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Over 4 lakh Covid-19 cases in India; total 13,254 deaths, 306 in past 24 hrs

New Delhi (NVI): With 15,413 new coronavirus cases, India has crossed the 4 lakh mark with 13254 Covid-19 deaths so far. There are 4,10,461 confirmed cases in the country now.

While there are 1,69,451 active cases, 2,27,755 patients have been cured or discharged, according to the Health Ministry. 306 people have died of the infection in the past 24 hours.

Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu remain the worst-hit states with 1,28,205 and 56,845 cases respectively. Delhi has 56,746  confirmed cases so far.

Over 8.7 lakh cases have been reported globally. The deadly virus has killed at least 4.6 lakh people. The World Health Organisation has warned that the pandemic is “accelerating”, but also expressed optimism that vaccines may be available before the end of this year.

Meanwhile, the country is observing its sixth International Yoga Day and this is for the first time that the celebrations are being held virtually since it was instituted on June 21, 2015. The theme for this year is “Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended his greetings on the Yoga Day while appealing to people to celebrate the day while remaining indoors.

Addressing the nation, on the occasion of International Yoga Day, Prime Minister Modi said that Yoga Day is a day of solidarity and universal brotherhood. He said that Yoga promotes family bonding as well as boosts the immune system against Covid-19.

“Yoga boosts immune system of the body. You must include Pranayama in your daily life. Pranayama Yoga or breathing exercises strengthens our respiratory system. It is more relevant in the current times as it is the respiratory system of the body that is most adversely affected by the Covid19 virus,” the Prime Minister said.

-ARK

Covid-19: 15 CRPF personnel among 154 test positive in J&K, tally 5,834

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed another spike in Covid positive cases as 15 CRPF personnel, five cops, five pregnant women and three minors tested positive for the deadly virus taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 5,834.

Officials said that among the 154 new cases, 57 were tested positive at SKIMS, 36 at CD hospital Lab, 17 at JVC Bemina and rest at other hospitals.

Among 154 new cases, 114 belong to Kashmir division while 40 are from Jammu division, officials said, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division has reached 4,488 including 2,597 recoveries and 71 deaths while total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached 1,346 including 739 recoveries and 10 deaths.

The officials also added that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 2,417 including 1,820 from Kashmir division and 597 from Jammu division.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 3 from Anantnag, 9 from Kulgam, 28 from Srinagar, 20 from Budgam, 7 from Kupwara, 12 from Shopian, 21 from Baramulla, 2, from Bandipora, 11 from Pulwama and one from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 40 from Jammu division include 6 each from Udhampur and Ramban, 11 from Jammu, 7 from Kuthua, 3 from Samba, 4 from Doda and one each from Rajouri, Reasi and Kishtiwar.

As per the officials figures, in Kashmir division, 675 positive cases including 9 deaths and 473 recoveries are from Kulgam, 582 including 13 deaths and 267 recoveries are from Baramulla, 641 including 19 deaths and 226 recoveries are from Srinagar, 591 including 425 recoveries and 05 deaths are from Anantnag, 614 including 420 recoveries and 10 deaths are from Shopian, 435 including 315 recoveries and 5 deaths are from Kupwara, 260 including 214 recoveries and 01 death are from Bandipora, 311 including 129 recoveries and 6 deaths are from Budgam, 312 including 70 recoveries and 3 deaths are from Pulwama and 67 including 58 recoveries are from Ganderbal.

In Jammu division, 309 including 193 recoveries and 7 deaths are from Jammu district, 207 including 116 recoveries are from Ramban, 209 including 117 recoveries and 1 death are from Udhampur, 189 including 102 recoveries are from Kathua, 108 including 57 recoveries from Poonch, 127 including 50 recoveries are from Samba, 74 including 1 death and 35 recoveries are from Rajouri, 67 including 39 recoveries and 01 death are from Doda, 32 including 22 recoveries are from Reasi and 24 including 8 recoveries are from Kishtwar.

As per the daily information bulletin, 2,51,788 people in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 38,424 people have been kept under home quarantine while 2,417 people are in hospital isolation while 29 people are placed under hospital quarantine.

In addition to this, 1,64,169 people have completed surveillance period and 46,668 people are under home surveillance. So far, results of 3,01,209 samples have been made available.

Out of 3,01,209, the number of samples tested negative stands at 2,95,375 while 5,834 have been tested positive, among them 2,417 are active and 3,336 people have recovered while 81 people have died.

-CHK

China tried to transgress, responsible for face-off: India

India-China face-off: Core issue is to 'strictly' follow bilateral border pacts, says MEA

New Delhi (NVI): India rejected today the Chinese contention that it was “unilaterally changing the status quo” on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and asserted that the Chinese side was responsible for the face-off in Galwan Valley as it had attempted to transgress.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said India expects the Chinese side to “sincerely follow the understanding” reached between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries during their telephonic talk on June 17 “to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas, which is so essential for the overall development of our bilateral relations.”

