Thursday, September 10, 2026
Home Blog Page 1080

Singer Kumar Sanu tests Covid positive

Kumar Sanu

New Delhi (NVI): Renowned Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu has tested positive for the novel coronavirus today.

Confirming the news, his team wrote on his official Facebook page, “Unfortunately Sanuda has tested Corona positive, please pray for his good health. Thank you Team KS.”

Although Kumar Sanu’s team shared the news of the singer testing positive for coronavirus, it is not clear yet if he has been admitted to a hospital or is staying in isolation at home.

Besides Kumar Sanu, several other TV and film celebrities have also been infected by the virus over the past few months.

Tamannaah Bhatia, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Malaika Arora, Arjun Kapoor, Kanika Kapoor, Karim Morani, Raju Kher, Genelia D’Souza and Purab Kohli,among others, are some of the members of the film fraternity who had tested positive for but have now recovered.

-CHK

PM greets NSG on its raising day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted the National Security Guard (NSG) personnel and their families on NSG’s raising day and said it plays a crucial role in India’s security apparatus.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, “On their Raising Day, greetings to NSG Black Cats personnel and their families. NSG plays a crucial role in India’s security apparatus. It has been associated with utmost courage and professionalism. India is proud of NSG”s efforts to keep India safe and secure,” he added.

Established in 1984, the National Security Guard is a special unit of the Indian Special Forces, which combat terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances.

The NSG commandos are the best in India and rank amongst the top five in the world of elite special forces.

-RJV

India’s COVID-19 tally nears 74 lakh, death toll tops 1,12,000

COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): India registered a single-day rise of 63,371 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the overall caseload to 73,70,469, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll has gone up to 1,12,161 with 895 new fatalities being reported during the same period.

So far, 64,53,780 patients have recovered all over the country, while active cases stands at 8,04,528. The recovery rate also improves further to 87 per cent.

In terms of total number of cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state with 15,64,615 coronavirus cases followed by Andhra Pradesh with 7,71,503 cases, Karnataka with 7,43,848 positive cases.

The other worst affected states included Tamil Nadu (6,74,802), Uttar Pradesh (4,47,383) and Delhi (3,21,031).

In terms of fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 41,196 deaths followed by Tamil Nadu 10,472, ministry said.

The death toll in the national capital surged to 5,924 while another 2,92,605 patients have been cured so far, healthy ministry data shows.

As per the Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR) data, a total of 9,22,54,927 samples tested for COVID-19 up to October 15. Of these, 10,28,622 samples were tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said that India continues to have one of the lowest deaths per million population globally. Also, some states and Union Territories are performing better and reporting much lower deaths per million than the national average.

-RJV

Indian Army repairs grave of Pak Major killed along LoC in 1972 at J&K’s Kupwara

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): In a goodwill gesture, the Indian army today repaired a damaged grave of a Pakistani major killed way back in 1972, close to the fence in an action at the Nowgam sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Defence sources said that a grave of a slain army major belonging to Pakistan was resuscitated in Nowgam sector in Handwara killed in an action close to the Line of Control (LoC) over four decades back.

They identified the slain Pakistani major as Mohd Shabir Khan, “sitara-e-jurrat”, who was killed in an action along the fence in Nowgam sector on May 5, 1972 and was buried there since then. “The grave had developed cracks and was in shambles,” they said.

Meanwhile, the Indian army in a tweet also informed about the resuscitation of the slain major’s grave in Nowgam sector with respect and honor.

“Keeping with the tradition and ethos of the Indian army resuscitated a damaged grave of Major Mohd Shabir Khan, sitara-e-jurrat, Pakistan army, who was killed in action (KIA) at a forward location along LoC in Naugam sector on 05 may 1972,” Srinagar based Chinar Corps said in a tweet.

“A fallen solider, irrespective to the country he belongs to, deserves respect and honor in death. Indian army stands with this belief,” the tweet read.

“This is #Indianarmy for the world”, it added.

-ARK

14 Pakistani army personnel killed in attacks in occupied Balochistan province

New Delhi (NVI): At least 14 Pakistani army personnel were killed in two separate attacks by Baloch rebels in Balochistan’s Gwadar and North Waziristan tribal district on the Ormara coastal highway today, reports The Balochistan Post.

The convoy was reportedly traveling from Gwadar to Karachi when it was ambushed along the way near Ormara by BRAS (Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar) gunmen, who have been fighting against Pakistan occupation in the region.

The convoy of the Pakistan-run Oil and Gas Development Authority was reportedly traveling from Gwadar to Karachi when it was attacked on the way.

Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), an alliance of four armed “pro-independence organisations” has claimed that its fighters were behind today’s attack, the news website reported,

In an email sent to media outlets, the entity claimed that “BRAS fighters eliminated more than 15 enemy personnel and agents of exploitative company” in the attack, The Balochistan Post reported.

Baloch Raji Ajoi Sangar (BRAS) an umbrella group of Baloch armed groups announced the formation of an alliance with Sindhi Armed group Sindhdesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) in July this year.

The joint is mostly headed towards targetting China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as Baloch rebels had recently targeted the interests of Pakistan and China with a surge in deadly attacks on China’s ambitious Belt and Road projects in the region.

