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Massive Lebanon blast: More than 70 dead, thousands injured in Beirut

New Delhi (NVI): A large blast in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, which took place last night, has killed at least 70 and injured more than 4,000 people, sending shockwaves that shattered windows, smashed masonry and shook the ground across the country’s capital.

Videos shared by the people living in the nearby areas, show smoke billowing from a fire, then a mushroom cloud following the blast at the city’s port.

The blasts at the port – most powerful explosion in years in Beirut – were heard throughout the small country and as far away as Nicosia on the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, 240 kilometres (150 miles) away, according to media reports.

Officials are blaming highly explosive materials stored in a warehouse for six years.

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun tweeted it was “unacceptable” that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was stored unsafely.

The city, which has also been witnessing a surge in coronavirus cases, was declared a disaster zone after the President called an urgent meeting.

Hospitals are said to be overwhelmed and many buildings have been destroyed.

President Aoun has declared a three-day mourning period, and said the government would release 100 billion lira (USD 66 million) of emergency funds.

In addition to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi this morning said he was “shocked and saddened” by massive explosions in Beirut, Lebanon.

“Shocked and saddened by the large explosion in Beirut city leading to loss of life and property. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the injured (sic),” his office quoted him as saying in a tweet.

-CHK

J&K: 48 travelers among 390 fresh Covid cases, tally at 22,396

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 390 fresh cases of the deadly coronavirus including 48 travelers, taking the number of positive cases in the UT to 22,396.

With 390 new cases, the tally of positive cases in J&K has reached 22,396 that include 17,292 from Kashmir and 5,104 from Jammu division.

Officials said that among 390 new cases, 238 belong to Kashmir while 152 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 17,292 including 11,683 recoveries while the total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached 5,104 including 3,173 recoveries and 30 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in J&K is 7,123 including 5,222 from Kashmir division and 1901 from Jammu division.

With 824 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 14,856 which is 66.33 percent of the total cases.

Pertinently, Srinagar district alone has 5,432 positive cases which is more than the total number of positive cases in the entire Jammu region, where total cases are 5,104.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 99 from Srinagar, 14 from Baramulla, 14 from Pulwama, 01 from Kulgam, 11 from Shopian, 37 from Anantnag, 09 from Budgam, 20 from Kupwara, 05 from Bandipora and 28 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 152 from Jammu division include 41 from Jammu, 04 from Kuthua, 21 from Rajouri, 26 from Udhampur, 11 from Samba, 07 from Doda, 14 from Poonch and 28 from Reasi,” officials said.

As per the daily information bulletin, 3,75,393 persons in J&K are under observation while 44,229 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 7,123 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 2,81,546 persons have completed surveillance period and 43,078 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 6,71,413 samples are available out of which 6,49,017 have tested negative while 22,396 have been tested positive. Among positive cases, 7,123 are active and 14,856 persons have recovered.

-ARK

Sarpanch critically injured after being shot at by terrorists in J&K’s Kulgam

Bomb disposal squad

Srinagar (NVI): A sarpanch (village headman) was critically injured after he was shot at by suspected terrrorists at Akhran village of Qazigund in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district late this evening, security officials said.

They said that gunmen fired at Arif Ahmed Shah, son of Mushtaq Ahmed near his home at Akhran village in Qazigund, Kulgam.

“He sustained bullet wounds in his neck and abdomen and was first referred to Qazigund hospital where he was referred to Government Medical College Anantnag where his condition is stated as critical,” hospital sources said.

They said that Arif was affiliated with the BJP. The attack came at a time when security forces are maintaining the highest level of alert in the wake of the first anniversary of Article 370 rollback and bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two UTs— J&K and Ladakh.

Security forces deployed across the length and breadth of Kashmir are maintaining the highest level of alertness amid inputs that militants may strike to show their presence on August 5 eve.

-ARK

India mocks Pakistan’s ‘so-called political map’, terms it as ‘political absurdity’

Indo-Pak trade

New Delhi (NVI): India tonight mocked Pakistan for issuing so-called ‘political map’ of the country, saying it was an “exercise in political absurdity” and reflected “ridiculous assertions” as it laid “untenable claims” to territories of Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

“This new effort only confirms reality of Pakistan’s obsession with territorial aggrandisement supported by cross-border terrorism,” External Affairs Ministry said in a statement here.

The Indian reaction came hours after Pakistan issued a map of the country and showed Indian territories like Junagadh of Gujarat, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir in that.

“We have seen a so-called “political map” of Pakistan that has been released by Prime Minister Imran Khan. This is an exercise in political absurdity, laying untenable claims to territories in the Indian State of Gujarat and our Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and of Ladakh,” the External Affairs Ministry said.

“These ridiculous assertions have neither legal validity nor international credibility,” it added.

Pakistan slammed by own Ex-Envoy to India over new map

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan was today rubbished by its own former Envoy to India Abdul Basit for unveiling the new map of the country, which shows Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan.

“How can J&K including AJ&K be shown as part of Pakistan if it is disputed as mentioned on the new map as well. Self-contradictory. I have more comments to make but for now this may suffice,” tweeted Basit, a well-regarded retired diplomat of Pakistan.

His reference to ‘AJ&K’ is to Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), which Pakistan calls ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir’.

Basit’s stinging reaction came hours after the Pakistan government released the country’s new map, apparently to claim that Jammu and Kashmir is not a part of India, to coincide with first anniversary of the abolition of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

The act has also been criticised and questioned by several Pakistanis on social media, saying that it was a move by the Imran Khan government to divert the people’s attention. Some said that it was an “eye-wash” by the Pakistan government to keep the “people entertained”.

