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Global coronavirus tally mounts to 28.3 million

Global Covid-19 cases
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): More than 28.3 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and over 9,13,000 have died from the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

At least 19 million patients have been cured and recovered worldwide.

In the US, the total number of cases stand around 6.44 million while more than 1,92,968 people have lost their lives due to the deadly virus.

Brazil, remains number one COVID-19 affected country in Latin America, recorded 43,718 cases within 24-hours and surpassed 4.28 million.The country’s death toll stands at 1,28,000.

In addition to this, the last regions of Sao Paulo state, Brazil’s economic hub, made it to the so-called yellow phase, which allows stores to reopen.

Canada reported zero COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours for the first time since March, the country’s death toll from the pandemic stood at 9,163, according to public health agency data.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus death toll in Mexico has surpassed 70,000 after the government reported 534 new deaths in the past 24 hours, a grim milestone for a country among those most affected by the pandemic.

Jakarta recorded 3,737 new cases on COVID-19, bringing the total to 210,940, while the death toll reached 8,544 with 88 people succumbing to the disease in the past 24 hours.

Moreover, the rate of new coronavirus cases in Peru, Colombia and Mexico has fallen slightly in recent weeks.

Apart from this, the island country of East Asia, Japan is preparing to relax restrictions on attendance numbers for events including professional sports games. The current restriction of no more than 5,000 attendees and replacing it with an up to 50 per cent  capacity rule, according to Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.

-RJV

India’s COVID tally crosses 46-lakh mark with a spike of 97,570 cases

corona
(File/Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): India registered a biggest single-day rise of 97,570 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the overall caseload to 46,59,985, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll has reached 77,472 with 1,201 fatalities reported during this period.

Notably, the number of active cases stand at 9,58,316, while 36,24,197 patients have discharged from the hospitals across the country.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 10,15,681, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 5,47,686 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 4,91,571 cases.

The other worst affected states in the country are Karnataka (4,40,411), Uttar Pradesh (2,99,045) and Delhi (2,09,748).

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of death toll at 28,724 followed by 8,231 deaths in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 4,687, while 1,78,154 patients have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

According to the Indian Council  Medical Research (ICMR), 5,51,89,226 total number of samples were tested in India for COVID-19 upto September 11 and 10,91,251 samples tested in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said, Mumbai may continue to see over 2,000 cases daily for the next 3-4 weeks, terming the spike a result of higher testing.

-RJV

 

China to hand over 5 missing youths from Arunachal tomorrow: Rijiju

New Delhi (NVI): China will hand over five Indian nationals to the Indian Army tomorrow, who went missing from Arunachal Pradesh last Saturday. The Chinese troops are likely to hand over the missing Arunachali youths at a designated location tomorrow, according to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.

“The Chinese PLA has confirmed to Indian Army to hand over the youths from Arunachal Pradesh to our side. The handing over is likely to take place anytime tomorrow i.e. 12th September 2020 at a designated location,” Rijiju said in a tweet.

On September 8, Rijiju had tweeted that China’s PLA had responded to the hotline message sent by the Indian Army and confirmed that the missing youths from Arunachal had been found at their side.             

Earlier, the Indian Army had said that the five missing men who had been missing since September 1 were hunters even as the locals said that they were porters.

Since the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is not demarcated in many places in Arunachal, people from both sides have been caught on the either side in the past as well.

Rijiju was the first one who broke the news of PLA’s confirmation that the youths who had been caught last week were Indian nationals.

However, the development comes amid the border stand-off between the two countries at LAC in Ladakh. On Monday, China had brushed off concerns over the whereabouts of the five youths and came up with a controversial remark that it has never recognised Arunachal Pradesh which it claims is part of south Tibet.

This also comes after two-and-half hours of bilateral talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow yesterday, as the two sides reached a five-point agreement to disengage and de-escalate the situation along the border.

-ARK

1,578 fresh Covid cases take J&K’s tally over 50k mark

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today saw yet another spike of 1,578 coronavirus cases, including 73 travelers, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 50,712.

Of the total cases, 35,037 are from Kashmir and 15,675 from Jammu division. Officials said that among 1,578 new cases, 770 belong to Kashmir division while 808 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 35,037 including 27,115 recoveries.

On the other hand, the total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached 15,675 including 7,964 recoveries and 137 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in J&K is 15,169 including 7,205 from Kashmir division and 7,964 from Jammu division.

With 474 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in the UT has reached to 34,689 which is 68.40 percent of the total cases which was over 78 percent a few days before. 

