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Cabinet Secretary reviews situation in 13 worst-hit cities by Covid

COVID
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba today held a meeting with Municipal Commissioners and District Magistrates of 13 COVID-19 hit cities in the country to review the situation there.

Chief Secretaries of the concerned States and Union Territories also attended the meeting held via video conference.

The 13 badly affected cities by the pandemic are Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi/New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Thane, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata /Howrah, Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Jaipur, Jodhpur, Chengalpattu and Thiruvallur (Tamil Nadu).

The meeting bears significance as these 13 cities are considered to be the worst Coronavirus affected locations and constitute about 70 per cent of the positive cases in the country, the Cabinet Secretariat said in a statement.

During the meeting, the measures taken by the officials and the staff of the municipal corporations for the management of COVID-19 cases were reviewed.

The guidelines on the management of COVID-19 in urban settlements have already been issued by central government. Highlights of this strategy include work on high risk factors, indices such as confirmation rate, fatality rate, doubling rate, tests per million people etc, the Government said.

“Centre has stressed that containment zones are to be geographically defined based on factors like mapping of cases and contacts and their geographical dispersion.This would enable in demarcating a well defined perimeter and enforcing the strict protocol of lockdown,” the official statement read.

Apart from that, Municipal corporations, residential colony, mohallas, municipal wards or police-station area, municipal zones, towns can be designated as containment zones, as appropriate.

In the meeting, the cities in focus were advised that the area should be appropriately defined by the district administration and local urban body with technical inputs from local level.

Coronavirus cases in Bangladesh exceed 40,000-mark

(Image source: United News of Bangladesh)

New Delhi (NVI): Bangladesh saw the highest-ever jump in coronavirus cases in a single day as 2,029 new patients were found coronavirus positive in the last 24 hours, raising the total cases to 40,321.

The total number of deaths from coronavirus has reached 559 after 15 more people lost their lives in the last 24 hours, according to United News of Bangladesh.

The infection rate in the country has been recorded at 21.79 per cent on Thursday. The mortality rate is still hovering around 1.4 percent in country.

Meanwhile, Iftekhar Hossain, Public Relations Officer, Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, was diagnosed with coronavirus today.

Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Nasima Sultana said that against the total number of detected cases, the recovery rate is 20.89 per cent.

Pakistan COVID-19 tally exceeds 62,000; death toll at 1,276

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 62,334 with at least 1,276 fatalities recorded so far.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 25,309 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 22,037 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 8,483 cases, Balochistan is at 3,616, Gilgit-Baltistan at 651, Islamabad at 2,015 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 223 cases so far, according to Geo News.

On a positive note, a total of 20,231 patients have recovered so far in the country.

Meanwhile a WHO reports finds that the local coronavirus transmission in Pakistan has risen to 91 per cent, up from 81 per cent a few weeks back.

J&K: 2 Hizbul over ground workers held in Handwara

Terrorist arrested
Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today arrested two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit in the Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district along with arms and ammunition.

In a statement issued by the police, it was stated that on the basis of reliable information regarding the movement of OGWs,  Handwara police along with the Army and CRPF laid a siege at Panditpora Kralgund, Handwara.

“During checking of the vehicles and pedestrians, two suspicious persons tried to escape from the spot but were chased and arrested,” the statement said.

It also stated that the arrested people on preliminary questioning disclosed their identity as Asif Ahmad Dar of Tulwari, Langate and Muzamil Ahmad Peer, of Muqam Shahwali Drugmulla Kupwara.

“Two pistols, two pistol magazines and 20 pistol rounds were recovered from the possession of the arrested duo,” the police statement read.

It further stated that the duo was active since 2018 and has worked for many Hizbul terrorists. They have carried out many financial transactions for Hizbul Mujahideen cadres, transported huge amount of arms and ammunitions to other parts of the Valley and were also providing logistic support and shelter to active militants operating in the area.

An FIR under the Indian Arms Act, 13, 18, 20 has been registered in Kralgund Police Station and investigation has been taken up, police added.

Coronavirus cases in Afghanistan cross 13,000 as 580 more test positive

New Delhi (NVI): 580 positive cases have been recorded across in Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 13,036, Afghan media reported.

Among the new cases, 322 were reported in Kabul, 139 in Herat, 27 in Panjshir, 22 in Balkh, 21 in Farah, 20 in Paktia, 15 in Faryab and Parwan.

The official of Ministry of Public Health said that 40 percent of the total COVID-19 cases were from the past ten days.

The ministry is running out of medical facilities and there is a dire need for face masks, ventilators and other necessary equipment, official added.

