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Over 1 cr passengers have flown since domestic flights resumed in May: Puri

Philippines
Representative image

New Delhi (NVI): Over one crore domestic passengers have flown on 1,08,210 flights since the recommencement of domestic flight operations on May 25, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today said.

The Union Minister further added that the figures of domestic operations are gradually moving towards the pre-COVID-19 figures.

“More than one crore passengers on 1,08,210 flights since recommencement of domestic operations on 25 May 2020. Moving towards Pre-COVID figures. Congratulations to all stakeholders on achieving this milestone! We continue our journey towards creating an #AatmaNirbharBharat,” he said in a tweet.

The total number of departing passengers was 1,19,702 and total number of arriving passengers in the last 24 hours was 1,21,126, the Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement.

Furthermore, the total departures were 1,393 whereas arrivals were 1,394 taking the total number of movements of flights to 2,787. Furthermore, total number of passenger footfalls at airports across the country was 2,40,828 in a single day.

All scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended in India on March 25 after the central government imposed a lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Domestic flights in the country resumed operations from May 25 in a gradual manner.

-CHK

PM condoles Balasubrahmanyam’s demise

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condoled the demise of SP Balasubrahmanyam and said that with the passing away of the legendary singer, the cultural world has become a lot poorer.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, “With the unfortunate demise of SP Balasubrahmanyam, our cultural world is a lot poorer. A household name across India, his melodious voice and music enthralled audiences for decades. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”

SP Balasubrahmanyam died at the age of 74 at a private hospital in Chennai after testing positive for the coronavirus in August. His son, SP Charan, confirmed the news of his death.

President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed grief on Twitter and mourned India’s loss of one of its melodious voices.

“In the passing of music legend SP Balasubrahmanyam Indian music has lost one of its most melodious voices. Called ‘Paadum Nila’ or ‘Singing Moon’ by his countless fans, he was honoured with Padma Bhushan and many National Awards. Condolences to his family, friends and admirers,” Kovind tweeted.

 

-RJV

India’s Covid recoveries cross 47.5 lakh

COVID-19
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India’s coronavirus recoveries have crossed the 47.5 lakh mark and stands at 47,56,164 and crossed another milestone in the country, the Union Health Ministry said.

“More than 47.5 lakh (47,56,164) patients have been cured so far, after 81,177 patients recovered in the last 24 hours,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

However, the recovered cases have exceeded active cases (9,70,116) by nearly 38 lakhs (37,86,048) today, it added.

The ministry informed that, induced by this number of very high recoveries, the national recovery rate continues to follow a rising curve and stands at 81.74 per cent as of today.

“Around 73 per cent of the new recovered cases have been reported from ten States and UTs, which includes Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Delhi, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam,” it said.

Maharashtra continues to lead with more than 17,000 new recoveries followed by Andhra Pradesh which contributed more than 8,000 to the single day recoveries.

Moreover, 75 per cent of the new cases are found to be concentrated in ten states and Union Territories s. Maharashtra contributed more than 19,000 to the new cases. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka both have contributed more than 7,000, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, 1,141 deaths have been registered in the past 24 hours and 83 per cent of these are from 10 States and UTs.

“40 per cent of the new deaths reported yesterday are from Maharashtra with 459 deaths followed by Punjab and Uttar Pradesh with 76 and 67 deaths, respectively, it added.

-RJV

Modi dials new Japanese PM

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke with his Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga about strengthening ties between their two countries during their first phone call since Suga took office last week.

The two leaders agreed that the India-Japan Special Strategic & Global Partnership has made great advances over the last few years and expressed their intention to further strengthen this relationship based upon mutual trust and shared values, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

“Furthermore, both the leaders concurred that the partnership between the two countries is even more relevant in today’s times given the global challenges, including that of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the PMO said in a statement.

They emphasized that the economic architecture of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region must be premised on resilient supply chains, and in this context, welcomed cooperation between India, Japan and other like-minded countries.

