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Nepal COVID-19 tally reaches 1,798 with 226 new cases

New Delhi (NVI): 226 new positive coronavirus cases have been reported from Nepal, taking the toll in the Himalayan nation to 1,798, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Population said, of the infected, two fresh cases have been reported in Jhapa, three in Nawalparasi, 41 from Dailekh, 19 from Jumla, 10 from Salyan, five from Surkhet, 40 from Kapilvastu district.

Apart from that, 18 from Rautahat, five from Banke, nine from Dang, seven from Dhanusha, two from Mahottari, one from Makwanpur, 38 from Sarlahi, five from Siraha, one from Udayapur, one from Achham, 14 from Kailali, one from Baitadi, one from Doti and one in Kanchapur.

Of the newly infected, 213 are males while 13 females, as per media reports.

Currently, 59 of the 77 districts and all the Provinces have witnessed the transmission of COVID-19 virus.

As many as 168 cases have been detected in nine districts of Province 1; 694 cases have been seen in eight districts of Province 2; and 46 cases in 12 districts of Bagmati Province.

Likewise, 26 cases have been reported in six districts of Gandaki Province; 621 cases in 10 districts of Province 5; 198 cases in five districts of Karnali Province; and 45 cases in nine districts of Sudurpaschim Province.

With this, 1,667 males and 131 females have been infected with the novel coronavirus across the country.

So far, eight people have died of coronavirus in Nepal.

At present, 221 people have been cured form the virus and discharged.

Coronavirus cases top 73,000 in Pakistan; more than 1,500 dead

COVID-19: Pakistan imposes mini-lockdown in Islamabad

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan is witnessing a sharp surge in the number of positive coronavirus cases as nearly 2,500 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the overall tally to 73,862 with at least 1,565 fatalities recorded so far.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 29,647 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 26,240 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 10,027 cases, Balochistan is at 4,393, Gilgit-Baltistan at 711, Islamabad at 2,589 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 255 cases so far, according to Geo News.

The country’s Health Ministry stated that 26,083 patients have been recovered so far from the virus.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair a crucial meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) which is expected to decide the future strategy to deal with the increasing threat of the pandemic today.

545 new COVID cases in Afghanistan; tally hits 15,750

New Delhi (NVI): At least 545 new coronavirus cases have been reported in Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 15,750 across the country, according to Afghan media reports.

According to country’s Ministry of Public Health, 1,168 suspected cases were tested, out of which 545 cases were tested coronavirus positive in 18 provinces.

In the past 24 hours, eight patients have died due to COVID-19 virus.

Of the total 545 positive cases across the country, 117 were registered in Herat, 92 in Paktia, 66 in Kabul, 50 in Nangarhar, 48 in Samangan, 36 in Farah, 22 in Sar-e-Pul province.

In addition, 20 were reported in Bamyan, 17 people in Logar, 14-14 people in Ghor, Badakhshan and Panjshir provinces, 12 in Midan wardak and Faryab, 4 in Balkh, 3 in Kunar, 2-2 in Laghman and Badghis provinces.

The Ministry of Public Health said 1,438 people have recovered while 265 died from the respiratory disease.

So far, the ministry has tested 39,628 samples countrywide, as per media reports.

Meanwhile, the health officials urged Afghans to wear face masks in crowded places, practice social distancing and keep personnel hygiene.

J&K records 2 Covid deaths, toll rises to 30

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 2 Covid-19 deaths taking the total number of fatalities due to the pandemic in the UT to 30, health officials said.

They said that in the afternoon, a 45-year-old man from south Kashmir’s Shopian district died at SKIMS Soura. A doctor said that the deceased was admitted to the hospital last evening with some chest problems. “After initial treatment, the patient was shifted to isolation ward and had a shock,” Medical Superintendent of SKIMS, Soura said. He said doctors suspected him of being infected with Covid-19 and took his samples for Covid test.

“The patient, however, died late night and his body was kept in the mortuary of the hospital,” the doctor said. “His sample results came today at 2 o’clock as positive for the Coronavirus.”

Barely a few hours after the first Covid death today, a 72-year-old man from Doda district died at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu. “He had multiple ailments and a history of pneumonia besides heart ailments,” a doctor at GMC Jammu said. He said that the Covid test results of the person came as positive late last night.

Of the total 30 deaths, 26 have been reported from Kashmir and 4 from the Jammu region. Doctors at various government hospitals have maintained that Covid hasn’t claimed any life in J&K directly. “All the 30 cases had a history of multiple ailments, which means their immune system was already weak to fight the Covid. In J&K, the behavior of Covid is very mild and that’s a very good thing. No healthy person has died in J&K due to Covid so far,” he said.

