New Delhi (NVI): The number of coronavirus cases in India reached 14,35,453 after 49,931 fresh cases were reported in the last 24 hours, the biggest single-day jump so far, Union Health Ministry said.
In addition to this, this is the first time that India records worst-ever spike with nearly 50,000 cases in a single day.
Meanwhile, the country’s death toll stands at 32,771 with 708 new fatalities being reported during this period.
As many as 9,17,567 COVID-19 patients have been cured and discharged so far.
With 3,75,799 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu with 2,13,723 cases and Delhi with 1,30,606 cases.
The other worst affected states are Uttar Pradesh (66,988), Gujarat (55,822) West Bengal (58,718) and Rajasthan (35,909).
In terms of fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 13,656 deaths, ministry said.
The death toll in the national capital surged to 3,827 while another 1,14,875 patients have recovered so far, healthy ministry data shows.
According to ICMR, the total number of Covid-19 samples tested up to July 26 is 1,68,06,803 including 5,15,472 samples tested yesterday.
Apart from this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch coronavirus testing facilities of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in Noida, Mumbai and Kolkata today.
New Delhi (NVI): With Germany adopting an ambitious national hydrogen strategy to enable the decarbonisation of transport and core domestic industries, it has shown interest in technology transfer to India, especially PEM electrolyser technology since it is able to operate in a flexible manner and therefore able to adapt to power input from fluctuating renewable energy sources.
Last month, the German government adopted a national hydrogen strategy with plans to ramp up production capacity to 5 GW by 2030 and 10 GW by 2040.
Through its recent green recovery stimulus package post COVID 19, Germany is investing approximately 9 billion EUR (72000 Crore INR) in its hydrogen industry.
The country is focusing on “green hydrogen” with zero CO2 emissions made out of electricity from additional renewable resources like solar, wind etc, and India can be a major partner as its own focus is on green and clean energy.
Hydrogen is a clean fuel when burned, making it attractive for heavy industry, but most is derived from fossil fuels not renewable energy
According to the Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF), Germany is interested in sourcing cost effective hydrogen from all over the world because it is aware of remaining a net importer of energy in the future. “The higher the worldwide push for hydrogen the better for Germany,” it said.
In order for the energy transition to be successful, security of supply, affordability and environmental compatibility need to be combined with innovative and smart climate action, IGEF said.
“This means that the fossil fuels we are currently using need to be replaced by alternative options. This applies in particular to gaseous and liquid energy sources, which will continue to be an integral part of Germany’s energy supply,” it said.
Against this backdrop, hydrogen will play a key role in enhancing and completing the energy transition. Through the National Hydrogen Strategy, the Federal (German) Government is providing a coherent framework for the generation, transport and use of hydrogen, encouraging the relevant innovations and investment.
The Strategy sets out the steps that are needed to meet the German climate targets, create new value chains for the German economy and foster energy policy cooperation at international level, IGEF added.
The Indo-German Energy Forum, since 2006, is promoting cooperation in energy security, energy efficiency, renewable energy, investment in energy projects and fosters relationships between German and Indian governments, institutions and the private sector.
Apart from India, EU to make big push for hydrogen, despite green concerns and infrastructure gaps.
Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed another jump in fresh cases as 615 more tested positive for the deadly virus, taking the tally of cases to 17,920 in the Union Territory.
The fresh spurt in Covid-19 cases in the J&K comes despite stringent lockdown in place since July 22 across Kashmir, especially summer capital Srinagar.
Officials said that among 615 new cases, 479 belong to Kashmir division while 136 are from the Jammu division. They said that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 14,148 including 7920 recoveries while the total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached 3372 including 2008 recoveries.
The officials said that the total number of active positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir is 7680 including 5939 from Kashmir and 1741 from Jammu. With 411 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in J&K has reached 9928 which is 55.40 percent of the total cases which was over 63 percent a few days before.
Pertinently, Srinagar district alone has 4002 positive cases which is more than the total number of positive cases in the Jammu division where total cases are 3772.
Cases tested positive in J&K include 209 from Srinagar, 14 from Baramulla, 2 from Kulgam, 27 from Shopian, 25 from Anantnag, 17 from Kupwara, 25 from Pulwama, 88 from Budgam, 41 from Bandipora and 31 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 136 from Jammu division include 37 from Jammu, 5 from Kathua, 33 from Rajouri, 6 from Udhampur, 15 from Ramban, 10 from Samba, 14 from Doda, 14 from Poonch, 0 from Kishtwar and 2 from Reasi.
As per the daily information bulletin, 3,54,869 persons in J&K are under observation while 44,429 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 7680 persons are in hospital isolation while 12 persons are under hospital quarantine.