So far, 34,936 people have been tested in the country.

Afghanistan has been reporting close to 600 new cases every day, rapidly moving from 10,000 cases to 12,000 within five days, as per media reports.

Around, 40 percent of total new cases were recorded in the past 10 days.

The Afghan health ministry also reported eight death in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll from coronavirus to 235.

At least, 1,209 patients have been cured from virus or discharged.

Nepal reports 156 Covid-19 new cases, tally hits 1,042

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): 156 new persons have been tested positive for coronavirus in Nepal, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 1,042, local media reports said.

The Ministry of Health and Population said, of the infected, 29 people are from Dhanusha district, 25 from Jhapa, 20 from Rautahat, 17 from Mahottari, 14 from Saptari, 13 from Surkhet, eight from Dailekh, seven from Sarlahi, six from Siraha.

In addition, three each from Bardiya and Syangja, two each from Dolakha and Kailali, one each from Nawalpur, Solukhumbu, Bajhang, Darchula, Makawanpur, Banke, and one person whose location has not been disclosed.

Among the total infected people, 940 are male and 102 female.

As of today, 51 districts have witnessed the transmission of COVID-19. As many as 129 cases have been detected in eight districts of Province 1; 415 cases have been seen in eight districts of Province 2; and 44 cases in 12 districts of Bagmati Province, as per media reports.

Likewise, 17 cases have been reported in four districts of Gandaki Province; 369 cases in nine districts of Province 5; 47 cases in three districts of Karnali Province; and 21 cases in seven districts of Sudurpaschim Province.

The ministry also said, four persons have been discharged from various health facilities across the country taking the total number of recoveries to 187.

Meanwhile, the ministry has also confirmed the fifth COVID-19 death in the country. A 56-year-old man with Alcoholic Liver Disease, who passed away at a Lalitpur based hospital on Wednesday, has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

J&K: Pulwama-type terror attack averted, forces neutralise IED recovered from car

Srinagar (NVI): Security forces in Kashmir today averted a major terror attack, which could have been like the one witnessed in February last year on CRPF convoy in Pulwama.

The security forces, including Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF, intercepted a car which was laden with 40-45 kgs of explosives and was being driven in Rajpora area of Pulwama district.

Police said a suicide bomber, who was driving the car with fake registration number, jumped two security check posts late last night and left behind the vehicle laden with explosives when forces fired shots to stop him.

A controlled explosion was carried out later to neutralise the bomb.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said three terrorists of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, led by one Adil, who works for both, were planning a suicide attack on security forces on May 11. But the plan failed as the security forces had intensified operations against the terrorists, he said.

If the terrorists had succeeded in their plans, there could have been a major disaster like the one witnessed on February 14 last year when a similar explosive-laden vehicle was driven by a suicide bomber into a convoy of CRPF on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in Lethpora area of Pulwama district.

40 CRPF personnel were killed in that attack, which provoked India to carry out an airstrike on a major terror camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan, on February 26 and led to the escalation of military tensions between the two countries.

Indian Army Major to receive UN Military Gender Advocate award

New Delhi (NVI): Major Suman Gawani from the Indian Army, a former UN peacekeeper in South Sudan, will be honoured with the 2019 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.

Major Gawani will be the first Indian peacekeeper to get the prestigious award.

She will receive the award along with Brazilian Naval Officer, Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo during an online ceremony presided over by UN Chief António Guterres on May 29, which is marked as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

Gawani, an Indian Army officer and a UN military observer, was formerly deployed with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Created in 2016, the United Nations “Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award” recognises the dedication and effort of an individual military peacekeeper in promoting the principles of UN Security Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in a peace operation context.

However, this will also be the first time that two peacekeepers will receive the award jointly for their contribution to the cause.

During her deployment in South Sudan, Major Goswami mentored over 230 UN Military Observers (UNMO) on conflict-related sexual violence and ensured the presence of women military observers in each of the Mission’s team sites.

She also trained the South Sudanese government forces and helped them to launch their action plan on conflict-related sexual violence.

Apart from this, five Indian peacekeepers, who laid down their lives serving in UN peacekeeping missions in 2018-19 will also be honored this week with a UN medal awarded posthumously for courage & sacrifice in the line of duty.

Major Ravi Inder Singh Sandhu and Sergeant Lal Manotra Tarsem, who served with the UN Mission in South Sudan; Sergeant Ramesh Singh with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon; Private Johnsion Beck with the UN Disengagement Observer Force and Edward Agapito Pinto, who served in a civilian capacity with the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in Congo, will posthumously receive the Dag Hammarskjold Medal on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers observed on May 29.

