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PM Modi, Trudeau talk over phone

File

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau had a telephonic conversation last night and both the leaders updated each other about the evolving situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic in their countries.

They also discussed the possibilities of international collaboration to address the health and economic crisis, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

PM Modi and Trudeau agreed that the India-Canada partnership can be a force for good in the post-COVID world, including for advancing humanitarian values in the global discourse.

Apart from that, the leaders emphasised the need to strengthen multilateral institutions including the WHO, and agreed to work closely together at various international fora, on health, social, economic and political issues.

On the occasion, PM Modi warmly appreciated the assistance extended by Canadian authorities in recent days to the Indian citizens in Canada, and for facilitating their repatriation to India.

Prime Minister Trudeau similarly expressed his happiness at the facilitation offered for the return of Canadian citizens from India, the PMO said.

“The two leaders agreed to continue their mutual consultations in coming days. They agreed that as large economies wedded to democratic values, India and Canada have a natural convergence on many global issues,” it added.

PM calls all-party meet on Fri to discuss India-China border issue

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an all-party meeting at 5 PM on Friday to discuss the situation in India-China border areas and specifically the escalation in tensions between the two countries after the violent clashes in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley along LAC in which 20 Indian troops have been killed.

“In order to discuss the situation in the India-China border areas, Prime Minister @narendramodi has called for an all-party meeting at 5 PM on 19th June. Presidents of various political parties would take part in this virtual meeting,” the PMO tweeted.

This is the first official reaction from the Prime Minister’s side amid the mounting pressure by opposition parties, asking the Government for a detailed explanation of the developments taking place on India-China border along LAC.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala held a press conference earlier today and tried to corner the Government on the status of troops’ lives lost in Galwan Valley on the intervening night of June 15-16.

After an initial statement earlier yesterday stating that three Indian troops including a Colonel were killed in the face-off with China’s PLA, the Army released another statement last night saying that total 20 lives have been lost on the Indian side. It also added that there have been casualties on both sides and the troops on each side have disengaged after the Monday night clashes.

“Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020. 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20. Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation,” read the official statement by the Army.

The violent faceoff took place even as the de-escalation process was underway after a series of diplomatic and military level talks between the two countries.

As the de-escalation process took a blow by the incident, senior military officials from both sides met at the venue yesterday to defuse the situation and Major General level talks were underway.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in its statement released last evening, said that the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, leading to a violent face-off.

“While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley,” said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.

“On the late-evening and night of 15th June, 2020 a violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there,” he added.

Srivastava said that both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided “had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side.”

“Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. We expect the same of the Chinese side,” he said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also reviewed the current operational situation in Eastern Ladakh yesterday, consequent to Monday night’s violent faceoff on the LAC, along with CDS General Bipin Rawat and the chiefs of three services. External Affairs Minister S Jaisahnkar was also present during the meeting.

This is the first loss of lives in a clash with the PLA on the disputed India China border since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.

A scuffle between the soldiers of both sides at Pangong Tso (eastern Ladakh) and Naku la (in Sikkim) came in early last month and since then, tensions between the troops on the two sides have escalated. After that, both sides mobilised thousands of troops and heavy military equipment along the LAC.

‘Disturbing and painful’: Rajnath on Indian troops killed in Galwan Valley

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (File pic)

New Delhi  (NVI): In his first reaction after the killing of 20 Indian troops during violent clashes with the Chinese army in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said that the loss of soldiers is “deeply disturbing and painful.”

According to an official statement by the Army last night, 20 soldiers have been killed in the violent face-off with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the area along Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the intervening night of June 15 and 16.

Taking to Twitter today, Rajnath wrote: “The loss of soldiers in Galwan is deeply disturbing and painful. Our soldiers displayed exemplary courage and valour in the line of duty and sacrificed their lives in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.”

“The Nation will never forget their bravery and sacrifice. My heart goes out to the families of the fallen soldiers. The nation stand shoulder to shoulder with them in this difficult hour. We are proud of the bravery and courage of India’s breavehearts,” he said in another tweet.

The Indian Army in its statement yesterday said that the troops on both sides have disengaged after the face-off.

“Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020. 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand-off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20,” read the official statement.

In an earlier statement yesterday, the Army had said that one Colonel level officer and two jawans were killed in the violent stand-off in the area last night.

The Army spokesperson had also said that there have been “casualties on both sides”. The violent faceoff took place even as the de-escalation process was underway after a series of diplomatic and military level talks between the two countries.

Rajnath had also reviewed the current operational situation in Eastern Ladakh yesterday, consequent to Monday night’s violent faceoff on the LAC, along with CDS General Bipin Rawat and the chiefs of three services. External Affairs Minister S Jaisahnkar was also present during the meeting.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in its statement released last evening, said that the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, leading to a violent face-off.

