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Babri Masjid demolition verdict on Sept 30

New Delhi (NVI): The Special CBI judge Surendra Kumar Yadav will pronounce judgment in Babri Masjid demolition case on September 30.

The top court has directed all the accused to remain present in the court on that day for hearing the judgment.

There are 32 accused in the case including former deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, BJP leader MM Joshi, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti and Vinay Katiar.

On August 19, a bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, had passed an order extending the deadline for pronouncing the judgement till September 30.

The top court had, in its last order, granted the trial court CBI judge in Lucknow time till August 31 to pronounce the judgement.

However, the court order came on a plea filed by special judge SK Yadav, who is hearing the matter related to the demolition of Babri Masjid, seeking more time to pronounce the judgement in the cases.

-RJV

Delhi BJP chief tests COVID positive

Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta today said he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Gupta has previously tested negative but got tested again due to ill-health conditions over a week

“Last week, I took a COVID test after having a light fever. Its report was negative. I was tested again as I was feeling unwell. The report has now come as positive,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

Gupta said he was in quarantine during the last week and advised those who had come in contact with him to get themselves tested.

Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP office on Pant Marg was closed for sanitisation on Wednesday, a day after 17 people there tested positive for COVID-19.

-CHK

International tourism drops 65% in the first half of 2020: UN

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New Delhi (NVI): International tourist arrivals dropped by 65 percent during the first half of 2020 when compared to last year, the return to 2019 levels may take two to four years, according to UNWTO report.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said that this is an unprecedented setback due to the closure of borders and travel restrictions implemented in the world to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to UNWTO report, the collapse of the demand for international travel from January to June 2020 caused the loss of 440 million international arrivals and around USD 460 billion in export earnings from tourism.

That level of decline in incomes is five times that of the 2009 global financial and economic crisis, it added.

“This latest report shows that the lockdowns introduced during the first half of the year have had a massive impact on international tourism. The sharp and sudden fall in arrivals has placed millions of jobs and businesses at risk,” the UNWTO said.

Moreover, the report stated international tourist arrivals plunged 93 percent in June when compared to 2019. “The return to 2019 levels in terms of tourist arrivals would take between 2 to 4 years,” it added.

The organization also noted that despite the gradual reopening of many destinations since the second half of May, the anticipated improvement in international tourism numbers during the peak summer season in the Northern Hemisphere did not materialize.

The Asia-Pacific region was the most affected by the current situation with a 72 percent downturn in tourists received in the first half of 2020. It was followed by Europe with a decrease of 66 percent, Africa and the Middle East (57 per cent) and the Americas (55 per cent).

Furthermore, the organization said it seems likely that reduced travel demand and consumer confidence will continue to impact results for the rest of the year.

In May, UNWTO outlined three possible scenarios, pointing to declines of 58 percent to 78 percent in international tourist arrivals this year.

The organization further stated, current trends through August point to a drop in demand closer to 70 percent, especially now as some destinations re-introduce restrictions on travel.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said, “Safe and responsible international travel is now possible in many parts of the world, and it is imperative that governments work closely with the private sector to get global tourism moving again. Coordinated action is key.”

-RJV

Yoshihide Suga formally elected as Japan’s new Prime Minister

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga

New Delhi (NVI): Japanese ruling party leader Yoshihide Suga has been elected as the new Prime Minister in a in a parliamentary vote Wednesday, becoming the country’s first new premier in nearly eight years.

Suga’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party used its majority in the lower house of parliament, which is empowered to pick the premier, and elect him to lead the world’s third largest economy as it tries to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Following the vote, Suga is due to enter the Prime Minister’s Office as the new leader and name his cabinet later in the day.

The 71-year-old Suga – the son of a strawberry farmer – won the leadership contest of the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Monday and was all but assured the top job when his appointment went to a vote in parliament given the party’s two-thirds majority.

Suga, who previously served as Abe’s right-hand man, has pledged to keep in place his former boss’s flexible fiscal stance and ultra-easy monetary policy known as “Abenomics.”

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi today sent a congratulatory message to Japan’s new prime minister.

“Heartiest congratulations to Excellency Yoshihide Suga on the appointment as Prime Minister of Japan @kantei. I look forward to jointly taking our Special Strategic and Global Partnership to new heights. @sugawitter” Modi said in a Twitter post.

