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Indian Coast Guard rescues 15 fishermen near West Bengal coast

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully rescued 15 fishermen last night who were stranded in rough sea conditions with their boat in Kakdwip near West Bengal after the vessel lost its propellers.

Indian Coast Guard ship Vijaya, which was on operational duty, received a distress call from Krishna Kanaiya, the stranded fishing boat. ICG Vijaya immediately rushed to the rescue of the stranded vessel, considering the rough weather.

“#IndianCoastGuard ship Vijaya rescued Indian fishing boat on night of 11 jul with 15 fishermen on board & stranded in rough sea due loss of propellers. ICG ship on receiving distress call swung into action n rescued in tiring conditions. #HarKaamDeshKeNaam,” the PRO Defence Kolkata said in a tweet.

The operation was conducted swiftly under the command of DIG Vijay Singh on locating the distressed fishing boat. According to the boat owners, the vessel had lost its propellers in the rough sea conditions and had drifted about 15 nautical miles due to strong winds.

In a successful and well-planned operation, Coast Guard Ship Vijaya towed the fishing boat to a safe location near the coast of West Bengal.

-ARK

J&K: Lockdown reimposed in Srinagar amid rise in corona cases, deaths

(Updating earlier copy)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): In the wake of continuous rise in Covid-19 cases and a spike in new virus deaths, the Jammu and Kashmir administration today reimposed lockdown in Srinagar to contain further spread of the deadly pandemic.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal has said that fine for violators has also been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1000.

Natipora area of Srinagar being sealed again. (Photo via arrangement)

In this regard, a high-level meeting was held at Civil Secretariat Srinagar yesterday, where top officials from the Kashmir administration were present. “The officers deliberated over the suggestions that had poured in from various quarters that lockdown should be re-imposed so that virus spread is contained,” sources privy to the meeting told NVI.

Earlier, doctors, traders, civil society activists and other sections of the society had urged the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to take steps in this direction. “There is a demand for re-imposing lockdown. We are seriously discussing it. Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu has taken it up with all his advisors,” said Divisional Commissioner PK Pole said, adding a final announcement will be made soon.

Sources said that in the late evening meeting held at Srinagar Civil Secretariat yesterday, where Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary was also present, a unanimous decision was taken that lockdown will be re-imposed in 90 per cent area of Srinagar to prevent further spread of Covid-19. “Srinagar administration is ready to enforce lockdown again,” a source privy to the meeting told NVI earlier.

Interestingly, since Unlock-2, Kashmir witnessed a huge spurt in Covid-19 positive cases as J&K UT yesterday crossed 10,000 cases while 175 deaths have been reported so far of which 158 people died in Kashmir alone. Srinagar district tops the list of positive cases at 10,000 and 41 deaths.

All 175 people, who died due to the virus, breathed their last in Covid-19 designated hospitals in Srinagar. The Srinagar administration had received requests from doctors, paramedics, traders and other sections who had demanded re-imposition of lockdown. Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Khan said the first priority is life, then business. “If the government decides to re-impose lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus further, we will abide by the decision,” he said.

Doctors Association Kashmir president, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said the virus had changed its behavior and had become more active in the Valley. “The only way to prevent its spread is to impose lockdown for at least two weeks,” he told NVI. “We are receiving patients at SHMS hospital with acute symptoms of bilateral pneumonia who need oxygen immediately. This is alarming and signifies dangerous change in virus behavior,” Dr Nisar said.

He said either the virus would take a dangerous turn in Unlock-2 or remain as mild as it is. “But given the present situation, it has taken a dangerous turn. Imagine, 30 patients arriving at SMHS hospital with acute bilateral pneumonia, who all need oxygen. All of them were prime suspects of Covid,” he added.

Dr Saleem Khan, Nodal officer for Covid-19 for Kashmir, said that the rise in virus cases and deaths suggest that the Valley was heading towards a catastrophic phase. “Situation is not far when hospitals will be full and ventilators would fall short in number to treat patients. I advocate immediate imposition of lockdown to deal with the situation,” he said earlier.