“While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley,” said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.

“On the late-evening and night of 15th June, 2020 a violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there,” he added.

Srivastava said that both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided “had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side.”

“Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. We expect the same of the Chinese side,” he said.

This is the first loss of lives in a clash with the PLA on the disputed India China border since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.

A scuffle between the soldiers of both sides at Pangong Tso (eastern Ladakh) and Naku la (in Sikkim) came in early last month and since then, tensions between the troops on the two sides have escalated. After that, both sides mobilised thousands of troops and heavy military equipment along the LAC.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): India is the fourth worst-affected country in the world index due to coronavirus pandemic, after it surpassed United Kingdom in the total number of confirmed cases, as the country continues to witness huge spike in the infected cases.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus cases in the country stands at 3,54,065 including 11,903 casualties, according to the Union Health Ministry.

In the last 24 hours, a record 10,974 new cases of coronavirus and 2,003 deaths have been reported in India, both being at a record high in a single day till now. Maharashtra tops the country with the maximum number of coronavirus cases and has reported nearly 90,000 confirmed cases so far.

In the worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 1,13,445, followed by Tamil Nadu with 48,019 cases, and Delhi with 44,688 cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 44

Andhra Pradesh- 6,841

Arunachal Pradesh- 95

Assam- 4,319

Bihar- 6,778

Chandigarh- 358

Chhattisgarh- 1,781

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 26

Delhi- 44,688

Gujarat- 24,577

Goa- 629

Haryana– 8,272

Himachal Pradesh- 56

Jammu and Kashmir- 5,298

Jharkhand- 1839

Karnataka- 7,530

Kerala- 2,622

Ladakh- 649

Madhya Pradesh- 11,083

Maharashtra- 1,13,445

Manipur- 500

Meghalaya- 44

Mizoram- 121

Nagaland- 179

Odisha- 4,163

Puducherry- 216

Punjab- 3,371

Rajasthan- 13,216

Sikkim- 70

Tamil Nadu- 48,019

Telangana- 5,406

Tripura- 1,092

Uttarakhand- 1,942

Uttar Pradesh- 14,091

West Bengal – 11,909

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 88

Assam- 8

Bihar- 41

Chandigarh- 6

Chhattisgarh- 9

Delhi- 1,837

Gujarat- 1,533

Haryana- 118

Himachal Pradesh- 8

Jammu and Kashmir- 63

Jharkhand- 9

Karnataka- 94

Kerala- 20

Ladakh- 1

Madhya Pradesh- 476

Maharashtra- 5,537

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 11

Puducherry- 6

Punjab- 72

Rajasthan- 308

Tamil Nadu- 528

Telangana- 191

Tripura- 1

Uttar Pradesh- 417

Uttarakhand- 25

West Bengal- 485

A total of 1,86,935 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 1,55,227 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2020: History & significance

New Delhi (NVI): World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is United Nations observance day held on June 17 every year to highlight the urgent need to curb the desertification process.

The day also aims to strengthen the visibility of the drylands issue on the international environmental agenda.

Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations.

It occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one third of the world’s land area, are extremely vulnerable to overexploitation and inappropriate land use.

The day was officially declared by the UN General Assembly in December, 1994 as ‘World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought”, to promote public awareness of the issue.

This Day is being observed with a theme: Food.Feed.Fibre. The link between consumption and land. It seeks to educate individuals on how to reduce their personal impact.

According to United Nations (UN) report, today more than two billion hectares of previously productive land is degraded and an additional 300 million hectares of land will be required for food production by 2030.

As populations become larger, wealthier and more urban, there is far greater demand for land to provide food, animal feed and fiber for clothing. Meanwhile, the health and productivity of existing arable land is declining, worsened by climate change, the UN said.

This year’s global observance event, hosted by Korea Forest Service, will take place online considering the COVID-19 situation with a full-day program featuring a variety of exciting events and international talent.

Coronavirus cases surge past 8.1 million worldwide

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 8.1 million people have been confirmed to have the coronavirus around the world. Nearly four million people have recovered, while more than 4,40,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University tally.

Brazil reported a record 34,918 daily cases of coronavirus, on the same day government officials said the outbreak was under control.

With this the total number of coronavirus cases in Brazil have surpassed 9,23,000 while the death toll has exceeded 45,000 in the country.

In the US, more than 2.1 million Covid-19 cases have been recorded including at least 1,16,000 deaths.

Provinces and cities elsewhere in China are responding to the outbreak of coronavirus in the capital.

