Thursday, September 10, 2026
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India, Japan finalise cybersecurity agreement on 5G, IoT, AI

New Delhi (NVI): India and Japan today finalised the cybersecurity agreement that will promote cooperation in capacity building, research and development, security and resilience in the areas of Critical Information Infrastructure, 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), between the two countries.

The development took place External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi in Tokyo today as the two leaders met for 13th India-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue.

Recognizing the increasing role being played by digital technologies, the two ministers highlighted the need for robust and resilient digital and cyber systems and in this context, welcomed the finalization of the text of the cybersecurity agreement, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The cooperation on developing 5G technology between the two countries comes in the wake of China’s growing prowess in the Indo-Pacific and Beijing’s muscle-flexing in the region.

Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to Japan. The security dialogue between took EAM and his Japanese counterpart took place a day after foreign representatives of Quadrilateral (Quad) coalition comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia held talks in the Japanese capital yesterday that was primarily focused on strengthening cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

The Quad Foreign Ministers met here against the backdrop of growing aggression by China because of which most of its neighbours are troubled and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region has been hampered.

During today’s meeting, Jaishankar and Toshimitsu Motegi concurred that the Indo-Pacific region has acquired greater salience in recent times and underscored the need for India and Japan to work together for the benefit of the region.

Reaffirming the similarities in their respective Indo-Pacific visions, that are based on rule of law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Japanese side agreed to be the lead partner in the connectivity pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) and jointly take both countries’ respective visions for the Indo-Pacific forward, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

“They emphasized that a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region must be premised on diversified and resilient supply chains; and in this context, welcomed the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative between India, Japan, Australia and other like-minded countries,” the MEA statement read.

Jaishankar and Motegi also deliberated on long-pending reform of the United Nations and ways to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Quad grouping of India, the US, Australia and Japan yesterday vowed to intensify cooperation to ensure an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

In today’s strategic dialogue EAM Jaishankar and his Japanese counterpart also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed that the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries will play a pivotal role in overcoming challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed that the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries will play a pivotal role in overcoming challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also emphasized that a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region must be premised on diversified and resilient supply chains; and in this context, welcomed the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative between India, Japan, Australia and other like-minded countries, the MEA said.

During the strategic dialogue, Jaishankar and Toshimitsu Motegi also wished each other the very best and looked forward to the conduct of the next Annual Bilateral Summit in India at a mutually convenient time for the two Prime Ministers.

 -ARK

COVID-19 can spread by airborne transmission, says CDC

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has acknowledged that COVID-19 can be spread by airborne transmission.

In an updated guidance, the CDC said, “Some Covid-19 infections can be spread by exposure to viruses in small droplets and particles or aerosols that can linger in the air for minutes to hours.”

“These viruses may be able to infect people who are further than 6 feet away from the person who is infected or after that person has left the space,” it added.

The guidelines also stated that how studies have suggested that lack of ventilation has contributed to airborne COVID-19 transmission of people who were more than 6 feet away from each other.

“There is evidence that under certain conditions, people with COVID-19 seem to have infected others who were more than 6 feet away. These transmissions occurred within enclosed spaces that had inadequate ventilation than outdoors. Sometimes the infected person was breathing heavily, for example, while singing or exercising,” the CDC said.

However, CDC still highlights the fact that chances of contracting the coronavirus is still higher if you’re in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 than through airborne transmission.

Last month, the same guidelines were published ‘accidentally’ (which allegedly was a draft of the guidelines) and were removed after some time. However, this time it seems like it is here to stay, according to the reports.

Furthermore, the CDC urged people to wear face masks as masks are the only weapon that can effectively protect against airborne transmission of the coronavirus.

“People can protect themselves from the virus that causes COVID-19 by staying at least 6ft away from others, wearing a mask that covers their nose and mouth, washing their hands frequently, cleaning touched surfaces often and staying home when sick,” the CDC said.

It also suggested to know the importance of ventilation to prevent the virus from being trapped indoors and infecting others.

-RJV

Pak resorts to heavy unprovoked shelling along LoC in J&K’s Baramulla 

Ceasefire
Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops today resorted to heavy unprovoked ceasefire violation in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, defence officials said.

Defence spokesman in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that this afternoon, Pakistani Rangers resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in Hajipeer area of Uri, Baramulla.

He said that Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and targeted forward posts of the Indian army along the line of control (LoC). “Befitting response is being given to enemy,” Colonel Kalia told NVI.

Locals said that due to the intense shelling,  panic gripped entire Uri, forcing residents to take cover.

However, officials said no loss of life or damage to property was reported.

Pertinently, this year 1,900 CFVs were reported in JK, which is highest ever in the past three years.

The frequent CFVs have taken a serious toll on the lives of security forces personnel and the civilians living close to the LoC this year.

On Monday, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army lost his life during unprovoked cross-border shelling by Pakistan along the LoC in Rajouri district.

-ARK

Shah extends greetings to RAF personnel

Amit Shah calls urgent meeting to review spike in covid cases in Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah (file photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah today extended his greetings to the Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel and their families on the 28th anniversary of the force.