Cabinet decisions on farmers, MSMEs

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar (File)

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet today took key decisions on MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), farmers and poor under the Centre’s ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat package’ that was announced recently.

In the high-level meet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the cabinet cleared a Rs 20,000-crore debt scheme, which would help nearly 2 lakh MSMEs raise funds amid lockdown.

The Government also approved a Fund of Funds worth Rs 50,000 crore for MSMEs to encourage private sector investment in the sector.

Apart from that, the Cabinet has approved the extension of repayment date for short term loans for agriculture and allied activities by banks which have become due or shall become due between 1st March and 31st August, 2020.

In addition to this, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by PM Modi has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all mandated Kharif crops for marketing season 2020-21.

The Minimum Support Price of paddy has been raised by Rs 53 per quintal taking the MSP to Rs 1,868 per quintal for 2020-21. The MSP of cotton has also been hiked now, up by Rs 260 to touch Rs 5,515 per quintal.

While addressing media after the meeting, Union ministers Prakash Javadekar, Nitin Gadkari and Narendra Tomar said that the measures will improve ease of doing business, attract investments and create jobs.

Monsoon arrives in Kerala, IMD issues yellow alert in 9 districts

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): With the onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala today, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for nine districts in the state.

Monsoon has arrived in Kerala as the state received heavy rainfall at several places today. “Onset of Southwest Monsoon over Kerala: Southwest Monsoon set in over Kerala 2020 today, the 1st June, 2020 coinciding with its normal date.” IMD tweeted.

The department also informed that low pressure has formed in the Arabian Sea, north to Lakshadweep. Based on the predictions, it is most likely to intensify into a cyclone.

Although low pressure is formed near Kerala coast, the cyclone is not expected to affect the region directly, the weather department said.

In addition to this, IMD has warned of heavy rain in Kerala for the next five days and gusty winds at a speed of up to 65 kmph in the coastal area. Fishing is banned as the sea has turned rough.

The nine districts where yellow alert has been issued are Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam Idukki, Malappuram and Kannur. Heavy rains are expected at these places today.

According to the weather reports, monsoon may arrive in Delhi by June 30.

Pakistan cries foul after India expels Pak embassy officials over espionage

Indo-Pak trade

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan today cried foul after 2 of its officials posted in its High Commission in New Delhi were caught involved in spying and ordered to leave the country immediately.

Pakistan has summoned a senior Indian diplomat over India’s decision to expel two officials of its High Commission in New Delhi.

India had issued a statement yesterday after the two officials were apprehended by the Indian law enforcement authorities for indulging in espionage activities.

“The Government has declared both these officials persona non grata for indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission and asked them to leave the country within twenty four hours,” an official statement by the Ministry of External Affairs read.

After the two ‘Visa Assistants’ were caught red-handed yesterday, Pakistan’s Charge de Affaires was issued a demarche in which a strong protest was lodged with regard to the activities of these officials of the High Commission of Pakistan against India’s national security.

The MEA said that Pakistan’s Cd’A (Charge de Affaires) was asked to ensure that no member of its diplomatic mission should indulge in activities inimical to India or behave in a manner incompatible with their diplomatic status.

This is not the first time that Pakistani High Commission officials and other staffers have been found involved in spying and other anti-India activities. In one such case over a decade back, an officer as senior as Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan was found involved in providing hawala money to Kashmiri separatists. He was expelled immediately. Later, the Pakistani government rewarded the officer, Jalil Abbas Jilani, and made him the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan in 2012.

Despite curfews, mass protests continue in US over death of George Floyd

Protesters have taken to streets across the United States (Source: Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): Thousands of protesters have taken to streets across the United States, despite curfews and deployment of National Guard troops, against the killing of African-American George Floyd by a white police officer.

On Sunday night, people defied curfew and gathered in large numbers in Washington DC to protest over Floyd’s death. In view of the massive and violent protests, US President Donald Trump had to take shelter in a White House Bunker, foreign media reports said.

At least 4,000 people have been arrested so far as riots ravage US cities and tensions with cops flare up. According to reports in foreign media, as many as 1,700 soldiers were called in at Washington to control the demonstrators after they collected road signs and plastic barriers to set them on fire.

