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China using Covid pandemic confusion as cover to provoke its neighbours: US leader

New Delhi (NVI): China’s actions towards India, specifically the Ladakh stand-off is part of Beijing’s strategy to use the confusion of the Covid-19 pandemic as cover to launch large scale military provocations against its neighbours, a top US lawmaker has said.

Ted Yoho, the US Congressman has said that the Chinese Communist Party has been using this tactic to provoke its neighbors including, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

“#China’s actions towards #India fall in line with a larger trend of the #ChineseCommunistParty using the confusion of the #COVID19 #pandemic as cover to launch large scale military provocations against its neighbors in the region, including #HongKong, #Taiwan, & #Vietnam,” the US leader said in a tweet yesterday.

The Congressman also asserted that the unprovoked and premeditated military action by China in Galwan Valley recently cannot be justified and the US will not stand for such action for the purpose of antagonizing & intimidating peaceful nations into submission. He said it is time for the world to come together and tell China enough is enough.

“The #UnitedStates will not stand for unprovoked, premeditated military action for the purpose of antagonizing & intimidating peaceful nations into submission. Now is the time for the world to come together & tell #China that enough is enough,” Ted said in another tweet.

20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent face-off with the Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley on June 15.

Earlier on Friday, Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera also expressed concern over the Chinese aggression along its India border. He asked Beijing to use diplomatic mechanisms rather than force to settle boundary issues with the neighboring country.

India and China are currently engaged at military and diplomatic levels after a sharp escalation in tensions in the worst-ever face-off between the two armies at LAC since 1967 which led to casualties on both sides.

-ARK

India holds naval exercise with Japan amid stand-off with China

(Source: Twitter @jmsdf_pao_eng)

New Delhi (NVI): Amid the border tensions between India and China running high, the Indian and Japanese Navies conducted a joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean yesterday to develop mutual understanding with each other.

Four warships, two from each side, participated in the maritime exercise in the Indian Ocean. Japanese Ship (JS) Kashima and JS Shimayuki conducted the exercise with Indian Naval Ship (INS) Rana and INS Kulish.

“27 JUN, JS KASHIMA (TV 3508) and JS SHIMAYUKI (TV 3513), the JMSDF Training Squadron, conducted an exercise with INS RANA and INS KULISH, Indian Navy at the Indian Ocean. JMSDF promoted mutual understanding with the Indian Navy through this exercise,” tweeted Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Japanese ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki also tweeted today on Naval exercise between the two navies. “On 27th June, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted goodwill training with Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean,” he wrote on the microblogging site.

India and Japan navies have earlier also participated in the naval exercises like the Malabar Exercise, which included the United States navy as well. However, yesterday’s exercise in the Indian Ocean is clearly a strong signal against the heightened Chinese aggression at Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

There has been an escalation in tensions between India and China after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the violent clashes at Galwan Valley in Ladakh on June 15. While Japan has condoled the loss of Indian lives in Galwan face-off, it has categorically not said anything ob the Chinese casualties.

Japan has been a witness to the Chinese aggression on its border with India as it has itself upgraded its Navy in recent years due to territorial disputes with Beijing. Japan is also one of the few countries that supported India during the 2017 Doklam standoff.

China is also looking to seize areas in Taiwan, as it has been reportedly eyeing the Dongsha Islands of Taiwan, which are a group of strategically important atolls 310 kms southeast of Hong Kong. Taiwan has deployed its Marine Corps to the islands for training and defence.

On Friday, a Chinese fighter plane briefly entered Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), the local media reported, highlighting the increasing Chinese military activity in the region.

In April this year, the US also asked China to stop its ‘bullying behaviour’ in the South China sea and said it was concerned by reports of Beijing’s provocative behaviour. reportedly, Beijing’s actions are aimed at offshore oil and gas developments in the disputed waters.

In the past few weeks, the US and Australian warships have reportedly also conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea close to the West Capella.