-ARK

Neutralise killers of J&K BJP leader, provide security to all workers: Ram Madhav

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Ram Madhav today visited the residence of slain BJP leader Waseem Bari and said that those behind the gruesome killing must be neutralised soon. He also demanded proper security cover for all party workers in Kashmir who are vulnerable to such attacks.

The BJP General Secretary had recently condemned the killing of the young party leader and his family members in Bandipora. Waseem Bari, his father and brother were shot dead last week, just outside their Muslimabad residence in Bandipora.


Madhav arrived along with MoS PMO, Jitendra Singh, and party’s J&K affairs leader Avinash Rai Khanna this afternoon and right away went to the Muslimbad residence the slain leader.  Madhav, along with the other BJP leaders, expressed solidarity with the bereaved family of BJP leader Waseem, especially his wife.

On July 8, terrorists killed Waseem at his shop cum residence in Bandipora along with his father and brother. Waseem was BJP’s face in north Kashmir and was a party’s executive committee member.

Madhav spent almost more than 15 minutes at Bari’s residence. Later talking to reporters, the BJP National General Secretary said that the entire BJP leadership is pained over the killing of Waseem. “This is a tragic incident. We want those who have committed this gruesome act should be neutralized. Our all workers and leaders should be provided with security cover. This is our demand,” he said.

Earlier, BJP’s J&K president Ravinder Raina too had demanded security cover for the BJP leaders and workers vulnerable to militant attacks. BJP’s J&K General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul recently said that the matter of providing security cover to BJP leaders who don’t have it yet has been taken up with DGP Dilbagh Singh and IGP Kashmir.

-ARK

Aishwarya, daughter test corona positive

New Delhi (NVI): A day after Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan were tested positive for coronavirus, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her daughter Aaradhya were also diagnosed with the virus today.

Aishwarya and Aaradhya are asymptomatic and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said they will take a written declaration from Aishwarya if she and her daughter want to be treated at home.

However, Aishwarya’s mother-in-law and Big B’s wife, Jaya Bachchan has tested negative for the virus, as per media reports.

Amitabh has been admitted under the Respiratory Isolation Unit at the Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, according to media reports. His condition is stated to be stable with mild symptoms.

“I have tested CoviD positive .. shifted to Hospital .. hospital informing authorities .. family and staff undergone tests, results awaited .,” the 77-year-old megastar tweeted last night.

The star family lives in Mumbai, which has been one of the worst-hit cities by the deadly respiratory disease in India, recording over 90,000 cases and 5,244 deaths so far, second only to Delhi.

-ARK

Covid-19 will push over 71 mn people into extreme poverty: UN Report

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): An estimated 71 million people will be living in extreme poverty in 2020 due to Covid-19 with unemployment, rising prices and lack of social protection leaving those previously secure at additional risk, according to a new UN report.

According to the Sustainable Development Goal Report 2020, southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are expected to see the largest increases in extreme poverty, with an additional 32 million and 26 million people, respectively, living below the international poverty line as a result of the pandemic.

“Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are expected to see the largest increases in extreme poverty, with an additional 32 million and 26 million people, respectively, living below the international poverty line as a result of the pandemic,” it said.

As per the report, the share of the world’s population living in extreme poverty declined from 15.7 per cent in 2010 to 10.0 per cent in 2015. “However, the pace of global poverty reduction has been decelerating. Nowcast estimates put the global poverty rate in 2019 at 8.2 per cent,” the report says.

Even before COVID-19, baseline projections suggested that 6 per cent of the global population would still be living in extreme poverty in 2030, missing the target of ending poverty, it said.

Assuming the pandemic remains at levels currently expected and that activity recovers later this year, the poverty rate is projected to reach 8.8 per cent in 2020. “This is the first rise in global poverty since 1998, and close to the 2017 level,” says the report.

