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Global coronavirus tally mounts to 35.3 million

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

New Delhi (NVI): More than 35.3 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 24.5 million patients have been cured and recovered worldwide.

In the US, the total number of cases stand around 7.45 million while more than 2,10,155 people have lost their lives due to the deadly virus.

Brazil, remains number one COVID-19 affected country in Latin America, recorded 11,946 cases within 24-hours and surpassed 4.92 million. The country’s death toll stands at 1,46,352.

With the fourth-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the global pandemic, Russia reported 10,376 new cases on Tuesday and surpassed 1.2 million mark.

Canada also reported highest single-day rise of 2,206 new cases of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, pushing the total case count to 168,784. The death toll due to pandemic stands at 9,504 in the country.

The Chinese mainland recorded 12 new cases, all from overseas, taking the total caseload to 85,482. The death toll stands at 4,746, including 105 fatalities in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and seven in the Taiwan region.

Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands has recorded its first COVID-19 case, leaving just nine countries worldwide free of the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that about 10 percent of the global population may have been infected by the novel coronavirus and the vast majority of the world remains at risk.

-RJV

India’s COVID tally nears 67 lakh, death toll at 1,03,569

COVID tally
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India registered a single-day rise of 61,267 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, taking the overall caseload to 66,85,083, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll has reached 1,03,569 with 884 fatalities reported during this period.

Notably, the number of active cases stands at 9,19,023, while 56,62,491 patients have been cured and discharged from the hospitals across the country.

With this, the recovery rate further improves to 84.70 percent in the country.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 14,53,653, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 7,23,512 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 6,25,391 cases.

The other worst affected states in the country are Karnataka (6,47,712), Uttar Pradesh (4,17,437) and Delhi (2,92,560).

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of death toll at 38,347 followed by 9,846 deaths in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 5,542, while 2,63,938 patients have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

As per the Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR) data, 8,10,71,797 samples tested up to October 5 for COVID-19. Of these, 10,89,403 samples were tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, the government data shows that five states – Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh – have been reporting a rise in coronavirus cases even though India has witnessed a steady decline in daily infections in the past three weeks.

-RJV

Earthquake of 5.1 magnitude hits Leh

Mild earthquake hits Delhi
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): An earthquake measuring 5.1 magnitude on the Richter scale hit Leh of the Union Territory of Ladakh in the wee hours today, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said.

The epicentre of the earthquake was somewhere 174km east of Leh.

“Earthquake of Magnitude:5.1, Occurred on 06-10-2020, 05:13:20 IST, Lat: 34.36 & Long: 79.46, Depth: 10 Km ,Location: Ladakh,” the NCS tweeted.

However, there were no reports of injuries or damage to the property as a result of the earthquake.

Earlier on September 26, an earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter Scale hit the Union Territory of Ladakh.

-RJV

J&K shows decline in Covid cases with 10 fresh deaths, 632 positive cases

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 10 Covid-related deaths and 632 positive cases, a first time dip in mortality rate and positive cases in the Union Territory since the pandemic outbreak in March this year.

With the fresh fatalities, the number of people who died of Covid infection so far reached to 1,252 while the overall tally of cases in J&K has jumped to 79,783.

Of the total cases, 47,779 are from Kashmir and 31,959 from Jammu division. Officials said that among 632 new cases, 286 belong to Kashmir division while as 346 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 47,779 including 40,433 recoveries and 865 deaths.

The total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached 31,959 including 23,357 recoveries and 387 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in J&K is 14,696 including 6,481 from Kashmir and 8,215 from Jammu division.

With 1,386 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in the UT has reached 63,790 which is 79.99 percent of the total cases.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 119 from Srinagar, 39 from Budgam, 28 from Baramulla, 15 from Pulwama, 23 from Kupwara, 20 from Anantnag, 15 from Bandipora, 19 from Ganderbal, 04 from Kulgam and 04 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 346 from Jammu division include 173 from Jammu, 35 from Rajouri, 33 from Udhampur, 26 from Doda, 07 from Kuthua, 25 from Poonch, 10 from Samba, 02 from Ramban, 31 from Kishtwar, and 04 from Reasi,” as per the Covid bulletin.

Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, ten persons who were tested positive for COVID-19 have died which include five from Kashmir division and five from Jammu division.

Patients who have died include two from Srinagar and one each from Budgam, Baramulla and Bandipora in Kashmir division while five from Jammu division include one each from Rajouri, Doda, Poonch, Ramban and Kishtwar.

Apart from that, 5,95,172 persons in J&K are under observation while 23,880 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides, 14,696 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 5,08,081 persons have completed surveillance period and 47,263 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 17,23,337 samples are available out of which 16,43,599 tested negative while 79,738 have tested positive. Among positive cases 14,696 are active, 63,790 persons have recovered and 1,252 persons have died.

-ARK

‘Unwarranted comments’: India counters UN diplomat’s remarks on Hathras case

New Delhi (NVI): In response to United Nation’s Resident Coordinator Renata Lok-Dessallien’s comments on the alleged rape and murder in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras and Balrampur, India today said that ‘any unnecessary comments by an external agency are best avoided” since the investigation process is still underway.

In a strongly-worded statement, MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava today said, “Some unwarranted comments have been made by the UN Resident Coordinator regarding some recent cases of violence against women. UN Resident Coordinator in India should be aware that these cases have been taken extremely seriously by the government.”

“Since the investigation process is still underway, any unnecessary comments by an external agency are best avoided. The Constitution guarantees equality to all citizens of India. As a democracy we have a time-tested record of providing justice to all sections of our society,” he added.

The recent case of violence and alleged sexual assault of a dalit woman in Hathras has in Uttar Pradesh led to nation-wide protests and agitations.

According to reports, a 19-year-old woman was allegedly raped at a village in Hathras by four men on September 14. She was admitted to Aligarh Muslim University’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital and later shifted to a Delhi hospital in an extremely critical condition with spinal injuries, paralysis and cuts in her tongue. She later died on Tuesday.

In the other case in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur district, a 22-year-old dalit woman died after allegedly being raped by two men. The victim’s mother alleged that the rapists broke the legs and back of her daughter, but the police did not approve the charge.

-ARK

Baloch activists oppose Pakistan’s sinister plans to divide Balochistan

New Delhi (NVI): As Pakistan and Iran work hand in hand, with the Chinese backup to Islamabad to divide and exploit Balochistan, the Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) activists have raised their voice against the unholy nexus and expressed their anger against the illegal occupancy that is driven by political and selfish interests in the region.

While Pakistan has been eyeing Balochistan under its partnership for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Iran is believed to be acting an alliance and aiding the evil designs of Islamabad to connect China with Gwadar port.

China has been able to coopt Pakistan and Iran as they are failed states and China is wooing them with big bucks that it is fast running out off. To draw and broader picture, the whole China-Pakistan-Iran nexus comes amid US sanctions on Iran and China trying to prove itself by pestering India with border issues at Line of Actual Control (LoC) in Ladakh.

The head of the Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) Information department, Gamshad Baloch, in a statement said that the life of the Baloch people, under decades of colonial rule of occupying Iran and has become unbearable. The brutality of the state against Baloch people from all walks of life in various forms sees no abating in occupied Balochistan.

The Baloch activists have been fighting against the human rights violations and repression from not only Iran but Pakistan as well, as both Islamabad and Tehran plan to divide the disputed region and suppress the voices of liberation if Baloch people.

In a fresh statement, the FBM has said that nobody is immune from Iran’s state oppression and enslavement is widespread across Balochistan and other parts of Iran. “The victims of atrocities from all walks of life including students, religious scholars, businessmen, writers of Balochi language in literature and arts, social media activists, who migrated abroad and raised their voices in international media against Iranian atrocities, are constantly blackmailed through tactics of coercion and intimidation of their loved ones living in the Baloch homeland,” the statement read.

“Iran, dominated by the Persian nation, has a long history of Baloch animosities. Its atrocities against the Baloch nation have been intensified over the last two decades. Iran has left no stone unturned in depriving the Baloch of their basic rights such as political and cultural freedom. Recently valuable palm orchards and wheat crops of poor peasants have been set on fire in many parts of Balochistan. The brutal culling of their livestock is also included in their heinous crimes,” the statement read.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan has also adopted similar policies as Iran to harass Baloch people with their oppressive tactics.