In addition to this, they appreciated the progress made in the economic partnership between the two countries, and in this context, welcomed the finalization of the text of the agreement pertaining to specialized skilled workers, the statement added.

PM Modi also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Suga to visit India for the Annual Bilateral Summit, after improvement of the situation caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

-CHK

EU, India join hands for research and innovation on five green-tech areas

India-EU

New Delhi (NVI): With an aim to strengthen the research and innovation collaboration between India and Europe, the EU and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), have identified five green-tech areas and agreed to join forces under the Horizon 2020 Green Deal Work Programme.

“This is a follow-up to the priorities identified at the EU-India Summit held on 15 July 2020 to boost cooperation in transforming our economies into carbon-neutral economies,” the EU said in a press release.

The joint cooperation would also further strengthen India’s research capacity, and will contribute to its national missions on Sustainable Habitat, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and the EU-India Partnership on Climate Change and Energy, as per the statement.

The five calls are part of the last and largest call launched by the European Union under its research and innovation programme ‘Horizon 2020’, the European Green Deal Call – with a €1 billion budget.

While a number of calls will respond to the climate crisis and protecting unique ecosystems and biodiversity, it also aims to spur recovery from the coronavirus crisis by turning green challenges into innovation opportunities. The programme has a strong international dimension, the EU statement said.

Under the partnership, DBT will co-fund projects in following areas:

Clean, affordable and secure energy: Innovative land-based and offshore renewable energy technologies and their integration into the energy system.

Industry for a clean and circular economy: Closing the industrial carbon cycle to combat climate change – Industrial feasibility of catalytic routes for sustainable alternatives to fossil resources;

Farm to Fork: Testing and demonstrating systemic innovations in support of the Farm-to-Fork Strategy.

Biodiversity and ecosystem services: Restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Zero-pollution, toxic free environment:  Innovative, systemic zero-pollution solutions to protect health, environment and natural resources from persistent and mobile chemicals.

The deadline for submissions is 26 January 2021, with selected projects expected to start in autumn 2021.

Welcoming the cooperation opportunity on research and innovation between the EU and India, Ambassador of the European Union to India, Ugo Astuto said, “Joining forces on research will further strengthen our partnership and help address many of the global challenges that the EU and India are facing. We see immense potential in bringing together our scientific communities to foster a dynamic innovation ecosystem.”

“These research projects will work towards a green, resilient and sustainable tomorrow. This EU-India collaboration also highlights our strong commitment to support the Paris Agreement as well as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,” he added.

At the 15th EU India summit held on 15th July this year, the two sides had also committed to undertake resolute and coordinated action to tackle the generational challenge of climate change and environmental degradation, while widening the scale and impact of its research cooperation on the basis of co-investment and co-funding.

Both sides had agreed to strengthen R&I collaboration in the areas of mutual interest including climate change & energy, resources efficiency & circular economy.

-ARK

BMC’s ‘Mission Save Lives’ helps dip COVID fatality rate in Mumbai

COVID
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New Delhi (NVI): The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Additional Municipal Commissioner (Health) Suresh Kakani has attributed dip in Case Fatality Rate (CFR) in Mumbai to better monitoring at private and municipal hospitals as part of its ‘Mission Save Lives’ launched in June.

“Although Mumbai has been reporting higher number of COVID-19 cases, the mortality rate in the city has come down over the last two months. The case fatality rate is deaths due to COVID-19 as per cent of total reported cases, has come down to 4.5 per cent as against 5.8 per cent during June,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

Kakani in a statement elaborated that under ‘Mission Save Lives,’ a separate list of critical patients in every hospital was prepared and their treatment was monitored continuously.

“Every day, consultations were held with doctors twice through video conference, expert advice was made available through Task Force members and continuous video surveillance of serious cases was carried out. As part of the project, advanced ventilators were made available, along with the services of trained technicians, which played key role in bringing down the mortality rate” he added.