Taking to Twitter, Shah wrote, “Greetings to RAF personnel & their families on their 28th anniversary. RAF has distinguished itself in dealing with the challenges relating to law & order.”

“Time and again, their commitment in several humanitarian works & UN peacekeeping missions has made India proud,” he added.

The Rapid Action Force is a specialized wing of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which was raised in October 1992 initially with ten unattached battalions and increased on 1 January 2018 by another 5 units.

These units were set up to deal with riots and riot like situations, to instill confidence amongst all sections of society and also to handle internal security duty.

-RJV

India’s COVID-19 recovery rate improves further, tops 85%

COVID-19
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India’s coronavirus recoveries have reached nearly 58 lakh and stands at 57,44,693, pushing the recovery rate to 85 per cent and crossed another milestone in the country, the Union Health Ministry said.

In an official statement, the Ministry said that, “The national recovery rate has jumped past 85.00 per cent today with the continuous streak of high number of recovered cases being reported in the past few weeks.”

“82,203 patients have been discharged in the last 24 hours. With this, the total recovered cases stands at 57,44,693,” it added.

This has bolstered and sustained India’s global position at the country with the maximum number of recoveries.

Meanwhile, as India records more recoveries than the new cases, the gap between recovered cases and the active cases is further widening.

“The recovered cases exceed the active cases (9,07,883) by more than 48 lakh (48,36,810),” the ministry said. However, the recovered cases are 6.32 times the active cases ensuring that the recoveries are consistently rising.

This has also ensured that the active caseload further sliding to 13.44 per cent of the total positive cases. This has sustained on its steady declining path.

Following the national figure, 18 States and UTs have recovery rate more than the national average.

Moreover, about 75 per cent of the new recovered cases are being reported from ten States, which include Maharashtra, Karnataka Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Delhi, the ministry noted.

“Maharashtra is topping the list with nearly 17,000 recoveries, followed by Karnataka which contribute more than 10,000 to the single day recoveries, it said.

Furthermore, over 980 case fatalities have been reported across the country in the past 24 hours, the ministry said.

“Ten states and UTs account for 83 per cent of the deaths in the last 24 hours due to COVID-19. Of these, Maharashtra reported more than 37 per cent of deaths with 370 deaths followed by Karnataka with 91 deaths,” it added.

-RJV

Terrorist killed in Ganderbal a close aide of slain Hizb chief Naikoo: J&K DGP

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Terrorist killed in Nunar, Ganderbal incident yesterday was a close aide of slain Hizbul Mujahideen’s chief operational commander, Reyaz Naikoo, and had been working as an Over Ground Worker (OGW) before joining the Hizb outfit actively a few months ago, Director General of Police (J&K) Dilbagh Singh said today.

“Yesterday, terrorists targeted the BJP vice president Ghulam Qadir in the Nunar area of Ganderbal. Qadir is a protected person with two PSOs. One of his PSOs Altaf Hussain retaliated and killed one terrorist but he sustained bullet wounds. Unfortunately, the  brave cop lost his life while saving Qadir,” DGP Singh told reporters on the sidelines of wreath laying ceremony of slain cop Altaf Hussain in Srinagar.

He said that the terrorist killed in retaliation by PSO Hussain was a close aide of Reyaz Naikoo.

“He has been identified as Shabir Ahmed of Awantipore (Pulwama). He was the right hand of Naikoo and was working as OGW for Hizb for a long time. He had joined active militancy just a few months ago and was associated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit,” the DGP said, adding that Shabir was tasked to carry out the target hitting of BJP leaders in Ganderbal.

On being questioned about how an active terrorist from south Kashmir was able to reach Ganderbal, the DGP said that for a terrorist it is not a big deal to travel from one district to another.

Speaking on the recent highway attacks on the security forces, DGP Singh said that drones and other technical support is being used to monitor the terrorist movement on highways.

“Drones were used earlier as well. We are using other technical support to monitor terrorist movement on the highways. In many instances, we have killed the attackers on highways in counter attacks,” he said.

Recently, two CRPF men were killed and three were injured at Kandizaal area of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district forcing the security agencies to go into a huddle to frame a fresh security strategy.

-CHK

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed the 67 lakh-mark and stands at 67,57,132 after 72,049 fresh cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll stands at 1,04,555 after 986 new fatalities were reported during the same period.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 14,65,911, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 7,29,307 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 6,30,408 cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 3,912