-CHK

Pak targets forward areas in Gurez sector of J&K’s Bandipora, 2nd day in a row

Ceasefire
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Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops today resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Gurez sector of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, targeting forward locations at Bagtore area, defence officials said.

The fresh ceasefire violation (CFV) in Gurez, Bandipora comes a day after the Indian Army recovered a US-made assault rifle and other arms and ammunition in the same district.

Defence officials said that the Pakistani army initiated firing with small arms and mortar shelling along the LoC in Bagtore sector at 11:30 am today.

They said that Pakistani troops targeted forward defence locations in Bagtore.

“Indian Army is giving a strong and befitting response to the ceasefire violation,” a defence official said, adding that “heavy shelling was going on from both sides.” However, there was no immediate report of any causality on either side, he added.

After the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year, J&K has witnessed a huge spurt in CFV the along the LoC, taking toll on civilians and also on the security forces especially army men deployed on the forward posts. Yesterday, three soldiers including an army major were injured in J&K’s Rajouri district in the CFV of which one rifleman later succumbed.

Official figures reveal that this year, 1,840 CFVs were recorded in borders of J&K along the LoC and IB, the highest ever in the past three years.

-ARK

‘Mysterious death’ of youth sparks row in J&K’s Baramulla

Indianapolis
Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): The death of a 23-year-old youth in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district today sparked a row, with the police claiming that the deceased was an Over Ground Worker (OGW), who was arrested with two grenades and that he fled while being taken to recover more incriminating material.

Police have said that the OGW fled during the course of investigation when he was taken to a spot in Chairdaji area of Tujjar-Sharief last night and that his dead body was found near a stone quarry later.

The deceased youth, identified as Irfan Ahmad Dar (Photo via arrangement)

The family of the youth, however, rejected the police statement and alleged that their son was dubbed as a militant and was killed in police custody.

A police statement issued here said, “On September 15 at around 12:45 pm, one OGW identified as Irfan Ahmad Dar (age about 23/24 years), R/O Sidiq-Colony, Sopore was apprehended and two Chinese hand grenades were recovered from his possession.”

“In this regard, Case FIR No. 257/2020 U/S 18 ULA (P) Act, 7/27 A Act was registered in Police Station Sopore and investigation taken up,” the police statement read.

“During the course of investigation, a police team visited Chairdaji area of Tujjar-Sharief along with OGW for affecting some more recovery on the disclosure of the OGW,” it added.

The police statement further stated that the OGW, while taking advantage of darkness and terrain, managed to escape, regarding which a separate FIR was registered at Police Station Bomai.

“And during search, the body of OGW was found near stone quarry of Tujjar-Sharief,” the police said, adding that the body was taken to the nearby Primary Health Centre (PHC), wherefrom it was shifted to PCR Kashmir Hospital for fulfilling medical and other legal formalities. “Further investigation is going on,” police said.

However, the family members of the deceased youth have accused police of dubbing their son as a militant and killing him in custody. “I along with my brother Irfan were picked up by police for questioning on September 14 and we were kept separately. I was set free but my brother was kept in the police custody,” said Javaid Ahmed, Irfan’s brother.

He said that his brother has been killed in police custody and that he had no militant links. “My brother is innocent and was a shopkeeper by profession. He was unmarried and that the police claim about the recovery of grenades is nothing but a baseless story,” he said.

Javaid has demanded an impartial independent probe into what he alleged as “the cold-blooded murder” of his brother. “We have CCTV installed at the residence of our main gate and rooms. Let police check whether any militant had visited us. They won’t be able to establish any connection between us and the militancy,” he added.

Meanwhile, the authorities have snapped mobile internet services in the area to prevent any law and order situation.

