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COVID-19 pandemic not a silver lining for nature: Report

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): With most of the planet locked down due to the Covid-19 crisis, experts believe this could be the time when nature finally takes a break amid low human activity and get into a healing mode. However, a latest report suggests that coronavirus lockdown may have a detrimental effect on the planet’s forest cover.

Penguins were seen on the streets of Cape Town, a kangaroo roaming around Adelaide and a crab-eating fox exploring Bogotá suburbs are just a few examples of the silver lining of this crisis that is being reported by the media. These stories are coupled with reports of clean air over Delhi, Seoul and even Los Angeles.

However, outside urban areas, the situation is very different.

A report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), says that in rural areas, there is less wealth and the main source of income for the people is nature, with hunting, fishing and logging necessary to provide food and support livelihoods.

Unfortunately, people who moved to cities and have now lost their employment and income opportunities due to the quarantines are returning to their rural homes, further increasing the pressure on natural resources while also increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission to rural areas.

Based on the media reports, there is increased deforestation in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Especially areas dependent on tourism to fund conservation are facing reduced resources as tourism has come to a halt.

Meanwhile, illegal mining for gold and precious stones in Latin America and Africa is on the rise, as prices spike and protected areas are left unguarded, according to World Economic Forum report.

These increased pressures on nature and rural areas are expected to persist until economies rebound and governments are able to refocus on conservation.

Notably, land use change is a major driver of disease transmission from wildlife to people. Species threatened by exploitation and habitat loss are twice as likely to be sources of zoonotic disease compared to other threats.

According to the biologist Thomas Lovejoy, “This pandemic is the consequence of our persistent and excessive intrusion in nature and the vast illegal wildlife trade.”

Countries must start planning for rebuilding their economies in a way that fosters green structural transformation, including through long-term commitments to public spending and pricing reforms.

It is equally important that climate and biodiversity stay at the top of the agenda in 2020 and beyond, and that leaders leverage every opportunity to maintain the momentum.

Top military commanders of India, China meet over stand-off

New Delhi: Top military officials of India and China met today at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh sector to discuss ways to defuse the stand-off which has been going on for a month now.

At the meeting held at the level of Lt General, the Indian side was led by Commander of Leh-based 14 Corps Lt Gen Harinder Singh. This meeting took place after the ones at lower levels, including at the level of Major General, did not result in any resolution.

The military stand-off in the Ladakh sector was triggered after China objected to construction of a road by India on its side of the LAC, claiming that it is their territory. Since then, both sides have mobilised thousands of troops who are in eyeball-to-eyeball situation.

However, efforts are on through military and diplomatic channels to defuse the situation.

In this regard, senior officials of the foreign ministries of the two countries held talks yesterday and both sides agreed that they should handle the differences through “peaceful discussion”.

The talks were held via video conference between Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Indian External Affairs Ministry and Wu Jianghao, Director General in Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides reviewed the state of bilateral relations including the current developments, the External Affairs Ministry said, clearly referring to the LAC stand-off.

“In this context they recalled the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, that peaceful, stable and balanced relations between India and China will be a positive factor for stability in the current global situation,” the MEA said.

“Both sides also agreed that in accordance with the guidance provided by the leadership, the two sides should handle their differences through peaceful discussion bearing in mind the importance of respecting each other’s sensitivities, concerns and aspirations and not allow them to become disputes,” it added.

Apart from that, the two sides also exchanged views on the challenge posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and cooperation in various multilateral forums, the Ministry said.

Sun Weidong, Chinese Ambassador to India who also was part of the discussions over video conference, said the two sides agreed that they “should follow the strategic guidance of the two leaders, put into action that China & India pose no threat to each other & represent development opportunities for each other, & differences should not be turned into disputes.”

Upheaval in Pakistan: US writer accuses Ex-Interior Minister of rape

Cynthia D Ritchie (Source: Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): An upheaval of sorts has been created in Pakistan as an American woman Cynthia D Ritchie, who presents herself as a writer, has alleged publicly that she was raped by the then interior minister Rahman Malik in 2011 at the Presidential House.