According to the bulletin, 2,62,256 persons have completed the surveillance period and 40,180 persons are under home surveillance.
So far, results of 5,81,707 samples are available out of which 5,63,787 tested negative while 17,920 tested positive. Out of those the positive cases, 7680 are active and 9928 have recovered.
Srinagar (NVI): Two persons including a government teacher were arrested by the joint teams of Police and the Army at Sadhna Top today, close to the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Narcotics worth Rs 50 crore market value and a huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from them, police said.
Addressing a joint press conference with the army at District Police Office (DPO) Kupwara, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara, Shriram Ambarkar said that a government teacher along with another person who was involved in illegal transportation of arms, ammunition and a consignment of narcotics worth Rs 50 crores in the international market, was seized.
Flanked by Army’s Colonel PS Chauhan, the SSP Kupwara said that both the accused were in contact with Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit and were operating on the directions of Lashkar operatives across LoC to smuggle the huge amount of illegal narcotics, arms and ammo into the valley.
The SSP Kupwara said that the arrested duo was involved in the illegal trade of narcotics and ammunition of which one is a government teacher posted at higher secondary school Tangdhar, Kupwara and has been identified as Bashir Ahmad Sheikh (48) and another one has been identified as Abdul Amir Sheikh (43), a resident of Hajinar in Tangdhar, Kupwara.
He said that apart from narcotics worth Rs 50 crore in the international market, a huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered that include 20 grenades, one AK-56 rifle, its 76 rounds, 90 pistol rounds. The narcotics were wrapped in polythene bags, he added.
Talking about the surge in the illegal trade of narcotics in the border district, the SSP said that it is going to be a big challenge in times to come but not beyond the ability of security forces. “We have demonstrated so many times that we are able to bust modules back to back,” he said.
New Delhi (NVI): A street in the Israeli town of Daliyat al-Karmel, home to Druze community in Israel, has been named as New Delhi, India’s national capital, in another step towards deepening of ties between the two countries.
Fares Saeb, an Israeli diplomat and a member of Druze community himself, said in a tweet that this is another expression of Israel-India ties and strong connection.
“#NewDelhi st. At the #druze city Dalyat el Karmel, #Israel. Another expression of Israel-India ties and strong connection. I dedicate this to my friend @MuhamedHeib, the new spokesperson in our embassy in New Delhi,” he tweeted while tagging Israeli embassy in India and the country’s new spokesperson in India- Muhamed Heib.
The Israeli Druze are a religious and ethnic minority among Arab citizens of Israel. Even though the faith originally developed out of Ismaili Islam, Druze do not identify as Muslims.
The Israeli spokesperson also retweeted the tweet saying that Israel-India partnership is strong and courageous, not only on G2G level but also on P2P level.
“Thank you so much @FaresSaeb. indeed #Israel and #India partnership is strong and courageous, not only on the #G2G level, but also on the #P2P level,” he said.
India and Israel have shared a healthy relationship in the past few years with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to develop the bilateral relationship in several areas including trade, defence, health, space, agriculture and technology.
In the latest show of commitment towards mutual growth between the countries, the Israeli embassy in New Delhi said that the country will be sending a team of scientists to India to jointly develop a rapid testing technology that will be able to detect Covid-19 in less than 30 seconds.
The Israel embassy on Thursday said that its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Health will lead an “unprecedented anti-Covid-19 cooperation operation” between the two countries.
The embassy also acknowledged that the past few years have cemented the strategic relations between India and Israel and have included two historical visits of the Prime Ministers in Israel and in India.
The embassy also appreciated India’s help during the first outbreak of Covid-19 in Israel and said that it is now reciprocating to New Delhi for the “significant gesture”.
New Delhi (NVI): A Sikh man who was abducted by Taliban and a minor girl are among eleven members, belonging to Sikh and Hindu minority communities of Afghanistan, who arrived here today as part of the eighth batch of stranded Indians evacuated from the country.
Nidan Singh Sachdeva, the Afghan Sikh man who was kidnapped a month ago and released recently arrived here this afternoon as a Kam Air flight landed. Sachdeva was abducted from a gurdwara in Paktia province last month.
“Around eleven members, belonging to the Sikh & Hindu minority community of Afghanistan, arrived in India today. Mr. Nidan Singh Sachdeva, who was released from captivity on July 18, is also among those who reached Delhi today,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
India has granted appropriate visa and facilitated their travel to India, MEA said.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in extending necessary support for the safe return of these families,” it added.
The Ministry had recently announced that India will facilitate the return of Afghan Hindus and Sikh community members facing threat in the country.
A 15-year-old girl who was recently “rescued” from an alleged attempt at forced conversion and marriage was also among those who arrived today.