-ARK

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

(Representational/file photo)

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India today crossed the 5 million mark and reached 50,20,360 after 90,123 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll has gone up to 82,066 after 1,290 new fatalities were reported in the country during this period.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 10,97,856, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 5,83,925 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 5,14,208 cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 3,574

Andhra Pradesh- 5,83,925

Arunachal Pradesh- 6,466

Assam- 1,46,575

Bihar- 1,60,871

Chandigarh- 8,592

Chhattisgarh- 70,777

Dadra Nagar Haveli & Diu – 2,783

Delhi- 2,25,796

Gujarat- 1,16,183

Goa- 25,511

Haryana– 98,622

Himachal Pradesh- 10,335

Jammu and Kashmir- 56,654

Jharkhand- 64,439

Karnataka- 4,75,265

Kerala- 1,14,033

Ladakh- 3,499

Madhya Pradesh- 93,053

Maharashtra- 10,97,856

Manipur- 8,210

Meghalaya- 4,036

Mizoram- 1,480

Nagaland- 5,229

Odisha- 1,58,650

Puducherry- 20,601

Punjab- 84,482

Rajasthan- 1,05,898

Sikkim- 2,173

Tamil Nadu- 5,14,208

Telangana- 1,62,844

Tripura- 20,150

Uttarakhand- 34,407

Uttar Pradesh- 3,24,036

West Bengal– 2,09,146

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 52

Andhra Pradesh- 5,041

Arunachal Pradesh- 13

Assam- 492

Bihar- 836

Chandigarh- 99

Chhattisgarh- 589

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 4,806

Goa- 315

Gujarat- 3,244

Haryana- 1,026

Himachal Pradesh- 90

Jammu and Kashmir- 914

Jharkhand- 571

Karnataka- 7,481

Kerala- 466

Ladakh- 44

Madhya Pradesh- 1,820

Maharashtra- 30,409

Manipur- 47

Meghalaya- 28

Nagaland- 15

Odisha- 645

Puducherry- 405

Punjab- 2,514

Rajasthan- 1,264

Sikkim- 19

Tamil Nadu- 8,502

Telangana- 996

Tripura- 217

Uttarakhand- 438

Uttar Pradesh- 4,604

West Bengal- 4,062

However, a total of 39,42,360 people have been cured or discharged. Total active cases stand at 9,95,933.

-CHK

World Ozone Day: Theme, significance of preservation of ozone layer

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New Delhi (NVI): The international community is today observing the World Ozone Day (WOD) marking the 35 years of the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer.

This year’s theme for the World Ozone Day 2020 is “Ozone for life: 35 years of ozone layer protection”.

The year 2020 has been one of many catastrophes, from a global pandemic, natural disasters, raging fires that wreaked havoc with the environment. The importance of preserving and restoring our environment has never been more significant. In order to not add complications in the ozone layer to the list, we must all do our parts for the preservation of the stratospheric layer.

Simply put, life on Earth will not be possible without sunlight, but the energy emanating from the sun is too harmful for anything to survive, when in direct contact with it. The ozone layer is a stratospheric layer that acts as a shield for the earth, protecting it from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

The ultraviolet radiation or UV rays emitted by the sun have the potential to cause skin cancer and cataract. These harmful rays also cause significant damage not only to humans but also to plant and marine life.

In 1970, when scientists first discovered the hole in the ozone layer, it was a matter of grave concern. They raised the alarm and informed people on how to best reduce their carbon emissions which are the leading cause for harm to the ozone layer.

With this in mind, the world’s governments banded together and formed the Vienna Convention in 1985. Under the convention, they established the Montreal Protocol which dictated that governments, scientists, and industries work together and cut out 99% of all ozone-depleting substances.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the ozone layer is recovering and expected to return to pre-1980 values by mid-century all thanks to the Montreal Protocol.

Meanwhile, supporting the Montreal Protocol, the Kigali Amendment, which came into force in 2019, will work towards reducing hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs) and greenhouse gases that have climate-warming potential and are damaging to the environment.

Inger Anderson, Executive Director of UNEP, said, “This convention and its Montreal Protocol united the world to cut out the gases creating a hole in the planet’s ozone layer, critical in shielding us against deadly UV radiation. This model of international cooperation has put the ozone layer on the road to recovery, protecting human and ecosystem health. Such cooperation demonstrates that when people work together, they can fix problems on a global scale.”

“We need this unity of purpose more than ever, as we seek to address nature loss, climate change and pollution in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the discussions on the replenishment of the multilateral fund,” she added.

-CHK

Power Ministry drafts new electricity rules; simplified procedures for meter connections

Power Ministry

New Delhi (NVI): For the first time, the Union Power Ministry has unveiled the draft of Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, that has eased the way electricity is supplied to consumers and also offers them a host of other services.

