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India’s COVID tally crosses 38-lakh mark with over 83k new cases

covid cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): India witnessed it’s biggest single-day surge of 83,883 fresh cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, taking the overall tally to 38,53,407, Union Health Ministry said.

The country’s death toll has gone up to 67,376 with 1,043 new fatalities being reported during the same period.

So far, 29,70,493 patients have been cured and recovered all over the country while active cases stands at 8,15,538. India’s recovery rate has risen to 77 per cent.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 8,25,739, followed by Tamil Nadu with 4,39,959 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 4,55,531 cases.

The other worst affected states are Karnataka (3,61,431), Uttar Pradesh (2,41,439), Delhi (1,79,569) and West Bengal (1,68,697).

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 25,195 followed by 7,516 deaths in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 4,481, while 1,58,586 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 4,55,09,380 samples tested up to September 2. Of these, 11,72,179 samples were tested yesterday.

In addition to this, the Government said India has tested over 11 lakh samples for the first time. Over 11,70,000 tests were performed in the last 24 hours. This is high levels of testing sustained over a period of time in widespread areas enable to diagnose cases early and facilitate seamless isolation & hospitalisation.

-RJV

 

Metro operations to resume from Sep 7; Maharashtra to wait more

New Delhi (NVI): Metro operations will resume across the country from September 7 in a graded manner, except Maharashtra, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri announced today.

While announcing the SOP guidelines at a press conference here, Puri said masks will be mandatory for metro passengers and staff. Only asymptomatic persons will be allowed to travel in the metro and Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system will be used to contain any Covid-19 infection from spreading.

“Metros having more than one line should open different lines starting from 7th September, 2020 onwards in a graded manner so that all corridors become operational by 12th September 2020,” the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs said in a statement.

Daily hours of operations may be staggered initially, which needs to be increased gradually with resumption of full revenue service by 12th September. “Frequency of trains to be regulated to avoid passenger crowding at stations and in trains,” as per the Ministry.

​Apart from that stations/entry-exit gates in containment zones will remain closed. ​​In order to ensure social distancing, suitable markings at stations and inside trains will be done.

Metro rail corporations may make arrangements for supply of masks on payment basis to the persons arriving without mask, as per the SOPs.

“Only asymptomatic persons to be allowed to travel after thermal screening at entry into the stations. Symptomatic persons should be advised to go to nearby COVID Care Centre/Hospital for testing/medical attention. Use of Aarogya Setu App to be encouraged,” the Ministry said in its fresh set of guidelines.

Other highlights of the SOPs include:

(i) ​Provision of sanitizers to be made at entry into the stations for use by passengers. Sanitization of all areas having human interface viz. equipment, train, working area, lift, escalators, handrail, AFC gate, toilets etc. needs to be done at regular intervals.

(ii) ​Use of Smart Card and cashless/online transactions to be encouraged. Tokens and paper slips/ticket to be used with proper sanitization.

(iii) ​Adequate dwell time at stations to be provided to enable smooth boarding/deboarding ensuring social distancing. Metro rail corporations may also resort to skipping of stations to ensure proper social distancing.

(iv) ​Passengers to be advised to travel with minimum luggage and avoid carrying metallic items for easy and quick scanning.

(v) ​Operation of Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system as per the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) & Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) guidelines. Intake of fresh air in air-conditioning system to be increased to the extent possible.

(vi) ​Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to be launched for passenger and staff through electronic/print/social media, poster, banner, hoarding, website etc.

(vii) ​Metro rail corporations to keep close liaison with state police and local administration for regulating crowd outside station and to deal with contingencies.

Based on these guidelines, Delhi, Noida, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Mumbai Line-1, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Maha Metro (Nagpur) Kolkata, Gujarat and UP Metro (Lucknow) have prepared their SOPs, the Ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Government of Maharashtra has decided not to resume operation of metro during September. Hence, Mumbai Line-1 and Maha Metro operations shall commence from October or as State Government may decide further, the release added.

-ARK

Tibetan-origin SFF soldier martyred in fresh clashes with China’s PLA at Pangong Tso

New Delhi (NVI): A Tibetan-origin soldier, who was part of the Special Frontier Force (SFF) to stop the Chinese misadventure at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), laid down his life in fresh clashes with the intruding PLA troops at Pangong Tso lake in Eastern Ladakh.

Coy Ldr Nyima Tenzin, from ‘Vikas Battalion’ of SFF was killed in action when the Indian Army was thwarting the Chinese attempt to change the status quo at the southern bank of Pangong Tso lake on the intervening night of last Saturday and Sunday.

(Source: Twitter)

According to reports, another soldier from the same unit had sustained injuries in the violent face-off with Chinese troops that has further escalated the tensions between India and China.

(via Twitter)

51-year-old Tenzin was martyred on August 30 while bravely fighting against the Chinese troops. He offered 33 years of service to protect India as a Tibetan and represented the unwavering spirit of Tibet that has faced oppression at the hands of China for years now.