In observance of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, on Friday, Secretary-General António Guterres will lay a wreath to pay tribute to all the UN blue helmets who have lost their lives since 1948. 

The theme for this year’s International Day of UN Peacekeepers (May 29) is “Women in Peacekeeping: A Key to Peace” to mark the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

India signs $177 mn loan with ADB to upgrade roads in Maharashtra

New Delhi (NVI): The Centre today signed a USD 177 million loan with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to upgrade 450 kilometers of state highways and major district roads in the state of Maharashtra, the Ministry of Finance said.

The project will upgrade 2 major district roads and 11 state highways, with a combined length of 450 km, to 2-lane standard across seven districts of Maharashtra, the Ministry said in a statement.

The project will improve connectivity to national highways, interstate roads, seaports, airports, rail hubs, district headquarters, industrial areas, enterprise clusters and agricultural areas, it said.

The project will also focus on training the Maharashtra Public Works Department project staff to build their capacity in climate change adaptation and disaster-resilient features in road design, road maintenance planning and road safety.

The signatories to the Maharashtra State Road Improvement Project were Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary (Fund Bank and ADB), Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance who signed on the behalf of GOI, and Kenichi Yokoyama, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission who signed for ADB.

After signing the loan agreement, Khare said that the project will improve connectivity between rural areas and urban centers in the state enabling rural communities to better access markets, employment opportunities and services.

“Improved mobility will expand development and livelihood opportunities outside of the state’s major urban centers to second-tier cities and towns thus reducing income disparities,” he said.

ADB’s Yokoyama said that the project will also strengthen road safety measures by developing a road safety audit framework that will protect vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women, and children, following the international best practice.

“Another feature of the project is to update road maintenance system by encouraging 5-year performance-based maintenance obligations to contractors to sustain asset quality and service levels,” he added.

Established in 1966, ADB is owned by 68 members—49 from the region. The Bank is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.

Suicide attacker escaped, left behind car with 45 kg explosives: IGP Kashmir

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar (File photo)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Police today said that a three-member “suicide squad” of Jaish-e-Muhammad and Hizbul Mujahideen had plans to target security forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, with a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing at least 40 to 45 kg fitted inside a car, that was traced on time and destroyed.

While addressing a press conference here, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that a suicide bomber driving the car jumped two nakas ( security check posts) late last night at Ayegund area of Rajpora in Pulwama and left behind the vehicle laden with heavy explosives when forces fired shots to stop him.

“Three militants of Jaish and Hizbul led by one Adil, who works for both, were planning a suicide attack on security forces. They were planning to target security forces on Ramadhan 17 (Jang-e-Badr), but couldn’t succeed as we had already intensified the operations against the militants,” the IGP said while addressing a press conference at Police Control Room (PCR), Srinagar.

The day of Badr falls on 17th Ramadan (May 11) every year and security forces in J&K are alert around this time as terrorists try to show their presence in the Valley. ‘Jang-e-Badr’ or the Battle of Badr was fought by Prophet Muhammad along with his companions 1400 years ago in the battlefield of Badr in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

IGP Kashmir said that at least 40 to 45 kgs of explosive material was fitted in the Santro car that had a fake number plate. “Police, Army and the CRPF were getting inputs about the possible fidayeen attack by the militants. Yesterday, the lead matured and nakas were laid at various points. Our men stopped the suicide attacker at two naka points and fired warning shots at both sites but he jumped at both places,” the IGP said.

“A few meters away from the second naka point, he left behind the vehicle late night yesterday at Ayegund area of Rajpora, Pulwama,” he added.

He said that when the dawn broke, the security forces found that the vehicle was suspicious and the Bomb Disposal Squad was instantly called.

“After preliminary investigations, we found that the vehicle was laden with at least 40 to 45 kg of explosive material which included ammonium nitrate, RDX and other material like gelatin sticks, etc. Earlier, we thought it must be around 10 to 15 kg,” he said.

“We concluded that 40 to 45 kg of explosive material was used by militants after seeing that the vehicle went up to 15 meters up in the air when the IED was detonated.”

He said that the timely action of Police, Army and the CRPF in detecting and defusing the IED is laudable. “I compliment all the security agencies for this successful operation,” the IGP said, adding “Timely action of the security agencies helped avert a major tragedy.”

Earlier in the day, a top security official told NVI that terrorists had a plan to carry out February 14, 2019 like terror attack in which 40 CRPF men were killed, but timely input and action of forces helped prevent a major mishap.

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