On Saturday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said that a 1982 UN oceans treaty should be the basis of sovereign rights and entitlements in the South China Sea. The group has strongly opposed China’s claim to virtually the entire disputed waters on historical grounds.

-ARK

WATCH | ‘Desi style’ rescue of a goat from an open hole, video goes viral

Screen grabs from the video shared by the Assam police officer

New Delhi (NVI): An old video of a goat being rescued from an open hole is going viral on social media, with the Twitterati reacting to the amusing video while lauding the group of men for using a “desi” technique to save the animal.

The video was shared on Twitter by Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Assam, Hardi Singh. The 1 minute 13 seconds video shows a group of young men inspecting an open hole in a farm in which a goat has fallen. One of them decides to get inside the hole with the support of others. They lower him down the hole till more than half of his body is inside. As soon as the man grabs the goat, he is pulled out of the hole.

“Desi style rescue! Grit, determination, teamwork n courage. Smiling face with smiling eyes. Pls see till the end,” the officer wrote on Twitter while sharing the video.

The old video is believed to be from Belagavi (Belgaum) in Karnataka as the ADGP has asked the Karnataka DGP to trace the location and get such open holes closed.

“@rajeev_mp pls help to have this place identified & holes closed. While we applaud these boys for their humanity n courage, we must keep others safe,” Singh wrote in another Tweet while tagging BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The officer has also tagged Belagavi Commissioner of Police and DCP in his tweets.

-ARK

Statistics Day to be celebrated tmrw

New Delhi (NVI): To popularise the use of statistics in everyday life and sensitise the public as to how it helps in shaping and framing policies, the Government has been celebrating Statistics Day.

The day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Prof. PC Mahalanobis, on 29th June, in recognition of his invaluable contribution in establishing the National Statistical System, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation said.

It has been designated as one of the Special Days to be celebrated at the national level.

This year, the day will be celebrated virtually in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be chaired by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation and Ministry of Planning, Rao Inderjit Singh.

The theme of Statistics Day, 2019 was “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” and carrying this forward the theme of Statistics Day, 2020 is selected as SDG- 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) & SDG- 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls).

-ARK

Yemen’s failing health system amid Covid-19 has put millions at risk

(Source: UN/Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): Covid-19 pandemic has made life tougher for people in Yemen which has been devastated by five years of war. The humanitarian situation in Yemen, in its sixth year of conflict, is still the worst in the world.

COVID-19 is spreading rapidly across Yemen. About 25 per cent of Yemenis confirmed to have the disease have died. That’s five times the global average.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), some 24 million people, which is 80 per cent of the country’s entire population, require some form of assistance or protection.

As of June 18, 906 COVID-19 cases have been recorded, including 245 deaths. However, there are thousands of people in the country suffering from non-COVID-19 diseases, who are at risk of being de-prioritized due to attention being diverted to the coronavirus.

In Yemen, people are not only in the world’s worst crisis but also face having life-saving aid being cut back. There is lack of adequate testing and treatment facilities in the war-torn country. The actual incidence of COVID-19 is almost certainly much higher. Aid agencies in Yemen are operating on the basis that community transmission is taking place across the country.

According to the UN report, nearly 18 million people in Yemen do not have regular access to clean water, and the conflict has destroyed health-care facilities and left people with some of the lowest levels of immunity and highest levels of acute vulnerability in the world.

Apart from that, major UN programmes in Yemen face reduction or closure, with devastating impact on efforts to prepare for COVID-19. Of the UN’s 41 major programmes in Yemen, 31 have reduced or closed down their activities. Up to 1 million displaced people will not be able to receive critical supplies – including hygiene items that help protect against diseases such as cholera and COVID-19.

As per the report, nutrition programmes will also be cut, affecting 260,000 severely malnourished children and 2 million more children with moderate malnutrition. At least 80 per cent of health services provided through the response could stop at the end of April. This could mean disbanding local health teams that have been and would be essential in detecting COVID-19 and containing past disease outbreaks such as cholera.