Responding to queries on the statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson yesterday, Srivastava said, “The position with regard to the Galwan Valley area has been historically clear. Attempts by the Chinese side to now advance exaggerated and untenable claims with regard to Line of Actual Control (LAC) there are not acceptable. They are not in accordance with China’s own position in the past.”

He said Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment of the LAC in all sectors of the India-China border areas, including in the Galwan Valley and they “abide by it scrupulously here, as they do elsewhere.”

“The Indian side has never undertaken any actions across the LAC. In fact, they have been patrolling this area for a long time without any incident.  All infrastructure built by the Indian side is naturally on its own side of the LAC,” the spokesman said.

Since early May 2020, the Chinese side has been hindering India’s normal, traditional patrolling pattern in this area, he said, adding “this had resulted in a face-off which was addressed by the ground commanders as per the provisions of the bilateral agreements and protocols.”

Srivastava asserted, “We do not accept the contention that India was unilaterally changing the status quo. On the contrary, we were maintaining it.”

He went on to add that in mid-May, the Chinese side “attempted to transgress the LAC in other areas of the Western Sector of the India-China border areas” and “These attempts were invariably met with an appropriate response from us. Thereafter, the two sides were engaged in discussions through established diplomatic and military channels to address the situation arising out of Chinese activities on the LAC.”

The Senior Commanders met on June 6, 2020 and agreed on a process for de-escalation and disengagement along the LAC that involved reciprocal actions, the MEA spokesman said.

“Both sides had agreed to respect and abide by the LAC and not undertake any activity to alter the status quo. However, the Chinese side departed from these understandings in respect of the LAC in the Galwan Valley area and sought to erect structures just across the LAC. When this attempt was foiled, Chinese troops took violent actions on June 15, 2020 that directly resulted in casualties.”

He noted that External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and the Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi had a conversation on June 17, 2020 wherein EAM conveyed Indian protest in the strongest terms on the events leading up to and on the violent face-off on June 15, 2020. “He (Jaishankar) firmly rejected the unfounded allegations made by the Chinese side and the misrepresentation of the understandings reached between the Senior Commanders. He also underlined that it was for China to reassess its actions and take corrective steps,” Srivastava said.

“The two Ministers also agreed that the overall situation would be handled in a responsible manner, and that both sides would implement the disengagement understanding of June 6 sincerely. The two sides are in regular touch and early meetings of military and diplomatic mechanisms are currently being discussed,” he said.

“We expect that the Chinese side will sincerely follow the understanding reached between the Foreign Ministers to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas, which is so essential for the overall development of our bilateral relations,” the spokesman added.

Bangladesh COVID-19 tally exceeds 1.08 lakh; 1,425 dead

Bangladesh lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Bangladesh have reached 1,08,775 after detection of 3,240 new cases in the last 24 hours.

In addition to this, 37 more patients lost their lives due to the deadly contagion, raising the death toll to 1,425 in the country.

So far, 42,945 people have recovered in the country after 1,048 more patients were recovered during this period.

The detection rate of new patients in the country was recorded at 23.09 percent today.

Meanwhile, former Bangladesh cricket captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has been diagnosed with coronavirus today.

-CHK

Terrorist killed in ongoing encounter in J&K’s Kulgam

Personnel of security forces at an encounter site in Kashmir (File pic)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): An unidentified terrorist was killed in an ongoing encounter that broke out between terrorists and security forces in the orchards of Lokhdipora area of Nehama in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, police said today.

A police official said that acting on a specific tip-off, joint teams of Army, police and CRPF laid a siege in Kulgam district.

“The hiding terrorists fired at the forces, triggering a gunfight. In the face to face exchange of fire, one unidentified terrorist was killed in the initial exchange of firing,” the official said, adding that the cordon was laid by police, Army’s 34 RR and CRPF.

The official added that to rule out the presence of any other terrorist, search operation was on in the orchards from all corners. Meanwhile, the authorities have snapped the internet services in Kulgam district as a precautionary measure.

Yesterday, General officer Commanding (GoC) of Srinagar-based Army’s 15 Corps, Lieutenant General B S Raju said that this year so far over a 100 terrorists were killed and in the coming months, they will ensure that the normalcy is restored in the Valley.

-CHK

Coronavirus cases surpass 1.71 lakh in Pakistan; international flights resume

COVID-19: Pakistan imposes mini-lockdown in Islamabad

New Delhi (NVI): Pakistan has been witnessing a daily surge in the number of coronavirus cases as the tally crossed 1,71,665 today with more than 3,382 deaths.

Meanwhile, Pakistan government has allowed resumption of international flight operations to and from all international airports in the country from today, except Gwadar and Turbat airports.

Additionally, cargo, special and diplomatic flights would continue to be authorised as per the procedures.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 65,163 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 64,216 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 20,790 cases, Balochistan is at 9,162, Gilgit-Baltistan at 1,253, Islamabad at 10,279 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 803 cases so far, according to Geo News.

So far, nearly 63,504 people have recovered from the deadly contagion in the country.

There are 810 hospitals with COVID-19 facilities, with 6,980 patients admitted across the country, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

The country has recorded over 90,000 COVID-19 cases this month alone.