This is for the first time since Covid-19 outbreak that active cases have reached over 15,000 in J&K.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 267 from Srinagar, 43 from Baramulla, 34 from Pulwama, 176 from Budgam, 41 from Anantnag, 70 from Bandipora, 66 from Kupwara, 18 from Kulgam, 08 from Shopian and 47 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 808 from Jammu division include 415 from Jammu, 64 from Rajouri, 38 from Kathua, 101 from Udhampur, 44 from Samba, 27 from Ramban, 26 from Doda, 49 from Poonch, 02 from Reasi and 42 from Kishtwar,” as per the daily Covid bulletin.

Apart from that, 5,09,482 persons in J&K are under observation while 42,577 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 15,169 persons are in isolation.

As to the bulletin, 3,97,834 persons have completed surveillance period and 53,048 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, 11,77,773 samples are available out of which 1,127,061 are negative while 50,712 have tested positive. Among positive cases, 15,169 are active and 34,689 have recovered.

-ARK

J&K police busts mobile phone theft racket in Srinagar, 3 Delhiites arrested

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today busted a mobile phone theft racket in Srinagar and arrested three persons, all residents of Delhi while recovering stolen phones worth Rs 25 lakh from them.

Addressing a press conference at District Police Office (DPO) Srinagar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Dr Haseeb Mughal said that on July 4, a complaint was received by the police station Nowhatta, Srinagar about theft in a mobile shot. “The thieves had cut the shutter of the shop in the dead of the night and stole mobile phones worth lakhs,” the Srinagar police chief said.

He said when investigation was taken up, CCTV footage was obtained but no clues were found. “After almost two months of investigations, we found no clue other than the one that rag pickers were roaming in the area. This was the only clue,” said SSP Srinagar.

He said that after analysing towers and other electronic surveillance, it was found that one of the stolen mobile phones was switched on in New Delhi. “Simultaneously, a police team from north zone (Srinagar) was sent to Delhi and they arrested one person Abdur Razak from JJ Colony Bawana and 112 stolen mobiles were recovered from his possession.

“Razak was shifted to Srinagar and after questioning him, he named two more persons who are also from Delhi but were working in Anantnag district as labourers. The three were acting as ragpickers, and had done recce in Nowhatta. They were waiting for the arrival of consignments of mobiles and then steal from the same shop,” the SSP Srinagar said.

He said that Delhi Police has also helped in the arrest of the trio. “The arrest of two persons from Anantnag who are also Delhi residents led to recovery of 11 more stolen mobiles,” Dr Mughal said.

He said that in total, Rs 25 lakh worth mobiles were recovered and three persons, all belonging to Delhi were arrested. “The investigation is on and more arrests are likely to be made,” the SSP said, adding that traders should take precautions while receiving consignments and watch out for a suspect in their vicinity.

-ARK

Afghan negotiating team heads to Doha as talks with Taliban begin tomorrow

(Pic courtesy: TOLO news)

New Delhi (NVI) The much-awaited Afghan peace talks, that were scheduled to take place in March this year, will begin in Qatar from tomorrow as a 21-member team from Afghanistan left for Doha this afternoon to sit across the table with the Taliban and discuss the future of the country.

The 21-member negotiating team is led by Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, reports TOLO news. All members of the negotiating team called Saturday a historic day for the country and said they remain hopeful for the results of the talks.

The Afghan government released the last batch of six Taliban prisoners yesterday and transferred them to Doha. However, France and Australia had opposed the release of these six of the 400 controversial prisoners of the Taliban, the Afghan news portal reports.

However, the announcement of the start of the talks was widely welcomed by Afghanistan’s international allies.

The talks are the next and significant step towards restoring peace in the country, after the US-Taliban agreement on the withdrawal of US troops from the country.

This will also be the first time that the Taliban, which does not recognise the Afghan government, will sit across the table with government and other delegates to find a possible soultion to end years of conflict.

The opening ceremony of the talks will be held on Saturday while the negotiations will begin on Monday, reports TOLO news, quoting an official from the High Council for National Reconciliation.

The talks also come days after an assassination attempt on Afghan vice-president Amrullah Saleh, second in two years. His convoy was targetted in Kabul on Wednesday as 10 people including bystanders were killed in the deadly blast. The attack was widely seen as a bid to derail the talks.

The incident took place two days after the former intelligence chief raised the issue of Durand Line and talked about Peshawar as the summer capital of Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, Saleh has said that it will be “one of the most difficult peace negotiations in history”.