In a video, she has also charged the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gillani of physically manhandling her.

“..In 2011, I was raped by former Interior Minister Rahman Malik. That’s right. I will say it again. I was raped by the then Interior Minister Rahman Malik. I was physically manhandled by the then Health Minister Makhdoom Shahbuddin and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani while he was staying at the President’s House,” Cynthia said in the video broadcast.

The serious charges against top leaders of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have created an upheaval of sorts, with demands on social media for thorough investigation into the matter.

She reiterated her allegations in her tweets too.

“Occurred at IM’s house in min enclave 2011 around the OBL incident. I thought it a meeting about my visa but I was given flowers/a drugged drink. I kept quiet – who in PPP govt would help me against PPP IM? Recently they attacked family; I’ve had it. Ready to face any accuser,” she wrote in one tweet.

The reference to ‘IM’ is possibly to Interior Minister and the one to ‘OBL’ is to Osama bin Laden, who was killed by the US special forces in a secretive operation in Abbottabad near Islamabad, triggering an acrimony between Pakistan and the US.

“And, yes, I did tell someone at the UsEmb in 2011, but due to ‘fluid’ situation and ‘complex’ relations between US and Pakistan, response was less than adequate. I’ve been engaged to a wonderful man who I met in (Pakistan). He encouraged me to speak out, so we can move on as a couple,” Cynthia said in another tweet.

“#ZardariFilthyPPP keeps threatening me. Why? Because they know that over the years I have been raped/assaulted by men in the highest ranks of PPP. They don’t want the world to know,” she said in yet another tweet.

“My story is deeply emotional. Even my family has not known until now. I’ve tried to be positive & promote the softer side of Pakistan but have also experienced the very bad. I wish to tell my truth one time so that women, transgenders, locals can understand they are not alone,” she said.

“There is much more. But now I need a few days to rest and be alone with my fiance. I’m tired. I ask the PPP leadership @BBhuttoZardari to tell its people to leave my family alone. I will be ready to meet any and all investigators, as is required by law, as early as next week,” Cynthia said.

Meanwhile, Netizens in Pakistan have been making reacting sharply to these charges and are demanding investigation and action.

Treatment of non-communicable diseases hit by COVID-19, says WHO

COVAX
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

New Delhi (NVI): Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, prevention and treatment services for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have been severely disrupted, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

A WHO survey completed by 155 countries during a three-week period in May confirmed that the impact is global. However, it has affected low-income countries.

WHO said the situation is of significant concern because people living with NCDs are at higher risk of severe COVID-19-related illness and death.

“The results of this survey confirm what we have been hearing from countries for a number of weeks now,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“Many people who need treatment for diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes have not been receiving the health services and medicines they need since the COVID-19 pandemic began, said Tedros.

Non-communicable diseases kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. Each year, 15 million people die from an NCD between the ages of 30 and 69, with more than 85% of these “premature” deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

The main finding WHO survey is that health services have been partially or completely disrupted in many countries.

More than half (53%) of the countries surveyed have partially or completely disrupted services for hypertension treatment; 49% for diabetes and diabetes-related complications; 42% for cancer treatment, and 31% for cardiovascular emergencies.

The survey also found that, rehabilitation services have been disrupted in almost two-thirds (63%) of countries, even though rehabilitation is key to a healthy recovery following severe illness from COVID-19.

In the majority (94%) of countries responding, ministry of health staff working in the area of NCDs were partially or fully reassigned to support COVID-19.

The postponement of public screening programmes (for example for breast and cervical cancer) was also widespread, reported by more than 50% of countries.

The most common reasons for discontinuing or reducing services were cancellations of planned treatments, a decrease in public transport available, and a lack of staff because health workers had been reassigned to support COVID-19 services.

In one in five countries (20%) reporting disruptions, one of the main reasons for discontinuing services was shortage of medicines, diagnostics and other technologies.