-ARK

India to deliver kilo class submarine to Myanmar amid tensions with China

New Delhi (NVI): With an eye on China and to counter its growing assertiveness in the Indian Ocean region, India will be delivering a kilo class submarine -INS Sindhuvir to the Myanmar Navy, a move aimed at strengthening its regional partner for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava made an announcement in this regard in his weekly media briefing here. “We understand that this will be the first submarine of the Myanmar Navy,” he said.

“This is in accordance with our vision of SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region, and also inline with our commitment to build capacities and self reliance in all our neighbouring countries,” Srivastava said.

The announcement comes days after the recent visit of Army Chief General MM Naravane and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to Myanmar.

“Cooperation in the maritime domain is a part of our diverse and enhanced engagement with Myanmar,” the MEA spokesman said.

-ARK

J&K parties forge alliance for ‘restoration of Art 370’

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Major political parties in Jammu and Kashmir today forged a new alliance- ‘Peoples alliance for Gupkar declaration’- for the restoration of J&K’s statehood and its special status under Article 370.

The alliance was floated after a two-hour long meeting of the signatories of Gupkar declaration at the residence of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah here.

At the culmination of the meeting, Farooq, who was flanked by PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister and his son Omar Abdullah, Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone and others, told media: “All the signatories of the Gupkar declaration have decided to forge an alliance to fight for the restoration of special status.”

“Our motive is to fight for the restoration of August 04, 2019 position. The alliance will fight for the rights that were snatched last year from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh,” he said.

Abdullah also said that steps should also be taken for resolution on Kashmir issue.

“We also want that the steps be taken for the resolution of Kashmir issue and all the stakeholders should be taken on board in this regard,” he said.

The veteran politician further said that the next meeting of the signatories will be held in coming days to decide on future course of action.

Among others, CPI (M) state secretary MY Tarigami, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement president Javaid Mustafa Mir and Awami National Conference vice-President Muzaffar Shah participated in the meeting.

Pertinently, all the signatories of Gupkar declaration, barring J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Ghulam Ahmad Mir, participated in the meeting.

Mir could not attend the meeting due to some medical emergencies and had already conveyed Farooq Abdullah about his inability to attend the meeting, sources said.

This is the second time in Jammu & Kashmir since 1947 when such a large number of political groups have joined hands over an issue. In 1987, several political parties had formed “Muslim United Front” to take on NC-Congress combine.

More importantly, after remaining as arch-rivals for years, the NC and the PDP have become come together to pursue the same goal- of seeking restoration of Article 370 that provided special status to the erstwhile state of J&K, now a UT.

-ARK

India, Kazakhstan defence industries in talks for joint collaboration   

New Delhi (NVI): Several Indian companies are in talks with Kazakhstan defence industries for co-production and co-development in defence production, a senior government official said today.

Sanjay Jaju, Joint Secretary (DIP), Ministry of Defence, said both India and Kazakhstan are looking at exploring opportunities that provide win-win solutions to the industries on both sides.

Speaking at the inaugural of the India-Kazakhstan Defence Cooperation Expo, a two-day virtual expo jointly organized by FICCI and Ministry of Defence, GoI, Jaju said several Indian companies are already in talks with Kazakh defence industries for co-production and co-development in defence production.

“India has come a long way in defence manufacturing. From a very paltry base, we now manufacture the entire range of equipment for all three verticals of the forces. These items range in the best in class artillery guns to battle tanks to bulletproof jackets to combat aircraft and the entire range of ships and submarines, missiles, and everything that is required in maintaining the sovereignty and defence of a nation,” the JS said.

Elaborating on the action plan for the India–Kazakhstan Defence Industry Cooperation, Mr Jaju said that the one important factor that binds all industry is not only to manufacture in India for India but also manufacture for all our friendly foreign nations. “We need to leverage opportunities on both sides and create opportunities for not just for co-development and co-production but to also meet each other’s requirements,” he noted.

Jaju said that the India-Kazakhstan Defence Cooperation Expo will open huge windows of opportunities for B2B interactions between industries on both sides.

“I’m aware that some companies are in an active dialogue stage with the Kazakh establishment. With India’s strengths in software coupled with strengths in hardware manufacturing, India is poised to be one of the major electronics manufacturing hubs in the world. The defence military complex that we have in India has participation from both public and private sector companies,” he further added.

Speaking at the event, Yerbol Bulakpaev, Head of Directorate, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development, Kazakhstan said that the number of priority areas highlighted by the two countries was recorded in the joint group meeting in 2018.

“We hope to discuss the range of issues in the repair, maintenance and upgrade of the Military equipment, R&D and look to establishing joint ventures. The country is interested in the joint production of aerospace equipment,” he said.

On his vision roadmap for Development of Defence Industrial Cooperation and Indo-Kazakh military bilateral cooperation Bulakpaev said, “We are interested in cooperation in developing the robotised complex and land surveillance, and reconnaissance systems.” The webinar will deepen the cooperation between the two countries, he added.