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020 presents an overview of progress towards the SDGs before the pandemic started, but it also looks at some of the devastating initial impacts of COVID-19 on specific Goals and targets. The report was prepared by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in collaboration with over 200 experts from more than 40 international agencies, using the latest available data and estimates

-ARK

Kashmiri separatist leader Ashraf Sehrai arrested, slapped with PSA

Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai (Twitter)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today arrested Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chairman Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai from his Srinagar residence and booked him under Public Safety Act (PSA), officials said.

They said a police team reached the Srinagar residence of Sehrai at 5:30 am and took him along. Sehrai is the father of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Junaid Sehrai, who was killed in an encounter at Nawa Kadal area of Srinagar on May 20 this year.

A senior police officer told NVI that Sehrai is wanted in multiple cases. Asked whether PSA was slapped on the separatist leader, the police officer replied in “affirmative.”

PSA means two-year imprisonment without any trial. The arrest of Sehrai comes two weeks after the surprising resignation by the former Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani from the amalgam. Sehrai was heading Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, one of the constituents of Geelani led Hurriyat.

Over 8.4 lakh Covid cases in India; death toll at 22,674

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has reached 8,49,553 with 22,674 deaths and 2,92,258 active cases, as per the Ministry of Health’s latest data.

5,34,620 corona patients have been cured or discharged. At over 5 lakh, the recovered cases have outnumbered active cases by 2.31 lakhs, taking the recovery rate to nearly 63%. India’s nationwide coronavirus toll is now the third-highest in the world, after the United States and Brazil.

The rapid spread of the pandemic and surge in the number of cases in the last week has upped India’s share in the daily global cases to nearly 12 per cent.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 2,46,600, followed by Delhi with 1,10,921 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 1,34,226 cases.

Other states with high corona cases are Gujarat (40,941), Uttar Pradesh (35,092), Rajasthan (23,748) and West Bengal (28,453).

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 10,116, followed by 2,032 in Gujarat and 1,898 in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital rose to 3,334, while 87,692 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the health ministry data shows.

Meanwhile, 12.5 million cases have been confirmed globally with over 5,60,000 deaths and 6.89 million recoveries.

The US tally stands at 32,90,994 with 9,986 cases per 1 million people. While 1,36,621 people have died of the virus in the country, 9,70,345 have recovered so far.

-ARK

Big B, Abhishek test corona positive

New Delhi (NVI): Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan have tested positive for coronavirus and have been hospitalised.

“I have tested CoviD positive .. shifted to Hospital .. hospital informing authorities .. family and staff undergone tests , results awaited ., ” the 77-year-old megastar tweeted tonight.

The Bollywood megastar asked all those who have been in close proximity to him to get tested for Covid-19.

Abhishek Bachchan took to twitter and said, “Earlier today both my father and I tested positive for COVID 19. Both of us having mild symptoms have been admitted to hospital. We have informed all the required authorities and our family and staff are all being tested. I request all to stay calm and not panic. Thank you.”

 

Amitabh has been admitted under the Respiratory Isolation Unit at the Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, according to media reports.

The father-son duo lives in Mumbai, which has been one of the worst hit cities by the deadly respiratory disease in India, recording 91,745 cases and 5,244 deaths so far, second only to Delhi.

-CHK

Covid-19: J&K cases cross 10,000-mark as 268 more test positive

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today crossed the 10,000-mark in the total number of coronavirus cases as 268 fresh cases were reported in the last 24 hours.

Officials said that among the new cases, 68 were tested positive at SKIMS, 12 at JVC Bemina and rest at other hospitals. “The new cases include five soldiers and six CRPF personnel. Total positive cases in J&K have crossed 10,000 mark,” they said.

Among 268 new cases, 181 belong to Kashmir division while 87 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division has reached 7,985 including 4,427 recoveries and 153 deaths while the total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached 2,181 including 1,468 recoveries and 16 deaths.

The officials said that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir stand at 4,092 including 3,395 from Kashmir division and 697 from Jammu division.