Tedros said it is vital that countries innovate ways to ensure that essential services for NCDs continue, even as they fight COVID-19.

“Unsurprisingly, there appears to be a co-relation between levels of disruption to services for treating NCDs and the evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak in a country,” said the WHO.

The services become increasingly disrupted as a country moves from sporadic cases to community transmission of the coronavirus.

Globally, two-thirds of countries reported that they had included NCD services in their national COVID-19 preparedness and response plans; 72 per cent of high-income countries reported inclusion compared to 42 per cent of low-income countries.

These services are to address cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease were the most frequently included.

However, 17 per cent of countries reporting have started to allocate additional funding from the government budget to include the provision of NCD services in their national COVID-19 plan.

J&K records two more deaths amid spurt in COVID-19 cases

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Amid spurt in Covid-19 positive cases, Jammu and Kashmir today recorded two more deaths due to the deadly pandemic, taking the number of total deaths in the Union Territory to 38.

Health officials said that the two people aged 70 and 65 died of Covid infection in Srinagar and Jammu respectively.

Medical Superintendent, Chest Disease hospital, told NVI that a 70-year-old man from South Kashmir’s Shopian district was admitted to the hospital yesterday. “He breathed his last today. His samples were taken yesterday the result of which came as positive. The deceased had underlined ailments including chest congestion.”

The second person died in the Jammu region. A doctor at Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, said that an elderly woman from Miran Sahib area of Jammu region was admitted in the hospital on May 24 with Covid related symptoms.

“She had already tested positive for the virus a few days back and was kept in an isolation ward. She had various ailments related to heart, lungs and bones. Today, morning her condition deteriorated following which she died,” the doctor said.

The two fresh Covid deaths have pushed the death toll in J&K to 38 of which five deaths were recorded in Jammu and 33 in Kashmir region. All the people who have died due to Covid-19 infection so far had various underlined ailments. The deaths have come close on the heels of spurt in the Covid positive cases which has surpassed 3,000 mark in the UT.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

(Representational/file photo)

New Delhi (NVI): India has now become the sixth worst-affected country in the world index due to coronavirus pandemic, after it surpassed Italy in the total number of confirmed cases, as the country continues to witness huge spike in the infected cases.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the country stands at 2,36,657 including 6,642 casualties, according to the Union Health Ministry.

In the last 24 hours, a record 9,887 new cases of coronavirus and 294 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 80,000 confirmed cases so far.

The first confirmed coronavirus case in India was reported in the state of Kerala on January 30. Since then, the virus has tightened its grip across the country.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 33

Andhra Pradesh- 4,303

Arunachal Pradesh- 45

Assam- 2,153

Bihar- 4,596

Chandigarh- 304

Chhattisgarh- 879

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 14

Delhi- 26,334

Gujarat- 19,094

Goa- 196

Haryana– 3,597

Himachal Pradesh- 393

Jammu and Kashmir- 3,324

Jharkhand- 881

Karnataka- 4,835

Kerala- 1,699

Ladakh- 97

Madhya Pradesh- 8,996

Maharashtra- 80,229

Manipur- 132

Meghalaya- 33

Mizoram- 22

Nagaland- 94

Odisha- 2,608

Puducherry- 99

Punjab- 2,461

Rajasthan- 10,08

Sikkim- 3

Tamil Nadu- 28,694

Telangana- 3,290

Tripura- 692

Uttarakhand- 1,215

Uttar Pradesh- 9,733

West Bengal – 7,303

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 73

Assam- 4

Bihar- 29

Chandigarh- 5

Chhattisgarh- 2

Delhi- 708

Gujarat- 1,190

Haryana- 24

Himachal Pradesh- 5

Jammu and Kashmir- 36

Jharkhand- 7

Karnataka- 57

Kerala- 14

Ladakh- 1

Madhya Pradesh- 384

Maharashtra- 2,849

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 8

Puducherry- 1

Punjab- 48

Rajasthan- 218

Tamil Nadu- 232

Telangana- 113

Uttar Pradesh- 257

Uttarakhand- 11

West Bengal- 366

A total of 1,14,073 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 1,15,942 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

PM condoles death of Ved Marwah

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condoled the death of former IPS officer Ved Marwah, recalling his”unwavering courage” which stood out during his career.