Recently, acres of forest area, including fields and palm trees, were set on fire allegedly by the Pakistani army in Balochistan’s Dasht, in yet another oppressing and atrocious action against the Baloch people for resisting the Pakistan government’s illegal occupation in the region and raising their voices for a free Balochistan.

-ARK

Army JCO killed in Pak firing along LoC in J&K’s Rajouri

LoC

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was killed today in unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, defence officials said.

They said that the Pakistan army resorted to provoked firing and shelling with small arms and mortars along the LoC in the Nowshera sector in which the Baba Khori sub sector got badly affected.

“An Army JCO got injured and succumbed to injuries later,” officials said. The slain JCO has been identified as Subedar S Singh.

Officials added that intense shelling at LoC is going on in the area with the Indian army retaliating befittingly. The fresh causality to the Army comes three days after three soldiers were killed and five others injured in two intense CFVs in north Kashmir’s Kupwara and Jammu’s Poonch districts.

At Kupwara, defence officials had stated that the Pakistan army had used heavy artillery shells to target forward posts along LoC. Pertinently, this year, J&K has witnessed over 1,900 CFVs, which is a record number in the past three years.

-ARK

Gilgit-Baltistan: Massive protests in Hunza by families of political prisoners

New Delhi (NVI): As Pakistan tries to forcibly merge Gigit-Baltistan with the mainland under China’s pressure for completion of CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor), people in Hunza Valley staged a sit-in today for the release of their family members who are under forcible detention and enforced disappearance for years.

A massive protest rally was held in Hunza by the families of politicial prisoners in Gilgit-Baltistan who remain in Pakistan’s illegal custody for raising their voices against oppression by Islamabad and ISI.

Political and Human Rights activists have condemned for long the illegal detention of people from the region who have been arrested merely for criticising the Pakistan government or military.

“05 Oct 2020 Gilgit Baltistan. Families of political prisoners stage a sit-in in Hunza for the release of their loved ones. Baba Jan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Aleem & dozens others have been jailed for 70 to 90 years since 2011 for raising voice for the Basic Human Rights issues in GB,” tweeted Prof Sajjad Raza, Chairman of National Equality Party of Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir Gilgit Baltistan (PoJKGB).

Baba Jan who has been serving sentence behind prison bars for 6 years now. Reportedly, he is the longest-serving political prisoner in occupied Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan.

People in Gilgit-Baltistan, have been demanding the release of Baba Jan and 13 other political prisoners before elections.

Even as mainstream Pakistan media doesn’t highlight the plight of people in Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan, under pressure and censorship from Pakistan government, innocent citizens in these regions are facing hardships and the loss of their loved ones under Islamanad’s oppressive regime and appeasing Beijing for construction of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

In a recent media briefing, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur stated that Pakistani Government has decided to change the status of G-B and to make it a full-fledged province.

India has opposed Pakistan’s plans to conduct elections in Gilgit-Baltistan on November 15, saying that the Imran Khan government has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it.

India has also slammed the Pakistan government for its intentions to make material changes in areas under its illegal occupation and make Gilgit-Baltistan its fifth province.

Pakistan plans to hold an election for the so-called legislative assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan on November 15, following which it will move towards making the region a full-fledged province.

India has also called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.

In recent weeks, Pakistan has repeatedly raised its “fabricated narrative” on Kashmir at international platforms such as UN but India has exposed Islamabad on the status of Gilgit-Baltistan, part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

-ARK

India provides USD 2 mn aid for border bridge to boost trade with Myanmar 

Foreign secretary Harsh Shringla and Indian Army chief Gen MM Naravane with Myanmar’s state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. (Photo courtesy MEA)

New Delhi (NVI): India today announced a grant of USD 2 million for the construction of the border haat bridge at Byanyu/Sarsichauk in Chin State of Myanmar that will provide increased economic connectivity between Mizoram and the neighboring country.

The development took place during the visit of Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Indian Army Chief Gen MM Naravane to Myanmar where they met state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi for talks on taking forward bilateral relations in a wide range of areas.