With 109 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in J&K has reached 5,895 which is 58.04 percent of the total cases which was over 63 percent a few days before.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 67 from Srinagar, 23 from Kulgam, 37 from Baramulla, 01 from Shopian, 06 from Anantnag, 37 from Kupwara, 05 from Pulwama, 04 from Budgam and 01 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 87 from Jammu division include 21 from Jammu, 03 from Udhampur, 20 from Kuthua, 06 from Samba, 03 from Poonch, 29 from Rajouri, 04 from Reasi and one from Kishtiwar.

As per the official figures, 1,611 positive cases including 42 deaths and 494 recoveries are from Srinagar, 1,288 including 32 deaths and 513 recoveries are from Baramulla, 987 including 656 recoveries and 18 deaths are from Kulgam, 888 including 16 deaths and 674 recoveries are from Shopian, 781 including 14 deaths and 592 recoveries are from Anantnag, 746 including 473 recoveries and 10 deaths are from Kupwara, 645 including 343 recoveries and 05 deaths are from Pulwama, 532 including 307 recoveries and 12 deaths are from Budgam, 336 including 289 recoveries and 03 deaths are from Bandipora, 161 including 86 recoveries and 02 death are from are from Ganderbal.

In Jammu division, 473 including 329 recoveries and 09 deaths are from Jammu district, 301 including 247 recoveries and 01 death are from Udhampur, 292 including 210 recoveries and 01 death are from Kathua, 254 including 206 recoveries are from Ramban, 269 including 88 recoveries and 01 death is from Rajouri, 224 including 137 recoveries and 01 death are from Samba, 142 including 01 death and 119 recoveries are from Poonch, 124 including 68 recoveries and 02 deaths are from Doda, 57 including 39 recoveries are from Reasi and 45 including 25 recoveries are from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 3,11,254 people in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 38,650 people have been kept under home quarantine. 4,092 people are in hospital isolation while 36 people are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 2,23,151 people have completed surveillance period and 45,156 people are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 4,45,169 samples have been made available.

-CHK

India can become a global leader in the film industry: Piyush Goyal

Union Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal (file pic)

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal today said that India can become a global leader in the film industry and we need to take it beyond the boundaries of the country.

He said this while addressing the valedictory session of FICCI Frames through virtual means.

Goyal said that the film industry can churn out quality products, win awards, and invite more investment and capital in the industry.

Talking about the restrictive practices and roadblocks created by certain countries for the Indian film industry, the Minister said that this is not acceptable, and India will reciprocate in similar manner, if such issues are brought to the notice of the Government.

He further added that the government will work to provide a single window clearance for film shootings in the country and urged FICCI along with other associations to help in devising a mechanism.

During the address of the valedictory session of FICCI FRAMES 2020 on ‘Putting COVID Behind Us: The Way Forward’, Goyal said, “I would like you to think out-of-the-box, bring innovation. We can get everybody on board, simplify the process with a single form and one fees could be done. My Ministry along with I&B Ministry will be happy to take it up. We are doing this for other industries and would love to do it for you too.”

In order to attract more foreign companies and promote domestic film shooting, the Minister said, “I will be talking to the states and within the government to ensure attracting more film making in India so that they don’t go to any other international place which will also improve our tourism sector. We all have to work together.”

Enumerating the benefits of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Yojna, Goyal also added that it is not about closing our doors, but opening the doors to greater global engagement from a position of strength, confidence, from a position where we negotiate on equal terms. “It is for a position where we ensure the safety and security of all stakeholders is equally well taken care of in the industry,” he said.

In addition to this, highlighting the challenges and opportunities posed by COVID-19, he said that it is important that industry leaders use this opportunity to prepare the country and the industry for a post COVID world.

“The world is adapting to the new way of working and to stay ahead, you need to think out-of-the-box, innovate, reimagine and redesign the framework of business and reinventing the future is going to determine the success of the industry,” Goyal added.

Sangita Reddy, President, FICCI said during the ceremony, “As a recognition of the growing M&E global footprint, the Government of India has also designated audio-visual services as a Champion Sector for exports in 2018 which is in sync with our vision of India as a Vishwaguru. We have evolved in terms of technology and capability in all new-age arts, be it animation, visual effects or gaming.”

-CHK

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