The batch left Kabul by Kam air to Delhi today under the Vande Bharat Mission, the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan tweeted.
“The eighth batch of stranded Indian citizens left Kabul by Kam Air to Delhi today. Travel of some members of the Hindu and Sikh Community, interested in moving to India, was also facilitated,” the embassy tweeted.
#VandeBharatMission The eighth batch of stranded Indian citizens left Kabul by Kam Air to Delhi today. Travel of some members of the Hindu and Sikh Community, interested in moving to India, was also facilitated. @MEAIndiapic.twitter.com/lbLLB5sPxz
— India in Afghanistan (@IndianEmbKabul) July 26, 2020
Recently, members of the Afghan Sikh community had, in several appeals to the Indian government, sought immediate evacuation following the March 25 attack on a gurudwara in Kabul. At least 25 people were killed and more than eight others were wounded during the dastardly attack in which women and children were also killed.
The process was delayed in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting restrictions on international travel.
Srinagar (NVI): A day after the killing of a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant in an encounter at Ranbirgarh in Lawaypora on Srinagar outskirts, Jammu and Kashmir police today said that no Srinagar resident is in militant ranks now.
“After the killing of Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Ishfaq Rashid Khan, no resident of Srinagar district is in militant ranks now,” said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar in a tweet on J&K Police’s official Twitter handle. Yesterday two militants including Ishfaq were killed in an encounter on Srinagar outskirts.
However, a senior police officer while giving a new twist to the case of missing Phd scholar Hilal Ahmed Dar, said that police have not listed Dar from Bemina, Srinagar in the militant category yet. “We have not listed him as a militant yet as more verification is needed to find out whether he has actually joined the militancy,” he told NVI.
On June 16, Dar, a resident of Housing Colony Bemina, who was pursuing Phd in Management studies, went missing after going on a trekking on the hills of Naranag in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir. Though four of his friends had returned home, Dar didn’t. Since then, his family members, especially his uncles have been moving from pillar to post to track Dar, but so far there are no whereabouts of him.
Speaking to reporters on June 23, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar in presence of DGP Dilbagh Singh had said that the missing Bemina youth had joined militant ranks. However, the family members of Dar, strongly refuted the police claim stating that their son had no inclination to the militancy.
The missing Bemina youth’s uncle Nisar Ahmed said after today’s police tweet that their claim stands vindicated. “Even today, we had gone to Naranag to look for our son. We walked right up to the top where the friends of our son had spotted Hilal last time. We request that the police now help us track our son,” he said and appealed to the police to put in extra efforts to trace their son.”
Srinagar (NVI): Jannat, who found mention in a Hyderabad school textbook recently after cleaning Dal lake for two years, wants to become a scientist to save the famous water body in Srinagar, as she turns 8 today.
Jannat’s Dal cleaning has gone popular in the Hindi school book namely “Megha” and the title of the story is “Jannat Ki Jannat”.
In order to make Dal lake pollution-free, Jannat is always spending some time cleaning the lake. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also praised her in his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio program.
The Kashmiri girl first came to limelight through a video two years ago where she was seen cleaning the lake along with her father while highlighting the plight of the lake.
At the age of 5, she started questioning her father Tariq Ahmed, who used to row a shikara (boat) in the Lake, to clean the lake of pollutants that include plastic bottles, polythene, used shoes, chips covers and other types of garbage.
Jannat’s father Tariq Ahmed
For the past two years, she is accompanying her father every Sunday to clean whatever portion of the lake is possible. Both father-daughter live in the lake on a boat, which perhaps is the reason why they are so concerned about the preservation of the water body.
The father-daughter duo has a mission to see the lake as clean as possible, free from encroachments, garbage and above all to preserve nature’s beautiful gift bestowed on the people of Srinagar, a city of 1.5 million. Dal Lake is situated in the heart of Srinagar at Dalgate on one side and covers foreshore or boulevard road up to revered Hazratbal shrine and Rainawari area of the downtown city as well.
“People throwing garbage into the Lake hurts me the most. I have many times screamed at those who tried to pollute the Lake by throwing plastic bottles into it,” says Janat, who studies in class 2 in a Srinagar school.
While cleaning the lake along with her father on Sundays, Jannat says she was shocked to pull out used shoes, undergarments, used clothes, chips covers and other garbage items from the lake. With her father’s guidance, Janat has learned the art of rowing the boat (Shikara) also.
“My father has taught me everything about the Lake. He keeps on telling me how clean the lake was once and movies would be shot in the lake with houseboats in the background,” she says. “Today, lake is polluted on all sides and continues to be polluted by the people who have no mercy for it.”
