

South Korea has reported 103 new cases of coronavirus, continuing a steady spread as people increasingly venture out in the public amid eased social distancing measures. The national caseload stands at 26,146, including 461 deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that, Europe accounts for the great proportion of new COVID-19 cases, contributing nearly half of all new cases reported globally in the last week. In Europe deaths have increased by 37 per cent over the previous week.

-RJV

India’s COVID tally nears 80 lakh; death toll mounts to 1.20 lakh

India’s COVID tally tops 10.34 million with 16,505 new cases
(File/ Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): India witnessed a single-day jump of 43,893 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, rising the overall tally to 79,90,322, Union Health Ministry said.

The country’s death toll has reached to 1,20,010 with 508 fatalities reported during this period.

So far, 72,59,509 patients have been cured and recovered all over the country while active cases stands at 6,10,803. With this, the recovery rate further improves to 90.62 per cent.

However, the slower pace of daily infections and an improved recovery rate kept active cases in India below the 7-lakh mark for the sixth straight day.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 16,54,028, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 8,11,825 cases, and Karnataka with 8,09,638 positive cases.

Other states with a high virus hit included Tamil Nadu (7,14,235), Uttar Pradesh (4,74,054) and Delhi (3,64,341).

Meanwhile, of the total deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 43,463 fatalities, followed by Tamil Nadu with 10,983 deaths.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 6,356, while 3,30,112 patients have been cured and recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total 10,54,87,680 samples tested for COVID-19 up to October 27. Of these, 10,66,786 samples were tested yesterday.

Furthermore, the Health Ministry yesterday informed that it has been observed that states and Union Territories like Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi have reported rise in daily cases during the festival season.

-RJV

Comedy of errors in Pakistan

Pakistan
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan (File pic)

New Delhi (NVI): Finally, it proved to be a comedy of errors.

Pakistan’s National Assembly (Parliament) passed a resolution unanimously, asking the government to recall its Ambassador to France as a mark of protest against “Islamophobia displayed by the French president” in the context of controversial cartoons.

The resolution was moved in Parliament by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

However, it turned out later that Pakistan has no Ambassador currently posted in Paris, as the last ambassador, Moin-ul-Haq, left France three months ago when he was transferred to China, according to the local media.

Pakistan Foreign Office has not designated any replacement as of yet for Haq, the Pakistani media reports said.

The  reports said Qureshi was aware of the fact that the Pakistan embassy in France is without an Ambassador but he didn’t share this crucial information with the House.

Encounter breaks out in J&K’s Budgam

J&K Encounter
Security forces in Kashmir (File Pic)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A gunfight broke out between terrorists and security forces in Machuwa area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district this evening, officials said.

An official told that a joint team of Police, Army’s 50 RR and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) based on specific information about the presence of terrorists in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter.

A senior police officer said the exchange of fire between the forces and terrorists is going on.

As per the sources, two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped in the area.

-CHK

PM Modi lauds beneficiaries of SVANidhi Yojana from UP

PM Modi
Narendra Modi (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today interacted with street vendors from Uttar Pradesh who had availed of loans under the PM Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) and said most of the beneficiaries were repaying their loans on time.

The Prime Minister while interacting with the beneficiaries via video conference gave suggestions on benefits of digital payment and how to get cashback benefits. He also said with this money one can have proper education and a better career.

The scheme, which provides vendors collateral-free working capital loans of Rs 10,000, was announced on June 1 as a part of the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat package in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis.

So far, 24.76 lakh applications have been received, of which 12.37 lakh have been sanctioned and over 5 lakh loans have been disbursed, according to the PM SVANidhi portal.

While addressing the street vendors, PM Modi said Uttar Pradesh accounted for 6.5 lakh applications and 4.25 lakh approved loans.

Modi interacted with vendors from Agra, Varanasi and Lucknow, and asked them about their experiences with the lockdown and the scheme.

Later in his address, the Prime Minister said earlier it was difficult for even the salaried people to approach the banks for loans while the poor and the street vendors could not even think of approaching the bank. But now, he said, the banks are reaching the doorsteps of people to provide loans for helping the latter start their ventures.