The Addl. Municipal Commissioner further said that although Mumbai is reporting higher number of COVID-19 cases, the situation in the city is under control.

He said that with the unlocking process now on, most of the service and business establishments except cinema halls, restaurants as well as schools and colleges have opened up and there is increased movement of people.

Kakani further informed that BMC has increased testing by 90 per cent and they are in the process of scaling it up even further.

The Addl. Municipal Commissioner assured that bed availability in Mumbai is satisfactory as nearly 5,500 out of 17,500 COVID beds are vacantz, adding that, nearly 10 per cent of 8,800 oxygen beds and 1,100 ventilator beds are vacant in Mumbai.

He also asserted that BMC has successfully brought down the curve in slums of Mumbai, which had posed serious challenges in the starting months and presently 70 per cent of all the reported cases are coming from apartment residents.

Kakani further stressed that public awareness plays a paramount role in controlling COVID-19 and appealed to all citizens to cultivate COVID-19 appropriate behavior.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has also launched a direct contact campaign “Maaze Kutumb, Maazi Jababdari” (My Family, My Responsibility) aimed at effective health care education for the control of COVID-19 outbreak, Kakani said in a statement.

Under this campaign, health related information is being collected by reaching out to people directly. Currently campaign is in first phase and second phase would be initiated on October 14, he added.

Kakani stated, “5,700 teams are deployed in Mumbai for implementation with each team having 3 volunteers including representative from municipal authorities, nominee from local body representative, and civil society member would be part of team.”

“An app with geo-tagging facility has been made available to each team, so as location of house and family member details can be collated with the use of technology. This will help in achieving target set in this programme,” he added.

-RJV

SIT constituted to probe advocate Babar Qadri’s killing: J&K Police

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe advocate Babar Qadri’s killing in Srinagar, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said today.

Addressing a press conference at Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar, the IGP said that advocate Babar Qadri’s killing took place at 6:20 pm yesterday when two masked men entered into his Hawal, Srinagar residence as clients with files in their hands.

“They told Qadri that they had to discuss some accident-related case but fired at this head with pistols. Qadri sustained four bullet wounds in his head and died on the way to hospital,” he said.

While fleeing, IGP Kashmir said, militants fired a few bullets in the air. “We have constituted an SIT headed by an SP rank officer that will probe the killing of Qadri and the outfit involved in the act,” he said.

He also said that two Lashkar-e-Toiba commanders including a foreigner were killed in Sirhama, Anantnag encounter this morning of which one local commander was involved in the killing of two cops at Nowgam, Srinagar on August 14.

Kumar said that in Sirhama, Anantnag gunfight, two top Lashkar commanders were killed. “One of the slain has been identified as Abu Rehan from Pakistan, who was active since March 2019 and the second one has been identified as Adil Bhat, who was also Lashkar commander. Adil was involved in the attack on two policemen at Nowgam on August 14,” he said.

On Block Development Chairman Khag, Budgam, Bhupinder Singh’s killing, the IGP said that after touring his area along with two PSOs, Singh had left for his home and allowed his PSOs to relax. “Militants were probably knowing about his movement and they shot him dead outside his house. We have suspended the two PSOs. And prima facie, the names of two Lashkar militants have come to fore—Yousuf Kandroo and Abrar. We will soon catch them,” the IGP said.

Regarding the killing of a CRPF man at Wadipora, Budgam yesterday, the IGP Kumar said the attack was carried out by the Jaish-e-Mahammad outfit as cartridges of M-4 were found at the site of incident. “M-4 is usually carried by JeM militants,” he said.

Asked about the number of active militants, the IGP said that 170 to 200 militants are active in Kashmir of which 40 are foreigners whom police knows by name.

-ARK

Bihar Assembly Election dates announced

Election Commission
Election Commission of India

New Delhi (NVI): The Election Commission of India (ECI) today announced the schedule of the upcoming Bihar Assembly Election.