As per the draft rules, timely and simplified procedure for connection has been proposed, under which only two documents will be required for connection up to load of 10 kw and no estimation of demand charges for loads up to 150 kw to expedite giving connection.

Furthermore, time period of not more than 7 days in metro cities, 15 days in other municipal areas and 30 days in rural areas, will be taken to provide new connection and modify existing connections, Power Ministry stated.

Electricity Consumers are the most important stakeholders in the power sector. The sector exists because of them. Having provided access to electricity to all citizens, it is now important to focus on consumer satisfaction. For this, it is imperative to identify the key services, prescribe minimum service levels and standards with respect to these services and recognize them as rights of consumers, the Ministry stated.

The Ministry has put the draft of the rules for comments and stakeholders consultation, seeking views and suggestions from consumers till September 30 and intends to implement it as part of consumer charter initiative.

The new rules will provide 24×7 toll free call centre, web-based and mobile applications for common services like new connection, disconnection, reconnection, shifting of connection, change in name and particulars, load change, replacement of meter, no supply, etc with facilities for sms/email alerts, online status tracking and auto escalation.

In addition to this, discoms have been made liable to compensate consumers for no supply of electricity beyond a particular duration, number of interruptions in supply, time taken for getting an electricity connection, disconnection and shifting.

The idea was to give rights to the consumer to seek 24×7 electricity supply at their homes and provide them a compensation for any deviation from the stated goal, according to rules.

The draft rules, which have also been sent to all discoms and transcos for comments, have specified that the amount of compensation would be determined by the respective electricity commissions.

It has, however, said if discoms delay in serving electricity bills beyond 60 days, consumers would need to be given a rebate on bills between two and five per cent or an amount decided by the commissions.

The new rules also provide that consumers will have to pay through online medium only for electricity bills of more than Rs 1,000.

If a consumer gives prior information in writing about his continued absence from the residence, the discom would not send notice or provisional bill to the consumer provided he pays the fixed charges in advance. The consumer would get interest on advance payment.

The Ministry will also set up Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum with 2-3 representatives of consumers at various levels starting from Sub-division for ease of consumer grievance redressal.

-CHK

India, US officials discuss co-development, production of defence equipment

India, US sign MoU on intellectual property cooperation
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New Delhi (NVI): India and the United States defence officials yesterday held a virtual meeting, to discuss defence cooperation, including co-production and co-development of defence equipment.

The 10th Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) Group Meeting was co-chaired by Raj Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, and Ellen Lord, US Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment.

Kumar and Lord co-chaired the meeting, during which the groups reported about ongoing activities and collaborative opportunities.

“As evidence of their commitment to demonstrating the success of DTTI, the co-chairs signed a statement of intent (SOI) that declared to strengthen our dialogue on defence technology cooperation by pursuing detailed planning and making measurable progress on several specific DTTI project,” the Ministry of Defence said in a release.

The aim of the DTTI Group is to bring sustained leadership focus to the bilateral defense trade relationship and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of defense equipment.

The ministry further said, four joint working groups focused on land, naval, air, and aircraft carrier technologies have been established under DTTI to promote mutually agreed projects within their domains. The groups reported to the co-chairs on ongoing activities and collaborative opportunities including a number of near-term projects targeted for completion on priority.

During the virtual meeting, the co-chairs also noted that since the last DTTI Group meeting in October last year, a DTTI Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the identification and development of cooperative projects under DTTI has been completed.

The SOP will serve as the framework for DTTI and allow both sides to reach and document a mutual understanding on how to define and achieve success.

A publicly releasable extract of key elements of the SOP was also published in July as the DTTI Initial Guidance for Industry, and distributed through Indian and US industry associations, the release said.

“Further efforts to encourage US and Indian industry to cooperatively develop next-generation technologies under the DTTI Group were highlighted by the 1st DTTI Industry Collaboration Forum (DICF), which took place virtually on September 10,” it added.

The DICF was convened by Sanjay Jaju, Joint Secretary (Defence Industries Production), Michael Vaccaro, Director, International Armaments Cooperation, and Amy Murray, Director, Small Business Programs.

“This forum offers an opportunity for Indian and US industry to be directly involved in DTTI and facilitates dialogue between government and industry on issues that impact industrial collaboration,” the release said, adding that, the results of the discussion were briefed to the DTTI Group co-chairs.

-RJV

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