“For for the first time since independence street vendors are getting unsecured affordable loans,” he said, adding, “Most of the street vendors who were given the loan through the Swanidhi scheme are repaying their loan on time proving that small time borrowers do not compromise on their honesty & sincerity.”

Later, PM Modi congratulated bank employees for their efforts in disbursing loans.

-CHK

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve to reopen on Nov 1

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) in Uttar Pradesh is all set to reopen for wildlife enthusiasts from November 1, with strict COVID-19 restrictions.

The reserve is reopening almost 15 days ahead of its schedule date. The tourist season in Dudhwa usually starts on November 15 and concludes on June 15 every year.

According to the forest officials, tourists would be made to go through thermal scanning and those younger than 10 years and those above 65 years have been barred from entering the reserve under the COVID-19 guidelines.

There will be a fine of Rs 500 for those not wearing a mask and tourists would have to carry a personal sanitizer. Only four tourists will be allowed in every safari jeep other than the driver and forest guide.

Moreover, the tourists will not be able to enjoy the elephant safaris that have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Field Director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Sanjay Pathak said, “The eco-tourism season will begin from November 1 and we have to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines laid by the central and state governments.”

Furthermore, the COVID-19 negative report is not mandatory but tourists exhibiting the symptoms of during inspection at the gate will not be allowed to enter.

Dudhwa used to earn Rs 46.50 lakh revenues, but it was reduced to around Rs 25.65 lakh this year, as the reserve was closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

-RJV

India declares 18 Pakistan-based individuals as terrorists under UAPA

Representational Image
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The Central government has declared 18 more Pakistan-based individuals as designated terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, for their involvement in the acts of terrorism in India at different periods of time.

The list issued today by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) includes Sajid Mir, who was one of the main players in the Mumbai 26/11 attack, and has been described as a Pakistan based LeT’s top commander.

The other prominent names among those designated as terrorists include India’s most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim’s right-hand man, Chhota Shakeel, and the Bhatkal brothers of the Indian Mujahideen.

“These individuals are involved in various acts of terrorism from across the border and have been relentless in their nefarious efforts of destabilising the country,” the MHA said in a statement.

The UAPA, 1967, was amended in August 2019 to include the provision of declaring an individual as a terrorist. Before this, only organisations could be declared as terror outfits, MHA added.

The full list of declared terrorists under the UAPA:-

1. Sajid Mir- also known as (Sajid Majeed, Ibrahim Shah, Wasi, Khali, Muhammad Waseem)

Pakistan based top LeT Commander and was one of the main planners of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

2. Yusuf Muzammil- also known as ( Ahmad Bhai, Yousuf Muzammil Butt, Hurreira Bhai)

Pakistan based Commander of LeT operations in Jammu & Kashmir and accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

3. Abdur Rehman Makki- also known as (Abdul Rehman Makki)

Brother-in-law of Hafiz Saeed, Chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Head of LeT political affairs, and has served as Head of LeT’s foreign relations department.

4. Shahid Mehmood- also known as (Shahid Mehmood Rehmatullah)

Pakistan based deputy chief of proscribed organization Falah-i-lnsaniyat Foundation (FIF), which is a part of the LeT.

5. Farhatullah Ghori- also known as (Abu Sufiyan, Sardar Sahab, Faru)

Pakistan based terrorist and was involved in attack on Akshardham Temple (2002) and Suicide attack on Task Force office in Hyderabad (2005).

6. Abdul Rauf Asghar- also known as (Mufti, Mufti Asghar, Saad baba, Maulana Mufti Rauf Asghar)

Another Pakistan-based terrorist and has been involved in setting up of training camps in Pakistan for recruitment and militant training and key conspirator in the attack on Indian Parliament in 2001.

7. Ibrahim Athar- also known as (Ahmed AliMohd. Ali Shaikh, Javed Amjad Siddiqui, A.A. Shaikh, Chief)

Pakistan based terrorist, involved in the Kandhar hijacking of 1999 and was also a key conspirator in the Indian Parliament attack of 2001.

8. Yusuf Azhar- also known as (Azhar Yusuf, Mohd. Salim )

Pakistan-based terrorist, involved in the 1999 Kandhar hijack.

