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Complete 3-day lockdown in Goa from today as COVID-19 cases spurt

Lockdown
Representative Image

New Delhi (NVI): Goa, which opened for tourists from July 2, has gone into complete lockdown for three days from today. The lockdown will be in place till 19 July.

In addition to this, the state government has also announced night curfew on a daily basis or ‘Janata Curfew’ between 8 pm to 6 am which came into effect from Wednesday and will continue till August 10.

During the Janata Curfew, movement of all non- essential activities has been prohibited.

Furthermore, the state administration has also imposed a ban on movement of all individuals for all non-essential activities between the curfew time till August 10.

Notably in May, Goa was declared as a Green Zone with active COVID-19 cases reducing to zero, but later there was a fresh surge in infections.

At present, there are 3,108 COVID-19 cases in the coastal state, as per the Union Health Ministry data.

-RJV/CHK

Coronavirus cases surpass 13.8 mn globally; Brazil tally tops 2 mn

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 13.8 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19, while more than 7.7 million have recovered and more than 589,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s coronavirus caseload topped 2 million, doubling in less than a month. In addition to this, the death toll due to the deadly contagion has surpassed 76,000 in the country.

The US reported 68,428 new infections in the past 24 hours, setting yet another record for single-day rise in coronavirus cases. During this period, the death toll also climbed by 974 people, taking the total number of deaths in the country since the pandemic began to 1,38,201, and the total number of cases to more than 3.5 million.

Australia’s second-biggest city of Melbourne reported a record jump of more than 423 new infections on Friday despite a week-old lockdown of more than 5 million residents. With this, Australia’s coronavirus tally has now exceeded 11,000.

Argentina’s death toll due to Covid-19 has reached 2,072, with 22 new deaths in the last 24 hours. The total number of coronavirus cases stands at 1,11,160, with 4,250 new cases, a record daily increase.

-CHK

J&K: CRPF jawan critically injured as service rifle goes off ‘accidentally’

Service rifle
Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) man posted in Dalgate area of Srinagar was critically injured this morning after his service rifle went off accidentally. He was shifted to Army hospital Srinagar where his condition is stated as critical.

CRPF spokesman in Srinagar, Pankaj Singh, said that a CRPF man identified as Pradeer Munda, aged 28, a resident of Jharkhand, who was posted with the 61 battalion CRPF in a hotel at Dalgate, Srinagar, got injured seriously after his service rifle went off accidentally.

“He was shifted to Army hospital Srinagar where his condition is stated as critical,” Singh said. He said an inquiry has been ordered to find out how the incident actually happened.

Sources in the CRPF said many colleagues of the injured CRPF man have been questioned about the incident as part of the in-house proceedings procedure. “CRPF is investigating whether the injured man fired at himself deliberately or not,” they said.

-CHK

India’s COVID tally crosses 1 million; death toll at 25,602

New Delhi (NVI): India coronavirus tally has crossed the one million mark and stands at 10,03,832, with the confirmation of biggest single-day jump 34,956 in last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry said.

The country’s death toll stands at 25,602 with 687 new fatalities being reported during this period.

So far, 6,35,575 patients have recovered all over the country. With this, the recovery rate stands at 63.34 per cent in India.

In terms of total number of cases, Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state with 2,84,281 coronavirus cases followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,56,369 and Delhi with 1,18,645 positive cases.

The other worst affected states are Gujarat (45,481) Uttar Pradesh (43,411), West Bengal (36,117) and Rajasthan (27,174).

In terms of deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 11,194 fatalities, ministry said.

The death toll in the national capital surged to 3,545 while another 97,693 patients have recovered so far, healthy ministry data shows.

According to ICMR, as on July 16, the cumulative number of 1.30 crore samples have been tested so far and 3.33 lakh samples were tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, a four-member team of the central government will be on a visit to Gujarat today to review the coronavirus situation in the state as cases are rising each day and to provide necessary guidance.

-RJV

J&K: 3 terrorists killed in an encounter in Kulgam district

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Three unidentified terrorists were killed early this morning in an encounter that broke out at Damhal Hanjipora area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, police officials said.

A police offical said that acting on a tip off, joint teams of army, police and the CRPF laid a siege in village Nagnard in Damhal Hanjipora area of Kulgam district. “As the joint teams forces zeroed in on a spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under heavy volume of fire which was retaliated, triggering an encounter,” he said.

He also said that, in the initial exchange of fire, one unidentified terrorist was killed and two soldiers sustained injuries, who were evacuated to army’s 92 base hospital in Srinagar. “As the operation progressed, amid heavy exchange of fire, the forces launched the final assault in which two more terrorists were killed,” the officer said.