During the visit, FS Shringla also indicated India’s willingness to prioritise Myanmar in sharing Covid-19 vaccines as and when they become available.

As part of India’s efforts to help Myanmar fight the Covid-19 pandemic, Shringla and Naravane handed over a consignment of 3,000 vials of the drug Remdesivir to Suu Kyi, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Foreign Secretary (FS) began their 2-day visit to Myanmar on Sunday to meet Myanmar’s top civil and military leadership are meant to take forward ties in areas ranging from security to connectivity, the statement added.

“Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, few direct exchanges have taken place between the two sides. This visit will provide an opportunity to take stock of the existing bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” the release said.

Shringla and Naravane discussed “important bilateral issues” during their meeting with Suu Kyi at the foreign ministry in Naypyitaw, the Indian embassy in Myanmar said in a tweet.

India announced a grant of USD 2 million for the construction of the border haat bridge at Byanyu/Sarsichauk in Chin State that will provide increased economic connectivity between Mizoram and Myanmar.

Furthermore, the operationalisation of Myanmar’s Sittwe port as part of the Kaladan transit transport project to boost connectivity with India’s northeastern states and enhanced security cooperation to counter activities of militant groups, especially along the borders in Manipur and Nagaland are among the key issues on the agenda of the Indian delegation, it added.

India attaches high priority to its relationship with Myanmar in accordance with its ‘Neighborhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies, the MEA said.

In recent times, both sides have strengthened their cooperation in several areas, including connectivity and trade, development projects, energy, capacity building, defence and security and culture and people-to-people links.

In addition to this, the two sides discussed maintenance of security and stability in their border areas and reiterated their mutual commitment not to allow their respective territories to be used for activities inimical to each other. The Indian side expressed their appreciation to Myanmar for handing over of 22 cadres of Indian Insurgent Groups to India.

FS congratulated Myanmar for successfully holding the Fourth meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference and assured India’s continued support in sharing experiences in constitutionalism and federalism to assist Myanmar in its democratic transition.

In the last few years, both countries have made commendable strides in bilateral ties and explored new avenues of cooperation including fresh investments in oil and gas and power, infrastructure and pharmaceuticals.

Discussions on the low voltage radial interconnections between North-Eastern states and Myanmar have also progressed. The cooperation in the maritime domain and disaster management has been enhanced. Both countries have also continued to cooperate in various regional and multilateral fora.

Initiatives like the successful implementation of the Land Border Crossing Agreement and ongoing discussions at the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Motor Vehicles Agreement, have been moving forward.

-CHK/ARK

Education ministry releases guidelines for school reopening from Oct 15

File photo (Source @twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Education today released guidelines for reopening of schools from October 15, in a graded manner.

As per the guidelines, the ministry has urged the States and Union Territories to prepare their own Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for health, hygiene and safety and learning with physical/social distancing.

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank took to twitter and said that students may attend schools only with the written consent of parents.

The Minister added that there will be flexibility in attendance norms and students may opt for online classes rather than physically attend school.

“Schools, allowed to, open must follow the guideline prepared by State/UT Education Departments based on SOP of DoSEL. The SOP/guidelines of DoSEL, Ministry of Education comprises of two parts: I. Health, hygiene & safety ii. Learning with physical/social distancing”, he tweeted.

In another tweet, Pokhriyal said there will be no assessment till up to 2-3 weeks of school reopening. “Use of ICT & online learning shall continue to be encouraged. The SOP also provides for guidelines on ensuring emotion well being of students and teachers with a reference drawn to Manodarpan initiative”, he tweeted.

On September 30, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in its Unlock 5 guidelines said that the state governments are allowed to open schools in a graded manner from October 15.

The guidelines further emphasises on following the health protocols as advised by the ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Moreover, precautions to be taken for preparing and serving mid-day meal in schools have also been laid down in the SOP.

The SOP also lists the roles and responsibility of the state and UT education departments, school heads, teachers, parents and guardians and how to carry out capacity building of different stakeholders.

Furthermore, a checklist for a safe school environment, as adopted from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) guidelines, is provided for parents and students to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Under the guidelines, the ministry also said that the needs of the most vulnerable students, including homeless and migrant children and those directly affected by COVID-19, will be given priority.

-RJV

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