Besides that, Yemen’s currency could collapse as the global economy grapples with the impact of COVID-19. The country’s health system is on the verge of collapse. Nearly half of health facilities are non-functioning or partially functioning. Equipment and medical supplies are inadequate or obsolete, and health workers have gone without pay or received irregular pay for more than two years, says the report.

Malnutrition rates among women and children in Yemen remain among the highest in the world. More than 1 million women and 2 million children require treatment for acute malnutrition.

Civilians, mostly children, are bearing the brunt of the violence. In the first quarter of this year, civilian casualties have risen every month, with more than 500 people killed or injured. One in every three civilian casualties has been a child.

-ARK

India gave a befitting reply to those who eyed its territory in Ladakh: PM

PM Modi
PM Narendra Modi (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the world has seen India’s commitment to protecting its borders as a befitting reply was given to those who eyed her territory in Ladakh.

While paying tributes to the fallen soldiers in Galwan Valley clash with the Chinese troops in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, the Prime Minister said that our soldiers have shown that they will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring the country’s safety and security.

“If India knows how to respect friendship, it also knows how to give a befitting reply while looking in the eye,” the PM said in his address.

20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in the violent face-off with Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley at Line of Actual Control (LAC) on June 15. While China still claims its sovereignty over Galwan Valley, India has reiterated its stand that the matter must be resolved through military and diplomatic level talks.

Apart from that, in the 66th edition of his radio address, PM Modi urged citizens to be more careful in ‘Unlock 1’ than lockdown. He also appealed people to wear masks, maintain two meters distance, and following other Covid protocols to keep themselves and their families safe.

He said that India is unlocking its potential in sectors like coal, space, agriculture and more. “It is time for us to work together to make India self-reliant and technologically advanced,” he said.

He said that the agriculture sector has also been unlocked recently which gave farmers the freedom to sell their produce anywhere, to anyone. They are able to get more and better loans now, he added.

During his address, the PM also remembered former prime minister Narasimha Rao. He said the late former prime minister was connected with Indian ethos and well-versed with western thoughts. He said Rao was India’s most experienced leaders.

-ARK

Covid-19 global cases near 10 million, 4.97 lakh deaths reported

World Covid cases

New Delhi (NVI): Almost half a million people have been killed in the past seven months since the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. 9.94 million total confirmed cases have been reported with 5.01 million recoveries so far.

The World Health Organisation has (WHO) has said that the total global corona cases will reach one crore mark within this week. The US, Brazil, the UK and India are the top four worst-affected countries.

Despite earlier speculations that the virus will slow down in summer, the cases have been increasing all over the world. Nearly two-thirds of the total infections have been reported in May and June.

The disease was at its peak in Italy, Spain and France in March and then the United States turned out to be with the worst affected country where 1,27,000 people have died of the infection and 2.56 million cases have been confirmed. Around 7.83 lakh people have recovered from the virus in the country.

Brazil, which has evolved as the new hotspot of positive cases, has reported 1.32 million confirmed cases and 57,103 deaths. Around 7,16,000 patients have recovered in the country.

The UK has 3,10,000 total confirmed cases with 890 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, while 43,514 people have died due to the infection there. Russia has over 6,28,000 confirmed cases with 8,969 deaths reported so far and 3.93 lakh recoveries

Coronavirus cases in India have crossed 5.28 lakh with 19,906 fresh cases reported in the last 24 hours. With 410 new deaths, the number of deaths has now reached 16,095. The country today witnessed the biggest single-day spike in new cases with over 19,000 infections.

-ARK

Over 5.28 lakh Covid-19 cases in India, death toll at 16,095

New Delhi (NVI): Coronavirus cases in India have crossed 5.28 lakh with 19,906 fresh cases reported in the last 24 hours. With 410 new deaths, the number of deaths has now reached 16,095.

This is the highest single-day rise in Covid cases so far. India is the fourth worst-hit country in the world by the pandemic after the United States, Brazil and Russia.