The semi-autonomous Chinese territory of Macau has just announced a 14-day mandatory quarantine for all people who have been in Beijing in the past two weeks.

New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has appointed the military to oversee the country’s borders, after new cases of coronavirus were reported in the country.

COVID cases in India climb to over 3.54 lakh, death toll 11,903

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India now stands at 3,54,065, with 11,903 deaths due to the pandemic, Union Health Ministry said.

At least 10,974 new cases of coronavirus and 2,003 deaths have been reported in India in the last 24 hours.

So far, 1,86,935 patients have recovered all over the country.

In the worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 1,13,445, followed by Tamil Nadu with 48,019 cases, and Delhi with 44,688 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 5,537, followed by 1,533 in Gujarat and 528 in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital rose to 1,837, while 1,6500 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

Other states with high virus cases are Gujarat (24,577), Uttar Pradesh (14,091), Rajasthan (13,216) and Madhya Pradesh (11,083)

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today will initiate consultations with chief ministers of worst-affected states, including Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

20 Indian troops killed in clashes with China’s PLA in Galwan Valley: Army

India-China face-off: Core issue is to 'strictly' follow bilateral border pacts, says MEA

(Updating earlier copy)

New Delhi (NVI): At least 20 Indian troops have been killed in violent clashes with China’s PLA in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, the Indian Army said in a statement tonight, even as the troops on both the sides have disengaged in the area along Line of Actual Control (LAC).

In the earlier statement, the Army had said that one Colonel level officer and two jawans were killed in the violent stand-off in the area last night.

“During the de-escalation process underway in the Galwan Valley, a violent face-off took place yesterday night with casualties on both sides. The loss of lives on the Indian side includes an officer and two soldiers,” the army spokesperson had said.

In a fresh statement tonight, Army said that 17 more troops were critically injured in the action. They were exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude and succumbed to their injuries, Army said, adding that the total casualties, therefore, were 20.

“Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged at the Galwan area where they had earlier clashed on the night of 15/16 June 2020. 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty at the stand off location and exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain have succumbed to their injuries, taking the total that were killed in action to 20.

“Indian Army is firmly committed to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation,” read the official statement by the Army.

The Army spokesperson had also said that there have been “casualties on both sides”. The violent faceoff took place even as the de-escalation process was underway after a series of diplomatic and military level talks between the two countries.

As the de-escalation process took a blow by the last night’s incident, senior military officials from both sides met at the venue today to defuse the situation. Major General level talks were also underway.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in its statement released in the evening, said that the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, leading to a violent face-off.

“While it was our expectation that this would unfold smoothly, the Chinese side departed from the consensus to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley,” said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.

“On the late-evening and night of 15th June, 2020 a violent face-off happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there,” he added.

Srivastava said that both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided “had the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side.”

“Given its responsible approach to border management, India is very clear that all its activities are always within the Indian side of the LAC. We expect the same of the Chinese side,” he said.

The MEA spokesman also recalled that senior commanders had a productive meeting on June 6 and agreed on a process for such de-escalation. “Subsequently, ground commanders had a series of meetings to implement the consensus reached at a higher level,” he said.

Srivastava further stressed that India remains firmly convinced of the need for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and the resolution of differences through dialogue. “At the same time, we are also strongly committed to ensuring India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also today reviewed the current operational situation in Eastern Ladakh, consequent to yesterday’s violent faceoff on the LAC, along with CDS General Bipin Rawat and the chiefs of three services. External Affairs Minister S Jaisahnkar was also present during the meeting.

This is the first loss of lives in a clash with the PLA on the disputed India China border since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.

A scuffle between the soldiers of both sides at Pangong Tso (eastern Ladakh) and Naku la (in Sikkim) came in early last month and since then, tensions between the troops on the two sides have escalated. After that, both sides mobilised thousands of troops and heavy military equipment along the LAC.

J&K: 23 travelers among 78 new Covid cases, tally rises to 5,298

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

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): The number of Covid-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir today climbed to 5,298 as 78 more people including 23 travelers were tested positive for the virus in the Union Territory.

Officials said that among 78 new cases, 41 were tested positive at SKIMS Soura, 16 at JVC Bemina, 4 at Army’s Command Hospital, Udhampur and the rest at other hospitals.

Among 78 new cases, 62 belong to Kashmir division while 16 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 4,091 including 2,275 recoveries and 56 deaths while the total number of positive cases in Jammu reached to 1,207 including 506 recoveries and 7 deaths.

The total number of active cases in J&K is 2,454 including 1,760 from Kashmir and 694 from Jammu.