The Tibetan government is in exile and India has its hosted spiritual leader Dalai Lama since 1959. The Tibetan government-in-exile operates from Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. Over 1,60,000 Tibetans live in India.

Border tensions between India and China have further escalated after the June 15 Galwan Valley incident, when the Chinese Army made an attempt to change the status quo on the Southern Bank of Pangong Tso Lake along LAC over the last weekend, but it was thwarted by the Indian Army.

Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) carried out the “provocative military movements” on the intervening night of last Saturday and Sunday, the MEA had said in a statement.

On top of that, the Chinese troops again engaged in “provocative action” along the LAC on Monday, even as the ground commanders of the two sides were in discussions to de-escalate the situation. That brazen attempt too was thwarted by the alert Indian troops.

The SFF was created after 1962 war and constitutes only Tibetan nationals. It was a covert outfit that recruited Tibetans (now it has a mixture of Tibetans and Gorkhas) and initially went by the name of Establishment 22.

According to reports, the Vikas Battalion of SFF has been instrumental in occupying some key heights at LAC in Ladakh, including ‘Black Top’, in the fresh set of confrontations in the region near Pangong Tso lake.

-ARK

J&K’s Covid tally rises to 38,864 with 641 new 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 641 fresh cases of the deadly coronavirus, including 56 travelers, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 38,864.

Of the total cases, 29,568 are from Kashmir and 9,296 from Jammu division, the UT health officials said.

They said that among 641 new cases, 367 belong to Kashmir while 274 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 29,568 including 23,353 recoveries.

On the other hand, the total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached 9,296 including 6,726 recoveries and 75 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir is 8,053 including 5,558 from Kashmir division and 2,495 from Jammu division.

With 595 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in the UT has reached 30,079 which is 77.39 percent of the total cases.

Srinagar district alone has 9,499 positive cases which is more than the total number of positive cases in Jammu division (9,296).

Cases tested positive in J&K include 131 from Srinagar, 22 from Baramulla, 16 from Pulwama, 56 from Budgam, 30 from Anantnag, 27 from Bandipora, 18 from Kupwara, 11 from Kulgam, 02 from Shopian and 54 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 274 from Jammu division include 167 from Jammu, 14 from Rajouri, 19 from Kathua, 08 from Udhampur, 14 from Samba, 07 from Ramban, 08 from Doda, 14 from Poonch, 16 from Reasi and 07 from Kishtwar, as per the daily Covid bulletin.

Apart from that, 4,67,207 persons in the UT are under observation while 46,228 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 8,053 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 3,66,216 persons have completed surveillance period and 45,978 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 9,96,481 samples are available out of which 957,617 stand negative while 38,864 have tested positive. Among positive cases, 8,053 are active and 30,079 persons have recovered.

-ARK

LAC face-off: Reports of Indian troops occupying heights at Finger 4 not correct, says Army

pangong lake

New Delhi (NVI): The Army today denied certain media reports saying that the Indian troops have occupied heights at Finger 4 on the northern bank of Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh, adding that the Army has made “precautionary deployments” in the area.

“Reports of Indian troops occupying heights at Finger 4 are not correct. As part of the precautionary deployment carried out on 30 August 2020, some readjustments of our positions on North Bank of Pangong Tso Lake on our side of LAC had also been carried out,” the Army said in a statement.

Defence sources said that the Indian Army continues to be on the offensive at the ridgeline on Finger 4.

Some media reports had earlier claimed that Indian troops have recaptured the dominating heights on the ridgeline of Finger 4 on the northern bank of Pangong Tso.

As per sources, the Indian troops are close to the Finger 4 ridgeline where Chinese troops have been camping since April, in violation of the consensus between the two countries on LAC. China’s PLA troops have been occupying the area till Finger 4 ridgeline on the northern bank of Pangong Tso.

Border tensions between India and China have further escalated after the June 15 Galwan Valley incident, when the Chinese Army made an attempt to change the status quo on the Southern Bank of Pangong Tso Lake along LAC over the last weekend, but it was thwarted by the Indian Army.

Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) carried out the “provocative military movements” on the intervening night of last Saturday and Sunday.

On top of that, the Chinese troops again engaged in “provocative action” along the LAC on Monday, even as the ground commanders of the two sides were in discussions to de-escalate the situation. That brazen attempt too was thwarted by the alert Indian troops.

The armies of the two countries have been in a face-off situation for the last four months, triggered by China’s aggressive actions at multiple points in the Eastern Ladakh sector in early May. On one occasion, the militaries of the two countries engaged in a bloody fight in the Galwan Valley on June 15, in which India lost 20 soldiers, including a Colonel. China also suffered an unspecified number of casualties.

Over these last four months, several rounds of talks have been held at military and diplomatic levels but China has refused to pull back its troops from the friction points, in its attempt to change the status quo at the LAC.

-ARK

J&K offical languages bill gets Cabinet approval

(Source: @twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved the Jammu and Kashmir Languages Bill 2020 in which five languages—Urdu, Hindi, Kashmiri, Dogri and English—will be the official languages of the region.

The decision was announced at a media briefing by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar. He said that the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill was approved based on the public demand.