9. Shahid Latif- also know as (Chota Shahid Bhai, Noor Al Din)

Pakistan based terrorist and JeM’s Commander of Sialkot sector, involved in launching of JeM terrorists into India. He is also involved in planning, facilitation and execution of terror attacks in India.

10. Syed Mohammad Yusuf Shah- most commonly known as Syed Salahudeen (also known as Peer Sahab, Buzurg)

Pakistan based, Supreme Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Chairman, United Jihad Council (UJC). Involved in fund raising and routing finances to India for furtherance of terrorist activities by HM cadres.

11. Ghulam Nabi Khan- also known as (Amir Khan, Saifullah Khalid, Khalid Saifullah, Jawaad, Daand)

Pakistan based, Deputy Supreme of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

12. Zaffar Hussain Bhat- also known as (Khursheed, Mohd. Zafar Khan, Moulvi, Khursheed Ibrahim)

Pakistan based, Dy. Chief, Hizbul Mujahideen and also handles financial affairs of Hizbul Mujahideen. Responsible for sending funds for HM operatives in the Kashmir Valley.

13. Riyaz Ismail Shahbandri- also known as (Shah Riyaz Ahmed, Riyaz Bhatkal, Md. Riyaz, Ahmed Bhai, Rasool Khan, Roshan Khan, Aziz)

Pakistan based, founder member of terrorist organization “Indian Mujahideen”. Involved in various terrorist acts in India including German Bakery (2010), Chinnaswami Stadium, Bangalore (2010) , Jama Masjid (2010), Sheetlaghat (2010) and Mumbai (2011) etc.

14. Md. Iqbal- also known as (Shabandri Mohammed Iqbal, Iqbal Bhatkal)

Pakistan based Co- founder of the terrorist organization, Indian Mujahideen (IM). Involved in terror financing and various terrorist acts including Jaipur Serial Blasts (2008), Delhi Serial Blasts (2008), Serial Blasts of Ahmedabad and Surat (2008), German Bakery Blast, Pune of (2010) and Chinnaswami Stadium, Bengaluru Blasts (2010) etc.

15. Shaikh Shakeel- also known as (Chhota Shakeel)

Pakistan based Associate of Dawood Ibrahim, looks after all criminal and underworld operations of D-Company. Finances D-Company operatives of India. Involved in the smuggling of firearms to Gujarat, India, during 1993.

16. Mohammad Anis Shaikh

Pakistan based terrorist, involved in Bombay Bomb Blast Case, 1993 and responsible for the supply of arms, ammunition and hand grenades.

17.Ibrahim Memon- also known as (Tiger Memon, Mushtaq, Sikander, Ibrahim Abdul Razak Memon, Mustafa, Ismail)

Pakistan based terrorist, hatched the criminal conspiracy of the Bombay Bomb Blast Case.

18.Javed Chikna-also known as (Javed Dawood Tailor)

Pakistan based Associate of Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, involved in Bombay Bomb Blast case, 1993.

-CHK

AI discovers over 1.8 billion trees in Sahara Desert

Over 1.8 billion trees and shrubs in the 1.3 million square kilometer area of Sahara Desert

New Delhi (NVI): There are more than 1.8 billion trees and shrubs in the West African Sahara Desert, despite conceptions that the desert is a desolate wasteland, according to a new study.

The recent study published in the journal Nature—used detailed satellite imagery from NASA, and deep learning with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) method.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen counted over 1.8 billion trees in the 1.3 million square kilometer (501,933 square miles) area that covers the western-most portion of the Sahara Desert called the Sahel, along with sub-humid zones of West Africa, the World Economic Forum reported.

“We were very surprised to see that quite a few trees actually grow in the Sahara Desert, because up until now, most people thought that virtually none existed, said Martin Brandt, professor at the University of Copenhagen and lead author of the study.

“We counted hundreds of millions of trees in the desert alone. Doing so wouldn’t have been possible without this technology. Indeed, I think it marks the beginning of a new scientific era,” he added.

However, the normal satellite imagery is unable to identify individual trees, they remain literally invisible.

Moreover, a limited interest in counting trees outside of forested areas led to the prevailing view that this particular region had almost no trees. This is the first time that anyone counted trees across a large dryland region.