The 243-seat Assembly elections will be held in three phases on October 28, November 3 and November 7.

The gazette notification for the first phase will be issued on October 1. Last date of filing nominations is October 8 which will be scrutinised a day later, on October 9. The last date to withdraw candidature is October 12, according to a statement issued by ECI.

For second phase, gazette notification will be issued on October 9. Last date of filing nominations is October 16 while scrutiny will take place on October 17. The last date to withdraw candidature is October 19, it added.

For the third and final phase, gazette notification will be out on October 13. Last date of filing nomination is October 20 followed by scrutiny of nominations on October 21. The last date to withdraw candidature is October 23.

The Bihar Assembly’s current term expires on November 29.

-CHK

Fact check: COVID-19 related deaths are covered under PMJJBY, not PMSBY

New Delhi (NVI): The Government today clarified that Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) doesn’t cover COVID-19 related deaths, however, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) covers COVID deaths with certain conditions.

The clarification came in the wake of claims being made on social media that kin of those who died due to COVID-19 can claim insurance under PMJJBY and PMSBY.

In a tweet, the Fact Check Unit of Press Information Bureau today clarified that PMSBY doesn’t cover COVID-19 related deaths, while PMJJBY covers COVID deaths with certain conditions.

“Claim: Kins of those who died of COVID-19 can claim insurance under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).

#PIBFactCheck: PMSBY doesn’t cover COVID related deaths, while PMJJBY covers COVID deaths with certain conditions,” PIB tweeted.

The viral message reads,” If someone in close relative or friends circle has died due to Covid-19 or for any reason, ask the bank for an account statement or passbook entry from 01-04 to 31-03 of the financial year. Seeing the entry of Rs. 12/- or Rs. 330/- , mark it, Go to the bank and Claim for Insurance. My Humble Request to All of You is that if such cases happen around you.”

Reportedly, the PMJJBY covers COVID-19 deaths albeit with certain warnings. The scheme is only applicable to people between the ages of 18-55 who have voluntarily signed up for the scheme that was launched in 2015.

Whereas, the PMSBY does not cover COVID-19 deaths. This scheme only covers accidental deaths or permanent disability.

In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched these two schemes under his Jan Dhan- Jan Suraksha Yojana initiatives for providing social security at affordable premiums for citizens across the country having savings bank accounts.

-RJV/CHK

DNA samples of parents match with Rajouri labourers killed in Shopian: IGP Kashmir

Shopian encounter
File Photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): DNA samples of parents of three youths from Rajouri district have matched with those killed in July 18 encounter at Amshipora in Shopian, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said today while adding that police will take further course of action.

“We have received the DNA sample results of three families of Rajouri and they have matched with those killed in Amshipora, Shopian. We will now take further course of action and complete the remaining formalities,” Kumar told media persons at Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar.

Police had collected six DNA samples from the parents of three slain youth killed in Amshipora, Shopian on July 18. A police team from Kashmir had visited Rajouri and collected DNA samples of parents of three youth. It is after a gap of 40 days, that the DNA samples matched between the families and the slain youth.

On September 18, in a brief statement, the Army had stated that the Shopian operation “contravened” the dos and don’ts of the Chief of Army Staff approved by the Supreme Court.

“The inquiry has brought out certain prima facie evidence indicating that during the operation, powers vested under the AFSPA 1990 were exceeded and the Do’s and Don’ts of Chief of Army Staff as approved by the Supreme Court have been contravened. Consequently, the competent disciplinary authority has directed to initiate disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act against those found prima-facie answerable,” the statement had said in its statement.

Soon after the statement, the families of slain youth had demanded immediate exhumation of the bodies of their loved ones for proper burial at Rajouri. The three families from Rajouri had identified their sons through pictures that went viral on social media.

The army had ordered a court of inquiry while police and the administration had been probing the case separately. Recently, J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha had stated that justice will be delivered to the Rajouri families and there would be no laxity.

-ARK

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