Andhra Pradesh- 7,29,307

Arunachal Pradesh- 11,007

Assam- 1,88,902

Bihar- 1,90,740

Chandigarh- 12,707

Chhattisgarh- 1,28,893

Dadra Nagar Haveli & Diu – 3,103

Delhi- 2,95,236

Gujarat- 1,45,200

Goa- 36,238

Haryana– 1,36,115

Himachal Pradesh- 16,283

Jammu and Kashmir- 80,476

Jharkhand- 88,873

Karnataka- 6,57,705

Kerala- 2,42,799

Ladakh- 4,720

Madhya Pradesh- 1,38,668

Maharashtra- 14,65,911

Manipur- 12,240

Meghalaya- 7,037

Mizoram- 2,148

Nagaland- 6,662

Odisha- 2,38,003

Puducherry- 29,682

Punjab- 1,20,016

Rajasthan- 1,48,316

Sikkim- 3,216

Tamil Nadu- 6,30,408

Telangana- 2,04,748

Tripura- 27,545

Uttarakhand- 52,329

Uttar Pradesh- 4,20,937

West Bengal – 2,77,049

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 54

Andhra Pradesh- 6,052

Arunachal Pradesh- 20

Assam- 778

Bihar- 925

Chandigarh- 180

Chhattisgarh- 1,104

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 5,581

Goa- 468

Gujarat- 3,519

Haryana- 1,509

Himachal Pradesh- 229

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,268

Jharkhand- 757

Karnataka- 9,461

Kerala- 884

Ladakh- 61

Madhya Pradesh- 2,488

Maharashtra- 38,717

Manipur- 78

Meghalaya- 60

Nagaland- 17

Odisha- 940

Puducherry- 546

Punjab- 3,679

Rajasthan- 1,574

Sikkim- 49

Tamil Nadu- 9,917

Telangana- 1,189

Tripura- 301

Uttar Pradesh- 6,153

Uttarakhand- 677

West Bengal- 5,318

However, a total of 57,44,693 people have been cured or discharged. The total active cases stands at 9,07,883 in the country.

-CHK

Trump’s aide Miller tests Covid positive

Stephen Miller tested positive for COVID-19.

New Delhi (NVI): Stephen Miller, a top aide to US President Donald Trump, tested positive for COVID-19, taking the number of White House staffers infected by the deadly virus to at least 10.

“Over the last five days I have been working remotely and self-isolating, testing negative every day through yesterday. Today, I tested positive for COVID-19 and am in quarantine,” Miller said in a statement.

President Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump, tested positive for coronavirus last Thursday, soon after it was known that their close aide Hope Hicks contracted the infection.

Others announcing they had tested positive in recent days include close Trump adviser Hope Hicks; White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany; Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien; and Republican Senators Mike Lee, Thom Tillis and Ron Johnson.

The pandemic has killed more the 210,000 people in the United States, more than any other country.

-CHK

J&K: Three terrorists killed in Shopian encounter, search operation underway

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Three unidentified terrorists have been killed in an encounter at Sugan village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district, while a search operation is underway to trace more militants.

Earlier, two terrorists were killed in the gunfight. “Two terrorists have been killed and the operation is on. We will share further details once the operation is over,” J&K DGP Dibagh Singh told NVI.

A police official said that the identity of all three slain terrorists is being ascertained. “Both the terrorists were given a chance to surrender, but they refused and instead fired at the forces triggering an intense gunbattle,” the official said earlier, adding that the operation remained on for the whole night and with the first light of the day (today), both the terrorists were killed.

The encounter at Sugan village of Shopian broke out last evening after joint forces laid a siege in the village on the basis of a specific input.

“The firing had stopped during the night and early morning the firing resumed on both sides after which both the terrorist were killed,” the officer said.

Meanwhile, authorities have snapped the mobile internet services in South Kashmir’s Shopian district as a precautionary measure.

-RJV/ARK

Coronavirus cases surpass 35.7 mn worldwide; US toll tops 7.5 mn

Coronavirus cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): More than 35.7 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19 while the death toll has crossed 1,048,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. More than 24.8 million people have recovered from the disease.

In the US, the number of coronavirus cases have surpassed 7.5 million while the number of fatalities due to the deadly contagion has exceeded 2,10,000 in the country.

Brazil on Tuesday registered 41,906 new cases of Covid-19, the highest number for a single day since September 11, the health ministry said. The number of deaths rose by 819 to 147,494, the second highest death toll in the world.

Poland said it would enforce restrictions more strictly as it reported a daily record of 58 coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday, as well as sharp increases in the number of ventilators and hospital beds being used by Covid-19 patients.

Finland has reported its highest daily number of Covid-19 infections since the start of the pandemic and they now exceed the rate that Helsinki sets for other countries before their citizens are allowed to visit without being quarantined.

Furthermore, Iran will require face masks in public in the capital Tehran from Saturday, authorities said, announcing a daily record of 4,151 new coronavirus cases.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 2,828 to 3,06,086. The reported death toll rose by 16 to 9,562, the tally showed.

European countries are facing shortages of Covid-19 drug remdesivir because limited supplies are running out, with cases surging and the US having bought up most of drugmaker Gilead’s output.

Meanwhile, the head of the International Monetary Fund has said the recovery in the global economy since the spring is fragile and warned policymakers against an over-hasty withdrawal of support.

The World Health Organization has said European countries will need to “move beyond biomedical science” to overcome Covid-19 as “pandemic fatigue” and new infections rapidly rise across the continent.

-CHK

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