J&K police on its official twitter handle wrote, “Kulgam update, total three terrorists killed. Incriminating material including arms, ammunition recovered. Search going on.”

Defence spokesman in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that, three terrorists have been killed in an encounter in South Kashmir’s Kulgam. “Earlier, one terrorist was killed and two more were killed as the operation progressed. Total three terrorists killed in the operation so far. Joint operation in progress,” he said.

This year so far, 140 terrorists were killed in a series of anti-militancy operations that include top commanders of Hizbul Muajhideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad outfit. Hizb has borne the maximum brunt as the outfit has lost 60 terrorists alone including its chief operational commander Reyaz Naikoo.

However, official figures suggest that since June 1, 55 terrorists were killed in various counter insurgency operations across South Kashmir alone.

-RJV

J&K: Total Covid cases surpass 12,000 mark with 490 fresh cases

Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded another spike in Covid-19 cases with 490 new infections, including 33 travelers, taking the tally in the UT to above 12,000 mark.

With the fresh spike in cases, the tally of positive cases in J&K has reached 12,156 including 9649 from Kashmir and 2507 from Jammu. Officials said that out of 490 new cases, 182 were tested positive at SKIMS, 51 at JVC and rest at other hospitals. “The fresh cases include 33 travelers,” officials said.

Among 490 new cases, 428 belong to Kashmir division while 62 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 9649 including 4846 recoveries and 204 deaths while the total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached 2507 including 1602 recoveries and 18 deaths.

According to official sources, the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir is 5488 including 4601 from Kashmir and 887 from Jammu.

With 109 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in J&K has reached 6446 which is 53.02 percent of the total cases which was over 63 percent few days before.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 259 from Srinagar, 21 from Kulgam, 18 from Baramulla, 42 from Shopian, 06 from Anantnag, 03 from Kupwara, 32 from Pulwama, 34 from Budgam, 02 from Bandipora and 11 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 62 from Jammu division include 14 from Jammu, 03 from Udhampur, 02 from Kuthua,33 from Rajouri, 08 from Samba and 02 from Doda.

As per the daily information bulletin, 3,23,038 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 38,581 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 5488 persons are in hospital isolation while 13 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 2,34,857 persons have completed the surveillance period and 43,875 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 4,81,452 samples are available out of which 469,296 stand negative while 12,156 have been tested positive. Among positive cases, 5488 are active and 6446 persons have recovered while 222 have died.

-ARK

Delhi Govt eases norms, empowers 11 hospitals to issue disability certificates

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Government has eased norms for issuing disability certificates to persons with disabilities in the national capital by designating 11 hospitals in this regard.

Specially-abled persons in Delhi can now apply for disability certificates at any of the eleven (11) designated hospitals across the capital, Delhi Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said.

“In order to facilitate the general public for easy accessibility of hospitals, the jurisdiction of the eleven hospitals for issuance of disability certificates should be all over Delhi and not confined to one district,” he said.

Earlier, specially-abled persons seeking disability certificates were required to apply only through the designated hospitals of their respective districts in the capital. These hospitals would also continue to facilitate the services of providing disability certificates to the public along with the new ones.

The decentralization move would allow the specially-abled persons of the capital to approach any of these hospitals to avail the facility for making disability certificates. According to a government order, now 11 hospitals in the national capital can issue disability certificates.

These hospitals were disability certificates can be obtained are -Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Hindu Rao Hospital, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Gobind Ballabh Pant Hospital, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, Safdarjung, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lady Hardinge Hospital, AIIMS, and Lok Nayak Hospital.

“These hospitals can issue disability certificates to the disabled residing in Delhi, without considering their district of residence,” the Directorate General of Health Services said in the order.

Earlier, the hospitals had been directed to provide a separate line and counters for the applicants.

The hospitals were also asked to report every month the number of disability certificates issued, with details such as date of application and date of issuance of a certificate, to the director, Social Welfare Department.

-ARK

Infiltration bid foiled in J&K’s Kupwara, 1 terrorist killed; Ops on

July 18 Shopian encounter: Army completes summary of evidence
An encounter site in Kashmir (File Pic)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A terrorist was killed as the Indian Army foiled yet another infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district today.

A tweet by the Srinagar-based 15 Corps read: “Suspicious move of unidentified persons detected across the LoC at Keran Sector, #Kupwara this morning. Terrorists trying to infiltrate, were intercepted by own troops; contact was established. Infiltration bid foiled. 01 terrorist killed, 01 AK recovered. Op in progress.”

On July 10, the Army had killed two militants who were trying to sneak in from Nowgam sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Pertinently, Director General of Police (DGP) J&K Dilbagh Singh had recently said that a large number of militants were ready at the launch pads across LoC to infiltrate into this side.