For Jannat, Dal Lake is a natural gift for the people of Srinagar and entire Kashmir and preserving it is the duty of every single citizen of the Valley. “I am playing a bit so is my father. But that’s not enough. Two people can’t clean the entire lake,” she says.
Asked about her birthday wish, Jannat says with a gentle smile on her face: “I want to become a scientist, a good scientist so that I can find ways and means to preserve the Lake. I dream to come up with a remedy for growing weeds in the Lake, which make our efforts difficult when it comes to cleaning it. Unnecessary weeds are growing just because of pollution in the Lake.”
She says although it will take many years for her to become a scientist, till then J&K government must come up with something extraordinary to save the Lake. “We hear lot of announcements from the government, but on ground nothing much happens. There are a few cleaning machines installed in the Lake. I urge government to install as much cleaning machines as possible,” says Janat.
Her father, Tariq also feels proud to have a daughter like Janat. “Recently one of my friend from Hyderabad called me saying, my daughter’s efforts to clean the lake has got a mention a textbook there. That was really a proud moment for me.”
Tariq says there are so many reasons as to why Dal Lake is polluted and one of the major factors is unabated illegal construction of hotels, lodges and guest houses in the green area around the Lake. “This shouldn’t have happened but it has happened over two decades and permissions for constructing hotels have been given like anything. This has taken off the sheen from the lake,” he says.
“At present, an impression is being given that Lake is just an area where houseboats are kept, which is wrong. Huge portion of it has been encroached upon and there has been filling of the lake at various points where residential houses have been constructed.”
Tariq says he along with her daughter will continue to play their part in cleaning the lake but every citizen of Srinagar city must rise to an occasion to contribute in whatever they can to preserve this natural gift. “Otherwise, time is not far, when there would be just a small pond available for us out of the big Lake,” he says.
New Delhi (NVI): In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues to be lethal and asked the people to remain vigilant like before.
He said that wearing masks and maintaining social distancing has to continue if the country has to win the war against the pandemic. He added that if one feels tired of wearing a mask, then he/she should think about Covid warriors and their exemplary efforts.
“Sometimes, do you feel tired of wearing a mask? When you do, think of our COVID warriors and their exemplary efforts,” the PM said in his monthly radio address.
“Friends, the danger of corona is still there. It is spreading at a fast pace in many places. We have to be very vigilant now. We have to take care that it is as lethal as it was before, therefore we have to be cautious. To wear a mask or cover your face with a cloth, regularly washing hands, not spit in public, take care of hygiene and cleanliness- these are our weapons against corona that will save us,” the PM said.
Modi added that the COVID-19 recovery rate in the country is better than others. “Our fatality rate is much less than most of the other countries. We managed to save the lives of lakhs of people, but the threat of coronavirus is not over yet. It is spreading fast many areas, we need to remain vigilant”, he said.
The PM also mentioned about Madhubani masks from Bihar in his address, saying they are becoming increasingly popular. He said these masks are promoting a tradition as well as providing health safety and employment to people.
He also expressed solidarity with people affected by floods and heavy rainfall across India. “Centre, State Governments, local administrations, #NDRF and social organisations are working to provide all possible assistance to those affected,” he said.
With the country observing Kargil Vijay Diwas today, PM Modi also recalled the valour of brave Indian soldiers who fought in the 1999 war against Pakistan as the country emerged victorious on this day.
“Thanks to the courage of our armed forces, India showed great strength in Kargil,” PM said in his address while hitting out at Pakistan for trying to “backstab” India despite the latter’s friendship.
New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today paid tributes to the Kargil war martyrs at National War Memorial on the 21st anniversary of India’s victory in ‘Operation Vijay’, here today.
Indian Armed Forces’ victory in Kargil on 26 July 1999 is a saga of strong political, military and diplomatic actions. The Nation is celebrating this day with pride, honour and inspiration, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) July 26, 2020
The Defence Minister was accompanied by Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff & Secretary Department of Military Affairs General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General MM Naravane, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.
Rajnath also wrote a message in the visitors’ book at the War Memorial, “On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas today, I pay my obeisance and salutation to the brave soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives to protect motherland from the enemy. The country will always remember the courage, valour, restraint & determination of our fallen heroes and will march ahead taking inspiration from their supreme sacrifice.”
He said Kargil Vijay Divas is not just a day but a celebration of the courage and valour of the soldiers of this country.
“Brave soldiers of the Indian Army had overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, hostile terrain, inclement weather, and the enemy occupying dominating heights, to win the conflict with the help of Indian Air Force, which gave the air support,” the Ministry of Defence said in a release.
“On this momentous occasion, the proud nation is celebrating this victory in memory of fallen heroes with events covering a myriad spectrum all across the country,” it added.
Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and other senior civil and military officials of the Ministry of Defence were also present on the occasion.