-CHK

COVID cases in Afghanistan climb to 28,424; death toll at 569

New Delhi (NVI): Afghanistan today witnessed a rise in coronavirus cases with 546 new infections, taking the overall tally to 28,424 across the country, according to Afghan media reports.

The death toll due to the virus rose to 569 with 21 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours.

Among the fresh cases reported, Kabul once again was on top of the list with 173 cases followed by Herat with 132 positive cases.

In addition, 68 cases were reported in Khost, 31 in Paktika, 26 in Takhar, 19 in Daikundi, 18 in Kunar, 16 in Farah, 9 in Paktia, 9 in Nuristan, 6 in Balkh, 6 in Panjshir, 5 in Samangan, 4 in Helmand, 4 in Kandahar and 3 in Nangarhar.

The Afghan Ministry of Public Health said 8,292 people have recovered from the deadly disease in Afghanistan.

So far, 63,951 people have been tested for COVID-19 in the country, as per media reports.

Meanwhile, the US State Department said the COVID-19 infections have been reported at its embassy in Kabul and the staff who are affected include diplomats, contractors and locally employed staff, all are under isloation.

-RJV

Nepal Covid-19 tally crosses 8,600; death toll 22

New Delhi (NVI): 331 new positive coronavirus cases have been reported from Nepal, taking the toll in the Himalayan nation to 8,605, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Population said, Of the newly infected, 282 are males and 49 females. In total, 7,849 males and 756 females have been recorded to have contracted the disease, so far.

Currently, 73 of the 77 districts in the country have witnessed the transmission of novel coronavirus, as per media reports.

In the last 24 hours, 176 persons have been discharged from health facilities following recovery. With this total recovery cases stands at 1,578, of which 1,437 are males while 141 females.

The ministry also said, 7,416 samples have been tested through PCR in the past 24 hours. In total, 1,691,655 samples were tested through the PCR and 252,300 through the RDT so far.

Meanwhile, no coronavirus transmission related fatality was reported today in Nepal.

-RJV

Covid-19: 4 more deaths reported in J&K, toll 80

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a spurt in Covid-19 related deaths as four more people have died in various hospitals in Kashmir since morning taking the total number of deaths due to coronavirus in the Union Territory to 80.

The first death was reported in the form of a 55- year -old woman from Pulwama, who tested positive for COVID-19. She died at SKIMS hospital Srinagar today morning.

Farooq Jan, Medical Superintendent, SKIMS, said that the deceased was referred to SKIMS on June 16 and died this morning.  “She was a case of Meningioma with Obstructive sleep apnea. She breathed her last early in the morning due to cardiopulmonary arrest,” Jan added.

The second death, recorded in the same hospital, was of a 65-year-old man from Budgam district, who was admitted as a case of bilateral community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) on Friday and also tested positive for COVID-19.

“His samples were taken for Covid-19 on Friday and reports came positive on Saturday,” Jan said. “The person died due to cardiopulmonary arrest.”

Nazir Choudary, Medical Superintendent at SMHS hospital Srinagar said that an 80-year-old woman from Kulgam with chest and kidney related ailments died at the hospital today.

“The woman was admitted at SMHS on June 18 and on the same day was tested positive for coronavirus,” he said. “Her relatives, however, took the body of the deceased forcibly from the hospital against Covid guidelines.”

In this regard the district administration including police and Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Srinagar, has been informed and action will be taken as per the law.

Saleem Tak, Medical Superintendent at Chest Diseases hospital, said a woman aged 45 years, who was first admitted at SMHS and after testing positive for the Covid-19 was shifted to Chest Diseases hospital on June 14, died today due to medical complications. “She was suffering from diabetes and heart ailments,” the doctor added.

With four fresh deaths, the death toll of COVID- 19 infected persons in J&K has reached 80 which includes 71 from Kashmir and nine from Jammu division.

-CHK

Rajnath Singh to visit Russia for 75th Victory Day Parade of World War II

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (File pic)

New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be taking part in the 75th anniversary of Russia’s Victory Military Parade in the World War II to be held on June 24 in Moscow.

Defence Minister’s Office also tweeted in this regard and stated, “Raksha Mantri would be visiting Moscow next week to further cement the strong and historic bonds of friendship between Russia & India. RM will also be attending the Grand Parade in Moscow to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of their victory in great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.”

India has also sent a contingent of 75 personnel from its three Armed forces to participate in Russia’s 75th World War II Victory Day Parade along with Russian contingent and other invited contingents.

The marching contingent taking part in the Victory Day Parade is led by a major rank officer of the gallant Sikh Light Infantry Regiment. The Regiment had fought with valour in the World WarII and has proud distinction of earning four BattleHonours and two Military Cross amongst other gallantry awards.

Russia postponed its military parade traditionally held on Moscow’s Red Square on May 9 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The participation in the Victory Day Parade will be a mark of tribute to the great sacrifices made by Russia and other nations in the Second World War in which Indian soldiers also participated and made supreme sacrifice.

Furthermore, Defence Minister’s visit will strengthen the longstanding special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia.

-CHK

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