Addressing the inaugural session of the defence cooperation expo, Prabhat Kumar, Ambassador, Embassy of India, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan said, “As the Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan, nothing gives me more pleasure than to see our bilateral cooperation progressing rapidly signifying the strong bonds of strategic partnerships that have been forged.”

The India-Kazakh bilateral relationship has been growing since it was upgraded to strategic partnership during the Kazakh President’s visit to India.

“The new agreement includes conduct of joint training, exercises, military-technical cooperation, UN Peace keeping and exchange of intelligence. The strength of our robust bilateral defence cooperation can be gauged from the fact that a total of 246 officers from the Kazakh armed forces have been trained in India till date under the I-Tech defence program and we have a company level joint military exercise between both which is only done with select strategic partners,” Kumar said.

Both the nations are in the process of modernizing their armed forces and cooperate with each other in this regard. “Our bilateral trade reached a new milestone this year and cooperation in the field of military-technical cooperation can be a great catalyst to drive up these trade volumes even further,” he added.

At the event, Yerlan Alimbayev, Ambassador, Embassy of Kazakhstan, India said that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is very stable. There are positive dynamics which once again confirm the status of strategic partnership between the two countries.

“Striking example of high political trust between our countries is the joint peacekeeping activities within the framework of the UN mission in Lebanon which have additional impetus to the strengthening of the bilateral military cooperation,” Alimbayev said.

Both countries have the potential for further development in the military-technical development field. In this context, the existing joint working group on military-technical cooperation is an effective platform for establishing joint projects in military-industrial enterprises. “I am hopeful for the active participation of the Indian defence companies in the next defence expo in Kazakhstan,” he added.

S P Shukla, Chairman, FICCI Defence and Aerospace Committee and Group President (Defence, Aero, Agri and Steel); Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra Group said, Kazakhstan is our largest trade partner in defence manufacturing. “India has an INR 35,000 crore in defence exports target for the next five years, which is an increase from the current INR 1000 crores. This is a substantial improvement but if we work together, we can look forward to achieving this,” he said.

We have talked about the numbers, potential and the scope. As we further work together, we will see more similarities between the two countries. We need to create synergies between the two nations and further cement the existing bilateral relations, Mr Shukla added.

A presentation on various defence items was made by Ratmir Komratov, Executive Director, National Company Kazakhstan Engineering JSC, which happens to be the only engineering company in Kazakhstan with national status.

Delivering the vote of thanks, Ashish Kansal, Executive Director- SM Group of Industries assured the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to India of good participation from the Indian industry at the Kazakhstan Defence Expo, KADEX 20-21, and said that the Indian industry will extend its best steps forward to increase the cooperation and manufacturing, and the joint ventures and technology transfers with the companies in Kazakhstan.

-ARK

Former militant shot at by unknown gunmen in J&K’s Pulwama

Representational Picture

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Unknown gunmen shot at a former militant in Kakapora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today, leaving him critically injured, police officials said.

A police official said that the former militant identified as Tanveer Ahmad Sofi (30), of Sofi Mohalla was shot at near J&K Bank in Kakapora, Pulwama.

He said that Tanveer received bullet injuries and was shifted to hospital for treatment where his condition is said to be critical. According to police, Tanveer was affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and later surrendered before the security forces.

“He was later engaged in the Sericulture department and was working as a government employee for the past few years,” the police official said. He said that security forces have cordoned off the area and a massive search operation has been launched to nab the attackers.

-ARK

J&K, Ladakh India’s integral part, ‘China has no locus standi to comment’: MEA

Chinese troops

New Delhi (NVI): In a strong rebuttal to China’s claims over Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, India today said that China has no locus standi to comment on India’s internal matters, days after Beijing’s remarks on the opening of 44 bridges in border areas.

“The union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are, and would remain an integral part of India. China has no locus standi to comment on India’s internal matters,” MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava said during his weekly briefing here.

Srivastava further said that India’s position on Arunachal Pradesh has also been made clear several times. “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. This fact has also been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side on several occasions, including at the highest level,” he said.

On Monday, China had reacted after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had inaugurated 44 bridges in border areas, saying that it “does not recognize the Ladakh Union Territory illegally set up by India and Arunachal Pradesh”.

Singh inaugurated 44 major permanent bridges by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in strategically key areas located in seven States and Union Territories of in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

Zhao Lijian, spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, had called border infrastructure development “the root cause for tension between the two sides” and said neither country should take action that might escalate tensions.

Srivastava, in his briefing today also said India hopes that countries will not comment on its internal matters, “as much as they expect the same of others.”

Apart from that, the MEA spokesman also talked about the 7th round of the Senior Commanders talks held on 12 October.

He said that as indicated in the joint press release after the meeting, the talks were positive and constructive. “The two sides have a better understanding of each other’s positions,” he said.

He said that disengagement is a complex process that requires redeployment of troops by each side towards their regular posts on their respective sides of the LAC.

“To achieve this, the two sides will maintain the current momentum of communications based on the guidance of our leadership to not to turn differences into disputes and work towards a mutually acceptable solution for complete disengagement in all the friction areas along the Line of Actual Control and restoration of peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas,” he added.

-ARK

1...1,0791,0801,081...1,732Page 1,080 of 1,732

MUST READ