The new knowledge about trees in dryland areas like this is important for several reasons, Brandt said, adding that, they represent an unknown factor when it comes to the global carbon budget.

“Trees outside of forested areas are usually not included in climate models, and we know very little about their carbon stocks. They are basically a white spot on maps and an unknown component in the global carbon cycle,” he added.

The new study further contributes to better understanding of the importance of trees for biodiversity and ecosystems and for the people living in these areas.

In particular, enhanced knowledge about trees is also important for developing programs that promote agroforestry, which plays a major environmental and socioeconomic role in arid regions, it added.

“Thus, we are also interested in using satellites to determine tree species, as tree types are significant in relation to their value to local populations who use wood resources as part of their livelihoods,” said Rasmus Fensholt, professor in the geosciences and natural resource management department.

“Trees and their fruit are consumed by both livestock and humans, and when preserved in the fields, trees have a positive effect on crop yields because they improve the balance of water and nutrients,” Fensholt added.

The researchers developed the deep learning algorithm that made the counting of trees over such a large area possible. They fed the deep learning model thousands of images of various trees to show it what a tree looks like.

Based on the recognition of tree shapes, the model could automatically identify and map trees over large areas and thousands of images. The model needs only hours what would take thousands of humans several years to achieve, the study said.

Furthermore, the researchers will next expand the count to a much larger area in Africa and in the longer term, they plan to create a global database of all trees growing outside forest areas, it noted.

-RJV

Holding a gun, making videos won’t make one a militant: Indian Army to Kashmiri youth

Lt Gen BS Raju (File photo)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): While reaching out to the new militant recruits in Kashmir, the Indian Army today said that posing for a photograph with a gun and releasing a video won’t make one a militant and youth can still come back and join their families.

This was stated by Army’s Srinagar based 15 Corps General officer Commanding (GoC) Lieutenant General B S Raju at Corps headquarters, Badamibagh.

“I have a message for the newly recruited militants that posing for a photograph while holding a gun in hand and releasing a video won’t make you a militant. You can still come back and join your families. There has been progress in this direction recently and we are hopeful of more on this front,” GoC Raju told reporters on the occasion of Infantry Day.

He said that recently four cases of surrender by militants came to fore but there are many such cases. “We are ready to receive the gun-wielding youth back,” he said.

On his message for the youth of Kashmir, he said, “Situation has improved in Kashmir and youth should cash it. Young ones should focus on studies. Those who have completed their studies must work on finding opportunities in entrepreneurship, others should try for government jobs or start their own ventures.”

Speaking about Infantry Day, the GoC said that Infantry is an important name and soldiers from the Infantry Division have a potential to work with other agencies too like Air-force and Navy.

“Infantry is playing a great role in every battle. I want to put it on record that we are able to take up any kind of task,” he said.

-CHK

We stand with India, says US amidst faceoff with China

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Against the backdrop of Chinese aggression on the Ladakh border, the US today said it “stands with India” in dealing with any threat and declared support to India’s right to “defend its sovereignty”.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while making these comments here and slamming China, paid tributes to the 20 Indian soldiers who lost their lives in a clash with Chinese troops in Galwan valley of Ladakh in June.

He said India and the US are cooperating to deal with all kinds of threats, including those posed by the Chinese Communist Party.

Pompeo, who along with US Secretary of Defence Mark T Esper, were here for the crucial 2+2 Indo-US ministerial dialogue also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

During the meeting with Doval, the issue of 7-month-old Ladakh military faceoff is understood to have been discussed.

Pompeo, who also paid a visit to the National War Memorial here, said, “We paid our respect to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the Galwan Valley recently.”

He said, “Our nations are committed to working together into expanding our partnerships across many fronts…The US will stand with India in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and its liberty.”

Slamming China, he said at a media interaction, “I am glad to say India and the US are taking steps to strengthen cooperation against all matters of threats, not just those posed by the Chinese Communist Party.”

Referring to the coronavirus pandemic that “came from Wuhan”, he said, ‘Our leaders and our citizens see with increasing clarity that the Chinese Communist Party is no friend to democracy, the rule of law, transparency nor the freedom of navigation, the foundation of a free and open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

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