Floyd’s death has sparked outrage and violent protests across the United States. The 43-year-old man died on Memorial Day (May 25) after he was pinned down by a white police officer in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The video footage of the incident, that was also boradcast by the US media, showed the police officer kneeling down on Floyd’s as he gasped for breath. He died later out of the police brutality as the video went viral and demonstrations, which began in Minneapolis, spread like wild fire in across the country in cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Miami, New York City and Chicago.

The cities extended curfews into Sunday night and beyond in an attempt to tackle the violence and vandalism. Reports in foreign media also reported clash between demonstrators and law enforcement officers at some places.

The curfew has been imposed in as many as 40 cities, along with Washington DC, in wake of the protests that have continued for almost a week now.

Around 5,000 National Guard members have been activated in 15 states and Washington, DC with another 2,000 prepared to activate if needed, according to reports.

Amid Covid-19 crisis, PM calls for ‘maximum discussion’ on these 3 things

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged for maximum discussion and participation on three things including tele-medicine, ‘Make in India’ in the health sector and IT-based health services, amid the Covid-19 crisis in the country.

The PM was addressing the 25th Foundation Day of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences at Bengaluru via video conferencing.


“Can we think of new models that make tele-medicine popular on a larger scale,” he said while calling for discussion and participation on advances in tele-medicine.

Speaking on the second thing- ‘Make in India’ in the health sector, PM said that the initial gains in this makes him optimistic as the domestic manufacturers have started production of PPEs and have supplied about 1 crore PPEs to Covid warriors.

On third topic- IT related tools for healthier societies, PM said: “I am sure you have heard of ‘ArogyaSetu’, 12 crore health-conscious people have downloaded it. This has been very helpful in the fight against Coronavirus.”

Apart from that, PM said that “In the battle of Invisible vs Invincible, our medical workers are sure to win.” He was referring to coronavirus as “Invisible” and all frontline workers or Covid warriors as “Invincible”.

“At the root of India’s brave fight against COVID-19 is the hardwork of the medical community and our CORONA warriors.  In fact, doctors and medical workers are like soldiers, but without the soldiers’ uniform,” he said while lauding the efforts of all frontline workers in combating corona.

In his address, PM also expressed concern at violent incidents, owing to mob mentality, against the front-line workers and said several steps have been taken by the Government to curb them. He said that the Government also provided an insurance cover of Rs 50 Lakhs to those on the front-line.

The Prime Minister further said that his government has given top-most priority to reforms in health and medical education. He said the government is broadly working on four pillars.

He said the first pillar would be Preventive Health Care where in the emphasis would be importance of Yoga, Ayurveda and General Fitness. He said more than 40,000 Wellness Centres were opened with a key focus on controlling life style related diseases. “The success of Swachch Bharat mission is another key area of preventive health care,” the PMO quoted his as saying

On second pillar – Affordable Healthcare- PM highlighted the success of Ayushman Bharat. He said that it is the world’s largest healthcare scheme and in less than two years, 1 crore people have benefitted from it, especially women and those living in rural areas.

“The third pillar is- Improvements on the supply side,” Modi said, adding that a nation like Indian has to have proper medical infrastructure and medical education infrastructure.

The fourth pillar, he said would be mission mode implementation of all the schemes and that it is very crucial for the success of a good idea.

The PM also cited how the implementation of the National Nutrition Mission is helping youngsters and mothers and also how India is determined to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025, which is 5 years ahead of the global target of 2030.

Delhi borders sealed for a week; salons, all shops to open: CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said that hair salon, barbershops can open in Delhi but spas will remain closed, besides announcing that Delhi borders are sealed for a week, amid a surge in cases in the national capital.

He was addressing a virtual press conference as the country enters the fifth phase of lockdown – ‘Unlock 1’.

The MHA on Saturday said that restrictions will remain in place in containment zones till June 30 while activities will resume at other places and the Health Ministry will soon release an SOP in this regard.

Addressing the press conference here today, Kejriwal said that only those people providing essential services will be allowed to cross the borders.

Delhi-Gurgaon border was opened by Haryana yesterday, but UP’s Noida, which also shares a border with the national capital, had closed the borders.

Meanwhile, the Delhi CM has also sought suggestions on the opening of borders Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Delhiites can send suggestions on the opening of borders to WhatsApp number 8800007722, [email protected] by Friday 5 pm.

Apart from that, Kejriwal said that there will be no staggered timings for industries and no odd-even rules for markets. He said that night curfew will be enforced from 9 am to 5 am in this phase of lockdown in Delhi.

The CM further said that Delhi will follow the Centre’s rules on cars, scooters. Autos, e-rickshaws will ply without any restrictions.

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