Ved Marwah, a former governor of Mizoram, Manipur and Jharkhand, died in Goa yesterday. He was 87.

Taking over to twitter, PM Modi wrote, “Shri Ved Marwah Ji will be remembered for his rich contributions to public life. His unwavering courage always stood out during his career as an IPS officer.”

“He was also a well respected public intellectual. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” Modi added.

The Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also expressed grief over the demise of former IPS officer, “Sad to hear about the demise of Shri Ved Marwah, former Governor of Manipur, Mizoram, Jharkhand and former Delhi Police Commissioner.”

“He was an upright officer known for his integrity and competence. My condolences to the bereaved family members. May his soul rest in peace,” Naidu tweeted.

Ved Marwah also served as the police commissioner of Delhi from 1985-88 and was the third director general of the elite National Security Ved Marwah Guard from 1988-90.

700 Indians on way home from Maldives on Navy ship

New Delhi (NVI): Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa has started from Male in the Maldives for Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, carrying back home 700 Indians who were stranded in the island-nation due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the Indain Navy said.

Those on onboard will be disembarked at Tuticorin on June 7, while observing strict COVID-19 protocols.

This is the third phase of Indian Navy’s Operation ‘Samudra Setu’ to bring home its citizens from foreign shores by sea.

With this trip, INS Jalashwa will successfully bring back almost 2,700 Indian citizens from Maldives and Sri Lanka to Indian shores, under the government’s Vande Bharat Mission, said a press release issued by the Navy.

During the embarkation, the ship was visited by Colonel Mohamed Saleem, the Commandant of the Maldives Coast Guard, release added.

Earlier, Operation Samudra Setu’, had facilitated over 1,000 evacuees from Male, during the operation between May 8 and May 16.

Global coronavirus cases top 67 lakh

New Delhi (NVI): The global tally of coronavirus cases has gone over 67 lakh, with more than 3,94,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

In the US, more than 18,90,000 cases have been reported, including at least 1,09,042 deaths. At its peak, the US is seeing an increase of more than 30,000 new cases a day.

Also, the UK became the second country to record more than 40,000 coronavirus-related deaths, after the US.

Likewise, Brazil is quickly going up the table with over six lakh cases. It has reported 35,026 deaths related to the virus, the third-highest toll worldwide, and 6,45,771 confirmed cases.

Germany’s tally of COVID-19 cases reached 1,83,687 after it recorded 407 new cases in one day.

Meanwhile, the authorities in California have said that Live Sports and film productions can restart from June 12.

In another development, cable cars and mountain railways are starting to run again in Switzerland , where Alpine communities dependant on tourism hope to salvage some of the summer season.

China reported three new confirmed coronavirus cases and no new deaths. China has reported a total of 4,634 deaths and 83,030 confirmed cases since the virus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

Apart from this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has changed its advice on face masks, saying they should be worn in public to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

COVID cases in India climb to over 2.36 lakh, death toll 6,642

New Delhi (NVI): The corona cases in India saw a jump of 9,887 in the last 24 hours, raising the total number to 2,36,657.

The death toll due to the virus rose to 6,642, with 294 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry said.

With this, India overtook Italy’s tally and became the world’s sixth worst-hit country.

So far, 1,14,073 patients have recovered all over the country.

In Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 80,229, followed by Tamil Nadu with 28,694 cases, and Delhi with 26,334 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 28,49, followed by 1,194 in Gujarat and 384 in Madhya Pradesh.

The death toll in the national capital rose to 708, while 10,315 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

The other worst affected states are Gujarat (19,094) Rajasthan (10,084), Uttar Pradesh (9,733) and Madhya Pradesh (8,996).

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has issued new SOPs for COVID-19 hospitals, amid the reports of patients not being able to find beds in these hospitals.

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