Taliban has increased its attacks since it signed a deal with the US on February 29, which mainly provided for the exit of American forces from the war-torn country. The Taliban attacks have increased despite its commitment to the reduction of violence.

In view of the surge in Taliban attacks, President Ashraf Ghani had ordered the forces to go on an offensive against the outfit. After the order, a number of Taliban terrorists were killed by Afghan forces in retaliatory attacks.

-ARK

Suresh Angadi tests positive for COVID

New Delhi (NVI): Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi today tested positive for novel coronavirus.

The union minister took to Twitter to give information about his illness. He added that he was doing fine.

“I have tested COVID-19 positive today. I am doing fine. Taking the advise of doctors. Requesting all those who have come in close contact with me in the last few days to monitor their health and get tested in case of any symptoms,” Angadi tweeted.

This comes when the monsoon sessions of Parliament set to begin in the next three days.

Last month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was admitted to the AIIMS for post-COVID-19 care. Shah was tested positive for novel coronavirus on August 2.

So far, the coronavirus tally in India stands at 45,62,415 with 76,271 deaths in the country, according to the Health Ministry data.

-RJV

Brazilian official for indigenous tribes killed by arrow in Amazon Rainforest

Amazon Rainforest

New Delhi (NVI): A top Brazilian government official and expert on isolated Amazon tribes has been killed by an arrow that struck him in the chest as he approached an indigenous site.

Rieli Franciscato, 56, spent his career in the government’s indigenous affairs agency, Funai, working to set up reservations to protect uncontacted tribes.

Franciscato died in a remote region of Rondônia state in north-western Brazil. He was in the area to monitor a tribe as part of his work for the government’s indigenous agency.

He was originally sent to the area to shield the vulnerable group from threats posed by outsiders.

The incident occurred on the edge of the Uru Eu Wau Wau reservation, which has repeatedly been raided and plundered by loggers and miners over the years.

An NGO founded by Mr Franciscato described him as an “excellent, serious and dedicated professional”.

The Kaninde Ethno-Environmental Defence Association, which he helped create in the 1980s, said the indigenous group had no ability to distinguish between a friend or a foe from the outside world, according to media reports.

Indigenous people in Brazil are under increasing threat from invasions by illegal land grabbers, loggers and gold miners emboldened by the policies of the far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, who wants to develop the Amazon and reduce the size of indigenous reservations.

-CHK

COVID-19: SC directs states to fix reasonable rates for ambulance services

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New Delhi (NVI): The Supreme Court today directed the states to fix a reasonable price for ambulance services and expressed its concern over the way ambulance providers charge an excessive amount of money to provide service to COVID-19 patients.

A bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, was hearing a petition seeking appropriate order and/or directions to increase ambulance services to ensure proper service to COVID positive patient cases in the country.

Appearing for the Centre, the bench said that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already issued the SOP in this reegard and all states “will have to implement it”.

The bench said that states are bound by advisory already issued by the Central government that all state governments must ensure that the number of ambulances are sufficient.

It also added that ambulances should be provided in each district to help COVID-19 patients to hospitals.

-CHK

Govt relaxes timeline of Life Certificate submission for pensioners

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New Delhi (NVI): In a major relief to elderly persons and pensioners, the Central Government has relaxed the existing timeline for submission of Life Certificate.

“All Central government pensioners can submit Life Certificate from 1st November, 2020 to 31st December 2020. Earlier this used to be only for the month of November for maintaining continuity of Pension,” the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions said in a statement.

The pensioners in the age group of 80 years and above, can submit Life Certificate from October 1 to December 31. During this extended period, the pension will be continued to be paid by the Pension Disbursing Authorities (PDAs) uninterrupted, it added.

Singh also said that the decision was taken in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the vulnerability of elderly population to coronavirus.

“As per RBI notification dated January 9, 2020, which permits Video based Customer Identification Process (V-CIP) as a consent based alternate method of establishing the customer’s identity, Pension Disbursing Banks have been also asked to explore the said methodology for obtaining a Life Certificate from the pensioner, to the extent permitted by RBI guidelines, in order to avoid rush at the branches,”the minister said.

The statement further read, “Every Central government pensioner has to submit life certificate in the month of November for further continuation of their pension.”

They can submit life certificate by visiting the bank branches, however the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has been promoting the Digital Life Certificate which can be given from the comfort of one’s home also, it added.

Last year, as a measure to enable additional dedicated time to very senior pensioners, the department issued orders enabling pensioners in the age group of 80 years & above to submit Life Certificate from October 1 onward instead of November 1, so that they could avoid the general rush in the month of November.

-RJV

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