There are total 5,28,859 confirmed cases so far, with 2,03,051 active cases and 3,09,712 cured or discharged. Meanwhile, several states have imposed full or partial lockdown, amid surge in cases.

Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are among the wight states that account for 87 per cent of Covid-19 deaths and 85% active caseload.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today address the nation in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address. The Prime Minister is likely to talk about measures taken to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The country is currently in phase one of “Unlock” and the PM in his last interaction with chief ministers had said  “unlock, unlock, unlock” should be the way forward as they fight to control the pandemic.

Globally, 9.94 million cases have been reported with 4.97 lakh deaths while 5.01 million have recovered.

-ARK

Covid-19: J&K tally rises to 6,966 with 204 new cases

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 204 positive cases, including 33 personnel from security forces, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Terrotory to 6,966.

Officials said that among the 204 new cases, 109 were tested positive at SKIMS, 13 at JVC Bemina and rest at other hospitals.

“There are 31 CRPF men, two BSF troopers, two soldiers and 11 minors among the fresh cases,” officials said

Among 204 new cases, 192 belong to Kashmir division while 13 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division has reached 5,457 including 3,175 recoveries and 83 deaths while the total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 1,509 including 1,050 recoveries and 11 deaths.

The officials said that total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir stands at 2,648 including 2,200 from Kashmir division and 498 from Jammu division.

With 145 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 4,225 which is 60.65 percent of the total cases.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 08 from Kulgam, 49 from Srinagar, 26 from Shopian, 52 from Baramulla, 6 from Anantnag, 9 from Kupwara, 4 from Bandipora, 13 from Budgam, 20 from Pulwama and 4 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 13 from Jammu division include 3 each from Jammu and Rajouri, 2 each from Udhampur, Ramban and Kishtiwar and one from Samba

As per the officials figures, 844 positive cases including 22 deaths and 250 recoveries are from Srinagar, 800 including 15 deaths and 375 recoveries are from Baramulla, 759 including 501 recoveries and 12 deaths are from Kulgam, 730 including 10 deaths and 532 recoveries are from Shopian, 633 including 06 deaths and 457 recoveries are from Anantnag, 517 including 380 recoveries and 05 deaths are from Kupwara, 429 including 182 recoveries and 04 death are from Pulwama, 371 including 186 recoveries and 07 death are from Budgam, 288 including 250 recoveries and 01 death is from Bandipora, 86 including 62 recoveries are from Ganderbal.

In Jammu division, 325 including 259 recoveries and 07 deaths are from Jammu district, 259 including 160 recoveries and 01 death are from Udhampur, 215 including 154 recoveries are from Ramban, 211 including 152 recoveries are from Kathua, 136 including 76 recoveries from Samba, 120 including 96 recoveries and 01 death are from Poonch, 104 including 01 death and 53 recoveries are from Rajouri, 72 including 54 recoveries and 01 death are from Doda, 40 including 26 recoveries are from Reasi and 27 including 20 recoveries are from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 2,72,041 people in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation, 39,403 people have been kept under home quarantine and 2,648 people are in hospital isolation while 31 people are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 1,82,444 people have completed surveillance period and 47,422 persons are under home surveillance. So far, results of 3,45,426 samples have been made available.

-CHK

Coronavirus cases exceed 1.98 lakh in Pakistan; death toll tops 4,000

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan is seeing a decline in coronavirus cases after smart lockdown was implemented in the country and recorded 3,138 positive cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the national tally to 1,98,883.

Meanwhile, 74 people lost their lives due to the deadly contagion in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of fatalities to 4,035.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 76,318 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 72,880 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 24,943 cases, Balochistan is at 10,116, Gilgit-Baltistan at 1,417, Islamabad at 12,206 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 1,003 cases so far, according to media reports.

So far, nearly 86,906 people have recovered from the deadly contagion in the country while 2,729 were in critical condition.

-CHK

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