Meanwhile, out of 5,298 positive cases in the UT, 2,781 cases have recovered which is 52.49 percent of total cases in J&K.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 9 from Kulgam, 4 from Baramulla, 10 each from Srinagar and Anantnag, 1 from Shopian, 3 from Kupwara, 4 from Bandipora, 14 from Budgam and 7 from Pulwama in Kashmir while 16 from Jammu include 7 Samba district, 3 each from Udhampur and Rajouri, 2 from Kathua and one from Poonch,” officials said.

As per officials figures, 643 positive cases including 8 deaths and 422 recoveries are from Kulgam, 525 including 11 deaths and 223 recoveries from Baramulla, 549 including 14 deaths and 202 recoveries from Srinagar, 579 including 386 recoveries and 5 deaths from Anantnag, 558 including 322 recoveries and 6 deaths from Shopian, 410 including 298 recoveries and 5 deaths from Kupwara, 246 including 195 recoveries and 1 death from Bandipora, 259 including 112 recoveries and 4 deaths from Budgam, 259 including 60 recoveries and 2 deaths from Pulwama and 63 including 55 recoveries are from Ganderbal.

In Jammu, 279 including 146 recoveries and 4 deaths are from Jammu district, 199 including 83 recoveries from Ramban, 168 including 61 recoveries and 1 death from Udhampur, 162 including 76 recoveries from Kathua, 105 including 44 recoveries from Poonch, 112 including 35 recoveries from Samba, 69 including 1 death and 12 recoveries from Rajouri, 63 including 29 recoveries and 1 death from Doda, 27 including 12 recoveries from Reasi and 23 including 8 recoveries are from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 2,39,712 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 40,265 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 2,454 persons are in hospital isolation while 31 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 1,49,320 persons have completed surveillance period and 47,579 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 2,76,174 samples are available out of which 270,876 tested negative while 5,298 have been tested positive. Among them, 2,454 are active, 2,781 persons have recovered and 63 persons have died.

India summons Pak envoy, lodges protest over abduction, torture of its 2 officials

Indo-Pak trade

New Delhi (NVI): A day after two Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad went missing, the Ministry of External Affairs today summoned the Charge d’ Affaires of the High Commission of Pakistan, Haider Shah, and lodged a strong protest over the abduction and torture of its two officials by Pakistan security agencies.

The two Indian officials were yesterday abducted and kept in custody, tortured by the Pakistan agencies in Islamabad. They were released after 10 hours.

“Two officials of the Indian High Commission were forcibly abducted by Pakistani agencies on 15 June 2020 and kept in illegal custody for more than 10 hours. They were released only after strong intervention by the High Commission of India in Islamabad and the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi,” MEA said in a statement.

The External Affairs ministry further stated that the two Indian officials were subjected to interrogation, torture and physical assault resulting in grievous injuries to them. “They were video-graphed and coerced to accept a litany of fictitious allegations and concocted charges. The vehicle of the High Commission, in which they were travelling, was extensively damaged,” it added.

Yesterday, a section of Pakistan media had reported that the two Indian officials were travelling in a car and their vehicle hit a pedestrian. The two officials tried to flee after the accident and were arrested by police, according to some Pakistan media reports.

The MEA today strongly condemned and deplored the action of the Pakistani authorities in this regard. “This premeditated, grave and provocative action on the part of the Pakistani authorities, preceded by intensified surveillance, harassment and intimidation of High Commission personnel over the past several days, was designed to obstruct and disrupt the normal functioning of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. The attempt by Pakistani authorities to levy false accusations and concocted charges on the officials of the High Commission is rejected in entirety,” it said.

MEA said that such actions by Pakistan not only constitute an egregious violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 as also the ‘Code of Conduct for treatment of Diplomatic/Consular personnel in India and Pakistan signed in 1992 and reaffirmed by both sides in March 2018, but are also against all established norms and practices of diplomatic conduct.

In its complaint with the Pakistan envoy Haider Shah, India shared its grave concerns at the fact that the Pakistan agencies threatened to physically harm more officials of the Indian Mission. “It has been highlighted that Pakistan is responsible for the safety and security of the Indian High Commission, its officials, staff members, their families and properties,” MEA said.

“Such continued unilateral actions by Pakistan, aimed at escalating tensions, will not succeed in diverting attention from the core issue of Pakistan’s continued hostile activities and sponsorship of cross-border terrorism against India,” it added.

However, Pakistan’s action is being seen as an act of revenge as two of its officials in its High Commission in New Delhi were caught involved in spying last month and deported within 24 hours. Pakistan had cried foul over the issue and had summoned a senior Indian diplomat over New Delhi’s decision to expel its two officials.

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