Significantly, Basit has also denounced Pakistan Army’s move to release a “special song” which was supposed to show “solidarity” with people of Kashmir on the occasion of first anniversary of abolition of Article 370.

“Enough of twitter and song diplomacy–this will achieve nothing but make you more complacent and that is worrying,” said the former Pakistan High Commissioner to India.

Basit was High Commissioner to India from 2014 to 2017.

Dharmendra Pradhan tests Covid positive

Dharmendra Pradhan

New Delhi (NVI): Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has joined a growing list of political leaders who have been tested positive for novel coronavirus. The minister has been hospitalised.

Pradhan took to Twitter today to say that he has been diagnosed with the virus and he was getting admitted to a hospital on the advice of doctors.

“After noticing the symptoms, I got myself tested for COVID-19. The report is positive. I am healthy but, on the advice of doctors, I have hospitalised myself,” he tweeted.

On Sunday, Union Home Minister said that he has been tested positive for corona. Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit was also tested positive for the virus the same day.

Apart from Shah and Pradhan, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have also tested positive for the virus.

-ARK

Corona deaths in Pakistan cross 6,000-mark

COVID-19: Pakistan imposes mini-lockdown in Islamabad

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus deaths in Pakistan crossed the 6,000-mark today after five more deaths were reported from Sindh province, reports the Dawn news website.

As per the data available with the Pakistan news website, Sindh has reported 2,231 deaths so far, Punjab 2,153, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 1,208, Balochistan 136, Islamabad 167, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) 54 and Gilgit Baltistan 55.

Sindh has reported 311 coronavirus cases and five deaths during the past 24 hours, its Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah was quoted as saying by the Dawn.

The minister in a statement quoted by the website said that 3,922 tests were carried out during the last 24 hours. With the new cases, the provincial total has risen to 122,016 while the death toll is 2,231.

He added that 2,019 patients had also recovered during this period.

Pakistan has reported 2,80,772 Covid-19 cases so far while 2,49,397 patients have been recovered in the country.

The Sindh province has recorded 1,22,016 confirmed cases so far, Punjab 93,336, Balochistan 11,777, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 34,253, Islamabad 15,095, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) 2,097 and Gilgit Baltistan 2,198.

-ARK

PM congratulates UPSC toppers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated all those who successfully cleared the civil services examination, results for which were declared today.

PM Modi took to Twitter and said, “Congratulations to all the bright youngsters who have successfully cleared the Civil Services Examination, 2019! An exciting and satisfying career of public service awaits you. My best wishes!”

Furthermore, he also offered encouragement to those who couldn’t clear the examination and said life was full of opportunities while wishing them well for their future endeavors.

His other tweet read, “For those youngsters who did not get the desired result in the Civil Services Examination, 2019, I would like to tell them- life is full of several opportunities. Each and every one of you is hardworking and diligent. Best wishes for all your future endeavours.”

In the results declared today by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), a total of 829 candidates have qualified.

-CHK

Recovered cases twice the active Covid cases in India: Health Ministry

New Delhi (NVI): The number of recovered COVID-19 patients in India are increasing daily and is now twice the number of active cases in the country, the Union Health Ministry said today.

Addressing a media briefing, Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Health Ministry, said, “Currently, there are 5,86,298 active COVID-19 cases are in India and over 12 lakh people have recovered. While the recovered cases are now two times the number of active cases.”

The case fatality rate (CFR) is also lowest since the first lockdown, he said adding that, this is the first time after the first lockdown that the fatality rate is at its lowest, at 2.10 per cent.

Bhushan further said, “More than 2 crore COVID-19 tests have been conducted, including more than 6.6 lakh tests in the last 24 hours,” adding that India is conducting 479 tests per day per million population.

Meanwhile, 50 per cent people who died of the virus are between the age group of 60 years or above and 37 per cent deaths took place in the age group between 45 to 60 years.

“A total of 11 per cent COVID-19 deaths took place in the age group of 26 to 44. Only 1 per cent in 18 to 25 age group and 1 per cent in below the age of 18 years,” Bhushan said.

He further stated that, 68 per cent of COVID-19 deaths have been reported among male patients and 32 per cent among female patients which is broadly in line with the global scenario.

“The fatality rate has seen a progressive decline and it is continuing, which is a positive sign,” Bhushan added.

-RJV/ARK

WATCH | Olympian swims with a glass of milk on her head, video goes viral

US Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky

New Delhi (NVI): US Olympic swimmer, Katie Ledecky, recently posted a video showing her swimming the length of a pool while balancing a glass full of chocolate milk on her head without spilling a single drop, leaving netizens awestruck.

Ledecky took up the unique challenge as part of TikTok’s #GotMilkChallenge, a promotional campaign from the Milk Processor Education Program, a dairy industry-funded group.

Katie Ledecky is a 23-year-old swimmer who has won five Olympic gold medals and 15 world championship gold medals.

A video of the stunt has now gone viral with over 3 million views after Katie shared it on Twitter.

She shared the clip with the caption, “Possibly one of the best swims of my career! What can you do without spilling a drop?”

The video starts with her picking a full glass of chocolate milk and keeping it on her head. She then starts swimming and smoothly glides through the entire pool without losing her balance even once. Once she reaches the end, she takes a sip from the glass.

Being amazed at her skill and precision, a user wrote, “I couldn’t stand still in one spot while holding the glass in my hand and not spill it so I feel personally attacked by this.”

-CHK/ARK

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