The language bill will be introduced in Parliament soon, he added.

“Union Cabinet has approved in Parliament the Jammu & Kashmir Official Languages Bill 2020 in which five languages Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi & English will be official languages. This has been done based on public demand,” Javadekar said.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh also stated that the inclusion of Dogri, Hindi & Kashmiri as official languages in Jammu & Kashmir is not only a fulfilment of a long-pending public demand but also in keeping up with the spirit of equality ushered after August 5, 2019.

The move, however, comes ahead of the monsoon session of the Parliament, which is slated to begin on September 14.

-RJV

Centre bans 118 more mobile apps, including PUBG

Govt issues fake CoWIN App alert, warns citizens to not download
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): Amid growing tensions with China over the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Centre today banned 118 more mobile applications, including the hugely popular mobile game PUBG, after banning 59 Chinese apps in the first round earlier this year.

The apps were banned citing concerns of data security after fresh tensions between India and China in the border area in eastern Ladakh.

PUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: Livik, PUBG MOBILE LITE, WeChat Work and WeChat reading are among the banned mobile apps.

A total of 118 apps have been banned by the ministry of information and technology, according to an official statement. The banned mobile applications are prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity, defence of India and public order, the ministry said.

The ministry of electronics and information technology received several complaints from various sources, including reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on the Android and iOS platforms. The complaints alleged stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which possibly had locations outside India.

“The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures,” the statement said.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, under the Ministry of Home Affairs also sent a recommendation for blocking these controversial apps.

In the public domain too,there has been a strong demand for some time to take strict action against mobile applications that harm India’s sovereignty as well as the privacy of citizens.

-CHK

No decision by China yet on return of foreign students: Indian Embassy in Beijing              

US remains top choice for Indian students pursuing higher education: Report

New Delhi (NVI): The Chinese authorities have not yet taken any decision regarding the return of foreign students to the colleges and universities in the country, the Indian Embassy in Beijing has said in a statement.

The statement addressed the concerns of Indian students studying in China, essentially regarding their return to their Colleges/Universities.

The Indian Embassy said that the Chinese government had restricted the entry of foreigners into China, permitting such entry only in specific circumstances.

“While some exceptions have since been made with regard to some categories of foreigners who can enter China with fresh visa, foreign students have not been included in any of these categories,” read the statement.

“The Ministry of Education of China has published on its website that all overseas students and teachers who have not received notice from their respective educational institutions will not return to their Colleges/Universities until further instructions’,” it said.

The Embassy further said that it has been taking up Indian students’ concerns with Chinese authorities including the Ministry of Education.

“The response of the Chinese authorities regarding their stand on the return of foreign students to China is awaited. The same will be updated through a press release as soon as it is received,” it said.

Apart from that, the Embassy has advised Indian students to monitor the website of the Indian Embassy/Consulates in China and their social media channels to remain updated about the evolving situation in respect of the return of foreign students to China.

“Indian students are also advised to remain in touch with their respective universities/colleges in this regard,” it concluded,” the Embassy statement read.

Interestingly, the first Covid-19 case in India was a 20-year-old Indian medical student who flew down from Wuhan to Kerala and was diagnosed with the virus.

It is pertinent to mention here that the deadly coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan city of central China last year and then spread all over the world. According to reports in foreign media, the situation is getting back to normal in the city and in other parts of China as well.

Students in face masks returned to their classes yesterday in Wuhan, as the city opened schools and kindergartens for the first time in seven months.

The relations between India and China have soured over the past four months due to escalating border tensions.

-ARK

Cabinet approves ‘Mission Karmayogi’ for civil services capacity building

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved Mission Karmayogi, a national programme for civil services capacity building, for the civil servants, which it said will help them in the future.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that officers and employees in government will get the opportunity to improve their performance with Mission Karmayogi.

“This is the biggest Human Resources Development reform in the government,” Javadekar said at a press briefing on the Cabinet’s decisions.

At the top will be an HR council, chaired by the prime minister, and consisting of select Union ministers and chief ministers. It will also have eminent thought leaders (noted academics, and global leaders) and civil services leadership.

“This scheme is based on the government’s vision on how a civil servant should be. A civil servant of today, in order to meet the challenges of the world, will have to be imaginative and innovative, proactive and polite, professional and progressive, energetic and enabling, transparent and tech enabled, and constructive and creative,” said C Chandramouli, Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). He was also addressing the press conference along with Javadekar.

He added that Mission Karmayogi focuses on individual (civil servants) and institutional capacity building.

The schemes will be accessible for all, from section officers to secretaries.

“A civil servant should be imaginative & innovative, proactive & polite, professional & progressive, energetic & enabling, transparent & tech-enabled, constructive & creative in order to meet the challenges of the society,” further added Chandramouli.

In addition to this, the Cabinet also approved three memorandums of understanding (MoU), Javadekar said. These include MoUs between textile ministry and Japan for quality evaluation method, between mining ministry and Finland, and between ministry of new and renewable energy and Denmark

-CHK

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