On June 30, the army had said that an infiltration bid was foiled at Parkian Gali sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on the intervening night of June 29 and June 30 when a group of 6-8 militants, in two groups tried to sneak in. After the initial exchange of fire, the militants, according to the army, went back to the Pakistani side.

Earlier on June 1, another infiltration bid was foiled by the Indian Army at the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshehra sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, as three heavily armed militants were killed.

In early April this year, the Army foiled a major infiltration attempt at LoC in north Kashmir’s Keran sector, killing five militants while losing five of its soldiers from elite forces in an operation.

-ARK

Boeing sees India as potential client for its latest F-15 fighter jet

(Source: Boeing.com)

New Delhi (NVI): US aviation major Boeing sees India as a potential customer for its Advanced F-15 Eagle, the newest fighter plane which can carry more weapons than any other aircraft of its class and be equipped with latest technologies.

Prat Kumar, Boeing’s Vice President and Programme Manager for the F-15, said during a webinar that the company is working to have a deal potentially with India to meet its requirement of 114 fighter planes.

The Indian Air Force had in April last year issued a request for information (RFI) to procure 114 fighters at a cost of around USD 18 billion.

He said Boeing was in the process of requesting a marketing license from the U.S Government to start discussions with India.

“India is there for a large 114-jet acquisition programme. We are waiting for the ASQRs (Air Staff Qualitative Requirements), the requirements” definitions, because right now, until we have that, we do not know if this jet is in the sweet spot or not,” Kumar said.

“Right now, we are supporting the US Air Force in whatever shape, way or form we can to answer any questions they have coming from the Indian Air Force (about F-15EX),” he added.

Boeing, in a statement earlier had said, “The F-15EX carries more weapons than any other fighter in its class and can launch hypersonic weapons up to 22 feet long and weighing up to 7,000 pounds.”

Kumar said the multi-role fighter plane will be fitted with the same Raytheon AN/APG-82 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar that has been retrofitted to the USAF F-15E fleet.

Similarly, the new aircraft will feature the Advanced Display Core Processor II mission computer and Suite 9 Operational Flight Program, which also brings them into line with the latest Strike Eagle standard.

He talked about the possibility of adding artificial intelligence to assist F-15EX crews in the future.

Reports on Iran projects speculative: India

New Delhi (NVI): India today dismissed as speculative the reports which claimed that it had been ousted by Iran from the projects of Chabahar Port and the Chabahar-Zahidan railway line in the Persian country.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava told a media briefing here that India and Iran have a longstanding commitment since 2003 regarding the Chabahar Port which was finally operationalised in 2016 during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Iran.

“Since then, despite the difficulties posed by the sanctions situation, there has been significant progress on the Port project,” he said. Iran is under American sanctions over its nuclear programme and countries and their entities have been warned by the US against doing business with the Persian nation.

Srivastava said an Indian company has been operating the Port since 2018 and has steadily scaled up the traffic at the Port.

Since December 2018, 82 vessels have been handled there, including 52 in the last 12 months alone, he said, adding the port handled 12 lakh tonnes of bulk cargo and 8200 containers.

“Proactive measures are currently underway to increase the usage of Chabahar Port, both for Afghanistan and Central Asia,” the MEA spokesman said.

Talking about the proposed railway line, he said IRCON was appointed by the Government of India to assess the feasibility of the project and it was working with CDTIC, an Iranian company under their Ministry of Railways in that regard.

“IRCON has completed the site inspection and review of the feasibility report. Detailed discussions were thereafter held on other relevant aspects of the project, which had to take into account the financial challenges that Iran was facing,” Srivastava said.

In December 2019, these issues were reviewed in detail at the 19th India-Iran Joint Commission Meeting in Tehran and the Iranian side was to nominate an authorized entity to finalize outstanding technical and financial issues, the spokesman said, adding “This is still awaited.”

He said there have also been some reports regarding the Farzad-B Gas field negotiations in which ONGC was involved in the discovery stage.

“Follow-up bilateral cooperation was, however, impacted by policy changes on the Iranian side. In January 2020, we were informed that in the immediate future, Iran would develop the field on its own and would like to involve India appropriately at a later stage. This matter remains under discussion,” he said.

Earlier, a deputy of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organisation Farhad Montaser was quoted by an Iranian news agency as saying that Iran had “not inked any deal with India regarding the Chabahar-Zahedan railway.”

“Iran has only signed two agreements with Indians for investment in Chabahar — one is related to the port’s machinery and equipment, and the second is related to India’s investment to the tune of $150 million,” Montaser was quoted as saying.

He made it clear that the US “sanctions have nothing to do to Iran-India cooperation in Chabahar”.

The US had in 2018 agreed to a waiver on Chabahar port projects under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA) of 2012.

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